Australians have donated more than $350,000 in less than 24 hours to Save the Children in honour of independent MP Helen Haines. Her husband Phil asked supporters to give to the charity instead of buying flowers. Dr Haines remains in critical condition after an alleged attack outside her Wangaratta electorate office on Monday. Her husband said surgeons amputated both of her legs, but that she is alive and stable. A man has been charged over the alleged attack and is expected to face a committal hearing on February 4, 2027.
Phil Haines thanked surgeons, nurses and bystanders at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne on Wednesday. His wife, Helen Haines, lost both legs after an alleged attack on Monday afternoon. Governor-General Sam Mostyn urged Australians to practise decency. Bystander Ricky Jefferies secured the alleged attacker. At a vigil in Wodonga, Cathy McGowan called on the community not to let violence win and said the attack was an attack on democracy.
Staff of independent MP Helen Haines say they are devastated and that being close to the incident has been deeply traumatic for the team. Haines remains in a critical condition at Melbourne's Alfred Hospital, and her husband Phil says she is alive and stable. Brendan Nugent has been charged over the incident, which police allege happened outside her electorate office in Wangaratta on Monday afternoon. Nugent did not apply for bail and remains in custody. His next court appearance is set for 4 February 2027.
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Former independent MP Cathy McGowan, who first won the Indi seat in 2013, says she felt enormous relief after learning that her close friend Helen Haines is alive. Haines was struck by a car outside her Wangaratta electorate office in an alleged targeted attack, and her husband Phil has confirmed both her legs were amputated. McGowan said the community must now grapple with shock and a sense of shame, noting that such violence could happen to anyone in rural Australia.
Independent MP Helen Haines was hit by a car on Monday in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described as an attack and a deliberate act. Albanese said Haines is someone of integrity who treats everyone with respect. Haines, the member for the north-eastern Victorian electorate of Indi, has long championed integrity and rural health. She was a key figure in establishing the National Anti-Corruption Commission. Politicians across the parliament, including opposition leader Angus Taylor, expressed shock and support for her.
Property firm Hotspotting says working-class areas are set to outperform wealthier suburbs over the next seven to 15 years. Glenorchy in Tasmania and Canterbury-Bankstown in New South Wales are among its top picks. Its founder, Terry Ryder, says a poor reputation does not stop areas from growing in value. Hotspotting also expects smaller unit complexes built around the 1950s and 1960s to perform well. Real Estate Institute of Australia president Jacob Caine says homebuyers are looking at areas they previously overlooked.
Special Olympics table tennis players in Albury have moved their weekly sessions to the larger court space at PCYC Albury. The group outgrew its earlier venue at a Salvation Army hall in Lavington. PCYC Albury manager Tim McLaren said the club wanted to support community sport and offer space where it was needed. Player Erina is set to compete at the Special Olympics National Games in Melbourne, starting on 19 October. Table tennis makes its competitive debut at the Games in 2026.
Shaun Sargeant, formerly a farmhand in the Indigo Valley, has started a new career as a surveyor. After seeking advice from a TAFE NSW careers counsellor, he completed a Certificate III in Surveying and Spatial Information Services through online classes. He now works as a surveyor's assistant at Axis Surveys in Ipswich and is studying for a Certificate IV. Jobs and Skills Australia reports about 9700 surveyors nationally, with a predicted shortfall of 2000 by 2029.
Alpine Shire Council has received $530,000 from the Victorian Government's Local Sports Infrastructure Fund. Of this, $500,000 will upgrade amenities at the Myrtleford Indoor Stadium, including renovated toilets and change rooms, a new meeting room and accessible changing facilities. The remaining $30,000 will help complete the draft Alpine Shire Open Space Strategy 2027-2037, which will seek community input on parks, playgrounds and reserves. Mayor Sarah Nicholas welcomed the funding. Further details on scope and timelines will be released when the projects begin in 2027.
Alpine Shire Council will hold a free green waste weekend at its Mount Beauty, Myrtleford and Porepunkah transfer stations on 14 and 15 November 2026, from 10am to 2pm. Mayor Sarah Nicholas urged residents to clear their properties before the declared fire season. The Country Fire Authority advises moving flammable items away from houses, clearing dry debris, keeping grass under 10cm and cleaning gutters. Each customer may bring up to two cubic metres per day. Branches must be 200mm or less in diameter, and stumps will not be accepted.
