Nambucca Valley News Of The Area 22 March 2024

q Regional Lions Youth of the Year winner Lily Kelsey (centre) from Nambucca Heads High School, event judge Mr Brandon Sparke, and Shirley Brown and Margret Andrew from the Bonville/Sawtell Lions Club.

projects

By Ned COWIE

ROAD Action Group spokesperson Julie Gooch addressed Nambucca Valley Council at its meeting last Thursday at the Utungun Community Centre to provide an update on the group’s progress and to bring attention to several Council projects which currently remain incomplete.

The Road Action Group (RAG) was formed in 2022 and represents the outer area communities within the Nambucca Valley.

According to Ms Gooch, RAG’s focus is improving transparency and communication between Council and the community on road maintenance.

“Roads are essential to these communities, whether sealed or unsealed,” she said.

“The group is pleased to see that eventually some areas have been serviced, however some have a lot further to go.”

In particular, Ms Gooch expressed the group’s concerns about the condition of major arterial roads in the Valley, such as Taylors Arm Road.

“It is a major daily route for the dairy, beef, fruits, vegetables and other agricultural industries,” she said.

It is also used daily by four school buses and other traffic.

q Boat Harbour Road is just one of many areas where road repairs are incomplete and a lack of communication regarding timeframes to completion frustrates locals.

According to Ms Gooch, the road has multiple major landslip projects still outstanding at Congarinni and Red Hill, while numerous other major roads across the valley are also awaiting project completion.

She highlighted a lack of communication from Council and the group’s frustrations with progress on these works.

“The maintenance of Nambucca Valley Council roads and duty of care remains a serious concern for RAG,” Ms Gooch said, while thanking the General Manager for making regular meetings with the group to discuss outstanding issues.

In closing, Ms Gooch encouraged Nambucca Valley ratepayers and road-users to join RAG and to use the Antenno app to report road condition problems directly to Council.

According to the Nambucca Valley Council’s website, Antenno is a free mobile app which the council subscribes to so that road users can be in direct contact and receive notifications in real time on issues such as road conditions, road hazards and roaming animals.

Groundhog Day for committee after 60-year battle to upgrade Utungun Community Centre

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Valley Council meeting at Utungun, expressing frustration that modern and past bureaucracy has meant that among other things, the community’s tennis court in Utungun has been out of operation since 1995.

He spoke of the Utungun hall’s history stretching back to 1909, when locals contributed money to get a government surveyor out to the area.

The land was vested to the Nambucca Valley Council in 1976.

According to Mr Lee, in 1916 the hall came into operation for church services and the adjoining reserve had barbecues and a tennis court installed.

In 1993 steel fencing was installed around the tennis courts but in 1995 a major windstorm flattened the fence.

“Around 2013, Council removed the fencing around the tennis court and the locals thought it was going to be reinstated,” he said.

“But it wasn’t!

“Local residents from 1970, '80 and '90 have requested assistance with wish lists for the community and it's quite humorous that each committee over the years has asked the same thing from the Council - for grants to improve the hall and reserve recreation.

The committee would still like to extend the floor plan, build indoor toilets, replace the water tank and make improvements to the

reserve area’s entertainment area, including re-installing barbecues and fixing up the tennis court.

“Now the youth of our past are our elderly today – and I’m one of them,” an exasperated Mr Lee remarked.

“This has been going on for 60 years.”

At last, the hall has been given some upgrades, but with more to be done, the hall is fundraising for a new tank, further renovations and more

kitchen appliances.

“This reminds me of a movie – Groundhog Day!” he told the Council.

While complaining of these issues, on behalf of the committee and the community, Mr Lee thanked Nambucca Valley Council as the hall is currently midway through receiving a new kitchen with Council’s support.

This will be the first new kitchen for the Community Centre in 110 years and while stage one appliances will be

purchased by Council, the group is still hoping to receive a State Government grant for further appliances.

The committee hopes to use the kitchen and renovated hall for catering purposes, with all funds raised going to future plans for the Community Centre’s development.

As for the tennis court, with no fencing or netting it is just a lonely slab of cement in the nearby reserve.

“We saw a perfectly good tennis court fence online

for only $500, so some of us drove out and picked it up.

“Now Council rules mean we aren’t allowed to install it ourselves.

“But you see we are all farmers and doing fencing work every day,” Mr Lee expressed his frustration to News Of The Area.

Currently the group are awaiting quotes from Councilapproved contractors to install the fencing but the price is expected to be exorbitant and perhaps prohibitively so.

Lily Kelsey named Regional Lions Youth of the Year

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the region at the District Lions Youth of the Year Final in April, where she will be competing to go onto the State Final.

The Lions Youth of the Year Program was established over 50 years ago with the objective of developing and honing participants’ skills associated with interview techniques, personal interaction, networking, public speaking and thinking on your feet.

The program has a proven history of encouraging and fostering leadership skills in Australian students in their final years in high school.

At the Regional Final the young ladies had public speaking tasks that were delivered in front of family, friends and the esteemed judging panel.

Public speaking is not the only criteria that determines placings in this event.

Initiatives at school,

activities conducted inside and outside of school, academic achievements, general knowledge and presentation during interviews all form part of the overall point score.

Firstly, the ladies were given two impromptu speaking questions to respond to, before they

delivered a five minute prepared speech.

They all spoke well, were able to think on their feet and gave the judging panel a difficult task.

“The impromptu speaking part of the competition in particular has really helped me be able to think on my feet and collate my ideas to

deliver them the best I can, which I know is going to help me in the future,” Regional Youth of the Year winner Lily Kelsey told News Of The Area.

One of the event judges was Mr Brandon Sparke, a Coffs Harbour-based lawyer with a considerable academic background.

Mr Sparke was a

participant in the Lions Youth of the Year program when he was a student at Toormina High.

Also on the judging panel was Mrs Sue Saunders, who has an extensive background as a specialist nurse and in nursing education.

Mrs Saunders is currently the Nurse Unit Manager of the Rehabilitation and Palliative

Care Unit at the Bellinger River District Hospital.

The third judge on the panel was Mr Jeremy Nash, a man with international business credentials and a background in teaching secondary schools students.

Mr Nash is now retired but maintains an interest in teaching and is a volunteer with Coffs Coast Legacy.

q Public Speaking Prize winner Reagan Welsh from Macksville High School with event judge Mr Brandon Sparke and Margret Andrew from the Bonville/Sawtell Lions Club.

q Gary Lee stands on the Utungun Community Centre’s tennis court, which has been out of operation for almost 30 years awaiting a new fence.

q Utungun Community Centre Committee Treasurer Malcolm Dicey, Building Coordinator Steve Sanderson, President Gwen Green and Gary Lee in the partially-renovated Utungun Hall kitchen.

q Competition judge Mr Jeremy Nash, Kaitlyn Forrester from Nambucca Valley Christian School, Lily Kelsey from Nambucca Heads High School, Abby Durbin from Toormina High School, Reagan Welsh from Macksville High School and judges Mrs Sue Saunders and Mr Brandon Sparke.

Opinions divided over regional crime prevention

A PLAN to address regional crime has divided opinion across the state, with various stakeholders arguing it goes too far, or not far enough.

New research from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) exploring crime patterns in regional NSW shows that in 2023, the rate of property crime in regional NSW was 59 percent higher than in Sydney while the rate of violent crime in regional NSW was 57 percent higher.

“A long standing feature of crime in NSW is that regional, rural, and remote locations tend to experience higher rates of crime than in the city,” BOCSAR Executive Director Jackie Fitzgerald said.

“The gap has grown over time.

“Since 2004, crime reductions in Sydney greatly exceeded those in the regions.

“Within regional NSW, crime is also not evenly distributed and particular regional locations show crime rates are much higher than the state average.

“In 2023, rates of both violent and property crime were almost three times the NSW average in the Far West and Orana region.”

While crime is higher in regional NSW than in Sydney, it is not the case that crime is necessarily increasing.

In regional NSW, most property crimes were considerably lower in 2023 compared to 2004.

Certain offences however, have increased significantly in regional NSW over the five years from 2019 to 2023.

Motor vehicle theft is up 20 percent, while domestic assault is up 24 percent and non-domestic assault is up fourteen percent.

Sexual assault is up 47 percent, which equates to an additional 1505 incidents.

Last week, the NSW Government announced a package of reforms and initiatives to “support community safety and wellbeing”, particularly in regional NSW, with a focus on strengthening early intervention and prevention programs for young people.

The Bail Act 2013 will be

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amended to include a temporary additional bail test for young people between fourteen and eighteen charged with committing certain serious break and enter offences or motor vehicle theft offences while on bail for the same offences.

This means that a bail authority such as police, magistrates and judges will need to have a high degree of confidence that the young person will not commit a further serious indictable offence while on bail.

This approach is designed to stop specific offending behaviour by certain young people who repeatedly engage in serious break and enter and motor theft offences.

The amendments will be subject to a twelve-month sunset clause so that any future action or changes can be made with evidence to assess the efficacy of the new laws.

Legislation will also be introduced which creates a new offence in the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) for ‘posting and boasting’.

