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18 JUNE, 2025
Rainy day fun at zoo An exuberant gorilla at Werribee Open Range Zoo is challenging the belief that this species dislikes the rain – and he’s making quite a splash doing it. The 25-year-old silverback, Ganyeka has been caught on keeper cameras lapping up the start to winter. “We see him rolling around on his back, rubbing the water in his hair and getting it down his shoulders,” African river trail keeper Kristina Sleeth said. “We know he’s really enjoying it when his toes are curled up in the air too.” Ms Sleeth clarified while viral videos often show gorillas dramatically avoiding the rain with expressive reactions, their behaviour is not one-size-fits-all. “Meantime, [Ganyeka’s] brother Yakini, will be the first gorilla to run under a shelter when it rains to hide away.” Ms Sleeth revealed that Ganyeka’s rainy-day revelry is even more intriguing as he seems to only indulge when no one is watching. “When the other gorillas are huddled away in sheltered areas, it’s an opportunity for Ganyeka to have the habitat all to himself. It’s just like if you were home alone and you could do whatever you wanted – it’s exciting and he can really just let loose.” Ganyeka is lapping up the start to winter. (Supplied)
Vandalism shock By Jaidyn Kennedy The Hoppers Crossing Soccer Club is reeling from vandalism that included the club’s facilities being broken into for the second time in three months. Club president Andrew Elsbury said he received an alarming call from a club member who was monitoring the CCTV footage in the canteen area about 3am on Monday, June 9. Mr Elsbury said he started watching the cameras, saw several people he didn’t recognise rummaging through things and immediately called police.
The thieves forcibly opened a fridge, taking three bottles of Gatorade and chocolate bars. Mr Elsbury believes that the primary target may have been the club’s safe, which hasn’t carried cash since the club was last broken into on March 1. “The first time they hit us, there was a tournament on and we had cash on site because we needed to cover the bar costs and pay the referees,” Mr Elsbury said. “It was about $2000 and that hurt – that hurt a lot.” “That is the operating budget for about three or four weeks, not including electricity bills of course.
“We think they hit us on the King’s Birthday weekend because we had a big game against Epping City and they might be in for a windfall again.” Mr Elsbury said people are angry the club has been hit twice. “I’m gutted, you’ve got a group of people at the club who do such good things and positive things for the community,” he said. The latest break-in came less than a day after someone on a dirt bike performed burnout and damaged the club’s pitch on Sunday, June 8. “We are getting ready for matches on Sunday, and it was right in the centre circle
of the main pitch,” Mr Elsbury said. “Its just a constant battle to keep these things going, we are trying to save up for juniors goals next year.” Mr Elsbury said the club’s facilities have been vandalised at least four times in the past year. “It’s constant, people just have no respect for the community facilities we have,” he said. A Victoria Police spokesperson said police are investigating the June 9 burglary. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
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