Geelong Advertiser
COP TO FIGHT SEX CALL CLAIMS
Former policeman Manase Holani (below) has rejected allegations he made anonymous sexual phone calls to a woman, slamming the arresting officers for entering his room while he was “nude” and “without a warrant”.
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PLEASE COME FORWARD
Former students and staff of a nowclosed all-boys school in Geelong’s north are being urged to come forward with information dating back almost half a century, including details relating to a pair of former Christian Brothers. Melbourne-based law firm...
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ROW COACH PLEADS GUILTY
Former Geelong College and Geelong Grammar sports coach Andrew Cleary pleaded guilty on Tuesday to 10 charges relating to child sexual offences in 2007 and 2008. But the next step in proceedings may be delayed because a legal representative from the...
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TINY FRONT SEAT MIRACLE
was the most stressful and joyous 15 minutes of Shubham Dhawan’s life. And the 31-year-old Mount Duneed resident wasn’t the one giving birth to a baby girl in the passenger seat of a Toyota Camry hurriedly making its way up Moorabool St, so you could...
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BRING COSTCO HERE
Golden Plains mayor Owen Sharkey believes his shire holds the key to Costco’s Geelong expansion, and a retail expert thinks the US chain should pay attention to his ambitious pitch. As Costco continues to eye Geelong as the next location for one of...
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MISSING GUN WAS ‘LEFT IN PARK’
The unknown whereabouts of a gun allegedly “buried” at an Armstrong Creek park has thrown a spanner in a man’s bail application – despite him leading a search with police to look for it.
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FLIPPING AWESOME NEWS, JAKARA
Barwon Heads moguls champ to carry the flag at Winter Olympics
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NURSES HURT AS TANK ERUPTS
Nurses who responded to a fire that caused chaos within the intensive care unit at the Epworth Geelong hospital have been lauded for their “heroic” actions, as Victoria’s workplace safety watchdog seeks answers on how it all unfolded.
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Market MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
A bold vision to turn the ailing Market Square into a shining city centre arena is making waves in Geelong and has caught the eye of senior sporting figures. Basketballer and real estate agent James Osborne has proposed transforming the shopping centre...
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ALLEGED CHASE DRIVER SORRY
A man who allegedly crashed a stolen car into a school bus before he was shot in the arm by police has apologised to the courtroom for the chaotic incident. Joshua Clark, 37, appeared in the Geelong Magistrates Court on Monday facing a string of...
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PEDAL POWER
From messages of support scrawled in chalk on the asphalt, to cheering fans lining the roads, the people of Geelong and the Surf Coast were out in force to watch the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road race cycling action across the weekend.
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MURDER ACCUSED A TEACHER
A man accused of slaying a Melbourne woman near a picturesque Geelong beach is a former secondary school teacher who was onbail at the time of the alleged murder. Simon Macaulay, 53, appeared in the dock at the Geelong Magistrates Court on Friday...
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SHOTS FIRED IN WILD CHASE
School students cowered on their bus as it was rammed and shots were fired just metres away in a wild police chase across Geelong. Two people were arrested at the scene on Latrobe Tce, one with a gunshot wound, as cars were smashed and the city went...
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COUNTING THE COST
Otways residents return to survey the damage as threat eases.
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Sisters’ cancer shock
Emmy Perez spent 16 months watching her little sister Alyssa fight leukaemia. Now the six-year-old is battling the same rare cancer herself. The Perez family, from Lara, had high hopes for 2026 – Alyssa would return to kindergarten after being placed...
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I AM, YOU ARE, WE ARE AUSTRALIAN
New citizens take their oaths Councillor speaks at protest Stefanovic tells of love for our country Roo hops into town
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Bushfire within 1km of Otways town
The Carlisle River fire remained within a kilometre of Gellibrand in the Otways on Sunday, after it tore through containment lines during Saturday’s scorching heat. As of Sunday afternoon, the fire had burned through about 8500ha. The threat for...
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EGG-HEADS TARGET TORQUAY
A number of homes, moving cars and people have allegedly been hit by a group of mysterious egg and water bomb throwing bandits in Torquay. One woman claims both she and her house have been “hit with eggs” while another said egg splatter almost caused...
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CAN I GET A LIFT?
Helicopters moved in to lift the twisted remains of multiple cars from the sea on Thursday in a major operation that revealed the true destructive force of last week’s Great Ocean Road floods as locals and campers continued to clean up and count the...
