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Full steam ahead The Bulla Hill Railway is back on track for 2021. The railway’s last run day was in March 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to public events. Railway committee member Kris Siderov said members couldn’t visit the railway during lockdown. “When we finally got given the all clear, we found weeds across the tracks … so we’ve been slowly cleaning up and trying to reduce the amount of weeding.” The miniature train had it’s first run day of the year last month. Mr Siderov said the railway was missed by the community. “We had a good run day in January and everyone was really good and helpful with signing in,” he said. “It was a really pleasant day to come back to everything.” To ensure a COVIDSafe environment, passengers are required to sign in and to bring a mask. There are also limits on the number of people allowed on site. The Bulla Hill Railway operates on the third Sunday of each month. The next run day is on Sunday, February 21. Details: facebook.com/BullaHillRailway

Graeme Precious, Kris Siderov, Brian Parkinson and Allen Williams. (Damjan Janevski) 225913_04

Hard line on town growth By Laura Michell A “hard” urban growth boundary around the Whittlesea township should be considered by the state government to better manage future growth and development, according to Whittlesea council. As part of its submission to the state government’s Planning for Melbourne’s Green Wedge and Agricultural Land Review, the council has urged the government to investigate applying an urban growth boundary around the township, which is currently zoned as green wedge land. The council said the absence of an urban growth boundary around the town had resulted

in increasing pressure to extend the town boundary to support additional residential development. “The absence of an urban growth boundary around the township has resulted in a sense of uncertainty within the local community and some land use speculation/land banking around the perimeter around the township,” the submission stated. Council planning and development director Justin O’Meara told last week’s council meeting that township residents had raised the need for an urban growth boundary to be applied. “They would like to see growth and development within the township better managed and one way of achieving that would

be to put a hard urban growth boundary around the township to make sure any future development or redevelopment can be managed appropriately.” The council’s submission also called on the state government to honour its commitment to create 1200 hectares of woodland within the municipality’s green wedge. Known as the Grassy Eucalypt Woodland, the reserve is the result of a 2010 state and federal government agreement to protect areas of environmental significance that were potentially impacted by the expansion of the urban growth boundary around Melbourne that year. Under the agreement, the state government

was required to acquire land for the woodland. “To date no land … has been secured or acquisition processes commenced,” the submission stated. “Securing the [Grassy Eucalypt Woodland] investigation area will not only protect biodiversity assets and safeguard the landscape qualities for Whittlesea’s green wedges but also help to … manage the urban-rural interface by introducing a permanent and functional buffer to the urban growth areas.” Mr O’Meara said the council would seek a meeting with Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio about the status of the woodland. ■ Home

buyers head north: Page 8-9

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Safer than houses. Never have any of us been through such a tumultuous time. The restrictions, the isolation, the feelings of helplessness of not being able to change what is going on in the outside world and not being able to do anything to help those most in need.

How have you gotten through this time? In our two Northern Retirement Estates our residents continue to tell us that they are so happy to feel safe and secure within the community and that we have kept them very well informed of what is safe, what is not and what restrictions we have to work with. In fact, many have said they are so glad to be in the village at this time rather than living in isolation in their original family home. Arguably, Safer than Houses.

Why? What have they been able to do that they couldn’t do if they lived in a traditional suburban home? The answer lies in how they have been able to manage and be involved in the little things. It started back in March with Communication to all Residents and Staff - constant, reassuring, encouraging everyone to follow the guidelines and respect the rules that the Health Authorities and The State Government asked us to follow. Ongoing it has involved encouraging people to write down their stories so we could produce a book of life stories. Our Community Our Story is the outcome now published on our village websites. It involved ensuring people had adequate sanitiser and facemasks so that they didn’t have to worry about access to those essentials. It was about making sure that they had essential food and medical supplies and a someone who could deliver these things. It involved making sure that their homes and gardens were still maintained without compromise. Ongoing it involves making sure those that are not lonely, have games to play, puzzles to access, people to talk with on the phone. It has involved encouraging people to get outside and walk and talk to their neighbours at appropriate distance and yet to feel safe doing so within the confines of the retirement estate. In fact, at both our Northern villages there is access to many kilometres of walking trails around the region without having to cross a road. Did we mention our picturesque gardens that people have been able to enjoy during this time? In fact, many people have been gardening, painting and continuing their card marking. The feedback we are constantly hearing is that older Australians want a safe haven from the dangers of living on their own. This is especially the case in these uncertain and challenging times. We have new websites for both our villages and have a limited number of homes to sell now that restrictions are easing. So come and discover what life is like at either The Elms at Kilmore or Bridgewater Lake at Roxburgh Park. Come also and look at our extensive Community facilities and take your pick of what you would like to do, swim in the pool, lawn bowls, cinema. You name it – Freedom to choose, Freedom to enjoy retirement the way you want to.

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P: 03 9308 8335 ROXBURGH PARK, VICTORIA

P: 03 5734 2800 KILMORE, VICTORIA 12473823-SN03-21

2 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

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Brakes put on Plenty Road speed By Laura Michell The speed limit will be lowered along a section of Plenty Road at Bundoora as part of a six-month safety trial by VicRoads. The limit will be dropped from 80km/h to 70km/h between Greenhills and McKimmies roads until July. According to VicRoads, road movements are complicated on this section of Plenty Road, with multiple lights and entry and exit points, as well as schools and universities and a tram line in the middle of the road.

As reported by Star Weekly, Plenty Road topped insurer AAMI’s crash index for the third year in a row in November last year. According to AAMI’s data, the most dangerous time for crashes on Plenty Road is on Thursday between 1.30pm and 4.30pm, with nose to tail collisions the most common. “The AAMI safety survey reinforced that Plenty Road in Bundoora is a crash hotspot,” a VicRoads statement said. “Road safety is a responsibility that we share with the community – everyone has a role to play. We’re continuing to make sure our road

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call on drivers to play their part by avoiding distraction - VicRoads

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infrastructure is safe, and we call on drivers to play their part by avoiding distraction and keeping safe distances. “This change will improve safety for the schools, businesses and residents who live nearby, reducing the risk and severity of crashes for all road users.”

The trail began on January 27, with VicRoads installing new speed signs along the road ahead of the trial’s commencement. A new 40km/h school speed zone has also been created outside Parade College. VicRoads said it will consult with residents during the trial to better understand community views and improve safety for all road users. To share your experiences of living beside, working or travelling along this section of Plenty Road, or for details about the trial, email: mnw.communications@roads.vic.gov.au

New crews on the job

Nghi Ly from Mama’s Chinese Kitchen celebrates Lunar New Year. (Damjan Janevski) 226740_03

Celebrate the year of the ox Shoppers are being encouraged to join in the Lunar New Year celebrations at Craigieburn Central this Saturday. The year of the ox will be celebrated with family reunions, feasts and blessings to family and friends. Mama’s Chinese Kitchen co-owner Nghi Ly said that in China, the 15-day celebration traditionally begins with a family feast followed by a lion dance, fireworks and lantern festival.

“It’s a time for new beginnings, observing traditions and family gatherings,” Ms Ly said. “Tradition and culture are very important to our family and passed down from one generation to the next, representing fortune, happiness, and health.” Craigieburn Central centre manager Janet Reading said employees enjoyed celebrating Lunar New Year. “It reflects our pride of being part of this

culturally rich community,” Ms Reading said. “We’d like to take this opportunity to wish our customers great happiness and prosperity for the year ahead.” Some of the activities Craigieburn Central will hold include a roving lion dance and free kids crafts. Details: www.craigieburncentral.com.au

Ambulance services in Whittlesea and Hume will be improved, with the state government committing three new units to the outer north. As part of a $14.8 million government boost for Ambulance Victoria, seven peak period units will be set up in metropolitan areas including Epping, Mernda and Craigieburn. A peak period unit operates the same as a regular ambulance service, but is rostered to meet times of higher demand to ensure the right patients receive the right care at the right time. Ambulance Victoria chief executive Tony Walker said the new units were a win for the organisation and the community. “These units will be staffed by two Advanced Life Saving paramedics seven days per week to help us continue to provide the right care to our patients in times of peak demand which are often at night-time and in the early hours of the morning,” associate professor Walker said. Victoria Ambulance Union general secretary Danny Hill welcomed the investment in new units. “We are pleased with today’s announcement and thank the government for working with us and Ambulance Victoria to deliver these initiatives,” Mr Hill said. “It’s a smart and targeted package which delivers new resources such as Peak Period Units in busy locations and adding triage service staff to make an impact in reducing work for crews on road.” Laura Michell

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NEWS

Pokies spend tops $11m a month By Laura Michell Gamblers fed an extra $1.5 million into Hume-based poker machines in December last year, compared to the previous December. Latest data from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation reveals $11.77 million was spent on electronic gaming machines at 14 Hume venues, up from $10.24 million in December 2019. In Whittlesea, gamblers spent $11.05 million across the city’s 12 venues – a slight

increase from December 2019 when $10.99 million was spent. Gambling venues across Victoria were closed between March 16 and November 8 last year as a result of the state government’s coronavirus restrictions. Between November 8 and November 30, $4.54 million was spent at poker machines in Hume, while $3.89 million was spent in Whittlesea. The Alliance for Gambling Reform’s chief advocate, Reverend Tim Costello, said the latest gambling data was “hugely concerning”

and highlighted a need for reduced poker machine operating hours. “Communities … cannot sustain these kinds of losses,” he said. “These are stressed communities being exploited by the gambling industry, at a time when local families and businesses are trying to recover from months of lockdown. “In November, when there were restrictions on poker machine operating hours and other limits, we saw a reduction in daily losses. “That was a real time, real life experiment

showing that gambling harm is reduced when opening hours are shortened. “It’s simply absurd that Victoria has the worst pokies opening hours in Australia at 20 hours a day.” In September 2020, 13 councils, including Whittlesea, wrote an open letter to Premier Daniel Andrews requesting poker machines be closed between midnight and 10am when COVID restrictions eased. “This is a sensible and relatively easy reform that will have a huge impact on gambling harm,” Reverend Costello said.

