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Festive fun at Seaworks

Seaworks executive officer Glenn Jones is feeling extra festive ahead of the Twilight Christmas Market. (Joe Mastroianni) 310560_01

Williamstown residents are encouraged to don their Santa hats and head down to Seaworks for the final Bizarre Bazaar Twilight Market for the year. Tinsel, baubles and classic Christmas tunes will be taking over Seaworks on Friday, December 16, from 5pm to 9pm as part of the free event. Attractions on show will include face painting and gifts for young visitors, as well as a special visit from Santa Claus himself. Williamstown North’s LFK Dance & Gym will be putting on a special dance performance during the event, while the Sun Theatre will be showing movie previews on the big screen along with egg nog choc tops. Community members searching for a last-minute deal on a Christmas gift or two can search across a number of stalls on site, while food vans will also be on site. Event co-organiser Anna Henderson said they are keen to close out 2022 with a big event. “We’re looking forward to welcoming the community to the final market for the year,” she said.

Brewery plan not so ‘megalo’ By Matthew Sims Footscray resident Sophie Vassallo has launched a campaign to oppose Moon Dog Craft Brewery’s proposal to transform Franco Cozzo’s iconic Footscray store into a three-storey brewery and bar. Maribyrnong council released a planning application last week, which included a DJ booth, rooftop bar and a fountain. Ms Vassallo, who lives 200 metres from the site, launched the campaign on Monday, December 5. “It’s really in its infancy,” she said. “My problem is that the disadvantages or negative impacts of the brewery aren’t

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outweighed by any benefits.” The proposal has outlined that the brewery and bar will be trading from 11am to 1am for seven days a week, with no more than 900 patrons permitted on site and no more than 850 patrons after midnight. Ms Vassallo said one of her major concerns with the proposal was that it sought to have car parking requirements waived. “The proposal has issues of noise and disturbances at night,” she said. Ms Vassallo said while a number of patrons would likely be commuting to the nearby Footscray train station, she was concerned there was no planning for a designated pick-up or drop-off spot for those using Uber or other

ride sharing services. “Hopkins Street is already congested,” she said. Ms Vassallo said the site would be better suited to house services which were lacking within Footscray. “If this was going to bring some benefits in terms of services and infrastructure, then I would be able to cop the impacts,” she said. “If it was a childcare centre or a doctor’s clinic, I’d be willing to support it. “We should be speaking up about the things that we deserve.” Ms Vassallo said she had created a Facebook page in support of the campaign and she was aiming to invite all Maribyrnong councillors to

a community meeting at Fordham Reserve on Sunday, December 18 from 10.30am. BikeWest president John Symons said the organisation supported Moon Dog’s proposal, citing its inclusion of 20 on-site bicycle spaces for employees and visitors as favourable for bike users. “We think it’s a good idea to have more people riding bikes and using public transport,” he said. Mr Symons said the group was also advocating to introduce cycling infrastructure connecting Dynon Road with Footscray via Hopkins Street. ■

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AROUND THE BAY Hobsons Bay Ward News Cherry Lake Ward

Strand Ward

Wetlands Ward

Altona, Altona North, Altona Meadows, Brooklyn, Seaholme

Altona North, Newport, Spotswood, South Kingsville, Williamstown, Williamstown North

Altona Meadows, Laverton, Seabrook

Mayor Cr Antoinette (Tony) Briffa JP

Cr Peter Hemphill

Deputy Mayor Cr Diana Grima

0418 398 906 // tbriffa@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au www.facebook.com/CrTonyBriffa

0419 762 266 // phemphill@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au www.facebook.com/PeterMHemphill

0499 600 476 // dgrima@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au www.facebook.com/CrDiana4wetlands

Cr Daria Kellander

Cr Jonathon Marsden

0499 600 438 // dkellander@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au www.facebook.com/CrDariaKellander

0419 868 009 // jmarsden@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au www.facebook.com/jonathon.marsden.greens

Cr Pamela Sutton-Legaud

Cr Matt Tyler 0407 748 235 // mtyler@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au www.facebook.com/CrMattTyler

0499 600 834 // pslegaud@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au www.facebook.com/CouncillorPamelaSuttonLegaud/

Burgoyne Reserve public toilet

Altona’s GH Ransom Reserve has an exciting new temporary artwork by local artist Carlos Almenar Diaz. Titled A visual journey in chromatic rhythms, the public art is inspired by native flora in Hobsons Bay, the wildflowers of the western volcanic plains, and the wetlands’ saltmarshes. As part of the project, local primary school students took part in workshops to create their own pieces which were exhibited at the Newport Community Hub and Woods Street Arts Space. The project is supported through Council’s creative industries Community Support Package New Art Stream.

The new public toilet block at Burgoyne Reserve in Williamstown is complete. Located on the waterfront, it includes two unisex, one ambulant and an accessible toilet, and has been designed with public safety in mind.

Hosken Reserve dog off-leash area open Hobsons Bay’s newest dog off-leash area is open! The fenced off area for dogs to run around off-leash is part of the Hosken Reserve redevelopment in Altona North. Upgrades onsite also include a new adventure playground, fitness equipment, multi-use court with a basketball hoop, BBQ area, shelter and footpath networks. The project was jointly funded by Council and the West Gate Neighbourhood Fund through the Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek.

Pier Street reopens Pier Street, Altona, has reopened to traffic following the streetscape upgrade. The new and improved street includes widened footpaths on both sides of Pier Street and a newly upgraded Weaver Reserve. The finishing touches will be completed early next year including street furniture and new trees. The new access to the Weaver Reserve car park is via Bent Street.

The Outside Gallery exhibition now open Head down to The Outside Gallery in Newport to view the latest exhibition by Seaholme artist Kerrie Gottliebsen. Located in Paine Reserve, next to the Newport Community Hub and Newport Bowls Club, the exhibition titled Greetings from Hobsons Bay features a mix of digital illustrations and photography showcasing lesser-known destinations and much-loved industrial and natural landmarks. The vintage-influenced designs evoke pride, curiosity and nostalgia for Melbourne’s western suburbs and will be exhibited until February 2023.

Newport Lakes arboretum upgrade The Newport Lakes arboretum has been revamped with arboricultural works on the tree collection, new mulch and path improvements. The arboretum, located between Pavey Park and the north-west plain of Newport Lakes Reserve, is a small and cultivated garden featuring rare species of plants. Please note that dogs must be on-leash in this area.

New Year’s Eve road closures Please note there will be road closures in Williamstown on New Year’s Eve along The Strand and Ferguson Place. For details, visit www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/roads

Festive Toy Drive

Hobsons Bay youth summer jobs initiative

The annual Festive Toy Drive is back again this year and is your chance to support those in the Hobsons Bay community who are struggling the most. You can participate by donating new and unwrapped toys at all five Hobsons Bay Libraries until Friday 16 December. Donated toys will go to West Welcome Wagon.

Are you a young person looking for a summer job? Council’s Youth Services and Economic Development Team have joined forces to identify some great work opportunities for young people (aged 15 years+) at local businesses over the holidays. To find out more and apply, visit www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/summerjobsinitiative

Festive opening hours

Pitch Your Project

All library and Council+ sites (including the Civic Centre) will close at 12pm on Friday 23 December 2022 and will reopen on Wednesday 4 January 2023 to welcome back our community members in the new year. Library chutes will remain open during this closed festive period, for returns.

Do you have a great idea for a community project for Hobsons Bay? We’re looking for projects that will spark joy and inspire. Something that will create an even better Hobsons Bay.

Bin collections will continue throughout the festive season Waste and recycling truck drivers will continue to collect your residential bins as per the usual schedule, everyday including public holidays. Please leave your bin out before 6am on the day of collection or the evening before to ensure it’s emptied. hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au

Up to $50,000 is available for each selected project, with your idea delivered by Council’s team. Submissions close 23 January 2023. To submit an idea, participate.hobsonsbay. vic.gov.au/pitch-your-project-2023-24

facebook.com/HobsonsBayCityCouncil

2 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 14 December, 2022

Altona Meadows Library and Learning Centre facelift Our much-loved Altona Meadows Library and Learning Centre is closing from 23 December 2022 for a refurbishment. The current building, which is accessed by more than 30,000 visitors each year, and is over 17 years old, requires major refurbishment to modernise the building, allowing us to plan for some exciting new initiatives, including a new purpose-built children’s area, mixed-use events space, and our first Centre of Excellence focusing on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). The project has been made possible thanks to funding from the Victorian Government as part of the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program.

Pop-up Council+ library coming to Altona Meadows While the Altona Meadows Library and Learning Centre is closed, you will be able to collect reserves, return items, use a public PC and ask questions about Council services at our Council+ Pop-Up Library site at Central Square Shopping Centre in Altona Meadows, opening in January 2023.

Aviation Road Shopping Square revamp Draft concept plans to upgrade the Aviation Road shopping square in Laverton are available for feedback. As part of the Better Places Laverton program, project outcomes include enhanced streetscaping, improved road safety and prioritising pedestrians. The draft concept plans build on community feedback from earlier this year. Have your say at participate.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/aviation-roadmasterplan

Economic Development Strategy – have your say Council is updating the Hobsons Bay Economic Development Strategy (EDS) to create a positive economic environment for businesses and people who visit, live and work in Hobsons Bay. The new EDS will identify opportunities to better support local businesses and grow and diversify the Hobsons Bay economy. Residents and local businesses can provide feedback at www.hobsonsbaybusiness.com.au/Do-Business/ Economic-Development-Strategy

Tree giveaways This year, Council has given away over 3,150 trees to residents to plant in their gardens. These trees will make a fantastic contribution to increasing the canopy cover (shade) in our city. Council will continue to hold tree giveaways next year when the cooler weather sets in after summer. To keep up to date on future giveaways, visit www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/TreeGiveaways

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Flags at half mast on January 26 By Matthew Sims Maribyrnong council will fly the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags at half-mast on January 26 and advocate for the federal government to consider changing the date of Australia Day. At its meeting on Tuesday, December 6, council voted to recognise January 26 as a day of mourning for First Nations people and to write to the federal government to advocate for councils to be allowed to decide whether to continue holding citizenship ceremonies

‘‘

There is a white history, but there is also a black history - Michael Clarke

’’

on January 26. Council will continue holding citizenship ceremonies on that date. The decision was informed by community engagement during 2021 and a petition from Justice Action Maribyrnong which attracted more than 1200 signatures. Maribyrnong mayor Sarah Carter

said the feedback received from the community reflected the need for respectful acknowledgment of First Nations people beyond a single day. “We were told there needed to be a commitment to continue to engage, educate and inform around the wider issues and complexities,” she said. Councillor Michael Clarke said the region’s strength was in its diversity. “With Australian history, there is a white history, but there is also a black history,” he said.

