The state government is supporting a new research program at Agriculture Victoria’s Hamilton SmartFarm, using next generation technology to help Australian farmers raise healthier, more productive flocks.

Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence announced that the MultiMix forage research program is now underway, to determine which combinations of multispecies pasture mixes work best for Australian sheep producers – research that will support meat sheep production while also cutting methane emissions.

The government is investing $2.4 million to support Agriculture Victoria to officially launch the program, with additional support from Meat & Livestock Australia and the Zero Net Emissions Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre (ZNE-Ag CRC), bringing the total funding to $5.5 million to deliver the three-year program.

The Hamilton SmartFarm ensures our scientists remain at the forefront of agricultural research and can provide Victorian farmers with the skills and knowledge they need to continue to thrive in a changing climate.

This research will deliver important insights into the benefits of using mixed pastures as an alternative to perennial ryegrass, currently the main source of feed for Australian sheep farms. Globally, researchers are exploring diverse pasture mixes by blending different plant species to create more resilient and productive pastures.

Most of the research to date has been conducted in higher rainfall zones, so it’s important to understand how well these pasture mixes will perform under drier Australian conditions.

These mixes can grow deeper roots, require less fertiliser, and may even help reduce enteric methane emissions from sheep and cattle. The goal of MultiMix is to find the right combination of plant types that are both productive even in drier seasons and can reduce methane emissions from grazing livestock.

The pasture trials started a couple a months ago, with 25 hectares of pasture trials already sown at the Hamilton SmartFarm as part of the first stage of the project and is ready for sheep to graze now.

The program is part of the Government’s ongoing work to deliver cutting-edge agricultural research and innovation with industry, farmers and research institutions to test, trial and apply new ideas in Victorian conditions.

For more information, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/about/research/research-smartfarms

Farmers impacted by kangaroos competing for pasture and crops can apply for the On-Farm Kangaroo Control Rebate program now. 

The program provides rebates for eligible farmers statewide who hold an Authority to Control Wildlife (ATCW) to hire authorised professional harvesters who have accreditation from the Game Management Authority.

Eligible farmers across the state can access up to 3 rebates of $450 each (ex-GST) with a 25% co-contribution to help control kangaroos.

For more information and to apply visit: https://go.vic.gov.au/4eRWVxa

The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) is urging drivers and motorcyclists to look out for each other and share the road safely, with the number of riders being killed and injured still concerningly high.

As Motorcyclist Awareness Month (MAM) begins this week in Victoria, 47 riders have lost their lives on the state’s roads – a reduction on the 49 at the same time in 2024, but significantly above the five-year average of 36.

Led by Victoria’s Motorcycle Community Engagement Panel, with support from the TAC, Victoria Police and the Department of Transport and Planning, the initiative focuses on rider safety, highlighting the importance of motorists safely sharing the roads with riders, and motorcyclists playing their role in keeping themselves safe.

Motorcycle riders make up around three per cent of registered vehicles in Victoria, however account for around 17 per cent of road deaths and around 23 per cent of very serious injuries.

In the past five years, around 60 per cent of motorcycle rider fatalities have involved another vehicle – with approximately half of these happening at intersections.

Intersections are highly complex environments where we often see drivers, riders, pedestrians and cyclists interacting, highlighting the need for all road users to remain vigilant and obey all road rules, signals and signs.

MAM will officially launch with a community event this Saturday (4 October) at Melbourne’s Queensbridge Square on Southbank from 10:30am to 12:30pm – motorcyclists and the broader community are encouraged to attend.

To kick-off the month, TAC has also joined with Ambulance Victoria to highlight the impact of road trauma on first responders and promote the importance of wearing protective gear on every ride.

The TAC has re-launched its motorcycle safety campaign, Only Protected for a Moment, to remind motorcyclists of how important it is to wear protective gear for every ride. The TAC will again be at the Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island on 18-19 October, promoting rider safety gear.

Throughout MAM, Victorians will see safety messages on roadside digital signage across the state as well as widespread media advertising in metro and regional areas, and community events will pop up including ‘Blessing of the Bikes’ at Tooborac and ‘Biketoberfest’ at Leongatha.

