Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Drug kingpin Tony Mokbel has spent his first full day of freedom in almost 18 years at Northland Shopping Centre after checking in at a nearby police station and going for a walk in the park near his sister’s home in Melbourne’s north-east Mokbel emerged from his new digs early on Saturday holding hands with a dark-haired woman the family joined dog walkers at a Viewbank park for a stroll Tony Mokbel browses in Myer on his first morning out of jail in 18 years.Credit: Alex Coppel Less than 24 hours earlier, Mokbel was granted bail by the Court of Appeal, as part of his quest to quash his drug-trafficking convictions, which his lawyers argue were hopelessly corrupted by the Lawyer X scandal I can’t say anything,” Mokbel told reporters on Saturday morning the 59-year-old stopped by Northland Shopping Centre with the same dark-haired woman Holding her hand and smiling in a hat and sunglasses he browsed the wellness and perfumes section of Myer But Mokbel declined to comment on his plans – or his impressions of life on the outside after almost two decades – when asked by The Age With a clutch of shopping bags boasting brands from Myer to discount perfumery ESNC Mokbel and his companion left the shops less than an hour later The former gangland boss once boasted his own fashion label (cheekily named “LSD”) in his days running a multimillion-dollar drug empire knowing the new accessory on his ankle – an electronic monitoring bracelet – would catch enough attention Mokbel’s companion drove back to his sister’s house pulling into the garage with no apparent sign of Mokbel but a large pile of items in the back seat Having spent most of the past decade in Barwon Prison’s high-security units Mokbel now faces a strict new bail regimen He is subject to about 30 conditions daily reporting at his nearby police station – which he did just after 9.30am on Saturday – and a ban on using smartphones or encrypted apps Tracking his every move via his ankle bracelet is a private bail company which Mokbel is paying $25,000 a year to keep him secure outside prison He cannot leave the state or go near any points of “international departure” he orchestrated one of the most infamous escapes in Australian history – smuggling himself out of the country in a specially designed yacht – before being tracked down in Greece a year later Mokbel and his companion in the car park of Northland Shopping Centre on Saturday.Credit: Alex Coppel Mokbel’s fame as one of the few surviving bosses of the original gangland war is expected to protect him on the streets of Melbourne, as a new and violent battle rages for control of the black-market tobacco trade The well-known gambler was one of the first people ever banned from Crown Casino and helped spark a ban on suspected organised crime figures from racetracks when he attended Oaks Day at Flemington while on bail Just hours after walking free again on bail on Friday afternoon Tony Mokbel and a female companion strolled around Northland shopping centre on his first morning of freedom in almost two decades.Credit: Sherryn Groch his sister Saad agreed to put up a $1 million surety – $100,000 from a bank cheque and the rest in equity from a home in Yallambie – to secure her brother’s release Mokbel promised to abide by all the bail conditions, arguing he had strong ties to the community, including a long-term girlfriend. The court heard he was no longer the man he once was, after surviving a serious assault in jail in 2019 Gawy and her family were seen installing security cameras at the property and a large flatscreen television was delivered Mokbel is the latest in a string of gangland figures to be awarded bail – or have their convictions thrown out – since it was revealed their lawyer Nicola Gobbo was also a secret informer for police Mokbel’s ankle bracelet.Credit: Alex Coppel The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here Drug kingpin Tony Mokbel has spent his first full day of freedom in almost 18 years at Northland Shopping Centre after checking in at a nearby police station and going for a walk in the park near his sister\\u2019s home in Melbourne\\u2019s north-east as part of his quest to quash his drug-trafficking convictions which his lawyers argue were hopelessly corrupted by the I can\\u2019t say anything,\\u201D Mokbel told reporters on Saturday morning But Mokbel declined to comment on his plans \\u2013 or his impressions of life on the outside after almost two decades \\u2013 when asked by The Age The former gangland boss once boasted his own fashion label (cheekily named \\u201CLSD\\u201D) in his days running a multimillion-dollar drug empire knowing the new accessory on his ankle \\u2013 an electronic monitoring bracelet \\u2013 would catch enough attention Mokbel\\u2019s companion drove back to his sister\\u2019s house Having spent most of the past decade in Barwon Prison\\u2019s high-security units daily reporting at his nearby police station \\u2013 which he did just after 9.30am on Saturday \\u2013 and a ban on using smartphones or encrypted apps He cannot leave the state or go near any points of \\u201Cinternational departure\\u201D he orchestrated one of the most infamous escapes in Australian history \\u2013 smuggling himself out of the country in a specially designed yacht \\u2013 before being tracked down in Greece a year later Mokbel\\u2019s fame as one of the few surviving bosses of the original gangland war is expected to protect him on the streets of Melbourne as a new and violent battle rages for control of the his sister Saad agreed to put up a $1 million surety \\u2013 $100,000 from a bank cheque and the rest in equity from a home in Yallambie \\u2013 to secure her brother\\u2019s release Mokbel promised to abide by all the bail conditions arguing he had strong ties to the community The court heard he was no longer the man he once was Mokbel is the latest in a string of gangland figures to be awarded bail \\u2013 or have their convictions thrown out \\u2013 since it was revealed their lawyer Nicola Gobbo was also a secret informer for police The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories North Warrandyte top listNews Corp Australia Viewbank has been crowned Melbourne’s speediest property market with houses typically flying off the shelves in less than three weeks Houses sold in a median of 17 days over the past year in the popular suburb which agents say is being buoyed by leafy streets and top schools Realestate.com.au data shows North Warrandyte and Seddon houses were also snapped up at rapid rates notching sales at a median of 18.5 and 19.5 days respectively North Warrandyte was snapped up earlier in July Properties in Melbourne’s northeast dominated the list of the city’s fastest-selling suburbs with speedy deals also recorded in Watsonia Jellis Craig Eltham director Aaron Yeats credited Viewbank’s quick transactions to the area’s top-quality schools “Viewbank College is particularly very sought after and even the local primary school is highly regarded,” Mr Yeats said “It definitely is selling a little faster than the suburbs surrounding and I think the reason is the suburb and the school zone are quite tight Agents say the areas are increasingly popular for families Realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee agreed noting the fast-selling suburbs pointed towards strong interest in family homes “Particularly with the suburbs in the northeast – they are all areas that are leafy and have great access to public transport but also offer great affordability,” Ms Conisbee said Viewbank houses have a $980,000 median sale price While she expected Victoria’s stage four real estate restrictions to extend the time properties spent on the market because we can see people are still looking at houses,” she said “It’s just increasingly difficult to make that transaction at the moment.” Realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee Sunbury scored the fastest sales of the past year in a median of 22 days followed by Clifton Hill and Elwood at 27 days Blackbird and Wren Real Estate director Ben Roberts said demand had been strong for several years for Sunbury units which were attracting first-home buyers and those looking to downsize “It’s not unheard of for a well-placed unit in Sunbury to sell after just a few days or a week on the market,” Mr Roberts said He said the market might see an upswing in fast-paced sales after lockdown as budding first-home buyers who had been forced to put their purchasing plans on hold flooded back into the market 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 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By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. ShareGet SBS News daily and direct to your InboxSign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.Your email address *Morning (Mon–Fri) tennis court a dream COVID escapeRebecca DiNuzzo Noisy neighbours will be a thing of the past for the next owners of a bushland oasis within easy reach of Melbourne’s CBD The sprawling four-bedroom, four-bathroom home at 51 Seymour Road, Viewbank has been listed with a $3.9m-$4.2m price guide Vendor Hamish Kingsley-Smith said he and his wife and their two primary-school aged children had relished the peace and tranquillity it offered — particularly during the city’s long COVID-19 lockdown RELATED: Lower Plenty lifestyle pad offers ultimate outdoors within reach of the city Where and how to find an eco-friendly home in Melbourne Experts issue COVID-19 tree, sea change warning to Melbourne homebuyers The vendor said the home’s tranquillity and privacy were unparalleled Multiple living zones mean the family rarely crosses paths unless they want to during the day when they returned to Melbourne after years spent living abroad Mr Kingsley-Smith said years of overhearing neighbours’ daily and nightly routines through the walls of their previous apartments wore thin and they wanted a home that gave them privacy as well as beautiful surrounded by private golf courses and 3.23ha of Parks Victoria-managed bushland — offered just that SIGN UP TO OUR FREE WEEKLY REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER The home is surrounded by parkland and two private golf courses Gatherings of up to 150 people have been hosted at the home The space also helped keep the peace as the family grappled with last year’s COVID-19 stay-at-home orders “We (my wife and I) were returning expats and we were living in London and Singapore for 15 years and I didn’t want to live in an apartment anymore,” he said “I wanted to come back to space and live that Aussie dream and have kids running around … it was a fantastic place to be locked in because we’re surrounded by parks all around us “We have all these zones (inside the house) we can go to and be quiet … we’d all go to these separate areas and come into the middle to cook and eat at night.” An ultra-private parents’ retreat occupies the first floor It’s complemented by a stone ensuite and a sitting room The lower ground floor has the remaining bedrooms There are also three bathrooms on the lower level — meaning no fights over the shower in the morning with a marble island benchtop and Miele appliances with the living area positioned on one end of the home and the family and dining area on the other A parents’ retreat occupies the first floor with a private balcony and a sitting area that can be used as a home office The lower-ground level includes three spacious bedrooms for children or guests Zoned living areas kept the family out of each others’ hair during lockdown There are also plenty of walking and bike trails nearby to explore Morrison Kleeman agent Graham Morrison said the home was in a little known pocket of Melbourne’s northeast close to the river and just 30 minutes from the city big homes positioned on large blocks were available in the area and he said they seldom came on the market a lot of people don’t realise it’s there until they discover it by chance or by word of mouth,” Mr Kleeman said a tennis court and a children’s playground were drawcards that made the home suitable for families The vendors said lockdown was a breeze with this much space Noisy neighbours aren’t a problem when you live on a sprawling 5900sq m block and a laundry tiled with Italian tiles complete the package Mr Kingsley-Smith said the home was a great “party house” and they’d entertained 150 guests for his wife’s 40th birthday There were also plenty of walking tracks and bike trails nearby to explore 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 MORE: Rosebud home with infinity pool sells almost $1.4m over reserve First-home buyers aged 40-plus double in Victoria amid COVID-19 Pets planning in Melbourne high-rises should be ‘mandatory’: Caydon rebecca.dinuzzo@news.com.au A map of the four route options for North East Link which would carry about 100,000 vehicles a day Link copiedShareShare articleAfter years of talk and millions of dollars spent on planning, the Victorian Government has released four route options for the proposed long awaited North East Link. The favoured option of both the Government and the Opposition is Corridor A, which is the cheapest and shortest, but we've looked at how each would impact road users and the surrounding environments. With many of the options running through sensitive Victorian electorates, we've also analysed the potential political ramifications of each proposal. An 11-kilometre road and tunnel from Bulleen Road to Greensborough has been identified as the preferred option. (Supplied) The 11-kilometre corridor would follow the Greensborough Highway south and connect with the Eastern Freeway near Bulleen Road. It's the shortest route with the least amount of tunnelling, which would run under Rosanna, Heidelberg and Viewbank. Three interchanges are proposed on the route — the first on Manningham Road, the second on Lower Plenty Road, and the third on Grimshaw Street in Watsonia North. Corridor A is the shortest, most direct and, almost certainly, the cheapest. The North East Link Authority said it was confident the route would provide a more direct alternative to the traffic-jammed roads in the north-east, and would be likely to take trucks off many residential roads such as Rosanna Road, Para Road and Fitzsimons Lane. It's also believed Corridor A would divert trucks from road cycling routes and popular shopping locations. Early planning also indicated the road would be a valuable link to several employment centres in the northern region, including La Trobe University and the West Heidelberg industrial hub. Most of Corridor