Heidelberg United’s “armada” under John Anastasiadis secures a massive victory at the home of champions Oakleigh Cannons – South Melbourne’s woes deepen while Port Melbourne Sharks falter against Altona Magic Some victories deliver more than just three points Some victories send resounding messages and shift the balance of an entire season Such was the monumental “double” achieved by Heidelberg United at the home of reigning champions Oakleigh Cannons The blockbuster clash of round 12 wasn’t the most thrilling match of the 2025 season it might have been one of the least entertaining and endless midfield battles painted the picture of the 90-minute encounter between two of the league’s top sides.This didn’t dampen the spirits of John Anastasiadis and his players The great Alexander of Victorian football left the blue-and-white fortress of Oakleigh with three points proving they can hold their own against the division’s elite and sending a clear message to friend and foe alike Simple and unmistakable: anyone looking to defeat Alexander this season will have to bleed for it The first half offered little to write about the talented Kasumovic delivered a pinpoint cross from the right slid in at the heart of the defense to open the scoring with the clock ticking toward the 70th minute felt like a dagger to Heidelberg’s heart But the “yellow-and-blacks” had other plans.In the 74th minute but a draw wasn’t enough for the visitors they won a controversial penalty that left Oakleigh fans breathless watching a game they thought was theirs slip away and rifled the ball into the top corner past Feely A testament to Heidelberg’s incredible form A loud declaration of dominance that title contenders must take seriously The club simply can’t find its footing they hosted Avondale in a match that quickly turned into a nightmare for the Greek Australian side flooring the accelerator and scoring four goals leaving South Melbourne’s players chasing shadows.The season is shaping up to be disastrous for South Melbourne who must shelve grandiose plans for international competitions and the new national league They need to focus on the present and the NPL if they hope to avoid relegation to VPL1 next season Port Melbourne Sharks delivered yet another disappointing night for their loyal fans a draw at home against the second-bottom Altona Magic—when they themselves languish at the foot of the table—can only be described as a failure 3-3 scoreline offered no solace for the hosts could spell catastrophe.Port Melbourne held a precious three points until the 95th minute only for Stojcevski to emerge from nowhere and equalize sending Sharks fans home with visible frustration This result plunged the “blue-and-reds” deeper into the relegation mire fueling the negative energy surrounding the club since the season’s start One thing is certain: Port Melbourne must change course immediately to avoid VPL1 next season Pancyprios secured a hard-fought 3-1 victory over North Sunshine Eagles keeping them within touching distance of league leaders Melbourne City Leonidas also celebrated a massive 3-2 win against Moreland City The Brunswick side twice trailed but found the resilience to fight back and secure a significant victory especially considering the challenges they faced during the match Iraklis left Manningham United with a point after a thrilling 2-2 draw The result left a bittersweet taste for Northcote could have returned home with all three points Port Melbourne Sharks – Altona Magic 3 – 3 (35′ J Oakleigh Cannons – Heidelberg United 1 – 2 (70′ J Preston Lions – Green Gully 3 -2 (10′ J Avondale – South Melbourne 4 – 0 (20′ Y Dandenong Thunder – St Albans Saints 2 – 2 (24′ W Melbourne Knights – Dandenong City 0 – 2 (55′ J Melbourne Victory – Hume City (to be played Monday evening Bentleigh Greens 3–1 North Sunshine Eagles Manningham United Blues 2–2 Northcote City Caroline Springs George Cross 1–0 Melbourne Srbija The City of Monash will start work on a new bi-directional bike lane next month to link the Djerring and Scotchmans Creek trails through Oakleigh the vital connection comprises a new bike facility along Atkinson Street to be completed by December From Dandenong Road to Burlington Street the project will deliver a two-way bike lane on the east side of the street separated from traffic by a 0.5m concrete barrier There will be an off-road shared pathway along Burlington Street to Oxford Street where riders will transition to a short on-road section to connect to Djerring Trail There will be raised pedestrian–cyclist priority across the intersecting side streets along the east side of Atkinson Street A raised platform and zebra crossing will be installed across the bike lane on the east side of Atkinson Street This is to connect the footpath with the new floating in-lane bus stop The section of bike lane from Dandenong Road to Scotchmans Creek When work gets underway in May there will be closures of Atkinson Street and bike riders will be detoured to Drummond Street Northbound riders will turn left at Atherton Road and then right at the traffic lights into Drummond Street then right into Logie Street while southbound riders will turn right at Logie Street and then left into Drummond and then left into Atherton Signage and road markings will be in place to guide riders Work will mostly be undertaken during the day although some night works are expected Become a Member and help fund our advocacy work Or become our friend and subscribe to receive our fortnightly newsletter The Great Victorian Bike Ride is set to return in 2025 on 24–28 November offering an exciting new format while keeping the spirit of this beloved event alive Bicycle Network Memberships offer benefits to all kinds of riders The Peaks Challenge Ride2School fundraiser is on again for this year's epic event on Sunday 9 March The City of Adelaide will undertake a speed limit review to understand the need for reducing speeds to support business and residents and create a safer city environment Work on the much-anticipated $38.9 million Sydney Harbour Bridge ramp upgrade has begun the bike lane will link the country's most famous bridge to the bike network in Milsons Point we launched our Affiliate Membership program specially designed for cycling groups and clubs Orange in New South Wales is in line for a nice new stretch of bike path one that will expand the off-road network and improve access to schools Work has kicked off on a key Canberra bike route setting the wheels in motion for safer and more pleasant journeys through the city’s northern suburbs In a submission to the federal government’s draft National Urban Policy Bicycle Network and seven other Australian bicycle organisations have called for active transport infrastructure funding to be increased to 10% of federal transport investment Many of our best bike journeys are along coastlines or up and down the creeks and rivers that meet the sea But with rising sea levels some of this vital infrastructure is at threat of inundation erosion and from changes in groundwater chemistry Brunswick Voice Brunswick NOBs 10.8 (68) lost to Oakleigh 15.17 (107) at Gillon Oval ON the hottest day in living memory for a home-and-away game at Gillon Oval there was plenty of heat in a high-quality Round 2 encounter between Brunswick and Oakleigh on Saturday but it was the Krushers who were able to absorb the pressure and execute their skills better for longer the visitors got off to a quick start with three early goals before two majors in a minute to Brunswick’s Lachie Pearson and Tom Wilson made it a one-goal game but then the Krushers replied with a couple of their own including a third to their gun full forward but a very late goal to Oakleigh gave them a 20-point lead which would prove to be a valuable buffer for the remainder of the day The NOBs began the second term brightly with a nice bit of team play ending in an early Oscar Watt major but Ashen continued to be a thorn in their side as he replied with his fourth before star recruit Fletcher Banfield slotted one to again make it a 14-point game The Krushers then steadied as the game became more of an arm wrestle capitalising on defensive turnovers to extend their lead to 28 points at the main break Watt caught fire and had his second and third goals on the board inside two minutes as Brunswick pressed hard but Ashen’s fifth soon after gave Oakleigh a crucial 22-point lead which they followed up with the next two goals The NOBs fought back hard as the term wore on with majors to Paul Scamporlino and Will McKenzie and could have been closer had a couple of late set shots been on target The first goal of the final term would be critical and it was Oakleigh who scored it to make the gap 29 points before resting ruckman Ben Young calmly slotted a set shot and then looked to have a second major in a minute but his snap was adjudged to have glanced the padding on the post and the final margin was probably not truly reflective of the closeness between the teams on the day who copped extra attention all day and still showed his class Lewis McKenzie played in a number of positions and did well in all of them while Tahj Haddock led a defence that was under pressure all day with skill and courage Banfield continues to impress with his hard running and ability to win the ball while in the forward line Watt was always dangerous and Tom Wilson was back near his best The challenges keep on coming for Brunswick in Division 1 with Old Peninsula at Gillon Oval on April 26 Brunswick Voice is looking for a volunteer correspondent to file a weekly report about the progress of our three local clubs during the 2025 VAFA season. If that is of interest to you, contact editor@brunswickvoice.com.au with an example of your writing We are an independent hyperlocal news organisation owned and run by the people in your community. With your support we can continue to produce unique and valuable local journalism for Brunswick and the inner north of Melbourne.  