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Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Statewide. Melbournwide. Local. Victoria’s free family newspaper now in 55th year.

The Melbourne Observer is Victoria’s popular family newspaper, available online weekly, and in print fortnightly..The Melbourne Observer heritage stretches back to 1969, 55 years ago. The newspaper is available: • as a free publication inserted in localised editions of The Local Paper (fortnightly) across 40 local government areas, • free online (weekly).The Melbourne Observer newspaper is published on Wednesdays (with

Latest Edition

OUT NOW: Wed., Mar. 6, 2024

March 6 Editions • Eastern Suburbs Edition – READ HERECovers Boroondara (north), Knox-Sherbrooke, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash, Whitehorse •  Lilydale and Yarra Valley Express Edition – READ HERECovers Healesville, Lilydale, Mount Evelyn, Warburton, Yarra Valley• Mitchell Shire Edition – READ HERECovers Broadford, Kilmore, Puckapunyal, Seymour, Tallarook, Wallan, Wandong • Northern Suburbs Edition – READ HERECovers Banyule. Darebin (north, south), Nillumbik

Latest Edition

OUT NOW: Wed., Feb. 21, 2024

February 21 Editions • Eastern Suburbs Edition – READ HERECovers Boroondara (north), Knox-Sherbrooke, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash, Whitehorse •  Lilydale and Yarra Valley Express Edition – READ HERECovers Healesville, Lilydale, Mount Evelyn, Warburton, Yarra Valley• Mitchell Shire Edition – READ HERECovers Broadford, Kilmore, Puckapunyal, Seymour, Tallarook, Wallan, Wandong • Northern Suburbs Edition – READ HERECovers Banyule. Darebin (north, south), Nillumbik

Latest Edition

OUT NOW: Wed., Feb. 14, 2024

February 14 Editions • Eastern Suburbs Edition – READ HERECovers Boroondara (north), Knox-Sherbrooke, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash, Whitehorse •  Lilydale and Yarra Valley Express Edition – READ HERECovers Healesville, Lilydale, Mount Evelyn, Warburton, Yarra Valley• Mitchell Shire Edition – READ HERECovers Broadford, Kilmore, Puckapunyal, Seymour, Tallarook, Wallan, Wandong • Northern Suburbs Edition – READ HERECovers Banyule. Darebin (north, south), Nillumbik

Latest Edition

OUT NOW. Wed., Feb. 7, 2024

February 7 Editions • Eastern Suburbs Edition – READ HERE Covers Boroondara (north), Knox-Sherbrooke, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash, Whitehorse •  Lilydale and Yarra Valley Express Edition – READ HERECovers Healesville, Lilydale, Mount Evelyn, Warburton, Yarra Valley• Mitchell Shire Edition – READ HERECovers Broadford, Kilmore, Puckapunyal, Seymour, Tallarook, Wallan, Wandong • Northern Suburbs Edition – READ HERECovers Banyule. Darebin (north, south), Nillumbik

Entertainment

LOCAL THEATRE: Shows, Auditions

• Geelong Repertory Theatre: Farragut North (by Beau Willimon) February 3 – 17 at the Woodbin Theatre, 15 Coronation St., Geelong West. Director: Jules Hart. Bookings: Geelong Arts Centre 1300 251 200 geelongartscentre.org.au • Windmill Theatre Company: Noises Off (Michael Frayne) February 7 – 11 at Bunjil Place Studio, Narre Warren. Director: Ben Dowthwaite. Bookings:

Entertainment

SHOWBIZ: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

“What’s special about it?” asks my 12-year- old grandson, before committing to accepting a ticket to A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Melbourne’s glorious Botanical Gardens. Rather than try to explain that the play is about love as a complex metaphoric catalyst for conflict, chaos, and comedy, I merely smile and reply, “ Absolutely everything.” In

Entertainment

SHOWBIZ: Gasworks Art Park Season Launch

Hearts were gladdened to be going forward into a new year when graced with a gala night at the launch of Gasworks Arts Park 2024 season. It was aglow with excitement as glimpses were grabbed of the glamour, gaiety, glitz and gusto at this truly great indoor and outdoor venue. It’s a gift to Melbourne’s