A's shortfalls are linked to environmental concerns. The authority could not guarantee that cultural and heritage spaces would not be affected by the works and it's likely the corridor would involve some environmental impacts associated with surface works. Works on the proposed corridor, as well as extensive upgrades on the Eastern Freeway, are likely to involve significant disruptions over an extended period. The route runs through the marginal seat of Ivanhoe, which is currently held by second-term Labor MP Anthony Carbines. In the 2014 election, Mr Carbines narrowly defeated Liberal opponent Carl Ziebell on preferences. The proposed corridor would also go through the seat of Bulleen, which is held by Opposition Leader Matthew Guy. Bulleen is one of the safest seats in the state and has never fallen into Labor hands. But John Stone, a planning lecturer at the University of Melbourne, said the road would cut through many sensitive areas that are part of "Melbourne's identity", and that might prove to be a political challenge for both Mr Guy and Mr Carbines. "For a government to put a road through sensitive environmental areas, people will be rightly anxious as to what that will mean. "I'm sure there will be people out knocking on doors saying to people that this road will have a major environmental impact while only reducing traffic for a number of years, so that's something the MPs will have to deal with." Option B would go from Greensborough's east, under Templestowe, Donvale and Eltham, to EastLink at Ringwood. (North East Link Authority) This 24-kilometre corridor would start near Canterbury Road and move north through Donvale and Mitcham, with an interchange at Reynolds Road taking the tollway west through Montmorency, Watsonia and Bundoora. Extensive tunnelling is proposed to protect sensitive environmental areas that the route runs through. The authority said the corridor could provide some opportunities for local businesses to access potential customers and workers in the wider area. But it's believed the road would not greatly improve access for businesses located in emerging employment areas. Long uphill areas on the route are likely to slow down trucks and reduce the road's efficiency. Although the route could reduce traffic on the Eastern Freeway and Manningham Road, it's unlikely to provide any congestion relief to key north-to-south roads such as Fitzsimons Lane. The safe Liberal seats Vermont and Warrandyte would be affected, but the road would also pass through the marginal Labor seat of Eltham, which Vicki Ward narrowly won in the last election. Dr Stone said people in metropolitan Melbourne were becoming more sophisticated in their knowledge of road networks and that the construction of Options A or B might not be as big a political win as the Government would be hoping for. "People may think that initially this could relieve traffic and shorten traffic times but ultimately they may think that I'm still going to be on the Eastern Freeway, still going to be on Hoddle Street, and unless the East West Link is built this doesn't really make a lot of sense." Option C is a 26-kilometre route through Eltham and Warrandyte joining EastLink at Ringwood. (North East Link Authority) Similar to Corridor B, but slightly more direct, the 26-kilometre Corridor C would connect to EastLink and not require any upgrades to the Eastern Freeway. The route also starts near Canterbury Road in Vermont, but has a more direct northerly route through Warrandyte and Eltham before heading west to connect with the Ring Road. The authority said the road would allow for good access to businesses located in major urban centres and wider metropolitan areas. The proposal also has the potential to divert trucks away from cycling routes. Corridor C does offer opportunities to protect sensitive areas including the Yarra River by tunnelling, but would involve some environmental impacts associated with surface works. It would provide the ability to reduce truck travel times, however would likely have long inclines which would slow trucks down and reduce efficiency overall. The road would run through the safe Labor seat of Bundoora as well as the safe Liberal seats of Warrandyte and Croydon. Vicky Ward's seat of Eltham would also be affected by Corridor C. Dr Ward said the construction of the road could provide a short term boost to Labor that carried through to next year's election. "People want to get to work quicker or drop their kids off at school on time, so if the Government announce that a road will reduce all of these issues then there could be some political gain there," Dr Stone said. Option D runs east from Greensborough through Kangaroo Ground and joins EastLink south of Ringwood. (North East Link Authority) The longest and most indirect route, the 40-kilometre Corridor D would connect with EastLink south of Ringwood, and travel east using part of the proposed Healesville Freeway Reserve. The corridor was initially proposed without a tunnel to cater for large trucks, but investigations found that tunnels and bridges would be required to minimise impacts on sensitive areas. The indirect nature of the road could mean minimal construction disruptions to the transport network. The limited amount of tunnelling could mean it has less environmental impact and would also mean it would be relatively easy to construct. The length of the road would actually increase travel times and distances and greatly affect the efficiency of freight movement. The road would extend into an area with low levels of business density and activity, and offer few businesses opportunities to benefit from improved access to customers. It's also believed the road offers no relief to residential areas that are already being inundated with trucks. Although the route is the most indirect, and local mayors have rejected the proposal, Dr Stone said its lack of disruption to the environment and day-to-day traffic could be a safe political move. It would also run through several safe Liberal seats including Bayswater and Croydon. Dr Stone said it's unlikely the option will ever be seriously considered by the Government, but if it was there would be minimal political impact compared to the other options. "This is an option that bypasses a lot of the sensitive environmental areas," he said. "It's more about finding a politically acceptable point where you can cross the Yarra, maybe they're thinking if you push the road out more you might get more political support for it but I really don't think that's a goer." 