Police are investigating a fatal crash involving a motorcycle and three other vehicles that occurred about 4.45pm on Monday, 17 November 2025.
A 34-year-old man from Grindelwald was riding a black Kawasaki Ninja motorbike in a northerly direction along the West Tamar Highway near Danbury Drive South when it struck a Toyota Hiace Van travelling in the same direction.The motorbike also collided with a white Toyota Hilux which in turn caused minor damage to second Toyota Hilux.
The rider suffered critical injuries and was rushed to Launceston General Hospital, however, he sadly died shortly after.
The cause of the crash will be investigated, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Police thanked the members of the community who provided assistance and first aid at the scene, as well as the patience of motorists while the scene was cleared.
Anyone with information, or who may have dash cam footage, is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously.
Pictured left to right: Professor Rose McGready, Sita Sargeant, Ben Alexander, Heather Reid AM.
In brief:
The winners of the 2026 ACT Australian of the Year Awards have been announced.
The awards recognise people who go above and beyond for their communities.
They are now finalists in the national awards, to be announced on 25 January 2026.
The winners of the 2026 ACT Australian of the Year Awards have been announced.
They will join other state and territory recipients as finalists for the national awards on 25 January 2026.
Read on to find out more about the winners.
2026 ACT Australian of the Year – Professor Rose McGready
Professor Rose McGready provides life-saving health services to displaced people in the border region between Thailand and Myanmar.
When Rose arrived in the area more than 30 years ago, she discovered that refugees who had fled persecution in Myanmar had difficulty accessing medical assistance in Thailand.
Since then, she has built a network of locally run clinics and out-patient services. These help pregnant women, new mothers and their babies, saving thousands of lives.
Rose’s research has also led to new treatments being developed to tackle malaria in pregnancy.
Her findings have been adopted by the World Health Organisation as the global standard for combatting the disease.
2026 ACT Senior Australian of the Year – Heather Reid AM
Heather Reid has made it possible for thousands of women to play football in the ACT and around Australia.
Heather helped establish the ANU Women’s Soccer Club in 1978 and the ACT Women’s Soccer Association in 1979.
As the first female CEO of Capital Football in 2004, Heather brought together four associations into a single peak body.
She also secured Canberra United’s inclusion in the national W-League, helping promote the game to a wider audience.
Heather continues to support players, coaches and administrators, both in Canberra and overseas.
The Heather Reid AM Bursary helps pay the registration fees of players in need of assistance. This ensures financial hardship is not a barrier to participation.
2026 ACT Young Australian of the Year – Sita Sargeant
Sita Sargeant uncovers the stories of women who have shaped Australia.
Sita founded She Shapes History, a historical tourism company and social enterprise. It highlights these little-known stories through:
walking tours
digital content
partnerships with cultural institutions and historic sites.
Sita and her team of guides have taken more than 10,000 people on tour in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne. The tours reveal how women’s contributions have long been ignored by mainstream history.
Sita has also published a book highlighting the stories of more than 250 women who have shaped history in 31 towns and cities across Australia.
2026 ACT Local Hero – Ben Alexander
Former Brumbies and Wallabies player Ben Alexander is helping build a stronger and more resilient community where no one feels they must face tough times alone.
Ben co-founded Running for Resilience (R4R) with fellow Canberran Matt Breen. Their goal is to help make the ACT suicide-free by 2033.
Ben faced his own struggles after retiring from professional rugby. He has used this experience to help others overcome personal difficulties through exercise and connection.
Each week, hundreds of people join R4R’s free runs and walks across Canberra to boost their physical and mental health.
R4R also shares practical ways to connect and support others via a podcast, newsletter and community events.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force is seeking public assistance to locate a 64-year-old male and 58-year-old female last seen within the Finke Gorge National Park.
The pair were travelling in a silver Isuzu D-Max, with Victorian registration 1VW5QH, towing a grey Jayco J-POD caravan.
They were last seen in Palm Valley within the Finke Gorge National Park on Thursday 13 November 2025 and were reported missing to police today.
