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A tasty art exhibition For artist and designer Adrianne Walujo food is more than what fills a pantry — it is a vessel for memory, identity and connection. Originally from Indonesia and now based in Melbourne, Walujo brings her multidisciplinary creative practise to Pantries of Melbourne, an exhibition exploring the ingredients, spices and everyday objects that connect Melbourne’s diverse communities to culture and home. Drawing on seven years of experience across design, illustration, animation, UI/ UX, marketing and brand strategy, Walujo approaches cultural storytelling through a distinctly visual lens. Her work captures the intimacy of the pantry as a space where family traditions, migration stories and memories are quietly preserved. Pantries of Melbourne invites audiences to look beyond familiar ingredients and consider the stories they carry, exploring the ways food can create a sense of belonging across generations and cultures. Presented at Brimbank gallery and Sunshine library, the free exhibition celebrates the many communities that shape Melbourne and runs until 27 November.

 Turn to page 6 for a closer

Adrianne Walujo with one of her favourite artworks.

look at Walujo’s work.

(Valerius R. Boenawan) 577061_03

Academy promise A police training academy will be opened in the western suburbs, if Labor is re-elected in November. Premier Ben Carroll made the announcement on Sunday following calls from councils across Melbourne’s north-west for a regional police training academy. Brimbank council had joined Melton, Wyndham, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong and Hume councils in calling on the state government to establish the academy, arguing more needed to be done to tackle police numbers and crime. The mayors and chief executives of the six councils wrote to Mr Carroll and Police

Minister Paul Edbrooke stating that the facility that would make it easier for locals to pursue a career in policing. They also said an academy would strengthen the collective push for greater investment in crime prevention, outreach and specialist support services. On Sunday, Mr Carroll said the government had heard that the Glen Waverley police academy was too far away from where many people want to train, and so a re-elected Labor government would open a second metropolitan academy in Wyndham. The announcement is part of a plan to add 1500 police to the force.

Werribee MP John Lister, who joined Mr Carroll and other local MPs at Sunday’s announcement, said a new academy in the west would “keep costs down for new recruits and help them stay close to home”. The push for a north-western metropolitan police academy came amid growing concern about community safety in the west, following the death of Sunshine trader Van Viet Truong, who was assaulted outside his store in early August. The incident sparked renewed debate about youth crime and the need for a stronger police presence across the region.

On 5 August, mayors from councils across the west released a joint statement requesting more police and stronger protection for communities. In response, the state government announced it would expand frontline support for the west, increasing the presence of Protective Service Officers (PSOs) across Victoria, with Sunshine and St Albans among the areas to receive additional coverage. The government also expanded its Community Connectors program, homelessness outreach, community safety grants.

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Push for bilingual schools By Sebastian Conidi VietSpeak has launched a campaign to re-establish a bilingual Vietnamese program in Melbourne’s west. The community organisation formed in 2020 after the shutdown of a Vietnamese bilingual program in Footscray. It has spent the past few years pushing for bilingual kindergartens, and has now turned its attention to primary education. The campaign champions bilingual programs, with VietSpeakin stating that such programs enhance academic outcomes through dual-language instruction, pre-

serve language and cultural heritage for future generations, and prepare students for a globalised world with multilingual skills “We want programs in schools that teach the curriculum through language,” VietSpeak director Hoang Tran Nguyen said. “That means learning standard subjects in Vietnamese.” Mr Nguyen said the lack of formal options for Vietnamese bilingual programs in the western suburbs was insufficient given the huge Vietnamese population. “Vietnamese is the most spoken language in the western suburbs after English,” he said.

The 2021 Census showed Brimbank had one of the highest rates of people speaking Vietnamese at home. Suburbs with a rate 25 per cent or higher included Albanvale, Cairnlea, Kings Park, St Albans and Sunshine. Brimbank overall recorded 18.5 per cent of the population speaking Vietnamese at home. Sunshine North was the highest with a rate of 39 per cent. According to Bilingual Schools Victoria there are 11 bilingual primary schools in the state with one in the west, however a Vietnamese bilingual program has not been in place since 2020. VietSpeak previously collaborated in the

Caroline Springs students taught how to stay safe

Sunshine students host special book launch Sunshine Harvester Primary School students celebrated a special book launch, recognising youthful artistic talent within the school community. Year 2 students had the opportunity to write and illustrate their own poems alongside author and illustrator Kym Langfield. Langfield is a Wyndham artist and writer who works closely with the non-profit organisation Good Shepherd through its ‘Writers in Residence’ program. She has published a number of books and helps students to develop and publish their own stories. “My passion is to support as many young creators as possible, to explore and create their own art,” she said. “No matter how young someone is, if they love to draw, they can call themselves an artist.” The program marked the school’s second year working with the program. Good Shepherd runs a number of initiatives across both Australia and New Zealand in education as well as broader social services, “They’ve played an important role in supporting our school by providing this program to enrich students’ learning experiences and help us provide opportunities that may not otherwise be available,” staff member Sophanny Tham said. Over six weeks, students participated in workshops where they planned, drafted, refined, and illustrated their own poems. Through this experience, students were able to explore their creativity, develop their writing skills and see their ideas come to life through both words and illustrations.

Kym Langfield with the young artists. (Supplied)

Langfield organised for the students’ poems and illustrations to be published in their very first book.

The event concluded with a special book launch for the year 2 students and their families.

Gunman jailed for 34 years for killing gangland figure By Tara Cosoleto, AAP Two men who gunned down Melbourne gangland figure Gavin Preston have been jailed for 34 years for the callous murder. Jaeden Tito, 25, and Rabii Zahabe, 26, looked ahead and up at the court ceiling on Tuesday morning 8 September as Victorian Supreme Court Justice Michael O’Connell handed down their sentences. The pair had denied they were the masked shooters who stormed Preston, 50, at a Keilor cafe in Melbourne’s northwest on September 9, 2023.

establishment of bilingual programs in kindergartens in Melbourne’s west, specifically at Cherry Crescent Preschool in Braybrook and Albanvale Community Kindergarten in Albanvale. Mr Nguyen says bilingual programs are vital for nurturing multiculturalism in western suburbs communities. “Language is the centre of culture. When we think about multiculturalism, multilingualism often gets lost,” he said. “When engaging with multiple perspectives, multiple languages goes a long way in basic skills like empathy and understanding.”

CCTV footage showed Preston and his friend Abbas Maghnie sitting outside Sweet Lulus cafe when two men dressed in black jumped out of a car and fired shots. Preston was fatally struck while Mr Maghnie was also hit by a single bullet but survived. Police believe the attack on Preston was a planned underworld contract killing and intelligence reports suggested he had amassed a number of enemies. At trial, Tito and Zahabe argued detectives charged the wrong men and they

4 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 15 September, 2026

were not the shooters. But a jury in May found them guilty of murder after three days of deliberations. Justice O’Connell on Tuesday described the killing as a “ruthless and callous disregard for human life“ as he sentenced the pair. “This was a contract killing,“ the judge said. “The degree of planning and sophistication was of the highest order.“ Zahabe will be eligible for parole after 27 years, while Tito will be eligible after 26 years.

Having managed security across 57 venues and overseen more than 200 bouncers over a 15-year career, Alan Latu knows how quickly an argument can turn violent. Working with the Pat Cronin Foundation, he recently held a seminar for more than 350 students at Brookside P-9 College at Caroline Springs, teaching them how to understand and manage their triggers for anger, defuse conflict and step away from potentially violent situations. Nineteen-year-old Pat Cronin was struck once in the head while trying to pull his friend away from a scuffle in 2016. Although he initially appeared unharmed, he later lost consciousness due to inoperable brain bleeding. Two days later, his family made the decision to turn off his life support. The foundation was formed in his name to educate young people on violence prevention. Since then, the foundation has delivered presentations to more than 300,000 students across more than 750 schools. Its initiatives centre around understanding violence, psychology and emotions, changing behaviours and examining culture in schools. Mr Latu delivered the foundation’s Violence is Never OK and Rethinking Anger presentations to years 7 and 8 students at Brookside. “In our sessions, we help young people understand what they’re feeling in the moment. We give them real strategies to cool down, read the room, and defuse a tense situation before it goes too far,” Mr Latu said. “These are vital life skills that serve young people in almost any situation and key to navigating challenges they’ll face as they enter adulthood.” School counsellor Dyson Russell said this was the fourth year Brookside had booked the presentation, complementing its Respectful Relationships Program. “Presentations like this can be very impactful and generate conversations that can be otherwise difficult to initiate,” he said. The foundation has expanded into primary schools, with the launch of the Be Wise Primary Program last month, amid growing concerns about aggression in classrooms and playgrounds. The 120-hour program features 145 lessons and activities from prep to grade 6, aimed at helping children better manage their emotions.

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Ken McKean will be hosting a meditation for international peace day. (Damjan Janevski) 576927 03

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Ken McKean is holding a world peace meditation gathering on Sunday 20 September, from 1pm to 3pm. The event will take place at Walan Walan, an an indigenous rock circle beside Kororoit Creek, near the Bug Rug in Sunshine West. Walan Walan is a sculpture project that was put together by McKean and his wife Fiona Clarke. The event will coincide with International World Peace Day which takes place a day later. McKean says that not all attendees have to meditate, that their presence alone is

enough to serve the gathering. “Even your presence helps with our intentions which is most important,” he said. Additionally McKean aims to raise money for UNICEF by walking from Warrnambool to Sunshine. This 260 kilometre walk will commence on 10 October as McKean seeks to raise funds for children affected by conflict across the globe. People can register their interest at www.eventbrite.com.au/e/world-peacemeditation-tickets-1984665829923.