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) An architect has created a one-of-a-kind 'bushland oasis' just 30 minutes' drive from the heart of Melbourne CBD Meticulously crafted by acclaimed Sydney architect Don McQualter the sprawling family home in Viewbank has four bedrooms four bathrooms and its own botanical gardens which open onto a sunlit courtyard reminiscent of a villa on the French Riviera A 25-metre swimming pool skirts the outside of the house which is separated into zones strategically built around a central living space where the family can meet as well as multiple living areas and a chef's kitchen complete with three Miele ovens There's also a four-car garage with a workshop The ground floor is occupied by the designer kitchen which is surrounded by open space with the main living area at one end and the dining area at the other Spread across the first floor is a parents' retreat with a stone ensuite custom built-in wardrobes and a sitting area that could be used as a home office The lower-ground level is filled with three spacious bedrooms a rumpus room and a self-contained kitchenette the estate backs onto two private golf courses a pony club and part of Melbourne Park which has numerous walking trails for families to enjoy at weekends The unique home is on the market with a guide price of $3.9million - $4.2million (AUD) - a staggering $3million higher than the average price of a four-bedroom in the suburb, which was $1.06million in 2020, according to sales records from realestate.com.au who is overseeing the sale of the property for realtors Morrison Kleeman said homes like this one are 'seldom' available in the 3084 postcode The estate is being sold via expressions of interest, with final offers taken at 5pm on Wednesday, May 26. Inside the dream 'bushland' home just 30 minutes from a major cityCommenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} Dozens of Victorian government schools matched or exceeded the performance of their high-fee private rivals in this year’s NAPLAN results The state’s selective-entry secondary schools – Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School, Nossal High, Melbourne High and Suzanne Cory High – are well-known for high academic results when compared with the top private schools, which can charge up to $50,000 a year Viewbank College principal Sharon Grimes and students are pleased with the school’s high scores in this year’s NAPLAN.Credit: Joe Armao But this year’s NAPLAN results have highlighted the ability of lesser-known government schools to compete with their better-resourced private rivals even as the state education sector battles a teacher shortage and a funding crisis The Age’s interactive guide shows the public schools that have performed strongly this year compared to private institutions Schools are listed in alphabetical order and not ranked in order of achievement The scores reflect raw test results and are not weighted for schools’ socioeconomic status The analysis compared aggregate test scores from government schools in reading grammar and numeracy against those of some prestigious independent institutions At Viewbank College in Melbourne’s north-east principal Sharon Grimes said it was very rewarding to see her students thriving with the year 9s achieving an aggregate score of 2971 Viewbank’s year 7s and 9s performed well above average in all areas nationwide Grimes said the college’s strong academic record made it a “school of choice” in the area and that families who chose not to send their children to Viewbank were mostly choosing private alternatives “If we don’t get enrolments from our local area students who we would expect to come to us it’s a conversation about private options rather than anything else,” she said Grimes said she and her colleagues were “very purposeful” about pursuing academic outcomes for their students that would compare well with any school “One of the things that state schools probably grapple with is making sure that we are providing a program that engages kids,” she said “That’s how we continue to build relevance in their learning and set those high expectations so that they’re raising the bar themselves “We do an awful lot of work on people being able to understand where they sit in their learning.” principal Matt O’Hern said his school’s great results were reflective of teachers who were “in education to see kids perform at a really high level” recorded well above or above average scores in several NAPLAN categories O’Hern explained that part of the school’s success was due to routines established in the students’ foundational years where they spent time learning about how a classroom works socially as well as academically He said students also aren’t limited by their year level If a teacher believes a student has the potential to do high-school-level maths or English we really need to know the student and … that’s a real philosophy we have here to know their capacity to work at a really high level,” O’Hern said it doesn’t mean they can’t be exposed to [a higher year] curriculum.” Following Wednesday’s release of the NAPLAN data Monash University education expert Dr Venesser Fernandes called for the data to be used to improve education outcomes rather than for ranking schools “We must shift the focus from a ‘league of tables’ deficit narrative to using this data … for place-based improvement strategies that look at the needs of a cohort of students and provide the infrastructure to support them their schools and their community through active local-level improvement processes,” the senior lecturer said NAPLAN data weighted for a school’s socioeconomic status is available at the MySchool website The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here. Dozens of Victorian government schools matched or exceeded the performance of their high-fee private rivals in . The state\\u2019s selective-entry secondary schools \\u2013 Mac.Robertson Girls\\u2019 High School, Nossal High, Melbourne High and Suzanne Cory High \\u2013 are well-known for high academic results when compared with the top private schools, . But this year\\u2019s NAPLAN results have highlighted the ability of lesser-known government schools to compete with their better-resourced private rivals, even as the state education sector battles a teacher shortage and a funding crisis. The Age\\u2019s interactive guide shows the public schools that have performed strongly this year compared to private institutions. Schools are listed in alphabetical order and not ranked in order of achievement. The scores reflect raw test results and are not weighted for schools\\u2019 socioeconomic status. The analysis compared aggregate test scores from government schools in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy against those of some prestigious independent institutions. At Viewbank College in Melbourne\\u2019s north-east, principal Sharon Grimes said it was very rewarding to see her students thriving, with the year 9s achieving an aggregate score of 2971, competitive with many high-fee schools. Overall, Viewbank\\u2019s year 7s and 9s performed well above average in all areas nationwide. Grimes said the college\\u2019s strong academic record made it a \\u201Cschool of choice\\u201D in the area, and that families who chose not to send their children to Viewbank were mostly choosing private alternatives. \\u201CIf we don\\u2019t get enrolments from our local area students who we would expect to come to us, it\\u2019s a conversation about private options rather than anything else,\\u201D she said. Grimes said she and her colleagues were \\u201Cvery purposeful\\u201D about pursuing academic outcomes for their students that would compare well with any school. \\u201COne of the things that state schools probably grapple with is making sure that we are providing a program that engages kids,\\u201D she said. \\u201CThat\\u2019s how we continue to build relevance in their learning and set those high expectations so that they\\u2019re raising the bar themselves. \\u201CWe do an awful lot of work on people being able to understand where they sit in their learning.