Pope Francis honoured
Thomas Carr College in Tarneit honoured the life and legacy of Pope Francis on Tuesday, April 22.
Defined by his progressive stances and championing for the rights and dignity of migrants, Pope Francis’s legacy holds a special place in the school’s diverse community.
Principal Rose Connolly described the late pope as “a beacon of light.”
“He was a forward-thinking leader who truly cherished the dignity of each person,” Ms Connolly said.
“May his legacy live on, especially for the poor and marginalised, as we keep him in our prayers.”
Full story, page 8
Security trial ‘ludicrous’
By Jaidyn Kennedy
A former Wyndham mayor has slammed a council proposal for a private security trial that will only operate in Truganina.
Council’s draft 2025-26 budget, which was endorsed by councillors on April 22, includes a ‘Truganina security patrol’ which would take its funding from $372,000 allocated to community safety and strengthening programs.
Former mayor Kim McAliney said was “ludicrous” that council was even considering the trial.
“This is not core business and it’s not good governance – it should be with the state government and Victoria Police [to handle],” she said.
“I don’t care if it’s a trial, the trial shouldn’t go ahead.
“It would set a huge and terrible precedent.”
Ms McAliney said that if council wanted to trial private security patrols, they should be done through a special suburb levy or left to body corporates and private arrangements.
“I’m all about safety, but you have to be realistic–thisissomethingthecouncilshould not be taking up,” she said.
“There has never been an expectation that all residents pay for security in one suburb.”
Ms McAliney said she was appealing to residents to make their views known.
“I certainly will not be paying my rates if this goes through and I implore that ratepayers and the community register their complaints,” she said.
“I feel there is tension in the chamber, but if wedon’thavepublicoutcryitwillgothrough.”
In the chamber, councillor Susan McIntyre questioned the decision.
“We are cutting key programs like coffee with the cops and instead funding punitive
patrols,” Cr McIntyre said.
“Should your rates be funding private security patrols in Truganina?”
A Wyndham spokesperson said the specifics ofthefundingareyettobefinalisedorendorsed by council, and the final budget, which is expected to be tabled at the June 25 council meeting, will include resident feedback.
The spokesperson did not answer why Truganina was the proposed site of the trial, nordidtheyanswerhowmuchofthe$372,000 would go towards the private patrol itself.
To provide feedback on the draft budget: https://theloop.wyndham.vic.gov.au
Thomas Carr College students Lucas, Julian and Shannon light candles in memory of Pope Francis. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 473431_10
Debate over reserve upgrade
Gaming machines, dog parks, and public toilets were among the points of contention when Wyndham council discussed the draft 2025-26 budget on Tuesday, April 22.
In the first year of the new council, ratepayers are set to face an average rate rise of three per cent rate – the maximum permitted under the state government’s rate cap.
Council’s waste management charge will also increase from $393.30 to $461.80, due in large part to the rolling out of new FOGO bins across the municipality.
The $165 million capital works budget includes $77 million for road developments
and $20 million for open spaces.
A combined $18.7 million will go towards upgrading and duplicating Tarneit Road, $16 million will go to the first stage of reconstructing K Road in Werribee South.
Leakes Road will receive $8.2 million for duplication works and $8.5 million more will go to Ison Road.
Cr Robert Szatkowski condemned a proposed $250,000 upgrade of Hogans Road Reserve, which home to the Hoppers Crossing Sports Club and its gaming venues.
“We are giving a venue public funds for a project that profits from pokies,” he said.
“If we are using community funds, we should be asking who benefits.”
Cr Szatkowski said the funding goes against council’s anti-gambling harm policies and would be better spent on delivering more dog parks in growth suburbs.
Supporting the funding upgrades, Cr Shannon McGuire hit back and said Cr Szaktkowski’s “commentary contradicts reality.”
“The suggestion that we are going against our policy is totally disingenuous – you’re cherry picking and interpreting the policy for political benefit,” he said.
An invitation to bee for yourself
Beekeepers from Wyndham are invited along to Werribeeks to wax up on their skills.
Meeting the third Monday of each month at the Wyndham Park Community Centre, the organisation offers a space for beekeepers and prospective keepers to share tips and resources about apiary management.
Werribeeks president Carmel Gerdsen said education is the central pillar of the group’s work.
“We focus on ongoing education, because beekeeping has a lot of moving parts and to be a good beekeeper you have to always educate yourself,” Ms Gerdsen said.
“If you isolate yourself as a beekeeper, you often don’t pick on the nuances of different things.”
Beginnerinformationsessions,seasonaland climate advice, and networking opportunities are just a few things Werribeeks offers.
“Being part of a bee club means we have resources, we have many guest speakers and chances to network with other beekeepers.
“A lot of people are older when they take it [beekeeping] up– or do so as they retire– so maybe you’ll make a mate down the road and be able to check up on each other’s hives.”
Werribeeks is urging beekeepers to prepare
for the potential spread of the varrora mite, a destructive parasite that kills honey bees, and which Ms Gerdsen expects to hit locally soon.
At next month’s meet, an officer from the National Varroa Mite Management Program is visiting the club.
In the meantime, Ms Gerdsen encouraged local keepers to attend a free-one day course at the Italian Sports Club on Saturday, May 3 presented by National Varroa Mite Management Program.
“There is no direct statement that restricts the council from supporting these clubs.” He said the policy prevented promoting gambling, and funding the venue did not promote it.
Cr Peter Maynard raised concerns council’s dogparkspolicyandstrategyhadbeen‘quietly dropped’ and a $3.25 million would be cut from public toilets across the next four years, despite toilets being a priority for residents in the recent satisfaction survey.
Cr Larry Zhao, who said he was “not able to support or reject” the draft budget as it stood, left the chamber and did not vote.
An industrial plastics manufacturer in Truganina has been fined $75,000 and convicted for having an unsafe plant following a worker suffering a traumatic brain injury in 2022.
In December 2024, Class Plastics (Aust) was fined $40,000 without conviction in the Sunshine Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to failing to maintain a plant that was safe and without health risks.
Following an appeal by WorkSafe, the Melbourne County Court dismissed the original sentence on Friday, April 11, imposing a conviction and increasing the fine to $75,000. In addition to the conviction and fine, the company was also ordered to pay $4000 in other expenses.
In April 2022, a supervisor at the company’s Truganina factory was attempting to rectify an issue with a plastic blow moulding machine when his head was caught between a moving bar and the machine’s frame.
The man received a traumatic brain injury, fractured skull and intracranial bleeding which required immediate surgery.
A WorkSafe investigation found the machine’s interlock system, which should have stopped it from operating while the access doors were open, was disconnected and the sensors which should have activated it had been covered with tape.
It was found to be reasonably practicable for the company to have conducted regular inspections of the interlock system and checked that sensors and other safety devices on the machine weren’t compromised.
Wyndham residents appear more ‘satisfied’ than ever
Wyndham residents are more ‘satisfied’ than ever with council’s performance, according to the Annual Community Satisfaction Survey.
The overall satisfaction rating scale for council received in 2024-25 was 7.3 out of 10– an increase from the 7.1 recorded in 2023-24.
Respondents from Laverton North and Williams Landing reported the highest level of overall satisfaction at 7.5.
Point Cook households said they were the least satisfied with the council’s performance in the last year – reporting an average of 7.1.
Tarneit (7.4), Truganina (7.3), Hoppers Crossing (7.3), Werribee (7.3) and Wyndham Vale (7.2) rounded out the figures.
Accounting for age, young adults (18-34 years) and senior citizens older than 75 reported the highest scores, while middle-aged and older adults (45-74 years) were among the least satisfied.
Multilingual households, First Nations residents, renters and those who have lived in Wyndham for less than five years all ranked among the most satisfied.
Mortgage holders, residents of more than 10 years and households with a disabled member
all ranked among the lowest.
Traffic management was identified as the biggest issue Wyndham residents are facing at themoment,receivingtwiceasmanymentions than the next biggest issue.
While fewer people as a percentage nominated traffic as an issue than last year (falling from 20 to 19 per cent), surveyed Wyndham residents were still more than twice as likely to flag it compared to the rest of metropolitan Melbourne.
Parking, nature strip issues, activities and facilities for children as well as education and schools were also more likely to be raised as
issuesinWyndhamthantherestofMelbourne. However, respondents were less likely to list road maintenance, rubbish issues, and planning and development as concerns. Wyndham outscored metropolitan Melbourne and western region councils (7.1), but scored identical to other growth municipalities.
This was the 12th year the survey was conducted by the external company Metropolis Research, which used data from 1204 households obtained by door-knocking.
Beekeepers Carmel Gerdsen, Debbie Conway and John Tulloch are inviting people to atend Werribeeks. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 472933_01
Werribee honours Anzac Day
The supreme sacrifice of Austalians during times of war was not forgotten in Werribee, as thousands gathered before dawn to commemorate Anzac Day.
