Byford Bowling Club’s Tuesday Third Division Pennant team has returned to a heroes’ welcome after a dream season Byford faced off against Melville for the final game of pennants maintaining the top rung of the ladder and securing first place in their colour division The win means that next season the team will progress to the Second Division But the team wasn’t done yet – the finals were calling The Championships were played over two thrilling days of bowls at Doubleview and Cambridge The Semi-Final Knockout between Byford and Osborne Park was a nailbiter with both sides winning a rink each and drawing one An impassioned team of supporters kept morale high through the sweltering heat And at the end of play there were only two points in it coupled with bowl after bowl expertly positioned around the shot meant it was Byford who emerged triumphant winning all three match points and finishing up with a shot score of 58 to 56 “The support from our spectators was absolutely awesome and their enthusiastic cheering undoubtedly contributed to our victorious win,” one Byford team member said That win earned Byford a ticket into the Grand Final against Doubleview who convincingly won their Semi-Final Knockout against Hilton Park Both teams rocked up early to Cambridge on the Wednesday for the Tuesday Pennant Finals with play getting underway by 8.45am to beat the forecast heat And it was a tense match to watch for the Byford cheerleaders with two rinks being taken by the Doubleview team the Byford foursomes on Rink 1 and 2 had fought valiantly only ceding a combined 12-shot difference across all games with Mark and Tracy Posa and Phillip and Patricia Collins absolutely slaying their opponents defeating them 25 shots to 9 across the three games and finishing off 59 to Doubleview’s 55 shots Everybody played their absolute best game and we came out on top and we were so elated,” one player said The Byford and Districts Country Club was just as ecstatic about the win: “A fantastic result and a proud moment for everyone involved Congratulations to the team on an outstanding season.” the local community is excited to see what feats the Byford Bowling Club can accomplish next season Get your Local Examiner Digital Edition straight to your InboxName*Email* Are You a Human CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) The Byford Rail Extension project trialled the use of HVO instead of diesel last year Rail travel is one of the most energy-efficient forms of transport – with only 2.6 per cent of Australia’s transport greenhouse gas emissions attributable to passenger and freight rail Greenhouse gas emissions per passenger kilometre for rail transport is up to five times less than that of car transport according to the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) and moving freight on rail produces 16 times less carbon pollution compared to trucks With Australia striving towards the lofty goal of net zero emissions by 2050 the rail industry is thinking outside the box for ways to do better This often starts before a railway is even built as is the case with Western Australia’s METRONET Byford Rail Extension project Western Australia’s METRONET Byford Rail Extension project is stretching the Armadale Line approximately eight kilometres south to a new ground-level station in Byford and supporting one of the fastest-growing areas in the country In line with the State Government’s net zero goals METRONET has set a 20 per cent emissions in energy reduction target for the project – and it’s exploring innovative ways to do so MetCONNX (the alliance name for the Byford Rail Extension Project) began trialling the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) as fuel vegetable oils and waste products from the food industry and restaurants HVO was used to replace regular diesel in a range of equipment including utes About 30,000 litres of traditional diesel were replaced with HVO was run in collaboration with Perth’s Curtin University which undertook studies to understand implications for fuel efficiency The data captured will be provided to the Department of Transport to show the viability of HVO fuel for current and future infrastructure projects and to help build the case for wider industry use once HVO is available in Western Australia in 2025-26 said that there were no issues reported with the operation torque or efficiency of the machines the HVO was used in “Feedback from the operators has been overwhelmingly positive noting there has been no detectable difference between the plant running on HVO and fossil diesel,” she said “MetCONNX will be writing a case study to share with industry as part of our annual report to METRONET.” reducing reliance on fossil fuels can have other benefits too as lowering exposure to diesel fumes can reduce the risk of asthma and lung irritation for workers and nearby communities Kindness said the health and safety of crews working on the Byford Rail Extension is a top priority and that no symptoms such as headaches were reported during the trial please note that our outdoor worksites naturally disperse emissions “The trial was conducted alongside standard diesel-powered equipment making it challenging to attribute any noticeable changes to the use of renewable diesel alone “The trial focused on renewable diesel’s environmental benefits The project is now undertaking a new trial testing a HYDI unit that can be retrofitted to existing diesel equipment to produce hydrogen on demand for engines Developed by South Australian hydrogen technology company HYDI self-contained unit uses proton exchange membrane cells to produce hydrogen from distilled water without needing any additional chemicals the HYDI has been tested on a CAT 150 grader and both the CAT 962 and CAT 950 loaders (20T) which have been used for bulk earthworks along the expanded rail alignment As hydrogen produces three times more energy than diesel and creates less pollution when burned it’s a win for sustainability – and the trial is going well with a 19 per cent increase in fuel efficiency recorded “We are very pleased with the trial of the HYDI unit,” said Kindness “The unit has operated without issues and provided a clear reduction in diesel burn contributing to our carbon reduction targets “There have been no discernible operational changes with the introduction of HYDI on various pieces of plant that it has been installed on and early data from the CAT loader showed that after the install there was an improved efficiency to approximately 6.56 litres per hour from 8.18 litres per hour.” “The only input required for the HYDI unit to operate is distilled water,” Kindness said “There is then a catalytic conversion within the unit which produces hydrogen to supplement the diesel “The conversion and combustion processes are well-contained the HYDI unit saved about 210.6 litres of diesel and used only 3.5 litres of distilled water Kindness said that in an industry such as construction “While electrification is the ultimate goal its adoption faces challenges due to limited availability and high costs of electric equipment linear infrastructure projects and for the type of machinery required on large construction projects,” she said which work to immediately reduce carbon emissions by attaching the kit to a pre-existing combustion engine Alternative fuels like HVO provide a practical interim solution as well by serving as a direct (like for like) drop-in fuel substitute for diesel – however we still face the challenge of cost (double the price The use of HYDI and HVO allows businesses to achieve emissions reductions without incurring the substantial costs of replacing internal combustion engines that may already have locked in investment decisions ensuring a smoother transition to decarbonised operations “A combination of technologies will be required to meet our net zero goals,” Kindness said the Byford Rail Extension project has also implemented a number of initiatives including solar panels on construction offices and a portable power station for hand tools The project has also endeavoured to reuse pre-existing materials within the project avoiding transportation of new materials to site Examples include re-use of rail sleepers and ballast from the original rail alignment as well as furniture items from the original Armadale train station Byford Station recently became Western Australia’s first train station to achieve a 6 Star Green Star Design Review This is the highest rating under the Green Building Council of Australia’s Railways V1.1 Rating tool and represents world leadership in sustainability Key sustainability features of the station include the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems capable of generating 100 kilowatts of electricity with future provisions for battery storage The station also boasts “quality indoor environments” shading and rain protection and maximum natural light used to create “bright METRONET said: “The 6 Star Green Design Review is a result of comprehensive independent verification across multiple sustainability criteria including management practices “The project is also exceeding recycled content targets for concrete used further demonstrating a commitment to sustainable practices.” METRONET’s official Sustainability Strategy states that it strives to create a sustainable legacy for Perth through the planning and construction of transport infrastructure sustainability is the alignment of environmental to ensure ‘development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’.” As Melbourne braces for a population of 9 million by 2050 global leader in smart sustainable mobility solutions has delivered on-time and to budget its Traffic Management System we’re homing in on two major topics: Tunnels and Cybersecurity All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media The Western Australian Government has announced significant progress on key infrastructure projects in Perth’s south-east with major road and rail developments reaching important milestones These projects are part of the Cook Labor Government’s broader efforts to address congestion and enhance public transport options in one of the State’s fastest growing regions Among the notable advancements is the construction of the METRONET Byford Rail Extension with over 80 percent of the elevated rail completed with the station platform nearing completion and work on the roof canopy underway                                 Advertisement the station will connect Byford residents to Perth’s wider rail network offering an affordable travel option with a 42-minute journey to the CBD road safety and traffic management improvements are also moving forward The removal of seven level crossings and the construction of a new road-over-rail bridge at Thomas Road are expected to enhance road safety in the area The Government has also launched key steps in its Tonkin Highway Corridor project with expressions of interest released for Stage One                                       advertisement This phase will include the construction of new grade-separated interchanges at Welshpool and Hale Roads as well as widening sections of the highway which focuses on the Tonkin Highway Extension and Thomas Road Upgrade along with further improvements to Thomas Road The overall infrastructure investment in the south-east corridor is expected to ease traffic congestion and support the area’s growing population which is projected to reach around 50,000 over the next two decades Federal Minister Matt Keogh and Darling Range Labor MP Hugh Jones visit the Byford station construction site today I know how important quality road and rail links to the city can be for local families,” the Premier said we’re bringing rail to Byford for the first time – delivering affordable public