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BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE MALOP
There are hopes a major overhaul of Geelong’s bus network could finally address the Moorabool St bus exchange as the trouble spot was again at the centre of a violent clash on Wednesday. A group of teen boys tangled with a man in Little Malop St, with...
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Trial begins for alleged rape doctor
A former Ocean Grove doctor accused of raping a woman during a pap smear has told a jury the alleged victim is “mistaken”. Shafiul Milky, 62, is standing trial in Melbourne charged with a single count of rape. The prosecution case alleges Dr Milky...
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Comedian back after controversy
Controversial comedian Marty Sheargold is set to perform at Geelong Arts Centre (GAC) in February, marking his return almost a year after losing his radio job over derogatory comments about the Matildas. The former host parted ways with Triple M in...
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Ex-mayor throws his hat in ring
Former mayor and current Geelong councillor Trent Sullivan has become the second City Hall figure to confirm a bid for Liberal Party pre-selection ahead of the November state election. The Leopold ward councillor submitted all required documentation...
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TOO MANY FIRE
Authorities have issued more than 1000 fireprevention notices across the Geelong region in just over two months – an average of 15 a day – in a push to protect communities from the threat of bushfires.
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NOT GOING anywhere
Our ideas on new bollard characters Colin Mockett on materials we could use
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I’ll save them: Mayor
Geelong’s mayor Stretch Kontelj says the council is committed to saving each of the region’s famous bollards, after the launch of the Addy’s Save Our Bollards campaign. But as former mayor Darryn Lyons says, there is no clear, publicly articulated plan...
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HE SCREAMED IN MY FACE
A Geelong lifeguard was left shaking and in tears after a parent screamed in her face when his child was denied access to a water slide in one of the weekly violent incidents reported at the city’s pools last year. Patronage across the City of Greater...
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Woman pleads in shoot case
A woman will avoid a trial over her involvement in a non-fatal shooting in Beeac last year after striking a plea deal. Samantha Rochford, 35, appeared in Geelong Magistrates Court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to a single count of intentionally...
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BATHTUB BABY FIGHTS FOR LIFE
An infant boy has been transferred to a hospital in Melbourne in a critical condition after being found unresponsive in a bathtub in Geelong’s north on Saturday. Emergency services attended a property on Rosemary Ave in Corio just before 9.30am, with...
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HOMICIDE SQUAD CALLED IN AFTER BODY DISCOVERED
Homicide police were called in after a man was found dead inside his Norlane home on Thursday. The victim, described as a “decent bloke”, had earlier checked himself out of hospital, where he had been admitted with assaultrelated injuries.
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Holiday sea rescue drama
The volunteers of Queenscliff’s Coast Guard have had a busy holiday season, helping numerous stranded mariners in the days after Christmas, including two people clinging to a capsized boat.
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COAST BUSH DOOF SHUT DOWN
A planned three-day rave near Aireys Inlet, linked to an Olympian’s birthday, has been shut down, with all patrons ordered off the site by New Year’s Eve. Officials said permit issues and safety concerns were behind the move. But marathoner Jack...
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GOODBYE 2025
Geelong is preparing to party as the region farewells 2025 and welcomes 2026. Public firework displays are planned at multiple sites in Geelong and on the Bellarine Peninsula and many local venues will be hosting specialty events. But it won’t all be...
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Footy fans on warpath: poll
Footy fans have delivered a wishlist to the AFL, urging league boss Andrew Dillon to stick with tradition and stop tinkering with the game they love. A poll by the AFL Fans Association found strong opposition to “opening round’’ in the northern...
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SWEPT AWAY OVER BAY
The family of a woman and teenage boy who were rescued after being swept across Port Phillip Bay from Portarlington to Werribee during a Christmas Day paddle gone wrong said they were exhausted, shaken and grateful. The pair clung to one another in...
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Busy road reopens
Traffic has returned to a key Armstrong Creek intersection after crews completed the first major milestone of the Barwon Heads Rd upgrade project. Boundary Rd between Barwon Heads Rd and Pythias Way has reopened, following the completion of major...
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Joeys exodus as nine leave club
St Joseph’s co-coach Ron Watt admits the Joeys were “surprised” to lose nine senior players after their grand final loss but he remains confident they can make the finals in 2026. The mass exodus deepened this week after Ballarat’s Lake Wendouree...
