Coffs Coast News Of The Area 24 February 2023

Of The Area COFFS COAST

THE SHORELINE OPENS ITS DOORS

IN A LEAGUE OF ITS OWN: Coffs Harbour’s Luxury Retirement Village and Aged Care Residence is now open.

SINCE the inception, the development of the $100 Million senior residential care facility “The Shoreline” in Coffs Harbour was always going to be spectacu-

lar. This week marked The Shoreline’s Official Grand Opening, with residents enjoying the luxury resort-style retirement community and state-of-art aged care since

October 2022.

The Shoreline has been 8 years in the planning with the initial turning of the soil taking place in May 2018, marking the begining of con-

struction on this mammoth project. This dream all began decades earlier for the founding families of the Bachrach Naumburger Group.

READ MORE ON PAGE 2

SATURDAY 11 MARCH 2023

11AM - 2PM

Big dreams set sail for The Shoreline

IT WASN’T always smooth sailing for The founding families of the Bachrach Naumburger group who set sail for Australia searching for a better life.

Both Hans Bachrach and Max Naumburger were born in 1922, both 16-year-old boys, both the eldest males in their families from different parts of Germany.

The history of these boys and how they made their way to Australian shores is miraculous to say the least.

Max and Hans lined up to get on a boat

called the Andoranda Star headed to Canada. Max tells the story of the English being totally unorganised and the whole episode being very chaotic. The boat became overloaded and a lot of people were turned back including Max and Hans. When the Andoranda Star left English waters, it was torpedoed and sank killing all on board. Unbeknown to the 16 year old’s until years later. Several days later Max and Hans were advised that they would be on a passage to Canada

aboard the Dunera. In the first 2 weeks of the trip the boys worked out they were not going to Canada but going to Australia instead. Dunera stopped in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Cape Town, Perth, Melbourne and finally Sydney. The Dunera was also torpedoed on the side of the ship but luckily it didn’t explode.

In respect, there is now a street at The Shoreline named after the ship that eventually delivered the boys to Australia.

Max and Hans went into partnership and started off making toys, rat traps and then started a very successful costume jewellery business. Max went to Sydney and Hans went to Melbourne. Whilst travelling up and down the coast Max stopped at Coffs Harbour, Max would say: that between Sydney and Gold Coast there were 12 punts to cross waterways and rivers! And it would take him 3 to 4 days to drive. It was here in the late 50’s that a real estate business

started.

Both men were leaders in their Jewish communities and dedicated a lot of time and money to the promotion of education. Max is a founder of the Moriah college in Sydney. Hans would regularly fly educators and guest speakers from around the world to his schools and universities in Melbourne.

So from humble beginnings and a horrific upbringing these two men survived, and are now the backbone of The Bachrach Naumburger Group.

Max Naumburger and Hans Bachrach

THE VISION: Artist Impression of The Shoreline THE RESULT: The show-stopping centrepiece of the community

THE DUNERA: Image courtesy of the National Archives of Australia. NAA: A11666, 63

By Andrea FERRARI

Andrea FERRARI 0410 067 966 andrea@newsofthearea.com.au

Andrew VIVIAN 0414 646 198 andrew@newsofthearea.com.au

Sam PARKER 0403 222 706 sam@newsofthearea.com.au

Susan KONTIC 0451 990 247 susan@newsofthearea.com.au

David TUNE 0418 756 797 david@newsofthearea.com.au

Aiden BURGESS 0431 769 041 aiden@newsofthearea.com.au

David WIGLEY 0407 132 074 wigley@newsofthearea.com.au

Doug CONNOR 0431 487 679 doug@newsofthearea.com.au

EDITOR

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Saving The Scrub: Bypass to be realigned to avoid ancient rainforest remnant

FROM Page 3

residents who advocated to save The Scrub and for working with Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway, who collaborated with Transport for NSW and the Joint Venture construction group for a solution.

Mr Farraway was in Coffs Harbour on Friday 17 February 2023 to make the announcement that 100 percent of The Scrub and the nearby creek would be saved, and the bypass would be realigned within time and budget.

“It’s a big win for people power, a win-win for the people and for the bypass project,” he said.

Until the announcement on Friday, the State Government and Transport for NSW had held the position that saving The Scrub would cost some $50 million and delay the bypass project prohibitively.

“Until we went back to the drawing board with engineers, and with our Joint Venture delivery partners who are building this bypass, we had to go and scope it, we had to go and see if we could deliver it and we had to make sure we would not delay this project,” said Mr Farraway.

Mr Singh said that key decision makers had heard the concerns of locals regarding the significance of the site.

“Transport for NSW has a consultation process, including the Aboriginal community, and during our visit with the Minister at The Scrub we did meet and have conversations with an Indigenous elder on site, who talked us through the significance of the site.

“That does inform the way we make decisions and the decisions we make after that,” Mr Singh said.

“This is a couple of months of work in the background with Transport for NSW and with the (Joint Venture) contractor to look at what possible engineering solutions could be put in place, and then write it into the contract so it could be done.”

The consultation process included a site visit where Mr Singh, Mr Farraway and a

number of Transport for NSW staff, including Bypass Project Director Greg Nash, were joined by Kevin Mackay, Aunty Yvette and The Scrub advocates Charlie England, Ashley Love and Dave Wood.

“Transport for NSW went away and worked through the different options that could be done,” said Mr Singh.

The refined design will include moving the alignment north, bringing the carriageways closer together and moving the Mackays Road underpass north, away from the forest, thereby adjusting the footprint of the motorway to avoid the remnant rainforest.

“We didn’t want to see any delays to the bypass project as congestion during peak hours is choking our town.

“We didn’t want the speed limit to change,” said Mr Singh.

Speaking at the announcement, Mr Singh highlighted the key role of the Mackay family in the development of the bypass.

“The Mackay family has given up their

home of 117 years for this bypass project,” said Mr Singh.

“For the family, one of Coffs Harbour’s pioneer families, to have something that they can hold on to after this project is complete, is a great legacy for Kevin’s kids and grandkids and for future generations.

“That they can point to Mackays Road, which is named after their family, and this scrub as something they were able to save through their hard work and their advocacy, I think is really good for our community and really good for our history and storytelling in this area, along with the Indigenous history and storytelling of that place.

“It is one of the continuing things we are trying to do as a government, to get better at helping people like this, making sure that decisions are in line with community expectations.

“I think we’ve done that with this decision and it’s something we’re really happy about,” said Mr Singh.

“The

green

clean”

q Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway, Kevin Mackay and media at the announcement that the Coffs Harbour Bypass would be realigned.

q Kevin Mackay, whose land was acquired for the Coffs Harbour Bypass construction, with Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway.

Toormina Macca's Green Light

FROM Page 3

at The Land and Environment Court on Thursday 16 February 2023.

Amendments have been agreed to lessen the impact of the business in operation.

A City of Coffs Harbour spokesperson told News Of The Area, “After consideration of the expert evidence for both McDonald’s and the City and submissions from the community, the Land and Environment Court determined to approve the development application subject to a detailed number of operational conditions.

“These include: a reduction in trading hours (noting the original application was for 24-hour trading 7-days a week); deletion of outdoor seating; increased landscaping; changes to the car park design to reduce potential acoustic impacts; and amendments to the Plan of Management to provide detailed procedures for noise handling, security and safety as well as procedures for litter patrol.”

The DA had been contested since being made to City of Coffs Harbour in June 2020 when the Munroe Group, franchisee of McDonald’s on the Mid North Coast, lodged a DA to build the restaurant with a

drive-thru in the Toormina Road corner of the Toormina Gardens Shopping Centre car park.

The DA was rejected the first time by Council with councillors Knight, Rhoades, Townley and Swan voting against the development, while councillors Adendorf and Cecato voted to approve the development.

With amendments made, a second DA was submitted and subsequently denied by councillors.

In October 2022, after McDonald’s took its objections to the Land and Environment Court, and with a change.org petition by locals seeking to stop the DA reaching around 2,500

signatures, the Land and Environment Commissioner and Council’s legal representatives met on site and heard locals' objections to having a stand-alone McDonalds in Toormina.

Some members of the community are calling out the councillors who denied the DAs, which led to McDonald’s taking the issue to the Land and Environment Court, and not negotiating with McDonald's out of court and thus avoiding the legal fees that will now be paid for by the local ratepayers.

City of Coffs Harbour Councillor Rodger Pryce told NOTA, “While acknowledging the efforts of the community were successful in amending told News Of The Area.

aspects of the DA, it’s a pity that the amendments were not negotiated between the council of the day in 2021 and the applicant, being McDonald’s.

“If that had been so then the community may have been spared the high level of costs incurred by having the matter heard at the Land and Environment Court.”

Councillor Sally Townley said the Toormina community had raised valid concerns in their opposition to the development.

“Toormina community leaders put a huge effort into researching and documenting deficiencies in the application,” Cr Townley

“Their concerns about opening hours and traffic flow were found to be valid and their work resulted in the applicant modifying the proposal through the Court process.

“I'm sure those objectors would be disappointed by the outcome.

“However, they should be very proud of their achievements.

“Their participation in the process was so impressive and although they were unable to prevent this development their efforts have certainly reduced its impact on the community."

A McDonald’s

spokesperson told NOTA, “McDonald’s is pleased with the decision to grant development consent for the Toormina restaurant.

“Every McDonald’s restaurant is committed to supporting the community it operates in through job creation, economic investment and ongoing training and development opportunities.

“The Toormina restaurant will inject over $5 million into the local economy and create 100 jobs during construction, as well as a further 120 jobs once operational.

“We look forward to serving the local community once the restaurant opens.”

q McDonald's lodged its DA for the Toormina site in 2020.

q In October 2022, the Land and Environment Commissioner and Council’s legal representatives met on site and heard locals’ objections to having a stand-alone McDonald's in Toormina.

People power saves The Scrub and reroutes Coffs Bypass

By Andrea FERRARI

THE Coffs Harbour Bypass will be realigned to avoid destruction of a rare remnant of ancient subtropical lowland rainforest known as The (Grandpa’s) Scrub.

The decision came as welcome relief to the locals, environmentalists, botanists and conservationists who have strongly advocated for the site to be saved for the past several months.

The announcement was made by Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh on Friday 17 February.

The news took the conservationist community by surprise, having been braced for confirmation that persevering The Scrub couldn’t be done - owing to prohibitive costs and timing.

The breadth and depth of those using their voices to press for saving The Scrub went far beyond Coffs Harbour.

In Sydney, Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson called for sanity to prevail.

“It is a lesson for all future development,” she stated on Friday.

“We must not allow our planning system to ever contemplate such destruction again, it is unnecessary and completely avoidable.

“This win for The Scrub comes down to the hard work and dedication of the local community who have fought against this alignment of the bypass.

“When I first visited the area, like the rainforest experts, I was truly shocked that the Government was planning to destroy it.”

The next step for conservationists is to further press the Government to meet its legal obligations and entirely avoid all populations of the Critically Endangered Coffs Harbour Fontainea (Fontainea sp. Coffs Harbour) and the Coffs Harbour Pittosporum (Pittosporum sp. Coffs Harbour) in the development of the Coffs Harbour bypass.

“To conserve these two Critically Endangered species in-situ in the wild to avoid extinction, restore their habitats and rebuild their populations to move them out of the Critically Endangered category,” said Sue.

Locally, passionate ecologist Mark Graham has been breathing a sigh of relief at the news.

"It is wonderful that Gurmesh Singh and Sam Farraway have acted to protect The Scrub from being bulldozed to build the Coffs bypass and to prevent these extinctions and we thank

them for this,” Mark told News Of The Area.

“We call upon them and look forward to these elected representatives also ensuring that Tree Fern Creek that keeps The Scrub alive is not diverted or its flow impacted upon.

“This can be achieved by building an elevated road span that avoids any impacts on the creek and will ensure that no harm is done to The Scrub.

“Environmental restoration works can then be implemented to address

land at West Korora is built.

“With eight wild plants the Coffs Fontainea is Critically Endangered and is the rarest of all rainforest trees in NSW.

“A route that entirely avoids this ancient treasure has already been found to be readily achievable and entirely feasible by a former Transport for NSW Coffs Bypass Project Manager.”

Mark hopes Gurmesh Singh and Sam Farraway can also act to avoid and prevent these proposed extinctions.

The Scrub is very welcome news and demonstrates what happens when the community works together for environmental preservation.

“I want to acknowledge Dave Wood and Gumbaynggirr elder Aunty Yvette who worked tirelessly to spearhead community efforts to save The Scrub.

“The saving of this scrub is environmentally and culturally a historical moment.

the limited amount of weed infestation present and to expand this treasure in order to give it a better future.

“I look forward to being involved in these initiatives.”

Mark now reminds these Parliamentarians to act to

prevent the extinction of the Coffs Harbour Fontainea by ensuring that all of the eight plants at West Korora and Bruxner Park are entirely avoided and that the alternative route that was developed through cleared

City of Coffs Harbour Councillor Jonathan Cassell tabled a Notice of Motion to Council in December 2022 to aid in negotiations with Transport for NSW and believes this is a very positive outcome for Coffs Harbour.

“The full protection of

“The community should remember this as a precedent when considering future State Significant Developments,” Mr Cassell said.

Dave Wood, an active advocate for saving The Scrub, said it was simply “the right thing to do”.

q Dr. Robert Kooyman recording the species at The Scrub with Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson.

q The subtropical lowland rainforest, with its origins in Gondwana time.

q Ecologist Mark Graham has spoken out loudly on saving the rainforest remnant.

q Kevin Mackay, whose family had owned The Scrub for 177 years, a place where he played as a little boy.

q Lloyd Foster, a long time Upper Orara Rivercare volunteer and local bush regenerator who has also known this land for decades, with Kevin Mackay and conservationists Dave Wood and Charlie England.

Bright days ahead for

FOR the third time in less than a year, Australian Community Media (ACM) publications across the state have utilised their front pages to appeal to government to support their struggling regional newspapers.

In this latest iteration, dozens of ACM papers are asking NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and opposition leader Chris Minns to support regional newspapers in two key ways if successful at the March state election.

The first is to “Guarantee that no less than

their websites rather than openly advertise them in the local paper”.

One of the newspapers promoting the ACM campaign is the Port Stephens Examiner, who highlighted their risk of closing in a similar frontpage spread in December 2022.

A common thread across the campaigns is the statement “papers in peril”, a line being used by ACM to describe the state of regional newspapers across the state.

News Of The Area director Michael Wright however, does not agree with that pessimistic view on the industry.

“What I don't agree with, and what I want to distance myself from, is the doom and gloom of the ACM headlines and inferences that seem to be speaking on behalf of all community newspapers,” Mr Wright said.

“Their [ACM] headlines say that dark days are ahead for communities across NSW.

one full page of NSW government advertising will be booked each week in this and every local paper in the state”.

The second to “Reverse the 2020 regulatory change allowing local councils to bury public notices about their decisions on

“It might be dark days for ACM but it certainly isn't the case for all newspapers across NSW.

“I see bright days ahead for us.

“Tough days maybe, but certainly a future with community newspapers in it.”

q News Of The Area director Michael Wright is

NOTA Group Editor Douglas Connor, who oversees the publication of four regional newspapers from Port Stephens to the Coffs Coast, said while any and all extra advertising

Council overwhelmingly rejects wards

By Andrew VIVIAN

AT the City of Coffs Harbour Council meeting on February 23, Councillor Rodger Pryce put a motion ‘That the City investigates the possibility of having Councillors represent Wards within our Local Government Area and report back to Council with recommendations on how this could be implemented with the least possible cost’.

The motion was seconded by Councillor George Cecato.

Despite comprehensive reasons given by Councillor Pryce, the motion was lost,

with only Councillors Pryce and Cecato voting for it and Councillor Swan absent.

The news was not received well by several Sawtell residents.

Keith Bensley, a prominent Sawtellian, expressed his disappointment on social media and more than 30 people commented to the effect that their area could be better represented.

“It’s pretty disappointing that they won’t even look at it,” Mr Bensley said.

“It’s a blatant rebuke of the community.

“I’ve not met many people who think that the southern area, apart from the First Avenue gardens, has been looked after properly,” Mr Bensley said.

Councillor Tony Judge, who voted against the proposal, said, “The proposal

to create wards seemed to be a solution looking for a problem.

“In my year in Council, I have never seen an instance where Councillors have voted on geographic grounds.

“This cohort of Councillors is good at keeping the overall benefit of the Coffs community in mind when they make decisions,” Mr Judge said.

“I fear that a wards system may lead to narrow decision making and horse trading, instead of decisions in the interest of the community as a whole.

“I think the need to make broad decisions and assess priorities makes for better decisions and better Councillors.”

q Last week's Port Stephens Examiner front page warned of 'Dark days ahead...'.

independent publishers!

forecasting bright days ahead for independent publishers.

streams are welcomed, a weekly mandated full page state government advertisement will not be a silver bullet for regional newspapers.

“It is vital regional news outlets focus on producing high quality, hyperlocal print and digital products which tailor specifically to their community.

“The successful independent outlets which have launched in recent times in regional NSW have set themselves apart with their intense local focus; and readers, communities and local business sectors have responded to this by supporting those newspapers in terms of advertising,” Mr Connor said.

Mr Wright agrees with the ACM push however for councils to be mandated to publish public notices in local newspapers, in the interest of transparency.

“I have seen the ACM front pages and what I do 100 percent agree with is the push to the government to reverse the 2020 regulatory change which allowed local councils to not have

to publish Development Application notices in the local paper.”

With the media landscape of Australia rapidly changing, Mr Wright sees an ever increasing opportunity for independent publishers to make their mark in regional communities.

“ACM does seem to be struggling, and I think it suggests the era of media giants is slowly disappearing.

“I feel the long term future of rural, community and regional newspapers is in the hands of local independent publishers because they seem to be able to operate at a lower cost base,” he said.

q News Of The Area made a guest appearance on the ABC's Media Watch program in response to the most recent ACM pleas for help.

Woopi bike lane survey closes soon

By Andrea FERRARI

A SURVEY to close the six-month community consultation period for the Woolgoolga Bike Lane opened on Monday 13 February and closes Sunday 26 February 2023.

To be found on the City Of Coffs Harbour (CoCH) website, the survey invites the community to share its experience of the bike lane and shared path.

The survey is composed of a series of questions asking participants to say what they like or would like to see improved.

The temporary bike lane was installed at the end of August 2022 along Beach Street between River Street and Wharf Street in Woolgoolga, as part of the NSW Government’s Streets as Shared Spaces program.

According to Ray Willing, a long-time resident of Woolgoolga and President of the Northern Beaches Residents Association (NBRA), the bike lane is "an accident waiting to happen for many reasons".

“It is unsafe in many places for cyclists and pedestrians, it is in poor condition, it is not maintained and possibly cannot be maintained effectively in its present form.

“If there is an accident to a motorist, a cyclist or a pedestrian in or around the cycleway there is a liability on Council; it is unacceptable that Council imposes such exposure on its ratepayers," Mr Willing said.

At the time of installation, the Coffs Council website stated, “We are using this opportunity to trial a protected on-road bike lane to see how effective this type of bike lane may be in providing a safer cycling experience for residents and visitors”.

Woolgoolga business owner Sam Hill finds some value in the bike lane, but says there is work to be done.

Point to Point Transport Commissioner

NSW taxi licence reforms – taxi licence transition support available for operators of a taxi service

The NSW Point to Point Transport Commissioner’s team will be in Coffs Harbour on Friday 24 February 2023.

The Commissioner’s team will be visiting Coffs Harbour on Friday 24 February to provide information and one on one support for individuals or businesses operating a taxi service (taxi licence holders).

Team members will be available from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm to answer questions and provide one on one 15 minute sessions to assist members of the industry transition to a new taxi licence. To book your 15 minute session, please visit the Point to Point Transport Commissioner’s website at pointtopoint.nsw.gov.au.

Location C.ex Coffs

2-6 Vernon Street Coffs Harbour NSW 2068

Time 10:00 am – 2:30 pm

For more information on the NSW taxi licence reforms please visit our website.

“I’ve seen people using it, but the execution has got to be right.

“The way it’s currently executed is not well done,” he said.

Glenn Buckley, Venue Manager at Woolgoolga Diggers Club was unaware of this second CoCH survey.

“I sit here in my office and watch the intersection of Bultitude Street and Beach Street and am amazed that there’s not an accident once a day.

“There are incidents and near misses five or six times a day…here’s another one right now, from my office I’m looking straight at it.

“The cycle path has taken car parking from in front of our club and the access to the club from Beach Street is now a bit tight, too.

“And unfortunately, you rarely see cyclists on it," he said.

“I’ve seen cars backing-up along Beach Street, as they leave town, waiting for a car to turn right into Bultitude Street, because we’ve lost the slipway and there’s a blind spot, it’s just a mess.

“They (CoCH) are doing a process to widen the footpath, why couldn’t we have this as a shared footpath and cycle way?”

Resident Terry Banks was also unaware of a new survey and said he would get onto it.

“My thoughts haven’t changed since it went in six months ago; get rid of it,” he said.