transport on our world-class rail system for local residents “Our major investments along Tonkin Highway will slash congestion on this important route meaning less time in the car and more time with the family “We’re delivering the infrastructure our south-eastern suburbs need for the future because our Labor Government will always do what’s right for WA.” You must be logged in to post a comment WAMN ESHOP Dismiss Saturday Lotto players that bought a ticket from Halls Head or Byford are encouraged to check their numbers The past weekend saw games from Halls Head Newsagency and AP Newsagency in Byford record a Division One prize of $1.05 million each Lotterywest spokesperson James Mooney said this year has welcomed 63 Division One winners “These 63 Division One winners are sharing in more than $116 million,” he said “Our advice to anyone that bought a ticket from Byford or Halls Head is to check your ticket “Two WA players could be heading into Christmas with a seven-figure gift.” The year 1925 marked the peak of the post-war boom for Western Australia and radio had just reached the masses for the first time just six months prior 1925 was the year Harold and Thelma Masters established Masters Milk launching the beginning of a WA legacy that endures to this day The Masters family set to clearing a ‘small’ 106-acre block along what is now known as Masters Rd after settling there in 1923 14 heifers and three horses” averaged 50 gallons of milk daily with Harold purchasing adjoining blocks for his two sons the Masters presided over 200 acres of “rich pasture land” in the Darling Downs and 100 head of Jersey cattle which supplied communities around Subiaco Hollywood and Claremont with milk “twice daily” An article which appeared in the Mirror on Saturday October 8 celebrated the prosperity of Masters Dairy “Standing about half a mile in from the main Armadale-Byford road is a beautiful homestead surrounded by extensive lawns and flower beds “Extensively equipped milking sheds are fitted with the latest apparatus Masters (a member of the Armadale Kelmscott Road Board) was and much capital and labor [sic] was expended before the scrub gave place to the rich pasture lands upon which the cattle now graze “Great measures are resorted to for the purpose of ensuring good hay and green food all the year round Last year Mr Masters cut 300 tons of hay: and from his huge silo comes the ensilage that provides luscious green feed during the dry months “It is because of those measures that the milk from the Masters dairy is so rich and nutritious the cream content being among the state’s highest “Special clovers and grasses are grown on the property and everything possible is done to see that Masters’ milk which has helped to build the name of the district is the compeer of any other produced in the state.” The business continued to grow until Wesfarmers bought out the Masters family in 1947 An article in The Farmers’ Weekly on November 6 announced the merger of five metropolitan companies – Cartwrights is to provide the consuming public with purer milk for which purpose the latest milk treatment machinery is to be purchased and installed at a purchase price of approximately £20,000,” the article reads “The five companies deliver about a quarter of the quantity consumed in the metropolitan area.” the main manufacturing building at Bentley officially opened which ushered in a new era featuring homogenised milk in cartons and the flavoured milk for which Masters became famous for The following couple of decades saw Masters pioneer a range of industry firsts frozen milk in new waterproof cardboard containers which was exported to south-east Asia and a trolley system which streamlined distribution Today marks a century since the Masters family first introduced their milk to the state Although the iconic brand is now owned by Bega Masters still occupies a special place in hearts and minds around WA an exhibition has just been launched at WA Museum Boola Bardip the eight-week exhibition will feature a curated display of Masters’ legacy historical artefacts and memorable items that reflect the brand’s heritage and impact in Western Australia a fourth-generation dairy farmer whose family has proudly supplied Masters for many decades played a pivotal role in bringing the exhibition to life highlight the brand’s enduring legacy and connection to Western Australia “It’s not just about producing high-quality dairy; it’s about the shared history we’ve built and the trust Western Australian families have placed in us over the decades Being part of this exhibition and sharing these pieces of Masters’ past has been a proud way to honour its 100-year milestone and celebrate a brand that holds such deep roots in our community,” he said The Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale has received a lashing on social media after a ‘disappointing’ turnout to its beefed-up Australia Day festivities With the City of Armadale having to cancel its beloved Oz Day festival and fireworks this year due to the Metronet works the SJ Shire took the opportunity to divert funds from other planned local music events to put on its own live music festival But the shire’s Facebook event listing attracted less than 100 interactions A post shared on a local community page commended the shire on a ‘fantastic’ event but chided the community for not supporting it with their presence Photos attached showed a sparsely-populated Briggs Park oval for the headline act – the Rising Sun tribute to Cold Chisel and Jimmy Barnes The post attracted hundreds of comments from locals claiming they’d heard nothing about the event’s existence “Was looking for somewhere to take the kids “Someone mentioned it to me … I tried to search for info but couldn’t find anything,” Shelly said “Didn’t know anything about it being on until too late to attend,” Sherree said “I’d have loved to have come but like most people I wasn’t aware,” Tina said “We were doing Google searches earlier today to see what was on locally Looks like an expensive waste of money by SJ Shire,” Broady said The shire said a total of $40,000 was spent putting on the SJ Sounds of Summer Australia Day event The Rotary Club and SJ Lions Club were also invited to run a sausage sizzle Shire President Rob Coales said “about 1000 people” attended “which is in line with attendee numbers at previous Australia Day events run by the shire” One community member who did go called the event ‘boring’ no bouncy castles … a very few food trucks all the seating was out in the sun with no shade Erryn suggested including more community activities like sack races And quite a few community members suggested the shire work on its promotion of future events President Coales said beyond Facebook and this newspaper the shire advertised the event “through multiple channels” including “in our 24/25 major events calendar which was circulated locally and mailed to all shire households” “The event was also advertised on the shire website all January editions of our weekly newsletter SJ Matters which goes to almost 2000 subscribers and our Out and About school holidays newsletter which goes to more than 2300 subscribers,” he said we distributed print flyers to local businesses and shire facilities Nicole said Facebook marketing “is dead … unless you are willing to give Meta huge dollars” Bel said the shire’s website was ‘clunky’ and suggested a digital sign on the South Western Highway or a community-wide letter drop would have been good ideas to get the message out to more people “We continually review our marketing strategies to ensure we reach as many community members as possible,” President Coales said “We encourage residents to follow the shire’s Facebook page and subscribe to our weekly newsletter so they receive the latest shire news and information direct to their inbox.” President Coales said the shire would decide whether to put on another Australia Day event “as part of the development of the shire’s 2025/26 Budget” Work has officially started on the expansion of Byford Secondary College which will increase the capacity of the school from 1680 to 2000 students And during construction there’ll be a focus on evening up the playing field for women in the industry BADGE Constructions has signed a contract for the build which includes a gender equality target – making this the second non-residential construction project in the state with a goal of boosting on-site female participation In March the lead contractor building Fremantle Hospital mental health facility set a 10-15 percent target of female tradies The target for BADGE Constructions is for 10 per cent of the total on-site workforce to be female workers over the duration of the contract The industry average is around 13 per cent for project teams But only three per cent of on-site tradies are women Government has collaboratively agreed these targets with industry to help increase female workforce participation and increase gender and cultural diversity in the construction industry Regular reporting will be undertaken throughout the project and will help inform future policy decisions regarding gender equality in construction including the potential use of targets “With the second gender equality pilot project now underway we are excited to see the construction industry make meaningful change in this area,” Minister for Women’s Interests Sue Ellery said “This project will deliver terrific outcomes not only for the students at Byford Secondary College but female talent within the construction industry by helping to promote opportunities for women including apprentices and trainees,” Education Minister Tony Buti said “This will be a timely addition to the school’s capacity with population growth in the local intake area projected to increase enrolments over the coming years.” The expansion of Byford Secondary College includes a new double-storey building with general learning areas The project also includes refurbishments to the existing textiles/food preparation classroom to become a food technology kitchen allowing the school to deliver a Certificate II Food Services program “This is such a crucial project for our local community so I am thrilled to see this major election commitment of mine reach this important milestone,” local member Hugh Jones said One local family’s Christmas is a lot merrier after purchasing a million-dollar lotto ticket from AP Newsagency in Byford on Saturday Saturday’s draw saw two division one prizes of $1.05 million each go to games from Byford and Halls Head On Monday Lotterywest urged anyone who had purchased a ticket for Saturday’s draw to check their tickets check it twice,” Lotterywest spokesperson James Mooney said But the hunt for the lucky local came to an end yesterday with Lotterywest confirming the Byford winner had made contact arrived at Lotterywest HQ earlier this week to claim their $1.05 million Saturday Lotto prize “For some reason I checked the numbers on Saturday night but something made me check,” the winner said “When I saw I had all six numbers I started squealing my daughter came running from her bedroom wondering what was going on “We checked the numbers together and then she joined me in the excitement.” The woman’s husband said he heard the commotion from the garage and came running thinking there must be a snake in the house he checked the numbers and quickly joined in the celebrations It’s going to make our lives much more comfortable.” “We called our other child and told them we had some good news to share next time we saw them and so we had to tell them right there and then.” AP Newsagency Byford’s Suman and Subhash Chander said they were thrilled to have sold the winning ticket “We are really happy that AP in Byford continues to be lucky for our customers