Coast Community News 388

4 MAY 2023

ISSUE 388

News

Luca raises over $1,000 for veterans support

Freshwater croc found in Umina backyard See page 2

Out&About

A seven-year-old Central Coast boy has raised more than $1,000 for a charity which supports returning veterans.

See page 4

Jane Barnes Band starts NSW tour in Wyong See page 13

Business

Luca manning his Anzac biscuits stall

New format for public forums Central Coast Council is set to trial a new system for the public forum traditionally held immediately prior to Council meetings, which are held monthly on Tuesday nights at 6.30pm.

From this month, the public forum will be moved to the day before Council meetings, to begin at 5pm or 5.30pm on Monday evenings at the Wyong administration building.

The three-month trial will see the time allocated for the public forum expanded to at least a full hour, with the possibility of providing an opportunity for community members to address the forum online rather than in person.

Administrator Rik Hart said the move was about streamlining the public forum process ahead of the election of

councillors in September next year.

Rik Hart speaks to CCN about the proposed changes to Council’s Public Forum “We are going to trial something different,” Hart told CCN. “CEO David Farmer and I have both been in local government for a long time and we have noted that members of the public talking in a forum immediately before the meeting doesn’t really work for them or for the Council.

“A speaker can introduce something quite new which hasn’t been thought about (by Council) and there is no chance for staff to consider it before the meeting begins.”

Hart said when councillors are eventually elected, they would not have

a chance to research any issues raised before the meeting under the present system.

“The possible consequence is that you get decisions made on the run,” he said.

Hart said another advantage of a having a longer public forum the day before meetings would allow time allocated to speakers to be increased from the present three minutes to five minutes.

“We will be trialling the new public forum procedure for three months and then hoping to expand it so that people can log into the meeting remotely and have their words heard by Council from their own homes,” he said.

“This would also apply to councillors (once they are elected); some

councillors might not be able to attend a public forum the day before a meeting, but they would be able to listen remotely 24 hours before the meeting.

“This would give both staff and councillors the chance to research issues raised.”

Hart said the expanded time for the forum would also allow for members of the public to also raise matters not on the agenda for the next night’s meeting.

“There will also be formal consultation on the new system – but we won’t really know until we give it a go,” he said.

“The intention is (to pave the way) for better governance by a new incoming Council.”

Council calls on government to restart wind farm consultation See page 21

Sport

Toukley teen on Australian team for World Games See page 32

Terry Collins

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Freshwater croc found in Umina backyard Photo: Australian Reptile Park

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Keeper Billy Collett with the croc

A freshwater crocodile was found in the backyard of a Umina Beach home on Sunday afternoon, April 30.

The homeowner immediately contacted the Australian Reptile Park and keepers were dispatched to the scene to capture the reptile.

Operations Manager and veteran crocodile keeper, Billy Collett, was able to safely capture the crocodile and transport it back to the Park, where it received a full health evaluation.

The female croc was about one metre long, is estimated to be 8-10 years old and appeared to be in good health.

It is believed that the crocodile was being kept illegally as a

The croc was spotted in the backyard of a suburban home

pet, as freshwater crocodiles are not native to the Central Coast region.

The Park is asking for the owner to come forward or contact relevant wildlife authorities if the crocodile belongs to a licensed reptile keeper.

“We’re grateful to the homeowner for alerting us to the presence of the crocodile,” Collett said.

“Freshwater crocodiles may not be as dangerous as saltwater crocodiles, but they are still wild animals and can be unpredictable.

“It’s always best to leave them to the experts.

“I was incredibly shocked when we received the call.

“Freshwater crocodiles are usually found about 2,500km north of where we are here on the Central Coast.

“I honestly had to see it with my own eyes before I could believe it.

“We want to remind the public that keeping wild animals as pets is illegal and dangerous without a licence.

“If you come across a crocodile or any other wild animal in your backyard that you think doesn’t belong there, please contact the authorities immediately.

“It’s important to let trained professionals handle these situations.

“Animals like the freshwater crocodile have very stringent

licensing conditions to avoid them ending up in situations just like this one.”

Collett said the Park was committed to the conservation and preservation of Australia’s unique wildlife, and urged the public to respect and appreciate these animals in their natural habitat.

The Park has reported the incident to the National Parks and Wildlife Service which will determine the next steps for the animal.

For now, the crocodile is in safe hands with the Park’s reptile team and will undergo a full veterinary examination.

Source: Australian Reptile Park

Open day to showcase critical work of firefighters Fire stations across the Central Coast will throw open their doors from 10am to 2pm on Saturday, May 13, to showcase the broad capabilities of the Fire and Rescue teams.

It’s a chance to get to know the local firefighters and learn about the critical work they do to keep communities safe.

There will be a range of free activities including firefighting demonstrations, station tours and safety presentations and visitors can check out the fire trucks and learn about firefighting equipment.

Wyong Fire Station Commander Jamie Loader said Open Day was an opportunity to show people that Fire and Rescue firefighters do so much more than fight fires.

“Our firefighters are prepared for anything and ready to help anyone, anytime, anywhere – from road crashes, hazardous material incidents and natural disasters to urban search and rescue, medical responses and humanitarian relief,” he said.

“It’s also a great time to talk to the experts about home fire

Toukley firefighters ready to roll out the welcome mat for Open Day

safety in the lead up to winter.

“This year we want you to ask yourself whether you’re ready and prepare your homes early for winter by checking your smoke alarms and knowing what to do when they sound.

“Only working smoke alarms save lives and a home fire escape plan helps you to get out and stay out if there is a fire.

“Statistics indicate the risk of fatality in a house fire is halved if the home has a working smoke alarm.

“Smoke alarms should be tested every month, vacuumed

every six months and replaced every 10 years.

“Replaceable batteries should be changed each year.

“We also see a 10 per cent increase in the number of home fires during the winter months, with more fires starting in bedrooms and loungerooms due to things like heaters and electric blankets.: A recruitment drive is also underway for paid on-call team members of Fire and Rescue.

Local Open Days are a perfect opportunity to ask any questions.

Fire and Rescue is looking for people who are passionate about helping others and committed to teamwork and collaboration.

“We welcome candidates from all walks of life; whether you’re a seasoned professional, a person looking to try something new or someone who is simply looking to fill their cup, we’d love to have you,” a Fire and Rescue spokesperson said.

Sue Murray

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Haynes Ave resurfaced – but more work is needed Haynes Ave at Umina Beach has been resurfaced by Central Coast Council with funding from the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, but residents say there is still a long way to go to make the busy thoroughfare safe.

Member for Robertson Gordon Reid said Haynes Ave is an important road on the Peninsula, with hundreds of commuters using it to get to and from work every day.

“The condition of the road was not fit for purpose and I am pleased Council has been able to undertake road renewal

works to improve safety and accessibility,” he said.

But residents say while they appreciate the recent road upgrade, they will continue to agitate for speed reduction measures.

“Council has yet to install median devices at the entrance to Haynes Ave from Ryan’s Rd and Lone Pine Ave to reduce speed,” spokesperson Fran Armstrong said.

She said speed-calming devices were particularly needed at the intersection adjacent to the playground situated at the corner of Haynes Ave and Ryan’s Rd. Residents have been asking for major road improvements

Member for Robertson Gordon Reid inspects the newly resurfaced Haynes Ave

for more than two years.

In 2021, they told CCN that an average 1,893 cars per day use the street, with 85 per cent of them exceeding the 50km/h speed limit, according to

Council statistics.

They said their main concern was for the welfare of small children using the park on the corner of Ryan’s Rd, with the situation exacerbated by the

addition of a set of swings closer to the corner.

With traffic volumes on the rise following the opening of the United service station on the corner of Ryans Rd and Ocean Beach Rd and construction of a new shopping mall at the corner of Lone Pine Ave and Ocean Beach Rd underway, safety concerns are escalating.

Residents are calling for traffic calming measures including: traffic islands at each end of Haynes Ave, especially one to prevent cars from cutting the corner of Haynes Ave and Ryans Rd; traffic calming and speed controls to minimise speeding and anti social behaviour; and

the installation of speed limit signage.

Reid said he was aware of ongoing concerns.

“There are more safety upgrades I know residents would like to see along Haynes Ave and I will continue to make representations to Central Coast Council and other levels of government,” he said.

“Local road infrastructure improvement on the Central Coast is a priority for the Government (and) I will continue advocating on behalf of the Central Coast community in Canberra for greater funding for infrastructure projects across our region.”

Terry Collins

Reid scarfs up for Scouts NSW Member for Robertson Gordon Reid was among NSW Senators and NSW Members of Federal Parliament to scarf up for Scouting recently at Parliament House, Canberra.

Fostering greater connection between Parliament and Scouts NSW, the Scarf Up For Scouting event saw elected leaders presented with Scouts

NSW supporter scarves and badges.

The event also presented the opportunity for younger local Scouts to visit Parliament House, connect with the elected representatives of their communities and learn more about government.

“Scarf Up For Scouting is a fantastic initiative for Scouts NSW to connect with our elected leaders and also give

our Scouts the opportunity to learn more about parliament,” Scouts NSW Chief Commissioner Neville Tomkins said.

“Leadership, teamwork, courage and resilience are skills our elected leaders possess.

“Scouts NSW is proud that these same skills are developed by youth members which holds them in good stead to contribute

The humpback whales are on the move

Whale activity will increase from now until early July

The humpback whale migration is underway, with sightings off the Central Coast starting to become more regular each day.

About 40,000 humpback whales will make their annual migration northward off our coast, to mate and give birth in the warm waters of Queensland and the Coral Sea. The peak of the northern migration is at the end of June and the start of July.

From about the end of September through to November Coasties may be fortunate enough to see mother whales bringing their calves south.

During the migration, watchers might also see several types of dolphins, minke whales and hopefully some rare southern right whales.

There is also the possibility of seeing orcas, following the migrating whales.

Some of the best vantage points on the Coast to look for whales include Captain Cook Lookout (Copacabana), The Skillion (Terrigal), Wyrrabalong Lookout (Forresters Beach), Crackneck Lookout (Bateau Bay), Soldiers Beach Car Park (Norah Head) and Wybung Head (Munmorah State Recreation Area).

Ronny Ling of Central Coast

Dolphin Project said the best time to go was usually in the morning before the breeze came up, when the sun was still silhouetting the whales’ blow.

“However, in the peak of migration anytime is usually rewarding for whale watchers,” he said.

If you see a whale, please call or text the Central Coast Whale Hotline on 0490 401 969.

If you see a stranded whale or dolphin, or any other marine wildlife in need of help, call Marine Wildlife Rescue Central Coast as soon as possible.

Source: Central Coast Dolphin Project

to Australia’s future.”

Scouts NSW’s Assistant Chief Commissioner for Youth Engagement Meg Cummins said the event was an ideal way for Scouts to become more aware of Australia’s democratic processes and understand how they could play a part in designing their own future.

She said it was an opportunity for Senators and Members of the Parliament to inspire and

empower Scouts and for the Scouts to share the difference they are making.

Reid said it was a pleasure to be a part of the initiative.

“Scouts NSW is an outstanding community-focused organisation, helping support and mentor young Australians into active citizens,” he said.

“The event was extra special as I met with fellow Coastie,

Deputy Chief Commissioner (Operations) Scouts NSW Greg Barnierand got to better understand the work scouts do locally on the Central Coast.

“I look forward to working with Scouts NSW to support our youth and strengthen communities on the Central Coast”.

Source: Scouts NSW

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Tuggerah animal shelter closes without warning The RSPCA animal shelter at Tuggerah unexpectedly closed last week after making the “difficult decision to step away from a retail model as it was no longer a cost-effective way to deliver our mission of helping animals in need”.

A spokesperson said the RSPCA was an organisation heavily reliant upon the generosity of the public and as people struggled financially in the current economic landscape, there had been a decline in donations while the demand for support services was increasing.

“A decision was made to close the Tuggerah centre indefinitely,” she said.

The closure came without warning for the nine staff members at the Tuggerah shopfront and one worker, who wants to remain anonymous, said the first they knew of it

The RSPCA in the Homemaker Centre at Tuggerah has closed permanently

was via email or text messages on Wednesday, April 26.

The RSPCA spokesperson said they “consulted” with staff the next day, but the worker says they were “sacked on the spot”, ordered to hand in their keys, alarms were changed, workers were rushed to finish their animal care and told to leave the building.

The worker said the whole

situation was handled terribly.

“This was not an easy decision for our organisation and we understand that this news may be difficult for some people to hear,” the RSPCA spokesperson said.

“We are currently in consultation with every employee from the centre, working with them to identify opportunities for continued

The sign outside the animal shelter

employment at other locations within our organisation.

“All animals that were located at Tuggerah Care Centre have been transferred out to various RSPCA shelters across NSW where they are awaiting their forever homes.”

Closure of the Tuggerah animal shelter, coupled with the Somersby centre closing to the public in November 2020,

has raised questions about RSPCA services on the Central Coast.

The Somersby centre is now a dedicated rehabilitation centre for the long-term care and treatment of canines who need extra time, help and attention to overcome anxiety and behavioural issues so they can be ready to find forever homes.

“While we can no longer operate this retail and adoption storefront, our rescue, rehabilitation, inspectorate, outreach, adoption by appointment and all other services currently carried out in the Central Coast community will not change,” the RSPCA spokesperson said.

Sue Murray

Coast MPs named as Parliamentary Secretaries Two Central Coast MPs have been named as Parliamentary Secretaries in the new Labor State Government.

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch has been named Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Communities and for Disability Inclusion.

Member for The Entrance David Mehan will be Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer.

Tesch said she was honoured by the appointments.

“I am deeply grateful to Premier Chris Minns and my Labor colleagues for this great opportunity,” she said.

“It is a privilege to be entrusted with such an important portfolio.

“To say I am excited is an understatement.

“I have had a long discussion with Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for

Liesl Tesch has been named Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Communities and for Disability Inclusion

Disability Inclusion, Kate Washington, and look forward to working with her.

“Minister Washington has been a champion and a role model in her role as a Shadow Minister.

“I come into this position with a deep friendship and respect for her and am confident I can complement Minister

Washington’s work as Minister.

