Myall Coast News Of The Area 28 September 2023

Pindimar Minderoo Muster Success

By Thomas O'KEEFE

A VOLUNTEER army mustered at North and South Pindimar from Tuesday 19 to Thursday 21 September, to prepare fire access trails before catastrophe strikes.

The taskforce included locals, Newcastle University students, and corporate members from Newcastle across the three days, and was formed by the Australian Resilience Corps under Minderoo Foundation.

“Currently, 97 percent of funding is spent on ‘recovery’, with only three percent going towards preparation,” said Nadine DeSantis, Minderoo Foundation Advisory

CONTINUED Page 2

LIBS’ OFFSHORE

By Marian SAMPSON

Federal Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change hears local concerns over offshore wind

Pindimar Minderoo Muster Success

FROM Page 1

Officer.

“North and South Pindimar are Rural Fire Service-rated as ‘catastrophic’ for their extreme fuel loading, and their one-road-inand-out situation,” explained Steve Carmichael, Bushfire Officer at MidCoast Council.

Through a pall of recent Hazard Reduction smoke, dangerous undergrowth was scraped together, to be later shredded by a giant mulching machine.

Connecting Communities Australia, the non-profit running the event with the Corps, also ran locals cooking lunches, while Pied Butcherbirds sang as they flitted in to feast upon the smorgasbord inevitably exposed by the rake-hoes.

“It was nice seeing so many people genuinely care about the environment, and all the hard work will make a difference,” Sophia Guadagnini, a student who volunteered all

q Threeday veteran volunteer Sophia Guadagnini assisted in the relocation of a fallen chick found amongst the reeds.

three days, told NOTA.

“As a local, I want to learn where the fire trails are, and I was amazed by the number of volunteers, great to meet likeminded people who care about safety,” said local Sarah Mischin, of Mischin Cleaning Co., who also volunteered all three days.

“Despite talk of delaying until next year, we felt it critical to do this before the summer,” Glenn Price, CEO of Connecting Communities Australia, told NOTA.

“We are particularly proud of the work around Pindimar Fire Station, the access ways are clear and have far less fuel, and we intend to return next year.”

“Minderoo Muster is a fantastic concept, Wyree Street through to Nardoo Street access is now vastly improved, and clearing around the shed will make it much easier for people to assemble as times require,” remarked Pindimar-Tea Gardens RFS Captain David Bright.

Thank you to all the volunteers.

q Many hands made quick work, widening the fire trails so that two fire vehicles can safely pass.

q Volunteers gathered at Pindimar South for the third day of the Muster.

LIBS’ OFFSHORE STANCE

FROM Page 1

O’Brien, assured members of the Port Stephens community that the Liberal Party will attempt to squash any offshore wind farm development for the Hunter.

In a juxtaposition to the closed meeting which Minister for Energy and Climate Change Chris Bowen held on the same day, Mr O’Brien’s meeting was open to all those holding concerns.

“We are taking as a coalition an all and the above approach to our energy and climate policy.

“What we cannot have is just this one sided view that it must be a particular type of technology and by hell or high water we are going to steam roll our way through.

“The irony of that approach is that it ain’t gonna work.

“Australians don’t cop

that - Australians have never copped it.”

This is not a new position for the Liberals, with the party opposing the wind zone in Port Stephens when raised during the last Federal Election.

The pivotal concern for many at the meeting was the perceived failure to effectively consult with the community ahead of the declaration of the wind zone.

“On the topic of the consultation engagement process, what I am hearing is that very few people received communication that there was a public consultation taking place, let alone participate,” Mr O’Brien said.

“A very open and transparent process was very important.”

Community members present expressed the opinion that insufficient research had been completed

into the proposal and its impacts on the region and its environment.

“In the event of there being a major piece of infrastructure there needs to be sufficient research done specific to the area,” Mr O'Brien said.

“Evidence based assessments - evidence that is analysed and accessed.”

Mr O’Brien said the visual impacts need to be very carefully considered.

“This is what the world loves about this part of the world, and this is what gives you (Port Stephens) a natural competitive advantage that you don’t want to lose for your own sakes.

“This is what brings people here.

“The social impact needs to be assessed.

“What will the social impact be, especially for young people?”

He also expressed the need

When life is not super

by Felicity Wardhaugh

Most people will not be thinking about superannuation when a family member is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Super can be withdrawn if a condition of release is met. Conditions of release include situations where the member of the super fund is suffering from a terminal medical condition.

However, most people if asked would say they worry more about putting money into their super than taking it out. So, why would a member consider using such a condition of release to take out their super? Withdrawing super early can allow for proper planning for the funds and could also increase the funds which the family will inherit. Tax is payable on the withdrawal of super

unless the super is paid to a tax dependant. Thus, if the super is not withdrawn until after the member has passed away, the family who inherit the super may lose between 15-30% of the lump sum payable from super in tax.

There are, however, many issues to consider which should be properly thought out. Whilst time might be of the essence, it is very important to seek out proper expert assistance before commencing a withdrawal strategy.

Our lawyers are available to assist you with advice about estate planning.

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation

for “a cost benefit analysis” that puts the “community at the centre”, rather than developers.

O’Brien encouraged the community to keep up the fight.

“Keep hounding your members of parliament.

“I am the Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change but my primary job is for my patch, that’s where it starts…no one should be let off the hook.

“I would ask you to make submissions, I am making representations on your behalf about the issues raised

today. “I hear you and I hear you on behalf of Peter Dutton,” he said.

q A crowded Newcastle and Port Stephens Game Fish Club in Shoal Bay was testament to how many locals are concerned about the wind farm proposal. Photo: Marian Sampson.

q Liberal Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Ted O’Brien. Photo: Marian Sampson.

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Offshore wind farm a Federal issue

By Marian SAMPSON

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AS community angst rises, many have been uncertain about which agencies are responsible for offshore wind proposals and where to take their concerns.

The Federal Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Bowen, is responsible for the offshore zone that has been declared and for awarding licences and contracts.

The Federal Minister for the Environment will be responsible for the approval of any environmental impact assessments.

Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington told News Of The Area, “I have heard from many people regarding the offshore wind farm and I share many of their concerns.

“So I have raised our community's concerns directly with the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, which is the agency responsible for the process.

“But to be clear, the development of offshore renewable energy is a Commonwealth Government responsibility; it is not the responsibility of the NSW Government.

“So the Member for Paterson, Meryl Swanson, our representative in the Commonwealth Government, will continue to advocate on behalf of our community at her level of Government,” she said.

The Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo) has advised, “The development of offshore renewable energy generation is a matter for the Commonwealth Government under the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure

Act 2021.

“Under the NSW Electricity Roadmap, the NSW Government is supporting the private sector to deliver at least 12 GW of onshore renewable energy generation by 2030 to ensure energy security and reliability is maintained as coal-fired power stations close over the next ten to fifteen years.

“Any onshore major renewable energy projects in NSW require planning approval under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 which includes detailed merit assessment and consultation with local communities.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water said, “The Australian Government is committed to setting up an offshore wind industry to unlock renewable energy jobs, energy security and job security.

“But that's not at any cost – the Government will only be licensing projects that work well with existing industry and the environment, and deliver meaningful, long lasting community benefits.

“Before projects can commence, proponents must seek and receive approval for feasibility licences and comply with strict environmental regulations.

“There are currently no projects underway.

“Applications for feasibility licences in the Hunter close on 14 November 2023.

“These processes will give the community three further opportunities to have their say on individual projects,” they said.

The Federal Minister for the Environment referred the NOTA’s enquiries to Federal Minister for Energy and Climate Change Chris Bowen.

Beach patrols kick off

WITH the weather warming up and the spring school holidays upon us, lifesaving patrols kicked off at beaches across the MidCoast last weekend.

Surf lifesaving patrols are back on our beaches with both volunteers and Council’s contracted service provider, Australian Lifeguard Services, keeping swimmers safe these school holidays.

Lifeguards will be on patrol during weekdays from 9am – 5pm during the school holidays at Bennetts, Elizabeth, Forster Main and One Mile Beaches.

Boomerang Beach will be patrolled sevendays-a-week.

In addition, local Surf Lifesaving Clubs will provide beach patrol services on weekends and public holidays at Bennetts, Black Head, Crowdy Head, Elizabeth, Forster Main, Old Bar and One Mile beaches.

Last season, over 222,000 people were recorded visiting MidCoast Council beaches during lifeguard patrols, where lifeguards performed 41 rescues and 156 first aids.

Find out where your closest patrolled beach is by visiting https://beachsafe.org.au/ or for a full list of lifeguard-patrolled beaches visit https://lifeguards.com.au/NSW/wherewe-operate/

q Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington. Photo: Marian Sampson.

Offshore wind farms “not imminent or inevitable”

By Marian SAMPSON

SPEAKING exclusively to News Of The Area, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said the construction of an offshore

wind farm off the Hunter coast is neither “imminent or inevitable”.

Last week, Bowen attended a closed-door community meeting in Nelson Bay with Member

for Paterson Meryl Swanson and a selection of concerned locals.

As a result, a consultation group featuring key industry representation from the region is to be formed to meet regularly with the Minister.

With the Federal Government now

Fighting for better health services

By John SAHYOUN

THE Bulahdelah community has been fighting for improved medical services for many years.

The closure of the local hospital, nursing home and restricted access to GPs has made it difficult for the community to access even simple medical procedures.

Many travel over an hour’s drive north or south to access medical services and procedures.

In a Local Government Area that contains the oldest demographic in Australia, such limited access to healthcare places a strain on the elderly and their families with distances to travel

and time, monetary and employment considerations.

