Star Weekly - Melton Moorabool - 31st October 2023

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31 OCTOBER, 2023

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Established in 1981 as the

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31 OCTOBER, 2023

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SIG N U P N O W!

Star gazing

Volunteer firefighters Peter Dolphin, Brett Nicholson and Deb Shaddock with organiser Kristin Sargent. (Damjan Janevski) 367960_01

A Starry Night Drive-in Cinema is inviting the community to enjoy a movie under the stars while raising money for the local CFA on Friday, November 17.

Gates will open at 5.30pm before pre-show entertainment kicks off, which will include a children’s activity area, creative face painting, live music, food trucks and barbecue areas.

At sundown, the main event will kick off with a screening of Elemental, a family friendly movie that also serves as a timely reminder of the power of the elements as we head into summer.

Tickets are $45 per car load and include BYO, and all profits will go to the Greendale CFA. Kristin Sargent revived the Greendale Drive-in post-COVID. “The volunteers at the Greendale CFA are our neighbours, family and friends. They give their time to us and the surrounding suburbs, they give their precious weekends in training, time from their family and put themselves in dangerous positions all in an effort to help the community,” she said.

“So if we can give back by only a little by attending a family fun filled event… We are then, all winners.”

Details: https://tinyurl.com/44ujf34r

Prison for paedophile

By Liam McNally A man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing a Melton South boy, as well as three other boys procured through an overseas paedophile ring.

On October 24 the Melbourne County Court heard details of how Michael Corbett ingratiated himself with a Melton family in the 1980s and used this relationship to sexually and psychologically abuse a boy from that family who was about nine years old when they met. Corbett was 22 at the time.

The abuse spanned a period of about four years and included an instance where Corbett had brought his victim to work with him while working for Melton council and sexually abused him at the sewage pumping station.

The court heard that after this instance, Corbett told his victim he was now gay and that he had to keep everything a secret, and if he told anyone he would go to jail and that his mother and brothers would hate him. He said it was okay to do this and that he loved him very much.

Corbett followed the family when they moved to multiple different areas, including

interstate. During periods he was the carer for the young victim while his mother was at work.

In an impact statement the victim described the “very profound harm” the abuse caused him.

He said Corbett turned his childhood into a place of neglect, fear and a constant state of powerlessness. As an adult it has impacted on his relationships and work and his mental health.

The victim made a complaint against Corbett in 2008 but he had been overseas for an extended period of time.

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The court also heard that between 2018 and 2021, Corbett had sexually abused three children in the Philippines.

The young boys were aged between nine and 12, and were procured through a facilitator who was paid a maximum of $13.79 AUD for each act.

Corbett was arrested when he returned to Australia from the Philippines on November 18, 2021.

At sentencing, Judge Anne Hassan said she had no evidence upon which to make a point of remorse.

■ Continued: page 3

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for Plea to handle with care Prison paedophile

By Liam McNally

A Melton mother is calling on council to provide extra bins for free to locals whose ongoing medical conditions result in excess household waste.

Lyla Catanese’s 16-month-old daughter, Sophia, was born with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a rare condition that causes fragile, blistering skin. The blisters may appear in response to minor injury, even from heat, rubbing or scratching.

In order to protect her skin, Sophia needs to be bandaged every day from neck to toe.

Ms Catanese said that between the bandages, their plastic wrappings and cardboard boxes, this leads to “piles” of extra waste.

“Even hugging a teddy could result in tearing her skin off,” she said.

“With that, there’s a lot of bandages we have to change daily.

“At the end of the week the amount of waste we have is huge. One yellow bin a fortnight simply doesn’t cover it.”

Ms Catanese provided two letters signed

by Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) staff, requesting a fee-waiver for an extra general and recycling bin, once in 2022 and once in September.

Each time, council offered an 80 per cent discount on the $340 fee for two extra bins.

Ms Catanese said that with the thousands of dollars being spent on Sophiea’s medical bills, the family still couldn’t budget for the discounted rate.

“Our day-to-day life is not a normal life, and when you’ve got these little setbacks… it just brings you down because it’s just another thing that’s not making it easier for us, it’s creating a problem,” she said.

“It worries me because I know the bigger she gets the more waste she’s going to have.”

■ From: page 1 “You have offered no explanation for your offending and no material has been tendered containing any expressions of remorse on your part,” she said.

“From the outset, you have manipulated [the Melton victim] in a cruel and calculating manner, you told him he would not be believed if he said anything. You told him he would go to jail if he said anything. You told him his mother and his family would hate him… and that you did what and that what you did was because of your love for one another, clearly all meant to instil in [the victim] feelings of confusion and to make him feel complicit in what you were doing to him.

“Your offending was persistent, predatory and profoundly corrupting [the victim’s] innocence, self esteem, and sense of well being and safety.”

On the overseas offending the judge remarked Corbett had used the children “as objects to be bought and sold and bought and sold for a pittance”.

“This, in my view, above all other considerations is the most heinous aspect of your behaviour. You exploited the vulnerability of children living in poverty in a poor country,” she said.

The charges against Corbett, who is currently age 61, comprise state charges for the historical offending and federal charges for the overseas offending. He was sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison with a non-parole period of 12 years.

Lyla Catanese and daughter Sofia. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 369329_04

A carer from RCH said she has seen two patients with EB in nearby Wyndham and Maribyrnong and the councils in those municipalities provide free bins based on letters from the hosptial, and that Melton should consider dong so.

“It takes a village to raise a child, especially one with a condition like EB,” she said.

“The parents need support, and it’s like the local council are letting them down, not supporting them… It’s just a small thing the council can do. Community facilities need to be more accessible by families with need.”

The day after Star Weekly approached council to comment on Ms Catanese’s case, council offered to waive the fee for the extra

bins, and are reviewing the standard policy of an 80 per cent discount.

Ms Catanese said it’s a huge relief and she encouraged council to change the policy following the review.

“I’m happy I’ve got my bins but I’m aware there’s a lot of other people in Melton who need the bins for all sorts of different medical conditions. I know it’s just a bin at the end of the day but it’s a weight off your shoulders,” she said.

“I’m disappointed that I’ve had to take it this far to get the result that was needed… Why does it take two letters, an article in the local paper, and going on radio as well?” she said.

Do you have questions about the proposed Western Renewables Link?

AusNet is holding community information sessions and webinars to answer questions and explain recent project developments.

We thank landholders and communities for their input on the project and we will continue to listen and keep them informed.

Scan the QR code for details of upcoming Western Renewables Link information sessions and webinars.

Landholder feedback

Compensation

Bushfire

As a result of feedback, we’ve made 95 changes to the proposed route so far and have designed the proposed 500kV transmission line with a higher minimum ground clearance of 15m. This will allow vehicles and equipment up to 5m in height to travel and operate under the lines.

In addition, vehicles and equipment with a height of between 5m to 8.6m may be permitted to travel and operate under the Western Renewables Link lines subject to an AusNet safety assessment.

We’ve started sharing compensation offers with landholders on the proposed route. Compensation will vary for each landholder and is assessed by an independent and experienced valuer. The valuer considers the impact of the easement and infrastructure on the property, and any difference in market value. We will cover reasonable professional fees to support landholders during this process including valuation advice.

We recognise bushfire is an ongoing community concern. We are designing the Western Renewables Link to withstand bushfire and other hazardous conditions. We’re also working with the relevant authorities to ensure firefighting can occur safely around the transmission line.

Landholders with existing transmission lines with queries about safe operating heights should contact LMG@ausnetservices.com.au or PTW@ausnetservices.com.au .

desktop westernrenewableslink.com.au phone 1300 360 795 � info@westernrenewableslink.com.au � PO Box 638, Ballarat VIC 3353

The proposed 500kV Western Renewables Link transmission line is needed to carry renewable energy from western Victoria to homes and businesses across the state. The project is expected to unlock an estimated $9 billion of renewable energy projects in western Victoria and create 6,500 jobs over the next 15 years.

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Tuesday, 31 October, 2023 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY 3

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Fatal stabbing: Teen sentenced

By Liam McNally A teenager has been sentenced to six year’s imprisonment after being found guilty of manslaughter following a deadly stabbing at Melton Train Station in December 2021.

According to evidence tendered in the Victorian Supreme Court trial before Justice Croucher, 41-year-old father Adam Cassar arrived at Melton station alone just before 2.40am on December 29.

The offender, who cannot be named because he was 17 at the time, was also at the station with a group of youths.

Mr Cassar was getting changed when he was approached by the teenager. The pair were heavily intoxicated and strangers to each

other.

In his sentencing remarks delivered on October 19 Judge Croucher said, while it cannot be seen on CCTV footage it can be inferred that the teenager produced a knife and jabbed it at Mr Cassar, but without intending to stab him.

“At the same time — probably because of a combination of Mr Cassar’s flinching attempt to protect himself when he saw the knife at such close quarters and the (teenager’s) movement — the knife’s trajectory was deflected by the back of Mr Cassar’s left hand and ended up accidentally stabbing him in the chest,“ said Judge Croucher.

Startled, Mr Cassar fled immediately to a friend’s home nearby.

Mr Cassar died in the driveway of those premises shortly afterwards because of blood loss from his chest wound.

Judge Croucher said the teenager did not appear to realise how badly Mr Cassar was hurt, if at all, for he watched him run away as if nothing, or nothing much, had happened.

The teenager, who had been in Melbourne to visit his mother who lived in Burnside, returned to Sydney by train the following day, but in late January 2022, he was extradited back to Melbourne.

On the day before the incident, the teenager was spotted on CCTV buying a bottle of Fireball whiskey from a Melton liquor store at 5.30pm.

The teen said he was completely unable to

remember the offence itself.

In an impact statement, Mr Cassar’s 22year-old-daughter, Kiera Cassar said the crime not only stripped away her father’s life from her, but also denied him the opportunity of finding love, of seeing her marry, and of meeting her future children.

She said her day is over if she hears a song that reminds her of him, for she ends up distracted, crying, and angry.

The teen was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of three years, of which 630 days had already been served in pre-sentence detention.

The judge also recommended that the teen be allowed to continue to serve his sentence in a youth justice centre.

Guilty verdict over shooting

Council staff at the Binak Biik launch. (Provided)

Traditional art scales new heights and connectors within community, the bronze baskets are emblematic of continuity and the creation of a strong community.

The launch event got underway at 12.30pm and included a Welcome to Country from Uncle Colin Hunter Jnr. The trail has been open to the public for a little while and Moorabool mayor Rod Ward encourages residents and visitors to the shire to come and see the art and, if they’re feeling active, climb the steps to the viewing platform on Bald Hill.

