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Weekly Sudoku Puzzle Week 20/01/2026 Challenge
Sudoku puzzle of the week
How to play Sudoku
The objective of Sudoku is to fill each row, column and sub-grid with exactly one of the possible entries (usually, the numbers 1-9). A conflict arises if you repeat any entry in the same row, column or sub-grid.
Play Sudoku together
Use the Play together option in the navigation bar to invite a friend to play this sudoku puzzle with you. Once connected, your friend’s icon will turn green. If either of you is disconnected from the Internet, the icon will turn red. If either of you is inactive, the icon will turn gray. You and your friend can now enter letters at the same time. Click on the chat icon at bottom right to talk with your friend. (Chat is not available if either player is on a mobile device.)
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Rebuilding lives
By Ashok Verma
RECOVERY mode has kicked in to get North Central residents’ life back on track after the devastating bushfires.
Mitchell, Strathbogie and Murrindindi Shire Councils are planning to band together to make a joint push to gain adequate government funding for the fire-hit.
Mitchell Shire Council Mayor John Dougall said the three shires, which have been working together at the Seymour Relief Centre, will probably create a three-way advocacy group in a joint push for funds to rebuild the regions’ communities.
The three shires agree that a Longwood advocacy team is needed. The Longwood fire was the biggest and caused the most devastation. A joint advocacy team will be in one voice when knocking on the doors to say “where is this increase in funding to help rebuild our communities”.
Also, the Seymour Relief Centre, which was operated jointly by the three councils, closed yesterday. Mitchell Shire Council is now running a new facility, to be called Seymour Recovery Hub, at Seymour Customer and Library Service Centre, 125 Anzac Avenue, from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. It will deliver more targeted local support for the affected residents. The facility could keep operating for about a year.
It will have council staff and also various government agencies providing help.
Cr Dougall described the $100 million funding fire relief funding announced by the federal and state governments so far as completely inadequate. Victorian regions hit by bushfires will need more.
“I have got no doubt money and resources will be made available. Our interest is in making sure it’s effective.”
Cr Dougall said as damage assessments are still to be carried out, “I can’t be critical that they haven’t announced a bigger number yet as damage assessments are still to be done. But what we do want to hear is that they are open to what is the total cost to repair the damage. And we willl be working with local governments, the authorities and the federal government to make sure we fund the recovery. That’s what I want to hear”.
Mitchell Shire Council will also help the other two shires where residents have copped a much bigger share of the damage, Cr Dougall said.
With Premier Jacinta Allan declaring a State of Disaster for 18 local government areas and one Alpine resort, including Mitchell and Mount Alexander Shires, Mitchell Shire Council is preparing a secondary impact assessment of the fire damage in the region.
Cr Dougall has highlighted the need for using local businesses to carry out infrastructure repairs.
He said he had delivered his message to ministers “you’re going to spend a lot of money on infrastructure repair. We know that. We want you to engage local Seymour contractors or contractors from Euroa to do as much as possible because that’s a form of economic repair for our local businesses. Those local businesses employ our local people. So, we want them to be healthy. The last thing we want is families to be affected by the fire and for their kids to not be able to be employed because all Melbourne companies come in and repair the bridge or put up the light posts … stuff we can do. We want to make sure we’re looking after local people.
“We need locally based services over a protracted period for our affected community.”
Cr Dougall said the council will do a large part of the social recovery alongside other local committees. It will organise various events and help connect people to services, including mental health.
Cr Dougall has high praise for the outstanding community and volunteers’ selfless support for the fire-affected people.
He also praised the big support from Shepparton residents and organisations.
Shepparton Mayor Shane Sully had led a drive to bring semi-trailer loads of goods to the agricultural shed at King’s Park in Seymour, including non-perishable foods and household items. Repco in Seymour offered up two generators.
Coping with big loss
By Ashok Verma
WHITEHEADS Creek resident Arie Eddy and his partner Lisa Geary are heartbroken as their rental house of the past three years was burnt down in the devastating fire on January 8.