“As Parliamentary Secretary, I will work to create a more accessible and inclusive state and continue to work on behalf of vulnerable people and communities across NSW. “I campaigned hard to see the Sydney Harbour Bridge made accessible for the Invictus Games and have continued to

David Mehan will be Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer

ensure the NSW Parliament is accessible.

“Changes like these are what make me so excited to see a more inclusive NSW.” Tesch said she wanted to thank the community for reelecting her for another four years and she would work hard to deliver.

Mehan said he was honoured to be appointed to the role of Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer.

“As someone who has been a member of the Labor Party since 1989 it is a privilege and a dream come true to be appointed to a role in a Labor Government,” he said.

“I am looking forward to working with the Treasurer, Daniel Mookhey, for the people of NSW. “Daniel has worked hard to hold the former government to account from Opposition and be a great Treasurer for this state and its people.

“As the Treasurer sits in the NSW Legislative Council, the state’s Upper House, I am mindful of the tremendous responsibility attached to representing the Treasurer in the Legislative Assembly.

“As Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, I will do all I can to make NSW a better and fairer place for all its people.

“I again want to thank my community for putting their trust in me as their local Member and pledge to continue to represent their interests to the best of my abilities.”

Luca raises over $1,000 for veterans support A seven-year-old Central Coast boy has raised more than $1,000 for a charity which supports returning veterans.

Luca Leonardi baked and sold Anzac biscuits to members of his community at Saratoga on ANZAC Day and the day before.

Mum Lara Warren said the lad had baked 175 biscuits,

with sales and donations topping the $1,000 mark.

“Of course I am proud of Luca, but I am also really touched by the local community,” Warren said.

“We only moved here last year and it’s been great seeing the community come together and support my son for a good cause”.

The money will go to

Wandering Warriors, a veteran charity organisation supporting veterans and their families through education, employment, respite and mentoring programs.

The organisation also hosts a range of flagship events which bring the veteran community together and partner with specialised service providers for welfare and bespoke services.

It has provided support for Luca’s uncle, Chris Warren, since his return from service in Afghanistan.

“People in the army protect us and keep us safe,” Luca said.

“So I wanted to do something kind to help soldiers like my uncle Chris when they get home”.

Terry Collins

Luca baked all the biscuits himself

Terry Collins

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Open day at Ettalong Bowlo to raise funds for Guide Dogs Ettalong Bowling Club will host an open day on Sunday, May 7, from 9am to raise funds for Guide Dogs Australia with all players and visitors welcome.

There will be Guide Dogs merchandise on sale, an auction and a raffle with a number of donated prizes on the day.

The fundraiser follows International Guide Dog Day, on Wednesday April 26 – a day to celebrate the important role Guide Dogs play in supporting people all around the world with low vision or blindness to achieve their goals and live independently.

This year Guide Dogs Australia will shine a light on the humans behind the amazing dogs, with its Talk to the Handler campaign seeing Guide Dog Handlers share their thoughts on a wide variety of topics important to

Handlers from the Central Coast support group will be there on the day

them, speak out about issues and challenges, and answer

questions you’ve always wanted to know but felt you

couldn’t ask.

Handlers from the Central

Coast Volunteer Support Group will be on hand on May 7 at the Ettalong Bowlo.

The support group was formed in 1983 and is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

Spokesperson Lynne Lillico said the group has been active in fundraising from The Entrance to the Peninsula.

“The group continues to be visual and out and about in the community, managing a number of fundraising stalls each year at shopping centres across the Central Coast selling merchandise,” she said. “(Members) will be available to share their experiences with visitors and discuss how Guide Dogs provides services to help people with low vision and blindness.”

Support group President Merran Rudder said the cost of breeding, training and raising each guide dog is $50,000.

“Every dollar from the

community counts as Guide Dogs NSW/ACT only receives minimal government funding,” she said.

“We appreciate the Central Coast community who continue to visit our stalls and the support given to us by Central Coast shopping centres which provide space for our fundraising stalls.

“We are a small group of highly dedicated people who are passionate about the work that Guide Dogs NSW/ACT undertakes and we look forward to meeting visitors and members at the Charity Bowls Day at Ettalong Bowling Club.”

For more information, visit www.guidedogs.com.au.

Source: Central Coast Support Group, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT

New-look memorial takes pride of place on ANZAC Day

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch, Sefton Willis and team members from RJC Stonemasonry admiring the refurbished memorial on ANZAC Day

Taking pride of place at Pearl Beach on ANZAC Day was it’s the newly refurbished war memorial in front of the Memorial Hall.

The refurbishment, funded by a $10,000 grant from the NSW Government’s Community War Memorial Fund, was completed by the team from RJC Stonemasonry, including master mason Sefton Willis of Wyoming.

The memorial was reconstructed in solid sandstone,with the surrounding paving also also repaired.

A morning tea was served at the hall following a dawn service on the Pearl Beach waterfront attended by a large crown of residents and visitors.

The Memorial Hall and Pearl Beach War Memorial are owned by the Pearl Beach Progress Association, which was established in 1929, and grew out of informal gatherings

of residents to discuss local problems and community projects.

The hall and memorial were officially unveiled on the September 16, 1950.

At that time Pearl Beach was a popular spot for exservicemen to live and holiday after the Second World War. There was a sub-branch of the RSSAILA (now the Returned Servicemen’s League or RSL) at that time with members using the newly completed hall for their monthly meetings.

The Women’s Auxiliary catered for the official opening of the hall.

The War Memorial plaque in front of the hall was also unveiled in September 1950.

By 2022 the masonry of the memorial was in poor condition; the original brickwork was rendered and bagged, and the original marble plaque replaced in bronze.

The successful application for a grant from the NSW Government to upgrade it in solid Sydney sandstone enabled the Progress Association to work with a qualified and experienced RKH Heritage architect who oversaw the work by experienced stonemasons from the RJC Group.

“RJC Stonemasonry and master stonemason Sefton Willis and the rest of the team, who are some of best traditional masons in NSW, undertook the work and we were lucky to have them,” association spokesperson Lynne Lillico said.

Following the service at the beachfront wreaths were laid on the memorial by Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch, a representative for Member for Robertson Gordon Reid and members of the community.

Source: Pearl Beach Progress Association

Workers Memorial Day at Ourimbah The annual Central Coast service to commemorate International Workers Memorial Day (also referred to as International Day of Mourning) was held at the Ourimbah Memorial Wall of Remembrance at 10am on April 28.

The service was well attended by family and friends who have lost loved ones because of workplace death or occupational illnesses at work.

Representatives from all levels of government, SafeWork NSW, the Asbestos Diseases

Foundation of Australia and Lisarow High School attended.

Local singer-songwriter ASHA provided poignant and heartfelt acoustic music to accompany the moving service.

The Ourimbah Memorial Wall of Remembrance was officially opened in 2006 to give Central Coast residents a place to remember loved ones and to remind ourselves as a community that we must continue to work towards a world where workplaces are safe.

Speakers at the event were Federal Member for Dobell Emma McBride, Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris, former Wyong Mayor Bob Graham; Kristy Charlton from SafeWork NSW, Vice President of the Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia Maree Stokes and Member for The Entrance David Mehan.

“The rallying cry of Workers Memorial Day is to remember the dead and fight for the living,” Mehan said.

“I am always pleased to host

this event in my electorate as a service to the whole Central Coast community.

“Central Coast residents who have lost a loved one because of work are welcome to have that person’s name recorded on this wall, to honour their work and remind us of the loss to our community and can contact my office for this to be arranged.”

Source: Member for The Entrance David Mehan Member for The Entrance David Mehan with fellow guests on the day

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Major commitment to reduce youth homelessness A $91.7M investment by the Federal Government is set to help Central Coast youth at risk of homelessness.

The money will be put into the Reconnect program over the next three years.

The community-based early intervention and prevention program is targeted at young people who are experiencing or are at-risk of experiencing homelessness and their families.

Through Reconnect, young people aged 12-18 (or 12-21 for newly arrived youth) can access counselling, group work, mediation and specialised mental health services, to improve relationships with their family, stay at school and participate in their local community.

One group on the Central Coast which uses the program is Central Coast Uniting.

Uniting Youth and Homelessness Manager Jade Brown said the announcement

Member for Robertson Gordon Reid with Central Coast Uniting representatives Jade Brown and Charlie Chubb

gave the organisation surety that it could continue its valuable work for the next three years.

“We work with whole families to offer support within their own environment and keep young people at home,” she said.

“We work with the families in their own homes for up to three

months, although this time is sometimes extended depending on the needs of the family.

“We go into homes where there is a young person involved in family conflict or struggling with education.

“Our highly skilled case workers offer conflict resolution and can negotiate with various

services on behalf of the young person.

“Our main object is to break the cycle and prevent these young people ending up homeless – because youth homelessness is so often a byproduct of relationship difficulties at home.

“Sometimes the young people are going down a

pathway which is not necessarily good for them.

“We work with around 100 families each year.”

Brown said while case management was the biggest component of the organisation’s work it also offered parenting groups and school groups.

“This funding commitment gives us confidence and security around our programs and is a recognition that what we do is valuable to the community,” she said.

Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness, Julie Collins, said the funding would deliver vital services across the country.

“We know the breakdown of family relationships is a leading cause of youth homelessness,” she said.

“Through the Reconnect program, we are able to address the risk factors to help prevent homelessness.

“Our hope is that through this funding thousands of young people and their families will

continue to benefit from improved family ties, engagement in education and employment, and enhanced community connections.

Member for Robertson Gordon Reid said the investment would boost the Government’s ambitious housing reform agenda to improve the outcomes for Australians at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness.

Consultation will soon begin on the National Housing and Homelessness Plan to identify ways to address the challenges experienced by young people at risk of homelessness.

The Government will develop the plan in collaboration with key stakeholders and will undertake broad consultation, including with organisations and members of the public.

More information regarding the Reconnect program is available on the Department of Social Services website.

Terry Collins

Have your say in making Gosford safer Central Coast Council is calling on women, girls and gender-diverse people to raise their voices to improve the perception of safety within the Gosford CBD. A survey and an interactive map have been specifically designed to capture their thoughts as part of the Safer Cities: Her Way Program, a collaborative partnership program with Transport for NSW. Under the program, $1M in funding has been provided to develop and pilot safetyboosting initiatives for women, girls and gender-diverse people and improve perceptions of safety on our streets, in parklands and at public

transport hubs around Gosford.

Council’s Director of Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith, said it was important for members of the community to share their experiences, good or bad, when they have travelled to or visited the Gosford CBD. “The survey and interactive map are just two ways we are engaging women, girls and gender-diverse community members to have their voice and experiences heard,” Smith said.

“By understanding areas where they have felt safe or unsafe, we will use a co-design approach to trial solutions to address their concerns.

“A safer place for women,

Council is determined to make people safer travelling in and around Gosford

girls and gender-diverse people is a safer place for the whole community.”

The learnings from the survey and interactive map will be reviewed by focus groups to

design pilot safety initiatives, which will not only trial ways to make Gosford feel safer but will influence future planning and street designs in other locations across the Central Coast.

Council Administrator Rik Hart said the initiative was crucial to ensure women, girls and gender-diverse community members feel they were not constrained in how they moved about Gosford in their day-today lives.

“We know women, girls and gender-diverse community members actively use public transport and move through public spaces to access essential services and opportunities,” he said.

“Yet, it’s these cohorts who face more gender-based

harassment and safety issues when in public spaces than men do.

“Ultimately, everyone has a right to feel safe and this program helps us get one step closer to achieving this.

“As Gosford CBD and the waterfront precinct expands, it’s imperative that now more than ever women, girls and gender-diverse community members are able to feel safe travelling through Gosford to access future higher order jobs and study opportunities.”

Visit yourvoiceourcoast.com/ HerWay to take the survey and comment on the interactive map.

Source: Central Coast Council

Some help in applying for community grant funding With Central Coast Council’s Community Grants Program set to open for applications on June 1, a series of free workshops and information sessions will be held in coming weeks to help community groups and organisations improve their grant writing skills.

The 2023-24 Community Grants Program will open with $900,000 in annual funding available to support local community groups and organisations to deliver worthwhile projects, programs and events that strengthen the community.

Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith, said now was the time for community groups and organisations to register for a workshop and prepare their applications.

“All projects are valuable to the community and often funding allocation comes down to the strength of the application,” Smith said.

“While we have $900,000 in funding allocated across the three grant programs it is quite competitive with last year’s total funding requested across the three programs reaching more than $1.5M”.

“To ensure the community has the best opportunities to gain funding for their projects, Councils’ grants officers support and host free grant writing workshops, grant Information and one-on-one grant drop-in sessions designed to help applicants better understand the process and improve the quality of their applications.”

Grant writing workshops will be held on: Wednesday, May 10, from 5.30pm to 8pm at the Erina Centre; and on Thursday, May 11, from 10am to 12.30pm at Council’s Wyong administration building.

During these workshops, an

independent facilitator will guide community members on how to develop a project plan and funding application to increase the chance of success for not only Council’s grant program but all grant programs.

Grant information sessions also will be held giving guidelines, eligibility, the application process, grant management and timeframes for Council’s Community Grants Program.

These will be held on: Wednesday, May 31, from 5.30pm to 7pm at the Erina Centre; on Thursday, June 1, from 2.30pm to 4pm online; on Wednesday, June 7, from 5pm

to 6.30pm online; and on Thursday, June 8, from 1pm to 2.30pm at the Wyong administration building.

Drop-in sessions offering one-on-one discussions with a Council grants officer to strengthen an application in accordance with the grant program guidelines will be held on: Thursday, June 15, from 9.30am to 11.30am at the Wyong administration building; and on Thursday, June 22, from 5pm to 7pm at the Erina Centre.

Council’s 2023-23 Community Grants Program includes: the Community Development Grant Program (applications open June 1-30,

with funding up to $20,000 per project available); the Community Events and Place Activation Program (applications open June 1-30 with funding up to $20,000, per activity available); and the Community Support Program (applications remain open throughout the year, with up to $5,000 in funding available per project, per financial year).

For more information on the workshops and information sessions or to register, go to centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/ grants.

