Coast Community News 279 by Central Coast Newspapers

12 FEBRUARY 2021

ISSUE 279

News

Electrical Trades Union (ETU) delegates rallied at Gosford racecourse on February 11 calling on Ausgrid to stop cutting Central Coast jobs. See page 4

Out&About

Decision looms for PEP11 extension

The Rhythm Hut’s drumming classes are back, with the year’s first six-week program kicking off on February 23. See page 17

Federal Labor Leader Anthony Albanese discusses PEP11 with concerned residents at Terrigal Beach

With the PEP11 permit for offshore gas drilling up for renewal on February 12, Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese joined fellow Labor MPs and community activists at Terrigal on February 5 to call for its cancellation. Albanese was joined by MPs from all along the coastline, including Member for Dobell Emma McBride, along with representatives of the Save Our Coast Group and Surfrider Foundation Australia and dozens of residents concerned at the possible effects of drilling 5km off Central Coast beaches. Albanese told the crowd PEP11 had the potential to the entire coastline from Sydney to Port Stephens. Not only would any drilling impact the way of life on the Central Coast, but it would also have an economic effect on the fishing industry and tourism, which he said was a “vital employer” on the Coast. “(Drilling) would be a disaster even if things went well, but if they didn’t it could be potentially catastrophic,” he said. Albanese said the Labor Party was not opposed to oil and gas exploration in appropriate areas but drilling along the coastline was “just not on”.

He said the Federal Government needed to ensure an application for renewal of the licence was denied. McBride said renewing the licence would pose a huge threat to the Coast’s environment, economy and very way of life. “Critically, this decision won’t be made locally, it won’t be made on the Central Coast, it will be made by two Ministers who don’t live in the area – the Federal Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia, Keith Pitt, and the NSW Deputy Premier, John Barilaro,” she said in Parliament on February 2. “Nearly 2,000 local people have already contacted me, calling on the Ministers to stop PEP11 and to save our coast. “It’s not just locals who will be impacted by PEP11. “In 2019, 1.94 million people visited the Coast, adding $692M to our local economy, and in the pandemic recovery, tourism should be boosted, not threatened by risky proposals like PEP11.” Save our Coast representative Tim Heffernan said that the Federal Government must now act to cancel PEP11, which “doesn’t make any sense”, once and for all.

“Save Our Coast has been leading the campaign with the community for a number of years to stop seismic testing and drilling off the most populated coastline in NSW, which is also a major whale migratory route,” he said. “Tens of thousands of people from the Central Coast and beyond have joined actions, signed petitions and contacted their local MPs. “We are opposed to the project because the risk to our precious marine environment, tourism sector and coastal lifestyle far outweighs any benefits, especially in a time when the entire world is moving away from fossil fuels and transitioning toward renewables.” Surfrider Foundation Australia National Campaign Director Damien Cole said while gas exploration was the main thrust of PEP11, there was also the potential for oil exploration. “This could lead to oil slicks which could destroy everything we’ve ever known” he said. After months of refusing to make a public stand on the issue, Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks announced on February 5 that she would oppose extension of the PEP11 licence.

“Extending the PEP11 permit is a decision for the Joint Authority,” she said. “The first step in this process is for the NSW Deputy Premier, John Barilaro, to make a recommendation on extending the PEP11 permit. “The second step is for the Federal Minister for Resources, Keith Pitt, to do the same. “I am urging the NSW Government to listen to the concerns of the Central Coast community and say no to extending the PEP11 permit. “I stand with my community in raising these serious concerns about the potential impacts of PEP-11 on our ocean. “Regardless of the NSW Government’s decision, I will be advocating for the Commonwealth to say no to the decision to extend the PEP11 permit. A spokesperson for Deputy Premier John Barilaro confirmed he will recommend refusal of the extension of the licence. “In 2017, the NSW government’s position was to refuse further applications to extend the life of PEP 11 – that position has not changed,” the spokesperson said. Minister for Resources Keith

Pitt said he was yet to receive any formal submission or advice from the NSW Minister. “The National Offshore Titles Administrator (NOPTA) will provide advice to assist with my decision,” Pitt said. “Any exploration project or petroleum activity will require approval from the independent expert offshore regulator, the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA). “I will carefully consider all relevant information before making my decision.” CEO of BPH Energy, David Breeze, is one of the license holders of the PEP11 title. When asked why $9M was raised by the company even though the decision to extend the licence is still pending, Breeze said he was “certainly committed to continue with the project”. Under section 265A (1) of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (OPGGS Act), the permit continues to be in force until the Joint Authority makes a decision on the current suspension and extension application. Terry Collins

Business

Despite its financial woes, Central Coast Council is forging ahead with plans for the Gosford Regional Library and is set to lodge a development application... See page 26

Sport

Central Coast mogul skier, Matt Graham, has found himself ranked number one on the International Ski Federation’s (FIS) World Cup standings after back-to-back podium placements in events held in Deer Valley, USA. See page 40

Puzzles page 22

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford - Phone: 4325 7369 - Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 - E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net - Website: www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

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12 FEBRUARY 2021

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29 JANUARY 2021

ISSUE 277

5 FEBRUARY 2021 3 FEBRUARY 2021

News

Record crowds hit our beaches

ISSUE 224

REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS

News

Projects to benefit from new funding Nine Central Coast residents have been recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours List (two posthumously).

ISSUE 278

RATES RAGE

ISSUE 225

REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS

News

There has been a mixed reaction to the State Government’s response to a recent parliamentary inquiry into koalas

A large number of residents are expected to protest a proposed 10-15 percent rate increase outside Gosford Chambers at an extraordinary Central Coast Council meeting on February 3.

See pages 10-12

Out&About

10 FEBRUARY 2021

News

Chairman of the Board of Wyong Race Club Limited, John Waghorn, has refuted claims that the Club has “closed its gates...

See page 17

More than 200,000 people flocked to Central Coast beaches over the Australia Day long weekend, as authorities dealt with 168 rescues, a prank drowning at Terrigal, parking havoc and jet ski chaos at Ettalong.

Business

See page 4 Photo: Surf Life Saving NSW

Avoca Beach - Australia Day

Council meeting deferred to February 3 A large number of residents is expected to protest a proposed 10-15 per cent rate increase outside Gosford Chambers at an extraordinary Central Coast Council meeting on February 3.

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Ratepayers were set to stage a protest on January 27, before the meeting was cancelled at the request of Administrator Dick Persson for family reasons and the February 3 meeting scheduled. There will be an Open Forum and a Public Forum and people can still register to speak in accordance with the usual guidelines and timeframes. People are required to register through the Council website to attend so attendance numbers can be managed in accordance

with Council’s COVID safe plan. Meanwhile, Council has extended the deadline for its survey on the proposed rate rise and added an option where residents can opt for no rate rise above the IPART peg. But residents say the survey still has limited options, with many choosing to lodge submissions direct with the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). Residents can now complete the survey until February 1. Acting CEO Rik Hart said he was closely monitoring the community sentiment as it was critical that voices were heard. “Our very early and preliminary survey results are giving a strong indication that ratepayers feel restricted in their opportunity to express their views about the option of

Acting CEO Rik Hart

no rate rise at all,” Hart said. “We have looked at less than 10 per cent of the survey responses, as there is a lot of data to process with over 3,300 surveys completed. “More than half the respondents in this small sample don’t want any rate rise … and we are certainly seeing some similar commentary in

letters to my office and the Administrator’s Office. “I can totally understand this viewpoint. “However, I need to make it clear that no rate rise is not a viable option. “Council needs a rate rise to repay the restricted funds spent on community infrastructure and services and to deliver a level of service to the community that ensures our assets and essential services are maintained. “I urge all community members to keep an open mind, consider the information put before them, and to provide their feedback before February 1. “We are committed to capturing as much community feedback as we can in order for the Council to consider whether

or not to formally apply to IPART for a Special Variation of the rates.” Council has notified the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) of its intention to apply for a Special Variation (SV) of either a one-off 10 per cent rise remaining in the rate base for seven years or a one-off 15 per cent, remaining permanently in the rate base, inclusive of the 2021/22 rate peg of 2 per cent. Information on the options being considered for a Special Variation as well as a survey for ratepayers and residents can be found at https://www. yourvoiceourcoast.com/allprojects/securing-your-futurerate-rise

One of Gosford longestrunning law firms, Brazel Moore Lawyers, is celebrating 40 years of practice, after being established in 1981 by Geoff Brazel and Peter Moore. See page 25

Sport

Central Coast Cycling Club’s Brendan Buhagiar has taken out first place in the Grade B division of the Australia Day Graded Scratch Road Race on Tuesday, January 26. See page 40

Terry Collins

Puzzles page 22

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford - Phone: 4325 7369 - Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 - E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net - Website: www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

Wallarah 2 coal mine for sale Korea Resources Corporation is planning to sell its 82.25 percent stake in the Wallarah 2 coal mine, as part of efforts to cut its debt totalling $6.1B as of the end of June 2020. It was reported in The Korea Economic Daily on January 6 that the government owned corporation had called for bids on a stakehold in the Wyong Areas Coal Mine Joint Venture, to comply with South Korean government instructions to offload all its overseas assets as soon as possible. “It hired law firm, Lee & Ko as the sale manager, and will receive bids until the morning of April 22, according to the company and industry sources

on January 5,” the article said. A Korea Resources official said in the article that in the sale process, SK Networks and Kyungdong might offer their shares as well. Wyong Coal Pty Limited manages the Wallarah 2 Coal Project in the Yarramalong and Dooralong valleys on behalf of the Wyong Areas Coal Joint Venture. Kores Australia Pty Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Korea Resources Corporation, holds an 82.25 percent share. Australian private entity Centennial Wallarah Pty Ltd has a five percent stake. Korean mine developer, Kyungdong Australia Pty Ltd represents 4.25 percent.

SK Networks Resources Australia (Wyong) Pty Ltd and SK Networks Resources Pty Ltd each hold a 4.25 percent share. The Korea Economic Daily reported that since last year, the South Korean ruling party had been seeking to ban its state run institutions, such as the power corporation, from financing foreign coal power projects. South Korea’s parliament looks set to pass new legislation to ban financing on foreign coal power projects, however, the proposed Bill has not yet passed through the parliament. The rapid transition away from fossil fuels overshadowed the outlook for global coal demand which could lead to a

drop in the Wallarah 2 coal mine’s selling price, the article said. A Korean resource industry spokesperson voiced opposition to any hasty sale of the mine, according to the article. “The Wyong mine may be difficult to sell at the right price, but given its productivity, we may need to think about how to utilise its resources directly,” the spokesperson said. Wallarah 2, with 1.2 billion tons of thermal coal, has approval for 28 years to extract up to five million tons per annum from its underground longwall mine. Its location in the main water catchment area for the Central

Coast, as well as other significant environmental factors, caused strong community opposition and there has been a concerted campaign led by the Australian Coal Alliance right through to the Land and Environment Court. The Federal Government approved the mine in 2018 but with hundreds of conditions aimed primarily at protecting the environment and water quality. Wyong MP, David Harris, said indications were that the Koreans were now wanting to remove themselves from coal mining in the longer term.

Clear skies, blue waves and scorching sunshine have accounted for the Coast’s busiest Australia Day weekend on record. See page 17

Sport

A 1-2 win for Wellington Phoenix against Central Coast in Match Week 6 at Central Coast Stadium has reshaped the A-League table, with the Mariners falling from first place.

Dozens of disgruntled residents gathered outside Gosford Chambers ahead of Central Coast Council’s February 3 meeting, protesting a proposed rate rise of 10-15 per cent. Protesters tested Administrator Dick Persson’s patience when he bravely fronted them for a conversation before he chaired the first Council meeting of the year. Resident Marianne Hamilton, who later spoke at the Open Forum, claimed the survey which ratepayers were invited

to complete was “rigged”. “It doesn’t give you the option to say no rate rise or anything other than 10 or 15 per cent,” she said. “I feel like Council needs to be a lot more transparent; there are a lot of confidential meetings for example.” Another resident called for an answer on why Persson refers to ratepayers as“shareholders”. One woman asked “If we don’t pay our rates, what happens?” but Persson replied “You won’t win that battle”. Persson faced derogatory

signage, television crews and journalists who moved in to record every word. He admitted he may have called one person a jerk when he couldn’t get his answers out before people started baiting him, but said afterwards he failed his own standards of behaviour and was sorry for that. But the Administrator did have a couple of wins. He asked protesters who had read his interim report; only a minority put their hand up. He asked how many realised

that Wyong residents would actually on average pay $3 a week less in rates even with a 15 per cent rate increase because of the effect of rate harmonization, which would see former Gosford council residents pay on average about $7 more. Quite a few ratepayers said they hadn’t realised that. When he finished, the crowd politely applauded him. During the meeting itself, Persson said services such as libraries, pool hours and sporting field maintenance would be cut back if the

proposed rate rise does not get IPART approval. The deadline for the Council’s submission to IPART is next Monday, February 8, and the Council indicated last year that it may need an extension for the report on why such a rise is needed. “This need for a rate rise has come out of left field and IPART is aware of that and so is being accommodating,” Persson said. Merilyn Vale and Jacinta Counihan

Puzzles page 23

A lifesaving incubator will soon be online at Charmhaven’s SoCares Animal Care Facility, following a highly successful community fundraiser. See page 17

Health

News

Despite the dozens of disgruntled residents gathered outside Gosford Chambers ahead of Central Coast Council’s February 3 meeting, and widespread community...

See page 7

See page 8

Out&About

Umina actor Samson Alston is set to star in an awardwinning Australian comedy in Sydney from February 17.

Residents have been blindsided by an announcement that Ettalong Beach’s Centrelink office will close its doors on February 12.

See page 3

Local members join calls to block PEP11

See page 17

Health

A lifesaving incubator will soon be online at Charmhaven’s SoCares Animal Care Facility, following a highly successful community fundraiser. See page 17

Health

See page 3

See page 4

Federal Labor Leader, Anthony Albanese with Central Coast ALP members and other protestors against oil and gas drilling

Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch, says the closure will disadvantage the most vulnerable

Minister for Customer Service, Victor Dominello, was at the Australian Reptile Park on February 4 to encourage eligible Central Coast businesses to register... See page 25

Sport

The occasion of captain Matt Simon’s 200th game for the Central Coast Mariners has been marked with an exhilarating 3-2 win... See page 40

See page 38

Continued page 6

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford & 3 Amy Close, Wyong - Phone: 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net - www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

Local members join calls to block PEP11

See page 17

Business

See page 7

Out&About

The NSW Government has granted over $270,000 for improvements to Crown Land reserves and community facilities across the Central Coast, including more than $193,000 being shared among five groups in the northern suburbs.

Full story page 5

ISSUE 225

REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS

For years flooding on the Peninsula has been a major issue, with heavy rain often seeing homes and businesses threatened as many streets go underwater.

Out&About

On a mission to break a Guinness World Record for the longest journey kitesurfing, Brian Kiss von Soly took a pit stop on the Central Coast to outwait bad weather on February 1.

10 FEBRUARY 2021

News

See page 8

News

One of the Australian Reptile Park’s kangaroo joeys got into the Aussie spirit by taking her first hops just days before Australia Day.

ISSUE 007

REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS

Blindsided by Centrelink closure

Despite the dozens of disgruntled residents gathered outside Gosford Chambers ahead of Central Coast Council’s February 3 meeting, and widespread community...

See page 12

Out&About

See page 3

11 FEBRUARY 2021

Puzzles page 22 Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford - Phone: 4325 7369 - Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 - E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net - Website: www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

$70M shortfall for essential services Four Director positions and their departments have been cut from Central Coast Council as part of cost-cutting, but Administrator, Dick Persson, says an extra $70M a year is needed to continue delivering the essential services of roads, rates and rubbish at current levels. The Administrator presented his three-month progress report at Council’s meeting on Wednesday, February 3. The meeting started late as Persson spent about half an hour speaking to protesters who gathered outside the Gosford chambers and were filmed by a television crew chanting “No rate rise”.

He asked how many of them realised that with the rate harmonisation process, former Wyong residents would pay on average $3 a week less. Some of the protesters said they did not know that. Persson acknowledged the challenge in communicating to the community the need for a rate rise. “I can’t get the message to the community strong enough - this is dire,” he said. Persson said he was happy to talk to residents but warned: “If you come to me with alternatives, we won’t talk if you haven’t read my report.” The report says that cutting costs would deliver about 70 percent of the $70M per year shortfall needed for essential

services while a rate rise would deliver the rest - if the Independent Pricing and Regularity Tribunal (IPART) agreed to grant one. Persson said that other services such as libraries, pool hours and sporting field maintenance would be cut back if the proposed rate rise did not get IPART approval. Council wants a rate rise of 15 percent and its second choice is a 10 percent increase. The deadline for Council’s submission to IPART was Monday, February 8 and the Council voted on Wednesday February 8 to sent the recommendation to IPART for the 15 per cent increase. “This need for a rate rise has come out of left field and IPART

is aware of that and is being accommodating,” he said. Meanwhile, the work of reducing the number of staff at Council continues and Persson said Council was meeting its redundancy target. Four directors and their directorates – Governance; Innovation and Futures; People and Culture; and Information Management and Technology - have been cut. The number of senior staff has reduced from nine to five and the business areas that fell under these directorates have been moved elsewhere within the organisation. The governance director’s position was vacant, as was the IT position, and the director of Innovation and Futures has left.

The Human Resources department has been incorporated into Corporate Services and the Internal Ombudsman is no longer on the executive leadership team. Also, the next line of managers has been cut from 39 to 26. These positions will go as staff leave the organisation over the coming months. “People are willing to go,” Persson said. The capital works program for this financial year had been cut from $240M to $170M. Persson said the current shortfall of $70M every year was not sustainable and banks wanted evidence of a plan to reduce costs.

Bipartisan calls for cancellation of the PEP11 licence Central Coast Carers Retreat extends its care to wombats.

Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch, showed solidarity with her Federal Labor colleagues when she joined Federal Opposition, Leader Anthony Albanese, Federal Labor MPs and concerned residents at Terrigal on February 5 to call for the cancellation of the PEP11 licence for exploration and drilling off the Coast.

See page 33

Sport

A second come back win in a row for the Mariners at Central Coast Stadium, this time against Western United, has given the side a slither of first place security. See page 40

Continued Page 4

Opposition Leader, Anthony Albanese, discusses the PEP 11 licence with residents

Puzzles page 23

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford - Phone: 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net - www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

Tesch said any oil spill or gas exploration tower on our horizon was a threat to beaches all along the Coast, including on the Peninsula, as well as tourism, sea life, waterway users, and the integrity of the community. “I am beyond proud to stand with Labor and Anthony

Albanese in saying no to PEP11 and no to gas exploration off the Central Coast,” she said. “I have always been passionate about activating and connecting people to our waterways and will continue to work with Labor to stand by our environment and our next generation.” With the licence up for renewal on February 12, Albanese told a crowd comprising MPs from all along the coastline, representatives of the Save Our Coast Group and Surfrider Foundation Australia, and dozens of concerned residents, that Continued page 3

Peninsula students were among those to benefit from a Back to School initiative organised by Central Coast volunteer-run charity We Care Connect. See page 34

Sport

A Woy Woy athletics program has been ranked amongst the best in the state following its online success in engaging the community. See page 40

Puzzles page 22

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford & 3 Amy Close, Wyong - Phone: 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net - www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

Office: Level 2.01/86-88 Mann Street Gosford - Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net - Website: www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

Central Coast Carers Retreat extends its care to wombats. See page 33

Sport

A second come back win in a row for the Mariners at Central Coast Stadium, this time against Western United, has given the side a slither of first place security. See page 40

Continued Page 4

Puzzles page 23

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford - Phone: 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net - www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

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12 FEBRUARY 2021

Council unfazed in push for 15 per cent rate rise Despite a flood of community opposition, Central Coast Council will formally apply to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for a 15 per cent rate rise next year. The increase, which includes an annual 2 per cent rate peg, would be applied once and remain permanently in the rate base from the 2021-22 financial year if approved by IPART. The decision follows extensive community consultation, with well over 10,000 responses to an online survey and direct submissions received. While Administrator Dick Persson said he understood community concern and even anger about a rate rise, he said it was needed to repay restricted funds that had been spent on projects the community had benefited from. “It is by no means an easy decision at all; none of this is easy,” Persson said. “I have been upfront about Council’s financial situation, the reasons why and how we will turn it around and make sure it never happens again.

Administrator, Dick Persson, says a rate rise is necessary to get Council back in the black

“We have done everything we can to find savings. “There is no more juice in the lemon to squeeze here. “We are legally obligated to repay the restricted funds, which were not spent with the necessary authorisations. With a 15 per cent rate rise, Persson says the Council will be able to repay $100M within

Planning your water future Central Coast it’s time to talk about your future water needs! Central Coast Council is currently developing a plan to secure our water supply for future generations – the Integrated Water Resource Plan. We want to better understand how you feel about the different water supply and demand option types we are considering.

You can get involved in the water plan by completing our online survey.

yourvoiceourcoast.com/waterplan

10 years by delivering modest budget surpluses. “Ten per cent (would mean we wouldn’t) be able to repay the restricted reserves and would be still in deficit in 202627 and that (would) mean further service cuts and job losses. “That is not something I want to see happen in this community.”

Persson said there was a very real risk Council’s bank loans would be impacted if it did not receive approval for the 15 per cent increase, with the potential for an early call on the loans. “While the community consultation clearly showed the majority of respondents were against a rate rise, when presented with the three options, a 15 per cent rise was

more preferable than 10 per cent,” he said. If approved by IPART it would mean the 13 per cent would be applied from July 1, 2021, and then remain permanently in the rate base. Persson said he understood the timing of the proposed rise came at a difficult time for the community.