They lost everything, including all their Christmas presents and also some new appliances worth thousands of dollars they had bought for a new Whiteheads Creek house they had planned to move to.
Mr Eddy, Ambulance Victoria community officer, said they had not been able to visit their house “because of mental health reasons. We probably won’t be going back there for a couple of weeks”.
He said: “It (the bushfire) took its emotional toll. Through a lot of it, I felt helpless, I felt frustrated, I felt infuriated with the government (over funding) at the same time. It’s been an emotional roller coaster”.
He said the family had packed all their belongings in boxes ready to move to a new rental property, but unfortunately, they were not able to get it all out at the time of the evacuation order from the fire authorities. All that has been lost.
Mr Eddy said they had been able to apply for government funding, which is yet to be approved.
“By no means it is enough. We have lost quite literally everything. I am grateful for every bit of assistance, but $1000 (for each family member) compared to the $50,000 in belongings that we have lost is pennies on the dollar. It’s not enough to get us back to where we were,” he said.
“We are lucky we have got a lot of family members who are donating stuff. My stepfather has set up a GoFundMe page for us, which has got some attention, so there’s a bit of money in there as well that we will be able to use for some necessities. But it’s going to be a long and expensive road for us to get to a position where we are sustainable again.”
The couple has five children between them, but only two lived with them in the house. They will receive payments for only two children, even though all lost their belongings in the fire.
The family, which initially shifted to the Seymour Relief Centre, has now moved to their new rental property at Whiteheads Creek.
Vacancy at council again
RESIDENTS in the Thomastown ward of the City of Whittlesea council will head back to the polls to start 2026, with the sudden resignation of Councillor Nic Brooks made official last Monday.
The City of Whittlesea made an announcement last week, stating that Cr Brooks had resigned for personal reasons.
“On January 11, 2026, Cr Nic Brooks, Ward Councillor for Thomastown, advised Council that he has resigned his position effective immediately for personal reasons,” council stated.
“Nic Brooks was elected to Council in the November 2024 Local Government elections and has served on a number of Committees in this time.
“A by-election for the Thomastown ward will be held to fill the vacancy.
“Council is not responsible for holding local government elections; they are conducted by the Victorian Electoral Commission, and residents enrolled to vote in the Thomastown ward will be required to vote in a by-election. The dates of this are yet to be confirmed.
“While the role of Thomastown ward Councillor remains vacant, residents of the ward can contact the Mayor, Deputy Mayor or the broader councillor group for any inquiries. Contact details are available on the council’s website.
“On behalf of council, we thank Mr Brooks for his service to the City of Whittlesea community.”
Cr Brooks’ information page was accordingly taken down, having previously stated he wanted to see the area flourish after his election as an independent candidate.
“Born and raised in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, I love the area and want to see it flourish as a thriving business district with a happy, healthy and connected community that is proud of where they live,” his profile said.
“My hope for the City of Whittlesea is a council that supports local living and employment, aiming to increase local job opportunities. Promoting smart urban design for sustainable and connected communities understanding the ongoing cost of living and housing crisis.”
Cr Brooks brought 20 years of corporate experience to the role, predominantly in the transport and logistics industry, and was the general manager of a security and technology company and co-owner and operator of a NDIS-registered provider when he resigned from council.
This now represents the second time council ratepayers have had to go back to the polls since the election of the current sitting members in 2024, continuing what has been an unstable time for council since its initial election.
In August, Michael Labrador became the sitting member for the neighbouring Lalor ward after the original election result was voided due to suspected voter fraud.
Original sitting member Stevan Kozmevski had to vacate the seat after it emerged suspected fraudulent votes were detected in between a race which had been decided by just 39 votes.
It later emerged that the fraud had targeted last-placed candidate Nicholas Hajichristou as first preference, with 81 votes specifically targeted – 24 had not been included in the final count, but 57 had been counted and not able to be recovered.