Source: Central Coast Council

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Major boost for two Coast youth programs

Minister Rishworth, Member for Robertson Gordon Reid and Member for Dobell Emma McBride inspect the kitchens at Coast Shelter

Minister Rishworth with the team at The Skill Engineer

The Federal Government is set to invest more than $700,000 in two Central Coast organisations to deliver innovative projects to improve the lives of young people in the region.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth visited the Coast last week to make the announcement alongside Member for Robertson Gordon Reid and Member for Dobell Emma McBride.

The Skill Engineer will receive $360,000 over two years for its Nyanga Walang – To give and to learn project.

The Skill Engineer is a nonprofit organisation focused on

engaging individuals in economic, social and civic activity and has welcomed the announcement of the funding for Nyanga Walang.

The program aims to support First Nations youth to connect to Country and culture, access support to navigate the transition to high school, and build a strong sense of identity and purpose.

It also aims to empower young people to create a positive impact on their communities.

The Skill Engineer CEO Maggie MacFie stressed the importance of building the capacity of First Nations youth.

“It is an honour for us to deliver this project and to have the opportunity to help young First Nations people connect with their culture and Country,” she said.

“We are grateful for the funding and we welcome the opportunity to create a world where young individuals are appreciated and encouraged to achieve their full potential.”

During the funding announcement, Minister Rishworth had the opportunity to hear directly from young people about the positive impact of Unlocked, a Skill Engineer program designed to support young people who have experienced difficulty re-

Your place to call home

engaging with education and training after the COVID-19 lockdown.

Coast Shelter will receive a funding extension of $384,104 in 2023-24 to continue to deliver the Love Bites program, which educates young people about healthy relationships through the delivery of traumainformed evidence-based education.

CEO Michael Starr said in 2022 alone the Love Bites program was delivered to more than 4,000 young people in 30 schools across the region.

“The aim of the program is to provide young people with a safe environment to examine, discuss and explore respectful

relationships and equip them with the knowledge and behaviours to make healthy and informed choices for themselves – decisions and choices that are free of violence and abuse,” he said.

“Our goal this year is to expand the program to reach more than 5,000 young people in every high school on the Coast”.

Minister Rishworth said the Government was proud to support such innovative projects.

“This funding is ultimately about creating safe, respectful and empowered communities, with access to opportunities – and that starts with our young

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people,” she said.

“Young people have their whole lives ahead of them and we need to do everything we can to make sure they have access to information and education to help foster respectful and inclusive attitudes and behaviours from the start.

“Consent and education projects are central to the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022–2032, which describes how all areas of society need to work together over the next 10 years towards ending violence against women and children.”

Terry Collins

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Council and police join forces to target speed

Central Coast Council has once again joined forces with local police in a campaign this May to aim for a reduction in speedrelated road crashes through an education and awareness campaign focusing on 50km/h local roads.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Inspector Martin Searle hopes that this year’s campaign will help the community understand that Your Speed Matters and Every K Counts, which will result in drivers slowing down and the reduction of speed-

related crashes.

“This year’s campaign will feature a Transport for NSW video narrated by Mathematics Professor and media personality Eddie Woo, which explains how long it takes to stop at 50km/h compared to 60 or 80km/h – helping the community understand that every kilometre counts,” Searle said.

“We are reminding motorists that they can make a difference by making safer choices on our roads – to make road safety a

From left: Council Administrator Rik Hart, Council Road Safety Officer Liana Morrison, Police Acting Inspector Neil Prest and Council Director Infrastructure Services Boris Bolgoff

priority and slow down, particularly in built up urban areas with 50km/h zones

where children, older road users, cyclists and pedestrians can be.”

Council Administrator Rik Hart said the collaborative partnership with police helps to enhance their presence with the important objective of reduce speeding across the region.

“Along with increased presence from NSW Police, Council is focusing on increasing the messaging to the community through our social media and other communication channels this May,” he said.

“Education can have a big impact on changing behaviours – we’re encouraging Coasties

to slow down on local roads, and to drive safely and look out for each other.”

The campaign will see enhanced police enforcement across local roads and deliver educational messages to the Central Coast community.

The faster you go, the longer it takes to stop.

A car travelling at 50km/h takes 37m to stop.

At 60km/h, it takes 56m to stop.

A car travelling at 80km/h takes almost 100m to stop.

Source: Central Coast Council

Armed robbery at Hamlyn Terrace Investigators have renewed calls for information following new information about an alleged armed robbery at Hamlyn Terrace in 2014.

About 10.30pm on Friday, August 29, 2014, police said a

woman parked a blue-coloured Hyundai Tiburon coupe on Minnesota Rd, Hamlyn Terrace, when she was approached by two unknown men.

One of the men opened the

car door before allegedly pointing a firearm at the woman, demanding bags and cash.

It is alleged the man took the woman’s handbag, and another bag, before allegedly fleeing the scene, running north along

Minnesota Rd. Investigators have now released descriptions of the men they believe can assist with their inquiries.

One man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged in his 20s at the time, with

shoulder-length brown hair. He was wearing a green raincoat style jacket at the time.

The other is described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged in his 20s at the time, with a tall and skinny build.

As inquiries continue, anyone

with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://nsw. crimestoppers.com.au Source: NSW Police

Four new police recruits for Tuggerah Lakes District Four new Probationary Constables for Tuggerah Lakes Police District were officially welcomed at Wyong Police Station on Monday, May 1, by NSW Minister for Police and Counter Terrorism and Member for Swansea, Yasmin Catley.

Three of the four new recruits, aged 22 to 26, are Central Coast locals and the other is from the Mid North Coast.

They have a variety of backgrounds and life experience including construction, sales, fitter and turner, disability sector, hospitality, retail and licensing.

The Probationary Constables were among the 221 cadets who attested at a formal ceremony on April 28 at Goulburn Police Academy.

They will now complete 12 months on-the-job training and study by distance education with Charles Sturt University before graduating with an Associate Degree in Policing Practice to achieve the rank of Constable.

The Police Minister was joined on Monday by Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris and Member for The Entrance David Mehan to

Superintendent Chad Gillies (centre) with the new Probationary Constables

welcome the recruits on their first day “I would like to congratulate these Probationary Constables

on becoming the newest members of our local Police family and pay tribute to the hard work and dedication they have shown to get to this

point,” Catley said.

“As Police Minister I’ve already seen up close that policing can be challenging – it is a role like no other and these incoming Probationary Constables are entrusted with great powers and responsibilities but with the right support to guide them I look forward to watching them develop and thrive.”

Harris said it was a very special day for the four Probationary Constables, as they officially join the local Police Force and began their service to the community.

“Today is the beginning of an exciting new chapter where they will become integral

members of our community, and the work they will do throughout their careers will make a difference to countless lives,” he said.

Mehan said the enthusiasm, drive and commitment they bring would be a great asset to the people of Tuggerah Lakes Police District.

“They’ll be very welcome because locals know that to be a Police officer takes great courage, resilience and compassion, and I wish them well in what is also a very important and satisfying job,” he said.

Source: Police Minister Yasmin Catley

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Central Coast Council news and community information

ADMINISTRATOR MESSAGE

Rik Hart

Outcomes of the Central Coast Local Housing Strategy Forum Last month, Council hosted the Central Coast Housing Forum, where community representatives, not-for-profit housing providers, government agencies, developers, Members of Parliament and Council representatives all came together to discuss the housing situation on the Central Coast.

The Central Coast is currently home to 348,000 residents. It is projected that our population will increase to over 404,000 people by 2041 – that’s another 55,000 people, or 2,800 people every year!

To house these people, the State Government’s Central Coast Regional Plan 2041 anticipates we will require an additional 32,550 dwellings.

Knowing that significant population growth is what the future holds for our region allows us to appropriately plan and prepare – so I asked Council to put on the Forum to get insights and perspectives from these key stakeholder groups, and to ensure that community representatives had a seat at the table.

A key message that came out of the Forum was there needs to be a simplified process to provide affordable accommodation of various types. To achieve this, more collaboration and discussion is required at all levels – government, Council, developers, community groups and of course the local community itself.

It was agreed that there is no silver bullet, but it was acknowledged that we must think outside the square on solutions, listen at a local community level for ideas and concerns about types of development.

It’s evident that there is genuine concern from all stakeholders and equally, a willingness to find solutions to this real crisis on the Central Coast.

Exciting program now out for Harvest Festival 2023

Time to strengthen your grant writing skills

We have 32 event hubs locked in for this year’s Harvest Festival with a wide range of unique events and experiences for you to explore the Coast’s beautiful hinterland.

Central Coast Council’s Grant Program is opening 1 June and it’s time to strengthen your grant writing skills!

Our program is live for you to start planning your Harvest Festival weekend on 10-11 June with family and friends.

View details and program at lovecentralcoast.com/harvestfestival

To help you improve your skills we are hosting a series of free workshops, information sessions and drop-in sessions this May and June.

Workshop places are limited, and all attendees must register to participate.

For more information, search ‘grant program’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

How are road repairs prioritised?

Road repairs are prioritised by level of risk and traffic volumes, with higher traffic roads generally requiring attention first. For workflow and cost efficiencies, repair work may be undertaken on several roads in the same suburb around a priority site. Scheduling of road repairs requires a flexible approach to accommodate new issues and weather impacts.

For road work in progress, search ‘road news’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Bays Bushcare tour

Join the Bays Bushcare Group for a behind the scenes tour and BBQ on Sunday 7 May.

Come along and meet the community behind the work, take a tour of the site either with a guided walk through the bush or in a kayak – and see what native flora and fauna you can find.

For more information, search ‘bushcare’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/events

What’s on? Go to centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/events

Did you know?

This May our libraries have a whole new line up of guests for our Author Talks series.

The faster you go, the longer it takes to stop.

Book your place now, search ‘author talks’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/events

Please make road safety a priority and slow down, particularly in built up urban areas with 50km/h zones where children, older road users, cyclists and pedestrians can be.

Popular thriller fiction and Central Coast author, TW Lawless presents Beachdaze (18 May, 10am, Erina Library), Kim E. Anderson presents ‘The Prize’, a fictional tale of the 1943 Archibald Prize controversy (18 May, 6.30pm, Gosford Regional Gallery) and you can enjoy the Sydney Writers Festival without leaving the Coast as selected events are available to view from your local library (25-27 May).

• A car travelling at 50km/h, takes 37m to stop.

• At 60km/h, it takes 56m to stop.

• A car travelling at 80km/h, takes almost 100m to stop.

Council Office 2 Hely St Wyong | 8.30am - 5pm, Monday to Friday | P 02 4306 7900 | W centralcoast.nsw.gov.au CentralCoastCouncil

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Urgent action needed on global warming Fire and flood is growing more frequently and is more intense as the atmosphere gets warmer.

Just 1.1 degrees of warming produced the unprecedented Black Summer fires (and smoke) and the past two years of unprecedented flooding in eastern Australia, including here on the Coast.

We know these events were caused by global warming because they were just a small part of a global pattern of unprecedented fires and floods.

These have increased in frequency and intensity in lock-step with rising global temperatures over the past 50 or so years.

The science is clear.

The fires and floods won’t stop increasing in frequency and intensity until we stop warming our atmosphere.

There has been much talk about the transition from fossil fuels to renewables over the past 30 years of IPCC meetings, and we now have a national plan to get Australia to net zero by 2050.

Does that mean we will be safe from the worst consequences of climate change?

Unfortunately, no.

Firstly, because despite 30 years of UN climate meetings

FORUM See Page 2 for address and contribution conditions.

Opinions expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily of the newspaper agreeing that urgent action is needed, the rate of global greenhouse gas emissions is still rising, not falling.

Secondly, we have already emitted all the greenhouse gases needed for 1.5 degrees of warming.

We aren’t there yet due to the time lag between emitting the gas and the earth reaching a new stable temperature, and the shading effect of smog over the industrial parts of the northern hemisphere caused by burning of fossil fuels.

Finally, loss of summer sea ice area in the Arctic threatens a series of feedback loops and tipping points which will result in runaway warming which will continue even after the global community achieves net zero emissions.

That is why only a national

emergency-level response to the threat of global climate chaos is appropriate now.

We need to replace our ageing and expensive fossil fuel generators with wind, solar, battery and hydro and build a grid which is fit for purpose.

We need to do it now.

We then need to build at least another 100 per cent of renewables to power the EVs, heat pumps and new green industries.

Fortunately, we have all the tools and technologies available to us right now to make this transition.

Off-shore wind has been proposed for the NSW and Victorian coasts as part of this mix, including off our Central Coast.

Some public comments have suggested these wind turbines will be an eyesore.

My opinion on this is firstly, the wind turbines will be at least 10km offshore and secondly, I would much prefer to look at turbines in the far distance than at a conga line of rusting coal ships.

Other comments have suggested that the turbines will be a hazard to sea birds, sea mammals and fish.

Surveys of actual bird kills have shown that each turbine kills fewer birds than the

average domestic cat (and only a fraction of those killed by the average feral cat) and the threat to sea mammals and fish from ocean warming, ocean acidification, disruption to ocean currents and death of our coral reefs from global warming is massively bigger than the threat from the proposed turbines.

I have spent the past 20 years studying climate science and consequently I have spent the past 15 years as a climate and environmental activist.

The good news is that I won’t have to spend the next 15 years doing it.

That’s because we don’t have 15 years left.

Either we will have stopped emitting greenhouse gases, or we will have passed critical tipping points and it will then be too late to try.

Time is short and there is much to do.

Our governments are being bombarded by the fossil industry lobbyists and their media campaigns telling them to delay, and they are hesitating.

Now is the time to make your voice heard loud and clear.

Email, Apr 26 Geoff Cameron, Narara

Change in prescriptions not that great After an interesting chat with the chemist at Lake Haven about the new prescription regime being introduced by the Federal Government in September, I felt compelled to put something in writing to let others know what is happening.

What they’re not talking about is how it will take longer to reach the safety net threshold, if at all.

Currently, I will reach my limit by the end of May which means I get free scripts for the rest of the year.

The chemist says almost noone will achieve free scripts under the new rules.

So, they’re giving with one

hand while taking with the other.

