Latest news with #Victoria
News.com.au
35 minutes ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Buyer's first step on property ladder offers chance to add value
A young buyer's nerves at bidding at auction soon passed after he secured a three-bedroom home on a sizeable Geelong West property. The 549sq m property at 8 Hodgson St, Geelong West, sold for $857,500 after two contested the three-bedroom weatherboard house. Jellis Craig Geelong agent Jeff Begg said the local first-home buyer had made a great step on to the property ladder. Who wins from Queens Park suburb swap 'His family put their hand in the air for him and got him across the line,' Mr Begg said. 'He was nervous but he really did well.' Mr Begg said the land size was a key attraction for buyers, along with the comfortably presented house that offered scope to add future value. 'The house presented neatly, but it needed a little bit of elbow grease to sharpen it up,' Mr Begg said. 'But nothing that was urgent and demanded to be done straight away. 'To find a home like that was in that nick on that land size, still with the Geelong West address, was a pretty good buy.' The underbidder was a buyer from Melbourne, Mr Begg said. A charming facade and a spacious and stylish interior offer the best of both words in a prime position. The ideal opportunity for families, downsizers or investors provides the benefits of updated spaces, such as the kitchen and living room and bathrooms, along with open-plan living and outdoor entertaining on the 549sq m property. Hodgson St is near the northern end of Pakington St. The location was close to West Oval and Geelong Golf Club, and close to schools such as Ashby and St Patricks's Primary Schools and Clonard College.
News.com.au
35 minutes ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Brad Waters' best bets and value play for Geelong races on Friday, June 20, 2025
Form expert Brad Waters analyses Friday's Geelong meeting, presenting his best bets, value selection and jockey to follow. Form analyst Brad Waters looks at Friday's meeting at Geelong., presenting his best bets, value selection and jockey to follow. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! â– â– â– â– â– BEST BET KAZUNGULU (Race 1 No.2): Short odds but wasn't far from a subsequent city winner at Swan Hill. That's strong form for Friday's race. â– â– â– â– â– NEXT BEST YES I KNOW (Race 4 No.16): The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained 3YO ran on strongly at Sale and natural improvement should allow him to go close at Geelong. ANGEL OF THE SEA (Race 6 No.9): The filly improved with a slight rise in trip at Pakenham second-up. Expecting her to be harder to hold out with added fitness. â– â– â– â– â– VALUE BET VORES (Race 7 No.12): Has performed well in harder races at her last two runs. Dropping back to BM58 level will be perfect at Geelong. â– â– â– â– â–
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Inside the Beckham's support system as Team Peltz hits out at 'tight' couple
Victoria Beckham recently shared a gushing post about David after he was knighted. The post received support from a supermodel duo's mother The never-ending Beckham-Peltz feud is still rumbling on, with celebrities from both sides of picking their sides as tensions rise. Reality TV star Yolanda Hadid was one of many stars sharing their love for Victoria and David Beckham amid the Spice Girl's family tensions with eldest son, Brooklyn Beckham, and his wife Nicola Peltz. In recent months, fans have noticed how Brooklyn snubbed his family during special events, including on Victoria's birthday, David's milestone 50th birthday and Father's Day. Last week, football icon David was knighted in the King's Birthday Honours List, and most of his family, bar Brooklyn, took to social media to share how proud they were of his huge achievement. Victoria shared a loving snap of herself giving her husband David a smooch on the cheek. She wrote in the caption: " You've always been my knight in shining armour, but now it's official. Sir @davidbeckham!!! What