The Local Paper. Eastern Suburbs Edition. Wed., Mar. 4, 2026

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2026

FOWLES CALL FOR ROYAL COMMISSION

■ Ringwood MLA Will Fowles has called on Premier Jacinta Allan to initiate a Royal Commission to test corruption allegations surrounding the CFMEU.

“The action I seek is for the Government to establish a Royal Commission into allegations of systemic corruption on CFMEU-controlled worksites associated with Victoria’s Big Build,” Mr Fowles said.

“The recently released Watson Report details very serious allegations of criminal infiltration, coercion and misconduct within the Victorian construction sector. “That much is undisputed; the allegations are there. It outlines claims of outlaw motorcycle gangs exerting influence on major projects, enterprise bargaining processes being manipulated and labour hire arrangements being used to extract unlawful payments.

“It further documents allegations of ghost shifts, the sale of positions on worksites and intimidation of contractors.

“I do not know whether those allegations are true or not. We are not investigators in this place. But the only way to determine the truth of them, given the scale and the breadth and the seriousness of these allegations and given that the people making the allegations are credible actors, is to call a Royal Commission

“More than a hundred billion dollars of course was committed to the Big Build, and Victorians are entitled to confidence that this investment has not been distorted by criminality, extortion or systemic misconduct,” Mr Fowles said.

MP’S QUESTIONS ON FREEWAY RESERVE

BIODIVERSITY FOCUS

■ Glen Waverley MLA John Mullahy has asked questions in State Parliament about the Healesville Freeway Reserve.

“What progress has been made on the Ngarrak Nakorang Wilam Park project in the Glen Waverley district?

“Formerly known as the Healesville Freeway Reserve , this transformative project is creating a significant new green space linking Forest Hill, Vermont and Vermont South and connecting up with the Dandenong Creek Trail.

“Covering 35 hectares – around 18 MCGs – it represents a major investment in community wellbeing by the Allan Labor government

“With shareduse paths, play areas, barbecue facilities and picnic spaces, the park will provide families, walkers, cyclists and young people with a place to gather, exercise and reconnect with nature.

“It will also recognise Indigenous history and embed cultural significance within the landscape.

“Equally important is the focus on protecting and enhancing biodiversity, ensuring native flora and fauna can thrive for generations.

“This will be a lasting community asset for the Glen Waverley district, and I look forward to the minister’s response,” Mr Mullahy said.

Reserve upgrade at Rowville

● ● Liberty Ave Reserve, Rowville

■ Knox Council is starting construction works to revitalise the existing floodway and upgrade shared paths at Liberty Avenue Reserve, Rowville

This project is designed to support the environment, enhance stormwater management, and improve access and safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

A dry creek bed will be constructed in the floor of the existing floodway and act as a natural filter to improve water quality in the area. It will provide valuable habitat for fauna and flora.

The dry creek bed will adapt to varying rainfall levels. During heavy rainfall, the dry creek bed will become a stream. On dry days, the dry creek bed will remain dry.

Works include raised shared path crossings over the floodway and the reconstruction of sections of footpath to reduce frequent flooding.

During construction, sections of the site, including the shared path will be temporarily closed. Works will be planned to minimise disruption to visitors at the reserve. Shared path detour signs will be installed to inform alternate routes.

Construction is expected to be complete March-April, weather permitting.

Carjacking arrests

■ Two men have been arrested by police following an aggravated carjacking in Kew on Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 24).

The pair, who were seen loitering in Scott St in Kew , were arrested by police who swarmed the area about 8.50pm.

With assistance from the Dog Squad and Critical Incident Response Team, the men were arrested as they tried to flee through several rear yards and jumped from roof tops.

The arrests follow an aggravated carjacking in Wellington St about 4.30pm.

During the incident it is believed a man was sitting in his parked car, while waiting for school pick up, when a white ute or van pulled up behind him.

Two men got out of the vehicle before they demanded the man get out of his Mercedes and produced a knife.

The victim was able to get out of his car while the offenders, who were unsuccessful in attempting to start the car, fled the scene towards Scott St

The 48-year-old Richmond man was not physically injured.

Boroondara Crime Investigation

Unit detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and were to interview the two men, aged 40 and 33-years-old.

An alleged imitation firearm was also seized from one of the men during his arrest.

Blackmail case: Eltham man charged

■ Detectives from Taskforce Hawk have further charged a man as part of an investigation into blackmail.

A 32-year-old Eltham man was arrested in Heidelberg on Thursday afternoon (Feb. 26). He has since been charged with two counts of contravene conduct condition of bail.

The man was initially charged on February 12 with blackmail and fail to comply direction to assist (fail to provide pin code).

He was to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday afternoon.

3-YEAR DEAL FOR DONCARE

■ Doncare will continue to provide vital social support services to the community on behalf of Manningham Council after being awarded a new three-year contract.

The contract, which starts in July, will see the not-for-profit organisation funded to provide:

■ emergency relief and material aid including food relief

■ counselling

■ wellbeing programs.

Manningham Mayor, Cr Jim Grivas, said Council was pleased to continue its partnership with Doncare to support the local community.

“The health and wellbeing of our community, including mental health, are key priorities of our new Council Plan 20252029 ,” Cr Grivas said.

Trust

“That’s why we are committed to working with trusted partners like Doncare to provide compassionate, practical support when our residents need it most.”

Doncare Chief Executive Officer, Kylie Scoullar , said the organisation was proud to continue its partnership with Council .

“For more than 56 years, Doncare has been a trusted local organisation supporting the wellbeing of the Manningham community,” Ms Scoullar said.

“Our deep community knowledge positions us strongly to deliver the critical wellbeing and resilience programs people rely on.

“Time and again, residents tell us how much they value personal, skilled, wraparound support during some of life’s toughest moments.

“We are proud to continue our work with Council towards a safe, connected and inclusive Manningham ,” Ms Scoullar said.

Changes for Activity Centres

■ The State Government has commenced Phase 2 community consultation for Tranche 2 of the Train and Tram Zone Activity Centres Program, which includes the Blackburn, Nunawading and Mitcham activity centres.

Consultation period runs until Sunday, March 22.

The Department of Transport and Planning has advised that this phase focuses on draft maps and proposed planning controls for the activity centres.

Phase 2 will inform the community about the Activity Centres Program and seek feedback on the draft maps, including the proposed building heights, core and catchment boundaries.

As part of Phase 2 engagement, Whitehorse Council will actively promote the Activity Centres Program to ensure the community is well informed about proposed changes and has multiple opportunities to provide feedback, a Council representative said.

Blackburn

Draft maps include buildings of up to 16 storeys on some sites within the Blackburn Activity Centre core, which raises concerns about the scale and potential impact on the surrounding area.

Mitcham

n Mitcham activity Centre core (adjacent to Britannia Mall), the draft maps indicate potential development of up to 12 storeys, which needs further analysis of visual and shadow impacts on the surrounding area.

Nunawading

The draft maps include buildings of up to 12 storeys on some sites.

70 new homes on railway spur

■ Nightingale Housing will build 70 homes on the former Outer Circle rail spur in Alphington

Seven of the properties will be affordable homes for women and children.

Featuring a pocket park and a new pedestrian and cycling connection between Grange Rd, Hamilton St and Railway Place, families will be able to walk or cycle to local shops, transport, schools and work.

Expressions of Interest are currently open for more sites including Camberwell, Croydon South, Heidelberg West and Preston. Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts Harriet Shing said: “Millennials and young families deserve the choice to live in suburbs like Alphington that are well-connected to local shops, transport and services.”

'Djin Djin': The Art Behind the Costumes at Beleura House & Garden

KALKALLO

Pokemon cards, meth, cash seized

■ Major Drug Squad detectives have charged a man as part of an investigation into alleged drug trafficking between NSW and Victoria

Officers intercepted a vehicle, arresting the driver on the Hume Hwy in Kalkallo about 1.20pm on Tuesday (Feb. 24).

During a subsequent search of the vehicle, police allegedly located and seized approximately 43kg of methylamphetamine, valued at $2.5 million.

Officers executed a search warrant at the man’s St Albans residence, seizing approximately $50,000 cash, Pokémon and One Piece cards worth an estimated $100,000 and mobile phones.

The 26-year-old was charged with

• traffick/possess large commercial quantity of methylamphetamine

• traffick/possess commercial quantity of methylamphetamine

• traffick/possess methylamphetamine

• possess suspected proceeds of crime (x4)

He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.

Detective Inspector Jamie Walker, Major Drug Squad, said: “Illicit drugs destroy lives and communities. Drugs contribute to addiction, overdoses and even death and often bring weapons, organised crime networks and violence into neighbourhoods.

“By intercepting significant drug trafficking operations like this, we prevent the profits from these drugs from being invested back into the criminal activities of those involved.

“We have zero tolerance for drugs, and we will hold people who commit these offences to account,” Det. Insp. Walker said.

TAYLORS LAKES

House fire calls

■ Fire Recue Victoria responded to multiple calls to Triple Zero for a building fire in Taylors Lakes on Friday evening, February 20.

Firefighters arrived at the Australia Drive place at 7.30pm, within five minutes, to find a residential garage fully ablaze and spreading to the attached double-storey house.

FRV crews in breathing apparatus entered the burning home and located one resident. The elderly male occupant was brought to safety by firefighters suffering burns to his face.

Firefighters provided medical assistance to the patient until Ambulance arrived on scene. An elderly female was able to evacuate without injury.

Firefighters undertook an aggressive attack but were unable to stop the fire from fully engulfing the home.

The fire was declared under control at 7.52pm, 22 minutes after FRV arrived on scene. The house sustained significant damage.

GREATER GEELONG

Probe into assault

■ Geelong Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating after a man was assaulted in Geelong last year

It is understood the victim, a 26-year-old man, was walking along Moorabool St about 7pm on Saturday, December 13.

Officers believe an altercation between the victim and an unknown man occurred which lead to the victim hitting his head on the footpath.

The unknown man initially checked on the victim but fled towards Easten Beach when other passersby approached to assist.

The victim was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The wanted man is described as being Caucasian, in his mid-20’s, with black short hair and has distinctive leg tattoos.

He was seen wearing a black shirt, black shorts and black and white shoes.

ST KILDA DRUG TRAFFICKING: WEEKLY ARRESTS BY POLICE

■ Two members of an alleged sophisticated drug trafficking syndicate have been arrested, as data reveals more than one person is charged with drug trafficking in St Kilda each week.

Latest data by the Crime Statistics Agency reveals that in the two years to September 2025, 125 drug trafficking charges were laid - equating to more than one major player in the drug industry being charged each week.

The most recent of arrests came on Wednesday (Feb. 25), when detectives from the Prahran Divisional Response Unit took down an alleged syndicate operating out of a St Kilda barber shop.

The investigation spanning more than six months commenced after an anonymous tip-off via Crime Stoppers, alleging the barber was supplying his clients with cocaine.

A 35-year-old man was arrested at an apartment on St Kilda Rd, St Kilda, about 6am, before police raided his salon on Barkly St.

Inside the apartment, police seized quantities of cocaine and cannabis, as well as electronic devices.

He was charged with trafficking cocaine and possessing cocaine and cannabis. He was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on September 8.

The shop was one of four simultaneous search warrants in St Kilda, St Albans and Caroline Springs

A 54-year-old man was arrested in St Albans, where a cannabis crop house was also dismantled, with police seizing more than 100 plants of varying maturity.

He was charged with cultivating a commercial quantity of a narcotic plant. He was to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.

Police say they will remain dedicated to targeting drug offences throughout St Kilda, with proactive operations and community patrols to keep the community safe.

Prahran Divisional Response Unit Acting Detective Sergeant Ben Aldons said: “We know that residents, traders and visitors have concerns with drug use in St Kilda , whether that’s on the streets during the day or at nightspots during the evening.

“Victoria Police have their eyes on those peddling drugs - whether they are a large trafficker involved in a sophisticated network or a lower-level dealer on a street corner.

“This entire investigation was sparked by a tip-off through Crime Stoppers. The community is often our eyes and ears, and information such as this is invaluable to bringing down alleged drug syndicates.

“One drug trafficker per week is being charged in St Kilda. If that doesn’t serve as a sobering warning to anyone involved in drugs, I’m not sure what will,” Acting Det. Sgt Aldons said.

FOOTSCRAY

Threats to CFMEU boss

■ Detectives from Taskforce Hawk last week laid further charges as part of an investigation into allegedly threaten-

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ing and harassing emails sent to a CFMEU administrator last year.

A 61-year-old man from Footscray was arrested on Wednesday morning (Feb. 25).

He has since been charged with using a carriage service to harass and commit indictable offence whilst on bail.

The man has been charged and bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on June 3.

Investigators will allege the Footscray man sent the harassing message on December 25 to a staff member of the CFMEU Administration.

A 61-year-old Footscray man was initially arrested on November 12 and charged with seven counts of using a telecom communications device to menace harass and offend.

He was further charged on 5 December with two counts of using a telecom communications device to offend.

Operation Hawk was established in July 2024 to specifically target criminal behaviour linked to the construction industry and transitioned to Taskforce Hawk in June 2025.

This was in response to a number of fresh allegations of serious and violent criminal behaviour.

Taskforce Hawk is focused on assessing new intelligence and evidence relating to allegations of criminal behaviour linked to the construction industry.

It also continues to proactively target organised crime associated with the sector, including a focus on any individuals employed within the construction industry who have known links to outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Police are also instigating approaches with relevant industry stakeholders to gather intelligence, as well as working closely with a range of law enforcement partners, regulators and government authorities.

WEST Car thefts crackdown

■ Melton police have laid more than 100 charges over the course of four nights, with car thieves, hoons, and those carrying drugs and weapons in their sights.

Among the dozens arrested was a duo inside an allegedly stolen Nissan Patrol, which was carrying stolen copper and tools.

The driver allegedly set fire to the car before taking off on foot in a large farm property,

where he was found by police.

Operation Momentum –which is regularly run in Brimbank and Melton – sees dozens of police saturate these communities while the Air Wing monitors from the sky.

A key focus of the operation is around identifying stolen vehicles and dangerous driving in the western suburbs.

Brimbank ranks as the seventh highest area for car thefts in metropolitan Melbourne, with Melton twelfth highest. Due to this, police are continuing to run targeted operations in the area that put thieves on notice.

Between February 11-14, Operation Momentum led to the arrest of 19 people for over 100 offences and the recovery of four stolen cars.

More than 860 cars were checked by police throughout the operation and over 230 people were spoken to across the four nights.

In addition to enforcement, there is also a large amount of information gleaned from these operations that assist in building intelligence around networked offending and those conducting criminal activity overnight, particularly in stolen cars.

Those arrested during the operation include:

■ Two people who were arrested after an extended follow through Melbourne’s western suburbs, including paddocks and farms, on Saturday, February 14 .

■ Police attempted to intercept an alleged stolen Toyota Corolla when it evaded police on the Western Fwy at about 1.15am on Sunday, February 15. The car was followed by the Air Wing to Ballarat Rd, when stop sticks were deployed and the car came to a stop. The female driver, a 36-year-old from Bundoora, was arrested and charged with theft of motor vehicle and evade police.

■ A 29-year-old Melton South man was arrested after police attempted to intercept a motorcycle displaying stolen registration plates in Melton at about 1.55am on Friday, February 13.

The motorcycle allegedly evaded police, and was observed by the Air Wing travelling at excessive speeds up to 200-km/h on the Western Freeway. The motorcycle came to a stop on Old Geelong Rd in Hoppers Crossing where units moved in and arrested the rider. He was subsequently charged with theft of motor vehicle, evade police, excessive speeding and dangerous driving.

Operation Momentum will continue to be rolled out in the area on a regular basis.

Statewide

KEW Carjacking pair

■ Boroondara Crime Investigation Unit

detectives have charged two men following an alleged aggravated carjacking in Kew on Tuesday afternoon (feb. 24).

A 40-year-old Aspendale man was charged with carjacking, possess imitation firearm.

A 33-year-old Dandenong man was charged with carjacking, theft and possess drug of dependence.

The charges follow an alleged incident where a man was sitting in his parked Mercedes on Wellington Rd when a white vehicle pulled up behind him about 4.30pm.

Two men allegedly got out of the vehicle and demanded the man get out of his Mercedes, before producing a knife.

The victim, a 48-year-old Richmond man, managed to get out of his car and was not physically injured.

The two men were unsuccessful in starting the Mercedes and fled towards Scott St. They were later seen loitering in Scott St. With assistance from the Dog Squad and Critical Incident Response Team, police swarmed the area and arrested the men about 8.50pm.

An alleged imitation firearm was seized from one of the men during his arrest.

The pair were to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.

LAVERTON NORTH

Driver injured

■ Brimbank Highway Patrol are appealing for witness and dashcam vision after a motorist was left fighting for life following a collision in Laverton North Police have been told the motorist was one of four drivers who had slowed their vehicles to a stop, in heavy traffic on Boundary Rd, when they were struck from behind by a truck about 2.10pm.

The white Mitsubishi truck, which was travelling westbound approaching Mount Derrimut Rd, is alleged to have failed to slow along with all other traffic.

A 53-year-old man from Truganina, one of the drivers from the four damaged cars, was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

A 26-year-old man from Tarneit, who was the driver of the truck, was interviewed by police and charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury, reckless conduct endanger serious injury, unlicensed driving and drug driving. He was remanded in custody to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court Police are appealing for witnesses and any motorists with dashcam vision, who may have seen the white Mitsubishi truck prior to the collision, to come forward.

BORONIA

Sparks cause blaze

■ Fire Rescue Victoria responded at 12.09pm on Monday (Feb. 23)to an incident at Stewart St, Boronia, after a fire indicator panel was activated.

Firefighters arrived on scene within five minutes to find a thick smoke issuing from the wing of an aged care facility that was under construction.

Alongside Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria paramedics, firefighters worked to safely evacuate the residents within the facility who were in an adjacent wing. The workers had self-evacuated.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the room of origin; however smoke had spread throughout the facility and the effective operation of the sprinkler system had caused subsequent water damage.

The incident was deemed ‘Under Control’ at 12.19pm with crews remaining on scene to ensure the safety of the premises.

The fire was caused by welding sparks igniting insulation.

CORIO

Teens arrested

■ Two teenagers have been arrested following a fire in Corio. Emergency services were called to the scene on Bacchus Marsh Rd after flames were seen coming from a bedroom of a residence around 11.30pm Tuesday (Feb. 24).

The pair, aged 14 and 15-years-old from the Greater Geelong area, were found nearby and arrested. The girls have both been charged with criminal damage by fire (arson), recklessly cause injury and unlawful assault.

Local News

Horsham pursuit

■ Horsham Highway Patrol officers have charged a man with several traffic offences after he allegedly evaded police in Horsham.

It is alleged officers observed a grey BMW sedan travelling at 80-kmh in a 40-kmh speed zone on Stawell Rd just before 6.30pm on Saturday, February 21.

Police intercepted the vehicle on McPherson St and spoke with the driver, who allegedly refused to undertake a breath test before speeding off from officers.

The vehicle was followed through several streets, allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road and reaching speeds of up to 170kmh on the Western Hwy before the pursuit was terminated.

Police shared intelligence with their interstate counterparts in South Australia who later intercepted the vehicle about 7.30pm.

The driver returned a positive preliminary breath test before being subjected to an evidentiary breath test, where he returned an alleged reading of 0.056.

The alleged driver, a 29-year-old Werribee man, presented to a police station where he was interviewed by investigators.

He has been charged with a dozen offences including reckless conduct endangering serious injury, drive manner dangerous whilst pursued by police, refusing a preliminary breath test, excessive speed (x2) and other traffic offences.

The man was bailed to appear before Horsham Magistrates’ Court on April 13.

Autumn fire risk

■ After a dry and hotter than usual summer, most of Victoria will face an increased risk of fire over the coming months, according to the Australian Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for Autumn.

A lack of significant rainfall, extreme heat and high fuel loads were a major contributor to the bushfires across large parts o f Victoria during January and this elevated risk is set to continue well into autumn.

The outlook for autumn is again drier than normal, with forecast warmer than average maximum daytime and overnight temperatures.

These warmer, drier conditions may further increase fuel availability across already parched grasslands, forests, woodlands and heathlands – making it easier for fires to start and spread.

A normal bushfire risk this autumn is only forecast for East Gippsland and the Mallee. East Gippsland , including Bairnsdale and Orbost , has had consistent rain in spring and summer and the Mallee , around Mildura and Kerang, has reduced fuel loads. However, even in areas with normal bushfire potential, fast running fires are possible on dry and windy days in areas with dry or cured vegetation.

The extreme conditions may delay planned burning in much of the state, but it may also increase opportunities to target areas not typically available for planned burning during April and May.

Emergency services will continue to monitor conditions to identify key risk areas leading into the autumn period. Victoria remains well prepared for the potential of fires, with aircraft positioned across the state to support dedicated volunteer and career firefighters on the ground.

The Australian Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for Autumn is developed by the National Council for Fire and Emergency Services in Australia and New Zealand and supported by the Bureau of Meteorology along with state and territory fire and land managers.

WEDNESDAY,MARCH4,2026

US NATIONAL CHARGED WITH IMPORTING DRUG INTO MELBOURNE

● ● Evidence discovered by the Australian Federal Police.

■ A United States national has appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court after allegedly attempting to import 3kg of ketamine into Australia , hidden in personal products.

The man, 40, arrived at Melbourne Airport on Friday, February 20, on an international flight.

Australian Border Force officers intercepted the man, and during a baggage examination, detected personal products which allegedly contained a paste-like substance.

ABF presumptive testing allegedly returned a positive result for ketamine, with an estimated weight of 3kg, and referred the matter to the AFP.

The AFP charged the man with:

■ One count of importing a commercial

quantity of a border-controlled drug, namely ketamine); and

■ One count of possessing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, namely ketamine.

The maximum penalty for each offence is life imprisonment.

The man appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, February 21. He will next appear in the same court on May 20.

AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Trevor Russell said the AFP was committed to ensuring Australia remained a hostile environment for anyone who attempted to traffic harmful substances into the country. “Ketamine is a dangerous sedative that directly and indirectly causes immense pain and suffering in the community.”

