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26 AUGUST, 2026

Big walk for Dotty By Glenn Fisher A parent knows when their child is unwell. Especially when that child is usually an energetic two-year-old who suddenly becomes exhausted and clingy, with recurring infections, fevers, night sweats and weight loss. It was March last year when Werribee mum Katy Rayner noticed the change in daughter Dotty. After several rounds of antibiotics failed to help, Dotty began vomiting blood one night. Katy and husband Jacob rushed her to the Royal Children’s Hospital, where tests revealed the devastating news. Dotty had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. “Everything happened so quickly after that. They started treatment within five minutes. There was no chance to process it,” recalls Katy. Dotty spent 10 days in the paediatric oncology ward as her family faced the overwhelming reality of cancer treatment. Katy and Jacob took turns staying by her side while the other went home to rest and care for Dotty’s older brother, Lincoln, leaving little time for the family to be together. Th is was when Camp Quality became a source of light. Child life therapists helped Dotty understand her treatment through play, while Lincoln, who often felt left out as his family’s energy went into his sister’s care, found comfort of his own. After discovering Camp Quality via a poster at the chemotherapy day clinic, the family attended their fi rst family camp last December. “It was amazing to be with other families in our situation, who looked like ours,” Katy said. The camp also gave her and Jacob a rare chance to reconnect, while Lincoln made close friends with other siblings who understood exactly what he was going through. Dotty has since returned to kindergarten, made plenty of friends and has got back to having a social side of life. She is now in maintenance chemotherapy, continuing three-month treatment cycles and nightly medication at home. Dotty is due to fi nish treatment on 10 June 2027, her fi fth birthday. “I can see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. I know we’re going to get there,

Dotty with mum Katy Rayner and brother Lincoln. (Damjan Janeski)

and every day is a step closer,” Katy said. “The change in Dotty from diagnosis to now has been incredible to see. At the beginning, she was so unwell and treatment took a huge toll on her physically. “There was a point where she was incredibly weak and even had to relearn how to walk, which was heartbreaking to watch. Now, seeing her running around, playing, laughing and just being a normal little girl again is something we don’t take for granted.” Katy said the family couldn’t speak highly enough of the nurses and doctors in the Royal Children’s Hospital oncology ward. “They have been such an important part

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of our journey with Dotty, and we’ve felt incredibly supported by them from the very beginning,” she said. “They’ve not only looked after Dotty medically, but they’ve also looked after us as parents. There have been so many scary and overwhelming moments where we’ve had questions, worries or just needed reassurance, and they’ve always taken the time to listen and explain things to us.” Th is September, Dotty and her family will participate in the seventh annual Camp Quality’s Big Walk for Little Kids to raise funds for children facing cancer. Every month, 64 Australian children are diagnosed with cancer. The Big Walk invites people of all ages, fitness levels and abilities to choose their own challenge,

walking 64km, 128km or 192km throughout September. Funds raised help Camp Quality provide their supportive programs and services, including family camps, kids’ camps, family retreats and emergency respite, which give kids and families facing cancer a vital break from hospital stays, treatment and stress. Participants can sign up online as an individual or a team, and ask friends, family members, school or work mates to sponsor their efforts to help raise funds. Since Camp Quality’s Big Walk started, it has raised more than $9 million to give families a break from cancer. https:// www.campquality.org.au/

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Family violence demand The Western Region Centre Against Sexual Assault (WestCASA) is demanding state election candidates across Melbourne’s west commit to addressing the lack of sexual assault and family violence services in the region. A not-for-profit sexual assault counselling service operating across the western suburbs, WestCASA claims victim-survivors in the area face significant barriers to accessing support, including long waitlists, workforce shortages, limited culturally safe services and significant gaps in early intervention, prevention and community education. According to the organisation, more than 35,000 people in Melbourne’s west

are expected to be impacted by sexual violence in 2026–27 alone. Yet while demand is rising rapidly, WestCASA claims service capacity in the west remains constrained, leading to what it calls an “increasingly dangerous mismatch.” Along with calling on candidates for November’s state election to make the issue a priority, WestCASA chief executive Annette Vickery said the current government didn’t need to wait until after polling day. “The Victorian Government has an opportunity to make a meaningful investment now, before unmet need becomes greater, waiting lists become longer and the human and social costs of inaction become even

harder to reverse,” Ms Vickery said. “Melbourne’s west cannot continue to grow without the services and infrastructure needed to keep its communities safe.” The state government was contacted for comment. WestCASA is warning that the consequences of not acting are significant, arguing that victim-survivors who can’t access support can experience negative impacts across their health, relationships, families, education and employment. “The costs of inaction are ultimately carried not only by victim-survivors, but by the broader health, justice, social services and community systems,” a WestCASA statement said.

In particular, WestCASA is demanding extra funding for itself, claiming it is the smallest sexual assault service in the fastest growing region in Victoria. “We acknowledge and genuinely appreciate the investment and support provided by government to date. But current investment does not reflect the size of the population we serve, the scale of violence experienced in our communities, or the rapidly growing demand for specialist support,” the statement said. “This is about more than funding one organisation. “It is about whether people living in Melbourne’s west have an equitable right to safety, support, justice and recovery.”

Teacher pay deal struck

Abdul Monib Rustamy, originally from Afghanistan, is one of the staff learning new skills at P&G Paper Tubes. (Damjan Janevski). 572814_13

Business turns profits into pathways A paper tube factory in Hoppers Crossing is proving that businesses can succeed commercially while also changing lives. On Friday 28 August, P&G Paper Tubes celebrates the graduation of its second class of participants in its innovative employment program. P&G Paper Tubes manufactures the cardboard tubes and cores used across Australian industries. But the factory serves a dual purpose – it is the commercial engine of the Victorian social enterprise Purpose & Growth, which reinvests 100 percent of the business’s profits into creating employment path-

ways for refugees, asylum seekers, veterans, and other Australians facing barriers to work. The results speak for themselves. Purpose & Growth has supported over 50 people into employment, paying nearly $2.5 million in wages to new Australians. On Friday, two program participants received their Level 1 Operator certificates, a milestone achieved through hands-on work experience and skills training within the fully commercial manufacturing business. “Every participant’s journey is different. Our goal isn’t simply to make peo-

ple job-ready, it’s to provide that crucial first opportunity to gain Australian work experience, build confidence, and take the next step towards long-term employment,“ said Lisa Bateup, general manager of P&G Paper Tubes. “Success isn’t always about finishing the program in the same place, it’s about ensuring every participant leaves in a stronger position than when they arrived.“ The organisation plans to expand this model, aiming to create an “army of successful alumni“ advocating for businesses that marry commercial success and social impact.

Paramedic boost for Werribee as health workforce grows Werribee will gain a extra paramedic skills as Victoria’s emergency health workforce continues to expand. The state government has announced 24 graduate paramedics and four new Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedics will join Ambulance Victoria. The new recruits were welcomed by Premier Ben Carroll and Ambulance Services Minister Ingrid Stitt on Tuesday 18 August, with the graduate cohort beginning a fourweek induction program. The Hillside posting is just one of 20 graduate placements across metropolitan Melbourne, with other new paramedics set to be stationed at Hillside, Moonee Ponds,

St Albans, Caulfield, Eltham, Rosebud and Ferntree Gully. Four graduates will also be placed at regional branches across Geelong, Kilmore, and Gisborne. The latest intake brings more than 80 graduate, qualified, and MICA paramedics into the Ambulance Victoria workforce since July. The state government said 294 additional graduate paramedics had been recruited over the past year. The new graduates will undertake training in clinical education, driving, manual handling, and occupational violence, building on the skills developed during their

2 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 26 August, 2026

three-year university degrees. They are expected to begin working on the road from Monday 14 September. Four qualified MICA paramedics have also joined Ambulance Victoria from New South Wales, the United Kingdom and, for the first time, Vanuatu. The specialist paramedics will be based in Wonthaggi, Mildura and Horsham, strengthening critical care capabilities in regional Victoria. MICA paramedics receive advanced intensive care training and are equipped to manage critically ill and injured patients, including complex airway management, head and chest trauma and cardiac emergencies.

Victoria’s school teachers will become the highest paid in the country following an acceptance of the state government’s latest pay conditions by members of the Australian Education Union (AEU). AEU members voted 79 per cent in favour of the latest offer on Monday 17 August, after a year-long bargaining process. The new pay deal will deliver total pay rises between 28.3 per cent and 32.4 per cent over four years for teachers, assistant principals, and principals, plus a $2000 bonus at the start of the agreement. Under the new deal, an early career teacher’s salary will rise by $12,343 by October this year, bringing their pay in line with their New South Wales counterparts. An experienced teacher’s salary will rise from $118,063 to $151,419 by 2029, including a $15,393 increase this year, which puts them ahead of New South Wales teachers. The offer also includes improvements to working conditions, including reduced meetings and four professional practice days each year. AEU sub-branch president and Melton Secondary College teacher Abanob Saad called the state government’s latest offer a step in the right direction. “This deal puts fuel back in the tank – fairer pay, better conditions and the respect educators deserve,” he said. The agreement brings an end to months of prolonged disputes between members of the AEU and the state government after teachers, principals, and education support staff rejected a pay offer of a 17 per cent increase over three years proposed in March, a revised 28.3 per cent increase over four years made in April, an improved offer in May, and another just last month. The acceptance also came just days before a third planned 24-hour strike was due to be held on Wednesday 18 August, which the AEU cancelled. Mr Saad said the deal reflected members’ refusal of current poor working conditions. “This deal is the result of thousands of educators refusing to accept poor quality work…[it] is the first that shows genuine improvement,” he said. AEU Victorian branch president Justin Mullaly said the outcome was thanks to the powerful campaign of tens of thousands of public school staff, rather than the state government. Mr Saad said AEU members would continue fighting for commitment from the state government to bring funding for schools in line with other states. The agreement will now proceed to a vote of all employees as required under the Fair Work Act.

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Homestead history help By Glenn Fisher The search is on for pieces of Point Cook Homestead’s history that are missing from the archives. Point Cook Homestead Activation Group has put out a call to local residents, history enthusiasts and community ‘sleuths’ to help uncover old photographs and information about the homestead and its surrounds. The group is particularly searching for material from the 1920s onwards, about the time the Chirnside family sold the property. Photographs and records showing the homestead during the decades that followed are extremely limited. While the group has located a 1942 aerial

photograph and some other historical material, there are still significant gaps in the photographic record before images became more readily available from the 1970s onwards. Point Cook Activation Group member and Wyndham councillor Susan McIntyre said finding this material was important for understanding how the homestead and its surrounds had changed over time. “We would particularly love to find photographs or descriptions showing the exterior of the homestead, its gardens, outbuildings and surrounding landscape,” Cr McIntyre said. “These images could provide an important piece of the puzzle. They may help guide

Point Cook Activation Group member Julie Connell. (Damjan Janevski). 572898_03

future restoration and interpretation work and ensure the history we share about this very special place is as accurate as possible.”

The group believes valuable photographs may still be tucked away in family albums, newspaper collections or boxes of historical material. Anyone with photographs, memories or information from this period, or who knows someone who may be able to help, is encouraged to contact the group through its Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/pchomesteadrestoration/ or by emailing pchomesteadrestoration@gmail.com. As reported in Star Weekly last month, the state government announced $1.2 million to help begin restoring Point Cook Homestead and improve access to Point Cook Coastal Park following years of community and council campaigns.

State election work available

Students Tamieka, Krish and Layla are among the cast of Shrek the Musical Jr. (Damjan Janevski). 573126_01

Sold-out Shrek on stage at Werribee SC Almost a year in the making, with a cast and backstage crew of more than 90 students, Werribee Secondary College will unveil its annual musical this week to two sold-out audiences totalling more than 440 people. Shrek the Musical Jr takes to the college’s Joy Bevan Theatre stage this Thursday and Friday night following close to 40 rehearsals after school and at lunch breaks, with musical director and drama and theatre studies teacher Jayden Anderson at the helm. Mr Anderson told Star Weekly that

there had been some nervous moments leading up to the performances with final costumes only arriving earlier this month, but that the cast was “amazing” and he had “enjoyed every minute of the journey”. Starring Year 11 students Tamieka Reader as Shrek, Layla Hayes as Fiona and Krish Gurram as Donkey, Mr Anderson said all cast members were itching to get out on stage and perform. Tamieka said she and the rest of the cast were excited to finally hit the stage. “The whole cast and crew have put in so

Priority Tarneit intersection project done A $10.5 million upgrade of the Tarneit and Leakes roads intersection has been completed, with lanes duplicated, new traffic lights and improved cycling lanes. The Connecting Wyndham priority project included upgrading and installing new traffic lights to improve the flow of traffic, introducing both on-road and off-road cycling lanes and resurfacing the Leakes Road service road between Penrose Promenade and Tarneit Road. Wyndham City Mayor Cr Mia Shaw said the upgrade would significantly improve turning capacity at the intersection as well as overall traffic flow, making it easier for the community to travel around Tarneit and neighbouring suburbs. “Tarneit is one of our fastest-growing communities, and this upgrade is about making sure our road network keeps pace with that growth by delivering safer, smooth-

er and more reliable journeys for residents every day,” Cr Shaw said. “This project is the third major project delivered through our Connecting Wyndham program and the duplication of this intersection is a major step forward for connectivity in Wyndham, creating a safer and more efficient transport link for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike. “These upgrades are not just about adding lanes – they’re about improving how people move through our community, whether they’re driving to work, walking across the intersection or cycling to nearby destinations.” Planning is also underway for an upcoming duplication of Leakes Road (Tarneit Road to Derrimut Road), with $15 million allocated in the 2026/27 Council budget and construction expected to commence later this year.

much effort and worked perfectly alongside each other,” she said. Krish said when he walked into the auditions for this production, he wanted to be Donkey and has since invested himself in the character, rewatching the original Shrek movie to brush up on Donkey’s voice, mannerisms and overall comedic portrayal. “We’ve all had so many laughs putting this show together,” he said. Shrek the Musical Jr is on this Thursday and Friday, 27 and 28 August.

The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is looking for more than 25,000 people to fill a wide range of roles across Victoria for this November’s state election. Roles include working at a voting centre and counting ballots on election day Saturday 28 November, or supporting operations during the entire election period. “Working with the VEC is a great way to contribute to your local community, making sure every Victorian can have their say at this state election,” electoral commissioner Sven Bluemmel said. “We have many casual election staff who return each election because they enjoy the fast pace, pay and purpose of the role. But you don’t need past experience, we encourage anyone interested to apply.” Casual election staff receive training, and the experience can help develop skills in administration, customer service and teamwork, while supporting democracy in their community. Applicants must be 18 years or older, eligible to work in Australia and available on election day, Saturday 28 November. During recruitment, applicants will need to declare any political activities they are currently or have previously been involved with. People can register their interest at vec. vic.gov.au/workatelections

Wyndham City Council, Heathdale Ward by-election Declaration of result The following candidate was elected at the Wyndham City Council, Heathdale Ward by-election held in August 2026:

McALINEY, Kim Colleen Kopelke Election manager Thursday 13 August 2026 The Victorian Electoral Commission conducted this by-election on behalf of Wyndham City Council. For enquiries in languages other than English: Ꭻጳቹᓭ (Arabic) 9209 0100 • ĥŇŁĭőĿĲŇ ĥŇ (Assyrian) 9209 0160 • ĿĄÿűĄœ (Burmese) 9209 0161 • 䨾ḑᳫ㑅 (Mandarin) 9209 0106 • ⶡ㘯夯 (Cantonese) 9209 0101 • Hrvatski (Croatian) 9209 0102 • ጕጳᓯ (Dari) 9209 0193 • 7KX‫ܧ‬ƾMlƾ (Dinka) 9209 0119 • ǼȜȜȘȞȚțȐ (Greek) 9209 0103 • ብጴጳᐕᓯ (Hazaragi) 9209 0162 • Italiano (Italian) 9209 0104 • șͰʡ̾ʯ (Khmer) 9209 0192 • ଛ˯ߪ (Korean) 9209 0194 • ɦɚɤɟɞɨɧɫɤɢ (Macedonian) 9209 0105 • ċĸčĭĕı (Nepali) 9209 0163 • Ꮛቨጳፗᓯ (Persian) 9209 0195 • ࡗࡩࡠࡩࡷࡎ࡙ (Thai) 9209 0164 • Türkçe (Turkish) 9209 0110 • ቨጳጕᓆ (Urdu) 9209 0165 • 7LӃQJ 9LӋW (Vietnamese) 9209 0111 • All other non-English languages 9209 0112 vec.vic.gov.au | 131 832 @electionsvic Authorised by S. Bluemmel, Electoral Commissioner, 530 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria. 12871627-CV35-26

Wednesday, 26 August, 2026 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 3

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Cr Gilligan to step down Josh Gilligan will resign as a Wyndham councillor ... in January. The Wimba Ward councillor announced his planned departure from council on social media on Friday, stating he intended to leave at the end of January. Cr Gilligan said this coincided with the end of the municipal monitors’ term at Wyndham. “I intend to remain until then to ensure their work can be seen through properly,“ he said. In announcing his departure, Cr Gilligan took aim at the regulations surrounding local government. “Local government in Victoria is being

regulated into paralysis,“ he said. “The law that governs it empowers too many vested interests, leaving the sector ungovernable and repellent to the very leaders we need in the tier of government closest to the people.“ Cr Gilligan has been suspended from council twice this year. In February, he was forced to apologise for a Facebook post in which he called a then-former colleague a “raging lunatic”. That suspension resulted in his removal as mayor. In June, he was suspended for two weeks after an arbiter made a finding of misconduct against him.

Cr Gilligan, who was first elected to council in 2016 and was Wyndham’s youngest mayor at 26, said serving the community has been an “extraordinary privilege“. “In any thriving democracy, residents are the only jury that counts. Theirs is the verdict I have put myself before, three times, including in my second term with the highest primary vote of any candidate ever to stand for election in Wyndham’s history,“ he said. “The greatest honours of my life belong to this journey: elected Wyndham’s youngest ever mayor at 26, serving through the biggest pandemic in living memory, and later our youngest ever deputy mayor.

“Most importantly, to the residents of Tarneit, Hoppers Crossing and Werribee: thank you for your trust, three times over.“ He listed his biggest achievements as helping to secure reforms that mean parks and main roads are now delivered at the same time as houses in new estates, securing half a billion dollars in infrastructure for Tarneit, backing young leaders through the Youth Civic Participation Program, and helping to secure the ’Big Shed’- a future major community space. He also listed the campaign to keep toxic soil out of Wyndham Vale and preventing a prison from being built in Point Cook as being among his achievements.

Students unveil beauty in a beast

Wyndham Museum\’s president Lisa Heinrichs accidentally discovered an old photo behind another old framed photo hanging in the museum.

Secret snap discovery at museum The foreboding, crashing sound echoing through Wyndham Museum earlier this month was definitely not on Lisa Heinrich’s bingo card for that day. But rather than being a historical artefact falling and smashing to pieces, that crashing sound instead unveiled a whole new mystery for the Werribee District Historical Society president and her fellow volunteers. Ms Heinrichs was waiting for a private tour group at the museum on 5 August when she heard the crash and as she rushed in from an adjoining room, she saw the museum’s Carter family por-

trait frame standing upright on the floor against the wall. “When picking it up, I noticed the brown paper backing had slightly come away and when I peered down, something else was in there,” she said. She placed the frame back against the wall, then resumed her investigation the following Saturday when the museum reopened. “Another volunteer, Rosemary, and I finally peeled back the paper on that Saturday and we found a second hidden photo stuck to the back of the frame’s cardboard interior,” Ms Heinrichs said. “This frame

has been in our collection since the early 1960s, and nobody knew this second photo existed.” James Carter and his family settled in Werribee from England in 1910 and Walter, the middle child of five, started what was to become the largest egg and poultry farm in the southern hemisphere at the time. The original photo on display in the museum was taken in 1910 at Werribee, but the hidden photo appears to have been taken about six or seven years earlier, with one less child and most likely captured in England before their journey to Australia.

Victorians warned about risks of buying used cars In a move to address growing concerns over the used car market, the Victorian government has launched a new campaign to educate consumers about their rights when purchasing a used vehicle. The ’Don’t Buy a Regret’ campaign aims to raise awareness among Victorians, particularly young buyers, about the potential pitfalls of used car purchases. According to the government’s own research, more than two-thirds of young Victorians have bought a used car, and many are unaware of what to check before making a purchase or what to do if something goes wrong after the sale.

The campaign comes as the government prepares to introduce new legislation to strengthen consumer protections against unlicensed trading and modernise the regulatory framework for motor car trading across the state. “Buying a used car is a big purchase – get it wrong and you’re left out of pocket with an unreliable car, and no help from the seller,“ said Minister for Consumer Affairs Tim Richardson. The research found that nearly a third of sampled used cars were advertised online with odometers wound back by at least 25,000 kilometres, a practice the

4 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 26 August, 2026

government is seeking to crack down on. “More Victorians are shopping for cars online, and our laws will make sure dodgy operators have nowhere to hide,“ Mr Richardson added. The education campaign will provide practical advice to help consumers navigate the used car market, with a focus on the importance of understanding their rights and protections, especially when purchasing from private sellers. “We want Victorians to understand their rights so they don’t get taken for a ride,“ Mr Richardson said.

Westbourne Grammar Truganina is busy with final preparations for its inaugural Middle School Musical of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR next week. Westbourne’s head of music and performing arts for middle school, Helen Toner, who is also the musical’s director, said Beauty and the Beast Jr was an ideal performance for students in years 5 to 8. “The best part about being a director in a musical like this is watching our students grow in self-belief throughout the production,” Ms Toner said. “You see students stumble, recover and succeed, all while surrounded by peers who often become friends. “It is no wonder that a school musical is often one of the memories that stays with our students long after they have graduated from Westbourne. “I may be biased, but we have some real stars in our cast. I have a feeling we will be seeing much more of them on stages in years to come. “The story reminds us that everyone has strengths, struggles and untapped potential. When we choose understanding over judgment, we create opportunities for people to shine.” In addition to starring as a lead actor in the senior school musical earlier in the year, year 12 student Charlie has taken on the role of stage manager for the middle school’s production. As stage manager, Charlie will help bring the performance to life, making sure performers and crew are ready as well as coordinating lighting, sound and scene changes. Charlie is also a mentor and has some advice for his younger performers. “I wish I got involved in musicals earlier, but now I have, I am so glad I did. Being part of shows like this enabled me to find myself and grow my confidence,” he said. “Whether it is a hobby or a career, this is something I want to keep doing.”. Beauty and the Beast Jr will be staged next Wednesday and Thursday, 2 and 3 September in the Westbourne Auditorium, with last-minute tickets available at: https://www.trybooking.com/events/ landing/1546000

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BEHIND THE NEWS

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Committee secretary Bill Meeker. (Damjan Janevski) 571340_05

The 2025 Grand Parade. (KDAF)

Daffodils. (KDAF)

The scarecrow trail will return this year. (KDAF)

Kyneton blooms The weather’s warming and the daffodils are blooming, which can only mean one thing – it’s almost time for the Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival. The 10-day event will transform the streets of Kyneton into a springtime celebration, culminating in a grand parade held on Sunday 13 September. Georgia Tacey caught up with some of the community members involved in the festival, who are helping breathe new life into one of the town’s oldest traditions.

or more than 50 years, Kyneton has found new ways to keep the daffodils blooming. The Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival is getting ready to spring into action this September, for a community celebration hosted by a dedicated group of volunteers. The 10-day event will welcome the start of the new season to the town, with a diverse schedule of arts, culture, gardens, entertainment and more full of country spirit. The festival continues to bring new and old events to Kyneton each year, with much-loved traditions returning alongside a host of new additions. Past committee secretary Marg Dearricott, who helped run the festival for close to 20 years, said it dates back well into the ’70s. “It hasn’t really had any ups and downs, every year people have continued it with great faith in the daffodils,” Marg said. “Right back in the 1970s and ‘80s, it was pretty lively and over the years, the only hiccups have been the Covid years, those two years where we couldn’t do very much.” While the festival’s events may have changed over the years, some traditions are still held tightly, like the crowning of the Daffodil Royal Family. Each year at the opening night, a King, Queen, and four junior royals are crowned, with the community able to nominate those that embody the spirit of the festival and the community. A former queen herself, Marg said the royal honour is very special for the Kyneton community. “I’ve got a list of all the kings and queens for 40 years, and the children that were involved,” Marg said. “It gives people, the kids particularly, a great boost to be involved in it.” Other events have come and gone, she said, but not without something new fi nding its place. “We used to have a Daffodil Ball, but the people that were involved, some of them have passed on and it stopped, but

Kyneton’s emergency services are joining the Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival. (Damjan Janevski) 571342_01

It’s always been a vibrant festival, and a great drawcard for Kyneton - Marg Dearricott a new event took its place,” she said. “It’s always been a vibrant festival, and a great drawcard for Kyneton.” Current secretary Bill Meeker said this year’s festival will keep its country festival roots while debuting new events as well, all under this year’s theme of ‘The Bulb and the Beautiful’. “It has a pretty eclectic range of events, from people showing their open gardens to ferret racing, the bull boar sausage eating competition, an art prize,” he said. Fan favourite events, like the Dog Dash,