There was no suggestion that any candidate in the running in that election was involved in the fraud from VCAT and the VEC, nor aware of the fraud.
There is currently no indication of when the new vote to determine the next Thomastown ward councillor will be held.
A sizzling Saturday of country cricket
A CENTURY in the Johnstone Shield and a hat trick in the Jensen Shield wowed Gisborne District Cricket Association fans on the weekend with games played in blisteringly humid conditions where a welcome southerly breeze was not in the least bit disappointing.
Wallan travelled to play Romsey in McIntyre Firsts and were sorely disappointed by the result when the home side ran away with the second innings, 195 to 150.
Tim Dale (36), Chris Burkett (38) and Benjamin Way (34) led the way. However, for Wallan, Spencer Whittingham in the middle order made an impressive 67 runs and Bryan Vance, while not great with the bat (six), took one catch and three wickets.
At Tony Clark, Macedon hosted Broadford and also kept them in check with their fielding. Riley Nolan was able to create just 19 runs, and Ashley Wood was shut down on 13. Seven catches and two wickets ended Broadford’s innings on 89 runs.
Macedon’s run was also thwarted by great bowling by Sikander Sharma and Jeremy Bradshaw, each interfering with three wickets apiece. However, Macedon won, 7/91.
Woodend and Rupertswood played at Gilbert Gordon with a large deficit in the results, 6/222 to 10/150 as did Sunbury United and Gisborne at Langama Park, 9/164 to 8/210.
In the seconds the draw is always reversed and Wallan hosted Romsey in a close match that saw Wallan bat first.
Wallan’s opening batter Bradley Regan was hardest to dismiss making 52 before Nathan Hoy bowled and caught him out.
Harkanwar Singh Sandhu was still on the pitch with 32 runs when the innings was completed with the Magpies on 145 runs.
Romsey were able to wow the crowd with its batting order, as Matthew Richardson (26), Nathan Hoy (50) and Daniel Wright (29) consistently put runs on the board. Hoy’s effort was phenomenal, he made ten fours and one six until Andrew Barber bowled him out, one of the four wickets he took on the day, but it wasn’t enough to win the points, Romsey were victorious by four wickets with around 11 overs remaining, 6/148 – 9/145.
At Harley Hammond, Broadford won the spoils against Macedon in a low scoring game, 57 to 56.
Fielding first, Broadford was phenomenal. Michael Mirrabella claimed back-to-back wickets dismissing Benjamin Lilford and Angus Page with ducks after just two balls.
Broadford’s Connor Stute and Joshua Hanna made 17 runs a piece to help the side catch the Cats quickly, and only two wickets down, Broadford took the points.
Johnstone Shield
Young Darcy McNicholas wowed the crowds when he raised his bat in the air after making 112 with his Kilmore team when they played Lancefield.
What’s more, McNicholas remained on the pitch throughout the match to help secure the highest score for the round, 4/253. The Tigers’ Cameron Osmond (93) was dismissed by Stuart Partridge while Jacob Walton also dismissed three batters at the crease. It was an amazing effort from the Blues to outfield the Tigers to win by 30 runs, 10/223.
Sunbury Kangaroos struggled against Eastern Hill at Eric Boardman with Oscar Newell busy taking four wickets and later making 42 runs. Earlier, Benjamin Bryant put up 61 runs and on the other side Nathan Fowler, 49. At stumps, victory belonged to Eastern Hill, 7 out for 206 against 178.
Harkness and Eynesbury had a thriller at Arnold Creek, 186 to 183 in favour of the home side as did Diggers Rest and East Sunbury, 194 to 195.
In the other Johnstone Shield result, Kilmore defeated Lancefield thanks to Riley Callaghan coming close to a century at the Kilmore Cricket Ground, 96 not out. Steven Burns was deadly opening (44) and later on the field taking two wickets while Hayden Proctor and Rowan Pollack took three each, 7/270 to 10/109.
