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Daily Sudoku
Challenge yourself with today’s four difficulty levels.
The Traveller Quiz
Are you an expert traveller? Test your knowledge with our weekly travel quiz.
‘Don’t know where I’d be without him’: Battlers pay tribute to Les Twentyman
David Glenny chokes back tears as he recalls the impact that youth social worker Les Twentyman had on his family.
‘Icon of the west’: The death of youth worker Les Twentyman
Described as “one of Melbourne’s big characters”, Twentyman was known for his work with at-risk young people.
Exclusive
Drugs in sport
Ex-club doctor blew the whistle on drugs in the AFL. But he has more to say
Zeeshan Arain says he documented a disturbingly high prevalence of illicit drug use among players at the Melbourne Football Club and wanted to expose a cultural problem, not blow up the league’s drugs policy.
Betts says racial abuse hurled at his kids will ‘stick for the rest of their lives’
The Indigenous AFL great opened up days after sharing footage to social media of his children being racially abused while playing basketball at his home.
Life for women after 50 – hit comic newcomers hold a mirror to it all
Relatable stories providing a glimpse of what goes on in women’s lives are proving a hit for audiences – and the performers discovering standup comedy in midlife.
Exclusive
Investigations
‘Blue-chip acreages’: Brethren dynasty’s luxury property portfolio
The family of Exclusive Brethren world leader Bruce D. Hales has amassed one of Australia’s most impressive property portfolios.
‘The people own that’: Eddie Perfect says State Theatre should not be renamed
The acclaimed performer asked “why the Ian Potter Foundation feels the need to put his name on a theatre that belongs to all of us”.
The Sad Sheep painting that quietly waits to ruin your day
The National Gallery of Victoria harbours a famous artwork that has been transfixing visitors for 140 years.
Take a note, said Leonardo da Vinci and Pablo Picasso – to themselves
Roland Allen’s history of the notebook looks at the writers and artists who used them over hundreds of years, and the object itself.
The world’s most notorious sea route is surprisingly scenic
What traveller doesn’t dream of sailing the infamous Strait of Magellan across the southernmost wilds of South America?
‘More apparent every day’, a bigger war to come, says Poland’s PM
“I know it sounds devastating, especially to people of the younger generation, but we have to mentally get used to the arrival of a new era,” said the Polish leader.
Sydney has the view, Melbourne has the bigger office
Sydney may have the views of the Harbour, but Melburnians opt for bigger office space.
Opinion
Private schools
‘Retro, wealthy and weird’: The old boys who are afraid of young girls
The Newington College old guard is resisting co-education, but you have to wonder when adults’ identity is so tied to their six years as teenagers.
Jacqueline Maley
Columnist and senior journalist
Two of Us
Good Weekend
At 19, Tom was feeling ‘a bit fluey’. Within months, he’d lost his limbs
When Tom Nash was in hospital, his best mate helped him with daily visits and “glimpses of normalcy”.
Opinion
Retirement living
How early can you retire? These are the key dates to know
There’s a lot of confusion surrounding the retirement process, from the steps leading up to retirement to navigating life post-retirement.
Bec Wilson
Money contributor
WEEKEND READS
The probability of an Australian Taylor-Travis combo – and other fun stats
Plus: get ready for the weekend with these fresh diversions.
What his friend’s killer did in court set Peter on a new life mission
After losing a close friend in horrific circumstances – and witnessing his killer’s brazen insolence – Peter Rolfe knew what he had to do.
Victoria
Keeping the faith: These religious groups are flourishing as atheism takes hold
Christianity is declining and atheism is growing, while the faithful flock to megachurches, temples and mosques.
Underground drug trafficking operation linked to ‘colourful’ clinic owner, court hears
Police seized hundreds of vials of testosterone, human growth hormone and anabolic steroids, 17 luxury cars worth more than $3 million and a safe of cash in raids.
Updated
Racism
Police launch investigation after Eddie Betts shares footage of racial abuse
Indigenous AFL great Eddie Betts has shared footage to social media of four children being racially abused while playing basketball in the front garden of a Glen Iris home.
‘It feels like a suburb of Geelong’: Has Torquay lost its small-town charm?
The Torquay community is fiercely protective of its surrounding environment – both ocean and land – as its population boom threatens its coastal character.
