September 21, 2026
Profitable Conversations
So here’s what we’re looking for… and we think you are as well. More of those conversations. Professional ones. Honest ones. And, in turn, profitable ones, for you…. and for us. Lets have a good conversation and get on with it.
We’ve covered almost 50 auctions in the last few weeks.
That’s a good sample and it tells a clear story about where the Top End Inner Melbourne market is at AND unless you have been living under a rock, you as a buyer or a seller or an agent will know.
- Clearance rates are in the high 50s.
- Bidderman is in the low ones per auction.
- Both numbers say the same thing. The market is still falling.
One thing we haven’t talked as much about is stock level.
At the lower price points, there’s very little on the market.
Above $5m, it’s the opposite. Lots of stock, mostly hidden. Lots of properties lingering from the last year or two. And more still coming….. maybe… the good ones…..they are harder to find. Why? Lowering price is why?
Yes there have been a dozen or so sales over six to seven million in the last six weeks. But that’s half of last year.
So the market splits into three, by price segment.
Covered it in detail in last week’s marketnews 12/09/2026
- The early ones to early twos? Going well. Price it correctly and you’ll have no problems.
- Above say $5m is tricky.
- The high twos, threes and fours? Very price sensitive. Some sell. Some don’t. And not all of it makes sense.
So $2m to $5m is on knife’s edge between success and failure…
Take Boroondara… Hawthorn $4m-$5m range. Grove Road still hasn’t sold. Victoria Road sold on one bid. Both sellers were asking roughly what they paid six to eight years ago. A very, very fine line between success and failure.
And the $3m range. Edro Brighton versus Summerhill in Glen Iris. Both equally good properties, and I covered both. Summerhill had five bidders. Edro had one, after the auction. Summerhill was less quirky. More straightforward. That was the difference.
And no, I’m not saying Boroondara is beating Bayside. If anything, Bayside is performing a little better right now.
Fringe locations are struggling when well above the norm.
Bentleigh, fringe to Brighton. Balwyn, fringe to Hawthorn. Rye fringe to Portsea. So well above the median, outside blue chip, there are simply few buyers at that price point.
Why…. because at your fringe price point for the same money your past buyers can now buy dress circle one suburb over.
Then there’s property type. If it’s less than perfect, it struggles. Unless the price is incredibly keen. Many are still gun shy on renovation.
Investors? They’ve pulled back. Big time.
Speak to any mortgage broker. They’re the ones lending the money, and they’ll tell you investor enquiry is well down.
You hear that we’re bottoming out and investors are coming back. BS. I just don’t see it.
Some real conversations below during the week with clients.
The auction rules are changing.
From October, in the first weeks after the grand final, new auction laws begin. I think they’re good. Sensible. Not radical or harming the market or the sellers.
In fact if agents are complaining, they’re the agents who’ve been fudging reserves, comparable sales and price guides for decades.
- The reserve price must be stated seven days out for an auction, an EOI, or anything with a fixed date. This is a good rule. Start with a range, collect the info and state a reserve. Sensible.
We’ve managed several hundred sales over 2 decades. Not once did we have the reserve landing outside the range we were quoting and we have had zero problems.
- The old statement of information becomes a property statement, with more detail, to perhaps more justify the range. That’s what agents should be doing anyway. Good rule.
- Sold prices must be published seven days after sale, and stay up for 18 months. There are exemptions. Big tick.
- Section 32 contracts must be available 14 days after a property is first advertised for private sale, and 14 days before any fixed date sale. Otherwise, it can’t be sold. Yay….like why does this even have to be law surely its just common sense, but it hasn’t been!! Well done government.
- And early release of deposits no longer happens automatically. It needs a clause in the contract. Agents can’t take commission from an early release unless the seller agrees. That will pinch cash flow on a long settlement. The industry will find a way around it. But seems ok to me, no biggie.