“Coming out of Bultitude Street onto Beach Street has become a nightmare.

“If you’ve got a car turning right up the

cars back-up behind.

“With residents and traffic from the caravan park there can be a lot of cars queuing on Bultitude Street.

“It’s become a dangerous intersection and a nasty corner.”

Three key points why Ray Willing is giving the bike lane a thumbs down are that it visually detracts and closes in the entrance to one of the best beach side villages on the eastern

seaboard; it causes traffic congestion which is dangerous; and the whole consultation process in advance of its ‘installation’, since ‘installation’ and generally, has been inadequate, not transparent and shows that this Council so far has not been prepared to listen to its residents, he told NOTA.

CoCH states the survey will assist Council to evaluate and look for opportunities to improve the current trial.

q The Woolgoolga bike lane, along Beach Street at the Boundary Street crossing.

q Ray Willing described the bike lane as an accident waiting to happen.

q The state of the bike lane is causing concern amongst Woolgoolga residents.

Call to support Landcare program

By Andrea FERRARI

GREENS MP and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson has urged Labor and the Coalition to join the Greens in a tripartisan approach to the proposed NSW Landcare Program 2023-2027 and to deliver a $59 million funding commitment over the next four years.

The program is a collaboration of Local Land Services and Landcare NSW Inc. supported by the NSW Government.

Larry Langman is the secretary of Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare and the North Coast Regional Landcare Network (NCRLN), and the regional representative for the North Coast on the Landcare NSW State Advisory Council.

“The call by the Greens is a timely call to action to support the proposed NSW Landcare Program 2023-2027,” Larry told News Of The Area.

Since the last tranche of State Government funding, many of the 60,000 Landcarers across the state have been impacted by natural disasters, with Coffs Coast locals experiencing

drought, fire and floods and a devastating hail storm at Boambee Headland in October 2021.

Under Landcare’s new four-year Program, increased Landcare Coordinator support would ensure it can continue

to build capacity in rural and regional communities and expand the regional Aboriginal coordinator positions across the state to consciously develop and strengthen connections between Landcare groups and

Aboriginal communities.

“Landcare in Coffs Harbour and the North Coast welcomes and endorses the calls by MLC Sue Higginson, NSW Greens’ Spokesperson on the Environment, for support of the NSW Landcare Program 2023-2027, and particularly their call to action to other parties,” said Larry.

“The current NSW Landcare Program 2019-2023 sees the North Coast region receive financial support for a Regional Landcare Coordinator and eleven Local (district) Landcare Coordinators to support all Landcare groups.

“This has allowed Landcare to deliver onground outcomes, provide

professional development to its staff, and facilitated the sharing of knowledge and the promotion of Aboriginal engagement for the North Coast region.

“Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare is one of those district organisations.”

There are 42 Landcare groups across the Coffs Harbour LGA and 325 groups across the region, some with significant volunteer numbers and decades of community service.

“As the Greens announcement correctly notes, Landcare has been able to leverage the current program investment by approximately $4 for every $1 invested.

“But far beyond the economic return, is the actual on-ground work that has been achieved.

“Bushfire recovery, flood recovery, habitat protection, protection of our coastal zones, waterways and headlands.

“Local Landcare has supported not just the environment but the people who live in our community, from those who want to volunteer to those who simply want to enjoy the amenity of our iconic landscape,” said Larry.

“Landcare has and hopefully will always be part of the fabric of our community.”

q A regional gathering of Landcare coordinators and North Coast host organisations.

q Spreading the word of the work to the community during Landcare Week in August 2022 were Landcarers Dave Wood and Larry Langman.

B-double damages tree and cars in Sawtell

By Andrew VIVIAN

SAWTELL residents are fiercely protective of the magnificent fig trees that give First Avenue its unique character, so the great majority were dismayed to find a B-double truck had damaged one of them last Sunday night.

Two vehicle owners

were even more dismayed as the truck took down a large branch which wedged in the trailer behind, causing it to veer into them.

Fixtures in the street were also damaged, as was the roof of the post office.

Fire and Rescue NSW took three hours to remove the branch and clear First Avenue.

“Trucks shouldn’t be coming through the town,” said the Chairman of the Sawtell Chamber of Commerce, Clive Greenway.

“It’s well signposted but it happens a couple of times a year.”

Hannah McNicol was staying at the hotel with her friend, Dan Smith.

“We were sitting on the

top balcony on a beautiful night thinking how lucky we were to be sitting in such a lovely place and suddenly we heard this incredible noise,” she said.

“I didn’t see the actual trunk come off but we jumped up realising that the truck didn’t seem to be stopping.

“My friend Dan ran

SWIFF film festival funding is a game changer

By Andrea FERRARI

SCREENWAVE International

Film Festival (SWIFF) will benefit from $149,250 in NSW Government funding under Round Five of the Stronger Country Communities Fund.

SWIFF is the largest regional film festival in NSW, with over 10,000 attendees annually, running over sixteen-day days on the Coffs Coast.

Member for Coffs Harbour

Gurmesh Singh congratulated Blacklight Collective Inc’s SWIFF festival director Dave Horsley and artistic director Kate Howat on their successful funding application.

“We are delighted to receive funding through the Stronger Country Communities Fund,” Dave Horsley told News Of The Area.

“This new grant will help us bring new innovative and creative programming for festival goers to enjoy.

“It will help us make SWIFF a more accessible and inclusive experience for film lovers with disabilities and from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and will help put the Coffs Coast more on the map for film and screen culture with an extra boost to our marketing power.

“It’s a game changer for fans of SWIFF,” said Dave.

SWIFF’23 dates are April 20 – May 5 with the Coffs Harbour Education Campus (CHEC) theatre the heartbeat of the festival.

“There will be sixteen days and nights of programming – a touch over 150 sessions, which is a new record for SWIFF – and most likely the largest film festival program in the history of regional Australia,” he said.

Mr Singh said the funding will further SWIFF along its journey to become “the next signature festival in regional NSW”.

“With this funding, the

down with others from the pub to wave the driver down.”

Hannah said it was mayhem for a couple of minutes before things calmed down.

“We walked around and saw the carnage on the other side of the truck.

“It was incredible that nobody was hurt.

“My eardrums rang for about 20 minutes after.

“I really felt for the driver and the tree.”

She praised the emergency services, saying that they did an incredible job and that hotel staff were wonderful in keeping things calm.

talented team will advance the festival’s vibrancy, develop signature events, destination

reach, accessibility, community cohesion and wellbeing,” said Mr Singh.

q The branch became wedged in the truck and took three hours to remove. Photo: Hannah McNicol.

q The truck took down a tree branch and damaged vehicles. Photo: Hannah McNicol.

The 2023 program will be launched on 11 March.

q Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh outside the CHEC theatre with SWIFF festival director Dave Horsley and SWIFF artistic director Kate Howat for the funding announcement.

Energy boost for Showground Exhibition Hall

By Andrea FERRARI

COFFS Harbour Showground Exhibition Hall and grandstand will literally light up with a new transformer/ substation being installed as part of the upgrades on the historic Pacific Highway site.

Funded by a $350,000 grant under Round Five of the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund, the transformer is on order and keenly awaited by the Coffs Harbour Level Projects construction team on site.

Shaking hands on the funding, Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh donned a hard hat and went onsite to see the works’ progress on Tuesday 14 February.

Mr Singh congratulated the Coffs Harbour Showground Crown Land

Management Board on their successful application for the $350,000 grant to upgrade their electricity supply.

“This includes the supply and installation of a new transformer and associated works,” said Mr Singh.

“This vital upgrade is required for the re-opening of the upgraded Exhibition Hall and for the supply of

power to the new grandstand once it is completed.”

There’s a feel-good vibe in this project, with Level Projects directors Mike Zucker and Joel Paine employing and subcontracting local tradies who have an emotional investment in the job.

“There’s a good skilled labour workforce being

Road upgrade opens up land for homes

By Andrea FERRARI

ANNOUNCING a $7.8m

upgrade to the North Boambee Road in Boambee Valley which will release land for around 866 homes, Member for Coffs Harbour

Gurmesh Singh and City of Coffs Harbour (CoCH)

Mayor Paul Amos said the money will be spent on raising the approaches to the bridge, and the bridge itself, out of the one-in100year flood levels in order to make the housing project viable.

In a joint statement on site on Friday 17 February 2023, the local Member and Mayor said the project will significantly help solve Coffs Harbour’s need for more housing.

The project services the North Boambee Valley West Urban Release area.

The combined funding of $5.85m is delivered through the third round of the NSW Government’s Accelerated Infrastructure Fund (AIF), and $1.95m from the City of Coffs Harbour.

“The State Government is supporting Council to bring new home infrastructure to the Mid North Coast, especially here in Coffs Harbour where we definitely need more homes,” said Mr Singh.

The funding was allocated in the NSW Government’s 2022/23 budget.

“It is committed and on the way to Council who will

then begin the works.

“The State Government has a role to play in helping our Council, enabling infrastructure that helps bring these houses online faster for our community,” he said.

“Coffs Harbour is a growing city, and we need to plan for future growth and that’s what this road does.”

Mayor Paul Amos said the project is part of Council’s Infill Housing Strategy.

“We’re bursting at the seams with energy and vitality at Coffs Harbour; spreading out here is a must,” he said.

“Council will be putting in $2 million from our reserves, that will

developed in this region because of the recent big jobs we’ve had,” Mike Zucker told News Of The Area.

“Consultants, architects, engineers, pretty much all local,” said Mike.

“It means I can put out a call and say ‘hey can you be here tomorrow’ and they’re there onsite the next day,

and being local there’s that care, they know what the Exhibition Hall is being used for,” said Mike.

Deb Farquhar, chairman of the Coffs Harbour Showground Crown Land Management Board, told NOTA, “The installation of the new transformer/substation allows us to add air conditioning and technology to the refurbished Exhibition Hall, supply electricity to the new Grandstand, and to be confident that we are not overloading the system when holding big events on the grounds.

“When complete, the refurbished Exhibition Hall will have new fully compliant, modern amenities, a reception area, two new meeting rooms,

and significantly enlarged function spaces.

“The front access includes an undercover drop-off area and accessibility parking,” she said.

Mike estimates the new hall is close to double its former size.

“Crying out to be done, it’s going to be great when it’s up and running with new different events,” Coffs Harbour Showground manager Shane Herden told NOTA.

“We’re hoping to get indoor conferences and trade nights and a few more exhibitions, weddings and big events and of course looking forward to the annual Coffs Harbour Agricultural Show and the Rotary Book Fair.”

be forward funded, and we’ll recoup that through developer contributions.

“This project has been on the cards for a long, long while; it’s part of our Infill Housing strategy where we build to the land we have available.

“The bypass will add to the accessibility to a lot of land, and we need to build into that availability.

“The bridge will be raised to over the level of the one-in-100-year flood level and the approach roads will butt up to that bridge so in effect the whole section will be raised.

“We have developers lined up, knocking on the door, ready to go.

“And we’ve seen some great proposals that will house a lot of people quickly and a lot of affordable housing options,” said Mr

Amos.

“This is the most substantial opening up of land in this area for many years.

“It’s important we unlock the land needed for new homes and ensure there is the right infrastructure in place to support that growth long

term and get people into homes faster.”

Andrew Beswick, Director of Sustainable Infrastructure at CoCH, said the timeline is to be negotiated with Transport for NSW.

“But it needs to be finished before June 2026,” Mr Beswick said.

q City of Coffs Harbour Mayor Cr Paul Amos and Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh at North Boambee Rd to share details of the road and bridge raising project.

q Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh inspects Coffs Harbour Showground’s Exhibition Hall upgrade with (from left) Level Projects director Joel Paine, Showground manager Shane Herden, Showground Crown Land Management Board chairman Deb Farquhar, Level Projects director Mike Zucker and Showground Crown Land Management Board member Lynda Soderlaud.

q The Exhibition Hall’s old wooden floor will be buffed and beautified.

q Level Projects directors Joel Paine and Mike Zucker with Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh (centre) on site at Coffs Harbour Exhibition Hall upgrade.

q Getting on with the job, Level Projects directors Joel Paine and Mike Zucker with Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh (centre) on site at Coffs Harbour Exhibition Hall upgrade.

Bellingen Hospital’s Pink Auxiliary signs up new volunteers

By Andrea FERRARI

SIX new volunteers will join the fabulous and formidable fundraising volunteers known as the Pink Auxiliary who work in Mary’s Tea House at Bellinger River District Hospital.

With volunteers becoming thin on the ground, the hard-working members of the Bellingen Hospital and Pink Auxiliary turned to social media to ask for new volunteers to work in their beloved café, Mary’s Tea House.

The Bellingen and Urunga communities showed, once again, how wonderful they are.

Some 20 people joined in the training day with six signing up as volunteers and the others refreshing their coffee making skills or there to support the day.

“We really need more volunteers as we only open

three days a week, sometimes four, and it should be five days,” volunteer Waveney Ayscough told News Of The Area.

“These beautiful souls provide a much-needed service to visitors, patients and staff while raising tens of thousands of dollars each year for Bellinger River District Hospital.

“This financial year we donated $75,000 to the hospital for new medical equipment.”

This money is raised almost exclusively through the café cuppas and yummy snacks as well as the sale of homemade pickles and crochet items.

There’s also the Mary’s Tea House Christmas and Mother’s Day raffles.

“The new volunteers were happy and definitely enthusiastic and keen to participate.

“They are looking forward

to meeting new people and making new friends.

“Some said they loved cooking and looked forward to baking fresh goodies for the cafe .

“Others were keen to become proficient in using the coffee machine,” Waveney said.

“One lady said the hospital took such good care of her mum she wanted to show her appreciation by volunteering.”

Training day attendees used the coffee machine to make themselves a coffee.

Bellingen UHA President Deb Anderson ran through the requirements to become a volunteer.

Speaking about what motivates her to keep giving of her time and effort to Bellinger River District Hospital, Waveney told NOTA, “For me, I decided to volunteer when they literally saved my little girl’s life one

ROAD CLOSURES BRIDGE REPLACEMENT WORKS

scary night.

“It's about giving back to those who help.

“But it's terribly hard to find volunteers and I encourage younger people to give back.

“Thank you to everyone who signed on.”

Many hands make light work, so if there are others in the community who would like to join the monthly roster, and have fun doing something worthwhile, email waveney46@hotmail.com.

A temporary road closure will be in place to enable City of Coffs Harbour to replace a bridge in the Bucca area from 20th March through to late June.

Works schedules* are as follows:

• March 20th – June 30th - Replacement of Becketts Bridge, Bruxner Park Road, Bucca.

No detours available

The road closure will be in place at the bridge site and the bridge will not be accessible. Access to the area will remain available from the south via the Pacific Highway and from the north via Bucca Road.

Motorists are urged to use caution during the works. City of Coffs Harbour apologises for any inconvenience.

* Works schedules may vary and are subject to weather and other conditions. Further information: Phone City of Coffs Harbour, 6648 4000. Live Traffic: https://www.livetraffic.com

www.coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au Phone 02 6648 4000

q The community comes along to check out volunteering at Mary’s Tea House at Bellingen Hospital

q Deb Anderson, Bellingen UHA President, talks attendees through the volunteers’ fundraising focus.

q Bellingen Hospital and Pink Auxiliary’s Marg Bell, Allison Graham and June Andrews.

q Three ladies brushing up their brewing skills.

q The joy of being an L-learner volunteer is that new skills can be acquired.

q Locals hear the duties they can sign up for at Mary’s Tea House café.

Calls for safety improvements after Boambee Beach rescue

By Andrea FERRARI

NEARLY drowning during a swim that started as a paddle in Boambee Creek Reserve and ended with her rescue over 100 meters out to sea on Sunday 19 February, Aldwyn Altuney is calling for danger warning signs to be put up at the Reserve.

She also urged for City of Coffs Harbour to take down a statement on its website saying Boambee Creek Reserve is a great place to take small children to swim, which it promptly did, adjusting its wording to say the reserve offers shallow water for smaller children and playground facilities, with advice consistent with the information on the Coffs Coast website.

what could have been an energy-sapping panic attack and probable drowning.

Brought up on Sydney’s Northern Beaches at Manly, having lived in Coffs Harbour in the late ‘90s and now living on the Gold Coast, Aldwyn is well aware of ocean safety and has experienced a rip or two in her life.

However, relaxing on the shores of Boambee Creek Reserve on a sunny Sunday with her friends, where she was enjoying floating out into the shallow water, there was nothing to warn her not to swim.

“Once I’d floated out a bit

a massive wave came from nowhere, sand was pulled from under me, and it just kept going wave after wave and pulling me out.

“They would have drowned.

“As my mind went into the idea of sharks, I knew I had to push those thoughts out and concentrate on trust and faith.

“A saying that I kept in my head was ‘everything is in divine order’, even though you may not feel it, I had to think it.

“I was facing my mortality out there.”

Squinting to the far-off shore, Aldwyn could see her friend Daniel driving his 4WD down the beach to alert two

jet skiers he’d seen earlier.

Her rescue mission was in play.

First on the rescue scene was Shane, who was on Boambee Beach with his family and, fortuitously, a longboard.

It was a long paddle out but he arrived to Aldwyn who’d been treading water and floating for more than 45 minutes.

Hanging onto the board, she nearly tipped him off, but together they stabilised and soon father-and-son jet skiers Rod and Flynn Saville arrived.

“The first thing she asked me was ‘are there sharks out here?’” Rod told NOTA.

“I had to say, ‘yes…sorry darling, you’re in the ocean here’.

“She was OK but a bit in

shock.”

Hanging on tight to Rod’s jet ski, Aldwyn was dispatched to the beach, her waiting friends, the ambos and police, and it was here she let loose her emotions.

“I bawled my eyes out.

As a business and personal development coach, the reason Aldwyn was in Coffs Harbour last weekend was to run a masterclass, along with Angelique Pellegrino, coaching individuals on opening their

“I had to go with the flow and not fight the circumstances and tap into my deep breathing,” Aldwyn told News Of The Area.

“You can’t be a control freak when waves are washing over you and pulling you out to sea.

“Your brain is trying to focus on staying calm and not thinking about whether there’s sharks out there with you,” she said.

49-year-old Aldwyn thanks her years of practicing yoga, breathwork, and having a faith that helped her manage

mind to flourish.

Covering the correlation between spirituality and psychology, how to clear mind blocks and learning how to reduce stress, amongst other empowering life skills, both Aldwyn and Angelique feel this neardrowning experience was ‘meant to be’.

“Everything works for you, not to you,” said Aldwyn, sharing a philosophy she now wants everyone to learn and apply to their own experience, readying themselves for those sudden hiccups that come at us from “out of nowhere”.

Connect to services at the Living Well Expo

THE Living Well Expo will be held on 8 March 2023 at C.ex Coffs from 10am to 3pm.

The Expo is a free community event with more than 50 exhibitors providing information about services and supports available for older people, people with a disability or chronic conditions, and their families and carers.

The event aims to showcase what is on offer in our community and to promote social inclusion and healthy living.

“The Living Well Expo is an annual event that has been running since 2015,” said Paul Tracey, Project Officer, Blue Sky Community Services.

“Led by Blue Sky Community Services and

Lifetime Connect, a group of passionate local community sector workers coordinate the Expo, providing their time and expertise to host the day.

“They do this because they understand that getting the right support at the right time is vital for people who are managing ongoing challenges that come with ageing and

disabilities.”

At the Living Well Expo you can hear from guest speakers, take part in fun activities, and find a range of local services all under the one roof.

“It is a great opportunity to speak with service providers and discuss the benefits and assistance they provide,” Paul said.

The event will kick off

with a Welcome to Country from Uncle Richard Widders of the Garlambirla Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Elders group, followed by an opening address by Deputy Mayor Cr Sally Townley.

Guest speakers at the event include Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald from AM NSW Ageing and Disability Commission, Diane Greenup

of the Aboriginal Liaison Carers Gateway Service, Laura Daley from Coffs Coast Autism, and Jenni Harding, an ACT! Project Officer with Meals on Wheels NSW.

For more information, contact Deb at deborah. thompson@lifetimeconnect. org.au or Paul at paultracey@bluesky.org. au.

Gurmesh SINGH

Vote Member for COFFS HARBOUR

Authorised by J Lundy, National Party of Australia – NSW, Level 2, 107 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000

With these suggested warnings in hand, Aldwyn is also contemplating what she gained from the experience.

“I knew the first thing to do was to stay calm and go with the flow, but there will be many people who either don’t know that or just lose it and panic.

“I’d been thinking, if it’s my time to go then so be it, to help me keep calm.”

q Aldwyn Altuney after her ocean rescue, having been drawn out of Boambee Creek.

q Relieved after making it back to shore safely, Aldwyn Altuney, Angelique Pellegrino, Daniel Pellegrino and Charlotte King.

q Boambee Creek is on the ocean’s edge between Boambee Headland and Boambee Beach.

