WEDNESDAY, 26 NOVEMBER, 2025
Old mates reunited
Sam Gadd (left) and his bandmate Richard Tregear are LunarFringo, a duo of from the inner-west who are releasing an album of songs they first wrote together 50 years ago. (Damjan Janevski) 518848_03
It’s an old cliche’ that bands first start out jamming in a garage. But for western suburbs duo, LunarFringo, the garage wasn’t where they started, but reunited. Sam Gadd and Richard Tregear grew up on the same street in Williamstown and began making music together in the late 1970’s, before drifting apart. And that’s the way things remained for decades until Tregear found a box of old recordings in his daughter’s car. After listening to his old band for the first time in years, the vocalist was pleasantly surprised. “These are alright,” Treager said to himself. Soon after he was in guitarist Gadd’s garage turned studio in Altona and LunarFringo was reborn. Now the two 70 somethings are about to release LunarFringo Because, an album of songs they first wrote together in their 20’s. A listening party for the album will be held at Kindred Bandroom this Thursday before its official release on 12 December.
Semra is mayor By Cade Lucas The 2025 Young Victorian of the Year is now the mayor of Maribyrnong too. Cr Mohamed Semra was elected mayor at a council meeting on Wednesday night, adding to the 27-year-old’s burgeoning list of accolades. The first term councillor defeated Cr Pradeep Tiwari by four votes to one, after the outgoing mayor surprisingly sought re-election. Crs Bernadette Thomas, Samanatha Meredith, Elena Pereyra and Susan Yengi voted in support of Cr Semra, while Cr Cuc Lam voted for Cr Tiwari. Cr Samantha Meredith will serve as
deputy mayor, after the Greens councillor defeated former mayor, Cr Lam, by three votes to two. Cr Meredith replaces fellow Greens representative Cr Thomas as deputy. Born in Sudan and arriving in Australia as a refugee in the early 2000’s, Cr Semra becomes the first Sudanese-born mayor in Victoria. Growing up in Braybrook, Cr Semra benefited from youth organisations such as the Les Twentyman Foundation and now runs his own youth outreach service, Endeavour Youth Foundation, which led to him winning that state’s top civic honour for young people earlier this year. The new mayor said he couldn’t wait to
get started. “It’s an incredibly exciting time for our city as we continue to grow and evolve,” Cr Semra said following his election. “It is a privilege to serve such a supportive, inclusive and community-minded city. “I will lead with accountability, listening, advocating and building trust.” Cr Semra was considered the front-runner for the role before Cr Tiwari unexpectedly sought a second consecutive term. “I believe continuity matters,” Cr Tiwari said in explaining his decision to run again. “The works we have started in advocacy in transparency in economic revitalization in community strengthening deserves to
continue with stability and momentum.” Cr Semra said the outgoing mayor had done “an amazing job”, while making the case for change. “Next year is pivotal for Maribyrnong,” he said. “This moment requires leadership that is connected to the levied reality of our residents.” Cr Tiwari congratulated the new mayor following his election. Cr Meredith said she was looking forward to working with the mayor and her fellow councillors as deputy and would approach the role with care, passion and empathy.
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