80KG COCAINE IMPORT PLOT
■ Two brothers with alleged links to international organised crime have been charged over a complex drug importation plot involving 80kg of cocaine.
The men appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday (Apr. 2) after the Australian Federal Police arrested them earlier in the day.
One of the men, 38, from Seabrook, was remanded in custody to reappear in court on July 23, while his brother, 32, from Sunshine, was released on bail to face court on the same day.
In early March, the AFP identified that a ‘rip crew’ – allegedly linked to the brothers – was looking to target a shipping container being held at the Port of Melbourne. A ‘rip crew’ is a group of professionals hired by criminal syndicates to retrieve illegally imported drugs from high-security areas.
The AFP worked with the Australian Border Force to identify and inspect the crew’s target container. ABF officers allegedly found more than 80kg of cocaine and two GPS trackers hidden inside the shipment of industrial machinery.
Police seized multiple mobile phones, blocks of the substituted illicit consignment, a high-powered rifle, two pistols, ammunition, various quantities of drugs, drug paraphernalia, cash and jewellery.
The Seabrook man, 38 was charged with:
■ One count of attempting possession of a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug, contrary to section 307.5(1) by virtue of section 11.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth);
■ One count of possessing a traffickable quantity of firearms, contrary to section 7C of the Firearms Act 1996 (Vic);
■ One count of possessing a controlled drug, contrary to section 308.1(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
■ One count of dealing in proceeds of crime worth $50,000 or more, contrary to section 400.5(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
He faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted.
The Sunshine man, 32, was charged with:
The AFP removed the illicit drugs and substituted them with an inert substance before returning the container to the shipping yard on March 9, to allow for covert surveillance. On March 10, two men, dressed in black clothes and
■ One count of possessing a controlled drug, contrary to section 308.1(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
He faces a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment if convicted.
allegedly broke into the precinct
and retrieved the inert substance
The cocaine had an estimated street value of about $32 million with the potential to equate to 40,000 individual street deals, had it reached the community.
AFP Detective Superintendent Simone Butcher said the result demonstrated the patterns and behaviours of criminal syndicates in the drug trafficking trade.
RAIDS AT MELTON
■ Echo Taskforce detectives last week charged six people, one a former patched member of the Rebels Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, and seized four firearms, two imitation firearms and various drugs of dependence following an investigation in drug and firearm trafficking.
Members from the Critical Incident Response Team arrested a 26-year-old Melton at his home address around 7am on Thursday morning (3 April).
With assistance from the VIPER Taskforce, North West Metro Regional Crime Squad, Melton Crime Investigation Unit and Dog Squad, five simultaneous search warrants were then executed at 7am at residential addresses in Melton (4) and Diggers Rest.
Six people were arrested, including:
170kmh in stolen vehicle
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● Police wantt to speak with this man ✖Hobsons Bay Crime Investigation Unit detectives are appealing for public assistance following a burglary in Spotswood. Investigators have been told a man attended a pop-up food market and entertainment complex on Booker Avenue, Spotswood about 2.50am on February 24. He broke into the venue through a locked gate and proceeded to break into a number of shipping containers used by the food vendors and steal cash from their tills. The man then left the venue. Investigators have released images and CCTV of a man they believe may be able to assist them.
✔Maribyrnong Council is looking at additional locations to provide new public toilet facilities to enhance and encourage the use of outdoor spaces throughout the municipality. Since the adoption of the Public Toilet Plan in 2019, Council has delivered – or is in the process of delivering – public toilets in ten locations across the City.
● ● Jacinta Allan, Premier ?Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s pledge to pull funding from the Sunshine train station project would make the Melbourne Airport Rail link redundant and hurt people in the west and regions the most, Premier Jacinta Allan has said, The Age reports. Dutton announced that if elected on May 3, he would redirect $2.2 billion of federal funding for the SRL East and another $2 billion for the Sunshine hub towards the $13 billion Airport Rail link.
✔Mastec Australia Pty Ltd has been awarded the Wyndham Council contract to supply and deliver Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) bins and caddies to enable all Wyndham households that currently don’t have one access to the universal FOGO service by early 2026. Under current draft standards the Victorian Government requires all Councils to roll-out green-lid FOGO bins to all households that receive a Council waste service by the end of June 2027. Starting February and March 2026, Wyndham City must start delivering a green-lid FOGO bin to every household that receives a Council waste service but does not have a green lid bin yet. Wyndham City Mayor, Cr Mia Shaw, said that almost half of Wyndham's household waste s organic material.
■ A 26-year-old Melton man, a former patched member of the Rebels OMCG, who was charged with two counts of traffick large commercial quantity drug of dependence (GHB and methylamphetamine) and possess proceeds of crime,
■ A 51-year-old Melton man, who was charged with two counts of traffick large commercial quantity GHB, possess drugs of dependence and possess proceeds of crime,
■ A 47-year-old Melton woman, who was charged with traffick large commercial quantity GHB and cultivate cannabis,
■ A 30-year-old Diggers Rest man, who was charged with possess traffickable quantity firearms, possess ammunition and possess imitation firearm
The 30-year-old Diggers Rest man appeared before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court and was bailed to appear at Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on May 8.
The other three were to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday, April 4.
A 34-year-old Melton man who was charged with possess cocaine and possess proceeds of crime. He was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on April 29.
A 48-year-old Melton man was charged with cultivate cannabis. He was bailed to appear at Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on Augus 1.
During the course of the eight-month investigation, 49 litres of GHB and six ounces of methylamphetamine have been previously seized.
Investigators seized one shotgun, two rifles, a modified revolver, an assault rifle gel blaster, ammunition, four rifle scopes, two firearm magazines and a large quantity of unknown tablets from the Diggers Rest address.
A gel blaster, quantities of methylamphetamine and cannabis, a quantity of cash, an Autel device and false registration plate were seized from on the of the Melton addresses.
A small quantity of cocaine, four litres of GHB, small quantities of methylamphetamine and cannabis, large quantities of green vegetable matter, cash, and eight marijuana plants were seized from the other three Melton addresses.
■ Police have charged a 21-year-old man allegedly spotted doing 170-kmh in a stolen car in Melbourne’s north early on Tuesday morning (Apr. 1).
The Police Air Wing was out on patrol when a speeding Toyota Hilux caught their attention travelling along the Western Ring Road about 12.40am.
Enquiries soon determined the vehicle also had false plates.
The chopper took up observations above and guided members on the ground to Weemala Court in Meadows Heights where the driver dumped the vehicle.
Officers converged on the area, searching for the driver who had fled on foot.
The alleged driver was located hiding in the rear of a nearby Tarcoola Avenue home and taken into custody.
The Dallas man was charged with theft of motor vehicle, dangerous driving while being pursued by police, reckless conduct endangering life, speed dangerous, breach of bail, drug possession and other driving offences.
Detectives were to interview him into the theft of numerous vehicles in the area.
He was remanded to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.
40 YEARS AS NEWSMAN IN MELBOURNE’S NORTH-WEST
In 1983, Ash Long was Editor of the Bacchus Marsh-Melton Express newspaper.
In earlier years, he had been Manager of a number of local newspapers including the Brunswick Sentinel and Coburg Courier.
Later, he was approached to be Editor of the Western News, and he also was in charge of the Advertiser and News-Pix Weekender titles.
Ash Long has wide knowledge of the people in the North-West.
Some 40 years on, in 2024, Ash Long continues his lifetime of community service, as Publisher of The Local Paper group, which has localised newspapers across 40 local government areas covering all Melbourne suburbs, the Mornington Peninsula and beyond.
Barry Browne and Ash Long at the Bacchus Marsh-Melton Express in 1983.
■ Melton City Council has welcomed the Federal Government’s $300 million commitment for a new Calder Park Drive diamond interchange, which will make it safer for residents to enter and exit the busy freeway. The project will be delivered as part of a commitment in partnership with the State Government to invest $1.2 billion into improving Victorian roads.
A key access point to the freeway for City of Melton residents living in Hillside, Taylors Hill, Fraser Rise and Caroline Springs, the intersection often sees traffic banking back onto the freeway during peak times, increasing the chance of accidents.
Entry to the freeway is currently one way, with drivers having to travel north-bound and perform a U-turn and merge into fast-flowing traffic to travel city-bound.
He was involved with the Australian Suburban Newspapers’ Association, later becoming a National Judge.
In 1983, he branched out on his own, developing newspapers across Victoria.
In the intervening years, there have been successes (and a few stumbles!)
In 2002, Long reinvograted the
Melbourne Observer newspaper. It continues today as a free section within all editions of The Local Paper. There have been other involvements with TV, radio and online projects. Decades on, Ash Long and his Local Paper team remain committed to providing the best possible service to readers and clients.
Statewide
ST ALBANS Bike impound
■ Police have impounded a motorbike following an evade in St Albans on Sunday (Apr. 6).
Officers attempted to intercept the Honda CBR300 on Sage Avenue about 10.40pm. Instead of stopping for police, the rider allegedly accelerated and turned onto Main Rd East.
Unfortunately for the rider his motorbike stalled, allowing officers to catch up and pull in front of it.
It is alleged the rider attempted to run from police before he was arrested shortly later.
Checks revealed the motorbike was unregistered and the rider was unlicensed.
The bike was impounded for 30 days at a cost of $999.52.
The 23-year-old Sunshine man is expected to be charged with traffic offences including: fail to stop on police direction, unlicensed riding, fail to keep left, and use an unregistered motor vehicle.
SHE OAKS
Sad fatality
■ Moorabool Highway Patrol officers are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal crash in She Oaks on Sunday (Apr. 6). Emergency services responded to reports of a car crashing into a tree on Steiglitz-She Oaks Rd about 8pm.
The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, died at the scene.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, with CCTV/dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
REUNION FOR CATHEDRAL RANGES RESCUE TEAMS
■ A hiker who sustained serious injuries during a fall in mountainous terrain was to reunite on Monday (Apr. 7) with the emergency crews who helped winch him to safety.
The man was hiking across a 1500m mountain with five others in the Cathedral Range State Park when he slipped and fell approximately six metres about 2pm on Saturday February 22.
He sustained serious injuries to his back and wrist and was unable to walk.
His friends alerted emergency services and volunteers from the State Emergency Service’s high angle team were first on scene to assist.
An Ambulance Victoria flight paramedic was also winched down shortly after and provided immediate medical assistance to the man while emergency services crews worked out how to extract him from the mountain.
It was deemed too dangerous to winch the 43-year-old man from the accident location due to the rough terrain and surrounding trees, and also near impossible to carry him out on a stretcher.
Statewide
They set up a multi-directional roping system to safely move the man in three separate stages.
It was highly technical rescue with State Emergency Services, Country Fire Authority and Ambulance Victoria members providing vital assistance to ensure the man was kept stable while being moved in the stretcher.
It took several hours of teamwork to safely move the man up to a location that was more suitable for air extraction.
weeks. Following the successful rescue, the 20-plus team of emergency services hiked two hours to reach the bottom of the mountain.
Leading Senior Constable Steve Ellis, Search and Rescue Squad, said: “This man is incredibly lucky to have survived such a fall.
“Thankfully, we had highly experienced emergency services close by to assist him and put him in the best position possible for us to be able to get him out.
Across Victoria
MELBOURNE
Visa problems
■ A Sudan-born man was expected to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Sunday (Apr. 6)), charged with allegedly failing to comply with his visa-mandated conditions.
The Australian Federal Police charged the man, 46, on Friday (Apr. 4) after he was arrested by Victoria Police in Melbourne
It is alleged the man breached the conditions of his Commonwealth visa by not wearing a monitoring device at all times.
He has been charged with: ■ One count of fail to wear a monitoring device at all times, contrary to section 76D of the Migration Act 1958; and ■ One count of commit indictable offence while on bail, contrary to section 30B of the Bail Act 1977 (Vic).
These offences carry a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and/or a $99,000 fine, and three months’ imprisonment and a $5927 fine, respectively.
MELBOURNE
Lord of the Dance
■ Lord of the Dance is set to return to Australia for the first time since 2015.
This new production will open in Melbourne on Saturday, August 30.
State-of-the-art technology, dazzling special effects, and updated costumes bring a glamorous, contemporary energy to this reimagined production.
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● The Melbourne Observer section appears in all editions of The Local Paper, covering all Melbourne suburbs, the Mornington Peninsula, and selected country areas.
Three members from the Victoria Police Search and Rescue Squad – which specialises in complex vertical rescues – were then called upon and flown to the site.
The Point Cook man was winched to safety by the Victoria Police Airwing about 8pm.
He was then transported by Ambulance Victoria to a Melbourne hospital where he was treated for several
Acting Inspector Amber Rawson, Search and Rescue Squad, said: “This job is a prime example of just how important it is for emergency services to be able to work together.
The 2025 Australian tour will showcase 40 of the world’s most outstanding young dancers, under the direction of Michael Flatley , with music composed by Gerard Fahy. Michael Flatley first stunned audiences with Riverdance at Eurovision 1994, before revolutionising Irish dance with Lord of the Dance in 1996.
The show is produced in Australia by TEG Van Egmond and Big Deal Touring
The Local Paper
of the Evelyn Observer (Est. 1873), The Local Paper is published weekly online and printed fortnightly and circulates in local editions:
• Merri-bek Courier
• Hume Observer
• Moonee Valley Gazette
• Maribyrnong Edition
• Hobsons Bay Edition
• Brimbank Messenger
• Werribee Express
• Bacchus Marsh Examiner
• Sunbury Regional News
• Western News
Phone: 1800 231 311, 9489 2222, 9439 9927, 0450 399 932, 5797 2656. Reg. Office: 30 Glen Gully Rd, Eltham, Vic 3095 (same address for 31 years)
Mail: PO Box 1278, Research, Vic 3095
Web: www.LocalPaper.com.au
www.MelbourneObserver.com.au
www.LocalMedia.com.au
E-Mail: Editor@LocalPaper.com.au
Editor@MelbourneObserver.com.au
Editor@LocalMedia.com.au
Matt Bissett-Johnson, Cartoonist Peter Kemp, Art Rob Foenander, Music
Editor: Ash Long
Features Editor: Peter Mac
Columnists: Len Baker, Matt Bissett-Johnson, Rob Foenander, Peter Kemp, Aaron Rourke, Ted Ryan, Cheryl Threadgold, Julie Houghton, Kevin Trask, John O’Keefe
Honorary Reviewers: Juliet Charles, Sherryn Danaher, Lyn Hurst, Kathryn Keeble, Beth Klein, Graeme McCoubrie, David McLean, Maggie Morrison, Peter Murphy, Lucy Nicolson, Jill Page, Elizabeth Semmel
Logistics: Tyler Sandiford, Tim Granvillani, Erica Koldinsky
Credit Manager: Michael Conway OAM, Fast Action Debt Recovery, 0402 142 866
Car thefts: 36 arrests
■ Police arrested 36 people and seized three stolen vehicles as part of multiple operations conducted over four nights in the Brimbank and Melton area.
Of the 36 people arrested, seven were alleged car thieves.
Police from across Brimbank and Melton saturated the streets last month, utilising specialist resources from the Dog Squad and Air Wing to catch car thieves in their tracks and recover any outstanding stolen vehicles.
Car thefts and break-ins remain a significant priority for local police, with the focus being cars parked at shopping centres and railway stations in Taylors Lakes, Keilor, St Albans and Sunshine.
Police intelligence shows thieves will often try multiple cars until they find one that is unlocked to steal or take items inside.
While the focus was predominantly on car theft, the efforts also led to police identifying a range of other offending.
This includes an alleged attempted burglary on a tobacco store which was disrupted by police patrolling the area, the locating of three illegal firearms in a property in Kurunjang and apprehending a man wanted on several outstanding warrants and whereabouts.
Several concerning high risk driving offences were also identified, including drivers who would fail to stop on police direction, disqualified driving, unregistered motor vehicle, speeding and dangerous driv-
Long Shots
ing. Some 36 people were arrested during the operation, including:
■ Two people were arrested after police observed a Toyota Prado with alleged stolen number plates at about 2.15am on March 13. It’s alleged the occupants were wearing balaclavas and were attempting to access a tobacco store on Ballarat Road in Sunshine When approached by officers, it’s alleged the driver sped off.
The car, which was discovered to be allegedly stolen, was found abandoned a short time later, with the Dog Squad called in to assist locating the offenders. Two men, aged 17-years-old and 18-years-old, were subsequently arrested and charged with a range of offences, including attempted burglary, theft of motor vehicle and handle stolen goods.
■ Units observed an alleged stolen Toyota Hilux on Kurunjang at about 11pm on 14 March, with the Air Wing tracking it to a residential address in Greenhills Drive , where the two occupants exited the car and went inside the property.
Police attended the address and arrested the two individuals, and while arresting them inside the property allegedly observed two firearms in the address.
Police then executed a search warrant where three firearms were located and seized, including a sawn-off firearm, a rifle and a handgun.
The alleged driver of the vehicle, a 36-yearold man, was arrested.
Published in localised editions in 40 areas across Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula and some country areas.
BRIMBANK
Incorporating the traditions of the Brimbank Messenger (Est. 1956). Brimbank comprises Albanvale, Albion, Ardeer, Brooklyn (part), Cairnlea, Calder Park, Deer Park, Delahey, Derrimut, Hillside (part), Kealba, Keilor (part), Keilor Downs, Keilor East (part), Keilor Lodge, Keilor North, Keilor Park, Kings Park, St Albans, Sunshine, Sunshine North, Sunshine West, Sydenham, Taylors Lakes and Tullamarine (part). Brimbank is home to more than 194,319 people, living in approximately 69,275 homes.
HOBSONS BAY
Hobsons Bay comprises Altona, Altona Meadows, Altona North, Brooklyn, Laverton, Newport, Seabrook, Seaholme, South Kingsville, Spotswood, Williamstown and Williamstown North. Hobsons Bay is home to more than 88,788 people, living in approximately 37,183 homes.
HUME
Incorporating the traditions of the Hume Observer (Est. 1956). Hume comprises Attwood, Broadmeadows, Bulla, Campbellfield, Clarkefield (part), Coolaroo, Craigieburn, Dallas, Diggers Rest (part), Fawkner (part), Gladstone Park, Greenvale, Jacana, Kalkallo, Keilor (part), Meadow Heights, Melbourne Airport, Mickleham, Oaklands Junction, Roxburgh Park, Somerton, Sunbury, Tullamarine (part), Westmeadows, Wildwood and Yuroke. Hume is home to more than 197,376 people, living in approximately 67,399 homes.
MARIBYRNONG
Maribyrnong comprises Braybrook, Footscray, Kingsville, Maidstone, Maribyrnong, Seddon, Tottenham, West Footscray and Yarraville. Maribyrnong is home to more than 82,288 people, living in approximately 35,757 homes.
MELTON
Melton comprises Aintree, Bonnie Brook, Brookfield, Burnside, Burnside Heights, Caroline Springs, Cobblebank, Deanside, Diggers Rest, Exford, Eynesbury, Fieldstone, Fraser Rise, Grangefields, Harkness, Hillside, Kurunjang, Melton, Melton South, Melton West, Mount Cottrell, Parwan, Plumpton, Ravenhall, Rockbank, Strathtulloh, Taylors Hill, Thornhill Park, Toolern Vale, Truganina, Weir Views. Melton is home to more than 193,1557 people, living in approximately 60,363 homes.
MERRI-BEK
Incorporating the traditions of the Brunswick Sentinel (Est. 1936) and Coburg Courier (Est,. 1932) Merri-bek comprises Brunswick, Brunswick East, Brunswick West, Coburg, Coburg North, Fawkner, Glenroy, Gowanbrae, Hadfield, Oak Park, Pascoe Vale, and Pascoe Vale South. Merri-bek is home to more than 184,707 people, living in approximately 70,709 homes.
