Star Weekly - Hobsons Bay Maribyrnong - 12th January 2022

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12 JANUARY, 2022

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A year interrupted YEAR IN REVIEW ... THE YEAR THAT WAS

Triplets Ella, Max and Will were among the many teenagers in Melbourne’s western suburbs who were keen to re-connect with family and friends after getting a COVID-19 vaccination. (Joe Mastroianni). 250243_02

game, after the state was plunged into a five day snap lockdown. In March, some of the first residents to move into a Williamstown North housing estate shared their fears for their families’ health after discovering their land was not decontaminated. Those who bought into stage one of a 107-townhouse development at 222-238 Kororoit Creek Road in Williamstown North demanded action after it was revealed subsequent stages of the development have been or will be cleaned up but the first 15 lots remained in limbo, according to builder Simply Built. In May, plans for an accumulative 3.5 per cent rate rise over two years divided Hobsons Bay council, while Maribyrnong council knocked back an application for affordable/social housing instead of student accommodation at a Seddon address after strong opposition from residents. Victoria entered its second lockdown for

2021 in late May, as concerns grew about an outbreak at Arcare’s Maidstone aged care centre. In June, Altona and West Footscray joined the million dollar club, with the median house price cracking $1 million. Lockdown returned in July after COVID-positive removalists from NSW visited a Maribyrnong apartment block. The lockdown was lifted on July 27 but the freedom was short-lived, with restrictions reintroduced just nine days later. Two major vaccination hubs were established in Altona North and Newport in September as infection numbers rose across Hobsons Bay. The council pleaded for more vaccine doses to be sent to the community. Western Bulldogs supporters didn’t let COVID restrictions prevent them for showing their support for their beloved Dogs in late September, with fans painting the town red, white and blue ahead the AFL Grand Final clash against Melbourne Football Club.

SEABROOK CRICKET CLUB 50 YEAR CELEBRATION SATURDAY 19TH FEBRUARY FROM 5PM ONWARDS Finger food & Live Music (Drinks at bar prices) Bruce Comben Reserve Altona Meadows VIC 3028 For bookings contact Cameron 0419 737 952

On October 27, Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong businesses were celebrating Melbourne’s reopening after the sixth lockdown. Maribyrnong council elected its youngest ever mayor in November, while Hobsons Bay’s longest serving councillor was returned to the top job for the third time. In December, the community rallied around the owners of a food truck company whose business was destroyed by fire. Fire tore through Happy Camper Pizza’s factory in Braybrook on December 15, destroying a 1960 -ra food truck and severely damaging two others. One of the owners, Sonia Lear, said the fire was the latest blow after an exhausting two years and not being able to operate the catering businesses through successive lockdowns. She said support from the local community had made the owners and staff vow to continue on and find ways to give back.

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2021 was meant to be the year that life returned to normal. Instead we found ourselves bouncing in and out of lockdowns as a new COVID-19 variant made its way to Australia. As the Delta variant took hold in Victoria, Melbourne earned the title as the most locked-down city in the world, notching up 267 days in lockdown since March 2020. Melbourne’s western and northern suburbs once again bore the brunt of Victoria’s COVID infections as the state’s third wave surged through households in Wyndham, Hobsons Bay, Brimbank, Hume, Melton, Whittlesea and Maribyrnong that were not yet eligible for vaccination. At the peak of the third wave, Hume, Wyndham, Brimbank, Melton and Whittlesea were the five most-infected local government areas in Victoria. But as more vaccinations became available, residents of Melbourne’s north and west turned out in record numbers to be jabbed, helping to halt Delta’s spread and enabling the city to reopen in time for Christmas. We look back at how 2021 unfolded across the western suburbs. Hobsons Bay councillors were calling for the Environment Protection Authority to act in January in the wake of two industrial fires in eight days, just over the municipal border in Laverton North. The fires were at Norstar Steel Recyclers in Dohertys Road and InfraBuild Recycling (formerly OneSteel) in Fitzgerald Road. Councillors Diana Grima and Matt Tyler said Hobsons Bay residents bore the brunt of the fires with “smoke filling our suburbs”. “We are calling on the EPA for swift action in relation to these incidents to understand what happened and to enforce penalties strongly, where appropriate,” they said in a joint written statement. In February, it was announced that the Altona Mobil refinery would close after 72 years to become an import terminal. The decision was described as “devastating”. A week later, Victoria was playing a waiting

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Citynews M A R I B Y R N O N G

A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

OUT AND ABOUT

Welcome to 2022! I hope you all had a refreshing festive season celebrating with loved ones. For those celebrating the Lunar New Year next month, let the festivities continue! According to the Lunar Calendar, 2022 is the year of the Tiger – which symbolises strength and courage – two qualities our community possess in abundance. The year of the Tiger is also the year of my birth. So to all my fellow Tigers, I wish you and your family a prosperous and wonderful year! I would like to thank and congratulate our resilient community for their efforts over the past two years – for all the kindness towards our neighbours and support shown to our small businesses and of course, for getting vaxxed. It was great to see the locals rallying together, making use of the pop-up clinics and getting those vax rates up. Our next mission, which I am sure our community will also accept, is booster shots and vaccines for 5-11 year olds. These are the next important steps we can take to support our community and each other.

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Over the coming weeks we will be supporting pop-ups at a number of locations – so please if you are due for your booster, or have children in the 5-11 cohort, please choose vax. For more information please visit our website at www.maribyrnong. vic.gov.au/choosevax

Mayor Cr Anthony Tran

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MY VIEW 4

As we continue to grapple with the impacts of COVID, the need to maintain a level of social distance has become abundantly clear. What is also obvious is the need for all of us to take individual responsibility, not just for our own health and wellbeing, but also that of our community. If we see something untoward taking place we have to respond. If you see a truck in a residential street that appears to be dumping something into the stormwater system – take their registration number and ring the EPA. If you hear building works occurring in your street at 6am – report it to Council. If you see malicious or bad behaviour – call the police.

Maribyrnong City Council’s Councillors have been busy.

1. Mayor Cr Tran and Cr Lam checked out the amazing new playground at Hansen Reserve in West Footscray 2. Mayor Cr Tran joined Cr Cuc Lam at the Pasifika Festival – hosted for the first time in Maribyrnong. 3. Mayor Cr Tran toured AFL Global, a fibre optic manufacturing company based in Tottenham, who have been awarded the first multi-million dollar manufacturing contract for the new $1.5 billion HyperOne national digital infrastructure project.

Civic responsibility starts with individual action. Living in our community is a right. Acting responsibly is an obligation which means exercising our personal authority to ensure we live our best possible lives.

4. Mayor Cr Tran joined by Deputy Mayor Cr Carter and CEO Celia Haddock for a guided tour of the new Footscray Hospital.

Cr Michael Clarke Yarraville Ward

Please note: The appropriate COVIDSafe practices were followed at the time the photos were taken.

Maribyrnong City Council Street Address: 61 Napier Street, Footscray, VIC 3011

P: (03) 9688 0200 F: (03) 9687 7793

Postal Address: PO Box 58, West Footscray, VIC 3012

email@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au

2 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 12 January, 2022

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YEAR IN REVIEW ... NEWS

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Council cannabis to drop rates September 15 Maribyrnong council is planning to become the first Australian council to grow medicinal cannabis to reduce household rates. Mayor Michael Clarke said with the rapidly rising domestic demand for medicinal cannabis, an opportunity existed to cultivate, produce and manufacture it within the municipality. He said the enterprise could deliver a source of revenue independent of rates and boost local employment. “It’s become increasingly apparent, particularly with COVID, the community are really hurting financially,” Cr Clarke said.

“The community ask us to look at rates. They ask, can we reduce rates? “We know that people are looking to council to try and provide services but reduce costs. “We’ve done a scan of what we can get into and it looks like we’re fairly clear: that the industry of medicinal cannabis represents a huge opportunity to council.” Cr Clarke said the industry was still in its infancy with huge growth potential. “We know that it is going to grow incredibly significantly between now and 2025, and we understand it will continue to grow,” he said. “Importantly, it’s an industry that we can enter in to and it’s not going to impact on other segments of the business sector in our

community – this is an industry that no one else is involved in. “It’s an ethical industry: we’re looking at providing a product that’s going to help the health and wellbeing of our community. “It’s an opportunity for employment. “In a world where Australia has lost its manufacturing base, it’s lost its heavy industry, this is an industry that we can enter in to that’s a growth industry – that is potentially a major export industry for us and it can be undertaken by council.” He said Footscray previously had its own electricity business until it was bought out by the former State Electricity Commission, so the council entering industry was not new.

