Pamela Ansell is all about creating memories – which is why she asked The Cartwheels’ Dave Patterson and Wendy Phypers to play at her 68th birthday last weekend.
Plenty of friends turned up and most of her family from New Zealand and around Australia.

Nothing unusual there, except that Pamela was diagnosed with breast cancer almost six years ago and given just two years to live.
She’s still going strong, well, strong enough but has decided treatment is no longer an option. But, with luck and a strong will, she still plans on making her 70th birthday.
“I’ve tried every treatment available. I’ve come to the end of what’s available and decided I’m just going to let the cancer ride its way. I don’t want any more interference.”
With a big shout out to her medical team in Ballarat, Pamela is also keen to thank her husband Richard for his care – especially after moving from Daylesford to Ballarat.
“We moved from our farm in Daylesford so that I could be closer to all the treatments, and it was the best thing we ever did. He misses the ride-on mower but I’ve had about three episodes where I’ve stopped breathing, and he’s had to resuscitate me. Which is a bit scary.”
Pamela’s cancer started as a lump in one breast, followed by a biopsy, but it was already too late for a mastectomy. The cancer has since progressed into many of her organs.
But she is far from giving up on life. Travel around Australia and back to her home, New Zealand, has kept her busy, as have many catch-ups with family and friends.
“It’s so good to have something to look forward to. I’ve got incredible friends and family around me – including four adult children and eight grandchildren. Most of them were there on Saturday. They keep me going.
“I think when you have an illness, you’ve got to have things to look forward to. I keep myself happy and meet up with friends for coffees and have a good time still.
“Not to say every day is like that, I have my bad times too. Sometimes I wake in the night just feeling quite panicked, thinking, ‘I can’t do this’. The nights are the worst. But certainly having Richard, a partner to help is huge. I don’t know how people do it on their own.”
In their former life, Pamela and Richard had accommodation for more than 20 people in Daylesford and were always booked out. And before that, Richard worked in banking with the couple moving around the world with his corporate work, “halcyon days”.
Pamela said she asked Dave and Wendy to play because she loved their music and “it just makes the party a bit more special”. “We had a country group play for Richard’s 60th birthday and people are still talking about that. It leaves a lovely memory.”
Pamela said she also wanted to remind people to make sure they had their mammograms and kept up with their tests. “I left mine a bit long, I think.
“Now I just want nice memories with the kids and friends. Making the most of what I have. At least I have had time to prepare for things like the songs I want at my funeral. I’m not hugely religious but I do believe there is a God there.”

Amanda Care won four medals this year. Three for bowling and one for powerlifting. The 55-year-old, who only recently started both sports as a competitor, says it is never too late to follow your dreams. The Hepburn resident is a real pocket rocket– and despite being born deaf – never let that get in the way of her dreams either. She chatted with Donna Kelly.

Donna: Which came first, the bowls or the power lifting?
Amanda: Lawn bowls. I started about six or seven years ago, just as a social bowler, never took it seriously. Back in Covid, I did go to Scotland for the World Bowls for the Deaf, but there was no selection process, it’s whoever could pay. So I wouldn’t have been selected because I didn’t have the skill set back then. This time around, I went for the Nationals and I practised from 12 weeks before.

Donna: What does that look like?
Amanda: I tried to do 100 bowls per day over six to seven days, if I could, and practised at Creswick because they’ve got the synthetic greens and they were open in winter. And then in Sebastopol with the covered greens when it was really crazy cold, freezing weather. I just did my own thing with my husband guiding me – he’s obsessed with bowls.

Donna: And how did the Nationals play out?
Amanda: The National Australian Deaf Bowls Championships were in Charlestown in New South Wales. I won the fours with four girls on the first day and then on the second day I started going through the selection process of singles. I never expected to win and almost lost on the first one but I managed to climb my way back and got that one. Then I got the next one and the next one and then I won seven games straight. It was the first time in the world it had been televised on YouTube with an Auslan interpreter and captions – so we were making history at the same time. It was pretty exciting and when I won I did a little curtsy and that photo went viral.

