Port Stephens News Of The Area 28 March 2024

Controversial bail laws pass NSW Parliament

AFTER much debate, the NSW Government passed controversial laws to prevent repeat youth crime last week, with legal organisations pledging to fight the decision.

Parliament passed legislative changes last week to amend the Bail Act 2013 to include a temporary additional bail test for young people between fourteen and eighteen charged with committing certain serious break and enter offences or motor vehicle theft offences while on bail for similar offences.

“The government is aware of concerns about tightening bail laws for young people and it has approached this change cautiously in light of the potentially serious consequences for young people and, in particular, Aboriginal young people,” NSW Attorney General Michael Daley said.

“This is why the change is time limited and relates to young people who are already alleged to have committed at least one offence while on bail for another relevant offence.”

Among the changes, a new performance crime offence has been introduced targeting those who advertise certain crimes on social media.

“The new ‘post and boast’ offence targets performance crime – where offenders post footage of their law-breaking online – in connection with car crime and break and enter offences,” Mr Daley said.

“This behaviour is unacceptable and has to stop.

“People have a right to sleep safe in their beds in the sanctity of their home and should not have to face being retraumatised, ridiculed and shamed with images of the crime being made into a warped kind of ‘entertainment’.”

Greens MP and spokesperson for justice Sue Higginson has since described the new bail laws as “the legislation of a coward”, claiming they would “see vulnerable children and young people locked up”.

Ms Higginson has claimed that Government members were personally instructed by the Premier to “block some 20 proposed amendments to the laws”, including from legal experts such as the NSW Bar Association and the Law Society of NSW.

“The opposition to these laws is remarkable,” she said.

“The Bar Association, the Law Society, the cross bench and even members of the Liberal Party and the government united against both the spirit and execution of new laws.

“We’ve witnessed unanimous, grave concern about the careless breadth and consequences of these

laws.

“This is legislation forced on the government and the state by the Premier to appease a few shock jocks and columnists.”

Ms Higginson said vulnerable groups would be “hit hardest” by the new laws.

“They will be First Nations children and young people, and children with mental illness and disability.

“They will be children who are going hungry and who don’t have a steady roof over their heads.

“They don’t need jail time.

“They need help.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

“The proposed laws however will have the opposite effect.

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

Several days prior to the passing of the bill, a research paper from the Justice Reform Initiative was launched in the NSW Parliament, offering alternatives to prison such as early intervention and prevention programs, First Nations placebased approaches and bail support programs.

The paper, ‘Alternatives to Incarceration in NSW’, argues New South Wales relies on a system of incarceration for children and adults that is harmful, expensive and ineffective.

“Prison does not work to reduce crime; it does not work to build safer communities; and it does not work to address the social drivers

35

of contact with the criminal justice system,” the paper states.

“The overuse of incarceration in NSW has historically been driven by a politicised approach to justice policy, with both major parties frequently competing to promote a ‘tough on crime’ agenda.

“Too often decision-making about critical policy and legislative reform has focused on political rather than policy outcomes.”

The Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) NSW/ACT says a major campaign will now be launched that will not end until the laws are scrapped.

“We are drawing a line in the sand.

“We cannot accept an Australia that puts children in jail instead of evidence-based policy that actually makes communities safer,” ALS CEO Karly Warner said.

“Time will show that these laws will increase crime and make communities more dangerous.

“We won’t stop until this betrayal of vulnerable children and of Closing the Gap is overturned and replaced with the solutions that actually make a difference.

“This is the beginning, not the end, of our advocacy,” Ms Warner said.

The State Government also announced last week that the Legislative Assembly Committee on Law and Safety will undertake an inquiry into community safety in regional and rural communities.

FROM Page 1

“That was an organisation focused on supporting victims of domestic violence, and one of their concepts at the start of the school year was to provide school supplies to children whose families were unable to afford them,” Catherine said.

The response from the public saw more backpacks, lunchboxes, drink bottles and stationary donated than the charity could find recipients for.

“It was great, but those backpacks were then just going to sit there at least until the next year.”

It was Catherine’s friend and former neighbour, Alison Drew, who suggested that they make use of those remaining packs when they set out on their next caravaning trip.

“I said that we should just bring some of those packs along with us, because I knew that we’d find places where there were families and kids struggling,” said Alison, who is a Constable with the Hunter region police.

It was through Alison’s police contacts through towns in rural NSW that opened those first doors, and found schools that were more than grateful for the support for their students.

“After that went so well, we just decided to keep doing it.”

Reaching out to community contacts and through social media, Catherine and Alison ran their own drive for school supplies.

As they did this they roped in Colleen Mulholland and Stewart Murrell to work with them.

“It seems like a small thing

Feral deer populations causing concern across Port Stephens

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Port Stephens area.

Of particular concern are the public safety risks posed by feral deer to motorists and motorcyclists.

Incidents of feral deer, mainly individual stags, are being spotted so it is important to report sightings to improve local knowledge of feral deer populations and provide information if management programs are required.

There have been several recent incidents of vehicle crashes involving feral deer, particularly in the lower Hunter.

The feral deer are large and hard to see, making them a substantial risk to motorists and motorcycles.

Grazing and trampling caused by feral deer threatens native species that are less able to compete for food and habitat and damages the composition and structure of habitats of threatened fauna.

Scent marking and rubbing of antlers leads to many trees becoming ring-barked and dying, whilst browsing on shrubs and grasses, forbs and other general foliage further degrades these communities.

Weed seeds are introduced in scats and increased light penetration from disturbed canopies sets the conditions for rapid weed invasion.

Brett Miners, Hunter Local Land Services General Manager said, “Feral deer have a serious impact on the natural environment, but they also have devastating impacts for agricultural producers and even gardens and community spaces in our urban areas.

“Deer would easily make the Olympics high jump team, some species are able to jump fences up to 2.5m high and this enables them to invade farms, graze on pastures and crops, consume stock water and feed.

“Deer congregate around water sources and damage riparian zones around dams, waterholes, creeks and rivers.

“The impact on agricultural enterprises varies but can easily reach the tens of thousands of dollars each year for farmers due to increased grazing pressure, loss of crops

and damage to infrastructure.”

Feral deer are increasingly present in urban areas, grazing on lawns and backyard vegetable gardens, destroying landscaping, destroying community spaces such as parks and causing motor vehicle accidents.

Their agility makes them a particular hazard to motorists, as they often appear with very little warning.

“Feral deer are a priority pest species in the Hunter region and landholders have an obligation to control them to limit their ability to impact our environment, production land but most importantly not end up on a road and putting human life at risk,” Brett continued.

“We encourage landholders and residents to report sightings of feral deer, as this provides valuable information on where they are and helps us prioritise coordinated landholder programs.”

To report feral deer:

● Download and install the FeralScan app on your smartphone - https:// www.feralscan.org.au

● Record a sighting on the FeralScan website

● Call your nearest Local Land Services office on 1300 795 299.

– offering a backpack,” said Stewart, “but it’s remarkable the difference that it makes to these kids.”

Stewart says that they decided to place a particular focus on towns in rural areas of NSW – places with small populations where families are more keenly feeling the cost-of-living pinch.

During the early days of the charity the deliveries were done by the team while travelling around the state, with their caravans filled with

backpacks.

Most of those towns were discovered by Alison’s contacts through NSW Police, though both she and Catherine point out that there has been a process of building trust with the Department of Education which resulted in the organisation progressing from making the most of opportunities as they came to responding to requests for aid on a large scale.

“Things really changed for us following the flooding in Lismore,” Stewart said.

“That was a situation where a contact from the Department of Education actually reached out to us to ask if we could help in offering support to the affected kids.

“We’ve distributed between 1500 and 1800 packs to school kids since then.”

The Backpack Venture have, in total, provided approximately 3500 packs across the state, but Colleen said the greatest measure of the charity is in observing the impact on the students.

“If kids don’t feel like they’re equal to their peers then they don’t go to school,” she said.

“The backpacks go a long way to helping the kids just to feel normal.”

Alison said that while the gifting of a backpack doesn’t “seem like a big deal”, many of the recipients had been “carrying their things in a Woolies shopping bag”.

“Then they get these packs and they don’t necessarily treat them as precious gifts –they’re kids.

“They throw them around, they’re rough with them.

“But they’re going to school and they’re staying there.”

While the focus of The Backpack Venture team has been rural towns, they are quick to emphasise that they are more than willing to help any child in need, wherever they are.

“What works best is for parents to let their school know that they could use the help,” said Catherine.

“Then the schools can contact us and it makes accommodating everyone a lot simpler.”

The team are about to launch a new initiative of Schools Working With Schools, whereby a school seeking to engage their students in a charitable activity can connect with a small rural school and organise a fundraiser to provide supplies for them.

The Backpack Venture is highly active on social media, and you can find out more by visiting their Facebook page.

q The team behind The Backpack Venture are hands on with all aspects of the charity.

spokesperson for Member for Kate Washington’. This quote should have been attributed to Ms Washington herself.

Farmers fear for 3G shutdown

By Thomas O’KEEFE

CONCERNS are rife about the imminent shutdown of 3G mobile phone services at the end of June this year.

NSW Farmers, self-declared as Australia’s largest and only state-based farming organisation that represents farmers across all agricultural commodities, have called for the Federal Government to take urgent action to ensure phone companies do not leave thousands of farmers without mobile coverage in the wake of the 3G shutdown.

NSW Farmers Rural Affairs Committee Chair Deb Charlton said, “As providers push ahead with this 3G network shutdown, there’s no doubt there will be farmers who often work alone and a long way from help, who run into trouble or have an accident, and will be unable to call for help,” Mrs Charlton said.

“Even with the 3G network in place, there are hundreds of horror stories of accidents occurring on farms or on isolated country roads, where people have not had the mobile coverage they need to contact emergency services and get lifesaving help.

“We have absolutely no confidence that 4G coverage will be available when the 3G network is switched off, and we will only see more of these tragic situations as a result.”

When 3G emerged around 2003, most mobile phones were used for voice calls or SMS.

Ten years later, 4G technology allowed data speeds ten times faster than 3G, but many models may still use 3G for voice calls, including to 000, especially when the lesswidespread 4G transceivers are unavailable.