“We have a long list of actions to help this Council recover, and this rate rise is only one part of the solution,” he said. “Even with a rate rise of 15 per cent it is very likely a lot of the former Wyong ratepayers will pay less than they do now, when harmonisation is taken into account. “Looking at our neighbouring councils, with 15 per cent Central Coast residents will still pay less than Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Cessnock ratepayers. “Regardless, we are here to help - rebates and payment plans will be possible and we have updated our Debt Recovery and Hardship Policy.” These policies went on public exhibition this week. Council will continue to receive submissions on the rate rise until Friday, February 26, and these will be passed on to IPART, while itself will accept submissions direct until Monday, March 1. A decision from IPART on the proposed 15 per cent rise is expected in May. Source: Media release, Feb 9 Central Coast Council

See page 30 for more

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NEWS

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ETU rallies against job cuts at Ausgrid

Electrical Trades Union (ETU) delegates rallied at Gosford racecourse on February 11 calling on Ausgrid to stop cutting Central Coast jobs. They say the electricity company has axed more than 200 positions in the region since 2014, leaving fewer than 100 people employed at the sole remaining regional depot at Ourimbah. ETU NSW & ACT Secretary, Justin Page, slammed Ausgrid’s announcement before Christmas that the company intends to cut a further 500 positions state-wide by 2022, bringing the total number of job losses since 2015 to 2,500. “The massive decline in staffing has seen increased blackouts and longer waits for power to be restored,” Page

said. “More than 1,800 Central Coast households lost power on the morning of Tuesday, February 9, leaving families struggling to get to school and work.” Page said job security is the core issue in enterprise bargaining negotiations currently underway between

Ausgrid and the ETU, which represents more than 1,700 employees at the power company. He said an ETU survey had found more than 80 per cent of Ausgrid workers are prepared to take industrial action to protect jobs, with job cuts leaving the company unable to restore power to customers for

weeks or months. “These savage job cuts have had a severe impact on the workers affected and their families, with many suffering financial and mental health hardship,” he said. “Communities across the Central Coast have also been hit hard, especially in the summer of 2019/20, when

extreme weather destroyed swathes of the local electricity network, leaving many homes without power. “Due to years of deep job cuts, Ausgrid was unable to deal with the crisis and had to call in power workers from Energex in Queensland and from other NSW companies to restore power and rebuild the

Central Coast network. “That experience should have been the wake-up call the company needed to change course but unfortunately Ausgrid plans to axe 500 more jobs state-wide, on top of 2,000 already cut since 2015. “This is gross mismanagement of an essential service.” Page said the ETU would continue to fight for members in ongoing enterprise bargaining negotiations. Central Coast News approached Ausgrid for comment but was unable to obtain a response prior to deadline. Source: Media release, Feb 11 Electrical Trades Union

Coast Connect Central Coast Council’s weekly news and community information

From Council My first three months as Administrator for Central Coast Council has involved working out what happened, who was responsible, and most importantly what we needed to do to return the Council to a positive financial position. My 30-Day Interim Report provided this detail. Last week I released my 3-month Progress Report and I encourage you to read it on Council’s website. The report provides an update to the community on the necessary reforms and changes that have been implemented. A strong conclusion I have formed is that the merged council model of 15 Councillors has resulted in a dynamic more like a parliament, where the opposing forces rarely collaborate. There is no doubt in my mind this has contributed to the financial disaster of Central Coast Council. I am therefore proposing that a referendum be held at the next local government election seeking voter approval to reduce the number of Councillors from 15 to 9 and a change to the ward system. I believe the best option would be to abolish the wards altogether and have an ‘undivided’ council, this would then hopefully provide for a more collaborative approach in considering what is best for the area as a whole. The alternative would be reduce the wards from 5 to 3. I will be consulting with the community on this before shaping the referendum question. This is not a guarantee but would increase the likelihood of collaboration.

Dick Persson AM Administrator, Central Coast Council

Council makes significant progress to balance budget

We are continuing to make strides in financial recovery and sustainability with further actions implemented from the adopted Business Recovery Plan. Seventy percent of actions have now been completed to mitigate Council’s current financial situation including: • Securing a further $100M in commercial loans • Development of a long-term financial plan • High-level service review to inform critical services and potential areas for efficiency • Workforce review including voluntary redundancy program and identification of revenue stream opportunities • Capital works expenditure reduction of $40M We have also recently engaged property development experts Michael Filo and Steve Rowe to oversee the sale of our underperforming assets as part of an Independent Advisory Group. They bring a wealth of experience to the table, most recently being members on the Major Projects Advisory Committee for City of Parramatta Council. We are confident that we will deliver a balanced budget next financial year and deliver small surpluses thereafter to start paying off our debt. We are making steps in the right direction to achieve financial recovery and sustainability.

Council meeting

To find out when the next Council meeting is and to view it online go to centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/ meetings

Development Applications and Consents Development Applications and Consents can be inspected at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au by searching ‘Development Applications’ or in person at Council offices in Gosford and Wyong 8.30am-5pm weekdays.

Under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2019, submissions on Development Applications are required to be published on our website. Submissions lodged using Council’s DA Submission Form or online portal will have personal contact details and signature redacted. All other submissions will be published in full. Your submission may also be reproduced in full in Council reports or in Court proceedings.

Trialling new technology to assess our roads

We are working with the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia NSW and ACT Division (IPWEA) to trial new technology using video footage and machine learning to deliver an automated assessment of road conditions. Our goal is to have an automated system that picks up defects in the road, like potholes, so that maintenance can be programed as soon as possible. This would mean that we don’t have to wait for scheduled manual inspections or community requests for repairs. The system is designed to be easily mounted to vehicles like street sweepers or garbage trucks, which are already driven across the road network on a regular basis. IPWEA is also working with Canterbury Bankstown, Georges River and Blayney Councils for the trial. There is no direct cost to Central Coast Council to participate. The evaluation of the trial will be released by the IPWEA in March. The Central Coast is an expansive region with an extensive road roadwork and it is exciting to be exploring a technology that offers the potential to provide us with better data in a more cost-effective way. Find out more, search ‘road tech’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Council’s financial situation

Council has adopted a Recovery Action Plan that will review all aspects of Council’s operations. For up-to-date information search ‘news’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

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Desalination plant back on the cards A desalination plant could be back on the agenda for the region, but the former preferred site beneath the Budgewoi dunes is off the table. Central Coast Council is inviting residents to provide feedback on proposed modifications to existing planning approvals for the possible construction of a drought response desalination plant. Administrator Dick Persson said the project was one of two measures critical to securing the Coast’s water supply for the future. The existing planning approval for the intake structure would be modified from being located under the sand dunes at Budgewoi Beach, to a direct ocean intake structure off the coast between Jenny Dixon Beach, Noraville, and Pelican Point Beach, Magenta. Council Director Water and Sewer, Jamie Loader, said that for many years Council’s drought response contingency plan has included the possible construction of a desalination

A desalination plant is back in the picture to secure the region’s water future

plant if water supplies fell to critical levels. “Studies since 2005 have supported the construction of a desalination plant and associated infrastructure adjacent to the existing Toukley Sewage Treatment Plant,” Loader said. “The initial proposed location of the intake structure for the plant was under Budgewoi Beach utilising a horizontal collector well intake design.

“A constructability assessment of this proposed model revealed a number of potential risks, associated construction challenges and ongoing maintenance burdens at the beach site. “As a result, this model and intake structure is not favoured. “The preferred model would utilise a conventional direct ocean intake located approximately one kilometre off the coast, between Jenny

Dixon Beach, Noraville and Pelican Point Beach, Magenta. “Using this known and proven technology would result in less impact to beach users, pose less construction challenges and would result in significantly lower costs to construct if it were required.” As well as seeking community feedback, Council is undertaking a series of studies including intake site selection, water quality reviews, marine

monitoring, marine hazard, ecology impact assessment and Statement of Environmental Effects documentation. Residents are also being invited to have a say on Council’s Integrated Water Resource Plan. They can complete an online survey giving their preferences on which are the best options to secure the Coast’s water supply for future generations. The plan will help collaborative

work with Hunter Water and the Department of Planning Industry and Environment to make sure the Central Coast and Lower Hunter regions have water strategies that can work side by side. Loader said the plan would address many uncertainties being faced not just at a local level, but also at a global level. “Climate variability and change, population growth and advances in technology, as well as more acute stresses such as drought – these are all issues we need to address in our planning, especially when it comes to our water supply,” he said. Administrator Dick Persson has strongly encouraged community members to get involved in planning the regions’ water future by providing feedback on both projects. “We can only achieve a resilient and sustainable water future by learning together as a community to value our precious resource,” he said. Source: Media release, Feb 8 Central Coast Council

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Petition calls for judicial inquiry into Council An e-petition calling for a judicial inquiry into Central Coast Council has three weeks to get 20,000 signatures to make sure the topic is debated in parliament. Without 20,000 signatures, the petition will be tabled in State Parliament but not necessarily debated. The two women behind the petition are long-time friends Susan Greene and Marianne

Hamilton, who met when they were mentoring kids at a school. Greene, a retired lawyer and one-time ABC journalist, and Hamilton, a semi-retired teacher, were appalled at the state of affairs at Central Coast Council and to find the ongoing situation so serious. Their petition went live late in the night on February 5 and has 7,877 signatures already. In crafting their petition, they had to confine themselves to a

250-word limit as per the guidelines. It starts by noting Council accumulated losses of more than $200M in four years which included unlawful and unauthorised use of restricted funds. The petition calls on the State Government to hold an inquiry to find out how the financial crisis happened, who was responsible and what reforms are needed to the Local Government Act to protect the

community in the future. It asks what impact the amalgamation of the former Wyong and Gosford councils in 2016 had. The petition asks the Minister for Local Government to delay Council’s application to IPART for a Special Rate Variation of 10 per cent or 15 per cent and to delay sales of Council assets until residents can consider the findings of the Judicial Enquiry and its recommendations. “A judicial inquiry is similar to

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a royal commission,” Greene said. “We want to see the Government appoint a judge to investigate what has happened and to make recommendations so it can’t happen in the future and the residents can have their faith restored in the Council.” She said the judge would have the ability to subpoena people and records and to order search warrants if necessary. A judicial inquiry would have wide powers, but it would be up to the Government to accept or reject its recommendations. The two women, who are not members of any political party, met with Member for Wyong David Harris before writing the

petition and are to meet Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch on February 19. They are hoping to get bipartisan support. They urge everyone to sign the petition to get to the magic 20,000 signatures which will see the issue debated in State Parliament. Hamilton said residents across the State could sign. “I believe it is an issue that affects residents across the State,” she said. “After an inquiry is held and recommendations made, eventually changes could be made to the Local Government Act that will affect everyone in NSW.” Merilyn Vale

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Council investigates paid parking at beaches for non-residents Visitors to the region could soon be required to pay for parking at Central Coast beaches, with Council set to urgently investigate a beach parking system. An Administrator’s Minute put to the Council meeting on February 8 called for an exploration of the viability of introducing a visitor-based beach parking system to contribute towards defraying some of the costs of providing services at beachside centres. Administrator Dick Persson said a crucial part of any new paid parking system at beaches was that ratepayers and residents would not pay to park at beaches, just visitors. “This community and this economy has a very large underpinning from the tourism sector, from the visitor economy, and the ratepaying community pays a lot to provide the services for visitors, for example beach services such as lifeguards, rubbish and beach cleaning,” Persson said. “Most communities with a big

Visitors to the region could soon be required to pay for parking at Terrigal and other Central Coast beaches

going to give us an opportunity to do a lot of new things over the medium term.” Persson said he had also asked Acting CEO, Rik Hart, to look at a procurement review where it was quite often “a chance to pick up some low hanging fruit”. “You can’t deal with a financial situation like this by only implementing big things, like cutting hundreds of staff, raising rates – there are lots of other things you have to look at,” he said. Persson has directed Council staff to report by mid-March about the costs of establishing a paid beach parking system that provides protection to ratepayers, a projected revenue stream, potential timeline to implementation and potential beaches and beach-side centres impacted. He said when the report came back to Council with a recommendation it would then go out for public consultation.

FO visitor input have found a way for visitors to make a contribution, a small contribution, and certainly you wouldn’t look to do anything that might kill the goose that laid the golden egg, but parking is one of those areas that is very common.” Persson said other councils

had paid beach parking charging visitors but ratepayers received permits with their rates notices to give them free parking. “Ratepayers should not have to pay all the costs associated with providing services,” he said. “I want to be very clear – I will

be very mindful of not damaging community to explore other the tourist visitor economy. revenue raising options. “I will be equally mindful that “I hope in the current climate ratepayers pay a lot to provide people accept that this is a services which many visitors further attempt to keep trying ADVERTISEMENT take for granted and I think to find ways of giving us a there is some sense of equity chance to do other things in the in this approach.” future,” he said. Persson said this was in “Even if we get a significant ADVERTISEMENT response to feedback from the rate increase, it’s not really

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12 FEBRUARY 2021

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Kincumber tip to stay closed Residents keen for the reopening of Kincumber tip have been disappointed by Central Coast Council’s decision to keep the waste management facility closed. Following a comprehensive assessment of the facility’s infrastructure and services, Council made the decision at its meeting on February 8 to keep the tip closed while it continues to review

opportunities for the site’s best use in the future. Administrator Dick Persson said unlike Council’s major public waste management facilities at Woy Woy to the south and Buttonderry to the north, the Kincumber facility is not required for the delivery of Council’s essential domestic waste collection and associated services. “Since 2009, the Kincumber Waste Management Facility

has operated solely as a waste transfer facility, meaning that all material delivered to the site is later reloaded and transported to other facilities, including the Woy Woy Waste Management Facility located only 17.8km away,” Persson said. “In late March 2020, in response to the evolving COVID-19 situation, Council took precautions to keep our staff and community safe and temporarily closed the Kincumber Waste Management

Facility. “As a result of this closure, Council realised substantial operational savings through reduced employee costs, materials and contracts and given our current financial situation that is a positive outcome. “This now gives Council the opportunity to have a good look as to how it might be better utilised.” Residents looking to

responsibly dispose of waste can still utilise Council’s two major public waste management facilities – Woy Woy Waste Management Facility and Buttonderry Waste Management Facility – located at the northern and southern ends of the Central Coast. These facilities operate seven days a week and feature purpose-built public drop off infrastructure, in addition to offering a wide range of landfill and resource recovery

services. Residents can also take advantage of Council’s comprehensive domestic waste bulk kerbside collection service. Households are entitled to six bulk kerbside collections per year, which reset annually on February 1 and can be booked at 1coast.com.au. Source: Media release, Feb 9 Central Coast Council

Labor MPs call for public inquiry into Council Labor MPs on the Central Coast have called on the Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock, to establish a public inquiry into the collapse of Central Coast Council and the structural problems it has faced since its establishment in 2016 by the State Government. They say with Wyong Shire and Gosford City Councils amalgamated against the wishes of local residents by the former Baird Liberal

Government, structural problems were baked into the new organisation from day one. “The Government has since appointed an administrator, and there are threats of a 15 per cent rate increase, job losses and service cuts across the Central Coast Local Government Area,” they said in a joint statement. Deputy NSW Labor Leader and Member for Swansea, Yasmin Catley said the “triplewhammy” of service cuts, layoffs and tax increases

shows that there was a structural problem underpinning the Liberals’ decision to amalgamate the two councils. Shadow Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong, David Harris said, the MPs wanted an examination of the financial position of the former Wyong and Gosford Councils before amalgamation as well as the structural weaknesses of the new Council. Member for the Entrance, David Mehan, said

amalgamation was largely to blame for Council’s financial woes. “It is not acceptable for the community to foot the bill for the ideological folly of a failed council amalgamation process which the Liberals persisted with in spite of significant public opposition,” he said. Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch, called on the Minister to stop “playing politics” with Central Coast Council and guarantee a transparent and honest review of the Council’s position.

“Central Coast Council is an amalgamated Council established by the Liberals in the face of stiff community opposition,” she said. “They need to take responsibility for the mess they’ve created.” Administrator Dick Persson has previously said amalgamation costs were not one of the major contributing factors to Council’s financial difficulties. Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam

Crouch, said the Administrator’s 30 Day Report makes it “crystal clear” that amalgamation is not the cause of Central Coast Council’s financial situation. “In the first year after amalgamation, Central Coast Council recorded a surplus budget position,” Crouch said. “Poor decision-making and significant failures by a group of councillors and Council senior staff have led to the terrible outcome of debt totalling $565M.” Terry Collins

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DA lodged for HMAS Adelaide mast memorial

Nine years after it was gifted with the mast of the former HMAS Adelaide, Central Coast Council has finally lodged a development application (DA) for its installation at Terrigal Haven. The $50,000 project would see the mast installed onto a plinth footing, surrounded by a sandstone retaining wall, garden bed and an access path linked to an existing car park at the Haven. The proposed site is at the “Broken Head” headland southern cliff-top (above the dog leash area), close to the Marine Rescue Centre.

The site has a direct view of the buoys over the site of the Ex-HMAS Adelaide, which was scuttled in 2011 to become an artificial reef and dive site. The project is funded by the NSW Stronger Communities Fund, the NSW Government Minister’s Discretionary Fund, the community and in kind contributions from Thales and associates and Council. Built in the United States, HMAS Adelaide was commissioned in November 1980 and was the first of six Adelaide-class guided missile frigates to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy. The ship participated in the

The HMAS Adelaide mast is waiting for its new home

1990/91 Gulf War, in peacekeeping operations in

East Timor in 1999 and 2006 and was deployed to the

Arabian Gulf in 2001 and 2004. Decommissioned in 2008, HMAS Adelaide was demilitarised by the Department of Defence before being handed over to the NSW Government in 2009. Since being scuttled 1.8km off the coast between Terrigal and Avoca, the site has attracted military historians and recreational divers to the area. The mast was gifted to Council with the intention it would form part of a future memorial at the Haven, is 7.4 metres in length and 450 mm in diameter and has been stored by Council since 2011.

In 2015 the former Gosford Council CEO agreed to project manage the installation of the mast on behalf of a community group. In 2016, the mast was assessed by the Navy and deemed to be in poor condition. The recommendation was to seek specialist treatment, including a sandblast and painting. The mast is now structurally sound. On May 14, 2018, Council considered a report detailing options for the site and installation of the mast. Terry Collins and Merilyn Vale

Kariong chemical cleanout on again Residents have the opportunity to clear out unwanted hazardous chemicals from around the home and correctly dispose of them for free at the next bi-annual Chemical CleanOut event at Kariong on February 20 and 21. Council Unit Manager Waste Services and Business Development, Andrew Pearce, said the events are a perfect

opportunity for residents to clear any hazardous materials leftover from DIY projects during self-isolation and over the holidays. “With the rise in home improvements and home clean outs in 2020, now is an ideal time to responsibly dispose of any leftover cleaning products and paints lurking around garages and sheds,” Pearce said. “As these events occur

around every six months, it’s also a great reminder to check smoke detectors and their batteries, both of which are accepted at these events. “Other items that can be dropped off include pesticides, gas bottles, fire extinguishers, fluorescent globes and tubes as well as any unknown or unidentified chemicals which are accepted for identification and correct disposal. Council Administrator Dick

Persson praised the Central Coast community for their ongoing commitment to responsibly dispose of problem wastes. “These events allow residents to get hazardous materials safely out of harm’s way, while also allowing for the recovery of reusable materials and precious metals,” Persson said. Up to 100 litres of paint can be accepted per vehicle, in

containers of 20L or less. For all other items, only household quantities of up to 20L or 20kg are accepted For the full list of chemicals that can be dropped off call 131 555 or visit cleanout.com.au. The Household Chemical CleanOut program is a NSW Government Waste Less Recycle More initiative funded from the waste levy, brought to you by the Department of Planning, Industry and

Environment, Paintback and Central Coast Council. Community members can safely drop off their chemicals at Event Park, Kariong on February 20 and 21 from 9am to 3.30pm. For more information you can also search ‘chemical cleanout’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au Source: Media release, Feb 5 Central Coast Council

Jane Smith

Independent ...working for our community Any referendum must ask the community about amalgamation At the Council meeting on 3 February, the Administrator resolved to conduct a Constitutional Referendum for the reduction of Councillors (from 15 to 9) at the September 2021 Local Government Elections. This may have some merit-but it is not enough. As a community member, I have regularly attended local Council meetings for over 20 years. Both the former Gosford and Wyong Councils each had 10 Councillors. In the lead up to the Council election in 2017, community information sessions were conducted by the then Administrator (Mr. Reynolds) and CEO. I asked about the reality of 15 Councillors in a meeting. Doing the math, 15 Councillors each wanting to speak for 5 minutes (as was allowed) meant that an item could potentially take over 75 minutes to debate. I was reassured that it worked fine in other areas. Central Coast Council meetings have been fractious at times with 15 Councillors, individual personalities and a number of Councillors determined to “blow up the joint”. These issues need to be addressed however,

Administrator rejects staff recommendation to remove nuclear free policy

sadly, this is not unique to the Central Coast. There are similar dynamics in other Councils. The behaviour in a Council meeting is not the most important question for our community. The more critical issue is representation. Before merger, one Councillor represented approximately 16,000 residents. After the merger and before suspension, one Councillor represented approximately 23,500 residents. With projected population growth and reducing the number of Councillors to 9, by 2036 one Councillor will represent approximately 46,000 residents. This weakens representation and weakens our democracy. The Administrator and Interim CEO have extensive experience with amalgamated Councils and perhaps for this reason, have played down the significance of the merger in the problems Central Coast Council is currently facing. However, it is time for the community to have their say on this fundamental issue of size, scale, representation and democracy. Any referendum to our community needs to include a question about the amalgamation.

