Port Stephens News Of The Area 21 September 2023

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Community turns out in numbers to discuss offshore wind farms

By Marian SAMPSON

MORE than 200 concerned community members gathered at the Nelson Bay Community Hall on Sunday to discuss how potential wind farms off the coast of Port Stephens could impact their livelihoods and the environment.

Many attendees believe the Federal Government’s initial consultation period failed to engage the majority of the community.

Rhys Westbury, one of the Port Stephens locals leading the pushback against the offshore wind proposal, is hopeful that together the community can address the issues potential renewable energy developments may bring with them.

CONTINUED Page 2

Will

By Marian SAMPSON

q Whale lovers: Irene Jones, Rhys Westbury and Heather Callister at the community meeting on Sunday.

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Port Stephens community turns out in numbers to discuss offshore wind farms

FROM Page 1

“It was outlined that we were approached as a community, whereas we find that there is a gap in communication between the government and us,” he said.

Westbury is also calling on the community to ask questions of Federal Environment Minister Chris Bowen.

Frank Future, Chairman of the Marine Parks Association and one of the founders of the whale watching industry in the region, also addressed the room.

“There is a custodial generation in front of me,” Mr Future said.

“I know that all of you here care about our waterways, our beautiful natural environment.

“The Marine Park Association is a voluntary group composed primarily of Port Stephens locals that care about our waterways and our unique pristine environment that we live in and share.

“When you sail out there today, apart from seeing Point Stephens Lighthouse, it probably looks much the

q Rhys Westbury is one of the campaigners who is determined to see complete and transparent community consultation and environmental impact studies before offshore wind farms are built off the pristine Hunter coast.

same as it did when Captain Cook came sailing by in 1770.

“We don’t have houses across the tops of the cliffs, it is just an amazing pristine natural environment.”

There was a show of support from the floor indicating that most of those present at the meeting are supporters of renewable energy.

“I support renewable energy, but it is also good to have it in the right place,” Mr Future said.

One of the challenges for

the declared Hunter wind zone is that it sits within one of the busiest shipping channels in the country.

There have been multiple shipwrecks and maritime disasters in the region over the years including the wreck of the Signa and the beaching of the Pasha Bulker.

The YM Efficiency also lost 80 shipping containers off Port Stephens in June 2018.

Locals continue to express their concerns about the ability of the wind farms

to survive the increasingly violent storms off the Port Stephens and Hunter coast. "It's a project that

is fraught with possible problems and we will be the ones, here in Port Stephens, that will be copping what

q Frank Future, Chairman of the Marine Parks Association, believes offshore wind is not the right answer for the environment or our region.

McDonald Cl 16-2023-512-1 Shed

BAY 6 Bayview St 16-2023-521-1 Alterations/additions to existing dwelling

Pillinda Court 16-2023-507-1 New 2 bedroom dwelling, pool and retaining walls 17 Government Rd 16-2015-729-2 S4.55(1) Modification approved community/ childcare facility –amend kitchen design 37 Irambang St 16-2023-262-2 S4.55(1A) Modification swimming pool –consent amendment

comes out of it,” Mr Future said.

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SAVE THE KOALA MONTH

SEPTEMBER 2023

Did you know that Port Stephens is home to one of the last remaining koala populations on the east coast of Australia? It’s essential that Council and the community work together to protect koalas and their local habitats. For more information please visit pscouncil.info/koalas

SCAVENGER HUNT LAUNCH

SUNDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2023

We've teamed up with Newy with Kids to develop a fun Scavenger Hunt for kids around Nelson Bay! Join us for the official launch between 10am and 4pm. Come along to do the Scav Hunt and enjoy FREE face painting, Hunter Heroes and craft! If you can't make it to the launch event, you can complete the Scav Hunt any time you're at the Bay – this is a permanent, free activity for all ages!

PROJECTS AND WORKS

WHAT’S HAPPENING NEAR YOU

Go to pscouncil.info/projectsandworks to learn about major projects in your area.

media@newsofthearea.com.au

Ar t Walk

Launch event

Join us for the launch of the new Nelson Bay Art Walk, celebrating the vibrancy and colour of spectacular murals and artworks dotted around Nelson Bay. These artworks showcase the skills and talents of the local Port Stephens artists who created them.

1 hour guided tour Sat 7 Oct, 11am and 1:30pm Sun 8 Oct, 11am and 1:30pm

Free 1 hour guided tour departing from the Visitor Information Centre. Learn about each artist and their work.

Bookings essential – call the Visitor Information Centre on 1800 808 900 to reserve your spot.

Photo: Marian Sampson.

FROM Page 1

offshore wind farms off the Hunter coast, citing negative impacts to local tourism ventures and food security.

“I can’t agree with a wind farm going in off here that is two times the size of Canberra,” James McArthur of Moonshadow TQC said.

“It is a 40 year industry that has been built here, not just by us, but by Imagine, Let’s Go Dive Adventures etc.

“There are so many people that use the waters here.

“It’s the fishers, the game fishers, and I just don’t think they have thought about the ramifications for those pockets of industry and the recreational users.”

The tourism industry in the region has been promoting the benefits of ecotourism for the last 20 to 30 years.

Moonshadow TQC has been certified as an Advanced Ecotourism business since 2000.

“We promote our business and this region internationally and that is a big deal for us, because we have to be able to go to market and be sure that that product is secure.

“Think of the millions of dollars that us, Frank (Future) and others have spent over the last 40 or so years getting that in place and now potentially that is all in danger.”

Destination Port Stephens reports that 1.6 million people visit our region each year, spending $669 million dollars within the local economy.

These figures consistently continue to grow, especially post-COVID.

There are over 3,500 jobs in tourism in the region and this increases from the shoulder tourism season into the peak season.

“People want to come here to see what’s out there.

“They have just created the Tomaree Coastal Walk,” Mr McArthur said.

“Whale watching is worth $2 billion dollars worldwide.

“The whale watching

industry is potentially going to be affected.”

It is believed 40,000 whales now migrate annually up the humpback highway off the coast of Port Stephens, some even entering the Bay.

“They travel through the shelf, the path of the whales and the migration goes directly through where these wind farms are (proposed),” Mr McArthur said.

“Our concerns are the effects on marine life, the annual migration of the whales, common dolphin pods, the Australian fur seals, the migratory species of birds.

“All of the tourism operations have been built around the wildlife - it is what we have been doing for years - and it’s generational.

“They may not have answers now but what happens in 50 years?

“It is all very well to say it hasn’t hurt a whale, or only a couple of birds have died in the last few years, but they don’t know what is going to happen in the next 50 years.

“They can’t guarantee that it isn’t going to affect anything

in 50, 60 or 70 years.”

Will offshore wind farms threaten tourism and food security?

Commercial and recreational fishing bodies are concerned about the impact of offshore wind development on key fishing and spawning grounds.

Fears are also held that if overseas models are repeated, fishers will have access to fishing spots limited due to safety and potential damage to infrastructure.

Prawns spawn in the Hexham wetlands and the Myall Lakes and river system and the Australian Fishing Association has already raised concerns about what the wind farms will mean to these currently sustainablyfished delicacies.

A range of pelagic fish including tuna, swordfish, mahi mahi and Stockton Bight prawns are all sourced from the proposed wind farm zone. There are over 100 commercial fishers working in the Newcastle and Port Stephens region, all of whom contribute to our region’s food security.

Tricia Beatty, CEO of the Australian Fishing

Association said, “We as an industry have significant concerns about the connecting cables - how are we going to generate electricity and get it back to land?

“Nobody is talking to us about how many cables, where they are going to be, what area they are going through in these significantly important grounds.

“The companies we are talking with are saying there are some critical reefs that we would have to put the cables over - those cables too are significantly impacting.

“Three areas of impact - underwater noise, the electromagnetic fields and the water turbulence - these concerns are backed by research.”

Community panel to shape Hunter Water’s 2025-2030 price proposal

HUNTER Water is calling for community members who receive an invitation in the mail to register their interest to participate in a representative community panel, which will help shape the future services provided by Hunter Water between now and the end of the decade.

The community panel is one of the final engagement stages for Hunter Water’s submission to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), which will set Hunter Water’s prices from 2025 to 2030 and include projects and services that are a priority for our customers and community.

Hunter Water has already heard from almost 6,000 people so far this year about what is important to them via earlier prioritisation surveys, bill simulations and focus groups.

Now, they are launching into a third stage of engagement to inform their pricing proposal.

Hunter Water Managing Director Darren Cleary said the feedback Hunter Water has heard so far will be provided to a new

community panel, which will be statistically representative of Hunter Water’s customer and community segments, and selected at random to remove biases.

“The 45-person panel will meet over five days from November to March to consider evidence, deliberate, make trade-offs, and provide consensus recommendations on behalf of the entire community,” said Mr Cleary.

“One of the main tasks for the panel will be helping us to strike the right balance of keeping bills affordable and providing the services our customers and community want from us.

“Working with an independent engagement expert, we’ve sent invitations to register interest in being part of the community panel to 12,000 randomly selected customers and community members in the Lower Hunter

region.

“We are faced with some important decisions that will impact customer bills. We need the community’s help to determine how we balance providing reliable, high-quality services and securing our water future, protecting the environment and creating a positive legacy for future generations, while also keeping downward pressure on prices,” said Mr Cleary.

In recognition of the five-day commitment involved, Hunter Water will pay panel members $170 per full-day session they attend.

More information about Hunter Water’s pricing proposal can be found at www. hunterwater.com.au/haveyoursay/20252030-price-proposal

q Moonshadow

TQC representative James McArthur speaking at a public meeting on the offshore wind farm proposal. Photo: Marian Sampson.

EDF: Offshore wind won’t go ahead

in and then you have to work out your impact on those species.

By Doug CONNOR

A LEADING global developer of renewable energy projects says if impact studies find the negative impacts of developing offshore wind farms off the Hunter coast to be too great, the wind farms simply won’t be built.

Dave Johnson is the CEO of EDF Renewables Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of the EDF Group, the second largest generator of electricity in the world and the fifth largest generator of renewable energy.

EDF has its eyes on developing an offshore wind project, known as Newcastle Offshore Wind, in the recently declared 1854 square kilometre Hunter offshore wind zone, and is currently in the process of applying for a Feasibility Licence to explore options for development within the zone.

It should be noted that multiple offshore wind developers, both Australian and international, are likely to apply for a feasibility licence, with industry insiders believing the number of applicants could be as high as 15.

If said licence is granted, EDF will be required to complete rigorous studies and surveys into the impacts of offshore wind development on the declared zone and the surrounding areas.

“Whether you are developing a solar farm, an onshore wind farm or whatever it is, you have to follow the Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) process.

“You have to study the environment, you have to work out what's there, you have to rank those species as to whether they are threatened, endangered or whichever category they are

“From obtaining a licence to declaring a successful project, that's five to seven years of work of doing studies and surveys, doing geotechnical and geophysical investigations, studying the marine environment, working out the impact on fishing, whales and dolphins.

“We need to understand the geotechnical conditions of the seabed.

“We need to understand the geophysical conditions - wind and wave conditions, current conditions, the wind resource itself.

“If your impact is too great then you're not going to get an environmental approval.”

Mr Johnson told News Of The Area that EDF Renewables Australia recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Newcastle to engage in studying the zone.

“We met with the Vice Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky and we want to use the University of Newcastle to help us do all those studies and surveys.

“That provides that level of independence as well.

“They are very strong in the marine ecology area, so we want them to help us and tell us what the constraints and limitations are.”

It is also likely that offshore proponents will collaborate on studies in order to quantify the cumulative impact of all the projects on the total zone.

Construction cannot begin until the feasibility stage is complete, and environmental and other approvals are in place.

CAN FISHING COEXIST WITH OFFSHORE WIND?

A major discussion point since the announcement of the Hunter offshore wind zone has been the potential impact on commercial and recreational fishing.

Mr Johnson urges

patience from fishers, noting international examples where compromise has been reached between offshore wind proponents and the fishing industry.

“France has a very large commercial fishery so the negotiations and interactions with the commercial fishing industry took a long time but they reached agreement.

“At the (offshore wind farm) I was at a couple of months ago we have agreed with the fishing industry that they can fish in between the turbines now.

“There are no exclusion zones – as long as you are a registered fisherman in that region, you are allowed to fish there.

“That certainly wasn’t the starting position, but that was what has been agreed.”

JOB CREATION AND TRANSITION

Mr Johnson believes the Hunter region is uniquely prepared for the development of an offshore wind industry locally, with a high supply of skilled workers needing to transition from the coal industry.

“In construction we are looking at over 2000 jobs for a period of four years.

“In operation, it’s probably 400 jobs.

“You can generally add another 50 percent for indirect jobs.

“I think the opportunity here is to help transition existing jobs from coal industries in the next five to seven years.”

In Europe, in nations such as Poland and Germany, EDF are currently working to retrain coal workers into renewable energy roles.

“We are also working with CS Energy in Queensland, who own and operate the Callide Power Station, which is a three station coal fire powered station in Biloela.

“We have mapped the jobs they have, and the jobs, as those coal stations progressively retire, that will

become available to work with us.”

HIGHER TURBINES OR MORE TURBINES?

Following community consultation, the Hunter offshore wind zone was moved further out to sea, at a minimum distance of 20 kilometres from shore off Port Stephens, with infrastructure heights capped at 260 metres.

Mr Johnson believes this indicates the Government’s willingness to listen to the concerns of locals.

“For onshore wind, you can go through the planning approval process and receive approval for 320 metres tip height.

“So the fact that the Minister has gone 60 metres below that shows that he's seriously taken on the feedback from the local community.”

However, shorter turbines mean less energy production, which may increase the number of turbines needed to generate the 5 gigawatts of electricity the Government hopes to achieve from the zone.

“By height limiting, you can only have blades of a certain height, which means you can only produce so

many megawatts in that area.

“If you didn’t have the height limit, you could produce a lot more energy in the same footprint.”

Mr Johnson said that if the Government had approved higher turbines it may have reduced the overall visual impact of the offshore wind development.

“In many respects, it reduces the visual impact by having bigger turbines.

“If you went to the first wind farms they built in South Australia and Victoria, where they were one or two megawatt turbines, it looks very crowded with a lot of turbines.

“If you go to a modern wind farm, for example Rye Park in the Southern Highlands which is being built at the moment, they are six megawatt turbines.

“Because they are so much bigger, there are far less of them.”

WHY OFFSHORE WIND, WHY THE HUNTER AND WHY NOW?

Mr Johnson believes a mix of large-scale renewable energy sources must be developed with some urgency as the state moves away from a reliance on coal.

“NSW has about 8500 megawatts of coal powered generation which is forecast to close by 2035,” Mr Johnson said.

“That generation operates about 24/7 at the moment.

“Solar can replace a portion of it during the day when the sun is shining.

“Onshore wind can replace a portion of it when that operates.

“On the standard day off the Hunter coast, the wind picks up in the afternoon and operates all evening and in the morning.

“Offshore wind fills a renewable energy gap on a daily profile we don’t have elsewhere.

“That is really important for NSW to keep the lights on.”

Again, Mr Johnson said the Hunter region’s long standing relationship with coal provides it with unique advantages in the development of an offshore wind industry.

“The coal powered fire stations are here, so the transmission network in the Hunter is the strongest in the national electricity market.

“You can put a reasonable amount of generation here and connect it in and recycle those same transmission

q Dave Johnson is the CEO of EDF Renewables Australia.

if environmental impact too great

networks without having to build new transmission lines right through the state.

“You have a workforce, you have a port, you have a wind resource, you have the transmission lines – those are all the key factors.”

CAN WIND TURBINES BE RECYCLED?

With 25 years the typical lifespan of wind turbines, and with social images circulating of piles of turbine blades rotting away in landfill overseas, much has been made of the long term

environmental impact of offshore wind.

Mr Johnson said that the industry is currently working on strategies to improve the way blades, generally made from fibreglass, are recycled.