Some changes start straight away, like the reserve and the property statement. Others are phased in. Like Sec 32’s being available and the deposit rule arrives mid next year. Why wait a year? I don’t know…. but hey good news… they’re coming.
Transparency. That’s all it is. And more transparency is positive.
If your agent is whinging be you a buyer or seller…. get a new one… these are good amendments on the face of it…. they will not add harm to the market.
Here is a link to CAV Auction rule changes . Well done CAV – good job.
Now the change that can hurt you. Capital gains tax.
No Hypocrisy Baby Boomer Mal… I think the negative gearing removal concept with regards to homes for young people is positive and I congratulate the government on its bravery in the concept.
People like Baby Boomer me and overseas Harry have been hurting the market for young people for a few decades via tax advantages. Well us and government inaction.
So after that indirect mea culpa, what of the changes and how does it affect our investment properties.
Surprise, surprise, the new changes are not so clear!
However, for my clients, three things are clear to me.
- Some version of CGT reform is going to happen.
- Valuation and good advice are keys and can make a big difference to your future tax.
- Many current investors will get the valuations wrong and pay too much future tax.
Why?
Every property you own (other than your own home which is exempt) looks like it will need a valuation by the end of this financial year or you’re at the mercy of the tax office’s assessment.
That could be good but more than likely, it’s bad. Remember those tax guys are not here to give you more are they!
So Valuations, you’ll need one to stay in control. But…..
Valuers are no different from us advocates/agents or any other human. We all have different opinions and so …
A valuation is an opinion… objective AND subjective.
Eg: One values a property at four million. Another says three and a half. Another says four and a half.
So what Mal!!
Here is the kicker. If your value is assessed low, more of your future profit could be taxed at a higher rate, than if assessed high.
The government isn’t here to lighten your load. Valuations are not set in stone.
You may want to/need to manage the process…. your process.
Conversation?
If you are a past client and we can help with the right valuer or buying/selling lets have a convo.
Differing values a good example is one our deals this week.
We reached heads of agreement on another substantial sale, again for doctors, again via referral. By some market measures, you could say commercially it was overs. But for our client, the value was unders.
I was brought in when nothing was moving,when the property wasn’t advertised for sale.
A few conversations with the client. A few with the seller’s agent. A deal in a week.
It was all about differing values, for the seller and for the buyer and for others.
Some more of my favourite properties. I bought both these in the past for clients… they were and still are good homes, now in need of new owners…..both have failed at auction, been further price reduced and now are prime for a bargain for someone.
These cannot last…. so check them out. They are genuinely great value. I recommend them.
4 Erica Avenue, Canterbury. Great street. North-facing rear. No heritage overlay. A period home you can renovate, live in, or rent, and rebuild later. At well under $4000 per sqm metre and similar to the price paid a decade ago with a light reno…this represents excellent value. Hand on heart it’s great buying for a young family or new home build buyer. Charlie Tostevin is the agent 0431713205
3 Westminster Street Balwyn. Keenly priced. Thinking high twos six months ago. Now in the low twos. Low maintenance, liveable, move-in house on nearly 700 square metres. That’s 3000+ per sqm and you get a free home in a great location. Helen Yan 0404078588 is the agent. The EOI closes this week.
Genuine bargains and happy to help you in anyway to get into them.
Clients want to / need to sell!
Balwyn - circa $3000 sqm
Canterbury - under $4000 sqm
Off-market $6m to $8m in Armadale
I said a few weeks ago the off-market wasn’t performing. I hope now I am proven wrong.
Back out on the trail.
Letterboxing for a client.
Because we simply can’t find stock for certain clients. An overseas client. Six to eight million. We bid on a property six months ago, and we’re still looking in Armadale. 150 letters dropped… that’s my 10,000 steps for the day. In three hours.
Interestingly on Sutherland Road, only three properties were worth a letter.
If you want a quiet CONVERSATION, call me, Mal on 0408 107 988.
