Coast Community News #429

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US A STORY

CCN encourages “community journalism”, including story leads, citizen reports, media releases, photos & letters to the Editor.

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Manager & Digital Editor: David Abrahams

Print Editor & Senior Journalist: Terry Collins

Journalists: Sue Murray, Denice Barnes, Merilyn Vale

Graphic Designer: Brad Yee

Distribution: Anthony Wagstaff

Contributors: Cheralyn Darcey

Gosford’s 18,000 apartment approvals revealed

The recent pushback from Central Coast Council’s Administrator and staff against proposed new State Government development plans around key transport hubs like Gosford, Tuggerah, and Wyong highlights the imbalance in the region’s urban planning landscape.

These plans, centred on what the State calls Transport Oriented Development (TOD), aim to densify housing around transit nodes to enhance accessibility and reduce reliance on cars.

However, the Council’s administration has concerns about the readiness and suitability of these areas for such intensified development, raising important questions

about the balance between growth and sustainability.

Of course, as the Central Coast continues to grow, the need for housing near transport infrastructure becomes increasingly obvious.

The TOD projects on the surface present an opportunity to create vibrant, connected communities where residents can enjoy the convenience of nearby amenities and transportation.

Yet, the implementation of these plans must be carefully managed to ensure that developments are in harmony with the existing developments, the community

fabric and its infrastructure capabilities.

The Council’s call for clear criteria in applying TOD reforms is a sensible approach to safeguard against potential pitfalls.

It underscores the importance of strategic planning that considers not just the immediate benefits of increased density but also the long-term impacts on local services, traffic congestion and community character.

Moreover, the ongoing dialogue between the State Government and the Council must reflect on the complexities of urban development in areas already experiencing rapid growth.

The fact that Administrator Rik Hart revealed that Gosford

alone already has 18,000 existing approvals for homes that will accommodate 3040,000 people is stunning in its magnitude.

It emphasises the need for collaboration and thoughtful consideration of local contexts in shaping policies that guide such significant transformations.

The goal should be to accommodate growth and foster communities where people can thrive.

Ensuring that developments around transport hubs enhance rather than detract from the quality of life will be key to the Central Coast’s future as a vibrant, sustainable region.

David Abrahams, Managing Editor

Aged care resident Barbara turns 23

Meet the 23-year-old living at an aged care facility.

Barbara Dewhurst, a beloved resident of Alino Living’s Lake Haven Court, celebrated her 23rd birthday on February 29 – although she is actually 92.

Born on February 29, 1932, in Crewe, England, her leap year birth date has always set Barbara apart, and this year, she marked the occasion in style.

An Alino Living spokesperson said Barbara, known affectionately as Barb or Barbie, has a vibrant personality which shines through in every interaction.

“Despite getting older, she maintains a sharp wit, a keen intellect and a warm heart,” the spokesperson said.

“With a preference for bright colours and a flair for fashion, she embodies the quintessential English lady.

“Throughout her life, Barbara has been passionate about dancing, attending dance lessons and exploring the Isle

“Accordingly,

of Man, a place she holds dear, having visited seven times.

“Her sense of humour and emotional depth are evident when she reminisces about her

“Unfortunately,

family, friends and leap year birthdays.”

Barbara said in her younger days she enjoyed dancing, listening to music and

celebrating with friends on her birthday.

“I even remember my work friends always making a fuss of me by celebrating my leap year birthday more than anyone else’s birthday,” she said.

“Those memories I will cherish forever.

“I’m eating well, talking well and sleeping well, and I am looked after like royalty here so I’m very lucky even though I can’t walk around anymore.”

Barbara’s mother lived to be 100 and she is determined to match that.

To celebrate the special occasion, Lake Haven Court organised a memorable event, complete with a photo wall featuring Barbara’s journey through the years.

A talented singer performed Barbara’s favourite tunes, while family, residents and staff came together to honour her.

Barbara’s daughter, Susie, was present, along with other close family members.

92-year-old Barbara Dewhurst celebrates her 23rd birthday

Roundtable follows three Summer drownings on Coast

An expert roundtable was held on March 4 to look at how more lives can be saved on NSW beaches after more than a dozen coastal drownings this Summer, including three on the Central Coast.

Two men drowned on Central Coast beaches on Christmas Day – one at Umina Beach and one at Copacabana.

A third man drowned near Ettalong Beach on Saturday, January 6.

Led by Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib, the Coastal Water Safety Roundtable will bring together rescue organisations, researchers and government agencies following a rise in water-related fatalities in recent years, with surf lifesavers also called on to make an increasing number of rescues.

There were 14 coastal drownings in NSW this Summer, and 36 in total since July 1, 2023.

This follows 48 drownings in 2022-23 – a 12 per cent increase on the 10-year average – and 52 in 20212022.

Surf lifesavers carried out a total of 3,077 rescues over the busy swimming season and more than 3,750 since July 1.

The roundtable was an

opportunity for greater collaboration as experts and government agencies shared knowledge and ideas.

Discussions explored what occurred over the season, the actions that were taken and how participants can work together to improve outcomes in the future.

The NSW Government made a record funding uplift of $23M over four years for Surf Life Saving NSW in the 2023-24 state budget, which also saw nearly $5.8M to Surf Life Saving Australia for the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter.

“Our SLSNSW volunteers and

paid lifesavers do an excellent job protecting our beaches, performing more than 3,750 rescues since July 1,” Dib said. “Water safety is a shared responsibility that requires a united effort, and we want to identify opportunities to further reduce the number of lives lost along our coast.

“It’s not just about better emergency response, it is also about building awareness in communities and finding those preventative actions that might save lives down the road.

“We want every person in NSW to be able to enjoy our stunning coastline and waterways safely, and this roundtable is all about finding ways to do that as more people visit the beach every year.

Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce said all of the 14 coastal drownings over Summer occurred at unpatrolled locations.

“It is important we focus on education, early alerting to incidents and equipping our lifesavers with the tools they need to respond quickly,” he said.

“Lifesavers and lifeguards do an incredible job, so our focus needs to turn to how to prevent people drowning when we can’t be there to prevent these tragedies.”

Coast crews pitch in to help battle Victorian fires

Fire and Rescue NSW crews from the Central Coast have headed home after helping to deal with Victoria’s recent challenging bushfire crisis.

They joined crews from Windsor, Picton, Albury and Wagga Wagga to form a special Strike Team.

Central to the crews’ success was the deployment of Kariong Fire Station’s Bulk Water Carrier, which allowed the four tankers to travel back and forth from properties to refill locally from the mobile 9,000 litre supply.

The FRNSW crews and four

NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Strike Teams were assigned to a variety of jobs by Victoria’s Country Fire Authority (CFA) during the recent catastrophically hot weather conditions.

Dispatched from the Country Fire Authority’s (CFA) Great Western Base Camp and Staging Area at Beaufort, the FRNSW Strike Team was tasked with: extinguishing bushfire hot spots; removing fallen trees across access roads and driveways; identifying compromised trees that could fall; assisting farmers with potential fire

risks; and cooling stocks of hay around the township of Raglan, west of Ballarat.

The FRNSW crews were farewelled by CFA Deputy Chief Officer Brett Boatman.

“Sometimes you’ve got to know when to put your hand up and ask for help,” he said.

“We’re really grateful for the help from the NSW Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW coming down here.

“We looked at (the) forecast and we had some real concerns about where it was going to end up.

“We wish all the crews a safe return home.”

Concern over lack of shade provision

Central Coast Council has hit back at criticisms that plans for upgrades at playspaces across the region do not include the planting of shade trees.

Council recently announced that 10 playspaces would be renewed and that construction of the playspace at Kariong, next to the new skate park and pump track at Curringa Rd, commenced on January 22.

But some residents have expressed dismay at the lack of shade provision in the new plans.

“Surely in this day and age shade areas should not only be a priority but Council policy,”

one resident, who suffers from melanoma, said. A Council spokesperson said during the consultation process for the Playspace Strategy, the community and the Playspace Committee (which includes community members) identified that quality equipment, rubber softfall, shade and fencing were all important for playspace.

“However it was further agreed that for local playspaces, which tend to have shorter periods of use than the larger district or regional playspaces, the quality, size and the amount of play equipment was a priority over shade and fencing,” they said.

“Thus shade structures are included at all Council regional and district playspaces where it is most essential, such as toddler areas, where visits are for longer periods.

“Council considers the presence and natural shade available when designing playspaces via existing trees or the planting of mature trees.

“Shade structures or tree planting are not always possible at every location due to site constraints such as impacts on surrounding properties, the high incidence of vandalism and the cost of maintenance of shade structures.”

The Council spokesperson

cited the example of the new Kariong play area.

“Kariong is a local playspace and the focus has been the play equipment, however it is noted the area does have existing established trees and a shade shelter,” they said.

“In line with Cancer Council recommendations, Council recommends visits to playspaces be, where possible, in the mornings and afternoons and not during the peak times for heat on hot days.

“Council also supports the Cancer Council’s recommendations to always wear sun-safe clothing such as long sleeves and hats.”

A man drowned at Umina Beach on Christmas Day

A render of the new playspace at Kariong

Kariong Fire Station’s Bulk Water Carrier

The Coast’s State Labor MPs are urging residents to have their say on a discussion paper set to inform a comprehensive review of Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) in the region.

It is the next step as the NSW Government continues to look at ways to address the housing crisis in the state.

Led by the Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness Rose Jackson, the four-week public consultation opened with the release of a discussion paper and an online questionnaire.

Through this review the Government will work with all stakeholders to ensure outcomes contribute meaningfully to increasing housing affordability, and

Review of short-term rentals

stability on the Central Coast.

Specific feedback will be sought on: the adequacy of the STRA planning and regulatory framework, and options for improvement; and potential policy options, including measures to incentivise property investors to make properties available for longterm rental accommodation.

In NSW, housing affordability and availability are at their lowest levels in decades.

Building approvals and construction activity have slowed while building costs have skyrocketed.

Rental vacancies are low and there are more than 55,000 people on the waitlist for social housing.

The NSW Government is taking action to strike the right balance between supporting

local communities and supporting the visitor economy and jobs, while addressing the homelessness, housing and rental crisis.

The review and potential

reform of STRA is an important step towards fixing existing structural issues in the housing market.

All options are on the table in the review.

Visit the website www. planningportal.nsw.gov.au/ draftplans/exhibition/ discussion-paper-short-andlong-term-rental-accommodation for more information and to

have your say.

Member for Wyong, David Harris said long waiting lists are leaving individuals and families in difficult situations.

“It is important to hear our community’s concerns to tackle this issue,” he said.

Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley said the Government is committed to addressing the housing crisis in NSW, delivering more supply and ensuring we have an equitable rental market and Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said with rental vacancies at an all-time low on the Central Coast, a review of short-term rental accommodation is an important element of reforms.

Member for The Entrance David Mehan said the paper was a crucial milestone in addressing the housing crisis.

Advanced training for Marine Rescue volunteers

Blood, bruises and broken bones were in abundance on Brisbane Water over the weekend of March 2-3 when Marine Rescue Central Coast volunteers sat for their first aid and advanced resuscitation course.

The course, a requirement for all skippers and boat crew, is

part of the skill sets and knowledge needed to take an active role in Marine Rescue.

Course co-ordinator Sally Allen said all members –whether crew or radio operators – are trained to provide first aid to help people in need, particularly on the water.

“In the event of a person suffering a serious injury or

illness, this may well save lives, especially when paramedics aren’t able to assist quickly,” Allen said.

It’s not just the crews who have been asked to assist injured or ill people, but Marine Rescue radio operators have had to give first aid advice over the radio or phone at times, fitting in with the mission statement,

‘saving lives on the water’.

As well as the demanding hands-on portion of the course, there was also a two-day practical side.

It was held at Marine Rescue’s Point Clare base, which is about to undergo a makeover – the complete demolition and rebuilding of the 63-year-old structure.

Upgrade for Maidens Brush Reserve

Member for The Entrance David Mehan has welcomed news that Maidens Brush Reserve at Wyoming is to be upgraded.

Central Coast Council will receive $105,000 in funding support for the upgrade through the NSW Government’s Local Small Commitments Allocation Program.

The program provided $400,000 to each of the 93 state electorates in NSW providing benefits for local community projects.

Mehan pledged prior to the last state election to facilitate an upgrade of the reserve.

The works will see the existing large octagonal swing retained and include: renewal

of the play unit with three slides; a climbing wall and shop counter; a rocker; a nest swing; rubber and mulch softfall; a new path linking the carpark; and inclusion of a disabled parking spot.

Mehan has seen the concept designs and has asked Council to consider seating as part of the upgrade.

Proposal to expand COSS to north of region

It wanted Council to rezone some C3 Environmental Management land to C2 Environmental Conservation and to subdivide both 15 and 30 Jack Grant Ave, Warnervale, along the zone boundary to separate the Central Coast Airport and industrial land from Porters Creek Wetland.

In response, Administrator Rik Hart has given in-principle support but with provisos.

Hart has requested more information that will determine the appropriate approach for

management of competing land uses on Council-owned land in the locality.

He wants a report that considers the COSS Advisory Committee’s proposal while also considering: the findings of the exhibited draftWarnervale Airport Masterplan, expected in the next six months; the proposed Warnervale Link Road; and the proposed Conservation Agreement for Porters Creek Wetland which has been put on hold until the airport masterplan has been adopted.

He wants to know about any other proposed infrastructure

on Council-owned land in the area to avoid conflicts in land use and define appropriate boundaries for each intended use.

He also called for the public exhibition of the Warnervale

Floodplain Masterplan, not expected until 2025, to measure community support, particularly among residents local to the area, for COSS’s proposal for the Warnervale Floodplain and Porters Creek Wetland.

“Although the recommendations of the COSS Advisory Committee are noted, staff have made an alternative recommendation to Council given that the recommendations seek to commit resources that are not available and are potentially inconsistent with other potential uses of the site,” Council said.

“Council’s resolution on the draft Central Coast Airport Masterplan may result in a change to the footprint of the airport, realignment of property boundaries and/or rezoning.

“In order to avoid a potential misalignment of Council

“I am pleased to be able to deliver on this election commitment for my community,” he said.

