Coast Community News #467

THURSDAY, 5 DECEMBER 2024

ISSUE #467

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News

All aboard: new intercity fleet hits the Out&About tracks

Santa to arrive at Woy Woy by chopper See page 7

Christmas songs by candlelight at Avoca See page 17

Business

The new train at Woy Woy station on December 3

After a five year wait, Central Coast rail passengers can now enjoy a bit more comfort with the new Mariyung Inter-City fleet hitting the tracks this week.

The first of the state-of-the-art trains rolled out of Newcastle Interchange for its first passenger service on Tuesday, December 3, stopping at Central Coast stations on its way to Sydney Terminal.

As a train buff and Parliamentary Secretary for Disability Inclusion, Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch was on hand to check out the new trains.

“These trains are comfortable and more accessible than the trains they replace,” Tesch said.

“There’s dedicated space for wheelchairs, big accessible toilets and clear audio and visual announcements about upcoming stations.

“An added bonus is I’ll even be able to charge my phone on the way to Sydney.”

After years of delays under the former Liberal Government, which awarded the fleet contract to a Korean firm in 2016, the NSW Government came to an agreement on the final operating model with the rail workforce in August 2023.

The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator has also approved the fleet’s operating model.

So far, 15 Mariyung train sets have been completely modified by local workers at Kangy Angy.

Two of those sets began service on December 3, while the rest go through the rigorous safety testing regime before being progressively rolled out along the Central Coast and Newcastle Line.

Mariyung Trains will then be progressively rolled out on the Blue Mountains Line and the South Coast Line.

Modifications include relocation of CCTV viewing screens and passenger door controls, changes to the digital radio system, adjustments to fire detection management and fire-

resistant materials and emergency door release functions.

Modifications have also been made within the rail corridor to support the changes made to the Mariyung fleet operating model, including station platform extensions, relocation of train stopping markers, signalling equipment and overhead wiring structures.

The new Intercity Fleet will set a new standard of travel for commuters who make approximately 26 million journeys a year on the electrified intercity network.

With a 55% increase in demand for our services this year, we are trying to help more Coasties than ever. But we can’t do it alone.

Can you help us provide some hope and comfort to families and individuals in need this Christmas?

Make a donation today!

Continued page 3

The French Chef serves up quality meals for elderly See page 27

Sport

Mariners’ mixed fortunes See page 30

PAGE 2 - EDITION #467

THURSDAY, 5 DECEMBER 2024

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Managing Editor: David Abrahams Print Editor & Senior Journalist: Terry Collins

A time for truth, change and care As Christmas approaches, its true message of acceptance, understanding and care feels more urgent than ever.

For too many locals, these ideals are overshadowed by the realities of domestic and family violence (DFV).

This season, we must confront the truths about DFV and commit, as women and men, to create a culture where violence and coercion have no place.

Recent events, such as Lucy Wicks’ brave disclosure of years of torment and the Yarn Bomb installation in Gosford, highlight the multifaceted nature of DFV. These stories remind us that abuse takes many forms,

EDITORIAL physical violence, coercive control, financial manipulation and emotional harm.

They also show that addressing DFV requires not just individual courage but community responsibility.

DFV statistics remain alarming.

Around one in four women and one in 13 men experience violence from a partner.

Each week, on average, a woman’s life is lost to domestic violence and police handle hundreds of related incidents daily.

Behind these numbers are real lives, each carrying untold pain and suffering.

Initiatives like the Yarn Bomb installation, wrapping Gosford’s trees in messages about DFV and support resources, raise awareness, though they too appear to be a threat to some.

These beautiful symbols were vandalised this week, both an irony and a signal that we must all be both aware and vigilant.

Real change requires action, by both women and men, to build a society rooted in mutual respect, empathy and care.

Women have long led the charge against DFV, but men must step up as allies, advocates and role models.

Change starts with how we raise our children, how we

speak in workplaces and how we respond to those in need.

It’s about fostering understanding and challenging harmful behaviours in our communities.

This Christmas, let’s honour its true spirit by rejecting violence and coercion in all forms.

Let’s replace them with acceptance and compassion, creating safe, supportive spaces for everyone.

It’s a responsibility we all share and a gift we must give, not just during the festive season, but every day.

Together, we can create a culture of peace, healing, and hope.

David Abrahams, Managing Editor

Meals on Wheels spreads Christmas cheer

Journalists: Sue Murray, Denice Barnes, Merilyn Vale Graphic Designer: Brad Yee Distribution: Anthony Wagstaff Contributors: Cheralyn Darcey Publisher - Combined Coast News ISSN 1839-9045 – Print Post Approved – PP100001843 – Printed by Spotpress Marrickville

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Volunteers prepared a feast for 25 clients

Over 25 clients attended a heartwarming Christmas party at Meals on Wheels Central Coast’s Bateau Bay Community Restaurant on Tuesday, December 3.

The annual event is eagerly anticipated each year with clients, volunteers and staff fully embracing the festive spirit by dressing up for the occasion.

The restaurant was filled with laughter as attendees enjoyed Christmas bingo, listened to festive music and savoured a delicious Christmas feast.

The day began with a light morning tea, followed by a complimentary Christmas meal of ham and turkey, accompanied by plum pudding and brandy custard.

The gathering helped create a strong sense of community, fostering connections among clients and volunteers alike, as they came together to enjoy good food, great company and festive fun.

Samantha Farham, the Community Engagement Manager from Home Instead Central Coast, donated

Clarification In last week’s story on the closure of Peninsula Long Day Care, we mistakenly said Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch had asked for answers from “Education Minister Steve Whan”.

