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16 SEPTEMBER, 2025
Kangaroo great Anthony Stevens writes exclusively for Star Weekly
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Winning pie a tasty treat Thomastown business Andrew’s Banh mi and Pie has proven it’s not just famous for its acclaimed banh mi after the official Great Aussie Pie competition crowned it as medalists on the first day of judging for the nationwide competition. The competition has brought together some of the best bakers from around the country, with over 1500 entries being shipped from over 200 bakeries to the competition at Fine Food Australia event at the ICC in Sydney. The pie-fest celebrates the passion, creativity and craftsmanship which goes into the Aussie staple of hot pies and has been an industry backed endorsement of the greatest pies and sausage rolls in the country since 1989. Andrew’s Banh mi and Pie brought home two gold medals for its red meat based potato pie and chilli and cheese pies. Andrew’s Banh Mi and Pie was a finalist in a nationwide pie competition much to the delight of owner Nick Huynh. (Damjan Janevski). 502286_05
Tobacco arrests By Jack O’Shea-Ayres A 29-year-old Meadow Heights man has been arrested as part of an operation which police say also resulted in the arrest of a major player in Victoria’s illegal tobacco trade. Authorities have charged two men and seized tonnes of illicit tobacco, cigarette-making equipment and vape products during sweeping raids across Melbourne’s northern suburbs, including Campbellfield, Meadow Heights, Mickleham, Gladstone Park and
Craigieburn, and North Coburg. Police executed a series of warrants on Tuesday, September 9, uncovering what they allege was one of the largest illicit tobacco operations in Victoria. Officers seized tobacco manufacturing equipment, filters, a cash-counting machine, electronic devices and about 70 pallets of illicit product. Authorities said the haul included tonnes of loose-leaf tobacco, tens of millions of individual cigarette sticks and tens of thousands of vape products, with the final tally being assessed.
The 29-year-old Meadow Heights man was charged with conspiracy to import and possess unlawfully imported tobacco and is alleged to have co-ordinated the movement of the illicit products across the state. A 49-year-old North Coburg man, alleged to be the ringleader of the criminal syndicate, was also arrested at his home and charged with a string of federal and state offences. Police allege the North-Coburg man masterminded the importation of more than seven tonnes of loose-leaf tobacco, five million cigarettes
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and more than 5000 vapes into Victoria over a 10-month period, dodging more than $36.6 million in Commonwealth excise taxes. Investigators claim the man used freight and logistics connections to move the contraband through air and sea cargo disguised as kitchen goods and clothing, before distributing it through a network of tobacco shops. Both men went before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, September 11 and further arrests are expected to be made as the investigation continues.
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