An Altona Meadows resident has taken his lifelong obsession with rock icons Kiss to new heights by transforming his backyard fence. Boasting one of Australia’s largest collections of the band’s memorabilia, Phil Cassar enlisted a young artist to paint the striking mural. The result is a stunning tribute to the face-painted rock gods that has left the veteran collector thrilled.
Story: Page 3
By Cade Lucas
Maribyrnong council is demanding the stategovernmentimproveearlydesignsfor the new Tottenham Station, arguing they don’t even feature public toilets.
InasubmissiontotheMelbourneAirport
Rail Stage 1 (MARS1) Project endorsed at its 21 July meeting, council argues the new station should be a high-quality integrated transport hub, but that early designs fall well short, with a lack of connectivity, active transport and safety infrastructure and basic amenities such as toilets.
“The proposal also does not include
provision for publicly accessible toilet facilities, which is a critical gap given existing patronage levels, the station’s isolation within the rail corridor, and the significantdistancebetweenstationsalong thiscorridor,”thecouncilsubmissionread.
“Council considers the inclusion of accessible public toilets within the station precinct to be essential infrastructure to support equitable access, user comfort and safety.”
Council’s submission also demands the inclusion of an integrated bus interchange to help commuters transition to and from rail services, a pedestrian-operated signal
crossingonSunshineRoadatAliwalStreet, and for more information to be provided on the project overall, highlighting areas such as how future growth will be accommodated and the potential impact of construction works on nearby residents as being short on detail.
Speaking in support of the submission at the council meeting, Cr Elena Pereyra said thestategovernment’sapproachtothenew Tottenham Station wasn’t good enough.
“It’s very clear that this is a top down project and an afterthought in the context of the airport rail project,” Cr Pereyra said using the acronym for the airport rail
projecttourgethegovernmenttodobetter.
“Hopefully the MARS 1 team take on the very sensible advice in the submission. I mean at the end of the day it’s not rocket science.”
A state government spokesperson said the new Tottenham Station will make it safer and easier for people to get where they need to go.
“For the first time, passengers will be able to access the station from both sides of the rail line via a new underpass linking Rupert Street to Sunshine Road - creating safer pedestrian and cycling connections,” the spokesperson said.
By Cade Lucas
Another period of community consultation will be held on the proposed Yarraville level crossing removal project (LXRP) following concerns raised by residents and Maribyrnong council about its design and lack of detail.
In a social media post late on the afternoon of Tuesday 21 July, Footscray MP Katie Hall announced that she’d met with members of the LXRP authority and that they had agreed to her request for another round of community engagement on the project.
Ms Hall said the additional engage-
ment, involving meetings with community and traders groups as well as Maribyrnong council, would begin next month and that more details would be provided soon.
“We all love the village. It’s such a special and unique place and it’s crucial we have the best outcome possible,” Ms Hall wrote.
“The crossing is dangerous, especially with the gates down for such considerable periods.”
The Anderson Street level crossing next to Yarraville station is considered one of the most dangerous in Melbourne, however the design of its proposal removal has proved contentious.
Unlikeotherlevelcrossingremovalsprojects where rail lines have either been lowered on elevated to separate them from traffic, the proposed Yarraville LXRP involves Anderson Street being closed to traffic, with a civic plaza to be created on the eastern side of the tracks and two underpasses to be built for pedestrian and cycling crossings.
Some Yarraville residents are opposed to the demolition of nearby homes needed to make way for the northern underpass, while Anderson Street traders have expressed concern about the impact the road closure could have on their businesses.
In a submission to the LXRP, Mariby-
Footscray’s Bluestone Church Arts Space will be transported into the dazzling and dangerous world of 18th-century opera next month when it hosts the premiere season of The Sacrifice of Farinelli.
An original Australian work written and directed by Stuart Bruce, the new production is set in baroque Italy and is a fictional interpretation of history inspired by the extraordinary story behind Carlo Broschi —better known as the legendary castrato Farinelli— and his composer brother Riccardo Broschi.
Bruce, the head of Melbourne-based independent theatre company Subver-
sive Theatre, explained how he came to focus on the Broschi brothers.
“The initial idea for this work came to me some ten years ago, when I stumbled upon the fascinating historical phenomenon of the castrati—a trinity of man, woman and child in one body to achieve an ideal of music at the time,” he said.
“I saw a fascinating symbol for the price of art and the culture intervening in nature to create something transcendent and beautiful, yet ultimately destructive.”
The Sacrifice of Farinelli is told through the lens of Riccardo Broschi, with classical music used alongside im-
mersive theatre technology, including an ultrasonic speaker, to transport audiences into the baroque era.
“I believe the greatest artistic experiences are when we are pulled along into something beyond us, and the audience and performers become one,” Bruce said.
“We’re working to create that world with this new production.”
The Sacrifice of Farinelli runs from 13 - 29 August.
Details and tickets: www.subversetheatre.net
Concept designs have been released for the Creative West performing arts precinct in Footscray.
Informed by more than 1100 community responses, 19 focus groups, a community co-design group and engagement with Wurundjeri Elders, the concept designs were released following endorsement by Maribyrnong council at its meeting on Tuesday 21 July.
Located adjacent to Footscray Library on Paisley Street, Creative West will feature a 500-plus seat theatre designed to accommodate live performances of varying scales and formats, alongside a ded-
icated rehearsal studio for artists, performers and community groups.
AnewFootscrayLibraryisalsoplanned as part of the project, with the two facilities to share a foyer and outdoor space.
Maribyrnong mayor Mohamed Semra said the Creative West precinct will be a catalyst for the renewal of Footscray’s CBD.
“We are dreaming big for Footscray’s future,” Cr Semra said.
“Creative West responds directly to what we’ve heard from the community –the need for a welcoming, shared space for connection, creativity and learning.
It will be a home base for Footscray and will help strengthen both the daytime and night-time economy and addresses the gap in cultural infrastructure in Melbourne’s west.”
More detailed design work on the project is now underway, with final designs expected by early next year and construction potentially beginning by March 2027 subject to funding.
Maribyrnong council is still seeking investment from both state and federal governments to make Creative West a reality.
To view the project details and images: www.yourcityyourvoice.com.au/cw
rnong council has demanded an above ground pedestrian crossing be added to the design and that it needed much more detail on the project overall.
Just hours before Maribyrnong council endorsed the submission at its meeting on 21 July, Ms Hall posted on Facebook that along with further community engagement, a technical report outlining how the current design was chosen and what other options were considered, would be published. She said further details would soon be available at: https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/ projects/level-crossing-removal-project/ projects/anderson-street-yarraville
Charges follow sexual assault Police have charged a man following a sexual assault in Hoppers Crossing. The 39-year-old was charged with two counts of rape and one count each of aggravated burglary and threat to kill. The man from Williams Landing was taken into custody on 24 July about 11.40am. The charges follow an incident on 23 July, where a man, armed with a knife, allegedly forced entry to a property on Whitsunday Drive about 11.30am before sexually assaulting a woman. Investigations are still ongoing into a second incident where a woman was outside a primary school on Langridge Street on 24 July when a man allegedly followed her into the school building shortly before 7am and sexually assaulted her. Investigators are working to establish if both incidents are linked.
Two men have been charged as part of an investigation into the alleged theft of nearly half a million dollars believed to have occurred during the transport of cash to and from ATMs, including in Wyndham. The men were arrested on 22 July. Officers were told of more than 10 alleged incidents where a discrepancy in cash following an ATM run has been identified, between April and July. The incidents are alleged to involve runs to and from ATMs in Melbourne, Tarneit, Keilor Downs, Delahey, Craigieburn, Sandringham, South Melbourne, Clifton Hill, Essendon, Pascoe Vale and Mill Park to the value of nearly half a million dollars. A 25-year-old from Dallas and a 44-year-old from Mickleham were both charged with 11 counts of theft.
Drugs, rifle seized
Police seized a traffickable quantity of drugs and a rifle following the arrest of two men in an allegedly stolen car in Melton. The pair, a 37-year-year-old Footscray man and a 36-year-old Melton South man and have since been charged with theft of a motor vehicle and possessing both cannabis and methylamphetamine. The Footscray man was also charged with trafficking methylamphetamine and assaulting police. The charges follow their arrest on 13 July. The Footscray man is alleged to have pushed one police member over and used his head to strike another member in the face while resisting arrest.
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By Cade Lucas
Maribyrnong council will join a campaign urging the state government to increase funding in bicycle infrastructure, despite concerns about doing so just months out from the state election.