Police Beat Money laundering at Mildura

■ Detectives from the Criminal Proceeds Squad have arrested four foreign nationals and seized bank accounts worth over $3.3M as part of an investigation into a sophisticated money laundering operation in Mildura

The investigation into the Malaysian organised crime syndicate commenced in October last year following key financial intelligence identified by AUSTRAC and a subsequent referral from the Labour Hire Authority

Investigators worked collaboratively with the Authority, AUSTRAC and various financial institutions within the Fintel Alliance Detectives have identified those involved were using ATMs in the Mildura CBD to launder the proceeds of crime in and out of the Australian banking system.

Over the course of two days, search warrants were executed in Mildura at five residential addresses and one restaurant.

On Monday last week (Feb. 23), a 30year-old Malaysian national was arrested at an ATM on the corner of Deakin Avenue and Eighth St in Mildura.

An estimated $50,000 in cash and various bank cards were seized from a bag in his possession.

The man was interviewed in relation to the Commonwealth offence of deal proceeds of crime.

He was then detained by Australian Border Force officers from the Department of Home Affairs for being an unlawful non-citizen.

On Tuesday (Feb. 24), two Malaysian nationals, a 31-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman, and a 29-year-old female from Taiwan were arrested and interviewed in relation to the Commonwealth offence of deal proceeds of crime and possess illicit tobacco. All four are expected to be charged on summons.

A further two males present at one of the search warrant addresses in Mildura were also identified to be unlawful non-citizens and were detained by ABF officers from the Department of Home Affairs

In total, investigators seized:

■ An ANZ bank account containing $2.5M,

■ A NAB bank account containing $895,000,

■ Approximately $100,000 in cash

■ Two sim boxes,

■ Over 50 mobile phones,

■ Four luxury watches valued at over $150,000,

■ Over 100 various bank cards,

■ Various documents linking to accounts used to launder money,

■ Western Union transfer documentation,

■ Over 155,800 illicit cigarettes, and

■ Multiple sim cards and electrical devices. Investigators will also allege two people not connected to the syndicate had unknowingly been listed as directors of a number of suspicious businesses, as well as two bank accounts which contained the $3.3M.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Detective Inspector Jennifer Locke, Criminal Proceeds Squad, said: “Criminal syndicates use money laundering to legitimise their profits and exploit legitimate businesses, harming communities and economies.

“This criminal activity is not only bankrolling high-flying lifestyles, but it also funds serious and organised crime, enabling everything from drug trafficking and exploitation to fraud and high harm violence.

“These seizures send a strong message to those who seek to engage in criminal money laundering: this act is illegal and unacceptable and while you may think you can wash away the evidence, that is simply not the case.”

ADELAIDE

Abusive emails to MP

■ A South Australia n man was expected to appear before Adelaide Magistrates’ Court last Friday (Feb. 27) for allegedly sending multiple menacing and offensive emails to a federal parliamentarian.

AFP investigators charged the Elizabeth South man, 73, following an investigation into a series of emails sent to the parliamentarian between May 2023 and December 2025.

AFP investigators traced the source of the alleged offensive emails and executed search warrants at an Elizabeth South property on January 9, where several electronic devices were seized for forensic examination.

The man was charged with one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.

The man was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Adelaide Magistrates’ Court last Friday (Feb. 27).

AFP Detective acting Superintendent Simon Lalic said the AFP took seriously all reports relating to the safety and security of Australian parliamentarians.

“The AFP supports freedom of speech and political expression, but does not tolerate criminal behaviour, including threats and harassment,” Det a/Supt Lalic said.

“The AFP uses a range of tools including world-leading technology and intelligence techniques to identify individuals who break the law by harassing, menacing or threatening Commonwealth officials.”

In November last year, an Adelaide man was charged by the AFP following an unrelated investigation into a series of harassing emails sent to Commonwealth employees. That matter remains before the courts.

Adelaide Sun

PREPARING FOR TERRORIST ACT: AFP

■ A Bindoon man faced Perth Magistrates Court last Friday (feb. 27)charged by the Western Australia Joint Counter Terrorism Team with act in preparation for or planning a terrorist act.

The man, 20, was arrested after the WA Police Force’s State Security Investigation Group executed a search warrant at a Bindoon home as part of an investigation into alleged antisemitic, Islamophobic and racially-motivated online hate speech.

During the search, investigators seized documentation for analysis and assessment by the WA JCTT – comprising the WA Police Force, AFP and ASIO

It is alleged the man had written a manifesto-style document outlining plans for a nationalist and racist ideologically-motivated act of violent extremism involving mass casualties.

It is further alleged the man detailed intentions to attack mosques in WA, as well as WA Police Headquarters and WA Parliament House

The man was charged by the WA JCTT with:

■ Act in preparation for or planning a terrorist act,

■ Using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence,

■ Carry or possess prohibited weapon,

■ Fail to store a firearm or related thing in compliant storage.

Police also located and seized a butterfly knife, ammunition for a firearm to which he was not licenced, and more than 1000 rounds of ammunition which had not been stored securely.

The man was formally refused bail at court and is next due to appear at Perth Magistrates’ Court on March 23.

Under the Commonwealth Criminal Code, the following must be met for engaging in an act of preparation or planning for a terrorist act.

The person does any act in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist act, even if a terrorist act does not occur; or

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the person’s act is not done in preparation for, or planning, a specific terrorist act; or the person’s act is done in preparation for, or planning, more than one terrorist act.

Investigations by the WA JCTT into this matter are ongoing.

Perth Observer

DARWIN

Officer served

■ A member of the Northern Territory Police Force was served a Notice to Appear in relation to fraud offences allegedly committed in the Northern Territory.

The 31-year-old female Police Auxiliary is scheduled to appear in Darwin Local Court on August 24 on the charge of obtain financial advantage by deception

The member is currently on suspension with pay.

Darwin Observer

CANBERRA

Strangling charge

■ A 33-year-old man was to face court after allegedly assaulting and strangling his partner at her home overnight.

The man allegedly threw a chair at his partner and strangled her while at her home in Canberra’s south. A short time later, he allegedly struck her in the face and strangled her again.

Police were called to the scene and spoke to the woman before locating the man nearby.

The man, who was subject to good behaviour obligations, was arrested and charged with two counts of chokes/suffocates/strangles another person and two counts of aggravated assault. He was to face the ACT Magistrates’ Court last friday (Feb. 27).

Canberra Observer

SYDNEY

Offensive emails

■ A Wollstonecraft man has been charged with allegedly sending multiple offensive emails to a federal parliamentarian’s electorate office.

Investigations began in January, after the AFP received a report regarding four emails sent to the parliamentarian’s electorate office.

National Security Investigations officers allegedly linked the man, 67, to the offensive emails.

Police executed a search warrant in Wollstonecraft on February 24, and seized a mobile phone and a USB.

The man was charged with one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.

The offence carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.

He was granted police bail and is scheduled to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on March 26.

Sydney Mail

PERTH

Extreme videos

■ A New Zealand national who allegedly had videos on his phone of multiple overseas terrorist incidents was expected to appear in Perth Magistrates Court charged with possessing violent extremist material.

Perth Observer

Across Australia

CAIRNS

17 years jail for child abuse material

■ A Cairns man was sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment by the Cairns Supreme Court for seven child abuse-related offences, including being an active participant in a chat group dedicated to sharing child abuse material. He was ordered to serve eight years in custody before being eligible for parole.

The Manoora man, 30, who has been in custody since August 2022, pleaded guilty to seven offences:

■ One count of the aggravated offence of conduct;

■ One count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material;

■ One count of using a carriage service to cause child abuse material to be transmitted to himself;

■ Two counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed by using a carriage service; and

■ Two counts of transmitting child abuse material using a carriage service.

AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said the AFP and its law enforcement partners continued to work tirelessly to prosecute criminals responsible for harming children.

“Every image, every video is of a real child being abused and subjected to an abhorrent situation that no child should ever have to face,” Det Supt Telfer said.

“Children are not commodities to be used for the gratification of sexual predators.

“This outcome should serve as a strong warning to those seeking to exploit and harm children - the AFP and our law enforcement partners will stop at nothing to detect you.”

Brisbane Sun

BONDI

Stabbing arrests

■ Two teenage boys have been arrested after a stabbing in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

About 9.15pm, emergency services were called to Glasgow Avenue, Bondi Beach, following reports of a stabbing.

Officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command attended and found a 54-year-old man with a stab wound his upper body.

Police were told the man had an altercation with two unknown boys, before the man was stabbed with a machete.

He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to St Vincent Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

A crime scene was established and investigations commenced.

Following inquiries, two boys – aged 15 and 17 – were arrested at Beach Rd, before being taken to Surry Hills Police Station where police were continuing their inquiries.

Investigations are continuing.

Sydney Mail

EAST DEVONPORT

Cars damaged

■ Two 14-year-old youths have been charged in relation to an incident at East Devonport where extensive damage was caused to multiple vehicles.

Police will allege the youths entered a shipping yard overnight February 2627and unlawfully damaged the vehicles.

The youths – a boy and a girl – have each been charged with several offences including burglary, motor vehicle stealing, trespass, and destroy property. They were both to appear before the Youth Justice Court Tasmanian Observer DARWIN

Grooming offences

■ A Northern Territory man was scheduled to appear in Darwin Local Court charged with allegedly possessing online child abuse material and grooming offences. A Northern Territory Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (NT JACET) investigation began in November last year.

Darwin Observer

Obs and Revs

Microwaved roads

■ Monash engineers have published new findings on a faster, more reliable way to dry road-base materials. The work could help reduce construction delays caused by weather and site conditions.

The team, led by Professor Jayantha Kodikara from the Monash Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , tested a hybrid drying approach combining microwave energy with hot airflow to dry compacted unbound granular materials - widely used to form the base layers of roads.

“This work has real potential to reduce costly delays on construction sites. It shows we can take much of the guesswork out of drying road base materials.

“By combining microwave energy with controlled hot airflow, we’re able to dry the surface layer more quickly and consistently than relying on sunshine alone,” Professor Kodikara said.

Quite appealing

● ● Alissa, Penny Fowler, Oliver and Rebecca Cowan

■ Our friends at the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal have introduced two special children as the faces for the fundraiser.

Six-year-old Oliver and three-year-old Alissa remind us why this renowned fundraiser matters.

Their stories were unveiled at ehe Royal Children’s Hospital on Thursday February 19 as part of the Good Friday Appeal Launch

Good Friday Appeal Chairman P enny Fowler said: “We are thrilled to announce Oliver amd Alissa as the faces of the 95th Good Friday Appeal. They both show remarkable courage, determination and resilience through their health journeys and why the Good Friday Appeal is so important.”

My Fair Lady

■ My Fair Lady will be the first major musical to perform at Arts Centre Melbourne’s refurbished Ian Potter State Theatre when its season opens in November.

My Fair Lady remains one of the world’s most enduring and loved musical treasures, with this re-creation based on the 2016 Australian production which was directed by Julie Andrews

“Presenting this special anniversary production of My Fair Lady alongside Opera Australia give me immense pride, and I’m delighted that such an iconic performance, featuring one of the world’s greatest scores, will be the first musical to return to the rejuvenated and beloved Ian Potter State Theatre in Melbourne ,” said producer John Frost.

Fort Queenscliff

■ Senator Sarah Henderson , together with community members organised a community protest against the Federal Government’s proposed fire sale of Fort Queenscliff.

the protest was held last Sunday (Mar. 1) aqt the fort.

“This shows contempt for our region, our heritage and our defence capability,” said Senator Henderson.

The protest was to by the local mayor before attendees marched to the Fort gate and form a human barricade, making it clear the Fort must remain in Commonwealth hands.

LONG WEEK IN POLITICS FOR SONYA KILKENNY

■ The Spring St politicians are back in town, and this week could be a long one for Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny.

Ms Kilkenny has confirmed that she ‘misspoke’ when she have an assurance to State Parliament that he referred allegations of CFMEU misconduct to Victoria Police . "I raised those matters and those concerns immediately with the agency and the authority responsible for delivering that project, and those matters were referred to Victoria Police ,” Ms Kilkenny told Parliament.

Victoria Police last week contradicted the Attorney-General , saying: "'We have made some inquiries and cannot locate any referrals based on the information provided."

Afterwards, the Ms Kilkenny claimed that she "misspoke", "conflated timelines" and had never referred the matter to Victoria Police Liberal attack dog James Newbury said: “It appears that all she did at the time allegations were raised with her, was tell a government relations adviser from the Major Transport Infrastructure Authority who was onsite when the labour hire firm reported the misconduct to her. No referral. No follow up.”

Newbury , who is the Shadow Attorney-General, said, "The Premier needs to explain why her hand-picked chief law officer has failed to meet the Premier's own requirement that all allegations of misconduct must be referred to Victoria Police.

"By confirming that Police were not advised the Attorney has admitted that she has misled Parliament , which is a very serious admission,” Mr Newbury said.

“Given that admission, the Attorney must make a personal explanation to the Chamber or risk being found in contempt of the Parliament.

"The Attorney's failure proves that allegations of misconduct being put to Labor were not being reported to Victoria Police . The only way we will clean up the worst

corruption scandal in our State's history is to conduct a Royal Commission, which is exactly what the Liberals and Nationals will do," Mr Newbury said.

Vale

Lorraine

●

Lorraine Bayly

■ One of Australia’s favourite TV daughters, Lorraine Bayly, died at the weekend, at age 89. Craig Bennett, a friend of the Melbourne Observer, said: “Sad to say we’ve lost another showbiz legend, a bonafide star of stage and screen, a

“In 1966 she became an original presenter on Play School, and then came an avalanche of stage and screen roles, from Grace in The Sullivans to Jennifer in Carson’s Law, a role Hector Crawford crafted for Lorraine

“She worked with Kirk Douglas in The Man From Snowy River and Edward Woodward on stage.

“Little known fact: she hosted her own morning TV show, Clean As You Slim with Lorraine!

“Her big love was the stage, where she starred in over 50 plays and musicals.

“Lorraine turned 89 last month. She loved spending time with Brad, Janelle and their kids Laura and Patrick on their macadamia farm at Maclean Ridge

“Every decade Lorraine would learn something new, from playing tennis to the saxophone, to ballroom dancing.

“Vale to a most kind, remarkable and beautiful person.

“After years of grueling health issues, she’s now free and off onto her next wild adventure. Big block of chocolate in hand! LB was a self confessed chocoholic!”

ANZAC badge

triple Logie winning TV treasure and beautiful friend to many.

“ Lorraine Bayly AM passed away earlier this morning (Sat., Feb. 28) at a care home in Sydney

“Her much loved nephew Brad Connelly and his wife Janelle called with the news, and asked me, as a close friend, to make the announcement on behalf of the family, and to post some beautiful words.

“Lorraine had enjoyed a stellar 62 year career on stage and screen, until her retirement 10 years ago.

“She told me as a kid growing up in Narrandera , she’d sing and dance around, draped in the curtains.

“She trained at Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre in the 50s, played piano on radio, and made her TV debut on The Bobby Limb Show in 1962.

Short Shots

No re-offending

■ Young people are getting a confronting look at the consequences of violent crime.

The Prevent Alcohol and Risk Related Trauma in Youth Intervention Program is the only program of its kind in Australia dedicated to young people.

Delivered by the Royal Melbourne Hospital with Youth Junction and the Magistrates’ Court , the program gives 16 to 25-year-olds a first-hand look at the hospital’s trauma ward and intensive care unit.

They see first-hand the consequences of their actions from victims of road trauma.

Magistrates can refer young offenders to the program before sentencing and the results of the program speak for themselves.

Ninety per cent of participants do not reoffend

Bus to Avalon Airport

■ Access to Avalon Airport is set to improve with a new bus service beginning on Sunday, March 15.

The new Route 18 between Lara Station and Avalon Airport will connect workers and passengers directly to the Geelong Line

This new timetable has been designed to align with staff shift times - ensuring it serves the needs of passengers and also airport workers.

This will be the first ever public bus connection to Avalon Airport – a major step forward for workers, travellers and the region’s growing economy.

Barassi Way

■ AFL great Ron Barassi has been memorialised at Melbourne’s home of football.

Brunton Avenue , a key entry point to the MCG , will be renamed Barassi Way. Barassi Way runs from Jolimont St to Punt Rd – alongside the iconic sporting precinct where Ron Barassi played 115 of his 254 VFL games for Melbourne and Carlton

He coached across four clubs amassing more than 500 games, including four premierships.

Inducted to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1987, Barassi was elevated to Legend status in 2006.

Barassi was one of the 12 inaugural Legends of the Game inductees of the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996.

■ To mark the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Australian Army, the Returned & Services League of Australia (Victorian Branch) has released a limited edition commemorative badge featuring the image of a contemporary Australian soldier.

“The 125th anniversary of the Army is an important moment to reflect on its history, but also to remember those currently serving in its ranks,” RSL Victoria State President Dr Mark Schröffel said.

“Which is why we have chosen the image of a contemporary soldier for this commemorative badge.”

The badge will be sold across Victoria as part of the 2026 ANZAC Appeal , with all proceeds going towards the diverse range of services the RSL provides to assist veterans and their families.

He was named Melburnian of the Year in 2006 and Victorian of the Year in 2009. Crews worked to change road signage o display Barassi Way, just in time for Opening Round.

AFL opening round

Thursday, March 5

Sydney Swans vs. Carlton (SCG) (N)

Friday, March 6

Gold Coast Suns vs. Geelong Cats (PFS) (N)

Saturday, March 7

GWS Giants vs. Hawthorn (ES) (T)

Brisbane Lions vs. Western Bulldogs(G) (N)

Sunday, March 8

St Kilda vs. Collingwood (MCG) (N)

Carrier pilot

■ A trial program that strategically located bulk water carriers across Victoria will be extended with the fire risk set to continue into the Autumn. Launched in October, the program saw 19 mobile bulk water carriers, each with the capacity to hold more than 20,000 litres, strategically placed across Victoria to enable access to most fires within 60 minutes drive time.

The program, funded by the State Government , was set up to strengthen firefighting operations during the 202526 fire season after a seasonally high fire risk was predicted in August 2025. Country Fire Authority Deputy Chief Officer Garry Cook aid the program had a been a huge success saving firefighters time and getting their tankers reloaded with water and back on the fireground faster: “We knew leading into the fire season that there was going to be a shortage of groundwater, particularly through the west and the north.”

ARIES (March 21 – April 20)

Lucky Colour: Orange

Lucky Day: Wednesday Racing Numbers: 2-9-1-7

Lotto Numbers: 2-11-12-23-27-31

This is a period of opportunity, particularly for those prepared to act decisively. A practical and forward-thinking approach will serve you better than wishful thinking. Educational or work-related prospects may offer financial benefits. Stay alert and ready to move when an opportunity arises.

TAURUS (April 21 – May 20)

Lucky Colour: Brown

Lucky Day: Friday Racing Numbers: 3-2-7-6

Lotto Numbers: 3-12-13-28-36-42

Exercise caution in conversations and written agreements. Thoughtless words or rushed decisions may create complications. It is also a time to reclaim what is owed to you, financially or otherwise. Do not feel obligated to carry the burdens of others.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Lucky Colour: Pink

Lucky Day: Monday Racing Numbers: 1-6-2-7

Lotto Numbers: 1-10-29-34-39-42

Fresh ideas are replacing outdated plans.

Embrace innovation and avoid remaining on the sidelines. Your adaptability and creativity are strong assets now, particularly in professional matters. Positive adjustments will lead to long-term improvement.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

Lucky Colour: Purple

Lucky Day: Tuesday Racing Numbers: 2-7-5-9

Lotto Numbers: 2-19-20-35-39-44

Past matters may require attention before you can move forward comfortably. Transparency and honesty are essential, especially in legal or financial situations. Avoid unnecessary risk and take a measured approach to sensitive issues.

LEO (July 23 – August 22)

Lucky Colour: Yellow

Lucky Day: Wednesday Racing Numbers: 1-10-3-5

Lotto Numbers: 1-10-19-28-35-44

Financial pressure may temporarily affect your mood or confidence. Rather than placing blame, review your spending habits and make necessary adjustments. Practical action will restore balance and improve your outlook.

VIRGO (August 23 – September 23)

Lucky Colour: Blue

Lucky Day: Friday Racing Numbers: 3-5-7-9

Lotto Numbers: 3-12-30-33-41-43

Unexpected interruptions may test your patience. Clear communication and firm boundaries will prevent misunderstandings. Maintain your calm approach and avoid reacting impulsively.

LIBRA (September 24 – October 23)

Lucky Colour: Blue

Lucky Day: Tuesday Racing Numbers: 3-2-2-7

Lotto Numbers: 3-22-29-34-39-43

Important decisions require independent thinking; it will be your strongest guide. Avoid relying on unreliable advice. A short break or change of environment may provide the clarity you need.

SCORPIO (October 24 – November 22)

Lucky Colour: Orange

Lucky Day: Thursday Racing Numbers: 3-6-6-8

Lotto Numbers: 3-30-33-38-42-45

Financial matters require careful management. An unexpected expense can test your resilience, but a proactive, practical mindset can help restore stability. Consider alternative income options if necessary.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 – December 20)

Lucky Colour: Brown

Lucky Day: Monday Racing Numbers: 5-9-8-8

Lotto Numbers: 5-14-15-27-31-38

Domestic pressures may feel challenging. Compromise and calm discussion will lead to better outcomes than stubbornness. Keep a clear perspective and focus on long-term solutions.

CAPRICORN (December 21 – January 19)

Lucky Colour: Red

Lucky Day: Thursday Racing Numbers: 3-4-7-8

Lotto Numbers: 3-12-13-20-35-42

Let go of past disappointments and refocus on personal well-being. You have invested significant energy in others. It is time to prioritise your own needs and plans.

AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 19)

Lucky Colour: Green

Lucky Day: Tuesday Racing Numbers: 3-7-9-9

Lotto Numbers: 3-12-14-17-27-30

Confidence and charm work strongly in your favour. Professional recognition is possible if you remain focused and organised. This is a constructive time for long-term planning.