A more recent iteration of 4G is ‘VoLTE’, which allows newer smartphones to make voice calls using internet data, however,

most smartphone owners may be unaware of whether their current smartphone can use it.

Telstra’s official information confirms that they are switching off 3G on 30 June 2024.

“If your device doesn’t support VoLTE emergency

calling, you will not be able to make an emergency call to 000 on the Telstra Mobile Network,” is Telstra’s advice.

“If you have a device that can only use 3G, you won’t be able to connect to Telstra’s network after 30 June 2024.”

Pindimar residents have invited Dr David Gillespie

to a public meeting at 1pm, Wednesday 3 April at Pindimar Community Hall, accompanied by Shadow Minister for Regional Development Bridget McKenzie, both of whom have been “working behind the scenes to improve communications”.

q Check your ‘Settings’ for an option like ‘Mobile networks’, then make sure you have one of the options including ‘4G’ available and enabled.

Flood of concerns over proposed development

By Marian SAMPSON

LOCAL residents are seeing red over a proposal for a 47lot subdivision at 263 Gan Gan Road, Anna Bay, with concerns raised that the land is prone to flooding.

Environmental impacts, flooding and drainage, and service constraints were key issues raised by members of the Future of Anna Bay (FAB) group at a recent meeting with Port Stephens councillors regarding the proposed development.

Deputy Mayor Leah Anderson and Councillor Jason Wells heard residents’ concerns that the development’s artificial elevation of up to four metres would move flood and drainage problems elsewhere.

Local resident Kelly Hammond told News Of The Area, “All Port Stephens Council councillors were contacted about the proposal.

“It’s disappointing that some didn’t respond, but it’s really heartening that Deputy Mayor Leah Anderson and councillor Jason Wells were prepared to give up their time after work to meet in person.

“We’ve had three significant rain events in the past 30 years and two in the past ten years,” Kelly Hammond said, “so flooding and drainage were high on the agenda.”

Concerned residents described how these events severely impacted the proposed site, and neighbouring properties, stressing the vital link Gan Gan Road provides to surrounding communities.

“People’s homes flooded,” Ms Hammond said.

“There were SES rescues.

“Water pump systems from the basin were required for weeks.

“We’re troubled that vulnerable neighbouring residents weren’t consulted by the developer when they prepared their Environmental Impact Study.

“Residents who’ve been here for decades have lived experience of the flood and drainage issues due to the area’s unique sand on coffee rock topography.

“The water has to go somewhere.

“Artificially elevating the site will affect surrounding properties.”

Residents also raised concerns about the visual impact of the development.

Given the ongoing issues with the ‘Anna Bay eyesore’, local residents feel that development is coming above the need to protect the amenity of the area.

“There’s no space for an adequate setback and replanting because two rows of housing and internal roads have to be squeezed into the area in front of the protected ridgeline.

“It’s completely out of character with surrounding large-lot residential and rural properties,” Ms Hammond said.

Residents are also concerned the development could impact the area’s sensitive biodiversity.

Carmel Northwood from Koala Koalition EcoNetwork Port Stephens spoke about potential impacts to threatened species including the Powerful Owl and the local koala population at the meeting.

“The ridgeline is an ancient sand dune that is a culturally significant landform for the Worimi people’s Maiangal.

“It should be protected,” Mrs Northwood said.

Ms Hammond argued the proposal would further limit koala movement between core habitats on the northern side of the ridgeline from those in the Tomaree National Park between Fishermans Bay, Boat Harbour and One Mile.

Pressure on housing was also discussed, with residents stressing the importance of balancing the pressure on local councils to meet housing targets with long-term social and environmental planning.

“We are parents and grandparents wanting the best for future generations,” Ms Hammond said.

“We need housing, but we also need meaningful recreation areas, access to services, and respect for our environment.

“Many of us moved here because of the beautiful surrounds.

“We don’t want our kids playing in a water retention basin or only being able to see a koala in captivity,” she said.

“Many services are already at capacity.

“As it is, it’s hard to get in to the local doctor and public transport is limited.

“We know that Port Stephens Council is formulating Place Plans, and that there are other priority areas in Port Stephens, which we accept,” she said.

“The group is looking forward to the opportunity to contribute to a revised Strategic Plan for Anna Bay and surrounds.”

The applicant for the proposed development has lodged a ‘deemed refusal’ claim with the Land and Environment Court.

From Meryl’s Desk

The Albanese government's recent tax cuts and cost of living relief measures mark a significant stride towards alleviating financial stress for many Australians. These initiatives reflect a genuine commitment to fostering a more equitable and prosperous society for all. Amid these positive changes, it's imperative to recognize local heroes who make substantial contributions to our community's fabric.

In this spirit, we extend heartfelt congratulations to Jackie Bower, the deserving recipient of the Port Stephens Local Woman of the Year award and also Evelyn Stonham, Maitland Local Woman of the Year. Both women’s tireless e orts and dedication to improving the lives of those around them embody the essence of community spirit and leadership. Their achievements remind us of the profound impact one individual can have in making our society a better place.

Adding to the momentum for gender equality, the Albanese government announced today its support for "Working for Women: A Strategy for Gender Equality". This comprehensive plan includes a pivotal measure to pay superannuation on Government Paid Parental Leave (PPL) for births and adoptions from 1 July 2025, ensuring a more secure financial future for families.

In an exciting development for our veterans and their families, the Minister for Veterans' A airs and Defence Personnel visited Maitland on Monday, 11 March, to announce the establishment of a new veterans hub. This initiative represents a significant investment in the wellbeing of our veterans, providing them with crucial support and resources in a dedicated space.

Understanding the ongoing challenges with the cost of living, our o ce is launching a Cost of Living Help Kit. This resource, designed to provide practical assistance and advice, will soon be available for download from our website. Hard copies will also be obtainable from our o ce, catering to the needs of our diverse community.

Together, these measures and community e orts illustrate a shared vision for a more equitable, supportive, and prosperous society. As we navigate these times of change, let's continue to support each other and celebrate the achievements of remarkable individuals like Jackie Bower, and look forward to the positive impact the veterans hub will bring to Maitland.

As always, if I can be of assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact my o ce.

Regards,

q Members of Future of Anna Bay meeting with Port Stephens Deputy Mayor Leah Anderson and Councillor Jason Wells.

We are well and truly in the midst of the Easter Season, and with March being Pet Poison Awareness Month it seems a good opportunity to be reminded that the treats that can seem so delightful to us as owners can be toxic to our furry friends.

Even more so than Christmas, Easter is a time when there is an abundance of chocolate and it is important to keep this as far away from pets as possible. Remember also that sultanas and raisins are also toxic to dogs, so you should keep a careful eye on those hot cross buns as well.

Even when we are careful with our food, there can be danger in some of the flowers and plants that we may be keeping in and around the home. Make an effort to educate yourself on potentially dangerous vegetation, or utilise online tools to help identify toxic plants. If you suspect your pet has ingested a toxic substance, please preserve the remains or take a photograph so that your vet can identify and treat your pet appropriately. Remember that time is of the essence, so seek immediate veterinary care, or contact the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738.

By Marian SAMPSON UNEMPLOYMENT

figures are down and that makes finding work even harder for school leavers.

To aid their transition into the workforces, students from Irrawang High School recently participated in a ‘Dress For Success’ program.

A group of the school’s female students have participated in three workshops, providing the opportunity to build confidence and be inspired by the wonderful volunteers who have selflessly dedicated their time to fostering the independence of young women.

Lue Fagan of Irrawang High School told News Of The Area, “Receiving high praise from all the students who have attended, the workshops aim to build skills in self-awareness, recognising one's strengths, body language, and making a good first impression.”

The girls participated in fun

activities like dressing mannequins for job interviews, with demonstrations of what not to wear and how to dress appropriately, while the workshops were tailored to the specific career aspirations of the girls.

“Throughout the day, the students grow in confidence, becoming more proficient in speaking about themselves and their choices, overcoming the common challenge of speaking about themselves and their skills,” she said.

Year 10 students Chenae and Kylee thoroughly enjoyed their visit last week.

"The amazing volunteers made us feel welcome and they valued our opinions,” Chenae said.

“We learnt about interview skills, and to prepare for an interview,” Kylee said.

Accompanying Irrawang High School teacher Ms Liddell described the Dress For Success volunteers as “a true inspiration”.

“They possess an innate sense of style, flawless posture, poise, and impeccable manners,” she said.

“From the moment students walk in and are personally greeted at the door,

the workshops are designed to teach even the smallest details, such as how to shake hands and maintain eye contact,” she said.

For young people on their first endeavour to enter the workforce confidence is key and this initiative has certainly made a difference for the participants.

Yacaaba to receive Jan’s helping hands

By Lindsay HALL

NELSON Bay’s Yacaaba Centre has been offering a helping hand to people in need for 30 years, but with the end of some government funding last financial year, the future of this vital and beloved service will come with a fair few challenges.

Fortunately they are about to receive a helping hand… quite a few hands in fact.

Jan’s Patchwork Group of Anna Bay have embarked on their greatest collective project to date, as they prepare to host their Inaugural Quilt and Craft Show, a two day event in April that they hope will result in a meaningful contribution to the work of the Yacaaba Centre.

“This group has been going for 20 odd

years now,” said the titular Jan Hall, the group’s founder.

“We’ve moved around various places in Anna Bay.”

A recent excursion for members of the group stoked their creative fires.

“We went to the Singleton Craft Show, and when we were coming back I said: ‘There’s no reason why we couldn’t do this’.”

The discussion that followed was enthusiastic about the idea, but when the topic of the proceeds was raised, it didn’t take them long to focus their attention on a worthy cause.

“We were talking about it and we said that we don’t need any money, but we need to find a charity that we can donate our money to.

“At that particular time Yacaaba had lost their funding for mental health, so we decided that it

was something we could contribute towards.”

The Quilt and Craft Show will be held at Gateway Presbyterian Church in Anna Bay, which also hosts the group's weekly crafting sessions.

The idea is to put on a display of bespoke and hand-crafted items of all sorts, donated by group members and others who may want to put something towards the cause.