In a rare split vote, a motion put forward by Cr Bernadette Thomas calling on to council support Bicycle Victoria’s “Gimme 5” campaign, was carried 4-3, with mayor Mohamed Semra providing the casting vote in favour.
The “Gimme 5” campaign calls on the state government to commit five per cent of its transport budget to bike infrastructure, specifically the development
of Strategic Cycling Corridors (SCC), high-priority bicycle routes designed to act as freeways for cyclists.
“Just 5 per cent of the transport budget, over and above major roads and level crossing projects and existing active transport funding, would fund building a significant part of the SCC network over the next 10 years,” Cr Thomas’ motion read. “Every dollar spent on infrastructure that helps Victorians be more active, and gives them more transport choices, returns several dollars back in terms of public health benefits, less congestion and environmental benefits.”
While Cr Thomas’ motion attracted support from fellow Greens councillors
Samantha Meredith and Elena Pereryra, others such as Cr Pradeep Tiwari expressed concern.
“I believe the motion before us is quite flawed and needs more thinking through,” Cr Tiwari told the chamber, adding that while he supported the idea behind it, joining a political campaign by an external group could prove problematic, especially in an election year,
“If we endorse bicycle network’s campaigns would we support campaigns by RACV or other external groups?” he said.
Cr Thomas responded by arguing council should absolutely support campaigns from external organisations if they are aligned with council policies
Visitors to Phil Cassar’s home in Altona Meadows will notice a new addition to his backyard, one that is as striking as it is unsurprising.
As someone with one of Australia’s largest collections of Kiss memorabilia and the founder of a Kiss Facebook page with9000followers,it’sfittingthatthemural recently painted on Mr Cassar’s back fence features the four face-painted members of the 70’s rock icons.
“When I was a little kid Kiss were like
real life super heroes,” he said of where his devotion to the band came from.
Following a visit to his nan’s place one Christmas, that devotion extended from Kiss’s music to their merchandise too.
“My aunty took me and my sister over to road to a milk bar and she bought us a KisskeyringwhichIstillhave.Ihavethousands of items, but even though I collect every item, I focus on the vintage merch.”
Mr Cassar’s obsession led to him starting a Kiss collectibles Facebook page 13
years ago, however it was a post on another local Facebook page from a young artist called Seb, that led to him having a mural painted of the band.
“He was looking for wall space so he could practise his art. I reached out and said can you do Kiss?“ Mr Cassar recalled.
“He’s like i’ll give it a go.“
As far as Mr Cassar’s concerned, Seb gave it a very good go indeed.
“He did an awesome job.“
The controversial redevelopment of the Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club (WSLSC) is a step closer, with architectural and landscape designs for the project approved.
On 22 July, Hobsons Bay council announced it has receive confirmation from the Department of Transport and Planning that the designs had been approved through the state government’s project planning assessment process.
The approval means detailed design works for the redevelopment can be completed before the project moves towards construction.
In April, the state government assumed control of the $16 million project after reaching an agreement with Hobsons Bay council for it to be assessed as a state project going forward.
The move came a month after a report from council’s own heritage advisor, released through Freedom of Information (FOI) laws, recommended the project not go ahead because it was too big and didn’t meet heritage guidelines.
“The extent of demolition and external alterations to the 1935 clubhouse, including the removal of a substantial amount of fabric of primary significance is a major her-
itage concern,” heritage advisor and architect Helen Lardner wrote in the report.
“It will distort understanding of the historical form and scale of the clubhouse.”
Ms Larder’s report was seized upon by opponents of the redevelopment, who had long argued that the plans for a two-storey building featuring a gym and function room as well as a new observation post and upgraded patrol and storage spaces, was too big and expensive.
The WSLSC has argued the redevelopment is needed because the existing building is dilapidated and no longer suitable for keeping beachgoers safe.
and would benefit the community. She said the “Gimme 5” campaign was directed at the state government, not any political party.
Despite expressing some concern about it happening ahead of the November state election, Cr Semra ultimately voted in support of the motion.
An LXRP spokesperson thanked locals for the feedback they had provided and said more details would be released on the next round of community engagement in August. Details: https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/level-crossing-removal-project/ projects/anderson-street-yarraville Bicycle Victoria declined to comment.
Tributes are pouring in for former AmbulanceVictoria(AV)chiefexecutiveand Newport resident Tony Walker who died earlier this week aged 63.
Mr Walker spent almost 40 years as an AV paramedic and led the organisation from 2014 until 2022 when he retired after being diagnosed with bowel cancer.
In a statement released on Tuesday 21 July, AV said Mr Walker left behind an extraordinary legacy.
“Throughout his career, he was a passionate advocate for both our patients and our people, leading AV through a period of significant change. He believed deeply in delivering the very best care to the Victorian community and in ensuring the wellbeing of those who provide that care every day,” the statement read.
“Under his leadership, the GoodSAM program was introduced in Victoria, connecting nearby trained responders with people experiencing cardiac arrest and helping save lives through faster access to CPR before paramedics arrive. He was also a strong advocate for innovation in workforce wellbeing, supporting the introduction of Victoria’s first ambulance Peer Support Dog program and driving significant investment in mental health programs that recognised the unique challenges faced by paramedics and first responders.”
Writing on social media, former health minister, Altona MP and now Western Heath chair Jill Hennessy said she was saddened by Mr Walker’s death, recounting how they worked closely together on the reforming state’s ambulance services following Labor’s return to government in 2014.
“Tony was a kind and humble leader. Honest and straightforward, always. He was deeply respectful, and he loved talking about his family, his kids. He was a fellow Melburnian from the west, too,” Ms Hennessy wrote.
After retiring, Mr Walker became a vice chancellor’s strategic fellow at Victoria University (VU).
“I found Tony to be one of the most exceptional people and professionals I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing,” VU vice-chancellor Adam Shoemaker said. Williamstown Cannons Basketball Club and South Kingsville’s Melbourne City Football Club also paid tribute to Mr Walker whose daughter played at both clubs and where he served as a committee member and volunteer.
Mr Walker is survived by wife Robyn and daughter Lucy.
Wolf Heidecker is passionate about promoting artists through his performing arts management company and as a board member of Wyndham Art Works. He speaks with Laura Michell.
What’s your connection to Melbourne’s north-west?
In 2000 I moved from Albury-Wodonga where I was general manager of The Flying Fruit Fly Circus to Werribee to manage the final stages of the construction and first year of operations of the Werribee Cultural Centre that opened in May 2001. Once the cultural centre was up and running, I resigned from Wyndham City Council and established WHAM, my independent performing arts management company. Soon after I arrived in Werribee, I became involved in the local arts community. I was instrumental in registering CAA-Wyndham Community Arts Alliance Inc and became a volunteer member of the still active group that is today trading as Wyndham Art Works, with its home in LavertonNorth.
Whatdoyoulikeaboutwhereyoulive?
Coming from the northern border of Victoria I enjoyed the more rural feeling of living in Werribee with the benefit of being so close to the ‘Big Smoke’ of Melbourne. Sevenyearsago,mywifeandIswappedour house in Werribee and relocated to Tarneit where we are living in a retirement village since. It’s just five kilometres from where we lived in Werribee for nearly 20 years, therefore could maintain our connections to friends and the community without any interruption. Though Wyndham experienced significant growth as a city andlotsofarchitecturalandinfrastructure improvements, the ‘old’ centre of the municipality still has its charm, homely and inviting image. In the surrounding
vicinity we can enjoy the Werribee River and many green areas as well as all the new leisure developments, e.g. in Werribee South.
Where is your favourite local place to spendtime?
Artist Kerrie Gottliebsen first moved to Melbourne’swestin2000.
However it wasn’t until the lockdowns at the height of Covid1pandemic more than 20 years later that the west became the focusofherartwork.
“The ring of steel had come down, and I found myself staring at a vintage Phillip Island poster in an Airbnb,” Gottliebsen recalled.
“I thought, why doesn’t Altona have one ofthese?”
Thatsimplequestionsparkedaprojectto createvintagetravelpostersofMelbourne’s west, one that has since spawned more 120 artworks, of 24 western suburbs that according to Gottliebsen, has evoked a much stronger reaction than she ever anticipated.
“One woman wrote to tell me the images inhercalendarmarkedwhereshegrewup, gotmarriedandworked.Oneoftheposters
even made her cry because it featured the place where her dad worked. That’s when I realised these artworks were doing somethingmeaningful.”
Researching each suburb has taken Gottliebsen on unexpected adventures. From dodging snakes while exploring the overgrown Bradmill site in Yarraville to discovering Melbourne’s Finnish heritage attheFinnishHallonPierStreet.