MOONEE VALLEY
Incorporating the traditions of the Moonee Valley Gazette (Est. 1888) Moonee Valley comprises Aberfeldie, Airport West, Avondale Heights, Ascot Vale, Essendon, Essendon Fields, Essendon North, Essendon West, Flemington, Keilor East, Moonee Ponds, Niddrie, Strathmore, Strathmore Heights and Travancore. Moonee Valley is home to more than 129,739 people, living in approximately 48,000 homes.
MOORABOOL
Moorabool comprises Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Balliang, Balliang East, Barkstead, Blackwood, Bungaree, Clarendon, Dales Creek, Dunnstown, Elaine, Gordon, Greendale, Korweinguboora, Lal Lal, Mount Egerton, Myrniong, Wallace and Yendon.. Moorabool is home to more than 38,506 people, living in approximately 15,469 homes.
WYNDHAM
Incorporating the traditions of the Werribee Express (Est. 1896) Wyndham comprises Cocoroc, Eynesbury (part), Hoppers Crossing, Laverton (part), Laverton North, Little River (part), Mambourin, Mount Cottrell (part), Point Cook, Quandong, Tarneit, Truganina (part), Werribee, Werribee South, Williams Landing and Wyndham Vale. Wyndham is home to more than 309,125 people, living in approximately 100,366 homes.
● ● Air Wing. File Image.
The Mayor of Broadmeadows, Cr D. Bucknell, talks to (from left): Wendy Smith, 15, of Strathmore, John Redenbach, 17, of Glenroy, Shane Lock, 17, of Broadmeadows, Anne Stower, 16,
Cheryl Threadgold, Local Theatre Julie Houghton, The Arts Kevin Trask, Entertainment
Rourke, Film Ted Ryan, Horse Racing Len Baker, Harness Racing
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Normie Rowe will be appearing at the Melbourhe Bowling Club, Windsor on Sunday, April 20.
ACMA WELCOMES $1.5M PENALTY
■ The Australian Communications and Media Authority has welcomed the $1.5 million penalty handed down by the Federal Court of Australia on March 31 in relation to a case brought against digital marketing company V Marketing Australia Pty Ltd (in liquidation) and others.
The Federal Court imposed the penalties against V Marketing, as well as ordering its sole director, Mr Michael Vazquez, to pay a penalty of $60,000.
The ACMA filed proceedings in the Federal Court in April 2019 against V Marketing and the company for which it was acting, solar energy business Balaska Pty Ltd , for alleged breaches of telemarketing laws.
The ACMA alleged that V Marketing made telemarketing calls to numbers on the Do Not Call Register on behalf of Balaska, and subsequently on its own behalf.
“ The Do Not Call Register is an important consumer safeguard that allows Australians to opt out of telemarketing calls. There are currently 12.6 million numbers on the Do Not Call Register,” said an ACMA representative.
V Marketing made 553,630 telemarketing calls over seven months on behalf of Balaska to numbers on the Do Not Call Register, and V Marketing also made 548,688 calls on behalf of its own solar company, Your Choice Solar , over nine months in 2018.
Your Stars with Kerry
Kulkens
Presented by Sarah Kulkens, Australia’s Trusted Psychic Family
ARIES (March 21 - April 20)
Lucky Colour: Violet
Lucky Day: Tuesday
Racing Numbers: 9, 6, 5, 3
Lotto Numbers: 9, 6, 12, 25, 40, 33
Keep an eye out for potential deception during this period. Be cautious with your belongings to avoid theft or loss, and try to stay focused to avoid any accident-prone tendencies.
TAURUS (April 21 - May 20)
Lucky Colour: Yellow
Lucky Day: Wednesday
Racing Numbers: 5, 9, 6, 2
Lotto Numbers: 5, 12, 23, 34, 40, 33
This is a loving and optimistic time for you, especially with family and close friends. A relationship might undergo a positive change, and long-distance travel could soon be on the horizon.
GEMINI (May 21 - June 21)
Lucky Colour: Red
Lucky Day: Friday
Racing Numbers: 5, 9, 6, 7
Lotto Numbers: 8, 15, 24, 40, 39, 7
Romantic surprises could leave you speechless, and your busy social life could bring unexpected proposals. Be mindful of people who may leave you paying the bill.
CANCER (June 22 - July 22)
Lucky Colour: White
Lucky Day: Tuesday
Racing Numbers: 7, 9, 6, 2
Lotto Numbers: 7, 15, 26, 34, 40, 22
Avoid sharing your personal feelings with others during this period. Some wonderful reunions with long-lost friends may fill you with nostalgia, making you reflect on old times.
LEO (July 23 - August 22)
Lucky Colour: Green
Lucky Day: Monday
Racing Numbers: 9, 6, 4, 2
Lotto Numbers: 9, 15, 26, 34, 40, 45
This period favours real estate deals, and many Leos may find themselves moving house. Make sure all important business agreements are in writing, and if they’re not, walk away from the deal.
VIRGO (August 23 - September 23)
Lucky Colour: Orange
Lucky Day: Wednesday
Racing Numbers: 9, 6, 4, 2
Lotto Numbers: 9, 15, 26, 34, 8, 22
After some bumps with colleagues, your career should start advancing. Romance looks smooth, and an unexpected proposition could make things exciting.
LIBRA (September 24 - October 23)
Lucky Colour: Orange
Lucky Day: Friday
Racing Numbers: 2, 6, 3, 5
Lotto Numbers: 5, 12, 26, 39, 9, 11
Financial stability is within reach, and there’s more cash flowing in. However, trust only those who have proven to be reliable in the past—others may let you down.
SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22)
Lucky Colour: Green
Lucky Day: Monday
Racing Numbers: 9, 6, 5, 1
Lotto Numbers: 9, 12, 26, 34, 40, 45
Your romantic life is thriving, and you may receive more attention than ever before. At work, success may depend more on who you know than what you know.
SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 20)
Lucky Colour: Blue
Lucky Day: Sunday
Racing Numbers: 4, 6, 5, 2
Lotto Numbers: 4, 15, 12, 26, 35, 36
The start of the week may feel off-balance, but once you find your footing, things will improve. Use your newfound knowledge to gain the upper hand in challenging situations.
CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19)
Lucky Colour: Silver
Lucky Day: Saturday
Racing Numbers: 4, 6, 2, 3
Lotto Numbers: 4, 12, 26, 9, 3, 11
Success lies in being punctual, so don’t miss out by being late. Even in your romantic life, timing is everything— make it count.
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 19)
Lucky Colour: Blue
Lucky Day: Monday
Racing Numbers: 9, 6, 4, 2
Lotto Numbers: 9, 15, 26, 34, 40, 12
Your love life is intense, but don’t let jealousy spoil the moment. In business, things may not be perfect, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
PISCES (February 20 - March 20)
Lucky Colour: White
Lucky Day: Friday
Racing Numbers: 5, 9, 6, 2
Lotto Numbers: 9, 6, 15, 24, 45, 33
Your social life is buzzing, and you may hear from people you haven’t spoken to in years. If you’re planning changes, make sure you consult your loved ones first.
DROUGHTS AND FLOODS
Sir,
Since the dawn of civilisation, humanity has constructed water-diverting and storage facilities to ensure survival during droughts, maintain food security, and protect against floods.
Australia is a country of droughts and flooding rains.
Time and again, it has been proven that we are not immune to the trials of drought and the deficiencies in our food supply chain security.
During periods of flooding, we have witnessed the collapse of major infrastructure systems, threatening housing, human safety, and exposing flaws in our food supply security.
Australia's population is growing at 2.68 per cent annually and is projected to reach approximately 48 million by 2048.
Simultaneously, we are reducing our food production capacity and food security, inflating food prices, and increasing national debt without economic or social justification.
Tanya Plibersek, a key figure in the Federal Ministry, holds significant influence and resources to execute water buy-backs, under the Murray Darling Basin Plan, a move that appeals to ill-informed, environmentally muddled voters, especially those in Sydney and Melbourne inner-city electorates.
However, beyond political career building, there is no compelling urgency to buy back water from Australia's food production base.
The Murray-Darling Basin Plan is approaching a critical review, set to be finalised by mid-2026.
The findings from this review will determine the necessity, urgency, and economic impact of water buy-backs on all Australians
Until this review is completed, and the science is authenticated, buy-backs should be halte
- David Farley Narrandera, NSW
French Island
Sir,
Growing up on the Mornington Peninsula on Bunurong Country, I became fascinated by the birds and wildlife that I would find in the bush, wetlands and along the coast.
Sadly, over time, I’ve seen many of those species dwindle as their habitat is cleared and degraded.
But just offshore in Western Port lies French Island, a remarkable sanctuary for wildlife that remains fox-free.
Whenever I visit French Island, it’s like stepping into the past. It’s a living ark of species that were once present or common on the Peninsula when I was growing up.
With fewer threats than the mainland, habitat on the island is healthy and diverse.
The island is today recognised as a vital safe haven for wildlife – which is one
Observer Mailbag
Shortletters(nomore than200words)onlocal subjectsareinvitedfrom readers.
Emailto: editor@Melbourne Observer.com.au
Letters must be short and may be edited. All letters to be considered for publication must have a name, street address and phone number so their authenticity can be checked. An email address is not sufficient.
of the reasons we are working with landholders there to protect and care for habitat, as you can read in our latest .
French Island may be a window into the past, but it also provides hope for the future. There are many more places around Victoria where habitat needs to be protected and threats need to be managed –and we need your support to do so.
This is even more important as the climate changes and extreme weather events like fire become more frequent and intense, as we have seen over the past summer in western Victoria
By doing so, we can create a future where nature and people thrive together. In this issue, you'll find many stories about the remarkable effort to protect our most threatened species.
- Dr Doug Robinson, Chief Conservation Scientist, Trust for Nature
Easter
Sir, , one cross - one love.
He carried his cross up to Calvary, embraced it. Already flogged by the Romans, he allowed himself to be nailed, hung on this cross.
His loved ones fled, abandoned him in the hour of trial, the enemies mocked where he bleeding, suffering looked down on them and said "Father, forgive them!".
What is this, how is such sacrificial love possible?
This Jesus, who became the world's most famous name, and whose birth marks the beginning of our calendar era and whose book, the Bible became the most read.
The answer can only be found in that very book, where it says "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life".
So it was love for each of us with the purpose of saving us to eternal life.
Death is 100 percent guaranteed for everyone, no one escapes.
But, this Jesus who also died on the cross is said to have conquered death and rose from the dead on the third day.
I think we need an explanation here, how is this possible?
We find the answer in that Bible again. It says that "the wages of sin is death", and that Jesus as the Son of God lived a sinless life, and therefore death could not keep him.
Now we know that we ordinary people sin every day. We slander, lie, exploit, hate and treat each other unlovingly, etc.
The list is as endless as this Jesus' love for us when he takes on all our billions of sins on the cross, like a giant magnet.
And before God the Father, he therefore says "Forgive them!", and what could God then do other than just forgive us when our sins have been removed on the cross.
Through this forgiveness and freedom from sin, the way has suddenly been opened to eternal life, when death lost its right to keep us.
The greatest question and fear of every human heart, is it probably "death"?
Should we just cease to exist as if we never existed, a dot that fades, vanish into nothingness?
The one who defeated death responds in a sacrificial and love-filled "No, believe in Me and you will live", because as the Bible finally says: “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ".
Love on the cross has spoken, can we ignore and rush on to the meaningless, emptiness of the grave and death, or do we choose to believe and rejoice in a wonderful eternal future with the prince of Life, Jesus Christ?
- Peter Kujala by email
● Letters must be short and may be edited. All letters to be considered for publication must have a name, street address and phone number so their authenticity can be checked. An email address is not sufficient.
Kent Hughes must resign
says Ken Moses
■ The chairman of the Olympic Games Organising Committee, Mr. William Sylvester Kent Hughes M.P., must resign, not tomorrow — today.
His organisation yesterday received the biggest "blast" ever handed out to a sporting body.
The person who delivered the one-man heavy barrage was one Avery Brundage, chairman of the International Olympic Committee, who, at his own expense and in his own valuable time, came to Melbourne for a look at our Olympic preparations.
A person, who ever since he arrived in Australia last Sunday week has been snubbed by Mr. Kent Hughes
However, the Minister for the Interior, did grant Mr. Brundage the privilege of his company at dinner for one hour last Thursday, although he was a bit late in arriving for the hor d'oeurves
It was a snub that greatly upset Mr. Brundage and started the fire plan for the barrage that was delivered yesterday. And the barrage, that took only 80 minutes to deliver, cost Australia millions of pounds of adverse publicity overseas.
No deaths
■ A police estimate of 38,000 motorists returned to Melbourne in a record home coming last night - without one fatal accident.
Twelve people suffered minor injuries in three smashes - one at Craigieburn death bend - but police said it it seemed the disastrous start to the holidays had stunned motorists into taking care.
Police booked 200 motorists during the day. A senior police officer said: "Victoria has never had more cars, and our death rate must be higher than it was some year's ago, the State's most lethal weapon."
On Point Nepean rd. last night cars could travel no faster than 10 m.p.h., and the Hume Highway, Ballarat, Geelong and Ferntree Gully roads were almost as bad.
Cars leaving Baxter Speedway at Frankston took two hours to clear into the stream of traffic on Point Nepean rd
Seven people including a Catholic priest, were injured when two cars collided on unbury rd., near Tullamarine Rev. Father James Ryan, of Wonthaggi, one driver, suffered head abrasions and concussion.
The Whip
Dutton drops
■ Anthony Albanese has been heavily backed into $1.55 favourite - the shortest price since last July - to win the Federal Election following the announcement of US tariffs.
The global uncertainty has seen Labor’s TAB odds crunched into $1.55 while the Coalition eased to $2.40.
The dramatic move comes after Labor were $1.75 favourites when the election was called, compared to the Coalition’s $2.05.
TAB representative Gerard Daffy said the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump had done nothing to scare punters off the sitting Prime Minister.
“The global uncertainty and concern in markets has seen punters come for the incumbent government,” Daffy said.
“Betting has been all one-way traffic in the last 48 hours, which prompted us to shorten Labor into $1.55.
“The last time they were that short was last July.”
Daffy said while Labor had shortened dramatically, political markets had swung wildly in recent months.
“This election really is on a knife’s edge and we probably haven’t seen anything like it before in Australia,” Daffy said.
“One positive headline or one negative headline can see one party go from favourites to outsiders, so it’s a fascinating watch.
“In the past week since the election was called, both parties have been favourites at various stages.
Daffy said to expect plenty more TAB market fluctuations before Australians head to the polls on May 3.
‘Secretive deal’
■ “A secretive backroom deal between the Allan Labor Government and the Greens will make Victorians less safe and less free, weakening criminal protections while empowering activists to use the law as a political weapon,” says Liberal spokesman David Southwick.
“Instead of pursuing bipartisan reform to protect vulnerable Victorians and uphold fundamental freedoms, Premier Jacinta Allan has sided with the hard-left ideologues of the Greens
“As a result, the proposed changes to Victoria’s anti-discrimination laws will water down protections against hate-fuelled crime, erode freedom of speech, and open the door to divisive ‘lawfare’ in our courts.”
Shadow Attorney-General, Michael O’Brien, said the changes would lead to fewer protections for vulnerable people and weaker safeguards for freedom of speech. “Victorians will be less safe and less free.”
WILDLIFE SEIZURE AT KYNETON
■ Authorised Officers from Conservation Regulator executed search warrants at a business premises in Kyneton.
A large number of live and dead animals were located as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged unlawful possession of native and exotic wildlife.
All wildlife is protected in Victoria under the Wildlife Act 1975, and it is illegal to possess, take or destroy wildlife without authorisation.
“Exotic pest animals aren’t pets and pose a serious biosecurity risk to Victoria,” said a representative of the Conservation Regulator.
“The illegal trade, sale and distribution of these exotic species risks normalising these animals as pets in Victoria, which in turn risks their escape or release into the landscape and becoming pest species.”
Suriya Vine, Manager Regulatory Operations Loddon Mallee, said: “Our laws and permit systems exist to prevent the exploitation of native and exotic animals as well as protecting their welfare.
“If you are aware of suspicious behaviour around wildlife, we encourage you to report it to Crime Stoppers Victoria. Even a small amount of information from the public can help fight wildlife crime.”
Safety blitz during holidays
● ● Glenn Weir, Road Policing Assistant Commissioner
■ Road safety enforcement will ramp up during April as police warn motorists to take extra care when travelling throughout Victoria this month.
The warning comes as the Victorian school holidays have begun, running for two weeks and concluding with the Easter long weekend.
Police are preparing for an influx of motorists hitting highways and major arterials, heading to holiday hotspots across the state.
In April last year, there were 17 lives lost on Victorian roads, with three quarters of these occurring on regional roads.
Of the 17 lives lost during April last year, 11 occurred within 15 kilometres of the deceased’s address.
The Goulburn Valley police service area experienced a significant amount of the month’s road trauma, with six fatalities occurring in Seymour, Mansfield, Boweya, Pine Lodge, Enochs Point and Arcadia
Road Policing Assistant Commissioner, Glenn Weir said: “While we did experience slightly lower-than-average road trauma during March, twenty fatalities for the month is still unacceptable as far as we’re concerned – that’s twenty families who will spend the upcoming Easter period without their loved ones.
“The only acceptable number of deaths on our roads is zero, which is why we cannot afford to be complacent as we head into April.
“There is an increased road trauma risk this month, with school holidays, Easter and ANZAC Day long weekends meaning there will be lots of people moving and travelling across the state, and the end of daylight savings also impacting the conditions.”
Check smoke alarms
■ Firefighters are reminding people to test their smoke alarms to ensure they are in working order.
On average, 18 people die in house fires in Victoria each year.
Fire Rescue Commissioner Gavin Freeman warned that in a fire, every second counts.
“A smoke alarm is your first line of defence,” Commissioner Freeman said.
“Smoke alarms provide a vital early warning to help you and your family escape. Fires can engulf an entire room in just minutes and smoke will not wake you up.”
Commissioner Freeman said it was important to test the alarms regularly.
ANZAC Day call
■ A call to all men who were called up for National Service between the years of 1951 and 1972.
“Regardless of any organisation, if you were called up between the years mentioned, we would like to see you march on ANZAC Day,” said one of the organisers, Peter Kemp of the National Servicemen’s Association of Australia.
“If you have your own medals wear them on your left side, you have a relation’s medals wear them on your right
“We meet on ANZAC Day (Apr. 25) at 8am outside Young and Jacksons in Flinders St, Melbourne. We look forward to seeing you there.”
For any inquiries, call Peter Kemp on 0427 859 549.
4-year contract
■ Belgravia Leisure has been awarded a new four-year contract and will continue its role in operating the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s five aquatic and recreation facilities. Belgravia Leisure has successfully managed Yawa Aquatic Centre, Somerville Recreation Centre, Crib Point Pool, Pelican Park Recreation Centre and Civic Reserve Recreation Centre over the past seven years, said a Shire representative.
Under the contract arrangements, Belgravia Leisure will continue to run the dayto-day operations of the facilities and deliver health and wellness programs.
Holiday break
■ The pre-Easter issue of the Melbourne Observer/Local Paper will be printed next week (Wed., Apr. 16).
As is our annual custom, there will be no digital edition on Easter Wednesday (Apr. 23), allowing our team to have a mid-year break. The pre-election issue (Wed., Apr. 30) will be both in print and online.
Since 1969, the Melbourne Observer has been a trusted news source for Victorians.
These days the Melbourne Observer is available free, tucked inside all editions of The Local Paper, covering all Melbourne suburbs, the Mornington Peninsula and selected country areas.
As well as general news coverage, there is plenty of latest showbiz news, favourite columnists, and the mighty mega crossword.
The Melbourne Observer is available free weekly online, February-December. Free print copies are available fortnightly through a network of hundreds of outlets.