“In the next year we are going to decommission fifteen wind farms in Europe which are at end of life.

“EDF has made a commitment to recycle all the blades.”

Mr Johnson acknowledges images of decommissioned turbine blades languishing in landfill is “not a good look”

for the industry.

“There are shots taken in Texas where blades are going into landfill.

“That is how things were done 20 years ago - there are materials you can recycle, you just need to be willing to do it.

“There are a number of things you can do with the turbines, they range from grinding them up and using them as concrete additives, to recovering the resin from them.

“In Holland there are

Anderson named new Deputy Mayor

By Marian SAMPSON

AT Port Stephens Council’s September 12 meeting, Leah Anderson was unanimously elected as Deputy Mayor for a one year period.

Councillor Giacomo Arnott leaves the position after serving in the role for the past year.

“I am honoured to have been unanimously appointed as the Deputy Mayor of Port Stephens for the remaining term of this Council,” Deputy Mayor Leah Anderson told News Of The Area.

“It is a role I take on very seriously, as I know how important it is to have a Deputy Mayor who is willing and able to step into the Mayoral position and chair Council meetings, attend important staff meetings with the General Manager and senior leadership team, attend community functions and events, and be there for our community.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Councillor Giacomo Arnott for being an

outstanding Deputy Mayor this last year, he has set a very high standard that I will follow now that I am the new Deputy Mayor.”

Ms Anderson said that since her election as East Ward councillor she has “continued to listen, care and act for our community”.

“I have worked hard to deliver on promises, such as bringing key stakeholders together to form the Homelessness Stakeholder Advisory Group, with all three levels of government and support services at the table looking for solutions.

“I have put many motions to Council that have been supported, such as establishing the communityled Environmental Advisory Group, Street Tree Strategy, health care, and I delivered on my promise to save 109 Foreshore Drive and have the land reclassified as community land so it can not be sold.

“I chair several advisory groups and committees, such as the newly formed community led Communications and

Engagement Advisory Group, and I chair the Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management meetings.

“The list goes on.

“What I am saying is I have listened to the community and I am getting things done.

“Whenever the community has reached out to me to help them, I have done my utmost best to assist them.”

Ms Anderson said she has no plans of slowing down and is excited to continue delivering results for Port Stephens in her new role.

“I will continue to do this because that is what the people of Port Stephens elected me to do.

“I am honoured and proud and I love our Port Stephens community.

“I assure you as Port Stephens’ new Deputy Mayor I will work hard for our community each and every day,” she said.

Each year Port Stephens Councillors vote to elect their Deputy Mayor, with the next Council election to be held in September 2024.

bridges that have been built from wind turbine blades.”

Mr Johnson said that development is underway to produce blades which are fully recyclable.

“By the time these (Hunter) wind farms are

ready to be built, eight to ten years, there should be considerable advancements.

“There is a lot of work going into designing things to be recyclable rather than thinking of recycling when it is going to the rubbish dump.”

q The Saint-Nazaire Offshore Wind Farm in France off the Loire-Atlantique coast, a project managed by EDF.

q Port Stephens Council’s newly elected Deputy Mayor Leah Anderson with outgoing Deputy Mayor Giacomo Arnott.

Lindsay HALL 0430 048 398 lindsay@newsofthearea.com.au

Marian SAMPSON 0414 521 180 marian@newsofthearea.com.au

Community to protest Hunter offshore wind projects

By Doug CONNOR

A RALLY to protest the potential development of offshore wind projects off the Hunter coast will be held on Saturday, 7 October at Nelson Bay Foreshore Reserve from 10:30am.

The rally has been organised by local One Nation spokesperson Mark Watson, the Newcastle Port Stephens Game Fish Club and concerned residents of Port Stephens.

In July, the Australian Government declared an area in the Pacific Ocean off the Hunter as suitable for future offshore wind development.

not properly consulted prior to the declaration of the offshore wind zone.

“There have been multiple calls for more consultation which has fallen on deaf ears,” Mr Watson said.

The zone was declared following a 65 day public consultation period from 23 February to 28 April 2023.

and the shape adjusted, with infrastructure heights limited to 260 metres.

The majority of submissions expressed concerns about the environment and visual impacts.

coal-fired power plants to offshore renewables.

The transition to sustainable, low-emissions energy sources was also widely supported.

No offshore wind projects have yet been approved for the Hunter zone.

For potential offshore wind proponents, the next step is to apply for a feasibility licence.

This included the potential impact of turbines on endangered migratory bird species as well impacts on whales, dolphins, and other sea life.

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

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The declared Hunter area covers 1,854 square kilometres (km) between the Central Coast and Port Stephens and is 20 km from the coast in the north and over 35 km from the coast in the south.

The consultation included seven community information sessions from 6 March to 9 March 2023 in Wamberal, Doyalson, Swansea, Newcastle, Bar Beach, Nelson Bay, and Hawks Nest.

The application period for such licences opened on 8 August and will close on 14 November 2023.

Tracey BENNETT 0484 263 558 tracey@newsofthearea.com.au

The Government believes the zone has the potential to generate up to five gigawatts of renewable wind energy, enough to power an estimated 4.2 million homes.

Renewable energy benefits aside, a growing number of Port Stephens residents have expressed concern about the suitability of the location for such a project, citing potential negative impacts to the tourism industry, commercial and recreational fishing, the marine environment and wildlife.

The visibility of offshore wind projects from the Port Stephens coast has also been raised as an issue.

“The area it is destined for is right in the middle of arguably Australia’s best game fishing grounds, it will also hinder whale migration and may have an impact on marine life,” Mark Watson said in a statement to media last week.

“It will most certainly impact tourism to the area and could impact small businesses.”

Mr Watson indicated that several state and federal MPs from various parties had been invited to attend the rally.

Opponents of the offshore wind proposal feel that they were

1916 submissions were received in response to the area being proposed.

As a result of public feedback, the size of the declared zone was reduced

Shipping impacts were also repeatedly raised, including the risk to safe management of vessel traffic in and around the area.

A number of submissions also expressed support for the development of an offshore wind industry, including the opportunity for a transition of skilled workers from retiring

During the feasibility stage, licence holders must undertake detailed environmental assessments and further stakeholder consultation to advance their specific project proposals.

Construction cannot begin until the feasibility stage is complete, and environmental and other approvals are in place.

AFTER years of community campaigning, the NSW Government has announced they will deliver a new public high school in Medowie.

Hunter River High School and Irrawang High School will also receive major upgrades.

The Minns Labor Government will invest more than $1.4 billion over four years to deliver a massive pipeline of new and upgraded schools across regional NSW.

“Communities across regional NSW have been crying out for urgently needed schools and school upgrades but under the previous Liberal National Government they were left behind,” Deputy Premier and Minister

for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said.

“Whether it is new builds, expanded facilities, or significant upgrades, the Minns Labor Government will get the job done because we know the importance of a good education.”

Minister for Regional and Western New South Wales Tara Moriarty said, “A $1.4 billion investment in school facilities for regional people is a big win that I am very

proud of our government being able to deliver.

“Regional areas have had their educational needs badly neglected over the last decade, and we are turning around that situation in the first Minns Labor Government budget.

“The strong commitment to enhancing regional education facilities reflects our strong commitment to regional people across all of Government.”

Port Stephens Council’s 2016 Medowie Planning Strategy predicts more than 7,000 new residents will call

Medowie home by the mid2030s.

Medowie to receive long-awaited high school

Land has been allocated for the high school since 1983 and the local primary schools continue to grow, with Medowie Public School at 117 percent capacity with 351 students and Wirreanda Public School at 123 percent capacity with 625 students. More than a thousand students from Medowie and the surrounding areas are currently forced to bus to other high schools further afield because they have no access to a local high school.

Man caught allegedly driving at 224km/h in 100km/h zone

14 September 2023, when they detected a sedan allegedly travelling at high speed.

Police will allege in court, the vehicle’s speed was

Chris KARAS 0400 819 153 chris@newsofthearea.com.au media@newsofthearea.com.au

recorded at 224km/h in a signposted 100km/h zone on Nelson Bay Road at Fullerton Cove. The 23-year-old male driver was stopped

and issued a Field Court Attendance Notice (FCAN) for exceed speed greater than 45km/h, and drive speed/ manner dangerous. His licence was

suspended, and his number plates seized for three months.

He will appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 26 October 2023.

q The declared Hunter zone was reduced after public consultation. Photo: Earthstar Geographics.

Repairs lag on Corlette Point walking track

By Marian SAMPSON

AS the storms of March 2021 become a distant memory, the scars they left behind will take longer to heal.

Port Stephens Council worked hard to get the new bridge installed over the culvert at Foreshore Drive, however other works have continued to languish despite the community advocating for funded projects to be completed.

The popular walking track at Corlette Point was washed out in the storms.

The track features a set of concrete stairs leading from the Anchorage up onto a headland walk of around two kilometres, linking the walk along the foreshore from the Tomaree Coastal Walk at Shoal Bay through to Nelson Bay, around Salamander Bay and the Mambo Wanda Wetlands and on to Soldiers Point.

All of which can be traversed on dedicated walking or cycling tracks and through parklands and foreshore reserves.

Sadly the track has fallen into disuse, with a landslip making it unsafe to traverse.

Now, some of the stairways on the bush track are becoming overgrown due to a lack of foot traffic.

Port Stephens Council’s Asset Section Manager, John Maretich told News Of The Area, “During the March 2021 storms, a landslip occurred on a small section of the informal walking track at Corlette Point.

“Council received funding from the first round of NSW State Government Disaster Recovery Funding to repair this landslip, among other projects.

“Our capital works program prioritises road repairs, rehabilitation and upgrades and the current program focuses on a number of important projects across the LGA that meet this priority, including the works at Little Beach, Avenue of the Allies, Marine Drive at Fingal Bay and Teramby Road at Nelson Bay.

“The repair works of the Corlette Point walking track will be scheduled in our future capital works programming and will be completed before December 2024.”

Locals are disappointed that this funded work is not already in the schedule of future capital works when it was impacted in March 2021

and funded in the first round of NSW State Government Disaster Recovery Funding. For regular walkers this deadline for completion is somewhat of a blow - Council has committed to repairing the track within 45 months of the time when the damage occurred.

Marylou Stubbs, President of Business Port Stephens told News Of The Area, “Much of our business community is reliant on the tourist trade, and whilst some key areas impacted in the 2021

storms have been rectified, it’s critical that we continue to push for all remedial work to be completed within reasonable timeframes.

“These tracks, including Corlette Point, form a crucial part of the attraction to our region for those who enjoy exploring nature and the vistas on these off-road treks.

“Maintaining walking tracks and their ease of navigation will continue to enhance our appeal to our target tourism markets,” she said.

DEAR BUSINESS OWNERS

caught allegedly driving at 224km_h in 100km_h zone

q The signage at the commencement of the walk adjacent to the Anchorage Resort. Photo: Marian Sampson.

q Les’s Lookout, which takes in one of the bushy vistas on the walk. Photo: Marian Sampson.

q The washout along the track.

Port Stephens takes to street in support of Yes vote

By Marian SAMPSON

MASS marches took place around the country over the weekend in support of the Yes campaign in the Voice to Parliament referendum.

With the October 14 vote rapidly approaching, Port Stephens Yes supporters hit the streets of Raymond Terrace on Sunday 17 September to partake in a national day of action.

In attendance was Port Stephens Councillor Peter Francis, who told News Of The Area, “It was my great honour and privilege to take part in the Walk for Yes at Raymond Terrace today.

“The yes vote is long overdue," Mr Francis said.

"As a First Fleet descendant with a well documented family history, I grew up on Darugh land without knowing that it was Darugh land and that there was a language and culture still alive on the land.

“We were not taught

to respect the traditional owners and knowledge holders.

“That needs to stop if we are to walk together to a better and more promising future.

“I pay my respects to Uncle John Ridgeway, who has taught and shared with me so much about our local Worimi Aboriginal culture,” he said.

Recent Newspoll polling suggests around 53 percent of Australians are against the proposed change to the constitution, up from 37 percent in February.

On referendum day, voters will be asked to vote 'yes' or 'no' on a single question.

The question on the ballot paper will be: “A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

“Do you approve this proposed alteration?”

The proposed law that

Australians are being asked to approve at the referendum would insert the following lines into the Constitution:

“Chapter IX Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

“129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice

“In recognition of

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:

• there shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;

• the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to

the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;

• the Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect

to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.”

For more information on the Voice, visit https://voice. gov.au/.

St Philip’s Fair returns with action-packed program

By Pat JENSEN

A COMMUNITY staple for more than 25 years, the action-packed St Philip’s Christian College (SPCC) Fair returns on Friday October 13 from 3-8pm.

A fireworks display will complete the evening at 7:45pm.

Last year's Fair was a major success, with an estimated 5000 guests showing up to enjoy the entertainment as the sun set on a lovely spring day.

“Following a few years of COVID interruptions, 2022 was the second Friday Night Fair to go forward and community involvement and visitor numbers exceeded all expectations,” said SarahJane Day, Fair Coordinator.

The Fair not only helps grow the school community, but the gold coin entry

fee also contributes to the College Fund - which goes towards creating a better learning environment for the school’s students.

“This fundraising has helped to provide the school with new gym equipment, school bus purchases, sound equipment, sport marquees and a ninja-style playground which has been a welcome and much loved addition to the playground for both our students and our OOSH attendees.

“This year, we would like to raise funds to refurbish the BBQ area.

“This area has been used twice a week for many years by ‘Breakfast Club’ and on a regular basis for many school and community events,” said Sarah-Jane.

“Our live entertainment schedule involves both students of St Philip’s and

other local students.

“We have invited a number of dance studios to perform, together with the in-house SPCC dance groups.

“Young musicians from around the area will perform, including a local youth band,” Sarah-Jane said.

Before the firework finale, DJ Junior will have everyone up on their feet for a boogie.

“Additionally, there are plenty of activities to entertain all age groups.

“We have carnival rides, a petting zoo, side show alley, roving superheroes, market stalls, an amazing line-up of food trucks, face painting, cake stall, fire truck and other community groups,” said Sarah-Jane.

There is a bigger picture to the Fair than just a fundraiser and a fun night though.

“The event operates on the premise of four goals,”

Sarah-Jane said.

“Two in particular are to provide a memorable experience for attendees and to build community.

“With approximately fifty local organisations involved it is a great way to build relationships and form partnerships.

“It also offers our students an opportunity to give back to the community.

“Post-COVID, it is wonderful to see large crowds of people interacting again and to see smiles on the faces of children having the time of their lives.

“Although organising an

event of this size involves a great deal of planning and hard work, it is well worth it, knowing people have walked away with a good feeling and a great memory,” she said.

The Fair is held at the College, located at 182 Salamander Way, Salamander Bay.

at 7:45pm.

q Walkers at the Raymond Terrace Walk for Yes event on the weekend.

q The fireworks display will begin

q The Fair will feature carnival rides, a petting zoo, side show alley, roving superheroes, market stalls, an amazing line-up of food trucks and much more.

Breast Cancer Support Group to hold Pink Breakfast fundraiser

By Pat JENSEN

ON Wednesday 18 October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Tomaree Breast Cancer Support Group (TBCSG) is hosting a Pink Breakfast fundraiser at Soldiers Point Bowling Club.

“October is a time to raise awareness of breast cancer,” said Sarah Smith from the local support group.

“Over 20,000 people, women and men, are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

“This equates to one in seven women and one in 555 men.

“Whilst diagnosis has increased over the past ten years, the five year survival rate has gone from 76 percent to 92 percent,” Sarah told News Of The Area.

Tickets for the breakfast are selling fast.

Doors open at 7am for a 7:30am start, with the event wrapping up at 9:30am.

Taylors Bistro will be providing a delicious breakfast and a glass of bubbly/orange juice is included in the ticket price.

“We encourage everyone to dress in pink on the day.