She said every artwork had a story behindit.
“When I visited the old Olympic Tyre Factory site in Footscray, now transformed into stunning apartments, I had Paul Kelly’s To Her Door playing through my earbuds. It was one of those moments where history, music and place all came together.”
Details: www.kerriegottliebsen.com or follow @kerriegottliebsenart on social media.
established to support the building of the Wyndham Cultural Centre in Watton Street.Afterthecompletionofthebuilding in 2001 I was asked by some local artists to maintain the group as the ‘home’ for local artists which I then took over as a resident, not as the first manager of the cultural centre,andbecamethefoundingpresident of the incorporated association. I am still member of the board as their treasurer and business manager. It is still the only not-for-profit organisation in Wyndham dedicated to support local artists of all genres, e.g. studios for painters, glass artists, writers and workspace for the local branch of the Egg-Decorators-Guild, and performers from ethnic groups with South Pacific Islander, Samoan and Maori backgrounds.
WAW is entirely self-funded and run by volunteers; our arts centre with 10 studio spaces and two common rooms have been leased from Wyndham City Council for a token rental fee. In 2027 WAW will be negotiatingwithourlandlordforapossible extensionofthelease.
WerribeeOpenRangeZoo.
How did Wyndham Art Works come about?
WyndhamArtWorks(WAW)isthe‘trading as’ name of CAA-Wyndham Community Arts Alliance that was a community group
Tell us something people would be surprisedtoknowaboutyou... For the last 25 years I have produced and directed about 30 theatre productions, volunteered managing the local Maori group Te Karangatahi Mana until they movedtoWAlastyear,theChineseSeniors Choir You Yi Zhi Qiao in Collingwood, ongoing, and officiated numerous weddings in Wyndham and surrounding areas until my retirement as a registered marriagecelebrant.
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Altona has long been defined by heavy industry and its skyline dominated by factories, gas flares and smoke stacks. Now a group of locals are working to preserve the suburb’s industrial heritage as its factories, refineries and plants rapidly disappear. Cade Lucas reports.
From Spotswood to Seaholm, Point Cook to Point Gellibrand, Skeleton Creek to Stony Creek, residents of Melbourne’s west woke up on Sunday morning asking themselves the same question: what the hell was that noise?
Facebookgroupswerefloodedwithposts aboutwhatwasvariouslycalledabigbang, a loud boom and a big bang boom that got people out of bed, shook their homes, rattledtheirwindows,frightenedtheirpets while making their hearts stop and bowels suddenly spring open at about 2am on 19 July.
Lights began flashing and sirens start blaring as dozens dialled triple-0, while some excitable types hypothesised about earthquakes,explosionsorcosmicthunder claps.
When it soon became clear it was none of these things but rather the decommissioning a giant piece of machinery at the old Mobil refinery in Altona,mostofthosewhowerequestioning wheretheysoundcamefrombeganasking why they weren’t told about it beforehand?
The uncomfortable answer of course is that they were.
“How Altona’s Skyline Is Set to Change” declared the advertisement from Mobil running across the bottom of page 5 of the 15 July edition of the Maribyrnong & Hobsons Bay Star Weekly.
After a preamble about how in 2021 the company closed its Altona refinery and began converting it into a fuel storage terminal, demolish of a number of tanks and other pieces of infrastructure as a result, the company got to the point:
“Soon you will notice a more significant change to the Altona North skyline as we commence demolition of the Fluid Catalytic Cracking unit and associated infrastructure.”
While most ads overstate things Mobil’s did the exact opposite.
Morecommonlyknownasthe“Cracker”, the Fluid Catalytic Cracking unit weighs 900 tonnes and is as long as the MCG. When it arrived from Japan in 1996, Williamstown was quite literally brought to a standstill as a fleet of semi-trailers that were made look the size of matchbox as cars dragged it to the Altona refinery.
Anyone of the thousands of people who lined the streets that day to witness it would have known that demolishing the something of that size was never going to be a small or silent exercise, though Mobil did their best to pretend otherwise.
“The unit will be felled entirely within the Mobil site and then progressively demolished on the ground, with all works approved by WorkSafe Victoria,” the advertisement read, before adding: “The felling will take place on 19 July.”
Even if the language was remarkable in its understatement, anyone who read the ad would’ve known to expect something to happen on the third Sunday in July.
Below: One of the old photos of the Qenos site that have been collected as part of a project to preserve Altona’s industrial heritage.
But while just about everyone in the west heard the final crack of the “Cracker”, not all were surprised.
In fact, some were even expecting it, like Graeme Reilly from Altona Laverton Historical Society.
“They are large structures and I guess you can’t pull them apart bit by bit, there’s somepartsthatarejustgonnahavetocome down at once and make quite a noise,” Mr Reilly said of the demolition.
Mr Reilly is paying closer attention than most to the demolition of the former Mobil refinery due to his role in a new project aimed at preserving Altona’s industrial heritage.
With help from a Make It Happen Grant from Hobsons Bay council, Mr Reilly, former Hobsons Bay mayor Sandra Wilson and one of the last engineers on site at the former Qenos plastics manufacturing plant, Nikki Gaskell, have joined forces to source, sort and save images, artefacts and stories about Altona’s state significant industry over the decades.
“The industrial skyline has defined Altona for over half a century and it is rapidly changing before our eyes; we feel theneed to capturewhatwe know before it istoolate,”MrReillysaidofthemotivation for the project which is focused on the former Mobile refinery, the Qenos site on Kororiot Creek Road and also the former Toyota plant in Altona North.
Of all these sites, it’s Qenos which closed
most recently, with operations finally ceasing there at the beginning of last year. However, it’s also the site which is being demolished the quickest and which the group has been able gain access too, making it the immediate focus.
“Half of Qenos has already gone and there’s another part that’s about to go and onceit’sgoneallthatindustrialstructureis going to disappear and once that happens, people will quickly forget what was there, why it was there and what they did,” Mr Reilly said.
“And it’s not often that we get in at the ground level to get artefacts from the company.It’sgenerallymuchlaterthatyou try and search for artefacts but in this case we’ve been able to get them before they’re gone forever.”
So far the more than 4000 images, some dating back to the plant’s beginnings in 1961, have been sourced, as well as 25 videos and even a full scale model.
Some of the material will be digitised and catalogued for future history buffs, but other artefacts will be displayed in an exhibition to tell the story of Altona’s changing industrial landscape as part of the 2027 Heritage Festival.
And while the group has access to the QenossiteandisinnegotiationsMobiland Toyota about doing the same, Ms Wilson said there was an even greater resource they were hoping to tap into: former
employees.
“Webelievethereisrichhistorytocollect from our community so we’re curious to gather anything from people’s photo albums, work files, cupboards, drawers and memory banks!” Ms Wilson said, notingthateventhoughallthreesiteswere being torn down, former employees and their families were not hard to find.
“Just about everyone you speak to in Altona will say “oh I know someone who worked there, my dad, my uncle.
“I was just down at Bendigo Bank in Altonaputtingupsomeflyersandsomeone said “oh my uncle worked there, he died there in an industrial accident.”
Ms Wilson said Altona’s industry has played a significant role in the community, making preserving its history and documenting its end, all the more important.
“This change is happening before our eyes and I think people will notice it once it’s gone. Some people will be glad to see it gone but it’s part of our history whether we like it or not.”
From July – September a series of drop-ins are scheduled at Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre, the Hobsons Bay Men’s Shed and Truganina Explosives Reserve for people to share anything that provides a perspective on Altona industry. The group is also seeking volunteers to help digitise documents and images into Victorian Collections, an online database. Training will be provided.
Contact: Sandra Wilson, 0432 161 777.
By Cr Kristin Bishop
In Hobsons Bay we are fortunate to have a richanddiverseheritage,fromourhistoric buildings and streetscapes to industrial historyandnaturallandscapes.
Our heritage helps tell the story of who we are, where we’ve come from and what makesourcommunityunique.
We need to preserve the character and storiesofourheritageplaceswhileallowing them to remain useful, accessible and fit for modern life. This means finding ways to upgrade heritage buildings to improve accessibility, sustainability and energy efficiency, ensuring they can continue to serve our community for generations to come.
In my ward of Spotswood, there will be a clear example of striking this balance in the coming years as the Hudsons Road level crossing is removed, with major works taking place to Spotswood Station duringthisprocess.
As this project progresses, I believe it’s essential that the station’s heritage significance is recognised and protected. Weshouldbeabletodeliversafertransport infrastructure and improved connectivity while retaining the historic character and identityofthisimportantplace.
