8 APRIL, 2026
Auction for the kids An action-packed auction in Alamora estate ended in a record-breaking $1,212,000 raised for the Good Friday Appeal. After 44 bids, Tarneit locals Gurshish and Kiran Nehal emerged as the new owners of the five-bedroom which had been built by Henley on land donated by Villawood Properties. Volunteer tradies and suppliers contributed to the construction of the house. Mr Nehal said he intended the home to be a multigenerational sanctuary for his wife and two daughters in the suburb they built their lives in. “We have lived in Tarneit for 15 years and we love this suburb, so to be able to buy a home here, and one with so much heart behind it, is incredibly special for us,” Mr Nehal said. Mr Nehal said his family had been moved by the purpose behind the purchase and the community effort that brought the home to life. “Knowing that this has gone to such a good cause makes it even more emotional,” he said. “To contribute to the community and support The Royal Children’s Hospital through this purchase means a great deal to us. Gurshish and Kiran Nehal purchased a Tarneit home with all proceeds going to the Good Friday Appeal. (Alan Barber)
Cr Singh must go By Laura Michell Ten of Wyndham’s councillors have written to the local government minister urging him to remove the embattled Preet Singh from council. In a letter published to council’s website, councillors Jasmine Hill, Peter Maynard, Mia Shaw, Robert Szatkowski, Susan McIntyre, Shannon McGuire, Jennie Barrera, Maria King, Larry Zhao and Josh Gilligan asked Local Government Minister Nick Staikos to use his powers to initiate a process under the Local Government Act 2020 to remove Cr Singh
from council. Under the act, councillors are not able to remove a mayor who has been elected for a term of one year. “As you are no doubt aware, Cr Singh signed a character reference in April 2024, supporting a now convicted sex offender. Councillors were made aware of that letter when it was made public on Monday as part of a Liberal Party preselection stoush and has caused significant community distress,” the councillors wrote in the letter, dated 2 April. “We cannot stand by and allow our council and the Wyndham community to
serve as collateral damage as a result of a mess that is not of our making. “Th is is not an issue of governance, it is a case of one councillor putting their interests above those of the council and Wyndham residents.” In the letter, the councillors wrote that they were “united in their belief” that Cr Singh is “unable to perform his role as mayor and serve the community”. “It is crucial for the Wyndham community that he is removed to enable stability to be restored,” the joint letter stated “In addition, and perhaps most
importantly, this situation is likely causing significant distress to the 15-year-old victim, and this will only be exacerbated the longer this drags on. “As a council, we are committed to moving forward in the best interests of the community but we urgently need your help to restore public trust and get on with the job of making decisions in the best interests of our residents. “We implore you to intervene – the Wyndham community deserves better!” Continued page 2
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