Become a supporter About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Advertising Brunswick Voice acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as the traditional custodians of the lands and waterways in the area now known as Brunswick and pays respect to their Elders past and present and to all First Nations people and communities Brunswick Voice embraces their traditional and contemporary cultural and creative expression and significant contribution to life in the area Get our latest articles and current events around Brunswick straight to your inbox SUBSCRIBE → Three young couples celebrate their new beginnings at Melbourne’s very own “Melrose Place.” Melbourne’s very own Melrose Place has emerged in Melbourne’s southeast as three young first-home buyer couples scored the keys to homes in the unit block Reminiscent of the iconic 1990s drama series which involved a group of young adults in a stylish apartment complex – fingers crossed the show’s romances and dramatic antics stay within the confines of the drama series Oakleigh South all went under the hammer on the same day RELATED: Why the RBA must cut rates RCA: Twelve Apostles eco-resort site listed for sale Mildura’s oldest home gets modern makeover “you can never have too much guacamole at a party,” there was a lively atmosphere at the auctions with the homes quickly snapped up one after the other amid competition from 10 couples 10 first-home buyer bidders eyed their chance to score one of the three units Ray White Oakleigh’s Leigh Kelepouris said the auction was a “celebration of the vibrant community spirit the area offers” which made for a lively and enthusiastic atmosphere,” Mr Kelepouris said There were smiles all around at the auction as the three first homebuyer couples snagged one of three Oakleigh South units The trio of units offered open-plan living and according to Ray White Oakleigh’s Leigh Kelepouris “a vibrant community spirit.” “One bidder even had their sights set on all three properties.” the trio of units offered buyers open-plan living spaces with decent-sized kitchens The layouts were designed to ensure ample sunlight and minimal fuss within a peaceful neighbourhood and no owners corporation have combined modern living with the charm making them irresistible to first-time buyers eventually scoring the final unit on offer Mr Kelepouris said the vendors were very excited for the new buyers and went with the recommended strategy to sell each unit individually “The result and the advice the vendors took from us resulted in the most favourable outcome,” he said and the sellers were so happy to see all these new young owners the average price for a two-bedroom unit in Oakleigh South is $608,500 Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox RELATED: Vic landlord puts home under the hammer amid rental reforms Inside a Hawthorn house straight out of a time capsule Real reason behind Harry, Meghan Portugal property ambitions 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. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page OAKLEIGH Chargers produced the second and third picks of last year’s AFL Draft but come into 2025 boasting a good deal of depth and club-tied prospects across each age group We preview their upcoming Coates Talent League campaign with outgoing talent operations lead “I think for us preseason is one of the most challenging periods given that we do it across four or five different venues and spend a bit of the time in runners but it was a really talented squad this year which was great The boys have put in a lot of work and Ash [Close] and the coaches have done a fantastic job so I think they’re really well set up for the season.” Sam AllenMidfielder | 183cm | 13/01/2007 “Sam has had a really good preseason for us He’s been doing a fair bit of athletic stuff with Scotch and the a APS over the pre-Christmas side of the program and is now obviously all in on his footy stuff which was really good… he’ll be an inside and outside mid for us.” Louis EmmettRuck/Key Forward | 199cm | 23/03/2007 “Louis has had a fair few commitments over the summer so far with the AFL Academy [camps] and the Vic Metro hubs He had a little bit of an interrupted preseason before Christmas but then post-Christmas he’s done a week with the Richmond Tigers through the AFL Academy and has been training fully since.” Sam GrljDefender/Midfielder | 182cm | 26/07/2007 He’s completed the whole preseason in its entirety He’s been one of the standout performers all preseason with his speed and his power off half-back and through the middle too.” Jack IsonMidfielder/Forward | 190cm | 26/03/2007 “Jack’s another one who’s done a little bit of preseason with us He’s done a bit with Carlton through the NGA program where he is been able to do some sessions with the AFL group He’s been back with us the last few weeks and traveling really well.” he’s another one who’s had a really good preseason He’s done a power of work and is going really well They’re certainly two that have stood out a fair bit over the preseason so far.” “Another group that’s certainly got a really good depth of talent and a fair few players that I could mention. Flynn Woolhouse is one that’s had a great preseason He played in the Metro 16s last year and has done a power of work over this preseason in particular As a key forward this year he’d be one that I’d expect to go well early He’s had a great preseason playing as an inside mid He’s doing mainly Collingwood at the moment but then he’ll come back into our program when he returns to play.” So a fair few coming through this year.” “I think for us it’s just to continue on making sure that we can provide as many opportunities as we can We’re really blessed through our program that because of the APS we’re able to play upwards of around 70 players So just seeing what we can do in terms of providing as many opportunities and setting up those top end guys to reach the highest level of footy they can play “The preseason’s pretty long and there’s a lot of hot nights out there over summer so I’m sure we’re just excited to get into it all I know the boys are sort of chomping at the bit for it all so really excited and I think we’ll have a really strong year.” AS THE Coates Talent League Girls competition returns for Round 3 over the long weekend the league welcomes four of the five Northern Academies for their first taste of action in the southern competition Both Queensland Academies (Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions) and New South Wales Academies (GWS Giants and Sydney Swans) begin their […] ALREADY one game down with reigning premiers North Melbourne producing a knockout blow against Carlton earlier today Rookie Me Central takes a look at the remaining 10 teams who some of the new faces are and names to look out for in season 2025 BOX HILL HAWKS: 2024 Record: 8-5-1 (3rd) The Hawks have brought […] the 2025 Coates Talent League Girls season will get underway this weekend Ahead of the 18-round home-and-away season commences on Saturday we take a look at everything you need to know >> SCROLL for club-by-club previews & predictions NEED TO KNOW The season will feature 18 clubs WESTERN Jets head into season 2025 on the back of key staff turnover but boast a pair of leading prospects which will allow their footy to do the talking We preview the region’s upcoming campaign with help from outgoing talent operations lead PRESEASON “It’s