The Melbourne Snap⚡- Wednesday 29 January
Gangland execution of 'The Punisher', major fire in Altona, Melbourne's most popular baby names and new gin festival.
G’day and welcome back to The Melbourne Snap. This week this newsletter has surpassed 50 editions. I had thought about making more fanfare about this milestone but in all honesty I didn’t really clock it until today, and it’s issue 51!
In amongst moving house, children starting school and a regular job I’m still very much enjoying writing and compiling The Melbourne Snap. Thank you to the readers and subscribers for engaging with The Snap. I hope it continues to be useful and provides an alternative for those of us that want to know what’s happening in the city but can’t always face trawling through algorithms and ads to do so.
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Now on to Wednesday’s edition.
🚨 The biggest story in the last 24 hours is the news Melbourne underworld figure Sam Abdulrahim, also known as "The Punisher", was shot dead in front of his girlfriend as the pair were walking to his car in the city's north-east yesterday morning. - Allanah Sciberras, Eleanor Wilson, Nine News
➡️ Melbourne’s most-hunted gangland figure Abdulrahim, was murdered in a daylight execution at Quest Apartments in Preston.
➡️ His killers fled in a white vehicle, possibly a Mercedes or Porsche, according to reports from witnesses.
➡️Among Abdulrahim’s enemies were Middle Eastern organised crime big shots Kazem Hamad and Ahmed Al Hamza. It’s believed there was a $1 million hit contract out against him. - Regan Hodge, Mark Buttler, Olivia Jenkins - Herald Sun
➡️There have been no fewer than 18 attacks staged against Abdulrahim – or directed at him by firebombing or shooting his friends and associates – since 2017. - Chris Vedelago, The Age
🌤️Wednesday weather
Crime Watch
This section is dedicated to crime news. Scroll on if you want to skip to lighter news.
🚔 Six people, including five teenagers, have been charged after the aggravated burglary and theft of two vehicles in Melbourne’s northwest over the long weekend. Police tracked the stolen cars with the help of the Air Wing, leading to arrests in Hawthorn. - Victoria Police
🏛️ Michael Francis Martin, 69, is accused of sexually assaulting Jessie Grace Lauder on two separate occasions after breaking into her Newport home in 1981 and 1983. A bail application has been told an alleged DNA match led to the arrest of the Hoppers Crossing man in Wyndham Vale last week. - Kristian Silva, ABC
💳 Police are looking for two men who reportedly scammed a woman and stole her credit card in St Albans, north-west Melbourne. The stolen card was used to spend $41,000 on mobile phones and jewellery in Brunswick, and police have released images of two men who may assist with the investigation. - Victoria Police
❓ If you have a community event, news, announcement or new business you want to share, please fill in this form here. If it’s suitable it’ll go in the noticeboard section.
🔥 Another grassfire broke out in Altona in the early hours of this morning, close to a residential area. FRV and CFA crews battled a significant blaze at Laverton Wetlands, south-west Melbourne, bringing it under control at 4:36am after three hours.
➡️A warning has been issued for communities in Altona and Altona Meadows but there is “no threat to people or houses”. The Wetlands area runs behind the Port Philip Retirement Village. - Fire Rescue Victoria
➡️ It’s the second grassfire in Altona in a matter of days. On Sunday firefighting planes were needed to control a fire in the same area.
👶🏻Melbourne’s most popular baby names in 2024 have been revealed by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria. Coming out on top for the boys were Oliver, Noah and Henry. For the girls, leading the pack were Isla, Charlotte and Amelia. Oliver’s is on quite the run. It’s been the top boys’ name since 2014. - Vic Gov
🍸Attention gin lovers. The Melbourne Gin Festival returns to Port Melbourne this autumn, transforming The Timber Yard into a gin lover's haven from March 22-24, 2025. - Instagram
🎤 American comedian and Insta star Noel Miller will bring his latest stand-up show, Noel Miller Live, to Melbourne's Palais Theatre on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, as part of his highly anticipated Australian tour. - Ticket details
🚢 The City of Melbourne was determined to shut down the controversial floating nightclub ATET and ignored reasonable attempts by the small business to stay open, a whistleblower from within the council has revealed. The club’s owners have long maintained the council ignored several good-faith proposals to allow it to operate in compliance with noise restrictions. - Angus McIntyre, Herald Sun
🍷Coburg’s coolest new bottleshop and bar, Sweet Nectar Inn, has been called “the classic Australian milk bar with the laid-back appeal of an American dive bar” by food and lifestyle magazine Broadsheet (it’s a compliment). The recently opened shop is already proving a hit with locals. - Hannah Bambra, Broadsheet
🏚️A Preston resident who claimed to have “found” an old rifle stashed inside their wall during a reno (see last Thursday’s edition), now says they’ve found another one underneath the floorboards. The owner of a property on Crevelli Street, in the north of the city, said they “found another [rifle] under the floorboards in the lounge room.”
➡️ Locals in the northern suburb speculated as to whether it was a collectible or a throwback to the area’s tough past when it was dubbed ‘Little Chicago’ due to the crime. Most urged the poster to hand it to the police. - Reservoir 3073
🎸Eighties rock icons TOTO will bring their world tour to Melbourne’s John Cain Arena on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The band behind hits like ‘Africa’ will feature singer and guitarist Christopher Cross as a special guest. - More information
📢Community Noticeboard📢
No new additions sent in, unfortunately. Have your news, event, gathering, new business or community update featured here. Fill in this form.
🦇And finally…An expected guest was found hanging around a plant in a Melbourne home. While usually harmless bats should not be touched or approached as they can carry serious diseases to humans. If you encounter one the best bet is to contact Wildlife Victoria and follow their advice.
Thank you for reading edition 51 of The Melbourne Snap. This newsletter is 100% independent, free for all and has over 400 subscribers. It’s written in the early hours every weekday morning after I finish my day job (which is actually a night job). If you enjoy it please spread the word. Thank you, see you tomorrow.
Woops. The email version of this edition said the 28 January in the subject and not the 29 January. Apologies!