Police urge anyone who has seen the pictured vehicle, or has information on its whereabouts, to contact 131 444 and quote police reference number NTP2500114099.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force is calling for information after a passenger train was damaged in Alice Springs earlier today.
Around 2:10pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre (JESCC) received a report that a passenger train had sustained extensive damage as it was travelling through Alice Springs.
It is alleged as the train was travelling north, parallel to Telegraph Terrace, two male youths threw rocks at the train, damaging over twenty windows. The train terminated at Alice Springs, where the damaged was assessed.
No injuries have been reported to police.
Investigations are ongoing and anyone with information, including dash cam or CCTV footage is urged to contact police on 131 444. Please quote reference number P25310523. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.
The death of a 25-year-old Andrews Farm man in a collision at Hillier Road, Hillier on Tuesday 11 November is the 78th life lost on SA roads this year.
A 21-year-old Stockport woman was arrested on Wednesday 12 November and charged with cause death by dangerous driving and leaving the scene of an accident.
She was refused bail and appeared in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Thursday 13 November, where she was bailed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on 12 February 2026.
Investigations are continuing and anyone with information who hasn’t yet spoken with police is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au
Source: Australian Capital Territory – State Government
ACT Government marks Trans Awareness Week with support for visibility and inclusion – Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate
As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.
The ACT Government is proud to stand with trans and gender diverse Canberrans and is reaffirming its commitment to equality, dignity and respect for all members of the LGBTIQA+ communities during Trans Awareness Week 2025 (13-19 November).
This Thursday 20 November also marks the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, honouring the memory of the trans lives lost to acts of transphobia and discrimination.
Minister for Disability, Carers and Community Services Suzanne Orr said the week is an important opportunity to reflect on the challenges trans and gender diverse people continue to face, and to celebrate their strength, resilience and contributions to the Canberra community.
“Trans and gender diverse people continue to face discrimination, exclusion and poorer health and social outcomes. This includes right here in Canberra and across Australia. The ACT Government stands in solidarity with our trans and gender diverse communities this Trans Awareness Week and reaffirms our commitment to equality, dignity and respect for all,” Minister Orr said.
“I’m proud the ACT Government is supporting ‘The Unsaid Says A Lot’ campaign – designed by trans and gender diverse people to highlight the power of non-verbal communication and the impact it can have. By listening, learning and acting as allies, we can help shift perceptions, reduce discrimination and celebrate the strength and diversity of our LGBTIQA+ communities.”
Research shows that more than 3 in 4 trans and gender diverse people have been treated unfairly because of their gender identity in the past year. As one of the key commitments under the Capital of Equality Strategy 2024-2029, this campaign is yet another crucial step toward our vision of Canberra as the most welcoming and inclusive city in Australia.
The campaign encourages all Canberrans to reflect on the messages we send – intentionally or not – and to be active allies in creating a more inclusive and respectful community. It asks all of us to reflect what happens when we stay silent in the face of exclusion, discrimination, or harm? The Unsaid Says A Lot campaign challenges Canberrans to choose not to look away, but to step in and stand up.
Phase 2 of the Fair Fuel Plan has passed the Victorian Parliament.
This phase will introduce a daily fuel price cap to give Victorians clearer notice of fuel price changes.
The daily price cap sets the maximum amount fuel retailers can charge for fuel over a 24-hour period. During this time, retailers can lower their prices but cannot increase them.
The Victorian Government will confirm the start date of this new legislation soon. Fuel retailers will receive clear guidance and advance notice to help them prepare for the change.
For fuel retailers
In addition to existing obligations under Phase 1, Phase 2 will mean:
you must set the next day’s maximum price (cap) between 8:30am and 2:00pm
the cap will be published on Servo Saver by 4:00pm, giving motorists early visibility of the next day’s maximum price
the cap will apply from 4:00am the next day and remain in place for 24 hours
you can reduce prices during the day but not increase them.
If a retailer does not submit a cap, the previous day’s cap will automatically roll over.
Further instructions, timelines and support materials will be provided to the industry ahead of commencement.
For motorists
From 4:00pm each day, motorists will be able to see the next day’s maximum fuel price (cap) on Servo Saver. This will help you decide when and where to fill up.
