Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

Entries are now open for the 2025 Battle of the Bands until Friday August 22, 2025 with all finalists to perform at the fourth annual BendiGLOW Youth Fest – a glow in the dark, themed event for young people that will take place from 3pm to 9pm on Saturday September 20, 2025 at Bendigo Exhibition Centre.

Battle of the Bands is open to local bands of all genres and is free to enter and participate. It’s a fantastic opportunity for local emerging musicians aged 12–25 who live in Greater Bendigo to showcase their talents and perform live in front of a large crowd.

Yo Bendigo is calling on music teachers, youth workers, parents, or industry professionals who may know a young talented band that could benefit from participating in the Battle of the Bands to please encourage them to apply and showcase their skills.

Not only will the winning band gain valuable exposure, but they’ll also take home an incredible range of prizes, including recording studio time, merchandise packages, and future performance bookings.

The Battle of the Bands competition has become a cornerstone of Bendigo’s youth music scene, and this year it will be even more competitive, with finalists performing live on a professionally equipped stage. The event will also be broadcast across the region by Phoenix FM, reaching even more music lovers.

Young artists are the future of live music in Greater Bendigo and the Battle of the Bands event supports the vibrancy, vitality and life of our community.

This year’s BendiGLOW Youth Festival will also feature a range of other entertainment and activities including an inflatable laser tag arena, skateboarding sessions and workshops, UV face and body painting, food trucks, community and youth service stalls, chill out zone and interactive spaces.

Battle of the Bands and BendiGLOW are initiatives of YO Events, Greater Bendigo’s youth events team – a fun-loving team of young people who create local arts events and experiences by young people for young people.

BendiGLOW is supported by Amplify and Victorian Youth Fest, both Victorian Government initiatives that support young Victorians to get involved in their community by planning and running drug, smoke, vape and alcohol-free music and cultural events for young people. It is a safe and secure event with no pass-outs. Entry is free with donations welcome to support YO Events activities.

For additional information, contact the YO Bendigo team via email or phone (Ask for YO Bendigo):

[email protected] 

1300 002 642

To submit an entry and see the full rules and conditions visit:

Source: New South Wales – News

About 7pm on Sunday 3 August police and fire crews responded to reports of a Holden sedan alight on First Avenue, Nailsworth.

Fire crews quickly responded and extinguished the blaze.

Checks on the car revealed it was a stolen car and displaying stolen plates.  The silver Holden Astra had been stolen from a Parkside property earlier this year.

Crime scene investigators attended to investigate the cause of the fire.

An examination of the vehicle revealed front end damage consistent with a collision with a pole or similar, which has likely sparked the engine fire.

Investigations are continuing.

Anyone who saw or heard any suspicious activity in the area or has CCTV or dashcam footage that may assist the investigation to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au – you can remain anonymous.

Source: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission

Avian influenza
The serious strain of bird flu, H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) – commonly known as H5 bird flu – has killed hundreds of thousands of seabirds and seals around the world.
It has not yet reached Australia, Australian Antarctic territory nor –  to anyone’s knowledge – either of Australia’s two sub-Antarctic island groups, Macquarie Island or HIMI.
However, affected animals have been found on the French Kerguelen and Crozet sub-Antarctic islands, which are only 450km from HIMI.
Wildlife ecologist Dr Julie McInnes and her team are heading to Heard Island to survey seabird populations, map breeding colonies, and monitor signs of H5 bird flu, working in collaboration with the seal survey team.
But her first job will be visually scoping for signs of the virus.
“We’ll use helicopters initially to give us a broad overview of the island and allow us to assess for wildlife mortalities in larger species such as elephant seals,” Dr McInnes said.
“From there we will use a combination of drones, zodiacs and on-ground surveys with personal protective equipment (PPE) to assess for signs of the disease across the island.”
If wildlife mortalities or signs of H5 bird flu are present, a subset of the team will be dedicated to sampling. This will only be carried out if it is safe to do so.
Samples will be packaged and shipped according to the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, by expeditioners with approved training.
They will be submitted to the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness for PCR screening tests to confirm the presence or absence of HPAI.
There is no risk of introducing H5 bird flu to Australia through these samples, which are classified as UN3373 – Biological Substances, Category B.
They will be packed on Heard Island following strict IATA triple packing regulations designed to prevent leakage.
The rest of the sea bird team will carry out population surveys to provide valuable information on abundance and distribution of priority wildlife species.
The population survey work on V1 is being done on the animals that will be present and breeding in October – elephant seals, black-browed albatross, southern giant petrels, gentoo penguins, and the endemic Heard Island cormorant – by walking parties and drones.
“The thing about sub-Antarctic islands that just blows my mind is the high densities of animals,” Dr McInnes said.
“These small islands spotted through the Southern Ocean provide essential habitat for wildlife to come ashore to breed.
“Heard Island is a stronghold for some species, for example there’s thought to be over a million macaroni penguins on Heard Island.”