You can have the Melbourne Observer delivered free every week to your in-box. To arrange your free subscription, simply fill in the details at the form at www.FreePaper.com.au
● ● ●
Peter Dutton
Local TheatreWhat’s
Rising Damp
■ When Melbourne based comedian, actor, and writer Nicolette Minster takes the stage at The Westin for her sarcastic, reflective, and often investigative show Rising Damp, her undeniably strong theatrical stage presence welcomes you to feel like you are listening to a sister vent over the phone, or nostalgically laughing until your ribs are sore with your best friend.
Proclaiming herself as an “aquatically gifted witch” Minster teaches us it’s okay to have a midlife crisis, to make mistakes, and to even slightly mortify ourselves.
Minster destroys the fear that we will diminish into our “what ifs” and encourages audiences through her self deprecating yet reflective humour to push their comfort zones and accept the curveballs life throws at us.
Minster is inviting and relatable - her experiences as an only child, a mother, an exsquad swimmer, a victim of sebaceous cysts and, unreliable and unfortunate gastric reflexes are all tied up together in a somewhat philosophical reflection of not only the life Minster has lived so far, but the life she is building as she enters her forties.
Rising Damp is a masterclass in physical comedy and timing - Minster is theatrical and expressive, but not overly rehearsed, and has quick reflexes in responding to the crowd and working with her audience.
Nicolette Minster certainly keeps her head above water and, more importantly, has her audience absolutely swimming in laughter.
- Review by Matilda
Caughey
Birrarangga
■ The 2025 Birrarangga Film Festival has cemented its place as Australia’s premier First Nations-led film festival, delivering its most successful edition to date.
With ticket sales tripling since its last event, BFF has set a new benchmark for film festivals nationwide, showcasing a powerful and diverse lineup of Indigenous storytelling from around the world.
Over six days, BFF presented 150 films across 11 venues in Melbourne - a significant expansion from 90 films and six venues in 2023.
The festival also welcomed 20 international guests, more than doubling its previous record.
For those unable to attend in person, heartfelt video introductions, from Ava DuVernay for the Gala event, opening night Director Katja Gauriloff and Leonard Peltier underscored their gratitude for BFF’s commitment to Indigenous cinema.
One of the festival’s most powerful moments came at the sold-out screening of Free Leonard Peltier, co-presented by BFF and the Melbourne International Film Festival with Producer Jhane Myers (Prey - Alien Predator) and Holly Cook Macarro (Instrumental in Leonard’s freedom and appearing in film) in attendance for Q & A.
Following the film, the audience was treated to a surprise video message from Peltier himself, recorded especially for BFF after his historic pardon—a momentous occasion that necessitated a re-edit of the film prior to its Sundance and BFF Southern Hemisphere premiere.Z
BFF’s Centrepiece Gala Event featured a screening of Ava DuVernay’s Origin, the powerful adaptation of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson’s book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. The night was elevated by special video message from Ava and then a breathtaking live performance from Stan Walker, who sang I Am, the film’s closing song. - Contributed
I’LL ALLOW IT
■ Arriving onstage, Bronwyn Kuss reveals that she has been hiding in the narrow space between the wall and the curtain, listening to the comments as the audience files in.
Unsurprisingly, audience members want to avoid the front row.
Kuss assures the front row that she will pick on everyone else for audience participation. The rest of us laugh nervously.
We needn’t worry; Kuss delivers a first-rate stand-up set sans any audience humiliation.
Winner of the Director’s Choice Award and Pinder Prize at the 2024 Melbourne Comedy Festival, Kuss is a master of storytelling standup.
Kuss starts the set with a fart joke delivered at the expense of her girlfriend, the producer of the fart.
Kuss mines her childhood growing up in Peak Crossing, a blink and you would probably miss the town in rural Queensland.
A competitive mother outsprinting her daughter in the great race of life, a father obsessed with marathon running, and questionable games played with her younger brothers all get a scorching.
Accounts of embarrassing failings, as well as the banalities of office temping, are hilariously dissected.
Co-workers protecting fiefdoms with passwords, the absurdities of AI, the longevity of elderly Greek villagers, and Gwyneth Paltrow’s latest wellness obsession all feature in Kuss’s matter-of-fact, droll but whip-smart delivery.
Next up, we travel on the Greyhound bus across the United States, an adventure everyone thinks is iconic until they try it.
An expert at foreshadowing, Kuss’s stories meander throughout the set but always finish with a sharp and snappy payoff.
With deadpan delivery, Kuss dispenses joke after funny joke, with some cracking one-liners.
Performance Dates: Until April 20
Venue: The Westin - Two, 205 Collins St., Melbourne Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au
- Review by Kathryn Keeble
Fresh New Worries
■ If you are a fan of musical storytelling, then Gillian Cosgriff’s show Fresh
is definitely a must-see at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Using original stories, music, prop gags, Cosgriff entertains seamlessly for the full 50 minutes, displaying a wealth of talent in both acting, story telling, writing , singing, piano playing plus, importantly for this festival, comic timing.
This show is polished yet contains improvisation. Cosgriff weaves the audience members' contributions into her writing, not changing her words significantly but enough to make the suggestions provided by the audience before the show as well as at the time cleverly meaningful, an important part of the performance.
Cosgriff is charming in her interactions with the audience and able to laugh at her own downfalls.
The main theme as the title suggests is about worries – a solution - If something is not working, stop doing it.
Whilst the show is mostly funny there are serious moments, time for reflection creating a difference to the regular ‘stand up’ set.
Cosgriff uses props, music and sound well.
In particular in a scene in which she plays a hairdresser, with the sound of a hairdryer a significant part of the scene. Very funny.
Complete with a grand piano, singing fish, Pandora’s box of worries, Fresh New Worries is worth heading down to the dungeon for.
Performances: April 8 - 12 at 7.20pm, April 13 at 6.20pm, April 15 - 19 at 7.20pm, April 20 at 6.20pm.
Venue: Arts Centre Melbourne - The Show Room, 100 St Kilda Rd., Melbourne Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au - Review by Elizabeth Semmel
60 years service
■ Melbourne Observer reviewer Graeme McCoubrie has been presented with his 60-year Membership Jewel of Freemasonry as a member, particularly with the Baden-Powell Lodge No. 488 where he has been a member since 1964.
Graeme's award was presented by Worshipful Brother Bob Evans, who delivered a citation of Graeme's life achievements, both in Freemasonry and the community.
The citation on Graeme's certificate reads: 'In recognition of his valuable service to the Craft for the period of 60 years ... ' Congratulations, Graeme! - Cheryl Threadgold
■ The title of Luke McGregor’s routine at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Okay, Wow, encapsulates both the ordinary and the sensational and sums up his routine.
The topics he addresses are almost mundane but broach, at times, the extraordinary and that which is taboo.
Challenging those convinced the earth is flat speaks to the divide in the community where facts are suspended and nonsense reigns.
Talking about the phone sex he has with his wife is both understandable and ridiculous.
Luke makes it perfectly ordinary given he is on tour without intimate interaction with his wife but it broaches on the perverse given the travails of modern day technology.
And it is this ability to tackle topics that are highly emotive and controversial that makes McGregor’s comedy so engaging.
His shtick is so disarming that there is no question of things being politically incorrect. They are, in fact, part of everyday life. Autism, being non-binary and bodily functions are all fodder for fun. They are all understandable.
McGregor has the ability to bring the audience with him and you wonder if this is a practiced art or simply something that evolves given it is so natural.
His ‘thanks for coming’ opening where the phrase is repeated speaks to awkwardness but it is undeniably human.
To that end, we accept the stories and situations he recounts finding the ridiculousness in it all – the lesson being, we shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously.
- Review by David McLean
Officially indecent
■ The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found comments made during broadcasts of the Kyle and Jackie O Show breached decency rules under the Commercial Radio Code of Practice.
Following a listener complaint relating to a June 7 2024 broadcast of the program, the ACMA opened investigations into Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation Pty Ltd (KIIS 1065) and Double T Radio Pty Ltd (KIIS 1011), the licensees that air the program in Sydney and Melbourne respectively.
The investigations found that the two segments referred to in the complaint included explicit sexual content and content that included sustained and vulgar graphic sexualised descriptions.
ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said the segments would be considered offensive to any reasonable person listening to the broadcast and were not in line with broader community standards.
“This content went beyond the bounds of decency expected by the community and was done so deliberately and provocatively,” Ms O’Loughlin said.
“Even having two program censors employed by the broadcaster in place following previous ACMA enforcement action, this has not stopped occurrences of unsuitable content going to air,” Ms O’Loughlin said. Double T Radio has also been found to have breached the Code for not responding to a listener complaint within 30 days of receipt.
● ● Bronwyn Kuss. Photo: Nicole Reed
● ● Luke McGregor
Photo: Dru Maher-Brooks
● ● ● ● Gillian Cosgriff. Photo: Nicole Reed
New Worries
● ● Nicolette Minster
● ● Graeme McCoubrie and Boib Evans
Age To Remember
■ Abby Hampton presents her Melbourne International Comedy Festival show An Age to Remember from April 15 to 20 at the Queen Victoria Women's Centre at 6.30pm.
Just before her 20th birthday, Abby asked the world (Facebook) advice for the decade of her 20s.
She was flooded with guidance from wellmeaning friends, family and that person she forgot to block. Now she believes it’s time to check the comments and compare where life took her.
Did she – Invest in property? Get that rash looked at? Shoot a man in Reno just to watch him die? Let's find out through song, PowerPoint and a Facebook deep dive.
Abby would also appreciate audience advice for the next decade unravelling before her - the 30s.
Performance Details: Until April 20 at 6.30pm
Venue: Queen Victoria Women's Centre Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au - Cheryl Threadgold
Breaking
The Musical
■ To the growing list of unlikely heroes of the Olympics, Eddie the Eagle, Eric the Eel, the Jamaican bobsledders, Steven Bradbury, Australia can add another: our very own underdog queen of breaking, Spraygun , immortalised in creator Stephanie Broadbridge's rollicking Breaking the Musical.
Sprachael (Broadbridge), a wide-eyed, young(ish) Doctor of Breakdancing, hailing from the mean ghetto streets of Hornsby Shire in Sydney’s upper North Shore, leaves home with a crazy dream to breakdance for Australia at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Our B-postgrad degree-girl Sprachael listens to her Inner Voice, a sparkling, lurex Jake Howie, strutting straight from a RuPaul runway, “You go, girl”
And why not? As her coach/husband, MC Shammy Sex, a whacky Freddie McManus, describes it, “She moves like Steve Buscemi.”
Broadbridge and the ensemble cast milk every laugh from this crazy but true(ish) story.
A panto villain, Artie Gallagher, dressed as a lawyer, invades the stage to boos from the audience.
Anna Dooley’s French mime hilariously performs the journey from Melbourne to Paris
Narrator Nikki Britton goads the audience to get up and break into moves.
The cast performs a scene from ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here’ – think giant snake and footballer confessions.
On-point dance routines choreographed by cast member Edan McGovern and a live band round out a polished musical production that almost had its wings clipped due to legal challenges.
These are addressed in the show, as well as issues of cultural appropriation.
Dane Simpson and Isaac Compton point to the irony of copyrighting a dance routine featuring kangaroo moves.
“After all, no one has recreated a kangaroo dance in 60,000 years.”
Clever writing and, at times, side-splitting comic moments make Breaking the Musical an unforgettable show that deserves a much longer run.
-
Review by Kathryn Keeble
Talkischeap,gossipispriceless
WHO’S TALKING?
■ Before Bron Lewis was one of Australia’s most promising new comedians, she was a high school teacher for almost a decade.
Bron says she became a teacher because she hates learning – she would rather saw off her own legs than learn a new card game, and in her opinion whoever coined the term ‘board game’ was bang on.
It was an era where she both nurtured young hearts and encouraged kids to be brilliant, but also made some lifelong enemies.
It was also as it turns out a hotbed for comedy and her new show Who’s Talking? touring Australia in 2025, and being presented in Melbourne until April 15 at Beer Deluxe, Fed Square, Melbourne.
There’s the smart kids, the quiet kids and then there’s those enemies as mentioned, who feature more in Who’s Talking? than the nerds. Who’s Talking? reveals what your high school teacher really thought of you. Whether they believed your lame excuses, wanted to say to the Year 8 boy who refused to leave the class and more with hilarious stories of schoolroom antics.
Bron Lewis is said to be one of Australia's most promising new comedians. She was the co-winner of the National Raw Comedy competition in 2022, and both the best and the worst mum living at her house.
Bron is a writer at The Project, and has appeared on Thank God You’re Here?. Bron’s a regular panellist on the hit show Have You Been Paying Attention?
Bron's critically acclaimed show Probably sold out in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane and scored her a nomination for 'Best Newcomer' at the 2023 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
For complete ticket information, visit: livenation.com.au
- Cheryl Threadgold
Just Because I’m Crying ...
■ Hailing originally from New Zealand, with some time in Australia, and now a resident in the UK, Grace Jarvis has returned to Melbourne for her offering of Just Because I’m Crying Doesn’t Mean I’m Not Having a Nice Time, as part of the 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
With performances at many Comedy Festivals including notable success at the renowned Edinburgh Festival, Grace has supported award winning Australian comedian Josh Thomas during one of his celebrated tours.
Opening night jitters soon disappeared as she enlightened us as to her heritage and in particular life in the UK . Her many experiences, whether they were comedic, dramatic or emotional, were well crafted and delivered effortlessly.
Beside her encounters with the UK public transport system some time was spent on her experiences working for the first time in an adult sex shop. It soon became clear she was not familiar with all aspects of the products as she faced some edifying questions from her many all gender customers.
Working from a referral script on a side stool, Grace kept the pace and delivered many punchlines to the responsive audience. With an infectious smile, a bright and giggly disposition, she gave us an engaging performance.
An observation was that it may be a trait that Grace needed to continually brush her long hair away from her face – a little distracting at times when creating her many scenarios.
Until April 20 at the Melbourne Town HallPaul's Place.
Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au
- Review by Graeme McCoubrie
Starring Two Women
■ Two women approach the microphone, one in dazzling, turquoise satin and the other in a
sparkling, feathered gown, to announce the next category of Australian free-to-air TV’s daggiest awards show, the Logies
“Tonight is all about television,” we are told.
Audience members in the steamy environs of Melbourne’s iconic Nicholas Building may or may not have included TV luminaries, Love Island’s Sophie Monk, The Block’s Scotty Cam, or disgraced former Logies host Andrew O’Keefe, as the two celebrities greet fellow Alisters from the stage.
Comedy team Pippa Mills and Helena Ruse star in this whacky story of two B-list celebrities embroiled in a Hollywood scandal of their own making.
An unfortunate incident backstage caught on mic plunges the stars into redemption mode. Their agent is not impressed.
High jinks ensue as the celebs pursue various tomfooleries designed to bring them back from the brink of obscurity and into the spotlight once again.
This show is more like a high-velocity sitcom than a stand-up comedy.
Some very funny comic writing runs through the narrative, from resurrecting TV hosts Bert Newton and Andrew O’Keefe from the literal and metaphorical dead to a silly send-up involving two ‘Karens’ negotiating the city from the ‘Bordeaux end’ of Collins Street.
Mills and Ruse engage in multiple skits and capers as they try to repair the damage to their careers.
Highlighting the ridiculous nature of contemporary celebrity and the influence of public opinion, Mills and Ruse display their comic chops with plenty of funny moments despite the show being a little rough around the edges.
Until April 13 at the Nicholas Building , Swanston St, Melbourne.
Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au
Review by Kathryn Keeble
Huggy mystery
■ The wonderful Pilot program founded by Dylan McBurney last year, helps stage the first long-form comedy shows for emerging young comedians in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
A comedian himself, Dylan experienced the barriers young people face when transitioning from presenting five-minute sets to their own solo shows.
Six hand-picked comedians with proven comedy experience are given a half-hour slot at the Festival and then assisted with financing, producing and creative development.
This year's comedians selected for the Pilot program were Kushi Venkatesh, Naomi Ross, Kate Kindleysides, Romeo Delinicolas, Ned McVicar and Hugo Foxworthy, who all performed in three different double-billed shows at DoubleTree by Hilton I had the pleasure of attending A.I (Accurate Information) and Mangoes and Manhood, presented respectively by Brisbanebased Kate Kindleysides and Darwin’s Romeo Delinicolas
Kate Kindleysides merges clever visuals with her energetic, quirky mission (sent by Lord Zuckerberg) to differentiate fact from fiction. From AI to the moon landing, from Spiderman to Nicotine patches, Kate doesn’t miss a beat with exploring hard truths.
Kate’s various characterisations during her storytelling are excellent. It would be great to see Kate utilise these dramatic skills further and for one (or more) of these characters to play larger roles in the show.
Also presenting a debut MICF performance, transgender comic Romeo Delinicolas instantly engages his audience with fascinating stories of growing up on a mango farm in Darwin.
Complimented by visuals, Romeo candidly discusses adolescence and transitioning from ‘Greek girl’ to 'farm boy’.
Joining a Sydney cult, gendered biscuits, a colour-blind dog having a birthday party, nits, and the resolving of conflict with a box of mangoes – this charming raconteur’s broad topics were most enjoyable.
Congratulations to Kate Kindleysides and Romeo Delinicolas on their debut MICF shows and may there be many more, And bravo! Dylan McBurney on the creation and implementation of the Pilot program. A splendid concept to help kick-start the careers of Aussie comics.
- Review by Cheryl Threadgold
Something Good
■ The art of theatre improvisation is quite a skill and often lost under the radar, or underrated,in this era of blockbuster shows underpinned by wizard technicals, excellent choreography, and expensive rehearsal hours.
Comedy Republic offers improvised shows throughout the Comedy Festival and I was fortunate to attend a 4.30pm performance of Something Good, thus very light on four letter word.
The regular talent team were joined for Something Good by stand up comedian Mark Watson.
It is a mark of the regulars’ ability to read and respond to each other’s talents that someone of Mark’s expertise seemed almost perplexed at times.
■ A curious radio move underway at the moment is that popular Gold 104.3 morning host Craig Huggins is being taken off the Melbourne station by management. He will stay with the company and instead present the brekfast program on ● ● Craig Huggins sister station Cruise 1323 Adelaide, and the afternoon drive programs on 96FM Perth.
At Gold 104.3, the new line-up sees Dave Higgins in mornings, Toni Tenaglia continues in afternoons, and Steve Fitton takes on Drive. Huggy’s final Gold show is this Friday (Apr. 11). He says that he will strill be around to do by standby shifts for the Melbourne station.
A feature of improvisation is that the audience selects the starting point and actors riff off each other’s ideas until another jumps in, re-routes the storyline, and the more madcap the journey the better.
Huge fun was had from the audiences’ starting dialogue offer of making new friends (during inlane swimming was a crazy start) as we were led down cardboard tunnels to escape politically patient management, via a nervous McDonalds server; all the while coping with incompetent drivers with peripheral vision issues, en route to a zoo run by tigers. No wonder a fireman had to arrive.
Occasional lack of clarity sometimes lessened enjoyment but Something Good offers great weekly fun at Comedy Republic until April 20.
Performance Details: Until April 20 at 4.30pm. Venue: Comedy Republic, 231 Bourke St., Mebourne. Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au - Review by Maggie
● ● ● ● Bron Lewis
Morrison
● Stephanie Broadbridge
Local Theatre Observations
Bookshop Detectives
■ Not many author duos would have as fascinating past lives as Louise and Gareth Ward
The two New Zealand-based authors have just released their second novel together, a crime noir book called The Bookshop Detectives 2: Tea and Cake and Death.
The book's protagonists are ex-police officers Garth and Eloise, who run their own bookshop.
In real life, Garth and Louise are ex-police officers who met at their training academy in the UK. And these days they are proud independent publishers and owners of bookshops in Napier and Hawkes Bay, on the North Island of New Zealand
But that’s where the paths of the real bookstore owners and the fictional bookstore detectives diverge.
