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Hannah’s helping out

251797 (Joe Mastroianni)

Young Hannah is using her school holidays to fundraise for a good cause. The eight year-old Werribee resident is participating in the Peppa Pig Practices Mindfulness initiative, which is encouraging kids to complete a mindfulness activity every day, while helping to raise funds for Save the Children’s efforts to assist young people doing it tough - such as those living in overseas refugee camps. “I like doing it because I want poor children around the world to have homes and have money, to take care of them,” Hannah said. Hannah said that by the end of October, she hopes to have raised $350 for Save the Children. She has raised more than $170 so far, by saving up money in her piggy bank, doing chores at home and asking family and friends for donations. Hannah’s mother Sindu said she was proud of her daughter thinking of people other than herself. “Hannah says to me: “I’m so little, how am I going to make a difference?” Sindu said. Details: https://bit.ly/2Zud1KB Alesha Capone

Stadium build to start Early works will begin on the future $150 million Wyndham City Stadium in Tarneit next month. More details have also emerged about plans for the residential and commercial area surrounding the stadium, which is being described as “Victoria’s first sports and recreation driven suburb” by the Western Melbourne Group (WMG). WMG is parent company of the Western United Football Club, which will be based at the Sayers Road stadium. WMG has announced that initial works

on the stadium site will start at Leakes Road, about 600 metres west of the Sewells Road intersection, in the week commencing October 25. A “haul road” will be built to allow construction vehicles to access the site, plus upgrades to Leakes Road. The stadium precinct’s concept master plan was submitted to the state government in July for approval, with a residential component including townhouses and high-and-lowdensity areas. The plan for the suburb to be built near the stadium includes more than 1000 homes and over 15 commercial buildings, bordered by

Ison Road, Leakes Road and the future Sayers Road extension. A convention and business centre, with meeting facilities for groups of four to 400 people, is being proposed as part of the plan. The suburb will have shops, restaurants, education campuses, car parking, hotels, health facilities, a sports science centre, entertainment spaces and a 5000-seat elite training facility. WMG chairman Jason Sourasis said the project “is the first of its kind in our country”. “In addition to the sporting legacy, our project gives the west of Melbourne a social and economic boost, which is much needed in

these challenging times,” he said. Earlier this month, Wyndham council called on the state government to fast-track construction of the proposed Sayers Road train station to service the future stadium and suburb. The state government has previously said it will build the train station, which is expected to be completed by 2027, but has not committed any money to the project. Cr Mia Shaw said most major stadiums across the world have a train station nearby, which are used by thousands of people every year.

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A warm welcome for refugees By Alesha Capone The Wyndham community has come together to help refugees from Afghanistan who have begun arriving in Melbourne. Tens of thousands of Afghanis have fled their country since the Taliban stepped back into power, after the United States withdrew its troops last month. Under the national humanitarian visa program, Australia will take in around 3000 Afghani refugees, including those who flew in last week. Wyndham Park Community Centre

manager Greg Ferrington said that individuals and organisations including the Jet Australia Foundation, Bunnings Hoppers Crossing, Wyndham Rotary, United Sikhs and Let’s Feed donated groceries and toiletries, which were packed into 200 boxes and delivered to refugees quarantining in a city hotel. Another 50 boxes were sent to refugees staying in short-term accommodation at The Gordon’s halls of residence in Werribee. Wyndham Rotary’s Community Team, including Phil Hartcher, supplied 180 boxes of groceries, 300 family-size toiletry packs, 200 basic toiletry packs, 12 boxes of polo shirts

and jackets, and clothes from the Fit4 Use Store in Werribee. Volunteers from the Gurdwara Sahib Sikh temple in Tarneit provided 500 meals to agencies assisting the refugees, with federal Lalor MP Joanne Ryan helping to prepare the food. “In such tough and challenging times, it’s so heartening to see our community come together to support one another,” Ms Ryan said. “Whether it’s our local religious groups helping newly arrived Afghans or community organisations helping locals struggling in

lockdown; supporting each other in times of need is what our community is all about. AMES Australia chief executive Cath Scarth said the city of Wyndham has been eager to help the refugees arriving from Afghanistan. “Many of the people evacuated from Kabul have arrived with literally nothing, so all of the offers of help are appreciated,” she said. “They will continue to need support as they settle so offers of volunteer mentoring support, friendship and jobs will be important into the future.”

Credit concern

Set Out to Package the World by Aisha Hara.

251831 (Supplied/courtesy of artist)

Painting resonates with the people A painting that explores how smartphone technology impacts upon being “in the moment” has been won People’s Choice Award in the Wyndham Art Prize. Wyndham council and Arts Assist last week announced Aisha Hara’s work has taken out the prize in the annual competition. Ms Hara’s oil on canvas, titled Set Out to Package the World, received the most votes from people who viewed the competition’s entries in an exhibition. Set Out to Package the World is a commentary on how mobile phone photography allows someone to capture a moment, but can prevent them from truly being in the present.

Ms Hara, who is studying Fine Arts at RMIT, works in multiple creative forms including painting, light installation and collage. She will receive $2,500 for winning the People’s Choice Award. Wyndham’s creative cities portfolio holder, Cr Marcel Mahfoud, congratulated Ms Hara on her achievement. “Aisha’s artwork is colourful, thought-provoking and makes you think about the way we now interact with our surroundings and communicate with others,” he said. “She should be extremely proud of winning this award.” Cr Mahfoud said that Wyndham council

was committed “to providing opportunities for our community to get involved in the arts”. “The People’s Choice is fantastic because our community gets to select their favourite artwork and is completely objective,” he said. Arts Assist chair Jan Goates said the organisation was proud to have sponsored the People’s Choice Award for this year’s Wyndham Art Prize. “Our congratulations to Aisha Hara for winning the award, whose artwork overwhelming resonated with so many of those who cast a vote,” Ms Goates said. See: www.wyndham.vic.gov.au.arts or www.artsassist.org.au for details.

Wyndham has recorded the third-lowest average credit score in the state, according to a report from financial technology company ClearScore. Credit scores, also known as credit ratings, are often used by financial institutions when assessing whether to approve loans. Higher credit scores are usually the result of an individual displaying a history of on-time payments and low balances on their credit card. Late or missed payments and a high credit card balance is often viewed as negative. ClearScore’s report into average credit scores across Australia, based on information from the credit bureau Experion, found that Victoria’s average credit score was 684 (in general, an Experian credit score of 700 or higher is considered “very good”). Stonnington East recorded the state’s highest average credit score of 743, followed by both Bayside and Boroondara both on 737. In comparison, Wyndham recorded the third-lowest credit score at 664, with Murray River–Swan Hill and Maryborough–Pyrenees placing second-lowest on 665. Geelong placed lowest with an average credit score of 668. The ClearScore report said that most of Melbourne’s top 10 credit score areas were concentrated in the eastern and north-eastern parts of the city, where median property prices tend to be more expensive. In March, Consumer group CHOICE released an analysis of 31,000 complaints which the Australian Financial Complaints Authority received about credit products, between November 2018 and December 2020 More than 1200 Wyndham residents lodged complaints about consumer loans, credit cards and housing finance across the period. CHOICE chief executive Alan Kirkland that with mortgage lending at record highs, the housing boom was “pushing home ownership out of reach of many more Australians”.