King penguins on Heard Island Photo: Stephen Brown

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

UPDATE 2: Search in Bass Strait for missing plane

Sunday, 3 August 2025 – 4:38 pm.

Search efforts continue in northern Tasmania, Bass Strait and regional Victoria to locate a light aircraft which has been reported missing.
The plane, with two people on board, failed to arrive as expected to Hillston Airport in NSW after taking off from George Town airport early Saturday afternoon.
Tasmania Police Inspector Nick Clark provided an update to media on Sunday afternoon. Audio and pics attached.
The Australia Maritime Safety Authority and Tasmania Police urge anyone near George Town or transiting the waters in northern Tasmania and Bass Strait, or southern Victoria near Leongatha, to keep a lookout for any signs of the aircraft or its occupants, and if safe to do so, render assistance.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the AMSA Response Centre on 02 6279 5700 or Tasmania Police on 131 444.
CAPTION: Several boats are being used to patrol Bass Strait, off northern Tasmania, as the search continues for a missing light plane carrying two people. (Picture: Tasmania Police)

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

UPDATE: Search for missing light plane

Sunday, 3 August 2025 – 1:31 pm.

The search continues for a light plane, with two people on board, reported missing after taking off from George Town airport on Saturday afternoon.
The two people, from northern Tasmania, were travelling to Central Western NSW.
Family members raised the alarm last night after they failed to arrive as expected to Hillston Airport in NSW.
The male pilot is aged in his early 70s and his female passenger is aged in her 60s,
Tasmania Police helicopter and marine resources are conducting search activities near George Town and along Tasmania’s northern coastline.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority and Victoria Police are conducting searches over Bass Strait and also southern Victoria around Morwell and Leongatha.
AMSA and Tasmania Police urge anyone near George Town or transiting the waters in northern Tasmania and Bass Strait, or southern Victoria near Leongatha, to keep a lookout for any signs of the aircraft or its occupants, and if safe to do so, render assistance.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the AMSA Response Centre on 02 6279 5700 or Tasmania Police on 131 444.

Source: New South Wales – News

The Lamborghini was detected by a mobile speed detection camera travelling at 102 km/h in a 60 km/h zone on Main South Road, Old Noarlunga at 9.45am on Sunday 3 August.

A traffic patrol located the vehicle just after 10am and spoke with the driver.

The 45-year-old man from the southern suburbs was issued with an expiation notice totalling $2533 for speeding and not holding an ultra-high-powered vehicle (U-class) licence.

My Licence – My ultra high powered vehicle (U) licence

Source: New South Wales – News

The crash occurred on Flagstaff Hill Road, Middleton, just before 10.30am on Sunday 3 August.  The significant impact pushed the engine well into the cab of the Ford ute.

The driver, a 19-year-old Taperoo man, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital by ambulance.

His vehicle was towed from the scene.

Investigations into the crash are ongoing.

Anyone who witnessed this collision or has any dashcam footage or information that may assist can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

A thief has threatened a resident with a knife after he was confronted inside a home in Alice Springs yesterday evening.

About 7:00pm yesterday, the 24-year-old resident and his father left their premises on Triodia Court, Sadadeen for about 10 minutes.

When they returned, they found the offender in the loungeroom of the house.

The offender was confronted by the son and a minor struggle followed.

The offender broke free and knocked over the resident’s father before running away.

The 24-year-old initially gave chase however, the offender stopped and threatened him with a knife before leaving the area in the company of a second offender who was waiting in a laneway nearby.

Police are continuing to investigate the matter and urge anyone with information, or who may have seen something in the area near Triodia Court around 7pm yesterday evening to contact on 131 444 and quote reference number P25206046. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Search in Bass Strait for missing light plane

Sunday, 3 August 2025 – 9:35 am.

Tasmania Police is providing support to a search in Bass Strait after a light plane, which took off from George Town on Saturday afternoon with two people on board, failed to arrive at its destination in Central Western NSW.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority is co-ordinating the land and sea search for the aircraft, with Tasmania Police helicopter and vessel resources assisting in the response by searching the coastline near George Town and Tasmania’s north.
AMSA’s Melbourne rescue jet is conducting overwater searching of Bass Strait, supported by vessels, including Victoria Police.
The light aircraft left George Town airport about 12.45pm on Saturday with a pilot and one passenger – who are Tasmanian residents – headed for regional Victoria and then on to Central Western NSW.
The plane did not reach its destination as scheduled and authorities were notified by concerned family members that it was overdue. As a result, a search operation involving plane, helicopter and marine resources was activated.
Residents in Tasmania’s north are advised there will be ongoing aerial search activities in the area today.
Further details will be provided when available.
At this time media inquiries are to be directed to AMSA Media at media@amsa.gov.au
No footage is currently available from AMSA.

Source: New South Wales – News

The single vehicle collision occurred on Balmoral Road, near Goldfields Road, Cockatoo Valley just after 8am on Sunday 3 August.

Balmoral Road is closed to all traffic.  Motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible.