Monday 26 October 2026 · No. 12
Community. Information. Together again.
Australia’s first free regional hub, sourced by AI, powered by U. No editorial. No opinions.
Source: Geelong IndependentVenom strikes at homeChinese import Han Xu received a warm welcome in her first game for Geelong and put on a show against […]Mon, 26 Oct · Read the full story →One app instead of 40+ (39 here)
= 1 Daily Maverick
Fyansford local info today
Live alerts: 1 weather warning. See alerts →
Coming up in the sky: Asteroid 2025 UK9 passes closer than the Moon (314,648 km away), Sat, 31 Oct in 5 days · Asteroid 524522 passes 15.7 times as far away as the Moon, Tue, 3 Nov in 8 days. More in the sky →
Alerts
In an emergency call 000.
Fire danger today
The live Victoria feed is on its way; Team Smarketing is on it. For now: CFA, fire danger ratings.
Fires within 100 km
VicEmergency doesn't publish a public data feed yet (they say one is coming), so there's nothing to source. For now: VicEmergency.
Source: VicEmergency. Updated Mon, 26 Oct, 9:30 am.
Weather warnings
Source: Bureau of Meteorology, VIC warnings. Updated Mon, 26 Oct, 9:30 am.
Roads now
The live Victoria feed is on its way; Team Smarketing is on it. For now: VicTraffic.
More local stories today
Source: Geelong IndependentSwinging for cancerA Geelong golfer will be putting towards cancer support and prevention during The Longest Day…Sun, 25 Oct · Read the full story →
Source: Geelong IndependentMissing kayaker found dead at AvalonPolice will prepare a report for the coroner following the discovery of a man’s body in Avalon…Sun, 25 Oct · Read the full story →
Source: Geelong IndependentStrong supports in AngleseaFor the best part of a decade, local community music initiative The Sound Doctor has…Sun, 25 Oct · Read the full story →
Source: Geelong IndependentA celebration of Aussie rock’s coming of ageIn the mid-80s, one rock festival series changed the course of Australian music history. Four…Sun, 25 Oct · Read the full story →“Only when the year grows cold do we see that the pine and cypress are the last to fade.”— Confucius, Analects 9.28
More headlines
- Source: Geelong IndependentA space for all
- Source: Geelong IndependentRates spend map
- Source: Geelong IndependentSuzuki’s swift move to hybrid
These stories are written and owned by Geelong Independent and, when they mention your area, national outlets like the ABC, SBS and The Guardian, not us. We show the headline (and for local outlets a short summary); tap a story to read it in full on their site. Thank you to them for the hard work they do: we’re a community hub, not a news outlet, and we’re here to send them more readers. means that site may ask you to subscribe. The good, the bad and the ugly are sorted by a free AI from each headline’s topic, not by our opinion. Updated Mon, 26 Oct, 9:30 am.
One app instead of 40+
Your page right now: 39 apps and sites you no longer need to check.
No more checking 39 apps and websites every morning: that’s about 39 min back every day, or 4 hr 33 min a week (at about a minute an app). Everything below is on your page or one tap away.
= 1 Daily Maverick, your way
Scam watch
Buying from a business you don't know? Check the NSW Fair Trading Complaints Register first: it lists businesses with 10 or more complaints in a month.
Scam watch: report a scam, the tips banks agree on, product recalls →
What's on
Specials, members nights, trivia, live music, markets and events around Greater Geelong, in one place.
Read from each venue's own website twice a day. Specials can change, so check with the venue before you go. Know a venue we're missing? Tell us.
What’s on in Fyansford
Nothing listed in 3218 yet. Know something on? Add it free.
Births, Deaths and Marriages
Deaths
Remembering locals who have passed. Our thoughts are with their families and friends.
No recent notices.
