Greeks in Dandenong marked OXI Day despite rain, holding the annual event organised by the Greek Orthodox Community of Dandenong and Surrounding Areas. Bad weather moved the wreath-laying ceremony inside the Church of Saint Panteleimon, but the emotional tone remained strong as people honoured those who resisted fascism. Students from the community's Greek School took part, with poems and traditional dances. Community president Stefanos Karamoschos and school principal Niki Farfara Paschou spoke about freedom, dignity and the value of preserving the Greek language.
Footscray captain Dylan Brasher scored 162 as the Bulldogs reached Dandenong's target of 362 with six wickets down, winning their first match of the Victorian Premier Cricket season. Brasher shared a strong partnership with Henry Pearson, who made 55, while Aiman Nadeem scored 59 not out. Travis Dean also made a half century. Brasher's innings was his 15th premier first XI century. Coach Dale McDonald said the Bulldogs face Carlton in a two-day match over the next two Saturdays.
A four-bedroom home on a 4.71ha bushland property at Macclesfield, in the Dandenong Ranges foothills, has been listed for private sale. Price expectations sit between $2.9m and $3.1m. The property at 88 Kirkpatricks Road has been renovated and extended over two decades by its owner, Paige Fleming, working with architect Mark Burns. Features include landscaped gardens and a black infinity edge pool. Barry Plant Emerald agent Justin Barrot is handling the sale.
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Workers at eight Victorian councils have rejected a pay offer, continuing protected industrial action that has disrupted services. The councils, including Hume and Merri-bek, are in multi-employer bargaining with unions. The rejected offer included wage increases tied to the rate cap and a $1200 transition payment. The Australian Services Union reported a 98 per cent rejection rate among its members, leading to strike action and service disruptions.
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Greater Dandenong City Council is switching its fleet to lower-emission vehicles. Mayor Sophie Tan said 76 per cent of the council's passenger cars have already been replaced with hybrid and electric models. The council has committed to replacing all cars with low-emission alternatives by 2030. Five trucks and four electric vans have been introduced, and options for larger vehicles are being investigated as they come up for replacement. Tan said the council aims to cut its overall carbon footprint to zero.
Cowes' Harmony Bells on Phillip Island remain silent, according to Bass Coast Shire Council, which says there are no plans to alter the installation or move the bells. Resident Darren Callesen questioned the decision at a recent council meeting, asking why the village's voice had been silenced and suggesting mallets be fitted or the bells relocated. Council CEO Greg Box responded on the council's behalf after consulting the artist, Dr Anton Hassell. The bells were stolen in 2021 but recovered by police before being shipped overseas.
The Greater Dandenong Volunteer Resource Service has been renamed Volunteer Plus and will now be managed by the Dandenong Community Learning Centre. The service will keep connecting local volunteers with opportunities across the city. Mayor Sophie Tan said the change would help the service stay sustainable and support community participation in the future. The service thanked South East Volunteers for its long-running work delivering the program. The service will operate from the Dandenong Community Learning Centre's main hub in King Street, Dandenong.
A memorial service honouring deceased priests and councillors of the Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of Dandenong was held on Sunday, 18 October, at the Church of Saint Panteleimon. The service commemorated three priests and 64 councillors who contributed to the church and the community, which has a history of more than 65 years. Relatives of the deceased attended. The Parish and Community Board of Directors holds the service every October to preserve the memory and names of those who helped shape the community's development.
Greater Dandenong Council's Woody Meadow garden beds are brightening parks while creating habitat for insects and other wildlife. The low-maintenance gardens have been planted since 2021 as part of a trial with the University of Melbourne. Council's Environmental Engagement Team Leader Patrick Cazaly says the dense plantings discourage weeds and reduce work for the horticulture team. The beds are coppiced every two years to encourage healthy regrowth. Three Woody Meadows are located at Burden Park, Ross Reserve and Dandenong Park, and were pruned in May.
The first Tasmanian Oak boards have been laid at Dandenong Stadium, where seven of its 15 courts are being renewed. About 4700 square metres of sports flooring is being replaced, along with structural improvements beneath the courts. Greater Dandenong Mayor Sophie Tan said the stadium, which draws more than 17,000 people each week, has served the community since 1992. The new floor is expected to last up to 50 years. The stadium remains open at reduced capacity, with some activities moved to Springers Leisure Centre, and the upgrade is due for completion by the end of 2026.
Wonthaggi volunteer Stella Hitchins has been honoured as a 2026 Community Gem by Jordan Crugnale, State Member for Bass. The award recognises her work at the Wonthaggi Community Harvest Garden, where she has volunteered for 15 years. Hitchins has also distributed food, clothing and household goods to relief centres across the region. Crugnale said Hitchins had left a lasting mark on the community. The Community Gem initiative, now in its seventh year, invites residents to nominate people who show selflessness and generosity.
A teenager has been allegedly slashed with a machete during a clash between two groups of teenagers on Mordialloc Pier. The 18-year-old from Rowville suffered deep wrist cuts on Sunday at about 5.45pm. He ran several hundred metres to a Woolworths on Main St, where a member of the public called emergency services. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Police arrested three teenage boys after a fight inside the supermarket and are investigating whether it was linked to the stabbing. Two 15-year-olds and a 16-year-old were released without charge. Police are continuing to investigate.
A full-day professional development workshop for creatives will run on Saturday 21 November from 10am to 4pm at the Civic Centre in Dandenong. Tickets cost $15 per person. The Build Your Creative Edge program aims to help participants build confidence in discussing their creative practice, align projects with organisational priorities, use AI to plan and write proposals, including budgets, and find funding opportunities. Industry consultant Gareth Hart will facilitate the workshop. The program is co-presented by five councils, including Monash Council and Greater Dandenong City Council.
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Homeless service entry points across Victoria are often forced to turn people away, a survey by the Victorian Homelessness Network has found. Sixty-nine per cent of responding services closed at some point because they were at capacity, mainly due to insufficient staffing. Staff at Wayss in Dandenong say they sometimes close by 10am and face aggression and threats. Workers say rising case complexity, including mental health issues, is slowing responses. The study recommends more staff, crisis accommodation and security funding ahead of the November Victorian election.
The Victorian Liberal and Nationals opposition has promised $1 million to improve road access to Sikh Volunteers Australia's emergency relief precinct in Langwarrin. Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said the works would include a dedicated entry lane, a wider driveway for buses, delivery trucks and emergency vehicles, and a left-in, left-out arrangement. The commitment is an election pledge, and its delivery would depend on the Coalition winning government at the November state election. The organisation's chief executive, Jaswinder Singh, welcomed the announcement.
Crews have started cleaning up 15 ramps on the Monash Freeway, between Malvern and Narre Warren. Work includes graffiti removal, sign repairs, sweeping, weed removal and other roadside maintenance. The work is part of a $36.9 million Better Roadsides program and is carried out nightly between 9:00pm and 5:00am, with each ramp closed for one night. The government says more than 83,000 potholes have been repaired since 1 July, with a target of 500,000 this year.
Work starts next week on improvements to Dandenong Library in Melbourne's south-east. The upgrade adds a parents' room, a private multi-faith room for prayer and reflection, and extra study areas. Greater Dandenong Mayor Sophie Tan said the changes reflect the different ways people use the library. The work is due to finish by the end of December, and the library will stay open during construction, with some noise and short one-day closures possible. The $637,100 project is jointly funded by the council and the Victorian Government.
