Anchors aweigh for event
By Matt Hewson
Thenation’sultimatesailingcelebrationisback for its 182nd year as the Festival of Sails kicks off at the Geelong waterfront this weekend.
Attracting more than 3000 sailors and 100,000 visitors to the centre of Geelong every January, the 2025 edition of the festival is shapinguptobeoneofthebiggestandbestyet.
The free three-day festival, running from Saturday, January 25 to Monday, January 27, is home to the iconic Passage Race, first held in 1844 and the Southern Hemisphere’s oldest sporting event.
In addition to all the sailing action, the
festival features everything from live music to fireworks, opportunities to try sailing for the first time, scenic cruises, the STS Young Endeavour II and an aerial display by the RAAF Roulettes.
Royal Geelong Yacht Club (RGYC) general manager Steve Harper said the event was what club members looked forward to every year.
“It’s really important; it’s a rich tradition,” Mr Harper said.
“The event is definitely an integral part of the club. It’s really important for us as a club that we get to celebrate sailing with the broader community.
“In terms of the economic impact, this event
SUMMER SIZZLER CASHBACK OFFER
is equal to the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. We bring in sailors from all around the country and the festival attracts 100,000 people across the three days, so there’s a fairly significant impact for Geelong.”
Mr Harper, who is coordinating his second Festival of Sails since taking on his current role atRGYC,saidtheclubstrovetodeliver“awhole range of experiences for different people”.
“People that want to just perhaps chill out by the water and soak up the festival vibe can comedowntoourTipiontheBaywherethere’s some light music there and really great food,” he said.
“But on the other end of the scale if you want
to come down and really enjoy the evenings in particular, we’ve got our headline bands on Saturday and Sunday night at the main stage.
“That’s really party time. A couple of thousand people out in front of the stage there on the water, just a really great evening there.
“Andwe’vegotallsortsofactivitieselsewhere; Discover Sailing, a live broadcast of the sailing, kids entertainment. We pride ourselves on having good quality entertainment, especially for a free event, and we think there’s some fun and enjoyment for everybody.”
Visit festivalofsails.com.au for the full program of events.
Royal Geelong Yacht Club Commodore Paul Buchholz and Vice Commodore Phillip Francis. (Ivan Kemp) 455054_06
TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT INFORMATION
TRAFFIC ALTERATIONS & ROLLING ROAD CLOSURE TIMES
CADEL EVANS GREAT OCEAN ROAD RACE
Join us this summer at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race with five days of cycling action in Geelong, the Bellarine, Surf Coast and The Otways regions.
See the megastars of UCI WorldTour cycling in the first men’s and women’s classics of the season.
EVENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday 29 January (Surf Coast & The Otways)
» 11:00 Surf Coast Classic - Women
Thursday 30 January (Surf Coast & The Otways)
» 11:00 Surf Coast Classic - Men
Friday 31 January (Geelong)
» 17:30 GeelongPort Family Ride
Saturday 1 February (Geelong, Bellarine & Surf Coast)
» 07:00 TAC People’s Ride
» 12:40 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race - Women
Sunday 2 February (Geelong, Bellarine & Surf Coast)
» 11:10 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race - Men
The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race is an initiative of the Victorian Government, created by Visit Victoria, and a pillar of Australia’s major events calendar.
ELITE RACES TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT INFORMATION
» In 2025, the Women’s and Men’s Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Races will race in the reverse (clockwise) direction, from the traditional start/finish line on the Geelong waterfront.
» Victoria Police will facilitate a rolling road closure for these races, which reduces the impact of the event. Vehicles will not be able to travel on or cross the route while the rolling road closure passes through. Delays of 15–20 minutes are expected.
» All towns will remain open and accessible including Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove, Torquay and Moriac, with the exception of when the race passes through for 15–20 minutes.
» The course roads must be free of traffic as the race approaches. Therefore, vehicle access on the busier course roads on the Geelong Circuit will be restricted to local access only, with the exception of when the race comes through. All other traffic will be directed to use alternate routes or side roads.
» The rolling road closure will be supported by some fixed road closures to assist in keeping the course roads free of traffic when the race is coming through. All major intersections remain open, except when the race passes by.
» Latrobe Terrace (Princes Hwy) in Geelong and the Geelong Ring Road will remain open at all times during the weekend to ensure north/south traffic movements through the City of Greater Geelong are maintained.
» Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times during the event via existing footpaths. Where roads are closed for short periods, access across roads will be via marshalled course crossing points.
» It is advised to allow extra travel time during the weekend in case you experience short delays whilst travelling near the course.
» If you are travelling along a course road as a rolling road closure comes through, you will be stopped by the lead police vehicle and asked to park in a safe area on the side of the road.
» Once the race has passed the rear police car will inform you that it is safe for you to move off.
» There will be restricted parking on any road which the course travels along. To assist, please ensure you park your car either on a driveway if available or on a side street off the course.
TAC PEOPLE’S RIDE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT INFORMATION
» This is not a race and cyclists will be adhering to normal road rules. There will be minor changed traffic conditions in some areas, such as traffic diversions, lane closures, reduced speed limits and intersection management.
» Due to the large number of cyclists on the roads during this event, please take extra care when driving and allow extra travel time.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
» There will be changes to public transport services on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and customers are advised to check the PTV website for further updates: https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/news-and-events/events/
EMERGENCY ACCESS
Emergency access will be maintained at all times. In an emergency please call 000.
VOLUNTEER
Want to be part of the action? SIGN UP AND VOLUNTEER TODAY! With plenty of course and field of play marshal positions available across the five days, there’s bound to be an exciting role not too far from you. For more info head to: www.cadelevansgreatoceanroadrace.com.au/about/volunteer
CONTACT US
There are many ways to receive event updates, get the latest traffic and transport advice or contact us for further information;
Access improvements for beach
Ocean Grove residents and visitors will soon have even more accessibility options when they visit the town’s main beach.
The Victorian government and Barwon Coast Committee of Management announced lastweekthetenderforanewChangingPlaces facility at Ocean Grove Main Beach has been awarded to Three T Constructions.
The project, expected to be completed by the mid-2025, will provide larger than standard accessible toilets with features such as a tracking hoist and accessible bathroom.
The facility is being funded by a $220,000 contribution from Barwon Coast and a state
government Changing Places funding grant of $180,000.
Barwon Coast general manager of operations Paul Gangell said the new facility was a “really important development providing accessible options for high needs individuals”.
“This will be the only facility along this section of the coastline that will meet the important needs of these community members,” Mr Gangell said.
“So it’s a really important project for us, and probably something we’d like to see happen again elsewhere.”
Barwon Coast has been the driver of the project since its inception, applying for and receiving the government grant in 2022.
Mr Gangell said projects like this took time, but the Changing Places facility had encountered “challenges” in the post-COVID environment.
“We’ve refined the project over that time… and we’re really comfortable now that we’ve got a great, affordable Changing Places facility,” he said.
“There has actually been some benefit to delaying the project over the last year to ensure we’ve got a really good design and the
Cottage chief faces icy challenge
A Queenscliff man will brave the cold to raise money for children in need during an Arctic ultramarathon in Swedish Lapland.
Cottage by the Sea chief executive Adam Wake will leave Australia on February 13 for a five-day and 230-kilometre Ice Ultramarathon from February 18 to fundraise for the children’s charity.
Mr Wake said he set a $40,000 target to help run a week-long snow camp in Mount Buller through Cottage by the Sea’s REEF snow program.
“I hate the cold and it’s always been my Achilles heel. I’ve done desert and jungle races inthepast,butnothinginthecold,nothingless than 20 degrees Celsius,” he said.
“I’ve been in this sector working with at-risk, disadvantaged children for over 20 years, and we always tell kids that if you’re going to get the most out of life, you’ve got to stretch and challenge yourself.
“We have 1700 or more children coming through here every year and this story will probably filter to them and hopefully I get asked questions. Maybe it’ll give them a reason to try and push themselves.”
Mr Wake said the “best way to experience growth in life” was to take on challenges and step outside the comfort zone.
“More than anything I’m looking forward to being cut off, I will have absolutely no communication with the outside world for the period that I’m on the road,” he said.
“I’malsolookingforwardtobeingimmersed in nature, something that I think is becoming harder to find in our worlds. I love being lost and this is Europe’s last wilderness.”
Mr Wake has raised $2400 as of 11am on Tuesday,January21.Visitcottagebythesea.com. au/fundraise/adams-arctic-ultramarathon for more information or to donate.
Cottage by the
preparing for the Arctic ultramarathon. (Ivan Kemp) 454105_06
right budget to deliver it.”
He said the community was keen to see the project completed.
“Construction works kick off late February and we’d say the project will be operational by mid this year... we’re looking forward to the community getting access as soon as possible,” Mr Gangell said.
“Next month we have our annual Disabled SurferseventatOceanGroveMainBeach,and they’re just one example of the community needing a facility like this they can access.”
Have your say on wetlands
The Victorian government has opened public consultation on the future of the Moolap wetlands and former saltworks.
Part of the Geelong City Deal, the Moolap Wetlands Environmental Management Masterplan will guide the long-term use and management of the 550-hectare site.
The plan will aim to protect the area’s heritage and environmental values while also factoring in the projected effects of climate change until 2100.
The site provides a home for threatened bird species such as the the orange-bellied parrot, Australasian bittern and fairy tern.
Public consultation will consist of an online survey, running until March 4, and two open house events at the Eastern Hub in February.
Member for Geelong Christine Couzens said the government wanted to hear from the community so the Masterplan could reflect their values.
“I’ve worked on the Moolap Plan project on and off over the years and it’s so great to see it all coming together,” Ms Couzens said.
“This (consultation) will shape how people visit and enjoy the area in a sustainable way. Potential uses could include walking trails and areas to birdwatch, which would provide a great opportunity to value the natural environment. This is a really exciting project for Geelong and it will be great to see people enjoying this area, which has been closed to the public for many years.”
Sea chief executive Adam Wake
PERMANENT FEE-FREE TAFE
Events to mark Australia Day
Aboriginal flags.”
Lara, Geelong, and Portarlington communities will celebrate Australia Day (January26),withmanyfreeeventsoccurring across the region on Sunday.
Portarlington Community Information Booth will host free activities from 11am at Newcombe Street Rotunda Forecourt and its surrounding areas.
“We have our doggy fashion parade where the owners and dogs will dress up in Australiangearandparadeinfrontofjudges,” president Phil Cameron said.
“We’redoingafreeeggandbaconsandwich giveaway, and then following the fashion parade, we have free face painting and live music around the rotunda.
“The national Australia Day theme is ‘reflect, respect, and celebrate; we’re all part of the story’... and it is about celebrating who we are.
“We need to discuss Australia Day and the date, but we should all be doing it together rather than fighting each other and the rotunda will be flying the Australian and
Lara Australia Day Committee will host a free community breakfast at theLara Sporting Club from 8am to 10am, and food, entertainment, games, and family-friendly activities will be available.
Lara Lions Club president Tom Gilfillan said the breakfast was an inclusive event and would highlight the Lara Citizens of the Year awards.
“It’s a celebration and a chance to come together as a community to appreciate what we have in Australia; we’ve got a great country,” he said.
“It’s about bringing people together just to have a bit of fun and a free meal. Kids can come play games and run around and were looking forward to seeing a lot of people enjoying themselves.”
A free children’s fun day is also coming to Rippleside Park from 11am to 4pm, including free rides, entertainment and a grand parade featuring many floats.
- Jena Carr
Free Connewarre picnic
The Bellarine and Geelong communities can enjoy a picnic and informative day out at the Connewarre Wetland Centre this Australia Day.
The 605 Lake Road centre will host the free event on Sunday, January 26, from 10am to 4pm so that people can learn more about the region’s wetlands.
Geelong Field and Game’s Trent Leen said the event would feature many family-friendly activities, including a free barbecue, wildlife spotting and live music.
“We’ve got the observation trail which will be open and that is a 1.5 kilometre all accessibility walking track around our wetland,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to seeing as many people as we can out there come out to see the centre, and it’d be great to see everybody enjoying themselves.
“You can fish out and scoop stuff out of the
water and look at all the microinvertebrates in thewaterandthenyoucanlookatthemunder the telescope. It’s really hands on learning activities.”
Mr Leen said the event would allow people to discover and learn about the wetland’s animals, plants and bugs.
“It’ll be good because this is the first year we’ve actually had water in our wetland for the day,” he said.
“It’s good having the water in there so people can see it in its glory with the water, all the water birds, and the habitat we’ve created and are continually improving.
“Kids can get involved with the binoculars and go out and find some silhouettes of different sort of water birds. There will be some activities after that like painting and colouring in activities as well.”
- Jena Carr
Portarlington Community Information Booth president Phil Cameron welcomed everyone to Portarlington’s Australia Day event. (Ivan Kemp) 454125_04
Greens target two federal seats
There are two new Greens candidates for the Corangamite and Corio federal seats, with both passionate about climate action within their communities.
MitchPopewillrunagainstLibbyCokerfor the Corangamite seat, while Emilie Flynn will go up against Richard Marles as the Member of Corio.
MrPopegrewupontheBellarinePeninsula and is an environmental campaigner and eco-tour guide. He said a lack of federal
climate action motivated him to take action.
“The impacts of gas and oil spills, and the burning of fossil fuels is devastating our climate and marine environment, and it must end,” he said.
“The major parties are worried about upsetting fossil fuel corporations and wealthy property investors instead of enacting change to support those doing it tough and acting on the climate crisis.
“I am dedicated to tackling the climate
Little legs ready to race
The racing sausage dogs are back for a third year to determine who has the fastest ‘little legs’ in Geelong.
Geelong Harness Racing Club will host The Dachshund Dash at 40 Broderick Road in Corio on Friday, January 24, from 5pm to 11pm, with horse harness racing to follow after the dog event.
General manager Joe Fiala said the free event would feature face painting and a best-dressed competition alongside the main racing event.
“We encourage families to bring their picnicblanketsdownandenjoytheafternoon and to watch both the Dachshund and the harness racing,” he said.
“I love watching their little legs running down the track over a short distance, and it is pretty amusing to see them compared to the horses that are running the track.
“I’m looking forward to people getting downtothetrackandenjoyingtheremainder of the school holidays during the good family event... It’s a fun day and something different.
“We’ve got free face painting for the kids where they can go and have their face painted with their favorite dog or animal... and there are new dogs coming along with a couple of quit confident owners.”
Mr Fiala said close to 12 dogs were registered for the race, and awards were presented to the first, second, and third fastest dogs.
A Dachshund Derby Day will also be coming to Inverleigh on March 2 for a small dog and family-friendly event, with ribbons and prizes for all the events. Trophies will also be awarded for the Dachshund Derby Race and All Breeds Race, whichareopentoalldogsupto30centimetres high to the shoulder from the ground.
crisis and creating a fairer future for all, by fighting to end new coal and gas, expanding public renewables and capping rent investing in essential services and taxing big corporations.”
Ms Flynn, Geelong Sustainability’s operations and project coordinator, said she wanted to highlight some of the community’s biggest issues.
“NooneinacountryaswealthyasAustralia should have to skip meals or avoid medical
care because they can’t afford it,” she said.
“Housingisahumanright,notacommodity for profit, and it’s time our policies reflect that. Our foreign policy should always center on human dignity, equality, and the pursuit of lasting peace.
“Weneedimmediateandmeaningfulaction to protect communities like Geelong from the worsening impacts of climate change; from extreme weather events to rising sea levels.”
Our Funeral Team are here when you need support and guidance.
Carol Perrett with her blue dapple dachshund Winston at the Geelong Harness Racing Club. (Jena Carr) 454886_01
Pilk Purriyn rises for third year
The Surf Coast Shire community and visitors can join Wadawurrung Traditional Owners during a truth-telling story event this Sunday.