6 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 26 August, 2026

Festival of One Act Plays, the Scarecrow Trail will return once again, as will the annual Grand Parade through Mollison Street, before the celebrations continue with a fair at the Old Kyneton Primary School “What’s pretty exciting is that there’s about 10 brand new events, which take heaps of work to get off the ground,” Bill said. “There’s roller skating, and the BloomBox Open Mic and Flower Power, which are both live music events. “And one I’m really proud of is I’ve organised a fun run within the festival.” The Daffodil Dash, where walkers or runners can take part in a 5km or 11km fun run throughout Kyneton, is a new event to the line up, inspired by Bill’s own love of running. All events are also put together by the small team of volunteers, but also part

of the festival are ones hosted by other community groups, businesses and organisations across Kyneton. One event included for the very fi rst time will be the Emergency Services Open Day, where Kyneton Police, CFA, Ambulance and Woodend SES are joining forces together for a special community day for the festival. Taking place on the fi rst weekend of the festival on Saturday 5 September, Kyneton Police will open up their station for the very fi rst time for tours, inviting the community into parts of Kyneton’s history they haven’t had the chance to see. “We’ve got a bit of history at the Kyneton Police Station with the Ned Kelly cells, where he was housed for three weeks in 1870,” First constable Josh Craik said. “Because that’s in the confi nes of the station, the public generally doesn’t get to see the Ned Kelly cells, so we thought we’ll open it up in conjunction with the Daffodil Festival, invite people through the station to have a look at the cells, have a look through our custody areas, and see some specialist policing.” Kyneton CFA will also have the station open, conducting tours and activities. Community safety officer Angelica Fox said there will be operational equipment on display, live demonstrations, hands-on activities with water, hoses and radios, as well as a recruitment drive. Kyneton Ambulance and Woodend SES will also have displays in the area as well. The Kyneton Daffodil Festival will officially begin with the Opening Night on Friday 4 September, where the Daffodil Royal Family will be crowned, the Art Prize winners will be announced alongside plenty of local live music at the Old Action House. The festival will conclude with the Grand Parade on Mollison Street and the Fair at the Old Kyneton Primary School. A full list of all events, ticket details and registrations are available on the website. Details: kynetondaffodilandartsfestival. com.au

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Ozzy incubated the eggs and has spent the last three weeks brooding the newly hatched chicks to keep them cozy and warm. Right: Each chick weighs a mere four to ﬁve grams. (Pictures: Zoos Victoria)

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Doting dad Ozzy’s early birds Hope has hatched a little early this year at Werribee Open Range Zoo with the fi rst Critically Endangered Plains-wanderer clutch to be born as part of a conservation breeding program during winter. Doting dad Ozzy made the most of an unusually temperate Melbourne winter to raise four tiny chicks, each weighing a mere four to five grams. Life Sciences manager, Yvette Pauligk said Plains-wanderers – like many Australian birds – tend to breed in spring but are capable of breeding year-round. “We know that in the wild, Plains-wanderer females can have multiple clutches of chicks throughout the year,” Ms Pauligk said. “Until now, we hadn’t seen breeding over winter in captivity, but the warm and wet autumn and winter conditions have proven ideal for reproduction.” Just like emus, male Plains-wanderer takes on most of the parenting labour.

Males and females will build their nest together; however, once the eggs are laid and dad is incubating, the females will take off leaving dad in charge. “Male Plains-wanderers are smaller and much more plain than their mates, who have gorgeous black and white spotted collars and russet chests. What the males lack in appearance they make up for in commitment to their offspring. “Dad will brood the chicks under his feathers to keep them nice and warm for the first three weeks of their lives until they lose their down feathers and are strong enough to start seeking independence. Over that time, he looks a little bit like an octopus with multiple sets of legs peeking out from under his plumage.” In a multi-state effort, zoo organisations have established a population of Plains-wanderers in a national conservation breeding program. Sixty chicks have been bred at Werribee since 2017.

The Wyndham Learning Festival kicks off on Tuesday 1 September. More more than 100 free activities and events will be delivered across Wyndham during the action packed week. This year’s theme, ‘Lifelong Learning for a Thriving Future’, celebrates the power of learning at every stage of life. Whether you’re looking to develop new skills, explore a hobby, grow your business, support your wellbeing or connect with your community, you’ll ﬁnd something to inspire you. For the full program go to www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/whatson/2026-wyndham-learning-festival

Nominate a legend Wyndham council invites residents to celebrate those individuals who make the community a better place by nominating these local legends for a Citizen or Young Citizen of the Year Award. To nominate someone visit www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/ citizenawards and complete the online form. Young Citizen of the Year is open to Wyndham residents aged 16 to 25 years. Citizen of the Year is open to those aged 26 and over. Nominations are open until 4 October.

FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Wyndham Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

Long-term solutions needed As part of an ongoing series on the causes and solutions to crime in the west, Sebastian Conidi spoke to community organisation Westjustice about the drivers of youth crime. Westjustice is a community organisation at forefront of providing fairness, safety and justice in the west. Director of policy, impact and engagement Owen Virtue said approaching the issue of youth crime from a holistic viewpoint was the best means of tackling root causes. “Government investments in new PSOs and police is a good thing if it makes people feel safe, but it’s only one side of the effort. We need to spend time addressing the root causes,” Mr Virtue said. “We might be able to catch it when it happens, but that won’t necessarily stop it from happening in the future.” When examining causes, Mr Virtue spoke of the trauma of the pandemic lockdowns. “Young people are finding it as hard to manage life after a two year lockdown as adults are.” He said other causes of youth crime include financial security, housing insecurity, family violence and mental health challenges. Combined these factors have lead to “social challenges across the board”. “People are really struggling. Those are the things we need to start tackling to address the issue long term.” Mr Virtue said there needed to be more emphasis on community infrastructure as opposed to simply imposing harsher legislation. “Heading towards November, there is a race to introduce new sentencing things that might lock people up for longer or punish them more. That makes sense in the context of a political environment, but

There is a race to introduce new sentencing things that might lock people up for longer or punish them more ... We’ve known for a long time that tougher sentencing does not stop crime - Owen Virtue

we’ve known for a long time that tougher sentencing does not stop crime.” Mr Virtue called for broader investment in social issues that extended beyond political debate and election campaigns. “It’s common in a political context for people to suggest all these legislative changes to fi x things, but it won’t work in isolation. As soon as the political context changes, we see closures of schools,

8 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 26 August, 2026

hospitals and health services. All things that actually support the root causes of these issues.” Mr Virtue said a good starting point would be an assessment of services that are lacking in the west. “If we know the root causes of offending, which are also the root causes of homelessness and economic challenge, then we know the services we need to

deliver. That will address concerns about crime as much as any investment in police. We need to do both.” Mr Virtue stressed the best response was one shared between the community, social organisations and the government. “If we are going to do this properly, it needs to be in partnership with the local community. We all need to work together. It can’t be done alone.”

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NEWS

Teen jailed over deadly crash By William Ton, AAP Months after a brutal assault confined an unsuspecting stranger to lifelong disability, a teenager upended the lives of another family. The 18-year-old was jailed on 18 August f or eight-and-a-half years over the death of his friend and an earlier episode of violence in Melbourne in 2025. A non-parole period of four years and six months was set. “It cannot be forgotten that a life was lost and another was irrevocably altered as a result of (your offending) over two (incidents),” Victorian County Court Chief Judge Amanda Chambers said. Drunk and driving unlicensed, the then17-year-old was speeding in a stolen SUV in

the early hours of 18 May. 2025, when he ran a red light and crashed into an oncoming car. His vehicle spun out of control and smashed into a pole at an intersection in Tarneit, causing the driver - who had been released on probation nine days earlier - to be ejected from the car. Friend and rear passenger Kevin Lomena-Olenga, 16, was found unconscious half-hanging out of the car and later died in hospital from a traumatic head injury. The driver pleaded guilty to culpable driving causing death, unlicensed driving and theft. Three months before the fatal crash, the teen driver had been involved in a violent assault which left Valentino Arop with a life-

long disability. He admitted to affray and intentionally causing serious injury. The then-juvenile was with five others when they came across Mr Arop and his friends inside a Flemington housing tower car park in the early hours of 6 February, 2025. After an argument, the teen king-hit Mr Arop. The subsequent brain injury was so catastrophic that the victim, aged in his 30s, was placed in a coma and now suffers a permanent disability, relying on family and support workers for everyday tasks. While the offending occurred before Victoria’s “adult time for violent crime” laws took effect, crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC called for an adult sentence due to the grave and horrifying consequences of

the offending. Defence barrister Naomi Smith argued her client would be vulnerable in custody and had endured a dysfunctional childhood, complete with a mother struggling with substance abuse and homelessness and an absent father. He also acquired a severe brain injury from a separate car crash in 2023. Her client, who cannot be identified as he was a juvenile at the time of the offending, had acknowledged the tragic consequences of his actions, Ms Smith said. Judge Chambers recommended the Adult Parole Board consider transferring the 18-year-old, who has already served 383 days in pre-sentence detention, to a youth detention facility to serve out his sentence.

My Place Julie Mason has been a Rotarian for three decades. A former teacher, Julie explains to Narelle Coulter why she loves the Wyndham community. What’s your connection to Wyndham? I moved to Wyndham over 40 years ago and with a background in education, I have worked as a teacher and educational leader in Werribee Primary School, Derrimut Heath Primary and Baden Powell College. My sons went to a local state school with one completing his education at MacKillop College. Over time I have had the privilege to engage with hundreds of students, colleagues and families. I have always believed that it takes a village to raise a child so Wyndham is my village and my absolute delight happens when people speak to me out in the community and I realise that, even though times could be tough in education, teachers really do make a difference in the lives of so many people. What do you like about where you live? I live at Sanctuary Lakes overlooking the golf course with wonderful neighbours and I really do love the serenity! I have made friends with the magpies and various other creatures that visit my backyard. To see gorgeous black swans strolling past your front door is amazing. I love the proximity to shops and restaurants. I see it as my big park to enjoy. What, if anything, would you change about where you live? I have always wanted to live in a place where I woke up each morning to see the sea. But I realise that you cannot have everything in life.

Wyndham Rotary club service director Julie Mason. (Damjan Janevski). 568929_04

Where is your favourite local place to spend time? I enjoy spending time at Wyndham Harbour. A leisurely wander around looking at the wildlife and the boats followed by a coffee and cake reminds me that we really do live in the lucky country. How and when did you become involved in Rotary and what do you love about being a Rotarian? I was asked to join Rotary 33 years ago. Three years before that I learnt a little about

Rotary from both a neighbour and a principal colleague and was so impressed with the projects that they were talking about that I said I would like to join only to discover that women could not join. I guess that made me even more interested in joining. My time in Wyndham Rotary provided an alignment to support young people in many ways. Arts scholarships, leadership development camps, the Wyndham Rotary Run/ Walk providing much needed support to the Mercy Hospital Paediatric Ward, food, clothes and sleeping bags for the homeless

are just a few ways that Rotary makes a difference in the Wyndham Community. I love the fact that Wyndham Rotary provided heart surgery for children in India, knitted jumpers and beanies for newborn babies in Nigeria, and eye surgery for six hundred people my age, again in India, who can now see and have a better quality of life. Rotary is all about service above self and I especially love the kindness and care shown by my friends at Wyndham Rotary.

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Wednesday, 26 August, 2026 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 9

HISTORY

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The missing milko mystery Williamstown amateur historian Barb McNeill is Star Weekly’s history columnist. This week she tells the tale of a missing milkman and the mystery of a body that washed up at Williamstown.