Right now, council is asking the communitytohaveitssayontwoimportant heritageprojects;theheritagestrategyand the draft local heritage policy and design guidelines.
The heritage strategy will provide a 10-year framework for how we identify, protect,supportandcelebrateourheritage.
The strategy is multi-faceted with several focus areas, ensuring it includes
truth-tellingandFirstNationsperspectives, takesapeople-centredapproach,manages the risks climate change poses to heritage and finds the right balance between housingandheritagevalues.
Thedraftlocalheritagepolicyanddesign guidelines will give clearer guidance for development within heritage overlays, bringing together existing policies and guidelines, making them easier to understandanduse.
These projects are important because protectingheritageisnotaboutpreventing change, it’s about ensuring change is carefullyconsideredandplanned.
I encourage residents to take the opportunitytogivefeedbackviaParticipate HobsonsBay.
By recognising, celebrating and protecting our heritage, while embracing the future, we can ensure Hobsons Bay remainsaplacewhereourhistoryisvalued andourcommunitycancontinuetothrive.
Maribyrnong council has announced the members of its inaugural Live Music Advisory Panel. The creation of the panel was a key part of the Maribyrnong Live Music Action Plan adopted by council in November 2025. The panel, featuring promoters, programmers, venue owners, artists and music industry professionals, will provide advice and ideas on how to boost live music in Maribyrnong. The 12 panel members are Fiona Duncan, Cherie Warwick, Cody Quinton, Justin Fenwick, Jerry Poon, Joshua Hodson-Smith, Martin John Zakharov, Georgia Maddern, Nico Faust, Marcus Brooke-Smith, Jude Fotiou and Howard Nicklas.
Daughters of the West, a 10 week program of fitness, wellbeing, social connection and expert support for women in the western suburbs, is returning to Hobsons Bay. Run by the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation, the free program begins next month, with sessions at both the Laverton Community Hub and Brookly Community Hall. The Laverton sessions will be held on Mondays from 1-3pm from 10 August - 12 October. The Brooklyn sessions are on Tuesday evenings from 7-9pm from 11 August13 October.
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WANT YOUR EVENT LISTED? Community Calendar is made available free of charge to not-for-profit organisations to keep the public informed of special events and activities. Send item details to Star Weekly Community Calendar, Corner Thomsons Road and Keilor Park Drive, Keilor Park, 3042, or email to westeditorial@starweekly.com.au by 9am Wednesday the week prior to publication
Rotary Club of Point Gellibrand
The club meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 6pm for a 6.30pm start at Pelicans Landing, Syme Street, Williamstown. Everyone is welcome to attend just contact the club beforehand. Pam Barnes, 0418 347 691, rotarypointgellibrand.com
Greening Brooklyn
Greening Brooklyn Together takes place on Friday 14 August, 10am–noon at 174 Old Geelong, Brooklyn. Help make Brooklyn greener by joining this community planting event. Volunteers from the community and local businesses are invited to work alongside the Brooklyn Recycling Group, Melbourne Water and Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek to plant native vegetation and enhance local habitat. No experience is needed.
Lisa, 0433 559 530, brooklynrecyclinggroup@outlook.com
Free lectures
The Footscray Mechanics Institute will be running a free lecture on the last Friday of each month until the end of October. The program includes: book launches, discussion of books and authors, and community guest speakers. The lectures will take place at the Footscray Mechanics Institute, 209 Nicholson Street, Footscray. 9687 1935, info@fmi.org.au
The IT Club
A free, informal weekly drop-in workshop designed to build digital skills. Participants can bring their phone or digital device to learn from each other and work through tech challenges together. Held at Joan Kirner House, 14 Thompson Street Williamstown on Mondays, 10-11.30am. No bookings necessary. Kaye, 9397 6168
Mystery music sessions
Held at Altona Senior Citizens, 2 Sargood Street, every Tuesday afternoon from 1.30pm. The sessions feature performances by local musicians, including solo artists, duos and groups. Entry is free to both members and non-members.
9932 1311
Marriage course
The Marriage Course at Christ Church Anglican, Newport, is an opportunity to spend eight weeks strengthening and growing your marriage through sessions that have been designed to engage you in conversation with your spouse over topics such as good sex, the art of communication and resolving conflict. The first night will be
from the Wyndham, Hobsons Bay and other areas to join us on the third Wednesday of each month, at 11am, 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.
Julie 0421 315 846, altonaview@gmail.com
Westgate diabetes support group
held in-person before shifting to an online format over the following seven weeks. Held on Wednesdays from 7.30-9pm, 10 June-29 July.
https://www.christchurchnewport.org.au/ marriage-course
Church centenary
This year marks a century since Christ Church Newport’s red brick church on Mason Street, Newport was established. As part of celebrating this milestone, the church is seeking any photos people might have of events which have taken place in the building. These can include photos of weddings, baptisms, kids clubs, community events, and more. Those who have photos to share, or who would like to highlight notable key dates, are encouraged to get in touch.
100years@christchurchnewport.org.au
Hip hop dance program
L2R Dance is Australia’s only youth hip hop and street dance not-for-profit and social enterprise proudly based in Melbourne’s west. L2R makes dance accessible to children and young people who can’t access commercial dance opportunities and draws from the history of hip-hop culture with its aims to empower and critique social issues that affect young people in Melbourne’s West and beyond.
L2R’s free Next-Gen dance program is held at Phoenix Youth Hub, 72 Buckley Street, Footscray (Auditorium). Classes will be held from 4.30-6.30pm each Tuesday during term.
0490 811 605, https://www.l2r.org.au/dance-programs
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. Penny, 0409 014 121, westgatebasketball.com.au/walkingbasketball-1
Heritage walks
Enjoy a leisurely one/two hour walk around Williamstown and nearby suburbs with guide John. Walks start at 9.30am each Tuesday outside the Visitor Information Centre in Nelson Place. John Becroft, 0418 377 336
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, 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 not-for-profit. The club welcomes ladies
Meets on the first Tuesday of each month at Altona bowling club at 10am. Elaine, 0415 030 996
Mainly music
A music-playgroup program for kids and their carers from birth to school age. Held every Thursday from 9.30-10.30am during school terms at Westgate Baptist Community, 16 High Street, Yarraville. The cost is $7 per family, per week. Jenny, 0401 651 012, Ruth, 0409 635 468, westgatebaptist.org.au/mainlymusic/
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, 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
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, lesley1.collins@outlook.com
Dabbler (7)
Writer of
instrument (10)
motorway system (10)
animals (4)
Shoot (4)
sport (9)
16 Make reprisals (9)
17 Removed from power (9)
19 Act of refreshing (7)
22 UK singer Lily – (5)
23 Early form of Sanskrit (5)
24 Cousin of the oyster (4)
25 Self-satisfied (4)
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'.
Today’s Aim:
12 words: Good 18 words: Very good 24 words: Excellent
R R I N O W O
3 LETTERS
1 A person with the condition anodontia was born without what body part?
2 What liquid is typically used inside disposable lighters?
3 What is the name of Spotify’s personalised end-of-year listening summary?
4 Which Muse of Greek myth shares their name with a rural town in Queensland? 5 NFL’s Bengals are based in which US city: Baltimore, Cincinnati or Detroit?
6 Name the capital city of Andorra.
7 To whom does Hamlet deliver his ‘Alas,
8 What was the first name of the Austrian composer Haydn? 9 Australian musician James Keogh (pictured) performs under what name?
10
Star Weekly looks back through the pages of our predecessors
40 years ago 30 July, 1986
Five fire stations in the west could be closed or face a dramatic reduction in facilities according to a report released last week by a senior Metropolitan Fire Brigade employee.
30 years ago 31July, 1996
Public tenant workers in Altona and Williamstown could have their funding cut if they do not comply with stringent new guidelines from the Office of Housing.
20 years ago 25 July, 2006
Maribyrnong city council will give $1 million towards the upgrade of Whitten Oval.
Each week, Star Weekly photographers are out and about capturing the people and events across Melbourne’s north and west.
10 years ago 27 July, 2016
Parents and staff have been stunned by thesuddendecisiontocloseaFootscray childcare centre.
The Williamstown Musical Theatre Company (WMTC) is gearing up for its annual junior production at the end of this month.
This year’s production is Newsies Jr, a Disney Broadway musical based on a 90s film about New York newspaper kids, or “Newsies“, and their strike for fairness against some of the richest and most powerfulpeopleinManhattan.
Director Stuart Dodge said he’d always liked the musical ever since he first saw it performedintheverycityit’ssetin.