PISCES (February 20 – March 20)

Lucky Colour: Rose

Lucky Day: Friday

Racing Numbers: 1-6-5-3

Lotto Numbers: 6-17-19-37-42-44

A long-standing disagreement may now be resolved. Forgiveness and understanding will create space for renewal. Exercise caution with spending and avoid emotional financial decisions.

FIRE DESTROYS TOBACCO STORE

■ Shepparton Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating following a tobacco store fire in Mooroopna on Thursday morning (Feb. 26).

Police have been told a motorist was headed into Mooroopna when they noticed smoke coming from a store on McLennan St about 3am.

A man was also seen running from the area before he jumped into a small red hatch and sped from the scene.

The tobacco store which was engulfed in flames was destroyed.

Detectives are investigating if the blaze is linked to another tobacco store fire, in the same strip of shops on February 3.

An arson chemist and detectives were to attend the scene.

St Albans garage fire

■ Fire Rescue Victoria responded to an incident on Clarice Close, St Albans , at 1.50pm on Saturday (Feb. 28) after several callers to Triple Zero (000) reported a house fire.

Crews arrived on scene within 6 minutes to find smoke and flames issuing from a garage at the rear of a property, so the response was escalated. There was a total of 25 firefighters on site.

FRV crews donned breathing apparatus and began attacking the fire as well as preventing any further fire spread to the house.

All occupants have safely evacuated and will be assessed by Ambulance Victoria.

The fire was deemed under control by 2.15pm.

There werre five pumpers, one aerial unit, one rescue unit, and two other units.

The cause of the fire is not yet known but was to be investigated by FRV specialists.

Air Wing tracks car

■ Bendigo police have arrested two men after the Air Wing tracked a stolen vehicle though multiple suburbs of greater Bendigo on Wednesday night (Feb. 25).

The vehicle was first spotted in York St by divisional van members on patrol, about 7.45pm.

When members went to intercept the allegedly stolen black 2022 Toyota Corolla the driver sped off and failed to stop for police.

The Air Wing , who was out and about in Bendigo overnight, assisted members from above and tracked the vehicle as it travelled through Kennington, Whitehills, Epsom, Eaglehawk and Long Gully

Meanwhile local units coordinated a response on the ground and moved in when one of the occupants was dropped off in Daniel St, Long Gully.

The 22-year-old, who was

seen going into a home in Albert St , was taken into custody after officers cordoned off the area.

The vehicle, which was allegedly stolen from Castlemaine on February 18, was found dumped in York St shortly after.

A 45-year-old man, who is believed to have dumped the vehicle, was arrested by members nearby.

The Inglewood man has been charged with theft of motor vehicle, handle stolen goods, fix stolen registration plate on vehicle, drive whilst disqualified, dangerous driving whilst pursued by police, drive in a manner dangerous, drive in a speed dangerous, exceeding the speed limit and drug driving.

The younger man from Bendigo , has been charged with theft of motor vehicle, drive whilst disqualified, dangerous driving whilst pursued by police, fail to stop on police direction, drive at a speed dangerous, disobey traffic control signal, reckless conduct endangering life, reckless conduct serious injury and handle stolen goods.

Both men were remanded in custody to appear before Bendigo Magistrates’ Court.

Drug ring busted

■ Victoria Police has dismantled an alleged meth trafficking syndicate in Shepparton , as wastewater figures show regional Victoria remains among the hardest hit areas by the drug nationally.

Shepparton Crime Investigation Unit detectives arrested 12 people on Friday (Feb. 27) and charged six with drug trafficking or cultivation as part of a major investigation.

The warrants also led to the seizure of over 300 grams of methylamphetamine, with an estimated street value in excess of $60,000, as well as quantities of GHB, cocaine, and cannabis.

A machete, knuckledusters, and ammunition were also recovered, as were an allegedly stolen Landcruiser and motorbike.

It will be alleged the syndicate was purchasing methylamphetamine from Melbourne and selling it across the Shepparton and Mooroopna areas.

These arrests are a continuation of Victoria Police’s intensive focus on

Years Ago

dismantling drug trafficking networks in regional communities such as Shepparton

In Shepparton alone, local detectives have arrested and charged almost one drug trafficker each week over the course of a year.

Almost 40 per cent of these offenders were trafficking methylamphetamine, while local police also detected another 160 people in possession of the drug over the same period.

The six people charged with drug trafficking or cultivation following this investigation include:

A 27-year-old Shepparton woman charged with trafficking methylamphetamine, GHB and cannabis who was bailed to appear at Shepparton Magistrates Court on August 31.

A 28-year-old Shepparton man charged with trafficking methylamphetamine, cocaine, GHB and cannabis who was bailed to appear at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on August 31.

A 36-year-old Seymour male charged with trafficking cannabis who was bailed to appear at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on August 31.

A 40-year-old Shepparton man charged with trafficking methylamphetamine cannabis who was bailed to appear at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on September 7.

A 42-year-old Shepparton man charged with trafficking methylamphetamine and possession of prohibited weapons who was bailed to appear at Shepparton Magistrates Court on September 7.

A 35-year-old Mooroopna man charged cultivating cannabis who was bailed to appear at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on July 31.

Five other people were charged with a range of offences including drug and prohibited weapon possession, while the last individual was interviewed for trafficking methylamphetamine and cocaine, before being released pending further enquiries.

Detective Acting Sergeant Lance Wiltshire, Shepparton Divisional Response Unit, said: “Methylamphetamine is a truly insidious substance that wreaks havoc in regional communities.

“ Shepparton is not immune, with drugged up drivers, home break ins to feed addiction, family violence, and unsettling antisocial behaviour all undesirable flow on impacts from meth use.”

The Argus. March 3, 1951.

Security Council

■ A National Security Council of State Premiers presided over by Mr. Menzies, Prime Minister, will guide Australia's new three-year-plan for war preparedness.

In Canberra today the Premiers backed to the hilt the Federal Government's proposal to put Australia on a semi-war footing as quickly as possible.

They listened grave-faced and in silence while Mr. Menzies warned them: "Australia might have less than three years in which to prepare for war.”

Bonus to workers

■ P. J. Firth and Co. Ltd., Redfern, cardboard box makers, today paid £10,000 in bonuses to its 244 employees, some of whom received £,80.

Last beach weekend

■ This weekend may be one of the last.this season for beach enthusiasts. After cloud this morning there should be sun this afternoon and tomorrow, with temperatures warm and rising.

The Weather Bureau forecasts unsettled weather again early next week.

A bureau official said last night: "Southerlies will blow tomorrow and Sunday, but they should not make it too cold for beach-lovers."

Mildura, Victoria's hottest spot yesterday, had a temperature of 85 degrees. Melbourne's maximum of 72 was 2.6 degrees below normal.

On behalf of father

■ Coinciding with an official statement today that Princess Margaret will bear the burde n of the arduous Royal tour of Australia and New Zealand next year, it was announced in London that the King is confined to his room at Buckingham Palace with feverish chill.

On his doctor's advice the King has postponed a visit he was to have made to Lancashire next week

Princess Margaret is reported to be anxious personally to avoid any unnecessary exertion for her father and probably she will be the only member of the Royal family to visit many country centres. '

The King will confine his public appearances to capital cities, and even then the public ceremonies will be kept as short as possible.

Action on Canterbury Stn

■ Hawthorn MLA John Pesutto has called on Gabrielle Williams, Minister for Public and Active Transport, to join him for an inspection of Canterbury Railway Station.

Mr Pesutto says the visit is required “so that together we can assess a number of maintenance and accessibility concerns that have been raised by local residents”.

Mr Pesutto said that in particular Wendy Wilkinson, a champion for the local area, recognised that Canterbury Station is a vital transport node in the electorate.

“It serves commuters, school students, older residents and families every single day.

“It is also architecturally something of a modernist incarnation within our rail network, a station that reflected the design ambition of its era and the civic importance once attached to public transport infrastructure. It deserves to be properly maintained.

“In recent days my office has received correspondence from residents concerned about the condition of the track adjacent to platform 1, including timber sleepers that are conspicuously aged and a rail joint beyond the city end of the platform that clearly warrants attention.

“Moreover, there are longstanding accessibility challenges at the station.

“Canterbury station remains difficult to use for many elderly residents and people with disability.

Editor: Ash Long

Features Editor: Peter Mac

Columnists: Len Baker, Rod Basto, Matt Bissett-Johnson, Rob Foenander, Peter Kemp, Aaron Rourke, Cheryl Threadgold, Julie Houghton, Kevin Trask

Honorary Reviewers: Juliet Charles, Sherryn Danaher, Linda Hartley, Lyn Hurst, Kathryn Keeble, Beth Klein, Graeme McCoubrie, David McLean, Maggie Morrison, Peter Murphy, Lucy Nicolson, Jill Page, Elizabeth Semmel

Logistics: Tim Granvillani, Erica Koldinsky, Tyler Sandiford

“The ramp access is steep. There is no lift, something I began campaigning for more than 10 years ago.

“For some passengers the gap between the train and the platform can be difficult to negotiate, particularly for those with mobility aids or for parents managing prams.

“In a community with a significant ageing population these are not minor inconveniences.

“They affect independence, safety and confidence in using public transport.

“In addition, sections of the platform surface are cracked, with uneven bitumen.

“While this may seem minor in isolation, for someone unsteady on their feet, uneven surfaces present real health risks.

“I campaigned on this issue four years ago, and while some work was done at the time, the repairs have not been maintained.

“I therefore ask the minister to attend Canterbury Station with me for this purpose: inspecting the tracks’ condition, the platform surfaces and accessibility arrangements firsthand.

“Together we can outline what steps can be taken to ensure the station is safe, accessible and properly maintained.

“Our community values this station not only as infrastructure but as part of our local identity and midcentury heritage. It is reasonable to expect that it can be maintained to a standard befitting its heritage character,” Mr Pesutto said.

Urinetown

● ● ● ● Lucy Rosenblum, Darin Aquila, Mackinnley Bowden, Tara Cunneen and Percy Su in Urinetown: the Musical. Photo: Josh Yu.

■ BottledSnail Productions Inc presents the satire Urinetown: The Musical at Gasworks Arts Park, Albert Park, from March 19–28.

Urinetown: The Musical is a wickedly funny and sharply insightful musical satire that skewers everything from corporate greed and municipal politics to populism, bureaucracy, social inequality and even musical theatre itself.

Set in a Gotham-like dystopia, a crippling 20-year drought has led to a government ban on private toilets, forcing citizens to queue for the privilege to pee and pay for access to public amenities controlled by a single malevolent corporation.

Amid this struggle, a reluctant hero rises to challenge the system, sparking a riotous revolution that proves both hilarious and unexpectedly heart-felt.

BottledSnail Productions exists to provide members of Melbourne's legal profession an outlet to prioritise positive mental health while working within a highly stressful environment.

This production features a cast and team of creatives, 70 per cent of whom work in the legal profession.

Urinetown: the Musical is directed by David Miles, with musical direction by Charlotte Black, choreographer is LenaJean Lamshed, set designer is Robbie Carmellotti, and costumes are designed by Clare Hampson Performance Season: March 19 - 28

Venue: Gasworks Arts Park, Albert Park Bookings: gasworks.org.au/whats-on/ urinetown-the-musical/ Cheryl Threadgold

My Brilliant Career

■ Congratulations to My Brilliant Career for being awarded the $120,000 David Williamson Prize for Excellence in Writing for Australian Theatre at the 2026 Australian Writers’ Guild AWGIE Awards – the richest annual playwriting prize in the country.

Writers Sheridan Harbridge, Dean Bryant and Mathew Frank also received the AWGIE Award for best script in Music Theatre, securing a double win on the night: The production returned to Melbourne in January, after receiving five Green Room Awards including Outstanding Production during its premiere season – standing shoulder-to-shoulder with major commercial musicals.

“This is an extraordinary acknowledgement of Sheridan, Dean and Mathew’s work, and a powerful endorsement of new Australian musical theatre.

“Audiences have embraced this story and Sybylla wholeheartedly and this award recognises the place of MyBrilliantCareer in the national canon,” said Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of Melbourne Theatre Company, AnneLouise Sarks.

Directed by Anne-Louise Sarks, My Brilliant Career brings Miles Franklin’s unapologetically ambitious heroine, Sybylla Melvyn, vividly to life on stage – inspiring audiences night after night and drawing visitors from around the country.

MyBrilliantCareerwill tour across Eastern Australia at the end of its Melbourne run, with seasons in Canberra, Sydney and Wollongong Cheryl Threadgold

THE SHOW THAT SAVED J.C. WILLIAMSON’S

■ It was the production which saved the gigantic theatre company J.C. Williamson Theatres f rom bankruptcy.

● Isla (Tait) Baring, founder of the Tait Memorial Trust in memory of her father, Sir Frank Tait, with theatre historian Kevin Coxhead. tremely impressive archive collection and an exhibition space which features an assortment of guest theatre displays.

In the middle of the great depression of the 1890s and a terrible drought, people weren't going to the theatre and Williamson's was in desperate trouble.

Asking if his company would be willing to sacrifice one-third of their weekly wages to help stage the show which, hopefully, would save them all, Williamson was overwhelmed with the support received from his players, creatives, stage crew and fellow managers.

The result was the most expensive and lavish production ever seen by Australian audiences. Djin-Djin,TheJapaneseBogieMan

So popular was the production, hundreds of people were turned away at each performance with the ‘House Full’ sign out front of any theatre where it played.

Williamson had his top team working on it. Leon Caron wrote the music and Bert Royle the lyrics, the top scenic designers in the country took care of the incredibly lavish and expensive scenery, George Gordon, Phil Goatcher and Walter Spong

The costumes were designed, also at great expense, by Geelong born artist Will R. Barnes.

Why has the name Djin-Djin become completely unknown? The show toured Australia and New Zealand a number of times over a 10-year period and when it travelled to South Africa , the theatre in which it was playing burnt to the ground taking the scenery, the costumes and music with it.

Being far too expensive to reproduce, the show gradually drifted out of memory. Until now.

Wife of J. C. Williamson's famed General Manager Sir Frank Tait, Lady Viola Tait's enormous collection of theatre designs, photographs, documents and treasures is legendary.

And part of that collection was 24 original watercolour costume designs for DjinDjin. She desperately wanted to display them in an exhibition as part of the 1996 Melbourne Spoleto Festival, but unable to secure the funds she required to make this a reality, the plans were shelved and the idea became nothing more than a dream.

Jump forward 30 years exactly and a discussion between Sir Frank and Lady Viola's daughter Isla with theatre historian and costume restorer, Kevin Coxhead , about the designs which were now in her possession,

What’s On Hamlet

■ The National Theatre’s film of their stage production of Hamletbears the marks of performers well versed in the delivery of Shakespeare’s lines.

What is interesting is Robert Hastie’s directorial decisions to change the order of some of the scenes and place some of the well known soliloquies in different places. It makes for intriguing questions as to how the Bard might have altered the play’s sequence and omitted lines to suit a venue or occasion.

Hastie has also toyed with theatrical convention when it comes to acknowledging the fourth wall and how it can be transcended. There are also some quirky moments that seem almost too contemporary. Hamlet shoots Polonius with fingers shaped like a gun.

The setting (Ben Stones) is well managed, being the ballroom of a palace which can be altered to suit the moment; tables for a wedding feast, chairs to create seating for the play within a play.

Jessica Hung Han Yun’s lighting, especially with the hand held torches in the opening scene, is suitably atmospheric.

The greatest challenge, of course, is playing Hamlet. There is a treasury of expectations and a panoply of past performers who have all put their mark on the role. Hiran Abeysekera has to negotiate that as well as the emotional gymnastics of Hamlet’s mind; feigned madness, depression, manipulative plotting and paranoia both real and imagined.

What one finds with the role is that there is always more to be done.

This production moves with reasonable pace and is consistently rendered but the effect might have been different in a theatre as opposed to a cinema. There are moments when Hamlet leaves the stage the effect of which doesn’t translate to the screen.

But take it ‘as you like it’, there’s something for everyone.

● ● Private individuals can advertise items for sale in the Melbourne Observer, with no advertising charges. www.AdvertiseFree.com.au

Kevin suggested donating them to the historic mansion Beleura in Mornington. Once owned by J.C. Williamson Managing Director Sir George Tallis, Beleura hosts weekly house and garden tours, has an ex-

Kevin felt it was the perfect place for the treasured 1895 watercolour designs to reside and the perfect place to mount an exhibition bringing Lady Tait's dream to fruition at last.

One year later, almost to the day, the Djin-Djin original 1895 costume design exhibition opened at Beleura as part of its House and Garden Tours.

Kevin has also recreated three of the designs, exclusively for the exhibition, to give visitors an idea of how the extraordinary costumes might have looked on the stage.

The exhibition launch was a great success, with guests including Sir Frank and Lady Viola Tait's daughters who flew in from England specially for the event, Isla, Ann and Sally, opera singer Ali McGregor and Victorian Opera's director Stuart Maunder.

The exhibition will run until the end of May, Enquiries and bookings can be made for the House and Garden Tours which include the exhibition, morning tea and lunch, by visiting www.beleura.org.au

Split Second

■ Two new short films premiered this week as part of the TAC's Split Second Competition, using bold storytelling and creative perspectives to encourage young Victorians to think twice about risky driving behaviours.

In its seventh year, the annual competition invites aspiring filmmakers and content creators aged 18 to 30 to submit attention grabbing road safety concepts aimed at young drivers, a group that continues to be overrepresented in road trauma.

The 2026 Split Second winners, Stacey Park and Shane Senanayake, who both have Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, were selected for their innovative and impactful approaches to addressing key road safety risks, including low level speeding and seatbelt use.

Stacey’s film, Keep the Tempo, uses the precision and rhythm of Korean drumming as a powerful metaphor for road safety, creatively illustrating how even a slight increase in speed can have significant consequences.

Shane’s film, Unusual Behaviours, uses humour and unexpected comparison, likening not wearing a seatbelt to growing up in a town where no one wears pants to challenge flawed logic and reinforce that seatbelts are not optional.

Contributed

Confirmed Cinemas: Cinema Nova (Carlton), Classic Cinemas (Elsternwick), Lido Cinemas (Hawthorn) and Sun Theatre (Yarraville)

Review by David McLean

Little Absences

■ Established cross-disciplinary creative Grazia Marin presents her latest stage play Little Absences from March 18-21 at The Loft, Chapel off Chapel Directed by Elnaz Sheshgelani , the story tells of Chris, a keenly intelligent and witty woman in the later years of her life, who is obstinately still living at home, despite the concerns of her daughter, Jenny. But Jenny sees her elderly mother’s vulnerability and addiction – the battle she is not sure Chris is winning.

An exploration of an all-too-common story, the play asks: what do we do, as a society and individually, when our elders become too fragile to look after themselves?

In addition to aiming to create a platform upon which to demonstrate the skills and talents of women artists, especially older women, Grazia Marin also wrote this play to shine a light on the struggles of The Sandwich Generation

Many women, Marin herself included, have experienced, or are currently experiencing, trying to juggle looking after their children, their employment and their aging parents: sandwiched between generations and the needs of others.

“The story line spotlights the character of the elderly, dementing mother who is a repressed poet and an alcoholic. Through the vehicle of her character and her deterioration, the realities of the stresses her daughter faces are highlighted,” said Marin . This play marks the triumphant return of playwright Grazia Marin (Why Can’t Women Be Like Men?, Waiting for Ice Cream). With a cast led by Janet Watson Kruse and supported by Veronicka Devlin and Piera Dennerstein, Little Absences aims to give voice to those who are all too often invisible: our female elders who have only just begun to live, and their caring children.

Dates: March 18-21. Times: Daily 7:30pm and Saturday 2pm. Venue: The Loft at Chapel Off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel St, Prahran. Tickets: $25-$50. Bookings: https://chapeloffchapel.com. au/show/little-absences

Cheryl Threadgold

Observations

■ Can you imagine a world without William Shakespeare?

That’s the starting point of Gordon Thompson’s novel Kill Will: Nightbird in Sunlight

We meet a teenage Will Shakespeare, who wishes on seven mystical stones, and falls through a time portal from 1580 Stratford into present day London

Seven physical manifestations of the women he has yet to create strangely come with him. So future Shakespearean heroines Juliet, Cleopatra, Viola, Ophelia, Miranda, Lady Macbeth and Cordelia join forces to find Will, recover the stones of power, and return to their proper times and places.

But it’s not a straightforward task, as their mission is complicated by government agents, Druids, border security, and the descendants of Morgana LaFay, all with their own agendas.

Pursued by shadow creatures and helped by new friends in a modern world that has never heard of Shakespeare, the women must find their strengths, overcome their differences and survive before someone kills Will and changes the world irrevocably.

This time-travelling mystery could be described as BacktotheFuturemeets Romeo and Juliet, and the fertile literary brain of author Gordon Thompson is given full rein in Kill Will

Gordon is a writer, musician, artist and publisher and the author of two previous books, Scheherazadeand TheAmberNecklace Kill Will: Nightbird in Sunlight is published by clandestinepress.net

Julie Houghton

Eighteen Lives

■ Do Theatre presents EighteenLivesfrom March 25-April 4 at The Explosives Factory Theatre, St Kilda.

Directed by Fini Liu, this show is described as a 'darkly funny, poetic comedy about the people we keep meeting again and again, across centuries, across lifetimes.' Three friends fall out, only to discover that their conflict began in a past life. They travel back through six eras of Chinese history, from modern China to ancient dynasties. Across 18 lives, they keep meeting again and again, as friends, lovers, family, rivals, and strangers.

This is a fast-paced stage comedy that turns 5000 years of Chinese history into one absurd adventure.

Performance Details:

Dates: March 25-March 27 at 7.30pm; March 28 at 2.30pm/7.30pm; April 1-3 at 7.30pm; April 4 at 2.30pm/7.30pm

Performed in Mandarin with English open captions (81 mins, no interval)

Venue: The Explosives Factory, Theatre Works, 67 Inkerman St, St Kilda. Bookings: theatreworks.org.au/2026/eighteen-lives

Cheryl Threadgold

Weekly digital issues

■ The Melbourne Observer has fresh digital issues weekly, February- December. Subscribe, free, at: www.FreePaper.com.au

Mel McGlensey is Normal

■ Melbourne -based comedian Mel McGlensey presents Mel McGlensey is Normalin the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival from March 26-April 19 in the Jade Room at the Chinese Museum

This time, Mel is letting her audience choose what happens in this collaborative clown experience plumbing the depths of normaldom.