\\u201D The NAPLAN test, taken in March by all students in years 3, 5,7 and 9, assesses students\\u2019 reading, writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy. At Kew East Primary, principal Matt O\\u2019Hern said his school\\u2019s great results were reflective of teachers who were \\u201Cin education to see kids perform at a really high level\\u201D. The school, which has 360 students, recorded well above or above average scores in several NAPLAN categories. O\\u2019Hern explained that part of the school\\u2019s success was due to routines established in the students\\u2019 foundational years, where they spent time learning about how a classroom works socially as well as academically. He said students also aren\\u2019t limited by their year level. If a teacher believes a student has the potential to do high-school-level maths or English, they are encouraged to try. \\u201CTo do that, we really need to know the student and \\u2026 that\\u2019s a real philosophy we have here, to know their capacity to work at a really high level,\\u201D O\\u2019Hern said. \\u201CJust because someone is in grade 6, it doesn\\u2019t mean they can\\u2019t be exposed to [a higher year] curriculum.\\u201D Following Wednesday\\u2019s release of the NAPLAN data, Monash University education expert Dr Venesser Fernandes called for the data to be used to improve education outcomes rather than for ranking schools. \\u201CWe must shift the focus from a \\u2018league of tables\\u2019 deficit narrative to using this data \\u2026 for place-based improvement strategies that look at the needs of a cohort of students and provide the infrastructure to support them, their schools and their community through active, local-level improvement processes,\\u201D the senior lecturer said. NAPLAN data weighted for a school\\u2019s socioeconomic status is available at the website. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. . Police spoke to euthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke about the deaths. (Supplied) Link copiedShareShare articleEuthanasia campaigner Dr Philip Nitschke says he has been questioned over the deaths of two Melbourne women in an apparent assisted suicide pact. Val Seeger, 75, an Alzheimer's sufferer, and her friend, 66-year-old Dr Claire Parsons, died at their Viewbank home in March this year. Dr Nitschke said the pair were members of the pro-euthanasia group, Exit International, of which he is director. He said Ms Seeger, a former nurse, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease a year ago, while Dr Parsons, a medical anthropologist, was in good health. Dr Nitschke released a letter, purportedly written by Dr Parsons, detailing the women's wish to die together. He said the women were close and that Dr Parsons took her own life out of loyalty to her friend. "They were friends for so long, she [Dr Parsons] wrote us a letter ... made the point about the strength of their friendship." But he said Dr Parsons's fear of prosecution over any involvement in assisted suicide also played a factor in her death. "She also draws attention ... to the fact it would have been an untenable position for one of them to stay alive after the other one had died, because of this fear of being accused of assisting the other's suicide, so the two decided to go together," he said. It would have been an untenable position for one of them to stay alive,,,because of this fear of being accused of assisting the other's suicide. "Any assistance provided to Val would mean that, if it was determined that that happened, she would have to face some criminal charges. "Assisted suicide, even if it's done with compassion and love, is a criminal offence." Assisted suicide carries a maximum five-year jail term in Victoria. The Victorian coroner will lead the investigation into the women's deaths. Dr Nitschke said police had spoken to him about the incident but that he had no involvement in their death. However, he said: "They didn't use illegally imported drugs, they used a quite legal process." Dr Nitschke hoped the women's deaths would raise community discussion around Australia's euthanasia laws. "When people act out of compassion and love to help someone they care about take this peaceful and lawful step of ending their life, they should not be charged with an offence that attracts such a hefty penalty." In the letter, titled "I have a friend", Dr Parsons wrote about when the pair started noticing the symptoms of Ms Seeger's disease. "As experienced health professionals, we knew the path that Alzheimer's was laying before us," the letter said. My friend declared her wish that she not be sent to a nursing home, or be allowed to lose her sense of self, her dignity. "Knowing she would have cared for me had the situation been reversed, I promised I would be her carer to the end. "During those initial discussions my friend declared her wish that she not be sent to a nursing home, or be allowed to lose her sense of self, her dignity. "We are also aware that under the current (and we believe outdated) law in this land, the police are obliged to charge me with aiding and abetting a suicide and I am not prepared to undergo the harassment and disgrace of a prosecution. "This leaves me no choice but to join my friend at her time of death." "We imagine that at the turn of the century, euthanasia with dignity will be regarded as normal, rational, ethical and legal action, accessible to all who wish to avail themselves of this option, while still protecting the vulnerable and their friends and family." Cape Schanck is for sale – but it’s not the only multimillion-dollar pad that’s poised to set a new benchmark Cape Schanck is tipped to become “as exclusive as Portsea” with a series of multimillion-dollar properties set to change hands in the serene Mornington Peninsula suburb A house hidden in a prestigious gated community amid the National Golf Club has made a particular splash on the market with what would be record-breaking $7m-$7.7m price expectations The impressive four-bedroom entertainer at 6 Munn Court features a gym RELATED: Viewbank bushland hideaway with pools, tennis court a dream COVID escape Rosebud home with infinity pool sells almost $1.4m over reserve Anthony Podesta: Entrepreneur lists inside Portsea’s Delgany ‘castle’ Hop in the golf buggies and follow the direct path to the golf course If the property achieves its premium asking price CoreLogic records suggest it will achieve the suburb’s highest reported residential sale eclipsing the 2016 sale of nearby 9 National Drive for $5.3m But Black Fox Real Estate Mount Eliza’s Robbie Emond said a number of off-market deals within the National Golf Club Estate that would soar above $10m were in the works “Cape Schanck has been a hidden gem for a long time but it’s attracting a lot of wealthy people from Melbourne,” Mr Emond said “Since the RACV built the Cape Schanck Resort it’s been booked out every weekend and it’s really put (Cape Schanck) on the map.” SIGN UP TO OUR FREE WEEKLY REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER Just 18 homes are inside the exclusive golf course estate Look past the golf green and you can watch the waves He said rich listers were attracted to the area’s privacy “The views feel like you’re in your own little resort