Steve Whan is the Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education.

In fact, Crouch has asked Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car for answers in the wake of the abrupt closure of Peninsula Long Day Care with just two days’ notice on October 21.

This was a typographical error.

Volunteers and clients were in a festive mood

Christmas goodies for the lucky door prize and distributed special Christmas cards created by schoolchildren from local preschools and primary schools as part of Home Instead’s national Be a Santa to a Senior program.

Meals on Wheels Central Coast has been serving nutritious meals and fostering social engagement for over 20 years through its Community Restaurants.

The Bateau Bay location alone serves an average of 600 meals each month, providing a vital social hub for approximately 47 clients.

Meals are also served at the Woy Woy and Tuggerah Community Restaurants.

“Meals on Wheels Community Restaurants are about more

than just a meal,” Community Restaurant Coordinator Nerrelle Wilson said.

“They’re about fostering friendships, enhancing mental stimulation and boosting overall wellbeing for our clients.”

“Our Christmas celebrations are always a special and joyous occasion,” Meals on Wheels Central Coast CEO Neridah Morris said.

“They not only bring people together but also foster connections between our clients and volunteers, creating an uplifting and inclusive environment.”

For more information about Meals on Wheels Central Coast and the Community Restaurant program, visit www.ccmow. com.au or call 4357 888.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED! HPSOP is looking for volunteers (60yrs+) who speak, read and write English and/or may speak a community language well, to talk about health issues to groups of seniors in your local areas.

This is an ongoing recruitment. Contact Habib: 0404 548 063 or email: health@cpsa.org.au

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Call for new body to oversee waterfront revitalisation Gosford Erina Business Chamber (GEBC) is calling for the establishment of a Central Coast Development Corporation to take over the revitalisation of the Gosford waterfront.

In its latest publication, GEBC says the Hunter Development Corporation (HDC), entrusted with the area’s revitalisation, appears more like an absentee landlord than a visionary custodian.

“The Gosford waterfront has long been heralded as a crown jewel in the Central Coast’s urban landscape, a rare opportunity to create a vibrant precinct that blends natural beauty with economic opportunity,” the publication says.

“Yet years of delays, opaque decision-making and uninspired proposals have turned the promise of a thriving waterfront into a bitter disappointment.

“It’s increasingly clear that the

GEBC says a new body needs to take over the waterfront revitalisation

HDC’s stewardship is ill-suited to the unique needs of the Central Coast.

“Despite grandiose announcements and glossy renderings, progress on the Gosford waterfront remains lacklustre.

“The most recent plans – a hodgepodge of commercial spaces and uninspired infrastructure – lack the bold vision needed to attract

investment, engage the community and transform the region into a destination worthy of its potential.

“Worse, these plans fail to acknowledge the community’s aspirations, ignoring calls for increased public spaces, cultural hubs and environmentally sustainable development.”

GEBC says the Central Coast’s distinct identity and challenges are drowned out by Newcastle-

centric priorities within the HDC. “This misalignment leaves local stakeholders wondering whether the Central Coast is an afterthought in broader regional planning,” it says.

“Gosford deserves a development authority that understands its unique social fabric, environmental assets and economic needs.”

GEBC says a Central Coast

Development Corporation (CCDC) would provide the region with focused leadership, localised expertise and a mandate to deliver outcomes that align with community aspirations.

“Unlike the HDC, a CCDC would be accountable to the Central Coast community ensuring greater transparency and stakeholder engagement,” it says.

“The Central Coast faces a pivotal moment.

“The Gosford waterfront has the potential to catalyse growth across the region, but only if the vision is bold and the execution precise.

“The HDC’s inability to deliver on this front is a glaring indictment of its approach.

“If the Central Coast is to realise its potential, it must take control of its destiny.

“Establishing a Central Coast Development Corporation isn’t just a good idea – it’s an urgent necessity.

“It’s time for local leaders to demand better.

“The people of the Central Coast deserve a waterfront that reflects their ambitions and an organisation that puts their interests first.

“Let’s end the stagnation and start building a brighter future— on our terms.”

Mannering Park recognises a stalwart The late Coral Burnham has been recognised as a selfless individual who donated countless hours to the Mannering Park community.

Mannering Park Progress president Kel Wynn dedicated a memorial bench seat to Burnham during the opening of the Mannering Park Historic Trail on Saturday, November 23.

“Coral worked closely with all levels of government and was the ‘go to’ person for our community; no issue was too large or too small for her attention,” Wynn said.

“She had an excellent working relationship with Delta Electricity which has provided a number of facilities around our local area as well as making generous donations towards this beautiful seat along with a Central Coast

Council community grant,” he said.

Burnham was involved in a broad range of activities in Mannering Park and beyond, including the local Public School Parents and Citizens Association as an office bearer, working in the canteen and with reading groups.

Burnham managed to organise for every Mannering Park Public School student to receive a piece of fresh fruit daily, garnering funds from Delta and using the local grocer in town.

She was an office bearer of Mannering Park Progress, serving as secretary for more than 20 years and represented Progress at the Delta Care Forums, run by Delta Electricity which operates Vales Point Power Station.

Burnham’s services to the

Mannering Park Progress members at the start of the history trail

community were recognised by previous Federal Member for Shortland Jill Hall who presented her with the Long Service to the Community award in 2014.

Some of the highlights of her

successful lobbying included: the lights at the Pacific Hwy/ Ruttleys Rd intersection; the shared barbecue facilities and covered seating at Garth’s Point; seating around the oval; the garden with an entry sign to

Mannering Park and the maze with pelican sculpture outside the community Hall; shark nets at The Point maintained and kept; the Lone Pine planted and dedicated at the community hall.