A small cover charge of two dollars will let people into the show, where they can browse and purchase quilts and throws, knitted clothes, hand-carved wooden toys and folk art, cards and papercraft, homemade jewellery and much more.

They will also be holding lucky dips, a guessing competition and a raffle.

But the real drive for fundraising will be the ‘Hands for Yacaaba’.

“Because the fees will likely come to small amounts, we’ve come up with this idea where we’d like to see local businesses getting involved,” said group member and event coordinator Colleen Maloy.

The concept involves asking local business owners and leaders to purchase a craftwork hand for between $10 and $100.

Each hand will then be labelled with its business logo and strung together as bunting for the event.

“At the end of it all, we will present the bunting to the Yacaaba Centre.”

The idea is a fantastic creative expression of the concept of ‘lending a hand’.

q Jan’s Patchwork Group is asking Port Stephens to give the Yacaaba Centre a hand.

q Participants and volunteers at the workshop with one of the mannequins students dressed for success.

q Irrawang High School student Kaylee at the workshop.

Three teens charged following pursuit in alleged stolen vehicle

THREE teens have been charged after a pursuit that came to a halt in Tomago last week.

At about 3am on Tuesday

19 March 2024, police from Newcastle City Police District were patrolling Glebe Road, Adamstown, when they attempted to stop a Audi A6 sedan.

initiated, continuing towards Tomago where the vehicle came to a stop.

When the vehicle allegedly failed to stop as directed, a pursuit was

Following initial inquiries, officers established the vehicle was allegedly stolen from a home on Grainger Street, Lambton, a short time earlier.

The driver of the car, a fifteen-year-old boy, and his two passengers - another fifteen-year-old boy and a fourteen-year-old girl - were

arrested at the scene and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station.

The male passenger, who was charged with multiple offences, was refused bail to appear before a children's court last week.

Police launch ‘Aboriginal Strategic Direction’ at Williamtown

SENIOR police, including Commissioner Karen Webb APM, gathered from across the state at Murrook Culture Centre in Williamtown last week to launch the updated ‘Aboriginal Strategic Direction’.

The official launch included a Welcome to Country by Worimi Elder Uncle John Ridgeway, a traditional smoking ceremony, and speeches by senior police.

The Aboriginal Strategic Direction (ASD) is the overarching document which guides the NSW Police Force in its management of Aboriginal issues.

It identifies critical opportunities for police to strengthen and maintain cohesive partnerships with Aboriginal communities and key agencies.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb APM said the NSW Police Force

proudly welcomes the development of the Aboriginal Strategic Direction.

"The ASD is a Tier 1 Priority for the NSW Police Force and I look forward to working with the communities across NSW in actioning the priorities of this document," Commissioner Webb said.

The four priorities of the ASD are Community Safety Communication and Understanding, PartnershipsCollaborate and Influence, Safety and Wellbeing of Aboriginal Young People, and Family Safety and Domestic Violence.

The driver and female passenger were both charged before being granted strict conditional bail to appear before a children's court on Monday 15 April 2024.

q NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb APM.

q Gathered Police representatives at the Aboriginal Strategic Direction launch.

q A Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony was offered by members of the local Worimi community.

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

Seabreeze Hotel

Port Stephens Visitor Info Centre

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

Kreative Space Studio 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

Sunrise Lifestyle Resort

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

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 Bay

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)

Fingal's Return and Earn bottle bank to close

By Simon EKINS

FINGAL Bay’s Return and Earn bottle bank is set to be removed at the end of March from its current location in the car park of the Fingal Bay Sports Club.

“We’ve had so many complaints from a lot of local residents referencing the noise of glass breaking and also the damage being caused to the bitumen within the car park, we had to approach the Council to get it removed,” the Sports Club’s manager said.

Port Stephens Council also confirmed the decision, with a spokesperson adding, “We understand the concerns of local residents and have coordinated the removal of the Fingal Bay return point by the end of the month.

“Whilst there are no immediate plans to relocate this facility elsewhere in Fingal, Port Stephens

q The return point remains online until the end of March.

Collector on the hunt for antique pub signs

IF you are under 60 years of age, you may have never seen the iconic glass signs that adorned NSW hotels from the late 1920s until around 1980.

The glass signs once help pride of place on almost every pub, right throughout the state.

Now, Peter Gentz is on a mission to locate as many of the classic pieces of pub memorabilia as he can.

“There are still some sitting in sheds, long forgotten until a clean up occurs,” Peter said.

“Hopefully the Tooth’s marlin sign that hung outside the Tea Gardens Hotel is one of them.”

Some of these signs are now more than 100 years old.

“Tooth’s had a brilliant idea in the 1920s to use glass signs with oil paintings stuck on the rear side to advertise their cleansing amber liquid.

“Such was the competition from rival brewers such as Resch’s, Tooth’s wanted something that stuck out and was different from any other form of advertising,” Peter said.

Produced in the thousands (estimates say up to 6500) between 1930 and 1960, many got broken, stolen or recycled for their 6mm plate glass.

Painted by talented artists, signs would be made and sent out to pubs in need of some dressing up.

By the time 1990 rolled around, most of the outback pubs had their signage removed.

“Nowadays, only the plastic copies may be found in the pubs around NSW,” Peter said.

“After 36 years of collecting, I am still coming across old photos of signs that depict all facets of life in both country and city environments.

“A pub close to a boxing gym would have a sign or two of boxers on the front walls.

“A pub close to a greyhound track would naturally have the dogs racing after the hare.

“Likewise, the rarest of them all, a cricket scene on pub walls near the Sydney Cricket Ground.”

Depending on condition, rare examples of these signs can now fetch $15000 each.

“Condition is everything!” Peter said.

“The signs weren’t made to last 100 years and after years of sun, rain, heat and cold, the paint can start flaking similar to that of old house paint.

“Restoration may at times cost more than the sign is worth.”

Like all valuable things, reproductions of the signs have begun circulating.

“It's a case of ‘caveat emptor’buyer beware.

“If in doubt, the originals are very heavy, have a load of gold leaf work, may have original tin on the backing and well, just look old,” Peter said.

residents will still be able to utilise our other return points located at Salamander shopping centre, Tanilba Bay and Medowie.”

The NSW Government's Return and Earn initiative has proved popular across NSW but for some local Fingal Bay residents the decision to remove their closest return point has proved divisive,

with one resident telling News Of The Area, “I’ll be glad to see the back of that thing.

“It’s ugly, noisy and some people have been dumping their rubbish next to it which causes awful smells.”

Other residents who regularly use the return point will be sad to see it go, but will continue to use the facility at Salamander.

q

q Peter has been collecting Tooth’s beer signs for 36 years.

WHAT'SVIBIN'

International Women’s Day event a success

By Marian SAMPSON

INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day (IWD) was celebrated in Nelson Bay at a gala event hosted by the Rotary Club of Salamander Bay.

More than 150 locals attended the fundraising event which supported some important women’s causes.

The guest speaker was Dr Ray Hodgson, a specialist gynaecologist and obstetrician, and an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of NSW.

Dr Hodgson is also the President and International Director of the Rotary Club of Port Macquarie, and won Humanitarian of the Year in 2019 (Rotary Australia and New Zealand).

The esteemed medical man is also the director of the international aid organisation Australians for Women’s Health and is the head of the UNSW Medical School based in Port Macquarie.

Dr Hodgson has been providing volunteer medical work abroad for the past 20 years, firstly in India, in remote Thailand, and now in Nepal.

It was fourteen years ago that Dr Hodgson recognised the appalling state of women’s health in Nepal.

In 2010 he founded Australians for Women’s Health to improve the health of women in Nepal and is now building a mothers and babies hospital in east Nepal.

Rita Murray, President of the Rotary Club of Salamander Bay, told News Of The Area, “Dr Hodgson has recently written a book, ‘Heartbreak in the Himalayas’, describing the challenges and the adventures his team have

experienced during their camps in remote Nepal.”

Heartbreak in the Himalayas has recently reached top spot on the Amazon bestseller list.

“Every cent of profit from the sales of the book funds the construction of his mothers and babies hospital,” Rita said.

“Proceeds from the (IWD) event supported local women’s charities as well as providing funds for the mothers and babies hospital in Nepal,” she said.

The Rotary Club of Salamander Bay is nonstop in their efforts to make positive changes in our community.

Following hot on the heels of their International Women’s Day event they have already held a Bunnings BBQ and are holding a charity golf day at the end of March.

The Club has been impressed by the way the community supported the events evening format and are keen to offer a repeat performance in 2025.

q A packed house of locals came out to support this Rotary Club fundraising event.

STUNNING RENOVATED RETREAT BY THE WATER

KARUAH

• Immaculate five-bedroom home overlooking Karuah River

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• Four bedrooms, study, and media room. Main Bedroom with walk-in robes and ensuite overlooking Karuah River

• Three modern bathrooms with rain-head showers

• Huge double garage with space for workshop or gym

NELSON

BEST UNIT IN THE BUILDING

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Dowling Street

• Renovated top floor Penthouse apartment.

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

• Stunning natural light and panoramic views of Nelson Bay.

• Main bedroom and ensuite with spa located on upper level for extra privacy and relaxation.

• 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.

PRIME LOCATION WITH RESERVE VIEWS

• Perfect family retreat at 77 Boulder Bay Road

• Located in serene Fingal Bay with picturesque reserve surroundings

• Features floating timber floors and ample natural light

• Main bedroom boasts beautiful outlook, ensuite, and walk-in robe

• Total of five bedrooms, three with built-in wardrobes and a walk-in in the main

• Open-plan kitchen and dining area overlooks inground pool and parkland

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• Downstairs includes double garage, workshop, extra bathroom, and bar area

• Spacious 907m2 plot offers outdoor activity space

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Situated in the highly sought-after suburb of Fingal Bay, this stunning home offers a serene lifestyle in a picturesque reserve setting.

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The

This

The

Three additional bedrooms come equipped with built-in wardrobes, offering convenience and ample storage space.

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Young swimmer to take on State Championships STORY

Nationals,

Kayleigh is also a Surf Life Saving Club Nipper, and was awarded equal first in her U-8s age-group last week, evidence of a clear talent, cultivated by the dedication of those around her, including her mum and coaches.

