Established in 2003
proudly serving the Northern Suburbs
5 AUGUST, 2025
A place to call home
The Lalor and District Men’s Shed president Merv Landy. (Damjan Janevski) 490135_01
Lalor District Men’s Shed is hoping upgraded facilities will help increase its member numbers. The group’s home at the old trade wing in Lalor Secondary College has recently undergone renovations over the past 12 months, involving stripping back the old building to remove the asbestos that previously covered much of the structure, in order to allow the men’s shed to lease the location. Shed president Merv Landy said Covid had hit the shed hard in terms of membership and once Covid was over, the renovations started. However, now that the renovations are complete, old members are re-joining and a lot of new members have joined up as well. There are plans to install a garden and green room where members can go out and have a cup of tea or coffee. The men’s shed is also currently on a membership drive, with a goal of reaching 100 members by Christmas. They currently have about 84 members. The shed will operate on Saturdays along with its usual Wednesday and Thursdays to accommodate younger workers.
Impound capital By Laura Michell Hume is the impound capital of Victoria, new police data reveals. Police impounded 528 vehicles in Hume in 2024, according to impoundment statistics. Police impounded 243 vehicles because the driver’s licence was disqualified or suspended, while 115 impounds were because the vehicle was being driven at more than 45km/h above the speed limit. Sixty-one impounds were the result of unlicensed driving, 45 impounds related to a learner driver who was driving with a supervisor and 28 impounds were the
result of the driver being found with a blood alcohol concentration of .10 of more. In Whittlesea, police impounded 395 vehicles, with 181 impounds relating to someone driving while their licence was disqualified or suspended. Fawkner Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Frank Cuce said removing unsafe drivers from the roads is an absolute priority for Victoria Police. “It is astonishing how many people are prepared to breach the road rules, and blatantly commit serious traffic and criminal offences which warrants their cars being impounded,” he said. “Taking away the ability of drivers to put others in danger is a powerful tool to
prevent death and serious injury, and we will use these powers wherever necessary. “Our ability to detect drivers who are suspended, disqualified or unlicensed has never been greater, particularly with the use of ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) technology. “If you’re impaired or unlicensed, it’s very simple – you shouldn’t be behind the wheel. “Anyone choosing to make these high risk decisions and drive dangerously on our roads should know this won’t be tolerated. “It is never okay to go over the speed limit. Speed limits are in place for a reason, and everyday in the news we see
the repercussions of road trauma and this type of behaviour.” Police said that while it is up to the courts to decide what happens to an impounded car, people who engage in serious and dangerous behaviour should not expect they will get their car back – it could be crushed or destroyed. While the 2024 impoundment rate in Hume was the highest in the state – ahead of Wyndham where 525 vehicles were impounded – it is the lowest impoundment rate in municipality since 2018. Police data shows 690 vehicles were impounded in the municipality in 2023, 698 in 2022, 529 in 2021, 893 in 2020 and 844 in 2019.
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