Larissa Ham
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Freelance journalist and copywriter for hire. Regularly spotted in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald etc. Email: hello@larissaham.com
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Articles by Larissa Ham
New book Old Vintage Melbourne, A Culinary Chronicle captures the dining institutions of yesteryear
From a sophisticated 70s restaurant with hot-pink light shades, to a St Kilda cake shop and the all-you-can eat smorgasbords of the suburbs, Chris Macheras's latest coffee table book is brimming with Melbourne's culinary history. But the book's beginnings are also quintessentially Melbourne — or at least Melbourne as we knew it in 2020. Stuck at home during COVID-19, the lawyer and artist kicked off an Instagram account featuring vintage photos of the city and suburbs.
New book Old Vintage Melbourne, A Culinary Chronicle captures the dining institutions of yesteryear
'We're living with wars behind our doors': Jayda Allen Bonner remembered at Melbourne vigil WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the name and image of an Indigenous person who has …
Mortgage stress Victoria unable to help new clients as interest rates compound cost-of-living pressures
Larissa Ham and Leanne Wong A free service that helps home owners facing mortgage stress has been forced to temporarily close its books as the number of calls for assistance doubles. Mortgage Stress Victoria chief executive Nadia Harrison said severe financial stress was also reaching new parts of the community, in a trend she expects to continue after interest rates rose to a 15-year high on Tuesday.
Victorian royal commission into corruption in construction sector holds secret hearings
Larissa Ham and Max Walden Victoria's royal commission into corruption on government building projects has already held some hearings in secret, its head has revealed. At the inquiry's first public hearing on Wednesday, commissioner Christopher Kourakis said the probe would get to the bottom of widespread allegations of corruption, violence and bullying on build sites.
Travellers Aid is the little-known service helping generations of people find their way
Tell us about your experience. It has helped generations of Victorians and visitors through two global pandemics, migration waves, vastly changing times and a recent V/Line shutdown. But it is likely you have never heard of Travellers Aid, a vital cog in Victoria's public transport system that helps more than 110,000 people a year. These days, the not-for-profit organisation mostly helps people with mobility challenges get around the state's trains, buses and trams.
Travellers Aid is the little-known service helping generations of people find their way
1 hour ago Is that... the ‘Fleabag’ haircut? Kelly Osbourne just made a very unexpected runway cameo during London Fashion Week—although with her new ‘do, you’d be forgiven for not recognizing her. The TV personality walked for Natasha Zinko on September 18 with a brand new edgy look. Her new jet black hair was …
Bandidos motorcycle gang member charged over Melton blaze that left man fighting for life
An outlaw motorcycle gang member has been charged as part of an investigation into several suspicious fires, including a blaze in Melbourne's west that left a man with life-threatening injuries this month. The 32-year-old Delacombe man, a member of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, was arrested yesterday, along with a 42-year-old Melton man, after a suspicious fire at a shop in Taylors Lakes early yesterday morning.
Police issue warrant for man alleged to have attacked three people with axe or hatchet
Police have named a Victorian man who remains at large after he allegedly attacked three people with an axe or hatchet in Gippsland yesterday. Two male victims, aged 76 and 47, were yesterday airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries, where they remain in a critical condition. A 74-year-old woman was taken to hospital with critical injuries and is in a stable condition.
Man on run in Gippsland after allegedly attacking three people, including elderly couple, with axe
A man believed to be wielding an axe has allegedly attacked three people, including an elderly man and woman, in Gippsland and remains on the run, say Victoria Police. Police were told the man, who is known to the victims, allegedly attacked the pair and another man at an address in Cowies Road, Tyers, about 12:30pm today. The man, in his 50s, fled the address and the victims were able to call emergency services for help.
Melbourne soccer club takes stand after girls' match moved to make way for boys
A Melbourne soccer club is taking a stand amid claims one of its junior girls' team's matches was stopped at half-time, with players forced to take to an inferior pitch to make way for a boys' team. In a statement on social media, the Boroondara Eagles Football Club said an under-12 girls' match at Caloola Reserve, in Oakleigh, was halted so that an under-11 boys' team could use the field.