An additional penalty of two years imprisonment will be imposed on people who commit motor vehicle theft or break and enter offences and share material to advertise their involvement in this criminal behaviour.

Statewide there have been reports of an emerging phenomenon of offenders posting recordings of their offending behaviour on social media, particularly in relation to motor vehicle offending.

This type of ‘performance crime’ may encourage others, specifically young people, to engage in similar criminal behaviour.

This new provision will be the subject of a statutory review that will take place two years after it commences.

The Government also announced specific measures to improve public safety in Moree, and a range of state-wide regional crime prevention initiatives including an expansion of Youth Action Meetings (YAMs) in nine Police Districts and an expansion of the Safe Aboriginal

Youth Patrol Program (SAY) to an additional five Closing the Gap (CTG) priority locations.

“I’ve spoken to mayors, police area commanders and local communities who have said we need to do more when it comes to crime rates, so that’s what we’re doing,” NSW Premier Chris Minns said.

“We know there is no easy solution but the reforms we are announcing today look at the big picture at a whole-of-community level, to really intervene and help prevent crime and give young people a chance at life.

“We will not leave regional communities behind, and we will ensure regional communities are safe and appealing places to work, live and raise a family.

“We need to work across government – police, schools, mental health – and importantly in partnership with community leaders, Aboriginal organisations and NGOs.”

Member for Oxley Michael Kemp hit out at Labor’s regional crime package this week, labelling it as a knee-jerk reaction which lacks key details and ignores rising rates of crime on the Mid North Coast.

“The government’s package might be good for Moree, but what about our region and the rest of the country NSW suffering rising rates of youth crime?” Mr Kemp said.

“It just displays once again how this government has no understanding of regional areas and doesn’t care to do so.

“More than half of the funding is addressing issues in one community and ignoring the rest.”

Mr Kemp pointed out that in Kempsey, juvenile offenders committing assault have jumped by 55.3 percent over two-years, while incidents of malicious damages to property have risen by 113.6 percent.

In 2023, there were 150 incidents of theft, including 36 motor vehicle thefts and 51 break and enters in a dwelling.

Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh agreed Labor’s package does “not go far enough”, and called on local residents to provide feedback on how regional crime has affected them at https:// www.nswnationals.org.au/ regional-crime/.

“Our hardworking frontline police officers do a great job day

in and day out and they are doing everything they can to keep our communities safe,” said Mr Singh, Shadow Minister for Tourism, Emergency Services and the North Coast.

“However, there is a feeling that they’re being let down by a justice system that is often too soft on repeat offenders.”

Mr Singh welcomed this week’s announcement of an inquiry into regional and rural crime, something which the Coalition has been calling for in recent months.

“We expect this to be a wholeof-government approach to the escalating crime crisis in our regions.

“The Premier and the Police Minister finally appear to be listening and have announced this much-needed inquiry.

“However, because it will take some time for the inquiry to come up with solutions, we want to know what measures the Government will put in place in the interim to help regional residents grappling with crime right now.”

NSW Farmers Rural Affairs Committee spokesman Garry Grant said the new reforms had come as welcome news to regional communities as socioeconomic disadvantage deepened and rural crime rates soared.

“These young offenders are often violent and reckless in their behaviour, and they are also costing landholders and businesses millions of dollars every year, through both loss of goods and increased insurance costs,” Mr Grant said.

“This behaviour of stealing cars or breaking into homes and businesses and then sharing these exploits on social media is extremely concerning, and there needs to be more severe consequences if we want to reduce crime and curb the harm caused by repeat offenders.”

With city dwellers now less likely to be a victim of crime than those living in the bush, Mr Grant said rural and regional NSW needed all the resources available to shift the dial on crime moving forward.

“We need boots on the ground

and real, considered initiatives in place to combat these rising rates of crime, and concerningly violent crime, in rural and regional areas of the state, or else the problem will simply spiral beyond the point of no return.”

On Monday, a range of organisations across Australia united to call on the NSW Premier to scrap the plans which they believe will result in putting more children in jail.

Two open letters were distributed to the media, one from 60 civil society groups and another from over 500 academics, lawyers and community workers.

The civil society groups’ letter said the State Government’s new measures were a betrayal of Closing the Gap commitments and ignore “decades of evidence on how to reduce youth crime”.

The co-signed argue the measures prioritise punishment over investment in proven prevention strategies and will “cause crime to get worse” and “delay measures that could reduce crime”.

The second open letter, co-signed by legal practitioners, community workers and academics working across the fields of law, criminology, social sciences and Indigenous studies, outlines concerns that the proposed laws will make it harder for young people aged fourteen to seventeen to be released on bail for certain offences.

“We support the Premier’s goal to improve community safety and wellbeing and strengthen early intervention initiatives.

“The proposed laws however will have the opposite effect.

”The evidence tells us that such laws do not make communities safer and in fact exacerbate the social drivers of young people’s contact with the justice system,” the letter read.

Report regional crime to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Locals

By Mick BIRTLES

WITH youth crime seemingly on the rise across the nation it is increasingly evident that the Nambucca Valley is not immune.

Angry locals have been in touch with News Of The Area, pointing out that they are fed-up with acts of vandalism that impact on the ability of the community to fully enjoy public spaces and amenities.

“We regularly take our dogs to the ‘off leash’ area on Stuart Island and we

have been appalled to see that some idiot has ignored the bollards put in place by council and has done donuts on the grassed area, damaging the ground with deep tyre marks,” Valla resident Val Simms told News Of The Area.

“This area is frequented by the elderly and now the surface is torn up and presents a real trip hazard to those trying to walk in the area.”

This damage, combined with vandalism to art work in public places that has recently been posted on social media, appears to indicate that this type of behaviour is on the rise in the Nambucca Valley.

Another concerned local, who asked not to be named, told NOTA about public toilets in Macksville that had toilet paper piled into the sink and set alight and graffiti painted on the wall.

A spokesperson for the

Nambucca Valley Council told NOTA, “We note that acts of vandalism such as the ones you are describing tend to come in ebbs and flows and we have not identified a significant increase in recent months.”

Last week the State Government announced a regional crime package worth $26.2 million to enhance the safety of regional communities.

Almost half of that amount will go toward a pilot program at Moree, a move which has drawn criticism

from Member for Oxley Michael Kemp.

“There’s a lot more to regional NSW than Moree and it’s about time that the government acknowledged this,” Mr Kemp said.

Nambucca Valley resident Mr Chris Ellicott expressed concerns that it is not only damage to public property that is apparent in the district.

“I have seen people's fences dented and broken and the vandals seem ignorant of the fact that this is why we can’t have nice things.”

q Riverside art work is a recent target for vandals in the Nambucca Valley.

NSW Gov toughens

LAST week, the NSW Government announced what they described as the ‘biggest boost to environmental regulation in three decades’.

Changes have been made to the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act) and other environmental laws, to strengthen penalties and the Environment Protection Authority’s (EPA) powers to deter repeat offenders and make polluters pay.

Most NSW environmental penalties have not increased since 2005, including those for serious offences.

The Government says the current criminal investigation into asbestos-contaminated mulch, the biggest in the EPA’s history, has highlighted the need to address loopholes and enhance investigative capabilities.

The Environment Protection Legislation Amendment (Stronger Regulation and Penalties) Bill 2024 includes a doubling of maximum penalties for Tier 1 serious offences to $10 million for companies and $2 million for individuals.

Maximum penalties for Tier 2 asbestosrelated offences will also be doubled to $4 million for companies and $1 million for individuals.

On-the-spot fine amounts for certain Tier 3 offences will rise significantly to $30,000 for companies for a first offence and $45,000 for a second offence.

For individuals this will be $15,000 for a first offence and $22,500 for a second offence.

On-the-spot fines for general littering of small items will double to $160 for individuals and corporations in public places.

The Bill attempts to crack down on smallscale illegal dumping too, with maximum penalties of $50,000 for companies and $25,000 for individuals.

On-the-spot fines of $5,000 for companies and $1,000 for individuals will be issued

by public land managers, including councils, NSW Police and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The Bill will implement a specific, higher penalty for small-scale illegal dumping on sensitive land such as childcare centres, hospitals, schools, national parks and beaches.

Maximum penalties for breaching resource recovery orders and exemptions will increase from $44,000 to $2 million, or $4 million for offences by corporations involving asbestos waste.

New product recall powers will be introduced for materials that may be contaminated with harmful substances across an entire supply chain, to quickly safeguard human health and the environment and warn the public.

A public ‘name and shame’ process will be established to issue public warnings about poor environmental performers and substandard practices.

The new law is hoped will strengthen investigation powers, introducing investigation notices, and improving and expanding clean-up notice controls.

The bill also gives the Land and Environment Court the power to ban serial

penalties

and serious offenders from applying for an environment protection licence.

The NSW Government will consider further changes in response to the ongoing investigation into contaminated mulch or recommendations of the Asbestos Taskforce and Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer.

Minister for Climate Change and the Environment

Penny Sharpe said, “Today is a downpayment on our election commitment to strengthen environmental protections in NSW.

