All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueA police prosecutor said the 16-year-old boy was having a gathering when there was an incident She said goading text messages led to an altercation between five males and two females in the middle of Bowen Street The court heard the people The prosecutor said the 51-year-old mother was armed with a cricket bat while her 16-year-old son had a kitchen knife She said multiple people observed the altercation and called the police Investigators found five "bladed weapons" discarded in the front yard of various properties A lawyer for the mother said her client arrived home to hear conversations about people coming to her house with weapons "All of this happened within a matter of minutes," she said She said the mother followed along with a cricket bat but was seen on footage putting it down and then attempting to diffuse the situation The mother pleaded guilty to carrying a dangerous article and was placed on a good behaviour bond while her son's case was diverted outside of the justice system A magistrate said it was a "tinderbox situation" that could have escalated to a very serious incident He accepted the mother was not at the home during the initial confrontation and was instrumental in de-escalating the altercation she arrived home to he said the first step should have been to call the police The magistrate said although it was the teen boy's party it was the other people who caused the incident and later returned with weapons "But it was your decision to go out with a group with a knife," he said your mother was able to talk everyone down and to make sure it didn't escalate beyond that." 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Home/Classifieds/NoticesPublic NoticesBERRYBANK WIND FARM COMMUNITY GRANTSBERRYBANK WIND FARM COMMUNITY GRANTS Camperdown, 3260Listings from further away 18 dedicated volunteers from the Camperdown Fire Brigade Camperdown Lions Club and CFA’s South West Region Community Safety team came together to install and test smoke alarms for those in need test and replace every outdated 9V battery smoke alarm with a 10-year battery targeting vulnerable community members who were unable to obtain install or maintain smoke alarms themselves checking 97 smoke alarms and installing 37 new ones to ensure community members stay protected Camperdown’s Brigade Community Safety Coordinator Sarah Blair said that only working smoke alarms save lives checking and maintaining them is not possible “Climbing a ladder can be a real hazard for the ageing population or those with mobility issues This initiative takes away that worry and ensures their alarms will work when it matters most,” Sarah said “Some of the alarms we saw had gone yellow and were well past their expiry date It’s reassuring knowing they have now been upgraded but it has the power to save lives and offers them peace of mind knowing they are protected for the next decade.” While Camperdown has been doing the program for a number of years the brigade’s efforts have been boosted by CFA’s partnership with RACV and their support through the Smoke Alarm Installation Program which kicked off in April 2024 the program has reached 990 properties statewide with CFA members engaging with over 1,200 residents to discuss home fire safety and install 1863 smoke alarms at 755 properties The initiative highlights the power of community collaboration and strong volunteer spirit while aiming to increase the understanding and awareness of home fire hazards and reduce the number of preventable fire fatalities Smoke alarms play a critical role in early fire detection and evacuation yet statistics indicate many homes do not have enough smoke alarms or have them installed in the wrong areas with some residents also unaware if they are in working order Camperdown Fire Brigade are proud to work alongside the Lion’s Club and CFA’s South West Region Community Safety team to keep the community safe View all stories View more contacts The Facebook feed is contained within an iframe and as such is not available via keyboard access. Please visit our Facebook page directly to view the latest feeds. The Instagram feed is contained within an iframe and as such is not available via keyboard access. Please visit our Instagram page directly to view the latest feeds. Tweets by CFA_Updates We are currently experiencing issues with our embedded Twitter feed We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land Copyright 2025 CFA (Country Fire Authority) CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) A landmark three-storey home that’s intrinsically linked to the construction of Camperdown’s historic clock tower is in the market for a new owner Prominent architect Michael McCabe designed Keeyuga high on the hill to show off his design skills just before the turn of the 20th century with the money he earned working on the town’s renowned timepiece His public commission clearly inspired his family’s private Victorian-era residence whose own grand tower stands parallel with the clock’s peak Buyers warning as trashed ex-public houses hit the market Custom Pivot home centrepiece of Surf Coast hinterland property The kitchen has been updated in keeping with the home’s original character The imposing circa 1897 house, at 9 Campbell St, Camperdown is up for sale after being sympathetically renovated over time Camperdown agent Carolyn Harris said the 1016sq m property was drawing interest from buyers in Geelong and Melbourne keen to escape the rat race They could expect to pay more than the $1m to $1.1m price guide for a similar landmark residence closer to home “Anything that (McCabe) has been involved in usually captures people’s attention because his designs are quite lovely,” Ms Harris said.She said the excellent condition of the red brick home was testament to the previous owners who had maintained its original features like the gargoyles encaustic veranda tiles and carved woodwork on the interior doors The original stained glass windows have been restored in the formal lounge The bedrooms have panoramic views to Mount Meningorot and Mount Elephant A cellar under the stairwell reveals solid bluestone foundations with children’s drawings dating back to the McCabe family’s occupancy in the 1920 and 1930s providing another window into the past Previous owner Bob Lambell sympathetically updated the kitchen and bathroom during the 30 years he lived at the property adding a rear extension about 15 years ago “It is a very imposing house and it’s really well known through the district Just about everyone in town has some story to tell whether they babysat kids there” Mr Lambell said “At one time in the 1960s I believe it was actually derelict People of my age can remember kids after school would go and play there “What we realised the longer we lived there was how much respect that house has in town so you realise at the end of the day you might own it The third floor tower is accused via a spiral staircase A pedestal basin and claw foot bath is on point in the renovated family bathroom The ground floor has two separate living rooms including a renovated lounge with feature period wallpaper and 3.9m-high pressed metal ceilings the heritage theme extends to three bedrooms with open fireplaces and picture rails and a family bathroom with a claw foot bath which has served as both a teenager’s bedroom and office welcoming place with a lot of character,” Mr Lambell said The rooms weren’t gigantic so it was a really great place to bring up children.” third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. it’s easy to assume the surrounding residential properties play host to a good number of share-homes the percentage of 15-24-year-olds who reside in the suburb dropped from more than 30 per cent in 2001 to about 19 per cent in 2021 an experienced local builder who heads Urban Design & Construction Co says he’s seen a shift to a more well-heeled demographic “You can definitely see the area has become more affluent,” he says middle managers from government bureaucracy Browse Domain’s property and lifestyle magazines Quinn says his stock in trade is renovating the clutch of two-bedroom cottages that populate the south-west pocket of the suburb with owners seeking open floor plans connected to tiny courtyard gardens that often double as space for off-street car parking accessed via rear lanes once used by night soil men “I really like the laneways all through the suburb I used to walk all through them as a kid,” he says “They’re quiet roads with a lot of history.” Quinn is also a fan of the parkland within the suburb Camperdown Memorial Rest Park and Camperdown Park offering plenty of green space for sport and recreation The latter is also home to the Camperdown Commons an eatery that has become a popular meeting point for locals says Belle Property Annandale agent Michael Hallit 13 of the best homes for sale in New South Wales ‘Like being in a treehouse’: Live amongst nature in impressive Bayview home Potts Point: 98 per cent of residents here are apartment dwellers “It’s the perfect place for a lazy Sunday drink where they often have live music,” he says “With a range of indoor and outdoor options It also has a community farm and it’s adjacent to the park with its tennis and basketball courts.” with Michael Hallit from Belle Property Annandale I’ve got to shout out to Deus Cafe. It’s a great place with consistently good coffee and a great mixture of food – the miso salmon soba noodle salad is one of my favourites. The aesthetic is very inviting, and it’s quite a cool, funky place. From an investment point of view, Camperdown has always been an attractive place for investors to park their money. The proximity to Sydney Uni and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the city makes it a desirable place to live, and, as a result, rental returns are high. 2 Baths1 ParkingView listing This double-fronted Victorian cottage, which claims a corner block with dual access, offers space to relax, work, and play. The property has been renovated throughout with a neutral palette, allowing the new owner to make the home their own. It features polished timber and concrete floors, an eat-in contemporary kitchen with a gas cooktop and island bench seating, and two more living zones. The information on this website is intended to be of a general nature only and doesn't consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. where we are privileged to live and operate The Labor-majority Inner West Council has rammed through a controversial plan to begin the creeping commercialisation of Camperdown Memorial Rest Park in Sydney’s inner west Council voted 9-5 on November 12 to allow a restaurant sandwiched between residential properties that back on to the park to use a section of the park to sell non-alcoholic drinks and snacks council officers had granted Comedor its development application (DA) for outdoor seating signage and an extension of hours of trade on Sundays to 9pm up to July 31 a NSW zoning category to “encourage a variety of small-scale retail A former Greens councillor went public and the community immediately started asking questions about how the approval had come about Residents tried to get answers at a Damun/Stanmore local ward meeting in August on who had issued the DA and why there had been no community consultation Even the next door