an honour, I couldn't be prouder of you. Your dedication to the things that matter most — your country, your work, your passion, and most of all, your family — has never wavered. "The way you've touched so many lives over the years with kindness and humility speaks volumes about the man you are and continues to inspire us everyday. But above all else, I'm so, so proud to call you mine. I love you so much." Her friends were quick to share their support, including Gigi and Bella Hadid's mother, Yolanda, who posted a red heart emoji in the comment section. It has been said that Yolanda previously experienced tension with Nicola after she was romantically involved with her son, Anwar, for over a year. The Sport's Illustrated model reportedly took issue with the age gap between Nicola, who was 22 at the time, and Anwar, then 18. After they broke up, Nicola unfollowed the entire Hadid family on social media. Nicola previously spoke fondly of Anwar, revealing in an old interview: "Honestly, he is an angel. He's such an amazing person. He comes from such an amazing family. Gigi and Bella are so, so sweet. I just love his family so much. They're feminine, strong girls. To have that around is amazing." Sources close to Nicola had insisted there wasn't any bad blood between her and the Hadids and insisted unfollowing the family on social media was a typical move seen in breakups. Meanwhile, after Victoria shared her gushing post for David, several other stars congratulated the footballer. Richard E Grant popped up to post many clapping emojis while Victoria's son Romeo shared a heart emoji as well as his own post. Cruz, ever the loving son, also took to his own page to celebrate his dad. Victoria's best pal Eva Longoria lovingly posted: "Congrats David! And Lady Victoria!" while Gary Neville and Helena Christensen shared heart emojis. Unfortunately, it hasn't been all rainbows and sunshine for the Beckham family as Nicola's family reportedly hit out at them for being tight with money. Brooklyn, 26, is now residing in a lavish £11million mansion in Hollywood, but it's believed that his billionaire heiress wife Nicola, 30, is the primary owner of the sprawling residential property. Sources recently claimed that former footballer David and ex Spice Girl Victoria believe that their eldest son is "trapped" by the arrangement, as well as the rumoured pre-nuptial agreement that Brooklyn and Nicola signed before marrying one another. It's estimated that Nicola's dad, Nelson, has a net worth of a whopping $1.6 billion. A source has claimed that David and Victoria have been "tight" when it comes to providing for their son, who has turned his hand at attempting several jobs, including being a photographer and also a chef. "David and Victoria are two working-class kids done good, they have grafted hard for their money and understand that with privilege comes responsibility. On principle, they will not needlessly spoil their kids and have taught them the value of both industry and money," a source claimed to The Sun. The source then claimed Nelson and Nicola's mum, Claudia, see their daughter as the apple of their eye. The source continued: "They expected the Beckhams, worth half a billion themselves, might match them penny for penny. Or, at least, chip in with financials as and when. "That hasn't always happened, so they are annoyed and telling people it's a bit tight, which would utterly enrage David and Vic if they knew." Another source disputed the claim regarding the Beckham's and branded it "nonsense". After reports claimed Brooklyn could be "trapped", a source close to Brooklyn slammed the 'cruel and baseless narrative'. They said to The Mirror: "It's disappointing—and frankly absurd—that anyone would try to twist Nicola and Brooklyn's marriage, and this meaningful milestone of home ownership, into something toxic. "Their relationship is grounded in love, respect, and commitment. The suggestion that Brooklyn is 'trapped' isn't just false—it's a deliberately cruel and baseless narrative aimed at undermining a strong, loving marriage."
