Broadford-Yea shows heart against Warburton-Millgrove: Outer East football

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August 9, 2022

Broadford-Yea shows heart against Warburton-Millgrove: Outer East football

BROADFORD-YEA put in one of the most encouraging displays of its Outer East Football Netball division two season, finishing less than six goals behind finals-bound Warburton-Millgrove on Saturday.

With only one win to show from 13 games entering Saturday’s clash, the combination side was expected to struggle against the visiting Burras at Yea Showgrounds.

Their previous meeting yielded a 92-point loss for Broadford-Yea, but the side refused to roll over on Saturday.

With the likes of Liam Lucas, Shanyn Kearney, Neeson Cook, Braydon Hardstaff, Ben Wilsmore and Jayme Ruedin leading the way, Broadford-Yea kicked four goals to Warburton-Millgrove’s three in the second half to record a much more respectable 6.5 (41) to 10.15 (75) defeat.

Hardstaff kicked two goals in the loss, with Cook, James Duell, Tom Knight and Angus Norris recording singles.

Broadford-Yea will close out its season – possibly the final time the Broadford and Yea players join forces – with an away game against second-placed Powelltown on Saturday.

Netball

Broadford’s run of A Grade netball success was cut short by Warburton-Millgrove on Saturday, with the undefeated Burras putting on a clinic in a 53-37 win.

The visitors won every quarter of the contest, with Caitlin Hinrichsen’s 22 goals and Ally Black’s nine for Broadford not enough to keep pace with a high-powered Warburton-Millgrove attack at the other end.

Broadford won the B Grade match between the clubs 42-22, with the Burras taking C Grade 29-16 and the Roos winning the 17 and under match-up 14-10.

WR (2022-08-09)

Whittlesea Review

The North Central Review

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August 9, 2022

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NCR (2022-08-09)

North Central Review

The North Central Review

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August 9, 2022

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Council push for net zero developments in the City of Whittlesea

The North Central Review

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August 9, 2022

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The City of Whittlesea has partnered with 23 other Victorian councils to work towards greater sustainability requirements for new developments.

The council has lodged a planning scheme amendment with the State Government, looking to introduce a planning policy that prioritises sustainability requirements for new buildings and encourages a move towards net zero carbon development.

The amendment is intended to build on the current Environmentally Sustainable Development, ESD, requirements for new developments in an effort to better protect the natural environment and reduce resource and energy consumption, as well as support the health and wellbeing of future occupants.

Administrator Peita Duncan said the City of Whittlesea was committed to creating a more sustainable environment and proud to be taking action through the proposed measures.

“We are thrilled to be joining with councils from across the state on this incredibly important work,” she said.

“Local governments have long led work towards net zero carbon in new builds, but we need governments across all levels – state and federal – to work together if we want to create real change.”

Under the proposed changes, new developments would produce net zero carbon emissions; reduce household bills through greater energy efficiency; provide a healthier and more comfortable environment for occupants; better manage water quality, use and collection; protect and enhancing greening and biodiversity; and be more resilient to changing climate impacts.

The 24 councils part of the joint agreement, including neighbouring councils of Mitchell Shire, Darebin, and Banyule, represent about half of the Victorian population and planning activity.

The City of Whittlesea council has also written to new Planning Minister Lizzie Blandthorn, seeking her support for the amendment and to acknowledge the current planning requirements do not reflect the need to address climate change.

The City of Whittlesea is undertaking the work as a member of the Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment, CASBE, supported by the Municipal Association of Victoria, MAV.

Call out to support Share the Dignity’s charity cause

The North Central Review

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August 9, 2022

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Call out to support Share the Dignity’s charity cause

Share the Dignity, a charity who distributes sanitary items to those in need, is calling on City of Whittlesea residents to participate in a Dignity Drive following an increased need across Victoria for period care products.

In a partnership with Woolworths, Share the Dignity’s Dignity Drive during August aims to directly address period poverty and increase the number of freely available period care products across Victoria.

Woolworths will donate five cents from each period care product sold during the drive to help fund support local community initiatives and Share the Dignity’s dignity vending machines.