COVID influence recorded The changes to the community, country and planet as a result of COVID-19 will be the focus of new art exhibition in Whittlesea. New Futures will showcase more than 80 artworks created by artists from across the municipality. The artworks will be on display at The Great Hall at Whittlesea council’s offices in South Morang until Thursday, February 18. Whittlesea chair of administrators Lydia Wilson said artists who live, work or are connected to the City of Whittlesea will be celebrated at the exhibition. “Artists of all ages, abilities and cultural backgrounds have interpreted our shared new futures in many ingenious ways so this is an exhibition well worth seeing,” Ms Wilson said. “There are paintings, metal sculpture, papier mache, mosaic, photography, drawings, mixed media works and poetry to name a few of the mediums.

“One glass mosaic depicts people inside a home doing exercises to keep fit during isolation. In some of the works, artists have depicted feelings of social isolation. There are works that address major issues including racism, social inequality and injustice. There are artworks about love and companionship.” COVIDSafe plans will be in place and a gallery attendant will ensure visitor numbers are limited to allowable levels at all times. Admission is free, with the exhibition open 10am-4pm weekdays. Laura Michell

Tanja Bell and her artwork Pure Grace. (Supplied) 226731_01

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NEWS STARWEEKLY.COM.AU Briefs

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Bill help

GENERAL SALES INQUIRIES westads@starweekly.com.au

Low income households are being encouraged to apply for the state government’s new Power Saving Bonus to receive a one-off $250 payment to help with energy bills. The bonus is available to any households with a Victorian electricity account who holds a pensioner concession card or receives JobSeeker, Austudy, Abstudy or Youth Allowance. Details: compare.energy.vic. gov.au or call 1800 000 832.

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Kinder open day

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Kindergartens across Whittlesea will open their doors to the public on Thursday, February 25. Families will have the chance to speak to teachers about the kindergarten programs on offer. Bookings are not required. Applications for three-year-old kindergarten in 2022 and four-year-old kindergarten in 2023 are now open.

REAL ESTATE SALES DIRECTOR \ JACK GILLESPIE jack.gillespie@starweekly.com.au SENIOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER \ JONATHAN BAKER jonathan.baker@starweekly.com.au Mobile \ 0421 841 321 Office \ 03 8318 5763

EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF \ LISA KORYCKI lisa.korycki@starweekly.com.au GENERAL EDITORIAL INQUIRIES westeditorial@starweekly.com.au COMMUNITY CALENDAR ENTRIES communitycalendar@starweekly.com.au

Published by MMP Star Pty Ltd ACN 168 220 399 Head Office Corner Thomsons Road and Keilor Park Drive, Keilor Park, 3042 Publisher/Managing Director, Paul Thomas All material is copyright to MMP Star Pty Ltd. Responsibility for election comment is accepted by Paul Thomas. All significant errors will be corrected as quickly as possible. Distribution numbers, areas and coverage are estimates only. For our terms and conditions please visit starweekly.com.au

Hume residents may be eligible for energy-saving upgrades. (Supplied)

Project grants

Be energy savvy Hume residents could be eligible to join the Energy Savvy Upgrades program, which offers heavily subsidised energy assessments and upgrades to houses and fixed appliances. The program is available for homeowners, renters and landlords and offers upgrades to insulation, draught proofing, heating and cooling, hot water, window shading and lighting. People who are on a low or recently reduced income, who are unemployed, or who have a long-term medical condition or disability are eligible. Those caring for someone in similar circumstances are also eligible.

Householders and landlords can pay $100 for an assessment that is typically valued at $495, and are expected to pay a minimum of $800 towards the cost of upgrades. The Victorian government will contribute $800 and Hume council will contribute $220 towards the upgrades. The Energy Savvy Upgrades program is funded by the state government, supported by Hume council and will be delivered by Draught Busters. Details www.draughtbusters.com.au

Round two of Hume council’s project grants is open for applications. The council is seeking applications from individuals, not-for-profit community groups and organisations that are based in Hume or provide service, activities and projects to the community. Applications will be accepted until June 30 or until funds are exhausted. For more details and to apply: hume.vic. gov.au/projectgrants FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Northern Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

Michaela Meade

EVERY TEST HELPS US KEEP CATCHING UP WITH MATES Every test keeps us on top of this virus. And keeps us doing the things we love. So even if your symptoms are mild, or you’ve been tested before, every test helps.

For testing locations visit CORONAVIRUS.vic.gov.au Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

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6 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

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NEWS

‘Game changer’ for recycling By Laura Michell An Epping waste to resource company will expand its operations as part of a $46 million initiative to boost glass and plastics recycling. Repurpose It received $400,000 from the joint state and federal government recycling infrastructure initiative to optimise its waste glass recovery operations. The funding will enable Repurpose It to boost its processing capacity by installing an additional centrifuge and material storage bunker.

The project is one of seven across Victoria to share in $8.1 million in a bid to increase the state’s capacity to process and recycle glass and plastic waste capacity. According to Sustainability Victoria, the projects will create 70 new full-time jobs across the state. It said the projects will more than double Victoria’s domestic glass recycling and boost domestic plastics recycling by almost 40 per cent. State Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said the

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a big step in the right direction - Lily D’Ambrosio

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projects would be a game changer for the recycling industry. “Not only will these seven projects … create jobs, but they’ll redirect 205,000 tonnes of glass and 23,000 tonnes of plastic out of landfill every year – it’s a massive game changer. “It means more jars, bottles and fibreglass made of recycled glass and plastic, which will also be used to build new roads and footpaths

throughout Victoria. “Our investment in this new infrastructure is a big step in the right direction, generating more local jobs and new value from what would otherwise be waste.” Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley said the government was striving to transform Australia’s waste and recycling industry. “We are stimulating the economy by co-investing with states and with industry as we phase in bans on the export of waste plastics, paper, glass and tyres to protect the environment,” she said.

Connecting with dance A series of free workshops aimed at empowering and inspiring women are being held in Mill Park over the next six weeks. The Smile Shimmy Shake workshops by Entwined Bellydance & Yoga are an opportunity for women of diverse ages and backgrounds to learn how to belly dance. Laura Miller, who is running the classes, said she had wanted to run free workshops for local women for some time. “When COVID hit and gigs and festivals declined, I had time and space to manifest that dream and make it happen,” she said. “When City of Whittlesea announced funding for creatives living in the area to help them through COVID, I felt my dream project would be a perfect fit. I want to empower and inspire women through the power of dance and movement.” Ms Miller, who has been teaching dancing for more than seven years, said participants

will learn the basics of belly dancing. “I hope women will build strength, flexibility, fitness, confidence and respect for the art of belly dance as a beautiful, elegant, fun, multicultural and empowering form of dance. The classes are meant to be a fun way to get moving and connected with your body, creativity and community,” she said. “I am hoping to build a community of creative, connected women to continue to dance together for fun or fitness, and perhaps present community performances.” The workshops will be held at the Mill Park Community Centre, 11 Mill Park Drive, on Tuesdays from 10.30am-11.30am. Details: entwinedbellydance@gmail.com Laura Michell Laura Miller is running free belly dancing workshops. (Supplied) 227393_01

vvestern outer • • ring main

a project of

invitation to attend. Environment Effects Statement drop-in sessions

APA invites the local community to attend our information sessions for the Western Outer Ring Main (WORM) project, a proposed gas transmission pipeline between Plumpton and Wollert in Victoria. The project seeks to provide a high-pressure connection between the eastern and western sections of the Victorian Transmission System. The sessions are drop-in style, where you can arrive at any time during the 2 hours to talk to our team. We encourage you to come along to learn more about the project and Environment Effects Statement (EES) process. Each session will provide an opportunity to speak to the team and provide formal feedback that will help inform the EES. COVID-19 management