“WhenIsawNewsiesonBroadway,Iwas transportedto1899NewYork,andfromthe
second the orchestra started I was in awe,” Dodge said. “Newsies is a dance-heavy show... when watching the dancers in the Broadway production I thought, ‘surely these boys are on wires… there is no way any human can stay in the air that long, leapingacrossthestage!’”
Newsies Jr is WMTC’s 13th junior production and also it’s largest, with a cast of 41children agedeight-18.
“As a team, our goal is always to not only put on a slick and entertaining show, but also to provide our cast of young people with a truly enjoyable experience from starttofinish,”Dodgesaid.
Newsies Jr features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken (composer of The Little Mermaid, Aladdin) and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein (writer of Broadway musical KinkyBoots).
Thecastwillbeperformingitfrom31July to9AugustatAltonaTheatre.
Details and bookings: https://www. wmtc.org.au/
Dust off your flares and warm up your singing voice, as a night of disco classics is comingtoMyrniongthisAugust.
SOS: The Australian ABBA Tribute Show has been dazzling audiences since 2011, bringing the music of one of the world’s most beloved pop groups to places all over Australia, and they’re set to bring their electric performance to St Anne’s VineyardsonSaturday22August.
Fans can relive the magic of Agnetha, Frida, Benny and Björn as SOS performs ABBA’s greatest hits in a spectacular live production featuring authentic costumes, choreographyandahigh-energyband.
The audience will have the chance to sing along to timeless favourites including Dancing Queen, Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!, Waterloo, and The Winner Takes It All, as the winery is transformed into a celebration of the Swedish supergroup’s enduringlegacy.
“OurfavouriteABBAsongatthemoment is As Good As New,” band manager Sam Bennett said. “However there is always something truly special when audiences hearthatfirstglissandoofDancingQueen, andtheroomjustaligns.It’spuremagic.”
Promising a night of 70s and 80s nostalgia, the event is an opportunity for ABBAfansoldandnewtoenjoyanevening ofmusic,foodanddrinkswithfriends.
“We see an incredibly diverse age range atourshows,”Bennettsaid.
“ABBA is truly multi-generational, and it isanabsolutejoytoseeawholeroomcome alive.”
Guests are encouraged to arrive early, grab a drink from the bar and enjoy a bite toeatbeforesettlinginfortheshow.
Doorsopenat5pm,withtheperformance scheduled to run from approximately 7 to 9.30pm.
Tickets are $25 per person and include reserved seating with your group, making it easy to gather a crew and enjoy the evening together.
With ABBA’s biggest hits on the setlist, SOS promises to be a fun-filled night of singing, dancing and nostalgia for fans looking to relive the golden era of disco-pop.
The Australian
Saturday 22 August. (Supplied)
“This is our second time performing at St Anne’s Winery. Last time was incredible so we expect nothing but an electric dancefloorthisyear!”Bennettsaid.
Details: https://welcometomoorabool. com/events-bacchusmarsh-ballangordon-blackwood-greendale/sos-abbatribute-at-st-annes-winery-myrniong.
Excitement is building for opening night of the original, contemporary, prog-rock opera After-Light, to be presented by the Mount Players for the first time on stage in itscompleteform.
Mount Players president Craig Lenaine-Smith and other committee members saw a scaled-down version of After-Light at the 2024 Melbourne Fringe Festival but, after speaking with composer Zac Vanstone and creator and musical director Tom Foster, it was decided Macedon’s Mountview Theatre should be the place for the duo to launch the show’s
fullproduction. After-Light is guaranteed to be a production full of excitement, provocation and entertainment. A seven-piece rock band will perform live on stage, in full view of the audience, as singers tell the story of Boy as he struggles through his past mistakes, exorcising his demons in a journey of self-discovery and ultimately redemption.
Penned during COVID, Vanstone said the 18-plus production explored some darkerthemes.
“This is a show about learning how to let
A new show at Wyndham Cultural Centre is sure to delight fans of the Kingofrock’n’roll.
The Watton Street centre will host Elvis Tribute show, Elvis to the Extreme, on Sunday 16 August, from 4-5.50pm.
Celebratingthemusic,highenergy and charisma of Elvis Presley, the performancepromisestocapturethe magic and power of Elvis Presley’s iconicVegasyears.
Starring Marcus Jackson, a five-time,multi-awardwinningElvis tribute artist recognised by Elvis Presley Enterprises, this electrifying production features the ETS Band, The BellaTones, and glamourous Vegasshowgirls.
Elvis to the Extreme is more than a tribute, its high energy afternoon celebrating the King’s greatest performances, designed to thrill, move and captivate audiences of all ages.
Whether you’re a lifelong Elvis fan or simply love great live music, the showoffers something for everyone.
Come along and sing along to favourite tunes, reminisce about the golden age of rock and roll, and enjoy an entertaining afternoon celebrating one of music’s most enduringstars.
Get ready to put on your blue suede shoes and enjoy an afternoon of classic hits and unforgettable entertainment.
The show runs for 110 minutes includinganinterval.
Tickets are $50 full price and $45 concession.
Details: www.wyndham.vic.gov. au/whats-on/elvis-extreme
go,”Vanstonesaid.
“Following the break-up between Boy and Girl, Boy falls into a life-threatening coma. In order for Boy to wake, he must forgive the past, reconcile with the future andlearntoletgoofGirl,”hesaid.
“If Boy fails, his intrusive thoughts of addiction, paranoia and depression will consumehissoul.”
The season of After-Light runs from 14 August to 30 August at the Mountview Theatre,SmithStreet,Macedon. Bookings at www.themountplayers.com or0419329052.
1. Which player scored the goal that won Spain the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
2. How many seasons did Brodie Grundy play for Collingwood in the AFL?
3. For which FIFA World Cup did Shakira release the hit song Waka Waka (ThisTimeforAfrica)?
4. Which former Fitzroy and Geelong player was announced as the inaugural coach of the AFL's Tasmania Devils?
What number has Taj Gibson worn playing for six different NBA teams including the Grizzlies, Pistons and Knicks?
Which player was awarded the Golden Boot for scoring the most goals during the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Teams including the Heights, Hunters and Firebells will play what sport in the US's planned WPBL?
Which nonalcoholic mixed beverage of iced tea and lemonade is named after a US golf professional?
How many times has Spain's men's national soccer team won the FIFA World Cup?
10. Australia's women's national baseball team is known by what nickname?
11. What year did Spain's national women's soccer team win the FIFA Women's World Cup?
12. What is the boxing term for a right-handed fighter?
13. Chinese Taipei and the US are set to host which international baseball competition in 2027?
14. In 2024, Ariarne Titmus set a world record in the 200m event of which swimming stroke?
15. What kind of sports commonly use terms such as fartlek, bonking and negative splits?
16. Which other nation faced off against Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final?
17. And how many goals were scored in that match?
18. In tennis, which surface is considered fastest: a) clay, b) grass or c) hard courts?
19. In support of Jai Arrow, many athletes across multiple sports have celebrated scoring with what gesture?
20. In F1 racing, what does a HANS device stand for?
21. St Louis’ NHL team shares its nickname with which AFL team?
22. Who is the current captain of the Australian men’s T20 cricket team?
23. In which year did skateboarding first appear at the Olympics?
24. What is another name for the white ball in pool or billiards?
26. In standard darts, which score does each player start with?
27. What was the name of the bowling team originally featuring Homer, Moe, Apu and Otto in TheSimpsons?
28. Which sport features in the film FightingWith MyFamily?
29. How many seconds is the shot clock in a game of basketball?
30. The Cleveland Guardians play in which league?
By Chris Riley, Marque Motoring
It’s more than three years since we first drove what was then called the MG HS +EV, or plug-in hybrid as they have come to be known.
Andhaven’tthingschangedinthistime?
Not only has the car grown in size, so has the battery and projected, electric-only driving range.
Nowinitssecondgeneration,theHShas emerged from its cocoon, spread its wings and become a fully-fledged ’Super Hybrid’ – it’s a much more enticing proposition.
Styling
Therearetwogradesfromwhichtochoose, Excite and Essence.
Prices start from $42,990 for the Excite and $46,900 for the Essence – both prices driveaway.
Our test vehicle, Essence, was finished in Arctic Blue Metallic, with Classic Tan interior trim – they add $700 apiece.
Standard kit includes cloth trim and auto air conditioning with rear outlets, along with 18-inch alloys, keyless entry and start, LED lights front and back, power-adjust driver seat, head-up display, auto high beam, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, auto lights and wipers, rear parking sensors and six-speaker audio.