“Not only will this enhance the current playspace and make it more inclusive, but it will also provide a safe place for children to enjoy with their families.”

resolutions on the airport masterplan and the proposed COSS Reserve trial, the extent of the COSS Reserve trial area should be defined after the footprint of the airport is adopted by Council.

“It is recommended that Council provide in-principle support to the proposed COSS Reserve trial but first consider other implications that affect the land proposed for the trial prior to implementing.”

Hart agreed with that recommendation.

Merilyn Vale

Volunteers completed first aid and advanced resuscitation course training

Central Coast Labor MPs Liesl Tesch, David Harris, Yasmin Catley and David Mehan

Member for The Entrance David Mehan at Maidens Brush Reserve

Louise is Terrigal’s woman of the year

Louise Vangestel has been recognised as the 2024 Terrigal Woman of the Year for significant contributions to the community.

Vangestel was instrumental in establishing the Tarragal Outrigger Canoe Club, which has a focus on supporting not just the community but local Indigenous youth in partnership with the Frank Baxter Youth Justice Centre

and Bara Barang Corporation.

Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said choosing a nominee for Woman of the Year was difficult.

“We have so many amazing women who were nominated for Terrigal Woman of the Year and it was truly a challenge to choose just one woman,” he said.

“All of this year’s nominees have made such an incredible contribution across so

many different volunteer organisations in our region and I’m so proud to represent a community with so many outstanding women in it.

“Louise Vangestel has made an incredible contribution to our community and is a truly outstanding nominee for Terrigal Woman of the Year 2024.”

There were 12 nominations across the electorate from various local

organisations and businesses.

The other nominees were:

Beris Meldrum from Terrigal Surf Life Saving Club; Elizabeth Gabriel from the Australian Reptile Park; Fiona Duignan from Copacabana Surf Life Saving Club; Gail Santi from Springfield Residents Association; Judith Andrews from Central Coast Living Options; Julie Redfern from Terrigal Surf Life Saving Club; Lyn Drummond from

Macmasters Beach Surf Life Saving Club; Maggie Vincent from the 3 Villages Community Group; Taia Sansom from the 3 Villages Community Group; Tammy Jackett from Wiseberry Peninsula; and Jenny McCulla from the Davistown Progress Association.

Vangestel will join Crouch at the NSW Women of the Year Awards Ceremony at the International Convention Centre in Sydney on March 7.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Demystifying dementia

Nurse Next Door Home Care Services will host Dementia Demystified- a presentation about memory loss, confusion, and dementia – on March 16.

It will be held from 10-11am at Erina Trust Hall, Karalta Rd and Ilya Ave, Erina.

All are welcome..

Coastlink morning tea

In celebration of the NSW Seniors Festival, Coastlink clients and staff are inviting residents to a Meet and Greet Morning Tea from 10.30am12.30pm on Friday March 15 at 76 Woy Woy Rd, Woy Woy.

Join in activities and learn more about Coastlink’s Aged Care services and Friendship Group.

Easter egg hunt

On March 31 Glenworth Valley Wilderness Adventures will host Glenworth Valley’s Giant Easter Egg Hunt 2024.

There will be barista-made coffee, food truck vendors and over 25,000 chocolate eggs to be found from 8am.

Louise Vangestel with Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch with the 12 nominees

Community energy representatives from across Australia will be on the Central Coast on Friday, March 8, as part of the national Community Energy Congress hosted by the Coalition for Community Energy (C4CE).

The congress will see attendees share stories on how community energy projects play a critical role in accelerating the shift to renewable energy.

Representatives will meet for two days in Sydney before travelling to the Coast by electric bus to attend a Connections Day involving a mix of Narara Ecovillage tours and presentations.

Aside from learning about all the ground-breaking renewable energy initiatives at Narara, the day will include conversations covering solar, electric transport, energy efficiency and electrification in our communities and homes, and innovative new technologies.

Dr Saul Griffith, a former climate adviser to US President Joe Biden, will keynote the congress event in Sydney.

C4CE Chair Heather Smith said the group would like to see consistent support from governments to grow the

energy transition.

“Homes, businesses and whole communities won’t transition to renewable energy without trusted, independent and custom advice and help,” she said.

Tickets to the congress are still available, or you can attend online.

Go to https://c4ce.net.au/ congress/get-tickets/

The Community Energy Congress is part of a groundswell of local activity to empower communities and reduce carbon emissions.

Last year, 55 community energy groups raised $74.5M for energy infrastructure, with another $6M in value from in-

kind support and volunteer hours.

Killcare resident Jeremy Cox is the Energy Congress facilitator and the Secretary and Public Officer for Electrify Bouddi, a local community energy project.

“Our experience with Electrify Bouddi has been uplifting,” he said.

“Since we put this idea out there, more than 130 community members have signed up – and they all bring a great diversity of deep skills, experience and a range of ideas.

“We are early in this experience but the connections with each other and other

communities are creating all sorts of possibilities for delivering home energy efficiency more quickly – and stopping our homes polluting with carbon emissions – and we all save on energy bills.”

Electrify Bouddi has connected with multiple other local Central Coast Community Energy projects including Peninsula Environment Group, Umina Community Group, Community Powershare and Patonga Progress Association, to share insights and information.

This has resulted, among other things, in a pilot study called Central Coast SolarShare in which households with solar

panels sell their surplus solar electricity to households without solar.

“We want to see if community energy trading can be a valuable tool for the energy transition,” Cox said.

“The results of the study will be shared with policy makers and other communities.

“We’re grateful to join forces with Enosi and Energy Locals for this pilot.

“In this next decade, in rapid time, our homes and communities will generate large amounts of electricity and this presents new technical and economic opportunities.

“This pilot will help us learn more about what these

opportunities might be and how the whole community can benefit.

“We’re also thankful to our state and national MPs for getting right behind our community energy projects.

“We are sharing our insights directly to inform policies and regulations, so this energy transformation is smooth and generates really positive outcomes for homes and communities.”

For more information, and to be part of the pilot, visit: centralcoastsolarshare. wordpress.com

The representatives will travel to the Coast on an electric bus

How energy savings can be made. Image: Rewiring Australia, 2023

Clean4Shore conducted its first major clean-up of the year on February 28, ably assisted by Year 9 marine studies students from Narara Valley High School.

The biggest litter problem facing our waterways continues to be plastic, with 209 plastic drink bottles, 321 items of plastic food packaging and 402 remnants of plastic bags and wrap etc collected on the day.

Co-ordinator Graham Johnston said 15 students assembled on an overcast day, to assist in the clean-up of

Narara Creek and Fagans Bay.

“There was evidence of poor Council planning with masses of litter directly entering the waterway, illegal dumping, industrial dumping, homeless camping and illegal fishing practices on display for the students through the field trip,” he said.

Some of the rubbish collected

At the rail line opposite Gosford Sailing Club, three full bags were collected.

“The rail bridge on the stadium side is a popular fishing site (and was) heavily

littered with beer cans, plastic bottles and food packaging,” Johnston said.

“Two very full bags were removed from only a 10m site.”

Then it was on to Fagans Bay.

“Entering Fagans Bay at low tide restricted access but the corner close to the rail line had bulk small litter, plastic and polystyrene drums and boxes and four full bags of small litter,” Johnston said.

“At Spider Island the bay also had bulk small litter, plenty of balls, plastic bottles and polystyrene that has washed

onto the island in the recent big tides.

“Six illegal crab traps were collected on this island with Fisheries advice.”

Johnston said the foreshore adjacent Evergreen Village also yielded plenty of litter, mostly under the mangroves or close to the bank, with more crab traps discovered.

“Beneath the Narara Creek Bridge several homeless campsites exist; Clean4shore left these untouched,” he said.

“A major issue was the illegal dumping of residential items

next to the bridge and Dan Murphy’s car park.

“Six very full bags were collected here (and included) clothing, electrical lighting, toys and cushions.

“Adjacent Maccas (we collected) the usuals – food wrappings, plastic bottles, beer cans and soft plastic.”

Johnston said more than 20 bags of litter were collected on the day at a combined weight of 260kg.

He suggested bins in the carpark at Dan Murphy’s, West Gosford, would be a good idea.

Clean4Shore backed up for Clean Up Australia Day on March 3, set on removing litter from the Brisbane Water foreshore.

Despite only five volunteers attending, the group managed to collect nine large bags of rubbish at a total weight of 420kg.

Items collected included a lounge, oyster baskets, three inflatable plastic rafts, a large piece of marine ply, plastic 300mm pipe, a plastic car seat and small litter, including soft and hard plastics.

Narara Valley High students and Clean4Shore volunteers set out for the clean-up

Dumped residential items filled six large bags

NEWS IN BRIEF

Celebrating milestones

Member for Robertson

Gordon Reid has hosted his first morning tea of the year to recognise people celebrating a significant birthday or wedding anniversary.

“Some in our community cannot always celebrate significant milestones with family or friends due to distance or other barriers,” Reid said.

“Sharing a morning tea with them is a very special part of my job.”

Attending the morning tea on Wednesday, January 31 were four couples celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary:

Geoffrey and Valerie Dressler of Terrigal; Christopher and Susan Sullivan of Narara; Dennis and Susan Smart of Terrigal; and John and Beryl Masters of East Gosford.

Patricia Stephenson of West Gosford was celebrating her 90th birthday.

To organise a congratulatory message, call 4322 2400 or email Gordon.Reid.MP@aph. gov.au

For more on this story visit our website

The District 9685 Rotary Conference will be held at Erina on March 15-16, with members of the public invited to pay a one-day registration fee to hear a variety of fascinating speakers on Saturday, March 16.

With the conference theme being Together Making a Difference, organisers have assembled a line-up of inspirational leaders who continue to create hope in the world.

One of these speakers is Aussie Gemma Sisia, who is the founder of The School of St Jude in Tanzania.

She will be accompanied by two of the graduates of the school, Winnie and Suleiman, and will share inspiring stories and explain the impact of education in Tanzania.

Started in 2002, St Jude’s is one of the largest charity schools of its kind in Africa providing free, quality education to 1,800 highachieving children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The school not only provides education but plays a significant role in the improvement of economic outcomes for families, supports the local

economy and creates hundreds of jobs.

All of this is done through the support of donors, with Australians contributing more than 90 per cent of that financial support.

“Australians have been supporting St Jude’s from the very first day,” Sisia said.

“From humble beginnings and a big vision, what we are

achieving here is no longer a dream or a hope – it’s concrete, it works.

“Students that started with us in primary school are now adults leading their communities with Suleiman and Winnie being just two examples of thousands of incredible alumni.

“I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

The impact of the school goes

far beyond St Jude’s walls. It injects more than AU$10M annually into the local economy and generates hundreds of jobs; each scholarship at St Jude’s actually translates to supporting about 50 people in the local area.

In 2015, the school launched the Beyond St Jude’s (BSJ) program to support its graduates with higher education.

Today, St Jude’s graduates are adults, active in the workforce and starting their own businesses, employing more than 250 people.

“Today, we don’t just believe that education changes lives, we see it happening,” Sisia said.

“Over 80 per cent of our graduates’ families overcome extreme poverty and our alumni are emerging as role models in their communities and entrepreneurs.”

Suleiman, a graduate of St Jude’s inaugural class of 2015, is fulfilling his lifelong dream as a doctor at one of Tanzania’s prestigious hospitals and an inspirational figure in his community.

Winnie, a St Jude’s alumni of 13 years, has come full circle returning to the school to work fulltime while also pursuing her passion as an agricultural entrepreneur.

The conference will be held at the EV Church Function Centre, 331 Terrigal Dr, Erina, and registration can be made at www.9685rotaryconference 2024.com.au

For more information on The School of St Jude go to www. schoolofstjude.org

Gemma Sisia with Winnie and Suleiman

Member for Robertson Gordon Reid is encouraging Central Coast groups and organisations to apply for the Saluting Their Service (STS) Commemorative Grants Program, designed to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Australia’s service personnel in wars, conflicts and peace operations, and their families.

The grants are intended to promote appreciation and understanding of the experiences of service and the roles that those who serve have played, as well as preserving and adding to the knowledge and information

Funding for projects to honour our veterans

about Australia’s wartime heritage.

There are two categories of grants available

The Naughty Noodle Fun Haus is set to receive $75,000 with the NSW Labor Government confirming its election commitment for a permanent venue to support the organisation’s activities and to support the creation of a paid parttime Arts Centre Manager role.

The announcement comes as arts and creative industries have had devastating disruptions, including lockouts and lockdowns during which the Naughty Noodle Fun Haus continued to deliver widespread positive impacts to the Central Coast community.

Born in 2018, the Naughty Noodle Fun Haus has gone from strength to strength, attracting thousands of participants and audiences both local and visiting, enabling a visibly diverse and inclusive offering with an original and local creative

under the program.

Community Grants of up to $10,000 are available for community-based

commemorative projects and activities.

Grants of up to $150,000 are available for major

commemorative projects and activities.

“The STS Commemorative Grants Program is a great way

Major boost for Naughty Noodle

identity for the sector.

This funding is part of the $37.2M Local Small Commitments Allocation, which will enhance local communities and consist of more than 600 small community projects across each of the 92 NSW electorates.

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said the money would secure Naughty Noodle’s place

on the Central Coast art scene.

“It is fantastic to see quality arts and entertainment venues here on the Central Coast,” she said.

“Naughty Noodle is doing amazing things and I am excited to see how a permanent home will progress their work supporting culture and vulnerable communities across the Coast.”

Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris said Naughty Noodle would help deliver a thriving and diverse arts scene in the region.

Naughty Noodle Fun Haus creative director Glitta Supernova said the organisation operated without a home for five years before it opened the Fun Haus Factory in Gosford

last year.

“We exist to promote participation and active engagement of diverse arts and culture-based activities which strengthen the cultural fabric of our Central Coast community,” she said.

“The space will host multiarts from exhibitions to film, live music to creative workshops and will also be home to our creative youth stream, YAAS.”

Also known as the Central Coast Contemporary Multi-Arts Centre, the Fun Haus Factory launched in Gosford in October 2023.

Naughty Noodle says the funds will cover a broad range of services and programs, events, supplies and equipment – the core of what it will take to run the region’s accessible arts and culture space in the heart of Gosford.