The Council Agenda of 8 February included an item to repeal the Nuclear Free Policy for the former Gosford LGA. Community members have raised questions about why this is a priority for the current Administrator and staff. The report states that Policy “was first made by the former Gosford City Council in 1984. It was then reviewed and adopted seven times, most recently in July 2013.” Policies in themselves are not binding however, they need to be considered in decision making. In this way, they are a “gatekeeper”. Although there are perhaps few, if any, locations in the former Gosford LGA that would be considered for nuclear energy-the policy also opposes transport of nuclear resources through the area, with some exceptions. There are a number of power stations in the former Wyong LGA and Lake Macquarie that might be seen as opportunities for nuclear power. It is unclear what the long term ambitions are for these sites. Previous sales of both Eraring and Vales Point Power Stations have highlighted current

NSW Government financial mismanagement. The sale of Vales Point power station for $1m in 2015 has been controversial since it was revalued to $730m in 2017. In 2013, NSW taxpayers ended up $75 million out of pocket as a result of the sale of Eraring Power Station to Origin Energy. It is well known that local Liberal party politician, Taylor Martin, has been advocating for nuclear power. This is in spite of the NSW Government’s Electricity Strategy (2019) stating that “both NSW and Commonwealth laws prohibit the development of nuclear power stations”. The Climate Council’s website gives some reasons why nuclear power stations are not appropriate for Australiaand probably never will be. It was pleasing that the Administrator rejected the proposal from staff to remove the policy, however, many are wondering why it appeared on the business paper at all.

Disclaimer - Views expressed in these articles are my own and do not represent the views of Council

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PAGE 11 12 FEBRUARY 2021

KEEP YOURSELF AND OUR COMMUNITY SAFE FROM COVID-19

Stay COVID-safe this summer season! 1

Maintain a distance of 1.5 metres from others

Wash your hands well and often

Stay home if you’re unwell and get tested as soon as you have any symptoms

When you go out to eat and drink, remember to check-in every time via the Service NSW app

If you have any symptoms, book a COVID-19 test immediately For the Gosford clinic, call 4320 5055 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm on weekends For the Erina clinic, call 4302 5252 between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 2pm on Saturdays For the Wyong clinic, call 4394 9200 between 9am and 5pm everyday

Adam CROUCH MP Member for Terrigal 02 4365 1906 adamcrouchmp

terrigal@parliament.nsw.gov.au adamcrouchmp

adamcrouchmp.com.au

Authorised by Adam Crouch MP, Shop 3 Fountain Plaza, 148-158 The Entrance Road, Erina NSW 2250, produced using parliamentary entitlements.

PAGE 12 12 FEBRUARY 2021

NEWS

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Plant enthusiasts become life members The Australian Plants Society Central Coast Branch has awarded Life Membership to valuable members, Barbara and Andrew Melville, of Wyoming.

Andrew and Barbara Melville are now life members of The Australian Plants Society Central Coast Branch

Awarding Life Membership is a way of recognising the significant contribution of particular members over many years. Both have been active in society since joining in 1991 and joined for their love for the outdoors. “My aim was to learn about Australian native plants,” Barbara said. “By joining the group, you would go on a bushwalk, and there were people in the walking group who had lots of knowledge to teach you. “That’s how we started, but

then it was a case of wanting a native garden, so we started planting native plants. “We still have some nonnative, but we concentrated on native plants and learning about them.” Andrew said when they joined The Australian Plants Society Central Coast Branch almost 30 years ago, they were made very welcome. “We were taken under other members’ wings and encouraged to be involved,” he said Andrew has held Committee positions as President and Vice President, Program Officer and many other roles. He has promoted the growth of native plants with many other community organisations and has worked closely with the Community Environment Network and Habitat for

Wildlife. His collection of photographs of plants, fungi, birds, and insects have inspired other photographers. Barbara has also held many positions in the group over the years, including Publicity Officer, and her knowledge of plant identification has been invaluable as she has led, and continues to lead, regular bush walks for the group. The Melvilles have both worked in the stalls at the annual Kariong Plant Lovers Fair, Gosford City Markets Spring Festival and many other events. They have also participated in the Plants in Pots Group and have never missed a meeting. When asked about their own garden, Barbara laughed and said it was “a little bit of a mess at the moment”.

But said she is optimistic about the coming spring. “Our yard is mostly garden; we have little grass, many trees, mostly native, one exotic; and we have a little forest in our backyard,” she said. “Up in the sunny section near the clothesline we have some smaller plants that grow on the Central Coast in the bush, and some plants from other states will grow on the Central Coast.” An Australian Plants Society Central Coast Branch spokesperson said Barbara and Andrew Melville were the lifeblood of community organisations. They have been thanked for their ongoing contributions to the promotion of native plants on the Central Coast. Jacinta Counihan

Greater boost for men’s shed Plans for Gosford Community Men’s Shed to expand its workshop received a welcome boost this week after it took out the January round of the Greater Bank’s #GreaterCentralCoast community funding program. The men’s support group, based at Gosford Showground, received $2000 for winning this month’s public vote. Gosford Community Men’s Shed received a State Government grant last year to expand its facility and will use

this additional funding to support the project. It also plans to donate $250 to each of this month’s #GreaterCentralCoast runnersup – Meals on Wheels Central Coast and Happiness Habits, which each received $500. Since 2009, Gosford Community Men’s Shed has supported men in the Gosford area and now has a membership of 72 who attend up to three days a week. President, Larry Lloyd, said members are from all walks of life and come together in the spirit of mateship to work on a

range of community projects, but more importantly, support each other through what can be a challenging period of their life. “Mental health and wellbeing can be a big issue for men in their 60s and older,” Lloyd said. “Plenty of men go through significant changes in their life during this period due to issues such as retirement or the loss of a partner, which can have a profound effect. “The Men’s Shed provides a space where we can get together and work on a range of little projects that not only

help the community but provide our members with a renewed sense of purpose and direction. “There have been many instances where men have come to us who have been really struggling, but by simply getting involved, reconnecting with like-minded men and talking, they have really been able to turn their life around. “We are really excited about the expansion of our shed and this support from Greater Bank will help us to provide a facility that will support even more men from the Gosford area.” Greater Bank’s Central Coast

Regional Sales Manager, Josh Swetnam, said he was delighted to see the #GreaterCentralCoast program support such a wide variety of groups which are meeting genuine needs within the local community. “Mental health and wellbeing is an issue that affects people of all ages and Gosford Community Men’s Shed is doing a wonderful job in supporting elderly men in particular who are experiencing these types of personal struggles,” Swetnam said. “Greater Bank services many

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customers in this demographic so it’s great that through this program we can expand our support to these people beyond their banking experience.” The #GreaterCentralCoast program continues in February with East Gosford Community Garden, P & P Quilters Wyong and San Remo BMX Club being nominated for funding. Vote online until February 24 at www.greater.com.au/ greatercentralcoast. Source: Media releasen Feb 8 Greater Bank

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PAGE 13 12 FEBRUARY 2021

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FORUM

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A blueprint for LG political reform? If there is to be a revamping of the Central Coast electoral system (CCN, February 5). there are four important considerations. First, if we are going to have a paid, full-time mayor, the post should be filled by direct vote of the electorate. The position should not be in the gift of political factions who can use it to reward loyal incompetence or to further political in-fighting, as we have seen in the current council. Those who pay should decide. Secondly, there should be a serious choice on the number of councillors we want. I am far from convinced that

FORUM See Page 2 for address and contribution conditions. Opinions expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily of the newspaper better conclusions are reached by smaller numbers of councillors: if that were the case, we’d obviously be best advised to elect a dictator who could make untrammelled decisions on our behalf.

Other councils have 15 councillors and seem to manage well enough, and, while I am all for economy in ratepayer expenditures, I also believe that there should be as wide a representation as possible, which is obviously limited if there is only a small number of councillors. Thirdly, on the question of citywide or ward elections, it seems that we have tried both and that there doesn’t seem to be much to choose in terms of achieving (or not achieving) community satisfaction. If we can have an independent Mayor elected at large, I think the balance of benefit lies with

No one who I have engaged with, in person or on social media, is in favour of this being rescinded. Opening up Central Coast Council like this would allow the use, storage of or transportation through the LGA of nuclear weapons, waste or material for the first time since 1984. I am strongly opposed to this action being facilitated. It also paves the way for small-scale nuclear facilities on the Central Coast. In addition, it is on the public record that Taylor Martin MLC is in favour of small-scale nuclear reactors to generate electricity. The rationale for this proposal is that “the handling and mining of radioactive materials is now highly regulated at a State and Federal level” and “any public concern regarding nuclearrelated activities is best dealt at

FORUM the State and Federal level”. However,this is not completely correct, and legislation is slowly changing. In 2019, a NSW Upper House inquiry into the Uranium Mining and Nuclear Facilities (Prohibitions) Repeal Bill 2019 recommended repealing the original bill in its entirety. Uranium exploration is also already permitted under current legislation; its mining just currently is not. There is no certainty that “there are no known uranium deposits on the Central Coast” (Item 4.1, Attachment 3, Council agenda, Feb 8). As you are aware, the former Wyong Shire Council had a similar nuclear free zone policy, which was revoked in April, 2014, and “policies from the former Gosford City and Wyong Shire Councils still apply in their respective former Local Government Areas, until a new policy is adopted for the Central

Coast Council region” (https:// www.centralcoast.nsw.gov. au/council/forms-andpublications/policies). My first preference would be for the nuclear free zone to be extended back into the previous Wyong LGA. If our Council’s “financial crisis” is your main order of business in your role as Administrator, Mr Dick Persson, I urge you to focus on this being the main issue at hand. I also thought that you said that it was not your role to go back over previous decisions. Please resist allowing your professional integrity to be compromised by the Council’s Environment and Planning department, which will pave the way for future nuclear power generation, uranium mining, and/or the storage of nuclear waste on the beautiful Central Coast. Email, Feb 8 Donna Carey, Narara Ecovillage, Narara

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This could be done quickly at minimum cost and would give serious guidance to the formulation of final referendum choices. We don’t need another yes/no survey along the lines of the one that has already drawn vehement criticism, but, perhaps, four simple questions could be put, to get a sense of the electorate’s main concerns. Who knows: such a survey might even influence the final decision on the referendum, which would be a novelty in itself. Email, Feb 7 Bruce Hyland, Woy Woy

Isn’t it about time that we all spoke plainly and removed the political correctness from our society? The majority of people I have spoken to over the past 10-15 years feel sick and tired of it. The majority of us see our politicians bowing down to the minorities. All of them think we should be concentrating on getting our nation back to making our products and seeing the

FORUM majority back to work for decent wages and lifestyle. One person I spoke to said we pay too much for too little (and we are) seeing justice going down the sink and criminals being let off with a slap on the hands. I am starting to wonder where our honest politicians are and when they will listen to the majority. Over the past few weeks

when driving to the local shopping centre, I have seen roads crumbling, trees growing in the middle of our footpaths, gutters not being cleaned out. Meanwhile the Administrator tells us it’s our fault for electing the councillors, but the problem is the overpaid senior public servants. Let’s see (them) get on with the jobs we are paying for in our taxes and rates. Email, Dec 24 Robert Findley, Point Clare

Give residents back some power So we are to have a referendum on only two issues at the next Council elections in September. One to ask us if we (should) reduce councillors who represent us to 9 instead of 15 and the other to dispense with the ward system. Neither of these questions would be needed if we hadn’t been saddled with compulsory,

FORUM underfunded and unproven amalgamation by the State Government, creating the diverse and huge geographic area that we now have. We are already controlled by Regional Planning Panels (appointed by State Government, paid for by us)

that make most development decisions. Give residents back some power please. Add another question on Yes or No to rescinding the Council amalgamation. And let’s have this survey NOW, not in September. Email, Feb 4 Carey Buls, Saratoga

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ward boundaries that satisfy nobody. Best of all if we can make it a condition that a councillor has to live in the ward: at present councillors don’t even have to live on the Central Coast to run for office. If there is to be a referendum (and I think it is an excellent idea), there should be a full slate of options, and this will require the widest possible community consultation and extremely careful wording of the questions to be put. Why cannot the Administrator draft a series of possible questions and call for online comment about them?

Let’s get back to basics

Keep the Coast nuclear free I am passionately in favour of retaining Gosford’s nuclear free zone status.

the ward election of councillors, but not in accordance with the present arrangement. So, fourthly, we should have a system of single-member wards, so that there is one identifiable individual who is responsible to his/her constituents and can speak unequivocally on their behalf, instead of the present arrangement where nobody seems to be answerable to anybody. There are already identified planning modules within the city that can be organized into wards with a community of interest, as compared to the present dog’s breakfast of

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A break and enter occurred at Tommy’s Café in Gosford during the early morning of Sunday, February 8.

PAGE 15 12 FEBRUARY 2021

An 81-year-old man was rescued by The Westpac Rescue Helicopter following a fall on rocks at Avoca Beach on February 7.

Police established a crime scene at Tommy’s Café

Police have made numerous inquiries of nearby businesses and neighbours in search of evidence.

Doherty is urging anyone with information to contact Crimestoppers. Jacinta Counihan

Fraudulent use of credit card Police have released CCTV images following an incident of fraudulent use of a credit card at Ettalong. They want to speak to a woman in relation to the illegal use of a card earlier this month. On Sunday, January 10, a mobile phone containing personal cards including credit cards was lost in the Ettalong Beach area. A short time later the same day, the credit card was used to fraudulently purchase goods in Ettalong retail stores. Following investigations, police from Brisbane Water Police District have obtained images of a woman who they believe may be able to assist with their enquiries. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime

ON THE BEAT

81 year old man rescued from rocks at Avoca Beach

Break-in at Tommy’s The incident was discovered by a delivery driver at 4.30am. Police arrived on the scene to find the front window smashed in and an amount of cash stolen. Crime Scene Investigation attended and took fingerprints of the site. A staff member from Tommy’s Café said he was still shocked over the incident. “Just one word – devastated,” he said. “It is not a very nice feeling. “They made a lot of mess… it will cost a few thousand dollars to fix.” Acting Inspector at the Brisbane Water Police Station, Tony Doherty, said the incident is still under investigation.

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

The helicopter was tasked by NSW Ambulance at 405pm following reports of a person injured on the rocks. Local emergency service personnel responded to the incident including NSW Police, Surf Life Saving and NSW Ambulance. Paramedics made their way on foot to the patient and the Helicopter Critical Care Medical Team was winch inserted into the location to help paramedics treat the patient. He had suffered possible fractures and pelvic injuries after falling onto rocks.

A man was winched to safety after falling on rocks at Avoca Beach

condition for further treatment. Once stabilised, he was placed in a winch stretcher, winched back into the helicopter and airlifted direct to Gosford Hospital in a stable

Source: Media release, Feb 7 Northern NSW Helicopter Rescue Service

Police want to speak to this man Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man wanted on an outstanding warrant.

This woman may be able to help with police enquiries

Stoppers on 1900 333000 and quote E 1078277190.

FREECALL - 1800 891 691 4324 7699

131-133 Donnison Street Gosford brazelmoorelawyers.com.au

Source: Brisbane Water Police District Facebook page, Jan 28

Brenton Neill, aged 25, is wanted for a number of alleged offences including police pursuits, theft, fraud and driving whilst disqualified. Neill is described as being of Caucasian appearance, between 170 and 175cm tall, of thin build and with short dark hair and brown eyes. He is known to frequent multiple suburbs across the Central Coast including Woy Woy, Tuggerah, Berkeley Vale and Narara. As officers from Tuggerah Lakes Police District continue to conduct inquiries into his whereabouts, they are urging

anyone who may have information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Source: Brisbane Water Police Facebook page, Jan 28

FREE SEMINAR Wills & Estates Seminar

Experienced down-to-earth help and advice throughout the Central Coast This free public seminar is being given by Brazel Moore Lawyers to help people understand what to expect, so they know where they stand in: • Challenging a Will; or • Defending a Will from Challenge The theme is to educate people about the options and choices available to them if they have been

left out of a Will - or if you want to leave someone out of your Will - alerting you to the pitfalls and procedures in dealing with Challenging Wills and how you should best deal with challenges. Mr Geoff Brazel, Solicitor will present the seminar on Challenging Wills to help you through the maze of legal regulation

The seminar will be presenting in a friendly relaxed atmosphere and there will be plenty of time for your questions. You’ll be helped a lot in understanding the system and will then be able to confidently consider what steps you need to take to properly consider challenges to Wills.

WHEN: 23 February 2021 WHERE: Gosford RSL Club HOW: Call 4324 7699 to reserve your spot now!

PAGE 16 12 FEBRUARY 2021

NEWS

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SES readies for late summer rains Gosford SES Unit is galvanising for potential widespread flooding during the coming storm season, along with volunteers across the entire Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley. Gosford volunteers are getting prepared to stand alongside units from the Hawkesbury, Penrith, The Hills, Mt Druitt and Blacktown to support the more than 130,000 people who would be affected if major flooding were to occur. Gosford Unit commander Rolf Garda said all units were preparing, with possible consequences of the La Nina weather event unpredictable. “All units have their heads up when warnings come through from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM),” Garda said. “At Gosford we are actively doing boat course training in addition to our usual storm training. “Members will push through to flood boat operator status once they are through the basic training.

Last year’s storm season caused extensive flooding

“There has already been a lot of rain along the coast since the start of the year – even inland areas have a lot of water. “We are preparing for any incidents of flash flooding, not only on the Coast – but

wherever else our help might be needed.” Garda said last year’s storm season had seen major flooding on the Coast, particularly around the Tuggerah Lakes area.

“It came on the heels of the fire season and a lot of houses went under,” he said. NSW SES Metro Zone Commander, Greg Swindells, said a lot of wet weather had already been experienced,

resulting in many cases of riverine and flash flooding across the state. “The Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley is very wet, and with the potential for increased rainfall, there is a higher likelihood of

flooding,” he said. “We have more than 4,200 volunteers within metropolitan Sydney and the Blue Mountains, so we are well resourced to respond to emergencies not just within the HawkesburyNepean Valley, but right across Greater Sydney as well,” he said. “If a flood occurs, evacuation orders may be issued at short notice. “That’s why it’s so important to know your flood risk, find out about key evacuation routes and prepare what you will take and where you will go. “We need people to be informed and empowered now, instead of waiting for directions in the event of an emergency.” The NSW SES website has a lot of useful and practical information including tips on how to keep updated about weather and flood warnings and crucial preparedness advice – such as how to find your key evacuation routes and creating a ‘get ready to go’ kit. Terry Collins

ALGA calls to prioritise council worker vaccinations Central Coast Council has welcomed calls from the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) for council front line workers to be among the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. The ALGA says councils

employ a significant number of aged care and disability care staff, already identified to be in the first cohort, but other front line council workers should also be defined as priority groups. “(These include) people such as waste services staff, building and compliance officers,

rangers, and food and environmental health workers,” ALGA President Linda Scott said. “To protect them – and the many people they engage with each day – they should be classified as being eligible for priority vaccine access.” Scott said councils also

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Sat 27 and Sun 28 February 2021 9am-3.30pm Council’s Long Jetty Depot Morris Place, Bateau Bay

Only household quantities accepted. Up to 100L of paint accepted per vehicle (in 20L containers). A maximum of 20L or 20kg for all other items. www.cleanout.com.au

employ customer service staff to provide essential services to residents and ratepayers, many of whom are elderly or vulnerable. “Councils have kept in touch with vulnerable people in isolation, delivered meals and library books, and worked in countless ways to keep our communities as safe as possible,” she said. “Local government has cooperated closely with state and territory governments to support the implementation of COVID response measures and recovery – and the sector is ready to play its part in the vaccine rollout. “Councils will help promote the program and educate local

communities about efficacy and safety of the vaccine. “It makes good sense to protect the front-line personnel helping direct these efforts.” Scott said any discussion by National Cabinet of regional or rural locations for COVID quarantine facilities also needs to consider the local government perspective. “To open new facilities with minimal public consultation risks compromising the integrity of the quarantine program as well as potentially spreading COVID-19 to local communities,” she said. “Quarantine camps in regional areas will have a direct effect on local government.

“These impacts would be better understood and appreciated if local government was represented in National Cabinet.” A spokesperson said Central Coast Council was pleased to see advocacy for the inclusion of essential frontline workers in local government as part of those groups getting the vaccine first. “While Council strongly supports immunisation and will certainly encourage vaccination, at this stage it will not be mandatory,” the spokesperson said. Source: Media release, Feb 4 Australian Local Government Association

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Tribal Rhythms classes return

Rendra Freestone teaching Tribal Rhythms

The Rhythm Hut’s drumming classes are back, with the year’s first six-week program kicking off on February 23. Tribal Rhythms started back in 2004 as a body percussion and vocal percussion movement class. The drumming classes incorporated African, Indonesian and Japanese drums and students finished the term with a community performance. Over time, the class evolved into specialised drumming classes, with the most popular being African and Japanese drumming. Tribal Rhythms teacher, Rendra Freestone, said the African drumming sessions included playing the Djembe and always had a great groove vibe, and the larger Japanese drumming classes were more physical and empowering for students.