Campaign ambassador, comedian and motorcycling enthusiast Ross Noble will also feature in a digital content series promoting motorcyclist safety.

By Michele Jolliffe, Agriculture Victoria, Hamilton

Capitalising on the spring surplus will be critical on farms this year. While some things are out of our control, focusing on key factors will help ensure that you get the best possible return.
Five key factors for silage this season are:
1. Only lock up pasture that is surplus to requirements.
Making silage can be an expensive exercise, so it only makes sense when pasture growth exceeds animal requirements. In a reasonable year on most farms, this generally occurs in early to mid-September.
2. Use nitrogen (N) to increase dry matter yield but cut pasture within 6 weeks of application.
Once cutting is delayed beyond 6 weeks, the quality of the silage declines more rapidly than if no nitrogen is applied and this can result in large quantities of low-quality silage which is unsuitable to feed cows in the early stage of lactation.
By using rates of nitrogen up to 50 kg N/ha, responses of 18 kg DM/ha for every kg N applied, six weeks after application can be produced.
3. Be prepared to cut pasture when the ryegrass component of the sward is just reaching early ear emergence.
Ideally, the plan is to cut pasture when the ryegrass component of the sward is at early ear emergence.
Due to the seasonal conditions this year, it is more likely that paddocks will be cut at a range of times, for example, when it is still vegetive or later than early ear emergence.
As a result, it will be critical to ensure that the forage hits dry matter targets quickly, so it doesn’t lose quality.
4. Use tedders to increase the drying rate of cut material and so reduce the wilting period.
It has been shown that the use of tedders has a beneficial effect on both final silage metabolisable energy and crude protein. The length of the wilting period will be dictated by the type of silage to be made and weather conditions.
Given reasonable drying conditions material should be ready for pit silage within 48 hours and for bale silage within 72 hours.
5. Ensile material quickly and seal well.
It’s important to ensure that the material being ensiled is tightly packed into either a pit or the bale and that it is sealed promptly.
The ideal dry matter of pasture for pit silage is 30%, any lower and effluent may be a problem, and any higher compaction may be difficult.
The dry matter percentage of bale silage should be about 45 – 50%. At this dry matter a reasonable fermentation should occur, and it reduces the chance of spoilage.
For more information about drought support visit www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186.

Black Dog Institute is calling on people around the nation to put One Foot Forward this October and take part in a national movement for mental health.

Held during Mental Health Month, this virtual challenge invites people to walk, run, or roll throughout the month to raise funds and support the 1 in 5 Australians who experience a mental illness every year.

Since its launch in 2020, One Foot Forward has inspired more than 170,000 people to get moving, raising over $34 million for Black Dog Institute’s critical mental health research, helping put ground-breaking mental health treatments, education, and digital services into the hands of people who need them most.

Tamara Aiken, One Foot Forward Campaign Manager at Black Dog Institute, says the campaign is a reminder of what community action can achieve.

“One Foot Forward is a practical way for people to show support and take action on an issue that affects millions of Australians,” says Tamara.

“Every person who takes part is helping improve access to support and reduce the stigma that still surrounds mental illness.”

For Rachel, who lost her close friend Daniel to suicide, the challenge offered a way to channel her grief into something meaningful.

“When I found out about One Foot Forward, it gave me a way to keep honouring Daniel’s life and also help other people who might be battling their own mental health issues,” Rachel says.

“It gave me a way to focus all of that energy that I didn’t know how to use, and turn it into something really positive and beautiful.”

“One Foot Forward is so much about the strength of the community and feeling support from everyone who’s participating and the fundraising team.  I love just being a part of something that’s really positive and feels like I am a part of making a change in the world.”

Rachel has now completed the challenge multiple times, inspired by both the cause and the community that surrounds it.

For Cheyenne, who has experienced her own long journey with mental health and faced some of her darkest moments while navigating family, health, and personal challenges, One Foot Forward has been both a lifeline and a platform to give back. Since 2020, Cheyenne has proudly raised $25,000 for Black Dog Institute – an incredible $23,000 of that through One Foot Forward.