Just for curiosity
Trending baby names
Top 10 across NSW, 2025
Girls
- CHARLOTTE =
- AMELIA =
- OLIVIA =
- ISLA ▲1
- MIA ▼1
- SOPHIA ▲3
- CHLOE ▼1
- HAZEL =
- LILY ▲2
- SIENNA ▲3
Biggest climber: LAINEY, up 41 to #56
Highest new entry: AMIRA at #79
Boys
- NOAH =
- OLIVER =
- THEODORE =
- LUCA =
- LEO ▲1
- HENRY ▼1
- ELIJAH ▲3
- LEVI ▲5
- HUDSON ▼1
- JACK ▲4
Biggest climber: ELIAS, up 52 to #35
Highest new entry: MATEO at #65
Source: the latest full-year list from the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Arrows show the move since 2024. NSW doesn't publish names by town. Checked Sun, 25 Oct, 5:00 pm.
Number one in every state, 2025
| Girls | Boys | |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | Charlotte | Noah |
| VIC | Charlotte | Noah |
| QLD | Charlotte | Oliver |
| WA | Isla | Noah |
| SA | Charlotte | Oliver |
| TAS | Charlotte | Noah |
| ACT | Evelyn | Oliver |
| NT | Amelia | Noah |
Source: each state and territory's Births, Deaths and Marriages registry. There's no single official list for all of Australia.
Top 5 around the world, 2025
New Zealand
Isla, Charlotte, Amelia, Hazel, Olivia
Noah, Luca, Oliver, George, Theodore
United States
Olivia, Charlotte, Emma, Amelia, Sophia
Liam, Noah, Oliver, Theodore, Henry
Canada
Charlotte, Olivia, Emma, Sophia, Amelia
Noah, Theodore, Liam, Leo, William
Source: Statistics Canada
England & Wales
Olivia, Lily, Amelia, Isla, Florence
Muhammad, Noah, Leo, Luca, Arthur
Scotland
Freya, Isla, Olivia, Amelia, Grace
Noah, Luca, Rory, Muhammad, Oliver
Source: National Records of Scotland
Ireland
Lily, Éabha, Fiadh, Grace, Sadie
Rían, Jack, Noah, James, Oisín
Source: Central Statistics Office
Names that travel: Noah (top 5 in 6 places), Amelia (top 5 in 5 places), Olivia (top 5 in 5 places).
NSW's number one, decade by decade
| Girls | Boys | |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | AMELIA | NOAH |
| 2010s | OLIVIA | OLIVER |
| 2000s | EMILY | JACK |
| 1990s | JESSICA | JOSHUA |
| 1980s | SARAH | MATTHEW |
| 1970s | MICHELLE | DAVID |
| 1960s | KAREN | DAVID |
| 1950s | SUSAN | PETER |
Source: NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, counting every baby given each name in the decade. NSW lists start in 1952, so the 1950s are 1952 to 1959; the 2020s run to 2025.
How popular has your name been in NSW?
Source: NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, top 100 boys' and girls' names every year since 1952.
G'day, I'm Mav. Tell me a bit about what you like and I'll come up with names to think about.
Ideas from Mav, using AI. Meanings and origins are a starting point: check them before you decide. Popularity comes from the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
Handy tools
☰ Everything on the Daily Maverick Every page we have, in one place → Community notice board Lost pets, volunteers, clubs and classes. No buy and sell → My home Bin night reminders and a house-sitter sheet to print or share → Why Greater Geelong? Fun facts: the bay, the Barwon, the bollards and the Wadawurrung story → 🟢 What’s open? Local or visiting: pharmacies, doctors, servos, cafés, mechanics and more. Open ones first → Dog beaches & parks Off-leash spots near you → Dog-friendly cafés & pubs Places happy to see your dog → LGBTQ+ friendly Local places that welcome everyone → What are you binging? Shows, podcasts and channels locals vote for, and why → What's in your fridge? Dinner ideas from what you've already got → Birthday deals Which local places look after you on your big day → Kid Zone Games for kids 12 and under, with a grown-up’s OK. No chat, no ads, nothing collected →Dog friendly
Off-leash beaches, dog parks and places happy to see your dog. If there’s nothing mapped, it says so.
