Star Weekly - Wyndham - 12th April 2023

FOOTY IS BACK at Werribee for 2023 Werribee FC Captain Nick Coughlan

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2W WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 12 April, 2023

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President’s message A message from Werribee Football Club president Martin Carter

President Martin Carter is ‘cautiously optimistic’ about season 2023.

(Supplied)

“Cautiously optimistic“ is how Werribee Football Club President Martin Carter describes his feelings heading into the 2023 season.

It is a sentiment echoed by CEO Mark Penaluna.

“You need to be confident in your people and their talent but also respectful of the opposition and the challenges of this ever-evolving competition,“ Mr Penaluna said.

The two men at the top of Werribee’s off-field team know what they are talking about. Penaluna has been CEO since 2004 and Carter President since 2015 but a committee man harking back to the Tigers’ premiership year of 1993.

The 30th anniversary celebrations will be one of the highlights of the coming season’s events calendar.

The duo is proud of the stability of the club off-field, having weathered the financial impact of Covid and overseen the implementation of new revenue generation opportunities for the club heading into the future.

Their enthusiasm and passion for the club is something they want to share as Carter explains: “More than ever we need your total commitment in supporting your club, both financially and in person, experiencing what our club has to offer as we strive to build the biggest sporting army our thriving community has ever seen.”

Bring family, friends and supporters to Avalon Airport Oval to crowd the terraces, barracking loudly, passionately, and proudly for the Big W, but – just as important – experiencing the feeling of success as we strive to complete unfinished business as a united force.”

Penaluna adds “We would love to see you at Avalon Airport Oval this Saturday for our first home game against Geelong. Come and have a kick on the ground, hear the coaches’ addresses and enjoy our first-class facilities. Kids get in free. It is a great day out with something for everyone and you might help us get a Werribee win.”

Martin Carter President Werribee Football Club

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New captain ready to embrace challenges ahead Nick Coughlan, the new captain of the Werribee Football Club, is excited about the 2023 season even though his participation has been hampered by a pre-season injury.

For the team’s Round 1 match against the Lions in Brisbane, the skipper had an unaccustomed match day role.

“I was running the water and I was probably the most vocal waterboy of all time. You just want to be out there helping the guys. Hopefully I will be back in a couple of weeks and can help us win and push towards finals,” he explained.

Senior coach Michael Barlow enters his third season as senior coach fully aware of the challenges ahead, especially after two Queensland trips to start the season “The unique nature of this VFL competition is that you jump on the road, you fly out late at night, a quick sleep and you are up and playing,” he said.

“The players and staff tackled that challenge without excuse. We’ll be able to draw on that across the year. We’ve been working really hard on individual improvement across the board and as we get that we will see that translate to the overall team performance. There were a lot of positives to be taken from the interstate start. I think our players enjoyed the opportunity to spend extra time together and connect and socialise.”

Back-to-back home games balance the ledger and Barlow’s boys will be keen to take advantage of being on Avalon Airport Oval against Geelong and Williamstown.

‘‘

We’ve been working really hard on individual improvement across the board ... we will see that translate to the overall team performance

Right: Nick Coughlan, the new captain of the Werribee Football Club. Above: Michael Barlow.

(Pictures: Supplied)

’’

- Michael Barlow

Pre-match functions are being held for both games and the Williamstown game is the

annual Past Players & Officials Day with many of the champions of the good old days

in attendance to watch the 2023 Werribee team in action.

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6W WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 12 April, 2023

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Junior development is a focus for the Tigers. Right: A skill development session at a Wyndham school. (Pictures: Supplied)

Club focused on growing the game in Wyndham Growing the game in Wyndham - it’s the focus that remains the same every year for the Werribee Football Club and Community Development Manager Majok Ngong, a man who has returned to the role he first held with the club in 2013.

“I love the fact everyone at this club shares the same vision which is to support and grow the game of AFL in the City of Wyndham,” Ngong explains.

Last year Werribee’s In Schools Program delivered 80 clinics across eight schools in Wyndham with more than 1280 participants.

Those clinics resulted in 319 new local Auskickers and 153 new junior members and the club has hit the ground running in 2023, introducing the game to even more young people including girls at Lollypop Creek and Tarneit Rise primary schools.

In recent weeks Werribee’s community

team has been preparing multicultural participants for the annual Unity Cup which concludes with a Gala Day Carnival at La Trobe University’s Bundoora campus next Sunday.

“There is no club in the VFL that celebrates and embraces diversity like Werribee Football Club and the smiles and joy that we are able to put on faces of kids and others in the community is that best part about this

job,” Ngong added.

As the year goes on the club will continue to deliver diverse and collaborative programs alongside the AFL, AFL Victoria, Wyndham City Council, the North Melbourne Huddle and other organisations including Reclink, The Salvation Army and Wyndham Community and Education Centre, all with the help and support of community partners CDC & Pacific Werribee.

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New park open for fun

Face painting was a major attraction during the opening event at Medallion Park. (Supplied)

Stockland Grand Central residents of all ages now have a new recreational space to enjoy.

Stockland officially opened Medallion Park on Sunday, March 26, with a family fun day including a reptile show, a kid’s craft station, balloon twisting, face painting, food trucks, and live music from local musician Ricky Muscat.

Located on the corner of Medallion Boulevard and Arvinda Avenue, Medallion Park includes a playground, pavilion and seating area, walking paths, a half basketball court, and open green spaces. The space will also soon include a dedicated area with pods equipped with USB ports for working outdoors.

Stockland senior development manager Anthony Scafidi said the space is also accessible to Wattle Park residents.

“Medallion Park will be a central hub for families and residents to enjoy the playground, work outdoors, and live a healthy, active lifestyle,” he said.

“As we continue to grow Grand Central, we look forward to welcoming more amenities for our residents.”

Homeowner left in limbo

By Zoe Moffatt Home builder Porter Davis was placed into liquidation on Friday, March 31, leaving more than 1500 unfinished projects across Victoria and homeowners in limbo.

Werribee homeowner Julie McDonald purchased her property with Porter Davis in January and said the final inspection was scheduled for April 14.

Ms McDonald is a single mother to three teenagers and said she recently gave notice to leave her short-term rental.

“They booked in the final inspection last Wednesday … they sent [a confirmation] email and text, it was booked in … for April 14,” Ms McDonald said.

“I’m in a short-term rental so I gave notice to move out … [now] nobody can tell me anything, I feel absolutely sick.

“I just feel sick and overwhelmed.”

After finding out about the collapse Ms McDonald said she contacted her landlord and was told she could stay but she still has questions about the future.

“I feel like I’m living in limbo, no one can tell me yes, and no one can tell me no.”

Ms McDonald said she heard about the collapse on the news and has not been able to get in touch with anyone from Porter Davis.

“I rang about four different numbers but they’re all either turned off or don’t answer,” she said. “It’s just crap they were operating as normal two days before … It’s just crazy.”

Ms McDonald said the property was supposed to be ready in February and now she is having to pay rent and fees for a storage locker. “[I was] supposed to be in February, then they put it off to March, then they put it off to April.

“I’m paying storage fees, pretty soon I’m going to be paying for a house I haven’t got.”

Accounting firm Grant Thornton has appointed three liquidators to the case and a spokesperson from the company said a range of aspects contributed to the collapse.

“The extremely challenging environment for residential home building has directly contributed to the [Porter Davis] Group’s financial position,” the spokesperson said.

“[This includes] rising input costs, supply chain delays, labour shortages, and a drop in demand for new homes in 2023 impacting the group’s liquidity.”

With Ms McDonald wants to know if another builder is going to be taking over and when she can move in.

“There’s fencing left to do, the lawn and kitchen appliances,” she said. “I’d prefer to get someone in to do what’s left … and have that subtracted from my mortgage.”

The spokesperson said the liquidators were “working to urgently determine” how it can help customers, including engaging with key stakeholders and potential interested parties who may be willing to take over the current customer contracts.

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Zoo workers protest wage offer

By Cassandra Morgan, AAP Victoria’s zoos are expected to be understaffed until the end of April as workers take industrial action over the state government’s wages policy.

The Andrews government announced an updated policy for the state’s public sector workers, bumping annual wage increases from 1.5 per cent to three per cent.

Workers could also obtain a lump sum sign-on bonus equal to up to 0.5 per cent of overall agreement costs under the policy, which the government hailed as fair and responsible in the context of budget challenges.

Zoos Victoria on Wednesday told customers it was running with reduced capacity in some areas because of industrial action over the government wage policy.

The action protesting the policy was initiated by the United Workers Union.

Union members at Melbourne, Werribee and Healesville zoos will be taking various forms of industrial action from Good Friday including banning keeper talks and wearing wearing union shirts instead of their uniform.

“It’s really unfair that workers at the zoo and in every workplace in Australia are continuing to bear the brunt of economic decisions made by those who don’t need to worry about their next mortgage repayment or rent increase,” the union’s executive director Godfrey Moase said.

Zoos Victoria respected its employees’ right to take action just as it valued all workers, a spokeswoman said.

“We are still in good faith negotiations with unions on this issue, but as these wages are

controlled by the Victorian state government wage policy, not Zoos Victoria, we can’t comment any further,” the spokeswoman said.

“It is expected that this action will continue until the end of April. Some experiences will be impacted but overall, the zoos will open as usual and welcoming visitors.”

The Community and Public Sector Union said the wage policy amounted to Labor attacking the public service, and it couldn’t understand the assault particularly after workers’ tireless efforts through bushfires, flood s and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re being so harshly treated with job cuts, real wage cuts (and) cuts to our mental health and wellbeing compensation if we’re injured at work,” a union spokesman said. “(We also face) an unwillingness from our

employer to even refer the power to allow greater scrutiny on departmental bullying and harassment.”

The public sector union pointed to the Victorian government’s recent submission to the Annual Wage Review. In the submission, the government advocated for a “substantial” increase in the national minimum wage and modern award wages to support workers through cost of living pressures.

Despite this, it has effectively imposed a real wage cut on its own workers, a public sector union spokesman said.

In announcing the policy, Treasurer and Industrial Relations Minister Tim Pallas said it was a fair outcome for employees while being responsible to the state’s budget challenges.

Ashlea’s love for sailing runs deep athletes were encouraged to bring their country’s souvenirs and gifts to exchange with fellow competitors.

Ashlea has planned to bringing an Australian flag, an inflatable kangaroo, plenty of koala pen clips and other Australian Day souvenirs.

Ashlea said it would be a “huge honour and privilege“ to represent Australia on the world stage.

“It means so much to me to be selected to represent Australia to compete at international events,“ she said.

