APA will perform Shadows of Angels, directed by Iris Walshe-Howling and Janine McKenzie, at 3pm and 7pm at Lorne Community Connect on Saturday, July 22.

Based on true events and set in the slums of Melbourne in the 1920s, the play focuses on four women and their connections to a violent crime.

Played by talented actors Stacey Carmichael, Julie Fryman, Lina Libroaperto and Nikki Watson, the four women relate their recollections of the horrific events, slowly exposing the mysterious connections that led to the crime.

Shadow of Angels features a haunting and emotionally rich original score composed and performed live by Kirsten Honey that intensifies the works themes of marginalisation, gender, sexuality, class and crime.

Co-director McKenzie said the issues explored in the play, as well as its poetic and powerful language, were what drew her to Shadows of Angels.

Three of these characters operate in the shadows of society so the spotlight is put on these characters who would otherwise not have a prominent voice and place in the telling of Australian stories and history, she said.

Women are placed very much at the forefront of this story. I think its really important. Were telling this story because there are echoes and shades of those lives still present in our own society.

APA will also hold an open rehearsal of Shadows of Angels at Kildare Theatre, Clonard College on Sunday, July 23, the last rehearsal before heading off to Edinburgh.

The open rehearsal will also include a performance a/lone, a dynamic physical theatre work featuring Stacey Carmichael that is also travelling to Edinburgh Fringe, at 6pm. Entry will be via donation.

For more information and tickets visit angleseaperformingarts.com/productions. To support APAs travel to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival visit australianculturalfund.org.au.

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The Geelong Fly Fishing Club will welcome fly casters from across the state when it hosts the Australian Casting Federations (ACF) Victorian Fly Casting Championships this weekend.

Held at the Geelong Casting Pool at Barwon Valley Park in Belmont on Sunday, July 23 between 9.30am and 3pm, the event features three accuracy events and three distance events.

Competitors will vie for awards for both disciplines as well as the title of Victorian Champion for the aggregate top scorer across all events.

Geelong Fly Fishing Club member and ACF vice president Ron Heath encouraged members of the public to wander down, watch the event and speak to club members if they were interested in taking up the sport.

Were always encouraging people to come down and have a look, Mr Heath said.

We always get people having a look and asking questions about it, and I always find that if theyre interested enough to come and ask questions they might just come along and try it.

Mr Heath has represented Australia at the sports world championships and is currently the official casting coach for the ACF.

He said fly casting was a fantastic sport for people of all ages and one that would improve anyones fishing.

Ive been fly fishing since about 1967, and (involved in competition) since about 1970; a long time, Mr Heath said.

Its all about the camaraderie. Im 80 years old and I still enjoy it. Its all about catching up, having a chat and talking a bit of rubbish; thats what most fishermen do.

The club will also host the national championships in Geelong on August 20.

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Its a good time to buy a home in the Greater Geelong region, according to new data from the Real Estate Insitute of Victoria (REIV).

House prices dropped by 4.4 per cent in Geelong during the second quarter of this year, with many areas across the region seeing more than a two per cent movement in each direction.

Drysdale had the biggest median price drop, which fell by 9.4 per cent with a median sale price of $700,000, followed by Barwon Heads (-5.4&percnt) at $1.85 million and Belmont (-4.8&percnt) at $690,000.

Other suburbs to see a more than two per cent quarterly price decrease during the April to June period were Portarlington (-4.6&percnt), East Geelong (-3.5&percnt), and Corio (-2.9&percnt).

Manifold Heights had the largest quarterly growth with an increase of 22.8 per cent and 1.21 million median sale price, while Geelong West rose by 0.5 per cent at $1.01 million.

REIV president Andrew Meehan said it was interesting how Greater Geelong house prices had lowered during the quarter but increased over the past six months.

As the markets seen with the quarterly change increase regionally from Victoria, I would expect that to be continuing and would be reflected in the Greater Geelong pricing, he said.

The prices are stable, were seeing increases elsewhere, so despite them being down for the quarter but up for the six months in Geelong, Id say its a reasonably good time to buy.

Mr Meehan also said the days on the market for homes were less than the regional average, with many suburbs recording less than 40 days, such as Highton and Corio, which reported only 31 days.

Its a good time for buyers to be entering the market with a bit of a downturn in the last quarter, but up in the last six months, he said.

From what I am hearing there is strong buyer demand which is probably why theres shorter days on market in the Geelong area.

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Film fans will have the opportunity to support the Bellarine Historical Society (BHS) when it partners with the North Bellarine Film Festival (NBFF) to present acclaimed Australian film The Drovers Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson.

The Drovers Wife is the directorial debut of Indigenous playwright and actress Leah Purcell, who also won Best Lead Actress at the 2022 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards for her performance in the films lead role.

The film will be screened at the Indented Head Community Hall on Sunday, August 6 as a fundraiser for the BHS.

The proceeds will be used to install a ramp for wheelchair and aged access at the societys Court House Museum site in Drysdale, where it holds its impressive collection of photos, records and maps of the Bellarine area.

BHS president Lorraine Stokes OAM thanked the NBFF for facilitating the event to help the historical society raise funds for the access ramp.