“Being in the centre of the LGA, Bulahdelah would be a natural centre for the provision of many medical services,” said Ann-Marie Barry, a member of the Bulahdelah and District Health Action Group.

“I’ve spent over a decade traveling some distance to hospitals and I think those in the southern area of the LGA deserve better.

“We have existing facilities that could be utilised to provide better needed services,” said Mrs Barry.

The recent allocation of funding in the State Budget to expand the services of the Manning Base Hospital

has been welcomed by the community.

State member for Myall Lakes Tanya Thompson said, "I am thrilled to see the reallocation of $100 million for Stage 2 of the Manning Hospital Redevelopment in this year's budget.

“Improved health services including infrastructure has been my top priority, and I have fought to have this funding reallocated in the 2023/24 Budget.”

However, funding for a public hospital at Forster has been overlooked by the current government.

It is anticipated that future funding will be allocated to the electorates on the basis of need.

receiving Feasibility Licence applications from developers, the Minister would not commit to how many wind farms, if any, would be approved in the Hunter Zone.

“It is a fairly small area and I don’t want to preempt how many farms will be there - I don’t know yet.”

While Minister Bowen is charged with delivering Australia’s transition to renewable energy, he has no say over the environmental impact of any proposed developments.

“That goes to the Minister for the Environment, and I

don’t lobby that Minister.”

To ensure objectivity, the Department of Environment assesses applications for independence.

“One of the criticisms is that it takes too long (to get environmental approval) but if it is not good enough the application goes back.

“If an offshore wind farm doesn't pass the environmental standards - that is it and it won’t go ahead.”

The Minister wants the community to understand that there is a big difference between a wind zone being declared and the delivery of a

working offshore wind farm.

“It’s like having your learner’s permit to driveyou still have to pass the test to get to your P’s.”

When questioned about the option of ramping up solar rather than offshore wind to meet Australia’s energy demands, the Minister responded that the Government needs to “look at all of it”.

“Offshore (wind farms) I understand has more jobs than solar.

“Solar might or might not be a good idea next to Williamtown.”

q Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen (seated) with fisherman Greg Finn.

q Bulahdelah residents protest for better health services.

Hunter Jobs Alliance backs offshore wind industry

By Marian SAMPSON

THE Hunter Jobs Alliance has expressed support for the development of an offshore wind industry in the Hunter.

The Alliance is an incorporated organisation and registered charity that campaigns to maintain well-paid secure jobs in the Hunter, particularly as the energy market changes.

Justin Page of the Hunter Jobs Alliance told News Of The Area, “Carbon emissions cause climate change, which is the greatest environmental threat to the marine environment off Port Stephens.

“Global temperatures are at record levels and signs of the climate crisis are everywhere.

“We have to act now to reduce emissions.

“Government needs

to ensure the proper environmental impact assessments, mitigation and harm prevention strategies, and ongoing environment condition monitoring all take place.”

Aside from the green energy benefits, Page believes an offshore wind industry would bring plenty of muchneeded roles to the Hunter.

“With the right Government Policy and Framework settings we have the opportunity to create permanent secure, quality union jobs, local apprenticeships, training and transition opportunities for energy workers, maximise Australian manufacturing for offshore wind including wind turbine components, floating structures cables, and vessels, maximise local supply chains, provide benefits for First Nations people and use

regulated Australian vessels and Australian crew.

“Approximately $10 billion investment for 5 gigawatts.

“There are an estimated 3000 direct jobs, 35-65 percent local content, during the construction phase, 300 estimated direct jobs during the operations and maintenance period of 30 years.

“Offshore wind is also vital to secure the future of our existing manufacturing Industries in the Hunter like Tomago Aluminium which injects 6000 jobs and $1.2 billion into the Hunter economy, ” he said.

Not all are so thrilled at the potential impact on jobs, with commercial fishermen extremely concerned about the impact on their industry.

from Newcastle and Port Stephens provide

Pig Races for rural firies this Long Weekend

By Thomas O’KEEFE

charity as the main event in the Tea Gardens Country Club’s (TGCC) Charity Pig

Races Day on Saturday, 30 October, during the Long Weekend.

This time the porcine prancers will be helping to raise funds for the Pindimar-Tea Gardens Rural Fire Service (RFS), who have a serious bushfire season ahead of them, even with new members coming onboard.

“This is one of the biggest events we have, we raised around $5000 for the RFS last year, and it is a good cause to be supporting,” Warren Gooley, General Manager of TGCC, told NOTA.

“It is another fantastic initiative from the Country Club, to assist the RFS and our fundraising for essential equipment and proposed extension to the fire shed, the TGCC are great supporters of the Brigade,”

said Pindimar-Tea Gardens RFS Captain David Bright.

Sponsors, whose donations have covered the cost of running the piggies, include Atmosphere Air Conditioning, Tea Gardens Home Hardware & Timber, Myall Coast Realty, Simply Smarter Blinds, Datrys Technologies, Lion Brewery, Cookson Land Surveyors and WIN TV.

The six-race card starts at 12noon, accompanied by several family activities at the Country Club, including a magician, face painting, balloon artists, roving clowns and the bucking bull rider.

The outdoor BBQ and bar will also be open, with outdoor catering provided by the Club’s award-

winning team led by Jamie at The Garden Eatery.

All funds raised by the piggy racers will be in addition to the $5000 the Club already donated to the RFS this month via ClubGRANTS.

The Tea Gardens Country Club has also paid the Men’s Shed’s rent for the year, and bought a new trailer for the RSL Sub Branch’s logistics.

“We are expecting a great, big family day for all, and everyone is welcome,” Mr Gooley added.

Races will also be livestreamed across all the big screens around the Club, so no-one misses the chance to see the piggies ham it up on the track.

El Niño and Positive IOD coincide in 2023

By Thomas O’KEEFE

TWO major weather shifts have been officially declared as of 19 September, each one amplifying the effects of the other as we move into spring and a very hot summer.

“An El Niño and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) are underway – the declaration of these events, and their concurrence over spring, reinforces the Bureau's long-range rainfall and temperature forecasts, which continue to predict warmer and drier conditions for much of Australia over the next three months,” says the Bureau of Meteorology.

El Niño, which cyclically pushes moisture eastwards across the Pacific Ocean, away

from Australia’s east coast, typically causes droughts that can last for years.

On the western side of the continent the IOD exists as a mirror-image to El Niño, which, in its declared ‘positive’ stance, pushes moisture westwards towards Africa.

A ‘positive IOD’ also typically means higher temperatures begin to sweep down through the relatively flat continental interior, reaching right across and into the south-east, too.

This presents a double whammy of these major weather patterns for the first time in eight years, resulting in high temperatures of the positive IOD combining with the dry effects of El Niño to

spell a perfect scenario for drought and bushfires.

ABC News has indicated that the last ‘positive’ IOD was in 2019, and caused heat that compounded the lingering effects of the extended El Niño drought of 2014-2016, leading directly to the catastrophic conditions of the 2019-2020 bushfires.

The relatively long La Niña period (2020-2023), the heavy and incessant rains of which we all endured through the COVID pandemic, has caused significant vegetation to grow, which will now begin drying out to become bushfire fuel as El Niño settles in.

“Climate model outlooks suggest this El Niño is likely to continue until at least the end of the southern hemisphere

q The Alliance believes an offshore wind industry could bring much-needed jobs to the Hunter. Photo: AMWU.

Fishers

around 12 to 15 percent of the seafood at the Sydney Fish Markets and the Newcastle Fishing Cooperative.

PORKY plodders return for

q The porky participants stretch to avoid pulling a hammy before the Pig Races.

q Bureau of Meteorology’s official El Nino Southern Oscillation meter is firmly in the red now.

Myall U3A October Long Weekend Show

By Thomas O’KEEFE

Billed

In The Pink

TOMAREE

artists at the MU3A have been honing their artisanal abilities to produce some unique and beautiful artworks for display and purchase over the weekend.

Labours of love covering many media will be featured, including acrylic, watercolour and pastel paintings, plaster art, painted pots, gift cards, mixed media works and clay figurines – even an official book launch from the U3A Writers’ Group.

Ray Keipert, of the Myall U3A Writers’ Group, has just published his third book,

‘A Hand of Aces’, a dualcompendium of his novellas, ‘Resolution’ and ‘Scimitar’, each an intriguing story of murder, mystery, and espionage drama, set against the volatile backdrops of the Vietnam War and the Silk Road region, respectively.

Mr Keipert’s book will be launched at 11am on Saturday 30 September.

The Tea Gardens Lions Club will be catering sausage sandwiches on both days of the MU3A show, with assorted cakes and slices, tea

and coffee run by the MU3A members as well.

The U3A celebrates the concept the ‘Third Age of Life’, and is part of a unique worldwide organization run entirely by volunteers whose aim is to promote mental and physical wellbeing in mature-age people who are no longer in full-time employment, often living in active retirement - people with a lifetime of experience to share with others.

“The U3A Art Group is a wonderful community of

people who share an interest in expanding their creative minds and honing their artistic expressions,” Jeanette Hart told NOTA.

“The Art Group is open to anyone wishing to join, whether artistically experienced or a complete art novice.”

More information on this and all other U3A programs and courses will be available at the Art Exhibition, or by visiting their website at www. myallu3a.org.au.

Wednesday 18th October 2023

Soldiers Point Bowling Club

Doors open 7AM Breakfast 7:30AM - 9:30AM

$33.00 PP (Incl. 50c booking fee)

Glass of champagne / OJ

Delicious hot breakfast by Taylors Bistro

Tea & Coffee

Guest Speaker

Ruth E. Wilson

Author 'Conquering Clouds'

q Local flora features, like in this flannel flower tribute.

q Ray Keipert’s ‘A Hand of Aces’ book will launch on Saturday 30 September.