APA is practising and enforcing government requirements for hygiene, face coverings, social distancing and self-isolation in the midst of COVID-19. Our community sessions will have protocols in place to ensure community and staff safety. Given the evolving nature of COVID-19, with changing infection rates and government controls in place, APA may be required to postpone or cancel events with short notice. We encourage you to register your attendance by visiting:

apa.mysocialpinpoint.com.au/worm or contact us via: Phone: 1800 951 444 Email: worm@apa.com.au

Upcoming sessions: Community Drop-In Session #1, Melton Location: Mercure Caroline Springs, 10-20 Lake St, Caroline Springs VIC 3023 Date: Saturday, 30 January 2021 Time: 11am -1pm

Community Drop-In Session #2, Mitchell Location: Greater Beveridge Community Centre, Corner of Lithgow St and Mandalay Cct, Beveridge VIC 3753 Date: Wednesday, 3 February 2021 Time: 6pm -8pm

Community Drop-In Session #3, Whittlesea Location: Quest Epping Hotel, Corner of Cooper St and Miller St, Epping VIC 3076 Date: Thursday, 11 February 2021 Time: 6pm -8pm

Community Drop-In Session #4, Hume Location: Newbury Child and Community Centre, 440 Grand Blvd, Craigieburn VIC 3064 Date: Saturday, 13 February 2021 Time: 11am -1pm 12480482-CG06-21

energy. connected. 7 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

NEWS STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Home buyers head north

Construction work in Olivine estate, Donnybrook. (Pictures: Damjan Janevski) 225397_01

By Laura Michell The property market in Melbourne’s outer north is booming, with developers and real estate agents reporting an increase in sales as families look to secure a new home, post COVID-19 lockdown. Latest data from the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) reveals that median house prices rose between three and 20 per cent across

Whittlesea and Hume, with Westmeadows, Whittlesea, Lalor and Doreen the standout suburbs. According to the REIV, the median house price in Westmeadows in December was $708,000 – an increase of 19.9 per cent from September. Whittlesea reached $690,000 in the December quarter, a rise of 9.9 per cent from $628,000 in September, while Lalor recorded a median house price of $670,000 – a rise of 9.8

per cent from September’s median of $610,000. In Doreen, the median price rose 9.3 per cent to $683,000. Tom Egan Real Estate director Tom Egan said “good government incentives” for first home buyers, stamp duty savings and a lack of stock were helping to drive up prices. He said there are plenty of people “who have still got employment” that are keen to buy in Whittlesea, adding that the town is attracting

strong interest from first home buyers in search of “more space”. “Whittlesea is surrounded by a green wedge which is a lot of farmland that can’t be developed,” he said. “It has a country town feel … with the benefits of suburbia.” Buyers have also expressed strong interest in the outer north’s new housing estates, with developers reporting a surge in sales in the second half of 2020.

GRAB YOUR PERMIT ONLINE AND YOU’RE GOOD TO GO All residents and travellers are now required to apply for a permit to enter Victoria. The permit system is in place to keep Victoria safe and open. It only takes 5 minutes to apply for your permit online, it’s free and approvals from ‘green zones’ are complete within minutes.

For zone information and to apply for a permit visit CORONAVIRUS.vic.gov.au Authorised by the Victorian Government, Melbourne 12481139-NG07-21

8 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

Mirvac, which is developing Donnybrook’s Olivine estate, reported a 57 per cent increase in land sales between July and December 2020, compared with the same period the previous year. The estate, which is about five minutes from Donnybrook train station, is home to a new playground – the Gumnut Park and Adventure Playground – as well as a social enterprise cafe, a community hub and Hume Anglican Grammar’s Donnybrook campus. A state government-run primary school is planned for 2023. Mirvac residential Victoria general manager Elysa Anderson said Olivine was proving popular with first home buyers. “Over the past six months, more than 70 per cent of sales at Olivine have been to first home buyers and we are so happy to be able to support them during their home buying journey,” she said. “We are particularly proud of the early delivery of amenity at Olivine … This is key to our commitment to reimagining urban life in Melbourne’s north and ensuring our residents can enjoy quality living from day one. Olivine Place has enormous potential to flourish, combining the best in modern facilities and Melbourne’s café culture to encourage community connection and engagement.” Mickleham’s Trijena estate is also proving popular with buyers, with developer Potter George Group reporting “record sales” during December. Project manager Scott Payten said 50 lots were sold in Trijena during December. Mr Payten said 400 of the estate’s 624 lots had now sold. “Inquiry has been highly encouraging for the start of 2021 and we look forward to building on this strong momentum,’’ he said.

NEWS

(Supplied)

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

CLAIRE AND JAKE TANIO

Community key to family’s move Claire Tanio and her family are among many families taking advantage of the developments in Melbourne’s outer north. Mrs Tanio and her husband, Jake, recently purchased land at Olivine estate in Donnybrook. She said they were attracted to the area because of close connections already in place. “One of our friends bought a house [close

by], and there’s another friend who has put down a deposit at Olivine,” Mrs Tanio said. She said the estate’s Gumnut Park and Adventure playground was a major deciding factor for her. “We have two kids … so when we saw the playground and the entrance, I told my husband, ’that’s it, I’m sold’.” Originally from Epping, Mrs Tanio and

her family didn’t know a lot about the area, but knew they were looking for a good community. “It makes you feel like it’s family-oriented … I did some research to make sure, and [looked] at reviews for Mirvac.” “Now we’re just waiting for our house to be built.” Michaela Meade

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9 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

NEWS STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Call to prioritise cancer screening By Michaela Meade Close to 2000 Hume and Whittlesea residents are diagnosed with cancer each year, the Cancer Council Victoria has revealed. More than 550 residents lose their lives to the disease in the same period. Of the new cases in Whittlesea and Hume each year, an average of 233 people are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year, 249 with breast cancer, 206 with bowel cancer, 174 with lung cancer, and 93 with melanoma. The new Victorian Cancer Registry data,

which was released for World Cancer Day last Thursday, aims to make people aware of the burden of cancer on the community. Cancer Council Victoria chief executive Todd Harper said the organisation wants people to take action to reduce their cancer risk. “Whether it’s going to get your cancer screening done that you’ve been putting off, making a call to the Quitline, or remembering your hat and being SunSmart, there’s so many actions – big and small – that we can all take to reduce our cancer risk,” Mr Harper said. “Now is the time to put you and your health

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put … health back at the top of your ‘to do’ list - Todd Harper

’’

back at the top of your ‘to do’ list.” According to Cancer Council Victoria, one third of cancers are preventable with simple lifestyle changes such as regular checks, practicing SunSmart behaviour, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol intake, eating a balanced diet, keeping physically active and

not smoking. Many Victorians delayed general health check-ups and potentially life-saving screenings in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cancer Council said. “We were concerned to see a drop in screening rates across the board last year due to COVID-19 restrictions, meaning cancers may be detected later when there may be fewer treatment options available. If you have received an invitation to participate in a cancer screening program, please do not delay,” Mr Harper said.

Council rises to challenge Whittlesea council staff rolled up their sleeves to make 185 blood donations in 2020. The donations to the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood were part of the council’s Blood Challenge. The council said the donations were able to save and improve more than 500 people’s lives, including those living with cancer, blood disorders, autoimmune conditions and pregnancy complications, as well as premature babies. Council chief executive Craig Lloyd said that contributing to the Lifeblood program was extremely rewarding. “We are proud to support Australian Red Cross Lifeblood,” Mr Lloyd said. “The need for blood never stops – a donation is needed every 24 seconds in Australia and that is why we will continue to give blood and plasma in 2021.” Australian Red Cross Lifeblood account

manager Wendy Todd said that even though 2020 was a difficult year, the council had consistently supported the cause. “Their donations have saved up to 555 lives. This is a terrific contribution – we are so grateful for their ongoing support of the Bundoora Donor Centre,” Ms Todd said. Council staff are encouraging residents to roll up their sleeves in 2021. Donor centres remain open and are sanitised and safe. If you’re healthy, well and willing, join the Lifeblood team and book a donation at www.donateblood.com.au/ Michaela Meade

Whittlesea employee Katrina after donating blood. (Supplied)

Have a degree? Fast track your way to a career in teaching.

Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne. 10 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

12480385-SN07-21

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NEWS

MY PLACE Kevin Lorenz dispensed medicines, advice and jokes at Bundoora’s Andrew Place Pharmacy for more than 40 years before retiring at the end of January. He spoke with Laura Michell about his love for his job and plans for retirement. side effects with their medicines and even if something they buy over the counter could be a concern.

What is your connection to the northern suburbs? I went to school in Preston and have lived my whole life in Preston and Reservoir and worked in Bundoora for 42 years! I started work at Millers Pharmacy (as it was called then) as a trainee for Aleck and Alice. I am always very grateful for their patience and help. The business was sold - along with me - to Wendy and Mandy who made it Andrew Place Pharmacy. After a few years, my boss became Vu Phan, who I currently work for. I consider Vu more like a good friend than a boss.