Pilk Purriyn (sunrise) truth-telling will be held at Warri Dja (Sea Country) at Torquay’s Cosy Corner for its third year from 5.30am on January 26.
Wadawurrung Man Greg Robinson said the event was a chance for the Surf Coast community to “deeply listen” to Wadawurrung people to speak their truth and share their stories.
“We need to come together not just as First Nations communities, but as allies in
solidarity to walk together towards a future where we can be proud of our history,” he said.
“My grandfather Uncle Mel Robinson, a Wadawurrung Ngarrweet (Senior Male
Elder),hasspent95yearsofhislifefightingfor the protection and recognition of our country and people.
“On the morning of Pilk Purriyn, people will get to sit and listen to him tell his story, and he’ll tell his story through his lived history along with his art and writing, which he’ll also be reciting.
“It’snotaprotest;it’smoreofanopportunity for people of the region to come and join us in solidarity and sit and deeply listen to what it is that we have to say and hear from us and hear our truth.”
Uncle Melville Robinson said people
of all ages, genders, races, religions and backgrounds were welcome to attend a morning of compassionate reflection.
“Deeply listen to our Truth-Telling and understand the lasting impacts colonisation has had on Wadawurrung and all First Nations people,” he said.
“Wadawurrung Culture and Connection to Country extends back into the past, so far back that it is almost incomprehensible.
We ask you to koling wada ngitj (walk forward together) with us.”
Musical celebration of memory and healing
The community is invited to come together for a musical celebration of First Nations culture and an acknowledgement of the pain of invasion.
Gerrupatjarra (‘join together’ in Wadawurrung language) will take place from 3.30pm to 6.30pm on Saturday, January 25 at Geelong Arts Centre’s Open House.
The free public event will feature three outstanding musical acts; Noongar woman and award-winning soul artist Bumpy, Isabelle Skye and her band Doe Eyes, and Geelong locals The Louds.
Local artist, curator and mentor Kiri Tawhai, a proud Noongar, NgaPuhi and Ngati Tuwharetoa woman, provided the artwork for the event’s promotional materials.
She said Gerrupatjarra was simply a chance for people to come together to enjoy First Nations storytelling through music and art.
“It’s about remembrance of the past and
what First Nations people have gone through, but it’s also about celebrating First Nations people and that resilience of thousands of generations,” she said.
“Some people think that healing is really traumatic, or reliving experiences that are really deep and dark.
“And whilst that can be true, what is also true is that music is healing; coming together as community, laughing, play, all of these things are healing.
“We want to be able to come together in a safe space, not just First Nations people, but allies and anyone that loves great music and wants to know a little bit more about culture.”
Visit geelongartscentre.org.au/parrwangcommunity-arts/gerrupatjarra for more information.
Matt Hewson Soul singer and Noongar woman Bumpy will perform at Gerrupatjarra. (Georgia Mein)
Jena Carr
Youth leading the way
By Cr Stretch Kontelj OAM
The next generation of leaders have been elected as the official voice for youth in Greater Geelong with Youth Council officially inducted this past week.
The event saw 11 young leaders aged between 12 and 17 appointed to the Youth Council at City Hall on Monday January 20.
The group was elected following a vote of their peers, with more than 1600 votes received.
City of Greater Geelong councillors were in attendance to welcome the junior counterparts of their respective wards.
It’sencouragingtoseeyoungpeopleeagerto takeonleadershiproleswithinthecommunity.
All 11 junior councillors have demonstrated a keen interest in civic responsibility and an enthusiasmforrepresentingthediversevoices of young people across the region.
It’s important for council to respond to the perspectives of young people in our City, and the Youth Council provides us with valuable insight into the needs and desires of youth in Geelong.
The program effectively acts as a way for young people in the City to have a say in the decisions that affect their lives. The group will provide recommendations and quarterly reports to council, which will play a vital role in our decision making.
Recommendations will be delivered at council meetings by the junior mayor and junior deputy mayor, who were appointed following Youth Council’s vote at the ceremony on Monday.
I am pleased to welcome junior mayor AyushSinghandjuniordeputymayorAlanah Forbes.
We at council look forward to hearing the recommendations shared by Ayush and
Alanah over the course of the year and are eagertoseehowtheirleadershipskillsdevelop throughout their term.
Leadership development is a key pillar of the Youth Council program. During their time in office, Youth Council members will
develop new skills, learn about civic and democratic processes, and will connect with other like-minded young people.
Junior councillors are also afforded the chance to improve valuable skills like public speaking, with speaking opportunities at junior council and youth development events.
Mentorshipisalsoanintegralcomponentof theYouthCouncil,wherebyjuniorcouncillors partake in the Councillor Connect Mentoring Program.
This mentorship provides training and development sessions with City councillors, who will offer guidance and support to the youngleadersoverthecourseoftheirone-year term to help them achieve their full potential.
Now in its seventh year, the Youth Council advisory committee has enacted positive change through a range of projects since its inception.
Multiple Youth Councils worked together on the development of the brand-new Nest Youth Hub on Gheringhap Street, which officially opened on January 23.
Over three years, separate Youth Councils advocated for a youth space in Geelong CBD, with an aim to provide access to support services, as well as a functional space to hang out and socialise.
The 2022 and 2023 Youth Councils played central roles in the Nest’s progress, and the 2024 group was instrumental in the design process.
It’s fitting then that the Nest should open the same week as the 2025 Youth Council’s induction.
We look forward to seeing how this new cohort will utilise this space for future youth projects.
Equally, council eagerly awaits the group’s first recommendations as it advocates for positive change for the youth of our city.
City of Greater Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj. (Supplied)
Youth choir is keen to expand
GeelongYouthChoirisinvitingnewmembers to sign up in 2025.
Whether you’re an experienced vocalist or your child is eager to learn and grow, Geelong Youth Choir Director of Music Phillipa McQuinn said the choir welcomes all singers to become a part of their musical family.
“We are welcoming singers to all our choirs in 2025,” she said.
“We are particularly looking for primary school children of all ages to join our junior choirs, where they can develop their singing skills in a supportive environment.
“Cantore Choir, our advanced choir for young people, had a fantastic year in 2024, winning the Junior Choir prize at the Robert Burns Choir Festival in Camperdown. We are looking forward to welcoming new singers to this choir, as they prepare for some exciting concerts and collaboration events as part of
the Geelong music community.”
Ms McQuinn said the preschool program, Let’s Make Music, is designed especially for little ones aged one to four, providing an engaging, hands-on musical experience.
“Thisclassgivespreschoolersanopportunity to explore rhythm, melody and movement in a fun and supportive environment,” she said.
“The parents and carers, who participate in theclass,lovespendingqualitytimewiththeir littleones,helpingthechildrenmastermusical skills and creating beautiful memories.”
Geelong Youth Choir is looking for singers of all ages and voice parts (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) who have a passion for music and a desire to perform.
Previous choral experience is an asset but not required – all enthusiastic and dedicated singers are encouraged.
Visit geelongyouthchoir.com for more information.
Ayush is junior mayor
Ayush Singh is City of Greater Geelong’s new junior mayor after being voted in by his peers while Alanah Forbes is the deputy junior mayor.
Friends and family of the elected Youth Council members were in attendance at the induction, alongside City of Greater Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM.
Junior Mayor Ayush Singh, who attends the same high school (North Geelong Secondary College) that Mayor Kontelj attended and graduated from, said it was an honour to be chosen to represent his peers.
“It is a privilege to be elected to the City of Greater Geelong Youth Council for 2025 and a thrill to be serving as the junior mayor,” Ayush said.
“The Youth Council has achieved so much already and I look forward to our group continuing the legacy of those who have served previously.”
EASTERN PARK IS HOME TO FLYING FOX NURSERY
Did you know we host a nationally significant camp of grey-headed flying foxes that roost in Eastern Park, Geelong?
The grey-headed flying fox – also known as fruit bats – is a threatened species making it more special that we host this important camp. The number fluctuates in response to available food across their range, but during summer, more than 10,000 individuals are often seen.
We’re supporting the flying foxes by installing an irrigation system to help cool them during extreme heat days and dedicated volunteer wildlife carers monitor the colony and care for sick and injured bats.
How can you help?
›Report sick or injured flying foxes to Wildlife Victoria on 03 8400 7300 who will send a vaccinated, trained wildlife rescuer to assist. Community members are warned not to touch or handle bats.
›Use wildlife friendly netting when covering your fruit trees at home, with mesh smaller than 5 mm x 5 mm, or cover select branches with bags or sleeves.
›At Eastern Park, be aware that loud noises can disturb the flying foxes and cause them to fly away and lose their pups. Sadly, abandoned pups often do not survive.
For more information, scan the QR code or visit geelong.link/FlyingFox2
MEETINGS
The next Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday 28 January 2025 at the Council Conference and Reception Centre, City Hall, 57 Little Malop Street, Geelong at 6.00pm (doors open 5.45pm).
Reports for consideration include: ›26 January – Officer Report
NEWS
Potato Shed - Expression of Interest for voluntary community representative positions
Our home of the performing arts on the Bellarine, the Potato Shed, seeks an Expression of Interest (EOI) from people with experience relevant to performing arts, theatre and music sectors to fill two voluntary, external, community representative member positions for a 2-year term commencing March 2025 and ending February 2027.
The EOI closes at 5.00pm on Friday 7 February 2025.
For more information, scan the QR code or visit geelong.link/ PotatoShedEOI-2
TRAFFIC CHANGES
If you are travelling in the areas listed below within these dates, please scan the QR code or visit geelong.link/Events2 for detailed information regarding changed traffic conditions.
Childrens Free Fun Day
›Rippleside Park on Sunday 26 January 2025.
›Rippleside Park Drive will be closed from 6.00am until approximately 6.00pm.
Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
›Cycling events from Wednesday 29 January – Sunday 2 February 2025
›There will be various changed traffic conditions throughout the region including Geelong and the Bellarine.
FIREWORKS NOTICE
Festival of Sail - Saturday 25 January
A fireworks displays will be staged at the Geelong Waterfront at 9.30pm as part of Festival of Sails.
Please ensure your pets are secure.
The 2025 Youth Council will take a different shape from previous years, with a shift to 11 members instead of 12 to reflect the makeup of council.
Meetings will be held monthly between February and November, in addition to the quarterlymentoringsessionswithcouncillors.
Mentoring sessions provide Youth Council members with an opportunity to engage with Councillors, ask questions, seek advice on topics such as leadership, and discuss issues and challenges affecting young people in Geelong.
Mayor Kontelj said he was impressed by the calibre of the 2025 Youth Council.
The 2025 City of Greater Geelong Youth Council is: Alanah Forbes, Archie Gaylard, Ayush Singh, Benjamin Pocock, Codey Broomhall, Isabella Harvey, John McClure, Lacey Young, Lola Philip-Szaraz, Mohammad Husseini and Sarah Ivey.
›Youth Council Advisory Committee Terms of Reference
›Willis Street, Portarlington – Intention to Declare Report – Special Rate and Charge Scheme SRC 372
›Newcombe Street, Drysdale – Intention to Declare Report – Special Rate and Charge Scheme SRC 373
For full details of the agenda, and to watch the Council meeting, scan the QR code or visit geelong.link/ CouncilMeetings2
Questions and submissions must be provided in writing by 12.00 noon on Monday 27 January 2025 via the web page above.
The grey-headed flying fox is a threatened species.
City of Greater Geelong junior mayor Ayush Singh, mayor Stretch Kontelj and deputy junior mayor Alanah Forbes. (Supplied)
Geelong Youth Choir’s Cantore Choir won the Junior Choir prize at the Robert Burns Choir Festival. (Supplied)
Club is full steam ahead
By Jena Carr
Corio Model Railway Club is celebrating half a century of showcasing model train displays with a new exhibition.
The club will hold its 50th Annual Model Railway Exhibition at Norlane Exhibition and Aquatic Centre on January 25 and 26 from 10am to 5pm.
Treasurer Des Kelly said the layouts featured during the event would be “the best of the best”, and he looked forward to seeing everyone enjoying the exhibition.
“It’s the club’s 50th exhibition... and apart from COVID, the exhibition’s been held every year. It’s a big achievement,” he said.
“The hall will be full of train exhibitors showing their model railway layouts from all over Victoria, and there will be a few trade stands.
“It’s a hobby, and models these days are quite expensive and detailed. Some layouts thatpeoplebuildrunonsignalsandautomatic points, are computer-controlled and can imitate the sound of any train.
“It’sfarremovedfromatoytrainsetyoubuy in a box from a shop. It’s really serious stuff and those that are really into the hobby take it seriously and try for realism in the scenery and layouts.”
CorioModelRailwayClubisaGeelong-based and family-oriented club with members aged 7 to 90 who love model railway operations and construction. Admission into the exhibition for its 50th year is $10 for adults and $5 for children, with everyone welcome to attend. Corio
Water project is underway
Works have begun on a major project to bolster Geelong’s water security.
This week Barwon Water announced a major upgrade to the Melbourne to Geelong pipeline was underway, with construction commencing at a number of sites in Geelong.
The upgrade will boost both the capacity and reach of the pipeline as demand for water continues to grow in the Greater Geelong and Surf Coast area, increasing access to Melbourne water from 16,000 million litres per year to 22,000 million.
Barwon Water expects construction to be completed later this year, with the upgraded pipeline in operation for next summer.
Acting managing director David Snadden said “While storage levels are currently satisfactory, we continue to make important investments in securing our water future through upgrading the Melbourne to Geelong pipeline and increasing recycled water for non-drinking water purposes, while focusing on water efficiency and conservation measures.”
The pipeline, which connects the Geelong water supply network to Melbourne’s, provided the Geelong region with 2500 million litres during 2023-24. During that time, demand across the region grew by 11 per cent.
New single on table for Hassall
Matild a Hassall’s latest single Dinner Table is on brand for the self-described Aussie sharehouse pop singer-songwriter: honest, whimsical, catchy and deeply personal.
Released last week, the new track takes the Geelong artist’s experience of misophonia - a disorder where certain sounds trigger emotional and/or physical responses - as its starting point, but speaks to the broader experience of feeling out of place, different or inconvenient to other people.
For Hassall, misophonia causes intense physicalandmentaldiscomfortwhenshehears the sounds of other people eating, particularly in enclosed spaces.
“It’s pretty weird to be talking about it… I don’t really talk about it because it makes people feel pretty guilty around me,” she said.
“And I don’t want anyone to change their behaviours because of it. But it’s the wildest, most specific thing; it’s really random, and there’s a lot of people who share the exact same struggles with it.”
Hassallsaidhonestywasakeyintentionwith her songwriting.
“I’m always going for specificity, experiences
that may only be experienced by myself,” she said.
“I think a lot of songwriters steer away from thatbecauseitcanfeelunrelatable,butIthinkit can often be the most relatable stuff. So honest, specific, relatable stuff is what I’m going for.”
DinnerTableisthefirstsinglefromHassall’s upcoming album Means More to Me Than It Does to You, slated for release in early July.
Recorded at Golden Retriever Studios in Sydney, the album title itself springs from Hassall’s attempts to separate her songwriting from her tendency to overthink.
“I don’t know if I’d call it writer’s block, but I was struggling to write songs,” she said.
“And I realised this was because I was always thinking about the listener more than myself when I was writing. So I started pretending to write for an album called Means More to Me Than It Does to You, so I’d write songs that could mean nothing to anyone else.
“Itdidreallyhelpgetsongsout,soIendedup running with it.”
BasedinMelbourneforthepastyear,Hassall will launch the single at Fitzroy’s Persa Bar on February 22, with a Geelong show soon to be announced. Dinner Table is available on streaming sites now.