"We

Gallery to host ‘Art Mart’ over Labour Day Long Weekend

By Thomas O’KEEFE

TRADITION will be honoured this October Long Weekend as the Galleries in the Gardens members host the ‘Art Mart’ at 81 Marine Drive, Tea Gardens, on Sunday 1 October from 10am-3pm.

Twenty-two artists and members of the GiG will be set up around the Gardens, occupying seven distinct spaces outdoors, with the Gallery itself also open for the day.

Keep an eye out in the trees, too, as there may be some paintings and

sculptures to be discovered in some less-than-likely places.

There will be many works in various different artistic media, as well as a free kids’ and adults’ rock painting activity, while will form the genesis of the new Nature Walk outdoor Gallery feature.

Weaving its way around the Garden, and eventually into the Gallery proper, the rock paintings will grow on indefinitely from this coming weekend, so members of the public are invited to join in on this interactive display.

Going as far back as the days of the old Prawn Festival and more recent Myall River Festival, there has always been something artistic about the goingson in Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest on Labour Day long weekend.

“Ever since the Galleries in the Gardens’ first major exhibition was held on the Labour Day long weekend back in 2008, there has always been a major show for the Gallery at this time,” Chez Rands from Galleries in the Gardens told NOTA.

“Come along, have your own rock, and be part of the Tea Gardens sculpture and history.”

Freemasons Open Day at Tea Gardens

By Thomas O’KEEFE

AFTER a prolonged absence from the Myall Coast area, the Freemasons are hosting an Open Day at the Tea Gardens Masonic Centre on Saturday, 7 October from 9am-2pm.

Freemasonry made its official return to the area

with the consecration of Lodge Myall 1058, on 5 November 2022.

“The previous Masonic Lodge, Lodge Port Stephens 552, practiced in the area for many years, making significant contributions to the local community and its institutions,” Geoff Williams, Worshipful Master (akin to

‘President’) of Lodge Myall, told NOTA.

“Unfortunate circumstances saw Lodge Port Stephens cease to exist and a period of absence ensued,” Mr Williams explained.

The Open Day on 7 October is intended as a chance for people to go see

the Masons, make enquiries, and find out more about what the group does locally, which has included supporting charitable organisations, community work and social events.

“It’s an organisation that has the basic aim of ‘make good men better’, new people looking to join are driven by all sorts of things,” Mr Williams said.

“There are likely many

formerly active Masons living in the area, whose interest we want to reignite, as well as a desire to attract new members.”

The extensive history of the Masons, as well as many other topics surrounding the Lodge’s presence, and its value to the local community, as well as answering any questions from inquisitive locals during the Open Day, too.

“The first Masons in Australia came over from the First Fleet, as English, Irish and Scottish Masons came and formed separate Lodges,

until the United Grand Lodge of NSW was established,” Mr Williams explained.

“The Lodge Myall has been re-established as a ‘daylight’ lodge, which the members hope will better accommodate the older retirees in the Myall region, providing them the opportunity to enjoy the community involvement and other activities they once held here,” Mr Williams added.

“We would love new members to come join us, too.”

q The Galleries will be open from 10am3pm, with many outdoor stalls as well.

q The Consecration of Lodge Myall in November, 2022. Photo: Freemasons in the Hunter Region.

Mayor and Deputy positions to be voted on

MIDCOAST Council will meet again this Wednesday.

The monthly Council meetings are open to the public to either sit in on or watch via the livestream.

Council’s General Manager Adrian Panuccio

urged residents to tune in for a chance to see how council operates.

“The meetings make strategic decisions about how we operate as a Council and are open to the community to participate in through our

public and open forums or to view in person or online,” he said.

And as the next meeting roles around Councillors will have a number of important decisions to make.

The Mayor and Deputy

Fire Danger Vigilance

By Thomas O’KEEFE

FIRE season is imminent, and a clear understanding of the changes to the Danger Ratings, enacted last year, is a paramount concern for the Pindimar-Tea Gardens Rural Fire Service (RFS).

“We are particularly concerned about residents from Pindimar/Bundabah, who may only see the one sign as they come into Tea Gardens to shop or visit town,” RFS Captain David Bright told NOTA.

The solitary sign, near

the Tea Gardens Skate Park along the Myall Way, only faces inbound traffic, so motorists on the typical trip in from Pindimar/Bundabah only have one chance to see it.

It is also a manuallychanged version, with more modern electric versions yet to reach the area.

“Contractors for RFS are modifying electric signs starting at the Queensland border, working their way down the coast, but 200 new ones were already installed in the Sydney area,” Captain

Bright explained.

The new signs all herald the 2022-updated Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS), which has been simplified to contain only four coloured areas in the familiar semi-circle, with a short text explanation, the meaning of which is not open to interpretation.

‘Green’ means ‘Moderate’ danger, ‘Plan and Prepare’ – you should have a clear plan for what you will do if a fire starts, and also be fully prepared to enact that plan.

Mayor positions held by Cr Claire Pontin and Cr Alan Tickle will be voted on amongst the Councillors for the next twelve-month period.

A number of other important discussions will

take place in the chambers including the possibility of Forster-Tuncurry becoming a testing ground for hireable E-Scooters and the placement of the draft MidCoast Destination Management Plan 2024-2030 and

Playspace and Skatepark Strategies on exhibition. To join the livestream, go to www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au and follow the prompts. The meeting starts at 2pm on Wednesday 27 September.

q The official Fire Danger Ratings – not to be misinterpreted.

‘Yellow’ means ‘High’ danger, and be ready to put your plan into action.

‘Orange’ means

now to protect your life a property’ meaning it is time to leave, for most people.

‘Red’ means ‘Catastrophic – For your

Echidnas emerge as breeding season ensues

By Thomas O’KEEFE

SIGHTINGS of echidnas

have ramped up in recent years, and their pocket-sized profiles mean motorists and cyclists need to be especially vigilant on busy roads and blind corners.

Just prior to the June 2021 lockdown, one spiny digger was spotted along Tuloa Avenue in Hawks Nest, likely plumbing an ants’ nest on the sandy side of that road.

In 2022, one was sighted in a historically active bush track leading from Jimmys Beach to Bennetts Beach.

Most recently, in September 2023, two separate echidnas were spotted – one near the corner on The Boulevarde at Winda Woppa, just around from the turn off The Anchorage, the other alarmingly close to the road along busy Kingfisher Avenue, not far from the Hawks Nest end of the Singing Bridge.

Given their stout stature, many unassuming motorists would never have noticed the diminutive monotremes, and in almost every cited case they were located immediately beside the edge of a busy road.

Although the Myall Koala and Environment Group (MKEG) does not actively track echidnas, their website has a host of useful and relevant information on these and the plethora of other native animals to be found across the Myall region.

Echidna breeding season is between July and August, with a single egg laid inside the mother’s pouch four weeks later.

After about ten days, the egg will hatch, producing a ‘puggle’ the size of a jellybean, which is carried, suckling in the pouch for three to four months until its own spines start to develop.

Doing the maths, it is possible that recently spotted

echidnas are mothers that are currently suckling their newborns.

“Don’t attempt to pick an echidna up as you may injure it (or yourself),” advises MKEG and the National Parks and Wildlife Service – more information can be found at https://www.myallkoala.

survival, leave bush fire risk areas’.

The Danger Ratings System determines how impactful a fire would be if it were to begin under the present conditions, including wind, heat, humidity and weather forecasts.

All Danger Ratings are available on the RFS website at https://www.rfs.nsw.gov. au/fire-information/fdrand-tobans.

“There will also be heaps of information at the Pindimar Market Day on 28 October,” Captain Bright added.

The El Nino/IOD double-whammy now upon us makes Total Fire Bans a high probability, too.

q Echidnas are not particularly fast, so motorists need to watch out for the potentially pugglecarrying monotremes.

org/echidnas.html.

Given that echidnas’ primary defence is to roll into a spiky ball, they may be slow

to waddle away along paved surfaces, but will disappear into the bush once granted the opportunity.

q The Tea Gardens Fire Risk sign heading into town on the Myall Way is the only one many from Pindimar/Bundabah may see for days.

q A simpler system still requires close attention to react accordingly.

q Echidnas are barely noticeable, and favour blind corners on busy roads, like The Boulevarde corner off The Anchorage at Winda Woppa.

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Tea Gardens Ice Cream Shack

Tillermans Tea Gardens

Hook n Cook

Century 21 Tea Gardens

Myall River Bakery Cafe

Tea Gardens Country Club

The Grange

Palm Lakes Resort

Autocare Tea Gardens

Woodwards Nursery

Puma Fuel

Home Timber & Hardware

Tea Gardens Medical Centre

Hawks Nest Doctors Surgery

Myall Pharmacy

Tea Gardens Post Office

Myall Meats

Coles Tea Gardens

Purcell & Mount Solicitors

Regional Australia Bank

Vinnies

Karuah RSL

Karuah IGA

Munchies Cafe Karuah

Riverside Motel

Karuah Motor Inn

Tony King Auto

Info Centre Karuah

Russ's Bakery

Karuah Butcher

Karuah Pharmacy

Newsagent Karuah

BP Service Station

Big4 Jetty Village

Cafe Karuah

Barry Bros Butcher

BP Servo

Bulahdelah Bowling Club

Farm & Produce

Bulahdelah IGA

Information Centre

R&R Property Bulahdelah

Rural Transaction Ctr

Shell Servo Bulahdelah

Lady Jane Motel

Nerong intersection drop point

Nth Arm Cove Community Hall

Pindimah intersection drop point

R&R Property Stroud

Post Office/newsagent Stroud

Is another Voice really necessary?