“The One Foot Forward community is a beautiful and encouraging network. We support each other, we cheer each other on, we speak about our personal journeys without judgement, and we share our achievements,” Cheyenne says.

“I love the support from my community, the joy I feel when I accomplish my targets and the fulfilment of being a part of something that will change the lives of so many people.”

Meanwhile, Julia, who has been participating since 2021, is preparing to walk an incredible 600km this October – including a 24-hour walk.

“I literally wait for October to come around every year. My mind and body thrive on it,” Julia says.

“By talking about mental health and reducing the stigma and silence, we also reduce its power to take over. We can let others know that it’s okay not to be okay, you aren’t the only one, and there are organisations you can go to for support and education.”

Funds raised through the challenge support Black Dog Institute’s work in suicide prevention, digital mental health tools, early intervention research, and community education programs.  Suicide is one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time. Each year, too many lives are lost — and behind every number are families, friends, and communities forever changed.

That’s why taking part in One Foot Forward matters. Every step helps fund ground-breaking research and practical support to improve mental health across Australia.

Registrations are now open! Join Tamara, Rachel, Cheyenne, Julia, and thousands of others in putting One Foot Forward this October and help create better mental health for all.

Nominations have opened for a new award that will recognise women’s vital contributions to the local government sector in Victoria.

Minister for Local Government Nick Staikos said the inaugural Mary Rogers Award would celebrate women in leadership and support efforts to advance gender equality in the local government sector.

The award is part of $20,000 in government funding for the Victorian Local Governance Association and its work to acknowledge women councillors, raise the profile of women in the sector and highlight the importance of gender equality in local decision making.

The achievement award, announced in August, is named after Victoria’s first woman councillor, Mary Rogers, who was elected to Richmond council in 1920.

Nominations are open for three award categories:

• Mary Rogers Award – Awarded to a current woman councillor for outstanding contributions as a civic leader in Victoria.
• Emerging Woman Leader Award – Awarded to a woman councillor who is demonstrating outstanding leadership in their first term.
• Gender Equality Council Champion Award – Awarded to a council in recognition of their work in supporting women’s participation in local government.

The VLGA will manage the awards process from nominations through to the award ceremony, which will be held at Queen’s Hall at Parliament House later this year.

In addition, the association will also conduct a series of roundtables on gender equality in the sector to help to lift women’s representation and support diversity.

Nominations for the Mary Rogers Awards close at 5pm, Friday, October 24 and can be made at: vlga.org.au/governance-leadership/local-government/mary-rogers-awards

Legendary rock band Metallica is turning up the volume on blood donation, joining forces with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood during its upcoming Australian tour to celebrate the lifesaving power of blood and plasma donors.

The collaboration, in conjunction with Metallica’s foundation All Within My Hands, will see Aussie donors, who donate in selected CBD donor centres in the week before each tour stop, receive a limited-edition Metallica t-shirt designed by the band’s iconic artist SQUINDO.

The one-of-a-kind design for Aussie donors features the band’s famous ‘A Sea of Hearts Beat As One’ lyric, encapsulated within a blood drop, as well as a visual nod to Aussie Metallica fans.

The t-shirts will be available to donors who sign up, or have previously signed up to Lifeblood’s loyalty program Lifeblood Gifts, and who donate at: Perth Donor Centre from October 25 to October 31; Adelaide Donor Centre from October 29 to November 4; Melbourne CBD Donor Centre from November 1–7; Brisbane Donor Centre from November 5–11; and at the Town Hall and York Street Donor Centres in Sydney from November 8–14.

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood ’s Executive Director of Donor Experience, Cath Stone said Lifeblood was thrilled to be collaborating with Metallica and All Within My Hands to raise awareness of the critical need for blood donations and encourage more Australians to roll up their sleeves.

“Metallica and their foundation’s commitment to making every tour stop a better place, by rallying fans to donate blood and plasma, is a selfless act that will have a lifesaving impact on so many individuals and their families,” Cath said.

“With demand for blood at a 12-year-high and plasma demand at record levels, we hope this partnership will fuel an influx of Metallica fan donors that we can welcome home to our donor centres.