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ANCIENT MARVEL
A 20-million-year-old whale fossil has been discovered in rockpools by a keen-eyed Ocean Grove beachgoer. Shifting sands revealed the wonder at low tide at the town’s main beach.
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SCHOOL’S SEXTORTION SCANDAL
Christian College Geelong has come under fire after a student who allegedly threatened to share nude photos of another student took home an end-of-year award.
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Asbestos sabotage on coast
Authorities suspect someone deliberately scattered asbestos across walking tracks near Breamlea Caravan Park, forcing them to be closed while police investigate the dangerous contamination. Multiple footpaths surrounding the park were closed by Barwon...
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DIESEL’S GOLF RESORT BATTLE
The battle between an AFL legend and the directors of a resort at the exclusive 13th Beach Golf Links has landed in the Supreme Court. Dual Brownlow medallist Greg “Diesel” Williams has launched legal action against the Barwon Heads Resort – where he...
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NATION MOURNS
Geelong’s blood bank was inundated on Monday as the city’s residents joined grief-stricken Australians across the country trying to do what they could to help in the aftermath of the horror that unfolded in Sydney a day earlier.
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Bakery owner’s warning after CCTV catches thief
A bakery owner has urged local businesses to boost security after a cyclist broke into her Belmont shop and fled when alarms sounded. The founder of Ket Baker, Miek Paulus, said the bakery’s Belmont shop was broken into about 4.40am Saturday by a...
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Doc responds in newborn death case
A high-profile obstetrician accused of breaching his duty of care in the tragic death of a Geelong newborn has responded to the allegations, stating he was never informed of a critical scan.
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ALL RIGHT ON WESTERN FRONT
The West Gate Tunnel is set to open on Sunday, completing the largest upgrade of the road network in Melbourne’s west for almost half a century. Almost eight years since construction began, the long-awaited $10.2bn toll road will take tens of...
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FEARS FOR CRUCIAL CLINIC
The future of The Geelong Clinic – a specialist mental health facility that has been described as “invaluable” – hangs in the balance as its parent company remains in receivership, putting 73 of the region’s psychiatric beds at risk.
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JJ WILL BE OUR SPARK ALWAYS
The family of a teenager killed in a Corio car crash have remembered the 17-year-old as the boy who “laughed loudest and loved life”. Geelong teen JJ Hutchinson was the front-seat passenger of a Mazda sedan that crashed into a pole on School Rd about...
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HE GAMBLED $36M IN NINE MONTHS
A Geelong dentist accused of commercial drug trafficking, who allegedly bet tens of millions of dollars at Crown Casino, has been bailed on a $600,000 surety after his brother agreed to put his house on the table.
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PRIVATE SCHOOL KNIFE CHASEknife
Families paying more than $26,000 annually to send their children to The Geelong College say they “expect better” after an alleged knife incident sparked concerns about student safety and the school’s disciplinary response. One parent has told of how a...
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Shoot case heads for higher court
GEELONG’S VOICE FOR 185 YEARS A Beeac man charged for his alleged role in a shooting related to “some child abuse material” has lost his bid to keep the case in a lower court. Shaun David Kennedy, 32, appeared in Geelong Magistrates Court via prison...
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JAN 26 FURORE COURT BATTLE
A councillor has launched Supreme Court legal action against Surf Coast Shire in a bid to quash his suspension after a January 26 truth-telling event and a heated meeting in which a push to reinstate Australia Day celebrations was shot down. Paul...
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BID FOR PET CEMETERY
Wednesday, December 3, 2025 GEELONG’S VOICE FOR 185 YEARS $3.50
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IT’S TIME TO FACE THE MOSAIC
It’s not clear when, or even if, a celebrated mural at Geelong’s state government offices will be visible again, with the sonin-law of the artist who created the heritage-listed mosaic making a fresh call for answers. Officials maintain the wall has...
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LIFE OR DEATH LAND GRAB
A group of Geelong firefighters say they could lose vital access which would put the community at a safety risk if an acquisition of land behind their station goes ahead. Members of the Geelong West County Fire Authority (CFA) have petitioned the...
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Teesdale crash accused in court
A woman accused of a hit-run killing of a boy while he was on his way to school in Teesdale has faced court. Ljubica Brkic, 84, appeared in the Geelong Magistrates Court for a filing hearing on Friday charged over six-year-old Caleb Wesley’s death in...
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AIRING CRIMS’ DIRTY LAUNDRY
Fed-up local traders, like laundromat owner Sash Arsenijevic, are taking justice into their own hands to combat petty crime, with the help of a popular Facebook page.