Brimbank deputy mayor Maria Kerr has announced that she will run as an independent candidate for the seat of Sydenham. “I’m putting my hand up because I believe our community deserves a genuine local choice and someone who understands the issues the ground,” she said. “I’m not coming into this without experience. I have a strong and proven track record of delivering results for this community, and I want to take that experience to the Victorian Parliament.“ Ms Kerr has identified the key priorities she intends to advocate for. These include full funding for Taylors Road, a police station at Watergardens, advocacy for specialist schools, investment in support for mental health, prioritising seniors and disability support and stronger sentencing laws. “Whatever the make up of the next Parliament, I will continue to put our community first and make sure our local priorities hard,” she said. Ms Kerr lives in Delahey with her family and says she is committed to putting the community first. “I know this community. I live here. I raise my family here. I shop here. I have spent years listening to residents and working to deliver results.”

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Gunmay speaks for Gorton’s youth Sixteen-year-old Gunmay Bhargava has wrapped up his time as federal youth member for Gorton at this year’s National Youth Parliament. A year 10 student and an active member of his local youth council, his school political interest group, and at his local MP’s office as a volunteer, Gunmay was selected to represent his local community at this year’s National Youth Parliament in Canberra over five days last month. Alongside youth delegates from across the country, Gunmay took part in leadership activities, committee discussions, policy debates and simulated parliamentary proceedings. Gunmay said his favourite part of the program was building connections with peers who shared the same passion for local advocacy and civic engagement. “We also had valuable experience drafting and debating bills together, meeting

politicians and experiencing what life is like for professionals in the field,” he said. Gunmay’s official counterpart, Gorton MP Alice Jordan-Baird, said she was thrilled with the opportunity to meet Gunmay as the youth member for Gorton in Parliament House. “It’s so important to give our youth the tools to advocate for what they believe in,” she said. Ms Jordan-Baird said she believes it is vital to foster civic engagement amongst Gorton youth. “Every time I speak with young people in our community, I’m reminded of how much enthusiasm and potential we have here in Melbourne’s west,” she said. “Advocacy takes on many forms, and programs like National Youth Parliament give young Australians the knowledge, confidence and opportunities to find their voice and make a difference.”

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Youth member for Gorton Gunmay Bhargava with Gorton MP Alice Jordan-Baird. (Supplied)

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Adrianne Walujo with her artworks. 577061

Culture in the pantry Brimbank gallery is currently featuring the Pantries of Melbourne exhibition by Adrianne Walujo. This series offers glimpses into the pantries of Melbourne’s diverse communities, inviting curiosity and appreciation for the many cultures that shape the city. The exhibition is open during business hours until 27 November. Star Weekly photographer Valerius Boenawan captured this unique take on the humble pantry.

Walujo and her son Aaron.

Arts teacher Melisa Garcia with her students Ava, 9, Faith, 9, and Milena, 9.

Glow-in-the-dark art

The exhibition poster for Art is Wild. 576610

Kings Park Primary School students have let their creative juices flow for the biennial school art gallery. This year’s theme was Art is Wild, offering a glow-in-the-dark experience. Star Weekly photographer Valerius Boenawan captured the students’ dazzling displays.

Ava, Faith, and Milena with their arts.

6 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 15 September, 2026

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ENTERTAINMENT

Young talent in the spotlight

Pub to Pub is back for 2026 (Supplied).

Fun run between pubs The Pub to Pub fun run is returning to Lancefield and Romsey for the third year. The race will see runners of all ages taking to Federation Trail, with courses either starting or ending at the Lancefield or 1860 Romsey hotels, in a fun run designed to shake off those winter blues and get your blood pumping. Organiser Mitch Docker said the idea came about while he and his co-organiser Alex Gorman were at the pub as a way to bring the two neighbouring towns together. Both new to the area, he said the Pub to Pub has taken off over the past few

years, doubling their participation year after year. “The football season’s finished, but the cricket season hasn’t started, so we have a really nice window where people can just get out there and run, walk, race, whatever they want to do, it’s really casual,” Mr Docker said. Multiple events will take place on the day, with the biggest being the 15 kilometre Pub to Pub to Pub. Starting outside the Lancefield Hotel, runners will make their way to Romsey via the Federation Trail, loop around Lions Park, pass the 1860 Romsey Hotel

and head back towards Lancefield to end back at the hotel. A shorter 7.5 kilometre race will start in Romsey and make its way back into Lancefield, while a Junior Bolt will offer a short 1.5 kilometre race for kids aged three to 12 to get a taste of the event. Instead of medals, Mr Docker said, the Pub to Pub has a unique trophy to fit with the theme for runners. The Pub to Pub run will take place on Sunday 20 September, with entries open now. Details: lifeinthepeloton.com/thepub-to-pub

The next generation of Brimbank musicians will take centre stage at Resonate Acoustic, a curated showcase celebrating the area’s emerging young artists and singer-songwriters. Presented by Brimbank Youth Arts, the event will feature musicians aged 12–25 who live, work or play in Brimbank, performing intimate, chilled-out sets at the Bowery Theatre as part of Be Bold Festival on Saturday 3 October from 5pm. The line-p spans indie rock, pop, R’n’B, soul and jazz fusion, showcasing the breadth of musical talent developing across Melbourne’s west. Oscar, 18, brings an indie, alternative and rock sensibility to the showcase. While influenced by heavier Australian acts including Silverchair and Tumbleweed, Oscar will showcase a softer side of his sound at Resonate Acoustic. Elena, 23, is a Melbourne singer-songwriter whose emotionally rich indie-pop combines heartfelt storytelling with intimate piano and guitar arrangements. Demie Bagnato, 24, blends pop, R’n’B and soul, pairing raw lyricism with contemporary production. Her music explores connection, nostalgia, growth and self-discovery. Cameron Dies Twice, the solo project of 23-year-old Cameron J Tan, combines singer-songwriter guitar and vocals with textured synths, drawing on personal experiences and questions of identity and home. Rounding out the program is EJPJ, a four-piece jazz fusion group.

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Solutions to crime are slow By Cade Lucas As part of an ongoing series on the causes and solutions to crime in the west, Cade Lucas spoke to Swinburne university criminology lecturer and western suburbs resident Dr Joel McGregor about the drivers of youth crime. “Serious youth offending doesn’t just emerge from nowhere,” Dr Joel McGregor said when asked why youth offending was such a big problem in Melbourne’s west. A senior lecturer in criminology at Swinburne University of Technology who specialises in the causes of youth crime, Dr McGregor also lives in Melbourne’s west and is well aware of how big a problem youth offending has become in the region. His explanation for why has a familiar ring to it. “Melbourne’s west contains some of the

fastest growing communities in the area and one of the challenges there is that the social infrastructure and support services have not necessarily grown at the same pace,” Dr McGregor said with an answer that could equally apply to roads, public transport, health services and schools across the west too. However, the results of this under-investment are arguably even worse and more difficult to fix. “Somewhere like the west, where you’ve got really fast-growing communities, people are very quickly displaced, and there’s a lack of opportunities for young people to create a positive sense of belonging,” he said. Unable to find positive places to belong, Dr McGregor said, young people in the west have resorted to negative ones instead. “A lot of youth crime comes from a sense of belonging, particularly gang involve-

Senior lecturer in criminology at Swinburne University of Technology, Dr Joel McGregor. (supplied)

ment,” he said. “Gangs provide somewhere for young people to belong, somewhere where they feel seen by others, where they have peer association – unfortunately, this is negative

peer association.” But while the causes of youth crime are easy to understand, the solutions are not. Dr McGregor said addressing the root cause of the problem involved changing the attitudes of young offenders, a slow process at a time when the community is demanding urgent action. “What people want are really quick interventions where they can feel safe straight away, and I understand that, but we’re trying to change behaviours, which takes quite a long time,” he said, pointing to Victoria’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), an early intervention program which has been operating in the western suburbs since last December, as an example of an approach to youth crime which is low profile but highly effective. “We’re never gonna police ourselves out of crime.”

West councils want a local police training academy. But why now? By Sebastian Conidi Crime has long been an issue in Melbourne’s western and northern suburbs. But recent incidents have garnered more attention than most and led a group of western suburbs mayor to call on Victoria Police and the state government to do more to improve safety in the region. Now the mayors and chief executives of Brimbank, Melton, Wyndham, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong and Hume have come together to call on the state government to establish a new police academy in the region Why is there now a greater focus on crime in the north-west? In early August, Sunshine trader Van Viet Truong died after being assaulted outside his store on Hampshire Road in broad daylight. This crime sparked mass outrage and discussion, with the community calling for stronger police protection. A day later, a violent fight broke out between two men in Footscray CBD, reinforcing calls for safety across the west. On 5 August, the mayors from Brimbank, Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay, Wyndham and Melton issued a joint statement calling for more police on the beat in the west. “Crime rates are rising across Melbourne’s west with a combined 12.7 per cent increase in recorded crimes across the region so far in 2026,” the mayors said in the joint statement. Those councils – joined now by Hume council – on 8 September called on the state government to provide a police training academy in the north-west, saying it will strengthen the collective push for greater investment in crime prevention, outreach and specialist support services. What has the state government done? On 13 August, the state government said it would recruit an additional 150 PSOs to patrol local shopping strips. The government also announced the implementation of 200 more police reservists across the state, creating 400 reservists in total in an effort to ensure police stations can remain open for longer and police can focus on front-line work. It is also expanding its Community Connectors program to St Albans, Sunshine and Broadmeadows stations. What was the response? At a council meeting in August, Brimbank councillors welcomed the response however urged for more to be done. A report tabled at the meeting found that traders still felt unsafe and claimed police

Two women comfort each other after placing flowers outside the Hong Hung Asian Grocer in Sunshine. (AAP Image/Jay Kogler)

were late to attend or didn’t attend at all when local business called to report theft and damage. Victoria Police responded stating that the issue had not been raised with them in recent months. Council said it would continue to consult community traders and would engage in further advocacy for stronger police protection. Will increased police help?

