The Melbourne Snap⚡- Friday 21 February, weekend edition
Aspiring model killed after bus row, mogul buys big stake in city mall, 'outer suburbs dystopian nightmare' and 5 things to do this weekend.
G’day and welcome to The Melbourne Snap. Word of mouth is the best way for the Melbourne Snap to grow. Please consider forwarding this to a friend. They can put their email in the box below to join the list. Here’s Friday’s extended weekend edition.
🔪The identity of the man fatally stabbed at a bus stop in Wyndham Vale (reported in yesterday’s edition) has been revealed. Aspiring model Nathan Mwanza, 23, was killed after an argument with two people onboard a bus. His family has spoken of his dreams to move overseas, as police investigate the attack.
➡️The second of six children, Mwanza moved to Australia from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and settled in Melbourne’s west with his family 10 years ago.
➡️The two suspects are described as Asian in appearance and in their late teens to early 20s. Nathan had no criminal history. - Jorge Branco, Eleanor Wilson, Nine News
👮 Victoria's new top cop will focus on tightening the state's bail laws as he works to repair a police force fractured by an ongoing pay dispute. - The Age
⛅ ⛅ ⛅ Weekend weather
Crime Watch
This section is dedicated to crime news. Scroll on if you want to skip to lighter news.
🔥A fire tore through Nitro Gym in Hallam early Thursday morning, causing extensive damage before being brought under control in the south-east suburb. Authorities suspect arson. - Victoria Police
🚧A post office at Westfield Doncaster was badly damaged in a ram raid early Thursday morning, with thieves smashing through the entrance and stealing collectable coins. - Molly Magennis, 7 News
🚓More information has come out regarding the car that mounted a footpath in Port Melbourne on Wednesday night. The driver hit a man before speeding away. Police believe the incident was targeted, with the driver still on the run and the injured man leaving the scene before officers arrived. - Molly Magennis, 7 News
🚗This is not the type of welcome anyone wants. A Reservoir resident had their ute stolen overnight one week after moving to the northern suburb. - Reservoir 3072
📢 ATTENTION - Share your local news and events by filling in this form here (please). I love to share upcoming community events.
💃🏻The real Queen of Australia (sorry Camilla) was back in her hometown and by all accounts put on a banger of a show. Last night, Kylie Minogue performed to a packed crowd at the Rod Laver Arena in the first of three shows in the city. With all the glitz of a Vegas showgirl, the Melburnian singer’s set saw her hoisted up on a giant swing and perched atop a diamond-shaped light. - Instagram/various social media
✂️The Victorian government has launched a public sector review, with up to 3,000 jobs expected to be cut by June 30 - though frontline services will be protected. - Vic Gov
🏬Billionaire investor Nick Andrianakos, known for building up the Milemaker petrol station chain, has purchased a 50 per cent stake in north Melbourne’s Northland Shopping Centre for $385 million. It comes as the Preston mall prepares for future development, including potential residential and office expansions. - realcommercial.com.au
🏷️Ballers Clubhouse, Melbourne’s largest bar and games venue, is up for sale as part of a commercial site with a $50 million-plus price tag. - Alesha Capone, realcommercial.com.au
🥚A third Victorian farm has been infected with bird flu, less than a month after the state government declared the disease eradicated. Most of the bird flu viruses circulating in birds do not readily infect humans. - Blair Jackson, news.com.au
⛳Kingston Council is in a standoff with Rossdale Golf Club over plans to redevelop the Aspendale course. The council is set to exercise its powers to enter the golf course for survey work, despite the club's refusals, and conduct an environmental audit before any discussions about the course's future. - Brendan Rees, Bayside News
▶️An Aussie YouTuber has made a documentary called Melbourne's Outer Suburbs Are a Dystopian Nightmare. The doco from zannonymous explores infrastructure and planning problems in fringe “dystopian spaghetti” suburbs such as Kalkallo and Donnybrook right on Melbourne’s northern edge. - YouTube
🎥Sport presenter Abbey Gelmi has confirmed her exit from 7News Melbourne. - Ria Pandey, news.com.au
🍷The Melbourne Food & Wine Festival kicks off on March 21, featuring over 200 events with renowned local and international chefs. The full program is now out. - Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