“It’s really important to nurture creative culture and economy,” Co-chair Juan Iocco

Margaret ticks a big item off her bucket list

Uniting’s Central Coast aged care home resident Margaret Scholz has ticked a major item off her bucket list at the age of 87.

It all began when Uniting’s Lifestyle and Wellness Coordinator Bettie Taylor came up with the idea of publishing a Movie Magic Calendar to raise funds.

The calendar features residents recreating scenes from iconic movies such as The Shining, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and The Wizard of Oz, with the project featuring on Channel 9’s Today show.

Margaret features as Audrey

Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and is the second resident to tick an item off the bucket list thanks to

Long

for local organisations including veterans groups, schools and surf lifesaving clubs to access funding for projects that honour our Australian service personnel,” Reid said.

“There are several activities and projects funding can be used for including development of an honour roll, restoration of an existing local war memorial and flagpoles.

“I encourage all eligible organisations to review the guidelines and apply.”

For information about the STS Commemorative Grants Program, visit: www.grants. gov.au

said.

“Traditionally this has not been a priority in the region –it’s time to do better and be better, unify and play together.

“The Fun Haus Factory is proving to be a gamechanger for the region’s capital.

“Since launching in October we have already seen thousands of visitors coming through and the beginnings of perception changes for Gosford.

“We want to see this through once and for all with a thriving arts scene and nightlife across our undercapitalised, underutilised and most importantly underestimated capital city, not only for the arts centre but for local businesses, residents and visitors to our region.”

The Fun Haus Factory is currently open ThursdaysSundays with full details available at naughtynoodle. com.au

Museum

Margaret

“I am so excited,” Margaret

said as she went into the exhibition.

“I have wanted to do something like this since I visited Egypt many years ago.

“I can’t wait to learn more about Ramses as he was the greatest Pharaoh that ever lived!”

After the visit, Margaret said she had been especially enthralled with the coffins, especially that of Ramses himself.

“And the jewellery was just beautiful,” she said.

Margaret Scholz as Audrey Hepburn in the calendar

Margaret Scholz was fascinated by the Ramses exhibition

Glitta Supernova, David Harris, Juan Iocco and Liesl Tesch at the Naughty Noodle Fun

Member for Robertson Gordon Reid with veterans at Terrigal Beach

Cuts to palliative care heartless

“Mingy Minns” has done it yet again.

It seems like taking taxpayers’ money, and therefore support, for the older generation and those who are dying makes for easy pickings.

I have only just heard about the staggering amount of money taken from the palliative care budget.

This apparently happened last year at budget time; not many of us knew about it.

Palliative care affects not only the older people in our community.

People in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s also need this care.

Of all the things to cut, why would a government cut help for these people and their families?

It is devastating for them.

I know this because my own family and I have been through this with the loss of my beautiful Joanie, my wife and the mother of our children.

This is not what we elected this government for when we

FORUM

put Labor into power in NSW.

Where were our local Labor Party representatives, David Harris, David Mehan, Liesl Tesch and Yasmin Catley, when this decision was taken or were they not even consulted or present?

They are the ones meant to represent us at the state level.

How could they let this happen?

Come on, Premier Minns, how about getting a heart.

Email Mar 5 Barry Freeman, Killcare

No thanks to nuclear

The Opposition has identified two locations on the Central Coast for its nuclear power plant proposal, Eraring and Bayswater.

An excellent way to ensure that Labor is returned at the next election, Mr Dutton.

Carry on!

Email, Mar 5

Chris Castellari, Umina Beach

Wyoming Rd needs attention

I fully support Bob Hall’s comments regarding Wyoming Rd South (CCN 425).

As a rate-paying resident for 50-plus years, I recall in the late 70s signing a petition for a footpath in Wyoming Rd; a footpath was only installed in the northern end of Wyoming Rd to about MacGregor St.

Then in recent years when Central Coast Hwy was widened from the southern side of Glencoe Ave to Renwick St, absolutely nothing (was done about) a footpath or decent road surface between MacGregor St and Glencoe Ave.

The eastern side of the southern end of roadside to the bus stop is not only dangerous for motor vehicles but extremely dangerous for pedestrians as the nature strip is full of high tree roots and unusable with a pram or walker and the road is just potholes and broken bitumen.

North Avoca received high sandstone retaining walls, kerb and guttering and footpaths in

several streets so come on Council, put some dollars into the southern end of Wyoming Rd.

Email, Mar 3 M Hutton, Wyoming

How effective is Return and Earn scheme?

In the article Coasties are recycling champs (CCN 428), local MPs Liesl Tesch and Adam Crouch both praise the NSW Government’s Return and Earn scheme for its great contribution to recycling and for the $54M raised for charities and community groups.

But how much has it really contributed to recycling?

Many of the people who submit containers at the return points obtain those containers from residents’ yellow recycling bins when they are put out in the street for collection, and

Kayaker saved from Budgewoi Lake

Volunteers from Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes have saved a man who struggled in Budgewoi Lake for more than 40 minutes after his kayak overturned in rough conditions.

Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Courtney Greenslade said a call for assistance was received at 3pm on Saturday, March 2.

“The initial report was that multiple kayakers were struggling with one person in the water and in a lifethreatening situation,” he said.

“Marine Rescue NSW vessel Tuggerah Lakes 21 was tasked by NSW Police Marine Area Command to respond along

with Tuggerah Lakes 20.

“Marine Rescue NSW volunteers on board TL 21 retrieved a man in his 30s from the water.

“Our volunteers received aerial support from the Westpac Rescue Helicopter which was overhead.

“It’s understood the man had been in the water for more than 40 minutes.

“Thankfully he was wearing a personal flotation device which saved his life.

“He was transported by TL 21 back to the Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes Toukley base

while volunteers on board TL 20 escorted two other kayakers safely to shore.”

NSW Ambulance paramedics also responded to provide assistance.

Inspector Greenslade said conditions were rough on Budgewoi Lake on Saturday afternoon.

“The winds have been swirling around in excess of 25 knots creating a metre chop in areas,” he said.

“Radio operators at Marine Tuggerah Lakes managed multiple incidents that day and we are reminding all boaters and paddlers to check conditions before heading out.”

Gorokan arrest over murder plot

Organised Crime Squad detectives have arrested an 18-year-old man at Gorokan over an alleged murder plot.

Strike Force Barralier was established in December 2023 by State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad to investigate an alleged conspiracy to murder a man residing in the Sydney metropolitan area.

Investigations identified three men as allegedly being involved in a plot to murder another 30-year-old man with known affiliations to organised crime figures.

On January 17 an 18-yearold man was charged at

Fairfield Police Station, and a 30-year-old at Maroubra Police Station, with conspiracy to murder and participation in a criminal group.

The two men remain before the courts.

Following further inquiries, at about 9am on Friday, March 1,

Strike Force detectives assisted by the Public Order and Riot Squad, arrested an 18-year-old man at Gorokan.

A subsequent search warrant was executed at a home nearby, where detectives seized items relevant to their investigation.

from Council street recycling bins.

In other words, containers that would have been recycled anyway.

Has anyone done any official research into how many of the containers that are submitted at the Return and Earn return points are containers that would not otherwise have been recycled?

As for the $54M raised for charities and community groups, couldn’t the NSW Government have given them the money as grants, rather than making them and their supporters work so hard to earn it?

While there may continue to be a limited role for the Return and Earn scheme, especially if many more return points are installed (for example there is currently only one full return point on the Woy Woy Peninsula) and the 10c per container

refund amount is significantly increased to something like $1, the main scheme for recycling will continue to be Council resident and commercial recycling bins because of their convenience.

More effort needs to be made to encourage residents and businesses to put recyclables in their yellow recycling bins rather than in their red landfill bins or in public landfill litter bins.

Perhaps a scheme could be devised to financially reward residents and businesses for the number of recyclable containers they put in their yellow recycling bins, similar to the Return and Earn scheme.

POLICE BRIEFS

Toukley stabbing

A 52-year-old woman was under police guard in Wyong Hospital following an incident on Friday, March 1, when a teenager was stabbed at Toukley.

NSW Ambulance paramedics were called out by police at about 5.45am after reports a 15-year-old had been stabbed at a home on Main Rd. Officers at the scene located

a teenager who had stab wounds to the leg.

He was treated by paramedics before being taken to Wyong Hospital in a stable condition.

A 52-year-old woman was arrested at the scene and also taken to Wyong Hospital, where she was under police guard.

An investigation continues into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Footie club vandalised

The man was taken to Wyong Police Station where he was charged with conspiracy to murder and participation in a criminal group.

He was refused bail.

Following the January arrests, State Crime Command’s Director of Crime Operations Detective Acting Superintendent Grant Taylor said the arrests underpinned the police force’s commitment to preventing crimes and disrupting criminal activity.

Anyone with information that could assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at nsw.crimestoppers. com.au

On the eve of the 2024 season launch, members and supporters of Wyong Lakes Australian Football Club are disheartened that yet again their clubhouse has been broken into and vandalised.

They are appealing to the community to inform police of

any information that might lead to catching the culprits.

Home ground and headquarters for the club, known as the Magpies, is Don Small Oval at Tacoma.

The Magpies will be launching their 2024 season at Wyong Bowling Club at 5pm on Saturday, March 23.

Motorcyclist injured

Westpac Rescue Helicopter landed on the sports field at the Tumbi Umbi Campus of Tuggerah Lakes

Secondary College on Thursday, February 29, to pick up an injured motorcycle rider.

The chopper was called in by NSW Ambulance at about 6.30am to assist after a collision between a motorbike and a car on Tumbi Rd near

Bellevue Rd at Wamberal.

Ambulance paramedics treated the man for multiple injuries at the scene of the accident before he was transported by road to the school sports field to meet the chopper.

The man, aged in his 50s, was further treated and stabilised by the helicopter’s critical care medical team before being flown to John Hunter Hospital.

Crime Squad detectives arrest a man at Gorokan

The Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes crew returning the rescued kayaker to the Toukley base

Uplifting production comes to Laycock St

What is it like to live with chronic illness?

What is it like to battle through the day fighting an invisible opponent?

How does it feel when no-one else really understands what you are experiencing?

Andi Snelling shares her powerful story as she takes the

audience on a physical theatre odyssey exploring the challenges of living with an invisible illness in the awardwinning production of HappyGo-Wrong, coming to Laycock St Community Theatre.

Blending storytelling, dance, roller skates and comedy, plus a tiny bit of nudity, the production celebrates the

human spirit, allowing us to see things from another person’s perspective in a rollercoaster ride of physicality, honesty and comedy.

“Making Happy-Go-Wrong saved my life,” Snelling said.

“After a tiny tick bite sent me to the brink and back through developing Lyme disease, I realised that sometimes being

Shark and Fox head for Avoca

Shark and Fox will give a special performance at Avoca Beach Theatre on Friday, March 15.

It will be a master performance of musical styles from across the world including frenetic Bulgarian dances, dynamic Argentine folkloric music, haunting Appalachian music and Swedish polskas.

Shark and Fox is made up of Australian Emily-Rose Sarkova (accordion/vocals/synthesiser) and Canadian Jaron FreemanFox (fiddle/vocals/viola d’amore/fretless guitar).

Freman-Fox’s projects have garnered multiple Canadian music awards, while Sarkova has been an ARIA and Art Music Award finalist.

After meeting in Australia and then spending a month in Toronto composing and recording their debut album, Shark and Fox are embarking on their first Australian tour, including appearances at the National Folk Festival (ACT), Fairbridge Folk Festival (WA) and in the Blue Mountains.

“Playing with Jaron is like getting the ultimate musical

adrenaline fix,” Sarkova said. “Audiences are going to be immersed in music from a vast history of accordion and fiddle folk music and be surprised by the places this music can go.”

Joining Shark and Fox for the night will be the Guanaco Trio direct from Argentina who perform original compositions and interpretations of Argentine folkloric music on violin, bandoneón and guitar.

Doors open at 8pm and tickets can be bought at tinyurl. com/sharkandfoxavocabeach or at the door.

thrown upside down can put you back up the right way.

“As I continue to fight for my health, and seek out the happy in all the wrong, Happy-GoWrong is a lifeline that shines a light on the invisible battles

that so many face on a daily basis.

“I am delighted to share this special show with Central Coast audiences, given my family connection to the area.”

The show has won five

awards and continues to attract standing ovations.

It will be presented as part of the Don Craig Studio Series at 7.30pm on Saturday, April 6.

To book tickets go to; theatres. centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

A scene from Happy-Go- Wrong. Photo: Jade Ellis Photography

Happy-Go-Wrong has won multiple awards

Shark and Fox

13

5 April Josh Hooke:

6 April Happy-Go-Wrong

26 April Dorian

4 May Queen

The 2024 Central Coast Seniors Festival is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever.

With the theme Reach Beyond, the festival will run from March 11-24, with the annual Seniors Expo taking place on Thursday, March 21, at Wyong Racecourse.

Central Coast Council Director Community and Recreation Services Melanie Smith said each year the festival provided a full calendar of events, with a huge variety of exciting activities across the region.

“Council is looking forward to delivering a festival that embraces everybody and recognises the important contributions seniors play in

Lots of activities at seniors festival

our community,” she said.

“Council will shine the spotlight on a range of local services and resources available to seniors by bringing them together under one roof at the Seniors Expo on March 21.

“The event will feature a variety of stallholders from businesses, services and community groups around the Central Coast.

“Attendees will have the opportunity to speak to organisations first-hand, ask questions and gather resources.

“We really want to see older people taking advantage of the 70-plus local events taking place over the two-week

festival at 22 locations across the Coast, including our popular libraries, theatres, leisure centres, galleries, senior centres and more.”

Administrator Rik Hart said the Central Coast Seniors Festival was a great time for older locals to Reach Beyond to seek out new experiences and

make new friends by participating in the festivities.

“Council’s commitment, for all ages, is to strengthen our diverse population by creating

Illuminati opens in Gosford

Avoca composer and filmmaker Yantra de Vilder’s award winning Credo musical performances will return to their pre-pandemic heartland in March after stunning audiences around the country.