been a bit of a different pre-season SEASON 2025 will look slightly different for the Tasmania Devils who face an altered fixture and less travel throughout the year With two prospects among the Allies’ preseason squad and some former representatives returning we preview the Devils’ year with help from head coach Jeromey Webberley PRESEASON “It’s been really good SANDRINGHAM Dragons are chasing a record-equaling fourth straight Coates Talent League premiership in 2025 boasting an even and deep squad of players Among them are five members of the Vic Metro hub and plenty of club-tied prospects We highlight them with help from coach Rob Harding PRESEASON “I’ve been really pleased with the Dragons’ preseason PRESEASON “I think for us preseason is one of the […] NORTHERN Knights coach Anthony Rocca says his side is champing at the bit to get into competitive action boasting “a good blend of team attributes” and prospects across each age group He’s confident that Northern’s contested work will surprise a few teams and helped us preview the region’s season PRESEASON “The boys were training really […] THE MURRAY Bushrangers head into season 2025 with eyes on being fresh throughout the year having altered the region’s preseason program A total of six players are part of the Vic Country and Allies hubs while several over-agers have completed VFL preseasons Coach Mark Brown helps preview the year ahead PRESEASON “It’s a little bit […] If you like the content that Draft Central provides and don’t want to miss any of it then sign up to receive our newsletter today then sign up to our subscriber list where you can be emailed out the latest AFL Draft Guide or sport-specific magazines as well as the option to sign up to a monthly newsletter A suspected arson attempt targeted the well-known Melissa Oakleigh Cafe on Wednesday morning with at least two individuals attempting to set fire to the popular Greek establishment in Eaton Mall the perpetrators caused minor damage to the cafe’s outdoor area with firefighters extinguishing the flames before they could spread to the Melissa Oakleigh Cafe or neighboring businesses in Oakleigh’s vibrant “Greek precinct.” I have no idea who would want to set fire to our business or why,” Tangalakis told Neos Kosmos He remains confident that authorities will track down the suspects as security cameras captured their movements I can’t think of anyone who would do this We have no disputes with anyone,” he added A LATE flurry from Oakleigh Chargers ensured the reigning back-to-back premiers got over Eastern Ranges yet again as the two heavyweights battled in out in the match of the Coates Talent League Girls season to-date expect more intriguing battles to come in the future Oakleigh Chargers just find a way to win and they did it again when they took down Eastern Ranges by a solitary point at Highgate Recreation Reserve after Chloe Bown made the distance from a set shot after the siren It was a fitting end for a comeback at a windy Highgate Recreation Reserve where the Chargers booted the last two goals of the game and threatened to take control after trailing by 13 points at the final change Bown – who was clearly best on ground after a 35-disposals nine-clearance six-inside 50 game – had the set shot from 35m out straight in front all she needed was to put it between the behind posts and while it did drift off course with the wind late it was enough to comfortably clear the goalline and register a behind for the win four clearances) to get on top in that area For the Ranges, the usual suspects found plenty of the ball and shared it around with National Academy duo Tayla McMillan (23 disposals, seven tackles, five clearances and seven inside 50s) leading from the front, while Jordyn Allen had 18 touches Both sides will take the week off due to Easter McMillan and Allen have a National Academy game coming up over the break The Chargers have an extended break with a bye in Round 3 while the Ranges take on Western Jets on Saturday OAKLEIGH CHARGERS 1.0 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 5.8 (38)EASTERN RANGES 3.1 | 4.3 | 5.5 | 5.7 (37) BENDIGO PIONEERS 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.5 (11)GWV REBELS 3.2 | 7.5 | 10.5 | 15.11 (101) GWV Rebels kicked away from Bendigo Pioneers in the first of a triple-header at Epsom Huntly Reserve as they piled on the last 13 goals of the day to run away 90-point winners MURRAY BUSHRANGERS 1.0 | 6.0 | 7.2 | 10.4 (64)GIPPSLAND POWER 3.4 | 3.6 | 6.9 | 7.10 (52) Murray Bushrangers have already surpassed their win total of last year following a second consecutive victory to start the 2025 season thanks to a 12-point triumph over Gippsland Power in a see-sawing clash GWS Giants Academy @ Lavington Sports GroundGippsland Power have the bye CALDER CANNONS 3.0 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 6.6 (42)NORTHERN KNIGHTS 1.2 | 2.7 | 4.12 | 7.13 (55) Northern Knights booted five goals to two to sink Calder Cannons at Highgate Recreation Reserve and bounce back from an opening round defeat despite some inaccuracy in challenging conditions GEELONG FALCONS 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 (0)DANDENONG STINGRAYS 4.7 | 6.9 | 10.13 | 14.19 (103) In the battle between last year’s losing preliminary finalists Dandenong Stingrays made it two consecutive 100-point beltings with a 103-0 win over the Geelong Falcons producing 57 more inside 50s (64-7) and 135 more disposals (316-181) while somehow laying 18 more tackles (90-72) Gold Coast Suns Academy @ Austworld Centre Oval Brisbane Lions Academy @ Brighton Homes Arena WESTERN JETS 1.0 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 6.3 (39)SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS 3.5 | 6.7 | 8.15 | 9.15 (69) Sandringham Dragons held Western Jets at bay to secure a five-goal win off the back of a comprehensive midfield display where the former had 31 more hitouts (49-18) and 11 more clearances (31-20) Sandringham Dragons have the bye.Western Jets vs ALL FIVE Northern Academy sides – including the Northern Territory – were in action across Round 5 of the Coates Talent League Boys competition with a nail-biter to start the round and then mostly blowouts on the Sunday Catch up on how all the six games went down MANLY Warringah Wolves shook off a determined and inaccurate UNSW-ES Bulldogs to post a 12-point win in Round 4 of the 2025 AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division season but it was not until the final stanza where they shook off dogged UNSW Manly Warringah Wolves 5.5 (35) defeated UNSW-ES […] MAROOCHYDORE is on the board in the 2025 QAFL Women’s season following a 64-point belting of fellow winless side Yeronga South Brisbane as the competition returned for Round 3 over the weekend Maroochydore silenced the home crowd at Leyshon Park to have 26 scoring shots to two SYDNEY Swans Academy has kick-started its Coates Talent League Girls campaign off on the right note with a commanding 41-point win over Tasmania Devils at Blacktown International Sportspark on Anzac Day We recap that game and the other six fixture in our Round 3 wrap ESSENDON’s young contingent of selections from last year’s AFL Women’s Draft were in action for the Bombers’ VFLW side over the weekend as they starred in a big 40-point win over title contenders Collingwood We recap how Round 2 of the VFLW went down ROUND 2 RESULTS North Melbourne Werribee 6.8 (44) defeated Williamstown 4.1 […] NORWOOD and Central District broke through for vital wins as ladder leaders Woodville-West Torrens made it six of the best as the Eagles’ dream season continued We recap the remaining three games across the SANFL Women’s competition >> SANFLW Round 6 MOTR: Smith’s South celebrates in style OTHER ROUND 6 RESULTS: Dour conditions made life […] SWAN Districts made it back-to-back wins in the WAFL Women’s competition after holding off a fourth quarter comeback from West Perth to move to 3-1 in the 2025 season the Swans got out to as much as a 13-point lead early in the fourth quarter before West Perth hit back […] WOODVILLE-West Torrens’ first finals appearance is edging closer by the week with the Eagles moving to 5-0 in the 2025 SANFL Women’s season They toppled West Adelaide thanks to a fast start while reigning wooden spooners North Adelaide are third after another win TWO-TIME reigning premier Claremont is setting the pace early in the WAFL Colts season after moving to 3-0 with a six-point win over East Perth on Friday The Tigers’ record is matched by South Fremantle though the Bulldogs sit pretty in top spot with a superior percentage after thrashing Swan Districts Warrawee Park in Oakleigh will be “flooded” with authentic tastes Melbourne’s south-eastern