“She is the fastest girl in the region in eight-years freestyle,” Tea Gardens Pool lifeguard Raymond Edgerton told NOTA.

“Her time was a very fast 42 seconds for the 50 metre event, and she beat her personal best by a massive seven seconds.

Warren, one of her coaches at the pool, said, “Her Mum has done wonderful work on endurance and fitness in the pool, (which has) done so much for her progression.

“Kayleigh is a determined

one, she keeps up with her swimming buddy, Lillian, who’s two years older, and everybody is excited for her.

“I know she'll do her best.”

No doubt, having a State-level swimmer from our own local area is a huge achievement for such a young girl.

Soon, she makes the trip to the state’s capital to compete at the State Championships in April.

If Kayleigh can channel her obvious passion and talent for the pool, her next stop may well be Nationals, but being in the youngest age-group, she has plenty of years ahead, perhaps even on the road to the Olympics.

q Proud medallist and Regional Champion Kayleigh Thompson at Newcastle’s Forum.

The Write Direction

By John BLACKBOURN

Population Perspective

BEING twenty in the seventies was much more fun than being seventy in the twenties.

We are now living with a generation that would unplug your life support system just to charge their mobile phone or other devices.

Readers will know that I’m a smallpopulation person.

I believe that here in Australia our population of 27 million is excessive to the point where we human beings are beginning to look like the rabbit plague that all but brought down the rural producers in the 1940 and ‘50s.

So now might be a good time to take a hard look at population perspectives and consider where we are now and where we are heading.

The earth’s population is now in the area of 7.8 billion people, more or less double what it was when I was born.

We are also depleting our natural resources at an ever-increasing rate, which should be cause for alarm.

If we reduce the global population number to 100, we can understand the situation in a simple way.

Of that 100 people, eleven are located in Europe.

Five are in North America, nine are in South America and fifteen are in Africa.

That leaves 60 living in Asia.

The population is evenly distributed geographically; 49 percent live in the countryside or rural locations and 51 percent live in cities.

75 have mobile phones and 25 do not.

30 have internet access but 70 do not have the education or ability to go online.

83 are able to read but seventeen are illiterate.

33 are Christian, 22 are Muslim, fourteen are Hindus, seven are Buddists, twelve are of minority religions and another twelve have no religious affiliations.

Life expectancy is vitally important to all of us.

26 live less than fourteen years and 66 die between the ages of fifteen to 64 years.

Only eight are over 65 years old.

Therefore, if you own your own home, eat nourishing meals regularly and drink clean

water, plus have a mobile phone, can surf the internet and have been educated at a good school, you are in a highly privileged group of people who are represented by less than seven percent of the world’s population.

Of this theoretical 100 people alive in the world today, only eight will live or exceed the age of 65 years.

This means that if you are over 65 years old and reading this opinion piece, then you need to realise that 92 people of that 100 group have gone before you.

Have Your Say

News Of The Area would love to hear your OPINION and VIEWS on issues and topics affecting our area. Keep Letters to the Editor under 250 words for its best chance of publication. Please be aware that there is no guarantee or of publication from your submission to us. Publication will be determined by the editor around available space, relevance and appropriateness.

Mail to media@newsofthearea.com.au

READING by Lynne Miles: John 3: 16 & 17"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through Him." Happy Easter!

OPINION: Time to talk turtles

By John ‘Stinker’ Clarke

THE NSW Fisheries laws controlling the methods of crabbing in Port Stephens were changed ten years ago to protect our significant turtle population.

Witches hats, nets and crab traps, with an entry of over 32cm, were banned in our waters specifically to protect turtles.

The change in laws has been very successful with only one death of a turtle reported in a trap in Tea Gardens over the decade.

I read, with some amazement through the local press, relating to speed limits on jet skis: “41 dead turtles were recovered over the summer months… with their shells crushed”.

Needing to uncover the facts, I firstly contacted the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) for their figures since October.

The answer was three dead turtles reported over that period, one with suspected boat strike, the other two deaths unknown.

These figures were agreed upon by Marine Parks and Maritime.

Furthering my investigation, I contacted commercial fishermen who work the port, particularly west harbour.

They agreed with NPWS.

I finally contacted Sea Shelter, who do an excellent job in sea life rehabilitation at the Shark and Ray Centre at Anna Bay.

Their figures on turtle deaths in Port Stephens since October 2023 were 34, seven of which were the result of boat strikes.

None could be definitely attributed to jet skis. We have a problem which we need to address as a community. Firstly, the wide gap in statistics shows that there is little communication with those who care for our turtle population.

With nearly everyone carrying a phone camera, wouldn’t it be a simple exercise to take a snap of the turtle then forward it to anyone of the agencies or Sea Shelter

with your name, time and place that the grim discovery was made.

Then that information could be verified, documented and shared.

The next issue, as I see it, if we take the figures from Sea Shelter, around fifteen percent of turtle deaths are attributed to boat strikes – what are the other 85 percent dying from?

Plastics, a virus or natural attrition?

Considering the population of turtles in Port Stephens, numbers available through Taronga, 200-500, surely we have some responsibility for their safety.

Regarding the issue with jet skis, could I suggest we consult with the relevant agency, Maritime, rather than reporting misinformation.

This emergency app could save your life

By Thomas O’KEEFE

PRECISELY locating oneself can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency.

The Emergency Plus app (stylised as ‘Emergency+’) is a free smartphone app developed by Australia’s emergency services and their Government and industry partners, which uses the GPS functionality already built into smartphones.

Emergency Plus utilises a proprietary geolocation interface, known as ‘What3Words’, which is a far more user-friendly way of telling the Triple Zero operator where you can be found.

“How do you describe where you are if you are on holidays, or in an unfamiliar place?”

said MidCoast First Aid trainer and owner Kelly Pietsch, who has strongly recommended Emergency Plus at several recent community AED and first aid awareness presentations.

“What3Words is an easy way to communicate a precise location, as accurate as GPS coordinates, but easier to read and say, especially in an emergency.

“The world has been divided into grid squares of 3x3metres, with words assigned to each box.

“This is so much easier than rattling off a set of GPS numbers over the phone, which lets everyone easily identify their location to assist Triple Zero (000) and the mobilisation of emergency services.

“‘Emergency Plus’ is very handy to have on any phone, a free download on any device, and it piggybacks off any available network, not just the one you are usually on.”

Users should be aware: Emergency Plus will not work in areas with no mobile network coverage, as most smartphones are not satellite phones.

Emergency Plus has also been recommended by recent meetings of the Myall Way Emergency Planning Group and NSW Services representatives, and users of the Emergency Plus app should make sure they have the most up-to-date versions on their phones.

www.newsofthearea.com.au

q Local first aid expert Kelly Pietsch shows how easy it is to download the Emergency Plus app for free.

q John Clarke has been investigating recent reporting from local media of turtle death numbers.

Stinker’s History: The adventures of ‘Clanka’ - Part 3

By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE

THIS story is part part three of an ongoing series on Ronald Barry ‘Clanka’ McLean.

To read Part 2, pick up a copy of last week’s paper or jump online to the News Of The Area website.

Part Three - Tough as nails

NELSON Bay fisherman Clyde

Mitchell remembers when Ronald Barry ‘Clanka’ McLean lived next door to him in Tomaree Street.

Clyde recalls a particularly wild moment in Clanka’s storied history.

“A story that I was told 50 years ago was that he was on the long wharf or Navy wharf, as we called it, and a fellow from down Stockton came along and was complaining that he had come up to do some fishing in Nelson Bay and he had

q Hardened by the sea, Clanka always had time to help others and was considered a bit of a softy by those who knew him well.

caught no fish and the weather was crook; what a waste of time,” Clyde said.

Clanka, taking exception to the complaint about his hometown, asked the bloke: “Have you got any tobacco on you mate?”.

“Yep,” replied the disgruntled visitor.

“Well give it to me,” Clanka ordered.

“What about your matches?,” he demanded, “give them to me too.”

As the matches were handed over, Clanka picked up the confused and luckless fisherman and threw him off the wharf into the drink.

Without blinking an eye, Clanka stepped aboard the ‘Bosto’ with ‘Skeeter’ Archard and Neville Asquith and sailed off to the Myall Lakes, leaving this poor fellow hanging on to the piles singing out for help.

Decades later, Clyde went to a wake in Stockton and got talking

Stinker’s Fishin’: Time to buy a boat

By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE

REALISING that half of Port Stephens is water, I have always been of the belief that to experience everything that this magnificent part of the world has to offer you need – a boat.

My first piece of advice is not to rush into it.

There is much to consider and many have made the wrong decision which is evident by the number of boats on trailers that haven’t moved for years!

In no particular order, fibre glass or aluminium, other considerations include size of the boat and of the motor which will be determined by how often you intend to use the boat, where you intend to visit and how many of your family members are keen to be regular crew.

Because Port Stephens is such a huge waterway there are many variables to take into account.

The options inside the port are far greater than in other estuaries and ports and these include Tilligerry Creek, the Karuah River and Myall Rivers, the extensive Myall Lake system, North Arm Cove, Fame Cove, Swan Bay, Carrington and Pindimar – just to name a few.

This place is a boating wonderland.

Once you have satisfied all the above there are more questions to ask, namely – do you intend to travel outside the heads into the open sea?

So many adventures await.

Broughton Island, Fingal, south to Rocky Point and Boat Harbour.

The outer islands Boondelbah and Cabbage Tree are unique and deserve your attention.

Lastly you need to take into account where you will be launching - Soldiers Point, Little Beach, Lemon Tree or Karuah.

At the end of the day your boat will require a shed or any safe place to be stored until the next time.

To help in your decision making it is a good idea to spend time with your local boat dealership who deal

John 'Stinker' Clarke

q Clanka found time to take the local kids to a picnic.

to Reg Terry, who he had attended school with in Newcastle.

“Well blow me down if he doesn’t tell me about his trip to Nelson Bay 50 years ago where this mad bloke takes his tobacco and matches off him and throws him in the drink,” Clyde said.

“You weren’t complaining about the poor fishing in Nelson Bay were you?” Clyde asked Reg.

“As a matter of fact I was,” answered Reg.

Tanilba Veterans Golf Club

By Ian WILLIAMS

19.03.2024

Player registration from

Tee off from 8.00am.