“We have a musician, raffles and the guest speaker is Ruth E Wilson, a hot air balloon adventurer,” said

Sarah.

The support group has been making a difference in the lives of locals for more than two decades.

“TBCSG was established in 2001 by a small committee with around $100.

“Today we have around 100 members.

“We also receive amazing support from our local community and businesses for our fundraising events,” said Sarah.

“Support offered to patients both during and after treatment includes driving to appointments, house cleaning, purchase of wigs or prosthetics, and out of pocket medical expense assistance.

“We have a monthly member meeting and also a morning tea for patients past

and current

“We are always looking for new members who may want to volunteer for our group.”

Sarah and the support group are also strong advocates for receiving regular check ups.

Most screening mammogram appointments only take 20 minutes.

If you are a wheelchair user or have specific requirements, you may need to allow more time for your appointment.

“Screening and regular check ups are the best way for people to be aware of any changes to their body,” Sarah said.

Tickets to the Pink Breakfast are $33 each and available at https://www. trybooking.com/events/ landing/1104573 or from Soldiers Point Bowling Club.

Positive Behaviour for Learning Awards

By Marian SAMPSON

THE Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) Awards continue to make a positive impact in the participating schools and wider community.

Louisa De Souza, Assistant Principal of Salt Ash Public School told News

Of The Area, “As we approach the end of Term 3, I would like to thank our students, teachers, support staff and all parents and carers for your continuing support throughout the term.

“I think it is appropriate to remind ourselves of the amazing students we have at Salt Ash Public School.

“Daily, as the staff and I interact with students, we are continually impressed with their positive, respectful, and safe approach and willingness to do their best in all school learning areas.

“This term we have celebrated many positive, respectful, and safe learners at Salt Ash Public School at the Community PBL Awards here at Raymond Terrace MarketPlace.

“Our school community would like to thank the ongoing support and partnership with Raymond Terrace MarketPlace and the

community PBL program.

“Next week our school will celebrate the PBL values in a reward pop up day.

“This has been achieved by the collection of ‘gotchas’ or tokens by the whole school community,” she said. This week’s nominees are all a great example of the values that PBL promotes in real life.

• Maddison SingmanWitt of Irrawang Public School was nominated for her exceptional phone manner and diligence when assisting office staff.

Maddison is always polite, shows empathy to others and performs tasks with confidence, commitment and

reliability.

• Lincoln Anderson of Raymond Terrace Public School was nominated because he saw a ‘Lost Cat' poster on a pole near his bus stop featuring a photo which looked like a cat he had seen under his classroom.

Lincoln believed the cat's name was Frank. One afternoon the school was able to check its collar and realised the cat was named Frankie. The school contacted the owner who was delighted.

• Grahamstown Public School’s Bella Moran was nominated for persisting when things are challenging.

She always strives to do her personal best and is keen to participate in all school events.

• Irrawang High’s Zahli Olding consistently goes above and beyond in helping to beautify classrooms. She also will often sit with students in class to assist them.

• Hunter River High School’s Angel Hodson was nominated for demonstrating outstanding leadership in Wongagee Dance.

• Lesha of Salt Ash Public School was nominated for helping to take care of kindergarten students. She has shown

kindness and has encouraged these students to be positive, respectful and safe learners.

• Allyssa Cassidy of Medowie Public School was nominated for always following school expectations of being respectful, responsible and resilient.

She regularly assists at the school’s breakfast club by helping serve toast.

Allyssa also supports other students who have additional needs, looking out for them and assisting them where she can.

• Seaham Public School student Flynn McElwaine was nominated by the owner of the Seaham Shop, who reported

that Flynn found a considerable amount of money on the shop floor. He was extremely responsible and honest and ensured the money was reported and handed in.

• Aria Willis Diana of Karuah Public School was nominated for being amazing during a medical emergency.

Aria gave the paramedics space to do their jobs and comforted members of her family. In an incredibly high pressure situation, Aria was calm and compassionate and handled herself respectfully and responsibly.

The NOTA congratulates all of this week’s PBL Award nominees.

q The Pink Breakfast fundraiser is being held at Soldiers Point Bowling Club.

q Attendees at a previous Pink Breakfast event.

q Pink is the colour.

q This week’s nominees at the awards ceremony at MarketPlace at Raymond Terrace.

Anna Bay Tavern

Anna Bay Bakery

BYO Cellars Anna Bay

Anna Bay Surf & Skate

Ingenia Holiday Park

Middle Rock Retirement Village

Anna Bay Village

Seawinds Village

Nelson Bay Bowling Club

Nelson Bay Golf Club

Woolworths Nelson Bay

Nelson Bay Newsagent

Nelson Bay Real Estate

Coles Express Servo Nelson Bay

Tackleword Port Stephens

Essence Cafe

Dolphin Watch Cafe

West Diggers

Harbourside Haven

Bernie Thompson Village

Shoal Bay Pharmacy

IGA Shoal Bay

John Patterson

Bill King Aged Care

Friendly Grocer Fingal Bay

Regis Aged Care

Corlette Store

Uniting Care

Homestead Village

Sandy Shores

Big4 Soldiers Point

Soldiers Point Bowling Club

Foodworks Salamander Bay

Wanda Beach Pharmacy

Mobil Salamander Bay

Caltex Salamander Bay

Coles Salamander Bay

Natural Tucker

Woolworths Salamander Bay

Horizons Golf Club

Taylors Beach Industrial Cafe

Seaham General Store

Opal Aged Care

Red Eye Café Raymond Terrace

Angeez Takeaway Raymond Terrace

Pet Parlour Raymond Terrace

Terrace Central Plaza Post Office

Newsagent Terrace Central Plaza

Woolworths Terrace Central Plaza

MarketPlace Woolworths

Raymond Terrace Shell

Twin Rivers Workwear & Uniforms

Raymond Terrace Library

Lakeside Newsagent

R&R Property

Foodworks Lakeside

Lakeside Leisure Centre

Muree Golf Club

Saxby's Bakery Salt Ash

Tanilba Bay Nursing Home

Tanilba Bay Retirement Units

Coles Tanilba Bay

Endevour Servo Tanilba Ba

Tanilba Newsagent

Post Office Tanilba Bay

Blue Marine Services

Chemist Lemon Tree

Club Lemon Tree

Tilligerry RSL

Tilligerry Real Estate

Coles Medowie

7-Eleven Medowie

Medowie Newsagent

Medowie Pharmacy

Woolworths Medowie

Medowie Social

Medowie Football Club

BP Servo Medowie

Pacific Dunes Golf Club

Metro Servo (Airport Side)

Metro Servo (Lavis Lane)

Hunter River High take out HSC Award

By Marian SAMPSON

HUNTER River High School has taken out a coveted award at the NSW Ministers and Secretary’s Awards for Excellence 2023.

The awards are a celebration of the best of public schooling in the state.

At the awards, public education was noted as a cornerstone of the future of NSW.

The awards recognise students, teachers, school staff and breakthrough initiatives from across the state.

Hunter River High School sits within a socioeconomically disadvantaged catchment area, making its achievement of overall improvements in their students’ HSC results all the more impressive.

In 2017 the school's results sat 9.9 percent below the state average.

Now in 2023 that figure has risen to just 1.3 percent below the state average.

Deb Dibley, Principal of Hunter River High School, told News Of The Area, “We have been doing a number of things.

“Focusing on numeracy and literacy education and personal growth to empower students.”

The school now has a dedicated senior learning area with staff available to support students through their learning journey.

“We also profile each student,” Ms Dibley said.

“Working with students and mentoring them.

“The school is also engaged in research-based upskilling for head teachers.”

Dibley is incredibly proud of her teaching staff, and the students' outcomes.

She believes that it is important that her whole team is “singing from the same songbook”.

‘Depression and Hope’ offers support for mental health struggles

By Lindsay HALL

WITHIN the last twelve months it is estimated that 4.2 million people in Australia have experienced a mental health disorder.

That statistic comprises one fifth of the population between the ages of sixteen to 85.

More than twice that number will deal with some manner of mental health disorder in their

lifetime.

It is a sobering reality which has been all too familiar to Rob Hoile.

“I went through a period of significant health problems a few years back and that led to me experiencing depression as well,” Rob said.

Through his own journey of recovery Rob discovered the prevalence of depression and anxiety that affects the lives of so many people, but he was also inspired to find ways to support those who go through these painful and difficult seasons.

Now as a Counsellor he seeks to offer hope to those in their darkest times.

“One of the basic ways to start helping people going through depression is to let them know that they’re not alone,” said Rob.

“That’s really what ‘Depression and Hope’ is all about.

“It’s about creating a safe place for people to be open about what they’re going through, and maybe help each other to cope.”

Depression and Hope

started as a support group at New Vine Lakes Baptist Church in 2017 and has now planted five groups across the Hunter region.

When Rob moved into the Port Stephens area he knew there would be a good opportunity to bring the program to more people in need.

He found a ready host for the group at Tanilba Bay.

“I’d known Rob prior to his moving here and was aware of the kind of work he was involved in,” said Pastor Anthony Gentle.

“It’s been a great partnership to be able to offer hope to those who need it.”

The meetings are open to anyone and no costs are involved.

Rob describes the meetings as ‘pretty casual and laid-back’ with no agenda beyond providing a space.

“Those who come can have a chance to talk about what’s going on in their lives, or perhaps just encourage others who are doing it tough at the moment,” said Rob.

“We’re able to offer strategies to better cope with depression.

“Part of the insidious

Funding available for local charities and community groups

NEWCASTLE Permanent Charitable Foundation’s final funding round for 2023 opened on Tuesday, 19 September, with more than $650,000 available for local charities and community groups, including those in the Hunter region.

Applications close on Tuesday, 24 October.

Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation Executive Officer, Carly Bush, said project partners with a focus on important community issues are encouraged to attend the session and apply.

“Everyone is welcome to attend our workshop, which will be a fantastic opportunity for those interested in building capability and knowledge about grant writing, as well as the application process,” Ms Bush said.

“We are really looking forward to

collaborating with partners with initiatives supporting inclusivity, education, and cultural diversity.

“We understand that times are challenging for Hunter communities, leaving many who, amidst the current cost-of-living pressures, are also facing food insecurity, homelessness, and family and domestic violence.

“We know there are organisations across the Hunter with innovative ideas who are making great strides for the community, and we encourage them to apply!”

cycle of depression is that people feel as though they are alone, or that they can’t talk about what they’re going through.

“They can become trapped in themselves and it’s hard to break free.”

Part of the key to helping people in this situation, Rob says, is making them feel seen and heard.

“We also talk about how to recognise the signs of depression so that we might be able to help those around us who are suffering silently.”

Helping people to make their way through these times, Anthony says, is all about offering people hope.

“One of the things you begin to see with depression is just how widespread the impact is, not just on those who are going through it, but on their families and friends as well,” Pastor Anthony Gentle said.

“It ripples outward in painful ways.”

Depression and Hope meets fortnightly on Thursday evenings at Tanilba Bay Baptist Church.

Their next meeting will be Thursday 21 September at 7pm.

Successful recent Hunter projects include The University of Newcastle, who received $88,660 to deliver

q Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation Executive Officer, Carly Bush.

the Social and Economic Resilience (SER) of Young Migrants and Refugee Women program, helping women into the construction industry through training and education.

q Hunter River High School Principal Deb Dibley and Instructional Leader Mel Naylor accepting Hunter River High School’s Secretary’s Award for Improving HSC Results.

q Rob Hoile heads ‘Depression and Hope’ at Tanilba Bay.

Meet Frank and Sandra Glasson

WHEN Caz Glasson found herself navigating interstate support services for her parents Sandra and Frank who were living in Melbourne, Caz quickly realised that she needed to find a more practical solution and suggested that Sandra and Frank think about relocating to NSW to be closer to family.

To her relief, Sandra and Frank were keen on the idea and she was quickly booking flights whilst they packed up ready for the move to Moran Stockton.

Fast forward three months and the Glasson’s haven’t looked back.

They enjoy being in Stockton which reminds them of the Mornington Peninsula.

Frank makes the most of having the local IGA, chemist and shops close by and the nice flat paths along the water’s edge which he enjoys with Caz and her dogs when they come to visit.

Sandra is relishing the social side of living in Moran Stockton; she enjoys bingo, new friends, and the lifestyle activities on offer.

More than anything she is thrilled that she and Frank

are still able to enjoy living together in their double ‘companion’ room which has two beds and a private ensuite bathroom.

After nearly 60 years of marriage this couple who met in their late teens and married in their early twenties have raised three children and have lived in both Sydney and Melbourne.

Frank describes himself as an entrepreneur and supported by Sandra he successfully built, owned, and sold several businesses, finally retiring as a successful Melbourne real estate agent a few years ago due to his declining health.

When asked Sandra and Frank what their secret to a long and successful marriage was, Frank laughed and said, “As the saying goes ‘happy wife, happy life!'

“We played to our strengths, supported each other and I always knew that Sandra was the boss at home.”

The Gasson’s daughter, Caz, said, “Having Mum and Dad so far away and trying to support them and their declining health from a distance was hard.

“We have all been so warmly welcomed by the team at Moran Stockton, the communication is excellent, the team really care and have taken the time to get to know

us as individuals and as a family.

“Sandra and Frank are safe and well cared for, we couldn’t be happier.”

If you would like to know

more about Residential Aged Care at Moran Stockton, please call them for a chat on 02 4907 1300.

If you are interested in joining as a team member visit

https://careers.morangroup. com.au/job-board/ For more info visit www.morangroup.com. au or www.facebook.com/ moranagedcare.

q Sandra and Frank Glasson all smiles at Moran Stockton.

FUN

Koala Sanctuary to celebrate third birthday

THESE School Holidays why not pay a visit to the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, a partnership between Port Stephens Council and Port Stephens Koala Hospital, a volunteer group that aims to provide world best practice standards of care to sick, injured and orphaned koalas to give them the best opportunity to be returned to the wild.

On Monday 25 September the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary turns three years old!

Enjoy a great day out with birthday celebrations including free gifts for kids on arrival, scheduled guided tours hosted by Sanctuary Ambassadors, cutting of the Official Birthday Cake as well as Koala Talks by Port Stephens Koala Hospital.

These School Holidays

the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary is open daily from 9am to 5pm and includes the following activities and features:

Koala Centre – visitor admissions and guest reception areas

Sanctuary Story Walk - offering visitors an immersive educational experience of the koala habitat

Koala Hospital - Visit the state of-the-art Koala Hospital with large glass viewing window

Sanctuary SKYwalk and elevated viewing platform - offering a unique treetop perspective into the koala’s natural habitat, a perfect photo opportunity

Fat Possum Caféoffering an extensive range of delicious menu items and ‘grab and go’ eats

and treats, great barista coffees and a huge range of quality souvenirs, a lasting memento of your visit

Deluxe 4 star accommodation - guests will be able to wake up with the koalas by staying in onsite four star glamping tents.

Day visitors to the Sanctuary can enjoy unique experiences with koalas in a natural and idyllic bushland setting.

These School Holiday visitors can enjoy morning ‘Sanctuary Talks’ hosted by the Educational Officers from the Port Stephens Koala Hospital.

These informative talks will provide information and explanations on the plight of koalas today and give general tips on how you can assist to ensure the long term survivability of koalas in the wild.

Check the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary’s socials for Talk dates and times.

q These School Holiday visitors can enjoy morning ‘Sanctuary Talks’ hosted by the Educational Officers from the Port Stephens Koala Hospital.

Relax and unwind with Heavenly Tours

“RELAX, unwind, capture every moment.”

That is the ethos of Heavenly Tours, who offer Hunter Valley wine tours, specialty tours, ladies’ days, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, airport and shipping transfers, whale and dolphin watching, and concert and dinner transfers.

“We will pick you up from your door, and drop you back to your door,” Christine from Heavenly Tours said of the convenience offered by the service.