Tributes were paid and wreaths laid around the cenotaph, as people of all ages and backgrounds honoured the men and women who have served Australia.
In addition to the many veterans and volunteers from the Werribee RSL, which hosts the annual the event, younger members of the community continued to bear the torch of remembrance.
Student leaders from Thomas Carr College shared their personal connections to the day, and what the event has come to symbolise for their cohort and generation.
Even in 2025, there was still a connection to the Gallipoli landings – the very event which the date April 25 commemorates.
The Werribee Half Battery is a living history group which has brought the original WerribeeHalfBatterybacktolife.Theoriginal Werribee Half Battery was part of Victorian Horse Artillery raised in 1889.
Major Allan Sterling said the group, which was reformed in 2013, honoured the legacy of
the original Werribee Half Battery.
“The commander of the Victorian Horse Artillery, what we represent, was Major [Frederic] Hughes who went on to become a major general and he actually commanded the Light Horse at the charge at the Nek,” Major Sterling said.
Emphasising that Anzac Day is not a glorification of war, Major Sterling said that Australians should not take the battle for freedom and political rights for granted.
“The freedoms we have here are something that I think so many people take for granted, and we had to fight for that in multiple wars.
“There are a lot of threats in the world today and we just need to be aware of them.”
For Battery Sergeant Major Nathan Jackson the magic of the day is the Anzac spirit itself.
“There are still many people who care about what the Anzac spirit means, so getting people like the veterans who are here all the way down to the young school children and the scouts is great.
“Hearing all of them talk and getting to be a part of it is a great thing to do. I have been doing dawn services here since 2015, and it just seems like every year it’s a bigger crowd.”
Expressions of
Interest
Volunteer Opportunity
Help shape the future of waste in Wyndham
An opportunity exists for local residents to join the Wyndham Refuse Disposal Facility and Waste Management Community Reference Group (Wyndham RDF CRG).
This opportunity is for two (2) people residing within the Wyndham City community to represent the community’s opinion of and interest in the Wyndham Refuse Disposal Facility (RDF).
As a member of the Wyndham RDF CRG, you will help shape the future of waste in Wyndham by providing valuable input into Council decisions about the operation of the Wyndham Refuse Disposal Facility (RDF) and the city’s waste management services.
The CRG meets four times a year at the Wyndham Civic Centre. Online participation can be arranged on an emergency basis. Meetings are every three months on a Monday afternoon from 4:30 to 6:30pm.
The next meeting is on 26 May 2025.
Group membership is for a three (3) year term.
For further information and to apply please visit www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/about-council/ your-council/committees-groups.
Expressions of interest close at 5pm on Friday 2 May 2025. You may also be invited to attend a short informal interview.
Major Allan Sterling, Battery Sargeant Major Nathan Jackson, Corporal J.L Ferguson and Huw Goldstein of the Werribee Half Battery (Jaidyn Kennedy)
The Werribee Cenotaph at dawn. (Supplied) Wreaths on the Werribee Cenotaph (Jaidyn Kennedy)
Defence personnel guard the cenotaph. (Supplied)
The crowd arrive before dawn. (Jaidyn Kennedy)
Gellibrand’s shifting boundaries
•
The inner-west seat of Gellibrand has been held by the Labor Party since it was created in 1949 and while a series of redistributions and gentrification have changed its location and demographics since, there’s little chance of it changing political allegiances on May 3.
Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Tim Watts has held Gellibrand since 2013 and enjoys an 11.2 per cent margin after the latest redistribution, slightly down from 11.5 at the 2022 election.
Traditionally based around Footscray, the creation of the neighbouring seat of Fraser in 2018 meant Gellibrand was pushed to the south and west, taking in parts of the Wyndham council area such as Point Cook, Williams Landing and Truganina
Meanwhile losing Yarraville means Gellibrand no longer takes in any part of the Maribyrnong council area and Spotswood and Brooklyn shifting to Fraser means it no longer covers all of Hobsons Bay either.
No one knows these shifting boundaries better than Watts, who when first elected in 2013, occupied an electoral office on the junction of Geelong Road and Barkly Street in Footscray.
Tim Watts - Labor If re-elected, we’ll back all Australians. Strengthening Medicare, making childcare cheaper, wiping 20 per cent from HECS debts and providing two more tax cuts for all. We’re building Australia’s future right here in the west, committing more than $70 million in infrastructure locally and putting $1.1 billion to upgrading the Western Freeway. We’re delivering $5 million for the Point Cook Community Hub, $5 million for the Kororoit Creek trail to transform our natural environment, and investing more than $840,000incommunitysportsinfrastructure. A vote for Labor is a vote for investing in Melbourne’s west.
His office is now 7km away on Melbourne Road in Newport.
Thechangeinlocationisunlikelytoresultin a change in fortunes though, with the sitting MP facing only four challengers compared to seven in 2022.
The Federation Party, Victorian Socialists, LiberalDemocratsandUnitedAustraliaParty are not running again, while Family First is.
The Liberals Ben Reeson and The Greens Ponraj Krishna Pandi are likely to vie for second place, with Krishna Pandi likely to benefit from continued gentrification of the area and discontent with Labor over its stance on the conflict in Gaza.
Newport is home to a large Muslim community and one of Victoria’s largest mosques and Krishna Pandi has been sharply critical of Watts on the issue of Palestine.
Reeson is a former state Liberal candidate for the seat of Niddrie and had a late start to the campaign, only being endorsed a week after the election was called.
Family First’s Jo Garcia is a mother of eight and grandmother of four, with a background in nursing small business and real estate.
Ben Reeson - Liberal It’s time for change to get Australia back on track. Like many people in Gellibrand, I work atasmallfamilybusinessandknowhowtough things have been for families under Labor. As a renter, I care deeply about the rising cost of living and I want to make housing cheaper, safer, and more stable.I know that we need to lowerinflationtomakehomesmoreaffordable and lower our cost of living. Only the Liberals have a plan to get Australia back on track.
Ponraj Krishna Pandi - The Greens I’m running for Gellibrand because politics should serve everyday people—not just billionaires and big corporations. As a father, community volunteer, and IT consultant, I see how inequality affects housing, healthcare, education, and our environment. Gellibrand is proudly multicultural, with residents from over 140 countries. I’m campaigning for rent caps, cost-of-living relief, fair lending practices, better public transport, and fully funded schools, hospitals, and youth services. I’m committed to bold climate action that creates secure, green jobs. I’ll be a strong, grassroots voice for a fairer, thriving Gellibrand.
Jo Garcia - Family First
I’m Jo Garcia, Family First candidate for Gellibrand. I live in Point Cook and I am committed to putting families first in Parliament. I will fight to cut power prices by ending costly net zero policies, protect parents’ rights to choose education aligned with their values, and safeguard children from harmful radical gender ideology in schools. I believe in restoring freedom, faith, and family values so every Gellibrand resident can thrive. Together with Family First’s lead Senate candidate Bernie Finn, we will be a strong voice for our community, standing up for affordable living, parental rights, and protecting the vulnerable.
Olympians, master chefs at Gluten Free Lifestyle Show
A delectable array of culinary and nutritional experts is set to headline a unique foodie event at Moonee Valley Racecourse this May. Everything will be gluten free!
Organisers are expecting thousands to attend the Gluten Free Lifestyle Show on this weekend. The two-day event will be headlined by four-time Olympic gold medallist swimmer Ariarne Titmus, and celebrity chef Luke Hines.
The show will bring more than 50 local gluten free vendors and a dozen dining outlets together across a vibrant market hall and food truck park.
A vast array of cultural cuisine vendors including Spanish and Italian will rub shoulders with bakers, coffee experts, spice merchants, gluten free doughnuts and many sweet treats.
Kitchen sponsor Smeg is constructing two specialist stages, with areas seating up to 450 people. Be amazed by the presentations and surprise cooking challenges.
The event has expanded to feature 15 presenters with an array of exciting and educational programming. Sunday will feature a huge Gluten Free Family Day with entertainment to engage the entire family.
Celebrity guests Ms Titmus and Mr Hines will be joined by Master Chef contestants Hoda Hannaway and Juan De La Cruz. The event has been meticulously planned to give visitors the best experience possible.
Ms Titmus, as an ambassador for local health brand GluteGuard, will discuss living a gluten free lifestyle while competing as a top-level athlete.
Luke Hines, currently the host of Channel 10’s Cook with Luke and Channel 7’s
The House of Wellness and author of 15 books, will showcase making healthy, gluten-free meals.
Tickets are $30 per person, children under 12 are free. Parking at Moonee Valley Racecourse will be free for ticketholders.