What do you enjoy most about your work? The satisfaction of getting through a busy day, but still having the time to talk and joke with the customers. Being able to give advice when asked. I have made friends with people from all walks of life, ethnicities, religions and even non-Richmond-tigers supporters! There was a Tamal woman, who I would bump into at Coles , Bunnings, everywhere and we would have long conversations. Then there was the Iranian man who would come into the pharmacy with his pet parrot on his shoulder! The people I have met over the last four decades have taught and helped me so much more than I have helped them.

You have been the pharmacist at Andrew Place Pharmacy for over 40 years – what has kept you working there for so long? The people I have worked with have been true friends, and are even nice enough to laugh at my jokes! This pharmacy has always been a family-friendly one, where we know the customers and their families. I talk to young people whose grandparents I knew years ago! I get a lot of satisfaction from helping my very many friends.

(Damjan Janevski) 225831_02

What do you like about living/working in the north? It has always seemed a bit semi-rural to me. I would drive past paddocks with cows and big pine trees. And even today at work, I can hear cockatoos, galahs, crows and other birds. During COVID, I regularly walk a few kilometres along the peaceful Darebin creek with my brother and sister.

How has pharmacy and the role of a pharmacist changed over the past 40 years? When I started, there were no computers – now the shop has four. We used a typewriter to print labels and recorded prescriptions manually in a big book. Prescriptions went from handwritten

to printed, and now they are digital QR codes on the customer’s phone! I joke with people that their repeats are in “the cloud“ and they may have to wait until it rains! With computerisation, we are much more able to advise patients on potential problems and

How are you planning to spend your retirement? I have always had a passion for nature and hope to do a lot of camping and observing, photographing and identifying plants, as well as going to rare plant shows held in different states. I have been a “silent“ member of the Australian Native Orchid Society and the Victorian Carnivorous Plant Society now, hopefully I can go to the meetings and trips. What is something most people would not know about you? That I love playing squash. I have a very slow and deliberate demeanor, so most people would think my reflexes are too slow for that!

Over 50s Resort Living

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$ %ULJKWRQ $YHQXH :ROOHUW _ lifestylewollert.com.au 11 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

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

10 years ago

7 years ago

5 years ago

1 year ago

February 9, 2011

February 11, 2014

February 9, 2016

February 11, 2020

Craigieburn Health Service faces a battle over its decision to introduce paid parking. Concerned Craigieburn resident Maureen Reed urged residents to support a petition against the move.

A grassfire near the O’Herns Road intersection with the Hume Highway in Epping last Wednesday is believed to have been started by sparks from machinery. Firefighters manning more than 20 CFA trucks brought the fast-moving fire under control within about an hour of it being reported about 12.30pm.

Nillumbik council has thwarted a campaign by teenage siblings to have a basketball half-court built on public property at Bundoora, despite Whittlesea council’s offer to cover all costs. Last August, Jensen and Janet Thomas gathered 80 signatures on a petition requesting Whittlesea council to build a half-court at the Chancellor estate at University Hill, Bundoora.

Whittlesea council is again searching for someone to fill the city’s top job, after acting chief executive Kelvin Spiller announced he would depart the council at the end of the month.

NEW COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS ARE IN PLACE To continue to keep our state safe, new restrictions are in place.

Fitted face masks must be worn indoors and on public transport.

Visitor numbers to your home are reduced to 15*.

And please practise COVIDSafe behaviours to keep us safe this summer. •

Keep 1.5 metres apart from those you don’t live with.

•

Stay home if you feel unwell, and get tested.

•

Keep your hands and surfaces clean.

•

Check listed exposure sites and follow the health advice provided.

Stay up to date on exposure sites and restrictions by visiting CORONAVIRUS.vic.gov.au For translated information about coronavirus visit CORONAVIRUS.vic.gov.au/translations *Babies under the age of 12 months are not included in this daily limit number. Authorised by the Victorian Government, Melbourne

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12 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

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BEHIND THE NEWS

Frecheville enters the canon By Duncan Evans

and then Boris Johnson put the lockdown issue out, so we’re now sort of up here for series two of lockdown, because we were up here most of last year as well.” When not in lockdown, Frecheville lives in London, having moved there from Los Angeles for a change in scene. “I spent a lot of time in Los Angeles and ultimately wanted to try out a different setting. I didn’t really want to spend all of my twenties there. And Europe’s great and I’ve got a lot of friends in London. And I have a very soft spot for Ireland.” Asked whether he thinks the deep friendships that anchor The Dry are still possible in the age of Zoom, Frecheville replies: “I think it’s too early to say. I think sustaining deep friendships is easy. In a way, not much has changed for the way that I sustain my friendships, because I’ve got friends in all these different places.” “But I’m just optimistic that things will get better. I can’t really see us holding into a sort of new lockdown paradigm for the next 10 years. And thinking that a whole new generation of kids never go to school. I’m more optimistic than that. But maybe not, maybe this virus just keeps mutating forever and ever.”

Every actor dreams of appearing in a major film or theatre production. With it comes the possibility of fame and a pathway to secure employment. But more than that, to appear in a great film, one that takes a hold of the public’s imagination and enters the cinematic canon to be watched and re-watched for decades to come, is surely the mountain-top for any creative artist dedicated to the craft of film. James Frecheville, a 29-year-old actor from Melbourne, can claim to have struck magic twice already in his short career with his small but crucial performance in this year’s remarkable Eric Bana-headlined film The Dry, which comes some 10 years after his breakout performance in the now-canonical Australian crime film Animal Kingdom. Duncan Evans spoke at length with Frecheville in a wide-ranging conversation about his latest role in The Dry, why the film has been so well received by the public and critics alike and how he successfully navigates the tough and precarious world of acting.

The Dry The Dry is based on the debut novel by Jane Harper and Frecheville credits the popularity of the book, in part, for the film’s astonishing success. “I think it’s a combination of the success of Jane’s book, and it having a sort of pre-established place in people’s heads. But also, last year was pretty terrible, on many fronts. And I think people just are eternally optimistic. I think people are really excited to get out of the house and do something that they were nostalgic about. Which sounds insane, to say that you’re nostalgic about going to the cinema, but nobody had any of it, for such a long time,” he said. With critical acclaim and domestic box office receipts breaching $10 million, The Dry was the hit film for the month of January and suggests that there remains in people an entrenched desire to retain the full cinema experience, even in an age characterised by isolated online streaming. “It’s all about a shared, disruption-free experience,” Frecheville said. “Being a part of a community, whether you know anybody or not, just in that kind of setting, it’s pretty important.” Locked in a darkened space before a massive screen, cinema-goers are treated to an entrancing mystery film that unfurls carefully around two shocking events separated by decades. The film has about it the smack of greatness. Though ostensibly a police procedural, it builds to become a haunting meditation on the power of memory and the majesty of friendship, precisely acted, written and photographed across the desolate beauty of regional Victoria. “It looks great and the film’s great, and it’s as simple as that,” Frecheville says. Frecheville plays the role of Jamie Sullivan, a gruff young farmer struggling to keep his farm afloat while also looking after his grandmother. Like the film itself, there is a degree of manipulation involved in how the audience perceives Sullivan, a product of Frecheville’s acting abilities and the careful planning of director Robert Connolly. Sullivan appears to us in a certain light at the beginning of the film, and then our perception of him shifts and changes as the film progresses. “The trick wasn’t really up to me,” Frecheville said. “That’s in the coverage, that’s in the editing and the sound, and most of that falls on to Rob. What I tried to focus on was taking as much from the script and from the book as I could to find something to anchor the idea of Jamie Sullivan around. There was a part in the book where it said that he had his fists stuffed under his armpits. And I kind of thought that was interesting, just because, like many people within the film, they’ve all got secrets. “He just had a pretty high guard. It’s not really a nice place to live. But, you know, he’s not one to complain.”

A Natural Optimist

James Frecheville in The Dry, Black 47 and Animal Kingdom. (Pictures: Daniel Archer and supplied)

Initially, Frecheville auditioned for the role of Sergeant Greg Raco, played by Keir O’Donnell. “I wasn’t right for that part, but my name got thrown into the hat for Jamie Sullivan, and that was it.” Asked whether he can sense a film’s potential for greatness from the script alone, he responds by saying that while a script may be redolent of something, it is always difficult to know how a film will turn out given the medium’s tendency to morph and shift across the multiple stages of the creative process. “You do get a sense. A good script should convey imagery and thought. And then, you’re on set, and things change constantly. It’s just blueprints layered on blueprints until the edit, at which it could even change quite violently again. Sometimes I’ve seen that with films that I’ve done where the tone of what you thought you were being involved in just becomes completely different.”

