June 5, 2026
12871783-VP23-26
Keep fighting the MND beast Just days after his brother Neale died, Terry Daniher (pictured in inset) was carrying the family torch in support of MND. For 13 years, Neale bravely took on what he called ‘The Beast’ that is MND. Neale’s older brother Terry was a willing participant in the Geelong Big Freeze at Elderslie Reserve on Sunday 31 May. The event raised more than $125,000 with sliders ranging from well known Olympian Mia Gross and Geelong midfielder Tanner Bruhn to locals such as James Elford, who dressed as Elvis, and Sergeant Mat Horan. The sliders were encouraged down to the icy water by Neale and Terry Daniher’s nephew and MND ambassador James Breust, a previous slider himself and current Drysdale footballer. It was the fifth annual Big Freeze for Geelong with the 2027 version promising to be just as big. For all the pictures from Geelong’s
Main: The sliders get ready for the Big Freeze. (Pictures: Ivan Kemp) 553595_12 Inset: Terry Daniher emerges from the icy water. 553595_33
Big Freeze DIY, see page 23.
Police CBD focus Geelong shoppers will see more police patrolling the CBD as Operation Pulse expands to the region. Victoria Police’s operation will see teams of police and Protective Services Officers (PSOs) patrolling key retail locations, including Westfield Geelong, Market Square and the Moorabool Street bus interchange. Western Region acting commander Michael Reid said Operation Pulse will run until the end of the year and complement the work of the Geelong CBD tasking team. “We’ve listened to our community, and
they’ve told us that they don’t feel safe,” he said. “Anyone coming to Geelong CBD to steal or cause a fight should know you will be met by police and swiftly arrested. “It (Operation Pulse) has been working at Melbourne retail outlets to prevent crime, and it’s been greatly successful there with over 1200 arrests and more than 2400 charges laid. “Barwon Health has also indicated that there’s been an increase in people presenting to hospital who have taken too much nitrous oxide.
“Studies have shown that it impacts young people who are taking it, so it’s something that we want to stop, especially if it’s affecting their behaviour.” Acting assistant commissioner and Operation Pulse commander Matthew Baynes said the operation had shown “great success at major shopping centres in Melbourne”. “The visible presence (of police and PSOs) not only prevents crime but improves the sense of safety, which is just as important,” he said. “We’re confident it will have a positive
Introducing Dr Mahwash Masood to our practice
impact in Geelong...and the feedback we’ve received so far from retailers and shoppers has been immensely positive.” The tasking team will continue to prioritise Little Malop and Moorabool Streets to help the community feel safer, despite crime data showing that offending was close to 25 per cent lower than before the pandemic. The team has made 14 arrests and laid 20 charges for a range of offences across the CBD over two weeks, including theft, aff ray, drug possession and public nuisance.
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