As in the firsts, Sunbury Kangaroos struggled against Eastern Hill at Kings Park as centenarian Brayden Speechley made 100 runs and Josh Speechley before him was handy with 58. Sunbury, chasing 248 were particularly hindered by Sam Brown’s three wickets and one run out, 8/99.
Harkness travelled to play Eynesbury where a hattrick from Shaun Collins depleted their end order seeing the opening innings done at 129 runs. Collins also excelled on the pitch (71) before Qaisar Abbas found the bails. David Kershaw also lifted the home side with 38 runs not out. Despite the blow, Eynesbury finished on 196 runs.
East Sunbury were disappointed when Diggers Rest chased 122 runs down to finish all out for 139.
Jensen Shield
In Jensen Shield, Wallan was valiant against Woodend at Greenhill Reserve, 9/139. However, Wallan was not able to outfield the visitors who chased early with James Fiford (25) and later in the middle order with Alister Gray (55) to finish 4/141.
Kilmore lost its Jensen Shield game against Sunbury by just four runs despite the best efforts of Glen Fairweather, who took 2/22, and also made 23 runs before he was caught by Jaspreet Bedi, bowled by Justin Allen.
Hanging Rock were too strong for Sunbury United recording a 109-run win assisted by Steven Zubrycki coming close to a century (91).
Rupertswood, the highest scoring innings of the round gave Trentham a 315-run target at Salesian. John Lane and Zac Borg each retiring on 100 runs certainly set the pace, and 1/315 to 10/132 .
In Club Grade action, Woodend recorded a home game 112-run win over Wallan in their first match for the season 3/223 to 10/111 and Malmsbury defeated Lancefield by 61, 5/215 to 10/154.
Kilmore defeated Gisborne away, 6/171 to 10/170 and Broadford were victorious in their match at the Broadford Secondary College pitch against Kyneton, 8/196 to 9/122.
On to the final stretch
THE Diamond Valley Cricket Association has reached the final third of the season, with plenty of big moves for the top four evidently still to be made.
A memorable century to Stuart Wright was pivotal in allowing Mernda to take a big step towards earning a finals berth in Money Shield in its first year back in the competition, taking a comfortable eight-wicket win over Plenty.
The Demons were on top all afternoon at Waterview Recreation Reserve, but Wright’s 103 off 105 deliveries well and truly gave them the upper hand, and in combination with Callum Dean’s unbeaten 48, the Dees had a 136-run third wicket stand broken only by the end of play.
The result still leaves the Demons in fourth but have a game and a half in hand over fifth-placed Research Eltham in the run in towards finals.
In Money Shield, Laurimar’s hunt for a finals berth took a big blow as it fell just 19 runs short of victory over bottom team Old Ivanhoe Grammarians at Laurimar Town Park.
Chasing 260 to win, the Power was in a reasonable spot at 3/144, with Luke Richardson scoring 63 and Noah Key 33.
Rian Boddy put in his best knock of the season, scoring 59, but it wasn’t quite enough for the Power, who lost their final four wickets for 38 runs, all out for 241.
South Morang, similarly, now face an uphill battle to make the finals after losing by six wickets to Rivergum at Kelynack Recreation Reserve.
The Lions simply did not have an answer to the ladder leaders’ strong middle order and chased down the target of 179.
Terry Liddicutt took 2/19 off eight overs, while Darcy Kay took 2/59 off 15 overs.
Whittlesea’s first XI took a thrilling victory in a high-scoring encounter at Meadowglen Reserve by one wicket.
Utilising the smaller expanses of the ground, Rivergum started well to be 1/138 at one stage, but good bowling from Tharindu Harith Withana was critical to getting the Eagles back into the game.
Withana finished with 4/28 off seven overs as Rivergum made 7/239.
With the bat, there was a little bit of a wobble early in the innings as the Eagles fell to 3/78, but an 83-run partnership between Susipsara Dehighspitiya and Lathindu Kandage got the Eagles back on track.