He said the classes allow people who have never touched a drum to have the opportunity not only to learn how to play but to perform. "The Tribal Rhythms class is a place where people meet new friends, grow confidence and get to experience the power of music all in one place," Freestone said. "I love teaching the class because everyone is always smiling and laughing. "I love it when people think they can't play music and then they discover or rediscover the musical part of themselves." He said classes offer an allinclusive environment where people can engage in the power of music through the drums. No experience is needed, and the Rhythm Hut supplies all the drums. Jacinta Counihan

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OUT&ABOUT PAGE 17 12 FEBRUARY 2021

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Beating cancer inspired Saratoga author Before his brain tumour diagnosis, Brett Finneran never thought of poetry. But after being declared cancer-free, all that changed. The Saratoga local is a reformed “brain tumourist” and the author of the children’s book, The Adventures of Wally, the Sausage dog crossed with a poodle and Felix the Frog. Finneran said he became interested in poetry after his treatment when he joined The Australian Teenage Cancer Patients Support Association, Canteen. “It all came about when I joined Canteen and I suddenly found an urge to write poetry about people and things in general,” Finneran said.

Brett Finneran with his children’s book, The Adventures of Wally, the Sausage dog crossed with a poodle and Felix the Frog

“It’s not the conventional type of poetry; it ranges from sentimental to sarcastic, nice days, things in general.” In December 1988, Finneran was diagnosed with a brain tumour which left him in hospital for five months receiving chemotherapy. After a relapse in May and one more month of chemo in February 1999, he was able to declare himself tumour free, but poor hearing, epilepsy, hormone disturbances, arthritis and some speech problems are some of the side effects he has from the tumour and radiation. “[Poetry] is the best way I can spit things out a lot of the time,” Finneran said. “I have a bit of trouble spitting

out words these days so it is the best way I can spit out a lot of things.” The book’s inspiration came from his brother’s dog, Wally, who disappeared one day and never returned. He self-published it in 2006 and has since sold over 800 copies to places all over the world. “The book consists of 16 different stories about the adventures of Wally and Felix.,” he said. Finneran hopes to show others that brain cancer is not a death sentence and although there may be subsequent side effects, not all of them have to be negative. Jacinta Counihan

Christie set to Play the City Christie Koppe is one of three Central Coast residents to receive a Create NSW Play the City (Sydney) grant from the State Government and will use the money to help finance her theatre piece, The City. The initiative aims to encourage people to return to Sydney and support venues and the arts organisations affected by COVID-19. Koppe is the director/ choreographer and coproducer of the production, which follows various characters on their journeys through Sydney over a day. She said the $10,000 grant helped make the production a

reality. “It has been so great to hit the ground running in 2021,” Koppe said. “Our cast ranges in age from 19 to 71, depicting varied experiences of this Australian city. “It is marvellous to be able to work on a production in which I can take a risk. “Risk in approaching the rehearsals through movement as its basis, through depicting a whole gamut of characters and even animals with our ensemble, and in finding ways for this piece to be unique and vibrant.” The play, written by Oliver Wakelin and Drew Livingston, uses soundscapes and voiceovers to tell the story.

Christie Koppe

“I am working from an approach that begins with physical movement, upon which I begin to add layers of context using both music and

clear direction in the rehearsal room,” she said. “This then finds the right placement in the piece. “Together with my ensemble

of actors, I will explore physical storytelling that correctly underpins the poetic script.” Yantra de Vilder was also granted $10,000 for her Pianos for the People contemporary music project, and Fiona Lugg received $2,100 for a classical music project titled Bathtub Gin Orchestra at the Speakeasy. Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, said this a great way for Central Coast artists to showcase their work in the heart of Sydney. “Sydney City has been one of the hardest hit communities by COVID-19, and I’m delighted that the Central Coast’s top local talent has been selected to bring new life to the CBD,” Crouch said.

COASTAL DIARY

Minister for the Arts, Don Harwin, said the Play the City (Sydney) initiative would reenergise Sydney through live performance throughout summer while offering many artists an opportunity to tour beyond their local area. “Performing and touring are at the heart of every artist and musician’s career as it supports skill growth, connection and exposure to new audiences,” Harwin said. “With warmer weather and longer days upon us, this is a great chance to kickstart live culture in the city and bring in new performances including 15 artists from regional NSW and Western Sydney.” Jacinta Counihan

EVENTS ON THE CENTRAL COAST

Coal Ash Public Meeting, on the cnr of Ocean 20- 21/02, Umbi, 10am - 2pm Woy Woy Little Theatre, Ettalong Diggers Club, Point Wolstoncroft Sport Beach Road, 9am - 3:30pm Ticketed, 19/02 - 7/03, First attendance is free, 0438 153 328 and Recreation Centre president@kvbombers.com www.trybooking.com 7am - 1pm 10am - 12pm Recreation Hall, RSVP to SATURDAY, FEB 27 0416 303 804 attend, Antiques & Handmade on the Coast, WEDNESDAY, MAR 10 1pm - 4pm Collectables, Chemical clean out, Woy Woy Waterfront, SUNDAY, FEB 14 Mercure Kooindah Council’s Long Jetty Tribute: Brick Wharf Rd, Somersby Greenteam SUNDAY, FEB 28 Olivia Newton-John, Waters Resort Wyong, Depot 9am 2pm Davistown Waterfront Information Picnic, Laycock Street Community Summer Spandex 19/02 - 26/02, Morris Place, Bateau Market, Somersby Falls Picnic Theatre, Ticketed, Be my Valentine, 10am - 3pm Bay,27 - 28/02, Pine Ave Reserve, FRIDAY, FEB 19 Area, Free, 11am Naughty Noodle Fun Haus, 9am - 3:30pm 7:30am - 4pm 9am - 10:30am Ticketed, 8pm SATURDAY, FEB 20 Troubadour Folk Club Play AFL with the Alliance Francaise Grand opening, Chemical clean out, Peninsula Lions Club: Bombers - register now conversation group: Everglades Club Woy Woy, Event Park Car Boot Sale, for season 2021, practice your French at Ticketed event Kangoo Road, Kariong, Dunban Road Car Park Adelaide St Oval, Tumbi Love Letters, any level,

SATURDAY, FEB 13

Open day, Ingenia Lifestyle Sunnylake Shores 2 Macleay Dr. Halekulani, 10am - 2pm 0458 018 332

Basic entries in the Coastal Diary are FREE. Send information to coastaldiary@centralcoastnews.net

ENHANCED entries using bold typeface with an address, phone number and a live link are available for a small fee. Photographs can also be added for a small fee. All display advertisers are entitled to a free enhanced entry.

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OUT&ABOUT PAGE 19 12 FEBRUARY 2021

Curtains re-open for Woy Woy Little Theatre The lights are finally back on at the Peninsula Theatre as Woy Woy Little Theatre (WWLT) gets set to open its first play since COVID-19 restrictions came into force last March. Love Letters by A J Gurney will open on February 19 for a three-week season. The sweet, poignant and funny play spans 50 years of friendship as childhood sweethearts progress through a fraught teenage hood and the highs and lows of adult life. Director Jan Grounds said audiences will experience a roll a-coaster of emotions during the play, which was recommended for a Pulitzer price. “Love Letters was written in the 1980s; the play starts in the 1930s and weaves through the next 50 years of the couple’s lives, capturing their friendship, dreams and wishes but also missed opportunities and disappointments,” Grounds said. “Gurney has captured the way society was back in post war America; it is interesting as world events can have an impact on the life choices of the

The two casts for Love Letters; Mark Austin and Jenna Arnold (left) and Graham Vale and Pauline Wright

individual. “In many ways Love Letters is a gentle return to theatre as we share the intertwining of this relationship through the intimacy of letters hand-written by the couple and mailed to

each other.” Grounds said two casts would alternate during performances – Graham Vale and Pauline Wright and Mark Austin and Jenna Arnold.

“This will not only give audiences an opportunity to see a different approach and interpretation but to appreciate the incredible talent which we enjoy here on the Central Coast,” she said.

WWLT president Christine Vale said the group hadn’t remained idle during COVID restrictions. “Members were keen to stay connected in some ‘theatrical’ way, so Zoom play readings were set up,” Vale said. “This gave members and friends an opportunity to perform short plays through a virtual environment. “It was pretty hit-and-miss to start with, but people got very inventive. “It was amazing what clever ideas, costumes and props participants came up with, while limited to a small screen, and being in separate places. “The Zoom play readings continued for six months and involved over 60 people aged 20-95. “It was a wonderful way to ‘see’ each other, enjoy live performances and most of all, have a good laugh together.” Vale said the return to the stage had taken careful planning to ensure COVID-safe performances and the group had been working very cooperatively with Central Coast Council, which owns the theatre.

Live Theatre is BACK at The Peninsula Theatre

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“Our first play was selected because it is what is called a ‘two-hander’; that is there are only two people in the cast, so it’s a COVID-safe toe in the water for WWLT,” Vale said. “It has been performed by many famous actors over the years, including recently by Sally Field and Brian Cranston as a COVID-safe virtual production.” Love Letters will open on Friday, February 19, for 10 performances over three weekends. Bookings are essential and now open on the Woy Woy Little Theatre website. “Two other plays that were postponed from last year will be performed later this year,” Vale said. “These are Ladies in Lavender and Ben-Hur (with chariots!). “WWLT is also actively involved in supporting ARTFULL WOMEN. “This exciting communityarts project is being spearheaded by Brenda Logan and will culminate in performances at the Peninsula Theatre in September.” Terry Collins

Central Coast Commercial Commercial & Industrial Property Specialists

SALES LEASING

by A R Gurney ds directed by Jan Groun

ting casts: With two alterna d Mark Austin n a ld o rn A a n n Je Graham Vale d n a t h g ri W e lin Pau

OPENS 19 February for 10 performances only.

BOOK ONLINE NOW! woywoylt.com

Peninsula Theatre

Cnr Ocean Beach & McMasters Rds, Woy Woy Online bookings only, tickets not available at the door.

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SMSF APPRAISALS Deal DIRECTLY with the agency owners and experience what makes us different! Geoff Emms 0416 244 456

Michael Chatfield 0414 791 170

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ABC (C20/21)

Friday 12 February

6:00 9:00 10:00 11:05 12:00 1:00 3:00 4:00 4:30 5:00 6:00 7:00 7:30 8:30 10:00 10:30 11:00

Saturday 13 February

11:30 12:00 6:00 7:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 1:30 2:20 3:30 4:00 4:30 5:00 7:00 7:30 8:30 9:30 11:05

Sunday 14 February

11:55 12:55 6:00 7:00 9:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 1:30 2:35 3:30 4:00 6:00 7:00 7:40 8:40 9:30 10:35 11:15 12:05 1:35 4:10

PRIME (C61/60)

News Breakfast [s] ABC News Mornings [s] Q&A [s] The Pacific: In The Wake Of Captain Cook With Sam Neill: Endeavour And New Zealand (PG) [s] ABC News At Noon [s] Jack Irish (M l,s) [s] ABC News Afternoons [s] The Heights (PG) [s] Back Roads (PG) [s] Restoration Australia [s] The Drum [s] ABC News [s] Gardening Australia [s] – Tino Carnevale visits a clever garden masterpiece and Jane meets city-living bees. Vera: Muddy Waters (M v) [s] Mum: Monday (M) [s] State Of The Union (M) [s] The Weekly With Charlie Pickering (PG) [s] Aftertaste (M) [s] rage (MA15+) [s] rage (PG) [s] Weekend Breakfast [s] rage (PG) [s] rage Retro Month (PG) [s] ABC News At Noon [s] Employable Me Australia (M l) [s] Agatha Christie’s The Witness For The Prosecution (M v) [s] Making Child Prodigies [s] Dream Gardens [s] Ask The Doctor: Sex (PG) [s] Landline Summer [s] Football: A-League: Western United v Sydney FC *Live* From AAMI Park [s] ABC News [s] Death In Paradise (PG) [s] Call The Midwife (PG) [s] Endeavour: Deguello (M v) [s] Harrow: Marta Semper Cerva Est (M v) [s] Call The Midwife (PG) [s] rage Guest Programmer (MA15+) [s] rage (PG) [s] Weekend Breakfast [s] Insiders [s] Offsiders [s] The World This Week [s] Compass (PG) [s] Songs Of Praise (PG) [s] ABC News At Noon [s] Landline [s] Gardening Australia [s] Australia Remastered (PG) [s] The Mix [s] Football: Round 8: v Brisbane Roar v Newcastle Jets *Live* From Dolphin Stadium [s] Antiques Roadshow [s] ABC News Sunday [s] Quoll Farm [s] Harrow (M v) [s] Silent Witness (M l,s,v) [s] Killing Eve (MA15+) [s] Wentworth (MA15+) [s] Endeavour: Deguello (M d,v) [s] rage (MA15+) Wentworth (MA15+) [s]

Also see: ABC COMEDY (Channel 22) ABC ME (Channel 23) ABC NEWS (Channel 24)

NINE (C81/80)

6:00 6:00 Sunrise [s] 9:00 The Morning Show [s] 10:00 11:30 Seven Morning News [s] 12:00 Movie: “Am I A Serial Killer?” 11:00 (M) (’19) – A teenage girl visits her mom on death row and gets lured into a dangerous trap to 4:00 take the fall for her mother’s crimes. Stars: Monroe Cline, 6:00 Jhey Castles, Crystal Allen 7:00 2:00 House Of Wellness [s] 3:00 The Chase UK [s] 4:00 Seven News At 4 [s] 11:00 5:00 The Chase Australia [s] 6:00 Seven News [s] 7:00 Better Homes And Gardens 8:30 Movie: “Captain America: Civil 12:00 War” (M v,l) (’16) – Political interference in the Avengers’ activities causes a rift between former allies Captain America and Iron Man. Stars: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson 11:30 Holey Moley Australia (PG) [s] 1:00 1:30 1:00 Home Shopping 6:00 6:00 Home Shopping 7:00 7:00 Weekend Sunrise [s] 10:00 10:00 The Morning Show Weekend 11:00 12:00 Seven’s Horse Racing: Randwick/ Flemington [s] 5:00 Seven News At 5 [s] 5:30 Border Security - Australia’s 4:00 Front Line (PG) [s] 6:00 Seven News [s] 7:00 Movie: “Thor” (M v) (’11) – The 6:00 powerful but arrogant god Thor 7:00 is cast out of Asgard to live amongst humans in Midgard 11:00 (Earth), where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders. Stars: Chris 12:00 Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston 9:20 Movie: “Thor: The Dark World (M v) (’13) Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston 11:35 Surveillance Oz: Dashcam 1:00 (PG) [s] 1:30 12:05 Movie: “The End Of Eden” (M v) (’96) Stars: Jennie Garth 2:00 4:30 2:00 Home Shopping 6:00 6:00 Home Shopping 7:00 7:00 Weekend Sunrise [s] 10:00 10:00 The Morning Show Weekend (PG) [s] 11:00 12:00 House Of Wellness [s] 1:00 Program To Be Advised 2:30 Program To Be Advised 4:00 4:00 Better Homes And Gardens 5:00 Seven News At 5 [s] 5:30 Sydney Weekender (PG) [s] 6:00 6:00 Seven News [s] 7:00 Holey Moley Australia (PG) [s] 7:00 8:30 Movie: “Shooter” (M v,l) (’07) – A marksman living in exile is coaxed back into action after 11:00 learning of a plot to kill the President. Stars: Danny Glover, Mark Wahlberg, Kate Maravan 12:00 11:00 World’s Deadliest: Twist Of Fate (PG) [s] 12:00 Medical Emergency (PG) [s] – Air paramedics rush to the aid of an amateur motorbike racer, who has crashed after doing 1:00 speeds over 200 km/ph. 1:30 12:30 Home Shopping

Also see: 7TWO (Channel 62) 7MATE (Channel 63) 7FLIX (Channel 66)

Today [s] Tennis: Australian Open Tennis: Pre Show [s] Tennis: Australian Open Tennis: Day *Live* From Melbourne [s] Tennis: Australian Open Tennis: Afternoon *Live* From Melbourne [s] NINE News [s] Tennis: Australian Open Tennis: Night *Live* From Melbourne [s] Tennis: Australian Open Tennis: Late Night *Live* From Melbourne [s] Chicago Med: What You Don’t Know (M mp) [s] – Halstead’s first task as an informant puts him under strain; Choi is shocked when he meets the father of Emily’s child; Rhodes presses Bekker to reveal who donated funds for his OR. Destination WA [s] Home Shopping Easy Eats [s] Weekend Today [s] Tennis: Australian Open Tennis: Pre Show [s] Tennis: Australian Open Tennis: Day *Live* From Melbourne [s] Tennis: Australian Open Tennis: Afternoon *Live* From Melbourne [s] NINE News [s] Tennis: Australian Open Tennis: Night *Live* From Melbourne [s] Tennis: Australian Open Tennis: Late Night *Live* From Melbourne [s] Chicago Med: Lesser Of Two Evils (M mp) [s] – Manning and Halstead must act fast to save the life of a physically abused wife. Customs (PG) [s] Award Winning Tasmania [s] Home Shopping Wesley Impact [s] Easy Eats [s] Weekend Today [s] Tennis: Australian Open Tennis: Pre Show [s] Tennis: Australian Open Tennis: Day *Live* From Melbourne [s] Tennis: Australian Open Tennis: Afternoon *Live* From Melbourne [s] NINE News [s] Tennis: Australian Open Tennis: Night *Live* From Melbourne [s] Tennis: Australian Open Tennis: Late Night *Live* From Melbourne [s] Chicago Med: The Poison Inside Us (M mp) [s] – After a deadly chemical spill, the ED goes into lockdown, threatening the lives of several patients and leaving one of Med’s own hanging in the balance. Our State On A Plate (PG) [s] Home Shopping

Also see: GEM (Channel 82) GO! (Channel 83/88) LIFE (Channel 84)

TEN (C13)

SBS (C30)

6:00 Headline News [s] 5:00 8:30 Studio 10 (PG) [s] 5:15 12:00 Dr Phil (PG) [s] 5:30 1:00 Jamie & The Nonnas[s] 1:00 2:00 Entertainment Tonight [s] 2:00 2:30 Everyday Gourmet With Justine Schofield [s] 2:05 3:00 Judge Judy (PG) [s] 3:30 Left Off The Map [s] 3:00 4:00 Farm To Fork [s] 3:30 4:30 The Bold And The Beautiful (PG) [s] 5:00 10 News First [s] 4:25 6:00 WIN News [s] 6:30 The Project (PG) [s] 5:00 7:30 The Living Room [s] 5:30 8:30 The Graham Norton Show 6:00 (M l,s) [s] – Join Graham Norton 6:30 as he chats with Felicity Kendal, 7:35 Regé-Jean Page, Dave Grohl, Siobhan McSweeney, Alan Carr 8:30 and Jessie Ware. 9:30 Program To Be Advised 9:35 10:30 The Project (PG) [s] 10:30 11:30 WIN’s All Australian News [s] 11:00 12:30 The Late Show (PG) [s] 5:00 6:00 Which Car? [s] 5:15 6:30 Entertainment Tonight [s] 5:30 7:00 Escape Fishing With ET [s] 7:30 4X4 Adventures [s] 1:00 2:00 8:30 All 4 Adventure [s] 9:30 Studio 10 Saturday (PG) [s] 3:00 12:00 Beyond The Fire (PG) [s] 12:30 Good Chef Bad Chef [s] 4:00 1:00 10 Minute Kitchen [s] 4:35 1:30 Destination Dessert [s] 2:00 My Market Kitchen [s] 5:35 2:30 Australia By Design: Innovations [s] 6:30 7:30 3:00 What’s Up Down Under [s] 3:30 Freshly Picked [s] 4:00 Everyday Gourmet [s] 8:05 4:30 Farm To Fork [s] 5:00 10 News First [s] 9:00 6:00 Bondi Rescue (PG) [s] 7:00 Three Blue Ducks [s] 7:30 Ambulance UK (M) [s] 11:00 Inside The Children’s Hospital 10:55 (PG) [s] 11:30 Program To Be Advised 1:30 12:30 Home Shopping 4:00 5:00 Religious Programs 6:00 Religious Programs [s] 5:00 5:15 7:30 Fishing Australia [s] 8:00 Good Chef Bad Chef [s] 5:30 1:00 8:30 Australia By Design [s] 3:00 9:00 Luca’s Key Ingredient [s] 9:30 Studio 10 Sunday [s] 3:35 12:00 10 Minute Kitchen [s] 12:30 Left Off The Map [s] 4:35 1:00 My Market Kitchen [s] 5:35 1:30 Three Blue Ducks [s] 2:00 Everyday Gourmet With 6:30 7:30 Justine Schofield [s] 2:30 Farm To Fork [s] 8:50 3:00 Bondi Rescue (PG) [s] 4:00 Program To Be Advised 10:05 11:15 5:00 10 News First [s] 6:00 WIN News [s] 6:30 The Sunday Project (PG) [s] 12:10 7:30 The Amazing Race Australia 1:05 (M) [s] 9:00 FBI: Most Wanted: 2:05 The Line (M) [s] 3:10 10:00 FBI: Most Wanted: Defender (M) [s] 11:00 The Sunday Project (PG) [s] 4:20 12:00 Home Shopping

Also see: 10 PEACH (Channel 11) 10 BOLD (Channel 12)

Classifications: (G) General, (PG) Parental Guidance, (M) Mature Audiences, (MA15+) Mature Audience Over 15 Years, [s] Subtitles Consumer Advice: (d) drug references, (s) sexual references or sex scenes (h) horror, (l) language, (mp) medical procedures, (n) nudity, (v) violence

