Egg-citement is brewing as kids across Melbourne’s west dream of what chocolatey goodness the Easter bunny will deliver this Sunday. Many will spend their weekend filling up on sweet treats, baking hot cross buns and attending Easter celebrations with their families. Emily, 10 (pictured) is ready to hunt down any chocolate eggs the Easter bunny leaves behind and fill her basket to the brim.
By Cade Lucas
Hobsons Bay council has voted in support of plans for a social housing development onPowerStreetinWilliamstown.
At it’s meeting on Tuesday 24 March, council endorsed the state government’s proposaltobuildafive-storeycomplexwith 65 social housing apartments on a vacant blockat5PowerStreet.
Whileastategovernmentproject,council voted to endorse the rezoning of the area in order for the apartments to built and also for council to write a letter in support to the community consultation process currently underway.
Consultation on the Power Street apartments closes at the end of the month and some nearby residents have already launchedacampaigntostopit.
A Change.org petition calling on Planning Minister Sonia Kilkenny to refuse the rezoning of the area and prevent the apartments from being built has already attracted250signatures.
The petitioners argue the development would increase traffic congestion, put further strain on existing infrastructure, is out of scale with neighbouring buildings and presents safety risk to children and pedestrians from the nearby train station, childcarecentreandschools.
Attempts by StarWeekly to contact the petitionerswereunsuccessful.
However, one of those to have signed the petition is local ward councillor and Hobsons Bay deputy mayor Lisa Bentley, who spoke against the plans at Tuesday night’smeeting.
“Over recent days a considerable number of residents have contacted me complaining the have not been consulted on this proposal,” Cr Bentley said, adding that while social housing was vital, local residents were worried about the location andsizeofthePowerStreetproposal.
“These concerns are being expressed respectfully,buttheyaregenuine,”shesaid.
However, the mover of the motion, Cr Rayane Hawli, said Williamstown had a long history of social and public housing and that Power Street was an ideal location formore.
“Its close proximity to public transport (North Williamstown Station) does make it a suitable location for this type of development and arguably addresses the traffic concern,” Cr Hawli said, arguing the proposalhadbroadcommunitysupport.
“I don’t believe the majority of Hobsons Bay residents believe in stigmatising those whoneedsocialhousing,“shesaid.
“Exclusiondoesnotmakethecommunity safer.”
By Cade Lucas
Two men have been charged following the latest ice cream shop fire in Williamstown.
Emergency services were called to reports of a fire at Capriccio Gelateria on Nelson Place about 3.45am on Sunday 22 March.
The gelateria was engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived and took almost an hour to be brought under control.
Boththeshopandanadjoiningresidence located above were unoccupied at the time
of the fire but sustained significant damage.
It’s the sixth suspicious fire at a Nelson Place ice cream shop in the past three-anda-half years and the second at Capriccio Gelateria in just over two years.
In January 2024, a fire gutted the business which only reopened five months earlier.
Following an extensive investigation into Sunday’s fire, police arrested two men in Melbourne’s CBD on Wednesday afternoon.
A 22-year-old man and a 24-year-old man, both from Melbourne, have since been charged with arson, conduct endan-
gering life-serious injury, handling stolen goods, theft of a motor vehicle and driving offences.
Just over 24 hours prior to the Williamstown fire, a Tarneit ice cream shop, Gelateria On the Docks, was also damaged by fire, with police later charging two teenage boys in relation to the incident.
Police are believed to be investigating if the two fires are linked and if organised crime is involved.
The January 2024 fire at Capriccio Gelateria was investigated by detectives from
Taskforce Lunar which Victoria Police established to combat the state’s illicit tobacco trade.
In April 2025, the shop next door, Willi Homemade Icecream & Acai, was also gutted by fire and remains closed, while further along Nelson Place, Williamstown Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt has been attacked multiple times, including twice in 24 hours in November 2023.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at: www.crimestopersvic.com.au.
539943_03
Having recently appeared at the Perth and Adelaide fringe festivals, Altona Meadows actor Kathryn Tohill is gearing up to perform at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in Murder Village: An Improvised Whodunnit.
An Agatha Christie-style murder mystery, Whodunnit is an improvised production that uses audience suggestions to craft the events, meaning no two shows are the same and cast members like Tohill
have to remain on their toes, no matter how many performances they’ve done.
“The audience when they come in they make suggestions as to who the killer’s gonna be, who the victim’s gonna be, what a clue is and what the weapon is,” Tohill explained of how the show works.
The task of solving this murder based on audience participation falls on a rotating cast member playing the role of the sleuth.
Tohill is part of a cast featuring 20 of the country’s leading improvisers, including Jason Geary (Thank God You’re Here, The iSelect Guy), Lliam Amor (The Twelve, Escape From Pretoria), Rhys Auteri (Late Night with the Devil) and Amanda Buckley (The Project, The Newsreader).
Murder Village: An Improvised Whodunnit is on at the Arts Centre Melbourne: Member’s Lounge until 19 April. Tickets: www.comedyfestival.com.au
Organisations and individuals from the inner-west are among the finalists for the 2025 Victorian Sport Awards (VSAs) announced last week.
Maribyrnong council was nominated in the Local Government Initiative of the Year category for its Swim Unity program.
The free, eight-week program was aimed at providing culturally safe, accessible and inclusive aquatic education for women from diverse backgrounds.
The Footscray Rugby Union Club has been nominated for the Community Sporting Club of the Year award.
The club has been recognised for events such as its annual Island Night that recognises its predominantly Pacifika heritage as well as its work with organisations including Drummond Street, The Zone and the Les Twentyman Foundation to assist at-risk youth through sport.
Footscray Cycling Club official Stephen Michetti is in the running for Official of the Year, while the Williamstown Swimming and Surf Life Saving Club’s Veronia Trealor has been nominated for Volunteer of the Year.
Ms Trealor has been nominated for her work coordinating the club’s Starfish Nippers Program for children with disability.
The winners will be announced at a gala event at the MCG on 13 May.
Victoria’s heritage ship fleet will soon call Williamstown home, with the vessels Enterprize, Alma Doepel and Wattle to berth at the newly reopened Workshops Pier in the Seaworks precinct.
The announcement that the heritage fleet would move from its current home in Docklands to Hobson Bay was made at the official reopening of Workshops Pier on Wednesday 25 March following the completion of extensive renovations. Built in 1942, the historic pier was closed and fenced off in 2021 after its structure was found to have deteriorated to the point where it was too dangerous to be used.
After Workshops Pier was included in the state government’s $46 million plan to upgrade piers and jetties across Victoria, remedial work began early last year, before major construction work commenced in December.
These works included the installation of 90 new steel piles – using around 1.7 kilometres of steel - to strengthen the pier’s foundations and the overall structure.
The pier’s low landing has also been rebuilt, alongside upgrades to safety and operational equipment.
Following the upgrades, Workshops Pier can now accommodate vessels up to 75 metres on the eastern side and up to 20 metres on the western side, more than enough room for the heritage fleet and plenty more vessels besides.
“We’ve rebuilt Workshops Pier so it can continue to welcome ships and visitors for decades to come,” Ports and Freight Minister and Williamstown MP Melissa Horne said at the opening on Wednesday morning.
“This is about protecting a key piece of Victoria’s maritime history and as the local member for Williamstown, I am incredibly excited for our community and the maritime tourism the Heritage Fleet will bring to our community.”
Seaworks foundation chairman Captain Warwick Norman said heritage fleet would be a great asset to the maritime precinct and to the broader Williamstown and Hobsons Bay community.
“Seeing these historic vessels silhouetted against the modern Melbourne skyline will capture the meeting of old and new, reflecting the essence of Seaworks as a contemporary precinct for maritime heritage,” Captain Norman said.
By Cade Lucas
Hobsons Bay council adopted new confidentiality and media policies at its March meeting on Tuesday 24 March, despite criticism from some councillors.
Deputy mayor Lisa Bentley led the charge, having earlier made comments to the media claiming both policies were an attempt to gag councillor’s and issuing a “call to arms” for local residents to attend and voice their opposition.
Despite this rallying cry, the public gallery remained less than half full once the meeting started, but this didn’t deter the
deputy mayor who spoke passionately against the confidentiality policy, arguing it went well beyond what is prescribed in the Local Government Act.
“Lets call it for what is actually is, this councillor confidentiality policy it’s not about good governance, it’s about control,” Cr Bentley said.
“It’s about limiting [councillors’] ability to challenge and speak on your behalf.”
Cr Bentley was particularly scathing about a provision where any document considered harmful to the public interest if it were freely available, could be classified as an internal document and kept secret.
“A label so broad it can apply to hide almost anything,” she said.
Councillors Daria Kellander and Michael Disbury joined Cr Bentley in speaking against the policy, while Cr Kristen Bishop spoke in support, arguing it was common place for organisations to have their own policies and that council having its own confidentiality standards would streamline decision making.
“My experience as a councillor so far has been one in which confidentiality has often been an issue of timing more so than not releasing the information at all.”
The policy was carried 4-3 with Cr Bish-
Owners of Jeongsin Taekwondo in Maidstone, Kristy and Matt Busuttil, with son Harlan who spent months at the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) after being born with a rare liver disease. The Busuttil’s are running the Kick for Sick Kids fundraiser for the RCH as part of the Good Friday Appeal. (Damjan Janevski) 543379_01
According to Maidstone’s Kristy Busuttil, she and her husband Matt “lived” at the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) when their youngest son, Harlan, was born with a rare liver disease.
The Busuttil’s also run their own taekwondoschoolinMaidstoneandonGood Friday, they’ll again be combining the two with the fourth annual Kick for Sick Kids to raise funds for the hospital.
The fundraising challenge involves
the Busuttil’s and dozens of taekwondo students and enthusiasts, taking part in a kick relay from their Jeongsin Taekwondo school in Maidstone all the way to the RCH on Flemington Road. “We kick target paddles in relay format for 10km,” Busuttil explained of how the kick relay works.
Just how important is something the Busuttil’s know better than most.
When Harlan was born with a rare liver disease, both he and his parents spent
countless hours at the RCH until he finally received a transplant. “We just realised, when we were basically living there for three months, the incredible work that this hospital does for the kids and families of Victoria and we wanted to find a way to give back so we started the kick for sick kids,” Busuttil said.
Donate at: https://fundraise.goodfridayappeal.com.au/fundraisers/jeongsintaekw
Victorian freight operators, including those in Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay, are embracing cleaner, more efficient technologies, thanks to two new government programs aimed at reducing the industry’s reliance on fuel and cutting transport emissions.
“We know the cost of fuel is hurting our freight operators which is why rolling out these programs will help freight businesses cut costs, boost efficiency and modernise their fleets for the future,” said Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne.