“I’m proud that we’re introducing the biggest boost to environmental regulation since the creation of the EPA in 1991.

“We need a tough environmental cop on the beat.

“Our changes will give the EPA more power to better protect our precious places and to deter environmental crime.

“The events of the past two months have shown the urgent need to reform environment protection laws and increase penalties.

“These sweeping reforms will directly improve the protection of human health, the environment, and the community.

“Penalties are being ramped up to reflect the risk of harm and disruption to the environment and the community, and for those doing the wrong thing the fine will no longer just be the cost of doing business.”

Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson said tougher penalties were “beyond overdue”.

“We are starting from a very low bar in NSW in terms of what polluters can get away with, but the changes proposed in this new law are a modest step towards holding the worst offenders to account.

“A doubling in fines for pollution and dangerous goods offences is a good place to start and harmful use of pesticides penalties are set to increase eightfold.

“New powers for the EPA will clear the way for effective compliance action that is consistent with managing pollution and punishing perpetrators.”

While supporting the Government’s move, Ms Higginson said these changes alone will “not make these crimes unprofitable”.

“We must recognise that this cannot be the end, it must be the beginning,” Ms Higginson said.

Speaker highlights dangers of chemical sprays on blueberry farms

By Ned COWIE

LOCAL resident and prominent anti-blueberry farming activist Raewyn Macky addressed last week’s Nambucca Valley Council meeting at the Utungun Community Hall, raising the topic of chemical use in intensive agricultural operations.

Ms Macky is concerned about the use and over-use

of pesticides and herbicides on blueberry farms and listed two commonly used chemicals which have been outlawed in other countries yet which are still regularly used in Australian farming.

“Danadim Progress is a poison with Dimethoate being the active constituent.”

“It is an organophosphate banned in at least India and Europe (2019); France bans

the importation of fruit from countries that use Dimethoate to grow the fruit,” Ms Macky told the meeting.

The second chemical she highlighted was the insecticide Diazinon, another organophosphate.

This product is regularly used in ear-tags for cattle in the Nambucca Valley and is highly toxic to most insects and birds.

It is also used in horticulture on foliage and seeds to control pests.

“According to the Los Angeles Times, it is banned in 58 countries.

“No matter whether our APVMA (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority) tells us it is safe to use, I would regard the news that 58 other countries have banned it tells us a truer and

scarier picture,” she told the Council.

Organophosphates are some of the highly toxic chemicals which have been removed from shelves in many countries as they were recently reclassified by authorities as probable carcinogens and have been deemed too dangerous, particularly for children, to be used in residential settings.

“We need to gain better information to make better

choices to lead healthier lives.

“Anyone who lives with a blueberry farm right next door or within spray drift distance, is having those choices taken away from us by governments who are too lax with chemical laws, councils who fail to enforce safe distance buffer zones and farmers who continue to use such violently harmful chemicals,” Ms Macky said.

Protecting coastal environments from weed invasion

A PARTNERSHIP of agencies will undertake weed control work in important ecological areas within the Nambucca Valley over the next three years.

Forestry Corporation has partnered with Nambucca Valley Council, Nambucca Heads Local Aboriginal Land Council and Reflections Holiday Parks in a program funded by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

The funding is to undertake bush regeneration work throughout coastal environmental areas and endangered ecological communities such as Coastal Swamp Sclerophyll, Littoral Rainforest, Swamp Oak Forest and Themeda Grasslands

that occur along the coast of the Nambucca Valley Local Government Area (LGA).

Nambucca Valley Council Environmental Project Officer Keegan Noble said Nambucca Valley Council will coordinate contractors on lands around Valla Beach, Nambucca Heads and Scotts Head.

Mr Noble said the works will connect the dots between previous areas that have received weed control works.

“This is a valuable project for the Valley and will improve the resilience and environmental value of endangered ecological communities along the coast,” Mr Noble said.

Forestry Corporation Senior Planner - Upper North Coast Steve Pickering said the work, starting this month,

will occur across multiple tenures including Nambucca State Forest.

“A lot of the work will involve hand pulling weeds followed up with the use of chemicals to treat the heavier infestation areas,” Mr Pickering said.

“Working across multiple tenures will ensure maximum effectiveness of the weed control work by keeping them out of the bush altogether and not just up to a line on a map.

“Many of these areas are in a good ecological condition and this work will enable us to keep weeds under control and help protect these valuable ecological communities,” he said.

Forestry Corporation has provided in-kind support for planning and supervising

weed control works and ensuring known locations containing rare or threatened plants, cultural heritage items or other forest values are

protected.

As a public land manager, Forestry Corporation works closely with NSW government agencies, local councils and

landowners to control weed infestations protecting the biodiversity of forests and public lands.

q Raewyn Macky spoke at Nambucca Valley Council’s fortnightly meeting at the Utungun Community Centre last week.

q The view from Raewyn and Marcel’s back deck in the Nambucca Valley overlooking a recently established blueberry farm. She anticipates many litres of chemicals will be used to produce fruit for sale over the next eight to ten years.

q Forestry Corporation Senior Planner – Upper North Coast Steve Pickering, Keegan Noble from Nambucca Valley Council, Lloyd Ellis and Sally Cavanagh from Happy Valley Landscaping and Concrete and Forestry Corporation Operations Coordinator Jason Bee.

Bowraville Central School selected for new public preschool

By Mick BIRTLES

BOWRAVILLE Central School has been identified as one of 100 schools across the state who will receive a new public preschool as a part of the NSW Government’s first steps toward universal preschools.

The move will double the number of public preschools in NSW and support more children and families to prepare for kindergarten for the best start in life and learning.

Bowraville has met the criteria set out by the State Government based on child development

and socioeconomic data, projected demand for a preschool, an infrastructure analysis and valuable insights gained through local feedback.

The NSW Government details that the site selection Assessment Panel, composed of NSW Department of Education executive members and an independent Aboriginal representative, made decisions through a robust process.

This process occurred with oversight by an independent external reviewer and independent probity advisor.

This was followed by an

independent review of the decision-making process to ensure transparency and accountability.

Expected to be completed by 2027 the new public preschools will operate during school hours and provide play-based educational programs.

The NSW Department of Education considers that those preschools located on public school sites like the Bowraville Central School will support a positive transition to school by forming strong connections between children, families and school staff, fostering a sense of belonging for children, and helping teachers to understand and meet the individual needs of children

when they start school.

“Having a public preschool on our school site will help children prepare for this

change and help our school to support the individual needs of children as they move from the preschool to

the kindergarten classroom,” a Bowraville Central School spokesperson told News Of The Area.

Teachers urge PM not to short-change North Coast kids

Reform Agreement had left NSW public schools grappling with a funding deficit of about eleven percent in 2024.

directions and targets that governments agree to pursue over a set period of time.

By Mike HELY REGIONAL

and rural communities are bearing the brunt of a NSW teacher shortfall, local teachers have heard.

The NSW Teachers Federation is ramping up its campaign to fully resource North Coast public schools, meeting with teachers in Coffs Harbour last week.

NSW Teachers Federation President Henry Rajendra said the National School

The National School Reform Agreement is a joint agreement between the Commonwealth, states and territories designed to improve outcomes in Australian schools.

It sets out national reform

It also links funding levels to the targets.

Mr Rajendra said the shortfall translated to $1.9 billion in 2024 and equated to a shortage of more than 10,000 permanent schoolbased teachers.

He said figures released

this month revealed 174 vacancies in schools in the Rural North and West region, which includes Coffs Harbour and the Mid North Coast, affecting 69 percent of the region’s 252 schools.

Mr Rajendra called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to “provide the funding needed to give all kids a decent shot at life”.

“Private schools in Sydney, which receive substantial public funding, are splurging on unnecessary vanity projects such as equestrian centres and Scottish castles, while public schools are missing out,” he said.

“Premier Chris Minns and Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car are doing their bit by lifting salaries to tackle the teacher shortages.

“But now it’s time the Prime Minister joined the effort.

“Proper funding would mean more teachers, delivering smaller class sizes.

“This would allow more one-on-one time for students with complex needs.”

A report released by the Australian Education Union last month highlighted the gap, with one Sydney private school, Cranbrook, spending more on a new pool and expanded fitness and drama facilities in 2021 ($63.5 million) than governments spent on 2,549 public schools, which educate more than 472,000 students.

For NSW schools, the report also found a 30 percent growth in demountables between 2011 and 2022 to over 5,000, no ongoing capital funding from the Commonwealth despite calls from the NSW Government, and that the average annual per student capital investment from 2012-2021 was $1,052 for public and $2,331 for private.

“There’s no better investment than giving students the education they need and deserve,” Mr Rajendra said.

“It allows them to explode out of the starting blocks and contribute back to their community and the nation.”

RFS enlists surf lifesaver for aerial beach patrols

By Mary KEILY

RURAL

A

aerial patrol from Red Rock to South West Rocks has taken on board a surf lifesaver to look out for rips and dangerous surf conditions, isolated swimmers and other threats such as sharks.

Covering 100 kilometres of coastline, the patrol has commenced running on busy days such as Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays during the warmer months.