and it’s more surrounded in nature,” Mr Emond said “And the national golf course is one of the best in the world There are always helicopters as people fly in just to come play.” The Munn Court property was one of only 18 homes in the National Golf Club Estate Views of the neighbouring golf course’s perfect green and the sparkling bay were available from the luxury home’s wall-to-wall windows The sleek design also includes a kitchen with Miele appliances plus a gas-log fire and a wet bar in the living room Mr Emond said the home had been the vendor’s family holiday home for several years “They have been able to entertain people without any neighbours and they just hop on the golf buggies and go directly to the golf course,” he added He said off-market real estate sales in Cape Schanck had become more frequent as “the elite (buyers) want to keep things private” “Often it only takes a couple of phone calls to sell them,” Mr Emond noted 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 READ MORE: Collingwood malt silo conversion: curved apartment for sale Point Cook: renovated family house a luxury listing in Sanctuary Lakes Melbourne rents plummet 20 per cent in CBD, Southbank, Docklands more steady use of interest rates of Table Mountain model over sharp rise and fall of Matterhorn approach backdrop to millions of selfies and one of the world’s most easily identifiable landmarks Cape Town’s Table Mountain is all of these things but now it has found a new role: as a guide to what will happen to UK interest rates For Huw Pill the opportunity was too good to pass up Invited by South Africa’s central bank to speak at a high-level conference the Bank of England’s chief economist said there were two ways for Threadneedle Street to bring UK inflation back to the government’s 2% target named after the jagged 4,478-metre high peak in the Alps under which interest rates would go up sharply and come down sharply the Bank could go down the Table Mountain route This approach would involve a lower peak (the mountain rises to 1,085 metres) but then stay at a high altitude for a considerable period The flat plateau above Cape Town is approximately 1.9 miles (3km) from side to side “There may be multiple paths that get you to where you want to be,” Pill said in his speech. “Some of them have rates rising rapidly and falling rapidly in what is sometimes known as the Matterhorn profile. “The alternative would be to hold restriction for longer in a more steady and resolute way with a profile for interest rates that looks more like the Table Mountain. I would tend to favour the latter.” Pill’s comments suggest he will be voting for official borrowing costs to be raised again – from 5.25 to 5.5% – when the MPC meets later in September but then may well opt for them to stay on a plateau for some time to come. While the headline inflation rate has fallen from a peak of 11.1% in October 2022 to 6.8% in July, Pill said core inflation – a measure of the cost of living that excludes items such as food and energy – remained stubbornly high and was yet to show an obvious downward trend. “The key element is that we on the MPC need to see the job through and ensure a lasting and sustainable return of inflation to the 2% target,” he said. Free daily newsletterGet set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning “At present, the emphasis is still on ensuring that we are – in the words of the MPC’s last statement – sufficiently restrictive for sufficiently long to ensure that we have that lasting return to target.” Meanwhile, the latest data from the eurozone showed inflation was higher than expected in August at 5.3%, unchanged from July. Economists polled by Reuters had expected it to fall to 5.1%. Pill acknowledged the risk of pushing UK rates too high. “Now that policy is in restrictive territory, there is the possibility of doing too much and inflicting unnecessary damage on employment and growth,” he said. But he said there was no room for complacency and that the Bank needed to see a “lasting and sustainable” reduction in inflation to the government’s 2% target. Anna Mehler Paperny and Divya Rajagopal; Editing by Paul Simao Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved A parcel full of sew-on patches has been delivered to a tennis club 40 years late after it fell behind machines at a sorting centre Members at Viewbank Tennis Club in Melbourne said they were 'astonished' when the battered and oil-stained package finally made it through the letterbox Club secretary Sonja Terpstra said the patches were ordered in the mid-Seventies and the forgotten package was only discovered when staff at Australia Post moved to new premises It was initially delivered to former committee member Irene Garrett who said she had a 'good laugh' when she received the package was still clearly visible on the withered parcel who has not been involved in the tennis centre for 20 or 30 years She told Melbourne Leader: 'I couldn't believe it, I'd forgotten all about. We're guessing it must have been around 1975, and I must have ordered it.' Mrs Garrett said the postman believed the envelope may have fallen behind a machine and been forgotten about. '(The postie) doesn't really know (where the parcel came from); he thinks it must have fallen behind a machine because the envelope was oily, although the contents were perfect,' she said. The former junior and social committee member said the patches must have been re-ordered as players remembered a new set arriving. Mrs Garrett said the delivery had allowed her to get back into contact with several members at the club. 'We thought it was great to receive the parcel all these years later. We've heard some fantastic stories about what used to happen in the early days,' she said. Mrs Garrett also reminisced about the patches and said they were 'worn with pride' by the players. The club's committee is now considering using the patches to create retro shirt's for the club's 50th anniversary celebrations in four years. An Australia Post spokesman said: 'Australia Post takes great pride in the timely, safe and efficient delivery of mail and we are confident that the vast majority of mail and parcels arrive on time. 'It is clear however, on this this occasion, something went wrong 40 years ago. While we are pleased that the recipients are happy to have received the item, we are still investigating this very unique situation. 'We apologise for the delay and thank the Viewbank Tennis Club for their patience.' Major terror attack 'was just HOURS away' before it was foiled by the special forces and police:... Victim of acid attack 'plotted by his ex-partner who teamed up with a gang' dies in hospital six... We are trapped in unsellable newbuild homes after a £52m dual carriageway was built on our... Horror as $4.5M influencer-laden yacht SINKS off Miami... after glam women made a rookie maritime... Pub is forced to pay family £75,000 after wrongly accusing them of 'dine and dash' over £150... 