Medicinal cannabis products are prescribed by doctors to treat symptoms of a medical condition or the side effects of a medical treatment. “This is to help people with chronic pain, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, cancer, epilepsy,” Cr Clarke said. “It’s an industry that will have a strong academic research to it at its base but it will be a financially-driven industry where we are looking to generate substantial amounts of money where we can significantly impact on household rates. “We want to reduce the rate burden.” The community will be consulted before plans proceed.

Bin there, done that July 7

Ian Hamm. (Joe Mastroianni). 231799_01

A matter of reclaiming identity March 24 Yarraville’s Ian Hamm was separated from his Aboriginal family when he was three weeks old. The chair of both the Koorie Heritage Trust and Connecting Home service to survivors of the Stolen Generations says the city of Maribyrnong is stuck between a rock and a hard place trying to strike a balance on January 26. Maribyrnong council last week voted to lower the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags to half mast on January 26 from 2022, and consult with the community on how to respond to the date. Mr Hamm, a Yorta Yorta man from Shepparton, was adopted by Charlie and Mary Hamm from Yarrawonga in 1964. He and his two adopted sisters were “the entire Aboriginal population of Yarrawonga”. Mr Hamm discovered his birth name was Andrew James. When he was 18, he went to Bendigo Teachers’ College. It was in Bendigo that he

met more Aboriginals and discovered his birth-family roots. “I found out I had brothers and sisters, which was really good, and uncles and aunties and cousins,” Mr Hamm said. “My mother died in 1966 when she was 26 years old … she never told anyone who my father was, and it wasn’t on my birth certificate.” Mr Hamm said it was clearly obvious that January 26 was “a contestable day”. “The question becomes, what is a national day for, why do we have a national day and who is it for?” he said. “They’re probably the three questions that need to be answered first before you start thinking about when should it be. “It was only in the ’90s that it officially got locked in on the 26th of January. “Up until that stage, it used to be the last Monday in January, which kind of marked the end of the summer holidays and it was a no-big-deal event. “Then, when it got locked in on the day, people started getting all jingoistic about it. “I suppose for me, when I think about

Australia Day, it is that question of what do we want to get out of it. “Now, it actually serves a purpose of deeper reflection of who are we and what are we about, and it really does raise unresolved questions. “The downside of it is, I think most people expect their national day to be quite a celebration and joyous thing of who we are, and we don’t do that. “The City of Maribyrnong, like the rest of Australia, is caught between a rock and a hard place, and it’s accommodating both. “Right now, the 26th of January is Australia Day and for lack of another day it is when we look to what’s right with Australia, but also, it’s Invasion Day and, quite rightly, we are acknowledging that that’s had a huge impact on the Aboriginal population of Australia.” Maribyrnong council resolved to engage “in a broad ranging and deliberative consultations process with the First Nations and the wider established and newly arrived people of Maribyrnong” about January 26.

Hobsons Bay’s garbage bin collection will return to a weekly service, a councillor majority voted last week. A council officer’s recommendation to offer a free bin upsize to all residents was overridden by a motion moved by deputy mayor Daria Kellander. Her motion was to restore the weekly rubbish collection, cut the green bin collection to fortnightly and trial compostable paper bags for food organics and garden organics (FOGO) bins. “I have to admit that I was actually surprised to see the offering of 240 litre bins … to all households as a solution to the problem,” she said. “When you promote something as free and make it available to everyone without an immediate cost, residents will take it. So, I believe the uptake could exceed 80 per cent, easily, and if that happens the capital cost of $370,000 … could blow out to over $1 million or more, and operating costs would also increase in line with that. “To add to this, I personally don’t want to go down the path of buying, manufacturing and distributing an estimated 10,000 bins based on the 40 per cent uptake … plus disposing of the current 120 litre bins as they’re returned.” She said reverting FOGO bin collection to fortnightly from weekly would help offset costs. “The reality ... is that food organics only make up 2-6 per cent in our FOGO bins at the moment,“ Cr Kellander said. Councillors Kellander, Tony Briffa, Matt Tyler and Diana Grima voted for the motion. Mayor Jonathon Marsden and Cr Pamela Sutton-Legaud voted against.

Reason Party’s Patten flags need for injecting rooms May 12 Key Victorian crossbench MP Fiona Patten has called for a supervised injecting room in Footscray. Ms Patten, the Reason Party leader, will on Wednesday raise the issue at a drug policy symposium in New Zealand’s federal parliament. She has also called for centres in St Kilda and Dandenong, similar to those established in North Richmond. “The North Richmond medically supervised

injecting room has been a huge success in the time it has been open,” she said. “It has saved dozens of lives and wrapped … key health and social services around people that have helped them manage or break free from their addiction. “Over 20 years ago, a government report recommended there should be five such facilities across Melbourne including in areas such as Dandenong, Footscray and St Kilda to cater for the need, a need that still unfortunately exists today. “I applaud the Victorian government for

announcing a second facility to be based in the CBD – but we need to go further than that. “The proposed sites would be smaller and more discreet than the controversial existing injecting room in North Richmond, and could offer fixed pill testing as well.” Maribyrnong mayor Michael Clarke said there was no data, such as drug overdoses, to support an injecting room in Footscray. “Council, point-blank, does not have a resolved position on a safe injecting room,” he said. “We’ve not even received a proposal and I haven’t had the chance to even discuss

this with councillors. It’s not been brought up with me. “I’m a data-driven mayor, we’re a data-driven council, and quite simply there is no data to support a safe injecting room in Footscray.” Western Metropolitan Liberal upper house MP Bernie Finn said: “I, just a few weeks ago, was down in North Richmond listening to locals … and their problems and let me tell you, the last thing that Footscray needs at the moment, or at any time, is what has happened to North Richmond, and to Victoria Street, in particular.”

Wednesday, 12 January, 2022 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 3

YEAR IN REVIEW ... HEALTH

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Sister’s spirited vaccine message AUGUST 25 She lost her brother after he contracted COVID-19 and struggles being in lockdown at her Seddon home but 90-year-old Francesca Catroppa still finds reasons to sing. The local identity sits outside her home of 71 years and talks to passers by, sometimes breaking into song to lift her own and others’ spirits. One song is Mamma, a classic from her Italian homeland: “Mamma son tanto felice (Mum, I am so happy)”. She is urging others to get vaccinated so that people have a chance against the coronavirus. In March last year, her brother, Francesco,

86, died after contracting COVID. “My brother went to the big shop to buy something,” Francesca said. “When he came back home, he fell down.” He was taken to Footscray Hospital, where he learnt he had coronavirus. He died a week later. Francesca didn’t get to see him in hospital and was not allowed to attend his funeral. Australian Multicultural Community Services (AMCS), based at Maidstone and Geelong, supports Francesca to live at home and takes her to medical appointments. Her most recent one was on Friday, when Francesca received her second dose of AstraZeneca.

Support worker Tina Parisi, who visited Francesca sometimes daily last year, went with her the first time and they got their jabs together. Tina said after the first dose, she went home with Francesca to ensure there were no side effects. Both experienced none. “She thinks that if people have the vaccine, maybe we can cope with COVID,” Tina said. “Without the vaccine, we have no chance.” Francesca said she enjoyed other people’s company and struggled during lockdown. “I sit outside my front door … and everybody who passes on the street knows me,” she said. “Everybody talks to me. “I sit in front of the door all day from in the morning at 7 o’clock and the people who go to

the [train] station … every day, every minute. “Everybody says to me, ‘Hello, how are you’. I talk with everyone.” Francesca said her message to people about COVID-19 was to vaccinate. “When we were in Italy, in the wartime, I was 10 years old,” she said. “A lot of soldiers died in the wartime. They had no chance to bury them. “A lot of sickness from the soldiers dying and being left on top of the ground. “Every day, one doctor came around my town and he gave kids, anyone, an injection to not catch the sickness. “Same now.”