After scoring 103 in the opening round, Kandage scored a further 81, while Nowodya Vithanage and Mohamed Isam Rafeek got the Eagles home with a crucial 17-run final wicket partnership to score a thrilling win.
Elsewhere around the competition, Mernda’s B grade team took a memorable seven-wicket win over Plenty off the back of Lucas Long’s unbeaten 150, which included 15 fours and five sixes, helping the Demons score 3/246 in response to the Power’s 7/245.
South Morang’s C grade team had a tough loss to Bundoora by three wickets.
Despite having the Bulls 4/26, the Lions had no answer to Andrew Fairchild’s 99, helping the Bulls to 7/204 in response to the Lions’ 201.
Joel Isherwood could hold his head high with 5/31 off 17 overs.
Despite David Sinclair’s 113 off 109 deliveries, Laurimar was no match for Panton Hill in D grade, losing by 150 runs, all out for 255.
South Morang was unable to make inroads in its E grade game against Riverside, losing by 99 runs. Brodie Slater’s 29 and Joe Lovalvo’s 26 were the two highest scores for the afternoon.
Dan Demiris’ 63 helped guide Laurimar to a 67-run win in a low-scoring game against Greensborough.
Demiris handled the conditions the best to help Laurimar score 9/146 off its 35 overs, before Veera Raghava Reddy Maddireddy’s 4/13 and Cian Merrett’s 3/28 helped bowl the Boro out for 79.
Mernda’s F2 grade middle order helped itself to some good runs in its 25-run win over Lower Plenty.
Rob Virtue scored 59 and Saurin Sandeep Sharma 56, while Geordi Summers provided big hitting at the end with an unbeaten 39 off just 23 balls to get Mernda to 5/210, before doing enough to hold Lower Plenty to 4/185 in response. Tejus Pathak was the best of the bowlers, taking 2/42.
Laurimar’s G1 West team took a convincing five-wicket win over Heidelberg Yellow.
Damian Meyer’s 3/6 and Corey Peters’ 3/25 helped the Power restrict Heidelberg to 135, before Michael Peters’ 53 and Tyson Aldenhoven’s 32 ensured they would take the points, scoring 5/138.
Despite some good top order scores, Mernda was no match for Heidelberg Black.
Youngster Chase Kinash scored 50, Trevor Marnell 44 and Christopher Scully 40 in the Demons’ 6/187, but Heidelberg was dominant with the bat, responding with 1/188.
South Morang was unsuccessful in its chase against North Eltham Wanderers, falling short by two runs.
This was despite the best efforts of Hayden Muscat, who scored 53, and Paul Philp, who scored 43, but the Lions’ 7/188 was not quite enough.
Laurimar was no match for Bundoora, losing by seven wickets, with Mark O’Sullivan top scoring with 25 runs.
In G3 grade, Troy Slater’s 39 and Nick Perry’s 38 was enough to help South Morang take a two-wicket win over Hurstbridge, while Jaskirat Singh took 3/11 and Mirza Baig 2/11.
Big late hitting from Gavin Butler, who scored 47, helped Whittlesea take a 41-run win over Rivergum.
The win was sealed by Chandika Hemachandra, who led from the front to take 3/24 to restrict Rivergum to 141.
Jarred Mitchell’s 3/4, Vivek Mahajan’s 3/14 and Aarjav Guha’s 50 helped Mernda take a comfortable six-wicket victory over Diamond Creek, scoring 4/169 in response to Diamond Creek’s 168.
The women’s Sunday competition has returned for the summer.
South Morang Blue utilised a monster innings from Emma Leatham to score a 41-run win over Epping in division one.
Leatham scored 89 off 83 deliveries to help the Lions score 5/157, before holding Epping to 4/116 in response.
Laurimar Black was successful in division two, with Kyra Rule scoring 51 and Poshika Joon 44 to help it score 6/154, before holding Fairfield to 5/137, with Phoebe McKenna taking 2/13.
