Star Weekly - Northern - 20th October 2020 by Star Weekly

OCTOBER 20, 2020 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Ezi’s on top of the world

(Getty Images)

Craigieburn’s Ezi Magbegor has capped off a stunning debut Women’s National Basketball Association season with a championship as the Seattle Storm clean sweeped the grand final series. With the entire WNBA competition played in a ‘bubble’ in Orlando, Magbegor made an instant impact with her new team. The 21-year-old, who was the youngest player in the bubble, managed to get court time in every game. The Storm finished the regular season in second place in their conference, before winning through to the grand final series against Las Vegas Aces. Magbegor joins some of the biggest names in Australian basketball such as Lauren Jackson, Penny Taylor and Belinda Snell, in wining an WNBA title. She is the second-youngest player ever to be part of a championship-winning side. Magbegor doesn’t have long to rest, with the Women’s National Basketball League season starting next month in north east Queensland where she will line up for the Melbourne Boomers. Tara Murray

Election turns ‘nasty’ By Tara Murray Two-time Hume mayor Carly Moore has hit back at accusations of any wrongdoings in her Hume council re-election campaign. Several candidates and Facebook pages have raised concerns about Cr Moore’s how-to-vote (HTV) cards, which vary depending on the suburb they are distributed in. Cr Moore admits she does have two different cards, saying it is common practice and she hasn’t broken any laws under the electoral act. All cards were authorised by a third-party and registered with an election officer. “I am aware of at least seven other candidates in the Hume election that have different types of HTV cards,” she said. “Those people

claiming any laws have been broken are totally wrong and again, I question their motives. Registration of HTVs is only required at attendance voting, but all the same you can register several HTV versions if you wish.” On Cr Moore’s how-to-vote cards, she preferences Chandra Bamunasinghe and Ravinder Kaur as number two and three, with the order dependant on which location the cards are distributed to. She said she wanted to support both candidates and decided to do so by distributing different cards. She said any accusation that either were just dummy candidates is disappointing. “Chandra and Ravinder also had this difficult decision and did the same,” Cr Moore said. “These accusations are very hurtful to

both Chandra and Ravinder who are running highly successful campaigns that they are self funding. “Chandra has previously served as a councillor and deputy mayor of Hume City Council. Any suggestion he is doing anything other than trying to get himself elected is quite frankly ridiculous.” Cr Moore, who was the first person elected in the Aitken ward last election, said the election campaign had been nasty, with many of the comments coming from anonymous social media pages. She is looking at pursuing the appropriate action for online content that she believes is defamatory. “I feel I have been deliberately targeted,

including with the online lies. “There is a husband and wife who are running in the same ward, with one of them indicating to preference the other. There is a candidate in another ward who is authorising another candidate’s material that suggests putting him number two. There are two candidates in another ward using identical word for word slabs of text who are preferencing each other one and two …” Meadow Valley ward candidate, Phillip Di Biase has been caught up in controversy after appearing to threaten another candidate in a group email. Mr Di Biase, who is running on a campaign about family violence, did not respond to media inquiries about the email.

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Relief as restrictions ease By Tara Murray Many Hume and Whittlesea residents are breathing a sigh of relief with some COVID-19 restrictions lifted on Sunday. With daily case numbers dropping to single figures in the past week, Premier Daniel Andrews announced a range of changes to restrictions. They include increasing the five-kilometre travel restriction to 25 kilometres, allowing

up to 10 people from two households to meet outside, no limit on the time allowed outdoors and the reopening of hairdressers. Outdoor sports settings, such as tennis courts, golf courses and skateparks can open, while real estate auctions will resume with limited numbers. Mr Andrews also announced further changes to restrictions to occur from 11.59pm on November 1, which would allow metro Melbourne to take the third step towards

COVID normal. He said if numbers were good this week, the changes could be fast-tracked. Under these changes, there will be no restrictions on the reasons to leave home, all retail will open, along with other personal and beauty services, as long as a mask can be worn. Restaurants, cafes and pubs could open, but with limits on how many people. On Sunday, there were just two new cases COVID-19 across the state – both from Hume. There was one new case in the 3064 postcode,

which currently has nine active cases. The Caltex Kalkallo Service Centre south bound on the Hume Freeway is listed as a high-risk location by the Department of Health and Human Services. Anyone who was at the service station between 7pm and 9pm on September 30 is asked to get tested and stay at home while awaiting results. The other new case was in the 3047 postcode of Broadmeadows, Dallas and Jacana.

School expansion plan

Whittlesea council is hosting a treasure hunt. (Supplied)

We’re going on a treasure hunt We’re going on a treasure hunt in Whittlesea. Whittlesea council is running a Super Kids Festival from October 24 to November 1 as part of Children’s Week. The treasure hunt will have children exploring parks across the municipality, with tasks that can be completed at any time. Ten participants will win a child-friendly hamper.

As part of the quest, there will be free drinks or treats, along with live music and roving performers, on October 31 and November 1 at activated parks in the municipality. The parks are Hilltop Park, Doreen; Lyndarum Park, Epping North; Main Street Field, Thomastown; Mernda Adventure Park, Mernda; Norris Bank Reserve, Bundoora;

Redleap Reserve, Mill Park; and Willow Park, Whittlesea. Quest sheets are available by post (call 9217 2174)’ from schools, local library, shopping centre office or downloaded online at arts. whittlesea.vic.gov.au.

Mickleham Primary School is set to grow. The state government has allocated $7.49 million to plan for an expansion of the school’s site and a rebuild as part of the Infrastructure Planning and Acceleration Fund. The fund paves the way for 33 schools across the state to start planning for upgrades and new builds. With detailed designs being developed now, it will mean the projects will be ready to start when capital funding is allocated in a future state budget. Yuroke MP Ros Spence said it was important to see a school such as Mickleham Primary School continue to provide for pupils in the future. “Mickleham Primary is a historic and iconic part of our community,” she said. “We’re ensuring that this important local school is able to provide a terrific education to local kids for decades to come. “I’d like to pay tribute to retiring school principal Sue Crispe, who has been a tireless advocate on behalf of the Mickleham Primary community. I’m very grateful to Sue for her outstanding leadership, and I look forward to working with acting principal Julie Le Guen.” Tara Murray

Tara Murray

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Wreckers fined Arara Auto Wreckers in Campbellfield has been fined more than $16,000 by the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA). EPA officers issued the fines in relation to industrial waste and a lack of measures to prevent leakage into the environment as part of routine inspections. The company was fined $8261 for the depositing of waste and another $8261 for failing to comply with a Pollution Abatement Notice. The company was also issued with a Pollution Abatement Notice requiring it to install controls to prevent any spills from escaping into nearby drains or waterways.

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Ring Road funded A new bakery is part of the new-look Coles in Campbellfield. (Supplied)

New-look Coles opens Campbellfield shoppers will have a number of new choices after a new-look Coles opened its doors earlier this month. The store has been tailored to meet the needs of the culturally-diverse customer base, with a dedicated Halal meat case and expanded range of international foods. It will also have a number of ready-made meals, salads and snacks from the new “Coles Kitchen” convenience range, including 100 quick and easy meals across Italian, Asian, Indian and Australian cuisines. The store features an in-store bakery with the complete range of artisan-style Laurent sourdough bread and fresh flatbread made daily, a gourmet delicatessen and an expanded deli and fresh produce range.

Thirty-two new jobs have also been created. Store manager Yuksel Mese, who has worked at Coles for 19 years, said he was delighted with the store’s brand-new features. “We’re excited to be launching a brand-new, elevated supermarket experience for the Campbellfield community,” Mr Yuksel said. “The modern store brings our customers a tailored, local offering that we know they’ll love. “We’re so proud of the hard work everyone has put in to get the store ready for re-opening and it’s fantastic that we’re creating more than 32 local jobs for the local community. “I am honoured and humbled to be leading my team through this exciting new journey.” Tara Murray

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The federal government has brought forward $5 million of funding for the outer metropolitan ring road/E6 corridor preservation. Announced in the federal budget, the funding has been brought forward due expectations the business case for the initiative will be completed in December. The business case is investigating options to develop Melbourne’s Outer Metropolitan Ring and E6 Corridor to support the future construction of this proposed transport link. The Outer Metropolitan Ring and E6 Corridor would ultimately accommodate a 100-kilometre-long high-speed road and rail transport link in Melbourne’s north and west. FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Northern Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

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Pandemic takes toll on Whittlesea By Tara Murray Two-thirds of Whittlesea residents say their mental health has suffered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, while more than 80 local businesses have closed their doors since March, according to two council surveys. The council conducted a number of surveys recently to assess the impact of the pandemic and lockdowns on residents. The council’s COVID-19 impact survey found that the pandemic has had a significant impact on people’s mental health.

Of the 623 people who answered the survey so far, 33 per cent said they were stressed about their finances and 88 per cent said COVID-19 had caused a negative impact on their lives. The council’s COVID-19 business impact survey collected information from nearly 300 businesses between June and September. Since March, 85 businesses have closed permanently in Whittlesea – the majority of them are food-related. Health and beauty businesses are also heavily affected. In September alone, 13 food, health or beauty premises closed permanently,

according to the survey. Currently, 344 hair and beauty premises remain temporarily closed, while 1386 food premises are restricted to takeaway only. Nearly 100 applications had been received, with a further 80 pending, for the council’s business assistance grants which are part of its $500,000 business relief and resilience program. The council has also developed a COVID-19 Snapshot [CSNAP] survey tool to collect anecdotal observations from community-facing staff at Whittlesea.

During September, CSNAP found sports clubs were concerned about lost opportunities for fundraising during the pandemic, which had left them financially vulnerable. Young people who normally use skate parks have been feeling isolated and trapped, with use of skate parks still restricted. Parents had also been left stressed when playgrounds were closed, limiting how they could keep their children entertained. The council is also predicting a rise in unemployment, expecting 3199 local jobs to have been lost in the September quarter.