Both days’ programs run from 10am to
5pm. Tickets available for entry at 10am, noon and 2pm.
The first 1000 guests for each entry time will receive a Gluten Free Cook Gift Bag full of great gluten-free products. The Gluten Free Lifestyle Show is presented by Gluten Free Cook and sponsored by major partner GluteGuard, Smeg and
Olympic gold medallist swimmer Ariarne Titmus.
Celebrity chef Luke Hines.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
National Seniors meeting
On the first Wednesday of every month at 1.30pm, the metro west branch of national seniors meets atthe Deer Park Club, with meals available to purchase. The group also holds lunches on different Fridays each month, as well as activities such as theatre visits, bus trips and more.
0425 713 004, or lesley1.collins@outlook. com
IPC Health First Nations financial wellbeing sessions
IPC Health invites members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to a session about managing money without financial stress at the Wunggurrwil Dhurrung Centre in Wyndham Vale on Wednesday, May 7.
Lisa, 0491 089 069 or Sarah-Jane, 0417 339 816
Walking 4 Health Victoria
Walking Football 4 Health Victoria runs at Eagle Stadium every Friday morning between 10-11am. Walking Football is a low-impact, modified version of football where players are required to walk instead of run. Ideal for individuals over 50, those recovering from injuries, or anyone looking for a gentle yet engaging way to stay active.
Mick, mick_trim1@hotnail.com
Practise English with Let’s Talk
A weekly meet to help members of the community improve their practical English conversation skills to help with daily tasks such as shopping and booking appointments. Meets 10am each Saturday at Werribee Church of Christ, 200 Tarneit
Road, Werribee Bronwyn, 9741 6051
Women Working Together
Are you 50-plus and want assistance from someone who understands? Employment Support strives to connect mentors and mentees to make this happen. Reach out to learn more 9655 2131, or EmploymentSupport@ cotavic.org.au
Lions Club
The Lions Club of Point Cook meets at the Featherbrook Community Centre on the third Monday of the month at 7.30 pm. The club is seeking to grow the Lions free vision screening in schools
team. Volunteers needed to work with the region’s schools in combating undiagnosed children’s vision issues. You do not have to be a Lions member but must obtain a working with children check.
Robert Eyton, 0417 549 684, or robeyton@bigpond.com
Wyndham Ladies Probus
Retired or semi-retired ladies are invited to join this very active social group. Enjoy impressive monthly guest speakers, interesting monthly outings and many lunches where the development of friendships is encouraged. The Ladies Probus Club of Wyndham meets on the first Wednesday of each
month at Hotel 520, Sayers Road, Tarneit, at 10am.
Pat 0411 316 795
Point Cook VIEW
The Point Cook Day VIEW Club (for ladies) meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month at the Point Cook Library, 1-21 Cheetham Street, Point Cook. Members enjoy afternoon teas and outings. New members welcome. VIEW Is part of the Smith Family.
Catherine, 0407 726 852.
With One Voice Wyndham Choir
With One Voice Wyndham Choir is a community choir open to all. The community choir welcomes all ages, abilities, faiths, cultures and genders and is directed by a very experienced and friendly professional conductor. Fun weekly rehearsals and amazing performance opportunities are provided. They sing for an hour and then have a cuppa. The first two visits are free; and then payment is by tax-deductible donation. Tuesday evenings, 7-8.30pm, at Wayaperri House, 106 Duncans Road, Werribee.
wyndham@withonevoice.org.au
Adult community garden group
The group meets on the first Wednesday of the month, 10-11am, at Iramoo Community Centre, 84 Honour Avenue, Wyndham Vale. Head down and join them as they maintain their rejuvenated community garden. Planting and harvesting produce that they grow. 8742 3688
Prayers for Pope Francis
Thomas Carr College paid tribute to the late Pope Francis with a special day of prayer and reflection on Tuesday 22 April.
After beginning the day with a memorial prayer, students gathered in their homerooms where mentor teachers led them in prayer and reflected on key moments of Pope Francis’ papacy.
All screens across the schools showed a memorial image of Pope Francis, who died in The Vatican on Monday, April 21 following 12 years as the pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.
Students and staff then had the chance to visit the chapel at lunch to take a moment for reflection and light a candle in the memory of the later leader of about 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. This act was designed to be a meaningful way to honour his life and legacy, serving as a symbol of hope and remembrance, a quiet expression of faith, gratitude, and respect during this time of loss and mourning for the Catholic ChurchStudents had the opportunity to take a card featuring a quote from Pope Francis, which they could use as a prompt for personal reflection.
Principal Rose Connolly described Francis as “a beacon of light.”
“He was a forward-thinking leader who truly cherished the dignity of each person,” Ms Connolly said.
“May his legacy live on, especially for the poor and marginalised, as we keep him in our prayers.”
Defined by his progressive stances and championing for the rights and dignity of migrants, Pope Francis’s legacy holds a special place in the school’s diverse community.
“In our community, so beautifully rich in cultural diversity, what will always have the biggest impact is his legacy of inclusion, welcome, and mercy,” said deputy principal Phoebe Mondares.
This week’s photographer’s choice picture is of Pouya Salehi who recently helped his adopted home retain the prestigious International Cup team event, by defeating Kaito Yoshioka of Japan. (Damjan Janveski) 473762_01
A’Lisandro, Bradford, Abel Evan and Carmelice. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 473431_15
Staff member Blagica Savova (Ljubica Vrankovic) 473431_01
Josh, 18. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 473431_02
Jesse, 17. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 473431_05
Sarah 17. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 473431_08
Deputy principal Phoebe Mondares (Ljubica Vrankovic) 473431_12
Sight and perception in Werribee
Café Philosophique is coming back to Werribee in May and this time will be challenging preconceived notions of sight and perception.
Produced by The Little Theatre Company (LTC) and tracing its inspiration from a Parisienne intellectual tradition, Café Philosophique is about exploring the hidden forces shaping our lives.
LTC producer Jess Fairfax said the event provides a space for people in the outer west to come together with others they may not usually encounter to have conversations that push us to see things in a new way.
“I think it’s important to have opportunities to question elements of our lives that have a great impact on us, but we often take for granted,” she said.
“Our event is also about bringing the arts into our everyday lives, through creating a space where we can be reflective and creative, without judgement.”
A performance from magician and illusionist Dazzling Dan and poetry from Tariro Mavondo will help set the atmosphere for prompted creative and reflective writing.
So far exploring sound, transcendence and purpose, Ms Fairfax said the monthly fixture
has made a great return.
“We’ve had sound baths and silent sound walks, wrote a lot of poetry and stories, been privy to beautiful musical performances, had many aha-moments and wonderful conversations.”
“It’s a space for creativity and connection, something our busy lives often don’t afford us the time for.”
To bridge the gap between the known and unknown, make your way to The Bridge Hotel inWerribeeonWednesday,May14at6.30pm.
Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/cafephilosophique-sight-and-perception
Enjoy musical shopping experience
Shoppers will have their experience enhanced by cinematic soundtracks, with a series of free publicpianoconcertssettobeperformedinop shops across Brimbank.
The concerts will be delivered by award-winning composer and musician Ania Reynolds,whowillperformoriginalsolopiano compositions at the Salvos Stores in Taylors Lakes most Saturdays in May.
Ms Reynolds said the unique concept came to her after a staff member at the Sacred Heart Mission Op Shop bought a CD of her solo and found the music calming and soothing.
“I wanted to create live performances that wouldallowopshoppersandthegeneralpublic to have similar experiences,” Reynolds said.
She said she liked performing in op shops because those environments were welcoming, inclusive and accessible to everyone.
“I am passionate about creating work that is free, and also about bringing live music performances to unexpected locations where I can meet and perform for diverse communities,” she said.
“I find op shops to be friendly and fun environments that are a joy to perform in.”
According to Reynolds, other than shopping along to great music, people who decide to attend the concert will also be able to wind down.
“I think live music has a great ability to connect with people through emotion…,” she said.
“I hope to create an ambience in the stores that is lyrical, calming and good for lingering and browsing.”
The concerts will be held each Saturday in May excluding May 31, from 12.30-3.30pm.
Award-winning composer and
Art is illuminated after dark in Footscray
Skeleton puppets, punk photography and a nocturnal film festival are just some of the weird and wonderful attractions that can be found after dark in Footscray next month.
The 2025 Sleepless Footscray Festival takes place from May 2-18 featuring dozens of public art displays, space activations and performances that only begin once the sun goes down.
Among the attractions will be the much loved Footscray institution, Snuff Puppets, who will be hosting Skullies Cinema.
Held at the historic Footscray Drill Hall on May 2 and 4, the cinema will screen a dozen funandexperimentalshortSnuffPuppetfilms, with Skullies - human-sized skeleton puppetsacting as hosts.