In the new book, Gareth and Louise hit trouble when several customers are poisoned ahead of the annual trivia night fundraiser. So our heroes draw on their backgrounds as expolice officers to tackle and solve this heinous crime.
In real life, Gareth and Louise know a lot about crime and books, and Louise even has a real-life murder arrest to draw on for veracity in her fiction, so it made sense for them to combine their artistic efforts and create this cosy crime genre.
They take turns writing chapters and then getting feedback from each other, which leads to some amusing quips in the book.
The authors have just visited Australia, headlining a special series of Penguin Noir events in Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
The Bookshop Detectives 2: Tea and Cake and Death is published by Penguin and available now.
- Julie Houghton
Vale Paul Karo
■ Melbourne actor Paul Karo has died at age 89. He was a stalwart of Crawford Productions, anddirected many episodes of their various series as well as playing numerous guest roles. He was an original cast member of The Box and received a Logie award in 1976 for his portrayal of the character of Lee Whiteman.
New choir
■ Ma non troppo is a new choir led by Christopher Watson (APRA/AMCOS Art Music Award-winning singer and director). Ma non troppo was born out of a unique vision: to bring together musicians who, despite pursuing other professional paths, remain passionate about singing and the art form.
These are individuals who have deep musical backgrounds but now find themselves “time poor” due to the demands of their careers and personal lives.
The choir’s inaugural concert, ‘A Mother’s Love’, will take place on May 10 at St Peter’s Eastern Hill in Melbourne.
- Contributed
SPLASH ZONE
■ Zoe Coombs Marr is no stranger to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival - she won an award way back in 2016 for ‘most outstanding show’ - and she continues to make waves (pardon the pun) in The Splash Zone , her latest offering for the 2025 MICF
Fear not front-seat enthusiasts, you're safebut only in one sense - Marr does like to chat so there’s no ducking under when you're up that close.
Launching on stage to the hyped-up techno tune Sandstorm , there is definitely a sense a storm is coming - and it certainly does in the form of Marr unhinged.
Energy and anticipation ran high as she dove into a whirlwind of storytelling, drawing on childhood experiences in Grafton and a chance encounter with a peculiar woman on a train—an interaction that left a lasting impression.
Her rapid-fire stream of consciousness flowed thick and fast, frequently derailed by her own amusing tangents, adding to the show’s unpredictable charm.
Playing more to her ADHD than lesbianism, her banter with the audience leads to tales of random encounters with Uber drivers and, surprisingly, Trump supporters in her audience.
Hilarity and a little profanity feature in her polished and seamless delivery - she clearly knows her material.
Though The Splash Zone may be a misleading title—feeling more like a storm zone than a gentle spray—its core message is clear: keeping conversation alive.
And Marr does just that with relentless energy, sharp wit, and an uncanny ability to turn the seemingly mundane into comedic gold.
In a time when open dialogue feels more important than ever, she reminds us that humor, no matter how chaotic, is one of the best ways to keep the conversation going.
Performance dates: until April 20
Where: Melbourne Town Hall, Powder Room
Cost: $25-$42
Bookings: https://www.comedyfestival. com.au/ browse-shows/the-splash-zone/ - Review by Beth Klein
This Life Of Mine
■ This Life of Mine, the final film from writerdirector Sophie Fillières before her untimely death last year at the age of 58, tells the story of a woman in the midst of a nervous breakdown.
Barbie (Agnès Jaoui) is a divorced, 50-something French woman writing her autobiography and worrying about fonts.
“Is it sober, or is it nothing?" she muses as she types.
Choosing another font, she decides it’s anorexic and “weighs itself each morning”.
“No comment,” she says while trying another Arial Hebrew Scholar.
A friend calls, and Barbie lies, stating she is at the gym.
The lies spiral; she’s listening to a favourite tune; she must take a shower before the water is turned off for repairs.
This strange opening to the film initiates the viewer into Barbie’s slowly disintegrating world.
She works as an advertising copywriter, but instead of composing a tagline for a “cereal with a hole”, she writes a poem, “A dog day”, for her bemused colleagues.
“I still don’t know what my nature is,” she tells her poker-faced psychiatrist.
Fillières documents Barbie’s slow psychological collapse, injecting encounters with Barbie’s daughter Rose (Angelina Woreth) and son Junior (Édouard Sulpice) and offbeat meetings with strangers with equal amounts of empathy and humour.
Jaoui is perfect as Barbie, capturing the feeling of being a bystander in your own life.
Released from the hospital, Barbie takes a trip to Scotland, reconnecting with places she stayed in as a young woman and finding peace and acceptance, if not a cure for her madness.
Finished posthumously under the direction of notes she made in her final weeks in hospital, it seems Fillières is trying to tell us that the existentialists were right when they said to us that life is absurd.
Screened as part of the Alliance French Film Festival at Palace Cinemas until April 9.
- Review by Kathryn Keeble
More Shows
■ Wyndham Theatre Company: Drinking Habits (a comedy by Tom Smith) May 9, 10, 16, 17 at 8pm; May 10, 17 at 2pm at Crossroad Theatrec, Corner of Duncans Rd and Synnot St, Werribe. Director: Cody Riker. Bookings: Trybooking.
■ Peridot Theatre Company: Proof (by David Auburn) May 16 – 25 at the Clayton Theatrette, Clayton Community Centre, Cooke St., Clayton. Director: Damian Jones. Bookings: peridot.com.au
■ CLOC Musical Theatre: Nice Work if You Can Get It. May 16 – 31 at the National Theatre, St Kilda. Director: Mark Taylor; Musical Director: David Clausen-Wisken ; Choreographer: Susan Lewis; Ass’t. Choreographer: James Rooney. Bookings: cloc.org.au or phone1300 362 547.
- Cheryl Threadgold
Auditions
■ Warrandyte Theatre Company: Grey Nomad (by Dan Lee) April 9 at 7pm, April 12 at 1pm at the Warrandyte Mechanics’ Institute, 180-186 Yarra St., Warrandyte. Director: Dan Lee. Audition enquiries: Dan Lee : broomedan@gmail.com
■ Malvern Theatre Company: The Humans (by Stephen Karam) April 13, 14 at 7pm at 29 Burke Rd., Malvern. Director: Nicky NevilleJones. Audition enquiries: gemcoplayers.org
■ Mordialloc Theatre Company: Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime (by Constance Fox) April 13 and April 14 at 7pm at Unit 8/417419 Warrigal Rd, Cheltenham. Director: Deborah Fabbro. Audition Enquiries: mordialloctheatre.com.au/auditionslord-arthur-saviles-crime/
■ Brighton Theatre Company: Fallen Angels (by Noel Coward) April 13 at 2pm, April 14 at 7pm at Brighton Theatre, Cnr Wilson and Carpenter Sts., Brighton. Director: Joe Dias. Audition bookings and enquiries to Joe Dias: fallenangels2025btc@gmail.com
■ Williamstown Little Theatre: Rabbit Hole (by David Lindsay-Abaire) April 27 at 1pm, April 28 at 78pm at 2-4 Albert St., Williamstown. Director: John Bishop. Open auditions – no need to book, just attend at audition time. Any queries, contact director John Bishop John Bishop at retbish68@gmail.com or 0490 434 135.
■ Leongatha Lyric Theatre: The Heartbreak Choir (by Aidan Fennessy) Information session: May 3 at 3pm at 13 Watson Rd., Leongatha. Auditions: May 10. Director: Bernadette Grainger. leongathalyric.com.au
■ Eltham Little Theatre: The Addams Family: A New Musical (by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice) May 3 at 10am and May 6 at 6.30pm at the Eltham Performing Arts Centre, 1603 Main Rd., Research. Director: Isabella Preston. Enquiries and audition bookings: addams.elt@gmail.com
- Cheryl Threadgold
Shows
■ Warrandyte Theatre Company: When the Wind Blows (by Raymond Briggs) Until April 12 at the Warrandyte Mechanics’ Institute, 180 Yarra St., Warrandyte. Director: David Tynan. Bookings: trybooking.com/cyjqt
■ The 1812 Theatre: The Thrill of Love (by Amanda Whittington) Until May 3 at The Bakery, The 1812 Theatre, 3 Rose St., Upper Ferntree Gully. Director: Pip Le Blond. Bookings: 1812theatre.com.au or 9758 3964
■ CPP Community Theatre: Macbeth (by William Shakespeare) Until April 12 at Boronia K-12 College, Performing Arts Centre, Albert Avenue, Boronia. (park at Rangeview Rd. end). Director: Kathryn White. Bookings: cppcommunitytheatre. com.au/
■ Upstage Theatre Company: Into the Woods, Until April 13 at the Tony Schemack Centre for Performing Arts, Beaconhills College, Berwick Campus. Directgor: Scott J Hili; Choreographer: Sarah Cullen; Musical Director: Tim Bland. Bookings: upstagetheatre company.com
■ FAMDA: Confluence (by Chris Dickins) Until April 13 at the Foster War Memorial arts Centre, 79 Main St., Foster. Director: Chris Dickins. Bookings: Trybooking.com/ CZYVC
■ Frankston Theatre Group: An Inspector Calls (by JB Priestley) April 10 – 13 at Frankston High School Performing Arts Theatre, 97 Foot St., Frankston. Director: Gemma Sylvester, assisted by Stuart DaddoLanglois). Bookings: Trybooking or 0437 117 881.
■ Williamstown Little Theatre: Things I Know to be True (by Andrew Bovell) April 23 – May 10 at Williamstown Little Theatre, 2-4 Albert St., Williamstown. Director: Shirley Sydenham. Bookings: wlt.org.au
■ Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company: Haunted (by Eric Chappell) April 24 – May 10 at the Lilydale Mechanics Institute, Castella St., Lilydale. Director: Nicholas Ryan. Bookings: lilydaleatc.com
■ LOTS Theatre (Legends of the Skies): WHY … April 24 at 7.30pm at the Moorabbin Air Museum. Why we respect, why we remember, why we work for peace. Yarns, quizzes, facts, music, table competitions. Family friendly. BYO drinks and nibbles. Artistic director: Maggie Morrison. Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/CZFEL
■ The Basin Theatre Company: Heisenberg: The Uncertainty Principle (by Simon Stephens) April 24 – May 4 at The Basin Theatre, Doongalla Rd., The Basin. Director: Michelle Swan. Tickets: thebasintheatre. au
■ Heidelberg Theatre Company: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (by Simon Stephens – from the novel by Mark Haddon) April 25 – May 10 at Heidelberg Theatre, 36 Turnham Ave., Rosanna. Director: Karen Wakeham. Bookings: htc.org.au
■ Malvern Theatre Company: A Happy and Holy Occasion (by John O’Donoghue) April 26 – May 10 at Malvern Theatre, 29a Burke Rd., Malvern. Director: Nicholas Opolski. Bookings: malverntheatre.com.au
■ Bairnsdale Production Line Theatre Company: Come From Away (by Irene Sankolff and David Hein) May 2 – 25 at the Forge Theatre and Arts Hub, Bairnsdale. Director: Peter Martignoles. Bookings: www.eastgippsland.vic.gov.au/leisure/whatson-and-buy-tickets
■ Theatre of the Winged Unicorn: The Jane Austen Experience (devised and directed by Elaine Mitchell) May 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17 at 7.30pm; May 4, 11, 18 at 2pm at the Ceres Temperance Hall, 40 McCann St., Ceres. Bookings: Trybooking.com/CYJIN Further details: theatreofthewingedunicorn.com.au
■ Wyndham Theatre Company: Drinking Habits (by Tom Smith) May 9 – 17 at Wyndham Theatre, Cnr. Duncans Rd. and Synott St., Werribee. Director: Cody Riker. Bookings: Trybooking
■ The Mount Players: The Girl on the Train (by Richard Wagstaff and Duncan Abel) May 9 – 25 at the Mountview Theatre, Smith St., Mt. Macedon. Director: Frank Harvey. Bookings: the mountplayers.com
- Cheryl Threadgold
● ● Zoe Coombs Marr.
Photo: Christa Holka
● ● ● ● Gareth and Louise Ward
CATO THE WISE
Maxwell Newton
★Russell Morris has announced one last tour before he hangs up his hat and guitar. He will play Hamer Hall on August 27. Tickets go on sale at 10am Thursday (Apr. 10).
★Morris sounds as if he is channelling John Farnham’s publicist of the past: “Is it the last shows? Who can say for sure? Life’s unpredictable, and I’m not one for absolutes. But right now, it feels like it could be.”
★Publicist Larissa Anderson says R.E.M. by Stipe is a tribute tour which is coming to Frankston Arts Centre on April 24, then to The Palms at Crown Melbourne on April 25.
★Werribee Open Range Zoo has welcomed the birth of a small but mighty lion cub. It’s the first time in the Zoo’s 41-year history that a lion has given birth to a single cub litter.
★More than 115,000 visitors poured through the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show gates over five days, making it the most-attended event in more than two decades.
★Orchestra Victoria’s Indie Symphony II returns to Hamer Hall for two nights on July 3 and 4, showcasing soundtracks from bestselling and fan-favourite independent videogames.
★Local businesses were named the national winners in the Australian Small Business Champion Awards: Grand Cru Wine Fridges, Rowville, Online Business; Inkd SMP, Windsor , Tattoo Artist; Schweigen, Dingley Village, Specialised Retail Small Business.
★An all- Australian cast has been confirmed for Peppa Pig’s Fun Day Out with Zoe Crisp cast as Peppa Pig in the April-May tour. Cast includes Romy Juliette Glass, Maddison Price, Jake Waterworth, Zuleika Khan, Jacqui Dwyer and Benjamin Richards.
★A major exhibition, Blak InJustice: Incarceration and Resilience, is being staged at Heide Museum of Modern Art.
★National Palliative Care Week runs from Sunday, May 11, to Saturday, May 17. Theme is ‘What’s Your Plan?’
Melbourne Observer Melbourne Observer
Rourke’s Reviews Entertainment
★Fifi Box has made her musical theatre debut in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast The Musical, stepping onto the stage at Her Majesty’s Theatre for a special guest appearance.
★Ford Motor Company celebrated its 100th anniversary in Australia last Friday (Apr. 4).
To celebrate, more than 2500 employees, dealers and partners came together at the Melbourne Showgrounds
★Shake It Up Australia Foun dation last week launched Parkinson's Awareness Month.
★A widely-acclaimed installation by world-renowned street artist Rone, The Workroom, is open to the public as part of The Outsiders Melbourne until May 25.
★Music legend Marcia Hines and Casey Donovan have announced they will be touring together across Australia, with an October 5 matinee (2pm) show scheduled for Hamer Hall.
★John Foreman and the Australian Pops Orchestra are presenting Jaws In Concert on Saturday, August 30, at Hamer Hall
★To mark the 50th anniversary of NAIDOC Week , the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra celebrates Yorta Yorta/Yuin composer and soprano Deborah Cheetham Fraillon. The concert will be held at 7.30pm on Friday, July 11, at Hamer Hall.
★The Uncle Archie Roach Block Party will be held from 1pm on Saturday, May 10, until 3am next morning at multiple locations: Drop House in Tatersalls Lane, The Toff at 252 Swanston St, and the Golden Square Car Park at 217 Lonsdale St.
★The international blockbuster Playground Project is taking over the Incinerator Gallery, 180 Holmes Rd, Aberfeldie, from June 28- October 12. The project has been specially commissioned with guest exhibition curator Gabriela Burkhalter, and Daniel Baumann of Kunsthalle Zürich.
★Royal Victorian Aero Club Safety Manager Hugh McBain has been named a recipient of this year’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority Scholarships. He is aged 29.
Anastasia
■ John Frost for Crossroads Live and Opera Australia has announced that the Broadway hit musical Anastasia will have its Australian premiere at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne in December.
Inspired by the mysterious tale of Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov’s rumoured escape in the dawning days of the Russian Revolution, and the 20th Century Fox animated fairytale of the same name,
Anastasia has been brought to life on the stage by the Tony Award-winning creative team of Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens
Anastasia is a lavish musical for the whole family, transporting audiences from the twilight years of the Imperial rule to the euphoria and exuberance of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman named Anya sets out to discover the mystery of her past.
Pursued by an army officer determined to silence her, she enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family.
“The legend of Anastasia has intrigued the world for many years and I’ve been wanting to bring this musical to Australia since it premiered on Broadway in 2017. It’s a story full of mystery and romance with a magnificent score that I know Australia is going to fall in love with,” said Producer John Frost.
“Opera Australia is thrilled to be once again partnering with John Frost to bring another world class musical to Australian theatres. We expect the glorious music, spectacle and intrigue of Anastasia will captivate audiences around the country,” said Opera Australia’s Acting CEO Simon Militano.
There have been two films telling the captivating story of Anastasia including the 1956 film with Ingrid Bergman, Helen Haye s, and Yul Brynner; and the 1997 20th Century Fox animated film, which featured a score by the musical’s creators, Ahrens and Flaherty
Directed by Tony Award winning director Darko Tresnjak, Anastasia premiered on Broadway in March 2017 and played to sold out audiences for three years before productions in Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, Brazil, Mexico and Japan as well as two North American tours. It also received a Tony Award nomination for Best Costume Design in a Musical and won more than 15 major international awards including Best Musical awards in Germany, the Netherlands and Spain
The book for Anastasia was written by the late five time Tony Award winning writer Terrence McNally, with music and lyrics written by the renowned writing team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens
Casting details will be announced in the coming months.
- Cheryl Threadgold
Bottoms
■ (MA). 90 minutes. Now available on select digital platforms.
After garnering much-deserved attention with her feature length directorial debut, Shiva Baby, in 2020 (based on her 2018 short film), writer/director Emma Seligman followed up that critical success with a high school comedy that couldn’t be any more different in tone, although some similar themes run throughout.
Rachel Sennott, who starred in Shiva Baby (and co-writes here with Seligman), is PJ, who along with her best friend Josie (Ayo Edebiri), are gay students who are at the bottom of the school hierarchy, humiliated on a daily basis by the popular crowd.
Deciding to take matters into their own hands, the two start up a Fight Club style defence class, even if PJ and Josie’s sole reason to do it is to hopefully get the attention of two students they have crushes on, Brittany (Kaia Gerber) and Isabel (Havana Rose Liu) respectively.
The class does get a number of applicants, including Hazel (Ruby Cruz), and as the group start to bond, it becomes apparent that these girls have had to suffer through horrific bullying and physical attacks.
As the big football game approaches, things start to get out of hand. Segilman and Sennott (who also recently appeared in the much more uneven Bodies, Bodies, Bodies) are totally committed to their material, which is a deliberate tearing apart of all those 80’s John Hughes high school movies we are so nostalgic about, and while some were genuine classics (The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off), they did only look at a particular sector of the community.
The diversity of colour, beliefs and sexual identity is vigorously presented here, using profane humour to terrific effect, an approach that could have so easily fallen on its face.
The cast are wonderful right across the board, and the chemistry between many of them is totally convincing.
Even the actors’ ages and the choice of music is effectively skewed. Bottoms is hilarious, but also heartfelt, made by people who are passionate about the topics raised within the seemingly knockabout and raucous plot. This is high energy entertainment of the highest order, and would make a great double bill with Olivia Wilde’s Booksmart (2019). With Sennott about to be seen in the well-reviewed I Used To Be Funny, this is a great way to be introduced (along with Shiva Baby) to this very talented actor/writer.