The NBFF committee have come up with this idea and theyll run the movie night for us, which is fantastic; its really good of them to help us out here, Ms Stokes said.

Were a volunteer organisation, we receive no funding from any level of government. We raise our own money through research, book sales and donations.

We get busloads wanting to come in from aged care facilities and elsewhere, but we dont have access for people whove got disabilities. So this fundraiser will allow us to be open to everybody.

NBFF chair Bill Lussier said his organisation was proud to help the BHS with its fundraising efforts.

The North Bellarine Film Festival is happy to support the BHS, which has an important role in documenting and educating residents and visitors about the regions history and cultural identity, he said.

For tickets and more information visit trybooking.com/events/landing/1071365

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Geelong will host five AFLW matches at GMHBA Stadium including a round one home game to kick start the season.

The AFLW fixture was released this week and the Cats will also play two games in Melbourne, one in Warrnambool and will venture outside the state twice to take on GWS and Port Adelaide.

The Cats will open the season in front of the local fans at GMHBA Stadium against Western Bulldogs before hitting the road to North Sydney Oval in round two to take on the Swans.

The Cats will take on North Melbourne in round three under lights on a Friday night at home.

The AFLW will celebrate and recognise the contribution of past and current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players in rounds seven and eight in AFLW Indigenous Round, with the club facing Fremantle at GMHBA Stadium in round seven and Collingwood in round eight at Victoria Park.

Rounding out the home and away season, Geelong will travel up the highway to Ikon Park to play Richmond in round nine before finishing the season at home in round 10 against Hawthorn in the AFLW Pride Round.

Geelong CEO Steve Hocking said the club was eagerly anticipating the season and was looking forward to building on from the clubs finals appearance last season.

Our fixture has provided us a host of thrilling matchups, family-friendly timeslots, and exciting opportunities, and the Club is poised to continue our impressive journey in the AFLW so far in the 2023 season, he said.

We love playing at home and we cant wait to play at GMHBA Stadium throughout the season, however our fixture also presents exciting opportunities for fans based outside of Geelong including heading to Alberton Oval in Adelaide and North Sydney Oval for the first time, games in Melbourne against Richmond and Collingwood, and once again in Warrnambool where both our womens and mens playing groups have enjoyed spending time in the community.

We look forward to the season ahead and seeing coach Dan Lowther, captain Meg McDonald and the team build on last season.

Geelong Fixture

*All times are local

Round 1

Saturday 2 September, 5.05pm

Geelong Cats vs Western Bulldogs, GMHBA Stadium

Round 2

Saturday 9 September, 1:05pm

Sydney Swans vs Geelong Cats, North Sydney Oval

Round 3

Friday 15 September, 5:05pm

Geelong Cats vs North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos, GMHBA Stadium

Round 4

Saturday 23 September, 12:35pm

Port Adelaide vs Geelong Cats, Alberton Oval

Round 5

Thursday 28 September, 6:15pm

Geelong Cats vs Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium

Round 6 Country Game

Sunday 8 October, 1:05pm

Essendon vs Geelong Cats, Reid Oval Warrnambool

Round 7 AFLW Indigenous Round

Saturday 14 October, 3:05pm

Geelong Cats vs Fremantle, GMHBA Stadium

Round 8 AFLW Indigenous Round

Sunday 22 October, 1:05pm

Collingw...

Geelong Chamber of Commerce chief executive Jeremy Crawford said this weeks announcement that the 2026 Commonwealth Games would not go ahead was not a huge shock.

Citing a cost blowout from the budgeted $2.6 billion to possibly over $7 billion, Premier Daniel Andrews cancelled the Games, which was to be held in Geelong and three other regional hubs.

Despite the Games cancellation, Mr Andrews recommitted to the legacy infrastructure promises that were part of the larger Games project, including new and upgraded sporting facilities and social and affordable housing in Geelong and regional Victoria.

Mr Crawford said that while the announcement was surprising in that no one saw it coming there had been low confidence among the business sector.

There has been very low confidence due to a lack of clarity and certainty coming out of the government, especially over the last few months or so, he said.

We havent had any businesses that have been hanging their future hopes and dreams on the Commonwealth Games.

But what we have had is obviously some feedback from different parts of the business community who might be impacted by this, particularly our sporting organisations that we partner with the chamber.

The business sentiment is that what were looking forward to is working with the government on where this investment is going to and making sure that its utilised appropriately.

Mr Crawford said there were some businesses who had begun planning for the Games.

There are some businesses that I spoke to today who were looking at growing, expanding or even starting because of the opportunity of the Commonwealth Games, he said.

There are probably in the minority, but what we really want to make sure of is that when the investment goes into some of these bricks and mortar projects whether its sporting stadia, community provisions or even a regional tourism package, that the ability for the services to be sustainably delivered is there with that support as well.

Mr Crawford said there were more than 4000 jobs to be created from the Games, pre- post- and during the event.

And that has a lot of affiliate industries that would have ridden the wave of putting Geelong on the map internationally including the tourism sector, the hospitality sector and a lot of the retailers that obviously would have benefitted from a huge increase in foot traffic in and around the Geelong regions and sporting precincts, he said.