“As we merge these two histories … changes need to be made, sensitivities need to be observed.” Justice Action Maribyrnong member John Chadderton said their group welcomed the council’s decision. “We’re very pleased with it,” he said. “We hope the larger structural issues in terms of the national date are addressed.” Mr Chadderton said it was especially pleasing to have the council officially recognise January 26 as a “day of mourning”. “That wording has a long history,” he said.

Lesson to clear minds Maidstone mural artist Ema Gardner is looking forward to sharing her skills with young people across the west, as part of a new Youth Projects pilot workshop. Hosted at Youth Projects’ Werribee hub, the workshop will be held from 10am to 2pm on Friday, December 16. The independent not-for-profit organisation has recently launched hubs in Footscray, Werribee, Point Cook, St Albans, Sunshine, Taylors Lakes, Altona Meadows, Watergardens and Hoppers Crossing. Ms Gardner said the workshop will teach young people how to use spray paint to create beautiful art. “I feel this sort of thing helps to clear the mind,” she said. “It can be a huge help.” Ms Gardner said she discovered the benefits of art and painting murals later in life. “I found it to be a terrific way to relieve stress,” she said.

Ms Gardner said the goal of the workshop is to provide young aspiring artists with mentorship and guidance, with the hope to expand it beyond the pilot program. Also known as ADORE, Ms Gardner is an artist creating custom artwork and large-scale murals, for individuals, local businesses, and international corporations including DB Breweries, Adidas and IBM since 2016. Details: www.youthprojects.org.au or www. emagardner.com.au Matthew Sims

Maidstone mural artist Ema Gardner is excited to teach young people the joys of mural art through a new Youth Projects workshop. (Joe Mastroianni) 310934_01

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McIvor Reserve in the spotlight By Cr Anthony Tran Just as balancing the needs of our community against available income is a constant challenge for council, so too is ensuring the services our community wants and needs are able to be accommodated in a constrained open space environment. This has become somewhat of a talking point recently, as council considers upgrades and enhancements to McIvor Reserve in Yarraville, which is also identified as a potential site for an indoor sports facility. We all know McIvor Reserve is a much-loved open space that supports a range of community sporting and recreational needs. While wanting to continue to support these needs, we’re trying to understand if there is a way this space can be shared to also accommodate the needs of our community wanting to participate in indoor sporting activities. The recently endorsed draft Master Plan for McIvor Reserve considers both these things. It proposes more than two dozen upgrades – with a focus on better lighting, more trees and seating, improvements to the fenced dog park, and surface upgrades to the ovals – reflected in the more than 1000 comments from our community around enhancements they would like to see. It also provides more detail around what an indoor sports facility could look like if it was located on the reserve with more clarity around possible positioning, size, and associated impacts on open space, traffic and

Briefs Road works planned West Gate Freeway and West Gate Bridge users are advised to expect delays as maintenance works on the West Gate Bridge and major works on the City Loop and Metro Tunnel continue. Annual West Gate Bridge maintenance will take place between Monday, December 26 and Wednesday, January 4, closing four outbound lanes with only one outbound lane open to traffic, which may lead to delays of more than 90 minutes, with drivers urged to find an early detour. Works will also get underway on Footscray Road, Wurundjeri Way and the West Gate Freeway at Williamstown Road in January and February to widen the West Gate Freeway and build new connections to the CBD and CityLink.

Blood donations needed

Maribyrnong councillor Anthony Tran. (Supplied)

parking, that we were also asked to provide. Now that we are able to share how these upgrades and enhancements could be delivered, we want to know what you think. I encourage all those interested in the project to head to yourcityyourvoice.com.au/ mcivor to share their thoughts to help guide the future of this much-loved open space. Feedback is open until midnight, Sunday, December 18. The voice of our community, especially on major projects like the development of the McIvor Master Plan, is always valued and will play a significant role in ensuring McIvor Reserve continues to service the needs of our growing community into the future.

Williamstown community members are encouraged to roll up their sleeves and give the gift of life this Christmas. Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is running a pop-up donation centre at the Williamstown Town Hall from Monday, December 19 to Saturday, December 31. At least 200 donors are required to donate at the pop-up centre in Williamstown, with most donors needed between Monday, December 26 and Friday, December 30. Details: www.lifeblood.com.au/donor-centre/vic/ williamstown-pop-up-donor-centre FOR BREAKING NEWS, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Maribyrnong & Hobsons Bay Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

Update from the Mobil Altona fuel terminal The Mobil Altona site is now functioning as an import terminal and Mobil continues to invest in improvements to support plans to become Victoria’s leading fuel terminal. The Mobil Altona site has undergone some significant changes during the last two years. Previously operating as a refinery, it is now functioning as a fuel import terminal and will continue to play a crucial role in supporting Victoria’s fuel supply. The refinery’s shutdown was successfully completed when the last flare was turned off in May. Mobil will continue to operate a fuel import and storage terminal at the Altona site, utilizing tanks to the north and south of Kororoit Creek Road and associated infrastructure on the former refinery site.

“Utilizing the new Melbourne Terminal, Mobil will continue to play an important role in Victoria’s fuel supply chain, reliably supplying our customers with quality Mobil fuels into the future,” said John Bourke, Mobil’s South Asia Pacific Fuels Operations Manager. ”The entire Mobil team is thrilled to have signed an 11-year agreement extending the sale of Mobil quality fuels at 7-Eleven Australia’s convenience stores until 2033,” said John. The agreement means Mobil will remain the exclusive fuel supplier to 7-Eleven in Australia and ensures that 7-Eleven customers can purchase Mobil quality fuel from 7-Eleven’s growing network of more than 500 fuel stores. Supporting the agreement with 7-Eleven is our ongoing investment in Australian fuel supply infrastructure to meet customer needs.

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Fuel imported to Altona Terminal is transported to Mobil’s Yarraville Terminal by pipeline, where it is collected by customers for delivery across Victoria.

LJAC Centre Manager Karen Ingram, artist Jos Van Hulsen and Mobil’s South Asia Pacific Fuels Manager John Bourke with the sculpture made from upcycled Altona refinery materials, “Transcendence”.

This includes the Yarraville Terminal team’s response to increased customer demand for e10 fuel by making it more easily available from the terminal. The terminal teams are focused on remaining valued members of the local community and continue to foster relationships with local community groups and schools. As part of this, Mobil is proudly maintaining its support of projects run by local community

groups. The relationship between Mobil and the Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre (LJAC) continues to strengthen, working together this year to produce an incredible sculpture made from upcycled materials from the former Altona refinery. Mobil has also sponsored LJAC’s Repair Café workshops, a program that enables community members to bring in items to be repaired, saving them from going into landfill. The Nourish Project run by the Yarraville

Community Centre is another very important project Mobil is proud to support. The Nourish Project aims to rescue surplus food from landfill; transform this donated food into nutritious meals; distribute free meals to people in need and provides food security to the most vulnerable members of the local community. Qualified chefs prepare the meals each week so they can be distributed by various local Neighbourhood Houses to community members in need.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @exxonmobil_aus | www.mobil.com.au/communitynews 4 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 14 December, 2022

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Buffer changes concern councils By Matthew Sims Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay councils have called for WorkSafe to provide further information about amendments to land use planning guidelines near hazardous material sites, citing concerns about impacts on residential property owners. Under the changes, ‘safety areas’ around 13 Major Hazard Facilities [MHFs] within the inner west, including the Mobil terminal in Yarraville, would be changed, increasing the areas to include more than 3000 residential, commercial and industrial properties in Footscray and Yarraville.

Maribyrnong council chief executive Celia Haddock said while council’s priority was to keep its residents safe, it had not been consulted about the changes. “We are concerned that the changes to the inner and outer safety areas have occurred without conversation with council or notification to the community and impacted property owners,” she said. Hobsons Bay mayor Tony Briffa said with nine MHFs within the municipality, the council would be “highly impacted” by the changes. “As well as having the right to know about any changes that affect their homes or

business premises, property owners should also be provided with the opportunity to have genuine input into the process,” she said. According to WorkSafe, while it is responsible for the registration and licencing of MHFs, there is no statutory requirement for responsible authorities, such as councils, to seek advice from WorkSafe and in most circumstances, responsible authorities are not required to accept WorkSafe’s advice on on land use applications close to a MHF. WorkSafe published the amended guidelines in April following consultation from a range of stakeholders, including

Hobsons Bay council. “WorkSafe is committed to ensuring community safety is not compromised by decisions on land use surrounding Victoria’s Major Hazard Facilities,” a WorkSafe spokesman said. Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay councils have requested a meeting with WorkSafe to clarify the details of the new extended safety areas and advocate for additional consultation and engagement on behalf of their communities. Details: www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/landuse-planning-near-major-hazard-facility

Helping hand for charity A food support service in the western suburbs has received a helping hand to house its growing food donations. Victoria University’s [VU] vocational education provider VU Polytechnic has partnered with Reaching Out in the Inner West of Melbourne, which distributes food to those in need every Monday at 5.30pm at the Nicholson Street Mall in Footscray. The partnership has involved organisers receiving a new storage space at VU’s Footscray Nicholson campus. Lead organiser Randa Beirouti said the partnership would create a number of benefits for both organisations. “We are working closely with VU Polytechnic in their community services department, with both students and staff, and see some exciting possibilities working with their hospitality students in the future,” she said. “This is a true example of a community

partnership, where the focus is on providing services for people in need in our community.” After starting in 2005, Ms Beirouti said the charity had seen a massive growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. ““With food prices rising, I just think people are feeling the squeeze,” she said. “The level of need has gone through the roof.” She said the group had also been able to provide employment support thanks to assistance from Jobs Victoria. A VU Polytechnic spokesperson said they were pleased to offer support to target food insecurity in Melbourne’s west. Details: www.facebook.com/ groups/252482409442971 Matthew Sims

Reaching Out in the Inner West of Melbourne organiser Randa Beirouti has been busy organising food and drink donations at the new space at Victoria University’s Footscray Nicholson campus. (Joe Mastroianni). 3310955_02