Essence adds larger 19-inch alloys, artificial leather, dual zone climate air, electric tailgate, panoramic sunroof, front parking sensors, eight-speaker audio, 360-degree camera and wireless phone charging.
There’s also heated front seats, power adjustment for the front passenger seat, driver seat memory, power lumbar adjustment, auto folding heated door mirrors, front parking sensors, rear privacy glass, and door mirror memory. HS is covered by a 10-year, 250,000km warranty, provided the car is serviced by MG, otherwise it reverts the standard seven-year/200,000km.
The high-voltage battery is covered for the same period, but for only 150,000km. Each service must be performed within the specified time or kilometre window.
Infotainment consists of a combined 12.3-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch instrumentpanel,togetherwithBluetooth, voice control, built-in navigation, AM/FM and DAB+ digital radio, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, and eight-speaker audio.
There’s also wireless phone charging, with two USB-C ports front and back, plus a 12-volt outlet in the front, with iSmart connected services that comes with 12-month complimentary access.
The MG HS has been awarded a full five stars for safety with seven airbags including a centre airbag to provide added protection for front seat occupants in side impact crashes.
The MG Pilot Safety Suite includes autonomous emergency braking (car-to-car, vulnerable road user, junction and crossing, backover and head-on) as well as a lane support system with lane keep assist (LKA), lane departure warning (LDW)andemergencylanekeeping(ELK), and an advanced speed assistance system (SAS) with a speed sign recognition.
There’s also blind spot detection, door opening warning, rear cross traffic alert, drive monitor system, unsteady driver warning, and traffic jam assist.
A 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine is paired with two electric motors;onetodrivethewheels,theotherto rechargethebatterywhennecessary.
Drive is to the front wheels through a dedicated,one-speedhybridtransmission.
Combined output is 220kW of power and 350Nmoftorque,withtheswitchfrompetrol toelectricpoweralmostimperceptiblemost ofthetime.
In Arctic Blue the HS really stands out. Otherwise, the styling is almost generic for thissectionofthemarket,apartthatisfrom thesidesteps.
They are not quite high enough or wide enoughtobepractical,buttheydoenhance thelookofthecar.
Even the kids commented how difficult theyweretouse.
Wider and longer than its predecessor, the second-generation HS offers generous head and legroom front and back, with a good-sizedluggagearea.
With the rear seats in use, it offers 507 litresofspace,withtheseatsfoldedtheboot expandstoanimpressive1484litres.Notso generous is centre storage for loose items, with much of the space given over to two cupholdersandwirelesschargingpad.
The doors are adorned in a fancy, quilted design, but closer inspection reveals they areinfactplastic–asismuchoftheinterior trim.Thedoorbinsareabletoaccommodate largersportsbottles.
ThehybridsystemintheHSSuperHybrid is underpinned by a 24.7 kWh battery pack, 23.2 kWh of which is usable. The previous modeloffered16.6kWh.
You can switch manually between hybrid and electric modes, but not easily, and we
wereinclinedtoletthesystemdoitsthing–mostdriverswill.
The dash from 0-100km/h takes 6.8 seconds.
Interestingly, although there is sport mode, there is no Eco mode to achieve minimum fuel consumption and no option tochangegearsmanually.
An indicator light and graphical interface reveal what mode the transmission is operating in, while the switch to fully-electric mode seems to depend on several factors – not just speed or throttle input(althoughbothplayapart).
Atonepointwelookeddowntofindthecar in EV mode travelling at a speed of 90km/h onadownhillsectionofthemotorway.
During our week with the car we clocked up more than 1000km and can report the HS is a surprisingly easy and comfortable vehicletodrive,andifthebatteryischarged frequently–itusesverylittlefuel.
For a vehicle that has not been tuned for our poor Australian roads, ride quality is quitegood.
Grip from Bridgestone Alenza tyres is above average and pressed hard the wagon doesn’tmisbehave.
The brakes bite hard in an emergency stoppingscenario.
With a 55-litre tank, the HS takes premium 95 unleaded, with claimed fuel useof0.7L/100kmandenergyconsumption of18.0kWh/100km.
We charged the car three times using the supplied granny charger, averaging 3.4L/100km and 6.9 kWh/100km – with 230kmofpetrolremainingonreturn.
The battery in the HS can be charged at a rate of up 6.6kW using an AC charger which we’re told takes about four hours. It cannot be charged from a commercial DC fast charger.
Each time we charged the car with the granny charger however, the system told us itwouldtakemorethan13hours.Ofnotewe were surprised to find the supplied charger workedwithanextensionlead(thisisafirst forus).
We were also pleasantly surprised to find the dreaded Chinese driver warnings are notasDraconianinthisparticularcar. But over the speed limit warnings are constant and annoying, and the system seems to have a problem differentiating betweenpostedspeedlimits.
Corners, roundabouts and carparks involveabitofguessworkbecausethefront roof pillars and large exterior mirrors block vision.
The rear-view camera was also distorted anddifficulttouse.
Of note, the electric tailgate worked inconsistently, with not enough grunt to lift thetailgateifthecarwasparkedonaslope.
We suspect it’s the same electric motor as used in MG’s Cyberster electric sports car, whose chic scissor doors refused to open when parked on a slope – whether you’re in oroutofthecar.
Eight months later we are still waiting for MGtogetbacktousonthisissue.
Summing up
We like it. It’s not perfect, but then no car everis.
Where the HS does excel is being a Super Hybrid,withultra-lowfuelconsumption and a range of more than 1000km, provided you recharge the battery at every opportunity. Withanelectric-onlyrangeof120km,the urbancommuteisverydoabletoo. It’s easy to see why the popularity of plug-in hybrids is increasing exponentially –especiallyatthesekindsofprices.
By Tara Murray
The first three days of the Commonwealth Games are done and there have been some good results for the locals so far.
On the court, the Australian Diamonds and women’s 3x3 basketball team remain undefeated.
The Diamonds started with wins against Tonga on night two and England on night three.
Former City West Falcons pair Kate Moloney and Liz Watson have played big roles for the Diamonds in the midcourt as they’ve come away with two big wins.
It’s been two losses for Uneeq Palavi’s Tonga.
Palavi, who played two games for the Falconsthisyear,shot30goalsingameone against the Diamonds despite a dislocated finger.
She finished with 29 goals in game two against South Africa, with South Africa winning 96-42.
On the basketball court, Australia’s 3x3 women’s team are through to the semi finals.
After going 3-0 on day one, the Aussies, including Keilor Thunder’s Lara McSpadden went 2-0 on day three.
They beat the Cayman Islands, 21-3, and backed it up with a 21-9 win against Uganda.
McSpadden had her best game from a scoring perspective against the Cayman Islands, finishing with seven points.
The semi finals and medal games will be played on day six.
Taylors Lakes’ Jacob Cassar got his boxing campaign underway on day three.
Competing in the men’s 65 kilogram event, Cassar sealed a quarter final berth with a 5-0 win against New Zealand’s Connor Campbell in the round of 16.
Cassar will be back in action on day five.
In the pool, Bundoora’s Tara Kinder just missed the final in the 100 metres breaststroke.
Kinder finished fourth in her heat, but it
was enough for her to qualify 10th fastest for the semi finals.
In the semi finals, Kinder finished sixth in her race.
It was the faster of the two semi finals, with Kinder finishing ninth overall, just 0.03behindJamaica’sSabrinaLynwhowas the last finalist to qualify.
Kinder still has the 400 and 200 metres individual medley events to come.
Inthelawnbowls,DeerParkBowlsClub’s Paris Baker and her Tongan teammate Milika Nathan lost a second straight tiebreaker on day three.
Having won the first set 10-0, the Tongan team lost the second set 6-4 before losing the tie break.
TheTongansidethenlosttoNamibia2-0.
After three matches, Tonga sits fifth with one win.
In section D, the Norfolk Island women’s pairs team including Deer Park’s Ellie Dixon sit second with three wins.
On day three, the pair beat the Falkland Islands 2-0.
The men’s pairs, which includes Deer Park’s Corey Wedlock and Aaron Teys, gets underway on day five.
As the seasons approach finals times, results are even more important in the run home.
StarWeekly photographer Ljubica Vrankovic was out shooting some of the action.
By Tara Murray
Altona East Phoenix knows every result is important in the run home in the FV state league 1 north-west competition.
With the closeness of the competition, the Phoenix remains in promotion contention but isn’t out of the relegation conversation.
The Phoenix returned to the winners list on Saturday, beating Westvale Olympic 2-1.
“We needed that one,” coach Paul Donnelly said.
“We’ve put ourselves back in the relegation equation and we’re not out of it yet. It’s so tight this year and if we put some strong results together you never know what might happen.”
