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Weekly Mini Crossword Week 16/12/2025
Mini Crossword puzzle of the week
How to play Mini Crossword
You can solve the clues in any order. Click or tap on either a clue or a box in the grid to start entering an answer. You can also use the arrow keys, enter/shift-enter or, tab/shift-tab to move around the grid. The clues for words that have been entirely filled in are marked gray, whether the answer is correct or not.
Play Mini Crossword together
Use the Play together option in the navigation bar to invite a friend to play this Mini Crossword puzzle with you. Once connected, your friend’s icon will turn green. If either of you is disconnected from the Internet, the icon will turn red. If either of you is inactive, the icon will turn gray. You and your friend can now enter letters at the same time. Click on the chat icon at bottom right to talk with your friend. (Chat is not available if either player is on a mobile device.)
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Weekly 15×15 Crossword Week 16/12/2025
Crossword puzzle of the week
How to play 15×15 Crossword
You can solve the clues in any order. Click or tap on either a clue or a box in the grid to start entering an answer. You can also use the arrow keys, enter/shift-enter or, tab/shift-tab to move around the grid. The clues for words that have been entirely filled in are marked gray, whether the answer is correct or not.
Play 15×15 Crossword together
Use the Play together option in the navigation bar to invite a friend to play this crossword puzzle with you. Once connected, your friend’s icon will turn green. If either of you is disconnected from the Internet, the icon will turn red. If either of you is inactive, the icon will turn gray. You and your friend can now enter letters at the same time. Click on the chat icon at bottom right to talk with your friend. (Chat is not available if either player is on a mobile device.)
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Weekly Sudoku Puzzle Week 16/12/2025 Challenge
Sudoku puzzle of the week
How to play Sudoku
The objective of Sudoku is to fill each row, column and sub-grid with exactly one of the possible entries (usually, the numbers 1-9). A conflict arises if you repeat any entry in the same row, column or sub-grid.
Play Sudoku together
Use the Play together option in the navigation bar to invite a friend to play this sudoku puzzle with you. Once connected, your friend’s icon will turn green. If either of you is disconnected from the Internet, the icon will turn red. If either of you is inactive, the icon will turn gray. You and your friend can now enter letters at the same time. Click on the chat icon at bottom right to talk with your friend. (Chat is not available if either player is on a mobile device.)
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You can find more of our brain teasing puzzles here at puzzle corner!
Wordy Week 16/12/2025 Challenge
Want more Puzzles?
You can find more of our brain teasing puzzles here at puzzle corner!
$2.56b precinct for region
THE first stage of the $2.565 billion Beveridge Intermodal Precinct is ready to be freighted in for a mid-2028 start, with its design and construction announced to a bevy of assembled key stakeholders, council groups and government figures on Thursday morning.
John Holland has been announced as the company behind the first stage to deliver Melbourne’s first terminal to receive and service double-stacked Inland Rail trains.
John Holland CEO Nick Miller said people can have confidence in the completion of the project.
“Having previously partnered with National Intermodal and the Australian Government in the delivery of the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal we’re proud to be working together again to deliver this critical project at Beveridge,” he said.
The announcement was made by National Intermodal CEO James Baulderstone, in conjunction with Federal Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King on Thursday as a sod turn was completed for the first stage of the project, which has been fully funded by the Federal Government.
The event had strong government representation, with Ms King joined by Federal Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell and Victorian Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne, while Mitchell Shire CEO Mary Agostino and Mayor Councillor John Dougall, as well as City of Whittlesea CEO Craig Lloyd and Mayor Councillor Lawrie Cox, also made an appearance to help mark the sod turn.
The National Intermodal Precinct is designed to help move freight from road to rail and is slated to remove 167,000 truck trips every year, which is formulated to reduce emissions by 12.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over 25 years.
About 70 per cent of more than 17,000 estimated jobs are earmarked for locals in the Mitchell Shire and City of Whittlesea areas, while 500 hectares of land will be preserved for the green wedge and long-term environmental purposes.
Ms King said it was a historic moment for Beveridge.
“As we work to move more freight from our roads to rail, Beveridge will play a key role in marshalling freight from the port and across Victoria, sending it onto destinations across the country via our rail network,” she said.
“Strong local supply chains often go unnoticed, but they are vital to ensure goods make it to shelves and shopfronts. With site preparation works now starting, the freight hub here at Beveridge will play a key role in our supply chain, while supporting local jobs and boosting our nation’s economy.”
Mr Baulderstone said: “The Beveridge Intermodal Precinct is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape how freight moves across Australia”.