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Townsfolk take on giant
A grassroots campaign is calling on Coles to scrap a multimilliondollar development on the Bellarine, in favour of an environmental restoration project. “STOP Coles at Swan Bay” was launched in September by residents concerned that the supermarket...
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MAKING US CROSS
School crossing supervisors aged up to 80 are sparking safety concerns and frustrations across Geelong, with one complaint filed by road users almost every three working days.
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YOU RUINED MY TREE
Former Geelong mayor Darryn Lyons has unleashed an expletive-laden tirade against the current council and the way it has dealt with the festive floating tree he championed, declaring “they can’t even give us a decent f---ing Christmas”.
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‘FAILS THE PUB TEST’
A local councillor’s decision to continue in her role while interstate for more than three months “does not pass the pub test”, or at least that’s the view of one colleague and a group advocating for ratepayers. Former Surf Coast mayor Liz Pattison is...
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RAPE CHARGES DROPPED
Geelong midfielder Tanner Bruhn has had sexual assault charges dropped after a key witness sensationally admitted to lying. In a scathing statement, Bruhn’s lawyer, Anna Balmer, said he had endured a “nightmare” over the false claims and wanted those...
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SACKED FOR BEING A VICTIM
A Geelong government employee claims she was suspended after her own department incorrectly identified her as a family violenceperpetrator when it was alleged she was actually the victim, court documents have revealed.
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BALI, HERE WE COME
Direct flights from Avalon Airport to Bali’s Denpasar will launch in a matter of months. The Geelong Advertiser can reveal the new route, to be operated by Jetstar, is one of three wins for regional travellers with the airline also bringing back its...
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Hero cops went ‘over and above’
Fresh details have emerged of how four hero cops overpowered a “sovereign citizen” who viciously stabbed one officer with a hunting knife and attempted to draw a gun on them. The four officers’ “extraordinary courage” has been acknowledged with a Chief...
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Home of Basils Farm hits market
The home of hatted restaurant and Bellarine Peninsula wedding venue Basils Farm has been listed for sale on the shores of Swan Bay. The 2.93ha estate with sweeping views to Queenscliff has cemented itself as a foodie destination, with a focus on...
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SEVENHOUR SIEGE
A Bell Park man is expected to today apply for bail following a police standoff where he was accused of assaulting a woman and then barricading himself inside a property. SWAT teams descended on a McClelland St home on Tuesday afternoon in what...
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SENSELESS KILLINGS
Three animal heads have washed up on a picturesque Bellarine Peninsula beach in a grisly find that has horrified beachgoers. An Indented Head resident made the shocking discovery after spotting the heads in crystal clear waters at the popular tourist...
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CROSSING DANGER
A Geelong railway crossing has been deemed one of the top 20 most unsafe in the state, after a young truck driver was killed. John Stubbs died in December 2023 when his trailer became stuck on the track of the Station St, North Shore level...
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Deakin heir pleads to save historic Ballara
A great-grandson of Australia’s second prime minister Alfred Deakin still holds hope the federal government can acquire his historic Point Lonsdale holiday home before the family is forced to sell. Tom Harley has been leading a campaign for the...
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Holiday spots turn ghost towns
Astronomical vacancy rates have catapulted two Great Ocean Road holiday spots into Australia’s top 10 regions for unoccupied dwellings. New analysis from Ray White reveals the LorneAnglesea district has the third highest unoccupied rate in the nation...
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MEDICAL CYBER ATTACK
A Bellarine Peninsula medical practice has been hit by a cyber attack, with hackers potentially stealing personal information from some patients. The Point Lonsdale Medical Group has confirmed they had a recent “cyber security incident”, claiming they...
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DAYLIGHT AXE ATTACK
Three men and a teenager armed with axes have been arrested, accused of stealing jewellery in Geelong’s CBD. It is alleged two men entered Cash Converters on Ryrie St and smashed a glass display cabinet with an axe.
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PRISON GUARD BUSTED
A Barwon Prison guard has been busted with contraband strapped to his ankle inside the maximumsecurity jail. The officer was immediately walked off the job earlier this month after a smart watch was detected underneath his uniform, prison sources have...
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Death probe drags on
Findings into the tragic deaths of three siblings who became trapped in a Geelong shed are not expected to be released until next year. On the second anniversary of the devastating fire, a coroner is still reviewing evidence into the deaths of Isaac,...
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