Donna: You say you didn’t think you would win…but I hear you did a drawing…
Amanda: Yes, a week before in art class, I am studying Cert 3 in art, we had to do a still-life drawing. So I did the bowls, a kitty and I went to the trophy shop and bought a trophy for the drawing. And just as I was leaving the class I said ‘I’d better write down what I’m winning next week – so I wrote singles winner 2020-25 for the Ladies Championships’. It would have been a bit embarrassing if I had to cross it out and put runner-up.

Donna: You still have one more bowls medal to explain.
Amanda: I had the mixed pairs and I made a mistake of going to the gym and doing a powerlifting session because I couldn’t bowl that day. My muscles were too fired up and too heavy on the bowls and it affects the bowls big time. But then I came runner-up in the triples. And I was selected for the World Championships in Charlestown in two years.

Donna: OK, so how did the power lifting start?
Amanda: I did it to stop my husband nagging me to do weights. He’s always been a weights person. I knew Dean at Strong from Castlemaine and then I realised he was now in Daylesford. Before that it was just my husband and I at home, working out together. But with Dean I have really thrived in that environment. He’s so encouraging and supportive. And I started training for the Australian Masters Games in power lifting. In bowls, we have to take our hearing aids out, and someone suggested to me I do that for powerlifting, and it gave me so much more capacity. With deafness there are two layers. Concentration fatigue and hearing fatigue. It’s call mind gymnastics. Anyway, I entered the 52-kilo weight class and did 90kg for the deadlift – which I won, and a personal best of 75kg for the squat. My PB for the bench is 46. Next year my goal for the deadlift is twice my weight, so 104kg.

Donna: So, I don’t know how to say this, but you obviously weren’t born deaf because you speak so well.
Amanda: Yes, I was born deaf but I was not diagnosed until I was two and a half. Back in the 70s you had to go to the doctor for a referral to an audiologist. But they thought I was intellectually impaired. Back then they called it retarded.
I was dismissed by several doctors, and mum was 22 with another baby on the way. This went on for months and I was nearly three before I got my first hearing aid so I missed out on all that language development.

Donna: What did you do for schooling in those days?
Amanda: We moved to Brisbane where they had a deaf unit, so I went to deaf kindergarten and deaf school and they were doing a revolutionary program to teach all deaf children to speak. It worked for some and not so much for others. Also the other kids would take the hearing aids out because they were the horrible hard plastic. But mum said I wanted to learn. I wanted to know. I wanted to engage. And that helped a lot. And then my sister was two and a half years younger than me. And she was learning to speak at the same time I was. Then mum did something revolutionary at the time – she took me to a hearing kindy two days a week. And the same for first year of deaf school. And then she took me out and decided to have me repeat grade one in mainstream school. And then I didn’t see any deaf people until I was 17.

Donna: Smart mum. What happened at 17?
Amanda: At 17 a visiting teacher of the deaf asked if I wanted to meet other deaf people. And I went to a bush dance and it just felt like I had come home. So I’m definitely in both worlds. In my 20s I was a manager and had to speak to my team every morning. I fumbled my way through and then hearing aid technology improved. I went from analogue to digital. And now its Bluetooth.

Donna: How much can you hear?
Amanda: I’m lip reading because I don’t know your voice yet. And with the hearing aids, I can pick up your voice. But it’s quiet. And there’s a noise of the air conditioning up here. And then I’m always guessing. It’s like a puzzle. The cat sat on the mat. But you might hear cat, mat. Well, what’s the cat doing with the mat? You’re constantly doing this all day long and putting the jigsaw puzzle together.

Donna: Do you have time to work with all of your sports?
Amanda: I’m a professional organiser and declutterer. That’s my playtime. It’s easier when it’s not your own stuff.

Donna: So it’s never too late to start something?
Amanda: Just do it. That’s my message to anyone. It’s not too late to find a new hobby or a new thing. And you don’t have to be the best at it. Have fun with it and just find what that thing is. I also love the social aspect of lawn bowls. You can go to any bowls club in Australia and they have open arms and are curious and interested and happy to have a chat. It’s just a really friendly sport.
Image: Kyle Barnes More online at www.tlnews.com.au

Victorians can now access free pads and tampons at train stations – supporting commuters when they need it most.

Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins has announced the launch of the next stage of the statewide vending machine rollout which will give commuters convenient access on-the-go at up to 55 train stations.