Health worker’s plea for public to vaccinate SEPTEMBER 7 A Western Health worker on the COVID-19 frontline has spoken of colleagues’ fears of returning to a situation like last year and pleaded with people to get vaccinated. Kylie Fisher said Western Health, which operates hospitals at Sunshine, Footscray, Williamstown and Sunbury, had more than 400 patients hospitalised with the coronavirus in 2020 “I’m privileged to be able to work with a group of nurses called the critical care outreach team, the ICU liaison nurses at Western Health,” Ms Fisher said. “Last year they helped prevent hundreds of admissions to our intensive care units by acting as an extension of the ICUs. “They helped support our ward nurses to

support our patients and our communities. “They would often come to me overwhelmed, sometimes in tears. “… As their manager, I’m worried I’m going to have to ask them to stand up and do it again – and they will. “These are senior ICU nurses who have seen it all before, they’ve done it all before, and I have to probably have to ask them to do it all again. “They will but they shouldn’t have to. “So, I’m asking – we’re lucky, we’ve got science, we’ve got a vaccine – please, if you haven’t already, get yourself vaccinated. “Make that appointment. “Keep yourselves safe, keep your family and your loved ones safe, keep the community safe.”

Kylie Fisher (front left) with members of her team on the COVID-19 frontline at Western Health. (Supplied)

Print and Online Sales Executive NOTICE OF AN APPLICATION FOR PLANNING PERMIT

Star Weekly Star Weekly seeks an enthusiastic sales executive to work across our print, digital, social and online platforms. Star Weekly is an independently owned company which prides itself on its long history of community experience but also its investment in the future. The successful applicant will need to possess good people skills to enable them to meet with local businesses to sell solutions through our advertising platforms to help promote their business. Sales skills/experience: • Ability to maintain existing professional relationships and to create new ones • Ability to meet defined sales and activity targets • Excellent listening skills • Accuracy and attention to detail • Effective time management to meet deadlines • Ability to operate in a team • Demonstrates initiative and flexibility • Effective oral and written communication

Application PA210523 - 9 Mount Street, Altona Lorraine Stupak of LS Planning Pty Ltd has lodged a planning application to vary the restrictive covenant (Instrument no. 1151991) contained in Certificate of Title Volume 05123 Folio 508 by removing the wording related to materials and deleting the following: ‘nor will I or my heirs executors administrators or transferees use any material other than brick and/or stone for the main walls of any such shop or dwelling house without the written consent in writing of the said Altona Beach Estates Limited’. The application and supporting documentation may be inspected via Council’s online permit management system ‘Greenlight’, at www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au. If you do not have internet access contact Council on 1300 179 944 between 8.30am and 5.00pm to make other arrangements. Any person who may be affected by the granting of the permit may object or make other submissions to the Council in writing by 9 February 2022, including the reasons for an objection and stating how the objector would be affected. Objectors will be advised of the decision. For further information, call Daniella Raso on 1300 179 944.

www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au 12530629-HC02-22

Applicants will need their own reliable vehicle for which we will provide an allowance. The position is salaried, plus we offer an open ended commission scheme. Send your application letter and resume to: Mandy Clark Group Advertising Sales Manager mandy.clark@starnewsgroup.com.au

Ph: 8318 5777 12518321-AV43-21

4 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 12 January, 2022

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YEAR IN REVIEW ... PEOPLE

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Five decades of caring May 26 June Ivory has spent more than half her life volunteering at Footscray Hospital. The 91-year-old was last week recognised by Western Health for 50 years of volunteering as part of its annual volunteer celebration. The event was held to mark National Volunteer Week. Mrs Ivory said she had never imagined reaching 50 years of volunteering at the hospital.

“I didn’t think I would even get to 90 [years old],” she said. “It’s really, really good. A lady who lived in my street … She asked if I wanted to join and I said yes. You didn’t work in those days.” Mrs Ivory started working in the shop at Footscray Hospital before manning stalls and taking up knitting for the hospital. She also sold fruit from trucks in the carpark at both Sunshine and Footscray hospitals to raise money. She said the biggest change in her 50 years

of volunteering was the number of people at the hospital these days and the increase of volunteers. “I’ve met a lot of people along the way,” Mrs Ivory said. Among others recognised, was Charlie the border collie, who has been a volunteer at Sunshine Hospital along with handler Sue Harvey for five years. Western Health normally has 650 volunteers, along with students, through community engagement programs.

June Ivory with Western Health’s people, culture and communications executive director Suellen Bruce and chief medical officer Dr Paul Eleftheriou. (Supplied)

Spotswood youngster calls for ocean clean-up August 25 Seven-year-old Spotswood girl Tuppence has written to Hobsons Bay council asking if it can do something about rubbish at The Warmies in Newport. She was with mum Kelley when she came across what “looked like a rubbish dump” where the Yarra River flows into Port Phillip Bay. “Me and my mum went on a walk and found lots of rubbish near the ocean,” Tuppence said. “Bottles – some of the bottles were literally filled with water, they were spray bottles – plastic bags, a whole bottom of a chair and lots of things.” The St Margaret Mary’s Primary School pupil said she felt “bad” when she saw the

rubbish. “It can pollute the water and it’s bad for the sea creatures,” Tuppence said. “I love starfish. Once I found a whole bunch of them.” Tuppence went home and penned a letter to the council, accompanied with photos of what she had seen. “Possibly, they can do something,” she said. To help reduce waste, Tuppence urged everyone to “try to put it in the right bin or recycle some of it”.

Tuppence, 7, has written to Hobsons Bay council. (Damjan Janevski) 247641_01

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Maribyrnong fire

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Firefighters returned to the site of a former ammunitions factory in Maribyrnong on January 6, after wild weather sparked several hot spots. Crews were called to the Raleigh Road site about 12.45pm following reports of smoke in the area. The site was the scene of a significant grassfire on New Year’s Day.

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A 21-year-old Brooklyn man died following a crash in Brooklyn on January 6. It is believed emergency services were called to Millers Road at Primula Avenue to reports a motorcycle had crashed into a pole about 7.20pm. The man was taken to hospital but later died.

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The Western Ballet Project’s dancers, including Jemma Thompson and Cameron Lowery, will be taking to the stage in Altona. (Shortcut Creatives)

Leap into ballet An original youth ballet about a renowned historic female figure is coming to Hobsons Bay this summer. ‘Mary Stuart, The Escape from Loch Leven’ will be performed at Altona Theatre during the summer holidays for the whole family to enjoy. Western Ballert Project (WBP) artistic director Sophie O’Donnell said she had a desire to create something with a strong female lead role. “Having originally come from the UK there are a few memorable, historic woman figures that spring to mind. Mary Stuart is definitely one of those,” she said. “Combine parts of her unbelievable life with the magic of Celtic music, a splash of tartan

and the sense of humour of the Scots and I believe we are in for a winning combination.” Although auditions were held online via Zoom, that didn’t stop WBP from “ploughing forward with the plans to create yet another spectacular and highly entertaining ballet”. The Western Ballet Project is a supplementary ballet program which holds regular open classical workshops. Auditions for the youth ballet company are held twice a year and take 35 students for the production to allow plenty of one-on-one time with teachers and choreographers. ‘Mary Stuart, The Escape from Loch Leven’ will be performed at Altona Theatre on January 15 at 6.30pm and January 16 at 2.30pm.

Film festival for Melbourne’s west The Setting Sun Film Festival is now accepting entries for its next festival happening this May. The festival is designed specifically for Melbourne’s west and screens every year at Yarraville’s Sun Theatre. Prizes are awarded to 14 categories, including best short film overall and best film feature length. Applications close January 31.

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YEAR IN REVIEW ... COMMUNITY

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Foodbank hits the road to help DECEMBER 8

So we got together with them and they fitted them out like a supermarket, with a fridge and freezer in there and a shopping aisle,” chief communications officer Matt Tilley said. The new buses have been driving around metro Melbourne, to places like Bundoora and St Albans, delivering food to people who are in need and perhaps don’t have a car or access to public transport. Mr Tilley emphasised that the buses allow

Foodbank has been trialing a new mobile supermarket, which is set to be rolled out full time next year. The double-length mobile supermarket buses are the result of a joint partnership between Foodbank and Kinetic who own Skybus, an airport bus service in Melbourne. “They weren’t using them anymore because there was no one going to the airport.

people a sense of dignity, as they give them the experience of shopping in an actual supermarket, instead of just receiving a hamper with food that might not be suitable. “We give them the dignity and choice of being able to choose what they would like to eat rather than just getting a hamper and a box of possibly things they’re not used to or perhaps things that aren’t culturally, they’re not inclined to eat,” he said. “I think people find [the buses] just look

so amazing and they’re clean and bright and shiny with funky artwork, they love it, it’s a bit of an adventure.” “The food is beautiful and fresh, it’s certainly not second quality vegetables and fruit, it’s all yogurts and rice and pasta that you would see in the supermarket. It’s quite a lovely experience for them even though they are finding themselves in really hard times.”