neighbours to the restaurant had no idea until they received a letter authorising trucks to deliver construction materials for the restaurant deck The community outcry forced council to slow everything down as they wanted to appear to be listening to residents before the September local government election. The IWC even issued an apology for not holding a community engagement process Comedor was told the building of its $2000 deck on public land had to be put on hold Meanwhile, residents spoke to councillors and circulated a community petition opposing part of the park being privatised Labor councillor Chloe Smith’s motion to the November 12 meeting supported Comedor being allowed a deck in the park told that meeting that the community had been adequately consulted and pointed to the DA which had been letterboxed to nearby residents in June council did hold a “community consultation” meeting on October 3 to which only a handful of people turned up Council took this to mean that not many people were unhappy with the commercial lease even though most of those living on the park’s edge said they had not received any notification about the meeting An opt-in online survey on park use had however found 315 thumbs-down pins and 123 hearts in support Council also received 78 emails opposing the development As several speakers told council on November 12, even with its poor consultation, a large majority of residents who did respond said Comedor should not be allowed to construct a deck in the park, as it heralded the beginning of a bigger deck “Over 70% of feedback was opposed to this proposal but council staff not only write in favour of it but inexplicably determine to extend Comedor’s hours,” Newtown resident Jason Gray said which passed on Labor councillors’ and independent Victor Macri’s votes allows Comedor to serve food and drinks from its rear window from 7am–6pm seven days a week with a later closing time of 8pm on Thursdays who works in NSW Premier Chris Minns’ office as a senior community engagement adviser told the November 12 meeting that the engagement process had been “extensive and considered” She said it was in the community’s interests for the deck to go ahead because it would add “additional vibrancy and offerings to our community” Smith also said there were many precedents as other parks have cafes locals argued that each of these “precedents” had a context cafes built into a swimming pool complex were different which was built when there were no coffee shops nearby — and it went to tender There are at least six cafes in short walking distance to Camperdown Memorial Rest Park Many locals believe a deal had already been done flowing from an out-of-court Land and Environment Court settlement after the IWC initially refused a restaurant proposal in a residential area it is concerning that the DA to privatise part of a well-used park was granted by council officers with no Independent Hearing and Assessment Panel Residents are disappointed with council’s decision particularly as many had submitted new ideas to council’s plan of management review including a coffee cart social enterprise and tables and chairs as in Camperdown Park spoke at the Inner West Council meeting against Comedor being given permission to build a private platform in Camperdown Memorial Rest Park.] Green Left is funded by contributions from readers and supporters Make a One-off Donation or choose from one of our Monthly Donation options Become a supporter to get the digital edition for $5 per month or the print edition for $10 per month. One-time payment options are available You can also call 1800 634 206 to make a donation or to become a supporter Green Left has reported the lives and politics struggles and achievements of people who barely exist in the 'mainstream' of Australia's murdochracy Purple Pingers on housing solutions | Green Left Show #55 Climate Change is a Class Issue | Global Ecosocialist Network Stop demolishing public housing | Green Left Show #54 Cut military spending, dump AUKUS | Green Left Show #53 Vienna's inspiring public housing system — John Tully | Green Left Radio A deeper look at the election results May Day rally in Sydney 2025 Purple Pingers on housing solutions | Green Left Show #55 Waddah Weld-Ali: 'Now is the time to stand up' Demolishing public housing is ridiculous with permanent wars and a climate emergency Our side is — and always will be — that of the 99% Green Left’s goal is not only to expose the lies and hypocrisy of the billionaire class and their media we strive to help the organising efforts of those actively resisting the corporate rich Read more about Green Left. Authorisation for electoral content by Neville Spencer, Suite 1.07, 22-36 Mountain St, Ultimo, NSW, 2007. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinuePolice are continuing investigations after 18 guns and a large amount of ammunition was seized at a Camperdown hotel during the week Camperdown police Senior Sergeant Bill Caldow said about 1.30pm four members from Camperdown Police Station uniform branch division attended at the Leura Hotel in Camperdown's Manifold Street for a firearms inspection that firearms were not being stored in a safe manner or in compliance with legislation and commenced an initial search for further firearms," he said "During this search a device was located that caused police to consult the Victoria Police bomb response unit and after receiving expert advice that device was deemed not to be incendiary at that time and declared safe "That device was not a child's toy as has been reported (not by The Standard) in error "During the time local uniform police members were in consultation with the bomb response unit additional police were called in and McNicol Street in Camperdown was blocked and surrounding buildings were evacuated by agreement." Senior Sergeant Caldow said that area was declared safe after about an hour 18 firearms were secured and seized by police," he said "The longarm firearms were of various calibres and a large amount of ammunition was also seized "There is no ongoing safety issue to Camperdown residents or persons employed or patrons at the hotel "Hotel management and staff were extremely co-operative throughout police attendance." The Camperdown station commander said no person had been charged yet but inquiries were continuing with the owner of the majority of the firearms He said it was expected the owner of the guns would be charged Warrnambool crime investigation unit detectives also attended at the hotel and assisted uniform police officers "The firearms will not be returned to that location do not pose an ongoing threat and there is no opportunity for removal of the firearms by any other persons," Senior Sergeant Caldown said "The origin of some of the guns has not been established at this time and they are subject of an ongoing local investigation." April 9: Police are responding to what is believed to be a potential bomb threat at Camperdown's Leura Hotel Camperdown uniform police officers have attended at the hotel and the area has been cordoned off A Victoria Police media liaison spokesperson confirmed there was an operation in progress at Camperdown "Police officers are currently conducting a safety check after a device was located at a licensed premises in Camperdown on Wednesday afternoon," they said "Officers were at the premises on Manifold Street for an unrelated matter and located the device about 1.50pm "The surrounding area has been evacuated as a precaution while inquiries are made." Corangamite Shire staff at the Camperdown office have been evacuated and sent home The NAB has closed as well as the medical clinic in Scott Street Police at 4.21pm announced the area and device had been deemed safe Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueCobden police Sergeant Craig Jenkins said about 8pm on Sunday five males and two females from the Camperdown area were engaged in a disturbing altercation in the middle of Camperdown's Bowen Street He said the incident involved two groups confronting each other in a "violent Sergeant Jenkins said the ages of the parties involved ranged from 16 years to 61 He said participants armed themselves with machetes "They engaged in a deplorable and abhorrent display in full view of innocent members of the public who were exposed to the tirade of threats and displays of weapons in the middle of a residential neighbourhood," he said "Concerned residents were fearful of the behaviours of the warring factions in the street and numerous calls were made to police "The parties were goading and challenging each other into a confrontation and brandishing weapons on full display to the surrounding public in a manner that is deplorable and disturbing." The police sergeant said officers from Camperdown Cobden and Terang attended and quickly located and detained the offenders "A methodical search of the area discovered the discarded weapons that had been concealed by the offenders prior to police arrival," he said "The warring parties engaged in a heated exchange which involved extreme displays of aggression and threats of violence towards each other "The behaviours of the offenders was abysmal and were it not for the quick response and actions of the police the incident could have escalated to a violent physical confrontation." Sergeant Jenkins said the behaviour was totally unacceptable all seven persons allegedly involved have been arrested and processed for affray and weapons-related offences," he said Camperdown police Senior Sergeant Bill Caldow said no one was injured and the weapons seized included a machete two women aged 21 and 51 and two men aged 22 and 61 Those adults have been bailed to appear in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court on March 17 Senior Sergeant Caldow said an 18-year-old Camperdown man had also been remanded in custody and was expected to appear in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Wednesday He said a search at a Camperdown property on Tuesday uncovered another machete He said there were believed to be no outstanding offenders and police had mobile phone footage of the incident "Witnesses are encouraged to contact Camperdown police 5593 1000 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 00," he said "Extra police patrols are taking place in the area to provide a reassuring police presence for the community," he said Picture by Justine McCullagh-BeasyAn emerging Hampden league side is benefitting from the inclusion of key pillars at either end of the court Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueCamperdown improved its win-loss record to 2-1 under new coach Jill Leader when it overcame a determined Port Fairy on Saturday Scores were tied at quarter-time and half-time before the Magpies skipped eight goals clear in the third term and held on for a 49-44 victory at Gardens Oval Leader credited goal keeper Annaliese Hughes and goal shooter Nell Mitchell - both off-season recruits - for providing stability at either end of the court and guiding their younger teammates "We have picked up bookends basically - we've got six-foot-two Nell in goals and we've got Anna who is six-foot-two in defence," she said "She says she's six-foot but I think she's a bit taller - she's got very long arms." Leader said Hughes put in a best-on-court performance against the Seagulls "I constantly felt