Police arrested 43-year-old Brendan Nugent on Monday and charged him with attacking federal MP Helen Haines, a long-time friend of his family. Nugent's home is on the edge of Tarrawingee, a town of about 400 people near Wangaratta. Residents say he was not part of the community and had caused disturbances from the property. Police are investigating a reported rift in the family, and the alleged attack on Ms Haines is being examined as possibly an attack on that family. Nugent's next court appearance is in February.
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.
North Geelong will aim to win its fourth consecutive T20 cricket premiership. The Magpies, who are on a 17-game winning streak, open their season with an away match against Lara. Both sides sit in Group D of the Division 1 and 2 competition, alongside Bell Park and Geelong West. Each team plays three round robin games before quarter-finals and semi-finals, with the final set for Tuesday 26 January. Defending Division 2 champions Lethbridge are in Group A with Winchelsea, Meredith and Teesdale.
Altona Meadows Primary School will celebrate the 10th edition of its internal news program, AMP NEWS, on Thursday 29 October. Year five and six students film, write and edit stories on fetes, special days and sports events. Two episodes are produced each term, featuring teachers and students. Teacher Sarah Capri has run the program since 2017, after it was started by a former teacher in 2016. About 60 students took part this year.
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Kerry Janten has announced she will contest the St Albans seat as an independent. She says she is dissatisfied with the party system and wants the freedom to address electorate issues without following a party line. Her policy focus includes state debt, cost of living, transport, environment and disability access. Ms Janten will hold a campaign launch on Friday 30 October from 6pm to 9pm at the St Albans Community Centre. She says she wants to hear from a broad range of residents, including homeless people and those whose first language is not English.
The Class of 2026 at Chairo Christian School in Leongatha has marked the end of its school years with a series of celebrations. A carnival morning used a toy-themed design, with graduates dressed as characters and running stalls for younger students. The next day, the final assembly featured a devotional message from school captain Meg Stokes and flowers presented by Prep students. That evening, a Valedictory Dinner recognised the graduates and their families. Principal Amy Stork said the school was proud to celebrate with the students.
WorkSafe inspectors will be able to issue on-the-spot fines from 31 March to reduce fatal falls at work. Employers can be fined for failing to control fall risks, keeping safety records unavailable, or starting high-risk construction work without a Safe Work Method Statement. Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC Steve Dimopoulos said falls remain a leading cause of workplace deaths and serious injuries. WorkSafe Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin said employers face no new obligations, but those breaking the law will face consequences sooner.
Year 12 students at Mirboo North Secondary College began their final school day with an egg and bacon roll breakfast, many dressed in costume. An assembly followed, where students presented awards to each other and shared a video of photos from their years at the school. Senior School Coordinator Rose Hill said the event was about the students. Students entered in themed groups, and the day ended with a slip 'n slide and lunch at the park. Students in the VCE Vocational Major have finished, while VCE students are sitting exams, including English today.
Transport Victoria has confirmed the final design for intersection upgrades along Sunshine Avenue in Taylors Lakes. Construction is expected to begin in 2027. Two roundabouts at Melton Highway and Old Calder Highway will be replaced with signalised intersections, with additional lanes and new signalised pedestrian crossings. New walking and cycling paths and street lighting will also be built. A bus stop on the northern side of Melton Highway will move to the eastern side of Sunshine Avenue.
Year 12 students at Korumburra Secondary College have finished their school days. Year 12 Coordinator Steven Scott said the final year is demanding, with both schoolwork and pressure about what comes next. He told students without a clear plan not to panic, and that they can change direction if a path proves unsuitable. Students in the VCE and VCE Vocational Major programs continued the tradition of dancing for staff and younger students. Senior School Coordinator Nicole Creaser said the routines were well rehearsed and praised the students for sharing lollies with the younger pupils.
Victoria will add 11 AI-powered cameras to its bushfire detection network across the state's east and west. The $3.8 million project is jointly funded by the Victorian Government, Hancock Victorian Plantations and the Green Triangle Fire Alliance. The cameras use artificial intelligence to scan for smoke and fire around the clock, and the expanded network is expected to monitor more than 1.4 million hectares. The new cameras are scheduled to be in place by November 2027. Minister for Emergency Services Paul Edbrooke said early information would help emergency services respond more quickly.
Cyprus has signed contracts worth up to $1.8 billion with Italian energy provider Eni to develop the island's first commercial gas project. Production is slated for 2028, in partnership with France's TotalEnergies. The Cronos field is estimated to hold more than three trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Gas will be sent to Egypt for processing and liquefaction, then mainly exported to European markets. President Nikos Christodoulides called the deal a decisive step toward using the country's natural wealth.