Since the partnership began in 2019, Woolworths customers have donated more than 575,000 period care products.

In March, Woolworths customers donated more than 82,000 period care products and Woolworths donated $119,000 to Share the Dignity.

Woolworths Victoria state manager Sarah Gooding said Woolworths was proud to continue its partnership with Share The Dignity and support the meaningful change they were creating.

“We would also like to thank all our Whittlesea City customers who have donated as their generous contribution has helped lessen the impact of an already challenging time,” she said.

Share the Dignity volunteer state team leader Donna Levinson-Murray said the Dignity Drive would run across Woolworths supermarkets in the City of Whittlesea.

Customers can purchase any period care product and donate it in store via the pink collection boxes located at the front of every Woolworths store or add a cash donation at Woolworths registers.

“Our efforts across Whittlesea are well and truly in motion to end period poverty and we are pleased to have the support of Woolworths to raise awareness and lessen the impact again this year, following a successful Dignity Drive in March,” she said.

Dignity vending machines offer free period products accessible in bathrooms in schools, hospitals, homeless shelters, women’s refuge centres and other local community organisations.

Nationally, Woolworths-sponsored machines have dispensed more than 68,000 free period packs since the first machine was installed in 2019.

Period care products such as selected tampons and pads will be on sale as part of the Woolworths weekly catalogue, encouraging customers to purchase an item to donate for those in need.

Share the Dignity makes a real, on-the-ground difference in the lives of women and girls experiencing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence or doing it tough.

For more information, visit www.sharethedignity.org.au.

Alpacas on the agenda for Whittlesea’s Combined Probus Club

The North Central Review

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August 9, 2022

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Alpacas on the agenda for Whittlesea’s Combined Probus Club

By Michael Halley

The Combined Probus Club of Whittlesea’s August meeting featured guest speaker Sian Rickards, of Omaru Alpaca Farm at Cottles Bridge.

Ms Rickards explained how she and her husband Rob have turned a derelict property into a thriving undertaking over the past decade.

The first ‘heart-grabber’ photo that Ms Rickards showed was a second generation female alpaca called Honeysuckle who engendered many sighs of love from the audience.

Probus members learnt that alpacas are social animals with herd mentality, but each are individuals – reinforced by the photo of a mother and baby surrounded by all of the aunties and cousin.

Alpacas have an average life span of 18 to 19 years but Ms Rickard knew of one who attained 25 years.

Alpacas alone are probably unviable so they need to be intergraded into other activates such a tourism or special event social gatherings – which is what has evolved at Omaru Alpaca Farm.

Alpaca security is another spinoff; they are used to protect poultry, sheep or goats from foxes. But if the marauders are large dogs, llamas are recommend as alpacas are less capable.

Ms Rickard said alpacas were outside pets and must be treated as such; even orphans that needed bottle feeding.

She explained that sometimes it was needed to be ‘cruel to be kind’ and ensure the young alpacas knew it was not human, but an animal.

Environmentally, alpacas get a ‘green star’ as they have pads not hooves and also digest food longer than sheep getting more nutrition from pasture.

Ms Rickard said alpaca fibre was warmer and softer than wool, and their fleeces were also cleaner than wool without lanolin that needs chemical washing to scour.

Shearing is an annual event and is different to sheep shearing – alpacas are immobilised on a bench and shorn cleanly unlike sheep. At the same time their teeth and toenails are treated and injections administered.

Ms Rickard said Omaru Alpaca Farm had open days on the first and fourth Sunday of each month.

Upcoming activities

The Combined Probus Club of Whittlesea’s host monthly meetings from 9.30am on the first Monday of each month at Whittlesea Bowls Club, providing networking opportunities to single and isolated members, offering time to retain friendships and receive assistance with personal concerns.

The club also hosts events during the month, including a recent Christmas in July in Yarrambat and a visit to the National Wool Museum in Geelong late last month.

The club will also visit the Rhododendron Garden on September 22, among other smaller activities.