The ‘new baby’ gap: Why friendships change after a baby and how to fix it
Is a friendship struggling after having a new baby? Here is why your friendships change after having a baby, plus expert advice on how to repair and strengthen the bond. Great friends can be one of the most precious and enduring parts of life. But even the closest bonds can become rocky, fade or even disappear during the early parenting “season”, when lifestyles and priorities can shift radically.
Australia's only professional penny-farthing maker has cult following
Casually riding a penny-farthing around town is always going to be an attention-grabber. "There was a customer in Sydney who lived alone and he kept to himself a lot and he liked that," says penny-farthing maker Dan Bolwell. But each morning, the man would head off for a spin, with people starting to notice this gent perched atop his late 1800s-style bicycle. Loading...
Liberal MP Moira Deeming breaks silence after assault allegations against Matthew Guy
Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming says she will not apologise and that she misunderstood the meaning of the term "headlock", after alleging her party room colleague Matthew Guy had assaulted her. Ms Deeming, who is overseas, today released a statement through her lawyer Tim Houweling, to "correct the public record regarding her recent complaint to Victoria Police". The complaint related to Ms Deeming and Mr Guy's attendance at a crowded Macedonian community event in Sunshine on May 23.
Long lunches and sickies on the cards as Australia prepares to take on Paraguay in World Cup match
With the countdown on until Australia's World Cup match against Paraguay tomorrow, football fans have flocked to book annual leave, strategise long lunches and perhaps concoct some mysterious, but extremely well-timed illnesses. The 12pm (AEST) kick-off, on a workday no less, may be a rare event for fans used to more nocturnal hours.
Victorian opposition leader Jess Wilson says Pauline Hanson has not approached her
Victorian opposition leader Jess Wilson says Pauline Hanson has not approached her, after the One Nation leader last night told a political fundraiser she would work with the Coalition to oust Labor. Senator Hanson, speaking at the fundraiser in South Melbourne, told her supporters she would give them the opportunity to vote for someone other than the major political parties. "I will work with the Coalition government, because who needs to go is the toxic Labor government," she said.
Man arrested at Melbourne Airport after prisoner absconds from brother's funeral in Keilor East
A prisoner who escaped during his brother's funeral in Melbourne's north-west has avoided police detection since doing a runner on Anzac Day. Orijol Rukaj, a 47-year-old on remand for drug importation, had been in custody at Marngoneet Correctional Centre, near Geelong, when he attended the funeral at Keilor Cemetery on a supervised visit.
Toilet mistakes you’re probably making, according to experts
Stop making these gross toilet mistakes. Experts reveal the common bad bathroom habits that could be impacting your gut health, pelvic floor and personal hygiene. We all use the toilet every day, but chances are, your bathroom habits are actually doing more harm than good. While we rarely feel the urge to analyse our time on the loo, medical and hygiene experts warn that our most common toileting mistakes can lead to a host of avoidable health issues.
'This is so cooked': Man’s caravan hitchhiking act divides Aussies
A Czech traveller who describes himself as a "professional hitchhiker" has stunned Aussies by hitchhiking nearly 4000 kilometres from Perth to Sydney - while towing a caravan behind strangers’ cars. This article may contain links from our affiliate and advertising partners. We may receive payments when you click on links, buy through them or share this content. He’s been described as “audacious”, a “tripper” and an “extreme optimist”.
Is snoring ruining your relationship? Expert tips to stop it
Snoring isn't just a minor annoyance – it can reach the volume of a freight train, destroying your sleep quality and putting a serious strain on your bond. Here’s what the experts say about restoring the peace and getting a solid night's sleep. You might think your bedroom should be a place of tranquillity and deep, restorative sleep. But if you or your partner’s snoring sounds less like a gentle purr and more like a freight train, sleep deprivation — and resentment — can easily follow.
Melbourne eating institution Marios celebrates 40th anniversary with free publication
In the late 1990s, Melbourne institution Marios caused a firestorm when it denied comedian Jerry Seinfeld team's entreaties to secure a table for breakfast. After all, there was a strict no-booking policy in place, which remains today, 40 years after the Fitzroy cafe first opened its doors.
