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14 March 2026

☀️ Semi-finals heat up

BDCA cricket, ticketless travel starts Monday, and your weekend forecast ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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Morning Post

Bendigo

Saturday, 14 March 2026  •  Issue #621

☀️27°/10°
Clear skies today, warming to 31° tomorrow
☀️ UV 8.6  •  🌅 Sunset 7:44 PM
 

Happy Saturday! A perfect autumn day ahead with clear skies and 27 degrees — ideal for getting outdoors. Today we're looking at local cricket semi-finals, a big change coming to Melbourne public transport, and some compelling theatre picks for the weekend.

— Nathan, Editor

At a Glance

☀️ 27°/10° — Clear skies today, warming to 31° tomorrow

📰 Sandhurst and Strathdale take control in BDCA semi-finals

🎭 The Importance of Being Earnest + 4 more events

🍳 Recipe of the Week: Classic Lamb Shanks

🕰️ On this day in 1975: Cyclone Tracy survivors were officially allowed to return to Darwin...

Today's Bendigo

Sandhurst and Strathdale take control in BDCA semi-finals

The race for the BDCA premiership is down to four teams after an exciting opening day of semi-finals action. Sandhurst Dragons and Strathdale have put themselves in strong positions heading into the next round. Cricket fans won't want to miss what happens next.

via Bendigo Advertiser

Ticketless travel trial begins Monday in Victoria

From Monday, you'll be able to tap your phone or credit card to pay for public transport on select lines. The trial starts small but could change how we all travel across Victoria in the future.

via ABC Victoria

Around Australia

George Russell wins Chinese Grand Prix sprint for Mercedes

Russell held off the fast-starting Ferraris to take the sprint race in Shanghai, while Aussie Oscar Piastri finished sixth.

via ABC News

Fuel shortage concerns grow as rationing fears mount

Energy Minister Chris Bowen has released 20 per cent of national fuel reserves as experts warn rationing could be necessary. Charts show what Australia's current fuel supply looks like.

via SBS News

Around the World

More US Marines and warships heading to Middle East — Reinforcements from an amphibious group usually based in Japan are being moved to the region amid escalating tensions.

via BBC World

France returns sacred drum looted from Côte d'Ivoire century ago — The Djidji Ayôkwé talking drum was handed to Ivorian officials in Paris after being taken by French colonial authorities over 100 years ago.

via The Guardian World

What's On

Theatre & Performance

Every Saturday we spotlight theatre and performances around Bendigo.

14 Mar · Theatre

The Importance of Being Earnest

Bendigo Theatre Company, Capital Theatre, 14-21 March

Oscar Wilde's wittiest comedy of manners comes to life with local talent and Victorian-era charm.

15 Mar · Music

Ulumbarra Theatre: An Evening of Opera

Ulumbarra Theatre, Sunday 15 March, 7:30pm

Experience soaring arias in the stunning former prison setting of Ulumbarra'sMain Hall.

20 Mar · Comedy

Bendigo Comedy Festival Opening Night

The Coach House, Friday 20 March, 8pm

Kick off the festival with top Melbourne comedians bringing laughs to a cosy local venue.

21 Mar · Dance

Contemporary Dance Collective Performance

Bendigo Art Gallery, Saturday 21 March, 2pm

Watch local dancers interpret gallery artworks through innovative movement in an immersive afternoon show.

28 Mar · Theatre

The Glass Menagerie

Capital Theatre, 28 March - 4 April

Tennessee Williams' haunting family drama returns in an intimate local production you won't forget.

Got an event to share? Let us know →

Recipe of the Week

Every Saturday we share a recipe worth trying.

Classic Lamb Shanks

Serves 4 · 3 hours

Nothing beats slow-cooked lamb shanks on a cool autumn evening. This is the kind of recipe that fills the house with the most incredible smell and practically cooks itself.

Ingredients

• 4 lamb shanks

• 2 tins crushed tomatoes

• 1 cup red wine (or beef stock)

• 2 carrots, diced

• 2 celery sticks, diced

• 1 onion, diced

• 3 cloves garlic, crushed

• 2 tbsp plain flour

• Fresh rosemary, salt and pepper

Method

1. Season shanks with salt and pepper, dust with flour. Brown in a heavy pot with a splash of olive oil.

2. Remove shanks. Sauté onion, carrot, celery and garlic until softened, about 5 minutes.

3. Return shanks to the pot, add tomatoes, wine and rosemary. Bring to a gentle simmer.

4. Cover tightly and cook in a 160°C oven for 2.5 hours until the meat is falling off the bone.

5. Serve over creamy mashed potato with crusty bread to mop up the sauce.

What's your go-to comfort food recipe when the weather turns cool? Hit reply and share.

Just hit reply and tell us — we'll share the best answers on Tuesday.

Daily Brainteaser

🧩

What five-letter word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it?

Answer revealed at the bottom of today's edition.

Daily Games

💡 Today's Featured Game

Word Ladder

5 steps · ~2 min

GOLD → RUST

Change one letter at a time · Par: 5 steps

Play Word Ladder →
🧠 Trivia · Australia · 15 Qs→
What iconic Australian building features distinctive white sail-shaped...
✏️ Crossword · 5×5 Mini→
1 Across: Current fashion or direction
🧩 Sudoku · 3 difficulties→
Gentle · Moderate · Tricky

On This Day

Anniversary of

• Cyclone Tracy survivors were officially allowed to return to Darwin after the devastating December 1974 cyclone. (1975)

• Jack Ruby was convicted of murdering Lee Harvey Oswald, the assassin of President John F. Kennedy. (1964)

• American astronaut Norman Thagard became the first American to travel to space aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. (1995)

• Karl Marx, German philosopher and author of Das Kapital, died in London. (1883)

🎂 Born on this day: British actor Michael Caine (1933), American music producer Quincy Jones (1933), and American actor and comedian Billy Crystal (1948).

Brainteaser Answer
'Short' — add 'er' and it becomes 'shorter.'

Have a lovely Saturday.

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