8 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 15 September, 2026

Star Weekly’s We Deserve Better campaign has focused on examining why youth crime is an issue in the west and what needs to be done about it. Westjustice policy director Owen Virtue said that whilst police presence was important for making residents feel safe, a holistic approach was needed to address the increase in youth crime. Mr Virtue cited financial insecurity, housing insecurity, family violence, mental health challenges and lockdown trauma as key drivers in an

increase in youth crime. Les Twentyman chief executive Paul Bourke shared a similar sentiment, stating that early intervention services were crucial to tackling the root of the issue. Will the state government create a new police academy? On Sunday 13 September, the state government announced plans to build an academy in Wyndham if re-elected in November.

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Overdose fatalities high By Sebastian Conidi Brimbank recorded one of the highest rates of overdose in Victoria between 2015-2024. Data compiled by the Penington Institute reveals that drug-induced fatalities in Australia have reached a historic peak, driven by a record number of unintentional overdoses. In the nine year span, Brimbank recorded 171 unintentional drug-induced deaths making it the 4th highest rate in Victoria behind Geelong, Dandenong and Port Phillip. Of the deaths that occured in Brimbank, opioids were involved in 115

deaths, while amphetamine-type stimulants and benzodiazepines contributed to 77 and 70 deaths respectively. Wyndham and Whittlesea were also in the top 10 with 149 and 127 deaths respectively. The Penington Institute’s annual overdose report found that deaths peaked in 2024 with the highest number of drug-induced deaths ever recorded. Nearly 2,600 people died from unintentional drug overdose, surpassing 2,000 deaths for the first time and reaching the highest rate in the 24 years the report has been compiled. This represented a 10.7 per cent in-

crease from the 2,345 deaths in 2023. For all drug-induced deaths, the most common drugs involved were opioids (1,083), stimulants (843), and benzodiazepines (696). Drug-induced deaths remain one of the leading causes of death for all Australians in their 20s, 30s and 40s according to the Pennington Institute. The report highlighted a substantial long-term increase, with unintentional overdose deaths growing by 113 per cent since 2001, far outstripping the nation’s 41 per cent population growth over the same period. “The scale of these deaths is difficult to

comprehend,” the report says. “Drug use patterns are changing. The harms are increasing. Yet too often, our response remains static.” Penington Institute CEO John Ryan said the shocking increase is a result of slow responses to the national health crisis. “[The report] is a warning about what happens when our responses fail to keep pace with a changing drug market, and when known disparities are allowed to persist,” he said. “The findings should be a wake-up call for governments, policymakers and the community. We cannot change the past. But we can change what happens next.”

Tackling Brimbank’s drug crisis to prevent further deaths With Brimbank recording Victoria’s fourth highest rate of drug-induced deaths across a nine-year span, Sebastian Conidi spoke to Scott Withy, program facilitator at Health Works Healthcare, about the causes of the overdose crisis and how it can be addressed in Melbourne’s west. Drug use and overdose have been long-standing issues in Melbourne’s west, according to Health Works Healthcare program facilitator Scott Withy, but he says identifying a single reason why is difficult. “For decades Brimbank has had a number of well-established hotspots known for street-based drug use and injecting harm,” he said. Mr Withy said increasing access to wraparound services was key to addressing the issue, particularly services that could reach people in need within the community. “It is reasonably well known that there is a lack of services in Brimbank,” he said. He also stressed that greater access to medications such as methadone and naloxone was vital. Methadone is a long-acting opioid medication used to stabilise people dependent on opioids such as heroin or fentanyl, while naloxone can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Mr Withy highlighted a key outreach service operating in the area – cohealth’s Van West program as helping to address the issue. Launched in 2024, the program operates seven days week visiting suburbs such as Sunshine and St Albans. “It connects people to housing, alcohol and Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) services, as well as health and social services,”

Van West is a cohealth service (Supplied).

he said. The program provides mobile support to the communit, including first aid,

basic health checks, safer drug-use information and overdose-reversal medication

such as naloxone. Van West can be contacted on 0499 848 295.

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Moving Ahead

15 September 2026

Mayor’s message Cr Lara Carli

Stay Informed

We welcome the recent announcements and state election commitments to invest in much needed public transport and roads in the City of Melton. The Victorian Government has committed a further $550 million towards upgrading the Western Highway between Melton and Caroline Springs. Combined with the $1 billion in Australian Government funding previously committed, this investment will deliver critical capacity and safety improvements, helping residents access jobs, education and essential services. We look forward to seeing works start. Council also welcomed the recent commitment by the Victorian Liberal and National parties to invest $1.7 billion in 25 new hybrid electric trains, including for the Melton rail line, as an interim measure to increase rail capacity. Whilst the announcement is welcome our position remains that the Melton rail line must be duplicated and fully electrified by 2030, with new stations at Mt Atkinson and Thornhill Park. We will continue advocating to all major parties to commit to the roads and public transport essential to the liveability of our growing community. I would also like to say, what a privilege it was to welcome Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, Governor of Victoria, to the City of Melton recently. The visit provided an opportunity for the Governor to spend time in one of Australia’s fastest-growing communities, to see and hear about the City of Melton, its growth, its people and the opportunities and challenges in a growth area. On behalf of Council, thank you to the Governor for taking the time to visit and learn more about the City of Melton and our community. Feel free to contact me about Sugar Gum Ward or our City more generally on 0409 951 020 or email at: lara.carli@melton.vic.gov.au

Quickly and easily connect with us online: melton.vic.gov.au facebook.com/cityofmelton Instagram @cityofmeltonofficial

Spring school holiday fun! Looking for ways to keep the kids entertained these spring school holidays? Council has you covered with

bike rides, first aid workshops for kids, craft activities and more, there’s something to be something for everyone.

a jam-packed program of exciting activities for children and young people. From youth spin bike and boxing classes to musical theatre workshops, indoor rock climbing, scavenger hunt

Check out what’s on offer at melton.vic.gov.au/schoolholidays

AFL Grand Final Public Holiday

2026 Melton Seniors Festival The Victorian Seniors Festival is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate ageing well and connect with the community. This year, Council is hosting two live music events for local seniors: Playing Second Fiddle Saturday 10 October, 1pm to 3pm Melton Community Hall, 238 High Street, Melton Enjoy a celebration of iconic women of musical theatre, featuring songs from Les Misérables, Oliver, Guys and Dolls and more. Cost: $5

Our offices will be closed on Friday 25 September for the AFL Grand Final Public Holiday. This includes City of Melton Libraries and the Animal Pound. There is no change to kerbside bin collections. The Melton Recycling Facility is open 8am - 4.30pm. For information, to report an issue and pay online via our website: melton.vic.gov.au

Groove Dimension Saturday 24 October, 6pm to 8pm Melton Community Hall, 238 High Street, Melton Dance and sing along to classic funk, R&B, soul and disco hits from the 1970s. Cost: $5

Tickets are available from Melton and Caroline Springs libraries. For more information, visit melton.vic.gov.au/seniorsfestival

Jackwood Ward with Cr Ashleigh Vandenberg It’s great to be back connecting with Jackwood Ward residents and continuing to support and advocate for our community. There are plenty of Council projects underway for residents to look forward to over the next 12-months, including the completion of the Deanside Children’s and Community Centre, which will provide much-needed kindergarten, Maternal and Child Health and community spaces. Construction is also continuing on our new Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Fraser Rise, which will provide exciting opportunities for swimming, fitness and leisure.

Council has endorsed a proposed name for the facility, Tides Fraser Rise, and we’d like to hear what the community thinks before we make a final decision. The proposed name reflects the multipurpose nature of the facility, which is not only an aquatic centre, but also a destination for health, wellbeing and connection. You can have your say by visiting conversations.melton.vic.gov.au There are also plans to improve local connections, including upgrades to the Taylors Road corridor, and a new shareduse path between Bonnie Brook and Fraser Rise, providing safer, easier access

to Deanside Primary School, childcare and other local services. Finally, I’d like to send my heartfelt thoughts to the family whose home was severely damaged by fire in Bonnie Brook recently. Thankfully, no one was injured, but losing your home is devastating. I wish the family strength and support as they navigate this difficult time. Feel free to contact me regarding Jackwood Ward or our City more generally on 0499 801 183 or ashleigh.vandenberg@melton.vic.gov.au

Your Councillors – Visit melton.vic.gov.au/councillors to find your ward Councillors and their contact details

Deputy Mayor Cr Dr Phillip Zada

Cr Steve Abboushi

Cr Kathy Majdlik

A welcoming and liveable City accessible to all 10 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 15 September, 2026

Cr Brandi Morris

Cr Sophie Ramsey

Civic Centre 232 High Street Melton VIC 3337

Cr Julie Shannon

Cr Bob Turner

Cr Ashleigh Vandenberg

9747 7200 melton.vic.gov.au cityofmelton

Cr John Verdon

12842651-KF38-26

Mayor Cr Lara Carli

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

NEWS

MY PLACE Richard Carthew is a longtime western suburbs resident who lives in Sydenham. He is currently the St Albans community youth club chairperson. He spoke with Sebastian Conidi. What’s your connection to Melbourne’s north-west? My family moved into our new home in the half-completed Overton Lea estate in Sydenham the day after Boxing Day 1995. The first morning I woke up to the sounds of cows mooing and could see the city skyline from the bedroom window. There were no shops except for a general store next to the railway gates on Keilor-Melton Road and the closest set of traffic lights was outside Keilor Downs shopping centre in Taylors Road. What do you like about where you live? I like living in the area, I have met many people as well as being a member of the now defunct Rotary Club of Brimbank, the Brimbank Bicycle Education Centre, Sydenham and District Historical Society, the Friends of yaluk barring, Probus Club of Hillside. What is one of your fondest memories of the west? My fondest memories of the west are picnics and barbecues at Brimbank Park, kayaking on the Maribyrnong, afternoon teas at

Richard Carthew. (Damjan Janevski) 574794_06

Williamstown, visits to the Werribee Free Range Zoo and taking a car load of kids to Melton Wave Pool. What, if anything, would you change about where you live? Over the years a number of us have advocated for a wider use of yaluk barring park, formerly Sydenham Park. The area has great tourist potential as well as being able to

meet the sporting needs of our youth. Where is your favourite local place to spend time? I do most of the shopping locally but don’t eat out much these days a for a bit of quite time I go to yaluk barring park for a walk. How has your role as St. Albans Community Youth Club chairperson shaped your

relationship with the west? Being elected the chairperson at St Albans Community Youth back in November has been an honour, it has made me more aware of the problems for families and individuals not only in St Albans but through the wider society. Every time I turn on Facebook I am amazed with the amount of activities the Tin Shed offers to the wider community.