CGTN English News NHK World English News Worldwatch PBS Newshour Destination Flavour China (In English/ Mandarin) China From Above: The Living Past (In English/ Mandarin) NITV News: Nula China From Above: The Future Is Now (In English/ Mandarin) Great British Railroad Journeys (PG) Letters And Numbers Jeopardy! (PG) Mastermind Australia SBS World News Secrets Of China’s Forbidden City (PG) Who Do You Think You Are UK?: Kate Winslet (PG) My Grandparents War (PG) SBS World News Late 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (M) CGTN English News NHK World English News Worldwatch PBS Newshour Figure Skating: ISU European Figure Skating Austria Jupiter Revealed Great British Railway Journeys (PG) Remarkable Places To Eat: San Sebastian (PG) Secret Nazi Bases SBS World News Going Places With Ernie Dingo Michael Portillo’s Abandoned Britain (PG) Movie: “Harry Brown” (MA15+) (’09) Stars: Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Plan B, Jack O’Connell Movie: “The Pianist” (M) (’02) Stars: Adrien Brody Atlanta(MA15+) Great British Railway Journeys (PG) CGTN English News NHK World English News Worldwatch Speedweek Travel Man: Stockholm Cycling: AusCycling 2021 Women’s Road National *Live* Cycling: AusCycling 2021 Men’s Road National *Live* Secret Nazi Bases (PG) SBS World News Diana: Interview That Shocked The World (PG) Princess Anne At 70 (PG) Filthy Rich And Homeless (M) Police Custody: Their Time Will Come (M l) Michael Mosley: Guts (MA15+) Body Clock - What Makes Us Tick? (PG) Michael Mosley: Frontline Medicine Survival (M l) Michael Mosley: Frontline Medicine Rebuilding (M) Great British Railway Journeys (PG)

Also see: SBS VICELAND (Channel 31) SBS MOVIES (Channel 32) SBS FOOD (Channel 33) SBS NITV (Channel 34)

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Monday 15 February

ABC (C20/21)

Tuesday 16 February Wednesday 17 February

NINE (C81/80)

TEN (C13)

PAGE 21 12 FEBRUARY 2021

SBS (C30)

News Breakfast [s] ABC News Mornings [s] Landline [s] Antiques Roadshow [s] ABC News At Noon [s] Death In Paradise (M v) [s] Parliament Question Time [s] ABC News Afternoons [s] The Heights (PG) [s] Back Roads (PG) [s] Restoration Australia (PG) [s] The Drum [s] ABC News [s] 7.30 (PG) [s] Australian Story [s] Four Corners [s] Media Watch [s] The Pacific: In The Wake Of Captain Cook With Sam Neill: Endeavour And Australia (PG) You Can’t Ask That (M) [s] ABC Late News [s] Waltzing The Dragon With Benjamin Law (PG) [s] Wentworth (MA15+) [s] Parliament Question Time [s]

5:30 6:00 Sunrise [s] 9:00 The Morning Show (PG) [s] 10:00 11:30 Seven Morning News [s] 12:00 Movie: “Killing Mommy” (M s,v) 11:00 (’16) Stars: Yvonne Zima 2:00 What The Killer Did Next: 4:00 Norma Bell (M v) [s] 3:00 The Chase UK [s] 4:00 Seven News At 4 [s] 6:00 5:00 The Chase Australia [s] 7:00 6:00 Seven News [s] 7:00 Home And Away (PG) [s] 7:30 Holey Moley Australia (PG) [s] 11:00 9:00 9-1-1: Future Tense (M) [s] 10:00 The Rookie: Hand-Off (M) [s] – Nolan finds out his identity has 12:00 been stolen, potentially threatening his position as an officer. Sergeant Grey must testify at the parole hearing. 11:00 World’s Deadliest Weather: Caught On Camera (M) [s] 12:00 Robbie Coltrane’s Critical Evidence: The Double Axe Murderer: Dennis Smalley (M) 1:00 1:30 1:00 Home Shopping

6:00 Headline News [s] 5:00 8:30 Studio 10 (PG) [s] 5:15 12:00 Dr Phil (PG) [s] 5:30 1:00 Program To Be Advised 2:00 2:30 Entertainment Tonight [s] 3:00 Judge Judy (PG) [s] 2:30 3:30 Left Off The Map [s] 4:00 Farm To Fork [s] 3:00 4:30 The Bold And The Beautiful (PG) [s] 5:00 10 News First [s] 5:05 6:00 WIN News [s] 5:35 6:30 The Project (PG) [s] 6:00 7:30 The Amazing Race Australia 6:30 (M) [s] – The race accelerates 7:35 to new heights when the teams must attempt an epic 8:30 underwater helicopter escape 9:25 challenge in one of the most terrifying tests of the race so far. 10:20 8:40 Hughesy, We Have A Problem 10:50 (M) [s] 2:00 9:40 The Graham Norton Show (M) 10:40 The Project (PG) [s] 11:40 WIN’s All Australian News [s] 3:45 12:30 The Late Show (PG) [s]

News Breakfast [s] ABC News Mornings [s] Four Corners [s] Our Dementia Choir (PG) [s] ABC News At Noon [s] Call The Midwife (M) [s] Parliament Question Time [s] ABC News Afternoons [s] The Heights (PG) [s] Back Roads (PG) [s] Restoration Australia (PG) [s] The Drum [s] ABC News [s] 7.30 (PG) [s] Foreign Correspondent [s] Catalyst [s] Australia Remastered (PG) [s] Program To Be Advised ABC Late News [s] Q&A (M l,s) [s] Wentworth: Danger Within (MA15+) [s] 1:20 Parliament Question Time [s] 2:20 rage (MA15+) [s] 3:40 Wentworth: Danger Within (MA15+) [s]

5:30 6:00 Sunrise [s] 9:00 The Morning Show (PG) [s] 10:00 11:30 Seven Morning News [s] 12:00 Movie: “I’ll Be Watching” (M) 11:00 (’18) Stars: Janel Parrish 2:00 What The Killer Did Next: 4:00 Kate Prout (M v) [s] 3:00 The Chase UK [s] 4:00 Seven News At 4 [s] 6:00 5:00 The Chase Australia [s] 7:00 6:00 Seven News [s] 7:00 Home And Away (PG) [s] 7:30 Holey Moley Australia (PG) [s] 11:00 9:00 The Good Doctor: Newbies (M) [s] 10:00 The Resident: The Accidental 12:00 Patient (M) [s] – When Cain tries to be a hero at a crash scene, he is struck by a car, causing Chastain’s doctors to put aside their personal issues to try and save his life. 11:00 Station 19: Home To Hold Onto (M l) [s] 12:00 Splitting Up Together (PG) [s] 1:00 1:30 12:30 Home Shopping

6:00 Headline News [s] 5:00 CGTN English News 8:30 Studio 10 (PG) [s] 5:15 NHK World English News 12:00 Dr Phil (PG) [s] 5:30 Worldwatch 1:00 Program To Be Advised 1:00 PBS Newshour 2:10 Entertainment Tonight [s] 2:00 Destination Flavour China 2:30 Everyday Gourmet With (In English/ Mandarin) Justine Schofield [s] 2:35 Luke Nguyen’s Railway 3:00 Judge Judy (PG) [s] Vietnam (PG) 3:30 Left Off The Map [s] 3:10 David Baddiel On The Silk 4:00 Farm To Fork [s] Road: China’s Deadly Secret 4:30 The Bold And The Beautiful (PG) (PG) [s] 4:05 Who Do You Think You Are?: 5:00 10 News First [s] Julia Morris (PG) 6:00 WIN News [s] 5:05 Letters And Numbers 6:30 The Project (PG) [s] 5:35 Jeopardy! (PG) 7:30 The Amazing Race Australia 6:00 Mastermind Australia (M) [s] 6:30 SBS World News 8:40 NCIS: 1MM (M v) [s] 7:30 Great Continental Railway 9:40 NCIS: Los Angeles: The Journeys Frogman’s Daughter (M) [s] 8:35 24 Hours In Emergency (M) 10:40 The Project (PG) [s] 9:30 Dog Tales (PG) 11:40 WIN’s All Australian News [s] 10:30 SBS World News Late 12:30 The Late Show With Stephen 11:00 The Pier (MA15+) (In Spanish) Colbert (PG) [s] 12:00 Borgen (M l,s) (In Danish) 1:30 Home Shopping 4:30 Great British Railway 4:30 CBS This Morning [s] Journeys (PG)

News Breakfast [s] ABC News Mornings [s] Foreign Correspondent [s] Stan Grant’s One Plus One [s] Quoll Farm [s] ABC News At Noon [s] National Press Club Address Media Watch [s] Parliament Question Time [s] ABC News Afternoons [s] The Heights (PG) [s] Back Roads (PG) [s] Restoration Australia [s] The Drum [s] ABC News [s] 7.30 (PG) [s] Hard Quiz (PG) [s] The Weekly With Charlie Pickering (PG) [s] Aftertaste [s] Why Are You Like This (MA15+) [s] Program To Be Advised ABC Late News [s] Four Corners [s] Media Watch [s]

5:30 6:00 Sunrise [s] 10:00 9:00 The Morning Show [s] 11:30 Seven Morning News [s] 12:00 Movie: “Family Pictures” (PG) 11:00 (’93) Stars: Larissa Albuquerque, Jackie Blackmore, Georgia Bradner, 4:00 Jason Burkart, Chris Cope 2:00 Gold Coast Medical (PG) [s] 3:00 The Chase UK [s] 6:00 4:00 Seven News At 4 [s] 7:00 5:00 The Chase Australia [s] 6:00 Seven News [s] 7:00 Home And Away (PG) [s] 11:00 7:30 Ambulance - Code Red (PG) [s] – The critical care team are called to a road traffic accident 12:00 where a 13-year-old boy is lying in the road with blood coming out of his ear. 8:30 The Bay (M v,l) [s] 10:30 Criminal Confessions: Vanished In The Night (M) [s] 11:30 Celebrity Obsessed: Bjork (MA15+) [s] 1:00 12:30 Home Shopping 1:30

6:00 Headline News [s] 5:00 8:30 Studio 10 (PG) [s] 5:15 12:00 Dr Phil (PG) [s] 5:30 1:00 Program To Be Advised 1:00 1:30 Program To Be Advised 2:00 2:00 Entertainment Tonight [s] 2:30 Everyday Gourmet With 2:35 Justine Schofield [s] 3:00 Judge Judy (PG) [s] 3:05 3:30 Left Off The Map [s] 4:00 Farm To Fork [s] 4:00 4:30 The Bold And The Beautiful (PG) [s] 5:05 5:00 10 News First [s] 5:35 6:00 WIN News [s] 6:00 6:30 The Project (PG) [s] 6:30 7:30 Jamie’s Easy Meals For Every 7:35 Day [s] 8:30 Bull: Off The Rails (M) [s] 8:30 9:30 Bull: The Sovereigns (M) [s] 10:30 The Project (PG) [s] 9:25 11:30 WIN’s All Australian News [s] 12:30 The Late Show With Stephen 10:15 Colbert (PG) [s] 10:45 1:30 Home Shopping 11:40 4:30 CBS This Morning [s]

CGTN English News NHK World English News Worldwatch PBS Newshour Destination Flavour China (In English/ Mandarin) Luke Nguyen’s Railway Vietnam (PG) David Baddiel On The Silk Road: Into The Wild (PG) Who Do You Think You Are?: Peter Garrett (PG) Letters And Numbers Jeopardy! (PG) Mastermind Australia SBS World News Britain’s Most Historic Towns (PG) Michael Palin: Travels Of A Lifetime (PG) Vikings: It’s Only Magic (MA15+) SBS World News Late 24 Hours In Emergency(M) Movie: “Arctic” (M l) (’18) Stars: Mads Mikkelsen

News Breakfast [s] ABC News Mornings [s] Australian Story [s] Program To Be Advised Program To Be Advised ABC News At Noon [s] Hard Quiz (PG) [s] The Weekly With Charlie Pickering (PG) [s] Parliament Question Time [s] ABC News Afternoons [s] The Heights (PG) [s] Back Roads (PG) [s] Restoration Australia [s] The Drum [s] ABC News [s] 7.30 (PG) [s] Back Roads [s] Q&A [s] Program To Be Advised Program To Be Advised ABC Late News [s] Royal Wives Of Windsor (M) Wentworth(MA15+) [s] Killing Eve (M v) [s] Parliament Question Time [s]

6:00 Sunrise [s] 9:00 The Morning Show [s] 11:30 Seven Morning News [s] 12:00 Movie: “The Witches Of Eastwick” (M s,l) (’87) Stars: Jack Nicholson, Cher 2:00 Coastwatch Oz: 100kg Bust (PG) [s] 3:00 The Chase UK [s] 4:00 Seven News At 4 [s] 5:00 The Chase Australia [s] 6:00 Seven News [s] 7:00 Home And Away (PG) [s] 8:30 Wife Swap Australia: Andrew And Lister Families (PG) [s] – Tonight, a lenient mum of unruly quadruplets and a nononsense mum of two highlydisciplined kids swap lives, turning their families’ worlds upside down. 10:00 Busted In Bangkok (M) [s] 11:00 Gordon Ramsay On Cocaine (M d,l) [s] 12:00 Movie: “Breaking The Surface” (M v) (’96) Stars: Aki Aleong

6:00 Headline News [s] 8:30 Studio 10 (PG) [s] 12:00 Dr Phil (PG) [s] 1:00 Program To Be Advised 2:10 Entertainment Tonight [s] 2:30 Everyday Gourmet With Justine Schofield [s] 3:00 Judge Judy (PG) [s] 3:30 Left Off The Map [s] 4:00 Farm To Fork [s] 4:30 The Bold And The Beautiful (PG) [s] 5:00 10 News First [s] 6:30 The Project (PG) [s] 7:30 Ambulance Australia (M) [s] 8:30 Gogglebox (M) [s] 9:30 Law & Order: SVU: Turn Me On, Take Me Private (M) [s] 10:30 This Is Us: In The Room (M) [s] 11:30 WIN’s All Australian News [s] 12:30 The Project (PG) [s] 1:30 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (PG) [s] 2:30 Home Shopping 4:30 CBS This Morning [s]

CGTN English News NHK World English News Worldwatch PBS Newshour Destination Flavour China (In English/ Mandarin) Luke Nguyen’s Railway Vietnam (PG) David Baddiel On The Silk Road (PG) Letters And Numbers Jeopardy! (PG) Mastermind Australia SBS World News The World’s Greatest Palaces (PG) Michael Mosley On Cosmetic Treatments (M) Cornwall With Simon Reeve (PG) SBS World News Late 24 Hours In Police Custody (M) M - The City Hunts A Murderer (MA15+) (In German)

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6:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 1:00 2:00 3:15 4:05 4:30 5:00 6:00 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:30 10:35 10:55 11:30 12:35

6:00 9:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 12:30 1:40 2:00 3:15 4:00 4:30 5:00 6:00 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:20 11:05 11:35 12:20 6:00 9:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 1:00 1:30 2:00 3:15 4:00 4:30 5:00 6:00 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:35 10:25 10:55 11:25 12:15 1:05 1:45

Also see: ABC COMEDY (Channel 22) ABC ME (Channel 23) ABC NEWS (Channel 24)

Also see: 7TWO (Channel 62) 7MATE (Channel 63) 7FLIX (Channel 66)

5:30 Today [s] 10:00 Tennis: Australian Open Tennis: Pre Show [s] 11:00 Tennis: Australian Open Tennis: Day *Live* From Melbourne [s] 4:00 Tennis: Australian Open Tennis: Afternoon *Live* From Melbourne [s] 6:00 NINE News [s] 7:00 Tennis: Australian Open Tennis: Night *Live* From Melbourne [s] 11:00 Tennis: Australian Open Tennis: Late Night *Live* From Melbourne [s] 12:00 Chicago Med: Who Can You Trust (M mp) [s] – Halstead takes heat for making an unauthorised move to treat his pregnant patient; Choi becomes personally invested when treating a homeless veteran. 1:00 Our State On A Plate (PG) [s] 1:30 Home Shopping

Also see: GEM (Channel 82) GO! (Channel 83/88) LIFE (Channel 84)

Also see: 10 PEACH (Channel 11) 10 BOLD (Channel 12)

Programming information correct at time of going to press, changes are at the network’s discretion Prepared by National Typesetting Services

5:00 5:15 5:30 1:00 2:00 3:00 3:30 5:05 5:35 6:00 6:30 7:30 8:30 9:30 10:30 11:00 11:55

CGTN English News NHK World English News Worldwatch Destination Flavour China (In English/ Mandarin) Luke Nguyen’s Railway Vietnam (PG) Singapore 1942 - End Of Empire (PG) (In English/ Japanese) Letters And Numbers Jeopardy! (PG) Mastermind Australia SBS World News The Architecture The Railways Built: Broadway (PG) 24 Hours In Emergency (M) The Story Of The Songs: Police And Sting (M) SBS World News Late Outlander (MA15+) Cocaine Trade Exposed: The Invisibles: Super Villain/ The Phantom (M) Great Irish Railway Journeys (PG)

Also see: SBS VICELAND (Channel 31) SBS MOVIES (Channel 32) SBS FOOD (Channel 33) SBS NITV (Channel 34)

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DOWN IN THE GARDEN - LOVE FROM THE GARDEN single as so made marrying illegal for them. A young priest named Valentine, defied the law and secretly married young couples but was discovered and sentenced to death. While incarcerated Valentine fell in love with the jailer’s daughter and before he was executed on 14th February 14 in 270 AD, he wrote her a letter and signed it, ‘from your Valentine.’ He was declared a saint and we still honour his commitment to love (even unwittingly) by gifting flowers and other tokens of love to those we hold dear.

The Meaning of Flowers

CHERALYN DARCEY

We have always invited flowers into every facet of our lives. Flowers and the treasures they create such as perfumes, foods and medicines, have been readily embraced for their supportive and healing attributes throughout time. They are our little friends who help us send messages, support and love to others, to the Gods and to ourselves. Flowers are usually with us when we are born, when we join our lives with another, when we celebrate, commiserate, placate and when we leave this earth, we are sometimes covered in flowers. The blossoms of plants are with us always and they are a beautiful gift that illustrates and narrates our lives. Archaeologists have discovered what appears to be the remnants of floral offerings within many ancient burial sites throughout the world. It is not hard for us to imagine that our ancestors would be moved to collect beautiful flowers from the forests, fields and hills surrounding them and place these colourful, sweet reminders of life with the departed for their journey elsewhere. Some of the first recorded instances of the giving of flowers and the use of floral arrangements can be seen in the paintings, decorations and sculptures of the Ancient Egyptians. These were perhaps also our first ‘cut-flower’ gardeners, planting flowers and tending them for pleasure. The Egyptians of these times also believed that flowers held a sacred quality through not only their appearance but via their fragrances and so flowers themselves, along with oils and perfumes were used not only in daily life, but were an important element in religious ceremonies and rituals. The Ancient Greeks and Romans held flowers in high regard as well, also adorning the statues of their deities in tribute during festivals and celebrations. These gifts of flowers to the gods and goddess by the Greeks, Romans and the Ancient Egyptians where perhaps the first indications of actual ‘giving of flowers’ to mark occasions and also in the gifting of flowers for pleasure. The act of giving flowers to a god or goddess was to appease, to make them happy. Throughout Ancient Asia, flowers were an important element in the home and at temples where they main function was to offer protection from evil spirits. Taoists and Buddhists lay flowers at their altars as offerings and have done so for centuries. Plants and their flowers have been integral to healing medicine and rituals in most Asian countries and these practices have flourished along spiritual and decorative use that still held great meaning and appreciation of nature and flowers.

Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day, 14th February, is perhaps the bestknown day of flower giving throughout the world when we show those others that they are loved by us. Emperor Claudius II, in third century Rome, believed that soldiers were better at their job if they remained

Flowers speak a language of their own with meanings connected to each that are based on the way they grow, the history we have woven with them and their aroma, feel and appearance. Most cultures have created a dictionary of flower meanings to send messages to each other, to bring the energy of healing to gardens and homes and to surround themselves with the intentions that the Language of Flowers speaks. People of the Victorian period (1837-1901) made this practice popular through the giving of bouquets containing carefully selected flowers based on meaning. It was a time when communication between people was dictated by social standing and morals and so was used as a code, to pass messages on to each other in private.

The Meanings of a Few Popular Flowers Sunflower (Helianthus annuus): get well, strength, happiness, confidence Red Rose (Rosa): love, courage, respect, passion, lust, relationship, beauty White Rose (Rosa): truth, honesty, purity, protection Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus): victory, support, vitality, independence Dahlia (Dahlia): encouragement, dignity, generosity, faith, resiliency Violet (Viola): faithfulness, answers within, subconscious, modesty Pink Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus): love, encouragement, gratitude Daffodil ((Narcissus pseudonarcissus): hope, inspiration, respect, renewal Red Tulip (Tulipa): desire, passion, declaration of love, belief Peony (Paeonia officinalis): happy marriage, honour, wealth, health, nobility While the traditional Victorian Language of Flowers focuses on blossoms that were popular in the Northern Hemisphere, a close study of the botanical history of the plant and ethnobotany (the uses humans have made of plants) can reveal to us the meanings of any flower and plant, including our Australian Natives. For example, a bright bunch of Billy Buttons (Pycnosorus globosus) are the perfect way to say sorry. A pathway lined with Bottlebrush is perfect for busy families to walk through before coming into the home to leave the troubles of the day behind them.