Source: OpenStreetMap (OpenStreetMap contributors), the free map anyone can add to.
LGBTQ+ friendly
Local places that welcome everyone. If there’s nothing mapped, it says so.
Source: OpenStreetMap (OpenStreetMap contributors), the free map anyone can add to.
Fuel prices in Geelong
Victoria doesn't publish a government fuel price feed yet, so there's nothing to source. For now: Victorian fuel prices.
Grocery watch
Team Smarketing is on it.
Comparing everyday prices at Woolworths, ALDI and Coles. The first prices land at the next check.
Good things take time.
You choose what we watch
Suggest something for Grocery watch, or vote for a local’s idea. 50 votes and it goes up, all by itself.
Today in numbers
Facts from the sources named, side by side. No opinions: make up your own mind.
Big tech watch
Figures from June 2026
Figures from March 2026
Figures from June 2026
Life and death
Figures from December 2021
Figures from December 2021
AI for good, AI for bad
A recent AI story of each kind from the news, so you see both sides.
AI for good
AI pothole patrol detects more than 300 road defects on Mornington Peninsula - The Indian SunGoogle News · 25 Oct · detect road defects
AI for bad
UK government sets out A$1.5bn for AI security threats - InnovationAus.comGoogle News · 25 Oct · security threats
Headlines from The Guardian and Google News, sorted into good and bad by AI, so check the full story. See every story we've logged.
Learn how AI can help in your everyday life, from your local experts at Maverick Digital →
Grog watch
Beer, wine, spirits, cider: the price at local bottle shops, posted by the shops themselves. Search for anything, or filter by type. Local only, so your money stays in town.
Cheapest In between Dearest
Own a local bottle shop? Post your price free
You choose what we watch
Suggest something for Grog watch, or vote for a local’s idea. 50 votes and it goes up, all by itself.
Source: prices posted by local shops, with the date they posted. Shown for 30 days. We don't check the big chains: local only. Please drink responsibly.
Banks and the RBA
Home loan rates at the big four, and how quickly each passed on the Reserve Bank's (RBA) rate changes. Numbers only.
Cash rate: 4.60% since 29 Sept 2026
How fast they passed on RBA changes
| CommBank | Westpac | NAB | ANZ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average days to pass on a rise | 10.0 | 12.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Average days to pass on a cut | 10.0 | 14.0 | 11.0 | 10.0 |
| Rises passed on in full | 4 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 4 of 4 |
| Cuts passed on in full | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 |
Days from the RBA's decision to the date the bank's new variable rate took effect, for the 7 RBA moves since February 2025.
Every RBA move and what each bank did
| RBA decision | CommBank | Westpac | NAB | ANZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Sept 2026 ▲ +0.25 to 4.60% | +0.25 9 Oct 2026 · 10 days | +0.25 9 Oct 2026 · 10 days | +0.25 9 Oct 2026 · 10 days | +0.25 9 Oct 2026 · 10 days |
| 5 May 2026 ▲ +0.25 to 4.35% | +0.25 15 May 2026 · 10 days | +0.25 15 May 2026 · 10 days | +0.25 15 May 2026 · 10 days | +0.25 15 May 2026 · 10 days |
| 17 Mar 2026 ▲ +0.25 to 4.10% | +0.25 27 Mar 2026 · 10 days | +0.25 31 Mar 2026 · 14 days | +0.25 27 Mar 2026 · 10 days | +0.25 27 Mar 2026 · 10 days |
| 3 Feb 2026 ▲ +0.25 to 3.85% | +0.25 13 Feb 2026 · 10 days | +0.25 17 Feb 2026 · 14 days | +0.25 13 Feb 2026 · 10 days | +0.25 13 Feb 2026 · 10 days |
| 12 Aug 2025 ▼ -0.25 to 3.60% | -0.25 22 Aug 2025 · 10 days | -0.25 26 Aug 2025 · 14 days | -0.25 25 Aug 2025 · 13 days | -0.25 22 Aug 2025 · 10 days |
| 20 May 2025 ▼ -0.25 to 3.85% | -0.25 30 May 2025 · 10 days | -0.25 3 June 2025 · 14 days | -0.25 30 May 2025 · 10 days | -0.25 30 May 2025 · 10 days |
| 18 Feb 2025 ▼ -0.25 to 4.10% | -0.25 28 Feb 2025 · 10 days | -0.25 4 Mar 2025 · 14 days | -0.25 28 Feb 2025 · 10 days | -0.25 28 Feb 2025 · 10 days |
Integrated Finance Group · Mortgage Professional Australia · Savings.com.au · Canstar · Finder · Savings.com.au · The Motley Fool. Cash rate from the Reserve Bank of Australia.