FEATURING ... SENIORS

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The value and benefits of feeling connected as we age As we get older, our priorities often change. Life becomes less about how busy we are or how much we own, and more about enjoying our time, maintaining our independence and staying connected to the people around us. Research continues to highlight the importance of social connection as we age. Everyday interactions – a chat over coffee, a friendly wave from a neighbour or joining others for an activity — can contribute to our sense of wellbeing and belonging. Yet those connections aren’t always as easy to maintain. Families are busy, neighbourhoods change and the family home that once felt full can sometimes feel a little too quiet. For many over-50s, this is part of the appeal of community living. At Avington Living in Point Cook, just 22km from Melbourne’s CBD, residents have the privacy and independence of their own home, with opportunities for connection close by. The clubhouse and shared facilities provide natural places to meet, whether it’s enjoying the heated indoor pool, watching a movie, visiting the library or spending time with neighbours. But understanding what community living really feels like can be difficult from a website or brochure. Sometimes you simply need to experience it. That’s why Avington’s Open Home morning on Saturday 19 September is an ideal opportunity to visit. You can tour the display homes, explore the clubhouse and facilities, walk through

(Supplied)

the landscaped community and get a genuine feel for the lifestyle and atmosphere. You can also meet the Avington team, ask

questions and discover whether this style of living could be right for your next chapter. Experience Avington Living for yourself.

RSVP to our next Open Home on Saturday 19 September at www.avingtonliving.com. au

Tuesday, 15 September, 2026 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 11

FEATURING ... EDUCATION

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A village where learners grow and progress together At Global Village Learning, a four-year-old and a twenty-year-old are at very different stages of life. They need different challenges, different levels of independence and different kinds of support. But they can still belong to the same community. That idea sits at the heart of GVL. Across their time at GVL, learners move through four Developmental Learning Hubs. The age ranges deliberately overlap because development does not happen neatly according to a calendar. Learners grow and progress at their own pace, with increasing opportunities for independence, leadership and contribution along the way. But Developmental Learning Hubs are not walls. Throughout a learner’s journey from four to 20, there are opportunities to connect, collaborate and build relationships with young people of different ages. Mixed-age learning is an important part of our Montessoriinspired approach. Younger learners can see what is possible by spending time with older learners. Older learners have opportunities to mentor, lead and contribute. And sometimes the learning flows in the opposite direction. A six-year-old can

have an idea a sixteen-year-old has never considered. That is the point. We are building a village, not a collection of separate classrooms. Learning happens within Learning Hubs, but community happens across GVL. It happens through EDventurous Projects, shared spaces, community activities and the countless informal moments that make up a day. It happens when learners create together, solve problems together and help one another. We play together too. And we eat together. Our Healthy Food Program is more than providing a meal. Sitting around a table, sharing food and conversation with people of different ages is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to build relationships and community. At GVL, we believe young people thrive when they experience agency, mastery and community connection. From four to 20, a learner will grow and change enormously. Their interests will change. Their capabilities will develop. Their independence will grow. But throughout that journey, one thing remains constant. They are part of the Village.

12896937-KA36-26

12 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 15 September, 2026

FEATURING ... EDUCATION

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Growing through every stage at Braemar College Young people change enormously between the ages of 10 and 18. At Braemar College, our Years 5–12 structure allows us to recognise those changes and intentionally design a learning journey that grows with each student. That journey begins in Year 5 at our dedicated Middle School at the Woodend Campus. Purpose-built facilities, specialist teachers and an ageand-stage appropriate approach provide an environment where students can be known, challenged and supported as they develop confidence as learners. Importantly, the skills established in these early years are not developed in isolation. The language of learning, organisation, preparation, collaboration, independence and responsibility introduced in Middle School continues to develop as students move through the College. There are important milestones along the way. At the conclusion of Year 8, students celebrate their graduation from Middle School by attaching a ribbon to the windmill at the entrance to the Woodend Campus. They then walk overland with the Head of Middle School to the Mount Macedon Campus, where

they are welcomed by the Head of Senior School. It is a physical journey between our two campuses, but it also represents something more: students moving confidently towards the next stage of their education while carrying with them the skills, relationships and experiences already developed. Four years later comes another significant milestone. At the conclusion of Year 12, students climb the tower of historic Braemar House and add their signatures in pencil alongside generations of students who came before them. Among the names is the 1923 signature of Elisabeth Greene, later Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, from her time at Clyde School. These moments celebrate transition, but they also reflect continuity. From a 10-year-old beginning Middle School to a young adult preparing for life beyond Year 12, the Braemar journey is deliberately designed to build confidence, capability, independence and a sense of belonging. Every stage builds upon the one before it, preparing young people not simply for their next year at school, but for what comes next.

Join us for an Open Day to Celebrate 19 September, from 10am Woodend Campus 241 Romsey Road, Woodend

! s u n o t a e r g s ook

For further information regarding enrolments the Registrar: registrar@braemar.vic.edu.au For further information regarding contact enrolments or Phone: contact the Registrar: registrar@braemar.vic.edu.au or Phone: 5427 9161 5427 9161

12897560-MC38-26

50 l

Tuesday, 15 September, 2026 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 13

NEWS

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

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

17 September, 1986

18 September, 1996

12 September, 2006

13 September, 2016

A Sunshine councillor has called for a probe into the records of the Killeen St child care centre, which owes the Taxation Office about $28,000 in unpaid taxes and penalties.

Sunshine firefighters have threatened not to attend fires on vacant land along the southern and western borders of the Westend Market in McIntyre Road, Sunshine.

Soaring copper prices are being blamed for a spate of burglaries at construction sites and railway stations in the region.

Horseshoe Bend Farm could be reopened to the public – six years after Parks Victoria shut the gates on the historic reserve.

Foster carer Chris Schildt. (Damjan Janevski) 575728_04

Faces of the west

Ahove: Sunshine trader Julie Tran. (Damjan Janevski) 575884_01

Left: Erin Simmonds was 30 when she suffered a stroke. She getting active every day for Stride4Stroke. (Damjan Janevski) 575850_04

Each week Star Weekly photographers are out and about capturing the people and events across Melbourne’s western and northern suburbs.

Artist Fatma Albarqouni who is one of 13 exhibiting as part of States of Being in Broadmeadows. (Damjan Janevski) 575331_01

Macedon Ranges Suicide Prevention Action Group’s World Suicide Prevention Day Walk. Pictured is Fiona Lawford, Marg and Gerry Leahy, Kim Taylor and Nadine Hartnett. (Damjan Janevski) 575343_03

14 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 15 September, 2026

Sunbury Neighbourhood House’s Christie McIntosh. (Damjan Janevski) 575000_02

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

COMMUNITY

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. Caroline Springs Rotary The Rotary Club of Caroline Springs is inviting new guests to join its meetings in person or via Zoom. Meetings are held every Wednesday at the Western Emergency Relief Network in Ravenhall, from 7pm. ■rotarycarolinesprings@gmail.com Be Bold Festival This celebration of arts and culture in Melbourne’s west will feature live music, global food vendors and creative workshops for all to enjoy. Saturday 3 October, 3-7pm at the Bowery Theatre, St Albans Community Centre & Errington Oval Reserve, 33 Princess Street, St Albans. Free of charge. All welcome. Garden club The Sunshine Golden Age Garden Club meets on the second Wednesday of the month at Glengala Community Centre, corner Simmie Street and Glengala Road, Sunshine West at 7pm. New members welcome. ■ Helen Reid , 9746 3933 or reidhm@ hotmail.com Master of the Mic Build confidence in public speaking, communication and leadership in this fun, supportive club for young people aged 15– 25. Enjoy interactive speaking activities, challenges, feedback and opportunities to meet new people. No experience required. Meets on the last Wednesday of each month. “blfvisycareshub@brimbank.vic. gov.au“ ■ blfvisycareshub@brimbank.vic.gov.au INFuse Lab Looking for a relaxed space to create alongside other local artists? Join us weekly for an open studio style session where you can work on your own projects, meet new creatives and enjoy genuine conversation in a supportive environment. Takes place Wednesdays during the school term 3:30pm to 6pm at St Albans Community Centre. ■ 9249 4600, creative@brimbank.vic.gov. au Albion Primary School Albion Primary School is pleased to be celebrating 100 years of education Saturday 17 October from 9am-3:30pm. The day will include music, house competitions, a photo gallery, the opening of a time capsule from 1976, the planting of a 2026 time capsule, a community art project and a scavenger hunt. The school hopes to have as many past students, staff, and families as possible attend on the day. ■ 9311 1325 St Theresa’s Catholic Church St Theresa’s Catholic Church in Albion will celebrate 75 years on Sunday 4 October. There will be a mass followed by refreshment where past and present parishioners, past nuns and priests from St Theresa’s and Mother of God will be represented. There will be history boards, memorabilia and a slideshow of parish memories. BELONG – A Cultural Festival BELONG is a free multicultural community festival celebrating the diversity of Melbourne’s west. Held at