The $8 million Freight Decarbonisation Co-Investment Program will provide grants of up to $300,000 for small and me-
dium-sized freight businesses to invest in cleaner vehicles, charging infrastructure, low-emissions fuels and new technologies.
Meanwhile, the $1.5 million Victorian Electric Heavy Vehicle Trial, delivered in partnership with the Victorian Transport Association (VTA), will give businesses real-world experience with electric heavy vehicles.
“We commend the Victorian Government for recognising the scale of the decarbonisation challenge and for supporting freight operators with meaningful, hands-on programs,” said VTA CEO Peter Anderson.
The programs are part of the govern-
op joined by councillors Keys-Macpherson, Hawli and mayor Diana Grima in voting yes.
The media policy was carried along similar lines despite Cr Kellander arguing that regulating councillor’s personal social media accounts, including a requirement that they make clear they’re not speaking on council’s behalf, went too far.
“Policies that seek to control elected representatives risk drifting into the territory warned about in 1984 a novel intended as caution against excessive control of information not a blueprint for governance,” Cr Kellander said.
just about pay’
Teachers and staff from schools across the west joined a statewide teacher strike on Tuesday 24 March, amid a wages dispute with the state government.
About 30,000 teachers, principals and education support staff walked out of public school classrooms across Victoria, seeking an increase in wages and better working conditions.
Up to 500 schools across the state closed or were significantly affected by the strike, with many students told to stay home amid class cancellations.
The Australian Education Union (AEU) is seeking a 35 per cent rise over four years for its members, arguing Victorian teachers are paid far less than their interstate counterparts.
Many striking staff marched to state parliament in protest of a 17 per cent offer by the state government.
Education Minister Ben Carroll said the government’s initial offer equated to $2.6 billion in extra wages and would immediately lift educators’ pay by up to $11,000.
“This is a very strong offer,” Mr Carroll said.
He said the state government had done “everything we could” to avoid Tuesday’s strike.
Premier Jacinta Allan pleaded for the AEU to cancel the action and return to negotiating to prevent the disruption.
Abanob Saad, a third year history and economics teacher and deputy president of Melton Secondary College’s AEU sub-branch, said Victorian teaching staff can’t be expected to deliver quality education with the current standards.
“The government expects A-level results but they’re giving D-level investment,” Mr Saad said.
“If you don’t have a safe workplace or fair pay you’re not going to get an education that works for students.”
Mr Saad said stress and unsustainable workloads have made working environments unsafe, leading to mental and physical sickness and staff resignations.
ment’s plan to decarbonise Victoria’s $36 billionfreightsector,whichemploysaround 240,000 people and moves approximately 440 million tonnes of freight each year.
“Supporting industry to adopt low and zero-emission vehicles is critical to cutting emissions and building a stronger, more resilient economy,” said Minister for Climate Action Lily D’Ambrosio.
“While this shift will take years, the most important step is beginning with knowledge, clarity, and a plan,” Mr Anderson added.
Expressions of interest for the Freight Decarbonisation Co-Investment Program close on Tuesday, 14 April 2026.
“We have a right to protect our conditions and the safe conditions for students too. This is not just about pay, it’s about conditions and sustainability.”
Melton Secondary College’s AEU subbranch president Ryan Everest said staff’s working conditions directly affected their students.
“Our working conditions are the students’ learning conditions,” Mr Everest said.
Council proudly hosted the annual Civic Awards ceremony on 26 March 2026, celebrating and acknowledging the local people, groups and businesses whose dedication and service continue to shape a vibrant, inclusive and connected City of Maribyrnong.
We were honoured to recognise Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan as this year’s Citizen of the Year. Through decades of spiritual leadership, humanitarian work and community service, he has made a lasting contribution to strengthening connection, compassion and support for communities both locally and beyond.
Council extends its congratulations to all nominees and award recipients, whose commitment and generosity go above and beyond, helping to make Maribyrnong a welcoming and thriving place to live, work and visit.
Citizen of the Year: Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan OAM
Les Twentyman Youth Leadership Award: Taihan Rahman
Sarah Carter Gender Equity Award: Amanda Thompson, Conversations that Matter Collective
Community Strengthening Award: Seddon Kingsville Yarraville (SKY) Community Group
Contribution to Business Community Award: Reveka Hurtado –Papelon
Active Maribyrnong Sporting Award: Jason Evanson
Creative Maribyrnong Award: Snuff Puppets
LGBTIQA+ Leadership Award: Natalie Gresswell – Miniature Horde
Sustainability and Climate Leadership Award: Climate Action Maribyrnong
Mayoral Award: Leigh Leigh’s Charity and Imam Rabih Baytie
Looking ahead, Sons of the West will commence in April, delivering a free ten week program that supports men in the west to prioritise their physical health and mental wellbeing in a welcoming and supportive group setting.
The In Focus Festival will also take place from 21 April, showcasing photography across locations throughout the Footscray CBD and Yarraville, and celebrating creativity, storytelling and place through a diverse range of visual works.
Mayor Cr Mohamed Semra
Follow me on Facebook ‘Mohamed Semra for Burndap Ward’
Tue21April: 6.30pm Council Meeting
Meetings are held in the Council Chambers at Footscray Town Hall and livestreamed on Council’s website. Community members can submit questions for public question time online on or before the day of the meeting. Visit maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/meetings or phone 9688 0200 for more information.
Maribyrnong City Council
Civic Precinct and Community Hub
61 Napier Street, Footscray
Postal Address: PO Box 58, West Footscray VIC 3012
Mayor, Cr Mohamed Semra met with David Ettershank MP to discuss Council’s advocacy priorities.
2. Mayor, Cr Mohamed Semra, Deputy Mayor, Cr Samantha Meredith, alongside Cr Elena Pereyra and Cr Cuc Lam at the celebration of the Matriarchs of Maribyrnong.
3. Mayor, Cr Mohamed Semra, Deputy Mayor, Cr Samantha Meredith, Cr Bernadette Thomas, and CEO Celia Haddock, joined the Footscray Trugo Club for the opening of the new pavilion.
Cr
and
joined Yarraville Festival Committee President, Con Fresco for a celebration of the inner west at this year’s Yarraville Festival.
Mayor Semra, Deputy Mayor Meredith and Cr Lam supported Council’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination panel discussion.
Mayor, Cr Semra congratulates the 2026 Civic Award recipients.
Help us make sure how we engage with our community is valuable, fun and easy. Do you like in-person chats, hands-on activities, online surveys or something totally new? Join our Community Engagement Policy review conversation by midnight Sunday 19 April 2026. To share your feedback, visit yourcityyourvoice.com.au/engagement
Kerbside bin collections on Good Friday (3 April) will take place on Saturday 4 April. Collections on Monday 6 April will occur as usual. Stay up to date by downloading Council’s free bin app, available on Apple and Google Play – just search for “Maribyrnong Bins and Recycling”.
A reminder that pet registrations are due on April 10. They play an important role in supporting animal management services across our ity, including returning lost pets to their owners, maintaining dog parks and shelter operations.
P: (03) 9688 0200
F: (03) 9687 7793
email@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au
Intheopinionofallwhoknewhim,Charles Lewis Greenwood was a happy- go- lucky bloke, with a sparkling personality that made him the life and soul of any party he attended. One of 12 children, he was accustomed to making himself heard by roaring over the racket made by his siblings, a rigorous training regimen which served him well in his future career of blasting the ears off back benchers. For all his popularity, however, he felt that something was missing in his life, and in 1909 at the Footscray Church of Christ, he foundGod.
A fire with his newfound enthusiasm, he soon started a “cottage mission”, meetings held at his own Sunshine home, usually attended by about 200 people, most of whomwereluredmorebyMrsGreenwood’s scones than rebukes from the pulpit. The Sunshine meetings grew so popular that Charlie established the Sunshine Gospel Hallin1925.
Hundreds, convinced that they were in imminent danger of Hellfire, came to be convicted of sin and blessed by the Holy Spirit.
When the house was no longer large enough to hold the crowds, Charlie graduated to open-air preaching. Miraculous healings were reported. Some spoke in tongues. All of this was deemed proof that God was working through his servant,CharlieGreenwood.
Open-air preaching had its drawbacks, like heavy rains and nipping winds that made it an ordeal to be endured, rather thanapleasantinteractionwithGod.
Miserableweatherkeptthecrowdsaway, eventhoughscones werestillonthemenu. Charlie shifted to Bridge Road, Richmond, and started the Richmond Temple, which became the mother church of a Pentecostal network. Word spread rapidly. It was common knowledge that Pastor Greenwood was frequently summoned fromhisbedatunearthlyhourstominister to the dying, or exorcise demons which were making pests of themselves by tormentingthementallyill.
In 1927, a young Welshman named Evan Thomas arrived in Warragul with a commission straight from God himself: to save souls, raise the dead and perform miraculoushealings.
He had popped into the Richmond Temple several times and from what he had observed, he felt certain that he could outdoPastorGreenwoodinthesoul-saving lurk.
Preaching to city slickers attracted disruptive hecklers and drunks; it was far easier to carry the good news to unsophisticatedcountryareas.
Pastor Thomas preached around Victoria’s rural towns, winning souls and healing the sick. No crank about sectarianism, he preached to Methodist, Pentecostal, Presbyterian and Baptist congregations. Only the Catholics showed no interest in being saved, healed or resurrected, but then, Catholics were in thralltotheAntichristhimselfandbeyond allaid,whetherearthlyordivine.
On the afternoon of 4 November, 1927, Pastor Thomas was walking near Warragul Post Office deep in spiritual thought, when acarsuddenlypulledupand itstwo passengerspokedtheirheadsout.
“Are you Pastor Evan Thomas, the ministerwhoperformsmiracles?”
“Yes, I am,” Evan admitted modestly. “HowcanIhelpyou?”
The message they gave him was like
angelic trumpets to the ears. A dying girl too frail to come to Warragul, was bedridden in nearby Nilma, and would appreciate the touch of Pastor Evan’s healing hands. Acceptin the courteous offer of the front passenger seat, he leapt into the car, eager to embark on a mission ofmercy.
DuringthedrivealongPrincesHighway, Evan chatted to the driver and passengers aboutthewondersthatGodhadbeenbusily working through his humble servant. The dead were yet to be raised –so far, they had remained stubbornly in their graves – but the dumb spoke and the crippled walked. Hallelujah!
Then,forreasonsknownonlytoHimself, the Lord permitted His servant to be suddenly coshed from behind by the two back seat passengers . The pastor had a brief glimpse of celestial stars before passingout.
He awoke in a paddock, his hands tied behind his back with barbed wire. He had been stripped to the waist and doused fore and aft with tar. Finding that the barbed wire bonds prevented him from rolling onto his back, he forced himself to wriggle painfully to the roadside where he collapsed, totally spent, convinced that Satanwasbehindthisassault.