“Don’t let blood donation be the day that never comes, because when you’re saving lives, nothing else matters.”

This collaboration with Lifeblood builds on Metallica’s global legacy of giving, including its partnership with the American Red Cross. During the recent M72 World Tour in the US, Metallica and the All Within My Hands Foundation helped the Red Cross collect more than 2,000 blood and platelet donations to save lives through a series of Red Cross x Metallica blood drives and has recently announced an expansion of their partnership.

Just one donation can save up to three lives and helps people living with cancer and immune deficiencies, new mothers, trauma patients and people undergoing surgery.

*Fun fact: If you have tattoos you are likely to be eligible to donate. You can donate plasma straight away after a tattoo, as long as it was done in a licensed tattoo parlour in Australia. And you’ll need to wait just one week to give blood or platelets.

To find out more and book a donation, visit lifeblood.com.au/metallica or call 13 14 95.

There is free public transport to Victorian Seniors Card holders to explore thousands of Seniors Festival events this October – ahead of introducing extended free public transport on weekends across the state for more than 650,000 seniors from next year.

Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams recently announced seniors from across the state can take advantage of free public transport travel from Sunday, October 5 until Sunday, October 12.

The free travel applies for all forms of public transport, including trains, trams, buses and coach services across metro and regional areas.

Seniors Card holders will need to carry their card while travelling, and touch on and off with their seniors myki as usual – but no fare will be charged. On non-myki services, seniors can simply show their Seniors Card to the conductor or bus driver. 

This initiative is in addition free weekend travel to be statewide for more than 650,000 Victorian Seniors Card holders from January 1, 2026 – allowing them to catch a train, tram or bus statewide at no cost and making it easier to stay connected with family, friends and the community.

Now in its 43^rd year, the Victorian Seniors Festival runs in the month of October and will feature more than 3,000 free or low-cost events and activities across the state.

This year’s theme – ‘Connect, Create, Celebrate’ – encourages older Victorians to build social connections, discover new interests and embrace positive ageing.

From Country Concerts and Songs of Judy Garland to ACMI Seniors Film Festival, abseiling in Mount Buffalo and an 1800s themed walking tour – this year’s festival offers something for everyone.

Seniors Card holders are also encouraged to utilise the free transport to attend the annual Celebration Day at Federation Square on Sunday, October 5 which will see the precinct come to life with a variety of entertainment including line dancing, a mass ukulele play along and tai chi.

For more information on the eight days of free public transport and the Victorian Seniors Festival events, visit seniorsonline.vic.gov.au.

Every day in Australia, 58 people are diagnosed with breast cancer. It remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women, with more than 21,000 new cases expected in 2025. Heartbreakingly, nine Australians die from the disease every single day.

Despite these confronting numbers, conversations about breast cancer are often avoided, leaving many women to face their fears in silence. A new national campaign from tea brand Tetley in support of Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) aims to change that, by transforming something as simple as a chat over a cup of tea into what could be a life changing conversation.

The Uncomfortable Cup campaign, launched ahead of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, encourages Australians to have difficult but vital conversations about symptoms, screening, and support. Working together, BCNA and Tetley are using a range of approaches to start meaningful conversations and provide strength through shared experiences.

As part of the campaign, Tetley is raising essential funds to support the work of BCNA through a limited-edition pink pack of Tetley Tea Cup 100s from which it will be donating 5 cents for every pack sold to BCNA. Funds raised will help ensure that every Australian affected by breast cancer has access to BCNA’s trusted information, support services, and advocacy.

To bring the campaign to life, Tetley has commissioned a series of unique artisan cups each with a sensory touch design relating to some of the physical symptoms individuals might be able to feel as part of self-examination.  The mugs form part of a social media campaign that encourages Australians to share their experiences and spark action.

“Sharing a cup of tea can be the catalyst for conversations, which no matter how uncomfortable, are deeply necessary. Whether checking in with a loved one, sharing a personal story, or learning about symptoms and screening, these moments of connection can lead to early detection, greater understanding, and stronger support,” says Divya Shrivastava, Head of Marketing ANZ.