The show is co-created by game designer and academic Douglas Wilson , who has worked on award-winning videogames like Sportsfriends and Mutazione

To manage the audio and visual elements of the show, a custom application programmed on the game engine Unity, by Douglas will be used, who will also be operating it live during each show.

Performance Details: March 26 - April 19

Venue: The Jade Room, Chinese Museum Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au

Cheryl Threadgold

Garage Sale

● ● Alanah Parkin

■ Alanah Parkin presents her 2026 MICF show Alanah Parkin's Garage Sale from March 30-April 5 at The Motley Bauhaus, Carlton

Directed by award-winning Isaac Haigh, Garage Sale follows the journey of Greg and Denise – a Narre Warren South couple nervously preparing for their big move to the retirement village up the road.

Parkin will blend comedy with improv. and song, dance and audience immersion to tell the tale of the couple's love, longing, regret and the bittersweet sorrow of leaving their youth behind.

Performance Details: March 30 - April 5

Venue: The Motley Bauhaus, 118 Elgin St., Carlton.

Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au/browseshows/alanah-parkin-s-garage- sale/ ?return=%2Fbrowse-shows%2F

Cheryl Threadgold

Pokelesque

■ Pokelesque was a bold and bawdy hybrid of a show, strikingly imaginative in the way it brought together the worlds of Pokemon, drag and burlesque. It pulled this off, mostly, with style and aplomb but was not without its glitches.

The narrative was quite simple: a young woman wants to become the very best Pokemon trainer ever but faces fierce competition from her rival, a young nerdish boy. The two of them travel through the Pokemon world battling it out.

Written by Rosie Roulette, the script was a classic example of a show of two halves. The first half introduced the narrative, key characters and successfully introduced the shows commedia dell’arte style, mixing elements from the Pokemon universe with bawdy burlesque and ribald drag routines.

More Auditions

■ Peridot Theatre Company: Admissions (by Joshua Harmon) March 16, 18 at 7pm at Monash Theatrical Rehearsal & Resource Centre (formerly Fleigner Hall), Cnr. Highland and Turnbull Aves., Oakleigh East. Director: Alison Knight. Audition enquiries: alisonperidot@gmail.com or 0437 380 533 Cheryl Threadgold

However after a brief interval the show struggled to pick up the verve and energy of the first half.

Too much talk and exposition meant the humour became labored and it wasn’t until half way through the second half that the show found its mojo again.

A large cast of 14 was made up of actors playing the half-a-dozen central characters supported by a brilliant array of burlesque and drag performers in roles as Pokémon characters.

Performances were uneven across the night though as some actors/performers fitted brilliantly into the commedia dell’arte style while others seemed much less at home and played to the audience too much.

In part, the responsibility for this lay with Roulette as they not only wrote the show but also directed and produced it.

They did a great job of generating and shaping an anarchic energy with great flair but this very same energy sometimes worked against the show as performers couldn’t be heard or seemed lost in the frenzy.

A mix of miked and unmiked voices didn’t help. What did help though were beautifully designed and made masks and glitzy costumes.

Overall, Pokelesque was a rollercoaster of a show that gave its audience highs and lows, from wonderful soaring arias and hilarious camp humour to some quite ordinary stilted theatre.

What shone clearly through it all though was how Roulette is a talent to watch out for.

Theatre Works, 14 Acland St, St Kilda Review by Peter Murphy

Lighting The Dark

■ Monash Performing Arts Centres (MPAC) present Lighting the Dark, directed by Chris Dyke, on Friday, March 27 at 7.30pm at the Alexander Theatre, Monash University, Clayton.

Commissioned by dance company Dancenorth Australia, LightingtheDarkis the first mainstage dance work in Australia – and potentially the world – to be directed by an artist living with Down syndrome.

With the Dancenorth ensemble by his side, Dyke will transform the stage into a portal where love and light illuminate the darkness, and a reminder for audiences of the complexity of life’s challenges and the beauty found in resilience.

Inspired by Banksy, David Bowie and Freddie Mercury, Chris finds kinship in their revolutionary spirit, each serving as a reflection of his own vision. Lighting the Dark is a profound celebration of the human experience – a transcendent journey that traverses individual and universal truths in a dance to the very centre of what it means to be human. Dyke’s long-time collaborator and Dancenorth’s Co-Artistic Director Kyle Page said it’s been a joy for Dancenorth’s Ensemble and creative team to work alongside Chris to bring his vision to life. “Chris is such a creative force, and he has brought an incredible clarity and instinct to what he wanted to achieve with his first full-length, ensemble piece.”.

Performance Date: March 27 at 7.30pm

Venue: Alexander Theatre: The Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts, 48 Exhibition Walk, Clayton. Tickets: monash.edu/mpac Cheryl Threadgold

Shows

■ Eltham Little Theatre: Bondi Legal (by Tony Laumberg) Until March 7 at the Eltham Performing Arts Centre, 1603 Main Rd., Eltham. Director: Susan Rundle. Bookings: elthamlittletheatre.org.au

■ The Mount Players: The Cemetery Club (by Ivan Menchell) Until March 8 at The Mountview Theatre, 56 Smith St., Macedon. Director: George Benca. Bookings: themountplayers.com

■ Mordialloc Theatre Company: The Great Divide (by David Williamson) Until March 7 at the Shirley Burke Theatre, 64 Parkers Rd., Parkdale. Director: Damien Jones. Bookings: mordialloctheatre.com.au

■ Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria (GSOV) The Arcadians (by Gilbert and Sullivan) March 7, 8, 9 at 2pm, outdoors at The Knowe, 4 Clarkmont Rd., Sassafras. Tickets: trybooking .com/ DEGSY Also, indoors on March 13, 14 at 8pm and March 14 and 15 at 2pm at The Round - Studio, 379-399 Whitehorse Rd., Nunawading. Director: Robert Ray. Tickets theround.com.au/ TheArcadiansGSOV

■ Phoenix Theatre Company: One More Time, Until March 7 at the Doncaster Playhouse. Bookings: phoenixtheatrecompany. org/

■ Beaumaris Theatre: Chalkface (by Angela Betzian) March 6 – 21 at Beaumaris Theatre, 82 Wells Rd., Beaumaris. Director: Samantha Stone. Bookings: www.trybooking.com/DHUKF

■ Warrandyte Theatre Company: The Vagina Monologues by V. (Eve Ensler), March 13 – 28 at the Mechanics Hall, 80 Yarra Street, Warrandyte. Director: Caroline Shaw. Bookings: trybooking.com/DGYKH Nova Music Theatre: The Sound of Music, March 20 – 29 at The Round, Nunawading. Bookings: novamusictheatre.com.au/

■ Torquay Theatre Troupe: The Gift (by Joanna Murray-Smith) March 19 – 28 at the Shoestring Playhouse @ The MAC, 77 Beach Road, Torquay. Director: Natasha Boyd. Bookings: Trybooking.com.au

■ Essendon Theatre Company: The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (by Jim Cartwright) March 19 – 28 at the Bradshaw St. Community Hall, 9 Bradshaw St., Essendon. Director: Alexander Gibbs. Bookings: 0406448368 or Trybooking.com.au

■ Burwood Student Theatre Company: Macbeth (by William Shakespeare) April 9 – 11 at Vermont Secondary College, 27-63 Morack Rd., Vermont. Director: Matthew Carcassi. Bookings: burwoodstudent theatrecompany@gmail.com

■ Windmill Theatre Company: Frozen Jr April 6 – 19 at the Cranbourne Community Theare, Brunt St., Cranbourne. Bookings: Trybooking.

■ The 1812 Theatre: Summer of the Aliens (by Louis Nowra) April 9 – May 2 at The 1812 Theatre, Rose St., Upper Ferntree Gully. Director: Liam Mitchinson. Bookings: 1812theatre.com.au or 9758 3964.

■ Frankston Theatre Group: The Cherry Orchard (by Anton Chekhov) April 10 – 19 at Frankston High School Theatre, 97 Foot St., Frankston. Director: Tim Gilmour. Bookings: Trybooking.

■ Ballarat National Theatre:The Dog Logs (by C.J. Johnson) April 10 – 19 at the Ballarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117 Sturt St., Ballarat. Director: Gin O’Brien. Bookings: bnt.org.au Cheryl Threadgold

Auditions

■ Brighton Theatre Company: The Trouble with Harry (by Lachlan Philpott) March 8 at 2pm, March 9 at 7pm at Bayside Arts and Cultural Centre, Cnr Wilson and Carpenter Sts., Brighton. Director: Dexter Bourke. Audition bookings: Dexter Bourke 0411 287 043.

■ The Basin Theatre Group: 84 Charing Cross Road (by James Roose-Evans) March 14, 15 at 2pm, March 19 at 7.30pm at The Basin Theatre, Doongalla Rd., The Basin. Director: Di Hoskins. Audition bookings: 0430 495 105 or email events@ thebasintheatre.au

■ Strathmore Theatrical Arts Group: Kimberly Akimbo (by David Lindsay Abaire) March 14 at 1.00pm, March 17 at 7pm at the Strathmore Community Theatre, Loeman St., Strathmore. Director: Drew Mason. Audition bookings: drew.mason@optusnet.com.au or 9382 6284

■ Mordialloc Theatre Company: The Truth (by Florian Zeller) March 15 at 2pm, March 16 at 7pm at Unit 8/417-419 Warrigal Rd, Cheltenham. Director: George Werther. Audition enquiries: werther110@gmail.com Cheryl Threadgold

Opera For All Concert

■ BMW and Opera Australia announce the return of Opera For All to Fed Square, Melbourne, on Saturday, March 14 from 6.30pm to 8 pm for a fourth consecutive year. This global initiative brings world-class opera to the public free of charge in cities including Munich, Berlin and London , in collaboration with leading local opera organisations around the world.

The 2026 performance will feature an all-new line-up of four acclaimed opera singers performing some of the most celebrated arias in the repertoire.

The evening will be hosted by Greta Bradman , awardwinning soprano, writer and ABC broadcaster, who will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Adding to the occasion, First Nations opera singer ShauntaiAbdul-Rahman will perform a special Welcome to Country.

BMW Opera for All will offer a spectacular evening of open-air music in the heart of Melbourne

Renowned conductor Brian Castles-Onion will return to lead the performance, with the Australian Girls Choir opening the evening with a 20-minute prelude.

As the sun sets over Fed Square , four of Australia’s leading opera singers, supported by 20 musicians from Orchestra Victoria , will present a repertoire of operatic favourites. BMW Opera for All is part of BMW’s global commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility, supporting arts and culture at both international and local levels.

Opera Australia CEO Alex Budd said: “We’re delighted to partner with BMW to present an evening of opera that’s accessible to all –whether it’s an audience member experiencing their first or their 50th aria.

“As we celebrate 70 years in 2026, our job is the same - to make vibrant, relevant and artistically ambitious work, nurturing the artists who embody our creative spirit, and to welcome audiences to join us to experience this beloved artform at its very best.”

Event Details: Saturday, March 14, 6.30pm to 8pm

Venue: Fed Square, Cnr Flinders and Swanston Sts., Melbourne

Running Time: 1 Hour, 30 Minutes.

Admittance: Free Cheryl Threadgold

La Mama:

Te Maunga

■ La Mama Theatre presents Antipodes Theatre Company's production of Back to Te Maunga from March 4 - 22 at La Mama Courthouse, Carlton.

Written by Joel Te Teira and directed by Keegan

●

Bragg , the story tells of Tane and Isaac returning to a cabin from their youth on the anniversary of their best friend's passing. They plan to drink, sing and reminisce. But with the Maunga looming over their heads and hearts, can the two men finally confront the truth?

Described as a 'riveting, original Maori drama', the play tests the friendships of men and the relationship one has with their own history.

Performed by Joe DekkersReihana and Jordan Selwyn Performance Season: March 4 - 22

Venue: La Mama Courthouse

Duration: 70 Minutes

Bookings and Further Details: lamama.com.au

Cheryl Threadgold

Skank Sinatra

■ Skank Sinatra : The Name On Everybody’s Lips is a fun, entertaining, musical cabaret written/performed by the very talented Jens Radda

In nine inch heels with large, blonde, very well fitted hair, colourful costumes, live music, story telling, ‘Skank’ captured everyone in the audience, gaining a lot of laughs.

This show is cleverly directed by Carly Fisher with Skank utilising every part of the theatre.

With pre-recorded advice from ‘ Liza Minnelli ’ during costume changes this also applies to backstage leaving never a dull moment.

Skank made a striking entrance - she is larger than life with interesting stories punctuated with parodies of songs from Evita to The sound of Music - there was plenty of variety, plenty of opportunities for Radda to shine.

The singing was not flawless. Some songs suited Radda’s voice better than others, but all were with gusto, passion, humour to keep our interest, not to mention the fascination with seeing ‘her’ move around effortlessly amongst the audience in stilettos.

The audience interaction worked well, everyone took it in good spirit – Skank was very likable. So too was Sarah Nandagopan on keyboard. Her smile was captivating as she allowed Skank to use her in the comedy. She seemed genuinely happy to be there. It may have added to the overall look to see Nandagopan in costume rather than black, she looked like backstage crew- this did work for the comedic entrance. yet it would have added something to see her in costume also- though perhaps not as flamboyant.

For an entertaining, musical hour of cabaret this ‘highcamp’, high hair, high heels musical ‘razzle dazzle’ is a go to. Well done on a Melbourne debut. skank-sinatra.com

Reviewed by Elizabeth Semmel

● A man died following a two-vehicle collision near Horsham on Saturday morning (Feb. 28). A vehicle rearended a utility while travelling through roadworks on the Western Hwy at Vectis about 10.20am. The male driver of the first vehicle, who was the sole occupant, died at the scene. The male driver of the ute, also the only occupant, was taken to hospital for observation.

Ovation tour

■ Four of Australia's leading musical theatre and opera stars unite for the first time in Ovation - a concert featuring timeless classics from shows such as The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Cats, Mamma Mia and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, as well as operatic masterpieces including La bohème and more.

Together, these musical theatre stars represent decades of combined experience and now they come together for a showcase of their exceptional talent.

The show's touring destination in Victoria includes a performance on Sunday, March 8 at 1 pm at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne , and other dates in regional and suburban venues.

Marina Prior is known as Australia's leading lady of musical theatre and has starred in over 40 musicals including her portrayal of Christine Daaé in the original Australian production of The Phantom of the Opera, and Les Misérables, Cats,The Pirates of Penzance, Anything Goes, West Side Story, The Sound of Music, Hello Dolly, Dream Lover, 9 to 5 The Musical and, more recently, Follies and Kimberly Akimbo

David Hobson , regarded as one of Australia’s most distinguished tenors, starred in Baz Luhrmann’s landmark staging of La Bohème and has performed key roles in Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte, Orpheus and Eurydice and The Barber of Seville. David’s musical theatre credits include ChittyChittyBangBang,Follies and Funny Girl.

Silvie Paladino is renowned for her powerhouse performances, with standout roles in Les Misérables (both Australian and West End productions), Miss Saigon, The King and I, Mamma Mia, Chess and Sunset Boulevard. Silvie has graced stages alongside Australia’s leading orchestras and toured internationally.

Michael Cormick is an internationally acclaimed baritone whose commanding voice has made him a standout in Australia , the UK and Europe . His Australian credits include Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Cats, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Grease, The Rocky Horror Show, Mamma Mia, Annie, The Pirates of Penzance and The Phantom of the Opera. Michael’s international experience spans lead roles in Chess, Evita, The Woman in White and Sunset Boulevard He has also performed in prestigious Royal Command Performances.

Accompanied by piano and a string quartet, these four stars will blend their voices in a concert of musical theatre and opera classics.

Sylvie Paladino says: 'Performing in Melbourne is so special as I’m a Melbourne girl. I wouldn’t live anywhere else. Hamer Hall is such a beautiful space, wonderful acoustics. I’ve performed there so many times, it feels like home when I’m there.'

Victorian Performance Details: Sun. Mar. 8. Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne 1pm Sat. Jun. 6 . Gippsland Arts Centre, Traralgon 3pm Sun. Jun. 7. Frankston Arts Centre 1pm For tickets visit: ovation.net.au

The Voice Of Hind Rajab

■ (M). 85 minutes. Opens in selected cinemas March 5.

The latest film from director Kaouther Ben Hania (Beauty And The Dogs, The Man Who Sold His Skin, Four Daughters) is a compelling, cleverly structured drama/thriller that combines traditional cinema with real life recordings, resulting in a truly devastating viewing experience.

Set solely at a Palestinian Red Crescent emergency call centre on January 29, 2024, we see the effect a call from six-year-old Hind Rajab has on the staff, with her growingly dire situation putting incredible emotional strain on them all, made even worse by the level of red tape the centre supervisor has to deal with to try and save innocent civilians under fire from the IDF.

Those (like me) who remember these events when covered, will know how it all ends, but even if you do, it doesn’t diminish how tense and dramatically involving this remarkable film is.

Ben Hania keeps everything on the characters (the setting is similar to the 2018 Danish thriller, TheGuilty), reacting to the voice of Hind Rajab.

The fact that we are listening to the actual phone recording makes what we are watching all the more distressing. The whole cast is fantastic.

TheVoiceOfHindRajabdefinitely deserves its Oscar nomination for Best International Feature.

RATING - ****½

Plainclothes

■ (MA). 95 minutes. Opens in selected cinemas March 5.

The feature film directorial debut of Carmen Emmi, this largely quietly touching drama is involving and well-acted, even if its final moments are somewhat misjudged.

Set in two time periods in the late 90’s, the story centres on Lucas (Tom Blyth, who is excellent), an undercover cop whose job is to lure gay men into shopping centre toilets so they can be arrested for lewd conduct.

What his colleagues don’t realise is that Lucas is struggling with his own sexual identity, but given the current climate, is afraid to express it.

Lucas then meets Andrew (Russell Tovey), who makes him feel more comfortable about who he is, even if it all still has to happen in secret.

Blyth is incredible in conveying Lucas’s pain, fear and desire, while Tovey is perfect as the more level-headed Andrew.

Only the ending partially misses the mark, going very overthe-top, somewhat masking the main character’s painful yearning to come out.

RATING - ****

How To Make

A Killing

■ (M). 105 minutes. Opens in cinemas March 5.

Tepid remake of the classic 1949 Ealing comedy Kind Hearts And Coronets (****½) sadly pulls its punches, wallowing in generic ‘eat the rich’ territory rather than offering a much darker, relevant examination of the human condition and what society will condone.

Glen Powell is one-note,

Margaret Qualley is underutilised, while Bill Camp and Ed Harris are wasted. A disappointment from the director of Emily The Criminal (2022).

RATING - **

Blades of the Guardians

■ (MA). 126 minutes. Now sh owing in selected cinemas.

This elaborate, $120 million wuxia extravaganza is a terrific return to form for legendary director/fight choreographer Yuen Woo-ping (Drunken Master, Iron Monkey, The Matrix), proving to be a hugely entertaining big screen experience.

Dao Ma (a charismatic Wu Jing ) is a bounty hunter who gets more than he bargained for when he agrees to escort a rebel leader across a vast desert to safety, for long-time friend Chief Mo (Tony Leung Ka-fai).

Dao also has to take Mo’s confident daughter Ayuya (Chen Lijun) as a fellow protector.

This is just one of multiple plot threads. Based on a series of comic books, this is dense yet focused in its structure, allowing the audience to keep on top of what is going on, while Yuen makes sure the blend of human drama and high style action keeps you engaged throughout.

The entire cast is superb. Along with Wu, there is strong work from Kai-fai, Nicholas Tse, Yosh Yu and notably Jet Li (in his first big screen appearance since 2020).

Lijun delivers a scene-stealing performance, and this should help her become a major star. Production values are outstanding.

The fight scenes are energetic and exciting (one that takes place in a giant dust storm is particularly spectacular).

Some elements made this feel like a mix of Lone Wolf And Cub, John Wick and Mad Max: Fury Road By the time the end credits roll (with the promise of more), you may feel as exhausted as many of the characters.

Some lovely cameos cap things off nicely. Try and see this on the biggest screen possible.

RATING - **** Aaron Rourke

■ Vera Lynn is a famous English singer whose voice was heard during the Second World War singing songs of hope and inspiration.

Vera Lynn was called the Sweetheart of the Forces and has been loved and respected throughout the world for more than 80 years.

Vera Margaret Welch was born in 1917 in East Ham in London. Vera began singing when she was seven and used her grandmother’s maiden name of ‘ Lynn’ for her stage name.

Vera made her first radio broadcast at the age of 18 when she was singing with The Joe Loss Band

Her voice could be heard on recordings singing with various popular dance bands. Vera released her first solo song UptheWoodenHill to Bedfordshire in 1936.

In 1939 she was under contract to Decca Records and recorded We’llMeetAgainfor the first time with Arthur Young, who later became musical director at Channel Nine in Melbourne

In 1941 Vera married Harry Lewis, who was a musician and Harry became her manager.

During the War Years she had a radio program tiled SincerelyYourswhere she sang and read messages from families to service men and women.

Her hit songs We’ll Meet Again, The White Cliffs of Dover, A Nightingale Sang in BerkeleySquare and There’llAlwaysBeanEngland were tremendously popular during the war years.

She also appeared in three British films We’ll Meet Again, Rhythm Serenade and One Exciting Night

Whatever Happened to ... Vera Lynn

By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM

Vera toured in countries such as Egypt, India and Burma to entertain the troops and visited many military hospitals.

In 1947 Vera Lynn gave birth to her only daughter, Virginia

She became the first UK artist to go to the top of the hit parade in the US with her hit song Auf Wiedersehn Sweetheart.

Vera appeared in radio and television shows in England and the US

She devoted much of her time to charity work connected with ex-servicemen, disabled children and breast cancer.