“It is going to be a long journey to get to Morocco, but I am determined to be there to represent my country and to sail my best.

Wyndham’s Honorary Justices Murray Brown, Robert Bradley and Reynald Tibben operate out of the Werribee and Wyndham North police stations. (Jacob Pattison) 327041_02

Justices keeping the peace Wyndham residents who require document approval are encouraged to take advantage of a group of volunteers operating as Honorary Justices in the area.

Royal Victorian Association of Honorary Justices (RVAHJ) Wyndham branch chairman Justice of the Peace (JP) Reynald Tibben said their role covers number of different areas.

“JPs mostly are people that officially witness documents, such as statutory declarations, affidavits, powers of attorney, medical decision making documents and wills,“ he said.

“They also certify true copies of documents, they validate identity, and even sign off declarations that a client is still alive and more.“ There are two document signing stations (DSS) currently operating in Wyndham.

The Werribee Police Station DSS operates Monday to Saturday from 10am to 1pm and Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday nights 6pm to 8pm.

The Wyndham North Police Station offers

a DSS on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm and Monday and Wednesday nights from 6pm to 8 pm.

There are about 3750 JPs currently working in Victoria, with Wyndham’s signing stations among the most busy in the state.

Mr Tibben said the role of JPs goes back as far back in history as 14th century England.

“The role was imported into the colonies right from the start and although the roles and responsibilities of JPs changed over time, it is still a valuable and contributing part of our society today,“ he said.

“As a JP, we have a responsibility to provide a free and timely service that is accessible to all members of the community, making ourselves reasonably available to act as an independent witness for documents used for official or legal purposes.”

Details: www.justice.vic.gov.au/ justice-system/legal-assistance/find-a-justiceof-the-peace-at-a-document-signing-station

“Being my very first year on the Australian Optimist Sailing Team and the African Optimist dinghy championships in Morocco as my very first international competition, I am going to try my very best and hope that I can bring some proud results for Australia.“ Wyndham council has awarded Ashlea with the Wyndham City Community Pathway Scholarship to support her journey to Morocco for the international championships.

Ashlea Tan is excited to compete for Australia in the upcoming International Optimist Dinghy Association’s (IODA) African Championship in Morocco in May. (Supplied)

We’re building the West Gate Tunnel As part of Victoria’s Big Build, we’re building an alternative to the West Gate Bridge. The West Gate Tunnel will create better connections across our city and take thousands of trucks off local roads.

Road disruption: Closed roads and lanes Wurundjeri Way, Docklands

Overnight until 1 May

Between Bourke and Dudley streets

Footscray Road, West Melbourne

Until Jun

Westbound between Appleton Dock Road and Dock Link Road

Wurundjeri Way, Docklands

Until Oct

Reduced lanes in both directions between Bourke and Collins streets

Check before you travel at bigbuild.vic.gov.au

Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

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At only 13 years of age, Saltwater P-9 College student and Point Cook local Ashlea Tan has been making waves.

She has been busy preparing to take part in the International Optimist Dinghy Association’s (IODA) African Championship in Morocco from Tuesday, May 2 to Tuesday, May 9.

Ashlea would be competing against more than 100 top sailors of the world at the event.

“I have been sailing in the Optimist dinghy for about four years since 2019,“ she said.

“The best thing about sailing is to be out there with nature.

“I often sail with turtles, stingrays, seals and even had dolphins race beside me.“ At such international competitions,

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Kicking sporting goals Wyndham council has opened a variety of new sporting fields at Point Cook’s Webster Street Reserve.

The turf has been established on a senior cricket oval and four soccer pitches at Webster Street Reserve, marking the completion of the second stage of Wyndham council’s $15.95 million upgrade project.

Wyndham council Active City portfolio holder Peter Maynard the new sporting facilities provided fit-for-purpose facilities for both established and new clubs and organisations.

“These five new sporting fields are giving our Point Cook residents first-class sporting facilities to help them lead active, healthier lives,” he said.

“Wyndham City is committed to giving our residents the sport and recreational facilities they need, close to home,“ he said.

Meanwhile, construction has begun on two sporting pavilions, which will deliver change rooms, social spaces, storage, kitchens, umpire rooms and a car park and landscaping.

The pavilion upgrade project, which will service cricket, soccer and tennis clubs, has received $800,000 through the state government’s Local Sports Infrastructure Fund.

Wyndham council has also recently completed the next stage of upgrades at Point Cook’s Brookdale Road Reserve, including a baseball and softball field now open for informal community use and formal hire.

Cr Maynard said the delivery of the works followed on from extensive consultation with the community.

“We were told loud and clear that it needed to provide a range of open space facilities where people can engage in healthy activity and come together as a community,” he said.

“I’m proud to say we’re delivering on this

Mowing down energy costs Wyndham council has welcomed two new electric zero-turn mowers earlier this month.

Council staff have been busy putting the two Ecoteq EVO ZTR mowers to work, with the larger 35-kilowatt mower to service Wyndham’s larger assets – such as Wyndham Park – and a smaller 22-kilowatt mower to be used across the city.

The mowers produce zero emissions, with one electric zero-turn mower equivalent to taking 140 cars off the road each year.

Wyndham council’s climate futures and environment portfolio holder Robert Szatkowski said the new mowers would help the council reduce its carbon footprint and save on long-term costs.

“Wyndham City is proud to be leading the way in environmentally sustainable practices, and the addition of these new electric zero-turn mowers to our fleet allows us to maintain our open spaces while reducing our greenhouse gas emissions,“ he said.

“Over a typical four-year lifespan, electric mowers are cheaper than traditional petrol mowers because they require no fuel and less maintenance.

“They also reduce noise pollution by up to 50 per cent, meaning they can be operated without hearing protection.“

Wyndham council Active City portfolio holder Peter Maynard at the recently completed Webster Street Reserve soccer pitches. (Jacob Pattison) 326587_03

brief and are giving Point Cook’s growing population first-class sporting and recreation facilities.

The works followed on from the opening of a new playground, ninja warrior course,

exercise area, landscaping and car park in late 2022, with designs currently underway for a modular sporting pavilion to service the baseball and softball field set to be complete by late 2023.

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GenWest Sunrise Social Groups is currently seeking new members for its Brimbank, Melton and Wyndham programs.

The free groups are organised by Genwest and provide a social space for women, gender diverse and nonbinary people, who have a disability, chronic health issues and/or mental health challenges.

The groups meet fortnightly in each of the municipalities, and undertake activities such as barbeques, zoo visits, and arts and crafts sessions and more.

The meet-ups also often include guest speakers to present on topics like health and wellbeing, relationships, and safety.

GenWest Sunrise Social Group participant Pauline Herrmann said Sunrise makes her feel like it’s “always sunny”.

“Everything brightens up … more colours,” she said.

Sunrise Social Groups also have fortnightly

online meetings, in which all of the western suburbs groups come together and share information, learn new skills from each other and link up with services across local areas.

Participant Michelle Henderson said Sunrise Social Groups helped her find a “new sense of life” and a “purpose to push on”.

“Sunrise has given me friendship, connection, a sense of community and belonging … The group has inspired me and pushed me to be a better version of myself,” she said.

“Because of a referral from Sunrise I am returning to study via Deakin University …

Sunrise has made me rise above.

“I have been accepted for who I am and supported through my struggles for the first time ever.”

Details: https://genwest.org.au/what-we-do/ health-wellbeing-programs/

The state government is introducing a new process providing standardised dates and forms for all government schools. Education Minister Natalie Hutchins said the new approach to enrolling children into prep will streamline the process for families, with applications now accepted from the start of term two until July 28.

Parents and carers will receive offer letters back by August 11, while applications received after July 28 will be considered by schools as they are received. As in previous years, families with children in year 6 will receive a placement information pack at the start of term two which includes an application for year 7 placement form.

These will need to be submitted by May 12, with students across Victoria receiving offer letters on July 19.

Nursing boost Nursing and midwifery students may have access to free degrees, scholarships, and sign-on bonuses thanks to state government’s Free Nursing and Midwifery initiative.

As part of this initiative, more than 10,000 Victorian nursing and midwifery students who begin their studies this year or next will be reimbursed up to $16,500 – covering the cost of their degree. Applications for all scholarships open Apri 26.

FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Wyndham Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

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Ramp and lane changes at the M80 interchange

From 9pm Friday 14 April - 5am Monday 15 May

Upcoming ramp and lane closures As we continue to build new ramps and re-build lanes along the West Gate Freeway and at the M80 interchange, we need to close some ramps and lanes at the interchange to make room for ongoing works.

What this means From 9pm Friday 14 April - 5am Monday 15 May: • One lane will be closed on the Princes Freeway inbound at the interchange. Please follow signs and allow extra travel time.

• During this time, we will also close the Princes Freeway citybound ramp to Geelong Road and Princes Freeway citybound ramp to the West Gate Freeway overnight.

Detours will be in place. For exact dates and times, go to bigbuild.vic.gov.au/disruptions

Remember that other works may be happening at the same time.

Check for disruptions at bigbuild.vic.gov.au/disruptions Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

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‘Critical’ need for blood Western suburbs residents are being encouraged to register their pets as blood donors as pet blood supplies reach “critical levels”.

The Greencross Veterinary Hospital at the University of Melbourne’s Werribee site put out the call last week as supplies across the network of speciality and emergency hospitals dwindled.

Vets use blood products to treat patients with many life-threatening conditions, such as severe blood loss from trauma, rat bait toxicity, and some immune-mediated diseases and infectious diseases.

Like human hospitals, veterinary hospitals rely on blood donor programs to ensure quick access to safe blood for critical patients who need life-saving blood transfusions.

Greencross Veterinary Hospital emergency and critical care specialist and clinical director Liam Donaldson said the hospital is in desperate need of blood donations.

“Just as we rely on blood donations, pets also need their fellow furry friends to be blood donors and our supplies are running extremely low. We are now at a point where we need to make difficult decisions in terms of which patients receive blood products – as an emergency vet this is a choice we never ever want to be forced to make,” Dr Donaldson said.

“Unfortunately, with our blood donor program containing such low reserves, and given the current situation, blood transfusions for pets cannot be guaranteed. Without urgent blood donations, many of our patients will be left in a dire situation.

“Accessing blood on short notice is not always possible for a couple of reasons – firstly because pets don’t have a national blood bank like we do for humans, and secondly dogs and cats can only donate so much blood at one time.

By having a group of willing donors on call, we

Greencross Veterinary Hospital’s first blood donor, Lenny, a 15-month-old Golden retriever. (Supplied)

can ensure that we have ample supply for when our pets and clients need it the most.”

Dr Donaldson encourages pet owners with a healthy dog or cat to consider registering their pet as a blood donor.