Breakout Ten years before he would take on the role of Jamie Sullivan, Frecheville auditioned as a high schooler for the seminal role of Joshua Cody in David Michod’s operatic Animal Kingdom. Listed by Quentin Tarantino as one of his favourite films of the decade, it has since become the source material for a popular television show set in Southern California and is regularly listed by critics as one of Australia’s greatest films. Frecheville’s stunning performance as an impressionable young man thrown suddenly into a dangerous world and then trying, in his limited way, to extricate himself from an escalating hurricane of violence anchors the film and imbues it with a complex moral code. The film isn’t nihilistic, but it’s brutally jaundiced about human nature and the reach of justice in this world. The Dry, by contrast, offers a somewhat more hopeful view about the possibility of securing

justice, despite the shocking acts of violence that open and close the film and the shadow of abuse that permeates the story. A degree of clarity, at least, is granted to the audience by the end of the film, whereas Animal Kingdom leaves us in a more troubled state. We are as unsure of Frecheville’s Cody at the end of the film as we are at the beginning. His method of closing out the story is as much a recognition of terrible failure as it is an act of brute righteousness.

Australian Cinema Frecheville lists Wake in Fright, Bad Boy Bubby, Chopper, Two Hands, Babe, Happy Feet and Mad Max as some of his favourite Australian films. “Australia makes great films. I just hope that the frequency of telling Australian stories can kind of speed up the more the borders open up.” He is optimistic about the future of the Australian film industry. “People need stories. I’m interested with what sort of emerging technologies can start making different sorts of stories possible. It seems to me that the Australian industry is just absolutely booming. In the sense that a lot of international productions are coming there because they know that people work well and that it’s suitable to make big movies on a sort of world-class level.” What’s more, alongside Australia’s world-class human capital and technological sophistication, our relative success in containing the virus also makes us an increasingly attractive destination for film production. This year will see a number of major Hollywood productions shoot in Australia, including the Liam Neeson-helmed action blockbuster Blacklight.

From LA to the UK

Though The Dry and Animal Kingdom are perhaps his most widely-known contributions, Frecheville has appeared in an impressive roster of well-received films in a career that now spans more than 10 years. In 2018, he took on the lead role of Feeney in Black 47, an historical drama set in a famine-ravaged 19th century Ireland and in 2015, he appeared alongside Billy Crudup in the critically acclaimed Stanford Prison Experiment. In regards to his own creative future, he hopes at some point to pursue writing and directing in addition to acting. “But when I was writing when I was younger, it wasn’t ready or suitable enough to sort of get it to a point where it was fleshed out and out there,” he said. “And tonally it’s quite different from my acting work. I’m kind of into a bit surreal, mad-cap comedy, sort of insane stuff. But yeah I’d totally want to explore that. But it’s just slowly slowly catchy monkey, is my idea the older I get, because I’m still learning. I’m still learning a lot. “I came into it having done youth theatre. Animal Kingdom was a baptism by fire. And ever since then I’ve just sort of been a journeyman. I haven’t gone to a school. I didn’t go to university. I’ve sort of gone all in on this trade, and I’m just learning as much as I can. Seems to be working, somewhat.” The acting trade has a well-established patina of glamour, full of red carpets and flashing cameras. For many though, it’s a tough and precarious way to make a living, and Frecheville knows both sides of the coin; the struggle involved in simply making one’s way in the trade, and also its possibility for grandeur and genuine achievement. “I’ve been living by the skin of my teeth for years, it feels like. There’s nothing stable about it, but there’s also much victory and revelries as well,” he said. For other young Australians who love cinema and hope one day to be involved in something permanent, Frecheville has some advice. “Be bold. Find like-minded people. Team up and make things. No one is going to sort of hand it to you. It’s always a great tip to be active. If you want to be an actor, start finding some friends that want to be actors and write silly movies and make them. And keep it fun, I’d say, because you don’t want a learning experience to be too serious or hard-core. I think consume as much media as you can. If you want to learn how to do things technically, you could watch a film and then watch it right back immediately after you’ve finished watching it the first time and pick it apart. Just be bold and be active, that’s what I’d say.”

Frecheville spoke from Wales via Zoom, ‘trapped’ in Britain’s extended lockdown The Dry is playing now in cinemas and restrictions. Animal Kingdom is streaming on Stan. “My partner and I came up here for Christmas 13 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

COMMUNITY STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

COMMUNITY CALENDAR WANT YOUR EVENT LISTED? Community Calendar is made available free of charge to not-for-profit organisations to keep the public informed of special events and activities. Send item details to Star Weekly Community Calendar, Corner Thomsons Road and Keilor Park Drive, Keilor Park, 3042, or email to westeditorial@starweekly.com.au by 9am Wednesday the week prior to publication.

Orienteering series The Macedon Ranges Summer Orienteering Street Series is back for 2021. The next events are on Wednesday, February 10 at the information centre, High Street, Woodend, and Wednesday, February 17 at Lions Park, Aitken Street, Gisborne. Both events start at 7am. Cost: $5 per adult and $2 per child.

head to the Melton South Community Centre. A new course starting on Thursday, February 18 will provide assistance with career planning, resume writing, interview skills, and will help you to identify your existing skills and develop new ones. $50 or $30 concession (six sessions). Bookings required. ■ 9747 8576

Registration day

Coffee time

Taylors Lakes Junior Football Club’s registration and mouthguard fitting day is on Wednesday, February 10, 3.30-6.30pm at Lionheart Reserve. New players welcome for under-8, under-10, under-12, under-14 and under-16 boys and girls teams. Under-18.5 males and females also welcome.

Wanting to learn how to make coffee? Ready Set Work Barista is running a course at the Brimbank Bicycle Education Centre, Keilor Downs on February 23 (online) and 24 (face-to-face work). During the course, you will learn about the origins of coffee, how to operate commercial espresso machines and how to make a range of coffees. ■ Jesuit Community College, 9415 8700

Tennis challenge The Let’s Challenge tennis tournament will be played at four venues across Whittlesea between Friday, February 12 and Sunday, February 21, 4-7pm. Bookings required. ■ https://bit.ly/2Y7Exd4

Sketch and walk Join local artist Lena Sheridan and learn the fundamentals of shading, proportion and perspective during an observational stroll on Saturday, February 13, 10am-noon. Meet on the grass in the park at Station Place, Werribee. All materials provided, comfortable walking shoes and sun protection recommended. ■ www.lenasheridan.net

Beach patrol Join Beach Patrol 3030 as it cleans up along the K Road Cliffs in Werribee South on Sunday, February 14, 11.30am-12.30pm. Bring your own rubbish bags, pick up sticks, gloves and drink bottle. Coffee and snack at Wyndham Harbour to follow.

Your pictures

Through the lens

Heritage walks

This picture was taken at Newport’s lakes recently on a very bright and sunny day. Star Weekly photographer Joe Mastroianni said the white-faced heron and water looked so saturated and golden from the sun that the scene reminded him of an Impressionists painting. He exaggerated the colours even more during the editing process to arrive at the finished image.

Enjoy a 90 minute leisurely heritage walk with guide John, starting at the Williamstown Visitor Information Centre in Nelson Place, each Tuesday at 9.20am. Each week covers a different route. ■ John, 0418 377 336

Beauty industry pathway ■ 3030@beachpatrol.com.au

Compost like a pro Hume residents can tune in to a free online workshop presented by Compost Community to learn how to use food scraps and other organics waste around the home. On Tuesday, February 16 at 12.30pm, you can learn the basics of recyclable organics, different systems, and how to harvest and use compost to grow your own food. Bookings required. ■ https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/humecity-council-16445167964

Connecting community Williamstown Community and Education Centre is hosting a ‘Neighbourhood Connect’ initiative to build community connectedness. Free workshops and mentoring provided. Attend the first workshops on Wednesday, February 17 at 6.30pm or Friday, February 19, at 12.30pm, at Joan Kirner House, 14 Thompson Street, Williamstown. ■ Irene, 0413 706 233

Wonder Women Program If you’re wanting to return to the workforce,

Learn how to give head massages, manicures and pedicures, plus apply make up, lash lifts and more at the Melton South Community Centre’s introduction to beauty course. It starts Saturday, February 20. Cost: $140 or $100 concession. Bookings required. ■ 9747 8576

Farmers market Browse the stalls at the Malmsbury Village Farmers Market on Sunday, February 21, 9am-1pm at the Malmsbury Village Green, Mollison Street. ■ Megs, 0407 860 320

Star Weekly readers share some of their favourite moments with family and friends.

Zara Pereira was born 7.18am on January 26 at Werribee Mercy Hospital. Zara weighed 3205 grams. She is the daughter of Lawrence Pereira and Josephine Fernando, from Tarneit, and a younger sister for Zoe.