US firecrackers hit Geelong with live-wire rock
Music fans will have the chance to see the “wildest live band in America” when energetic garage-punk rockers the Schizophonics bring their high-octane live show to Geelong this week.
The live-wire trio, based in San Diego, are renowned across the globe for both their driving riffs and incendiary performance style.
Originally formed in 2009 in Southern California, husband and wife duo Pat (vocals, guitar) and Lety (drums) Beers form the nucleus of the band, joined in recent years by
Sarah Linton on bass.
The Schizophonics have regularly been compared, both musically and performance-wise, to acts such as MC5, Jimi Hendrix, Iggy Pop and James Brown and have shared the stage with bands such as Devo, Hives and Cage the Elephant.
The band are currently in Australia, having begun their tour in New Zealand and set to travel Japan at the beginning of February.
Here for their fourth trip to Australia since they first arrived in 2019, frontman Pat said
Aussies were more “fun” than many audiences around the world.
“It sounds like pandering, but I like the audiencesherebetter(thanintheUS),”hesaid.
“They seem more energetic and fun… last time we were here (in 2023) we played multiple shows in Melbourne and people showed up every time. It just seems like people really love rock and roll here.”
Lety said forming connections with their audienceswasattheheartoftheband’smission statement.
“Sometimes the crowd won’t let loose, but if they see you letting loose up there they’re more prone to get silly too,” she said.
“It makes it so worth it when people show up andareabletoletloosewithusandhaveagood time. We just want to party and have a good time with everybody.”
The Schizophonics are at the Barwon Club on Friday, January 31.
Matt Hewson
Matt Hewson
Matilda Hassall’s new single Dinner Table is out now. (Aaron Shrubb)
Model Railway Club’s Des Kelly and Bruce Mellett with a model railway. (Ivan Kemp) 454145_01
Discover your next exciting adventure at cruise expo
Geelong Travel’s highly anticipated Travel and World Cruise Expo returns to Geelong on SundayFebruary2atGMHBAStadium.
The annual event promises to be packed with fantastic holiday ideas, exclusive travel deals and expert advice – all with free entry.
With more than 25 engaging travel presentations covering everything from luxury ocean and river cruises to outback Aussie adventures, this expo is your one-stop destination for travel planning.
It’s your chance to meet representatives from the world’s top travel companies, who are ready to help you design your dream itinerary and secure exclusive offers.
Among the expo guests will be celebrity chef Gabriel Gate who will serve up a French cooking demonstration and highlights of Scenic Tour’s luxury European river cruises.
Stuart Coffield, who heads up the family-owned and operated Geelong Travel company, says the popular event’s winning attraction is its lineup of expert travellers.
“We don’t have people reading from brochures or clicking on YouTube links,” he says.
“You get to talk to people who have been on the tours and have real experience – their presentations are amazing.”
Geelong Travel’s 20 experienced team memberswillbeonhandtohelpexpovisitors with enquiries and bookings.
And there’s a travel experience to suit everyone. Among the exciting presentations will be:
The Ghan and Indian Pacific – Australia’s Great Rail Journeys.
The wonders of Canada and Alaska with APT and Travelmarvel.
Explore the new world of Viking’s Ocean, Rivers & Expeditions.
Trafalgar’s Tour Differently – the experts, the icons, and hidden secrets of travelling with ease.
Bucket list adventures including The Kimberley, Africa, South America and Asia with APT and Travelmarvel.
Must-see places and Immersive cultural
experiencesthroughoutAsiaandbeyondwith Wendy Wu.
TravellingtoAntarcticaandtheArcticwith Quark Expeditions.
New Zealand coach tours with Grand Pacific Tours.
Small group 4WD expeditions throughout Australia with Outback Spirit.
Don’tmissthechancetomakeyourultimate travel plans a reality. Visit the Travel & Cruise World Expo on Sunday February 2 at GMHBA Stadium, Geelong from 10am to 4pm.
To register, visit geelongtravel.com.au, or call the friendly Geelong Travel team on 5244 3666.
Summer Open Days 2025
Lakeside Lara, Greater Geelong New homes from $529,000* Wednesday, 12 February 10:30am – 11:30am 11:30am – 12:30pm
Parkside Lucas, Ballarat New homes from $530,000* Thursday, 13 February 10:30am – 11:30am 11:30am – 12:30pm
The Cinque Terra Santorini
Gabriel Gate will serve up a French cooking demonstration and highlights of Scenic Tour’s luxury European river cruises. (Pictures supplied)
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
WANT YOUR EVENT LISTED? Community Calendar is made available free of charge to not-for-profit organisations to keep the public informed of special events and activities. Send item details to Geelong Independent Community Calendar, 1/47 Pakington Street, Geelong West, 3218, or email to editorial@geelongindependent.com.au. Deadline for copy and announcements is 5pm Tuesday.
Australian Decorative & Fine Arts Society
Art lectures each month, Newcomb Hall, 10.15am. Evening lectures, Geelong West Town Hall, 6pm. February 12 lecturer is Kathleen Olive from Sydney. Topics ‘Renaissance Villas and Gardens’ (morning lecture) and ‘The Development of a Spanish Style’ (evening).
Search Facebook, program under Arts National-Adfas Geelong
Ballroom dance
Leopold Hall, Leopold Hall, 805-809 Bellarine Hwy, Saturday January 25, 7.30pm-11pm, $10 includes supper, music Charles.
0400-500 402
Hamlyn Heights Probus
Second Thursday of the month, 10am, Geelong Cement Bowls Club, 200 McCurdy Rd, Herne Hill.
Noel 0425-706 339
Geelong Central Probus
Third Friday of the month, 9.45 am, Geelong RSL.
geelcentprob@gmail.com
Newcomb Probus
Third Wednesday of each month, 10am, East Geelong Uniting Church, cnr Boundary and Ormond Rds.
Gary 0407-320 735
Polish language for kids
Fortnightly Polish language classes for kids aged 7-11 at one of Geelong’s libraries.
Dorota 5224 1105
Music for preschoolers
Mainly Music is a music and movement program for babies to preschoolers at St Albans-St Andrews Uniting Church, 276 Wilsons Rd, Whittington, Tuesdays 10am during school terms.
Rhonda 0437-241 345
Rostrum meets
Geelong Rostrum Public Speaking Club Inc meets each Monday.
Andrew 0408-369 446, Jan 0407-296 958
Highton Seniors
Carpet bowls, bingo, cards, taichi, line dancing, mahjong. Community Centre, 84 Barrabool Rd, Highton.
Elma 0411-065 524
Adfas Geelong
Art lectures each month, morning and evening, Newcomb Hall, Wilsons Rd.
adfas.org.au, geelong@adfas.org.au
Cards Wanted: card sharp partners to play the game of Bolivia on Thursday evenings. For venue email Ingrid.
griddlepop@hotmail.com
Stamps
Geelong Philatelic Society Inc meets 7pm first Saturday of the month at Virginia Todd Community Hall, 9-15 Clarence St, Geelong West and 1pm third Monday of the month at Belmont Library, 163 High St, Belmont.
Julie 0438-270 549
Scrabble club
Christ Church hall, cnr Moorabool & McKillop Sts, 1pm Saturdays. Beginners to experts welcome.
Pauline 0429-829 773, John 0434-142 282
Mr Perfect
Monthly free bbq for men of all ages to get together over a BBQ for a chat. Norlane Community Centre first Sunday each month except January, 10.30am-12.30pm. 0430-022 446, michaeldg999@gmail.com
Games
Scrabble, chess, board games or cards. Thursdays 2pm-4.30pm, All Saints’ Parish Hall, Newtown. Afternoon tea provided.
Dinah 0418-547 753
Book club
Leopold CAE book club meets second Tuesday of each month 6.30pm.
Shirley 0488-055 969
Sing Australia Geelong Choir
Wednesdays 7.30-9.30pm at Senior Citizens Centre, 52 Thomson St, Belmont. No auditions needed.
Mary 0419-278 456
Mindfulness & meditation
Wednesdays 11am at U3A Geelong, Thursdays 10am, U3A Torquay.
Jean 5264 7484
Geelong Breakfast Lions
Morning club for those who want to help others, first Tuesday of each month at 8am, Eastern Hub (formerly Karingal) in East Geelong. Dinner somewhere in Geelong each month to suit members.
ajd53m@yahoo.com
Ocean Grove Seniors
Play 500 every Thursday at 1.15pm. Cost $20 annually and coffee included. 102 The Terrace, Ocean Grove.
Lyn 5256 2540
Scribes Writers Group
South Barwon Community Centre, Mondays 9.30am-noon. Welcoming new members who wish to refine their skills.
geelongscribeswriters@gmail.com, 5243 8388
Ballroom dancing
Belmont Park Pavilion, Thursdays 2-4 pm.
Val 52513529
Kids’ church
Group lessons for children aged three to six years; 7-10 years; and 10+ years at St Paul’s Anglican Church Hall, 171a Latrobe Tce, Geelong, first Sunday of the month during school term, 10.30-11.30am.
Suzie 0402-963 855, Althea 0403-005 449
Geelong Dragon Boat Club
Paddle at Barwon River. Training Wednesdays 5pm, Saturdays 9am. Free one-month trial.
revolutionise.com.au/geelongdragons
Zonta Club of Geelong Meets monthly for dinner first Wednesday of the month between February and December at 6.30pm for a 6.45pm start.
RSVP essential.
zontageelong.org.au or zontaclubgeelong@yahoo.com.au
Geelong Prostate Support Group Meets last Friday of the month (except December), 10am-noon, Belmont Park Pavilion, 162 Barrabool Rd, Belmont.
Bill 0414 524 155, info@geelongpsg.net
Choir
St Paul’s Choir rehearses Wednesdays from 7.45pm to 8.45pm and 9.30am Sunday for 10.30am service. Choral scholarships available. Occasional choir for those unable to make commitment to main choir.
Dr Terry Norman 0411-875 033, termernorman@gmail.com
Geelong ballroom dancing Saturdays 7.30pm to 10.15pm, cnr Bayview Pde and Carey St, Hamlyn Heights. Entry: $10. BYO drinks and a plate. Afternoon tea dance, Wednesdays 2pm-4pm. Teaching segment for a new dance 1.30pm-2pm
5278 9740, geelongballroomdc.com.au
Corio Bay Lions Club Meetings First and third Thursday of each month at 6.30pm.
geelongcoriobay.vic@lions.org.au
Alcoholics (and other addicts) For Christ 12 Steps Group
Meets Thursdays 7.30pm at Belmont-Highton Baptist Church, 43 Mt Pleasant Rd, Belmont.
0420-910 763
Belmont Seniors
Players wanted to play 500 each Monday 12.30pm. Belmont Senior Centre, 52 Thomson St, Belmont.
5241 1776
Geelong Vietnam Veterans
Coffee and a chat at 31 Mt Pleasant Rd, Belmont. Open Monday, Wednesday & Friday 10am-3pm. Fortnightly lunch at various locations. Meetings second Monday of each month.
Gary 0400-862 727
Welcome mat
Belmont Uniting Church every Friday from 10am to 1pm. Games, lunch and friendship.
Fay 0409-361 414
OMNI
Older Men New Ideas men’s friendly informal chat group, South Barwon Community Centre, 33 Mt Pleasant Rd, Belmont, 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, 10.30am.
Allan 0409665608
Lara Community Market Run by Rotary Club of Lara District every second Sunday of the month at Lara RSL from 9am to 1pm.
Geelong Amateur Radio Club Storrer Street Clubhouse, Geelong, Wednesdays 1.30pm to 4pm and Fridays at 6.30pm.
Robert 0438 409 979, vk3atl.org
Geelong’s Soroptimist International Service club for women and girls, every second Tuesday of the month from 6pm at Belmont RSL.
0455-835 691, geelong@siswp.com
Geelong Sports & Game Fishing Meets first and third Monday of the month at Belmont Park Pavilion, 7.30pm.
John 0409-234 307
Combined Probus Club of Belmont Central Meets at 10am on the second Wednesday of each month at Waurn Ponds Hotel. Visitors welcome.
Secretary 0417-555 547
Geelong Anglers Club Meets fourth Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm, 9 Yuille St, Geelong West. Monthly fishing competitions.
Brian 0417-190 092, Ian 0470-114 787
Drysdale CWA Every second Tuesday at 1pm and crafts every fourth Tuesday at 11.30am of each month at Drysdale RSL Club.
Jenny 0452-258 333
Scottish dancing
GOG Scottish Country Dance classes 7.30pm Tuesdays at Leopold Hill Hall, $5. No partner needed.
Vicki 0412-762983, Barbara 0419-511 781
Geelong Scottish Dance Highland dance classes for all ages Wednesday from 4pm and Saturday from 10am at Western Heights Uniting Church Hall, St Herne Hill.
Christine 0468-311 788, facebook. com/GeelongScottishDance Bingo
Tuesdays 1pm-3pm, great grocery prizes plus $50 jackpot books $2.50. Belmont Seniors Centre, 52 Thomson St, Belmont.
Frank 5241 1776
First steps in music
Babies, toddlers and preschoolers welcome with parent/carer. Thursdays Northern Bay College, Tallis, and Fridays at Northern Bay College, Peacock. Free if living in 3214 postcode, bookings essential.
info@bluebirdfoundationinc.org.au
Dragons Abreast Geelong Dragon boating for breast cancer survivors, Saturdays 12.30pm, Geelong Canoe Club, Marnock Rd, Highton. Free come and try.
Traci 0417-301 226, Facebook Dragons Abreast Geelong - Juggernauts
PlayLinks
Music and art playgroup where babies, toddlers and preschoolers learn together with their parent/carer. Wednesdays St Thomas Aquinas Primary School, Norlane. Free if living in 3214 postcode, bookings essential.
info@bluebirdfoundationinc.org.au
Celebrating love and outdoors
The Geelong Outdoor Living and Caravan Expo was at Geelong Showgrounds on Sunday and Independent photographer Ivan went along and he also ventured to Deakin University’s waterfront campus for the Geelong Wedding Expo.
Chris and Kirsty Fletcher. 454055_06
Page Noorderbroek and Todd Nielson. 454053_05
Jess Hutchcock with her daughter Tilly. 454055_01
Damian and Emily Lubbe with their children Freya and Primrose with baby Margo. 454055_11
Hannah Lewis and Hannah Waters. 454053_04
Linda and David Motley. 454055_08
Annie Kinross and Georgia Barass. 454053_02
Ebony Hinton and Jake Hernitz. 454053_10
Kirsty Ineson and Jacob Grills. 454053_03
Daniel and Carley Lovick with their sons Hughie, Myles and Seb. 454055_04
Rebecca and Andrew Stinchcombe. 454055_03
Darlene Gecsek (right) with her daughters Mekealy and Maddy. 454053_06
Sunflower queen colours Torquay
Vera Tosevski has been growing flowers for most of her life and holds the title of sunflower queen. As the Surf Coast Celebration of Sunflowers Challenge Day celebrates its fourth year, Jena Carr speaks with the Torquay grandmother and her daughter Sue.
Vera Tosevski is the sunflower queen of Torquay and is known throughout the region for her beautiful yellow flower display outside her home.
The 82-year-old grandmother moved to Australia more than half a century ago and has grown sunflowers for close to 10 years after her grandson gave her husband a sunflower for Father’s Day.
“I left Macedonia for a better life, and I like everything about living in Australia... I moved herewithmyhusbandandfirstdaughter,”Vera said.
“It’sbeen10yearsofgrowingsunflowers.My grandson, after school, says, ‘Nana, what do I give grandad for Father’s Day?’. So, he came across a sunflower and gave it to him.
“Every year is not the same. The sunflowers are a bit shorter this year compared to previous years, where you could see them over the fence.
