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proudly serving Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay
23 APRIL, 2025
Salehi kicks karate goals Pouya Salehi might have been born and bred in Iran, but the 35 year old exponent of Kyokushin Karate now lives in West Footscray and kicks for Australia. Salehi recently helped his adopted home retain the prestigious International Cup team event, by defeating Kaito Yoshioka of Japan. It’s the latest in a long list of accolades of Salehi, who was a 12 time Iranian national karate champion, a two time world championship bronze medalist and in 2011 completed the gruelling 100-man kumite. “An extreme physical and mental challenge involving 100 consecutive fullcontact fights,” explained Salehi of what the kumite involved. The husband and father of two now trains out of the Chikara Dojo in Footscray under the guidance of Shihan Judd Reid, and is preparing to representing Australia at the 2025 Full Contact Karate World Championship in Tokyo. “This is the most prestigious and competitive full-contact karate tournament in the world, featuring the best fighters from every continent,” said Salehi. “Representing Australia in this global arena is both a great honor and a major personal milestone.”
Pouya Salehi is a former Iranian national karate champion, but now represents Australia. (Damjan Janevski) 471678_01
Twentyman vote ‘insult’ By Cade Lucas Three Maribyrnong councillors who voted against a proposal to name a meeting room at the council chambers after Les Twentyman, have defended their decision, arguing the late youth worker deserves better recognition. Greens councillors Bernadette Thomas, Samantha Meredith and Elena Pereyra sparked outrage when they voted against the proposal at a council meeting on April 15. The proposal was carried 4-3, but Mr Twentyman’s widow, Cherie Coon, who was present at the meeting, expressed anger at the councillors who opposed it. “It was disgraceful and an insult to the memory of Les who has given so much to
the community in Maribyrnong,” said Ms Coon who added that mayor Pradeep Tiwari apologised to her afterwards. Les Twentyman Foundation chief executive Paul Burke was also present and said it was disappointing to have been invited to what should have been a celebration of Mr Twentyman’s life and legacy, but instead became a topic of debate. “We are stunned that three councillors would vote against a memorial for such a significant local community figure, whose work over many decades has helped thousands of kids in Maribyrnong to a brighter future – for that discussion to happen in front of his widow was appalling.” Speaking on behalf of the three Greens councillors, Cr Thomas said Mr Twentyman
deserved a memorial that reflected his decades of youth work in the community. “We fully support doing more to honour his legacy, and given his life-long dedication to youth work, would love for the memorial to be really visible in spaces young people use,” Cr Thomas said. “We wanted to see the council choose a different location than a meeting room, in consultation with young people in our community, his family, and the foundation. If that isn’t possible, we still support the memorial.” Cr Thomas and Cr Pereyra made similar arguments at Tuesday night’s meeting where both appeared via video link. They argued naming a basketball court at Rec West in Braybrook after Mr Twentyman
would be a more fitting, but Cr Cuc Lam, who moved the motion, disagreed, saying it wouldn’t be appropriate. Cr Meredith was the only Greens councillor present at the meeting, but did not speak on the proposal, later telling Star Weekly she was not afforded time. Cr Meredith said she wanted more time to discuss a better memorial for Mr Twentyman and that she tried to explain this to his widow, Ms Coon. She said the Greens councillor’s voted independently and not as a block. The Les Twentyman Foundation is expected to meet with the three councillors to discuss the matter. Mr Twentyman died in March last year aged 76 after a long illness.
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