Vending machines have been rolled out in many train station bathrooms including Flinders Street, North Melbourne, Melbourne Central, Flagstaff, Werribee, Newport, Footscray and Essendon.

Train stations are among Victoria’s busiest public spaces. People can be caught off guard while they travel, and access to free pads and tampons can make the difference between getting on with the day comfortably or heading home abruptly.

One in five women and girls report that they can’t afford the period products they need every month. Since the launch of the program in November 2024, more than 310,000 packs have been dispensed – saving families hundreds of thousands of dollars.

More than 760 free pad and tampon machines have been installed in public libraries, TAFEs, cultural institutions, sports centres, community facilities and hospitals through the state government’s $23 million investment to make period products freely available across the state.

To find an interactive map of pads and tampons vending machines along your commute, visit betterhealth.vic.gov.au/free-pads-and-tampons.

The Victorian Government is encouraging drivers to make the right choices behind the wheel this holiday season.

A new campaign launched by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and Victoria Police highlights the risks of speeding and drink driving, and the critical role police play in deterring these dangerous behaviours.

Two new hard-hitting television ads are central to the campaign, one with a family in a drink-driving scenario and another with a young group of friends in a speeding scenario.

In both ads, the driver is about to make a life-altering choice when they arrive at a crossroad. One path reveals the harsh reality of being caught by police, while the other shows the aftermath of a devastating crash.

Each ad closes with a powerful reminder – “How your holiday ends is your choice”.

The campaign, which is targeted at holiday season travel, comes as 272 people have lost their lives on Victorian roads in 2025 – compared with 274 lives lost at the same time last year.

Victoria Police will increase traffic enforcement operations over the Christmas and holiday period, targeting dangerous behaviours including speed, distractions, and drink and drug driving.

This campaign will be seen across television, billboards, radio, print, cinema, social media and mobile digital platforms, from Monday, 15 December until Sunday, 1 February.

Farmers are encouraged to ensure their farm fire management plans are in place in preparation for the upcoming fire season. 

Late spring rainfall has seen most of Victoria receiving 60-100% of its average growing season rainfall. However, there is still an increased risk of fire forecast for the south-west, western, central and north-central Victoria, as well as south-west Gippsland. The increased risk is in part a result of long term rainfall deficiencies (APAC).

Don’t wait until a bad fire day is upon you but take some time now to review your fire plan.

Agriculture Victoria’s Fire Preparedness Toolkit will guide you through the key elements of bringing your fire plan up to date.

The toolkit contains checklists and templates to help you prepare for the season. Mapping critical assets, water sources, assembly/evacuation points and stock refuge areas as well as ensuring your Property Identification Codes (PICs) are up to date, are all recommended ahead of the fire season.

In addition, updating your farm asset inventory, reviewing your insurance policy and ensuring your documents are securely stored (in the cloud or off-farm) will ease the process of recovery should you be impacted by fires.

The toolkit and other resources are available on the Agriculture Victoria website and can be used in conjunction with resources from the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and your local council.

To request a hard copy of the toolkit email recovery@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Regional Victorians can continue to access world-class care with more funding for regional hospitals to expand and upgrade their services and facilities.

Premier and Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan has visited Bendigo Health to announce the 47 health services receiving a grant in the ninth round of Regional Health Infrastructure Fund (RHIF).

Worth a total of $75 million, the funding will support health services to deliver 61 projects and upgrades, including theatre refurbishments, expansions, equipment upgrades as well as funding to plan and design future projects.

Bendigo Health will receive $3 million for new surgical equipment, including a laparoscopy system, which will help to expand surgical capacity and reduce waitlists for women with chronic conditions like endometriosis.

The health service will also receive $1.2 million to upgrade its orthopedic and plastics tools, helping to deliver specialist surgical care, without patients needing to travel far from home.

This builds on existing projects supported by RHIF at Bendigo Health, including a new 15-bed wing at Golden Oaks Nursing Home and Central Sterile Department upgrades and bedside medical device upgrades.

Albury Wodonga Health will receive $4.4 million to expand its satellite renal dialysis unit, home dialysis service and Albury campus dialysis service – responding to growing demand across the region.

‍Mansfield District Hospital will use a $3.6 million grant redevelop its operating theatre and Urgent Care Centre – boosting patient safety and ensuring more care can be delivered closer to home.