Melbourne eating institution Marios celebrates 40th anniversary with free publication
Hundreds of travellers stuck after 34 flights cancelled and 272 delayed at major airports Hundreds of tourists have been left stuck after flights ground to a halt across several major airports yesterday. As many as 34 flights were cancelled …
Victorian budget's $3.5 million to fund security upgrades for family violence victim-survivors
Almost 1,700 women facing the danger of family violence will be able to upgrade their home security with stronger doors and locks, alarms, lighting and cameras under a $3.5 million pledge by the Victorian government. The funding will also allow victim-survivors, particularly in remote and regional areas, to access other security measures such as personal duress alarms and technology and car sweeps.
Neurodivergent adventurers are discovering a world of travel
Specialist travel services are helping neurodivergent people and people with ADHD to discover the joys of travelling. This article may contain links from our affiliate and advertising partners. We may receive payments when you click on links, buy through them or share this content. Agnes Abelsen is no travel rookie, having moved halfway across the world from Norway to Sydney, and founded her own company offering supported travel for young autistic people, Travengers AU.
Photographers and artists showcase world of fungi in exhibit at WAMA
Feel like fungi is popping up everywhere you look lately? You're not imagining it, with ecologist and environmental photographer Alison Pouliot noting a "public groundswell of interest" in all things fungi and foraging. "We're really at a mushroom moment here; I call it a bit of a fungal awakening of sorts," says Pouliot, whose work is featuring in an exhibition at the National Centre for Environmental Art at WAMA in the heart of Victoria's Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park.
How former negotiators say Victoria Police would have prepared to descend on Dezi Freeman's hiding place
A former police hostage negotiator says he was sure Dezi Freeman's seven-month run from the law "was going to end in tears" and that the fugitive would never surrender. Dr Vincent Hurley — who spent 29 years as a NSW police officer, including eight as a negotiator — said it could be almost impossible to negotiate with a sovereign citizen like Freeman, who was shot dead by police on Monday after a three hour stand-off.
Dezi Freeman formally identified as man shot dead in Thologolong Original
By Larissa Ham and Tim Callanan for ABC News Victoria Police have officially confirmed that the person shot dead by officers at a property in Victoria's north-east on Monday morning was Dezi Freeman, having previously declined to do so. Police on Wednesday said they had formally identified the deceased as Freeman, who had been on the run for seven months after killing two police officers and injuring a third last August.
Investigations continue after police shoot fugitive Dezi Freeman dead
Police say they will come down hard on anyone who helped Dezi Freeman, the fugitive who was shot dead by police yesterday after a massive seven-month manhunt. "We have no sympathy or empathy for anyone who's harboured a police killer inside the state of Victoria," Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said yesterday, following the death of Freeman after a three-hour stand-off.
From pub knitting to wonky ceramics, arts and crafts are having a resurgence
It's not very difficult to spot a drunken nitwit in a Melbourne pub. But a group armed with knitting needles, appearing by the dozens each Thursday night for a relaxed yarn and a tipple? Well that kind of "drunken knitwit" is a much rarer, more well-behaved species to be reckoned with — and part of a global knitting club that has spread from Oxford in the United Kingdom to 13 cities across five countries.
Digital crime dominates federal sentencing in Victoria, new report shows
Using a carriage device — such as a phone or computer — to menace, harass or offend another person is by far the most common federal crime being sentenced in Victoria, a new report has revealed. The Sentencing Advisory Council's report, which examines the five years to June 30, 2023, also shows the most common punishment for that federal crime is a fine, which could be as little as $10.
How to get surf fit: tips from champion Tyler Wright
Surfing is harder than it looks. Two-time world champion Tyler Wright shares the key surf fitness moves that help beginners build strength, balance and stamina for surfing. Surfing can be one of the trickiest and most consistently humbling sports to pick up as an adult. But wax up your surfboard regularly enough and you’re likely to become addicted to the thrill of gliding along a wave – in between the inevitable wipeouts.