Content of the letter below….
$6–$8 MILLION ARMADALE HOME WANTED
G’day, my name is Mal James.
I’ve been a Melbourne buyer and seller advocate for 25 years. You may or may not recognise me in my red jacket and hat, rating properties at auctions or finding off markets.
Over the years we’ve bought and sold many homes in Armadale (off market): Union Street, Sutherland Road, Barkly Avenue, Lambeth, Alleyne, Moorhouse, Hampden Road……
Right now, I’m representing an Australian family living overseas who are planning to return to Melbourne in around 18 months. We have been looking for six months and still haven’t found their perfect home.
They want a classy period home in Armadale — something they can either move straight into or renovate over time. Budget: approximately $6 million to $8 million.
THINKING ABOUT A CHANGE — BUT HAVE SOME QUESTIONS?
What about confidentiality?
We have bought and sold many off-market homes that never hit the papers or the internet. We do not discuss your details. A conversation with us stays confidential.
Not sure about the market?
Have a look at marketnews.com.au. We’re also happy to give you an up-to-date brief on what is actually happening. Yes, it’s the trickiest market we’ve seen for some time — but deals are still happening.
And you might be thinking: “Mal, if I sell, where do I go?”
Fair question. We can help you find and buy your next home as well, and that can be included as part of the overall deal.
So, if you have a home that might suit — whether you’re thinking of selling now, next year, or you’re simply curious — let’s have a talk.
No obligation. No public campaign required. Just a confidential conversation.
Mal James
James Buy Sell Advocates
25 years in Stonnington property
0408 107 988 mal@james.net.au marketnews.com.au james.net.au
22ND AUGUST
BLACK ROCK, 31 Central Avenue
Auction Date: 22 August 2026
Romana Altman – Buxton
SOI: $3,300,000 – $3,450,000
Sold Price: Undisclosed
Result: Before Auction
Bidder: 1
SANDRINGHAM, 14 Susan Street
Auction Date: 22 August 2026
Richard Slade – Buxton
SOI: $2,200,000 – $2,300,000
Opening Bid: $2,200,000
On the Market: $2,400,000
Sold Price: $2,578,000
Result: Under the hammer
Bidder: 4
BLACK ROCK, 1 Arkaringa Crescent
Auction Date: 22 August 2026
Stephen Wigley – Belle
SOI: $2,450,000 – $2,550,000
Opening Bid: $2,300,000 VB
Passed in: $2,300,000 VB
Result: Passed in/Private Sale
Bidder: 0
CANTERBURY, 1 Flinders Avenue
Auction Date: 22 August 2026
James Tostevin – Marshall White
SOI: $3,000,000 – $3,300,000
Opening Bid: $2,950,000 VB
Passed in: $2,950,000 VB
Sold Price: Undisclosed
Result: Sold After
Bidder: 0
SURREY HILLS, 54 Croydon Road
Auction Date: 22 August 2026
Cherie Sun – Buxton
SOI: $2,000,000 – $2,200,000
Opening Bid: $1,800,000
On the Market: $1,985,000
Sold Price: $2,105,000
Result: Under the hammer
Bidder: 3
KEW, 22 Ridgeway Avenue
Auction Date: 22 August 2026
Scott Patterson – Kay & Burton
SOI: $3,500,000 – $3,800,000