While in Western Victoria, Beaufort and Skipton Health Service will receive $2.3 million to convert existing double rooms to single rooms and add three more single rooms at the Beaufort Nursing Home – improving the quality of accommodation and ensuring residents can age with the dignity they deserve.

by Liza Hone, Careers Advisor, Heritage Christian School

“Your result isn’t everything. If you really have a goal and believe you can do it, there are ways of getting there.”

Liza explains that while strong results can make entry into your preferred course easier, they are not the only route:

“I used to say medicine and law were exceptions, but even that’s not true anymore. I met medical students who started with scores in the 70s and still made it through alternate pathways.”

She stresses that results are not a lifelong label: “Once you’ve been out of school for six years, no one asks what your score was. It doesn’t stick with you, it’s not something you wear forever.”

Instead, think of your result as one step in a much bigger journey. Universities and employers increasingly value skills, experience, and persistence as much as academic marks. Whether through bridging programs, vocational training, or portfolio-based entry, there are multiple ways to reach your goal.

“If you really want it, there’s almost always a way, alternate entry programs, bridging courses, or experience-based applications.”

Liza explains that persistence pays off:

• Alternate entry programs: Many universities offer certificates or diplomas that lead into full degrees.
• Bridging courses: Short programs designed to meet prerequisites for your chosen field.
• Experience-based applications: Work experience, volunteering, or portfolios can strengthen your case for entry.

“Be willing to take other steps. It might be a more circuitous path, but you can still get there.”

She adds that flexibility is key:

• Consider regional universities or online study options.
• Use vocational training as a stepping stone.
• Build skills and confidence through work experience while planning your next move.

Didn’t get the results you wanted? Here’s how to still get into your dream course

University entry programs:
If you don’t meet the standard entry requirements for a bachelor’s degree, many universities offer “nested” pathways. These start with an undergraduate certificate or diploma, which can be completed in six months to a year. Successfully finishing these programs often guarantees entry into the full degree, and the subjects you complete usually count toward your degree, so you’re not wasting time.

TAFE to Uni:
Vocational education is a powerful alternative. Completing a Certificate III or IV or a Diploma at TAFE can open doors to university without needing a high rank. Some universities even have formal agreements with TAFE, meaning your vocational qualification can provide direct entry into related degrees.

Portfolio & Interviews:
For creative or skills-based courses, such as design, music, or visual arts, your portfolio often matters more than your academic score. Many institutions also require interviews or auditions to assess your practical skills and passion. Even competitive programs like teaching or nursing may ask for a personal statement or interview to gauge communication skills and commitment.

Work Experience:
Real-world experience can be a game-changer. Universities and employers value transferable skills like communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. Liza advises students to seek meaningful work experience rather than relying on part-time jobs alone:

“Don’t just fill your week with your part-time job. Think about roles that build soft skills, meeting clients, thinking on your feet, or working in teams. These experiences can strengthen your applications and help you discover what you really want.”

Gap year with purpose:

“It’s not a year off life, it’s a year of discovery, really. Trying to work out more about who you are and maybe get away from those expectations, your parents’, your friends’, or even your own.” A gap year can help students clarify their goals and avoid costly course changes later. Use the time to:

• Work: Build transferable skills like communication and problem-solving while earning money.
• Volunteer: Gain leadership experience and show initiative, qualities universities and employers value.
• Travel: Exposure to new environments builds resilience and independence.

“Four out of five of my own children started a degree and changed direction later. A gap year can save you from that by helping you make a more informed choice.”

How to Talk to Your Child About Their Results

“If they’re disappointed, acknowledge their feelings first, then remind them that there are many other ways forward.”

• Encourage research: Explore alternative pathways together, bridging courses, vocational options, or portfolio-based entry.
• Consider alternate campuses: Sometimes the same degree is available at a different university with lower entry requirements.
• Don’t rush into a degree just to ‘do something’: Taking time to make an informed decision can save years of frustration and debt.
• Gap year as an investment: “Sometimes a gap year is the best investment. It’s not a year off life, it’s a year of discovery, really. Trying to work out more about who you are and maybe get away from those expectations, your parents’, your friends’, or even your own.”