Joseph Elsum, 55 years old and married sometimes happily - to Sarah, was strolling along The Esplanade, Williamstown, on Saturday 8 March, 1890, when he found a body floating among the rocks near Bunbury’s Baths. Ten years previously, Sarah had proceeded against him at the Williamstown court for maintenance, and the bench had ordered 5 shillings a week for 12 months with costs. Still bitter about his wife’s unreasonable behaviour, Joe had a shrewd idea who the body might be, a man who had evoked his strong sympathy - one Patrick Blewitt, who had run away from his missus the previous month. The police were notified of the apparent drowning, and Constable Gardiner conveyed the body on a cart to the morgue. The news alerted a woman in Collingwood who read the description of the deceased, decided that it fitted her missing husband to a whisker and was preparing to claim him as her own. Shortly afterwards, she was only too happy to read the papers’ later editions about a positive identification in Williamstown, and announced that Mrs Blewitt was more than welcome to him. Mrs Margaret Blewitt quickly arranged the funeral with Mr Shepherd, local undertaker, after which she attended the inquest and identified the deceased by a burn mark on his hand. Dr Hector MacLean, who had performed the post mortem, said there was no mark of any burn on his hand or anywhere else. Constable Gardiner, who knew the milkman, said it was somebody else. The local lighthouse keeper agreed with Constable Gardiner, as did others who knew the milkman well. Th is was not Patrick Blewitt, though who he was, nobody could say. Others, however, including the Blewitts’ 10-year-old daughter, swore that it was the milko from Little Nelson Street now Aitken Street) and nothing would budge them, The jury ignored the deniers, found that the deceased was indeed Patrick Blewitt, and returned an open verdict. Thankfully, Mrs Blewitt gathered her brood and set off to bury her husband. Meanwhile, galvanised by a strong conscience, Constable Gardiner expressed grave doubts about the corpse’s identity to the coroner, Mr Samuel Candler. So insistent was the policeman that the coroner hastily scribbled an order for the body’s immediate return to the morgue and the inquest was adjourned until May. Alas, the body of the deceased was at that moment approaching the cemetery in a fi ne hearse drawn by beautifully plumed horses. By the time the order was brought by a panting Constable Gardiner, the service was over and clods were being shovelled over the coffi n. The corpse was disinterred without further ceremony, packed once more into the hearse and briskly returned to the morgue. Soon afterwards, Mrs Blewitt travelled to the city and attended the office of the Colonial Mutual Assurance Company, intending to cash in on her late, lamented husband. These gentlemen, however, had heard of the goings –on in Williamstown about the deceased’s dubious identity and were

Barb McNeill. (Damjan Janevski) 432421_03

determined to hang onto their cash. Mrs Blewitt had enough of this nonsense. Wouldn’t a wife identify her own husband, even if he had besmirched that title by buzzing off and leaving her in the lurch? She spoke to her solicitor and commenced an action against the company for payment of the 300 pounds. In the end, the cranky widow made things so hot for them that in self- defence, the gentlemen agreed to pay her the cash on 3 May. That was a bit more like it! Her good temper restored, Mrs Blewett marched back home, and there to her horror beheld the ghost of Patrick Blewitt. With a scream like a knock-off whistle, she seized a chair, intending to belt the daylights out of the apparition, until it spoke. There was no mistaking that voice. It was Patrick the milko, fully alive and extremely angry. He had, he explained, been spurred to leave her following a blistering argument about money. Using the alias John Lewis, he had spent the last few weeks slogging away on the railways in a one –horse Gippsland town so remote from civilisation that it didn’t have newspaper or postal deliveries. On returning to Melbourne, he learned that he was presumed to have been drowned.

10 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 26 August, 2026

What was going on, eh? Then it was Mrs Blewitt’s turn to be angry as she envisioned 300 pounds slipping from her grasp. Suddenly, she remembered something. After Mr Blewitt had vanished from the marital home, she had taken out a warrant to slug him for desertion, and that warrant had yet to be executed. Two days later, Mr Blewitt was cooling his heels in the Williamstown cells, awaiting his ordeal in court. Then a visitor was announced, a man waving an invoice for services rendered. Poor Mr Blewitt almost had a fatal seizure, for his visitor was none other than Mr Shepherd, undertaker, demanding payment for the funeral arranged by Mrs Blewitt. It mattered not a jot to Mr Shepherd that Mr Blewitt was still alive. The funeral had been conducted as per agreement - hearse, horses, plumed headdresses, the works. Mr Shepherd was determined that he had the law on his side. Mr Blewitt rudely contradicted him. The contract was for his burial, and he hadn’t been buried, which should’ve been obvious even to a fool like Mr Shepherd. It was the government’s problem, not his. Mr Shepherd was tersely dismissed. Meanwhile, Mrs Blewitt was regretting

her rash decision to punish her husband and meekly asked the Bench if she could withdraw her charge. Mr Aitken J.P. demurred. “Are you sure that this man is your husband? You’ve made mistakes before, you know.” She was certain. “I’m happy to have him home again, providing that he provides money for me and the children.” Was this agreeable to the defendant? It was. Henceforth, he would be a model husband and father. “Case dismissed.” “A question, Your Worship.” Mrs Blewitt piped up. “I arranged the funeral in good faith, believing my husband to be dead. Now I’m being harassed by Mr Shepherd, demanding payment for the funeral. I don’t have to pay him, do I?” Mr Aitken frowned. “Of course you must pay,” he replied brusquely. Arm in arm and most displeased, the reconciled couple left the court and there, waiting outside and ready to pounce was the very determined Mr Shepherd, still waving the invoice and yapping for his money. It was sourly paid out of Mr Blewitt’s savings, plus his wages as a railway labourer. So, who was the drowned man? The missing husband from Collingwood? The jury is still out on that one.

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NEWS

Swimming teacher July Weeku. 570615_01

Shikha Hooda is among those learning to swim. 570615_02

Refugee women have started swimming lessons at Aquapulse. (Pictures Damjan Janevski). 570615_08

Women take the plunge Wyndham Park Primary School Community Hub is making a splash with a new swimming program helping migrant women build confidence, independence and vital water safety skills. Thanks to a generous grant from the Soroptimist International Victoria Foundation, 29 migrant women are taking part in weekly, culturally safe swimming lessons at Aquapulse in partnership with Wyncity. Many of the women have never been in

water before, making the program an exciting — and sometimes challenging — new experience. One of the swimming teachers, July Weeku, is a past student from WPPS and her mother was a community hub participant. The swimming program forms part of the Community Hub’s Stronger Together: Connecting Women, Building Communities initiative, which aims to empower local wom-

en through learning opportunities, social connection and community participation. The subsidised lessons are providing much more than swimming instruction. Participants are developing essential water safety and life-saving skills, while gaining confidence and independence around water. The program is also supporting physical wellbeing and giving participants the confidence to take part in water-based activities

with their families in the future. “Many of the women have never been in water before and are excited by this opportunity,” said hub leader Louise Holley. The Wyndham Park Primary School Community Hub is part of Community Hubs Australia, with Community Hubs embedded in primary schools across Australia to connect families from diverse cultural backgrounds with their schools and the wider community.

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Wednesday, 26 August, 2026 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 11

NEWS

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FROM THE ARCHIVES Star Weekly looks back through the pages of our predecessors

40 years ago

30 years ago

20 years ago

10 years ago

27 August 1986 The death of a 14-year-old Werribee boy, electrocuted after climbing on top of a moving train at the weekend, has sparked a wave of controversy in the shire.

28 August 1996 Sixteen studies will be carried out in the next six weeks to determine the environmental impact of the proposed toxic dump.

23 August 2006 Former Werribee resident Joseph Terrence Thomas, dubbed ’Jihad Jack’, is a free man after winning his appeal against his terrorism-related convictions last Friday.

Seats on the Wyndham council will attract more attention at the coming election than ever before.

Melton Librarian Camie Wu. (Damjan Janevski) 571635_05

Seddon Deadly Sins owner Chris Gooden promoting the Snapshots of Seddeon competition. (Damjan Janevski) 570693_03

Faces of the west Each week Star Weekly photographers are out and about capturing events and Abi Bradbury was awarded silver with distinction at the International Pet Photography Awards. She is pictured with her dog Abraham. (Damjan Janevski) 571044_01

people across the western suburbs. St Albans children’s librarian Sarah Gardiner with her favourite children’s book. (Damjan Janevski) 571438_03

Macedon Ranges Suicide Prevention Action Group volunteers Lisa Hutchison, Fiona Lawford and Nadine Hartnett. (Damjan Janevski)

Maribyrnong local Simon Banks is swimming in some of Australia’s coldest waterways to help children living in poverty.

570427_03

(Damjan Janevski) 571440_03

12 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 26 August, 2026

Jeannie Murray, Vicki Maquignaz and Victoria Whitelock making handmade cards for aged care residents at Woodend Neighbourhood House. (Damjan Janevski) 570976_04

PUZZLES 5 10 11

easy

15 20

24 11

25 12

26 13

3 8 2 4 1 5 6 9 7 7 9 4 3 6 2 5 8 1 1 5 6 7 9 8 4 2 3 6 2 8 1 3 9 7 5 4 5 4 1 6 8 7 2 3 9 9 3 7 5 2 4 8 1 6 8 7 3 2 4 1 9 6 5 4 6 9 8 5 3 1 7 2 2 1 5 9 7 6 3 4 8

6 9 7 5 4 2 8 3 1 4 3 8 9 7 1 5 6 2 2 1 5 8 3 6 9 4 7 1 5 3 6 9 7 4 2 8 7 2 9 4 1 8 3 5 6 8 4 6 2 5 3 7 1 9 9 7 2 3 6 4 1 8 5 3 8 1 7 2 5 6 9 4 5 6 4 1 8 9 2 7 3

U C

9-LETTER WORD 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: 18 words: Good 28 words: Very good 38 words: Excellent

N I

acne, cairn, cancer, cane, chain, chance, chancery, chancre, chicane, CHICANERY, chin, china, chine, cinch, crane, cyan, cyanic, cynic, earn, enrich, henry, hernia, hyena, inch, nacre, nary, near, nice, nicer, niche, rain, rainy, ranch, rani, rein, yarn, yean, yearn

WORDFIT 3 LETTERS ACT ADO AIL AND CHI EGO GYM HAD IRE ITS LAD NEE NET OLD ORE OUR PEP PRO SAP SEC SEE TEN TWO WHO

No. 304

I G L O O

ALTER AMPLE APING AROSE ARSON AURAL BOXER BROKE DEALT FAILS FAKES FATES ICIER IGLOO IRATE LACES LATHS LEAPT LOAFS LOSES LURES LYRIC

4 LETTERS COAT EDIT ERRS HISS MAPS NEST POSY POTS SEEP SNIP SNOB SOPS TOAD TOIL 5 LETTERS ALGAE ALIGN

METRE NEARS ONION OPTIC OTTER PALER PEEVE PENCE PLANE PLIES PROXY RISER SALTY SCOUR SHOVE SINEW SLEET SMASH SPEED STORE STREW TIARA

SENSORY SIESTAS STIRRED

TILDE TREAT URGED YARDS 6 LETTERS BLASTS HUGEST LABOUR STAPLE

8 LETTERS DENOUNCE DYNAMITE LITERALS RELEASES

7 LETTERS ABSTAIN ASTRIDE RECLINE

28-08-26

No. 411 Insert the missing letters to make 10 words – ﬁve reading across the grid and ﬁve reading down. NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

H U R T S U S U A L M A N I A A G E N T N E S T S

6 2 1 5 7 4 9 8 3 9 8 4 3 2 6 5 1 7 5 7 3 9 1 8 4 6 2 7 4 8 2 6 9 1 3 5 2 1 5 7 4 3 8 9 6 3 6 9 8 5 1 7 2 4 8 5 2 6 9 7 3 4 1 1 9 7 4 3 2 6 5 8 4 3 6 1 8 5 2 7 9

N S

22 11

S A

R S

3 11

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

hard

5x5

medium

Z Y U C

easy

7 4 9 8 3 2 5 4 7 4 8 3 5 8 6 7 2 4 2 1 3 2 3 6 1 8 7

S H G V M D J Q L X N A F

2 3 4 6 7 8 9 14 16 17 19 22 23 25 26

No. 336

hard

15 22

8 4 5 9 7 2 3 5 3 1 9 4 8 9 2

QUICK QUIZ

In the Ice Age movies, what is the name of the woolly mammoth?

Which character did Maggie Smith play in the Harry Potter movie franchise?

The 2016 ﬁlm Anthropoid, starring Cillian Murphy (pictured) concerns the assassination of which member of the German high command?

Which English king commissioned the 11thcentury record known as the Domesday Book?

What is the name of the gang’s van in Scooby-Doo?

What burrowing animal is also known as the sand puppy?

In which decade did Australia introduce decimal notes and coins?

In which city were the 2012 Summer Olympics held?

True or false: a slug’s blood is green?