Werribee food truck venue tables plans for expansion By Alesha Capone A Werribee food truck venue is hoping to get the greenlight to double its patron limit and serve alcohol for longer hours. Operators of the venue, which is located at 23 Synnot Street (Princes Highway), have applied to Wyndham council for permission to increase the number of patrons allowed on-site from 150 to 300 people. They also want to have live music performances within a pavilion or shed, and to serve liquor from 11am to 1am seven days 2 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 29 September, 2021

per week (other than midday to 11pm, on ANZAC Day and Good Friday). A planning application submitted to the council said that after 10pm, patrons would be restricted to the site’s indoor locations, with all doors and bi-fold windows shut. All outdoor activities, including the playing of music and operation of food trucks, would also cease at 10pm. The expansion of the food truck venue would include an outdoor seating area of 555 square metres, a pergola seating area and space for seven food trucks, along with an

existing covered “shed” seating area. The venue is located an area zoned as Activity Centre Zone 1, with the closest residences including homes on Synnot Street and a three-storey residential building, a two-storey apartment building and a single-storey residence on Salisbury Street. A report included with the planning application said the proposed changes to the sale and consumption of liquor at the food truck premises were “appropriate” because the site is located within the Werribee Principal Activity Centre.

“The site is well-separated from most other licensed premises,” the report said. “Available indicators suggest that the licensed premises ‘culture’ in the study area is positive.” The document said the site has “excellent” public parking, public transport, taxi and pedestrian access. “The proposal will add to the diversity of the area by relating to a unique licensed food truck park; and while there are dwellings very nearby only appropriate music will be provided,” it said.

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Five-storey Werribee application By Alesha Capone A $22 million multi-storey development, including two medical centres and retail, has been proposed for Werribee. Wyndham council has received an application seeking permission to build the five-storey development across 74-76 Cottrell Street and 108-112 Werribee Street North. The plan includes 33 offices, six shops, two allied health tenancies and a childcare centre with an outdoor area. A total of 220 car parks, which will be

accessible from Cottrell and Stawell streets, and 57 bicycle spaces are also included in the proposal. A report submitted with the planning permit application said the proposal “aims to deliver a dynamic and multipurpose space for Werribee’s community”. A two-storey podium, measuring nine metres in height with a three-level tower on top, is another feature of the development plan, which were submitted to the council on behalf of Werribee Centre Pty Ltd. “The proposal does not result in any unreasonable off-site amenity impacts by

way of visual bulk and mass, overlooking, overshadowing or vehicle traffic,” the document reads. “The car parking is considered satisfactory and in line with current activity centre and public transport network.” The council last year granted a permit for multi-storey buildings, of up to eight levels, to be constructed at the Cottrell Street and Werribee Street North sites, including an aged care facility, medical centre and a food and drink premises. In this new application, it is proposed that the development’s six shop tenancies will be

located on the ground floor. The two allied health tenancies will be located on the ground and first floor, measuring 649 square metres and 836 square metres in size. The childcare centre, on level two, will measure 1489 square metres. It will be accessible via a lobby and entry area at ground level via Stawell Street, with dedicated parking and drop-off areas separate to the other car parking available at the site.

Dogs’ dream shattered Melbourne rained on the parade of the Western Bulldogs, winning this year’s AFL grand final. With the grand final in Perth and lockdown restricting parties, fans took to social media and got creative decorating their houses to show their support. The western suburbs were turned red, white and blue in support of the Bulldogs. While the cheer squad was stuck in Melbourne, about 12 diehard Bulldogs fans were able to get together in Beveridge to make the banner, which was then couriered across to Perth. While the support was well felt by the club and players, it wasn’t enough to get them across the line. After leading by 19 points in the third quarter, it all went wrong for the Dogs as they kicked just one more goal for the game. The Demons started to fire on all cylinders

Western Bulldodgs Zaine Cordy takes a grab in front of Tom McDonald. (AAP Image, Richard Wainwright.)

and ran away with a historic 21.14 (140)-10.6 (66) win, breaking a 57 year premiership drought.

The banner was created by the Dogs’ cheer squad in Melbourne.

(AAP Image, Richard Wainwright.)

Wednesday, 29 September, 2021 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 3

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Sharing a passion for coffee By Alesha Capone George Bittar says he has been enjoying coffee for longer than he can remember. With International Coffee Day – which is held annually to educate people about the history and popularity of coffee - approaching on Friday, October 1, Mr Bittar shared his story with Star Weekly. Mr Bittar established Chalk Coffee Roasters as a home business about three years ago, before moving into a Hoppers Crossing site which serves as a roastery, coffee shop and cafe early this year. “What I remember is that in the last 15 years or so I started trying different coffees to make at home and exploring coffee shops around Melbourne,” Mr Bittar said.

“At that point I started investing in better coffee machines for home and honing on my coffee-making skills. “I also got a small coffee roaster, which kept me happy - and busy - for a couple of years. “I had this thing at the back of my mind that I should be roasting specialty, high-quality coffee commercially. “Coffee is a huge passion of mine and I wanted to bring high-quality specialty coffee to our area here in the west, given most of the good roasteries are at inner Melbourne.” Mr Bittar said that opening up in Hoppers Crossing just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit was “ really tough” with many cafes closing or operating with reduced hours. “There’s not a lot of demand at the moment

and cafe owners are hesitant to make any commitment or change coffee suppliers given the current circumstances,” he said. However, Mr Bittar said that he feels “very grateful” for his regular customers and being able to sell coffee bags online. “I have been very lucky and have been getting great feedback both from cafe customers and from retail customers,” he said. “I think this is a combination of being able to source great quality coffee beans and the passion we put into it. “I only source high-quality coffee beans from reputable importers. “Specialty coffee beans can be expensive but you can certainly notice the quality in the cup.” Details: https://www.chalkcoffee.com.au/

George Bittar with his roasting machine. (Joe Mastroianni). 251733_02

Phone tower bid causes ‘stress’ for residents Wyndham council has approved plans to erect a phone tower in Point Cook, despite one councillor voting against the proposal because of the “stress” it has caused residents. The application to install the telephone monopole at 280–286 Point Cook Road, within the Sanctuary Lakes Hotel rear carpark, attracted 25 objections. According to a council report, the objections related to the appearance of the 25.6-metre tall pole, environmental impacts, “perceived negative health effects” and property devaluation. The site is surrounded by residential areas on three sides.