In division four, South Morang Maroon was no match for Rivergum, losing 6/100 to 0/116, with no stats available at the time of production.
Laurimar Teal lost by five wickets to Macleod/Heidelberg, with Toni Rule scoring 24, and Shannon Wells taking 2/4 as Laurimar tried valiantly to defend 5/88.
Watson Street upgrades begin
WORK has begun on the much-talked about Watson Street interchange upgrades in Wallan, with motorists asked to be patient as the works are completed.
From now until March, workers will be laying temporary pavement on the north side of Watson Street, between McCarthy Court and Wallara Waters Boulevard, which will allow workers to move traffic lanes as needed to allow traffic to continue to flow on Watson Street during nights.
There will also be temporary safety barriers and signs along the Hume Freeway and on Watson Street, while the ground will be prepared for construction.
Currently, assessments are being made to reduce the impact of construction on local plants and animals.
Work will be done from 7am to 6pm from Mondays to Fridays, as well as Saturdays from 7am to 1pm.
The right-turn lane on the southbound exit ramp from the Hume Freeway to Watson Street is going to be closed for up to two weeks, with motorists asked to use the roundabout at Wallara Waters to make a u-turn to access the westbound lane at Watson Street.
Night works will be more pronounced on Watson Street than during the day – with Watson Street open in both directions during the day.
From 9pm to 5.30am on Sundays to Thursdays and 10pm to 9am on Fridays, one lane will be closed, and temporary traffic lights will be installed to manage traffic.
The project will also reduce speed limits, with a limit of 80 kilometres per hour on the Hume Freeway and 40 kilometres per hour on Watson Street.
In mid-February, the footpath on the Watson Street bridge will be closed. Pedestrians will not be able to access the area between McCarthy Court and the Wallara Waters/Commercial Drive roundabout.
To combat this, the Department of Transport and Planning will run a free shuttle bus between Wallan train station, Wallara Waters and the Wallan town centre for seven days a week, while a school shuttle will also be set up for Wallan Primary School, Wallan Secondary School and Our Lady of the Way students on mornings and afternoons.
A temporary site compound has been set up along Wallara Waters Boulevard with a fenced-off area, driveways for vehicular access, utility services, portable buildings and the opportunity to investigate underground utilities on nearby nature strips.
Doug Walsh remembered
28.11.1937 – 01.01.2026
A FORMER Kilmore stalwart, Doug Walsh – a lifelong Vincentian and a guiding spirit behind Vinnies soup vans – died peacefully on January 1 surrounded by his loved ones.
A former Assumption College teacher, Mr Walsh, 88, devoted his life to serving others.
His formal connection with the St Vincent de Paul began in the late 1980s through the Kilmore conference, while he was teaching at Assumption College. During this time, Br Doug travelled each Wednesday night to Melbourne to volunteer on the North Melbourne soup van, the first soup van operating out of Ozanam House.
It was through his connection with the soup van that he realised the power of the ‘classroom of the streets’. When he struggled to engage a group of Year 11 students in Gospel lessons, Br Doug took the boys to join him on the soup van run. Afterwards, the students reflected on their experience through the lens of the Good Samaritan.
St Vincent de Paul Society State President Michael Quinn said Br Doug was continually inspired by young people and eager to hear their views and perspectives. He taught what he believed: that the only way to truly understand another person’s struggles was to walk alongside them and to listen deeply, without judgement.
Br Doug experienced the work of St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria from a young age. His parents were involved in the society, and he remembered them going to help families with an unspoken understanding they were helping the poor. Such early experiences inevitably influenced his future vocation.
As a Marist Brother, an order grounded in community and family, he found an enduring foundation for his life as a Vincentian, where faith is made visible through action and love in practice.
He was especially moved by those who had so little materially, yet showed extraordinary generosity of spirit, a living reminder of the Lord’s presence among us.