“It makes me happy, especially now that the cockatoos can’t get to them. The sunflowers were too tall before to put a net over them, but now they are covered.
“As soon as the sunflowers come good, the cockatoos come straight away to eat them. But one day I put the net over the flowers, and they don’t come anymore.”
Vera’s daughter Sue Toskovski, 52, said her mum had always been interested in growing flowers, a passion passed on to her.
“My sister was born in Macedonia, and she was three when my parents moved here. Then I was born later here,” she said.
“Growingup,Iremembermumhadthelittle teddy bear sunflowers. People would say they weren’t sunflowers, but I knew they were. A lot of people don’t know that there are different varieties.
“They just think that there are the standard tall ones. My mum has been teaching me how to grow sunflowers for a couple of years now... They are big shoes to fill.
“I don’t have the outside display like she does; they’re more in my front yard. This year they’re not tall, so I’d like the sunflowers to go over the fence so people can see it, but I do have them along the driveway.”
Vera earned her title of sunflower queen at the Surf Coast Celebration of Sunflowers Challenge Day for her flowers and remains undefeated for three years.
“Mum always tells me that she doesn’t want the limelight. Sunflower Queen is a title she earned, and she has to have it,” Sue said.
During this interview someone walking past Vera’s property yelled, “nice sunflowers”, which Vera said happens daily.
“Many people send me cards saying I like your sunflowers. I like it and the best part about sunflowers is that it makes me and other people happy,” Vera said.
“I try everything, I don’t care. I like to do
something, and I enjoy it. I have been named the sunflower queen, and the title feels good. I have had the title for four years.
“It takes good water, sunflower food, mulch, lots of sun and digging to grow a good sunflower. Somebody helps me with the digging; hopefully, the sunflowers will be bigger next year.
“I like the sun too. I like seeing everything green and fresh. I don’t like being inside too much. I enjoy my garden, and I eat from the garden straight and fresh. I like to grow them.
“In my heart I think young... and I cook healthy from my garden. I grow garlic, onion, spinach, beans, tomatoes, silverbeet, cucumber, carrots and many other things.”
Sue said sunflowers brought joy to her and her mother and that the Sunflowers Challenge Day was about inspiring the enjoyment and funofgardeningintheSurfCoastcommunity.
“Last time, there was about 100 people who attended and then there’s people walking by. We also gave away over 3000 seeds last year,” she said.
“You don’t need to have a sunflower. You can just be there and see everyone’s display. People might pull out what they’ve got from the ground and bring it in.
“A little girl made a sunflower out of Lego. There’s sunflower story time so that it could be anythingflower-related.Everyonegetsaprize; it’s just for fun.
“Some categories include silly, most unfortunate, potted, something in a vase, something almost been, has been, and people can bring in anything.
“Everyone is welcome. I’d like to see it spread more and so would mum, she just loves it. It makes people happy... Just come along and have fun. Once you come along, you’re hooked.”
The Surf Coast Celebration of Sunflowers Challenge Day will return to Torquay for its fourth year on grass opposite Front Beach Cafe on Esplanade on Saturday, January 25, from 10am to 11.15am.
Vera Tosevski with her daughter Sue Toskovski. (Ivan Kemp) 454179_08
Vera Tosevski is Torquay’s sunflower queen. (Ivan Kemp) 454179_02
The Guide
AUSTRALIA DAY LIVE
ABC TV, Sunday, 7.30pm
GUY MONTGOMERY’S
GUY MONT SPELLING BEE (NZ)
ABC Entertains, Saturday, 8pm
Loosely based on a classic spelling bee format, and wholly an excuse for Kiwi stand-up Guy Montgomery (pictured) to rib, taunt and infuriate his comedian pals on television, the Australian edition of this comedy panel show created quite the buzz for the ABC when it premiered last year. However, what some might not know is that there’s plenty more where that came from. It’s a red-letter day for fans: Montgomery’s homegrown seasons of the Spelling Bee are here, where he’s assisted by the delightfully deadpan Sanjay Patel. Saturday’s premiere sees Hayley Sproull, Abby Howells, Matt Heath and Josh Thomson prove their spelling prowess (or lack thereof).
Hot on the heels of the dazzling display that lit up Sydney Harbour and Circular Quay for New Year’s Eve, this unmissable spectacle brings the magic of the Australian spirit back to the iconic locale with lights, music and fireworks as we reflect on our shared history and the bright future of the nation. Hosted by Jeremy Fernandez, Megan Burslem and National Australia Day Council Chair John Foreman, an all-star concert on the Sydney Opera House forecourt welcomes the talents of Dragon, Ben Lee, Sheppard, William Barton, Paulini, James Morrison, Sync or Swim, the NSW Public Schools Choir and more.
Friday, January 24
ABC TV (2) SBS (3)
6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News
Mornings. 10.00 Planet America. (R) 10.30
Take 5 With Zan Rowe. (PG, R) 11.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon.
1.00 The Newsreader. (Mal, R) 3.00 Forever Summer With Nigella. (R) 3.25 Grand Designs. (R) 4.15 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 5.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.25 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 9.05 World’s Most Amazing Festivals. (PGav, R) 10.10 Confucius Was A Foodie. (Ma, R) 11.05 Great Canal Journeys. (R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC World News Tonight. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Great Australian Railway Journeys. (R) 3.05 Destination Flavour China. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (PG, R) 4.05 End Of The World: The Mayans. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)
6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)
7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day.
7.30 Monty Don’s History Of The British Garden: The 19th Century. (R) Presented by Monty Don.
8.30 Silent Witness. (Return, Mal) Nikki and Jack investigate a murder bearing all the hallmarks of a notorious serial killer.
10.20 Live At The Malthouse. (Mal, R) A stand-up comedy performance.
11.25 ABC Late News.
11.40 Grand Designs: Wyre Forest. (R)
12.30 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R)
1.15 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv)
5.00 Rage. (PG)
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 MOVIE: The Goldfinch. (2019, Madlv, R) A young boy steals a painting from a museum. Ansel Elgort, Nicole Kidman. 10.10 The Day The Rock Star Died: Michael Hutchence. (Ma) Takes a look at Michael Hutchence. 10.40 SBS World News Late. 11.10 De Gaulle. (PG) 12.10 Kin. (MA15+l, R) 2.55 Home Is Where The Art Is. (PG, R) 3.45 Peer To Peer. (PG, R) 4.45 Destination Flavour Down Under Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
SEVEN (6, 7)
6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven Noon News. 1.00 MOVIE: Morning Show Mysteries: Death By Design. (2019, PGav) Holly Robinson Peete. 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. Hosted by Larry Emdur.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Cricket. Big Bash League. The Challenger. 10.30 Big Bash League Post-Game. Post-match coverage of The Challenger. 11.00 Better Homes And Gardens Summer. (R) Johanna Griggs learns pickling. Adam Dovile and Melissa King explore Singapore’s greenery. 12.30 Cycling. Santos Tour Down Under. Men’s. Stage 4. Highlights. 1.30 Travel Oz. (PG, R) Hosted by Greg Grainger. 2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R) Hosted by Grant Denyer. 5.00 NBC Today. News and current affairs.
Home Shopping. 6.30 Escape To The Country. 7.30 Harry’s Practice. 8.00 Million Dollar Minute. 9.00 RSPCA Animal Rescue. 9.30 NBC Today. Noon Better Homes And Gardens. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 The Great Australian Doorstep. 2.30 To Be Advised. 3.00 DVine Living. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Better Homes And Gardens. 5.00 Escape To The Country. 6.00 Bargain
PICK OF THE WEEK
MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT
Nine, Monday, 7.30pm
As the dulcet tones of the summer’s tennis and cricket commentators fade away, the chime of wedding bells rings in living rooms across the MAFStime again. The most polarising show on TV is back, promising bombshells, instant sparks and explosive moments from the outset in this 12th season. Having been matched by experts John Aiken, Mel Schilling and Alessandra Rampolla, the cast, including “old-school romantic” Lauren (pictured), celebrate their buck’s and hens’ parties, before the first ceremonies take place. One groom’s uncompromising standards could jeopardise his marriage before it’s even begun, a maid of honour from hell causes chaos, and in sweet scenes, a couple is given a second chance at love.
THE
CLUB Seven, Tuesday,
Nowhere is safe from acerbic host Jim Jefferies’ barbs as 100 everyday Aussies from all walks of life, hailing from Geraldton to Grafton and Torres Strait to Tassie, take on The1%Club’s State v State special. There’s not a stereotype left unturned as comedian Jefferies (pictured) sets about roasting Townsville couple Erryn and Dave, Western Australian tradie Zac and “Crocodile” Kate from the Northern Territory while they attempt to answer the game show’s trademark brain teasers and avoid falling for any trick questions. Which state or territory’s brainiacs are easily misled? Who knows the most about Aussie supermodels (hint: it’s Jefferies)? And which player will take a shot at the $100,000 prize?
NINE (8, 9)
6.00 Today. The latest in news and current affairs.
9.00 Today Extra. (PG) A mix of topical issues.
11.00 Australian Open Tennis Pre-Show. Hosted by Tony Jones. 12.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Day 13. 4.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Afternoon 13. From Melbourne Park. Hosted by Roz Kelly and James Bracey.
6.00 9News.
7.00 Australian Open Tennis Pre-Show. Hosted by Tony Jones. 7.30 Tennis. Australian Open. Night 13.
11.00 MOVIE: Those Who Wish Me Dead. (2021, MA15+lv, R) A survival expert tries to save a teenage boy. Angelina Jolie, Nicholas Hoult.
1.00 Customs. (PG, R)
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)
4.30 Global Shop. (R)
5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
5.30 Drive TV. (R)
7TWO (62, 72) SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 4.25pm Nella The Princess Knight. 4.40 Vida The Vet. 4.50 Bluey. 5.00 Peppa Pig. 5.10 Pfffirates. 5.20 Kangaroo Beach. 5.35 Peter Rabbit. 5.45 Hey Duggee. 5.55 Paddington. 6.05 Kiya And The Kimoja Heroes. 6.20 Bluey. 6.25 Octonauts: Above And Beyond. 6.35 Kiri And Lou. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Gardening Australia Junior. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 Teen Titans Go! 8.00 Scooby-Doo And Guess Who? 8.25 Mythbusters “There’s Your Problem!”. 8.50 Robot Wars. 9.50 Doctor Who. 10.40 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Children’s Programs. Noon Hart Of Dixie. 1.00
English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera Newshour.
TEN (5, 10)
6.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R) Hosted by Grant Denyer.
6.30 The Project. A look at the day’s news.
7.30 MOVIE: Catch Me If You Can. (2002, Mls, R) An FBI agent spends years chasing a young con man who amasses millions in fraudulent cheques. Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken. 10.20 10’s Late News. Comprehensive coverage of local, national and international news, as well as the latest sport and weather.
10.45 The Project. (R) A look at the day’s news.
11.50 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) Hosted by Stephen Colbert. 1.00 Home Shopping. (R)
Saturday, January 25
ABC TV (2) SBS (3)
SEVEN (6, 7)
NINE (8, 9) 6.00 Rage Charts. (PG) 7.00 Wknd Breaky. 9.00 Rage. (PG) 12.00 News. 12.30 Beyond Paradise. (R) 1.25 Miriam Margolyes In New Zealand. (Final, Ml, R) 2.25 Extraordinary Escapes. (PG, R) 3.10 Croc Watch. (PG, R) 3.55 Lucy Worsley: Agatha Christie Mystery Queen. (Final, PG, R) 4.55 Eat The Invaders. (PG, R) 5.30 Dr Karl’s How Things Work. (R) 5.55 Hear Me Out: Australia Day. (Ml, R)
6.30 Back Roads: Theodore, Queensland. (PG, R) Guest presented by Anna Daniels. 7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day.
7.30 Australian Of The Year 2025. (PG) Leigh Sales is joined by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to recognise the achievements of Australians.
8.45 Beyond Paradise. (PG) Humphrey investigates the death of an unidentified man found in the centre of a crop circle.
9.45 Vera. (Mv, R) Vera investigates a daring robbery, but uncovers a web of intrigue when it turns out to be an inside job.
11.15 Miniseries: Until I Kill You. (Malv, R) Delia lies in a critical condition in hospital. 12.50 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
6am Children’s Programs. 5.45pm Hey Duggee. 5.55 Paddington. 6.05 Kiya And The Kimoja Heroes. 6.20 Bluey. 6.25 Octonauts: Above And Beyond. 6.35 Kiri And Lou. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Riley Rocket. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Good Game Spawn Point. 7.55 MOVIE: Gangsta Granny. (2013) 9.00 Fresh Off The Boat. 9.45 Speechless. 10.05 Officially Amazing. 10.35 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22)
NITV (34)
6am Morning Programs. 10.00 MOVIE: Storm Boy. (1976, PG) 11.35 MOVIE: Emu Runner. (2018, PG) 1.15pm Inside The Pack. 2.05 Emily In Japan. 3.05 Making A Mark. 4.05 Teach Tiwi Proper Way. 4.35 Strait To The Plate. 5.05 Spirit Talker. 5.30 Ice Cowboys. 6.20 News. 6.30 Lagau Danalaig: An Island Life. 7.30 Gulpilil: One Red Blood. 8.30 MOVIE: The Chant Of Jimmie Blacksmith. (1978, M) 10.40 Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 9.05 The World From Above. (R) 10.10 Love Your Garden. (R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC World News Tonight. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Sailing. Grand Prix. Round 2. Highlights. 3.00 Women’s Weekly Football. 4.00 Railway Journeys UK. (PG, R) 4.35 Forgotten Frontlines. (PGav, R) 5.35 Auschwitz: Countdown To Liberation. (PG)
6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Magical Train Journeys In Switzerland: With The VoralpenExpress From St Gallen To Lucerne. Follows the Voralpen-Express 8.30 Cotswolds And Beyond With Pam Ayres: Highgrove Gardens. (PGa, R) Pam Ayres visits Highgrove Gardens and meets HRH The Prince of Wales. 9.20 Great Australian Walks With Julia Zemiro: Lake Burley Griffin. (PGa, R) Julia Zemiro heads to Canberra for a 11.5km walk around Lake Burley Griffin. 10.15 Ruby Wax: Castaway. (Mal, R) 11.10 Ralph And Katie. (PGal, R) 2.30 Home Is Where The Art Is. (PG, R) 3.25 Love Your Garden. (PGa, R) 4.20 Peer To Peer. (R) 4.50 Destination Flavour Down Under Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6am WorldWatch.
4.55
6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Horse Racing. Carrington Stakes Day, Caulfield Australia Day and Sunshine Coast Cup Day. 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R)
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Cricket. The Women’s Ashes. Twenty20 International Series. Australia v England. Game 3. From Adelaide Oval. 10.30 MOVIE: Dracula Untold. (2014, Mh, R) After his kingdom is threatened by invaders, a young prince becomes a monster to protect his people. Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper, Sarah Gadon. 12.30 Cycling. Santos Tour Down Under. Men’s. Stage 5. Highlights.
1.30 Travel Oz. (PG, R) Presenter Greg Grainger explores the scenery, unique culture and wildlife of Canberra.
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 It’s Academic. (R) Hosted by Simon Reeve.
5.00 My Greek Odyssey. (PG, R) Hosted by Peter Maneas.
7TWO (62, 72)
5.55 The Food That Built The World. 7.35 Impossible Engineering. 8.30 Icons Unearthed: Spider-Man. 10.20 Hudson & Rex. Midnight The X-Files. 3.40 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera Newshour. 6am Shopping. 8.30
6am I
Capture The Castle. (2003, PG) 7.05 All Roads Lead To Rome. (2015, PG) 8.45 The Importance Of Being Earnest. (2002) 10.25 Haywire. (2011, M) 12.05pm Infinite Storm. (2022, M) 1.55 The Man Who Knew Infinity. (2015, PG) 3.55 The Cup. (2011, PG) 5.55 The Scarlet And The Black. (1983, PG) 8.30 Harry Brown. (2009, MA15+) 10.25 The Handmaiden. (2016, MA15+, Korean) 1.05am Late Programs.