A childcare centre adjoins the site to the north and a primary school is situated about 185 metres further north. The application to the council, prepared by Kordia Solutions on behalf of Optus Mobile, said the telecommunications facility has been designed to comply with radiofrequency emission exposure levels set by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency. However, speaking at a planning meeting earlier this month, Cr Jasmine Hill said that in reading the objectors’ letters, she could tell the monopole proposal has triggered “very high anxiety levels among our people”.

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Cr Hill said some parents had written they would remove their children from the nearby school “because they worry about the potential radiation”. Point Cook resident Sharon Yap spoke against the monopole proposal at the council meeting. Ms Yap said that she had previously worked at the RMIT University building in Melbourne’s CBD which was labelled as a potential “cancer cluster” in 2006, after more than 15 staff members based in the top two storeys developed tumours. Amid fears the tumours could be linked to mobile phone towers on the Bourke Street

building’s roof, the university tested for radiation emissions and shut part of the site for two months. An independent study later found there was no evidence of a cancer cluster at the building. However, Ms Yap said: “I was in that building during that time and I saw seven of my colleagues get a brain tumour”. She said that as a result, having a mobile phone tower close to a school and her home was a cause for concern. Alesha Capone

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Bell sounds on classroom career By Alesha Capone Jenny Wilkins says that helping children to become confident as they learn is one of most enjoyable aspects of teaching. Ms Wilkins has worked at Mossfiel Primary School in Hoppers Crossing for more than 20 years. Before that, she taught at Woodville Primary School and Glen Devon Primary School. Ms Wilkins was recently recognised for her years of service in the education field, along more than 340 other teachers and school staff across the state. The state government’s Recognition of Service to Victorian Education program celebrates school employees who have achieved 40, 45 or 50 years in the industry. Ms Wilkins, who received her 45-year accolade, said that in addition to being a classroom teacher, she has served as a literacy coach, literacy leader and in the Reading Recovery program. “It’s just a great career and working with

Jenny Wilkins.

(Joe Mastroianni). 251794_02

children can be very rewarding, although sometimes it’s quite hard,” she said. Ms Wilkins said she enjoyed building

pupils’ confidence in a happy, secure and welcoming learning environment. “It’s just building those relationships and the lightbulb moments when they reach a milestone on their learning,” she said. “Just those moments where they look as you as if to say, ‘I can do this’.” Ms Wilkins said she also liked being greeted by youngsters and former pupils while out in the community. “Once an ex-student who became a nurse came up to me and said: ‘Thanks for making me read’,” Ms Wilkins said. “Something like that really gives you a buzz.” Ms Wilkins said she started working at Mossfiel, where her three daughters were pupils , as it made the family’s morning routines much easier. “I have no regrets, it’s a great school,” she said. One of Ms Wilkins’ daughters has followed in her footsteps to become a teacher, while the other two have pursued careers as a scientist

and in public relations. Ms Wilkins said decided to become a teacher while in high school, after her tradie father became a teacher in the technical school system. “I started my career using chalk, then computers came in, followed by interactive whiteboards and now we have remote learning,” she said. “I’ve learned you cannot replace face-to-face teaching, it’s so valuable.” Ms Wilkins said that when she retires at the end of this year, she hopes to spend more time with her family and return to her hobby of golf. The Recognition of Service to Victorian Education program also recognised Robert Graham and Sophie Zwolanski-Morovic from The Grange P-12 College for 45 years in the field, along with William Wringe from Point Cook Senior Secondary College. Woodville Primary School staff member Christina Dodds has been recognised for 50 years in the industry.

Wyndham leads the way on COVID vaccinations By Alesha Capone More than 75 per cent of Wyndham residents aged 15 and above have undergone their first COVID-19 vaccination. Figures from the federal government show that Wyndham is leading the way for first vaccines against the coronavirus, within Melbourne’s west. In the Hobsons Bay municipality, 73 per cent of residents have been vaccinated at least

once, along with 67 per cent of residents in both Melton and Maribyrnong. In Brimbank, which includes Sunshine and St Albans, 64 per cent of residents have had a first vaccination. Wyndham mayor Adele Hegedich said that just six weeks ago, in early August, just 49 per cent of locals had been vaccinated against COVID. Cr Hegedich said residents, the council, local GPs and Western Health have worked

together since then to “supercharge” the vaccination rate. “What this shows us is that our community is strongly committed to doing the right thing,” she said. “Since the pandemic began, Wyndham city has looked beyond its traditional local government role to support the community. “In the most recent outbreak, we’ve delivered food relief to 1600 individuals isolating, and thousands more over the past 18 months.”

Over the next few weeks, increased amounts of vaccines will also be available at local pharmacies. “We’ve got plans to build on these efforts as pharmacies begin administering the vaccine, by providing council facilities to our pharmacies to vaccinate the community – removing the pressures of a smaller retail setting and allowing them to book more people in each day,” Cr Hegedich said

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Paramedic boost for Wyndham By Alesha Capone A new ambulance service to help non-emergency patients across eight municipalities, including Wyndham, has been launched by the state government. Minister for Ambulance Services Martin Foley announced on Friday that the Medium Acuity Transport Service (MATS) would hit the road this week. MATS is the first stage of a $266 million investment in the state government’s 2021-22 budget to reduce ambulance response times. The service, which consists of 22 vehicles

and 165 staff, partners paramedic recruits with more experienced Ambulance Victoria staff to allow the newer employees to learn from their more senior counterparts. Apart from Wyndham, MATS also covers Casey, Greater Dandenong, Hume, Knox, Kingston, Maroondah and the Mornington Peninsula. With up to 15 MATS crews working every day, the teams provide medical care to code two and code three patients classified as “medium acuity” - like people who need cardiac monitoring or who are on home ventilation.

“High acuity” patients - also known as “code one” - are those experiencing a life-threatening medical condition, such as a cardiac arrest, heart attack or stroke. Data released by Ambulance Victoria in August showed that the average ambulance response time in Wyndham was 13.18 minutes, for code one emergencies between April and June this year. For code two cases, the average response time was 34.20 minutes. Mr Foley said adding the MATS service across eight of Victoria’s busiest municipalities would free up other Ambulance Victoria

crews to attend the most urgent emergency situations. “The pandemic has had a lasting impact, and right across Australia we’re seeing more ambulance callouts – this new service will ensure Victorians continues to have access to the world-class care they deserve,” Mr Foley said. “We’re creating jobs while boosting the paramedic workforce to ensure Victorians receive world-class care when they’re needed most – protecting our health system and saving lives.”

Video is a virtual hit By Alesha Capone A music video featuring students and staff from Woodville Primary School in Hoppers Crossing is helping to keep spirits high during lockdown. The clip, the brainchild of PE teacher Tom Digby, shows pupils, teachers and others from the school community – some in costumes - dancing to Nutbush City Limits in their houses, backyards and other locations. Since being uploaded to YouTube just over a fortnight ago, it has been viewed more than 450 times. Mr Digby said he contacted Woodville families and staff, asking them to contribute footage for the video, in an effort to keep students moving and exercising through dancing. He then edited the various contributed clips into one video.

