ABC Central Victoria

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Turmoil in powerful nurses union as members vote on Victorian branch boss

For the first time in 36 years Victorian nurses' union members will vote on a new branch secretary after a failed pay deal led to the resignation of the former boss.

Nurses and supporting trade unionists rally outside Parliament House in Melbourne.

Published: 8h agoMon 8 Sep 2025 at 2:28amSource: ABC GippslandTopic: Unionsby Emma Field

Trains and roads a concern as town north of Melbourne set to expand

More than 1,300 new homes will be built at Riddells Creek, just under an hour north of Melbourne, but residents say the already congested train network and roads will not cope with more people.

A small gaggle of three geese in front of a sign that reads Riddells Creek

Published: SatSat 6 Sep 2025 at 8:15pmSource: ABC Central VictoriaTopic: Housing Policyby Emile Pavlich

'Defeated' Victorian farmers look for answers as livestock losses mount

The Victorian government says it cannot confirm how many sheep and lambs have been killed by dingoes in the state's north-west since it introduced restrictions on lethal control measures.

Published: FriFri 5 Sep 2025 at 2:03amSource: ABC RuralTopic: Livestock Health and Welfareby Angus Verley and Warwick Long

Alleged vandals were 'blessing' historic artefacts with oil, court hears

A Melbourne couple accused of damaging numerous precious items in Bendigo by "sprinkling" vegetable oil thought the substance would simply wash off, a court has been told.

A colourful processional dragon inside a museum dedicated to Chinese artefacts.

Published: ThuThu 4 Sep 2025 at 9:23amSource: ABC Central VictoriaTopic: Courtsby Emile Pavlich and Sarah Lawrence

'Time of trepidation' as bird flu risk increases in Australia in spring

Experts are on edge, fearing this will be the spring that the "catastrophic" H5 strain of bird flu arrives in Australia.

A person in a hazmat suit holds a dead bird on the edge of a lake.

Published: WedWed 3 Sep 2025 at 12:13amSource: ABC RuralTopic: Avian Influenzaby Jane McNaughton

Aussie apple exports to Canada easier as restrictions relaxed

Australia apple growers will have easier access to the Canadian export market following trade negotiations between the nations.

Published: TueTue 2 Sep 2025 at 6:56amSource: ABC RuralTopic: Trade Agreementsby Annie Brown

Value of Australian agriculture, fishing and forestry set to top $101b

A federal government forecaster says the value of Australia's agriculture, fisheries and forestry is on track to reach a record value of $101 billion this financial year, a target previously set for 2030.

A ripe wheat crop with a blue sky and white clouds.

Published: TueTue 2 Sep 2025 at 5:16amSource: ABC RuralTopic: Agricultural and Farming Practiceby Justine Longmore and Emma Field

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ABC Central Victoria Local News

Local news, updated weekdays at 6:35am.

Duration: 4 minutes 58 seconds

Source: Listen

The Country Hour takes renewable farming business to Zambia

It is not every day that someone tells the Victorian Country Hour that their last interview opened doors for them on the other side of the world.

Stephen Todd from Volt Farmer speaking to the Victorian Country Hour

Duration: 4 minutes 31 seconds

Source: ListenTopic: Agricultural Technology

Surviving 73 days alone in the Tassie wilderness

Season 3 of the SBS show Alone Australia saw Murray James (better known as 'Muzza') take out runner-up after two and a half months surviving in the wilderness.

Duration: 4 minutes 38 seconds

Source: ABC Central VictoriaTopic: Televisionby Rebecca Norman

Manure made it to the premiers office

Listen to the owner of bull poo which made it to the premier of Victoria's parliamentary office tell the Country Hour how it got there

A box with a clear window that shows a brown lump on pink tissue paper, wrapped in pink string with writing on the box.

Duration: 5 minutes 15 seconds

Source: ListenTopic: Agricultural and Farming Practiceby Warwick Long

ABC Radio CENTRAL VICTORIA

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Tomato growers forced to think outside the box for new revenue streams

Under pressure from cheap imports, Victorian tomato growers are looking for new markets for their by-products and it might not be what you expect.

Duration: 1 minute 34 seconds

Source: ABC News

Missing pet labrador rescued from mine shaft

Missing dog Ted the labrador is rescued from a mine shaft in Trentham, central Victoria, by local firefighters and the CFA's mine rescue team.