Pets must meet specific criteria to enrol to be a blood donor. Dog blood donors must weigh over 23 kilograms, be between one and five years old, be up-to-date with all vaccinations,

worming and external parasite control, be in good health and have never received a blood transfusion. Cat blood donors must be of a larger build and weigh over 4kg be aged between one and five years, be up-to-date with vaccinations, worming and external parasite control, be in good health and have never received a blood transfusion.

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Nominate now Victorians are encouraged to nominate women in their communities who have made significant and lasting contributions to society, with the 2023 Victorian Honour Roll of Women now open.

Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins last week opened nominations for the Honour Roll, inviting the community to put forward women nominees while paying tribute to the hundreds of women honoured in the past. More than 700 women whose achievements have helped shape Victoria, the nation and the globe have been inducted into the Honour Roll since it began in 2001.

“Women from diverse backgrounds and from all walks of life have made lasting contributions to our state, and we want to shine a light on their achievements for the next generation of women and girls,“ Ms Hutchins said.

“Some of our previous inductees forged new paths for women today by challenging outdated ideas of what a woman can do, while others are young women redefining what leadership is for the future.“ Women from all walks of life, age groups and across industries – from health, science and technology, arts and education to politics and community activism – have been recognised as trailblazers, local champions and change agents. In recent years, nomination categories have expanded to include emerging leaders aged between 16 and 30 who are redefining leadership in their field of expertise, interest or endeavour.

Nominations for the 2023 Victorian Honour Roll of Women are open until Monday, 29 May.

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Wednesday, 12 April, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 7

NEWS STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Cost of living a worry for youth

By Sibanengi Dube The Salvation Army has warned against neglecting young Australians in need of mental health services to cushion them from persistent effects of COVID-19 lockdown.

Brimbank Salvation Army captain Colin Reynolds made the remarks in response to a report released on Monday, April 3 by headspace, titled National Youth Mental Health, which painted a bleak picture of the youths’ mental health status.

Mr Reynolds called for more funding of young people’s projects and programmes being carried by headspace.

“More works still needs to be done to help the youth from mental health problems emanating from the pandemic which restricted them from schooling and social

interactions,“ Mr Reynolds said. headspace National Youth Mental Health survey identified cost of living and rental bills as the major sources of their headaches.

This survey was conducted on young people aged between 18 and 25.

“New research … has revealed the cost of living as the single biggest concern for young Australians, with the affordability of housing and rent also significant causes for worry,” reads part of the report.

The headspace National Youth Mental Health Survey asked young people to name their top three concerns, with financial instability and cost of living coming out on top. The issue was cited by 54 per cent of participants aged 18 to 25 as something they wanted to see addressed urgently.

Housing affordability came second as the

most common concern among the younger generation, with 42 per cent listing it as one of their top concerns.

The survey data features as part of a headspace submission to the Senate Select Committee on the Cost of Living. The submission from headspace details key focus areas for government, including: improving access to and out of pocket expenses for mental health services; investment in vocational services; the need to identify and support young people not captured in unemployment data.

The youths also expressed doubt over their future capacity to either buy houses or afford paying rentals.

Most of the young adults said they were even reluctant to have children due to the cost of living..

“The headspace Youth National Mental Health survey also found that over half of participants aged 18-25 (52 per cent) said they are hesitant to have children because of the cost of living,” reads the report. headspace chief executive Jason Trethowan said: “Young people are telling headspace they feel anxious about how the rising cost of living is going to impact their ability to achieve major life milestones, like moving out of home or saving for a house.

“It is also incumbent on governments to take steps to alleviate these pressures, so that young people and their families can afford the things they need to lead happy, healthy lives.

“Together we need to be finding ways to help young people feel optimistic about their futures.”

Walk highlights the need for better bus services Mambourin estate residents hit the streets last weekend to highlight the shortage of bus services in the area.

Residents were joined by the team from Little Growling Cafe, Friends of Earth, Point Cook Action Group, the sustainable cities team and WYNBUS, as well as Wyndham councillors Peter Maynard, Robert Szatkowski, Sahana Ramesh, Jasmine Hill and mayor Susan McIntyre.

One of the organisers, Senthill Sundaram, said the Bus Marathon event involved participants walking to the estate’s closest bus stop.

He said Mambourin residents have to walk 15 to 30 minutes to catch a bus.

“Public transport is almost not viable and not safe for most residents as they walk through streets without street lighting,” he said.

“They are forced to buy a second car or quit jobs or take a risky walk.”Mr Sundaram said that during the walk, councillors heard about the challenges residents face trying to catch a bus including a lack of street lights and construction rubbish on paths.

Participants have called for the introduction on-demand buses in the area, such as those operating in Tarneit.

Participants at the Mambourin Bus Marathon event. (Supplied)

Steve’s a top Aussie truckie A Point Cook resident has been named as the country’s top truckie.

Steven Broadbent was named the National Professional Driver of the Year at the Australian Trucking Association’s gala awards dinner on Friday, March 31.

Mr Broadbent works for Freestone’s Transport and has been driving trucks for over 40 years.

“It was a complete surprise to find out I’d been nominated, and very humbling to be named a finalist,” he said. “To be named as the winner was just amazing, it blew my mind!”

During his time as a professional driver, Mr Broadbent has covered more than six million kilometres.

Travelling mainly along the east coast of

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Australia, delivering freight from Melbourne to Sydney and Brisbane, he has also carted some interesting loads.

“I was responsible for taking an MRI machine from Sydney to Perth Hospital, that was a very special trip. These machines are full of radiation, so it was classified as a dangerous load,” Mr Broadbent said.

Another stand-out was after last year’s Australian Grand Prix, where Mr Broadbent was in charge of carrying the precious Ferrari fleet to Avalon Airport.

“I had to drive around the track in the truck to get to where they load the freight onto the trailer, and you don’t realise how narrow and slippery the road is until you drive it with the barriers and chicanes all in place,” he said.

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Belinda with new-born son Oliver, and two year-old Arlo. Both boys were born outside of Wyndham, but spent time as patients in Werribee Mercy Hospital’s Special Care Nursery. (Joe Mastroianni) 226335_01

By Alesha Capone Demand for birthing suites at Werribee Mercy Hospital has reached capacity.

The hospital welcomed 3833 babies in 2020, slightly lower than the 3888 babies delivered there in 2019.

Health services chief executive Jason Payne said Werribee Mercy Hospital’s birthing numbers had remained steady over the past two years because the birthing suites were unable to accommodate any more expectant mums.

He said some pregnant women within the Werribee Mercy Hospital catchment are

being forced to use services at public hospitals outside the area.

“The demand exists for Werribee Mercy Hospital to deliver more babies locally but this cannot occur without expanded facilities,” Mr Payne said.

“It would be preferable that local families had access to more of the best high quality and safe public birthing services at Werribee Mercy Hospital, so they don’t have to travel.”

Mr Payne said planning was under way to boost the capacity of the birthing suites.

“A third stage of Werribee Mercy Hospital, which is currently in the final stages of planning, will involve the creation of more

birthing suites, additional post-natal beds, and other ante and post-natal facilities, accompanied by additional midwifery and nursing staff.

“Based on demand for existing maternity services, it is projected that Werribee Mercy Hospital would be well placed to meet an anticipated increase in demand of up to 30 per cent more babies in the western metro area.”

Mr Payne said Mercy Health has been working with the Victorian Health and Human Services Building Authority and the Department of Health and Human Services since 2016 to prepare for the future needs of Werribee Mercy.

In November’s state budget, $4.8 million was allocated to finalise planning for the third stage of the hospital’s development.

“We have acknowledged publicly the funding was a clear sign the voices of the people of the west of Melbourne are being heard and government is committed to meeting a major upgrade,” Mr Payne said.

Mercy Health Group chief executive, Adjunct Professor Stephen Cornelissen, said the next stage of Werribee Mercy Hospital’s construction required $300 million in funding “to ensure the people of Wyndham receive the level and quality of health services they deserve and need”.

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Volvo Group Australia emerging technology business development vice president Paul Illmer with Steven Broadbent. (Peter Shields, Prime Creative Media)

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NEWS

Grants for road safety projects The state government has supported Victorian councils to deliver road safety projects in their local areas, including in Wyndham.

As part of the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) Local Government Grant Program 2022, Wyndham council received a share of $1.6 million in grants alongside 26 other councils.

The program gives councils the opportunity to work with locals to address road safety issues affecting vulnerable road users in their area and implement solutions, by coming up with a project to overcome them.

Pedestrians and people who ride bikes are vulnerable on and around roads due to their lack of protection, and an above-average number of both road user groups lost their lives on the state’s roads in 2022.

So far this year, five bicycle riders and five pedestrians have lost their lives on Victorian roads.

The state government invited councils to apply for grants of up to $30,000 for analysis projects, and up to $100,000 for infrastructure projects.

Together, the councils would deliver 35 road

safety projects – 18 of which are infrastructure and 17 are various analysis projects spanning across inner and outer metro, rural and regional LGAs. The infrastructure projects would include 16 wombat crossings, four shared-user path crossings and two footpaths – all improving safety and accessibility for vulnerable road users.

Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne said everyone needed to play their part to keep local roads safe.

“We need everyone to play their part in

keeping our roads safe,” she said.

“This program gives Victorian councils the opportunity to work with locals to address the road safety issues that matter most in their area and develop solutions that will boost safety on our roads and help save lives.”

TAC chief executive Joe Calafiore said the TAC was proud to support Victorian councils in their efforts.

“By investing in targeted road safety projects, we can create safer roads and better protect those who use them,” he said.

Youth mentors needed Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia (BBBS) is seeking volunteer mentors to meet “overwhelming” demand for the program’s expansion into Melbourne’s west.

BBBS supports at-risk young people through long term, one-on-one mentoring in which young people aged seven to 17 are matched with a mentor to spend one to two hours a week with for a minimum of 12 months.

Mentors spend their time with young people doing activities specific to the young person’s interests, and provide a safe environment to help build confidence and resilience.

Noah, 13, said he has enjoyed the six months he’s spent with his mentor Anton.

“It has been good because I get to hang out with Anton and I get to learn things from him.

We play soccer and basketball and we go out for ice cream,” he said. “Once we went to WynCity and we got to play bowling and arcade games and I loved that, I thought it was really fun.”

BBBS chief executive Mark Watt said the

organisation has a wait list of over 50 young people waiting to be paired with mentors across Melton, Brimbank, Wyndham and Hobsons Bay. “We’ve been operating for many years in Melbourne but we’ve just started a new program in the western suburbs … We started about six months ago and we found the need for BBBS mentoring overwhelming,” he said.