suburb of Oakleigh will get even more Greek character this weekend as the Oakleigh Glendi Festival ramps up dance and flavours includes local Greek musicians Neos Kosmos staff members will be at Warrawee Park in Oakleigh on Saturday where the park will come alive with a variety of Greek events Kostas Karafotis and the band Kinisi featuring Maria Marouli will enliven crowd to life with live performances on the main stage The schedule will also include traditional music and dance providing a rich experience full of flavours George Calombaris will take the cooking stage for a special demonstration that is expected to captivate the audience An outdoor market will offer visitors crafts as well as Greek delicacies while a Greek bar will ply punters with beverages Honey Dee Loukoumades will host a competition with their signature sweet treats inviting anyone who thinks they can devour all the chocolate-covered loukoumades to give it a try Festival-goers can enter to win two return tickets to Greece a dinner for four with Kostas Karafotis at Greca Street a $500 dining voucher for the VIP “Good Room” at Hellenic Houses a six-month membership at Plus Fitness Oakleigh and a gift package from the Oakleigh Glendi Market booth To learn more, follow #OakleighGlendi on social media and visit the festival’s website: www.oakleighglendi.com.au Labor has pledged $4.5 million to establish a Greek Cultural and Language Enrichment Centre in Oakleigh the beating heart of Melbourne’s Greek community Federal Minister for Housing and local member for Hotham returned to her home turf to announce the funding alongside Julian Hill the Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs they visited Sts Anargiri Church to share details of the funding: $4 million will go towards the construction of a contemporary Cultural and Language Enrichment Centre next to St Anargiri Greek Orthodox Church with an additional $500,000 allocated for further works on the site O’Neil highlighted the significance of the project “This new centre will reflect the rich Greek heritage that thrives in our south-east Melbourne community — and beyond — creating a vibrant “Oakleigh is the heart of Melbourne’s Greek community where I consistently see both young and older generations coming together to celebrate culture and tradition there’s a real need for a dedicated space to support these activities.” The ministers were welcomed by students in traditional Greek dress and leaders of the Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of Oakleigh The minister who lives cheek to jowl with Greeks in her electorate praised “Greek Australian culture,” saying it has “enriched this country so much.” She added that the Cultural and Language Enrichment Centre will “strengthen community bonds across generations and serve as a cultural centrepiece for both Hotham and the broader city.” The centre aims to enhance the area’s unique Greek Australian character and continue evolving a culture that spans first-generation migrants through to second “So many young Australian Greek kids have spent weeknights and weekends at language schools learning their family’s language and culture — and making Australia a better O’Neil said the Albanese Government’s election commitment would also help combat social isolation while celebrating cultural identity “I couldn’t be prouder to be in a position to deliver this critical cultural facility — a home for this wonderful community that has always been so hospitable and welcoming.” some of the largest Orthodox Easter services and the iconic and growing Oakleigh Glendi festival – yet it lacks a permanent space for community gatherings The two Albanese Labor ministers also took the time to light a candle in St Anargiri Greek Orthodox Church REIGNING back-to-back champions Oakleigh Chargers will look vastly different compared to last season with plenty of new faces joining those experienced bottom-agers and double bottom-agers from 2024 in the 2025 Coates Talent League Girls squad Two-time premiership coach Ty Vickery said it will provide different challenges to overcome this season We have had a pretty big turnover from last year’s group so really young group compared to last year A lot more 17-year-olds and that sort of thing a lot of challenges for girls and a lot of new girls in the program.” Chloe BownMidfielder/Forward | 173cm | 20/12/2007 “She’s a terrifically skilled inside and outside midfielder We played her forward last year for patches and she consistently kicked goals Has a really well-rounded game with skill and toughness as well but also give her some time forward.” Chloe ThornDefender/Midfielder | 167cm | 07/09/2007 “Chloe’s a terrific leader and character for us She’s an intercepting medium half-back She played our previous two years after playing with us a lot as a 16 year-old so looking for a big year from her.” Zara NeuwirthKey Defender | 183cm | 06/02/2007 could play a bit deeper but also higher up Really looking forward for her to continue to grow her offensive game as well.” >> PROFILED: 2025 Vic Metro summer hub “A girl called Storm Johnson who played with us last year and unfortunately couldn’t finish the year because of an ankle injury She’s come back all guns firing this preseason she’s a pressure forward and probably the best pressure forward I’ve seen in terms of chase down tackles She’s a really exciting player to watch “We’ve got one coming back in Amelie Gladman She has never done a footy preseason before because she was an elite level cricketer so we challenged her that if she wanted to come back we needed to see that level from her She’s been outstanding the whole time so she’s dividing her time between us and Collingwood and she’s come down to Melbourne to pursue football a little more seriously so she’s got outstanding speed and she’ll play through half-back and the wing.” She was a pressure forward last year who consistently hit the scoreboard This year we’re going to look to move her inside mid a little bit more She’s really quick and looking for that dynamic play from her.” “I mean it’s certainly not about wins and losses but we do obviously aim to put a really competitive side that plays a really competitive brand out there It’s probably not something we’re thinking about We just aim to overcome whatever challenges that there is with the new group and just play a really competitive We’re still trying to find our identity a little bit We’ve got a lot more quality height this year than the last couple of years but also that means they’re a bit younger so we’ve got a little bit more height which is cool but overall we’ve got a lot of experience now “We’ve got a lot of games into 16 and 17 year-olds last year way more than we did the previous year and we think that will hold us in really good stead to be competitive early But probably another highlight is our speed We’re a lot quicker just naturally to what we have been in previous years so hopefully that can show with some good outside run.” WESTERN Jets have an exciting group of bottom-agers to support their sole top-age Vic Metro hub member with Admin and Operations Coordinator Amelia Fawcett pleased with the group’s preseason In the final team preview for the competition Fawcett discusses some of the players to watch and what to expect from the Jets in 2025 TASMANIA DEVILS finished on top of the Coates Talent League Girls Country Pool last season and though they did not progress further in finals showed plenty of progress with talented young guns coming through the program Coach Jess Wuetschner is into her second season as coach and her list boasts a couple of Academy members buy-in and a hunger to be more competitive has the Sandringham Dragons ready to make an impact in the 2025 Coates Talent League Girls season Coach Martha Cantwell is pleased with how the preseason has gone and is excited about what the squad can accomplish this year PRESEASON “We’re really happy with preseason […] WEST Perth broke through for a maiden finals series last season and reached a preliminary final pushing the top two teams at different points Some critical losses late in the year meant a brief stint inside the top two was wiped away but the Falcons still lived up to the hype making it past all […] BOASTING five top-age members in the Vic Metro summer hub and a squad that has the potential to push the best sides in the competition as shown by efforts last season The 2019 premiers have some exciting and versatile talents and head coach Allana Dickie could not be more […] WELCOMING back some key players on and off the field Swan Districts looms as a threat once again In the logjam of teams that are in likely finals contention the Black Ducks a nice balance of youth