Sunday, January 26
ABC TV (2) SBS (3)
7MATE (64, 73)
TEN (5, 10)
6.00 The Garden Gurus. (R) 6.30 Drive Safer. (PG, R) 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 Today Extra: Saturday. (PG) 12.00 Cybershack. (PG) 12.30 Destination WA. (R) 1.00 MOVIE: Waiting For The Light. (1990, PGal, R) Shirley MacLaine. 3.00 David Attenborough’s Green Planet. (R) 4.00 Australian Open Tennis PreShow. 5.00 9News First At Five. 5.30 Country House Hunters Australia. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 9.30 Drew Barrymore. (PGas, R) 10.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
6.00 9News Saturday.
6.30 Australian Open Tennis Pre-Show. Pre-game coverage of the Australian Open tennis tournament, featuring reviews, previews, interviews, highlights, opinions and topical stories from Melbourne Park. Hosted by Tony Jones.
7.30 Tennis. Australian Open. Night 14. From Melbourne Park. Hosted by James Bracey.
12.00 MOVIE: Red Dog. (2011, PGals, R)
A dog manages to unite a remote outback community while searching for its master.
Josh Lucas, Rachael Taylor, Rohan Nichol.
2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PG) Religious program.
2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.30 Global Shop. (R) Home shopping.
5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
5.30 Helping Hands Summer Series. (PG, R) A celebration of people and organisations.
9GEM (81, 92)
2.35 MOVIE: The Winslow Boy. (1948) 5.00 MOVIE: The Unforgiven. (1960, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: The Magnificent Seven. (1960, PG) 10.10 MOVIE: Guns Of The Magnificent Seven. (1969, M) 12.15am Late Programs.
9GO! (82, 93)
6am Children’s Programs.
1pm MOVIE: The Red Shoes: Next Step. (2023, PG)
3.20 MOVIE: The Choice. (2016, PG) 5.30 MOVIE: 17 Again. (2009, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore. (2022, M) 10.35 MOVIE:
6.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) Follow the staff at the Animal Welfare League as it tries to find the right fit for a Tibetan spaniel mix.
8.30 The Dog House. (PGa, R) Follows a team of matchmakers as they pair homeless dogs with hopeful companions. A spaniel may have founds its soul sister. An excitable lurcher puppy meets a husky. A Jack Russell chases after a boy. 9.30 Ambulance Australia. (Ma, R) Follows NSW Ambulance on the longest night of the year, the end of daylight saving, as they deal with a diabetic coma, a rescue from a burning car, a child in anaphylaxis and an explosion in Chinatown. 10.30 Ambulance UK. (Ma, R) Ambulance crews attend a number of emotionally charged category one emergencies. 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power. Religious program.
(6, 7)
(8, 9) 6am Morning Programs. 10.15 Wknd Breaky. 11.00 Compass. (PG, R) 11.30 Praise. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Landline. (R) 1.00 New Leash On Life. (R) 1.30 Gardening Aust. (R) 2.15 Monty Don’s History Of The British Garden. (R) 3.15 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 4.05 Extraordinary Escapes. (PG, R) 4.50 Magda’s Big National Health Check. (Final, PG, R) 5.55 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 10.55 Elder In Residence Oration 2024. (PG, R) 12.15 France 24 English News. 12.35 PBS Washington Week. 1.00 Speedweek. 2.55 NITV News Special. (R) 3.00 Grand Tours Of Scotland’s Rivers. (R) 3.30 NITV News Special. 3.35 Black Anzac. (PG, R) 4.30 NITV News Special. 4.35 Auschwitz: Countdown To Liberation. (Final, PG) 5.30 NITV News Special: Day 26. 6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Cycling. Santos Tour Down Under. Women’s One-Day Classic. 2.00 Cycling. Santos Tour Down Under. Men’s. Stage 6. Adelaide to Adelaide. 90km. From Adelaide. 4.30 Border Security: International. (PG, R) 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R)
6.55 Governor-General’s Australia Day Message. An address to the nation. 7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day.
7.30 Australia Day Live. A celebration of music, lights and fireworks set against the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
9.30 MOVIE: Shine. (1996, PGav, R) An eccentric pianist suffers a nervous breakdown as he pursues a career in music. Geoffrey Rush, Sonia Todd, Armin Mueller-Stahl. 11.15 To Be Advised.
12.40 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
3.10 Australia Remastered: Great Barrier Reef. (R)
4.05 Gardening Australia. (R)
5.05 The Great Acceleration. (PG, R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 MOVIE: Bran Nue Dae. (2009, PGlsv, R) An Aboriginal teenager embarks on a road trip. Deborah Mailman, Rocky McKenzie.
9.05 The Lost City Of Melbourne. (Md, R) Takes a look at the past architectural landscape of Melbourne, much of which was lost during the ’50s.
10.40 Bettany Hughes: Treasures Of Jordan. (PGa, R) Bettany Hughes explores Jordan. 11.35 Splice Here: A Projected Odyssey.
2.00 Home Is Where The Art Is. (R)
2.55 Love Your Garden. (PGa, R)
3.50 Make Me A Dealer. (R) 4.40 Bamay. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 Al Jazeera News.
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG) A passenger tries negotiating a deal.
7.30 John Farnham: Finding The Voice. (Mal, R) A celebration of John Farnham.
9.30 An Audience With Kylie Minogue. (PG, R) Pop icon Kylie Minogue takes centre stage in her very own musical extravaganza.
10.45 The British Airways Killer. (Mav, R) A mother of two goes missing.
12.50 Cycling. Santos Tour Down Under. Men’s. Stage 6. Highlights.
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R)
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise 5am News. 5.30 Sunrise.
Hello SA. (PG, R) 6.30 Explore TV: Trade Routes Of The Middle Ages. (R) 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 Surfing Aust. 10.30 TBA. 11.30 Maritime Masters: Expedition Antarctica. (PG, R) 12.30 David Attenborough’s Green Planet. (R) 1.30 The Road To The Open: A New Chapter. 2.00 Australian Open Tennis Pre-Show. 3.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Afternoon 15. 5.00 News. 5.30
6.00 9News Sunday.
6.30 Australian Open Tennis Pre-Show. Reviews, previews, interviews, highlights and opinions from the Australian Open at Melbourne Park.
7.30 Tennis. Australian Open. Night 15. From Melbourne Park. Hosted by James Bracey.
12.00 The First 48: Inside The Tape Special #9. (MA15+a) A body is discovered in a bridge.
1.00 Customs. (PG, R) Follows customs officers at work.
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) Religious program.
4.30 The Road To The Open: A New Chapter. (R) Hosted by Dylan Alcott.
5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.
(5, 10)
6.00 The Sunday Project. A look at the day’s news. 7.00 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (PGals) Hosted by Julia Morris and Robert Irwin.
8.30 MOVIE: Will Smith’s Gemini Man. (2019, Mlv, R) After an aging assassin finds himself being chased by someone with the ability to predict his moves, he discovers that the mysterious man pursuing him is his clone and sets out to discover his origin. Will Smith, Clive Owen, Mary Elizabeth Winstead. 10.40 FBI. (Mv, R) A bus explosion kills several people. 11.30 The Sunday Project. (R) A look at the day’s news. 12.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings. 6am WorldWatch. 9.30 Small Business Secrets. 10.00 Front Up. 11.40 Front Up 1998. 12.15pm Figure Skating. ISU European C’ships. H’lights. Replay. 1.50 Jeopardy! 4.05 WorldWatch. 4.30 PBS Washington Week. 4.55 Queer Sports. 5.50 The Engineering That Built The World. 6.40 Abandoned Engineering. 8.30 The UnXplained With William Shatner. 10.10 Deadly Funny 2024. 11.40 Late Programs.
Late Programs. 9GEM (81, 92) 7TWO (62, 72) 6am Children’s Programs. 10.00 Tiddler. 10.25 Children’s Programs. 5.55pm Paddington. 6.05 Kiya And The Kimoja Heroes. 6.20 Bluey. 6.25 Octonauts. 6.35 Kiri And Lou. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Riley Rocket. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Moominvalley. 8.00 The Secret Life Of Our Pets. 8.50 Fresh Off The Boat. 9.35 Speechless. 9.55 Doctor Who. 10.50 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Children’s Programs. 1.30pm MOVIE: Nanny McPhee. (2005, PG) 3.30 MOVIE: Hating Alison Ashley. (2005, PG) 5.30 MOVIE: How To Train Your Dragon 2. (2014, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: War With Grandpa. (2020,
6am Morning Programs. 10.30 DVine Living. 11.00 I Escaped To The Country. Noon Escape To The Country. 1.00 My Greek Odyssey. 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 Better Homes. 3.30 Steam Train Journeys. 4.30 Australia’s Amazing Homes. 5.30 I Escaped To The Country. 6.30 Escape To The Country. 7.30 Rosemary & Thyme. 8.30 Vera. 10.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 11.30 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 7.30 In Touch. 8.00 Beyond Today. 8.30 The Incredible Journey. 9.00 Turning Point. 9.30 TV Shop. 10.00 My Favorite Martian. 10.30 Avengers. 11.40 MOVIE: The Siege Of Pinchgut. (1959, PG) 1.50pm MOVIE: It Always Rains On Sunday. (1947, PG) 3.45 MOVIE: We Of The Never Never. (1982) 6.30 M*A*S*H. 8.30 MOVIE: Australia. (2008, M)
Monday, January 27
ABC TV (2) SBS (3)
6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mornings.
10.00 McCartney 3, 2, 1. (PG, R)
10.30 Vera. (Mv, R)
12.00 ABC News At Noon.
1.00 Australia Day Live. (R)
3.00 The Last Musician Of Auschwitz. 4.30 To Be Advised. 5.25 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
6.25 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) Presented by Tom Gleeson.
7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day.
7.30 7.30. Presented by Sarah Ferguson. 8.00 Escaping Utopia. (Final, PG)
A shocking secret is exposed.
9.05 MOVIE: Strictly Ballroom. (1992, PG, R) A ballroom dancer incurs the wrath of the establishment for his unorthodox style. Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice.
10.35 ABC Late News.
10.50 The Business. (R)
11.10 Planet America. (R)
11.40 Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery: Rebecca Gibney. (PG, R)
12.10 To Be Advised.
2.25 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
3.20 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)
6am Morning Programs. 12.10 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC World News Tonight. 1.00 PBS News Weekend. 1.30 Al Jazeera News Hour. 2.00 Such Was Life. (R) 2.10 Amazing Railway Adventures. (R) 3.00 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.05 Destination Flavour China. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (PG, R) 4.05 Who The Bloody Hell Are We? (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (PG, R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Hunt For Truth: Tasmanian Tiger. (Final, Ml, R) Tim Noonan investigates the Tasmanian Tiger.
8.35 Jimmy Carr’s I Literally Just Told You. (M) Jimmy Carr hosts a comedic game show where paying attention pays off.
9.30 Inside Sydney Airport: VIPs. (PGal, R) With the PM of Singapore due to arrive, security at the airport is on high alert.
10.30 SBS World News Late.
11.00 Clean Sweep. (MA15+s) 11.55 Wisting. (Madlv, R)
12.50 You Shall Not Lie. (MA15+als, R)
2.45 Home Is Where The Art Is. (R) 3.35 Make Me A Dealer. (R) 4.25 Peer To Peer. (R) 4.55 Destination Flavour Down Under Bitesize. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
SEVEN (6, 7)
6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 MOVIE: Morning Show Mysteries: Murder Ever After. (2021, PGav, R) Holly Robinson Peete. 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Cricket. Big Bash League. Final. 10.30 Big Bash League Post-Game. Post-match coverage of the Big Bash League Final.
11.00 Motorway Patrol. (Ma) A good samaritan helps out at a crash and ends up regretting it, and bikers are behaving badly by lane-splitting.
11.30 Highway Cops. (PGa)
A truckie’s seatbelt and safe driving save his neck when a tyre blows.
12.00 Friday Night Lights. (Madsv, R)
A Texas high-school gridiron team holds the hopes of the town, as the players prepare for the season opener.
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today. News and current affairs.
5.00 Sunrise 5am News. The latest news, sport and weather.
5.30 Sunrise. News, sport and weather.
NINE (8, 9)
6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: Infamously In Love. (2022, PGa) Jennifer Freeman, Sydney Agudong, Adam Huss. 2.00 Pointless. (PG, R) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.00[MELB]TippingPointAustralia.(PG) 5.30 WIN News.
6.00 9News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Married At First Sight. (Return, Mls) Australia’s most controversial social experiment begins with plenty of love and drama.
9.30 To Be Advised.
10.30 9News Late.
11.00 Chicago Med. (MA15+amv) Crockett receives shocking news.
11.50 Casualty 24/7. (Mm, R) The team gets into the Christmas spirit.
12.40 Tipping Point. (PG, R) Hosted by Ben Shephard.
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.
Kiri And Lou. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.00 The Deep. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 The Inbestigators. 8.05 Dr Karl’s How Things Work. 8.35 Hard Quiz Kids. 9.05 The Wonderful World Of Puppies. 9.50 Doctor Who. 10.40 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Children’s Programs. Noon MOVIE: How To Train Your Dragon 2. (2014, PG) 2.00 Bewitched. 2.30 I Dream Of Jeannie. 3.00 The Golden Girls. 3.30 The Nanny. 4.30 The Addams Family. 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 I Dream Of Jeannie. 6.00 The Golden Girls. 6.30 The
TEN (5, 10)
12.45 Grand Designs. (R) 1.30 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 2.20 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.40 Parkinson In Australia. (PGa, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30
7.30. (R)
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: Sydney. (Mv, R) When a Navy Compliance Officer is found dead in a waterhole, the team’s investigation uncovers a complex trafficking ring.
48 Hours: The Puzzling Death Of Susann
(R) 2.05 Amazing Railway Adventures. (PGas, R) 3.00 The Weekly Football Wrap. (R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Who The Bloody Hell Are We? (PGav, R)
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Who Do You Think You Are? Wayne Blair. (PGa, R) Wayne Blair discovers his roots.
8.35 Stock Aitken Waterman: Legends Of Pop. (Final, Ml, R) Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman reflect on the success they had in 1987.
9.50 Video Killed The Radio Star. (Mlns, R) Takes a look at Duran Duran music videos.
10.20 SBS World News Late. 10.50 Beyond Signs. (MA15+a) 11.50 Christian. (Malv, R) 2.50 Home Is Where The Art Is. (PG, R) 3.40 21 Kids And Counting. (PGal, R) 4.35 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning.
5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
Pudding Mystery. (2015, PGav) Alison Sweeney. 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. 6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away. (PG) Kirby receives support in her fight.
7.30 The 1% Club. (PGls) Jim Jefferies hosts a game show where contestants must answer increasingly obscure questions.
8.35 MOVIE: The Equalizer 2. (2018, MA15+v, R) A retired CIA black ops operative is forced back into action when his friend is murdered. Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Ashton Sanders. 11.05 MOVIE: Skyscraper. (2018, lv, R) A security assessor battles terrorists. Dwayne Johnson.
1.00 Friday Night Lights. (Madsv, R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise 5am News.
5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 9News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Married At First Sight. (Mls) The social experiment continues.
9.15 Barbie Uncovered: A Dream House Divided. (Ma) Explores the story behind Barbie, one of the world’s most iconic brands.