“Heavenly Tours offers a unique experience for people to enjoy whale watching and dolphin watching cruises in Nelson Bay, or, why not head out on a fully guided wine tour of the Hunter Valley?”

Christine said the tour

company can tailor a day trip to suit any occasion.

“Heavenly Tours will pick up your groups, whether large or small, from Nelson Bay and surrounding areas of Newcastle and the Central Coast and bring you to the beautiful Hunter Valley for your full or half day wine tours in the vines.

“Why not spend a full day at the beautiful Nelson Bay, go out whale and dolphin watching, have lunch at one of the beautiful restaurants that the Bay has to offer, or go on the many activities in the Bay?

“All tours are tailored to suit your group and requests and pick up is available from the Central Coast, Hunter Valley and Newcastle areas to head to the beautiful Nelson Bay.”

q Heavenly Tours can tailor a day trip to suit any occasion.

SPRING SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN

Something for everyone at the Botanic Gardens

THERE is something for all tastes on offer at the Hunter Region Botanic Garden during the school holidays.

On Monday 25 September from 10:30am the fun kicks

off with a Kid’s Tea Party.

“Our Kid's Tea Party is the perfect event for children to enjoy a fun-filled celebration with their friends,” said the Botanic Gardens team.

q The Hunter Region Botanic Garden is hosting a Kid’s Tea Party on 25 September..

“Let their imagination run wild as they dress up, sip on delicious tea, and indulge in scrumptious treats.

“Our beautiful gardens provide the perfect backdrop for this enchanting event.

“Bring your teddy bears and dolls and dress up if you like.

“The theme of our day is fun, fun, fun!”

On Wednesday 27 September, starting at 10:30am, learn to create a fantasy garden featuring fairies, gnomes and dinosaurs!

“Use your imagination to make your very own garden of succulents to take home, decorated with characters of your choice.”

The following day, on Thursday 28 September at 10:00am, head to the Gardens for a Nuts About Nature Craft Workshop.

“Join us for an exciting and hands-on craft workshop.

“Get ready to unleash your creativity as we explore the wonders of nature through crafts.

“Learning about nature is fun.

“Use your creative skills to make a garden or creature from materials found in the Botanic Gardens.”

Rounding out the events are two Kids Cupcake Decorating Workshops on Friday 6 October.

Get hands on at Fighter World

LOCATED at Newcastle airport, Fighter World has been operating for more than 30 years and is a totally ‘hands on’ experience.

Visitors can walkaround, touch and view some of Australia’s most iconic aircraft and enjoy the added benefit of sitting

in the cockpits of a Mirage jet fighter and a Macchi jet trainer.

If you are looking for more excitement, try flying the F/A-18A Hornet in the new VR headset simulator.

Of course, the experience is not just about the museum.

Breakfast Menu available

Barista Coffee

Cakes

Slices

Pies

Bread / Rolls Freshly made Sandwiches, Rolls & Wraps

q If you are looking for more excitement, try flying the F/A-18A Hornet in the new VR headset simulator.

Standing on the Observation Deck you as well as the many civil aircraft that come and go.

Constructed over a 40year period, this collection

q Visitors can walk-around, touch and view some of Australia’s most iconic aircraft.

Aimee’s at Anna Bay: Modern group accommodation in perfect location

WHETHER it be for a bucks party, hens weekend, family holiday, milestone celebration, garden wedding, or any other event, this unique property offers fresh modern family and studio holiday units, enabling large groups to stay together in the same location with the convenience of their own spaces.

Located in beautiful Anna Bay, Aimee’s is central to all the main attractions that Port Stephens has to offer.

“We can accommodate bookings of up to 30 guests, offering comfortable private and shared rooms and shared group spaces with a range of onsite amenities,” the Aimee’s team said.

Premium facilities

“We offer comfortable, fresh, and modern rooms near all the major attractions in Port Stephens.

“Our large group accommodation is the ultimate solution for large group holidays: we offer family cabins for up to six guests and studio cabins that

sleep up to three guests.

“Our sparkling in-ground pool and cosy outdoor fireplace are ideal for making memories in the sun or under the stars.”

Family owned for a personal touch

“We run our family accommodation in Port Stephens with personal passion and a love for memorable moments.

“We take extra care to make sure that our guests are comfortable and enjoying our facilities during their stay.

“We love getting to know you and offering local sightseeing ideas and advice on the best places to eat in town.

"We treat every guest as family and often include personal touches to show our hospitality.”

Events packages

“We have a history in the events industry, so we can help you plan a successful group event at our lodging.

“We can cater for your event using our modern kitchen facilities and offer convenient group packages

to help you plan the perfect getaway.

“We are experienced with hens and bucks parties, corporate retreats, garden weddings, wellness retreats, celebratory weekends, and Christmas holidays.”

Eco-conscious

“We are earth lovers, and we practise hospitality with eco-conscious solutions to help protect and preserve our environment.

“We support zero-waste initiatives to reduce singleuse plastic pollution and use refillable shower and

cleaning products.

“Our business also supports eco-conscious suppliers and charitable organisations.”

Aimee’s at Anna Bay offers a relaxing and enjoyable stay for large groups in Port Stephens.

“Our pristine accommodation is suitable for many types of travellers, and we give each guest a unique experience of our breathtaking location.” Contact your hosts, Aimee and Brett, to book your next holiday now.

q Enjoy relaxing underneath the cabana at Aimee’s.

R I N G in Competition Spring School Holiday Fun

Prizes to be won:

• A Kids Fishing Pack from Tackle World Port Stephens

• 4 Diamond Passes including a single adult entry ticket to Toboggan Hill Park

• 2 family passes (2 adults, 2 children) to Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

• A family pass (2 adults, 2 children) plus Shallows with wetsuit to Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters

• A family pass (2 adults, 2 children) to the opening night of Wizard of Oz being performed at The Overflow Church in Medowie

Winners will be notified on Monday 2nd October 2023 by phone.

Please post entries to: PO Box 1000, Raymond Terrace NSW 2324

Anna

Port

Spectacular sandboarding on the Stockton Sand Dunes

q Sandboarding Australia at 4WD Tour R Us offers Unlimited Sandboarding Adventures from Birubi Beach.

ENJOY unlimited sandboarding on the spectacular Stockton Sand Dunes in Port Stephens.

Sandboarding Australia at 4WD Tour R Us invites you to join them for an Unlimited Sandboarding Adventure from their meeting point at Birubi Beach, Anna Bay.

“You will board our custom-built off-road vehicles for the short, bouncy ride into the largest moving sand mass in the southern hemisphere,” said the Sandboarding Australia team.

“The dunes stretch 32 kilometres, that’s the entire length of Stockton Beach and can reach over 40-50 metres high, that’s like a ten storey building.

“The views alone are spectacular.”

Once in the dunes, the team will give you a rundown on sandboarding and how to use the hand made custom designed boards for maximum speed (and safety!)

Climb to the top of the dunes, jump on your sandboard, slide on down, then repeat!

“Our instructors are always on hand to help and answer any questions about sandboarding Port Stephens or the dunes and to make sure you have maximum fun!

“When you are done just jump back aboard our 4WD buses to be taken back to the Birubi Beach starting point.”

It’s an amazing experience for everyone, no matter your age.

SPRING SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN

Theatre buzz hits Medowie!

THIS year, for the first time in the Hunter region, members of the homeschool community are putting on a musical.

Maryann Webb from Hunter District Families is proud to be coproducing and directing 'The Wizard of Oz' alongside a wonderful creative team.

As a former primary teacher and mum to four young children, Maryann knows first hand how valuable creative and collaborative experiences are for children.

Not only is this experience equipping children with performance skills, but is opening up wonderful friendships between cast members and within the parent community.

Due to the overwhelming number of auditions at the start of the year, they have had to run two lead casts, bringing their total cast to over 40 members, with ages ranging between six and sixteen years old.

“Homeschooling has been so much fun this year!” ten-year-old Ellie said.

“I couldn't even count the number of friends I have made during our weekly rehearsals.

“I know these friendships will continue after the musical.

“I'd really love to continue

performing next year and the year after!”

The production week will take place in Medowie, with four performances from 5-7 October.

“My vision for offering this experience was to encourage and support homeschooling families across the Hunter to connect and get involved in their local community,” Maryann said.

“I wanted to provide a place for home learners to gather together over an exciting project.

“Seeing each of the children grow in confidence has been the greatest reward.

“It takes a lot of effort and time to make a show like this come to life, however, having had the entire parent community throw themselves into areas like set, props, crew, costumes and fundraising, has certainly brought the team factor!

“We can't wait to present all our hard work to the Hunter community these school holidays!”

Suitable for all ages.

Matinee and evening shows available.

Tickets are now on sale at www. trybooking.com/CKIYB

Strikezone offering big prizes during school holidays

RAYMOND Terrace Strikezone

tenpin bowl is giving away more than $2300 worth of prizes to customers during the September school holidays.

There are 150 prizes in all to be won at random throughout the holidays.

They include 50 double passes to Williamtown’s Fighter World, 50 Arcade Game Cards pre-loaded with value and 50 free tenpin bowling games.

Strikezone owner Neville Marchbank said that he’s delighted to be able to feature Fighter World in his centre as it is one of the state’s premier attractions and is just ten minutes from the bowl.

Fighter World at RAAF Williamtown is a totally ‘hands on’ experience spread over two hangars. Visitors can touch and look into the cockpits of such famous aircraft as the Mirage III, the Avon Sabre, the Gloster Meteor, the first Vampire jet built in Australia, the mighty F-111C and the F/A-18A Hornet.

Also on display is a World War 1 Sopwith Camel replica, WWII Spitfire replicas, a PC9A(F) forward air control aircraft, Winjeel trainer and much more, including a massive collection of model aircraft.

Fighter World also offers the

opportunity to sit in the cockpit of a Macchi jet trainer, experiencing first-hand what it’s like to be one of Australia’s ‘Top Gun’ pilots in today’s hi-tech world.

One of the newest attractions is an F/A 18A Hornet Flight Simulator.

From the Observation Deck, visitors can watch the various aircraft of the RAAF’s premier fighter squadrons take-off and land while listening to the live audio feed direct from the Williamtown Control Tower.

The Fighter World passes,

arcade games, rechargeable game cards and free bowling vouchers will be awarded throughout each day as prizes for novelty events and coloured pin promotions.

Rechargeable Game cards are a recent innovation in the bowl.

They can be bought over the counter for use throughout the recently enlarged arcade games area. Wins on the machines are rewarded by points added to the cards.

These points build and can be redeemed in the bowl’s prize shop.

Each card contains value additional to the purchase price. For example, $20 cards are loaded with $25 while the $50 cards are loaded with $65.

$250 worth of cards will be awarded as prizes during the holiday period.

Despite the huge prize pool on offer, holiday special prices will still be maintained.

Two children’s games for $13.95.

Two adult games for $14.95.

Three games (children or

adults) for $17.95 or two games, a 370ml drink and a choice of hot dog or chips for $17.95.

In addition, Friday and Saturday night specials (three hours for $18 per head) and Sunday pricing of $6 games all day will remain.

“We’re a family owned and operated centre,” Neville said.

“We appreciate how tough times are financially for many and will continue to do our best to provide optimum value.”

q There

q Maryann working with some of the cast.

q The local production of The Wizard of Oz has a cast of over 40.

are 150 prizes in all to be won at random throughout the holidays.

FREE HOLIDAY

STAY in any of www.por tstephensaccommodation.com

proper ties between 01/09/2023 to 30/11/2023 and you

FREE HOLIDAY

are automatically in the draw to receive a gift voucher to  the value of $1,750.00 towards your next Holiday with

Por t Stephens Accommodation terms and conditions apply

FREE HOLIDAY

STAY in any of www.por tstephensaccommodation.com

proper ties between 01/09/2023 to 30/11/2023 and you

FREE HOLIDAY

are automatically in the draw to receive a gift voucher to  the value of $1,750.00 towards your next Holiday with

STAY in any of www.portstephensaccommodation.com properties between 01/09/2023 to 30/11/2023 and you are automatically in the draw to receive a gift voucher to the value of $1,750.00 towards your next Holiday with Port Stephens Accommodation

STAY in any of www.por tstephensaccommodation.com  proper ties between 01/09/2023 to 30/11/2023 and you

Por t Stephens Accommodation terms and conditions apply

are automatically in the draw to receive a gift voucher to  the value of $1,750.00 towards your next Holiday with  Por

t Stephens Accommodation web page and must be paid in

Terms and conditions.

a) Accommodation must booked through Por t Stephens Accommodation web page and must be paid in full prior to arrival date and booking honoured in accordance with the terms and conditions of your  booking.

Terms and conditions.

a) Accommodation must booked through Port Stephens Accommodation web page and must be paid in full prior to arrival date and booking honoured in accordance with the terms and conditions of your booking.

b) This gift vouched for booking secured between 1st September 2023 to 30th November

a) Accommodation must booked through Por t Stephens Accommodation web page and must be paid in full prior to arrival date and booking honoured in accordance with the terms and conditions of your  booking.

b) This gift vouched for booking secured between 1st September 2023 to 30th November

c) Winner notified by phone and email on 4th December 2023

b) This gift vouched for booking secured between 1st September 2023 to 30th November

c) Winner notified by phone and email on 4th December 2023

d) The lucky Winner will receive a gift voucher for accommodation for your next stay valid from 4th December 2023.

c) Winner notified by phone and email on 4th December 2023

d) The lucky Winner will receive a gift voucher for accommodation for your next stay valid from 4th December 2023.

d) The lucky Winner will receive a gift voucher for accommodation for your next stay valid from 4th December 2023.

The Wangi Queen Showboat: A Timeless

Jewel in Lemon Tree Passage

STEP aboard the Wangi Queen Showboat, a floating gem now docked at Lemon Tree Passage.

This heritage-listed vessel is the latest attraction on the beautiful Tilligerry Peninsula, captivating visitors with its rich history and timeless charm.

For over 35 years, it graced Lake Macquarie, hosting countless weddings and joyous celebrations.

Originally named the Ettalong, this magnificent vessel was launched in 1922, two weeks after famed poet Henry Lawson's state funeral.

Constructed from timber hand cut from the Watagans Forest, it embodies the craftsmanship and resilience of a bygone era.

Shipwright Gordon Beattie incorporated salvaged teak from an 1855 shipwreck, adorning the super-structure and window sashes with maritime history.

Teresa Charchalis, part owner and operator, describes the Wangi Queen as "a piece of living history that brings people together".

With its new home in Lemon Tree Passage, the Wangi Queen invites locals and visitors to experience the charm of early twentieth century shipbuilding while exploring the beauty of Port Stephens western harbour.

Cruises take in stunning waterways and secluded coves including Taylors Beach, Soldiers Point, Boondelbah Island, Fame Cove and North Arm Cove.

Embrace the Queen's timeless quality and let it inspire you.

As you sail, remember the enduring power of history to shape our present and future.

For cruise times and fares call 0411 388 380 or visit wangiqueen.com.au.

q Dolphins are a regular sight on Wangi Queen cruises.

q New tech meets old tech in the Wangi Queen wheelhouse.

Embark on your next great adventure at Unexpected Exit Escape Rooms

WELCOME to the ultimate adventure at Unexpected Exit Escape Rooms Nelson Bay and Newcastle!

Immerse yourself in a world of mystery and excitement as you step into Unexpected Exit’s carefully crafted escape rooms.

Whether you're a seasoned puzzle-solver or new to the challenge, prepare to be captivated by mind-bending riddles, intricate clues, and heart-pounding moments. Gather your team, test your wits, and unlock the secrets that await. Are you ready to escape the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary?

Your next great adventure starts here. Visit www.unexpectedexit.com. au to book.

q Gather your team, test your wits, and unlock the secrets that await.

q Sunset cruisers enjoying the view.

Tackle World Port Stephens hold kids fishing competition

THIS school holidays, Tackle World Port Stephens will be running their kids fishing competition.

The comp is open to all kids under the age of sixteen from September 23 to October 8, 2023.