Authorised by Sam Rae, 100 McKenzie Street Melton VIC 3337

Moorabool council held an official opening to unveil the new artwork at the peak of the spiralling all-abilities trail in Telford Park, Darley, on Thursday October 26.

Binak Biik is a sculpture by artistic team Aunty Kim Wandin and Chris Joy. The work, which consists of four bronze cast woven baskets, basalt rocks and endangered plant species’, completes stage 2 of the Bald Hill 1000+ steps project.

Council said Binak Biik acknowledges Wurundjeri women (bagurrk) as the weavers

Get in touch with Sam Rae MP Sam.rae.mp@aph.gov.au 03 9070 1960

SamRaeforHawke samraeforhawke.com.au

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4 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 31 October, 2023

“The sculpture trail is stage 2 of the Bald Hill activation project and has created a beautiful space at Telford Park,” he said.

This project has been made possible by the state government, with $1.6 million funded

by Regional Development Victoria, on top of $500,000 state government funds for stage 1 – the construction of the steps.

More information on the Bald Hill project is available on council’s website.

Details: moorabool.vic.gov.au/ baldhillproject

A man who repeatedly shot his ex-wife’s new partner at a roadside flower stall in Melton has been found guilty of attempted murder.

Abil Malovski, 39, was on trial in the Victorian Supreme Court, admitting he did shoot Steven ‘Stewie’ Grant last year but saying he did so in self-defence.

The jury disagreed, taking four hours to deliberate before reaching its guilty verdict on Tuesday October 24.

The jury was told Malovski was extremely hostile toward Mr Grant and bitterly resentful of the role his former wife’s new partner seemed to be playing in the lives of their two young children.

Malovski and his former wife had separated in February 2021.

The day before Mother’s Day last year, the woman and Mr Grant were selling flowers at a roadside reserve in Melton, northwest of Melbourne, which was a tradition started by her father.

Malovski drove past the reserve, saw the pair and returned a short time later, where he chased Mr Grant around the reserve and fired multiple shots.

Five bullets struck Mr Grant, who was initially diagnosed as a complete paraplegic after the shooting.

He has since made some steps towards recovery.

Malovski will return to the Supreme Court for a pre-sentence hearing in December.

He was remanded in custody.

Tara Cosoleto, AAP

Bin changes on the way Starting from Monday, November 27, some homes across Moorabool Shire will see changes to when their kerbside red, yellow and green bins are collected.

Some bin collection days have become busier due to growth and to ensure a reliable and consistent service the waste collection schedule is changing in some areas.

These changes will affect approximately 50 per cent of residents and there may be changes to the day or week collections for your red (garbage), yellow (recycling) and green (green waste) bins.

If your property is affected, you will receive a letter advising of the changes.

To help the transition, affected homes will have all three bins collected during the “changeover week” from Monday, November 27 to Friday, December 1 2023.

Moorabool mayor Rod Ward said the transition was being thoroughly planned to make it as smooth as possible.

“Our contractors JJ’s Waste and Recycling and Council’s waste and environment team have done a great job planning for these necessary changes, and I hope everyone adjusts to the changes easily,” he said.

To see if these changes affect you, or check your bin day check the council website.

Further information can be sought by calling council’s waste collection contractor, JJ’s Waste and Recycling.

Details: moorabool.vic.gov.au/ binchanges or 9791 9948

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NEWS

Park renewable link concerns

By Liam McNally Federal and state politicians met with community stakeholders at Macpherson Park on Tuesday, October 24 to discuss concerns about how the construction of proposed 80 metre high 500kv transmission lines will affect the precinct.

The transmission lines form part of the Western Renewables Link (WRL), a proposed 190km electricity transmission line that will carry renewable energy from Bulgana in western Victoria to Sydenham in Melbourne’s north-west, and requires the acquisition of an easement corridor 100 metres wide along the path of the proposed transmission line.

The current proposed path goes directly over the main entrance of Macpherson Park, runs along the north side between it and the aerodrome and within 50 metres of junior soccer fields and netball fields, before moving south-east directly over the equestrian park.

Representatives from about 12 community organisations including sporting teams, the pony club, a Landcare group and the aerodrome attended the meeting to air their concerns about how the towers will potentially affect a broad range of different community activities in the area.

Barbara Ford initiated the meeting. Ms Ford is a Plumpton farmer whose land is at risk of being cut diagonally in half by the proposed transmission line. She said the transmission line needs to have planning set backs and guidelines put in place by the state government.

“We cannot trust a multinational company to plan for a better outcome for stakeholders to be impacted when they are planning for the shortest, cheapest and most profitable option

Grant Harrison, his daughter Lake (13), Graham Watt, Barbara Ford and Clinton Welsh. (Damjan Janevski) 369449_03

for their company,” she said.

“I do not believe it is best transmission planning practice to locate overhead high voltage transmission that will impact community sporting and equine facilities, risk the safe operation of the airfield and build towers close to people’s homes and restrict the use of their properties.

“If transmission guidelines had been thought about by the governments years ago we wouldn’t have this problem.”

Federal Hawke MP Sam Rae had previously sought to have the project approval overturned

at the Labor State Conference in June and at Tuesday’s meeting he reiterated his public opposition to the project and called for it to be scrapped and taken back to the drawing board.

Melton state MP Steve McGhie said the final path has not been determined or finalised.

“Whatever path is chosen this should not prevent the use of the facilities however the users have raised concerns that I will be taking back to the [Energy and Resources] Minister [Lily D’ambrioso],” he said.

“Once the final plan is determined, all parties within our community will be encouraged to

make a submission to the Environment Effect Statement.”

Western Victorian MP Bev McArthur said Macpherson Park is an incredibly well-used, well cared for community asset.

“I spoke to so many who would feel threatened and discouraged by this completely inappropriate proposal,” she said.

“The Labor government was happy to rip-up the East-West link project, and to cancel the Commonwealth Games. There is a far better case to knock the WRL on the head, and the minister must do so immediately.”

YOUR SAY Three strikes The community’s fight against the Western Renewables Link and VNI-West transmission projects continues in the Victorian Supreme Court.

While we await the verdict on whether Lily D’Ambrosio’s Ministerial Orders which seek to accelerate those projects are invalid, I am encouraged by other recent news that another grassroots legal battle, against a similar Victorian government bad decision, has been won in the Federal High Court following a determined campaign by community members.

I refer to the High Court’s ruling that the Victorian government’s tax on electric vehicles was invalid because it is beyond the state government’s constitutional authority to impose such an excise.

It was labelled the ‘worst renewable energy policy in the world’, but formed the centrepiece of Victoria’s Zero Emissions Vehicle Roadmap, a bizarre plan to “accelerate our drive to zero emission vehicles”, by taxing EV users.

Guess who signed off on Victoria’s EV plan, relying on powers to introduce a tax which the state had no legal right to do so?

Energy Minister, Lily D’Ambrosio, that’s who. Am I the only one to see a pattern of poor judgement, and of ministerial overreach?

Let’s all hope that the MCHPA’s decision falls the same way as the EV tax decision, and another set of bad Labor decisions is struck down.

What then for Lily D’Ambrosio?

In baseball you normally get three strikes and then you are out. I argue that we should cut our losses with Ms D’Ambrosio’s plans at two strikes, and say she should be out!

Jim Phasey, Myrniong

Community information sessions We are holding community information sessions and webinars to answer your questions and explain recent project developments.

All community members are welcome to drop into the sessions or register for the webinars.

MInister for Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio.

HAVE YOUR SAY Star Weekly welcomes letters to the editor as well as comments and story tips on our websites and Facebook pages.

Post: Corner Thomsons Road and Keilor Park Drive, Keilor Park, 3042 Email: westletters@starweekly.com.au Web: starweekly.com.au Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx @starweeklynews @star_weekly

Melton Melton Football Netball Club MacPherson Park 783-857 Coburns Road

1pm–7pm Tuesday, 31 October

Community information webinars

11:00am–12:30pm Thursday, 2 November 6.30pm–8:00pm Tuesday, 28 November

Scan the QR code for further sessions and information desktop westernrenewableslink.com.au phone 1300 360 795 � info@westernrenewableslink.com.au � PO Box 638, Ballarat VIC 3353 12640335-RR44-23

Tuesday, 31 October, 2023 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY 5

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EDITORIAL

(Provided by Caroline Springs Rotary Club).

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Rotary walks for polio

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Throughout the month of October a Caroline Springs Rotary fundraiser generated enough money to provide more than 3,300 polio vaccines for those in need.

From October 1 to 31, Rotary invited the public to “walk with us for those who can’t”.

Participants were sponsored to walk either 10, 20 or 50 kilometres throughout October to raise vital funds that will help eradicate and prepare for a polio free world.

Polio is a crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease. There is no cure, but there are safe and effective vaccines. The strategy to eradicate polio is therefore based on preventing infection by immunising every child until transmission stops and the world is polio-free.

Caroline Springs Rotary Club member Ronald Moss said for more than 20 years

Rotary clubs around the world have been walking in the month of October to put an end to polio.

“Whilst Australia is considered free from polio, countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan still have to fight this disease daily,” he said.

“A simple vaccine has helped save many and eradicated polio in most countries except these two.

“The number of cases there has been reduced dramatically by the dedicated volunteers who often go through all sorts of weather and in poor conditions to give this life saving vaccine.”

World Polio day fell on 24 October but it’s not too late to support Rotary’s fundraiser.

Details: https://www.rotarywalkwithus.org/ st/136/922

Detectives seized 14 firearms and a range of drugs following a search of a Gordon property as part of an investigation into firearms trafficking and manufacture. A warrant was executed at the Portland Flat Road address on Thursday, October 26. During the search, police located seven handguns including four home-made weapons, four longarms, three imitation firearms, a home-made flame thrower, firearm parts, ammunition, a 3D printer and equipment. Police also located more than 70 mature cannabis plants, cannabis saplings and a small quantity of methylamphetamine. A 47-year-old Gordon man was arrested and charged with 10 offences. The man has been bailed to appear at the Bacchus Marsh Magistrates’ Court on December 15.

Moorabool roadworks Stanley Street, Gordon will be closed between Main Street and North of Dickers Street until November 14 (subject to weather). Nelson St, Darley will also undergo works for approximately four weeks for kerb and channel drainage network extension, asphalting and line marking to upgrade the unsealed car parking bays between Sheldon Avenue and David Court. Works for each project began on Monday, October 30.

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

Free Kinder: Enrol for 2024 Free Kinder is available for three and four-year-old children in Victoria at participating services.

Free Kinder is available in sessional (standalone) and long day care (childcare) settings, saving families up to $2,500 each year, per child.