😈A high-energy celebration of the iconic ’90s film Cruel Intentions has come to the Alex Theatre in St Kilda. The stage show opens tonight. - Rebecca Bau, Secret Melbourne
❗Scammers posing as landlords are preying on Victorian renters, tricking them into handing over thousands of dollars for fake rental properties as the housing crisis worsens. - David Bonaddio, realestate.com.au
🔓Frank Green, known for its trendy water bottles, is opening its first physical store at Chadstone. The store features a unique design made from over 1,600 ceramic bottles. - Sophie Walter, Urban List
Everyone wants to live in the east it would appear. Renters in some eastern suburbs are paying nearly 60 per cent more than they were four-and-a-half years ago, according to new median rental data. - The East Melburnian
🎉5 things to do this weekend🎉
The huge street celebration of Melbourne’s Greek populace that is The Greek Antipodes Festival returns to Lonsdale Street on Saturday and Sunday. There will be Greek street food, traditional dancing, live music and its first-ever silent disco. There’s even a Zorba 'Til You Drop dance competition (last year winning dancers went for two hours). - More details
➡️Bonus event for those wanting more Greek-themed fun. The Hellenic Museum’s Summer Cinema brings Greece’s open-air theatre tradition to Melbourne with classic films, Greek food, and movie snacks. Tonight there is a showing of Madalena. - More detailsCalling all amateur sleuths. Murder Village: An Improvised Whodunnit is a spontaneous, Agatha Christie-style mystery theatre show. Audiences can expect an hour of improvised comedic crime fiction, filled with eccentric characters, red herrings, and clever detective work. The last chance to see it is tonight. It’s at Mueller Hall. - More details
Melbourne's legendary Night Terrors return after a decade with their haunting new album Hypnotica. Known for their eerie theremin melodies and vintage synths, the band will unleash their signature horror-synth sound in a live performance at Queen Victoria Gardens on Saturday. It’s free but tickets are through ballot. - More details
A 90s-themed festival dedicated entirely to prosecco is coming to Abbotsford Convent. The Prosecco Festival 2025 will be in the inner east on Saturday and brings together Italian and local Prosecco producers, wines by the glass, award-winning craft beer, delicious food and great tunes. It’s $70 for a ticket and there are two session times. - More details
Melbourne Art Fair returns this weekend. Expect bold works from renowned artists, striking installations, live performances, and a vibrant atmosphere. It’s on Friday to Sunday at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. - more details
📢Community Noticeboard📢
📌”The City of Port Phillip’s 2025 Guided Walks Program is out. Discover the secret history, heritage treasures and intriguing stories of our City, from Port Melbourne to St Kilda. And best of all, they're free! - More details
📌”Bring your scooter or bike and invite some friends to Kew Traffic School during Term 1 from Wednesday 29 January to Friday 4 April 2025. Children can practice their bike skills and traffic rules in the miniature village and play in the various cubby houses, mini train and mini tram. Tickets are $10.50. Open to ages 0-6. - more details
📌”The Malahang Lantern Festival is back - bigger, brighter, and more magical! For two nights only, Malahang Reserve [Heidelberg West] will glow with giant illuminated lanterns, fire breathers, roving performers, neon face painting, mini golf, and more.” - more details
📌”Dreaming of becoming a fur parent? Help an animal find their fur-ever home with reduced adoption fees from 21 to 23 February at Wat djerring animal facility in Epping. With cats, dogs and small animals available for just $50, it’s the purr-fect time to adopt!” - more details
Editor’s note: Get your news, event, gathering, new business or community update here. Fill in this form, don’t be shy.
And finally…Victor the Frankston Goat has been immortalised with a beautiful mural painted just opposite where he used to live in Nepean Lane. Who was Victor the Goat? Well, we covered his passing in the 14 January edition. He was a local legend of Frankston, a goat who lived on his own on a prime piece of land by the bay. He even featured as a landmark on Google Maps.
Thank you for reading edition 68 of The Melbourne Snap.
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I appreciated the video you linked. I didn't know about this local youtuber but it's cool that you shared something interesting like this