Case Study: Paula Correa, Sydney, New South Wales

Sydney resident Paula Correa, 41, was diagnosed in 2020 following breast reduction surgery when the doctor found a lump.

“At my first oncologist appointment, I was sitting in the waiting room, overwhelmed and unsure of what to expect,” Correa said

“Across from me sat a little boy – also a cancer patient. We caught eyes and in that quiet moment nothing was said, but everything was understood. It was deeply uncomfortable. We were two people at opposite ends of life, him just starting, me in my 40s but facing the same terrifying road ahead.

“That silent exchange reminded me that cancer doesn’t discriminate. It forced me to confront the reality of what I was going through in a way that words never could. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.

“Campaigns such as Uncomfortable Cup start important, often avoided, conversations and remind people that early detection matters and that breast cancer isn’t always obvious. I hope it encourages more people to talk openly, get checked, and support one another through difficult journeys, because silence can cost lives.”

Pilatti said the partnership represents everything BCNA stands for – being present in the moments that matter most.

“Just as Tetley brings people together over a cup of tea, BCNA connects Australians to the information, peer support, and advocacy they need to face breast cancer with confidence. Together, we want to transform the kitchen table conversations into life-changing action,” Pilatti said.

For more information, visit https://www.tetley.com.au/theuncomfortablecup/

The state government has announced superstars from the Australian Diamonds will spearhead a new tourism push to help drive more visitors to the state, as part of its partnership with Netball Australia.

Players including Jo Weston, Liz Watson, Hannah Mundy, Sophie Garbin, Kate Moloney, Sunday Aryang, Amy Parmenter and Rudi Ellis will feature in the state’s tourism campaign – Every bit different.

Kicking off this week, new advertising will be rolled out across television, out-of-home spots such as billboards, and digital media channels across the country and New Zealand.

The campaign is designed to showcase the state and support netball ahead of upcoming events including the first match of the South Africa Series at Bendigo Stadium on October 4, and game one of the Constellation Cup at Rod Laver Arena on October 17.

The campaign playfully uses netball terminology together with the players at iconic Victorian experiences such as:

• The ‘Wing Attack Bit’ – featuring players enjoying Melbourne’s outstanding dining and culinary scene at Leonard’s House of Love in South Yarra.
• The ‘Tactical Timeout Bit’ – promoting the state’s spa and wellbeing offering at About Time Bathhouse in Torquay.
• The ‘Perfect Shot Bit’ – showcasing Victoria’s world-class coffee at Good Measure in Carlton.
• The ‘Team Huddle Bit’ – highlighting the state’s vibrant late-night culture at Music Room HER in Melbourne.

This latest announcement comes off the back of the Premier launching the Every bit different campaign in China last week, and follows the sell-out Super Netball Grand Final in August which attracted a record 15,013 fans to Rod Laver Arena.

As the number one ranked national netball team in the world, the Labor Government is proud to support the Diamonds, who are an inspiration for young people across all levels of the sport. Netball boasts the highest level of participation among young women for any sport in Australia.

Off the court, this sponsorship is delivering community benefits through ambassadorships, school clinics, community engagement initiatives and training camps – including a high-performance camp for the Diamonds and community clinic taking place in Bendigo from October 1.

Outstanding teachers and schools are being celebrated for their innovation and excellence, with finalists being announced for this year’s Victorian Education Excellence Awards.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll recently congratulated the 41 finalists across 14 award categories which recognise inspirational teachers, principals, and education support staff making a difference to the lives of students in Victorian government schools.

Some of this year’s finalists include Chloe Wade, a teacher from Welshpool and District Primary School, who has improved student literacy and numeracy using data-driven and evidence-based practices. She also supports staff with disability inclusion, helping them to develop and refine individual learning plans for students with disability.

Secondary school leader at Victorian College for the Deaf, Robert Harrow, has been nominated for his leadership helping secondary year students. The college has enrolled students in the VCE for the first time in 15 years thanks to his work improving literacy and numeracy.