Sam Bloom captivates Coffs Chamber of Commerce

By Andrea FERRARI

SOMETIMES a compelling story of courage and overcoming dire adversity brings an audience to tears while at the same time motivating them to believe there is life during and after suffering, and this was the case with Sam Bloom’s presentation to a packed house of Coffs Harbour Chamber of Commerce (CHCC) members and guests on Thursday 16 February at C.ex Coffs Harbour.

On holiday having fun with her family, on a day when she felt life couldn’t get any better, the diminutive wife and mother of three boys fell through a rotten balcony

railing, crashing six metres onto concrete below.

She miraculously survived but suffered catastrophic injuries.

Drawing on her lived experience of a dream life shattered in an instant by a freak accident, Sam spoke to what it means to become truly resilient and to be able to face your deepest fears and greatest challenges, and to emerge on the other side.

She spoke of her journey to becoming a bestselling author, a two time World Para Surfing champion and the inspiration behind the international hit movie ‘Penguin Bloom’.

“She was vulnerable in speaking of her struggles

with depression and daily thoughts of suicide after the accident in Thailand left her a paraplegic,” Coffs Chamber President Ray Smith told News Of The Area.

“We heard of the timely arrival of a wild magpie, Penguin, and how this unique relationship offered her hope and healing.

“It's safe to say the entire audience was glued to every word,” he said.

Talking about how Sam Bloom came to be a guest speaker at CHCC, Ray noted that the past few years have been a challenging time for everyone, not least for those in ownership or leadership positions in local businesses.

“The pandemic, and now

the ongoing challenges of the current economic climate, has put pressure on many, and highlighted the need for even greater discussions around mental health, resilience and navigating through change,” said Ray.

But changing environments and often challenging decision making is nothing new for those in business.

"It's for this reason the Coffs Harbour Chamber of Commerce has had a longstanding partnership with the wonderful team at Key Employment, who help us to bring inspiring speakers to town each year (Covid years aside) who have often overcome challenges, excelled in their field, or faced adversity head on.

“Their stories always hold powerful lessons for those in

the business community.

“Key Employment does a fabulous job of bringing their wider team across the Mid North Coast together for their own team events.

“They then generously sponsor a Chamber event to allow an even greater number of people in our community to hear from the great speaker they bring to the Coffs Coast.”

Sam Bloom was the recent guest at Key Employment and consequently at the Chamber luncheon.

Past speakers have included Kurt Fearnley, Steven Bradbury and Natalie Titcume.

“Through her visually immersive presentation (largely credited to her talented photographer husband, Cam) the personal story that Sam shared held powerful messages for

everyone in the room, as we navigate our own personal and professional challenges,” said Ray.

Key Employment (KE) is proud to support the Coffs Harbour Chamber of Commerce.

“It is our absolute privilege to be able to bring such inspiring people like Sam and Cameron Bloom to the Coffs Coast,” Key Employment CEO Jodi Wood told NOTA.

KE is a not-for-profit disability and community service that is dedicated to helping people achieve their dreams.

“Having the local business community listen to people as amazing as Sam helps bring awareness around issues of accessibility in the community, disability employment and mental health.

“Sam Bloom’s story is unique, however there are many thousands of people living with disability in our own community that show the same amount of resilience and are just as inspiring, breaking down barriers every day.

“We hope that Sam’s story really resonated with members of the business chamber, who we hope will go on to commit to diversity, inclusion and social responsibility within their own workplaces,” she said.

q Garth Shipperlee, the Executive Officer of Coffs Harbour Chamber of Commerce (right), facilitating audience questions on stage with Sam and Cameron Bloom.

q A packed house at C.ex Coffs Harbour for Sam Bloom’s inspiring talk.

q Sam Bloom meets Coffs Chamber members and guests at her booking signing for ‘Penguin Bloom’, her story of turning around tragedy and how a little magpie played a pivotal role in her recovery.

q Attending Sam Bloom’s talk was Duncan Marchant, who co-founded the Privada animal therapy farm with his wife Carla at Boambee and David Hessey from the spinal injury community and a participant in Wings for Life.

q Key Employment CEO Jodi Wood with husband and Business Development Manager Adam Wood, motivational speaker Sam Bloom and husband/photographer Cameron Bloom.

ENTERTAINMENTEATERY

Five arty talents show at Tree-O

By Andrea FERRARI

FIVE local Coffs Coast artists are headlining in Tree-O Gallery’s 12th Featured Artist Showcase across the mediums of 2D wall art, ceramics and jewellery, opening on Saturday 25 February 2023 from 4-6pm.

“Five talented female artists are headlining with colourful, whimsical pastels and organic flowing paintings of local scenery,” Gallery co-owner Sarah Andersen told News Of The Area.

“There’s a range of canvases and interesting frames of varying sizes and subject matters, along with stunningly glazed ceramic pieces with some made from local wild clay and passionate traditional designs to complement the furniture and space settings within.

“We also have an eclectic range of genuine Amber and Whitby Jet jewellery, often incorporating antique beads and/or stones from around the world.

“It is sure to delight and inspire.”

Kelly Finley studies the local landscape, flora and secret coves of the Coffs Coast.

Her work as a florist has gifted her with a visual knowledge of floral organic form, line and colour.

Featuring strengths in organic lines, she paints with the visual curiosity of a selftaught artist and was awarded the major prize in the Coffs Coast Art Prize in 2022.

Welsh born artist Pam Levy has an eclectic style of painting with themes often concerning inclusiveness, body image and ageism which she depicts with whimsy and humour.

Pam is interested in people, the rooms they live in and what ‘makes them tick’.

Her pastel works are framed either in new, modern settings or recycled photo frames for a truly unique style.

Willy ‘Villy’ Berkhof-Ober is a multimedium artist originally from the Netherlands.

Discovering a love for making unique jewellery using precious and semi-precious stones combined with antique elements bought on her worldly travels, Villy created Amber and Whitby Jet, a brand of speciality pieces.

Also a keen painter, Villy’s varied pastel collection is full of colour and character.

Nature is Kate Wheaton’s muse and her wheel-thrown pieces aim for simplicity of form.

Her ceramic studies last year brought her family to the Kalang area where the beauty of the waterways encouraged her to work with the wild clay available at its banks which she removes sustainably,

mindfully and with appropriate, respectful permissions.

Each piece made with this clay is unique and 100 percent local.

Clare Danby lives among ceramic pots made by her family and has always enjoyed the history and stories behind each piece and the maker.

Inspiring her to build her own new and wonderful pot stories, Clare has recently been developing new skills in Japanese brush painting and is learning to throw more ‘loosely’.

Other local artists debuting works at

Raleigh’s Tree-O include the late Edna Adamson’s pastels, furniture by Matthew Taylor from Dashing Wood, timber sculpture from TOSHI and new pieces from other regular exhibiting artists: Karen Tollan's pearl and stone jewellery, Alanna Kidd from Treasured Art, Tom Kelly Furniture, Bruce Gilchrist and Greg O'Keefe’s timber boxes and other items, Linda Coomber, Ron Leclere, Sandy Beach Candles, Gloria Malone, Linda Bizon, Chris Fahey, Bryan Downes, Les Turner, Sam Jane, Kerri Patterson, Matt Borg and KingFisher Audio.

There will also be the usual variety of quality Australian hardwood furniture

made in the workshop next door by designers/makers Bim Morton, Trevor Oliver-King and Sarah Andersen, the trio behind Tree-O.

The exhibition will run until the end of For information visit Treeogallery on

q Come and see the range of works on display in Tree-O Gallery’s 12th Featured Artist Showcase.

q The diversity of art works on display at the Tree-O Gallery means there is something for every taste.

Chin community celebrate National Day

By Andrea FERRARI

THE 75th anniversary of Chin National Day was observed locally over the weekend and on the official day, Monday 20 February 2023.

The ethnic Chin group from Myanmar has many members in and around Coffs Harbour.

“Chin National Day falls on February 20, and commemorates the start of democracy when the Chin people chose to change from having an hereditary system of village headmen to democratically elected leaders,” a spokesperson for the Myanmar community in Coffs Harbour, Aye Win, told News Of The Area.

“The day also commemorates those who have fought and continue to

fight for freedom, democracy and self-determination for the Chin people.

“This struggle has intensified since the military coup in 2021 and in the last two years many Chin people have been arrested, tortured and killed by the military junta and thousands have had to flee their homes due to fighting,” she explained.

On Saturday at Cavanbah Hall the community celebrated with speeches by special guests; City of Coffs Harbour Mayor Paul Amos and Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh.

There was a performance of traditional dancing and singing and a showcase of traditional cultural attire.

As well as an opportunity to honour Chin identity, culture and customs, the

day was a fundraiser to help support Chin people in Myanmar who have become homeless due to the ongoing conflict.

Celebrations also took the form of a soccer tournament on Sunday.

For some it is important to commemorate the day on the actual anniversary date with celebrations on Monday night.

“This included an awards presentation for the soccer tournament and

HOG Dice Run for Westpac Rescue Helicopter

By Andrea FERRARI

THE famous fundraising Dice

Run with the Mid North Coast Harley Owners Group (HOG) is on Sunday 5 March.

The charity HOG club run from Coffs Harbour to Nambucca Heads raises money for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

The ride is open to all makes and models of motorcycles.

Participants are asked to meet at the point of departure, North Coast V-twins, allowing time to register first at 8.15am before departing at 9.15am.

There are stops along the way at Urunga, Valla and Macksville, concluding at the V-Wall Pavilion in Nambucca Heads.

Mid North Coast riders will meet the Port Macquarie

HOG Dice Run group who will be riding up, stopping at Kempsey, Stuarts Point and Macksville, arriving at Nambucca Heads at the same time.

Funds are raised through the proceeds of the dice game.

Each rider pays $15, and pillions pay $10 for five throws of the dice.

The game works through

the motorcyclists following a prescribed course with checkpoints, at each of which dice are rolled and the result recorded.

At the last checkpoint a winner is determined, and prizes awarded, where there’s a bit of a celebration.

Dice Run fundraiser in support of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter is on Sunday 5 March 2023.

traditional dancing and singing performances, held at the Toormina Community Centre.”

Here it was mostly Chin people from a different region of Chin state than seen at Saturday's event, all

displaying their own unique traditional clothes and dances.

“There is a great diversity within Chin people, with around 50 different Chin languages spoken,” said Aye Win.

Further funds are raised through the raffle.

“We have a great list of raffle prizes and vouchers for the day from various donors,” said Debbie Hull-Moody, Road Captain for the North, Mid North Coast HOG Club.

All proceeds go to Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service

“As you can appreciate,

fundraising is becoming harder every year for all charities with the Westpac Helicopter being one of the State’s most called upon services.

“We look forward to a great turnout on the day,” she added.

For further information contact Dennis Pearce on 0412 337 695.

q Monica Hein explaining the significance of her cultural jewelry and showing what traditional Mindat Chin face tattoos looked like. q National Chin Day celebrations included a soccer tournament.

q Ngun Tin Tial gives a speech about the history of Chin National Day.

q The Cavanbah Hall was filled with colour and ceremony with the Coffs Harbour Chin community.

q Celebrations for National Chin Day.

q A Mindat Chin band readying for a traditional knife dance performance on Monday evening’s celebrations.

q Mindat Chin men showing friendship by sharing a drink using a horn cup.

q On Saturday 18 February the 75th anniversary of Chin National Day was celebrated in Coffs Harbour.

q They’re off again - The Mid North Coast Harley Owners Group (HOG)

Helen Richey announced as Stars of the Coffs Coast judge

By Andrea FERRARI

HELEN Richey, a judge of TV’s Dancing with the Stars for eighteen series, has been announced as the judge for the Stars of the Coffs Coast finale on Saturday 1 April, a fundraiser for the Cancer Council.

Styled on the TV Show, the Coffs Coast event is now in its tenth successful year.

“Helen was an elite dancer on the world stage for many years as well as one the world’s leading dance coaches and most soughtafter adjudicators,” said Cancer Council NSW’s local fundraising coordinator, Christine Williams.

“Helen has danced and judged at the highest level

and now we are delighted to have her at Stars of Coffs Coast.”

Since this year’s event launch in mid-October 2022, when local identities were teamed up with dance schools and teachers, the dancing pairs have been learning and then practicing their routines to be judged by Helen plus other dignitaries.

During this time these locals have also been tirelessly fundraising for Cancer Council’s research, prevention and support services.

Our local stars are the following members of the Coffs Coast community.

Sam Hill from Woolgoolga Chamber of Commerce is dancing with Woolgoolga

Performing Arts Studio.

Em Pitomaki, F45 Studio Manager, is also paired with Woolgoolga Performing Arts Studio.

Matt Bryant from Coffs Harbour Support Services is paired with All 4 Dance Bellingen.

Emily McIlwraith from Nolan Partners Real Estate is dancing with Coffs Latin Rhythms.

Michelle Clarke from Hair at the Promenade is paired with Pacific Dancentre.

Melissa Rullis from Victor Rullis Funerals is dancing with Hannah Johnson from Bishop Druitt College.

Victor Rullis has a dance partner at Pacific Dancentre.

Ben Bryant from Bryant McKinnon Lawyers is

partnered with FirstStep Dance Academy.

Leanne Bates, personal trainer, is partnered with Coffs Coast Pole Fit.

Dance judge Helen has a formidable dance biography, including being a grand finalist in the British Open Professional Latin Championships, the world’s most prestigious Latin event, for seven consecutive years.

Helen’s competitive career also included being undefeated All England Professional Latin Champion as well as the South of England Pro Latin Champion and the Imperial Pro Latin Champion.

Stars of Coffs Coast will be held for the first time at the Coffs Harbour Education

Centre (CHEC) Theatre.

The fundraiser’s tickets are now on sale at www.

events.humanitix.com/starsof-coffs-coast-2023.

Lipman builds good vibes with Coffs Soupie

By Andrea FERRARI

WHEN construction company Lipman were setting up home to build Yarrila Place in Coffs Harbour, they negotiated some wiggle room on the southern perimeter, gaining a metre extra usage space from their next-door neighbour the Uniting Church Soup Kitchen, known locally as the Soupie.

A gentlemanly handshake deal guaranteed Lipman would give back along the way.

With the ‘Topping Out' achieved in August, Lipman Site Manager Danny Stocks organised a raffle.

A Topping Out ceremony is an industry tradition signifying completion of the final phase of structural work, and often the celebrations are held on the top of the building.

“We got loads of our trade contractors to donate power tools and ran a raffle raising around $1200 which we gave straight to Uniting Church’s Soupie,” Danny, a Coffs local, told News Of The Area.

Danny’s team organised the catering for the event with sandwiches and meat pies winched high in on a crane, and Lipman Chief

Operating Officer Paul Edwards made a special trip to Coffs Harbour from Sydney.

In another give-back, Lipman arranged for a fresh

lick of paint for the interior of the Soupie.

“We asked one of our contractors, All Districts Coating NSW, to do the job for us,” said Danny.

“They painted inside the kitchen and through the hall where they serve the food.

“Phil Crofts who runs the Soup Kitchen is an absolute saint,” he said.

“He’s one of those people who is just a really good person.

“I can’t stress enough how, as a construction company working in the community, we do everything we can to get everybody involved in the team heading down the same path, and our path is all about teamwork.”

Doing things for a good cause in the community they work in is a Lipman ethic, one which Danny Stocks encourages.

When it’s time to leave the building, done and dusted, Lipman will organise to further give back with some additional work on the Uniting Church’s Soup Kitchen car park.

“We’ll happily tidy up their car park and regrade the gravel area,” said Danny.

q Helen Richey will judge the Stars of the Coffs Coast fundraiser for the Cancer Council. Photo: Seven Network.

q Lipman Site Manager Danny Stocks, Lipman Site Supervisor Nigel Della, Audrey Wright from the Uniting Church Soup Kitchen, Lipman Project Manager Brad Gleeson and Phil Crofts from the Soup Kitchen.

q The United Church Soup Kitchen gets a fresh lick of paint inside the dining hall.

q Lipman Site Manager Danny Stocks and Phil Crofts from the Uniting Church Soup Kitchen at the laneway where Lipman gained their wiggle room.

q Sandwiches were winched in for the Topping Out ceremony at Yarrila Place.

q Phil Crofts from the Soupie, Lipman Site Manager Danny Stocks, Audrey Wright from the Soupie with Lipman’s Carlie Eckersley and Nigel Della.

Size of a House

Address: 3/35 Boultwood Street, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450

Price: $689,000

Beds: 3, Bath: 2, Car: 1

Land size: 242sqm

THIS immaculate level villa is sure to please with its open plan layout, large bedrooms and low maintenance living, not to mention its ideal location, minutes from Macauleys Beach, the Jetty Forshore, Northside Shopping Centre and Park Beach Plaza Shopping Centre.

The villa is positioned at the rear of the complex of only three and will certainly surprise you with its size and practical layout.

Easy care tiles flow through the home from the entry, into the dining area and the renovated kitchen.

There is plenty of space in the kitchen that has beautiful stone benchtops, step in pantry, electric appliances including dishwasher which overlooks the carpeted loungeroom that is light filled and enjoys the outlook of the front manicured garden beds.

The generous bedrooms are separated from the living areas by the long hallway.

They are all carpeted and have sizeable built-in wardrobes.

The main bedroom is located at the rear of the home, it has its own ensuite that is accessed between his and her built in robes and sliding door access to the covered outdoor entertaining area.

As the rear backyard is paved, there is no need for the lawn mower, allowing you more time to relax and enjoy your outdoor entertaining area all year round with roller blinds that not only shelter you from the weather conditions, but also provide you with privacy.

Other features of the property include single lock garage with internal entry and laundry at the rear, threeway bathroom, reverse cycle air conditioning unit in the loungeroom, ceiling fans throughout, vertical blinds, and portico at the front entrance.

Low maintenance and practicality are the themes of this property, which will suit downsizers, investors and first home buyers looking for a property to move straight into with nothing to be done.

Contact agents: Kim McGinty on 0432 953 796 and Chris Hines on 0439 667 719.

$690,000

$650,000

7 Greaves Close, TOORMINA 110b Linden Ave, BOAMBEE EAST

Renovated 3 bedrooms family home. Featuring saltwater pool, covered entertainment areas, large yard, vehicle access, carport, solar power panels, garden shed and approximately 500m to school and approximately 1.5km to shops. On a roomy 775m2 Block.

Call Chris: 0427 581 100

Private driveway to this Neo Federation style 3 bedroom home. Situated on a 460m2 block with rear balcony/deck with views. Features front veranda, built ins, lock up garage, extra toilet in laundry, polished and carpeted floor, newish stove, grassed fenced yard, underneath storage and is currently tenanted.

Call Chris: 0427 581 100

Beautiful Home – Sought after location!

39 Lady Belmore Drv, Boambee East

This spacious ex display home is being offered for the first time in 30 years. The much loved home has 4 bedrooms – master with spa ensuite and all with robes and ceiling fans. There are separate lounge, dining and family rooms with the kitchen designed for the chef. Ducted air conditioning adjusts the temperature with the huge enclosed Queensland room being the ideal place to relax. A double drive thru garage gives access to the rear yard with the low maintenance gardens adding further appeal! Arrange your inspection today!

Home open Sat 25/02 11.00am – 11.30am

For Sale – $910,000

Scott Bellamy 0438 581 611

Price reduced to meet the market!!

156 Lyons Rd, Sawtell 2

This superb Sawtell family home should be should be at the top of your inspection list if you are looking for a quality family home at a great address!! Designed around entertaining, privacy and the outlook over Bonville Creek and Reserve, the home offers - 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and multiple living areas. The modern kitchen has all of the appliances a chef requires whilst the rear deck overlooks the sparkling in ground pool. The home is also air conditioned with the double garage having internal access and electric controller door units for easy access

Sawtell continues to be the gem of the Coffs Coast, so don’t let the opportunity pass you by!

Arrange your inspection today.

Home open Sat 25/02 11.45am – 12.15pm

For Sale – $1,250,000 - $1,300,000

2 Micorca PL, Toormina

66581611

Paddington Style Townhouse

1/14 Lalaguli Drv, Toormina 1

A taste of Paddo in Toormina - complete with ornate metal work!

Conveniently positioned between Toormina Gardens Shopping Centre and Sawtell is this spacious 2 bedroom townhouse. Both bedrooms have robes - master with a balcony, the living area is open plan with the kitchen presenting in original order. There is also a single garage, your own yard and a small front balcony. Our excellent tenant pays $355 per week with the lease expiring in March 2023. This townhouse should appeal to the investor, active retirees downsizing or first home buyers. Arrange your inspection today.

For Sale – $475,000

Well Kept Investment Opportunity 10 KATHERINE CLOSE, COFFS HARBOUR

• Ideally located home with tiled loungeroom & dining area

• Grey kitchen with corner pantry, electric appliances, &

Kim McGinty 0432 953 796

Chris Hines 02 6658 6042

location with Schools, shops and public transport all within a leisurely 800 metre stroll.

• Sighted on 505sqm lot in a quiet cul-de-sac location. • There is a wonderful covered alfresco area for entertaining or maybe just sitting with a book enjoying the established gardens which apart from the tranquillity also offer privacy from the outside world.