Sisters Maddison and Indiana were excited to see the welcome bunting at St Peter Apostle Primary, Hoppers Crossing on their first day back at school for the year. Emily, 5, starting prep at Manorvale Primary School. 14 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

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Out and about

NEWS

The north’s newest park, Gumnut Park and Adventure Playground in Donnybrook, has been popular with families this summer. Star Weekly

(Pictures: Damjan Janevski) 225399_10

photographer Damjan Janevski captured these photos.

15 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

COMMENT STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Childcare costs a key focus Danielle Green, Yan Yean MP There is certainly a lot of excitement in our region as schools and many workplaces return for 2021. Even with kids back at school, the balancing act that many families know all too well isn’t easy. Women have been particularly hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic so our focus is getting them back to work and lowering the costs of caring for children. 2021 marks the commencement of the Andrews’ Labor government’s free kinder program and the delivery of outside school hours care at up to 400 extra schools, which will save parents money and give greater flexibility when it comes to work and care. Local councils, schools and kindergartens are gearing up for the introduction of three-year-old kinder. New buildings and upgrades to existing buildings will be needed but there’s also a need for additional kinder teachers. Free TAFE courses are available to train up this new workforce, which is a great chance for childcare workers to up-skill to fill these jobs and to secure better pay and conditions. Details: www.vic.gov.au/free-tafe. We also have announced an additional $50 million in The Growing Suburbs Fund for this year’s budget which will help build new local facilities from playgrounds to sporting pavilions, bringing communities together while also supporting local jobs. Local examples of previous projects are the fabulous adventure playgrounds at Wallan and Diamond Creek and the upgrade of the Whittlesea outdoor pool. I was delighted to see so many wonderful community people acknowledged in the Australia Day honours, it is always such a

privilege as an MP to see the due recognition for the many volunteers and community groups that make our community such a great place to live. I would particularly like to acknowledge Mernda resident and inaugural Whittlesea SES controller Gary Doorbar on his Emergency Services Medal and the chair of the Northern Metropolitan Partnership Terry Larkin, OAM.

‘‘

great chance for childcare workers to up-skill - Danielle Green

’’

I am calling for expressions of interest for participants in the youth council for the Yan Yean electorate for this year. It is a great opportunity for youth aged 15-24 to gain insight into the workings of Parliament and how they can contribute to their local community, build networks and friendships and enjoy being part of the 2021 youth council. If you know a young person that you think would be interested in this opportunity please ask them to email Danielle.green@parliament. vic.gov.au. While we do have to remain on alert during times like this with a global pandemic, I would encourage everyone to refer to the dhhs.vic.gov. au for the current guidelines of what is required of us all in regard to mask wearing and social distancing. Last year reminded us of what matters most in life and that is the health and wellbeing of the people we love. As we begin to recover, let’s all keep that as our focus for 2021. Please always feel free to reach out to me or my team via Danielle.green@parliament.vic. gov.au or call 9432 9782.

Yan Yean MP, Danielle Green. (Supplied)

A prescription you can’t take to the chemist So, how’s that New Year’s resolution going? Was it to ‘lose weight’? ‘Get fit’? ‘Drink less’? Yes, it’s February already, and reality is starting to bite. Lifestyle changes are easier said than done. But they’re also vital to managing a range of health conditions, from diabetes to depression. Eat better. Exercise more. It’s as simple and as complicated as that. Staying connected, with family, friends and your community, is another one that doctors now know helps your mental and physical health. The big problem for GPs is: How do you support patients to connect? How do you ‘treat’ loneliness? (A condition researchers say could be as damaging to our overall health as smoking and obesity.) How do you make sure a woman who cares full-time for her disabled husband makes time to leave the house to get some exercise or just a break? How do you make sure an elderly man with diabetes takes basic medication he can’t afford? These are real problems GPs in Melbourne’s west and north have tackled using a new approach that could dramatically improve our health care. It works like this. A patient sees their GP as normal (diagnosis, testing and monitoring by a doctor remain vital). Then, as well as any other treatment, the GP can also refer the patient to a ‘social prescribing’ program, funded by North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network and run by IPC Health, a large community health organisation in Melbourne’s west. The social prescribing program funds a ‘wellbeing co-ordinator’ who spends time with the patient to understand in greater detail their 16 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

(iStock)

Christopher Carter CEO, North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network

situation — including any financial, social or language factors that can so often get in the way of good health. The co-ordinator then works with the patient to find solutions. They can even be there beside the patient when they take their ‘first steps’ – for example, into the church hall where the local Italian knitting group is meeting. In the case of the diabetic man who couldn’t afford his medication, the wellbeing co-ordinator ultimately contacted the man’s

local MP, who helped process his application for the Disability Support Pension. Now able to afford his medication, the man’s blood-sugar levels are better managed, and he is visibly happier. Life has also improved for the woman who cared for her husband full-time. The program connected her husband with a supported community group, allowing his wife a ‘day off’, which meant she was able to reconnect with her swimming group.

Doctors and other health professionals have long known that what ails their patient might not be something that a drug or procedure can fix alone. Social prescribing is a practical way that GPs can support their patients keep their new year resolutions. Even if you don’t get or need a formal social prescription, good social or community connections improve everyone’s lives – and health.

PUZZLES SUDOKU

No. 015

To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.

easy

3 7 4 8 6 1

4 9 2 2 8 2 4

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

1 9 4 2 8 4

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

QUICK CROSSWORD

Keyboard key (9) Tells tales (7) Makes certain (7) Soft creamy candy (5) Baghdad citizen (5) Cleans (9) Building designer (9) Treadmill user, e.g. (9) Succeeders (9) Hair soap (7) Fizzy candy (7) Eighth letter of the Greek alphabet (5) 22 Coarse files (5) 24 Meat cake (5) 3 4 5 6 7 8 13 15 16 18 19 21

ACROSS Lawless crowd (3) Large winged insects (11) Shortens (9) Empty; use up (5) Heavenly bodies (5) Thief (9) Creatures (7) Playground items (7) Gnawers (7) Boils (7) Display (9) Inexpensive (5) Makes level (5) At puberty (9) Carrier (11) Dairy alternative (3)

1 3 9 10 11 12 13 14 17 19 20 23 25 26 27 28

No. 015

DOWN Gloves (5) Commit severe violence (9)

1 2

DECODER

No. 015

7 9 hard

10 11 12 13

9-LETTER WORD Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in “s”.

Today’s Aim: 13 words: Good 19 words: Very good 25 words: Excellent

N I

3 LETTERS ACT ADO ADS ALL ATE AVO BRA CAR CHI CIA FIG GEE HES ILL MES MOO NOR ODD ONE OVA OWE PIN RIG SAC TAG UTE 4 LETTERS ADDS DATA HORN ISLE MESH MISS MUSS OBOE ONYA ROBE RORT SAGE SALT SHIN SIZE

TASK TEAK WAFT 5 LETTERS ABUSE ADORE ALTAR AORTA AREAS CIRCA EASEL EDGES EMAIL ESSAY EVADE EVICT EXPEL FLAME HEEDS LEDGE

No. 015

MOTOR MULTI OCTAL ODDER OZONE PIERS RADII RAZOR RESET ROSES SANDS SEIZE SELLS SHONE SIXTH START STEEL TACOS TANGO TEACH TESTS

TONES TREAT TWEET UNFIT WASNT WRAPS WRONG 6 LETTERS ALERTS SIESTA 7 LETTERS CASCADE FRONTAL

GREATER REDHEAD STATUTE TALLEST 8 LETTERS NAMELESS NEATNESS SOFTENED SOMETIME 10 LETTERS ORIENTATES STAIRCASES

dine, eleven, endive, enliven, ENLIVENED, envied, even, evened, lend, levin, lien, linden, line, lined, linen, liven, livened, need, needle, nine, vein, veined, vend, vendee, vine

9 3 4 6 8 2 7 5 1

5 3 1 6 7 4 9 2 8

7 8 9 2 3 1 6 4 5

4 2 6 5 9 8 3 7 1

8 5 7 9 6 3 4 1 2

9 6 4 8 1 2 5 3 7

2 1 3 7 4 5 8 9 6

6 7 2 3 8 9 1 5 4

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17 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

We build the home. You build the memories. Start building your memories at porterdavis.com.au

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18 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

Design style that will stand the test of time In its Liverpool 25 design, Porter Davis has tapped into the iconic look of the American Hamptons. Its classic facade fits in with any streetscape, reflecting simplicity and elegance kerbside, reports Carole Levy.

Donnybrook station: 5 mins Melbourne CBD: 45 minutes via V/Line Craigieburn Central: 20 mins Pacific Epping: 20 mins Marnong Estate Winery: 10 mins Willmott Park PS: 15 mins Hume Anglican Grammar: 5 mins

roofline to the back garden. Beautifully sheltered and spacious, the deck is the perfect spot for entertaining in or out of the sunshine. The double garage has internal access to the entry hall. The Liverpool 25 is a sophisticated offering, with every element considered for liveability, and a design style that will stand the test of time.