With this unpleasant thought whirling around his throbbing head, he lay by the roadside of the Princes Highway for what seemed eternity until an engineer of the Country Roads Board spotted the pitiful sight and drove him at top speed to the Warragul doctor. There he was treated for shock, subjected to an unpleasant bath of tar-dissolving solvent and his bruises and cutswerepatchedup.
“Why did this happen?” the GP wanted toknow.“Haveyouanyenemies?”
“No, how could I? I spend my life doing good to others. Unless …” Evan paused. “Unless a rival preacher sent those men. A
sounded perfectly reasonable, the police didnot.
On Wednesday, 17 November, 1927, the WarragulCourt was packedtooverflowing when Pastor Evan Thomas, in a grey suit and sporting a buttonhole of sweet peas, appeared before two J.Ps, Messrs Cromie and Hiscock, charged with behaving in an offensive manner in a public place. Constable Ferguson was prosecutor, and future wife-killer, James Raymond O’Keefe from Melbourne, appeared for the Defence.
Mr O’Keefe launched into a passionate plea. “Even if my client did commit this alleged outrage upon himself , how is it offensive? Whom does it offend to daub oneselfintar,bindone’swristswithbarbed wireandliebytheroadside?”
Hastily, the J.P.s consulted some law books that happened to be handy, ready to deal with smart-alec lawyers from Melbourne. Sternly they announced that the defendant’s loopy behaviour did indeed constitute ‘offensive’ under the full meaningoftheActofParliament.
Portraying his client as some sort of twentieth century martyr, Mr O’Keefe continued with a defence that became crazierwitheachsentence.
“My client vigorously denies the false contents of the second statement. He will adhere to the truth of his original statement. Why did he tate that he had tarred himself? “ He paused for dramatic effect. “As a devout Christian, he acted for the noble if misguided purpose of preventing the Pentecostal Church from falling into disrepute. This he sincerely believed would happen if he did not, like our Saviour, take upon himself the full punishmentduetothesinnerswhocaused this scandalousincident.”
The J.P.s exchanged doubtful looks whichtheythenswitchedtothedefendant.
charlatan who seeks glory for himself, and notforGod.”
With a great show of reluctance, he continued, “Pastor Greenwood of the Pentecostal Church in Melbourne hates me. He’s been threatening to come here to denounce me as unworthy to preach in Warragul. He sent those men to attack me, toforcemetoleaveWarragulsothathecan moveinandtakeover.”
The saintly Pastor Thomas repeated this storytoSergeantCarterwhoconsideredthe story so weird that the pastor was handed overtotwoplainclothespolicemen.
Constables Ferguson and Montgomery relentlessly applied the pressure, finally extracting a signed confession that the alleged assault victim had invented the entirestory. Hehaddaubedhimselffroma jarofpitch,somehowtiedhishandsbehind his back and had lain by the roadside until foundahalfhourlater.
Butwhy?
In his gentle lilt, Pastor Thomas tearfully tried another tack. Members of the Warragul Pentecostal congregation had already been warned by a lying, envious Pentecostal pastor in Richmond that their new preacher was unworthy to lead them to God. Alarmed that these slanders would seriously imperil his healings and resurrections, he planned a counter-offensive.
Finding a jar of pitch in Nilma had provided the brainwave. If he were to pose as a victim of vicious crime, the local Pentecostals, though unsophisticated, would immediately realise that Pastor Greenwood and his Melbourne cronies were the culprits. Naturally, they would rejectthepreachingofsuchwickedpeople, and his own popularity would soar even higher. That is to say, he added hastily, that souls would be drawn ever nearer to God throughhisservant,PastorThomas.
If the young Welshman thought that this
“My client was enticed into the car, believing that a dying girl was awaiting a healing from God. There is no evidence that he tarred himself, only that he was foundtarredinapublicplace.”
Evan’s statement was read out by Constable Montgomery. The court heard that Pastor Charles Greenwood, who ran the Pentecostal show in Richmond, was burning with envy of the younger man’s successwithexorcisms.Socovetouswashe thathehadthreatenedtocometoWarragul andwreckPastorThomas’smission.
Pastor Thomas entered the witness box and repeated his original story of assault, batteryandbondage.
“The second signed statement is incorrect. I made it to save the Pentecostal Churchfrompublicdisgrace,butnow,Iam telling the truth. The assault did happen. I was bashed and tarred. The guilty parties must accept their punishment; I can no longershieldthem.”
Thecourttittered.
Thebenchtook30minutestodecidethat the original statement was utter nonsense. No heavies had been sent by Pastor Greenwood. There had been no dying girl in Nilma, no car carrying three men, and no cosh wielded from the back seat. The defendanthadindeeddaubedhimselfwith ta , lied under oath and wasted everyone’s timewithhisself-servingdrivel.
They imposed a fine of two pounds with twopounds,thirteenshillingscosts.Pastor Thomas paid on the spot, adjusted his boutonnièreandannouncedthathewould resumepreaching…justnotinWarragul. Withthat,hefled,anditistobedevoutly hoped that his next sermon, wherever it was, focused intently on the Ninth Commandment.
For the record, Pastor Charles Greenwood,formerlyofSunshineandlater Chairman of the Assemblies of God, never showed the faintest interest in muscling hiswayintoanyWarragulexorcisms.
Each week Star Weekly photographers are out and about capturing events and people across the western and northern suburbs.
Star Weekly looks back through the pages of our predecessors
40 years ago 2 April, 1986
The Williamstown council plans to send a deputation to Premier John Cain, asking him to reverse a state government decision not to proceed with the $1.2 million boat ramp at GreenwichBay.
30 years ago 3 April, 1996
Confidence is running high at WilliamstownFootballClub,especially among the players who have already wontwopracticegames.
20 years ago 29 March, 2006
Altona hockey star Luke Doerner struck a sensational goal to help the Kookaburras on their way to a gold medalonSunday.
10 years ago 30 March, 2016
Hobsons Bay’s deputy mayor has questioned the decision to fast-track theremovaloftheKororoitCreekRoad level crossing in Altona given it’s 151st on the Department of Transport’s prioritylist.
RoadSafe Westgate is proud to support Operation Nexus 2026, the statewide road policing campaign led by Victoria Police ahead of the Victorian Easter holiday period.
With increased traffic expected across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, police will launch a highly visible enforcement and education blitz aimed at preventingroadtraumaandsavinglives.
When is Operation Nexus 2026?
Operation Arid will run from 12:01am Thursday 2 April to 11:59pm Monday 6 April, covering the entire Easter break, a traditionally high-risk period for serious andfatalcrashesonVictorianroads.
Why This Easter Holiday Matters
Holidayperiodsmeanmorevehiclesonthe road, longer trips, unfamiliar routes and tighter travel schedules. Historically, the highest risk periods occur when drivers are:
•Leavingforholidaydestinations
•Returninghome
•Drivingwhilefatigued
•Travelling at speed on freeways and regionalhighways
Police intelligence shows that single acts ofnon-complianceandbasicdrivingerrors contributed to more than half of fatalities in 2025- including low-range speeding, distraction, drink driving and failure to obeyroadrules.
What Police Will Be Targeting
During Operation Nexus 2026, Victoria Policewill focusonthedrivingbehaviours most closely linked to deaths and serious injuries:
•Speeding-includinglow-rangespeeding
•Distracted driving- particularly illegal
mobilephoneuse
•Seatbeltandchildrestraintoffences
•Fatigueanddrowsydriving
•Alcoholanddrug-impaireddriving
Police will be highly visible across major freeways, arterial roads and regional routes.
Senior
Sergeant Stephen O’Connell,
Road Policing Advisor from Westgate Highway Patrol, said “We will be out in force, both educating and enforcing. Our aimissimple:preventliveslostandserious injuriesonVictorianroads.”
He added that drivers should expect to be tested anywhere, anytime throughout theholidayperiod.
A Community Responsibility Chair of RoadSafe Westgate Jim Giddings reinforced the importance of shared responsibility.
“Speedisafactorinmostseriouscrashes. Driving safely isn’t just about obeying the law. It’s about respect — for yourself, your passengers, your family and the broader community.”
Road trauma does not only affect those directly involved. It impacts families, friends, emergency services and communities—oftenforalifetime.
If you witness dangerous driving, report ittoCrimeStopperson1800333000.
If you plan to have a drink then plan to not drive, taking a big risk like drinking and driving is just not worth endangering yourliveorthatofotherroadusers.
Fatigue remains one of the leading contributors to serious crashes. If you are tired,stopandrest.
Enforcement will be high. The stakes are higher.
Speedsters and drivers who flout the roadruleshavebeenputonnotice.
This Easter break, enforcement will be visible and sustained - but the ultimate goalisnotfines.Itispreventingtragedy.
Road safety is not someone else’s responsibility.Itisyours.
Enjoy your Easter breakwith family and friendsandtravelsoyouarrivesafely.
(Damjan Janevski) 533892_01
For decades, Aussies have cooled off in summer with the sweet taste of flavoured milk, flowing from a carton of bold colours and bold flavours, donning the letter ‘M’ right across the front. But it’s that same capital M which has fueled debate around Victoria. Jack O’Shea-Ayres dives into the true origin of Big M, and whether Melton might be its true home.
On a hot summer’s day in Victoria, few things feel as instinctively right as folding back the spout on a carton of Big M.
Cold, sweet and unapologetically Australian and nostalgic, the flavoured milk has been a fixture of school bags, servos and beach esky lids for nearly half a century –it’s as much a part of growing up in Victoria as the footy siren or a hot pie with sauce; all which pair perfectly, too.
But behind the familiar carton sits a surprisingly passionate question that refuses to go away, a “rabbithole” of “hearsay” and debate; what does the “M” in Big M actually stand for? And more importantly for locals west of Melbourneis it Melton?
Big M’s story begins back in 1978, when the drink first hit shelves across Victoria.
Born not in a corporate boardroom, the classic milk drink was part of an ambitious government-backed experiment of sorts.
The newly formed Victorian Dairy Industry Authority (VDIA) established the previous year to replace the Victorian Milk Board, was tasked with ensuring a stable milk supply while protecting the livelihood of dairy farmers. At the same time, soft drinks were booming while milk consumption was lagging and falling behind.
The solution was bold, big-bodied, and was chocolate, iced coffee, strawberry and banana flavoured.
Big M was the result of a milk flavoured drink designed to compete with Coca-Cola and its carbonated peers.
From the outset, it was marketed as fun, refreshing, and youthful. Early advertisements leaned heavily into summer imagery; beaches, sunshine, and carefree living. Advertisements featuring bikini-clad models suggestively sipping Big M in the heat were everywhere. It was a far cry from milk’s conservative, breakfast-table reputation, and it worked.
Within a year of launch, flavoured milk salesjumpedanimpressive16percent,and
Big M held 13 per cent of the non-alcoholic beverage market share, reaching $1.5 million in sales.