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Visit: vic.gov.au/kinder

6 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 31 October, 2023

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Respiratory clinics set to close The last remaining general practice respiratory clinics in Melbourne’s west and north are due to close at the end of October, meaning locals will no longer be able to use them to get treatment for COVID-19, flu or other respiratory conditions.

The decision from the state government comes as other new medical services, such as Priority Primary Care Centres (PPCCs) and the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department – now offer almost identical treatments.

While many general practices continued seeing respiratory patients throughout the pandemic, some protected other patients and staff by referring them to the general practice respiratory clinics. Most are now back to offering service to everyone.

North Western Melbourne Primary Health

Network (NWMPHN) said the closure does not mean residents in the west and north will find it harder to receive treatment for urgent respiratory conditions, adding that local doctors, PPCCs, the virtual emergency department, and NURSE-ON-CALL can cope with demand.

NWMPHN chief executive Christopher Carter said for most matters the first port of call remains your local doctor or general practice.

“But if you can’t get a timely appointment, or you feel ill after-hours or on the weekend, these other services can easily get you the treatment and support you need without you having to wait for hours in a hospital emergency department,” he said.

“As a patient you will get seen by a doctor or nurse quite quickly, and you’ll be helping

hospital emergency departments to focus on truly life-threatening illnesses and injuries.”

General practice respiratory clinics (GPRCs) were set up from 2020 as a rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At their peak, there were 50 operating in Victoria.

In recent months that number has decreased as COVID-19 cases dwindled and other services took over.

NWMPHN said the closure of the last few GPRCs marks an important moment in the history of the pandemic.

In Melbourne’s north and west there are seven PPCCs, located in Moonee Ponds, Maribyrnong, Sunshine, Werribee, Sunbury, Craigieburn and Epping.

PPCCs operate halfway between regular general practices and the hospital emergency

department.

They are set up to treat urgent but not life-threatening conditions, such as fractures, sprains, burns, respiratory conditions (including COVID-19), fainting, food poisoning, other gut issues, and urinary tract infections.

They are open extended hours, accept walk-ins, have other services nearby and do not charge for their services. A Medicare card is not essential.

The VVED can also be used to link patients to an emergency doctor or nurse through a smart device or computer – and can be found at, vved.org.au NURSE-ON-CALL is available 24 hours a day and can be reached on 1300 60 60 24.

In the case of an emergency call Ambulance Victoria on 000.

Take a minute to reflect The Caroline Springs RSL is inviting the community to join it in taking a moment to reflect this Remembrance Day. The service will take place from 10.30am at the Memorial Site on Lake Road, Caroline Springs from 10.30 am on Saturday, November 11. Since the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month of 1918 marked the end of WWI, Remembrance Day has been a day for remembering and honouring people for their military service.

At the age of 17, Caroline Springs RSL member Ross Wiltshire enlisted in the Royal Australian Airforce and served at various RAAF Bases around Australia for a period of 22 years in Logistics.

He said Remembrance Day is a day for the

community to reflect on the ultimate sacrifices that thousands of young men made not only in WW1 but all following conflicts to ensure for a freer, safer and better place for us all.

“The importance of Remembrance Day to me is a bit more significant as my grandfather had two tours of duty to France at Flanders, 1915 and 1917 with the British Army,” he said.

“We are not glorifying war, but, paying homage to those who have served.”

The RSL will also be selling poppies from Thursday, November 2, to Friday, November 10, from 9am to 4pm at Caroline Springs Shopping Centre, Taylors Hill Shopping Complex, Burnside Hub and Watergardens Shopping Centre.

Caroline Springs RSL members Wendy Mason, Ross and Gill Wiltshire and Andrew Marshall, with students from local schools Jessica, Jackson, Vivian, Maria, Jerome and Brandon. (Damjan Janevski) 367646_01

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Tuesday, 31 October, 2023 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY 7

NEWS STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Funds flow for breakthroughs Three research projects led by doctors from Western Health have each been awarded $75,000 as part of Western Health’s research week ceremonies.

The prestigious Arlene Wake Chronic Disease Fellowships aim to support and recognise medical research and innovation that tackles chronic diseases in the community.

Fellowships were awarded for a digital health project that uses AI to precisely measure chemotherapy doses, a research project on diabetes during pregnancy, and a cutting-edge diabetes management software solution for GPs. The projects are led by doctors Matthew Wei, Annabel Jones and Christopher Preston.

Dr Wei’s project is a digital health solution that utilises AI to predict colorectal cancer patient response to chemotherapy.

This data is then used to create tailored treatment plans, allowing Western Health staff and University of Melbourne researchers to provide individualised care with greater precision than was previously possible. Dr Wei is a colorectal research fellow at Western Health, and the funding from the fellowship will allow Dr Wei to integrate his research into surgery, which he hopes will translate into real-world outcomes and benefits for patients.

Dr Jones will use funding from the fellowship to further her research into gestational diabetes, which is diabetes diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy.

Western Health has one of the largest maternity hospitals in Australia with high rates of gestational diabetes and endocrine disease, and one in five women based in Melbourne’s west develop the condition.

Due to the high case numbers in expectant mothers and the rising prevalence of diabetes in the population, Dr Jones’ project is anticipated to provide insight into treatment

Dr Justin Yeung accepting the Fellowship on behalf of Dr Matthew Wei. (Supplied)

(L-R) 2023 Arlene Wake Chronic Disease Fellowship recipients Dr Annabel Jones and Dr Christopher Preston with Dr Arlene Wake and 2022 Arlene Wake Chronic Disease Fellowship recipient, Dr Rinki Giri. (Supplied)

options and prevention for the Western Health community. Dr Preston’s research will trial the effectiveness of a tool called Future Health Today.

Developed as a collaboration between University of Melbourne and Western Health, Future Health Today uses sophisticated algorithms to review patient records in general practice and automate the identification of patients who require further testing, diagnosis or management. It is hoped that this will help

GPs to more effectively diagnose chronic disease in their practices, potentially having a major impact on the health of the community.

The fellowships were made possible by an anonymous donation and are named in honour of Dr Arlene Wake, who served as Western Health’s Chief Medical Officer and Executive and was instrumental in the conception of the Western Centre for Health Research and Education (WCHRE) and Western Health Chronic Disease Alliance.

Western Health chief executive Adjunct Professor Russell Harrison said Western Health is honoured to award the Arlene Wake Chronic Disease Fellowships.

“The projects recognised and associated funding assist Western Health in shaping the health outcomes of our often vulnerable population, and are crucial in helping Western Health provide the best care for our patients,” he said.

“These fellowships address some of the most pressing health problems impacting our community in the west, and we are thankful to have funding that focuses on specialised issues.”

Virtual reality learning The first virtual and augmented reality smart-classroom in Melbourne’s west opened on Friday, October 27, at St Francis Catholic College’s Melton campus.

The college is the first Catholic school in Victoria to install a Lumination Learning Lab where students will use virtual reality headsets instead of textbooks.

Projectors, safety rings, blackout blinds, viewing space and high-powered computers are part of the learning stations, providing students with the opportunity for immersive learning.

A team of staff have been trained to use the technology, which provides experiences directly linked to the Victorian curriculum.

Teachers can access resources, lesson plans and more to help them begin immersive learning inside the lab.

St Francis Catholic College principal Marlene Jorgensen said the school was passionate about providing equity and access to emerging technology and experiences for all students.

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TODAY

“Walking through an Egyptian tomb, exploring Rome, navigating outer space, delving inside a human cell and dissecting a virtual frog are just some of the experiences students will now have access to in their Lumination Learning Lab,” she said.

“We know this generation of students embraces and uses technology in every aspect of their lives. Books and whiteboards are still necessary, but this new smart classroom will challenge students to explore all possibilities and provide experiences that may otherwise be out of reach.”

Archie (grade eight) was one of the first students to try out a Lumination Lab and he is looking forward to many more opportunities to learn using virtual reality technology.

“My experience with the Lumination Lab was engaging and the control was easy to operate. Having full control of my environment helped immerse me in the topic, which was a virtual dissection of a frog,“ he said.

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8 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 31 October, 2023

kidswest

Grade 7 student Edie exploring virtual learning. (Shawn Smits)

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

NEWS

Exploring Melton’s ghostly past

By Liam McNally Halloween and history combined at the Melton Library on Thursday, October 26, with a visit from Federation University historian Dr David Waldron Dr Waldron discussed with his audience the cultural meaning of ghost belief and ghost hoaxing in colonial Victoria.

Dr Waldron said as a historian, he sees ghosts as a social response to unresolved trauma.

“People don’t often look at ghost stories from a historical point of view but they are part

of our history,” he said.

“We have traumatic experiences and create stories about them… Consciously we’d like to forget, but they have a way of erupting in these stories we tell about people and place.

“They often erupt irrationally in the form of a ghost story.”

Dr Waldron said the stories follow common archetypes, with the most common being the ghostly figure of a woman in a white dress.

“Usually it’s the story is of a young woman who becomes pregnant out of wedlock and is murdered or takes her own life - which was a

real issue for women to be afraid of,” he said.

He said one of these stories emerged around Melton in the 1860s where people would report seeing a headless woman dressed in white while checking rabbit traps.

Dr Waldron said the most famous ghost in Victoria is the apparition that reportedly haunts the old Melbourne Gaol.

Elizabeth Scott was forced into an arranged, abusive marriage at 14. One night while her husband was assaulting her two men intervened and the husband died.

Ms Scott and the two men were hanged,

making Ms Scott the first woman to receive the punishment in Victoria.

Dr Waldron said people of the time were aware that those injustices, like domestic violence, happened but it wasn’t grappled with and confronted .

“There’s parts of our history we like talking about and then there’s the skeletons in our closet,” he said.

“These stories get us to consider the wrongs that have been committed in the past and consider how we can move forward and move past them.”

Cans cash-in kicks off Melton residents will be able to collect and cash-in on eligible drink bottles, cartons and cans, for 10 cents per item, when Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic) starts on Wednesday, November 1.

Melton residents will have the choice of depositing at a newly installed Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) at 2 Lim Way, Aintree, or at CDA Vic Depots at 16 Reserve Road, Melton, and 44 Rockfield Way, Ravenhall.

TOMRA Cleanaway chief executive James Dorney said they were excited to land a CDS Vic refund point in Melton, where locals will be able to conveniently drop off their eligible drink containers for recycling.

“Our machines are quick, convenient, accurate and automated, and are able to be seamlessly integrated into retail and community locations,” he said.

“In addition to the 128 container refund

points across western Melbourne and western regional Victoria that go live on 1 November, we will continue to add more refund points in the west zone for many months to come.”

After depositing, RVM users are provided options to either receive the refund amount as a retail cash voucher, via digital transfer direct to a bank account, or for the amount to be sent as a donation to a nominated charity or community group.