“I wanted to keep that community spirit going at the school, I’ve only been at the school for a year and the community is amazing,” Mr Digby said. “Even if the kids didn’t do the Nutbush, they could send in videos of them dancing or waving. “The main thing I didn’t expect was for so many people to send me videos.” Mr Digby said the project was another way for students to see the teachers they have been missing during lockdown. “I really enjoyed making it, I make a lot of videos for the kids and interactive PE videos for the kids to do at home,” he said. “I did it for the families and kids at the school it was a lot of fun making it. “I really enjoyed making it and it is inspiring me to make more videos for the kids.” Details: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=rzHT-xPbbiE

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Plans for a new $3 million childcare centre in Truganina have been revealed, with a proposal for the 124- place centre lodged with Melton Council. (Supplied)

Stockland plans childcare boost By Benjamin Millar Plans for a new $3 million childcare centre in Truganina have been revealed, with a proposal for the 124- place centre lodged with Melton Council. The proposal by Stockland Development for the vacant 1988 square metre site at 73 Altezze Drive is part of the Grandview master-planned community under construction by Stockland. A town planning report prepared by Collie notes that the site is directly opposite a future local convenience centre to the north, as well as a future community centre and local sports reserve to the west. “In addition, land to the immediate northwest of the community centre is identified for a government primary school,” it states. Lots are also being developed for residential purposes within Grandview to the south and the site adjoins future residential land to the east. “As the surrounding area will be characterised predominately by residential development…

the proposed child care centre will be well supported and will integrate well with the school and other surrounding commercial uses, facilities and services,” according to the report. The two-storey centre would be up to 8 metres high and built on the corner of Altezze Drive and Altar Street. Plans show the building comprises a reception and waiting area, seven child care rooms, shared bathroom facilities, a sleep room for the children, areas for staff and storage areas. A 564 square metre outdoor play area would be built at ground level on the north and east sides of the building, with a second 346 square metre outdoor play area built in the form of a roof deck at first floor level on the north side of the building. A 23 space car park would be built to the south of the building with access via Altezze Drive. Melton Council is yet to make a decision on the proposal.

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If you have a great start-up business idea, or an ĞǆŝƐƟŶŐ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƐ ůŽŽŬŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĐŽŵŵĞƌĐŝĂůŝƐĞ a new product or service, then Wyndham City ǁĂŶƚƐ ƚŽ ŚĞĂƌ ĨƌŽŵ ǇŽƵ͊ dŚĞ tzEŶŽǀĂƟŽŶ ʹ WŝƚĐŚ ŽŵƉĞƟƟŽŶ ĂŝŵƐ ƚŽ ƵŶĐŽǀĞƌ ůŽĐĂů ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌƐ and give them the tools and skills they need to ƉŝƚĐŚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŝĚĞĂƐ͕ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ Žƌ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ƚŽ ƉŽƚĞŶƟĂů investors and customers. Successful applicants will go through a four-stage workshop where they ǁŝůů ůĞĂƌŶ Ăůů ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ Ăƌƚ ŽĨ ƉŝƚĐŚŝŶŐ͘ ƚ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ of these workshops they will compete in the big ĮŶĂůĞ͕ ǁŚĞƌĞ ƚŚĞǇ ĐŽƵůĚ ƐŚĂƌĞ ŝŶ Ă ƚŽƚĂů ŽĨ Ψϳ͕ϬϬϬ ŝŶ ƉƌŝǌĞ ŵŽŶĞǇ͊ ƉƉůǇ ƚŽ ƚĂŬĞ ƉĂƌƚ ŶŽǁ ďǇ ǀŝƐŝƟŶŐ ŚƩƉƐ͗ͬͬǁǁǁ͘ǁǇŶĚŚĂŵ͘ǀŝĐ͘ŐŽǀ͘ĂƵͬǁǇŶŶŽǀĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ŐŽŽĚ ůƵĐŬ͊

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Wyndham is a proudly diverse community, with our residents coming from over 120 countries and roughly 50 per cent of people speaking a language other than English at home. In pre Ks/ Ͳϭϵ ƟŵĞƐ͕ ǁĞ ǁŽƵůĚ ǁĞůĐŽŵĞ ƚŚŽƵƐĂŶĚƐ ŽĨ ŶĞǁ ƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚƐ Ăƚ ůĂƌŐĞ ĐŝƟǌĞŶƐŚŝƉ ĐĞƌĞŵŽŶŝĞƐ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĞƌĞ ǀĞƌǇ ĞŵŽƟŽŶĂů ĂŶĚ ŝŶƐƉŝƌŝŶŐ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ͘ Unfortunately we have been unable to hold ƚŚĞƐĞ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ ĨŽƌ ƋƵŝƚĞ ƐŽŵĞ ƟŵĞ͘ ZĞĐĞŶƚůǇ / ŚĂĚ ƚŚĞ ũŽǇ ŽĨ ŚŽƐƟŶŐ Ă ƐĞƌŝĞƐ ŽĨ ŽŶůŝŶĞ ĐŝƟǌĞŶƐŚŝƉ ceremonies though, with 187 people taking the ƉůĞĚŐĞ ƚŽ ŽĸĐŝĂůůǇ ďĞĐŽŵĞ ƵƐƚƌĂůŝĂŶ ĐŝƟǌĞŶƐ ŝŶ Ă ǀŝƌƚƵĂů ƐĞƫŶŐ͘ /ƚ ǁĂƐ ĨĂŶƚĂƐƟĐ ƚŽ ƐĞĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƐŵŝůŝŶŐ faces and hear of their pure happiness as they ƚŽŽŬ ƚŚŝƐ ůŝĨĞͲĐŚĂŶŐŝŶŐ ƐƚĞƉ͘ tĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ ŚŽƐƟŶŐ ŵŽƌĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞƐĞ ǀŝƌƚƵĂů ĐĞƌĞŵŽŶŝĞƐ ƵŶƟů ƚŚĞ ƉƵďůŝĐ health advice allows us to once again hold the in-person gatherings that we all miss so much. ŽŶŐƌĂƚƵůĂƟŽŶƐ ƚŽ Ăůů ŽĨ tǇŶĚŚĂŵ͛Ɛ ŶĞǁĞƐƚ ƵƐƚƌĂůŝĂŶƐ ĂŶĚ ǁĞůĐŽŵĞ ƚŽ ǇŽƵƌ ŶĞǁ ŚŽŵĞ͊

Belinda with new-born son Oliver, and two year-old Arlo. Both boys were born outside of Wyndham, but spent time as patients in Werribee Mercy Hospital’s Special Care Nursery. (Joe Mastroianni) 226335_01

