The Rotary Club of Keilor is preparing its annual 100 Christmas Bags project for isolated patients in the Moonee Valley and Brimbank areas. Bolton Clarke community nurses will deliver the gift bags, which contain basic food, toiletries, personal care items and seasonal treats. The club says many recipients have no family, friends or wider community, and the bags aim to bring them comfort at Christmas. Recipient Anica said the gift brought her to tears, while Kent said he was looking forward to the day.
Fire Rescue Victoria crews attended a house fire on the Old Calder Highway in Keilor early this morning. They found a double storey brick home well alight, with the blaze starting in the front entrance before spreading to the top floor. Firefighters knocked the fire down quickly and searched the home, finding no one inside. The fire was under control by 2.13am. The blaze has been deemed suspicious and will be handed to Victoria Police for investigation.
A 35-year-old man has been arrested following a series of incidents in Keilor and Airport West on the afternoon of 18 October. It is understood he first drove into a grey Honda at a shopping centre on Westfield Drive around 12.30pm. He then drove a blue Mazda towards the Calder Freeway, where he smashed the windows of several parked cars and collided with other vehicles. The drivers were not physically injured. A passerby restrained him when he tried to flee again, and police arrived shortly after. He will be interviewed and the investigation is ongoing.
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Keilor has signed forward Lucas Failli from Hillside for next season. Failli played 17 games and kicked 14 goals for the Sharks this year. Meanwhile, defender Brad Xavier has signed with Bacchus Marsh for the next two seasons after leaving Keilor, where he had played since 2012. Xavier was in the Blues leadership group and is a three-time premiership player. Bacchus Marsh also says he will join its coaching panel as a senior assistant coach.
An expert warns that arson attacks on Melbourne businesses will continue unless authorities move beyond reactive measures against the illicit tobacco trade. A recent spate of suspected firebombings has hit businesses and vehicles in the city's west, including Melton, Taylors Lakes and Deer Park. Victoria Police have closed 61 stores over the past four weeks for selling illicit tobacco, with alleged links to organised crime. Deakin University criminologist James Martin says violence often rises after law enforcement crackdowns and that the underlying demand for nicotine remains unaddressed.
Walking football players from across Victoria will gather at Keilor Park on Monday 26 October to raise money for breast cancer research. Hosted by Walking Football 4 Health Victoria, the Pink Ribbon fundraiser runs from 10.30am to 2pm at Keilor Basketball and Netball Stadium and supports the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Walking football is a low-impact version of the game with no running and reduced contact. Members of the public can try it and donate, with no previous football experience needed. Founder Mick Trim said the sport helps people get active and feel part of a community.
A car fire in Hampton Park, Melbourne's south-east, marks the 14th vehicle torched in five days. Police suspect organised crime is behind the spate of arson attacks, which have occurred in multiple suburbs. Acting Commander Troy Papworth warned of the serious risks, including a 13-year-old boy critically injured in a Taylors Hill blaze. Investigations are ongoing, with no injuries reported in the latest incident. The fires have spread to nearby homes, raising safety concerns.
A community rally will be held on Sunday 8 November to discuss the Keilor Downs Police Station. The event, organised by the Save Keilor Downs Police Station group, invites state election candidates to address concerns about police station accessibility, resources, and community safety. The rally follows reductions to the station's counter hours in November 2023, which were temporarily cut from 24 hours a day to eight hours a day. The group hopes to keep the issue in the public spotlight ahead of the state election.
Melbourne residents faced another night of arson attacks, with six vehicles torched across multiple suburbs. In Oakleigh East, a family of four escaped harm when a firebombed ute damaged their home. Similar incidents occurred in Springvale and Reservoir, where flames spread to properties. Premier Ben Carroll condemned the attacks, while police investigate potential links. The spate of firebombings has destroyed 13 cars this week, with two homes damaged and a teenager critically injured.
Police are investigating four arson attacks on cars in Melbourne driveways over three days. Two cars were destroyed and a home damaged in Balwyn North early Wednesday, with one person inside unharmed. Earlier incidents in Taylors Hill left a teenager critically injured, while a luxury car was torched in Keilor. Another fire in Maidstone spread to a townhouse, with two residents escaping unharmed. No arrests have been made, and police are seeking witnesses and footage.