and experience in 2025 LAST SEASON: 4th2025 PREDICTION: 2nd-6th The Swans enjoyed a really strong preseason and are […] Subiaco did miss out on finals by a couple of games despite finishing fifth but do have a host of experienced players coming into the lineup for 2025 Not only is a star youngster returning from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear but the Lions have beefed up their […] expressed his excitement over the overwhelming reaction to this year’s Oakleigh Glendi festival “Saturday’s turnout was extraordinary surpassing all previous records,” Dimopoulos remarked “This weekend marks a historic moment for the Greek community in Oakleigh It wasn’t just the size of the crowd,” he added claiming that during Kostas Karafotis’ highly anticipated performance over 20,000 people gathered in Warrawee Park for the celebration “The best part is that everyone truly enjoyed themselves,” he shared with Neos Kosmos “A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved,” Dimopoulos added Favourable weather further contributed to the festival turnout Crowds began streaming in early on Saturday afternoon with numbers reaching their peak around 6pm exploring the various stalls and activities available Oakleigh Glendi also included a Neos Kosmos booth welcoming members of the Greek community to connect and engage features traditional Greek music and dance Saturday’s highlight was a soul bearing concert with Greek singer Kostas Karafotis Festivalgoers also enjoyed live cooking displays by celebrated Australian chef George Calombaris alongside Nicolette Stathopoulos and Naomi Crisante The outdoor marketplace offered a diverse array of handmade crafts and an array of Greek and Mediterranean treats adding to the vibrant atmosphere of the weekend Neos Kosmos spoke to locals and business owners about the decline in shoppers Cost of living pressures for customers and all-time high rent costs are hitting businesses hard especially in suburban shopping areas like Oakleigh However shop owners in the south-east Melbourne suburb are saying that local council is making it even harder for them from Oakleigh Music Centre told Neos Kosmos times have changed I’ve got three shops here and it’s not the same like it used to be Oakleigh The Chester St shop owner claimed the council are using private parking inspectors to book people and that it’s not good for the shops Neos Kosmos will be reaching out to Monash City Council to follow up if these claims are true Parking has long been an issue for the Oakleigh area sharing what she has seen in all her years in Oakleigh She said at times she has seen four ticket officers at once located on Portman St also shared his complaints about the parking in Oakleigh “You stay two minutes over and parking inspectors are on the ball Issue here is no parking and if you do find parking you’ve only got an hour to shop,” he said “That’s not enough for the elderly to come in and out of the butcher Many business owners also have issues with the changes to smoking laws in the last few years and blame that for also driving customers away State Government legislation covers smoking in outdoor areas where food is eaten and bans smoking in outdoor dining areas of restaurants take-away shops and licensed premises in areas where food is consumed One concerned local said it’s heading the way of Acland St in St Kilda and Bridge St in Richmond Shopping strips getting driven into decline He said Oakleigh is losing what it is renowned for and what it was built upon who wished to remain anonymous said Oakleigh is now seeing what other areas started to see “There is a noticeable difference in foot traffic Now there’s empty shops in Eaton Mall I’ve been in that area for 20 years there’s never been an empty shop,” they said “It’s definitely not making it enticing for new businesses to come into the area They said while business trading conditions as a whole are not what they used to be “It’s always bucked the trends it’s never been affected by these trends This s the first time and that’s because the council they’re making things harder for us.” Neos Kosmos will be reaching out to Monash City Council for a follow up story Oakleigh Grammar teacher Tim Hines has been recognised as one of the best educators in Australia under 35 in The Educator’s annual Rising Stars and School Leadership Awards for 2025 The English teacher earned the accolade of Rising Star at this year’s awards which recognise educators for their leadership innovation and achievement in their careers to date Oakleigh Grammar congratulated Hines (who is three years into his teaching career) for the accolade Principal Mark Robertson praised the educator in a media release for “quickly distinguishing himself as a dedicated professional who cultivates a culture of trust and innovation empowering his students to take greater ownership and authorship of their own learning.” The school further expressed their appreciation for Hines’ achievement saying they are immensely proud of him and his development as a teacher “Tim’s dedication to continuous development of teaching practices and elevating student outcomes makes him a worthy recipient of the award,” the school said in its media release The fire occurred two years after a previous blaze caused major damage An attempted theft of copper cables from an electricity distribution station in Oakleigh nearly resulted in catastrophic consequences leading to a sudden fluctuation in voltage This power surge damaged the electrical system of Saints Anargyri Church the damage appears to be confined to the bell tower,” said Christos Damatopoulos He expressed his gratitude to the local Greek-Australian community members who rushed to the church when they noticed smoke coming from the bell tower “We are working to restore the church’s electricity as soon as possible because we have scheduled sacraments,” Damatopoulos added He noted that this is the second time fire has struck the same church Saints Anargyri protected our church,” he said It is worth recalling that a fire two years ago at Saints Anargyri Church in Oakleigh caused extensive damage Oakleigh Grammar has celebrated another year of academic excellence with its 2024 Year 12 cohort achieving remarkable VCE results Leading the achievements is School Dux Sotiris Bakalis Sotiris’s accomplishment is particularly inspiring as he overcame the challenge of hospitalisation and surgery for appendicitis just weeks before the examination period he excelled with high VCE Study Scores in Mathematical Methods and Physics Sotiris now looks forward to pursuing a degree in Astrophysics at Monash University also excelling in Mathematical Methods and Physics with Study Scores in the high 30s Christian plans to study Science at Melbourne or Monash University “I am incredibly proud of the hard work and determination shown by our VCE students this year,” said Principal Mark Robertson combined with the unwavering mentorship and support of our dedicated teachers they have achieved personal growth and accomplishments that extend beyond results preparing them for a bright future.” Oakleigh sold under the hammer on Wednesday night An Oakleigh residence sold under the hammer after more than 20 prospective homebuyers registered to bid at its weekday auction The five-bedroom double-storey brick house at 46 John St was offloaded for $1.574m on Wednesday night — a whopping $324,000 above its $1.25m reserve price Ray White Oakleigh senior sales executive Leigh Kelepouris said he first listed the property before Christmas but there wasn’t much interest at the time and its auction “fizzled” RELATED: Melb suburbs where one extra bedroom costs $1m+ ‘Unusual’: Melbourne to lose crown as nation’s auction capital Melbourne home prices drop again to begin 2025 he said there ended up being 28 bidders who registered to participate in its most recent auction The expansive kitchen with plenty of storage “Bidding was quite fast and furious … it was really good,” Mr Kelepouris said He added that offers began at about $1.1m with upwards of 80 bids by the end of the auction “It was the only house available for buyers to choose in Oakleigh (at the time),” he said “It attracted a lot of buyers that wouldn’t necessarily look in Oakleigh to actually look at this one and fight on it.” Mr Kelepouris said there were more than 150 groups that inspected the abode “What were seeing now that more stock is starting to hit the market those numbers are starting to normalise a little bit to similar levels of how it was pre Christmas,” he said The backyard with planter boxes and a large veranda the residence has five bedrooms including a main suite with a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite There are a number of living areas as well as a kitchen fitted with a gas cooktop and plenty of storage there’s a wraparound veranda and planter boxes for growing produce MORE: Actress selling Yarra Valley acreage with Kung Fu, meditation room Hawthorn premiership star flies the coop from Brighton Country churches turn heads as buyers seek conversions Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon The best of Melbourne straight to your inbox We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy Melbourne without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Melbourne Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique Olympia was considered the valley of the gods While Melbourne’s version – a wine and cocktail bar perched above the suburban bustle of Oakleigh’s main street – might not reach such divine heights there’s something undeniably celestial about it that makes the name feel apt The venue is split between an indoor wine bar on the first level and a rooftop space that’s the real showstopper Set atop a section of the carpark above Oakleigh Market the open-air bar leans heavily into the area’s Greek heritage and the owners’ roots and rustic accents evoke a classic Santorini taverna – though instead of ocean views and whitewashed cliffside homes the outlook of power lines and palm trees are decidedly Melbourne but Olympia’s flexible setup lends itself to all occasions: casual lunches which began in Greece despite being popularised by Italy though Olympia opts for a small-plate format rather than the supersized portions typical of Oakleigh’s other Greek eateries Don’t expect towering platters of grilled meats or hefty slices of moussaka With the exception of the lobster and prawn rolls most offerings fall squarely into the snack category making a spread the best way to approach the menu Drinks arrive promptly – an excellent amaretto sour and a Kokkino a seasonal riff on a Paper Plane layering bourbon appearing nearly over half an hour later with an apology and a complimentary round of Greek wine While the service isn’t exceptionally attentive the gesture turns a frustrating delay into a redeeming moment are fresh and tangy without excessive oiliness though $17 for four could feel steep for some could benefit from a touch more salt and tenderization.  shaped like elongated kofta and served in a rich tomato sauce with flatbread and satisfying enough to stand in as a solo meal While I personally enjoy the briny punch of saganaki Olympia’s croquette version tones things down – an easy crowd pleaser that goes down well with a crisp glass of sauv blanc It’s also a fitting representation of a menu that straddles the line between tradition and modernity There are plenty of places in Oakleigh to find a hearty Greek feast Drawing on the area’s rich heritage and the modern Melbourne wine bar scene it represents a new generation of local venues that still honours its predecessors its ambition and charm shine through – a refreshing change of pace that doesn’t stray too far from home Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! twitterinstagrampinterestAbout us Contact us Crowds continued to gather in the thousands at Oakleigh Glendi today filling Warrawee Park with energy and enthusiasm as the community came together to celebrate Greek culture Oakleigh Greek Community President Christos Damotopoulos expressed his delight at the remarkable success of the two-day event “Saturday’s attendance was outstanding surpassing all previous records,” he said “This weekend is truly historic for our community in Oakleigh—not just in numbers but in spirit.” He noted that during Kostas Karafotis’ performance an estimated 20,000 people filled Warrawee Park “The most important thing is that everyone enjoyed themselves,” he told Neos Kosmos adding a heartfelt thank you to all who attended and performers who brought the event to life The president credited the sunny weather with contributing to the festival’s success as attendees began arriving Saturday afternoon enjoyed the lively atmosphere while exploring the stalls with ease This year’s Oakleigh Glendi also includes a Neos Kosmos booth welcoming members of the Greek community to stop by and connect Saturday’s concert highlight saw Greek singer Kostas Karafotis and the band Kinisi delighting the crowd with vibrant performances Guests have also been treated to live cooking demonstrations by acclaimed Australian chef of Cypriot descent George Calombaris along with Nicolette Stathopoulos and Naomi Crisante visitors can browse and purchase a variety of handmade crafts as well as savor a wide array of Greek and Mediterranean delicacies Oakleigh Chargers became the first team to win back-to-back Coates Talent League Girls premierships with an 18-point Grand Final victory over Eastern Ranges The Chargers made a fast start and didn’t look back in the 5.7 (37) to 2.7 (19) victory at IKON Park on Saturday with the Chargers becoming the first team to defend a Coates Talent League Girls flag having defeated the Eastern Ranges by seven points in last year’s Grand Final The triumph gave the Chargers their third Coates Talent League Girls premiership Oakleigh Chargers captain Sienna Tallariti produced another dominant performance across half back to win the best on ground medal for the second year in a row who was a member of the 2024 Marsh AFL National Academy Girls 14 rebound 50s and took six marks to become the first player to win the best on ground medal twice She had great support from bottom-age star Chloe Bown (23 disposals Grace Belloni was outstanding for Eastern Ranges and collected a game-high 30 possessions and eight clearances Final scoreOakleigh Chargers   1.1        3.2        4.5        5.7 (37)Eastern Ranges          0.2        0.5        0.7        2.7 (19) Abbey VicinoEastern Ranges: Georgia Knight (Eastern Ranges) Best on ground medalSienna Tallariti (Oakleigh Chargers) Gold Coast Academy’s Usher on her ACL injury rehab battles and best friend Havana Harris incredible misses and more in our look back on the April action of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership season Three-time premiership coach Mick Malthouse gives host Bharat Sundaresan the rundown on how Australian football began and how it became such a significant part of Australian culture With a challenging month of away clashes ahead Fremantle needs to find a way to win on the road if it's to seriously contend in 2025 One of footy's famous rivalries will kick off the AFLW season to mark the 10th season of the competition Check out all the action from the state leagues around the country Damian Barrett and Matthew Lloyd with the latest news and opinions from Round 8 Cats assistant coach Steven King was rushed to hospital after collapsing at training Footy Feed: Sarah Olle and Riley Beveridge with the latest news Check out the Rising Star for AFL’s Round 8 Will a hard tag from Jack Viney be the reason Harley Reid leaves the Eagles Vote now on your favourite marks from Round 8 of the Toyota AFL Premiership Season The Match Review findings for Sunday's round eight games are in In the spirit of reconciliation the AFL acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today The school community gathered to honour the legacy of ANZAC soldiers with students reflecting on values of courage Oakleigh Grammar marked the beginning of the new school term with a ceremony in honour of ANZAC Day and members of the school leadership and board to pay tribute to the soldiers who served and sacrificed for freedom and justice the commemorative event highlighted the enduring legacy of the ANZACs—particularly those who landed in Gallipoli on 25 April 1915—and the timeless values of courage Following the national anthems of Australia and New Zealand School Principal Mark Robertson addressed the assembly reminding students of the continued relevance of ANZAC values in today’s world He stressed the importance of preserving historical memory as a “foundation for building a more peaceful future and encouraged students to embody respect and kindness in their everyday lives” Students from Years 4 and 8 also took part in the ceremony sharing reflections and thoughts about what ANZAC Day means to them personally an official school delegation laid a wreath at the ANZAC memorial located at the school’s entrance paying tribute to those who fought and fell in the name of liberty and justice A prime retail corner in one of Melbourne’s busiest retail strips has hit the market following some 30-years of continuous ownership by a private Melbourne based family Oakleigh comprises some 867sqm* of land area over two titles and offers in excess of 60m* of super prime frontage to Eaton Mall Oakleigh – an iconic retail precinct with a thriving hospitality scene The stunning property building once housed the State Savings Bank and now boasts a recently renewed lease with recent ASX debutants Chemist Warehouse as well as three (3) additional long standing tenants returning a combined ~$420,000PA A prominent hotel development site in the heart of Randwick is set to hit the market offering a rare opportunity to capitalise on a DA-approved project in one of Sydney’s most tightly held Eastern Suburbs pockets Jess Freeman • 05/05/2025 Frasers Property Industrial has today announced our first capital partnership in Australia with an investment vehicle sponsored by Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing (“MSREI”).  