At present, the chemist buys the medicines first and is reimbursed by the government two months later.

So, effectively, he is having to keep more medicines in stock (there is already a supply chain problem) and in order to stay financially viable, he will have to put staff off because he can’t afford to keep them because he’s had to buy twice as much stock.

I believe it will be worse in regional and rural areas where there is likely to be only one chemist in town.

Also, if a patient has now only to visit the pharmacist half as much, he/she is

missing out on vital socialisation with said chemist who now, by the way, is taking up the slack from the GP. Also, this only applies to just over 300 common medications.

There could be a lot of waste as well.

For instance, what if your specialist or GP changes the dosage of a particular medication and you have just had the script filled and received 60 days’ supply which now goes to waste?

Changing dosage happens to me all the time.

Besides, we generally get six months’ supply anyway so it means twice a year you have to ask the doctor for a new script.

Surely that’s not too onerous?

Did you know that GPs can legally write you a script with 11 repeats but they choose not to because that would mean you would only visit them once a year.

Annoy Mark Butler (Federal Health Minister) and your local Federal MP (particularly if you’re in the Dobell Electorate as Emma McBride is Parliamentary Secretary to Mr Butler and a former pharmacist) and if you’re in the Robertson Electorate, the MP is Dr Gordon Reid, who is a GP. Point out the error of their ways.

Email, Apr 30 Virginia Bowditch, San Remo

The Voice will enhance our democracy I refer to John King’s comments (CCN 387) regarding The Voice (to Parliament) and share his concerns that “every Federal Government has failed Aboriginal people miserably”.

However, without berating or arguing his other comments I

just wish to refer readers to the legal advice handed down by the Solicitor-General, Stephen Donaghue, to Parliament on Friday, April 21, in which he confirms “The Voice will not fetter or impede the exercise of existing powers of Parliament” and “is not just compatible with the system of

representative and responsible government prescribed by the Constitution but an enhancement of that system”.

I wish to reiterate and highlight the reassuring words in that advice – The Voice is not just compatible with our system of government but an enhancement of our

democracy, hopefully with the aim of bridging the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Email, Apr 30 Marliene Byrne, Point Frederick

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At last – some attention for epilepsy I see that Federal Member for Robertson Gordon Reid is to Chair an Epilepsy Awareness Group.

Hooray – finally epilepsy is to get some attention.

Epilepsyisverymisunderstood, and I often hear people say, “oh you grow out of it”.

If only it was that easy.

As a parent of a son who suffers with uncontrolled epilepsy, I have seen it steal away his life.

Imagine watching your child look at you in terror as they go into a seizure, watching them turn blue and gasp for air as their body contorts so much you think it might break and there is nothing you can do but hope that they will survive – it’s heartbreaking.

Like others, my son sustains injuries as a result of his epilepsy so having survived the seizure he has had to cope with dislocated shoulders; he has broken his foot, bitten his tongue

and hit his head more times than we can count.

For some people like my son having seizures can mean they have memory issues, low confidence, loss of employment, inability to hold a driving licence, depression and discrimination.

The ultimate insult is that those suffering with uncontrolled epilepsy cannot get any help on the NDIS. We have been declined four times now despite all the specialists saying there is nothing further that can be done to help my son.

It appears that the NDIS takes the view that epilepsy is “curable”.

Obviously they know something the experts don’t! adaMaybe Gordon Reid and (co-Chair) Henry Pike MP could consider this as part of raising awareness and let’s hope it’s not more lip service.

Email, Apr 22 Nicola Ross-Adams,Erina

Where were our state MPs? An informative night was held at Council Chambers on April 27 to discuss what can be done with regard to the housing crisis.

It was attended by about 50 people including the Council Administrator, members of staff and Federal Member for Robertson Gordon Reid.

A lot of helpful comments were made some of which we hope will be followed up.

What a shame though that not one State Member of Parliament bothered to attend.

When the Labor Government was in Opposition we were constantly being told they could do nothing because they were in Opposition.

Now they are in power it appears they are too busy congratulating themselves to actually talk to their constituents and hear the ideas that are being given.

We can only hope that they bother to contact Council and listen to the results of the meeting.

If governments are serious about the housing crisis then a state of emergency should be adopted.

No developments should be approved that do not meet specific criteria.

Necessary infrastructure (should be) already in place.

This would mean housing

could be built quickly without delays because of needed essential services.

Land (must be) cheap.

Building houses on land that has cost $500,000 a block is out of the question.

Governments could legislate and give themselves the right to resume land being held by developers and then sell the land cheaply.

Councils do not have the same ability to do this since most excess land is either Crown or State owned.

Housing (should be) affordable.

Europe now builds houses in factories and they can erect a good house in weeks rather than months.

All (that is) needed is factories such as the old Bunnings factory in West Gosford and the European know-how and this could be done here.

There are firms which could do the same here but they seem to be geared to the cheap, poorly constructed movable trailer homes which do not last.

Builders should be encouraged to stop building expensive homes and as a matter of urgency be required to build the affordable homes instead.

There needs to be a return to a Housing Commission to oversee this.

Email, Apr 30 Geoff Mitchell, Kariong

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Jane Barnes Band starts NSW tour in Wyong

The Jane Barnes Band performs a varied and soulful repertoire

The Jane Barnes Band got its start as a family project when lockdown began in 2020 and the Barneses wanted to reach out to people who were struggling with isolation and let them know they were not alone.

Rather than do the songs her famous husband Jimmy Barnes wrote or sang every night,Jane Barnes concentrated on doing songs she felt might touch people in a different way.

The ensemble grew and grew as time went on and some

nights there would be special guest musicians and family members involved.

Before they knew it, The Jane Barnes Band had taken flight.

With all those bedroom, loungeroom and verandah

shows under her belt, Jane Barnes has decided it’s time for the band to take the show on the road.

A NSW tour will kick off on Friday, May 12, at The Art House in Wyong with a varied and soulful repertoire, covering

everything from Otis Redding to Doris Day and Dolly Parton, Cold Chisel to John Denver and Glen Campbell and Leonard Cohen to The Beatles.

Barnes’ song choices have touched people far and wide – each song bringing memories

of childhood and growing up.

The Jane Barnes Band is about sharing the love of music.

Source: Ferris Davies PRM

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Tenor performs rich repertoire of classic musical theatre

Tenor Mark Vincent performs musical theatre favourites

Australia’s most successful tenor, the internationally acclaimed Mark Vincent, will be on stage at The Art House Wyong on Sunday, May 7, with his sensational show, An International Tribute To Andrew Lloyd Webber in 2022.

Singing from the age of 15, Vincent has gone on to become one of Australia’s most beloved and popular tenors, having released nine consecutive number one ARIA classical crossover albums, earning accolades both nationally and internationally.

The audience can expect an intimate performance with Vincent performing a rich repertoire of classical musical theatre songs and arias made popular by the great artists

around the world.

It has been very busy for Vincent in recent years as he has appeared in the popular revival of My Fair Lady directed

by Dame Julie Andrews at the Sydney Opera House.

He has also been touring nationally in all the major national theatres with his hit musical theatre production from London’s West End To Broadway.

Vincent believes his new concert The Phantom Of The Opera & All The Classics will cap off a memorable and rewarding year of sellout shows Australia-wide.

“I’m really looking forward to performing my brand new show this year,” he said.

“There’s nothing like singing

in one of my favourite venues and favourite audiences who always support me when I come to town.

“Australian audiences always return their loyalty which I really really appreciate.”

Vincent is keeping his song list a surprise but fans can be sure he will perform all the favourites including and celebrating the classic hits from London’s West End and Broadway musicals to sing along to.

Hits include Memory, This Is The Moment, Nessun Dorma, You’ll Never Walk Alone, My Way, hits from Les Miserables, The Jersey Boys, Phantom Of The Opera and many more.

Source: Lionel Midford Publicity

Search for Brand New country music talent Coast Community Broadcasters, trading as TodaysCountry94one is looking for entrants in its annual Brand New Star competition.

Entry is open to solo performers, duos and trios aged 15-25.

The community radio station conducts the competition to

encourage and support young country music performers in the early stages of their careers.

Heats will be held at different venues across the region on May 28, June 4 and June 18 (grand final), with full details yet to be released.

Any entrant under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult/parent/guardian.

Now in its 13th year, the competition has fostered many talented artists including Bryce Sainty, Molly Millington and 2022 Toyota Star Maker Winner Max Jackson.

This year the Brand New Star winner will receive a complete production package for one song, including song-writing and mentoring, recording and

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distribution.

The music will not just be played onTodaysCountry94one, but distributed nationally.

For more information email info@todayscountry94one. com or visit https:// todayscountry94one.com/ brand-new-star/.

Source: TodaysCountry94one

Molly Millington is a former winner

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Plenty of fun at Central Coast Kids Day Out

Arts and crafts will be on offer

The countdown is on to this year’s Central Coast Kids Day Out, to be held from 10am to 3pm on Sunday, May 7, at Narara Valley High School.

Now in its 24th year, the annual event provides all the fun that kids can have in one day as well as valuable information for parents and caregivers for raising happy kids and families.

Gate prices are reasonable, with almost everything free inside.

This year the free activities include carnival rides, which is sure to be a winner with the children.

Other free activities include:

Little Kickers and AFL on the oval teaching ball sports and teamwork; the ever popular baby chicken hatchlings; and the Animal Farm.

Li’l Industries will be on hand with its series of books, introducing kids to all sorts of trades and careers and Chef Daniel from Baker Street will be cooking up a storm and showing little budding chefs how it’s done.

In the Baby Sensory Room, little ones can spend some quiet time crunching and crinkling a variety of bits and pieces and Nursery Rhyme Land provides an interactive room where children can immerse themselves in fantasy.

The free activities will include carnival rides

This year they can meet Miss Muffet and Old MacDonald or sit with Miss Polly as she puts her kettle on, as nursery rhymes come to life.

The stage in Nursery Rhyme Land will feature children’s entertainers The Tiptoe Giants, presenting fun original songs which feature great messages for kids.

The Tiptoe Giants will also have a couple of spots on the main outdoor stages.

There will be pony rides from Coast Kids Horseriding.

The free shows will include The Bluey Live Interactive Experience and the fabulous crew of pups from PAW Patrol.

Also on the program will be

Woosical the Musical, based on the WorryWoos books which are in most primary schools.

Seven cute characters represent emotions and suggesting strategies to deal with negative emotions.

This engaging little show is just delightful, and children will recognise Wince and all his friends from the books.

There will be an array of schools and dance and performance academies across two stages throughout the day.

Central Coast Kids Day Out is an information mecca for parents and caregivers.

Under the COLA area a myriad of services and agencies will

provide valuable information on keeping children healthy, thriving and fulfilled, and for the wellbeing of all families, including benevolent and care societies with a strong focus on the more vulnerable and challenged families and kids in our community.

More than 70 stallholders will be there on the day.

The Fun Engine will showcase an antique engine and the wonderful emergency services Police, SES and Fire and Rescue, will be there to share their safety messages.

Healthy Harold, Big Dog and Kody the Friendship Bear will all be there, along with three Cleanaway Waste Warrior

characters at their education van.

Bookmobile and Life Education vans are just another two on site vans.

Central Coast Kids Day Out is a not-for-profit event, organised by a dedicated group of volunteers with the support of the community members and sponsors.

Follow Central Coast Kids Day Out on its Facebook page. Visit the website for more info: www.cckdo.org Tickets are available at https://cckdo23.eventbrite. com.au or at the gate on the day.

Source: Central Coast Kids Day Out

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Chelsea plays Terrigal before heading to Nashville Rising pop/country artist, Chelsea Berman, who grew up on the Central Coast, will play at The Joker and Thief at Terrigal on Thursday, May 18, before she heads to Nashville for the first time.

She started performing at the age of eight and now 23, she has developed into an accomplished recording artist.

Berman’s debut EP release Better Than Ever, released in 2018, achieved the iTunes Country Album #4 chart spot.

It was both the highest placed Australian and female artist release on the day it came out.

Over the next 12 months, Berman performed with ARIA chart-toppers including Travis Collins, Kirsty Lee Akers, The Viper Creek Band, Melanie Dyer and Brad Cox. She also cracked the festival circuit, performing at the Gympie Music Muster, Country at the Camp, Central Coast Country Music Festival and the Groundwater Country Music

Chelsea Berman plays The Joker and Thief on May 18

Festival.

A dedicated songwriter, she has co-written with top Nashville talent including Phil Barton and Jason Duke, as well as Aussie stars Kirsty Lee Akers, Troy Kemp, Melanie

Dyer and Matt Scullion over the past three years.

Berman has also signed a publishing deal, inking an agreement with Kobalt Music.

In January 2019, she became a Toyota Star Maker finalist at

the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Hot on the heels of this achievement, her fan favourite single, Kiss Me Like You Miss Me, was released and – it has now seen over 100,000

streams combined and was added to the New Music Nashville playlist.

In 2020, despite the restrictions of lockdown, Berman released her new sassy single, Can You Just Not, which was quickly added to Triple M Country, Kix Country and to high rotation on CMT. The single made its way to the top 20 on KIX Country and was added to Apple Music’s flagship playlist Today’s Country, where it is one of only a handful of Australian songs.

The start of 2021 saw Berman release her newest EP, Can You Just Not, which quickly rose to the #1 spot on the Itunes Country chart, and was chosen as the featured album on ABC Country.

The same year she released the party track, Tastes Like a Hangover, which has amassed over 120,000 Spotify streams and was added to various playlists across Spotify and Apple Music including Country Chill and Today’s Country.

In 2022 Berman released her single, Break Up With A Friend, which was added to the Fresh Country playlist on Spotify and has had over 200,000 Spotify streams.

She toured with fellow musician Jake Davey on the Fresh Country tour, performing sold out shows across the East Coast of NSW. This year started off strong with her newest release, Going There, hitting the airwaves and starting her crossover into the pop genre, landing on the Spotify playlist Pop n Fresh.

Her next single, Where Does That Leave Me, is due to drop at the end this month and in June she will head to Nashville for the first time and start writing for her next releases.

The May 18 show at The Joker and Thief kicks off at 7pm.