“It’s really as easy as developing a friendship with a young person and doing positive activities … activities for young people just wanting to spend time with someone, and have someone in their lives.

“We find the outcome is often a young person gaining confidence, gaining social skills, reducing their fears, their anxiety, and really just participating more in the community, and in healthier activities.”

Details: https://bigbrothersbigsisters.org.au/ Liam McNally

Noah and his BBBS mentor Anton. (Supplied)

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Wednesday, 12 April, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 9

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Sustainability key for local news

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Local print newspapers like Star Weekly may survive the onslaught of online media.

A national report into local news sustainability is challenging the perception that print newspapers are dead.

The report is calling on governments to revise their advertising rules to help local news providers and better target regional and rural communities.

“Local and regional newspapers continue to play a significant role for local communities,” said Star News Group managing director Paul Thomas.

“They provide a voice, an opportunity for informed public debate and hold the powerful to account.

“Star News Group is proud to continue to provide quality local news with balance and fairness but the conditions are tough.”

The report Media Innovation and the Civic Future of Australia’s Country Press made 22 recommendations.

The finding was the culmination of a three-year Australian Research Council project, led by Deakin University.

Deakin partnered with Country Press Australia, the nation’s peak local news lobby, and RMIT University.

Project lead Professor Kristy Hess, of Deakin’s School of Communications and Creative Arts, said the project’s aim was to examine the local media landscape to identify challenges and opportunities for sustainability and innovation.

“We wanted to examine the challenges facing small-town news providers given the commentary in recent years about the crisis they are facing in Australia and across the world,” she said.

This was the first comprehensive report of its kind in Australia and its recommendations provide a blueprint to preserve and grow rural

10 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 12 April, 2023

Professor Kristy Hess with a copy of her report.

and regional news for future generations.

Country Press Australia president Andrew Manuel said the Media Innovation and the Civic Future of Australia’s Country Press report should be seen as a beginning and not

an end.

Mr Manuel said the report highlights the essential role local papers play in serving their communities and delivering civic journalism.

“This is arguably the most comprehensive

study of our industry ever undertaken and the report stands as a beacon for government, for policy makers and for the community to take the appropriate and necessary actions to ensure newspapers can continue to play such a vital role,” he said.

The study began at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The pandemic resulted in the temporary or permanent closure of dozens of local mastheads across Australia and a shift among some to digital-only platforms.

“The first thing we did was conduct a major national survey to find out what people valued about their local mastheads,” Professor Hess said.

“We found people in many regional and rural towns and cities were passionate about their local mastheads but rejected an over-reliance on syndicated content, in print and digital, sourced from neighbouring areas or other parts of the country.”

The research team conducted two main national surveys – one with local news audiences and one with those who do not engage with local news.

There were 35 interviews with Australian news editors and proprietors and seven interpretive focus groups with editors, journalists and advertising managers within the Country Press Australia network.

One key finding was the strain on local mastheads hit with lost revenue from local, state and federal government advertising.

Advertising in recent years has prioritised social media and metropolitan news outlets with a larger digital reach.

“Our research found there is this obsession with digital reach,” Professor Hess said.

“That’s all well and good, but a local masthead, whether in print or online, isn’t designed to reach one million people.

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‘‘

NEWS

We found people in many regional and rural towns and cities were passionate about their local mastheads but rejected an over-reliance on syndicated content

’’

- Kristy Hess

“If we use the digital reach metric as an indicator as to which news outlets should get government advertising, these independent regional and rural outlets are going to lose out every time.

The report supports a recent Parliamentary Inquiry recommendation that stipulates 20 per cent of all federal government advertising expenditure be directed to regional and rural news organisations.

“Communities without a newspaper rarely have a platform that enables them to be fully informed,” Mr Thomas said.

“They no longer have professionally trained journalists providing balance and seeking out the details.

“They become reliant on social media which has no balance, and most often simply coughs up someone else’s bias.”

Data from the study also showed government funding schemes for local news outlets were often tied to digital innovation.

Funding is often given to buy drones and other technologies.

The report describes a ‘digital shiny things bias’ towards digital innovation at the expense of supporting initiatives that may be most beneficial to rural and regional audiences.

A greater appreciation for place-based public interest journalism and the need for collaboration among publishers were other key findings.

While what local news providers needed was financial support to upgrade print

infrastructure or to hire more staff.

Professor Hess said print is not dead for many regional and rural communities.

“We need to remember there is a digital divide in Australia that means some communities still struggle with poor-quality and unreliable Internet connections.

“Some segments of the community, including older citizens, find it difficult to use newer technologies.

“Younger audiences also like the look of a printed newspaper.”

The report also recommends better incentives, including pay, to attract seasoned reporters to the regions. Governments are also urged to provide seed funding for journalist-led news start-ups to counteract local “news deserts” developing in some parts of Australia.

“Our research shows people in these communities want more local news content, including stories on locals’ achievements, successes and milestones.

“They also want news on local events and more investigative-type pieces.”

Mr Manuel noted that regional newspapers are unique in their ability to give readers an insight into their close community.

“Our members continue to provide the local and civic news that readers crave more than ever, often as the only local media outlet serving a particular region,” he said.

“Coming out of the pandemic, many publishers have reported a strong revival in

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their readership, underpinned by a focus on hyper-local and unique news that has been a common denominator of country papers since their inception.”

The research also found there is more capacity for regional and rural news providers to develop collaborative advocacy and solutions-style reporting campaigns that address important rural and regional issues that span multiple communities.

Mr Thomas said the state government is very supportive of the industry, ensuring important government communications are “provided to local communities through the

local newspapers”.

However he stipulates that this dedication is not reflected in the federal government, who place their announcements solely online.

“Government messages can easily be misconstrued online or end up next to inappropriate material,” he said.

“We call on the federal government to ensure that they provide information to local communities across appropriate platforms and commit to the recommendations of this report by Deakin.”

The report was launched at a national event in Melbourne on March 23.

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Loving our four-legged friends RSPCA Victoria’s 2022 Pet Poll surveyed over 12,000 Victorian pet owners to unveil the quirky relationships they have with their pets. However it seems that these quirks are more common than we might think, as Hannah Hammoud discovers.

H

olly Johannessen lives in Craigieburn with her one-and-a-half-year-old dog, Sir Lexington. Whilst he might have a very fancy name, Holly assures that he is far from it.

“He is extremely playful and very social,” she says.

“He is also really friendly and very, very cuddly. But he is very scent driven and likes to roll around in gross stuff in the grass.”

Holly says that what others might think are quirky habits, is her version of normal, everyday life.

“I talk to Lexington a lot but because I’ve been living on my own, I’ve also noticed that I’ve started talking on his behalf to myself.”

An RSPCA poll revealed that Victorians love to celebrate their pet’s birthdays, with over 74 per cent of dog owners saving their pet’s birthday in their diaries and celebrating with treats and gifts.

Holly threw a kids-esque first birthday party for Sir Lexington as a way to say thank-you to the many people in her personal life who have helped her with Lexington.

“My sister made him a crazy dog cake.

There were decorations and costumes and all of his dog best friends came over.”

‘‘

They make you feel needed and wanted and - Holly Johannesen loved

’’

Holly shares her bed every night with Lexington, she says that for many, including herself, pets are a source of unconditional love.

“They make you feel needed and wanted and loved.”

Tapping into community pride, the poll drew data from across the state with 584 Victorian postcodes represented.

Julie Hargood lives in Craigieburn with her four-legged family of three cats and two dogs, along with four fish and about 100 birds that she feeds each night.

“I put fruit out for the birds and I go through about 20 kilos of seed a week,” she says Julie adopted both her dogs from a local rescue centre, and sheltered all three of her cats after finding them on the street.

“I love animals. I know this sounds awful, but I love animals more than people,” says Julie.

“I’ve got T-shirts and denim jackets with my pets’ faces on it, and I’ve also got earrings with them on there.

“The printer I go to, he’s actually printed out stickers so I can put them on my car as well.”

When asked about her quirky habits with her pets, Julie says that with no children of her own, her furry family have become her kids.

“I talk to my animals all the time, we talk about anything and everything. I tell them how much I love them and give them lots of kisses,” she says.

“We bought my 11-year-old dog named Panda a pram because we noticed when we were coming home from the park one day, that he was getting very tired and stopping all the time.”

Julie says while she doesn’t do any special birthday celebrations for her pets, they are spoiled with love each day.

“I suppose they have a birthday every day, they don’t need a special occasion for it” Both Mia Son and Ruby Mcneill adopted rescue animals from Second Chance Animal Rescue in Epping.

Across the poll data, there was a strong consensus with 98.4 per cent of pet owners admitting to speaking to their pets every day, including Mia. “I talk to my pets regularly. I think my 12 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 12 April, 2023

Top left: Holly Johannesen celebrates Sir Lexington’s birthday.

Top right: Julie Hargood prints custom shirts that feature her pets.

Above: Mia Son’s cats, Ozzie and Momo.

Left: Ruby Mcneill adopted her deaf cat Minty from Second Chance Animal Rescue.

(Pictures: Supplied)

oldest cat thought her name was ‘don’t’ for about five years because I would constantly be talking to her to tell her not to do something, or eat something she shouldn’t,” Mia says.

Mia says her cat Momo’s adoption profile describing her as the ‘devil’s spawn’ is what sealed the deal to bring Momo home and keep company with her other trouble-maker

cat, Ozzie.

“She was literally described as a demon and I thought, good, my demon needs a friend.”

The RSPCA poll shared that 79.3 per cent of the combined respondents let their pets sleep in their bed. This is true for both Ruby and Mia who each have three pets at home and share a crowded bed with them.

Ruby says the double bed she shares with her partner has been taken over by her three cats.

“Leia the kitten will sleep pretty much on top of my face. Anna the ragdoll will sleep under the doona cuddled up next to me. And the last one, Minty, will sleep at the end of the bed.”

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COMMENT

Easy X-rays for eager meerkats An exciting animal healthcare initiative at Werribee Open Range Zoo is enabling keepers to take voluntary X-rays of its meerkats without the need for a medical procedure under anesthetic.

A zoo training program is teaching the meerkats to confidently step onto an X-ray plate, which is placed by zoo veterinarians and keepers inside the meerkats’ habitat, while a portable X-ray machine secures the medical imagery.

It’s being made possible thanks months of training and trust building between staff and animals, a custom designed X-ray device, and the meerkats’ enthusiasm for a rewarding tasty treat.

Werribee Open Range Zoo African River Trail keeper Eliza Baker said it’s exciting to see meerkats enthusiastically and intelligently participating in the X-ray sessions.