The Language of Australian Flowers These are just a few natives and some of their meanings: Banksia (Banksia spp.) “I love being with you”, “Congratulations” Boronia (Boronia spp.) “Good luck in your exams”, “Can we work this out?” Billy Buttons (Pycnosorus globosus) “I’m sorry”, “I want to begin again” Everlasting Daisy (Rhodanthe spp.) “I’d like to be your friend”, “I hope this last forever” Flannel Flower (Atinotus helianthin) “I love you”, “I trust you”

Flowering Gum (Eucalyptus spp.) “Get well soon”, “I will not do it again” Geraldton Wax (Chamelaucium spp.) “You can do this”, “Be mine” Grevillea (Grevillea spp.) “Good luck”, “I wish you well in the future” Gymea Lily (Doryanthes excelsa) “I believe in you”, “I’m proud of you” Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos spp.) “Please forgive me”, “I forgive you” Mulla Mulla (Ptilotus spp.)”Bon voyage”, “I wish you well in the future” Waratah (Telopea spp.) “I wish you strength”, “I am by your side” Wattle (Acacia spp.) “Congratulations”, “You make me happy”

Love Blossom Risotto Looking to feed the one you love? Create this dish of love with its kaleidoscope of floral goodness using the petals of edible flowers such as violets, nasturtiums, roses, lavender, serves 4 (enough leftovers for breakfast in bed or midnight snacks) gather together, 2 leeks 2 - 4 cloves garlic (to taste) 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons butter 2 cups Arborio rice up to 4 cups of warm stock (vegetable or meat) *1 cup white wine 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves 1 cup finely grated parmesan (optional) a good handful of chopped edible flowers/petals Finely chop all the white end, a little of the green of your leek and sauté in the oil until translucent over a medium heat. Finely chop the garlic and add, cooking further for another few minutes, constantly stirring. Reduce the heat, add the butter and then the Arborio rice and finely chopped thyme. Pour in the wine/stock substitution and stir constantly while the rice absorbs all the liquid. Keep adding stock slowly and stirring constantly until the rice is cooked. You will want a creamy texture and the rice to be cooked to your liking. Take off the heat and stir in your flowers/petals and if desired, grated parmesan.

*additional stock can be substituted for wine

How do you Make Cut Flowers Last? We all want the love to last! Julie, the owner of Boydita Flowers at Fountain Plaza, Erina shared these tips to make your flowers last as long as possible. As soon as you receive your flowers, remove all foliage from the stems that will sit below the waterline in a vase. Rinse the stems and cut on an angle. Place away from full, direct sunlight and heat and away from drafts. Change water every second day, remove any dead flowers and recut stems that look dried. Julie also has a gorgeous range of ‘Forever Flowers’, very on trend and popular dried and persevered flowers and botanicals. They are not your Nana’s dried flowers; these have been carefully preserved to retain colour and form and are simply divine.

ON THE GARDEN GRAPVINE Working Bee at Kariong Eco Garden Sat 13th Feb, 9 - 11am. Help us find the labyrinth path again! Take home native raspberry plants, cuttings from pineapple sage, worm wood, 5 Herb plant, lemon balm, chocolate mint. kariongecogarden.org.au Ultimate Fungal Wizardry Workshop by Urban Kulture, Sat 13th Feb 10am - 12pm at Gosford Regional Gallery and Edogawa Commemorative Garden. A hands-on short course on skill development in gourmet and medicinal mushroom cultivation. Learn how to grow your own mushrooms in only 2 hours. More information and to book: urbankulture. com.au Bonsai Workshop and Demonstration Day, Sun 14 Feb, 9 - 4pm. Mingara Recreation Club. Central Coast Bonsai Club invites you to join a fun filled day with Sam Thompson. Details and bookings: www. centralcoastbonsai.com.au

THIS WEEK YOU COULD PLANT Asian greens, beans (French and climbing), beetroot, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, chives, English spinach, kale, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, parsnip, radish, silverbeet, spring onions, swede, turnip, coriander, anise, bergamot, burdock, calendula, amaranth, canterbury bells, cineraria, evening primrose, forget-me-nots, foxglove, heartsease, liveringstone daisy, nemesia, nigella, pansies, poppy, primula, ranunculus, stock, sweet William, wallflower, snapdragons, violas

Cheralyn Darcey is a gardening author, community garden coordinator and along with Pete Little, hosts ‘At Home with The Gardening Gang’ 8 - 10am every Saturday on CoastFM96.3 a live home and gardening lifestyle radio show: www.coastfmgardeninggang.com Send your gardening questions, events and news to: gardeningcentralcoast@gmail.com

PAGE 24 12 FEBRUARY 2021 OUT&ABOUT

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Coffee Club thrives at The Grange Les Place and a group of mates meet every Thursday at The Grange Hotel in Wyoming to reminisce and talk sport and they call it the Coffee Club. Place said the group started six years ago when he and three others met every week at Gloria Jeans in Wyoming. “We were old mates who used to just meet down here on Thursday mornings to go shopping, and we thought, we should go have a cup of coffee; that’s how it started,” Place said. After a while, the group moved to The Grange Hotel and since then has increased to include up to over 13 people. “There was a sign put up at the Grange Hotel saying ‘coffee

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The Coffee Club at The Grange Hotel

at 10 o’clock’ so we thought we would just go in there,” Place said. “We invited a few of the guys along, and it grew over the years.” Place said anyone is invited to come down and have a coffee and talk about old times.

changed,” Hill said. “They keep in contact with each other about others who have moved away, and other details like that.” Doug Holmes is a new member to the group and said the group has been great for catching up with people he has

not seen in a while. “I haven’t seen some of these guys because I’ve been up in Queensland for four years and when I came back all these fellows had changed,” Holmes said. “I used to work with some of these guys.

Jacinta Counihan

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CENTRAL COAST ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE

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CENTRAL COAST ART SOCIETY

Lectures, demonstrations and discussion. Weekly paint-outs enquiries Tuesday. Phone: 0428 439 180 Workshops: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays 9.30 am to 12.30 pm, at Gosford Regional Gallery & Art Centre. Phone: 0409 666 709 Social Meetings 1.30 pm on 4th Wednesday for demonstration 4325 1420

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CENTRAL COAST POETS INC

Would you like to read, write and share your poetry. We hold workshops and create anthologies. We meet the second Saturday each month. Wyoming Memorial Community Hall. Contact us by email info@centralcoastpoets.com.au

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Spinning and weaving, patchwork and quilting, felting and other fibre and fabric crafts, community quilting bees - Day and Night Groups 4325 4743

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Licensee and owner of the Grange, Mick Hill, said the group had become a great way for people to spend a couple of hours seeing some old friends and making new ones. “It is just a group of old Gosford people who recall the old times and how Gosford has

“A lot of us have got old memories that a lot of the younger people would not even know. “Some of the boys are old footballers, and they talk their football days, and others talk about cricket.” The 13 current coffee club members include Brian Zimmerli, John Marheine, Col Barker, Barry Howard, Bill Lennon, Ian Milne, Barney Morris, Peter Davidson, Bob Clifton, David Smallman, Barry Olsen, Keith Robson, Graham Black, John Parsons, and Les Place. Peter Kerr Col Parry, and Mick Birt were absent on the day of the photo.

drawing, scrabble, CENTRAL COAST MARINE scrapbooking, sit & sew, table DISCOVERY CENTRE

Wed of each month. Maree 0419 418 190

www.henrykendallcottage.org.au Brisbane Water Historical Society

PROBUS CLUB

with a great social program, guest speakers and optional bistro lunches. Google our name for our fully informative newsletter. Meet 10am, 3rd Mon each month at Avoca Beach Bowling Club.

tennis, Ukulele The revamped CCMDC is open. 4304 7065 FELLOWSHIP OF DYING WITH DIGNITY Schools and Group bookings Campaigning to give those FIRST FLEETERS Join us for the fun and welcome by appointment. suffering unrelievable terminal For anyone interested in early enjoyment of art! Building has special needs GOSFORD-NARARA or incurable illness the choice history. Attend a weekly art group with access and toilets NEIGHBOURHOOD to receive legal medical Don’t need to be a First Fleeter. mentors, exhibitions, Open 7 days 9am – 3pm. CENTRE avocaprobus@gmail.com assistance to die. Point Clare Community Hall workshops and a monthly Terrigal. School Holiday activities, Quarterly mtgs, Erina Fair. 2nd Sat 10:30am members meeting with guests 4385 5027 playgroup, multicultural 0434 426 486 4392 1926 4311 6254 ccmdc@bigpond.com and prizes, held on the 4th programs, community activities robyncameron@y7mail.com www.ccmdc.org.au Thurs of the month at The Rooms for Hire Entrance Community Centre LIONS CLUB OF WOY WOY 4329 4477 4333 8387 Make new friends & have fun PROSTATE CANCER TERRIGAL WAMBERAL admin@gnnc.com.au www.tlas.org.au COASTAL A CAPPELLA while serving your community SUPPORT GROUP RSL SUB-BRANCH president@tlas.org.au Everglades Country Club Award winning women’s Last Fri 9.30am Pension and welfare officers 3rd Monday of each month a cappella chorus. Terrigal Uniting Church available to assist with DVA COMMUNITY GROUPS 0478 959 895 Music education provided. 380 Terrigal Dr, Terrigal compensation claims and ALCOHOLICS Rehearsals Tuesday 7pm @ 4367 9600 benefits ABC - “The Friends” ANONYMOUS Red Tree Theatre Tuggerah. WOMEN’S GROUPS www.pcfa.org.au Breakers Country Club Safeguard ABC’s - Someone cares. Performance opportunities. Wed & Fri 10am – Midday independence, funding, & Thurs - 12.30pm, Progress Hall Hire us for your next event. Meet 2nd Sat 10am WOMEN’S HEALTH standards. Meetings through MEALS ON WHEELS Henry Parry & Wells 0412 948 450 4384 2661 the year & social mornings Delicious meals delivered free CENTRES Street East Gosford coastalacappella@gmail.com Terrigal-WamberalSB@rslnsw. Well-known guest speakers Join us for a midday meal Counselling, therapeutic and org.au. 0400 213 514 Help with shopping and social groups, workshops, POLITICAL PARTIES AL - ANON FAMILY www.fabcnsw.org.au cooking classes domestic violence and abuse GROUPS HEALTH 4363 7111 issues. All services provided by U3A CENTRAL COAST We offer hope and friendship women for women CENTRAL COAST Enjoy a diverse range of CENTRAL COAST GREENS for people affected by 4324 2533 courses and activities for Local, state wide, national and CARAVANNERS S.A someone else’s drinking. www.cccwhc.com.au seniors. Keep your mind active international issues and 3rd Sun - Jan to Nov Is Internet porn destroying your Al-anon family groups and make new friends. campaigns Trips Away, Social Outings, life. meet weekly, please contact 0408 704 701 Council and parliamentary SOROPTIMIST friendship with like minded We may be able to help. 1300 252 666 www.centralcoast.u3anet.org.au representation folk We are a 12 step fellowship INTERNATIONAL al-anon.org.au 3rd Thur Geoff 0447 882 150 like AA. BRISBANE WATER Meets every Sat at 7pm on the centralcoast.nsw.greens.org.au Making a difference in the lives VOLUNTEERING BETTER HEARING centralcoastgreens@gmail.com Central Coast of women & girls through CENTRAL COAST COMMUNITY LEGAL AUSTRALIA Contact for further details awareness, advocacy & action Refer potential volunteers to CENTRE Hearing loss management LABOR PARTY 2nd Thur 7 pm 0473 631 439 community organisations & Not for profit service providing Support and educational newcastlesagroup@gmail.com OURIMBAH/ NARARA Breakers Country Club, provide support to them. free legal advice groups providing practical Dover Rd, Wamberal Training to volunteers and BRANCH Mon - Fri 9am to 5pm experience and confidence 4323 3890 sibrisbanewater@siswp.org managers of volunteers Info Discussion/action community 4353 4988 4321 0275 www.siswp.org sessions held regularly. Issues – 3 levels of contact@centralcoastclc.org.au HENRY KENDALL 4329 7122 Government CENTRAL COAST recruit@volcc.org.au COTTAGE & Function Room, Grange Hotel, LEARN TO DANCE ASBESTOS DISEASES Wyoming Social ballroom dancing for all HISTORICAL MUSEUM SUPPORT GROUP COMMUNITY CENTRES 7.30pm 1st. Monday ages, all you need is a desire Visit our c1838 Cottage & DOYALSON WYEE Support for those suffering 0410 309 494 to learn and dance, Museum with exhibits of early SOCCER CLUB with asbestos diseases and Kyle.macgregor@hotmail.com no partner required. settlers. School and group GOSFORD 50+ LEISURE others interested in asbestos Football club for the local meet every Wed -15 Lorraine bookings. Members & AND LEARNING CENTRE issues. You are not alone, meet community. Juniors from under Ave Berkeley Vale, 2:00pm volunteers welcome. Open PROBUS CLUBS Mon-Fri 5 to senior teams. with others who can share Anne - 0409 938 345 Wed/Sat/Sun 10.30am Chess, darts, handicraft, indoor Kerry 0410 045 981 their experiences. Bring a anneglazier@y7mail.com 2:30pm. West Gosford president@doylowolves.com.au bowls, knitting, line dancing, family member or friend. AVOCA BEACH 4325 2270 origami, painting, pencil 1pm at Ourimbah RSL on forth

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BUSINESS & PROPERTY PAGE 25 12 FEBRUARY 2021

Business & Property Concern over height variation on Terrigal project Terrigal residents have three more days to submit objections to a proposed increase in height for a unit block currently rising from the old car park between Church St and Hudson Lane. With more than 35 submissions already sent in to Central Coast Council, residents are urging others not to be complacent but to add to the weight of numbers. They are hoping more people will show their opposition to the development, which many believe should never have been approved in the first place - let alone another storey being allowed. The developer, who has already started work on the site at 5-7 Church St, has asked Council to approve a sixth storey and for permission to enlarge terraces of the approved level five residential units. Town planners have

submitted objections on behalf of some residents, saying the amendment cannot be considered substantially the same development as that originally approved as a sixth storey is not a minor amendment. Another town planner says the amendment seeks a 20 per cent increase in building height and at least a 12.6 per cent increase in gross floor areas compared to the existing consent. The approved development already was higher than the guidelines for the area. Other submissions are suggesting that since an administrator has been appointed at Council because of dysfunction, the existing approval should be revisited and investigated to confirm compliance with appropriate procedures and processes. “What is happening to the seaside village atmosphere?” asked a resident when Coast

The development at 5-7 Church St is already under construction

News met with objectors from Miller Rd this week. “Once you change the fabric of the town like this, you’re sitting in shade and wind tunnels. “We are supposed to be a seaside village and we’re becoming like Bondi.”

Another said the development is completely contrary to Council’s previously stated intent, and the community’s understanding, of the construction limits that apply in the Terrigal central commercial block bounded by The Esplanade, Kurrawyba Ave,

Church St and Campbell Cres. “All other developments in that block have been limited to a maximum of three levels above ground level,” said resident Greg Berrington. “This development is two floors above the previously established maximum and if approved would create a precedent for all future construction in that block.” Others talked about the lack of parking and the strain on infrastructure. Terrigal Lagoon was recently closed to swimmers due to sewage leaks. One submission to the Council website says the development application is an abuse of the process. How many times must Council spend money assessing the development and how many times must residents object to the same development, it asks. “I submit the developer is trying to wear down Council

and the public through attrition,” the submission says. For the first week of submissions being accepted, the DA was not showing up on the Council electronic submissions page, another cause of annoyance and suspicion for residents. It has since been rectified. The link is: https://www.centralcoast. nsw.gov.au/plan-and-build/ development-applications/ make-submission The DA number is DA52083/2017. Details on the proposal can be found if you put the DA number into the council DA tracker on the council website. Find the DA Tracker under the “Plan and Build” tab on the council homepage. Submissions close on February 15. Merilyn Vale

NSW Government encourages regional hiring Business NSW Central Coast has praised the NSW Government for its commitment to move more public service roles to regional areas across the State. Non-frontline NSW public sector roles will now be advertised with “regional location encouraged” with a commitment to increase the proportion of senior government roles in the regions by 2023.

“In our Back on Track report, we called for greater support for jobs, including hubs in regional areas, as part of our recommendations to build a seamless state economy,” Regional Director Paula Martin said. “Staff working in government departments provide a huge boost to surrounding small business. “When departments from NSW Government and the ATO

moved to Gosford, not only did local trade increase but the city gained a sense of vibrancy. “As we recover from COVID, it’s people that will reinvigorate our city centre and our town centres by working, living and playing in the area. “The fastest way to achieve this is with large organisations regionalising and in turn stimulating small business. “The Central Coast is a prime destination for regionally

located jobs. “It’s good to see the Government has responded to our calls by taking a leadership role in supporting more jobs in regional areas. “Importantly, by leading as an employer, the NSW Government can identify regulatory barriers and other impediments to success. “What is also important is that we anticipate that the NSW Government will invest further

in the social and physical infrastructure, such as telecommunications upgrades which will be necessary to support these arrangements.” Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, said it was a new era for government agencies in regional parts of NSW, with more senior NSW Government roles to be based in nonmetropolitan areas. “Over the past year, COVID-19

has taught us that a wide variety of jobs don’t require city offices,” Crouch said. “The Central Coast is already home to a number of NSW Government departments, including the Department of Customer Service, Department of Regional NSW, the Department of Planning Industry and Environment, and Local Land Services.” Terry Collins

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Regional Library to go ahead Despite its financial woes, Central Coast Council is forging ahead with plans for the Gosford Regional Library and is set to lodge a development application to the NSW Department of Planning to commence work. Council will also soon begin the tender process for the demolition of the library’s future site at 123A Donnison St. Administrator Dick Persson said the project, which stalled following the suspension of councillors last October, has generated a high level of community interest and will deliver significant value into the region. “This is something that the community has wanted for a long time and will no doubt enrich the lives of Central Coast locals for generations to come,” Persson said. “Libraries play an integral part in creating liveable and sustainable cities and Gosford Regional Library will act as an

An artist’s impression of the new regional library

important community hub where residents and visitors alike can connect, share and learn within the heart of the Gosford CBD. “The future of this library is a question I have been asked

about a lot which shows its importance to our community and I am pleased to be able to play this role in moving the project ahead.” Plans for the state-of-the-art library include a dedicated

library space, Council customer service centre, library administration, meeting rooms, flexible function spaces, maker/creator spaces and collaboration and innovation spaces for the community over four levels.

The project is being funded through a $7M commitment under the Federal Government’s Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development’s Community Grants Program, $8.1M raised by the former Gosford Council Special Rate

Variation and $4.1M generated through the sale of 136-146 Donnison St, Gosford. Additionally, Council has approved the use of $8.5M in Developer Contributions from Section 7.12 of the contribution plan. “Following a review of available Developer Contributions, staff have identified that Gosford Regional Library is part of the Section 7.12 contributions plan, reducing the need to use the restrictions identified from the sale proceeds of Kibbleplex,” Perrson said. “This project would not be possible without the commitment from the Federal Government, as well as from the local community who helped pay for the library over many years through the former Gosford City Council’s special rate levy.” The library is set for completion by October, 2023. Source: Media release, Feb 9 Central Coast Council

Land sale prices surge on Coast Residential land sales jumped by 72.15 per cent on the Central Coast in the September 2020 quarter and prices rose almost 10 per cent over the previous year. The recently released Housing Industry Association (HIA) CoreLogic Residential Land Report shows that demand for residential land across the Coast had experienced a huge surge. HIA Hunter Executive Director, Craig Jennion, said that by comparison sales had jumped

24.24 percent in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie and 88.8 percent in the Hunter Valley since the June quarter. “This data reflects the surge in demand for land following the announcement of the HomeBuilder program in June and demonstrates that there continues to be a clear preference for coastal areas near capital cities and an ongoing trend for sea and tree change locations,” Jennion said. The median lot price on the Central Coast in September

was $332,500 which is a 9.49 per cent price increase over September 2019. Similarly, the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie median price was $330,000, a 10.18 percent increase over September 2019. “The median lot prices, however, do not account for differences in the characteristics of the lots being traded, such as their size,” Jennion said. “As a result, a more appropriate approach is to use price per square metre to track

land value.” The median price per square metre for the Central Coast was $707, a fall of 1.1 per cent from the June quarter. “Despite this slight fall, land prices per square metre on the Central Coast are a higher price than Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart and are the sixth highest of any regional market,” Jennion said. The report also found that the Central Coast had the ninth smallest median lot size of regional areas at 494sqm during the September quarter.

In contrast, the median block size coming to market in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie was 600sqm and 615sqm in the Hunter Valley. “The high demand for residential land is not just occurring on the Central Coast and the Hunter,” Jennion said. He said that across the country regional areas had benefitted from government stimulus and support, with the volume of residential land sales outside of the capital cities rising by 56.2 percent in the September quarter. “This is likely due to the

newfound capability to work from home which has enabled homebuyers to look at locations that would previously have been considered too far from their workplace, resulting in a growth in demand for land outside of metropolitan cities,” he said. “As a consequence, a sudden increase in demand for land will likely result in prices increasing in 2021.” Source: Media release, Feb 5 Craig Jennion, HIA Executive Director - Hunter

Residential land sales have jumped by more than 70 per cent on the Coast

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BUSINESS & PROPERTY PAGE 27 12 FEBRUARY 2021

Council’s Nuclear Free Policy lives on Central Coast Council will maintain the Nuclear Free Policy put into place by the former Gosford Council. Administrator Dick Persson rejected a Central Coast Council staff report which wanted to revoke the policy, amid applause from the public gallery, at the Council meeting on February 8. Only about a dozen members of the public attended the meeting but at least two of them carried home-made antinuclear signs. Another two people spoke at the public forum in favour of keeping the policy in place. The Greens member and former Wyong councillor Sue Wynn spoke as did Australian Conservation Foundation Central Coast president Mark Ellis. To the surprise of the gallery, when the speakers concluded, Persson said he agreed with everything they had said and the gallery burst into applause. Persson suggested someone had been working through a list of policies that needed removing and that at the last

Residents meet Administrator, Dick Persson, after the meeting

meeting he had dealt with some. This week the only policy on the list was the anti-nuclear policy and it stood out “like the proverbial”, he said. The staff recommended it be revoked due to the handling and mining of radioactive

materials being highly regulated by Federal and State laws. Persson said there was a lot of debate and interest in the community about nuclear power and he agreed with resident concerns about revoking the policy.

