Established in 1875 as the
proudly serving Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay
26 MARCH, 2025
Maribyrnong gets active
Coach and owner of the Cia Paulista Australia BJJ gym and 6 degree black belt, Carlos Vieira. (Damjan Janevski) 463914_02
Maribyrnong residents have no excuse not to get out and get moving this March with council’s annual Get Active Expo on again. The four-week program that offers a variety of ‘come-and-try’ sessions to showcase local sport, recreation, and wellbeing opportunities to people of all ages, officially began on Monday, March 16. The 2025 expo features new sports that have not been previously available, such as beach tennis, community meditation, BMX sessions, taekwondo fitness classes and reformer pilates for people over 55. Along with these new sports and activities, established favourites like golf, cricket and AFL also feature again. Also returning this month is Sons of the West – a 10-week health program focused on improving the mental and physical wellbeing of men, which began on March 18. Maribyrnong mayor Pradeep Tiwari said, “Get Active Expo and Sons of the West are all well-loved programs in our municipality, each meeting diverse and distinct needs in our community”. Get Active Expo is underway now and concludes on Sunday, April 13. Sons of the West runs until Thursday, May 29.
Council remembers Carter By Cade Lucas The late Sarah Carter was honoured at a Maribyrnong council meeting on Tuesday, March 18, seven months after the former mayor’s sudden death. A memorial book featuring community tributes to Ms Carter was presented to her family, while a motion acknowledging her outstanding contribution to the council and outlining possible locations for a permanent memorial, passed unanimously. Ms Carter’s death last year rocked Maribyrnong where she’d been a councillor since 2007 and served three stints as mayor in 2011, 2020 and 2023.
The-45 year-old, who was also a senior executive with charity, Save the Children, was found dead at her Maribyrnong home on August 6 by her partner Nikhil Roy. Her death was not considered suspicious. Mr Roy joined other members of Ms Carter’s family in the gallery on March 18 as normal standing orders were suspended to allow for the memorial book to be presented to her mother, Gaynor Morris. “I’m here tonight with great pride,” an emotional Ms Morris told the chamber after accepting the book. “She would always say with love and pride, ‘west is best’,” she recalled of how passionate her daughter was about Maribyrnong and the
western suburbs. Ms Morris then thanked council in advance for planning a permanent tribute. “It’s a great relief to my family that Sarah will not be forgotten for the work she did for the city of Maribyrnong.” Ms Carter’s family have offered to donate her mayoral robes to the council, one of a number of tribute and memorial options included in a motion that was later moved for debate. The other options include a contemplation seat on Footscray Wharfe, the new RecWest building in West Footscray and Maribyrnong Community Childcare Centre being named in her honour, and a gender equity category being
added to council’s civic awards in recognition of her efforts championing women. Former mayor and close friend, councillor Cuc Lam, called Ms Carter “an icon.” “Sarah was a pillar of the community and a role model for women,” Cr Lam said. New councillor Elena Pereyra said while she didn’t know Ms Carter well, her legacy could be seen in council now having a record five female members. Deputy mayor Bernadette Thomas praised Ms Carter’s “enthusiasm, her energy, her intellect and fantastic strategic mind”. The process of naming a memorial after Ms Carter is expected to take between six and 12 months.
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