and that we have again sold a division one ticket,” they said The pair have now sold three division one tickets and five division two tickets (including some syndicates) since they took on the business opposite Coles in March this year This year’s YouthFest in the SJ Shire stars live music by WA rapper AZZA plus an epic line-up of fun worth breaking from TikTok for The annual youth festival kicks off on Friday The evening will be jam-packed with fun for young people aged 12 to 24 – like live street art hair braiding and tasty food trucks offering free meals There’ll be a chill-out space to relax and connect and live sets from solo pop artist Erin Carroll and a lucky local muso selected by the SJ Shire Youth Team Local youth providers will also be on-hand to share information and support opportunities Shire President Rob Coales said YouthFest 2025 was a chance to celebrate young people in the Shire “This event is an opportunity for young people to come together in a safe and inclusive space where they can celebrate and learn more about opportunities that can support them in our community,” President Coales said “We are proud to work alongside the Department of Communities to bring this event to young people in SJ.” For more intel head to www.sjshire.wa.gov.au/youthweek 12 April for Bark in the Park — a free event running from 10am to 2pm This doggy day out promises a fun-filled atmosphere with pet-themed stalls and the first 50 attendees will get a free goody bag It’s a celebration of four-legged companions and a chance to connect with fellow pet lovers here in SJ Shire Dogs and puppies are welcome — just make sure they’re on a leash so everyone can stay safe and enjoy the day The Byford Bark Park is located on Larsen Road and a steadily growing crew from Byford has been riding the surge and bringing in the bling Byford riders cleaned up at this year’s maxed-out Downhill State Series with seasoned speedster Alan Forde taking the top podium place in the Masters 1/2 division and long-time mate and riding buddy Matt Garrett finishing up second in the Masters 3/4 division Alan’s daughter Asten proved her mettle this season and finished up third in the U15 Female division But it was newcomer Brock Williamson who really turned heads this year after smashing his 59-rider strong competition to take out the U17 Male division “At the season opener in Albany he just screamed down in a flash of black and white on this tiny-wheeled bike that’s pretty much obsolete and left everyone wondering where this kid had come from,” Matty said “And we were all just jumping up and down cheering him on – we were stoked,” Alan said Brock finished off his near-perfect season with another win at the Peel Downhill State Championships at the newly-minted Tom’s Crossing trail in Dwellingup last month Alan just missed out on a similar shutout performance coming in second place to a first-time rider from the east coast: “I was stoked for him though” While Alan’s son Roman – “an absolute weapon” – came in third in the Under 13 division who fell into the sport when he ventured out to “see who his son was hanging out with” also finished in third in the relatively new e-bike division but he’s one to watch in 2025 after setting himself up as a consistent top 10 rider this year This is not the first time Byford has seen results Alan and Matty have done alright for themselves over the past three seasons “Compared to other crews Byford is right up there,” Alan said And the Darling Scarp above Byford is famous as being the training ground of two-time world downhill champion Sam Hill He’s inspired pretty much everyone,” Matty said And now we’re seeing all the young ones come up and dominate,” Alan said “And there’s been a lot of local support too He said he sees mountain biking as a safer alternative to motorbikes and is thrilled to see his kids take up the sport picked up the sport as a compromise to himself after a motorbike accident But downhill is definitely not for the faint-hearted Far from the image of lycra-clad dads pedalling serenely through wooded glades downhill is packed with thrills and spills “When you’re at the gates getting ready for the drop you’re putting your life on the line,” Alan said “You end up with grazes on your shoulders from skimming trees And you’re doing jumps sometimes as big as a two-storey building and drops taller than a truck – if you come off that you’re breaking bones in both legs for sure “You’ve gotta be wired; your reaction times have to be so switched on.” and often there’s only three seconds between the top 15 riders,” Rob explains “People ask us all the time why we’re doing this still at our age – it’s the rush,” Matty said “And the atmosphere is unreal – it feels like you’re a superstar You’ve got hundreds of people lining the track banging and crashing revving bladeless chainsaws – the feeling is just like nothing else.” But it’s not all about the high-adrenaline antics The crew explain there’s a real sense of camaraderie found riding trails together set against a backdrop of exquisite natural beauty “There’s something about being out in nature like that – it’s the biggest mental relief ever,” Alan said “And it’s awesome because there’s no drama about age gaps – everyone’s just as passionate You can be a 14-year-old kid riding the same track beside a 40-year-old dude and it’s not weird,” Matty said “And there’s good banter – there’s no sledging I reckon that’s why more people are doing it.” The boost in popularity in mountain biking disciplines has been pretty even across the board since COVID making it one of the fastest growing recreational activities around the world Regional towns across Tasmania and Victoria have been banking their buck on mountain biking as a lucrative future for local tourism with the state government splashing unprecedented amounts of cash on new trails particularly in the Perth Hills and the South West And the gains are starting to show: in two weeks Collie will host the AusCycling Mountain Bike Enduro National Championships bringing more than 1000 riders to the coal town there has been a general perception that WA simply can’t compete with the downhill potential of the east coast and its Great Dividing Range The epicentre of the nation’s downhill escapades is in Cairns geographically as far from here as possible But Alan explains that what WA lacks in elevation it more than makes up for in “technical terrain” “We’ve got the gnarliest tracks around,” he said “It would be good to see the downhill nationals here next year at Tom’s Crossing and some outside industry sponsors come on board.” WA Labor has pledged to spend a record $745 million on building new schools and upgrading aging ones A new school has been promised in Treeby East which is slated to open in 2028 Piara Waters West will get a new primary school to take the pressure of existing schools in one of the fastest-growing areas in the state Planning funding will also be provided to lay the groundwork for six future schools Byford Primary School has also been promised $13.5 million for a new early childhood block as part of the $286 million School Infrastructure Fund Labor has said it will also contribute $83 million for smaller infrastructure projects student services upgrades and other minor works $1.5 million will be used to redevelop the outdoor hard courts at Jarrahdale Primary $25,000 to seal Eton Farm Primary’s driveway and $60,000 each will be given to Grovelands Primary and Armadale Primary for a variety of infrastructure upgrades with Neerigen Brook Primary getting a cool $70,000 to restore their sensory room With the elevated rail structure nearing completion the community has begun putting their own stamp on the Byford Rail Extension Eight Western Australian and Noongar artists have been chosen to deliver five public artworks as part of the project The artists will bring the stations and surrounding areas to life with vibrant artwork inspired by Aboriginal heritage The art will also shaped by input from Aboriginal Elders and the local community Armadale Station and the columns and northen ramp of the elevated rail will feature striking artwork by artist team Peregrination – including Mel McVee (Melski) and supported by David Sparrow from Lighting Applications The collective artwork will feature along the entire length of the elevated rail with stories of culture woven among images of native local flora and fauna At the heart of these pieces will be a stunning mural and lighting installation helping guide passengers to the station entry Seating walls and pavement at the station forecourt will also be adorned with designs by Noongar Yamatji Artist With community input a key part of the creative process artist George Domahidy worked closely with Armadale Senior High School specialist art students to create designs for two vibrant murals and pavement art for the southern end of the elevated rail The designs are inspired by George’s understanding of Armadale’s natural and architectural elements and its unique character and identity George Domahidy worked with the students over three interactive workshops The students explored printmaking techniques and developed designs to be incorporated into the murals and shared path art Selected student artworks are included in the final mural designs and have been adapted into stencils for the sandblasted pavement art Bibbulmun Nyoongar artist Nigel Chadd’s designs will be integrated into the pavement creating story points throughout the station forecourt The creative concepts will showcase Byford’s character and help create a sense of pride and place through the themes of connection and the interdependence of local flora and fauna Community input will also be a key focus at the Larsen Road pedestrian bridge as artist Sioux Tempestt works with Marri Grove Primary School students to paint two large murals Sioux’s concepts are inspired by Byford’s history and community spirit and will weave local stories into vibrant visuals on the bridge’s retaining walls The community is getting its first sneak peek at the new Byford Health Hub with architect images shared exclusively with The Examiner on Monday Residents in the rapidly expanding Serpentine Jarrahdale region are also one step closer to seeing the bricks and mortar rise from the dust on the Health Hub site with the forward works due to start early 2025 “The release of the Byford Health Hub’s forward works tender marks significant progress in a project that will give local people convenient access to a range of health professionals in one central location,” Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said The Health Hub will eventually provide a single entry-point for families and individuals in the region social and specialist health services in one convenient location Services providers will be a mix of private and not-for-profit in conjunction with a comprehensive range of on-site outpatient services The Byford Health Hub will encompass approximately 3,000 square metres of floor space in between the new station and Byford Village East Metropolitan Health Service is coordinating the planning development and commissioning of the project in conjunction with the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale and other key stakeholders has made history over the weekend by becoming the youngest athlete in Australia to complete 24 Parkruns in 24 hours Dane has gobsmackingly completed the cumulative 120km feat at only 14 years of age The Byford local managed to complete the marathon effort at an average pace of 4.50 minutes a kilometre which as event facilitator Kara McFeat pointed out is “not very average at all” 15-year-old Jack Brown became the youngest runner in the nation to complete 24 different park runs throughout Perth in 24 hours in blistering 