Credo Means ‘to believe’, by extension to believe in the power of arts and culture holding the space for an authentic brave new world, apart from the authoritarian versions that are emerging

Uniting Productions will present Central Coast playwright Sally Bartley’s first full-length play from March 15-24.

Bartley, who has written several successful short plays, decided to expand Illuminati from a shorter piece.

“I originally wrote it as a one act play for a small Wyong Drama Group festival,” she said.

“Afterwards so many people said they’d love to know what happened to the characters after the first therapy session, I decided to turn it into a fulllength play with the shorter play forming the first scene.

“It was fun to explore the back stories of the characters and take them on a journey of ‘illumination’.”

The play deals with an anger management class run by Sean, the facilitator.

Participants include Axel, who believes he has been dealt a dud hand in life; Poppy, a hippy who is busy watching Big Brother; and Milly, who knows what she wants but can’t find her voice.

Their individual problems and what has brought them to this point are gradually revealed. The play challenges the audience to travel with each character to their resolve.

It explores the human condition with empathy and humour.

“I wanted to write a play about conspiracy theories as I find them interesting, a little bit hilarious and a little bit dangerous – good writing fodder,” Bartley said.

“It seems that conspiracy theories fall into two categories – the silly little ‘Paul is dead’ ones and the bigger Big Brother, New World Order, political ones – and I wanted to showcase both.

“The idea came to me that some sort of group therapy session with angry people would be the perfect vehicle.”

Director Ron Baker said the

Yantra’s Credo returns to Avoca in March

from the past.

Credo has been performed in Sydney, the Northern Territory and the Northern Rivers to both critical and popular acclaim, stunning audiences with the power of the original scores, lyrics and artistic projections.

Composed and created by de Vilder, Credo is a contemporary song cycle expanding on her international award winning music art films from an online film festival audience into a live theatrical event

Immersed in stunning film visuals featuring The Ephemera Choir and Ensemble, this unique production is a form of storytelling through a multidisciplinary artist’s eye.

Written during lockdown and the Northern Rivers floods, Credo is birthed within a cauldron of unprecedented global restrictions and a quickening of artistically dangerous moments – a time when singing and dancing were forbidden.

“I believe music and the arts

have the power to lift our spirits,” de Vilder said.

“I believe they are essential services. I believe in an authentic brave new world where we rise up for creativity and humanity.”

The one-off Central Coast performance will be held at Avoca Beach Theatre on Sunday, March 17.

Tickets are available at the theatre’s website or events. humanitix.com/credo-avocabeach-theatre

new opportunities for connection, creativity, inclusion, and opening the door to local sporting, community and cultural initiatives,” he said.

“This commitment is at the heart of our Community Strategic Plan.

“This vibrant calendar of events for Seniors Festival certainly has something for everyone, providing opportunities for belonging by getting together and celebrating the diversity of older people, and the products and services available to enhance their fantastic lifestyle on the Coast.”

Visit centralcoast.nsw.gov. au/seniorsfestival to download the full event calendar.

script was clever, with distinctly different well-drawn characters journeying to more positive outcomes.

“We are so lucky to have a cast who like to explore and discuss character development and relationships and who offer thoughtful suggestions which enhance the performance,” he said.

The production features Gavin Critchley, Duncan Mitchell, Donna Cromer, Rebecca Flint, Liane Porter, Karen Pendleton, Blake Rissell and Michelle King.

It plays at Gosford Uniting Church from March 15-24.

Book at coastboxoffice.com

Open days at Gosford 50+ leisure group

Gosford 50+ Leisure and Learning Centre will hold two open days in March to showcase the activities that are available to the community.

On Tuesday, March 12, from 8.30am to 3pm visitors will

have an opportunity to participate in indoor bowls, Korean craft or cardmaking during the morning or sing along with the ukulele group in the afternoon.

On Friday, March 15, from 9am to 1.30pm visitors can participate in indoor bowls, or

sing along to the ukulele group in the morning or take a beginner ballroom dance class in the afternoon from 12.301.30pm (no partner required).

All activities will be free for visitors along with a cuppa. Again, all these activities will

be free for visitors along with a cuppa.

The cafe will be open both days so visitors can buy morning tea or lunch at a very reasonable price.

Gosford 50+ is at 217 Albany St, Gosford.

Donna Cromer, Duncan Mitchell, Gavin Critchley and Rebecca Flint in Iluminati

Visitors on March 15 will be able to take in a ballroom dancing class

Yantra de Vilder at her beloved piano during a Credo concert in Alice Springs

Photo: Beverley Callow

Wharf Revue returns to Coast

The Wharf Revue is set to return to The Art House at Wyong with its new show Pride in Prejudice. The masters of musical comedy and topical parodies have been popular with Central Coast audiences.

Coasties can expect 90 minutes of brutal roasting of current affairs in this non-stop barrage of sketch comedy performed by Jonathan Biggins, Mandy Bishop, Drew Forsythe and David Whitney, with Michael Tyack.

The group says satirical

content is up by seven per cent, the average laughter quotient is indexed at 8.3 per cent over the forward estimates but The Wharf Revue defies the costof-living pressure by keeping the ticket price at the same level as last year.

Every time The Wharf Revue performs at The Art House, all performances sell out.

Pride in Prejudice will be at The Art House at 8pm on Tuesday, March 12, and 2pm Wednesday, March 13.

Tickets are available at www. thearthousewyong.com.au or by calling 4335 1485.

Home-grown comedian returns to Coast

Central Coast-born young comedian Frankie Fierce has been taking the Australian comedy scene by storm and will be bringing their acclaimed show home to Gosford’s Fun Haus Factory on March 8.

Their side-splitting wit and engaging storytelling earned them nominations for Best Emerging Artist and Best Comedy at Sydney and Newcastle Fringe 2023.

Fierce will present their debut stand-up comedy hour Are You a Boy or a Girl?

with Julie Chessman

Raised as a Christian, they share fresh and personal perspectives on (toxic) masculinity, gender norms and living authentically as who you are.

“I was born a couple of streets away from the Fun Haus Factory up the road at Gosford Hospital and I am so excited to come back to my home town,” they said.

“Most of the crazy stories I talk about in the show happened on the Central Coast so I know this show is going to be a special one.

“I grew up in Wyong in a very judgemental and homophobic

Frankenstein

Author: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

More than 200 years ago, 19-year-old Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley sat in a hotel at Lake Geneva in Switzerland, on a relentless cold and rainy night.

She was vacationing with her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley, a self involved man, her spoilt and whimsical stepsister Claire Clairmont and the enigma that was the privileged and rather spoilt peer of the realm, Lord George Gordon Byron.

Before reading this gothic novel it is important to understand what led to its conception – Lord Byron was bored and put out by the weather so he challenged his guests to write a ghost story.

This led to Mary Shelley dreaming up her gothic novel Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus, in response to a game challenge to beat the boredom; but who was the monster modelled on?

Shelley’s personal experiences influenced the

Christian bubble attending Pentecostal churches on weekends.

“I left the church in 2014 but it wasn’t until 2020 that I was able to come out and start living my life.”

Two years later they moved to Sydney and developed as a unique artist.

Frankie Fierce will perform at the Fun Haus Factory on Friday, March 8.

Online sales only at naughty noodle.com.au/whats-on/

themes within Frankenstein; the loss of her mother, the relationship with her father and the death of her first child are thought to have inspired the monster and his separation from parental guidance.

The themes of loss, guilt and the consequences of defying nature present in the novel all developed from Shelley’s own life.

Prometheus was best known for defying the Olympian gods, and this mirrored Shelley’s feelings towards her husband and the men around her, as she did not want to conform to the stereotypes for women of the time in society and home.

Shelley was undoubtedly enamoured by Percy, a married man, and was literally a child when she ran away with him.

As much as she protested against the male privileges there is an ode to him in the novel, as Frankenstein and the monster both quote passages from Percy Shelley’s 1816 poem, Mutability, and its theme on the role of the subconscious is discussed in prose with Shelley creating characters whose outward beauty is consistent with inner goodness, and ugly characters who are murderous.

Frankenstein is intriguing as a novel; and Shelley’s life and that of her parents provided insight into her intellect, fears

and fascination with science and musings on human nature, while living in the mid-1800s gave rise to experiments with electricity, galvanism and attempts to raise the dead, all of which Shelley and her contemporaries spent hours discussing.

The novel is full of moral lessons as the monster holds his creator Frankenstein accountable for helping him as he is the father, and Frankenstein has a mental breakdown because he cannot live up to the monster’s demands – you can’t help but think Victor Frankenstein has one heck of a case of ‘buyers remorse’.

Think about the ethical questions this classic raises: What is Shelley saying about human nature and prejudice or superficiality?

OUT&ABOUT BRIEF

Captioned movie event

Better Hearing Australia Central Coast (BHACC) will host a captioned movie event on March 18, during the NSW Seniors Festival.

BHACC is a not-for-profit volunteer organisation offering support, education and advocacy to Central Coast people with hearing loss.

A captioned movie screening of Next Goal Wins at Avoca Beach Picture Theatre on Monday, March 18, at 2pm.

Next Goal Wins is based on the 2014 documentary about coach Thomas Rongen’s efforts to lead the infamously terrible American Samoan national football team to qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The movie, starring Michael Fassbender, is a humorous and heartfelt underdog story.

The first 100 movie tickets booked will be free and 100 free choc-top ice creams will be given out at the event.

After the 100 free tickets are booked, movie tickets will be sold at the discounted rate of $8.80.

For ticket bookings: www.trybooking.com/CPCIG

depravity or violence?

Does true friendship exist?

If so, what conditions must exist, or not exist, in order for it to flourish?

How important are human connections to a full and satisfying life?

When you delve into this incredible classic novel you see so many lessons and messages that Mary Shelley wanted us to see.

Why do some human beings turn to violence after abuse or mistreatment, while others do not?

To what extent can friendships and other human connections save a person from depression, or even

It is written as an epistolary novel using the narrative framework of ‘stories within a story’ with the main plot sandwiched between an introduction and conclusion by a second narrator, Sir Robert Walton.

Frankenstein is a gothic in the romantic form, and an early science fiction work.

Read more book reviews on our website by scanning the QR code or visit CoastCommunityNews.com.au (Select Book Reviews under the Culture tab)

Pride in Prejudice is bound for The Art House

Comedian Frankie Fierce

They created some of the most iconic songs in popular music history including We’ve Gotta Get Out Of This Place, The House of The Rising Sun, Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood, It’s My Life, Don’t Bring Me Down, and Boom Boom and they’re set to play the Central Coast on their last ever tour of Australia.

The Animals’ 60th Anniversary We Gotta Get Out of This Place tour will play Doyalson RSL on March 9.

The Animals became the second British band to top the American charts after The Beatles.

Featuring original member John Steel alongside Danny Handley, Bobby Ruiz and Barney “Boogie” Williams, music fans can expect a fantastic concert of the band’s best hits.

John Steel first formed The Animals when he and Eric Burden met as art-school dropouts.

“We started off as the Pagan Jazzmen and we morphed into the Pagans, a slightly R&B rock outfit,” he said.

“We played a church hall in

The Animals head for Doyalson

Byker and this kid from another band who was a rhythm guitar player came over and said, ‘Can I sit in?’ and there was an old upright piano, so we said, ‘Sure’.

“He hammered this piano with a left-hand boogie style.

“We went, ‘Oh come on, you’re in the wrong band, you should be playing piano, not guitar’.

“This was Alan Price and

that’s how we became a keyboard-driven band.”

When the band found a 1956 album by Joe Turner called Boss of the Blues, the guys lifted a couple of numbers off the album and called themselves the Kansas City Five and after many incarnations and members coming and going, finally settled on calling themselves the Alan Price Rhythm and Blues Combo –later changing their name to

Calling all 60’s movie themes lovers

We’re dialling up the fun at Henry Kendall Gardens retirement village and bringing back the 60s. Join us for an entertaining afternoon reliving Movie Themes From the 60s performed by the inspiring Dorian Mode.

Wednesday 13th March, 2pm - 4pm 150 Maidens Brush Rd, Wyoming

RSVP essential. Scan the QR code today keytonevents.com.au

The Animals when they moved to London.

The Animals performed fiery versions of the staple rhythmand-blues repertoire, covering songs by artists such as Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker and Nina Simone.

In June 1964, the transatlantic number-one hit The House of the Rising Sun was released, creating perhaps the first folkrock hit.

It topped the charts in the UK, US and Canada and tells a cautionary tale of a person’s life gone wrong in New Orleans.

“To be honest, the first time I ever heard the song was on Bob Dylan’s first album, all acoustic,” Steel said.

“Then I learned that it had been around for donkey’s years and nobody knew who originally wrote it.

“I’m pretty sure regardless of

all the stories, it was the first time any of us had heard it.

“Since then, it’s been sung by Led Zeppelin, Josh White, all sorts of people around the world.”

The track was reportedly recorded in just one take with producer Mickie Most and it remains one of Steel’s favourite songs today.

“One minute we were five working-class Geordie lads just having a nibble at the charts with Baby Let Me Take You Home and the next minute we’re jetting off to America with a number one,” he said.

“It had an enormous effect on us and apart from that, it’s a bloody good song.

“I still think it’s the definitive version, in electric terms anyway.

“When we play, it’s a mixed audience, we get people of our own generation – but there’s a lot of young people coming to see us.

“We’re a real band – there are no backing tracks.

“It’s just us onstage with our instruments, playing.”

The Animals will be at Doyalson RSL Club at 8pm on March 9.