A head start for safety MAY 26

“The use of helmets may provide a better outcome for players and team following head contact events. So why not give them a go?” While Nugent and fellow coach Craig Bayley thought introducing helmets for players would protect them, they understood the cost could be prohibitive for some parents. That’s where Bayley’s business, ECB Training Services, stepped in. Bayley and his wife Evelyn have since purchased helmets for every player on the team who wanted one. “A majority of the team, in excess of 70 per cent [elected to wear the helmets],“ Bayley said. “Football is a contact sport so unfortunately these scenarios are going to happen with or without donned head gear. It’s all about looking after the welfare of our players so we are not putting them at risk of injury.” Players began wearing the head gear during games last week.

Altona Junior Football Club has added another element to its game-plan, and it’s proving a winner. Members of the junior club have been given helmets to wear during games, in a bid to reduce the risk of head injuries. Co-coach Warren Nugent said with concussion and the long term effects of head injuries of AFL players in the spotlight recently, some players and parents had expressed concerns. Nugent also had some personal experience with head injuries at the club and decided he wanted to do something. “After losing a player to the game permanently, and another sidelined following head clash incidents, I was both concerned and frustrated,” Nugent said. “So with the health and happiness of our kids at front of mind, and with the potential for losing more kids to the game, I proposed a simple addition to our team – helmets.

ECB Training Services chief executive Craig Bayley with his son Jacob.

(Supplied)

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Prices valid at publication date.

Apt 266

pointcookvillage.com.au 320 Point Cook Road, Point Cook

For more information about our range of retirement communities visit: rcavillages.com.au Wednesday, 12 January, 2022 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 7

YEAR IN REVIEW ... IN PICTURES

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

2021 Through the lens Star Weekly photographers Damjan Janevski and Joe Mastroianni were out and about in Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs throughout the year. Here are a selection of their favourite photos from 2021.

Desiree caught the eye of Janevski during the Be Bold Festival in St Albans in April. (Damjan Janevski)

In January, Janevski snapped this pic of summer holiday Wheel Intensive program coach Ludwig Schukin (front centre) and his students Kate Gilworth, Daniel, 14, Anna,10, and Edha, 14, during a class in Werribee.

Manfred Zabinskas, who runs an animal rescue centre, with a kangaroo. (Damjan Janevski)

Flynn, 9, and Amelia, 6, at the Melbourne Airport viewing area as interstate flights resumed in December. (Damjan Janevski) 260894

The sun boxes at Altona beach take on a different look when not in use. When viewed side-on, they look a little like a doggie training course. Rachel and her dashhound Ernie, were kind enough to oblige when Mastroianni asked them to walk through the boxes, resulting in this slightly quirky image.

Mill Park comedian James Liotta secured the role of a lifetime in August, appearing on ‘Fat Pizza’ on 7Mate. (Damjan Janevski)

Morning Tea & Tour Every Wednesday from 10.30am Join us for an exclusive guided tour of Rivervue’s luxury new 2 and 3 Bedroom Villas and stylish village facilities including gym, indoor pool & spa, bowling green and the beautiful river gardens.

Limited availability of river front villas Come along and enjoy a complimentary morning tea Bookings essential call now on 1300 298 439

25 Bellavista Drive, Avondale Heights

1300 298 439 www.rivervue.com.au

@RivervueRetirement 12527341-SN51-21

8 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 12 January, 2022

YEAR IN REVIEW ... IN PICTURES

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Stephanie Mfongwot – a Williamstown woman who escaped violence in Cameroon prior to making her professional boxing debut in July. (Damjan Janevski)

Graeme Precious, Kris Siderov, Brian Parkinson, and Allen Williams took a ride on the Bulla Hill Railway in February as it returned to the tracks for 2021. (Damjan Janevski)

Janevski captured this photo of Edgar’s Mission Farm Sanctuary community engagement manager Sophia Grewal with a piglet ahead of Be Kind to Animals Week in October.

Janevski captured this quirky image of performer Sermsah Bin Saad.

Darley artist Anuradha Patel with some of her artwork.

(Damjan Janevski) 249677

Mastroianni took this photo of Steve Weston with a mural at Werribee Bowls Club in November.

Summer construction in Melbourne’s west 11 January - 28 February 2022

This summer, crews will be working hard to widen the West Gate Freeway from 8 to 12 lanes. There will be 24/7 lane and ramp closures on the Freeway and at the M80 and Williamstown Road interchanges to get the job done. Plan your travel in advance – major delays are expected. Date Locations 11 Jan – M80 Ring Road (Altona-bound) ramp to Princes Freeway (Geelong-bound) 28 Feb West Gate Freeway outbound exit ramp to M80 Ring Road (Greensborough-bound) Williamstown Road inbound entry ramp West Gate Freeway inbound lane closure (above Williamstown Road) 11 Jan – Williamstown Road in both directions under the West Gate Freeway 14 Feb Williamstown Road inbound exit ramp

If you’re planning to travel through these areas make sure you plan your trip in advance and seek alternative routes. Major delays are expected.

Find a detailed list of disruptions at bigbuild.vic.gov.au Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

Wednesday, 12 January, 2022 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 9

YEAR IN REVIEW ... BUSINESS

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

Traders band together

Business pays it forward with plenty of pizza

JULY 14 A group of Williamstown traders has banded together under one roof as they emerge from COVID-19 with a ‘co-operation is better than competition’ attitude. Sash Boseovski, a past president of the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce and owner of Zan Zans cafe, said businesses had united because of the pandemic. “Through desperate times, where we couldn’t pay our rent and didn’t know what the future would hold, we changed our negative thinking and started looking at business in a different way,” he said. “We got a warehouse in the Williamstown North precinct and we connected up with a coffee roaster, Cherry Mouth Roasters. “We created Zan Zanz, which is a little take away cafe for the industrial precinct. And we’re creating another brand called Wine Cheese Direct. “It’s through the pain that we went through that we looked at how we can unite to really help each other and grow. “Cherry Mouth and myself went from effectively being on the brink of closing to uniting and co-exisiting and partnering to grow to be bigger and better.” Mr Boseovski said the warehouse now had four tenants, including My Marketing Assistant marketing firm upstairs, working together “like in a co-op”. He said the businesses used produce from other local providers, including Damona Cheese (vegan cheese), Get Farmed (vegan chips and bars), Chai Spice Beverages, Alpine Smallgoods and Puopolo Artisan Salumi. “You have to have your neighbour’s business as effectively a partner, and that’s the attitude

OCTOBER 13

Sash Boseovski, Martin Soerensen from Damona Dairy Free, Lynne Skene from Get Farmed, Damian Aliano from Puopolo Artisan Salumi and Peter Lynch from Cherry Mouth Roasters. (Joe Mastroianni)

we have,” Mr Boseovski said. “Everyone that comes in here, in the sense of suppliers, is very local. “That’s the biggest difference I’ve seen post-COVID, that businesses are now doing

everything in their power to help each other out. “Since COVID there is a genuine support system where businesses are looking to help each other, to get through, to survive and more importantly, thrive.”

Happy Camper Pizza in Braybrook is running a “pizza-it-forward” initiative, donating pizzas to Duke Street Community House to make a positive impact on their community. Co-owner Sonia Lear said the COVID-19 pandemic had hit the business hard, but a spark of inspiration from friends began the initiative of giving back. “Our West Footscray friends, Kirsten Mackenzie and Randall Wee, are the ones who inspired our ‘pizza-it-forward’ initiative,” she said. “When we were at our lowest, they donated some money to [the business] and asked for it to be used to make pizzas for people in need.” Ms Lear said they chose to donate to Duke Street Community House because of its charitable work during Melbourne’s lockdowns. “Prior to COVID, [Duke Street] offered early childhood and educational programs to the community and occasional care, but found there was so much need in the community when COVID hit, it started making hampers using donated food and volunteer staff,” she said. “Many of their clients have lost jobs during COVID, are students or refugees and rely on regular food hampers from Duke Street to get by.”