10 The germ, endosperm and bran are parts of a what? ANSWERS: 1. Manny 2. Professor Minerva McGonagall 3. Reinhard Heydrich 4. William the Conqueror 5. The Mystery Machine 6. Naked mole-rat 7. 1960s 8. London 9. True 10. Cereal grain

5 2 6 9 4 9 2 8

4 3 2 1

Life simulation series developed by Maxis, The – (4) Southern Spanish region (9) Between heaven and hell (5) Black stone (8) Body of troops (7) Certain cuts of meat (5) Genuine (9) Strikebreaker (4) Philoshoper, René – (9) Exaggerated theatre (9) Line of descent (8) A hinged altarpiece (7) Spine (5) Pursue (4) Perpendicular (5) Smutty (4)

DECODER

7 5 4

medium

21 24 27 28 29 30

5 9 8 4 3 4 6 7 9 2 8 1 3 2 4 6 9 7 2 2 1 9 4

12 13 14 15 18 20

9 7

8 7 9 5 2 8

DOWN

Acute viral disease, now largely eradicated (8) Region of Southern Italy (6) Internet connection device (5) One who believes in sharing evenly amongst the community (9) Nut (6) I don’t know (coll) (5,2) Removal (8) Free from an obligation (6) Bleachers (6) Government by the populace (8) In respect (of) (7) Obstruct (6) Ursine bed companion (5,4) Custom, practice (5) Stew (6) Organ or laptop component (8)

F A T E S P L A N E S A L T Y A L I G N R I S E R T I A R A I G L O O O T T E R A L T E R B O X E R S A P H A D L A D S E E P L Y R I C B L A S T S A N D A D O S E C A M P L E L E A P T T O I L R E L E A S E S T O A D P R O S I E S T A S S T I R R E D O R E S N I P D Y N A M I T E N E S T S T O R E L A C E S W H O T E N I T S L A B O U R S C O U R H I S S O U R G Y M L U R E S C H I A P I N G O N I O N A R O S E F A K E S P E N C E P E E V E S L E E T S P E E D S T R E W

ACROSS

No. 304

B E R W P K T O I

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.

QUICK CROSSWORD

No. 304

S M A L L P O X A P U L I A I N I B S H O U S O C I A L I S T M O D E M A B I A L N H S A L M O N D B E A T S M E U I N N E X E M P T D I S P O S A L I N P E I E S T A N D S R E P U B L I C C I D O A P R O P O S I M P E D E R I T E G L R L T E D D Y B E A R U S A G E E G C K E M M W S E E T H E K E Y B O A R D

SUDOKU

Wednesday, 26 August, 2026 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 13

COMMUNITY

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR 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 Pain support group Iramoo Community Centre hosts a Chronic Pain and Depression Support Group every second Wednesday, 10am to noon. Everyone is welcome. Find support, friendship, arts and crafts, barbecues, coffee and a listening ear. The centre is at 84 Honour Avenue, Wyndham Vale. ■ admin@iramoocc.com.au Werribee Rotary grants The 2026 Rotary grants are now open. Ten grants will be awarded to a maximum value of $3,000 each. Applicants must be registered as an approved community organisation within Wyndham. The project should directly benefit a large number of people or community groups with the municipality. Applications close on 30 September. Successful applicants will be announced in November. Submit applications at werribeerotary.org.au Cafe Philosophique Cafe Philosophique explores the hidden forces shaping our lives through creative arts, writing, and conversation. The group meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at the Bridge Hotel in Werribee at 6.30pm. On Wednesday 19 August the group will explore bodies beginning with a drawing class followed by a feature poet who will set the scene for writing time, using prompts to help put pen to paper. After the open mic, the evening ends with desserts and “philosophy cafe” - small group, facilitated conversations. ■ info@jessfairfax.com or 0450 348 969 Jamieson Way Community Centre Half Done & Happening: Got a project that’s half done but still happening? Join fellow creatives for a free session of making, creating, chatting, and connecting. Just bring your project, your materials, and yourself. Every Monday 9.30-11.30am. BingoMoves Community: A free program that combines your favourite tunes with gentle exercise based around a game of bingo to get moving in a safe and comfortable way. Every Tuesday 9.45 arrival, 10am start. Jamieson Way Community Centre, 59 Jamieson Way, Point Cook. ■ 9744 2341 or enquiries@jamwaycc.org.au One on One IT help Free IT help sessions run each Tuesday, 10-11.30am, at the Manor Lakes Library, covering everything from using email, creating accounts and accessing the online library. People can get help with their Macs, PCs and phones. ■ 8734 8930 Rotary Bingo Werribee Rotary hosts its weekly community bingo event on Monday evenings at the Italian Sports Club of Werribee. There are cash prizes and proceeds go to worthy causes that Rotary supports. 6.30pm arrival time. ■ secretary@werribeerotary.org.au Community connectors Wyndham council has launched a community connections and care service to support residents who may need help navigating life’s challenges. Whether you’re looking for mental health support, food relief, or guidance accessing government services, this free and confi-

Cassandra Connolly with her dog Frank. (Damjan Janevski). 572149_01

dential service is here to help. Meets 8amnoon on Wednesdays at The Element’s A ctivity Park and Cafe. Community Kitchen Wyndham-based not for profit group Pulse with Purpose sells delicious meals each Tuesday 10am-5pm at the Dianella Community Centre in Tarneit. Each purchase helps provide free meals to families in need. Meals are by pre-order, the menu is typically updated every Sunday. ■ bpulsewithpurpose@gmail.com The Creative Corner A program to create an inclusive environment for young people from different schools to come together and learn new skills and ways to be creative. The program will aim to teach a variety of different skills and allow young people to create projects with different mediums each week. Meets every Monday from |3.30-5.30pm at the Youth Services Centre, 1 Everton Road, Truganina. ■ Jordyn Griffiths, YouthInWyndham@ wyndham.vic.gov.au Lizzy Bizzy Food Swaps Come along to the Manor Lakes Community Centre to exchange excess homegrown food. From vegetables, fruits, eggs to seeds and oils, members of the community are encouraged to participate and help reduce food waste. Runs between 10am-noon last Saturday of every month. ■ Liz, 0448 781 111 Resume Help Wyndham council is providing resume workshops for young people aged 1525. Book into a one-on-one session, on-

14 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 26 August, 2026

line or in person, with an education and youth services librarian to get some help crafting your resume and answering interview questions. Sessions run at 9am, several times a week. ■ resumehelp@wyndham.vic.gov.au Laverton Community Choir Open to new members and everyone is welcome. If you enjoy singing, and are curious about joining a choir, come along and try out your vocal cords with this fun and inclusive group. No audience or musical knowledge required. Meets on Thursday evenings during school terms at Laverton P12 College, 91 Bladin Street, Laverton from 7-9pm, with supper provided. ■ Sue 0418 386 147 or lavertoncommunitychoir@gmail.com Wyndham Rotary If you have an hour or two to volunteer in a local project Wyndham Rotary would love to hear from you. If you have an idea and you want some help taking the idea to action, contact us. If you want to connect with friendly, like-minded people, come and chat with the group. Meeting locally each week, you will be made welcome. ■ Julie, 0406 196 630. Point Cook Combined Probus Club Retired or semi-retired people are invited to join this active social group. Enjoy an impressive and interesting monthly guest speaker. Interesting monthly outings, and fortnightly lunches where the development of friendships are encouraged. The Point Cook Combined Probus Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 10 am at The Brook Point Cook, 215 Sneydes

Road, Point Cook. ■ John Sloan, 0436 480 728 or sloanrisk@ gmail.com Lions Club The Lions Club of Point Cook meets at the Featherbrook Community Centre on the third Monday of the month at 7.30 pm. The club is seeking to grow the Lions free vision screening in schools team. Volunteers needed to work with the region’s schools in combating undiagnosed children’s vision issues. You do not have to be a Lions member but must obtain a working with children check. ■ Robert Eyton, 0417 549 684, or robeyton@ bigpond.com Wyndham Ladies Probus Retired or semi-retired ladies are invited to join this very active social group. Enjoy impressive monthly guest speakers, interesting monthly outings and many lunches where the development of friendships is encouraged. The Ladies Probus Club of Wyndham meets on the first Wednesday of each month at Hotel 520, Sayers Road, Tarneit, at 10am. ■ Sue on 0448 381 027. Watton Group A support group providing a social space for carers to get together in a safe and compassionate environment. Gives carers an opportunity to connect, share their experiences and offers emotional and practical support. The group meets at 49 Watton Street, Werribee at 10am, every fourth Tuesday of the month. ■ Patricia, 0434 487 360, or wattongroup131@gmail.com.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Closer brings tangled relationships to St Albans stage St Albans community theatre company Powderkeg Players will bring Patrick Marber’s acclaimed play Closer to the stage in September, offering audiences a sharp and emotionally charged exploration of love, loyalty and betrayal. Set in late-1990s London, the Olivier Award-winning play follows four strangers whose lives become intertwined through chance encounters and shifting relationships. Out-of-towner Alice, photographer Anna, obituary writer Dan and dermatologist Larry meet, separate and reconnect over several years, with each encounter changing the balance between them.

Directed by Del Jordan and assistant directed by Jarrod Hawn, the production stars Jordyn Grubisic as Alice, Wayne Gleeson as Larry, Tully Jones as Anna and James Hammond as Dan. Powderkeg Players, whose motto is ’theatre that lights a fuse’, promises a fast-paced production spanning 12 interlocking scenes and several years. Bright projections will help transport audiences between locations, while a 1990s trip-hop soundtrack featuring artists such as Portishead and Massive Attack will complement original jazz-inspired music created specifically for the production. The play premiered at London’s Royal

National Theatre in 1997 and was later adapted into the 2004 Oscar-nominated film starring Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman, Jude Law and Clive Owen. Closer will run from Friday 4 September to Saturday 19 September, with Friday and Saturday evening performances at 8pm and matinees on Sunday 13 September and Saturday 19 September at 2pm. A special VIP performance featuring a cast and crew Q&A will be held on Friday 11 September. Performances will be held at St Albans Senior Citizens Centre, 171 William Street, St Albans. Bookings are available through Powderkeg Players’ website.

Actors in rehearsal for Closer. (Supplied)

Line dancing with Marcia

Jimeoin’s Altona show

Jimeoin. (Supplied)

Jimeoin is the latest comedy luminary coming to Hobsons Bay, with the celebrated Irish-Australian stand-up headlining the Altona Sports Club on 2 September. Born James Eoin Stephen Paul McKeown in Northern Ireland in 1966, Jimeoin moved to Australia in the late 1980s and began performing on the local comedy circuit, quickly building a reputation for his sharp timing and everyman perspective. His breakthrough came in 1992 when he won the Best Newcomer Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, launching him into national prominence. During the 1990s, he became a familiar face on Australian television, appearing on sketch comedy program Full Frontal and later starring in his own series, The Jimeoin Show. His television work, combined

with relentless touring, cemented his status as one of Australia’s leading comedians. His comedy focuses on the humour found in everyday life, relationships, social awkwardness, and the absurdity of ordinary situations, often delivered with expressive facial reactions and subtle physical comedy. Jimeoin will be joined on the night by comedians Tilahun Hailu, Rachael Hornbuckle, Nadun Hetti, as well as a mystery special guest. Presented Comedy House Au, the show is an adults only event, with photo ID required for entry. Doors are at 8pm, with pre-show early dinner available at the Altona Sports Club Bistro. Tickets are expected to sell out, so early bookings are recommended. Details: https://www.trybooking. com/events/landing/1628295

Dane Simpson heads to Kyneton for night of laughs Dane Simpson is set to take over Kyneton Town Hall for a night of laughs. The comedian, as seen at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala and on Have You Been Paying Attention?, Guy Mont-Spelling Bee and more, is set to bring his show ‘Always Was, Always Will Be… Funny’ to Kyneton in September. Simpson comes from a long line of comedians, with a wisecracking dad, cleverly cutting mum, hilarious grandparents and generations of jokers,

pranksters and yarnspinners. With a string of sold-out live comedy shows across Australia and in the UK, he’s heading to Kyneton on his latest tour with a whole lot of gutbusting jokes and hilarious stories for a show that can’t be missed. In a video shared to the Macedon Ranges Arts and Culture Facebook page, Simpson gave Kyneton a shoutout to encourage the community to book tickets to his show. “Grab some tickets, it’s really silly and

Get ready to pull on your boots for a full day of fun as the Countryholic Dance Crew welcomes special guest instructor Marcia of Marcia’s Linedancers to Bacchus Marsh for a day of line dancing workshops and social dancing. On Saturday 26 September at the Bacchus Marsh Public Hall, dancers from across the region will be given the opportunity to learn new moves, sharpen their skills, and spend the day surrounded by fellow country music and line dancing enthusiasts. The morning workshops, running from 10am to 12.30pm, will introduce a range of new dances under the guidance of Marcia, one of Victoria’s most respected line dance instructors. After the workshop, the fun will continue with an afternoon social dance from 1pm to 5pm, giving participants the chance to put their new moves into practice while enjoying hours of classic country music. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer looking to expand your repertoire or a newcomer keen to give line dancing a go, organisers promise a welcoming atmosphere, plenty of laughs, and a dance floor filled with friendly faces. With flexible ticket options available, you can attend the workshop, the social dance, or make a day of it and enjoy both. Workshop and social tickets cost $45, while the workshop alone is $30 and the social dance is $18, while non-dancers are welcome to attend the event for free. Countryholic Dance Crew is encouraging attendees to round up their dance partners, shine their boots, and make the trip to Bacchus Marsh for a day centered on learning, dancing, and having fun. So get ready to scoot on down to the Bacchus Marsh Public Hall on Saturday 26 September from 10am. Details and tickets: https:// w w w.t r y b o o k i n g .c o m /e v e n t s/ landing/1612318.

really fun. You’re going to have a great time,” he said. Dane Simpson will be at Kyneton Town Hall on Thursday 3 September at 7.30pm. Tickets are $35 for adult and $32 for concession, and are on sale now online, and will also be available for purchase at the box office. The show is rated 15 plus, with some course language and adult themes. Details: mrarts.sales.ticketsearch.com/ sales/salesevent/161522 Wednesday, 26 August, 2026 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 15

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SPORTS QUIZ 10. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is located in which Massachusetts city?