• A great starter or downsizer ready to move into an enjoy.

Delightfully Renovated 1 BOWER CRESCENT, TOORMINA

$729,000

• Three bedroom home featuring renovated kitchen with stunning timber benches, and large island bench

• Generous open plan living area

• Sunroom which leads to fully fenced rear yard with outdoor entertaining area

• Main bedroom has walk-in robe and stylish ensuite

• Renovated combined bathroom/laundry

• DLUG and two garden sheds

Kim McGinty 0432 953 796

Chris Hines 02 6658 6042

Land Size: 649.9sqm

Family Home with Potential 6 MIRROOLA CRESCENT, TOORMINA

$749,000

• Set on a large 836.1sqm block this home has

• Two living areas plus study, main bedroom with walk in robe and ensuite located at the rear of the home, separate from the other four bedrooms

• Single lock up drive through garage to rear yard with carport

• Outdoor entertaining area, Inground pool (currently not functional) with established gardens

Kim McGinty 0432 953 796

Chris Hines 02 6658 6042

Land Size: 836.1sqm

unre.com.au/mir6

Boambee Valley Beauty 4&4A BANFF CLOSE, BOAMBEE

$1,495,000

• Immaculate Rural Residential property, boasting not one, but 2 dwellings on a parklike 3000sqm block

• The main four bedroom dwelling is exquisite from the moment you enter the front doors and are greeted with stunning timber floors

• Large open plan living through to dining and massive entertaining deck overlooking sparkling inground pool

• Additional rumpus room and office

• Near new additional two bedroom cottage currently yielding $375pw

Chris Hines 02 6658 6042

Kim McGinty 0432 953 796

Land Size: 3,000sqm

Wonderfully spocious Villa with high raked ceilings, highlight windows and exposed rafters/beams

Modernised internally, with new vinyl floor coverings, full repaint, ceiling fans and A/C to bedrooms and living area

Close driving distance to Toormina Shops and Sawtell Village

Substantial family sized home with multiple living zones

Elevated position offers mountain views & captures the breeze

Spacious Master bedroom w/ large ensuite bathroom + living area

Extensively renovated internally and externally

60 m2 Studio Flat

Low-maintenance internally with designated covered car space

location for holiday letting with great occupancy rates

Spacious family sized home close walking distance

to Sawtell Main Street, Beach and Public School

The second level offers an approved kitchenette, living space, bathroom and two bedrooms, perfect for a live in family member or teenagers retreat

Multiple living area ' s and a large spacious kitchen/dining area

Fantastic first home or investment opportunity

Low-maintenace, two-bedroom unit with North facing courtyard Short walk to the popular Boambee Bay Reserve/Estuary for safe

paddleboarding, fishing and beach access Short walk to

Gardens Shopping Centre

Perfect for First Home Buyers, Investors or Downsizers

Spacious rear yard with drive-through vehicle access

Potential for development (R3 Zoning) STCA

250m to Boambee Bay Reserve/Estuary for safe swimming, paddleboarding and fishing

Call agent to arrange

Boambee East 23 Wedgetail Crescent

Substantial family sized home with multiple living zones

FOR SALE $935,000

Elevated position offers mountain views & captures the breeze

Spacious Master bedroom with a large ensuite bathroom

High ceilings give the home a terrific sense of space

Easy access into Sawtell Village, Toormina Shops & Local Schools

Space for boat, caravan or motorhome storage

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Gumbaynggirr cultural exchange filled with highlights

By Andrew VIVIAN

MEMBERS of the Bularri Muurlay Nyanggan Aboriginal Corporation (BMNAC) have returned from a very successful cultural exchange to New Zealand.

Staff members, dancers, including seven Gumbaynggirr Giingana Freedom School (GGFS) students, and parents travelled to Akerama, near Waitangi, to visit Māori schools and take part in cultural ceremonies.

The trip grew out of conversations between a BMNAC Board member and some Māori friends about GGFS who then suggested a visit to NZ to look at Te Reo Māori (Māori language) schools.

As planning progressed it transpired that the trip would coincide with the NRL’s Māori versus Indigenous All Stars game in Rotarua.

BMNAC received some sponsorship from the NRL in return for cultural performances at the NRL players’ dinner on the

Thursday before the game and at the game.

Although these would be highlights for any such trip, the major highlight was the invitation to participate in the Waitangi Day ceremony at the treaty ground on Monday, February 6.

The Gumbaynggirr dancers took part in the

sunrise ceremony then performed for Māori elders later in the day.

“It was the experience of a lifetime because we were the first group other than Māori to participate in the sunrise ceremony,” BMNAC spokesperson Nathan Brennan said.

The group also visited

The Bellingen Autumn Plant Fair is back

By Andrea FERRARI

THIRTY-THREE years

strong, the Bellingen Autumn Plant Fair is back from 8am to 2pm on Saturday 11 March 2023 at Bellingen Park.

Presented by the Bellingen Environment Centre Inc (BEC), this inclusive family friendly event welcomes all to attend and enjoy nature, food, music and plants.

BEC’s vision is focused on getting more trees in the ground and says planting natives is ideal for our environment, good for the soil and attracts beneficial bugs and birds.

The Bellingen Plant Fair is held every second Saturday of March-Autumn

and September-Spring and proudly showcases a large number of growers and traders from the Mid North Coast who sell quality plants at fair prices while sharing what they know.

“We are fortunate to have

such a 'one of a kind’ event on the Mid North Coast,” Kaz Selbie, Manager of the Fair, told News of the Area.

“The Bellingen Plant Fair is popular because people understand the importance of plants, especially natives,

three Māori schools where they were welcomed with a powhiri (a Māori welcoming ceremony involving speeches, cultural performance and singing) and shared Gumbaynggirr culture through dance. BMNAC established a sister school relationship

with Te Kura Kaupapa Māori

o Te Kura Kokiri school, where students learn through immersion in Te Reo Māori.

Mr Brennan said New Zealand education regulations support immersion in indigenous languages and the Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Kura

Kokiri students are still proficient in English. He said BMNAC intends to take GGFS teachers during school holidays next year to observe, share and take part in workshops and that a Māori contingent will make a reciprocal visit.

they want to be sustainable and care for our environment.

“They also want to grow chemical free food for maximum nutrition, flavour and energy and if they can’t grow their own they buy from local markets, such as the Bellingen Growers Market who join us,” Kaz said.

The organisers aim to

be a good example when it comes to waste at the event, with green, yellow, and red bins available.

They are determined to reduce waste and support 100 percent recycling.

Bin vigilantes will be on site encouraging all to do the right thing.

Delicious hot and cold

food, drinks and coffee are on the menu along with chilled acoustic music by Thoughts & Prayers, who are local duo Brett Barber and Deb Spillane.

There is a herb workshop at 9.30am and talks on stage throughout the day.

The big plant raffle gets drawn around 1pm and home-made cakes are on offer.

Local organisations such as the Bellingen Environment Centre, Bellingen Seed Savers, Bellingen Landcare, Biodynamic Agriculture Australia and Bellingen Council will be there to answer your questions.

“It's always a bloomin good day at the Bellingen Plant Fair,” welcomed Kaz.

For more information go to www. bellingenplantfair.org, email bellingenplantfair@gmail. com or visit the ‘Bellingen Plant Fair’ Facebook page.

q Practising for the All Stars game.

q Gumbaynggirr dancers wait to take part in the Waitangi Day sunrise ceremony.

q Plants galore, mostly natives, at Bellingen Autumn Plant Fair.

q Getting creative - crafts on sale at Bellingen Autumn Plant Fair.

q The Bellingen Autumn Plant Fair is on Saturday 11 March. q Take a stroll through Bellingen Plant Fair.

Female artists on show at Nexus Gallery

By Andrea FERRARI

PANOPLY and Soul Driver are the new exhibitions at Nexus Gallery at the Butter Factory in Bellingen.

Opening on 26 February and running until 24 March, the exhibitions feature four female artists.

The opening for both exhibitions is 3pm on Sunday 26 February.

In the Main Gallery, Panoply exhibits the works of painters Chris Wilson and Chris Hundt and ceramicist Sally Hook, showing together for the first time.

In an interesting mix of talents and ideas, the artists have curated an impressive and engrossing exhibition.

Each woman has done her own thing, hence the title ‘Panoply’, and with skills at their peak the women have produced works of humour, pathos, strength and beauty.

The three have numerous prizes and awards to their credit, and have been selected to exhibit in various regional galleries.

“We’ve travelled and exhibited overseas and tutored muchly in art,” painter Chris Hundt told News Of The Area.

Chris Wilson’s paintings have explored the patterns

and rhythms she sees in native flora using a technique designed to emphasise drawing, as well as playing with abstraction and landscape.

Sally Hook’s ceramic figures are “her own unique and utterly original take on the human condition”, said Chris.

“She has many keen observations of our foibles and is masterful in their execution, yet presented with

compassion.

“Many are poetic, some humorous and others just wonderful.”

Chris Hundt’s paintings of rural life in Dorrigo are down to earth; farm animals painted with a subtle sense of humour, rural buildings with attendant washing lines, and

landscapes.

Her showground pavilion is quite ethereal with a dramatic use of light.

Exhibiting in the Studio Gallery is artist and musician Freedom Summer with her Soul Diver show.

“The mermaid symbolises the truth seeker of my inner-

self; I call her the Soul Diver,” Freedom told NOTA.

“She dives deep into the darkness of the inner world to find her limits and truth.

“She carries only one eye; this is the eye of awareness.

“What she finds is an eternal and unlimited consciousness, as vast as the

Volunteer for Nana Glen Emergency Response Team

By Andrea FERRARI

THE Nana Glen Community Emergency Response Team

(CERT) needs volunteers to put up their hands as the service is down to one member.

An urgent call-out on social media for volunteers has brought in a number of people enquiring to be trained, attend call-outs and give of their time, and while that is a great response, CERT member Leeharne Hawley told News Of The Area the goal is to have a team of at least ten people so they can share the load.

“After all the hard work raising money and obtaining grants and working with NSW Ambulance to come on board with assisting us to obtain a fully kitted car to service the Karangi/ Coramba/Nana Glen and Bucca areas, we now find that if we do not get more volunteers we will have to close.

“So I am asking if you are enthusiastic in helping people in our community and can spare some time for call outs, you need no particular skills because you will be fully trained and receive a CERT II in

Medical

Service Emergency

Response,” she said.

“You need to live in either Karangi/Coramba/ Nana Glen or Bucca to apply.

“With time critical Priority 1 jobs, we need to be able to attend the incident before the Ambulance can get there,” said Leeharne.

The more people in the team, the easier it is to spread across the demand.

“We have safety in mind as we attend our jobs and therefore two people are the bare minimum to safely provide medical attention to the patients.

“With the tracking in

universe.”

For Freedom, the mermaid has been a recurring theme over the years.

“I have been drawing her repeatedly lately as a kind of meditation.

“I liken it to the repetitive discipline of Japanese calligraphy or Chi Gong.

“The Zen is in the broad focus of continuous flow which calms the anxious mind into presence.”

A multi-disciplined artist, much of Freedom’s recent work has been assemblages and photographs.

She is a singer songwriter, guitarist, her own recording engineer and a performer of her own songs in cafes, festivals and markets.

“I consider life as a spiritual journey.

“My art and music practices that I use to sew my inner world and outer world into a form of clarity.

“It brings that which is hidden and vague into sight and is a reminder on how to see with the eye of awareness,” she said.

the vehicle, Ambulance HQ knows exactly where we are, and we have all our medical equipment on board.

“Everything is at our fingertips with the vehicle,” she said.

All training is done through Ambulance NSW, with the official training in various locations starting in May 2023.

However, new volunteers can join in the monthly training meetings with Paramedics at Nana Glen Public School on the second Tuesday of every month until then, starting on Tuesday 14 March.

Leeharne explained what service the Ambulance volunteers provide.

“We attend all medical emergencies that are time

critical, ie: cardiac arrest, car accidents, breathing difficulties and births to name a few,” she said, summarising the main types of callouts.

“So please support this vital service to your community and contact me on 0488 736 347 to sign up as a volunteer; it is a rewarding role!” she said.

q Leeharne Hawley and Noel Furness from the Nana Glen Community Emergency Response Team in December 2021 when the new vehicle was presented to their group.

q The fully kitted out emergency vehicle used by the Nana Glen Community Emergency Response Team since its arrival in December 2021.

q Chris Hundt’s painting ‘Bull at Show’.

q Freedom Summers presents her Soul Diver show in the Studio Gallery.

q Sally Hook’s ceramic ‘My Career Takes Off’.

q ‘Sentinal’ by Chris Wilson.

Record fish catch a life-changing experience

By Andrew VIVIAN COFFS Harbour Bluewater

Freedive

club member

Jonathan Cassell has broken a 27-year-old club and NSW Underwater Skindivers and Fisherman's Association (USFA) record set by last year’s 2022 Open Club champion, Glen George.

Mr Cassell speared a 13.02kg Green Jobfish during the club’s February competition.

“Green Jobfish are an elusive fish to catch and so this is a very special fish to be taken off Coffs Harbour,” Club President Brian Hackett said.

“Jonathan is a strong free diver and regularly attends our training sessions.

“He loves the ocean and he's been rewarded with a fish of a lifetime,” Mr Hackett said.

Mr Cassell is still coming to terms with the significance of the catch.

“It’s not every day you claim a NSW record as a fisherman and I’d like to thank USFA for their support in this process,” he said.

“I spear fish primarily so I can catch my own food, to keep fit and to shake up my comfort zones.

“A mate compared it to catching a 200kg marlin.

“It’s a very significant animal that has naturally had a profound impact on my life,” Mr Cassell said.

“I feel gifted by the experience.

“Taking the life of any fish, let alone a big one, comes with a deep sense of gratitude and responsibility.”

Mr Cassell said the experience made him want to give back where he can and to

preserve the ocean.

“This has been a powerful and intimate experience and would not be possible without a healthy ocean,” he said.

He asks everyone to consider making a personal difference by actions such as writing to State and Federal politicians urging them to protect waterways, reduce plastic packaging and effectively regulate farm chemical run-off.

“I have also donated the fish’s head to the Department of Primary Industries Recreational Angler Program to determine its age and other relevant information important to the management of NSW fish stocks,” Mr Cassell said.

The Underwater Skindivers and Fisherman’s Association has also recognised the achievement.

“I want to congratulate Jonathan on a record fish, a

most meritorious species,” Association Chair Simon Trippe said.

“The Solitary Islands group are known as the gateway for tropical species in NSW, and, even still, this

fish is a sublime capture for its size anywhere in the country.

“Jonathan’s fish is likely to be the best fish speared in NSW waters this year.”

The Coffs Harbour

Bluewater Freedivers is open to new members and is hosting the 2023 Australian Bluewater Freediving Classic on March 18 and 19. More information can be found at chbfreedivers.com.

Rotary Sawtell BBQ hits ShelterBox goal for Turkey

By Andrea FERRARI

SIZZLING sausages in a tasty, saucy sandwich, whipped up by Rotary Sawtell at Bunnings Coffs Harbour on Friday 17 February, raised over $1,000 in yet another of the not-forprofit’s fundraisers.

“The BBQ takings and donations mean Rotary Sawtell is able to achieve the day’s goal and purchase a ShelterBox for those affected by the earthquake in Turkey,” Sawtell Rotarian Alan Freedman told News Of The Area.

“The atmosphere at our Club’s BBQs is always great as we enjoy having a joke with each other and our customers.

“We get some interesting reactions from them.

“When we show where our funds are going it usually helps us get additional donations.

“One guy gave us $50 but did not want a sausage sandwich because he was on a diet but liked the cause, as did another visitor to the BBQ,” he said.

“Fridays are not as busy as Saturdays so we get a few more breaks to hopefully have a drink and a sandwich ourselves, it also keeps the weekends clear.

“As the Club’s International Director, I will

Community groups invited to apply for Stronger Communities Grants

COMMUNITY groups across the Cowper electorate can access Federal Government grants to upgrade and improve their facilities and resources.

Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan said $150,000 had been allocated to upgrade local community infrastructure through round eight of the Stronger Communities Program (SCP) in the Cowper electorate.

Mr Conaghan is calling for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from local groups to nominate priority projects.

EOIs are now open and must be received by one of Mr Conaghan’s electorate offices by 5pm on Monday March 27, 2023.

Mr Conaghan said the program provided a funding

stream for things like hall upgrades, kitchen equipment, changeroom facilities and other smaller infrastructure projects that community groups often found hard to fund.

“This funding opportunity comes at an important time for local community groups as they plan for future events and how they will support the community after a difficult few years,” Mr Conaghan said.

“We are looking for projects that make a real difference to the community and provide the most benefit to community and volunteer groups.”

Mr Conaghan said round eight would allow groups to apply for grants between $2,500 and $20,000 without matching funding.

“This particular round is designed to support volunteer and community groups which weren’t able to fundraise or have the means to provide matching funding,” Mr Conaghan said.

“While this is fantastic financial support for groups, it is important to note that local governing bodies and organisations that fall under them will only be eligible to apply for up to 50 percent of the project costs and provide matching funding.

“I encourage local groups to visit my website www. patconaghan.com.au and lodge an EOI form by 5pm Monday March 27.” Successful applicants will then be invited to complete a full submission.

be pushing for the Club to donate another ShelterBox from our own funds at the next Board meeting in early March,” said Alan.

The sturdy green ShelterBoxes contain familysized tents specially designed to withstand the elements and provide people with temporary shelter until they are able to start the process of rebuilding a home. ShelterBox and Rotary are official project partners in International Disaster Relief. ShelterBox is a registered charity, independent of Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation.

q Jonathan Cassell holds his record-breaking fish.

q Andrew Cox, Sawtell Rotarians Peter Paff, Bruce Hall, Alan Freeman and Ray Baldwin with Steven Smith and (far right) Allan Thomas from Reflections Holiday Parks.

q Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan with the ShoreTrack team in Macksville on their Zero Turn Mower which was funded by the last round of SCP Grants.

Enjoy the Bellinger River VIEW

By Andrea FERRARI

BELLINGER Valley VIEW Club has kicked off 2023 with enthusiasm, planning the celebrations for its 38th year in June, and is keenly looking to welcome new members who want to give back to their community and make new connections with women in the area.

VIEW Clubs, apart from the social aspect, have a focus on supporting children in need.

VIEW was founded in 1960 by the General Secretary of The Smith Family, George Forbes, to support the charitable work of the organisation.

VIEW stands for the Voice, Interests and Education of Women, and is a network of close to 300 clubs and over 14,000 women throughout Australia.

It provides a place for women to connect in the community, enjoy social activities, and develop lasting friendships, all while

supporting the work of children’s education charity, The Smith Family.

VIEW is the largest community sponsor of The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program, which provides students with financial, educational and personal support.

“Bellinger Valley VIEW Club supports five students in both primary and high schools through this program, ensuring they have their essential school supplies, uniforms and participate in excursions,” Gina Troy, Bellinger Valley VIEW spokesperson told News Of The Area.

“We hold street stalls during the year to help raise money for the sponsorship of these students.

“This alone is very satisfying and it's wonderful to help underprivileged children.

“Although only knowing their first names, it is gratifying to receive reports and correspondence from our students telling us of their activities and achievements,” she said.

VIEW Clubs nationally support the educational outcomes of more than 1,590 children and young people experiencing disadvantage.

Through this powerful, long standing connection, VIEW is proud to enable better futures for young Australians.

The Bellinger Valley VIEW Club offers additional benefits to members.

“Social events such as outings for morning teas and luncheons, fun activities, interesting speakers and entertainment at our monthly luncheon meetings, especially by our local school's musical groups, plus activities with other local VIEW Clubs,” said Gina.

“VIEW clubs are great when one relocates to a new region.

“It's easy to join and make new friends who make you very welcome.

“We are always looking for women of all backgrounds and ages to join us and look forward to welcoming new faces at our next

monthly meeting,” she said.

Bellinger Valley VIEW Club meets on the third Monday of each month at the Bellingen Golf Club at 11am for an 11.30am start.

For further information please call Gina on 66551756.or email bellviewclub@gmail.com.

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Why the Indigenous Voice to Parliament matters

DEAR News Of The Area

MANY questions have been raised regarding the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

‘Don’t we already have enough Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations?’ is a common one.

It is true that there are already many Indigenous organisations but Indigenous people are saying that they feel that they are not being listened to and that instead solutions to problems are being imposed on them.

Indeed, the Uluru Statement from the Heart uses the words “the torment of our powerlessness.”

The Uluru Statement proposes an ongoing Voice to parliament as the way to

ensure that Indigenous voices are heard in matters that concern them so that they may have some control over their destiny.

Another common question is ‘Isn’t it better to have more Indigenous members of Parliament?’

We currently have eleven Indigenous members of Federal Parliament, which is excellent in regard to diversity.

As members of parliament they are not elected to represent Indigenous peoples; they are elected to represent all the people of their electorate.

At any future election they could well lose their seat to a non-Indigenous person.

