4 AUGUST 2021
REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS
250!
ISSUE 250
News
The Central Coast’s journey to becoming a certified ECO Destination is progressing in leaps and bounds with an additional 10 businesses receiving funding. See page 5
Out & About
The NSW lockdown has forced the cancellation of running events for the foreseeable future. See page 13
CCN is proud to celebrate the 250th edition of Coast Community Chronicle. It has been an eventful journey since 2012. We’ve enjoyed covering everything from the Chinese theme park to ongoing battles over the airport, coal mine, town centres, the promised highway upgrade through Wyong and the Wyong to Wadalba link road. Thank you to our readers for your ongoing support. As the area continues to grow, we will keep reporting all the news that matters.
Education
(Back row from L to R) Cec Bucello, Sue Murray, Lucillia Eljuga and Justin Stanley, (Front row L to R) Harry Mulholland, Merilyn Vale and Jackie Pearson.
Locals furious about vaccine theft Hundreds of Central Coast residents were left frustrated and angry over the weekend when their Pfizer vaccination appointments, many of which had been made months in advance, were diverted to HSC students in Sydney COVID hotspots. Many furious residents, some of them essential workers, took to Facebook to vent their fury as Coast politicians slammed the move and criticisms poured in about the Federal Government’s failure to secure adequate vaccination supplies. Paul Phillips of Jilliby was one of many to have their vaccination appointments at Gosford Hospital put on hold.
“I have just had both my Pfizer vaccination appointments cancelled,” Phillips said. “I have had my appointments booked for a long time. “The Central Coast is part of Greater Sydney for lockdown purposes but now they want to steal my Pfizer vaccine appointments as I am classed as regional Australia. “I am very angry both my appointments have been cancelled; this is simply not good enough.” His sentiments were echoed by hundreds of residents, who claimed the classification of the Coast as part of Greater Sydney or Regional varied according to the NSW Government’s whim. Premier Gladys Berejiklian
said on August 2 that the move was “in the best interest of public health”. “Can I stress how important it is for us to get Year 12 students able to complete their HSC exams and make sure they have those qualifications they worked hard for,” she said. “We know that for 16 to 18-year-olds that Pfizer is the only option. “All of us are making a sacrifice, and if it means that some people wait a few extra weeks before they get their Pfizer, I think people would appreciate that.” Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, said we would not be in a “Hunger Games situation” if the Federal Government had
secured enough Pfizer for NSW. Crouch said those waiting for their second Pfizer dose would not be impacted and nor would frontline workers. He reminded residents that anyone aged 18 and over is eligible for an AstraZeneca vaccine; these are to be offered at Gosford Hospital from August 5. While NSW Health has announced GPs will continue to administer Pfizer vaccinations in regional NSW, Shadow Minister for Central Coast and Wyong MP, David Harris, said the Central Coast was part of the Greater Sydney lockdown because of the risk of population movement. “At the same time we’re getting a mixed message
because Central Coast Health District is classified as a regional health district, so we are losing our vaccine. “It’s not fair, they can’t have it both ways. “Our people are vulnerable because of that population movement from Sydney and that means we have to have the Pfizer vaccine for those vulnerable people in our community. “It’s not good enough that Central Coast people are missing out through no fault of their own and that the State Government doesn’t seem to have any solutions other than blaming the Federal Government.” See page 10
After successful amalgamations with Halekulani Bowling Club and Club Wyong in the past 12 months, the Mounties Group is flying high. See page 27
Sport
Former Bundesliga forward, Nicolai Muller, has joined the Central Coast Mariners for the 2021-22 season. See page 32
Puzzles page 19
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