10 - 2026 - The Local Paper

Community News

MORNINGTON PENINSULA: Ambassafor visits The Briars

Saturday, October 24, 2026

French Ambassador to Australia, David Martinon, visited The Briars on Friday (Oct. 23) to explore the Mornington Peninsula’s connection to Napoleon Bonaparte.The Ambassador will be joined by Flinders MHR Zoe McKenzie and welcomed by Mornington Peninsula Mayor Cr Stephen Batty and Deputy Mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro.The visit celebrates the historical and cultural connections between France…

Police News

MERRI-BEK: Cocaine in furniture alleged – Pascoe Vale link

Three people have been charged by the Victorian Joint Organised Crime Taskforce for their alleged involvement in a plot to import 120kg of cocaine into Melbourne.The trio was arrested on Tuesday (Oct. 26) and charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, and attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported…

Police News

SOUTH-EAST: P-plater clocked at 224-kmh

A P-plater is expected to lose his licence and will face a magistrate after allegedly travelling more than 200-kmh and evading officers in Carrum Downs on Thursday evening (Oct. 22).Somerville Highway Patrol officers were on patrol when they allegedly detected the BMW 230i travelling at 224-kmh in the 100-kmh zone on EastLink just after 8pm.Officers…

Police News

FRANKSTON: Missing in the water

Police will prepare a report for the coroner following the death of a man in Frankston on Friday afternoon (Oct. 23).Emergency services were called to Gould St following reports of a man missing in the water just before 5pm.The man was located in the water unresponsive and has died at the scene.

Police News

NORTH-WEST: Constable charged

A Senior Constable from North West Metro region has been charged following an internal investigation.The 40-year-old man has been charged with stalking, install tracking device to locate person, attempt to pervert the course of justice and unauthorised access to police information (x2).The alleged incident occurred both on and off duty, between March and October, 2025.He…

Observer

OBSERVER: Young Frankenstein

Ribald, rude, raunchy and ridiculous. The delightful nonsense that Mel Brooks imagined in his stage version of Young Frankenstein is brought to life by StageBugs Productions on the Theatre Works stage.The attention to detail in all aspects of this production would suggest it should be staged in a major theatre.The choreography (Claire Robinson) was precise…

Observer

OBSERVER: Big Diva Energy

Will Skarpona in his Melbourne Fringe debut Big Diva Energy is just the right amount of ‘much’.Whilst larger than life he is perfect for the stage. From his first song to the last, the voice was huge.There were some moments such as the opening line where I think nerves took over, the note not quite…

Observer

OBSERVER: Guillotine!

Guillotine! or, a modest proposal broaches the nexus between what might be considered offensive and the comic.Anna Piper Scott poses an ethical conundrum about the killing of billionaires who control people’s lives and the need to maintain social parity.Comparably, would it have been ethical to kill Hitler as a baby to save the millions killed…

Observer

OBSERVER: Come From Aawy

Come from Away at the National Theatre is the remarkable story of how the residents of Gander, in remote Newfoundland, Canada, opened their hearts and homes to total strangers, in the wake of the attacks on New York on September 11, 2001.Welcome to the Rock introduces town residents. The Mayor, Claude (Rick Birkett), teacher Beulah,…

Observer

OBSERVER: A Twist of Fate

Scary Goats Theatre is bringing back A Twist of Fate for its sixth season to “terrorise and titillate audiences” at The Motley Bauhaus from October 29-31.Inspired by The Twilight Zone and Black Mirror, this new season of A Twist of Fate contains four short plays about the unusual and otherworldly, each with their own devastating…