Opening Bid: $3,500,000
On the Market: $3,880,000
Sold Price: $3,920,000
Result: Under the hammer
Bidder: 2
HAWTHORN, 29 Grove Road
Auction Date: 22 August 2026
Stuart Evans – Marshall White
SOI: $4,850,000 – $5,250,000
Opening Bid: $4,900,000 VB
Passed in: $4,900,000 VB
Result: Passed in/Private Sale
Bidder: 0
KEW, 112 Adeney Avenue
Auction Date: 22 August 2026
Nick Whyte – Nelson Alexander
SOI: $2,500,000 – $2,700,000
Opening Bid: $2,500,000 VB
Passed in: $2,500,000 VB
Result: Passed in/EOI
Bidder: 0
RICHMOND, 19a Amsterdam Street
Auction Date: 22 August 2026
Matt Coombs – Jellis Craig
SOI: $1,450,000 – $1,550,000
Sold Price: Undisclosed
Result: Before Auction
Bidder: 1
EAST MELBOURNE, 24-26 Berry Street
Auction Date: 22 August 2026
Sarah Case – RT Edgar
SOI: $5,000,000 – $5,500,000
Opening Bid: $4,200,000 VB
Passed in: $4,275,000
Sold Price: Undisclosed
Result: Sold After
Bidder: 2
FITZROY, 39 Brunswick Street
Auction Date: 22 August 2026
Peter Stephens – Nelson Alexander
SOI: $3,700,000 – $3,950,000
Opening Bid: $3,700,000 VB
Passed in: $3,700,000 VB
Result: Passed in/Private Sale
Bidder: 0
MALVERN EAST, 14 Coppin Street
Auction Date: 22 August 2026
Fiona Ansell-Jones – Marshall White
SOI: $3,700,000 – $3,900,000
Sold Price: Undisclosed
Result: Before Auction
Bidder: 1
MALVERN, 8 McArthur Street
Auction Date: 22 August 2026
Justin Long – Marshall White
SOI: $4,600,000 – $5,060,000
Opening Bid: $4,600,000 VB
Passed in: $4,600,000 VB
Result: Passed in/Private Sale
Bidder: 0
29TH AUGUST
BRIGHTON, 16 Grandview Road
Auction Date: 29 August 2026
Nick Johnstone – Jellis Craig
SOI: $2,100,000 – $2,300,000
Sold Price: Undisclosed
Result: Before Auction
Bidder: 1
HAMPTON, 8 Ludstone Street
Auction Date: 29 August 2026
Marc Stafford – Buxton
SOI: $2,150,000 – $2,300,000
Opening Bid: $2,150,000
Passed in: $2,150,000 VB
Result: Passed in/Private Sale
Bidder: 0
MONT ALBERT, 22 Beresford Street
Auction Date: 29 August 2026
Tim Heavyside – HEAVYSIDE
SOI: $1,800,000
Opening Bid: $1,750,000 VB
Passed in: $1,750,000 VB
Under offer
Bidder: 0
HAWTHORN EAST, 2 Rosslyn Street
Auction Date: 29 August 2026
Sam Christensen – A-Z Real Estate
SOI: $1,750,000 – $1,870,000
Opening Bid: $1,700,000
On the Market: $2,000,000
Sold Price: $2,205,000
Result: Under the hammer
Bidder: 3
FITZROY NORTH, 7 Delbridge Street
Auction Date: 29 August 2026
Nicholas Corby – Jellis Craig
SOI: $2,000,000 – $2,100,000
Opening Bid: $1,900,000 VB
Passed in: $1,900,000 VB
Result: Passed in/Private Sale
Bidder: 0
RICHMOND, 3 Rogers Street
Auction Date: 29 August 2026
Julie Taylor – Biggin & Scott
SOI: $1,590,000
Opening Bid: $1,500,000 VB
Passed in: $1,500,000 VB
Result: Passed in/Private Sale
Bidder: 0
ARMADALE, 29 Northcote Road
Auction Date: 29 August 2026
Toby Parker – Jellis Craig
SOI: $2,950,000 – $3,295,000
Opening Bid: $3,000,000 VB
On the Market: $3,200,000
Sold Price: $3,650,000
Result: Under the hammer
Bidder: 3
MALVERN, 9 Silver Street
Auction Date: 29 August 2026