Volunteer surf lifesaver and Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) Duty Officer James

McLennan has now joined the team.

“We are really lucky to have a great partnership with the RFS who have a really large number of volunteers just like us,” said Gary McKinnon, SLSNSW’s Emergency Management Manager.

“The RFS has got a helicopter at Coffs Harbour, particularly located for the bushfire season, and now that the season is softening for them, it’s an opportunity for us to partner with them to enable the aircraft to go up and down the coastline and look out to increase coastal safety.”

The project was trialled last year and is now in its

second season, commencing last month and running until 7 April.

Joining the regular flights are RFS crew Hamish Heath and Leigh Pilkington, who is trained in search and rescue.

Jason Myhill works on the ground as the engineer servicing the craft.

“Through binoculars, the operators look for major rips or anything untoward, or any fishermen who have fallen in or sometimes just tricky or risky locations, or if there are any boats that have capsized,” said Gary.

“Anything unusual really, but particularly any shark sightings, especially near patrolled beaches.”

If the crew does detect a situation, the aircraft contacts the State Operations Centre in Sydney, then the relevant surf life saving club.

If there is an emergency, the message will be direct.

“Sometimes the beaches are more remote, where 4WDs have to get to.

“This creates additional risks as there is not a lifesaving club nearby,” Gary said.

“I want to remind people to swim between the flags and find beaches with patrolled locations, and if not, keep an eye on your friends and family.

“If fishing, wear a life jacket.

“There’s safety in numbers.”

q The building at the centre of the photograph is the intended location for the construction of the new public preschool at Bowraville Central School. Photo: supplied.

q The NSW Teachers Federation met with teachers in Coffs Harbour last week.

Fire Service (RFS)

q James McLennan is a volunteer surf lifesaver and Duty Officer for Surf Life Saving NSW.

Seniors celebrated in Macksville

By Mick BIRTLES

THE NSW Seniors Festival runs from 11-24 March and celebrates the role and contributions of older adults to our local communities.

It is the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere, with over 500,000 people getting involved each year.

This year, once again, Nambucca Valley Council decided to mark the festival in style with a Seniors Week Celebration at the Macksville Ex-Services Club.

Over 170 local seniors attended the event that was officially opened by Nambucca Valley Mayor Rhonda Hoban OAM, who amplified the

essential and valuable role that seniors play in our community.

As well as morning tea and lunch, the large group were treated to musical entertainment by Mr Barry Noble and were able to speak to a range of organisations and businesses that specialise in supporting seniors.

“The Macksville ExServices Club and the Macksville High School have been central in making this wonderful event possible,” Michael Grieve, a Community Development Officer with Nambucca Valley Council told News Of The Area.

“All seniors in the Nambucca Valley are invited

Lifetime

hand to introduce seniors to their broad range of services.

to attend, however we were limited to the number of seats available and I am delighted to say that the event is at capacity, showing us that the seniors in the valley appreciate and enjoy the event.”

Mr Gary Biden from Nambucca Heads told NOTA the event was a great place to connect with other seniors and with service providers that may be of assistance.

“Local businesses such as Beatties Furniture are here to showcase the range of furniture specific to seniors and organisations like U3A are on hand to present options for meaningful ways for seniors to fill their time.”

Organisations such as Lifetime Connect were able to speak with attendees oneon-one and detail their broad range of services such as in-home aged care, outings and transport to essential appointments and even shopping.

The number of attendees is testament to the popularity of the event, with some at the Macksville-Ex Services Club already talking about attending next year's event.

q Enjoying the Seniors Week Celebration at the Macksville Ex-Services Club on Tuesday were Tammy Truscott, Jan Haines and Wendy and Gary Biden.

Wednesday for the Seniors Week

Uncle Trevor Ballangarry farewelled in Macksville

By Ned COWIE

ON Friday 15 March, the funeral of Uncle Trevor Ballangarry, a sitting Nambucca Valley councillor and Gumbaynggirr Elder, was held at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in Macksville.

More than 200 people attended the service, including members of the Nambucca Valley Council where Cr Ballangarry served for the past four years.

Nambucca Valley Mayor Rhonda Hoban OAM and Council General Manager Bede Spannagle were both present to pay their respects.

Cr Ballangarry lived a full and adventurous life, Janine Reid told the mourners.

In his youth he had been a promising boxer, a good horseman and he was a master plumber for most of his working life.

He attended Macksville High before marrying his wife Janice and moving to Blacktown.

Later the couple spent 20 years in Queensland where Trevor worked for the Brisbane City Council and

“I will miss him as a colleague but mostly, (I will miss him) as a friend,” Mayor Hoban told the congregation as she struggled to maintain her composure.

Redcliffe City Council as a plumber.

During this time, Mr Ballangarry frequently travelled back to his birthplace, the Nambucca Valley.

“We belong to the earth! It never was and never will be ours. We belong to the earth,” was an often-used line of Mr Ballangarry’s, according to Ms Reid.

Other presentations at the ceremony included tributes from the National Parks and Wildlife Service by Glenn Storrie and from The Community Transport Company by Greg Walcot.

So passionate was Mr

a

q Nambucca Valley Council Community Development Officer Michael Grieve and Librarian Hayley Laraghy were a part of the team behind the Seniors Week Celebration at the Macksville Ex-Services Club.

q

Connect staff were on

q Over 170 seniors turned out on

Celebration.

q Helping seniors get involved with U3A were Anne Norman, Helen Scotta and Mark Bagster.

q Nambucca Valley business Beatties Quality Furniture were able to showcase their range of furniture specific to seniors.

q Lisa Gillet and Lisa Fensling from NVC Group were kept busy at the Seniors Week Celebration.

Ballangarry about his role as a Nambucca Valley councillor, Mayor Hoban said, that his last words to her were about

road that needed widening as he drifted in and out of consciousness in the days before his death.

A much-loved family man, Gumbaynggir Elder, councillor and local personality, Uncle Trevor Ballangarry will be sorely missed by many in the Nambucca Valley community.

q Mourners, including fellow councillor and cousin Uncle Martin Ballangarry, farewelled Uncle Trevor Ballangarry’s coffin after a moving service inside the church.

By Paul DORIN

By Manny WOOD

Location Location Location

A WILL seeks to ensure your testamentary intentions are upheld but what happens when the will itself goes missing?

That's the situation facing Dave’s intended beneficiaries.

According to Dave's will, the majority of his estate is left to his two children from his second marriage, Harriet and Daisy and his new de facto partner, Hazel.

However, he only leaves a small legacy to his three older children from his first marriage, believing they are already financially secure.

Dave keeps his original will at home, but after he is admitted to palliative care, his eldest son, Mike, removes the document.

When Dave dies, Hazel is unable to locate the will.

Hazel’s solicitor encourages her to try and locate at least a copy of the will.

Unfortunately, Dave had used a will kit, and there is no record of the will, nor any correspondence with a solicitor regarding his intentions.

Hazel is unsure who witnessed Dave’s will and in any event, they may not have been privy to the will’s contents.

Even if there was a copy of the will, proving that it is accurate and that the original will was not intentionally destroyed by the will-maker can be a lengthy and expensive process.

The solicitor explains to Hazel, that without a will, the NSW intestacy laws dictate how the estate is divided and depending on an assessment of her relationship with Dave, the solicitor advises that she may not be eligible to inherit, and the estate could be split equally among Dave's five children, which goes against his clearly stated testamentary intentions.

This situation underscores the significance of adhering to proper procedures in drafting and safeguarding a will.

Solicitors provide secure safe custody services for crucial documents and generally keep an electronic version in a secured data environment.

It is also recommended that the testator informs the executor/s of the will’s location.

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.

Hidden cost of industrial logging

DEAR News Of The Area,

MARK Graham's cogent and heartfelt letter about the costs of industrial logging to taxpayers and the environment prompt me to tell another revealing tale of an ongoing hidden cost to fires.

A great CSIRO scientist in the NT taught me to regard ants as indicators of the health of an environment, as they recycle plant litter, eat weed seeds and perform other hidden ecosystem services.

So when we often walked in the Gibraltar Range and Washpool National Parks, we could see perhaps fifteen species all going about their business in all parts of the bush.

Then came the massive fires of 2019 and afterwards, as we grieved in the shattered ruins of the rainforest and dry savannahs, we noticed there were no ants.

None.

Even the two metre high white ant mounds were dead, turned into pottery crematoria for whole communities.

The red meat ants that kept walking tracks clear of leaf litter and swarmed out as we passed were completely gone.

The little black ants whose earthern collars presage rain were gone.

None.

We have walked and looked every five years since and the ants have not returned.

I am sure they will return eventually, and on fringes that were not burnt you can see some resettlement, but it will clearly take decades, maybe even a century to restore the functioning of these world heritage forests, heaths and hanging swamps.

In Victoria they are closing down

DEAR Jasminda,

My husband insists on having his window down in the car, regardless of the weather.

He says he feels stifled with the windows up and the air-conditioner on.

I prefer to regulate the temperature.

How do we compromise?

Belinda W.