By Alesha Capone Demand for birthing suites at Werribee Mercy Hospital has reached capacity. The hospital welcomed 3833 babies in 2020, slightly lower than the 3888 babies delivered there in 2019. Health services chief executive Jason Payne said Werribee Mercy Hospital’s birthing numbers had remained steady over the past two years because the birthing suites were unable to accommodate any more expectant mums. He said some pregnant women within the Werribee Mercy Hospital catchment are

being forced to use services at public hospitals outside the area. “The demand exists for Werribee Mercy Hospital to deliver more babies locally but this cannot occur without expanded facilities,” Mr Payne said. “It would be preferable that local families had access to more of the best high quality and safe public birthing services at Werribee Mercy Hospital, so they don’t have to travel.” Mr Payne said planning was under way to boost the capacity of the birthing suites. “A third stage of Werribee Mercy Hospital, which is currently in the final stages of planning, will involve the creation of more

birthing suites, additional post-natal beds, and other ante and post-natal facilities, accompanied by additional midwifery and nursing staff. “Based on demand for existing maternity services, it is projected that Werribee Mercy Hospital would be well placed to meet an anticipated increase in demand of up to 30 per cent more babies in the western metro area.” Mr Payne said Mercy Health has been working with the Victorian Health and Human Services Building Authority and the Department of Health and Human Services since 2016 to prepare for the future needs of Werribee Mercy.

In November’s state budget, $4.8 million was allocated to finalise planning for the third stage of the hospital’s development. “We have acknowledged publicly the funding was a clear sign the voices of the people of the west of Melbourne are being heard and government is committed to meeting a major upgrade,” Mr Payne said. Mercy Health Group chief executive, Adjunct Professor Stephen Cornelissen, said the next stage of Werribee Mercy Hospital’s construction required $300 million in funding “to ensure the people of Wyndham receive the level and quality of health services they deserve and need”.

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www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/contactus www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/connectwithus mail@wyndham.vic.gov.au Translating & Interpreting Services 13 14 50 Wednesday, 29 September, 2021 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 7

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IT grants Four local kindergartens will receive grants of up to $1500 to buy new IT equipment to support educational programs. Balim Balim Kindergarten at the Wunggurrwil Dhurrung Centre, Riverwalk Primary School Kindergarten, Quantin Binnah Community Centre and Goodstart Early Learning Werribee have all been allocated funding under the state government’s Building Blocks Improvement Grants initiative.

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Celebrity chef Miguel Maestre will show families how to cook delicious fare at home during the school holidays. (Supplied)

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Cooking up holiday fun Developer Stockland is offering an exciting array of virtual activities and projects to help keep kids busy these school holidays. Stockland Point Cook centre manager Frank Pizi said there was a wide variety of activities available for youngsters. “We still want to inspire creativity and challenge kids to explore new learnings, despite spending more of their school holidays at home,” Mr Pizi said. “These school holidays we’ve taken our campaign online, and are offering a great range of virtual fun activities to occupy kids – from live-streamed cooking classes with celebrity chef Miguel Maestre and his two children, to a four-part comic book sketching workshop, and DIY crafts.” Mr Maestre, accompanied by his kids

Claudia and Morgan, will show families how to cook delicious food in the comfort of their own kitchens in a series of videos. The recipes will include fluffy cinnamon and vanilla sticky buns and woodfire margherita pizza. The videos will be available both live and on demand, with the pizza clip scheduled for release on Friday, September 24. An online four-part comic book workshop, led by professional comic book artist Marcelo Baez - who has worked with Marvel, Microsoft and National Geographic - will be held for seven to 12 year-olds. The workshops will run between Thursday, September 28 and Friday, October 1, and cover topics such as character design and techniques. Registration is mandatory for the comic book workshops.

Parks Victoria is running community consultation on its Disability Action Plan, which will help guide priorities and actions needed to welcome all people to the state’s open spaces. Parks Victoria will host a series of online focus groups and a survey for community feedback. Visit engage. vic.gov.au/parks-disability-action-plan or call 13 19 63.

Tourism recovery Victoria University is working on a project to support the recovery of tourism in Melbourne’s west following the pandemic. The initiative is being completed in partnership with Western Melbourne Tourism and the Victoria Tourism Industry Council. Business operators are being asked to participate in an anonymous survey See bit.ly/melbswest-tourism-survey. FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Wyndham Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

Last week, St Vincent’s Private Private Hospital Werribee team A message from St Vincent’s Private Hospital Werribee (SVPHW) to deliver more vaccinations teamed up with Werribee Mercy during this crucial time in the Hospital Werribee: As we continue to see an increase in cases of the Delta variant as well as more exposure sites across the state, it is becoming more important to arm ourselves against coronavirus.

Hospital to relocate the Western Health Vaccination Hub to the SVPHW site and do their bit to fight the virus, save lives and return to normality.

pandemic,” says Angela Cook, Nurse Unit Manager at Werribee Mercy Hospital.

In the first week, 717 Vaccines were administered “We are happy to be working to the community, which is together with the St Vincent’s planned to expand to over

2000 vaccines per week in the weeks to follow - making a significant contribution to the state’s vaccination roadmap. At the time of publication, the Werribee Mercy and St Vincent’s Private Werribee Vaccination Hub has provided over 5977 vaccinations. “We are delighted that the relocation of the vaccination hub to St Vincent’s Private Hospital Werribee has enabled the service expansion providing more vaccines to more people in our local community,” explains SVPHW General Manager and Director of Clinical Services, Libby Fifis. “It’s been a privilege to work together with the Werribee Mercy Hospital team to provide this critical healthcare service to the communities in the west. It’s also a great opportunity for people to see the wonderful hospital facilities that SVPHW has on offer.” To book an appointment at the Werribee Vaccination Hub, please call the Victoria Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398 or visit covid19vaccination.wh.org.au/ vaccination-booking/werribee. 12514682-SN40-21

8 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 29 September, 2021

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John Forrester, Lisa Field and Darryl Wells are celebrating the Werribee River Association’s 40th anniversary. photo shows Darryl Wells at the K Road Cliffs. (Supplied/WRA)

(Damjan Janevski) 250854

NEWS

Inset: An article published in the Werribee Banner during 1983. The

River advocates mark milestone By Alesha Capone The Werribee River Association (WRA) is celebrating its 40th anniversary of working to protect and maintain the beautiful local waterway. The WRA’s inaugural president Darryl Wells said he has always considered the river to be Werribee’s best asset. “When I was a kid, I was born and grew up in Werribee, you could watch the platypuses in the river behind the main street,” Mr Wells said. “Birds live near the river and they are great, you can hear them if you live nearby and they also go into people’s gardens.” Mr Wells is a font of knowledge when it comes to the river’s history. He said that when the first rail bridge was built across the river in the 1860s-70s, wood from Tasmania was brought in on a barge. “Before rail came in, the Chirnside family would transport their wool using the riverway,” Mr Wells said. In March 1938, an 18-tonne sleep named Childe Harold anchored on the river was seized by bushrangers. The bushrangers loaded stolen firearms and money onto the ship, which was transporting lime at the time. “There was also a cutter in the bay and police used it to chase the ship, and the bushrangers were caught,” Mr Wells said. Police pursued the Childe Harold for around three days, eventually catching the bushrangers, who were transported to Sydney for trial. As the years went on, Bungey’s Hole became a popular swimming spot in Werribee, and local school children looked after sections of the river. “As the community grows, people have more access to the river, and it’s important to look after it,” Mr Wells said. “It’s been here a lot longer than we have and because people have cared about it, that’s why we still have it today.” Werribee Riverkeeper John Forrester, who joined the WRA in 1993, said the association’s members were still fighting many of the same battles they faced four decades ago - such as water quality issues, water levels and efforts to protect the Werribee River’s platypus