40-degree heat including one in Bunbury and one in Busselton The event was held across five different Australian cities over the weekend The Perth Parkrun began at 8am on Saturday with all participants finishing the first run at Garvey Park before heading off to their second one at 9am Throughout the day runners completed laps in parks and foreshores all over Perth Each Parkrun is five kilometres in length and each run has to ostensibly be completed in around half an hour or under in order to allow enough time to pack up and drive to the starting line for the next one It’s a unique test of endurance as most of the runs take place during the day when heat is the main debilitating factor then running through the night with a head torch while contending with the cold Dane was the only youth participant in WA and his steely resilience earned props from world record-holding Ultra runner Phil Gore who at just 14-years-old has become the youngest person to complete 24 parkruns in 24 hours It was pretty special to share a few k’s with him,” he said But Phil wasn’t the only fan Dane managed to pick up over the weekend “The future of WA’s Ultra running is bright with Dane Sproxton,” Karlos Aquino said the 24 Parkruns in 24 hours (WA) event has attracted almost $9000 in donations towards nominated charity On My Feet which is an Australian not-for-profit organisation which transforms the lives of those who are vulnerable and homeless by creating self-worth a sense of purpose and self-sufficiency through employment A young driver from Byford was arrested after a high-speed police pursuit ended in a crash in Beckenham Road Policing Group South have charged a 22-year-old man with several offences after an evade police incident and crash a red Holden Commodore sedan failed to stop when directed on Tonkin Highway in Forrestdale The driver allegedly continued to drive in a reckless manner on various streets and was followed by police airwing officers the Commodore went onto the incorrect side of the carriageway and struck a white Volkswagen Golf hatchback The male driver of the Golf hatchback and his female passenger were not injured The driver of the Holden Commodore sedan was caught by police at the scene and taken into custody The 22-year-old man from Byford appeared before the Armadale Magistrates Court on Friday charged with: Reckless Driving Speed of 155kph or more to Escape Pursuit by Police; Driver of a Vehicle Failed to Comply with a Direction to Stop (circumstance of aggravation); No Authority to Drive – suspended (other than fines suspension); and Possessed a Prohibited Drug (Cocaine) Police attended an address on Wilsey Street in Gosnells on March 10 in relation to an alleged robbery that occurred earlier in the afternoon officers observed a man at the location with a knife and commenced negotiation attempts The man refused to put down the knife and approached officers in a threatening manner An attending officer deployed a taser in attempt to stop the man he remained in possession of the knife and lunged towards officers During this time a police firearm was discharged was conveyed to Royal Perth Hospital via ambulance for treatment of gunshot wounds As standard practice when a police firearm is discharged investigations into the incident remain ongoing by detectives from the Major Crime Division and the Internal Affairs Unit Armadale District Police are asking for the public’s help while they investigate a burglary at Marri Grove Primary School just after midnight on Tuesday Marri Grove fell victim to another break-in and vandalism in January with the school posting that it suspected it to be the work of children Police are working to identify three possible suspects from Tuesday’s burglary and have asked the community for assistance to identify those responsible If you have any information that could help please contact Mundijong Police Station on 9526-5111 or Crimestoppers on 1800-333-000 You can remain anonymous and rewards may be offered Officers from the Major Crash Investigation Section are investigating a serious crash that occurred in Oldbury on Wednesday a black Nissan Navara travelling south along King Road collided with a southbound blue Ford Focus turning right into a driveway further colliding with a brick wall and trees The 39-year-old male driver of the Ford Focus was extricated by DFES and airlifted to hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries The 26-year-old female driver of the Navara was not seriously injured Major Crash investigators are conducting an examination of the scene and are appealing for any witnesses to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report the information online at www.crimestopperswa.com.au Among other things, Bill composed songs for the Leeds indie dance duo the Rhythm Sisters including on their albums The Road to Roundhay Pier (1987) and Willerby (1991) He also played the guitar with the band on UK and European tours that included support slots with the Proclaimers and the Fall which owed much to the beat poets of the 1950s and 60s appeared on a handful of albums from 2012 onwards In the world of education Bill worked as a drama teacher in various Yorkshire schools before becoming the head of St Antony’s RC school in Urmston Bill was born in Castleford, West Yorkshire, to Sir Lawrence Byford a policeman and eventual chief inspector of constabulary He went to St Gregory’s secondary school in Huddersfield and Lincoln school in Lincoln before qualifying as a teacher at Lady Mabel College in Sheffield in 1976 and then gaining a degree in education at Sheffield University His first job as a drama teacher was at De Aston school in Market Rasen after which he moved in 1980 to Calder high school in Mytholmroyd where he taught drama and rose to be head of sixth form By 1987 he had switched to St Catherine’s Catholic high school in Halifax and in 1992 he joined All Saints Catholic high in Huddersfield as head of its English department Becoming deputy head at St Michael’s Catholic high school in Barnsley in 1996 which he held from 2001 until his retirement in 2011 Having first developed an interest in beat culture on a visit to New York in the 70s Bill pursued his eclectic musical and poetic interests outside school work combining a flair for melody with well-crafted beatnik poetry that was in thrall to the genius of Ginsberg He also wrote as a freelance for the Melody Maker music paper in the 80s becoming an early proselytiser for the Stone Roses When he retired he was able to devote more time to his various projects starting with an album of his compositions and following up with The Dream of Miss Dee two years later He performed his poetry at three of my Charm events in Harrogate that celebrated 60s counterculture at The Guildhall in York in 2020 and at the Kerouac Lives spoken word and music festival in Hebden Bridge to mark the centenary of Jack Kerouac’s birth in 2022 In his final days he embarked on a collaboration with Drusilla Verney – once of the 70s psych-rock act Here and Now – to create a music video on climate change that was premiered at the Portobello Film and Art festival in London a week before he died Heath and Drusilla wrote the lyrics for the video and both sang on the track an English teacher whom he married in 1977 This article was amended on 16 October 2024 Sir Lawrence Byford rose to be chief inspector of constabulary at a national level not just in Yorkshire as an earlier version said It’s looking increasingly likely that Byford will have its promised pump track and jump line by August next year councillors unanimously approved Margaret River-based Common Ground Trails to take on the design and construction of the project at Briggs Park Common Ground has designed about 150 pump tracks around Australia But company director David Wilcox said this one will be the largest asphalt-surfaced combined pump track and jump line facility they have ever built He’s confident the work will be completed on time and construction is planned to start in the first half of next year after a period of community feedback Common Ground’s Brian Lawlor said the pump track will be designed to accommodate a range of wheels He also said the asphalt will have a 20-year life expectancy and that maintenance of the track will be fairly straight-forward because asphalt is a product most local government work crews are already familiar with There is hope the new facility will entice riders away from using (and damaging) the BMX track The $885,530 outlaid for the design and construction will also include park shelters and furniture The shire is currently negotiating extras including a carpark Improvements to the existing toilets will be done as part of the Briggs Park Pavilion Youth Centre Upgrade project The pump track has been made possible due to a reallocation of the $1.34 million nature splash park funding via the Department of Local Government Sports Minister David Templeman was at Briggs Park following this week’s Community Cabinet The self-proclaimed “most successful sports minister since the last one” was excited to see a homegrown entity win the contract and said he looked forward to seeing the finished product The minister was also on hand to sign a new $18.5 million funding agreement between DLGSC and the shire for the Keirnan Park Recreation Precinct – which he did so with an idiosyncratically dramatic flourish while chastising local member Hugh Jones and Shire President Rob Coales for their paltry scrawls “We’re making history – you’ve got to give them something to remember,” he said The shire is now putting the pedal to the metal to shore up new and improved sports facilities for its rapidly growing population – which is expected to triple in the next twenty years in recognition of Byford having one of the highest birth rates in the state Minister Templeman has (tongue-in-cheek) dubbed SJ ‘nappy valley’ The shire is currently advocating to the state and federal governments for $40.4 million to expand the Keirnan Park project to include the development of 15 new netball courts and change rooms “Today’s announcements are a significant step towards the shire being future-proofed as a liveable and thriving shire for current and future residents and the wider region,” Shire President Rob Coales said “Our shire has one of the fastest growing populations of any local government area in the country with our population expected to soar from just more than 38,000 today but a rapidly growing population always brings challenges for community infrastructure “Our current recreation facilities are badly degraded and have needed replacing for years “Rapid growth means we need to plan for the future and have the infrastructure in place to give shire residents every opportunity to be active and healthy.” It’s anticipated that construction on Stage 1A of Keirnan Park will begin next year Colourful road safety messages have been catching the attention of passers-by in Byford over the past week Fifty-four eye-catching adhesive decals were installed last Wednesday on footpaths and road crossings along Abernethy Rd and South West Highway putting a full-stop on Activate Byford’s third successful community engagement project More than 30 designs were entered into the road safety-focussed decal competition with an overwhelming number from students of Marri Grove and West Byford Primary Schools Entrants were asked to create striking images with messages that encouraged motorists cyclists and pedestrians alike to take care when sharing local roads Seven winners were celebrated at a sundowner at Dome in May Ripley and Ella – the five youth winners – whose decals can now be admired throughout the town centre Activate Byford’s Richard Lane said the competition had been a ‘rewarding process’ for the local group