The Local Paper

Police News

GREATER SHEPPARTON: Theft of farm equipment at Toolamba

Friday, February 21, 2025

Shepparton Police are investigating after farm equipment worth around $135,000 was stolen from a property in Toolamb.It is believed unknown offenders broke into the residential property on Pyke Road overnight between February 4-5. Police were told the thieves stole equipment including two planting machines, an irrigation machine unit, a navigation system and a 300L water…

Observer

OBSERVER: Rural Dreams

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…

Observer

OBSERVER: Our Monster’s Name Is Jerry

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…

Observer

OBSERVER: Fledermaus

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…

Observer

OBSERVER: Kagami

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…

Observer

OBSERVER: Rourke’s Reviews

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…

Emergency Services

WHITTLESEA: Crash closes Church St

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…

Police News

CASEY: Gym arson investigated

Thursday, February 20, 2025

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…

Council News

WHITTLESEA: Guess who was spotted at Council?

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…

Observer

OBSERVER: Spit

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…