Book at doyalsonrsl.com.au

The Animals are headed for Doyalson RSL

CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. From Bangkok

4. US honeymoon falls

8. Actress, ... Winslet

11. Shopping mall

13. Defamation

15. Transactions

17. Burrow

18. Being untruthful

20. Paddle

21. Principle

24. Snare with noose

27. Cove

28. Den

30. Revolt (against)

31. Blue stone, ... lazuli

33. Wimbledon sport

34. Legislative body

35. Inkling

36. Shafts of light

39. Amount

42. Hard iron alloy

44. Scandinavian city

45. Indian garments

46. Marsupial pouches

48. Frantic

49. Grew ashen

50. Snow vehicle

52. Was able to

54. Trifling

55. Speed trap device

56. Word comparison

57. Garden entrance

60. Surrender signal, white ...

TRIVIA

62. Shook (tail)

65. Agency

67. Reside

69. Refute

70. Commanded

72. Affirmative answer

73. Animal

75. Elaborate meal

77. Decimal base

79. Goodbye

81. Cancelled

82. Yellow pigment

84. Lion trainer

85. Happen next

86. Orient

87. Marches

88. Bother!

DOWN

1. Reminder note, ... list (2-2)

2. Separate

3. Unwell

4. Identify

5. Muddles

6. Uses fishing rod

7. Pub drinks

8. Lock opener

9. Courtroom defence

10. Anxious

12. Incidental comment

14. Swell up

16. Canvas support

19. Objectionable

22. Live wire

Courtesy of Brad Storey

23. Emerges

25. Forewarns

26. Tiles

29. Tool

32. For every

35. Sedating

37. Gangway

38. Mailing

40. Gastric ailment

41. Cutting blade

42. Window ledges

43. Jacket collar fold

44. Beginning

47. Cautious

51. Swing loosely

52. Provides food

53. Make (solution) less concentrated

54. Skinflints

58. Assisted

59. Ram’s mate

61. Viper

63. Stamp book

64. Unscheduled side trip

65. Rubbed

66. Cars

68. Holds back

71. Early anaesthetic

72. Harvard’s rival

74. Broadcasts on radio

76. One-spot cards

78. Hornet home

80. Devour

83. Thinking, chewing the ...

1. Which of these Australian music greats won an ARIA for “Best Children’s Album”, a) Peter Garrett, b) John Farnham, c) Jimmy Barnes?

2. Which Arnott’s biscuit is named after a city on the south coast of France?

3. Which two countries so far have deployed automated rovers on Mars?

4. Members of The Hell’s Angels typically ride what brand of motorcycle?

5. Douglas Mawson is remembered for his exploration and survival where?

See page 29 for last edition’s solutions or visit coastcommunitynews.com.au/puzzle-solutions

Catch The Vanns at Drifters as part of Australian tour

South Coast favourites, The Vanns, will perform at Drifters Wharf Gosford on March 15 as part of their 2024 Australian tour.

In recent years, the four-piece band has become a true powerhouse of modern-day Australian rock and roll, armed with a festival-ready, stadiumfilling sound and electric showmanship.

The band is promising to give their fans something to look forward to in 2024 as their tour kicks off with their very own mini-festival in Wollongong, curated by the band to include performances from some of

their faves and friends.

The Vanns will headline at the Bring it on Home Festival, also featuring Tyne-James Organ,The Moving Stills, Surely Shirley, The Colliflowers and GOSH.

The mini-festival will be part of the 21-date run of shows in regional cities around Australia from February through into April 2024.

Their Last of Your Kind album charted at number eight on the ARIA Albums Chart, number two on the Australian Albums Chart; as well as being long listed for the Australian Music Prize.

Achieving the lucrative Triple J feature album spot during release and being the 17th most played artist on Triple J, signalled a moment of striking elevation for the band.

“In the words of Thin Lizzy, the boys (us) are back in town, more specifically, regional Australian towns,” a band spokesman said.

“We’re going to be heading all around Australia and hitting some dots on the map that we’ve never played before, so grab your tickets and we can’t bloody wait to see y’all there.”

The band has attracted high praise and reviews from some

of the best in the business, including Triple J who had this to say: “Powered by soaring vocals, shining guitars and crashing percussion, it’s got your next fave crowd singalong written all over it”.

“The VANNS delivered one of the best shows that I have ever been to at the venue,” Ungrained Mag wrote.

“From their controlling stage presence and music sounding exactly like their recordings, to the killer support acts – it was a show that you really didn’t want to be missing at all.”

Tickets for the Gosford show via www.thevannsband.com

British folk duo bound for Woy Woy

Troubadour Central Coast will present a special midweek concert on Thursday, March 14.

The superb UK folk-acoustic duo Winter Wilson will visit the Coast fresh from a very successful tour of the UK with British folk rock legends Fairport Convention.

As headline performers at a number of festivals in Australia and New Zealand, the duo will

Top student artwork on show

Gosford Regional Gallery has partnered with the NSW Department of Education to present A Central Vision for 2024.

Held annually, the exhibition showcases the best selected works from Central Coast public secondary schools.

It provides the opportunity for young artists to present their works in a professional gallery setting to a wide audience.

“This exhibition has been a

mainstay of our program for over 20 years,” Gosford Regional Gallery director Tim Braham said.

“During this time an enormous number of talented artists have been part of this program.

“In 2024, we are pleased to present 78 artworks from students in Years 7-12 for exhibition.”

The 15 schools contributing to this year’s exhibition are Brisbane Water Secondary

College Umina and Woy Woy campuses; Tuggerah Lakes

Secondary College Berkeley Vale, The Entrance and Tumbi Umbi campuses; and high schools Erina, Gorokan, Gosford, Henry Kendall, Kariong Mountains, Kincumber, Lisarow, Narara Valley, Northlakes and Terrigal.

perform at Woy Woy just a few days before the Blue Mountains Festival.

Winter Wilson is regarded by many as the best folk duo to have come out of Britain for years.

Kip Winter (vocals and accordion) sings with a rare and powerful clarity.

She is accompanied by Dave Wilson (singer-songwriter and guitar/banjo player).

The two have completed tours of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and most of Western Europe, in addition to the UK.

Their eight studio albums have all received rave reviews. Their music draws on a deep tradition of folk and traditional music, bringing fresh new sounds and presenting vivid portraits and stories of today and yesterday.

Anyone who enjoys great songwriting, beautiful harmonic singing and powerful, accomplished accompaniment won’t want to miss their long-awaited return to the Troubadour.

The concert will be at 7pm on Thursday, March 14, at the Anglican Church Community Hall, 147 Blackwall Rd, Woy Woy.

Bookings are essential at www.trybooking.com/CNPPF

A Central Vision exhibition will run from March 2 until April 7 at Gosford Regional Gallery, 36 Webb St, East Gosford; open 9.30am-4pm daily.

UK duo Winter Wilson

The Vanns. Photo: Jye Talbot

Some of the artworks on show

Business & Property

Arcare acquires The Orchards

Premium aged care provider Arcare has acquired The Orchards Aged Care at Lisarow on the Central Coast, which becomes its 51st residence and seventh in NSW.

Nestled in The Orchards Retirement Village, The

Central Coast Council has delivered an update on the Water and Sewer Delivery Plan 2022-2026.

The bi-annual report highlights the key achievements across July to December 2023 under three focus areas: accountability, asset management and community engagement.

Council Director for Water and Sewer Jamie Loader said the report provided water and

Orchards Aged Care (now Arcare Lisarow) has 120 beds.

The acquisition reaffirms Arcare’s commitment to sustainable growth and cements its position as one of Australia’s largest privately owned aged care providers.

Under Arcare’s ownership,

The Orchards will continue to enjoy its strong community links, while benefitting from the resources and support of an established provider with strong ties to the area.

With more than 40 years experience in the aged care industry, Arcare is one of

Australia’s largest privately owned aged care providers.

CEO Colin Singh said the latest acquisition was “an exciting step forward”.

“We are very proud of what we do, and we are working to ensure this transition is smooth for The Orchards Aged Care’s

residents, families and team members,” he said.

“I can reassure the community that there will be no changes to residents’ fees, bonds or security of tenure as a result of the sale.

“I hope that when residents and the team have had a

Update on water and sewer plan

sewer customers and the community with insights into the performance and progress of services.

“Asset management plans are on track for completion by June 2024 ensuring Council provides reliable water and sewer services meeting customer expectations,” he said.

“This includes commencement of Somersby Water Treatment Plant’s

condition and performance audit.

“This is essential work to enable upgrades to Mardi Water Treatment Plant supporting water security for the future.

“We will continue to work across our focus areas throughout 2023-2024 with our next update provided midyear.”

Of the designated actions for the 2023-2024 period, four

actions have been completed, five are in progress and on track, one is in progress and delayed, and two are yet to commence.

The Water and Sewer Delivery Plan 2022-2026 progress report for the period July–December 2023 is available on Council’s website.

To read the report search Water and Sewer Delivery Plan at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

chance to get to know us a little more, they will share our excitement as we join the community and continue to offer high-quality care on the Central Coast.”

For more details visit visit www.arcare.com.au or call 1300 297 189.

Somersby Water Treatment Plant

The Orchards will now be known as Arcare Lisarow

Aerial view of Arcare Lisarow

Work placement for students vital for their future

Work placement is not just an educational requirement; it’s a vital stepping stone for students like Emma Fortune, a driven Year 12 student from St Joseph’s Catholic College, East Gosford.

Emma’s recent work placement at Skill Engineer Ltd highlights the crucial role of industry partnerships in preparing the workforce of tomorrow.

Balancing her academic pursuits with a part-time role in hospitality, Emma’s dedication to her future career in business shines through.

“Skill Engineer Ltd provided a nurturing learning environment,” Emma said.

“The hands-on experience and supportive team equipped me with valuable skills that I can carry forward into my future endeavours after school.”

Skill Engineer Ltd, a leader in providing work placement opportunities for high school students, is on a mission to bridge the gap between education and industry.

With a focus on fields like IT and business administration, the organisation is actively seeking host employers to join their initiative.

“Hosting a student not only enriches their learning journey but also serves as a valuable resource for businesses” Skill Engineer Ltd CEO Maggie MacFie said.

“We’re calling on businesses across the Central Coast and Northern Sydney regions to partner with us to provide students with practical

experiences and advice that will benefit them in their future careers in the industry,” MacFie said.

VET courses, spanning

diverse sectors including IT, business services, electrotechnology, allied health, and construction, mandate work placements to equip students with industryrelevant skills and work ethics.

Skill Engineer Ltd facilitates thousands of placements annually, providing students with hands-on experiences that complement their classroom learning.

“Business services and IT students possess a diverse range of skills that can add value to any workplace,” MacFie said.

“From managing administrative tasks to tackling IT-related challenges, these students bring enthusiasm and capability to the table.”

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, particularly with the shift to remote work in many industries, Skill Engineer Ltd remains committed to providing valuable on-the-job training.

“We encourage businesses with the capacity to host a student to step forward and shape the future workforce,” she said.

“Together, we can make a difference in the lives of these aspiring young professionals.”

For businesses interested in becoming host employers, please contact Hayley Leclere at Skill Engineer Ltd on 4304 3031 or email at hayley. leclere@theskillengineer.com.

au

HIA life membership for Central Coast builder

Owner of Central Coastbased Adbuild Constructions Craig Smythe has received Housing Industry Association (HIA) Life Membership in recognition of his service to the residential construction industry for more than 35 years.

“In 1999 Craig became a member of HIA, and very quickly became involved with HIA events on the Central Coast,” a spokesperson said.

“When the HIA Hunter region was established in 2002, Craig was elected an inaugural member of the Hunter Regional Executive Committee.

“Over the following 19 years Craig’s commitment to the HIA and the advancement of the industry was continuously demonstrated by his extensive participation on HIA regional and national committees.”

Smythe was elected Hunter Regional Vice President on two separate occasions before becoming Regional President

in 2009-10 and 2011-12.

In 2007 Craig he became the region’s National Membership Services Committee representative, a position he would hold until his departure from the Regional Executive Committee at the end of 2020. He has served as a judge for various awards.

Tiny homes an affordable housing option

Tiny Homes 4U is an innovative, affordable and sustainable business based in West Gosford offering smaller housing solutions.

The business started in 2023 and services Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and across the Central Coast.

It aims to provide affordable housing options for a range of people in the community.

Member for Robertson Gordon Reid popped in to take a look recently and said he was impressed.

“Tiny Homes 4U is an outstanding local business providing dynamic housing solutions for people looking to downsize or live a more sustainable lifestyle,” he said.

“It was insightful seeing the tiny homes available and the level of craftmanship that goes into each one.

“Owners Paul Kiernan and Marc Anderson are passionate about affordable and sustainable housing.

“Each tiny home provides all the modern comforts that a person needs to live a happy and fulfilling life.

“If you are looking for innovative housing options, Tiny Homes 4U might just be for you.”

Owner Marc Anderson said the company was trying to offer an affordable and quick solution to the housing crisis so people could help their

families or friends in need. Co-owner Paul Kiernan said the two were looking to achieve a larger and more uniformed response from councils across the country on how to get the tiny homes easily compliant for land or property.

Paul Kiernan, Member for Robertson Gordon Reid and Marc Anderson at Tiny Homes 4U

Work Placement Co-ordinator Michelle Nicholls and Emma Fortune, a Year 12 student St Joseph’s Catholic College East Gosford

A total of 72 per cent of Council’s planned 127 operations for this financial year were on schedule as at the start of this year.

Another 24 per cent were behind schedule and four per cent were completed.

The figures are included in the Quarter 2 (Q2) report presented to the February 27 meeting, tracking the progress of Council’s actions and targets against its adopted Operational Plan during the second quarter of the financial year.

All Capital Works projects have been started and are on track.

Scheduled maintenance of parks and reserves are better than the target: the Open Space and Recreation Unit achieved 91.05 per cent of scheduled maintenance on time in Q2 when the target was only 80 per cent.

Also the scheduled servicing of sports facilities completed on time is up to 86 per cent on surrounds and 91 per cent field of mowing was on time.

This was due to favourable weather conditions and increased resourcing.

Development applications are taking longer than the target and 814 DAs were

Council on track says Q2 report

outstanding at the end of December 2023.

“This is a reduction from 1,099 in September 2022 and 903 in June 2023 and generally, the trend of outstanding DAs has been downwards from the September 2022 peak,” the Q2 report said.

Many of the projects behind schedule relate to water and sewer information to the public.

A Water and Sewer Performance Report was published on Council’s website in September 2023 but in response to community feedback, a new reporting tool and webpage are in the early stages of development to enable quarterly reporting, Council said.

These include details on things such as volume of sewage overflows and average duration of water supply outages and net greenhouse gas emissions.

An Integrated Transport Strategy which was to be developed and exhibited by 30 June 2024 is unlikely to be exhibited this financial year due to a “vacancy of specialist staff”.