We’re building big near you and there will be transport disruptions As part of Victoria’s Big Build we’re building an alternative to the West Gate Bridge, and removing 85 dangerous and congested level crossings, with 56 already gone. Train disruptions: Buses replace trains in both directions Werribee Line

8.30pm 18 Feb to 3am 19 Feb

Newport to Werribee

3am 19 Feb to last train 23 Feb

Laverton to Werribee

Road disruptions: Closed roads, lanes and ramps 11 Jan to 14 Feb

Closed in both directions under the West Gate Freeway

11 Jan to 14 Feb

Inbound exit ramp from the West Gate Freeway closed

11 Jan to 28 Feb

Inbound entry ramp to the West Gate Freeway closed

West Gate Freeway

11 Jan to 28 Feb

Outbound exit ramp to the M80 Ring Road closed

M80 Ring Road

11 Jan to 28 Feb

Ramp to Princes Freeway (Geelong-bound) closed

Princes Highway

9pm to 5pm each Closed eastbound night, 16 to 17 Jan between Hoppers Lane and Princes Freeway

Williamstown Road

8pm to last train each North Melbourne to night, 20 to 23 Feb Werribee Williamstown Line

8.30pm 18 Feb to last train 20 Feb

Newport to Williamstown

8pm to last train each North Melbourne to night, 20 to 23 Feb Williamstown

Find a detailed list of disruptions at bigbuild.vic.gov.au Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne 10 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 12 January, 2022

ADVERTORIAL

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

The Arthurs Seat Eagle is a one of a kind experience right on Melbourne’s doorstep.

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Picture: SUPPLIED

Reaching for the skies Catching a gondola in the middle of the Mornington Peninsula may seem like a difficult task but Arthurs Seat Eagle gives the experience a whole new meaning. Rather than being on the water, the gondola chair lift is suspended high above the ocean, giving spectacular views out across the bay. “The Arthurs Seat Eagle offers a one of a kind experience - soaring high above Arthurs Seat State Park in our state-of-the-art gondolas, 314 metres above sea level. The stunning views from the gondolas extend across Port Phillip Bay to Melbourne CBD and beyond,” Arthurs Seat Eagle CEO, Matt Mulkearns said. Since 2016 the Eagle has been operating,

constantly changing things up to give customers a new experience each time they visit. The team have introduced in-gondola dining and the cafe menu is seasonally updated but it is the newly renovated retail store that has been an integral part of The Base, to help display the wonderful local produce the peninsula has to offer. “Our newly revamped retail store stocks products from the Mornington Peninsula - our emphasis has been on showcasing and supporting local producers, artisans, and businesses that give back to the community,” Mr Mulkearns said. But it’s not just the things the eye can

see that makes this the one of a kind tourist destination that it is. “We have a relentless drive to deliver safety excellence and use only state-of-the-art equipment and products - this has translated well in the era of Covid, as the implementation of an advanced TGA certified, instant contact surface disinfectant has given us a superior level of Covid protection and a leading technological edge in our industry.” The fully inclusive and accessible gondolas, designed in Switzerland, cater for all ages and abilities, allowing everyone to witness the bluest of blue waters in Melbourne’s beach side suburbs.

With discounts now on offer, there’s no better time to book this premium Victorian tourism attraction, the only one like it in the state. “We have just introduced a new Eagle Family Ticket to make the Eagle more affordable and cost efficient for families. An online ticket discount has also been introduced to provide better value and an incentive to those who book online.” Open every day except Christmas Day from 10am to 5pm at 795 Arthurs Seat Road, Arthurs Seat. Visit www.aseagle.com.au to book tickets or contact the Arthurs Seat Eagle team at info@aseagle.com.au or on (03) 5987 0600.

12530862-JC02-22

Wednesday, 12 January, 2022 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 11

2022 THE ASTROLOGICAL YEAR AHEAD with Sudhir

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20) The Ram: Fire – Spirit – Outgoing

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20) The Bull: Earth – Matter – Fixed

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21) The Twins: Air – Ideas – Changeable

Love

Love

Love

With the asteroid Chiron slowly making it’s way through Aries over the course of the year, there’s a strong focus on healing. In matters of the heart, this has to do with slowing down and honouring the deep sensitivity required to do no harm in love. Opportunity in matters of the heart will certainly come your way, as Jupiter spends time with you from May through to October, but you will have to open up to the tenderness required for the flame to fully ignite.

You have a very large unruly guest in your midst by the name of Uranus. The function of Uranus is to liberate us. The question is whether we want to be liberated. In the realm of love, Uranus is going to shake things up, like a farmer shakes up the soil to make it more alive. Truth liberates. In matters of love, the presence of fearless truth will deepen your connections. If love can’t bear the presence of truth then it needs to be reviewed and renewed.

In matters of the heart, the strongest influence will be coming your way from Neptune, who is in Pisces. You love dancing around in the world of ideas. Anyone who comes close to you, will have to fall in love with your busy-ness, your curiosity, and your sense of play. Neptune in Pisces will lean on you to open up to a depth of feeling, and a depth of longing, that is presently out of your range. See this as an opportunity to explore parts of yourself that are unknown.

Money

Money

Money

Jupiter will be in Aries from May through to October. Jupiter is the planet of expansion, luck, good fortune, and opportunity. The omens are clear. This is the time of the year when you can expect the greatest support from the cosmos, to get that project that you have been treasuring in your imagination, over the line. The key will be to align your sensitivity and intuition with your enthusiasm and bravado. By engaging both you will be unstoppable.

The presence of disruptive Uranus in Taurus, means that those who are able to adjust quickly to a constantly-changing environment, will prosper. If you try to dig your roots in when the sands are shifting, you will suffer all the indignities that come from being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Remember, Uranus is here to set us free. Any disruption that he brings is with that in mind. Bulls aren’t always the most manoeuvrable of animals. Work on your flexibility.

By upping your skill levels, money will eventually come and find you. Focus on finding excellence in whatever it is that you do. You will know you have it when your work, craft, art, or trade begins to bring you waves of joy. There are a lot of disruptive forces at play in the world at large as we speak. As flexibility is built into your hard-drive, you are well positioned to thrive. Change is a food that nourishes you, whereas for others it just breeds anxiety.

Direction

Direction

Direction

We are living in interesting times. All of our institutions are in a process of regeneration and renewal. It would be all too easy to focus on what’s falling apart, but the reality is that this moment in history contains the seeds of great possibility, providing we can have our wits about us. Even as Pluto sets this up, and Uranus continues to provide us with unexpected shocks, your job is to keep dusting yourself off and staying true to your naturally-optimistic spirit.

The North Node of the Moon, or the Head of the Dragon, is moving through Taurus for the whole of next year. The North Node is like a big magnet, pulling us forward into fresh adventures and unknown pastures. This, along with Uranus, is setting you up for journeys into unknown places, both in your external world and in your being. The moment you get comfortable with change, you will find a different kind of security and safety that is wild and free.us with unexpected shocks, your job is to keep dusting yourself off and staying true to your naturally-optimistic spirit.

Pluto is breaking down societal structures, in order to renew them. As long as we remember the renewal part, then these crazy days will prove to be potent and creative. Uranus in Taurus keeps sending all sorts of shocks through our culture, mostly via the media. The true nature of the various traditions we live in is being revealed for what it is. You have a natural affinity for media, messages, and communication. This coming year you will have an effect by speaking clearly.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22) The Crab: Water – Feeling – Outgoing

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22) The Lion: Fire – Spirit – Fixed

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22) The Virgin: Earth – Matter – Changeable

Love

Love

Love

Over the coming year, and in spite of all the shifts and changes going on around you, you will find yourself feeling more and more steady in your heart and soul. This very much goes for your world of affection. As a child of the Moon, your moods and emotions will always be in flux. That’s the nature of water signs such as Cancer. Disruptions should take love deeper. If they don’t, then now is the time to learn how to turn ruptures into fields of opportunity.

You are a creature of the Sun. Whatever goes down, you are always going to be looking at ways to shine your light. Interestingly, when it comes to looking into the year ahead, there is always a parallel theme of regeneration and renewal at play. Love will invite you to put your ego aside, and yet shine. In attempting to do both, you will find a deeper love and a deeper light; one that isn’t dependant on other people’s approval in order for you to shine.