The current eleven Indigenous persons in parliament could even dwindle to zero.

A Voice to Parliament would directly and continuously express the specific

Gurmesh on the Road

DEAR News Of The Area,

WELL, what a backdown, first tunnels back in, now Grandpa’s Scrub saved, possibly saving from being dug up the only wild flowering specimen in the world of a new Fontania species, perhaps or is that some blossoms too far? Come on Gurmesh, and I haven’t raised the Jetty Foreshores yet, or the proposed Great Koala National Park, ending native forest logging on public land, reducing land clearing, cleaning up our estuaries, reducing the damage by kangaroos to Look At Me Now Headland, or reviving the Solitary Islands Marine Park and expanding its sanctuary zones to meet agreed State, Federal and international standards.

Just one more, a former colleague in the Environment Department is responsible for the recovery of a critically endangered moth that only lives locally and was recently included on the Federal Government’s list of 100 national priority threatened species - saving the moths habitat could also do with some more support.

The road to environmental sustainability is far more than saving 0.5ha of rainforest, as important as that little patch is, and I haven’t mentioned combatting climate change yet.

You cannot be held directly responsible for the flawed vegetation surveys by the TfNSW that missed the critically endangered rainforest or the two tree

issues and concerns of Indigenous people.

It is often asserted that Indigenous peoples are not in agreement and that the Voice is not of grassroots Indigenous origin but rather comes only from elite Indigenous people.

It is true that Indigenous people do not all agree on the Voice.

It would be surprising if they did.

However, there is a large and widespread consensus in favour of the proposal.

There has been broad consultation of Indigenous people at the grassroots level leading to a consensus and the Uluru Statement from the Heart is the culmination of this process.

That this process has been followed is one of the strengths of the Voice proposal.

species, subsequently found to be new to science, on the bypass route.

Both you and your Nationals ministerial colleague Sam Farraway got closer to owning the poo pot though when you supported the blatantly false TfNSW claims that protecting Grandpas Scrub would cost an extra $50m and delay completion of the bypass by eighteen months – both claims now shown to be absolute rubbish.

We’ll wait with interest to see where your apparent road trip leads next.

Meanwhile, the TfNSW villain under various guises, has been running wild on the North Coast for about 20 years and through about twelve EIS’s for the Pacific Highway upgrade.

Each EIS has apparently been a learning experience in how to avoid serious environmental responsibilities.

The Pacific Highway upgrade has

I won’t be voting for parties pushing environmental issues

DEAR News Of The Area,

I DO a lot to help the environment but I won’t be voting for any of the parties pushing environmental issues or climate change on 25 March.

I already do all I can in my own personal space to maintain our environment; I put our green, red and yellow bins to optimum use.

In our house we have taken up the opportunities in regards to solar power panels and solar hot water as well as insulation batts in the ceiling.

I throw my used coffee grounds on the garden instead of down the drain.

I save used cooking oil for the same reason.

We grow our own herbs and some fruit in our small garden.

I recycle as much as I can.

Like most people I try to do my bit and as technology finds other ways to help, I’ll be on-board for that, too.

So, why would I not vote for parties with a predominant focus on all things environmental and climate change? Mostly because they frustrate me.

The world has survived for millennia through several climate changes including global warming and ice ages. Humans have survived these changes better than other animals, mostly because we can adapt.

Frustration rises when finally we see the new bypass going ahead, then an uproar about one small piece of land.

I see the powers-that-be are taking things seriously enough to look at the issue. That’s good.

But why was the concern not raised before plans were finalised? There was plenty of opportunity, it seems to me.

OPINION

It cannot be said that the Voice is driven by elites or political groups.

The Voice has not emerged as part of the agenda of a particular group or as an idea from a particular political party.

It has emerged as an expression of the wishes of Indigenous peoples and the referendum is in response to their request in the Uluru Statement from the Heart for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution.

Our Prime Minister described it as a “gracious, patient call for respect and truth and unity”.

Regards, John GRAY, Coffs Harbour.

potentially had more impact on the environment of NSW than any project before it, ever.

A lot of habitat was lost when upgrade was, wherever possible, steered through our valuable remaining native forests and, with hindsight, there’s a lot to learn.

With more major development likely to come, possibly a very fast train and maybe with widespread withdrawal of development from floodplains and low lying coastal areas, it would help to have a high level and open inquiry into handling of environmental issues during the Pacific Highway upgrade.

Just to put the final candle in the cake and perhaps you could support that too Gurmesh.

Thankyou, Ashley LOVE, Coffs Harbour.

Hopefully, the positive outcome will mean no more delays due to environmental issues.

I’m also frustrated when I hear that our school children are being taught how bad we are treating our land, when really – are we?

Children are learning in their own homes about how to look after our environment.

I think Australia is doing OK compared to most other countries.

Resources spent on many “green” issues would be better spent on quality education, health services, industry and infrastructure.

Regards, Lesley CARROLL Coffs Coast.

OPINIONLETTERS

HYPOTHETICAL Legal Look OPINION & LETTERS

By Manny WOOD

Funky Floor Fails

DI wants to open a custom dress shop and after inspecting a few retail premises, settles on a location.

Prior to signing the lease, Di and lessor, Martin, discuss Di’s idea of relaying the floor with a funky tile and paint the shop, as the off-white colour did nothing for the ambience Di sought to create.

Di was happy to invest in shop improvements as she intended to sign a five-year lease with a five-year option to renew.

The shop proved very successful, and after five years in the premises, Di was ready to lease a larger shop.

Prior to leaving the shop, Martin inspects the premises and discovers that Di has not removed the new flooring and he dislikes the brightly painted walls.

Martin demands that Di ‘make good’ the premises as stated in the written lease.

Generally, ‘making good’ refers to removing any improvements or alterations made by the lessee, making repairs and restoring the property to its original layout and appearance.

Martin tells Di that he is going to deduct the cost of restoration from her security deposit and if necessary pursue legal action to recover any additional costs of ‘making good’.

Di argues with Martin; stating that the flooring and happily painted walls are all improvements and that therefore his demands are not reasonable.

Martin is not happy about the walls and says there is nothing cool about the funky floor.

Di reluctantly consults her solicitor, who unfortunately tells her that she is required to make good under the terms of the lease.

The solicitor further advises that the pre-contract discussions did not form part of the signed lease, and in these circumstances Di cannot rely on these initial discussions.

Di ultimately settles the matter.

It is important for parties to carefully review the lease agreement and understand their obligations.

It is always recommended to consult a solicitor prior to entering a lease.

Thank you to Anthony Fogarty for his assistance with this column.

Email Manny Wood, principal solicitor at TB Law at manny@tblaw. net.au or call him on (02) 66 487 487.

What’s Council’s problem with equal representation?

DEAR News Of The Area,

THE Coffs Harbour Local Government Area (LGA) stretches approximately 67km from Bonville in the south to Red Rock in the north and 45km west to Brooklana and Nana Glen.

For this 1,174 square kilometres we are represented by nine councillors.

But did you know that seven of the nine councillors live between the Big Windmill (Thompsons Road) and north of Woolgoolga, one in Brooklana and the last of the nine outside the Coffs Harbour LGA in Bellingen?

What this highlights is that the southern communities of Bonville, Boambee, Toormina and Sawtell have no councillors living in their communities, understanding and representing the needs of these communities.

In contrast the communities comprising Coffs Harbour, Korora, Emerald Beach, Woolgoolga and north to Red Rock are represented by seven Councillors.

You could say one for every locality!

In an attempt to address this unequal representation, Cr Pryce, supported by Cr Cecato recently moved that the formation of wards be investigated.

Many, if not most, Councils are divided into wards and each ward elects councillors for their ward ensuring equal representation across the whole LGA and it is a well proven system.

The motion was voted down by six of the other seven Councillors.

The seventh councillor was absent.

The absurdity here is that the motion was only to investigate the formation of wards, not implement them.

However six of our councillors are not even interested in discussing wards, thus denying ratepayers the opportunity of input to a more equal representation across the Coffs Harbour LGA.

There is no doubt strong support from the communities with no voice in Council, to divide the LGA into possibly up to four wards.

For example, North, Central, South and West, with two councillors elected to each ward plus the popularly elected Mayor.

There is no reason why this cannot be done.

What are these councillors' objections to at least open the topic up for discussion with their constituents?

Even more concerning is that two of the councillors opposed to even considering wards have nominated themselves as candidates for next month’s State Election!

If they are opposed to even listening to the community on a local level, what hope would we have with either of them in State Parliament?

Regards, Keith BENSLEY, Sawtell.

Do you feel properly represented?

DEAR News Of The Area,

THE NSW State election is drawing closer and it is time for everyone on the electoral roll in Coffs Harbour to ask whether their voice is heard and properly represented to the NSW Parliament by the incumbent member.

If the answer is no, then vote for someone else.

It sounds obvious, but this electorate has a history of voting for the Coalition regardless of how little representation we

actually get in Parliament and regardless of how much our voices are ignored on so many issues.

If you want change, you have to vote for someone new.

In particular, if you want your voice heard on matters such as the Jetty Foreshore development, and on the construction phase of the bypass, get a new voice to Parliament.

Regards, Roger TINDALE, Boambee East.

DEAR Jasminda,

My girlfriend leaves her GPS on in the car even when I know how to get to the location. We can't have a decent conversation because of this.

Bill S.

Dear Bill,

HAVE you been in a relationship for a long time?

Do you find your directions are offered in less than helpful ways, such as two seconds before your girlfriend needs to get in the right lane when she is in the left lane on a multi-lane highway?

Do you punctuate your directions with swearing and hand-wringing and rude comments that have 'licence' and 'cereal packet' in the same sentence?

I can completely understand your partner's desire to use a GPS with its unharried, self-assured voice assistant.

This person speaks in a calm, modulated tone and no matter what situation you find yourself in, she doesn't get stressed, or shout, 'Well, now where the bloody hell are we?' when your partner veers off course.

Instead, she politely and serenely returns your partner to her desired route.

In fact, she'll also be notified when there is a speed camera and how many minutes and kilometres to the destination, which is far more helpful than 'Well, great, now we'll be late.

They will have already eaten all the hors d'oeuvres' which your partner no doubt pronounces 'horse doovers' because he's not as cultured as the Sat Nav woman.

And then, her piece de resistance: a definitive 'Arrived' delivered with such confidence, that you can't help but feel in control.

There is absolutely no joy to be gained from getting directions from someone you're in a relationship with.

So let your girlfriend continue to use her GPS and converse once she's not in the advantageous position of one foot on the accelerator and two hands behind the wheel.

Carpe diem, Jasminda.

From the Mayor’s desk

By PAUL AMOS (Mayor) City of Coffs Harbour

WE are all likely to attend events at our wonderful City facilities such as the Jetty Memorial Theatre and C.ex Coffs International Stadium.

But have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes to make these events possible?

Let’s use an elite sporting fixture held at C.ex Coffs International Stadium as an example. Before the field flood lighting flickers on, and the nationally televised broadcast commences, there are months of detailed planning to ensure these events are successful.

Here’s a sneak peak of the preparations.

First and foremost, C.ex Coffs International Stadium is renowned for its superior playing surface.

Rivalling even some of the top metro Stadiums, the City’s Stadium and Major Events team work tirelessly to ensure that the field preparation and presentation is second to none.

Prior to the Sydney Sixers vs Adelaide Strikers BBL clash in January, the Greenkeeping Services team, led by Team Leader Nathan Silvy, completed a full renovation of the turf, including aerating the entire 2.5Ha playing surface, row planting new turf and managing to complete what is generally a sixteen to eighteen week process in only ten weeks in order to fit in between major events.

The team also had to rely on hand weeding during this time as the new turf was too immature to withstand any chemical applications that might normally be used.

Then of course, there is the actual wicket prep – this can make or break cricket matches, and again, the Stadium has a strong reputation of delivering quality wickets that often make the mention of the commentary team.

Again, a good wicket takes time with preparation beginning a month out and final touches applied for the last ten days.

Food and beverage service is another critical element for any match day and the logistics behind servicing a 9,000 plus crowd should not be underestimated.

It takes over 150 casual staff from our local community to operate over eight different outlets within the Stadium, plus a selection of local food trucks and vendors.

The ancillary services are also planned in detail; the free event shuttle buses that run from four locations, ticketing services, traffic management services, crowd management security, cleaning and waste management, family friendly activations and merchandise sales once you arrive at the venue, friendly local volunteers to assist with wayfinding – the list goes on!

Of course, even with all the planning possible, there is one element that can never be controlled – the weather!

Lucky we live in paradise!

Beach Street Cycle Path and Council’s Duty of Care

DEAR News Of The Area, COUNCIL’S continued support of the Beach Street Cycle Way raises questions about its duty of care to residents and visitors to Woolgoolga and to Woolgoolga Village itself.

Lack of care has compromised the safety of bike riders, pedestrians and vehicles.

Lack of care has also undermined the “Vision” for Beach Street set out in the Woolgoolga Town Centre Master Plan (WTCMP).

Decisions to proceed and continue with the cycle path “trial” have been undertaken:

- Without an Environmental Impact Statement being made publicly available.

- Without a Traffic and Safety Report.

- With (or so it seems) a Traffic Audit completed on a desktop in Sydney with plans which are different from what is on site.

- Disregarding express advice about safety issues from a Councillor (who is a cyclist).

- Without transparency or feedback of outcomes of surveys to your citizens.

- Without regard for wastefulness; a very significant failing in these current challenging times.

- Without consideration of the WTCMP where at Section 2.3 on page 100 of Part B there is the following stated: “Promote Design Excellence and Maintain Village Atmosphere”.

Continued support of the WTCMP is essential.

Please confirm the “Vision” in the

approved WTCMP still applies?

We look forward to Council’s response to this letter hoping Council has regard for the common sense of Woolgoolga residents.

Please remove the cycleway as soon as possible and no later than the end of February 2023.

Please also confirm Council’s support of the “Vision” outlined in the WTCMP.

We are looking forward to the Movement and Place Strategy for Woolgoolga and environs.

Hopefully this strategy will satisfy residents’ aspirations for safety, design and effectiveness.

The “Vision” of the WTCMP also needs to be delivered.

Yours sincerely, Ray WILLING, President, Northern Beaches Residents’ Association Inc.

The National Party is there for Coffs Harbour residents

DEAR News Of The Area,

THE Nationals have had a long history of putting people in regional first.

Lets get behind Gurmesh to ensure this continues well into the future.

The first Coffs Nationals MP I remember was Matt Singleton - he was a great man. When he retired Andrew Fraser became an amazing voice for our area.

At that time, my husband Lawrence Williams was in Brisbane waiting for a liver to become available.

The Labor Government was in at the time, and there were many people on the transplant waitlist having to pay for accommodation while they waited away from home - with no financial help from IPTAS.

One day my daughter Shelley saw Andrew and said “My dad is waiting for a liver transplant in Brisbane and isolated patients won’t pay anything, what can you do about it?”.

Andrew rang my husband and said he told the Labor government if something isn’t sorted that afternoon it will be on the front page of the national paper. It got sorted that day.

And not just for us.

All the people on the waitlist were able to claim IPTAS after that.

This is the impact a local MP fighting for locals can have.

They can impact a policy that helps people all over our State.

Now we have Gurmesh Singh.

He has also proven himself to be a

great member for Coffs.

He’s respectful, approachable and professional, and is always working hard for our community.

I have a business in town and feel the Jetty Foreshore revitalisation will have a positive impact for the whole of our LGA.

It will give the town centre and people the confidence to open new stores.

Plus having better accommodation will bring more holiday makers to the area.

When the Bypass is complete we need tourists to want to come to Coffs Harbour.

Gurmesh is the man that will make that happen by allowing the town to prosper.

He is already making Coffs a better place for our younger generation and will always have our back in State Parliament.

Get behind Gurmesh this March.

Regards, Pam WILLIAMS, Coffs Harbour.

A suggested way forward for the Jetty Foreshore impasse

DEAR News Of The Area,

IN July 2022 Council wrote to the Government seeking to be appointed as manager of the surplus land that is currently leased to the Australian Rail Track Corp (ARTC).

That land is generally west of Jordan Esplanade and north of Marina Parade extending to Happy Valley.

In October 2022 the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads (Sam Farraway) advised that the Governments Foreshore Precinct Project (managed by Property and Development NSW) “seeks to repurpose this under-used NSW Government owned land to generate economic activity and jobs”.

It should be noted that while the land is identified as being owned by the NSW Government.

It is, in reality, owned by the people of NSW.

The reply does not identify any reason why the land can’t become a Crown Reserve (or something similar where the primary objective is “public enjoyment and access”).

The land could be managed by Council in the same way as the adjacent Foreshore Reserves.

The only reason given as to why this can’t happen is that the Government “seeks to generate economic activity and jobs”.

It might be appropriate for Property and Development NSW to manage underused land with the primary objective of economic return, in other locations of the state, but in my opinion, Coffs Harbour should be an exception.

The ARTC land adjoins and is intricately inter-linked with a high usage, public foreshore reserve and parkland which Council already manages.

In addition, the land interconnects with the rapidly developing Jetty Strip Precinct to the west of the railway line.

Council is in the best position to identify and resolve issues associated with these complex interactions. After all, that’s what Local Government is all about - our elected representatives dealing with local issues –not Sydney based consultants who have limited appreciation of local issues and our local culture.

There is a very real possibility of legal appeals against both the process that has been followed to date by PDNSW and the current proposal itself, which would permit up to six storey buildings for residential and tourist accommodation.

This could see the conflict dragging on for years.

At the end of the day, a compromise solution needs to be found to the current impasse with both sides of the debate negotiating in good faith.

Appointing Council as Land Manager (or granting a long-term lease to Council) would be a good starting point to resolving this conflict.

Regards, Bruce FIDGE, Coffs Harbour.

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Table Tennis an ideal sport for over 50s

By Aiden BURGESS

A GROUP of Coffs Harbour

sports people have shown age is truly just a number when it comes to playing sport.

The Coffs Harbour Over 50s Table Tennis Club play five afternoons a week;

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 12.30pm to 3.30pm, Tuesday 1.00pm to 3.00pm, Saturday

Former Coffs Harbour Suns junior shines at Under 20 National Championships

By Aiden BURGESS

ISLA Juffermans has reaffirmed her standing as one of the top young female basketball players in Australia.

The former Coffs Harbour Suns junior was named player of the tournament at the Under 20 National Championships in Geelong.

The NSW player finished fifth in scoring averaging 15 points a game at 53 percent shooting, and led the tournament in rebounding averaging 10.4 a game.

She was also part of the gold medal winning NSW team who defeated Victoria by 10 points in the final.

The young center started her National Championships in fine style, top scoring for NSW with a game high 22 points and 17 rebounds in her side’s 95-48 win against the ACT.

She scored 13 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in NSW’s 65-60 win against Tasmania, and scored 13 points and blocked three shots in her team's 92-38 win against South Australia Blue.

The 17-year-old continued her fine form in her team's 79-57 quarter final win against South Australia Red, top scoring for NSW with 18 points and grabbing nine rebounds.

She starred for NSW in

the semi-final, rising to the occasion when her state needed her with 21 points and 19 rebounds in the 7969 win against Queensland.

The player of the tournament said it was an awesome feeling to finally win a gold medal for NSW.

“It was unreal, it was my fourth nationals and last year we got bronze, so it’s just amazing to actually get a gold,” she said.

Her standout performances at the National Championships comes on the back of a huge year in which she represented Australia at the FIBA Under 17 Women’s Basketball World Cup in Hungary.

12.30pm to 2.30pm.

The air-conditioned venue is at 189b Harbour Drive.

Table tennis is an ideal sport for people aged over 50 and even into their 90s.

Now that they are older, players are less inclined to run around on a tennis court, or play eighteen holes of golf out in the sun.

The British Medical Association released a paper stating it is the best sport for mature age people.

The club is hoping to build up its numbers as COVID has had an impact on players coming back to the game.

Cost after joining is $3 per afternoon, and all playing equipment is supplied plus free tea, coffee, and biscuits.

First game is free, and free coaching is available by an accredited coach with Table Tennis NSW.

A few years ago, Table Tennis NSW mentioned in their newsletter that the

Coffs Over 50s Table Tennis Club had the highest membership of any regional club in NSW, and was noted as being one of the friendliest.

Club president Wayne Brady said the club had a great social element combined with a competitive nature.

“The club was formed to fill the needs for anyone over 50 years of age to enjoy an environment where sport and social events meet,” he said.

“Special events are celebrated such as Christmas luncheons, Easter, Australia Day and barbeques.

“Members who turn 80 receive recognition through a special afternoon tea, an OBE certificate, and a cake.”

Anyone wishing to play at the Over 50s Table Tennis Club can contact Wayne on 0417 224 245 or Gail on 0418 289 886.

Sawtell, Valleys and Rebels all win two day matches in Premier League

By Aiden BURGESS

SAWTELL, Valleys Cricket and the Northern Districts Rebels have all won their respective two-day matches during the latest round of the North Coast Cricket Council’s Premier League season. Sawtell had a dominant outright win against the Coffs Colts in their two-day match at Richardson Park.