Fyansford tide times & fishing
Loading…
Tide times are modelled estimates. Not for navigation; check the Bureau of Meteorology before boating.
What are you hoping to catch today?
What's biting in October
- Snapper peak
- Pearl perch
- Tailor, whiting & flathead
Seasons: Source: NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development GoFishing guide (Coffs Coast) and Coffs Coast tourism.
Where to fish within 20 km
- Barwon Heads Ozone Jetty Estuary
Known for: Silver trevally, snapper, gummy shark
Fish about two hours either side of high tide; too shallow at low.
Directions - Barwon River, Queens Bridge River
Known for: Redfin, estuary perch, carp
Scrub worms or corn on a running sinker, or small soft plastics.
Directions - Cunningham Pier Breakwall
Known for: Snapper, whiting, salmon, trevally, flathead, calamari
Well lit at night; fish the pylons for bream, leatherjackets and garfish.
Directions - Portarlington Breakwall Breakwall
Known for: Snapper
October to December; long rods and a paternoster rig; arrive early.
Directions - St Leonards Pier Breakwall
Known for: King George whiting, snapper, calamari, salmon, flathead
Paternoster rig with pilchard or squid; left corner for whiting.
Directions
No listed shore spots within 20 km of you.
Further than 20 km
Before you cast: licence, limits and no-fishing zones
- You need a NSW fishing licence (from $7 for 3 days). Get one
- Bag and size limits, or carry them in the free FishSmart app (it shows marine park zones too)
- Rock fishing? A lifejacket is strongly recommended. NSW rock fishing safety
Know your 3218
The handy stuff, all in one place. Every item is sourced and shown as the source has it. We don’t edit it. We tell you where it’s from and how well the owner keeps it up to date.
Who runs the place
- Mayor: Cr Stretch Kontelj OAM · Deputy Mayor: Cr Eddy Kontelj
- Councillors: Anthony Aitken, Chris Burson, Melissa Cadwell, Andrew Katos, Ron Nelson, Emma Sinclair, Rowan Story, Trent Sullivan, Elise Wilkinson. Contact them
- Council meetings: see what's being decided
Source: City of Greater Geelong, mayor and councillors. Council doesn’t say when they last updated it. We’ve watched it since 25 Oct 2026: no changes spotted yet.
Bins & rubbish
- Type your address into council's online bin collection calendar to see your rubbish, recycling and green waste days. Bin days
- Tip: Drysdale Resource Recovery Centre, Becks Road (off Murradoc Road), Drysdale. Daily 8am to 4.15pm; may close on very windy days, call ahead. 03 5251 2935
- Tip: Geelong Resource Recovery Centre (interim site), 21 Slevin Street, North Geelong. Daily 8am to 4.15pm; closed Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Good Friday. 03 5272 5101
- Source: City of Greater Geelong
- Seen illegal dumping? Report it to EPA Victoria
Source: City of Greater Geelong, bins and waste. Council doesn’t say when they last updated it. We’ve watched it since 25 Oct 2026: no changes spotted yet.