Bungey’s Hole is popular with swimmers. (Joe Mastroianni) 251204_06

population. Mr Forrester said that across this timeframe, the WRA has advocated alongside other volunteer groups to help improve Wyndham’s waterways and landscapes. “We have caused changes in planning laws, the environment and brought money to the town,” Mr he said. The WRA’s community and business development manager, Lisa Field – who is also the committee’s chairperson for this year – is putting together a history of the WRA’s activities. Ms Field said she going through the association’s old minutes, thanks to a state government grant, and compiling them into a book. Ms Field said that in the 1970s, land around the river was used as a “dumping ground” for soil and building materials. As factories and houses were built near the river, its water quality also suffered. Ms Field said that litter along the river “has become an even stronger concern” nowadays than in the past. She said that reading about the WRA’s history has given her an insight into how Werribee looked before the 1980s. “I really get a sense of the landscape here in the town, there were no paths, lots of weeds, no public land along the river,” she said. “A lot of work has been done over the decades and the interesting thing is there is still much more to be done, especially as we move into a hotter climate.” Details: https://werribeeriver.org.au, https:// www.facebook.com/werribeeriverkeeper/

The mighty Werribee River and surrounds.

(Pictures: Joe Mastroianni) 251204 Wednesday, 29 September, 2021 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 13

FEATURING ... MY BUSINESS

The family-orientated business is led by Jazz Singh.

Advertising feature

Another happy family who secured their home thanks to Jazz Real Estate.

(Supplied)

Passion for property drives results at Jazz Real Estate By Elle Cecil Point Cook business Jazz Real Estate has a rich history in the industry, with over 25 years of experience in property sales and management. CEO and estate agent Jazz Singh has found his passion in real estate. With the aim of assisting people to start a new chapter in their lives, Jazz Real Estate’s property sales and leases are a result of years of hard work and perseverance in the industry. Working in the industry for over a decade, Jazz is deeply committed to his profession and

wants to be clients’ first thought when looking to sell, buy or lease property. “We absolutely love what we do and our passion for our clients makes us work harder,” Jazz says. “Our innovation and commitment to achieve the best prices as well as constant learning and development sets us apart from our competitors.” With the pandemic raging over the last year and a half, Jazz Real Estate has invested in extensive professional training to stay up to date with new skills, and have even begun working with a former FBI investigator to

further develop negotiation skills and assist clients in getting great prices on private sales. To combat lockdowns, Jazz Real Estate has also implemented state of the art tools and technologies to conduct private inspections, virtual auctions and tours, as well as the ability to digitally sign contracts. “We have an extensive and out-of-the-box mindset which allows us to learn and develop new and innovative ideas, with the focus on the journey and the outcome for the client,” says Jazz. These innovative strategies have been extremely successful, with many homes being

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Website: jazzrealestate.eview.com.au 14 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 29 September, 2021

12515147-BL40-21

03 8781 3853

PUZZLES SUDOKU

No. 048

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.

ACROSS

easy

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

3 7 9 8 7 1

DOWN

Disappoint (4) African island nation (10) Sovereign (7) Yield; submit (7) Understandable (8) Come in (5) Clone (4) Part of airport (10) Taking something by force (10) Laid bare (4) Woody plants (5) Cutting tool (8) Hockey-like game (7) Annoying (7) The share in relation to the whole (10) Ditch (4)

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

No. 048

Nourish (4) Extempore (9) Contract (9) Holding (5) Very old (7) Tally (5) New South Wales electoral division (9) Cedar, acacia for example (4) Romance (9) Undergoing mental anguish (9) Storehouse (9) Accepting without resistance (7) Mistake (5) Vision (5) Cause (4) Internet joke (4)

1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 14 16 17 19 22 23 24 25

1 5

DECODER

No. 048

4 3 7

9 1 8

2 8 1 7 5 2 6 8 1 5

1 8 5

4 3

8 hard

6 7

10 11 12 13

D K 21

Today’s Aim: 15 words: Good 23 words: Very good

4 1 3 2 6 5 8 7 9

2 5 6 7 8 9 1 3 4

7 4 2 6 1 8 5 9 3

GENIE GONNA GREET INLET IRATE LARVA LINGO LUPIN PALER PONDS RENDS RESTS RIVET SAILS SCANT SIEGE SILOS SLATS SLEDS SOLAR SPADE

STAID TIARA TONES TOPIC URINE USERS USING VEILS YESES 6 LETTERS ITALIC OTTERS SLEEKS SNEAKS

7 LETTERS COTTAGE DUSTBIN ISSUING PASSION PERSONA PURSING 8 LETTERS ENTANGLE ESPECIAL IDEOLOGY YODELLED

01-10-21

No. 048 Insert the missing letters to make 10 words – five reading across the grid and five reading down.

QUICK QUIZ

In what year does the original Blade Runner take place?

Which planet in our solar system is the most massive?

And who stars as Blade Runner K in Blade Runner 2049?

Approximately how many days does it take to incubate a chicken egg?

Sarah Gadon (pictured) plays the lead role in which 2017 Margaret Atwood adaptation?

In what year did Victoria start observing a public holiday for the AFL grand final?

NOTE: more than one solution may be possible 4

E R S

S A Y

E A D S R B I T A U N A

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

4 LETTERS BATS BEER EATS GEAR MATS MESS OPEN PIER PURR SEAL STIR TARS TEEM VOWS

No. 048

amble, balm, beam, biome, blame, embalm, emboli, iamb, imam, IMMOVABLE, lamb, lame, lemma, limb, limbo, lime, loam, mail, maim, male, mambo, meal, mile, milo, mime, mobile, moil, mole, movable, move, movie

8 3 5 9 7 2 4 1 6

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

R O S

1 5 3 7 6 8 9 2 4

9 8 7 1 3 4 2 6 5

5 LETTERS ABETS ADORE AORTA AURAL BAGGY BASKS BITES BLISS CELLO CYSTS EAGER EARLS EASEL EDGER EDICT ELITE ENDOW EVADE EVENT GAPES

3 7 8 5 4 6 9 2 1

6 2 4 8 9 1 3 5 7

5 6 4 8 7 9 2 1 3

7 3 1 9 2 4 8 5 6

4 2 8 6 5 1 3 7 9

U E

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”.