Victoria’s dairy regions are facing growing challenges in accessing housing affecting workforce attraction and retention and threatening the long-term sustainability of the state’s $3 billion dairy industry Jess Freeman • 28/04/2025 VAFA The Division 1 Women’s season kicked off with some big games on the weekend with certain teams showing that they were here to compete for their shot at premiership glory Glen Eira/Old McKinnon and Therry Penola were hot out of the gates Monash Blues looked the strongest side in the competition we knew they were going to be a strong side with their first test against the Hampton Rovers no exception with the Rovers leading by three points at the main break Monash Coach Shane Chapman called out ahead of the season that there was a big focus last year on defending the opposition but this year he wants his side to play an exciting and fun brand of footy and that is exactly what they did in the second half The Blues scored 3.5 in the second half and kept the Rovers to just one behind displaying their strengths both defensively and offensively whilst Maegan Miller was equally impressive for the Rovers with three goals Whilst it was not the start to the season that the Rovers would’ve hoped for after losing the Grand Final last year they would be confident knowing they were able to compete against a team who was slated to be one of the premiership favourites this year the Rovers will host Power House on Saturday afternoon whilst Monash will travel to play Whitefriars Oakleigh have had the ideal start to the season defeating Hawthorn by 96 points to sit atop the ladder and set their percentage up nicely for the year  The tone of the game was set from early on with a seven goal to none first half it was going to be difficult for the Hawks to come back A rampaging Oakleigh went on to kick another seven goals in the second half holding Hawthorn to a singular behind for the entire game both sides were quite unpredictable given they both missed finals in 2024 It was an even match up going into the game however the Krushers were the better of the two sides on the day.  Jasmine Ballestrin and Kaitlyn Sidopoulos both had three goals each for Oakleigh whilst Marguerite Parker was best for Hawthorn The Hawks will want to quickly turn around their game play heading into Round 2 as they take on Therry Penola Oakleigh will host Glen Eira in their first home game of the season The match of the round was definitely between Power House and Whitefriars with the Friars coming out as 11-point winners After both teams suffered heartbreaking finals exits at the end of 2024 you could tell they were both ready to move on and start their year off strong It was an even match right until the final siren however Whitefriars ultimately secured their win in the third quarter their one goal lead coming into the final change proved the difference Both teams scored another two goals in the fourth quarter as it went right down to the wire but Whitefriars were able to close out the game Ciara Knight and Hollie McCormack all impressed for Whitefriars Grace Read and Georgia McHolmes were all gallant in defeat for Power House Whitefriars will host Monash in Round 2 in a huge matchup whilst Power House will travel to play Hampton Rovers in the Saturday twilight slot in another massive game Old Haileybury have started in a precarious position The Lions came up two divisions this season and on paper this game heading into the round looked like it was going to be a close and fierce battle Haileybury fought back to go into the main break just 20 points down with plenty of things to like with the game in the balance their defensive play broke down in the second half as the Lions attacked the ball whilst Ruby O’Halloran had four of her own whilst Serene Vudiniabola continued her strong run of form from 2024 Therry will be extremely pleased with their start in Div 1 and will look to attack the footy again next weekend against the Hawks at home Glen Eira/Old McKinnon registered a 38-point victory over Richmond Central The Div 2 Premiers looked at ease in Div 1 and all the skills which won them that premiership cup were on display once again with 2024 Leading Goalkicker Zoe Rossiter launching her title defense in style Captain Gemma Strangio was also impressive Vice-captain Laura Quinton lead from the front on a tough day for Richmond whilst Ella Marsich and Jordyn Toms-Wedge were their only goal scorers Richmond will need to find further avenues to goal if they are to cement their place in Div 1 Richmond will host Old Haileybury next weekend in what will be a great test to see where their skills are lying and some areas for improvement Glen Eira will travel to play Oakleigh on Saturday morning Another intriguing weekend of William Buck Premier Women’s action unfolded in Round 4 headlined by a top-four clash between Old Geelong and Old Scotch Prahran’s continued efforts to ‘tread water’ amidst an early-season injury crisis A largely competitive 16.18 (114) to 9.8 (62) loss Round 4 of the Division 4 Women’s competition saw Beaumaris and Westbourne each go a game clear of the rest of the pack on the ladder The VAFA acknowledge the traditional owners of country Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time a place where nothing interesting ever happens Its biggest claim to fame is being adjacent to a livelier suburb with a very similar name the most common response is: “Where’s that?” The next most common response is: “All those wonderful Greek cafes!” That’s when I explain that Oakleigh is an entirely different suburb and that the cakes and coffees of Eaton Mall are an hour’s walk from my home there’s barely a barista to be found in these parts The paradox of Oakleigh South is that a lot of what’s great about it is its proximity to other places there’s a wonderful collection of Sri Lankan shops just a short walk away – on the Clarinda side of Centre Road (Nor is it in Huntingdale – it’s in Oakleigh.) with an ever-growing number of bubble tea shops and Chinese restaurants Even Bunnings has moved from Centre Road up to the Warrigal Road boundary with Bentleigh East as if trying to escape the confines of Oakleigh South Commonwealth and Huntingdale golf clubs take up a large proportion of Oakleigh South The residents, not so much. All those beautiful open green spaces are privately owned and for members only. Thanks to the sandy loam soil so valued by golf clubs, another chunk of the suburb is taken up by a disused sand quarry and tip which many residents dare to hope might one day become a park Then there are the industrial pockets – showrooms with many original ’60s and ’70s single-storey homes and a scattering of units But we do have one claim to fame: Melbourne’s oldest ice skating rink which opened in 1971 and appears not to have changed much since then you can sit on the benches and feel your feet slowly turning numb while your back overheats from the sun beating down onto the corrugated iron roof but one thing has changed over the past 20 years: demographics The area’s once-significant Greek and Italian migrant population is giving way to those born in India (8.1 per cent) and China (6.4 per cent) with those born in Greece now making up just 5 per cent of the population the migrants who were among the first to buy homes in Oakleigh South have left a beautiful legacy in the form of the ubiquitous front-yard olive trees (although My own street has residents born in several different countries and it’s diverse in other ways too: we have violinists plumbers and graphic designers – even a surfing skateboarding real estate agent and her surfing Kids ride bikes up and down the street and play hide-and-seek in people’s gardens We have street parties and barbecues; at Halloween the biggest surprise about Oakleigh South is that it’s the friendliest place I’ve ever lived Oakleigh South is devoid of pretension. There’s no “keeping up with the Joneses” around here – people quietly go about living their