Got a problem?
- Pothole, broken footpath, streetlight, overgrown block: report it to council online or call 03 5272 5272
- Not happy with how council handled it? Victorian Ombudsman
Contact council
- 03 5272 5272
- Wurriki Nyal, 137-149 Mercer Street, Geelong
- www.geelongcity.vic.gov.au
Source: City of Greater Geelong website. Council doesn’t say when they last updated it. We’ve watched it since 25 Oct 2026: no changes spotted yet.
Spotted something out of date? Let us know.
Renting
Looking for a place in Geelong? Every rental site, already searched for you.
- Rentals in Geelong on realestate.com.au: Australia's biggest property site.
- Rentals in Geelong on Domain: The other big one.
- Rentals in Geelong on Rent.com.au: Rentals only, with a free renter résumé to send agents.
- Rentals in Geelong on Homely: Rentals plus honest local reviews of each street.
Jobs
Looking for work in Geelong? Every job site, already searched for you.
- Jobs in Geelong on SEEK: Australia's biggest job site.
- Jobs in Geelong on Indeed: Pulls jobs from employers' own websites too.
- Jobs in Geelong on Jora: Searches lots of job sites at once.
- Jobs in Geelong on LinkedIn: Professional and office roles.
Geelong Council watch
Keeping an eye on City of Greater Geelong, with every item linked to its source.
Meeting dates are on the council's meetings page.
Is council doing what it said?
Every three months City of Greater Geelong reports on its own plan. We'll show its latest report here, in its own words.
How's council doing?
The unofficial Maverick poll, once a month. Be the first this month. All results
Have your say or make a complaint
- Report a problem or make a request: City of Greater Geelong on 03 5272 5272 or their website.
- Not happy with how council handled it? NSW Ombudsman.
- Concerns about a councillor's conduct: Office of Local Government.
- Suspect corruption: NSW ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption).
- Have your say at a meeting: ask the council about speaking at public forum before the next meeting.
🏅 Mini Maverick Award
Maverick Digital encourages digital safety for kids. Every Kid Zone game is designed to help with that: a safe place where kids can play and mums and dads can feel safe.
Each month, the top three kids on the Kid Zone leaderboards win the Mini Maverick Award, for proving they’re little mini Mavericks:
- 🥇 $25 first place
- 🥈 $15 second place
- 🥉 $10 third place
📍 Spent at a local Geelong business. No multinationals, no chains, no fast food.
Only a winner’s first name is ever shown, with their parent or carer’s OK.
Play in Kid Zone → · Local businesses: be a place winners spend it
🌳 Get outside this weekend
Things for kids and families to do outdoors, free or under $50 a kid. This weekend: Sat, 31 Oct and Sun, 1 Nov.
No kids' events listed for this weekend yet. Running one? Add it free and tick "Good for kids".
Always-good local favourites
- Flinders Peak, You Yangs Regional Park Free
Climb the 450 steps near Lara for views over the plains, Geelong, Melbourne and Port Phillip, and look down on the Bunjil geoglyph. - Barwon River Trail Free
About 20 km of sealed, mostly flat paths along the Barwon River through Geelong, with shorter loops if you want them. - Eastern Beach Free
Swim or stroll at the 1928 to 1939 enclosed sea baths on Corio Bay, with curved sea walls, a circular promenade and a children's pool. - Waterfront Bollards Trail Free
Follow more than 100 painted bollards by artist Jan Mitchell along the foreshore from Rippleside Park to Limeburners Point, about 30 minutes.
Outdoor and affordable, picked by locals. Check times and prices before you go · Suggest one
Trails, World Heritage and only here
The big outdoor reasons to live in, or visit, Geelong and the shire.