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RAMS Home Loan Centre Melbourne Inner West Michael Huynh 8418 1138 | 238 Barkly Sreet, Footscray More Information: Credit criteria, fees and charges apply. RAMS home loans are not available for foreign borrowers residing outside Australia. Offer is current as at 1 November 2022 and may be varied or withdrawn at any time. For new refinance applications received between 1 November 2022 and 28 February 2023. Settle by 31 May 2023. Min Loan $250k per property refinanced. Limit of 1 $4,000 rebate per settled refinance application regardless of the number of loans involved. This offer is not available in conjunction with the New Purchase Buyer $1,000 Rebate. Excludes Owner Occupier Interest Only, Line of Credit Loans, residential lending originated under family or company trusts and switches and refinances of home loans within the Westpac Group (St.George, Westpac, Bank of Melbourne, BankSA). Split loans are counted as one settled home loan regardless of the number of splits. Rebate will be automatically deposited into the home loan account within 60 days after settlement. If the home loan has a fixed interest rate, the rebate will count towards the prepayment threshold. Tax consequences may arise from this promotion for investors and customers should seek independent advice on any taxation matters. RAMS Melbourne Inner West is owned and operated by FINANCEMATTERS2US Pty Ltd ACN 152 802 545 as trustee for The TM Huynh Family Trust ABN 12 437 717 615. RAMS Financial Group Pty Ltd ABN 30 105 207 538, AR 405465 Australian Credit Licence 388065. Credit Provider & issuer of RAMS Deposit Products: Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141 AFSL and Australian credit licence 233714. 23062/1122 Wednesday, 14 December, 2022 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 5

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APARTMENTS SELLING NOW PURCHASE AN APARTMENT IN DECEMBER AND RECEIVE A MOVING IN PACKAGE* BOOK A TOUR TODAY

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Purchase a new apartment in the month of December and you will receive our "moving is easy with Ryman package" to make your transition into the Raelene Boyle village seamless, conditions apply.* With this great oﬀer only available until the 21st of December, there has never been a be er time to join the village community.

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RAELENE BOYLE RETIREMENT VILLAGE 2 Vida Street, Aberfeldie, 1800 314 425 *For full terms and conditions of the moving in package, please speak to the sales advisor for more information. rymanhealthcare.com.au

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6 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 14 December, 2022

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Hospital site discussion By Matthew Sims A group of Footscray residents has put the call out for the local community to have their say on the best possible way to use the land of the current Footscray Hospital site, ahead of operations moving to the new site. Currently located on Gordon Street in Footscray, the current Footscray Hospital site was opened in 1953 as the Footscray and District Hospital. Group member Pierre Vairo said with the site area covering the same area as five Whitten Ovals, it was worth getting community consultation right. “We’ve identified that the development opportunities that might exist to the government is quite large,” he said. “We’re going to draw up our own plans and share them back with the community and all levels of government.” Mr Vairo said the group was looking forward to discussing potential options for the site with Maribyrnong council and state government representatives to reach the best possible outcome for the community. “I guess what we’re trying to do is adjust the dial” he said. “We believe we can get a better outcome for the community if the community can guide the process rather than the government guiding the process. “We’re just on the front foot, we’re engaged and we care.” Footscray MP Katie Hall said she was keen to see what shape the site would take into the future. “I’m excited about the opportunities that are to come for the old Footscray Hospital site,““she said. “It will continue to be in use until 2025 and a community consultation process will help

Brewery plan not so ‘megalo’ ■

Footscray locals Elena Pereyra, Pierre Vairo and Colleen Hartland handed out stickers for residents to vote for their preference of what happens on the old hospital site. (Joe Mastroianni) 311932

us determine to future use of the site.” The group conducted the first of three initial community consultation sessions on Saturday, December 10 at the WeFo Slow Food Market, with additional scheduled on

Saturday, December 17 from 8am to noon at the Saigon Welcome Arch and Wednesday, January 18 from 5pm to 8pm at Berbert Park. Details: www.facebook.com/ events/3238765353031421

The Best in Point Cook Retirement Living

From page 1

“We think it’s simply a matter of priorities,” he said. “We think that is possible without impacting car traffic if it is designed well.” A cult figure, Mr Cozzo arrived in Melbourne from Italy in 1956 as a 21-year-old. He became famous for sales pitches such as “Grand sale! Grand sale! Grand sale!” and the catchphrase “megalo, megalo, megalo”, a Greek word meaning, large, great or grand. Founded in 2010 in Melbourne by Josh and Jake Uljans and Karl van Buuren, Moon Dog began with a brewery in Abbotsford and have since expanded operations into Preston. Mr van Buuren said the positive response from the Footscray community so far had been “quite heartening”. “We’ve been very overwhelmed with the positive response,“ he said. “We are looking forward to working with the council and local residents to address any concerns or issues. “We’re committed to being a positive addition to Footscray.” Maribyrnong council will not make a decision on the application before Wednesday, December 21. Details: www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/ Advertised-Planning-Applications/5458 -Hopk i ns-St reet-Foot scr ay o r w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m /p r o f i l e . php?id=100088462602196

From time to time selected refurbished villas and apartments become available for sale to new residents of Point Cook Village. Call Michael to inspect the villas, tour the village and to discuss your retirement future in this friendly and welcoming community.

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For more information about our range of retirement communities visit: rcavillages.com.au Wednesday, 14 December, 2022 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 7

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Drowning statistics on the rise By Matthew Sims Hobsons Bay recorded the fifth highest number of fatal drownings over the past decade, according to Life Saving Victoria’s [LSV] report on drownings for the 2021-22 financial year. According to the report, fatal drownings in Hobsons Bay between 2012-13 and 2021-22 involved people aged between 25 and 44 who were swimming, paddling or wading in the region’s beaches. According to the report, 53 people

drowned betweem July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 in Victorian waters, which was 10 more than decade’s average. LSV manager research and evaluation Dr Hannah Calverley urged Victorians to be vigilant around water. “Despite slightly fewer fatalities than last year’s record-breaking toll of 61, the reality is that 53 lives were lost to drowning this year – that’s 53 too many,” she said. “My heart goes out to everyone affected. “This is the second consecutive year that the Victorian drowning toll has bucked what

had otherwise been a downward trend.“ The report highlighted that fatal drowning incidents involving people aged 65 and older doubled when compared to the 10-year average, with males aged 65 and older accounted for close to one-third of drownings reported in Victorian waters this year. The data also highlighted the drowning rate for females was currently 19 per cent higher than the past decade’s average, while drownings among children aged four years and younger recorded a 19 per cent increase compared to the decade average.

According to LSV, safety water tips included wearing an appropriate, well-maintained, and well-fitted lifejacket when boating and fishing, swimming with a friend at patrolled locations during patrolled times, including between the red and yellow flags at beaches, actively supervising children around water, checking the weather conditions before entering the water and not consuming alcohol or other drugs before entering the water. Details: lsv.com.au/LSV-DrowningReport-2021-22/index.html

A donation well cooked Yarraville’s Annecto David House Learning Hub clients would soon have new equipment for its cooking program, thanks to a donation from Yarraville’s Pilgrim Uniting Church. Church minister Reverend Ikani Vaitohi, council chair Roslyn Harris and parishioner Wilva Pelech visited the disability support hub on Wednesday, December 7 to present a cheque for $1450. David House team leader Kerry Maher said the donation would go a long way to purchasing new and improved equipment, including an air fryer and new chopping boards. “One of the most frustrating things is not having adequate knives,” she said. “I don’t think we’ve got one piece of cutlery that matches.” Ms Maher said the facility runs the cooking program five days per week for five to eight clients, involving all steps of cooking a meal from shopping for ingredients to food preparation. “We’re trying to give them all the life skills

they need,” she said. Ms Maher said the program has also further encouraged a feeling of family within the facility. “They work really well together,” she said. Ms Harris said the money was raised via a community jumble sale last month. “We wanted to support a local group,” she said. “It’s about dignity in the end. “Why should any of the participants have any less than what I use at home?” Ms Harris said the church had connections to the organisation, with Ms Pelech’s late nephew Mark Nahyna a former client and her son Joe a current client. David House will be celebrating 70 years since it was founded in 1952 on Thursday, December 15 from 12.30pm, with a special art show, Christmas choir performance, guest speakers, videos and displays on show during the afternoon.

Pilgrim Uniting Church’s Wilva Pelech, Reverend Ikani Vaitohi and Roslyn Harris presented a cheque to David House’s Kerry Maher and Sharon Barbaro towards new equipment for the organisation’s cooking program. (Matthew Sims) 311948_01

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Champion for women By Goya Dmytryshchak

Champion for women A Williamstown woman who has received an Australia Day honour for significant service to women with ovarian cancer has recalled her own diagnosis, which brought heartbreak but also gratitude. Paula Benson, who formerly chaired Ovarian Cancer Australia, has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.

‘‘

still so much more to do and we can’t rest until it’s done - Paula Benson

’’

“She sent me straight off that morning for a transvaginal ultrasound and she got me in to see a gynaecological oncologist that night and I had the surgery the next week. “No one thought that I would have ovarian cancer because I was young, I was 34 – largely, it’s women in their 50s, 60s, 70s who are diagnosed – and I have no history of ovarian or breast cancer in my family. “So, no one suspected that it could be ovarian cancer; they could see that I had a large cyst attached to one of my ovaries and that the ovary was damaged and that the cyst and the ovary would need to be removed. “When I woke up, my gyne-oncologist told me that she was very sorry but she’d found ovarian cancer and had to undertake a radical hysterectomy. “It was very shocking for a young woman to have that experience but I know my cancer was diagnosed early, it hadn’t spread and I know how lucky I am.” Ms Benson said she knew her story was not typical for most women with ovarian cancer, which prompted her to offer her services to Ovarian Cancer Australia in 2006. The same year, she and spouse Stephen Conroy, a former Labor senator, had baby girl 12459042-CG36-20

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8 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 14 December, 2022

Paula Benson. (Joe Mastroianni). 226296_02

Isabella with the help of a surrogate mother and a separate egg donor. “I do have a beautiful daughter,” Ms Benson said. “She’s 14 now. “I was very fortunate. One of my girlfriends donated eggs and another girlfriend carried her for me, so I’m very lucky to be a mum.” On learning of her Australia Day recognition, Ms Benson said she hoped it would raise more awareness of ovarian cancer. “When I first found out about it I felt quite

emotional really thinking about everything that we at Ovarian Cancer Australia have achieved over the past decade,” she said. “But I was just reflecting today, the same week that I found out about potentially receiving the award, I heard about another friend of mine who’s just been diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer and it was very grounding. “We’ve achieved so much, we’ve done so much and I’m so proud of that but there is still so much more to do and we can’t rest until it’s

done.” Ovarian Cancer Australia said under Ms Benson’s stewardship the organisation had achieved significant milestones, including developing and implementing Australia’s first national action plan for ovarian cancer research, securing $3 million federal funding for the Traceback ovarian cancer prevention program and the commitment of $20 million for ovarian cancer research from the federal government’s Medical Research Future Fund.

