NOVEMBER 27, 2018 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU BEDDING WATERGARDENS I SPECIAL LIFTOUT
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NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
Happy days for Doreen
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Healthy living is Doreen Allen’s secret to a long and happy life. The Sunbury resident celebrated her 100th birthday at the Sunbury Lions Community Aged Care earlier this month. With her husband, the late Herbert Allen, Ms Allen raised five children. She is known among family and friends for her sponge cakes and passionfruit cupcakes – and for always loving a good dance. Ms Allen’s daughter, Dianne Allen, said her mum worked as a sewing machinist in her younger days. “She made army uniforms in Collingwood … [and] she made all our clothes – she’s a real mum.” Dianne said family had always been very important. “She loves her family, loves her grandchildren and children,” she said. Ms Allen said looking after her health was one of the most important things she had achieved on the road to her 100th milestone. “I never smoked and never drank,” Ms Allen said. Dianne said her mum would always prioritse her personal wellbeing over her financial situation. “Mum would always say, ‘Your health is your wealth’,” Dianne said. Jessica Micallef
Labor returns to power By Jessica Micallef Labor’s Josh Bull has been re-elected to the seat of Sunbury. Mr Bull cruised to victory with almost 60 per cent of first preference votes as of 1.15pm Sunday. He polled 18,232 votes ahead of Liberal candidate Cassandra Marr (10,195) and the Greens’ Ryan Keable (2091). The results showed a 5.4 per cent swing in Mr Bull’s favour. Mr Bull told Star Weekly it was a wonderful privilege to be re-elected into the Sunbury seat. “It’s been a remarkable win for Labor … it’s still all sinking in after the results came in,”
Mr Bull said. “I think what it shows is that our community voted for a positive plan and a positive set of commitments to the electorate.” Mr Bull said he was looking forward to delivering on key election promises made for the Sunbury community. “I think from day one, and over the last four years, we’ve outlined a really clear plan for our commitments for schools and roads,” Mr Bull said. “I’m very excited about the upgrade to the Sunbury day hospital … duplication for Sunbury Road and I’m very excited for the removal of the Sunbury level crossing. “I think the Premier’s really shown that if you
get on and focus on the community, that’s what you’re elected to do, not focus on yourself.” Meanwhile, Macedon remains a Labor seat after Mary-Anne Thomas was re-elected at the weekend. With 50 per cent of first preference votes counted, Ms Thomas polled 16,260 votes ahead of Liberal’s Amanda Millar (10,750), the Greens’ Ralf Thesing (3041), Independent Rob Bakes (1000), Animal Justice Party’s Ruth Parramore (1215) and Democratic Labor Party’s Tony O’Brien (928). Ms Thomas told Star Weekly it was a great privilege to continue her role as the Macedon MP for another four years.
She said she was looking forward to delivering on a raft of election commitments made for Macedon including three-year-old kinder, a school dental bus, building a new school in the south of Gisborne and free TAFE. “[Also] Continuing to advocate to the Commonwealth for the $10 million needed for the Macedon Ranges regional sport precinct, but certainly delivering our commitment of $11.6 million towards the precinct,” Ms Thomas said. “The eco-therapy park in Romsey, the upgrades to the CFA station in Riddells Creek, the upgrade of two intersections in Gisborne, the … strategic plan for Hanging Rock.”