Register in store at Tackle World Port Stephens, located at 100 Magus St, Nelson Bay.

Measure your catch of Bream, Flathead or Whiting, take a photo and release.

Send your photos to any of the following Tackle World Port Stephens social media pages or via email to be in the running for some awesome prizes.

Facebook: TackleWorld

PortStephens

Instagram: tackleworld_

portstephens

Email: fishybis@gmail.

com

TackleWorld Port Stephens Tackle World Port Stephens was established in October 2010.

Brent, the owner of the business, saw a need for a real fishing Tackle store in Port Stephens - one that catered for both local and visiting anglers.

“Our store has a huge range of fishing tackle and caterers for the beginner to the expert.

“Whether it's chasing Whiting on the beach, Bream from the break wall, Snapper on soft plastics or the lure of Port Stephens Game fishing, Tackle World Port Stephens has it all!”

Brent said.

“A locally owned family business supporting the local community.”

q During the school holidays, Tackle World Port Stephens will be running their kids fishing competition. The comp is open to all kids under the age of sixteen from September 23 to October 8, 2023.

Hop aboard a camel this school holidays

IF you’re looking for something really unique and memorable to do in Port Stephens, how about camel riding along beautiful Birubi Beach at Anna Bay.

Join Oakfield Ranch Camel Rides for a relaxing ride aboard a camel; they offer short 20 minute rides plus one hour rides on Saturdays.

“Watch the sun set over the majestic sand dunes of Stockton Bight as you ride by sunset on Friday or Saturday evenings - experience an ‘out of desert’ experience riding a camel,” said the Oakfield Ranch team.

Camels are called ‘the ships of the desert’ as they carry loads across the vast expanses of sand in Asia,

Africa and in the past, here in outback Australia.

Enjoy making friends with your camel as you marvel at the stunning scenery.

This unique experience is sure to be a favourite amongst the whole family and a memorable part of your trip.

Visit the Oakfield Ranch Camel Rides website at www. oakfieldranch.com.au for more information and FAQs.

q Oakfield Ranch Camel Rides offers the chance to experience Birubi Beach in a unique way.

PRICE $355,000

• Recently renovated one-bedroom unit in the prestigious Landmark Resort, Nelson Bay.

• Perfect for a weekend escape or a steady investment opportunity.

• Captivating North Facing panoramic water views from the moment you step inside.

• Resort boasts onsite restaurant, games room, steam room and outdoor pool.

• Prime location in the heart of Nelson Bay with renowned restaurants and a bustling marina just moments away.

PRICE $369,000

• Expansive lot spanning approximately 3640m2

• Spacious 7x14 metre shed with large timber deck.

• Fully fenced for ultimate privacy and peace of mind.

• Two street accesses providing freedom and flexibility.

• Private oasis surrounded by breathtaking bushland.

• Only a 10-minute drive away from Hawks Nest.

MODERN MANTRA APARTMENT

• Recently renovated top floor unit with plenty of natural light.

• Two bedrooms with built-ins for ample storage.

• Spacious two bedroom, two bathroom unit in Mantra resort.

• Updated kitchen and new flooring throughout.

PRICE $559,000 PRICE $599,000

• Modern and delightful kitchen.

• Bright bathroom with updated features.

• Secured parking for one car.

• Spectacular Bay views from living room and covered balcony.

• Direct access to waterfront reserve with walking pathway.

• Walking distance to popular tourist attractions such as shopping, dining and beaches.

• Built in wardrobes in both bedrooms, ensuite to main.

• Airconditioned open plan living and dining space.

• Sun lit balcony with water and town views.

• Secured parking, storage and parking for visitors.

• Resort facilities including swimming pool, spa and BBQ areas.

• Walking distance to Nelson Bay town centre.

• Ideal for savvy investors, holiday home seekers, and homeowners looking for something special.

LUXURIOUS RETREAT

EMBRACE NATURE’S PARADISE - YOUR SECLUDED RETREAT AWAITS!

HEATH JONES STEPHEN COSTELLO HUGH MCINNES STEVEN BOOTH JACK JONES DEBORAH DORAN

Top Floor, Top View

509/61b Dowling Street, Nelson Bay

2 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Car

Price: $570,000

LOCATED on the top floor of the Landmark building, this two bedroom, two bathroom loft apartment is full of natural light and has wonderful town and bay views.

The main bedroom and ensuite with spa is on the upper level looking out to the view and over the lounge room.

The newly renovated unit also features a balcony to relax and enjoy.

Air conditioned, the unit is arguably one of the best in the building.

Resort facilities include the generous swimming pool with spa, observation deck, sauna, two lifts, modern laundry, on-site management and adjoining restaurant.

Additionally, the Golf Club, Bowling Club and tennis courts are all within reach, and a short stroll will bring you into Nelson Bay, where all of your shopping and dining needs can be found.

This holiday unit is a must to view if you are looking for a piece of Port Stephens paradise to use as a getaway whilst getting the benefit of an income.

Contact Nelson Bay Real Estate on 4981 2655 or visit nelsonbayrealestate.com.au

Meet Heath: A Trusted Name in Real Estate

Your Local Agent for rural, residential and commercial sales and leasing. Heath began his real estate career in 1994 at “The Professionals,” which became Nelson Bay Real Estate in 1999. Over the years, he has steadily built a reputation for excellence in the industry.

Did you know that Real Estate Agents are not permitted to sell property over 50 acres?

You need a STOCK & STATION AGENT to sell or lease rural land greater than 20 hectares (approximately

50 acres), to act as an agent for the sale of livestock, or to collect fees for agistment.

Heath is Your Local Stock and Station Agent, and has sold (and leased) many of the larger rural properties (some with water licences) on Nelson Bay Road, Gan Gan Road, Marsh Road and Lemon Tree Passage Road and at Salt Ash. Growing up in the area, and with almost 30 years’ experience, he is familiar with the area & it’s topography.

The value of a commercial/industrial property has a lot to do with its lease (or leasing potential)

so good agents need to have a strong knowledge of commercial management too. Commercial buyers can have very different motivations, including businesses looking for premises to trade from, self-managed super funds, self-funded retirees, cash investors, financed purchasers and developers. Heath’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Commerce & Diploma of Business, and combining this with years of commercial sales and leasing experience, he can create a strategy to identify and appeal to the best target markets. Your investment is worth more when sold with a smart plan.

With over 1500 residential sales during his career, Heath and his team of experienced agents approach each sales campaign with a tailored plan that best suits the property, the client’s circumstances, and the market conditions. If you are considering selling or leasing a property, and want more than just a quick appraisal, but a plan to maximise its value; contact Heath or any of the experienced team at Nelson Bay Real Estate, YOUR LOCAL AGENTS on the Tomaree Peninsula; or Tilligerry Real Estate YOUR NEW LOCAL AGENTS at Tanilba Bay. Phone 02 49812655 or 02 40399800.

From the Mayor’s desk

By RYAN PALMER Mayor, Port Stephens Council

Tomaree Coastal Walk and Business

PORT Stephens is home to more than 5,000 active businesses, supporting 31,070 jobs, and has an annual economic output of $15.453 billion.

Business in Port Stephens ranges from our large employees like Tomago Aluminum and Williamtown RAAF through to hundreds of small, homebased businesses with just one or two employees.

Creating an environment that supports business growth is an important role of Council.

Each year, we deliver a range of programs for business from networking meetings, marketing and business development programs and our Port Stephens Business Leaders Lunch program which we hosted last week at the Nelson Bay Golf Club.

The focus of this Business Leaders Lunch was the new Tomaree Coastal Walk and the opportunities this new walk will create for businesses across Port Stephens.

The $6.7 million, 27km Tomaree Coastal Walk was funded by the NSW Government.

It starts at Tomaree Head Summit and runs through to the Birubi Point Aboriginal Place.

The walk takes in some incredible views with viewing platforms, stairs and interpretative signage all creating a unique, nature based experience.

The benefits this walk will bring to our local economy are enormous.

Even before opening, the walk was having an impact with local trades and suppliers contracted for various aspects of the development.

Over time, the benefits to our community will continue.

The Tomaree Coastal Walk will attract year round visitation, helping to smooth our seasonal fluctuations, encourage visitors to stay longer and seed new business.

These economic impacts will flow out across our community – from our cafes and restaurants, hotels and accommodation providers, through to our butchers, bakers, accountants, transport providers, landscapers and supermarkets.

All of which will create more employment opportunities for local people.

On top of this, as residents of Port Stephens, we have the privilege of having this amazing experience in our own backyard.

We can enjoy the Tomaree Coastal Walk anytime, at no cost, whenever we like.

If you have not yet experienced the walk – I encourage you to check it out.

You can walk all or part of it, with its many entry and viewing points along the way.

Find out more online via National Parks NSW or call into the Visitor Information Centre in Nelson Bay.

Dorin’s Draws By

Paul DORIN

DEAR Jasminda,

MY mum says I rely too much on Google Maps when I drive and that I should be able to look up where I'm going before I leave and remember the way there.

Why would I do this?

Dear Helen,

Helen F.

I'M going to be showing my age here, but when I first got my driver's licence, cars contained a book of maps called Gregory's Street Directory.

The Voice is an opportunity for unity

DEAR News Of The Area, THE Voice is a once in a lifetime opportunity to unite all Australians.

It is the first time in Australia’s history that we are on a collective path to recognising First Nations peoples’ deep connection to this continent, and our remarkable civilisation.

It is an opportunity to have a society of inclusion, unity and recognition.

The referendum is also an opportunity to overcome division, to step above and beyond political rhetoric, highly charged and accusatory debate, and the endless churn of ill-informed policy positions.

This is our opportunity for positive change.

Over the course of the next four weeks, it is imperative that we care for one another, no matter our positions on the referendum.

We must unite around our shared Australian values – of equality, respect, freedom, and fairness.

I am a firm believer that our nation is ready for transformational reform to ensure that the strength of First Nations knowledge and our holistic understandings of the world can rightfully be recognised and celebrated by all who call this continent home.

This will benefit all Australians.

It will ensure that our Indigenous knowledges are integrated into the make-up of this nation, and considered by all future governments to come.

We must all engage with an open mind, and listen deeply to the informed voices of First Nations people as to the power of this reform, for a better future for us all.

Regards, June OSCAR AO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner.

Exercise and community building at Fingal Bay

By Pat JENSEN

THE organisers of Fingal Bay’s Parkrun event are encouraging more Port Stephens locals to join in the rapidly growing global trend.

Parkrun is a free five kilometre (km) run that takes place every Saturday at 8am in locations across the world.

Co-Event Director Tammy Dyson makes this weekly community building event possible in Fingal Bay with her husband and a fantastic team of volunteers.

“First timers are welcome at 7:50am for a briefing to get an understanding on what to expect during the run,” Tammy said, noting that the meeting point is at the park, next to the Longboat Cafè and the toilet block.

“Fingal Parkrun can be anything from 150 people in the non-tourist seasons and up to the low 300s in busy times like Christmas and the New Year,” said Tammy.

Fingal Bay is just one of the beautiful places to participate in Parkrun, with the event taking place in over 2,000 locations in 22 different countries across six continents.

“We don’t promote Parkrun as a race.

“Anyone can join - whether they walk, volunteer or try to put down their fastest five km.”

Tammy believes Parkrun is a great chance for Port Stephens locals to get out in the sun and participate in the community.

“I think the best thing about Parkrun is that people are getting out, and their health and wellbeing is improved by exercising and being part of it all,” said Tammy.

From kids and babies in prams, your family dog, to people in their nineties, everyone is welcome.

The first ever Parkrun took place in Bushy

If we had to travel somewhere new, we would try to memorise the directions beforehand because otherwise we'd be forced to rely on a passenger yelling out directions with the Gregory's balanced on their lap.

This was a degree-level skill involving map coordinates, trouble-shooting, frantic page turning as the street suddenly came to an abrupt halt and had to be linked to a not-necessarily sequential page and frequent arguments when despite everyone's best efforts you ended up lost.

If you had to travel alone, you'd be doing all of this on your own lap while trying to stay on the road.

I'm with you, Helen. Rely on Google Maps all you want.

I think it's much safer than the alternative. Sometimes I leave it on just for the calming female voice navigation system.

The way she calmly re-routes instead of throwing the Gregory's at you and demanding to be let out of the car because you're in a back lane at midnight with no hope of ever reaching your destination, as was the case before the days of GPS data.

Carpe diem, Jasminda.

Park, Teddington, in England on October 2 2004.

At Fingal, 484 Parkruns have been held, with 10,868 runners completing the course 56,929 times.

The course record is held by Aaron Royle, who finished the five kilometre run in 14:56 in October 2015.

q An incredible team of volunteers help to run Fingal Bay Parkrun every Saturday morning.

READING by Lynne Miles: Psalm 119: 105"Thy Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

Arts Centre unveils ‘Irene’ mosaic

By Marian SAMPSON

VISITORS to the recently reopened Garden Café at the Port Stephens Community Arts Centre have been welcomed by a beautiful mosaic lovingly named ‘Irene’ hanging in the Café.

Created by the Art Centre’s mosaic group, Madeleine Quinlan, Ruth Conley, Larraine Goldsworthy, Margaret Brace and Kim Reilly worked on it during the first few months of 2023.

“It was fun but hard

More than one Psyche

Stinker’s Fishin’ and Stories

By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE

FOR many years I have been confused by the history of H.M.S. Psyche.

The ship first came to my notice as the sunken wreck in Salamander Bay which was, and still is, recognised as one of the very best mulloway fishing spots in the port.

A local resident with a naval background was adamant that the ship sank in 1940.

I was of the opinion that it was 1924 that she went to the bottom.

Problem solved – there was more than one ship named Psyche!

The following information relates to the wreck in Salamander.

Commissioned in 1899 as a light cruiser, H.M.S. Psyche served with the Royal Navy on the Australian station prior to the First World War.

Following the outbreak of the war in August 1914, she took part in operations to capture Germany's Pacific colonies and undertook escort duties.

Returning to Australian waters H.M.S. Psyche was laid up in Sydney in late 1914.

In July 1915, Psyche was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy and was ordered to the Bay of Bengal.

Based at Rangoon in Burma (now Myanmar), she carried out routine patrols along the Burma coast and Malay Archipelago. In June 1916 she

was redeployed to Hong Kong to patrol off the south coast of China and Indo-China (South East Asia).

H.M.A.S. Psyche returned to the Bay of Bengal in October 1916 and continued patrol work until she was recalled to Australia in September 1917.

She was engaged in patrol work off the eastern Australian coast in November 1917 and remained a commissioned vessel of the Royal Australian Navy until March 1918.

Psyche was sold to the Moreland Metal Company on 21 July 1922 who used her as a timber lighter.

The gutted ship was towed into Port Stephens in November 1924 but sank on Monday 8 December with a heavy load of logs in Salamander Bay.

Although H.M.A.S. Psyche did not participate in any major action during her time

Carp invade inland rivers

By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE

THERE is only one thing worse than catching one carp and that is catching two!

You will have gained that I am not a fan of the cane toad of our inland river systems.

Promising Shoal Bay golfer David ‘Flatty’ Flatt headed inland, with a tin of savage Shoal Bay garden worms, intent on catching a few inland fish in between his golfing days.

Fishing in Lake Mulwala

q Shoal Bay champ Dave Flatt wrestles a solid carp.

at Yarrawonga, it only took a matter of minutes for Flatty to hook a monster.

The line went as tight as a violin string and the battle was intense until a solid fish bounced up the bank. What was it?

work on some very hot days,” Kim Reilly told News Of The Area.

The team is delighted that ‘Irene’ can finally be admired by the happy attendees of the Garden Café.

The not-for-profit Café is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30am to 12:30pm and serves a variety of drinks as well as scones, cake and toasties.

The Port Stephens Community Arts Centre offers a wonderful gallery experience, featuring

woodwork, pottery, textiles, paintings, drawings and mosaics.