“The shared pathway was an over-30-year struggle secured by a federal government grant and Coral would be so delighted to know that another decade later on, thanks to joint federal and Central Coast Council funding, it will now continue all the way to Kingfisher Shores, which will then connect all of our local communities,” Wynn said.

He said that from the day Coral and husband Dennis arrived with their family to take up residence in Mannering Park, there would not be many community projects that Coral didn’t have a hand in establishing.

One of them was the Mannering Park Historic Trail which was also officially opened on the day.

The trail includes signs that outline the history of nonIndigenous settlement in Mannering Park.

All aboard: new intercity fleet hits the tracks From page 1 The improvements include wider, more spacious two-bytwo seating with arm rests, tray tables and high seat backs, charging ports for mobile devices, dedicated spaces for luggage, prams and bicycles and modern heating and air conditioning.

They will also open up greater options for travel for people with disabilities and mobility issues with dedicated spaces for wheelchairs and accessible toilets.

Last year, more than 12.7 million trips were taken along the Central Coast and Newcastle Line, and it’s hoped the much-anticipated new fleet will boost patronage.

Named after the Darug word for Emu, the Mariyung can operate in 4-car, 6-car, 8-car or 10-car configurations, and seat more than 820 passengers in a 10-carriage train.

The Mariyung trains will progressively replace older fleets including the V-sets, which were first introduced to NSW in the 1970s, and the

Oscar trains that debuted in 2006.

Minister for the Central Coast David Harris said the V Sets have served the community well but are now past their economic use by date.

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said the trains will provide a massively improved level of comfort for all passengers.

“These trains were supposed to be on the tracks five years ago,” she said.

“It’s been a priority of mine to ensure that we got them out of

sheds and on the tracks by the end of this year.”

I’m incredibly proud that our Government has been able to deliver that.

Chief Executive of Sydney Trains Matt Longland said getting the trains on tracks had been “extremely complex”.

“We are pleased we have been able to work in consultation with our workforce to locally modify these trains and get them into service,” he said.

This article has a video story on our website

The interior of the train

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CEO gets permission to sign helicopter lease After a long debate, Central Coast councillors have given CEO David Farmer permission to negotiate and execute a lease for a helicopter business to set up at Warnervale Airport.

Nighthawks Aviation approached Council – as a matter of urgency – for a lease for a helicopter business at Warnervale Airport.

“The business has indicated that, without agreement on an urgent basis, it will relocate its proposed development to another state,” Council said.

“This could be to the detriment of future aviation-related business on the Central Coast.”

The finalised Masterplan for the airport is expected to be ready for councillors’ consideration in early 2025.

The staff report said the only strategic reason why a decision might not be made was if Council were of a view that the airport should not continue to operate at its current location over the long term.

But councillors were divided.

Councillor Jane Smith said she was staggered that staff would recommend the lease without doing the due diligence first.

“Let’s get the information and have a sensible conversation –

there could be a range of options and let’s get the best outcome for the community,” she said.

She said there was a conservation agreement to be signed for the surrounding Porters Creek Wetland and a question needed to be asked about why that had not gone forward when the Council, under administration, had allowed the airport activities to continue.

Councillor Belinda Neal said she was deeply concerned by the proposal coming before the Masterplan.

“The truth is very little is going to happen between now and when we get the Masterplan,” she said.

“The right process is to wait for the Masterplan to come before us.”

Councillor Kyle MacGregor wanted more information.

“We are supposed to be the governing board here and we haven’t even given any direction on what we want in a lease,” he said.

Councillor Doug Eaton said if a decision was not made that night, the risk was the business could go elsewhere.

He said the proponent would spend $10M and up to 50 high tech well paid jobs would be created.

Central Coast Airport at Warnervale

The councillors took a 10 minute break during the debate to discuss their options with their factional colleagues.

In the end, the vote came down to five Liberals and three Team Central Coast councillors (eight councillors) voting for the CEO to go ahead with negotiations and to sign the lease while the five Labor and two independents (seven councillors) voted against it.

They had asked that the CEO report back to Council and for the councillors to make a decision on whether or not to sign the lease.

Under the adopted motion, the councillors will see the lease at least 15 days before it is executed

and a summary of the due diligence.

Commercially sensitive details were not included in the report to councillors but it outlined preliminary assessment and next steps.

“Initial advice is that there is no inherent incompatibility between fixed wing activities services and rotating-wing/vertical take-off activities,” the report stated.

“There are already helicopterbased activities at Central Coast Airport on a day-to-day basis.

“As well, the airport is used for rotating-wing emergency services purposes during natural disasters.

“Whether all necessary CASA approvals have been obtained to create a full-scale helicopter hub still needs to be independently verified.”

Council said that sufficient land has been identified to accommodate the immediate request.

“The indicative lease area on offer is 10,000 sq m (1 hectare) however the amount of land that is offered for lease may be greater than this depending on the outcome of commercial negotiations and also on the time at which the land is required to be actively developed and used.

“Additional land is expected to become available for a helicopter

hub over time, pending the adoption of the long-term airport Masterplan.”

Mayor Lawrie McKinna said after the meeting that the possibility of securing a tenant for the airport was a “great opportunity”.

“Nighthawks first put in an expression of interest in December last year but it all went quiet for a while because the Masterplan was not yet done,” he said.

“But we then heard that the company has been offered some land in Melbourne and that’s why there was a bit of urgency.