3. Which new Victoria-based ﬁeld hockey club is set to debut in the 2026 Hockey One season?

1. Teams including the Snags, Prawns and Fizzies feature in which arcade-style Australian rules football video game?

11. What is the name of Kelly Slater’s apparel brand, which sponsors the Tahiti Pro surﬁng competition?

4. Cooperstown, New York, is home to which sport's National Hall of Fame and Museum?

2. Manchester City recently agreed to sell Rodri for €76.5M to what club?

12. Tottenham spent a club record-high 100 million pounds to secure which player from Newcastle United?

5. Which Panthers NRL player is featured on the Australian cover of the Rugby League 26 video game? 6. And which Sharks NRLW player is featured on the same cover?

13. Which former Adelaide Crows captain will retire this year after 19 years with the club?

7. Record-breaking teenage swimmer Johannes Liebmann represents which country?

14. Sports Illustrated was ﬁrst published in which decade? 15. Name the two major tennis stars that withdrew from the Cincinnati Masters due to injury.

8. Is Australian prop Massimo de Lutiis the 800th, 900th or 1,000th player to play for the Wallabies?

16. US basketballer Ish Smith holds the record for playing for the most NBA franchises, with how many?

9. Who captained Bangladesh in their recent two-Test series versus Australia?

17. Named after an MLB legend, ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction is more commonly known as what? 18. How many wickets did Bangladesh beat Australia by in the recent Darwin Test?

Rodri

26. From which sport is the ball that Tom Hanks’ character in Cast Away befriends?

20. The Callaway company manufactures equipment for what sport?

27. Which sport would you be playing if you ‘dropped the gloves’?

21. The Razorbacks are the sports teams from which popular TV show?

28. And what would you be doing?

22. How many points is the green ball worth in a game of snooker? 23. Who is the team principal of Triple Eight Race Engineering?

29. Who are the captains of Geelong’s AFLW team? 30. What are the wrestling ﬁrst names of WWE tag team the Bella Twins?

24. Sports and Holy Ghost are albums by which band with a sports-related name?

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and Sam Robertson Kathy Danoucaras, Nick Danoucaras Road East, St Albans 9364 3677 KND Denture Clinic, 192 Main 9722 Boulevard, Caroline Springs. 8361 Also at: Suite 8, 242 Caroline Springs

Established in 1981 as the

“There’s problems all over Melbourne, but that doesn’t mean that you need to resort to blaming people who live in an

The owners of a Footscray record store have defended the suburb after the previous occupant of their shop released a T-shirt emblazoned with ‘Footscray is a Shithole’ and claimed he had to close due to the area becoming an “absolute dumpster fire”. Kynan O’Meara and Jason Richmond opened their record store and cafe Coco Bananas in Chambers Street, between the Nicholson Street Mall and Maddern Square, in October 2023 after the closure of Counterweight Vinyl and Espresso. On Saturday 25 July, a picture of a white T-shirt splashed with dark blue, baseball-style font denigrating Footscray

“There’s every reason to be proud to do business in Footscray,” he said, adding that he and Mr Richmond held no hard feelings

Wonderland goes west

“I do believe that he gave it a really good shot and he was believed by the people of

Nearby venue Pride of Our Footscray Bar has since launched T-shirts with a Porter, Elizabeth locals positive Bacchus Marshmore spin on the suburb such as Barby, and Elizabeth Renee Pedretti,“Footscray is Character will Building,” and better known as Team Wonderland, on take off on this year’s Variety Bash Tuesday 18 August, raising vital funds for children who are sick, experiencing disadvantage, or are living with disability. The 10-day, 5200-kilometre journey will take them from Halls Gap in Victoria to Exmouth in Western Australia, featuring a colourful convoy of classic visit vehicles and inviting participants to organisations schools and community along the way. “Every dollar raised helps create it brighter futures for children who need most,” Ms Porter said. “Participants experience the incredible landscapes of Australia while seeing has firsthand the impact our fundraising on families and communities.” Since its inception in 1985, the Variety for Bash has raised millions of dollars children’s programs across Australia. This year marks Team Wonderland’s eighth event in its ‘85 Mercedes Benz 280SE sedan, with hopes of raising

Porter and Renee Pedretti with their

car and sponsors for this year’s Variety

Bash. (Damjan Janevski) 567662_05

$20,000.

for an urgent council’s has Hawke MP Sam Rae has called secretary Tash Wark condemned A council spokesperson said, “Council and the ASU. with affected meeting with council decision. any away maintained communication “While I have not received “Melton council has decided to walk work groups and union representatives communication from Melton Council on Established care in our in community, 1981 as theand it’s and does not from aged processSunbury the serving these proudly first,” she throughout and Macedon matter, I was concerned to hear thisRanges breached workers who are paying the price accept the allegation that it has said. 4 AUGUST, 2026 said. the Enterprise reports,” Mr Rae with days its obligations under “I have sought an urgent meeting “Around 95 people who spend their ASU to discuss on their Agreement”. was both Melton Council and the caring for older residents, checking Mayor Lara Carli said the decision detail.” at home receiving these matters in more wellbeing and keeping them safe made in the best interest of those Council reassured residents currently are now facing an uncertain future.” personal leaving care. receiving CHSP services, including Ms Wark slammed the council for “This change will ensure our community care, respite care, meals, social support ﬂexible out of the decision-making process. before can continue to access appropriate, under and domestic assistance, will continue to “Council didn’t consult the union comprehensive care available 30 June, 2027. and until clear usual a as that’s services and receive making this decision, she said. the to under the new aged care system,” Ms Wark said the ASU would fight lightly breach of what they’ve committed “This decision has not been taken the enterprise agreement,” she said. a detailed review decision. We’ve on the by our council, and follows “This decision needs to be reversed. increasingly “Workers found out their jobs were an in operate to this.” did, after of our ability raised a dispute with the council over line the same way everyone else complex and changing aged care system.” the fact.”

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Dipping for dad QUALITY DENTURE CARE PROMPT APPOINTMENTS

By Glenn Fisher

Anyone advertising a puppy, dog, kitten or cat in Victoria for sale or re-homing will need a source number from the Pet Exchange Register and a microchip identification number. It is now an offence to advertise unless the source number and microchip identification number is included in the advertisement or notice. For further information, call 136 186 or visit animalwelfare.vic.gov.au

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Voluntarily plunging into an Nick Danoucaras and Sam Robertson ice bath, reservoir and the ocean in the middle Kathy Danoucaras, 192 Main Road East, St Albans 9364 3677 of KND Denture Clinic, 8361 9722 winter just once sends a shiver down the Also at: Suite 8, 242 Caroline Springs Boulevard, Caroline Springs. spine of most of us – but how about 70 such dips in 70 days? That’s the challenge Sunbury woman Brigid Evans set herself as part of this year’s 40th anniversary of Daffodil Day on 20 August, a fundraising event to support life-saving cancer research and stand alongside those affected by cancer. And Brigid, 36, has a very personal reason for immersing herself in cold water 70 times as she edges closer to her goal of raising $7000 for the cause.

Australian Dental Prosthetists Association (Victoria) 12832170-LD30-26

On 18 August last year, her “incredibly fit and healthy” father, Les, suddenly died after battling through a bowel cancer diagnosis he received just before his 70th birthday.

There just has to be a better way. My goals in all this are to help research for better treatments and support - Brigid Evans Brigid was in hospital herself at the time, having just given birth to her and her husband’s first child, Melody, three days earlier. “Dad was usually the person looking after everyone else,” Brigid told Star Weekly . Brigid Evans is dipping in cold pools “He had been declared cancer-free, and ice baths 70 times to raise money for Daffodil Day, in memory of her but dad, Les. (Damjan Janevski) 566309_01 the chemotherapy treatment proved too Brigid, who has a doctorate harsh on his body, and he had in philosophy. “Melody is such a livewire now, and a sudden “My goals in all this are to help research she sailing spot, Lake Eppalock. downturn, then a heart attack after adds another layer into all this … more for better treatments and dad only While there will no doubt be tears support.” gastro-intestinal issues,” she said. got to meet his first grandchild over mixed After launching her Daffodil Day a video in with the cold winter An avid sailor on Lake Eppalock quest phone call just before he water of Eppalock near with her first dip on 31 May, passed, but I’m when the final Bendigo who also kept fit on Brigid is due sure he would be proud dip is done, Brigid says she a rowing to notch up dip number of me.” will not be done – she not only 50 as Star Weekly machine every day, Les had also As the 2026 Daffodil Day date gets plans to donated went to press – dips closer, continue cold water dipping that have included Brigid said his plasma hundreds of times and, after Daffodil she had some special dips Day at the many 6C ice baths at Thrve because of the health benefits, time of his diagnosis, wasn’t even in Sunbury, planned for the last but due for in the ocean down the week, when she will has promised coast, in Macedon take annual his routine colonoscopy to check to also shave her hair if she leave from her Disabilities reaches for bowel Reservoir and during swimming lessons Victoria policy her $7000 fundraising goal. problems. and research role. for herself and Melody at Sunbury Donations to Brigid Evans’ 70 In the end, Brigid said, it wasn’t Aquatic A group of her close friends will join dips in the and Leisure Centre. her 70 days winter challenge cancer that took her dad’s life on the weekend of 15 and 16 August can be made and she “I’ve found for a the at ice baths good for my dip in https://www.daffodilday.com.au/ believes the harsh concoction of chemicals Macedon Reservoir, while mum mental health and learning to swim fundraisers/brigidevans/daf fodil-dayas part of his treatment was a major has Leonie – who recently moved factor. been a positive out of a to Sunbury dip-2026 dark period,” she from Bendigo “There just has to be a better way,” – will be by Brigid’s side on 22 70-dip and you can also follow Brigid’s said journey at www.instagram.com/

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Hobsons Bay City Band members (L-R) Queenie Lim, Wayne Bowden, Murray Smith and Robin Zakharov are preparing for their annual concert on 23 August. (Damjan Janevski) 568810_06

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landfill Landfill operations at Sunshine walk away from the site and leave after the are set to permanently cease (EPA) taxpayers to foot the bill Environment Protection Authority licence. Victoria revoked Barro’s operation - Joss Crawford on The EPA announced its decision Monday 27 July . However, Barro Group said the decision and was to cease operations was voluntary that it driven by the community’s message at the doesn’t want operations to continue landfill. it said Group Barro In a statement, it had notified the EPA on 3 April that decided to voluntarily cease accepting landfill waste on a permanent basis at the its and wished to voluntarily surrender operating licence for the landfill. been Underground landfill fires have , burning since 2019, with residents calling Brimbank council and local MPs of years. for the site’s closure for a number strong In December, the EPA took the duty regulatory action and notified the holder of its intention to suspend Group licence because it believed Barro risks was unable to effectively manage landfill to the community arising from operations at the site. The EPA said through this process, the Barro Group failed to demonstrate risks to it could effectively manage the landfill the community from ongoing to the operations and did not respond would be permanently closed. were delighted to hear that the landfill notice of intention to suspend. Siovhon Brister and Nicole Power its right Diane Capelli, Noelene Wattie, “Instead, Barro Group conceded and (Damjan Janevski) 568522_03 to work to continue the landfill operations Barro has stated it will continue where we have been the EPA has revoked its operating licence,” with EPA and Brimbank council to foot the bill. We Sunshine community than 50 years,” he said. closely a direct site and leave taxpayers and ultimate remediate the operating for more EPA said. “[Monday’s] outcome is our in regards to remediation EPA have directed them to fully “Having a strong relationship with operation. result of the strong regulatory action community, the closure of the landfill intends to continue and as a landfill site,” she said. been neighbours, the broader commenced in December 2025 Barro Group said it “We know local communities have and the EPA is and toll the Brimbank City Council result, the landfill will never reopen.” operating its concrete batching plant frustrated and understand the to us. and Rock The EPA said Barro Group must continue landfill has taken on community members. extremely important large resume operation of its Concrete “Last year we conducted a in (CRF) at its Sunshine site left us in no Recycling Facility The community can now take comfort permissions being again community survey which and the subject to necessary knowing that Barro Group will never doubt our surrounding neighbours not want obtained from the EPA. operate a landfill at the Kealba site. the EPA’s local community in general did welcomed hotspot have the day the to Residents “We look forward council the landfill to continue operations. Brimbank while us and decision, is out, and the landfill is remediated.” “This is an important decision for “significant win” for the Barro Group managing director we hope the community see it for what described it as a took its in rebuilding community. Raymond Barro said the company in it is – a show of good faith the responsibilities to all the communities our relationship with our neighbours, More coverage: Page 4. which it operates extremely seriously. of the community and stakeholders.” “Barro Group is a proud member

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Wednesday, 26 August, 2026 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 17

Hyundai sedan hot to trot By Chris Riley, Marque Motoring Talk about icing on the cake. First it was the Hyundai i20 N, next we slip behind the wheel of its big brother the i30 Sedan N. Think the same idea, just larger and more luxurious, with an auto for those who would rather not change gears manually. Like the i20 N it’s probably on a short leash as the company continues its shift to fully electric vehicles, with cars like the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 N variants.