Br Doug later joined the Collingwood conference and served as a regional president.
Mr Quinn said from 1998, he became a cornerstone of the soup van movement, helping to grow the number of vans over time and strengthening the quality, safety and integrity of the service for both our companions and our volunteers. To him, soup vans were never just about food. They were places of friendship, dignity and human connection and he continued to serve on them for as long as he could.
In the mid-1990s, Br Doug founded the Bagong Barrio Education Fund, supporting children living in the slums of Manila. This work grew into a long and meaningful partnership with St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria, reflecting his deep commitment to global solidarity and to education as a pathway to hope.
In 2009, Br Doug was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to the community through the society, honouring not only his work with soup vans, but the breadth and depth of his Vincentian mission.
In 2015, Br Doug joined the Heidelberg West conference, serving as conference president and later as social justice officer from late 2023 until his death. He was also deeply involved in the Mini Vinnies program at St Pius X School, nurturing the next generation of Vincentians with the same gentleness, encouragement and respect he offered throughout his life.
Mr Quinn said for Br Doug, the most profound religious lessons were rarely found within four walls. Even in June last year, at 88 years of age and battling cancer, he attended the CEO Sleepout in freezing cold at the South Melbourne Market to help champion the cause.
“As we reflect on his death, we honour him best by continuing to show up, by keeping our hearts open and our soup vans running. And by maintaining the humility, respect and reverence for the ‘poorest of the poor’ that he embodied until his final days.”
Vale Br Doug Walsh. We will continue the work to which you so quietly and faithfully gave your life: never assuming, always respecting, and meeting every stranger as a friend.
May he rest in peace.
After mass of thanksgiving for Br Doug’s life at Heidelberg West on Friday, January 16, the burial ceremony was held at Kilmore Catholic Cemetery.
Push for parity for commuters
LACK of basic passenger information, staffing and accessibility at regional train stations across regional areas have been put in the spotlight.
Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland has asked Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams why regional stations continue to miss out on the real-time automated timetable updates that metropolitan passengers rely on every day, leaving regional travellers without clear or timely information during delays, cancellations and disruptions.
“Passengers in Seymour, Euroa, Benalla, Kilmore and Broadford deserve the same access to real-time service information as those in Melbourne,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Too often, regional passengers are left waiting on cold platforms with no updates, no staff on site and no certainty about when — or if — their train will arrive.”
In her question raised in Parliament, Ms Cleeland pressed the minister on when real-time service information, accessible ticketing options and out-of-hours staffing will finally be rolled out at regional stations serving communities in the Euroa electorate.
Ms Cleeland also raised serious concerns about the safety and wellbeing of elderly and disabled passengers, particularly when stations are unstaffed and services are disrupted.
Ms Cleeland said reliable, accessible and well-staffed regional rail services were essential for communities that rely on public transport for work, medical appointments and connecting with family.
“Regional Victorians should not be treated as second-class passengers,” Ms Cleeland said.
A Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) spokesperson said passenger information displays (PIDs) at Euroa and Benalla are scheduled for installation in the second half of 2026.
“We recognise the importance of real-time passenger information, particularly at unstaffed stations, and are continuing to improve how customers access timely service updates.”
The spokesperson said the DTP is progressively updating the PIDs across the network.
This rollout is prioritised based on patronage and demand to maximise the reach of available funding. In addition to the progressive rollout of PIDs, updates to DTP channels such as the PTV App and Transport Victoria website will include real-time information for V/Line services (excluding V/Line coach services) in the first half of this year.
The spokesperson said DTP and V/Line regularly assess staffed station needs based on demand and resource availability and prioritise accordingly.
Where station staff are not available, V/Line customers are able to purchase tickets online at vline.com.au/Plan-trip-buy-tickets or through ticketing agents via vline.com.au/Maps-stations-stops/Where-to-buy-tickets. Customers can also purchase tickets from on-board conductors using cash.