“Recruitment will be conducted in Q3 and drafting of the strategy will progress,”

the report said.

Also behind schedule is the Warnervale airport masterplan which has been pushed back six months until June 2024.

The Q2 review lists all the changes in budgets for specific projects; for example the original budget for commercial leases for the year was $580,000 but another $250,000 has been added; while the annual toilet renewal program has lost $70,000 to bring it down to $880,000.

It also lists the significant contracts inked during Q2: for example, Douglas Partners Pty Ltd; $220,395 for Consultancy

Services, Gosford Waterfront Revitalisation Masterplan geotechnical engineering.

Council said it continues to track well financially, and also in the progress and delivery of budgeted capital works.

After paying down one of the emergency loans in December 2023, Council has now started setting aside funds, $1.4M each month, to enable the final pay down of the remaining emergency loan in November 2025.

CEO David Farmer said the extinguishment of these emergency loans is a great achievement and that moving

forward it will mean more funds to allocate towards community services and projects.

“It has not only been the money that has had to be put aside every month towards paying down these loans, but also the interest that has had to be paid on the loans, which has been a burden on Council for the last several years,” he said.

Other points in the Q2 Business Report review include a projected increase in budgeted operating income of $5.9M, and operational expenditure projected to increase by $3.2M.

Farmer said based on these proposed budget changes, Council projects a modest operating surplus for the year ending 30 June 2024.

The figure is about $8M.

The projected capital income from developer contributions was being reduced, whilst projected income from grants has been increased by $8.7M to align with approved funding agreements.

An increase in capital expenditure of $38.3M has been included mainly relating to the receipt of unbudgeted grants.

“Overall, the Q2 Report is very good, and we are getting on with delivering projects and services in a very timely and financially prudent manner,” Farmer said.

“Current major projects include the new Gosford Regional Library, the Mardi Dam Water Treatment major upgrade and the Hue Hue Road pavement upgrade.”

Council Administrator Rik Hart said the community should have confidence in how things are tracking.

The full report can be found on Council’s website.

Merilyn Vale

Work

Central Coast Council is forging ahead with the reclassification of 10 Council-owned properties from community land to operational land despite a push from the Community Environment Network (CEN) to defer a decision until the region has elected councillors later in the year.

Council says the sites to be reclassified were reviewed in 2023 and the choice of sites was streamlined to ensure that only sites with the highest level of community benefit were included.

Most of the sites will continue to remain in community ownership in the future, being either retained in Council ownership or transferred to wellestablished locally based community organisations that provide valued recreational, sporting or accommodation facilities, a Council spokesperson said.

One property will be sold on the open market with the proceeds of sale being used to fund a new community centre.

Both the property to be sold and its replacement are located at Norah Head.

The reclassification of some of the other sites will allow vital road upgrade projects to proceed in the fast-growing northern sector of the region.

The 10 properties will be on public exhibition until March 18, with public hearings to be held in April to further inform a decision by Council.

Director of Environment and Planning Alice Howe said it was important that Council land was classified appropriately.

“In a fast-growing area like the Central Coast, it is essential that the mix of community and operational land is reviewed regularly to ensure that the community is receiving the best value that it can from all the land

Pause land reclassification, urges CEN

in public hands,” she said.

“The key characteristic of community land is that it is managed for long term public benefit and there are significant restrictions on the way that it can be managed.

“On some occasions, the restrictions applied to community land get in the way of efficient land management.

“For example, if a major sporting or recreational club is willing to invest millions of dollars in new community facilities, it must have the certainty of either freehold ownership or a longterm lease.

“Neither of these options is available under a community land classification.”

The Community Environment Network (CEN) has questioned the need to complete any further public land classifications when the Central Coast is months away from its first local government election in seven years.

“We remain concerned by the intention behind some of these proposed reclassifications,” CEN Chair Gary Chestnut said.

“CEN questions whether it will be the Central Coast community or private enterprises who will ultimately benefit from some of these properties being reclassified and rezoned.”

Chestnut outlined specific concerns on several of the lots

proposed for reclassification.

A site at 18 Dane Dr, Gosford, is proposed for reclassification to support the Gosford waterfront and stadium revitalisation by allowing additional uses of the land.

CEN says this land is better known to the community as Gosford Bowling Club, which has been offered an extended lease as a “sweetener” while Council pushes the reclassification through.

“The community has been told this reclassification is necessary to fulfill the council’s ‘vision’ for the redevelopment of the stadium and waterfront.” Chestnut said.

“CEN remains deeply concerned that, following the announcement and exhibition of a masterplan for the stadium and waterfront in Gosford, it seems that a process of stakeholder consultation is ongoing with no community input.

“The community currently owns this land.

“What will the long-term dividend be for its reclassification for use as something like a private boutique hotel?”

Two sites in Wallarah Rd, Gorokan will be reclassified to rationalise use of land by the adjoining club either via sale or long-term lease.

A site at 75 Bungary Rd, Norah Head, will be reclassified for sale

via open market to part-fund development of a new community centre at Norah Head.

Reclassification of Part 2-4 Park Rd, The Entrance, will enable rebuilding of The Greens Bowling Club, either via sale or long-term lease.

Chestnut said the massive piece of public land in the heart of The Entrance is also subject to a rezoning at the same time it is being put forward for reclassification even though Council is not supposed to preempt the outcome of the reclassification.

Reclassifying two lots in Yaralla Rd, Toukley, will enable inclusion of the land in Council’s affordable housing sites portfolio, either via sale or long-term lease.

A small sliver of land at 49-51 Mann St, Gosford, was inadvertently omitted from the recent reclassification of land to support sale of the former Council chambers at Gosford to TAFE.

CEN says with negotiations on the TAFE project appearing to have stalled there are fears the entire site might be sold to a private developer.

“The NSW Government does not seem to be acting with any urgency to acquire this land for TAFE so why can’t this reclassification wait until after the local election?” Chestnut said.

A lot at 50W Parraweena Rd, Gwandalan, will be reclassified to allow the land to be dedicated as public road reserve, long term-lease or sale to achieve the full commercial potential of the business centre to the north.

At Lake Munmorah, the reclassification of part of 6W Kemira Rd will allow the land to be available for dedication as public road reserve.

Land is planned to be reclassified at part of 20 Summerland Rd, Summerland Point, to be offered to the owner of Sporties on a long-term operational lease to allow for upgrades.

Chestnut said this was yet another large piece of public land that includes a recreation club.

“What is Central Coast Council’s intention in relation to the need to reclassify this land?” he said.

“As the northern reaches of the Central Coast are opened up to higher levels of development, we are going to need to retain as much green space and natural bushland as possible.

“If the intention is to sell or enter a long-term lease for this land, the reclassification should be held over until after the local government election.”

In addition to the reclassifications, Council is proposing to rezone 3 sites (4 lots) from RE1 Public Recreation to RE2 Private Recreation.

These sites are: 48w Wallarah Rd, Gorokan; 191 Wallarah Rd, Kanwal; and Part 2-4 Park Rd, The Entrance.

CEN also has concerns about these proposed rezonings.

“The prime piece of land at 48W Wallarah Road, Gorokan, separates the Wallarah Bay Recreation Club from the foreshore of Tuggerah Lake,” Chestnut said.

“It has been described by Council as a ‘ stranded asset’ but it is, at the moment, a public reserve.

“Council cannot legally preempt the outcome of the reclassification by stating whether it intends to sell the land or lease it over a long term.

“Either way, the intent is to privatise the land and council’s track record for securing a reasonable dividend back to its residents and ratepayers has been poor ever since it embarked on its public land sell-off in 2020.”

Two public hearings will be held in relation to the Planning Proposal on: Tuesday, April 9 (time to be advised) at the Erina Centre; and Thursday, April 11 (time to be advised) at Council’s Wyong Administration Centre.

They will be chaired by a person who is independent of Council.

Council Administrator Rik Hart said the move was not about Council in any way taking the “community” out of community land.

“The majority of the sites will remain for community use and benefit, either through continued Council ownership or sale to a community-minded organisation in our local area,” he said.

“This is all about ensuring that the local community derives the greatest benefit from what they own now.“

For more information and to have your say visit: www. yourvoiceourcoast.com/RPP

Terry Collins

High DA wait times blamed on poor planning

Community activist Kevin Brooks has blamed high development application assessment times on a poor voluntary redundancy program introduced by Central Coast Council Administrator Rik Hart in 2021.

Speaking at the public forum prior to the February 27 meeting, Brooks said the Q2 Business Review presented to Council at that meeting revealed that development application (DA) assessment times were 58 per cent above target.

The report, which encompasses the second

quarter of the current financial year, found that with a target of an 80-day assessment, DAs were taking an average of 126 days to be assessed.

“The average assessment time has doubled since Mr Hart

was appointed Administrator and David Farmer CEO,” Brooks said.

He said the poorly designed program, in which high priority areas were cut just as much as lower priority ones, led to the loss of experienced planners and kick-started the decline.

“Over the past year, we’ve been told repeatedly that Council is finally processing more applications than it receives,” he said.

“If so, why is the average DA assessment time worse than 12 months ago?

“Go back even further, of course, and the average assessment time has doubled

since the second half of 202021 when the current Administrator and CEO were appointed.

“It is time to acknowledge that the current crisis with DA assessment times was kickstarted by the Administrator and his senior management team through a poorly designed voluntary redundancy program and insufficient prioritisation.”

Brooks also expressed concern that Council was already behind in 24 per cent of its targets across all business areas, including other priority areas such as water and sewer where performance was significantly below target.

He said Council needed to improve its processes for prioritisation across the organisation in both objective setting and resource allocation. He also accused Council of “over optimistic” reporting.

“For example, 814 outstanding DAs is clearly well behind the target of less than 750 – yet the report claims this is somehow ‘on track’,” he said.

“It seems odd that we have 127 targets yet only one of them relates specifically to roads.

“And it is concerning that results do appear to be worse in the priority areas.

“Most people would agree water quality is a priority.

“Yet, Council is eight per cent behind target on water quality complaints, 77 per cent behind target on unplanned interruptions, 26 per cent behind target on mains breaks, and 54 per cent behind target on wastewater overflows.

“All this despite a water rate hike in excess of 30 per cent.

“The quarterly business report is an opportunity for leaders to accept responsibility, diagnose the causes of poor performance and present action plans for improvement.”

There are concerns over reclassifying a sliver of land in Mann St, Gosford 2-4 Park Rd, The Entrance

Community activist Kevin Brooks

Plan for more housing around transport hubs

Gosford CBD has 18,000 units or flats already approved for building, Administrator Rik Hart told the February meeting of Council-underadministration.

Hart gave the figures as he was adopting a report Central Coast Council is submitting to the State Government about proposed changes to zonings around transport hubs to allow more housing close to transport.

The State program is called Transport Oriented Development or TOD.

Council wants Gosford, Tuggerah, and Wyong TOD locations, around the train stations, excluded from the future reforms due to low opportunity for housing yield, limited land application for the provisions and the existing approval frameworks in place that have a more locally based strategic direction for these centres.

Council argues in its submission that proposed changes applying to Gosford, Tuggerah, and Wyong are unlikely to generate any significant increase in housing to warrant the complications of creating new policy layers.

But if they are included, it

wants location definitions and criteria of where the provisions will apply to be specific, clearly interpreted and unchallengeable in Court.

Council says the instrument should include mapping but where this is not provided, the definition of “walking distance” should be clearly articulated so it doesn’t create ambiguity.

Council has also submitted its thoughts on the proposed Low and Mid-rise Housing Reform (LMRH Reform).

The LMRH would broaden the inclusion of land uses across all Residential and limited Employment zones (E1 Local Centre and MU1 Mixed Use only) to allow increased permissibility of medium

density style developments.

This would permit multidwelling housing and manor houses in the R2 Low Density Residential zone within the station and town centre precincts.

Manor houses are defined as two-storey residential flat buildings, described as a small apartment building, which are currently not permitted in the Central Coast Local Government Area.

It would also introduce standalone controls to vary the requirements of the Apartment Design Guide to include design criteria for mid-rise housing, such as building separation, setbacks, vehicle access, visual privacy

Asbestos to be removed from school

The Department of Education has notified Central Coast Council of approval to remove asbestos material and remediation of grounds at Glenvale School, 77 Hutton Rd, The Entrance North.

Remediation works will include removal of contaminated soils and capping/encapsulation of those areas.

All work will be done outside of school hours in conjunction

with a licensed occupational hygienist to provide airborne fibre monitoring and final clearance inspection and certification.

A Class A licenced asbestos removalist authorised to remove friable asbestos will be engaged to undertake excavation of asbestos impacted soil.

All works will undertaken in compliance with relevant statutory requirements, standards, codes and guidelines.

and communal open space.

Council staff expect these controls would be less onerous than the Coast’s current Development Control Plan controls.

“The concept of increasing residential densities in existing centres is generally supported; however, this needs to be driven by evidence-based actions alongside infrastructure delivery,” Council said.

“The proposed ‘cookie cutter’ approach taken across the Six Cities Region has the potential to undermine the strategic work undertaken through the Central Coast Regional Plan 2041 (CCRP 2041) and Council’s draft Central Coast Local Housing Strategy.”

The LMRH seeks to speed up the delivery of a greater diversity of housing stock in the medium density bracket targeting the TOD areas while the TOD would give a new State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP).

The SEPP is due to come into force in April 2024 and will amend planning controls within 400m of 31 metro and rail stations including – at this stage – Gosford, Tuggerah and Wyong stations.

Council said the TOD SEPP and LMRH Reforms are happening faster than Council can amend local infrastructure contribution plans.

Merilyn Vale

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Mobile coverage at Charmhaven

The Charmhaven area will soon have new and improved telecommunications coverage with the installation of a mobile tower at 210 Pacific Hwy.

It will significantly improve Optus 4G and 5G mobile coverage and capacity providing much-needed voice and data services, particularly in the northern Charmhaven area.

The proposed location for the mobile tower will be at the rear of the BP service station opposite the Charmhaven shopping centre on the Pacific Hwy.

There will be a new 35m monopole with an overall height of 36.4m with antenna protrusions supporting Optus telecommunications antennas and equipment, all housed within a fenced compound.