From cinematography to photography, Footscray’s Melynda von Wayward will be showcasing images from her youth
in Melbourne’s punk scene in ’Punk a Photographic Journey.’
The installation will be on display at CO-CO Bananas record store for the duration of the festival, with pictures of events such as infamous ’Punk Pub Crawl’ and other punk gigsaroundMelbournebetweentheyears2004 - 2007.
“Come along and see gravity defying hairdos, handcrafted studded jackets, vibrant clothing and the anti-social attitude that goes hand in hand with being a punk,” said Ms von Wayward.
On May 6 and 7, the Melbourne Nocturnal Film Festival (MNFF) will be held in collaboration with Sleepless.
Featuring weird and wonderfully off-beat short films from Australian directors, MNFF will be held at Footscray’s Bluestone Church. Details: https://sleeplessfestival.com/
The Gallery Mount Macedon is presenting the works of local artist Christine Turner in an exhibition exploring the themes of her garden and life drawing.
Titled ‘Impressions in Line and Colour’, Turner’s works push boundaries andrevealhowsheisnotafraidtoconvey to the viewer a sense of the energy ever present in her work.
Turner discovered a love for drawing figures at 16 while studying A level art at school.
Growing up in Stow-on-the-Wold, Turner was actively involved with regional art in England, and soon after moving to Australia, she joined the Woodend Art Group, which provided a golden opportunity to meet local artists and participate in workshops.
This passion stayed with her, and she takes every opportunity to pursue life drawing, mostly rendering the figure in watercolour washes.
Turnerworksfreelyandspontaneously to capture the essence of her chosen subject.
She combines her free-style monochrome drawings with coloured painting and in this exhibition introduces a variety of mixed mediapaint, graphite, chalk, pastel, ink and collage – to help her achieve her varied mark making while often using her beautiful garden plants as a source of inspiration.
The exhibition will be open from Monday, May 5 to Sunday, June 1 at The Gallery Mount Macedon, 684 Mount Macedon Road, Mount Macedon.
Therewillalsobeanopeningafternoon from 2– 4pm on Sunday, May 11.
Details: thegallerymtmacedon.com.au
A painting by Macedon Ranges artist Christine Turner set to be exhibited at The Gallery Mount Macedon. (Supplied)
Skullies, human sized skeleton puppets, will be hosting a cinema night as part of Sleepless Footscray Festival which begins next month.
Magician Dazzling Dan, also known as Dan Bingham, Kaarin Fairfax and Jess Fairfax will be at Cafe Philosophique. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 472918_06
musician Ania Reynolds will perform in op shops across Brimbank. (Supplied)
Keep local news strong!
Dear readers,
This federal election, more than 240 independent local newspapers across Australia will do what tech giants and capital city media won’t - shine a light on the issues that matter to your town, your family, your future.
Our journalists live in your communities.
They tell your stories, champion your voices, and celebrate what makes your region unique.
But while we work hard to inform anduplift regional Australians, federal government advertising spend in local news has dropped significantly.
Instead, millions are funnelled to tech giants like Google and Facebook — platforms that don’t employ local journalists, don’t publish local stories, and are often home to misinformation and unchecked content.
We’re not asking for more spending.
We’re simply asking for fairness - for regional communities to get their fair share.
In fact, while the government continues to pour its advertising funds into digital and metro platforms, it recently announced just $3 million per year over two years of advertising spend in regional newspapers through the News Map program — a tiny fraction of what was historically spent and far less than what goes to social and digital media.
That money still hasn’tbeen delivered. And even if it is, it falls well short of what’s needed to ensure local news survives and thrives.
Meanwhile, our local newsrooms remain dedicated to reporting during fires, floods, and emergencies; holding councils, candidates, and institutions accountable; covering school events, sports, and community milestones.
Providing accurate, fact-checked journalism — not clickbait or conspiracy theories.
We are the first to show up when your community needs a voice. But we’re being shut out of the conversation.
The Victorian Government has already taken action, mandating at least one page per week of advertising in every local paper - a smart, simple policy that helps protect local jobs, journalism, and democracy.
Now it’s time for Canberra to do the same.
Our independent papers employ hundreds of journalists and publish tens of thousands of stories each year. We hold local candidates to account and ensure every voice has a platform.
This election, stand with local news. Stand with your community. Ask your candidates:
Will you commit to fair, equitable funding for local news? Will you ensure regional voices are not left behind?
Because when you support local journalism, you support a stronger, more connected Australia.
Sincerely,
Andrew Schreyer President, CPA
Making the best of a bad day
One of the appeals of an Asian holiday is an almost obligatory day trip to an island, even if the place you are staying at is actually on an island.
Such is the case in Bali where the islands of Nusa Penida, Lembongan and the Gillies are only a relatively short distance away.
Our holiday resort in Candidasa offered a great view of Nusa Penida so after several days of fine weather, we decide to book a day trip which would incorporate transfers from our resort to the boat, passage to the island, swimming with manta rays, lunch and some sight-seeing on the island – it sounded wonderful.
However, the best laid plans do often go astray and if there is one thing you should realise, never bank on the weather.
The day we booked, the weather was fine andhot,andouranticipationforthefollowing day was high.
However, waking up on our trip day, we were confronted by rain and winds and rather than letting common sense prevail, we decided that “things might be better on the island” and went ahead.
Right from the outset, we should have realised this wasn’t going to be our day.
The man we booked with, Smiley, rang to apologise that he wouldn’t be able to be our guide as the winds had brought down trees near his house and he was sending his son, Putu along instead.
It rained the entire trip to the boat, a howling gale greeted us at the port and Putu was nowhere to be found at first but once located he and his girlfriend, who had never been to Penida, ushered us onto the boat and to our covered seats. This was Putu’s first time as a tour guide.
Despite the weather and choppy seas, the journey to Penida wasn’t too bad and things improved slightly when we arrived - but not for long. After we were transferred to the dive centre/resort for the mantra ray boat we were told the seas were too rough but we could go snorkelling near Nusa Lembongan.
Notidealbutwethought“OKlet’sgo”–that was until we saw the boat.
It was about seven metres long, only had a coveroverthedriverandabout20peoplewere being crammed on board. Add to that choppy water, driving rain and no shelter.
One look at my wife and I said “we’re not going on this”.
While disembarking, a wave lifted the back of the boat and I immediately lost my footing and fell backways into the water, only just managing to keep our backpack with our
phones and wallets out of the briny.
I was drenched.
Fortunately, I had packed another T-shirt and after scrounging around the dive centre/ resort, I found a towel and proceeded to dry myself as best I could, having to suffer the indignity of wearing wet shorts.
A phone call to Putu, via his dad, saw them return to pick us up – totally not on the planned schedule.
However,allwasnotlostandtheysuggested we head to some of the more famed tourist locations on Penida.
This is where our day started to come good.
Not only did we get to appreciate the skill of our driver negotiating roads that were essentially single lane being shared by multiple vehicles in both directions, but we saw a lot of the island’s interior, passing small villages, seeing agape farms providing the basic ingredient for tequila, and the eastern coastline featuring some fantastic scenery.
One of the stops was Broken Beach, where boats normally take people to see the manta rays off the coastline.
The seas were boiling and we completely
understood why they had cancelled the trip.
It was fascinating to see so many tourists queuing up to have their guides take photos of them in key vantage spots.
The next stop was even more spectacular –Kelingking Beach – where a virtual goat track takes you from a cliff hundreds of metres above the beach to the water, if you are game or fit enough.
What made this more challenging was quasi-cyclonic winds (actually the tail end of a cyclone that was near Australia) driving people to seek shelter wherever.
However, the sky cleared, allowing us to get some great shots of the headline and coast.
Having seen these attractions and feeling a little drier, we stopped for lunch (part of the package) before heading back to the port.
Arriving ahead of schedule, we had time to talk to Putu and his girlfriend over a few decent cocktails.
Another choppy boat trip back to Bali and then onto Smiley’s restaurant to sort things out.
He apologised profusely about the day and how it didn’t work out as planned and reduced
the price while offering us free drinks. The food at his restaurant (Wayung) was excellent and his hospitality and company was great way to end a mixed bag of a day. Making the best of bad situation adds to the challenges of travelling and turning a negative into a positive makes it even more rewarding. Just check the weather before you book anything.
The Angel Billabong near Broken Beach on Nusa Penida off Bali.
BOB ANTHONY
The spectacular east coast of Nusa Penida near Kelingking Beach.
Broken Beach at Nusa Penida.
Kelingking Beach.
Not a great day for a boat trip.
Boarding the boat to Nusa Penida in a howling wind. (Bob Anthony)
Cairo and the call of the Nile
The newest Nile River ship in the Viking family is almost ready to take its place in the fleet looking after guests who seek adventure on the magnificent Nile River in 2025.