Dear Belinda, I wonder if it's a short-haired thing.

People with short hair (or no hair) can enjoy having the windows down without worrying about the side-effects. It must feel invigorating to feel the wind on your face without the accompanying hair-whip.

My husband sounds like yours.

If we are going out, I leave with hair like Katy Perry and by the time we arrive I look like Dee Snider.

We've all become accustomed to modern living, but there was a time in the nottoo-distant past when cars with airconditioners were a luxury extra.

their entire state forestry corporation on 30 June this year.

How many more millions of taxpayer dollars will we waste before NSW makes the

In winter, getting into the car was like stepping into the deep-freeze, and in summer, you could almost smell your skin sizzling as it stuck to the seat.

Clutching the steering wheel or attempting to put on a seatbelt was a test in resilience similar to walking on hot coals.

There are times when having the window down is appealing, though.

A few spring to mind:

1. You are driving along a scenic coastal route and enjoying the salty breeze.

2. You are pretending you are Bette Midler and singing Wind Beneath My Wings.

3. You are a Golden Retriever.

Apart from those examples, it's nice to regulate the airflow and temperature.

Also, spare a thought for people in convertibles (or in Mini Mokes or on Motorcycles) who not only have to find their glasses and keys before a drive, but also their berets (or helmets), gloves, scarves, and knitted knee warmers, and in summer, lashings of SPF 50.

Carpe diem,

Jasminda

same inevitable and rational decision?

Regards, Howard DENGATE, Safety Beach

Local councils have capacity to regulate land use conflicts

DEAR News Of The Area,

THANKS for another informative, balanced article by Ned Cowie (‘Farmers call for new approach to land use conflicts’).

I agree with the NSW Farmers Branch analysis of the problem.

However one significant point is missed.

The effects caused by new entrants to the agro-industry in the Valley do not only hurt ‘traditional’ farmers, but also all residents living close by.

According to census data 2023 only some ten percent of the Nambucca Valley population draw directly their income from farming, forestry or fisheries.

Some 5000 people draw their domestic water supply from rooftops of their dwellings or sheds.

So any organisational changes should address the issues in a

balanced way for all people concerned.

And the DPI being a stakeholder is not an ‘independent’ authority, in my opinion.

All public authorities (Council, DPI, NRAR, EPA, APVMA) seem to be underresourced for their current tasks.

All, except Council, are operating state wide or even on a federal level.

They are not able to monitor and enforce adherence to regulations in 128 councils in NSW efficiently, some of them very remotely rural.

But a local council can!

Therefore my suggestion is:

1. To beef up the capacities at the Council level, starting with a reformed comprehensive DA process.

2. And enabling the council to monitor the activities in the council area, report and support the specialist authorities via a qualified Manager Environment Office and Field Ranger.

4. Adding some supervisory ‘bite’ to the function of the Minister for Local Government and the Office of Local Government.

Please be aware that I make this long term proposal despite the local council being currently still heavily influenced by some biased council members and council staff.

In pursuit of blueberry bliss they are disregarding the interests of ‘traditional’, ‘alternative’, sustainable farming and rural residents despite numerous recent formal complaints with no responses.

3. Ensuring through strengthening the supervisory planning enforcement roles of the Department Planning and Environment.

The latest issue is their continued disregard for the NLEP2010 regulation, which allows only with consent farm buildings on rural land zoned RU1 and RU2.

And so we have now, close to the Soldier’s Memorial Hall at Eungai Creek, a cluster of 65,000 sqm farm buildings, that were erected with the full knowledge of the council and without any DA process.

There will be a naming ceremony for this kind of a memorial hall of shame pretty soon.

I hope that the residents of the Valley will wake up to this extraordinary development and act accordingly at this year’s forthcoming council election and make room for a proposal for reform to proceed.

Erik VON FORELL, Nambucca Environment Network.

North Coast make promising start

By David WIGLEY

NORTH Coast Football teams kicked off round one of the Premier Youth League with two wins, two draws and a loss against Newcastle powerhouse Edgeworth Eagles on Saturday at the Coffs Coast Synthetics.

The under 16s set the tone with a stellar performance, spearheaded by a stunning goal by Harry Creaser from Bowraville.

Creaser's deftly executed shot, guided with precision

using the outside of his boot, propelled North Coast to an early 1-0 lead.

Despite Edgeworth's spirited fightback, including a close call as they struck the crossbar from a penalty kick, North Coast maintained their composure.

Revan Dalaf sealed the deal with a confident penalty strike, securing a commanding 3-0 victory for the under 16s.

In the under 18s clash, Edgeworth Eagles seized an early advantage, edging ahead 1-0.

However, North Coast's resilience came to the fore, as Loki Marchant capitalised on a set-piece opportunity.

With impeccable timing and a composed finish at the back post, Marchant levelled the scoreline to 1-1.

North Coast rattled the crossbar as they pursued to win the game which ultimately concluded in a hard-fought 1-1 draw.

North Coast triumphed

Nambucca Valley Bridge Club

By Carol MCKEE

RESULTS for week ending

Saturday 16th March 2024.

Monday 11th: 22 players. North/South winners P Booth and G Hallett with 63.54%; runners-up C Robertson and R Bateman on 55.21% East/West winners M Sullivan and P Rundle with 66.88%; runners-up J Holliday and V Walker on 58.75%

Tuesday 12th: 3 and ½ table Howell. Winners R Marshall and C McKee on 65.63%; runners-up M Cowan and B Maranik with 60.42%

Thursday 14th: 3 and

½ table Howell. Winners A and N Tupper with 67.71%; runners-up J Dyson and M Cowan on 54.17%

Saturday 16th: 22 players. North/South winners A and N Tupper with 55.21%; runners-up M Cowan and B Maranik on 54.17%. East/West winners L and J Slade with 57.5%; runners-up M Bence and R Baker on 53.13%

Urunga Wed 13th: 26 players. North/South winners P Booth and G Hallett with 60.71%; runners-up P Coe and S Parker on 57.5%. East/ West winners J Dyson and R Marshall with 69.58%; runners-up E Pellow and J Holliday on 55%

Nambucca Bowlo Report

By Charlie POTTER

MARCH 17

Wednesday saw Marg Duffus and Mark Blackford the day's winners with Luck Losers Roger McGuigan, Peter Fredericks and, unknown to me but reliably entered in the diary, P Hean Arse??? The Lucky Bowler was Roger McGuigan whose luck finally ran out lifting the jackpot to $240 next Wednesday.

3-1 in the under 13s and drew 1-1 in the 15s in a wellcontested stalemate.

However, Edgeworth Eagles asserted dominance in the under 14s encounter, securing a 5-0 victory.

North Coast head coach

Friday's bowls never got started due to rain, apart from 6 nameless dimwits who played 7 ends and got wet for nothing.

Saturday and we had a shootout, won by Jo Franck and Tas Fribbins, with Brendan Rouane and Stuart Hughes 2nd and Mark Blackford and Danny Curran 3rd.

Upcoming: Easter Shootout 30th March 11am. Open Gender 2 bowl Triples. Many thanks to our generous sponsors who have made this event possible... Prizemoney of $900, $500 $210 and $180 for 4th place, plus $30 each to lucky lead, second and skip. The format is 3 games of 12 ends then a 1 end shootout 1st v 4th, 2nd v 3rd, winners to play off in another end.

q

Greg Brown was pleased with the performances considering the disrupted pre-season.

“It’s a promising start but, to be honest we are a little under-cooked and will get better as the season progresses,” he said.

“All three of our preseason fixtures were cancelled due to hot weather and a waterlogged pitch.

“The players are starting to find their combinations and will have more penetration in the final third as the season progresses.

“On Saturday we travel to Newcastle to face the Weston Bears.

“That will be a really good test and we are looking forward to playing the best teams in Newcastle.”

Nambucca Heads Island Golf Club

By Geoffrey McCANN

WEEK ENDING SATURDAY

16th MARCH 2024.

Thank you to Marcel Towers, this week’s featured sponsor.

Edward Beaton (24) won Tuesday’s Medley Stableford with a great score of 41 points from Michael Farrugia (36) with 39 points. Other good scores from Henny Oldenhove & Denise Paluch 38 and Frank Taylor 36 – the Ball Rundown to 32 points on c/b. NTP’s to Philip Mander on 5, Russell Knight (ForsterTuncurry) on 7, Denise Paluch on 8, Garnet O’Brien won the Pizza This” voucher on 13, Henny Oldenhove won Stu’s ball on 15 and Heather Gray won the Pro Pin Jackpot on 18.

The Women played their Monthly Medal Stoke on Wednesday. Division 1 (0 to 23) was won by Deidre Fletcher (18) on c/b from Martine Murray (19) with net 71. Kerrie Eichorn won

Minor singles sheet still only has 15 names at time of scribbling this and entries close on the 29th, so be aware.

Thursday Night Twilight Bowls recommences at 6pm on the 28th after the Gnome Trophy v Urunga played last night.

So there's plenty happening... bowls, raffles, bingo, etc and schooners to be won on Saturday's races. (even more from the Souths and Broncos supporters!).

