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proudly serving Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay
27 AUGUST, 2025
Kangaroo great Anthony Stevens writes exclusively for Star Weekly 12790528-JD33-25
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Show ready Students from Footscray North Primary School will transform into singing and dancing stars when they perform in the Victorian State Schools Spectacular (VSSS) at John Cain Arena on Saturday, September 13. Footscray North students from grades 4 to 6 will take part in this year’s spectacular which features two performances on the one day. Twenty-five will join more than 1000 other students from across the state in the VSSS Mass Choir, which will perform 14 songs for the two shows, while 16 dancers from the school are part of a dance troupe which has had to learn routines for six songs. Iconic hits like ‘Come Alive’ from the Greatest Showman to ’Think’ by Aretha Franklin and ‘We Will Rock You’ by Queen are among those that will be performed. Footscray North teacher Theresa Buetre said the entire school was excited to be involved. “It is so incredible to be part of this huge performance and we are grateful for the opportunity.” Students from Footscray North Primary School are excited to be performing in this year’s Victorian State Schools Spectacular on September 13. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 497749_02
I’ll be back: Tiwari Cade Lucas Maribyrnong mayor Pradeep Tiwari has stood down after dangerous driving charges were laid against him. Cr Tiwari has been charged with traffic offences relating to an incident in Flemington on June 14 last year, before he was elected to Maribyrnong council. On Thursday, August 21, an arrest warrant was issued against the mayor after he failed to appear before the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court to face the driving charges. It’s believed the arrest warrant was withdrawn hours later after discussions
with the mayor’s legal team. Deputy mayor Bernadette Thomas will serve as acting mayor of Maribyrnong in Cr Tiwari’s absence. In a statement, Cr Tiwari said he had only recently become aware of the dangerous driving charges and that he was standing down from his duties as mayor and as a councillor while the matter was dealt with. “Once this legal matter and investigation are resolved, I fully intend to return to my role and continue representing our community,” said Cr Tiwari, adding that he expected the matter to be resolved in a matter of weeks not months.
Cr Tiwari’s term as mayor concludes in November. Speaking to Star Weekly, Cr Tiwari said he hoped to return to council before his term ends. “I’ve got some very interesting works to complete [as mayor] so I intend to fully come back and complete those works,“ he said. Cr Tiwari wouldn’t comment further on the charges as the matter was now before the courts, but said none of the alleged offences occurred while he was on council. “It’s got nothing to do with council or my work on council.” First elected in last October’s municipal elections, Cr Tiwari was elected
Maribyrnong mayor in November, with council claiming he was Victoria’s first mayor of Indian heritage. While thanking those who’d shown their support since reports of the driving charges and arrest warrant emerged on Thursday, Cr Tiwari slammed the racist comments he’d received. “It is very difficult for me to understand why the entire Indian community is being mocked and degraded with racist commentary,“ he said. “Racism has no place in our society, and I will continue to call it out whenever it appears.”
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