Individual Stableford

Player Number: 22

Les Deane 18 pts nett

Steve Robards 17 pts nett

Ray Stubbs 16 pts nett

Peter Martyn 16 pts nett

Andrew Corbett 15 pts nett

Barry Sampson 15 pts nett

media@newsofthearea.com.au

D & C:

A Grade: Steve Robards

B Grade: Greg Garvin

C Grade: Barry Sampson

BACK NINE:

WINNER:

Grahame Glover 15 pts nett

c/b

RUNNER UP:

Tony Hodskiss 15 pts nett

BALL WINNERS:

Peter Beesley 14 pts nett

Max Harrison 13 pts nett

John Woolley 12 pts nett

Bob Foster 11pts nett

NTP: Not won

D & C:

A Grade: Ron Dewes

Next week, 26th March,

Individual Stableford, white tees.

Return visit of Beresfield Veterans Golf Club, final round.

ATTENTION ALL GOLFERS

TANILBA BAY VETS DO IT

BEST

The Tanilba Veterans Golf Club extends a warm welcome to all current and past players looking for a more relaxed format of our beloved game where mateship and casual competition go together.

We are a group of like minded people, 50yrs or older, with a love of the game, especially during our senior years, with most members, but not all, being retired.

q My boat ‘Stinkpot’ is rarely out of the water.

Beau Wheeler makes splash at NSW State Junior Swimming titles

By Chris KARAS

RUBBING shoulders with the State’s finest junior swimmers has proved an inspirational moment for Raymond Terracebased schoolboy Beau Wheeler.

The promising eleven-yearold breaststroker was one of four exciting prospects from the Stroud Seals Swimming Club to show their wares at the

NSW State Junior Swimming Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre last weekend.

A revved up Wheeler performed strongly in elite company in breaststroke and freestyle events to cap a golden period over the past month.

It continued a purple patch of form for young Beau who has blossomed under the tutelage of Head Coach Mike Abel at the Lakeside Aquatic complex at Raymond Terrace.

The Port Stephens superfish was recently crowned Zone Primary Schools Sports Association age champion for the region and captured gold medals in the 50m breaststroke and 100m breastroke with a personal best time of 1.93 seconds at a top quality Castle

Hills carnival.

Wheeler was joined at the State Junior titles by elevenyear-old clubmates Clair Cousins and Saxon Hayes and twelveyear-old Valentina Ward.

“Qualifying for the State Junior Championships was a huge achievement by Beau, Saxon, Clair and Valentina,” an elated Abel told News Of The Area.

“They all work hard and did us proud with spirited efforts collectively in the pool and will continue to improve,” the leading swim coach reflected.

“It has been a productive start for Beau in 2024 with some encouraging victories across multiple events and clocking personal best times,” he said.

“Beau is a very talented and versatile young swimmer with a good work ethic who has a bright future in the sport,” Abel declared.

Boom fullback Lilly-Ann engineers Knights Cup finals charge

By Chris KARAS

RAYMOND Terrace Magpies rugby league graduate Lilly-Ann White has opened the 2024 season in a blaze of glory.

The dynamic fullback has enhanced her reputation with classy performances for the Newcastle Knights Under 18s in the NSWRL Tarsha Gale Cup competition.

White, who grew up in Tea Gardens and carved her niche with the Raymond Terrace Roosters and Magpies clubs, is on track to skipper the Junior Knights to the

Cup finals series that commences in early April.

She remains a trump card for the Newcastle team that faces vital clashes against the Cronulla Sharks at Cessnock Sports Ground and North Sydney Bears at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence to lock in a finals berth.

A gifted fullback or five eighth, the talented prospect continues to impress officials with her vision and skills.

Her dashing displays in the preliminary rounds have propelled the Under 18 Knights to three victories and a draw from six

Major Bowls Finals

By Peter SMITH

THE Men's MAJOR PAIRS FINAL was played at Soldiers Point Bowling Club last week.

This event is always keenly contested with some 25 teams entering, including most of the 1st Grade Team.

Tony Hinton and Mark Watt were up against Daniel Clarke and Mark Sheppard before appreciative spectators and broadcast live on YouTube and Facebook.

Tony and Mark went to an early

lead with some deadly draw bowls played by Tony supported by Mark, his Skip. This trend continued with excellent bowls being played by both teams.

They eventually went to a 14 shot lead upon which Daniel and Mark Sheppard conceded the game with a score of 21 shots to 7.

Bowls Director Mark Watt said, "A dominant display of draw bowls by Tony Hinton set us on the path to victory in a match played in a very sporting manner!"

matches to stay in the race for a top eight finals spot.

With the elusive White in redhot form the Newcastle side have posted wins over Canberra Raiders (16-10), Wests Tigers (24-4) and St George Dragons (54-4) and drew 24-all with the Manly Sea Eagles.

Narrow losses to the third ranked Canterbury Bulldogs (126) and second placed Indigenous Academy (24-22) haven’t deterred the Knights on their spirited finals charge.

Lilly-Ann is regarded as one of the most promising custodians on

the womens rugby league scene and has secured her immediate future by signing a two year NRLW development contract with the Knights. Hunter Rugby League representative mentor Russell Grigg told News Of The Area that the boom seventeen-year-old has “a bright future in the game”.

“I coached Lilly Ann last season at the Raymond Terrace Magpies where she excelled as a half back in the Newcastle-Hunter Womens A Grade regional competition,” quipped the experienced Griigg.

“She has an incredible skill set and shows a maturity that far belies her years,” he said.

Lilly Ann joined Newcastle’s premiership-winning NRLW squad after starring for the Australian Schoolgirls team last season in an historic first ever test match against Papua New Guinea.

The emerging White was named Newcastle’s Tarsha Gale Cup Player of the Year in 2023 and could replicate that feat by stepping up for the Knights in a pressure-packed finals campaign

q Rising Port Stephens swimmer Beau Wheeler performed strongly at the NSW State Junior Swimming Championships last weekend at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

q Emerging Newcastle Knights fullback Lilly-Ann White continues to shine in the NSWRL Under 18 Tarsha Gale Cup series. She is pictured receiving the Knights’ Under 18 Player of the Year Award last season from coach Andrew Johnson.

q Tony, Daniel, Mark Sheppard and Mark Watt.

Port Stephens AFL women powering up for Plate campaign

By Chris KARAS

VARIETY is the spice of life and the motto for Port Stephens Power AFL women's team as they prepare for the 2024 Hunter Central Coast AFL Black Diamond Plate competition.

It has proved a pre-season campaign with a difference for several members of the Power’s 30-player squad, who have complemented their traditional training program with a recent triathlon event at Soldiers Point.

“We decided to add some variety to our pre-season training schedule for the upcoming season so opted to participate in a triathlon,” experienced captain Josie Johnson told News Of The Area.

“Seven of us went along to a Come and Try Day at Tomaree Triathlon Club and completed a 250 metre open water swim, eleven kilometre bike ride and three kilometre run and relished the opportunity,” quipped the stalwart defender.

“It was a gruelling but satisfying experience that will leave us in good stead for the start of the competition in April,” Josie added.

A defensive dynamo for the Power and NSW Masters representative team in recent years, the skilful Johnson is gearing up for another competitive campaign in 2024.

“I’m feeling fit and fresh and excited about the team’s prospects in the Plate series this season,” she exclaimed.

“We have a good mix of youth and experience in our current squad and should benefit from the taste of finals experience we achieved last year,” said the inspirational leader. Under the coaching of astute mentor Beth Innes, the Port Stephens women's team reached a milestone in 2023 when they qualified for the Black Diamond Plate finals for the first time.

Josie has fully recovered from

a dislocated knee injury and believes forward Airlie Coleman, midfielder Johanna Wilson, centre half forward Justine Hourihan, attacking midfielder Kayla Pennicott and Cardiff utility recruit Hannah McDermott are in for big seasons.

“They’ve all been training the house down along with seasoned campaigner Renee Selby and hopefully our youth brigade can realise their full potential,” said Josie.

The Power will be without the services of Tomaree High School and Sydney Swans Academy medium forward sensation Taylor Smith, who will line up for the Cardiff Hawks in 2024.

But the club has a rising star in sixteen-year-old forward Chaise Furner who has joined the women's squad in a full time capacity this season.

“Our team is all about building

Port Stephens Veteran Golfers Association

By Gary WATT

RESULTS from a Stableford competition played at Tanilba Bay GC on Monday

18th March 2024 with

37 players for the Patrons Trophy.

Nett Winner :

John Clayton, 36pts c/b.

Nett Runner Up : Frank Vandruten, 36pts.

Bonus Point Winner : Gary Watt, 36pts.

Bonus Point Runner Up : Fred Rimoni, 35pts c/b

Nearest the Pin, 4th Hole : Div 1 : Tony Care.

Div 2 : No Winner.

Nearest the Pin, 11th Hole, :

Div 1 : Fred Rimoni.

Div 2 : Col Kerrison.

Drive & Chip, 7th Hole,

Div 1 : Graham Woolley.

Div 2 : Bryan Porter.

Drive & Chip, 18th Hole,

Div 1 : Michael Moussa.