And not forgetting the great food presented by the Greens Bistro!

Gross 85. Cheryl Gilmour won Division 2 (24 to 31) with net 72 on c/b from Thea Kimber. Cheryl also won the Gross. In Division 3 (32 to 45), Kerry Shearer (36) won with net 77 from Joy Green (39) net 80. Kerry won the Gross also. The Ball Rundown to net 81 on c/b. NTP’s were won by Martine Murray, Heather Gray & Robyn Dyer on 5, Denise Paluch, Heather Gray & Lillian Lukins on 7, Henny Oldenhove won the “Pizza This” voucher on 13, Thea Kimber won the Pro Pin Jackpot in 18. Cheryl Gilmour & Rhonda Rowe won the putting with 26 putts each.

A good field of just over 100 for Thursday’s Medley Stableford. Murray Ingram (13) won Division 1 (0 to 16) with 41 points from Grahame Pond (14) from Maitland 37 points. Geoff Harris (19) won Division 2 (17 to 22) with 39 points from Neil Duffus (20) 35 points. In Division 3 (23 to 45), Graham Cass (26) won with 36 points

from Paul Maxwell (31) 35 points. Other good rounds from Ian Smith (Bonville), Greg McCoy & Phillip Frost 36 – the Ball Rundown to 32 points on c/b. Graeme Pauley won the Longest Putt on 2, other NTP’s to Graham Watson on 5, Martyn Yeomans (Coffs Harbour) on 7 (258 cms), Geoff McCann on 8, Barry Hinton won the “Pizza This” voucher on 13, Peter Thompson on 15 and Chris Thorndike won the Pro Pin Jackpot on 18. Saturday’s popular Medley 4BBB Stableford had a big field, well supported by over 20 visitors. Overall winners were Andrew Mackinnon and Stephen Doherty with 47 points from Elizabeth Hobday & Garry Johnstone 46 points on c/b from Harry Hoskin & Eden Fellows (GenY GC), John Nebauer & Colin Dunne and Ray Guiana & Scott Burley. The Ball Rundown to 42 on c/b. Frank Taylor scored the “Ecomist” loaded Stubby

Holder for the Longest Putt on 2, other NTP’s to Scott Burley on 5, Eden Fellows on 7, Christian Knight on 8, Matthew Monaghan (National GC) won the “Pizza This” voucher on 13, Robert Reid on 15 and Edward Beaton won the Pro Pin Jackpot on 18.

Some our members to play well at Macksville’s Open Day on Sunday on their impressive new course layout were Christian Knight (“A” Grade Net R/U), Geoffrey Brooks (“B” Grade Net R/U & NTP 8/17th) & Paddy Byrne (“B” Grade Net 2nd R/U).

Bookings are now open for “Darcy’s Dream Day” – 4 person Ambrose Sunday 14th April and the Easter Bowl Open 36 Hole Stableford for Men & Women on Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st March – book early through member’s Portal or at Pro Shop, as a big fields are expected.

See you on the Island.

Bowraville Golf Results

By

Julee TOWNSEND

16-3-24

SINGLE Stableford

Winner: G Gillon 37, R/ Up G Nugent 35 F/9 Cas McPherson B/9 P Fairbairn

N/P: 2nd Maz McNally, 6th D Wren L/Putt: D Franks Ball

Comp: 1. D Banks, 2. D Wren

3. K Wilson. Next Week

Single Stableford.

NEWS Bowra is Hosting a Play 9 Competition Wed &

Thurs from 8am until 25/4 and Sundays 24/3, 7 & 21 April . A chance to win a trip to the UK and Scotland to the Open Final Day at the Royal Troon! Prize value $6800.

Valleys Cricket Club are the kings of Coffs cricket

By Aiden BURGESS

THEY have been the standout team all season.

Now Valleys Cricket Club are the kings of Coffs cricket, after winning Coffs Harbour District Cricket Association’s first grade grand final.

Valleys Cricket Club won the 2023/24 premiership with a 45-run victory against Sawtell, in the two day season decider at Coffs Coast Sport and Leisure Park.

The grand final win capped off a tremendous season in which they only lost once.

Valleys Cricket Club won the toss and elected to bat, and finished all out for 179 in the 63rd over.

Alec Baldwin was the hero of the day for Valleys scoring 93 when others struggled to score.

Richie Gallichan was the pick of the bowlers for Sawtell taking 4-49 from his 19.1 overs.

David Schutt was next

best taking 3-40 from 14 overs, with Will Bailey taking 2-26 from 8 overs.

Chasing 180 for a grand final victory, Sawtell were bowled out for 134 in the 60th over.

Josh Bartlett had a top spell taking 3-23 from 19 overs, with Jamison Dawes taking 4-33 from 12.1 overs.

Competition Coordinator - Mid North Coast, David Horseman, gave a recap of the grand final.

“First grade was a very competitive game played in good spirit,” he said.

“Valleys were too strong over the weekend posting 179 runs despite a late collapse.

“Alec Baldwin starred with the bat on 93 after being dropped on a couple of occasions.

“Richie Gallichan taking 4-49 and ably assisted by Dave Schutt and Will Bailey taking three and two wickets respectively.

“The Sawtell chase was stifled when their

two opening batters were dismissed without troubling the scorers.

“This put the challengers on the back foot but some steady partnerships put them back in the contest with Trent Mitchell scoring 32 before Valleys broke through the

middle order and exposed the tail.

“Jamison Dawes took 4-33 from 12, and skipper Josh Bartlett leading the way with 3-23 from his 19 overs as Sawtell were bundled out for 134.”

win.

FROM Page 20

up a good tally of goals along the way.

“The fourth of their group games was played early on Sunday against Macleay Valley, who were a stronger opponent, but the Raiders still came away with a 3-0 win to see them top their pool without conceding a goal,” Martin said.

Maintaining their momentum on Sunday, the Raiders navigated through the final rounds flawlessly.

Martin reflected on the intense battles, particularly the hard-fought encounter against Coffs Lionesses in the semi-finals.

“Finals rounds followed with the girls facing Coffs Lionesses who had progressed after also beating the Rangers that morning.

“This was a competitive and hard fought tussle with both teams creating chances, but it was Urunga who claimed the win in the last few minutes after Bre Martin got in behind the Coffs back line to set up Kate Fry for the finish.”

With their win, the

Horseman explained what made Valleys such a strong side.

Urunga claims Challenge Cup title in grand fashion

“Valleys are made up of players from Macksville, Nambucca, Bellingen and Dorrigo, so they have a wide pool to select from,” he said.

Raiders progressed straight to the grand final.

The Lionesses then battled through their subsequent second chance games for a second matchup against Urunga in the Grand Final.

“With the benefit of time out to rethink their game strategy and the extra miles that Coffs has covered to get to the final, this game

was not a replay of the first encounter,” Martin said.

“Urunga controlled the tempo and the midfield, creating good chances throughout the game and scoring four unanswered goals,” he said.

Amidst the growing popularity of women's football, coach Martin commended the emerging talents within the club,

signaling a promising season ahead

“Some great performances from some of our younger up and coming players both in the attacking and defensive aspects of the game showcased the depth in the group.

“If our success in pre-season is any indication, we are looking strong for a promising season ahead.”

Port United won the men’s event, defeating Pymble from Sydney 1-0 in the final.

“While they have a few players that stood out, they have excellent depth and bat deep into their order.

“Definitely the top team all year.”

“If there was a senior North Coast Cricket Council representative competition, they would be very competitive at that level.

grinners: Urunga defeated Coffs City United 4-0 in the final.

q Valleys Cricket Club celebrate their grand final

Funeral Notice

Kaye Lesley Richardson

Passed away 18th March, 2024

Aged 83 years.

Late of Valla Beach. Much loved wife of Ken. Loving mother & mother in law of Sue & Steve, Rob, and Kelen & Matt.

Adored Nanna of Luke, Daniel, Lauren, Ethan, Jade, Jesse and Nathan, and great Nanna of Winona and Madison and all the great grandchildren.

Family and friends are invited to attend Kaye’s funeral service at Bernard Laverty’s Funeral Chapel, Macksville, on Thursday 28th March, 2024, commencing at 10:30am. Followed by private cremation.

Bernard Laverty Funerals

Tel: 6568 1555

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FRIDAY BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS

SEVEN, 7pm

After 30 years, we all know this veteran family lifestyle show is about more than just complicated DIY projects. Sometimes food is the hero and what better time than Easter to pander to your tastebuds. As much concerned with nourishing the soul as simplifying DIY, the friendly, inspirational content magically makes us feel like we could build or whip up anything – perhaps even an awardwinning garden? Outdoor inspiration blooms tonight with Charlie Albone, Melissa King and Graham Ross like kids in a candy store at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Colin Fassnidge also has the ultimate seasonal treat – a hot cross bun and butter pudding.

FRIDAY, March 22

1.00

Witness. (Mav, R) 2.00 House Of Gods. (Mls, R) 2.55 Cook And The Chef. (R) 3.25 Tenable. (PG, R) 4.10 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 5.10 Grand Designs. (PG, R)

7.30

SUNDAY I’M A CELEBRITY… GET ME OUT OF HERE!