Vera Lynn received many awards during her career including Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE in 1959 and then in 1975 was promoted to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours

● Vera Lynn

Vera published three books Vocal Refrain, We’ll Meet Again and Some Sunny Day.

Vera Lynn performed in Melbourne in 1962 and returned again in 1972.

My friend, the late musical director Tony Osborne, made several albums with Vera during the 1960s.

Her last public singing appearance was in 1995 at the celebrations to mark the 50 years since the end of World War Two. I must say that Melbourne’s own Dorothy Baker did a beautiful job of singing the popular songs of Vera Lynn during her career.

In 2009, at the age of ninety two, Vera Lynn became the oldest living artist have a number one album on the British album chart with We’llMeetAgain:TheVeryBestofVeraLynn Dame Vera Lynn came out in support of the underprivileged residents in her local area.

The Sussex Express published this quote from Dame Vera, “I am very happy indeed to donate my Winter Fuel Payment again this

year to help someone else in Sussex keep warm.

“It’s terrible to think that some of the men and women who served so bravely during the war are now in a position where they’re worrying that they won’t be able to pay their fuel bills.

“I’m encouraging anyone who feels they don’t need their own Winter Fuel Payment to donate it to the Surviving Winter Appeal

“All the money you donate will be spent here in Sussex.” There are an estimated 88,599 households in fuel poverty in Sussex – 13 per cent of households – and around half of include somebody over 60.

Sadly, Vera Lynn died from pneumonia at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath on June 18 2020, aged 103.

Tributes were led by the Royal Family, with Queen Elizabeth II sending private condolences to Vera’s family.

Her cortege was accompanied by members of the Royal Air Force, the British Army, the Royal Navy, and the Royal British Legion, as well as the Battle of Britain Spitfire flypast . We all loved Dame Vera Lynn and her songs live on.

Kevin can be heard on 3AWThe Time Tunnel - Remember WhenSundays at 10.10pm with Simon Owens and Andrew McLaren. And on 96.5 FM

That's Entertainment - Sundays at 12 Noon.

www.innerfm.org.au

DANDENONG RANGES OPEN STUDIOS

■ Now in its 23rd year, the iconic Dandenong Ranges Open Studios provides visitors an unique opportunity to glimpse int the artists inner sanctum.

Studios will open their doors to share the wealth of creative talent in the biggest Open Studios to date.

The program is jam packed with workshops, events. This is your chance to collect one-of-akind artworks directly from the creators, build connections, and follow your must-see cultural event.

Exhibition is over two weekends March 21-22 and March 28-29. Hours: 10am to 5pm.

For accessibility information on the individual studios please refer to the Artist Studio web pages.

Burrinja Gallery 361 Glenfern Rd, Upwey

Mildura

Light – Bruce Munro

A photography exhibition of internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro’s light installations. British/Australian artist Bruce Munro is best known for immersive, large-scale light-based installations inspired by his interest in shared human experience.

For more than 40 years, he has recorded ideas and images in sketchbooks, capturing his response to stimuli such as music, literature, science, and the world around him for reference, reflection, and subject matter/ Exhibition closes April 26.

★ Forever I Lice - Josh Mvir is a touring retrospective honouring the late Gundjitmara, Yorta Yorta and Barkindji artist Josh Mvir.

Presented by the Koorie Heritage Trust and proudly co-curated with Josh’s mother, Justine Berg , and partner, Shaya Sheridan , the decision showcases Josh’s vibrant legacy and powerful voice.

Through bold expressive works, it explores .cultural identity, colonisation, mental health, resilience, and love of family and community. Exhibition closes May 3.

★

Mungo and Country –Mildura Arts Centre Collection showcases artworks from the Mildura Arts Centre Collection that reflects the cultural, ecological, and spiritual significance of Mungo National Park.

Featuring First Nations contemporary artists, the exhibition highlights deep connections to Country through responses to ancient land forms, river systems and desert environments. Themes of ancestral knowledge, cultural continuity, and the relationship between people and place weave through the works, honouring more than 45,000 years of continuous Aboriginal history cared for by the Barkindji/Paakanqi, Muthi Muthi , and Ngryampaa Traditional owners, Mungo and Country invites audiences to reflect on a living landscape shaped by deep time

and cultural strength.

The Arts

Mildura Arts Centre 199 Coreton Rd, Mildura

Kingston Arts

■ This fun competition is a race against the clock., you’ll have 24 hours to make and submit a creative work based on a secret theme. Entries are open to all ages and skill levels, with fantastic prizes up for grabs across categories including visual art, poetry and creative writing.

Registration opens Monday, March 30. Theme revealed: Friday, May 8 at 4pm. Awards Night: Wednesday, May 27.

Exhibition dates: May 22 0 June 20. Venue: G1 & G2 /gallery. Kingston Arts 979 Nepean Hwy, Moorabbin Peter Kemp

Winter Blues Festival

■ Winter Blues Festival returns to Echuca in 2026 for four days of world-class blues and roots in the Murray Region

Winter Blues is a grassroots, all-in experience that turns Echuca–Moama into a live music hub each winter, filling venues, streets, and the riverfront with unforgettable performances.

Winter Blues celebrates blues and roots music from across Australia , offering a weekend where music lovers reconnect, new friendships form, and live music takes centre stage across the region.

Following another outstanding year of music, community connection and tourism impact, organisers are proud to reveal the first artist announcement for the 2026 festival: 19 Twenty, Cam Walter Blues, Cass Eager, Eddy and the Exciters, Elly Poletti, Frank Sultana Blues Band, Geoff Achison and The Souldiggers, The Honey Badgers, Jack and The Axes, Jesse Redwing, Jesse Valach and The Testaments, Kathleen Halloran, Liza Ohlback and The Mercy Train, Nathan Cavaleri, Oscar LaDell, Otis Namrell Band, Ray Beadle, Sam Buckley Band, Sammy Owen Blues Ban d and Sweet Felicia and The Honeytones.

Places To Go

Travel Briefs

New cubs at Melbourne Zoo

■ Melbourne Zoo has welcomed four adorable Snow Leopard cubs, born to mum Miska and dad Kang Ju, the first Snow Leopard births at the zoo since 2020.

Arriving in the early hours of January 15, the fuzzy newcomers wasted no time showing their personalities, playfully tumbling around their den while staying close to mum.

With Snow Leopards typically having just two or three cubs, welcoming four healthy cubs is a rare and exciting milestone.

Miska has taken beautifully to motherhood, raising her cubs solo as Snow Leopards naturally do in the wild.

Big growth

■ Wildlife encounters aw a surge among Aussies in 2025, with aquarium and zoo experiences up 78.6 per cent. The Gold Coast topped Big Red Group’s destination hotlist for 2025, closely followed by Melbourne (up from 4th place in 2024) and Sydney for city-based experiences.

■ Visitor data released by Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) reveals a new record for Australian travellers, with 1,058,300 visiting Japan during the 2025 calendar year.

2025 is the first year that Australian visitors to Japan have broken the one million mark, a 15 per cent increase on 2024.

Some 121,300 visitors flocked to the country during December 2025, coinciding with school holidays, festive breaks and the start of the popular ski season.

The month of January saw the highest number of Australian visitors throughout the year with 140,185 visitors, and 115,235 Australians arriving in April during cherry blossom season which aligned with school holidays and the 2025 Easter long weekend.

JNTO also noted growth in Australians travelling outside the peak seasons of April and the December to February ski season, with the months of September and October also seeing significant arrivals during 2025.

Students save

■ Emirates is making it easier for students to travel. Students aged between 16 to 31 can fly further for less and work towards their study abroad goals with up to 15 per cent off Economy Class fares when booking before March 31 for travel on or before May 31.

Wonders

■ Specialist solo tour operator

Just You has launched its first Europe program for Australian solo travellers.

The 2027 program has been launched four months earlier than previous years in response to guest and travel agent feedback, including from new market Australia which traditionally requires longer lead times for longhaul travel.

Just You has launched a new Greece and Turkey itinerary, with departures from September through to September 2027.

Priced from A$9149, the 16-day ‘Wonders of the Aegean’ tour takes solo travellers on a journey through history from Athens’ Acropolis, the Sacred Way at Delphi and the island of Samos to ancient Ephesus

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2026

Bush Telegraph Whiparound

From plant waste

■ A research hub at the University of Queensland is taking a unique approach to converting plant waste into carbon-based compounds like jet fuel.

Director of the ARC Research Hub for Engineering Plants to Replace Fossil Carbon, Associate Professor Karine Chenu, said the team would focus on creating better inputs for processing.

“Most of the research investment in this space has shown that processing plant biomass into aviation biofuels or other bioproducts is technically viable and should be done,” Dr Chenu said.

Citrus concerns

■ The citrus industry is facing growing concerns about the lack of a high quality import risk assessment of the citrus fruit pomelo.

Nationals leader David Littleproud said it was clear independent scientific experts were needed, amid growing concerns intothe Federal Government’s decision to import pomelo from Vietnam into Australia, just weeks after the Australian Banana Growers’ Council raised concerns about the assessment process of potential banana imports from the Philippines. Mr Littleproud said Australia urgently needs to know if Labor is sacrificing high biosecurity standards and why a Scientific Advisory Group hasn’t been brought in, despite recommendations to do so.

POLITICAL PARTIES MUST STEP UP: VFF

■ With eight months to go until Victorians go to the polls, the Victorian Farmers Federation is reminding all potential candidates to consider the enormous role rural communities play.

“Victorian farms are the most productive in our nation, nearly eight times more productive than the national average,” said VFF President Brett Hosking

“We contribute $20b to the local economy and indirectly employ more than 150,000 people. Imagine what that could become with some forward thinking and investment in the right places,”

“Removing the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund, development that puts food and fibre production first, restoring our roads and freight networks, tackling rural crime and ensuring our communities and families have access to services to help them succeed are great places to start.”

“The introduction of the Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund was devastating for our farmers. This is a huge cash-grab imposed on farming businesses and it will amount to tens of thousands of dollars stripped from farmers and communities. We must see it scrapped. In every corner of Victoria, the state of the roads, concerns regarding new mines and energy infrastructure and spiralling onfarm crime, including the theft of livestock and equipment and even farm invasions are huge issues.”

Summer damage

■ The latest farm property claims data from Elders Insurance reveals storm-related damage cost Australian farmers $92.14 million in 2024, almost double the previous year.

Summer remains the riskiest season, accounting for over 40 per cent of claims in the past 12 months (Dec. 1, 2024 – Nov. 24, 2025).

Critical infrastructure such as sheds, fencing, and solar panels are most vulnerable. While NSW and Queensland are hardest hit, the impact is national – and the financial and operational fallout for farmers is significant.

Hard year for sheep

■ “It has been a difficult year for many in the industry, especially those producers affected by drought,” said Dr Scott Williams , Chair of the Sheep Sustainability Framework Steering Group.

“Subdued prices for wool have contributed to a reduction in the national sheep flock, and many in the postfarmgate sector are increasingly concerned about future supply.”

The SSF itself has undergone important changes, including a revision of its materiality assessment and the strengthening of its governance and technical expertise, Dr Williams said, on the release of the 2025 annual report.

Beef Industry Latest Wagyu

marbling

■ Researchers from the University of Adelaide’s Davies Livestock Research Centre have described the most complete cattle genome yet, in a study that will lead to improvements in Wagyu breeding and result in better beef marbling.

“We have presented a near complete cattle genome that is 16 per cent longer than the current reference genome,” said Dr Lloyd Low, from the Centre and senior author of the study published in NatureCommunications

“This new Wagyu genome provides a much more complete and accurate view of the genetic blueprint behind one of the world’s most prized beef breeds,” said study co-lead author Paulene Pineda, from the University of Adelaide

Dr Low’s discovery will have implications for profits in the beef industry.

“The Wagyu genome provides a foundational genetic resource to identify variants responsible for marbling and other traits affecting profit,” said Professor Wayne Pitchford, Director of the University of Adelaide’s Davies Livestock Research Centre and a co-author of the study.

The new cattle genome was able to be used to identify hundreds of new genes and detect more structural variants than was possible with the existing reference genome.

“These structural variants are an untapped genetic resource and some of them may be key to some of the prized traits of cattle. Moreover, they highlight the hidden diversity present within a seemingly homogeneous breed,” said Dr Callum MacPhillamy, a co-lead author of the study from CSIRO.

Associate Professor Cynthia Bottema, a co-author of the study also from the Centre, said the advancement will have implications beyond Wagyu

“Our new cattle genome means breeders now have a better tool that will allow for greater precision when identifying and selecting for traits like marbling, fertility and disease resistance – not only in Wagyu, but other cattle breeds as well,” she said.

Australian beef production totalled 706,296 tonnes for the quarter to June 2025.

Victorian Rural News

Cracking growth for almonds

■ Australia’s almond sector is entering a new era, as it begins large-scale orchard replanting to enable future growth and satisfy increasing local and global appetite for the popular nut, Rabobank says in a newly-released report.

In its Australian Almond Outlook: Replanting for growth beyond 2030, the specialist agribusiness bank’s RaboResearch division says the Australian almond industry is “entering a pivotal transition phase”, with renewal of ageing orchards and expansion into new areas.

“The next five years will begin the first large-scale replanting cycle that (along with expansion into new regions) sets the foundation for long-term growth in the Australian almond industry,” the report says.

This could see total planted area of almonds in Australia lift by between 5000 and 10,000 hectares (the equivalent of seven to 15 per cent growth in total area) by 2030, it says.

Meanwhile, positive global demand for almonds – coupled with limited production growth in California , the world’s largest almond producer and Australia’s main export competitor – should contribute to an improving market outlook, RaboResearch says, “offering opportunities for the Australian industry to grow its share of the global market”.

Report author, RaboResearch analyst Pia Piggott says the next five years will see the first large-scale replanting occur in Australia’s burgeoning almond industry, with many of the sector’s first-established 10,000 hectares of almond trees planted between 2001 to 2005 reaching the end of their productive life between now and 2030.

“This represents approximately 16 per cent of the total area of Australian almonds in 2024, which will require replanting over the next five years,” she said.

On top of this, some of an additional 13,000 hectares of almond trees planted between 2006 and 2010 are also expected to need replanting in the coming five years as the productivity of older plants declines.

Trust for Nature

■ Two-thirds of Victoria’s landscape is privately owned, and these properties are home to some of the most threatened species and irreplaceable native vegetation, says Trust For Nature.

“This private land is the land that Trust for Nature has unique powers to protect through permanent conservation covenants. Working with landholders, we can protect vital habitat forever – even if the property is sold.

“Last financial year, we protected 2706 hectares of habitat on private land forever, bringing total land protected to over 119,000 ha.

“We safeguarded the equivalent of 1353 MCG’s.”

Mungbean yields up

■ New breeding opportunities for an important cash crop have been unlocked by University of Queensland and Grains Research and Development Corporation-supported research.

Queensland Alliance of Agriculture and Food Innovation PhD candidate Caitlin Dudley, supported by a GRDC Research Scholarship has revealed key insights about mungbean flowering through extensive field trials.

“Our research found that when mungbean flowers, and how long it flowers, are independent traits with distinct genetic controls,” Ms Dudley said.

Longer droughts

■ A study tracking not only the forces that drive drought but the damage it leaves behind has revealed that droughts have lasted longer in Australia in recent decades, especially in areas with the most people and farms.

UNSW researchers analysed drought trends across Australia between 1911 and 2020 based on rainfall shortages and falling river and dam levels.

Their analysis showed that, since 1971, the time spent under drought conditions has increased across most of Australia, especially in the southeast and southwest.

Places To Go

Places To Go

Places To Go

Places To Go

Senior Service Senior Moments

Home care for oldies

■ Ageing Australia has made a series of recommendations ahead of the Federal Budget to build a sustainable and investable aged care sector.

“Action is needed now, with the number of Australians aged over 70 set to hit 2.3 million by 2044,” Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson said.

“The most immediate step the Government can take to relieve pressure on the aged care system is to increase the number of Support at Home packages.

“At last count, more than 100,000 older Australians were waiting for a package and another 100,000 waiting just to be assessed, so the issue is fast approaching a national emergency.”

Difficult to trust

■ Australians over 50 are navigating a treacherous digital landscape, with a new report revealing an alarming prevalence of scams and a sharp decline in trust in information.

Over four in five (84 per cent) have encountered or been victims of a scam, while a similar proportion (83 per cent) find it harder to trust news and information than just one to two years ago.

Seven in 10 (71 per cent) admit they still assume online content is real without checking at least sometimes, and only one in seven (15 per cent) fact-check information or news before believing or sharing it.

PASSIVE HOUSE IN RETIREMENT VILLAGE

■ Keyton, a retirement living operator-developer has showcased Australia’s first Passive House.

“The Passive House at The Grove is the first of its kind in an Australian retirement village,” said Keyton Chief Executive Officer Nathan Cockerill

Practical benefits include cleaner air, consistent indoor temperatures and reduced energy use.

“These are features that can meaningfully improve how older Australians live, and we’re exploring how elements of this design can be applied in future developments,” Mr Cockerill said.

Built as part of Keyton’s sustainability and wellbeing focused approach, the Passive House incorporates airtight construction, high performance insulation, triple glazing and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, Mr Cockerill said.

Paint with friends

■ Armstrong Creek retirees are picking up a paintbrush for the first time and exploring their artistic side with resident-led art classes.

Residents at Bolton Clarke’s Armstrong Green retirement village have been meeting every Monday evening to learn from their neighbour and artist Trish Keane

Having dabbled in drawing, Trish says she took up a paintbrush after retiring and is now enjoying sharing her expertise to help others find their own artistic style.

“Some of the residents here were saying they wanted to start painting and so I thought why not start some lessons – I’m no teacher but I can help,” Trish said.

“Almost all the residents were starting from scratch and didn’t know anything about painting.

“I have only been painting since I retired about 11 years ago now - it was something I wanted to do, so I started going to an artist in Melbourne to learn and get started.

“The first oil painting I have ever done was of my daughter and from then on, I have loved working with oil paints.”

Meaningful lives

■ How to Dress for Old Age is a work of love and reckoning showcasing two of Australia’s finest writers, Peta Murray and David Carlin, who take up the care for their ageing parents while contemplating their own “third age”.

BORONIA HOUSE OPENING 2026

Havilah is expanding its services with a new 24 – bed aged care facility, complementing its existing facility located in Maryborough, Central Victoria, under an hour’s drive from Ballarat and Bendigo.

Located adjacent to the current Havilah building in Burns Street, this new extension is designed for seamless integration, ensuring continuity of care and enhance convenience for residents. Havilah provides modern, comfortable living spaces with each resident enjoying a private ensuite. The facility offers a peaceful and welcoming environment for residents and their families.

Havilah is a not-for-profit organisation, operated by a Board of Management, involving members of our community.

ARE YOU CONSIDERING A HOME IN A LAND-LEASED VILLAGE?

MHOA Victoria can assist you.

The Manufactured Homeowners Association (Vic) (MHOA Vic.) is a non-profit, incorporated, volunteer staffed association, assisting owners of manufactured homes in Victorian land-lease villages and in mixed villages. MHOA provides its members with advice and information on matters pertaining to Part 4A of the Residential Tenancies Act, 1997, and assists members when problems arise between homeowners and the owners of the land.

The MHOA Committee have the lived experience of home ownership in land-lease villages and have a vast knowledge of the Act which governs this form of housing.

We have created our own website, www.mhoavic.com, with a wealth of information, a Victorian map showing all land-lease villages that we have discovered, with street address, the owner’s details, the number of homes and the estimated number of residents. Also on our website, is our agenda for getting legislation changes made, and a group of Information Sheets covering the phases of:

• Buying (Manufactured Homes in Land-Lease Villages, Site Agreements & Legislation, Prohibited Terms, Condition Reports and Exit Fees)

• Living (Rights & Obligations, Village Rules, Dispute Resolution, Rental Fees and Annual Increases, Utilities & Other Charges, ResidentCommittees, Maintenance Responsibilities and Preparation for a VCAT Hearing)

• Selling (Selling a Part 4A dwelling and Closure of a Part 4A Village)

ARE YOU THINKING OF MOVING INTO A LAND-LEASE VILLAGE IN VICTORIA, OR YOU ARE ALREADY LIVING IN ONE?

MHOA Vic can assist you.

The MHOA Vic committee members are all residents living in land-lease villages and due to their lived experience, and their knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act for Part 4A villages, a free information booklet has been produced.

The booklet explains most things you need to know about buying,living and selling in land lease villages.

It also provides a list of questions to ask in order for you to make informed decisions and also explainsthe challenges that may arise when you are living in a land-lease village.

Our booklet covers the various aspects of buying into a village, and then living in one.

• Site Agreements including Exit Fees, Legislation.

• Living in a village, including rules, rights and obligations of residents and site owners, dispute resolution, rental fees with their associated annual increases, utilities and other charges.

• Resident Committees, maintenance responsibilities.

A Victorian map showing all land lease villages along with a wealth of other information can be found on our new website, www.mhoavic.com

To obtain a copy of our free MHOA Vic Information Booklet, please contact us via one of the various access methods shown below:

In The Pink

Managing meds

■ Researchers at Monash University and Flinders University have released a new guide on how to establish and lead a Quality Improvement Collaborative to support senior healthcare professionals, managers and leaders across healthcare settings who are seeking to improve medication management practices.

A QIC uses an evidenced based approach to bring healthcare professionals together from different sites to learn, share and implement best practice in a measurable and sustainable way. QICs have successfully been used in a range of different fields and settings to improve the quality of healthcare.

“Quality improvement strengthens health systems to deliver high quality person-centred care, improve processes for staff and implement evidence into practice,” said a Monash University representative.

Drugs-violence link

■ The Citizens Commission on Human Rights has launched the global release of Prescription for Violence – Psychiatry’s Deadly Side Effects, a two-hour documentary presenting extensive evidence correlating violent crimes, including domestic multiple shootings and suicides, to the widespread use of psychiatric drugs.

CCHR organisations worldwide say the documentary underscores the urgent need for mandatory toxicology screening in violent crime investigations, and for the creation of a public database documenting psychiatric drugs identified in such cases.

