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17 FEBRUARY, 2026
School fair fun There’s growing excitement among students at St Augustine’s Primary School as the school’s community fair fast approaches. A variety of rides and attractions will be on offer including a petting zoo, a jumping castle, performances, food trucks, stalls, DJs, face-painting and more. Principal Cathy Steere said its the first time the fair has returned since Covid. “We’re really excited about bringing the community together,” she said. Students and teachers will be involved as part of the festivities. “We have an environment and sustainability focus at our school so [the students] are creating gifts per grade that have got an environmental element towards them,” Ms Steere said. She said another highlight of the evening will be a special collaborative ukulele performance by students and seniors from a local community group. The St Augustine’s fair extraordinaire will run from 4-8.30pm on Friday 27 February at 33-35 Augustines Way, Keilor. “Come along to the St Augustine’s community fair! It’s for everybody far and wide in our community,” Ms Steere said. Details: shorturl.at/oTu2x Year six students Max, Evie, Ella and Will. (Damjan Janevski) 532073_01
Police cut concerns By Sam Porter Residents and local politicians have raised concerns over further cuts to counter hours at Keilor Downs Police Station as well as a lack of police officers across Brimbank. Counter hours at Keilor Downs Police Station are now 10.15am-5.45pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, temporarily reduced from eight hours a day. The cuts follow earlier reductions in November 2023, when Victoria Police announced it would temporarily reduce the station’s counter hours from 24 hours a day to eight hours a day.
Star Weekly understands there were also discussions to close the Keilor Downs Police Station in December last year. Convenor of Keilor-Taylors Lakes Action Group and Justice of the Peace at Keilor Downs Police Station Fred Ackerman said reception counter hours are essential to the community, particularly at a time when crime rates are increasing. “We’d be looking for increased hours rather than reduced, especially on the back of the exponential growth across the area running out to Fraser Rise,” he said. “In addition to that, the issue is that we’ve had an increasing number of incidents at Watergardens for which
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police presence and attendance prompt urgent attendance.” Mr Ackerman believes the further reduction in hours is effectively a gradual closure of Keilor Downs Police Station. Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Trung Luu said reduced counter hours was of “great concern” especially for those experiencing family violence. “This is one avenue that has enabled victims and survivors of family violence to contact police,” said Mr Luu, who served in the police force for 28 years. “They can’t just get the phone, especially when their partner is in the house. “If you’re closing down the local police station you’re taking away access to make
any proper report they need to do which is critical.” St Albans MP Natalie Suleyman said she wants to see more police on the streets of Brimbank. “I will continue to strongly fight for more police on the streets of Brimbank, as a local and also as a member of parliament,” she said. “And ensure that community safety is a priority.” It comes as police data revealed the Brimbank LGA had lost 25 police officers from December 2024 to December 2025, the highest in the state. Continued: Page 4.
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YOUR LOCAL MEMBER OF STATE PARLIAMENT REPRESENTING THE ELECTORATE OF KOROROIT Need help? Visit my office on 2/11 Commercial Road, Caroline Springs luba.grigorovitch@parliament.vic.gov.au
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