This week’s photographer’s choice picture is of the Wyndham Learning Festival adult ballet class for beginners hosted by CDB Dance. Pictured is Candice Baxter, CDB Dance, with her class. (Damjan Janevski) 576633_01

commUnity+ Neighbourhood House and aligned with the Mid-Autumn Festival, it will bring together culturally diverse communities through interactive cultural experiences including lion dance, Bollywood dance, African drumming, lantern making, mooncake activities and multicultural food. Join the tean on Thursday 17 September at 822 Ballarat Road, Deer Park. ■ EHartley@comm-unityplus.org.au Maltese Folklore Association All seniors are warmly invited to join Klabb Ghannejja Maltin (Maltese Folklore Association) and enjoy the friendly atmosphere the club provides. The club is open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with traditional Maltese folk music held every Friday night and social nights hosted once a month on Saturday nights. Come to 4/6 Gooding Street, St Albans, meet new friends, and enjoy the wonderful Maltese culture and entertainment. ■ 9356 4638 Free Bingo Locals, especially seniors, can enjoy bingo but with a twist. binGO move encourages participants to get active, make friends and improve physical and mental wellbeing all while enjoying a classic game. Sessions run fortnightly on Thursdays from 1.302.30pm at St Albans Tin Shed, 309a Main Road East, St Albans. ■ 9366 4302 St Albans Bowls Club Everyone is welcome at St Albans Bowls no matter age, gender or ability. Whether

you’re an experienced bowler or just curious to give it a try, the club would love to see more locals on the green. The club hosts social bowls every Thursday and Saturday at noon at Kings Park Reserve, off Magnolia Avenue, Kings Park. Come along for a friendly game, meet new people and spend time in great company. ■ stalbans.bowls.com.au, stalbansbowlsclub@bigpond.com, 9366 0290 Women’s only conversation English Duke Street Community House is inviting locals to make friends, learn new skills and practice English in this fun and free women’s social group. Tuesdays during school terms, 9.30am-noon, at Duke Street Community House, 27 Duke Street, Sunshine. ■ 9311 9973, or dukest@dsch.org.au Deer Park Lions Club Deer Park Lions Club is looking for new members. It holds dinner meetings on the first Wednesday of every month at the Deer Park Senior Citizens Club, 119 Station Road, Deer Park. ■Michael, 0417 307 572 Avondale Heights Probus Club The club meets at Doyle Street Community Centre, Avondale Heights on the third Wednesday of the month at 9.30am. For retired or semi-retired people. The club offers lunches, bus trips, card and games days, walking groups. New members welcome. ■ Vee, 0400 886 758

Keilor Park Tennis Club social night Join the club on Monday nights for a free social hit and get to know other club members. All levels are welcome. Female players are also required for Thursday competition from 10am-2pm and also for the B-grade mixed team on Wednesday, 7-9pm. ■ keilorparktennis@gmail.com Al-Anon Family Groups Al-Anon Family Groups is offering help and hope to anyone living in an unhappy home because a loved one drinks too much. There are no contracts to sign, just a voluntary donation to cover room rental. Confidentiality is protected. Confidential meetings held at the Delahay Community Centre, 70 Copperfield Drive every Wednesday, from 1-2:30pm. New members welcome. No appointment necessary. ■Helpline, 1300 252 666 World Peace Meditation Sunshine local Ken McKean invites the community to join for a peaceful meditation at 1pm-3pm, Sunday 20 September. The event will take place at the ‘Walan Walan’ First Nation rock circle near the Bug Rug in the Koroit Creek area. BYO chairs, water, snacks. ■ kennethmckean291@gmail.com Deer Park Lions Club Deer Park Lions Club is looking for new members. It holds dinner meetings on the first Wednesday of every month at the Deer Park Senior Citizens Club, 119 Station Road, Deer Park. ■Michael, 0417 307 572

Tuesday, 15 September, 2026 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 15

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SPORTS QUIZ 1. What country is Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli from? 2. Which Sydney Swans player kicked the most goals during the 2026 AFL season?

3. Which Central European country is set to host the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup?

12. In golf, what is the term for scoring one over par on a hole? 13. Which country won the first-ever Rugby World Cup in 1987?

4. South Sydney’s Alex Johnston and Penrith's Thomas Jenkins led the 2026 NRL season with how many tries scored each?

14. Which athletic competition involves 10 track and field events?

5. Who is head coach of Australia's women’s national basketball team?

15. Which sport's court is bigger, squash or badminton?

6. In what year was the sports comedy-drama film Air Bud released?

16. Raul Flores is a Mexican athlete that recently set the world record for what?

7. Alastair Clarkson most recently coached which AFL team?

17. Which two NRL teams finished tied first this season, with 42 tournament points?

8. What is the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network better known as?

10. Former England captain Ben Stokes is set to play for which Big Bash League team? 11. What is the name of the NHL's championship trophy?

Kimi Antonelli

26. Which country played host to the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games?

22. A deep dish is a technique used in what sport?

27. The Australian men's cricket team will play against South Africa and what other country on their upcoming African tour? 28. Which country hosted the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup?

19. And which team ultimately won the 2026 NRL minor premiership as a result?

24. Ezi Magbegor was recently named as captain of which Australian national sporting team?

20. A supporter of which AFL club made the news recently with a controversial mascot outfit?

25. The Puma Trophy is competed for in a rugby Test series between Australia and what nation?

29. What colour were tennis balls originally? 30. The NBL's pre-season Blitz Tournament was recently held in which regional Victorian city?

1. Italy 2. Charlie Curnow 3. Poland 4. 30 5. Sandy Brondello 6. 1997 7. North Melbourne 8. ESPN 9. Queensland 10. Adelaide Strikers 11. Stanley Cup 12. Bogey 13. New Zealand 14. A decathlon 15. Badminton 16. Deadlift (511 kg) 17. Penrith Panthers and New Zealand Warriors 18. Points differential 19. Penrith Panthers 20. Adelaide Crows 21. 1982 22. Volleyball 23. Los Angeles Clippers 24. Australian Opals basketball team 25. Argentina 26. China 27. Zimbabwe 28. Germany 29. White 30. Bendigo

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21. In what year did the AFL's Swans play their first season in Sydney?

23. Which NBA team’s penalties for salary cap circumvention included a US$30 million fine?

18. And how was the minor premiership title awarded due to the tie in points?

9. Darius Boyd is the coach of which rugby league State of Origin team?

1809

NHL championship trophy

Tuesday, 15 September, 2026 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 17

PUZZLES ACROSS

9 13

10 26

11 10

24 11

25 12

26 13

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

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

P E

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: 7 words: Good 11 words: Very good 15 words: Excellent

E T

24 25 27

No. 307

L O S E R

5 LETTERS ABACK AFTER ALIBI ALIGN AVERT BARDS BARNS CARGO COMMA DRESS DRIVE EAVES EDGES ENSUE ERRED EVADE EVENT HABIT HEATH HOIST HORSE

4 LETTERS ANTS AVOS BALD CEDE CITY FART HILT HISS OPTS STAY TOSS VASE WINS WOOS

ante, attune, eaten, exeat, extant, extent, EXTENUATE, neat, next, tauten, teat, tenet, tent, text, tune

HOSTS IGLOO IRATE LEVEE LOINS LOSER MATTE OLIVE OMEGA OPENS OPERA OTHER PIANO PROBE RAVEN RINGS ROSES SLUSH START STRUM SWEET TAUNT

TEARS TEASE TENET TENTS THESE TONES TOTEM

7 LETTERS ESTATES HANDLER LEOTARD ONGOING RESTORE VENEERS

6 LETTERS ESKIES POODLE ROTORS STEREO

8 LETTERS DREAMERS ENTRUSTS SALESMAN SHINGLED

18-09-26

No. 414 Insert the missing letters to make 10 words – five reading across the grid and five reading down.

QUICK QUIZ

In which state or territory is the town of Kerang?

What is the official language of Senegal?

Mason, carpenter and digger are all types of which animal?

What popular Australian spread is made from a by-product of beer manufacturing?

Which author wrote The Runaway Jury and The Street Lawyer?

What is the largest desert in Australia?

Romance languages are those descending from what language of Ancient Rome?

NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

D R A M A R E G A L A L I K E P A L E R E X E R T

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

P E

17 21

3 LETTERS ADO APE AVO BET DOT EGO ERA GEE GNU GOO IDS INN IRE LAW NAG OPT RED REV RID SEC SET SHE TIE VET

5x5

hard

WORDFIT

7 25

15 26

23 14

11 9

medium

easy

3 9 2 4 6 3 6 5 7 2 8

X J L T O C R I A V N M Y

5 10

No. 339

B K F S Q G D H Z U W P E

hard

7 7 5 5 1 3 7 6

5 5

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

9 8 5

4 5 6 7 8 9 14 16 17 19 22 23 24 25

DECODER

5 1

medium

Bare skin (coll) (4) Big classical music ensemble (9) Partner; colleague (9) Public auctions (5) French resort town (7) Musician,– Urban (5) Gracefully (9) Young horse (4) Planned (9) Natural disaster (9) Elusively (9) A Jewish language (7) Become liable to (5) Pushes (5) Unusual (4) Surrender (4)

1 2

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

2 9

easy

DOWN

Floating marker (4) Rundown (10) Components (7) Crossed strips structure (7) Mirrors (8) State of Brazil (5) Location (4) Vexation (10) Hard rock music (5,5) Umpteen (4) Removed moisture (5) Intrepid (8) Bolting (7) Retinue (7) County town of Dorset (10) Wood heap for burning (4)

1 3 10 11 12 13 14 15 18 20 21 23 26 27 28 29

No. 307

18 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 15 September, 2026

FINA was the former name of the international governing body for which sport?