Help for mums in need Craigieburn Central is donating more than 2000 baby essential packs to families in need. The shopping centre is working with Northern Hospital and St Kilda Mums, who will distribute the packages into the community. The packs were purchased to provide customers using the centre’s parenting facilities with complimentary emergency baby goods such as nappies, bib, wipes and disposable nappy bags. But due to COVID-19, the centre has decided to donate them to families in need. Craigieburn Central centre manager Janet Reading said the centre played an important role in the community. “Over the past year, we’ve supported a number of other charities such as Youth Projects, Berry Street and The Salvation Army,” she said. “We’re pleased to be able to donate these baby essential packs and support

local vulnerable families.” Northern Health maternity nurse unit manager Michelle Morrow said the packs would be distributed to new mums. St Kilda Mums chief executive Jessica Macpherson said the packs would come in handy for families that were struggling. “Families on low incomes can’t afford to change their children as often as they need to,” she said. “They are likely to cut back on other essentials like food to buy nappies and wipes. “One mum we helped recently had to choose between nappies or the renewal of her nursing license. Providing essentials such as nappies reduces stress and prevents avoidable health problems.” Tara Murray Craigieburn Central is donating baby bundles to families in need. (Damjan Janevski) 217080_01

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Running for awareness By Tara Murray Mernda footballers and netballers are pulling on their running shoes to raise money for Beyond Blue. What started as something to keep fit has evolved to four groups of runners from the club running the distance from Mernda to Cairns through October and November. Senior men’s skipper Josh Delaney and reserves captain Michael Arcus are behind the idea. “Me and Michael and a group of leaders from the seniors, reserves and under-19s were chatting about how we could keep people motivated in unprecedented times like these,” Josh said. “We also wanted to focus on mental health. “There was a throwaway line about running the distance from Mernda to Cairns and everyone liked it and it snowballed from there.” In the end, 120 men’s and women’s footballers, netballers and coaches put their hands up to be involved. Split into groups of 30, each group will run 2085 kilometres – the distance from Mernda to Cairns. “Walk, running, whatever gets them going and motivated,” Josh said. “It’s about getting out there and exercise.” Josh has been open about his battles with mental health issues and he said he wanted to continue to keep the conversation going. “It’s quite sad because Michael was close with a guy who committed suicide a couple of weeks ago,” he said. “I’ve been vocal in front of the whole club with my story and I want the trend to continue for people to have that conversation. “I want the conversation to be an easy one, not a hard one.”

Michael Arcus, Amanda Hodgson and Josh Delaney. (Supplied)

The group will also grow moustaches in November for Movember to help raise awareness and funds for mental health. Josh said they hadn’t set a fundraising total. “It’s about raising awareness while getting fit,” he said.

“It’s about getting the conversation going, as you can’t put a price on someone’s life.” To donate, visit: https://bit.ly/3llt9DJ. If you or someone you know is in need of support, contact Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Rugby centre gets go ahead Broadmeadows will be the new home of rugby league in Victoria after Hume council issued a permit for the State Rugby League Centre to be built at Seabrook Reserve. The centre, which is part of a bigger Seabrook Reserve master plan redevelopment, will give NRL Victoria access to one pitch and an ancillary office at the reserve. Having announced the location of the centre last year, council voted last week to issue a permit to the NRL. Councillor Karen Sherry said the community was crying out for something like this. Councillor Jodi Jackson asked for the decision to be put off until the new council was elected, but had no seconder. The state government allocated $12 million to the training and community centre in the 2018-19 budget but it was originally planned for nearby Johnstone Street Reserve. Representatives from NRL Victoria, Melbourne Storm, NRL local club the Northern Thunder and Touch football Australia and Victoria entered submissions supporting the project. Broadmeadows Progress Association’s John and Sonja Rutherford both submitted objections to the permit. Mr Rutherford said the plan went against what the community had wanted for the space. Tara Murray

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CCTV of Lalor shooting released By Tara Murray Police have released CCTV footage of a vehicle they’re searching for as part of an investigation into the fatal shooting of Adrian Pacione in Lalor earlier this year. Mr Pacione was at a friend’s house on Ella Court on July 18 when a number of men attended the property about 10.35pm. Police have been told the men allegedly attempted to force their way into the house and when they were unsuccessful, fired a number of shots into the property. One of these shots struck 20-year-old Mr

Pacione in the head. He died in hospital two days later from his injuries. Three other men, who were inside the property at the time of the incident, were uninjured. The group of men, including the gunman, left the scene in a dark-coloured vehicle, which was last seen heading south along Mount View Road in Lalor. Police believe the incident was targeted and possibly the result of a dispute. Mr Pacione was at the property to support a friend following the death of a family member and police do not believe he was involved in

any possible dispute or previous incident. Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said Mr Pacione’s family were still coming to terms with his death. “This was a senseless act of violence and one where it appears the most serious ramifications were all felt by a completely innocent party,” he said. “Adrian was an honest and hard-working third-year apprentice in sheet metal fabrication who was still very young and had his whole life ahead of him. “Any incident involving firearms is a concern for police and on this occasion, the

indiscriminate use of a gun has ultimately led to someone’s death. “There is never any kind of justification for this and we are doing everything we can to track down those responsible for Adrian’s death. “Today is a warning for them – we know there’s people in the community who have information to provide us, who are going to see this and understand that an innocent young man has died for nothing.” Anyone who has information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Spreading smiles TikTok star Jasmine Tatai is still getting used to seeing her face on television and on billboards as part of the social media platform’s first Australian campaign. Ms Tatai, who lives in the Melbourne’s northern suburbs, said it was exciting to be selected by TikTok to be part of the local campaign, “It Starts on TikTok”. “They sent me an email about being involved. I’ve been on TikTok for about five years and it’s an honour to be part of it,” she said. Ms Tatai, whose TikTok user name is @ jasminetxo, said while a lot had changed since she first joined the platform, her message hadn’t. “Spreading smiles is what my content is about,” she said. “I do a lot of dance content and comedy skits. People can come have a laugh and enjoy the content.”

Ms Tatai has seen her followers grow from 450,000 earlier this year, to more than 2.6 million. She’s also been able to make some money from her work and is hoping there are more opportunities to come. “I did a few videos that went viral and things blew up,” she said. “I’ve been working with a lot of brand collaborations. I’ve been able to turn a passion and hobby into a career. “I did an online video with Guy Sebastian and we spoke about mental health. It’s good to bring some positivity to people during COVID.” Tara Murray TikTok star Jasmine Tatai. (Shiona Oosha Raj)

A message from our Chair, Panel of Administrators Lydia Wilson Hello everyone, I hope you are all staying safe and healthy during this ever-evolving pandemic. It is really pleasing to see COVID-19 cases in the City of Whittlesea so low, and everyone living and working here has done an amazing job at helping to stop the spread of this awful virus. As much as we like to hear about declining active cases that will lead us to COVID-normal, we know that the impacts of this pandemic will be felt for some time yet. It is a great concern that two out of three people who responded to our recent Community Impact Survey are experiencing negative impacts to their mental health. Please try and stay connected to family and friends in all of the ways that we can, and please contact any of the support services listed on the right if you need help. Council continues to support local organisations delivering essential items to people living in the City of Whittlesea like food and clothing. A list of these organisations is available on our website. Please continue to stay strong as we head towards a COVID-normal way of life where we can be together again very soon.

Reach out for support Whittlesea Community Connections Provides people in need with food, ﬁnancial assistance and support. Call: 9401 6644 (Monday to Friday, 9am-1pm) Beyond Blue Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service Call: 1800 512 348 Visit: coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support Call: 0437 425 903 Email: shontia.saluja@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Lifeline Call: 13 11 14 (24 hours/7 days) Text: 0477 13 11 14 (6pm – midnight AEDT, 7 nights). Chat online: lifeline.org.au/crisis-chat (7pm - midnight, 7 nights) Visit: lifeline.org.au Headspace Call: 1800 650 890 Visit: www.headspace.org.au Business support Call: 9217 2278 (8.30am - 5pm, Mon - Fri) Email: business@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Financial relief If you are having diﬃculty paying Council rates, fees and charges, you may be eligible for an interest free payment plan or deferral until 30 June 2021. View the COVID-19 Financial Hardship Policy at whittlesea.vic.gov.au/coronavirus

Council continues to deliver essential services, and works are progressing on community infrastructure projects. Other Council programs and activities have also adapted so we can stay engaged and connected while physically distancing. Find out more at whittlesea.vic.gov.au/coronavirus For health information and guidance on current restrictions visit www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus or call 1800 675 398 12465998-LB43-20

7 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 October, 2020

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Man jailed over home invasion By Tara Murray A man has been sentenced to more than seven years in jail following a home invasion in Westmeadows which left the homeowner feeling unsafe in her own home. Last month, Ian Schaeffer pleaded guilty in the County Court to a number of charges including being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, one charge of home invasion, two charges of theft of a motor car, one charge of being a prohibited person in possession of an imitation firearm, one charge

of cultivating a narcotic plant and a charge of possession of a drug of dependence. The court heard that on December 9 last year, Schaeffer and two other unknown males entered the Westmeadows house about 4.30am. A 75-year-old woman was home at the time. The three men, who were wearing black clothing and balaclavas, forced their way into the house and woke the woman. They demanded money and valuables. Schaeffer stayed with the victim as the other two men searched the property. Schaeffer located a car key and allowed the

woman to remove medical paperwork from the car before driving off. Police seized a hammer, screwdriver, a Band-Aid and a black ladies jacket from the scene, all of which were swabbed and tested for DNA. Preliminary results indicated the presence of Schaeffer’s DNA and he was put under police surveillance. He was arrested on December 12. The key to the woman’s car was found in his possession, and the car, fitted with false number plates, parked near Schaeffer’s residence in Tullamarine. In his initial interview, Schaeffer, who was on

bail for charges of possessing anabolic steroids, denied being involved in the home invasion. He was charged and held in custody. In May, Schaeffer indicated he would plead guilty to all charges. In her victim impact statement, the woman said she no longer felt safe in the home that she once thought of as her sanctuary and had trouble sleeping. Judge Michael O’Connell found Schaeffer, 30, guilty of 11 charges and sentenced him to a total of seven years and three months in jail, with a non-parole period of five years.