Over the decades that followed, Big M embedded itself in Victorian culture.
Chocolate, strawberry and banana became staples, with limited-edition flavours generating fierce loyalty. When the chocolate Big M recipe was changed in 2014, the backlash was immediate and vocal, forcing the manufacturer to take note of just how emotionally invested consumers had become.
Ownership of the brand has shifted over time û from the VDIA to National Foods, then to Lion, and more recently to Bega Cheese, which acquired the brand in 2020-21. But the affection for Big M has remained constant.
The mystery of the “M” has been long debated, particularly in online forums. Many assume it simply stands for “milk”, while others argue it references its place of origin - either Melton, or Mordiallac, both of which housed dairy factories that processed milk during the late 20th century.
For Melton’s locals, the claim carries special weight. According to Growth, Progress and Community Spirit: a history of the Melton district, published for Melton council in 2018, Big M’s former
manufacturers confirmed the “M in Big M stands for Melton”.
The assertion has been widely circulated in recent years, bolstered by references in the City of Melton’s 150th Anniversary material and its online heritage exhibition, curated by Melton City Libraries.
It’s a tantalising detail, especially for a community that grew rapidly during the same decades Big M rose to prominence. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Melton was expanding, building new schools, infrastructureandidentity,atimecaptured in photographs of local students at Coburn Primary, Melton West Primary and the then-new Melton Technical School.
ForagloballyrecognisedVictorianbrand at the forefront of milk sales to be carrying Melton’s name, it feels like a fitting legacy of the era.
Yet as with many good local legends, the story is not without its challengers.
Online forums, particularly Reddit, tell a more sceptical tale. One highly viewed post argues the “Big Melton” explanation restslargelyonasingularcustomerservice message from Lion Dairy & Drinks, which owned the brand for two decades. The poster questions whether the response was based on historical fact or a quick google search.
Others point out that while Melton and Mordialloc both had dairy factories operating at the time, Big M was produced at multiple sites across Victoria. The VDIA’s head office, meanwhile, was located in Hawthorn, prompting critics to ask why, if location mattered, the drink wasn’t called “Big H”.
From this very perspective, “Big M” is simply shorthand for “Big Milk”: bold, marketable and deliberately ambiguous.
But current owners of the famous brand Bega didchoose to weighin onthetopic, as ambiguous as their stance might be.
“We love a good mystery almost as much as Victorians love a choccy Big M,” Bega Group’s flavoured milk brand manager Adele Tarquini said.
“We can’t confirm or deny what the ‘M’ really stands for. What we can say is that Big M has a big history of flavours, fun, and Victorian energy.
“Whether you’re team Melton, team Mordialloc or just team flavoured milk, we love that Victorians are still debating it almost 50 years on!”
Unlike many corporate brands with meticulously documented origins, Big M emerged from a unique moment in Victorian history - when a government authority decided to fight cola with chocolate milk. Records are incomplete, memories conflict, and marketing myth has blurred with fact.
“Since 1977, Big M has been the trusty sidekick for beach days, bakery pit-stops and everything in between,” Ms Tarquini said.
In that way, it’s perfect for the Big M brand - continuous debate is the perfect low-effort marketing strategy - why not keep the mystery alive?
What is clear is that Big M belongs to Victoria as a whole. It is a product of state pride, dairy innovation and decades of loyal drinkers. Whether the “M” stands for Melton, milk, Mordialloc or marketing genius may ultimately matter less than what Big M represents: a shared cultural touchstone.
For Melton though, the claim is worth savouring.
Even the possibility of one of Victoria’s most notorious brands carrying the town’s name is a reminder of the region’s place in the state’s history.
As debate continues online and in lunchrooms, one thing is certain; Big M has done exactly what it was designed to do back in 1977 - spark conversation, stand out, and keep Victorians coming back for another sip.
As with the drink itself, the story is layered, sweet, and unmistakably Victorian.
Previous Big M owner Lion Corporate was contacted for comment.
By Cade Lucas
Hobsons Bay council has confirmed that its heritage advisor has recommended the $16 million proposed redevelopment of the Williamstown Swimming and Surf Life SavingClub(WSLSC) notgoahead.
In early March, a report on the proposal prepared by heritage advisor and architect Helen Lardner was released following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.
Ms Larnder concluded that the proposed redevelopment of the historic clubrooms didn’t meet heritage guidelines and shouldn’tbesupported.
“The extent of demolition and external alterationstothe1935clubhouse,including the removal of a substantial amount of fabric of primary significance is a major heritageconcern,”MsLardnerwrote.
“It and will distort understanding of the historicalformandscaleoftheclubhouse.”
Asked about the heritage report at a council meeting on 24 March, Hobsons Bay sustainable communities director Hector Gastonconfirmeditsfindings.
“This information will be considered as part of the formal planning assessment process,” Mr Gaston told the meeting,
adding that council had requested a formal response from the WSLSC and that this would determine if a smaller version of the redevelopmentwaspursued.
“Should amended plans be submitted they may need to be re-advertised to thecommunity.”
Inastatement,aWSLSCspokespersontold StarWeeklytheclubwasawareofthereport and was “continuing to work constructively with Hobson’s Bay city council, our members and relevant stakeholders as part oftheprocess”.
Theheritagereportiswinforopponentsof the redevelopment who’ve long argued that itwastoobig.
Convenor of the Save Willy Beach campaign and local resident Paul Austin said it should lead to a rethink of the proposal.
“Council now has a great opportunity to get a better outcome – for the community andtheclub,”MrAustinsaid.
“Council should stop wasting ratepayers’ money on this doomed proposal, and instead start working with the community on a more appropriate proposal which will both protect the heritage of Hobsons Bay and finally enable the club to upgrade its lifesavingfacilities.”
Jess Lilley is a creative director, broadcaster and writer who lives in West Footscray with her partner and two kids. She tells Cade Lucas about her life in Maribyrnong.
What’s your connection to Maribyrnong?
I moved to West Footscray with my family nine years ago - which still makes me a newbie! As soon as we arrived we felt welcomed into this very proud, close neighbourhood. People were so warm and inviting. I found a strong creative community too, which led me to becoming one of the founders of the Footscray West Writers Fest, an annual eventthatcelebratesamazingstorytellers in the west. It’s added a new dimension to my connections in the area as we work closely with local businesses, artists and thecounciltogettheeventliveeveryyear.
Whatdoyoulikeaboutlivinghere?
I love that the history of the western suburbs still has a firm imprint on the culture of the area today. Once you become a resident you become accountable to making sure you do your bit to keep the diversity of culture alive andIamhappytotakethatresponsibility on! It sometimes feels like we are in our own little town - even though we are just a stone’s throw from the city.
What, if anything, would you change aboutthearea?
The extent of landbanking frustrates me, particularly in the Barkly Street village in West Footscray. There is a desperate need for housing, community spaces, and a thriving, bustling community hub. Instead,therearesomanyvacantlotsand empty shopfronts. The pride that we feel as a community needs to be respected andchampionedatatownplanninglevel. There should be a much higher price to pay for civic neglect.
Where is your favourite local place to spendtime?
The Chestnut Tree Bookshop has to be at the top of the list! And bagels in the backyard at Migrant Coffee - followed by wine in the courtyard at West Footscray Wines. I love taking the kids for a kick at Whitten Oval or to play basketball at the outdoor half-court in Footscray. The monthly farmers market is a joy. The Maribyrnong River became our lifeline to nature during lockdown and I still gravitate towards its banks when I need some quiet time. On the rare chance I can go out at night, I love that I can go into Footscray for pho then slam poetry at Misfits Bar, or down to an incredible saloon night at Snuff Puppets - the fact their funding is uncertain now is really
devastating. We must protect these vital arts centres in our community!
Tell us something people would be surprisedtoknowaboutyou.
I am an enthusiastic stress baker! In the
last week alone I’ve baked bread, slice, cakes, cheesecake (it’s festival weekend soon, hence the stress levels!!) Of course, when I’m not baking I’m an enthusiastic eater of baked goods from the Swedish Baker or Motte locally!
More than five decades after the collapse of Melbourne’s West Gate Bridge – a tragedy that claimed 35 lives and changed workplace safety laws - the Melbourne Theatre Company is staging a new play exploringthehumancostofthedisaster.
Playwright Dennis McIntosh, award-winning director Iain Sinclair and the cast explore how ordinary men and their families found themselves at the centre of Australia’s worst industrial disaster.
A fictional retelling, McIntosh’s play draws from conversations with survivors and families over several years, and findingsofthe1971royalcommission.
McIntosh said the catastrophic bridge collapse fascinated him as a boy and has anunusualconnectiontohisownfamily.
“The West Gate bridge collapse captured me as an eleven-year-old boy. I was
fascinated by it. My dad, D.F. McIntosh, had the same name as one of the resident engineers on the project at the time, and mistakenly received his correspondence. The engineer had written letters of complaintwhichIreadaboutyearslaterin theroyalcommission.Havinggrownupin a working-class family under the shadow of the emerging bridge, I always knew I could tell this story, I just had to work out how,”saidMcIntosh.
The cast includes Steve Bastoni, best known for Blue Murder and Police Rescue, Paul English, who starred in Gallipoli, Peter Houghton from The Newsreader and Winners & Losers, Daniela Farinacci best known for Lantana and Total Control, as well as Rohan Nichol, Darcy Kent, Ben WalterandSimonMaiden.
West Gate is showing at the Southbank Theatreuntil18April.
Sons of the West
The annual Sons of the West program aimed at helping men prioritise their health is on again. The free 10-week program includes information about nutrition, heart health and mental wellbeing in a supportive group setting where men can make lasting connections. The program is run by the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation in cooperation with both Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay and other western suburbs councils.
Kinder registrations
Registrations for free three-and-fouryear-old-kindergarten in Hobsons Bay for 2027 are currently open. To be eligible for a round one offer, registrations must be submitted by no later than Saturday 30 May. Children can be registered through the Kindergarten Central Registration Scheme which has been developed to ensure all local families in Hobsons Bay have fair and equitable access to community managed kindergarten services. The scheme allows families to register for multiple services on the one registration form and facilitates the placement of children into funded three- and four-year-old sessional kindergarten places. However, the scheme does not allocate children into kindergartens integrated with long day care.
FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au
Maribyrnong & Hobsons Bay Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly
Bridge sessions
The Williamstown Bridge Club has bridge sessions each week on Wednesday night at 7.25pm and Friday afternoon at 1.25pm for experienced players and a supervised session on Fridays at 10am at Hobsons Bay Sport & Game Fishing Club, Seaholme. All levels welcome and partners can be provided.