(Pictures: Supplied)

Indoors, the world of Hamptons appeal is on display, the first eye-catching element the beautiful wainscoting which appears in entry hall, living areas and the gorgeous street-facing main bedroom. The colour palette of crisp-white combines with accents of blush rose, dusty blue and deep indigo, anchored by dark matte floor planks, while drifty sheers dress large windows admitting streams of natural light. Two of the four fitted bedrooms range along the entry hall, while a short passage ducks across to the other two, as well as the separate toilet, laundry and main bathroom. The latter is a stylish affair, with an oval freestanding tub, and a smart stone-topped vanity and frameless shower. Twin walk-in robes are a feature in the lavish main bedroom, where the wainscoting underscores quality and elegance, as does the full-height window. The sleek en suite, with dual basins, is equally appealing. Wrapped in three living zones, the large kitchen is stunning. Brushed-brass tapware, pendants, and fittings on the profiled white cabinetry are classy additions, marrying with the stone-topped waterfall island bench, marble chevron-patterned splashback tiles, and extensive benches. The walk-in pantry is decked out in similar vein. Three glass sliders – two cornerless – provide wonderful flow from the living areas to the deck which juts out from under the

GETTING AROUND

Display: 24 Olivine Boulevard, Donnybrook. Open: 11am-5pm Saturday-Wednesday Inquiries: 8751 2967 / 0418 612 951

With our Price Estimator tool, realestateview.com.au is the trusted source for house value estimates & property data. 25 Station Street, Armadale, VIC 3143 2 beds

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PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE OPTUS & VODAFONE MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION AT CAR PARK 6 RING ROAD LATROBE UNIVERSITY BUNDOORA VIC 3083 INCLUDING 5G 1. The proposed facility consists of the addition of new Optus and Vodafone equipment and associated works as follows (including 5G); - Modiﬁcation of the existing headframe; - The strengthening of the existing monopole (baseplate grouting); - Installation of nine (9) new Optus antennas including 4G and 5G technology (not more than 2.8m long); - Removal of three (3) existing Optus antennas; - Installation of six (6) new VHA antennas (not more than 2.8m long); - Removal of three (3) existing VHA antennas; - Installation, relocation and removal of ancillary equipment including RRUs, antenna mounts, feeders, cabling, combiners, and other associated equipment; and - Ancillary works within the existing equipment shelter.

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3. In accordance with Section 7 of C564:2020 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Code, we invite you to provide feedback about the proposal. Further information and/or comments should be directed to: Jessica Bradbury/ 0428 526 796, or via the Lendlease Wireless Consultation inbox at optus.enquiries@ wirelessconsultation.com.au or Zenith Centre, Level 5, Tower B, 821 Paciﬁc Highway, Chatswood NSW 2167, by 5pm, Wednesday 24th February 2021.

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Have an active Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day can conjure up romantic images of chocolates, Champagne and candlelit dinners. If this is your usual MO for the day to celebrate love, then why not try something different this year and have an active Valentine’s Day? There are many ways you can enjoy an active day with those you love, and organising a walk with a picnic could be one of the most simple! There are so many amazing short walks around Melbourne (see www.victoriawalks. org.au/Best_Melbourne_Walks/ for some inspiration). Pack your own picnic lunch, or use a pre-made picnic hamper service to keep it even easier and fuss free. Be sure to check the weather conditions before you head out, and if you do choose to venture into the bush, then check out www.parks.vic.gov.au for any changes in conditions. If walking is not really your thing, then why not relive your youth and go roller skating? There are still rinks around Melbourne – just be sure to check if you have to book ahead and bring your own skates or blades due to current COVID-19 restrictions. Even just half an hour of blading or skating will have you feeling invigorated and give you that burn in your legs! Another great indoor activity for an active Valentine’s Day is rock climbing. Rock climbing will have you challenging yourself physically and relying on clear communication with your partner as you

Enjoy a walk and a picnic with someone you love. (iStock)

ascend and descend the walls. If heights are not your thing, then why not try a game for partners, such as tennis or squash? Most tennis and squash clubs will allow public hire of courts. Another game to play with your partner could be lawn bowls, or bare foot bowling. Again, most clubs will allow for public hire of greens and you may or may not have to supply your own bowls. This is a lower impact game than tennis – and you could check out whether or not the bar really does have 1975 prices.

Or maybe water activities are more your scene – imagine going for a paddle boat ride on a light-dappled lake, or rowing a boat along a glass smooth river? Or how about a surfing lesson or even just a body board at your local beach (again, be sure to check conditions). If you’d prefer to keep your feet dry, but moving, a dance class might be more in your lane. Learning a few new dance moves and steps is great exercise for the body and mind, and will give you much-needed time with your partner.

And you’ll have a new skill to share together! The truth of it is, there are many active ways to enjoy time with those you love. We have so many amazing outdoor spaces around us, and some pretty great indoor activities too. Being active together can help deepen your connections with others, from the shared experience to the exhilaration of physical activity. You’ll make many new memories, and may even have something to look back on to laugh at over the years!

SPORTS QUIZ 1. What American golfer was embroiled in a cheating scandal during the recent Farmers Insurance Open?

10. What racetrack will host the opening round of the 2021 Supercars Championship?

2. In which country was NBA star Kyrie Irving born in?

11. What is the colour of the middle ring on the Olympics logo?

3. In what year was the 50th NFL Super Bowl held? 4. How many players are there in a game of beach volleyball? 5. What were the first Olympics to feature softball as an event?

12. Who is the CEO of the AFL Women’s competition? 13. Which team has NFL quarterback Tom Brady played for since 2020?

14. Who was the last driver to win a title for Ferrari?

Lauren Jackson

15. Which team finished last in the BBL for the past two seasons? 16. Which Australian hurdling champion competed in the twowoman bobsleigh at the 2014 Winter Olympics? 17. How many times has surfer Mick Fanning been the ASP World Tour champion?

6. How many periods are there in an NHL ice hockey game?

18. Who holds the record for the most goals in A-League history?

7. How many frames are played in a standard game of ten pin bowling?

19. Which legendary actor finished second at the 1979 Le Mans 24 Hour race? 20. Who is the only player to score more than 1000 career runs for the Australian women’s Test team?

8. In what year did the Brisbane Bears join the VFL?

21. As well as playing professional rugby league and rugby union, Israel Folau also played Australian rules football for which AFL team?

9. On what continent was the Dakar Rally held in from 2009–19?

22. What year did Adelaide last host the Australian Formula One Grand Prix?

23. Which Australian Baseball League team is based in Queensland? 24. The ACT/NSW Country Comets compete play which sport? 25. Australia’s national orienteering team is known by what nickname? 26. Marrara Oval and Traeger Park have played host to AFL games in which Australian state or territory?

28. With competing teams including the Perth Suns, Tweed Heads Ospreys and Murray Steamers, BPL is the acronym for which made-for-television sports league? 29. Which Adelaide-born Australian tennis professional had a career-high singles ranking of world No.8 in February 2005? 30. The NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs are based in which US state?

27. Australian basketball great Lauren Jackson won WNBA Championships in 2004 and 2010 playing for which team?

Mick Fanning 1. Patrick Reed 2. Australia 3. 2016 4. Four 5. Atlanta, 1996 6. Three 7. 10 8. 1987 9. South America 10. Mount Panorama, Bathurst 11. Black 12. Nicole Livingstone 13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 14. Kimi Räikkönen 15. Melbourne Renegades 16. Jana Pittman 17. Three 18. Besart Berisha 19. Paul Newman 20. Karen Rolton 21. Greater Western Sydney Giants. 22. 1995. 23. Brisbane Bandits. 24. Cricket. 25. Boomerangs. 26. Northern Territory. 27. Seattle Storm. 28. Bowls Premiers League. 29. Alicia Molik. 30. Missouri.

1202

22 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

SPORT Lions look for momentum Bacchus Marsh Lions are hoping to hit their straps in the back end of the Country Basketball League men’s north-west season. After losing their first three matches, the Lions opened their account last weekend against the Kyneton Tigers. Lions coach Grant McMillian said the win was just what they needed in a shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We only play seven games and we may have already played the top three teams in the first three weeks,” he said. “We thought we had a chance of getting the win against Kyneton and shot really well and finished things off. “It was also a lot better defensive effort.” McMillan, who has stepped up from being assistant coach the past two seasons, said the first few games they were hurt by poor execution. He said the last quarter against Echuca,

when they went two from 16 from the field, was a clear example of that. “We’re playing well in the system and getting shots, but we’re not being rewarded with the execution.” As well as adjusting to a new coach, there has been a number of changes to the playing squad. Star guard Billy Feben and young star Max Beaumont have left. The loss of Sam Byron, Patrick Craig and Jake Rayner also hurts the Lions in the height department. McMillian said despite the departures he is happy with how the squad has shaped up. “Not having Billy means that 25 to 30 points a night we have to find,” McMillian said. “So we’ve had to come up with other scoring avenues. We’ve recruited a few guys. And with [Jordan Kirk] Kirky, Jason Christian and Daniel Jackson back, we’ve got some experience. “It’s a good mix of youth and experience.” McMillian said Cooper McIntosh and Justin

Runge were among the youngsters who are getting more opportunity this season. They’ve also got two players from their under-21 side as development players. “My assistant coach is the under-21 coach, so it’s good to get some uniformity,“ he said. “The guys are learning and there is good information being exchanged.” The Lions faced Mildura Heat on Sunday after Star Weekly went to press. “Hopefully we can get a bit of momentum going,” McMillian said last week. “If we win the last four games, anything can happen and we might even make finals.” The fifth-placed Kyneton side, which won two of its first five matches, faced the Bendigo Braves on Saturday night, as did the Tigers women’s side which sits second on ladder. The women’s side was 3-1 after four rounds. Jordan Kirk is back for the Kyneton Tigers.