“All of the scans are being taken within the meerkats’ habitat, which means the meerkats don’t need to leave the comfort of their own home, and we’re minimising any potential stress,” Ms Baker said.

The healthcare training of the meerkats is part of a zoo-wide animal training program that provides the highest quality healthcare for the animals. Based on the scientific

approach of Applied Behaviour Analysis, the training uses positive reinforcement, provides choice and control, and allows the animals to voluntarily participate in their own medical check-ups, which significantly reduces any stress and handling.

The portable X-ray device was designed by zookeepers, vets, and the Zoo’s trade staff.

An X-ray machine is attached to the top of an adjustable tripod that has the capability to be manoeuvred into a range of positions.

Ms Baker said the key to acquiring the clear radiographs of the inquisitive and active African native animals is to encourage them to remain as still as possible.

“The meerkats absolutely love peanut butter, so we find they will approach us voluntarily and remain still enough to ensure the X-rays are sharp, allowing our vets to make accurate medical assessments,” Ms Baker said.

“They are generally very eager to participate because their involvement is always positively rewarded with some high value nutritious treats.”

The meerkat X-ray training is part of a proactive healthcare routine at the Zoo.

Meerkats participating in their healthcare through voluntary X-rays. (Supplied: Zoos Victoria)

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Wednesday, 12 April, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 13

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

40 years ago

30 years ago

20 years ago

9 years ago

April 12, 1983

April 14, 1993

April 9, 2003

April 9, 2014

Werribee Shire Council last night gave the go-ahead to Woolworth’s for the construction of a Big W store of 3400 sq. metres next to the Cherry Street rail crossing.

A fight between two youth escalated to involved more than 100 young people, including 40 onlookers, Werribee Court heard last week.

Two masked men held a couple and their six-week-old child at knifepoint and threatened to kill them in a 40-minute siege at the family’s Werribee South home last week.

Former war nurse Fran Ruddle says she will never forget the things she saw during her time in Vietnam. The Hoppers Crossing resident, who spent 12 months working in an intensive care unit in Vung Tau, says Anzac Day is an important opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made by soldiers and their families.

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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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14 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 12 April, 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

Wyndham Rotary Wyndham Rotary welcomes people interested in helping people in need in the community. Interested in finding out more, come to the Italian Sports Club each Wednesday at 6.30pm for join a meal, to share ideas and work for a common cause.

■ Julie, 0406 196 630

CWA Werribee Branch The Country Women’s Association Werribee Branch meets on the third Wednesday of every month at the Wyndham Park Community Centre at 1pm.

Afternoon tea is provided. The branch also has various social outings and fundraising events. Visitors who would like to learn a little of what the CWA do are welcome.

You do not have to be a keen cook or crafty person, just someone looking for friendship.

■ Michelle, 040 7207 801

Friends of Presidents Park The Friends of Presidents Park meets from 10am to noon on the first Thursday of the month, to undertake Landcare activities along the Werribee River through the park and surrounding areas. Bring your own gloves and water. Morning tea provided.

Meeting at the carpark near the Shaws Road Bridge, Heaths Road, near the fenced dog park.

■ admin@werribeeriver.org.au

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.

■ Vanessa, 8742 8000, or enquires@grangecommunity.org.au

This week’s photographer’s choice picture is of scenic artist Paul Anthony, author Heather Anthony and photographer Lawrence Winder. (Damjan Janevski) 326897_01

Seniors club The Werribee Senior Citizens Club Inc 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.

■ 0403 041 499

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.

■ Lou, 0409 331 271

Wyndham Ladies Probus Hoppers Crossing Ladies Probus The friendly and vibrant group meet at 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.

■ 0407 856 519

U3A Werribee 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.

■ Rick, 0402 299 220

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

■ 9741 5525

Western Budgerigar Club 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.

■ Don, 0414 975 862

Are you recently retired or semi-retired?

Looking for fun, fellowship and to increase your social networks. 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.

■ Rosa Sanderson, 0410 303 046

Williamstown book sale Friends of Williamstown and Newport Libraries hold a book sale every second Saturday of each month 9.30am to 12.30pm. The book sale is held in Friends’ Room – entrance from deck on Ferguson Street. Cash only sales.

■ libraries.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au

Heritage walks Enjoy a leisurely one-and-a-half hour walk around historic Williamstown and nearby suburbs with guide John. Walks start at 9.20 am each Tuesday outside the Visitor Information Centre in Nelson Place. Each week is a different week and a printed sheet with the route and points of interest provided each week. Walks are leisurely and we usually end at a café for a tea/ coffee.

■ John, 0418 377 336

Computer classes for beginners A wide range of times and days, at both Altona North Community Centre, and Joan

Kirner House in Williamstown.

■ Lynne, 9397 6168

Palliative volunteers needed Mercy Palliative Care is looking for volunteers to visit palliative care patients in their homes to offer social support.

■ 9313 5700, or MPCVolunteerCoordinators@mercy.com.au

Musicians Wanted Established in 1979, the Westgate Concert Band is seeking new members.

Do you play woodwind, brass or percussion and are looking for a welcoming place to play enjoyable and challenging music?

Rehearsals are held Saturdays during school terms, 9am to noon, at Braybrook College.

■ westgateconcertband@gmail.com

Altona North Combined Probus The Altona North Combined Probus Club meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at Altona Sports Club. Includes a speaker, organised trips and outings, and a friendly atmosphere.

■ Lesley, 0414 481 442

Friendship group Altona Day Voice Interest and Education of Women [VIEW] Club meets at 11am on the third Wednesday of the month at Altona RSL. Funds raised for the Smith Family Learning for life program.

■ Janet, 9394 6522 or 0412 010 176

Willin Wimmin choir Williamstown-based women’s community choir Willin Wimmin is currently welcoming new members to take part in a free no-obligation try out session. The group meets each Wednesday evening in school terms in the Church of Christ hall at the corner of John Street and Douglas Parade in Williamstown from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

There are no auditions and you don’t need to be able to read music.

■ willin.wimmin@gmail.com

AeroSpeakers Toastmasters Club Would you like to develop confidence in communicating, competence with language and clarity in writing?

AeroSpeakers Toastmasters Club would like to invite any and all residents to join them on the first and third Thursday of every month to help develop public speaking, communication and leadership skills. The group meets at the Laverton Community Hub, 95-105 Railway Avenue, Laverton from 7-9.30pm.

■ Vimi Gaoneadry, 0411 530 944

Art workshops The Louis Joel Arts & Community Centre presents MonArt. Workshops for people of all abilities facilitated by community art specialist Amanda Neville, Mondays 10am-11.30am. Cost: $5 casual fee each week.

■ admin@ljac.com.au, or 9398 2511

West Footscray Rotary Diabetes support group The Westgate Diabetes Support Group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at the Altona Bowling Club at 10am.

■ Elaine, 0415 030 996

The Rotary Club of West Footscray meets at the Medway Golf Club in Maidstone for lunch, fellowship and guest speakers each Wednesday from 12.30 until 2pm.

■ David, 0416 497 398 Wednesday, 12 April, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 15

PUZZLES No. 128

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

easy

3 5 6

2 3 9 2 3 6

2 6 7 9 3

3 1 8 3 4

6 1 6 3 9 7

1

Sit for an artist (4) Extinct flying reptile (9) Exaggerate (9)

1 2 4

medium

4 5 8 2 9

27 28 29

24 25

DOWN

9 4 7 8 6 1

8

Pontiff (4) Railway vehicle (10) Ghost (7) Traditions (7) Music-writer (8) Member of a Jamaican religious movement (5) Modern Persia (4) Large warship (10) Thin spaghetti (10) Beatles song, Hey – (4) Of the sun (5) Calculated quantity (8) Consisting of birch wood (7) Make better (7) Impeded (10) Minute particle (4)

14 15 18 20 21 23 26

Happen (5) Witness (7) False gods (5) Simple (a saying) (4,2,3) Straddling (4) Incapable of being seen (9) Chatty (9) Aquatic home (9) Arabic form of Abraham (7) Words for a song (5) Itchy skin condition of animals (5) Umpire (colloq) (4) Duration (4)

5 6 7 8 9 14 16 17 19 22 23

ACROSS 1 3 10 11 12 13

No. 128

DECODER

No. 128

3 5 6 2 8 9

4 7 1 3 4 1 2 8 6 5 9

1 8 hard

6 4

5

6

7

8

9

10 11 12 13

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

G S 16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

AGILE ALIAS ALIVE ALPHA AORTA ASIDE AWARE CASTE CATER CLAWS CLEAN CLIME DEPTH DRESS EERIE ENDOW ENROL ERASE FALSE FEINT FLORA

3

2

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

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

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

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

10 words: Very good

T

I

O

O

O N

M

NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

N G S

I

R I M P A C E R D O R E

P R A

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W

16 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 12 April, 2023

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

S

G S

No. 128

O S E

E

STAVE STEEL TINGE TREAT TWEET URINE WIRES

7 LETTERS AMMONIA AMNESIA AVERAGE EYESORE PRIMARY SASSIER

6 LETTERS DEEPLY EASILY INTACT UNSEAT

8 LETTERS FLAMINGO SALEABLE TIMELESS WEREWOLF

14-04-23

N

O

GAMMA HEELS HERBS IDEAS INNER LIONS MELTS OGLES OPERA PASSE PAWED POLIO RAWER REACH RENDS RESTS REVEL RIVET SOAKS SPREE STATE

coin, commit, common, COMMOTION, coot, icon, into, mono, moon, moot, motion, omit, onto, tonic

P E

I

Today’s Aim: 7 words: Good

4 LETTERS CROP CURL DECK FOOD HENS ISLE LAUD OFFS ORES PEWS REED TIPS TOYS TUNA 5 LETTERS ABIDE

I

A

M

C

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

A

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”.

14 words: Excellent

hard

P

9-LETTER WORD

No. 128

6 7 $ 9 (

1

medium

N

3

3 LETTERS ADD AGO ARE DAB EEL EGO ELK ERA EVE GEL GOT HAS IRK LAP LIP NOT OPT PEP ROW RYE SHE SUP TEA WAR

F R I M J C Z B XQ P K Y

3 8 1 2

easy

5x5

2

15

8 2 6 3 2 9 6 4 1 7

1

14

3 4 1 6 1 4 7 6 2

V H E L DNUWA T OG S

8 4 3 1

WORDFIT

QUICK QUIZ

1

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are characters in which Shakespeare play?

7

Bad Behavior is a podcast hosted by Nikila Cranage and which other person?

2

Which of these languages has the most native speakers: English, Spanish or Hindi?