“We’re ready to deliver a nationally significant project that will not only drive $14 billion in economic uplift in Victoria and create over 17,000 jobs, but also deliver real environmental benefits.”
Mr Mitchell said it was a project which will support the prospect of local jobs.
“The Beveridge Intermodal Precinct is a critical part of Australia’s future freight network, and today’s announcement brings us one step closer to making it a reality,” he said.
A Gift to remember
THE Seymour Gift was as hotly contested as the weather as the event was successfully held at Lions Park on Saturday afternoon.
Gift organisers sifted through a chaotic day which included a brief power outage across the town, while a car crash just out the front of Lions Park also took eyes briefly off the event.
However, the event brought with it the richest Masters race in the world, contested over 300 metres, which was eagerly awaited as the last event of the day, while the Seymour Running Club would also revel in what was a successful afternoon on and off the track to create what was a memorable edition of the Gift.
In what was a tightly contested race, it was Attila Baranyay who was able to overtake a large proportion of the field, starting from second last off 14 metres, ending up winning by almost two tenths of a second, scoring the win in 35.837, holding off Luke Robertson for second with a 35.996, while Michelle Dean was third with a 36.168.
The most popular victory of the day was reserved for Seymour Running Club vice-president Cooper Lubeck, who was scorching hot in the 1600 metre Open final, winning by just under four seconds.
Starting from the 120-metre mark, Lubeck was spurred on by the tremendous home support and scored a dominant victory in a time of 4:09.540, well clear of Tez Kavanagh-Dando, who was second with a 4:13.256, while Robbie Petrie just missed out in third, finishing in 4:13.266.
The Seymour Running Club had men’s and women’s winners on the day, with Lucy Zotti taking an incredibly popular win in the 400 metre Women’s final.
Starting off 29 metres, Zotti bolted from the turn and made the home straight her own as she bolted clear to win by over a second, finishing with a time of 54.082, while Clea Clifford finished second with a 55.132 and Kendra Hubbard finished third on a 55.266.
Zotti was also successful in the 800 metre Women’s event, cementing her legacy as the dominant longer-form women’s athlete on a day to remember.
Running off 52 metres, Zotti again bolted through and gave the home crowd an enormous reason to cheer as she cruised to victory, finishing with a time of 2:11.659, winning comfortably from Natalie Kennedy, who was second with a 2:13.239, while Lucy Polkinghorne was third with a 2:14.894.
Local Kelfit runners were also in the mix for the under 14 120 metre final, scoring a 1-2.
Cohen Hill was the winner in a time of 14.317, while Mia Brown finished second with 14.511. Mia-Rose Johnson finished third on a 14.567.
The men’s and women’s 120 metre Gifts were thrilling affairs as two of the main races of the day.
In the men’s Gift, just four tenths of a second separated the field in what was an incredibly well-contested event.
Dion Paull was the winner off 9.25m, scoring victory in a time of 12.329, with local Hayden Anderson second with a 12.404 and Ryan Ilett third with 12.427.
The women’s Gift was even closer, with just three tenths separating the whole field, and just 0.054 the difference between winning the Gift and third.
Kylee Drew was the winner, scoring in a time of 13.823, with Georgia Mills second with 13.845, and Jasmine Rowe third on a 13.877.
In the 120 metre under 18 final, Maks Callachor was a comfortable winner, saluting in 12.874, with Dean Balfour second with a 12.967, while Jonathan Marraffa was third with a time of 13.092.
The popular 70 metre final was won by Declan Berne, who was red-hot in a time of 7.589 off 6.5 metres, with Angelina Windshuttle second with 7.62, and Fraser Stott third with a time of 7.673.
A photo finish was required for the 120 metre Over 35 final, with Luke Robertson and Marcus Schafer in a tight tussle.
In the end, the chocolates would go to the former, who won with a time of 13.361, while Schafer was desperately close with a 13.381. Ian Porter was third, running 13.437.
Jack Wolff was dominant in the 400 metre Men’s final, scoring a comfortable win after taking control just before the home straight.
Wolff saluted with a time of 47.133, with speedster Paul Hughes second with 47.388, and Luke Stevens third in a time of 48.474.
Finally, in the 550 metre Open final, Alex Jones scored a comfortable win by just over a second.
Jones ran a 1:11.299 to win well from Julian Morgan, who just held out for second with a 1:12.445, while Connor Callinan pushed him all the way to finish third with 1:12.463.
Season tightens up before the break
THE Diamond Valley Cricket Association continued its competition on Saturday with a bevy of games which truncated the round due to last week’s rain.
