The Melbourne Snap⚡- Tuesday 11 February
Phillip Island beach named one of Australia's best, spree of break-ins at RSLs, Melbourne comedy trio become Moomba Monarchs and the hidden millionaire in the south-east.
G’day and welcome back to The Melbourne Snap. If you’re new here this newsletter is sent every weekday around 7am. Never miss a beat and get your Melbourne news free of pop-ups, clickbait and paywalls. Forwarded this by a friend? Join The Melbourne Snap at melbournesnap.substack.com - it’ll cost you nothing. Here’s Tuesday’s edition.
⚫A woman has died following a house fire in the western suburbs this morning. Emergency services were called to the blaze at a property on Cameron Court, Kurunjang around 3:20am. - Victoria Police
🎓 Low- and mid-fee private schools are outperforming some high-fee competitors in Melbourne, with independent schools in outer suburban areas seeing enrolments rise by up to 45%.
➡️Among the top performers are Waverley Christian College, Oxley Christian College, and St Andrew's College, which charge fees below $20,000 and have earned high rankings in the 2024 VCE results. - Daniella White, The Age
⛅ Tuesday weather
Crime Watch
This section is dedicated to crime news. Scroll on if you want to skip to lighter news.
🔪A 32-year-old man walking home from work in the eastern suburbs was randomly attacked and stabbed multiple times by an unknown offender. The attack in Forest Hills on Thursday left the man with serious injuries, while police continue to search for the suspects and appeal for CCTV footage of the incident. - Victoria Police
🥷CCTV captured a homeowner in Malvern East confronting and chasing off intruders during one of six aggravated home invasions across Melbourne's eastern suburbs yesterday morning, with thieves targeting car keys and stealing vehicles before fleeing. - Nine News
🏛️Marija Ivankovic, 81, was killed by her son, Gordon Steven Ivankovic, 57, after an argument in her Maribyrnong home, leaving her friends to discover her body hours later in June 2023.
➡️He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and faces a sentence of up to eight years in prison, with a court yesterday hearing details of his remorse, troubled past, and strained relationship with his mother. - Tara Cosoleto, AAP (via Yahoo News)
🚔A 39-year-old man has been charged with multiple offences, including producing intimate images, possessing child abuse material, stalking, and public nuisance, following allegations of upskirting incidents at recreational facilities and retail businesses in Ballarat and Melbourne. - Victoria Police
🚨Three people have been charged with multiple offences, including burglary, theft, and drug possession, following alleged break-ins at five RSLs across Melbourne and one licenced venue in Brunswick. Cops say the thieves tampered with security systems to gain access. - Victoria Police
🚓 Police arrested five teenagers overnight in Glen Waverley after spotting a stolen Range Rover Discovery linked to multiple burglaries and a carjacking in Melbourne's eastern suburbs on February 10. - Victoria Police
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🏖️ Cowes Beach on Victoria’s Phillip Island has earned a spot on Tourism Australia’s 2025 list of the Best Australian Beaches, ranking at number 10. Known for its safe waters and family-friendly atmosphere, Cowes offers gentle waves and plenty of exploration opportunities at low tide. Fun fact: Cowes Beach is the only north-facing beach in the state. - Best Australian Beaches/Instagram
➡️ Last month Squeaky Beach in Victoria was named one of the best in the world by Lonely Planet. It’s almost like travel guides and tourism bodies know ‘best beaches’ lists are always picked up by big media outlets (and little newsletters).
👑Melbourne comedy trio Sooshi Mango have been named this year’s Moomba Monarchs. The honour is a longstanding tradition of the city’s five-day Moomba Festival. Monarchs, are ambassadors of the celebration and have included notable figures like Peter Hitchener, Fifi Box, and Emma Watkins in past years. - Instagram
📢Local residents staged a protest outside the Mornington Peninsula home of a 14-year-old boy bailed after allegedly pointing an imitation gun at shoppers in Somerville last week - including pointing the fake weapon at a mother and toddler. The teen and a 16-year-old are both charged with offences including affray and theft and were released shortly after their arrest. - 7 News
🎧The renowned electronic music festival Glitch is making its Australian debut in Melbourne this autumn, featuring five international and local acts and headlined by homegrown artist STÜM. - Glitch/Instagram
💵 A new millionaire is walking around south-east Melbourne oblivious to their new fortune. A mystery resident has unknowingly become a multi-millionaire after winning $2.5 million in the TattsLotto over the weekend. The winning ticket, purchased at Waverley Gardens Lotto in Mulgrave, is yet to be claimed. - Adam Vidler, Nine News
🐔Drake racked up a $2,651 Nando’s bill to feed his entourage before his Melbourne concert, ordering 60 wraps, 15 whole chickens and more. During the Sunday show the superstar rapper surprised fans by gifting $45,000 to two women continuing his trend of generosity on his Australian tour. - Nine News
🚇With 250 drivers already trained for day one of Metro Tunnel operations, another 400 will be needed to start passenger services, with plans to train more than 1,000 drivers for the new train line. - Metro Trains
📢Community Noticeboard📢
📌”Tickets for St Kilda’s Little Mission fundraiser go on sale tomorrow for $65, which includes a two-course roast chicken dinner, Tiramisu dessert, live Beatles covers by Thee Rooftops, and auction and door prizes.” - More details
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🐨And finally…This little guy was spotted wandering on a road in Bacchus Marsh on the north-western edge of Melbourne yesterday. Thankfully all nearby drivers had stopped and he meandered to safety. - Jacqui Felgate/Instagram
Thank you for reading edition 60 of The Melbourne Snap. If you missed Monday’s edition you can read it again here. This newsletter is 100% independent and free for all. I look at over 100 sources of news so you don’t have to. Thank you for your continued support. See you tomorrow.