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19 MAY, 2026
Cause close to Sammy’s heart
Braybrook’s Sammy Muscat is cycling around Albert Park Lake for up to 48 hours to raise money for the Heart Foundation. (Damjan Janevski) 548766_03
Braybrook based ultra endurance cyclist, Sammy Muscat, will be getting on his bike on 23 May for a cause that is – quite literally –close to his heart. “After surviving severe heart failure myself in 2015, it’s something that’s become very personal to me,” Mr Muscat said of his motivation for doing a 24 to 48 hours fundraising ride for the Heart Foundation. For at least 24 hours, Mr Muscat will cycle around Albert Park Lake, with every $50 donation resulting in an extra lap. He’s hoping to attract enough donations to keep him going for the full 48 hours and to reach his $25,000 target, with all funds going towards heart research, prevention and support programs. While a noble cause, cycling for two days straight might seem a little extreme, especially for some with a history of heart problems. However, Mr Muscat said long-distance cycling has actually been a big part of his recover over the past 11 years. Donate at: https://tinyurl. com/4y8sp7h6
Goats ravage creek By Sam Porter A population of approximately 70 wild goats in Brooklyn is wreaking havoc on the local environment and vegetation along Kororoit Creek with local landcarers and businesses unable to fi nd an easy solve to the problem. Star Weekly understands the feral goat herd, which has been present in the area since the 2000s, is primarily located along the lower Kororoit Creek corridor with sightings reported from the Somerville Road Bridge. Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek president Jason Hocking said the community group has been concerned about the herd for years. “The goats, which we believe have been
deliberately introduced into the area, have destroyed thousands of planted native trees and bushes on Kororoit Creek and have set back our efforts to restore the natural environment along the creek and improve the views from the shared path across to the old Brooklyn tip,” Mr Hocking said. “We welcome any corporate efforts to control the goats, as it’s way too hard for us volunteers.” Brooklyn Recycling Group (BRG) community liaison officer Lisa Field said the herd moves between a number of industrial properties in the area, including sites such as City Circle Group. In response to the ongoing issue, BRG established a ‘goat management’ group on WhatsApp with the intention to increase
visibility of the roaming population and help inform an appropriate management approach. “We have heard from community members who are interested in rehoming the goats, and we have taken the time to consider these suggestions,” Ms Field said. “While rehoming is a humane option in principle, it is also highly resource-intensive and requires specialised skills, equipment, and coordination. Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity or expertise to safely capture, transport, and rehome a population of this size.” While professional contractors have previously been engaged to manage the population and protect the local environment, the herd’s numbers have continued to rise, outpacing past efforts.
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“From my knowledge and discussions, feral goats are having a significant impact on the lower Kororoit Creek in Brooklyn. Plantings by the local Landcare group and Melbourne Water have been impacted, as has the planting works undertaken by the local businesses,” Ms Field said. She added the feral goats contribute to soil degradation and erosion, reduce native vegetation, undermine biodiversity, and also create conditions that allow invasive weeds to spread more easily. “Under our Better Environment Plan the BRG has quite extensive planting works planned over the coming two years, and this will be completely undermined if the goat population is not addressed,” Ms Field said.
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