like that (her reach) was going to apply pressure to those goalers and wear them down if we just kept working and kept working," she said Camperdown coach Jill Leader enjoys a smile post-game Picture by Justine McCullagh-Beasy"She has shown really good leadership and the connection she's already developing with the young girls out front (is great) "If she's getting a (finger) tip on things "She just has really positive energy on the court." Camperdown recruit Izzy McDowall searches for an option against Port Fairy Picture by Justine McCullagh-BeasyLeader said Port Fairy under new co-coaches Angela Northcott and Emily Forrest so the girls collected themselves really well and slogged it out," she said "It was just that third quarter where we showed some better composure "We knew we had to look after our possession on our centre passes We were running at about 50 per cent on our centre pass conversion Port Fairy defender Charlotte Crouch dishes off a pass against Camperdown Picture by Justine McCullagh-BeasyCamperdown teenage goal attack Piper Stephens got through her first full game of the season after battling a calf concern Sports journalist with an interest in feature reporting. Email: justine.mc@austcommunitymedia.com.au Picture by Justine McCullagh-BeasyTwo undefeated Hampden league football sides will go head-to-head in round four Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueSurprise packet Camperdown and reigning grand finalist North Warrnambool Eagles enter the contest as two of the in-form outfits of the 10-team competition Ladder-leader Portland also boasts a 3-0 record The Magpies accounted for Port Fairy at Gardens Oval on Saturday The Eagles celebrated captain Adam Wines' 250th game in style defeating Warrnambool 13.10 (88) to 11.6 (72) at Bushfield Recreation Reserve First-year Camperdown coach Clinton Thomas said the Magpies were eager to face the Eagles "We are realistic of where things are at and North are a really good team and it's going to be another opportunity for us to learn and grow," he said where we've got a bunch of kids who are still learning the game and finding out about themselves "They are boys becoming men and there is a lot of character development that is happening as part of the process here This year is all about growth - it's a bit of a boring narrative but that is where we're at." Port Fairy's Kelby Fleming and Camperdown's Hamish Sinnott wrestle for the ball Picture by Justine McCullagh-BeasyEagles coach Nathan Vardy said it was important to "just keep banking the wins when you can" You want to win as many games as you can to qualify for finals as quickly as you can," he said "To start the year three-and-zip is really promising but it's a really long year The next two weeks we have the other two undefeated sides It's going to be quite a close competition." whose son Alec is playing as a small forward after debuting in round two was rapt with the Magpies' ability to absorb the Seagulls' pressure "They are a very good team and things are close to clicking together for them," he said "They played us very well and gave themselves plenty of opportunity and we do a bit of a game style that responds well to that pressure Camperdown teenager Lenny Stephens kicks the Magpies into attack against Camperdown Picture by Justine McCullagh-Beasy"We just kept them to low percentage opportunities and the boys executed and weathered the storm nicely." Camperdown is pleased with "surprise packet" Nick Jones' performances in the ruck while its back six - Billy Arnold "Port Fairy have a lot of firepower and they were under the pump and were amazing," Thomas said Port Fairy ball winner Olly Myers dishes off a handball against Camperdown Picture by Justine McCullagh-Beasy"There was good who was thrilled with experienced duo Jarryd Lewis and Matthew Wines said the Eagles were made to work for their win against the Blues Pressure was sky high and there was mistakes and turnovers for both teams on the back of it," he said Port Fairy's Kelby Fleming attemps to get the clear away as pressure from Camperdown rises Picture by Justine McCullagh-Beasy"It was one of those games of momentum a little bit We were lucky to pile on a couple of goals in the last quarter to get our noses in front at the end of the day." Eagle Lachlan Wines was sent to hospital with a split head Newsletters & AlertsView allDaily File pictureA Camperdown wingman is spending more time on the ground in 2025 and is reaping the benefits on the scoreboard equalling his season-best tally with the club has been taking full advantage of his set-shots and credited the rebound and intercepting-work of his teammates for many of his goals A slight change to his role has also given him more goal-scoring opportunities "I've been staying on the ground most of the game and then instead of my rotation being off the ground I've had a rotation up forward," he told The Standard "...We don't have as many tall forwards so Clinton (coach Clinton Thomas) has wanted me to be a little bit more of a taller option down there as well." The youthful Magpies are one of the surprise packets of the season so far under first-year mentor Thomas upsetting 2024 preliminary finalist Terang Mortlake in round one Dundon, who "absolutely loved" former coach Neville Swayn, has enjoyed playing under the club's new mentor "It's nothing against Nev but it's just been fantastic to have a new voice," he said I think he's really nailed things we need to work on and I think that shows in the 2-0 start." Dundon isn't getting ahead of himself after a perfect start saying the developing Magpies had a "week-to-week" approach Judah Dundon takes a mark for Camperdown in 2021 a maiden finals campaign with the club would be a dream scenario for the Melbourne-based schoolteacher in his fifth year at Leura Oval He joined the Magpies ahead of the 2021 campaign through his friendships with former co-coach Jack Williams and defender Jason Robinson sticking around after the pair departed a year later "After staying I've just formed some really good friendships that have just stuck," Dundon said "I think I'm at about 60 games now which is crazy it's been a fantastic way to spend the weekends." Matt is a sports journalist at The Standard. All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Magpies were in damaging form overcoming the Bloods 15.14 (104) to 9.10 (64) in the round one Hampden league clash on Saturday The Bloods - tipped to be fighting for the flag in 2025 after back-to-back preliminary final appearances - were without a number of key players and had seven debutants "The boys were fantastic," Thomas told The Standard of the win Terang Mortlake are obviously held in very high regard and we knew that they had quite a few unavailable which is I guess part of footy But to the boys credit they strung it together really quite well and it was a great outing for the day." The Magpies finished seventh in 2024 and farewelled some of their more-experienced players in the off-season The club has a strong crop of junior graduates ready to establish themselves at senior level with Thomas saying during the pre-season "development" would be a focus during the year He said the "confidence-building" win against the Bloods wouldn't change too much from their perspective "For us it's just about a year of growth and the result yesterday I don't want to say it was irrelevant to what we're aiming to get out out of the season but it's secondary," he said "Our primary objective is growth and the boys really achieved a great level of growth yesterday and coming into the game next week we just want to continue that growth and Hamilton they've come a long way in the last couple of years and we always know that they're a tough competitor." Paddy Baker (two) and Billy Arnold (2) all kicked multiple majors Riley Arnold was named Camperdown's best in the 2025 season-opener File pictureA range of contributorsThomas praised a mix of the club's younger and elder players for their performances "I felt a number of our seasoned footballers I feel they've taken their footy to another level but probably the most impressive thing was our kids There's some exciting little footballers coming out of the crop there I think Fraser Lucas up forward was really valuable "James O'Neil down back with Riley Arnold was also quite critical "In terms of the younger brigade it was pretty impressive Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueCrystal Mitchell appeared in Warrnambool Magistrates' Court on February 11 charged with 14 deception offences relating to $21,433.85 She is also accused of stealing more than $10,000 from a family member's bank account The court heard Ms Mitchell allegedly made claims through the TAC after being involved in two serious collisions on November 25 It was not disputed the collisions were legitimate and that Ms Mitchell was assisted by a legal representative to make the TAC claims Ms Mitchell allegedly obtained more than $21,000 through the TAC by purporting to be the legal representative or another person from the TAC She booked several hotels across Melbourne The hotel bookings were for days at a time and ranged in price from $400 to $4000 Ms Mitchell also dishonestly obtained TAC funds to pay for hire cars TAC funds hire cars and hotels for people seeking treatment for injuries sustained in significant motor vehicle collisions The court heard Ms Mitchell made the bookings in both her name and fake names She was interviewed by appointment at Camperdown police station on August 8 The court heard Ms Mitchell also allegedly stole $10,317 from a family member after coming into the possession of his mobile phone on July 12 The court heard the man had given Ms Mitchell his PIN code on the chance he was locked up which she then used to log into his bank account and transfer all of his savings she allegedly admitted spending large amounts of the money at the pokies and online shopping at Kmart and Temu She said the family member owed her $15,000 The court heard none of the money had been repaid submitted a medical report which revealed the woman likely suffered an acquired brain injury Magistrate Tim Gattuso said the deception was significant and he required more material to be tendered to the court Picture by Katrina LovellIt was from her cattle farm near Camperdown the then-boss of Coca-Cola Amatil Alison Watkins managed to run the major company during the COVID-19 pandemic Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueShe shared her inspiring story of growing up on a farm in Tasmania to then heading a number of Australian Stock Exchange-listed companies at Warrnambool City Council's International Women's Day event Ms Watkins said the drive from her farm to Warrnambool on Tuesday 2025 brought back lots of memories from the pandemic years when the "world changed" "I was CEO of Coca-Cola Amatil at the time which is a Sydney-based international business and within a week I found myself trying to run that sitting at the farm," she said "I was trying to get some semblance of an internet connection which you never really worred about too much before then," she said she does sit on a number of boards including the Reserve Bank She also is chancellor of the Univesity of Tasmania "I still feel most at home in regional communities," she said "Around those board tables I'm fortunate to sit on I do get to provide that regional