The new infrastructure will be capable of sharing wireless telecommunications with other providers and co-location with other carriers and government entities.

See DA/164/2024 on Council’s website for more information.

Extension to animal boarding hours

The school site has boundary security fencing installed and the contaminated are is currently isolated by protective safety fencing to prevent unauthorised access.

Asbestos was first suspected during trench excavation and backfilling works for the installation of underground electrical cables in early 2021.

Owners of an animal boarding and training centre in Gosford are asking Central Coast Council to approve an increase in hours of operation.

Doggy Day-Care and Training, located in a light industrial area at 26-28 Tatura Ave, was approved in July 2020 to operate Monday to Saturday 6am-7pm.

The Remediation Action Plan and other information (DA/158/2024) is available on Central Coast Council’s website.

It is proposed to increase the hours of operation to 24 hours, Monday to Friday, to enable the overnight boarding of dogs, with no increase in the number of dogs allowed at the centre.

For more information see DA/58524/2020A on Council’s website.

This

•

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.

WHERE: Mingara Recreation Club

WHEN: 19 March 2024

TIME: 6:45pm - 8:00pm

WHERE: Gosford RSL Club

WHEN: 9 April 2024

TIME: 6:45pm - 8:00pm

4324 7699

Gosford station

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DOWN IN THE GARDEN: Spring Flowering Bulbs

While to look at, bulbs are rather uninviting, they are a miracle of nature.

Bulbs are a storehouse of energy that’s just waiting for the right time and conditions to burst forth a gorgeous plant usually complete with dazzling flowers.

The term bulbs itself is used rather loosely in the gardening world because while there are true bulbs, there are also corms, tubers and rhizomes which are all sometimes refer to as ‘bulbs’.

The thing they all have in common is that are planted underground and are the food source that also contain the dormant plant.

Although you can find bulbs for all seasons, it is the spring flowering bulbs that cause the most excitement and are the most popular.

The Tulip Festival and Floriade in Canberra are testament to this.

My first tip for spring bulbs is to plant in succession.

Your display will only last a few weeks at best but there is a way around this with succession planting.

By all means purchase all

your bulbs now, in fact it’s wise to do so because you will save money buying in bulk but plant out every week or so, not all at once.

This will mean you have a rotation of flowering times, and you can extend your spring display by weeks depending on the weather.

Which Bulbs?

Spring flowering bulbs include tulips of course but also daffodils, jonquils, crocus, Dutch iris, freesias, and many more.

Some of the more usual ones you might like to explore including the beautiful chincherinchee and joyful sparaxis.

To work out which you can grow in your garden, a quick google search ‘spring flowering bulbs’ for temperate areas will bring you a burst of colour and ideas.

There are many online and mail order catalogue companies that specialise in bulbs and right now is a very good time to hop to it and shop.

Every year new varieties are on offer and old fashioned and heritage blooms often make comebacks, but you need to be quick as popular plants go fast.

Planning Your Bulbs

While it is very thrilling to buy the bulbs you love the look of, in reality you need to buy the bulbs that will suit your garden.

Position is everything and there are bulbs for all conditions.

Is your patch in full sun, part shade or full shade?

Look for bulbs that will suit your available light and be very careful when purchasing online or via mail order that you are purchasing for your climate.

Here on the Central Coast, you are looking for bulbs which will grow best in ‘Temperate’ climates.

Soil must have very good drainage ability because bulbs will rot very easily in dense soil, especially if we have heavy rains over winter.

Also check the pH level and adjust as required for your type of bulbs.

This information should come with your bulbs or ask your supplier.

In all cases, dig in about a bucket of well-aged compost to every square meter of garden bed a couple of weeks before planting.

Just before planting rake in a dressing of blood and bone or something similar.

Creating a Display

WHAT’S ON FOR PLANT LOVERS

List your event for free – gardeningcentralcoast@gmail.com

Free Native Bee Talk 11:00 – 11:30am, Saturday 16th March

I find the best way to create a spectacular spring bulb display is to stand in the middle of the garden bed and toss a selection of bulbs around me.

I might need to slightly adjust spacing of some, but this organic approach really does give you a natural and pretty cottage display.

However, if you do like things a bit more on the classical side then group your bulbs in colours, heights and types to create fascinating patterns and visual lines that lead the eye from one type of plant or area to another.

Planting Bulbs

There is a general rule of thumb when it comes to planting bulbs – pointy end up and plant at the bottom of a hole that is two to three times as deep as the height of your bulb, but you will find this information with your bulbs.

There are exceptions to this rule, so make sure you double check.

Some, especially a few varieties of lilies for instance prefer to be a lot closer to the surface.

Bulbs can be planted directly into the ground, in raised beds, under or in grass and even in pots.

Cheralyn is a horticulture author and along with Pete Little, hosts ‘At Home with The Gardening Gang’

8 - 10am live every Saturday on CoastFM96.3

East Gosford Community Garden - Cnr of Henry Parry Drive & Wells Street, East Gosford

Learn about native bees.

Heidi from Rumbalara Bees will talk about the most common native bees you are likely to see on the Central Coast, the importance of bees and how to help them with habitat and food. This talk is suitable for kids and adults with an interest in gardening and our environment.

Scan the QR code for more info or visit: rumbalarabees.com.au/pages/events

Autumn Everlasting Flower Wreath Workshop - 10am – 1pm, Sunday 17th March

House of Ellery, ‘The Chapman Building’, Wyong. Shop 4, 14-16 Alison Rd Wyong

Come and create a stunning Autumn preserved and dry flower wreath with us.

We will use dried leaves, fern, corokia, cherry blossom, statice, everlasting daisies and so much more, let your imagination run wild for a few hours and take some time for you.

All workshop materials, tea/coffee/hot chocolate and biscuits are provided on the day. If you have certain dietary requirements, please feel free to bring your own tea/coffee and snacks, there are also several cafes in the area.

Scan the QR code for more info or visit www.houseofellery.com.au

contact@cheralyndarcey.com

cheralyn.darcey

cheralyn

In fact, you can get a very early display to chase the winter blues away by growing bulbs in pots indoors.

This is known as ‘forcing’.

You might have seen hyacinths grown in a water filled vessel indoors, this is a typical forcing practice.

The trick is to keep your bulbs cool, usually in a very cold, dark part of your home like a basement or garage or even the refrigerator.

This is to avoid the warmer daily temperatures and to trick the bulbs into thinking that winter has already occurred. You bring them out and plant ahead of their usual planting time but keep them in progressively warmer areas.

You can find ‘forcing guides’ very easily online for each bulb tyoe.

Be careful though as not all bulbs like to be forced or spend time in the fridge!

Bulb Care

Once planted bulbs pretty much look after themselves.

When they complete flowering though you will need to feed them so that those little powerpacks underground can recharge.

Also, while it is ok to remove

spend flowers do not cut away foliage until it has died right back to the ground.

This is because the bulb is drawing all the nutrients from the dying leaves into itself.

A handful of complete a fertiliser that is high in potash works well as will another dash of blood and bone.

Container grown bulbs will do well with a liquid feed high in potash every fortnight after flowering until foliage dies down.

Your bulbs can survive on the winter rains but if you are experiencing a dry spring, water after flowering every fortnight.

Bulbs in containers will however need more care.

If the soil is dry 5cm beneath the surface, then lightly water.

Check every few days.

To Lift or Not to Lift

Nearly all bulbs can be left in the ground on the Central Coast however you will find that tulips, because they really do love a colder winter than we can provide, will prefer to be dug up and stored in a cold dark and dry place.

They will do even better if you pop them in the fridge fir a couple of months before their planting time.

THIS WEEK’S GARDENING GUIDE

This week you could plant: culinary herbs, beetroot, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrot, cauliflower, chicory, cress, endive, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mustard, onions, parsnips, peas, radishes, salsify, shallots, silverbeet, spinach, spring onions, swedes, turnips, ageratum, alyssum, calendula, candytuft, carnation, cineraria, columbine, coneflower, delphinium, dianthus, everlasting daisy, forget-me-not, foxglove, godetia, gypsophila, hollyhock, larkspur, linaria, lobelia, nemesia, nigella, pansy, polyanthus, poppy, primula, snapdragon, statice, stock, sweet pea, viola, wallflower

CHERALYN

More wellbeing nurses for Coast schools

More children on the Central Coast will have access to wellbeing support at school with the NSW Government committing $60M over four years to continue the successful Wellbeing and Health In-reach Nurse (WHIN) Co-ordinator program.

Since the program started in 2018, more than 10,000 students across the state have been supported by wellbeing nurses.

Students across more than a dozen Central Coast schools will benefit under the expanded program.

Nurses will be located at base schools, but will also service other schools in an outreach arrangement.

Central Coast schools to benefit are: Narara Valley High School; Wyoming Public School; Valley View High School; Gosford High School; Kariong Mountains High School; Point Clare Public School; Blue Haven Public

School; Brooke Avenue Public School; The Entrance Public School; Lake Munmorah Public School; Mannering Park Public School; Gwandalan Public School; Brisbane Waters Secondary College Woy Woy Campus; Ettalong Public School; and Woy Woy South Public School.

The program is a joint initiative of NSW Health and the NSW Department of Education and establishes wellbeing nurses in public primary and secondary schools to coordinate appropriate early intervention, assessments and referral to health and social services.

Minister for Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris welcomed the news as a former school principal.

“Support for schools in addressing complex student needs, particularly in regard to mental health, is welcome,” he said.

“Placing skilled practitioners directly into schools will result in better health outcomes for

Workshop to help new mums prepare

A fundraising charity event to be held at Forresters Beach on March 10 will raise many for displaced women and children in Gaza.

The Mindful Pregnancy Workshop has been organised by Bateau Bay local, meditation therapist Epiphany Mason, who wanted to do something for those mothers and babies “on the other side of the world”.

“I am really passionate about helping other women,” she said.

The event will be co-hosted by Claire Dunn from Luna Physiotherapy and Rhiannon James from Rhiannon James

Doula.

“The event has been thoughtfully designed to empower expecting mothers with valuable insights and practical tools to navigate the beautiful yet sometimes challenging experience of pregnancy, birth and postpartum mindfully,” Mason said.

“It doesn’t matter where you are in pregnancy, it will help prepare for birth and postpartum.”

The expert guest speakers will include a women’s health physiotherapist who will show participants simple and safe movements to support mum and bub, a postpartum doula to

help make a plan for the fourth trimester offering expert advice to prepare for breastfeeding and a meditation therapist to prepare the mind for the journey ahead with specialised mindfulness techniques.

The event is donation based with all proceeds dedicated to supporting displaced women and children affected by the escalation of violence in Gaza.

“Around 1.7 million people in the Gaza strip are estimated to have been internally displaced – half of them children,” Mason said.

“They do not have enough access to water, food, fuel or medicine.

“Their homes have been destroyed; their families torn apart.

“By participating in this workshop, not only will you gain valuable knowledge and support for your pregnancy and postpartum journey, but you will also contribute to a meaningful cause, making a positive impact on other mothers’ and children’s lives.”

The event is on March 10 between 10am and 11.30am at The Landing Space, 4/33 Forresters Beach Rd, Forresters Beach.

Morning tea will be provided.

students and families.”

Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley said the wellbeing nurses would provide crucial support for kids and their families.

“Health and education are cornerstones of our kids’ lives and I’m delighted to see the NSW Government bring them together through this program,” she said.

Member for the Entrance David Mehan and Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch also applauded the announcement.

“Wellbeing nurses perform a vitally important role in our schools,” Tesch said.

“They provide a critical link for students and families to services such as early intervention, assessments and health and social services referrals, providing a multifaceted approach to young people’s wellbeing.

“This program is a fantastic example of utilising innovative and collaborative programs to benefit young people across the Coast and NSW.”

Mindful Pregnancy Workshop | Central Coast | from epiphany Epiphany Mason

Grants available for childcare providers

Member for Robertson Gordon Reid is encouraging childcare providers on the Central Coast to apply for grants through the Federal Government’s Community Childcare Fund (CCCF).

A total of $84M in new CCCF grants is now available to help support the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) needs of families in communities of high need.

Reid said access to early childhood education and care services is becoming increasingly difficult for families on the Central Coast.

“The Federal Labor

Government is making a concerted effort to address this situation and enable more families to access high-quality ECEC services in the region,” he said.

“The availability of ECEC services was a top concern of providers, educators and families following a forum discussing the sector on the Central Coast recently.

“The funding being provided by the Federal Government will enable providers to undertake minor to moderate capital works including repairing, modifying, renovating or extending

existing ECEC facilities.

“Additionally, the funding can also be used to improve the viability and financial sustainability of providers’ services.

“I am encouraging eligible ECEC providers on the Central Coast to review the grant guidelines and apply.”

For more information and to apply, visit www.education. gov.au/early-childhood/ community-child-care-fund/ cccf-disadvantaged-andvulnerable-communities-grant Applications close at 9pm on March 8.

Central Coast Labor MPs Liesl Tesch, Yasmin Catley, David Mehan and David Harris

Member

HEALTH BRIEF

Have a free hearing check

Hearing Australia is encouraging people to register for a free hearing check in March and there are multiple appointments available on the Central Coast.

Research shows that only 56 per cent of Australians have had a hearing test in their lifetime compared with 87 per cent who have had an eye test.

With one in six Australians currently experiencing hearing loss, and that number expected to double to an estimated 7.8 million people by 2060, a regular hearing check can be life-changing.

To celebrate World Hearing Day on March 3, Hearing Australia is calling on Australians to take advantage of free 15-minute hearing checks on offer across the country throughout the month, as part of its Hearing the Nation Tour.

The free hearing checks take around 15 minutes.

Check for your nearest available location by searching your postcode at hearing.com.au

For more details on on this story, visit our website. CoastCommunityNews.com.au or scan QR code on page 1

Breast cancer warning for younger women

Jessica Allen, of Norah Head, was 16 weeks pregnant with her second child when an ultrasound confirmed she had triple negative breast cancer.

Alarmed at discovering a large, hard lump in one breast, she was instantly concerned.

“It was a really large lump and very hard and I thought that’s not normal,” Allen said.

“But you’re pregnant and you just don’t know.