The Centre has over 200 members that participate in workshops and utilise some wonderful equipment including kilns in the pottery shed and a raft of woodworking equipment.

Drawing and art classes as well as group textile workshops are also available at the centre.

The gallery is located on Cultural Close adjacent to the Neil Carroll Park at Nelson Bay.

A miserable carp.

I remember when I was based in the central western town of Gilgandra back in the early 70s.

On weekends a group of us would head for the river and set our fishing lines, light a fire and settle back to a few cold beers as the sun set through the trees. Come morning,

in the R.A.N., she should always be remembered as being one of the first ships

we noticed a couple of our lines had indeed caught a fish and the springer sticks, on which we tied our lines, were bending under the weight.

A couple of fat yellowbelly or golden perch, a beautiful native fish, were bounced up the bank. Time to pack up and head home.

Fifty years later the inland rivers are full of introduced carp.

It is impossible to catch a

of the Royal Australian Navy Pacific colonies and undertook escort duties.

yellowbelly where I once did.

Not only the river systems but the dams are overrun with these invaders that cause immense damage and muddy the waters.

Scientists are attempting to find a way to rid the water systems of carp without impacting on indigenous fish, particularly yellowbelly and murray cod.

As yet the answer has not been found.

Broughton Island

Historical Cruise with John 'Stinker' Clarke

q Judy Jones with ‘Irene’ in the Garden Café.

q The original Psyche at rest in Salamander Bay.

Ingenia volunteers plant 200 trees

By Marian SAMPSON

ALL hands were on deck last month at the Latitude One over 55s resort in Anna Bay as a group of Ingenia Lifestyle employees made the trip from Sydney to plant trees as part of a company volunteering event.

In total 200 new gum trees were planted by the team at a Latitude One extension site as part of a future vegetation management plan, which address the ongoing requirements of native vegetation within a proposed development site.

Ingenia Lifestyle’s Development Manager Max Camden said the new gum trees add to the 70 that were planted at the last volunteer day, with the area dedicated to strengthening the koala corridor and reflecting a close partnership with the Port Stephens Koala Hospital.

“Even though we are yet to commence construction in these areas, we felt it was important to take these opportunities to ensure we are doing the right thing for our customers, the community, and the environment,” he said.

After the planting excursion, the team had a bite to eat at the community clubhouse and headed off to the lifestyle operator’s newest community Natura, in nearby Bobs Farm, for the afternoon.

Mr Camden took the visiting team on a tour of Natura’s 7-star NatHERS rated energy efficient homes and enviro-friendly features, including a sensory garden where Ingenia have planted more gum trees to enhance the koala corridor.

This sensory garden will be used so guests can scan a QR code to learn more about the native trees and plants that are surrounding them.

“We’ve been working hard over the past few years redesigning Natura to increase the protection of the koala habitat and other local fauna species, so it was really great to get some of our team here to take a look,” Mr Camden said.

“Along with sponsoring the local koala hospital, these initiatives really help us to contribute to the bigger picture of habitat preservation and koala conservation that we are

trying to instil within the organisation.”

Mr Camden led the last Ingenia volunteering day in June, which saw members of his team spend their volunteer leave building three new koala shelters and planting 70 gum trees at their Port Stephens communities.

“Our experience working closely with the Council and the Koala Koalition have

helped us understand how to design communities like Natura to make them more habitat friendly for our nationally recognised icons, as well as bring us closer to the local community by working to understand their needs,” he said.

Ingenia’s General Manager, Investor Relations and Sustainability, Donna Byrne said that these

initiatives help Ingenia to accommodate their longterm development plans and commitment to increasing environmental awareness.

“We are taking proactive steps to ensure the survival of the Port Stephens koalas and their habitat so we will continue organising and encouraging these volunteering events as we build our understanding of

Yuri Bears offer hope to Ukrainian children

By Marian SAMPSON

YURI BEARS are cute, handknitted teddies from Australia providing immense comfort for the children of Ukraine.

Members of the Raymond

Terrace Lions Club have been making Yuri Bears to send to children who have been displaced and may have lost some or all of their belongings in the war.

Annette Clark, one of the

members of the Raymond Terrace Lions Club, told News Of The Area, “The story of the Yuri Bear goes all the way back to Russia’s Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986.

“Following the tragedy

at the nuclear power plant, a Ms Richardson fostered a displaced eleven-year-old-boy named Yuri from Ukraine.

“After she reconnected with him three decades later, the idea of the teddy bear was

born.

“Named in Yuri’s honour, the teddies are now being given to a new generation of displaced kids in the now war ravaged Ukraine.”

A small but mighty group

Port Stephens Veteran Golfers Association

By:

Gary WATT

RESULTS from a stableford

played at Tanilba Bay GC. on Monday, 11th September with 39 players.

Nett Winner : Gary Watt

37pts on C/B.

Nett Runner Up. : Jack Johnstone 37pts.

Bonus Point Winner : Bill McMaster 39pts on C/B.

Bonus Point Runner Up : Steve Robards 39pts.

Nearest the Pin, 4th Hole,

Div 1 : Robert Paul.

Div 2 : Kel Dorney.

Nearest the Pin, 11th Hole, Div 1 : Phil Rogan.

Div 2 : Bryan Porter.

Drive & Chip, 7th Hole, Div 1 : Graham Woolley (Birdie)

Div 2 : Robert Duffy. (Visitor) Drive & Chip, 18th Hole, Div 1 : Bob McKeand. Div 2 : Bill McMaster.

Ball Winners : Mark Skidmore 38pts, Neil Devine (V) 37pts, Dave Hurley 37pts,

Wayne Smith 36pts, Bryan Porter 36pts, Ron McKay 35pts, John McDonald 35pts, Roger Groves 34pts, Ron Dodd 33pts, Greg Garvin 32pts, Ralph Brown 32pts,

habitat protection,” said Ms Byrne.

“What Max and the team have done is show that it is possible to develop koala friendly greenfield developments, and we will continue to work collaboratively with local and state authorities across our communities to do our part for the environment.”

have been meeting on Tuesday afternoons at the Raymond Terrace Men’s Shed, who have very kindly provided access to their premises in order for the Lions to undertake this project.

Knitting needles flash faster than you can blink, wadding is stuffed into the bears and needles finish each bear with a friendly smile, nose and eyes.

“All attempts to teach the men to assist with this knitting have failed, but we would like to invite anyone within the community who would like to come along for an afternoon of fellowship.

“You do not need to be able to knit (or crochet), we need help with sewing the teddies up as well as filling and finishing.”

So far the ladies have enjoyed making over 130 Yuri Bears, taking joy in being able to help people that they will never meet.

“Tea and coffee will be provided and the laughter is a bonus for all that contribute,” she said.

Anyone interested in helping create the bears, please call Kate on 0409228075.

SPORT

and Phil Rogan 32pts. Lucky Prize Draw Winner : Neil Devine. Next Weeks game is at Tanilba Bay GC, 7:30am start. Visitors are welcome any Monday, please ring Gary Watt on 49814536 for starting times.

q Gum tree planting conducted by volunteers at the Latitude One extension site.

q Yuri Bears all ready to go to Ukraine with some of the Raymond Terrace Lions and members of the community that have embraced the program.

competition

Croquet Club hosts annual Ricochet Croquet competition

THE Nelson Bay Croquet Club’s Ricochet Croquet competition is an annual handicap knock-out event.

After interruptions due to COVID, the competition returned in 2023 with twelve entries.

The competition is played as 14-point games with a one

hour and thirty minute time limit.

After the early rounds, the semi-finals saw Peter Gordon play David Wilson and Jim Ball play Cheryl Lloyd.

As 2021 champion (essentially the defending champion as the competition was not played in 2022) and

a State RC champion, Peter was favourite for the 2023 competition, but David used his three shots wisely to qualify for the final with a 14-4 win.

In the other semi-final, Jim played well to beat Cheryl 14-6.

The final was played on

Tuesday 12 September and Jim could not get his game going with David running out the 11-5 winner in a tense contest.

For further information about the Club, visit nelsonbaycroquet.org.au or email nelsonbaycroquet@ gmail.com.

Port Macquarie Carnival success for local croquet Club

THE Port Macquarie Golf Croquet Carnival was held from Wednesday 6 to Friday 8 September 2023.

24 players from around NSW travelled to Port Macquarie to play in the singles competition.

They were allocated into four blocks of six players based on handicap and played a double round robin of 13-point games with a 50-minute time limit.

The first round was level play and the second handicap play.

Six Nelson Bay Croquet Club members played in the competition: Ann Barrett, Faby Batho, Liz Friend, Brenda-Lee Peet, Rod Peet and Rae Uptin.

In Block A, Brenda-Lee won six of ten games to win the top pool on hoop difference, +14, from Liz Woods (South West Rocks) +1 and Wendy Forbes (Urunga) -1.

In Block B, Liz also won six of ten games to top the pool on hoop difference +8, from Lynda Toms (Hurstville) +6 and Lyn Baker (Maitland) +4.

In Block D, Faby won seven of ten games to top the pool on hoop difference +14, from Ann Barrett +11.

A great carnival for Nelson Bay, winning three of the four blocks, including the perpetual trophy for winning Block A. Of particular note, Faby won all five games in the handicap round.

For further information about the Club, visit nelsonbaycroquet.org.au or email nelsonbaycroquet@ gmail.com.

Tilligerry Social

Golf Club Results

15/9/23

OUTRIGHT winner.

Bob West. 40 Bonus points winner.

Wendy Couvaras 37 Ball winners.

John McDonald. 35 Ron Dews. 34

Colin Marsden. 32

Ron McKay. 31 Bradman Award.

Kel Dorney D&C4th.

A. John McDonald.

B. Bob. West D&C7th.

A. John McDonald.

B. Bill McMaster NTP18th.

A. John McDonald.

B. Bob West Money hole.

A. John McDonald.

B. Bob West Lucky number. 13.

Hugh Potts

There were 11 starters. Congratulations to all the winners.

Next game 22/9/23 Single Stableford.

Classy fullback Kai continues proud rugby family tradition with Waratahs

By Chris KARAS

HIS grand uncle was a former Wallaby winger and grandfather a Parramatta rugby legend while mum holds a special place in the Two Blues’ club annals.

Meet 19-year-old rugby sensation Kai Vincent – the Nelson Bay Gropers junior product and emerging Manly Colts fullback who will represent the NSW Waratahs Under 19s in the upcoming Junior Super Rugby series.

The dashing custodian with a tricky step has come a long way since running around in the Nelson Bay junior rugby ranks with elder brother Jack.

After a decade of sterling service with the Gropers, the Vincent siblings decided to venture down the Pacific Motorway to learn the ropes in the Sydney Rugby competition.

22-year-old Jack, a former NSW Combined High Schools representative, established himself as the Northern

Suburbs second grade fullback while young gun Kai has proved a shooting star in the Manly Marlins’ first grade Colts team.

Both brothers are blessed with raw speed and attacking skills, with the elusive Kai impressing pundits with top class performances for the Marlins these past two seasons.

He spearheaded the club to a Grand Final appearance last year against Eastern Suburbs and took out the Marlins’ Best and Fairest, Leading Try Scorer and Colts Player of the Year Awards for the 2023 campaign.

Rugby is in the blood of both Kai and Jack who hail from special stock.

Their father Grant is a legendary Groper who played over 200 games while grand uncle Rod Batterham, a Gordon stalwart, played two Test matches for the Wallabies and skippered the Parramatta club to a first-ever top grade

premiership in 1977.

The siblings’ grandfather David Strong was a longserving Parramatta first grade half back while mum Kellie served as the club’s original ball girl before devoting ten years to grassroots rugby along with Grant as life members of the Nelson Bay Juniors.

Batterham, now 74, coached his nephews at the Gropers during their formative years and has had a major influence on their careers to date.

“It has been a smooth transition to Sydney rugby for both Jack and Kai,” a proud Kellie told News Of The Area.

“Coming from a family with strong rugby ties they’ve made the most of their natural ability and opportunities and are now flourishing in the lower grades,” she quipped.

“Both are good listeners and have a genuine passion for the code,” Kellie added.

Her grandparents Roma and Col Watson of Fingal Bay were pioneers and life members of the Nelson Bay Rugby Juniors with their names perpetuated each year

through the Roma and Col Watson Memorial Highest Representative Trophy – an award that both Kai and Jack received while playing for the Gropers.

Jack also represented Combined Australian States and was named Player of the Tournament when NSW CHS toured South Africa in 2019.

Kai will don the Waratahs number 15 jumper for the opening National Under 19s clash against ACT Brumbies on September 30 at Viking Park and later fixtures against Melbourne Rebels, Queensland Reds and Western Force.

If Kai continues his rapid rugby development there is

a distinct possibility that he will square off against his elder brother in a tantalising fullback duel in the not-toodistant future.

“Now that is a scenario to test our family loyalties,” laughed Kellie, who along with husband Grant travel to Sydney regularly to watch both sons in action.

q Finalists David Wilson and Jim Ball.

q Faby Batho receives the award for winning Block D.

q Nelson Bay Block winners Brenda-Lee Peet, Faby Batho and Liz Friend.

q Kai Vincent receives his Manly Colts Rugby Player of the Year Award from Marlins president Cameron Douglas and third grade Colts coach Andrew Blewman.

Photo: David Maclean Sports Photography.

Fishers compete on Hunter River in Australian BASS Pro Series event

By Pat JENSEN

THE Australian BASS Pro Series has been running for 25 years, but 2023 is the first time the competition has made it to the Hunter River.

Taking place on 9-10 September, just under 30 boats registered for the tournament.

Competition was tight over the two sunny days on the river.

Competitors, some as young as 16, travelled from as far afield as South Australia, Victoria and Queensland to take part.

“A lot of people are putting in the effort to come check out the new arena,” Tournament Director Nichole Smith told News Of The Area.

$3000 prize money went to talented Queenslander Matthew Langford for the biggest catch out of the boaters, with a total haul of 12.186 kilograms.

“Fishing is my livelihood and I’ve been guiding since 2017 and fishing tournaments since about 2010,” Matthew said.

Zone Final win for Soldiers Point

By Peter SMITH

THE Final of the Newcastle Zone Triples was played at Soldiers Point last week.

Strong teams from the Raymond Terrace Jets and Soldiers Point had progressed through three rounds to play this game before an appreciative crowd.

The teams were Dave Tarrant, Leigh Penman and

Mark Watt (skip) of the Point and the Bent brothers with Lachlan Freeman as skip for the Jets.

The game was played on a medium paced grass green in perfect condition.

However, the Jets struggled with the pace of the green as they usually play on a very fast artificial green at the Terrace.

On most ends, Tarrant and Penman drew shots very

close to the jack on long ends leaving a frustrated Freeman to dislodge their bowls and generally struggling!

The Point maintained the lead throughout the game and came out convincing winners 26 points to 12.

This is the third recent Newcastle Zone title for Soldiers Point Men, which bodes well for the forthcoming Pennant Season!

Mighty Mikka steers Under 11 Power colts to Hunter

Central Coast AFL Grand Final

By Chris KARAS

THEY call him ‘Hucman the Ruckman' and at the ripe age of eleven he is destined for bigger things in the sport of Australian Rules Football.

Port Stephens Power young gun Mikka Hucman was the name on everyone’s lips after experiencing a bumper season in the Hunter Central Coast AFL Mixed Under 11s Giants Conference.

With the promising ruck leading the way, the Power rookies forced their way into the club’s first ever Grand Final with a string of quality

performances.

In the trophy decider the Port Stephens whizkids turned in a courageous performance against a formidable Warners Bay side at Feighan Oval – with the dynamic Hucman named best on ground in a 53-21 loss.

Power coach Damien Walker told News Of The Area that his team’s unheralded success “was built around determination and fierce tackling”.

“Our Under 11s reached the finals last season but this year’s squad went a long way because of its never-give-up

attitude and defended like trojans to win some important games,” quipped Walker.