7 4 2 1 9 3 8 5 6

8 6 9 2 4 5 7 3 1

6 7 5 8 1 9 3 4 2

6 5 9 7 8 3 4 2 1

1 4 3 5 9 6 7 8 2

9 7 6 2 4 8 1 3 5

9-LETTER WORD

31 words: Excellent

A R

medium

2 9 4 3 5 6 1 8 7

3 1 8 4 2 7 5 6 9

9 8 1 6 3 2 4 7 5

4 2 7 5 8 1 6 9 3

5 3 6 9 7 4 2 1 8

2 8 5 3 1 7 9 6 4

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

easy

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

4 1 7 9

hard

5x5

5 6 4 1

8 6 2 5 8 1 3

3 LETTERS ADO AIL AIM ANY ARE ASH ASS AVO BOA BOO DAD EAR GOT HUE KIT LSD NEE OVA POT RED SAD TIE TNT TOO

E VMU C N T Y G F A J O

7 4 6 3

4 7 6 5

L Q P X B RW I Z H S D K

WORDFIT

Which ocean basin is the most recently named: the Southern, Pacific or Atlantic Ocean?

A musical group of five players is usually known as a what?

The study of writing and solving codes is called what?

10 Who directed the first two episodes of US sci-fi series Raised by Wolves, released in 2020? ANSWERS: 1. 2019 2. Ryan Gosling 3. 21 4. Southern Ocean 5. Quintet 6. Cryptology 7. Jupiter 8. Alias Grace 9. 2015 10. Ridley Scott

medium

QUICK CROSSWORD

Wednesday, 29 September, 2021 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 15

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General Notices PUBLIC NOTICE PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT ACT 1987 FORM 2 PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT REGULATIONS 2015

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Wyndham City Council has contracted Citywide Service Solutions Pty Ltd to manage its Vegetation Electrical Line Clearance Program. As part of this program, the street trees and power-lines are inspected regularly to ensure no impact to power supply through conﬂict with trees. All vegetation maintenance work is required to be carried out in compliance with the Electrical Safety Act (Electric Line Clearance) 2020 Regulations. These regulations stipulate a minimum safe clearance between trees and power-lines, to keep re-growth clear of power lines. Wyndham City Council is responsible for management of power line clearance in the area highlighted in the map below. The tree works in this area will be carried out over the next four months. Regular auditing occurs throughout the year. All works will be conducted in accordance with the Wyndham City Council Tree Policy 2019. If you have any inquiries regarding the above please contact Ron Mifsud - Area Leader Arboriculture, Wyndham City Council on 9742 0777.

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DISCRIMINATION IN ADVERTISING IS UNLAWFUL The Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 1995 makes it unlawful for an advertiser to show any intention to discriminate on the basis of sex, pregnancy, race, age, marital status, political or religious belief or physical features, disability, lawful sexual activity/sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS status or on the basis of being associated with a person with one of the above characteristics, unless covered by an exception under the Act. As Network Classifieds could be legally liable if an unlawful advertisement is printed, Network Classifieds will not accept advertisements that appear to break the law. For more information about discrimination in advertising, contact your legal advisers or the Equal Opportunity Commission. Wednesday, 29 September, 2021 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 17

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Life without limits in the Navara By Alistair Kennedy, Marque Motoring The Nissan Navara PRO-4X utility was launched in December 2020 to replace the previous N-Trek Warrior as the brand’s top-end serious off-road vehicle. As such it competes against vehicles like the Ford Ranger Wildtrak, Toyota HiLux Rogue, and Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain. Like most of its competitors Navara is sold in a variety of bodies, everything from a bare bones cab-chassis, through single cab and extended cab to a four-door double cab, all with automatic transmission as standard but many with the option of a manual gearbox. In ascending price order, the full Navara model range runs SL, ST, ST-X and PRO-4X. Prices range from $32,000 to $60,630 plus on-road costs. That top spot in the Navara range was recently taken over by the new PRO-4X Warrior which arrived in August 2021 and is priced at just under $70,000. Both the PRO-4X, which is our review vehicle, and the Warrior will sell alongside each other.

Styling The most noticeable external differences between the PRO-4X and the rest of the Navara range are the black features that replace the chrome. These include the grille with its dark grey surrounds, side window surrounds, privacy glass, stainless steel sports bar, door hands and mirrors, roof rails, and fender flares. The black is offset by small red highlights on the Nissan badges on the grille and tailgate, front bumper and at the apex of the wheel arches. The wheels are 17-inch black alloys which are at odds with the PRO-4Xs off-road credentials and large wheel arches although they do come with Yokohama Geolander all-terrain tyres. Four body colours are available: White Pearl, Burning Red and Black Star which it shares with the other models in the range together with Stealth Grey which is exclusive to the PRO-4X and which was our test vehicle. A full-size steel spare wheel is bolted beneath the tray.

Interior The Navara’s size can make entry and exit challenging for smaller occupants but fortunately the combination of a running board and grab handles is there to assist. PRO-4X gets leather accented seats with red and white stitching on the sides and a ribbed finish at the back. The front seats don’t have power adjustment or heating / cooling. There’s plenty of head and legroom and three adults can travel is reasonable comfort though, as is generally the way, two and a child would be preferable. The rear seat base can be lifted to provide a couple of secure spaces while the centre section of the three-panel rear window can be opened for extra air flow or to provide limited access to the tray. The touchscreen and controls are all large and sensibly located to be within easy reach of the driver.

Engines / transmissions Power for the PRO-4X comes from a Renault-sourced 2.3-litre twin turbo diesel engine which Navara shares with the Mercedes-Benz X-Class ute. It’s paired with the choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission. Maximum power is reached at 140kW with peak torque of 403 Nm with the manual gearbox and 450Nm from the auto from 1500rpm to 2500 rpm.

Safety Navara PRO-4X gets an extensive range of safety equipment that includes seven airbags; stability and traction control; enhanced ABS brakes; Hill Start Assist and Descent Control; Trailer Sway Control; Daytime Running Lights; Intelligent Forward Collision Warning; Intelligent Emergency Braking and 18 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 29 September, 2021

Chrome gives way to basic black with on the Nissan Navara PRO-4X.

Driver Alert; LED High Mounted Stop Light; automatic headlights; reversing camera; reverse parking sensors; Lane Departure Warning and Intervention; Blind Spot Warning and Intervention; Rear Cross Traffic Alert; two IsoFix child seat anchor points; and Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection.

Infotainment Display is through an 8.0-inch high-definition touchscreen with buttons on either side for quick access to the various features as well as voice activation. There’s integrated satellite navigation, DAB+ digital radio as well as wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. There are three USB sockets in the front and one (charge only) in the rear plus 12V outlets in the front although there is no wireless smartphone charging.