With all of that now seemingly completely lost, what we want to know is how can get the government to work with organisations like the Chamber and others to make sure that those opportunities for businesses still exist and over the next period of time where theres investment going in there that the provision of those services would have been offered for businesses to tap into, there still remains opportunities for them to grow.

The po...

Newcomb & District Cricket Club all-rounder Cam Egan is through to the second round of the Renegades Recruit.

The Renegades Recruit searches for the best players in community cricket competitions across the state with the potential to play at a higher level.

Televised as a two-part miniseries, 10 young cricketers tried out at St Kildas Junction Oval before the squad was first cut to six and then next Tuesday down to three.

The players were put through their paces at St Kildas Junction Oval under the watchful eye of former Renegades mens and current WBBL coach Simon Helmot.

It was definitely different, Egan said.

It was more focussed on filming and getting the right parts. The actual cricket aspect was pretty elite. There were some good cricketers.

A left-arm seam bowler and more than capable batter, Egan said he clocked 126km/h during the initial outdoor training.

Egan, 21, started his cricket at St Leonards in the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association and then crossed over to Newcomb & District last season in Geelong Cricket Association 4ths.

He will line up for the Dinos again this season and is hoping to play in England next winter before making the jump to GCA 1sts.

Egan said while he was a bowling all-rounder, he had worked hard on his batting in recent seasons.

I started off not caring about my batting I was just bowl, bowl, bowl sort of thing, he said.

I never really trained hard enough to make runs or bat higher. But Ive worked at it the past five or so years. The main focus is bowling.

The second episode of Renegades Recruit is on Tuesday July 25 at 7pm on 7plus and the Renegades Facebook page.

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Committee for Geelong CEO Michael Johnston said he was disappointed to learn of the cancellation of the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The Games, to be held in regional Victoria, including Greater Geelong, was scrapped by Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday due to escalating costs associated with the event.

This represented a unique opportunity to showcase Geelong on a global stage, boost our visitor economy, and deliver a range of legacy benefits for the region, Mr Johnston said.

Those local businesses who had already spent considerable time and effort in tendering will have been dealt a double blow by this news.

The announcement of a $2 billion Region Fund in its place is welcome, and it is pleasing to hear Geelong will continue to receive the legacy infrastructure benefits the Games promised to deliver. In particular, the creation of more affordable housing is desperately needed, and we would be hopeful that additional dwellings can be added.

Mr Johnston said it was also positive for residents in the citys southern growth corridor, with the Armstrong Creek Aquatic Centre, Waurn Ponds indoor sport facility, and hockey pitch at Torquay to be completed (along with the upgrade to the Stead Park hockey facility in Norlane).

With regards to the construction of the housing and sporting infrastructure, there are some important questions that need to be addressed, he said.

What is the timing? The Games provided a firm deadline. Without that deadline, we seek assurances that these projects are not delayed.

The other question is whether local businesses will be prioritised through the procurement process? This was a key component of the Victoria 2026 procurement approach and provided Geelong businesses access to significant Government work. It is imperative on the Government to maintain this approach, and support local businesses in supplying the legacy projects. We have the skills and talent here. Use it.

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Geelong council and industry leaders have reacted with shock and disappointment after Daniel Andrews announcement this week that the 2026 Commonwealth Games would no longer go ahead.

Citing a cost blowout from the budgeted $2.6 billion to possibly over $7 billion, the Premier cancelled the Games, which was to be held in Geelong and three other regional hubs.

Despite the Games cancellation, Mr Andrews recommitted to the legacy infrastructure promises that were part of the larger Games project, including new and upgraded sporting facilities and social and affordable housing in Geelong and regional Victoria.

Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan voiced his disappointment at the decision, saying councils job from here was to advocate for the legacy projects Geelong had been guaranteed.

We have been promised huge amounts of tourism, economic, social and sporting benefits from these Games, Mayor Sullivan said.

More than 7500 jobs were to be created post- and pre-Games, more than 1200 procurement opportunities for local Victorian jobs These are all lost now.

This was marketed as, and truly was, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve our sporting infrastructure, our affordable housing stock, to strengthen our community and sporting culture.

We want to ensure that the legacy benefits that have been promised by the State Government do come to fruition. Well be holding the government to account for this. The Premier made a promise to regional Victoria and we expect him to follow through.

Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine (TGGB) executive director Tracy Carter said while the Games cancellation was an absolute disappointment and a lost opportunity to showcase the region, the early timing of the decision meant the local tourism industry had not invested too heavily to date.

Were disappointed for our industry, some of which have already put in quite a bit of work in trying to figure out how they can partner with the Games, Ms Carter said.

These sorts of things dont come along too often. There was such a lot of excitement, so its just a real shame for that not to have eventuated.

Certainly, we hadnt got to the point of doing any investment of funds; it was really all preliminary and strategic thinking.

What it did for our industry was unite everyone behind a shared, aspirational source of excitement. (Our job now is) to harness the excitement that was there. We have to grow our international visitation through other means.

For more stories on the Games cancellation, see page 3.

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