Lisa McCune (pictured) won four consecutive Gold Logies from 1997 to 2000 for her role in what show?

10 Which NRL team won their first premiership in 1992? ANSWERS: 1. Victoria 2. Bee 3. Vegemite 4. Swimming 5. Blue Heelers 6. French 7. John Grisham 8. Great Victoria Desert 9. Latin 10. Brisbane Broncos

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

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

No. 307

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

SUDOKU

B8 good, but could be better By Chris Riley, Marque Motoring Like Lexus is to Toyota, Denza is to the Chinese brand BYD, with an upmarket line of luxury vehicles and a price tag to match. The brand was established in 2010 as a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz, but Benz has since pulled the plug. The B8 Super Hybrid is a large six or seven-seat 4x4 wagon that is billed a bit optimistically as a competitor for the Land Cruiser 300 series. There’s also a B5, a smaller five-seater that has the Prado in its sights, along with a Z9GT sedan and D9 people mover on offer. Both 4x4s are closely related to the BYD Shark utility which is also a plug-in hybrid.

Styling Prices for the B8 start from $91,000 for the seven-seater or $97,990 for the six-seat version. Sounds like a lot of dosh for a ‘Chinese’ vehicle, but the figures start to look better when compared to the Land Cruiser which ranges in price from $99,000-$156,000, bearing in mind that this is a proper 4x4 proposition with everything that implies. Our test vehicle was the more expensive 6S or six-seater, with two separate, fully adjustable second row seats that permit walk-though access to the third row. B8 is a blend of rugged, muscular design, high levels of quality and the attention to detail expected in a luxury 4WD. And, get this, they say the look is inspired by futuristic starship aesthetics. At the front, the B8’s daytime running lights form the outline of the wings of an interplanetary starship. The tail lights provide an afterburner effect, creating the illusion of jet engine exhaust. The planetary ring spare wheel cover features two distinct lines top and bottom to symbolise Saturn’s rings. Don’t you just love this stuff? B8 has been designed from the ground up as a premium offering, with particular attention paid to the elimination of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). To achieve this, it is fitted with soft-close doors, sound-deadening glass, cabin-isolating rubber bushes and active engine mounts. Standard kit includes genuine leather trim, three-zone climate air, heated, cooled and massage front and second row seats, power fold third row seats and a heated steering wheel. There’s also LED lights front and back, NFC key support and a car fridge/hotbox that offers a temperature range of -6 to 50 degrees. It rides on black 20-inch alloys, with pricey 275/55 series Michelin rubber. Access to the B8 is via pop-out door handles, with buttons inside that release the doors and a powertrain that turns on automatically in greeting. Our six-seater adds a front diff lock, Nappa leather, front seat power adjustable leg rest, front seat bolster adjustment, digital rear view mirror, night vision system, smart driving surround view camera, head-up display and second row foot ambient lighting. B8 is covered by a six-year/150,000km warranty plus an eight-year/160,000km high-voltage battery warranty, with five years of roadside assistance and capped priced servicing. Service is due every 12 months or 20,000km.

Infotainment The huge 17.3-inch rotating touchscreen is the largest we’ve seen, larger even than

The quality is there for the Denza B8, it just needs a bit of fine tuning. (Pictures: Supplied)

the laptop this story was written on, with another sequestered 12.3-inch digital instrument panel for the driver. The system supports four-zone voice assist, Bluetooth connectivity and audio streaming, FM and DAB+ digital radio (but no AM), built-in satellite navigation, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, over-the-air updates as well as an 800 watt, 18-speaker Devialet audio system. There’s also a mix of six USB ports (A+C), a 12-volt power socket and dual wireless phone charging.

Safety B8 scores a maximum five-star rating for safety. Safety begins with a rigid ladder-type CTC (Cell-to-Chassis) body with 78 per cent high-strength steel, encircling and protecting the integrated Blade battery. A total of 13 airbags protect driver and passengers, while a comprehensive suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), such as a 360-degree camera system, front and rear collision warning, front cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking and intelligent cruise control.

Engines/transmissions Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, together with two electric motors and a 37-kWh battery, that produces a prodigious 425kW of power and 760Nm of torque. Transmission is complicated, with a single-speed reduction gear for the front, and another two-speed transmission for the rear – to deliver high and low range. Each electric motor drives its respective axle, while the petrol engine is employed primarily to keep the battery charged (but does chime in with some extra oomph if required) – in other words it’s basically a series hybrid.

Driving Designed in-house by BYD, the B8 is almost 5.2 metres long with a 2920mm wheelbase and sits on a separate ladder chassis as favoured by the off-road community. With low and high range, front and rear diff locks, and approach, departure and ramp-over angles of 34, 35 and 26 degrees, along with an impressive 310mm of ground clearance and wading depth of 890mm – this is a vehicle built to tackle the rough stuff. Like the Shark, there’s no physical connection between the front and rear

RATINGS wheels, just the tricky electronics. Don’t bother with the digital There are also 16 different mirror, because reflections and Looks: 7 drive modes available: the usual the constant need to refocus Performance: 7.5 Comfort, Eco and Sport; plus, make it virtually unusable. Terrain Modes of Snow, Sand, The choice of light grey on Safety: 8 Mud, Mountain, Rock, Intelligent silver for the control labels is Thirst: 7.5 and others. almost illegible in almost any Practicality: 6 Leopard turn is also available, light. Comfort: 7.5 which allows the vehicle to We had to get out a torch to perform sharper, tank-like work out how to operate the stack Tech: 8 turns by spinning the wheels at of toggles for controlling the Value: 8 different speeds off road. seats from the luggage area. Overall: 7.4 Despite the fact B8 weighs in at Massage is a welcome option a whopping 3290kg, the dash from on a long country drive but the 0-100km/h takes a quick-fire 4.8 seconds. seat heating turns into a sausage sizzle That makes it 443kg heavier than Patrol after a couple of minutes, even on its lowest and 660kg more than a Land Cruiser. setting. Ditto the aircon which either blows With a 91-litre fuel tank, it takes standard too hot or too cold, but not much in between. 91 unleaded with fuel consumption a B8 gets up and boogies, that’s for sure, claimed 3.9L/100km (WLTP), provided with plenty underfoot for overtaking. But the battery retains a minimum 25 per cent there’s some hesitancy on take-off and the charge. Above that and one can expect to ride quality quickly deteriorates on country use 11.4L/100km. roads – fancy suspension or not. We were getting 9.0L/100km after more The brakes are grabby and the adaptive than 1200km. There was no opportunity cruise control, which adjusts in 5km/h to charge the battery, but it never dipped increments, provided a couple of phantom below 25 per cent. scares. Claimed energy consumption is 24.4 Alas we didn’t get a chance to take the kWh/100km. It can be recharged at a rate of Denza off-road, but it reportedly made it up up to 11kW with AC and up to 120kW with Beer O’Clock Hill which lends some cred. faster DC. However, the B8’s two main challenges Combined range is 905km, with an off-road are the terrain and its own weight. electric only range of 100km (WLTP). Not only does it have to find sufficient The suspension is electronically traction to claw its way up a rocky slope, it modulated and adapts automatically to has to overcome its own inertia at the same road conditions. time. It has a range of 140mm and means Just quietly we’d hate to get this sucker ground clearance can be boosted from bogged, because it would require a tow 220mm to 310mm at the push of a button, truck or similar to pull it out (perhaps two along with dropping the height for easier Land Cruisers). access. Replacement of the road tyres with There’s plenty of room front and back, chunkier rubber is a must. but getting in and out can be difficult, Tow capacity is a full 3500kg, but you need particularly on a slope because the heavy to pay close attention to the gross weight doors swing shut, threatening to inflict and tow ball limitations. bodily harm. A drawbar, hitch receiver and 12-point Grab handles are provided for each of the electric plug are fitted as standard. four doors, but the low-set front handles which are located at the end of the dash Summing up provide little leverage. We doubt whether the Denza B8 has got The heavy tailgate with the added weight what it takes to lure dyed-in-the-wool Land of the spare wheel is hinged on the wrong Cruiser owners out of their comfort zone. side for our right-hand drive roads. But if the success of BYD as a whole is any There’s just 147 litres of load space with measure, it’s certainly going to generate the third row in use, with a charge cable plenty of interest for those who don’t want and tool kit to contend with as shown in the to go the whole nine yards. photos. It could even put a dent in Defender sales B8 is a large, comfortable car in which to (they’ve gotta come from somewhere after wile away the hours, with a first-rate sound all). system. The quality is there, it just needs a bit of But there’s room for improvement. fine tuning.

Tuesday, 15 September, 2026 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 19

SPORT

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Williamstown’s Teagan Brett. 577861 27

Williamstown’s Emily Eaves. 577861 07

Diggers Rest’s Ryan Mullen.

Old Paradians’ Darcy Vallance. 577858 11

Perfect weather for finals The sun was out and so were the fans as more finals action continued on the weekend. Star

Weekly photographers Ties Urie and Ljubica Vrankovic were out shooting the action.

Old Paradians celebrate. 577858 17

Altona Roosters’ Jack Canning. 577905 04

20 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 15 September, 2026

Altona Roosters’ Munashe Mudzekenyedzi. 577905 09

Wallan’s Dion Hill. 577852 36

The RDNL crowd. 577850_37

Wallan cheers on. 577850_16

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Division 7: Braybrook beat Sunshine, 21-20. Braybrook: Ebony Dunlop, Jessie Hazeldine-Onno, Ashlea Tennant, Cassandra Mulholland, Georgia Griminess, Torrence Ta’ala, Shelby Crawford, Sharna Quarrier, Rachel Wilson Jackie Brooks, Lisa Emmens Virginia Hobbs. Coach. Jake Kane.