Cycle and mountain bike trails
- Barwon River Trail
About 20 km of sealed riverside paths through Geelong, with shorter loops. Source: visitgeelongbellarine.com.au - Bellarine Rail Trail
About 32 km one way from South Geelong to Queenscliff, sealed and fine gravel, beside the Bellarine Peninsula Tourist Railway. Source: trailhiking.com.au - Flinders Peak Walk, You Yangs
450 steps to the summit lookout; park open 7am to 5pm (6pm in daylight saving). Source: parks.vic.gov.au
Only here
- Eastern Beach bathing complex
Built 1928 to 1939, the last major enclosed sea-bathing facility on Port Phillip Bay, with curved sea walls, a circular promenade and an Art Deco fountain. Source: geelongcity.vic.gov.au - Geelong Bollards
More than 100 painted bollards by Jan Mitchell line the foreshore from Rippleside Park to Limeburners Point. Source: geelongcity.vic.gov.au - National Wool Museum
Australia's only comprehensive museum dedicated to the wool industry, in the former Dennys, Lascelles woolstore at 26 Moorabool Street. Source: en.wikipedia.org
Parks and trails
The live Victoria feed is on its way; Team Smarketing is on it. For now: Parks Victoria, closures and alerts.
Sport & field closures
Team Smarketing is on it.
Field closures and local sport. Clubs can post games and closures free via Add an event.
We're building it right, not fast.
Flights at Avalon Airport
See everything coming and going at Avalon Airport (live board).
Holidays
Next VIC public holidays
- Tue, 3 Nov: Melbourne Cup in 8 days
- Fri, 25 Dec: Christmas Day in 60 days
- Mon, 28 Dec: Boxing Day in 63 days
- Fri, 1 Jan: New Year's Day in 67 days
Source: Nager.Date public holidays. Updated Sun, 25 Oct, 5:00 pm.
In the sky, next 14 days
Asteroids passing by
- Sat, 31 Oct: 2025 UK9, about the size of a car (roughly 3 to 6 m), passes closer than the Moon (314,648 km away) at 7.8 km a second in 5 days
- Tue, 3 Nov: 524522, bigger than three footy fields (roughly 207 to 463 m), passes 15.7 times as far away as the Moon at 8.7 km a second in 8 days
- Tue, 27 Oct: 2026 TB94, about the size of a bus (roughly 20 to 44 m), passes 5.1 times as far away as the Moon at 11.6 km a second tomorrow
- Wed, 4 Nov: 2021 VC4, about the size of a bus (roughly 11 to 25 m), passes 6.0 times as far away as the Moon at 11.2 km a second in 9 days
Source: NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory Center for Near-Earth Object Studies. Updated Mon, 26 Oct, 5:30 am. None of these will hit Earth. Most are too faint to see without a big telescope
Next school holidays
Term dates and school holidays for Victoria: Victorian Department of Education, term dates. Team Smarketing is adding the dates.
Public schools in the Greater Geelong area. Source: NSW Department of Education · Private schools may differ
🧩 Crossword
Today’s Greater Geelong crossword in three levels: 🟢 Easy, 🟡 Medium and 🔴 Hard. Sign in free to keep your streak and best times. Play today’s →
✨ Horoscopes
Your stars for Monday 26 October. Full moon tonight-ish: big feelings, big fun. This is the Year of the Fire Horse 🐎.
🎂 Add your birthday and we'll set your Western and Vedic signs:
Fyansford beaches, surf & surf cams
Surf cams
Coastalwatch charges for its live surf cam feed, so we can’t show it here. Nobody pays to be on this site, and we don’t pay to show other people’s paid content either. Have a look on their site: Coastalwatch.
Swim between the red and yellow flags. Patrol times and beach-by-beach info: Beachsafe.
Source: Open-Meteo (modelled, updated hourly). Not for navigation. Which swell and wind suit each beach: surf-forecast.com break guides; patrols from council.