RATING - ****
The Kitchen
■ (M). 107 minutes. Now streaming on Netflix. Oscar-winning actor Daniel Kaluuya (Judas And The Black Messiah, Get Out, Nope) made his directorial debut with this compelling sci-fi/drama, a serious-minded, thoughtful and eventually moving examination of poverty, class inequality, and the importance of human connection. Kane Robinson stars as Izi, a loner who resides in a densely populated area in London known as ‘The Kitchen’, where poor communities are living under difficult circumstances. Making things even more difficult is that the occupants are being forcibly removed by the police, who are raiding the buildings in increasingly regular fashion, as public housing is about to be outlawed. Izi works at a company called Life After Life, in which people who can’t afford normal burial services can have their deceased loved ones turned into trees to be planted. On one such day, Izi encounters young Benji (Jedaiah Bannerman), who has just lost his mother, whom Izi knew. Beni, who now feels lost, tries to connect with Izi, wanting someone to help him get through a tragic time in his life. Initially pushing the young teen away, Izi begins to take Benji under his wing, especially when he sees the possible criminal path he could be manipulated into going down. As the authorities’ control tightens around the world they live in, Izi and Benji attempt to hang on to hope. Kaluuya, co-directing with Kibwe Tavares, impressively create a near-future world that is unfortunately all-too-believable, where the gap between rich and poor is increasing, and the rights of the latter are either being restricted or completely stripped away. Kaluuya also seems to have tapped into his own childhood in presenting his story, which is clever and impactful, giving what is a cold environment a much-needed human factor. Performances are excellent, with Robinson and Bannerman both sharing a strong chemistry, while detailing their characters’ particular pain, disconnect, and cautious need to be wanted.
Technically the film is first-rate, with the world the film-makers have imagined looking absolutely plausible. The main issues are pacing, which can slow at times, and the material being so ambitious, that you wish it was detailed more thoroughly over a longer running time. These flaws aside, The Kitchen was unfairly overlooked when first released, but deserves to be seen by a larger audience. Definitely worth seeking out, as it sees another actor make a notable move behind the camera.
RATING - ***½
In Memory of
■ They called him ‘The Big O’ and during his career he sold millions of recordings. Roy Orbison was admired by his peers for his creative singing style and fans throughout the world loved him.
Roy Kelton Orbison was born in Vernon, Texas, in 1936. His parents gave him a guitar when he was six and his father taught him how to play it.
He started a band whilst at high school and in his early days he was friends with Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Pat Boone.
Roy was a group member of The Teen Kings band and when he went solo he recorded with Sam Phillips at Sun Records.
Roy had his first hit in 1956 with the song Ooby Dooby
He married Claudette Frady in 1957 and at that time he was having some success as a songwriter. Roy signed with Monument Records and in 1960 released songs such as Only The Lonely, Crying and Running Scared
Dream Baby was another huge hit song for him in 1962. In 1964 The Beatles invited Roy to sing on their UK tour but he was so popular that he took numerous curtain calls before the Beatles even got onstage.
His hair went prematurely grey and he dyed it black for the rest of his life.
The photo we have used in this article is courtesy of Pete Smith. Pete went backstage after Roy's 1962 concert at Festival Hall
Melbourne Observer Melbourne Observer
Whatever Happened To ... Roy Orbison
By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM
What is unusual is that Roy is not wearing his trademark sunglasses, but it seems that he only wore them onstage as part of his image.
Ray Peterson who had a big hit song with Tell Laura I love Her is also in the photo. Ray passed away in 2005.
Roy had another big hit song with Pretty Woman which was released in 1964. The song was later used as the title for the 1990 romantic comedy film starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts
Roy suffered tragedy in his lifetime, in 1966 his wife Claudette died in a motorcycle accident and two years later two of his sons were killed in a house fire.
Roy appeared on many television shows but
● ● ● ● Roy Orbison, Ray Peterson and Pete Smith
only made one feature film titled The Fastest Guitar Alive (it was a shocker). In 1969 he married Barbara Jakobs and they had three children during their marriage.
I attended a Neil Diamond concert at the Myer Music Bowl in 1976, Neil announced that he was going to bring a special guest onstage and out walked Roy Orbison. The crowd went wild, Roy Orbison sang Running Scared and they sang a duet of Song Sung Blue Roy Orbison was in Melbourne for his own
concerts at the time. In 1976 at his last concert Elvis Presley acknowledged Roy Orbison in the audience and said,"Quite simply, the greatest singer in the world, Roy Orbison."
In 1977 it was discovered that he had three coronary arteries blocked in his heart. The following year he had a triple heart bypass operation. Not many people know that Australia's rock singer Lonnie Lee worked with Roy in the US composing songs during the 1970's.
In 1988 he joined the singing group The Travelling Wilburys which featured George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne. In the same year he also released a new solo album.
Sadly Roy Orbison died of a heart attack on December 6, 1988, at the age of 52. His widow Barbara who had been his manager and coproduced the stage musical Only The LonelyThe Roy Orbison Story passed away in 2011. Barbara also died on December 6, 23 years after Roy. They are both buried in Westwood Memorial Park and their graves do not have a headstone.
Kevin Trask
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
BIG PROGRAM AT WALKER STREET GALLERY
Confluence – The Dreaming Project and Little Projector Company
Confluence invites Geater Dandenong to celebrate shared discovery and culture; connection at the Walker Street Gallery.
This multi-form installation explores global shared experience through the lens of Australian First Nations perspectives, highlighting the themes of identity, heritage and unity.
Inspired by the Dandenong Creek’s cultural and natural significance to the Bururang, Wurundjen, and local communities, the creek symbolizes the blending of cultures and stories
With water as a metaphor for life and transformation, the exhibition honours the creek’s role as a lifeline and cultural touchstone, fastening reflection on our shared human sprit. Exhibition closes Friday May 39. Walker Street Gallery
Cnr Walker St & Robinson St. Dandenong.
At Horsham
The Male Gaze – Beau Ladlow is an interactive art installation that explores the experience of objectification and surveillance.
While the title references the established term ‘the male gaze’, his work extends beyond the genderbased objectification tp explore how individuals feel when constantly being watched, valuated, and considered by others.
The installation features a robotic sculpture equipped with sensors that rack the movements of viewers.
Its reactions invite the participants to open a dialogue about unwanted observation.
Exhibition closes June 22.
★ Salt, Sky & Dust = A Wimmera Palette an exhibition drawn entirely from the Horsham Regional Art Gallery’s expansive collection, enables us to view the iconic Wimmera region through rose-coloured glasses.
Known well for its expansive and challenging landscape, dryland farming, vast areas of scrub and iconic mountain ranges, the Wimmera region covers up too one-tenth of the
The Arts
withPeterKemp
Victorian landscape and has long been challenging environment for those who work it.
Yet, in this exhibition, the harshness of drought, dust, and labour is tempered by the gentle, soft blush or striking contrast of the colour pink.
Consistently, artists have utilised this colour when capturing the Australian landscape and in particular the Wimmera
These works from the collection which include paintings, photography, sculpture, ceramics and printmaking, expand our understanding of this oftconstrued hue.
Pink can be rugged, crystalline and ageless, yet simultaneously delicate, soft and fleeting.
Capable of capturing the sky at sunset, a dry landscape, a blush of flora or the vibrancy of our unique communities is it through unassuming power of pink we are provided a powerful lens through which to understand both the Wimmera and its people.
Exhibition closes June 22.
Horsham Regional Art Gallery 80 Wilson St, Horsham
Karla’s work
Mother’s Little Helpers –Karla Dickens
This exhibition presented across three billboards located at the Incinerator Gallery, reflects a growing rebellion over the silence and inaction
of our country’s powerbrokers and general populace towards climate change.
Through these photographs, Lismore -based Wiradjuri artist Karla Dickens highlights a rebellion often dismissed as inconvenient and calls for protest only taking place through conventional means.
In 2018, as part of the Kandos School of Cultural Adaptation project, Karla collaborated with Bruce Pascoe, author of Dark Emu – Brenda Blacklock, alongside children from Bingara Central School.
Together they created Mother’s Little Helpers filmed in February 2019 amid extreme heat and nearby fires.
Exhibition closes June 6.
Incinerator Gallery
180 Holmes St. Moonee Ponds - Peter Kemp
Big Jazz Day Out
■ The Big Jazz Day Out is Monash University Performing Arts Centre’s new one-day festival, showcasing over 150 musicians in a full-scale takeover of The Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts on Saturday, May 3.
Audiences can explore five venues, enjoy a variety of food and drink offerings, and experience performances by premier contemporary artists such as Emma Donovan and Ngaiire, alongside jazz luminaries including Paul Grabowsky, Sandy Evans, Horns of Leroy, Jazz Party, and Fem Belling
From the courtyard to The Count’s, every space will be filled with jazz, curated by MPAC’s Senior Producer of Contemporary Music, Chelsea Wilson.
MPAC’s Executive Director, Paul Grabowsky said he’s thrilled to be adding a jazz festival to the extensive season of events. “For a four-letter word, Jazz packs quite a punch. It means many different things, represents different styles of music, traverses the planet with its message of the power of improvisation, collaboration and endless creativity.
‘Back after this break’
■ Whoopi Goldberg is host of an exceptionally popular US chat show 'The View'. Mid-stream, discussing a controversial subject with other panel members, Whoopi suddenly fainted and was saved by fellow panelist just in time from smashing her head on the desk. The whole split-second drama was seen coast to coast until the Director cut to a commercial. Whoopi fully recovered and finished the show. What a trouper.
Big bucks to Victoria
■ UK film company, 60forty films, has commenced production of new drama 'The Dispatcher'. The production brings mega benefits to Victoria using locations from Docklands, Warrnambool, Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley- benefits amounting to $45 million in accommodation and hospitality plus generating of 730 new jobs.
Diagnosed with cancer
■ In the 60s the hottest pop singer was Bobby Sherman , his poster appeared on walls of most teenybopper bedrooms. Now 81, Bobby has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Bobby cut a total of 10 albums and his TV appearances included The Monkees, Partridge Family, Honey West before retiring in 1997 following a part in Frazier.
Lyrics of yesteryear
■ They no longer write /sing lyrics like the lyrics of the past. Good example is teen idol Fabian, circa 60s singing 'Tiger' : 'Floating like an onion in a bowl of stew'
Bluey into new territory
■ The ABC has announced plans to launch a book targeted to their original audience now moving into adolescence, titled ' Puberty Bluey'. Book , in usual Bluey tones discusses age appropriate subjects like body change, emotions and more. On sale date mid, second half 2025. - John O’Keefe
With John O’Keefe
Whoopi Goldberg
Melbourne Observer Melbourne Observer
Observer Melbourne Lovatts Crossword No 5
AcrossAcrossDownDown
1. Heavy rainfall
6. Canary or nightingale
11. Mob hanging
15. Incinerated (corpse)
20. Gallivant
21. Weird
22. The masses, ... polloi
23. Business conversation
24. Reprimand
25. Dead skin in hair
27. Most depressing
28. Holler
29. Boo-boo
31. Dublin republic
32. Black Sea port
36. The A of USA
37. Self-murder
38. Upper
41. Languished
44. Gowned
45. Noosed rope
48. Spanked
49. Radio crackle
52. Retaliate for
56. Gigantic
57. Las Vegas is there
58. Sleep
61. Inflexibility
62. Intervals
63. Cosy corners
64. At no stage
65. Skimpy bikini bottom (1-6)
66. Renewed
67. Resign (5,4)
71. Indian woman's forehead mark
73. Young owl
75. Nourishing substances
80. Fiesta, Mardi ...
82. More agile
83. Calf-length skirt
85. Stinginess
86. Gazing lecherously at 88. Lead astray
90. Without thinking
91. Relinquished (land)
93. Magazine users
94. Lamented
95. Reduce
96. Bends out of shape
97. Japanese wrestling
99. Flour factory
100. Vehement
104. Snapshots book
105. Perfect
106. Scale
107. Relents (5,2)
111. Proficient
113. Sick
114. Cry of delight
115. Escape adroitly
117. Bump
118. Flanks
121. Wild rose
122. Poet, ... Allan Poe
125. American president, Ronald ...
126. Salt Lake City state
127. Exploited
129. Famed lioness
131. Wine, ... spumante
132. Paler
135. Oil-exporting cartel
136. Singer, ... Etheridge
139. Speed measurement
140. Confused
144. Nunavut native
145. Wire
146. Biscuit topping
147. US island prison
148. Scandalised
149. Dinners or lunches
150. Crocodile Dundee star, Paul ...
152. Brahma follower
154. Sends (money)
157. East Timor's capital
158. Foot arches
162. Part of eye
163. Exotic flower
166. Loop
167. Missile-launch pit
169. Nevada divorce city
171. Taj Mahal site
172. Fleet
173. Takes a break
175. Indigenous New Zealander
176. Acute remorse
179. Burnt brightly
180. Mountain chain
182. Relaxation art, ... chi (1'2)
183. Food additive (1,1,1)
184. Regal
186. Oval
189. Communications industry
190. Not anybody (2-3)
191. Of sound system
192. Freshness
196. Sacred ritual
197. Pig in a ...
198. Dummy pill
199. Paralysed
201. Tennis ace, Gabriela ...
202. Men's neck scarves
203. Capital of South Korea
204. Shameful secret, ... in the cup-
board
205. Away from home, far ...
208. Movie theatre
210. News footage
211. Petticoat
212. Understand
213. Personal identity
215. Indigestion
219. Striped equine
221. Hospital worker
223. Supervisors
227. Prefabricated (concrete)
228. Unlock
230. Depart
231. Lace frill
232. Percussion instruments
233. Earth's environment, Mother ...
234. Temporary relief
238. Gaps
239. Design-tracing device
240. Rots
243. Group loyalty, ... de corps
246. Car repair set (4,3)
247. Desist
250. Swindle
251. NZ PM, ... Clark
253. Resupplies with weapons
256. Duplicate
257. Hoisting anchor cry (5-2)
258. Cruelty
262. West African country
263. Glue
266. Madam (2'2)
268. Writer, James ...
269. Nervous disorder
270. Aggravate
271. Many
272. Rascal
273. Surplus
274. LA suburb, ... Air
275. Spouse's boys
276. Holstered pistols (4,4)
277. Alberta's capital
278. Tooth doctors
1. Nightclub
2. Belonging to whom?
3. Golfing strokes
4. Unattractive
5. Scrape together (4,2)
7. Tidiest
8. Between
9. Investigate
10. Venison animal
11. Open-air pool
12. January 1st, New ... (4'1,3)
13. Strong painkiller
14. Accustoming
15. Hooded snakes
16. Infuriate
17. Florida resort
18. Fangs
19. Discourage
24. Garbed
26. Touch
30. Manlike machine
33. Wettest
34. Part
35. Corrected
38. Huskier
39. Eucalypt
40. No longer existing (of species)
42. Dedicatory poems
43. Dodging (duty)
46. Kabul currency unit
47. Complacent
49. Flood-protection sack
50. Decorate
51. Dispatching
53. Retailers
54. Of shipping
55. Inconsistent
59. Still vivid (of memory)
60. Glorified
67. Japanese warrior
68. Insistent
69. Underground cell
70. Utterly preoccupied
72. Pakistan's capital
74. Striving to equal
76. Vibrated
77. Accuses
78. Spaghetti-like items
79. Enlists (5,2)
81. Skiffs
84. Christmas month
87. Lucky escape (4,4)
89. Enhances
91. Director, ... Mille (5,1,2)
92. Disapproves strongly of
98. Twins star sign
101. Dragonfly larva
102. Make into law
103. Sixth planet from sun
108. Taken from plane (of photo)
109. Heavy antelope
110. Established practice
112. School test
116. Unstintingly
119. Impetuous
120. Christian sacrament
123. Eternal punishment
124. Attributes
128. Involve in conflict
130. Milk sugar
132. Propeller sound
133. Mode of expression
134. Octagon number
137. Sits idly
138. Uttered
141. Raise objections
142. Unwilling
143. Gave medicine to
151. Academy Awards
153. Achievable
155. Register
156. From Baghdad
159. Appointees
160. Employed (4,2)
161. Ancient
164. Length of metal links
165. Notions
168. Formerly Constantinople
170. City devastated by A-bomb
173. Curative
174. Hit with glancing blow
177. Faintness
178. Equatorial
181. Spray cans
185. Humorous account
186. Unveiled
187. Layabouts
188. Go in front
193. Stoat-like animals
194. Issue (from)
195. Procedures
200. Skilled arguers
201. Japanese meat dish
206. Died away, ... out
207. Curtains, cloth, etc
208. Middles
209. Most submissive
211. Tastes
214. Debarred
216. Longest Asian river
217. Simpler
218. Outdoor meals
220. French peak, Mont ... 222. Happen repeatedly
224. Motives
225. Allowed
226. Travelling stagehands
229. ... & hearty
232. Distribute, ... out
235. Tendency to fantasise
236. Iron
237. Tied
241. Explain in detail
242. Grand Canyon state
244. Tenor, ... Domingo 245. Imprecise
248. Panics
249. Ireland (poetic)
251. Residence
252. Lent to 253. Frisks
254. Paris landmark, ... Triomphe (3,2)
255. Fulfils (demand)
259. Delegate
260. Religious statues
261. Veils
262. Hitler's ... Kampf
264. Serpents
265. Grow weary
267. Donkey/horse cross
By Rob Foenander info@robfomusic.com.au
The Other Side
■ Hailing from Heath Hill , east of Melbourne, singer-songwriter Pete Davies has dropped his new album.
The Other Side is a collection of tunes that involved collaborations with other musicians and writers from Nashville where he recorded.
“It’s been blood sweat and tears compiled into some music and all I hope is it resonates with other people,” Pete says.
Eagles Story
■ For more than 10 years, The Eagles Story has taken audiences around Australia on a journey to relive the amazing music of the Eagles.
Through their scintillating harmonies, that recreate to perfection the vocal arrangements created by the band, to the purity of the musicianship, The Eagles Story takes this tribute to a new level, rarely seen.
Memo Music Hall. Saturday, April 12. Tickets at trybooking.com
- Rob Foenander
Banff Film Festival
■ The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour returns to Melbourne this May, bringing a new selection of award-winning adventure films to the big screen. Among the seven short films featured is one by a Melbourne-based emerging filmmaker, whose work will be showcased alongside international stories of snowboarding on Antarctic icebergs, wingsuit flying in the Swiss Alps, ultra-endurance running, and more.
Melbourne Observer Melbourne Observer
Blak Holes: maddest show of Festival
■ Dane Simpson and Isaac Compton have teamed for Blak Holes in what is billed as ' the maddest show of the festival. Standup, musical comedy, sketches and a whole lot of horsing around’.
Dane Simpson, aka the King Of Wagga Wagga, is known for multiple appearances on the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala, The Opening Night Supershow, Have You Been Paying Attention? and Thank God You’re Here.
In 2023 he and his dad trekked to India to take part in Channel 10’s The Amazing Race Celebrity Edition where they were said to 'win the hearts of viewers across the nation' ...but were the first ones eliminated.
Isaac Compton is a professional musician and event host who has opened for Justice Crew, Troy Cassar-Daley and Paul Kelly for the 50th Anniversary of the Freedom Rides.
Isaac is well known on multiple social media platforms for his characterful output including Married At First Sight recaps, First Nations activism and an endless supply of Pauline Hanson gags.
In 2023 he trekked to The Summit on Channel 9’s hit reality TV show of the same name where he too 'won the hearts of viewers across the nation' ... and also won the cash prize.
These two First Nations comics are said to be bursting with opti-
Crossword Solution No 5
mism, personality and funny jokes. Performance Dates: April 8 - 20 (no show Mon 14th) at 6.30pm (5.30pm Sundays)
Running Time: 55mins
Venue: The Greek – Paw Paw Jump - 272 Russell Street, Melbourne Bookings: www.comedy festival.com.au - Cheryl Threadgold
La Fiera
■ Bringing together the best of the North East’s vibrant Italian culture, authentic food and entertainment, La Fiera Italian Festival, one of the longest-running and most anticipated regional Italian festival, returns on Friday-Sunday, May 16-18, in Myrtleford.