8

3

How many Australian prime ministers have served since Federation?

Which Roman knight and Cherusci chieftain led an alliance of Germanic peoples in the Battle of Teutoburg Forest?

9

4

What is the second-largest rainforest on Earth?

And in what year did the battle take place?

5

Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis (pictured) both star in which 2020 rom-com?

6

In what year did Thailand change its name from Siam?

10 Uraguay is located on which continent?

ANSWERS: 1. Hamlet 2. Spanish 3. 31 4. The Congo Basin 5. Happiest Season 6. 1939 7. Rosalind Anketell 8. Arminius 9. 9 AD 10. South America

4

QUICK CROSSWORD

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SUDOKU

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Wyndham to enter an residents are being invited which aims amateur photo comp to showcase etitio together how local n durin s came Non-profi g the COVID-19 for Australast group, Bridge Buildpandemic.

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Builders ia for wyndham@ on Facebook or email bbfa gmail.com .

Council ‘soap op era’

By Alesha

been subm itted to the

competitio n. (Supplied)

Capone

Some Wyn “is behaving fire for theirdham councillors like a petul have Othe ant behaviour at a publi during a come under show rs likened the meet child”. c meet . “Someone ing to their Councillor ing last Tuesday. heated debate pass the favourite the acquisition of The deba like child s have been descr the site for governmen te erupt popcorn”.

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NOW OP

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Hoppers Crossing First Serve Tuck Shop 2/10 Dunlop Road Hoppers Crossing Hoppers Indoor Sportz Unit 13/ 55 Graham Court Hoppers Crossing Pacific Werribee Shopping Centre 250Heaths Road, Cnr Derrimut Road Hoppers Crossing Wyndham Library Level 1, MM11 Heaths Road, Cnr Derrimut Road Hoppers Crossing Werribee Plaza Tavern Heaths Road, Cnr Derrimut Road Hoppers Crossing Coles Supermarket 250 Heaths Road, Cnr Derrimut Road Hoppers Crossing APCO Service Station 178 Morris Road Hoppers Crossing Hoppers Crossing Shopping Centre24-48 Old Geelong Road Hoppers Crossing Woodville Park Shopping CentreShop 20/70 Warringa Drive Hoppers Crossing IGA Plus Liquor Shop 4, 2-6 Deloraine Drive Hoppers Crossing Aqua Pulse Café 82 Derrimut Road Hoppers Crossing Coles Express 260 Derrimut Road (Cnr Hogans Road) Hoppers Crossing The Grange Community Centre 260-280 Hogans Road Hoppers Crossing Hoppers Crossing Cricket Club Hogans Road - Hogans Road Reserve (Club House) Hoppers Crossing Super Lotto News agency Shop 8/166 Hogans Road (Hogans Corner Shopping Centre) Hoppers Crossing Woolworths Supermarket Hoppers Crossing (Hogans Corner) Corner Hogans Road & Derrimut Road Hoppers Crossing Tigers Club House 70 Old Geelong Road Hoppers Crossing Popeyes Kebabs 255 Old Geelong Road Keilor Park Star Weekly Office Unit 6/19 Thomson Road (Cnr Keilor Park Drive)

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Laverton Ray White Real Estate 6/161 Railway Avenue Manor Lakes Manor Lakes News & Lotto Shop 14, 455 Ballan Road (Manor Lakes Central Shopping Centre) Manor Lakes Manor Lakes Shopping Centre 455 Ballan Road (Manor Lakes Central Shopping Centre) Point Cook Featherbrook Shopping Centre 238 Boardwalk Boulevard Point Cook Wyndham Library Service Unit 1-21 Cheetham Street Point Cook Point Cook Pharmacy Shop 1-11 Dunnings Road Point Cook Jamieson Way Community Centre 59 Jamieson Way Point Cook Direct Chemist Outlet Shop 13, 15 Kenswick Street Point Cook Stockland Point Cook Shopping Centre Murnong Street Point Cook Saltwater Community Centre 153 Saltwater Promenade Point Cook Saltwater Coast Sales Office 261 Saltwater Promenade Point Cook The Brooks 215S neydes Road Point Cook YPA Real Estate Shop 10/46-56 Tom Roberts Parade Point Cook Wyn City 36 Wallace Avenue Sanctuary Lakes Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club 70 Greg Norman Drive Sanctuary Lakes Sanctuary Lakes Resort 72 Greg Norman Drive Sanctuary Lakes Waterstone Café Sanctuary Lakes 72 Greg Norman Drive Sanctuary Lakes Sanctuary Lakes Real Estate 300 Point Cook Road Sanctuary Lakes Sanctuary Lakes Shopping Centre 300 Point Cook Road Tarneit Tarneit Central Shopping Centre 540 Derrimut Road Tarneit NewsXpress - Riverdale Village SC 200 Hummingbird Boulevard Tarneit Penrose Promenade Community Centre 83 Penrose Promenade Tarneit Brian Mark Real Estate Shop 18, 380 Sayers Road Tarneit Wyndham Village Shopping Centre 380 Sayers Road Tarneit Shell Service Station 380 Sayers Road (Wyndham Village

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Shopping Centre) Tarneit Barry Plant Real Estate Shop 9, 380 Sayers Road (Wyndham Village Shopping Centre) Tarneit Community Centre - Tarneit 150 Sunset Views Boulevard Tarneit Serranos Cafe 747 Tarneit Road ( Tarneit Gardens SC ) Truganina Koomail Tardy Community Centre 117 Alcock Road Truganina Palm Lakes Resort 7 Taronga Road Truganina Arndell Park Community Centre 29-49 Federation Boulevard Werribee Eagles Stadium Café 35 Ballan Road Werribee Ison Village 150-168 Bulban Road Werribee Casaccio Egg Farm 170-198 Bulban Road Werribee IGA Supermarket 92-94 Cottrell Street Werribee Mercy Place Wyndham 39 Deutgam Street Werribee Werribee Park Motor Inn 112-124Duncans Road Werribee Italian Sports Club 601 Heaths Road Werribee The Woman’s Hub 236 Hoppers Lane Werribee St Vincent’s Private Hospital 240 Hoppers Lane Werribee St Vincent’s Care Services Werribee 240 Hoppers Lane Werribee Wyndham City Council 45 Princes Highway Werribee Werribee Mercy Hospital Coffee Shop300Princes Highway Werribee SIMS IGAWerribee Village Cnr Shaws & Tarneit Rd Werribee Tatts Lotto16Station Place Werribee Westwoods First National1Synnot Street Werribee Werribee RSL2A Synnot Street (Kelly Park) Werribee Werribee Fersh Market2/57Synnot Street Werribee OBrien Real EstateShop 2/85Synnot Street Werribee Cellarbrations 52-54 Vincent Crescent

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Werribee Professionals Triwest 6a Watton Street Werribee Bendigo Bank 42 Watton Street Werribee P. Di Natale Real Estate 44 Watton Street Werribee Coles Supermarket 143 Watton Street Werribee Wyndham Cultural Centre 177 Watton Street Werribee Hodges Werribee Level 1/1 Watton Street Werribee Raine and HorneShop 4, 1-13 Watton Street Werribee Barry Plant Real Estate 21 Watton Street Werribee YPA Real Estate 1 Werribee Street Werribee Wyndham Private Medical Centre 242 Hoppers Lane Werribee IPEP Clinic University Werribee Campsus Gate 1, Building 12 - 235 Hoppers Lane Werribee South Werribee South General Store 785 Duncans Road Werribee South Wyndham Cache (LT’s Egg Farm)1K Ave Werribee South Anglers Anchorage Take Away 67 O’Connors Road Williams Landing Williams Landing News, Lotto & Tobacco Shop T10, 100 Overton Road (Williams Landing Shopping Centre) Williams Landing Woolworths Supermarket 100 Overton Road (Williams Landing Shopping Centre) Wyndham Vale BP Service Station 210 Ballan Road Wyndham Vale Woolworths 205 Greens Road (Wyndham Vale Square Shopping Centre) Wyndham Vale IGA Wyndham Vale 50 Honour Avenue Wyndham Vale Iramoo Community Centre 84 Honour Avenue Wyndham Vale Manor Lakes Community Learning Centre 86 Manor Lakes Boulevard Wyndham Vale 7 Eleven Wyndham Vale Corner McGrath Road & Ballan Road

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SPORTS QUIZ 1. The West Coast Fever won their first Suncorp Super Netball premiership in what year?

4. Caitlin Clark plays for which NCAA team?

5. How many English Premier League managers have lost their jobs in this current season?

2. Who won the 2023 Formula One Melbourne Grand Prix?

3. How many goals did Gold Coast Sun’s Jack Lukosius kick in his team's round three clash against Geelong?

6. Before this year, which AFL reigning premier was the last team to start the new season 0-3?

7. True or false: the above team still played finals that year.

8. Australian cricketer Marcus Stoinis plays for which IPL team?

9. What is the name of the 2023 film about Michael Jordan's partnership with Nike?

10. Melbourne Ice were defeated by which team in the final of the 2023 AWIHL season?

11. Which F1 driver faced chaos after his car caught on fire in the F1 qualifying race?

12. Which AFL coach recently skipped a flight with Hawthorn players on board?

13. Who is the captain of the Australian Diamonds netball team?

Michael Jordan

14. Which French club does Aussie defender Ellie Carpenter play for?

15. Chelsea will face which team in the 2023 Womens Champions League semifinal?

16. How many goals did Bulldogs star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan kick during the round three game between Western Bulldogs and Brisbane Lions?

17. Which V8 Supercars driver is considered to have made ‘The Shoey’ famous?

18. Which US actor portrays the titular character in the boxing-centred Creed films?

22. Australian Formula One driver Oscar Piastri competes for which motor racing team?

28. Which former Hawk and Eagle coaches Hawthorn?

29. Seton Hall University's basketball team is known by what nickname?

23. The 2022 movie Rise is based on the story of which current NBA star?

30. Which former NBL player and coach was named head coach of South East Melbourne Phoenix?

24. Which country was dropped as host of the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup?

19. In skiing, if a person is known as a ‘jerry’ would they be good or bad at skiing?

25. Australian point guard Georgia Amoore plays basketball for which US college?

20. In boxing, what does ‘RTD’ mean?

21. Which two teams qualified for the final of the 2023 NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament?

26. Brad Thorn is head coach of which Australia-based Super Rugby team?

27. Which horse won the 2023 Australian Cup?

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Kia SUV Hybrid left high and dry

By Derek Ogden, Marque Motoring Long COVID? Try long Kia. The South Korea automobile maker is suffering lingering post-pandemic ‘sickness’ with its Sorento Hybrid SUV being held up by supply issues and the maker offering the vehicle in top-spec GT-Line only. The same goes for the Plug-in Hybrid.