Neptune is in Pisces, directly opposite Virgo. Neptune and Pisces are everything that Virgo isn’t. Where you love groundedness, rhythm and plans, both Neptune and Pisces choose intuition. Where you are pragmatic, Neptune and Pisces are imaginative. In love, this means that you are likely to be flooded by waves of feeling that hold great possibility but make no sense to your logical mind. Your soul is calling for experiences that are overwhelming in their beauty.

Money

Money

Money

Around money and finances, you are always going to be driven by a pull to comfort, safety and nourishment. That’s your nature. Within a context of deep societal change, as we are experiencing now, this becomes a powerful challenge. Jupiter will be in Aries from May until October. During this time fortune will shine on those who are willing to turn their ideas into action. He will spend the rest of the year in Pisces. Use your intuition as well as your energy.

In matters of money, it is worth noting that you are presently being challenged by the presence of Saturn in your opposite sign, Aquarius. This means that life will lean on you to balance your needs with the needs of the community around you. A community that allows no individuality would be robotic and cold. To go with individuality alone, and ignore community, would inevitably end up being harsh and unkind. Factor this into your financial decisions. You are not alone.

As you sift, sort, research, and analyse, so life defies you. We are in a period of extraordinary change. Uranus is shaking up the market’s tectonic plates. Pluto is regenerating and renewing cultural and economic norms. These are reflected in the presence of climate change, a pandemic, and loud voices from the right and left that want everybody’s attention, no matter what. Neptune in Pisces is challenging you to dare to dream. Imagine, and enact a positive vision.

Direction

Direction

Direction

With Pluto travelling ever so slowly through your opposite sign, Capricorn, you are being faced with a constant challenge. Pluto is dismantling various rigidities that have crept into our culture, opening up the possibility of regeneration and renewal. The temptation is to give into fear. The better option is to trust your feelings and work at finding the opportunities and possibilities that are present, should one wish to find them. Bring your love to bear in matters that matter.

There are a few very influential planets working to bring your passions to ground. To burn passionately without having one’s feet on solid ground, is to self-immolate. Nobody wants that. Fire needs a hearth to contain it, otherwise it becomes a wildfire, invoking danger and damage. Saturn in Aquarius is a part of this equation. Saturn is the cosmic handbrake. To slow down and be ever more aware of the implications of our actions is a good thing. Go with it.

As an earth sign, you love it best when there is solid ground beneath your feet. Uranus is shaking your foundations. Pluto in Capricorn is also on a cosmic mission to regenerate structures that are becoming damaging or irrelevant. Of all the earth signs, you are the one most likely to be able to adapt to change. This will only happen if you take time out from trying to figure out all the details and, instead, step back and look at the big picture. Be ahead of the game.

© Sudhir Dean 2021 12 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 12 January, 2022

The outer planets provide the deep underlying pulse of the year ahead. Let’s begin with Pluto, the most distant. Pluto brings regeneration and renewal. He is in Capricorn. He is breaking down old structures so they can be rebuilt in more life-affirming ways. Neptune is next. He symbolises our longing to melt into life’s flow, in love or meditation. He is in Pisces, the sign of bliss, inviting us to honour our need for soulful or spiritual experience. Uranus follows. Uranus’ function is to liberate us. He is in Taurus, the sign of money, resources and pleasure. Uranus is rattling our addiction to unsustainable comforts. He is waking us up to that feeling of aliveness that comes when our lives are in flux. Saturn follows. His job is to keep us real. He is in Aquarius. He will make us consider our various ideas of freedom, some of which are narcissistic, and some of which honour the fact that we are connected to a web of community that demands care. Jupiter, the last piece in the puzzle, will shift between Pisces and Aries. Jupiter provides a sense of possibility and optimism. In Pisces, he will encourage us to be more soulful. In Aries he will nudge us to get out there and have a go at making our most heartfelt dreams real.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23) The Scales: Air – Ideas – Outgoing

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21) The Scorpion: Water – Feeling – Fixed

Love

Love

Love

Venus is your guiding planet; and love is your driving force. You hold a lot more sway than others might imagine. It is time to bring your love out into the world at large, and let it impact on the work you do, and the people you have around you. Romance is important but it’s not enough to silo it into one small part of your life. Shine your love wherever you go and who ever you cross paths with. The more you share it, the more love will come back to you.

Ruled as you are by the planet Pluto, who is presently in Capricorn, your love-life is always going to be an on-going journey of re-invention and renewal.Your propensity for secrets is equal to your love of bringing that which is hidden out into the light. The South Node of the Moon is moving through Scorpio offering you a golden opportunity to shed the skin of old habits and patterns that keep you in less than nourishing loops. Relax your hold and let love do its thing.

You are ruled by two passions. One is to figure out how to make sense and meaning out of all the crazy things that life throws at us. The second is to get out and see the world. The South Node of the Moon has now left you alone. In love, you no longer have the feeling that some sort of an old snag is holding you back. Jupiter is in Pisces for some of the year, deepening your need for immersive emotional experience. Love will alternate between intimacy and adventure.

Money

Money

Money

Your ruling planet Pluto, is interestingly named after the Greek God of precious gems and minerals, hidden deep beneath the earth. You are less likely to be distracted by all the ructions going on in the economy, and the surrounding culture, than most. Your instinct for transformation and change, and the wealth that can arise from riding such waves, is well-honed. Watch for old habits that can keep you locked in repetitive cycles. Reinvent yourself as often as required.

Jupiter, your guiding planetary light, dips in and out of Pisces and Aries. It is in Aries between May and October. While it is there, you will be prone to stepping into action, even if you don’t know what the effects will be. There is no harm in allowing your adventurous self open slather. Your adventurousness and optimism will bring you good fortune in the long run. It always does. Outside of this time, lay low and do all the contemplating that you need to do.

Direction

Direction

There are powerful shifts, changes and challenges afoot in the world we live in. Tempted as you are to glide over the top of such things, this is not going to be possible this time around. In fact, your capacity for connection, and your passion for the just and the beautiful, is sorely needed in the world at large. Honour your voice. Know your worth. As you do so, your authority will start to shine. A powerful positive vision is needed to balance out the negativity that is around.

You are the Master, or Mistress, of Transformation. Whenever things go awry, you are hard-wired to create gold from seemingly insoluble mayhem. With Uranus shaking our collective foundations, it is your job to find alternate openings. If you aren’t engaged in the work of renewal, you aren’t following your implicit destiny. Old solutions won’t work. Ingenuity and courage are vital now. Under pressure, you have the capacity to tap into both in bucket loads. Use your courage to regenerate, creatively, emotionally, and practically this year.

With Jupiter jumping between sensitive, contemplative Pisces and gung-ho Aries, you are invited to bring both your sensitivity and your rambunctiousness to the table. If you get stuck in one or the other, you will only be half the person you are meant to be. Endless, oceanic contemplation, with no fire or passion, leads to brackish lethargy. Pure passion, with no sensitivity or awareness, would only singe your senses. Be wild and intuitive both, as you gallop forth into life.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19) The Goat with the Fishes Tail: Earth – Matter – Outgoing

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18) The Water-bearer: Air – Ideas – Fixed

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20) The Fishes: Water – Feeling – Changeable

Money is very rarely the driving force for Librans, unless it can lead to a deepening of beauty or justice in the world. Still, we all have to deal with it’s presence in our lives. With Jupiter in Aries from May to October, the cosmos is challenging you to get off the fence and make one of those decisions you have been avoiding in secret for way too long. As you step into action, so your strength comes to the fore and your gifts are shared. Moving your energy will enrich you.

Direction

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21) The Centaur: Fire – Spirit – Changeable

Love

Love

Love

The year begins and ends with Venus in your midst, which bodes well for love, as long as you don’t get too distracted for the rest of the year. Pluto is near the end of his sixteen-year transit of Capricorn. He has well and truly done the work of breaking things down. Now his focus is on planting new seeds and encouraging renewal. Let this be the journey of your love-life, too. This year and the next are for rejuvenating those parts of you that have done it tough.

Saturn is the key driver in your love-life. He is in Aquarius and, ironically, is associated more with the brakes than the accelerator. Saturn’s message is always to slow down, stop, and get real. This means getting out of the torturous trap of idealising love to such a degree that nothing and no-one satisfies. Drop the ideal and be with what’s real. Once you start to enjoy this and stop fighting with it, you will discover a flowering field of affection right before your eyes.