“I am very comfortable in saying no to revoking the policy and that Council will continue to have a Nuclear Free Policy,” he said. The policy was introduced to the former Gosford Council area in 1984. The former Wyong Council

area had a similar policy which was revoked in 2014. Various nuclear-related activities are prohibited on the Coast except those in direct association with hospital, medical facilities and in any measuring device. In a report to the Administrator,

staff had recommended that public consultation on the issue was costly and unnecessary. “Any public concern regarding nuclear-related activities is best dealt at the State and Federal level,’’ the report said. But Persson called it a silly proposal and won over the gallery. This was in stark contrast to the last Council meeting on February 3, which saw residents protesting a proposed rate rise in front of the Gosford Chambers and a gallery as packed as it could be in light of COVID-safe rules. No protesters turned up on February 8. The Wyong public gallery had room left over for a handful of latecomers who had not realised they needed to book a seat. Even then, there were still plenty of spaces left over. Persson expressed his surprise that nobody had registered to speak about the proposed rate rise. Merilyn Vale

Land values rising Land values in the Central Coast and Hunter regions rose by almost 2 per cent in the 2019/20 financial year.

region increased by 1.9 per cent between July 1, 2019, and July 1, 2020, from $122.3B to $124.6B. Residential land values in the region increased slightly by 2.2 per cent. This is partly due to increased demand from metropolitan Sydney purchasers moving toward nearby regional areas, including the Central Coast, the

Valuer General said. Commercial land values decreased moderately by 7.8 per cent due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Exceptions included West Gosford B6-Enterprise Corridor zoned lands which had a strong increase of 11.8 per cent due to the area entering a transformative phase. Overall industrial land values

increased slightly by 4 per cent across the region. Rural land values increased slightly overall by 3.7 per cent. Parker encouraged the public to visit https://www. valuergeneral.nsw.gov.au or call 1800 110 038 for more information on land values and the valuation system. Meanwhile, the Valuer General NSW has established a

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dedicated assistance line for landholders impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires, or who believe their land value has been impacted by COVID-19. Affected landholders are encouraged to call 1800 458 884. Source: Media release, Feb 8 NSW Valuer General

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NSW Valuer General, Dr David Parker, has published land values for the region reflecting the property market as at July 1, 2020. Land values have generally increased, with Parker saying property sales are the most important factor valuers consider when determining land values. “2020 (was) a difficult year for determining land values in the aftermath of last summer’s horrific bushfires, followed by the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis,” he said. “My office has undertaken separate studies of the impact of both bushfires and COVID-19 on the property market. “Our valuers have applied the findings of these studies to affected areas and property types where there are insufficient sales available to determine the land values. “Private contract valuers with expertise in their local areas have prepared the July 1, 2020, land values on behalf of the Valuer General, to determine

new land values across the region. “The valuers consider a range of factors in determining land value including the features of the land and its legally permitted use. Revenue NSW will use the land values to calculate land tax for the 2021 land tax year. Figures show the total land value for the Hunter Coast NSW

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ASIC slams school banking as pure marketing Julia NEWBOULD Editor-at-large • Money magazine The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) has slammed school banking programs for being marketing campaigns with no educational benefit. And they could be costing your kids hundreds of dollars in lost interest. In its review of school banking, ASIC found the programs: 1. Do nothing to improve the short- or long-term saving habits of account holders, despite providers claiming that participation leads to an increased understanding of money and savings; 2. Are persuasive advertising strategies to develop brand loyalty, despite students having little or no ability to filter marketing messages; 3. Fail to disclose their strategic objectives to acquire customers; and

4. Create a conflict of interest through the kickback payments to schools in order to incentivise participation. The findings been welcomed by consumer advocacy groups. “ASIC has painted a damning picture of school banking programs, making it clear that a key objective is to recruit customers at a young age,” says CHOICE CEO Alan Kirkland. “Most importantly, ASIC has warned school communities not to rely on claims that these programs help kids to develop good savings habits, describing these as ‘unsubstantiated’. “ Sally Tindall, research director at RateCity, says the report exposes the weaknesses of letting banks into our schools to teach our kids about money. “School should be a safe environment where kids aren’t exposed to financial marketing and advertising,” she says.

“If McDonald’s came into schools to teach kids about healthy eating, there would be an outcry. When it comes to teaching kids about money, parents and teachers should be taking the reins.” Tindall believes financial education should be included in schools’ core curriculum.

“Learning about money is a life skill but right now it’s buried in the curriculum. It should be a stand-alone subject. “School banking is a convenient way to get your kids to learn about banking, but parents can easily do this at home without being forced to use one specific provider.”

Failure to shop around could cost students thousands of dollars come adulthood. Financial educator Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon has developed an interest integrity index which calculates the difference in interest rate between the average big four banks and the best product in the market,

across the average credit card, personal loan and home loan. These interest rate differentials add up to an estimated $150,346. “CBA’s YouthSaver is offering a rate of just 0.80% – parents can teach their kids to do better than this by shopping around,” says Tindall.

What the MTAA Super, Tasplan merger will mean for 326,000 members MTAA Super and Tasplan will take on a new name on April 1, as their $23 billion merger is completed. The combined fund will be called Spirit Super and have 326,000 members, with the promise of lower administration fees. MTAA Super chief executive Leanne Turner, who will be the chief executive of the

combined fund, says its name reflects its ambition to be a national superannuation fund. “What I love about Spirit Super is it captures the energy of what we’re about. It’s fresh and optimistic and innovative — everything we want to be,” Turner said in a statement. “The new name also speaks to the past achievements of our funds. MTAA Super and Tasplan are both outstanding funds and

take great pride in providing historically strong longterm returns, excellent value and service to our members. “As Spirit Super, we will have greater capacity to continue improving our products and service and to really embrace a member-first approach to everything we do.” Turner flagged lower admin-

istration fees for all Spirit Super members. “The details are being worked

through, but there will be a drop in administration fees when Spirit Super kicks off. So right off the bat, members will start seeing the benefits of the merger,” she says. Tasplan recently told members of its plans to switch from lifecycle MySuper to single strategy, citing higher administration costs for the lifecycle among the reasons. MTAA Super runs its default superannuation

product as single strategy. Tasplan raised its income protection premiums by 7.3% at the end of September 2020. MTAA increased its death and TPD premiums in February 2020, attributing it to the government’s “Putting Members Interests First” and “Protecting Your Super” reforms and a subsequent decrease in the number of members covered by its group insurance policy.

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An interview with Dick Persson Central Coast Administrator Dick Persson has urged residents to access all available information before “banging the drum” in protest of Council’s financial mitigation measures. In an exclusive interview with Central Coast News, Persson elaborated on his recently tabled 90-Day Report in the wake of a protest against a possible rate rise outside Gosford Chambers prior to the meeting on February 3, during which he was berated by an angry crowd before handing down the report. “I asked the 50 or so protesters how many of them had actually read the (preliminary) 30-Day Report and it was pretty disappointing that only a third of them had done so,” he said. Persson said many protesters were surprised to learn that a 15 per cent rate rise would see residents of the former Wyong Council area actually paying around $3 less per week, following harmonisation with Gosford rates. “The 30-Day Report is fairly easy to read,” he said. “It was put out as an interim report. “The three-month report brings the community up to date with where we’re at but as

Central Coast Council Administrator, Dick Persson

it turns out not much has changed.” Persson said he had attempted to explain in “plain English” what went wrong and who is responsible for Council’s financial crisis – and that was largely the former CEO and Chief Financial Officer and Councillors. Persson said that while Council had an accumulated debt of $565M, it was important to note that when the former Gosford and Wyong Councils merged, they already had a debt of $314M between them, largely due to inappropriate

access of restricted funds. “The debt is not good but it’s not the problem,” he said. “As an enterprise, we lost $89M last year and this year we are on track to lose $114. “But $45M of that will be oneoff payments as (around 300) staff members leave the organisation, so that leaves (a loss of) around $70M in ongoing terms. “We need to have a surplus to repay debt and (initiate) new projects so we have to find $70M plus another $10M for surplus.

“If we do nothing than that $70M will get bigger as wages are growing faster than rates and that is not sustainable.” Persson said without the estimated $26M from a 15 per cent rate rise (yet to be approved by IPART), the damage to the organisation would be “irreparable”. “Well-intending community advocates don’t necessarily have that appreciation,” he said. “At the time of the merger, Wyong rates were higher than Gosford’s and the government said we couldn’t alter that for

three years,” he said. “So even with no increase, Gosford’s rates would be going up (as rates are harmonised).” With a 15 per cent rate rise, Gosford rates would rise an average of $8 per week. “I know this is tough for some in Gosford and we will do everything we can to soften the blow,” he said. Persson reiterated that the financial situation was not caused by the merger, which he said was a “peripheral factor”. He said changes to water and

sewerage charges mandated by IPART took around $40M off the revenue line and Council had failed to harvest savings opportunities presented by the merger. The proposed sale of Council assets would help alleviate the debt he said, but it would be no fire sale. “We won’t sell something for less than its value,” Persson said. “If the market’s not right for that asset we will not take a lower price.” He said the establishment of an independent committee to advise on asset sales was important. With the Gosford Chambers and surrounding Council owned assets high on the prospective sales list, Persson said he was willing to hear people make a case for retaining particular assets, and that he had already taken off the list assets earmarked for social housing and one intended for a community centre. But there was a limit to how much could be taken off the table, he said. He said it was hoped $40$50M could be raised through asset sales over the next few years. Terry Collins

Who are the experts? Property experts from a Parramatta Council advisory committee will advise Central Coast Council on selling its underperforming assets. But the Coast will not know how much the Council is paying the two experts. Council has declined to answer Coast News’s questions on payment saying the rates for engaging Michael Filo and Steve Rowe is commercial-inconfidence. “It is not a fixed amount, a

bonus or a percentage of sales,” the Council said in answer to those three suggestions from Coast News. Council also declined to address the suggestion that the appointments were “jobs for the boys” as Acting CEO Rik Hart had worked as CEO at Parramatta before coming to the Coast. “Mr Filo and Mr Rowe were appointed through a government panel arrangement,” was the official Council response.

“Council (is) able to engage suitable businesses through NSW Government prequalified panel arrangements.” In their role as property development experts Filo and Rowe become the Coast’s Independent Advisory Group which is going to “provide advice to achieve the best result” in selling off Council’s underperforming assets. The sale of the assets was one of a range of options Administrator Dick Persson adopted late last year to improve Council’s financial

position, along with staff cuts and a potential rate rise. Persson was installed when the councillors were suspended last year after it was revealed in October that Council had been unlawfully spending restricted funds, putting it in debt far beyond budgeted deficits it had planned. Persson’s first decision was to hire Rik Hart as acting CEO. He had worked with Hart at Warringah Council, hiring him as CEO in 2007 when Persson was in the role of Administrator

there. In a report which was tabled at Council’s first meeting of 2021, Filo and Rowe are described as possessing extensive experience in the public sector providing support and oversight for property, asset and development transactions. Their most recent relevant engagement has been as members on the Major Projects Advisory Committee for Parramatta City Council. Council’s terms of reference

for the Coast’s committee says the pair will hold meetings and their decisions must be unanimous. The first tranche of sites up for sale includes the Gosford Council offices in Mann St, Gosford, the old Broadwater Hotel site beside it; land adjacent to the airport at Warnervale and land at Hue Hue Rd, Jilliby. More tranches of land will be brought forward later in the year.

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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE PAGE 31 12 FEBRUARY 2021

Narara mum joins febfast Narara resident, Louise Parfitt, is one of many Australians choosing this February to give up alcohol, sugar, or another vice as part of the febfast challenge. The initiative invites people to fast for the month to help raise money for Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS), which helps disadvantaged youth. Parfitt had wanted to stop drinking for the past 12 months due to health reasons and said this challenge was great for motivation. “I hadn’t heard of febfast before, but what a great cause,” Parfitt said. “It is a great motivator, and the donations keep me feeling both accountable and encouraged. “I have managed seven weeks previously, before falling into old

habits. “I actually stopped again just before febfast and I hope to keep going afterwards. “There are days I struggle more than others, don’t get me wrong. “So I’ll go out for a walk and remember why I am doing this and who I am doing it for. “Health-wise, I absolutely feel better without alcohol - mentally and physically. “I am more active, motivated, and a happier person overall.” So far, Parfitt has raised $165 for YSAS and aims to reach $300. “Vulnerable youth, drug and alcohol use, socio-economic disadvantage, and homelessness are all significant issues on the Central Coast,” Parfitt said.

“I am a single mum of three, so obviously have a vested interest in their future and wellbeing.” People can still participate in the challenge despite it being halfway through the month. “Early intervention and effective treatment mean that young people can have a fighting chance,” Parfitt said. “A recent (excellent) documentary I watched said it could take up to 20 years for people struggling with addiction to seek treatment - how sad is that? “We really need to work on reducing the stigma associated with addiction and mental health so people aren’t afraid to get the help they need.” Louise Parfitt

Jacinta Counihan

25 years of treating cancer It was World Cancer Day on February 4 and to celebrate, Icon Cancer Centre in Gosford recognised its 25 years of treating patients on the Central Coast.

Jerry Zarb ringing the bell at Icon Cancer Centre

Since opening in 1995, Icon has treated more 12,000 patients using the state-of-theart Varian Halcyon™ system. This system is an image guidance machine that offers high dose radiation treatment to tumours with pinpoint precision and speed while minimising exposure to surrounding healthy tissue and organs, reducing treatment time to less than 15 minutes. Jerry Zarb, 79, used the technology after being diagnosed with prostate cancer for the second time. “The surgeon actually removed my prostate in 2003 and said to me after the operation all of the cancer was closed in the prostate so I

would have no more problems and no more cancer, which made me happy at the time,” Zarb said. Unfortunately, the cancer came back when he was in his late 70s. After speaking with Icon Radiation Oncologist, Dr Amy Teh, Zarb said he felt comfortable about undergoing treatment. “I thought, bugger it, if she’s [Dr Teh] gonna give it a go, then I’ll put up with the inconvenience,” Zarb said. For the next six weeks, he attended radiation therapy at the centre Monday to Friday and much to his relief, Zarb is now cancer-free, proudly ringing the bell and performing a rap about his radiation therapy experience with his son and daughter by his side. “Every six months since September 2019, my PSA tests have so far come back as undetectable,” Zarb said.

“I’m so happy; I have a lot of life left to live -so I’m grateful to have been able to get the treatment I need. “The team is fantastic, from the reception to the nurses and doctors. “To have gotten in fairly quickly and not had to be put on a waitlist or travel to Sydney made things much easier.” Icon Radiation Oncologist, Dr Amy Teh, has worked at the centre since 2009 and said she enjoys the community feel of the practice. “Going through cancer is a really big life-changing impact; it really makes you think about what life is about, and how you are going to live life,” Teh said. “In that sense, you’re stepping into someone’s life, where you can help and make a difference as well. “A special bond is created, and that very special bond continues long after treatment. Jacinta Counihan

PAGE 32 12 FEBRUARY 2021 HEALTH & LIFETSYLE

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Soul food and a recipe for chocolate mud cream nutritional situation that is the modern donut! This process is amplified further when we’re indulging in foods associated with fond childhood memories. To any mamas who might be reading this: preparing delicious, nutrient dense, homemade soul food for your children might be a fairly thankless task, but the benefits go far beyond their immediate nourishment. So, if you’re someone who has the tendency to become attached to certain ways of eating, I encourage you to give yourself permission to really enjoy your food. At each meal, regardless of what ends up on your plate, focus more on the joy of eating – utilising all your senses – rather than the analysis or judgemental chatter that might be taking place in your head. A way to tick both boxes

GEORGIA LIENEMANN We’re midway through a six-part guide to feeling good. Thus far, we’ve explored the importance of breathing, sleep, rest, pleasure, human connection and this week we’re focusing on ‘soul’ food. Now, before we get into all the chocolatey details, I want to talk a little about the importance of soul food from my perspective. Having spent a couple of decades in search of the best diet for humans and in the process, experimented with the bulk of the dietary and detox protocols out there, I can tell you firsthand that overly restrictive eating isn’t the best path to feeling good. Naturally, eating well is important, however for some, it can be a slippery slope to becoming obsessive or fixated on compartmentalising foods as ‘good’ or ‘bad’. The importance of soul food One thing I’ve come to know is that soul food, whether it’s homemade or even the processed store-bought variety (gasp!), is an extremely important component of a healthy diet. And the way we approach it will make all the difference. You might be familiar with the ‘French Paradox’, a term coined to describe the apparent mystery of why the French can eat three times as much fat as Americans, but their population has remained at a much healthier weight and with less incidence of heart disease. The simple explanation is the quality and ratio of the types of fat they consume, but we’ll come back to that another time. If you can imagine living in a country where there are lower health risks associated with an indulgent diet, you can understand how the French have a completely different mindset around food. This was highlighted beautifully many years ago with a simple experiment, referenced in Michael Pollan’s brilliant book ‘In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto’. When the French were asked to share the first word association that sprang to mind upon being shown the words ‘chocolate cake’, the most

common response was ‘celebration’. For their American counterparts, it was ‘guilt’, demonstrating the degree to which diet culture has radically transformed an enjoyable pastime into one that generates an internal state of fear and loathing. Beliefs and biology The area of research that investigates how our perception influences biology is a fascinating one. Several studies spring to mind which suggest that the way we view the food on our plate can have a significant effect on our physiology when we consume it. For starters, we know that different areas of the brain light up when we view food as celebratory versus being a guilty pleasure – or even

something we know we ‘should’ eat, purely for health reasons. Earlier in this series, we touched on the idea that pleasure can have a profound effect on the nervous system (and thus our overall physical and mental health) via the vagus nerve, which is informed by our senses and determines our physiological response to our environment. By mindfully indulging in a chocolate-covered donut every once in a while, especially if we engage our senses by revelling in the delicious aroma, flavour and texture – we can have a calming effect on the nervous system, flooding our body with a cascade of beneficial chemicals and generating feelings of joy. This process also helps to switch on the digestive process to enable us to deal with the less-than-ideal

My dairy-free chocolate mud cream (chocolate mayo!) This decadent recipe is a recent invention of mine, created mainly to get a broader range of healthy fats into my kids – neither of whom can currently tolerate dairy, much to my overwhelming disappointment! Given that it uses the same technique as a traditional mayonnaise, I’d initially named it ‘chocolate mayo’, however was quickly reprimanded by my test subjects – apparently it’s too off-putting. Chocolate mud cream, it is! The recipe brings together two highly revered traditional foods which contain powerful mood boosting nutrients. We’ve discussed the incredible nutrient density of egg yolks in previous columns, rich in the universally deficient vitamin K2 as well as choline, zinc, iron and more. Cacao or cocoa (the terms are interchangeable, please ignore the raw foodies who insist that one is raw and one is cooked – simply not true!) is also exceptionally nutrient dense and has a long-standing reputation as a mood-enhancing functional food. The nourishing and deliciously aromatic fat of the cocoa bean, which can be purchased in bags of easy-to-use cocoa butter ‘wafers’ from local girls Nurtured Earth is used in this recipe to emulsify – just like oil is used in a traditional mayonnaise. The recipe is extremely forgiving and doesn’t tend to split – so there’s no need to be as cautious and slow with adding the melted fat.

Now, as I fall more and more deeply in love with learning more about regional cuisines and traditional foods and the long-lasting impacts of the misguided anti-fat campaign have dwindled, it becomes overwhelmingly apparent that the dishes many of us would describe as ‘soul food’ can be made with extremely nutrient-dense, nourishing ingredients. They can actually be healthy! Now that we know that saturated fat is not the enemy; that most saturated fats – and indeed most animal fats, whether they’re saturated or not – provide vital nutrients for brain, nervous system and hormone health; that traditional cultures ate ten times the fat-soluble nutrients than we do, it’s time to rethink our relationship with soul food all over again.

My favourite method with any type of mayo, is to use a handheld blender and mix it up directly in the jar you’re planning to store it in. This recipe makes around a cup of mud cream, but can be doubled or trebled depending on family size. Trust me, it won’t last long in the fridge! Ingredients 2 eggs 1 egg yolk 3 tsp cacao/cocoa powder ½ tsp vanilla essence or paste Medium pinch of salt 1.5 tbsp. maple syrup (slightly less, if you prefer honey) 55g cacao butter wafers Method 1. Place all ingredients except the cacao butter in a glass jar or small bowl and using a hand blender or whisk, process them until well combined. 2. Gently heat the cacao butter in a small saucepan over low heat just until melted. 3. Continue to blend or whisk the chocolate egg mixture as you drizzle in the melted cacao butter, until the mixture is uniform and smooth. The mud cream will store in the fridge for up to one week and is a delicious accompaniment to fresh berries, waffles and of course can be eaten straight out of the jar with a spoon. It can also be frozen into the creamiest homemade ice cream – we love to blend it up with ice cubes and a splash of nut milk for a dairy free chocolate ‘milkshake’ on hot days.