TEN, 7.30pm

Fun-loving but chock-full of disgusting and terrifying challenges, this reality TV staple returns for its 10th season, along with its sparky and knowledgeable new co-host: wildlife warrior Robert Irwin. Now that Dr Chris Brown has flown the coop, Julia Morris has a fresh jungle comrade in the young and enthusiastic son of Steve Irwin, who has inherited his father’s showman-like style. Filming in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, the cast of celebrities competing can arguably rest assured knowing there’s someone who isn’t afraid of snakes or cheetahs in their midst. Tonight’s premiere reveals who’s gutsy enough to forgo creature comforts to compete for charity.

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.15 Singfest: The Literacy Of Music. (R) 10.10 Kew Gardens: Season By Season. 11.00 Food Markets: In The Belly Of The City. (PG, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Mastermind Aust. (R) 3.00 NITV News: Nula.

3.45 The Cook Up. (R) 4.15 World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00

WEDNESDAY ALONE AUSTRALIA

SBS, 7.30pm

Armed with only 10 permitted items, such as a sleeping bag, a water bottle and perhaps a toothbrush, there’s no bluffing in this extraordinary survival series.

Returning with its keenly anticipated second season after hooking audiences with its Tasmanian-set debut last year, the stakes are high for the 10 competing survivalists after no doubt taking feverish notes from reigning champion Gina Chick’s audacious feat winning the 250,000 cash prize. This time they’re in New Zealand’s South Island, where being cold takes on a painful new meaning. Featuring NSW tradesman and wild game hunter Jack and Victorian wilderness adventure guide Suzan, there’s no shortage of skill and chutzpah.

4.15

5.30

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG)

11.30 Seven Morning News.

12.00 MOVIE: The Perfect Parents. (2017, Mav, R)

2.00 House Of Wellness. (PG)

3.00 The Chase. (R)

4.00 Seven News At 4.

5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Better Homes And Gardens.

8.30 MOVIE: Maid In Manhattan. (2002, PGls, R) A US senatorial candidate falls for a mysterious woman he meets while visiting New York. However, unknown to him at the time, she is a single mother who works as a maid at the hotel where he stays. Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, Natasha Richardson.

10.45 MOVIE: Argo. (2012, Malv, R) Ben Affleck.

1.15 The Arrangement. (Mav, R)

2.30 Home Shopping.

4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R)

5.00 NBC Today.

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG)

11.30 9News Morning.

12.00 MOVIE: The Story Of Love. (2022, G, R)

2.00 Pointless. (PG)

3.00 Tipping Point. (PG)

4.00 9News Afternoon.

5.00 Tipping Point Australia. (PG)

6.00 NBN News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 3. Sydney Roosters v South Sydney Rabbitohs.

9.55 Golden Point. Post-match NRL wrap-up.

10.45 MOVIE: The Infiltrator. (2016, MA15+adlv, R) A US agent tries to bring down a drug kingpin. Bryan Cranston.

1.10 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

2.05 Pointless. (PG, R)

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)

6.00 Everyday Gourmet. (R) 6.30 My Market Kitchen. (R) 7.00 The Talk. (PGa)

6.00 Deal Or No Deal.

Hosted by Grant Denyer.

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

7.30 Ready Steady Cook.

Hosted by Miguel Maestre.

8.30 The Graham Norton Show. (Final, Mal) Irish comedian Graham Norton presents the second of two compilations of highlights from the recent series.

10.50 Albert Park All Access. (R) Commentary and analysis ahead of the race.

11.50 The Project. (R)

12.50 Fire Country. (Mmv, R)

1.40 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

2.30 Home Shopping. (R)

6.30 Back Roads: Gunbower And Torrumbarry, Victoria. (R) Presented by Heather Ewart.

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

7.30 Miniseries: Life After Life. (Masv) Part 3 of 4.

8.30 Endeavour. (Mav, R) Part 2 of 3. A crime wave of the kind more usually associated with London has taken hold of Oxford.

10.00 House Of Gods. (Ml, R) Sheikh Mohammad’s plans struggle.

11.00 Happy Valley. (Mal, R) Faisal comes under increasing pressure.

12.00 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.15 Love Your Home

And Garden. (PG, R) 10.10 Vintage Voltage.

11.00 Urban Conversion. (R) 12.00

WorldWatch. 2.00 Gymnastics. Trampoline

World Cup. H’lights. 3.10 Portillo’s Greatest

Railway Journeys. (PG, R) 5.00 Grand

Tours Of Scotland’s Rivers. (PG, R) 5.35 The American Fuhrer.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Britain’s Most Beautiful Road. (PGa)

8.30 Royal Crisis: Countdown To Abdication.

9.30 From Paris To Rome. (PG, R)

10.25 Those Who Stayed. (PGa)

11.05 Between Two Worlds. (Mal)

12.00 Suspect. (MA15+av, R)

3.30 Face To Face. (Mals, R)

4.30 Bamay. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.15 France 24 Feature.

5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise.

10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG)

12.00 Horse Racing. Golden Slipper Day and William Reid Stakes Day.

5.00 Seven News At 5.

5.30 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R)

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Football. AFL. Round 2. Sydney v Essendon. 10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion and interviews.

11.00 Lockerbie. (PGav, R) Part 1 of 4. Documents the investigation into the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.

1.20 Motor Racing. Supercars Championship. Round 2. Melbourne SuperSprint. Day 1. Highlights.

2.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Get Clever. (R) The wonders of science are explored.

5.00 House Of Wellness. (PG, R)

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.00 Today Extra:

Saturday. (PG) 12.00 Surfing Australia TV.

12.30 My Way. 1.00 Ageless. (Premiere)

1.30 Living On The Coast. (Return) 2.00

Great Australian Detour. (R) 2.30 David

Attenborough’s Dynasties II. (PGa) 3.30 Renovate Or Rebuild. 4.30 Garden Gurus. 5.00 9News First At Five. 5.30 Getaway. (PG)

Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. (2021, MA15+lv, R)

9GO! (83)

6am Fried Green

Tomatoes. Continued. (1991, PG) 7.25 Mrs Lowry And Son. (2019, PG) 9.05 Bye Bye Birdie. (1963, PG) 11.10 Undine. (2020,

Grand Designs NZ. (PG, R) 4.45

Extraordinary Escapes. (PG, R) 5.30 The ABC

Of... (Final, PG, R)

6.00 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (Final, PG, R)

6.30 Compass. (PGa)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Death In Paradise. (Mv) A water taxi driver is murdered.

8.30 House Of Gods. (Ma) Seyyed Modhaffer devises a new and risky way for Isa’s payments to be transported to Iraq.

9.30 Happy Valley. (Mal, R) Faisal comes under increasing pressure.

10.30 MOVIE: Suffragette. (2015, Malv, R)

12.15 Significant Others. (MA15+s, R)

1.05 Rage Vault. (MA15+adhlnsv)

4.00 Catalyst. (R)

5.00 Insiders. (R)

6.00 Morning Programs. 12.30 PBS

Washington Week With The Atlantic. 12.55

Swan Football. (R) 1.00 Motorcycle Racing.

Australian Superbike C’ship. Round 2. H’lights. 4.00 Motor Racing. World Rally-Raid C’ship. Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. H’lights. 5.00

Wonders Of Scotland. (PG, R) 5.30 Harbour

From The Holocaust. (PGavw, R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Unlocking The Secrets Of The Nazca Lines. (PGa)

8.20 Bettany Hughes: Treasures Of Cyprus. (PGas, R)

9.15 A Year From Space. (PGavw, R)

10.35 Latest Secrets Of The Hieroglyphs. (R)

11.35 Beyond The Cut.

11.40 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Gent-Wevelgem. Men’s race.

2.45 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Gent-Wevelgem. Women’s race.

4.00 Going Places. (PG, R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature.

5.30 Al Jazeera.

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise.

10.00 Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 House Of Wellness. (PG, R) 1.00 Jabba’s School Holiday

Movie Special. (PGahv, R) 1.30 MOVIE: Storm Boy. (2019, PGal, R) 3.30 Border Security. (PG, R) 4.00 Better Homes. (R)

5.00 Seven News At 5.

5.30 Sydney Weekender.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Australian Idol. (PGl)

8.30 Lockerbie. (PGav) Part 3 of 4. The FBI case against the two suspects is strong but circumstantial.

10.50 Quantum Leap. (Mav)

11.50 Motor Racing. Supercars Championship. Round 2. Melbourne SuperSprint. Day 2. Highlights.

12.50 MOVIE: Jesse Stone: Sea Change. (2007, Msv, R)

3.00 Home Shopping. (R)

6.00 Fishing Aust. (R) 6.30 ACA. (R) 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 Wide World Of Sports. (PG) 11.00 NRL Sunday Footy Show. (PG)

1.00 Fish Forever.

1.30 Drive TV.

2.00 Space Invaders. (PGl, R)

3.00 Rugby League. NRL. Round 3. Parramatta Eels v Manly Sea Eagles.

6.00 What’s Up Down Under. (R) 6.30

6.30 Ready Steady Cook. (R) Hosted by Miguel Maestre.

7.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) Narrated by Mark Coles Smith.