Customers can also download the CDS Vic West Zone app to check on the live status of their local refund point, verify container eligibility, and to manage and track container refunds.

Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos said “CDS Vic will maximise the number of cans, bottles and cartons being recycled into new products, while reducing the amount of litter in Victoria by up to half”.

The scheme goes live on Wednesday.

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Parents awakening to sleep help Settling a newborn into a regular sleep pattern can be one of the most daunting and mysterious parts of parenting. Not-for-profit organisation Tweddle has been helping parents learn to settle and soothe their infants for over 100 years as Cade Lucas discovered.

L

ike changing dirty nappies or listening to nursery rhymes ad-nauseum, a lack of sleep is considered an unfortunate but unavoidable part of having a baby.

Like changing dirty nappies or listening to nursery rhymes ad-nauseum, a lack of sleep is considered an unfortunate but unavoidable part of having a baby.

Unless wealthy enough to farm their screaming newborn off to someone else, parents usually have no option but to suffer in silence.

After all, complaining about something just about every one else has to endure is unlikely to elicit much sympathy.

Which makes it all the more difficult when a baby’s lack of sleep goes beyond a mere nuisance to a serious debilitating problem.

This was the situation Danielle Mannens and her partner Sean found themselves in seven years ago in the months after having their first child, daughter Harper.

“She was sleeping with us for the whole first six months, we couldn’t get her to sleep in her own bed,” recalled Ms Mannens.

“We were co-sleeping but not in the nicest way.”

In other words, they weren’t sleeping at all.

“We were lucky to be getting two hours’ sleep a night” she said.

“It was bad. Like I wasn’t thinking straight, I was leaving the stove on and stuff like that.

“My partner would have to check everything to make sure it was all off at night and stuff.”

Family are normally the first and only source of help in such situations, but with theirs living in New Zealand, Danielle and Sean turned to the health system as a last resort.

“So I went and saw my maternal health nurse and she recommended us to Tweddle.”

A not for profit, Tweddle is a name unlikely to register with most readers, but has been helping sleep deprived families at their Early Parenting Centre in Footscray for over 100 years.

Despite misgivings about seeking assistance for something most assume comes naturally, Danielle and Sean booked in a day session.

“We didn’t know what we were walking into, but it was the most beautiful supportive environment,“ said Ms Mannens.

More importantly, after taking a while to bed in, the new techniques Ms Mannens learnt at Tweddle eventually paid off.

“She was sleeping in her own bed away from us and she was doing so for almost the whole night which was a huge difference.”

If you’re wondering why no one recommended an Early Parenting Centre like Tweddle during your own bouts of infant-induced insomnia, you’re not alone.

Despite being around for the more than a century, addressing a very common need and covered by Medicare, EPCs remain largely unknown.

Along with Tweddle in Footscray, the O’Connell Family Centre in Canterbury and the Queen Elizabeth Centre in Noble Park are the only three EPC’s based in Victoria, all in Melbourne.

There are only a limited number nationwide and Tasmania and many regional and rural areas have none at all.

Internationally, none of the UK, US or European countries to which Australia is often compared, having anything like an equivalent.

According to Tweddle CEO Umit Agis, the issue of baby and infant sleep traditionally being a family affair is why external services like EPCs can be rare or non-existent.

“I think we’re learning more as a society about how important settling a child or having a sleep routine is,” Mr Agis said.

“We sometimes take that for granted and also a lot of times people tend to access that from their family network.”

Mr Agis said infant sleep problems can result in more than just tired parents.

Clockwise from left: Tweddle General Manager Kim Porter, CEO Umit Agis, Director of Nursing Clare Pridham, board member Annette Mercuri and Harry Flanagan at the opening of the Wyndham Early Parenting Centre. (Cade Lucas)

An outdoor play area at Tweddle Wyndham.

Parents and children singing songs at the opening of the Wyndham EPC.

‘‘

I think we’re learning more as a society about how important settling a child or having a sleep routine is.

’’

- Umit Agis “Having a settled sleep pattern is critical to a baby’s to early life development.

“We know that what happens in the first 2000 days of child’s life has a major impact on their adult trajectory as well.”

This is why the Victorian government is building 12 new EPC’s across the state as part of a $148 million investment in early parenting services.

These will include centres in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Shepparton - the first in regional Victoria - and an Aboriginal led facility in Frankston.

The others will target Melbourne’s urban fringe, including Wyndham in the outer-south west, the fastest growing municipality in the country and where the first of these new EPC’s opened earlier this month.

The $15 million Wyndham Early Parenting Centre features ten residential units that can accommodate entire families for up to four days, while also providing facilities for day-stays as well.

And like the existing facility at the other end of the western suburbs, it too is operated by Tweddle.

Umit Agis said it wasn’t just the amount of people moving to Wyndham, but the type of families settling in the area that meant an

10 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 31 October, 2023

Dining area at the Wyndham Early Parenting Centre.

Living area at the Wyndham Early Parenting Centre.

wwEPC was required.

COVID -19 pandemic made the need for early parenting support even more urgent.

“There’s a lot of separation anxiety, a lack of interaction with other children because they’ve been locked down for such a period of time.

“So when it comes time for them to go into childcare or stay with grandparents, for example, there’s real challenges in that.”

Ms Pridham said the ultimate aim was teach parents techniques that they can use at home to avoid the need for readmission.

Danielle Mannens is a prime example.

“I’ve even used it with my second child as well because he wasn’t a great sleeper either. It’s stuck with me, it was so helpful.”

After proselytising Tweddle and Early Parenting Centres to her friends, Ms Mannens’ passion for the service saw her change careers and take it up full-time.

Nearly a decade on from her visit to Tweddle, Danielle Mannens is now Tweddle’s communications manager.

“If you’re looking at Wyndham for example, you’ve got a lot of young, immigrant parents living here and so they don’t have the support system perhaps that they once did, but what we can do is that we can provide that help.”

Among the providers of that help at the Wyndham EPC is its director of nursing, Clare Pridham.

“We’re here to support the parents rather than do it for them,” said Ms Pridham of the type of assistance visitors receive.

“If there’s a concern about behaviour, we show them how to deal with the child’s behaviour how to how to work with that child to be able to improve outcomes.

“If there are sleep concerns we can be with them at three o’clock in the morning.

“We can actually show them how to resettle and be alongside them when they’re having these concerns”.

Ms Pridham said the aftermath of the

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Building safer spaces for women The biggest safety concerns for women in Melton are racism and vilification, darkness and isolation, and sexual assault and harassment, according to a new report from Monash and Griffith universities.

In an effort to boost feelings of safety and inclusion for women in public spaces, the two universities have come together to create the Safe Spaces Project.

The Safe Spaces: Understanding and Enhancing Safety and Inclusion for Diverse Women report launched on October 25, and provides an opportunity for community organisations and local governments to discuss gender-aware design possibilities for

public places and spaces.

Project lead, professor Rebecca Wickes of Griffith’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, said the collaborative endeavour sought to provide insights into why some public areas are perceived as ’unsafe.’

“Some women actively avoid public spaces for fear of their safety,” she said.

“Understanding both the specific physical and social elements of public places that lead to feelings of worry and exclusion is foundational for the development of place-based strategies encouraging inclusion and safety for women.

“Across the project, women spoke of

connection to place and people as important for their wellbeing, safety and inclusion, with safety being seen not as something we can ‘set and forget’ but an issue to constantly be navigated.”

The Safe Spaces project undertook research in Melton, Wyndham and Monash and engaged over 200 women from diverse backgrounds, including those from different ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, life stages and abilities.

Through surveys, focus groups, walking interviews and a co-design workshop, the project aimed to understand women’s experiences and create strategies for

improving safety and inclusion.

According to the report a safe public place was one where women felt no fear, felt included, could be themselves, could be comfortable, were connected to other people and were connected to nature.

Another core theme was the fear of darkness or catching public transport after dark, with particular regard to the perception of unpredictable behaviours of young men.

The report was a collaborative effort between Monash University, Griffith University, University of Sydney, Wyndham council, Melton council, Monash council and Welcoming Cities.

New trees to green Melton

Heidi Bones holding her statue of the Icon Mary. (Damjan Janevski) 369410_07

Haunting Bacchus Marsh exhibition A Bacchus Marsh artist is bringing a multidisciplinary exhibition that combines the sacred and the gothic to The Village in Bacchus Marsh.

Heidi Bones’ The Haunted & Holy Beauty Collection uses a unique mix of AI, Photoshop, decorated cast-plaster statues, photography, music and installations.

The exhibition will open on Friday, November 17, from 6pm to 8pm and show until Sunday, November 26.

Heidi Bones said her style comes from sacred gothic art treasures of skeletons, skulls

and religious icons inspired by bejewelled saints and relics, memento mori, church and roadside altars and mysticism. “[The exhibition is] a collection of sacred gothic art treasures for those who dream of skeletons, skulls and religious icons covered in jewels sitting on a golden altar surrounded by flowers, candles and incense smoke,” she said.

The exhibition will be held at what is typically an empty store front at The Village Shopping Centre.

“I had this creative idea and vision that I

wanted to see [realised],” she said.

“I decided not to go down the gallery route so I found this cave-like vacant shop that has been vacant a long time and have hired it to bring this vision to life and share something unique and beautiful with everyone.

“It is a rare opportunity to see and experience something like this.”

The exhibition will be the first time the collection will be available for public viewing and purchase.

More information is available online at www.iconsandbones.com

More than 10,000 trees will be planted in Melton as a part of phase four of the state government’s More Trees for a Cooler, Greener West program.

Indigenous trees sourced from local nurseries will be planted across Melton’s reserves between April and November 2024.

The phase four trees follow more than 35,000 trees promised for the municipality during the first three phases of the project, with the last trees of phase three due to be planted this month.

The west has the lowest tree canopy cover in metropolitan Melbourne, with just 5.5 per cent of urban tree cover in Melbourne as of 2018, compared with 17.4 per cent in the inner south-east and 25.9 per cent in the east.

The program has aimed to address this gap and has planted 325,000 in the western suburbs since 2021, closing in on its target of 500,000.

During phase four $900,000 will be spent to plant 50,000 trees across Melton, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Brimbank, Moonee Valley, and Wyndham.

Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos said the More Trees for a Cooler, Greener West program will encourage communities in Melbourne’s west to enjoy cooler and greener open spaces.

“This is a great next step in creating greener spaces for local residents to enjoy for years to come – and I’d encourage locals to volunteer and take part in tree planting programs across the western suburbs,” he said.

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3. And which Australian actress played that jockey in the film?