Boost for little athletes Craigieburn Little Athletics Centre has received a boost after receiving a funding grant from Coles. Centre president Brooke Johnson said the grant would allow the centre to buy new equipment which will improve experiences of athletes and volunteers. “It will mainly help look after the safety of the young athletes,” Ms Johnson said. “For many, the equipment can be a bit daunting to start with, so it will help with more user-friendly equipment to help introduce them to the events before they have to compete.” The money will go towards flexible high jump bars, foam discus and shot puts and items such as line marking tape, tables and chairs. Ms Johnson said the funding was even more important this year, with COVID-19 meaning they are unlikely to be able to do much fundraising.

She said they were hoping the centre, which has been part of the community for almost 50 years, could start its new season in November if restrictions are eased. “Last year we had 130 registered athletes from under-6s through to under-16s,” she said. “We missed out on the last couple of weeks of last season, we didn’t get to have our championship day. “We’re ready to go and organised for this season. It all depends on [premier] Daniel Andrews. It’s just about trying to get kids outdoors again.” Ms Johnson said they were always looking for new members, volunteers and sponsors. The centre was one of 158 sports clubs across Australia to share in $521,000 for equipment from the latest round of the Coles Little Athletics Community Fund. Tara Murray

Craigieburn Little Athletics Centre. (Supplied)

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Suport for people ‘at risk’ By Benjamin Millar People at risk of falling through the cracks throughout the coronavirus crisis are receiving help with essential care for their wellbeing and survival. Not-for-profit community health organisation cohealth’s homelessness and health support team has been partnering with Tenants Victoria to provide outreach services to dozens of rooming houses across Melbourne’s north and west. The outreach has continued throughout the COVID-19 lockdown, focusing on delivery of essential items such as food and blankets, housing support, referrals to health services and delivering public health messaging. The teams also provide mobile COVID testing and distribute facemasks, talking with residents about how to stay safe and well. cohealth chief executive Nicole Bartholomeusz said COVID-19 restrictions have highlighted the important role that outreach workers play in the health of communities, particularly among people on low incomes who are often pushed into rooming houses and caravan parks because it’s all they can afford. “People living in marginal accommodation often face additional barriers when trying to access the health information and support they need, meaning they often miss out on mainstream health services,” she said. “During a pandemic, this is especially concerning.” Ms Bartholomeusz said rooming houses and caravan parks are often the last resort for people on very low incomes, so they become concentrated with people with a complex range of health and social problems.

cohealth’s homelessness and health support team provide outreach services to Laverton’s Honey Hush caravan park. (Supplied)

“In addition to mental health, people in sub-standard accommodation are prone to other health concerns including chronic illness, poor diet and nutrition, respiratory

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New manager for centres Mill Park Leisure and Whittlesea Swim Centre will be under new management. Whittlesea council has appointed Belgravia Leisure as the new facility manager at both locations after a tender process. Panel of administrators chair Lydia Wilson said Belgravia Leisure was the industry leader for aquatic and leisure centre management. “Belgravia Leisure is an experienced operator who manages more than 200 facilities across Australia and New Zealand and has opened eight new and redeveloped centres in Victoria in the past two years,” Ms Wilson said. “We were attracted to Belgravia’s very strong understanding of customer service and technology, which is important for our facilities, particularly our much-anticipated state-of-the-art Mill Park Leisure facility.” Belgravia Leisure replaces Whittlesea YMCA (WYMCA) which has run both facilities in recent years. Ms Wilson thanked the WYMCA for the service and commitment the organisation has provided at Mill Park Leisure and Whittlesea Swim Centre. Mill Park Leisure is in the final stages of its $25 million redevelopment, which is due to be opened in the first quarter of next year. Whittlesea Swim Centre will open for the new season on November 1.

issues and drug and alcohol addiction,” she said. “The outreach team helps connect people who are struggling with essential services.”

Tara Murray

Subscribe to the Proposal to Make Common Seal and Conduct at Meetings Local Law No. 1 of 2020

Northern Star Weekly

Notice is given that Whittlesea City Council (Council) proposes to make a local law titled ‘Common Seal and Conduct at Meetings Local Law No. 1 of 2020’ (the proposed Local Law).

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The following information about the proposed Local Law is provided in accordance with section 119 of the Local Government Act 1989 (Act): Purpose of the proposed Local Law If made, the purposes of the proposed Local Law will be to: (1) Revoke Council’s Procedural Matters Local Law (No. 1 of 2018); (2) Regulate the use of the Common Seal; and (3) Create offences relating to conduct at Meetings.

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General Purport of the proposed Local Law If made, the proposed Local Law will: • provide for the proper use of Council’s Common Seal; and • create offences relating to conduct at Meetings, specifically: - affixing the Common Seal, or a device resembling the Common Seal, to a document other than in accordance with the proposed Local Law; - when called on by the Chairperson twice to do so, failing to satisfactorily apologise for not withdrawing a remark which is defamatory, indecent, abusive, offensive or disorderly in language, substance or nature; - failing to leave a Meeting when directed by the Chairperson to do so; and - failing to obey a direction of the Chairperson relating to conduct of a Meeting.

JUNE 16, 2020 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Brakes on surgery stress

Copies of the proposed Local Law and the explanatory Community Impact Statement may be inspected on Council’s website.

Children having surgery at Northern Hospital are driving themselves into the operating theatre thanks to the Whittlesea Salvation Army. The Salvos, in collaboration with the Northern Health Foundation, donated a Range Rover Kiddy car to the hospital, enabling young patients to swap a hospital trolley for a set of wheels on their way to theatre. The idea of having kids drive themselves to surgery came from Northern Hospital anaesthetist Jenny Coulson. “We wanted to avoid kids getting stressed when they come into theatre,” Dr Coulson said. “We thought the use of the car would make the kids happier.” According to Northern Hospital, the use of children’s cars has been a success in many hospitals across Asia. Northern Health Foundation director Yvonne Amos said it was a joy to collaborate with the Whittlesea Salvation Army and Dr Coulson to bring the toy car to the hospital. “To have our youngest patients distracted by being able to drive themselves to theatre instantly takes the stress out of the experience,” she said.

(Supplied)

Children having surgery at Northern Hospital are driving themselves into the operating theatre thanks to the Whittlesea Salvation Army. The Salvos, in collaboration with the Northern Health Foundation, donated a Range Rover Kiddy car to the hospital, enabling young patients to swap a hospital trolley for a set of wheels on their way to theatre. The idea of having kids drive KALEL TAKES THE CAR FOR A SPIN themselves to surgery came from Northern Hospital anaesthetist Jenny Coulson. “We wanted to avoid kids getting stressed when they come into theatre,” By Laura Michell Dr Coulson said. “We thought the use ofthe northern and western suburbs Parts of have been labelled as hot spots for “low level” the car would make the kids happier.” community transmission of COVID-19 by Victoria’s chief health officer. According to Northern Hospital, the Professor Brett Sutton said recent cases

Laura Michell

suggested the area from Keilor Downs to Fawkner and Craigieburn was a current hot spot for community transmission, adding that most of Victoria’s recent virus cases were recorded in the northern and western suburbs.

“This indicates there is ongoing community transmission in these areas, although it appears to be at low levels,” he said. Professor Sutton said people living in the area should stay home if they are unwell and get tested if they develop coronavirus symptoms. Eight pop-up drive-through testing sites are currently operating across Melbourne, including at Keilor Community Hub, and Highpoint, Pacific Werribee and Pacific Epping shopping centres. According to the Department of Health and

Human Services, there were three active cases of COVID-19 in Hume as of Monday. The municipality has recorded 72 cases since the pandemic began. Neighbouring Whittlesea has recorded no active cases since June 7. In Brimbank, one case remains active. There have been a total of 73 cases in the municipality. There were no active cases in Melton, Maribyrnong or Hobsons Bay as of Monday, according to the state government. The warning follows the news that four school students from the northern and western

suburbs tested positive to the virus. Keilor Downs Secondary College was closed for deep cleaning on May 29 after a student returned a positive test. A student from St Albans Secondary College also tested positive for the virus after taking part in a class with the infected Keilor Downs student. A grade two pupil at Holy Eucharist Primary School in St Albans South also tested positive. Craigieburn’s Newbury Primary School was closed for cleaning on June 5 after a prep pupil tested positive.

