Syan Vallance

Jan 30, 2025 | abc.net.au | Gillian Aeria |Syan Vallance

Residents in the historic western Victorian town of Cavendish have been told to prepare for bushfires in the Grampians/Gariwerd National Park to spread closer to their homes. There are two fires burning in the Grampians at the southern and northern ends of the park, totalling 18,000 hectares. The southern fire has spread to within 18 kilometres of Cavendish. Check the warning information and incident map here. If your life is in danger call 000 (triple-zero). Roads are closed.

Jan 28, 2025 | abc.net.au | Daniel Miles |Eden Hynninen |Angus Verley |Syan Vallance

Katelynn Clark felt certain her home would burn to the ground when a raging bushfire hit the edge of her rural property on Monday night. Ms Clark runs a mixed sheep and cropping farm on the northern edge of the Little Desert National Park in western Victoria where a fast-moving blaze this week destroyed more than 63,000 hectares of land.

Jan 19, 2025 | abc.net.au | Lottie Twyford |Syan Vallance |Lani Oataway

Pro-Palestine demonstrators have gathered in Sydney and Melbourne, hours before a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is due to come into effect. Some protesters say that ceasefire doesn't go far enough, and they have no plans to stop holding weekly rallies until Palestine is liberated. Large crowds have gathered at pro-Palestine demonstrations in cities across Australia mere hours before a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is due to come into effect.

Jan 14, 2025 | abc.net.au | Syan Vallance

There are fears some businesses temporarily closed by the Grampians fire may be forced to shut for good. Some operators have lost up to 35 per cent of their annual income but many don't qualify for government support. There's still a possibility the state government could provide relief but, with no guarantees, locals are rallying to support each other and calling on tourists to return.

Jan 5, 2025 | abc.net.au | Syan Vallance

As dawn breaks over Phillip Island's Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club, 60 teenagers are rising with the sun. There are no sleep-ins on Bronze Camp, a week of training from dawn to dusk where aspiring surf lifesavers — known as "bronzies" — work towards their bronze medallions. The teenagers' dream is to swap their fluoro green trainee kits for an iconic red and gold uniform. But first, they have to pass a range of tests on the final morning of Bronze Camp.