Brushbox Course

A1 Ryan Palmer (11) 38c/b

A2 Mark Peebles (4) 38c/b

A3 Jim Ingleton (15) 38

B1 Paul Wheatley (19) 41

B2 Mark Balsarini (21) 38

B3 Keith Woodley (23) 37c/b

Stableford:

Gymea Lily Course

A1 Peter Metham (15) 40c/b

A2 Peter Power (14) 40

A3 Chris Mawson (10) 39

B1 Doug Hellmrich (18) 41

B2 John Mudie (18) 38

B3 Gavin Rocher (16) 35c/b

C1 Will Strong (24) 40

C2 William Morley (31) 35c/b

C3 Stephen Barrett (27) 25c/b

Men’s Stableford:

C1 Steve Jones (25) 40

C2 Paul Buckley (25) 38

C3 David Shepherd (24) 35c/b

Thursday 21 March 2024

Men’s Stab: Gymea Lily Course

1 Steve Brown (9) 34

Men’s Vets

1 Daniels Rod 20

2 Rollason Robert 18

Ladies Stab: Gymea Lily Course

A1 Kim Tobin (30) -3 C/B

Div 2 : Col Kerrison. Ball Winners : Col Kerrison 35pts, Bryan Porter 34pts, Michael Moussa 33pts, Rod Keeley (v) 33pts, Ron McKay 33pts, Tony Care 32pts, David Middlebrook (v) 32pts,

A2 Mary Reisch (21) -3 C/B

A3 Robyn Hare (34) -3

B1 Jeanette Knott (41) -1

B2 Suzy Davis (39) -2 C/B

B3 Liz Kalousek (50) -2 C/B

Friday 22 March 2024

Men’s Stab: Xmas Bush Course

A1 Neil Young (17) 38

A2 Peter Mentis (10) 37

A3 Phil Ismay (15) 36

A4 Anthony Care (18) 34c/b

B1 Phil Sherwood (27) 38

B2 Gregory Thornton (23) 37c/b

B3 Steve Punshon (26) 37

B4 Barry Kalousek (33) 35c/b

Ladies Stab: Xmas Bush Course

1 Robyn Kennett (16) 35

2 Jeannie Punshon (22) 31c/b

Saturday 22 March 2024

Men’s Stab: Xmas Bush Course

A1 Brett Woolfe (11) 43

A2 Harvey Payne (4) 41

friendships and having fun on the field and the camaraderie we’ve enjoyed has taken us a long way,” Josie reflected.

“We have improved each season and are proud of our record of never having forfeited a match - even during the club’s formative years.”

Now in their seventh season the Power women believe they are genuine contenders for this year’s Plate title.

Steve Robards 32pts, Lester Lake 32pts, Bill McMaster 31pts, and Peter Martyn 31pts.

Lucky Draw Prize Winner : Graham Woolley.

Next weeks game is at Tanilba Bay GC with a 7:30am start.

Visitors are welcome any Monday, please ring Gary Watt on 49814536 for starting times.

A3 Michael Blyth (12) 38

B1 Peter Brooks (16) 36c/b

B2 Paul Buckley (23) 36

B3 Scott Kerr (22) 35

C1 Dylan Jones (45) 34

C2 John Geoghegan (30) 32c/b

C3 Andrew Driscoll (26) 32

Men’s Stab: Gymea Lily Course

A1 Steve Conrades (14) 39c/b

A2 Garry Hall (14) 39

A3 Phil Chisler (12) 38

B1 Neil Lembcke (17) 40

B2 David Graham (22) 39

B3 Brett Allman (16) 38

C1 Phillip Osborne (24) 37

C2 Peter Schmalz (29) 36

C3 Ted Smith (25) 35c/b

Ladies Stab:

Xmas Bush Course

1 Jeanette McClymont (26) 37

2 Barbara Frost (17) 34c/b

q Port Stephens Power AFL women players prepared for the upcoming Hunter Central Coast Black Diamond Plate competition by completing a triathlon at Soldiers Point with the Tomaree Tri Club. (L-R) Club umpire Penny Rushworth, Airlie Coleman, Johanna Wilson, Josie Johnson, Justine

Kayla Pennicott and Hannah McDermott.

Garage Sale

SAT 30/3.

EASTER

Due

Thursday

Friday 9th April 2021 (Booking/Copy/Final approvals will change)

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

For Sale

CHEFS uniforms, 2 jackets (small), 4 trousers (3 medium, 1 small) 1 cap. $70 for the lot. Ph 0412 783 707

CHEST of drawers

Antique, 3 full length drawers and 2 half length drawers. 160cm x 55cm x 120cm H. $120 0418 950 995

For

For more information, please contact ads@newsofthearea.com.au

We

BOOKKEEPER

Permanent part time position: 6 hours/week

Minimum qualification: Demonstrated extensive experience in bookkeeping and MYOB. The Tomaree Neighbourhood Centre is looking for an enthusiastic, competent, qualified and experienced person to fill the position of bookkeeper.

To obtain an application form and an information package containing more details about the position, including the selection criteria, please call 02 4984 6220 or email gsblunt52@gmail.com

3 Windsurfer boards and fins, 85 litres. 2.4m long $99. Ring 0419 932 992 F191023

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

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 Re250822

12VOLT 2 tone jack 12 volt wheel brace Twin 100mm saw Ph: 4982 3648

6 x new in package single bed mattress protectors. 2 x new out of package, never used single bed fitted sheets $75 or $12 each. 0408 431 488

ANTIQUE sewing machine, Singer 306K model. Good working order, manual & all attachments inc. $75 0419 970 527

Wanted to Buy

Collector paying up to $15,000 ea for old pub signs and mirrors from Tooths & Reschs breweries.

0400 761 801

Pets

3

MALTESE Shih Tzu puppy. Boy

Available now. Located in Port Stephens BIN# B000616552

Call or text 0474 378 452

FREE WARDROBE hanging spaces and drawers 0428 943 812

CHAIR recliner, black worn areas on arm 10cm x 6cm & small areas on other arm & lower back. Could be suitable to recover. Ph 0404 035 634

THEATRE organ with full pedal board, works well, free to good home 0432 058 522

BABY carrier, BabyBjorn new price is over $300 selling for $90 ono. Ph 0412 783 707

BEAM hanging racks pair, powder coated steel grey and rubber Suits use with bicycles or ladders. Never used $50. 0408 431 488 For Sale

BIBLE road scooter swivel seat, easily dismantled for vehicle transport. Never used $1,200. Any trials welcomed. Ph Lee 0435 770 067 e040424

BOOKS for sale - 16 x Bryce Courtenay from $1 - $2 each, 3 x Colleen McCullough $1 - $2 each, 2 x Wilbur Smith $2 each. 0404969257

CANVAS bag for shopping trolley. $14 4982 8628

CHAISE Lounge Timber, painted white Era 1890s. $100 0418 950 995

FRIDGE, great second fridge, GC. $45 or offer 49979313

FRIDGE/FREEZER

in good working cond Hisense, 350L $150 Photos available. Hawks Nest. 0419 444 119 F211223

FULL length Driza-Bone wet weather coat. $90 0419 985 601 F220224

CHEST of drawers

large, wooden, 104cm H x 105cm W. Painted off white, VGC. $30. 0403 177 795

COFFEE/Lamp table Walnut stained good cond. Top has glass inset 60cm x 60cm H 44cm

Magazine shelf at bottom $50. 0430 092 825

COLLECTION of assorted windsurfing gear. Extensions, bases vest, fins etc. $99. Ring 0419 932 992 F191023

COSMOPOLITAN

CURLING iron $10 0493 777 707

DRESS, New, Short Sleeve, Golden Blue

GO Fit Vibration Platform $100 ono. Must sell 0417 664 032

GOLF buggy, 2nd hand new batteries, new upholstery, GC inc power drive battery charger 6 x 8 volt plug in wall 49872761

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. $95 Ph 0476 789 721

LARGE Invacare

Meteor mobility scooter imacculate condition front basket, rear bag weather shade hood can deliver. $2,300 0418 430 643

MENS gold watch Chisel, multi date, 100m water resistant, new still in box, fully working, bought from jewellers, cost $299 sell for $100. 49817523 F210324

MENS valet chair gold vinyl covered seat, hanging back for coats, shirts etc and a tray for the wallet and valuables exc cond. $70 49817523 F140324

MICROWAVE, new small $100. 0493777707

MOBILITY white raised toilet seat on legs, arm rests and brand new bowl. Stands over exiting toilet, light easy pickup and replace no installation req. Exc cond. $60. 4981 7523 F280324

MUSIC 50’s - 90’s CDs and vinyl 45’s various compilations plus single artists. 02 4966 5000

HAIR dryer with diffuser new, worth $170, will sell for $15. 0493 777 707 F150224

HIGH lift chair, can lift you fully up, 6 months old. Ph Lee 0435 770 067

DRESS,

Mid length

DRIZA-BONE coat, XL $200. 0418 950 995 e120424

HOLDEN Astra car rim and tire tubeless steel belted radial. Size 205

HOLDEN racing team shirt from early 2000’s Red with insignias of Dunlop, Holden and Coca Cola. Large. $10 4981 7523.

ELECT golf cart Yamaha 2019

HUSQVARNA self propelled lawn mower VGC, mulcher catcher petrol edger GC $300 for both units. 0427 980 079

EXTENSION Cord 25 metres 10 Amps $25 4919 8277 Tea Gardens

FISH fern for pond or aquarium. 0466 880 639 F210324

OUTSIDE umbrella

4 metres x 3 metres $200 ono. Must sell 0417 664 032

PIANOLA rolls cabinet

timber with leadlight glass door, elock, 70cm x 46cm x 105cm high $100. 0418 950 995

PORTABLE

For Sale

WORLD book encyclopedias, full set Offer. 49979313 F080224

12FT runabout (AAU544N) and trailer (H40343), 9.8 Tohatsu outboard, 12 months rego. $1,500 ono 0428 549 282

IKEA Stornas Bar Table

LADIES Bike 27”

New tires and tubes Front basket and back carrier. Geared. $100 0404 292 942

NEW Mahogany side tables. $100each 0493 777 707 F071223

RISSOTTO and rice maker, 10 cup. $169 on special, brand new. $130 0427 307 580

ROCKING chair antique 1880’s. $125 0418 950 995 e120424

RYOBI RSCD750 Clean and Dirty Submersible Pump with automatic float switch. As new. $75 Ph 0412 081 979

SCOTTY’S Cinema gift cards $75. Buy for $60, expire June 25. 0418 845 358

SINGLE base mattress and white bedhead clean, GC with single clean quality used linen $100. 0408 431 488

RAIL Corp Wall telephones and desktop push buttom phone 90’s. 2 x Motorola units, chargers with info 90’s. Cheap best offers. 4981 7523 MOBILITY Scooter 4 wheel. Good cond. with front basket, rear bag and charger. $1200 Free delivery Ph: 0418 430 643 ReS040523

STACER Seaway 435 boat, IBP617N, Honda 40hp 4 stroke motor, low hours, gal trailer R43321 Bimini boat cover, life jackets plus extras. Exc cond. $13,000 ono. Ph 0428 865 938 Re260924

SUBARU Outback Touring wagon, 2011 2.5L auto, AWD, 155km rego till Feb 2025, log book. DZD22L. $8,500 0448 253 290

Caravans

1999 Goldstream Sapphire 2001 series. 5m with awning and sides, double bed, sofa gas/elect fridge, stovetop microwave, TV, always garaged with lots of extras. M47529. $17,000 ono. 0488 256 253

2016 Retreat Brampton 22’. Single beds, 2 solar panels, sat dish, gas heater, many extras $70,000 ono. Reg till Nov 2023.