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By Goya Dmytryshchak

A Williamstown woman who has received an Australia Day honour for significant service to women with ovarian cancer has recalled her own diagnosis, which brought heartbreak but also gratitude. Paula Benson, who formerly chaired Ovarian Cancer Australia, has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 34 in 2003. “I know I am one of the very lucky ones because my GP did all the right things for me,” Ms Benson said. “When I went to her, I had this unexplained abdominal bloating, changes in my urinary and bowel habits and I felt really full after eating not very much.

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Grow your own and save By Fatima Halloum As the price of fruit and vegetables continues to rise, a Werribee horticulturalist is sharing his top tips for growing an edible garden in urban spaces. Craig Castree says his main goal is to teach people how to become self sufficient by encouraging them to grow their own food. “It’s very simple, pull out a weed and put in a food plant, it only takes five minutes,” he said. “People think they need to know much more than they currently do to be able to grow food and that’s not the case. “I try to take the jargon out of gardening, to show them how simple it is. They’ll be gobsmacked in six weeks at how much food they’re producing, how many less weeds they’ve got in their garden, and how nutritious and flavourful the food is that they produce.” According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, food prices rose between nine and 10 per cent over the last twelve months, mostly driven by hikes to fruit and vegetables. With “huge shortages” projected for tomato and stone fruits like plums and nectarines, Mr Castree believes it’s important for people to be aware of how their food is grown. “We’re headed into a path of uncertainty, food security does not rest in supermarkets,” he said. “Now we’re being faced with a shortage of staff or labour to be able to pick the fruit from the trees or harvest the crops from the ground. “[And] more shortages and price increases due to the rising cost of fertiliser, and chemicals being used to grow food, and now the flooding rains that we’re faced with.” Mr Castree says one of his top tips is to companion plant, which involves growing fruit and vegetables that go well on a plate

Craig Castree from Edible Gardens. (Joe Mastroianni). 307250_02

together, in the same area of ground. “People get all enthusiastic and they put everything in at once and then all of a sudden six weeks later, they’ve got way too much lettuce,” he said. “Don’t become a farmer, because that’s a lot

of hard work. “Just plant one thing every day of your life, it takes far less time than you think.” Mr Castree will also be sharing tips at the Victoria State Garden for the the State Rose and Garden show on December 10 and 11.

Report reveals COVID impacts A long-term study of 17,500 Australians has revealed the impact of the first year of the pandemic on households. Conducted by the Melbourne Institute, the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey is Australia’s only nationally representative longitudinal household study, and its latest report released on December 5 uses data up until 2020 to show COVID-19’s impact on Australians. The report showed inequality declined significantly in Australia, with the largest fall in the survey’s 20-year history, as people received income support and other supports to respond to the growing pandemic. “The results offered important insights into the levels and impact of assistance we provide to the most vulnerable members of our society,” report leader author Roger Wilkins said. The report found 45 per cent of Australians said the pandemic made their lives worse. “Unemployed people, people with disability or mental health concerns, and people who are extroverted were the most likely to feel their lives were much worse because of the pandemic,” UoM said. “Melbourne – under protracted lockdown restrictions at the time of the 2020 survey - correspondingly had the highest proportion of people reporting life under the pandemic was much worse—33.1 per cent, compared with 25.4 per cent of people in non-urban Victoria, and 16.9 per cent nationally.”

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10 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 14 December, 2022

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We’re building big this summer

City Loop closed No City Loop services

Victoria’s Big Build is building a better road and rail network in December and January while there are fewer people on our trains and less cars on the road. This includes major works on the West Gate Tunnel, building new connections into the city and CityLink. Important maintenance works are also happening on the West Gate Bridge. If you’re travelling to Melbourne, please plan ahead as major works could affect your travel.

Summer disruptions Train disruptions: City Loop closed City Loop

9pm 2 Jan to last train 15 Jan

Parliament, Flagstaff and Melbourne Central stations closed

Tram and train disruptions: Buses/coaches replace trams and trains in both directions Tram routes 3, 3a, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67 and 72

Until 18 Dec

Arts Centre and Commercial Road

Tram route 58

Until 18 Dec

Flinders Street/Market Street and Fawkner Park

Sunbury Line

9pm 3 Feb to last train 5 Feb

North Melbourne to Watergardens

8:30pm 8 Feb to last train 12 Feb Werribee and Williamston lines Geelong Line Bendigo and Echuca lines

Freeway disruptions: Changed traffic conditions or closed lanes and ramps West Gate Bridge

9pm 26 Dec to 6am 4 Jan

Four outbound lanes closed

Monash Freeway

Some nights in Jan

Closed between Warrigal Road and EastLink

Princes Freeway

Some nights in Jan

Closed between Princes Highway and Cardinia Road

Road disruptions: Closed roads, lanes and ramps Dynon Road, West Melbourne

Until 21 Dec

Between Dryburgh Street and Dynon Road inbound exit ramp from CityLink

North Melbourne to Sunshine

Greensborough Road, Watsonia

Until 22 Dec

Lanes closed and speeds reduced

Each night, 8 to 10 Feb 11 to 12 Feb

North Melbourne to Newport

Jan to Feb

Intersection closed

14 to 15 Jan 18 to 26 Feb

Geelong to Waurn Ponds

Narre WarrenCranbourne Road and Thompsons Road, Cranbourne

Jan to Feb

At night, 3 Feb

Southern Cross to Bendigo

Craigieburn Road, Craigieburn

Between Hume Highway and Hanson Road

Lancefield Road, Sunbury

Jan to Feb

At Sunbury Road

4 to 5 Feb

Southern Cross to Gisborne

Swan Hill Line

4 to 5 Feb

Southern Cross to Bendigo

Warrnambool Line

18 to 26 Feb

Geelong to Warrnambool

Check before you travel at bigbuild.vic.gov.au/summer Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne Wednesday, 14 December, 2022 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 11

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Wombat waddles back to health An orphaned wild wombat joey with a life-threatening stomach condition is back waddling through grass again following treatment by Werribee Open Range Zoo veterinarians and a remarkable recovery with a wildlife carer. The female common wombat – affectionately named Fern – was found alone and weak by a member of the public near Beechworth in north-east Victoria and taken to a local wildlife carer in May. The joey, weighing a slight 1.77 kilograms, was promptly transported to Werribee Open Range Zoo for critical medical assessment. Upon arrival, Fern immediately underwent a series of tests including X-rays, ultrasounds and blood tests, which revealed a problematic bacterial infection requiring life-saving medical treatment. Werribee Open Range Zoo veterinarian Dr Jen O’Dwyer said the sick marsupial had not been drinking milk – an important source of energy, calcium and protein to support growth during early life development – and had also developed severe diarrhoea. “We don’t like to see these kinds of issues in younger wombats, but they can occur because of stress, inappropriate diet and other factors,” Dr O’Dwyer said. “To commence her recovery, we provided antibiotics for the bacterial infection, and intravenous fluids and oral rehydration therapy to assist with dehydration.” As Fern’s health began to improve, her diet included specialised supplementary milk and

Wild orphaned wombat joey, Fern receiving treatment. Fern’s recovery is going “beautifully”. (Pictures: Werribee Open Range Zoo)

fresh grass, dirt, roots, and bark. “One of our vet nurses acted as a foster mum, providing Fern with daily milk feeds from a bottle,” Dr O’Dwyer said. “Fern was also taken outside regularly into a grassy rehabilitation enclosure to roam and forage with the nurse’s guidance.” Following Fern’s rehabilitation at the zoo, she has spent six months being nurtured by a wildlife carer from Reach Out Wildlife Australia (ROWA). This period included two return visits to the zoo to support Fern’s ongoing recovery.

“Fern is tracking beautifully at the moment and has moved to a pre-release enclosure with her wildlife carer, so we’re really optimistic for her future,” Dr O’Dwyer said. “Health permitting, she will be released back to where she was originally found once she is old enough to be able to fend for herself in the wild in the coming months.” Dr O’Dwyer said there are some simple actions the community can take if they encounter a wombat in distress in the wild. “There’s been a lot of rain throughout the past few weeks and wombats are a burrowing

species, so it’s possible members of the public may come across displaced adult and juvenile wombats,” Dr O’Dwyer said. “If you’re seeing wombats under the size of the football, I would be concerned if there’s no mum or burrow around. “Wildlife can become highly stressed with human approach, especially wombats, so it’s always important to keep your distance. Please contact Wildlife Victoria or your local wildlife carer who will be able to provide expert advice about the best course of action to take.”

Victoria, you know fire. Our regions have been hit hard with extreme wet weather over the past few months. But Victorians know how quickly the conditions can change. Increased rainfall causes vegetation to grow, so there’s more fuel on the ground. It’s important Victorians plan and prepare this fire season.

Plan. Act. Survive. Go to vic.gov.au/knowfire Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne 12582907-AV50-22

12 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 14 December, 2022

Advertising feature

Police crackdown on the main causes of road trauma Reducing road trauma will be the key focus of Victoria Police’s Operation Roadwise which will run from Friday, December 16 to Tuesday, December 27. The operation aims to increase driver awareness and journey planning, while reducing road trauma during this high-risk time on our roads. Westgate Highway Patrol road policing adviser Sergeant Marty Wallace said: “During this Road Policing Operation, Victoria Police will implement a strategically co-ordinated and tactically focused approach targeting the key contributing factors to road trauma. “Police will be targeting the main causes of fatalities and serious injuries in crashes, including excessive speed, driver distraction, restraint and seat belt non-compliance, fatigue and impaired driving (alcohol and/or drug). “Police will be out in force to educate drivers and to enforce road rules, with a view to preventing lives lost and serious injuries. Police are watching your speed, are you? “Motorists will see numerous police units on major arterial roads during this holiday period, and speed cameras will be set up in identified speed and high collision locations throughout the state. “Those planning to travel during this period can expect to see an increase in vehicles travelling on our major freeways and highways. “Police will be targeting drivers who attend the end of year work functions as it has been identified that some drivers will take risks whilst they are impaired by alcohol and drugs. “Drivers should plan their trips, be patient and ensure that they have frequent breaks when driving long distances. “Road trauma isn’t just about the lives that are lost – it’s about the enormous impact on the community from lost family members, to

Operation Roadwise is underway this summer. (Joe Mastroianni)

Sergeant Marty Wallace.