Running on empty

■ Several health services remain on financial life support under the State Government, according to the Opposition Opposition Leader Jess Wilson saidf:

“Internal Department of Health data has revealed several Victorian health services are operating with limited available cash holdings – that is, money available to pay operating costs such as staff wages, invoices and utility bills - as of December 2025, including:

■ Corryong Health - $0

■ West Wimmera Health - $0

■ Hesse Rural Health - $500,000

■ Omeo District Health - $600,000

■ Beechworth Health Service - $700,000

■ Mansfield District Hospital - $1 million

■ Kerang District Health - $1 million

“Under Labor, Victoria’s health services suffered a more than $1 billion combined deficit in 2023-24, as key financial indicators – including days available cash – were stripped from recent annual reports,” said Ms Wilson.

Indigenous plants

■ New research suggests an Australian desert plant could help food manufacturers improve protein quality and reduce reliance on added salt in staple foods.

The drought-tolerant shrub affectionately known as Old Man Saltbush is mostly used as stock fodder, but can also be added to salads or cooking and has been used as bush tucker by Indigenous Australians for thousands of years.

Now, early research suggests it could be a healthy and sustainable alternative. The study by RMIT University food scientists analysed the physical and chemical properties of saltbush to understand how it could be used as a functional food ingredient.

Camel milk praised

■ Camel milk is emerging as a nutrient-rich alternative dairy product in Australia, attracting growing interest from nutrition researchers and consumers seeking options for digestive sensitivities. Camel milk differs significantly from cow’s milk in its protein structure, fat composition and naturally occurring bioactive compounds.

WEDNEDAY, MARCH 4, 2026

14% SET TO DITCH HEALTH INSURANCE

■ Some 14 per cent of health insurance group members are set to ditch their cover as costs are set to rise by 4.41 per cent on April 1

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler has approved the increase of 4.41 per cent, which is set to be the biggest increase in almost a decade.

“The increase is well above inflation, which was 3.8 per cent in December, and will impact the 15.3 million Australians who pay for private health insurance,” said a representative of FInder researtch group.

This comes as more than two million Australians are turning their backs on private health cover in 2026, according to new research.

Of those who have private health insurance.” 26 per cent ranked it as one of their top three most stressful bills in January, according to Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker.

This number is on the rise. In January 2023, just 21 per cent of health insurance holders counted their premium as one of their most stressful expenses.

Changes

These changes come as 14 per cent of Australians – equivalent to 2.1 million people – say they won’t be renewing their private health insurance this year.

On average, Australians with health insurance now pay $238 per month for their coverage, according to Finder research.

Based on this average, an increase of 4.41 per cent would see an increase of $126 per year.

Sarah Megginson, personal finance expert at Finder, said: “Premium increases will sting for households already struggling to keep up with rising costs, and many no longer see health insurance as a must-have expense.

“Before you make any decisions, review your policy and check whether you’re paying for cover you don’t actually use. Downgrading extras, increasing your excess or switching tiers could lower your premium without scrapping cover altogether.

Better deals

“Insurers price risk differently, so you could be overpaying for the same level of protection – and new customers often score better deals, including weeks free or cash for switching.

“If you can afford it, paying annually before the hike kicks in may lock in the current rate.

“Also, splitting your hospital and extras cover across two insurers can be a great way to save.

“While some Australians are gambling they won’t need hospital treatment this year, one unexpected accident or diagnosis can become very expensive very quickly.

“Dropping cover can also mean tax penalties, reset waiting periods and higher costs to rejoin later. Before cancelling, compare your options – a few minutes of research could save you far more in the long run,” Ms Megginson said.

Nurses overlooked

■ Mental health nurses make up nearly half of the global mental health workforce, yet they remain overlooked as central leaders in mental health reform.

An RMIT expert argues the need to recognise and uplift mental health nurses and systems under growing global pressure.

Professor Rhonda Wilson, Mental Health Nursing, said: “Mental health nurses are the largest proportion of the mental health workforce, yet remain under-recognised in policy, funding and reform.

"Escalating mental health needs, workforce burnout, climate-related trauma and geopolitical instability have exposed fragile systems worldwide.

“"If we are serious about improving mental health outcomes, specialist mental health nursing leadership must be embedded at every level of the system.”

The Pulse

Based on evidence

■ The Royal Australian College of GPs has called on the Federal Government to establish an independent pricing authority to ensure Medicare rebates accurately reflect the true cost of delivering care.

RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said the College’s pre-budget submission highlights the need for an independent body to ensure rebates are backed by Australia’s healthcare data and free of partisan political intervention/influence.

“For decades, patients’ Medicare rebates have failed to keep pace with inflation and rising operational costs, driving up out-ofpocket expenses and creating barriers to access,” Dr Wright said.

“GPs work at the centre of multidisciplinary teams, but for this to function properly, general practice must be funded sustainably.

“Instead, governments on both sides of politics have set rebates based on shortterm political imperatives rather than from a sound evidence base. The cost of delivering primary care is undervalued – even simple care is underfunded, and complex care even more so.”

Liver disease

■ Researchers from the Centenary Institute have developed a new diagnostic tool, the FAP-Index, that could significantly improve how doctors identify people at risk of serious liver damage caused by metabolic fatty liver disease. The condition affects around one in three Australians.

Heidelberg

Magistrates’ Court Criminal Case Listings

Wednesday, March 4

Aboueid, Ibrahim Allafta, Abbas Amuso, Dylan Arabani, Malik Attard, Phillip Beasey, Warren William Bentley, Justin Berlic, Jamie Booazar, Alireza Bouskill, Ross Brackley, Martin Lee Braimakis, Paris Buldaho, Nihaal Claridge, Fiona Coombe, Shani Samantha Coxson, Andrew Darraj, Lina Deir, Carlo Nicholas Dimitriou, Donny Edwards, Oscar Elarmaly, Paul Ellis, Leonard Farha, Samir Faulkner, James Andrew Fitzgerald, Ben Ross Garritty, Daniel James Graham, Jorja Susan Grech, Aaron Green, Marley June Hafner, Deane Hamka, Jihad Hanna, Yousif Harrison, Shaun Hickey, Brendan Jackson, Theresa Maree Johnson, Leonie Kane, Travis Kongas, Jade Koutsouras, Tom Krincevski, Michael Kutey, Barry Ronald Laan-Woods, Corey Lacey, Justin Lawrence, Jai Lincoln, Troy Lovett, Junee Dorothy Lymberatos, Ilias Maddox, Mistraal Mcdonald, Graeme Joseph Mcgree, Denis Mckernan, Brodie Midderham, Liam Mikael, Johnny Millar, Neil Miller, Ashley David Moses, Joseph Murley-Paget, Akeisha Mursalin, Kazi Mwangi, John Kingori Nguyen, Van Chuong Nikolovski, Jim Noori, Zmnako Nawzad Osman, Joelle Osman, Nargis Ouraha, Oliver Paget, Akeisha Panagiotou, John Petalas, Jayde Piromnak, Wichit Proctor, Darren William Psaradellis, Peter Quinn, Stuart Leigh Radojcic, Julie Rosemary Roach, Eban Ross, Shelley Sadiq, Shameer Razwaah Singh, Manpreet Singh, Sukhrajbir Spittal, James Stelco, Joseph Talebi, Hasan Tasevski, Bardha Taylor, Shannon Thomas, Aden Selkirk Thomas, Leigh Thurn, Jae Tsaousis, George Uppal, Shrey Raj

Freeway booze blitz

■ Police caught 51 drink and drug drivers during a major road policing operation over the weekend. Operation Colossus , which was conducted over Friday and Saturday nights, saw police conducting high volume alcohol and drug testing. Police conducted more than 4000 preliminary breath tests, with 45 drivers caught exceeding the alcohol limit.

Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court Criminal Case Listings

Wednesday, March 4

Abc Construction Group Pty Ltd Abdullatif, Mohammad Addo, Nana Aggarwal, Payal Alahi, Subhan Ali, Omer Bagdas, Sedil Bain, Cameron Anthony Bames, Stephen Anthony Bartolo, Michael Bastow, Byron James Berryman, Hayden Biniamen, Landi Bonassera, Luciano Broekhoff, Nicholas Brown, Kalinda Butt, Adeel Cahill, Andrew Vincent Canpolat, Ali Carruth, Justin Charakas, Rosemary Cleghorn, Ryan Clements, Matthew Codespoti, Joseph Croughan, Bradley Robert Davis, Joshua De Travers, William Edward Dermele, Narmin Dib, Dori El Rababi, Zakaria Elakkoumi, Celal Erbas, Yakup Farah, Zineddine Fenech, Aaron First Rentals Pty Ltd Flower, Michael Gale, Phillip Georgiou, Constantine Hameed, Sajjad Hartel, Alan Hayes, Jack Higgins, Jhett Hothlyn Homes Pty Ltd Husejnovic, Izudin Jiang, Jipu Jorj, Lina Kamil, Salih Karakus, Halil Ibrahim Kaur, Jagdeep Kaur, Jasjot Kelly, Emily Khalil, Abdus Sami Khan, Shafath Kirk, Allan Luang, Rose Martin, Veronica Mastropetros, Alexia Matic, Kristina Matur, Mesut Mayne, Jordyn Thomas Merl, Hannah Moa, Faraima Mohamed, Eltayeb Moshi, George Moustafa, Adam Muse, Mohamed Naser, Naser Oxborough, Shannyn Oz Family Day Care Pty Ltd Ozer, Hakan Paul, Haki Perez, Benjamin Petersen, Anthony James Pham, Bich Thuy Raffone, John Raheem, Hamed Rainieri, Sean Reinsma, Kristy Riley, Ashley Maree Rudiwan, Adnan Saadat, Abraham Saleh, Fahed Sammut, Valeria Sandhu, Sidra Seddon, Joshua Short, Stephen Singh Deol, Parminder Singh, Amarjeet Singh, Palvinder Spencer, Sharon Sukh Trading Pty Ltd Sullivan, Billy Systematic Construction Group Pty Ltd Taylor, Josie Thompson, Mivemu Thompson, Wiremu Tilki, Aysu Tseng, Shih-Han Villarroel, Leandro Viotto, Nathan Volk, Frank Wheadon, Tony Willis, Michelle Wood, Renae Paige Zammit, Raphael Zineddine, Farah

Solar Savers

■ A Solar Savers information session is to be held at 11am-12 Noon on Thursday, March 12 at Function Room 4, Knox City Council Civic Centre, 511 Burwood Hwy, Wantirna South. There is no cost.

Solar Savers is a local government initiative that can help Knox residents electrify their homes by facilitating access to quality products.

The program began in 2018 with a focus on solar and has expanded to include a broad range of products including everything from battery storage, heat pump hot water, split system heating and cooling, EV chargers, insulation and draught proofing, induction cooktops and home energy assessments.

Positive Ageing

■ Monash Council has a Positive Ageing Reference Group aimed at making the municipality a friendlier place for older people.

“You don't need to be an expert – just curious and passionate about making Monash a place where people can age well, stay connected, and feel valued at every stage of life,” said a Council representative.

To submit interest, complete a signup form by March 15.

Grants available

■ Local not-for-profit organisations, clubs and groups are encouraged to apply Annual Community Grants offered by the City of Manningham.

The groups can share in more than $290,000 in funding. Applications are now open until 5pm on Wednesday, April 1.

The program helps fund local initiatives, projects and activities that make a positive impact in Manningham and eligible groups can receive between $,001 and $20,000 in funding.

Grant streams are Community Development, Arts, Festivals and Events and Healthy Ageing.

Activity Centres

■ The State Government opened its second phase of community consultation about its Activity Centres Program for areas around Riversdale-Willison and Ashburton railway stations.

Draft maps, details of proposed building heights and other information about the government's proposals are now available for the community to provide feedback on until Sunday, March 22, said a boroondara Council representative.

Public View

■ Manningham Council is inviting artists to apply to exhibit their work as part of its new :Public View program.

This program presents artworks at outdoor gallery spaces across Manningham . The sites will showcase a series of changing exhibitions that invite you to reflect and connect with diverse ideas and stories.

Each exhibition runs for six months and is open to individuals or groups.

Proposed works can include any artform or medium that can be photographed, scanned or digitised ready to be printed at large scale for display. Examples include but are not limited to painting, drawing, collage, photography, digital art and printmaking.

Artworks will be on display 24 hours a day.

Venues:

■ Artworks in lightboxes on the wall of MCSquare Manningham Council Square) , 687 Doncaster Rd, Doncaster

■ Tunstall Square Laneway Gallery, Tunstall Square Shopping Centre, Tunstall Rd, Doncaster East.

Nature Exhibition

■ A opening event of 'Nature ' by Mount Waverley resident Ian Coombs. will be held from 3.30pm-5pm on Friday (Mar. 6) at the Senior's Room, Oakleigh Library, 148 Drummond St, Oakleigh . It is a free ticketed event.

'Nature ' highlights some of the photography taken by Ian during his experience as a volunteer in Papua New Guinea , focusing on animal husbandry.

Small Town

■ Melbourne singer-songwriter Luke Baird has just released his new single Small Townwhich reflects him growing up in central Victoria and the slow demise of the small town which he loved. It’s ahead of his upcoming debut album featuring Matt Sky. The tracks tell about heartbreak, lost time, and learning things the hard way. Luke adds the songs come from real pain and real moments. But it’s not all dark. There’s hope in there too. Hope that better days are coming and the future can still be brighter than the past.

Women of Blues

■ The Tote Hotel Melbourne will present the Women Of Blues festival on Friday (Mar. 6) commencing 5pm.

A long list of artists will include Back Alley, Sally Stella, L Anning, Minnie and The Moonrakers, Debi Candlish, Linda Stainton, Marni Rose and The Thorns . It’s all Australian talent. Tickets via Oztix.

Gusto Gusto

■ Tyrannosauroborus is the title of the second album to be released by local instrumental group Gusto Gusto at the Evelyn Hotel on Friday (Mar. 6).

Amidst a whirlwind year with over 50 shows including international performances they found time to record a 13track genre crossing album, a raucous instrumental blend of violin, trumpet, clarinet and rocking rhythm section that traverses the worlds of funk, afrobeat, djent and celtic music, says their media. Tickets via Oztix.

Iron Maiden plays Melbourne on Nov. 13

■ Iron Maiden has announce the anticipated Australian dates of their critically acclaimed Run For Your Lives World Tour

They will play in Melbourne on Friday, November 13, at AAMI Park.

Since the band’s first visit to Australia in November 1982, playing to 2000 fans at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney as part of the B east On The Road Tour, Iron Maiden have returned regularly, playing bigger and bigger shows each time.

In celebration of their 50th Anniversary, Maiden return for their eighth tour Down Under, headlining outdoor stadiums for the first time in both Melbourne and Sydney , as well as arenas in Adelaide and .

These large venues will allow fans the chance to witness the new, state-of-the-art production, on the scale it is intended for, to accompany the once-ina-lifetime setlist of songs from the band’s groundbreaking first nine albums.

As a special treat for their fans in Australia, Iron Maiden will bring as their special guests for these shows, Megadeath celebrated a number one album for their self-titled final studio release in both Australia and the USA where they will also be touring with Iron Maiden.

iron Maiden’s Steve Harris says: “We are very excited to be bringing this Run For Your Lives Tour to Australia later this year. And even more so as

we are bringing Megadeath with us. Dave and I have been friends for years and we are very proud to have them as our special guests on their last-ever world tour.

“I think our fans will really appreciate this and it will make it an even more memorable show for everyone. We very much look forward to getting down there to see you all at the end of 2026.”

Manager Rod Smallwood comments: “We are delighted to be returning to Australia just two years after our last visit to that part of the world.

“It’s always a great experience playing to our fans there,

and we know they really appreciate seeing us whenever we can visit.

“And this time we are playing some new outdoor venues too, including the Allianz Stadium in Sydney and AAMI Park in Melbourne.

“I can promise our fans that they are in for a real treat with this setlist and show.

“The band have been loving revisiting this era and especially enjoy playing these songs with the state-of-the-art visuals we’ve created to accompany them.

“We’ve got all the big ones from the early days including Hallowed Be Thy Name,

To The Hills, Phantom of the Opera, Trooper, Number Of The Beast, Killers, Powerslave, 2 Minutes To Midnight and more.

“Plus there’s some true epics including Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son, which will be even more special because these shows will be at the very end of The Run For Your Lives Tour, and so the final time the band will ever be playing a number of these songs.

Promoter Paul Dainty said, “This will be Iron Maiden’s biggest tour of Australia ever.” Kerry O’Brien

Local Cricket Weekend Results

Premier

■ Firsts. Two Days. Sats., Feb. 21 and 28. Camberwell Magpies 1st XI 10/282 v Melbourne 1st XI 6/284. Dandenong 1st XI 10/239 v Carlton 1st XI 8-d/317. Casey South Melbourne 1st XI 10/130 & 10/182 v Richmond 1st XI 10/70 & 9/ 218. Frankston Peninsula 1st XI 10/225 v Kingston Hawthorn 1st XI 10/208. Footscray 1st XI 8/348 v Prahran 1st XI 5-d/405. Northcote 1st XI 8-d/181 & 9/76 v Melbourne University 1st XI 10/112 & 10/210. Fitzroy Doncaster 1st XI 8/222 v Essendon 1st XI 10/221. Geelong 1st XI 10/302 v Greenvale Kangaroos 1st XI 8/306. St Kilda 1st XI 10/91 & 9/186 v Ringwood 1st XI 10/159 & 10/117.

■ Seconds. Ringwood 2nd XI 10/149 & 7/ 182 v St Kilda 2nd XI 5-d/196. Melbourne 2nd XI 7/266 v Camberwell Magpies 2nd XI 10/265. Carlton 2nd XI 7-d/305 v Dandenong 2nd XI 10/181 & 0/72. Richmond 2nd XI 10/249 v Casey South Melbourne 2nd XI 10/108 & 6/166. Kingston Hawthorn 2nd XI 10/121 & 9-d/313. Frankston Peninsula 2nd XI 9-d/156 & 6/144. Prahran 2nd XI 10/218 v Footscray 2nd XI 10/221. Melbourne University 2nd XI 5-d/318 v Northcote 2nd XI 10/147. Essendon 2nd XI 10/295 v Fitzroy Doncaster 2nd XI 7/267. Greenvale Kangaroos 2nd XI 10/128 & 2/96 v Geelong 2nd XI 9-d/311

■ Thirds. St Kilda 3rd XI 10/202 v Ringwood 3rd XI 10/244. Camberwell Magpies 3rd XI 10/ 163 v Melbourne 3rd XI 5/219. Dandenong 3rd XI 10/109 v Carlton 3rd XI 10/401. Casey South Melbourne 3rd XI 10/215 v Richmond 3rd XI 6/217. Frankston Peninsula 3rd XI 5-d/393 v Kingston Hawthorn 3rd XI 10/130. Footscray 3rd XI 9/154 v Prahran 3rd XI 10/153. Northcote 3rd XI 3-d/114 & 10/92. Melbourne University 3rd XI 10/101 & 6-d/235. Fitzroy Doncaster 3rd XI 9/361 v Essendon 3rd XI 7/183. Geelong 3rd XI 9/281 v Greenvale Kangaroos 3rd XI 10/198.

■ Fourths. Ringwood 4th XI 10/184 v St Kilda 4th XI 10/253. Melbourne 4th XI 5-d/272. Camberwell Magpies 4th XI 10/66 & 6/145. Carlton 4th XI 1-d/172 & 1/85 v Dandenong 4th XI 10/134 & 10/122. Richmond 4th XI 9-d/ 114 & 5/130 v Casey South Melbourne 4th XI 10/99 & 10/144. Kingston Hawthorn 4th XI 10/ 122 & 9/51 v Frankston Peninsula 4th XI 3-d/ 127 & 1/47. Prahran 4th XI 10/155 & 1/68 v Footscray 4th XI 9-d/201. Melbourne University 4th XI 6/141 v Northcote 4th XI 10/52. Essendon 4th XI 10/209 v Fitzroy Doncaster 4th XI 8-d/329. Greenvale Kangaroos 4th XI 10/102 & 4/29 v Geelong 4th XI 10/187 & 2-d/ 91.

Sub-District

■ East West 1st XI. Two Days. Sats., feb. 21 and 28. Balwyn 1st XI 10/133 v Yarraville 1st XI 3/137. Bayswater 1st XI 9-d/306 v Endeavour Hills 1st XI 10/165 & 10/127. Box Hill 1st XI 10/181 v Hoppers Crossing 1st XI 10/292. Croydon 1st XI 10/265 v Werribee 1st XI 8/ 271. Altona 1st XI 4-d/98 & 4/64 v Donvale 1st XI 10/51 & 10/110. Melton 1st XI 10/120 v Noble Park 1st XI 7/121. Taylors Lakes 1st XI 7/320 v Mt Waverley 1st XI 10/180. Williamstown 1st XI 10/107 & 4/73 v Spotswood 1st XI 7/310

■ East West 2nd XI. Yarraville 2nd XI 10/166 v Balwyn 2nd XI 10/340. Endeavour Hills 2nd XI 10/233 v Bayswater 2nd XI 6/236. Hoppers Crossing 2nd XI 5-d/200 v Box Hill 2nd XI 10/156 & 4/105. Werribee 2nd XI 8/198 v Croydon 2nd XI 10/148. Donvale 2nd XI 10/ 187 v Altona 2nd XI 4/190. Noble Park 2nd XI 10/97 & 10/114 v Melton 2nd XI 4-d/246. Mt Waverley 2nd XI 9/245 v Taylors Lakes 2nd XI 10/140. Spotswood 2nd XI 10/143 v Williamstown 2nd XI 6/147.