DEAR News Of the Area,

THE current Federal Government and the expert panel do not explain that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (ATSI) already have a voice.

Their voice is the one we all have when we vote under our system of representative democracy.

This vote then is asking for a second voice for ATSI people.

However, they already have a second voice through the National Indigenous Australian Agency (NIAA), so the Federal Government is asking us to give them a third voice.

The website (niaa.gov.au) shows that the NIAA’s purposes and objectives correlate with what we’re being told the Voice will do

To work so that: “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are heard, recognised and empowered”.

The NIAA’s purpose is to work “in genuine partnership to enable the self-determination and aspirations of First Nations communities. We lead and influence change across government to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a say in the decisions that affect them.”

The NIAA was established on 29 May 2019.

Its CEO is Jody Broun, a Yinjibarndi women from the Pilbara, Western Australia.

According to the NIAA’s plan, “We play a critical role in supporting the Prime Minister and the Minister for Indigenous Australians, and providing assistance to other Ministerial portfolios across the Australian Government. The NIAA represents a fundamental change to doing business by forming partnerships with Indigenous Australians at all levels. This approach has shaped our work in policy design; program and service delivery; and our organisational structure. As at 31 December 2021, the NIAA has 1,286 staff, of

Bowen’s mind made up on offshore wind farms

DEAR News Of The Area,

THE impact of the Federal Government’s declared zone for an 1800 sq km offshore wind farm off the coast of Port Stephens will destroy a community that thrives on tourism.

The wind farms will have a devastating effect on small businesses that rely heavily on tourism and game fishing, as well creating a potential decrease in property values.

Port Stephens will no longer be a destination for tourism, for both local and international tourists, when they won’t be able to enjoy its natural beauty or participate in activities of whale watching, fishing, or climbing Mount Tomaree

to enjoy unspoiled, panoramic views of the scenic coastline.

Although this may be a Labor safe seat, it doesn’t grant a social licence for the Federal Government to come here with a wrecking ball and destroy the environment right before our eyes.

It must be remembered that this Government has not lived up to their election promise of a reduction on energy bills of $275, blaming their incompetence on poor modelling.

This must raise the question: Are we meant to trust them and their ‘models’ when it comes to offshore wind energy?

I have spoken to many concerned people in the community who say their major concern is a lack of consultation.

Snapper country

south, to Seal Rocks up north could all be considered home for snapper.

This couldn’t be more true.

By Chris Bowen’s admissions only 40,000 households in Port Stephens, Newcastle, Central Coast and Great Lakes Were informed via the way of mail outs which amounts to only five percent of the area’s total population.

What a farce!

No wonder many in the community were unaware or unable to attend consultations.

Those fortunate enough to be informed about, let alone attend, the consultations were vastly disappointed, myself included.

Key questions could not be answered.

The community was, and still is, outraged.

Imagine having a project at 1800

whom 300 identify as Indigenous. The NIAA occupies 39 commercial offices and has a presence in 12 remote communities”.

A lie of omission is being used to achieve the Federal Government’s proposed outcome. Our democracy is valuable so should you decide to write the word “NO” on your ballot paper, it does not show racism or stupidity, it shows you understand that ATSI people already have the means to have their say.

Kind regards, Shayne FULLER, Tea Gardens.

sq km dropped in the middle of the East Coast’s thriving game fishing grounds and whale migration corridor, littering the coast line with potential rust buckets.

Our demands are simple:

• More consultation and community engagement is required and,

• If the residents of Port Stephens choose not to have this project, we ask that it be halted immediately.

Chris Bowen thinks this is not an “opinion poll” and will not back the residents of Port Stephens. Well, let me put it this way, Mr Bowen and Labor better start packing up their offices, because it’s time to get going.

Mr Bowen we won't forget or forgive you and your party for your poor decisions based on lack of community engagement.

Regards, Mark WATSON, One Nation.

By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE

THE extensive reef system stretching from Birubi to Seal Rocks is recognized as being an unequalled habitat for snapper.

For as long as records have been kept and stories told, this area of coastline has been producing quality snapper.

The good news is that we, in Port Stephens, live in the middle of the snapper capital.

The habitat that surrounds us is perfect snapper country.

The reefs from Birubi, in the

Port Stephens has a great attraction to those who desire to catch snapper in that you do not need to travel far to catch these beautiful fish.

Launching at Little Beach or Shoal Bay you need only motor to Tomaree headland to be in snapper country, a distance of about 2km.

Then you can head north to Broughton or south to Rocky Point.

Beach launching at Fingal and Boat Harbour opens up huge rocky reefs that are rarely fished.

In a lumpy sea snapper can be caught off the rocks and inside the port.

How lucky are we!

History goes that coastal

traders, back as far as the 1930s, would drift off Broughton Island until their anchor would grip on rock which was the signal that a reef had been found and for the crew to crowd to the side of the boat and drop their lines straight down and hang on.

Big snapper swarmed over all the reefs and it was only a matter of discovering the rocky outcrops in the underwater sandy expanse.

Watching with great interest were the old pioneering fishermen on Broughton Island including Archie Thompson, Jack Hunter, Vic Whitney and George Todd, who would note the activity and mark the location by lining up mountains and headlands on the mainland.

On other occasions the fishermen themselves would drift over sand between Broughton and Seal Rocks for days at a time until their lead line hit rock. Excellent

reefs including Mungo and the Inner and Outer Gibber were discovered by this method.

So simple these days with technology doing all the work.

As you can imagine the fishing was sensational.

A string of eight hooks would be dropped resulting in the same number of snapper being hauled into the boat at any one time.

So thick were the snapper that the line went slack, indicating fish hookup, long before reaching the bottom.

If, on the rare occasion, the bait did reach the bottom, there was a big chance that a lobster would grab it.

The ocean floor, I was told, was crawling with lobsters.

So called spider lobsters, which I was fortunate enough to see, grew in excess of 10kg.

Stinker’s Fishin’ and Stories

q Yalinbah, a supply boat for the small communities spread along the waterways throughout the port and into the Myalls. The Yalingbar was based in Tea Gardens.

q Skipper of the Yalinbah, Eric Engle, and wife Nez at the table with the kids John, Wendy, Ralph and Robyn. Bad luck if you don’t like oysters.

Dorin’s Draws By Paul

DORIN

DEAR Jasminda,

MY mum said she wants to be buried in her backyard and doesn't want the fuss of a cemetery burial.

Is this even legal?

Dear Greta,

The Write Direction

By John BLACKBOURN

Perception and Reality

WITH our lives often being informed by professional spin doctors, the lines between perception and reality can often become blurred.

My recent weekend away really demonstrates these facts.

I needed to fly to Melbourne to take delivery of a vehicle type that I had been trying to obtain for some period of time.

So I booked the first flight out of Williamtown to Tullamarine on Saturday morning with Jetstar - an airline with a less than inspiring record of cancellations and late running flights.

What could possibly go wrong?

The perception was quickly replaced by reality as this flight was on time, the cabin crew were great and everyone was happy.

The experience was further enhanced by the fact that Newcastle airport has to be the best run of its type in Australia.

What an amazing, trouble free, convenient and uncrowned operation it is.

We are just so lucky to have it on our doorstep, so I hope it remains that way during my life.

Upon collecting the car from the Melbourne suburb of South Oakleigh I headed off to Albury for a night's break, a journey of 350 km for the afternoon.

Melbourne roads are well sign posted and I only took one wrong turn as I couldn’t respond quickly enough to the GPS when told to veer off to the left from the right lane of the four lane highway.

The perception was that Melbourne city streets are a jungle.

I thought even worse was to come, with the Hume Highway all the way to Sydney said to be a shocker.

The reality of my finding was that Melbourne streets are good, their motoring public was most polite and they regularly took patience with the new guys in town that didn't know where they were headed.

Because I was born before school kids became familiar with computers or the GPS in imported vehicles, my car’s navigation system stopped working at the motel in Albury.

Of course it was above my ability to reprogram it and I needed to get back onto the Hume.

What I needed was some young person to do it for me.

Where do you find that much needed commodity?

The answer: the nearest McDonald’s, where all the staff are young.

Three turns later I was again on the

Greta P.

DO you know what really bothers me, Greta?

The fact that now I have various searches on my laptop pertaining to burying a body in a backyard which are no doubt being intercepted by the Australian Federal Police as I type.

Any minute now there's going to be a police raid with me yelling 'but I was just trying to offer advice' while a German Shepherd named Butch gnaws on my ankle and a cop handcuffs me to the front patio until reinforcements arrive.

In the intervening minutes, I can confirm that you can perform a burial on private land, but there are more

mighty Home Highway without issue and headed north.

So another perception proven wrong by reality and things only got better from there.

The Hume was great - straight, flat, wide and well marked.

Early in the morning was probably the best time to be on it with little traffic, however dead kangaroos and a few wombats littered the whole length of this long 770 km trip home.

Having just had one accident by hitting a big red between Armidale and Ebor, resulting in my favourite vehicle being written off, I was in great fear this could happen ahead on this long and fast run home.

So I developed a defensive and probably selfish trait of waiting until a faster travelling vehicle shot past me.

I would then fall in behind it in the expectation that they would clear these targets off the highway before I had the chance to hit one again.

It worked perfectly and probably improved my trip time on the road.

The cars ahead were also the first

conditions than getting a house DA approved including minimum depth levels, landholding requirements, a geotechnical report so your mother's remains don't end up seeping into our drinking water, LGA approval, suitable fencing around the plot site, a land survey, and a perpetual site plan, amongst other impediments.