Tony Che – Professionals First
SOI: $2,500,000 – $2,750,000
Opening Bid: $2,400,000 VB
On the Market: $2,700,000
Sold Price: $2,710,000
Result: Under the hammer
Bidder: 3
5TH SEPTEMBER
PORT MELBOURNE, 275 Princes Street
Auction Date: 5 September 2026
Max Mercuri – Jellis Craig
SOI: $1,800,000 – $1,900,000
Opening Bid: $1,850,000
Passed in: $1,870,000
Sold Price: $1,975,000
Result: Sold After
Bidder: 1
RATING | AUCTION REPORT | VIDEO
BRIGHTON, 103 Wilson Street
Auction Date: 5 September 2026
Ross Walker – Buxton
SOI: $3,900,000 – $4,200,000
Opening Bid: $3,700,000 VB
Passed in: $3,700,000 VB
Sold Price: Undisclosed
Result: Sold After
Bidder: 0
RATING | AUCTION REPORT | VIDEO
BRIGHTON EAST, 33 Edro Avenue
Auction Date: 5 September 2026
Katie Mactier – Jellis Craig
SOI: $3,000,000 – $3,300,000
Opening Bid: $3,000,000 VB
Passed in: $3,000,000 VB
Sold Price: Undisclosed
Result: Sold After
Bidder: 0
RATING | AUCTION REPORT | VIDEO
GLEN IRIS, 20 Howard Street
Auction Date: 5 September 2026
Nathan Waterson – Jellis Craig
SOI: $3,100,000 – $3,400,000
Opening Bid: $3,000,000 VB
Passed in: $3,000,000 VB
Sold Price: Undisclosed
Result: Sold After
Bidder: 0
RATING | AUCTION REPORT | VIDEO
CAMBERWELL, 12 Halley Avenue
Auction Date: 5 September 2026
James Tostevin – Marshall White
SOI: $3,100,000 – $3,400,000
Opening Bid: $3,200,000 VB
Passed in: $3,200,000 VB
Under offer
Bidder: 0
RATING | AUCTION REPORT | VIDEO
GLEN IRIS, 77 Summerhill Road
Auction Date: 5 September 2026
Daniel Wheeler – Marshall White
SOI: $3,000,000 – $3,300,000
Opening Bid: $2,960,000
On the Market: $3,200,000
Sold Price: $3,250,000
Result: Under the hammer
Bidder: 5
RATING | AUCTION REPORT | VIDEO
ARMADALE, 55 Barkly Avenue
Auction Date: 5 September 2026
Mark Harris – Marshall White
SOI: $2,800,000 – $3,080,000
Opening Bid: $2,700,000 VB
Passed in: $2,725,000
Sold Price: Undisclosed
Result: Sold After
Bidder: 1
RATING | AUCTION REPORT | VIDEO
ARMADALE, 5 Mt Pleasant Grove
Auction Date: 5 September 2026
Carla Fetter – Jellis Craig
SOI: $2,500,000 – $2,600,000
Opening Bid: $2,500,000
On the Market: $2,670,000
Sold Price: $2,825,000
Result: Under the hammer
Bidder: 3
RATING | AUCTION REPORT | VIDEO
MALVERN, 14 Beamsley Street
Auction Date: 5 September 2026
Joseph Ben-Danan – Marshall White
SOI: $2,200,000 – $2,400,000
Opening Bid: $2,200,000 VB
Passed in: $2,200,000 VB
Result: Passed in/Private Sale
Bidder: 0
12TH SEPTEMBER
BRIGHTON, 28b Sussex Street
Auction Date: 12 September 2026
Stefan Whiting – Buxton
SOI: $3,750,000 – $3,950,000
Opening Bid: $3,750,000 VB
On the Market: $4,025,000
Sold Price: $4,250,000
Result: Under the hammer
Bidder: 2
RATING | VIDEO | AUCTION REPORT
HAWTHORN EAST, 128 Victoria Road
Auction Date: 12 September 2026
James Tostevin – Marshall White
SOI: $3,920,000 – $4,300,000
Opening Bid: $3,800,000 VB
Passed in: $3,825,000
Sold Price: Undisclosed
Result: Sold After
Bidder: 1
RATING | VIDEO | AUCTION REPORT