Source: Rock This Country & RTC Records

Sondheim cabaret at Naughty Noodle Three of Australia’s top cabaret artists will present an original All-Sondheim Cabaret at the Naughty Noodle Fun Haus on May 6.

Stephen Sondheim was an American composer and lyricist, one of the most important figures in 20thcentury musical theatre and the inspiration for “Old Friends” Mark Trevorrow (Bob Downe), Rupert Noffs and Bev Kennedy to bring their musicianship and love of Sondheim’s songbook together.

Sondheim, who passed away in 2021, is credited with shows which tackle unexpected themes, from his first production, West Side Story, to his last – Into the Woods.

Australia knows comedian, singer, actor, broadcaster, and journalist Mark Trevorrow best as the character Bob Downe, although his career of more

MISSING LINK Fill in each letter of the alphabet once only.

T

E B A S E A L R E U S U M R S D S T I G A S I OW G S E U R E A P S E T Mark Trevorrow and Rupert Noffs A S P I T C than 40 years goes beyond his to London and New York.

B I E R R famous character.

This new show includes longI from time collaborator E RRupert O Noffs.

S He has doneU everything being arts editor of S Vogue The Central Coast actor, Australia to acting in Kath and Kim, with his work taking him

Bev Kennedy completes the trio

Conservatorium of Music dropout.

“I first fell in love with the music of Stephen Sondheim at Lovatts Puzzles 16 when I was asked to cabaret singer and restaurateur ©age is a NIDA graduate and Sydney perform Being Alive at The

LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE SOLUTIONS See the solutions online at CoastCommunityNews.com.au/puzzle-solutions Missing or Link scanSolution: the QR code below Q F K V T U B E S B A S E D I A L R E O P U S U MA R S D S T I GMA S I OW E G S E X U R E L A P S E T R A S P G I T C H B I E R R J U I C Y Z E RO S T S N W

Sydney Opera House for school graduation,” Noffs said.

“The following year, I scored the role of Tony in West Side Story – when I should’ve been studying for my HSC – and the

rest is history.”

Musician and musical director Bev Kennedy completes the trio, having worked on more than 30 professional music theatre productions including Billy Elliot, Mamma Mia, We Will Rock You, The Lion King, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Chicago and Muriel’s Wedding.

Most recently she was nominated for a green room award for her work as musical director for the Australian Premiere of Gutenberg the Musical.

Old Friends – All Sondheim will play at 7.30pm on Saturday, May 6, at the Naughty Noodle Fun Haus, Ettalong Beach.

Online bookings only at naughtynoodle.com.au/whatson.

Source: Naughty Noodle Fun Haus

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Paying homage to superstar band Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac has sold more than one hundred million albums worldwide and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – their songs are part of international music history.

The Australian Fleetwood Mac Show, Running In The Shadows, is heading to The Art House at Wyong on May 27 to pay homage to the superstar band.

The six-piece rock band explores Fleetwood Mac’s extensive back catalogue, covering all the classic ballads, blues and rock songs from their five-decade-plus career.

This international act, Running In The Shadows, covers the best of Fleetwood Mac’s career from the early music of Peter Green through to the Rumours album era, spanning up to Tango In The Night and even some of Stevie Nicks’ solo material.

Audience members who have seen The Australian Fleetwood Mac show in the past have found it hard to believe they were not experiencing the real deal on stage.

Established in 2002 by Kiwis Gary Stewart and Ursula Cain in New Zealand, Running in the Shadows is now Australia’s

The Running In The Shadows show is more than just a tribute

number one Fleetwood Mac experience.

“Being able to take this show on the road around Australia is a highlight for us, there is so

much to see in this huge country as we bring the music of Fleetwood Mac to the regional towns, and the regional towns turn it on for us

with their hospitality and energy at the shows,” Stewart said.

This show has built up a fan base of loyal supporters aged

from their 20s to avid followers in their 70s.

Ursula Cain, who sings the songs of Stevie Nicks, says the show is more than just a tribute.

“We bring the raw passion and energy that Fleetwood Mac displayed throughout the 1970s – it’s because we love this band, and the music,” she said.

Cain not only works her way through the large Fleetwood Mac repertoire, but also the music from Stevie Nicks’ solo career.

Sue Murray

An enchanting afternoon of Love Duets Crestani Scholarships, a local not-for profit charity working towards making life better for cancer patients, will host Love Duets, a musical afternoon at the Performing Arts Centre, Central Coast Grammar School, at 2pm on Sunday, May 28.

Musical duo Dmitri and Katia Pronin will pay tribute to opera, musical theatre and jazz, taking the audience to a world where music is the universal

language.

Based in Sydney, the husband-and-wife duo are well-established international artists with long international performance careers.

Dmitri, an accomplished tenor, has performed extensively as a singer and actor in Australia, Europe and Asia, with many leading roles including in the operas: La Traviata, Tosca and La Boheme.

He has also enjoyed a wide range of roles in theatre, film

Dmitri and Katia Pronin

and television both in Australia and Russia.

He graduated from the Victoria College of the Arts

where he worked with David Kram and Vladimir Vais.

Katia gained a diploma of singing from the St Petersburg Conservatorium and a Batchelor of Music in Milan, Italy.

She has featured as the principal soprano in various operas including La Traviata, Rigoletto and Carmen as well as having worked as a pianist with OperaAustralia,Melbourne Opera, Citi Opera and the Russian American Festival of

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The two will perform Love Duets in a fundraising performance for Crestani Scholarships in support of the Cancer Biomedical Research project scheduled to be launched this year at the Gosford-University of Newcastle Research Institute.

Tickets are available at www. ccgs.nsw.edu.au/loveduets or by calling 0416 241 110.

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Shipbuilders Heritage Walk returns on May 21 The Rotary 4 VillagesShipbuilders Heritage Walk is set to return to Kincumber on Sunday, May 21, from 8.30am.

The event takes participants on a short 3km walk on a flat, paved path along the historical, scenic waterfronts of Kincumber, Yattalunga, Saratoga and Davistown.

While the event is in its seventh year with a heritage theme, it actually began some years earlier, organised by Rotary Kincumber.

At that time it was a new concept for a community walk which included the purchase of a 4 Villages Passport which was stamped at each village.

As the original organisers retired interest began to wane.

Rotary decided to abandon the event entirely when only a handful of people turned up to

The historical displays are always popular

participate on one rain-affected Sunday in 2015.

However, there were those within Rotary who thought the idea was too good to let pass and the event underwent a rejuvenation.

With some creative rethinking, model makers were enlisted to help create history

displays which were then exhibited at each of the four villages.

Provided with each 4 Villages Passport was a Q&A card with four questions relating to the history displays and the chance to win history ferry tours.

“All this provided a new atmosphere which proved very

popular,” spokesperson Peter Rea said.

“A program was developed to provide new displays, ensuring there would be something different each year and the numbers of walkers increased significantly.

“Professionals and skilled artisans construct the historical

models and dioramas.

“These are then combined with professional standard graphic designed elements containing information, maps, illustrations etc, reproduced on large format high quality full colour printouts.

“Not only do these volunteers provide thousands of hours of highly skilled work but they also provide the thousands of dollars required for the materials.”

Rea said new activities have been added to the event itself.

Children who come dressedup receive a free 4 Villages Passport as well as a lucky-dip.

Broken Bay Pearls provides a vessel and tour guide to conduct tours along the Shipbuilders waterfront from Davistown to Kincumber.

The transport theme has expanded from maritime to

now include classic car displays.

On Davistown Reserve there will be food, live music, stalls, machinery, a magician and children’s attractions such as face painting.

Apart from the history displays on the walk, some of the most popular displays from previous years will be reexhibited in the 100-year-old Progress Hall, along with a sneak-peek at some of next year’s displays.

4 Villages Passports with the Q&A card will be available at Kincumber from 8.30am to 12.30pm for $5 adults and $2 for children, with activities continuing at Davistown Reserve until 3pm.

Source: Rotary 4 Villages-Shipbuilders Heritage Walk

Broadway Diva heads to Avoca Theatre Travels and Olivia Ruggiero Productions will present their critically acclaimed one woman cabaret, Broadway Diva, at Avoca Beach Theatre on Saturday, May 13, before it heads to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August.

Opera and musical theatre singer, Olivia Ruggiero, stars in the cabaret show, which features beloved show tunes from such shows as Les Miserables, Anastasia, Cabaret, SMASH, Jesus Christ Superstar and more.

The show is a celebration of

those songs that stay with you long after you have heard them on stage.

Ruggiero was named Broadwayworld Sydney’s Best Solo Performer of 2022.

Co-created and directed by Carly Fisher, Broadway Diva is a show for musical lovers and Broadway novices alike.

“This show is, in many ways, an ode to the incredible musicians, lyricists, composers and songwriters that have made an indelible mark on our careers and lives,” Fisher said.

“It is also our own special thank you to the people in our

Dancing in the shadows of

lives who introduced us to shows, fostered our passion and continue to support our dreams – our families.

“If you’ve ever seen a show, or a movie, and walked out with a song stuck in your head… this show is for you.”

The show will be performed at Avoca Beach Theatre at 7.30pm on May 13.

Tickets are available at https://events.humanitix.com/ broadway-diva-live-concert.

Source: Theatre Travels Olivia Ruggiero stars in Broadway Diva

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PAGE 21

Council calls on government to restart wind farm consultation

The proposed offshore wind farm Council wants the wind farm proposal to go back out for community consultation

Central Coast Council is calling for more information and community consultation before the Federal Government makes a decision on whether to establish a renewable energy area with wind turbines in the Pacific Ocean off the Central Coast and Hunter.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is proposing a Hunter Offshore Renewable Energy Area (HOREA) extending from Port Stephens to Norah Head, 10km off the coast, with turbines standing 250m above sea level.

Submissions for the project closed on April 28 but Council says it is premature to declare the HOREA until consultation is

recommenced and further updated information is available onhow it will affect the community and environment, and people have the opportunity to provide informed feedback.

Council supports transition to net zero emissions but says the consultation material so far, including the name of the proposed area, does not reflect likely impacts on the Central Coast, instead focuses entirely on the Hunter.

Consultation and information sessions must include communities and groups that are most affected, such as the Norah Head community and Norah Head National Surfing Reserve which were not targeted in previous consultation, Council says in its submission.

“There is currently insufficient coastline.

Council’s submission raises information available to many more detailed questions In its submission, Council demonstrate the noted the expected benefits of than the proposal in its present environmental, economic and the proposed HOREA – with form answers, but must be social impacts the proposed opportunities to drive economic addressed in the development HOREA will have on the Central growth, support and create assessment stage.

Coast, including on the jobs, provide clean and Council queries the method of terrestrial and marine affordable power and to help anchoring wind turbines and environment, marine life and reach net zero by 2050 – must evidence there is no risk of avian fauna, marine users and be shared with the Central fixed points failing, which is emergency services,” it says.

Coast (which is part of an essential due to the size and 138theRobina Centre Drive Robina volume Qld 4226 Council raised issue ofTown identified NSW Renewable of cargo vessels in visual impact the 3275 wind Robina Energy Zone) – andCentre any offsets proximity and the material POofBox Town Qldclose 4230 turbines which would be seen compensatory measures they transport.

Tel: 1300 36 or0867 Fax: 1300 81 8962 from a significant area of from negative impacts must email: artwork@localdirectories.com.au Although the HOREA proposal coastline especially as it was directly benefit the affected says the area will be shared, it www.localdirectories.com.au likely they would be lit at night. communities. also says there will be Using a Radar Horizon Clarification is required on restrictions around specific Calculator, which considers the whether the offshore renewable infrastructure. curvature of the earth, and then energy area is anticipated to Will restrictions impact on factoring in environmental increase in size, particularly to aircraft or emergency services considerations, Council the south, with the likely such as Marine Rescue? estimates that on light wind expansion over time of the Will there be changes to days the turbines would be Hunter-Central Coast routes travelled by vessels to visible for up to 40km from the Renewable Energy Zone. the Port of Newcastle or Port

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Council says land-based impacts should also be considered, including the launch site to facilitate construction of the infrastructure, maintenance access and supply of energy to the mainland including how and where cables transporting the energy generated from the HOREA be ported to land, as well as onshore infrastructure requirements such as grid connection, cable landing facility, converter stations and onshore substation.

It is assumed that access to high voltage power lines near the Eraring, Vales Point and former Munmorah power stations will drive development within the HOREA.

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Developer of Long Jetty high-rise wants to go even higher Developers of a high-rise residential development at Long Jetty have lodged revised architectural plans with Central Coast Council to eliminate in-ground basement car parking and raise the height of buildings by five metres.

Location of the high-rise development at Long Jetty

The former Wyong Shire Council approved the original development in 2004 to construct seven buildings up to 10 storeys high with 217 residential units, a swimming pool and three basement levels including two levels of parking for 356 vehicles and a gym and meeting room on basement level one adjacent the car park entry.

There will be 61 threebedroom apartments and 156 two-bedders within the seven multi-storey buildings linked by courtyards and communal open spaces.

The 12,026sqm development site is on a prominent corner position extending 108m along

Kitchenner Rd, 67m along Toowoon Bay Rd and also taking in 11 Centennial Ave. Over the years there have been a few modifications to the original plans and now the developer has lodged a Section 4.55 (2) application with Central Coast Council for approval to eliminate in-ground basement parking and raise building heights by five metres.

If changes are needed to a development consent Section 4.55 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (as amended) allows modifications but the development must be substantially the same development.

Architectural drawings in the application (1107/2004F) show the changed heights and levels but it doesn’t explain why the developer wants to move two car parking levels to above ground.

The development will be built in three stages with the first

being a three-storey building facing Toowoon Bay Rd stepping up to a maximum five-storey building in the western portion of the site, as well as a four-five-storey building stepping up to a maximum seven storeys at the corner of Toowoon Bay Rd and Kitchener Rd. In the second stage there will be a four-to-five storey building fronting Kitchener Rd stepping up to a maximum seven storeys and another four-to-five storey building (with a three-storey component) fronting Kitchener Rd stepping up to a maximum seven storeys in the eastern portion of the site.