“The cornerstone of the team’s success was tough tackling and paved the way for a big performance in the Grand Final against a very strong Warners Bay side,” he said.

Talented midfielders Danny Doherty and Luke Smith were other stand outs during the 2023 season, turning in skilful performances.

“Along with Mikka they formed a capable trio that led by example and inspired team mates with their energy, skill

Nelson Bay Golf Results

10 SEPTEMBER – 16

September 2023

Sunday 10 September 2023

Ladies Stableford: Brushbox Course

Over-all Winners

1 Charmaine Elliott (23) 39

2 Robyn Butler (19) 38

3 Arja Levonpera (24) 36

Men’s Stableford:

Brushbox Course

Over-all Winners

1 Matthew Ferguson (11) 37c/b

2 Laurie Wilson (15) 37

3 Steve Conrades (13) 35c/b

4 Jack Arnold (17) 35

Mon 11 September 2023 Vets Stableford:

DIV 1: 1 Geoffrey Brown 21: 2

Peter page 21

DIV 2: 1 Walter Harris 22: 2

Douglas Curtis 21

Tues 12 September 2023

Ladies Par Stab: Gymea Lily Course

A1 Sharon Dunn (22) 63

A2 Jenny Bezuidenhout (16) 71 c/b

B1 Jill Woodhill (27) 66

B2 Arja Levonpera (25) 69

C1 Shirley Anicich (48) 72 c/b

C2 Deirdre Haxton (44) 72 c/b

Ladies Stableford 9 Hole:

Brushbox Course

Overall, Winners

1 Gretchen Fryar (47) 23 2

Victoria Laylor (33) 21

Wed 13 September 2023

Men’s Stableford:

Xmas Bush Course

A1 Alan Pride (15) 41

A2 Tony Short (10) 40

B1 Shane Roxby (18) 42

B2 Alan Mundey (29) 42

C1 William Morley (29) 42

C2 Peter Page (29) 39c/b

Men’s Stableford:

Gymea Lily Course

A1 Wayne Cleaver (15) 39

and tenacity,” Walker added. Despite playing on a losing side, the elusive Hucman stood tall with his athleticism, vision and radar boot to earn the Most Valuable Player award on the day.

The Port Stephens Power Under 11 Grand Final squad featured Mikka Hucman, Danny Doherty, Luke Smith, Nate Barry, Jaxon Daniels, Baxter Stephens, Tom Schmahl, Blake Elliott, Oliver Rudolph, Declan Pennicott, Lachlan Walker, Cooper Ashpole, Riley Ashpole, Cooper Bolton, Riley Frazer, Rueben Doring, Nate Roberts and Daniel Frazer.

A2 Jim Ball (14) 38

B1 Jack Arnold

B2 Mike Selmo (19) 39

C1 Doug Rowse (32) 39

C2 Max Stocker (26) 37

Thursday 14 September 2023

Mens Stableford : Brushbox Course

1 Peter Campbell (15) 28

2 George Theore (14) 26c/b

Ladies Stableford: Brushbox Course

A1 Donna Hall (30) 30

A2 Margot Phegan (30) 35c/b

B1 Carol Townsend (48) 36

B2 Jeanette Knott (42) 34

Mens Vets: Stableford

1 David Thompson 23

2 John Priddy 22

“I’m a fishing guide from Kingaroy in Queensland and am fishing most days in South East Queensland.

“The tournament I won at the Hunter was the third win for the year in the Australian Bass Tournaments series.

“There’s six rounds for the year and a grand final to wrap it up,” said Matthew.

As a prize for non-boaters (who get paired up with boaters) sponsor Rapala provided a few hundred dollars worth of fishing gear including a quality reel, lures and line, taken home by the outstanding non-boater, Troy Lowe, whose fish totalled a massive 6.27kg.

Friday 15 September 2023

Men’s Stableford:

Christmas Course

A1 Steven Wilson (14) 40

A2 Mark Wilkinson (10) 38c/b

A3 Peter Metham (15) 38

B1 Craig Dews (19) 39

B2 Martyn Jeggo (16) 37

B3 John Evans (17) 36c/b

C1 Phil Sherwood (28) 40

C2 John Elsworth (27) 38

C3 Ken Scamell (33) 37c/b

Ladies Stableford:

Christmas Course

A1 Kathy Edmunds (29) 40c/b

A2 Susan Hogan (30) 40

Saturday 16 September 2023

Men’s Stableford:

Xmas Bush Course

A1 Steven Brown (12) 43

A2 Scott Bowden (14) 39 c/b

B1 Allan Bailey (16) 40 c/b

B2 John Fitzgerald (19) 40

C1 Norman Cousins (29) 38

C2 Ray Currathers (24) 37

Womens Stableford overall winners

1 Julie Newsham (23) 32

2 Barbara Frost (16) 30

3 Bev Suska (39) 27

Men’s Stableford : Brush Course

A1 Wayne Cleavers (13) 41

A2 James Marshell (7) 40

B1 Phil Murray (18) 37 c/b

B2 Ian Edmunds (18) 37

C1 John Maslen (27) 35 c/b

C2 Yuri Suska (27) 35

q Queenslander Matthew Longford was the boater champion.

q Troy Lowe took out the win in the non-boater category.

q Bent, Freeman and Bent with Watt, Tarrant and Penman.

q Dynamic Port Stephens Power ruck Mikka Hucman was named MVP of the Hunter Central Coast AFL Mixed Giants Under 11s Grand Final.

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

SCRAMBLED WORDS: Goosebumps. Harry Potter. Peter Pan.

MYALL COAST PORT STEPHENS

Funeral Notice

Place your special message here

Phone: (02) 4981 8882

Email: ads@newsofthearea.com.au

Public Notices

AGM

Medowie Football Club Inc.

Monday 9th October 2023

6:30pm at Bull and Bush Medowie

All members are invited to attend For further information please contact the club at www.medowiefc.com.au

Antique China & Figurines, English Silver, Fountain Pens, Old Jewellery & Watches. Please phone:

Annie 0419 219 634 or Ron 0408 967 747

Wanted to Buy

War Medals

Top prices paid by local collector. Call Jim 0400 060 215

WARDROBE, hanging spaces and drawers 0428 943 812

For Sale

2 cream leather two seater lounges. $500 each or both for $900 exc cond. 0400 955 778

2 SINGLE Ensemble beds with bedding and covers in exc cond. $50 each 4997 0951

3 OROTON evening purses, collectables from the 1970s, converts from should strap to clutch beautiful cond. Like new Best offers. 49817523

32” TV with remote, all working, no damage $60. Ph: 0493 078 190

For Sale

4 x 17”x 6” Steel rims, fitted with 255/65x17 Dunlop AT23 tyres. Suit current Nissan Navara $130 ea ono. Ph 0404 094 028

ANTIQUE wardrobe make an offer. 0428 943 812

BBQ 4 Burner/side burner bottle with safety valve plus cover & accessories

Little body rust Medowie 4982 9942

BBQ, 2 burner, VGC hardly used inc gas bottle, on wheels $110 0427 980 079

BEAM hanging racks pair, powder coated steel grey and rubber Suits use with bicycles or ladders. Never used $50. 0408 431 488

A FAIR SHARE FOR REGIONAL

For Sale

BEDROOM suite Queen, inc bedhead, 2 bedside tables, mirrored dressing table, $150 Phone 0407 272 544 e280923

CACTI - Plenty of varieties 0466 880 639 F030823

COCA Cola sign in wooden and glass frame 40cmx30cm $25 Coca Cola mens red shirt with signage size XL $10 3 tow balls, 2 large heavy metal shackles. Best offer. Ph 4981 7523.

COFFEE/Lamp table Walnut stained good cond. Top has glass inset 60cm x 60cm H 44cm Magazine shelf at bottom $50. 0430 092 825 f140923

COSMOPOLITAN

Travelling port, half price, $85 used once 4982 6443

CURLING wand, near new. $15. 0493777707

DRESS, New, Short Sleeve, Golden Blue Marble print Size M / Maxi Length Light weight & lined $ 50. 0427 818 294

DRESS, New Sleeveless, Pink/Blue Multicolour Mid length Size M $45 Ph: 0427 818 294 F230223

DVD movies incl. drama and westerns, mainly last 5-20 years. Incl 1 TV series 10x10 disks $60 Ph: 02 4966 5000

EXTENSION Cord heavy duty approx 30 metres $30 Phone 4919 8277 Tea Gardens

ELECTRIC Heaters

1 Electric 700mm x 360mm 2000 watts

1 Oil filled 2400 watts $40 for both. Please ring 0404 724 347

ELECTRIC stove, Chef VGC, hardly used. $450 0428 943 812

FULL Set of Ping Golf clubs, many extras best offer 0413 885 720

GET Fit While Seated Compact Elliptical Pedal Exercisor, Gubai model JR2 activity tracking LCD display, variable resistance, low joint impact. $80 ono. Pick up Tea Gardens. Phone 0412 347 546

For Sale For Sale

GOLF or Shopping Scooter, 4 wheel drive 2sp Lotus Blake Tycoon AZ36. Can be fully disassembled $2,750 ono. 4997 0435 Re111123

GOLF set leather bag, Slazenger cart woods steels extras. $250. Ph 0476 789 721

GOOD antique Queen Anne dressing table with mirror $60 Ph 0429 601 039 F070422

HEDGE trimmer, ozito 450w, 360mm blades GC $50. 49820778

HOLDEN Astra car rim and tire tubeless steel belted radial. Size 205 / 55R16 $100 ono. Ph 4981 7523 F150623

HOME Office, Solid wood Lockable Computer shelving $60.00 Phone Sam 0437 878 155 F201022

IKEA Stornas Bar Table GC. $95. 0493 078 190

JASON La-Z-Boy rocker reliner. Light grey, 4 years old, good cond. $200 0488 662 877

KING Single Bed Frame Wrought iron/wooden frame Slatted base Great condition $95 Phone 02 4987 2250

KING single tubular bed Free. 0419 985 601

KIRBY vacuum and carpet cleaner cost $3000 offers please (02) 5606 1012

LARGE CTM HS-928 mobility scooter with large seat, VGC, new rear bag, new batteries new charger. $2,600 delivered. 0418 430 643

LOUNGE 3 piece $50. Other items too 0425 254 612

MASSAGE Table $100. 0407 267 152

MOBILE phone ZTE excellent cond. $100 0493 777 707 F090323

MOBILITY Scooter 4 wheel. Good cond. with front basket, rear bag and charger. $1200 Free delivery Ph: 0418 430 643

ReS040523

MUSIC 50’s - 90’s CDs and vinyl 45’s various compilations plus single artists. 02 4966 5000 F310823

NEAR new motor cycle helmet . Size XL. Aeroblade 3 Kabuto Japan. $99 Peter 0419932992 F080623

NEW 5L water jug with tap. $15.00 Call 0493 078 190 F230323

OFFICE chair, adjustable height & arm and reclines. Exc cond. $80 0493 777 707

PARALLEL garment rack 102x172cmH x 44.5cmWx 82cm L still in box. $12. 4982 8628

PORTABLE clothesline GC, $25. 0413 023 296

PRYDE Windsufing mast suits 7 metre sail. Little used. $99 Tea Gardens. Peter 0419 932 992

RAIL Corp Wall telephones and desktop push buttom phone 90’s Nokia Mobile 6300 in box, charger and manual 00’s. Samsung mobile and charger 00’s. 2 x Motorola units, chargers with info 90’s. Cheap best offers 4981 7523

SALON hair dryer, new $20. 0493 777 707

SINGER 99 Collectable sewing machine and table $125ono 0413 401 589

SNOW chains brand new, unused adjustable, suits 16 inch wheels or others $95 Tea Gardens. Peter 0419 932 992 F260123

SPARE Wheel for boat trailer, with tyre $50. 0419 985 601

ST Phillips uniforms boys Blazer size 24 $50. Boys summer shirts sizes 18, 20 & 22 $10 each Ph 0415 353 798

SWAG King single with mattress $70 0419 985 601

WALKER Vcg hardly used. Suit man. $50ono 0413 885 720 f210923

WALL Hanging mirror 1100mmL x 850mmW Good cond. $100ono Ph: 0439 440 112 f140923

For Sale

TWO Large standard English desk dictionaries Hard covers. 2 x vols Beautiful cond. $15 for both ono. 4981 7523

WALKER heavy duty suits big person $100 Ph: 4982 2335 F300323

WINDSURFER and fin 85 litres, Freerace 2.6m long. In a bag. No dings Some accessories available. $80. Peter 0419 932 992. Tea Gardens. F260123

WOMENS Levi jeans new, size 8 - 10. $50 0493 777 707

WOMENS new black leather jacket, small to medium, worth $400, asking $100 0493 777 707

WOMENS new coat medium to large, wool worth $120, sell $50 0493 777 707

WORK bench 136cm L $100 Ph: 4938 5923

WORK out seated in front of the TV or reading Compact Seated Eliptical pedal exerciser Model JR2 Cost new $175 plus frt sell $80 0412 347 546 F220623

Boats

STACER 3.4m tinny with Mariner 15HP outboard UN497N on registered trailer CL6484. VGC ideal Bay runabout Many extras $1,500 Ph: 0414 568 563

TINNY 3.1m car topper 8HP Merc. Gal. Folding trailer. Good condition No Rego. $2800 ono Ph 0427 224 744

TINNY 3.1m Savage 8HP Suzuki motor, 2 anchors, set of oars, 2 new life jackets. Boat and trailer both registered $1,500. ADD555N & P32249. 0416 268 943

Caravans

2016 Retreat Brampton 22’. Single beds, 2 solar panels, sat dish, gas heater, many extras $70,000 ono. Reg till Nov 2023. TR76FN. Contact 0415 359 809

Motors

BEST ON THE BOX

SATURDAY FROGMORE HOUSE: ROYAL RETREAT

SBS, 8.30pm

It would be safe to say that until 2019, only the most astute royal watchers knew a single thing about Frogmore in Home Park, Windsor. However, all that changed when its most famous tenants, Harry and Meghan, moved in… and then out. Their former home – the four-bedroom heritage-listed Frogmore Cottage – is just one of the historic buildings within the 35-acre estate. The park is also home to stunning 17th-century abode Frogmore House. While the current royal rift might seem shocking, it pales in comparison to the dark secrets and scandals lurking here, as revealed by experts and historians in this informative documentary..

FRIDAY, September 22

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 explores ferns.

8.30 Sherwood. (Premiere, Malv) After a murder occurs in an ex-mining town, DCS Ian St Clair is called in to investigate.

9.30 Midsomer Murders. (Mv, R) A folk festival organiser is killed in a manner reminiscent to that described in a ballad.

11.00 ABC Late News. Coverage of the day’s events.

11.20 Miniseries: Innocent. (Mal, R)

12.05 Harrow. (Mav, R)

1.00 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

TUESDAY RFDS

SEVEN, 9.15pm

Spotlighting the work of the Broken Hill-based Royal Flying Doctor Service, this outback drama continues with something of a darker episode involving multiple drug overdoses that puts Eliza (Emma Hamilton), Wayne (Rob Collins) and the entire RFDS crew to the test. What begins as a fun-filled fundraiser for the team and the community quickly turns sour when a deadly batch of MDMA threatens the lives of partygoers at Dolly Hardon’s charity drag night. RFDS might be a work of fiction, but its hard-hitting storylines don’t shy away from contemporary issues affecting regional Australia, nor the immense pressures faced by the staff of this crucial service.