These steps will rely on multiple conversations with government departments.

So many, in fact, that you may find yourself heading to an early grave out of sheer stress and frustration.

Then there's informing the neighbours (because nothing rings alarm bells more than a neighbour's child heaving a covered corpse into the ground with Bette Midler's Wing Beneath My Wings turned up on the Bose sound system).

Perhaps consider a 'green' burial in a natural burial park if your mum doesn't like the aesthetics of a cemetery (and who would?).

My personal hope is that one day all of us will be buried in pods that grow into trees so you can visit your loved one in a lush, shaded park instead of a forlorn concrete space.

to encounter any hidden cameras or lurking speed checkers which offered me increased safety from all things expensive.

The Hume now bypasses all the smaller towns, so when you need more fuel or another coffee hit or snack on this 8 hour drive, you need to veer off the highway for three or so km to find a service centre.

The perception is: Why would I leave the highway?

The reality is: It's a good place to stop, it is quieter, it is safe and the coffee has to be really good in order to survive in that business.

For me, the perception is never the reality, it just takes careful planning, a good attitude and a certain amount of luck to really enjoy what you are about.

So, just get on with it and enjoy the experience.

I did and I have my new baby home and in one piece - another great achievement after flying interstate and then driving over 1100 kms in a day and a half.

Reality achieved.

Calling out the ten reasons to say no

DEAR News Of The Area,

MAY I present rejoinders for the ten points outlined in a recent mailing that refers to website www.oneandfree.au for more information.

“The Voice is legally risky”.

The vast majority of constitutional experts say that there is really very little to no risk at all.

And any action would need to be at the High Court level and to undertake such an action would be at a cost of millions of dollars.

“There are no details”.

There are details in abundance to be found if you look for them.

All details of the referendum proposition are in the words upon which our votes are to be cast.

The final details of how the Voice would function are to be spelled out by Parliament, should a yes vote succeed.

Not by proponents of the yes vote, nor by those voting no.

That detail is the responsibility of

Parliament.

In fact there have been no details about any of the prescriptions of our Constitution.

For example, the Constitution tells us that we will have armed forces but not how many planes, tanks and soldiers etc.

“It divides us”.

We have already been divided! By incipient racism as well as by simple numbers.

Even with the best will in the world, politicians can and do ignore Aboriginal issues, because they do not have enough votes to make a difference.

The Voice means that politicians will listen.

But that's all it means.

“It won't help Indigenous Australians”.

Somebody should tell them that, because at present 83 percent of them believe that it will.

Even if that help is limited to feeling better for the sake of being heard.

“No issue is beyond its scope.”

The wording of the referendum proposition is very clear on this – the

consultation is limited to matters that directly affect Indigenous people.

“It risks delay and dysfunction.”

I believe that some delay over current practices could occur, as some time will be necessary for advice and consultation to occur.

But nothing in the process would allow Indigenous people to disrupt parliamentary processes.

“It opens the door for activists”.

There will be activists attempting to foist their views on the advisory group, whose elected composition will be representative of the whole Indigenous Australian population.

So activist views will be tempered by the majority views.

And in the event that activists succeed in becoming representatives, the Parliament can and no doubt will reject the advice they offer.

“It will be costly and bureaucratic”.

Only if you believe that spending any money at all on the process is a waste can this statement be meaningful.

“The Voice will be permanent”.

Agreed! That is why is has been proposed!

As we have seen in several instances in the past, bodies set up by one or other political party in Australia are wiped out on the slightest pretext by another party once it gains the ascendancy.

However it can still be removed by a future referendum.

“There is a better way forward”.

Presumably this would rely on legislative processes that suffer from the same insecurities just mentioned.

And as for this slogan, “If you don't know, vote no!”, the counter to this is of course, “If you don't know, don't be lazy, you can find out for yourself!”

And this is easy, you can look it up on very many websites, SBS for one and Zali Steggall’s for another, while Liberal member Julian Leeser has created 21 videos on the subject

Regards, Warwick NICHOLS, Tea Gardens.

Carpe diem, Jasminda.

READING by Lynne Miles: Ephesians 5:8b-10"Live as children of light for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth and find out what pleases the Lord."

Red Cross Pillowcase Workshop at Karuah Public School

By Thomas O’KEEFE

KIDS at Karuah Public School (KPS) are more psychologically prepared for disasters, thanks to the visit from the Red Cross and its Pillowcase Program on Monday, 18 September.

The Red Cross’ official goal of ‘Pillowcase’ is “to help children prepare for, cope with and respond to an emergency”.

By defining ‘disaster resilience’ as the ability to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, adapt to and recover from the impact of emergencies, the Red Cross’ program gives kids the practical skills that contribute to disaster resilience, which can be learned and practised.

“Children who participate in disaster resilience-building activities have been shown to be better equipped to deal with an emergency,” Karen Maloney from Red Cross Emergency Services told NOTA.

“The kids were great, really inventive, and they

enjoyed decorating their pillowcases so much we had to leave the markers.”

Ms Maloney was joined by two local volunteers from the Red Cross, who worked with a total of 46 children

across Years 3 and 4 at Karuah Public School

“Kids were engaged with the whole activity, the sorting part really helped them to consider what to take in an evacuation,” Kelly

Johnson, Year 4 Teacher at KPS remarked.

“It wasn’t done in a scary, ‘end-of-the-world’ way, which allowed the kids to really think, with helpful visuals, and totally understand what they would pack, and they were still talking about it a week later.”

The Karuah kids were

also presented with some beautiful teddy bears, made and decorated for the kids by Red Cross volunteers.

‘Pillowcase’ is a global preparedness education program, developed from the very real events during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 in the United States, where students of a local university used pillowcases

to carry their cherished and basic possessions while evacuating campus.

The Program is useful for all kinds of emergencies, highlighting the importance of being prepared, and even has direct correlations with third and fourth grade curricula under Civics and Citizenship and Health and Physical Education.

Thrifts’ celebrate 60 years of marriage

By Thomas O’KEEFE

TRUE love lasts, as it has for Bill and Beverley Thrift, who celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on a sunny Thursday, 21 September, 2023.

Beverley and Bill both originally hailed from Singleton, where they grew up on opposite sides of town.

Despite attending the same high school, they did not meet until one fateful night at a Fellowship Dance at the Parish Hall Barn Dance.

“I walked over to straighten his tie,” Beverly said.

“She is still trying to straighten it!” Bill added.

Meeting at the tender age of eighteen, it was love at first sight, and within two years they were married, on 21 September, 1963.

“We never really left each other after we first met,” Bill reflected.

After many years of milking cows on her father’s dairy farm, Bev worked as ‘boss cleaner’ at most of the establishments in Singleton, including the Army camp,

TAFE, high school and rugby club.

Bill, too, began life on the land at his father’s dairy farm, then worked in a power station and then the coal

mines, in true Hunter-man fashion, and still likes to be on the land today.

“The land stays in your blood,” he said.

How have they made it

work for six decades?

“Give and take, you’ll have your ups and downs, but you just work with each other and realise that you can still disagree,” were Bill’s words of advice.

“You have to put up with each other,” agreed Beverley.

After spending most of their married life in Singleton,

then living in Yamba, they finally moved to Tea Gardens for retirement.

Bill loves his bowls and restoring vintage fishing rods in his home workshop, while Beverley dotes on her antique doll collection, and frequents the bingo at Karuah, Tea Gardens and Raymond Terrace.

Work at Boolambayte to start soon

ROAD rehabilitation work will start in the next three weeks on the Lakes Way, Boolambayte.

The work will take place

between Violet Hill Road and two kilometres east of the Pacific Highway. Works are expected to be completed in late 2024,

weather permitting. The site will be under traffic control during work hours and motorists are asked to remain patient and

expect delays in the area. The project is part of the $100 million funding program focusing on the regional roads that

connect our communities and will provide improved safety and ride quality for motorists.

More information

Their prodigious progeny includes four sons, Greg, Mark (dec.), Colin and Stephen; eight grandsons and three granddaughters, three great-grandsons, three greatgranddaughters, while they are kept on their toes by Fred, their bouncy Jack Russell Terrier.

on other road projects can be found at www. midcoast.nsw.gov.au/ MajorRoadProjects

q Now – Sixty years on, in front of the may flower bush to remind them of whence they came.

q Karen Maloney with Red Cross volunteers Linda Edwards and Lorie Parker, and the Year 3 and 4 kids at Karuah Public School.

q Volunteer-made teddy-bears given to the students as part of the Pillowcase Project.

q Then – Beverley and Bill’s 1963 wedding photo.

Tea Gardens Women's Bowling Club

By Lynda RICHARDS

TUESDAY 19th September:

RSL Pairs Trophy Day, 32 members participated, a random draw for teams, format for play 3 games of 3 bowls Pairs usually each game is 10 ends but due to the hot weather conditions games were reduced to 7 ends. Winners on the day winning all 3 of their games were Lyn Nightingale and Ingrid Luck and the runners up were Maryanne Cuss and Lynne Green with 2 wins and a draw. Many thanks to the Tea Gardens RSL Sub Branch for sponsoring this annual event as they have done for over twenty years now and thanks to their President Mal Motum for presenting the prizes to the winners and finally thanks also to Tony Butler from TGMBC for umpiring.