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Entertainment

SHOWBIZ: Jazz Men full of verve

Jazz Men, which had a very brief season at the Athenaeum Theatre, was full of verve and passion but ultimately disappointed due to some poor choreography unevenly executed by an ensemble of dancers of different skill levels. Promoted as a dynamic dance revue, the show consisted of a number of vignettes and set pieces of

Entertainment

SHOWBIZ: Malevo

Malevo, which had a short season at the State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne, lived up to its claim to be an “electrifying dance spectacular” with the all-male troupe of Argentinian dancers, drummers and musicians receiving a standing ovation on opening night. Based on the malambo, an Argentinian folk dance traditionally performed by gauchos of the

Entertainment

SHOWBIZ: Grease The Musical

Grease the Musical fans of all ages can enjoy rocking with the gang from Rydell High at Her Majesty’s Theatre until March 14. This show is presented by John Frost for Crossroads Live Australia. 1950s dressed patrons enhance the atmosphere, ready to enjoy the show’s familiar tunes, rendered with gusto by Dave Skelton’s orchestra. Luke

Entertainment

SHOWBIZ: Very Naughty

A Very Naughty Christmas is advertised as a show that will ‘spice things up’; this show is definitely spicy, surprising, super fun. With a cast of eight, a live three person band, parody of well known songs plus stories that question the traditional, a vibrant , entertaining evening is ensured. Nothing is off limits. Performances

Community News

COMMUNITY: Masons shout beach holiday for 18 kids

Some 18 disadvantaged children from bushfire-affected Nicholson Primary School in Gippsland will enjoy a life-changing beach holiday at Queenscliff’s Cottage By The Sea, thanks to the generosity of the Free-masons. The annual Wakanyanas event at the Queenscliff Masonic Centre saw more than 100 attendees present a $22,123 cheque to make the holiday possible. Freemasons Foundation

Entertainment

SHOWBIZ: Catch Me If You Can

PLOS Musical Productions’ shows are legendary for their strong and effective use of technology, but the production of Catch Me If You Can – The Musical at Frankston Arts Centre, excelled equally in all areas. Innovative, clever technology merged with a top cast of musical theatre performers, fabulous choreography (Mark Mackenzie and Michael Mitchell), sharp,

Entertainment

SHOWBIZ: Choir of Man

If you have not yet seen The Choir of Man at the Playbox, Arts Centre Melbourne, then don’t miss this joyful, inspirational theatre experience which closes on February 11. On arrival, audience members are invited to join cast members onstage in The Jungle pub for a chat and complimentary glass of beer. This conviviality is

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Sport

SPORT: Pedalthon aims for $100,000

The Melbourne Pedalthon on April 21 aims to raise $100,000 through donations and sponsorships for practice-changing multidisciplinary collaborative clinical trials and to make a difference in the lives of all those impacted by below the belt cancers. To date, the Below the Belt have hosted more tnhan 2000 riders, funded 38 research projects and raised

People

FILM: New CEO for Festival

Damien Hodgkinson has been appointed as CEO of the Melbourne International Film Festival. The newly created role marks an exciting new chapter in the organisation’s storied history, says the MIFF Board. Damien joins Australia’s largest film festival after 11 years at the helm of Melbourne International Comedy Festival as its Executive Director. In that role,

Entertainment

FILM: Sci-fi at the Nova

The Melbourne Science Fiction Film Festival returns to Cinema Nova from February 23-25 with 10 sessions of what it considers to be the best sci-fi/fantasy films. This year’s Melbourne line-up will include 16 Australian premieres from independent visionaries whose features hail from France, Canada, Macedonia, Sweden, the United States and the United Kingdom. The short-film

People

STATEWIDE: Honours promotion for the late Fr Bob.

Larrikin priest, the late Fr Bob Maguire, was promoted in the Australia Day Honours (Jan. 26). The late Rev. Robert John Maguire AM RFD was promoted to AO in the Australia Day Honours, in recognition of his distinguished service to the community, particularly through social welfare initiatives and organisations.Fr Bob had his eponymous Foundation for

News

STATEWIDE: Powerball prize jackpots to $200 million

Powerball has a a record-breaking $200 million up for grabs in Thursday’s draw (Feb. 1)). The record jackpot comes after no players held a Division One winning entry in tje January 25 Powerball draw, prompting the game’s prize to roll higher for the sixth consecutive week. The $200 million Powerball prize is the largest jackpot

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