About 40 Central Victorian activists from Castlemaine, Ballarat, Bendigo, Kyneton, Elphingstone, Chewton and more, travelled to Newcastle for the Rising Tide People’s Blockade from Wednesday 26^th November to Tuesday 2^nd December, joining about 8,000 other activists from around Australia and beyond.

The weekend’s actions on Saturday and Sunday were successful in turning back three coal ships – which was the focus of the Blockade, but also cancelling any further boats for the weekend. Of the 30 ships supposed to load up and move out over the weekend, only two managed to make it through.

From the Central Vic contingent, about 5 brave paddlers and swimmers were arrested.

There was a Community Care tent providing support, rest and sunscreen. Other tents provided activities for kids, legal advice, and information on many activist groups around Australia.

Activists mostly camped on site, joining a huge contingent of activists from all around Australia.

Participants volunteered for various jobs around site including washing dishes, keeping the site clean, marshalling, driving, security, arrestee support, etc.

On Sunday 7^th December, the group met up for a post Rising Tide picnic at the Castlemaine Gardens to reflect, tell tales and think about the future.

Details: centralvicclimateaction2@gmail.com.

The commencement of Australia’s first Treaty has been marked with a ceremonial signing and event at John Cain Arena.

Premier Jacinta Allan, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins, and Co-Chairs of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria Ngarra Murray and Rueben Berg attended the event marking the official start of Treaty.

Treaty is a pathway to acknowledging the past and making real, practical changes to achieve better outcomes for First Peoples in Victoria and close the gap.

A woomera and spear were brought together to symbolise the beginning of a new formal relationship between First Peoples and the Victorian Government.

The Premier, Minister and Co-Chairs placed ochre handprints on kangaroo skin to represent the Treaty, and the Treaty Authority declared the commencement in accordance with their rules.

The public event featured iconic Australian artists including Alice Skye, Baker Boy, Briggs, Uncle Kutcha Edwards, Deborah Cheetham, Missy Higgins, Paul Kelly and a special appearance by Yothu Yindi performing their anthem ‘Treaty’ at the end.

The commencement follows Royal Assent of the Statewide Treaty Bill on 13 November 2025, which establishes Gellung Warl as a permanent entity including the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, a truth-telling arm and an independent accountability mechanism.

With preparations to open the West Gate Tunnel tomorrow Victoria’s newest road network control centre is ready to keep traffic moving safely from day one.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne and Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams has announced rigorous testing at Transurban’s Yarraville control centre is complete – ensuring smooth and safe travel through the road tunnels.

The high-tech centre brings together cutting-edge monitoring systems and rapid-response crews to oversee 38 kilometres of key roads across Melbourne’s north, west and south-east – including 17 kilometres of the West Gate Tunnel, West Gate Freeway and veloway, alongside the existing CityLink network.

The 3800 square metre facility will operate every day of the year and features a 72-square-metre video wall fed by almost 900 cameras, including more than 400 high-tech cameras that automatically detect incidents like breakdowns and immediately alert controllers.

Built beside the landmark northern tunnel entry, the new control centre will support Transport Victoria’s Transport Operations Centre (TOC), which manages the broader state network – delivering safer and more reliable journeys.

Operators will use real-time technology including ramp signals, tunnel information signs, the electronic Lane Use Management System, over-height detection lasers and 13 variable message signs – enabling staff to spot issues immediately and respond fast to anything affecting traffic flow or safety.

More than 10,000 tests and simulation drills have been completed to ensure all systems are ready – so whether it’s a collision, breakdown or spill, the operations team will be able to act immediately – deploying crews, adjusting speed limits, activating ramp signals and managing lane access to keep drivers safe.

The West Gate Tunnel will provide the first real alternative to the West Gate Bridge, taking 9000 trucks off local roads and slashing travel times between Melbourne’s west and the CBD.

To learn more about the West Gate Tunnel Project, visit westgatetunnelproject.vic.gov.au/drive.

Victorian cattle producers can now harness cutting-edge technology to guide and contain livestock without physical fences, with the state government approving the safe use of virtual fencing.

Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence recently announced the new regulations under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986, giving farmers access to virtual fencing and herding technology.

These new regulations come with safeguards and clear requirements, providing farmers with smarter tools to manage livestock with precision, boost productivity, and keep animal welfare a top priority.