Duration: 55 seconds

Source: ABC News

Bendigo Art Gallery exhibits Frida Kahlo personal objects

Frida Kahlo: In her own image, showcases personal belongings, clothing, make-up, accessories, and medical items, on loan to the Bendigo Art Gallery from the Museo Frida Kahlo in Mexico.

Bendigo Art gallery. Image of Frida Kahlo wearing a flower crown. Image of long dress with embroidery on bodice and sleeves.

Duration: 1 minute 55 seconds

Source: ABC News

Bendigo business break-in

One business was broken into three times in two weeks, forcing it to bolster security measures and change operations.

Duration: 28 seconds

Source: ABC News

Features

Farmers innovate to beat drought in former 'wool capital of the world'

The drought in western Victoria is forcing sheep farmers to the wall, but amid the dirt and dust are green shoots of optimism and ingenuity that will change farming here forever.

A montage of an old two-storey stone mansion, a rolls-royce car, a sheep and a boy wearing a VR eyemask.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Livestock Farmingby Ted O'Connor, Olivia Sanders, Supervising Producer - News Digital Rachel Kelly and Sharon Gordon

The Electric Eight want to help you talk about losing a baby

Called The Electric Eight, these Warrnambool mums are speaking out via a podcast about their experiences of losing a baby in the hope that other regional women and families can find better support.

Source: ABC South West VicTopic: Griefby Kirsten Diprose

Massive flock of critically endangered swift parrots seen in one spot

A gathering of close to the total estimated population of swift parrots excites ecologists, but they warn it is no party for the critically endangered species.

Source: ABC Central VictoriaTopic: Birdsby Alice Walker and Prue Bentley

Pensioner robbed of $1,338 is taking NAB to court for millions

Ian Williams wakes up one morning to find $1,338 has been stolen from his account via two Google Pay transactions. Two years later, he's taking on NAB at the Supreme Court, with no lawyers to help him.

Ian wears a black coat and red scarf with hands in his pockets looking into the camera outside the a stone courthouse

Source: Background BriefingTopic: Bankingby Rachel Clayton

What's happening

Australia Votes: Your Vote, Your Say

This election, the ABC is asking you to be part of the conversation.

Text reads: Your Say. Tell us what's on your mind this election. Have your say here.

Published: 27 Feb 2025Thu 27 Feb 2025 at 3:05amSource: Radio

Local news direct to your inbox

ABC Central Victoria's newsletter delivers local news and stories from your community every Tuesday. Sign up to stay connected.

Published: 31 May 2021Mon 31 May 2021 at 3:09amSource: ABC Central Victoria

Top 100 Books of the 21st Century

Calling all book lovers to vote now for their favourite titles!

Published: 20 Aug 2025Wed 20 Aug 2025 at 7:04amSource: Radio

Know your ABCs in an emergency

This summer know your ABCs; action plan, be safe, connect with us. The ABC has a host of useful resources and tips on how to best prepare yourself for emergency weather so you can keep you and your household safe.

Letters A, B and C in pink, yellow and blue with small infographics of people completing emergency safety tasks

Published: 9 Dec 2024Mon 9 Dec 2024 at 5:23amSource: ABC EmergencyTopic: Bushfires

Vic Sport

The storylines to define the NRL finals

In the industry, they call it the 'second season'. Only eight teams remain as the NRL gears up for a finals series rich with storylines. What are the narratives that will define finals time?

Tom Starling jumps on Corey Horsburgh, who is hugging Hudson Young after scoring an NRL try.

Duration: 14 minutes 54 seconds

Source: ListenTopic: Sport

Molloy wonder goal stuns the crowd as Fish stars for Swans

Chloe Molloy kicks a stunner and Zippy Fish stars as the Swans account for the Dockers in the AFLW.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: AFL Women’s

Coach calls for huge fines to stamp out AFL players staging for free kicks

Dockers coach Justin Longmuir says the AFL should issue fines of up to $10,000 to players for staging.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: AFL

Amid booing, sledges and slurs, AFL fans resort to 'swearing spotto'

AFL barracking is again in the spotlight after the recent booing of a player who was the victim of a slur.

A mother smiling and hugging a young boy in Crows top holding a football next to seats at an oval

Source: ABC NewsTopic: AFL

Victoria News

analysis

The uncomfortable legacy of Erin Patterson, Australia's antihero

The mushroom murder case brought frenzied public attention to deep and private pain. But do we allow Patterson's notoriety to overshadow the memory of those she killed, or can we resist and honour the victim's legacies instead?

