Star Weekly

By Jack O’Shea-Ayres When a firework triggered a house fire in Tootgarook, Jonathan Croft, a Hillside resident, sprang into action. Noticing the occupant, a wheelchair user, unconscious inside the burning room, Croft smashed the window, entered the building, and carried the resident to safety. For his selfless actions, Croft is being recognised with an Australian Bravery Decoration.

Smoother travels are coming to the Calder Highway and the Western Highway, with the state government’s new aim to fix 500,000 potholes this year. Premier Ben Carroll announced an extra investment of $352 million to double the amount of potholes fixed this year to 500,000, by diverting funds from three level crossing removals, deferring their completion by a year. “This is absolutely where Victorians want to see their money spent – it is my priority,” Mr Carroll said.

Moorabool residents, community members, and road users are being invited to have their say on the future of Howards Road in Navigators. Moorabool council is seeking the community’s feedback on a proposal to discontinue a section of Howards Road in Navigators linked to the Dunnstown Quarry. The section under consideration is an unsealed government road reserve between 144 Dunnstown-Yendon Road, Dunnstown and 89 Ditchfield Road North, Navigators.

By Luke D’Anello Parkside’s premiership dream was shattered by a slick Albion outfit. Coach Chris Muratore believed his team was a genuine flag contender, but they stumbled at the first finals hurdle, suffering a 20-point defeat. The Magpies’ last month of the campaign will come under scrutiny, with the club also dropping its final regular-season clash. Despite the disappointment, Muratore said the Magpies had a year to be proud of and took big steps as a footy club.

Who: The Pipemakers Park Footbridge Where: Across the Maribyrnong River, linking Pipemakers Park and Fairbairn Park When: Beginning on Tuesday, 1 September, with weekday closures from 8am-4pm for two weeks What: Urgent deck works are being undertaken on the bridge What’s Next: The bridge will re-open for use outside of work hours and on weekends The Pipemakers Park Footbridge across the Maribyrnong River is set to close while urgent deck works are undertaken.

Scammers impersonate brands people already know and trust, and banks are among the most effective disguises available to them when trying to catch out people and businesses. “Scammers love to impersonate known brands, known entities,” said Shannon Brown, CommBank’s Fraud and Scams Industry, Intelligence and… Read more

The owners of the former Christ Church in Keilor say the building faces decay after they were denied approval to use the site for a childcare centre. The owners blame state government planning restrictions linked to Melbourne Airport. Dr Sam and Rosanna Sfameni bought the…

The monkey is off the back for Werribee Centrals in the Geelong and District Football League. The Centurions claimed their first finals win since 2019 on Sunday to keep their season alive. After a slow start, the Centurions got going in the second quarter before…

Darley stamped itself into history as it won a fourth straight Ballarat Football League women’s grand final. Having beaten Redan in the past three deciders, it was cross-town rivals Bacchus Marsh that stood in the way of another premiership. The Cobras had beaten the Devils…

Altona and Williamstown police are investigating recent acts of vandalism that have damaged cars in the Newport and Spotswood areas. An unknown offender spray-painted a white line on parked vehicles in multiple streets across both suburbs overnight on Thursday 13 and again on Sunday 16…