For more information, people can call secretary Cheryl on 0409 014 327 or email whittleseaprobus@hotmail.com.

Proposal to scrap the Lord’s Prayer at City of Whittlesea council meetings

The North Central Review

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August 9, 2022

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Proposal to scrap the Lord’s Prayer at City of Whittlesea council meetings

Proposed changes to the City of Whittlesea’s governance rules include replacing the Lord’s Prayer at council meetings with a good governance diversity statement.

Among other proposed changes are provisions for virtual and hybrid meetings, clearer definitions of meeting roles, and embedding the acknowledgement of traditional owners.

Residents can provide feedback on the council’s updated draft governance rules, which directs the council’s meetings, decisions and elections of the mayor and deputy mayor.

The draft was last updated in 2021.

Chair administrator Lydia Wilson said the Local Government Act 2020 insisted council governance rules be updated, and that the provisions regulated a diverse and accessible community.

“In keeping with our community-focused approach to genuine engagement these rules help demystify the council meeting process including opportunities for residents to participate in council meetings,” she said.

“We want to ensure our meetings are accessible, inclusive and reflective of our diverse community.

“And we have simplified the way they are presented making sure they are user-friendly, written in plain English and easy to navigate.”

Ms Wilson said adding an acknowledgement of traditional owners contributed to the council’s vision, titled A Place for All.

“In addition to the acknowledgement of traditional owners we are proposing a good governance diversity statement that aligns to council vision of A Place for All, to replace the prayer that is currently said at the beginning of council meetings,” she said.

People can have their say on the revised draft governance rules by visiting engage.whittlesea.vic.gov.au until August 21

Arrests made after South Morang shooting

The North Central Review

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August 9, 2022

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Police arrested three people connected to the Mongols Outlaw Motorcycle Gang on Wednesday as part of an investigation into several incidents including a shooting in South Morang last month.

Detectives from the Echo Taskforce, VIPER Taskforce, Moorabbin Crime Investigation Unit, Mill Park Divisional Response Unit and Brimbank Investigation Unit, with assistance from the Australian Federal Police National Anti Gangs Squad, executed warrants on four residential properties in Kalkallo, North Melbourne, Pascoe Vale and Mernda.

They also searched the Port Melbourne club house of the Mongols Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, OMCG.

Police arrested a Kalkallo man, 23, who is alleged to be a patched member of the Mongols OMCG, in Kalkallo with the assistance of the Special Operations Group.

A Pascoe Vale man, 19, and a Mernda man, 34, who alleged to be a chapter president of the Mongols OMCG, were also arrested.

The Kalkallo man was subsequently charged with: reckless conduct endangering life; possessing, carrying or using a general category handgun; using firearm in a dangerous manner; assault; discharging a firearm at a vehicle with reckless disregard for safety; reckless conduct endangering life; attempted aggravated carjacking; possessing carrying or using a longarm; being armed with criminal intent; committing an indictable offence while on bail; breaching bail conditions; and unlicensed driving.

The Pascoe Vale man was charged with: possessing drugs of dependence and prescription medication; and handling stolen goods.

Both were remanded in custody and faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last week.

The Mernda man was released pending further enquiries.

Police also located several items while executing the warrants including ammunition, two machetes, stolen identification, and drugs including methylamphetamines and steroids.

The arrests followed an incident on July 11 where a firearm was pointed out the window of a white Toyota Kluger at another car in Thomastown after a minor traffic incident.

Detectives believe the Kalkallo man was driving the Toyota at the time of the incident.

On July 20, just before 2.45pm, a 21-year-old Mernda man was involved in an altercation with three men on Nivea Terrace in South Morang.

A number of shots were fired into his vehicle, and he was also physically assaulted.

The victim was treated at the scene for minor injuries following the incident.

On July 27, a 23-year-old Bundoora man and a 25-year-old South Morang man were arrested by the Mill Park Divisional Response Unit in relation to the assault and shooting.

The Bundoora man was subsequently charged with aggravated car jacking, as well as firearms and assault offences, while the South Morang man was released pending further enquiries.