Lunar New Year: traditions and what Year of the Horse means
Over a billion people are set to kick off the biggest celebration of the year. Here’s what Lunar New Year is all about – and why 2026 is extra special. While many of us were recovering from New Year’s Day celebrations in January, more than a billion people around the world were preparing for one of the biggest cultural events of the year – Lunar New Year.
Victoria's bushfires more than five times the size of Singapore Original
By Larissa Ham, ABC Victoria's bushfires have now burnt across 404,000 hectares, or a total area more than five times the size of Singapore. That figure, provided by the State Control Centre on Tuesday night, is equivalent to about 4,040 square kilometres. To put it into perspective, the island country of Singapore measures 710 square kilometres.
Police post $1m reward 50 years after Eloise Worledge, 8, disappeared from Melbourne bedroom
Fifty years after eight-year-old girl Eloise Worledge went missing from her Melbourne bedroom, police have announced a $1 million reward for information regarding her disappearance. But a family member says Eloise's loved ones' lives were changed forever when the young girl vanished from her Beaumaris home.
Where to get financial assistance following Victorian 2026 bushfires
A $15 million recovery package to help Victorians begin the massive clean-up process is the latest round of bushfire funding announced by the state government. On Tuesday, Premier Jacinta Allan said $10 million would initially be allocated to help landowners deal with the hundreds of structures destroyed by the fires. "This is particularly focused for uninsured and underinsured households who have lost their primary place of residence to be able to get underway with the clean-up," she said.
Australia's Venezuelan diaspora gathers after US captures president Nicolás Maduro in military strike
The unfolding situation in Venezuela carries "deep and complex emotions" for Australia's small but tight-knit Venezuelan community, who are gathering to discuss what is happening in their home country. According to the 2021 Census, 6,627 Venezuelan-born people live in Australia, including 2,183 people in NSW and 1,572 in Victoria. The United States says it will temporarily "run" Venezuela after capturing Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro during a large-scale military strike overnight.
Melbourne's Victoria Street has been on a downward slide, but a brighter future may be beckoning
Restaurant owner Christopher Nguyen says he "feels sorry" for Victoria Street, a once-buzzing hub of Vietnamese restaurants sometimes known as Melbourne's "Little Saigon" or "Little Vietnam". "It's very bad now," the owner of one of the street's longest-running restaurants said. "All the customers say, 'What's wrong with this street?
Costumes of Kylie, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Amy Taylor and more showcased in new DIVA exhibition
Think of the term 'diva' and you might not necessarily conjure up an image of an Aussie punk rock singer rocking a two-piece get-up made of pink Whoopee Cushions. But the outfit, worn by Amyl and the Sniffers punk singer Amy Taylor on stage at Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl in January, is apparently bang on for a modern-day Australian diva. Amy Taylor from Amyl and the Sniffers gives big modern-Australian diva energy in her outfit made of Whoopee Cushions.
A growing number of older women surfers are showing age is just a state of mind
When Katie Pahlow turned 60 in July 2023, she decided to finally bite the bullet and book herself in for some surf lessons. It might have been 43 years since she'd last caught a wave, but the dream had never left her. "When I was literally 17, living in Melbourne in the western suburbs, I bought myself a surfboard in the paper second-hand for $50," she recalls. "But I didn't have a licence and I had no-one to take me to the beach.
The summer fitness slump is real – here’s how to beat it
A packed social calendar doesn’t have to derail your fitness. Trainers share how to stay active and healthy during the festive season with simple ways to maintain your exercise routine. The silly season and the slower January months can be a tricky time to maintain your fitness mojo and eat well. Between Christmas lunches, late nights, holidays and a calendar full of social catch-ups, routines tend to slide and motivation to work out can take a hit.
How to say ‘no’ to drinks – according to experts
Not sober but also don’t necessarily want a drink? Same. Here are psychologist-approved tips to say “no, thanks” without the awkwardness. The festive season brings plenty of joy, but it also brings a particular kind of social choreography – the constant topping-up of glasses, the well-meaning insistence on “just one more”, and the unspoken assumption that everyone should be on the same level of merry.