voice and to really make sure those regional considerations are to the fore." Ms Watkins said her dream was to marry a farmer and live on a farm Going to agricultural college like she wanted would have meant leaving Tasmania - something she wasn't keen to do - so instead she went to the University of Tasmania to study commerce and reluctantly followed him to Sydney where her mind was opened to other "amazing possibilities" in the corporate world which eventually led to her becoming CEO of GrainCorp She said if anyone had told her at 18 she would end up having run a couple of Australian Stock Exchange- listed companies and be on the Reserve Bank board Ms Watkins said her advice was to keep an open mind and have a bias towards saying yes "Finding people who believe in you and who create opportunities for you Ms Watkins said whatever you do in your work and in life generally it was helpful to step back and get a fresh perspective - especially when things were going off the rails "Use that metaphor to get off the dancefloor and get on the balcony and try and look at what's going on and have a cool It's a habit she has often used - whether it be in a meeting or reflecting on her own career journey it was not so much about needing a seat at the table because they were already there "We need to make sure that we make our voices heard and we keep building on the momentum to absolutely make our society the kind of place that we all want it to be," she said Katrina Lovell is a senior journalist at The Standard who covers council news and human interest stories. Owners Scott and Mon Narik said they were thrilled. "It's taken us about four or five years," Mr Narik said. The pair's daughter Remi samples one of the chocolate bars. Picture by Anthony Brady.The pair said they were inspired after their daughter, Tessa, was diagnosed with Coeliac disease. Ms Narik said the foodie couple was determined to produce a low-allergen chocolate which all could enjoy. "There's no cross contamination with other potential allergens in the environment," she said. "We use only a few very simple ingredients so the chocolate is suitable for those with dietary sensitivities. "One of our bars is made with goat's milk. You'll find a lot of babies with lactose intolerance tend to go on the goat's milk formula which has low lactose. "So that chocolate is an option for them." Mr Narik said it was clear there was a gap in the market for their products. "All of my sister's kids have allergies to nuts, fruits and sugar and that," he said. "She usually takes our stuff and sends it down to Melbourne. "It's that niche product the market sort of missed." The couple also prides themselves on their production process which involves sourcing and processing cacao beans directly from a farm. "We're in direct contact with the farmers in Fiji," Mr Narik said. "Sustainability and the bean-to-bar process is really important to us. There's no waste - for example with shelling the beans, potentially down the track we might look at making cacao tea." The couple produces four chocolate bar variations which can be found across the region including at Camperdown's Loaf and Lounge Cafe and Warrnambool's Slab Lab. Mr Narik said the two would focus on expanding their coverage. "So far it's going well, it's a bit higher-end and seems to be on the mark for a lot of people," he said. Today's top stories curated by our news team Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters Keep up with netball news from across the region tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords Inner West Greens councillors are calling for an investigation into a Council decision to allow a businessman to construct a private cafe at the back of his now defunct Comedor restaurant that backs onto Camperdown Memorial Rest Park amidst allegations that its owner Walter Shellshear had abused and threatened his staff and delayed paying their wages is pushing ahead with the cafe which Council promoted to the public as an extension of the Comedor The restaurant was awarded a ‘hat’ by the Sydney Morning Herald food guide soon after it opened in July 2024 Residents and other community members have written urgent letters to the Inner West Council and Councillors over the end-of-year period They are urging a halt to construction and an investigation into why Shellshear was granted the right to operate a commercial venture in the park without a tender “Serious questions have been publicly aired in the Sydney Morning Herald about the owner of the Comedor restaurant,” wrote Pip Hinman whose family have been regular users of the park for decades “This should mean that the Inner West Council should reconsider its decision to hand Comedor a slice of Camperdown Memorial Rest Park I am writing to urge you to make public what agreements were made with Comedor.” the Inner West Council voted to approve a take-away cafe on a deck at the back of the newly opened Comedor restaurant Eight Labor councillors supported by Independent Councillor Victor Macri voted down a Greens amendment to delay a decision until a new Plan of Management for the Park had been finalised in 2025 Council released a statement stating that “this agreement will provide park users with direct access to one of Sydney’s best restaurants and add to the vibrancy and diversity of our hospitality offerings in the heart of Newtown.” Rumours about poor treatment of staff were already circulating and just weeks later Council’s controversial decision to approve the cafe became even more embarrassing when the SMH published an investigation into the conduct of Shellshear It detailed the resignations of key staff including its chefs and manager amidst allegations that Shellshear had  abused and threatened staff paid them late and was drunk and smoked in the restaurant Shellshear denied all these allegations against him Camperdown park users and residents who were following this saga hoped that given the circumstances in which the restaurant closed who moved the amendment to delay consideration of the proposal “The allegations about Comedor in the press are deeply concerning Not surprisingly they have raised significant concerns in the community especially after what was seen by many as a failed consultation process they are completely unacceptable and Council needs to reconsider its approval of the expansion of the restaurant into Camperdown Memorial Rest Park My fellow Greens councillors and I have written to the General Manager asking for a thorough investigation into the matter and I have asked for a full briefing as soon as possible in the new year as to Council’s options.”  “While there may have been differing opinions locally on the extension of Comedor into Campo Park through the construction of an outdoor deck there’s no debate that the alleged bullying and toxic treatment of staff is something that is certainly not welcome in our community.” Shellshear’s neighbours received a notice announcing that construction of a platform for the cafe would begin on January 2 The notice included no name or contact number and was not on letterhead Some people even wondered if it was a fake City Hub wanted to ask Shellshear if it was genuine and many other questions He told us to leave a note under the door of the restaurant building We received no response but his planner Phillip Bull who acted for him on all Comedor planning matters confirmed that the notice was from Shellshear packets of coffee and tea and barista products appeared on a shelf inside the back window of the now deserted restaurant building ‘Other Inner West Park have cafes’ was a key argument used by Inner West Council and Labor Councillor Chloe Smith who led the debate in favour of the proposal While it is true that there are other cafes in Inner West parks they were subject to a tender process and several are associated with other Council facilities such as swimming pools Tenders for Council cafes are a competitive and publicly advertised process and only those with relevant experience are invited to apply Shellshear himself has no experience in running a cafe He hired competent staff but quickly and catastrophically fell out with them There are well established legal principles to ensure that public land is managed in the public interest Tenders and publicised expressions of interest are designed to ensure that those gaining the commercial advantage of trading in a public space are fit to do so and will provide the community with the quality service (Here is a tender document  for Yeo Cafe in Ashfield which was specifically mentioned by Smith.)  Other Inner West Park cafes are run by businesses with a strong hospitality record This is a far cry from Shellshear’s company Landmark Recruitment Pty Ltd. Landmark was part of a chain of labor hire companies that Shellshear took over Most of the Landmark subsidiaries were put into voluntary administration and then wound up some of them with significant debt owed to the Australian Tax office and companies associated with Shellshear Shellshear ran his debt company Judgement Debt Solutions out of the restaurant building for seven years Its website was taken off line last April but some pages can still be seen on Internet Archive Wayback machine Shellshear promoted his ‘bullish’ and ‘aggressive’ tactics often associated with the debt industry but not so suitable in  the restaurant trade Shellshear has previously told journalists that he initially planned to develop the building into luxury apartments but decided on a restaurant instead All this information was publicly available to Councillors and Council staff – if they had looked The first the public knew about the cafe was when an earlier notice that works were about to begin was distributed to neighbours in August The SMH food reviewer also published a story that described how he was impressed by the promise of the delights of dining on a deck in a park Shellshear told him he was hopeful that he would get a  licence that would allow diners to bring alcohol the Council apologised for failing to conduct a required consultation process and proceeded to organise one a clear majority of those who expressed a view opposed the cafe Council staff recommended that the cafe go ahead with slightly extended opening hours and no chairs and tables – at least until after a trial period The consultation process was flawed, as reported in an earlier City Hub report Residents opposed to the cafe were left with a feeling that the decision which had been postponed until after the recent local government election This raises a question about whether or how the café was ever properly approved and by whom The consultation process effectively diverted attention from this significant question Phillip Bull has been involved in planning the restaurant for Shellshear since 2019 He was one of two speakers who publicly spoke in support of the cafe project at the November Council meeting he said that the cafe was very much part of discussions and was agreed to at the original 2021 court proceedings which occurred because Council initially refused the conversion of the property to a food business he terminated the conversation and told  us to ring back later which is publicly available online does not include any mention of a café It also states that “Works or activities other than those approved by this Development Consent will require the submission of a new Development Application or an application to modify the consent under Section 4.55 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.”  