Over the past 17 years, La Fiera has grown from a small community celebration to an unmissable weekend where both locals and visitors can immerse themselves in traditional Italian food, wine, culture and sport.
Thousands of visitors head to Victoria’s famed High Country during autumn months every year, and La Fiera will continue with the autumn tradition of roasting chestnuts, which has long been a favourite for the kids, while adults will be sure to sample local Alpine Valley wineries.
U B GRAS NIMBLER MIDI R N O I MEANNESS OGLING M L SEDUCE HEADLONG
U M G E W A E CEDED N L C M I D N READERS BEMOANED DECREASE BUCKLES A N O SUMO A R C G P I T MILL T E U INTENSE ALBUM IDEAL CLIMB EASESUP Y N ADEPT A ILL M OOH N ELUDE L S IMPACT X SIDES BRIAR EDGAR N REAGAN P C UTAH M USED N ELSA C ASTI N G WHITER M OPEC MELISSA MACH P ADDLED H D INUIT U H B A P C N R CABLE O O ICING N ALCATRAZ OUTRAGED R MEALS R O HOGAN
Observations with Matt Bissett-Johnson
Observations with Matt Bissett-Johnson
● ● First Nations comics Dane Simpson and Isaac Compton.
Tapas Bar Home-Made Desserts
Great Range of Cocktails and Mocktails Available.
Teas and Coffees
Don’t forget our Famous Devonshire Tea
WEEKEND’S LOCAL FOOTBALL FINAL SCORES
Amateurs
■ Victorian Amateur Football Association. Premier Men’s. Old brighton 20.13 (133) d University Blacks 5.7 (37). St Bernard’s 12.9 (81) d University Blues 12.8 (80). Old Scotch 13.10 (88) d St Kevin’s 10.14 (74). Old Heileybury 21.11 (137) d Collegians 9.9 963). Old Xaverians 28.11 (179) d De La Salle 7.7 (49).
Premier Men’s Reserves. Old Brighton 16.12 (108) d University Blacks 2.4 (16). University Blues 13.14 (92) d St Bernard’s 7.7 (49). St Kevin’s 14.11 (95) d Old Scoych 9.5 (59). Collegians 12.15 (87) d Old Haileybury 5.9 (39). Old Xaverians 19.12 (126) d De La Salle 2.3 (15).
Premier B Men’s. Old Camberwell 13.11 (89) d Old Trinity 12.16 (88). Old Ivanhoe 18.10 (118) d Caulfield Grammarians 11.9 975). Williamstown CYMS 17.22 (124) d Hampton Ro0vers 11.5 (71). Old Carey 14.10 (94) d Old Melburnians 13.11 (89). Old Geelong 13.12 (90) d Fitzroy 9.6 (60).
Premier B Men’s Reserves. Old trinity 10.12 (72) d Old Camberwell 5.5 (35). Caulfield Grammarians 7.7 (49) d Old Ivanhoe 6.12 (48). Williamstown CYMS 12.9 (81) d Hampton Rovers 6.7 (43). Old Melburnians 8.9 (57) d Old Carey 4.13 (37). Fitzroy 19.18 (132) d Old Geelong 4.2 (26).
Premier C Men’s. St Bedes/mentone 12,.8 (80) d Beaumaris 10.16 (76). Parkdale Vultures 12.16 (88) d Parkside 8.5 (53). ALAX 17.19 912) d Marcellin 7.5 (47). PEGS 10.9 (79) d Prahran 10.7 967). Mazenod 13.5 (83) d Glen Eira/Old McKinnon 9.18 (72).
Premier C Men’s Reserves. Beaumaris 9.6 (60) drew with St Bedes/Mentone 9.6 (60). Parkdale Vultures 17.7 (109) d Parkside 7.1 (43). AJAX 11.13 (79) d Marcellin 1.5 (11). Prahran 20.5 (125) d PEGS 6.2 (38). Glen Eira/Old McKinnon 11.13 (79) d Mazenod 5.9 (39).
Division 1 Men’s. Ormond 14.22 (105) d Elsternwick 10.7 (67). Kew 14.10 (94) d VHSVU 11.9 (75). Old Peninsula 14.21 (105) d Monash Blues 10.3 (63). Oakleigh 12.9 (81) d Preston Bullants 10.12 (72). Brunsw3ick 13.16 (94) d Therry Penola 4.6 (30).
Division 1 Men’s Reserves. Elsternwick v Ormond. Kew 10.8 (68) d UHS-VU 8.9 (57). Old Peninsula 4.9 (35) d Monash Blues 6.7 (43). Preston Bullants 1.0 (6) d Oakleigh 0.0 (0). Brunswick 11.10 (76) d Therry Penola 5.2 (32).
Division 2 Men’s. West Brunswick 15.19 (109) d St John’s 5.6 (36). Old Yarra 18.19 (127) d South Melbourne 3.5 (23). St Mary’s 19.23 (137) d Canterbury 12.6 (78). Hawthorn 11.17 (83) d MHSOB 11.13 (79). Whitefriars 15.10 (100) d Aquinas 3.6 (24). Division 2 Men’s Reserves. West Brunswick 27.10 (172) d St John’s 2.7 919). South Melbourne 8.8 (56) d Old Yarra Cobras 6.10 (46). St Mary’s Salesian 18.14 (122) d Canterbury 10.4 (64). MHSOB 19.17 (131) d Hawthorn 5.8 (38). Aquinas 9.12 (66) d Whitefriars 9.9 (63).
Division 3 Men’s. North Brunswick 12.6 (78) d Albert Park 6.12 (48). Wattle Park 22.20 (152) d Eley Park 10. (61). La Trobe University 14.14 (98) d Chadstone 6.5 (41). Richmond Central 11.20 (86) d Box Hill North 8.5 (53). Power House 24.12 (156) d Swinburne University 2.4 (16).
Division 3 Men’s Reserves. Albert Park 11.11 (77) d North Brunswick 4.5 (29). Wattle Park 35.17 (227) d Eley Park 2.3 (15). La Trobe University 12.18 (90) d Chadstone 4.4 (28). Richmond Central 20.15 (135) d Box Hill North 3.2 (20). Power House 18.30 (138) d Swinburne University 0.2 (2).
Eastern
■ Eastern Football League. Division 1 Seniors. Montrose 13.18 996) d Bayswater 13.11 (89). Beaconsfield 12.12 (84) d North Ringwood 7.5 (47). Mooroolbark 12.22 (94) d Norwood 3.8 (26). South Belgrave 15.16 (106) d Park Orchards 9.10 (64). Boronia: Bye. Division 1 Reserves. Montrose 12.5 (77)
Bayswater 5.2 (32). Beaconsfield 13.10 (88) d North Ringwood 4.3 (27). Mooroolbark 77. (59) d Norwood 3.6 (24). Park Orchards 9.7 (61) d South Belgrave 7.9 (51). Boronia: Bye.
Division 1 Under 19.5. Norwood 6.8 (44) d Boronia 4.8 (32). Montrose 24.18 (162) d Bayswater 2.8 (20). Beaconsfield 10.9 (69) d North Ringwood 10.5 (65). Park Orchards 10.7 (67) d South Belgrave 10.4 (64).
Division 2 Seniors. Waverley Blues 10.9 (69) d East Burwood 9.6 (60). Mulgrave 17.13 (115) d Ringwood 7.6 (48). Templestowe 12.6 (78) d Heathmont 7.9 (51). Surrey Park 18.6 (114) d Wantirna South 15.10 (100). Lilydale 8.9 (57) d Croydon 2.12 (24).
Division 2 Reserves. East Burwood 7.12 (54) d Waverley Blues 2.5 (17). Mulgrave 9.7 (61) d Ringwood 2.89 (20). Templestowe 6.9 (45) d Heathmont 6.3 (39). Surrey Park 17.5 (107) d Wantirna South 1.6 (12). Croydon 10.14 (74) d Lilydale 3.4 (22).
Division 2 Under 19.5. Ringwood 6.7 (43) d Mulgrave 5.6 (36). Surrey Park 16.13 (109) d Wantirna South 2.3 (15). Waverley Blues 8.10 (58) d East Burwood 5.4 (34).Lilydale 11.8 (74) d Croydon 6.9 (45). Heathmont: Bye.
Division 3 Seniors. Donvale 11.18 (84) d The basin 5.5 (35). Coldstream 15.7 (97) d Fairpark 8.10 (58). Silvan 21.11 (137) d Oakleigh District 15.7 (97). Knox 9.14 (68) d Upper Ferntree Gully 7.6 (48). Scoresby 11.9 (75) d Ferntree Gully 4.9 (33).
Division 3 Reserves. Fairpark 7.6 (48) d Coldstream 3.15 (33). Donvale 13.10 (88) d The Basin 4.4 (28). Silvan 13.9 (87) d Oakleigh District 13.6 (84). Upper Ferntree Gully 8.6 (54) d Knox 5.12 (42). Scoresby 7.14 (56) d Ferntree Gully 5.8 (38).
Division 3 Under 19.5. Donvale 8.9 (57) d Berwick 5.2 (32). Knox 16.10 (106) d Upper Ferntree Gully 4.5 (29). Scoresby 11.11 (77) d Ferntree Gully 10.9 (69). Bye: Fairpark, Surrey Park.
Division 4 Seniors. Bulleen Templestowe 7.5 (47) d Warrandyte 6.8 (44). Chirnside Park 14.21 (105) d Croydon North MLOC 7.8 (50).
Kilsyth 9.8 (62) d Forest Hill 7.6 (48).
Division 4 Reserves. Croydon North MLOC 5.4 (34) d Chirnside Park 4.5 (29).
Kilsyth 14.16 (100) d Forest Hill 5.6 (36). Bulleen Templestowe 7.2 (44) d Warrandyte 7.1 (43).
Division 4 Under 19.5. Montrose v knox. Whitehorse Pioneers 21.9 (135) d Chirnside Park 2.5 (17). Kilsyth 16.9 (105) d Nunawading 3.4 (22). Scoresby Blackv Bayswater. Bulleen Templestwoe v Warrandyte.
Essendon
■ Premier Division. Keilor 29.20 (194) d Deer Park 6.7 (55). Airport West 35.17 (227) d East Keilor 5.7 (37). Strathmnore 12.12 (84) d Greenvale 8.10 (58). Aberfeldie 19.9 (123) d Maribyrnong Park 10.12 (72). Pascoe Vale 16.9 (105) d Essendon Doutta Stars 10.8 (68).
Division 1. Oak Park 8.16 (64) d Hillside 8.5 (53). Taylors Lakes 17.17 (119) d Roxburgh Park 7.6 (48). St Albans 13.12 (90) d Craigieburn 9.2 (56). Avondale heights 16.6 (102) d West Coburg 8.14 (62). Moonee Valley 49 v Tullamarine 48, abandoned.
Division 2. Gklenroy 16.13 (109) d Burnside Heights 6,.5 (41). Rupertswood 13.8 (86) d Keilor Park 11.15 (81). Hadfield 16.12 (108) d Northern Saints 10.8 (68). Coburg Heights 14.15 (99) d Westmeadows 9.8 (62). East Sunbury 6.8 (44).
Thirds Division 1. Keilor 7.17 (59) d Hillside 4.4 (28). Aberfeldie 7.8 (50) d Strathmore 2.7 (19). Maribyrnong Park 22.23 (155) d Greenvale 0.2 (2).
Thirds Division 2 - Calder. Taylors lakes 9.19 (73) d Burnside 2.0 (12). Oak Park 6.13 (49) d KeilorPark 5.6 (36). St Albans 12.10 (82) d Glenroy 4.3 (27). Airport West: Bye. Thirds Division 2 - Hume. Coburg Districts 22.15 (147) d Pascoe Vale 4.5 (29). Roxburgh Park 11.5 (71) d Hume Bombers 7.4 (46). Merrifield 14.8 (92) d Westmeadows 7.4 (46). Under 18.5 Premier Division. Strath-
more 7.9 (51) d Greenvale 5.3 (33). Keilor 12.13 (85) d Avondale Heights 6.3 (39). Aberfeldie 8.12 (61) d Maribyrnong Park 7.5 (47). Essendon Doutta Stars 9.9 (63) d Pascoe Vale 6.10 (46).
Mornington
■ Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football Netball League. Division 1 Seniors. Frankston YCW 12.14 (86) d Dromana 9.10 (64). Langwarrin 13.9 (87) d Pines 12.12 (84). Sorrento 14.10 (94) d Mt Eliza 6.17 (53). Rosebud 15.13 (103) d Red Hill 5.5 (35).
Edithvale-Aspendale 8.9 (57).
Division 2 Seniors. Chelsea 15.10 (100) d Crob Point 9.9 (63). Pearcedale 14.11 (95) d Devon Meadows 9.11 (65). Frankston Bombers 17.9 (111 d Bonbeach 7.7 (49). Tyabb 11.10 (76) d Hastings 9,12 (66). Seafordc 14.11 (95) d Rye 3.10 (28) Somerville 10.18 978) d Karingal 4.3 (27).
Division 1 Reserves. Frankston YCW 17.20 (122) d Dromana 0.0 (0). Langwarrin v Pines. Mt Eliza 12.9 (81) d Soreento 3.5 (23). Red Hill 7.3 (45) d Rosebud 7.5 (47). Edithvale-Aspendale 12.9 (81) d Mornington 7.6 (48).
Division 2 Reserves. Crib Point 8.9 (57) d Chelsea 5.6 (36). Pearcedale 17.11 (113) d Devon Meadows 5.4 (34). Frankstn Bomnbers 8.6 (54) d Bonbeach 5.3 (33). Tyabb 6.10 (52) d HJastings 6.4 (40). Seaford 9.12 (66) d Rye 6.5 (41). Somerville 15.22 (112) d Karingal 0.1 (1).
Division 1 Under 19. Frankston YCW 16.13 (109) d Dromana 3.1 (19). Langwarrin v Pines. Mt Eliza 17.16 (118) d Sorrento 2.1 (13). Red Hill 9.17 (71) d Rosebud 2.4 (16). Mornington 9.11 (65) d Edithvale Aspendale 5.10 (40).
Division 2 Under 19. Crib Point 18.9 (117) d Cheslea-Editbvale 11.6 (72). Pearcedale 9.12 (66) d Devon Meadows 4.5 (29). Frankston Bombers 10.11 (71) d Bonbeach 9.7 (61). Mornington Tyabb 4.6 (30) d Langwarrin 2.4 (16). Seaford 12.1 (83) d Rye 6.1 (37). Somerville: Bye.
Northern
■ Northern Football Netball League. Division 1 Seniors. Banyule 16.7 (103) d Montmorency 10.12 (72). West PrestonLakeside 12.16 (87) d South Morang 7.4 (46). Heidelberg 25.14 (164) d North Heidelberg 5.4 (34). Eltham 6.10 (46) d Bundoora 7.3 (45). Greensborough 15.11 (101) d Hurstbridge 14.14 (98).
Division 1 Reserves. Banyule 20.8 (128) d Montmorency 3.7 (25). Heidleberg 32.13 (205) d North Heidleberg 0.1 (1). West Preston Lakeside 9.9 (63) d South Morang 6.7 (43). Eltahm 24.19 (163) d Bundoora 3.8 (26). Greensborough 13.13 (91) d Hurstbridge 4.9 (33).
Division 1 Under 19.5. Eltham 15.15 (105) d St Mary’s 8.5 (53). Banyule 13.13 (91) d Montmorency 8.3 (50). Greensborough v Diamond Creek. Heidelberg 1 20.9 (129) d North Heidelberg 2.5 (17).
Division 2 Seniors. Diamond Creek 16.11 (107) d Macleod 10.6 (66). Panton Hill 15.11 (101) d Thomastown 8.5 (53). Whittlesea 15.11 (101) d Old Paradians 8.6 (54). St Mary’s 19.17 (131) d Watsonia 7.4 (46). Lower Plenty 14.16 (100) d Northcote Park 11.14 (80).
Division 2 Reserves. Macleod v Diamond Creek. Thomastown 10.9 (69) Panton Hill 8.8 (56). Whittlesea 8.8 (56) d Old Paradians 8.6 (54). St Mary’s 10.12 (72) d Watsonia 10.11 (71). Northcote Park 17.11 (113) d Lower Plenty 10.12 (72).
Division 2 Under 19.5. Hurstbridge 11.8 (74) d Whittlesea 9.18 (72). Laurimar 19.10 (124) d Bundoora 2.6 (18). Macleod 13.6 (84) d Lower Plenty 9.7 (61). South Morang: Bye.
Division 3 Seniors. Kilmore 22.15 (147) d Lalor 3.7 (25). Heidelberg West 15.7 (97) d Old Eltham Collegians 8.14 (62). Fitzroy Stars 15.5 (95) d Laurimar 11.5 (71). Epping 11.11 (77) d Mernda 6.10 (46). Ivanhoe 16.12 (108) d Reservoir 8.7 (55). Kinglake: Bye.
Division 3 Reserves. Kilmore 26.19 (175) d Lalor 0.1 (1). Heidelberg West 7.15 (57) d Old Eltham Collegians 3.11 (29). Laurimar 16.9 (105) d Fitzroy Stars 3.8 (26). Mernda 16.5 (101) d Epping 3.11 (29). Ivanhoe 16.10 (106) d Reservoir 6.9 (45). Kinglake: Bye.
Division 3 Under 19.5. Mernda 9.8 (62) d Kilmore 8.5 (53). Panton Hill 7.14 (56) d Old Paradians 5.3 (33). Watsonia 22.12 (144) d Eltham 9.10 (64). Heidelberg 12.16 (88) d Banyule 4.6 (30).
Outer East
■ Outer East. Premier Division Seniors. Healesville 9.6 (60) d Upwey Tecoma 5.7 (37). Monbulk 10.24 (84) d Gembrook Cockatoo 7.4 (46). Woori Yallock 23.8 (146) d Emerald 8.11 (59). Olinda Ferny Creek 16.127 (113) d Officer 5.6 (36). Mt Evelyn v Wandin. Premier Division Reserves. Upwey Tecoma 12.14 (86) d Healesville 5.2 (32). Monbulk 12.6 (78) d Gembrook Cockatoo 5.2 (32). Woori Yallock 7.17 (59) d Emerald 7.1 (43). Officer 19.11 (125) d Olinda Ferny Creek 23.23 (14). Mt Evelyn v Wandin. Division 1 Seniors. Pakenham 12.13 (85) d Yea 9.4 (58). Powelltown d Yarra Junction 11.7 (73). Warburton Millgrove 14.20 (104) d Belgrave 8.10 (58). Seville 16.18 (114) d Yarra Glen 4.12 (36). Alexandra: Bye. Division 1 Reserves. Pakenham 13.12 (90) d Yea 1.3 (9). Powelltown d Yarra Junction 5.7 (37). Belgrave 15.4 (94) d Warburton Millgrove 5.8 (38). Seville 22.15 (147) d Yarra Glen 1.1 (7). Alexandra; Bye. Premier Division Under 18 Boys. Healesville 12.15 (87) d Upwey Tecoma 5.7 (37). Gembrook Cockatoo 9.5 (59) d Monbulk 6.10 946). Officer 10.5 (65) d Olinda Ferny Creek 3.4 (22). Mt Evelyn v Wandin. Division 1 Under 18 Boys. Seville 15.10 (100) d Yarra Glen 3.5 (23). Pakenham 14.19 9163) d. Bye: Alexandra, Warburton Millgroe. Women’s Division 1. Upwey Tecoma 5.4 (34) d Healesville 3.1 (19). Pakenham 3.0 (18). Olinda Ferny Creek 4.9 (33) d Belgrave 4.2 (26). Mt Evelyn: Bye. Women’s Division 2. Wandin 5.9 (39) d Yea 0.7 (7). Warburton Millgrove 18.24 (132) d. Thornton Eildon 5.3 (33) d Seville 2.2 (14). Emerald: Bye.