(Joe Mastroianni)

the emergency service workers who have to deal with these tragedies on a daily basis and to the police who deliver devastating news to loved ones.

“All of the community has a responsibility and a role to play in reducing road trauma. “Remember, travel so that you arrive at your destination safely and enjoy your Christmas

and New Year holiday.” RoadSafe Westgate Community Road Safety Council chairman Jim Giddings said it has been demonstrated time after time that speed is a contributing factor in most road crashes. Therefore, stay within the speed limit and drive to suit the conditions you face. “Speeding increases both the risk of a crash happening and the severity of injuries sustained when a crash does happen.” Mr Giddings said the work of his group along with initiatives like Operation Roadwise during the 2022 Christmas holiday period would hopefully reduce the number of serious road crashes on our roads. “Road safety is not everyone else’s responsibility. It is yours. If you plan to have a drink, then plan not to drive. The risk of drinking and driving is just not worth endangering your life or those of other road users. “Before embarking on any driving trips drivers should check their tyres, windscreen washers, indicators, brakes, and lights. So, make sure you and your vehicle are fit for the road.” He asked the community to report speeding drivers to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

DRIVING IS NOT A GAME! SPEED KILLS! Don’t make a Grave Mistake Speed is the largest single factor in fatal road crashes on our roads. RoadSafe Westgate and your local council support reporting speeding drivers to Crime Stoppers.

REPORT SPEEDING DRIVERS

1800 333 000 RoadSafe Westgate Community Road Safety Council is a road safety advocacy group that implements road safety programs and is supported by the municipalities of Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton and Wyndham. 1092275-HM38-13 1204680-HM44-15

Wednesday, 14 December, 2022 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 13

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Caring about Christmas The Christmas spirit was alive at well at FBA Care’s Christmas lunch, with food, smiles and fun in full supply. Held on Friday, December 2 at the Tottenham-based NDIS-approved disability service provider, clients and staff celebrated the achievements of the year. FBA Care support co-ordinator Liliana Alp said the provider serviced about 100 clients. “The lunch was just a way to reconnect with the community,” she said. Ms Alp said a number of the clients came from a variety of areas across the western suburbs and a variety of cultural backgrounds, including Burmese, Vietnamese and Arabic. “There’s not a lot of Buremese support in the west,” she said. “A lot of them face challenges.” Ms Alp said the service provider had hired Burmese people to target their assistance to those clients. Services on offer include assisting with daily personal activities such as personal care and hygiene and recruitment assistance. Details: fbacare.com.au

1/ Bezawic, Katie, Emma, Sebiha, Ei Zaw, Liliana Alp, Mohammed and Alis. 2/ FBA Care staff members Sarah, Arie and Tran. 3/ Maddy and Bezawic. 4/ FBA Care client Yordanos. 5/ Ian. 6/ FBA Care client Zun. 7/ FBA Care staff members Ruva, Brittany, Bezawic, Emma and Egi. 8/ Annalise and Katie. 9/ Sebiha and Tracey. (Pictures: Joe Mastroianni) 310707

Stitching up new mending skills Star Weekly photographer Damjan Janevski visited the Louis Joel Community Centre recently to see the sewing skills on show at a free drop-in sewing repair workshop. Hosted by Hobsons Bay council, the final session for the year will be on Friday, December 16 from 10am to 1pm at 5 Sargood Street, Altona. All materials and tools are provided to assist in mending clothing or other material. Details: www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/ Community/Whats-On/Love-it-Mend-it

Deft hands and a keen eye were on show at the sewing repair session. Pictured are: Anne Newton (above), Ariel De Ramos Molina (top right), and Tamara Russell (right). (Pictures: Damjan Janevski) 309884

14 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 14 December, 2022

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BEHIND THE NEWS

Shearing survives despite blows It’s considered one of the hardest, most physically demanding jobs in the world. Like many labour-intensive industries, there is a shortage of sheep shearers across the country – Elsie Lange takes a dive into its woolly underbelly.

n Tom Roberts’ iconic painting ‘Shearing the Rams’, finished in 1890, a man to the left of the frame hugs a male sheep to his chest, the enormous, heavy creature up to the height of his shoulder. And next to him, in the foreground, is a shearer bent over another ram, his back straightened and arm outstretched with the force of taking off the animal’s coat – a testament to the complete physicality of the task. Hailed as a great portrayal of pastoral life, this painting was and is considered a masterpiece of Australian impressionism. It’s also been described as perhaps too nostalgic, as only a year later, newly unionised shearers and squatters would take part in the 1891 Australian shearers strike. According to the Australian Workers’ Heritage Centre, this strike was a “watershed” in the history of working conditions in this country, and a catalyst in the growth of the Australian Labor Party. Now, 130 years later, the industry is still facing concerns over conditions, wages and most crucially, attracting young people into their workforce.

‘‘

New workers are coming in, but they are leaving at a faster rate than we can keep them in

’’

- Jason Letchford Four years ago, it wasn’t as hard for hobby farm owner Catherine Cruikshank to find a shearer to rid her Corriedale sheep of their woolly coats before summer. The New Gisborne resident said it had become “almost impossible”, and she was paying double compared to three years ago. “I was actually going to have my sheep transported to another paddock, but I was scared to have them on another property with the cold coming through … that’s when I reached out on social media [and] I finally secured a shearer to get it done,” she said. “I don’t know if it’s just a dying skill, there’s so much work out there. It’s a real employee’s market, and no one wants to do small packs either.” Bendigo-based shearer Shane Dunne described a day’s worth of shearing as like “playing four games of AFL in a row”. He used to work on larger flocks before deciding to concentrate on shearing alpacas and pet sheep on hobby farms, because getting paid as little as $3.80 to $4 a sheep didn’t seem worth it anymore. Mr Dunne has worked in shearing for two decades, and said to bring more people into the industry, wages will “have to double”. “Shearing is the hardest physical job on earth – if you’re not going to get paid much, why on earth are you going to do the hardest job in the world,” he said. He said the work was skilful but unfathomably tiring – “We are expected to drag a 100 kilogram sheep, shear it [while] the animal kicks you for the five minutes it takes to shear it. You get very good at getting your feet right”. Shearing Contractors Association of Australia secretary Jason Letchford said there were 2800 shearers in the country until 2016, with an extra 500 seasonal workers coming over from New Zealand to get the annual shearing done. Then the pandemic hit, and not only did those seasonal workers struggle to get into the country, other industries were also looking internally for labour. “Between 2006 and 2016 we lost 32 per cent of our workforce. That trend of losing 3.2 per cent through the year has been quite consistent,” Mr Letchford explained. “New workers are coming

Ballarat-based shearer Shane Dunne travels across the state to shear alpacas and pet sheep. (Supplied)

in, but they are leaving at a faster rate than we can keep them in.” He said until the drought broke in 2019, the Australian sheep flock numbers had fallen at about the same rate as the number of shearers. But when the rain came, flocks grew again – from about 65 million to about 74 million. “We haven’t been able to replace the shearers or skilled labour at the same rate as the flock has rebounded,” he said. Australian Workers Union (AWU) regional and pastoral organiser Ross Kenna said the award rate was too low, about “$3 less than we would like to see” and could be why retention was low. “Sheds are 150 years old, and [people] are expecting modern shearing to occur in turn of the century sheds,” Mr Kenna said. “The other big issue is we see a lot of contractors asking for industrial shearers to have their own Australian Business Number – they’ll pay the award but they won’t pay for superannuation and work cover. “We’re finding shearers who are turning 30 who have no superannuation at all.” Mr Letchford said the solution to the issue was multifaceted, and broader than pay – it included compensating for the difficulty of the labour with better “manmade conditions” – such as ventilation, accommodation and air conditioning. While he believed pay could be lucrative, it was the increase in the Australian sheep size which had become too difficult for workers. “They roughly have gone up 15 kilograms in size, the size of the Australian sheep has gone from being a manageable animal to shear that is almost unmanageable to shear… we need to understand that smaller animals can be more profitable,” he said. Kilmore shearing trainer, Tom Kelly, described shearing as a “tough industry”, but didn’t believe it was a dying one. “It’s piecework so you get paid for what you do,” he said. “And it’s not for everyone, but there’s a lot of people who love it and thrive on it. You have generations of shearing families, the ability to make money quick, the opportunity to travel, the challenge of it.” But Mr Dunne said it had been a terrible year for wet sheep – the ongoing rains and flooding preventing shearers from working. He wanted to see government farming grants flow on to industries like shearing. “There’s no such thing as a full-time shearer,” he said.

Top: Tom Roberts’ 1890 painting ’Shearing the Rams’. (National Gallery of Victoria) Above: Catherine Cruickshank’s woolly sheep before they were recently shorn.

(Supplied)

Wednesday, 14 December, 2022 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 15

COMMUNITY STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

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

at the Medway Golf Club in Maidstone for lunch, fellowship and guest speakers each Wednesday from 12.30 until 2pm. New members and visitors welcome. ■ David, 0416 497 398

Scienceworks holiday program Curious young minds are encouraged to come along to Scienceworks to learn about the science behind the human body’s excretions and the history behind the iconic Spotswood Pumping Station. Scienceworks is hosting a series of programs this school holidays about all things waste. Other programs on show will include ’What’s With the Weather?’ and ’Lights, Energy, Action!’. ■ museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/ whats-on/summer-holiday-program

Walking group The Altona Meadows & Newport Heart Foundation Walking Group is a local community of men and women committed to walking and socialising together for about 60 minutes. It meets Wednesdays at 10am at the Jolly Miller Cafe in Altona Meadows or Fridays at 10am at the Newport Lakes Reserve. Members are required to register with the Heart Foundation in order to join. ■ Ian Watson, 0411 566 862 or www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/Community/ Whats-On/Altona-Meadows-and -NewportHeart-Foundation-Walking-Groups

Aquatic Christmas fun The Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre is hosting Christmas activities on Sunday, December 18 from noon to 4pm, including Christmas themed fitness classes, aquatic games for all ages and access to the brand-new inflatable and a special guest appearance from MACquaMan and his pal Santa Claus. All Christmas themed activities are free with a general entry pass. ■ www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Events/ Christmas-at-MAC

Drop in chess, cards and Scrabble If you love playing chess, cards or a game of Scrabble in an informal and fun setting, visit Braybrook Community Centre on Tuesdays, from noon to 2.30pm.