lives in a landscape of benign suburban sameness. We don’t do grand mansions or showy homes (although a resident made the news in 2016 for his immaculately kept lawn This place so epitomises Victorian suburbia that the late artist Howard Arkley moved here in 1991 to experience the suburbs that inspired his work His artworks of 1960s brick veneer homes feature the use of pattern iridescent colour and a distinctive airbrush technique Howard Arkley in front of his work in the Australian pavilion at the Venice Biennale in June 1999.Credit: Fernando Proietti an obituary mentioned Arkley’s move to “defiantly untrendy Oakleigh South” and I can confirm that Oakleigh South continues to live up to that reputation When the blandness of suburbia threatens to overwhelm me I try to see my own brick veneer home through an Arkley lens: a shining Nothing exciting happens in my suburb – and that’s not entirely a bad thing because what Oakleigh South lacks in excitement safe and friendly – all things I have appreciated in my 12 years here we don’t have the cafes and period homes of Oakleigh the restaurants of Clayton or Bentleigh East’s shopping strip and sports facilities as I remind myself while driving to the next suburb to get a coffee and a piece of spanakopita Perhaps there’s nothing special about my suburb but you could do a lot worse than living out your days in such anodyne serenity Marisa Mowszowski is a primary school art teacher The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here the most common response is: \\u201CWhere\\u2019s that?\\u201D The next most common response is: \\u201CAll those wonderful Greek cafes!\\u201D That\\u2019s when I explain that Oakleigh is an entirely different suburb and that the cakes and coffees of Eaton Mall are an hour\\u2019s walk from my home there\\u2019s barely a barista to be found in these parts The paradox of Oakleigh South is that a lot of what\\u2019s great about it is its proximity to other places there\\u2019s a wonderful collection of Sri Lankan shops just a short walk away \\u2013 on the Clarinda side of Centre Road (Nor is it in Huntingdale \\u2013 it\\u2019s in Oakleigh.) All those beautiful open green spaces are privately owned and for members only Thanks to the sandy loam soil so valued by golf clubs another chunk of the suburb is taken up by a Then there are the industrial pockets \\u2013 showrooms with many original \\u201960s and \\u201970s single-storey homes and a scattering of units But we do have one claim to fame: Melbourne\\u2019s oldest ice skating rink It\\u2019s true that nothing much happens here The area\\u2019s once-significant Greek and Italian migrant population is giving way to those born in India (8.1 per cent) and China (6.4 per cent) and it\\u2019s diverse in other ways too: we have violinists plumbers and graphic designers \\u2013 even a surfing Kids ride bikes up and down the street and play hide-and-seek in people\\u2019s gardens the biggest surprise about Oakleigh South is that it\\u2019s the friendliest place I\\u2019ve ever lived There\\u2019s no \\u201Ckeeping up with the Joneses\\u201D around here \\u2013 people quietly go about living their lives in a landscape of benign suburban sameness We don\\u2019t do grand mansions or showy homes (although a resident made the news in 2016 for an obituary mentioned Arkley\\u2019s move to \\u201Cdefiantly untrendy Oakleigh South\\u201D Nothing exciting happens in my suburb \\u2013 and that\\u2019s not entirely a bad thing because what Oakleigh South lacks in excitement safe and friendly \\u2013 all things I have appreciated in my 12 years here we don\\u2019t have the cafes and period homes of Oakleigh the restaurants of Clayton or Bentleigh East\\u2019s shopping strip and sports facilities Perhaps there\\u2019s nothing special about my suburb The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge The 2025 Oakleigh Plate field has been released and we're all set for a bumper edition from Caulfield racecourse on Saturday The best recent barriers are gates 10, 11, 13 and 14 all with 4 recent wins so keep an eye on which horses are lined up here for the upcoming race.MORE: Oakleigh Plate 2025 - Full Guide The Oakleigh Plate will be run on Saturday 22nd February 2025 at Caulfield racecourse trainer Matt Smith will soon confirm plans for Headwall that will aim to get him into The Everest Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller has publicly backed the leadership of Racing NSW boss Peter V'landys while distancing himself from a controversial letter to racing minister David Harris Clinton Payne presents his tips and form assessment for each of the runners in Saturday's Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville A win in The Quokka will cap Headwall emergence as a top quality sprinter and his trainer already has his sights on The Everest Via Sistina will be crowned the Horse of the Year but almost every other category is wide open The final day of the Sydney autumn carnival so let's hope we can go out with a bang This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive EXCLUSIVE: AN industrial supersite a stone’s throw away from the prestigious Commonwealth Golf Course has changed hands delivering a massive $42 million windfall for the Taiwanese vendor Investment management company ITG Australia TS Mid Ltd acted as trustee to purchase 92 Carroll Road and 41 Cleeland Road in Oakleigh South from Taiwanese conglomerate Synnex It is understood that the deal was handled off the market The property has sold for $50.3 million (excluding tax) The purchase price represents over a 15% premium to the book value of the property which was independently assessed by two valuers The sale will deliver a capital gain of $42 million for Synnex which acquired the site from a subsidiary company Fortune Ideal for $8.3 million in May last year The sale price was simply too good to refuse and Synnex decided to cash in for the massive windfall as the property is no longer part of its core portfolio since entering into a $78.95 million contract with Vaughan Constructions for a new $130 million larger purpose-built HQ and distribution centre at Oakleigh South Synnex also acquired another logistics centre in Lidcombe in Sydney’s west for $70.902 million in May last year the Oakleigh South property comprises a land area of 40,468 sqm It has served as Synnex’s head office and distribution centre The properties stand back to back with the larger site at 92 Carroll Road and smaller 1,300 sqm on 41 Cleeland Road It is located within a small industrial pocketed surrounded by residential and the Commonwealth Golf Club the property transfer is expected to be in the third quarter of 2025 Green Street’s global news publications are not provided as an investment advisor nor in the capacity of a fiduciary  Our global organization maintains information barriers to ensure the independence of and distinction between our non-regulated and regulated businesses is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 482269) and a private limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 06471304 members of the School Executive and representatives of the School Board at Oakleigh Grammar all came together for another successful iteration of its annual Assembly recognising Greek Independence Day The Assembly brought together everyone associated with the school to commemorate the 204th anniversary of this significant date in Modern Greek history The event also featured the presence of special guest Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne Tony Tsourdalakis (President of Intercommunity and Parishes Council of Victoria – Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia) and Maria Triantafyllou (Acting Coordinator of Educational Affairs Australia and New Zealand) On behalf of Archbishop Makarios of Australia Bishop Kyriakos spoke on the importance of Greek Independence Day which also coincides with the beginning of Great Lent and the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Byzantine Choir then performed several hymns before Principal Mark Robertson delivered his Principal’s Address focusing on the Greek concept of ‘filotimo’ and emphasising its special connections to the School values of humility Various students then gave musical performances to the delight of the parents and guests including a live bouzouki performance by Year 5 student Vasili and a presentation from the Middle School Dancing Group The school praised the students for showcasing their skills noting in their press release that “each student admirably displayed their talents to mark such an important event for the international and local Greek community” Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.