“Staff will do due diligence to see if the company is fit and ready to take up a long-term lease.

“It’s not about Council having to spend money – if there was any big cost Council would back out.

“And a lease would not affect the proposed Masterplan- it would not impact the runway.”

McKinna said the benefits of granting the lease included the availability of 50 high-end jobs in the region.

The move could be timely with Newcastle University possibly to introduce an Aviation degree, he said.

Merilyn Vale and Terry Collins

Santa photos for a good cause Pearl Beach volunteers will once again bring Christmas cheer to the community with their annual Photos with Santa event.

The popular event offers families and their pets the chance to capture beautiful memories with Santa, all while supporting a meaningful cause.

It will operate from 8.30am to 1pm every Saturday and Sunday until Christmas near the amenities block on Pearl Pde. This year, the event’s organisers have chosen to donate all profits to Coast Shelter, which supports women and children impacted by domestic violence.

“We wanted to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most,” a spokesperson said.

“In the past two years, the proceeds from the event were used to renovate the local memorial hall, demonstrating the group’s commitment to both local community support and charitable giving.”

Coast Shelter CEO Lee Shearer welcomed the move.

“This generous act not only brings joy to families during the festive season but also provides much-needed support to those in our community who are going through really challenging times,” she said.

Participants can book their photo sessions online at www. pearlbeachnsw.com.au/Santa For $85, families will receive six edited prints from a professional photographer, sent directly to their email.

Organisers are encouraging community members to not only participate in the photo sessions but also to help spread the word.

“This event is a fantastic way to bring our community together while supporting a not-for-profit organisation providing specialist homeless services and support programs on the NSW Central Coast,” one volunteer said.

State Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said the initiative was a fantastic way to support a local charity, while making lasting memories with the family.

“The impact of Coast Shelter’s amazing work in our community is immeasurable and I am thrilled to support the Photos with Santa at Pearl Beach’s efforts to fundraise for their work,” she said.

“I encourage everyone to come down with your family and fur-family this year and book in for a Santa photo on one of our most beautiful Central Coast beaches this Christmas season.”

Ruby Rogers from Umina Beach and Santa at Pearl Beach

Vandals attack yarn bomb installation

Zonta volunteers with Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch at one of the yarn-bombed trees

Members of Zonta Club Central Coast are reeling following the vandalisation of their Yarn Bomb installation on the Gosford waterfront, which aims to draw attention to domestic and family violence.

Zonta members painstakingly placed colourful knitted wraps around trees, along with valuable information on available support services.

“Two men were seen leaving the Gosford Sailing Club on Sunday afternoon at 4pm,” a spokesperson said. “(They) proceeded to remove the large sign and rip off the messages on the trees and throw them in the rubbish bin.

“Subsequently two trees opposite Drifters Wharf have been stripped of their knitted wrapping and the sign ripped out.

“One is the trees (featuring) an indigenous design on loan from the Redfern Legal Office.”

While yarn-bombed trees along Mann St have so far remained unscathed, the spokesperson said members were devastated.

“We have been wrapping the trees for many years and have not had this destruction before,” she said.

“Zonta Central Coast had also two wrapped palm trees at Circular Quay as part of the District 24 initiative this year.

“The police have been notified and we are chasing up the video footage at the Sailing Club to see if the culprits can be identified.”

Anyone with information on the acts of vandalism is asked to contact Gosford police.

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Preliminary work for Tascott station upgrade

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch and residents at Tascott station

There will be changed traffic conditions around Tascott railway station for two days sometime before December 20 as investigation works for accessibility and safety upgrades begin.

With the work dependent upon weather conditions, motorists are being urged to be vigilant for the entire period and adapt to any changes to accommodate the investigations on Brisbane Water Dr and at the commuter carpark in Glenrock Pde. Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch welcomed the beginning of investigation works after years of community advocacy

regarding the need for increased accessibility and safety at the station.

“It is wonderful to see these investigation works commencing as the design work for a safer and more accessible Tascott station commences,” she said.

“I have fought alongside our community since I was elected for this upgrade, and I am glad to see Transport for NSW commencing the investigation and design phase of works, ready for further community consultation once the final design is complete.

“Everyone in our community deserves access to the freedom that public transport provides,

and this investigation work is the next step in making this a reality at Tascott station.”

During the two days of investigations, traffic control, road closures and a reduced speed limit of 40km/h will be in place for the safety of workers and motorists.

Footpath closures with pedestrian and cyclist detours will be in place and a small number of carpark spaces near the train station will be temporarily unavailable.

Motorists and community members can stay up to date with the latest traffic updates downloaded from the Live Traffic NSW app, visit www. livetraffic.com or call 132 701.

Funnel-web spiders out and about The Australian Reptile Park has warned residents to be alert with peak funnel-web season underway.

With soaring temperatures and anticipated rainfall, the conditions are ripe for the venomous spiders to thrive and venture out in search of mates.

Male funnel-web spiders are well on the move, increasing the likelihood of encounters in homes and gardens across the region.

The Park is encouraging residents to safely capture spiders and deliver them to the Park or one of its drop-off locations to help with its antivenom program.

“With breeding season upon us and ideal conditions

prevailing, we rely on spider donations more than ever,” Spider Keeper Emma Teni said.

“Male funnel-webs have short lifespans, and it takes approximately 150 spiders to produce just one vial of antivenom.

“Public contributions are crucial to meeting the demand.”

Residents are urged to follow safety guidelines when capturing spiders and to be on the lookout for egg sacs, which can contain 50 to 150 spiderlings.

These sacs are invaluable for venom extraction efforts.