The Viking Amun was ‘floated out’ earlier this month, marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water.
It is due to sail in September 2025 and will join the company’s growing fleet of state-ofthe-art ships for the Nile River and will sail the cruise lines iconic 12-day Pharaohs and Pyramids itinerary.
Viking CEO and chairman, Torstein Hagen said they were “very proud of our growing fleet in Egypt, which we consider to be by far the most elegant vessels on the Nile”.
“Egypt is one of the world’s most captivating destinations, and we look forward to introducing even more curious travelers to this extraordinary region in the coming years,” he said.
It has been said of Egypt’s exhilarating capital, “he who has not seen Cairo has not seen the world”.
During the 12-day Pharaohs and Pyramids itinerary, guests begin with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo, where they can visit iconic sites including the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Sakkara, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, or the Grand Egyptian Museum. Guests then fly to Luxor, where they visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before boarding a river ship for an eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile River, featuring visits to the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens and the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings.
Also included are excursions to the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the temples at Abu Simbel and the High Dam in Aswan, and a visit to a colourful Nubian village, where guests can experience a traditional elementary school.
The journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city.
Hosting only 82 guests in 41 staterooms, Viking Amun is inspired by the company’s awardwinning river and ocean ships, with the signature Scandinavian design for which the ships are known. An identical sister ship to the Viking Osiris, Aton, Sobek and the Hathor, the Amun features several aspects familiar to Viking guests, such as a distinctive square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace. Other ships in Viking’s Egypt fleet include the Viking Ra and the MS Antares.
In addition to the Amun, the company plans to welcome five new ships in Egypt in the next two years, which will bring the fleet to 12 vessels on the Nile River by 2027.
The traditional float-out ceremony took place at Massara shipyard in Cairo and is significant because it marks the ship moving into its final stage of construction.
She will now be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior buildout. For more information, please visit www. viking.com or call 138 747.
The Viking Amun will join the company’s growing fleet of state-of-the-art ships for the Nile River.
Staff readying the Viking Amun to join its sister ships on the Nile.
Discover More of Asia FOR LESS IN 2025
Are you planning your next 2025 ocean voyage? Explore Asia’s magnificent temples, immerse yourself in ancient cultural traditions and enjoy authentic regional cuisine. Sail with us and gain insights from knowledgeable local guides as you discover iconic cities and breathtaking natural wonders.Wherever it is that sparks your curiosity, you can enjoy savings of up to $15,800 per couple on selected 2025 Asia Viking voyages. Hurry, these offers are available on new bookings from 1 April 2025 until 30 June 2025
EASTERN HORIZONS
Hong Kong to Tokyo
15 DAYS | 2 COUNTRIES | 9 GUIDED TOURS From $10,795pp in Veranda Stateroom
Hong Kong (Shenzhen) to Beijing
22 DAYS | 1 COUNTRY
From $12,795pp in Veranda Stateroom
JEWELS OF JAPAN & CHINA
Beijing (Tianjin) to Tokyo or vice versa
15 DAYS | 3 COUNTRIES | 9 GUIDED TOURS From $7,195pp in Deluxe Veranda
Surrounded by UNESCO-listed wonders such as the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, Cairns is a haven for divers and explorers. Teeming with exotic fish and indigenous marine life, visiting the Great Barrier Reef whilst in port in Cairns is an unforgettable experience.
Your holiday includes
All-Inclusive Cruise
21 night all-inclusive luxury cruise on board Azamara Onward
Azamara Onward’s intimate atmosphere welcomes you with open arms, exquisite personal service, divine cuisine, and unparalleled amenities, so all you have to do is sit back and relax.
21 Nights | 3 March 2026 | Prices fr $8,299pp
Experience Sydney’s views and embrace the warm Filipino hospitality with this Australasia and Pacific Islands voyage.
Your journey begins in Sydney, where you’ll embark Azamara’s newest ship, Azamara Onward. During an overnight in port, explore Sydney’s iconic landmarks, such as the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, before cruising around Australasia and the Pacific Islands. Highlights of your voyage include the UNESCO sites of Cairns and the breathtaking scenery of Palau.
Calling at both Alotau and Madang, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the lush rainforests, turquoise waters, and picturesque islands that Papua New Guinea is famous for. During an overnight in port in the bustling capital of the Philippines, explore the walled city of Intramuros, the San Agustin church and the bustling Divisoria markets. You’ll finish your holiday in Hong Kong, where you will disembark ready for your flight home.
Visiting: Sydney (overnight in port), Mooloolaba, Airlie Beach, Cairns (overnight in port), Alotau, Madang, Koror, Manila (overnight in port), Hong Kong (overnight in port)
Complimentary alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages including house spirits, wine and international beers
Pre-paid gratuities and complimentary AzAmazing Evenings® event
Concierge services for personal guidance and reservations
Complimentary Inbound Flight, Taxes & Transfers
Sydney (overnight in port), Mooloolaba, Airlie Beach, Cairns (overnight in port), Alotau, Madang, Koror, Manila (overnight in port), Hong Kong (overnight in port)
Mooloolaba
Airlie Beach
Koror
Alotau
Cairns
Podcast for the faithful
Catalyst Baptist Church in Werribee are gearing up to relaunch its podcast ‘The Elaborators.’
BroadcastingfromtheirHeathsRoadstudio to the world, the podcast will explore how Christian faith informs daily life, covering topics like navigating doubt, relationships, hardship, decision-making, and spiritual resilience.
Catalyst communications director Simon Young said the podcast emerged from a belief that faith discussions should extend beyond Sundays.
“I wanted to create a platform where we could thoughtfully elaborate on Sunday sermons and discuss how a Christian faith shapes real life,” he said.
“Itbecameanaturalextensionofourmission to equip people for everyday discipleship in an accessible, conversational format.”
Deeming takes on west role
Moira Deeming has been hand-picked by opposition leader Brad Battin to represent the Liberal Party’s increased focus on the western suburbs.
Lessthanfourmonthsafterbeingreadmitted to the party, the Western Metropolitan MP has been appointed as the “leader’s representative to the western suburbs“.
Ms Deeming said the decision came after herself and Battin agreed on taking a “different approach,”toengagingwithconstituentsinthe region.
“We need to earn their trust not just their votes–wecan’tjustcomealongatelectiontime and be promising money here and there and nonsense like that,“ she said. “It gives me extra time for advocacy based on the west – it just means that I can do my job more effectively.”
Her priorities are delivering several key infrastructure projects she believes have been “neglected” by the state government.
She said the electrification of the Melton rail line, the Outer Metropolitan Ring Road and Western Interstate Freight Terminal were top of her list.
MsDeemingsaidtheLiberalswillattemptto build off a swing against the state government at February’s Werribee by-election.
“From my perspective prior to Brad, there was a bit of an attitude that because these are such strong Labor areas they didn’t think Labor voters wouldn’t listen to them,“ she said.
“I love the fact that in Werribee, they showed thatyoucannottakethemforgrantedanymore and so that’s why this is a really key moment in time.”
Prior to the hiatus of the podcast in November, he said listeners had responded positively and it had grown into a valued resource both within the Catalyst community and their own wider networks.
“Many listeners have shared how the conversations [on the show] helped them process faith and life in a deeper way,” Mr Young said.
While anyone is welcome to tune in, daily life Wyndham will be the target.
“It’s about connecting faith to real life right here in Wyndham – creating space for honest conversations that help people,“ he said.
“Wearegoingtoseeitexpandthroughmore guest interviews, series on key life stages, and broaderengagementwiththevoicesandneeds of the Wyndham region.”
Past episodes of The Elaborators episodes are available on Apple, Spotify and YouTube.
Briefs
Drug trafficking charge
A 27-year-old Wyndham Vale man has been charged over his alleged involvement in a Mildura-based meth syndicate. The man was arrested by police after an intercept of a vehicle he was driving in Red Cliffs shortly before noon, Tuesday, April 22. A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine valued about $1 million, which is classified as a large commercial quantity. He was then charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of methamphetamine.
Neighbourhood House Week
Visit one of Wyndham’s community centres between May 12-18 to learn a new skill, make friends and connect with your community. The community centres will be running fun, free and low-cost activities like Yoga, woodworking, cake making and gardening as part of Neighbourhood House Week. The week is an annual national celebration recognising the vital role of neighbourhood houses and community centres in promoting community wellbeing and connection.
FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT
Web: starweekly.com.au
Wyndham Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly
11 Mauvelous Avenue, Tarneit
Build Your Dream Home – Titled Land in a Prime Location
Welcome to 11 Mauvelous Avenue, Tarneit. An exceptional opportunity awaits with this titled vacant block of 238m2 (approx.), perfectly positioned in a highly sought after location. This prime land offers the perfect canvas for creating the home you’ve always envisioned. Situated in a thriving, well-established location surrounded by reputable schools, scenic parklands, and everyday conveniences, this premium allotment provides an enviable lifestyle.