Driving The seats are large, supportive and comfortable although the lack of reach adjustment on the steering wheel did restrict our choice of driving position. Large windscreen, side windows and mirrors provide excellent visibility to the front and side although the three-panel rear window and large side headrests do restrict the rear view somewhat. There are four driving modes: Standard, Sport, Tow and Off Road. Standard for routine driving; Sport adjusts the gear changes for some driving fun; Tow maximises low down torque; while Urban driving is effectively the same as it would be in an equivalent SUV although

(Pictures: Supplied)

the 12.5-metre turning circle did require a bit of extra caution in car parking with the combination of reversing and 360-degree ‘overhead’ cameras and parking sensors doing their bit. Out onto the motorway and backroads the cabin has quite a refined feel with intrusion from wind or road noise kept to a minimum. There’s also a reassuring feel to the Navara’s handling and cornering. PRO-4X has a 220 mm ground clearance with a 32-degree approach angle and 19-degree departure angle. It is a full-time 2WD with the options of 4WD high and low settings. Fuel consumption of 8.1 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined urban / highway cycle is listed at for the PRO-4X. We averaged 9.4 L/100 km during our week-long test. On 4WD high with the Off-Road drive mode selected and the around-view camera helping to guide us we covered some moderately rutted and slippery terrain without any issues. We will save the more serious stuff for a future test of the new Warrior.

Summing up Realistically the PRO-4X is more about looking more rugged than the other models in the Navara range and the change from chrome to black, at least to our eyes, certainly succeed. While it is capable enough off-roader if you’re looking to get stuck into some serious off-road adventures, we’d suggest doing a comparison test between the PRO-4X and the new Warrior to decide whether the latter can justify the extra $9000-odd outlay. All Nissan models now come with a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty.

AT A GLANCE MODEL RANGE SL Single Cab Chassis Cab 4x2: $32,300 (manual), $34,800 (automatic) SL Single Cab Chassis Cab 4x4: $39,300 (manual), $41,800 (automatic) SL King Cab Chassis Cab 4x2: $38,800 (automatic) SL King Cab Chassis Cab 4x4: $45,800 (automatic) SL Dual Cab Pickup 4x2: $39,600 (manual), $42,100 (automatic) SL King Cab Pickup 4x4: $47,600 (automatic) SL Dual Cab Chassis Cab 4x4: $44,800 (manual), $47,300 (automatic) SL Dual Cab Pickup 4x4: $46,600 (manual), $49,100 (automatic) ST Dual Cab Pickup 4x2: $47,780 (automatic) ST Dual Cab Pickup 4x4: $52,280 (manual), $54,780 (automatic) ST-X Dual Cab Pickup 4x2: $51,270 (automatic) ST-X King Cab Pickup 4x4: $58,270 (automatic) ST-X Dual Cab Pickup 4x4: $55,770 (manual), $58,270 (automatic) PRO-4X Dual Cab Pickup 4x4: $58,130 (manual), $60,630 (automatic) PRO-4X Warrior Pickup 4x4: $67,490 (manual), $69,990 (automatic)

Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges.

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Rocci’s Opals dream comes true By Tara Murray Maddison Rocci’s dream of becoming an Australian Opal is now a reality. Having been part of a larger squad ahead of the Olympics, the Werribee-product will get her opportunity with the Opals team for the Asia Cup. “It’s always super exciting to represent your country,” Rocci said before the team headed off. “It’s an honour and I’m super excited to play for the Opals. “We had the squad list come out and then we got an email when the team was announced. “We leave for Jordan on the 23rd and the tournament starts on the 27th. We were meant to have a camp and play against New Zealand in the lead up but obviously with COVID-19 and the border stuff it didn’t happen. “I think we’re going to go straight to Jordan and maybe get one or two training sessions in before we will play our first game.” Rocci said the opportunity to train with some of the senior Australian players in the lead up to the Olympics would help her at the tournament. The 23-year-old said she learnt so much in a short period of time. “I think we only had three camps, but just those camps I went to, I learnt so much from those older girls and what they did on and off the court.

‘‘

Maddison Rocci at an Opals camp. (Pictures: Basketball Australia)

playing with experienced players has really helped - Maddison Rocci me

’’

“I think I learned the style the Opals like to play as well. Rocci isn’t a stranger to representing her country, having played in both the under-17, under-19 and emerging Opals teams. She said while those times were special, this Opals experience would be something completely different. Rocci will head into the tournament with some strong form behind her. Her team, Southern Districts Spartans in NBL1 North in Queensland, just finished up their season, where they finished runners-up. Rocci was named in the all-star 5 team averaging more than 18 points, nearly five assists and more than six rebounds a game. Rocci has spent the last few Women’s National Basketball League off-seasons up north. “My boyfriend lives in Queensland and plays with the Brisbane Lions, so I think that was a massive factor for me,” she said. “Being in Queensland it’s given me a really good opportunity to keep playing basketball and be in a training environment every single day. “I’ve really enjoyed playing in the Queensland competition, I think it’s at a standard where we have a few WNBL players in it now.” Rocci won’t have much rest when she returns to Australia from Opals duty, with the WNBL season fast approaching. No date has been announced for the competition, or whether it will be played in a hub like last year. Rocci will be pulling on some new colours this season, having signed with the Victorian-based South Side Flyers. The guard said it was a difficult decision to leave the Canberra Capitals where she had played the last four years. In that time, Rocci has been part of back-to-back premierships with the Capitals. With no imports last season, Rocci took an a bigger role averaging 16 points a game. She finished top five in the Suzy Batkovic Medal for the league’s most valuable player, top three in the youth player of the year and was named in the all-WNBL second team. “Leaving Canberra was a really hard decision as I really enjoyed playing there for my past four seasons,” she said. “I never really imagined my life in Canberra for six years [having spent two years at the AIS] but I look back on the last six years as a really

good experience and it’s something that really helped me moving forward into the next part of my basketball journey. “For me I came in there [the Capitals] so young as an 18-year-old. I was learning from the veterans. I played with such amazing leaders in front of me Leilani Mitchell, Kelly Wilson, Kelsey Griffin and Marianna Tolo … and Kia Nurse …. playing with experienced players has really helped me.” The desire to return to her home state played a major factor in her decision. Rocci said her parents were already getting her room ready at home in Werribee for when she moves back. She said she was excited to play in front of her family again, who haven’t seen many of her WNBL games. “I’m excited, the team we have at Southside is pretty special and I think playing with those Opals players will be really good for me and I’m really excited to learn off Jenna O’Hea. Just being with her in those camps, I can see how good she is as a leader and now I get to learn off someone like that.” Rocci said her aim was to make next year’s Australian World Cup side, with the Olympics firmly in her sights as well.

Maddison Rocci during her time at the Canberra Capitals.

(Sitthixay Ditthavong)

Wednesday, 29 September, 2021 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY 19

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