SURREY HILLS, 39 Durham Road
Auction Date: 12 September 2026
Tim Heavyside – HEAVYSIDE
SOI: $3,000,000 – $3,300,000
Opening Bid: $3,000,000 VB
Passed in: $3,000,000 VB
Result: Passed in/Private Sale
Bidder: 0
RATING | VIDEO | AUCTION REPORT
KEW, 138 Peel Street
Auction Date: 12 September 2026
Jeremy Desmier – Fletchers
SOI: $2,600,000 – $2,800,000
Opening Bid: $2,600,000 VB
Passed in: $2,600,000 VB
Result: Passed in/Private Sale
Bidder: 0
RATING | VIDEO | AUCTION REPORT
PARKVILLE, 75 Park Drive
Auction Date: 12 September 2026
Stephanie Hawke – Nelson Alexander
SOI: $1,750,000 – $1,850,000
Opening Bid: $1,750,000
On the Market: $1,850,000
Sold Price: $2,030,000
Result: Under the hammer
Bidder: 4
SOUTH YARRA, 8 Cromwell Street
Auction Date: 12 September 2026
Edward Carlile – Woodards
SOI: $2,400,000 – $2,600,000
Opening Bid: $2,350,000 VB
On the Market: $2,520,000
Sold Price: $2,620,000
Result: Under the hammer
Bidder: 2
19TH SEPTEMBER
CAMBERWELL, 1 Dower Street
Auction Date: 19 September 2026
Anthony Smith – Marshall White
SOI: $2,500,000 – $2,700,000
Opening Bid: $2,460,000
Passed in: $2,460,000
Sold Price: Undisclosed
Result: Sold After
Bidder: 1
RATING | VIDEO | AUCTION REPORT
MALVERN, 31 Soudan Street
Auction Date: 19 September 2026
Grant Wallace – Belle
SOI: $2,900,000 – $3,100,000
Opening Bid: $2,900,000 VB
Passed in: $2,920,000
Result: Sold After
Bidder: 1
RATING | VIDEO | AUCTION REPORT
HAWTHORN, 13 Manchester Street
Auction Date: 19 September 2026
Hugo Rouffignac – Marshall White
SOI: $1,450,000 – $1,595,000
Opening Bid: $1,400,000
On the Market: $1,480,000
Sold Price: $1,512,000
Result: Under the hammer
Bidder: 3
RATING | VIDEO | AUCTION REPORT
HAWTHORN EAST, 49 Leura Grove
Auction Date: 19 September 2026
Mark Josem – Storyhouse
SOI: $2,750,000 – $3,000,000
Opening Bid: $2,750,000 VB
Passed in: $2,755,000
Result: Passed in
Bidder: 1
RATING | VIDEO | AUCTION REPORT
CAMBERWELL, 45 Lansell Crescent
Auction Date: 19 September 2026
Jonathon O’Donoghue – Jellis Craig
SOI: $2,900,000 – $3,190,000
Opening Bid: $2,900,000 VB
Passed in: $2,900,000 VB
Result: Passed in/Private Sale
Bidder: 0
RATING | VIDEO | AUCTION REPORT
PRAHRAN, 33 Irving Avenue
Auction Date: 19 September 2026
David Stringer – Marshall White
SOI: $1,600,000 – $1,700,000
Opening Bid: $1,600,000
On the Market: $1,730,000
Sold Price: $1,776,000
Result: Under the hammer
Bidder: 2
RATING | VIDEO | AUCTION REPORT
ARMADALE, 2a Denbigh Road
Auction Date: 19 September 2026
Darren Krongold – Gary Peer
SOI: $3,300,000 – $3,600,000
Opening Bid: $3,100,000
Passed in: $3,370,000
Result: Passed in
Bidder: 2
WHAT WE SAID
Ratings WORK
WHAT HAPPENED
More conversations are being had with our initial conversation tool as to whether it’s right for you, is it any good and how much …..the James Home Rating tool…….20 years on and still going strong. Our latest innovation from the team is you can now request a rating and for now, for the rest of the year, that is at no charge.