With Neptune travelling through Pisces, the flavour of love that suits you best, is one that is immersive, overwhelming and spiritually blissful. Pleasure is not enough for a Pisces; you want ecstasy and nothing less. This is a powerful current to be swimming in, but that’s how you like it. The danger is that you sacrifice your ego on the wrong altar. When you get it right, you get access to the kinds of feelings poets sing about. Offer yourself fully to love, with awareness.

Money

Money

Money

It’s a volatile and changing marketplace. To put down solid roots, one needs to have a real sense of the positive potentials of a changing future. To be stuck in rigid orthodox patterns won’t give you the flexibility to change course when you need to. There’s a wildness to goats that is present in goat-people. Know where vitality and vibrancy is. That’s where you will find the most interesting possibilities. You are pragmatic enough not to be led up any dubious trails.

Your focus is very much on gathering your resources and getting your foundations down. These are tricky times for doing this. Your great skill, of course, is to think outside the box, and go about things in unorthodox ways. As Uranus in Taurus continues to unsettle all those institutional systems that we once thought were sacrosanct, so your ability to function from left-field is a godsend. Saturn will ensure that you slow decisions down and don’t be reactive.

The world needs visionaries. The most successful entrepreneurs are usually those who have dared to have a vision and who have dared to trust their intuition. It takes courage to go down this path. With Neptune travelling through Pisces, and joined by Jupiter till May and then again after October, all the omens are in place for you to ride a great breaking wave. Waves can be fickle things. Be sure to have your wits about you, and a good accountant close by, for reality checks.

Direction

Direction

Direction

There are a lot of things happening in the world that could easily lead to one descending into a dystopian mindset. Pluto, in Capricorn, has been breaking things down on all levels. Pluto does this in order to create anew. Those with even one optimistic bone in their body, should be looking at the creative possibilities of this time, rather than fighting tooth and nail for what is now long gone. Pluto has pretty much done his work. Invest in a regenerative future.

You are beholden astrologically to both Saturn and Uranus. Saturn’s job is to slow things down and keep them steady. Uranus’ role is to shake things up and set us free. Your task is always to figure out how to fly high with your feet planted on solid ground. As the ground shakes beneath your feet this year, so the whole idea of what liberation really is, comes to the fore. You love community and you are an advocate for individuality. Get creative. Put the two together.

The presence of Neptune in Pisces is a profoundly powerful placement. Take all the qualities of Pisces and dial them up to ten. Neptune and Pisces are symbols of humanity’s spiritual thirst. Everybody feels the feeling of separation in one way or another; and everybody craves the feeling of integration, in whatsoever form it may take. It’s a valid thirst. Let yourself feel it and it will guide you where you need to go. Never be ashamed of the deep currents flowing through your heart.

© Sudhir Dean 2021 Wednesday, 12 January, 2022 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 13

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3A2B2C

1 Indwe Street, WEST FOOTSCRAY Period appeal defines the façade, present day comfort complements the proportions and a generous allotment enhances the opportunity presented by this welcoming, rewarding residence close to Tottenham station and Central West Shopping Centre. Three bedrooms and two bathrooms surround a living room of pleasing dimensions while a separate dining area is accompanied by an updated kitchen performs impressively.

raywhiteseddon.com.au 14 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 12 January, 2022

Auction 1/29/2022 12:00 PM Onsite

Peter Gindy 0448 778 819 peter.gindy@raywhite.com Patrick Jamroz 0411 242 935 patrick.jamroz@raywhite.com

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

4A1B5C

3 Stafford Street, FOOTSCRAY Surrounded by some 660m2 (approx), complemented by the total convenience of its location, this classical four bedroom home’s period authenticity, present day comfort and promising further potential create a great, totally tempting combination. Separate spaces for living, dining and kitchen/meals accompany the four bedrooms, a central bathroom and generous separate laundry. The garden’s carport, 5 car garage, glasshouse and storage assist in illustrating the size of the allotment.

SECTION

Auction Sat 29th Jan 11am

Peter Gindy 0448 778 819 peter.gindy@raywhite.com Luie Greenwood 0419 285 711

raywhiteseddon.com.au Wednesday, 12 January, 2022 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 15

PUZZLES No. 063

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

4 6 2

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

1 8 3

7

7 7 9 6 3 9 2 5

QUICK CROSSWORD Police officer (3) Responsiveness (11) Erected once more (7) Word formed by letters of another (7) Armed forces (8) Dove-like bird (6) Televisions (abbrev) (3) Of, or relating to, Palestine (11) Differing strikingly (11) Hearing organ (3) Its capital is Moscow (6) Force (8) Decorate food with other food (7) Sickening (7) Reminding one of something (11) Used a seat (3)

11 12 14 15 17 19 20 21 24 25 26

2 8 9 5

27

Rapid (5) Ecologist (10) Modern Persia (4) Forming a mental image of (9) Of, or relating to, Israel (7) Arab state (5) Aid (10) Divide into parts (9) Compass direction (9) Quack medicine (7) Absorb, immerse (7) Tennis player Federer (5) Kick out (tenants) (5) Therefore (4)

3 4 5 6

ACROSS 1 3 9 10

No. 063

7 8 13 15 16 18 19 20 22 23

DOWN Pertaining to colour (9) Small smooth stones (7)

1 2

medium

8 7 1 2 6 4 2 5 3 7

DECODER

No. 063

3 3 8 5 4

1 9 8 4 7

4 2 8 6 1 8 3 2 3

9

hard

6 5

1

4

4

3 4 3

1

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10 11 12 13

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

G

7

AGENT AGILE AGLOW ASHEN ASIDE ASSET AVAIL BELIE BLISS CAPES CHIDE CHIRP COBRA DOGMA EASEL EAVES EDITS FABLE FICHE FRONT GLINT

21

22

23

24

25

26

1

3

2

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

B

Today’s Aim: 16 words: Good 24 words: Very good

D

I

T

A

N H

E

4 LETTERS APES BEST CARD CLOT CYST FEET GEAR HACK MASK MEAT PATE RIDE TENS TEST

9 7 1 4 8 3 5 6 2

6 5 4 7 1 8 3 9 2

3 7 2 5 9 4 1 6 8

9 1 8 6 2 3 7 4 5

7 4 5 2 8 6 9 1 3

S

N T

O A S T C U T E E D U X

4 9 6 3 5 7 8 2 1

5 3 1 8 4 2 6 7 9

4 5 8 9 2 6 7 3 1

6 2 3 1 7 5 8 9 4

3 1 6 5 4 7 9 2 8

7 9 4 2 1 8 6 5 3

2 8 5 3 6 9 4 1 7

1 6 2 7 5 4 3 8 9

8 4 9 6 3 2 1 7 5

5 3 7 8 9 1 2 4 6

8 5 2 1 4 3 9 6 7

5 6 8 7 1 2 4 3 9

4 1 7 9 3 8 6 5 2

9 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 8

6 8 1 3 9 7 2 4 5

3 4 9 5 2 1 8 7 6

2 7 5 8 6 4 1 9 3

16 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 12 January, 2022

A

S

T

7 3 4 6 8 9 5 2 1

N

QUICK QUIZ

1

Which band performed the 1990s hit I’m Too Sexy?

2

What inspired the colour reference in the codename for the powerful herbicide and defoliant Agent Orange?

3

NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

I

X

Insert the missing letters to make 10 words – five reading across the grid and five reading down.

C A R

2 8 7 1 6 9 5 3 4

D

No. 063

N O T

8 6 9 4 3 1 2 5 7

T

GOOFY GRABS HARMS ISLAM LEARN LOSES MARES MERES MIRED MUFFS OBESE RABBI READY ROOTS SENSE SHARE SKIMS SLATE SLEET SLEPT SOLAR

SPORT STACK STYLE SUITE SWEAR TENSE TERMS

7 LETTERS BESEECH BETTORS FLASHER LESSENS PEASANT PENSIVE

6 LETTERS CHEATS EMERGE ENSIGN WHILST

8 LETTERS DOMINOES ENDORSED FORTIETH HABITUAL

14-01-22

S

T

No. 063

ante, anted, anti, band, bandit, bane, bean, behind, bend, bent, bind, dean, dent, detain, dine, dint, entia, hand, hind, hint, hinted, indite, inhabit, INHABITED, neat, tend, than, thane, then, thin, thine, tine

1 2 3 9 7 5 4 8 6

1 9 6 2 7 5 3 8 4

5 LETTERS AGAIN

A

O

20

S

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”.