Styling i30 N comes as a hatch or sedan, with the same 2.0-litre turbocharged power plant. The third-generation lineup included a ’fastback’ but this disappeared with the arrival of the 2020 facelift. The five-door hatch is priced from $52,000, the Premium version from $55,500 before on-roads. The sedan is available in Premium form only, priced from $53,000. An eight-speed dual-clutch transmission is standard, a six-speed manual is a no cost option. It’s an all-inclusive package, with premium paint ($595) and a sunroof ($2000) the only options. Can’t say we even looked to see whether our test vehicle had a sunroof fitted – it wasn’t a primary concern. The i30 Sedan N was last updated in early 2024, with an aggressive exterior restyle and new 19-inch forged alloys, revised suspension and steering tuning, plus additional tech features, including Bluelink connected services. The edgy styling may not be to everyone’s liking, but it’s certainly eye-catching. Sitting low and poised with an equally low roofline, the i30 Sedan N (note it is written in this order), it’s designed to slice through the air and hug the road in equal measures. At the front, there’s a lower and wider split grille, which also serves to improve engine cooling, and channels cool air to the front brakes through racecar-style guides. New 19-inch black forged alloy wheels are lighter than those fitted previously, and bring better handling and a more aggressive look.

Infotainment Infotainment comes in the form of a 10.25-inch touchscreen, with a second 10.25-inch screen for the instrument cluster. It all looks very much like the setup in the smaller i20 N. There’s Bluetooth with multi-connection,

Like the i20 N, the Hyundai i30 Sedan N represents excellent value for a performance machine.

natural voice recognition, built-in navigation, AM/FM and DAB+ digital radio and Bose premium eight-speaker sound. It also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but neither are wireless – you need a cable. There’s also wireless phone charging, with USB-A and -C ports and a 12-volt socket in front, plus two USB-C ports in the rear. The system also displays track maps with lap times, personalised throttle response settings, exhaust note and stability controls. Hyundai Bluelink connected car services provides access to a variety of services along with over the air updates. There’s automatic collision notification, emergency call (SOS) function, connected routing with live traffic updates, alert services including geo-fencing, valet, speed and time alerts, remote control of climate and vehicle functions, navigation send to car, voice recognition for POI lookup, vehicle controls and vehicle settings management.

Safety In terms of safety, the i30 looks even worse on paper than the i20 which gets a four-star safety rating. The i30 Sedan N remains unrated for safety, while other variants of the sedan receive just three stars. Someone’s dropped the ball. There are six airbags, a reversing camera with guidelines and the Hyundai Smartsense system that comprises auto emergency braking (car, motorcycle, pedestrian, cyclist), along with auto high beam, blind-spot collision avoidance, lane following and lane keep assist (line/ road-edge), rear cross-traffic collision warning, driver attention warning, and rear

occupant alert.

Engines/transmissions The four-cylinder engine produces 206kW of power from 5500-6000 rpm, and 392Nm of torque from 2100-4700 rpm, with 213kW and 378Nm of torque available on over-boost for 20 seconds. The eight-speed wet clutch style auto with paddle shifters is standard, while a short-throw, six-speed manual is available at no extra cost.

Driving The i30 Sedan N is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, with drive to the front wheels via a six-speed manual tranny or eight-speed dual clutch auto, together with an electro-mechanical limited-slip diff with two modes – Normal and Sport. It adds up to a 0 to 100km/h time of 5.8 seconds for the manual and 5.3 seconds for the auto, with top speed electronically limited to 250km/h. Our test vehicle was the slick, fast-changing auto, which is right on the money and perhaps a better proposition as a daily driver, especially in traffic. We can still remember cramping, stuck in a traffic jam on the motorway manual HSV Holden with a heavy clutch action. Chassis upgrades include a reinforced engine mount membrane, for reduced vibration and improved agility, G-bushing reinforcement for improved yaw response and steering precision, and a new rear suspension S/ABS insulator on the rear support – now made from urethane rather than rubber for improved damping and yaw

response. The Electronic Controlled Suspension (ECS) hardware and software have been further optimised to deliver enhanced body control. The motor-driven steering system benefits from a gear box yoke revised to enhance feedback and directness, a low-friction universal joint that increases steering precision, and software optimised to make the most of the chassis and steering upgrades. In addition, braking performance and fade resistance has been enhanced with upgraded Electronic Stability Control (ESC) software and a new thermal protector on the front brake hoses. Needless to say, the i30 Sedan N is a thrilling car to drive, as quick as it is nimble, whether it’s shopping or fanging from corner to corner. It’s right up there with the GTI, WRX, Type-R and Renault Megane RS, and it is worth pointing out the WRX is the only one that’s all-wheel drive. Surprisingly, the i30 is the easiest and most comfortable to drive and this fact should not be overlooked in the decision-making process. The car delivers extremely high levels of performance when it comes to power, brakes, steering and handling – even ride comfort is streets ahead. Depending on what drive mode is selected, there’s a real bark from the exhaust on throttle overrun. Reading the fine print though, it’s artificially enhanced. Launch control is part of the deal, but only really used when it comes to impressing your mates. The bad news is that you have to wait three minutes between launches for the powertrain to cool off. Geeks will love the race computer that allows you to customise just about every aspect of the drive experience.

Summing up Like the i20 N, the i30 Sedan N represents excellent value for a performance machine. It’s not as good looking as the Fastback, but you get over it soon enough. After all, it’s the performance that you’re buying it for. One note of caution. The car sits very low with a low roofline and this can make getting in and out problematic – more so the older you are. And watch out for that boot lid. Unless you push it all the way up, it’s going to come crashing down on the back of your head. Ouch!

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18 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 26 August, 2026

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Zac Smith stops Kristian Adorno in his tracks (Ivan Kemp) 573298_06

SPORT

Noah Bradford, Joel Diker, John Drohomirecki and Andy Ingram with the thirds premiership cup. (Ivan Kemp) 573297_11

Centurions set to go again By Tara Murray Werribee Centrals need to get back to what they do best if they are to keep their Geelong and District Football League premiership hopes alive. After losing in the fi nal round, the Centurions gave up the week off, they faced East Geelong in a qualifying fi nal on Saturday. After an even fi rst quarter, East Geelong got going in the middle two quarters as it kicked 10 goals to four to take control of the game. While the Centurions matched it in the fi nal quarter, the damage was done with East Geelong winning 16.12 (108)-10.6 (66). It means it’s now do-or-die for the Centurions for the rest of the fi nals series. Coach Rhyce Prismall said they just

didn’t get going. “It was pretty close early on before we lacked a bit of consistency,” he said. “East Geelong were better in the one-on-one battles and they took their opportunities. “We gave away a few undisciplined free kicks and 10 points became 30 points quite quickly.” Prismall said good sides don’t let you get away with undisciplined mistakes and a drop in consistency and they were made to pay. He said they would take a lot out of it. “It hurt after the game,” he said. “We need to start better and we want to get better results. It’s now elimination fi nals all the way and we have to get over it quickly.” Brandon Houlihan and Carmelo Saliba

kicked three goals each for the Centurions. Jack Stephenson, Aaron Stone and Bradley Carlton were named their best. The Centurions will now face the Belmont Lions on Sunday in an elimination fi nal. Having been on top for most of the season. Prismall said there was still plenty of faith in the group. “Our best footy is the best in the league, we have to do it for longer,” he said. “The reward [of the double chance] is gone. The next three games if we win them, we are premiers. “We have to fi nd a way. We’ll make some adjustments and be good enough with our continuity and get it done.” While the Centurions will now have to make the grand fi nal the hard way, there were still plenty of celebrations at the club on the weekend.

The club’s thirds side won the Western Football League thirds premiership on Friday night. The Centurions beat Glen Orden in the grand fi nal, 9.10 (64)-5.10 (40). Marc Yates was named best on ground by the umpires. Prismall, who kicked two goals and was named best by the club, said the seniors were keen to taste that same success. “It was really good,” he said. “We hadn’t won a premiership [senior men’s] since 2010 in the reserves and 2004 in the seniors. “It was a good achievement for the club and there were some big smiles on a few faces. “The boys were saying they wouldn’t mind feeling the same. We know what we have to do.”

East Geelong too strong Werribee Centrals kicked off its Geelong and District Football League fi nals series on Saturday against East Geelong. Star Weekly photographer IVAN KEMP was out shooting some of the action.

Daryl Chesterman kicks around his body into the forward line. 573298_16

Patrick Daley and Matthew Kasparian. 573298_02

Caleb Ezard marks strongly. 573298_01

Aaron Stone tries to break clear. (Ivan Kemp) 573298_14

Tate Camilleri loses the ball in this tackle by Bailey Payne. 573298_07

Bradley Carlton kicks through the centre. 573298_22

Wednesday, 26 August, 2026 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 19

SPORT

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Falcons let one get away By Luke D’Anello Wyndhamvale will have to take the long way to earn a shot at back-to-back Western Football League division 2 premierships, but the club remains upbeat its best is good enough to rebound from a first-week finals defeat. The Falcons coughed up a 40-point lead to go down to West Footscray by seven points,14.6 (90)-11.17 (83), in Saturday’s qualifying final at Yarraville Oval. They will face Albanvale in a cut-throat semi-final on Sunday. While frustrated by his side’s inaccuracy, Wyndhamvale coach Daniel Smith credited the Roosters for their pressure and said many of the opportunities were from tough positions. The reigning premier conceded nine goals to three in the second half after holding a game-high advantage at the

19-minute mark of the second term, leaving it with a mountain to climb to earn promotion to the top flight after the league last year paused promotion and relegation. “It was quite sombre in the rooms afterwards,” Smith said. “We played well enough throughout the year to earn a second chance, so it just means we’ve got to go the hard way. But all the boys have posted their recovery today (Sunday) and are all looking forward to getting to work on Tuesday. That helps drive me and push to make us better as well. “Fingers crossed we win the next three and win the premiership. That’s the end goal, but we’ll get through next Sunday first and reassess where we’re going from there.” Saturday marked Wyndhamvale’s fourth defeat since round 13 following close losses to minor premier North Footscray (six points), West Footscray (five points) and

Riley Evans. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 549686_40

Braybrook (one point) during the homeand-away rounds. Smith made it clear there was no reason for panic, adamant any issues could be rectified. “I think it’s all fixable,” he said. “Two moments go our way (on Saturday) and we win. We weren’t convincingly beaten, but we didn’t do enough to win. “If we were beaten by 10 goals, it’s ‘All

right, this is what we did wrong,’ but it’s just a few moments here and there.” Nathan Griffiths (four goals), Hayden Spall (two), Riley Evans, Liam Scarborough, Ryan Tyson and Kyle Bistisi were named in the best against West Footscray. Smith said Falcons gun Jack Tessari, who claimed the medal for best afield in last year’s decider, was set to return from injury this weekend in a boost. “He was probably right to play, but we decided to give him another week,” he said. Luke Di Mauro, who has 20 goals from 12 games in 2026, was also a late withdrawal due to illness. “There’s five of the premiership players from last year who have had a bit of injury, so we’re getting some run into them in the reserves,” Smith said. “There’s possibly going to be changes, but there’s possibly not going to be. We haven’t decided.”

Bulldogs lock in division 1 berth

Lachlan Smith. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 554921_18

Top spot earns Districts a week’s rest By Luke D’Anello Werribee Districts coach Chris Gilham has heaped praise on his players after the club secured a fourth consecutive Western Football League division 1 minor premiership. The Tigers closed their home-and-away campaign with a 17-point victory over Yarraville-Seddon in Saturday’s top-of-thetable clash and will enter finals riding the momentum of a seven-game winning run. The perennial contender had the wobbles amid injuries and a form dip when it lost three from four games mid-season. But they recovered to finish with a 15-3 record and earn the week’s rest before a major semi-final appointment with the Eagles or Caroline Springs. Werribee Districts are chasing a third flag in four years after their triumphs in 2023 and 2025. “We’ve had many challenges throughout the year,” Gilham said. “We could have easily slipped away and struggled to make the finals altogether. “To hang in there and have some big wins along the way and scratch out a few come-from-behind victories when we looked gone, to get better and better and then finish on top is quite unbelievable really.