Exclusive
Cost of living
Victorians face biggest jump in financial distress
More than half of Victorians are experiencing cost-of-living and personal debt distress beyond normal levels.
AFL
In the game of the father: The blood ties complicating footy’s feel-good stories
One of dozens of senior coaches and football bosses to have their judgment blinkered by blood ties, Denis Pagan coached his own son at AFL level. He believes Anthony Stevens has done the right thing by stepping away from the Kangaroos board.
The AFL needs to clarify its stance on recreational drug use
If the AFL disagrees with the World Anti-Doping Agency rules about drugs like cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis, it should say so and change its code.
Politics
Out of politics, Morrison doesn’t hold back on China
The former PM describes the idea that democracy wouldn’t work in China as “crap”, as the thaw in relations between Canberra and Beijing continues.
Business
Almost 18 months after the floods, Rick is still battling his insurer. He’s far from alone
As climate change increases the severity and frequency of natural disasters, insurance companies face pressure to improve the handling of their claims.
Opinion
Cafe
A cafe isn’t a rent-free office. Why don’t you Zoom off?
Malcolm Knox
Journalist, author and columnist
World
Pope skips Good Friday event to preserve health ahead of Easter, Vatican says
His last-minute decision recalled the Good Friday that St John Paul II famously watched from the Apostolic Palace just before he died in 2005.
Opinion
Melbourne, your street art and laneways are overrated. We’re just putting lipstick on a concrete pig
Prue Blake
Comedian and former urban planner
Just when Dutton is winning, he sounds like a sore loser
David Crowe
Chief political correspondent
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Property
‘Our secret’: What life is like in Melbourne’s best value suburb
There’s space to relax, you can hear the parrots singing and friendly locals are always open to stop for a chat.
Twelve of our favourite properties for sale in Victoria
Looking for your next home in Victoria? From Sorrento to Northcote, we’ve got you covered.
Good Food
Lifestyle
‘Birth is just a snapshot’: Why boutique post-natal services are on the rise
More attention is being paid to the “fourth trimester” with the rise of dedicated clinics, hotels and mother’s groups – often with a hefty price tag attached.
Culture
Series
MICF
Staying in Melbourne? Here’s a look at who’s playing the International Comedy Festival
This year’s laugh-fest has kicked off, with more than 800 performers set to step up to the mic. Here, our writers take a closer look.
Traveller
Drivedrive
From Our Partners
Sport
Gawn says win over Port shows Dees are united, club marks Viney’s 200th in style
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin is lauding the character of his club to emerge gritty seven-point winners over Port Adelaide after another week of controversy.
Exclusive
Drugs in sport
He blew the whistle on the AFL drugs scandal. Here is what Melbourne’s ex-club doctor wants to change
Zeeshan Arain says he documented a disturbingly high prevalence of illicit drug use among players at the Melbourne Football Club and wanted to expose a cultural problem, not blow up the league’s drugs policy.
Betts says racial abuse hurled at his kids will ‘stick for the rest of their lives’
The Indigenous AFL great opened up days after sharing footage to social media of his children being racially abused while playing basketball at his home.
Why the most macabre doping scheme in Olympic history went unpunished
Righting the wrongs of the state-orchestrated East German doping of the 1970s and 1980s will be anything but straightforward.
‘Worst judging I have ever seen’: Brazilian champ lashes out after upset loss
Three-time world champion Gabriel Medina finds himself in danger of being dropped off the world tour next month after a controversial defeat at the Bells Beach Pro.
Worrying signs for rebuilding North as Clarkson defends key list management calls
North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has defended the club’s call not to select key defensive prospect Daniel Curtin in last year’s draft after also letting restricted free agent Ben McKay walk.
Exclusive
Australian Open
‘It’s not a war’: The seismic shift about to hit world tennis
The “war” over a radical new direction for professional tennis – between the cashed-up Saudis and the four grand slams – is anything but, according to Australian Open boss Craig Tiley in this interview about the future of the sport.
Have Your Say
In the game of the father: The blood ties complicating footy’s feel-good stories
One of dozens of senior coaches and football bosses to have their judgment blinkered by blood ties, Denis Pagan coached his own son at AFL level. He believes Anthony Stevens has done the right thing by stepping away from the Kangaroos board.