despite the challenges it presented along the way “Activate Byford is focussed on using arts and crafts as a means of inclusion and to encourage people – particularly our youth – to participate in building their local community during this time of rapid urban growth,” he said “Our thanks to those youthful and creative artists for their designs and especially to the RAC and Town Team movement in their unrelenting support to see the realisation of this venture.” Mr Lane said Activate Byford will now be putting its collective energy into the second iteration of its popular Artisan Twilight Market living in a cramped high-pressure chamber where they eat and sleep between shifts Pay is great for saturation divers — between $30,000 and $45,000 a month — but it's intense work in an otherworldly and claustrophobic environment four saturation divers and one crew member were killed in a gruesome accident aboard a Norwegian-operated oil rig called the Byford Dolphin The Byford Dolphin catastrophe was a wake-up call for the commercial diving industry which responded with tighter safety measures to ensure no one else would meet such a terrible fate It takes a whole crew to make a saturation diving operation work Life support technicians ensure the air mix in the hyperbaric chamber matches the air that the divers breathe underwater. The dive control team is in charge of operating the diving bell — which raises and lowers on a crane — and monitoring the divers as they work There are even cooks who prepare and serve meals to the men cooped up in the living chambers Workers called "tenders" have a very important support job They help unspool and retract the "umbilical," the thick line of air supply tubes and communication wires that connect the divers to the surface tenders had other responsibilities that included docking the diving bell to the pressurized living chambers "The saturation divers are completely at the mercy of the tender and of their supervisors on the dive control team," says Phillip Newsum, an experienced commercial diver and executive director of the Association of Diving Contractors International On Nov. 5, 1983 an experienced tender named William Crammond was in the middle of a routine procedure aboard the Byford Dolphin a semi-submersible oil rig operating in the North Sea The rig was equipped with two pressurized living chambers Crammond had just connected the diving bell to the living chambers and safely deposited a pair of divers in chamber one The other two divers were already resting in chamber two the diving bell wouldn't be detached from the living chambers until the chamber doors were safely sealed shut the diving bell detached before the chamber doors were closed creating what's known as an "explosive decompression." "It's a death sentence," Newsum says The air pressure inside the Byford Dolphin living chambers instantly went from 9 atmospheres — the pressure experienced while hundreds of feet below the water — to 1 atmosphere The explosive rush of air out of the chamber sent the heavy diving bell flying killing Crammond and critically injuring his fellow tender The fate of the four saturation divers inside was far worse. According to autopsy reports three of the men inside the chamber — Edwin Arthur Coward Lucas and Bjørn Giæver Bergersen — were essentially "boiled" from the inside when the nitrogen in their blood violently erupted into gas bubbles The fourth diver, Truls Hellevik, suffered the grizzliest death Hellevik was standing in front of the partially opened door to the living chamber when the pressure was released His body was sucked out through an opening so narrow that it tore him open and ejected his internal organs onto the deck Since scuba diving was first invented in the 1940s, divers have learned a lot about how to safely swim to great depths, sometimes the hard way. As a diver descends, the weight of the water around them applies pressure to every cell in their body. The pressure even compresses molecules of gaseous nitrogen taken in by the lungs which causes the nitrogen gas to dissolve into the bloodstream The absorption of nitrogen itself isn't the issue The problem starts if a diver tries to ascend to the surface too quickly Think of it like shaking a 2-liter bottle of soda and opening the cap The gasses that were contained under pressure instantly form bubbles and expand That's pretty much what happens inside a diver's body when they suffer decompression sickness or "the bends." If they ascend too quickly from the high pressure of the deep water to the much lower pressure at the surface the nitrogen molecules that had dissolved under pressure quickly expand and become gaseous again "Nitrogen bubbles will form in the bloodstream and those can prevent the circulation of blood "That's when you run the risk of getting decompression sickness." Decompression sickness or "the bends" is a painful and potentially fatal condition that can cause excruciating joint and muscle pain the bends can be treated by placing the individual back under pressure in a special tank called a hyperbaric chamber and slowly releasing the pressure over a matter of hours or days But the best strategy is to avoid decompression sickness altogether by slowly ascending to the surface and taking frequent breaks to let your body naturally exhale or "off gas" the nitrogen. Certified scuba divers know how to read a recreational dive planner that tells them when to take safety breaks during an ascent and for how long are asked to work at depths far beyond what any recreational scuba diver would dare to attempt That requires a whole different type of decompression and it was a failure in that system that led to the violent deaths of the Byford Dolphin divers The deeper you dive and the longer you stay underwater the more nitrogen gets dissolved in your bloodstream a diver's body becomes "saturated" with dissolved nitrogen which is how saturation divers get their name Saturation divers work at depths as great as 1,000 feet (304 meters) If they used the same technique as recreational divers to safely decompress — slowly ascending with long pauses — it would take them days to reach the surface saturation divers are shuttled to the surface in pressurized diving bells and then transferred into specialized decompression chambers For every 100 feet (30 meters) that a saturation diver descends they need to spend approximately one day in the chamber watch movies and receive food through pressurized slots The problem is that it's not economical for an oil company to pay saturation divers for a few hours of work and several days of rest your body can't absorb any more nitrogen no matter how long you stay underwater So instead of decompressing after each dive For up to 28 days — the industry maximum — saturation divers will commute to the depths in those pressurized diving bells But instead of entering a decompression chamber on the surface they bunk up inside of a hyperbaric chamber that maintains their bodies at the same pressure level as the deep water "We call that the storage depth," says Newsum whose organization helps to establish international safety standards for commercial diving they can work out there for as long as they need to you don't need to worry about decompression." The last week of any saturation diving job is reserved for slow and steady decompression before finally leaving the cramped quarters and breathing fresh air again Norwegian officials attributed the deadly incident to human error it was later revealed that the incident happened because of faulty equipment "What you’ve got to do is consider the human being in the system and not put those persons in a position where an understandable human error could lead to very serious consequences Our safety systems must be designed to be tolerant of human error.” the initial investigation did irreparable damage to Crammond's family On top of dealing with the death of her husband Ruth Crammond also had to deal with the aftermath of the investigation "Billy's death destroyed me," she told Express in 2015 "The fact he was blamed — and many websites still claim he made a mistake — was horrendous I never told our children their father was to blame My son was only 8 and idolized his father." She also never believed the Norwegian government's findings because of the years of his years of diving experience "He was accused of having made an amateur's mistake by opening a clamp before another door was safely closed causing the explosion," she added "We met in Plymouth when he was a Navy diver.. He left the service to try and give a better life to his family and North Sea offered that opportunity but his response always was that crossing the road was dangerous." Starting in the 1960s, when oil was discovered off the coast of Norway, there was an oil boom in the North Sea. Safety wasn't always the top priority. By one count, there were at least 58 diving deaths in the North Sea from the 1960s through the early 2000s "The Byford Dolphin was one of the worst oil field disasters in history," Newsum says "and it led to sweeping changes in the North Sea and in commercial diving safety worldwide." every diving operation is required to make an extensive risk assessment and hazard analysis There are redundancies built into every procedure to eliminate human error or faulty equipment Some oil rigs are even equipped with special hyperbaric lifeboats that can transport saturation divers away from a hurricane or fire without having to bring them back to surface pressure first Saturation divers breathe a mix of helium and oxygen which gives them "Donald Duck" voice for weeks on end Supervisors use voice modulators to lower the divers pitch and better understand two-way radio communications Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article: `;return t.byline_authors_html&&(e+=`By: ${t.byline_authors_html}`),t.byline_authors_html&&t.byline_date_html&&(e+=" | "),t.byline_date_html&&(e+=t.byline_date_html),e+=`\n\t\t\t\t Two winning Saturday Lotto tickets were purchased from Halls Head Newsagency and AP Newsagency in Byford and are worth $1.05 million each “These 63 Division One winners are sharing in more than $116 million,” he said “Our advice to anyone that bought a ticket from Byford or Halls Head is to check your ticket “Two WA players could be heading into Christmas with a seven figure gift.” A re-elected Cook Labor Government has promised to deliver a range of goodies for schools in Darling Range as part of one the single biggest investments in school infrastructure in WA’s history The major $745 million program includes $13.5 million for a new early childhood education block at Byford Primary School $600,000 for a new primary school in Byford North (due to open 2029) $1.5 million to redevelop the outdoor hard courts at Jarrahdale Primary School $1 million to deliver parking upgrades at Marri Grove Primary School and $1 million to install modern reverse-cycle air-conditioning at Serpentine Primary School Labor has also promised to deliver a new coaster bus for Byford Secondary College to be retrofitted for special needs accessibility equipment for a new drone pilot program at Roleystone Community College and funding to seal the driveway at Eton Farm Primary School in Serpentine “We live in one of the fastest growing areas in the country and meeting the demand that puts on our infrastructure is my focus These commitments mean every student in Darling Range are getting top quality facilities to learn in,” Member for Darling Range Hugh Jones said major upgrades are already in the works at Roleystone Community College and Byford Secondary College.” Education Minister Tony Buti said as a former teacher who was educated in Armadale he recognises “the importance of making sure students in our outer suburbs get the best