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Parcel is delivered to tennis club 40 YEARS LATECommenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} , opens new tab, while the domestically-focused FTSE 250 index was 0.6% higher (.FTMC), opens new tab.COMMENTS:HUSSAIN MEHDI HSBC ASSET MANAGEMENT:"The bigger question for investors is how far can rates be cut A cooling labour market should help maintain downward pressure on services inflation in the coming months But the latest UK budget is likely to add to inflationary pressures over the longer-term We are in an era of “forever deficits” reflecting political priorities to boost growth and productivity."This “fiscal activism” is a significant policy change versus the 2010s when austerity was counterbalanced by monetary policy on steroids The multi-polar world of economic fragmentation is also consistent with a higher inflation environment.""What likely follows is a fairly shallow easing cycle for the BoE and upward pressure on bond yields Policy rates could settle comfortably above 3% contrasting with the sub 1% period before the pandemic."MICHAEL METCALFE LONDON:"I think there’s going to be a lot of focus on the forecasts I don’t think it’s that different to the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) assessment of a short-term boost to growth and a modest boost to inflation."The interesting thing to tease out in the press conference is that the (bond yield) curve has shifted up a lot since the budget which isn’t incorporated into the forecast.""If you take a much higher assumption for rates which is where we are now does that now mean that the market is still too pessimistic for rate cut expectations?"If you take the monetary policy report at face value it looks quite hawkish But then it becomes quite reflexive quite quickly in the sense that markets have already priced in some of that hawkishness And that we have the new risk of a weaker international backdrop if tariffs come in."ZARA NOKES LONDON:"The Bank of England (BoE) made the correct decision to deliver what markets were expecting and cut interest rates today the pace of cuts from here has been muddied by recent political developments The UK economy is now contending with a number of cross-currents which make the growth and inflation outlook highly uncertain."Last week’s UK budget revealed plans for front-loaded fiscal stimulus which – at a time when the supply side of the economy is constrained – risks stoking inflation next year The return of President (Donald) Trump to the White House adds another layer of complexity While there is still a high degree of uncertainty as to what the next Republican administration will enact when in office tough protectionist measures could be a headwind for global growth and the UK may be vulnerable given the openness of its economy For these reasons the Bank should be very wary of giving concrete forward guidance on the pace of further cuts with the underlying dynamics of the domestic economy pointing to inflation lingering for some time the Bank should resist cutting too quickly."SIMEON WILLIS UK:"Given the boost to public spending and upwards pressure on inflation resulting from Rachel Reeves’ Autumn budget the markets had factored in a less rapid easing of the Bank rate."This MPC announcement is in keeping with that revised expectation it is the longer-term rate of easing that is of greatest interest Movements of 0.25% in themselves are relatively inconsequential The path of expected rate reductions likely remains cautious particularly given the OBR's inflation outlook for 2025 being above target."RUPERT WATSON GLOBAL HEAD OF MACRO AND DYNAMIC ASSET ALLOCATION UK:"We expect rate cuts are likely to continue however the central bank will want to take account of the fiscal position following the budget and may adjust their pace accordingly."The BoE will also want to consider the impact of the election of a new U.S The overall picture in the UK is one of slow growth with a slight boost in 2025 but with inflation coming down to the 2% target the BoE has maintained its gradual easing stance."SHAMIL GOHIL the Monetary Policy Committee has a tough job balancing the future impact of the UK budget and government’s fiscal policy Cost increases for companies from higher taxes national insurance and national minimum wage will likely be at least partially passed on to consumers via price hikes next year Fiscal stimulus should also have a positive impact on growth allaying any recessionary fears the sensible path continues to be for a gradual and cautious easing process as these affects are slowly realised over time."Looking ahead election and potential for higher global tariffs may offset some of this growth and may also feed into higher inflation as the second order impact of these tariffs take hold across Europe and China potentially muddying the waters."Reporting by the Reuters Markets Team; Compiled by Dhara Ranasinghe LONDON:"We expected a slightly more divided vote split than the 8-1 we got The hawks on this side of the Atlantic still have plenty of ammunition nominal pay growth is still uncomfortably high underlying inflation remains elevated compared to other easing cycles it would be very hard to find consensus for back-to-back moves.""With regard to quantitative tightening I think the Bank of England is quite happy for QT to run in the background LONDON:"We expect the next interest rate cut to come when the Bank meets in November armed with a fresh set of forecasts likely to show a modest downgrade in future inflation and confirmation from the budget about how tight any squeeze will be as the new government addresses the UK’s fiscal gap.""Beyond this we anticipate a quarterly pace of cuts through next year although the risks are rising that the Bank may pick up the pace of easing and move to a one-per-meeting cadence.""Although the BoE kept rates unchanged it did so amidst a global trend of central banks lowering policy rates as inflationary pressures recede investors need to prepare their portfolios for a world of lower interest rates in the coming months."LINDSAY JAMES LONDON:"A rate cut would have been especially welcomed by consumers and businesses alike given the economy remains close to stall speed Having had a positive and rather buoyant first half of 2024 action from the BoE will be required sooner rather than later."CHRIS SCICLUNA LONDON:"We're likely to get a rate cut in November and then it's a case of whether they move by 25 bps at every meeting or once a quarter.""The 100 billion pound QT announcement was in line with expectations which means the level of central bank reserves should be close to levels the BOE thinks is in line with the equilibrium."RUPERT WATSON LONDON:"In light of sticky inflation data showing it falling the Bank of England kept interest rates unchanged.""They have signalled cuts are on the horizon as the trend for wage growth and inflation is moving in the right direction We think the UK economy is landing softly freeing up the BoE to cut rates over the next 6-12 months towards 3.5%."FRANCES HAQUE LONDON:"Today’s call to hold was expected given the comments made by Governor Bailey at the August meeting 'that the bank must not cut rates too quickly or by too much'.""There has been positive news on wage growth – a determining factor in whether inflation will remain at target level - with this continuing to slow in July and with private-sector wage growth coming in line with the Bank of England's forecast for Q3 of 4.7% Inflation figures out on Wednesday showed headline inflation sticking at 2.2% but with services inflation increasing 0.4% month on month - albeit that was just below the Bank's forecast of 5.8% for August This all suggests that a slow and steady pace will be maintained for future rate cuts."