Sandi, 0417 315 760, Alan. 0430 309 255 Lessons, Jan, 0409 944 413
St Augustine’s Primary School Playgroup
Ages 0-5, every second Friday during term, beginning Friday 1 May, from 1-2.30pm. Run by the children of St Augustine’s Primary School in the school library. Free. library@sayarraville.catholic.edu.au
Book sales
Friends of Altona Libraries (FOAL) hold monthly book sales at the rear of Altona Library during the first week of each month. Books no longer required by the library are sold for as little as $2. All money is returned to the Library to support community programs. New members who are happy to volunteer to help organise and sell books for only a few hours per month are welcome.
Ann Nicol, 0408 460 062
Discover new skills
Join Outlets Newport Community Education Centre for classes in English conversation, computers, devices, sewing, crafts and more. All welcome. 9391 8504 or outlets@outletsco-op.com.au
Learn digital devices
Know someone who needs help with their mobile phone or tablet? Outlets Newport Community Education Centre offers small, weekly classes that teach all the basics, tips and tricks to meet your needs. Register now. Classes are Mondays 10am-noon. 9391 8504 or outlets@outletsco-op.com.au
Altona North Grandparent Playgroup. A friendly weekly opportunity for grandparents and their grandchildren to play, have cuppa, cake and chat, $5. During school terms, Monday 10am-noon at Eastona Park Community Facility, 13 Collins Ave Altona North (old kindergarten venue).
Marnie, 0478 011 981
Free walking basketball
Love basketball, but not the running? Join the Westgate Basketball Association’s walking basketball program. Walking basketball is ideal for those returning from injury, looking to get back into fitness and perfect for seniors and active adults. A great way to connect with others. Register your interest now.
westgatebasketball.com.au/walkingbasketball-1 or Penny, 0409 014 121
Sing with WIllin Wimmin choir
Discover the joy of group singing with the friendly women at WiIlin Wimmin choir in Williamstown. New members are always welcome, no audition. The choir sings contemporary, folk, choral and world repertoire in acapella style. Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings during school terms, 7.30-9.30pm at the Dennis Reserve Centre, 109 Ferguson Street, Williamstown. willinwimmin.org.au or willin.wimmin@gmail.com
Altona VIEW Club
VIEW stands for Voice Interest and Education for Women. Altona VIEW Club has just celebrated its 27th year and is
This week’s photographer’s choice picture is of Nick Wilson, who is the co-artistic director of Snuff Puppets. (Damjan Janevski) 542239_01
not-for-profit. The club welcomes ladies from the Wyndham, Hobsons Bay and other areas to join us on the third Wednesday of each month, at 11.00a.m, at the Altona RSL. The Club is closely affiliated with The Smith Family and sponsors ten children through the “Learning for Life” programme. Come along and join us for lunch and enjoy the speakers each month. Other outings are arranged. Great opportunity to make new friends.
altonaview@gmail.com or Julie, 0421 315 846
AeroSpeakers Toastmasters Club
The AeroSpeakers Toastmasters Club welcomes all who want to improve their communication, leadership and public speaking skills. Meetings are held on the first and third Thursday of every month from 7-9pm at Laverton Community Hub, 95-105 Railway Avenue, Laverton. Helen, 0474 498 052 or aerospeakerstm@gmail.com
Social square dancing
Come along to the Maribyrnong Community Centre on Thursday nights from 7.30pm-10.30pm to learn social square dancing for beginners in a safe and friendly environment. The teaching is in a group but is self paced so there is no pressure to maintain a rate of learning.
Janine, 0421 371 883 or contact@essendonsquares.com
National seniors meeting
On the first Wednesday of every month at 1.30pm, the metro west branch of national seniors meets at the Deer Park Club, with meals available to purchase. The group also holds lunches on different Fridays each month, as well as activities such as theatre visits, bus trips and more. 0425 713 004 or lesley1.collins@outlook.com
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Meetings
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) offers support to anyone who wants to stop drinking.
The Western Unity AA Group holds weekly in-person meetings in Williamstown. If you think you may have a drinking problem, you are welcome to attend. Friends and family members supporting a loved one are also encouraged to come along.
https://williamstown.aagroup.org.au/, aawilliamstown@gmail.com or 1300 222 222
Chit Chat Tuesdays
A ladies chit chat group which is on every Tuesday from 1.30-3pm at Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre in Altona. As an extension of this sometimes we host guest speaker events for women in the community.
Dione, 9398 2511 or LJAC.com.au
Williamstown Seniors
The group meets every Tuesday at 1-3pm at Denis Reserve. It is a small group looking for more seniors both male and female. Members enjoy two hours of singing as well as afternoon tea. Cost is $5 for the afternoon.
Marlene, 0402 769 204
Altona North Combined Probus
The Altona North Combined Probus Club meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at Altona Sports Club. Includes a speaker, organised trips and outings, and a friendly atmosphere.
Lesley, 0414 481 442
Footscray CWA
Meet on the fourth Monday of every month from 7-9pm at Footscray Scout Hall next door to Footscray Police Station, 4a Hyde Street.
cwaofvicfootscray@gmail.com or https:// www.facebook.com/CWAofVicFootscray/
Free English conversation classes
If English is your second language and you want to improve your English language skills, practice speaking with friendly volunteer tutors in informal and interactive group sessions held every Monday at 1-3pm in the meeting room at Altona Library, 123 Queen Street, Altona. Light refreshments provided. Jill MacKenzie, 0439 994 705 or jill.mackenzie111@gmail.com
Walking group
The Braybrook and Maidstone Neighbourhood House are holding a walking group from 9.30am every second Wednesday. The walking group is open to everyone and starts from the neighbourhood house at 113 Melon Street, Braybrook. 9317 5610 or jodie@bmnh.org.au
Angling club
The Essendon Angling Club is looking for new members. If you are interested in fishing, come along and join fellow minded anglers and help our club grow strong. The club meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 7pm at the club rooms 44 The Boulevard Moonee Ponds. On the third Wednesday of the month there is also a social get together where people talk about fishing and make some great friendships president@essendonanglersclub.org.au or 0432 744 802
Walking football (soccer)
For anyone aged 50 and older and, any fitness level – no running allowed. This is a social activity for fun and a bit of exercise, no experience necessary. Supported by Hobsons Bay Council and Football Victoria, this is a free activity each Wednesday, from 10-11am, indoors at the Sports Centre, Andrew Park Drive, Altona. Mike, 0423 291 708
Locals are invited to view a participatory light and sound installation in the form of video and projection at Brimbank.
The artwork ‘Hayakal al Noor’, Bodies of Light, as part of Brimbank council’s Writers and Readers Festival, explores text, light and existence.
Sydney-based artist Narjis Mirza said her artwork was inspired by the works of two Persian Muslim philosophers Shihab ud Deen Suhrawardi, who presented the philosophyofillumination,andMullaSadra Shirazi’s concept of gradation of reality.
“In medieval Islamic philosophy the phenomenon of light and existence are together,” Mirza said.
“Existence is described as gradations of a
singular reality, a singular light.”
The artwork features a light projection of sacred Arabic letters found in the Quran.
Mirza said the letters feature in the opening of some Quran chapters, either alone, in pairs, or in trios.
She added that the letters are known as the ‘disjointed letters’ and do not form any words.
“They are read as independent letters and hence their enunciation is important,” Mirza said.
While the Brimbank projection doesn’t includeaudio,thevisualsinMirza’soriginal versionofthework,aninstallationdeveloped as part of her PhD, are accompanied by a woman’svoicepronouncing theletters.
Mirzasaidthevoicehintsphilosophically athowenunciation(tovoiceortosay)isone oftheprimaryacts ofcreation.
Seaworks in Williamstown is preparing to welcome one of the most immersive historical experiences to hit Melbourne: PirateFest, a spectacular exhibition charting the true history of pirates from the ancient world to the infamous Golden Age of Piracy in the 18th century.
Opening for the Easter school holidays from 4 April, PirateFest will transform the heritage waterfront precinct into a swashbucklingvoyagethroughcenturiesof maritime legend, mystery, and adventure.
Visitors will wander through atmospheric sets including dark taverns, pirate hideouts, and treasure-filled chambers, each meticulously crafted to
transportguestsbacktothemostnotorious era of the high seas.
Attheheartoftheexhibitionaregenuine historical artefacts — including maps, maritime relics, weapons, and glittering plunder — carefully curated to reveal how piracy shaped trade, exploration, and the great struggles for power across the world’s oceans.
Thirteen remarkable treasures are among the highlights on display.
PirateFest has been designed with families firmly in mind, making it an ideal destination over Easter.
Young buccaneers can embark on a swashbuckling treasure hunt, follow clues
Each month, Stephanie Martinez will share an exciting craft project designed to inspire and spark creativity.
Stephanie starred in the fi of Making It on Network 10, where she discovered and ignited her passion for crafting.
JoinStephanieassheexplorestheendless possibilities of crafting and turn everyday materials into something extraordinary.
This month, Stephanie is creating an Easter chick bonnet.
through the exhibition, and dig for hidden loot in the dedicated Pirate Treasure Dig.
Visitors of all ages can have their photo taken with the pirates and hear rousing tales of life at sea.
Seaworks is a heritage maritime precinct located at 82 Nelson Place, next door to the Williamstown Police Station and a short walk from Williamstown train station.
FormoreinformationonSeaworks,goto: www.seaworks.com.au
To find out more about the PirateFest, go to: www.piratefest.com
PirateFest is coming to Seaworks in Williamstown over Easter. (Supplied)
Scan QR code and follow the creative fun.
“[The woman’s voice] is significant because ‘creativity’, in the works of the philosophers, is a feminine act,” she said.
Aseachletterisenunciatedintheoriginal installation, the letters appear as the light descends.
Mirza invited locals to also view the work on her website where they can hear the sound as part of the original piece.
‘Hayakal al Noor’ (Bodies of Light) is on display at the wall behind the Brimbank Community and Civic Centre, 301, Hampshire Road, Sunshine.
The free work can be viewed until Friday 29 May. The projection occurs between 7–11pm.
More info: narjismirza.com
Materials
3x A4 yellow sheets of paper
Orange paper
White paper
Black paper
Coloured feathers
Equipment
Ruler
Pencil
Scissors
Glue stick
Step 1: Create the brim and strips
Place a yellow A4 sheet in portrait. Measure 6cm in from one long edge and draw a straight line from the top to bottom to form the brim. On the larger section, draw vertical lines every 3cm to create 10 strips. Cut along the lines up to the brim, then cut off every second strip. Repeat with the second sheet.
Step 2: Form the hat base
Glue the sheets together side by side, slightly overlapping one short edge. Curve to fit your head and glue the ends together to form a circular hat.
Step 3: Create the bonnet top
Bend the strips up and over the top, glue them together in the centre, then continue with the remaining strips.
Step 4: Decorate your chick
Cut out circles for the eyes (white and black), an orange beak, and glue them onto the chick. Cut two yellow wings and glue them to the sides and add some feathers to the top.