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North a virus hot spot

Any person may make a written submission relating to the proposed Local Law. All submissions received by Council on or before 4.00 pm on 11 November 2020 will be considered in accordance with section 223 of the Act. Submitters should note that all submissions are made available to the public in the Council Meeting Agenda and Minutes. Your name, title and the contents of your submission will be made public but no other personal information will be disclosed. Any person making a submission is entitled to request (in the submission itself) to be heard in support of the submission by appearing before an Advisory Committee (either personally or by a person acting on his or her behalf). If there are any adjustments we can make to assist you to actively participate in making your submission or speaking to your submission, please inform Council’s Governance Department on 9217 2406. The date and location of the Submission Hearing will be notified. Submissions should be marked ‘S.223 Submission on proposed Common Seal and Conduct at Meetings Local Law No. 1 of 2020’ and sent to Council at City of Whittlesea, Locked Bag 1, Bundoora, Vic 3083 or emailed to info@whittlesea.vic.gov.au Enquiries should be directed to info@whittlesea.vic.gov.au Craig Lloyd Chief Executive Officer 12464595-DL43-20

9 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 October, 2020

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Mortgage stress hits 3064 By Tara Murray A Hume postcode is experiencing the fourth-highest rate of mortgage stress in Australia, according to a new report. Research and consulting firm Digital Finance Analytics (DFA) has released its mortgage stress report for August, which ranked the 3064 postcode (Craigieburn, Roxburgh Park, Mickleham, Kalkallo, Donnybrook) as experiencing the fourth-highest rate of mortgage stress in the nation. The report stated that 5957 households

within the 3064 area were experiencing mortgage stress. Sunbury also made the list, with 4957 households experiencing mortgage stress. Two Whittlesea postcodes made the list of the top 28 postcodes nationwide. The 3754 postcode, which includes Doreen and Mernda, has 4928 households experiencing mortgage stress. In nearby Epping, 4734 households are experiencing mortgage stress. The Ballarat postcode placed first, with 7462 households experiencing mortgage stress. DFA put together its report after surveying

52,000 households across the nation over a year, and using mortgage industry reports, company information and banking and economic analysis to calculate the figures. The report considers households to be in severe mortgage stress if their gross income – such as salary, pensions, interest and dividends – is 10 per cent or more below what they spend on tax, mortgage repayments, other housing costs, food, childcare, and school fees every month. According to the report, about 1.52 million households across the nation were experiencing

mortgage stress in August – equating to 40.1 per cent of all households in Australia. In contrast, about 1.4 million households across the nation were experiencing mortgage stress in May – equating to 37.5 per cent of all households in Australia. The report also said that rental stress “remains a significant issue” with 41.1 per cent of Australian renters in difficulty, equating to 1.78 million households. The 2540 postcode in New South Wales, which includes Jervis Bay, placed first on the list for rental stress.

Spotlight on science A new partnership between Broadmeadows-based CSL Behring and La Trobe University’s In2Science program will help educate the next generation of scientists. CSL Behring has signed a four-year partnership with the In2Science program to deliver science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education programs in Hume schools. The partnership will enable In2Science to deliver an in-school mentoring program to more than 150 students in years 7-10. In2Science places university students as peer mentors in Victorian secondary schools to support groups of students traditionally underrepresented in STEM, including students from low socio-economic backgrounds, girls, students from regional and rural areas, and Indigenous students. CSL Behring Broadmeadows senior vice president and general manager Tricia Stewart

said the Broadmeadows team was keen to support STEM engagement. “CSL Behring Broadmeadows has long supported the local Hume community through our community grants program,” she said. “This new partnership … will connect our employees with the community where we work. … Our highly-skilled STEM employees are excited to be heading into the classroom to encourage students to consider the diverse career opportunities available in the field of science.” In2Science program director Alison Every said having partners such as CSL Behring allows the program to recruit more student mentors and provide better outcomes. “We are really excited to harness the knowledge and experience of CSL Behring’s people to enhance the In2Science program.” Tara Murray

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR PLANNING PERMIT (Section 52 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987) The property affected by the application is located at Lot 16, 31 OXLEY AVENUE, BUNDOORA. The application is for a permit to vary Restrictive Covenant F114489 on Plan of Subdivision 097752 to allow for the construction of two dwellings on a lot

A new partnership between CSL Behring and In2Science will benefit Hume students. (Supplied)

Proposed change of boundary locality for 182 & 182W Greenhills Road, Thomastown to be included in the locality of Bundoora On Thursday 8 October 2020 the City of Whittlesea (Council) gave notice on it’s website of a request received from Urbis Pty Ltd on behalf of Wolf Developments, the owners of the site at 182 Greenhills Road, Thomastown to have the locality boundary between Thomastown and Bundoora changed to include the property located at 182 Greenhills Road, Thomastown in the locality of Bundoora.

The applicant for the permit is C Alebakis.

In considering this request Council resolved on 6 October 2020 to consult with the community in relation to the following proposal:

The application reference number is 719520.

That the boundary locality for 182 & 182W Greenhills Road, Thomastown be changed to be included in the locality of Bundoora.

You may look at the application and any documents that support the application on our website through Planning Application Status and Tracking Application (PASTA). www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au

The site at 182W Greenhills Road, Thomastown is a Council reserve and the access point to this reserve is from 182 Greenhills Road. Public submissions

Any person who may be affected by the granting of the permit may object or make other submissions to the responsible authority. An objection must be sent to the responsible authority in writing, include the reasons for the objection and state how the objector would be affected. The Responsible Authority will not decide on the application before 11 November 2020. If you object, the responsible authority will inform you of its decision.

Affected residents, members of the public and service providers are invited to provide submissions on the renaming proposal and must be received by 5.00pm on 12 November 2020 by: Email: civic.administration@whittlesea.vic.gov.au or Post: City of Whittlesea Locked Bag 1, Bundoora MDC 3083. All submissions must comply with the Naming rules for places in Victoria – Statutory requirements for naming roads, features and localities – 2016. Any person who makes a submission can appear at the meeting to be heard in support of their submission or nominate a person to do so on their behalf. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and physical distancing requirements, a Committee of Council will meet remotely to hear public submissions via videoconferencing and consider all submissions. The date and time of this meeting is to be confirmed. Recommendations regarding submissions will be considered at the Council Meeting to be held at 3:00pm on 7 December 2020. Once a decision is made by Council, each submitter will be notified in writing of the outcome.

For information regarding access to Planning documents relating to this application please contact Council’s Building and Planning Department on 9217 2259.

If you wish to appear at the meeting to be heard in support of your submission, or be represented by another person and there are any adjustments we can make to assist you to actively participate, please inform the Governance Team at the time of making your submission on 9217 2294 or email civic.administration@whittlesea.vic.gov.au. Further information is available on Council’s website www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Craig Lloyd Chief Executive Officer

10 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 October, 2020

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NEWS

Councils to help ‘abandoned’ By Goya Dmytryshchak Hobsons Bay, Hume and Whittlesea are among 14 Australian councils to sign a declaration to provide financial or in-kind support to asylum seekers, international students and others unable to access federal government income support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Racial and economic justice organisations, Democracy in Colour and Welcoming Australia, say two million people have been “abandoned”.

Councils which have signed a mayoral declaration also include Hobart, Sydney, Australian Capital Territory, Fremantle, Victoria Park, Leeton Shire, Randwick, Mornington Peninsula Shire and Charles Sturt. Democracy in Colour national co-director Neha Madhok said the declaration showed local councils wanted to support everyone in their communities. “The 14 councils that have signed this mayoral declaration are taking a stand with us and saying that it’s time all workers, regardless

of visa status, are protected and taken care of during this pandemic,” she said “The economic impacts of this pandemic have hit us all in ways that we might not have been prepared for, but we’re seeing now that migrants, international students, people seeking asylum and refugees have been left out of any income support from the federal government. “The more councils that we have signed onto the pledge, the stronger our message to the Morrison government is.”

Welcoming Australia chief executive Aleem Ali said more councils were being urged to sign. “People have been left without a safety net and are relying on the goodwill of local councils, state governments, community organisations and generous individuals to continue to pay their rent and put food on their table,” he said. “Many local councils are standing in the gap for recently arrived migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum because they value communities where people of all backgrounds can belong, contribute and thrive.”

New beginnings If opening a restaurant wasn’t already hard enough, Huss and Elie Hodroj have done it in the middle of a pandemic The two cousins are behind Mr Toum Lebanese Street Food restaurant which opened earlier this month at Craigieburn Central. The restaurant was set to open in August as the pair looked to bring their love of Lebanese street food and culture to the Craigieburn community. While they haven’t been able to open their restaurant to dine-in customers, Huss said they’ve turned to takeaway and home deliveries. “We had these great plans to launch the restaurant when suddenly the borders were closed, deliveries delayed, suppliers shut down their businesses and we weren’t able to offer customers a dine-in experience,” he said. “We never gave up and the whole team was there to support each other when we finally opened our doors.

“We’ve had such a positive response from the community. “We’ve realised takeaway and delivery are going to be a big part of our business but we’re looking forward to inviting diners to experience the warm atmosphere and delicious food Mr Toum Lebanese Street Food has to offer.” The menu features traditional shawarmas filled with homemade, fresh, off the flame-grill marinated meat and fresh salad, along with hot cheetos crispy chicken subwraps and fries. Craigieburn Central Centre manager Janet Reading said they were pleased to see a small family-owned business open. Tara Murray Elie and Huss Hodroj, owners of Mr Toum Lebanese Street Food restaurant. (Damjan Janevski) 217080_05

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11 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 October, 2020

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Lasting legacy

Tara Murray caught up with two of the Whittlesea administrators, Lydia Wilson and Bruce Billson, to chat about their time so far, the future and the legacy they want to leave.

How has the first six months been with COVID-19 presenting a number of scenarios that no one had planned for?

group of administrators. It’s not just the legacy of open, good decision-making and governance, it’s that plus a lot more.

Lydia: “It has had an amazing impact on our ability to have that direct contact with all the staff across the organisation, but also really importantly we haven’t been able to get out and about and be visible in community, meet with key agencies and community leaders, meet with residents and businesses. We have tried to compensate as much as we can and the three of us are actively involved in internal and external advisory committees. It’s amazing what you can do with technology, but it hasn’t been the start we would have really liked.” Bruce: “It hasn’t been what we expected and not what we anticipated and certainly requiring a bit of innovation to stay well informed and well connected. Trying to connect with and build a regular professional productive rapport with the team and the staff has been difficult. We have been able to include many staff in our briefings and dialogue. I like to see and feel the physical environment and get a sense of the technical advice in the context of the landscape. That can be difficult.” Lydia: “We did a comprehensive public report on our six months at council. We felt it was terribly important to go on record of what we have done in our six months, what are some of our priorities.”

Has COVID-19 changed the direction of what you have looked to do the first six months?