Sawtell declared at 8/266 and leading by 150 runs, with Tyh Murphy top scoring with 79 runs from 40 balls, while Trent Dierick and Richie Gallichan also reached half centuries with 53 and 51 not out respectively.

The home side then bowled out the Colts for 100 winning by an innings and 50 runs.

Flynn Taylor took 3/15

from his 9 overs bowling for Sawtell.

Sawtell captain Trent Dierick was pleased with the comprehensive victory and the execution of the game plan.

“Sawtell had a great game, we had a solid plan going into Day 2 of the match and we executed exactly how we planned it,” he said.

“The top order batters

laid the foundation and the bowlers were able to lead us to an outright victory.”

Valleys Cricket consolidated top spot on the ladder with a 124-run win at home against the Diggers/ Nana Glen All Stars at Phillip Hughes Oval.

Chasing 281 to win, the All Stars were bowled out for 156 with Ben Pierce the best of the bowlers taking 4/38 from his

17 overs.

Hayden Cekanauskas finished on 50 not out for the All Stars.

The Northern Districts Rebels had a four wicket win against Harwood at Harwood Oval, after successfully chasing 175 to win.

Ian Slapp top scored for the Rebels with 68.

The Premier League season continues this

weekend with the opening day of two day matches in Sawtell, Woolgoolga and Macksville.

The two-day matches are the last matches before this year's finals series begins.

Sawtell host Harwood at Richardson Park, while the Northern Districts Rebels host the Diggers/Nana Glen All Stars at Woolgoolga.

Ladder leaders Valleys Cricket will look to clinch this season's minor premiership when they host the Coffs Colts at Phillip Hughes Oval.

q Isla Juffermans at the National Championships.

q Sonia Kennedy, Helen Brady, Des McDermid and Bill Lawrence get ready to play.

Golfers take step back in time at Sawtell Golf Club

By Aiden BURGESS

A GROUP of golfers have taken a step back in time at Sawtell Golf Club.

The players took part in the Hickory Challenge, where players had to use a set of antique ‘hickory’ shafted clubs from the 1910s, ‘20s and ‘30s.

The event was played over two days which attracted players from across NSW and QLD for the North vs South match.

The Hickory Challenge was organised by Sawtell Golf Club professional Brendan Barnes.

He said it was a way of honouring the great players of the past, as well as the way golf used to be played.

“Technology has gone as far as it can go in golf, and playing with these vintage clubs, it makes you think about how to play your shots, and that’s what I love about it,” he said.

“I’m not looking at the club to use, I’m looking at the

shot I can play.

“I studied how the guys of that era played, and how they used these clubs, and now that I play with the same clubs, I realise how good these players really were.

“You appreciate how good these players were who used the same clubs, and this is a great way of honouring them and continuing the tradition.”

Bruce Collins was one of the players who travelled to play the Hickory Challenge.

The Queenslander said it was great to take part in an event which honoured a bygone era.

“It’s like a surfer in Australia in the ‘60s, and then wanting to still ride a longboard now, it’s the same with the vintage clubs,” he said.

“It brings a lot of skills back to the game.

“It's a way of revisiting the past and paying homage to the history of the Hickory club.

“And it honours the golf we have seen in the past.”

Sydneysider Jeff Mansfield also took part in the Hickory Challenge,

and helped the group with finding the vintage clubs.

“They are not that dear actually, and in Australia we have PGA pros that collect

Corindi FC to shine in 2023

By David WIGLEY

CORINDI Football Club will shine in 2023 following a $205,379 grant from the NSW Government under Round Five of the Stronger Country Communities Fund.

The new floodlights will allow senior and junior teams to train later in the evening and build on last year’s grand final success.

The new facilities will also enable the club to host night-time fixtures which could be a potential solution to catching up on washed-out fixtures.

Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh said power and lighting upgrades could now be delivered at Corindi Soccer Fields at Corindi Beach Reserve thanks to this significant support from the NSW Government.

“I congratulate the hard working members at Corindi-Red Rock Sports Association Soccer Club on

this priority project which will bring about big improvements at the sports

fields,” Mr Singh said. “The upgrade includes four new poles and sixteen lights which will be of

and repair them,” he said.

“Quite a few are still in good shape, and we repair the shafts and work on the grip.”

playing standard on the main field and training standard on field two.

“Funding for local projects like this under the Stronger Country Communities Fund helps to make regional communities stronger and an even better place to call home.”

Corindi-Red Rock Breakers treasurer Danielle Hemming said, “Our committee is dedicated to giving back to our members, and the lighting and power upgrades are a long-awaited project we are excited to be a part of.

“We hope to continue to provide improved facilities to benefit not only our members but all of the Corindi-Red Rock community.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said in the past five years the Stronger Country Communities Fund had delivered more than

2000 grassroots projects, benefitting every Local Government Area in regional NSW.

“We all know how important it is for communities to have great places to come together to build social connections and boost their wellbeing through sport or community events,” Mr Toole said.

“It’s the little things that make a big difference to the way we all work, live, play and do business, and the NSW Liberals and Nationals in Government are delivering the projects that make a difference to everyday life right across regional NSW.” Round Five of the Stronger Country Communities Fund will support local community and sporting infrastructure projects, street beautification, public programs and events that display the best of local character and community spirit.

Coffs Harbour District Cricket Association’s first grade season on the verge of finals

By Aiden BURGESS

COFFS Harbour District

Cricket Association’s first grade season is on the verge of its finals series with just one round left to be played this weekend.

The penultimate round of the season was played last weekend with matches in Coffs Harbour and Urunga.

Ladder leaders Coffs Colts beat Nana Glen by 89 runs at the Coffs Coast Sport & Leisure Park.

The Colts posted an opening total of 7/217, with Brendon Myers having an afternoon to remember with a knock of 102.

Mark Henry was the best of the Nana Glen bowlers taking 3/21 from 8 overs.

The Colts bowled out

Nana Glen for 128, with Myers backing up his century with a spell of 4/25 from his 7.3 overs.

The Northern Districts Rebels had a close win against Diggers Cricket Club at Fitzroy Oval.

The Rebels won by two wickets after chasing down Diggers total of 6/193.

Navdeep Nagra led home the successful chase

finishing on 82 not out.

Brad Carey was the best of the Diggers bowlers taking 4/32 from his 7 overs.

Reuben Carey top scored for Diggers with a knock of 68.

Bellingen had a dominant 8 wicket win against Urunga in Round 17, after bowling out the home side for 97.

Julian Hulbert took 4/16 for Bellingen.

The final round of the first grade season is set to be played this weekend in Coffs Harbour, Sawtell, and Bellingen.

Ladder leaders Coffs Colts take on Diggers Cricket Club at Fitzroy Oval, Sawtell host Urunga at Richardson Park, and Bellingen host the Northern

Districts Rebels at Connell Park.

First grade standings. 1.Coffs Colts. 44 points. 10 wins. 2.Bellingen. 38 points. 9 wins. 3.Nana Glen. 34 points. 8 wins. 4. Northern Districts Rebels. 32 points.7 wins. 5.Sawtell. 30 points. 6 wins. 6. Diggers Cricket Club. 20 points. 4 wins. 7.Urunga. 6 points. 1 win

Brendan Barnes won the two-day stableford event by one point with the North team beating the South by 12 points.

q Players get ready to tee off in the Hickory Challenge.

q Corindi FC and Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh celebrate the NSW Government grant to upgrade the lighting.

Coffs Coast junior footballers headed to the UK

By Aiden BURGESS

A GROUP of young Coffs Harbour footballers have been offered the chance of a lifetime.

After attending a school holiday camp in Coffs Harbour last year facilitated by English Premier League club West Ham United, the young football enthusiasts have been given the opportunity to head to the United Kingdom for follow up camps.

The Coffs Harbour contingent are set to have the time of their lives playing alongside UK development squads and watching Premier League games.

Under 13s player Taj Grey has recently returned from an England and Scotland camp, whilst some are heading out in April, September, or November.

Eli Frankie is one of the young players headed to the UK, and he couldn’t wait to head abroad.

"When I first found out I was so excited and now I just can't wait to go, it's such an awesome opportunity for someone my age,” he said.

Leo Gerhardt is also headed to the UK and was looking forward to watching the best football players in the world.

“I am so excited to visit England and train at the English stadiums,” he said.

“I can't wait to watch a Premier League game in real life.”

Jordan Lee was excited to continue his West Ham experience.

“West Ham has been an incredible experience and I was really excited to be selected to attend the UK tour,” he said.

Coffs Suns hold Season Sunrise day to prepare for 2023

By Aiden BURGESS

COFFS Harbour Suns teams have prepared for this year's representative season with a special Season Sunrise day at Sportz Central.

The day featured a number of activities including team bonding, the announcement of team captains, and on court games and skills, as Coffs Harbour Basketball Association’s teams and players prepared for the representative season ahead while also bonding as a club.

Suns president Elliot Plater said the Season Sunrise day was a rare chance to bring the whole club together.

“It was basically getting together with all the rep teams and getting ready for the season ahead, not only as a team but as a club,” he said.

“To not only know who their teammates are, but who their club members

are.

“We are a community, and that is what we were trying to show today is that we support each other.

“Today was a rare occurrence, as the last time we were all together was three years ago.

“And it was good to announce our team captains in front of everyone rather than just on Facebook.”

President Plater said the Suns representative teams had great numbers for 2023.

“It’s the first time in a while we’ve had two teams in each age group, which is huge,” he said.

“We had enough for three teams in our under 14s boys, which is the first time in a long time and only ever happened once before.

“It’s the first time in a while we’ve had two teams in each age group, which is huge.”

Indi Baldwin was one of the many Suns representative players in attendance, and was

named under 18s women’s captain for the upcoming representative season.

The seventeen-yearold said she would bring a team first approach to her leadership style in 2023.

“I’m someone who

looks out for the team and I’m definitely a pass first player,” she said.

“I like making the amazing pass and they score, and I’m excited when other people score.”

The BDC student

highlighted the importance of the Season Sunrise day.

“It was good building a better connection with the whole Suns community,” she said

“It was a great way to have team bonding and to

get into the season.

“It was also good learning how to sort out your diet and looking after your body, and that it’s not only important to look after yourself physically, but mentally.”

Sgt. Matthew Locke MG Charity Match

By Aiden BURGESS

THE Bellingen Valley/ Dorrigo Magpies are set to host their annual Sgt. Matthew Locke MG Charity Match this weekend at Bellingen Park.

The charity match honours the late Bellingen

soldier, who was killed in duty while serving his country in Afghanistan in 2007.

Locke was the recipient of the Medal for Gallantry, the third highest award for wartime bravery in the Australian honours system.

The annual charity

match features the Bellingen Valley/Dorrigo Magpies hosting the Army Thunder, with the match kicking off at 6pm on Saturday evening.

The match is the opening trial game for the Magpies as they prepare to return to Group 2 competition in

2023, after having a season off in 2022.

The Magpies vs Thunder match will help to raise money for The Grub Club; a not-for-profit organisation set up to assist children from the Uruzgan Province in Afghanistan and TimorLeste to help them obtain

an education through the supply of resources such as books and stationery.

Former Bellingen Valley/Dorrigo Magpies

junior and Penrith Panthers player Dylan Edwards has provided a Penrith Panthers jersey signed by the premiership winning team,

which will be auctioned off on Saturday night after the game at the Diggers Tavern in Bellingen.

An Army Band concert will be held on Sunday, February 26 at Ce.x Coffs. Entry is $15 with doors open at 10.30am.

q Coffs Suns players at the Season Sunrise day.

q Darby Wall, Finn Adam, Eli Frankie, Jordan Lee, Ashdan Lee, Leo Gerhardt, Dean Gerhardt, Jarvis Kay.

North Coast sides head to Australia Cup third round

By David WIGLEY

THREE North Coast Football teams progressed to the third round of the Australia Cup last weekend.

Woolgoolga United overturned a 1-0 halftime deficit to overpower Inverell FC in the second half and win 2-1.

Coffs Coast Tigers sailed through with a 3-0 victory over the Demon Knights of Armidale, while the Northern Storm took it to the wire, going through on penalty kicks.

The Storm rued their missed chances in the first and were made to pay for it.

“We made hard work of it in the Australia Cup,” said Northern Storm coach Eric McCarthy.

“We should have been three or four ahead at halftime but our finishing was wayward.

“Westlawn Tigers came

out for the second half with all guns blazing and took the lead through Markus Makajev.

“Great interplay between Ama Mite and Cristian Mirindi got us back in the game as Mirindi levelled the score.

“The teams couldn’t be separated and finished 1-1 and the match went to penalties.”

Storm goalkeeper Mitch Weeding saved a crucial penalty as his teammates Jarred Kohler, Cristian Mirindi, Connor Lewis and Mark McCarthy converted to secure a place in the third round.

Coach McCarthy’s heart skipped a beat when his fifteen-year-old son Mark stepped up to take a spotkick.

“Honestly I backed him, he’s never missed one, but then again, he’s never taken one against a Premier

League level adult either,” he said.

“My heart was in my mouth for him as he walked up to take it, I could barely watch.

“He picked his spot, but, as his foot came back, the keeper went that way, so he said he quickly readjusted and rolled it down the middle.

“He’s lucky the keeper wasn’t a shoe size or two bigger or he’d have saved it, yip yah,” laughed the charismatic Irishman.

Sawtell FC bowed out of the competition going down 2-1 to Lake Cathie FC, while Bangalow banged five past Coffs City United to knock out last year’s Coastal Premier League winners.

Oxley Vale Attunga defeated Bellingen 5-1 and Alstonville overpowered Urunga 9-0.

Coffs Harbour hosts Country Championships

By Aiden BURGESS

MURWILLUMBAH trained

Bean Foggy has earnt a shot at some big prize money at Royal Randwick.

The four-yearold gelding won the Newhaven Park Country Championships qualifying race at the Coffs Harbour Racing Club.

Bean Foggy and his team qualified for the $500,000 Newhaven Park Country Championships final to be held at Royal Randwick in Sydney on Day 1 of The Championships, on Saturday,1 April.

Bean Foggy was ridden to victory by jockey Ben

Looker, who gave an insight into his winning ride.

“It worked out perfectly, I got into a really nice position and I led him into a nice spot,” he said.

“It’s what I pictured would happen before the race and it worked perfectly.

“It was obviously high pressure in a big race, and he ran a perfect race and finished strongly.

“His form was good heading into the Championships, and he only had one lead up race at his home track.

“Darren Graham deserves a big pat on the back for the work he’s done, and he only has five horses

in his stable.”

The winning jockey was looking forward to the thrill of big-time racing at Randwick.

“Obviously it’s the biggest race of the year for us, and it’s going to be a ride of a lifetime for the owners and trainer,” he said.

The Coffs Harbour trained Wizard of Oz also qualified for the Newhaven Park Country Championships final after finishing second in the Northern Rivers qualifying race.

The four-year-old stallion is part of the Warren Gavenlock stable.

Three AFL North Coast clubs to return to junior competition

By Aiden BURGESS

THREE AFL North Coast are set to return to junior competition this season.

The North Coffs Kangaroos, Lower Clarence Suns, and Macleay Valley Eagles will re-enter the junior competition for the 2023 season, as AFL North Coast expects an unprecedented growth including the introduction of a new Under 10 age group.

North Coffs Kangaroos and the Lower Clarence Suns last appeared in the competition in 2014, while the Macleay Valley Eagles

last appeared in 2019.

AFL NSW/ACT Development Lead, Matt Crawley, said that there were a number of critical factors that were leading to the rapid growth of the junior competition.

“The increased visibility of the AFL and AFLW competitions are capturing people’s imagination and our in schools’ programs are converting that interest into participation,” he said.

“The introduction of the new Under 10 age group means that young players can transition into structured football at a younger age.”

The growth in the junior competition comes on the back of the recent

announcement that the Byron Magpies are joining the AFL North Coast senior competition.

Female football continues to be the fastest growing segment within the code, and it’s anticipated that there will be more teams in both Youth Girls 14 and Youth Girls 17 competitions than ever before.

Crawley said there was a definite demand for girls footy on the North Coast.

“We had a phenomenal response to the first of our development clinics for girls and this just reinforces the growing demand amongst girls wanting to play AFL.”

q Bean Foggy and jockey Ben Looker after their win.

q Cristian Mirindi on the attack for the Northern Storm.

q North Coffs Kangaroos are set to return to the junior competition.

Safety Beach Women's Golf Club

By Marilyn ELY

THE ladies of Safety Beach Golf Club are back on the course and aiming for their consistently best golf this year.

Valentine’s Day, Tuesday 14 February brought out twenty eight ladies to play a stableford game incorporating the first round of qualifying for the Greens Shootout played late in the year. Winner of the day was Kim Batty 45pts, runner-up Teresa King 44pts, 2nd runner-up Kerry Slater and 3rd runner-up Judy Boyle 38pts on c/b.

NTP 4th Janelle Coleman, 7th Leanne Clark and 9th Lyn Reilly.

Thank you Trish Hill for donating the raffle won by Rose

Bellingen Diggers Swimming Club

By Lois LANE

15.2.23

RACE 1 Brace

Relay

Will find out on Presentation night.

RACE 2 $ 75m Freestyle

There was one bust in this race, Mike Navin taking one second off his time.

HEAT 1

Peter Allison put his accelerator on coming first, in second was Amanda Vockler

Coffs Harbour Golf Club

Ladies

By Helen RHODES

TUESDAY 14 February -

Maximum Stroke 9 Hole Comp. with 39 starters

A Grade - Sandra Dollin (39)

35, Sandra Cheeseman (39) 36. B

GradeFiona Ross (54) 34, Maz

Coffs Harbour District

Darts Association

By Ray BEASLEY

SAWTELL RSL Club

Summer Comp

Monday 13 February

Thunderstruck def Misfits

8-1

Morrow. Pennants are back on the program this year, weather permitting of course, many invitations are coming in, Monthly Medal, Open Day and visits to many other clubs are on the calendar as well as fun golf games to relieve any stress so another busy year ahead.

New members and visitors are always welcome.

Tuesday is our regular 18 hole comp and a 9 hole Ambrose is set down for Thursdays for ladies unable to play 18 holes on Tuesdays.

The Wine and Dine 9 hole comp is on Friday in conjunction with the men and a lot of fun.

Pro Terry is available for lessons, equipment and clothing and also offers clinics.

For inquiries contact Terry at the club house.

and in third was Jill Williams. Andrew O’Keeffe put the pedal to the metal coming first, in second was Paul Sheridan and in third was Anne Taylor.

FINAL There was one bust in the final, Andrew O’Keeffe taking one second off his time.

Paul Sheridan came from behind coming first and in second was Peter Allison.

RACE 3 25m Freestyle

HEAT 1

Paul Sheridan swam lively tonight coming first, in second was Jill Williams and in third

Scully (49) 40. NTP’s - 12th (Pro Pin) Sandra Cheeseman, Fiona Ross, 15th Sandra Dollin, Joy Bailey.

Wednesday 15 FebruaryStroke Round - Golf NSW Medal Round 1 with 74 starters

A Grade - Lyn Neaves (15) 70, Greer Galloway (15) 71, Debra Tennant (15) 72. B Grade - Mary Quirk

100s

Bronwyn (1)

Donna B (1)

Karen C (1)

Kelly (1)

Ben (2)

Bob (3)

Chris K (5)

Craig (2)

Daniel (2)

was Amanda Vockler.

HEAT 2

Peter Allison had a firm hold on this race coming first, in second was Mike Navin and in third was Anne Taylor.

RACE 4 25m Breaststroke

HEAT 1

Peter Allison put his froggy legs on coming first, in second was Mike Navin and in third was Jill Williams.

HEAT 2

Anne Taylor swam at the speed of light coming first, in second was Andrew O’Keeffe and in third was Paul Sheridan.

8.2.23

(31) 68, Judi Isles (27) 71, Maria Sanford (31) 72. NTP’s - 3rd (Pro Pin) Debra Tennant, Judi Isles, Elaine Phillips, 6th Diane Mayo, 22nd Elaine Phillips, 26th Suzanne McOrist, Leah Ray, Elaine Phillips. Putting Comp. - Greer Galloway & Liz Quinn tied with 27 putts. A Grade Medal Winner - Lyn Neaves. B

Ricky (3)

Rob Ha (1)

Rob Ho (5)

Sam (1)

Sean (1)

Trevor (1)

High pegs

Chris K (79)

Craig (73)

Jeremy (100)

RACE 1 4 x 50m Relay Nominated Time, will find out at the presentation.

RACE 2 $ 50m Backstroke

There was one bust in this race, Anne Taylor taking one second off her time.

HEAT 1

Amanda Vockler blew them out of the water coming first, in second was Jill Williams and in third was Mike Navin.

HEAT 2 Andrew O’Keeffe came from behind coming first and in second was Peter Allison.