In Money Shield, Mernda has set itself up for a blockbuster top two battle with Banyule to determine who sits on top at Christmas thanks to a comfortable 104-run victory.
Gareth Sharp set things up at the top of the order at Greensborough College after the Dees elected to bat first, scoring 84, while Max Russell provided good support with his 35 as they made 8/169.
As is regularly the case, the Demons’ bowling triumvirate of Lachlan Taylor, Stuart Wright and Michael Edwards set the pitch alight with their bowling, and so it proved as Greensborough was rolled for 65.
Taylor took 4/9 off eight overs, which included five maidens, while Wright was similarly in good form, taking 3/5 off eight overs. Edwards took 2/25 off eight.
Laurimar has kept its hopes alive in Mash Shield courtesy of a thrilling three-wicket win over South Morang at Mill Park Lakes Reserve.
The Lions batted first, sent in by Laurimar, but it was Brad Riley and Terry Liddicutt who looked to take the game away from the Power with 57 and 41 respectively.
However, Laurimar’s bowlers would slow down the pace, with Patrick Richardson, Luke Richardson, Bailey Lawrenson and Thomas McCumber taking two wickets apiece to hold the Lions to 162.
Luke then top-scored with 53 in the Power’s chase, but at 5/83, the game was still on the line.
Patrick’s 25 and Christopher Milne’s 23 helped get the Power home, finishing on 7/164.
Whittlesea are still well in touch with the front runners in the F1 grade competition, scoring first innings points against Greensborough at AF Walker Reserve.
After restricting the Boro to 178 last week, Nathan Heaney’s 55 and Isuru Jayasekara’s 43 helped guide the Eagles to 238 off 49 overs.
Greensborough batted again and made 1/18 off 11 overs before the game was called.
Around the lower grades, Mernda’s B grade outfit fell to Heidelberg by 32 runs, despite the best efforts of Bailey Turnbull, who scored 41.
In C grade, South Morang lost to Eltham by 82 runs, unable to catch the Panthers’ 231, despite strong middle-order batting from Toby Lafford (37), Adwait Vaidya (33) and Matthew Kiriakopoulos (38).
Laurimar’s D grade team was guided strongly by Aaron Dickson’s patient batting, scoring 39 to help the Power win by six wickets over Montmorency, 4/123 to 6/122.
Four players scored more than 30 runs in Mernda’s 76-run E grade win over Lower Eltham.
Andrew Edwards and Rob Virtue anchored the middle order to score 33 runs each, while the tail wagged thanks to crucial runs from Geordi Summers (33) and Stephen Otter (35) to help Mernda to 9/191.
David Taylor took 3/12, while Summers, Gurbinder Pannu and Tejus Pathak took two wickets apiece, rolling Lower Eltham and keeping it to 9/115.
South Morang was a comfortable eight-wicket winner over Dennis, with Dennis restricted to 7/90, before Atinder Singh’s unbeaten 50 helped the Lions win with ease.
In F1 grade, Laurimar was no match for Banyule, losing by nine wickets.
Xavier Meye provided solid lower order runs with 30 runs, while Chaminda Arachchige and Daniel Wigney both scored 20 as the Power made 8/109, but Banyule chased down the target with ease, 1/109.
Tim Lowe’s incredible 109 was enough to see South Morang win a thrilling, high-scoring encounter by 16 runs over Banyule, with Lowe hitting 10 fours and seven sixes.
Alongside Junior Sachdev’s 44, the Lions made 5/220, before the Bears made a big run at the target.
However, Jack Philp’s 2/34 helped the Lions do enough to hold Banyule to 4/204 in response.
Despite Saurin Sandeep Sharma’s 62, Mernda was not able to mount a challenge against Montmorency, losing by nine wickets.
It was a similar story for Mernda’s G1 West team, losing by 92 runs to Rosebank.
Only Mohid Ashraf’s 40 provided resistance for Mernda, but its 6/120 was never enough to compete with Rosebank’s 3/212.
Laurimar was no match for Lalor Stars, losing by six wickets.
Shaun Lewin scored 39 and Ben Brown 29, before Tyson Aldenhoven scored 44 runs to help the Power make 7/158, but the Stars were too strong despite Jack Cordwell and Heath Huntingford’s two wickets, scoring 4/160.
Laurimar’s fifth XI did not take to the park, forfeiting against North Eltham Wanderers, while South Morang had the bye.
In G3 grade, Mernda did enough to win a low-scoring game by four wickets.
Jamie Knell’s four wickets helped restrict Greensborough to 8/114, before Tanay Limbachiya’s 28 and Vivek Mahajan’s 24 helped the Demons recover from a slow start to chase it down in 22 overs, scoring 6/117.