What background have you had with the Whittlesea community? Lydia: “I’ve got extensive local government background and being a CEO at three councils. I’ve had a lot of experience across municipalities and also there’s a number of issues at Whittlesea which cut across local government in general. The critical item that we have got up to speed on is some of the levels of disadvantage and socio demographics and clearly being a growth council. Bruce: “I’m a former local government executive and had 20 years in federal politics. In terms of community engagement representative type

Whittlesea council administrator Bruce Billson and Lydia Wilson, chair of the panel of administrators. (Pictures: Supplied)

work, I feel experienced about that, but not so specifics of the Whittlesea contexts. Lydia: “We have been really clear and on the record, that we’re not just here in Whittlesea for the governance and decision-making role. We certainly don’t want any of our residents to feel disenfranchised because they have administrators. We’ve already developed some strong linkages with our members of Parliament and we’ve gone out really strongly on a number of key advocacy campaigns. Bruce: “We don’t wake up each day as administrators knowing the history and reason we were appointed. It’s not just about getting Whittlesea sorted. We’re about enabling it to be sensational. We want to… not just get things back on track, but a really positive forward-looking agenda that people look at and say I’m so chuffed to be part of the Whittlesea community.” Is there a big focus on community consultation because Whittlesea council has been known as a secretive council previously? Bruce: “We’ve seen some of the numbers because there is that survey and some of the numbers aren’t where they need to be.

Community consultation and community engagement, we are very clear and so is our incoming CEO, we have to lift that performance. And there’s another side as well, do people know what the council is on about? There are expectations around engagement of greater equality, greater impact and frankly the city having a really receptive highly-tuned ear to what people are expecting of it and what they’re views are. Lydia: “Over the last five years the community satisfaction survey results across a number of areas, whether its customer service, consultation and engagement, advocacy and general performance, has been declining, as it has across a number of councils, but we actually don’t feel that is good enough. We feel that we have to really try and address people’s perceptions of the overall performance of the council. We would like to really engage community participation, and we’ve already started to establish really strong links with community agencies. Bruce: “With those partnerships we can be a crucial player, or we might be the primary ball carrier. It’s a meaningful form of engagement as well, how do we optimise those relationships for the benefit of the community. Lydia: “We do say we are a very ambitious

Lydia: “The resources, the policies, the initiatives we are going to be taking in the business sector, emergency relief, the funding commitment that goes with it, has been a huge focus. I’m really pleased to say we haven’t dropped the ball and the organisation has continued to perform at a really high level. The issue we have is that we have to finish off on the response and we know, even with the latest stats, the impact on our community and local businesses is quite profound.” Bruce: “The organisation has been incredibly adaptive and to that degree there were lots of moving parts to try and bring our best possible response. Without COVID you would be moving into a place where the foundations had been laid and thinking where to from here, now you’ve got a lot of things that have had to be adapted and adjusted to cater for these extraordinary times.” Lydia: “The delivery rate of the new works program was still running at roughly 86 per cent and there are some of the flagship major infrastructure projects that we can just not afford to lose time on.” What is the focus of the administrators the next four years? Lydia: “We want to achieve a high performance culture at Whittlesea and also a theme around rigours of financial management going forward. We’ve already talked about the community satisfaction results, that whole area is a key plank. We believe in the organisation that we need to provide that real strategic leadership. Bruce: “We have ambition and aspire to leave a really meaningful legacy. For us, what does success look like? Our success looks like our citizens are absolutely chuffed that their home is Whittlesea.”

Back to the gym You don’t have to be fit to start Just like you wouldn’t get your hair trimmed before you go to the hairdresser, you don’t have to be fit to start in a group fitness class (as long as the class is suitable for all fitness levels).

Wear comfy clothes and runners/sneakers You just need to be able to move well in them – so a pair of tracksuit pants, shorts or leggings and a comfy T-shirt or active wear top is best. Your shoes should ideally be laced-up runners with good grip to keep yourself safe. Masks must be worn at all times until you are physically exerting yourself.

Stage 4 Restrictions have not made good bedfellows for allowing Melbournians to maintain a fitness regime of any sort. Some have made it outside, kids in tow, for daily ‘iso walks’ and some have done a home workout each day. But, for the past six months, we haven’t been able to step foot inside a gym. And that’s a long time to have off! Things will have changed – some out of necessity and some changes to reinvigorate fitness businesses. So, the post-Iso return to the gym or group fitness class will be reminiscent of being a beginner. Here are some tips that should help you have a great time at your first session back.

(Staples Media)

Some other things to bring

Book in There are usually a couple of ways to do this – best bet to check out your gym’s website. While gathering numbers are restricted and contact tracing is required, you will have to book in to attend.

Go in with an open mind Don’t set any expectations of yourself or of the class. Be open to trying new things. While some moves may feel uncomfortable or unusual, nothing should physically hurt you during the class.

Go with a friend Having a familiar face to smile or grimace with can be reassuring if you’re new. Remember, everyone in that room was new at one stage. Even the instructor! 12 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 October, 2020

Take your time From a practical point of actually getting yourself to the class and your expectations on yourself in the class.

Firstly, arrive at least ten minutes before the class starts. You need time to get a lay of the land and to fill out any paperwork, to set up and to have a chat to the instructor. Secondly, take your time once you’re in the class. It’s much better to do five great squats while everyone else is doing 20, than to hurt yourself doing those 20 squats poorly. A good instructor should allow for this, and will have some great modifications if you really do find something too tricky.

You may need to bring your own mat and maybe even your own weights at the start – check ahead about this; your own full water bottle; bring a towel (a hand-towel will do here); and a small bag for your things. And hand sanitiser, although this should be supplied. The length of this list is not indicative of how complicated participating in a group fitness class is. This is simply an overview of all the little things I wish I knew at the start. The most important thing is to simply just start! So, go on, grab a friend, pop your comfy clothes and runners on and GIVE IT A GO! (The very first thing you should do, though, before any of this, is check in with your GP – just to see if there are any health concerns that you may be unaware of that need to be taken into consideration before you start.)

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FEATURE

Above: Yvonne Rolley teaching the learn to swim program, an annual community event by WSLSC volunteers for children in the community. Children would build sandcastles in the sand, lie on them and learn to kick their legs. Then they would learn arm actions and practice them standing up. Then off they would go into the water to practice. Left: 1953: Bobby McKinda, Max Horn, John Peckham and Harrow Morgan. Top right: 1960s: Marilyn Jansen, Christine Martin, Nola Speakman (nee Wilson), Rosa Walton, Brenda Martin, Erica Plowright (nee Bird). Right: March past champions. (Pictures: Supplied)

100 years of saving lives By Goya Dmytryshchak Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club started soon after the Spanish flu and will celebrate its centenary in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic. A book detailing the club’s history from 1920-2020, by Jacqui Hewitt and Kaye Tomkins, will be showcased as part of this month’s Hobsons Bay Seniors Festival. The book tells of the dangers of swimming at Williamstown in 1900, including the possibility of being shot from a nearby army rifle range. “Keen bathers who did not wish to competitively swim were more concerned with the dangers of swimming such as shark infestation, rocks, denuded sand, thistles, sewerage, cleanliness, immodesty, and possibly being shot from the close proximity of the Rifle Range,” the book states. President Paul Sullivan said the club started around the time of the Spanish flu and now had to celebrate its centenary online. “Whilst much has changed in 100 years, the Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club’s core role, providing a safe beach environment for the community, remains the same,” he said. “What also endures is that our club continues to be a place of community connection, a local treasured landmark and a place where members share their love and respect for the water. “It’s remarkable to think that our club was established in Melbourne as the world emerged

from the grip of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, which was estimated to have infected 500 million people worldwide. “Today, as the world grinds to a halt in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we have had to close our club temporarily to members for the first time in 100 years. “This has been a sad but necessary decision for the health of our members and the wider community.

‘‘

club continutes to be … a local treasured landmark - Paul Sullivan

’’

“Reading this history of our club it is a great reminder of the incredible resilience and strength the club and its members have.” Co-author Jacqui Hewitt, who was the club’s first and only female president to date, said recounting the club’s history had been a wonderful experience. “Some members have done some amazing rescues, some have competed at high levels, and all have contributed to the club at some level,“ she said. “Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club has been a real contribution to the swimming public at Williamstown beach.” The presentation is on Tuesday, October 20, at 6.30pm. Bookings essential. Register via email at library@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au.

The new floating pool. (Supplied) 13 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 October, 2020

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Make your mark grand final day Who says watching the Grand Final at home during lockdown can’t be fun? OK, slightly less perfect without having the gang over, but there are ways to make the most exciting day of footy exciting at home – inside or outdoors, writes Carole Levy. First, set the mood: get into the scarves, socks and beanies of your team (even if they’re not playing in the grandie), then crank up the music. ‘Up There Kazaly’ (on repeat) and anything from Barnesy are obvious choices. . When the music goes down, turn up the TV to loud because there’s nothing like listening to the commentators’ shtick to get in the mood and to spark friendly debate before the game.

(iStock)

Second, before the first bounce, hand out a list to everyone for them to enter their ‘bets’ on the following: • Who will win the captain’s centre call? • How many players will actually sing the National Anthem? • Who will kick the first goal? • Who will kick the first behind? • Who will get the first free kick? • At what stage will the first punch-on occur? • What will constitute the first ‘bad’ umpire’s decision? • Which side will get the most free kicks per quarter?

Most of all, celebrate togetherness, and know butchers who are likely to offer a Grand Final meat or skewers pack. Order in home-delivered that people all over Melbourne are barracking Third – have the ‘right’ mood-food available. treats from your fave local café – think in their homes along with you. We can make the COVID grand final a great cupcakes, antipasto or cheese platters, a wrap Pies, obviously. one anyway … because that’s who we are. If you’re having a barbecue, check out local selection…

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own ideas to the list.

This can be readily adapted to a typical Aussie drinking game, but have silly prizes to hand out during and after the match. Kids and grown-ups will love this, and you can add your

15 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 October, 2020

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F th kid

TODAY Message us on Facebook to share your recipes and activity ideas.