The Australian
2 hours ago
- Business
- The Australian
Luxury meets sustainability in Melbourne
Experience a first look at Melbourne's brand new 1 Hotel – a place where Victoria's natural environment is celebrated in every element of your stay. 1 Hotel Melbourne is unlike any other experience in the city. A retreat right on the Yarra, the hotel honours the city's natural beauty and vibrant heritage in everything it does. The commitment to sustainability, and reverence for Victoria are reflected in everything from the design elements to the locally-focused menus of its signature restaurant, From Here by Mike. Featuring 277 guest rooms and 114 hotel-branded residences, as well as several dining options, 1 Hotel Melbourne merges luxury and nature through its design and interiors. More than that, it honours Melbourne's heritage in a sustainable way. For example, during construction, heritage-listed materials from the city's old Goods Shed No. 5 were reused and restored to begin a new chapter in the city's story. Decorated with 7000 plants, the interiors of 1 Hotel emphasise its focus on nature. The lush atmosphere is enhanced by light streaming through the expansive glass walls – connecting guests to Melbourne with views of the Yarra River and beyond. Repurposed wharf materials are woven throughout the property's design, used to both enhance the aesthetic and fill functional roles. For example, 1944 bluestone pavers from the old Goods Shed No. 5 have been preserved to form a heritage footpath. Other materials reused include subaquatic wharf timbers, railway sleepers, steel trusses, and even window frames have been restored to celebrate Melbourne's history. Signature restaurant From Here by Mike has been created in partnership with celebrated Australian chef Mike McEnearney. With a focus on local ingredients and a low-waste approach, the restaurant heroes Victorian producers, showcasing the quality and variety of produce available close to Melbourne. Menus will evolve throughout the day, but all retain the same ethos of low waste and sustainably grown food. There will be a focus on local growers, with diners encouraged to learn more about the people behind their meals. The wine list will also focus on local boutique growers, with a map showing the different regions each wine comes from. For those looking for a more relaxed atmosphere to enjoy a drink, the ground-floor Crane Bar and Lounge offers locally distilled spirits alongside Australian wines, in a space designed to encourage connection – both with fellow guests and Melbourne's vibrant surroundings. Wellness is also central to the ethos of 1 Hotel Melbourne, reflected in its dedicated wellness area. This includes a stunning indoor swimming pool, the Bamford Wellness Spa, a gym, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and even ice baths for guests to enjoy. Located on the banks of the Yarra, 1 Hotel Melbourne invites guests to slow down and take time to appreciate everything the city has to offer. Perhaps take a coffee to the gardens outside, or relax with a glass of local wine as you watch Melbourne evenings come to life. Be among the first to experience 1 Hotel Melbourne, where nature and luxury converge to create an extraordinary retreat in the heart of the city. Reservations are now open. To book your stay or learn more, visit 1 Hotel Melbourne.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
3 teachers tell us the changes they're making in the classroom to address students' rampant use of AI
Students frequently use AI to help complete assignments, giving rise to concerns of academic dishonesty. Some teachers are using AI to create assignments intended to be harder to game with the technology. Three teachers told BI how they're adjusting classroom policy and their curriculums to meet the moment. AI has made its way into the classroom. Along with it, concerns from teachers about student apathy. "Some of the ones that I see using it all the time — I think if it wasn't there, they would just sit there looking blindly into space," Gary Ward, a physics, economics, and business teacher at Brookes Westshore High School in Victoria, British Columbia, told Business Insider. Since the release of ChatGPT in 2022 and the mass adoption of it and other generative AI tools, concerns surrounding academic plagiarism have multiplied. Educators found themselves needing to react quickly, adapting their curriculums to embrace or counter a technology that had tremendous potential to both be a teaching aid and a "homework cheating machine." Ward, who's been a teacher for about thirty years, said that he's noticed student usage of AI increase in increments — until this year, when it just "exploded." "Literally, all students are using it this year," he said. In order to try and prevent students from gaming all of his assignments with artificial intelligence, Ward said he's begun to use it defensively. He's asked ChatGPT to help him develop work that would be harder for anyone completing it to feed back into an LLM. "I just started it with a conversation in ChatGPT, and sort of iteratively went through — explained in my prompt what was happening, and said, 'This is what I want,'" Ward said. "It told me, 'These are things you can do to make it harder for students to be able to just answer with some large language model.' And typically, it's making it more personalized." At Manchester Metropolitan University in Manchester, England, Richard Griffin — a lecturer in the business faculty specializing in project management and portfolio development — says a similar strategy is underway. The university has developed an in-house system that educators can feed their assignments into, which will then provide an assessment of how difficult it might be to cheat it with AI and recommendations to make it more difficult to do so. "The IT department have done their