Student paramedic wins battle with Ambulance Victoria over beard policy
Ambulance Victoria will now allow paramedics and students to wear beards for cultural, religious and medical reasons. It comes after student Prabhjeet Gill, who is Sikh, was refused a mask-fitting appointment for a work placement because he was not clean shaven. The ambulance service says it is training its respiratory protection team to use the 'Singh Thattha' method of mask fitting.
Student paramedic wins battle with Ambulance Victoria over beard policy
1 hour ago Two-time major winner Frank Urban “Fuzzy” Zoeller Jr., died, according to the USGA. He was 74. Zoeller, who was born in Indiana, was a 10-time PGA Tour winner who captured victories at the Masters in 1979 and the U.S. Open in 1984. Zoeller is survived by his wife Diane, and four children: Sunny, …
Kangaroos player Ash Riddell has entire school behind her ahead of Saturday's AFLW grand final
If a crop of talented footballers happens to emerge in Melbourne's north-east in the future, all eyes should turn to Ash Riddell. The 29-year-old football star won the AFLW best and fairest on Monday, and is gearing up for a premiership tilt alongside her Roos teammates against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night. But in the week leading up to the big game, she's also working hard at her other job — teaching, and inspiring, her grade 6 students at Glen Katherine Primary School in Eltham North.
Thunderstorm asthma in Australia: Causes, signs, prevention
Peak thunderstorm asthma season has begun, and people with asthma and allergies are being cautioned to be on guard. When thunderstorms collide with high pollen counts, the results can be more than just wild weather. For people with asthma or allergies, it can trigger a serious health event known as thunderstorm asthma.
Search for alleged gunman continues after two police killed in Porepunkah in Victoria's north-east
A massive search continues for a heavily armed man who allegedly shot and killed two policeman at his property in the state's north-east on Tuesday morning. A 59-year-old detective and a 35-year-old senior constable were killed during a shootout at a property in the town of Porepunkah, about 300 kilometres from Melbourne. A detective was also seriously injured after being shot in the lower body, and yesterday underwent surgery.
Prosecutor asks accused triple-murderer Erin Patterson why she didn't alert authorities over foraged mushrooms
Erin Patterson didn't tell a "single person" that she may have accidentally added foraged mushrooms to a lunch that eventually killed three of her relatives, her murder trial has heard. The accused triple-murderer has given evidence for a fifth day in the Supreme Court trial in the Victorian town of Morwell.
Erin Patterson denies murdering lunch guests in triple-murder mushroom trial Original
By Larissa Ham & Joseph Dunstan for ABC Accused triple-murderer Erin Patterson has testified that she did not intentionally kill her relatives by putting death cap mushrooms in their meals. Patterson, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and attempted murder, has taken to the stand for the fourth day running in the trial in Morwell, in regional Victoria, Australia.
Victorian government commits $727m in state budget for more prison beds after bail reform
The Victorian government has earmarked $727 million in the state budget to increase the number of adult prison beds by 1,000, and youth justice beds by 88. It says it follows tougher bail laws introduced this year, which have resulted in more alleged offenders spending time in jail. The government says the funding will also help recruit more than 700 new staff across youth justice and adult corrections.
What to do when home insurance costs rise Original
By Larissa Ham February 20, 2025 Been hit with a sky-high home insurance bill recently? You’re not alone, with the price of insurance across the board rising 11 per cent in the year to December, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures (down from a peak of 16.4 per cent in March 2024). Many home owners in high-risk areas grapple with the future impacts of climate change, which could leave some houses uninsurable – in turn affecting their value.
Fifty years after Australia's first legal nude beach opened, is baring all just for the boomers?
It's half a century since Australia's eyeballs — some of them belonging to outraged citizens — turned to a risque news item: the opening on the country's first legal nudist beach. NOTE: This story contains images of nudity. In February 1975, Maslin Beach — 40 minutes south of Adelaide's CBD — became the first beach in Australia where swimmers or sunbathers could turn up wearing only a smile.
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