“If you come across an egg sac while collecting a spider, please safely collect it as well,” Teni said.

It is peak breeding season for funnel-webs Photo: Australian Reptile Park

“It provides a robust supply of young spiders for antivenom production.

“Use a wide-mouthed jar and a large spoon to guide the

spider inside, then secure the lid.

“Since funnel-webs cannot climb plastic or glass, the process is safe if done carefully.

“Once captured, drop the spider off at one of our collection points.”

Teni said it was crucial to know how to handle funnelweb spiders safely and understand proper first aid measures.

“While we rely on the public for spider donations, we want everyone to stay safe, especially given this year’s favourable conditions.”

Funnel-web spiders are known to seek out cool and damp areas, such as gardens with dense foliage, debris, or shaded spots.

They may also find their way into homes.

Residents are advised to thoroughly inspect laundry

rooms, garages, shoes left outside and pool filters, as these are common hiding places.

Regular inspection and caution are key to preventing unwelcome encounters.

In the event of a funnel-web spider bite, it is critical to remain calm, apply a pressure immobilisation bandage, call 000 and go to hospital immediately.

To locate your nearest spider drop-off point, visit www. reptilepark.com.au/animalsat-the-australian-reptile-park/ venom-program/spider-dropoff-points/

Our top volunteers go up against state’s best

Local volunteers at the Central Coast awards; Roan Brown; Paula Hardwick; Duncan Bennet

Communities across the Central Coast are being urged to get behind their local finalists for the 2024 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards, to be announced on Tuesday, December 10.

The Central Coast Volunteer of the Year finalists will join more than 200 of their peers in Sydney at a gala celebration to

help mark the announcement of the NSW Volunteer of Year for 2024.

Finalists were chosen from 25 regions around the state and announced at local and regional celebrations over the past few months.

Central Coast Volunteer of the Year finalists for 2024 are: Young Volunteer of the Year –

Roan Brown from Camp Quality; Adult Volunteer of the Year – Paula Hardwick from Meals on Wheels, Orange Sky, Because We Care Boutique and Marine Rescue Norah Head; Senior Volunteer of the Year – Duncan Bennet from North Avoca Surf Life Saving Club; and Volunteer Team of the Year – 3 Villages Community Group.

The Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate said the awards had uncovered countless stories of people giving their time to help build better and stronger communities.

“More than four million people volunteer each year across NSW, contributing a staggering $178B in social and

economic benefits,” Rygate said.

“Volunteers across the Central Coast region are an important part of this incredible effort.

“We wish the Central Coast Volunteer of the Year finalists the very best for the state awards.

“Most importantly we thank all the volunteers across the region for their selfless and remarkable contribution.”

The NSW Department of Communities and Justice and ClubsNSW are the principal partners for the awards.

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NEWS IN BRIEF

New HAZMAT vessel stationed at Berkeley Vale

Vale will be home The vessels are fitted with Santa arrives Berkeley to one of the 19 new advanced emissions technology materials using the most efficient controls by chopper hazardous (HAZMAT) vessels being available to help minimise their

Santa Claus will arrive at Deepwater Plaza, Woy Woy, in a red helicopter at 9.45am on Saturday, December 7.

He will then join in a street parade down George St at 10am.

From 11am families can look forward to roving performers throughout the plaza; free face painting and children’s activities; and the chance to have a photo taken with Santa.

Book your Santa picture on the Deepwater Plaza Facebook or Instagram page.

Council picnic day Central Coast Council offices will be closed on Friday, December 6, for a Local Government State Award approved Union Picnic Day and will re-open on Monday, December 9.

Some of Council’s services and facilities will be closed or have changes to normal operating hours, but essential services will continue to operate.

See full stories online: coastcommunitynews.com.au

rolled out to Fire and Rescue NSW units across the state.

The vessels will help limit oil, diesel and other pollutant spills at inland waterways and each vessel can tow and deploy absorbent and containment booms to limit hazardous spills.

They also carry specialised equipment designed to contain and recover contaminants, reducing environmental harm during an incident.

environmental impact.

The new locally made vessels replace a 15-year-old fleet and offer larger and more stable platforms for crews to operate from.

They are strategically located around NSW to be deployed at any time with response times of under two hours.

Three vessels already have been delivered to locations in Bathurst, Newcastle and

Photo: Clinton J Down Photography One of the new HAZMAT vessels will be coming to Berkeley Vale

Shellharbour, while additional units will be delivered to Batemans Bay, Berkeley Vale,

Broken Hill, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Eden, Goonellabah, Leeton, Lithgow, Port Macquarie,

Tamworth, Tweed Heads and Wagga Wagga over coming months.

Operators of the HAZMAT vessels undergo rigorous training, ensuring crews are prepared for complex incidents.

Training is planned for teams in Berkeley Vale by the end of the year with the remaining boats to be rolled out by June 2025.

The $1.58M fleet is part of the NSW Government’s $18.6M investment in Fire and Rescue NSW’s Fleet Replacement Program 2024/25.

Two Pearl Beach champions recognised Pearl Beach locals Lynne Lillico and Beverley Lapacek have received 2024 Gosford Community Champion Awards.

The awards go to people who go above and beyond to make a positive contribution to the Central Coast community through their work,volunteering efforts and involvement in community activities.

The two women have received their awards in recognition of their dedication to the Pearl Beach community.

Lillico has been recognised for her continuing role within

the Pearl Beach Progress Association as publicity officer and a previous events coordinator.

Association President Gary Phillips said she worked tirelessly in her efforts to organise, promote and often host the many events that the Progress Association ran in Pearl Beach for the local community and beyond.