The Sorento sports utility vehicle has been a major part of the Kia catalogue for two decades, with the fourth generation seeing the light of day in 2020 in petrol and diesel variants. Now the range is topped off with petrol / electric hybrids boasting room for seven occupants.

The hybrid range kicks off with the front-wheel-drive variant selling for $66,750 before on-road costs. The all-wheel-drive version carries a $3000 premium, pushing the price up to $69,750. The plug-in hybrid Sorento is on sale from $80,330 before on-roads.

On test was the entry-level Sorento GT-Line Hybrid front-wheel drive, which sells for $66,750 ($72,566, driveaway). Like all Kias the vehicle is covered by the manufacturer’s seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty, with roadside assistance.

Styling While retaining much of the Sorento family physical features, the Hybrid has evolved with a new interpretation of the trademark ‘tiger nose’ grille. It’s now wider, wrapping around the integrated LED headlights on each side.

This assertive nose is complemented by a wider lower air intake, incorporating wing-shaped air curtains to channel air around the vehicle.

Interior Quilted Nappa leather appointed seats (front heated and ventilated) set the theme for a cabin of quality materials and craftsmanship.

Three-stage climate control air-conditioning means comfort all round for occupants, while rear window retractable blinds help keep the heat at bay and offer privacy for occupants.

Take time out to choose one of the 64 colours that bathes the cabin in ambient light, pick something from the Sounds of Nature soundscape, or just switch off entirely with the quiet of the passenger talk in-car intercom.

Access to the third row of seats is made relatively easy by dropping the 60:40 second-row seatbacks with a handle on the side of the base and sliding the seat forward.

The Kia Sorento Hybrid model can be distinguished with reworked front end and unique designer alloy wheels. (Pictures: Supplied)

Infotainment Customising is the name of the game with a 10.25-inch full-colour touchscreen atop the centre console, plus a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster directly in front of the driver. A colour head-up display, includes speedo and speed limits on the windscreen.

The touchscreen comes up with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity, satellite navigation details, including a sharp map display, and access to the 12-speaker Bose audio.

Engines / transmissions The Sorento Hybrid is powered by Kia’s 132 kW / 265 Nm four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine combined with a 44 kW / 264 Nm electric motor, charging a 1kWh lithium-ion battery situated under the boot floor.

Power is put to ground via a six-speed torque converter automatic transmission, operated by a large knob on the centre console, and front-wheel drive.

Safety The Sorento gained a five-star safety rating in 2020 and includes autonomous emergency braking with vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist detection, junction assist, lane-keep assist, lane follow assist (centring), blind-spot assist, rear cross-traffic alert, parking collision 20 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 12 April, 2023

avoidance, adaptive cruise control with stop and / go, front and rear parking sensors, driver attention alert, multi-collision braking and safe exit assist As well as 360-degree view of the vehicle when parking and blind-spot assist, on activation of a turn indicator, the wide-angle surround view monitor displays live footage of other vehicles in blind spots on the instrument cluster. It also helps wheels keep their distance from scuffing the sidewalk.

Passive safety is taken care of with seven airbags, including front-centre side.

Driving The Kia Sorento Hybrid has slipped quietly (literally) into Australia, bringing a new purpose to the Sorento family, thanks to a sophisticated powertrain and some of Kia’s most advanced technology.

Setting off is under the auspices of the electric motor alone producing maximum torque on tap instantly. The petrol engine joins in tandem only when needed for added acceleration or under load.

These switches back and forth are so smooth as to undetectable to the driver.

Indeed, the only indication that the car is acting strictly as an electric vehicle is by the letters EV displayed on the instrument panel.

It is not possible to control these actions

manually; they are automatic powertrain decisions.

Drive modes, such as ECO, Normal, Sport and Smart can be dialled up by means of a centre-console knob. I found Smart worked well for me as a family cruiser. Kia claims a combined urban / highway petrol consumption of 5.3 litres per 100 kilometres.

The test vehicle recorded 6.7 litres per 100 kilometres in a mix of mainly town and some country driving.

Anxiety about how far the Sorento hybrid will go without flattening the powertrain battery is absent as the engine and regenerative braking do the charging automatically.

By activating the turn signal, the wide-angle surround view monitors display live footage of other vehicles in blind spots on the instrument cluster.

Summary With hybrid orders reportedly banked up to the end of next year, the Kia Sorento Hybrid GT-Line front-wheel drive states a compelling case for being one of the best large seven-seat sports utility family cruisers around. Step up to the all-wheel drive model for access to Terrain Select to help take care of tricky conditions off road in sand, mud, snow etc.

AT A GLANCE MODEL RANGE Sorento GT-Line V6 FWD: $62,070 ($65,990 driveaway) Sorento GT-Line Diesel AWD: $65,070 ($68,990) Sorento GT-Line Hybrid FWD: $66,750 ($72,566) Sorento GT-Line Hybrid AWD: $69,750 ($76,409) Sorento GT-Line Plug-in Hybrid: $80,330 ($88,381) SPECIFICATIONS Kia Sorento GT-Line Hybrid 1.6L turbocharged, 4-cylinder petrol engine / electric

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

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

SPORT

Falcons overcome slow start to claim solid win City West Falcons overcame a sloppy start to get a good win against the North East Blaze in the Victorian Netball League championship division.

The Blaze entered the match undefeated, but proved no match for the Falcons, who put up a really strong defensive game in the 67-47 win.

Falcons coach Marg Lind said they were pretty happy with the performance after they settled.

“It was a good win,” she said.

“We took a while to get going. We were sloppy in the first quarter and then hit our straps.

“We had been making too many errors in the attack end, taking too many risks. We need to settle down a bit and be more disciplined with the feed.

“They were massive risks we were taking under pressure, we should be consolidating at the start of the game.”

The Falcons goalers shared the load around with Jane Cook shooting 26 goals, Uneeq

Palavi shot 25 and Maddy Gray 16 goals.

Lind kept a pretty solid midcourt combination throughout the match, with them settling after the first quarter.

She again made changes at both ends, to mix and match with Blaze.

Defenders Zoe Davies and Sienna Allen were the standouts “Zoe was seeing them like watermelons,” she said. “She had like 20 intercepts and played out of her skin.

“As a team we normally aim for 16, so we don’t know what was going on.

“Sienna was playing her former club. It can go one of two ways and it went the right way for us. She’s starting to show some good signs of improvement.”

The win moves the Falcons up to second spot at the Easter break. Lind said it was a bit of a mental relief being in the top four at this point of the season.

“Much better than last year,” she said. “It shows our match play preparation was better.”

The Falcons’ under-19s remain undefeated with a come from behind win, with the Blaze also entering the match undefeated.

The division 1 side came back 14 goals down to one goal in the final minute, before losing by two goals.

Lind said the group was still finding their feet. The competition now doesn’t return to April 21 due to Easter and the under-17 and under-19 national championships.

Several Falcons players will be in action during those championships.

Mikaela Minns, Charli Nicol, Teal Hocking and Charlotte Sexton are all in the under-19 team, while Mackenzie O’Dwyer and Elisa Butterworth-Gonebale are in the under-17 team, Lind said most of those girls had come through the pathway at the Altona association which was positive for what the program was doing.

Tara Murray

Zoe Davies was a standout on Wednesday night. (Robbab Photography)

Sports shorts Athletics Western Athletics duo Brayen Portelli and Frankleen Newah-Jarfoi both won gold medals at the Australian Track and Field Championships. Portelli was part of the winning open 4 x 100 metre relay team, while Newah-Jarfoi was part of the under-20 4 x 100 metre gold medal team. Newah-Jarfoi also won bronze in the under-20 100 metres. Amy Cashin was on bronze in the open 3000 metre steeplechase.

Athletes from the club finished in the top 10 in a further eight events.

Bowls Werribee’s Brendan Barker has been named in the Bowls Victoria senior state trial squad. The trials, which is for players 60 and older, will be hosted by the Bendigo Bowls Club on April 14 and will coincide with the third edition of the City v Country event to be held at the weekend following.

Big V

Julia Sardo. (GAZiPhoto/Western United)

Sardo excited for finals

By Tara Murray Western United was seen as the underdog heading into the system and it will take that mentality into the A-League Women’s finals.

United stunned most with their first season, sitting on top of the ladder for most of the season.

While Sydney claimed the premier’s plate, United did enough to seal second spot and a second chance come finals.

Julia Sardo, who has played with both Melbourne City and Perth Glory previously, said it was pretty special for the group.

“It’s so exciting, especially in our first season,” she said.

“It’s pretty exciting for everyone and we want to keep it going into the finals. Everyone is really pumped and it’s extra special being the first team and the first season.”

Sardo said while the group was disappointed not to claim the premiers plate after the season they had, they weren’t dwelling on it.

She said they had still accomplished a lot this season that they could be proud of.

“We were the underdogs at the start,” she said. “No one expected us to be where we are.

“On top for most of the year … We’re really proud of each other.

“The focus is now on winning finals.”

Sardo said there had been some challenges being a new side and gelling together. She said the group had come together really well.

“It has been good,’ she said. There have been a lot of different people come in from all parts of the world.

“It makes it really cool and there was that challenge to have everyone gel together. We all connected from the start.

“Some of us have played with each other at Calder United, it has really helped the team connect.”

That Calder connection is one that many of the players have spoken about. Sardo said she had always wanted another chance at the top level and being part of Western United made it more special.

Sardo said that the connection between Western United and Calder United had helped everyone feel at home.

She said the culture at Western United was

different from the other A-League clubs she’d been at.

“There is a real togetherness vibe with the players, coaches and staff,” she said.

“Everyone is really close.”

Sardo is not a stranger to big matches, having been part of several Calder title winning sides, alongside many of her Western United teammates.

She said this is the next level.

“We’re definitely still underdogs,” she said.

“We need to prepare on and off the field to be in the right mindset.

“We will look after our bodies earlier in the week, mindful we have a big couple of weeks ahead.”

United faces Sydney United on Sunday for a spot in the grand final. The loser will then play either Melbourne City or Melbourne Victory in the preliminary final.

Sardo said she’s expecting a big game.

“We won the first game against them and they won the second time,” she said of Sydney.

“It’s anyone’s game and whoever is more prepared on the day and in the right mindset and attitude on the day, that is whoever wins.”

Wyndham’s Amanda Paschal has been named the Big V women’s state championship player of the month. Paschal averaged 17 points, 13 rebounds and six steals for the month of March to receive the award.

