Established in 1924 as the
proudly serving Brimbank and the North West
3 FEBRUARY, 2026
Excitement at new school Sisters Charlotte and Audrey were among the first cohort of students to walk through the gates at the new Wiyal Primary School in Fraser Rise when it opened on 29 January . The school, which has welcomed about 525 students, features modern classrooms and learning spaces, a community hub with an indoor court, a canteen, arts and music spaces, outdoor courts, a sports field, and a library and administration building. All up, over $230 million was invested into the project, according to the state government. The school’s name (pronounced wee-yil) is the wurundjeri woi wurrung word meaning ‘peppermint tree’. Audrey, who will start year three, said she enjoys writing and would like to become a journalist one day, while her sister Charlotte, starting year four, said she loves making art and wants to become a teacher. The sisters said they’re most excited about making new friends. The primary school is one of 19 new schools across the state that opened in the last week of January.
Sisters Audrey, 7,and Charlotte, 9. (Damjan Janevski) 531236_01
Killer jailed for life By Emily Woods, AAP A murderer has been jailed for life after setting his wife and stepdaughter on fire and then blaming his dying partner. Roland James Griffiths, 41, was sentenced on Thursday morning at Melbourne’s Supreme Court almost four years after he poured petrol and set Kylie Sheahan, 35, alight. Ms Sheahan, a mother of six, died and her 16-year-old daughter suffered burns to more than 50 per cent of her body as she tired to save her mum’s life. Griffiths had made threats to burn down the Albanvale home, in Melbourne’s northwest, in the months leading up to the deadly March 2022 blaze.
Seven children were home when a heavily intoxicated Griffiths poured a jerry can of petrol onto Ms Sheahan and then held a lighter against her. Two of his stepdaughters begged him not to light the petrol and instead of listening he taunted them, the court was told. “I promise bub, I swear … I won’t do it,” Griffiths replied, before placing the lighter near the ground and setting Ms Sheahan alight. Flames spread to his 16-year-old stepdaughter and to Griffiths, who extinguished the fire on himself before helping his wife. Ms Sheahan was dragged to the bathroom, given a cold shower and then Griffiths took her outside and sprayed his
wife with a hose. The children who were trapped inside the house, including a 10-month-old and a two-year-old, were rescued by their older siblings before the entire home caught fire. Emergency services heard Griffiths blaming Ms Sheahan for the fire and telling her: “Why didn’t you stop me, you should’ve stopped me and I should be in jail”. The woman, who was in the early stages of dying, lied to police for him, saying Griffiths tried to light himself on fire and when she tried to stop him she caught fire too. Ms Sheahan was taken to hospital with burns to 91 per cent of her body, but she died on March 18, 2022, four days after the blaze. The day Griffiths was supposed to face trial, in February 2025, he indicated he
3 NEW DENTURES ARE GST FREE 3 QUALITY DENTURE CARE 3 HEALTH FUND REBATES 3 PROMPT APPOINTMENTS
wanted to plead guilty to murder and recklessly causing injury to his stepchild. Justice John Champion labelled the murder as brutal example of the offence and pointed out his taunting of his victims who must have been “terrified”. He noted Griffiths’ victim blaming of Ms Sheahan after the offending was “particularly repugnant”. “I make it clear that Ms Sheahan was completely blameless, innocent and did not deserve the treatment you meted out to her at all,” the judge said. “Your attack on Ms Sheahan was grievously inappropriate.” Justice Champion jailed Griffiths for life, with 32 years to serve before he is eligible for parole.
NO COS
T
INITIAL CONSUL TAT AND AD ION VICE
• New Full and Partial Dentures • Implant Retained Over Dentures • Metal Framed Dentures • Sports Mouthguards • Repairs • Relines • HICAPS Available • Veteran Affairs • Victorian Denture Scheme Accepted
www.knddentureclinic.com.au
Kathy Danoucaras, Nick Danoucaras and Sam Robertson
like us on Facebook KND Denture Clinic
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)
12590552-ET16-23