Local Newspapers from Melbourne, Victorisa, Australia
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Observer
Award-winning rural crime writer Margaret Hickey (pictured has decided that a change is as good as a holiday.The author of best sellers The Creeoer, Stone Toen and Broken Bay has just renewed a collection of short stories called Rural Dreams, celebrating the Australian countryside.Hickey is based in north east Victoria and enjoys setting her stories…
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Observer
In Our Monster’s Name is Jerry, queer couple Maude (Laura Jane Turner) and Lou (Em Jevons) are desperate to conceive, enduring rounds of IVF without success.An unexpected turn of events occurs when Maude inherits a house from a distant relative.Eccentric next-door neighbour Barb (Amanda LaBonté) soon comes nosing around to welcome Maude and Lou to…
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Observer
The stunning Edna Walling designed gardens of Knowe Cottage (circa 1919) hosted the new production of Fledermaus by Director Robert Ray for Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria.An impressively moustachioed Terence MacManus welcomed the audience (who were peering anxiously at the foreboding skies), switching to a resonant Russian accent for his character Prince Orlovsky. Mac Manus…
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Observer
Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto passed away in 2023 but, with the aid of mixed reality pioneers, Tin Drum, he performs again in the world of virtual reality. This installation is part of the Asia Topa festival showcasing artists from the Asia-Pacific.The audience wears VR goggles. They can walk around the image of Sakamoto as he…
Read More about OBSERVER: Kagami
Observer
Longlegs(MA). 101 minutes. Now available on Blu-ray and DVD.With The Monkey now showing in cinemas, it is a good time to revisit the film-maker’s previous hit. Osgood Perkins (son of Anthony, of Psycho fame) returned after a four-year break with his fourth film as director, and like his previous efforts, is an imaginatively crafted mood…
Read More about OBSERVER: Rourke’s Reviews
Emergency Services
Emergency services were quickly on the scene when a vehicle crashed into commercial premises on Church St, Whittlesea on Thursday morning (Feb. 20). A driver of the red hatchback lost control of their vehicle, and it crashed through the front entrance to the Whittlesea Workwear and Outdoors business, which will now be closed for an…
Read More about WHITTLESEA: Crash closes Church St
Police News
Casey Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating an arson in Hallam on Thursday morning (Feb. 20). It is understood unknown offenders smashed multiple windows of a vacant gym on Princes Hwy about 1.45am. A Molotov Cocktail was also thrown into the premises, causing damage to the entrance of the building. At this stage, it is…
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Council News
Just when you thought politics couldn’t get any crazier at Whittlesea Council … Guess who was spotted in the public gallery at this week’s Council meeting? Pictured is Simon Overland, former CEO of Whittlesea Council (2017-2019) and former Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police. Mr Overland was removed from the municipal CEO position following a Whittlesea…
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Observer
A sequel to the successful 2003 movie Gettin’ Square, the film Spit is a “criminal-with-a-heart-of-gold” story which, while sympathetically portraying the plight of refugees in Australia, suffers from a cliched script and plodding pace.The central character, Johnny (Spit) Spitieri (played by David Wenham), is a small-time criminal who returns from overseas only to find himself…
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Police News
A man has died in a Geelong hotel following an incident between two residents of the venue. Police have been told a man was found injured in an upstairs accommodation room at the Brougham St establishment about 11.50pm Wednesday (Feb. 19). It is believed the 82-year-old victim was assaulted by another man, aged in his…
Read More about GREATER GEELONG: Police investigate death