“Beverley has received her award for all the work she has done and continues to do for the community by organising events and activities including Community Christmas Lunch,

Christmas in July, Biggest Morning Tea in support of the Cancer Council, and the Pearl Beach Plodders group, where she also organises a week away each year, just to name but a few,” Phillips said.

“There are very few events or activities at Pearl Beach that don’t involve Lynne or Beverley in one way or another and it’s a wonder they have time for anything else.

“Congratulations to them both for all they do for the community here at Pearl Beach and the Central Coast as a whole.”

Lynne Lillico and Beverley Lapacek with their awards

Christmas MEMORIAL SERVICE

Saturday 7th December 2024

Commencing at 10am Hillside Chapel,

Palmdale Lawn Cemetery & Memorial Park 57 Palmdale Road, Palmdale NSW. We invite you to attend a beautiful memorial service with our community to offer comfort and to show that we do not grieve alone.

Our service will include: Music, song, a candle-lighting ceremony, a Christmas ornament with your loved one’s name for you to take home and light refreshments to share.

We invite you to bring a photo of your loved one for display during the service.

For further details and RSVP please call

1300 130 955

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THURSDAY, 5 DECEMBER 2024

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Local youth radio a springboard for young presenter ROAR! Youth Disability Radio is an hour-long show which broadcasts every Monday evening on local community radio station CoastFM 963.

In its three-and-a-half-year residence on the airwaves, the show has become known across the region as a rare significant platform for people with disabilities, and for organisations and event planners to have their voice heard.

ROAR! has also been a great opportunity for its young production team to get vital behind-the-scenes experience of putting a radio show together.

Assembled and supervised for the most part by presenter Angus Hamill, the ROAR! team consists almost entirely of young Central Coast residents living with disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy and even visual impairment.

Together they take part in a variety of roles ranging from editing pre-recorded audio to planning and recording interviews themselves to be used on the show.

Hamill said the importance of having a production team with lived disability experience added more authenticity to the

From left: Brandon Macmillan, James O’Brien and Angus Hamill in the studio

show’s themes and topics.

Hamill himself lives with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as well as ADHD and his routine-dependent lifestyle almost derailed the show completely before it even began.

When station manager Sarah called him in to be the host of ROAR! back in mid-2021, he initially turned the offer down because the show’s Monday night timeslot meant that he

would be unable to go to schnitzel night at his local bowling club.

Thankfully, after some careful consideration, and some much-needed common sense from his mother, he ended up changing his mind.

Since then, ROAR! has gone on to be nominated for a CBAA Award for Best New Program after a well-received first season and Hamill’s beloved local schnitzel night has also

been moved to Tuesdays.

Earlier this year,an opportunity arose for Hamill to put his skills built up from being a part of ROAR! to good use on a much bigger stage.

One afternoon, he received a text message from station manager Sarah about an ad she had seen for an experimental journalism foundations course being offered by Macquarie University aimed specifically at students

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food!

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living with autism.

The application also stated that the classes would be filmed for usage in a documentary series.

Hamill successfully applied and became involved in what would end up being known as the ABC’s The Assembly.

On this show, Hamill and 14 others were given the chance to interview a handful of Australia and New Zealand’s biggest names including Sir Sam Neill, Delta Goodrem and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

The educational part of the show remained, and he left the experience with a shiny new Journalism Foundations Certificate from Macquarie University.

The Assembly was incredibly well-received with overwhelmingly positive feedback from the Australian public as well as a plethora of well-known figures.

While the show was still in the midst of its on-air run, through the connections made at the ABC, Hamill also successfully applied for an eight-week internship at youth-focused radio station Triple J. Hamill truly believes that if he

didn’t get his start working in media at CoastFM,experiencing both an on-air and behind-thescenes perspective on a community serving show like ROAR!, he would not have had the confidence to pursue the career opportunities he has taken on since.

Another success story to come out of ROAR! Youth Disability Radio is that of Bradley Martin, who worked as an editor, producer and occasional interviewer on the show for just over a year.

His experience volunteering at CoastFM has led him to being employed full-time as a content producer at commercial radio station PowerFM based in Nowra on the South Coast.

He has been in this role for just over a year and is already a highly valued member of the team.

ROAR! Youth Disability Radio continues to be a prominent weekly fixture on the CoastFM programming schedule, and with no sign of slowing down anytime soon, it will hopefully keep providing vital production and on-air experience as well as further employment opportunities for the youthful Coasties who make the show happen.

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NEWS IN BRIEF New multi-purpose vessel stationed at Tuggerah Lakes

Christmas fun in the north Member for Wyong David Harris has encouraged residents to attend Christmas events to be held across his electorate.

Wyong Community Christmas Carols will present local artists and entertainers with a visit from Santa and fireworks.

It will be held from 5.30pm9pm on Saturday, December 7 at Wyong High School Oval.

Tinsel Time in Toukley will light up the Christmas tree in the Village Green on December 7 with Santa photos, a reptile display and a best dressed Christmas outfit competition.

The fun will continue from 5-9pm.

Surfing Santa at Soldiers Beach is an annual event, organised for the past nine years by John Gatt, and will be held at 10am on Christmas Day at the top carpark at Soldiers Beach, Norah Head.

See full story online: coastcommunitynews.com.au

Marine Rescue NSW has taken delivery of its eighth and final multi-purpose vessel (MPV) to enhance flood response capability across the state.

The new 6m vessel, known as MR 26, will be stationed at Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes.

Like the seven other MPVs already in operation, it can be rapidly deployed locally or across NSW in the event of a weather emergency.