SPORT

Division 1: Lakers beat Albanvale 54-34. Lakers team: Rahni Samason, Charlize Bellette, Olivia Craske, Jade Fisher, Emily Miles, Kristyl Ben, Vanessa McIntosh, Dasha Taylor, Madeline Rustem, Bronte West, Emma Vitalone and Jacqui Mitrevski. Coaches Low Ben. (All photos supplied by Western FNL)

Premiership joy overflows The Western Football Netball League held its netball grand final over the past two weeks. There were new winners, teams winning

their first premierships and upsets. Here’s a quick look at all the winners.

Division 6: Hawks Onyx beat Parkside Spurs, 35-15. Hawks: Tippy Katipa maikuku, Elizabeth Henda, Tamika Bink, Kerri Katipa maikuku, Jade Schuijers, Sunaina Menon, Hayley Schuijers, Sarah McGuinness, Blaise Pirihi, Shreya Menon and Jacinta Love. Coach Tippy Katipa maikuku.

Division 4: Newport Power beat Hawks, 42-39. Newport: Siena Boulton, Emily Roberts, Shae Freath, Poppy Ten Hoopen, Cammie Neville, Enna Murray, Phoebe Gowans, Maya Vincent, Audrey Box, Lara Wynne, Charlotte McVeigh. Coach Bianca Smith.

Division 3: Glen Orden beat Sunshine, 43-38. Glen Orden: Askani Pirihi, Jessica Christie, Jamie Apulu, Atiana Niu, Ruby Marino, Dusty Holden, Jamie-Lee Nguyen, Gloria Kolio, Kali Joyce, Kyhia Young, Brandy Te are, Larissa Houseman. Coaches: Remy Pirihi and Manawa Aranui.

Division 2: Sunshine beat Caroline Springs, 6832. Sunshine: Maddison Thompson, Mercy Ioelu, Tanaya Redman, Casey Smart, Nikita Singh, Jayde Parsons, Bryanna Tamilo, Alannah Raniolo, Kaitlin Mcintosh, Alesina Toleafoa and Amelia Lai. Coach: Mon Poliko.

Reserves men: Albanvale beat Sunshine, 41-37. Albanvale: Andrew Waligora, Tom Hardwick, Judd Smith, Kai Suzuki, Bailey Caruana, Tom Giliberto, Angus Bottomley, Daniel Fary, Aaron Bosse, Brendan Nick, Ayden McCleish and Joshua Clavarino.Coach: Rhiannon Reti.

Division 1 men: Hawks beat Albanvale, 6856. Glen Orden: Zac Mabilia, Josh Byron, Harrison Hand, Cameron Powell, Junior Levi, Jake Schuster, Billy Mahoney, Brodie McCleish, Ronan Pring, Fili Fili, Finn Ibrahim, Kobe Parsons. Coach: Makeleta Simeki.

Division 8, Sunshine beat Point Cook, 24-20. Sunshine: Sheridan Ness, Shaina Goundar, Claire Wilkinson, Zaidee Waldron, Sonam Kumar, Amy MorganSam Gaunder, Renata Ludwig, Shallan Hyett, Jade Williams, Connie Tarei, Leah Meredith. Coach Mel Kel.

Division 5, Hoppers Crossing defeated Yarraville Seddon, 39-35. Hoppers Crossing: Sammy Marsters, Twin Teariki, Annika Monte, Brooklyn Pouwhare, Emily Mcauliffe, Montana Morgan, Nikora Tuulau, Saraphina Teariki, Shannon Ormsby, Tarrantina Lavea, Yeeks Miao, Yvette Savoia. Coach: Ephraim Ormsby

Tuesday, 15 September, 2026 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 21

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Bright future for Falcons By Luke D’Anello Wyndhamvale coach Daniel Smith is confident the club’s future is bright after it was outgunned in Sunday’s Western Football League division 2 decider. The Falcons were chasing back-to-back flags against North Footscray, with the minor premier earning a slice of revenge for its grand final defeat 12 months earlier with a comfortable 36-point win. Smith’s side was not promoted after last year’s success, with the league pushing pause on changes to the senior grades. Wyndhamvale will remain in the second tier in 2027 after falling short on the

big stage against a hungry Devils outfit. Outside of four unanswered goals in the second term - which reduced a 30-point half-time deficit to five points - the Falcons always looked to be playing catch up against an opponent that lost once this season. “We let ourselves down in certain areas and they capitalised and punished us when they did it,” Smith lamented. “When we had our opportunities, we hit the post twice and that could have got the momentum going for us and it didn’t “They were good enough just to keep the ball off us and kill the clock, and there was never enough time.

“Towards the end the boys just got frustrated. “But we move on. We’ve got a young group of kids.They’ll hook in now and we’ll have a crack next year.” North Footscray simply had too many prime movers for Wyndhamvale to shut down. Spearhead Lewis Stanton, who bagged a competition-best 106 majors for the campaign, was held goalless in the grand final. The likes of Riley Evans, Ryley McGaw and Liam Scarborough also had impressive seasons. “They beat us in the contest. We’d get the ball out and we’d be flat-footed and

they’d be on the move,” Smith said. “They were able to get the momentum going forward and it was hard for us to stop. “We’ll let this digest a little bit and then the coaching staff and I will get together in the next couple of weeks and come up with a plan for next year. Smith said he had a “handshake agreement” to continue as coach but that has not yet been ratified. On the positive side, Wyndhamvale’s reserves claimed the premiership with a fivepoint win over North Footscray. Brock Jones was best afield, while former AFL player Majak Daw featured in the triumph.

Devils on top after rampaging to a 36-point flag win By Luke D’Anello The agony of 12 months earlier turned to ecstasy for North Footscray on Sunday. The rampaging Devils claimed the Western Football League division 2 premiership with a dominant 36-point win over Wyndhamvale, 14.8 (92)-8.8 (56), reversing the result of the 2025 grand final between the pair. After finishing the home-and-away rounds as minor premier, North Footscray produced a clinical finals series to seal its first flag since 2017 under first-year coach Robbie Hudson. Bolstered by the arrival of former AFL player Lynden Dunn and experienced star Abdikhane Fitaax over the off-season, the dominant Devils won 19 of 20 games on their way to the ultimate prize. “This isn’t just on today, it’s months and months of hard work,” Hudson said amid the jubilation at Yarraville Oval. “This is obviously planned from last year with us going down in the grand final to Wyndhamvale. “I couldn’t be happier for the group. A few of them in there did take it pretty hard last year. For us to bounce back, it’s just been a mature performance this year. I’m very proud. “The club’s in a great spot in terms of (depth), so there wasn’t too much that we had to add this year. “The boys that we had to put in did the job today in Dunny and Abdi just to name a couple. I think the boys understood the plan for this year.” Inspirational co-captain Adam Petridis was a deserving recipient of the Rex Swann Medal for best afield. Brody Vorano and Barnaby Sianos were also busy for the winners, while Jordan Cochrane kept Falcons sharpshooter Lewis Stanton goalless. Dunn booted a game-high three majors, while Mathew Serafin and Jarrod Johns contributed two apiece. Hudson heaped praise on Petridis, who enjoyed another standout campaign. “He’s been around for a long time at the footy club and for him to do what he did today was leading by example,” he said. “Adam was well deserved of best on. He just kept going and going. It was an amazing effort.” North Footscray asserted its authority from the first bounce, piling on six goals to one in the first 30 minutes. Wyndhamvale then responded with four unanswered goals in the second term to reduce the deficit to five points. However, the Devils did not look like losing from there, kicking four goals to one in the third term before outscoring the Falcons against the breeze in the last

North Footscray. (Western FL/Local Footy Legends)

Adam Petridis was named best on ground. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 561962_10

stanza to launch a premiership party. With one flag from one season in charge, Hudson was not about to declare

22 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 15 September, 2026

coaching an easy job. He described it as a “full-time gig”. “It’s great in a sense that I know how

hard they are to win, not only as a coach but as a player,” Hudson said. “To have the foundation in place from last year with (former coach) Dave (Battistella) handing over, I’m under no illusion that it’s all me. It’s definitely the footy club.” Hudson cut a calm figure on the sidelines throughout in the pressure-packed atmosphere of a grand final. “Us as a management, a coaching staff, if we’re calm it filters over to the boys. That was our mantra a lot this year,” he said. “It took the boys a little bit to understand that we are calm. I put a lot of trust in my line coaches as well to get the message across. For us to keep a lid on it all day, it just filtered out and showed how mature we were.” Hudson said the club would later this month turn its attention to planning for division 1. “We do have a really good core and have depth with the ressies,” he said. “We’re definitely keen to add a few more (players) and a few may or may not retire, but we’ll see how the week goes and the next few weeks and start putting a plan in place.”

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Eagles’ heartbreaking loss By Tara Murray Keilor Park’s promotion hopes ended in the cruelest way in the Victorian Premier League 2 competition on Friday. Having made finals in their first season in the VPL2 competition, the Eagles were hoping to keep the momentum going for two more matches. The top two teams earn automatic promotion, while the next four battle it out for the last promotion spot. For large parts of Friday night’s semi-final with Essendon Royals, the Eagles looked like they were headed to the final to play off for the third and final promotion spot.