Pieces at The Substation Three unique voices within Melbourne’s dance scene will be bringing their newest creations to The Substation. Lucy Guerin Inc’s newest exhibition of its show Pieces will be hitting the stage in Newport from Wednesday, December 14 to Saturday, December 17. Pieces will be exhibited at The Substation from 7.30pm from Wednesday, December 14 to Saturday, December 17 with a 3pm matinee performance on Saturday, December 17. There will be also be an Auslan interpreted artist talk following the performance on Friday, December 16. ■ thesubstation.org.au/program/ pieces-2022

Williamstown book sale Friends of Williamstown Library holds a book sale every second Saturday of each month, 10am-12.30 pm. The book sale is held at Williamstown library in the Friends room, which can be accessed through the front desk. The event is cash only. ■ libraries.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au

Woodcarving workshop Aimed at all levels of ability in the ancient and international craft of woodcarving. Women are welcome. Bring your own tools and projects if possible. Or do you have Grandpa’s old gouges to donate? On Tuesdays, 9.30am to noon, at 280 Queen Street, Altona. ■ jah2802rot@gmail.com

Cherry Lake Market Altona Lions Club Cherry Lake Market is holding a special Christmas market on Sunday, December 18. Set between Millers Road and the stunning Cherry Lake in Altona, this market has something for everyone. The market hosts more than 60 stalls selling plants, bric-a-brac, handcrafts, hot jam donuts, tools, clothing and much more. There is live music every month from the Cherry Lake Cultural Series, showcasing local musicians from across Hobsons Bay. From 9am to 1pm. Cherry Lake, Millers Road, Altona. ■ www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/Community/ Whats-On/Altona Lions Club Cherry Lake Market or cherrylakemarket@gmail.com

Play along sessions The Newport Folk and Fiddle Group Beginner Play Along group offers a great way for you and your family to connect to music. If you are an absolute beginner or have decided to pick up that dusty or unused instrument or have some experience and want to try a new instrument in a safe, casual and welcoming environment, why not come down and have some fun, share a cuppa, bring the kids and maybe even learn something new? All instruments and levels of expertise are welcomed where the main aim is to enjoy music and have fun. The group is led by Danny. who creates a welcoming and casual environment. These sessions are a great way to musically express yourself and connect with others with a similar interest in a safe and friendly environment. The group will meet Saturday, December 17, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, at 2nd Newport Scouts, 6 Market Street, Newport. ■ www.nffc.org.au/beginner-playalong

International Cadet Class 2022 The Royal Yacht Club of Victoria is hosting the International Cadet Class

Alcoholics Anonymous

Joe Mastroianni caught up with Santa and his elf in Sunshine last week.

2022 World Championship incorporating the International Cadet Class 2022 Australian Championship and International Cadet Class World Championship. The International Cadet Class is the only World Sailing doublehanded junior class boat catering for the ages of 7-17. It is currently sailed in 19 countries across four continents. As well as an action-packed sailing schedule, there will be a strong social program including activities, food and drinks and live music. The event runs between December 19 and January 2, between 10am and 5pm. ■ rycv.com.au

Free English conversation Is English your second language? Do you want to improve your English language skills? Practice speaking English with friendly volunteer tutors in informal and interactive group sessions. Light refreshments provided. Weekly each Monday during school terms from 1pm-3pm at Altona Library. ■ Jill Mackenzie, 0439 994 705 or vintage@esc.net.au, or Joe Pellone, 0431 915 970 or joepellone@gmail.com

AeroSpeakers Toastmasters Club

The Williamstown Community and Education Centre is offering free enrolment for the rest of the year for Beginners Computer classes. Classes are on most days of the week, mornings or afternoon, at either Joan Kirner House Williamstown or Altona North Library. ■ Lynne, 9397 6168

Would you like to develop confidence in communicating, competence with language and clarity in writing? AeroSpeakers Toastmasters Club would like to invite any and all residents to join them on the first and third Thursday of every month to help develop public speaking, communication and leadership skills. The group meets at the Laverton Community Hub, 95-105 Railway Avenue, Laverton from 7-9.30pm. ■ Helen Fairlie, 0474 498 052

Cobber Club

Art workshops

Cobber Club provides exercises suitable for seniors, including chair exercises. The club meets on Mondays at 10am at Oz Tenpin at 2 Linmax Court, Point Cook on the first Monday of each month, Altona RSL at 63 Sargood Street, Altona on the second and fourth Mondays and at the Altona Badminton Centre at 271 Mason Street in Altona North.

The Louis Joel Arts & Community Centre presents MonArt. Workshops for people of all abilities facilitated by community art specialist Amanda Neville, Mondays 10am-11.30am. $5 casual fee each week. ■ admin@ljac.com.au or 9398 2511

Introduction to computer classes

16 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 14 December, 2022

West Footscray Rotary The Rotary Club of West Footscray meets

Regular meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous are held at St Andrew’s Church Hall, Williamstown, Wednesday at 7pm and Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Newport, Thursday 6.30pm and Saturday 8.30am. All welcome including friends and family of people with drinking problems. ■ 1300 22 22 22, or www.aatimes.org.au

Heritage walks Enjoy a leisurely walk around historic Williamstown and nearby suburbs with guide John. Walks start at 9.20 am each Tuesday outside the Visitor Information Centre, Nelson Place. ■ John, 0418 377 336

Wednesday walking group The Williamstown Community Centre offers a regular Wednesday walking group that walks the local area, 10.15-11am. New members are warmly welcome. This activity is free and includes morning tea. ■ 9397 6168

Altona book sale Friends of Altona Library hold a monthly book sale on the first Tuesday, Friday and Saturday of each month at the rear of Altona Library, 123 Queen Street, Altona, access via Coles carpark, 10am to 1pm. ■ libraries.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/ community/friends-of-the-libraries

Women’s choir Willin Wimmin choir welcomes new members. It meets every Wednesday in term time from 7.30pm to 9.30 pm at Church of Christ Hall in Douglas Parade, Williamstown. There are no auditions and members don’t need to be able to read music. ■ willin.wimmin@gmail.com

PUZZLES

DECODER

No. 111

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Today’s Aim: 17 words: Good 26 words: Very good

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16-12-22

Who wrote the 1958 novella on which the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s is based?

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

How many limestone pillars currently make up the Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria?

Is limestone an igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic rock?

Who played James Bond in 1971’s Diamonds are Forever?

NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

In which US city is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame located?

From which part of the UK is singer Dame Shirley Bassey (pictured)?

Which river connects the Great Lakes of North America to the Atlantic Ocean?

What was the full name of T.E. Lawrence, known famously as Lawrence of Arabia?

Which Islamic holiday is celebrated earlier in the year, Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha?

No. 111

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No. 111

QUICK QUIZ

10 Which species of whale has the scientific name Monodon monoceros?

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QUICK CROSSWORD

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Wednesday, 14 December, 2022 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 17

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SPORTS QUIZ 1. Former England cricketer Isa Guha currently commentates for which sports channel?

4. Which former fighter is suing UFC great Conor McGregor for unpaid proceeds?

2. Which country faced a major upset at the World Cup against Morrocco?

5. The Parramatta Eels rugby club offered which player 1 million dollars to resign with them?

3. Prior to Ash Barty’s Wimbledon win, who was the last Australian woman to win the tournament?

6. Which former gymnastics veteran had competed in every olympics from 1992–2000? 7. Australian tennis player Thanasi Kokkinakis sported a $6 t-shirt from which brand at the 2021 Australian Open? 8. What is the nickname for the US women’s national soccer team? 9. Who is the coach for the Collingwood football club? 10. Kayo stadium was recently announced as the new venue for which sport?

13. Craig Goodwin captains which A-League Men’s club?

Ash Barty

14. Which African nation’s soccer team goes by the nickname The Black Stars? 15. NFL quarterback Baker Mayfield signed with which team after being released by the Carolina Panthers? 16. Before debuting in 1989, which NBA team considered the names Heat, Tropics, and Juice? 17. Which South American nation’s soccer team goes by the nickname The White And Sky Blues? 18. Featuring teams such as the Toronto Argonauts, Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Elks, is which professional sports league? 19. Which Polish golf professional won the 2022 Australian Open? 20. Which South African golf professional won the 2022 Women’s Australian Open?

11. Soccer is played with two teams of how many players on the field at the one time?

21. How many goals did Portugal score in their FIFA World Cup 2022 match against Switzerland?

12. Olivier Giroud is the alltime leading goalscorer for which national soccer team?

22. Eddie Jones was recently sacked as the coach of which nation’s Rugby Union team?

23. Which team was recently announced as North Melbourne’s opponent in the 2023 AFL Good Friday match? 24. Which two NBL teams will play a match on Christmas day against each other? 25. The WNBL’s Southside Flyers recently announced the signing of which AFLW star to their roster?

28. What position did Australian golfer Hannah Green finish in the recent Australian Open? 29. Australian basketballer Dyson Daniels plays for which NBA team? 30. Which Australian regional city will host the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships?

26. Which English rugby league club team will compete in the 2023 NRL Pre-Season competition? 27. The 1989 movie Major League revolves around which a real-life baseball team from which US city?

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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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EV6 . . . they’ll see you coming.

(Pictures: Supplied)

A statement of what’s possible By Chris Riley Back in the ‘60s Gerry Anderson created the puppet phenomena Thunderbirds. The puppets or marionettes later grew into real life actors in shows like UFO and Space: 1999, complete with space-age clothing, architecture and futuristic cars that made a buzzing, turbine-like sound. I suspect many car designers have spent too much time watching sci-fi shows because most seem to think EVs should come in a futuristic package, with form taking precedence over functionality. Kia’s first dedicated, fully electric vehicle, EV6, is an example. It looks and feels more like a statement of what is possible rather than a real car, one ready to take on the demands of the weekly grind or occasional trip to the tip on Saturday with a back full of crap. EV6 may be Wheels’ Car of the Year and there are certainly many things to like about the car, but it’s not the most practical thing we’ve driven -- not by a long shot.

Engines / transmissions Air is the more range focused of the trio, with 168kW of power and 350Nm of torque and a range of 528km, while RWD GT-Line with the same powertrain is good for 504km. GT-Line with AWD adds a second electric motor and produces a combined output of 239kW and 605Nm, along with a range of 484km. All are powered by the same 77.4kWh battery pack, which is located under the floor and weighs 477kg, with a single speed reduction gear transmission. Moving through the grades, energy consumption ranges from 16.5 to 17.2 to 18.0 kWh/100km.

