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NationalVictoriaPhotos of the Week

The Age photos of the week, May 23, 2026

Gallery icon26 Images

The week in photos from our award-winning staff photographers and regular contributors.

Cirque du Soleil performer Mitch Wynter from the new show Kooza.

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Cirque du Soleil performer Mitch Wynter from the new show Kooza. Credit:Jason South

Lunch with Fashion Critical, who is wearing a Rebecca Vallance dress. The style commentator takes her anonymity seriously.

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Lunch with Fashion Critical, who is wearing a Rebecca Vallance dress. The style commentator takes her anonymity seriously.Credit:Simon Schluter

Carmel Bell, 64, is renting her house in retirement and says she has no hope of owning.

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Carmel Bell, 64, is renting her house in retirement and says she has no hope of owning.Credit:Eddie Jim

Dr Maxwell Lechte has unearthed evidence for the most ancient complex organisms from rocks in the Northern Territory. He is pictured with a rock showing accumulations of seafloor bacteria about 1.5 billion years old – stromatolite.

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Dr Maxwell Lechte has unearthed evidence for the most ancient complex organisms from rocks in the Northern Territory. He is pictured with a rock showing accumulations of seafloor bacteria about 1.5 billion years old – stromatolite.Credit:Simon Schluter

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When Natasha Tualau walked into the Melbourne clinic of one of Australia’s largest dental chains, she was looking for a simple fix for a discoloured front tooth. Instead, she claims, she stepped into a high-pressure sales environment that drained $35,000 from her retirement savings, left her in constant pain and landed her in an emergency department.

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When Natasha Tualau walked into the Melbourne clinic of one of Australia’s largest dental chains, she was looking for a simple fix for a discoloured front tooth. Instead, she claims, she stepped into a high-pressure sales environment that drained $35,000 from her retirement savings, left her in constant pain and landed her in an emergency department.Credit:Paul Jeffers

ABC Radio Melbourne presenter Ali Moore is leaving the Drive shift for the Italian countryside. Her replacement will be Charlie Pickering, host of ABC TV’s The Weekly.

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ABC Radio Melbourne presenter Ali Moore is leaving the Drive shift for the Italian countryside. Her replacement will be Charlie Pickering, host of ABC TV’s The Weekly.Credit:Justin McManus

Bishop Evmenios of Chora and the Holy Monastery of Axion Estin. The redevelopment of the Greek Orthodox church in Northcote is awaiting state government approval.

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Bishop Evmenios of Chora and the Holy Monastery of Axion Estin. The redevelopment of the Greek Orthodox church in Northcote is awaiting state government approval. Credit:Joe Armao

The unveiling of Scott Morrison’s bust in Ballarat’s Avenue of Prime Ministers. Morrison is pictured with sculptor Martin Moore.

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The unveiling of Scott Morrison’s bust in Ballarat’s Avenue of Prime Ministers. Morrison is pictured with sculptor Martin Moore.Credit:Ruby Alexander

Bakery owners Joe Shin and his wife, Hwayoung Choi, at Bakery Cafe, Abbotsford Convent.

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Bakery owners Joe Shin and his wife, Hwayoung Choi, at Bakery Cafe, Abbotsford Convent.Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui

Don Cook at his property near Ruffy. Cook’s house survived the bushfires, but as a community leader, he’s worried about his town’s recovery.

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Don Cook at his property near Ruffy. Cook’s house survived the bushfires, but as a community leader, he’s worried about his town’s recovery.Credit:Justin McManus

Dennis Bear and Doug Morgan at the Pentridge entrance gate. Bear was an activities officer and Morgan a bank robber who did time at Pentridge. The Pentridge radio station recently sold a collection of its vinyl records.

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Dennis Bear and Doug Morgan at the Pentridge entrance gate. Bear was an activities officer and Morgan a bank robber who did time at Pentridge. The Pentridge radio station recently sold a collection of its vinyl records.Credit:Justin McManus

Widower Tim Bryant with his two children, Charlie and Tully. Bryant has spoken for the first time about the impact the death of his wife, Eleanor Bryant, had on their family. She was killed when a water tanker drove into a childcare centre in Riddells Creek in 2024.

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Widower Tim Bryant with his two children, Charlie and Tully. Bryant has spoken for the first time about the impact the death of his wife, Eleanor Bryant, had on their family. She was killed when a water tanker drove into a childcare centre in Riddells Creek in 2024.Credit:Justin McManus

People gathered at the State Library last Saturday to demand justice for Isla Bell. The demonstration forms part of a growing public response calling for accountability and further investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

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People gathered at the State Library last Saturday to demand justice for Isla Bell. The demonstration forms part of a growing public response calling for accountability and further investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui

Richard Szabatura in his caravan at the Five Ways Caravan Park. Permanent residents of the park in Dingley have been given until August 25 to leave because its private owners want to develop the land for housing.

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Richard Szabatura in his caravan at the Five Ways Caravan Park. Permanent residents of the park in Dingley have been given until August 25 to leave because its private owners want to develop the land for housing. Credit:Chris Hopkins

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Vasan Srinivasan, president of the Federation of Indian Associations in Victoria. The City of Melbourne wants to create a Little India precinct at Docklands.

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Vasan Srinivasan, president of the Federation of Indian Associations in Victoria. The City of Melbourne wants to create a Little India precinct at Docklands.Credit:Justin McManus

Writer Laura Roscioli at her “sexy book club” in a friend’s apartment in Richmond.

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Writer Laura Roscioli at her “sexy book club” in a friend’s apartment in Richmond.Credit:PENNY STEPHENS

A program is connecting international students and retired Melburnians to combat loneliness. Indonesian student Arie Judanto chats to Wayne Pash.

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A program is connecting international students and retired Melburnians to combat loneliness. Indonesian student Arie Judanto chats to Wayne Pash. Credit:Jason South

Rob and Bron Jamieson in the ruins of their farm homestead outside Ruffy. Their house and farm were destroyed in the bushfires over the summer. They expect to be in a caravan for the next two years.

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Rob and Bron Jamieson in the ruins of their farm homestead outside Ruffy. Their house and farm were destroyed in the bushfires over the summer. They expect to be in a caravan for the next two years.Credit:Justin McManus

A ride-out participant does a wheelie at a car park in South Wharf.

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A ride-out participant does a wheelie at a car park in South Wharf.Credit:Chris Hopkins

Pianist Jayson Gillham arriving at the Federal Court on Monday for his case against the MSO.

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Pianist Jayson Gillham arriving at the Federal Court on Monday for his case against the MSO.Credit:Simon Schluter