The Age photos of the week, October 3, 2026

The week in photos from our award-winning staff photographers and regular contributors at The Age.October 3, 2026 — 2:17pm1/26Alf Woods, 98, who has competed in the Melbourne Royal Show poultry section since he was 11 in 1939, says it’s terrible not to be going this year due to bird flu precautions, but understands it has to be done to protect his chooks. He still personally feeds his birds things like fresh grass that he cuts, and spends hours emailing friends from the poultry world. Pictured here with 10 year old great grandson, Blair who now loves to show chickens too.Credit:Jason South2/26Palestinian author and journalist Plestia Alaqad.Credit:Chris Hopkins3/26Brisbane players celebrate a goal by Logan Morris goal in th dying minutes to seal the game for Brisbane in the 2026 AFL grand final.Credit:Justin McManus4/26Anna Baird, founder of Bared Shoes with boots worn by Kylie Minogue at her store in Malvern.Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui5/26Artist Amanda Bennetts with her artwork about data centres at ACCA.Credit:Eddie Jim6/26Resignz (aka Declan Willmott) A look into the wild world of e-sports, where players earn tens of thousands of dollars from one competition, luxury brands like Louis Vuitton sponsor them, and fans from all over the world travel to see them.Credit:Justin McManus7/26Dr. Amelia McLean, Forensic Doctor at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM).Credit:Chris Hopkins8/26Locals enjoying a picnic on the grassy median strip of Drummond St, Carlton North.Credit:Joe Armao9/26Former rooming house resident Helen Dawson.Credit:Jason South10/26Lou Costa is running as an independent for Shepparton, ahead of a highly contested state election in the rural seat.Credit:Ruby Alexander11/26Brisbane Lions player Cam Rayner signs autographs while greeted by fans at the Brunswick Street Oval fans day in Fitzroy after winning the 2026 AFL Grand Final.Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui12/26Trains from Melbourne Airport to the city will eventually run through the Tottenham rail yards.Credit:Jason South13/26Hundreds of members of the health industry braved the torrential rain to protest on the steps of State Parliament. Victorian doctors will undertake a four-hour statewide strike across the state’s public hospital system this week as their stoush with the state government over pay, working conditions and the threat to patient safety intensifies.Credit:Chris Hopkins14/26Brisbane Lions win a nail-biter grand final against the Fremantle Dockers at the MCG.Credit:Eddie Jim15/26Samantha Atkinson, her father Marcus Atkinson and Samantha’s daughter Asher Gilbert, 12. Three generations of the Atkinson family are helping sell 250 lines of showbags at Melbourne Royal Show as part of a 70-year business, Bensons Trading, started by Samantha’s grandfather, William Atkinson.Credit:Joe Armao16/26Samantha Demjancuk of Diggers Rest resident affected by the Plumpton data centre plan attended the second hearing of the Senate inquiry into data centre regulations, Yarraville.Credit:Chris Hopkins17/26Kylie floats above the MCG surface, and a giant glittery Sherrin, as she performs at the AFL grand final.Credit:Joe Armao18/26Seagulls rule the roost at the redeveloped City Square.Credit:Simon Schluter19/26Emily Edmonds, Jeremy Kleeman, Kutcha Edwards and Brett Chynoweth on the renovated State Theatre’s stage at Arts Centre Melbourne.Credit:Eddie Jim20/26Melanie Swieconek and her 14 month old daughter Valentina in their South Melbourne home. Valentina went to her orientation day at the not-for-profit Coventry Children’s centre when Melanie was told the centre is closing.Credit:PENNY STEPHENS