VW body parts 3 fan housing engines, plus porsche 356B. 0431 751 651

WALL mirror, 75cm x 60cm, wood surround $10. 4997 9313

WHEELCHAIR Breezy

NISSAN GQ Parts: New hub seals, oil and water pump, and more. Ph 4982 8689

NURSES shoes size 8 ladies, worn once $70ono 0413 401 589

$100. Ph 0418 191 818

OUTDOOR setting powder coated, as new 15 months old, 1 table with 3 chairs, faun colour. Paid $1,400, sell for $750 ono. Call Raymond 0423 640 489

WINE rack, holds 72 bottles, from Howards Storage, mahogany. On special for $489, sell for $325. New. 0427307580

WOMENS vanity bedroom chair, gold velveteen cover with back and round seat with a pleated skirt on wheels, exc cond. $100 49817523 F140324

AVAN Aliner 3 berth 850kg tare, 2012, 12 months rego, W97212 Extras. $22,000 ono Karuah. 0414 891 285

JAYCO Journey single axel, single beds shower/toilet, microwave auto awning, review camera, all as new 16.5 ft, 15 months old TL85A1. $62,500. Ph Les 0419 194 188

MILLARD Horizon 2001. Rollout awning 12 months rego. Annex N65160. $10,000 Ph 0438 020 040

MILLARD Horizon

2003 19ft dual axel light weight. Tare 1544. GVM 1944. 2 x 200 solar panels, anderson plug 3 way fridge, queen bed, shower/toilet, full 12 months rego, roll out awning. Non smokers Selling due to update $27,950. Q25752 0418 430 643

BEST ON THE BOX

SATURDAY

MINISERIES: LIFE AFTER LIFE

ABC, 7.30pm

The powerful, unnerving feeling of déjà vu is given a poignant significance in this enthralling tale based on Kate Atkinson’s novel. This four-part drama turns its last page on the story of Ursula Todd (Thomasin McKenzie, pictured) in a confronting fashion. An increasing sense of helplessness colours this final peek into Ursula’s never-ending loop of birth and death as World War II’s grip tightens. This striking conclusion features the repeated motif of falling snow signalling her death, of course, as well as a fateful meeting with Adolf Hitler.

March 29

6.00 Gardening Aust. (R) 6.30 Cook And The Chef. (R) 7.00 News. 9.35 Easter In Australia. (PG, R) 10.30 That Pacific Sports Show. (R)

11.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 12.00 News.

12.30 QI. (Ml, R) 1.00 Silent Witness. (Malv, R) 2.00 House Of Gods. (Ma, R) 3.00 Cook And The Chef. (R) 3.25 MOVIE: The Secret Garden. (1993, G, R) 5.10 Grand Designs. (R)

6.00

6.25

7.30

8.30

9.35

10.05

11.05

11.25

12.15

1.00 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

SUNDAY

HOUSE OF GODS

ABC, 8.30pm

This heady mix of wealth, power, faith and family comes to its crunch in a satisfying, simmering conclusion. The tension has been ratcheted up to oppressive levels in this Sydney-based story of an Iraqi family. It’s a polished drama vibrating with sterling performances, where every little detail is plumbed to great melodramatic effect. Tonight, in “When God Speaks”, there’s resolution of sorts as the truth is dragged to light, but first there’s some unexpected power plays and deals to appreciate and unravel as Sheikh Shaaker (Simon Elrahi, pictured) confronts his adversary and uncovers the depths of patriarch Sheikh Mohammad’s (Kamel El Basha) ambition. It’s a thrilling final act.

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.50 Mountain Vets. (PG) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Mastermind Aust. (R) 3.00 NITV News: Nula. 3.30 The Point: Road To Referendum History Bites. 3.35 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 3.45 The Cook Up. (R) 4.15 World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00

5.30

WEDNESDAY FBI: INTERNATIONAL TEN, 9pm

It’s hard to gauge how much FBI is too much…

6.00 Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 11.30 News. 12.00 MOVIE: Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff: The Kristine Carlson Story. (2021, PGadl) 2.00 Border Security: America’s Front Line. (PG, R) 2.30 Surveillance Oz. (PG, R) 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. Johanna Griggs learns about pickling.

8.30 MOVIE: The Butler. (2013, Malv, R) A White House butler serves seven American presidents across three decades. Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack.

11.15 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA. (Mal, R)

12.15 Armchair Experts. (M)

1.00 Get On Extra.

1.30 The Arrangement. (Mav, R)

2.30 Home Shopping.

4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 5.00 NBC Today.

but this newest spin-off, the third in the franchise, offers some exotic respite. Featuring locations around Europe, there’s some grand scenery as the US crime fighters gallantly try to save the world. Featuring Poldark’s statuesque Heida Reed (pictured) as Special Agent Jamie Kellett, it may be high-octane nonsense, but this folly looks pleasingly cultured. Tonight, an American lawyer is car bombed.

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning.

12.00 MOVIE: For The Love Of Chocolate. (2021, G, R)

2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Rugby League. NRL. Round 4. South Sydney Rabbitohs v Canterbury Bulldogs.

6.00 NBN News.

7.00 A

(2013, Mvd, R)

6.00 Morning Programs. 8.00 Ent. Tonight. (R) 8.30 Neighbours. (PGa, R) 9.00 Bold. (PGav, R) 9.30 Deal Or No Deal. (R) 10.00 GCBC. (R) 10.30 Judge Judy.

6.00 Deal Or No Deal.

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

7.30 Ready Steady Cook. (PGa) Hosted by Miguel Maestre.

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 Fire Country. (PGa, R) A fire erupts after a plane crash.

11.30 The Project. (R)

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

SATURDAY, March 30

ABC TV (2)

6.00 Rage. (PG) 7.00 Weekend Breakfast.

9.00 Rage. (PG) 12.00 News. 12.30 Death In Paradise. (Mv, R) 1.30 Miniseries: Life After Life. (Masv, R) 2.40 Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery. (PG, R) 3.10 Extraordinary Escapes. (PG, R) 4.00 Universe With Brian Cox. (Final, R) 5.00 Better Date Than Never. (R) 5.30 Landline. (R)

6.00 Australian Story: On The Brink – Bon Scott. (R)

6.30 Back Roads: Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania. (R)

7.00 ABC News At Easter. Takes a look at today’s top stories.

7.30 Miniseries: Life After Life. (Mal) Part 4 of 4.

8.30 Endeavour. (Mav, R) Part 3 of 3. A series of death notices in the Oxford Mail provides clues to Endeavour’s final investigation.

10.05 House Of Gods. (Mls, R) Isa uncovers a valuable asset.

11.00 Happy Valley. (Malv, R)

12.00 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Cook Up Bitesize. (R)

9.05 Destination Flavour. (R) 9.15 Love Your Home And Garden. (PGa, R) 10.10 Vintage

Voltage. 11.00

The Story Of Coffee. (PGas, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 1.00 Motor Racing.

Bathurst 6 Hour. Qualifying. 5.00 Hungry

For More: Spain. (PG) 5.30 Elvis And The USS Arizona. (PGa, R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Britain’s Most Beautiful Road.

8.30 Royal Crisis: Countdown To Abdication.

9.30 From Paris To Rome With Bettany Hughes. (PG, R)

10.25 Those Who Stayed. (Final, Mal)

11.10 Between Two Worlds. (Mals)

12.05 Miniseries: True Colours. (Mlv, R)

1.55 MOVIE: The Father. (2020, Malv, R)

3.40 Face To Face. (Ma, R)

4.35 In Therapy. (Mls, R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.15 France 24 Feature.

5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise.

10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG)

12.00 Horse Racing. Stakes Day and Australian Cup.

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 French traveller attracts attention.

7.30 MOVIE: Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves. (1991, PGv, R) A noblemanturned-outlaw wages a guerrilla war against the tyrannical Sheriff of Nottingham. Kevin Costner, Alan Rickman.

10.30 MOVIE: The Book Of Eli. (2010, MA15+v, R) A man fights to protect a sacred book. Denzel Washington.

12.50 The Arrangement. (Mav, R)

2.00 Home Shopping.

4.00 Mystic. (R)

5.00 House Of Wellness. (PG, R)

6.00

6am Roxanne.

Continued. (1987, PG) 7.00 Skies Of Lebanon. (2020, PG, Italian) 8.45 Paris Can Wait. (2016, PG) 10.25 The Justice Of Bunny King. (2021, M) 12.20pm The Wife. (2017, M) 2.15 What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. (1993, PG) 4.25 Monsieur

SUNDAY, March 31

ABC TV (2)

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.30 World This Week. (R) 11.00 Compass. (PGa, R) 11.30 Praise. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Landline. 1.30 Gardening Aust. (R) 2.30 Dream Gardens. (R) 3.00 Nigella Bites. (R) 3.30 Cook And The Chef. (R) 3.55 Grand Designs NZ. (R) 4.45 Extraordinary Escapes. (PG, R) 5.35 A Grand Royal Design. (R)

6.30 Compass: The Lost Families. (PG)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Death In Paradise. (Mv) The team must prove Neville’s innocence.

8.30 House Of Gods. (Final, Ml) Sheikh Shaaker senses fraud and does everything in his power to uncover what Isa is up to.

9.30 Happy Valley. (Malv, R) Catherine confronts Clare.

10.30 MOVIE: Misbehaviour. (2020, Ml, R) Keira Knightley.

12.15 Significant Others. (Final, Mals, R)

1.05 Rage Vault. (MA15+adhlnsv)

3.55 Cancer: A Story Of Hope – A Catalyst Special. (PG, R)

5.00 Gardening Australia. (R)

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.55 The Story Of Coffee. (R) 11.25 My Unique B&B. (Premiere) 12.00 WorldWatch. 12.30 PBS Washington Week With The Atlantic. 12.55 Taekwondo. (R) 1.00 Speedweek. 3.00 Figure Skating. ISU World C’ships. H’lights. 5.30 Ballroom Fit. (R) 5.35 Secrets Of The Chocolate Factory: Inside Cadbury. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Easter Island Origins.