4. Name the horse that was the 2022 Melbourne Cup runner-up.

5. What is the maximum number of horses that can run in the Melbourne Cup?

6. In which decade did Jean Shrimpton famously wear a white minidress during Melbourne Cup week?

7. True or false: motion capture was used to make realistic horse and jockey animation for an early 2000s Melbourne Cup video game?

8. What year was the first official trophy cup awarded?

9. Does the Melbourne Cup or the Australian Open generate more gross economic benefit to Victoria?

10. Was the 2015 winner named Prince or Pirate of Penzance?

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12. And the signature colours of the outfits are used to signify what?

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25. Which number saddlecloth holds the record for the most wins?

26. How many times has jockey Damien Oliver won the Melbourne Cup? 27. Against what odds did Michelle Payne race to victory in 2013?

28. In which year did Diana Princess of Wales attend the Melbourne Cup? 29. What is the name given to the bet that requires the better to select the first two finishers in their correct order?

30. What percentage of favourites have won the Melbourne Cup?

ANSWERS: 1. 40 2. Michelle Payne 3. Teresa Palmer 4. Emissary 5. 24 6. 1960s 7. True 8. 1865 9. Melbourne Cup 10. Prince 11. Silks 12. Who owns the horse 13. 3200m 14. Tuesday 15. True 16. The barriers 17. Barrier draw 18. True 19. 58.5kg 20. Punter 21. 1861 22. Kingston Rule 23. 1990 24. True 25. Four 26. Three 27. 100-1 28. 1985 29. Exacta 30. 23 per cent

CROSSWORD

OAKS PEGASUS PRIX DU CADRAN SANDOWN RACEWAY SANTA ANITA PARK SARATOGA TENNO SHO TOKYO

Down

Across 1 Rider (6) 3 Giving off gas (8) 9 Most famous racer, – Lap (4) 10 Triple winner, Makybe – (4) 11 Creature (5) 12 Bird’s home (4) 13 Epidermis (4)

14 Mexican snack (5) 16 Directed (7) 18 – Racing Carnival (6) 22 Reddish metal (6) 24 One who doesn’t play by the rules (7) 26 Melbourne Cup venue (10) 27 1983 winning horse (4)

JUMBLE

Place each of the tiles of letters into the blank jigsaw below to create four six-letter words going across and down.

Can you unscramble the words below? The circled letters will create another word.

Of or from Japan (8) Protective riding gear (5) Shows off (7) Citified (5) First name of early 1900s winning trainers Foulsham and Earnshaw (5) 7 The race that stops the – (6) 8 Evil (6) 15 Three copies (10) 17 Marry in secret (5) 19 Regretted (4) 20 Nourishing substances (9) 21 Those who prepare horses to race (8) 23 Limp plaything (3,4) 24 Like a hoof (6) 25 Declare (6) 28 Abide (4) 30 Month after Melbourne Cup, for short (3) 1 2 4 5 6

EDGEWORD

WORD STEP

ABKER

YIARN

CUYKL

TANRI

SILKS

_____ _____ _____ _____

OP GA ED IN EN IT

29 Country (5) 31 Poem (3) 32 Strained (5) 33 2015 winner, – Payne (8) 34 Author attribution (2) 35 Distress signal (1,1,1)

LL ED ENFEC

BURLY

SOLUTION: Silks, Silky, Silly, Sully, Surly, Burly

DUBAI ENGLAND FRANCE GOLD CUP JAPAN LONGCHAMP MEYDAN MOONEE VALLEY

SOLUTION

AINTREE ASCOT CANTERBURY CAULFIELD CHELTENHAM CHURCHILL DOWNS CORONATION CUP DOOMBEN

SECRET MESSAGE: The most important race is the one you’re in

& 2 5 2 1 $ 7 , 2 1 & 8 3 7 0 + & + ( / 7 ( 1 + $ 0 + ( 0 2 8 2 ( 6 2 ) 3 7 ( 1 1 2 6 + 2 5 7 1 , 1 $ 5 ( 0 3 2 5 7 $ 1 & 6 * * * 1 , $ * 7 2 . < 2 ( + $ / 2 & 2 ; 1 1 $ 7 5 $ & ( , 5 $ / + $ ' ( 7 & 6 , 6 0 9 / $ 1 ' $ . 8 7 + 5 ( 8 ( ( $ / 7 ' & 0 6 & 2 1 ( ( < 6 < / ' 2 2 8 3 & $ 8 / ) , ( / ' / 2 * 8 3 5 ( ' 2 2 0 % ( 1 $ ( : $ 6 & 2 7 5 - $ 3 $ 1 , 1 < 1 6 $ 1 7 $ $ 1 , 7 $ 3 $ 5 .

6 $ 1 ' 2 : 1 5 $ & ( : $ < 1 & $ 1 7 ( 5 % 8 5 < ' 8 % $ ,

- 2 & . ( < ( ) ) 8 6 , 2 1 $ + : / 5 6 $ ' , 9 $ % ( $ 6 7 3 + $ 5 $ 3 & 8 $ $ , 1 ( 6 7 6 . , 1 1 $ & + 2 7 ( 7 1 ( 6 3 5 , 1 * 6 7 ( ( 5 ( ' ( / , 8 8 7 & 2 3 3 ( 5 & + ( $ 7 ( 5 $ 3 / $ / ' 5 $ ) / ( 0 , 1 * 7 2 1 . , : , & ' 9 6 ( 1 ) 2 ' ( 7 ( 1 6 ( , 1 ' , $ ( 7 / 1 $ 7 5 5 % < 6 2 6 0 , & + ( / / (

WORDFIND

SOLUTION: Break, Lucky, Fence, Rainy, Train (RACETRACK)

Tuesday, 31 October, 2023 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY 13

SOLUTIONS: GALLOP, GAINED, OPENED, EDITED

COMMUNITY STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

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

Henna workshop Celebrate Diwali by learning how to create your own henna art in Melton South Community Centre’s workshop on Sunday, November 12. Practice a variety of beautiful designs on paper using homemade organic henna and then apply your chosen designs on your skin. $20 or $15 concession. Call the centre for information and enrolments. n 9747 8576

Caroline Springs Rotary The Rotary Club of Caroline Springs is inviting new guests to join its meetings in person or via zoom. Meetings are held every Wednesday at the Western Emergency Relief Network in Ravenhall from 7pm. n rotarycarolinesprings@gmail.com

Melton Ladies Probus Meets from 10am on the second Wednesday of each month at Melton Country Club on Reserve Road, Melton. All visitors are welcome. n Dianne, 9743 7446

The Gap on Graham The Gap provides a place for Melton youth to hang out, socialise, play games and learn new skills. The centre holds a night for girls aged 10 to 18 years at 5 Graham Street, Melton, on Wednesday evenings.

There is also a drop-in night for anyone aged 12 to 25 years old. n Val, 0414 769 605.

Melton Men’s Group Melton Men’s Group meets every Thursday from 5pm to 8pm at Arnolds Creek Children’s and Community Centre, 19 Claret Ash Boulevard, Harkness. Focusing on Senior Men’s mental and physical wellbeing. Join the group for a cuppa and a chat, listen to guest speakers and participate in activities including carpet bowls, pool or table tennis. n meltonmensgroup.home.blog

Take weight off naturally Struggling to lose weight? Struggling to get motivated? Want to try and do it in a friendly and less stressful atmosphere?

Come and join TOWN (Take Weight Off Naturally) every Tuesday at 6pm at the Darlingsford Barn, Darlingsford Boulevard, Melton. n Catherine, 0416 612 517, or Bob, 0411 824 739

This week’s photographer’s choice picture is of Patrick Blume in front of his Halloween decorated house. (Damjan Janevski) 368862_01 n 0406 493 734

Melton Valley Ladies Probus Club The Melton Valley Ladies Probus Club meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 10am at Melton Country Club.

New members welcome. n Ann 0425705150

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

riding groups to cater for different abilities starting at 7.30am. The rides finish at Lazy Moe’s for a cuppa. n 0403 057 003

would like to meet new friends, in a welcoming group environment, this is for you. n Marlene, 0498329290

Rotary Club of Melton

BusyFeet Hillside

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

BusyFeet is a dance and movement class for children with intellectual and physical disabilities. Classes create a fun and inclusive environment for kids aged 6 to 16 to try new things and build social skills, as well as giving a chance for parents’ respite. 11am, to 11.45am Saturday mornings. n Ross, 0411 228 311

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

Zonta club meets

Boomerang Bags Bacchus Marsh

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

Boomerang Bags Bacchus Marsh make reusable shopping bags from rescued fabric. They need people to cut, sew, iron and market our bags. The group meets on the first Sunday each month at Darley Neighbourhood House 2pm-5pm. n https://63ec55b8628d6.site123.me/

Parkinson’s support group

U3A Melton

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

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

Bacchus Marsh and District Garden Club

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

Melton Friendship Group.

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

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

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

Melton Cycling Club Melton Cycling Club meets for regular Sunday rides. There are three different

14 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 31 October, 2023

The club meets on the second Tuesday of each month except January, from 7.30pm, at The Laurels, 229 Main Street, Bacchus Marsh. Guest speakers and supper provided. Yearly membership $15. New members welcome. n Michelle, 0421 106 268

Community Band Greater Western Community Band, (founded 1991) is based in Melton.

Rehearsals are on Thursdays, 7.30pm to 9.30pm, at Blackwood Drive Hall, Melton South. The group welcomes musicians young and old to come along and join in with the band. Also available for performance at events and festivals. n Sally Hamond, 0401 474 582

Over 50s Social Group A friendly group of people aged over 50 who enjoy each other’s company while attending events and outings such as dinners, shows, dancing, cinemas and more. If you live in the Melton area and

First Aid courses Melton South Community Centre offers a range of First Aid courses, including HLTAID009, HLTAID011 and HLTAID012, and is now taking enrolments for Saturday, November. 25 Call the centre for information including times and prices, or to enrol. n 9747 8576

Patisserie & Baking Skills course Take the first step to a new career in Melton South Community Centre’s 6-week pre-accredited Intro to Patisserie & Baking Skills course. Make a variety of bread, cake and other baked goods and take them home with you each week, along with a certificate that can help you into further study or employment. Thursday or Saturday classes available, starting in November. $90 or $70 concession.

For information and enrolments, call the centre. n 9747 8576

Beauty course Discover a range of beauty therapies and techniques in Melton South Community Centre’s four-week pre-accredited Intro to Beauty course. Learn about makeup application, manicure styles, body waxing and much more and take materials home with you, along with a certificate that can help you into further study or employment. $120 or $90 concession.

For information and enrolments, call the centre. n 9747 8576

PUZZLES 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.