The third stage comprises three buildings – the 10-storey building central to the site stepping down to six levels in the northern portion of the site; a two-storey stepping up to five levels and another three-storey building.

Sue Murray

Podcast to highlight new rental system Central Coast Council will continue commitment to provide affordable housing solutions with the launch of an educational podcast.

The podcast will help people to understand alternatives to commercial property leases, including head leasing, and how their money can go back into supporting the community.

Head leasing is a community housing model where a leasing arrangement is made between a private rental landlord and a community housing provider, which then on-lets the property to people on low to very low incomes.

The tenant may only be able to pay a portion of the rent but the community housing provider makes up the difference with subsidies and entitlements.

The Socially Responsible Investors podcast, to be hosted

The podcast will highlight a new renting model for home owners

on My Millennial Money, is an outcome of the Central Coast Affordable Housing Strategy and is aimed at local property owners and ‘mum and dad’ investors.

It will share information on how people with a home to rent can be more socially responsible, while having the

same income, securities and conditions as they would in the private market.

Council’s Director Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith, said the podcast would target all those looking to invest in the housing market but focus primarily on younger investors aged 35-55.

“We know it is this demographic who make decisions based on both social and financial outcomes,” she said.

“The podcast will also raise the profile of community housing providers and specialty services working in the space of affordable housing.

“Alarmingly, 24,200 households on the Central Coast are in housing stress and it is likely that these residents don’t have income left over for essential items after they’ve paid the rent.

“With 60 per cent of Central Coast households on very low, low and moderate incomes it is very likely that the number of households experiencing housing stress will increase into the future.

“We know the private market is failing to provide social and affordable housing and the pressure is mounting for people who are spending over 30 per cent of their take home income on housing.”

Smith said the podcast would also debunk some of the fears about leasing to vulnerable tenants and provide information about the entitlements available to landlords who took up a head leasing arrangement.

ouncil Administrator Rik Hart said Council had already started to provide real action on addressing the affordable housing crisis on the Coast, including partnering with Pacific Link Housing on projects for the development of affordable housing properties.

“This latest initiative is a practical, targeted way where we are again working with experts in an effort help provide solutions,” he said.

“The podcast will encourage investors to consider head leasing as an option for their investment properties which will increase the supply of affordable housing on the Central Coast.”

The Podcast is available at mymillennial.money/ mymillennialmoney in the Podcast tab.

Source: Central Coast Council

THURSDAY, 4 MAY 2023

PAGE 23

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Escape from the big cities predates the pandemic WITH

Michelle BALTAZAR Editor-in-Chief • Money magazine The exodus out of the capital cities is not just a Covid-induced phenomena, as the trend preceded the pandemic.

An Exodus to Lifestyle report from Hotspotting finds that while the pandemic made the trend more visible, it was already in place in the years leading up to it.

Top 10 destinations

• Toowoomba, Qld • Yeppoon, Qld • Geraldton, WA • Mount Gambier, SA • Bunbury, WA • Townsville, Qld • Mitchell Shire, Vic • Murray Bridge, SA • Southern Moreton Bay

islands, Qld • Port Lincoln, SA

Source: Hotspotting, Exodus to Lifestyle

According to Hotspotting director Terry Ryder, Sydney has been losing its population for the past decade, while Melbourne has been losing it for the past six years.

“Fundamentally, this big migration has been caused by the pursuit of lifestyle and affordability, enabled by technology – the ability to work remotely,” says Ryder.

Queensland has been the biggest beneficiary of this shift, with four spots in the top 10 list, while South Australia has three spots, Western Australia two and Victoria one.

Ryder says seaside hotspots like Byron Bay, the Gold and Sunshine coasts and the Mornington Peninsula have had phenomenal growth, but the report suggests people are also looking inland.

“I see people making a hill change rather than a sea

change, focusing on the same motivations, such as affordability and lifestyle, but in more of a hinterland or country setting.”

Toowoomba in south-east Queensland took out the number one spot in the report, particularly as its inclusion in Brisbane’s 2032 Olympic bid has added to its strategic importance.

“The city’s affordability, low vacancies and solid yields is attracting a variety of property buyers to the region, including first-home buyers, tree changers, baby boomers, retirees and investors,” says Ryder.

Also on the list is the Queensland coastal town of Yeppoon, near Rockhampton, which attracted the second

highest number of overseas searches for the states in 2022, according to Ryder.

“Despite this trend, local prices remain affordable, with Yeppoon and several nearby suburbs still having median house prices around $500,000.”

Port Lincoln, Murray Bridge and Mt Gambier were the top locations in South Australia,

while Geraldton and Bunbury represent Western Australia and Mitchell Shire is the one location from Victoria.

“Buying in a regional centre can represent a win-win-win situation for investors – cheaper prices, higher rental yields and good potential for price growth,” says Ryder.

ELIOT HASTIE

Save $20 a month on telco bills by switching As rising living costs continue to bite, households are looking for savings wherever they can find them.

Seventy-seven of respondents in a recent survey by WhistleOut, the telco comparison site, said they are trying to cut their expenses, including their mobile and internet bills.

That’s not to say they will take just any reward for their

effort, though, as 44% of those surveyed said they would need to save at least $20 a month on their phone plan before switching to another provider.

Fortunately, says WhistleOut editor Alex Choros, there could be plenty of opportunity for the customers of larger telcos.

“If an Australian owns their phone, it’s very easy to trim $20 off their monthly mobile bill.

“Postpaid plans on the big three telcos – Telstra, Optus and Vodafone – start at $45 per month and go up from there.

"At the same time, there are a whole host of smaller providers offering great deals at much more affordable prices.”

Beyond mobile plans, Choros says that comparing providers and finding a plan that matches household usage are musts for

those looking to reduce their home internet bills.

“While NBN prices have gotten more expensive in recent years, there are still great offers to be found," he says.

“NBN providers tend to offer their best price to new customers, and you’ll typically get a discount for your first six months when you swap providers.”

TOM WATSON

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Council urges collaborative approach to housing crisis A housing forum organised

by Central Coast Council has challenged all stakeholders involved in housing on the Central Coast to work together in genuine collaboration and consultation to try to solve the housing crisis facing the region.

Community members, developers, not-for-profit housing providers, government agencies, Members of Parliament and Council representatives all came together on April 27 to discuss the current housing situation on the Central Coast, including Council’s draft Local Housing Strategy.

Council Administrator Rik Hart said the Central Coast was currently home to about 348,000 residents.

“It is projected that our population will increase to over 404,000 people by 2041 – that’s another 55,000 people, or 2,800 people every year,” he said.

“To house these people, the government’s Central Coast Regional Plan 2041 anticipates

Council says all levels of government must work together to solve the crisis

we will require an additional 32,550 dwellings.”

Forum participants discussed a range of issues and potential solutions, but key themes and sticking points were necessary infrastructure, the need for all levels of government to work together, the type of housing needed and a change in

mindset.

With the Central Coast being vast and travel times long, the need for better infrastructure to support population growth was a key talking point.

The need for all three tiers of government – federal, state and local – to work together was emphasised.

The Forum found that the type of housing currently being built is not reflecting the changing needs of the community, particularly for young and older people.

It concluded that a change in mindset was required – from thinking about property as a wealth building tool to thinking

of it as an essential element for quality of life.

“A key message that came out of the Forum is that there needs to be a simplified process to provide affordable accommodation of various types,” Hart said.

“To achieve this, more collaboration and discussion is

required at all levels – government, Council, developers, community groups and, of course, the local community itself.

“We have to remove barriers but at the same time ensure that affordable housing is of good quality, fits in with its neighbourhood and most importantly provides what is needed to the demographics seeking accommodation.

“It was agreed that there is no silver bullet, but it was acknowledged that we need to think outside the square on solutions, listen at a local community level for ideas and also concerns about types of development.”

Hart said it was evident there was genuine concern from all stakeholders, and a willingness to find solutions to the crisis.

With submissions on draft Local Housing Strategy closing on May 3, Council will consider all submissions and make changes to the draft with a report to go to Council in coming months.

Source: Central Coast Council

Gosford franchisee is Kwik Kopy’s best Gosford businessman Peter Clarke has been named Kwik Kopy Franchisee of the Year for the second time.

Clarke was named winner of this year’s award at the 2023 Sales and Marketing Summit, having also won the annual prize in 2021.

The award recognises Kwik Kopy Australia’s franchisees who exceed financial performance targets, have strong business acumen, present exceptional leadership skills and demonstrate excellent relationships with their communities in line with the organisation’s values.

Clarke has been with Kwik Kopy Australia for over 16 years, building the Gosford

franchise from the ground up.

He has built a profitable business with a seven-figure sales turnover by following Kwik Kopy Australia’s Sales System of building enduring relationships of trust with his customers.

Clarke is also a pioneer in sustainable green printing, achieving SGP level 2, an environmental certification program developed by the Print & Visual Communications Association (PVCA) designed to standardise sustainable practices within the print industry.

He also coached 2022’s award winner from the Tuggerah franchise into running her own business after coming from a corporate IT

BRAZEL MOORE

FAMILY

role.

Kwik Kopy CEO Sonia Shwabsky said Clarke consistently embodies the values of Kwik Kopy Australia and has continued to demonstrate exceptional leadership skills and a commitment to sustainability.

He is also active in the Central Coast community through his role as President of the Rotary Club of Gosford City.

For over 40 years, Kwik Kopy Australia has provided Australian entrepreneurs, businesses and Non for Profits at its 93 franchises across the country with printing, packaging, signage, design and marketing services.

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Source: Kwik Kopy

Peter Clarke accepts his award from Founder of Kwik Kopy Australia and Board Director Stephen Penfold

- 1800 891 691 FREE FAMILY LAW FREECALL 4324 7699 131-133 Donnison Street Gosford SEMINAR brazelmoorelawyers.com.au Amelia Cox of Brazel Moore Family Lawyers will present a FREE seminar which will help you to understand your rights, guide you through your separation in an easy to understand way and present options available to you so that you are not overwhelmed by the process.

Amelia’s presentation will cover property settlement, residence of children, defacto relationships, mediation and early settlement options so that you can consider your situation and plan where to from here, especially if you find yourself in the Family Court system.

The Seminar will be presented in a friendly relaxed atmosphere and there will be plenty of time for your questions.

You’ll be helped a lot in understanding the system and will then be able to confidently consider what steps you need to take next.

PAGE 26

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Minister’s first-hand look at Coast’s projects and challenges Federal Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Kristy McBain, was on the Central Coast on April 27 to discuss regionally significant projects with stakeholders.

In a visit hosted by Regional Development Australia Central Coast (RDACC), McBain was here to learn more about the projects and challenges shaping the region, including enabling infrastructure, food innovation, affordable housing, healthcare and manufacturing.

RDACC Chair Lawrie McKinna said the visit was a promising show of support for the Central Coast.

“It was a pleasure to host Minister McBain and we appreciate her making the time in her very full schedule to come and gain a better understanding of both the

opportunities and challenges we face as a community,” he said.

“The fact that she was here listening to our concerns and learning more about our successes is a promising sign of further support and collaboration from the Australian Government in the future.”

RDACC Deputy Chair Anna Cruckshank said the Minister was given a firsthand look at how federal funding is being used to progress catalyst projects as key drivers for change including the Central Coast Food Innovation Initiative.

“A walking tour of the University of Newcastle’s Ourimbah Campus enabled Minister McBain to experience firsthand the recently established Food and Agribusiness Doctoral Training Centre, as well as examining

Minister Kristy McBain meets with stakeholders on the Central Coast

the state-of-the-art food technology sensory facility and teaching lab upgrades, that is assisting the region to become a centre of innovation,” she said.

RDACC CEO and Director Regional Development, John Mouland, says the visit was also an opportunity to showcase

and strengthen regional collaboration.

“Minister McBain’s visit gave us an opportunity to highlight the strength and unity of our regional leaders, with a broad cross section of government, education, health, housing and industry representatives all in attendance,” he said.

“This sends a clear message to the Federal Government that we are a strong and unified region, willing to work together for better outcomes for our community and to achieve our full potential as a strong and vibrant community.”

Regional stakeholders present were RDACC, Central

Coast Council, University of Newcastle, Central Coast Health District, Central Coast Research Institute for Integrated Care, Central Coast Industry Connect, Australian Trade and Investment Commission Central Coast & Hunter, Pacific Link Housing and Borg Manufacturing.

Among items discussed, along with the food innovation initiative,were:an infrastructure priorities list, a regional affordable housing initiative; integrated care research and projects the region’s manufacturing sector; activity on regional trade and investment programs; circular economy initiatives; and staff recruitment and retention challenges for businesses.

Source: Regional Development Australia Central Coast

Supporting more businesses to gain ECO certification Seven Central Coast attractions now have ECO certification, with nine more applications pending, and Central Coast Council is helping more eligible businesses in the region to start their own ECO journey.

TreeTops Adventures is one of the certified ECO destinations

Carpenter & Joiner 40yrs Experience Decks, Pergolas, Doors, Windows etc Fully Insured - Call Gary

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support, successful businesses will gain a five-hour ecotourism consultant session with Navigate Tourism to assist with their application.

All participants will be included in the ECO Advocate Content Plan supported by the wider ECO Destination marketing campaign – PR, photography and videography activities with Destination Central Coast.

Source: Destination Central Coast team, Central Coast Council

PANEL BEATER We are looking for a fully qualified and experienced panel beater to join the team in a multi dealer approved shop that has stood the test of time in Hornsby.

You must be fully qualified with a NSW tradie Licence and have first class attention to detail with good organisational skills and a “quality only” approach to work standards.

Notice of 1080 program The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is conducting a ground baiting program in Palm Grove Nature Reserve from Sunday 23 April until Friday 9 June 2023.

Valuable skills and attributes include: • • • • •

The operation will use 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) poison for the control of wild dogs.

The program is designed to minimise predator impact on wildlife, especially threatened species.

Signs will be located at the entry to the baiting location. Domestic pets are not permitted into NSW National Parks managed land. Pets and working dogs may be affected (1080 is lethal to cats and dogs). Pets and working dogs must be restrained or muzzled in the vicinity and must not enter the baiting location. In the event of accidental poisoning seek immediate veterinary assistance.

