About 100 people attended a dementia awareness presentation in Preston, hosted by the Hellenic Women’s Federation of Victoria on Friday 23 October. Dementia Australia support specialist Christina Kominakis explained the difference between everyday forgetfulness and memory changes that may need medical assessment. Signs included repeatedly misplacing things and difficulty managing money. The presentation noted that such difficulties do not necessarily mean dementia, but persistent changes should be raised with a doctor. A raffle raised $300 for Dementia Australia.
Researchers in Tasmania have discovered the value of animal scat, or faeces, in conservation efforts. A wildlife team found that studying scat can reveal crucial information about species, including their diet, health, and population size. For instance, scat analysis helped identify a Tasmanian devil's diet, which includes unusual items like shoelaces. Additionally, scat can indicate disease presence and genetic diversity, offering insights without invasive procedures. Despite challenges like DNA degradation, scat remains a vital, non-invasive tool for wildlife conservation.
Coburg West Primary School has won first prize in the primary school category at the 14th Greek Student Film Festival. The school's Greek language program entry was also voted Best Film by the audience. Students, working with teacher Betty Koklanis, made the short film The Replacement, which explores artificial intelligence. The pupils used their Greek skills throughout the film. The festival, now in its 14th year, gives young people a platform to show their creativity and growing Greek language ability.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
A new $770,000 dog park at VR Michael Reserve in Lalor is now open to residents. The facility has separate active and quiet zones for dogs of different sizes, ages and temperaments. It also includes shelters, seating, drinking fountains, solar lighting and shade trees. The City of Whittlesea contributed $470,000 and the Victorian Government provided $300,000 through its New and Upgraded Dog Parks Program. Mayor Lawrie Cox said the park followed community feedback on the design.
A 26-year-old Bundoora man has lost his license after allegedly speeding past a police station and blowing more than twice the legal alcohol limit in Greensborough. Police said the man was driving a Toyota RAV4 at an alleged speed of 115km/h in a 60km/h zone. He was issued penalty notices for speeding and drink driving, valued at a total of $1935, and his vehicle was impounded for 30 days.
A triple-brick home in Northcote, with a separate apartment, passed in at auction on a vendor bid of $1.7 million, below its $1.8 million reserve. The property is now listed for private sale at $1.775 million. Meanwhile, a fully renovated art deco home in Fitzroy sold for $1.531 million, above its $1.35 million reserve, to a first-home buyer. In Essendon, a four-bedroom home sold for $2.285 million, above its $1.95 million reserve, to a young family.
Detectives have arrested four teenage boys after an alleged aggravated burglary at a home in Diamond Creek early on Friday, October 23. It is alleged a Ford Ranger and a Kia Sportage were stolen from a carport about 1.25am while a 50-year-old man, a 41-year-old woman and a child were home. None were injured. Police allege the Kia was abandoned on Foote Street in Templestowe, while the Ford Ranger entered an underground carpark on Blackburn Road, Doncaster East, where the four boys were arrested. All four were charged and were due to appear in children's court on Friday.
A 29-year-old Altona North man has been charged over an alleged attempted carjacking in Campbellfield. Police allege he was armed with an axe and tried to steal a car after a collision involving up to eight vehicles at the intersection of Sydney and Bolinda roads, about 7am on Thursday, October 22. He was struck by a vehicle and then restrained by good Samaritans near Sunshine Street before police arrived. He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Typical home prices in 18 Melbourne suburbs have moved above the $950,000 cap for the federal first-home buyer scheme, according to new REA Group figures. The cap was lifted by $150,000 last October, but rising prices have pushed these suburbs beyond it again. Templestowe's median unit price now sits $31,500 above the limit. Industry figures say the scheme makes larger mortgages easier to access but does not necessarily make housing more affordable, while one builder reports packages starting at about $450,000.
Birch, beech and sycamore trees at Wisley garden in Surrey have shed their leaves early after a record hot summer. Horticulturists say drought stress has caused a false autumn, with yellow-leaved trees losing foliage by mid-October. Trees with shallow roots are most affected, as they cannot reach deeper groundwater. Experts expect an earlier, shorter colour display in drought-hit areas. Wisley plans to plant more hardy, deep-rooted trees such as Lebanon cedars and swamp cypresses to adapt to changing conditions.
Ten-year-old Brandon Winkworth raised $500 for Bread Hub Victoria after his school charity choice was not selected. The charity matched the amount, doubling it to $1000. The money will fund vouchers for disadvantaged people in Hobsons Bay and Wyndham to use swimming and gym facilities at Laverton Community Hub and Bayfit. Laverton Community Integrated Services chief executive Michael Pernar praised the boy's efforts. Hobsons Bay mayor Diana Grima said the youngster's hard work was an inspiration. Brandon said he is proud of what he achieved.
Melbourne student Aparjot, 21, has self-published her first novel, When We Were Souls, while studying cybersecurity and working part-time. The 376-page story follows two people who meet, fall in love and face the reality that some connections do not last. It is structured around seven Sufi stages of love, reflecting the Punjabi poetry she has written since childhood. Aparjot funded the book herself, designing the cover and editing the manuscript with help from friends. She is now preparing a second book, Ibadat, due in January 2027, which will draw on her Punjabi poems.
A Melbourne couple has moved into a new home that cost $80,000 less than they planned to spend. Jeyakaran Karnan and Shree Harini Vinothkumar chose a $720,000 house-and-land package in Clyde North after finding auctions stressful. They built at the Orana estate, where they hoped their son Yaalan could grow up among other young families. The couple used the federal 5 per cent deposit scheme, which reduced their deposit to $36,000. Construction took about four months, with the keys arriving roughly 10 months after they signed up.
Two Warrnambool police officers delivered a baby on the Princes Highway near Dennington early on Monday, October 19, after pulling over a speeding car. The driver, Joel, asked whether he could settle any fines later because his wife, Jamie-Lee, was in labour. Sergeant Liam Cook helped with the birth while Constable Angus Hill held the mother's hand. Baby Ashlee was born within two minutes, and the family was taken to hospital once the ambulance arrived. The officers and family reunited in Warrnambool the following day.