A sketch of a woman with brown hair with her hand holding a tissue in front of her face.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Courtsby Kristian Silva

Police officer Neal Thompson farewelled by grieving loved ones

Lisa Thompson says her final weekend with her boyfriend Neal Thompson before he was killed in a shooting at Porepunkah was their best yet.

A police coffin at a funeral with cap and flowers on top of it

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Funerals and Memorial Servicesby Andi Yu Andi Yu

Turmoil in powerful nurses union as members vote on Victorian branch boss

For the first time in 36 years Victorian nurses' union members will vote on a new branch secretary after a failed pay deal led to the resignation of the former boss.

Source: ABC GippslandTopic: Unionsby Emma Field

The judge says Erin Patterson's victims were among people who "do good".

Justice Christopher Beale reflects on Ian Wilkinson's remarks that attention is showered on those who do evil, instead of those who do good. Justice Beale says Erin Patterson's victims were among the latter of those two.

Duration: 2 minutes 16 seconds

Source: ABC News

National News

Man critically injured in Perth workplace incident

A man in his 40s has been critically injured in a workplace incident in Perth's north-east.

Front entrance of a building marked "Hoffman Engineering"

Published: 21m agoMon 8 Sep 2025 at 10:21amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Accidents and Emergency Incidents

'Smoke in the cockpit': Plane's emergency landing after mayday call

The British Airways passenger flight BA16 was on its way to Singapore and made the emergency return to Sydney Airport about an hour after take-off this afternoon.

Published: 20m agoMon 8 Sep 2025 at 10:22amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Air Incidentsby Jean Kennedy

Bulldogs prop forced to move out of home on eve of NRL finals

Max King has been living with a mould infestation at home that he is glad to have finally escaped in the lead-up to Friday's qualification final at Melbourne.

Max King of the Bulldogs running with the NRL ball

Published: 1h agoMon 8 Sep 2025 at 9:08amSource: ABC NewsTopic: NRL

Supertramp co-founder Rick Davies dies aged 81

Rick Davies, the co-founder and lead singer for British rock band Supertramp, has died aged 81 after a decade-long battle with cancer.

Published: 1h agoMon 8 Sep 2025 at 9:04amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Music

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ABC Central Victoria

Turmoil in powerful nurses union as members vote on Victorian branch boss

Trains and roads a concern as town north of Melbourne set to expand

'Defeated' Victorian farmers look for answers as livestock losses mount

Alleged vandals were 'blessing' historic artefacts with oil, court hears

'Time of trepidation' as bird flu risk increases in Australia in spring

Aussie apple exports to Canada easier as restrictions relaxed

Value of Australian agriculture, fishing and forestry set to top $101b

ABC Central Victoria Local News

The Country Hour takes renewable farming business to Zambia

Surviving 73 days alone in the Tassie wilderness

Manure made it to the premiers office

ABC Radio CENTRAL VICTORIA

Live. Evenings

Connect with ABC Central Victoria

Get the ABC Central Victoria newsletter

Tomato growers forced to think outside the box for new revenue streams

Missing pet labrador rescued from mine shaft

Bendigo Art Gallery exhibits Frida Kahlo personal objects

Bendigo business break-in

Farmers innovate to beat drought in former 'wool capital of the world'

The Electric Eight want to help you talk about losing a baby

Massive flock of critically endangered swift parrots seen in one spot

Pensioner robbed of $1,338 is taking NAB to court for millions

Australia Votes: Your Vote, Your Say

Local news direct to your inbox

Top 100 Books of the 21st Century

Know your ABCs in an emergency

The storylines to define the NRL finals

Molloy wonder goal stuns the crowd as Fish stars for Swans

Coach calls for huge fines to stamp out AFL players staging for free kicks

Amid booing, sledges and slurs, AFL fans resort to 'swearing spotto'

The uncomfortable legacy of Erin Patterson, Australia's antihero

Police officer Neal Thompson farewelled by grieving loved ones

Turmoil in powerful nurses union as members vote on Victorian branch boss

The judge says Erin Patterson's victims were among people who "do good".

Man critically injured in Perth workplace incident

'Smoke in the cockpit': Plane's emergency landing after mayday call

Bulldogs prop forced to move out of home on eve of NRL finals

Supertramp co-founder Rick Davies dies aged 81

Other ways to listen

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