own tool which assesses how AI safe it is, or AI savvy it is, and will give you a bit of a grade to say, 'Well, really, you will need to adjust some of this,'" Griffin said. "It doesn't give us specific information, but it does give you a bit of a scroll to say, No, this isn't very safe. You need to add some deeper challenges here, or you need to make this more personal, etcetera." The best defense against AI so far, according to Ward, is to spin back the clock a couple of decades. "I've tried to sort of shift back toward some handwritten assignments, instead of having them do it on the computer," Ward said. "That way, I can tell this is how they're writing. I know it's theirs." Even if Ward can't go analog for all the coursework he assigns, at the very least, it helps him determine a baseline for each student's writing, making it easier to determine when future work is produced synthetically. "Now, yeah, it's expensive and it takes a lot of time to grade them, but I think that needs to continue," he added. The goal of a classroom is generally to empower students with foundational skills — proficiency in research, deep thought, and comprehension, to name a few. By substituting the typical processes of studying with seeking out AI answers, many students are no longer meeting those benchmarks, said Paul Shockley, an assistant professor at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. "Many students today are using AI as a way of fulfilling their assignments, and it is creating a loss of critical thinking, a loss of originality, a loss of discernment, a loss of personal reflection, and so on," said Shockley, who primarily teaches courses in philosophy and religious studies. For Shockley's part, he was an early adopter of AI and was experimenting with the capabilities of LLMs soon after the launch of ChatGPT. He expects the technology not only to endure long-term, but to improve exponentially, and he began to believe it was crucial to help students build a healthy relationship with it. "My mindset on the topic, since AI has emerged, has shifted, moved like a pendulum from fascination to fear, given how it may be used," Shockley said. "But my fascination with AI is rooted in what it may be able to ameliorate, ameliorate things in the energy sector, industry, natural environment, medicine, science, person-centered care, but I decided that I would be open to using AI and my pedagogy in a Socratic approach." Originally, he developed an assignment for his undergraduate courses in philosophy and religious studies that encouraged students to dialogue with an LLM and analyze the output. He hoped that students would not only learn how to ask smarter questions but also develop a healthy skepticism of artificial intelligence. He has since discontinued the assignment and no longer allows any use of AI in lower-level classes. Too many students, he found, used it to outright cheat — including one instance in which he said a student submitted a paper that cited a hallucinated quote from a book Shockley co-authored. "The use of AI in the classroom for me as a philosopher is limited to inquiry among senior-level students doing research where they have maturity," Shockley said. "They have the chance to grow and so, and become equipped with critical thinking skills for themselves." Though Shockley still assigns research papers, he also tries to deploy "experiential" assignments whenever possible. For instance, in undergraduate environmental ethics and religious studies courses, Shockley has sent students out to visit local nature spots or religious sites. He hopes to engage students, he added, by "hooking" them — connecting them more personally to the subject matter that they'll eventually interact with in more traditional ways. That way, they may be less likely to turn to AI to complete their work. Additionally, he's begun to attach reflective components to any assignments that could likely be gamed by AI on their own. "What is it that students want? What is it that people want to experience these days?" he said. "What is it that young people want to experience these days, right? They want to have phenomenal experiences, you know, transformative experiences, cool experiences, and so, how can I harmonize those things together?" Generally, certain disciplines are more insulated against AI cheating, given that they better lend themselves to project-based assignments. In Griffin's case, many of the business courses he teaches require actual interaction with a real-world client. "We're challenging them with quite difficult tasks out in the real world to deliver projects for clients, you know, and there's a huge variety of expectation and understanding, both from the clients' perspective, but also from our sort of undergrads as well," Griffin said. Much like Shockley, Griffin is focusing on incorporating reflection into his curriculum, hoping that the layered steps will prompt deeper thinking. "I'm using projects and portfolios, so people are out in the real world. We're also relying very much on reflective aspects of that," Griffin said. "So they'll deliver a project with a client. If you're going to use AI and tell the client some really tough information, they're not going to be particularly happy. "And then that reflective element means that they really have to delve deeper and give us some honesty, which wouldn't normally be there in normal sort of assignments or assessments," he added. A shift toward oral assessments and discussion-based assignments, Griffin said, is also likely as AI continues to develop. "So assessments, I don't know whether I'd say they're going to become harder," he said. "They'll certainly become more focused. I think we need to accept that. We maybe can't teach as broad a topic as we'd like to, but we can certainly teach criticality." Read the original article on Business Insider