11.15 9News Late.
11.45 The Equalizer. (MA15+av, R)
12.35 Tipping Point. (PG, R)
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
2.30 Our State On A Plate. (PG, R)
3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa)
A Current Affair. (R)
Today Early News. 5.30 Today. 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
Wednesday, January 29
ABC TV (2) SBS (3)
6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News
Mornings. 10.00 The Way We Wore. (Final, PG, R) 11.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 12.00
ABC News At Noon. 12.30 National Press Club Address. 1.50 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 3.00 Forever Summer With Nigella. (R) 3.25 Grand Designs. (PG, R) 4.15 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 5.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 7.30.
8.00 Hard Quiz. (PG) Presented by Tom Gleeson.
8.30 Optics. (Premiere, Ml) A death sparks a power struggle at a PR firm.
9.05 Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee (NZ) (PG, R) Presented by Guy Montgomery. 9.50 Planet America.
10.20 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R)
10.50 ABC Late News.
11.05 The Business. (R)
11.20 Aftertaste. (Mdl, R)
12.20 Grand Designs. (PG, R) 1.10 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 1.55 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.25 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)
6am Morning Programs. 11.00 China On Stage. 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC World News Tonight. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Such Was Life. (PG, R) 2.10 Amazing Railway Adventures. (PGav, R) 3.00 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.05 Destination Flavour China. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Who The Bloody Hell Are We? (PGav, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (PG, R) 6.30 SBS World News.
7.35 The Real Crown: Inside The House Of Windsor: Tomorrow’s People. (PG, R) Queen Elizabeth II faces a crisis. 8.30 Wonders Of The Moon With Dara Ó Briain. (PGa) Presented by Dara Ó Briain. 9.25 Miniseries: Playing Nice. (Premiere, M) A couple’s lives are thrown into disarray.
10.20 SBS World News Late. 10.50 Pagan Peak. (Mav) 11.40 Rogue Heroes. (MA15+v, R) 12.50 Agent Hamilton. (Mav, R) 2.30 Home Is Where The Art Is. (R) 3.20 22 Kids And Counting. (R) 4.15 Bamay. (R) 4.55 Destination Flavour: Singapore Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6am WorldWatch.
SEVEN (6, 7)
6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 MOVIE: Murder, She Baked: Just Desserts. (2017, PGav) Alison Sweeney. 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. (PG) Kirby holds a strategy meeting.
7.30 The 1% Club UK. (Return, PG) Hosted by Lee Mack. 8.30 Ludwig. (Premiere, Ma)
The life of puzzle setter John “Ludwig” Taylor is upended when his identical twin disappears.
9.45 Breathtaking. (Premiere, Ma) Follows NHS staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing the reality of hospital life during unprecedented times.
10.45 The Suspects: True Australian Thrillers. (M, R) Hosted by Roy Billing. 11.45 Autopsy USA: Gilda Radner. (Ma, R)
12.45 Black-ish. (PGa)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise 5am News. 5.30 Sunrise.
7TWO (62, 72) SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 5.45pm Hey Duggee. 5.55 Paddington. 6.05 Kiya And The Kimoja Heroes. 6.20 Bluey. 6.25 Octonauts. 6.35 Kiri And Lou. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.00 The Deep. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 The Inbestigators. 8.05 Operation Ouch! 8.35 Doctor Who. 10.30 Mythbusters “There’s Your Problem!”. 10.55 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22)
6am Morning Programs. Noon Statue Wars. 1.00 Five Seasons. 2.00 Faboriginal. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Waabiny Time. 3.25 Little J And Big Cuz. 3.35 Spartakus. 4.05 Cities Of Gold. 4.35 Motown Magic. 5.00 Our Stories. 5.15 Harlem Globetrotters. 6.00 Bamay. 6.30 News. 6.40 Tales From Zambia. 7.30 Great Australian Walks. 8.30 Island Echoes With Nornie Bero. 9.00 MOVIE: Copycat. (1995, MA15+) 11.10 Late Programs. NITV (34)
10.00 Front Up 1998. 12.10pm WorldWatch. 12.40 Hudson & Rex. 2.20 Unknown Amazon. 3.15 The Weekly Football Wrap. 3.45 WorldWatch. 5.45 Alone: The Skills Challenge. 6.10 Loot: Blood Treasure. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 MOVIE: The Flowers Of War. (2011, MA15+) 11.05 MOVIE: So Close. (2002, MA15+) 1.05am Late Programs.
SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)
NINE (8, 9)
6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: Uptown Girls. (2003, PGl, R) Brittany Murphy, Dakota Fanning, Heather Locklear. 2.00 Pointless. (PG, R) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.00[MELB]TippingPointAustralia.(PG) 5.30 WIN News.
6.00 9News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Married At First Sight. (Mls)
The social experiment continues.
9.00 MOVIE: Unbreakable: Jelena Dokic Story. (2024, Mal)
The story of Jelena Dokic, from her experiences as a refugee to her rise to world number four in tennis. Jelena Dokic, Pam Shriver, Chris Clarey.
11.15 9News Late.
11.45 The Equalizer. (MA15+v, R)
12.35 Tipping Point. (PG, R)
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
2.30 Global Shop. (R)
3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa)
4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.
9GEM (81, 92)
6am TBA. 6.30 Escape To The Country. 7.30 Harry’s Practice. 8.00 Million Dollar Minute. 9.00 Surf Patrol. 9.30 NBC Today. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 Weekender. 2.30 Air Crash Inv. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Surf Patrol. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Heartbeat. 8.45 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries. 10.45 Late Programs. 6am Danger Man. 7.00 Creflo. 7.30 Skippy. 8.00 TV Shop. 10.30 Pointless. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon Days Of Our Lives. 12.55 The Young And The Restless. 1.50 Explore. 1.55 New Tricks. 3.05 Antiques Roadshow. 3.35 MOVIE: The Duke Wore Jeans. (1958) 5.30 Escape To The Farm With Kate Humble. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 To The Manor Born. 8.40 Midsomer Murders. 10.40 Late Programs.
TEN (5, 10)
6.00 Deal Or No Deal. Hosted by Grant Denyer.
6.30 The Project. A look at the day’s news. 7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (PGals) The celebrities continue to compete in a test of survival in the jungle for the chance to claim the title. 9.00 Elsbeth. (Ma) Elsbeth and Kaya are called to the scene when a woman falls to her death from her balcony. 10.00 NCIS: Hawai’i. (Mv) The team must re-capture escaped convicts. 10.55 10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather. 11.20 The Project. (R) A look at the day’s news. 12.25 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 1.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings.
7MATE (64, 73)
Thursday, January 30
9GO! (82, 93) 6am
Morning Programs. 9.15 Where Is Anne Frank. (2021, PG) 11.10 Drunken Tai Chi. (1984, M, Cantonese) 12.50pm The Way Way Back. (2013, M) 2.45 Minari. (2020, PG, Korean) 4.55 Sissi: The Fateful Years. (1957, PG, German) 6.55 The Eagle Huntress. (2016, PG, Kazakh) 8.30 The Big Boss. (1971, M, Cantonese) 10.30 Too Cool To Kill. (2022, M, Mandarin) 12.30am Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 11.00 American Pickers. Noon Pawn Stars. 1.00 Outback Truckers. 3.00 Billy The Exterminator. 3.30 Counting Cars. 4.30 Storage Wars. 5.00 American Resto. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.30 Highway Patrol. 8.30 The Force: Behind The Line. 9.30 World’s Wildest Police Videos. 10.30 Surviving The Moment Of Impact. 11.30 Late Programs.
ABC TV (2) SBS (3) SEVEN (6, 7)
6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mornings. 10.00 Eat The Invaders. (PG, R) 10.30 Back Roads. (PG, R) 11.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Australian Of The Year 2025. (PG, R) 2.15 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 3.30 Grand Designs. (R) 4.15 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 5.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 11.05 China On Stage. 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC World News Tonight. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Hold Up. (Mv, R) 2.10 Amazing Railway Adventures. (PGa, R) 3.00 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.05 Destination Flavour China. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Australia Uncovered: Our African Roots. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)
6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 7.30.
8.00 Back Roads: Kandos, NSW. (PG) Presented by Heather Ewart.
8.30 Long Lost Family. Hosted by Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell. 9.15 Grand Designs: Chess Valley. (PG, R) Hosted by Kevin McCloud.
10.00 Dr Karl’s How Things Work: Cricket Balls. (R)
10.35 ABC Late News.
10.50 The Business. (R)
11.05 Escaping Utopia. (Final, PG, R)
12.10 Grand Designs. (R) 1.00 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 1.45 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.25 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Finding Your Roots: Born To Sing. (Return) Hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr.
8.30 Silk Road From Above. (PG, R) The aerial journey concludes beyond China’s borders with the bustling Greek port of Piraeus.
9.30 The Darkness. (MA15+a) Bjartur is kidnapped by an intruder. 10.25 SBS World News Late. 10.55 Divided We Stand. (Mal)
12.50 Blanca. (Malv, R) 2.45 Home Is Where The Art Is. (R) 3.35 22 Kids And Counting. (PGl, R) 4.30 Peer To Peer. (PG, R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6am Children’s Programs. Noon Hart Of Dixie. 1.00 Bewitched. 1.30 I Dream Of Jeannie. 2.00 The Golden Girls. 2.30 The Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 The Addams Family. 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 I Dream Of Jeannie. 6.00 The Golden Girls. 6.30 The Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: The Matrix Resurrections. (2021, M) 11.30 Seinfeld. 12.30am The Nanny. 1.30 Love After Lockup. 3.00 Teen Titans Go! 3.30 Late Programs.
6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 Air Crash Investigations: The Accident Files. (PGa, R) 2.00 The Women’s Ashes Pre-Game Show. 2.30 Cricket. The Women’s Ashes. Test Match. Australia v England. Day 1. Afternoon session. From the MCG. 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away. (PG) Eden wants answers from Cash.
7.30 Highway Patrol. (PGa) A hitand-run driver is found at home.
8.30 MOVIE: Bridget Jones’s Diary. (2001, Mlv, R) A British woman, struggling with various romantic entanglements, documents a year of her life through her diary. Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant.
10.35 Pam & Tommy. (Final, MA15+alns)
11.35 Autopsy USA: Marlon Brando. (Ma, R)
12.30 Black-ish. (PGa, R)
1.30 Harry’s Practice. (R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise 5am News.
5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: Wedding Daze. (2006, PGals, R) Jason Biggs, Isla Fisher, Michael Weston. 2.00 Pointless. (PG, R) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG)
5.00[MELB]TippingPointAustralia.(PG)
6.00 9News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Married At First Sight. (Mls) The social experiment continues.
9.00 Becoming Madonna. (MA15+als) A retelling of Madonna’s journey from a penniless dancer to the most powerful woman in pop.
11.00 9News Late.
11.30 Resident Alien. (Malv)
12.20 Tipping Point. (PG, R)
1.10 Hello SA. (PG)
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.
6.00 Deal Or No Deal. Hosted by Grant Denyer. 6.30 The Project. A look at the day’s news. 7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (PGals) The celebrities continue to compete in a test of survival in the jungle for the chance to claim the title. 9.00 The Graham Norton Show. (Mls) Graham Norton is joined on the couch by Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston, Billy Porter, Claudia Winkleman and Myles Smith. 10.10 10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather.
The Project. (R) A look at the day’s news. 11.35 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) Hosted by Stephen Colbert. 12.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings. 6am WorldWatch. 10.00 Front Up 1998. 12.10pm WorldWatch. 12.40 MOVIE: The New Corporation. (2020, M) 2.40 Insight. 3.40 WorldWatch. 5.40 Alone: The Skills Challenge. 6.05 Loot: Blood Treasure. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 The Curse Of Oak Island. 10.10 Homicide: Life On The Street. 12.55am Criminal Planet. 2.40 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera. 6am TBA. 6.30 Escape To The Country. 7.30 Harry’s Practice. 8.00 Million Dollar Minute. 9.00 Surf Patrol. 9.30 NBC Today. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 Auction Squad. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Surf Patrol. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Father Brown. 8.30 Murdoch Mysteries. 11.30 Late Programs. 6am Danger Man. 7.00 Creflo. 7.30 Skippy. 8.00 TV Shop. 10.30 Pointless. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon Days Of Our Lives. 12.55 The Young And The Restless. 1.50 To
Programs. 9GEM (81, 92)
7TWO (62, 72) SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 5.45pm Hey Duggee. 5.55 Paddington. 6.05 Kiya And The Kimoja Heroes. 6.20 Bluey. 6.25 Octonauts. 6.35 Kiri And Lou. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.00 The Deep. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 The Inbestigators. 8.05 Operation Ouch! 8.35 Secrets Of The Zoo. 9.20 72 Cutest Animals. 9.45 Doctor Who. 10.45 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Children’s Programs. Noon Hart Of Dixie. 1.00 Bewitched. 1.30 I Dream Of Jeannie. 2.00 The Golden Girls. 2.30 The Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld.
Discover the Viking difference
FOR those dreaming of a vacation experience created for curious travellers, let us introduce you to Viking and the Viking Difference.
The cruise line is destination focused and culturally enriching and for those who prefer an elegant, serene ship ambiance, more time in each port and an inclusive experience complete with exquisite dining and thoughtfully curated shore excursions.
Viking are often credited with inventing modern river cruising in 1997. In 2015, they turned their attention to ocean cruising. In 2022, they began perfecting expedition cruising with journeys to the ends of the earth and closer to their Norwegian home on board the Viking Polaris and the Viking Octantis.
The cruise line’s attention to detail and destination-focused approach is what has helped make Viking the world’s leading exploration company.
With offerings on all seven continents, the company invites you to reawaken your spirit of discovery and celebrate a return to sailing and exploring the world in comfort.
Viking offers a shore excursion in every portandanonboardandonshoreenrichment program that provides deep immersion in the destination through performances of music and art, cooking demonstrations, informative port talks and carefully selected guest lecturers.
In 2015, Viking introduced its first ocean ship with the naming of the 930-guest all-veranda Viking Star. One year later, they launched their second ocean ship, the Viking Sea, which was joined by sister ship the Viking Sky in 2017, the Viking Orion in 2018, the Viking Jupiter in 2019 and the Viking Venus in 2021. Identical sister ships the Viking Mars, and the Viking Neptune joined the fleet in 2022; the Viking Saturn joined in 2023. Ocean itineraries are designed to maximize the amount of time travellers spend in their destination. These enriching itineraries include base and combination voyages around the world, with particular focus in Scandinavia and Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, Alaska, North and South America and Africa.
The popular European river voyages range from eight to twenty-three days, with itineraries featuring Europe’s Rhine, Main, Danube, Seine, Rhone, Douro, Moselle, Elbe, Dordogne, Garonne and Gironde Rivers.
Viking also offers voyages on Egypt’s Nile River and Southeast Asia’s Mekong River.
Sailing Europe’s storied rivers, the award-winning fleet of identical Viking Longships® offer a variety of stateroom categories and true two-room suites with full-size verandas. Onboard amenities include a restaurant, bar and lounge, library and expansive sun deck. The ships feature al fresco dining on the revolutionary indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace, elegant Scandinavian design and environmentally considerate features, such as solar panels, an onboard organic herb garden and energy-efficient hybrid engines for a remarkably smooth ride.
Viking launched destination-focused travel experiences on the Mississippi River in 2022, with sailings ranging from eight to fifteen days between New Orleans, Louisiana and St. Paul,Minnesota.TheVikingMississippihosts 386 guests and features some of the largest staterooms across the cruise industry, where each guest has a sweeping view of the river and landscape beyond.