Donnelly said they’d been doing a lot of work on the track to get their season back on track.
He said they were slowly getting some players back from injury as well which has helped.
“There’s a lot of work being put in,” he said. “We’ll see how we finish off the season.”
Donnelly said the first focus for them was to ensure they remained in state league 1 having come back into the competition this year.
“It’s hugely important for the club,” he said.
“We’ve done a lot of work to get up and
we don’t want to go back down, it would be disappointing.”
The Phoenix will face Upfield on Friday night in round 18.
The Phoenix then have the Cecil Earley Plate final on 8 August against Williamstown.
Donnelly said it would be a bonus if they could win the cup, which was for the highest state league teams left in the Australia and Dockerty cups.
“It would be great for the club,” he said.
“We had tough games up against them last year and in the pre-season they beat us.
“We know a bit about them and it’s a local derby. We’ll fire up for a really tough game for us.”
By Tara Murray
West Footscray’s top four hopes are in its own hands in the Western Football League women’s competition.
The Roosters moved a game clear into fourth with two rounds remaining with a win against Yarraville Seddon on Saturday.
The top four teams will play in one finals series, and the next four teams will play in a different finals series.
Roosters’ coach Shane Windridge said the group had been in pretty good form in recent weeks.
“We’ve had a pretty good run the last five or six weeks,” he said.
“It would be big for us [finishing top four].
“We sat together as a group five or six weeks ago … There were four or five clubs going for fourth spot and we spoke about what we wanted and it was to aim for the top four.
“We are the underdogs, we don’t have our share of juniors coming through.”
Windridge said in the second half of the season they had started to get some wins against sides they lost to earlier in the year.
Saturday was a big game for both the Roosters and the Eagles, with the league broadcasting its first ever women’s match.
Windridge said the girls were pretty pumped to be involved in the game and were quick to watch the match back.
He said it was a step forward for the league and hoped there would be more broadcast games in the future.
Windridge said they were happy with how they played in the 7.6 (48)-3.0 (18) win.
“For three quarters we played really well and controlled the ball in our half of the ground for the majority of it,” he said.
“We were able to use the spread and get the ball forward.
“Yarraville in the last quarter got on a bit of a run and hit the scoreboard quickly.
“We were just aiming to get the win. To win by four or five goals was a really good effort by our team.”
Juri Graco-Ilves kicked four goals for the
Donnelly said it wasn’t the worst result not having a week off when the plate is being played as they aren’t the best team off a break. All other teams have the weekend off with a competition bye.
While he said winning the plate would be nice, their main focus remains the state league 1 season.
“We’re mindful of getting everyone fit,” he said. “We’ll see how we go against Upfield which is top of the table and see how everyone pulls up and then look at the starting 11 we have for the cup.”
In other results on the weekend, Yarraville Glory had a 1-1 draw with Pascoe Vale.
The Glory sits 11th on the ladder.
The Altona Gators will be looking to finish the regular Big V season on a high of different reasons in the men’s and women’s competitions.
The men’s side, which will finish the season bottom, will play their final match of the season against the Western Port Steelers on Saturday night.
The Gators have won just two matches of the year, in what has been a tough season.
Roosters.
Laura Littlepage, Layla Dawkins and Emily Gillespie were named the Roosters best.
Pippa Nolan and Alicia Mckertish were named the Eagles best.
The Roosters face the Suns this week.
The Suns sit in fifth spot, a game behind along with Yarraville Footscray.
Windridge said this week could decide which team finishes fourth.
In other results, the Suns beat North Footscray, 22.14 (146)-2.2 (14).
Laverton lost to Caroline Springs, 9.3 (57)-6.6 (42), while Parkside Spurs beat Point Cook Centrals, 15.13 (103)-0.5 (5).
Wyndhamvale went one step further to locking in second spot after beating Werribee Centrals, 5.5 (35)-2.5 (17).
The Falcons are now a game clear of Werribee Centrals.
This weekend, North Footscray is at home to Laverton, Wyndhamvale will play Point Cook Centrals, Yarraville Seddon will take on Werribee Centrals, while Caroline Springs faces the Parkside Spurs.
In the second last round, the Gators lost to the Whittlesea Pacers, 95-68.
After an even first half, the Pacers ran away with the game in the second half, outscoring the Gators 52-31.
The women’s side will be hoping to finish the regular season with a win against minor premiers, Melbourne University.
Melbourne University is yet to loss a match this season and the Gators only two losses have come against Melbourne University. The Gators will finish second on the ladder and have a week off in the first week of finals no matter the result in the final round
On Saturday night, the Gators beat third placed Whittlesea Pacers, 56-49.
The two teams traded control of the match, with a 22-9 third quarter being the key for Gators.
Jessica Rarity top scored with 14 points for the Gators and was the only player to score double figures for her side.
Spotswood coach Steve O’Bryan has signed on for another two Western Football League seasons.
The Woodsmen announced on Thursday night that O’Bryan would be coach until at least the end of the 2028 season.
O’Bryan,whotookoverasseniorcoach in 2025 after playing 53 senior games for the Woodsmen since joining the club in 2019, said he was excited to continue building on the foundations laid over the past two years.
“When I took on the role at the start of last year, we had a clear goal of getting the club back into finals after the senior group hadn’t played finals since 2019,” he said.
“We achieved that, and now our focus is on taking the next step. I’m grateful the club has shown faith in me and given me the opportunity to continue the work we’ve started.”
The club said the future appears promising, with the club’s strong junior development program expected to provide a significant boost to its senior ranks.
“Our under-18.5 program has had an outstanding season, and we’ll have 19 players coming into the senior program next year,” O’Bryan said.
“I love working with our current playing group, but we’re also realistic enough to know we’re probably only one or two
key players away from taking another step forward as a football club.”
Spotswood president Tony Schibeci said O’Bryan had earned the confidence of both the board and the playing group through his leadership and commitment.
“Steve has worked incredibly hard over the past two years, and you can see the respect the players have for him,” Schibeci said.
“Our club has built strong foundations from the ground up, from our junior program through to our senior teams, and having Steve recommit provides stability and certainty for everyone involved. It also allows us to continue recruiting play-
By Peter Howe
At just 16, this month’s Don Deeble nominee Darcee Young has already had the honour of representing her country on an international stage in Germany and Austria.
Young is an Olympic air rifle and .22 calibre 3P shooter and has been involved in the sport since she was eight.
It’s a family affair with her dad Shane and mum Kimberley and her two older siblings all having gained their shooters licences, just to help transport Young to and from training and to competitions, as minors need fully licensed adults to accompany them by law.
Young’s journey began when she was in grade 3.
“My family managed ski lodges at Mount HothamforthewinterandIattendedschool at Dinner Plain and Thursday sport was biathlon - cross country skiing and laser target rifles,” she said.
“The students were trained by the Italian Olympic coach based there for the winter with the Australian Biathlon team.
“I had little legs, so skiing was never my strength, so shooting it was.
“I tried dancing and swimming but my passion is shooting.”
After joining a small regional shooting club and participating in her school’s clay target program, Young was approached by the Victorian state rifle coach to come and try the Olympic disciplines of air rifle and 3P.
This is where Young found her niche and the family made the move to Melbourne in 2025 from East Gippsland, after a six-hour round trip every weekend to train became too much.
She now trains at the Melbourne Inter-
national Shooting Centre in Port Melbourne five times a week and attends the Maribyrnong Sports Academy.
“Going to school at MSA allows me to complete my strength and conditioning sessions at school and as well I have an external osteopath and my coach,” Young said.
“This sport requires you to hold a heavy rifle for a long time so the support from everyone is crucial.
“I hold my 5.5 kilogram air rifle in a standing position and aim for a bullseye the size of a tip of a ballpoint pen from 10 metres away with no telescopic sights.
“When shooting my .22 rifle I do so in three positions, standing, kneeling and laying prone on the ground. The target centre is the diameter of a five cent coin 50 metres away.”
Young travels interstate to competitions up to ten times a year.
Her shooting kit weighs 60 kilograms aloe.
ers knowing who will be leading the program over the coming years. Next year is our centenary year and this is a great way to start the celebrations”
The Woodsmen remain firmly in the hunt for a finals berth in the division 1 competition for a second straight season.
With four home-and-away rounds remaining, Spotswood sits just one win outside the top five.
There was a division 1 bye on the weekend, giving the Woodsmen a well earned brek.
The Woodsmen will be aiming for a sixth win in a row as they face Parkside this Saturday.