Please contact the Local Girrakool NPWS area office for further information on (02) 4320 4200.

Speed Quality A keen eye for detail and finish Work well under pressure Weekend work available by mutual agreement

As you will have direct contact others in the team, it’s important that you have good communication skills and an approachable manner.

Job Type: Salary: Hours: Contact: Phone:

SB0571

MGL CARPENTRY

Rocky Trail Entertainment, Terrigal Ocean Tours, Aquafun Avoca Lake, Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre, TreeTops Adventures, Iris Lodge Alpacas and Noonaweena all have their certification, with Council strengthening its partnership

with Ecotourism Australia.

Council is offering one-off funding of $600 to 10 local tourism businesses to support their ECO or Sustainability Certification journey.

Expressions of Interest from eligible operators closed on May 3, with Council now finalising the successful participants in the Central Coast ECO Advocate Incentive Program for 2023.

In addition to a $600 discounted annual fee with Ecotourism Australia to start certification or for resource

Permanent Full Time Competitive salary Monday to Friday 7:30 to 4pm info@srautobody.com.au (02) 9476 2558

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PAGE 28

THURSDAY, 4 MAY 2023

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Moves to cut teachers’ workload applauded Central Coast Council P&C (CCC P&C) has welcomed an announcement from Education Minister Prue Car that unnecessary paperwork is to be reduced for the state’s teachers.

Car announced on April 26 that the NSW Government is moving quickly to reduce the administrative burden on teachers, with the first round of red tape cuts already begun.

From April 26, the Government announced: the halving of more than 70 mandated changes to policies and processes that were due to roll out in Term 2, to only those that were essential and have minimal impact on frontline teachers; and a pause and review on all pilots and programs starting in Term 2 with teachers to be consulted on which ones to continue.

“This is just the beginning of the Minns Labor Government’s mission to reduce workload and lift the status of the teaching profession,” Car said.

“Schools, teachers and

principals are over-burdened with administrative tasks and bureaucratic processes.”

Car said a review had looked at ways to remove, simplify or digitise tasks, with a focus on culling administrative tasks that add no benefit to student outcomes.

Among the changes stopped are activities relating to the surveying of teachers, the reporting of information and administrative work.

Car will also hold a roundtable in coming weeks with all the key partners in public education, including the NSW Teachers Federation, to agree on future actions targeting the workload challenge and to lift the status of the profession.

Further actions to support teachers include expanding the school counselling service, strengthening wellbeing support for teachers to address burnout, improving the way schools support students with additional needs and simplifying reporting to

The moves are designed to remove administrative tasks so teachers can spend more time with students

parents.

“I have been out to schools and spoken to hundreds of teachers, principals and support staff about the challenges they face every day,” she said.

“We’ve heard loud and clear that teachers are swamped with endless requirements to implement policy updates that cut into the time they should be spending with students and planning lessons.

“We need to act urgently to address this, which is why I have told the department to make changes right away to support our teachers; this is just the start.

“If I can remove some of this work, make teachers’ lives easier so they can focus on student learning then I’ll know my government is delivering for teachers and students.”

CCC P&C President Sharryn Brownlee said having the

Department of Education do a line by line audit was the best way to ensure that important processes continue but unnecessary and duplicate work is removed from teachers’ workload so they can focus on teaching students.

“We see the burden of paperwork through the many panels and committees we are on in schools,” she said.

“The Minister is ensuring engaging, relevant class lessons will once again be the priority for teachers, not unnecessary administrative paperwork.

“CCC P&C knows parents are very optimistic that student learning outcomes will improve as a result of the proposed changes.

“Tone from the top really matters and hearing direct from Minister Car has already helped with staff morale, and that will flow through to whole school well being.

“Parents have been concerned about the difficulties

in recruiting and retaining teachers over recent years and the disconnect between the Department of Education senior leadership team and schools was very clear as interview panels had to be reconvened to try to attract applicants.

“Back of house processes were negatively impacting on teaching time through unnecessary paperwork.”

Brownlee said both Minister Car and Deputy Secretary, School Operations and Performance at the Department of Education, Murat Dizdar, had spent a lot of time visiting schools on the Central Coast, talking with students, staff and community. “(We) are very optimistic for the future of education in NSW as the much-needed changes are made,” she said.

“Students will benefit as will staff and families right across the education community.”

Terry Collins

Boost for Coast’s general practices Member for Robertson Gordon Reid says a new program announced this week by the Federal Government will provide a much-needed boost to general practices on the Central Coast and across Australia.

The Strengthening Medicare – General Practice (GP) Grants Program will allow all general practices and eligible Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) to expand patient access and improve their services.

“Access to health care is one of the top concerns raised when talking to residents on the Central Coast,” Reid said.

State Health Minister Ryan Park, Federal Health Minister Mark Butler, Member for Robertson Gordon Reid, Member for Dobell Emma McBride and Kincumber Doctors GP Ian Charlton

“I am proud to be a part of a government that supports our

hardworking GPs.” The grants will

enable

practices to: enhance digital health capability; upgrade

infection prevention and control arrangements; and maintain and/or achieve accreditation against the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Standards for General Practices (5th edition).

They will be provided to local practices depending on accredited GP practice size.

Smaller practices are eligible for grants of $25,000 or $35,000, and larger practices are eligible for grants of $50,000.

GP practices and ACCHOs not currently accredited against the RACGP standards will be eligible for $25,000.

Over the coming weeks,

PHNs and NACCHO will be sending letters directly to general practices on the Central Coast inviting participation in the program.

Health Minister Mark Butler said after working tirelessly throughout the pandemic, doctors deserved more than thanks.

“We understand the crucial importance of primary health care provided by GPs,” he said.

“This funding will help improve practices and make sure Australians can access safe, quality and affordable healthcare when and where they need it.”

Source: Member for Robertson Gordon Reid

$25,000 contribution for burns fund Gosford and Wyong hospital emergency departments have received a donation of $25,000 to buy equipment to treat burns and trauma patients from local emergency service workers who participated in the 000 (Triple Zero) Cup. The 000 Cup is an annual event, where Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) emergency, intensive care and cardiac care staff compete against Fire and Rescue firefighters, paramedics and police in a touch football competition to raise money for the CCLHD burns equipment fund.

NSW Fire and Rescue Central Coast Duty Commander, Inspector Jarrod King, visited Gosford Hospital recently to present the donation to Director of Gosford Emergency Department, Dr Robbie McMahon.

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who participated in the 000 Cup for their generosity,” McMahon said.

“Our emergency services workers serve our community every day and we thank them for giving up their time to raise money to support our patients.

“Over the past 20 years they have raised more than $255,000 for our burns equipment fund.

“One of the most recent

Deputy Commander Jarrod King and retired FRNSW members Brad Page and Grant Pride view some of the equipment with Dr Robbie McMahon

purchases from the fund was an AMBU monitor and scopes which allows our clinicians to check a patient’s airway to assess the level of damage and determine the best treatment to be provided.”

King said the 000 Cup was held at the end of last year, for the first time since 2019, after it was put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During this time, Fire and Rescue NSW and Rural Fire

Service employees and stations continued to make generous donations to raise money for the Central Coast Burns Equipment Fund.

“Our emergency service workers really look forward to

taking part in the 000 Cup,” he said.

“It isn’t just a fundraiser but an event that brings our local emergency services workers together for some fun and friendly rivalry.

“It has been wonderful visiting Gosford Hospital to talk to staff about how equipment purchased from the fund is benefiting burns and trauma patients and making it easier for hospital staff to provide them with the best possible treatment.

“We know they will put this year’s donation to good use to help care for local patients.”

Source: Central Coast Local Health District

4 MAY 2023

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Down in the Garden: How to Grow Gorgeous Garlic They say that to enjoy garlic come Remembrance Day (November), you must plant by Anzac Day, so get cracking!

Due to the warmth we are still experiencing, there are a couple of more weeks left in the garlic planting window this year.

Fresh garlic, straight from the garden is a divine experience and it is also the way to ensure you get the maximum health benefits possible.

It is garlic planting time on The Coast and across temperate areas of Australia right now.

Good news is, they are one of the easiest plants to grow and home-grown means more flavour and nutrients.

This wonderful veggie can be planted in pots and garden beds and can be used fresh or stored for use all year-round.

Garlic (Allium sativum), probably originated in the western areas of Asia, but it is such a long-cultivated plant that we cannot be completely sure.

The Ancient peoples of Egypt, China, and India, all have recorded histories of growing and using garlic as a medicinal

and culinary plant with some even attributing mystical properties to it.

Most commercial garlic is treated with a chemical to render it sterile, so you won’t be able to use those bulbs for propagation and it’s handy to know that there are two types of garlic, ‘hard-neck’ which has flowers and ‘soft-neck’ which does not.

Soft-neck garlic will store for longer than it’s hard-neck friend, but I do like the flowers which are also edible, and the spikes make amazing, dried foliage material.

Another factor you will need to consider is that you probably won’t end up with as large a bulb size as you find in the shops, but you will have leaves and you can eat those as well.

Types to consider: Dynamite Purple, Spanish Roja, White Crookneck, Giant Russian, Melbourne Market.

Along with growing garlic, make this spray from it to combat pests in your garden.

Blend together 4 cloves of garlic with 1 cup of water and a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid (not antibacterial), strain into 500ml spray bottle and top with water.

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Cheralyn is a horticulture author and along with Pete Little, hosts ‘At Home with The Gardening Gang’

WITH CHERALYN DARCEY

8 - 10am live every Saturday on CoastFM96.3

cheralyn cheralyn.darcey Spray onto plants to deter pests.

Test on a few leaves first.

Garlic is a brilliant companion plant for beetroot, carrots, strawberries, lettuce, and roses and provides a fair amount of protection from various pests, but it should never be planted alongside beans or peas as it will stunt their growth and production.

For medical use garlic has been used as both an antiseptic and an antibacterial agent for over 3,000 years.

Garlic is still used for these reasons in herbal medicine today along with treatments for digestive issues, respiratory diseases and for circulatory benefits as well.

Grow Your Own Garlic I had a chat with Pete Donnelly from Coachwood Nursery at Somersby for his tips on growing garlic on The Coast.

He shared that the soil must be open, free-draining and

well-prepared with compost.

I asked about just planting store-brough garlic.

“No don’t do that, “Peter said, “You will find that supermarket garlic will usually come from overseas and be treated with chemicals.

Peter Donnelly of Coachwood

If you purchase from local Farmers Markets, ensure that the produce is organic and then that would be ok.”

Soil pH level is best sitting

between 6.5 and 7.5 is best and whether you decide to grow in the garden or in pots, find a sunny spot.

Garlic can be planted by seed but is mostly cultivated via bulbs.

To do this, gently separate the bulb into individual corms.

Plant directly in their final designation into the soil with the tips just below the surface and firm down.

Garlic is not a fan of weeds so keep it tidy and water should be consistent but don’t drown your plant.

They just don’t like to get soggy feet or humidity.

Water seedlings a few times a week until they are a couple of months old and then back off to once or twice a week.

Feed every second week with a seaweed-based fertiliser, as they love it and mulch with your usual veggie garden mulch

medium but ensure you don’t crowd the plants as air flow and low humidly are important.

Harvest most varieties at around the five-month mark but this will depend greatly on type.

You will know they are ready as the leaves will begin to wilt and yellow around this time.

Lift gently, keep the leaves intact and hang to dry for a few weeks in a warm, sheltered spot to cure before storing in a cool, dry, dark place.

The leaves are left on during the curing process so that all additional nutrients are pulled down into the bulb.

Don’t forget to save some of those bulbs for next year’s planting.

You can find garlic to grow at your local nursery or online: diggers.com.au or theseed garlicshop.com.au and Giant Russian Garlic: naglesfallsfarm. com.au

WHAT’S ON FOR PLANT LOVERS 25 YEARRAL

Cactus and Succulent Sale, Charmhaven - Saturday 9am – 1pm Saturday 13th May Central Coast Cactus and Succulent Club have an amazing sale on at the Charmhaven Hall Nararah Ave Charmhaven

STRUCTU Y WARRANT

More information about the sale and club: 0401544052

Dried Flower Workshop - Coachwood Nursery, 900 Wisemans Ferry Road, Somersby 3-5pm Sunday 7th May Take home a gorgeous flower arrangement that you create on the day! Everything supplied.

Just bring along: - your own drink bottle, box to take home your creation, pen and paper for taking notes as there is a lot to learn, a jacket as it can get cool in the afternoons at Dried Flower Workshop at Coachwood Nursery Somersby and comfortable shoes.

Rain, Hail or Shine! Held in the Dried Flower Emporium in the grounds of Coachwood Nursery.

Information and tickets: coachwoodnursery.com Soil, Pests and Predators in Your Edible Garden with Kerrie Anderson - Holgate, 9:30am - 12:30pm Thursday 18th May No matter what the size of your garden, from a balcony to acreage, for renters, community gardeners and homeowners alike, this workshop will help you gain skills in soil improvement and integrated pest management.

This workshop is designed for beginners and for those who want to improve their processes.

Tickets and more information: synergypermaculture.com.au

GARDENING PLANNER Time to reduce watering of indoor plants and make sure they are well away from heating.

You can plant the following now: Culinary herbs, artichokes, broad beans, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, cauliflower, cress, garlic, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, onions, peas, shallots, spring onions, silverbeet, spinach, ageratum, alyssum, calendula, candytuft, Canterbury bells, carnation, cineraria, columbine, cornflower, delphinium, dianthus, everlasting daisy, forgetme-not, foxglove, godetia, gypsophila, hollyhock, honesty, larkspur, linaria, lobelia, nigella, pansy, poppy, primula, snapdragon, statice, stock, sweet pea, viola, wallflower

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Walking footballers do Coast proud WALKING FOOTBALL Two Central Coast residents have done the region proud by competing in the Australian Over-70’s Walking Football (WF) Team at the Brisbane QUT WF Tournament on April 22, with the team coming a creditable fifth out of 10 teams.

Even more impressive is that the Over-70’s team played in the Over-60’s Division, which included one team with three ex-Matildas as players.