8.40 The Dog House. (PGa) A family considers an energetic cockapoo pup who their seven-year-old immediately falls in love with.

9.40 Ambulance Australia. (Ma, R) NSW Ambulance delivers a baby and saves a four-year-old with a critical heart condition.

10.40 Ambulance UK. (Mlm, R)

11.55 So Help Me Todd. (PGa, R)

12.50 FBI: International. (Mav, R)

1.30 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power.

9GO! (83)

6.00 Mass. 6.30 Key Of David. (PGa) 7.00 Joseph Prince. 7.30 Good Chef Bad Chef. (R) 8.00 Everyday Gourmet With Justine Schofield. (R)

8.30 Motor Racing. Formula 1. Round 3. Australian Grand Prix. Day 3. 5.00 10 News First.

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

7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (Return, PGals) A group of Aussie celebrities competes in a test of survival in the wilds of Africa.

9.30 NCIS: Hawai’i. (Mv, R) When a US Navy seaman is involved in a murder, the NCIS team is called to work the case on their day off. Lucy is surprised to find out Whistler turned down a promotion in Washington, DC, to stay in Hawaii.

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

12.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

(R)

3.25 Tenable. (Final, R)

4.15 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

5.10 Grand Designs. (R)

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.20 Kew Gardens: Season By Season. (Final) 11.10 Food Markets:

In The Belly Of The City. (PGa, R) 12.10 WorldWatch. 2.00 Druids: The Mystery Of Celtic Priests. (PGa, R) 3.00 Mastermind Aust. (R) 3.45 The Cook Up. (R) 4.15 World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

24 Hours In Emergency. (Ma) 10.15 SBS World News Late. 10.45 Christian. (Premiere, MA15+d)

11.35 Darkness: Those Who Kill. (Mav, R)

3.10 Mastermind Australia. (R)

Bamay. (R)

6.00

7.00

And Away. (PGa)

7.30 Australian Idol. (Final, PGl) Hosted by Ricki-Lee and Scott Tweedie.

9.00 The Irrational. (Mav) Alec takes a case involving a young burn victim and arson that forces him to confront some trauma from his past.

11.00 The Latest: Seven News.

11.30 S.W.A.T. (Mav) 12.30 MOVIE: Until We Are Safe. (2016, MA15+av, R)

SBS MOVIES (32)

7MATE (64)

6am A Monster

In Paris. Continued. (2011, French) 6.40 To Sir, With Love. (1967, PG) 8.40 Belle And Sebastian 2. (2015, PG, French) 10.30 Room. (2015, M) 12.40pm Angels Wear White. (2017, M, Mandarin) 2.40 Capricorn One. (1977, PG) 4.55 Modern Times. (1936, PG, No dialogue) 6.30 Breaker Morant. (1980, PG) 8.30 Das Boot. (1981, M, German) 11.10 Late Programs.

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs. (PGa, R) 10.00 Wonderful World Of Baby Animals. (PG, R) 10.50 Mountain Vets. (Premiere, Ma) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 The 2010s. (M, R) 3.00 Mastermind Aust. (R) 3.45 The Cook Up. (R) 4.15

6.00

9.30 Dateline.

10.00 SBS World News Late.

10.30 Great British Railway Journeys. (R)

11.05

6.00 Deal Or No Deal.

Hosted by Grant Denyer.

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

7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (PGals) Hosted by Julia Morris and Robert Irwin.

9.00 FBI: Most Wanted. (Mv, R) The team is called to Vermont after a couple growing illegal marijuana massacre their employees.

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

12.00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings.

9GO! (83)

NITV (34)

6.00 Deal Or No Deal.

Hosted by Grant Denyer.

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

7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (PGals) Hosted by Julia Morris and Robert Irwin.

9.00 NCIS. (Mv, R) The team investigates the case of a US Navy reservist whose body was found in a car at a gun range.

10.00 NCIS: Los Angeles. (Mv, R) An ATF agent goes missing.

11.00 The Project. (R)

3.15 Mastermind Aust. (R) 4.15 Bamay. (R)

Blackout: Tomorrow Is Too Late. (Final, Mlnsv) 12.00 Miniseries: Bonnie And Clyde. (MA15+lsv, R) 12.30 Vise Le Coeur. (MA15+a, R)

4.50 Destination Flavour Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS MOVIES (32)

6am Breaker

Morant. Continued. (1980, PG) 7.20 Oliver! (1968, PG) 10.00 Das Boot. (1981, M, German) 12.45pm In The Heat Of The Night. (1967, M) 2.50 To Sir, With Love. (1967, PG) 4.45 Belle And Sebastian 2. (2015, PG, French) 6.35 Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael. (1990, PG) 8.30 Annie Hall. (1977, M) 10.15 Miss Marx. (2020, M) 12.10am Late Programs. 5.55 Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael. (1990, PG)

7MATE (64)

9GO! (83)

12.00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings.

NITV (34)

5.15 Grand Designs. (R)

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs. (PGa, R) 10.00 Wonderful World Of Baby Animals. (PG, R) 10.55 Mountain Vets. (Ma) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Dateline. (R) 2.30 Insight. (R) 3.45 The Cook Up. (R) 4.15 World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Alone Australia. (Return, Ml)

8.30 Jimmy Carr’s I Literally Just Told You. (Mals)

9.25 Miniseries: Litvinenko. (Ma)

10.20 SBS World News Late.

10.50 Blinded. (MA15+s)

11.45 The Wall: The Orchard. (Return, Mals)

3.05 Mastermind Australia. (R)

4.05 Going Places With Ernie Dingo. (PG, R)

4.35 Bamay. (R)

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

6.00

6.00 Deal Or No Deal.

Hosted by Grant Denyer.

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

7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (PGals) The celebrities face the ultimate test of the jungle, all in the hope of winning money for their chosen charity.

9.00 FBI: International. (Mav) The team delves into a case involving an American who killed an elderly German man in Berlin.

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

12.00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings.

My

6.00 News. 9.00 News. 10.00 Aust Story. (R) 10.30 Compass. (PGa, R) 11.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Big Deal. (Ml, R) 2.00 Parliament. 3.00 Cook And The Chef. (R) 3.25 Prince Charles: Inside The Duchy Of Cornwall. (R)

4.15 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

5.15 Grand Designs. (R)

8.00

8.30

SBS MOVIES (32)

6am Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael. Continued. (1990, PG) 7.50 The Color Purple. (1985, PG) 10.35 Salvation Boulevard. (2011, M) 12.25pm Annie Hall. (1977, M) 2.05 Modern Times. (1936, PG, No dialogue) 3.40 Breaker Morant. (1980, PG) 5.40 Hamlet. (1948, PG) 8.30 Minari. (2020, PG, Korean) 10.40 Kodachrome. (2017, M) 12.40am Birds Of Passage. (2018, MA15+, Spanish) 3.00 Late Programs.

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs. (PGa, R) 10.00 Wonderful World Of Baby Animals. (PGa, R) 10.50 Mountain Vets. (Ma) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Alone Australia. (Ml, R) 3.00 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 Mastermind Australia.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Bettany Hughes: Treasures of Bulgaria. (PGa)

8.30 Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy.

9.20 The Vanishing Triangle. (Malsv)

10.10 SBS World News Late.

10.40 Illegals. (Malsv)

11.40 La Jauria. (MA15+sv, R)

3.30 Mastermind Australia. (R)

4.30

1.10

2.10

4.30

5.30

SBS MOVIES (32)

6am Hamlet. Continued. (1948, PG) 7.50 Minari. (2020, PG, Korean) 10.00 Miss Marx. (2020, M) Noon Quiet Bliss. (2014, M, Italian) 2.20 Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael. (1990, PG) 4.15 Coco Avant Chanel. (2009, PG, French) 6.20 What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. (1993, PG) 8.30 The Wife. (2017, M) 10.25 Ammonite. (2020, MA15+) 12.35am Late Programs.

7MATE (64)

9GO! (83)

NITV (34)

10.30

6.00 Deal Or No Deal.

6.30 The Project.

7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (PGals) Hosted by Julia Morris and Robert Irwin.

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

9.30 Law & Order: SVU. (Mv, R) Rollins struggles on her return to work.

10.30 Blue Bloods. (Ma, R)

11.30 The Project. (R)

12.30 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 1.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings.

7MATE (64)

9GO! (83)

NITV (34)

Raiders reign supreme

q Urunga (maroon) won the Women’s 2024 Challenge Cup.

By David WIGLEY

THE Urunga Raiders clinched the 2024 Challenge Cup title with a commanding 4-0 victory over defending champions Coffs City United in a thrilling final showdown.

Entering the tournament on the heels of a victorious campaign at the Viking Challenge six-a-side competition in Forster, the Raiders were brimming with confidence.

First team coach Trevor Martin offered valuable insights into their journey over the two-day event.

“Saturday saw the girls win their three opening matches comfortably, clocking CONTINUED Page 13