Wyndham was undefeated at the the Easter break. Wyndham this week has double header, facing the McKinnon Cougars on Saturday night and the Pakenham Warriors on the Sunday.

The men’s team also faces McKinnon on Saturday night, before a top of the table clash with Hume City Broncos on Sunday.

A-League Western United stars Jaclyn Sawicki and Kahli Johnson have joined camp with their respective national teams ahead of the A-League Women finals series. Sawicki has jetted off to Tajikistan for three big matches over the next week as the Philippines begin the qualification campaign for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Johnson, meanwhile, has crossed the border into Canberra for a week-long training camp with the Young Matildas.

FOR MORE SPORT, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Wyndham Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly Wednesday, 12 April, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 21

Jets regroup after falling short against Cannons The Western Jets remain without a win in the Coates Talent League Boys competition, after falling short against the Calder Cannons on Good Friday.

The two old western suburbs rivals did battle at Highgate Reserve, with the Cannons kicking away in the last quarter to come home with the win The Cannons won 13.17 (95)-11.6 (72).

Just a goal separated the two teams at quarter time, but the Cannons lead could have been bigger had they kicked straight.

They had 10 scoring shots in the first quarter, but it resulted in just two goals.

The Cannons were able to rectify that in the second quarter, with another nine scoring shots, but were able to kick five goals to lead by 32 points at the main break.

The Jets found their groove in the third quarter and were able to kick six goals to two,

to stay in tough heading into the final quarter.

It wasn’t to be with the Cannons using the most of the scoring end, kicking four goals to two, to seal the win.

Jovan Petric, Joel Freeman, Lucca Grego, Lachie McArthur and Logan Morris kicked two goals apiece for the Jets.

Jake Smith had plenty of the ball with 27 possessions, while Darcy Weeks had 19 disposals and Diesel Moloney had 18 possessions.

Isaac Nixon was named the Jets best along with Weeks and Grego.

For the Cannons, Hugo Garcia kicked three goals, while Kade Mueller Damon Hollow, Amin Naim and Mahmoud Taha kicked two each.

Taha had 32 possessions while Nash King and Rye Penny were also busy for the Cannons. King was named their best.

The result leaves the Jets as the only Victorian team without a win after two rounds. This week the Jets face the Brisbane Lions Academy on Saturday at the Swinbourne Centre.

In other results, the Murray Bushrangers beat the GWS Giants Academy, the Greater Western Victoria Rebels snuck home against the Geelong Falcons, the Eastern Ranges beat the Northern Knights, Dandenong Stingrays got the win at Morwell against the Gippsland Power, the Sandringham Dragons beat the Oakleigh Chargers and the Bendigo Pioneers were too good for the Tassie Devils.

The Jets girls’ side had the bye.

This week they host the Calder Cannons at Chirnside Park on Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile the under-16 boys sides will be back in action this week. The Jets will play the Northern Knights on Tuesday and then the Calder Cannons on Friday.

Jovan Petric kicked two goals on Saturday.

(Supplied)

Signs good for Bulldogs Everything on track for Tara Murray

The early signs are good for Point Cook in the Western Region Football League division 1 competition, with a big win against Hoppers Crossing on Good Friday.

With new coaches and different looking sides for both clubs, it was a little bit of an unknown how the two teams would fare.

The Bulldogs were the better team early and led by 14 points at quarter time. The Bulldogs took control of the match in the second quarter and were able to build on the lead in the middle two quarters.

A nine goal final quarter was the icing on the cake as the Bulldogs won 20.15 (135)-6.7 (43).

Bulldogs coach Clay Smith said it was an ideal start to the season.

“We’re very happy,” he said.

“It was really good and over the weekend we looked at the footage over the weekend. We didn’t know how strong they were going to be and how we were going to mesh together with a few new players and the young boys coming up.

“To come up with a win like that we’re very happy.”

Smith said the midfield dominance was the key for the side in the win. He said they were able to keep the ball in forward half for most of the game.

“The clearance dominate was good,” he said.

“Paul [Tsapatolis] in the ruck was the most influential player on the day. We won the hit outs, 49-4, which always helps.

“The backs were solid and the forwards had a good game, but we kicked a lot of points.”

Smith said the addition of Tsapatolis along with Daniel Burton, meant that they had plenty of strength in the ruck.

Andrew Robinson also played in the reserves, giving them another tall option, after not having any depth last season.

Max Rouvray kicked five goals in the win, while Joshua Kuppen chipped in with four goals.

Smith said it was good having two of the younger boys step up and make the most of their opportunities.

He said they spoke about that with the group, knowing that they now had some mature and experienced bodies around the young guys to support them.

Joining Tsapatolis in the best was Shaun Wyatt, Simon Deery and Luke Dahlhaus.

For the Warriors, it was all single goal kickers.

Riley Fisher and David Barbieri were named the Warriors best.

While happy with the first up win, Smith 22 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 12 April, 2023

West Point

Paul Tsapatolis was best in his debut for Point Cook. (Supplied)

said they weren’t getting ahead of themselves.

“We’re taking it week, by week,” he said.

“We’ve enjoyed the win, but we’re back at training tomorrow [Tuesday] night,” he said.

“There’s still lots of areas to improve on.

We’re not getting ahead of ourselves.”

The Bulldogs this week face Point Cook Centrals in the local derby.

It will be the Sharks first game in division 1 after going through last season undefeated on the way to the division 2 premiership last year.

Smith said they were hoping to see a good crowd to watch the local sides face off.

In the other game on Good Friday, Sunshine beat Albion, 16.15 (111)-12.6 (78).

Everything is going to plan for West Point in the FV state league 5 west competition.

Sitting on top with three wins from as many matches, it couldn’t have been a better start for coach Tom Petreski.

“I’m very happy,” he said. “With three wins from three, you can’t get a much better start.

“It’s still early though, there’s 17 games to go.

“We want to establish a winning mentality and a culture that clubs are envious of. We’re looking to build on last year.”

Petreski said it had been a seamless transition from making the move from being a player to being a coach.

“It helps being at a really good club,” he said. “I know the people and played with a lot of the group.

“I got that respect pretty early on.

I’m really enjoying it, hopefully the results keep coming and it will remain enjoyable.”

Petreski said it had its challenges going from being teammates to coach, but there had been a really good buy in.

“The guys are showing up every day for training and games.”

The core group from last year is back again for West Point. Petreski said they had added some more players to the group and there was a strong solid competition for spots.

While West Point has got off to a perfect start, Petreski said they weren’t getting ahead of themselves.

“I think myself and the playing group are just really enjoying the process,” he said.

“If we can get it right, the results will take care of itself.

“It’s still too early to talk about what might happen at the end of August. We want to continue on the right track, everything is going to plan.”

Petreski said across the club that things were going really well and that they were now one of the biggest clubs in the western suburbs.

“The best thing is we’ve got some really good people to the club.”

Tara Murray

WERRIBEE FOOTBALL CLUB Y

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Werribee holds its nerve to get on the board

By Tara Murray Werribee held its nerve late to come away with the points against Southport on Saturday in the Victorian Football League.

Fresh off a bye, Werribee headed to Queensland for the second time in three rounds to face last season’s runners-up.

After losing a thriller in round one, Werribee wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice.

Five final quarter goals were enough to seal the 12.14 (86)-8.15 (63) win for Werribee.

Coach Michael Barlow said it was nice to have the winning feeling again.

“It was a bit of an arm wrestle,” he said.

“The stats show it was a really even game statistically.

“There were two or three periods in the game where I felt that we really controlled it.

“There was early in the game in the first 15 minutes, but we didn’t capitalise on our scoring opportunities.

“Then the first 10 to 15 minutes of the last quarter, we got some dominance and were able to convert, which we haven’t been able to do for a while.”

While Werribee had taken control of the game early in the last quarter, Southport continued to come and push Werribee.

Barlow said the group was able to keep the pressure on late to secure the win.

“We never felt like we had the game won,” he said. “They threw some things at us tactically that were going to challenge us.

“The fatigue was real. We were playing in Queensland and after a bye the weekend before, so we aren’t match hardened as we would want to be.

“You don’t know where you are at. They missed a few opportunities late. We made those opportunities hard for them.”

Shaun Mannagh kicked four goals and had 40 disposals to be one of the standouts for Werribe.

Connor Thar, in his first game for the season kicked three goals, while Kye Declase kicked two goals.

Bior Malual had 28 possessions.

Barlow said it was their leaders who really stood up when they needed them to on Saturday.

“Shaun from a stats point of view was the real standout,” he said.

“The likes of Dom Brew, Tom Gribble, Jack Henderson and Louis Pinnuck were really good. Those types of players elevated their games a little bit and will only improve as we play more.”

Another good sign was Bailey Henderson making his debut for Werribee in the win. Barlow said the rest of those missing wouldn’t likely be back until after the bye.

For Barlow the win backs up that they are heading in the right direction.

“We see them as a benchmark from a standalone point of view,” he said.

“They have had some changes, but they will be a contender again. It is good that we have elevated the performance from round one, when we played Brisbane which is a really good side.

“We are 1-1 and we feel like the

Shaun Mannagh celebrates a goal (Deion Menzies / Highflyer Images)

The vision for a vibrant Tarneit is outlined in the draft Tarneit Major Town Centre Urban Design Framework which Wyndham City has released for community feedback.

The Tarneit Major Town Centre is designed to be a hub of economic prosperity, that is beautifully designed with green corridors, and has the capacity to accommodate a centre for art, health and education.

It offers quality recreational and retail opportunities and housing while celebrating the area’s Indigenous and cultural heritage – making it a dynamic destination of choice.

Emmanuel Ajang (Deion Menzies / Highflyer Images)

Brisbane game is one of those close losses that we could have won. It was nice to get that first win and now we look ahead to next week.”

Werribee is at home for the first time

Kye Declase (Deion Menzies / Highflyer Images) The framework will be a guide for staged development in the area and for attracting investment over the next 30 years.

there. They tore apart Carlton in round one. this season, hosting Geelong. will help to ensure the town centre meets the needs of the growing “Their personnel are a little light at the The Cats sit 1-2 after theItpopulation first three in Tarneit with the centre ultimately providing a capacity of rounds with varying results.8,000 jobs and a home to moment, I think.

That can change quickly, more than 10,000 people.

“We’ll prepare for their best,” he said. week to week.

Please register for an information session to find out more: “We never know what personnel will be “We don’t take anyone lightly.”

• •

BARRO GROUP

Questions can be emailed to tarneitudf@wyndham.vic.gov.au and feedback shared on the Loop by 20 March on https://theloop.wyndham.vic.gov.au/tarneitudf

Wednesday, 12 April, 2023 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 23

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