However City Hub has sighted the original drawings for the proposal and they do include a servery window that opens inwards There is nothing however to suggest anything outside the property boundary Given the inclusion of the window it would seem likely the Shellshear always intended to have the cafe it would have been clear that approval for the cafe would be inconsistent with the existing Camperdown Park Plan of management (POM) which remains available on the Inner West Council website Council has been slow to review this POM which will be superseded by a new POM in 2025 It has been conveniently set aside in the discussions about the cafe The first mention of the cafe came in a letter written by Bull to Rocco Sergi who recently joined the council as a full-time property manager his background is in real estate and property management most recently for the Greater Sydney Parklands including Callan Park Bull wrote to Sergi asking for a permit for a deck that had been approved by ther court in 2021 His letter was not in the form of an application but rather weirdly informed Sergi what permits would be required He forwarded a Plan of Management for the cafe  which allows Council to terminate the agreement if Landmark Recruitment “do anything in or around the Premises which in Council’s reasonable opinion may be annoying that condition may have been already breached “The restaurant premises is built and operational an agreement has been concluded with the Park’s manager for use and works that now needs to be formalised with the applications sought.” City Hub wanted to know when that agreement was formed whether  it was oral or in writing and who authorised it as a basis to proceed But when we tried to raise these questions in a second conversation with Bull City Hub’s focus on this issue may seem obsessive given the small amount of land involved to ensure transparency in the public interest This is especially the case when several residents have told City Hub that they are apprehensive about speaking out and do not wish to be named the danger is that flawed decisions will justify other decisions and a lack of transparency becomes accepted practice Similarly the objections of residents become delegitimised as the whinging of ‘nimbies’ City Hub spoke to Sergi who is supportive of the proposal He told City Hub that he had relied on information given to him by others that the cafe was approved in the original 2021 application Asked why it would not be better to wait for the new Plan of Management he told City Hub that the permits to construct the cafe had to be done in advance so they could become part of the new POM This seems to be a misunderstanding  of the process The draft new POM will be  exhibited and only after that will the new POM be finalised Sergi declined to answer further questions and said that we should ring Council’s communications’ staff He has informed one resident who has written to him asking for a halt that the permits for Shellshear are in place and that he had referred to Council’s executive management a copy of the SMH story about Shellshear’s alleged abuse and threats when he became aware of it City Hub has been attempting since mid December to get answers on a range of issues relating to the cafe from Council’s general manager Peter Gainsford Media Manager Jonny Browne said the latest list of questions could not be answered until January 3 Wendy Bacon is a freelance journalist who was previously the Professor of Journalism at the University of Technology Over 500 new homes are set to transform the former WestConnex dive site in Camperdown providing an influx of rentals to the Inner West housing market The NSW government has unveiled the first plans for new housing to come out of a massive land audit the state conducted last year The 500-dwelling project will feature at least 200 build-to-rent units available at discounted rates for essential workers The remaining 300 units will be a mix of private and affordable rental options to support the area’s tight rental market Build-to-rent projects are residential developments that are entirely owned and managed by a single entity These units are then rented out for extended terms This is a rare instance where the state government intends to construct and own the build-to-rent facility Government developer Landcom, which was tasked with this development, has chosen the site from the government’s land audit initiative – a staple of Premier Chris Minns’ housing priorities when he took office in 2023. The initiative aims to unlock unused government land for new home developments At least 200 build-to-rent units will be available for essential workers Located in the popular and densely populated suburb of Camperdown as well as the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital With the intention of devoting a substantial proportion of the new homes to essential workers it’s hoped many of those spaces will be taken up by hospital staff employed at the nearby health facilities the development is slated to feature ground-floor retail or commercial spaces as well as landscaped outdoor areas and pedestrian links to enhance accessibility and community amenities NSW minister for planning and public spaces Paul Scully said the Camperdown site was secured by Landcom as part of the government’s $450 million investment to deliver more housing for essential workers – first announced in June 2024 “The new rental homes in Sydney’s Inner West will ease the pressure on essential workers employed nearby improving quality of life,” Mr Scully said “The development will transform unused Government-owned land with new homes for renters and buyers while rejuvenating a key part of the Parramatta Road corridor.”  It's hoped many of the spaces will accommodate essential staff from nearby facilities Landcom and Homes NSW were given first pick of land audit sites making this the first development site for Landcom NSW minister for housing Rose Jackson sees the announcement as “much needed” for those workers being priced out of communities “Key workers are being priced out of their own communities making it harder to build a future where they live and work,” she said “This investment is about backing them in—giving nurses teachers and first responders more affordable rental options close to their jobs so they can keep doing the work that keeps our city running."  with the first essential workers moving in around 2028 The announcement comes amid several housing initiatives in NSW, including a review of laws for off-the-plan contracts and the federal government’s latest Housing Support Program funding Build-to-rent continues to see traction across Australia with public and private developers all adding projects to the sector ownership of the build-to-rent units will remain under the government how to apply and rental subsidy details to be released closer to the project’s completion The Property Council of Australia welcomed the announcement with property council NSW executive director Katie Stevenson noting the use of the build-to-rent model as a secure approach “BTR is a proven model overseas and is gaining traction in Australia as a way to create well-designed well-located rental options for residents,” she said She also suggested the model provides an opportunity to deliver more rental homes at scale and encouraged the government to continue exploring ways to support its expansion Landcom is expected to commence construction on 110 build-to-rent units in NSW’s Northern Rivers and South Coast later this year File pictures.Light is being shed on what one of the south-west's most picturesque recreation reserves could look like by the next decade It's used by a cricket club, golf bowls club, golf club, pony club, tennis association and horse trials, each of which contributed "ambitious" ideas to the plan, Leura ward councillor Laurie Hickey said. "There's some ambitious areas covered throughout the report and the desires and wants of those who need it," he said. "Nevertheless it's great to have a plan, and it's one of the more picturesque sporting facilities we have." Tandarook ward councillor Jo Beard said the council would consider which ideas were "tangible" after hearing from the community. Wishlist items posed by the clubs are contingent on grant funding. "Now's the time to get the public's feedback on this, this does outline the potential budget bids going forward and what can be achievable," she said. "At a first look at it, it's no different to any other draft masterplan when it comes to the council chambers - it's like 'Wow'. "(You think) 'How could we ever achieve all of this?' But that's what they've come to us with, and now we sit back and wait to see what the broader community thinks, then we turn the draft into a tangible report." Wishlist items for the recreation reserve include: redeveloping the Golf and Bowls Clubhouse, upgrading the tennis clubroom and shelter, installing floodlights on the bowling green, upgrading change rooms, increasing the number of toilets, re-sowing oval two, increasing power supply to the reserve and improving internet connection. For information directly relating to bushfires please call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737 or visit the NSW Rural Fire Service Website here. [external link] We responded to over 150,000 incidents in 2023-24 The incidents displayed below are note-worthy incidents that have been published as media releases or tweets Details about incidents may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice North Parramatta | The fire at Dunlop Street, North Parramatta has been contained but is expected to smoulder through the morning. Because there may be smoke in the area, residents and businesses in the vicinity are advised to keep doors, windows, and vents closed. View on X [external link] Fire and Rescue NSW acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past, present and emerging. The Allan Labor Government is giving older Victorians in the South West better access to the high-quality care they need and deserve, with the brand-new aged care facility in Camperdown nearing completion. Minister for Health Infrastructure Melissa Horne visited the busy construction site of the $39.6 million project to check out how construction is progressing. The new aged care facility in Camperdown will feature 36 bed modern single rooms and private ensuite bathrooms, a dedicated kitchen, dining, lounge and break-out sitting areas for residents to stay connected with each other as well as loved ones. To make the most of the surrounding natural environment, the facility will also ensure residents have open area views and an abundance of natural light, acknowledging the positive impact of green spaces and fresh air for their physical and mental wellbeing, as well as increasing social interaction. It will also provide a dementia-friendly environment that is better suited to supporting the mental health and complex care needs of older locals. The dementia-friendly design focus means residents can 'age in place' which is particularly important in regional areas like Camperdown - giving residents the opportunity to remain close to their support networks and maintain family and community connections as