FINAL

Grade Medal Winner - Mary Quirk. C Grade Medal Winner - Di Ratcliffe. Friday 17 February - Ladybird Challenge Single Stableford with 52 starters

Proudly Sponsored by Coffs City Golf Centre

Carolyn Daley 42, Carolyn Hoogervorst 40, Kit Goodsell 38 c/b, Gail De Groot 38 c/b, Gael Tosio 38,

Thunderstruck 14

Surgical Steel 12

Bad Habits 9

Bull Rush 3

Fluke Shots 3

Misfits 1

Summer Comp

Monday 20 February

Bad Habbits def

Thunderstruck 7-2

Wrong Hole def Fluke Shots

8-1 Warriors def Bull Rush 9-0

Bad Habits def Surgical Steel

6-3 180s Chris K (1)

Park Beach Men’s Bowling Club

By

Mark STAR

MINOR Pairs Saturday 18/02

S/F- M.Proud, D. Wilson def D. Francis, D. Hull 32/7

Consistency Singles

Championship

M. Proud def T. Gordon

150/108

D. Condon def J. de Berg

Woolgoolga Athletics Club

By Steel BEVERIDGE

WOOLGOOLGA ATHLETIC

CLUB SENIOR TRACK & FIELD

RESULTS, 21.2.23.

400 METRES (MALE) : Matthew Evans 1:00.7, David

Kennnedy 1:22.3, Jackson

Cheney 1:35.5, Austin Hundle

1:35.6, Jaiveer Grewal 1:37.1, Sam Custance 1:39.4, Diesel

Cheney 1:51.5, Mitch Custance

Dean (4)

Gary K (1)

Jeremy (3)

Keven P (3)

Nathan (5)

Peter (3)

Reg (1)

154/135

C. Daley def T. Blow

152/138

D. Wilson def P. North

154/106

J. Thorn def G. Duffey

152/106

S Crawford def N McKee

159/96

Tuesday Open Triples 14/02

P. Woodsell, E. Crestani, L. Morris drew T. Monck, C. Sheridan, M Monck 6/6

M. England, E. Kidd, C.

1:59.0, Rajveer Grewal 2:09.1. (FEMALE) : Amber Hundle

1:44.3, Clarissa Hull 1:37.5, Sara Evans

Keven P (75)

Bull pegs

Craig (1)

Keven P (1)

Leader Board

Warriors 16

Wrong Hole 14

England def M & J Grimmond, J. Murtas 9/5

S. Jones, R. Kelly, G. Skinner def B. Odmark, R. Aitken, B. Johns 6/3

G. Williams, R. Beaumont, R. Shepherd def N. Condon, M. Berube, R. Lane 18/10

C. McLeod, J. Robinson, P. North drew W. Moore, N. McVicar, I. Trengove 6/6

P. Booth, J. Long, D. Orchard def K. Johnson, B. Kelly, D. Hull 7/3

Wrong Hole def Warriors 6-3

Surgical Steel def Fluke Shots 8-1

Misfits def Bull Rush 5-4

180s

Jeremy (1)

100s

M. Star, M. Flint, D. Condon def T. Gordon, J. Dunn, J. Phillips 12/4

Thursday Men’s Social 16/02

K.Kaaden,J. Long, M. Berube def G. Williams, R. Beaumont, B. Kelly def E. Meier, L. Goodacre, K. Johnson 73/52/35

P. Booth, D. Orchard, B. Garner def C. Hansen, D. Hoffman, M. Star def J. Loundes, A. Taylor, J. Dunn 79/52/39

K. Williams, J. Robinson, T.

Amanda Vockler showed how it was done coming first and in the money, in second was Andrew O’Keeffe and in third was Peter Allison.

RACE 3 50m Freestyle

HEAT 1

Peter Allison ripped his lane apart coming first, in second was Jill Williams and in third was Mike Navin.

HEAT 2

Andrew O’Keeffe secured this race coming first, in second was Anne Taylor and in third was Paul Sheridan.

Judi Isles 37. NTP’s - 3rd (Pro Pin)

Tracey Foster, Sue Seaton, 6th Gail De Groot, Mary Aarts, 22nd

Gail De Groot, Maria Lindsay (Guzman & Gomez Prize), 26th

Wendy Johnstone, Chi

Welsh. Congratulations to Diane Mayo who scored an eagle on the 7th.

Well done Diane!

Bronwyn (1)

Christine (1)

Ben (1)

Bob (1)

Chris K (5)

Craig C (1)

Dean (2)

Edward (1)

Garry G (2)

Gary K (1)

Jeremy (3)

Kevin C (4)

Nathan (3)

Peter (2)

Rob Ho (2)

Sam (4)

Sean (1)

Bennett defJ. McLeod, N. Dean, P. Newman def W. Moore, R. Finch, S. Ross 67/58/48

J. Phillips, D. Powell, J. Wills def D. Francis, N. Condon def

S. Jones, J. Murtas, R. Shepherd 76/48/37

C. Weatherall, R. Oakley, R. Aitken defH. Major, I. Trengove, M. Clark def T. O’H, A Dorrington, D. Hull 77/58/45

D. Burridge, P. Rambow, M. Moppettt def B. Odmark, C. Holland, D. Hyde def K. Topham,

RACE 4 100m Freestyle

HEAT 1

Andrew O’Keeffe blitzed the feel coming first, in second was Amanda Vockler and in third was Mike Navin.

HEAT 2

Peter Allison went like a bat out of hell coming first, in second was Anne Taylor and in third was Paul Sheridan.

A great night had by all, come and join us for some fun and laughter on Wednesday night at 5.30.

Saturday 18 February - Single Stableford with 47 starters Lynn Major 41, Annelies Voorthuis 39, Di Ratcliffe 38 c/b.

NTP’s - 12th

Norma Andrews, 15th Dinah Nutchey-Robinson, 22nd Trish Lemin, 26th (Pro Pin) Mandy Darley. Congratulations to Kerry Wilson with an eagle on the 19th. Great shot Kerry!

Stephen (1)

Trevor (2)

Tye (2)

High pegs

Dean (53)

Kevin C (59)

Ricky (68)

Rob Ho (94)

Leader Board

Wrong Hole 20

Surgical Steel 20

Warriors 19

Thunderstruck 16

Bad Habbits 16

Bull Rush 7

Misfits 6

Fluke Shots 4

J. Brett.S, S. Cook 78/57/45

P. Woodsell, J. Bennett, L.Morris def S. Kindred, s. Bloomfield, G. Kindred 34/7 Park Beach Bowling Club conducts free bowls lessons every Saturday morning, weather permitting, from 9.30am. All ages and skill levels are welcome.

Please put your name down at the Club reception by 5.00pm Friday.

4:33.3, Matthew Evans

2:08.0. 1500 METRES (MALE) : Kyle McIntosh

5:31.3, Jackson Cheney 6:19.3, Sam Custance 7:13.6, Rajveer Grewal 7:47.0, Jaiveer Grewal

8:05.6, Austin Hundle 8:05.9, Diesel Cheney 8:41.0, Mitch Custance

8:48.7. (FEMALE) : Amber Hundle 6:29.2, Clarissa Hull 7:15.1, Sara Evans 8:50.1. 2000 METRES WALK

(MALE) : Matthew Evans 17:26.6. (FEMALE) : Sara Evans 16:59.7, Clarissa Hull 17:06.5. SHOT PUT (MALE) : Jackson Cheney 9.26, Sam Custance 8:40, Diesel Cheney 8.24, David Kennedy 7.85, Matthew Evans 6.87, Mitch Custance 6.50, Ben Haagsma 5.91, Austin Hundle 4.87, Rajveer Grewal 4.52, Jaiveer Grewal 3.13. (FEMALE) : Amber Hundle 6.51, Sara Evans 4.52, Clarissa Hull 4.13.

STANDING LONG JUMP (MALE) : Matthew Evans

2.55, David Kennedy 2.25, Sam Custance 1.68, Mitch Custance 1.61, Jackson Cheney 1.60, Diesel Cheney 1.58, Ben Haagsma 1.41, Jaiveer Grewal 1.35, Austin Hundle 1.28. (FEMALE) : Amber Hundle 1.59, Clarissa Hull 1.22, Sara Evans 1.19.

STANDING TRIPLE JUMP (MALE) : Matthew Evans 7.47, David Kennedy 6.20, Mitch Custance 5.96, Sam Custance 5.58, Jackson Cheney 5.46, Diesel Cheney 5.11, Austin Hundle

4.51, Ben Haagsma 3.97, Jaiveer Grewal 3.93, Rajveer Grewal 3.81. (FEMALE) : Amber Hundle

Park Beach Women’s Bowling Club

By Mandy TRENGROVE

RESULTS from social bowls

Wednesday 15 February

E Blanton, J Clark, M Watt def H Illingworth, C Venturi, B Bodel 18/16

K Moody, H Hardwick/J

5.97, Sara Evans 4.40, Clarissa Hull 3.27.

Farrell, L McLeod def A Sykes, D Futcher, R DeMeio/P Garner 24/19

C McVicar, A Orr, J Kennedy def S Davies, D Hargreaves, T Rhodes/C Garrett 12/10

M Trengove, L McLean, S Hancock def C Taylor, D Allen, M England 19/17

S Betts/P Poulton, R Crestani def B White, C Sheridan 20/11

q Third runner up Judy Boyle.

q Winner Kim Batty, second runner up Kerry Slater, runner up Teresa King.

Funeral Notices In Memory

KELLY AMY STORER 22/11/1988 - 24/02/2021

In loving memory of my beautiful daughter, I miss you so much and your beautiful smile. I'll never forget you, always in my thoughts. Loving sister to her brothers. Love you, Mum.

Return Thanks

The Family of the late Doug Hoschke sincerely thank family and friends for celebrating Doug's life in such a magnificent fashion.

Special thanks to Waratah Respite center, Calvary, Dr John Koster and Victor Rullis for their wonderful care of Doug.

Death Notices

BAGNALL Phillip Thomas ‘Phil’

19th February 2023, passed peacefully at Fresh Hope Nursing Home. Much loved husband of Marney. Loving father of ‘Teppie’ and Joanne. Adored grandad of Alexandra, Logan, Jake and Noah & great-grandad of Scarlet. Phil will be sadly missed by all of his extended family & friends.

Aged 83 Years

Finally At Rest

Phil was privately cremated at Hogbin Drive Crematorium & Memorial Gardens, Stadium Drive, Coffs Harbour.

KEITH LOGUE & SONS

Coffs Harbour 6652 1999

Funeral Director’s Assoc. of NSW Accred No 12033-01

Death Notices

BLACKWELL

Michael John ‘Mike’

22nd February 2023, peacefully at Bellinger River District Hospital. Much loved husband of Angela. Loving father & father-in-law of Julie and Ian & Sarah. Adored ‘pa’ of Nicola & Mark and their children

Aged 90 Years At Peace

Mike will be privately cremated at Hogbin Drive Crematorium, Stadium Drive, Coffs Harbour.

KEITH LOGUE & SONS Coffs Harbour 6652 1999

Funeral Director’s Assoc. of NSW Accred No 12033-01

MARSH

Sandra ‘Sandy’

12th February 2023, peacefully at Mater Christi, late of Toormina. Much loved mother & mother-in-law of Kevin & Samantha. Dear sister.

Aged 74 Years In God’s Care

Sandy’s Funeral Service was held in Hogbin Drive Crematorium & Memorial Gardens, Stadium Drive, Coffs Harbour on Friday 17th February 2023.

KEITH LOGUE & SONS Coffs Harbour 6652 1999

Funeral Director’s Assoc. of NSW Accred No 12033-01

MURDOCH

Philip George ‘Phil’

22nd February 2023, peacefully at Bellinger River District Hospital. Formerly of Berkeley Vale, Central Coast. Much loved husband of Heather. Loving father & father-in-law of Greg & Krystal. Caring big brother of Di Murdoch. Phil will be sadly missed by all of his extended family & friends.

Aged 71 Years

Forever In Our Hearts

Phil was privately cremated at Hogbin Drive Crematorium & Memorial Gardens, Stadium Drive, Coffs Harbour.

KEITH LOGUE & SONS

Coffs Harbour 6652 1999

Funeral Director’s Assoc. of NSW Accred No 12033-01

MERVEN Denise Kay

18th February 2023, peacefully at Legacy Nursing Home Coffs Harbour, late of Coffs Harbour. Much loved aunty of Craig & Joseph and Darron & Rose. Dear sister & sister-in-law of Helen & Gary. Special friend of Eddie, Cath, Kath, Sue, Marilyn, Angie, Daniel and Brian.

Aged 74 Years Will Be Sadly Missed And Always Remembered

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Denise’s Funeral Service to be held in the Chapel of Hogbin Drive Crematorium & Memorial Gardens, Stadium Drive, Coffs Harbour on Friday 24th February 2023, commencing at 1.00 pm.

Denise’s Funeral Service will be live streamed on Keith Logue & Sons Facebook page.

KEITH LOGUE & SONS

Coffs Harbour 6652 1999

Funeral Director’s Assoc. of NSW

Accred No 12033-01

Funeral Notices

Janet Muriel Watts

18th February 2023

Passed peacefully at the Coffs Harbour Health Campus, late of Coffs Harbour. Very much loved wife of Neville (dec). Loving mother and motherin-law of Susan & Trevor Acason, Linda & Denise, and Trudy & Nic. Adored Nan & G-Nan of their families, loved sister of Brenda Harrigan.

Aged 89 Years

“Put the kettle on Nev!”

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial gathering followed by an afternoon tea on Sunday, 26th February 2023 at 2pm in the Limetree Village Hall, 210 Pacific Hwy, North Boambee.

Janet was privately cremated as per her wishes.

VICTOR RULLIS

FUNERAL SERVICES

(02) 6651 5007 www.funeralcoffsharbour.com.au

COFFS COAST NEWS OF THE AREA

Funeral Notices

Revival Centres Church

-

Coffs Harbour -

Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?

Seminar Hut, 6 Duke Street, Coffs Harbour Sundays 10.00 am Mobile 0427 949 206 - revivalcentres.org

GOSPEL MEETINGS

CWA Hall

21 Elizabeth Street, Sawtell Sundays 4pm–5pm Wednesdays 7.30pm–8.15pm (excluding 8 March, 5 April, 3 May)

Everyone is welcome. Contact: Jenny 0417 983 831 or Jean: 0409 466 803

TRASH & TREASURE Market Sat. 4th March indoors at Rugby Leagues Club in Stadium Drive. Open 9am to 1pm. Lots of items to choose from at great prices. Devonshire Teas just $4.00 Enquiries: Ingrid 0409 860 637. Coffs Collectors Club

Your Paper, Your Voice Have

Your Say

ROAD CLOSURE Harbour Dr Coffs Harbour 01.03.2023. 8pm to 11:30pm Between Pacific Highway and Gordon Street e240223

PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE EXISTING

OPTUS MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION AT COFFS HARBOUR WITH 5G

1. Site Number: S5808 Coffs Harbour CBD - 28 Aubrey Cr, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450 (RFNSA number: 2450003) The proposed facility consists of the addition of new 5G equipment and associated works as follows;

• The installation of eight (8) new panel antennas to enable 5G technology on the existing lattice tower on the existing face frame at heights of 26m and 24m

• The installation of eight (8) Remote radio units (RRU’s) and four (4) Tower Mounted Amplifiers (TMAs) installed on the existing face frame at heights of 25m and 24m

• Installation of one (1) new GPS antennas to the rooftop of the existing equipment shelter

• Installation of ancillary equipment associated with operation of the facility, including tower mounted amplifiers, combiners, antenna mounts, any strengthening works if required, cabling and works within the existing equipment shelter

2. Optus regards the proposed installation as a Low-impact Facility under the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 (“The Determination”) based on the description above.

3. The proposed infrastructure will be in compliance with the ACMA EMR regulatory arrangements.

4. In accordance with Section 7 of C564:2020 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Code, we invite you to provide feedback about the proposal. Further information requests and/or comments should be directed to Commplan:

E. emmal@commplan.com.au

M. CommPlan Pty Ltd PO BOX 267, Edgecliff 2027

Ph. 02 9363 3815

We will accept comments on the proposed upgrade until 5pm 10th March 2023.

THE RIGHT TABLE SHOW TIDAL VARIATIONS AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS

The time variation should be added to the corresponding Fort Denison time.

In view of the variations caused by local conditions and meteorological effects, these times are approximate and must be considered as a guide only. They are not to be relied on for critical depth calculations for safe navigation. Actual times of High and Low Water may occur before or after the times indicated.

FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU

COFFS COAST

Sudoku is an 81 square number grid with nine blocks each containing nine cells. To solve the puzzle, all the blank cells must be filled in using numbers from 1 to 9. Each number can only appear once in each row, column and in the nine 3x3 blocks.

4. One building has two extra storeys. 5. The bird’s tail feathers have blown away. HOW MANY: There are 20 bees. More fly to the left (11bees) than

ANSWERS: SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: 1. The man is wearing a different tie. 2. The man’s coat tail is flapping upwards. 3. The hat is further away from the man.

THE RIGHT TABLE SHOW TIDAL VARIATIONS AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS

The time variation should be added to the corresponding Fort Denison time.

In view of the variations caused by local conditions and meteorological effects, these times are approximate and must be considered as a guide only. They are not to be relied on for critical depth calculations for safe navigation. Actual times of High and Low Water may occur before or after the times indicated.

CHART - 7 DAYS FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU

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BEST ON THE BOX

SUNDAY DEATH IN PARADISE

ABC, 7.30pm

FRIDAY THE INTERN

NBN, 8.30pm

Anne Hathaway and Robert DeNiro star in this fish-outof-water comedy from the talented hands of writer and director Nancy Meyers (Something’s Gotta Give, It’s Complicated), who has a knack for perfectly mixing sweetness with unexpected silliness. DeNiro plays smartly dressed widower Ben who, at 70, turns his back on retirement and lands a job as a senior intern at an online fashion site, run by successful businesswoman Jules (Hathaway). What follows is a learning curve for both characters, with themes of the price of success and love charmingly examined. It also doesn’t hurt that Hathaway and DeNiro possess great chemistry.

FRIDAY, February 24

6.00 The Drum. Analysis of the day’s news.

7.00 ABC News. Takes a look at today’s top stories.

7.30 Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert. (M) Coverage of the Opening Concert of WorldPride 2023 from the Domain, Sydney.

10.00 Kylie Minogue Golden: Live In Concert. (R) Footage from various UK venues over the course of Kylie Minogue’s Golden concert tour in 2018.

12.00 Miniseries: Butterfly. (Mal, R) Part 1 of 3.

12.45 Would I Lie To You? (R) Hosted by Rob Brydon.

The stakes are higher than ever in tonight’s headscratching episode of this Caribbean-set crime drama. For his latest case, police detective Neville Parker (Ralf Little, right) is tasked with investigating the curious death of a high-profile social media influencer (Akshay Kumar), who appears to have been fatally stabbed mid-air while skydiving with a group of colleagues. When the victim is found dead, caught up in a tree with a knife sticking out of his back, Parker gets busy working out who would want him dead. Turns out, the list is rather long, but Parker never fails to methodically narrow down his list of suspects to ensure justice is served.

TUESDAY WE INTERRUPT THIS BROADCAST

SEVEN, 7.30pm

Classic sketch comedy shows Fast and Full delighted viewers for most of the 1990s with their hilarious parodies of other TV programs.

So it’s great to see the form make a long-overdue return to Aussie screens. Mad As Hell favourite Christie Whelan Browne leads an ensemble cast, also featuring Bridie Connell, Duncan Fellows (above) and Michelle Brasier, set to mercilessly poke fun at our most loved (and loathed) TV shows. Already in the firing line are Seven’s own My Kitchen Rules and SAS Australia, as well as The Bachelor, Love Island and Married At First Sight

6.00

Australia. (PG)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Wrecks That Changed The World. (Premiere)

8.30 Mariupol: The People’s Story. (MA15+)

10.05 Video Killed The Radio Star. (Mlns, R)

10.35 SBS World News Late.

11.05 Gomorrah. (MA15+v, R)

1.45 Das Boot. (MA15+v, R)

3.55 Mastermind Australia. (R)

4.55 Destination Flavour Scandinavia Bitesize. (R)

6.00 7News Local.

6.30 7News @ 6:30.

7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. Johanna Griggs and Charlie Albone go on a food tour of Vancouver.

8.30 MOVIE: Kingsman: The Golden Circle. (2017, MA15+sv, R) After the Kingsmen are attacked by a mysterious enemy, Eggsy and Merlin are the organisation’s sole survivors and must join forces with their US counterpart, the Statesman, to defeat the villain. Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Mark Strong.

6.00 NBN News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 For The Love Of Pets. (PGm)

Two cats are reunited with their families.

8.30 MOVIE: The Intern. (2015, Mal, R)

A 70-year-old retired widower is hired as a senior intern for an online fashion startup. Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway.

11.00 MOVIE: Danny Collins. (2015, Madln, R) Al Pacino.

4.00

Take Two. (R)

7.30 The Graham Norton Show. Guests include Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Hugh Jackman, Michael B. Jordan, Dame Judy Dench, Eugene Levy and Pink!