To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.
ACROSS
1 State of bliss (5,4)
6 Impartial (4)
10 Append (3)
11 Decked out in decorative coverings, as a horse (11)
12 Casanova (8)
13 Marketplace (6)
14 Visage (4)
15 Secure (7)
20 Eurasian country (7)
21 Sport (4)
25 Incarnation (6)
26 Altered (8)
28 Unkempt (11)
29 Business abbreviation (3)
30 Merit (4)
31 Invaluable (9) DOWN
1 Categorise (8)
2 Heavy artillery (8)
3 Tractable (6)
4 Contrive in emergency (9)
5 Corn spikes (4)
7 Yearly (6)
8 Horsemen (6) 9 Chagrined (7)
16 The masses, according to the Greeks (3,6)
17 Bigger (7)
18 Definite (8)
19 Leads an orchestra (8)
22 It might provide light at a vigil (6)
23 Former Roman consul, Julius – (6)
24 Provoke (6)
27 Sub (4)
Today’s Aim:
12 words: Good 18 words: Very good 24 words: Excellent
Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural nouns ending in “s”. A T O P L G H Y O
3 LETTERS
5
4 LETTERS AIDE CABS
1 Sadie Sink (pictured) plays which character in the Netflix series StrangerThings?
2 What country has been the birthplace of the most number of Popes?
3 The Jimny is a type of car made by which company?
4 The hyoid bone is found in what part of the human body? 5 The Australian lake Kati Thanda is also known by what name? 6 The Kay Scarpetta books are written by which author?
7 Florsheim is a US company that makes what product?
8 Which famous composer wrote the music and lyrics for the musical KissMe,Kate?
9 Approximately how many kilograms does a standard men’s shot put weigh?
10 In the Shinto religion, the Inari Okami is the deity of rice, sake and what animal?
ACROSS
1 Hand-written book (10)
6 Overwhelmed (4)
10 Having good cause (10)
11 Brittle (5)
12 Supreme (7)
13 Not as old (7)
14 Symbol representing an idea rather than a sound (9)
16 Long tooth (4)
19 Lazily (4)
21 Ancestral lines (9)
24 Praise (7)
27 (Of a voice) higher and thinner (7)
28 Upright (5)
29 Angular distance east or west (9)
30 Sword handle (4)
31 Cascades (10) DOWN
1 Grand (8)
2 Epistaxis among the lay population (9)
3 Brilliant (7)
4 German area along the Rhine (9)
5 Rice field (5)
7 Extort (5)
8 Exit (6)
9 Pronounce not guilty (6)
15 Impediment (9)
17 Relating to sacred matters (9)
18 Those who illegally seize power (8)
20 Annual (6)
22 Local law enforcer (7)
23 Friendliness (6)
25 Danger (5)
26 Greek letter (5)
1. Phil Dunster plays which fictional star soccer player in TedLasso?
2. How many colours are on the Seychelles flag?
3. Ag is the symbol for which element on the periodic table?
4. David Bowie played a goblin king in which 1986 movie?
5. In which country was singer Bryan Adams born?
6. Which Puerto Rican rapper made their wrestling debut in 2021?
7. What is the capital of Latvia?
8. How many planets from the sun is Saturn?
9. Florence Pugh (pictured) made her film acting debut in which 2014 drama?
10. LL Cool J held what profession before playing Sam Hanna on NCIS:LosAngeles?
Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in “s”. A T I U Y Q T N I
and subtraction.
ACROSS
1 Transparent mineral (6)
4 Burped (7)
7 Chemist (10)
10 Fall (6)
11 Hair soap (7)
12 The remains of a felled tree (5)
13 5280 feet (4)
14 Pester (6)
17 Shocking, disgraceful (10)
19 Small island (4)
20 Fish group (6)
21 Deep extended sleep (4)
22 Flagrant (5)
24 Garden herb (8)
27 User of tobacco (6)
28 Desert plant (6)
31 Disguises (5)
34 Betrothed man (6)
35 Chunky (5)
36 Haggard (5)
39 Couch (4)
41 List in detail (7)
42 Word type (4)
43 Kowtowed (5)
44 Excellent, first-rate (coll) (5)
46 Brief swimming costume (6)
47 Implied (5)
49 Meal course (6)
51 Backless seats (6)
52 Egg dish (8)
54 Indolence (5)
57 Withdrawal (4)
58 Fromage (6)
60 Sac (4)
62 Kookaburra (10)
63 Audition (coll) (6)
65 Part of the eye (4)
66 Foe (5)
67 False (7)
68 Yellow (6)
69 Lobster, crab, shrimp, etc. (10)
70 Splinter (7)
71 Attic (6)
DOWN
2 Supplants (6)
3 Rumples (8)
4 Foundation (5)
5 Music writer (8)
6 Fool (coll) (6)
7 Handgun (6)
8 Regret (7)
9 Unwieldy (10)
15 Home (5)
16 Poetic division (6)
18 Lasting mark (4)
23 Understand (7)
25 Cost-effective (9)
26 Painkiller (9)
29 Digit (5)
30 Ghost (5)
31 Large deer (5)
32 Card game (9)
33 Something that orbits (9)
37 Distressed (5)
38 Herb (5)
39 Kind of wheat (5)
40 Surrender (7)
45 Animal scientists (10)
48 Small invertebrate (6)
50 Seasoned with chilli (5)
51 Footwear Item (4)
53 Large African or Asian mammal (8)
55 Orator (8)
56 Poisonous element (7)
58 Waxy colouring tool (6)
59 Moral principles that govern behaviour (6)
61 Hit (6)
64 Aircraft location system (5)
Location: Mildura, Victoria
Position: Full-time
Lead
An exciting opportunity is available for an experienced and
Editor to lead the editorial direction of the Sunraysia Daily and Broken Hill Times, based from our Mildura office.
This is a hands-on leadership role overseeing the Sunraysia Daily’s three-times-a-week printed edition, the Broken Hill Times, daily online publishing, and support for content across the company’s social channels.
You will lead the reporting team in Mildura and work closely with the small team in Broken Hill, while being supported by the Group Editor and our production hub team.
This is a strong role for someone who understands the importance of local journalism, can drive quality and consistency across platforms, and is committed to building audience and community impact.
About the role
In this role, you will:
•edit and oversee the Sunraysia Daily print editions published three times a week
•oversee editorial output for Broken Hill Times
•manage daily digital publishing across both brands
•assist with editorial content for the company’s social media channels
•lead, mentor and manage the team of reporters in Mildura and the small team in Broken Hill
•help drive strong news judgment, story generation, planning and follow-through
•work with the Group Editor and production hub team to ensure deadlines are met and quality standards maintained
•help grow audience engagement across print, online and social platforms
•maintain high standards of accuracy, fairness, balance and community relevance
•connect with the community, attend events and meet with key members of the community
About you
To succeed in this role, you will ideally have:
•experience in editing, newsroom leadership or senior reporting
•strong news sense and a passion for regional and community journalism
•excellent writing, editing and headline skills
•the ability to manage competing deadlines across print and digital
•strong people leadership skills and a collaborative approach
•confidence working across websites, digital publishing systems and social platforms
•an understanding of how to build audience through digital content and social distribution
•a commitment to accuracy, ethics and high editorial standards
•a great sense of community
What we are looking for
We are looking for someone who can:
•lead from the front
•support and develop reporters
•produce strong, relevant and engaging local content
•balance the demands of print, digital and social
•work positively with editorial, production and management teams across the group
Why join us
This is a rare opportunity to play a leading role in two important regional news mastheads and make a genuine difference in the communities they serve.
Star Weekly seeks an enthusiastic Full or Part time Sales Executive to work across our print, digital, social and online platforms.
You will join a business that values trusted local journalism and supports its editors with experienced group leadership and central production resources, while still giving you the chance to have real editorial impact at the local level.
To apply
Please submit your application, including a cover letter and resume, outlining your relevant experience and why you are interested in this role to paul.thomas@starnewsgroup.com.au
Star Weekly is an independently owned company which prides itself on its long history of community experience but also its investment in the future.
The successful applicant will need to possess good people skills to enable them to meet with local businesses to sell solutions through our advertising platforms to help promote their business.
Applicants will need their own reliable vehicle for which we will provide an allowance.
The position is salaried, plus we offer an open ended commission scheme.
Send your application letter and resume to: Advertising Sales Manager, Mandy Clark mandy.clark@starnewsgroup.com.au www.starnewsgroup.com.au
By Alistair Kennedy, Marque Motoring
There’s a misconception out there that, in late-2021, Toyota was the first manufacturer to launch a petrol/electric hybrid passenger vehicle onto the Australian market.
While the Prius name quickly became synonymous with the emerging powertrain technology, in fact it arrived about six months after the Honda Insight.
The Insight didn’t live up to its name leaving Toyota to dominate the hybrid (HEV) market to such an extent that it now offers them in just about every model in its range. Indeed, many of its most popular models, such as Camry, Corolla and RAV4 are only available as hybrids.
Honda has returned to the fray recently with all five of its current vehicles coming with its advanced e:HEV technology. Unlike the more common parallel hybrid systemwherethebatteryassiststheengine to drive the vehicle the Honda e:HEV has two self-charging motors.
The smaller of the two motors is charged by the petrol engine and in turn charges both the battery and also feeds into the larger motor which drives the vehicle.
The system switches automatically between three driving modes, EV, Hybrid and Engine. In EV Drive the main electric motor powers the car using energy from the battery.
In Hybrid Drive the petrol engine provides the energy to the drive motors as well as replenishing the EV battery.
Engine Drive directly powers the vehicle athighspeedwithalock-upclutchdirectly connecting the petrol engine to the wheels for maximum efficiency.
Honda has three small to medium sized SUVs in its range. The ZR-V, launched here in2023wasthefirstbrand-newHondacore model to be introduced here in 20 years. It’s built on the same platform, and is around the same length as the current Civic hatchback. It sits between the two well-established Honda SUVs, the smaller HR-V and the larger CR-V.
ZR-V comes in three petrol-only grades (VTi X+, VTi L+ and VTi LX) ranging in price from $37,900 to $49,000 with our test vehicle, the hybrid e:HEV LX, selling for $54,900. All prices are drive away.
While brand ‘family’ grills are very much in vogue at the moment, Honda has done the opposite with its SUVs. The three designs are quite different, CR-V has the boldest of the three, HR-V gets a slimline full-width style with ZR-V adopting the more conservative look.
The small black grille sits below wide wraparound headlights with L-shaped daytime running lights. The Honda badge in the centre has blue infill to identify its electric component.
The entry-level VTi X+ comes with 17-inch alloy wheels. All other models step up to 18 inches.
The ZR-V petrol models are powered by a 1.5-litre VTEC turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 131kW of power at 6000 rpm and 240Nm of torque between 1700 and 4500 revs.