In 2022, they launched their expedition voyages with the arrival of the 378-guest Polar Class Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris. Both ships sail expedition voyages in Antarctica, the Arctic and North America’s Great Lakes.
The Viking Sun was renamed the Viking Yi Dun in 2024 and will exclusively sail the coast of China. Viking Vela, Viking’s twelfth
ocean ship debuted in November 2024 and the Viking Vesta will launch this year. Viking are excited to also announce the Viking Mira is due to be delivered in 2026. For further information visit www.viking. com or phone reservations
(AU) 138 747.
LEE MCCARTHY
The 378-guest Polar Class Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris sail expedition voyages in Antarctica, the Arctic and North America’s Great Lakes.
Viking offers voyages on Egypt’s Nile River and Southeast Asia’s Mekong River.
Viking information
VIKING has opened registrations for its popular regional Australia information sessions aimed at curious travellers looking for inspiration for their next voyage.
The sessions, to be held in 44 regional locations across all states and the Australian Capital Territory starting in Ipswich, Queensland, on Tuesday 4 February going through to 3 April.
The sessions provide the perfect opportunity for travellers to connect with VikingCommercialManagersandpastguests to discover the “Viking difference” through Viking’s award-winning river, ocean, and expedition journeys.
Attendees will also find out more about Viking’s newly launched Scandinavian, Northern European and Mediterranean itineraries, new Viking destinations, their culturally enriching onshore experiences and onboard enrichment.
The sessions are scheduled twice daily at 10am and 6:30pm, running for 75 minutes. Complimentary light refreshments will be served during the 30 minutes prior to each session, providing an opportunity for networking amongst new and past guests, travel agents and Viking Commercial Managers.
Vikingbelievesattendeeswillnotonlyleave the session informed and inspired to book their next Viking cruise but will also receive an exclusive offer, to assist them to secure their booking within 14 days of the event.
Registration is essential as availability is limited, and places are expected to fill fast.
For group bookings of four or more, please email infosessions.anz@vikingcruises.com.
Viking is planning a series of metropolitan Australian information sessions for travel agents and their clients in late 2025. More information about these sessions will be available in the second half of the year.
Queensland
• Ipswich: Tuesday, 4 February | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Mooloolaba: Tuesday, 11 February | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Noosa: Thursday, 13 February | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Bribie Island: Tuesday, 18 February | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Townsville: Tuesday, 25 February | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Cairns: Thursday, 27 February | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Toowoomba: Wednesday, 5 March | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Bundaberg: Tuesday, 1 April | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Hervey Bay: Thursday, 3 April | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
To register please visit https://www. eventbrite.com/cc/viking-explorer-sessionsqueensland-3904113
South Australia
• Victor Harbor: Tuesday, 18 March | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Stirling: Wednesday, 19 March | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Barossa Valley: Thursday, 20 March | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
To register please visit https://www. eventbrite.com/cc/viking-explorer-sessionssouth-australia-3904203
Tasmania
• Hobart: Tuesday, 18 February | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Launceston: Wednesday, 19 February | 11.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Devonport: Thursday, 20 February | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
To register please visit https://www. eventbrite.com/cc/viking-explorer-sessionstasmania-3904183?just_published=true
Victoria
• Brighton: Tuesday, 4 February | 10.30am & 6.30pm
• Mornington Peninsula: Thursday, 6 February | 10.30am & 6.30pm
• Ballarat: Tuesday, 11 February | 10.30am & 6.30pm
• Sale: Thursday, 20 February | 10.30am & 6.30pm
• Bendigo: Tuesday, 4 March | 10.30am & 6.30pm
• Shepparton: Thursday, 6 March | 10.30am & 6.30pm
• Warrnambool: Thursday, 13 March | 10.30am & 6.30pm
• Geelong: Wednesday, 26 March | 10.30am & 6.30pm
To register please visit https://www. eventbrite.com/cc/viking-explorer-sessionsvictoria-3896763
Australian Capital Territory
• Canberra: Tuesday, 11 February | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
To register please visit https://www. eventbrite.com/cc/viking-explorer-sessionsact-3896753
New South Wales
• Hunter Valley: Tuesday,18February|10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Newcastle: Thursday, 20 February | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Coffs Harbour: Tuesday, 25 February | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Penrith: Wednesday, 26 February | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Bathurst: Tuesday, 4 March | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Orange: Wednesday, 5 March | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Central Coast: Tuesday, 11 March | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Ballina: Tuesday, 11 March | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Wollongong: Tuesday, 11 March | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Southern Highlands: Thursday, 13 March | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Nelson Bay: Tuesday, 18 March | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Albury: Wednesday, 19 March | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Forster: Thursday, 20 March | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Port Macquarie: Tuesday, 25 March | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Tamworth: Tuesday, 1 April | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
• Armidale: Thursday, 3 April | 10.30 am & 6.30 pm
To register please visit https://www. eventbrite.com/cc/viking-explorer-sessionsnew-south-wales-3904123
Western Australia
• Albany: Tuesday, 25 February | 10.30am & 6.30pm
• Mandurah: Thursday, 6 March | 10.30am & 6.30pm
• Bunbury: Wednesday, 12 March | 10.30am & 6.30pm
• Busselton: Thursday, 13 March | 10.30am & 6.30pm
To register please visit https://www. eventbrite.com/cc/viking-explorer-sessionswestern-australia-3904193
Michelle Black, from Viking said, “Our sessions are perfect for those new to Viking as well as our loyal past guests. Whether attendees are interested in polar expeditions, new ports, European river journeys, or Mediterranean, Scandinavian or Asia ocean voyages our information sessions are relevant to every curious traveller’s agenda,” said Michelle Black, Viking Managing Director ANZ.
“Thesesessionsaresovaluableineducating, engagingandmotivatingclientstomaketheir next travel booking, making attending these sessions a smart business decision for savvy agents,” said Black.
Guests and Viking Commercial Manager’s at Viking’s explorer information sessions 2023. (Supplied)
LEE MCCARTHY
SCENIC SCANDINAVIA & BALTIC JEWELS
Bergen to Stockholm or vice versa
15 DAYS | 4 COUNTRIES | 12 GUIDED TOURS SET SAIL: MAY-SEP 2027
From $13,595pp in Veranda Stateroom
From $16,195pp in Penthouse Veranda
SCANDINAVIA & BALTIC CAPITALS
Oslo to Copenhagen or vice versa
15 DAYS | 8 COUNTRIES | 10 GUIDED TOURS SET SAIL: MAY-SEP 2027
From $13,595pp in Veranda Stateroom
From $16,195pp in Penthouse Veranda
EXPL RER
Sailing to all
Enjoy free flight offers with selected river, ocean or expedition voyages, valued up to AU$2,400 per person. Plus AU$500 shipboard credit with any ocean and expedition booking. Available for a limited time only, offers end 31 March 2025.
ICONS
Bergen to Copenhagen
22 DAYS | 8 COUNTRIES | 17 GUIDED TOURS SET SAIL: MAY-SEP 2027
From $19,795pp in Veranda Stateroom
From $24,295pp in Penthouse Veranda
Discover the essence of Türkiye, from İstanbul’s iconic Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar to Pamukkale’s mineral-rich terraces before cruising Greece and Italy.
Embark on a 12-night journey through Türkiye’s vibrant history and UNESCO wonders. Explore Cappadocia, famous for its hot air balloons and marvel at Pamukkale’s iconic hot springs.
Uncover the ancient ruins of Ephesus, visit the House of Virgin Mary in Kuşadası and stroll through the legendary city of Troy, before visiting the poignant Gallipoli battlefields and Anzac Cove.
Next, indulge in world-class service, opulent amenities and personalised touches as you sail with Silver Spirit to the Greek islands of Nafplion, Syros, Patmos, and Heraklion—each brimming with culture and beauty. Explore the ancient wonders of Syracuse, then discover the histories of Palermo and Naples before disembarking in Civitavecchia.
Your holiday includes All-Inclusive Luxury Cruise
ï 12 night all-inclusive luxury cruise on board Silver Spirit
ï Visiting: Athens, Nafplion, Syros, Patmos, Heraklion, Syracuse (overnight in port), La Goulette, Palermo, Naples (overnight in port), Civitavecchia
ï Complimentary shore excursions included at every port^ Hotel Stays
Discover Pamukkale
Silver Spirit
Silver Spirit blends top notch facilities and world-famous service including its polished entertainment, a truly superior way to cruise. Encounter likeminded friends, first-class dining, and relaxation on board.
ï Four-star hotel stays in İstanbul, Ankara, Çappadocia, Konya, Pamukkale, Kuşadası, Çanakkale and Athens
Complimentary Fully Escorted Tours
ï İstanbul city tour including the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome Square, Hagia Sophia and Grand Bazaar; Cappadocia tour including Pigeon Valley, Uçhisar Fort, Paşabağ Valley and Avanos Valley; Hierapolis, Cotton Castle, Thermal Baths & Amphitheatre; Troy ancient city & Trojan Horse photo stop; Gallipoli Memorial, Anzac Cove and the Lone Pine Cemetery visit and more All Flights, Taxes and Transfers
ï Overnight flights
Discover Pamukkale, known as “Cotton Castle,” where natural wonders unfold in dazzling white travertine terraces formed by mineral-rich hot springs. This stunning geological marvel, with its cascading pools and dramatic formations, creates a surreal landscape capturing the intrigue of discerned travellers from across the globe. Explore the ancient city of Hierapolis atop these terraces and immerse yourself in the natural beauty and historical richness of this UNESCO World Heritage site.
PUZZLES
To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.
ACROSS 1 Postal receipt (5) 4 Female cleaner (9) 9 US writer (1817–62), Henry David – (7)
10 Distribute (food) (5,2)
11 Rear (9) 12 ‘70s dance genre (5) 13 Twenty-first letter of the Greek alphabet (3) 14 Melodramatic (11) 16 Able to be maintained consistently (11) 19 Male sheep (3)
20 Baghdad native (5)
22 Lasting (9) 25 First (7) 26 Mournful (7) 27 US state (9) 28 Persuasion (5)
1 Scheme (3-2) 2 Qualities of a room that determine audibility (9) 3 Bit (5) 4 Wariness (7) 5 European country (7)
8 'Not to worry' (2,7) 13 Assumes the worst (9) 14 Keep steady (9) 15 Beatles song, – Wood (9)
Attacks with thickened petrol bombs (7) 18 Language of Myanmar (7)
Foreign (5)
23 Vigilant; observant (5)
24 Unspoken (5)
1 The prancing horse is the logo for which prestige car company?
2 Brass is an alloy of which two metals?
3 Who wrote the classic children's book TheVery HungryCaterpillar?
4 Name the British monarch that abdicated from the throne in 1936.
5 Which Dutch artist painted TheNightWatch?
6 Christoph Waltz (pictured) won an Oscar for his portrayal of Dr. King
7 Is Mavis Staples a famous a) basketball player, b) singer or c) cinematographer?
8 Phoenix dactylifera is a palm species that produces which fruit?
9 In the title of the television series, what does the acronym M*A*S*H
MOTORING
Honda ZR-V is pick of the bunch
By Chris Riley, Marque Motoring
You might think the ZR-V is the smallest of Honda’s SUVs but you’d be wrong because the latecomer actually slots between the HR-V and long-serving CR-V.
It’s taken us a while to catch up with the ZR-V, but it has been worth the wait because ZR-V is the pick of the bunch.
STYLING
ZR-V is a good-looker, in an understated way with its Maserati-inspired grille.
Based on the Civic hatch, ZR-V is a five-seat, mid-sized, front-wheel drive crossover.
It’s available in three petrol-only grades plus a range-topping hybrid, petrol-electric version. Prices start at $39,900 for the VTi X, followed by $43,400 for the VTi L, $49,900 for the VTi LX and $55,400 for the hybrid e:HEV LX.
All prices are driveaway.
Our test vehicle was the ZR-V VTi LX priced at $49,900.
Standard kit includes 18-inch wheels, LED lights front and back, leather trim, dual-zone climate control, 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, keyless entry and push-button start, walk-away door locking, power adjustment for the front seats, heated front and rear seats, plus heated steering wheel.
There’s also rear privacy glass, a frameless, an electric parking brake, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, traffic sign recognition, auto high beam, auto lights and wipers, front and rear parking sensors and a hands-free power tailgate.
A space saver spare is supplied in the event of a flat tyre.
ZR-V comes with a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty, with 24/7 roadside assistance and five years of free access to Honda connected services for what it’s worth.
Service is 12 months/10,000km and capped at $199 per visit.
INFOTAINMENT
Infotainment is headlined by a smallish 9.0-inchtouchscreen,withbuilt-innavigation, AM/FM and DAB+ digital radio, Bluetooth with support for voice control and audio streaming wireless Apple Carplay and wired Android Auto and over-the-air updates.
There are two USB ports in the front, one USB-A the other USB-C, plus two more USB-C ports in the back and 12 volt outlets in the front and luggage area.
Wirelesschargingisstandardonthismodel.
SAFETY
ZR-Vunexpectedlyscoresafour-starsafetyfor Australia, despite having 11 airbags, including front-centre and driver’s knee airbag.
Apparently, a different front bumper beam is fitted to Australian vehicles, which affected test performance in some test impact locations.
While no observable effect on test performance was identified, ANCAP says Honda is yet to provide information as to why the additional beam has been excluded.
Active safety includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, driver attention monitoring, lane-keep assist, traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors, plus tyre pressure monitoring.
ENGINES/TRANSMISSIONS
The 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine drives the front wheels through a CVT-style continuously variable automatic transmission. It produces 131kW of power at 6000 rpm and 240Nm of torque between 1700 and 4500 rpm.
DRIVING
It’s inoffensive, comfortable and easy to drive, and provides adequate accommodation for four adults - five at a pinch.
The cabin feels classy with soft-touch surfaces and a full-width mesh grille that
hides the normally exposed front air vents.
Controls are simple and generally easy to use as we have come to expect from Honda over the years.
Physical buttons are offered to the right side of the touchscreen for oft used functions, with other controls are located lower down for the air conditioning.
The instrument panel can be configured as dials or bars and you can select detailed information to display, but it lacks the bells and whistles of competitor systems.
The transmission supports manual gear changes, with change paddles and six steps or pseudo gears.
Therearealsothreedrivemodesfromwhich to choose: Eco, Normal and Sport, which are self-explanatory.
Fuel consumption for this model is a claimed 7.2L/100km and it takes standard 91 unleaded.
We were getting 8.0L/100km from the 57-litre tank after about 250km of driving, including an enthusiastic spell on our favoured test route.
This is very close to the long-term 8.1L/100km average that the car showed after almost 2000km.
The 1.5-litre turbo feels a little underdone on torque, but plant it and the thing takes off well enough.
We tried this several times and although the initial response was a little tardy, it quickly recovered, the revs ramping up to around 5500 rpm where the needle hovered.
We kept waiting for the transmission to change up, but of course that didn’t happenbecause it’s a CVT.
Instead, like a rubber band, the drive ratio changes to optimise response.
Sport mode proved pretty good, but for ultimate control changing gears manually produced the most satisfying result.
Ride and handling are surprisingly good, remembering this is a one-size-fits-all family SUV.
We had to push quite hard to get the car out of shape.
Not unexpectedly, the engine does become a little harsh under hard acceleration.
But engine, wind and road noise are fairly subdued the rest of the time — with the exception of coarse bitumen.
It’s a common theme.
Unlike CarPlay, Android Auto requires a cable to connect your phone to the infotainment system, with a choice of USB-C or older USB-A ports in front.
Having just purchased a new cable for this task, we were disappointed to discover that the USB-C to C port does not support data
transfer.
Unlike the X-Trail that we drove recently, however, we were able to maintain a stable USB connection with USB-A.