Cook it

t t n i u Co

PIZZA MUFFINS Ingredients 3 English muffins (split) 6 tbs pizza sauce (or tomato paste) 4 slices ham (deli) (diced)

1 tin crushed pineapple (well drained) 3 cups pizza cheese

Method 1. Toast the muffins in the toaster and spread 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce on each. 2. Scatter ham and pineapple on the pizza sauce. 3. Top with pizza cheese. 4. Place under the grill until the cheese is melted and serve. Tip: An ideal after school snack or pop them cold in lunchboxes. Kids can choose any topping they like, great for fussy eaters! Recipe from www.kidspot.com.au

Make it I lo ve yo u w it h a ll my h e a rts!

fun fact ts Octopuses have 3 hear and blue blood!

SOAP FOAM Ingredients 1 cup Lux Pure Soap Flakes 2 cups hot water Method 1. Put soap flakes and water in a mixing bowl. 2. Mix on high speed until firm peaks form. Optional - add food colouring or glitter to the mixture. TIP: You can let the kids make a mess outside with this one and hose everything down to clean up when they’re done!

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16 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 October, 2020

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Sudoku

Quick crossword 1

Fill the grid so every column, every row and 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

16 17

18 19

22 25

28 29

13 6 15

9 2

4 8

3 13

3 16

11 13

18 8 5

11 8

13 21

ABCDE FGHIJKL MNOPQRSTUV WXYZ

10 11 12 13 T L E 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Quick crossword solution

SOLUTION TO DECODER 10:

WordBuilder WordBuilder

E R V W A

Fit the words into the grid to create a finished crossword 3 LETTERS ADD ALE ASK AVE AWE AXE EGO ELK ELM MAR MEN NAG NET NIB ODD ODE ONE RED RIB RUE RYE SAM SIR YAM 4 LETTERS CHIP DEEP DISC DOOM ETCH FADE MANA PAPA PINT ROTA STIR STOP TREK VEIN 5 LETTERS ACORN AILED ALIBI

How many words of three or more letters, including plurals, can you make from the five letters, using each letter only once? No foreign words or words beginning with a capital are allowed. There’s at least one five-letter word. Good 8 Very Good 10 Excellent 13

O L I V E

ANODE ANTIC ARROW ASIAN CELLO CROFT CURED DOLLS EASEL ENEMA EXERT HEEDS IDIOM IDIOT IMBED KEVIN LARGO LEAKS MANIA

MELTS MINOR NOSER OASES OBESE OILER OLDEN OLIVE ORDER OVERT PACER PESTS RESIT SALVE SMART SPASM TRADE TRAIN TRAWL

TREED TREND UNITE WEEDS WOODS

8 LETTERS RADIANCE REGARDED RELATIVE RETRIEVE

6 LETTERS ABOARD AMOEBA HEARSE WICKED

11 LETTERS SMOKESCREEN TRANSPARENT

7 LETTERS ASININE DRINKER DURABLE INHUMAN SHOTPUT TARTARE

Sudoku solutions

Decoder A

14 1

15 2

16 3

17 4

18 5

19 6

20 7

21 8

22 9

Across: 1. Pamper, 5. Hitman, 10. Avarice, 11. Outline, 12. Inmate, 15. Depict, 16. Saunter, 17. Dead, 18. Vend, 19. Captain, 20. Cost, 22. Fast, 25. Callous, 27. Survey, 28. Senior, 31. Amnesia, 32. Acerbic, 33. Vessel, 34. Sieved. Down: 2. Anaemia, 3. Points, 4. Reek, 5. Hoop, 6. Totter, 7. Asinine, 8. Varied, 9. Heated, 13. Eat away, 14. Install, 15. Devious, 20. Casual, 21. Strange, 23. Amiable, 24. Thrice, 25. Census, 26. Secede, 29. Fail, 30. Dais. O B E S E

M I N O R

A L I B I

R E S I T

T R A N S P A R E N T

M A N I A

S P A S M

A C O R N

R T E R D E K A S A I N A T N I C R Y A E B O M A E R N D

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

W O I D C E S K H E A O D D T D P A U R A T R I O L A W E L D E D E A E X P E

O V E R T

O A S E S

S A L V E

I M B E D

D O L L S

O I L E R

M E L T S S M O K E S C R E E N

WordBuilder

Down 2. Deficiency of red blood cells (7) 3. Indicates (6) 4. Stink (4) 5. Ring (4) 6. Move unsteadily (6) 7. Stupid and silly (7) 8. Assorted (6) 9. Warmed (6) 13. Erode (3,4) 14. Put in place (7) 15. Deceitful (7) 20. Nonchalant (6) 21. Unusual (7) 23. Friendly (7) 24. Three times (6) 25. Population count (6) 26. Break away (6) 29. Come to grief (4) 30. Raised platform (4)

WordFit

Each number represents a different letter of the alphabet. Write the given letters into all squares with matching numbers. Now work out which letters are represented by the other numbers. As you get the letters, write them into the main grid and the reference grid. Decoder uses all 26 letters of the alphabet. 19

Across 1. Mollycoddle (6) 5. Professional killer (6) 10. Greed (7) 11. Silhouette (7) 12. Prisoner (6) 15. Illustrate (6) 16. Amble (7) 17. Deceased (4) 18. Sell (4) 19. Skipper (7) 20. Expense (4) 22. Swift (4) 25. Heartless (7) 27. Poll (6) 28. Higher in rank (6) 31. Loss of memory (7) 32. Sarcastic (7) 33. Ship DECODER (6) 34. Sifted DECODER (6)

Decoder

WordFit

PUZZLES

EASY

MEDIUM

HARD

are, ave, aver, awe, ear, era, rave, raw, rev, war, ware, wave, waver, wear

SOLUTION TO DECODER 11:

Quiz

I I

1 NSW, 2 Three, 3 Amy Johnson, 4 Pulp Fiction, 5 Sitting in the dark, 6 Thomas Edison, 7 Copper, 8 Steve Waugh, 9. Hannibal, 10. George Michael.

E E

Insert the missing letters to make ten words — five reading across the grid and five reading down. Note: more than one solution may be possible.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

The Murrumbidgee River rises in which state? How many balls are used in the game of billiards? Which famous female flier flew solo from England to Australia in 1930? What was Quentin Tarantino’s follow-up to Reservoir Dogs? Roman emperor Augustus Caesar suffered from achluophobia. Is this fear of pregnant women, assassination, or sitting in the dark? 6. Which US inventor described genius as “one per cent inspiration, 99 per cent perspiration”? 7. Sterling silver is an alloy of silver and which metal? 8. Who followed Mark Taylor as Australia’s cricket captain in 1999? 9. What was Thomas Harris’s sequel to The Silence of the Lambs? 10. Jesus to a child was a 1990s hit for which late singer?

S T E R N

G I V E R

A M I G O

5x5 solution L I L A C

5x5

F L A W S

Quiz solution

All puzzles © The Puzzle Company

$70

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New generation is impressive By Ewan Kennedy, Marque Motoring New Kia Sorento has just been launched in Australia. It’s aimed at those looking for the comfort of a sedan / people mover-type vehicle, not simply an SUV. The fourth generation of Kia’s popular Sorento SUV is the first vehicle to be based on Kia’s new-generation ‘N3’ SUV platform. It is wider than its predecessor and sits on a longer wheelbase so can accommodate seven people in comfort, and a significant amount of luggage. Even with all seven seats in place, boot space is 32 per cent larger than the superseded Sorento.

Styling The new shape is a collaborative design between all three studios in Kia’s worldwide design network – in Korea, Europe and North America. It is more sculpted than before with the front having the latest interpretation of Kia’s hallmark ‘tiger nose’ grille. There are rectangular lower air intakes, wing-shaped air curtains channel air around the car. The sharp bumper lip is capped with a skid plate. The trailing edge of the bonnet wraps around the front wings and turns into a single, strong character line which extends along the side of the Sorento and into the rear lights. The wide D-pillars that have defined all three Sorento previous generations have been retained but this time with a fair bit more style than previously. New Sorento has a choice of seven paint finishes; one standard colour in Clear White, and six Premium Paints ($695 option); Mineral Blue (New Colour), Snow White Pearl, Steel Grey, Silky Silver, Aurora Black and Gravity Blue.

Interior The dashboard area is reminiscent of the current Mercedes-Benz design, with two wide rectangular screens occupying an area stretching about two thirds of the way across the dashboard. Sorento is fitted with premium-quality materials and cutting-edge infotainment. Depending on grade there is embossed black cloth, leather-appointed black cloth and black quilted Nappa leather-appointed seats. New Kia Sorento has a stance that gives it an upmarket look. (Pictures: Supplied)

Infotainment A powerful 12-speaker BOSE surround-sound audio system is standard in the GT-Line. The S, Sport and Sport+ come with what Kia simply calls, “a quality six-speaker sound system”. The new Sorento incorporates Kia’s latest 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system offering audio-visual navigation. Entry-level S features an eight-inch colour LCD touch screen, and along with Sport and Sport+, a 4.2-inch colour TFT supervision instrument cluster. The infotainment system also allows Bluetooth smartphone pairing for two phones concurrently, enabling separate phones to be used for, for instance, phone calls and music, while front passengers can also plug in their mobile devices via three USB chargers. For second-row passengers, two USB charging sockets are integrated into the backs of the front seats (Sport+ & GT-Line only), with a third at the back of the front-row centre console. Both third-row passengers also have their own 12V Power Outlet charging points (whilst Sport+ and GT-Line offers two additional USB chargers), meaning all seven passengers can keep their mobile device charged – the perfect measure to maintain harmony in a full car during longer journeys. The 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment and navigation system has many functions and can also be controlled with new buttons on either side of the screen.