Liberal Party leader’s representative to the western suburbs, Moira Deeming. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)
Fatai Veamatahau, pastor Stan Richey and Simon Young. (Damjan Janevski) 474299_01
SPORTS QUIZ
1. Which team selected US basketballer Paige Bueckers with the first overall pick of the 2025 WNBA draft?
2. With what number pick of the 2025 WNBA draft did the Washington Mystics select Australian basketballer Georgia Amoore?
3. Which Canadian player led the 2024–25 NBA regular season with 32.7 points per game?
4. The jumper worn by the Gold Coast Suns during a recent AFL Gather Round match was predominantly what colour?
5. Which Lithuanian-American player led the 2024–25 NBA regular season with 13.9 rebounds per game?
British tennis player Harriet Dart has apologised after asking an umpire to tell her opponent to wear what during a recent match in France?
Which US basketballer led the 2024–25 NBA regular season with 11.6 assists per
The fictional Charlestown Chiefs minor league ice hockey team featured in which 1977 film starring Paul Newman?
9. Which Australian basketballer led the 2024–25 NBA regular season with 3.0 steals per game?
The late Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel was born in which country?
11. In April, Oscar Piastri took his second and third F1 Grand Prix victories of the year at races in which two countries?
12. Which former AFL player and premiership coach is known by the nickname ‘Choco’?
13. Running 100m in 10 seconds flat, who became the second-fastest Australian in history at the national championships in Perth?
14. Which Italian soccer club is the reigning champion of the UEFA Europa League?
15. And with seven victories, which Spanish club has won the Europa League title the most times since its 1971 inception?
16. In cycling, what term describes a crash where one fall causes many others?
17. Which French tennis player, nicknamed ‘The Crocodile,’ went on to found a fashion brand known for its polo shirts and reptile logo?
18. Which UK city is UFC fighter Paddy Pimblett originally from?
19. And for what comedic reason does Pimblett claim he can’t be knocked out?
20. Which two teams played in the AFL’s first ‘Opening Round’ in 2024, a week before the traditional Round 1?
21. What colour is the number 13 pool ball in a standard set?
22. Auston Matthews plays for which NHL team?
23. San Jose’s Major League Soccer team goes by what nickname?
24. How many lanes are there in an Olympic swimming pool?
25. And how many metres wide are they?
26. In which year did the Essendon Football Club last win a final?
which sport?
30. Circuit of the Americas is a motor racing track in which US state?
27. WWE wrestler The Miz stars in which 2013 action movie?
28. Jamie Elliott debuted for the Collingwood Football Club in which year?
29. Long on and long off are positions in
ACROSS
1 Scholarly (8)
5 Practices (6)
10 Breakfast favourite (5)
11 Divide into parts (9)
12 Jolly (6)
13 Squirm (7)
14 Ways of speaking (8)
15 Capital of Czech Republic (6)
18 Bring into being (6)
20 Haughty (8)
21 Sloping type (7)
24 Unfold (6) 27 Bewitch (9)
28 Whinny (5) 29 Lengthy list (6) 30 LAN network (8)
1 French abbot (4) 2 Alaska’s largest city (9) 3 Boredom or lethargy (5) 4 Rude (8)
6 More irridescent (7) 7 Current (5)
8 Most heartfelt (9) 9 Sketch (4) 14 Dishonest (9)
16 Subtle change by degrees (9) 17 Debate (8)
19 Coaching (7)
22 A useful quality (5) 23 Wound-mark (4) 25 Flinch (5) 26 Informal conversation (4)
1 Which newspaper did Clark Kent work at?
2 If a ship is a collier, what does it carry?
3 Name the ghost in Shakespeare's Macbeth
4 The kina is the national currency of which nation?
5 Who provides the voice for Smaug in The Hobbit: The DesolationofSmaug?
6 What does the Kelvin scale measure?
7 Which was the first Mr Men book: MrHappy Mr Tickle or MrMessy?
8 True or false: bream is a species of bird?
9 What character did Alan Rickman (pictured) play in RobinHood:PrinceofThieves?
10 Jørn Utzon designed which iconic Australian building?
Avenger toughs it out in the city
By Derek Ogden, Marque Motoring
Buyer beware: while so-called ‘range anxiety’ can strike fear in the heart of the electric vehicle driver, there is another phrase that is doing just as much to dim EV appeal and that is ‘out of service’.
More than once, I have been rebuffed by a public fast DC charging station with this uncontrollable (by me) message showing up on the information screen.
For example, driving the new Jeep Avenger Summit, down to 40 per cent battery charge, had me facing disappointment and scrambling to find the closest compatible ‘fuel pump’.
MyEVappsuppliersaidthemachineneeded fixing by the maker, who had gone belly up in 2023, by the way. The owner, in this case the local council, was responsible for getting the machine up and running again.
Months went by with council assuring me they were working on it. No wonder EV sales are stuttering along with public charging infrastructure as it is. However, I digress. I did get a decent crack at the Avenger (irony noted) after tracking down a top-up.
Here goes. The Avenger, Jeep’s first electric vehicle, is sold as a city-centric small(ish) crossoverwitharangeofupto396km.However, the Jeepsters could not help themselves, slipping in specs normally found in off-road bush bashers, such as Selec-Terrain drive modes, Hill Descent Control, plus 200mm ground clearance, 20-degree approach angle, 20-degree break-over angle, and a 32-degree departure angle.
To match its dimensions the Polish-designed and built compact is set at three models –Longitude, Limited and aptly-named Summit for the top-of-the-range model on test. As for pricing, Jeep has already trimmed launch prices, it says, because of cost saving materials and manufacturing efficiencies.
The entry-level Longitude opens at $49,990, plus on-road costs, the Limited is $54,990 and
the Summit $60,990. Options include Premium paint ($990) or Avenger Bi Tone paint, $495.
Warranty is Jeep’s five years unlimitedkilometres,withthebattery attracting an eight-year, 160,000km stretch
Styling
The looks tend on the lite SUV side, yet with unmistakable Jeep DNA. This includes functionalall-roundplasticcladdingprotection covering lower sections of the vehicle.
The vehicle has been lifted to maximise ground clearance off road and offer protection to the high voltage battery and improve aerodynamics with a flat underbody.
Aerodynamics plays a part in fuel efficiency, hence long range, thanks to a frontal area of 2.25sq m and drag co-efficient of Cd 0.33. A turningcircleof10.5metresmakestheAvenger ideal in tight city centre conditions, too.
The flagship Summit features Jeep’s trademark glossy black seven-slot grille, plus bi-colour roof. The grille is flanked by the latest LED projector headlamps and LED foglights with cornering function.
LED taillamps share a prominent place with heated windscreen, privacy glass, hidden rear door handles, and last but far from least, 18-inch diamond cut alloy wheels.
Interior
At 4.08 metres long, the most compact Jeep can take five adult occupants in reasonable comfort and offers 34 litres of storage, while a one-metre-wide boot and height adjustable cargo floor, with rear seatbacks up, has room for up to 380 litres of luggage, expanding to 1277 litres with them folded. No spare wheel, only a puncture kit.
Leather accented seats include six-way power driver’s seat adjustment with two-way power lumbar support with massage function. Generous front seats are heated.
Wide opening doors make for easy access and headroom is good, even with the sunroof. Missing are air vents and door bins. Just seatback map pockets.
Infotainment
Going down the digital road in an Avenger is no sweat, with a 10.25-inch Uconnect infotainment screen and a similar-sized digital instrument cluster as standard. Both displays are clear and easy to read.
Uconnect has access to embedded satellite navigation,withlivetrafficupdates,orwireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Short-cut buttons are situated below the screen, with climate controls and audio volume button.
Jeep Connected Services, via smartphone app, include door unlocking, battery charge checking, charging schedule and more.
Centre console is home to transmission controls, with four buttons – park, reverse, neutral and drive. Press twice to alert brake regeneration providing added engine braking.
Engine/transmission
Under the bonnet is an electric motor driving thefrontwheels,supportedbya54kWhnickel manganese cobalt lithium-ion battery under
the floor. Producing 115kW and 260Nm kit’s enough for a maker’s range claim of 390km for the Summit.
Jeep claims charge time for 11kW is 5hr 34min (0-100pc); 50kW 43min (est 10-80pc), 100kW 24min (20-80pc). The test Summit charged 20 to 90per cent on a public machine in close to 45 minutes.