I

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

A

9-LETTER WORD

32 words: Excellent

hard

R

19

medium

C

18

easy

C

17

9 3

7

16

4

3 LETTERS AGE AGO ASH AVO BEE BET CHI CPA DIP EKE EWE FEE GEE HER HES ILK INS LAD LEE MEN RAG RID TEE UGH

F P BMT D A K R OU J Z

5

I

S C X E H V QWN L Y G I

8

2

5x5

2

2 3 2 4

3

1

15

8

5

14

1 9

WORDFIT

Does Kakadu National Park include about one quarter, one third or one 10th of Australia’s bird species?

4

Which TV personality fought his local council for the right to have a large glass mural of Pamela Anderson (pictured) on the front of his house?

5

Does the Murray-Darling Basin cover approximately 7 per cent, 14 per cent or 21 per cent of the total area of Australia?

6

What is unique about the group of mammals known as monotremes?

7

In which country did golf originate?

8

Beginning with ‘s’, what word means “the act of talking to oneself”?

9

In what year was the video game Pac-man released in Japan?

10 Is the book Memoirs of a Geisha fiction or non-fiction?

ANSWERS: 1. Right Said Fred 2. The barrels it was shipped in had orange stripes 3. One third 4. Sam Newman 5. 14 per cent 6. They lay eggs 7. Scotland 8. Soliloquy 9. 1980 10. Fiction

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5

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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.

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ZZZ QHWZRUNFODVVL´HGV FRP DX

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Enquiries: Michael Kennedy, Senior Coordinator City Services on 9932 1127. Applications must include a resume and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and suitability in support of your application and close 11.30pm, Sunday 30 January 2022. For further information and a copy of the position description please visit our website. Hobsons Bay City Council is committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity, Child Safety & Workplace Diversity. We encourage a diverse workforce reflective of our community to better meet the needs of our customers. Your Career is our Success.

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Williamstown breaks premiership drought APRIL 7 Celebrations have been a long time in the making for the Williamstown Colts. The 55-year-old club had previously won only one first XI premiership in 1998-99, but that all changed on Saturday with the side winning the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 5 flag. Facing Bellbridge in the best of three one-day finals series, the Colts needed only two matches to claim the series. Colts president Steve Willis said it was exciting for the group to break the premiership drought. “We are very happy,” he said. “It’s more than 21 years since the firsts last

won a grand final. It was actually in a different competition and in B-grade. “This is the first time we’ve won in a division and been in the highest level of that division. “We’re very excited about it … We also had three junior teams win grand finals at the weekend.” Despite losing to Bellbridge twice during the season, Willis said they were quietly confident heading into the grand final series. The Colts set the momentum in the first weekend of the grand final series. They bowled Bellbridge out for just 34, which they chased down in 11.2 overs and with nine wickets in hand. “We were very surprised by the outcome,”

Willis said about game one. “It was one of those games where everything went right for us and nothing went right for them. It definitely set the tone.” Willis said they had been expecting a much harder game in game two and got exactly that. Colts made 4-167 from their overs, with Joel Kitchen top scoring with 59 not out. Willis said they were on top before some late hitting took the match closer than they would have liked. “[Bailey] Moffatt, who I think is only 18-years-old, came in at number seven and started slapping us around. “I was scoring and starting to get a little nervous.

“We were lucky to get him out. If he batted for a couple more overs it could have been a different story.” The Colts bowled Bellbridge out for 156 to win by 11 runs. Lasitha Mendis and Aakash Katarey took three wickets each for the Colts. The win means that the Colts are set to play in division 4 next season. Willis said they were ready for that next challenge. “Speaking to people they have said the difference between division 5 and 4 isn’t that great,” he said. “We are quietly confident that we may not have to recruit too many players. “All the guys who played for us this year, have agreed to play next season.”

National competition beckons JUNE 23

Luke Plapp.

(Supplied)

Plapp headed for Tokyo JULY 14 Maribyrnong track cyclist Luke Plapp is in Brisbane preparing to fly to Tokyo for a very different Olympics. Japan last week declared a state of emergency and announced the Games would be held without spectators. For Plapp, the long journey to Tokyo started when he first started cycling at age 12. “I just went out riding with dad – he just went with his local mates to coffee shops and that was what interested me, just going for a ride to get some hot chocolate and cake,” he said. “From there, I joined the Brunswick Cycling Club. That’s where it all started – with Brunswick – and it’s just come in leaps and bounds since then with that club. “They’ve been pretty amazing to myself and a few others. We’ve got three 20-year-old Olympians going this year from Brunswick, which is pretty crazy to think about.” But his journey hasn’t been without setbacks. “I was always mixing cycling with a bit of footy and cricket and never really committed 100 per cent to it and that led to me not

making junior teams when I was younger,” Plapp said. “I was always that one that always missed out and that was probably a bit of my fault not focusing on it, but at the same time, I wasn’t the most talented at it. “But I fell in love with the sport and I think thanks to Brunswick, that it really did make me love the sport and from there I really wanted to take it seriously. “When I was 18, I had my first national title win and I moved straight to Adelaide to join the Olympic squad.” Plapp said the biggest sacrifice he’d made in pursuit of his sport was moving away from his home, family and friends. “I left school halfway through year 12 to go to Europe to compete at the Worlds and then from there I flew straight from Europe to Adelaide to begin training with the team, so I didn’t finish year 12,” he said. He said the team would depart Australia on July 24 and race on August 2, 3 and, hopefully, the fourth for the gold-medal ride. “I think these Olympics are going to be the most hotly contested ever,” Plapp said. “Usually, we’re going into the Games and Australia and Great Britain are the two

favourites and apart from them there’s not really anyone else. But I honestly think there’s five teams that could win this year and I think that’s quite weird to think about – it’s never happened before. “Right now, Denmark are the world champs; [then there’s] Italy, New Zealand, ourselves, Great Britain. “It’s pretty amazing to be able to go to the Olympics. “We just saw … Tokyo announced another state of emergency, it’s been trouble right through the Games. “There’ll be no spectators there, which is quite interesting. “We’re not going to even be able to watch our teammates after we finish racing. “You’re going to get the best athletes and whoever wins I think really has worked the hardest throughout everything. “I think it’s going to be a real testament to those who have stuck through it for the last two years. “I really think whoever gets to that start line and then wins is out and out the best team andprobably deserves it, which probably m eans they dealt with the whole COVID situation the best out of anyone.”

Ruby Gorton is fast making her name as a jewel in the local hockey crown. The Eynesbury 12-year-old’s blistering form with Footscray Hockey Club has resulted in her selection to represent Victoria in the under-12s squad at the national championships in August. Ruby’s first call-up to the squad came two years ago in 2019, where she helped Victoria claim third place, however the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the championships in 2020. Since her first call-up she has twice achieved a runner’s up medal at the state indoor championships and been admitted to the prestigious South West Academy of Sport. Ruby’s now ready and raring to take on the nation’s best when the championship gets under way in the ACT. “Honestly it feels really good that I’ve got this opportunity, I’m looking forward to getting on the field again and just playing,” she said. “I was really overjoyed that I got to play for Victoria when I got into the team two years ago when I was 10 years old, obviously I didn’t get to play last year so now I’m really looking forward to it.” Ruby has been playing hockey since the age of four, following in the footsteps of her parents and uncle. She said her love of the game goes back even further. “I went to the Olympics when I was three, the 2012 games, and once I saw that I thought I really wanted to play,” she said. “I just fell in love with the sport.” Ruby has shown herself to be highly adaptable on the pitch, with a preference to play midfield but ability to go forward as well. “I like midfield because you get to run around a lot and it’s fun to keep the game going,” she said. “I missed out on nearly a year of hockey, I got disappointed that I didn’t get to play that year but it feels like things are starting to brighten up. “I’m really excited to be getting back in the team, I’ve been able to play for Footscray and that’s great – the club has really nice people and always gives me the best opportunities.” Ruby’s love for hockey and competing at elite levels also has her eyeing off a long future in the sport. “When I grow up I really would like to play for the Hockeyroos and go to the Olympics,” she said.

Wednesday, 12 January, 2022 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 19

12505834-SN32-21