($1 = 0.7527 pounds)Reporting by Reuters Markets Team Compiled by Dhara Ranasinghe; Editing by Amanda Cooper (WSET) — Ridge View Bank held a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday with area leaders and employees for its new headquarters and SMART Center in Roanoke “As the only bank headquartered in Roanoke our commitment to the community is what has helped set us apart already,” said Carrie McConnell I vowed we would build a substantial headquarters here and I take very seriously executing on what we say we are going to do.” the 16,300-square-foot headquarters will feature a 2,800-square-foot SMART Center utilizing new technology to make financial transactions and information gathering interactive and easier for customers The building will be two floors and house office space for more than 50 employees and include a board room The headquarters will offer commercial and private banking and treasury services along with additional offices for continued expansion The headquarters hopes to bring new jobs to the area as it grows operations to support its expansion With branches open and operating in Salem and Smith Mountain Lake this aims to increase the fast-growing community bank’s ability to service the region’s business and personal banking needs “The City of Roanoke is thankful to Ridge View Bank for choosing Roanoke as its regional headquarters and for its investment in our community,” said Marc Nelson Director of Economic Development for the City of Roanoke “The addition of Ridge View’s SMART Center paired with its already robust traditional banking services will provide valuable financial tools that will help move our community forward.” Balzer and Associates will serve as the architect and engineering team for the headquarters design along with G&H Contracting as the general contractor The project is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2024 “I couldn’t be more excited to see this building come to fruition,” said McConnell and meticulous we have been in designing our headquarters it’s really our people inside the walls that are and will continue to be the differentiator.” The Ventura County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday revealed more information on the robbery of a Rabobank branch last week in Oak View Employees complied and the man got into an awaiting vehicle with an undisclosed amount of money A witness in the area saw the man get into the vehicle The driver of the SUV was only described as a male The witness' vehicle was in a minor crash with the SUV as it sped away Deputies went in the same direction as the SUV and later found it abandoned a short distance away on Valley Road A firearm and other evidence suspected to be related to the robbery were found near the SUV Officials searched the area with the help of police dogs but could not find the man or the driver of the SUV Two men were arrested in connection with two robberies at the same Oak View bank according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office In the August incident a man gave a note to the teller demanding money and fled the scene in an awaiting vehicle with an undisclosed amount of cash it was discovered that a man entered the bank the day before and appeared to be casing it While searching through surveillance footage officials said they identified Mendoza as the man who entered the bank Mendoza was sentenced to state prison in 2008 after he was convicted of conspiracy to commit an armed robbery at the same Rabobank In the most recent robbery a man pointed a gun at the teller demanded money and then got into an awaiting vehicle an alert citizen noticed the activity and followed the vehicle The citizen's car and the suspect vehicle were involved in a minor crash deputies were able to ascertain information about the vehicle and later found it abandoned in the area A firearm and additional evidence were located at that time He extradited to Ventura County on Wednesday arrested and booked into county jail with bail set at $600,000 7 at the Todd Road Jail where he was being held on unrelated charges Milwaukee police asked the public for help identifying a man who robbed a BMO Harris Bank in Bay View on Tuesday and handed a note demanding cash to an employee with a thin build and wearing a blue sweatshirt dark-rimmed glasses and a New York Yankees baseball hat. Anyone with information is asked to call Milwaukee police at (414) 935-7360. The former Red Lobster at 3529 Franklin Road in Roanoke A development proposal before the city calls for demolition of the former restaurant to permit construction of a bank headquarters a relatively new banking presence in the Roanoke Valley will build its headquarters where the Red Lobster restaurant closed recently on Franklin Road in Roanoke As first reported by The Roanoke Times in November Ridge View Bank is a division of Pennsylvania-based CNB Bank which sees the Roanoke region as a rich expansion opportunity The company started its expansion to the area with a downtown Roanoke loan office and now also operates one of those at Smith Mountain Lake The bank revealed the future location of its main office and headquarters late Tuesday afternoon several hours after The Roanoke Times told the company it planned to reveal the Franklin Road location in a story Ridge View Bank President Carrie McConnell did not return three messages left at her office Monday and Tuesday seeking comment the city released a developer’s plan to build a two-story office building slightly south of the Red Lobster structure after its demolition new-to-market financial institution providing substantial investment and employment to the Roanoke area,” the proposal said Although those records did not name the bank Ridge View Bank’s parent company had notified the state Bureau of Financial Institutions in April that it planned to open a branch at 3531 Franklin Road in Roanoke State officials told the bank they had no objection The location fronts Franklin Road near where a former Kmart was converted into storage units the project description adds that “the new office building will represent a multimillion dollar investment by the owners and be positioned in a highly visible location directly in front of the large acre block of property held by the Applicant for future development.” The project appears on the Roanoke Planning Commission’s Oct Commissioners will consider a request to change the zoning designation for the land The bank’s news release said the building with span 17,000 square feet and should be completed in 2024 Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly Email notifications are only sent once a day Family and friends will gather at Roanoke Country Club on Tuesday afternoon to remember and celebrate the life of the Roanoke native more than… An elderly woman died and two other people were injured in a head-on collision on Peters Creek Road on Friday afternoon The council unanimously voted to approve the proposal upon first reading during its meeting Monday Holland Perdue III has been filed in a disputed estate case Joseph Richard Walker said he accepted responsibility for the crime Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account