Western Port Secondary College is a finalist for its work introducing a consistent, high expectation, school-wide behavioural standard that its leaders model every day. VET participation, the school’s VCE median study scores and staff wellbeing have all increased significantly.

Judging panels will determine the winners of each award, who will be announced at a ceremony on Friday, October 24, a week before World Teachers’ Day.

The awards also support the continued professional development of staff, with professional learning grants of $20,000 available for each individual award winner, and $25,000 for each team award.

The winner of the Lindsay Thompson Award for Excellence in Education – which honours Victoria’s longest serving education minister and former Premier – receives a further professional learning grant of $20,000.

More information about the awards and finalists is available at vic.gov.au/veea

The state government is cracking down on big energy companies by strengthening consumer protection laws and helping save families money on their energy bills.

Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio recently announced changes to the Energy Retail Code of Practice, making them the strongest in the nation and putting $258 back into the pockets of Victorians each year.

Energy retailers will be required to automatically switch customers in payment difficulty, and customers who have had debt on their energy bill for more than three months and over $1000 debt, onto their best offer. This will save 75,000 electricity and 60,000 gas customers a total of $27.8 million per year. Customers can opt-out.

Victorians on older contracts often pay higher rates because they haven’t switched plans. That’s why we’re also introducing a reasonable price limit on energy plans over four years old.

This will stop busy working families being ripped off by the ‘loyalty penalty’ business model where customers sign up to cheap offers, that end up more expensive over time. Around five per cent of customers haven’t changed plans in more than five years and are missing out on potential energy bill savings of up to $730.

There are also increasing protections against disconnection by raising the minimum debt amount that customers must have before a retailer can try to disconnect them from $300 to $1000.

Other changes include capping fees for things like paying bills at the post office or paying late, and banning direct debit only offers – so that customers who don’t or can’t pay via direct debit can access cheaper offers.

For some low-income families, direct debit is hard to manage when payments are taken straight from their account which can lead to additional bank fees or overdrawn accounts if their balance is low, adding financial stress.

More information can be found at esc.vic.gov.au/electricity-and-gas

The federal government is helping Australian businesses cut gas use, lower their energy bills and slash emissions, with $12 million in new funding for leading manufacturers and another $180 million now open for regional industries to follow suit.

McCain Foods, Sugar Australia and Blackmores will receive support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to trial cleaner, more efficient industrial processes:

• McCain Foods will install advanced heat recovery at its Ballarat potato plant, cutting steam and heat needs by more than 20 per cent.
• Sugar Australia will replace gas-fired evaporators with an electric system at its Yarraville refinery.
• Blackmores will install a high-efficiency heat pump at its Braeside factory, slashing gas use by up to 25 per cent.

Another $180 million in ARENA funding is now open under the Industrial Transformation Stream to help more regional manufacturers modernise operations, reduce gas reliance and stay competitive in a net zero economy.

Industrial processes make up 44 per cent of Australia’s emissions. With support from ARENA, the Safeguard Transformation Stream and other Future Made in Australia programs, emissions from industry are already falling — down 4.7% in the year to March 2025.

More information on how to apply can be found here: https://arena.gov.au/funding/powering-the-regions-industrial-transformation-stream/

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said Australian businesses were proving that smart investments in clean technology mean lower bills and lower emissions.

“These upgrades will help McCain, Sugar Australia and Blackmores use less gas, save money and cut pollution — all while staying competitive in a net zero world.”

Ballarat MP Catherine King said McCain was not just a major employer in the Ballarat region, they were also a climate leader.

“Over the last 5 years, they’ve installed an incredible array of 17,000 solar panels and invested in an anaerobic digester that generates energy from food waste. That has helped them reduced the energy they draw from the grid by 39%, and their reliance on natural gas by 16 per cent.

“Now with the support of the government, McCain have done it again, investing in a heat recovery system that will reduce their steam and heat requirements.

“This investment will help them go even further in reducing their costs and climate impact. It’s a great example of how we’re supporting regional manufacturers to modernise their plants, cut costs and emissions, and strengthen local jobs.”