It is paired with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) and is front-wheel drive (FWD) only.
The e:HEV version combines a 2.0-litre Atkinson cycle naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol with two electric motors and total system outputs of 135kW and 315Nm.
It is also FWD only with transmission sent through an e-CVT electronically controlled continuously variable transmission.
Interior
The cabin of the ZR-V has a quality feel with soft-touch surfaces and a full-width mesh grille that hides the normally exposed front air vents.
Controls are simple and generally easy to use as we have come to expect from Honda over the years.
Physical buttons are offered to the right side of the touchscreen for oft-used functions, with other controls are located lower down for the air conditioning.
The instrument panel can be configured as dials or bars and you can select detailed information to display, but it lacks the bells and whistles of competitor systems.
Standard equipment on the base model includespremiumclothupholstery,a9-inch infotainment touch-screen, eight-speaker soundsystem,wirelessAppleCarPlay,wired Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, eight-speaker sound system, 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and rain-sensing wipers and parking sensors front and back.
The VTi L+ adds leatherette upholstery, heated front seats, heated front seats, hands-free power tailgate, rear privacy glass, and metal paddle shifts.
VTi LX in both petrol and hybrid variants get leather-appointed seats, 360-degree MultiView camera system and heated outer rear seats.
Boot size is a moderate 370 litres in the e:HEV with the rear seatbacks in place, expanding to 1302 when they are folded. Nosparewheel,justthedreadedtyre-repair kit.
The 9.0-inch touchscreen is small by present-day standards. It’s located at the top of the dashboard within easy reach for the driver. There is a physical volume knob as well as home and back buttons.
Apple CarPlay is wireless but Android Auto is wired.
The 10.2-inch digital information cluster screen displays a good amount of driver information. There are USB-A and USB-C at the front and two USB-C points at the rear.
The e:HEV LX comes with a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system and a Qi –compatible wireless smartphone charging pad in the centre console area.
HondaZR-Vleadstheclassinpassivesafety with 11 airbags, including a front-centre and driver’s knee airbag.
Other standard features include adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, driver attention monitoring, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, tyre pressure monitoring, intelligent speed limiter, reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors and tyre pressure monitoring.
Note that the ZR-V only achieved a four-star rating due to a lower-functioning driver attention monitor and an absence of a Backover feature in its Autonomous Emergency Braking system.
Driving
The tall roofline makes getting in and out relatively easy. The driver’s seat is comfortable and supportive with excellent visibility to the front and sides although let
RATINGS
Looks: 8/10
Performance: 8/10
Safety: 7.5/10
Thirst: 8.5/10
Practicality: 8/10
Comfort: 7/10
Tech: 8/10
Value: 7/10
downsomewhatbythelimitedrear-window glass.
While it does have the usual suite of warning signals and interventions they are nowhere nearly as intrusive as in many other new cars. Indeed, throughout our two-week test we only rarely found it necessary to turn any of them off Starting in electric or hybrid mode provides the strong and smooth acceleration that we expect. Likewise with the sharp acceleration into a motorway stream of traffic.
Wind and road noise are all-but absent, except in the last case on course surfaces.
Ride and handling are surprisingly good for a squarish mid-sized SUV courtesy of its shared Civic underpinnings.
Body roll on fast bends is minimised and road bumps were ironed out with ease.
Brake regeneration can be adjusted though steering wheel paddles.
Summary
The Honda ZR-V is an excellent addition to the highly competitive small/medium SUV segment. In hybrid mode it competes against vehicles ranging in size from the Toyota C-HR and Kia Kona up to Nissan Qashqai and Toyota RAV4.
At just under $55,000 it’s $6500 dearer than its similarly-equipped LX sibling and it will take quite a few years for its fuel savings to offset that extra cost.
The other issue is the lack of the fifth ANCAP star which is quite rare nowadays.
We’dexpecttheAEBissuetobecorrected in a future upgrade.
Standard warranty on the e:HEV is five years with eight years on the battery, both with unlimited distance.
By Tara Murray
The City West Falcons are on the board in the Victorian Netball League after a strong performanceagainsttheNorthEastBlazeon Wednesday night.
After losing their first two matches of the season, the Falcons got an important win against the Blaze to kick start their season.
The Falcons jumped out of the blocks and led by 10 goals at quarter time and that set the tone for the rest of the match.
They were able to maintain a double figure lead throughout the rest of the match on the way to a 72-53 win.
Falcons’ coach Marg Lind said they knew how important it was to get a win on the
board.
“We are definitely happier than last week,” she said.
“Having Liv Cameron back made a massive difference and we felt like that was what we needed in wing attack.
“We had tried a few others but it wasn’t what we needed with Maggie [Lind] out.
“She had that connection and chemistry. The second ball she got was straight into Jane [Cook].”
Lind said Cameron, who was the grand final most valuable player last year in goal attack, had signed on this season to play when they needed her.
She said while they were mindful of giving younger players an opportunity, the ab-
sence of Maggie Lind had forced their hand.
Maggie Lind is set to be back after Easter.
Cook continued her high volume shooting and put up 60 goals in the win.
Despite losing their first two games, the Falconshadthesecondhighestscoringrate.
Lind said they needed to tidy up their attack end a little bit and keep working on their defensive end.
She said they were continuing to see positive signs out of their younger players.
“We were able to put Lani (Fauonuku] and Achol [Yout] on for bits and pieces and we’ll keep doing that throughout the season,” she said.
“Maddison McKiernan came in as we were concerned they had a smaller goaling
By Peter Howe
There are many superlatives thrown at youngaspiringathletesfortheirdedication, resilience,focusandpassionfortheirsport.
This month’s Don Deeble Sports Star nominee, swimmer Owen Krueger, delivers these qualities everyday when his alarm clock goes off at 4.30am.
Only once in the last four years has his mum, Jacinta, had to come knocking on his door a second time to get him up.
“I was always organised but my daily routines, focus on my year 12 schoolwork, eating habits and structure has gone to another level,” he said.
“My ability to concentrate has even amazed me.”
Krueger enjoyed swimming and surfing with the family, but neither was a big focus in his life into his early teens.
During a school swim carnival Krueger was urged to give it a go by swim coach, Samantha Grant.
A win, a place at the regional finals and the rest is history.
Within 12 months Krueger was competing at a national level.
Krueger’s rise has much to do with his willingness to grind away at his craft as his natural ability.
Now his current coach, Jacob Sell says it’s about developing his technique.
“I am proud of my small Westbourne Swim Club, my coaches and how far it has come,” Krueger said.
“I do need to work on my turns, stroke rate and breathing technique.”
Krueger rates his starts, and the first 50 metres as his strength.
His training is split equally between the pool and in the gym.
Six mornings a week it is a 4.30am start in the pool typically swimming between four and six kilometres depending on the session.
He also swims two nights a week, is in the gym twice a week and it’s a combination of strength work and Pilates on a Thursday.
“I love competition,” he said. “It’s as much about beating yourself as it is about beating your opponents.
“I must be able to control my emotions when the starter’s pistol goes off.
“I will admit from time to time my race plan does go out the window, but I am getting better.”
Butterfly is Krueger’s favourite stroke and the one he finds easiest.
Hewontwosilverandabronzemedalat last year’s Victorian Long Course Championships in the under-17-18 age group.
It came after he won bronze at the 16 years boys 50 metre butterfly at the Australian National Championships earlier last
end and we were quite tall.
“Lara [Turner] turned the most ball over for us last week, so she got the start. We thought she would be a 23 and under player,butwewereforcedandshe’sdoingwell.”
Lind said their defensive end continued to show some positive signs while Montana Holmes had a strong performance in centre. It was a good night for the Falcons, with their 23-and-under side beating the Blaze, 48-46.
Lind said they did a really good job and used the rolling subs really well to stay on top.
The Falcons now face the Bendigo StrikersinthelastroundbeforetheEasterbreak.
The Western Football League women’s competition has expanded to 11 teams and will have a new finals structure.
The women’s season will include 16 home-and-away rounds with the number of participating teams increasing from nine to eleven this year.
North Footscray will field a side for the first time, while Laverton’s side will return from a one-year hiatus.
year.
Krueger will compete at the Australian National Championships in April in the under-18 50 metres and 100 metres freestyle, backstroke and butterfly races.
The teenager has a number of idols in and out of the pool.
“Kyle Chalmers is one of my heroes as the best Australian swimmer in my events,” he said.
“He is also a good bloke. I do love Sam Short’s celebrations.
“Outofthepool,surferOwenWrightdisplays great resolve and resilience returning to competition after suffering a traumatic braininjuryinasurfingaccident. Ialsolike him because his name is Owen.”
Krueger has been invited to swim in the Australian Swimming trials for selection in the Pan Pacific and Commonwealth Games.
His focus is to make the Australian junior swim team and then progress to the senior team at Commonwealth and Olympic games.
The Don Deeble Sports Star Award is sponsored by the Yarraville Club Cricket Club, Strathmore Community Bank, the Deer Park Club, Ascot Vale Sports and Trophies and Star Weekly Newspapers.
If you would like to nominate a monthly winner, emailing swrsportsclub@gmail. com or 0408 556 631.
Yarraville Seddon’s reserves side will also compete in the competition alongside its top side, having played in the Essendon District Football League last season.
Caroline Springs’ second side will play in the WFL competition, with the top side, the competition’s reigning premiers, playing in the EDFL. As reported by Star Weekly, North Sunshine has withdrawn from the competition after not able to get the numbers to get a side up.
At the conclusion of the homeand-away season, the league will introduce a new finals structure designed to provide additional finals opportunities for teams.
The top four teams will play in a division 1 finals series and teams that finish fifth through to eighth will play in the division 2 finals series. Both grand finals will be played on the same day on Saturday 29 August.
The league will again not have an under-19 girls competition with Altona, Point Cook and Caroline Springs having teams in the EDFL under-19 competition again. The women’s season will kick off on 10 April.
By Tara Murray
Altona East Phoenix is embracing the challenge after finally getting its chance in the FV state league 1 north-west competition.
After a couple of close misses, the Phoenix finished second last season in state league 2 north-west to earn that much wanted promotion.
Phoenix coach Paul Donnelly said they were all excited to have a shot in the higher division.
“The stepping up is going to be hard, it’s a tough league,” he said.
“There’s lots of good teams and good clubs.
“It will be interesting and it has been
good working on everything we could.”
Donnelly said they went on a recruitment drive ahead of the season.
He said visa changes meant they had to look at some Australian options to fill in some of those spaces.
“I reckon there’s six or seven changes,” he said. “The core group is still there and we’ve built around them.
“We needed to tighten up in defence.
“We’ve strengthened our midfield and while we haven’t signed an out and out striker, we have topped up our forward line.”