Tara Murray

(Shawn Smits)

Cannons raring to go By Tara Murray After 11 months off the football field, the Calder Cannons were back in action on Saturday in the NAB League girls’ competition. The side played just three games last year before the season was cancelled due to COVID-19, so there are plenty of players eager to get back out on the field. Speaking before the game, coach Ross Smith said everyone was excited to play again. “I’m sure it’s exciting for the whole competition,” he said. “Everyone had gone through a whole lot. We had the jumper presentation and got their families down, which was pretty special.” For Smith, who has coached the club’s boys’ side since 2018, coaching the girls’ side is a new challenge. Under changes to the NAB League system, there is one senior coach across both programs. “It’s my first time coaching girls,” Smith said. “I’m enjoying it immensely … they’re just a great bunch of girls. They’re very grateful and it’s a lot different to the boys in many ways. “It’s a very exciting group, especially the 18-year-old group.” Smith said when the boys started training in the next couple of weeks, the coaching panel would be quite busy. He said the girls team was a young squad, with the competition age expanded to under-19s. There’s three top age players in the squad, with a core group of 18-year-olds and several bottom-age players. He said there were eight bottom-age players set to play in the opening round. Newly-appointed captain Georgie Prespakis will be one player who to get plenty of attention. The younger sister of Carlton star Maddy Prespakis, Georgie won the NAB League’s best and fairest award in 2019 as a 16-year-old. She is eligible to be drafted to the AFLW later this year. “She has been training really well,” Smith said. “There’s a little bit of expectation on her. She’s a different player from Maddy and she’ll have her own career going forward. “The players voted her in as captain.” Smith said they were excited about the rest of the group of 18-year-olds. Peppa Poultney will play in the ruck and Tahlia Gillard, who is in the AFL academy with Prespakis and is another tall, are both players to watch. Olivia Manfre, state cricketer Neve Crowley, exciting midfielder-forward Emeila Yassir, Mali McLeod and Kasey Lennox are others in that age group. Smith said the focus of the group remained

Werribee and Williamstown are part of the new competition. (Luke Hemer) 227546_01

VFL season start decided

Georgie Prespakis has been named the Cannons captain. (Shawn Smits) 204987_30

development. He said many of the older girls would get an opportunity to play at VFLW level with Essendon during the year. “The focus is always development,” he said. “We’ve got a reasonably good 18-year-old group and the expectations are reasonably strong.”

The Cannons’ first match against Sandringham Dragons was after Star Weekly went to press. The Northern Knights and Western Jets also kicked off their seasons at the weekend against Oakleigh Chargers and Eastern Ranges respectively.

The new second-tier eastern seaboard state league football competition will have a familiar name. With 17 of the 22 clubs in the competition from Victoria, it will be known as the Victorian Football League [VFL]. The competition will be the largest second tier competition in Australia and will consist of stand-alone VFL clubs, stand-alone AFL clubs and aligned clubs. It will be the first time VFL matches will be played in Queensland and New South Wales. The inaugural season will involve teams playing 16 games across 19 rounds, and will get under way on April 17. A fixture is set to be released later this month. Each club will have three byes to allow for flexibility when needed. It will be a top eight finals structure, which will begin on August 28. The grand final is to be held on the weekend of September 18. The VFL competition, the 2021 NAB League Boys and 2021 Toyota AFL premiership seasons will all run concurrently. Williamstown and Werribee are among the stand-alone VFL clubs, while the Western Bulldogs will also field a stand-alone side, Footscray. Both Williamstown and Werribee have returned to training under new coaches, Justin Plapp and Michael Barlow respectively. The involvement of AFL-listed players from 14 AFL clubs is central to the VFL competition’s season fixture. Tara Murray 23 NORTHERN STAR WEEKLY Tuesday, 9 February, 2021

MELBA VALE COUNTRY CLUB A message from our Chair Administrator Ms Lydia Wilson This month, we start a conversation with our community to find out more about your priorities for the City of Whittlesea over the next four years. In addition, we have drafted a new policy I invite you to join my fellow Administrators Among these will be our first Community that outlines our commitment to community Council Meeting for the year, held at The Hon Bruce Billson and Ms Peita engagement. This draft document is now the Whittlesea Community Activity Duncan, along with our CEO Craig on public exhibition for your feedback until Centre, which is located at 57 Laurel St in Lloyd and members of Council’s New Homes available now from $375,000 Sunday 14 February. It is available on the Whittlesea on Monday 1 March. Executive Leadership Team to hear Have Your Say page on Council’s website. about our Council Plan engagement Before the formal Council Meeting, which program on Thursday 18 February you are also invited to attend, a community Finally, this persistent Covid-19 virus continues (more details below) and how you can to cause new and ongoing restrictions being forumout will beand held where you can provide Step be adventurous join our conversation. input into the Council Plan by speaking with imposed as required. These are based on

ESCAPE TO YOUR NEW LIFE COOLAROO

myself, Administrator Billson, Administrator best advice from our health experts and As part of our community engagement I thank everyone for continuing to follow Duncan, Mr Lloyd and a range of officers on the Council Plan, we also invite you to them. The best place to get the most with technical experience in areas such as participate in a workshop to inform how THE LIFESTYLE CHOICE FOR OVER 55’S GYM up-to-date information about Covid-19 is transport, waste, community services and we might allocate the $2 million Covid Country Living and is one of the largest family owned retirement at www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus facilities, emergency management. Community Recovery Fund in a way that Club village businesses in Australia, providing quality retirement best supports residents, local businesses, communities for independent living for over 55’s. Please, take care, stay safe and I hope to These activities are part of Council’s community groups and clubs. meet you soon. commitment to enhance our community Many other activities and events will be promoted through our website and social media channels.

CLOSE TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT

engagement processes to ensure we hear many • Quality designedthat homes voices fromarchitecturally within the community will • 2 or plus study homes. Up tofor 16our squares help us 2achieve the best outcomes City. • Resort style facilities • Secure independent living

Join us for a movie screening this

Council will host an online forum NO STAMP DUTY Saturday night 13 February of the to mark the start of community Australian classic, Paper Planes. friendly Gregory Nicholls welcomes any The event also includes live music. engagement Our on our nextLifestyle CouncilConsultant, Plan. CLUB BAR

Join the conversation!

queries you may have. Inspections are always welcome at Melba Vale Country Club located at 1390 Pascoe Vale Rd, Coolaroo, Vic 3048

Contact Gregory direct to arrange a cuppa and a private tour on

Pack a picnic or enjoy the delights GREAT OUTDOOR AREA from onsite food trucks. Date: Saturday 13 February Venue: Whittlesea Showgrounds Time: Gates open at 6pm. Live music from Screamin’ Eagles at 7pm. Film Paper Planes starts at 8.40pm.

Date: 18 February 2021 0488 908 501 or FreeCall 1800 503 225 Time: 6.30-7.30pm Register your attendance at: www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au CONTACT GREGORY NICHOLLS TODAY! We will send you a link prior to the event Tickets: $5 per adult, whichIN can be redeemed for a food truck voucher on entry. CELEBRATING NEW BEGINNINGS For more information contact engagement@whittlesea.vic.gov.au THRIVING COMMUNITIES Book online at arts.whittlesea.vic.gov.au

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) BOWLS

countryclubliving.com.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

Beyond Blue Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service Call: 1800 512 348 Visit: coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au

Headspace

Call: 1800 650 890 Visit: www.headspace.org.au

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 12478905-DL05-21

QUALITY LIVING

3 QUALITY DESIGNS

LANDSCAPED GARDENS Business support

Call: 9217 2278 Email: business@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support

Call: 0437 425 903 Email: shontia.saluja@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 GREAT FRIENDS payment plan or deferral until 30 June 2021.

Country Club locations include View the COVID-19 Financial Hardship Policy at Bacchus Marsh, Bendigo, whittlesea.vic.gov.au/coronavirus

Coolaroo, Geelong, Ballarat & Noosa

12481614-NG07-21