8.30 To Be Advised.

10.30 Just For Laughs. (Ml, R) Hosted by Nick Cody.

11.00 Just For Laughs Uncut. (MA15+ls, R) Hosted by Nikki Osborne.

11.30 The Project. (R) A look at the day’s news and events.

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

11.30 Australian Idol. (PG, R) Hosted by Ricki-Lee and Scott Tweedie.

1.30 Home Shopping. (R)

12.30 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) Late-night talk show.

6am Morning Programs. 9.00 News. 10.00 AM Agenda. 11.00 NewsDay. Noon NewsDay. 1.00 Chris Kenny Tonight. 2.00 Afternoon Agenda. 3.00 Paul Murray Live. 4.00 Afternoon Agenda. 4.30 Business Now With Ross Greenwood. 5.00 Erin. 6.00 Peta Credlin. 7.00 The Rita Panahi Show. 8.00 The US Report. 9.00 The Media Show. 9.30 NewsNight. 10.00 NewsNight. 11.00 Late Programs. SKY NEWS (53) 6am WorldWatch. 9.30 Shortland St. 11.00 The Movie Show. Noon Land Of The Giants: Titans Of Tech. 1.40 Bamay. 2.05 The UnXplained. 2.50 Counter Space. 3.20 WorldWatch. 5.15 Takeshi’s Castle. 5.45 Joy Of Painting. 6.15 Forged In Fire. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 Hoarders. 9.25 Late Life Lesbians. 10.20 My Lesbian Virgin Diary. 11.15 News. 12.10am Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 8.30 Million Dollar Minute. 9.30 NBC Today. Noon The Surgery Ship. 1.00 House Of Wellness. 2.00 Our Town. 2.30 Million Dollar Minute. 3.30 ICU. 4.00 Australia’s Best Backyards. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Border Security USA. 8.00 Border Patrol. 8.30 Escape To The Country. 10.30 World’s Most Secret Homes. 11.30 Late Programs. 6am Home Shopping. 8.00 Tough Tested. 9.00 iFish. 9.30 Star Trek: The Next Generation. 10.30 MacGyver. 11.30 JAG. 12.30pm NCIS. 1.30 NCIS: Los Angeles. 2.30 Scorpion. 3.30 Star Trek: The Next Generation. 4.30 MacGyver. 5.30 JAG. 6.30 Scorpion. 7.30 Bull. 8.30 NCIS. 9.25 NCIS: Los Angeles. 10.20 Evil. 11.15 MacGyver. 12.15am Home Shopping. 2.15 ST: Next Gen. 3.10 MacGyver. 4.05 JAG. 5.00 Scorpion. 6am TV Shop: Home Shopping. 7.00 Creflo Dollar Ministries. 7.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. 10.30 Pointless. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon Days Of Our Lives. 12.55 The Young And The Restless. 1.50 Grantchester. 3.00 Antiques Roadshow. 3.30 MOVIE: Up The Front. (1972, PG) 5.30 Murder, She Wrote. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 Keeping Up Appearances. 8.40 To Be Advised. 11.30 Late Programs. BOLD (51) 9GEM (82) 7TWO (62) VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 7.05pm Catie’s Amazing Machines. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Spicks And Specks. 8.00 Hard Quiz. 8.30 MOVIE: A Fantastic Woman. (2017, M) 10.10 Doctor Who. 11.00 Death In Paradise. (Final) Midnight Killing Eve. 12.40 High Fidelity. 1.15 Friday Night Dinner. 2.00 ABC News Update. 2.05 Close. 5.05 Curious George. 5.25 Miffy’s Adventures Big And Small. 5.35 Late Programs. ABC TV PLUS (22) 6am Children’s Programs. Noon Pure Genius. 1.00 Raising Hope. 2.00 Full House. 2.30 3rd Rock. 3.30 Raymond. 4.00 The Nanny. 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 MOVIE: Alvin And The Chipmunks. (2007) 7.30 MOVIE: The War With Grandpa. (2020, PG) 9.30 MOVIE: Meet The Parents. (2000, M) 11.40 Alphas. 12.35am In Ice Cold Blood. 1.30 The Nanny. 2.00 Raymond. 2.30 Full House. 3.00 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 1pm Motorbike Cops. 1.15 MOVIE: National Lampoon’s Loaded Weapon. (1993, PG) 3.00 Timbersports. Stihl Timbersports. World C’ship. 3.30 Down East Dickering. 4.30 Barter Kings. 5.30 American Restoration. 6.00 American Pickers. 7.00 Pawn Stars. 7.30 MOVIE: I, Robot. (2004, M) 9.50 MOVIE: The 6th Day. (2000, M) 12.25am Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 1.50pm Wiyi Yani U Thangani. 2.00 Shortland St. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 3.40 Wolf Joe. 3.55 Tales Of The Moana. 4.00 Grace Beside Me. 4.30 Spartakus And The Sun Beneath The Sea. 5.00 Our Stories. 5.30 NITV News: Nula. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Extreme Africa. 7.30 MOVIE: Belle And Sebastian 2. (2015, PG) 9.15 MOVIE: She’s The Man. (2006, PG) 11.10 Late Programs. 9GO! (83) 6am Race. Continued. (2016, PG) 8.00 The Great Dictator. (1940, PG) 10.15 Borg Vs McEnroe. (2017, M) 12.15pm Iris. (2001, M) 1.55 Woman At War. (2018, PG, Icelandic) 3.50 Stan And Ollie. (2018, PG) 5.40 The Man Who Invented Christmas. (2017, PG) 7.35 Firepower. (1979, M) 9.30 Mr Jones. (2019, MA15+) 11.40 The Hurricane. (1999, MA15+) 2.20am Late Programs. NITV (34) 7MATE (64) SBS MOVIES (32) ONTHEBOX COFFS COAST NEWS OF THE AREA Advertise Your Business and reach Coffs Coast people Contact us TODAY - Coffs Coast News Of The Area (02) 4981 8882 ads@newsofthearea.com.au

COFFS COAST NEWS OF THE AREA

SATURDAY, February 25

Boy With Green Hair. (1948, G, R) 2.00

6.25 Better Date Than Never. (PG, R) Charles prepares for his first second outing. Dianne is anxious to meet her date.

7.00 ABC News. Takes a look at today’s top stories and events as they unfold, with comprehensive analysis and reporting.

7.30 Sydney Gay And Lesbian

Mardi Gras. (Malns) Coverage of the 2023 Sydney Gay and Lesbian

Mardi Gras parade, featuring 12,500 marchers and 200+ floats travelling along Oxford Street on a revamped route from Hyde Park to Moore Park.

10.35 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) Music videos from LGBTQIA+ artists and allies in a WorldPride Party special.

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.10 Blue Water Safari. (PG) 10.05 Love Your Garden. (PGa, R) 11.00 Outside: Beyond The Lens. (PG) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Bowls. Ultimate Bowls 2022. Event 1. Semi-finals. H’lights. 3.00 Figure Skating. Four Continents C’ships. H’lights. 4.35 Secret Scotland. (R) 5.30 The Abyss: The Rise And Fall Of The Nazis.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 The World’s Most Beautiful Landscapes. (PG)

8.30 Portillo In The Pyrenees: An Emotional Journey. (PG)

9.30 Inside Windsor Castle. (PGa, R)

10.25 Great Escapes With Morgan Freeman. (Mav, R)

11.15 UFOs. (Return, PGa)

3.15 The Back Side Of Television. (MA15+lnv, R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.15 France 24 Feature.

5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Home Shopping.

7.00 Weekend Sunrise.

10.00 The Morning Show. (PG)

12.00 Horse Racing. Blue Diamond Stakes Day and Chipping Norton Stakes Day.

5.00 Seven News At 5.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Border Patrol. (PGa) Follows New Zealand border officials.

7.30 Million Pound Pawn. (PG) Part 2 of 3.

8.30 MOVIE: John Wick: Chapter 2. (2017, MA15+v, R) After returning to the criminal underworld to repay a debt he owes to an Italian gangster, professional assassin John Wick discovers that a large bounty has been put on his life forcing him to confront a host of killers. Keanu Reeves, Ruby Rose, Ian McShane.

11.00 Australian Idol. (PGl, R) Hosted by Ricki-Lee and Scott Tweedie.

1.00 Home Shopping. (R)

War. (2018, PG, Icelandic) 7.55 The Man Who

Christmas. (2017, PG) 9.50 The Movie

Mr Pip. (2012, M) 12.30pm Red Joan.

6.00 NBN News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Space Invaders. (PGal)

8.30 MOVIE: Grease. (1978, PGa, R) A naive schoolgirl falls for a rebel. John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John.

10.45 MOVIE: Xanadu. (1980, G, R)

12.40 Australia’s Top Ten Of Everything. (M, R)

1.35 The Pet Rescuers. (PG, R)

2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PGa)

2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 Global Shop. (R)

5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

5.30 Helping Hands. (PG)

6.00 Bondi Rescue. (PGal, R) Whippet rescues two men at the same time.

6.30 To Be Advised.

7.30 NCIS: Los Angeles. (Mv)

The team investigates an arson attack at a naval defence contractor that resulted in the death of a foreman.

8.30 FBI: International. (Madv) Raines goes rogue when his sister gets abducted in Kosovo, putting his job and his life on the line to find her.

10.30 To Be Advised.

11.30 Bull. (Ma, R) TAC’s strategy for a client is compromised.

1.30 Home Shopping. (R)

5.00 Hour Of Power.

R)

6.00 Antiques Roadshow. Hosted by Fiona Bruce.

7.00 ABC News. Takes a look at today’s top stories.

7.30 Death In Paradise. (Mv)

A skydiver is murdered mid-air.

8.30 Vera. (Ma) Part 2 of 4. The badly beaten body of a homeless veteran is found on the streets of central Newcastle.

10.05 Miniseries: Butterfly. (Mal) Part 2 of 3.

10.50 Sydney Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras. (Malns, R)

1.50 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

4.15 The Recording Studio. (R)

5.00 Insiders. (R)

M)

Philadelphia. (1993, PG) 6.50

Master Cheng: A Spice For Life. (2019, PG)

(1988, PG) 8.30 Stage Mother. (2020,

Miss. (2020, M,

SUNDAY, February 26

6.00 Morning Programs. 11.00 Outside: Beyond The Lens. (PG) 12.00 WorldWatch.

1.00 Motorcycle Racing. Australian Superbike C’ship. Round 1. 3.00 Figure Skating. Four Continents C’ships. H’lights. 4.30 Surf Life Saving. Australian Interstate C’ships. H’lights.

5.00 Railway Journeys UK. (PG, R) 5.30 The Abyss: The Rise And Fall Of The Nazis. (PG)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Ancient Egypt By Train. (PG)

8.30 Tutankhamen. (PG) The story of Tutankhamun’s tomb.

9.40 Acropolis: The Ancient Builders. (PGan, R)

10.40 Castles: Secrets, Mysteries And Legends. (Mahv, R)

11.40 24 Hours In Emergency. (Mal, R)

1.30 Why We Hate. (Mav, R)

3.10 The Source. (Ma, R)

4.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.15 France 24 Feature.

5.30 Al Jazeera News.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Australian Idol. (PG) Hosted by Ricki-Lee and Scott Tweedie.

9.00 George Michael V Elton John. (Ma) Takes a look at the careers of two of the world’s most beloved pop singers, George Michael and Elton John.

10.00 Maternal. (Final, Mals) The women have to make some big decisions.

11.00 Born To Kill? Douglas Clark And Carol Bundy “ Sunset Strip Killers”. (MA15+av)

12.00 MOVIE: Step. (2017, PGal, R)

2.00 Home Shopping.

5.00 Seven Early News.

5.30 Sunrise.

Vanderpump Rules. 3.00 Late Programs.

6.00 NBN News.

7.00 Married At First Sight. (PGals) 8.40 60 Minutes. Current affairs program. 9.40 Nine News Late. A look at the latest news and events.

10.10 Australian Crime Stories: Derek Percy – The Face Of Evil. (Mal, R)

11.20 The First 48. (Mal)

12.10 Law & Order: Organized Crime. (Mav, R)

1.00 Explore TV. (R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 Take Two. (R) 5.00

6.30 The Sunday Project. A look at the day’s news.

7.30 Australian Survivor. Presented by Jonathan LaPaglia.

9.00 NCIS: Hawai’i. (Mv) When Pike is ambushed while working undercover with a Japanese crime family, the team must find the person responsible. Kai digs deeper into his investigation regarding an old friend turned criminal.

10.00 FBI. (Mv, R) A widow holds the key to a terrorist attack.

11.00 The Sunday Project. (R) A look at the day’s news.

12.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

6am Children’s Programs. 1.30pm Surfing Australia TV. 2.00 Hollywood Medium. 3.00 I Can See Your Voice. (Premiere) 5.00 About A Boy. 5.30 Children’s Programs. 5.50

9GO! (83)

MOVIE: The Secret Life Of Pets 2. (2019, PG) 7.30

MOVIE: Godzilla Vs. Kong. (2021, M) 9.40 MOVIE: Escape Plan. (2013, MA15+) Midnight Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords. 2.00

ONTHEBOX

MONDAY, February 27

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Home Of The Year: Scotland. (PG) 10.10 Confucius Was A Foodie.

(PG) 11.05 Charles I: Downfall Of A King. (PG)

WorldWatch. 2.20 First Ladies. (PGa,

The Cook

COFFS COAST NEWS OF THE AREA

Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 11.30 News. 12.00 MOVIE: Hidden Intentions. (2018, Msv, R) 2.00 Surveillance Oz. (PG, R)

5.30

TUESDAY, February 28

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Home Of The Year: Scotland. (PG) 10.10 Confucius Was A Foodie.

Charles I: Downfall Of A King. (PG)

6.30 7News @ 6:30.

7.00 Home And Away. (PGa) Remi supports Bree through her counselling.

7.30 Australian Idol. (PG) Hosted by Ricki-Lee and Scott Tweedie.

8.45 Starstruck. (PG) Another batch of superfans compete for a chance to win the £50,000 prize.

10.00 Australia: Now And Then. (Ma, R) Presented by Shane Jacobson.

11.00 The Latest: Seven News.

11.30 Busted In Bangkok. (Malsv, R) 12.30 Home Shopping. (R)

7.30 Australian Survivor. Presented by Jonathan LaPaglia.

9.00 Would I Lie To You? Australia. (Ml) Two teams, including Ross Noble, Dr Chris Brown, Alex Lee and Bev Killick, go head-to-head.

10.00 The Montreal Comedy Festival: Pride Gala. (R) Presented by Rhys Nicholson.

11.00 FBI: Most Wanted. (MA15+v, R)

12.00 The Project. (R)

1.00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

1.45 Gruen. (Ma, R) 2.30 Back Roads. (PG,

7.30 We Interrupt This Broadcast. (Premiere, PG)

8.30 The Good Doctor.

1.55

6.30 The Project. A look at the day’s news and events.

7.30 Australian Survivor. Presented by Jonathan LaPaglia.

8.40 NCIS. (Mv) Parker discovers that he is the victim of identity theft while investigating the unusual murder of a US Navy ensign. Knight and Jimmy face hurdles in their relationship as their connection heightens.

10.40 NCIS: Hawai’i. (Mv, R)

11.30 The Project. (R)

12.30 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

1.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

ONTHEBOX

WEDNESDAY, March 1

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.05 Confucius Was A Foodie. (PG) 11.00 Tales From The Crips. 11.10 The Wheelhouse. 12.05 WorldWatch. 2.00 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 2.10 Insight. (R) 3.10 Mastermind

(R) 3.40 The Cook Up. (PG, R) 4.10 Britain’s Most Historic Towns. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

(PG)

COFFS COAST NEWS OF THE AREA

6.00 7News Local.

6.30 7News @ 6:30.

7.00 Home And Away. (PGa)

7.30 Mrs Brown’s Boys. (Mls) Grandad’s brother decides to visit.

9.00 The Front Bar: All Sports Edition. (M) A lighter look at the world of sport.

10.00 Kitchen Nightmares Australia. (MA15+l, R)

11.10 The Latest: Seven News.

11.40 HMP Styal: Women Behind Bars. (MA15+av, R)

1.00 Home Shopping. (R)

5.00 Seven Early News.

5.30

THURSDAY, March 2

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.55 Lady Jane Grey: Murder Of A Child Queen. (PG, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 2.15 First Ladies. (PGa, R) 3.05 Mastermind Aust. (R) 3.40 The Cook Up. (PG, R) 4.10 Britain’s Most Historic Towns.

7.35

Dunbar.

8.30 American Presidency With Bill Clinton. (PG)

9.20 Miniseries: The Walk-In. (MA15+)

5.30

6.30 The Project. A look at the day’s news and events.

7.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa) Narrated by Mark Coles Smith.

8.40 Law & Order: SVU. (MA15+av) Gender identity politics play out in court after the SVU arrests a violent suspect who killed a detective’s teenaged child.

9.40 Fire Country. (Mav) Vince’s judgment is compromised.

10.40 Bull. (Ma, R)

12.30 The Project. (R)

1.30 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

2.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

6.30 The Project.

7.30 Taskmaster Australia. Hosted by Tom Gleeson.

8.30 Gogglebox Australia. TV fanatics open up their living rooms to reveal their reactions to popular and topical TV shows.

9.30 The Montreal Comedy Festival. Stand-up performances from comedians.

10.30 Would I Lie To You? Australia. (Ml, R) Hosted by Chrissie Swan.

11.30 The Project. (R) A look at the day’s news and events.

12.30 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

1.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

COFFS COAST

Friday, 24 February 2023

Tigers Pounce

By David WIGLEY

THE Coffs Coast Tigers pounced into round three of the Australia Cup with a convincing 3-0 win over the Demon Knights from Armidale last weekend.

Goals from Baden Rees, Ethan Sechi and Josh sealed the win to secure a home fixture against Tamworth's Hillvue Rovers on Saturday 25 February at 6pm.

But the Tiger’s had to change tact as their freeflowing passing game was thwarted by the bobbly pitch in Armidale.

Tigers striker Lex Weiley said the team were forced to adapt.

“We knew it would be a difficult game playing in the conditions and that we had to stay focused and switchedon,” he said.

“The pitch wasn’t the best, the ball was bobbing around so we had to adapt.

“Baden (Rees) initiated our first goal, whipping in a cross which Josh headed into the back of the net.

“Some good link-up play around the box saw Baden finding Ethan (Sechi) to score the second goal.

“The boys came out in the second half a different team.

q Baden Rees with a goal and two assists eased the Coffs Coast Tigers into round three of the Australia Cup.

“Baden picked up a through-ball and finished clinically to wrap up the match for a 3-0 win.

“Not one of our best performances but we adapted and got the job done and we’re into the third round.”

Despite fielding one of youngest teams in the league, the Tigers finished runnersup in last year’s Coastal Premier League competition. With an extra year of experience and new players added to their squad, the Tigers will be a tough team to beat in this year’s NCF Premier League.

Turning dreams into a reality

THE Shoreline luxury retirement village and aged care residence is the latest and greatest development in the Bachrach Naumburger Group’s portfolio.

The Shoreline has had a focus on using local trades and contractors including the main builders F M Glenn who concentrated on the quality and finishes for the build which are reasonably noticeable.

The Project which is located at 41 York Street in Coffs Harbour has 35,000 square metres of floor slabs – over 2,000 truckloads of concrete, 1,498 screw piles, totalling 35,997 metres with an average pile depth of 24 metres! 972 solar panels giving 395-kilowatt capacity – equal to 65 modern average house systems.

Steve Gooley, General Manager of the Bachrach Naumburger Group previously noted,

“Once the construction is completed and the village is fully operational it will be a true aged care, retirement and health hub, that will not only benefit retirees in Coffs Harbour and surrounds but also employ in excess of 130 full time locals.”

The state-of-art aged care and retirement village features a 120-bed residential aged care home and will feature 185 independent living residences when fully completed. With over 85% of the independent living apartments sold in the first stages.

One of the redeeming qualities of the luxury retirement living precinct in the heart of Park Beach

and within walking distance to Park Beach Plaza, is the seamless interaction between the higher needs Aged Care Home and the Supported Independent Living apartments and villas.

Steve Gooley, the proudly declared “The Shoreline boasts a resort-style community centre, a pool, walk-

ing trail, extensive gardens and recreation facilities in a secure gated community”.

The Shoreline is holding a community open day on Saturday 11 March from 11am to 2pm where visitors are invited to take a tour of the luxury retirement village and aged care residence.

Attendees can also

find out about their hotel-like services and amenities, meet some of the wonderful residents and staff over a FREE BBQ. Save the date and pop in to learn all you need to know about the hotel-like services and amenities The Shoreline has on offer.

BOMBORA BAR: Residents enjoy catching up at the on-site bar

ROLL UP: The Shoreline’s very own Bowling Green

MOVIE MARATHON: Popcorn at the ready

ON PAR: Practising on the Putting Green

LOOK BACK: Steve Gooley pictured at the official turning of the soil - May 2018