3 7 2 8 1

2

8 4

9

3 6 2

9 4 5

8 6 4

3

2

4 1 8

2 9

9 7 3 medium

2 4 2 7

5

4

7 1

Dish options list (4) Soaked (9) Localities (5) US singer, Bob – (5) Japanese school of Buddhism (3)

DECODER

No. 157

1 3

1

6

DOWN 1 2 3 4 5

6 8

3 8 3

12 13 16 17 19 22 23 24 25 28

9

8 1 6

Condiment (7) Study of animals (7) Holland (11) The lot (3) Place of confinement (6) Wind funnel (7) Singer (4) Disinfectant (10) In peril (10) Filament (4) Means of transport (7) Lubricant (6) Variety of fish (3) ‘Tubes’ or ‘boxes’ (coll) (11) Operation (7) Jersey (7)

1 5 9 10 11 12 14 15 18 20 21 23 26 27 29 30

No. 157

See (7) Japanese seaport (5) A caution in some sports (6,4) Doubly (5) Cheap books (10) Sister’s daughter (5) Convey (9) Cravat (7) Apple drink (5) Donates (5) Result from (5) Employer (4) Nonclerical (3)

6 7 8

ACROSS

easy

4 9 1

QUICK CROSSWORD

8 5

2 8 5

hard

3

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

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

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

9-LETTER WORD 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”.

T

Today’s Aim: 13 words: Good 20 words: Very good

O

E

R

H N

E

1 ( 3 2 7 , 6 0

5 LETTERS AGILE ALPHA ARENA ATLAS ATONE ATTIC AVAIL BASTE BAWDY BEEFY BLESS BORNE BRAGS CANED CENTS CLIMB DANCE EERIE EMBED EVENT

4 LETTERS BASS DOME EDGE ENDS HEAR PAWS SEES SETS SIGH SNOB SONS SUBS YEAR YEWS

GEESE ITEMS KICKS MOCKS NAIVE NEEDS OILED PASTS PEARL PECKS RETRY REVUE RILES RITES SALTS SAVES SEAMS SLEDS SLEET SLOPE SNAGS

SNEER SPAYS STRAW THESE THREE TWEET UNTIL WHISK WOMEN 6 LETTERS AMIDST ARISES MADAME PAPYRI

7 LETTERS DEIGNED EMBRACE MILITIA PARSNIP SPECTRA WORSTED 8 LETTERS ATTENDED HOMELAND NEPOTISM NETTLING

03-11-23

No. 157 Insert the missing letters to make 10 words – five reading across the grid and five reading down.

NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

E

R

S T

N D E R

E

U R A L R I S E I N S E

R A R

S

S

D

3 LETTERS ACE AIL ALE APT DNA EKE FUN GAL GEM GIN GYM ICY IDS IMP NAY NON OVA PAN RIM SEE SPA SPY THE YET

No. 157

dethrone, enthrone, ENTHRONED, ether, heed, herd, here, hereon, hereto, hero, heron, hoed, hone, honed, horde, horn, horned, hornet, nether, north, other, then, there, thereon, thorn, three, throne

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

E

10 11 12 13

1

E

9

K P 19

N S

8

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

18

R

L S

N

7

17

R

6

16

R R

5

N

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

R

4

27 words: Excellent

hard

5x5

3

15

medium

2

14

easy

1

ND B Y U R Z Q T G X F E

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

V H O S J M L C I AWK P

5

WORDFIT

QUICK QUIZ

1

In what year did the Statue of Liberty arrive in New York City?

2

What was the first human invention that broke the sound barrier?

3

How many inner wire rings are there on a dartboard?

4

Guy Laliberté is the co-founder of which Canadian entertainment company?

5

Qui is a pronoun found in what Romance language?

6

What is the largest and deepest artesian basin in the world?

7

Of these countries, which has the highest life expectancy for men: Andorra, Belgium or Denmark?

8

In which 1995 film did Russell Crowe (pictured) star with Sharon Stone and Gene Hackman?

9

In what month is the majority of the German beer festival Oktoberfest held?

10 Holden Caulfield is the protagonist of which classic novel?

ANSWERS: 1. 1885 2. The whip 3. Seven 4. Cirque du Soleil 5. French 6. The Great Artesian Basin 7. Andorra (78 years) 8. The Quick and the Dead 9. September 10. The Catcher in the Rye

No. 157

% 5 $ * 6 7 + ( 6 ( 3 $ 6 7 6 :2 0 ( 1 $ / 3 + $ ( ( 5 , ( ( 9 ( 1 7 ( 0 % ( ' 3 ( $ 5 / ) 8 1 6 1 ( ( 5 6 3 < < ( 7 $ 7 / $ 6 $ 5 , 6 ( 6 < ( $ 5 , & < $ & ( 5 , 0 % $ 6 7 ( 1 ( ( ' 6 3 $: 6 $ 7 7 ( 1 ' ( ' 6 2 1 6 7 + ( 0 , / , 7 , $ :2 5 6 7 ( ' ' 1 $ 6 , * + 1 ( 3 2 7 , 6 0 < ( : 6 * ( ( 6 ( 3 ( & . 6 3 $ 1 $ 3 7 * ( 0 0 $ ' $ 0 ( 5 ( 7 5 < 6 1 2 % , ' 6 & / , 0 % $ , / 2 9 $ & $ 1 ( ' 8 1 7 , / $ * , / ( % 2 5 1 ( 6 $ 9 ( 6 . , & . 6 6 1 $ * 6 6 / ( ' 6 6 / ( ( 7

SUDOKU

Tuesday, 31 October, 2023 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY 15

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Due to Djerriwarrh Festival, held on Saturday 11 November 2023, Hannah Watts Park will be closed to the public from 9am on Sunday 5 November to 9am on Monday 13 November 2023. Any unauthorised vehicles may be towed.

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NEWS

MY PLACE Val Fisher is a Melton resident who runs three different support groups at Djerriwarrh Neighbourhood House. Peers describe her as a remarkable woman who goes above and beyond to help people. She spoke to Star Weekly about her connection to Melton.

Val Fisher. (Ljubica Vrankovic) _368013_02

how much music can help with depression, anxiety and many other mental health issues.

The group can be found as ‘The Melton Singers’ on Facebook.

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

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2 white female Goats, displaying no ear tags was Impounded on Friday 27th of October 2023 from the Calder Highway/Mt Aitken Rd area, Diggers Rest.

If not claimed and fees paid by Monday 6th November 2023, these animals will be disposed of in accordance with the impounding of livestock Act 1994 or sent to a valid rescue organisation.

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Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the MELTON SOUTH JUNIOR FOOTBALL NETBALL CLUB will be held at the Melton Recreation Reserve on Sunday 26th November, 2023 at 7:00pm to transact the following business: 1. Confirmation of the 2022 AGM minutes 2. To receive, consider and adopt the Audited Accounts of 2022 and 2023 3. To elect office bearers for 2024 4. To discuss any other general business as permissible by the chair of the meeting Please note that the following positions are vacant: 1. President 2. Vice President 3. Secretary 4. Treasurer 5. Registrar 6. General Committee Positions You may nominate for a position in writing and must be sent to the secretary on or before the 20th November 2023. The email address is secretary.msjfnc@gmail.com 12645542-SN44-23

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If I could change anything about Melton it would be to get our new hospital as soon as possible rather than it keeping on being delayed.

Melton needs more mental health professionals in the area, there are very few, particularly psychiatrists.

The last thing someone with mental health difficulties needs is to have to travel to another area to seek help.

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Cafe Melton.

We meet once a week on Fridays at 10.

Where is your favourite local place to spend time?

The place we go for the coffee on Friday mornings, Latin Food and Wines in Wallace square. Their coffee and food is just amazing.

What, if anything, would you change about where you live?

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What’s your connection to Melton?

I’m originally from London but I’ve been living in Melton for almost 23 years and I love it.

What do you like about where you live?

I like how we have a community spirit, you hear about people in drive-throughs paying for people in front, there’s groups on Facebook where people help other people that are less fortunate, there’s good and bad everywhere but I’ve never had a problem in Melton.

What drives you to run multiple community groups?

I enjoy helping people. That’s it really.

Tell us about your time/work with the women’s group?

I’ve been running a Women’s Support Group for nine years, this started off as a Mental Health Support group but has expanded to any ladies that need support for any reason.

The group is friendly, non judgemental and supportive. I have a diploma in counselling but the group is for peer support. The ladies are very supportive of one another and many have formed new friendships. You can find us on Facebook as ‘Women’s Support Group Melton’. We meet every Monday at 1pm and are located at Djerriwarrh Neighbourhood House, 239 Station Road, Melton. The centre is located to the left of the Police Station.

Tell us about your community singing group?

I’ve been running a Community Singing Group for about the same amount of time as the Support Group. We rehearse and also perform at local aged care facilities.

The residents at these facilities always look forward to having a sing with us. It’s amazing

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‘Black’ offers a light ride

By Derek Ogden, Marque Motoring The auto industry continues to be awash with gizmos that are increasingly taking the ‘drive’ out of driver.

Sports utility vehicles – especially all-wheel drives – are particularly subject to systems that butt in. Welcome to the no-nonsense world of the Outlander Black Edition.

While the mid-size Mitsubishi petrol and petrol/electric hybrid SUV, for 2024, has been given a leg-up in equipment standards – plus price rises - the former LS Black Edition has been let loose from the pack to stand on its own.

Not that there’s any shortage of tech in the Black Edition, just that it seems less intrusive than that of many of the ilk.

Even so, any of a stack of bells-and-whistle warnings and driver aids can be silenced simply by switches located on the steering wheel.

The entry-level ES 2WD five-seater now opens the line-up from $37,740, plus on-roads, the plug-in hybrid EV five-seater from $56,490, with the top-of-the range PHEV Exceed Tourer seven-seater topping out the Outlanders at $71,790. The Black Edition seven-seater – the test vehicle - settles in the middle of the mob at $42,990.

The MY24 Outlander is covered by a five-year, 100,000km warranty that can be extended to 10 years and 200,000km if serviced within Mitsubishi’s dealer network using its capped-price service program.

All vehicles are sold with 12 months of roadside assist, which can be extended for up to four years when the vehicle is serviced at an authorised Mitsubishi dealer.

STYLING ‘Black’ is the byword here, with a black grille, black-finish door mirrors and lower bumper treatments, B- and C-pillar garnishes, and 20-inch black alloy wheels. The bold front, flared fenders and an aerodynamic rear spoiler combine to come up with a sporty stance, as well as adding to improved performance over its predecessor.

Automatic LED headlamps are newly added. Paint options are limited to Prestige Black, Prestige White, Prestige Red, and a new metallic Graphite Grey.