Victorian manufacturers can now apply to Agriculture Victoria for their virtual fencing technology to be approved, with the first products expected to be approved in early February 2026. The approval conditions will include requirements for record keeping and reporting.

Farmers adopting this technology, which uses collars with GPS and wireless technology to control livestock without physical fences, will need to comply with certain requirements – using approved technologies, completing manufacturer training, maintaining a physical boundary fence or barrier and ensuring collars are checked regularly.

The new regulations were developed following engagement with industry, manufacturers, researchers and animal welfare groups on virtual fencing to better understand the impacts of this technology on animal welfare.

A demonstration of virtual fencing technology took place at Agriculture Victoria’s Ellinbank SmartFarm in Gippsland between July 2024 and May 2025 – giving famers a better understanding close to home.

Dairy cattle were fitted with solar-powered smart collars that use audio, vibration and electronic cues to contain animals within a virtual fence and guide them to areas of the farm via a mobile phone app. The system also allowed farm staff to monitor the cows’ location, health and reproductive status.

The trial demonstrated how virtual fencing technology can enhance livestock management, enabling farmers to monitor animal health and location in real time. Cows adapted well to the system, with milk yields remaining consistent with expectations.

Electronic collars for livestock species other than cattle can only be used when a scientific licence has been granted under the POCTA Act, and the use is approved by an Animal Ethics Committees.

For more information visit, agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/animal-welfare-victoria/livestock-management-and-welfare/livestock-confinement

By Bec Cameron, Dairy Industry Development Officer, Ellinbank
Dairy farmers are encouraged to take proactive steps to protect herd health as humid, wet conditions increase disease, affect growth rates of young cattle and decrease productivity.
Infectious diseases
The risk of infectious diseases increases in wetter conditions. The risk of mastitis rises when cows lie in muddy environments, allowing bacteria to enter the udder. Leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease, can spread through contaminated water, posing risks to both cattle and humans. Clostridial diseases such as blackleg and pulpy kidney may also emerge after flooding or soil disturbance.
Pinkeye in cattle is a common summer and autumn issue in Victoria, mainly caused by bacteria and spread by flies, dust and grass seeds. It leads to tearing, squinting, swollen eyelids and cloudy corneas that can progress to ulcers and blindness, reducing weight gain and milk production. Treatment includes antibiotic eye ointments or injections and veterinarians can help identify the bacterial strain affecting the animal.
Controlling flies, slashing pastures to reduce seed heads, providing shade, vaccinating before fly season and maintaining good nutrition (vitamin A, copper and selenium) can help reduce the risk. Early detection and isolating affected animals help limit spread and protect herd productivity.
Facial eczema and liver disease
Facial eczema is prevalent in humid weather conditions, alongside the liver disease caused by cattle ingesting spores. The spores thrive in dead pasture during warm, humid conditions. The toxin damages the liver and can lead to photosensitisation, reduced milk yield and weight loss. Subclinical cases may go unnoticed but still affect productivity.
Prevention is essential and includes monitoring spore counts through your vet, supplementing with zinc in consultation with your nutritionist or feed company and managing grazing to reduce exposure.
Hoof health
Lameness caused by softened hooves from prolonged exposure to moisture can increase. Wet laneways and paddocks increase the risk of bruising, footrot and white-line injury. These conditions reduce mobility, feed intake and milk production, which can lead to early culling.
Preventative measures include maintaining dry walking surfaces, regular hoof checks and prompt treatment of injuries.
Parasites
Parasite burdens can increase during humid conditions, as worm larvae survive longer on pasture. Calves are especially vulnerable to gastrointestinal parasites like coccidia and cryptosporidium, which cause scours and dehydration. Flystrike may also affect cattle with open wounds or irritated skin.
Regular faecal egg counts, strategic drenching and fly control are key management tools.
Water quality
Water quality may also decline due to contamination from floods, increasing the risk of algal blooms, meaning regular water testing and access to clean water are vital.
Proactive management of troughs and water sources helps protect herd health and maintain productivity during challenging weather.
Nutrition
Wet conditions can reduce pasture quality through waterlogging and lower dry matter, affecting cattle nutrition, especially the energy and protein needed for milk production. Supplementing with silage or concentrates helps maintain dietary balance. Moisture also increases disease spread between farms, so limiting movement of animals and equipment is important.
Regular monitoring and record-keeping, including tracking hoof health, parasite treatments and water quality supports early intervention and protects herd productivity.
Find more information about managing animals in wet conditions can be found on the Agriculture Victoria website.