■ North South 1st XI. Brunswick 1st XI 5-d/ 208 v Ivanhoe 1st XI 10/177 & 8/95. Preston 1st XI 8/250 v Ormond 1st XI 9/249. Strathmore 1st XI 10/153 v Plenty Valley 1st XI 10/196. Caulfield 1st XI 9-d/174 v Moorabbin 1st XI 10/70 & 10/43. Elsternwick 1st XI 10/138 & 2/70 v Brighton 1st XI 7-d/ 242. Malvern 1st XI 4-d/225 v St Bernard's OC 1st XI 9/223. Oakleigh 1st XI 9/277 v Coburg 1st XI 10/77 & 7/140. Port Melbourne 1st XI 10/186 v Kew 1st XI 10/238

■ North South 2nd XI. Ivanhoe 2nd XI 10/ 133 & 8/117 v Brunswick 2nd XI 10/121 & 10/127. Ormond 2nd XI 10/190 v Preston 2nd XI 2/211. Plenty Valley 2nd XI 10/218 v Strathmore 2nd XI 4/219. Moorabbin 2nd XI 10/34 & 10/97 v Caulfield 2nd XI 2-d/97 & 2/35. Brighton 2nd XI 8-d/205 v Elsternwick 2nd XI 10/132 & 3/80. St Bernard's OC 2nd XI 10/229 v Malvern 2nd XI 6/230. Coburg 2nd XI 10/123 v Oakleigh

2nd XI 7/189. Kew 2nd XI 10/148 & 0/53 v Port Melbourne 2nd XI 8-d/207

■ North West 3rd XI Division 1. Hoppers Crossing 3rd XI 10/296 v Brunswick 3rd XI 9/345. Melton 3rd XI 10/131 v Werribee 3rd XI 10/56 & 2/39. St Bernard's OC 3rd XI 10/ 176 v Plenty Valley 3rd XI 10/72 & 10/60. Taylors Lakes 3rd XI 10/204 v Preston 3rd XI 10/160.

■ North West 3rd XI Division 2. Coburg 3rd XI 10/105 v Altona 3rd XI 8/257. Spotswood 3rd XI 10/153 v Ivanhoe 3rd XI 3/155. Strathmore 3rd XI 10/264 v Yarraville 3rd XI 10/79. Williamstown 3rd XI 10/368 v Kew 3rd XI 6/154.

■ North West 4th XI Division 1. Brunswick 4th XI 10/203 v Hoppers Crossing 4th XI 6/ 239. Werribee 4th XI 10/137 v Melton 4th XI 0/21. Plenty Valley 4th XI 10/220 v St Bernard's OC 4th XI 10/216. Preston 4th XI 10/152 v Taylors Lakes 4th XI 10/58

■ North West 4th XI Division 2. Altona 4th XI 10/241 v Coburg 4th XI 10/40 & 10/88. Ivanhoe 4th XI 4/31 v Spotswood 4th XI 10/128. Yarraville 4th XI 10/299 v Strathmore 4th XI 10/242. Kew 4th XI 10/ 170 v Williamstown 4th XI 7/386

■ South East 3rd XI Division 1. Altona 4th XI 10/241 v Coburg 4th XI 10/40 & 10/88. Ivanhoe 4th XI 4/31 v Spotswood 4th XI 10/128. Yarraville 4th XI 10/299 v Strathmore 4th XI 10/242. Kew 4th XI 10/ 170 v Williamstown 4th XI 7/386

■ South East 3rd XI Division 2. Ormond 3rd XI 6/279 v Brighton 3rd XI 10/277. Noble Park 3rd XI 10/156 v Donvale 3rd XI 10/128 & 10/156. Box Hill 3rd XI 10/168 v Endeavour Hills 3rd XI 10/191. Moorabbin 3rd XI 10/115 v Port Melbourne 3rd XI 9/539.

■ South East 4th XI Division 1. Croydon 4th XI 10/74 v Balwyn 4th XI 10/300. Mt Waverley 4th XI 10/171 v Elsternwick 4th XI 10/127. Oakleigh 4th XI 9/230 v Malvern 4th XI 8/185. Caulfield 4th XI 10/204 v Bayswater 4th XI 9/22 & 10/79.

■ South East 4th XI Division 2. Brighton 4th XI 2-d/282 v Ormond 4th XI 8/281. Donvale 4th XI 8/40 & 9/76 v Noble Park 4th XI 10/251. Endeavour Hills 4th XI 3-d/ 116 & 4/60 v Box Hill 4th XI 9/88 & 8/87. Port Melbourne 4th XI v Moorabbin 4th XI Forfeit

Diamond Valley

■ Barclay Shield. One Day. Bundoora United 1st XI 8/172 v Rosebank 1st XI 9/ 171. Heidelberg 1st XI 10/150 v Bundoora 1st XI 2/151. Macleod 1st XI 9/202 v Diamond Creek 1st XI 6/199. Riverside 1st XI 8/157 v Epping 1st XI 3/159. Rosanna 1st XI 3/128 v North Eltham Wanderers 1st XI 8/127.

■ Money Shield. Plenty 1st XI 3/183 v Montmorency 1st XI 6/182. Greensborough 1st XI 10/118 v Banyule 1st XI 10/142. Mernda 1st XI 9/139 v Eltham 1st XI /144. Bundoora Park 1st XI 4/170 v Research Eltham Collegians 1st XI 10/120. Lalor Stars 1st XI 9/182 v Lower Plenty 1st XI 7/ 192

■ Mash Shield. Hurstbridge 1st XI 6/227 v Old Ivanhoe Grammarians CC 1st XI 10/ 220. Mill Park 1st XI 9/151 v South Morang 1st XI 10/133. Lower Eltham 1st XI 9/202 v Laurimar 1st XI 10/98. Thomastown 1st XI 10/69 v Rivergum 1st XI 0/72. Thomastown United 1st XI 7/164 v Panton Hill 1st XI 6/ 147. Keon Park CC 1st XI 10/141 v Dennis 1st XI 10/83.

■ B-Grade. Banyule 2nd XI 9/144 v Rosanna 2nd XI 5/146. Diamond Creek 2nd XI 3/109 v Plenty 2nd XI 7/108. Research Eltham Collegians 2nd XI 5/143 v Heidelberg 2nd XI 10/141. North Eltham Wanderers 2nd XI 8/203 v Mernda 2nd XI 9/128. Montmorency 2nd XI 5/122 v Riverside 2nd XI 10/121

■ C-Grade. Bundoora 2nd XI 10/104 v Lalor Stars 2nd XI 9/146. Eltham 2nd XI 4/ 189 v Bundoora United 2nd XI 8/141. South Morang 2nd XI 8/145 v Greensborough 2nd XI 6/146. Lower Plenty 2nd XI 0/113 v Macleod 2nd XI 10/109. Rivergum 2nd XI 10/175 v Riverside 3rd XI 5/180

■ D-Grade. North Eltham Wanderers 3rd XI 8/209 v Keon Park CC 2nd XI 9/170. Laurimar 2nd XI 7/187 v Lower Plenty 3rd XI 9/130. Montmorency 3rd XI 10/177 v Mill Park 2nd XI 9/175. Panton Hill 2nd XI 7/ 195 v Diamond Creek 3rd XI 10/159. Rosebank 2nd XI 5/152 v Bundoora Park 2nd XI 5/154. Old Ivanhoe Grammarians CC 2nd XI 10/82 v Hurstbridge 2nd XI 1/85

■ E-Grade. South Morang 3rd XI 1/78 v Thomastown 2nd XI 10/76. Dennis 2nd XI

4/159 v Thomastown United 2nd XI 5/160. Greensborough 3rd XI 8/149 v Mernda 3rd XI 6/150. Riverside 4th XI 8/152 v Lower Eltham 2nd XI 5/179. Bye: Banyule 3rd XI

■ F1-Grade. Rivergum 3rd XI 7/300 v Greensborough 4th XI 9/130. Laurimar 3rd XI 7/114 v Bundoora United 3rd XI 7/113. Banyule 4th XI 4/66 v Eltham 3rd XI 10/62. Dennis 3rd XI 10/118 v Research Eltham Collegians 3rd XI 6/122. Macleod 3rd XI 1/ 92 v Whittlesea 1st XI 9/89

■ F2-Grade. Research Eltham Collegians 4th XI 9/150 v Banyule 5th XI 8/146. Lower Plenty 4th XI 7/242 v Montmorency 4th XI 8/122. Hurstbridge 3rd XI 7/120 v South Morang 4th XI 10/103. Greensborough 5th XI 10/119 v Mernda 4th XI 4/201. Bye: Riverside 5th XI

Eastern

■ Dunstan Shield. Two Days. Sats., Feb. 21 and 28. Mont Albert 1st XI 10/220 v Bulleen 1st XI 8/240. North Balwyn 1st XI 10/282 v Old Carey 1st XI 10/100 & 5/61. Edinburgh 1st XI 10/70 v East Malvern Tooronga 1st XI 6/275. Glen Iris 1st XI 9/ 153 v East Doncaster 1st XI 10/264. ■ Wright Shield. Deepdene Bears 1st XI 10/165 v Heathmont 1st XI 10/254. Marcellin OC 1st XI 9/152 & 9/135 v Mulgrave 1st XI 10/103 & 9-d/190. Canterbury 1st XI 10/139 & 4/86. Ashburton Willows 1st XI 10/117 & 9-d/173. Richmond City 1st XI 10/104 v Surrey Hills 1st XI 9/ 240

■ A Turf. Boronia 1st XI 10/117 v Burwood 1st XI 10/132. Balwyn Saints 1st XI 7/217 v Mont Albert 2nd XI 10/153. Mazenod OC 1st XI 6-d/140 & 0/84 v Hawthorn Boroondara 1st XI 10/59 & 10/163. Old Carey 2nd XI 10/114 v Ashwood 1st XI 5/ 311.

■ B Turf. Heathmont 2nd XI 10/289 v Deepdene Bears 2nd XI 6/290. St. Kevins Old Boys 1st XI 10/119 v North Balwyn 2nd XI 10/294. East Doncaster 2nd XI 10/179 v Richmond Union 1st XI 8/253. Bulleen 2nd XI 7-d/197 v Canterbury 2nd XI 10/66 & 10/ 122.

■ C Turf. Hawthorn Boroondara 2nd XI 4d/413 v La Trobe University 1st XI 10/71. East Malvern Tooronga 2nd XI 10/130 & 4/ 238 v Edinburgh 2nd XI 8-d/261. Burwood 2nd XI 4/226 v Boronia 2nd XI 10/223. Mulgrave 2nd XI 9-d/87 v Glen Iris 2nd XI 10/86 & 3/85.

■ D Turf. Surrey Hills 2nd XI 10/75 & 10/ 160 v Richmond City 2nd XI 5-d/220 & 0/ 16. Ashwood 2nd XI 10/242 v Old Carey 3rd XI 9/265. Ashburton Willows 2nd XI 9-d/207 v Mazenod OC 2nd XI 10/134. Mont Albert 3rd XI v Marcellin OC 2nd XI 5/37

■ E Turf. East Malvern Tooronga 3rd XI 10/70 v Heathmont 3rd XI 10/245. La Trobe University 2nd XI 10/187 v Marcellin OC 3rd XI 8/188. Deepdene Bears 3rd XI 6/307 v Surrey Hills 3rd XI 8/110. Richmond Union 2nd XI 9/116 v Edinburgh 3rd XI 9-d/189. Hawthorn Boroondara 3rd XI 10/117 & 7/ 158 v Balwyn Saints 2nd XI 4-d/146.

Mornington Peninsula

■ Provincial Firsts. Two Days. Sats., Feb. 21 and 28. Baden Powell 1sts 6/129 v Mornington 1sts 10/109. Heatherhill 1sts 10/ 144 v Dromana 1sts 10/92. Sorrento 1sts 10/ 114 v Red Hill 1sts 10/179. Pines 1sts 6/215 v Langwarrin 1sts 10/212 ■ Peninsula Firsts. Rosebud 1sts 8/219 v Somerville 1sts 10/174. Mt Eliza 1sts 10/140 & 1/89 v Balnarring 1sts 10/109. Old Peninsula 1sts 5-d/289 v Long Island 1sts 9/180. Moorooduc 1sts 10/230 v Seaford CC 1sts 10/277

■ District Firsts. Main Ridge 1sts 10/139 v Rye 1sts 10/205. Carrum CC 1sts 10/169 v Crib Point 1sts 8/228. Boneo 1sts 9/142 v Flinders 1sts 10/132. Seaford Tigers 1sts 7/ 124 v Carrum Downs 1sts 10/78

■ Sub-District Firsts. Tyabb 1sts 8/155 v Skye 1sts 10/151. Frankston YCW 1st 7/226 v Delacombe Park 1sts 10/222. Baxter 1sts 3-d/324 & 4/91 v Ballam Park 1sts 10/96. Bye: Mt Martha 1sts, Pearcedale 1sts, Tootgarook 1sts.

North Metro

■ Jika Shield. Two Days. Sats., Feb. 21 and 28. Fiji Victorian CC 1st XI 10/78 v Olympic Colts CC 1st XI 10/163. Camrea Stingrays CC 1st XI 10/139 v Preston Baseballers CC 1st XI 3/143. Northern Socials CC 1st XI 2/210 v Donath CC 1st XI 10/209.

■ Jack Quick Shield. Cameron CC 1st XI 10/129 v Strathewen Cougars CC 1stXI 10/ 190. Bellfield Bulls CC 1st XI 10/87 & 5/120 v Fiji Victorian CC 2nd XI 4-d/199. Reservoir Cobras CC 1st XI 10/135 v West Preston CC 1st XI 9/125

■ Jack Kelly Shield. Preston Baseballers CC 2nd XI 10/224 v Preston YCW District 1st XI 10/252. Ivanhoe Mavericks CC 1st XI 8/249 v Royal Park Reds 3rd XI 10/248. West Preston CC 2nd XI 10/165 v Fairfield CC 1st XI 7/167

■ B-Grade. Fiji Victorian CC 3rd XI 10/170 v Bellfield Bulls CC 2nd XI 10/84. West Preston CC 3rd XI 10/146 v Wollert Rhinos CC 1st XI 10/220. Fairfield CC 2nd XI 8/78 & 10/121. Northern Socials CC 2s XI 3-d/ 116 & 2/84.

■ C-Grade. Bellfield Bulls CC 4th XI Forfeit v Fiji Victorian CC 4th XI. Preston Baseballers CC 3rd XI 9/243 v Camrea Stingrays CC 2nd XI 7/248. Royal Park Reds 4th XI 10/151 & 6-d/117. Bellfield Bulls CC 3rd XI 10/163 & 3/108

■ Robert Young DODC. One Day. Preston YCW District OD 9/161 v Cameron CC OD 6/160. Kinglake CC OD v Camrea Stingrays CC OD Forfeit. Donath CC OD 10/72 v Olympic Colts CC OD 10/155.

Ringwood District

■ Lindsay Trollope Shield. Two Days. Sats., Feb. 21 and 28. St Andrews 1XI 10/ 208 v Montrose 1XI 10/123. Ainslie Park 1XI 4/348 v South Croydon 1XI 9/347. North Ringwood 1XI 10/169 v Croydon Ranges 1XI 10/144. Lilydale 1XI 7-d/248 v Norwood 1XI 5/251.

■ Bill Wilkins Cup. Kilsyth 1XI 9/214 v Vermont 1XI 9/372. Warranwood 1XI 10/213 v Wantirna South 1XI 10/83 & 9/154. Mt Evelyn 1XI 10/182 & 4/98 v Bayswater Park 1XI 3-d/183. East Ringwood 1XI 10/ 112 v Wonga Park 1XI 10/123. Moorool-bark 1XI 10/257 v Heatherdale 1XI 10/287. ■ Stuart Newy Plate. Healesville 1XI 10/ 189 v Yarra Junction 1XI 9/168. South Warrandyte 1XI 10/157 & 5-d/174. Chirnside Park 1XI 8-d/215 & 6/117. Heathwood 1XI 10/137 v Warrandyte 1XI 10/253. Seville Burras 1XI 10/154 v Templeton 1XI 7/155. ■ Steve Pascoe Shield. Norwood 2XI 10/ 78 v East Ringwood 2XI 9/231. Warran-dyte 2XI 4-d/230 v North Ringwood 2XI 10/164 & 3/41. South Croydon 2XI 10/164 v Ainslie Park 2XI 10/255. Montrose 2XI 9/170 v Croydon North 1XI 10/184.

■ Pat Meehan Shield. Templeton 2XI 8-d/181 v Lilydale 2XI 9/165. Croydon Ranges 2XI 10/113 & 7/270 v Eastfield 1XI 7-d/221. Wonga Park 2XI 10/178 v Warranwood 2XI 9/301. Lusatia Park 1XI 7-d/127 v Kilsyth 2XI 10/124 & 7/256 (73).

■ Ian Spencer Shield. Wantirna South 2XI 10/95 v South Warrandyte 2XI 5/98. Vermont 2XI 10/55 & 10/328 v St Andrews 2XI 4-d/156. Chirnside Park 2XI 10/214 v East Ringwood 3XI 10/103. Coldstream 1XI 9-d/269 v Heathwood 2XI 10/134 & 3/79. Heatherdale 2XI 10/71 v Mooroolbark 2XI 3/110.

South East

■ Longmuir Shield. Finals. First Day. Bentleigh Uniting 1 8-d/323 v Le Page Park 1. East Sandringham 1 7/387 v West Bentleigh 1

■ Woolnough Shield. Elwood 1 7/326 v Omega 1. Mackie 1 9/240 v Cluden 1.

■ Quiney Shield. Omega 2 v Hampton United 1 10/339. Bentleigh Uniting 2 v Le Page Park 2

■ Pullen Shield. Cluden 2 0/25 v Kingston Heath 2 10/170. Mackie 2 10/245 v Elwood 2

■ E-Grade. CUCC Kings 4 9/275 v Southside East Caulfield 1. Melbourne Districts United 1 5/60 v South East Oakleigh 1 10/124.

Western

■ A-Grade. One Day. West Point Titans 2nd XI 9/182 v Altona Sports 1st XI 9/194. Truganina Strikers CC Yellow 1st XI 10/122 v Manor Lakes 2nd XI 6/123. Williams Landing SC 1st

B-Grade.

STRAIGHT SIX AWAITS TENTYRIS

■ Unlike a Big Six, Pick Six and Super Six, the Straight Six isn’t one of the many types of bets punters are able to choose from these days.

Rather, this is a reference to the Flemington 1200 metres (six furlongs prior to 1973) where the horses jump from the same start as the Melbourne Cup , but don’t go on to travel a lap of the track.

In fact, over the years, the Newmarket Handicap has been known unofficially as the Melbourne Cup for sprinters.

Both races are handicaps, intended to give every horse a fair chance of winning, whereby it isn’t always the thoroughbred with the best credentials who carries the day.

Despite this, since 1874, many greats of the Australian turf have overcome a significant weight disadvantage to achieve victory.

Among them are Malua (1884), Bernborough (1946) and Black Caviar (2011).

This Saturday (Mar. 7) at Flemington , star three-year-old colt Tentyris will be asked to shoulder more weight than many older and more experienced rivals.

Just two years ago, then three-year-old colt Cylinder only had to carry 51.5 kilograms when first home in the Newmarket. Time will tell if connections consider he is up to this challenge.

Certainly, the bookmakers believe so, as the son of Street Boss has been an oddson favourite for the race since he gave his opposition a start and a beating in the recent Lightning Stakes.

Tentyris has had just eight starts, each at Group or Listed level, with his first outing his only unplaced run.

Since then, he has recorded five wins, one second and one third placing.

His past two trips to the races have netted two Group 1 successes.

It is also considered 1200 metres is his best distance, as he has posted three wins and one second from four starts at that trip.

Flemington would have to be his favourite track, having had four starts at the course for three wins and one third.

So, everything points towards Tentyris if he lines up on the day.

If not, the following horses have shown enough to win in his absence:

My Gladiola

Has met Tentyris on four occasions, with the star colt beating this filly home three times.

However, the daughter of I Am Invincible will be advantaged by the handicap conditions here.

She resumed from a spell finishing second in the Lightning Stakes and has always performed well at her subsequent start.

Angel Capital

Ignore his unplaced effort recently behind Joliestar in the Expressway Stakes at Randwick

He became fractious in the barriers and underwent a veterinary examination before being allowed to start.

Then on jumping away, lost ground when badly crowded by other horses and raced keenly thereafter.

Caballus

Scored wins at Flemington and Doomben over this distance late last year

Rod Basto Observer Racing

before being freshened up. Came out and finished a solid second in the Expressway Stakes, also at 1200 metres. Is certain to have benefited from that run.

All Star Mile

■ Another highlight on this Super Saturday of racing at Flemington is the Group 1 All-Star Mile.

Run at weight-for-age over 1600 metres, this feature event was only added to the racing calendar for the first time in 2019.

The most recent winners have been Zaaki (2022), Mr Brightside (2023), Pride Of Jenni (2024) and last year, Tom Kitten Chances abound in this renewal, and they include the past two winners: Pride Of Jenni

In November 2024, it was thought this sweetheart of Australian racing was ready for retirement.

However, she returned to the track and won four of her eight starts last year.

A first-up tilt at the All-Star Mile is now on the agenda and there is no doubting her credentials, despite being eight years old.

Treasurethe Moment

Appeared a little disappointing when beaten as an odds-on favourite after leading in the Futurity Stakes

Can’t be written off though, as she should improve with that run under her belt.

Has an ultra-consistent race record and should remain competitive in anything she contests.

Tom Kitten

Launched his current campaign coming from well back and wide to win at Caulfield over 1400 metres.

Last year’s winner out for back-to-back wins.

No reason why he can’t do it again.

Horses To Follow

■ Simply Steffi

■ Sheza Alibi

■ Buckaroo

■ Leica Lucy

■ Terilee

Racing Calendar

■ Wednesday, March 4: Caulfield Heath

■ Thursday, March 5: Cranbourne

■ Friday, March 6: Kilmore, Pakenham

■ Saturday, March 7: Flemington, Edenhope, Towong, Hinnomunjie

■ Sunday, March 8: Echuca, Stony Creek, Balnarring

■ Monday, March 9: Warrnambool

■ Tuesday, March 10: Ballarat

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MOTHER JILL

■ Western District racing at Hamilton commenced the week on Monday February 23 with a eight race program on a lightning fast track and Scotts Creek partowner/trainer Xavier O’Connor was the big winner of the day after snaring the 2160 metre Vale Heather Wills Maiden Pace with 3Y0 Stay Hungary-Security Code gelding Decode at the massive odds of $34.