Engines / transmissions Kia’s new four-cylinder 2.2-litre ‘Smartstream’ diesel engine debuts in Australia in the Sorento. Producing 148kW and 440Nm torque 20 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 October, 2020

it is paired with Kia’s new eight-speed wet double-clutch transmission and drives all four wheels. An updated Lambda III 3.5 litre V6 petrol engine producing 200kW and 332Nm will drive the front wheels through Kia’s eight-speed torque converter automatic. It won’t be here till late November, perhaps early December. A plugin hybrid Sorento is due to be launched in 2021, it’s likely to come to Australia but Kia won’t comment at this stage.

AT A GLANCE MODEL RANGE S 3.5-litre petrol 2WD: $46,990 Sport 3.5-litre petrol 2WD: $49,990 Sport+ 3.5-litre petrol 2WD: $54,390 GT-Line 3.5-litre petrol 2WD: $61,990 S 2.2-litre diesel AWD: $49,990 Sport 2.2-litre diesel AWD: $52,990 Sport+ 2.2-litre diesel AWD: $57,390

Safety The Sorento is fitted with seven airbags (dual front airbags, dual front seat-mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags with rollover sensor, and front centre airbag). The front centre airbag is a first for Australia and provides head protection for front-seat occupants by preventing their heads coming into contact during a crash. Kia’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) includes Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) technology with pedestrian, cyclist and vehicle detection. This also detects oncoming traffic when making a turn at a junction. The Sorento is available with Blind-spot View Monitor (GT-Line only), Surround View Monitor (GT-Line) and Blind-spot Collision-avoid Assist, Advanced Smart Cruise Control, Lane Following Assist and Driver Attention Warning. Kia’s ‘level two’ autonomous driving technology, Lane Following Assist (LFA), controls acceleration, braking and steering depending on the vehicles in front. It operates between speeds of 0 and 180 km/h, using

GT-Line 2.2-litre diesel AWD: $64,990 SPECIFICATIONS Kia Sorento S 3.5-litre petrol five-door wagon

Note: These are drive-away prices and include all government or dealer delivery charges.

camera and radar sensors to maintain a safe distance from the car in front, while monitoring road markings to keep the Sorento in the centre of its lane.

Driving Like all Kia models, the Sorento’s on-road capability and comfort has been optimised to best suit the tastes of Australian drivers through the local tuning program. On road the designers have come close to providing the sedan-like comfort they were aiming for. Noise levels are low in general driving, bump-thump on joining strips on bridges is minimal, sound does increase on concrete motorways but is lower than average for a vehicle of this type. Cornering is positive, with good feedback

through the steering wheel and positive changes in direction when the driver wants it. Obviously it’s no sports car, nor a sports sedan, but those who enjoy diving won’t feel as frustrated as they would in others in this vehicle class. The engine is quiet even when accelerated hard. The automatic transmission changes imperceptibly and responds quickly to the conditions. Manual control through steering wheel paddles is there but unless you’re pedalling hard on your favourite driving road – which seems unlikely in an SUV – you’re probably not going to need the transmission overrides. Off road the Sorento has enhanced all-terrain ability thanks to having Terrain Mode (only in the diesels, keep in mind the petrols only have 2WD). TM assists the driver in mud, snow and sand. It controls the car’s standard electronic stability control, as well as the distribution of torque to all four wheels. The TM adapts transmission shift times to help maintain traction in hard off-road driving. However we didn’t do any off-road testing as many tracks are closed at the moment as locals are keen to keep strangers out. As with all Kia models Sorento is covered by the seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty, seven-year capped price service and seven-year roadside assist.

Summing up Kia has made a large leap forward in the affordable SUV’s with its new Sorento. It’s pleasant to drive, provides very good interior space and comfort and it seems likely it will carve out a large slice of the SUV market.

SPORT ‘‘

I needed development and needed to play

’’

- Dejan Vasiljevic

Vasiljevic returns home By Tara Murray Dejan Vasiljevic hadn’t planned on returning home to Australia to play basketball after finishing college. Having had a successful four years at University of Miami, he was keen to test himself in the NBA summer league and try and earn a spot on an NBA squad. But COVID-19 changed all of that. With so much uncertainty in the world and basketball, Vasiljevic decided to head home to Australia. Despite growing up in Tarneit in Melbourne’s western suburbs, Vasiljevic signed with the Sydney Kings for the National Basketball League season which is scheduled to start in the new year. Vasiljevic said knowing that the NBL would go ahead was the major reason behind his change of plans. “They said the Australian league would go forward and there’s been very little cases in Australia,” he said. “I think the certainty of being able to play and having a job was a key. “If the whole corona thing didn’t happen, I wouldn’t have come back to the NBL. “I think I would have had a good shot making a summer league team, there was a high level of interest. “Nine to 12 NBA teams wanted me to come in for a workout and do an interview. “The NBA is still questionable when it starts. I think we’ll be a couple of months in before the NBA season starts.” The 23-year-old looked at other NBL clubs, including the two Melbourne teams, but said he thought a move to the Kings would be best for his career. The Kings were runners-up last season. He signed a three-year deal. “I’m really close with assistant coach Adam Forde,” he said. “He’s done a lot for me in the past at the university games and I’ve been speaking a lot to him. “Will Weaver [Kings coach] is a great coach and coached in the NBA and G-League and I

Dejan Vasiljevic playing for Miami. (Pictures: Josh White / Miami Athletics) Right: Vasiljevic back in his junior days. (Damjan Janevski)

just felt comfortable there and they do a great job of player development. “I wanted to do what was best for me and I needed development and needed to play and I think going to the Sydney Kings was the right choice.” Vasiljevic arrived back in Australia from America six weeks ago. He spent the first two weeks in quarantine, which he said wasn’t too bad. Due to restrictions, he’s yet to see his family. “It’s good to be back,” he said. “Not being able to see my mum and dad and my sister, it kind of sucks, and my girlfriend is still over in America so I’m kind of missing everyone. “The last four years I’ve only come home for one month of the year.” Vasiljevic returns to Australia having had a successful university career. The renowned three-point shooter averaged nearly 10 points and three rebounds a game. He captained the side for three years.

“To be honest it was an up and down learning experience,” he said. “To be able to learn from the veteran guys that were there and then take a major role in season two and improve dramatically and become captain in second year. “I met a lot of people and connected with a lot of people around the world. I created a lot of friendships that will last a really long time and I met my girlfriend, who I’ve been with for just over two and half years.” Vasiljevic said while it surprised some people over there that he was named captain so young, it was something that he was comfortable with having had experience with state and junior Australian teams. While he’s home in Australia for the next step of his basketball career, Vasiljevic still has dreams of playing overseas. Playing in the NBA is at the top of that list. “That’s the number one goal and Adam and Will know that,” he said.

“I’m currently in Canberra as it’s our week off. The Kings have brought me down here and putting me through a one-week training camp. “I want to try and stay on the top of my game even when I have time off. “I want to become a better version of myself that kids look up to. “I want to keep on developing my game and help the Kings win a championship first.” Vasiljevic said he would love the opportunity to represent the Australian Boomers. He has represented Australia at under-17, under-19 and the university games. “I would like to represent them at an Olympics or a world cup and help them get a medal finally,” he said. “I think I have proven over the years that I can be part of a team, with my scoring ability and my experience. “I’ve won a silver medal at a [junior] world championships and won a bronze medal at university games and I think I deserve a shot with these guys and just play my role.” 21 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 October, 2020

SPORT STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

AFLW dream realisation settling in for Bannan

Alyssa Bannan. (Shawn Smits)

New Melbourne forward Alyssa Bannan is excited to get down to work at the Demons after being taken at pick five in the AFLW draft. Bannan, who has been one of the key forwards in the NAB League competition with the Northern Knights, was the third pick for the Victorian clubs, behind her Knights teammates Ellie McKenzie and Jess Fitzgerald who were taken at pick one and two respectively. “It’s insane, I still can’t get over it,” Bannan said. “I didn’t expect it. I don’t have any words, but I’m so grateful for the opportunity. “I’m still trying to process what has happened. “I was so excited when they went pick one and two as they worked so hard and to be able to play and train alongside of them and watch them get to where they are and then to see them picked up at Richmond and Bulldogs is incredible.”

Bannan had spoken to the Demons in the lead-up to the draft and they had made a big impression on her. She said she was glad to have been selected by them. “Melbourne, it’s about their culture,” she said. “They want to improve the player not only on the field but as a person as well and they are devoted to their players and the team itself, [they] really impressed me. “It’s just nice to know how excited they were to see me get drafted and for me to play at such a high level.” Bannan had to quickly refocus after the draft with her year 12 GAT the following day. She admits it was hard to sleep after being drafted. Bannan, who has trained with the group already, said it was still pretty crazy speaking to the rest of the playing group.

She said speaking to someone like Daisy Pearce was insane, having never thought she would play alongside her. “Pre pre-season began today and we’ve been able to have an exception for that which has been really good,” she said. “It’s good to get to have a kick and just prepare for the season to get our fitness levels back up after such a long break. “It’s good to get to have a kick with some teammates and get the feel of the ball again.” Having reached her goal of being drafted this year, Bannan said anything else in her first season is just a bonus. “I don’t know really what to expect,” she said. “I’ve learnt through this period that anything can happen. I’m just excited to be at such a great team that is so supportive and very inclusive.” Tara Murray

Bats lock in experienced coach

The Northern Knights girls team in 2020. (Shawn Smits) 204987_03

Clarke ready for Knights By Tara Murray New Northern Knights coach Leigh Clarke is looking forward to a challenge at the NAB League club. Having coached the Oakleigh Chargers boys team for the past four years, Clarke has moved across to the Knights in a full-time role that will see him coach both the boys and girls teams. Clarke said he had thought about taking on a different challenge in the future, but COVID-19 had brought that on quicker. All clubs will now have a full-time coach which will look after both the boys and girls programs under changes to the pathway system. “I’m definitely looking forward to it,” Clarke said. “I was always interested in moving to another region. I was really open to the opportunity in the northern region, which is a great spot. “The club has had an early history of really strong success. I look forward to having my influence on the players and the staff and the people in the region are hopefully looking forward to having me. “There’s so many things we’re looking forward to. The return of footy and the return of normal life. There’s a new level of gratitude 22 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 October, 2020

for the simple things in life.” Clarke said he had no hesitation in staying involved in NAB League with the change to a full-time role. He had been coaching full-time between the Chargers and Box Hill Secondary AFL Academy. Before that he spent time at Richmond VFL. Clarke said he had already been in touch with new regional talent operations lead Natalie Grindal to start getting an idea of the club and region. Grindal was the club’s female talent co-ordinator this year. Clarke said they were both jumping out of their skins to get things underway for the 2021 season. He was quick to praise outgoing boys talent manager Rhy Gieschen, former boys coach Justin Wenke and former girls coach Marcus Abney-Hastings. “They’ve done an awesome job and I pay respect to the people who have put the club where it is. “I coached under Justin, we understand each other personally and Rhy has rebuilt things over the past couple of years. “Big pat on the back to where they have brought the club to and hopefully continue on the upward trend.”