facilities to learn in” “My focus remains on ensuring every child has access to an education that equips them for a successful future and I’m proud that this major funding commitment will deliver the infrastructure and facilities our students need,” he said The Labor Government has also said it would boost the School Breakfast Program to the tune of $37 million expanding it “into all schools where students may need extra support” This will increase the number of schools where free breakfasts are delivered from around 500 to more than 650 – with the service to be boosted from two to five days per week The Labor Government has also promised to increase the number of WA primary schools where parents have access to before and after-school care (OSH) West Byford Primary and Jarrahdale Primary would be two of the first schools to get new OSHC services under a re-elected Cook Labor Government a white Hyundai Getz hatchback and a blue Mack truck with a white semi-trailer collided at the intersection of Beenyup Road and South Western Highway in Byford The 17-year-old female driver of the Hyundai and an 18-year-old male passenger were conveyed to Royal Perth Hospital for medical treatment The 38-year-old male driver of the truck was not injured Major Crash investigators are urging anyone with any information relating to this crash, or who saw the white Hyundai Getz hatchback or the blue Mac truck with white semi-trailer in the area prior to the crash, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperswa.com.au If you or anyone you know has been affected by a road crash contact Road Trauma Support WA on 1300 004 814 A new investment partnership between the state and federal governments is set to deliver almost 1800 social and affordable homes for Western Australia A total of 21 new social and affordable housing projects near METRONET stations and on other government-owned land will soon be contracted to builders The first tranche of projects will consist of 14 developments in Ellenbrook and Treeby – delivering nearly 1100 new homes Detailed design will also commence on a further seven projects in Cannington The projects comprise a mix of affordable rentals and social housing with projects packaged together to create a pipeline of work for the State’s building industry and to attract builders from the east coast These new dwellings will be constructed on state-owned land and the completed dwellings will be sold to and managed by the Community Housing sector with Availability Payments attached to support affordable rental dwellings for Western Australians the state government will initially invest $443 million to fund the upfront construction costs of the new homes which will then be sold to Community Housing Providers (CHPs) Subject to agreements being finalised with Housing Australia CHPs may have access to concessional loans from the HAFFF and NHAF and may also be able to apply for senior debt through the Housing Australia Affordable Housing Bond Aggregator (AHBA) as well as ongoing subsidies to support their repayments over a 25-year period Around 20 per cent of the homes will be available as social housing with 80 per cent to become affordable community housing DevelopmentWA and the Department of Communities will release tenders for the first tranche of projects in coming months “My government is throwing everything at getting more Western Australians into a home,” Premier Cook said “This landmark new partnership with the Albanese Labor Government will build the affordable homes our growing state needs “It means we have a sustainable pipeline of affordable housing projects now and in coming years “Our nation leading housing plan is fast-tracking approvals unlocking more land and getting more houses built faster – because we’ll always do what’s right for WA.” Teachers at West Byford Primary School are bringing digital technologies into everyday learning thanks to Alcoa and Scitech Alcoa Real World Digital Technologies is a one-term professional learning program that aims to increase teacher confidence and capability in incorporating digital technology into daily teaching Teachers are provided with support and resources pocket sized computers which students use across all subjects students could use the micro:bit to measure distances without a ruler or tell a story through animation and sound allowing them to learn how to use block-coding by applying problem-solving skills As a technology specialist at West Byford Primary School teacher Bhawna Nayyar said it was exciting to have a program that allows digital technologies to be integrated across curriculums “This allows teachers to add onto what they’re already doing and gets the students really engaged,” she said “We’re also looking into how using this technology can help with the social and personal wellbeing of the students one of our education assistants is using the micro:bits with a student with special needs who struggles with communication and they have been learning to communicate through the micro:bit which is so exciting.” West Byford Primary School is one of four schools taking part in the program this term with participants from each school coming together workshops and reflection sessions “It’s been so great to be able to collaborate with the other schools and hear their ideas and vision for incorporating digital technologies “The program is really bringing us together as a community,” Ms Nayyar said “It’s so important to raise awareness about digital literacy We give children iPads from a young age but we rarely teach them how the technology behind it actually works By engaging students in digital technologies in this way we can open up a bigger conversation with them and their families around digital footprints online safety and digital technologies skills that they will use in their everyday lives.” A trio of baseballers from the Byford Bushrangers have just hit the biggest home run of their young lives “It always keeps us on our toes,” Nate said And the feeling of making a diving catch is better than anything,” Luke said they have a combined 17 years’ experience in diamond sports and days out – all for the love of the game “But all of that hard work has paid off,” Luke said the boys all headed over to the Gold Coast to participate in the Down Under Winter Classic – their first inter-state tournament While the boys all felt a little off their game in Queensland because all three were headhunted by scouts Only a couple of days into their tournament the boys were notified they’d been given early selection into the Aussie Drop Bears to play at the 2024 Cal Ripken World Series in the United States next month “Mum found the email in her spam folder while we were at dinner I ran all through Milky Lane screaming,” Luke said “I think the whole apartment might have heard me when I found out,” Nate said The significance of this selection cannot be overstated; an older colleague was selected for the same tournament a couple of years back and got scouted for another tournament whilst there who made Australian baseball history on Friday when he inked a $15 million deal with the Cleveland Guardians as their overall top pick – the first Aussie to ever be a no Bazzana (21) also played the Cal Ripken World Series when he was their age While their selection is not unprecedented only 12 to 14 young hopefuls around the country were given the nod at this year’s Down Under Winter Classic – so to have three from Byford is And the three amigos have high hopes for their time in the states “If we were scouted and picked for another tournament I’d be screaming all the way home on the plane,” Luke said “I’m really excited to show ‘em what I got I just want to be like my dad – he played softball for Australia Robert Maughan has been privately coaching the boys in pitching and batting for the past six months And their parents couldn’t be prouder of their success “They’ve worked so hard for this,” Shari Maughan said “There was so much competition in Queensland so we were preparing ourselves for disappointment.” “It’s an amazing achievement – to be so young and have this opportunity before them,” Charlie Morgan said “And for the three of them to go together is just amazing,” Nicki Lawrence said “This could really set them on the path to something bigger.” But success often comes with a price; it’ll cost around $8K each for the boys to go to America to compete And that’s before you factor in the costs of their families to accompany them how are we going to pay for this?’,” Shari said The families are currently fundraising like mad, each with their own GoFundMe page. You can donate to Brodie here, Nate here, and Luke here. The Cal Ripken World Series will run in Crown Point It’s now been a year since trains on the Armadale line ground to a halt With only six months remaining of the scheduled 18-month shutdown doubts are starting to be raised in the community about whether the Byford Rail Extension will be completed on time and on budget The rumour mill has begun to pick up pace; one particular one about alleged faults in the concrete beams on the elevated rail structure that are likely to cause delays to the reopening of the line The same community report suggested the line could be partially reopened between Perth and Gosnells until the Armadale end works are completed The Examiner took the concerns to Metronet to verify them And while they did concede that a problem had been picked up that issue was little more than a flash in a pan “During routine inspections on the Armadale Station viaduct a slight misalignment with the elastomeric bearing pad that sits on the headstock at the underside of the viaduct beam was identified.” a spokesperson for Metronet said These bearings allow a bridge to shift horizontally slightly to compensate for ground movements or thermal expansion and contraction cracks in the concrete beams could start to appear requiring some bearings to be replaced has been implemented and work is continuing on the Byford Rail Extension project,” the Metronet spokesperson explained The Examiner also queried why work on the Armadale Station had been delayed with original estimates from project management indicating the build for both the Armadale and Byford stations would start mid-2024 Installation of the structural steel for the Armadale concourse buildings began in October but there is no sign of the pre-fabricated wall panels yet We asked when we might see the walls go up but did say this: “The Armadale Line remains on track to reopen in the middle of next year the government will provide more specific dates closer to the reopening” Mundijong is on the precipice of immense change the proposed WestPort development in Kwinana acres of residential and defence housing and industrial estate development and – hopefully sooner rather than later – the extension of the train line will see a radical transformation of the rural township And with Mundijong expected to outgrow Byford eventually alarms are being sounded now to warn against the same planning mistakes being repeated one of the biggest risks is that investment in infrastructure services happens in a piecemeal way and the current town centre gets left behind This hollowing of the town core whilst new development pushes outwards is known as the ‘doughnut effect’ in urban planning whose family has owned and operated the Mundijong IGA for thirty years “You end up sacrificing the guy that was supporting the community for decades before the others all push in It’s just not in the spirit of how we do things here.” the biggest problem currently is a lack of critical infrastructure Last year the Urban Institute Development of Australia called for an initial investment of $421 million in critical enabling infrastructure funding across three key areas in Perth (one of which was Mundijong/East Wellard) in order to boost housing potential $11.8 million is needed “immediately” to bring forward plans for the Mundijong Pump Station to service wastewater A further $5 million is needed for substation site planning and $18 million is also required for the extension of power feeders for development the Labor Government announced a new $400 million Housing Enabling Infrastructure Fund to unlock residential land in WA But so far there have been no specific promises made for Mundijong from either of the major state parties the Nationals WA announced that if elected in March they will deliver $250,000 for the ‘Mundijong Done Right’ project which they say will lay the foundation for the town to become a future education hub and deliver better integrated planning for growth Candidate for Darling Range Morgan Byas said the funding will be used to produce a business case and detailed costings for the delivery of vital infrastructure ensuring Mundijong grows into a thriving town centre “The centrepiece of the Mundijong Done Right plan is the proposal to create an agricultural TAFE a game-changing investment that will finally bring tertiary education opportunities to the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale,” Mr Byas said The proposed TAFE would also offer traditional trade courses situated just minutes from the West Mundijong Industrial Area “Mundijong is perfectly positioned to become an outer metropolitan education hub young people in our community have no local options for further study,” Mr Byas said When The Examiner asked Mr Byas what that would mean for the long-floated idea of a TAFE in Byford he said: “we missed the boat on that one” He explained that having a new TAFE in Armadale eroded political appetite to build another just eight clicks up the road in Byford and he was doubtful there was enough space left in Byford to build anything that could meaningfully cater to the area’s tertiary education needs “But let’s not miss that opportunity for the kids coming through Mundijong,” he said The business case would also make an argument for the future Mundijong train station to be integrated properly into the civic and commercial heart of the town avoiding the planning failures seen in Byford “An elevated train line would have unified Byford for the first time “The experience of Byford has really illustrated to me that you can’t do this by chance “This is our opportunity to get this right from the start ensuring that when the train station comes it’s not dumped in the town centre like an afterthought “It must be seamlessly connected to our town centre the business case would also provide a structured plan for deep sewer expansion and residential infill – supporting sustainable planning to ensure 2,600 new homes are properly serviced with infrastructure My Byas said this aligned with their previous commitment to establish a $1 billion headworks fund “This is about building a future that actually works for our community—where people can train “There’s a very small sliver of time to get this right and make sure Mundijong has a positive future.” Nick DiGiuseppe said he supports The Nationals’ plan to get things moving we need certainty over retail and commercial growth in the town centre,” he said “We’re desperate for commitments on funding and timeframes investment will flow into new town centres “But having a plan would allow Mundijong to retain a sense of community,” he said “I think it’s great that The Nationals are prepared to fund this process and Labor and the Liberals should match it.” Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Police have confirmed a 33-year-old man has been charged with murdering his mother Police were called to a home on Gallipoli Avenue about 7.05pm after receiving reports a woman was seriously injured Police are still on the scene following the woman’s death They later found the 61-year-old dead and her 33-year-old son missing They said the man left the scene in a silver Peugeot station wagon and two hours later was located travelling north on the Great Northern Highway “Officers activated emergency lights and sirens however the driver failed to stop and an evade police incident ensued,” they said “The vehicle came to a stop on Great Northern Highway in Bindi Bindi following the successful deployment of a tyre deflation device challenged police and a taser was deployed.” Homicide squad detectives are now investigating the deaths and are still combing through the Byford property on Monday morning 9 News Perth reporter Sarah Smith told Radio 6PR that neighbours were waking up to the news of what had occurred Gallipoli Avenue in Byford was still closed off in multiple directions on Monday morning On Monday police announced they had charged the man with murder He will appear in Armadale Magistrates Court on Tuesday \\u201COfficers activated emergency lights and sirens however the driver failed to stop and an evade police incident ensued,\\u201D they said \\u201CThe vehicle came to a stop on Great Northern Highway in Bindi Bindi following the successful deployment of a tyre deflation device challenged police and a taser was deployed.\\u201D Local teens have been given a chance to put their own unique stamp on the future Byford Health Hub The East Metropolitan Health Service (EMHS) which has been tasked with engaging the community and delivering the vital project recently entrusted Perth-based community artist Olivia Robinson (Art Works By Liv) to work with Year 9 and 10 students from Byford Secondary College and Salvado Catholic College and what ‘health’ meant to them through a range of mediums “We really wanted to hear the views of the future users of the Hub,” EMHS Executive Director Neil Cowan said “East’s multi-media design team has photographed each of the works and is in the process of creating digital graphic designs for incorporating in the design process for the Hub’s branding and promotional material – to give it a true identity reflective of the views of the youth of today “We anticipate this community engagement through the arts is the first of many opportunities.” A selection of the best artworks is currently being exhibited outside Coles “This is a great opportunity for the community to see what our kids can do,” Byford Secondary College Principal Paul Jones said “Sometimes society tends to focus on the negative rather than see what amazing things our young people are truly capable of.” The Examiner took the chance to meet the artists in person at the official exhibition launch on Tuesday afternoon this is the first time their creativity had been displayed so publicly “It was a little nerve-wracking before the launch but now it’s out there I’m honestly so proud,” Aaliyah Loller said The artworks showcase a diverse collection of ideas and techniques but there are two clear themes that resonate throughout the exhibition: many students feel a deep connection to Byford’s natural heritage; and the primary health concern amongst the young artists is mental illness and suicide Data from the ABS revealed that between 2020 and 2022 young people were twice as likely as adults to be suffering from mental illness And according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare suicide is still the leading cause of death amongst Australia’s youth Mackenzie Pilkington’s world has already been scarred by the suicide of others and mental health is a big part of our lives,” she said “A lot of people my age see life in black and white – through a lens of depression “But I wanted to use colour in my artwork – because life is beautiful It’s about encouraging people to change their perspective – if you look hard enough Rather than ignore the elephant in the room community artist Liv Robinson helped guide the students’ work through these big feelings “I have lived experience with mental health struggles in my teens and to be able to empower them is such a wonderful gift “A lot of the time people think they’re not good enough [to be an artist] The artworks will remain on display in the Byford Village foyer until Monday The man accused of murdering his mother inside her Byford home on Sunday has fronted court allegedly bludgeoned his 61-year-old mother Evette Verney to death in the presence of a young child on Sunday evening around 7pm Verney stumbled from the Gallipoli Avenue house seeking help from neighbours but collapsed on the driveway of a nearby property and died Jefferies allegedly fled the house in a vehicle and was spotted by police around two hours later He was arrested more than 200 kilometres from the crime scene following a police pursuit that ended in them deploying tyre spikes challenged police and a Taser was deployed,” a police spokesman said Jefferies appeared in Armadale Magistrates Court on Tuesday Wearing a blue forensic jumpsuit and handcuffed he showed no emotion during the brief appearance Byford neighbour Scott Heffernan told 9 News Perth he heard commotion around the time of the alleged killing and then shortly after that all the police rocked up .. WA Premier Roger Cook described the incident as a dreadful case of alleged domestic violence That young girl who actually appears to have witnessed that event must be incredibly traumatised,” he said It’s understood the young child raised the alarm with police Blood splatter was visible at the property’s front entry Homicide detectives are yet to reveal Verney’s cause of death or whether a weapon was used in the alleged attack In Australia, a woman is killed every four days by someone she knows If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence Rio Tinto unveils $215 million ‘green steel’ Rockingham research plant Perth Zoo and Rottnest trees felled as borer spreads across 88 suburbs Coca-Cola was about to win a waterwise award. Then a WA minister stepped in The man accused of murdering his mother inside her Byford home on Sunday has fronted court. Harley Jefferies, 33, allegedly bludgeoned his 61-year-old mother Evette Verney to death in the presence of a young child on Sunday evening around 7pm. Verney stumbled from the Gallipoli Avenue house seeking help from neighbours, but collapsed on the driveway of a nearby property and died. Jefferies allegedly fled the house in a vehicle and was spotted by police around two hours later. He was arrested more than 200 kilometres from the crime scene following a police pursuit that ended in them deploying tyre spikes. \\u201CThe 33-year-old man, who was acting aggressively, challenged police and a Taser was deployed,\\u201D a police spokesman said. Jefferies appeared in Armadale Magistrates Court on Tuesday, charged with one count of murder. Wearing a blue forensic jumpsuit and handcuffed, he showed no emotion during the brief appearance. Byford neighbour Scott Heffernan told 9 News Perth he heard commotion around the time of the alleged killing. \\u201CJust heard a woman screaming around 7pm, and then shortly after that all the police rocked up ... it didn\\u2019t go on very long at all, probably 20 seconds or so,\\u201D he said. WA Premier Roger Cook described the incident as a dreadful case of alleged domestic violence. \\u201COur hearts go out to that family. That young girl who actually appears to have witnessed that event must be incredibly traumatised,\\u201D he said. It\\u2019s understood the young child raised the alarm with police. Blood splatter was visible at the property\\u2019s front entry. Homicide detectives are yet to reveal Verney\\u2019s cause of death, or whether a weapon was used in the alleged attack. In Australia, a woman is by someone she knows. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800respect.org.au). Call 000 if you are in immediate danger. Lifeline: 13 11 14. The foundations are being laid for the new Byford and Armadale train stations Concrete slabs are now being poured at both station sites with one month to go until the halfway point of the promised 18-month construction schedule for the Byford Rail Extension the first columns for Byford Station platform canopy were installed,” a spokesperson for Metronet said “More than 160 columns will be used for the new station “Work has also started on the Byford Station structure with the first of 20 concrete slab pours complete “The structure of Armadale Station is also taking shape with concrete slab pours for the station concourse starting last week.” When the Examiner spoke with project managers in December last year they explained the stations themselves were designed as modular builds there’s only another month or two remaining to start getting those walls up before the original ‘mid-year’ timeframe for station construction lapses But it’s important to give credit where credit is due – the team is going at breakneck speed installing the elevated rail beams Armadale’s elevated rail features a total of 125 beams And there are now scores of these beams in place There have been a number of other recent milestones achieved on the project the concrete pour for the Wungong Brook shared path bridge deck which will connect the shared path from Armadale to Byford and work continued on the Eleventh Road Bridge with the installation of concrete wall panels,” the Metronet spokesperson said sparks are flying on the Thornlie-Cockburn line approximately 26km of long welded rail will be placed for the new Thornlie-Cockburn Link between Jandakot and Beckenham « OBITUARY: David Wayne Smith, 1943-2025 OBITUARY: John Dennis Wentworth, 1950-2025 » The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Jim Byford’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here The Saxon frontman takes Hammer reader's questions - and definitively answers whether Vikings or Saxons would win in a fight Saxon frontman Biff Byford has been belting his heart out over heavy metal thunder since Jim Callaghan was prime minister in the 1970s and has overseen the Barnsley metal legends’ ascent from smoky taprooms to the world’s biggest stages and used the t-shirt to staunch a tour van’s oil leak so there was a lot of ground to cover when we sat him down with a hatful of your probing questions Biff was bristling with enthusiasm for the task – especially when we asked about tea… if you wear leather onstage it doesn’t last two minutes did the band ever come close to calling it quits We were very lucky – around 1990 we signed with Virgin in Germany We were in that no-man’s land between record deals after EMI and Virgin came to my house to offer us a deal Solid Ball Of Rock was our first album for Virgin We went through the 90s on the strength of that Our organisation was based out of Germany back then so we didn’t do a lot of touring in the UK so we went to where we were able to keep going.” Sign up below to get the latest from Metal Hammer “I don’t think there’s a single one – there were so many great riffs just in the 60s and 70s – but for metal I’d probably say Iron Man and sounds just as good today as it did originally Obviously Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love is a great one too… Ask me in an hour I’ll probably say something else!” What’s the worst gig you have ever played We were touring the US with [former Accept and current U.D.O and we got this gig offer in Temple – it was in a big barn made out of cardboard We asked if there’d been any advertising ‘We had a line-dancing concert a couple of weeks ago and we flyered everybody there.’ We were like ‘You do know we’re not a country and western band us and Udo just had a big jam onstage together Former TV/radio presenter Justin Lee Collins once said he would run into a burning building to save Saxon “Some of our songs have had some bad press but I don’t regret any - I probably regret who produced them With Sailing To America [in 1984] we got hammered by the British press about selling out It was misconstrued as us trying to break America but it was about the Pilgrim Fathers setting out on the Mayflower so it doesn’t have the power that it would if we recorded it today I’d have liked to have collaborated with Gary Moore I knew Gary quite well in his heavy rock and metal days so it would have been nice to write some riffs with him.” “We met them a few times when they first came onto the scene and in the 80s we were absolutely humongous in Sweden were really into Saxon – we were one of their favourite bands at that time Saxon bassist] is their big drinking buddy Amon Amarth vocalist] if he’d sing on the song Predator and Johan’s voice is not so brutal that you can’t hear what he’s singing which is always good for us older guys!” HAMMER: Who would win – Saxons or Vikings Obviously [a few weeks later] they lost to the Normans The video we did with them for Saxons And Vikings was a bit Stamford Bridgey ‘You do realise we won this battle?’ ‘Ja ja.’ ‘Well don’t forget mate and I won’t keep mentioning the war!’ So yeah How are you still making a killer album every two years “I think it’s just a matter of focus There’s a lot of time choosing riffs and working on stuff we’ll have 10 or 12 songs that will be good We know we’ve got to try and make it as good as Hell What’s your personal favourite Saxon album “I think Denim And Leather is my favourite from the 80s but it’s a song from the heart to our fans It gets thousands and thousands of streams in America - I don’t think half of them even know whose song it is I think [1991’s] Solid Ball Of Rock was a great album How do you make the perfect cup of tea?Dale Watts The secret used to be… when I was a lad it was all loose tea so it was a teaspoon for each person and one for the pot pour the boiling water straight onto the teabag not cups – and we don’t do the little finger in the air thing The colour of the tea is important; you can make it stronger or weaker if you put milk in last.” How did you feel about thrash – and the bands you inspired – in the 80s “I think ourselves and Motörhead helped start it with aggressive lyrics and a ‘Fuck ’em all’ attitude melodic plods that some of the bands were doing at that time I think that’s one of the reasons why Lemmy liked us and took us on tour in ’79 – we weren’t like the usual bands we were pushing the envelope a bit.” What’s your all-time favourite Lemmy memory and me and Lem spent a lot of time together talking about things – private things really that you wouldn’t mention to anyone else We were playing Newcastle’s City Hall there must have been 800 people outside the venue when we arrived He was getting off the bus and someone shouted Fire And Damnation is out now via Silver Lining Music "The universe is not fair like that." Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson tells new bands they'll get nowhere without self-belief “We did get very wild and crazy at points. I remember thinking, ‘Why aren’t we getting arrested?’”: The violent, bloody birth of the Bay Area thrash scene “Metallica were still a local band. It made no sense for me to say, ‘I’m out of here, I’m going to join them”: The man who was asked to replace James Hetfield as singer in Metallica – and turned it down In a new interview with Gustavo Maiato SAXON frontman Biff Byford was asked if guitarist Paul Quinn who announced two years ago that he was stepping back from touring with the band is still contributing to the songwriting process in SAXON or if Quinn's replacement Biff responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah He sent me an idea the other day for a song I reject a lot of ideas until people come up with the one that I love As a result of Quinn's decision to step back from touring with SAXON the band canceled its April 2023 South American tour as well as the appearance at the Monsters Of Rock cruise Quinn has since been replaced on the road by Tatler Brian has been touring with fellow guitarist Doug Scarratt bassist Tim "Nibbs" Carter and Byford since mid-2023 but continues to be a member of DIAMOND HEAD Byford and Quinn are the sole remaining original members in SAXON's current lineup SAXON has gone on to sell about 23 million albums and has produced such classic songs as "Denim And Leather" Two months ago, Byford was asked by FaceCulture about a possible follow-up to the band's 24th studio album which came out in January 2024 via Silver Lining Music The boys have sent me loads of ideas already So I'm just making a short list of what music we should use We'll probably start rehearsing the new album maybe June So we'll probably have a new album out in late 2026." which marked SAXON's first release with Tatler Biff said: "I think it's been a natural progression with our following and the fans with our music Brian coming into the band added a little bit of a different dynamic to the music writing has been voted 'Album Of The Year' on quite a lot of sites and things so obviously we struck a little bit of good scene with the album So hopefully the next one will be just as good Fire And Damnation" was produced by Andy Sneap (JUDAS PRIEST Sleepers from the old rail line through Byford are being given a second life Metronet has donated around 400 pre-used railway sleepers from the Byford Rail Extension project to Rail Heritage WA The sleepers were removed as part of the upgrade works and will be used to re-lay 300m of the ‘goods siding’ track in the Boyanup railway station yard – doubling its distance and doubling the vintage rail experience for visiting train enthusiasts The collaborative effort between the Byford Rail Extension Project team and Rail Heritage WA highlights the power of community and working collaboratively for a sustainable future “Our goal is to present WA’s railway heritage meaningfully to everybody and being able to ride behind a live steam locomotive in vintage railway carriages is about as hands-on an historical rail experience as you can get,” Rail Heritage WA Secretary Ian Studham said “With the donated sleepers we can expand our scope to do this at Boyanup and give our visitors a better experience.” the Byford Rail Extension Project will also reuse some sleepers within its own operations for the 8km rail alignment in line with the Metronet Sustainability Strategy and the goal of working towards a low waste circular economy Photo: Local riders are excited about the new bike pump track Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman with BMX riders Quade Chapman Harrison Grosveld and Hudson Grosveld at Briggs Park The financial assistance agreement for State Government funding for the first stage of the Keirnan Park Recreation Precinct was signed yesterday Common Ground Trails Pty Ltd was recently awarded the contract for works on the Byford Bike Pump Track at Briggs Park Originally earmarked for a nature splash park the $1.34 million in funding allocated as a 2021 election commitment was repurposed for the bike pump track project at the Shire's request in March this year The pump track will include jump lines plus shade shelters and seating with construction expected to begin in March 2025 The $18.5 million financial assistance agreement signed today for the first stage of the Keirnan Park Recreation Precinct was on top of $3.5 million already provided for planning and design The project on the 63-hectare site in Mundijong will include: Construction is expected to commence in March 2025 and be completed by December 2027 Visit the media hub to contact the media team Media hub The Government of Western Australia acknowledges the traditional custodians of this land We pay tribute and our respects to Elders past and present Learn about Aboriginal history Sign up for newsletters Help us improve our service or tell us what is working really well Leave your feedback