“We’ve finished on top the past four years, but this has been the biggest effort that has been done by our whole squad contributing. “I’m really, really proud of the group. They just keep showing up.” The Tigers also continue to reap the rewards of their dedication to homegrown talent, with 22 one-point players taking the field at the weekend. While they have dealt with five season-ending injuries, the likes of vice-captain Josh Mould, gun forward Daniel Nielson, big man Josh Puli and Bailey Siwek have returned in recent weeks. The club’s reserves also finished on top and Gilham said its enviable depth was key to the run of success. “We’ve got a great squad, really good depth, and there’s always competition for spots,” he said. “But these boys have grown up together, played together all their lives, gone to school together. They celebrate each other’s achievements. It’s a really good environment. “I’ve been really fortunate to have a connected group, an invested group, and that’s why we’ve remained strong.” Gilham said Saturday’s contest against Yarraville-Seddon was far from memorable, the Tigers prevailing 9.10 (64)-5.17 (47).

20 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 26 August, 2026

The sides combined for just three goals in the opening half before the hosts gained the upper hand. Jack Winship (two goals), Josh Kellett and Nielson (four goals) led the way for the winners. “It was the scrappiest game of all time,” Gilham said. “The first half, you would have thought you were watching the bottom couple (of teams) run around. It was just a real scrap. “But it was high pressure, a lot of people around the ball, and you’ve got to get used to that in finals. “It opened up in the second half and we were able to start connecting a little bit better. We were able to take some chances. “It was a good hitout ... but both teams would want to play a lot better in the finals I’d think.” Gilham said the flag race was again wide open, with elimination finalists Parkside and Albion also capable of causing headaches. The Magpies were the last team to topple the Tigers, cruising to a 53-point win in round 11. “Any team in the five could win it,” Gilham said. “Everyone’s been beating each other in that top bit this year. If you’re not playing your absolute best, you won’t win.”

Point Cook will play in Western Football League division 1 next season after an upset win against Spotswood on Saturday. With uncertainty about whether one or two teams would be relegated at the end of the season, the Bulldogs were in the hot seat heading into the final round, sitting second bottom. The Bulldogs were at home against the Woodsmen and led throughout the contest. The margin was 21 points at the first break and remained that at half time. Three goals to one in the third quarter extended that. The Woodsmen had their best quarter in the final quarter, but the damage was already done with the Bulldogs winning, 10.13 (73)-7.6 (48). Zayne Galea and Jalen Jaimangal kicked three goals each for the Bulldogs. With Altona losing to Caroline Springs, 15.11 (101)-9.11 (65), the Bulldogs moved above Altona. In other matches, Hoppers Crossing finished the season with an upset win against Parkside, 13.18 (96)-8.10 (58). The Warriors dominated the contest in the middle two quarters to set up the win. Point Cook Centrals, which were coming off their first win of the season, losit to Albion, 20.12 (132)-6.6 (42). Elsewhere, Werribee Districts sealed the minor premiership with victory against Yarraville Seddon on Saturday, while Altona’s future in the Western Football League division 1 competition is uncertain. While the top five were locked in heading into the final round on Saturday, there were still plenty of moving pieces. The battle for the minor premiership and a week off in the opening round of finals was on the line between Werribee Districts and Yarraville Seddon in the top of the table clash. Just three goals were kicked in the first half at Soldiers Reserve, with the Eagles rueing some missed opportunities having kicked 1.10 for the half. It was five goals to three in the third quarter as the Tigers took an eightpoint lead into the final quarter. They were able to narrowly increase that in the final quarter, winning 9.10 (64)-5.17 (47).

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Centurions continue on By Tara Murray Werribee Centrals kept its Western Football League women’s division 1 premiership hopes alive with a hard-fought win against West Footscray. Scoring was hard to come by as the Centurions got the job done, 2.6 (18)-2.0 (12). Neither team scored a goal in the fi rst half, with the Centurions kicking the only goal of the second quarter to lead by eight points, with the Roosters yet to hit the scoreboard. Both teams kicked a goal in the third quarter, with the Centurions narrowly increasing the lead to 10 points at the fi nal break.

The Roosters got the fi rst goal of the fi nal quarter to give them a chance with the margin back within a goal. The Centurions were able to hold on. Centurions coach Jade De La Rue said there was a fair bit of relief and determination to get across the line. “Last year getting knocked out in the fi rst round there was a feeling around the girls heading into this game that we didn’t want it to happen again. “The last four weeks we had a sit down about why we play and where we want to go. We all had the same mindset to play our best football and get to the big dance.” [De La Rue said she always expected a tough challenge against the Roosters and that was what they got.

She said they gave them a run for their money. “It was a physical game,” she said. “We were able to keep our composure and get over the line in the end. “They fly under the radar and can’t be underestimated. It was who ever played best on the day. De La Rue De La Rue said their experienced players, some who are premiership players, really led the way for them to get the job done. “It’s about 50-50 on the list now with a lot of players coming through,” she said. “Some of the newer ones were pumped and had nerves and they stood up which was massive to see. “That’s the best part of the job, seeing

those players coming through. They are working on their knowledge and skills which is the best part.” Meghann Basto and Taylor Vilcins were the goalkickers for the Centurions. The Centurions will face Wyndhamvale in the preliminary fi nal. The Falcons will look to go again after a big loss to the Parkside Spurs in the qualifying fi nal. The margin could have been much greater than the 40 points, with the Spurs having had 17 scoring shots to two for the half. The Falcons got their fi rst goal of the match in the third quarter, but the Spurs were able to extend the lead before fi nishing it off.

Players for future squads named

Bonnie Lea Brown. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 485446_01

Suns shine as they anticipate first granny By Tara Murray The Suns will soak up the emotion after winning through to their fi rst Western Football League women’s grand fi nal. The Suns faced Laverton in the division 2 qualifying fi nal and were able to produce their best team performance when it mattered most. It was a controlled performance from the Suns. They led by 20 points at half-time, before the Magpies reduced the margin to 13 points at the last break. The Suns kicked the only goal of the fi nal quarter ensuring they won through to the grand fi nal, 7.8 (50)-4.3 (27). Suns’ coach Leanne Meyer said it was a bit surreal to be through to the grand fi nal. “We’re really excited and it’s really humbling,” she said. “We want to remain grateful and remain present and soak it in. “It’s been a hard year with ups and downs and twists and turns; this is a reward for the playing group and the staff. “It’s surreal.”

Meyer said many of the playing group had never played in a fi nal before Saturday, let alone a grand fi nal. She said there were some nerves early on in the contest. Meyer said they just tried to keep it simple with talk, teamwork and respect: their three key pillars for the match. “You don’t play fi nals expecting to change the footballers they are,” she said. “It’s about doing the same as you do every week. Keep preparing the same, the mood the same. “The only difference is when you have nothing more to give, look at the 10 players on the sidelines missing out and would trade their right arm to be out there, what else can you give?” Meyer said it was their best team performance of the season. “They stood up when we were challenged in the third quarter,” she said. “Credit to Laverton. “We lost our way for a little bit and it was about breathing as we were still 13 or 14 points up. “We went back to those three words and

the result would take care of itself.” Mandy Seath kicked two goals for the Suns. Emily Allan, Matilda Brown and Bonnie Lea Brown were named the Suns’ best. Meyer said they would enjoy the week off and prepare like they normally would. They will face Laverton or Yarraville Seddon in the grand fi nal. Meanwhile, Point Cook Centrals’ season came to an end against Yarraville Seddon. Kicking off the action at Skinner Reserve where all four women’s fi nals were being held, it was hard going. The Eagles kicked the only goal of the fi rst quarter to lead by eight points at quarter-time before doubling it to 16 points at half-time. The Sharks kept themselves in the game as they kicked their fi rst goal of the match in the third quarter. Neither side could fi nd a goal in the last quarter with the Eagles winning, 2.7 (19)-1.1 (7). Alicia Mckertish, Akec Makur Chuot and Maggie Logan were named the Eagles’ best.

Several Western Jets and Calder Cannons players have been named in the squads for the AFL National Futures matches. All players selected in the girls and boys futures programs are born in 2009 and are eligible to be selected in the 2027 AFL and AFLW drafts. The AFL programs bring talented players from every state and territory together in a high-performance environment ahead of their draft year. Players were nominated for the programs by state talent managers, national selectors and AFL and AFLW club recruiters. Each of the squads will take part in a two-day program in Melbourne during September, which will be highlighted by a talent showcase match. The matches will assist the selection process for the 2027 AFL National Academy programs. Players who don’t participate in the futures match will still be eligible to be selected for the National Academy. The girls match will be played at Windy Hill on Sunday 12 September as a double-header with the AFLW round five match between Richmond and St Kilda. Calder Cannons’ Holly Clough and Elebertina Schuliga are part of the squad. Cannons’ girls coach Nic Tenabel is part of the coaching panel. Clough was part of the Vic Metro squad for the national championships as a bottom-age player. The boys match is scheduled to be played at the MCG ahead of the AFL grand fi nal on Saturday 26 September. The squad features several father-son prospects including Koby Bewick (son of Darren) and Tevita Rodan (son of David). Bewick and Rodan are both part of the Calder Cannons squad, with Rodan also eligible to join Essendon as a Next Generation Academy prospect. Nathaniel Jenkins is the other Cannon in the program. Under-18 All-Australian team forward Jake Miller, who is from the Western Jets and Yarraville Seddon, has also been selected. Miller’s Jets and Yarraville Seddon teammate Griffi n Barker has also been selected. Campbell Rooks is the Northern Knights’ only representative.

Wednesday, 26 August, 2026 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 21

Werribee academy back By Tara Murray The Werribee Football Club Junior Academy returns for its second year in 2026, continuing the club’s commitment to developing the next generation of footballers across Wyndham. Following the successful introduction of the club’s fi rst standalone junior academy in 2025, the program returns with another group of talented young footballers from across the region. The invite-only academy features 50 participants, made up of 25 boys and 25 girls from Wyndham, who represented the Western Football League at interleague this year. The academy provides an opportunity to further their development in a high-performance environment. Werribee development coach Kane Johnstone will lead the program as academy coach in 2026, with three Werribee VFL players joining him at each session to work closely with participants. Johnstone joined Werribee at the beginning of the 2026 season. He also serves as the club’s runner on matchdays and helps run additional development group sessions every second Monday for Werribee’s fi rst-to-fourth-year players. Johnstone said he was excited to lead the academy in its second year. “It is really exciting to be coach of an academy that is important to the Werribee community,” he said. “These academies are where some of the best football memories are made, so to be a part of this is a great honour. “You meet other players from other clubs and you become best mates with them and there’s good chemistry with the group.” Johnstone said he believed Werribee was the only VFL club to host an academy like this which was massive for the club. He said youngsters in the under-14 age group don’t necessarily get these opportunities, so they are getting the benefits at a younger age. “Talking with Shaggy [Majok Ngong] there’s been a drop off of the Western region and we want to keep them playing

Werribee’s academy program is back. (Supplied)

footy and embedded in the community. “We want to get the parents involved and see how good it can be. It’s good for the community and exciting that Werribee is the only team to have that.” Johnstone said there were a lot of talented kids coming through the system. He said when he was growing up, girls didn’t have these sorts of opportunities which was also part of the growth of the sport. Johnstone said they were trying to get a few AFLW players down to help with the sessions. While the academies will help the players progress their skills, it’s bigger than that. “One of the biggest things at Werribee is we make people better off the field. “If you have good people off the field, the footy will take care of itself.”

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22 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 26 August, 2026

With several players, who are part of Werribee’s VFL team, from the western league, Johnstone said having them involved in the coaching showed what you can do if you stick with your football. “It’s pretty exciting to see the next crop coming through,” he said. “It’s my fi rst time coaching a football academy, it’s exciting to be part of.” Across the program, participants will take part in sessions not only covering football and on-field skills, but also performance habits, sleep, nutrition and recovery, while gaining a better understanding of the different pathways available to young footballers in the region. There will be a professional warm-up and specialised strength session among the sessions. The seven-session 2026 program began

with an introductory session at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval on 17 August, before continuing across August and September, including two extended sessions during the September school holidays. Werribee community manager Majok Ngong said the academy was an important part of the club’s commitment to supporting the future of football in Melbourne’s west. “After the success of the academy in its fi rst year, we’re really excited to have the program back for 2026 and continue building on what we started last year,” he said. “As a football club, we have an opportunity to play an important role in supporting the long-term sustainability of football in the western region and helping young players from our community continue their development.

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