Similarly, South Morang won a low-scoring game by 18 runs over Whittlesea.
Nick Perry anchored the Lions’ innings as they made 8/124, scoring 33, while Lachlan Heaney and Dayaratna Liyanage took two wickets apiece for the Eagles.
Jack Jerabek started promisingly for Whittlesea, scoring 41, but steadily ran out of partners, with Raj Koppula and Natasha Kiper taking two wickets each as they helped the Lions bowl the Eagles out for 106.
Next week’s action will be the final round before the Christmas and New Year break.
Symes spells out priorities
WITH $13.7 million from the Victorian Government, Broadford Primary School is poised to begin its upgrade works.
“We will have an event up there soon to start the work out there because they have had their architecture plans all finalised. They will be ready to start construction pretty soon,” Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said in an interview with the Review on Thursday, as she outlined her priorities for the region.
About Broadford Secondary College planning its future upgrades for which it has received $500,000 funding, Ms Symes said: “They are obviously growing and they need to plan for the future. They are looking at their priorities and so they are things that I am looking at potentially funding in the next little while. They are things that are on my priority list.
“We also have got the (dual lane) roundabout going up at the dangerous intersection for Wandong Road on the corner of Northern Highway and Wandong Road (Epping Kilmore Road). This is something I have been working on for some time. So that will be good to see that happen. And obviously it’s compatible with a future bypass. So that’s why I am quite supportive of the action there.”
Asked about the main criticism about the mid-year Budget update she handed out on Friday that there is no sign of reining in spending, with recurrent government expenses projected to hit $109 billion, the Treasurer said: “As our economy grows, we are focused on the things that matter most to Victorians – helping with the cost of living and supporting families, jobs, and businesses while we open major projects like the Metro Tunnel and Westgate Tunnel”.
About rising government wages bill, with employee expenses forecast to top $39 billion, Ms Symes said: “We make no apologies for supporting our frontline workforce through better pay and conditions for our hardworking nurses and police officers.
“If they had the chance, Jess Wilson (Opposition Leader) and the Nationals will sack nurses, teachers, and police to fill the $11.1 billion budget blackhole that they want to inflict on Victoria.
“Last week we released our response to the Silver Review. We will reduce executive and similar roles by 332 across the public service. Spending on consultants and contractors has already been reduced and is now less than before the pandemic. But the government will go further, reducing spending on consultants and contractors by a further 10 per cent.”
Asked about action is taken to tackle Victoria’s cash deficit of nearly $10 billion, she said the government continues to forecast operating surpluses, with $1.9 billion in 2026-27, $2.4 billion in 2027-28 and $1.5 billion in 2028-29.
About claims that emergency services levy was postponed until after the election because of bad publicity, she said she rejected the premise. These changes are following ongoing consultation with the Victorian Farmers Federation, the Chief Fire Officer at the CFA and the broader agricultural sector.
Explaining whyacharge on residential homes that are not the principal place of residence was postponed, she said “the SRO (State Revenue Office) needs me to develop the administration of this charge”.
Asked whether she has plans to move to the lower house from the legislative assembly, she said: “I am pretty happy in the upper house. I am the leader in the upper house. I feel quite at home where I am”.
Work begins on $20m hub
THE $20.15 million Muyan Community and Children’s Centre project in Wallan East has kickstarted.
The first sod turning has marked the official start of construction on one of Mitchell Shire’s largest community infrastructure projects.
Deputy Mayor Timothy Hanson joined Member for Yan Yean Lauren Kathage at the site to celebrate the milestone and acknowledge the strong partnership between the council and the Victorian Government.
The project includes $18.15 million from the State Government and $2 million from Mitchell Shire Council.
Once complete, the centre will be a community hub offering early years education, maternal and child health, and a range of flexible community spaces designed to meet the needs of the rapidly growing Wallan community.
Key features will include sessional kindergarten programs, maternal and child health consulting rooms, primary health and allied health spaces, and a multipurpose community area supporting adult learning, engagement and local events.
The project will also deliver long-term social and economic benefits, providing essential services close to home and supporting hundreds of young families expected to move into the growing area over the coming years.
Cr Hanson said the new centre would be very important for local families – bringing together kindergarten, health and community services in one welcoming and accessible space.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the Victorian Government for their support in making this project a reality.
“Partnerships like this are vital for fast-growing areas like Wallan. They help ensure that as our community grows, the services and facilities grow with it.”
Construction is expected to be completed in late 2026, with the centre operational by early 2027.