Thursday 21st September: Social bowls played format for play 2 games of 3 bowls Triples, Jean Glover “swinger lead” and a game of Pairs “2, 4 , 2 bowls all games 12 ends. Deb Gardener, Loretta Baker and Dale Winter led all

Ingrid Luck annihilated Jean, Precy Swaddling and Lynda Richards 17 v 4. The Pairs was a closer contest the winners here were Chrissy Buddle

margin were Jean, Carol and Ingrid. Our bowling numbers were down for Thursday as TGWBC had two teams entered NDWBA Fours Competition,

well done to Dawn May, Irene Roberts, Judi Polak and Dawn Jones at the 18th end were drawn 15 all against a strong Alder Park team , hence another end to be bowled our ladies losing 16 v 15. Our other team Sheila Rattray, Jeanette Emmett, Bette Saillard and

Robyn Webster confronted a team from Soldiers Point that have previously been state winners, unfortunately they proved to be a much strong team and had a convincing win against our team.

Coming events:

Wednesday 27th September

TGWBC have a number of teams entered in Bulahdelah Bowling Club Queen of the Mountains Competition, hopefully good news following that. TGWBC Club Championship Major Pairs Round 1 Thursday 28th September.

Tea Gardens Men’s Bowling Club News

By John SLATER

20 SEPTEMBER

Our good friends at Woody’s Garden Centre sponsored this week of bowling.

On a warm spring day 38 players took to the greens including two visitors from Albion Park.

Albion Park will be visiting us on the 10th and 12th November with 50 bowlers ready to take on a home side.

The morning game was decided by the Lowest winning margin and with a margin of just 1 and following a countback Graeme Watkins, Paul Carter, Brian Newberry, and Ron Webster were the winners.

The afternoon game was decided by the Lowest

winning score and Ron Rowe, Eddie Weston (visitor) and Richard Wright (visitor) won with a score of 10.

The Garden Eatery voucher was won by Eddie Weston (visitor) who used the voucher last night.

Our thanks to the Garden Eatery for their support.

The Club Three x Tree team travelled over to Nelson Bay and unfortunately suffered their first defeat, losing by only 3 shots 60-63.

The field is rapidly compacting as it is an elimination competition

Another loss would see the Dolphin's out of the competition, but I would be surprised if most of the teams remaining have not suffered at least one loss.

23 Sept

Cooler weather brought

Myall Coast Vets

out a good field in a Saturday afternoon mixed triples competition.

It has impacted on Sunday bowls but as it is an infrequent event hopefully there will always be room for the two.

Today the first round of the Club Championship Minor Pairs commenced with a good compliment of “rookie” players participating.

Rod Morrison and John Bates were successful against Col Buddle and Gary McDonald 21-15 and Chris Fredericks and Phil Thrift managed a good win over Wayne Duggan and Hylton Newman 23-17.

24 Sept.

The cool weather persisted for the second round of the Club Championship Minor Pairs with a further

C Grade

1. Kevin Durham 39

2. Lee Rankin 38 c/b

3. Des Patfield 38

4. Michael Talty 36

5. Steve Carruthers 35 c/b

three games being completed.

Rob Young and Dave Garcia accounted for Rod Morrison and John Bates in a close game. They won 23-19.

Rick Islaub and Tony Butler firmed as early favorites following a good win over Graham Reynolds and Chris May. They won 2212.

The remaining game turned into an anti-climax when it appeared that Graeme Watkins and Terry Munright were likely to beat Graham Uff and Peter Campbell.

They had a three-shot lead and were holding another three in the head only to see a Peter Campbell on shot take the jack into the ditch and converting 3 down to 3 up.

!9-19 with one end to play.

Peter and Graham

NTP. A. B. C.

3rd. Gerry Keegan Ian Raine Brian Johnson

5th. Errol Chivers Ron Stewart Chris Barrett

10th. Ron Wright Peter Buttrey Michael Ross

16th. Errol Chivers Martin Robinson Chris Lock Balls To. A. 32 c/b B. 29 c/b C. 28 c/b

3rd Ross Clissold 19c/b

4th Brian Jones Jnr. 19 Balls to 16c/b

NTP

3rd Richard Booth

5th Paul Fordy

10th Allan Morgan

managed a two on the last to win an entertaining game 2119.

On Saturday 7 October the semi-final will be played with Dave Garcia and Rob Young to take on Peter Campbell and Graham Uff and Tony Butler and Rick Islaub opposed to Phil Thrift and Chris Fredericks.

The final to be played on Sunday8 October. In other news.

The next championship game is the Club Triples scheduled to start on the 28th of October.

A nomination sheet and Conditions of Play will be on the board soon.

NINE. Nett Scores

1st Paul Fordy 19c/b

2nd Colin Fossey 19c/b

16th Ronald Wright (Birdie)

SATURDAY 9TH

SEPTEMBER 26 LADIES PLAYED

SINGLE STABLEFORD

Div. 1

1st J. Buttrey 45

2nd A. Basson 35

3rd M. Mitchell 37

Div. 2

1st S.Hair 37c/b

2nd A.Chipperton 37

3rd D. Wiggins 37

NtP 10th M. Mitchell

Balls down to 33 c/B

TUESDAY 12TH

SEPTEMBER 46 LADIES PLAYED FOR MONTHLY MEDAL

Div. 1 1st D. Matheson

3rd

Haynes 73 (Cromer)

TUESDAY 12TH

1ST

s. bOLDEN 15C/B

Hawks Nest Golf Club Lady

q Winners RSL Pairs Ingrid Luck and Lyn Nightingale with Mal Motum, President, Tea Gardens RSL sub-Branch.

q Runners up Maryanne Cuss and Lynne Green with Mal Motum.

Bulahdelah Golf Club Results

WEDNESDAY Ladies - Club

Champion gross B Gordon

Net M Reinhard

Thursday Vets Winner R Winter 36 cb

RU - G Grainger 36 3rd - C Littlechild 35

NTP - 6/15th D Brown 3rd shot 3/12 J Stellema Jackpot - C Littlechild

Variety Heart Scholarship for national gymnastics champion Joshua

By Chris KARAS

OUTSTANDING Pindimar gymnast Josh Thompson has earned a $5000 scholarship from Variety - the Children’s Charity NSW/ ACT to pursue his sporting dream.

Fourteen-year-old Joshua is the reigning Level 9 National Under 15 gymnastics champion and hopes to one day represent Australia on the world stage.

The local resident – who overcame a serious L4-L5 back injury to claim five gold and a bronze medal at this year’s Australian Gymnastics Championships on the Gold Coast - was one of 63 children across NSW and the ACT to be awarded $294,000 in scholarships.

Variety Heart Scholarships support young people with an existing talent who are either sick, experiencing disadvantage or living with a disability.

The scholarships are open to school-aged children who are passionate and proficient in their chosen field.

An excited Josh told News Of The Area that the Variety Heart Scholarship “is a tremendous boost that will help relieve financial pressure on my family”.

“The scholarship will help fund my gymnastics training as I live two and a half hours away from the NSW High Performance Centre and more than an hour from my home club, AIS camps and interstate and hopefully international competitions,” stated Josh.

“It will allow my family to enjoy the journey a little bit more with me,” he said.

“For the next 18 months I will be focused

on staying injury free and qualifying for my first international competition,” Josh added.

The talented Thompson, who is also part of the Junior International squad, has grown up in the Anna Bay and Tea Gardens area and was introduced to gymnastics at the age of five.

He gained a position at the Gymnastics NSW High Performance Centre in Sydney when he was just eight and is also a part of the Hunter Sports Centre Mens Training program where he continues to hone his skills in the

What a season!

STORY STARTS on BACK COVER, Page 24

even changed the name to revitalize the club.

“We have the Miniroos aged four to eleven who train and play here on Saturdays and a junior traveling team that plays from here to Forster and Wingham.

“We are trying to promote the idea that it is more than just turning up to the games,” said Mr Rush.

“It’s about no matter how old you are you can be involved with the game you come back to it.”

The club are keen to start up a women and men’s team and are starting up a six a side competition in the coming summer to create a social environment and build up interest in this sport.

If you are interested, contact the club via their Facebook page Bulahdelah Bullets Soccer Club.

Saturday 23rd Golf men winners

A- D Harvey 42

B- R Norberry 40

C- R Reggardo 38 cb

R/U

A- G Harvey 38

B - W Thomson 38 cb

C- W Coleman 38

Jackpot - T Carroll

Ladies winner B Gordon

37

r/u B Newton 36.

Saturday 30th

September Monthly Mug.

Hawks Nest Thursday Night Darts

By Brenda EDWARDS

21st SEPTEMBER. The undefeated winner for the night was: Darren Rapley. Runner Up was the very consistent Michael Russom. Ladies Highest Score: Jackie Wall-95. Mens Highest Score: Darren Rapley-150. The highest finish under pressure was Phil Jones with 96. Darts are on every Thursday night, everyone is welcome to come along and play. photo of Winner: Darren Rapley. Runner Up: Michael Russom.

achievements of these clever kids keeps us focussed on what is most important - investing in the next generation,” he said.

“These young people are working hard to achieve their goals and Variety is honoured to recognise each individual and their many, many hours of hard work and dedication.”

More than 100 guests attended this year’s scholarship ceremony which was held at Bankstown Sports Club.

Parallel Bars, High Bars, vault, rings, pommel and floor apparatus.

Variety NSW/ACT CEO Tony Warner said he was filled with excitement and anticipation about what the future holds for Australian sport and the arts.

“Hearing all about the tremendous

Since 2017, the scholarships have been made possible thanks to the generous support of presenting partner, the Grahame Mapp Family Foundation in honour of the late Gillian Mapp. Applications will open again for Variety Heart Scholarships in May 2024. For more information, visit https://www.variety.org. au/nsw/variety-heart-scholarships/

q Winner Darren Rapley and Runner Up Michael Russom.

q National gymnastics champion Josh Thompson, fourteen, of Pindimar, is the recipient of a $5000 Variety Hart Scholarship.

q Champion gymnast Josh Thompson shows his style.

q Under 11’s receiving their awards.

q Kel Makila Trophy winner Josiah Reistma.

q Joint winners of the Rod King Trophy Abbie Ray and Jaxon Styles.

q Kevin Carter Trophy winner Lacie Masters.

q Steve Locke Trophy winner Ava Morgan.