INTERIOR Inside, one thing dominates – you guessed it - black. There’s a black headliner and pillar trims, plus Mi-Suede seat upholstery with synthetic leather bolsters.

While the Black Edition, like others in Outlander range, boasts three rows of seats capable of taking up to seven ‘bodies’ Mitsubishi eschews the term ‘seven-seater’ for the more realistic ‘5+2’ definition. The rear seats are comfortable only for carrying a couple of kids, or for anyone else, on short journeys.

All seats can recline for added comfort, while the slide adjustable 40:20:40 split second

The latest Outlander Black Edition now stands alone in the midst of the Mitsubishi SUV segment.

row and 50:50 split rear third row can fold fully forward to create a multitude of versatile passenger and cargo configurations.

Seven-seat petrol models have a space saver spare wheel, and a claimed 163 litres with all three rows of seats upright.

This goes up to 478 litres with the third-row seats folded, and 1461 litres with the second row also folded.

INFOTAINMENT A 9-inch touchscreen presents information in sharp full-colour, while buttons and knobs allow for easy audio and sat nav operation.

Apple CarPlay is wireless, Android Auto wired, which is de rigueur for vehicles of this standard.

Power outlets include USB-A, USB-C and 12V plugs, as well as a wireless charging pad, which doubles as storage when not servicing the phone.

ENGINES/TRANSMISSIONS Powering the MY24 Outlander Black Edition is a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine producing 135 kW of power and 244 Nm of torque (nothing new here), mated with a continuously-variable transmission with eight pre-programmed steps a la

18 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 31 October, 2023

conventional automatic. Drive is sent to the front wheels only.

SAFETY The Outlander was awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating on 2022 testing. With eight airbags, the suite of active safety systems is headed by autonomous emergency braking front and rear, including pedestrian and junction modes.

Forward collision warning leads in moving object detection, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist and emergency lane assist, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

Adaptive cruise control is joined by driver attention alert and traffic sign recognition.

There are rear-view camera and front and rear parking sensors, plus rear seat alert function.

A new rear seat alert function detects rear door use on entry and notifies the driver with either an instrument cluster message or horn note when getting out.

DRIVING While the 2.5-litre motor doesn’t set the world on fire with its performance, it’s possible to spin the front-wheel drive system on gravel,

especially when an incline is involved.

However, the Outlander took lumpy going in its stride.

Overtaking on bitumen needs some decisive work from the driver but engine and wind noise are all but absent, except when the engine is pushed. Steering, while responsive, is on the weighty side but, generally, the Outlander stays firmly to the road, even on swiftly taken bends.

The whole driving experience is without fuss, which means it’s short on fun too.

Occupants were far from complaining, even in stop/start city traffic.

Fuel consumption is claimed at 7.7 litres per 100km combined, with CO2 emissions of 185g per kilometre. The test vehicle recorded 10.5 litres per 100 kilometres in city and suburbs, and five litres per 100km at motorway speeds.

Braked towing capacity across the range is 1600kg, with unbraked towing at 750kg.

SUMMARY Without trying out more members of the MY24 Outlander line-up, the standalone Black Edition has a lot going for it. Seven seats make for a rare shot at versatility despite the children’s high-chair pair out back. Pricing and warranty are a bonus.

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

SPORT

Massive loss for Western United Western United suffered a convincing 5-0 defeat at the hands of Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 2 of the A-League men on Saturday night.

Coach John Aloisi named an unchanged line-up from the season opener against Melbourne City, with the entire 18-man squad carrying over into this contest.

That meant new signings Daniel Penha, Angus Thurgate, Riku Danzaki and Tom Heward-Belle continued in the starting XI, with youngsters Kane Vidmar and Matthew Grimaldi featuring on the bench.

The match burst into life early on with a chance at both ends. Ben Garuccio’s cross was just taken off the head of Penha in the nick of time before Brook forced a good save from Heward-Belle at the other end.

But it was the Wanderers that exploded into the game with a quickfire double thanks to two strikes from winger Lachlan Brook.

The first was brilliant as he cut inside from the right wing and bent a brilliant left-footed effort into the far corner, while the second was a little closer to home and nestled into the bottom corner via a deflection off Tomoki Imai.

With the two goals coming virtually from nothing so early on, United remained calm and began to settle in possession, with a fine team move culminating in a Josh Risdon strike that stung Lawrence Thomas’ midriff.

Penha had a couple of half chances but couldn’t get the ball under control at the final moment as United looked slick in possession but exposed defensively.

Western Sydney were able to break through United’s press with relative ease and had willing runners in behind to turn the visitors’ defence around and get in on goal.

There was nearly a third and another spectacular strike when Jorrit Hendrix let fly from similar range to Brook’s opener, but this

Angus Thurgate of Western United and Oscar Priestman of the Wanderers battle for the ball. (AAP Image/James Gourley)

time the long-range effort rattled the post.

The home side seemed to have space everywhere they went in the final third and Milanovic made it 3-0 when he headed home from Jack Clisby’s cross just past the half hour mark.

The fourth came via another header, this time from captain Marcelo who leapt

unguarded at a corner to thump the ball into the net.

With the damage done there is a significantly lower pace to the game following the restart, but United continued to try to find some joy in the game.

In possession, the Green and Black showed flashes of quality with Ramy Najjarine

impressing off the bench as a half-time substitute. He and Penha came closest to finding a goal back for United and remained lively until the final whistle sounded.

It was a night to forget for Aloisi’s men who will quickly move forward and look ahead to another trip to New South Wales to take on Macarthur FC in Round 3.

SPORTS QUIZ 1. Which Aussie defender has recently joined the Socceroos?

4. In which US state did the first Ironman Triathlon take place in 1978?

12. Alyssa Healy suffered an injury after a bite from which animal?

2. Who is the current president of the Western Bulldogs?

5. The team song for the Brisbane Lions is also the national anthem tune for which country?

13. The Australian Steelers represent Australia in which sport?

3. Who is the only tennis player to have won all four consecutive Grand Slam titles in a year twice?

6. Ex-Collingwood star Jack Ginnivan received backlash for attending what event the night before the Grand Final?

7. Prior to his trade to St Kilda, which club did Paddy Dow play for?

8. Australian tennis player Sam Groth broke what record in 2012?

9. For which race did iconic sprinter Cathy Freeman win gold at the Olympics?

10. How many Olympic gold medals did legendary swimmer Dawn Fraser win?

Luka Doncic

11. Luka Doncic plays for which NBA team?

Kaylee McKeown

14. How many world records did Kaylee McKeown recently set at the Swimming World Cup in Budapest?

15. Johann Zarco recently won which motorsport event in Australia?

16. Grace Harris plays for which Women’s Big Bash League team?

17. Which AFL team was known as Walyalup for the AFL and AFLW Indigenous rounds?

18. Former NBA player Alan Williams currently plays for which NBL team?

19. What name was A-League team Melbourne City previously known as?

20. And what year did the team first play in the A-League Men?

21. Which national netball team won the 2023 Constellation Cup Series?

22. Who was the overall women’s champion of the 2023 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup? 23. Which national rugby team won the 2019 Rugby World Cup? 24. How many deliveries did Grace Harris take to make the highest score (136 not out) in WBBL history?

25. Which three countries are hosting the 2023 Pacific Rugby League Championships?

26. Which team won the 2023 WNBA Finals?

27. Which former Opal is head coach of the New York Liberty?

28. Which horse won the 2023 Caulfield Cup? 29. Brad Dubberley is the current head coach of which Australian sporting team?

30. Which national team did Australia defeat to win the 2023 International Wheelchair Rugby World Cup?

0311

1. Alessandro Circati 2. Kylie Watson-Wheeler 3. Rod Laver 4. Hawaii 5. France 6. Moonee Valley races 7. Carlton 8. Fastest tennis serve 9. 400 metres 10. Four 11. Dallas Mavericks 12. Dog 13. Wheelchair Rugby 14. Two 15. MotoGP Grand Prix 16. Brisbane Heat 17. Fremantle 18. South East Melbourne Phoenix 19. Melbourne Heart 20. 2010 21. Australia 22. Kaylee McKeown 23. South Africa 24. 59 25. Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea 26. Las Vegas Aces 27. Sandy Brondello 28. Without A Fight 29. Australian Steelers 30. Canada Tuesday, 31 October, 2023 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY 19

SPORT STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

She’s back! Ladies In Red lands first win for ‘23 Ladies In Red returned to the winner’s circle when she made it back-to-back victories in the $30,000 Angelique Club Pace at Melton on Saturday night.

Having only her second race-day appearance in almost 12 months, Ladies In Red atoned for her first-up defeat by Rakero Rebel a fortnight earlier when she prevailed for the 23rd time in 29 starts.

Sent out a $1.35 favorite, Ladies In Red settled one-out, one-back before David Moran made a mid-race move to sit parked outside stablemate Tough Tilly and that pair appeared set to fight out the race.

Ladies In Red forged clear in the home straight and held off the fast-finishing Treachery to score by a neck in a mile rate of 1:54.9.

Moran said he wasn’t disappointed by Ladies In Red’s runner-up effort when resuming.

“Her run last week was terrific. It was a long time to have out and come back in this grade against some of these mares,” Moran said.

Moran said he expects the five-year-old

Moran admitted he wasn’t sure of the outcome when the two leaders upped the tempo in the back straight.

Ladies in Red (Stuart McCormack)

to be in finer fettle for next week’s Group 1 Benstud Standardbreds Queen Of The Pacific.

“And tonight will make her even sharper and better again when she is stepping up in trip next week to the 2760 metres,” he said.

The win completed a double for Moran, who partnered Curly James to a minor upset in the Gammalite Free For All. Curly James worked to the front early in the

race and was kept company by the $1.33 favorite Catch A Wave for the final 1600 metres.

Despite pulling hard mid-race, Catch A Wave put his head in front around the home turn after a blistering 26.8 back straight quarter, however Curly James ($6) fought back tenaciously in the home straight to score by three metres from La Captain in a race record mile rate of 1:54.0.

“I didn’t think we had it won too far out.

Catch A Wave is a great horse, we were lucky enough to get a pretty cheap lead time and the first quarter was reasonably easy for this class,” he said.

“Half way up the straight we were probably travelling as good as each other and I had the advantage of the inside running. He kept poking his head out and did well.”

Leading trainer Emma Stewart completed a feature race double when Very Pretty made it two wins from as many starts by leading all the way in the Tatlow Stakes (2YO Fillies).

With Mark Pitt sitting quietly, the daughter of American Ideal threw a 26.6 last 400 metres at her rivals to score by eight metres from stablemate Free To Play.