Coming off a premiership in 2019 with the Chargers, Clarke said he was hoping to bring some of that success across with him. The Knights were knocked out in the first week of the finals. “I like to think success is contagious and looking to bring over whatever I can,” he said. “You always know you will get a good hard honest contest against the Knights and [I’ve] had some experience coaching some of the Knights boys with what was a dual role with Box Hill Football Academy, “It’s a slight shift in the dynamics but I look forward to having my influence, as Nat does.” While Clarke has been coaching in the boys’ program, he is no stranger to coaching girls. He was involved with the girls’ team over the past 12 monhs as part of his role at Box Hill Secondary College. The Knights won the 2019 premiership and were undefeated when this year’s season was cancelled. “I understand what other coaches say when they fall in love with the female side of it,” he said. “Part of me wants to just see it as footy, but I certainly understand with great clarity there’s a slight tweak with how you have to connect, communicate and expectations of what the girls want from you.”

Janaka Deegodagamage is hoping to share his coaching knowledge and experiences to take Plenty Valley to the next level in the Victorian Premier Cricket Women’s competition. The Bats have played finals the past two seasons, but have been unable to break through for that win. Deegodagamage replaces Adam Drinkwell, who stood down from the role having made massive inroads at the club. Deegodagamage, who has an extensive coaching background having come across from Sri Lanka, said he was looking forward to a new challenge. “I did my level two coaching in about 2005 at the MCG… And then the ICC Global level three coaching in 2006,” he said. “I was a high performance level coach in Sri Lanka and worked under Trevor Bayliss. “I migrated out to Australia a few years ago. People didn’t know me and I was given a link to a sub-district club, Taylors Lakes and have been working with them the last two years. “I thought with my credentials that I wanted to go a bit further and look at a premier club. I live in Bundoora, so Plenty Valley is close by.” While Deegodagamage has never coached a women’s side, he worked with some of Sri Lanka’s top female players at the high performance centre and has done a lot of development coaching with both boys and girls. COVID-19 has meant that despite being appointed in May, Deegodagamage is yet to meet the playing group. “I haven’t seen the girls, but I’ve spoken to them over the phone. “I can already see a little bit of the culture and that sort of thing. I’ve heard they’re extremely talented. “The likes of Sophie Reid and Sophie Day and some young talent like Grace Jones and Jasmine Nevins.” Deegodagamage said he would look to implement a lot of game-like scenarios at training and try to get out on the centre wicket as much as possible. The group is keen on breaking through for a finals win. “I think we can get past that hurdle.“ The Bats are scheduled to play their first match on November 22. Tara Murray

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Stunned Fitzgerald snapped up by Bulldogs Northern Knights star Jess Fitzgerald still can’t believe that she was taken by the Western Bulldogs at pick two in the AFLW draft. The star midfielder was left stunned after the Bulldogs called out her name, just minutes after her best friend and Knights co-captain Ellie McKenzie was taken at pick one by Richmond. McKenzie said it was an incredible 10 minutes. “I was up and screaming [when McKenzie was drafted] and I quickly sent her a text as I knew that she would be bombarded with messages,” she said. “I honestly didn’t hear my name called out, as I was thinking how good it was for her. “We were listening and I was just caught up in my thoughts a little bit and my name got read out and we all jumped up. “I think we were all in a little bit of disbelief, it was really cool.” The excitement continued when another Knight, Alyssa Bannan was taken at pick five by Melbourne.

Fitzgerald will know a few familiar faces when she heads to the Bulldogs, with three Knights players drafted to the Bulldogs last year, including number one pick Gabby Newton. “They’re all pretty excited for me to join them and I’m excited too.” Fitzgerald joined her new teammates on a Zoom call the night of the draft, while many of her teammates had been in touch with her. She didn’t have long to celebrate, having to sit her year 12 GAT the following day. The car ride to the school was an exciting one, with Fitzgerald giving McKenzie a ride to school that day. “Her mum couldn’t take her there so she was like, do you mind giving me lift,” she said. “We got a little picture with our guernseys … and we didn’t stop talking the whole way there, we were so excited. “We’re both living out our dreams which is pretty cool.” Fitzgerald said she was looking forward to starting training and getting to know her

teammates. She said she has no expectations heading into next year. “I’m not too sure about the schedule,” she said. “I honestly have no idea and I have no expectations. I just know I’ve been welcomed pretty well and I already feel part of it. “I’m just really excited.” Bulldogs’ AFLW head of list management and recruiting Mick Sandry said they had been watching Fitzgerald closely for the past couple of years. “She is composed with the football and is elite by foot. “She is known for her ability to break open packs and exit stoppages. “Jess has elite football IQ, is a hard working midfielder, and she has been noted by teammates for her on-field leadership, so we are looking forward to what Jess can bring to our group.” Tara Murray

Jessica Fitzgerald. (Shawn Smits) 204987_14

McKenzie is number one By Tara Murray AFLW number one draft pick Ellie McKenzie is still pinching herself that her dream of playing career football is a reality. The Northern Knights co-captain was taken at pick number one by Richmond, as the Tigers looked to bolster its midfield and forward stocks. While many experts had predicted that McKenzie would be selected at pick one, it wasn’t until her name was called out that she believed it. “I didn’t know at all,” she said. “My manager knew a week or so ago and told my mum, so my mum knew and kept that from me and did a really good job of that. “I guess it was good to have the genuine reaction and I was really happy to find out on the spot, even though it was really stressful leading up to it. “I’m going to try and celebrate the moment with my family at the moment.” McKenzie’s new Richmond teammates were quick to reach out to her and had already made her feel welcome. Captain Katie Brennan, who McKenzie models her game on, was among those to reach out. “The main thing for me, I’m hoping the teammates are really welcoming and the club is really welcoming,” McKenzie said. “A lot of the players have texted me already and welcomed me in the club and they’ve been really good about that already so I’m really pleased. “I’m really happy to play anywhere and it’s just my dream to be in the AFLW. “If I’m picked on the bench for round one or not even picked for round one that’s OK, I’m happy to be in the team and I’m happy to be at the club.” McKenzie didn’t have much time to let the news sink in, having to sit her first year 12 exam the following day. It will be a busy few weeks for the 17-year-old as she studies for the rest of her exams and starts pre-season training. McKenzie was one of three Knights players drafted. Co-captain Jess Fitzgerald was taken at pick number two by the Western Bulldogs and Alyssa Bannan was taken with the third Victorian pick, pick five, by Melbourne. McKenzie said it was pretty special to see the other two girls drafted as well. “It’s a credit to the Northern Knights,” she said. “We’ve built a really good culture down there and it’s just a really strong family culture which I’m proud to be a part of. “I’m really stoked for them and they’ve both worked really hard to get to where they are. I’m sure they will be enjoying this moment as much as I am.” For McKenzie and Fitzgerald, who travelled

Darren Bewick. (Damjan Janevski)

Bewick joins Greenvale

Number one draft pick Ellie McKenzie. (Shawn Smits) 204987_18

to school together the day after the draft, it will be the first time the two best friends have been on different teams. “I’ve been playing with her since I was about 13,” she said. “It’s going to be really interesting to see what happens. She’s a good player obviously, a lot of things I really look up to in her football ability, as a person as well. “She deserves everything that she has got.” It’s the second straight year the number one pick has come from the Northern Knights, with the Western Bulldogs taking Gabby Newton

last year. Overall, eight players from last year’s Knights premiership side have been drafted in the past two years. McKenzie said Newton had been a good person to speak to leading up to the draft. “Gabby has been great to me, as have a lot of the other previous Knights girls who have gone into the AFLW system. “Gabby especially has been in contact with me leading up to the draft and I’ve asked her a few questions about how that all works. She’s been really great in giving me advice and leading me in the right direction.”

Two-time AFL premiership player Darren Bewick has been appointed Greenvale’s new senior football coach for next year’s Essendon District Football League premier division season. Bewick, who played 238 games for Essendon, brings extensive coaching experience having coached several teams since retiring. He replaces Paul Chapman, who stood down in the middle of this year due to work and family commitments. The Jets finished fifth last year, before the 2020 season was called off due to COVID-19. Since finishing his playing career after the 2000 AFL grand final, Bewick has coached successfully around the country. He coached NAB League side Gippsland Power for two years, before spending several years as coach and football program head at the Northern Territory Institute of Sport. Returning to Victoria, Bewick joined North Melbourne as a senior assistant coach in 2005, holding several different roles while at the club. After finishing up at North Melbourne in 2009, Bewick returned to the NAB League and coached the Eastern Ranges from 2010 until this year. The Ranges made the grand final three times in that peirod, winning the 2013 premiership. Bewick was named TAC/ NAB League coach of the year in 2013 and 2019. Several players that he has coached have been drafted onto AFL lists. In a post on its Facebook page, the Greenvale said “it believes that Darren has all the skills and experience to develop our younger players and make our senior team competitive with the best in the EDFL.” Tara Murray 23 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 20 October, 2020

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