VTCA
The Druids have welcomed back one of their best players in return times Michael Hay for the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Isaacs Howarth Shield season. After a spell away in Victorian Premier Cricket with Footscray and Northcote, Hay brings back his his elite talent, experience, and energy back to the Wizards. Hay is a Paxino medalist, Druids club champion, premiership player and former first XI captain. Meanwhile the Wizards announced that Jared Andrews has recommitted as head of cricket and the club’s senior coach.
Talent League
Western Jets’ Billy Wigmore and Jake Miller were both named in the under-18 boys all-Australian team following that national championships. Wigmore was named in the back pocket, while Miller was named at centre half forward. The pair played key roles as Vic Metro went through the carnival undefeated. The Western Jets had a bye on the weekend.
Young’s air rifle is affectionately known as Frank.
“I am only five feet tall and a standard rifle doesn’t work for my height,” she said. “We had to source parts worldwide to build a rifle to suit me.
“Even my .22 calibre rifle (known as Gru) was imported from Switzerland and designed for me.”
In 2025, Young competed at her first international competition. Traditionally a shooter’s scores can drop by 20 points,hers only dropped by 10.
She said you are taken out of your comfort zone.
“In the warm up area there are hundreds of athletes all talking different languages, but all with a common purpose,” she said.
“I kept telling myself to stay calm, don’t spiral, do what you can do and stay in control.”
Young holds 12 state records.
She is currently focusing on making the national development team and her longer goal to compete in the Junior World Cup and then World Championships.
Her pinnacle is to represent Australia in Brisbane 2032.
“Shooting challenges you on so many levels,” she said.
“There are always so many little things to get right to make that perfect shot.
“I am not daunted by the challenges; I want to meet them head on.”
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, contact swrsportsclub@gmail. com or 0408 556 631.
Williamstown CYMS returned to the winners list in the Victorian Amatuer Football Association premier B competition on Saturday. Facing AJAX, there was nothing in the game for three quarters, with the CYs leading by eight points at three quarter time. The CYs kicked three goals to one in the final quarter to win, 14.15 (99)-11.10 (76). Maahi Patel kicked six goals for the CYs and was named in the best along with Dean Cutajar and William Chan. The win moves the CYs off the bottom of the ladder, now two points clear of last.
VAFA
Williamstown CYMS returned to the winners list in the Victorian Amatuer Football Association women’s premier B competition on Saturday. Taking on Glen Eira-Old McKinnon, the CYs won 3.6 (24)-2.8 (20). The CYs had trailed by five points at half time before kicking two goals to one in the second half. The CYs sit fifth on the ladder, percentage outside the top four.
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By Tara Murray
A poor start proved costly for the City West Falcons in their Victorian Netball League qualifying final on Wednesday.
Facing the Hawks, who have been the best team all season, the Falcons had a task on their hands.
Despite beating the Hawks the last time the two teams played, it was the Hawks that went in as favourites.
The Hawks led 22-15 at quarter time and by 12 goals at half time.
While the Falcons won the second half, the damage had already been done with the Hawks winning, 77-68.
Falcons’ coach Marg Lind said defensive-
ly they weren’t where they needed to be.
“We got off to a terrible start and defensively, we were poor,” she said.
“We could not turn the ball over and then when you’re in that position, you can’t make errors and we did.
“That was the score in the end, what we gave them in the first quarter.”
Lind said she thought the Hawks did well offensively, but they went away from what their plan was.
She said the second half was better and they were a bit more patient.
They tried some different things and combinations to try and get things going.
“I thought we were a bit more patient and defensively we strategised a bit better and
we problem solved,” she said.
“We ran some things we talked about running and didn’t commit to in the first half. I thought Lauren [Hucker] was a bit more aggressive and able to do a bit more in defence.
“We put Maggie [Lind] into the centre so see if we could get a bit more, to try and get the defensive ending going as she’s a good leader and to get them talking.”
Jane Cook finished with 66 goals for the Falcons.
The Falcons get a second chance and will now face the Bendigo Strikers in a knockout semi final on this Wednesday night.
Lind said they would be tougher again with Charlotte Sexton having an impact
By Tara Murray
Braybrook kept its Western Football League division 2 finals hopes alive with a last-gasp win against Wyndhamvale on Saturday.
Knowing they need everything to go right in the run home to play finals, the Brookers got their best win of the season to knock off the reigning premiers.
Both sides had players out in what was a vital match for both sides.
The Falcons were coming off two straight losses.
The Falcons led throughout the day with a margin of 10 points heading into the final quarter.
Braybrook hit the lead late before the Falcons got back in front.
The match would come down to one of the last kicks of the game with 20 seconds to go, with the Brookers winning 8.7(55)7.12 (54).
“It was a good day for us,” Brookers coach Geoff Maddern said. “They fought it out to the end and credit to them.
“We hit the lead with minutes to go and it was the first time for the day. Wyndhamvale answered with a couple of
minutes to go.
“We got the ball far enough forward and a tackle from Chase Wassall got him a free kick and put him in range.”
Maddern said Wassall loves a goal and they were confident that he would kick the winner.
Wassell finished the game with three goals.
Maddern was full of praise for Corey Spackman and the job that he did on Lewis Stanton.
The Brookers sit in seventh spot, two games outside the top five with three rounds remaining.
Maddern said it had been do or die for them for a number of weeks.
“It keeps us in it,” he said “If we lost we would have been out of it but we still have a slim chance to sneak in.
“It’s a week by week proposition for us. We had a couple of close losses and a draw that we felt like we had the ascendency in earlier in the year, which has us in the position we’re in.”
The Brookers face fifth placed Albanvale this Saturday in a must win game.
Maddern said nothing changes for
since returning to the Strikers side.
The Falcons 23 and under side kept its season alive with a 65-61 elimination final win.
Lind said it was pleasing for them to get the win in the end after it was tight all game.
She said Molly Moylan was steady in goal attack with 30 goals, while Ella Leith and Manon Muir were both good in defence.
The Falcons will face Melbourne University Lightning in a knockout semi final as well.
Lind said that Tully Bethune would likely be available for selection after missing the elimination final through injury.
Melbourne Aces’ triple-crown leader from the 2025-26 International Baseball Showdown, lrich Bojarski, has officially re-signed for the 2026-27 season It will be his season season in Melbourne and his 11th season in professional baseball.
The South-African born player spent eight seasons at the Perth Heat previously.
Bojarski joins a growing group of cornerstone Aces returning this summer, including Darryl George, Aaron Whitefield, Chris Burke and Jarrod Belbin, with the Aces putting together a strong squad again.
The 27-year-old outfielder delivered a standout debut season for the Aces, leading the club among qualified hitters in batting average (.368), home runs (eight) and runs batted in (31) across 27 games.
His impact helped power Melbourne to the best overall record in the KBO Fall League and series wins in five of six matchups during the 2025-26 International Baseball Showdown at Melbourne Ballpark, including victories over KBO clubs Hanwha Eagles and kt wiz.
Arguably, Bojarski’s most memorable series of the summer came during the Continental Cup against the Killer B’s of the Yinzer Pro League, where he homered in all three games of the series and drove in seven combined runs.
them from here on in.
“It’s been do or die for the last 10 weeks after dropping those close games.
“We’re still happy and the boys are up and about and I’m really enjoying myself.”
In the other matches on the weekend, North Footscray and West Footscray both came away with wins.
The Roosters were too strong for the Western Rams as they won, 26.16 (172)10.8 (68).
Matthew Turcinovich kicked 16 goals in a best on ground performance for the Roosters.
The Roosters are now second on the ladder after the Falcons loss.
North Footscray snuck home against the Suns, 10.12 (72)-7.9 (51).
Mathew Serafin kicked four goals for the Devils, while Jason Agrotis and Nicholas Papakalodoukas were named their best.
Elsewhere, Laverton lost to Albanvale, 33.28 (226)-3.1 (19).
Jake Marinis, Jonty Bond and Shannon Gill were named the Magpies best.
There was a division 1 wide on the weekend.
He also led the Aces in slugging percentage (.651) and OPS (1.066) across 123 plate appearances, cementing himself as one of the most dangerous bats in Melbourne’s lineup.
Bojarski also represented Team Australia at the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Tokyo, Japan, marking his second time being selected to Australia’s 30-man roster.
His professional career includes a five-year minor league stint within the Detroit Tigers organisation.
After signing in 2016 as an 18-year-old, Bojarski played 324 games from Rookie Ball to Double-A, hitting 25 home runs.
His affiliated career was highlighted by midseason all-star honours with the High-A West Michigan Whitecaps in 2019, the same season he hit for the cycle.
