First locals return to Wye River as pub reopens
Anna Whitelaw While Wye River residents wait anxiously to return to their bushfire-ravaged homes, the family who owned the pub returned to a ghost town to reopen the pub to emergency workers.
Latest Victoria news
Girl, 7, recalls her fear as the Wye River fire roared in
![Peter Jacobs, Chris Shaw and Pema at the Wye River community centre.](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/w/i/q/4/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glwhh4.png/1451395095476.jpg)
Angus Livingston 12:18 AM Fire ringed Wye River's hills and tore through its homes in smoky darkness on Christmas Day and seven-year-old Pema was scared.
A third of gift cards go unused
![Many Christmas gift cards expire before they are used.](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/w/8/g/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glw7k7.png/1451388572439.jpg)
Kirsti Weisz 10:29 PM A third of gift cards are going unused across Victoria as people flood to return or exchange unwanted Christmas presents.
"Bae", "Fleek" and the buzzwords of 2015
!["What the heck did you just say?"](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/w/5/p/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glw3ku.png/1451388336277.jpg)
Kirsti Weisz 9:51 PM Here they are, the new (and not-so-new) words that worked their way into the public consciousness over the last year.
Firefighters lose houses while battling Wye River blaze
![Lesley and Tony Maly, who lost their house in the the Wye River fire.](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/v/7/e/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glwcay.png/1451123079566.jpg)
Alana Schetzer 9:51 PM Since Eliot Walton arrived at Wye River on Boxing Day, he has donned his CFA uniform and helped control the blaze that continues to threaten the township he loves.
A state of anxiety as Victoria fears a black January
![Girgarre as temperatures hit a record for the warmest month of December in years.](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/w/i/r/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glvw5x.png/1451383283395.jpg)
Darren Gray 9:01 PM Victoria's grasslands are up to six weeks ahead of the usual drying pattern, suggesting the fire season will be long and threatening.
Police raid comes up trumps with footy card find
![John Coleman in action in his hey day](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/z/r/r/8/6/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glwf7x.png/1451382015002.jpg)
Craig Butt 8:34 PM Police executing a raid in Melbourne's west today have stumbled across some rare football memorabilia.
Family searches for missing father, grieves mother's death
![Lynne Robbins and her family are desperately searching for father George Robbins, 83, who suffers from dementia](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/w/a/5/r/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glw199.png/1451377337944.jpg)
Rania Spooner 7:22 PM Grieving siblings whose mother died of a stroke on Tuesday morning are appealing for help to find their missing elderly father who suffers from severe dementia.
Kennett renews calls for safe drug-injecting room: 'Every human being is entitled to life'
![Victoria Street Business Association president, and owner of restaurant Thanh Phong, Meca Ho, is opposed to a safe-injecting room in Richmond.](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/w/f/c/5/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glw7jn.png/1451373370335.jpg)
Aisha Dow 6:16 PM Former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett has renewed calls for a safe-injecting room in Victoria, saying homeless drug users should not be left to die.
The battle for Kennett River
![CFA trucks head back to work at Wye River.](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/w/f/z/c/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glwexr.png/1451371434969.jpg)
Darren Gray 5:43 PM A massive effort is under way at Kennett River on the Great Ocean Road, as fire crews build a bare earth control line to protect the community and other nearby settlements ahead of hot and windy weather late this week.
New Year's Eve: Pain lingers for teenager burnt by illegal fireworks
![Millie with Natalie (right) pointing to one of the spots where she was burnt last New Year's Eve.](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/w/f/l/s/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glwdz5.png/1451370891881.jpg)
Rebecca Rubenstein 5:34 PM Life has never been the same for 16-year-old Natalie after being seriously injured by illegal fireworks in Lorne last New Year's Eve.
Rape accused told police laws were unfair, court hears
![](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/z/v/l/k/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glwezs.png/1451370432136.jpg)
Adam Cooper 5:27 PM The man is accused of raping his ex-partner in her home and of assaulting her on Christmas Eve.
Wye River lifesavers, businesses suffer economic blow
![Fires at Victoria's Wye River on Christmas Day. The bushfires have forced Wye River Surf Life Saving Club to cancel its fundraising events.](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/w/4/2/7/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glwd2t.png/1451369936815.jpg)
Goya Dmytryshchak and Darren Gray 5:18 PM Wye River Surf Life Saving Club is set to lose about $50,000 with the bushfires causing it to cancel its major fundraising events and cancel this year's Nippers program for about 150 children.
Bracks says it was 'luck of the gods' his Wye River house wasn't lost
![Former premier Steve Bracks thanks Wye River CFA Captain Roy Moriaty.](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/w/e/u/8/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glwe8t.png/1451369073809.jpg)
Goya Dmytryshchak 5:04 PM Former Victorian premier Steve Bracks said it was the luck of the gods that 50 more houses, including his holiday home for the past 30 years, weren't lost in the Wye River bushfires on Christmas Day.
Footscray explosion: One dead, one injured after truck collides with cars and explodes
![The autopsy was not conclusive and further testing is being done to determine a cause of death.](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/1/v/q/k/4/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glw6jn.png/1451370929363.jpg)
Anna Whitelaw, Cameron Houston, Goya Dmytryshchak 4:30 PM One man is dead and a pedestrian has been injured after a truck collided with five cars and exploded in Footscray.
A hot time in the old town for celebrations
![Fireworks over the MCG on December 31, 2014.](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/2/g/9/b/m/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glwbgc.png/1420025601849.jpg)
Rebecca Rubenstein 4:02 PM It will be a hot and windy night, the kind of weather that makes emergency services nervous – especially when controlling a crowd estimated to be 500,000 strong coming into the city for New Year's Eve.