Central Coast Ancient Mariners WF Squad members Joe McEwan and Cliff Parker were in the team, with Parker serving as Captain.

“It was a great honour to be given the captaincy and also represent the Central Coast,” Parker said.

“We’re proudly affiliated with the Central Coast Mariners A-League Club, which gives us support and encouragement.

“When we played against the

Central Coast players Joe McEwan and Cliff Parker

ex-Matildas team, I was marked by ex-Matilda Captain Sonya Gegenhuber and understandably there was no way I was given any ‘space’.

“Sonya is still an excellent footballer and a warm and giving person; she’s a legend of women’s football.”

Late last year, WF organisations throughout Australia were asked to recommend two-three players

aged over 70 to attend a twoday training session at Soccer5 Tuggerah, facilitated by Dr Harry Hubball from The University of British Columbia, Canada.

Hubball is a highly credentialed seniors’ football coach and player and chaired the Super Masters WF/5v5/4v4 World Cup Tournaments at FIFA HQ Switzerland, Europe and UK in 2006-2022.

The Australian Over 70’s Walking Football Team

Also attending was National WF Ambassador and exSocceroo Captain Paul Wade, who assisted Hubball and commented on player’s abilities.

Of the 16 talented players who attended the training, 10 were chosen for the QUT Tournament.

The current squad contains players from NSW, Queensland and South Australia.

In July, the Australian over-70 team will be back in Brisbane for a tournament when the Women’s Football World Cup is being played in Australia and New Zealand.

“Walking Football is a great way for older people to stay active, socialise and keep playing the game they love (or simply play it for the first time),” Parker said.

“It’s generally designed for

females over 40 and males over 50 and everyone is welcome.”

The Ancient Mariners play every Sunday from 8.30am to 10.30am at the Soccer5 Sports Complex, 1 Bryant Dr, Tuggerah – all welcome.

For details call Parker on 0416 153 630.

Source: Central Coast Ancient Mariners WF Squad

Gosford greyhound death sparks new calls for review The latest greyhound death, at Gosford on April 25, has sparked calls for the State’s new Racing Minister and Member for Wyong David Harris to establish an independent review into greyhound racing.

The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds says the latest racing death sends a “stark message” to Harris.

It is the 18th racing death on NSW tracks this year, signifying an almost 30 per cent rise in deaths compared to the same period last year, the Coalition says.

According to the stewards’ report for Race 7 at Gosford on April 25, Full Of It collided with another dog and fell, suffering a fractured foreleg.

She was euthanised by the on-track vet, two days short of

her third birthday.

Since 2020, nine dogs have been killed and 486 injured at the Gosford track.

In its latest quarterly injury report, the NSW industry regulator – Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission (GWIC) – said it “is exploring potential reasons for the observed increase in injury in the last 18 months”.

The NSW State Government launched a five-year, $30M track safety upgrade program in 2017.

Despite this, NSW was Australia’s deadliest state with 59 on-track racing deaths in 2022, the Coalition says.

“Eighteen greyhounds have died on NSW racetracks this year and more than a thousand have been injured,” Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds (CPG) NSW Director Kylie Field said.

Full Of It can be seen in the top right corner of this picture following her fall

“89 percent of the deaths were euthanasia for broken legs.

“Other dogs that were badly injured in their races will have been killed later at vet clinics, so the death toll is almost certainly higher.

“Full Of It’s death sends a stark message to new Racing Minister David Harris.

“He can’t ignore the worsening toll over last year, with NSW deaths up almost 30 per cent and major injuries up by 51 percent.

“This callous disposal of dogs’ lives can’t continue.

“Why aren’t these injured greyhounds being entered into the injury recovery scheme rather than being killed?

“Most fractured legs can be treated.

“The previous Coalition Government promised a five year, taxpayer-funded $30M upgrade program to make tracks safe.

“They’ve failed, and even the NSW racing regulator is concerned at the increasing number of racing casualties.

“Where did the money go?

“As Minister for the Central Coast, can Mr Harris say if the Gosford track meets safety standards?

“The Minns Government has already announced investigations into Sydney trains, Sydney Metro projects,

and the Menindee fish kill.

“There needs to be an independent investigation into how the spending of tens of millions of taxpayer dollars has only resulted in more greyhound suffering.”

Field said another pressing problem was the re-homing crisis.

“GWIC has admitted that the current rehoming ‘challenge’ means there are over 4000 dogs looking for homes and only 1,000 homes available for them,” she said.

“It’s an unsustainable situation.

“The greyhounds of NSW need a Minister who will have the courage to stand up for animal welfare.”

Source: Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds

Bowls siblings rule the greens LAWN BOWLS Canton Beach Bowls, based at the Canton Beach Sports Club, has seen a few changes this year.

Bowls siblings Bill Scott and Mary Leslie

For the first time, 2023 has seen Pennant games played in mixed teams of both men and women at the club.

In another first – a brother and sister are playing together in the same team.

Bill Scott, 83, and his Sister Mary Leslie, 79 have been loyal members of the club for many years and have now paired-up

as part of the grade 7 team.

The siblings have been ripping into the competition, taking out their section of the Central Coast competition.

“The competition is played in three sections and we played against Ettalong, Avoca, Halekulani and Davistown,” Bill said.

In the next two weeks the winners of all three sections play-off against each other, with the ultimate winner to take out the Central Coast championship and represent the region in the Sydney play-offs.

Bill, who has been playing bowls for about 10 years, said the game was quite a change of pace from his days of playing rugby league as a younger man.

“It’s a lot slower – but it’s a longer game,” he said.

It’s Mary who is the veteran, gracing the bowling greens since 1990.

“Playing together has been a bit of an eye-opener,” Bill said.

“We go crook on each other all the time – but it’s been really good.”

Terry Collins

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Two nail-biters and two walk-overs RUGBY

Photo: Scott Gardiner Photography

Round 3 of the 2023 Central Coast Rugby Union season on April 29 saw a mixed bag of results, with two very tight contests and two fixtures seeing very onesided results.

The match of the day at Ourimbah Rugby Park saw Terrigal thrash The Razorbacks 35-0.

In a match many thought would be so close from start to finish, Terrigal dominated from the opening whistle, getting away to a great start with an early try and then posting consistent points throughout the remainder of the first half.

Terrigal had jumped to a match winning lead of 32-0 at halftime.

A serious injury early in the second half disrupted proceedings and only a penalty goal was kicked after that.

Best players for Terrigal were No.8 Salipopo Pamata, lock Macklin Collins and centre Tim Grant.

Top performers for The Razorbacks were prop Mackenzie Zammit, five-eight Daniel Jones and lock Steve Finley.

Things were a little tighter at Mark Taylor Oval, with Hornsby

Photo: Nick Friend Photography Terrigal trounced the Razorbacks at Ourimbah Rugby Park

scoring a very close 14-12 victory over The Lakes.

The two teams were locked at seven-all the halftime break so it was anybody’s game at that time.

Play continued to be tight but Hornsby was able to hang on for its first win of the season.

Both teams crossed for two tries each.

The Lakes had chances late in the match but very good Hornsby defence kept them out.

Best players for Hornsby were prop Angus McQueen, hooker Jackson Cole and winger Jack O’Connor, while for The Lakes the best efforts were put in by

prop Luke Clarkson, five-eight Brayden Hutchinson-Walters and lock Harry Pirini.

Avoca Beach continued its great start to the season by defeating Lake Macquarie at Heazlett Park 85-10.

Lake Macquarie had few answers to the onslaught.

Avoca Beach crossed for 13 tries while Lake Macquarie was only able to respond with a single 5 pointer.

Best players for Avoca Beach were winger Mitchell Briggs, who crossed for four individual tries, centre Michael Houssenloge, flanker Fionn Henderson-Foley and prop Matt Ritchie.

Barcelona Lupematasila was the best player for the visitors and crossed for their lone try.

Gosford recorded a narrow 2524 victory over Woy Woy at Gosford Showground.

Woy Woy led by 14-8 at halftime and jumped away to a handy lead at the midway point of the second half.

With a 21-8 lead, things were looking good for the visitors.

Gosford was able to keep in the match and after taking a 22-21 lead, the match developed into a real and continuing arm wrestle.

A penalty goal on the fulltime whistle saw Gosford take the win at the last moment.

Gosford narrowly defeated Woy Woy in a nail-biter

Best players for Gosford were hooker Joel Wagner, halfback Ben Shelley and flanker Richard Cully.

Woy Woy was best served by halfback Siaosi Finau, hooker Soane Lakalaka, and No.8 Sonatane Lilo.

The Premier 1 points table sees Avoca Beach in the lead on 14; The Razorbacks on 10; Warnervale, Terrigal and Gosford on 9; Hornsby on 4; Woy Woy on 2 and The Lakes on 1.

Lake Macquarie is yet to score points on the table.

There were some exciting games in Women’s 10’s matches with wins recorded by Terrigal, The Lakes, and Warnervale.

Round 4 on Saturday, May 6, will see Terrigal and Warnervale clash at The Haven Oval in the match of the day; Gosford travel to Slade Park to take on home side The Lakes; Woy Woy at home to Avoca Beach at Woy Woy Oval; and Lake Macquarie hosting The Razorbacks at Walters Park, Boolaroo.

In theWomen’s 10’sWarnervale will travel to The Haven to play Terrigal; The Lakes will host the Razorbacks at home and Woy Woy and Avoca Beach will clash at Woy Woy Oval.

Source: Central Coast Rugby

Win against Adelaide catapults Mariners into finals series FOOTBALL The Central Coast Mariners, the smallest club in the ISUZU-UTE A-League competition, have yet again made a distinctive mark on Australia’s football landscape by thumping Adelaide United 4-1 at Adelaide’s Coopers Stadium in the last game of the regular season.

The decisive win takes the Mariners into the second spot on the league ladder, behind Melbourne City and just ahead of the powerful Adelaide United outfit.

It not only brings a chance for a finals football match to Gosford but earns the Mariners a place in the highly sought after Asia Football Championships and secures a week off in the A-league finals series.

Coach Nick Montgomery couldn’t contain his pleasure fter the game with a broad sideline smile and air punch.

The victory must be extra sweet for the club’s broad supporter groups, from club members to sponsors, fans, staff and regional fans, all of whom have suffered the

scepticism of big city-centric commentators about the viability of the club and its football strategies.

The game saw goals to Tulio in the 23rd and 57th minutes, Nkololo in the 41st minute and to young Harry Steele in the 87th minute.

The Mariners now have a week off to watch the elimination finals between the lower-ranked clubs, before revving up again in a semi-final against one of the winners of those lesser finals.

David Abrahams

Photo: CCM Media

The Mariners celebrate their win in Adelaide

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Toukley teen on Australian team for World Games

The Australian team going to Germany in July Cohan Szypica representing Australia in men’s basketball

Toukley teenager Cohan Szypica is the youngest athlete to be selected in the senior men’s basketball team to represent Australia at the 2023 World Dwarf Games being held in July at Cologne, Germany.

The 14-year-old Mackillop College student was born with Hypochondroplasia which is a form of short-limbed dwarfism.

His Mum Amy says Cohan has overcome many challenges in

his life so far, especially after being told by doctors and specialists that he wouldn’t be able to be competitive in sports at this level because of his diagnosis.

“This is an incredible achievement and opportunity for him to represent his local community and his country in the sport he loves,” she said.

These Games are expected to be the largest sporting event in history exclusively for athletes

with dwarfism, with more than 500 elite athletes from all corners of the globe set to compete.

Unlike for other athletes and sporting teams, there is no funding or support.

“We are seeking support to raise awareness and also much-needed funds to help with training costs, access to local training facilities and travel to the Games,” Amy said.

“Supporting Cohan in the

Australian World Dwarf Games team in 2023 is an opportunity to influence change in the disability-sporting sector.”

A go-fund-me page has been set up to help Cohan get to Germany: https://www. gofundme.com/f/lets-getcohan-to-the-world-dwarfgames President of Short Statured People of Australia (SSPA) Sam Millard said they were pleased to have Cohan on team

Australia.

“His hard work on and off the sports field, dedication to training and commitment to the team have been highly commendable,” he said.

“As a member of the 2023 Australian Team he inherits a tradition which involves not only performance in competition but also high behavioural standards, supporting teammates, exhibiting sportsmanship, and

upholding the responsibilities of being an Australian athlete.

“To represent your nation in any competition is a proud achievement and these Games represent a rare historic moment and Cohan has the privilege of being part of that history.

“Congratulations and we wish him the best of luck with his final preparations.”.

Sue Murray

Free multisports day for all abilities Born and bred on the Central Coast, Rae Anderson is a dual Summer and Winter Paralympian and Para Matilda and is now preparing for the Asia Cup to be held in Melbourne in November.

Rae Anderson in action on the field

Anderson, who is an ambassador for the Cerebral Palsy Sporting and Recreation Association, will host a multisport day at Niagara Park in July.

“My first introduction to Paralympic sport was at a day much like this one, 13 years ago,” she said.

“Today, I have competed in three sports across two World Championships, two Paralympic Games, one Commonwealth Games and a World Cup as a Silver Medallist.

“These days can not only open doors to a world of possibilities to someone in our local community but can also connect our community through sport.

“CPSARA and DSA have hosted multiple days like this across NSW and Australia, (but) I want our Central Coast day to be the biggest yet.”

The day will feature talks and

Q&As from local Paralympians, Pararoos and Para Matildas including Tahlia Blanshard and Jeremy Boyce along with Anderson herself.

Lunch and snacks will be provided as well as goodie bags to take home after the day with gifts from sponsors.

“We will have lots of sports and recreational activities on offer to try including Roundabout Circus, One Culture Pickleball, Social Futures Wheelchair Basketball, All Ability Yoga and Football hosted by our World Cup silver medallist Para Matildas team,”

Anderson said.

The free multisports day – called CPSARA Connect – will be held with support from the Cerebral Palsy Sporting and Recreation Association, Central Coast Council, Brainwave Australia and Disability Sport Australia on Sunday, July 23, at Niagara Park Stadium.

To continue from noon to 4pm, with registrations from 11.30am, the day will be for all ages, all abilities and all disabilities.

Register at CPSARA.org.au.

Source: Rae Anderson