Safety
The Avenger EV has no ANCAP rating as yet. But a laundry list of safety systems includes autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, lane keep assist, driver attention assist, rear parking sensors, rear view camera with dynamic guidelines, frameless auto dimming mirror, and automatic high beam headlamps.
Selec-Terrain and hill descent control are welcome aids for off-road adventuring.
Drive
It must be said straight off that for a Jeep, the lack of noise from engine and road, inside the cabin, was a real wake-up. The front-wheel drive Avenger rode and handled with similar refinement. Thanks, rigid body.
Steering can be a bit ‘missing’ for feedback at speed but, with the Jeep’s skinny turning circle, is a capable parker at a crawl. Off the mark, the Avenger was instant ‘action’ and overtaking was encouraging. Six-mode Selec-Terrain of Eco, Normal, Sport, Sand, Mud and Snow are capable of matching almost anything out of the bush.
Summary
For a car maker whose reputation has its roots in the production of off-roaders capable of taking on the most challenging of terrain (the Rubicon Track, no less) in the US, the smooth transmission into electric powered on-road vehicles is a credit to its designers and engineers. Pity about the prices.
The looks tend on the lite SUV side, yet with unmistakeable Jeep DNA. (Pictures: Supplied)
Wet weather adds an element
Wet weather and wind confronted footballers and netballers alike after hot conditions the first couple of weeks of the season. There were plenty of local derbies and some break through wins.
Bacchus Marsh’s Jacinta Reid. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 470330_16
Bacchus Marsh’s Jack Kovacevic. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 474079_09
Darley’s Michael Edwards. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 474079_14
Sunbury Lions’ Tayissa Coppinger. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 474082_04
Josh Webster, Zac McLeod, Joshua Debono, Rhys Briggs and Josh Eaton celebrate North Sunshine’s win. (Supplied)
Sunbury Kangaroos’ Summer Pazsa and Sunbury Lions’ Karla Tentonello. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 474086_25
Darley’s women’s side. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 470330_01
Sunbury Lions’ Grace Azzopardi. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 474086_16
North Ballarat’s Taj McMillan. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 474081_17
North Sunshine and North Footscray during the last post. (Supplied)
Sunbury Lions’ Rebecca Hicks. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 474082_08
The Sunbury Lions. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 474081_04
Season over for the Western United women
It’s season over for Western United in the A-League Women after being knocked out in the opening round of finals.
Adelaide United secured its spot in the semi final with a hard fought 1-0 elimination win against Western.
Western United unleashed 22 shots to six in Sunday’s match at Coopers Stadium, but it was AdelaidedefenderMatildaMcNamara’sheader from a corner in the 24th minute that proved the difference.
AdelaidewaslivelyinthefirsthalfofSunday’s do-or-die match, with Emily Condon’s early strike well saved, before McNamara gave the hosts the lead. It could have been 2-0, but Lucia Leon’s 34th-minute shot from just inside the box hit the post.
At the other end, stat Western striker Chloe Berryhill (nee Logarzo) also struck the woodwork just before half-time.
Western pushed hard for an equaliser in the second half but couldn’t find a way through.
It is the second season in a row that Western
United bombed out in an elimination final.
“It was just one of those days pretty much,” UnitedmidfielderCatherineZimmermansaid.
“I’m pretty proud of how we played. We battled and we created a lot of chances, we just couldn’t score.”
Meanwhile, Western had a 1-0 win against Sydney FC in the men’s competition, to dint Sydney’s finals chances. A controversial fourth-minute goal to Western winger Matthew Grimaldi was all that separated the teams in Sunday’s match at Ironbark Fields.
United (44 points) moved to third spot, just one point adrift of second-placed Melbourne Citywithagameagainstpremiersplatewinners Auckland to round out their regular-season campaign.
The situation is perilous for Sydney, who need a win or a draw against Melbourne City at AAMI Park next Saturday to secure sixth place.
If Sydney fails in its task, Adelaide will secure a finals berth.
ThatmatchalsoloomsascriticalforWestern United, given a Melbourne City loss or draw would give them a chance to steal second spot and an AFC Champions League Elite berth.
Western coach John Aloisi was pleased with how his team bounced back from defeats to Western Sydney and Brisbane Roar.
“It was a tough game. We knew it wouldn’t beeasy.Sydneyneededatleastapointtosecure finals,” Aloisi said.
“I thought defensively we were good, not only the back four, but everyone.
“We scored a really good goal. I’m really pleased with the players because it’s been a tough week.
“We just wanted to make sure we got back to winning ways.
“Wewanttotrytoseeifwecanfinishashigh aspossible.Weknowwe’reonlyonepointaway from City now.
“Hopefully Auckland are still celebrating (their premiers plate trophy).”
Strong start for Falcons
By Tara Murray
Wyndhamvale has survived some early season tests with flying colours in the Western Football League division 2 competition.
Seenastheteamtobeatthisyear,theFalcons are one of just two undefeated teams after the first three rounds along with Albanvale.
Falcons coach Daniel Smith said they were happy with how things had gone so far.
“I think it has been a great start to the season,” he said. “We were quietly optimistic.
“We looked at the start of the year and it was against sides that had recruited well and would be challenging at the back end of the year.
“To have a good start against those three sides is good.”
The Falcons are the only team from last season’s top four sides that remains in the division this season meaning the pressure was on them after a preliminary berth.
Smith said they were embracing going into the season as the favourites.
“At the end of the day if that is the mantra that we have been given, we embrace it and try to live up to those expectations.
“Wewanttoputintheworkandkeepgetting better and better. What we are working for is a premiership.
“We have a two year plan and the boys are in and see what we are trying to do.”
On Saturday, Wyndhamvale accounted for Sunshine Heights, 19.15 (129)-8.6 (54) in trying conditions.
Smith said both sides cracked in hard and they were able to find enough avenues to goal to put a gap on the Dragons.
“We were fortunate enough that our structures around the ball got us and lead,” he said.
“Wehadmoreinside50sandwewereableto concert them. It’s the best score we’ve kicked in three weeks.
“To have 34 scoring shots in those conditions… We missed a few easy ones but it’s something we can work on.
“That’s an easier fix than having to fix
Falcons are stepping up
Take two has been successful for Wyndhamvale in the Western Netball League.
After having a team in 2021, the Falcons didn’t have a side again until last season when they had three teams. They’ve been able to sustain three teams this season.
Falcons head of netball Dana Hanmer said it had been really good having netball back at the club.
“It was up and running in 2021 and it wasn’t a great season,” she said. “We launched again last season.
“It went really great and we were stoked with how it went. We had three teams, after having only one the first time.”
The Falcons had sides in division 1, 2 and 4 last season.
After a number of departures in the off season, the club has division 3, 6 and 7 sides.
While they dropped grades, Hanmer said they’d been able to keep the momentum going as they aim to have a sustainable program.
“We had some good quality players in division 1, but they moved on to bigger and better things,” she said. “Some at state and country level.
“It hasn’t altered us to having three teams. We have a lot of younger girls, who are 14 to 17, and are the next generation.
getting the ball in there.”
Lewis Stanton kicked six goals for the Falcons, while Cameron Morrison kicked four goals.
Brock Jones, Cameron Morrison and Liam Scarborough were named their best.
Smith said after a strong start the focus was to continue on getting better and better.
The Falcons face Laverton on Saturday.
“If we don’t get better, teams will work us out,” he said.
“The end goal is a premiership and we have to keep getting better to do it. Hopefully it keeps going as it has.”
In other matches, the tough run for Tarneit continued as it lost to Laverton on Anzac Day, 23.12 (150)-6.8 (44).
Caleb Sciberras, Brodie Beveridge and Samuel Roberts were named the Titans best.
The Suns made it two in a row with victory against the Western Rams, 21.8 (134)-10.8 (68).
Blake Jago and Peter Tomelty kicked four goals each.
“They are in rep squads at different associations. There’s some good quality talent at the club.”
Hanmer said for many of the younger girls it was their first time playing senior netball and they wanted to give them the chance to thrive.
She said they were hoping to progress through the divisions in the next few years.
“It would be good to keep everyone around and keep some development,” she said.
The club also has a number of local playersandpartnersofthefootyplayers.
She said the rest of the club had really got behind them.
“The club has given a lot of support and is really exciting to see how it goes,” she said.
“The boys come down and support the girls.”
Tara Murray
Jordan Mould. (Ljubica Vrankovic)
-With AAP Melissa Taranto. (Ljubica Vrankovic)
Grammarians aim to be ‘even stronger in 2025’
Westbourne Grammarians are going from strength to strength with their women’s program in the Victorian Amateur Football Association.
After reforming a women’s side last season, the Grammarians have had some good growth as they step onto the field for season two of the new era.
Co-coach Ian Allan said they were thrilled with how everything was tracking.
“It’s going fantastic,” he said. “We’ve added over 20 new players and that’s where it starts from.