New resources in schools will  help students, teachers and parents navigate the impacts of social media and screentime.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll has announced new ScrollSafe resources – designed to help secondary school students look after their mental health and stay safe online – will now be available at schools across the education state.

Developed by Orygen, the resources assist young people stay in control of their time online and make sure it is supporting their mental health. A dedicated online hub will give students simple, practical advice through a 10 tips guide, supported by a student booklet, take-home flyer and digital wellbeing plan to help them make positive choices.

The resources will also aid teachers in having conversations with students about social media and youth mental health. Parents and carers will be supported with practical resources to help guide their teen’s online behaviour. A dedicated parent hub will include clear information, engaging videos and tips on helping families starting conversions about social media, online safety and mental health.

ScrollSafe resources build on existing wellbeing and digital literacy programs, are optional for schools, and don’t create any new requirements.

They are available through the Government’s $3.5 million Safe Socials program – which provides digital literacy resources to support families and schools ensure young people stay safe and have positive experiences online.

These resources build on the government’s investment, including in the  Mental Health in Primary Schools program – delivered in partnership with the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the University of Melbourne – which is helping children build stronger emotional skills, feel more connected to schools, attend more regularly and develop better social skills.

The program has reduced mental health stigma among school staff and families, with the final group of schools will be welcomed into the Mental Health in Primary Schools program at the start of 2026.

The grand final of the education year has come to an end for our Victorian Year 12 students, who will receive their official VCE results from 7am today.

Acting Minister for Education Lizzie Blandthorn congratulated a record 65,586 students who will graduate with their VCE, and increase of 3500 compared to last year. The class of 2025 includes 9,777 students who earned the VCE Vocational Major, up from 8290 in 2024.

More than 15,300 students have received at least one study score of 40 or higher, a record 664 students have received at least one maximum study score of 50, and 3,473 students have been awarded the VCE Baccalaureate.

The overall VCE completion rate in Victoria is stable at 97.3 per cent and Year 12 students across the state will now make the choice to go to university, TAFE, start an apprenticeship or traineeship, start working or take some time off.

On top of these achievements, more than 1,150 students received the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) – a pathway that prepares students for future studies or entry into the workforce.

VCE results and Australian Tertiary Admission Rankings (ATARs) are available from 7am today for students who registered to access their results online at resultsandatar.vic.edu.au/results/applicants.

Students with questions about their results can call the Post Results and ATAR Service on 1800 653 080.

Older people are being reminded of the government’s Financial Hardship Assistance program, amid concerns some people are finding the new Aged Care Act changes difficult to navigate and manage.

The new Act includes a range of benefits, such as an enforceable Statement of Rights, which strengthens protections for older people.

However, implementing this in everyday practice will take time and early feedback indicates that many older people aren’t aware of their rights and lack the information needed to make informed decisions.

Examples include pressures of rising participant contributions, reduced purchasing power due to pricing changes, shifts in assessment processes, and uncertainty around the Support at Home letters and interim package releases.

Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) CEO Craig Gear said no older person should be worse off under the changes and more must be done to raise awareness of the new Act and assistance available.

“The new Act is generational reform but is far from perfect. Challenges remain which require prompt action from government,” Mr Gear said.

“Any service agreement must be fair, equitable, transparent and easy to understand. Older people have the right to negotiate the terms and service plan with their aged care provider and seek guidance from an independent advocate.

“If you’re cutting back on essentials, receiving reminder notices or thinking about reducing services because of out-of-pocket costs, please know there is support available.

 “You have the right to apply to have your contributions reduced or waived through the government’s Financial Hardship Assistance program. While there are eligibility criteria, this exists so older people aren’t left without essential care simply because fees have become unaffordable – and you have every right to ask for help early. 

 “OPAN is here to help. Resources covering a range of topics are available and we encourage people to call the Aged Care Advocacy Line on 1800 700 600 for support and assistance.”

If older people are concerned they are facing genuinely unreasonable aged care costs, they can make a complaint to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.