Noor Maasarwe, the sister of murdered exchange student Aiia Maasarwe, says she does not feel safe in Melbourne, as she returns to the city to launch a fellowship in her sister's honour.

The sister of murdered exchange student Aiia Maasarwe says she does not feel safe in Melbourne, as she returns to the city of her sister's death to help launch a fellowship in her honour.

Victorian racing authorities announce a plan for retired racehorses to be euthanased on farms to save them from abattoirs and knackeries, in response to an ABC investigation that exposed cruel treatment of thoroughbreds.

A man responsible for an "atrocious attack" on an off-duty paramedic during a crime spree on the Mornington Peninsula last year is sentenced to five years and nine months in jail.

One of three peregrine falcon chicks that hatched, in front of thousands of online fans, has died in a nest perched high on a Melbourne skyscraper, marking the third year in a row the nest has suffered such a loss.

St Kilda's former number-one draft pick Paddy McCartin's problems with concussion reach a critical point, with the forward de-listed and sitting out the 2020 season to get his health in order.

A judge describes the attack on 21-year-old Aiia Maasarwe as "unsophisticated and opportunistic" in sentencing her killer to 36 years' prison, with a non-parole period of 30, as the victim's father and sister watch on in court.

Saeed Maasarwe said his family is not motivated by revenge over the rape and murder of his daughter Aiia Maasarwe, as he remembered her as a positive woman who wanted to help everybody.

Police arrest more than 40 demonstrators who were blockading the entrance to an international mining conference in Melbourne, while two officers who were injured during an arrest are taken to hospital for treatment.

Protesters are continuing to disrupt a mining conference in Melbourne.

Climate activists clash with police after two protesters climbed outside the Melbourne Convention Centre, where an international mining conference is being held.

Furious connections demand answers from Racing Victoria after two fancied horses were withdrawn from the Melbourne Cup over fears they have incomplete leg fractures.

Rather than Michelle Payne's 2015 win being the game-changing moment it seemed, female jockeys still beg for the crumbs from the tables of owners and trainers who remain dubious about their capabilities, writes Richard Hinds.

After being dropped from the Victoria Derby in controversial circumstances, Linda Meech has earned a Derby Day reprieve and a chance at some revenge.

A senior police officer tells the royal commission Nicola Gobbo agreed to make a statement against Paul Dale in the murders of Terence and Christine Hodson because she did not want it to look like she was involved in the murder.

Some parent visas cost up to $40,000 while others have a 30-year waitlist, making them completely out of reach for many migrant families. But advocates say rather than being a drag on the system, elderly family members could actually boost the economy.

Another international raider grabs the last automatic spot in the Melbourne Cup, with the Joseph O'Brien-trained Downdraft earning his spot with a win in the Hotham Handicap on Derby Day.

Besart Berisha of Western United FC runs with the ball during the Round 2 A-League match between Western United and Perth Glory at GMHBA Stadium in Geelong, Saturday, October 19,2019.

Japanese Caulfield Cup winner Mer De Glace is the new favourite for Tuesday's Melbourne Cup after the barrier draw is completed at Flemington.

A court hears Harold Mitchell was "pushing" for Tennis Australia to sign a contract for the broadcast rights of the Australian Open with Channel 7 when he was the sports body's director in 2013.

An 11-year-old boy who was missing since Sunday night on a 150-acre farm north-west of Melbourne returns home safe and well. Police say he was checked out by ambulance officers and was given the all clear.

In the closest of finishes, jockey Craig Williams rides the winner but an upheld protest sees a change to the final placings in the race that stops a nation. Look back on how it unfolded at Flemington Racecourse.

Pastels and bold patterns are in this year, but is racing out? As the industry deals with issues around the treatment of horses, punters continue to embrace the Cup in dazzling style.

Vow and Declare co-owner Bob Leitch said his "emotions flowed over" as a horse part-owned by a novice syndicate from Queensland stormed to Melbourne Cup victory.

When 40,000 seedlings propagated by prisoners at Loddon Prison were not going to be planted, locals stepped in to make sure the trees would find a home.

An array of Pacific Island communities converged on the Mackay Botanical Gardens last weekend to take part in the region's first Pasifika Festival. The event highlighted Mackay's diverse cultures by showcasing traditional artwork, food and performances.

Photographs exploring Rockhampton's long relationship with the Fitzroy River have been unveiled in a new exhibition at the Rockhampton Art Gallery.

Meredith Ireland has spent the last six years studying and working in the finance sector, but recently she has decided to put more time into her passion, textiles and weaving.

Despite battling cool wintery winds and the rushing splashes of waves, workers have begun the process of giving Newcastle's Ocean Baths their annual 'spring' clean.

Copier Jam is a new exhibition at the Childers Art Space. It brings the underground world of self-published zines out of the bedroom and into the light.

About 300 people took part in Saturday's Reclaim the Night rally, where women and girls marched through the town to Victory Park, sang and carried banners.

If you were at Albion Park on March 8 this year, you'll never forget the sight of the enormous Qantas 747 flying over the crowds and landing on the small regional airstrip. Now it's comfortably retired and on display, what does having a 747 jumbo jet do for tourism?

Wine flowed and cuisine was sampled at Queens Park when close to 30,000 people attended Mackay's Wine and Food Day. The annual event has been ongoing in Mackay for the past 28 years and this year event manager said it attracted bigger numbers than ever before.

Milk bottles, plastic bags and electrical wire bound for the rubbish tip have been given a second life as part of Warwick's Jumpers and Jazz in July festival.

The coast's best musical talent has been celebrated at the inaugural Gold Coast Music Awards night.

The idea was simple; find a spot in Australia with some of the best weather in the world, move there, and start brewing German beer.

Splendour in the Grass was unofficially rebranded 'Splendour in the Mud' this year as thousands of music lovers donned gumboots for the festival in the Byron Shire's Yelgun.

Family and friends have gathered in a Toowoomba park to unveil 'Roger Guard Lane' named after the avid runner and popular doctor who was killed along with his wife Jill twelve months ago in the MH17 disaster.

Locals have captured the unique beauty and brilliance of the Gold Coast for ABC Open's Snapped project.

Celebrities like Pink and touring shows like Cirque du Soleil are motivating people to take up the art of aerial acrobatics. Kayleigh McMullen has opened up her own school in Coolum on the Sunshine Coast and says it is attracting people of all ages.

A Toowoomba-based environmental scientist says finding a small population of a threatened grass in the middle of the city was exciting, as is the process of conserving it in another park.

Sale College science students swapped the indoors for the outdoors to take part in the Bug Blitz program and create an art installation for Lake Guyatt.

As wisps of fog settled on the township of Eungella, bike riders emerged from the muddy tracks within the rainforest. The Eungella National Park rarely fails to live up to its Indigenous name 'Land of the Clouds' and once a year the town attracts athletes who are eager to compete in its mountain bike marathon.

For the first time in 10 years, the annual Queensland Variety Bash has departed from Cairns.

In the early hours of Friday morning when most people were waking and getting ready for work or school, 200 military personnel in north Queensland were close to finishing 24 hours of hard work.

Duneira is a late Nineteenth Century country house in Mt Macedon - but it has a curious history.

Mount Panorama has made the most experienced racing driver and their team shudder, but it hasn't stopped a group of TAFE students taking on the mountain.

On a soft, misty morning, all was quiet and still on the swamp except for a piercing whistle and splashing of water.