The City of Greater Bendigo is providing an opportunity for residents to get their hands on some bargain priced 2025 Bloom Festival tulip bulbs at the City’s Visitor Centres in Bendigo from 9am this Wednesday November 19 and in Heathcote from Thursday November 20.
City of Greater Bendigo Sportsfields and Reserves Coordinator Tyrone Downie said this year the bulbs have already been removed from garden beds and will be available for sale at the City’s Visitor Centres in Bendigo and Heathcote.
“The tulip bulbs are priced at $7.50 per bag and there is a four-bag limit to ensure as many people as possible have an opportunity to purchase some bargain priced tulip bulbs this year,” Mr Downie said.
“There is a minimum of 20 bulbs of various colours in each bag making them excellent value for money.
“After digging up the bulbs, City staff stored them for a short time to allow the green stems to dry out and nutrients to be drawn down into the bulbs.
“This has allowed City staff to bag up the bulbs without the stems which is what most people prefer.
“We understand that some people will be disappointed about the decision not to hold the tulip dig this year. However, the tulip dig normally takes place on a weekday morning and many people cannot attend the event.
“This way more people will be able to obtain some bulbs at a time that suits them.”
Police have renewed an appeal for anyone with information on the murder of Rosemary Brown and suspected murder of her 15-year-old daughter, Melissa Trussell, to come forward.
The appeal comes as police from Water Operations Unit today finalise searching an area known as the Mutton Cove Conservation Reserve at Osborne as part of the ongoing investigation.
Rosemary, 33, and Melissa, 15, were last seen in Blair Athol at about 2.30am on Saturday 13 May 2000.
Rosemary’s handbag was discovered later that day in Stirling Street, Northfield. It was not handed into police until 23 May 2000 after a public appeal about the missing women.
Sadly, on Sunday 2 July 2000, Rosemary’s body was discovered in mangroves at Garden Island.
Melissa has never been found and is believed to have been murdered.
Major Crime Investigation Branch officer in charge Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said detectives and the families of Rosemary and Mellissa were grateful for the volume of information that has been provided by the community in recent months in response to this investigation.
“However, police are aware of members of the public who have information who have not come forward or have not assisted police,’’ he said.
“This is the murder of a mother and her 15-year-old daughter. The remains of Melissa have not been found. Put yourselves in the shoes of the family of Rosemary and Melissa – they want answers about what happened to their loved ones and to recover Melissa’s remains.
“If you have information, no matter how small, I implore you to contact Crime Stoppers. Your information may be the missing piece of the puzzle that leads to the family getting the answers they deserve.’’
Det. Supt Fielke said investigations have resulted in detectives identifying several suspects and the searching of two homes connected with one of those suspects.
“Investigators believe more than one person was involved in the murders and the disposal of Rosemary and Melissa’s bodies,’’ he said.
“To those who played a minor role, or who may have found themselves in a situation they couldn’t remove themselves from – now is the time to come forward and tell your story.’’
A number of items of interest have been seized during the investigation, including a knife which has been submitted for DNA testing to determine whether the knife has been used in the murders.
Two vehicles of interest have been identified. The first is a two-toned brown and fawn coloured 1978 Holden VB Commodore sedan, registration SJG115. The vehicle was sprayed black sometime around the time of the disappearance of Rosemary and Melissa but before it was sold to another person and eventually disposed of.
The second vehicle is a blue Ford XD Falcon, registration UAK318. That vehicle was seen by witnesses in the Osborne area in the days after the disappearance, but before the discovery of Rosemary’s body at Garden Island.
Anyone who knows the current whereabouts of these vehicles or knows who may have taken possession of the vehicle after May 2000 is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.
Investigators have established that a submerged vehicle found at Garden Island and bones found at Osborne are not related to this investigation.
Up to $1,000,000 will be paid to anyone who provides information and assistance that leads to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for the suspected murder of Melissa Trussell (Brown) (and/or leading to the location and recovery of her remains).
Up to $200,000 will be paid to anyone who provides information and assistance that leads to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for the suspected murder of Rosemary Brown.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au – you can remain anonymous.