BIG CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

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.

SOLUTIONS

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

BEST ON THE BOX

MONDAY THE ROOKIE

SEVEN, 9.15pm

SUNDAY THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW

TEN, 7.30pm

The celebrity guests who drop by this long-running chat show must wonder if there’s something in the water they’re served up because even the most guarded of A-listers are won over by cheeky Irishman Graham Norton. His group-interview format always seems to elicit candid confessions. Despite the ongoing actors’ and writers’ strikes, Norton’s got a slew of stars lined up for season 31. Falling under his spell in tonight’s premiere are pop superstar Kylie Minogue, Stephen Graham (Peaky Blinders), Peep Show star and author David Mitchell, comedian Mawaan Rizwan and Eurovision finalist Mae Muller.

FRIDAY, September 29

6.00 The Drum. Analysis of the day’s news.

7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day.

7.30 Gardening Australia. Costa Georgiadis tours a high-rise haven.

8.30 Sherwood. (Malsv) As the hunt for the killer continues, Kevin Salisbury from the MET arrives to assist in the investigation.

9.35 Midsomer Murders. (Mv, R)

Attendees of a party celebrating a sparkling wine launch are endangered when the glasses are laced with slug poison.

11.05 ABC Late News.

11.20 Silent Witness. (Ma, R)

12.20 Harrow. (Mav, R)

1.10 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

When this popular police drama started out in 2018, Nathan Fillion’s middle-aged rookie John Nolan was one of the oldest recruits LAPD had ever seen. Five seasons in and Nolan is now a training officer with a rookie of his own – but The Training Officer is a far less catchy title. This week’s episode features a case that hits close to home for rookie Celina (Lisseth Chavez) when a young girl goes missing on the anniversary of her sister’s death. While Nolan has been working with Celina on her tendency to let emotions cloud her judgment, her personal connection to this case and its victims proves crucial. It seems former rookie Nolan still has a few lessons to learn.

WEDNESDAY THE AMAZING RACE AUSTRALIA

TEN, 7.30pm

If you’re a fan of watching celebrities slum it in the jungle for I’m a Celebrity…

Get Me Out of Here!, this star-studded version of the reality format might be for you. Ripped from their luxurious lives and thrust into backpacker accommodation, budget hotels and even economy class, 11 celebrity racers and their loved ones are about to get a masterclass in how the other other half travel.

Former Wiggle Emma Watkins, model and TV presenter Bec Judd, Gold Logie winner Grant Denyer, former Olympian Jana Pittman and comedian Peter Rowsthorn are among those taking up host Beau Ryan’s challenge – who will be the first to tap out?

Mastermind Australia. (R)

South America With Simon Reeve. (PGa)

8.40 Ancient Egypt: Chronicles Of An Empire. (PGa)

9.40 Tony Robinson: The Thames At Night. (R) 10.35 SBS World News Late.

11.05 Unseen. (Mals) 12.00 Furia. (MA15+av, R)

3.40 Italian Food Safari. (R)

4.10 Going Places. (R)

4.40 Bamay. (R) 5.00

NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. Johanna Griggs catches up with Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac in the middle of his home renovation.

8.30 MOVIE: Father Of The Bride

Part II. (1995, G, R) A father, already traumatised by his daughter’s marriage, is shocked by the news that both her and his wife are pregnant. At a loss about how to handle the life-changing announcement, he sets out to recapture his youth. Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Martin Short.

10.45 The Voice. (PGa, R) Hosted by Sonia Kruger.

12.30 Home Shopping.

6.00 NBN News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Mega Zoo. (PG, R) A crocodile suffers a ruptured cornea.

8.30 MOVIE: The Expendables 2. (2012, MA15+lv, R) A group of mercenaries seeks revenge. Sylvester Stallone.

10.30 MOVIE: Creed. (2015, Malv, R)

Michael B. Jordan.

1.00 Chicago Med. (MA15+am, R)

2.45 9Honey Hacks.

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Postcards. (PG, R)

4.30 Global Shop. (R)

5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

5.30 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)

6.30 The Project. A look at the day’s news and events.

7.30 Have You Been Paying Attention? (Malns, R)

Hosted by Tom Gleisner.

8.30 The Graham Norton Show. (Ma, R) Graham Norton is joined by actors Claire Foy and Sarah Michelle Gellar, comedian Rob Beckett and director M. Night Shyamalan. Musical guest is Sam Smith, who performs Not Here to Make Friends

10.30 To Be Advised.

11.40 The Project. (R)

12.40 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

1.30 Home Shopping. (R)

Hawks Nest Golf Club Ladies Golf Results

Elsa JONES

SATURDAY, September 30

6.00 Rage. (PG) 7.00 Weekend Breakfast.

9.00 Rage. (PG) 12.00 News. 12.30

Midsomer Murders. (PG, R)

2.00 Sherwood. (Malsv, R)

3.00 Becoming Frida Kahlo. (PGa)

4.00 Australian Women In Music Awards.

5.30 The Whiteley Art Scandal. (PG, R)

6.30 Kitchen Cabinet. (R) Annabel Crabb meets Bridget McKenzie.

7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day.

7.30 Shakespeare And Hathaway. (PG) Frank and Lu are hired to look into the drowning of a former Miss Stratford-upon-Avon.

8.20 Vera. (Mv, R) DCI Vera Stanhope and her team investigate a 30-year-old mystery.

9.50 The Newsreader. (Mdl, R) Helen is plunged into crisis when a gossip columnist threatens to expose her troubled past.

10.45 Shetland. (Mal, R) The team searches for a link between the two bodies.

11.45 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Designing Paradise With Bill Bensley. 10.00 The Eco Show. (PG) 11.00 Curious Traveller. 12.00 WorldWatch.

2.00 Gymnastics. FIG Artistic World Challenge Cup series. Round 5. H’lights. 4.00 Going Places. (R) 4.30 Gone Fishing With Mortimer & Whitehouse. (PGl, R) 5.40 Secret Nazi Bases. (PG, R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 MOVIE: Duran Duran: A Hollywood High. (2022)

9.10 Rock Legends: Tina Turner. (PGa)

10.00 World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys. (R)

10.50 Rex In Rome. (Mdl, R)

12.40 Going Places With Ernie Dingo. (R)

1.40 Bamay. (R)

3.00 Going Places With Ernie Dingo. (R) 4.00 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SUNDAY, October 1

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.00 Offsiders: Grand Final Special. 11.00 Compass. (PGa, R)

11.30 Praise. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Landline.

1.30 Gardening Aust. (R) 2.30 Shakespeare And Hathaway. (PG, R) 3.15 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (R) 4.05 Griff’s Great Australian Rail Trip. (PG, R) 5.00 Art Works. (Final) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow.

6.30 Voices Of Australia.

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Death In Paradise. (Mv, R)

A concert pianist is murdered.

8.30 The Newsreader. (Mdl)

As Australia’s 1988 Bicentennial approaches, Helen is determined to interview a fiery Aboriginal activist.

9.25 Mother And Son. (Mal, R)

Maya and Arthur grow closer.

10.00 Annika. (Mal, R)

10.45 Total Control. (MA15+l, R)

11.40 Talking Heads. (R)

12.10 Rage Vault. (MA15+adhlnsv)

2.00 Escape From The City. (R)

5.00 Insiders. (R)

6.00 Shopping. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 9.00 AFL Grand Final Brunch. 10.30 AFL Grand Final Countdown. 12.00 AFL Grand Final Pre-Game Show.

2.00 Football. AFL. Grand final. Collingwood v Brisbane Lions.

5.00 AFL Grand Final Post-Game Presentation.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PGd, R) Drug paraphernalia is found in luggage.

7.30 MOVIE: Free Guy. (2021, Mlv) A bank teller discovers that he is actually a non-playable character inside a brutal, open world video game. Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer.

10.00 MOVIE: Unstoppable. (2010, Ml, R) A veteran engineer and a young conductor try to stop a runaway train from crashing into a populated area. Denzel Washington, Chris Pine.

12.05 12 Monkeys. (MA15+v, R)

1.00 Home Shopping.

6.00 NBN News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 MOVIE: Jurassic World. (2015, Mv, R)

Dinosaurs run amok at a theme park. Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard.

10.00 MOVIE: Gods Of Egypt. (2016, Mv, R) A hero rises to overthrow Set, the God of Darkness. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Brenton Thwaites.

12.20 My Way. (PG, R)

12.50 He Said/She Said. (Ma)

1.00 To Be Advised.

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 Global Shop. (R)

5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping.

6.00 Luxury Escapes. A look at a Mediterranean cruise.

6.30 Bondi Rescue. (PGl, R) Lifeguards investigate a floating object.

7.00 The Dog House Australia. (PGad, R) Narrated by Mark Coles Smith.

8.00 Thank God You’re Here. (Mdls, R) Hosted by Celia Pacquola.

9.00 MOVIE: Mission: Impossible. (1996, Mv, R) A secret agent sets out to discover who double-crossed him and killed his colleagues. Tom Cruise, Jon Voight.

11.00 The Cheap Seats. (Mal, R)

12.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 Authentic. (PG)

5.00 Hour Of Power.

6.00 DW English News. 6.30 Al Jazeera. 7.00

League. Koori Knockout.