Safety Five-star safety starts with seven airbags, a rear-view camera with dynamic guidelines, plus Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with car, pedestrian, cyclist detection (and junction turn assist). There’s also Blind Spot (including rear cross traffic assist), Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), Lane Follow Assist (LFA), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Driver Attention Warning

with lead vehicle departure alert (DAW+), Multi-Collision Braking (MCB) and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). EV6 provides three top tether and two ISOFIX child seat anchors.

AT A GLANCE

Driving

EV6 GT-Line AWD: $87,590

There are four selectable drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport and Snow which also change the look of the instruments. Adding some drama to the drive experience is Active Sound Design (ASD) with a choice of artificial engine sounds and custom setting. They’re unique electronica rather than engine noise emulations. With this much power and torque under foot and all that torque available in a flash, EV6 has plenty of get up and go, with 0-100km/h in the AWD taking a rapid 5.2 seconds. With a burst of speed, overtaking can be accomplished virtually at will, but it’s a weighty device and wants to run wide in corners. Steering is heavy and uncommunicative. EV6 has powerful braking too, perhaps too strong at times, or more specifically -irritatingly abrupt. It pulls up with a jerk and releases with a lurch, and can be difficult to control in close manoeuvring. One way to avoid this happening is one-pedal driving, using the regenerative brake system that is controlled by the steering wheel paddles normally devoted to gears. In this way, the car slows when you lift off the

SPECIFICATIONS

20 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 14 December, 2022

MODEL RANGE EV6 Air RWD: $72,590 EV6 GT-Line RWD: $79,590

Kia EV6 GT-Line electric SUV

Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Kia dealer for drive-away prices.

accelerator -- to a complete stop if necessary. An electric parking brake is provided, but instead of being located close to hand in the centre console, it’s relegated to a position to the right and below the dash. More jerkiness follows. Try releasing the brake and moving off in reverse if you’re parked on a slope. A dab on the accelerator pedal is required and is liable to result in an intake of breath as the car shoots backwards. EV6’s space-age look is polarising. Some people love it, others hate it. Most annoying was the location of the charge port. In Niro it is sensibly located at the front, but in EV6 it is cleverly concealed near the driver side tail light. The location necessitates backing the car in to access power. Charging can take a looong time with a standard powerpoint, down to as little as 18

minutes for 80 per cent with a 350kW DC commercial charger. Even fully charged the system reported a distance to empty range of 412km -- some 70km less than claimed. Stranger still, after travelling a few kilometres to do some shopping, the range actually went up a few kilometres rather than down, even though the battery dropped to 97 per cent. At the end of the day, we were getting 17.0kWh/100km after about 400km of mixed driving. After all the EV6 hype, it’s a mixed bag and something of a let-down. Until now Kia’s ergonomics have been a shining example of simplicity. Who let the nerds out?

Summing up It’s a halo model for the brand, pure and simple. Cashed up nerds will want one. Lesser so, user-choosers, who will be drawn to the usual line-up of Euro suspects. Who then does that leave? It’s a fairly short, exclusive list at $90K by the time you put it on the road. Just over 500 EV6s have found homes in Australia this year. Over the same period, Kia has sold four times as many Stingers (and they reckon its days are numbered). No doubt, the arrival of the EV6 GT will give the figures a bit of a bump -- but after that, who knows?

STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

SPORT

Dennis-Lane jumps at Jets choaching position New Western Jets boys coach Trent Dennis-Lane has always had a passion for developing up and coming football players. So when the opportunity arose to join the Jets in a full-time coaching position, the former AFL player had no hesitation in taking on the role. Dennis-Lane officially started at the Jets last week and will step into the role full-time next year after sorting out work commitments. “I can’t wait,” he said. “I’ll be part-time this side of Christmas and then stuck into next year. It’s been a hectic few weeks.” Dennis-Lane said the opportunity to have a full time coaching role was something that attracted him to getting involved in the NAB League. He’s been juggling coaching around three or four jobs, which hasn’t always been the easiest thing. For Dennis-Lane, coaching is something that he has been keen to get involved with for

a long time. “I’m a bit of a footy nerd,” he said. “The game plan side of things, the structures and the tactics. “I was still playing when I took on a development role at Sandringham when they still had a development side. “The opportunities developed from there and I continued to yes and immersed myself.” Dennis-Lane, who played 29 AFL games, has also been involved coaching at St Kilda with its next generation academy and with the club’s Victorian Football League aligned-club the Sandringham Dragons. With his work also involved working with youths, it’s a passion that has grown for him. For Dennis-Lane the move to the Jets will be a learning curve. “I’m pretty much brand new to Melbourne’s west,” he said. “I come from Perth and moved to Sydney and then bay side. “I’ve done a little bit of work at schools [in the west]. I know the area is very multicultural,

which is cool. “I’m half Burmese. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into it.” Dennis-Lane said the training squad was about a 50-50 split of new and returning players. He said they were hoping a couple of 19-year-olds would return as well. He said it felt good to finally get out on the track with the squad. “There was a bit of anxiety running through my veins,” he said. “Then getting out there felt like business as usual. The coaches, who were assistant coaches last year, are still learning names of the new faces, so I’m not out of place. “We’ll have a good block of training and then hit the road running next year.” Tara Murray

Trent Dennis-Lane.

(Supplied)

Bozinovski re-signs with United

Hayley Gossow. (Supplied)

Gossow is ready to lead By Tara Murray New Western Jets girls coach Hayley Gossow wants to have an impact on female football in Melbourne’s west. Having started her senior coaching career at Bacchus Marsh and then having a number of roles in the west, it’s a place close to her heart. Now having been appointed the Jets first full-time women’s NAB League coach, Gossow is keen to continue helping the sport grow. “It’s been pretty exciting,” she said. “I’ve been an assistant coach for the girls and boys the last two years. I wasn’t sure what opportunities there would be with the chances. “It’s really exciting to get the role.” Gossow said she was keen to continue coaching in the female side of things, with her first foray into boys football at a high level with the Jets. She had previously been involved in AFLW and Victorian Football League Women’s coaching roles and her long term goal is to be

part of the AFLW. Gossow, who is a physical education teacher by trade, has been heavily involved with female football in Melbourne’s west. “Bacchus Marsh was way back in 2016 and my first season coaching seniors,” she said. “I had coached juniors, school footy and Auskick before that. “I then had a role at Collingwood as a development coach and then two years at Carlton as an assistant coach in the VFLW. “All through those times I was coaching in other areas, Bacchus Marsh, the Western Region Football League interleague program. “Then had a bit of a break with COVID and straight into the Western Jets.” Gossow, who also coached at the Maribyrnong Sports Academy this year, the full-time role with the Jets gave her the opportunity to help develop the talent in Melbourne’s west. She said she wants to have a real impact in the area and this role gives her one of the greatest opportunities to do that.

“I’ve had roles the last five to eight years and tried to have an impact as much as I can,” she said. “Now I’ve got an actual platform with the region team to make a real impact on female footy in the west.“ The Jets have been back at training for three weeks ahead of the 2023 season. Gossow said it had been good so far. “It’s great to see so many new faces who are bringing a lot of positivity,” she said. “We’ll be a little bit different from last year.” Gossow takes on a side that won the Jets’ first premiership earlier this year. She said while it does come with a bit of pressure, they were a different group. “The nature of the competition is that it’s not the be all and end all,” she said. “There’s the development of the individual players and those girls’ own football careers and journey. “The message to the group is we’re not long a premiership team. We want to get as much out of this program individually and as a team.”

Young Western United star Rhys Bozinovski has re-signed with the A-League club for the next two seasons. The 18-year-old midfielder has developed exponentially since joining the Western United Academy in 2021, making his senior debut in early May this year against Adelaide United and was part of the grand final team. He made his first start last month. Bozinovski said he is delighted to be continuing in Green and Black and believes he has a lot more to come on the pitch. “I couldn’t be more happy to have extended my stay at Western United,” he said. “I have loved every second of it and I can’t wait to be a part of more success in the future. “I’m looking forward to being a part of something special again this year and hopefully playing more regular football with the first team, whether that be starting or coming off the bench. That would be a big stepping stone in my career.” Bozinovski transitioned quickly through the academy and signed his first professional deal in the same year he joined the academy. He said making the move from the youth league team to the senior side was tough last season, but everyone at the club had helped him tremendously to develop not only as a player, but also as a person. Football general manager Mal Impiombato praised the impact of the academy program, and the hard work that Bozinovski has put in. He said they were delighted to see Bozinovski extend his tenure at the club. “It is always pleasing to see a player progress through the club’s academy into the first team and we are excited for what lies ahead for both Rhys and the club.” In 2022, Bozinovski has also been called up to three separate Young Socceroos camps, representing his country for the first time and helping the team qualify for the 2023 AFC under-20 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan. Tara Murray

Wednesday, 14 December, 2022 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 21

SPORT STARWEEKLY.COM.AU

St Albans, Deer Park are officially EDFL clubs St Albans and Deer Park are officially Essendon District Football League clubs. The league announced on Friday that an AFL Victoria appeal hearing into the move of the two clubs had been concluded and dismissed. The hearing took place after the Western Region Football League, where the clubs had been playing, appealed the decision made by AFL Victoria at an earlier hearing rejecting the WRFL’s objection to the move. The EDFL in a statement confirmed that AFL Victoria had made a final decision on the move. “The Essendon District Football League is delighted to welcome the Deer Park and St Albans Football Clubs as the League’s two newest clubs,” the league said in a statement. “AFL Victoria confirmed the outcome to the EDFL following a final appeal hearing with the WRFL earlier this week.”

League chairman Bernie Shinners said both clubs would be welcome additions to the league. “Given the calibre of these clubs, our competition will be significantly strengthened and enriched and we look forward to embracing both as member clubs of the EDFL,” he said. The WRFL also released a statement saying it had been made aware that its appeal had been unsuccessful “Although we are disappointed to be farewelling two-long standing WRFL clubs, we are looking forward to continuing the growth of football and netball across the western suburbs of Melbourne,” it said. Deer Park and St Albans play in the EDFL division 1 competition in 2023, with the division set to comprise 12 teams. Further details surrounding the admission of Deer Park and St Albans as well as the division

1 fixture will be finalised in the near future. On social media, Deer Park said they are glad this process is now completed and they can get on with season 2023 and joining the EDFL as planned. St Albans president James Perkin took to the club’s social media to thank the people behind the scenes that had done a lot of hard work to get the club to this position “It has been a roller coaster of emotions from the highs of being accepted, the lows of the unknown, with the appeal of the WRFL, but finally, we gained acceptance into a league that our club sees a bright future in,” he said. “This is the start of a momentous change in our club’s history.” Tara Murray

St Albans is moving to the EDFL. (Supplied)

Sports shorts VFL Williamstown has signed Jack McHale for next year’s Victorian Football League season.Previously at Sandringham, McHale has proven himself at VFL level and will add depth to the Seagulls squad. He is an explosive half forward who can play up the ground who has played nearly 50 games in the VFL.