Yes we also do apartments. Lots of apartments.
I had conversations with two clients this week who’ve downsized with us in the last year. It was difficult but they’re in. One sold off-market for over six million and moved into an apartment in Brighton. Six months later? Happy. Settled. Another traded down from another part of the bay. Playing golf. Best thing they ever did.
Apartments aren’t flying out the door and getting a big home sold is not easy. But they’re transacting. And PPP still applies to apartments: price, property, position.
Position matters more as you age. You don’t want to be far from the action. You want a good block, no transient neighbours, no car up on a jack for eight months with oil pooling underneath. Then the apartment itself needs light and flow.
JAMES HOME RATINGS
VALUE & GROWTH PERSPECTIVES
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Hope you enjoyed this bumper issue of marketnews.
Been back now for 6 weeks after 750 kilometres. On foot. Across the Alps this mid-year.
Weeks of climbing. Weeks of silence. And somewhere on a ridge, with nothing but the wind and my own thoughts, something became very clear to me again.
It’s the conversations.
That’s what matters. Not the quick call. Not the email that goes nowhere. The real conversation. The in-depth one.
The one where we sit down and ask, what is it you actually want? Then we look at the numbers. Properly. And we start with the fundamentals. Price. Property. Position.
Because that’s where value gets found. That’s where deals get done. It’s how a buyer and a seller, who weren’t talking a week ago, end up at heads of agreement.
So here’s what I’m looking for… and I think you are as well. More of those conversations. Professional ones. Honest ones. And, in turn, profitable ones. For you. And for us.
Because when we understand what you truly value, what you really want, then the buy and the sell come together. And the whole transaction works.
It’s grand final week. Enjoy it.
Get your footy fix. Because the week after, the property market picks up again.
And when you want a result, when you want to get on with your life, give us a ring and let’s have a conversation.
JAMES SELLER ADVOCATES
Our reserve is always within the quote
Many of you have been incredibly helpful and supportive of what has been done in Africa over the years, so I wanted to give you an update on where things have landed.
The last six months have been, frankly, an absolute shit fight.
I’ve been doing this for a long time and, while we’ve managed to avoid many problems along the way, inevitably you run into a few. This one was particularly difficult.
We took a stand against the harassment of our African co-workers. That stand had consequences, including the temporary shutdown of one hospital’s children’s surgery program in retaliation.
We weren’t prepared to walk away from the people involved or from the principle.
We engaged lawyers in Australia and wrote first to the hospital administrator, then to his boss and ultimately to the bishops.
The bishops stepped in firmly and instructed that the children’s program be reinstated.
The good news is that it has now restarted.
The children are being treated again, and a new memorandum of understanding is in place to give the program a clearer and stronger foundation going forward.
Sometimes a problem forces you to get better.
Interestingly, the difficulties also pushed to broaden what is being on done.
During the quieter months, a re-established children’s prosthetics program at a considerably lower cost.
Also a new hospital relationship with St Joseph’s in Arusha, where they have now completed ten surgeries.
Through Batro, CEO in Tanzania, a new initial agreement with a doctor in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Haven’t undertaken a surgery there yet, but now a heads of agreement in place and a potential pathway forward.
Also completed several surgeries in Uganda.
Continue to work in Ethiopia, although understandably that has slowed because of the conflict there, and we remain very active across Tanzania in other hospitals.
So, oddly enough, what began as one of the more difficult periods faced has ultimately made the program broader and, I think, stronger.