5.30 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (PG, R)

5.40 Secret Nazi Bases. (PGav, R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30

6.00 Shopping. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 Morning Show. (PG)

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 My Kitchen Rules. (PGl) Hosted by Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge.

8.45 ABBA Silver, ABBA Gold. (PG, R) Follows Swedish supergroup ABBA from the Eurovision Song Contest to present day’s CGI performances.

9.45 The Disappearance Of Grace Millane. (Mas, R) The story of the 2018 murder of British backpacker Grace Millane and how her killer was caught.

11.45 Born To Kill? Beverley Allitt. (Mav, R)

1.00 Home Shopping.

5.00 Seven Early News.

5.30 Sunrise.

Union. Rugby World Cup. Australia v Portugal.

4.30 Rugby World Cup Post-Match. 5.00 News Early Edition. 5.30 Today.

6.30 The Sunday Project. A look at the day’s news.

7.30 The Graham Norton Show. (Return) Guests include Kylie Minogue.

8.30 NCIS: Hawai’i. (Mdv, R) When a US Marine corporal dies in a tide pool after being exposed to fentanyl, the NCIS team must quickly find the source of the drugs. Alex talks about taking a gap year. Ernie reveals some personal news.

10.30 Five Bedrooms. (Mls, R) Ainsley and Simmo’s wedding day arrives.

11.30 The Sunday Project. (R) A look at the day’s news.

12.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

MONDAY, October 2

6.00 News. 9.00 News. 10.00 Landline. (R) 11.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 12.00 News.

1.00 Vera. (Mv, R)

2.30 The Cook And The Chef. (R)

3.00 Restoration Australia. (R)

3.55 Tenable. (R)

4.40 Long Lost Family. (PG, R)

5.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

6.00 DW English News. News from Berlin.

6.30 ABC America This Week.

7.30 France 24 English News.

8.00 DD India Prime Time News.

9.00 Rugby League. Koori Knockout.

5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) Hosted by Richard Morecroft.

TUESDAY, October 3

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.30 Ask The Doctor. (R) 11.00 Becoming Frida Kahlo. (PGa, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Call The Midwife. (PG,

2.00 Poh’s Kitchen Lends A Hand. (R) 2.30

Zemiro’s Home Delivery. (PG, R) 3.00 Restoration Australia. (PG, R) 3.55 Tenable.

4.40 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.05 Rick Steves’ Europe. 11.10 The Last Overland: Singapore To London. (Ml, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 How The Nazis Lost The War. (PGa, R) 2.55 I Am Emmanuel. (PGa, R) 3.15 Mastermind Aust. (R)

3.45 The Cook Up. (PG, R) 4.15 World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R)

5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 11.30 News. 12.00 MOVIE: Love’s Last Resort. (2017, PGa, R)

2.00 Border Security: Int. (PG, R)

2.30 Border Security

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Home And Away. (PGa) A life hangs in the balance.

7.30 My Kitchen Rules. (PGl) The heat is on as the teams try to secure their place in a final.

9.15 The Rookie. (Mav) The team investigates a pattern of kidnappings, which leads them to a discovery that hits close to home.

10.15 The Rookie: Feds. (Mdv) Simone uncovers a trail of bodies.

11.15 The Latest: Seven News.

11.45 Chicago Fire. (Ma)

1.00 Home Shopping.

5.00 Seven Early News.

5.30 Sunrise.

6.30 The Project.

7.30 The Masked Singer Australia. Hosted by Osher Günsberg.

8.45 Have You Been Paying Attention? (Malns) Celebrity panellists compete to see who can remember the most about events of the week.

9.45 Inspired Unemployed (Impractical) Jokers. (Ma, R) Four mates set out to embarrass each other.

10.45 FBI: Most Wanted. (Mav, R)

11.40 The Project. (R)

12.35 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

1.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Home And Away. (PGas) Zara imposes on Mali and Rose.

7.30 My Kitchen Rules. (Final, PGl) Hosted by Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge.

9.30 Ambulance: Code Red. (Mav, R) Follows the work of an ambulance service, giving an insight into the life and death incidents they face.

10.30 The Latest: Seven News.

11.00 Chicago Fire. (Mav)

6.30 The Project.

7.30 Shark Tank. (PGals) A panel is pitched inventions.

8.40 The Cheap Seats. (Mal) Presenters Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald take a look at the week that was.

9.40 NCIS. (Ma, R) When an NCIS agent turns up dead and Kasie is unaccounted for, the team must work quickly to find the killer.

10.30 NCIS: Hawai’i. (Mdv, R) A marine corporal dies in a tide pool.

11.30 The Project. (R)

12.30 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

1.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

WEDNESDAY, October 4

6.00 News. 9.00 News. 10.00 Four Corners. (R) 10.45 Q+A. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Press Club. 1.40 Media Watch. (PG, R)

1.55 Shakespeare Uncovered. (PG, R)

3.00 Restoration Australia. (PG, R)

3.55 Tenable. (R)

4.40 Long Lost Family. (PG, R)

5.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.15 Make Me A Dealer. (PGl, R) 10.05 Rick Steves’ Europe. 11.05 The Last Overland: Singapore To London. (PGa, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Dateline. (R) 2.30 Insight. (R) 3.30 Inferno. (PGa, R) 3.45 The Cook Up. (PG, R) 4.15 World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R)

5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

THURSDAY, October 5

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.30 That Pacific Sports Show. (R) 11.00 Trump Takes On The World. (PG, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Hard Quiz.

3.55 Tenable. (R) 4.40 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

6.00 Morning Programs. 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Frances And Annie. (Ma, R) 2.10 The Buildings That Fought Hitler. (PG, R) 3.00 Be My Brother. (R) 3.10 Inclusion Makes The World More Vibrant. (R) 3.15 Mastermind Aust. (R)

3.45 The Cook Up. (PG, R) 4.15 World’s Most Scenic Railway

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Great Australian Walks With Julia Zemiro. (PG)

8.30 Luke Nguyen’s India. (Premiere)

9.30 Crime. (MA15+av)

10.30 SBS World News Late.

11.00 Devils. (MA15+ad)

12.00 Nine Perfect Strangers. (MA15+s, R)

3.40 Italian Food Safari. (R)

4.10 Going Places With Ernie Dingo. (PGa, R)

4.40 Bamay. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Home And Away. (PGa) Mali must act on Rose’s ultimatum.

7.30 The Voice. (PG) Hosted by Sonia Kruger.

8.50 RFDS. (Mal) Pete is forced to face his deepest fears when the crew are tasked with dealing with a catastrophic boat crash.

9.50 The Amazing Race. (Return, PG) Hosted by Phil Keoghan.

11.20 The Latest: Seven News.

11.50 Autopsy: USA: Desi Arnaz. (Ma) A look at the death of Desi Arnaz.

1.00 Home Shopping.

5.00 Seven Early News.

5.30 Sunrise.

12.00 The Gulf. (Madls, R)

(PG, R)

6.30 The Project.

7.30 The Amazing Race Australia. (Return, PGal) Eleven celebrities race around the world with those they hold dearest.

9.00 Miniseries: Heat. (Mls) Part 1 of 4. Two families become trapped in the path of an oncoming bushfire.

10.00 So Help Me Todd. (PGa) Margaret helps a client whose mother passed.

11.00 The Project. (R) A look at the day’s news and events.

12.00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

1.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Home And Away. (PG)

7.30 Highway Patrol. (PG, R) A learner driver bursts into tears.

8.30 MOVIE: Pretty Woman. (1990, Mls, R) A businessman, in need of an escort for the evening, gives a prostitute a first-hand look at the lives of the mega-rich. Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, Hector Elizondo.

11.05 The Latest: Seven News. 11.35 The Great Diamond Heist. (PGa, R)

7.30 The Block. (PGal) Hosted by Scott Cam.

8.40 Cricket. ICC World Cup. Group stage. England v New Zealand. First innings. From Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India.

11.00 ICC World Cup: Innings Break. Takes a look at the day’s play.

11.30 Cricket. ICC World Cup. Group stage. England v New Zealand. Second innings.

3.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa)

4.30 A Current Affair. (R)

5.00 News Early Edition.

5.30 Today.

6.30 The Project. A look at the day’s news and events.

7.30 The Amazing Race Australia. (PGal) Hosted by Beau Ryan.

9.00 Gogglebox Australia. TV fanatics open up their living rooms to reveal their reactions to popular and topical TV shows.

10.00 The Cheap Seats. (Mal, R) Presented by Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald.

11.00 The Project. (R) A look at the day’s news and events.

12.00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

1.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

What a season!

was awarded to Lacie Masters.

By John SAHYOUN

BULAHDELAH Bullets Soccer Club has ended the season on a high with the recent presentation to their mini and junior traveling teams with a delicious lunch, parents taking on their children in a friendly match and the beaming smiles of children as they received their awards.

Special perpetual awards were presented to players and named after the first four life members of the club as an effort to link back to those who have contributed significantly in the past.

These special awards were awarded to the excited recipients.

The Steve Locke Trophy Miniroos Spirit of Football Award was awarded to Ava Morgan.

The Kel Makila Trophy for the under 11 years Player of the Year was awarded to Josiah Reitsma.

The Rod King Trophy for under 11 years Spirit of Football was awarded jointly to Abbie Ray and Jaxon Styles.

After the lunch and presentation there was a friendly contest between the parents and their up and coming stars.

Bulahdelah Bullets coaching coordinator Todd Rush said, “We are trying to build up membership as soccer clubs have been declining across the country.

“We have generated new shirts, trophies, logos and an enthusiastic committee and

The Kevin Carter Trophy for Miniroos Player of the Year CONTINUED Page 16

q Minis players receiving their awards.