So, remember to pack one of each sort just in case.
According to the specs, this thing is supposed to have a premium Bose 12-speaker sound system, including a subwoofer.
Not seeing it guys. Where are the badges declaring its existence?
If you’ve got it, flaunt it - that’s what we say.
SUMMING UP
The only blot in the ZR-V’s otherwise spotless copybook is the price, that and the four-stars for safety.
At $49,000 it’s pretty steep for what is a smallish SUV, especially when you line it up against the cheaper and larger Chinese offerings.
And therein lies the problem, not just for Honda but all the established brands in the Australian new car market.
At least Honda has a strategy.
The only blot in the ZR-V’s otherwise spotless copybook is the price, that and the four-stars for safety. (Supplied)
Grovers too good on the green
Ocean Grove dismantled Queenscliff in round 9 of Geelong Bowls Region Saturday Premier Division and Independent photographer Ivan Kemp was there to see it.
Max Rowley plays the backhand. 453387_05
Matt Flapper goes the drive. 453387_07
Casper John leads off for Ocean Grove. 453387_01
Barry Gladman consolidates the end. 453387_06
Adam Green plays for position. 453387_04
Ray Butler wins the end. 453387_08
Riley Cameron leads on the backhand for Queenscliff. 453387_02
Wayne Frith concentrates on his line. 453387_11
Chris Burrell follows his bowl. 453387_03
Richie McGovern looks for position. 453387_12
Andy Foster leads the way for Ocean Grove. 453387_10
Eagles on top, Cobras victorious
Independent photographer Ivan Kemp went to the GCA 3 game between Corio and Waurn Ponds Deakin and the BPCA A2 Grade Collendina vs St Leonards match on Saturday January 18. Waurn Ponds Deakin holds the upper hand in a two-day game while Collendina won its one-day clash.
St Leonards’ Michael Norris on his follow through. 451857_02
Stan Grazotis drives square of the wicket for Collendina. 451857_01
Corey Walter lifts this delivery to mid-wicket. 451857_12
Stan Grazotis is bowled by Harvey McCormick for 15. 451857_10
Tom Carroll bowled well for Waurn Ponds Deakin taking 2 for 29. 451856_02
Will Stovell picks up the ball just inside the boundary. 451857_15
Mitchell Grace bowled tightly taking 1 for 14 off 8 overs. 451856_10
Jackson Ellis jumps as he plays at this delivery. 451856_09
Curio’s Trey Laurie hits a boundary. 451856_06
James Burns bowled tidily to take 1 for 20 off 8 overs. 451857_16
Dhanuja Haturusingha takes the ball at the top of his mark during his superb 5 for 30. 451856_05
Harvey McCormick took 2 for 29 off 8 overs. 451857_06
Mitchell O’Neill turns this delivery to square leg. 451856_08
Title success for Swan Bay divers
Swan Bay Ladies Diving Team returned home with the Victorian Country Diving Championships title for the first time at Mildura’s annual Ripntear Peter and Patricia Morgan Memorial Meet.
The event featured athletes from seven different clubs across Victoria and South Australia, competing in a variety of events including springboard and platform.
Four divers from local club Swan Bay made the trip to Mildura to test their skills against some of the best in the state and walked away with medals taking out two first places, second and third in their respective age groups.
Former National Champion diver and Swan Bay Diving Club coach Meredith Boardman was immensely proud of the girls’ efforts.
“Although the Mildura competition is welcoming, it’s still nerve-wracking for the girls, some of whom have never competed in diving before,” she said.
“They really did the club and the Greater Geelong region proud.”
Meredith also competed in the event, winning her age group and qualifying for the Australian Age Championships.
The girls train together weekly at the Handbury Centre for Wellbeing and wherever they can find a springboard and trampoline,
with many of them having a competitive gymnastics background.
This was the first time Swan Bay has taken out the Victorian Country Championships, with previous winners including Bendigo and Sunraysia.
“They love diving and have plenty of talent, so we look forward to building their skills and confidence and improving on our results in future competitions,” Boardman said.
Any children interested in learning to dive areencouragedtoreachouttoSwanBayDiving Club on 0412-486 305 for more information, with new students invited to a free 30-minute trial.
Ecstatic Cats claim Jennings Shield
Geelong Cricket Club won the Marg Jennings Cup on Tuesday with its team of star Under 15 girls claiming the trophy after a fascinating final against Prahran at Kardinia Park.
The Cats started slowly after Prahran elected to bat first, but clawed their way back once the dangerous Anushka Mehta (59) was dismissed. Geelong captain April Chaudhary picked up two wickets early on.
The introduction of Erin Moloney turned the game around. She took a superb 4/22 from eight overs to help restrict Prahran to 8/166 from 40 overs.
Chaudhary (31) and Clover McIlwaine (25) got Geelong off to a great start with the bat, putting on 62 for the opening wicket.
However, at 5/98 the Cats needed a partnership and came through keeper Aria Huby (10) and Poppy Agg who added a further 25.
Agg (32) and Lily Shand (21 not out) then tookGeelongtowithintworunsofvictorywith threeballsleft.Agg’sterrificknockendedwhen she was bowled by pace bowler Anna Burgon, leaving the game up for grabs for either side. A tie was enough for Geelong to claim the
title given it finished on top of the table and Shand called Clio Cameron through for a bye off the penultimate ball of the final over to equal the scores.
Shand then played and missed at the final ball, but Cameron scampered through for anotherbyetogiveGeelongthewinbyonerun on the final ball of the 40th over.
Geelong’s Under 16 boys got through to the Dowling Shield final against Melbourne after defeating Fitzroy Doncaster in the semi-final.
The Cats made 9/253 batting first with openers Henry Hatswell (52) and Hamish Craig (46) putting on a 103-run stand.
Charlie Mahncke made a run a ball 42 while Riley McLure (28) and Riley Illingworth (26) played well.
Fitzroy Doncaster gave the chase a good shake, but fell eight runs short after 50 overs with Craig (3/45) capping off an outstanding all-round game.
The final was yesterday (January 23) at Junction Oval against St Kilda. Geelong won the toss and batted and at the time of the Independent going to print, was 6/183 in the 43rd over.
Henry Hatswell made a fine 65 from 78 balls and fellow opener Hamish Craig compiled 26. St Kilda struck back during the middle stages of the innings with slow bowlers Darcy Kelson and Gurshan Khehra keeping things tight. Charlie Mahncke (39 off 39) and Riley McLure (24 not out from 32) got things back on track foradecenttotal,butwicketsinsuccessiveballs with Mahncke and Riley Illingworth getting out got the Saints back into the contest again.
Justin Flynn
Pride on show
Geelong United Basketball (GUB) will team up with Pride Cup on Wednesday January29andwearaspeciallydesigned uniform celebrating the LGBTIQ+ community.
United will wear the trip during its WNBL home game against Bendigo Spirit, in an effort to make sure every person feels included, accepted and proud to be who they are.
A Geelong United driven initiative, the conversation was held amongst the players as to what they would like to highlight if given the opportunity.
“We spoke about rounds that we may want to pursue, and Pride Round was a big one,” Geelong United guard Gemma Potter said.
“You never want to do a round where it’s just a token thing, you want to continue to show your support and awareness.”
Presented to GUB chief executive Mark Neeld earlier in the season, the idea of a Pride Round ticked all the boxes of GUB’s values - United, inclusive, professional and integrity.
“Anything that is presented to us, the question always is, does it align with our values?,” Neeld said.
“This was a no brainer. We’re proud to be leaders in this space, and hope this game can inspire further conversation and involvement across the league.”
Signed game worn jerseys will be goingupforauctionfollowingthegame. To find out more about Pride Cup see pridecup.org.au
Defenders Cousins and Eyers join Werribee for 2025
Two Geelong VFL defenders have joined Werribee.
Mace Cousins and Ryan Eyers, who spent the past two seasons together at Geelong’s VFL, will make the move to Avalon Airport Oval for the 2025 campaign.
Thepairarethe11thand12thconfirmednew signings to the squad that won last year’s VFL premiership. Cousins brings exciting potential after being named Geelong’s best first-year player in 2023. The 22-year-old arrives at Werribee having played 12 VFL games, with the dashing defender averaging more than 13
disposals and five marks per game.
A graduate of the Western Jets, Cousins is the second player out of Darley to join Werribee this off-season, following promising key forward Brady Wright.
Cousins has shown his ability to impact the game both offensively and defensively as a part of that back six.
In his first full season of senior footy with Darley in 2023, Cousins ranked top ten in the league for both intercept possessions and intercept marks, with his strong local form earning him a spot in the BFNL interleague
squad and ultimately securing a VFL position with the Cats.
Teammates for the previous two seasons, Eyers had nine games for the Cats across 2023 and 2024. The 21-year-old key defender joined Geelong’s VFL list after a best-and-fairest winning season with the Murray Bushrangers. Eyers’ signing also carries on Werribee’s famously strong connection with the Ovens andMurrayFootballLeague,withthedefender playing for Corowa-Rutherglen and winning their 2024 club best-and-fairest, being named in the best in 13 of his 16 matches.
The winning Geelong Cricket Club Girls under 15 team. (pictures Ivan Kemp) 454211_01
Clio Cameron beats Dakota Edmunds with this delivery. 454211_08
Ryan Eyers. (Werribee FC)
Mon Conti, Daniel Raber, Haley Jones and Gemma Potter. (Monika Berry)
Georgia, Lily, Ruby, Charlotte and Swan Bay Diving Club coach Meredith Boardman. (supplied)
Waurn Ponds Deakin in box seat
By Justin Flynn
Waurn Ponds Deakin holds the upper hand going into day two of its Geelong Cricket Association Division 3 clash against Corio.
With Manifold Heights (5th) a strong chance to lose against bottom team Bannockburn, the Eagles can jump into the four if they beat fourth-placed Corio.
Waurn Ponds Deakin skipper Nick Phillips won the toss and sent the Devils, which proved to be the correct decision.
Corio was bowled out for 121 with only Ty Watts (52 off 121 deliveries) and Joel Stacey (21 off 75) spending a decent amount of time at the crease.
Dhanuja Haturusingha took 5/30 while Zarbakht Asim snared three wickets and Tom Carroll two for the Eagles.
“The pitch was a bit green and a little bit softer than what we’ve usually seen out there,” Phillips said.
“So I thought we’d give our bowlers the best chance at it and it paid off. He’s (Haturusingha) ourexperiencedbowleratthetopandhestayed on his line all day. And then Tom Carroll probably took the two big wickets early. All five of the bowlers bowled exceptionally well and to our plan perfectly.”
Waurn Ponds Deakin then had 24 overs to negotiate before stumps and emerged at 2/55 still requiring 67 runs to win.
Philips remains at the crease on 15 and Jonathon Thomson is on 18.
Phillips said there was still a lot of work to do to reach the 122 required for victory.
“We just need to concentrate on getting the
job done and just start with our batting group, sort of stepping up and being selfish almost and wanting to make the runs yourself and not leaving it to anyone else,” he said.
“The strategy for us is just get the runs as little down as possible. If Jon and I can do it, great. If it takes 40 or 50 overs then we’re more than happy with that.”
Phillips said his side has a deep batting line-up.
“I honestly think we probably bat to 11,” he said.
“Our number 10 last week top scored and the number 11 has opened the batting at our club.” Phillips said he respected Corio’s bowling attack with spinners Joel Stacey and Ty Watts posingathreatondaytwowhileseamersMitch and Anthony Grace and Trey Laurie presented a different challenge.
ALEXANDER THOMSON will resume at 1/15 in pursuit of Marshall’s 169 all out. Angus Cranny did most of the damage with the ball with4/28whileopenerPhilipLangmade57for the Bears.
JACKSON Burke spearheaded Thomson’s 206 all out with a superb 96 from 176 deliveries while Modewarre skipper Brandon Ross took 3/43 from 19 overs and Dylan Ryan conceded just 41 from almost 26 overs.
BANNOCKBURN appears on track for a win and will resume at 1/63 chasing Manifold Heights’ 117 all out. Mitch Bartlett (63) made more than half of his team’s runs while all five Banno bowlers had success. Harry Vivian (35 not out) was set at the crease when stumps were pulled.
Snakes still alive after solid win against Saints
Collendina’s quest for a Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association A2 Grade finals berth received a boost after a hard-fought win against St Leonards at home on Saturday January 18.
With Wallington and Inverleigh in the box seat to claim the top two spots on the ladder, the race for third and fourth is down to three teams - Portarlington (39 points), Surf Cost (39) and Collendina (33).
The Cobras were sent in and made 9/147 from 40 overs on a slowish outfield at Collendina Recreation Reserve.
Opener Corey Walter top scored with 52 while Jacob Gasior made 35 and skipper Nathan Frye 20. Saints’ seamer Will Stovell took 3/31 from eight overs.
Frye said the total was “more like 165 or 170” given the outfield.
Collendina needed to bowl well to take the points and Frye said tactics were discussed at the tea break.
“We spoke about that in the innings break that they didn’t really give us any boundary balls to hit,” he said.
“So we thought that was (also) the path to victory for us.”
Zach Muir took his first A Grade wicket in a good opening spell while Ted Farrell (2/21) and Oscar Irwin (4/18) also had success.
“He’s (Muir) bowled really well for us since coming in with the white ball (and) you know what you’re going to get out of him every week,” Frye said.
“Oscar Irwin’s another one who’s come in and taken seven wickets in his two games in the ones. Really happy with the way they’re progressing.
“And that’s what we want in our sideblokes that are just going to bowl one side of the wicket, (which is) very easy to set a field to.”
St Leonards would eventually be bowled out for 119, giving the Cobras a deserved win.
Frye said he hopes to have star all-rounder Corey Walter back bowling in the next week or so after having elbow surgery before the break. Walter missed one game and has only been able to bat since then.
Collendina’s attention now turns towards top side Wallington in the final one-dayer of the season.
“We haven’t seen them at all this year, so we don’t really know what to expect,” Frye said.
“They’ve got some good quality cricketers. Matt (Sampson-Barnes) is obviously a good cricketer and has been for a long time. It will be a good battle.”
INVERLEIGH kept a stranglehold on second place with a five-wicket win against Winchelsea. Toby Furbush (73 not out) played well for Winch in its score of 6/174, but the Kookaburras chased down the total with five wickets and two overs to spare with David Peel making a hard-hitting 58 from 48 deliveries.
TOP side Wallington was tested by bottom team Newcomb, but came away with the points. The Wallabies made 193 all out with James Sood (53) and Sven Burluraux (41) gettingrunswhileBullsskipperShaneHealey grabbed three wickets. In reply, Newcomb made 8/157 with Dane Wise-Graham snaring 3/30 for Wallington.
SURF COAST continued to push for a finals spot with an impressive win against Portarlington. The Suns made 6/187 with
William Liddle making a nice 94 from 124 balls and James Tilders grabbing three wickets for Port. Despite Brenton Toole’s 64 from 83 balls, Port never really looked like chasing down the target, being bowled out for 118 with all six Suns’ bowlers taking at least one wicket each.
Newcomb legend Frank Canadillas played his 450th game for the Bulls. The likeable spin bowler took 2/12 from five overs and made 14, but his team went down to Newcomb’s other D Grade side at Ervin Reserve No 2.
Justin Flynn
Collendina skipper Nathan Frye lofts this Harvey McCormick delivery to deep mid wicket where he is caught for 20. (pictures Ivan Kemp) 451857_18
Corey Walter made an important half-century for Collendina. 451857_08
Alex Balaz is bowled by Dhanuja Haturusingha. (pictures Ivan Kemp) 451856_01
Harrison Haynes dives and takes a great catch to dismiss Trey Laurie. 451856_07