More road upgrades in communities that need them most are on their way with state government grants for councils to help boost safety, reduce road trauma and deliver smoother journeys for more Victorians.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne announced the second expression of interest stage of the four year $210 million Safe Local Roads and Street Program is now open to all 79 local councils across the state.

Councils can apply for grants of up to $2 million for additional projects to develop, design and deliver critical safety upgrades on local roads, intersections and precincts

Successful applications will be determined based on merit to deliver targeted road safety upgrades across the state.

Additional projects will continue to be funded over the coming months as the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and Department of Transport and Planning work together with local councils to finalise local road safety upgrades.

Local governments manage 87 per cent of Victoria’s roads – with motorists depending on them every day to travel to school, work and around their local community.  

The Safe Local Roads and Streets Program will help to build councils capacity to plan, fund and deliver road safety improvements on local roads, and provide an important contribution to reducing road trauma for all Victorians.

Ms Horne said the government had already funded more than 200 projects under our Safe Local Roads and Streets Program to reduce road trauma and deliver smoother journeys for Victorians.

“This second round of funding will support councils to deliver further lifesaving safety upgrades in their local communities.”

It was a fantastic win for Daylesford’s A Grade netballers as they took home the 2025 grand final, defeating Learmonth 68 to 39.

DFNC president and A Grade coach Carly Luke said it was an amazing win.
“For a club that only a few short years ago, even playing finals was unimaginable, to go back-to-back (the team defeated Hepburn in last year’s grand final) is incredible for the club and the community.
“It feels like so much of the focus has been on our A-grade side (but) we’re building something where our other grades and our junior section can see that success. It really starts to trickle down.
“We had three out of four senior teams playing finals (including the senior footballers in the grand final). And our juniors are going really well. We had our under-15s play in the grand final this year.
“It’s a real marker of where our club’s heading and the fact is that this success is not just a one-off thing. It’s something that’s going to be sustained. We’re really trying to position Daylesford as a destination club and somewhere where people can come and be part of a great community and their kids are going to get access to really amazing coaching.”
Carly said there was no doubt they had a strong team this year with Jane Cook, Romy Streat, Maddy Martin, Chelsea Imanisani (captain), Sam Whelan, Jordyn Adams, Jess Standfield, Sophie O’Kane, Siobhan Adams, Olivia Leonard, Peta Fay, Carly as head coach and Alexia McConnell as assistant coach.

“Last year we just pipped Hepburn by one goal in the grand final, whereas this year we were a much more settled and versatile team. We had a lot of firepower and a lot of talent. We were able to go through the season undefeated and we really liked our chances heading into the finals. We’re just really happy that we were able to get the job done. And to go back-to-back is something pretty amazing.”
Carly said it was a really solid showing for finals and the club was proud that it came fourth out of the 17 clubs in the club championship award – the Merv and Mary Howard Memorial Champion Club Shield. “That’s our highest-ever placing in terms of the club championship, and that’s important to us, being recognised as the fourth best club in the league.”
Carly is now stepping down as A-grade coach to focus on the presidency and also take over coaching for the under-13 netballers where her daughter will be playing.
“I feel like over the past four years, and winning those two premierships, I’ve kind of given all that I can to senior netball, and I think it’s really set up and in a strong place now for someone else to continue it forward. And I really want to focus my attention on my daughter and the junior teams.
“We’ve locked in all of our junior coaches, and a lot of them are A-grade players coming in to boost our junior section and provide that high-level experience, coaching expertise, and it will ensure that across the board, all of our netballers from under-13s right up to seniors are playing the same brand and systems of netball, which is only going to continue to put our club in a stronger position.
Carly said she lived in Daylesford as a child for a few years and went to Daylesford Primary. She returned as an adult – to resume the connection.
“I didn’t just pick a place on a map. I came back to Daylesford, a place that I had a connection with, with a vision to do something really cool.
“Daylesford feels like home for me. The club and community welcomed me with open arms four years ago, and now I feel like I’m part of the furniture. And it is those everyday people who are part of the club that make it so special. They give countless hours volunteering and helping out to make sure that our players get the very best experience week in and week out.”
Words: Donna Kelly | Images: Adam Trafford | More images at tlnews.com.au