WEDNESDAY WHILE THE MEN ARE AWAY

With a fresh, cheeky and at-times historically inaccurate take on 1940s Australia, this gutsy dramedy shakes up established ideas of what life was like for those left behind during the war. Premiering with two episodes tonight, it follows Women’s Land Army recruits Gwen (Max McKenna) and Esther (Jana Zvedeniuk), two naïve city girls assigned to work on Harry Whitmore’s apple farm while he joins the war effort. Joining Harry’s Italian wife Frankie (Michela De Rossi), Indigenous farmhand Kathleen (Phoebe Grainer) and cowardly Robert (Matt Testro), the wide-eyed ladies are set for a spiritual and political awakening. While the cat’s away, the mice will play, and this group certainly have some tricks up their sleeves.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (PG, R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 South America With Simon Reeve. (Ml)

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

9.40 Tony Robinson: The Thames At Night. (R)

10.35 SBS World News Late.

11.05 Unseen. (Malnv)

11.55 Romulus. (MA15+av, R)

3.45 Destination Flavour. (R) 4.15 Going Places. (R) 4.45 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. Karen Martini cooks a Turkish pizza.

7.30 Football. AFL. Finals Series. First preliminary final. Collingwood v GWS Giants. From the MCG.

10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion and interviews.

11.00 Armchair Experts. (M) Adam Cooney, Cam Luke and Georgie Parker present their unique analysis of the week in AFL.

12.00 12 Monkeys. (MA15+v, R) Curious about her companion’s mysterious past, Cassie asks Cole where he is from.

1.00 Home Shopping.

6.00 NBN News.

7.00 Rugby League. NRL. Finals Series. First preliminary final. Penrith Panthers v Melbourne Storm.

9.45 NRL Finals Footy Post-Match.

A post-match NRL wrap-up.

10.45 MOVIE: The Expendables. (2010, MA15+lv, R) Mercenaries try to assassinate a dictator. Sylvester Stallone.

12.45 MOVIE: Good Kill. (2014, Malsv, R)

2.35 It’s All Greek To Me. (R)

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Postcards. (PG, 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. (Mal, R) Graham Norton is joined by legendary singer Bruce Springsteen, actors Anya Taylor-Joy and Anna Maxwell Martin, and comedian Mo Gilligan. Florence and the Machine perform their single Dream Girl Evil

10.30 To Be Advised.

11.30 The Project. (R)

12.30 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

1.30 Home Shopping. (R)

Nelson Bay FC on brink of rare premiership-championship double in

FROM Page 40

triumph over their rivals to advance to the Grand Final with Cooks Hill booking a berth after tipping out Southern United 1-0 last weekend.

Head Coach Watling told News Of The Area that he anticipates “a tough clash against a strong Cooks Hill line up”.

“The Cookers conceded only nine goals in this year’s competition – and

eight were against us,” a wary Watling revealed.

“We will need to produce our best to stave off a huge challenge from a side we have a lot of respect for,” he said.

Nelson Bay’s depth

in the senior ranks was evident this season with the club’s first grade mens team reaching the finals and bowing out after a 2-1 loss to Greta.

“The team underwent a rebuild but finished

strongly to qualify for the big end-of-season matches that augurs well for the future,” the respected club stalwart added.

For the astute Watling a victory in the championship Grand Final will ice a

memorable campaign for his well-drilled Reserve Grade squad. The team won sixteen and drew one of their eighteen matches, suffering just one loss in claiming the minor premiership title.

SATURDAY, September 23

6.00 Rage. (PG) 7.00 Weekend Breakfast.

9.00 Rage. (PG) 12.00 News. 12.30

Midsomer Murders. (PG, R) 2.00 Sherwood. (Malv, R) 3.00 Becoming Frida Kahlo. (PG, R)

3.35 Bronwyn Oliver: The Shadows Within. (PG, R) 4.00 Dr Charles Perkins Oration.

5.00 Landline. (R) 5.30 The Whiteley Art Scandal. (PG, R)

6.30 Kitchen Cabinet. (R) Annabel Crabb meets Jordon Steele-John.

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

7.30 Shakespeare And Hathaway. (Mv) Frank and Lu are hired by a dance school owner to debunk a curse that is destroying her business.

8.15 Vera. (Mav, R) Part 1 of 4. DCI Vera Stanhope investigates the death of a young woman in a suspicious fire.

9.50 The Newsreader. (Ml, R) The country is rocked by a mass shooting.

10.45 Shetland. (Mal, R)

11.45 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) Music video clips.

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

12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Gymnastics. FIG Artistic World Challenge Cup series. Round 4. H’lights. 4.00 Wet By Fire. 4.10 Trail Towns. (PG) 4.45 Tommy Fleming Live From Galway Cathedral. 5.35 Secret Nazi Bases. (PGa, R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Going Places With Ernie Dingo. (PG)

8.30 Frogmore House: Royal Retreat.

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

10.40 Sex And Sensibility. (MA15+ans, R)

11.35 Rex In Rome. (Mv, R)

1.30 Suspect. (MA15+v, R)

3.10 UFOs. (PGa, R)

4.20 Bamay. (R)

4.50 Destination Flavour: Japan Bitesize. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SUNDAY, September 24

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.00 Offsiders.

10.30 World This Week. (R) 11.00 Compass. (PG, R) 11.30 Praise. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30

Landline. 1.30 Gardening Aust. (R) 2.30 Shakespeare And Hathaway. (PGa, R) 3.15

Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (PG, R)

4.05 Griff’s Great Australian Rail Trip. (R) 5.00 Art Works. 5.30 Antiques Roadshow.

6.30 Voices Of Australia.

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Death In Paradise. (Ma, R) A nurse dies under suspicious circumstances.

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

9.25 Mother And Son. (Ml, R) Leo’s restaurant is leased.

9.55 Annika. (Ma, R) The body of a scientist is found in a loch.

10.45 Total Control. (Mlv, R)

11.35 Talking Heads. (PG, 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.

10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG)

12.00 Horse Racing. Kia Golden Rose Day and Caulfield Charity Family Day.

5.00 Seven News At 5.

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

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R) A couple are potentially hiding something.

7.30 MOVIE: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald. (2018, Mhv, R) When the wizard Gellert Grindelwald plots to raise an army of his fellow magic users to rule over non-magical beings, Newt Scamander’s former professor, Albus Dumbledore, seeks his help to stop him. Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Johnny Depp.

10.15 MOVIE: Monster Hunter. (2020, Mav, R) An army officer is transported to a new world. Milla Jovovich.

12.30 Home Shopping.

6.00 NBN News.

7.00 Rugby League. NRL. Finals Series. Second preliminary final. Brisbane Broncos v New Zealand Warriors.

9.45 NRL Finals Footy Post-Match. A post-match NRL wrap-up.

10.45 Rugby World Cup: Highlights.

11.45 MOVIE: BlacKkKlansman. (2018, MA15+lv) John David Washington.

2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PGa)

2.30 The Garden Gurus. (R)

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 Global Shop. (R)

5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

5.30 Helping Hands. (PG, R)

6.00 Luxury Escapes.

6.30 Bondi Rescue. (PGal, R) Whippet rescues two men at the same time.

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

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

9.00 MOVIE: Top Gun. (1986, Ms, R) Students at an elite US flying school for advanced fighter pilots compete against each other to be the best in the class. Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis.

11.15 The Cheap Seats. (Mal, R)

12.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 Authentic. (PG)

5.00 Hour Of Power.

6am Morning Programs.

11.00 Football. AFL Women’s. Round 4. GWS Giants v Adelaide. 1pm Football. AFL Women’s. Round

4. Port Adelaide v Geelong. 3.00 Rides Down Under: Workshop Wars. 4.00 AFL Pre-Game. 4.30 Football. AFL Finals Series.

6.00

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

12.00 WorldWatch. 1.00 Speedweek. 3.00 Gymnastics. FIG Artistic World Challenge Cup series. Round 5. H’lights. 4.00 Sunset Stories. (R) 4.10 Following The Flow. (PGal, R) 5.40 Secret Nazi Bases. (PGa, R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Megastructures: Knights Templar Castles.

8.30 MOVIE: You Can Go Now. (2022, Malns)

10.00 Empires Of New York. (Premiere, Madl)

10.50 24 Hours In Emergency. (PGa, R)

12.40 Hunting Hitler’s U-Boats. (PGalv, R)

2.05 Could Hitler Have Been Stopped? (PGav, R)

3.00 Patriot Brains. (Mals, R)

3.50 Italian Food Safari. (R) 4.20 Bamay. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 Al Jazeera.

5.00 Seven News At 5.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 The Voice. (PGa) In the semi-final, eight artists battle it out in hopes of proving they have what it takes.

8.45 Con Girl. (Mal) Part 3 of 4. As the story continues, a French traveller is embroiled in a child kidnapping case in Sydney after being conned by Samantha Azzopardi, who also poses as Coco, a talent agent.

11.00 Born To Kill? Robert Reldan. (Mav) A look at serial killer Robert Reldan.

12.00 The InBetween. (Mav, R) Tom and Damien enlist Cassie’s help.

1.00 Home Shopping.

5.00 Seven Early News.

5.30 Sunrise.

Centre Of The Earth. (2008, PG) 9.30 MOVIE: The Legend Of Tarzan. (2016, M) 11.40 Dominion. 12.35am Grimm. 1.30 Love After Lockup. 2.25 Late Programs.

6.00 NBN News.

7.00 The Block. (PGal)

8.35 60 Minutes. Current affairs program.

9.35 Nine News Late. A look at the latest news and events.

10.05 Under Investigation. (Ma, R)

11.05 Killer At The Crime Scene. (MA15+av)

12.00 Chicago Med. (MA15+am, R)

1.40 Our State On A Plate. (PG, R)

At The Crime

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

7.30 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly Australia. (PGlv, R) Graeme Hall meets an Aussie cattle dog.

8.30 FBI. (Mv) After a string of armed robberies, the team investigates a suspect who leads them to something much bigger.

9.30 NCIS: Hawai’i. (Mv, R) The team investigates the death of a sailor and goes head-to-head with a ruthless local criminal organisation.

10.30 Five Bedrooms. (Mls, R)

11.30 The Sunday Project. (R)

12.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

6am Children’s Programs.

1.30pm Surfing Australia TV. 2.00 Ice Hockey. NHL Global Series. Los Angeles Kings v Arizona Coyotes. 5.00 Sunnyside. 5.30 To Be Advised. 7.30 MOVIE: Passengers. (2016, M) 9.50 MOVIE: Lucy. (2014, MA15+) 11.35 Falling Water. 2.30am Surfing Australia TV. 3.00 Teen Titans Go! 3.30 Beyblade Burst QuadStrike. 4.00 Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens. 4.30 Late Programs.

Newcastle Football Zone League 2 Reserve Grade trophy decider

“That was against Kurri in the opening round with the side proving a model of consistency for the remainder of the campaign,” he stated.

Nelson Bay have fielded a quality squad of

30 players with strength across the park.

Boasting a potent strike force led by marksmen

Kean Thomas, Steve O’Dea and Tye Marone, the Bay men have banged in 80 goals.

Just as impressive has been the team’s creativity in the midfield led by sixteen-year-old rookie Zain Hasssan with experienced sweeper and club stalwart John Graham and goalkeeper Chad

Watling the mainstays in defence.

Cooks Hill are always a tough nut to crack with centre backs Andrew Kemmis, Hugo van Haren and Joel van Haren a pillar of strength at the back this

season.

Club officials hope to rush Hugo back into the fold from suspension and boast key players in central midfielder Declan O’Donnell, striker Jake North and English import

Alec Geelan.

O’Donnell proved the hero in the Cookers’ victory over Southern United –grabbing the match winner with a rocket half volley from 30 metres out.

MONDAY, September 25

Living With The Boss. (PG, R) 10.55

The Beaten Track With Kate Humble. (PG)

2.00 How The Nazis Lost

TUESDAY, September 26

6.00

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Home And Away. (PG)

7.30 My Kitchen Rules. (PGl) In Melbourne, housemates Nick and Christian are hoping to redeem themselves with their second cook.

9.15 MOVIE: The Mummy. (2017, Mhv, R)

A US soldier battles the mummy of an ancient Egyptian princess he accidentally woke from her crypt. Tom Cruise, Sofia Boutella, Russell Crowe.

11.30 The Latest: Seven News. 12.00 Kochie’s Business Builders. (R)

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. (Mans, R) Four mates set out to embarrass each other.

10.15 FBI: Most Wanted. (Mv, R)

11.05 The Project. (R)

12.00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

1.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

7.30 My Kitchen Rules. (PGl) The competition returns to Adelaide, as mother and son team, Sonia and Marcus, aim for redemption.

9.15 RFDS. (Madl) A bad batch of MDMA is found to be doing the rounds at Dolly Hardon’s charity drag night. 10.15 Ambulance: Code Red. (Mav) Follows the work of an ambulance service.

6.30 The Project.

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

8.40 The Cheap Seats. (Mal) From major news stories to entertainment and viral videos, presenters Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald take a look at the week that was.

9.40 NCIS. (Mv, R) Agent Parker steps up to protect Vance.

10.30 NCIS: Hawai’i. (Mv, R)

11.30 The Project. (R)

12.30 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

1.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

WEDNESDAY, September 27

6.00

9.00 Make Me A Dealer.

9.55 Living With The Boss. (PG, R) 10.50 Off The Beaten Track With Kate Humble.

6.00

9.35 Elvis’ Women. (Mas)

(Mv)

(MA15+v, R)

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Home And Away. (PGa)

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

9.15 Unbelievable Moments

Caught On Camera. (PGa) Footage of headline-grabbing moments captured on camera by members of the public.

10.15 The Latest: Seven News.

10.45 Talking Finals: Grand Final Special.

11.45 Autopsy: USA: Rick James. (MA15+ad, R)

1.00 Home Shopping.

5.00 Seven Early News.

5.30 Sunrise.

THURSDAY, September 28

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Make Me A Dealer. (R) 9.50 Living With The Boss. (PG, R) 10.45 Off The Beaten Track With Kate Humble. (PG)

(R) 6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Great Australian Walks With Julia Zemiro.

8.30 Eva Longoria: Searching For Mexico. (Final, Ml)

9.20 Crime. (MA15+d)

10.20 SBS World News Late.

10.50 Devils. (Premiere, MA15+ad)

11.50 Nine Perfect Strangers. (Mlv, R)

3.20 Italian Food Safari. (R)

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

4.20 Bamay. (R) 4.50 Destination Flavour. (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)

8.30 The Front Bar: Grand Final Edition. (Ml) In the lead-up to the Grand Final, hosts Mick Molloy, Sam Pang and Andy Maher take a lighter look at all things AFL and catch up with stars of yesteryear and today.

10.00 The 1% Club. (PGls, R) Hosted by Jim Jefferies.

11.05 The Latest: Seven News.

11.35 My Kitchen Rules. (R) Hosted by Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge.

6.30 The Project.

7.30 Thank God You’re Here. (Final, Mdls) Hosted by Celia Pacquola.

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

9.30 Five Bedrooms. (Final, Mls) Ainsley and Simmo’s wedding day arrives.

10.30 So Help Me Todd. (PGav) A juror dies during Susan’s first big trial.

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

12.30 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

1.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

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

7.30 Gogglebox Australia. Opinionated viewers discuss TV shows.

8.30 Michael Hing: Long Live The Hing. (MA15+ls) A stand-up performance by comedian Michael Hing who recounts the story of proposing to his girlfriend.

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

10.40 Law & Order: SVU. (Mas, R)

1.30 The Project. (R)

2.30 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

3.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

BUMPER CLASH

q Nelson Bay FC reserve grade men's team are chasing a premiershipchampionship double in the Newcastle Football Zone League 2 Grand Final this Saturday against Cooks Hill.

By Chris KARAS

ALL roads lead to Myers Park this Saturday where Nelson Bay FC and Cooks Hill United bid for championship honours in the Newcastle Football Zone League 2 reserve grade competition.

The scene is set for a bumper clash between two quality teams that have proved the benchmark with spirited performances throughout the 2023 season.

Craig Watling’s experienced Nelson Bay outfit go into the trophy decider brimming with confidence and holding a vital edge after impressive wins over the ‘Cookers’ in the preliminary rounds.

A fortnight ago the Bay warriors posted a 3-1

CONTINUED Pages 36-37