The Mernda man arrested was also interviewed as part of an investigation into a series of fires at tobacco stores across Melbourne in the past 12 months.

Seven people were arrested and charged earlier this year as part of the investigation.

The investigation of all these matters remains ongoing.

Police are urging anyone with information about any of the incidents to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

St Mary’s students celebrate 100 days of school

The North Central Review

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August 9, 2022

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St Mary’s students celebrate 100 days of school

St Mary’s Primary School’s prep students in Lancefield celebrated 100 days of school on Wednesday.

To honour the day, children engaged in activities that revolved around the number 100, as they dressed up as 100-year-olds and brought items that totalled up to the number, including Legos, pasta pieces and balloons.

Students watched the 100th episode of Numberblocks, made fairy bread with hundreds and thousands, and created 100 crowns.

Prep teacher Chris Zarb said the students were excited to celebrate as it was a big day for them.

“It’s a beautiful way especially in their first year of school, cause it’s such a special year,” she said.

She said at an assembly last week the prep students shared what they couldn’t do before and what they could do now as part of their learning.

“It’s just showing the growth and how much more confident they are as well at school – it’s a celebration,” she said.

Seymour residents concerned by wind farm proposal

The North Central Review

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August 9, 2022

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Seymour residents concerned by wind farm proposal

By Colin MacGillivray

Residents near Seymour have banded together to ensure their voices are heard after the emergence of plans to build what would be Victoria’s largest wind farm in the area.

The Stock and Land reported in May plans by Italian company FERA to build a 600-megawatt wind farm between Seymour and Ruffy, with suggestions it could feature up to 80 200-metre tall wind turbines.

In response to the reports, Strathbogie tablelands residents organised a meeting with representatives from FERA Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of FERA Srl Italy, in July.

Some landowners in the area reported being approached by FERA to discuss hosting wind turbines, but plans for the wind farm were not publicly known until media reports.

More than 80 residents met again at the end of July to discuss the plans among themselves, forming a Strathbogie Tableland Wind Farm Task Force.

Task force spokesman Rob Jamieson, a Ruffy resident, said the group was generally opposed to the project, with concerns about its potential social and environmental impacts.

While FERA representatives estimated the wind farm would support between 200 and 250 jobs during construction and 10 to 15 ongoing jobs once completed, Mr Jamieson said residents still had issues with the proposal.

“One important concern … is the impact of this project on the community’s social fabric. There are many examples where the outcomes of similar projects have been socially destructive and divisive,” he said.

“The economics associated with this project are questionable and may well leave this community with a confronting legacy.

“It is important to point out that the community was, in general, understanding of the need to transition to alternative forms of energy generation.

“We are however strongly questioning the suitability of the location for this very large industrial infrastructure.”

Mr Jamieson rejected the idea that the group were NIMBYs – an acronym for not in my back yard –but felt obliged to protect an area that was ‘culturally significant, environmentally sensitive, ecologically diverse and a pristine location’.

He said the location was attractive to FERA because of its elevation and wind profile, proximity to main transmission power lines and larger landholdings.

He said FERA was eager to work with the community on the project, suggesting the establishment of a community benefit fund that could support local infrastructure projects such as mobile phone towers, CFA stations, schools, and other community facilities.

Landholders who agreed to host turbines on their properties would be offered an annual dollar amount or a percentage of power generated, whichever was greater.

The Australian Energy Market Operator, AEMO, website showed a proposal for a Seymour Wind Farm operated by FERA Australia with capacity to generate 600 megawatts, but both the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, DELPW, and Mitchell Shire Council said they had not received planning applications to build a wind farm in the area.

Mr Jamieson said the project was only in its preliminary stages as FERA consulted with landholders.

He said FERA representatives told him they planned to install wind monitoring equipment to evaluate the feasibility of a wind farm in late 2022 or early 2023, with planning and detailed design work to occur between 2023 and 2025.

The earliest estimate for construction on the wind farm to start was 2025, with the farm projected to take two years to build.

The Review requested a comment from FERA but received no response before yesterday’s print deadline.