Premier Footscray opened its Vic Super Slam account with a big win against the Greenvale Kangaroos last Tuesday night. The Bulldogs won the toss and elected to bat, and put on more than 100 for the opening partnership. The Bulldogs finished with 2-164 from their overs. William Dundon was the only wicket taker for the Kangaroos, taking one. The Kangaroos lost an early wicket and were soon in trouble at 3-31. T In the end they fell well short, finishing 7-125. Jordan Kosteas top scored with 28 not out off 18 balls.

NAB League

Emma Robers.

(Supplied)

Dream start for Robers By Tara Murray Western United’s Emma Robers is keen to make her mark in the A-League Women’s competition this season. Having been part of Melbourne Victory’s championship squad last season, Robers made the switch to United for its first season in search of a bigger role. Robers and United have made an instant impact, with the side holding a perfect record after three rounds. The third of those wins came in extra time, with Robers’ first A-League goal the winner in the dying seconds. “I can’t really believe that game,” Robers said. “Those sorts of matches come around once in a blue moon. “The team morale is pretty high right now. We’re on top of the table and you can’t ask for much more.” Robers said United had taken in an underdog mentality in the season, with not many people expecting much from them. The group themselves set high expectations and wanted to make a statement.

“The performances we’ve put out as a team so far we’re really stamping our mark in the competition,” Robers said. “We’ve had a lot of girls playing in the NPL [National Premier League] and Calder [United] and people presumed we would not be competitive. “We wanted to develop and show that we belong in the competition.” While United is keen to make their mark in the competition this season, Robers also has that goal personally. Robers played in eight games for Victory last year, but she was itching to play a more substantial role. “It has been fantastic,” she said. “Changing clubs for me was a big decision to make. “Where I wanted to be and challenging for more game time and that starting 11.” The connection with coach Mark Torcaso also played a big role in Robers making the move to United. Torcaso coached Robers at Calder United, where they tasted plenty of success. Robers said that the winning mentality from Calder was flowing through into the Western

22 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY Wednesday, 14 December, 2022

United outfit. “Calder I had been there about five years and all those girls are like sisters to me,“ she said. “To play with anyone in the Liberty A-League it would be those girls, I love them. “We have a team [Western] full of big personalities, but we don’t have any egos in the team. “We keep a handle and stay in the moment in every game … We keep pushing each other and that’s the definition of Calder and Western.” Western United had a bye on the weekend. After a hectic three weeks, Robers said that it had come at a perfect time after issues with international clearances, postponed flights, lost passports and playing in 36 degree heat. “We’re a brand new side and came in and made a statement in the first three weeks,” she said. “We have to put the past behind us and prepare for what is ahead of us. “It’s a chance to reset and get our minds and bodies right for Melbourne City.” United faces Melbourne City on Saturday evening at 5pm at AAMI Park.

Players from the Western Jets are among those who took part in a training camp in preparation for the 2023 AFL under-18 national championships. The camp, which was held at the Hangar in Tullamarine featured a host of talented 16 and 17-year-old boys and girls who feature as part of the Victoria Metro regions that compete in the NAB League. The girls squad participated in the training camp across Friday and Saturday, while a camp for the boys squad was run on Saturday and Sunday. Six players in the 2023 NAB AFLW Academy have been named in the girls’ squad, including the Jets’ duo Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner and Kiera Whiley. The Jets’ Logan Morris, who plays with Werribee Districts, and Tamara Henry, who is from Darley, also took part in the camps.

VMMNA Altona Falcons were in fine form on Wednesday night in the Victorian Men’s and Mixed Netball Association mixed premier competition. Facing the Eastside Sonics the Falcons had no issues at all, winning 84-42. The Falcons sit third with one round left before the Christmas break. The Falcons men’s side lost a thriller to St Therese’s, 53-50. The Falcons are fourth on the ladder. FOR MORE SPORT, VISIT Web: starweekly.com.au Maribyrnong & Hobsons Bay Star Weekly @starweeklynews @star_weekly

Western Crusaders through to another Vic Bowl Western Crusaders incredible run in the Gridiron Victoria competition continues with the side through to another Vic Bowl. The Crusaders will be going for five straight titles when they take on the Croydon Rangers on Saturday. Crusaders player and committee member Tyson Garnham said the club was looking forward to another opportunity to play off in the final game of the season. “Hopefully it’s five in a row,” he said. “That’s the plan. “Our two teams have now combined into one team for the finals and everyone played together which is good.” The Crusaders won through to the Vic Bowl with a 50-0 win against the South Eastern Predators on Saturday. Garnham said that they weren’t expecting a

Crusaders Tyrell Sharp and Matthew Krul. (Joe Mastroianni) 303530_03

score line like that going into the game. “It was a better result than what we expected,” he said. “We expected to win, but last time it was a really tough game.

“We did a lot of film and study and trialled a few things going into the match and it paid off.” With a good margin at half time, the Crusaders looked to take advantage of the big bench they had to try and give everyone a go. Garnham said it was good that everyone got their opportunity. “We ramped up the rotations in the second half,” he said. “It was good that the second string players continued to drive the game and were scoring as well.” Garnham said the concept of merging two teams, that both played in the same division during the regular season, for finals was one they had made work. He said the group all worked well together whether they were playing as one team or two. “We did it a couple of times during the year when there were byes and forfeits,” he said.

“We worked on the cohesion and worked together. Everyone trains together as well.” The win sets up a rematch of last season’s Vic Bowl, with the Crusaders to face the Croydon Rangers. The Crusaders won last season’s decider 44-0. The grand final is being played on Saturday at 3.30pm. Garnham said they were hoping a big crowd would come down and support them. “It’s a rematch of last year’s Vic Bowl,” he said. “We had two convincing wins during the season, but everything is different come finals. “We’re not getting complacent and we’ll step it up in training during the week. “Everyone is looking forward to it.” Tara Murray

Seagulls, Woodsmen continue on

Altona North celebrates a wicket. (Joe Mastroianni) 311967_09

Altona North show form By Tara Murray Altona North bounced back and returned to the winners list in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 1 on Saturday. In a competition that is proving to be close, every match is important in the lead up to the Christmas break. On Saturday, Altona North accounted for bottom side Tullamarine. Altona North coach Ian Denny said it was a good performance but they still had areas that they could improve on. Altona North made 4-205 from its overs with Luke Rainone top scoring with 75. “We got off to a good start before we lost a couple of quick wickets,” he said. “Luke and Buddhi Samarawickrama then really controlled the innings. “We would have liked to have got a few more runs on the board having been 2-92 at the halfway mark. We would have liked 230.” Denny said they had moments with the ball, but were eventually able to get the job done,

restricting the Demons to 8-179. “We bowled OK at times,” he said. “One of their guys got away from us. We got a bit of a break which went our way and with tight bowling late we forced them to make errors.” It was all single wicket takers for Altona North. Denny said at times it had been challenging this season, their second season in division 1. “We’re getting better,” he said. “We haven’t got any international players, with most other sides in the competition having two or three. “It’s a really strong competition and we’ve got a lot of home grown guys, some who have come back to the club.” Denny said in this competition, it only takes a couple of quality players to get away with the bat and then it’s game over. Altona North sits 3-4 in seventh spot with one round left before the Christmas break. Denny said they would have liked to have been sitting a little bit better at this time of the season. “We would have liked to be in a better

position, but the competition is so close,” he said. “A drop catch could change a game.” In other results, Seddon was beaten by Sunshine. Sunshine made 9-152 before bowling Seddon out for just 61. In senior division, the Druids lost to Aberfeldie. The Druids made 7-186 from their overs, with Aberfeldie finishing 5-188 in reply. Yarraville Club was too strong for Keilor. Keilor struggled with the bat, making 8-118. The Clubbers finished 4-123 in reply. Ashley Sweet took four wickets for the Clubbers, while Chinthaka Jayasinghe was their top scorer with 35. The Clubbers sit third on the ladder, while the Druids are in eighth spot. In division 2, Newport-Digman beat Royal Park-Brunswick, Footscray United continued its run with Williamstown CYMS, West Newport was too good for Kingsville and the Altona Roosters accounted for the Greenvale Kangaroos.

Williamstown’s good run of form has continued with another strong win, this time against Croydon in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association east-west. After a slow start to the season, the Seagulls have now won four of their last five games, with the other a draw due to the rain. On Saturday, the Seagulls restricted Croydon to 145, bowling it out with two balls remaining. Daniel Popa continued his good form with the ball, taking three wickets. The Seagulls openers got off to a flier and were never in trouble as the side hit the winning runs with more than three overs remaining. The Seagulls made 3-146 with Jack Craig top scoring with 48. Spotswood also continued its good form, with a big win against Box Hill. The Woodmen bowled Box Hill out for just 85. Playing-coach Dan Schuppan was the pick of the bowlers, with 3-28 off nine overs. The Woodsmen openers got the run chase off to a solid start. Taylor Tatterson lost his wicket just before the total was reached, but it meant little. The Woodsmen finished 1-88 in just 15.1 overs Jarrod Martignago finished 49 not out off 37 balls. The win cements the Woodsmen’s spot on the top of the table, three points clear of Williamstown. Altona slipped to sixth with a loss to Balwyn. After being sent in, Balwyn was bowled out for 153 in the final over. Shannon Clarke and Archie Scott took two wickets each for Altona. The A’s started poorly and were in trouble at 3-14. It didn’t get much better, as the A’s slipped to 5-77. The A’s looked like they might be able to sneak home, but lost three late wickets to halt the momentum. The A’s finished 9-146. Scott top scored with 43. Yarraville was unable to make it two in a row, losing to Werribee. The Eagles were bowled out for 151 with one ball remaining. Aidan Salvado top scored with 65 at the top of the order. The Eagles got an early wicket, but there was little joy after that with Werribee finishing 2-153.

Wednesday, 14 December, 2022 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY 23

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