Raced in partnership with mother Jill, Decode who was responsible for a close up second to Keayang Simba at Terang ten days earlier when making his race debut, came out running from gate five to cross the odds-on favourite Keayang Alabama (gate two).

Allowed to roll along without any pressure being applied, Decode gave his rivals the slip prior to the final bend to score by a huge 26.2 metre margin in a 1-55.7 mile rate from brother Nicholas’ 4Y0 Betting Line-Roman Abbey (gate four – one/one –three wide last lap), with Colosimo (gate three – one/two) third 1.1 metres back for Camperdown duo Gary and Darryl Lawlor in an all Western District trifecta which paid $2775.90, with the family quinella paying $297.60.

■ Stawell trainer/driver Jason Ainsworth was victorious with 6Y0 American IdealRed Hot Rita gelding Optimal in the Permewans Mitre 10 Hamilton Pace over 1660 metres.

Raced by partner Natasha Raven, Optimal after being trapped three wide from gate six went forward to drop behind the leader Livermere (gate two) racing for the bell.

Angling away from the inside approaching the home turn to be one/one on the back of Shewillwantano (three wide to outside the leader from a solo second line draw) which dashed to the front on turning, Optimal gave chase to blouse him by 1.1 metres returning a mile rate of 1-54.5. Huxham Chubb after being restrained at the start to the tail from gate six, Raced in-between runners in the last lap for third 3.5 metres back.

■ Seven year old Devilish Smile-Our Skinny Maree gelding Ooh Ah Listah trained at Harkness by Joanne Justice was on his best behavier to land the 1660 metre Team Teal Awareness Month Pace. Slotting in nicely one/two from inside the second line for cousin Leilani Justice as Starsinhereyes and Jordie Leedham flew way from outside the front line to lead, Ooh Ah Listah after easing wide approaching the home turn ran home strongly to gain the day by 2.3 metres in advance of a deathseating Bizzie Lizzie (gate five), with Starzinhereyes holding down third 4.2 metres back. The mile rate a very fast 152.7.

■ Mount Gambier trainer/driver David Drury’s 8Y0 Guaranteed-Harbhahay gelding Roblen Ranger raced by a very large syndicate was a tough victor of the Alexandra House Sports Club Pace over 2160 metres.

Going forward to race outside the pacemaker Ocean Avenue (gate three) also from the Mount, Roblen Ranger gave plenty to register a head margin over Mister Americano (one/two – three wide last lap from solo on the second line, with Ocean Avenue holding down third a nose away in a tremendous finish. The mile rate 1-58.2.

Shepparton

■ Tuesday’s Shepparton fixture came to an end very early in the night following torrential rain and lots of lightning activity –the only race held was the 1690 metre Efex Pace taken out by Charlton trainer John Tormey’s 11Y0 Betterthancheddar-Dee Cee Cullen gelding Eastbro Jesse.

Driven by Jack Laugher, Eastbro Jesse after a cosy one/one trip from gate three with Binalong Bay (gate five) leading and handing over to Keayang Santiago (gate six), eased three wide on the final bend to record an easy 8.8 metre margin in advance of Just Pedro (gate two) which followed him everywhere. Keayang Santiago held third 4.1 metres back. The mile rate 1-54.8.

Maryborough

■ Maryborough home of the trotter raced on Wednesday with a most interesting meeting and 78 year old Carlsruhe trainer Jack Sullivan who loves his harness racing

was victorious with home bred Majestic Son-Nicky Newky filly Chantilly Lass in the Aldebaran Park Maiden Trotters Mobile over 2190 metres.

Driven by Jodi Quinlan, Chantilly Lass (gate six) making her fourth race appearance was trapped in the open through the early stages as Metro Swish (gate three) led before dropping to the back of the leader.

Using the sprint lane, Chantilly Lass was too strong over the concluding stages to score by 1.5 metres in a mile rate of 2-05.1. Kyvalley Joker (six pegs from a solo second line draw) was eased to race exposed for the last lap and finished third 10 metres back.

■ Astute Haddon trainer/driver Damian Burns produced a smart Ride HighOurlittle Princess colt by the name of Themidnightexpress on debut to lead throughout in the 1690 metre Vital Signs Vicbred Voucher 2Y0 Pace over 1690 metres.

Although tackled strongly by another on debut Crippa (a colt by Poster Boy) on the final bend after racing exposed from gate six, Themidnightexpress refused to give in, recording a 2.1 metre margin in a rate of 201.7. Polemarker La Cantarice a Poster Boy filly on debut was third a nose away after trailing the winner from the bell.

■ The 1690 metre Benstud Standardbred Pace saw Bacchus Marsh trainer Jess Tubbs in the winners stall when 11Y0 Village Jot-Kano Phoebe gelding Lenard Ess raced by her and mother Kate greeted the judge. With Jordy Leedham in the sulky, Lenard Ess after settling well back in the field from the extreme draw gained a sweet three wide trail home on the back of Breathe Easy one/two ahead of him to extricate four wide on turning and run on best to blouse Breathe Easy by a nose in a tricky finish. Caruso Star came from the tail for third 9 metres away. The mile rate 1-58.1.

■ Melton owner/trainer Steve Alexandrou’s 10Y0 Great Success-Majestic Eclipse gelding Allwatfunjingles repaid him for some terrific runs against the top class horses of late by taking the 2190 metre Worlds Best Hoof Oil Trotters Mobile in a 2-03.3 mile rate.

Driven by Chris Alford, Allwatfunjingles after going forward from gate five was able to cross the leader Atego Dawn (gate two) shortly after the start and rated well, proved too strong for Azalea Mae (gate three - one/one – three wide last lap) by 9.2 metres which was given every chance. Night Flight (outside front line) came from a mile back to be four wide on the final bend for fourth 6.4 metres back.

Kilmore

■ It was Kilmore on Thursday with a eight race card and Myrniong trainer Jess Tubbs combined with ‘The Herbster” James Herbertson to pull off a big plunge in the first of eight races at Kilmore last Thursday February 26 when 4Y0 LennythesharkPembrook Caesar entire Ronnie The Hammer scored in the 2180 metre OKRFM Community Radio Pace.

Starting from gate four, Ronnie The Hammer began fast from gate four only to be trapped wide as Martyr (gate five) showed great speed to lead.

Gradually working forward to race outside the pacemaker, Ronnie The Hammer was given a breather when polemarker

Michen Roy came away from the back of the leader to race in the open giving Ronnie The Hammer one/one cover as the in-form Lilstrepo after being restrained to mid-field in the running line from outside the front line commenced a three wide surge forward racing for the bell only to be trapped wide for the remainder of the trip.

Easing three wide in the straight with the winning post looming, Ronnie The Hammer backed into $1.60 got the judge’s nod by a head from Martyr which shifted ground on turning allowing Hittheroadjack (three pegs from gate two second line –behind leader last lap) to use the sprint lane to dead-heat for second in a thrilling finish. The mile rate 1-57.6.

■ Pipers Creek (Kyneton) trainer Tony Xiriha combined with Kyneton’s Joe Attard to land the 2180 metre Picklebet ‘Get Your Pickle On’ Trotters Mobile with 11Y0 Red Samurai-Spinster Clare gelding Buslin Brody returning a 2-02.7 mile rate.

Starting from the extreme draw, Buslin Brodie settled four back in the moving line as poleline Massif Central was challenged strongly by Tubs Now Slim (gate two) which began equally as well but couldn’t cross settling one/one after April Sun (gate four) went forward from three back to join Massif Central who was given no peace.

While all this was going on, Buslin Brody after switching to the markers received inside runs to trail the leader. Held up when April Sun got the better of Massif Central and kicked clear, Buslin Brody was able to follow Midnite Muscle (one/two – outside April Sun on the final bend) after extricating from the inside and ran home best to prevail easily by 9.4 metres from a game April Sun, with Midnite Muscle 4.6 metres away third. The mile rate 2-02.7. It was Buslin Brody’s 15th success in 129 outings.

The C&M Build Group Pace over 1690 metres saw Moolerr (St Arnaud) partowner/trainer Denis McIntyre combine with Michael Bellman aboard honest exKiwi 5Y0 gelding Shudaboughtaboat. Caught three wide from gate four with Sweet Face (gate three) leading, Shudaboughtaboat crossed to the front prior to the bell and although inclined to hang and run about, reached the wire 3.2 metres clear of Sweet Face and Rennie Tin Tin (gate six) which went forward to race exposed for the last lap third 2.3 metres away. The winner unbackable at $1.10 saved punters from that sinking feeling hitting the wire.

■ Seventy three year old Acadia trainer John McLean who has been involved in harness racing since a youngster was victorious in the Broadstead Kilmore Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres with 4Y0 Majestic Son-Sunday Service gelding Bumper Service much to the delight of long time participant Terry Woodyard who races him. Driven by Chris Alford, Bumper Service led from gate five before allowing Spanish Rizardo (three wide to outside the leader from outside the front line) to take over mid-race.

Using the sprint lane, Bumper Service finished best to record a 1.9 metre victory over Spanish Rizardo which showed a win isn’t too far away. Money Talks (gate two –four pegs – one/two last lap – three wide home turn) was third 4.4 metres away and also looks to be a coming winner. The mile rate 2-03.2.

Ararat

■ Friday was Ararat Pacing and Trotting Cup night with both races carrying a purse of $20,000 in a neat program of racing.

The 2195 metre Ararat Advocate Pacing Cup going the way of Mount Wallace trainer Kyle Marshall with ex-Kiwi 5Y0 gelding Ata Rangi.

Crossing polemarker Madrigal from gate four shortly after the start, Ata Rangi driven by Jordy Leedham led throughout in a gutsy victory after the favourite Meteor Moth from the extreme draw was sent forward with a rush to tackle the leader in earnest but was unable to cross.

Kicking clear approaching the final bend with Madigan (gate two second line) which had been three wide from the bell issuing a challenge, the pair went head and head to the wire with Ata Rangi stalling off the challenge to win by a half head in a thrilling finish.

Madrigal along the sprint lane held third 4.1 metres back a nose ahead of Maxy

This Week

■ Wednesday – Bendigo, Thursday –Ballarat, Friday – Mildura/Melton, Saturday – Melton, Sunday – Birchip – much anticipated Running Of The Bulls and Cup/ Wangaratta (Cup), Tuesday – Echuca.

Wants To Play (three pegs from inside the second line) which was checked in the last lap. In quarters of 29.1, 29.9, 28.2 and 30.1, Ata Rangi returned a 1-55.9 mile rate only two tenths of a second outside Perfect Stride’s 1-55.7 set in 2022.

■ The Ararat Pre Mix King Trotters Cup over 2570 metres saw Fieldstone (Melton District) trainer Vince Dicocco victorious with most consistent 7Y0 Creatine-Muscle Ruby gelding More Wanted. Raced by Vince in partnership with Mark Del-Re and a large group of family and friends, More Wanted driven by Bendigo’s Jack Laugher stepped cleanly from 20 metres to settle one/one as polemarker Im Above The Law led.

Pushed back a spot when Avant Guard (10m – one/two) took off mid-race to make an unsuccessful bid for the front running, More Wanted after easing three wide in the last lap sprinted sharply to join the leaders on the home turn, continuing the move to gain the judges nod by a nose from Avant Guard and Our Marvella (20m – one/three) which flew late out wide to cut Maximez (gate two – behind leader) out of third by a nose after using the sprint lane.

In quarters of 30.9, 30.4, 29.3 and 29.9 after a lead time of 77.4 seconds, More Wanted returned a mile rate of 2-03 - 1.9 seconds outside Aldebaran Vera’a 2-02.2 set last year.

■ Veteran 83-year-old Coimadai trainer Graeme Whittle has never lost his enthusiasm for the sport and snared the Hotondo Homes Trotterrs Handicap over 2165 metres with 9Y0 Skyvalley-Kyvalley Diva gelding Floating Mountain who is a most reliable source and never far away in his races.

Driven by son Matthew who also races the horse, Floating Mountain starting from 30 metres was smartly away to settle three back in the moving line as the roughie Brown Eyed Kate began best to lead from barrier two.

In what was a winning move, Floating Mountain was sent forward three wide to join the leader Ataboy Charlie which had taken over within a lap racing for the bell and in a two horse war on turning, Floating Mountain got the stride in to record a 1.2 metre margin. Sonarmi Joh (30m – one two) three wide home turn was third a metre away. The mile rate 2-05.5.

Newcastle

■ What a night it was for Cranbourne’s Scott Ewen at Newcastle (NSW) on Friday winning three races on the program including the $100,000 (Group 2) Newcastle Mile with evergreen 11Y0 Art Official-My Riviera Girl gelding Bulletproof Boy.

With James Herbertson in the sulky, Bulletproof Boy awkwardly drawn outside the front line was taken back to the tail as ex Victorian Cheerstolou led from gate three. Still last hitting the back straight, Bulletproof Boy followed both the raging hot favourite Rakero Rocket (gate four - one/ one) and Bainbridge (gate seven -one/two) into the final bend and after easing to the extreme outside on turning, motored to the wire to record a 1-50 mile rate in defeating Rakero Rocket by 1.2 metres, with Bainbridge 2.8 metres away third. (Last half 54.8 – quarter 27.9).

Scott Ewen in what was probably his biggest night ever also snarned the Garrards Horse & Hound Pace with Bulletproof Kid (Ewa Justice) and the 2HD Breakfast With Richard King Pace with Tara Victory (James Herbertson).

Len Baker

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For the record Marta Popa© nee Servanis, on Victoria, is permanently domiciled on the Land and Soil of Terra Australis. I am not a voluntary transactor in commerce, and the paramount security interest holder of all estates, property, assets and collateral, both registered and unregistered, and all associated copyright protected trade names. My lawful Conveyance to the Land and Soil jurisdiction of Terra Australis was recorded with Public Recording Number RPP44 63900 05100 38541 62601 on Proclamation Date10th September 2025, respectively. All usufruct subjugation ties have been severed with the occupying corporate government of Australia. The corporate Australian kakistocracy and its affiliates are instructed to immediately cease and desist misaddressing Marta Popa© nee Servanis in fraudulent debased Dog-Latin, GLOSSA and to cease and desist infringing upon my estate, property, assets, collateral and copyright protected trade names.

Seeking John and Peggy Bailey in Coolaroo - Victoria Please contact Sylvia Hall. Now living in Katoomba NSW. Email: sylvia85hall@gmail.com /steve.hall70@yahoo.com

NOTICES

NOTICE OF AN APPLICATION FOR A PLANNING PERMIT APPLICATION DETAILS

Application reference number: P24/0977.01

Applicant name: ARC ENG DESIGN

The Land affected by this application is located at:

114 BRADFORD ROAD MOUNT MARTHA LOT 9 LP 7096 VOL 8459 FOL 004

The application is to amend permit number by: AMENDING THE PLANS / DOCUMENTS ENDORSED UNDER THE PERMIT GENERALLY INVOLVING:

• Increase maximum building height from 5.92 metres to 7.88 metres.

• Increase maximum wall height from 4.867 meters to 6.865 meters.

• Increase building setback from eastern side boundary from 1.50 meters to 1.99 meters.

• Reduce extent of earthworks.

• Vary restrictive covenant AY864038X affecting the land described as Lot 9 on Plan of Subdivision 007096 on Volume 8459 Folio 004 by amending item (a) (building envelopes) by replacing building heights fixed by Australian Height Datum (AHD) level ‘118.85’ with new levels.

The Responsible Authority will not decide on the application before: 18 MARCH 2026

How can I find out more? You may look at the application and any documents that support the application free of charge at: www.mornpen.vic.gov.au

You may also call (03) 5950 1010 to arrange a time to look at the application and any documents that support the application at the office of the responsible authority, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. This can be done during office hours and is free of charge.

Privacy Notification: The personal information provided in an objection is collected for planning purposes in accordance with the Planning & Environment Act 1987 (the Act). The public may view an objection in accordance with Section 57 of the Act whilst the planning application is current

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NOTICE OF AN APPLICATION FOR A PLANNING PERMIT APPLICATION DETAILS

Application reference number: P25/2237

Applicant name: B KONDOS

The Land affected by this application is located at: 41 NAVIGATOR STREET MCCRAE LOT 1 PS 647182 VOL 11508 FOL 255

The application is for a permit to: DEVELOP DOUBLE STOREY DWELLING AND VARY RESTRICTIVE COVENANT PS647182H BY:

•DELETING THE WORDS “THE REGISTERED PROPRIETOR OR PROPRIETORS FOR THE TIME BEING OF LOT 1 ON THIS PLAN OF SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT CONSTRUCT OR ALLOW TO BE CONSTRUCTED A BUILDING OUTSIDE THE AREA SHOWN HATCHED ON THE DIAGRAM BELOW”

•AND REPLACING WITH THE WORDS “THE REGISTERED PROPRIETOR OR PROPRIETORS FOR THE TIME BEING OF LOT 1 ON THIS PLAN OF SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT CONSTRUCT OR ALLOW TO BE CONSTRUCTED ANY BUILDING (EXCEPT FOR SUNBLINDS, VERANDAHS, PORCHES, EAVES, FACIAS, GUTTERS, MASONRY CHIMNEYS, FLUES, PIPES, DOMESTIC FUEL OR WATER TANKS, HEATING OR COOLING EQUIPMENT OR SERVICES, LANDINGS WITH AN AREA OF NOT MORE THAN 2sqm AND LESS THAN 1m HIGH, STAIRS, RAMPS, PAVERS, RETAINING WALLS, PERGOLAS, SHADE SAILS, SWIMMING POOL AND ASSOCIATED OUTBUILDINGS OF AREA NOT EXCEEDING 25sqm) OUTSIDE THE AREA SHOWN HATCHED ON THE DIAGRAM BELOW UNLESS WITH THE FURTHER WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA SHIRE COUNCIL. •VARYING THE BUILDING ENVELOPE DIAGRAM

A PERMIT IS REQUIRED UNDER THE FOLLOWING CLAUSE OF THE PLANNING SCHEME:

PLANNING SCHEME CLAUSEMATTER FOR WHICH A PERMIT IS REQUIRED

Clause 43.02-2 (DDO3) Construct a building or construct or carry out works

Clause 43.02-2 (DDO3)Construct a fence

Clause 52.02 (Easement,Create, vary or remove an Restrictions and reserves)easement or restriction

The Responsible Authority will not decide on the application before: 23 MARCH 2026

How can I find out more? You may look at the application and any documents that support the application free of charge at: www.mornpen.vic.gov.au

You may also call (03) 5950 1010 to arrange a time to look at the application and any documents that support the application at the office of the responsible authority, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. This can be done during office hours and is free of charge.

Privacy Notification: The personal information provided in an objection is collected for planning purposes in accordance with the Planning & Environment Act 1987 (the Act). The public may view an objection in accordance with Section 57 of the Act whilst the planning application is current

NOTICE OF AN APPLICATION FOR A PLANNING PERMI APPLICATION DETAILS

Application reference number: P25/1989

Applicant name:

PRIME SURVEYING AND LAND DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

The Land affected by this application is located at: 1/2 & 2/2 MAINE STREET TOOTGAROOK

LOT 1 RP 14737 VOL 11003 FOL 698

LOT 2 RP 14737 VOL 11032 FOL 298

LOT CM RP 14737 VOL 12118 FOL 142

The application is for a permit to: VARY RESTRICTIVE COVENANT 1178130 ON COMMON PROPERTY ON PLAN OF STRATA SUBDIVISION 014737 VOL 12118 FOL 142 AND LOTS 1 & 2 ON PLAN OF STRATA SUBDIVISION 014737 VOL 11003 FOL 698 & VOL 11032 FOL298 BY DELETING THE WORDS “…COMPRISED IN ONE SINGLE-STORIED BUILDING.”

A permit is required under the following clauses of the planning scheme:

Planning Scheme Clause:Matters for which a permit is required

Clause 52.02Vary a restriction

The Responsible Authority will not decide on the application before: 18 MARCH 2026

How can I find out more? You may look at the application and any documents that support the application free of charge at: www.mornpen.vic.gov.au

You may also call (03) 5950 1010 to arrange a time to look at the application and any documents that support the application at the office of the responsible authority, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. This can be done during office hours and is free of charge.

Privacy Notification: The personal information provided in an objection is collected for planning purposes in accordance with the Planning & Environment Act 1987 (the Act). The public may view an objection in accordance with Section 57 of the Act whilst the planning application is current

NOTICE OF AN APPLICATION FOR A PLANNING PERMIT APPLICATION DETAILS

Application reference number: P26/0030

Applicant name:

PREMJEET SINGH FAMILY INVESTMENTS PTY LTD

The Land affected by this application is located at: 57 & 59 BAXTER-TOORADIN ROAD BAXTER and 2 EATON PLACE BAXTER

LOT 12 LP 112707 VOL 9099 FOL 055

LOT 13 LP 112707 VOL 9099 FOL 056 LOT 54 LP 94452 VOL 8938 FOL 761

The application is for a permit to: VARY THE FOLLOWING RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS BY DELETING (A) AND (E):

•COVENANT G598025 AFFECTING THE LAND DESCRIBED AS LOT 12

PS112707 VOL 09099 FOL 055

•COVENANT G651321 AFFECTING THE LAND DESCRIBED AS LOT 13

PS112707 VOL 09099 FOL 056

•COVENANT E957773 AFFECTING THE LAND DESCRIBED AS LOT 54

PS094452 VOL 08938 FOL 761

A permit is required under the following clauses of the planning scheme:

PLANNING SCHEME CLAUSE:

MATTERS FOR WHICH A PERMIT IS REQUIRED

CLAUSE: 52.02 CREATE. VARY OR REMOVE AN EASEMENT OR RESTRICTION

The Responsible Authority will not decide on the application before: 23 MARCH 2026

How can I find out more? You may look at the application and any documents that support the application free of charge at: www.mornpen.vic.gov.au

You may also call (03) 5950 1010 to arrange a time to look at the application and any documents that support the application at the office of the responsible authority, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. This can be done during office hours and is free of charge.

Privacy Notification: The personal information provided in an objection is collected for planning purposes in accordance with the Planning & Environment Act 1987 (the Act). The public may view an objection in accordance with Section 57 of the