Established in 1924 as the
proudly serving Brimbank and the North West
9 SEPTEMBER, 2025
Kangaroo great Anthony Stevens writes exclusively for Star Weekly 12790528-JD33-25
....SEE SPORT Celebrating Men’s Sheds For many men around Australia, men’s sheds are a place to come together, connect and learn. From September 8 to 13, the Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA) is celebrating Men’s Shed week and the role sheds play in building healthy communities across Australia. Taylors Hill Men’s Shed team leader Ray Sykes said the shed provides an opportunity for men to gather. “It helps you get away from social isolation, build new relationships, meet new people, learn from other people.” The Taylors Hill shed is open four days a week and hosts a weekly Tuesday lunch. Each year at the Taylors Hill Men’s Shed, members mentor six children from local primary schools who are struggling with attendance. “That makes the people involved pretty proud. At least there may be a chance they’ve pointed the children in the right direction …There are lots of things we’ve done for various charities around the place,” Mr Sykes said.
Taylors Hill men’s shed Team Leader Ray Sykes. (Damjan Janevski) 500973_02
Station plans cut Plans to extend platforms at Ardeer station to accommodate nine-carriage VLocity trains – up from the current six-carriage capacity – have now been cut after the state government announced it would fast-track the Melton line upgrade. Platforms will still be extended at Deer Park, Caroline Springs, Rockbank and Cobblebank stations. According to the state government, extending platforms at Ardeer station – a 2022 election promise – would require a full station rebuild due to limited space and curved platforms. The government said Ardeer station is currently positioned within the potential
rail corridor so works to extend and straighten platforms would become redundant when the station is rebuilt and repositioned to the north. There will be no impact to service levels at Ardeer station following delivery of the Melton line upgrade, according to the government. Brimbank mayor Cr Thuy Dang told Star Weekly that council was disappointed Ardeer station would miss out on service improvements as part of the upgrade projects. “Ardeer is located close to the Sunshine superhub and services rapid population growth corridors in Melbourne’s west.
The electrification of the Melton line is an important step to provide commuters with better transport services and will have flow-on benefits for the region,” Cr Dang said. “Council urges the Victorian government to budget and schedule the construction works needed for the electrification and extension of the metropolitan train network to Melton and Wyndham Vale once the works at Sunshine superhub are completed. Without a budget committed and a clear timeline for delivery, we are concerned that the Ardeer area will miss out on improved public transport access for many years to come.”
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The new Melton station with four platforms to accommodate Ballarat train services will open next year as part of the fast-tracked Melton line upgrade, and will provide dedicated platforms for services that starting and ending at Melton, including nine-carriage trains. A new stabling yard will also be built at Cobblebank, which will allow the longer VLocity trains to be at Melton station for the first services to the city each morning. Stabling yard and platform extension construction is expected to start early next year, with the nine-carriage VLocity trains running on the Melton line from 2027, once the project is complete.
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• New Full and Partial Dentures • Implant Retained Over Dentures • Metal Framed Dentures • Sports Mouthguards • Repairs • Relines • HICAPS Available • Veteran Affairs • Victorian Denture Scheme Accepted
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Kathy Danoucaras, Nick Danoucaras and Sam Robertson
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KND Denture Clinic, 192 Main Road East, St Albans 9364 3677 Also at: Suite 8, 242 Caroline Springs Boulevard, Caroline Springs. 8361 9722
Australian Dental Prosthetists Association (Victoria)
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