The multi-purpose vessel fleet forms part of Marine Rescue NSW’s response to recommendations from the 2022 NSW Flood Inquiry, with the service receiving $3.748M in state government funding to build capacity and capability to support NSW SES and other agencies during major emergencies.

When not required for flood rescue and support, the Marine Rescue NSW multi-purpose vessels assist boaters and paddlers on local waterways.

Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes received the new bowloading vessel following sea trials and senior crew induction at Marine Rescue NSW headquarters in Cronulla.

The new MPV will be stationed at Tuggerah Lakes

Marine Rescue NSW Fleet Manager Kelvin Parkin said the Tuggerah Lakes-based vessel featured a Raymarine nineinch multi-function display, radio communications, and was powered by twin Suzuki 90-horsepower outboard engines, capable of reaching speeds of up to 38 knots.

“This vessel is really comfortable cruising at around 20 knots, which is ideal for accessing remote areas and isolated places,” Parkin said.

“The draft on these boats is only 0.3m, so it’s very shallow

and will allow us to reach areas we’ve never been able to access before.”

Parkin also highlighted the importance of the bow-loading door, especially for flood support.

“The utility capability of this vessel allows us to carry various items, whether it’s restocking remote communities, evacuating large groups of people,or transporting livestock and feed,” he said.

“There’s plenty of space on the deck for easy loading and transportation.”

Marine Rescue NSW Central Zone Commander Dan Duemmer said the placement of the MPV at Tuggerah Lakes would enable its use for general operations when not supporting the NSW SES. “This boat will be active on Tuggerah Lake, Budgewoi Lake, Lake Munmorah, and surrounding waterways, conducting routine patrols and assisting boaters and paddlers,” Duemmer said.

“The shallow draft nature of the vessel will allow our crews to access local shallow

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Complete an entry from any participating retailer, attach your receipt* and pop it into the barrel located near Coles. *West Gosford Village stores only. Ten (10) winners drawn on Wednesday 18 December 2024.

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“This trailerable vessel is a year-round asset for Marine Rescue NSW and will enhance search and rescue capability on the Central Coast.”

MR 26 is the second MPV to be based in the Hunter Central Coast region, with Marine Rescue Lemon Tree Passage housing a new vessel since July.

The other MPVs are located at Point Danger, Nambucca, Port Macquarie, Port Kembla, Shoalhaven, and Tuross Moruya units.

PAGE 10 - EDITION #467

THURSDAY, 5 DECEMBER 2024

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How can I help you?

As the State Member for Terrigal, I'm here to serve and assist you with any state related issues you may have, such as:

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My office can also assist with making representations on your behalf to the NSW Government and Central Coast Council.

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Authorised by Adam Crouch MP, Shop 3 Fountain Plaza, 148-158 The Entrance Road, Erina NSW 2250, funded using parliamentary entitlements

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Reid backs Coast’s nurses Federal Member for Robertson Dr Gordon Reid has thrown his support behind the nurses of the Central Coast as they continue to campaign for better wages and conditions from the NSW Government.

Over the past year, members of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association have joined colleagues statewide is a series of stopwork actions and strikes as they demand a 15 per cent pay rise and a number of conditions, including improved nurse-to-patient rations.

During the last sitting week of the 2024 Federal Parliament, Reid delivered a Member’s Statement in support of the campaign.

“Our NSW nurses and midwives are the backbone of our healthcare system, and yet,

Nurses and midwives have joined a number of stopwork actions throughout the year

compared with their counterparts in other Australian states and territories, they are the lowest paid,” he said.

“This is leading to large numbers of our nurses and

large numbers of our midwives leaving the state of NSW and pursuing healthcare roles in jurisdictions with better pay and conditions.

“This should not be happening in NSW. “As a practising emergency doctor, I continue to work shoulder to shoulder with these nurses and with these

midwives, and I see firsthand the dedication, the care and the professionalism they exhibit in often

very

challenging

situations.

“Public sector nurses and midwives in NSW are calling for justified and necessary improvements to help rebuild our public health service.

“They are calling for better pay.

“They are calling for better conditions, including a 15 per cent pay rise.

“I have joined with our NSW nurses and midwives in their pursuit for better pay and conditions; the viability of our health system depends on it.

“I will continue to support our NSW nurses and midwives’ campaign for better pay and conditions because it is the right thing to do.”

To read about the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association campaign, visit www.nswnma. asn.au

Child poverty on the Central Coast New data has revealed that about 14 per cent of children on the Central Coast live in poverty.

Landmark research commissioned by the NSW Council of Social Service (NCOSS) puts the economic cost of child poverty in the region at $2.2B a year.

The report, titled Lasting Impacts: The Economic Costs of Child Poverty in NSW, calculated for the first time the impact of failing to invest in our children.

NCOSS chief executive Cara Varian said the total cost of childhood poverty in NSW was $60B, eclipsing the annual

NCOSS chief executive Cara Varian

contributions to the state’s economy from major sectors such as construction ($52.9B), manufacturing ($42.3B) and mining ($32.5B).

“There are more than 10,600 children in poverty in the Central Coast region,” she said.

“Child poverty hurts us all – it robs children of their future and steals $2.2B from the Central Coast economy every year.

“Children from households living in poverty are three times more likely to also experience poverty in adulthood.

“We are setting up a cycle of disadvantage.

“Poverty during childhood has a lifelong impact.

“These children go on to have poor physical and mental health and earn less at work.

“They are more likely to be unemployed, homeless or land

in the legal system as an adult.