New Year's Eve fireworks may be cancelled due to fire threat
![The multimillion-dollar fireworks spectacular planned for Melbourne's CBD will go ahead as planned on New Year's Eve.](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/4/1/7/c/b/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glw2xf.png/1451364283294.jpg)
Anna Whitelaw 3:44 PM Authorities brace for hot and windy weather on New Year's Eve.
Ready, aim, fireworks - despite dire weather warnings
![Fireworks over Melbourne CBD](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/p/0/u/o/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glvxgx.png/1451364263516.jpg)
Rania Spooner and Rebecca Rubenstein 3:44 PM Firefighting authorities have flagged the possibility of a total fire ban for New Years Eve but planned fireworks displays are still expected to go ahead despite a severe fire rating in the South West.
Homeless man stabbed in Ascot Vale
![Police are urging anyone with information on the Ascot Vale stabbing to contact Crime Stoppers.](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/n/o/s/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glwagy.png/1451364802276.jpg)
Craig Butt 3:26 PM A homeless man is in a serious condition after being stabbed in Ascot Vale on Tuesday morning.
Turnbull schools plan 'sneaky, mean, tricky': Andrews government
![Senator Simon Birmingham: working on a new funding formula.](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/v/w/5/v/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glw8gj.png/1451360363551.jpg)
Clay Lucas and Matthew Knott 2:39 PM A plan by the Turnbull government to not provide the final two years of the Gonski school funding deal has drawn a furious reaction from the Victorian government, with the acting education minister branding it "sneaky and mean and tricky".
Victoria bushfires: "proud" Prime Minister personally thanks Wye River firefighters
![The Prime Minister visits Wye River areas destroyed by the Christmas Day fires.](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/w/5/v/8/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glw625.png/1451372520676.jpg)
Alana Schetzer, AAP 1:13 PM Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has praised the tenacity of residents and firefighters in the townships of Wye River and Separation Creek, where 116 homes were destroyed by the 2300-hectare blaze on Christmas Day.
15 of the best things that happened in 2015
![President Barack Obama speaks about the Paris climate agreement from the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington,](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/o/y/j/5/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glw2hi.png/1451354013410.jpg)
Kirsti Weisz 12:53 PM 1. The United States Supreme Court affirms same-sex marriage
Blind passion amid biffo, underarm bowling at a different kind of cricket
![Hamish Makenzie (L), Brendan Spencer (M) and Peter Loh (R) of Victoria, during Victoria vs Queensland, at the 33rd Australian National Blind Cricket Championships, Princes Park, Carlton, Melbourne.](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/v/t/a/s/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glvurs.png/1451353907880.jpg)
Carolyn Webb 12:51 PM While Australia played West Indies at the MCG, the national blind cricket championships at Princes Park boasted under-arm bowling, sledging and a bit of biffo between guide dogs in the crowd.
How Falls Festival was saved
![Festival fans set up their camp sites at the relocated event at Mt Duneed, just outside Geelong.](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/v/x/a/t/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glvve8.png/1451334884048.jpg)
Anna Whitelaw 7:34 AM Hours before 16,500 festival goers were due to start arriving at the annual Falls Festival, event organiser Jessica Ducrou is marvelling at the way the festival has been saved at the 11th hour.
'Unsophisticated' Flemington plan has serious issues: state architect
![An artists’ impression of planned apartment towers at Flemington Racecourse.](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/r/q/1/b/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glvs6y.png/1451331307065.jpg)
Clay Lucas 6:35 AM Plans for a sprawling high-rise apartment development on land at Flemington Racecourse – put forward by the Victoria Racing Club and a Chinese developer – have serious flaws, the state architect has told the Andrews government.
The 'dirty' and hard work being done to combat the Otways bushfire
![Firefighters inspect the damage caused by the Otways fire.](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/v/i/g/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glvxzl.png/1451300793387.jpg)
Darren Gray Fire crews have a vast amount of work to do to control the Otways fire, much of it hard manual labour building a control line and blacking out burnt areas with hand tools and water.
Scenes from a town rescue mission at Camp Wye River
![Residents and holiday home owners return to the Wye River fire ground to see their homes after the Christmas Day fire.](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/v/w/w/v/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glvwns.png/1451298633812.jpg)
Alana Schetzer It is the peak of summer but there is no one at the beach.
Wye River residents stand strong like warriors
![Resilient: one of the surviving Xi'an Warriors stands beside a fallen counterpart.](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/v/z/u/i/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glvvyt.png/1451298188249.jpg)
Goya Dmytryshchak Faced with dealing with the aftermath of losing her Wye River home, Sherryl Smith has criticised the lack of overall co-ordination and responsibility for helping victims.
Premier promises help for bushfire victims
![NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA POOL - 28/12/2015 Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews visits bushfire affected Wye River with Alex Shilton DELWP crew leader.
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA POOL. (Photo by David Geraghty / NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA)](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/v/z/u/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glvx7q.png/1451296347777.jpg)
Alana Schetzer Holiday-home owners whose properties were destroyed in the Wye River bushfire might receive financial compensation from the state government.
Prospect of Sir Lynton, lord of spin, triggers debate in UK
![British Prime Minister David Cameron with Lynton Crosby.](/web/20151229141144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/v/j/p/b/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glvzsl.png/1451327408608.jpg)
Nick Miller The impending knighthood of Australian political strategist Lynton Crosby in the UK New Year honours list has met a mixed reaction, mostly on predictable party lines.