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Fergus Ellis is an editorial assistant, breaking news and general reporter. He has a passion for sharing stories by Victorians, for Victorians.

Fergus Ellis

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ExclusivePolice & Courts

A year on from her disappearance, Samantha Murphy's family are desperate to give her a proper funeral.

‘We just want to give her a funeral’: Samantha Murphy’s mum breaks silence with desperate plea

The devastated mother of murdered woman Samantha Murphy says she misses her daughter “more than anything” and just wants to give her a proper funeral.

ExclusivePolice & Courts

Paul and Lyn Callinan in Gladstone Park are speaking out after their 21-year-old son, Steven, took his own life following a drug and alcohol bender post a footy game in Torquay. Picture: Jason Edwards

‘Plays one game and ends up dead the next day’: Fears over footy drug culture

The devastated parents of an aspiring AFL player who committed suicide are desperate for authorities to investigate the level of drug taking among local footy clubs.

Police & Courts

Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate missing Ballarat East woman Samantha.

How Samantha Murphy’s disappearance forever changed a town

Twelve months ago, Samantha Murphy went for a run and never came home. The alleged murder of the “fearless” mum left the Ballarat community reeling and changed the town forever.

Victoria

Family and domestic violence survivors are struggling to secure long-term housing and are even being forced to consider returning to their abusers in the face of a crippling housing crisis. This person is one such survivor, who has had to battle for permanent housing for over a year under threat of VCAT and and order to vacate her home having to have boxes packed in 7 days. Picture: Jason Edwards

Housing shortage causing new horror for survivors of domestic abuse

A crippling housing crisis has left family and domestic violence survivors struggling to find a place to live, with some even being forced to return to the abusive homes they fled.

Victoria

Invasion day protest in Melbourne CBD on Australia Day. Front of Parliament. Sunday, 26 January. 2025. Picture: David Crosling

Neo-Nazis hold rally outside the Australian Open

A group of neo-Nazis marched down Olympic Boulevard before the men’s tennis final while tens of thousands of Invasion Day protesters brought the city to a standstill.

Victoria

MELBOURNE, JANUARY 2, 2025: Darlene Badenoch was diagnosed with cancer in 2023 and was forced to step away from bowls. When she was on the road to recovery, she returned to her club (Moonee Ponds Bowls Club) only to be told she had been demoted. She has since taken the club to VCAT because they allegedly told her she was Ãtoo unreliableÃ to play in a higher division. Darlene is pictured at her new club, Moonee Valley Bowls Club. Picture: Mark Stewart

‘Unreliable’: Cancer survivor sues bowls club after shock demotion

A woman recovering from cancer is locked in a bitter legal stoush with Moonee Ponds Bowls Club after she was allegedly told her diagnosis made her too “unreliable” to compete.

ExclusivePolice & Courts

Deng Atem father of Lino and Atom. Lino Atem, 24 (in picture frame), who was stabbed to death near a children's playground in Wyndham Vale on January 10. , The brother of Lino has his hands pictured which were injured in the attack., The family have also been grieving the loss of their eldest son, Atem Atem, who was shot and killed in the family's garage in February 2023. Picture: Jason Edwards

‘I miss my boys’: Dad’s grief after two sons killed in separate attacks

The broken dad and brother of two siblings who have been killed in separate attacks in Melbourne’s west – the latest just over a week ago – have revealed their uncontrollable grief.

ExclusiveVictoria

Woman linked to Clunes health retreat death charged with drug trafficking

A self-proclaimed ‘healer and mentor’ linked to a Clunes health retreat where a woman died after consuming a drink allegedly containing magic mushrooms has been charged with drug trafficking.

Victoria

Photos of Oscar Jenkins and his former students are circulating on a popular Chinese messaging app. Picture: Supplied

PM’s vow after ex-Melbourne Grammar student ‘executed’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has warned Australia would take the “strongest action possible” after reports prisoner of war Oscar Jenkins was tortured and murdered by Russian forces.

Police & Courts

Lino was a talented basketballer who was described as a homedbody by those closest to him. Photo: Facebook

Tragic twist for family of Wyndham Vale stabbing victim

A 24-year-old talented basketballer was fatally stabbed in an ambush attack. The shock death comes two years after his older brother was gunned down.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/journalists/fergus-ellis