Southern
■ Division 1 Seniors. Dingley 15.12 (102) d Cheltenham 5.11 (41). Port Melbourne Colts 14.6 (90) d Springvale Districts 12.9 (81). St Paul’s McKinnon 14.10 (94) d Bentleigh 13.14 (92). East Brighton 176.18 (110) d Murrumbeena 7.15 (57). Narre Warren 12.13 (85) d Cranbourne Eagles 9.6 (60). Division 2 Seniors. Endeavour Hills 13.10 (88) d Caulfield Bears 9.6 (60). Hampton Park 21.16 (142) d Doveton Doves 2.10(22). Frankston Dolphins 14.11 (95) d Hi9ghett 10.11 (71). East Malvern 14.14 (98) d Keysborough 4.6 (30). Mordialloc 9.12 (66) d Chelsea Heights 8.7 (55).
Division 3 Seniors. Heatherton 8.11 (59) d Lyndhurst 7.7 (49). St Kilda City 10.20 (80) d South Mornington 5.4 (34). Carrum Patterson Lakes 14.14 (98) d Ashwoiod 3.8 (26). Black Rock 9.9 (63) d Hampton 8.12 (60). Berwick Springs 15.11 (101) d Skye 7.15 (57).
Division 4 Seniors. Hallam 10.19 (79) d Dandenbong West 11.12 (78). Moorabbin Kangaroos 14.10 (94) d Doveton 6.11 (47). Clayton 11.10 (76) d South Yarra 9.11 (65). Lyndale 18.14 (122) d Narre South Saints 9.11 (65).
Division 1 Reserves. Dingley 12.14 (86) d Cheltenham 4.4 (28). Springvale Districts 10.7 (67) d Port Melbourne Colts 5.10 (04). Bentleigh v St Paul’s McKinnon. East Brighton 9.11 (65) d Murrumbeena 5.9 (39). Narre Warren 8.16 (64) d Cranbourne Eagles 3.5 (23).
Division 2 Reserves. Caulfield Bears 15.8 (98) d Endeavour Hills 5.3 (33). Hamton Park 10.8 (68) d Doveton Doves 6.2 (38). Highett 12.3 (75) d Frankston Dolphins 6.8 (44). East Malvern 12.22 (94) d Keysborough 2.3 (15).
Mordialloc 12.10 (82) d Chelsea Heights 1.4 (10)
Where to pick up your free copy of The Local Paper
■ ■ ALTONA. Altona Newsagency. Pier St.
■
■ ALTONA. Club Altona. 113 Civic Pde.
■ ■ KEILOR. Coles Express. 664-668 Old Calder Hwy..
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■ ■ KEILOR. Keilor Post Office/Newsagency. 100 Old Calder Hwy.
Court Lists
Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court Criminal Case Listings Wednesday, April 9
Local Briefs
Joined the circus
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■
■ ■ ALTONA. IGA Supermarket. 103110 Pier St.
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■ ■ KEILOR. Keilor Village Convenience Store. 686 Old Calder Hwy.
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■ ALTONA. Liberty Service Station. Cnr Millers Rd and Civic Pde.
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■ ALTONA. Thirsty Camel Licensed Grocers/Savvy Cellars. 49 Civic Pde.
■
■ ALTONA NORTH. 7-Eleven. Cnr Koroit Creek Rd and Millers Rd.
■ ■ ASCOT VALE. 7-Eleven. Cnr
Maribyrnong Rd and Epsom Rd.
■ ■ KENSINGTON. Coles Express. 291-301 Smithfield Rd.
■
■ KENSINGTON. Foodworks. 484 Macaulay Rd.
■ KENSINGTON. Local Folk Coffee Shop. Cnr Epsom Rd and Bayswater Rd.
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■ ■ ASCOT VALE. Ascot Vale Lotteries and Cards. 187 Union Rd.
■ ■ ASCOT VALE. IGA Express. 124 Maribyrnong Rd.
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■ BROADMEADOWS. City of Hume Offices. Cnr Tanderum Way and Pascoe Vale Rd.
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■ BRUNSWICK. 7-Eleven. Cnr Sydney Rd and Park St.
■ ■ BRUNSWICK. Brunswick Club. 203 Sydney Rd.
■ ■ BRUNSWICK. Tatts. 396 Sydney Rd.
■ KINGSVILLE. BP Service Station. 88-94 Williamstown Rd.
■ MAIDSTONE. The Palms. Cnr Rosamond Rd and Ballarat Rd.
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■ MARIBYRNONG. 7-Eleven. 32 Raleigh Rd.
■ MARIBYRNONG. United Service Station. 31 Raleigh Rd.
■ ■ MOONEE PONDS. Moonee Ponds Newsagency. 45 Puckle St
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■ ■ MORELAND. Tatts/News. 877 Sydney Rd.
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■ NEWPORT. 7-Eleven. 438 Melbourne Rd.
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■ ■ BRUNSWICK. Continental Grocers Supermarket. 482 Sydney Rd.
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■ ■ NEWPORT. Friendly Grocer. 3/4 Hall St.
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■ BRUNSWICK. Gervasi Foodworks.
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870-872 Sydney Rd.
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■ ■ ■ BRUNSWICK. Tatts/Newsagency/ Post Office. 650 Sydney Rd.
■ NEWPORT. Newport N ewsagency. 6 Hall St.
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■ NIDDRIE. 7-Eleven. Cnr Keilor Rd and Hoffmans Rd
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■ BULLA. BP. 82-84 Bulla Rd.
■ NIDDRIE. Caltex. Cnr Keilor dRd and Deakin St.
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■ ■ CAMPBELLFIELD. Caltex. 18021808 Hume Hwy.
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■ ■ ■ COBURG. Caltex. 265-267 Sydney Rd.
■ ■ COBURG. Coburg Hub Lotto,. 8/ 430 Sydney Rd.
■ ■ CRAIGIEBURN. 7-Eleven. Cnr Craigieburn Rd and Dorchester St.
■
■ CRAIGIEBURN. Caltex. Craigieburn Plaza Shopping Centre. Craigieburn Rd.
■
■ CRAIGIEBURN. Coles Express. Craigieburn Plaza Shopping Centre. Craigieburn Rd.
■ ■ CRAIGIEBURN. Direct Chemist/ Lotto. Craigieburn Plaza Shopping Centre. Craigieburn Rd.
■ ■ DEER PARK. BP . Cnr Robinsons Rd and Ballarat Rd.
■ ■ DEER PARK. Deer Park Club.
780 Ballarat Rd.
■ ■ DEER PARK. Deer Park Hotel.
760 Ballarat Rd.
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■ ■ ■ ■ DEER PARK. United Service Station. Near Cnr 810 Ballarat Rd and Station Rd.
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■ ■ ■ DERRIMUT. United Service Station. Cnr Robinsons Rd and 2 Foley Rd.
■ ■ EAST BRUNSWICK. Coles Express. Cnr 54 Holmes St and Donald St.
■ ■ EAST COBURG. 7-Eleven. Cnr Bell St and Elizabeth St.
■ ■ ESSENDON. 7-Eleven. Cnr 1 Napier St and Mt Alexander Rd.
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■ ■ ■ ■ ESSENDON. 7-Eleven. Cnr Mt Alexander Rd and Buckley St.
■ ■ ESSENDON. Coles Express. 783795 Mt Alexander Rd.
■ ■ ESSENDON. Essendon Roundabout Newsagency. 85 Fletcher St.
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■ FAWKNER. Fawkner Newsagency. 54 Bonwick St.
■ ■ FAWKNER. Moomba Park Newsagency. 89 Anderson Rd.
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■ FITZROY. United Service Station. Cnr Nicholson St and St Georges Rd.
■ NIDDRIE. The Lott. 358 Keilor Rd.
■ NORTH CARLTON. North Carlton Newsagency. 711 Nicholson St.
■ NORTH SUNSHINE. BP. `139 McIntyre Rd.
■ NORTH SUNSHINE. Newsagency/ Tatts/Post Office. 69 McIntyre Rd
■ NORTH SUNSHINE. United Service Station. 45 McIntyre Rd.
■ NORTH WILLIAMSTOWN. 7Eleven. Cnr Koroit Creek Rd and Champion Rd.
■ OAK PARK. Oak Park Cellars, 95 Snell Gr.
■ OAK PARK. Oak Park Newsagency/ Lotto. 120 Snell Gr.
■ PASCOE VALE. 7-Eleven. Cnr Stewart St and Pascoe Vale Rd.
■ PASCOE VALE. Pascoe Vale Central Tatts. 76 Cumberland Rd.
■ PASCOE VALE. Pascoe Vale RSL. Cnr Cumberland Rd and O’Hea St.
■ PASCOE VALE SOUTH. 7-Eleven. 477 Bell St.
■ PASCOE VALE SOUTH. BP. Cnr Bell St and Ross St.
■ PASCOE VALE SOUTH. Caltex. Cnr Bell St and Cumberland Rd,
■ PASCOE VALE SOUTH. Coles Express. Cnr Bell St and Sussex St.
■ PASCOE VALE SOUTH. Pascoe Vale South Post Office/NewsXPress. 372-380 Bell St.
■ PRINCES HILL. North Carlton Convienece Store. 577 Lygon St.
■ ROXBURGH PARK. 7-Eleven. Cnr Bridgewater Rd and James Miram Dr.
■ ■ ROXBURGH PARK. Foodworks. Cnr Donald Cameron Dr and Roxburgh Park Dr.
■ ROXBURGH PARK. United Service Station. 124-130 Somerton Rd.
■ SOMERTON. Caltex. Cnr Somerton Rd and Hume Hwy.
■ SPOTSWOOD. Coles Express. Cnr The Avenue and Williamstown Rd.
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■ STRATHMORE. Strathmore Cellars. 305 Napier St.
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■ ■ FITZROY. Metro Service Station. Cnr Nicholson St and Alexandra Pde.
■ ■ FLEMINGTON. Foodwoorks. 306 Racecourse Rd.
■ ■ FOOTSCRAY. Footscray Newsagency. Cnr Droop St and Nicholson St.
■ ■ GLADSTONE PARK. Coles Express. 175-193 Mickleham Rd.
■ ■ GLADSTONE PARK. Coles Exp[ress. 210-212 Mickleham Rd.
■ ■ GLENBERVIE. Milk Bar. Cnr Glass St and Npaier St.
■ STRATHMORE. Strathmore Post/ News. 311 Napier St.
■ STRATHMORE. Strathmore Village Milk Bar. 287 Napier St.
■ STRATHMORE. Woodfield Cellars. 9 Woodland St.
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■ SUNBURY. Sunbury Newsagency. 14 Brook St.
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■ SUNSHINE. 7-Eleven. Cnr Ballarat Rd and Hampshire Rd.
■ TULLAMARINE. 7-Eleven. 182 Melrose Drive.
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■ ■ GLENROY. Caltex. Cnr Pascoe Vale Rd and Finchley St.
■ ■ GLENROY. Coles Express. Cnr Pascoe Vale Rd and 213 Glenroy Rd.
■ ■ GLENROY. Metro Service Station.
770-774 Pascoe Vale Rd.
■ ■ GLENROY. Tatts. 773 Pascoe Vale Rd.
■ TULLAMARINE. 7-Eleven. Cnr Melrose Dr and Mickleham Rd.
■ TULLAMARINE. Milk Bar. 193 Melrose Drive.
■ ■ TULLAMARINE. Tullamarine Newsagency. 191 Melrose Drive.
■ WILLIAMSTOWN. Metro Fuel. Cnr
Williamstown Rd and Lyons St.
Agostino, Matthew Ahmadpoor, Javad Akram, Wahid Alkan, Ibrahim Arora, Ramandeep Azzopardi, Aqualine Baird, Eric Bamblett, Leslie Barcellona, Adam Joseph Bayliss, Jamie Lee Binder, Chris Brett, Liam Broderick, Harley Broderick, Harley Craig Brooks, Stephen Calleja, Daniel Capodicasa, Marco Chai, Zheng Chambeyron, Leisa Chapkoun, Justin Luke Chikazhe, Stanious Costanzo, Eugenio Crowther, Kristopher Despotoski, Ilija Diamond, Daniel Diggs, Sean Discolo, James Dow-Gleeson, Ryan Edwards, Jaidon Elgun, Evren Ellis, Wingara Elsayed, Mouhamed Esber, Laila Faraci, Benedetto Ferguson, Tyler Ghannoum, Sam Gomes, Bryn Rhys Gueit, Benjamin Hallsworth, Martyn John Hantzis, Arthur Harrell, Jayden Harris, Adam Harrison, Mervyn Charles Heeman, Kelvin Higgins, Beau Shane Ho, Victor Holly, Kevin Huseyin, Jebrail Ingelbrecht, Suzanne Jafer, Muhammad King, Mark Kiro, Timmy Conrad Kostadakopoulos, Harry Koufalas, Pauline Laan Woods, Corey Lack, Andrew Lagona, Sam Laguna, Juan Manuel Lambert, Ryan Andrew Lane, Warren Lesser, Emalou Lodge, Stephen Anthony Massad, Rita Maire Melbourne Iron Roofing Pty Ltd Millard, Clinton Mitrevski, Natalie Moghaddam, Sarvin Mozolli, Andrew Nachabe, Jamal Neary, Mitchell Nguyen, Huy Ozimek, Aaron Anthony Oztas, Emirhan Pearce, Lennie Pelogidis, Maria Pliscka, Gunter Priest, Meagan Helena Raphael, Matthew Rea-Paku, Ashley Reynolds, Jamie Rimmer, Matthew Ryan, Simone Sartorello, Michael Seamer, Logan Siccita, Phillip Taleb, Abdel Taylor, Darcy Taylor, Sandra Louise Tolson, Kahle Tsangaris, Panayiota Van Ristell, Holly Bridgette Villella, Zane Wade, Haylee Wallis, Colin George Warwick, Amy Watts, Brandon Trevor Yehia, Yehia Broadmeadows
■ Leopold Pentland, a Coburg-based aerialist and Fitzroy High graduate, is currently starring in Club Kabarett - a bold new circus-cabaret season running at the Meat Market in North Melbourne from April 3 to May 11. Leopold is known for blending circus with immersive theatre, movement, and emotional storytelling. He’s a proud performer and NICA graduate whose independent work (Cake, Circus Oz , and more) has made waves in Melbourne’s inner-north creative scene, says publicist Ananya Anand.
Works at Merri-bek
■ Merri-bek Council says that a $660,660 upgrade of Peveril St, Brunswick, is underway, with road reconstruction, replacement of bluestone kerb, and installation of new drainage.
At Fallon St, Brunswick, a $632,079 upgrade includes excavation and backfilling, replacement of stormwater pits and pipes and adjustments to the drainage system.
And at Braemar St, Pascoe Vale , a $392,060 upgrade included full-depth road reconstruction, new drainage connections, and the reconstruction of kerb and channel, vehicle crossings, and footpaths.
NW duo charged
■ Police have charged two north-western suburbs men following a firearms incident following a sporting event in East Melbourne.
Officers were called by security at the MCG to assist with two men refusing to leave the venue about 8.30pm on Thursday (Apr. 3).
Police subsequently arrested the two men and during a search it is alleged that each man was in possession of a firearm.
No one was injured during the incident and there is no further risk to public safety.
The 27-year-old Broadmeadows man has been charged with:
■ Possess unregistered handgun
■ Possess ammunition without licence
■ Alter serial number of a firearm
■ Possess loaded firearm
■ Possess prohibited item (Major Event Act offence)
■ Fail to appear on bail.
The 21-year-old Roxburgh Park man has been charged with:
■ Prohibited person possess firearm
■ Possess ammunition without licence
■ Commit indictable offence whilst on bail.
The duo were remanded to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday (Apr. 4).
Police from the Counter Terrorism Command have assessed the incident as a matter of course and will not be involved further in the investigation at this time.
The incident is being investigated by detectives from Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit.
Dog walking pilot
■ Merri-bek Council is conducting a ‘Dog Walking in Merri-bek’ pilot program in nine local parks to find better ways to share space, improve dog exercise and make sure everyone feels welcome and safe.
C’burn house fire
■ Fire Rescue Victoria crews responded to a house fire at Kirkbride Way at Craigieburn shortly before 7am on Friday morning (Apr. 4) after multiple calls to Triple Zero (000). Crews arrived on scene within three minutes to find the single storey brick home well alight, so there was a call for additional resources. An occupant was able to evacuate from the burning home.
The house had smoke alarms installed but it is believed they were not in working order at the time of the fire.
■
■ ■ ■ GREENVALE. Caltex. Cnr
Mickleham Rd and Greenvale Dr
■ ■ KEALBA. Caltex. Cnr Sunshine
■
■
Ave and Main Road East.
■ ■ KEALBA. Coles Express. 100 Sunshine Ave.
■ WILLIAMSTOWN. The Lott. 35 Ferguson St.
■ YARRAVILLE. 7-Eleven. Cnr Williamstown Rd and Somerville Rd.
■ ■ YARRAVILLE. The Lott. Cnr
Williamstown Rd and Somerville Rd.
Magistrates’ Court
Criminal Case Listings Wednesday, April 9 Abbas, Ali Abou-Issa, Joe Afakhouri, Razan
Ahmad, Hisham Ahmed, Yuunus Aitken-Glass, Jake Aktypis, Peter Albayrak, Sedat Ali, Roda Aden Aljawhari, Ibtisam Yousef Arefkhan, Naser Aslett, Wayne Assaad, Zackariah Atanasovski, Adem Attard, Samantha Awadallah, Abdallah Baddeley-Dowell, Jack Bhahal, Navtej Biyik, Kabil Blackney, Steven Blanchett, James Cornel Borg, Adam Roy Browne-Kerr, Donald Carr, Russell James Cassidi, Emily Chai, Young Liang Clements, Shane Coyle, Aleisha Daws, Stephanie Victoria Day, Hope Dodd, Tamara Dreamy Pet Pty Ltd Dunn, Peter Francis Eisenberg, Elijah El Haddad, Maxim Elliott, Justin Elmasri, Ahmed Falah Zadeh, Saheb Fardell, John Ferraiolo, Francessco Floresca, Clarence Foley, David Gammon, Mark Ganon, Mark Garbutt, Steven Gibbs, Daylen Gkaitartzakis, Ioannis Goss, Mathew Gowans, James Guerra, Hope Guerra, Melissa Jan Gurbuz, Meltem Gurbuz, Yuksel Hanh, Nguyen Thi Hansen, Daniel John Hastings, Stephen Herrera, Matthew Himiona, Trinity Clarence Hristovski, Michael Jones, Craig Kamat, Jana Kassar, Bellal Kaur, Ranjeet Kaya, Aaron Kelly, Damien James Kenway Street Pty Ltd Khalil, Afif Khan, Momina Khan, Muhammad Kobak, Adem Kustura-Boys, Jaykeb Kyriakopoulos, Amy Lloyd, Daryl Craig Lowe, Mark Mansour, Kevin Marchese, Sebastian Megullas, Carlos Mila, Faaolaina Mitrevski, Suzi Naaman, Nour Eldine Naggs, Joshua Nguyen, Quynh Onesemo, Stephanie Patel, Nikhil Peina, Michael Kapene Picken, Shannon Lee Pollifrone, Jake Quinones, Andres Sebastian Ramadan, Hope Randhawa Property Pty Ltd Rigoli, Vince Roitinger, Ben Daniel Saini, Kultar Singh Sander, Neil Sathosh, Swathi Sele, Mine Shakroo, Geveva Singh, Sandeep Singh, Varinder Sotiropoulos, Sophie Stipic, Tony Suthar, Parthkumar Taylor, Shane Thomas, Victor Tu, Nhan Ullah, Fida Vicendese, Joshua Vu, Hoa Thi Watson, Shane Yang, Jia-Fu
Ambulance Victoria treated one person on scene for minor smoke inhalation.