“I was really happy with her first-up run, but I thought she was a lot sharper and was more like a racehorse tonight,” Pitt said.

Blockburster racing night

Shrey Dhand (Supplied)

Badminton’s rising star

By Peter Howe Sunshine Western Region Sports Club’s Shrey Dhand has just returned from the USA after representing Australia in the under 19 World Junior Badminton Tournament during September.

The old African saying, iIt takes a village to raise a child,” is working in the 15-year-old’s growth in his chosen sport.

“I have many personal coaches and mentors, including my father who all play a part in my development in my sport,” he said.

Dhand played soccer, tennis and cricket but settled on badminton more to keep his social contacts with his friends in the beginning.

“As my friends and I got older we started to play tournaments and became quite competitive. My long-time friend Om Neelam and I have now won Australian junior doubles titles together,” he said.

Dhand has had a dramatic rise in the sport that started when he was eleven years old and has taken him to many Victorian and Australian junior titles. He first represented Australia at the same age in the Singapore Youth International. This is his third tournament representing Australia.

“Australia had a very tough draw at the championships. We drew defending champions Korea, recent world title holders China and the Netherlands,” he said.

For the record Australia finished the team’s event in 25th place. Dhand was the youngest Australian representative.

“There wasn’t much difference between our skills, we are very good technically but lack experience in tactics and accuracy under pressure,” he said. “For me it was an amazing experience and will drive me to improve my tournament play. Watching and mixing with players from other countries enabled me to see how other countries play.”

Dhand has a gruelling training and playing timetable. A strength and conditioning program that includes weight sessions, core strength exercises, endurance running, skipping, and jumping to improve his strength, a vital component of any badminton player.

“I train at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre with the Victorian team, at Maribyrnong Sports Academy with other Australian Falcon players which includes match play, two versus one and specific skill drills designed by my coaches and mentors to improve my skills and match play,” he said.

“On Friday morning I train with the Senior Victorian team. On Sunday I train with my personal coaches. I have Saturday off when we don’t have tournaments to play, it is the only day I don’t train.”

Dhand’s “village” include his father Gaurav, once a junior state badminton player in India and now an accredited coach, who assists with his son’s skill drills. Ben Walklate, a teacher at MSA himself an ex Australian Badminton player spends many lunchtimes at school, working with Dhand on match analysis, tactics, and technique. He also spends time

20 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 31 October, 2023

with Dhand in his sports psychology sessions so he can understand what he needs to work on. Dhand’s long-time coach is Paul Lee from Malaysia, previously a junior champion in Penang, who has coached him since he was 12.

Among the many titles Dhand has won, one stands alone. In June this year he competed in and won the Protech Elite Series Open Men’s singles as a 15-year-old. This win stamped his credentials in the sport.

Dhand lists his strengths as his speed, movement, and the power of his shots.

Dhand, who attends Maribyrnong Sports Academy has singled them out for their phenomenal support.

“My teachers spend extra time with me so I can attend tournaments all over Australia.

I would like to follow a career in the financial industry after completing year 12 and university,” he said.

So what about your sporting ambitions?

“Badminton players mature in their early to mid 20’s which will be me in Brisbane Olympics in 2032. Los Angeles in 2028 isn’t out of the question either,” he said Dhand is the October nominee for the Don Deeble Sports Star Award which is sponsored by the Yarraville Club Cricket Club, Strathmore Community Bendigo Bank, the Deer Park Club, Medway Golf Club, Ascot Vale Sports and Trophies and The Star Weekly Newspapers. To nominate a monthly winner or attend a dinner at the Medway Golf Club, contact the club by emailing swrsportsclub@ gmail.com or sms 0408 556 631.

Victoria’s premier pacing and trotting races will be celebrated on the same night in 2024 with Harness Racing Victoria uniting the A. G. Hunter Cup and Woodlands Stud Great Southern Star on one glorious February evening.

Fresh off the back of a star-studded Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup, HRV chief executive Matt Isaacs revealed February 3 would become the ultimate ‘save the date’ with two Group 1 classics.

“Our greatest events deserve the biggest exposure and so I am rapt that our richest pacing and trotting races will next year be able to be enjoyed on one fantastic night at Melton Entertainment Park,” Isaacs said.

“Not only will the A. G. Hunter Cup and Great Southern Star be huge drawcards to fans, but having them share the card also means we can expose our best talent to a much wider audience.”

Isaacs said the night would carry more than $1 million in prizemoney and the move would further ensconce its place on the calendar as a premier celebration for Australasian harness racing, helping to lure the best talent from Australia and New Zealand to compete.

“We want the southern hemisphere’s greatest horses battling on our tracks for our biggest honours and a night like this will help ensure they make the trip and put on a show for fans of elite sport,” he said.

It will be the first time the A. G. Hunter Cup is held on the same night as the Great Southern Star when the latter is run in a heats-into-final Elitloppet-style format.

“It’s going to be terrific drama, with the best trotters battling across two heats to earn places in the $300,000 final, which follows the all-important barrier draw,” Isaacs said.

“In the middle of that activity will be the $500,000 A. G Hunter Cup, undoubtedly Australia’s heavyweight pacing championship, as well as the 4YO Bonanza, which may well feature the likes of The Lost Storm and Petracca.”

SPORT Going pro: Keeper Vonja sticking to the west Joeys goalkeeper Michael Vonja will continue his outstanding career progression in the west, signing his first professional contract with Western United.

The 17-year-old has been a standout in the Western United Academy and has earned multiple selections for the Joeys in 2023.

Domestically, Vonja enjoyed a breakout season in the National Premier League 2, winning the club champion award in the Under 21’s and featuring prominently for the Under 23’s.

Like many of Western United’s young talents, Vonja is born and bred in the West and played his junior football with the likes of Caroline Springs George Cross and Green

Gully.

On signing a professional deal with his hometown club, Vonja said it was a dream opportunity and highlighted the progression of a number of young players from the Western United Academy.

“I’m really excited to sign my first professional contract, I’m grateful for the opportunity the Club has given me and I will continue working hard,” he said.

“Working with Michael Theo as well as the senior team goalkeepers has really helped me mature and learn from their experiences and qualities.”

“I think seeing younger players come into the first team and sign professionally shows

the belief and trust the Club has in the Academy. It creates a positive environment where players want to work hard, and I believe the team has a boosted desire to win and play well.”

Western United Head Coach John Aloisi said Vonja’s well-rounded qualities as a goalkeeper and his strength of character made him an exciting prospect for the Club.

“Michael has taken big steps in his game in our Academy set up, and a lot of credit must go to our coaches in that space who have done a fantastic job with all of our young players,” he said.

“A modern goalkeeper needs a multitude of qualities and Michael has everything in

his locker, shot-stopping, distribution with both hand and foot as well as confidence and assuredness in each moment of the game.

“We are proud to have Michael in our ranks as a promising young player from the West who embraces our values, and we are looking forward to pushing him onto further success.”

Vonja is the first goalkeeper to come through the Western United Academy with a scholarship deal and will complement Tom Heward-Belle and Matt Sutton in the first team.

The youngster will continue his growth on and off the pitch with more opportunities at club and international level on the horizon.

Exciting times with young guns

By Harper Sercombe Two of Bacchus Marsh’s most promising basketball players have been selected as part of the All Australian Basketball League.

Bailey Wilson and Reece McGrath are two of 120 young guns selected as part of the AABL, which serves as a direct pathway into the American college basketball scene.

The AABL is a tournament that consists of 12 teams of 10 players, most of which are coached by former NBA and NBL players.

Following a try-out and combine period, players are then drafted to their respective teams. Wilson was picked up by the Dragons, coached by Warren Estcourt, while McGrath ended up at the Hornets, coached by Kelvin Bowers.

“I was pretty shocked [when I got drafted] to be honest,” Wilson said.

“It’s an amazing program, high talent, so I guess going into it I wasn’t setting any expectations.

“I just wanted to go in and try my best and getting selected was a bonus.”

McGrath said his feelings were similar to what Wilson experienced.

“I was pretty excited,” McGrath said.

“It’s a good opportunity to play with all the other boys and other teams in the competition.”

Both boys agreed that while the process to get selected was extensive and challenging, it was an enjoyable experience.

“The tryouts were pretty tough,” Wilson said.

“It was a challenge, but very good at the same time. The coaches are awesome, all super high level.

“Estcourt has been amazing, over the first two games he’s pushed me and I can already tell I’m becoming more confident.

“He’s helped me heaps already, so I can’t wait for the next few weeks.”

McGrath and Wilson have been friends and played basketball together since they were young kids, so to go through a process such as this together has been an amazing experience they said.

“It’s really good, we’ve known each other for ages,” McGrath said.

“We’ve never really played against each other, it’s always been with each other, so that will be a good challenge and good memory to have.”

“I love Reece, he’s one of my good mates,” Wilson said.

“To do this program with someone like him, it’s pretty cool.”

Both boys are hoping their journey together doesn’t end here, with the goal for them is to head over to America to continue their basketball careers.

“If I get the opportunity to play in college, it would be amazing,” Wilson said.

“And playing in the AABL is a very good

Reece McGrath and Bailey Wilson in their AABL kits

pathway, I believe, just the coaches, set such a high example and push us.

“Even if I don’t get the opportunity to go to college, I’m sure that there’s plenty of kids that will from this program, but even if I don’t, I’m learning heaps from it and it’s a great experience.

“If I get the opportunity to play pro anywhere, I’d be thrilled but we’ll have to see how I go.”

McGrath already has plans to travel for basketball next year.

“That’s my goal (to play college basketball), I’m going to America next year for school and a [basketball] camp, so that should be good,” he said.

Recently there has been an increased influx of Australian basketball players in the NBA, with Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels being picked up as top ten draft picks in the 2021 and 2022.

This, on top of the NBL’s growth in its ability to help harvest and foster young talent is something that continues to encourage and inspire young basketball players.

“Both of them (Giddey and Daniels) being from Victoria as well,” Wilson said.

“Dyson is from Bendigo so it’s a country town just like Bacchus [Marsh] where Reece and I are from.

“To see Aussies getting through, getting more of an opportunity, I know Tyrese Proctor, he’s playing for Duke now, so he’s another Aussie that will be in the NBA soon.

“Seeing boys like that go through is exciting, so hopefully I get a chance.”

The AABL tournament will run up until December 9, while Wilson and McGraths careers are only just beginning to flourish.

Reece McGrath (Kirsten Pluck)

Bailey Wilson and Reece McGrath (Kirsten Pluck)

Bailey Wilson (Kirsten Pluck) Tuesday, 31 October, 2023 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY 21

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22 MELTON & MOORABOOL STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 31 October, 2023