But the Royals had other ideas and sent the match to extra time. Both sides were happy for the match to go to penalties, with the Royals winning 4-2. Eagles’ coach Sergio Sabbadini said it was a hard result to take. “We did everything but win unfortunately,” he said. “We were really good for 88 minutes and then they scored and sent the match into extra time. “We were a bit flat. “Everyone’s eyes were on penalties and there has to be a winner and a loser.” Sabbadini said that while they were disappointed with how the season ended,

there was so much to be proud of. He said while they had wanted to make finals this year, the focus next year was to try and lock in a top two spot and automatic promotion. “We got better as the year progressed,” he said. “We were one of the better teams at the end of the year. “We just didn’t win our last game of the year but you live and learn. “You want to be around the playoffs but it’s a bit of a lottery. We want to be in one of the first two spots next year and avoid finals.” Sabbadini said the continued success of the club came down to everyone involved. The club was playing in state league 2

north-west in 2024 after being relegated. They spent just one year in the competition before earning back-to-back promotions when they won state league 1 northwest last year. “It’s not just the team, but it’s the committee and the support staff,” Sabbadini said. “Our support staff are second to none as far as I’m concerned. “Our physio, our strength and conditioning coach and my assistant coach Cory [Innes] are unbelievable. “We just fell a bit short.” The Royals will face the Bayside Argonauts in the promotion playoff grand final this weekend.

Sports shorts EDFL Essendon District Football League women’s division 1 grand finalists Westmeadows and Burnside Heights headline the team of the year. Bears coach Michael Davis was named coach of the year for taking his side to a third straight grand final. Co-captain Jorgia Redmond (back line), Olivia Antonello (full forward) and Aarzu Mavi (interchange) made the team. Keilor Park’s Georgia O’Donovan (half forward) and Antonietta Parisi (interchange) and Taylors Lakes duo Rebecca Foggie and Courtney McCormack (both half back) were named in the team. Meanwhile in the men’s division 1 team were Taylors Lakes’ trio Brandon Coletta (half back), Daniel Younan (half forward) and Lachlan Rayner (ruck) and St Albans’ Jake Galea (interchange).

NPLW Keilor Park will have a new coach for next year’s National Premier League women’s season. Bentleigh Greens announced that Eagles coach Liam Drury would coach the side next season, making the move across from Keilor Park. Drury guided the Eagles to the Victorian Premier League women’s title in 2025 before coaching the side in its debut NPLW season.

Western FL Michael Tzoutzidis. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 534346_02

Michael Tzoutzidis claims top honour By Tara Murray Caroline Springs George Cross defender Michael Tzoutzidis was keen to make the most of his chances if he got a second opportunity in the National Premier League. He got that chance this season as the Georgies returned to the top flight before narrowly missing out on finals. Tzoutzidis embraced every moment and was last week crowned the league’s top player after he claimed the Bill Fleming Medal. Tzoutzidis finished on 24 votes, one ahead of Hume City’s Birkan Kirdar. “It’s quite a special one,” he said. “I thought the last eight-nine games of the season that I did well enough to pick up a few votes, but to go out and win it … I thought a few other players might have the edge on me.” Tzoutzidis received a phone call from Football Victoria to tell him he had won the award and had to keep it quiet for a few days. Once announced there was plenty of support from his teammates. “They said it was really well deserved,

they were awesome as well,” he said. “I couldn’t have done it without them. “They were super and they allowed me to be myself and play in an environment that allowed me to excel.” Tzoutzidis joined the Georgies last season and helped them return to the NPL after earning promotion in the final round last year. While it was a return to the top flight for the Georgies, it was also one for Tzoutzidis. It was a chance he was waiting for. “I was a lot more prepared for this time round and I knew what to expect,” he said. “My last run with Moreland I had some really, really good moments but mentally I lacked a bit of discipline. “I probably wasn’t as strong mentally as I would have liked. “I did tell myself if I ever got another opportunity to play in the top flight again that I would put my head down and do it right. “I think I’ve put a lot of work in mentally and physically to perform at a better level and I’m quite proud of that.” Tzoutzidis said as a team they would have loved to have made finals, but they were so

proud of what they had accomplished. He said they felt they proved a lot of people wrong. “It’s a bitter one,” he said. “Internally we were hoping and believing that we could do it, unfortunately it wasn’t to be the case. “I’m still so proud of what we were able to do. I think at the start of the year there was a bit of a negative narrative around us. “A lot of people didn’t think we were quite good enough both as individual players and as a team collectively and even as a club. “Over the course of the season we started to turn a few heads and hopefully along the way we started to earn people’s respect both as players, as a team, and as a club.” Tzoutzidis said the disappointment of this season was already driving the playing group for next season. He said the small things would be the difference. “A club like George Cross they deserve to be competing for championships and making finals and I think that’s the goal. “We’re obviously super hungry and incredibly motivated and we’ll give it our best crack again.”

Former St Albans captain Jake Galea has signed with Caroline Springs for next year’s Western Football League division 1 season. The Lakers announced the signing on social media. “A former captain of St Albans FC [Football Club] and an interleague representative, Jake will bring a wealth of experience and leadership with him,” the Lakers said. “His presence in the midfield and ability to hit the scoreboard are set to compliment our existing group.”

VTCA The Victorian Turf Cricket Association has announced its senior divisions for the upcoming season. Sunshine Heights was set to drop to the Russell Pollock Shield for this year after finishing bottom two in the division 4 competition last season, but remains in division 4 with other clubs withdrawing. Elsewhere, Caroline Springs has been promoted to division 2, while division 5 premiers Burnside Springs United has been promoted to division 4. FOR MORE SPORT VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Brimbank & North West Star Weekly @starweeklysport @star_weekly

Tuesday, 15 September, 2026 BRIMBANK & NORTHWEST STAR WEEKLY 23

15, SEPTEMBER, 2026

Tzoutzidis’ big win

Devils win granny

Lakers into decider Blues go into granny

By Luke D’Anello Caroline Springs earned a shot at grand final redemption after ending Yarraville-Seddon’s season on Saturday. The Brian Lake-coached Lakers will face Werribee Districts in the Western Football League division 1 decider for a second consecutive year after defeating the Eagles by 19 points in the preliminary final, 14.8 (92)-9.19 (73). The Tigers will contest a fifth grand final in a row and toppled Caroline Springs by 12 points after extra time in last year’s epic season finale. The two clubs are reaping the rewards of their dedication to homegrown talent. Werribee Districts have established themselves as the competition’s leading club while fielding a team of one-point players, while the Lakers had 20 one-pointers in the preliminary final. “It’s a good position to be in,” Caroline Springs football director Shaun Rainer said. “I think both clubs hold their junior program in high regard and that’s what we want to promote, bringing our juniors through. You bring your juniors through and it allows you to top up where you might lack in some positions. “We’ve got a lot of respect for Werribee in that regard, that they do it in the same way we do look at bringing players through the junior programs.” The Tigers won both matches between the pair in the home-and-away campaign, prevailing by 30 points in round one and by nine points in round 12. Werribee Districts trailed at each break of the clash on July 4 before kicking three goals to one in the final term to secure the points. They will be fresh from a week’s rest, while the Lakers are riding the momentum of back-to-back wins over Albion and Yarraville-Seddon after losing to the Eagles in the opening week of finals. “They are the benchmark of the competition,” Rainer said of Werribee Districts. “But we feel we match up well. We’ve had really close games over the last three or four years against them with a few draws and everything like that. “We don’t go in fearing anything in the sense of their reputation. If we do everything that we put on the board before the game, then we’re every chance to win it.” Yarraville-Seddon had 11 scoring shots to five in the opening quarter of the preliminary final but only held an 11-point advantage at the first break. Caroline Springs responded with nine goals to two in the next two terms to take control and held firm to reverse the result of the qualifying final. Alexander Paech, Jack Heron, Thomas Christou (three goals), Alipate Bryant, Jamie Ristoski and Lachlan Mellon led the way for the winners. The Lakers were also boosted by the returns of co-captain Cooper Pepi, who was best on ground in the 2025 grand final,

By Tara Murray

Alexander Paech. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 574819_07

and Beau O’Connell, who contributed two goals. “It was a pretty gutsy performance by the boys, so very proud of them,” Rainer said. “We had some good rotations going through our midfield so we started to get some good ball out of our midfield, which was pleasing.

“It was a great feeling in the rooms (on Saturday night). “We walk away respectful of Werribee, but thinking we can really challenge them and win it.” Saturday’s grand final will kick off at 2.30pm at Werribee’s Avalon Airport Oval.

Keilor again showed why it has been one of the best two teams all season, as it won through to another Essendon District Football League premier division grand final. The Blues set up another matchup with Strathmore this Saturday at Windy Hill as they accounted for Pascoe Vale in Sunday’s grand final. The Blues led all day but it took two and a bit quarters to put the Panthers to the sword on the scoreboard. With the match beyond doubt, it became a shootout in the final quarter. The Blues did what they needed to, as they won 22.16 (148)-12.9 (81). Blues’ coach Mick McGuane said they played consistent football across the game. “We’re proud of winning four quarters of footy on a day where it was conducive to one end of the ground being scored at,” he said. “I thought our second quarter was quite pivotal to the result and the context of the game. “When the game was put to bed early, we did the hard work to get that ascendancy on the scoreboard and I thought our centre bounce crew really got to work and I reckon the numbers favoured us in that part of the ground which is one of their strengths. “I thought we got our game going while shifting the footy and played at speed with the appropriate teams.” McGuane said the last quarter with 13 goals scored wasn’t ideal in a preliminary final but they had already done the work. The Blues were also able to rest some players late with only a six day break before the grand final. McGuane said that Josh Honey was better for the run after missing a large chunk of football. Christos Kosmas kicked four goals in a best on ground performance for the Blues. Andrew Vavra and Liam Hude were also standouts. The Blues will have some selection decisions to make during the week. Corey Ellis came off with a knee injury, while McGuane said Kyle O’Connor would likely be a match day decision. The Blues will now face the Mores, with not much between the two sides all season. For the Blues, the seniors winning through capped off what has been a strong season for the men’s program The thirds and under-18.5 second side have already won premierships, while their under-18.5s and reserves will also be in action this Saturday.