“Mum had breast cancer two years before and she advised me to get it checked and make sure.”

Her GP sent her for an ultrasound immediately and a biopsy a week later confirmed the worst.

She was just 35 years old and went through her first round of chemotherapy on her son’s fourth birthday while in her second trimester of pregnancy.

“I had so many unanswered questions, the most important one being could I keep my baby,” she said.

While her husband, a fly-in fly-out worker, was with her during the tests, he could not be there for the results.

“I went through diagnosis alone; I had half my treatment while I was pregnant and the rest with a newborn while also taking care of a four-yearold,” she said.

Treatment was quickly arranged, the lump removed, and four weeks after surgery, she began chemotherapy.

“I was so worried about the baby, you’re pregnant and you’re trying to be healthy and then you’re putting all this poison in your body.

“The team were great and assured me it was far more

common than people know, and it would probably mean the baby would be a bit smaller and I would deliver a bit earlier.

“I made it to 39 weeks and the baby was fine. It was like I had been holding my breath that whole time and I could finally breathe again.”

That was in 2020 and baby

Bodhi is now three and his older brother Houston is eight.

Allen is sharing her story as part of the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s 30th Anniversary to raise awareness around breast cancer, especially during pregnancy, and remove the stigma around breast cancer in young people.

“I love the work they do, all that research. It’s really wonderful,” she said.

“I wanted to share my story so that other women who are going through it, know they are not alone, it can be such an isolating experience.

“It really helps knowing that there are others and it’s a great support.

“I would do anything to support the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF); their important research helps women like us.”

Since 1994, NBCF has invested $232M in 642 projects and in this time, the death rate from breast cancer has reduced by more than 40 per cent.

Over the past 30 years the five-year relative survival rate has improved by 16 per cent from 76 per cent to 92 per cent.

In the past 10 years alone, more than 2,300 publications were reported by NBCFfunded researchers, with science discoveries helping to improve our understanding of breast cancer and how we may better prevent, detect, stop and treat breast cancer.

NBCF-funded projects have led to 50 influences on policy and practice.

1.

5.

Jessica Allen with Bodhi and Houston Trivia

Terrigal Matcham straight to cricket grand final

Terrigal Matcham will progress straight to the grand final of the 1st Grade Men’s Cricket Competition after defeating The Entrance in the first semifinal on March 2-3 at Baker Park.

The Entrance won the toss and elected to bat but Terrigal Matcham stripped the batting line-up of any chance of partnerships or runs.

Terrigal Matcham’s Josh Bridge took 9/24 off 16.3 in the innings leaving The Entrance all out for just 61.

Terrigal Matcham went out to bat with The Entrance needing some quick wickets which was the case with the opening

batters but Ivan Kriek’s 53 and Zac Peters’ 57 helped get the side to 206 which saw them take a first innings win.

Kincumber Avoca will meet The Entrance in the preliminary final after defeating Northern Power in the second semi-final at Jubilee Park.

Kincumber Avoca won the toss and elected to bat.

Two batters in the top of the order took a duck but Harry Woodhead 55 and Dylan Robertson 56 helped the side finish all out on 179.

Dave Molan took 4/31 off 19 with six maidens in an effort to restrict the runs.

Northern Power went out for the chase but, not being able to

build partnerships, fell short of the runs in the 69th over finishing all out on 123.

Skipper Ben Gillies top scored on 39 with five fours.

Kincumber Avoca skipper Dylan Robertson and Michael Pate took four wickets each.

The Entrance and Kincumber Avoca will now clash in the preliminary final at Tuggerah Sporting Complex at 12.30pm on March 9 and 10, with the winner to meet Terrigal Matcham in the grand final.

In the 1st Grade Women’s Competition, Lisarow Ourimbah defeated Kincumber Avoca to earn a spot in the grand final against Northern Power Orange.

Help with fees for junior rugby league

Wyong Leagues Group is taking the sting out of registration fees by setting up a subsidy program to help families keep their children in the sport.

Significant changes to the popular government Active Kids voucher program means financial support has ceased or been significantly reduced for many families due to the new

means-tested criteria.

This has left many local families wondering how they’ll meet registration fees for their children with ever-increasing pressure on the family budget.

In response to this Wyong Leagues Group has launched the Junior Rugby League Subsidy Program to take the sting out of registration fees for all clubs in the Central Coast

rugby league community, unless that club already provides a subsidy.

The subsidy will in effect take $100 off registration fees for players registered to play in the 2024 season in the under-5s to under-13s age groups.

The program is anticipated to benefit about 3,000 local children at a cost of more than $300,000.

The North Avoca Boardriders are set to receive $10,000 towards a youth development program thanks to the NSW Government Small Commitments Allocation Program.

The program will provide $400,000 in benefits to people in each of the 93 NSW electorates.

It will consist of more than 600 small community projects, ranging from capital works to services and programs, events, supplies and equipment, charitable donations and

The move follows the lead of a similar program launched by Canterbury Leagues earlier this month.

Their region, much like the Central Coast, had a significant decrease in participants across younger age groups in rugby league.

After Canterbury Leagues launched their program, they experienced a massive uptake

Kincumber Avoca won the toss, electing to bowl at Bill Sohier Park.

Gunisha Garg 23 not out and Sai Naga Jhansika Peddada 27 not out helped Lisarow Ourimbah put 97 on the board after their overs.

Kincumber Avoca went in for the chase.

Skipper Sophie McCrae finished on 22 and Olivia Mitchell on 24 but it was Lara Robertson who stopped them in their tracks taking 4/15 off four and Kincumber Avoca finished on 92.

The women’s grand final will be played at Bill Sohier Park at 3.30pm on Saturday, March 9.

in registrations across the region and Wyong Leagues Group believes a similar growth in the sport will be seen on the Central Coast.

“For the future health of the sport here on the Coast we must do all we can to encourage participation at the junior level,” Wyong Leagues Group CEO Ben Coghlan said.

“We know that plenty of

Boost for boardriders

playground and park upgrades. The funds delivered will play a vital role in fostering youth engagement in the local surfing community.

The club plans to organise training days and invest in much-needed equipment, creating opportunities for young people to actively participate in and enjoy the sport.

Member for The Entrance David Mehan said the funding underscored the government’s commitment to empowering local communities and enhancing the lives of residents.

“With this support, the North Avoca Boardriders can further strengthen their programs and initiatives, contributing to the positive growth of the area and creating a better environment for our youth to thrive,” he said.

“This is a fantastic outcome for the North Avoca Boardriders and the people of the Terrigal electorate.

“This support is instrumental in promoting a healthy and active lifestyle among the youth in our community.”

Duty MLC for Terrigal Mark Buttigieg said surfing was not only good exercise and a buzz

families are finding it tough right now and with so many feeling the pinch, we believe, as a major player in rugby league, that we should do all we can to remove barriers for involvement.

“The benefits to the community from participation by the kids in team sport are way too important for us to ignore.”

– but also a strong point of connection in local communities.

“The North Avoca Boardriders Youth Development Program funding will further engage young people in the local surfing community,” he said.

“Participants couldn’t be luckier- North Avoca is one of the most beautiful beaches in the state.”

For further information on the Local Small Commitments Allocation Program visit www. nsw.gov.au/grants-andfunding/lsca-home

Josh Bridge of Terrigal Matcham took 9/24 off 16.3 against The Entrance

Member for The Entrance David Mehan discusses the grant with Dave Lynam from the North Avoca Boardriders and community member Sam Boughton

Subsidy program helps to keep juniors in sport

Olyslagers wins world indoor high jump championship

Nicola Olyslagers nee McDermont has won the World Indoor Highjump Championships in Scotland.

The lanky Central Coast star jumped 1.99m to clinch the prestigious title from her fellow competitors.

Olyslagers, known for rating her performances in her “little book of gold,” gave herself a perfect score as she won her first global title, having previously secured second and third places in

major championships.

Facing stiff competition, particularly from the defending champion, Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Nicola made a critical jump at 1.99m, securing her victory amid enthusiastic crowd support.

The smiling Aussie went on to try the next regulation height or 2.02m.

Although unsuccessful, Olyslagers’ triumph marked a significant moment as she joined a small group of

Australian indoor championship gold medalists, the first since hurdler Sally Pearson’s 2012 win.

Nicola Olyslager’s faith is a big part of her journey and something that helps create her a supportive global fan base, some of whom travel to watch her compete.

She’s well known in the Christian community for her quotes and reflections from the bible.

Boost for Gosford and Wyong racecourses

Gosford and Wyong racecourses are set to benefit from a $20M State Government investment in country and provincial race tracks.

Wyong racecourse has secured more than $1.5M for irrigation and drainage upgrades, as well as a new machinery shed.

Gosford racecourse will have a new home-turn camber constructed on the track at a cost of $2M.

The project will greatly improve the competitiveness of

racing at Gosford, with works to commence immediately following The Coast race meeting in May.

Minister for Gaming and Racing and Member for Wyong David Harris was joined by newly appointed Chairperson of Racing NSW Dr Saranne Cooke to make the announcement at Wyong racecourse on February 29.

Harris said the latest funding injection was about creating local jobs in rural and regional areas which were more critical than ever before.

“Thoroughbred racing is an

economic powerhouse in regional NSW, providing about 17,700 direct jobs and contributing almost $2B to the state’s economy,” he said.

“Regional racecourses and clubs play a crucial role in developing our state’s worldclass thoroughbreds and creating the champion racehorses of the future.

“This funding injection is also about future proofing the industry.

“This significant investment in infrastructure, as well as a pipeline of trained workers from the Team Thoroughbred

NSW Training Academy established by Racing NSW at Scone, creates a safe and sustainable future for the industry.

“Local jobs in rural and regional areas have flow-on effects across the whole economy and for our communities.

“The NSW Government understands the value that racing brings to NSW and will continue to support it being the number one state for thoroughbred racing in the country.”

Wyong Race Club Chairman

John Waghorn said the drainage works and irrigation upgrade at Wyong racecourse would enhance stakeholder and animal welfare issues and allow for a better racing surface for participants.

“Currently the track faces periodic inundation from the surrounding wetlands, making specific areas of the track between the 900m and 1,350m mark unsafe for racing and trialling,” he said.

“In addition, the current irrigation system will be upgraded as it is experiencing ongoing failures requiring

regular time-consuming repair works.”

Both projects will be completed by October 31.

The relocation of the machinery shed will pave the way for future new on-course stabling development.

Waghorn said the works would help maintain and elevate the racecourse’s status as a racing and training centre of excellence.

“Wyong Race Club acknowledges and appreciates Racing NSW and the Minister’s support for provincial racing,” he said.

From left: Racing NSW Chair Saranne Cooke, trainer Kim Waugh, jockey Jenny Duggan, and Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris at Wyong racecourse

Gosford racecourse

Nicola Olyslagers (centre) with Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Lia Apostolovski at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glascow. Photo: Dan Vernon for World Athletics

Another winning weekend for Mariners

The Central Coast Mariners men’s and women’s teams won their respective games over the first weekend in March.

The men defeated the Newcastle Jets 1-0 in Newcastle to clinch the F3 derby on Saturday night, March 2.

The women roundly defeated Adelaide United 2-0 at home in Gosford’s Industree Group Stadium on

Surfers from all over the country have converged on the Central Coast this week as it hosts the second stop of the NSW Pro Surf Series 2024.

The Ryde Central Coast Pro runs from Monday to Friday, March 4-8, co-sanctioned with the Asia region for the second

Sunday afternoon, March 3.

The men’s win against The Jets sees the Mariners retain the so called F3 Derby Trophy for a fourth consecutive season, the first time either side has won four in a row in the fixture’s history.

The Mariners dominated possession in the first half, with Max Balard particularly influential in the middle of midfield.

time in as many years.

The Mariners’ possession continued for most of the second half, though they were unable to find the back of the net until a final pass in the 73rd minute.

Enter the team’s hardest working player Josh Nisbet, who chose the perfect moment to net his first A-League goal of the season, smashing a leftfooted strike past Jets keeper Ryan Scott to score what was to be the winning goal of

the hard-fought match.

The Central Coast Mariners Women solidified their position in the top six of the Liberty A-League by securing a 2-0 victory against Adelaide.

Under the guidance of Emily Husband, the team dominated from the onset, though Adelaide presented some challenges with counterattacks in the first half.

Goalkeeper Sarah Langman made a crucial save at the

32-minute mark and skillfully stopped a header from the ensuing corner.

Goals from Tiarna Karambasis and Wurigumula in the second half earned the team a welldeserved three points, marking consecutive victories for the club.

Meanwhile, the men’s team is set to return to Industree Group Stadium in Gosford for an exciting event on Thursday

Top surfers flock to Coast

It will mark the second to last event of the 2023/24 World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS).

The Central Coast Pro will allow competitors nationwide to potentially secure 3,000 ranking points and position themselves in a safe spot on

the QS leaderboard ahead of the Challenger Series set to commence internationally in May.

The event will see beaches such as Shelly, Copacabana, MacMasters and Avoca available for almost 200 fields of competitors.

The Central Coast has a rich

surfing history with surfers such as current World Tour athlete Molly Picklum, Challenger Series competitors Macy Callaghan and Joel Vaughan, and former World Tour competitors Adrian Buchan and Wade Carmichael all coming from the region. Minister for Tourism John

Graham said the series would showcase the NSW coastline and boost the Australian surfing community.

The first stop of the NSW Pro Surf Series Event was held at Port Stephens on February 2223.

The Ryde Central Coast Pro as part of the 2024 NSW Pro Surf

night, March 7, where they will welcome Odisha FC for the first leg of the AFC Cup Inter-Zonal Semi-Final.

The Mariners secured their spot in this round after clinching a thrilling win in extra time against Macarthur in the Zonal Final, earning them the title of ASEAN Zonal Champions.

Odisha FC comes into the match as the frontrunners of the Indian Super League.

Series is supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

It will also be supported by Central Coast Council, Ryde, URBNSURF, Camplify, Surfers Rescue 24/7, WSL and Surfing NSW.

Mariners men retain the so called F3 Derby Trophy for a fourth consecutive season after defeating the Jets 1-0. Photo: CCM Media

The Mariners women pose for selfies after the Pink Round game

Photo: CCM Media