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SCIENCE & EDUCATION

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We Care Connect supports kids get back to school Students all over the Coast benefitted from a Back to School initiative organised by local volunteer-run charity We Care Connect.

A case worker from Bungree Aboriginal Association (left) with Chris from We Care Connect

With the help of the local community, more than 200 Back-to-School backpacks including lunch boxes, drink bottles, stationary items and workbooks were distributed to primary and high schools all over the region. Backpacks for high school students included essential scientific calculators and USB sticks. A spokesperson for We Care Connect said with the financial impact of Christmas still lingering, many families couldn’t provide their children with the basics they needed for a return to school from pencil cases and drink bottles to uniforms, backpacks, socks and shoes.

“We Care Connect was determined to make sure local children wouldn’t go without on their first day of school,” the spokesperson said. The call went out, with several other community organisations stepping in to help. Wyong Rugby Leagues Club’s grants program helped with the purchase of items. Community members donated $4,400 to the fundraising appeal and many local residents donated new Back-to-School items as part of the campaign. “It really was an exceptional demonstration of our great community coming together to help kids in need,” the spokesperson said. We Care Connect operates through a professional network of case workers and support agencies working directly with disadvantaged families. “The case workers shared

feedback that the families receiving the Back-to-School packs are over the moon and it’s great that the kids can go back to school having the same supplies as their classmates,” the spokesperson said. “In some instances, the children have recently become homeless and aren’t able to get their old things back in time for school (due to) families struggling financially and single parents who have left their partner due to domestic violence.” We Care Connect also distributes pre-loved children’s items like cots, car seats, prams and clothing through a professional network of support agencies and case workers. To donate to the Back to School campaign, go to: https:// back-2-school.raisely.com/ Source: Media release, Feb 7 We Care Connect

Artistic talent runs in the Lynch family Art runs in the family for the Lynches, with Central Coast twins, Amelia and Harley Lynch, graduating with a Master of Fine Art (MFA) from the National Art School (NAS) in Darlinghurst. After five years of study, Amelia and Harley’s majors will appear in the NAS Postgrad show, running from February 12-21. Amelia’s inspiration behind her ceramic piece, Eastern Rosella, was taken from places

such as Katandra Reserve, Bouddi National Park, Girrakool, and small creeks in Erina. “My art-making practice explores my connection with the Australian landscape,” Amelia said. “I’m particularly interested in the textural qualities of the micro and macro landscapes of the Central Coast and places I have visited. “The glazes suggest the textures of eucalyptus bark, wattle flowers, concave rock pools and the reflections of water in bush creeks, and

yabbie exoskeletons. “All my glaze colours come from the native flora and fauna of Australia. “My work seeks to replicate these patterns, forms and colours through the use of crawl, crackle and matte glazes.” Harley’s major in photomedia is called Kyle’s Monster can. Amelia said working on two different mediums made sure neither of them felt competitive. “We are definitely not competitive people at all, if

anything we help each other grow in each of our mediums because we can provide our own constructive comments to each other,” she said. NAS Director and CEO, Steven Alderton, said he was proud of the NAS graduates despite it being a turbulent year. “Despite the difficulties and disruptions this year, their outstanding and accomplished work shows they are ready to join the celebrated ranks of NAS alumni,” Alderton said. Jacinta Counihan

Terrigal debating team triumphs Facing off against 666 schools, the Terrigal Primary School debating team, Terrigal Tigers, was named runner-up in the 2020 NSW Premiers Debating Challenge.

Terrigal Tigers’ Debating Team

The four-person team consisted of Year Six students Zoe Smith and Coco Furniss and Year Five students Abby Peterson Hampshire and Sophie Semetka. Year Five teacher and debate team coordinator, James Ridley, said the team was presented with the Liz Bugbird inaugural Hunter and Central

Coast shield and medallions via Zoom. “The topic for the final round was All children in primary school should be taught by a different teacher each week’,” Ridley said. “We were the affirmative team, which meant we agreed with it. “We had the tricky end of the deal, but they did really well. “They came up with some really strong arguments about teachers sharing the workload and children being prepared for change, and they did really well.”

Ridley said the team had to go against many local and state schools before getting to the final round. “We were against teams from Bathurst, Newcastle, Hunter Valley, Sydney and more,” he said. “We got all the way up to the final and competed against a team in Sydney. “Unfortunately, we lost, but two of the adjudicators voted for them, and one voted for us so that just shows how close the final was.” Jacinta Counihan

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NEWS PAGE 35 12 FEBRUARY 2021

Staff trained to support customers facing stress Service NSW staff across the Central Coast are being trained to support customers facing emotional pressure or mental stress, as communities continue to feel the impact of bushfires, flooding and COVID-19. Minister for Customer Service, Victor Dominello, and Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, visited the Erina Service Centre in February to meet with staff who have received the mental health training. “Many people are under extraordinary emotional pressure or mental stress,” Dominello said. “This is about making sure people are getting the support they need. “Our frontline staff are well placed to assist people in

finding that support, and its empowering to see them demonstrate the skills to recognise and respond empathetically.” Crouch said the training program, which has been fasttracked for Service NSW staff, is part of a two-year investment of more than $1M in suicide prevention training for government staff working in systems outside of mental health. “Frontline staff at Service NSW have done a fantastic job under pressure and this training has helped them better support customers in our community,” Crouch said. “During the training, staff were shown useful techniques to de-escalate situations and provide referral options for customers who may require more specialised mental health support.”

Service NSW Erina Digital Service Representative, Chantel Johnson, said the training not only provided vital skills to help others, but also gave staff the tools to look after their own mental health and improve their mental fitness. “I feel more confident in recognising and responding appropriately to someone’s emotional distress, both at work and at home,” she said. “We all need help sometimes and it’s important that people know they are not alone.” The training initiative is part of Towards Zero Suicides, a Premier’s Priority that is delivering an $87M investment over three years in new suicide prevention initiatives. Source: Media release, Feb 5 Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch

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Terrigal tops tally in SLSC Branch Championships SURF LIFE SAVING Over the past weekend, from the 6-7 February, Shelly Beach Surf Life Saving Club hosted backto-back Branch Championships, where 14 clubs from around the Coast came to compete. Overall, the most points went to Terrigal Surf Life Saving Club, who scored a total of 932 points, placing second in the Saturday Opens event and first in the Sunday Masters. Behind them were the hosts who tallied up 832 points, placing third on Saturday and first on Sunday. The competitors in the Saturday Opens event were met with tricky surf conditions, wherein Terrigal adapted best, finishing the day with a resounding 328 point lead above second place, Avoca Beach Surf Life Saving Club on 668 points. The skies cleared overnight, so that the Masters were

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presented with close to perfect waves for both ocean and sand events. Shelly Beach athletes excelled, pulling away from their competition for a 243 point lead over second place Terrigal, finishing the day with 507 points. Despite this strong showing, Shelly Beach were unable to bridge the lead Terrigal had set the day before, so that the final standings of both days combined showed Terrigal in first, Shelly Beach in second and Avoca Beach in third. “The Shelly Beach Surf Club is very proud of our member’s efforts in hosting and competing in the Central Coast Branch Championships,” reported the host Club President, Brad Glover. “Our competitors performed strongly with individual and

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team gold in both competitions, taking first place in the Masters for the first time in living memory at a Branch Championships. “Many member’s gave up their time on their weekend to officiate, provide water safety and do all the jobs to make the carnival run and we thank them for their support.” Source: Interview with Shelly Beach SLSC President, Brad Glover.

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Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment – Invitation to Register Interest PRINTING – SALES CONSULTANT On behalf of Adam Lowe Earthmoving Pty Ltd, Heritage Now is seeking expressions of interest from Aboriginal people who hold cultural knowledge relevant to the relevant Somersby Area. The Project Area is located approximately 9 kilometres north-west of Gosford in the Central Coast Local Government Area and is within the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council boundaries. The purpose of the consultation is for the preparation of an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment. In accordance with the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Consultation Requirements 2010 please send your registration to: Crystal Phillips PO Box 114 Belmont NSW 2280 hello@heritagenow.com.au 0425 250 310 The due date for responses is 26 February 2021 Further information will be provided on registration

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Gosford Little Athletes off to State Championships ATHLETICS A squad of Gosford Little Athletics Club’s young track and field stars travelled up to Maitland Regional Athletics Centre for the Region 2 State Qualifying Athletics Meet on 6-7 February, with many of the young athletes now qualifying for the LANSW Littles State Championship.

Zieke Bugden with his winning shot put throw

Of the 26 Gosford athletes who competed for a place, 10 have already qualified in a number of different track and field events by finishing in the first two places. Another five athletes finished third or fourth in their events and are awaiting the results of the other seven region’s Meets to see if they are part of the next best eight athletes. Most impressive on the weekend was Zieke Bugden in the Under 11 boys Discus, breaking the Region 2 record with a throw of 34.75m.

Zieke also won the Shot Put with 12.41m and came second in the Javelin throwing 19.66m, meaning he will enter the State Championship in three field events. There were many more great accomplishments by Gosford athletes, especially in the throwing events, where the Club collected three gold, four silver and four bronze medals. Emily McKendrick placed third in the Under 9 girls High Jump with 1.02m, as did Sienna Coleman in the Under 10 girls 100m with 15.72. Kingston Alabi won long jump with 4.12m and placed second in the 60m hurdles in the Under 10 boys. In the Under 10 girls, Zahli Fisher threw the second furthest shot put with 7m and the third furthest discus with 17.81m. One win each went to Lyndon Miletic in the Under 11 boys long jump with 4.25m and

Carmelo Nocedo in the Under 11 girls 400m with 1:09.42. Bryson Norris won the Under 11 boys javelin with 19.74m, placed third in 1500m with a time of 5:11.69 and fourth in the 800m with 2:33.09. Madelyn Ruane competed in the Under 11 girls, where she came second in the Javelin with 14.22m, second in Shot Put with 7.29m and third in Discus with 19.35m. George Kehagias placed second in the Under 11 boys triple jump with 8.75m, and a year above, Lachlan Glasson came third in the 800m with 2:33.81 and fourth in the 1500m with 5:35.77. Also in the Under 12’s, Kai Onozawa came third in the boys discuss with 30.24m, fourth in Triple Jump with 8.94m and fourth in the 200m 28.64. Taylah Sankey came second in the 80m hurdles with 14.73 and third in javelin with

14.12m, whereas Nikkita Mudrazija placed third in high jump with 1.30m. Gosford Little Athletics Club President, Stu Farrant, was proud of the young club members’ achievements and is now looking forward to the preparations for the State Championship. “It was a very good result for Gosford Little Athletics with most of our kids getting through,” he said. “We have a good training program with throws, jumps and running coaches, and some kids with one-on-one coaches. “All the kids who got through have a training squad they’re involved with and that will continue to go on over the six weeks before State.” The State Championship will be held at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre on 20-21 March. Haakon Barry

Bowls bonanza LAWN BOWLS The 2021 Central Coast Fours Bowls Championships were played in one big day of bowls at Ettalong Memorial Bowls Club on Sunday, 7 February, with the three gold medals being shared between Bateau Bay and Terrigal Bowling Club. With the semi-finals of the Presidents Reserve being played in the morning, the three grand finals in the Presidents, Seniors and Opens then proceeded at 1pm. In the Presidents final, Terrigal’s Scott Webster, Warren Parkes, Cory Pope and Steve Balsdon won over Davistown’s Neil Haughan, Craig Hillock, Dean Millock and Ian McGilchrist. After 18 ends, the score showed the Terrigal side to

The winning Presidents Reserve side, representing Terrigal Bowling Club.

have a clear victory with 27 – 5. A closer match-up was witnessed in the Seniors between Bateau Bay’s Terry

FORT DENISON

Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect.

12 FRI

19 FRI

0302 0.48 0933 1.88 1613 0.29 2209 1.40 0209 1.42 0827 0.72 1416 1.23 2021 0.68

Hughes, Gary Murphy, Bill Constantine and Tony Shoebridge, and Terrigal’s Graham Vale, Peter Coombes,

Doug Kirwin and Tony Swaine. The ex-Terrigal team led by Shoebridge went into the match the reigning champions,

TIDE CHART

winning the Fours last year for their old club. After losing their team to Bateau Bay, Terrigal Club

managed to put together a new team led by Swaine with the will and wile to contest for the top, but on this day it was the new Bateau Bay Club team who took out gold after 18 ends, with a score of 28-11. In the Opens, Bateau Bay’s Peter McCarten, Jeff Watson, Chayne Edwards and Rodney Rewko were up against Ettalong’s Glen Daley, Glen Simmington, Greg Shirley and Lee Patterson, who sought to win gold for the host club. However, it was the Bateau Bay side who took out the win, coming from behind late in the game to defy Ettalong’s early lead. As a result, the three winning teams have progressed on to the state finals to be played later this year. Source: Bowls Central Coast.

LAT 33° 51’ S - LONG 151° 14’ E - TIME ZONE - 1000

Times and Heights(m) of high and low waters

0346 0.44 0432 0.43 0520 0.44 0022 1.49 0112 1.51 0205 1.53 1015 1.91 1059 1.90 1143 1.84 0612 0.47 0812 0.56 0708 0.51 SAT 1652 0.26 SUN 1732 0.26 MON 1814 0.28 TUE 1229 1.75 WED 1318 1.62 THU 1415 1.47 2251 1.44 2335 1.47 1857 0.33 1942 0.40 2032 0.47 0510 1.47 0303 1.42 0405 1.43 0609 1.55 0030 0.66 0117 0.58 0938 0.74 1058 0.72 1209 0.66 1304 0.57 0700 1.64 0745 1.74 SAT 1523 1.15 SUN 1645 1.12 MON 1802 1.15 TUE 1900 1.21 WED 1348 0.48 THU 1429 0.39 2119 0.73 2228 0.74 2333 0.72 1945 1.29 2025 1.37

APPROX. TIME LAG AFTER FORT DENISON Ettalong 40 min, Rip Bridge 2hrs - Wisemans Ferry 2 hrs 30 min, Koolewong 2 hrs 10 min In view of the variations caused by local conditions and meteorological effects, these times are approximate and must be considered as a guide only. They are not to be relied on for critical depth calculations for safe navigation. Actual times of High and Low Water may occur before or after the times indicated

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SPORT PAGE 39 12 FEBRUARY 2021

Coastie to lead International Rugby RUGBY Gosford Rugby Club old boy, Brendan Morris, has recently been named the new CEO of the South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina Rugby body (SANZAAR), the organisation responsible for overseeing the Super Rugby professional club league and the Rugby Championship international competition. The decision became effective as of 1 February, after Andy Marinos left the role to take up the CEO position at Rugby Australia. Morris played the majority of his own rugby career in Gosford with the Red Devils, coming through to the first grade from 1986 to 1990, moving to the Kariong Wanderers between ’91 and ’93, then taking his rugby career overseas to Ireland and the US for a number of years before returning to Gosford in ’97.

Brendan Morris next to the Super Rugby Trophy

His background playing rugby at the top grade, local grass root level has led Morris to see the sport as an integral stepping stone in forming, not only his career, but also his core values. “Coming from a rugby culture

made it a lot easier to navigate the administrative body because I understood the values of the game,” Morris said. “Rugby separates itself from other sports because we hold

the values of respect, teamwork, integrity and passion so highly. “The place to learn these values is through club rugby, and you can take them into any corporate world and already be

a step ahead.” Entering into the SANZAAR executive office after the difficulties world sport faced in 2020, Morris has set his intentions around re-engaging fans for the upcoming year of

Super Rugby which kicks off domestically in Australia on the 19 February, with a TransTasman competition starting in May. “To reengage fans this year, we’ve been innovative with our competition rules so that you will see new law variations to speed the game up, keep the ball in play longer and make the games a better spectacle,” concluded Morris. In International Rugby, the Wallabies are hopeful for the resumption of the full Rugby Championship after South Africa’s withdrawal in 2020, as well as potential for a test series against France and a bid for Australia to host this year’s scheduled British and Irish Lions contest against South Africa. Morris confirmed that these plans are still being finalised and a decision will be made soon. Source: Interview with Brendan Morris Haakon Barry

Zipping Squiggle put down at Gosford Dogs GREYHOUND RACING Tuesday, February 9 has marked the first greyhound death at Gosford Track in 2021 with the euthanasia of Zipping Squiggle after the dog suffered a compound fracture of the near side radius and ulna on the race track. According to the onsite Stewards’ Report, the

greyhound Smiley galloped on the heels of Zipping Squiggle as they turned out of the back straight, causing her to fall and fail to finish. The damage was considered catastrophic and so the bitch was put down. This was Zipping Squiggle’s third race in her two years, without having won any prize money.

The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds (CPG) have issued a statement condemning the dog racing industry for failing to take heed of their recommendations of how to make dog racing safer for the participants. “It’s been a shocking start to the year for greyhounds on Australian tracks,” reported CPG national president, Dennis

Anderson. “There have already been 18 deaths and more than 1,000 injuries, with 285 injuries in NSW alone. “The death of Zipping Squiggle highlights the problems inherent in greyhound racing: curved tracks, races with too many dogs, and greyhounds with broken legs being euthanised at the track.

“Industry-funded research in 2017 recommended straight tracks and six-dog races, yet greyhounds keep losing their lives on curved tracks in races with too many dogs. “The only way to end greyhound suffering is to ban greyhound racing. CPG have listed other measures they believe will reduce the number of deaths

and injuries of racing greyhounds, including implementing whole of life tracking to prevent greyhounds disappearing, funding to rescues and sanctuaries, increased penalties enforced by state governments and reduced breeding. Source: News Alert from CPG (Dennis Anderson, national president)

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PAGE 40 12 FEBRUARY 2021 SPORT

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Kuol-ity

A-League top goal scorer, Alou Kuol Photo: Haakon Barry

FOOTBALL A second come-back win in a row for the Mariners at Central Coast Stadium against Western United has given the side a sliver of first place security. The brunt of the home side damage was done by Mariner, Alou Kuol, who came on in the second half and scored two goals. Still buzzing off their come-

from-behind win over Melbourne City, the Mariners faced a team who had won their last encounter by a whopping 6-2. Western United were quick to capitalise with a set piece goal in the 4th minute that found the head of Uskok, who thumped the ball back across Mariners keeper into the net. The game then turned on its head with its second set-piece goal, this time going to the

Mariners off a corner, put away by captain Matt Simon. The initial header from Marcos Ureńa hit the bottom corner of the post and ricocheted back into play. Simon was the first to respond with a powerful, low strike at point blank range. In the 42nd minute however, Western United scored their second goal through Mariners bane, Besart Berisha, whose lightning strike snapped the

ball upward above Birighitti’s outstretched arms, earning the A-League veteran his 21st goal against the Mariners in 24 games. The Mariners’ second half search for goals brought a number of good opportunities in the first 30 minutes without any scoreboard success. But then, in the 78th minute, a point-perfect corner from Danny de Silva found the head of Kuol who racked up goal

number four to his 2021 tally. And, in scenes reminiscent of the previous game, it was the home side who produced the finale. Australian Under 23 player, Dylan Pierias cut out a pass along the side line and found Daniel Bouman making a run ahead of him. Bouman curled the ball in to the forward surging Kuol, who launched himself forward, meeting the ball with a diving

header. For Kuol, his two goals have shot him back up to the top of the goal scoring tally with five, a placement he now shares with Brisbane Roar’s Dylan Wenzel-Halls. For the Mariners, a wellearned week-long break, after three games in eight days, will be followed by a fierce match against Wellington Phoenix. Haakon Barry.

Graham leads world winter stage SKIING Central Coast mogul skier, Matt Graham, has found himself ranked number one on the International Ski Federation’s (FIS) World Cup standings after backto-back podium placements in events held in Deer Valley, USA. On Friday, 5 February, Graham earned his second medal of the season with a third place finish in the Men’s Moguls with a super final jump that was the highest degree of difficulty of his World Cup career. His mogul run involved a ‘back double full’ (double

twisting back somersault) on the top jump and a ‘d-spin 1080’ (triple twisting off axis somersault) on the bottom air, scoring 84.44 points. Ahead of him on this day was Frenchman, Benjamin Cavet, in second place with a score of 86.2 and 2018 Olympic gold medallist, Mikael Kingsbury of Canada on 88.10 points. The very next day, Graham competed in the Men’s Dual Moguls, going in at fourth in the overall standings, with fellow Aussie, Brodie Summers behind him in fifth. This time, Graham outdid his previous day’s performance in the snowy conditions, placing

second behind Mikael Kingsbury, with Summers finishing eighth for the second day in a row. On the overall score tally, Graham has now moved into first place, the first time an Australian has taken out this position since the world renowned, Dale Begg-Smith in 2010. “It was a tough day today, I think all the boys where a bit sore after yesterday’s event, so we really had to dig deep,” Graham said after collecting his third medal of the season and the 18th major medal of his career (3 gold, 7 silver, 8 bronze).

“It’s a great feeling to go into the last World Cup event of the season wearing the yellow leaders bib.” Now, with one World Cup competition left in the schedule, a dual mogul event in Kazakstan on March 14, Graham will enter it with an 18 point lead at 289 points. Behind him is Cavet on 271 points, Ludavig Fjallstrom of Sweden with 258 points and Ikuma Horishima of Japan on 246 points. Source: Media Releases (05/02/21 & 06/02/21) by Olympic Winter Institute of Australia.

Matt Graham mid-way through a ‘d-spin 1080’ jump in Men’s Mogul event Photo: Steven Earl/U.S. Ski Team