8.30 The Life And Deaths Of Christopher Lee.

10.00 Hindenburg: The Cover Up. (PGa, R)

11.45 Massacre On Hadrian’s Wall. (Mv, R)

12.35 The Chocolate Factory: Inside Cadbury Australia. (R)

3.40 Singfest: The Literacy Of Music. (R)

4.35 Bamay. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 Al Jazeera.

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise.

10.00 Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Surveillance Oz. (PGas, R) 12.30 Border Security USA. (PG, R) 1.00 Border Security: Int. (PG, R) 1.30 MOVIE: Suddenly 30. (2004, PGdls, R) 3.30 Border Security. (PG, R) 4.00 Better Homes. (R) 5.00 News.

5.30 Sydney Weekender.

6.00 Seven News.

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

7.30 John Farnham: Finding The Voice. (Mal, R)

9.30 What The Killer Did Next: Nicola Stevenson. (Mav)

10.30 Quantum Leap. (Mav)

11.30 Autopsy USA. (MA15+ad)

12.30 MOVIE: Jesse Stone: Thin Ice. (2009, Mav, R)

2.30 Home Shopping.

3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R)

9GO! (83)

6.00 Ready Steady Cook. (PGa, R)

Hosted by Miguel Maestre.

7.00 The Dog House. (PG, R) Dogs are matched with companions.

9.00 Ambulance UK. (Mal, R) North East Ambulance attends to a family which arrived in the UK just 17 days earlier as refugees. Crew members fear for a boy who has been knocked down by a motorcycle outside a school and is unresponsive.

11.30 So Help Me Todd. (PGadv, R) The governor seeks Margaret’s help.

12.30 FBI: International. (Mav, R) The fly team heads to Berlin.

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

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

7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (PGals) The celebrities celebrate Easter in camp, but, there will be no chocolate treats for them.

9.00 NCIS: Hawai’i. (Mav, R) Captain Milius continues to work with the team in the aftermath of the prisoner exchange.

10.00 FBI. (MA15+av, R) After a young woman is killed on her way home from a lavish yacht party, the team investigates.

12.00 The Sunday Project. (R) A look at the day’s news. 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings.

9GO! (83)

American Buffalo. 8.30 Black Gold. 10.10 MOVIE: Fallen. (1998, M) 12.20am Late Programs.

MONDAY, April 1

6.00 News. 9.00 News. 10.00 Landline. (R)

11.05 A Grand Royal Design. (R)

12.00 ABC News At Noon.

1.00 Vera. (Mv, R)

2.30 MOVIE: Casablanca. (1942, PG, R)

4.10 Back Roads. (R)

4.40 Grand Designs. (PG, R)

5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.00 Morning Programs. 11.00 Mountain Vets. (PG) 12.10 WorldWatch. 2.00 Ireland In Music. (R) 3.00

Mastermind Aust. (R) 3.30

The Point: Road To Referendum History Bites. (R) 3.35 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 3.45 The Cook Up. (R) 4.15 World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 11.30 Athletics. Stawell Gift. Easter Monday session.

2.30 Border Security:

6.00

7.00

7.30 Highway Patrol. (PGa)

8.30 Ron Iddles: The Good Cop: Bonnie Clarke. (Mav, R) Ron Iddles revisits a 1982 unsolved murder.

9.30 The Irrational. (Mav)

4.40

9GO! (83)

TUESDAY, April 2

ABC TV (2) ABC TV (2)

6.00 News. 9.00 News. 10.00 Foreign Correspondent. (R) 10.30 One Plus One. (R)

11.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 12.00 News.

1.00 Call The Midwife. (PGa, R) 2.00 Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 2.25 Back Roads. (R) 2.55 Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds. (PG, R) 3.55 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 4.45 Grand Designs. (R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6am The Movie Show. 6.15 Paris Can Wait. (2016, PG) 7.55 The Caine Mutiny. (1954, PG) 10.10 Robert De Niro: Hiding In The Spotlight. 11.15 The Father. (2020, M) 1.05pm

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.00 Film Kids. (PG, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Rebuilding

Notre-Dame With Lucy Worsley. (R) 3.10

Mastermind Aust. (R) 3.40 The Point: Road To Referendum History Bites. (R) 3.45 The Cook Up. (R) 4.15 World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys. (PG, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30

Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00

11.20 Faking Hitler. (Premiere, Man)

12.15

9GO! (83)

6.00 Deal Or No Deal.

Hosted by Grant Denyer.

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

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

9.00 FBI: Most Wanted. (MA15+v, R) Special Agent Remy Scott and the team investigate the homicides of two army veterans in a murder spree.

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

12.00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

1.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

6.00 Deal Or No Deal.

Hosted by Grant Denyer.

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

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

9.00 NCIS. (Return, Mav) Torres puts his future at stake by confronting the man who tormented his family when he was a child.

10.00 NCIS: Los Angeles. (Final, Mv, R) The team continues to work with the ATF.

11.00 The Project. (R)

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

Wild Rockies. 7.40 Great Lakes Wild. 8.40 Ice Cowboys. 9.30 Over The Black Dot. 10.20 Rugby League. English Super League. St Helens v Wigan Warriors. Replay. 12.20am Late Programs.

6.30

Mountain Vets. (PG) 12.00

WorldWatch. 2.00 Dateline. (R) 2.30 Insight. (R) 3.30 The Point: Road

To Referendum History Bites. (R) 3.35

Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 3.45

The Cook Up. (R) 4.15 World’s Most Scenic

Railway Journeys. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30

Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Alone Australia. (PG)

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

9.25 Miniseries: Litvinenko. (Mal)

10.20 SBS World News Late.

10.50 Blinded. (MA15+ds)

11.45 The Wall: The Orchard. (Malsv)

3.05 Mastermind Australia. (R)

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

4.35 Bamay. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG)

11.30 Seven Morning News.

12.00 MOVIE: Hometown Killer. (2018, Mav, R)

2.00 Beat The Chasers UK.

3.00 The Chase. (R)

4.00 Seven News At 4.

5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Home And Away. (PGad)

7.30 The 1% Club UK. (PG)

8.30 The Front Bar. (Ml) Takes a lighter look at all things AFL.

9.30 Unbelievable Moments Caught On Camera. (PGa) Footage of headline-grabbing moments.

10.30 The Latest: Seven News.

12.00

(PGa, R)

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30

9News Morning. 12.00 Gordon Ramsay’s

Food Stars. (Ml, R) 1.15 Ageless. (R)

1.45 Talking Honey. (PG, R)

2.00 Pointless. (PG)

3.00 Tipping Point. (PG)

4.00 9News Afternoon.

5.00 Tipping Point Australia. (PG)

11.00

12.20

1.10 Long Lost Family. (PG, R)

1.55 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

4.30 Doctor At The Door. (PG, R)

5.30 7.30. (R)

6am The Movie Show. 6.25 The Way. (2010, PG) 8.45 Children Of Heaven. (1997, PG, Farsi) 10.20 Arab Blues. (2019, M, Arabic) 11.55 I Can Quit Whenever I Want. (2014, M, Italian) 1.50pm Mon Oncle. (1958, French) 3.55 Kim Ji-Young, Born 1982. (2019, PG, Korean) 6.05 CJ7. (2008, PG, Cantonese) 7.40 After Yang. (2021, PG) 9.30 The

6.00 Morning Programs. 11.20 Mountain Vets. (M) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Alone Australia. (PG, R) 3.00 Mastermind Aust. (R) 3.30 The Point: Road To Referendum History Bites. (R) 3.35 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 3.45 The Cook Up. (R) 4.15 World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Rebuilding Notre Dame Cathedral Part 2.

8.30 Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy. (PGa)

9.20 The Vanishing Triangle. (Malv)

10.10 SBS World News Late.

10.40 Illegals. (MA15+v)

11.50 La Jauria. (MA15+dv, R)

3.40 Mastermind Australia. (R)

4.40 Bamay. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG)

11.30 News. 12.00 MOVIE: Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery. (2015, PGav, R)

2.00 Beat The Chasers UK.

3.00 The Chase. (R)

4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Home And Away. (PGa)

7.30 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly.

9GO! (83)

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30

9News Morning. 12.00 Gordon Ramsay’s

Food Stars. (PGl, R)

1.30 My Way. (PG, R)

2.00 Pointless. (PG)

3.00 Tipping Point. (PG)

4.00 9News Afternoon.

5.00 Tipping Point Australia. (PG)

6.00 Morning Programs. 8.30 Neighbours. (PGa, R) 9.00 Bold. (PGads, R) 9.30 Deal Or No Deal. (R) 10.00 GCBC. (R) 10.30

6.00 Deal Or No Deal. Hosted by Grant Denyer.

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

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

9.00 FBI: International. (Mv) The FBI fly team investigates the car bombing death of an American lawyer working out of Budapest.

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

12.00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

1.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

6.00 Deal Or No Deal.

6.30 The Project.

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

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

9.30 Law & Order: SVU. (Mav, R) Benson tries to help a pop star.

10.30 Blue Bloods. (Mav, R)

11.30 The Project. (R)

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

9GO! (83)

By Thomas O’KEEFE

YOUNG local swimmer

Kayleigh Thompson will go to the NSW State swimming championships next month, after winning at the Hunter Regional Championships at The Forum, Newcastle University, on Tuesday 12 March.

First winning at her school swimming carnival, Kayleigh then represented her school and won at the Port Stephens Zone Carnival, which took her to the Hunter Regionals.

Of the 50 or so swimmers at the Regional Carnival, only Kayleigh and one other qualified for the next level, which is the NSW PSSA State competition, due to take place at Sydney Olympic Park on 11-12 April.

“Kayleigh started swimming at nine months old,” Kayleigh’s mum, Lauren, told NOTA.

“It’s all driven by her, she loves it, in the water any spare moment, and she decided last year to go all the way to

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