Donnelly said they were still open to signing a striker and had to look at the depth in their squad with one of their visa players, who can play the role, to miss the
first four weeks of the season.
He said they had added some younger players to the squad this season and they had given them a bit of energy.
The Phoenix started the season with a win against Western Suburbs, in a local Greek derby.
“It was definitely nice to score and we played quite well which is good.”
The Phoenix was able to back it up on Friday night against Sydenham Park with a 3-0 win.
The Reds, who fell just short of promotion last season, lost to Lalor United, the other team that was promoted with the Phoenix, in round one.
Donnelly said before the match that it would be an extremely tough game.
The Phoenix scored early before two second half goals sealed the win.
Jack Reilly scored twice for the winners.
Donnelly said being such a tough league they know it will be a challenge.
“The club is really excited to be back in state league 1 and want to push for another promotion,” he said.
“The first six games will give us a bit of an idea where we are.
“I want to be pushing into the top half of the table, it’s definitely a tougher league which we’ve seen already.”
Elsewhere, Yarraville Glory lost to Clifton Hill 3-2 on Friday night.
Four of the goals, including both of the Glory’s, came after the 80th minute.
By Tara Murray
Yarraville Seddon has added AFL and Victorian Football League experience to its list as it aims to take the next step in the Western Football League division 1 competition.
The Eagles have continued to build under coach Brad Julier each season he has been in charge, and that remains the focus again.
Last season they made the preliminary final, losing to Caroline Springs by seven points.
“It’s been pretty good,” Julier said of the pre-season.
“We’re pretty happy we have some good recruits. We are hoping to do better than last year.’
The Eagles have signed some of the biggest names that have joined WFL clubs during the off-season.
Travis Varcoe and Will Hoskin-Elliott and the biggest name recruits for the Eagles, both AFL premiership players.
Hoskin-Elliott comes straight out of the
AFL, while Varcoe has been coaching Altona the past couple of seasons.
Julier said experience was a focus for them in trying to make their list stronger.
“We also added a couple of VFL players late,” he said. “We are a very young group and we needed a little bit of experience to help them on the ground,” he said.
“Trav has been terrific and taken on a leadership role and helping fast track their development.”
While those two players are set to play this season, Julier doesn’t expect to see much of their VFL recruits.
Daly Andrews has joined the club along with one of the biggest names in the VFL, Dom Brew.
Julier said while they might not see much of Brew now, they were hoping they would down the track.
“Just getting more experience around the group,” he said. “I spent a bit of time with him at Werribee when he first started and I was a bit of a mentor to him.
“We don’t plan on seeing him this year, but hopefully we see him down the track.”
Andrews grew up playing his football in the WFL league and had been aligned with Werribee Districts.
Julier said with some extra experience and depth, they were confident in what they could achieve this season.
“We have another year and another pre-season under our belts,” he said. “Hopefully we will take another step.
“We have had five years of improvement and we’re hoping another year of improvement would mean a grand final and hopefully a premiership.”
The Eagles kick off their season on 11 April against Parkside.
Julier said they had recruited well and it would be a very big test in round one.
He said overall they thought they were looking strong across the board with more depth following into their reserves side.
In other round one matches, Albion will host Point Cook, Altona is at home to Sunshine, Spotswood will play Newport, Hoppers Crossing will play Point Cook Centrals and Werribee Districts and Caroline Springs will face off in the grand final rematch.
The Western Jets have left Tasmania without the four points after losing to the Tasmania Devils in the Talent League on Saturday. After a first up win, the Jets headed to Tasmania. The Jets led at half time by two points before three goals to one in the third quarter gave the Devils the lead. The Devils were able to extend that lead in the last quarter to win, 11.9 (75)-8.15 (63).
A late fightback from the Altona Gators proved too little, too late in the Big V men’s division 1 competition on Saturday night. Facing the Surf Coast Chargers, the Gators trailed 32-15 at quarter time. The margin increased to 36 points at half time with the game all but over. There was just two points in the third quarter before the Gators came home strongly with a 31-10 final quarter. They lost overall, 96-79. Thomas Fritz top scored with 22 points for the Gators. The Gators women made it two from two as they beat Wyndham, 87-49.
Altona Magic had to settle for a draw with Green Gully in the National Premier League on Saturday night. It had been a tough week for the Cavaliers, who had parted ways with coach David Chick mid-week after a winless start to the season. The Cavaliers were on the board early with Daniel Fabrizio levelling the scores for the Magic in the 54th minute. It would finish that way, with a 1-1 draw. After seven rounds, the Magic has a 1-2-4 record and sit in 11th spot. In the Victorian Premier League 2 competition, Altona City lost 2-1 to Bayside Argonauts.
Hockey
It was a tough start to the Hockey Victoria men’s premier league season for Footscray on Sunday. Facing Southern United, Footscray lost 6-2. Footscray’s women’s side also had a tough start as it lost to Southern United, 4-0. Both sides are back in action in midweek games.
By Tara Murray
Altona’s next generation will get its chance to step up in the Hockey Victoria men’s premier league season.
With its top three players currently overseas playing hockey, the Seagulls’ depth will be on show this season.
Seagulls’ Greg Drake knows that there will be some challenges.
“You never know where you fit until you play against some opposition,” he said.
“We have got our best two players [Connar Otterbach and Copper Burns] currently playing with Australia and it looks like we won’t see much of them.
“OurnextbestplayerNyeRobertsisplay-
ing in Spain for the first half of the season. It putsthepressureonourdepthbeingstrong.
“Being up the top is going to be a stretch.”
Drake said the key for them was to stay healthy and see what some of the younger players coming through can do.
On Sunday, they had two players under-20 in their starting midfield against a strong, experienced line up.
The club has three players in the Victorianunder-21widersquadwhichisapositive.
The Seagulls started their season on Sunday against the KBH Brumbies.
Altona was able to come away with a 2-1 win.
“It was a really good opportunity to play against a top four team and it was good to
sneak away with a win,” Drake said.
“We expected they would be good and they played really well.
“Wewereabletobreakthemdowninthe middleofthefieldwhichwassomethingwe had been working on which is nice.
“We were able to absorb a lot of pressure and it was a good, tough game.”
The Seagulls were able to score the winner in the final quarter.
Riley Damnics and Andrew Scanlon were the goal scorers for the Seagulls in the win.
The Seagulls don’t have much break as they face Camberwell on Thursday night. They then get a break until the following weekend.
Drake said that match up was always a tough one and was expecting the same this time round.
“It’ll be a huge test,” he said.
“We’ve had some good results the last couple of years and we’ve matched up well.
“We have to be at our best if we want to be competitive.”
The Seagulls’ women’s side also started the season with a win, beating Bayside Powerhouse 3-2.
Jessie Brennan scored two goals in the winfortheSeagulls. KaylaWilliamswasthe other goal scorer.
The Seagulls’ women also face Camberwell on Thursday night.
By Tara Murray
Williamstown made it two from two to start the Victorian Football League season on Sunday.
After a close win in round one, the SeagullsheldstrongagainstCarltonatIKON Park, to win 12.12 (84)-12.7 (79).
The Seagulls led at each of the breaks but were never able to break away from the Blues who stuck around.
In the end, the Seagulls were able to do enough to get the job done.
Speaking to the club’s social media, coach Justin Plapp said the group just stuck at it all game as a collective.
“We knew that we were coming up against a pretty experienced VFL team,” he said.
“I think they had 18 AFL-listed players running out there, a lot of talent and guys coming back from injury.
“That always poses a threat.”
Plapp said the game wasn’t the cleaness game but they were able to take a lot away from the Blues around the contest early and
late in the game.
He said he felt they should have been further ahead at quarter time but they didn’t make the most of their opportunities.
“I think we owned the contest and we made the game look a little bit messier than they wanted,” Plapp said.
“If anything stood out, we made it a lot harder for them and what it should have been and we were able to capitalise.
“We should have been able to put more pressure on them but that is the game.”
Plapp said with a few injuries and players cramping, it was tough in the end but they were able to fight their way through.
He said they still need to work on their connection heading into the forward line.
“There’s some stuff that we obviously need to work on, it’s only early in the season,” he said.
“I think the reality is there’s really strong character in our group to win close games like we did two weeks in a row.
“It doesn’t get any more intense than that in a game.”
Josh D’Intinosante kicked three goals for
the Seagulls, while four other players kicked two goals each.
Joel Fitzgerald had 35 disposals, while Hugo Hall-Kahan had 34.
Two players, Diesel Moloney and Alex Mirkov made their debuts for the Seagulls, on Sunday.
Plapp said Moloney did some good things especially late in the game, while Mirkov would be better for the run having only joined the club a couple of weeks out from the season starting.
The Seagulls now have a bye and then the following week off with the state game against the South Australian National Football League.
The Footscray Bulldogs had a bye on the weekend.
Meanwhile, the VFLW squad has been named for its clash with the SANFL.
The Seagulls’ Emily Eaves and Lilly Pearce have been named in the squad along with the Western Bulldogs’ Jemima Wrigley, Jaimi Tabb and Sarah Sansonetti.
It’s the second straight season there had been a VFLW state team.
The Western Jets have announced their girls squad ahead of their season kicking on 11 April.
Players from 16 clubs have been named in the Jets’ girls’ squad.
Caroline Springs continues to have a strong representation, with nine players from the club named in the squad: Mylee Lake, Paige Hutchison, Leilani Petaia, Lilly Neralic, Matilda Melrose, Madison Donoghue, Aaisha Cutajar, Adelina Demirovski and Rhylee Driscoll.
Williamstown CYMS, Point Cook and Yarraville Seddon are among the others with high numbers of players in the squad.
Alana D’Ambrosio, Tannah Pawlowski, Jessica Kennedy, Piper Kenneken and Ruby Knight are from the Bulldogs.
The Eagles’ Ruby Jones, Ruby Colebatch, Armani Mauriohooho and Xanthe Chard, along with the CYs Addison West, Jacinta Eteuati, Grace Hemsley Wooley, Zara McIntosh and Chloe Maticevski are also in the squad.
Keilor’s Tayla Olivieri; Jennifer Hedjes; Werribee Districts’ Giselle Saxon-Jones; Westbourne Grammarians’ Taya Delaney and Nartasha Elbayeh; the Suns’ Bonnie Brown, Alexis Madden and Aluk Kuol; Melton South’s Tahlia Hodges; Maribyrnong Park’s Piper Dixon, Evie Fitzgerald, andTamika Fabri; Aberfeldie’s Kiara Boyd and Jenna Hurring; Bacchus Marsh’s Miah Bradbury; Hillside’s Makaylah Brne; Darley’s Charli Parsons-Jones, Leivi Lane and Tahlia Attard; and Krystal Williams and Shakalia Gardiner-Dunn are the others in the squad.
The Jets will kick off their season against the Northern Knights.