their care needs increase. The project is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with South West Healthcare and builder A W Nicholson and is on track to be completed in the coming months. The Camperdown aged care facility project is being delivered under the Rural and Regional Public Sector Residential Aged Care Services Revitalisation Strategy to modernise ageing facilities which are home to some of our most vulnerable older Victorians. As stated by Minister for Health Infrastructure Melissa Horne "We're ensuring that older Victorians living in communities like Camperdown can access high-quality public aged care, when they need it, closer to their loved ones." As stated by Minister for Ageing Ingrid Stitt "This new 36-bed facility provides the opportunity for residents to enjoy a home-like setting that promotes dignity, privacy, and independence and will enable staff to continue to provide high-quality care and support." As stated by Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney "This is a fantastic investment for the health and wellbeing of older locals - this new, state-of-the-art facility will ensure they can age with the dignity and respect they deserve, while staying close to their own community." All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueWarrnambool Acting Senior Sergeant Lisa McRae said the man, from Camperdown, was nabbed travelling at 126 kmh on the Princes Highway at 8.30pm on Friday, April 18, 2025. She said the man was not only unlicensed but also returned a positive breath test reading of 0.1, which is two times the legal limit. "This behaviour is just disgraceful," Acting Senior Sergeant McRae said. "The majority of the motorists are doing the right thing, being safe and abiding by the road rules. "It's very disappointing to see behaviours such as this." She said police were out in force conducting Operation Compass across the Easter long weekend. "Families are down in caravan parks and down at Lake Pertobe enjoying all the Easter festivities," Acting Senior Sergeant McRae said. "There's a great community presence out there at the moment and it's lovely for our friends and family coming from other areas. "We want it to be a safe and enjoyable time for everyone." warning issued to passing driver on mobile phoneA motorist filming the scene of a two-car crash near Camperdown on his phone while driving past at the weekend has stunned emergency services workers Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThree people were taken to hospital after the accident which happened just before 7pm on Saturday One car was heading south and another heading west when the accident between a four-wheel-drive and a smaller vehicle happened on the Bookaar side of the railway line at the intersection of the Camperdown-Darlington Road and Old Geelong Road in Skibo An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said a man in his 20s was taken to Warrnambool Base Hospital in a stable condition for further assessment And a man and a woman - both in their 60s - were treated for upper body injuries and were taken to Warrnambool hospital in a stable condition State Emergency Service Camperdown controller Michael Carman said they were called to the accident at 6.46pm "I was actually surprised there wasn't more damage to the car," he said "It was surprising the injuries weren't worse." But it was the behaviour of a passing motorist that shocked him Mr Carman said when he arrived at the accident he saw the driver of another vehicle passing by on his mobile phone "There was a truck driving past me with a mobile phone in his hand filming it," he said Mr Carman said normally it was passengers in the cars of passing by that were on their phones filming but this time it was a single person in a truck filming Picture by Jessica Greenan.The sound of horns blaring and tyres screeching is part of daily life for south-west residents living opposite "one of the most dangerous intersections in the country" The intersection at Darlington-Camperdown Road near the entrance to Camperdown has become notorious for crashes and near-misses "It's a death waiting to happen," Mr Welding said "We hear air horns and screeching tyres at least once a day "It's just so hard to merge onto the highway for us For anyone living along this stretch of road to get onto the highway and go into town is Russian Roulette because the traffic is going 100kmh "We've seen so many accidents, including with locals. People who know this intersection are still victims of it." That includes his neighbour, Steve Kinnersly. "I was in an accident here during the grand final long weekend about two Septembers ago," Mr Kinnersly said. "I'd only left home just up the road, I was on my brakes, going about 70kmh when I hit a car coming out in front of me. "I kept trying to get past the front of them but they just kept coming out and I hit them on the front. They spun around in the middle of the road and all their airbags went off. "They were OK, but I smashed my foot. I broke five bones in it and stretched my sternum." Mr Welding says there's not enough time to merge safely onto the Princes Highway when cars are travelling at 100kmh in each direction. Picture by Jessica Greenan.Mr Welding said lowering the speed limit to 80kmh or installing motion-activated warning signs would be a good first step to preventing more accidents. "Some people say the driver should just speed up quick enough when they enter the highway, but you'd need a v8 sports car to get onto it at 100kmh," he said. "A lot of the vehicles merging are actually heavy haulage trucks. By the time they're halfway out, there's a vehicle on the road. "I just figure if they reduced the speed limit, it costs very little, but it would help prevent a death from occurring. It just gives people that extra bit of time to get out onto the highway." Mr Welding said he'd keep pushing for change. "We've had meetings out here, a state member and even local politicians, but nothing happens," he said. "The notion that we need to have more deaths on this corner before anything's done is ridiculous. One death is too many. "If there was a carload of people killed here, maybe something would be done. We've got to keep pursuing this because we face the risk every day." Department of Transport and Planning executive director Barwon South West and Grampians Michael Bailey said the area was on its radar. "The safety of everyone travelling on our roads is always our number one priority," he said. "We're continuing to work with Corangamite Shire to identify any additional safety improvements at the intersection of the Princes Highway and Darlington-Camperdown Road/Gnotuk Lane." A department spokesperson said the DTP had to take into consideration roadside clutter, driver distraction, competition for attention with other signs and other factors when making any decisions. Members of the community are encouraged to report any concerns about the condition of the arterial road network by calling 133 778. Fortunately the Magpies are flush with young talent ready to make their mark "Right from the get go the thing that's blown me away is the crop of under 18s that are coming up," Thomas told The Standard "There's some very exciting footballers amongst that mix so we're going to be a young team and what's exciting about that is just to see how much growth they've already achieved in the preseason and recognising that I don't see that slowing down anytime soon." Jonty Lafferty and Brock Stephens as some of the under 18 graduates to keep an eye out for runner-up in last years Hampden league under 18 best and fairest will play his first full year of senior football in 2025 Picture by Eddie GuerreroAll five have experience playing senior football He also highlighted the promising generation aged in their early 20s which includes Zach Sinnott and elder brother Hamish who will play for the Magpies when not lining up for Essendon's VFL team Thomas noted the importance of developing youth at football clubs "The more you can develop your juniors and retain your juniors the more sustainability you build about the club and the more it benefits both the players in there but also the developing players to see there is a pathway," he said The Magpies have signed Jake Hookway (Simpson) "We haven't gone crazy and tried to find an entirely new team but we've had a lot of conversations," he said "There's still a couple in the pipeline that we're chatting to Clinton Thomas will coach Camperdown in 2025. Picture by Eddie Guerrero'Not under any illusions'The Magpies finished the 2024 season seventh in the final year of Neville Swayn's six season coaching tenure. Thomas is realistic about where his developing team sits saying wins and losses wouldn't be the only focus we're pretty excited about and pretty bullish about what we can do but we're not under any illusions about where we're situated," he said "For us it's not about wins and losses at this stage so much as it is about really focusing on growth and development Results will take care of themselves in the long run." 18 Jul 2024 • 2m read • View Author AIA-calls-out-NSW-Government-on-Camperdown-land-1732001301.png The recent decision by the NSW Government to sell off public-owned land in Camperdown without mandating provisions for social and affordable housing directly contradicts promises made by Premier Chris Minns during his tenure in both opposition and Government, says the Australian Institute of Architects (Institute). Expressing their deep concern and disappointment over the Government’s action, the Institute recalled how, in December 2022, Premier Minns, who was the opposition leader at the time, pledged that a Labor government would target 30% affordable, social, and inclusive housing on unused public land to address the housing crisis and ensure that surplus government land was used to benefit those most in need. In Government, Minister Rose Jackson used the announcement of State Significant Development pathways and affordable housing bonuses to further reiterate, “This commitment is in addition to our promise to deliver a minimum of 30% of social and affordable housing on surplus government land.” The site in question is located on Parramatta Road in Camperdown and is ideal for social and affordable housing, with its proximity to existing essential services and transport infrastructure. "Ensuring that at least 30% of housing in new developments, particularly those involving the sell-off of public land, is dedicated to social and affordable housing is not just a policy choice but a moral imperative. The NSW Government has an opportunity to set a precedent for inclusive and sustainable urban development. We urge them to act now and adopt inclusionary zoning to address the housing crisis effectively," said Adam Haddow, NSW president, Australian Institute of Architects. Rooted, resilient, resonant: Off-grid family living amongst the rugged Australian landscape Using DecoBatten®’s latest profile on The Seaside Sanctuary Solid Nordic softwood in interior design: Sustainable solutions for joinery, flooring and wall panelling Construction of resort-style clubhouse begins at AVID’s over 50s lifestyle precinct in Fraser Coast Sign up to our newsletter for the latest industry news, products and inspiration. Picture by Sophia BakerAn inaugural Christmas event is making sure everyone has a place to go for the end-of-year holiday in Camperdown Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAndrea Bell and Tim O'Sullivan organised the "Open Door Christmas Day" at Camperdown Uniting Church Hall on December 25 really realizing that not everyone has someone to share Christmas Day with for many different reasons," Ms Bell said She said the community response had been overwhelming with many offering to help in whatever way possible Over 100 people had booked to go to the community event "But the numbers are certainly going to go well past that "It's a little bit sad to think that there's that many people that do have the day on their own but that's offset by the fact that now there is somewhere for them to go." Picture by Sophia BakerTerang local Kristie Simpson came to the event with her family "Our main reason for coming was so that our kids could learn that there are people that don't always have family around for Christmas and to hopefully appreciate what they've got," she said "We've been looking for something like this to bring the kids to for a long time and this is the first one we've actually heard of "So more of these sort of things would be beneficial for the community." Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueCamperdown teammates Hamish Sinnott and Charlie Lucas each kicked four goals as the Magpies turned a 23-point half-time deficit into a 15.9 (99) to 11.12 (78) victory against Hamilton Kangaroos at Leura Oval on Saturday so any win feels like an absolute bonus," first-year Magpies coach Clinton Thomas said You always know when Hamish gets the ball - he's very electric and is exciting to watch They are both very different players; they bring different attributes "They can upset the apple cart when they roll down forward and create mismatches which present them with opportunities." Camperdown's Luke Kavenagh was "exceptional in the ruck" against a three-time Maskell Medal winner "He's one of the premier ruckmen in the league and for Luke to probably be conceding 40 kilos and three or four inches in height and still compete and disrupt Levi's ruck dominance (was pleasing)," he said It was a bitter sweet result for Clinton who coached against younger brother Brad for the first time kicked four goals for Camperdown in round two 2025 Picture by Justine McCullagh-Beasy"It was hard I looked over (at him) and felt so bad for him because I know the work he is putting in," he said They had a game plan and were well and truly on top of us for the first half coming off a shock win against 2024 preliminary finalist Terang Mortlake in round one kicked nine goals to one in second half against Hamilton "In the first half we really stepped away from our brand of footy," Clinton said it felt like we probably got a little bit ahead of ourselves because we had a great win last week but we were just expecting things to happen somewhat "We had a good reflection at half-time and the boys recognised the ball isn't necessarily going to bounce our way "We started doing it in the second half and probably had a bit more fitness to run over the top." Siblings Hamish Dobson and Ellie Dobson made their Hampden league senior football and open netball debuts for Koroit on the same day Picture suppliedSAINTS SALUTEKoroit bounced back from a round one loss to account for Cobden Saints' small forward duo Blair McCutcheon (five goals) and Connor Byrne (three) were important in the 19.16 (130) to 16.9 (105) win. Teenager Hamish Dobson, who was on debut Arthur Armstrong and Michael Koroneos kicked four goals each for the Bombers while recruit Matty Drayton chipped in with three Last year's wooden spooner Portland made sure reigning preliminary finalist Terang Mortlake started its season with two straight losses A 10-goal to four second half set up the Tigers' 14.15 (99) to 8.17 (65) win at Hanlon Park Picture by ShutterstockA decision to suspend birthing services at Camperdown hospital has been labelled by an MP as "scandalous" and "outrageous" Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueA South West Healthcare spokesperson has called it a "temporary pause" while the service undergoes a review Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur questioned whether the move was an "amalgamation by stealth" - a suggestion the state government rejected It said the move had been taken because of "workforce challenges" Mrs McArthur said there was no consultation with key players "I think the whole thing's appalling in that no one was consulted about this suspension of obstetric services." "Is this how we're going to have amalgamation by stealth "Closing down services on spurious grounds and say 'oh well they can no longer operate that service therefore everything will be done in Warrnambool or Geelong or where ever' "This has been a fabulous service in Camperdown over many years and for it to be suddenly suspended is outrageous." The hospital spokesperson said Camperdown Hospital performed a very small number of low risk births each year and arrangements were in place for any local women affected by the temporary pause in birthing services 32 babies were born at Camperdown hospital; that number halved to 16 in 2023 and so far in 2024 there have been seven birthing services at Camperdown Hospital have been temporarily paused with the remaining maternity services at level 1 capability to allow a review of current maternity service capabilities against the Department of Health's Capability Framework for Maternity and Newborn services," the spokesperson said "Camperdown will still be providing all pre and post maternity care services as normal." The hospital gave no timeline for when the review would be completed The spokesperson said SWH was proud of its maternity services at both Camperdown and Warrnambool and no decision had been made to permanently cease births at Camperdown "Following a series of unexpected birthing events across the last week we've decided to take a cautious approach and temporarily change the service capability to level 1 to allow time to investigate these events with the intent of improving systems and communication regarding Camperdown," the spokesperson said we will meet with our teams to ensure we address issues going forward and make necessary changes to ensure we can continue to operate a safe maternity service at Camperdown." The spokesperson said providing birthing services in any rural location was challenging and it was not unusual for it to continually review Camperdown's capability - something they have done "many times over the last 12 months" including for a 12-week period between February and May this year "Whilst changes to service levels provided is not our preferred option it happens for a number of reasons including staffing doctor coverage and to ensure clarity when advising patients Mrs McArthur raised the issue in state parliament on Tuesday saying the shock closure came like a "bolt from the blue" not just for the community but doctors and midwives Birthing services have been temporarily suspended at Camperdown hospital Picture fileWoman gives birth in hospital car parkShe told the upper house that without warning Camperdown clinicians were informed with "immediate effect" maternity services would be indefinitely downgraded from level three to level one Ms McArthur told parliament the decision was made after a woman - who was due to give birth at Colac Area Health - was told she couldn't because they had no obstetrician and declared themselves on bypass the patient - who was not yet in labour - was then directed by Camperdown to Warrnambool But the labour progressed rapidly and the woman ended up giving birth in the Warrnambool hospital car park Mrs McArthur said the baby was delivered safely and there were no adverse consequences for the mother or child "The Camperdown service did the right thing yet without seeking input from clinicians involved unidentified South West Healthcare bureaucrats immediately closed the service," she said Mrs McArthur said the Camperdown service was an important pillar of a rural hospital "yet South West Healthcare appear hell-bent on closing it" and a walkout in solidarity is a serious possibility with crippling results for Camperdown health care." Mrs McArthur called on the Health Minister to intervene Maternity services have come under pressure in recent years Portland hospital has struggled with birthing services suspended numerous times, and in February a woman in labour was told the hospital had again been put on bypass. In 2021 the Terang hospital announced it was closing its birthing services. Polwarth MP Richard Riordan said there was always risk about providing maternity services in country areas "I'm looking at this and this looks like a cost-cutting measure," he said "Obviously small communities are going to have to be supported to keep their services and they're just not prepared to put the support in." Mr Riordan said that rather than do a review while continuing to support the service "It's no fault of the service that this event happened," he said Mr Riordan called for more funding for the hospital so the service could return Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe 30-year-old Camperdown export received a Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division as part of the 2025 Australia Day honours The honour was given for service to sport as a gold medallist at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games where she won the women's individual time trial "It's a really cool honour," Brown told The Standard "I think every gold medallist gets an OAM but still it's just one of those things that just adds to the value that you feel as a gold medallist for Australia and the way that the nation celebrates it "The medal itself is a huge reward but the recognition and stuff just keep the high high for a little bit longer It'll be nice to put those three letters after my name." who also won the world time trial title for the first time in 2024 retired from professional cycling at the completion of the season She still rides socially but is enjoying life away from the demands and strict routine of the professional level "We've had some holidays which has been really nice just going away without any sort of training or doing anything on the bike," she said "So a bit of a luxury that I haven't had for a long time "And then other than that when I've been back in Australia it's been fairly busy with various commitments Forgot your password? 