“The aim was to recruit some players after having an understanding from last year when everything was new to us.
“The aim was to get better this season and keep the core group together and recruit some players to have some more support around them..”
Allan thinks they have got a good balance with their side this season and have more than 50 players to go across their two sides. He said they had good depth across both
their sides, something they lacked at times last year.
While it’s the Grammarians second season in the competition, there has been a lot of change in the premier B competition.
At this stage there are five new teams.
“There were two up and two down,” he said of most of the new teams. “We still don’t have that full understanding of what teams we are against. We know a few of the teams and where we are at with them and where we are aiming to be at their level and beyond.
“The new teams motivate us and drive us to be competitive and even stronger in 2025.”
The Grammarians started the season with a win and loss.
Allan said they had been surprised how well the group had gelled together. He said they were on track for where they wanted to be.
“They’ve started to get the feel of each other
Tigers win GF rematch
By Tara Murray
The Werribee Districts and Hoppers Crossing AnzacDayclashagainliveduptoexpectations in the Western Football League division 1 competition.
One of the biggest days in local football, the local Wyndham derby had plenty on the line. Both sides entered the match undefeated while it was the first time they were facing each other since last year’s grand final which was won by the Warriors.
It was the Tigers who were able to get some small revenge as they made it a third win for the season.
Tigers coach Chris Gilham said the day lived up to expectations with the Tigers winning 13.10 (88)-10.9 (69).
“It was a good day, a big day to be playing on Anzac Day,” he said. “To have a win at home in tough conditions was good.
“It rained consistently and made it a real scrap.”
Gilham said there’s always close games between the two sides and this one was no different.
He said both teams would see themselves as finals teams, so it was massive to come out on top.
“It could have gone either way,” he said. “We both had spurts in the game where we found momentum.
“We started strongly and then they had a good second quarter. It was similar in the second half.
“It was an arm wrestle all day. We were able to kick a couple late to get the win in a really even contest.”
Jack Fletcher kicked three goals for the Tigers, while Daniel Nielson and Harrison White kicked two goals each.
Gilham said the midfield really led the way with Dillion Vijio-Rainbow led from the front with Lucas Rocci and Seth Clayton having strong games.
Josh Mould and Ben McMahon both had good second halves while Fletcher was the prominent forward on the ground.
The win leaves the Tigers as the only undefeated side after three rounds.
on and off the field,” he said. “We got beaten by Old Brighton which was the division 1 premiers last year .
“We got beat but there were so many positives. We know where we were this time last year and where we are now.
“It’s amazing how much growth that we’ve had.”
On Saturday, the Grammarians lost to Old Xavierians, 4.3 (27)-3.7 (25).
As well as having some success on the field with improvement, the Grammarians have formed a partnership with Newport Power.
The Power’s junior girls will flow into the senior program at the Grammarians.
Allan said it was a great pathway that had been created by the two clubs.
“We have that vision of being a destination club in the west. It’s exciting for both clubs and strengths football in the west.”
Sports shorts
Basketball
Roor has been named in the extended Australian under-19 squad ahead of the under-19 World Cup. Kuany, who has played a lot of his basketball in Braybrook, is part of a 20 player squad that will gather for a camp in May from where the final team will be selected.
Basketball
Wyndham’s Dejan Vasiljevic has been named in the Boomers squad that will face the Tall Blacks. The Opals and Boomers will face the Tall Ferns and Tall Blacks in a re-ignited series between long-standing FIBA Oceania rivals, with games set to tip off in Adelaide, the Sunshine Coast, and Hamilton. Vasiljevic had a strong season with Adelaide Lightning.
Western FL
Gilham said the gap between the sides this season had closed, with most matches being close.
“We’ve had a couple of good wins against some strong opposition like Yarraville Seddon and Hoppers Crossing who will be up there, is good,” he said.
“It sets us up for another strong season. It’s only early and we have some good players to come back into the team.
“We will keep improving as the season goes on. We only have four players over 26-27. We hope to be up there again.”
The Tigers face Caroline Springs in round four. The Lakers got their first win of the season on Saturday against Sunshine.
Thelasttimethetwoteamsplayed,Werribee Districts won in extra time in last year’s finals.
For the Warriors, Kane Hynes, Corey Muscat and Chase Guy were named their best.
In other matches, Point Cook beat Point Cook Centrals in the local derby.
In division 2, Wyndhamvale and the Suns both had wins, while Tarneit lost to Laverton.
Werribee Centrals proved way too strong for Wyndhamvale in the Western Football League women’s competition on Friday night. The Centurions jumped out of the blocks and lead 32-0 at quarter time. It was a sign of things to come, with the Centurions going on to win, 17.5 (107)-1.2 (8). Kyleisha Kinces kicked five goals, while Larissa Renaut and Jessica Spall kicked four goals each for the Centurions. Mariah Burton was named the Falcons best. The Suns also came away with the points, beating West Footscray on Saturday. The Suns did the damage in the middle two quarters to win, 3.4 (22)-1.2 (8).
Coates Talent League
It was a tough day for the Western Jets in the Coates Talent League girls competition on Saturday. The Jets were at home to the Eastern Ranges. The Ranges jumped out of the blocks and led 43-1 at quarter time. The Ranges were able to extend the lead at every change on the way to an 18.20 (128)-0.3 (3) win. Jazmine Dalli, Caitlyn Volpe and Kiara Boyd were named the Jets best. The Jets boys side had a bye.
Sienna Burns Bradley. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 403543_37
Lucas Rocci. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 432961_26
Werribee back on the winners list
By Tara Murray
Werribee got back to playing closer to the brand of footy it wants to play as it returned to the winners list in the Victorian Football League.
After a couple of disappointing performances and sitting 1-3, the Tigers were under the pump heading into their Anzac Day match with Williamstown. The Seagulls also entered the match 1-3.
Werribee was up by 16 points at quarter time before the Seagulls reduced to two points at the main break.
The Seagulls then took the lead in the third quarter by seven points, leaving the Tigers with some work to do.
A six goal to two final quarter was enough for the Tigers to get their second win of the season on the board, winning 12.7 (79)-8.11 (59).
Tigers coach Jimmy Allan was much happier after that result.
“It was much better,” he said. “We played backtoclosetothewaythatwewantedtoplay, that was the most pleasing thing.
“It was a really good contest and they were right on top for large parts of the second and third quarter.
“We were able to hold on and find a way to finish it off.”
Allan said it was pretty ordinary conditions and they had a small breeze in the final quarter.
He said they felt confident they could get the job done with it being only seven points the difference.
“We felt like even though we weren’t in front that we were doing enough right,” he said.
“We were making costly errors and they were making us pay. I felt like if we could fix that we would be right.”
Allan said the pleasing thing was having contributions across the board which had really benefited them.
He said it was the leaders that really led from the front.
“We challenged them and they really responded,” Allan said. “We need them to play well every week.”
Dom Brew was at the top of the list with 35 disposals, 16 clearances and eight tackles, while Jack Riding had 24 possessions.
Allan said Brew had been really good for four weeks.
“He’s been doing everything he can for the team,” he said. “It was nice for him to get some reward for effort.
“He had a lot of the ball and for him it’s more about having an impact and his impact was huge.”
Louis Pinnuck was able to put in place some things they had been working on at training, while Flynn Young continued his good form.
Allan said he could have easily listed a lot more standouts.
Harry Maguire and Zac Banch kicked three goals each for the Tigers.
It was Maguire’s second game for the club. Allan said he was slowly building into the season after an injury interrupted start.
“He was excellent for us in the pres-season,” Allan said “He played his first game last week and we weren’t expecting miracles.
“He worked his way into the game and kicked a couple of goals in the final quarter. He had a couple of other opportunities and on
a dry day he would have clunked them. The Tigers are back at home again this week on Saturday against Frankston. Allan said it would be another big challenge for them.
Meanwhile, the North Melbourne
Werribee women’s side also had a win against Williamstown.
The Seagulls pushed the reigning premiers for a half before the Kangaroos were able to hit the scoreboard in the second half to win, 6.8 (44)-4.1 (25).
tarneitudf@wyndham.vic.gov.au
Harry Maguire kicks his first goal. (bvphotography)
Sam Conway and Tom Downie. (bvphotography)
THURSDAY may 1
SUNDAY MAY 11
Make Mum’s Day
Give Mum the day off this Mother’s Day!
Book Lunch in our Bistro.
Complimentary glass of Bubbly for Mums upon arrival. Prizes on the day. Seafood Platter Special.
BOOK NOW ONLINE
Call Reception at (03) 8754 1300 for more information.
$3200 BE IN THE CLUB 7 pm & 8 pm FOR DRAWS WIN $200 CASH AT 8:30 pm