Then there are the children
Amongst all the politics, hospitals, lawyers and difficulties, there are individual children who remind you what the whole thing is actually about.
One is Econia.
Econia has a significant stomach problem, and we first began trying to help her about two years ago. And please if you don’t help then as you can see in Africa nobody else does.
Despite everything else that was happening, managed to arrange further assistance for her a couple of months ago and have now funded her transfer to Kenya with another US$500.
At this stage, things appear to be progressing reasonably well.
There are plenty of other stories like Econia’s. I’m very happy to share them with anybody who is interested because, ultimately, those individual children are the program.
A genuine thank you
The other reason for writing is to say thank you.
A number of people have helped recently, as have many others over the years.
Tyler Hunter from DPM helped through a referral which resulted in the entire $30,000 being donated to the program. Thank you also deeply to Jay and Kim
Anton and Sam from A-Z Real Estate contributed another $5,000, on top of an already very generous $10,000.
And close to another $20,000 has come from a wonderful group of people including:
- Richard Winneke of Jellis Craig
- Ben Veith of Marshall White
- Toby Primrose — a buying agent competitor who, to use his vernacular, likes to cut my lunch (and sometimes does), but still generously donated
- Rina Cuzzobbo
- Shelley Cohney
- Buena & Alok Kulkarni
- Gino Rousetty
and a number of our clients and Marketnews readers.
To all of you: thank you.
The money is helping individual children receive surgeries, prosthetics and medical treatment that they otherwise would simply not receive.
Yep we can cut back immigration and foreign aid and I get it and maybe even in part agree with it……..but we can still help, little kids that need it.
And after the last six months, I think we’ve been reminded of something important: doing the right thing isn’t always the easiest path, but that doesn’t make it the wrong path.
If you would like to support some of the children’s surgeries going forward, it would be enormously appreciated.
This Week Sep 2026 Econia and Dad at Hospital- Fingers crossed
And if you’d simply like to know more about where the money goes, the children we’re helping or how the program operates, I’m equally happy to share that.
Thank you again to our Marketnews readers, clients, friends, competitors and supporters — not only for your interest, but for what so many of you have actually done.
Mal
Direct Donations (Tax Deductible) – https://donations.rawcs.com.au/26-2024-25
Surgeries Live YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@morechildsurgeries
Surgeries Live Surgeries – https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TzrLEzIqUtRNUIhiSACvmEtFDH1Wd_LxYvbNSmmc-Dg/edit?gid=451294567#gid=451294567
Finances – https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CfUbQM7ElyBj3nrfNAKy3mdOt6MAnpli3vGZwceIszU/edit?gid=897262792#gid=897262792
Morechildsurgeries – https://morechildsurgeries.com/
LAST WEEK
JAMES HOME RATINGS
We visit every home, plus we value them, plus we cover many many more that are off market for our clients
AUGUST 29 2026
STONNINGTON
BOROONDARA
AROUND THE BAY
Inner City & Inner North
JAMES BUYER ADVOCATES
Client’s we are looking to buy for
| Price | Property | Position |
| Low to mid $4ms | Family home, good land, room for pool and basketball, open to doing work | Surrey Hills, Camberwell, Canterbury, Kew and surrounds |
| $1.8m | Apartment | East Melbourne |
| $5m to $7m | Period home to renovate or move-in ready | Armadale |
| Circa $2m | Townhouse | Richmond through to Carnegie |
| Up to $4m, or $1.5m house for daughter | Family home | Prahran |
| Up to $2m | Small home with car parking | Prahran |
| Circa $2.5m | Family home with more living space than they currently have | Port Phillip, Middle Park / Albert Park |
| $1.4m to $1.5m | Single-fronted home | Richmond |
| $2.5m to $2.8m | 4-bedroom family home, move-in ready | Brighton, Hampton |
| $6m | Move-in ready | Tara Estate, Scotch Hill, Grace Park |