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Picture by Eddie Guerrero NEW Camperdown coach Clinton Thomas is used to going the extra mile when it comes to football Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Hamilton-based leader clocked up countless kilometres in his role as North Ballarat assistant coach in 2024 He'll spend plenty of time behind the wheel as Magpies' mentor in 2025 but enjoys road trips and will use them to think and plan ahead for Hampden league games "I was one of the assistant coaches at North Ballarat so for me this actually feels a lot easier - I have gone from having a two-hour travel time to a home game to it being an hour and 20 minutes," Thomas said "A lot of the games in the Ballarat league were in Ballarat but once you start hitting Darley it was not unusual to sit in a car for three hours one way to play a game." who is a sports co-ordinator at Hamilton's Monivae College will oversee his first Camperdown pre-season training session on November 22 The Magpies will train as a collective once a week in the lead-up to Christmas before increasing their workload in the new year He has made changes to his life outside football which will help give the new role the time it requires I knew what the time commitments were going to be and it just means you have to clear up a few bits and pieces to make sure you can do the job justice," Thomas said New Camperdown coach Clinton Thomas is excited about his new challenge File picture "I have been a gym owner for the last 23 years and I recently sold the business there so that's freed up a lot of time." Thomas sold the business to his younger brother Brad who coaches Hamilton Kangaroos' senior football side Camperdown hopes to unveil some recruits after losing full-back Brendan Richardson (travel), Jake Dowell (Old Collegians) and farmer Brayden Draffin for the 2025 season But Thomas is bullish about the youth at the Pies' disposal "What's most exciting is the playing depth we've got coming up from our under 18s," he said Luke Kavenagh has overcome injury and is primed for a strong 2025 season for Camperdown File picture "We have 10 to 12 top-age under 18s who are going to be genuinely pushing and vying for senior selection "Some of these boys will come in and make an immediate impact because they've had the better part of two years' senior footy experience "Myles Sinnott polled really well in the under 18s (league best and fairest) I got to see him throughout the finals and he's going to be exciting "Luke Kavenagh is an absolute gun of a player and he's made his way back after a pretty nasty ankle injury and you've got Taj Field who polled really well in the club best and fairest." Thomas has identified areas the Magpies can refine too - if they're to jump back into the top-five in season 2025 "Defensively there's a few gaps and also what we do in terms of our forward conversations namely how we move the ball into our forward 50," he said coach Jill Leader and Indi Cameron at Leura Oval on Thursday Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueNew Camperdown netball coach Jill Leader is settling in at the Magpies' nest as she prepares for her latest coaching challenge The Geelong-based Leader is excited to work with the Hampden league club's young list and is bullish about the 2025 season She arrives at Leura Oval with an impressive resume - she is head coach of netball at Westbourne Grammar in Truganina coached Geelong league side Geelong West for a decade mentored players at Geelong Grammar and has had enjoyed stints in the Victorian Netball League That's on top of her high-level playing career "I grew up in Tasmania and played national level as a junior all the way up to under 21s," Leader told The Standard "This year I've been working at the club as a mentor," Leader said New Camperdown coach Jill Leader is excited about joining the Hampden league for season 2025 Picture by Eddie Guerrero The mother-of-two brought "an outside perspective" to the Magpies and helped "coach the coaches" in 2024 Now she's excited to sit in Camperdown's open netball hot-seat "I'm new to the region and still very much learning but at the same time very excited about it," Leader said "I am pretty excited about that group of young kids that's there and I hope to help bridge that gap between juniors and seniors and help those girls to transition into that senior playing group seamlessly." who also wants to help develop the senior players' leadership will spend a chunk of her weeks in Camperdown Picture by Eddie Guerrero She'll attend training on Thursdays work for the club doing administration and sponsorship tasks on Fridays and coach on Saturdays Camperdown has lost two players from its 2024 side - Lily Eldridge has moved to Warrnambool and District league Nirranda for a coaching opportunity and Leah Perkins has returned to the Colac and District league "Lily was a big part of the team and the glue that held a lot of the girls together," Leader said It gives some of the younger players an opportunity to come in and fill those spots and that is where my excitement levels are." is being remembered as a loving and loyal family man who was a mentor to those he worked with All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe popular Camperdown man and stalwart of the Western District livestock industry died while driving near Gnotuk on Monday Mr Teal was still employed at Elders, where he'd worked for 45 years. Colleague Rob Rickard recalled his first impression of his late friend and lifelong mentor. "When Paul spoke, I always listened," he said. "When he had something to say he did make sure you'd sit back and pay attention. "He was a very proud man, a proud auctioneer who was always keen to share ideas and help the younger ones out." Mr Rickard, who knew Paul for more than 20 years, said he was the glue which kept the work crew together. "We're all one big family and he was a big part of it," he said. "He was a big, likeable man and he valued the people that he worked with and worked for so he made a huge impact. "He was a terrific mentor, a lot of people have come and gone since Paul came but he outstayed most of them." Mr Rickard said he would not only be missed by his colleagues but also his clients. "His loyalty to his clients was outstanding," he said. "It wasn't abnormal for him to be an MC or have a fairly major role at his client's weddings. His commitment to his clients was second only to his commitment to his family. "One of Paul's great attributes was his commitment to his family, he always spoke about them. It was something Paul always focused on." That family includes his wife Evelyn, three children, eight grandchildren and a great grandchild. Mr Rickard said his friend, who also had a passion for harness racing and greyhounds, would be missed by all who met him. Fellow colleague Lou Ebbelaar said he would also be remembered for his "warm personality". "He was extremely loyal and was lovely to everyone, he was very sweet that way," she said. "He would always do everything he could to help people." Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueJesse James Pearce appeared in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Friday for a committal mention hearing via a video link with his current prison placement Lawyer Hugh Middleton requested the case be adjourned for a summary jurisdiction application in the same court on February 7 Office of Public Prosecutions lawyer Connor Rattray said the case had been resolved to a plea to a number of charges Those charges include a rolled up count of assault unlicensed driving and failing to give name and address following a motor vehicle accident Pearce asked to be assessed for a community corrections order Magistrate Tim Gattuso said Friday's hearing was not the time or place for the ordering of a CCO assessment Pearce was remanded in custody until the February 7 court date when he will appear in court again via a video link and there was no application for bail on Friday The plea hearing is expected to proceed on that day Pearce was previously a wanted person by police in mid-October last year for failing to appear in court and other charges This is probably not the page you’re looking for File pictureA smash and grab raid has resulted in a range of tools being stolen from the Camperdown Mitre 10 store Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueDetective Senior Constable Richard Hughes of the Warrnambool police crime investigation unit offenders used a rock to smash a glass sliding front door at the Scott Street store "Two offenders attended at the premises on Scott Street and threw a rock through the bottom section of a glass sliding front door," he said "That triggered an alarm and soon after police members and staff attended," he said "This was a planned burglary and tools were stolen "The offenders arrived and left in a vehicle and they made attempts to conceal their identities." Store staff are doing an audit of stock to determine what was stolen is requested to contact the Warrnambool CIU on 5560 1174 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 In Warrnambool there were two burglaries reported to police on Saturday morning offenders forced open a back door between August 10 and last Saturday morning Stolen was a Dyson V6 Animal model stick vacuum cleaner There was also a break-in at a residential address in Motang Drive between noon on September 2 and 1am on September 10 Offenders cut flywire screens on a number of windows before gaining entry to the home through a rear window It does not appear that anything was stolen but Detective Senior Constable Hughes said "muddy handprints" on walls and footwear scuff marks were found throughout the home Special free screenings of Just a Farmer in Colac and Camperdown will highlight the important role of farmers and give local communities a chance to come together Dairy Farmers Victoria is hosting the screenings on Wednesday The Colac screening is in partnership with the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and the Camperdown screening is supported by the Gardiner Foundation the film’s writer and producer Leila McDougall will lead a Q&A session and share insights into its creation and impact The Colac event will feature a presentation from the Let’s Talk Foundation and in Camperdown representatives from the Rural Financial Counselling Service will outline ways they can help farmers Dairy Farmers Victoria’s marketing and PR relations coordinator Jazzie Negrello said the events aimed to bring the community together to support and celebrate the vital role of farmers “We wanted to host something that would bring the farming community together,” Ms Negrello said “Dairy farmers often lack networking opportunities and community events there’s no better time to show support for each other.” Dairy Farmers Victoria is a newly established voluntary organisation dedicated to supporting and promoting the dairy industry within Victoria and community engagement for all involved in dairy farming and events like this provide a platform to network and share experiences and foster a stronger sense of solidarity among local farmers,” Ms Negrello said Dairy Farmers Victoria is encouraging the broader community to attend the screenings to enjoy an acclaimed film and show support for local farmers The events are already attracting strong support with more than half the tickets sold for each venue Just A Farmer is a poignant and powerful documentary that explores the heart of modern farming through the eyes of those who live and breathe it The film delves into the daily challenges and triumphs capturing their stories with authenticity and empathy The events will take place at COPAC and Camperdown Theatre Royal with doors opening at 6.30pm and the screening starting at 7pm Dairy Farmers Victoria president Mark Billing will welcome people to the screenings and supper will be provided Mr Billing said there was a serious side to the events in spotlighting the roles of Rural Financial Counselling and the Let’s Talk Foundation “Some farmers might not be aware of the free support available from these organisations and how they could benefit from reaching out for support,” he said To book tickets, go to: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1261239