FRV crews donned breathing apparatus and began an internal attack on the fire, which had taken hold in over half of the house. The house was severely damaged in the blaze.
BILL MILNER SNARES THE QUINELLA
■ Popular Maryborough commenced the week on Monday March 31 with a most interesting seven race card.
Kilmore breeder/owner/trainer Bill Milner had a great day after snaring the quinella in the Peter Egan Bi-Rite Electrical Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres when Wallis defeated The Night Queen in a mile rate of 2-00.5. A 4Y0 Used To Me-Aurvalley gelding, Wallis who broke his maiden status at start number at start number 30 a week earlier at Cobram repeated the dose with Ellen Tormey in the sulky.
Enjoying a sweet passage one/one from gate three as polemarker The Night Queen led. Wallis after angling three wide on the final bend, finished with a rush to blouse the stablemate by 1.5 metres. Casa Alberta first up since December used the sprint lane off the back of the leader for third 1.9 metres back.
■ Six year old Yankee Spider-Ima Thrill Seeker gelding Alfie Always also first up since December landed the 2190 metre Redpath Tyre And Battery Service Trotters Mobile. Trained at Marong by David Van Ryn, Alfie Always driven by James Herbertson began fast from gate five to lead and ran along giving his rivals something to chase.
Holding a margin approaching the final bend, Alfie Always showed no sign of stopping, reaching the wire 7.8 metres in advance of At The Distance (gate two – one/one – three wide home turn) returning a mile rate of two minutes even. Midnite Muscle (gate three – three pegs) was third 12.2 metres away.
■ Tasmanian (Westbury) based trainer Michael Laugher who has a satellite stable in Bendigo was successful with 6Y0 Hurrikane Kingcole-Miss Ruthless mare I Of The Hurrikane to capture the 1690 metre Benstud Standardbreds Mare Pace.
Driven by son Jack, I Of The Hurrikane was taken back from gate six to settle three back in the moving line as Alcatraz Girl led from gate two.
When Connor Ronan set sole second liner Dancin With Lush (one/two) alight with a rush from mid-field in the last lap to lead on the home turn, I Of The Hurrikane followed her forward to join her on the home turn with the pair drawing right away from their rivals.
Gaining the upper hand in the straight, I Of The Hurrikane greeted the judge 1.3 metres clear of Dancin With Lush who was brave, with Tap To Pay coming from a long way back for third from gate seven 18.2 metres away. The mile rate 1-57.5.
■ Girgarre part-owner/trainer Kevin Covington’s 8Y0 Down Under MuscleMadiskita mare Montana Muscle cracked her first victory since May last year when taking out the Aldebaran Park Trotters Mobile over 2190 metres.
Driven by Gary Pekin, Montana Muscle who has a tendency to gallop over the concluding stages, did everything right on this occasion and nursed to the wire, scored by 2 metres in advance of Col Du Granon (three pegs from inside the second line – four wide home turn) returning a 2-05.8 mile rate. Gunny Tee (gate six - three wide to outside the winner – one/one at bell –three wide home turn) was third a head away.
Sky disappoints
■ Tuesday was the opening night of the long standing Mildura Cup Carnival and what a disappointment it was for Sky Channel viewers and the club when the opening race of the night was shafted to Sky 2 30 seconds before the start due to a Doomben gallops race running very late –no split screen and no shifting of the gallops to Sky 2 – another Sky decision to rile viewers.
The were two heats of the cup named in honour of former Club President Barry Bottams who gave so much to the club over a long period of time.
■ Heat one went to Horsham part-owner/ trainer/driver Aaron Dunn’s very smart Art Major-Ark Monroe 4Y0 entire Dee Roe. Following a rough first lap where both Young Bluey (gate three second line) and Dee Roe (extreme draw) were checked when polemarker Duffy Hollow galloped shortly after the start disorganizing the field, Young Bluey was sent forward to park outside the well supported Jackson Painting
Harness Racing
len-baker@ bigpond.com
with Len Baker
(Narrandera) trained and driven pacemaker Catchafire which had began fast from gate three. Following Young Bluey forward, Dee Roe sprinting hard was able to cross the leader looking the winner a long way out.
Despite racing uncovered, Young Bluey tried valiantly on turning only to be relegated to third by Catchafire on the inside in the last stride. The margins 3.6 by a nose in 2-02.3.
■ Heat two saw Charlton’s favourite son Joey Thompson successful with 5Y0 Roll With JoeHelens In Paradise mare Joe Got Rolled who has been racing into form of late.
Trained by the former club President, Joe Got Rolled with another Charltonian Luke Dunne in the sulky retained the led from the pole before being eased to take a trail on Matty Craven’s Crime Writer with the raging hot favourite Catalpa Rescue the last start Charlton Cup winner shuffled back from gate three on the second line to be last approaching the bell.
Sent forward with a circuit to travel by Ryan Sanderson, Catalpa Rescue raced three wide until moving outside the leader Crime Writer in the back straight on the last occasion before struggling on turning.
Gaining a fluke inside passage in the straight, Joe Got Rolled scored by 1.3 metres over Crime Writer, with South Australian hope Assassinator at 13 years of age (four pegs – four wide home turn) from mid-field third 1.8 metres away when having start number 261. The mile rate a lot faster 1-57.9.
Double Day
■ Double day Wednesday saw Maryborough race during the afternoon and Bendigo at night. It was a favourites day at Maryborough with most winners the public elect and leading throughout.
Ardmona trainer/driver Doc Wilson trained and reined 5Y0 Fly Like An Eagle-Our Dream Girl gelding Eagle Major bred and raced by the Apple Isle Group to land the Redpath Battery and Tyre Service Pace over 1690 metres.
Starting from gate two, Eagle Major defied all challengers to run out a 5.7 metre victor over Torque Power (gate five) which had moved to race outside him at the bell. Polemarker Cresco
Threepeat after trailing the winner was third 1.7 metres back. The mile rate 1-56.1.
■ Tooleen based Alby Ashwood snared a double on the day with 3Y0 Jetter Son (Rock N Roll World-Ashi Jetsun) taking the 1690 Carisbrook Motors Pace in a slick 1-53.5 and the Avoca Co-Op Community Bank 4Y0 & Older Maiden Pace over the same trip with Whitehaven Beach, a 4Y0 Sunshine Beach-Spy Games gelding bred and raced by Barham’s John Morris. Starting inside the second line, Whitehaven Beach was immediately eased at the start to settle mid-field in the moving line before going forward racing for the bell to join the leaders Keayang Moscato which had crossed stablemate Jilliby Justify from the pole and Lilstrepo in the open. Despite racing wide for the last lap, Whitehaven Beach was too strong over the concluding stages to register a 1.1 metre margin over Jilliby Justify which had eased three wide on the final bend. Keayang Moscato held third 1.2 metres away. The mile rate 1-58.2.
■ At Bendigo, Girgarra duo Lisa and Mark Pitt
provided a double with Lather Up-Scarlett Brew filly Soap And Bubbles taking the Results Financial Services 3Y0 Maiden Pace over 1650 metres and 6Y0 Art Major-Miranda Maguire gelding Sir Sonny Maguire The Douglas Deck Pace over 2150 metres, both driven by Mark. Soap And Bubbles after an unplaced effort at Shepparton on March 18, began brilliantly from outside the front line to run her rivals ragged in defeating Korengal Valley (gate four) after trailing and Maxbeca (gate two on the second line) which moved to race parked mid-race.
The margins 7.4 by 4.2 metres in a mile rate of 1-55.4. Kiwi bred Sir Sonny Maguire settled a long way back from gate two on the second line as Heston Cash (gate five) led. Going forward approaching the bell to join the pacemaker, Sir Sonny Maguire raced clear with 400 metres to run, scoring impressively in advance of Alabama Ice and Marako Shark from mid-field passages. The margins 3.9 metres by a neck in 159.5.
■ The Nigel Milne Harness Racing (Insanity Lodge) Trotters Mobile saw Marong duo Terry and Jacinta Allan Grange successful with above average 7Y0 Changeover-Jomeka gelding Bullapark Beno.
Driven by James Herberton, Bullapark Beno starting from gate two on the second line was able to come away from the markers to settle near last a long way off the leader Kalarney Prince (gate two).
Going forward four wide in the last lap, Bullapark Beno sprinted brilliantly to lead on the final bend and record a huge 11.6 metre margin in 2-01.3 over Stick With Me (one/three from gate five) and Jessicas Story (one/one from gate four) who was 9.7 metres back.
Sweet trip
■ At Ballarat on Thursday, Western District (Skibo) trainer/driver Rory Coverdale sent punters home on a sour note when 8Y0 A Rocknroll Dance-Miss Toolern mare Ona Merry Dance was successful in the 1710 metre ballarattrottingclub.com.au Pace paying odds of $26.00.
Given a sweet trip one/one from gate three, Ona Merry Dance eased three wide approaching the final bend to give chase to the leader Reinder (gate five) and finished strongly to prevail by 1.4 metres from Reinder, with Silver Domino (gate four) third 2.8 metres away third after leading out and taking a trail on Reinder. The mile rate 2-00.2.
Raced by members of the Coverdale family, it was Ona Merry Dance’s 5th win in 85 outings with her last being at Ararat in June 2023.
Mildura Pacing Cup
■ All eyes were on Sunraysia on Friday when the Barry Bottams Memorial Mildura Pacing Cup Final was held over the long distance of 2600 metres – the victor Ecklin South trainer/ driver Matty Craven’s very reliable 5Y0 Betting Line-Lota A Blue gelding Young Bluey raced by the Hey Blue Syndicate who would have been stoked by the victory. Coming off a great third in the heats on Tuesday following a Mt Gambier victory. Young Bluey starting from gate four on the second line was off and running from near last early with a lightning burst of speed to cross the leader Catchafire (gate two) which again led electing to once again take a sit as he had done in the heat when a held up third. The pressure was on mid-race after both Catalpa Rescue (one/four) and Dee Roe from the extreme draw both went forward with Catalpa Rescue taking a trail on Dee Roe. With the major four chances all looking a chance on turning, Dee Roe was the first to crack allowing Young Bluey to give a kick and reach the judge by 1.9 metres in a most exciting finish from Catalpa Rescue who showed that his disappointing fifth on Tuesday was not his true form. Crime Writer stablemate of the winner ran home strongly from four back in the moving line last lap for third 1.8 metres away, with Catchafire failing to run the journey out fourth two metres back. The mile rate 1-58.9 (last half 59.1 – quarter 29.8) which was 2.2 seconds outside Phoenix Prince’s 1-56.7 set in 2022.
■ Next year the Cup will be a one off event.
Sulky Snippets Sulky Snippets
This Week
■ Tuesday – Shepparton, Wednesday –Bendigo, Thursday – Kilmore, Friday –Melton, Saturday – Melton, Monday –Maryborough, Tuesday – Shepparton.
Latest News Fire at Mildura
■ Police are investigating the circumstances following a fatal house fire in Mildura on Friday morning (Apr. 4).
Emergency services were called to the blaze on Keam St about 6.50am.
One person was located deceased at the scene.
Two other occupants were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
One of them was believed to be in a critical condition.
Investigations are ongoing into the cause of the fire which is not at this stage believed to be suspicious.
Kiata investigation
■ Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives continue to investigate after human remains were located in Kiata
A passer-by located human remains on the Western Hwy just after 8am on Friday (Apr. 4).
The deceased is believed to be female. Cause of death is also yet to be determined but is being treated as a possible hitrun at this stage.
It is believed she may have been struck by a truck or heavy vehicle sometime between 9pm on Thursday (Apr. 3) and 2am on Friday (Apr. 4).
Investigators are asking for anyone traveling in the area around that time with dashcam footage to please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crime stoppersvic.com.au
On Hamilton Hwy
■ Police are investigating after a single vehicle crash in Barunah Plains on Thursday (Apr. 3).
It is believed the vehicle was traveling on Hamilton Hwy just after 8.30pm when it left the road and struck a tree.
The male driver and only occupant, a 32year-old Norlane man, died at the scene.
The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated.
In stolen car
■ Police have charged a man following a crash in an allegedly stolen car in Mildura on Monday, March 31.
Officers spotted the grey Ford Wildtrak from a distance, driving south on Etiwanda Avenue just before 4pm.
The vehicle allegedly left the road at a bend on Gordon Avenue and crashed into a tree.
The driver, a 22-year-old Mildura man, was arrested at the scene. He sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital under police guard.
The man was later interviewed and has been charged with: Reckless Conduct, Speed Dangerous, Dangerous Driving, Unlicensed and Careless driving
He was remanded to appear at Mildura Magistrates’ Court on April 8. It is believed the Ford Wildtrak was stolen .
OVERWEIGHT TRIAL IN FLAT RACES
■ Racing Victoria has announced an extension of its trial regarding approvals for riders to compete one kilogram overweight in professional flat races.
Originally introduced as a one-month trial, all professional flat races since March 1 have been exempt from Local Rule (LR) 74A(3) which states the following:
LR 74A Procedure for horses carrying overweight in flat races
3) One kilogram overweight:
(i) up to 51.5 kg: If a rider is to be one kilogram overweight, permission must be obtained from the Stewards who may grant approval if the nominator or trainer agrees and the horse is handicapped at 51.5 kg or less.
(ii) 52 kg and above: A rider will not under normal circumstances be granted permission to ride one kilogram overweight if a horse is handicapped at 52 kg or more unless there is no other rider available.
Throughout the trial, if a rider, at any weight, is to ride one kilogram overweight, permission can be obtained from the Stewards, who may grant approval if the nominator or trainer agrees.
The exemption is designed to allow riders to maintain their association with horses which they might otherwise be removed from due to weight restrictions.
It is noted that the booking of a regular or targeted rider at one kilogram overweight may be the preferred option of the nominator or trainer to afford the horse its best opportunity of success.
The RV Board has endorsed a request from RV’s Integrity Services Department to extend the trial period to May 31, thus exempting all flat race meetings run during the relevant period from LR 74A (3).
The extension was considered necessary to allow the Stewards to obtain further feedback and fully assess the efficacy of the new procedures.
Consultation will continue with participants throughout April and May with the trial’s success or otherwise to determine whether or not it is adopted on a permanent basis.
The trial will continue to be conducted under strict processes with applications to ride one kilogram overweight to be made to the Stewards by no later than 2pm on the day of acceptances.
If a rider is granted approval to ride one kilogram overweight this will continue to be announced via the @RVStewards X (formerly Twitter ) account and noted in the ‘probable weight section’ in the fields for the race meeting on the Racing Australia website.
- Racing Victoria
Timely call
■ They say that timing is everything, and the timing of the phone call Dean Chambers put in to McGaw’s co-trainer David Browne led to one of the best decisions he has ever made.
Browne had just completed a trackwork gallop on McGaw when he received the call from Chambers who, together with his five friends in the G’Out Syndicate, was on the hunt for a moderately priced racehorse to invest in and have
some fun with. Chambers, who formed the syndicate in 2021, had heard through word of mouth that Browne and his wife Emma-Lee were just the sort of trainers they were looking for – open and honest folk who were easy to deal with and could get the best out of the horses under their care.
One of the syndicate members had also shared a few refreshments with the Brownes at the Hanging Rock Cup meeting the year before and had been taken with their down-to-earth and approachable manner, so a unanimous decision was reached that the Sparta Racing stable was the right fit for the group.
As the syndicate manager, Chambers was tasked with making contact with the stable to run a list on their available horses.
“The horse I just rode might be a bit special,” Browne told him, referring to the I Am Immortal juvenile they had purchased for a mere $14,000 at the 2024 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale
How prescient those words proved to be, as McGaw made a dynamic debut at Pakenham at the end of January, romping to victory by threeand-a-half lengths.
Unfortunately, Chambers’s six-strong syndicate – who had taken out a 10 per cent share in McGaw – weren’t there to witness the win in the flesh as heavy traffic on the West Gate Freeway meant they were unable to reach the track in time, and so were diverted to a pub in Port Melbourne instead.
If that win was impressive, the best was certainly yet to come six weeks later at Caulfield, where McGaw – affectionately labelled a “longlegged dork” by Emma-Lee – made a mockery of his price tag and his dorky demeanour with a fairy-tale win in the $1m VOBIS Platinum Showdown (1200m).
“The race fell on my birthday, so it’s fair to say it was one of the better birthdays I’ve ever had,” said Campbell “I’ve just taken delivery of my framed photo, so that will be a permanent reminder of an absolutely amazing day.
“We had a few drinks at the track after the race, then took the celebrations back to our place and from memory the party went on until around two in the morning. So it was a big day, and I haven’t stopped smiling since.
“I got to know the other guys from when all our kids were at primary school together. We decided to form a syndicate, and we went in on a couple of horses but didn’t have much luck.
“We had the money sitting in our account and someone had recommended David and Emma-Lee to us.
“So I gave David a call, and the rest is history. They’ve been wonderful to deal with, and obviously the horse has taken us on an unbelievable ride so far.”
Inevitably, offers have since flooded in for McGaw, both from both home and overseas; but Chambers & Co. are determined to resist the temptation to cash in their shares on a horse who, according to his trainers, should be even better once he has reached full maturity as a three-year-old and beyond.
“I think the first offer we received after he won his Maiden was $600,000, which we rejected,” said Chambers
“They then came back with a bigger offer, but that was knocked back again. We just want to enjoy the journey with him.
“If we’d sold him after his win at Pakenham we wouldn’t have had that experience in The Showdown, and you can’t put a price on a day like that.
“So we’re happy to keep racing him and hopefully we can have a lot more fun with him. David and Emma-Lee have been very shrewd with him, they’ve only given him two runs as a twoyear-old because they think we won’t see the best of him until next season, when he could get out to a mile. So that’s pretty exciting.
“This has been our syndicate’s first horse with the team, and I’m sure we’ll roll into a few more in the future. We’re all involved in the Point Cook Centrals footy club, out in the western suburbs of Melbourne. I coach one of the teams and I tipped all the boys into McGaw in The Showdown, so we had a lot of people riding him home and I was pretty popular that day.” - Racing Victoria
● ● McGaw’s winning team. Photo: Racing Victoria.
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BASKETS. Two, Large. GC. $30. Keon Park. 9469 4558. N-Q
CHAIRS. Two, Cushions. $50. Keon Park. 9469 4558.
DOG KENNEL. Plastic. Grey colour. Very clean. never used as kennel. GC. $10. Purchaser to collect. Doreen. 9717 3465. N-Q
GARDEN ROCKS. Approx. 200mm-150mm for landscaping. Approx. 260. Free. Nunawading, 0407 696 343. N-Q
LATEST ADS
BASSINET. Chrome frame and high chair. VGC. $25 for both. Thomastown. 0428 833 398. N-Q
BRICKS. 100 clean, red. Plus halves. $50. Keon Park. 9469 4558.N-Q
CAMPER TRAILER. Used once. Slide out kiychen plus extras. VGC. $4300. Dromana. 5981 4517. N-Q
CLARE Circulatuon Stimulator. VGC. 150 ONO. Frankston. 9789 9634. N-Q
COLLECTORS Melway Nos 9, 20, 33. Wax matches (234) in book, 17 loose. VFL Records, finals, mainly Richmond. Small and large. Phone cards. Vatious prices. Box Hill South., 9890 7904.N-Q
FORD AUII Fairport V8 Sedan. Original.Runs well. No rust. Good tyres, new screen, bring your mechanic or RACV test, RWC. Reg 7/27. 2AN3XE. VCG. $8000. Seymour. 0419 881 573. N-Q
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PARTS for Ford AUIIV8. Secondhand. Struts. New parts: ball joints, 2 boxes of parts. VGC. $1000. Seymour 0419 881 573. N-Q
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5 vintage saws for woodwork. FC. $20. Also frame for manual
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ANGEL STATUE with adjustable wings. Approx. one metre tall. Solid moulde, EC. $475. Broadford. Owen, 0434