“We live in one of the world’s wealthiest nations – poverty is preventable and this research shows the immense economic opportunity available to the NSW Government, if it takes the steps necessary to avoid the long-term consequences of child poverty.”

Varian said the NSW and Australian governments should do a number of things to lift families out of poverty.

She said the base rates of income support payments, particularly JobSeeker and Parenting Payments should be raised to match rates of the Age Pension and indexed to community living standards.

Governments should ensure that a minimum of 10 per cent of all housing is social and affordable housing, further increase Commonwealth Rent Assistance to keep up with private rental rates and ensure homelessness services are resourced to support everyone who needs help.

Varian said governments should commit to joint decisionmaking to empower First Nations communities in the design and delivery of services, including boosting funding for the Aboriginal Community Controlled sector.

There should be a guarantee that all children have access to at least three days a week of

quality and affordable childcare, with removal of the Activity Test on the childcare subsidy.

Varian said governments should invest in high-quality integrated support services for children and families, that helped them early in life.

For the purposes of the report, child poverty is defined as a child up to the age of 17 living in a household with income less than 50 per cent of the median household’s income (including government benefits, and after tax and housing costs), adjusted for household size.

To read the report, go to ncoss.org.au

CEN Networking Night The Community Environment Network will hold its 2024 Networking Night on Thursday, December 5, and residents are urged to attend.

CEO Samantha Willis said CEN held the annual event to showcase the work it had done in support of nature and sustainability on the Central Coast.

“Many people living on the Central Coast may have heard of CEN but they may not know what we do, so each year we throw our doors open for the annual Networking Night and to announce the winners of our BAT Awards,” Willis said.

“Most people live on the Central Coast because of its natural beauty – beaches, lakes, bushland, waterfalls and

wetlands – we really have got it all.

“While most of us are out enjoying everything the Coast has to offer there’s an army of people regenerating local bushland, removing weeds, testing the quality of water in our creeks, propagating seeds, running workshops, scanning development applications, writing letters and submissions, meeting politicians and helping community groups.

“At Networking Night each member of CEN’s team gives a presentation about the work they’ve done during the past 12 months and it is always an eyeopener for those who attend.

“Most people are usually amazed that such a small team can achieve so much.

“It is also CEN’s opportunity to

recognise the people in the community who do more than their share to look after nature through our BAT Awards.

“BAT stands for Be A Team and for the past 20 years our awards have been a way to thank people in the community for their efforts to protect nature.

“Networking Night is a great opportunity to meet those unsung heroes and learn all about CEN. “The $10 per person entry charge covers the cost of wine and cheese and bookings are via our website events page,” Willis said.

Registrations can be made at cen.org.au/ event/b-a-t-awards-andnetworking-night/

CEN CEO Samantha Willis, Chair Gary Chestnut, 2023 BAT Award Winner Ursula Da Silva of Camp Ourimbah and CEN Deputy Chair John Asquith

PAGE 12 - EDITION #467

THURSDAY, 5 DECEMBER 2024

FORUM & ON THE BEAT Nurses deserve pay rise Nurses deserve a wages boost.

Politicians on $300,000 or more have grown accustomed to staple living conditions.

This tranquil mode of existence is rare in the lives of most low-paid nurses.

What an embarrassment that nurses have to grovel for a living pay rise.

Unlike nurses, politicians have the Parliamentary Recommendation Tribunal to grant politicians pay rises.

Politicians have no fear of unemployment as long as they keep themselves within the frame of the normal party life.

The safety valves of the medical system are no longer working, Nurses may have to step up further direct action to make this State Government take notice.

They say health is better than wealth, so State Government pay up – pay the nurses their just pay rise.

Email, Dec 2 Richard Ryan, Summerland Point

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FORUM Read more forum on our website by scanning the QR code or visit coastcommunitynews.com.au/forum

Let’s rethink library demolition I would like to comment on the story Activists call for rethink on Library Demolition (CCN 463).

This 1969 library adds to the architectural palette of Gosford.

Too many buildings have already been neglected or demolished.

What are we leaving our generations to come – a community bereft of its past?

Councils and community past and present seem to lack vision; our waterfront is lost; there is no Performing Arts Centre just a conglomerate of uninspired architecture for the sake of profit.

The heritage Brisbane Water County Council clock building showcasing Gosford sandstone is now derelict.

The 1937 Regal Cinema with its art deco features, described as having terrazzo floors and “decorative artwork that

SCAN ME

transformed concrete walls into colourful poems of a Moorish Castle” is lost.

It is hard to wax lyrical over our high-rise monsters.

Surely our Japanese-inspired Gosford Library is an architectural gem, worthy of preservation not demolition.

A rethink is urgent.

Email, Dec 3 Elaine Odgers Norling, Copacabana

Democracy in action interesting to behold Democracy in action is what (Coast Community News) Managing Editor David Abrahams said we saw in the Council chambers at the (November 26) meeting.

(Editorial CCN 465).

Yes, of course, he is correct.

What we saw was the (outcome of the) majority of voters on the Central Coast knowingly voting into power a

majority of Liberal-minded councillors, and thus we see party politics being played out in our Council chambers.

Whether or not there is a place for party politics in local council is not at issue; it is accepted by those in power and cannot be questioned.

What can be questioned is why we are seeing this.

(Former president Donald) Trump was returned to power in America in a repudiation of (presidential candidate Kamala) Harris who promised more of the same.

Queensland changed to a more Liberal right-wing government.

There is every chance the same will happen in federal politics next year as people react to a government that has not kept its promises on housing or the environment, and so we see the same here on the Coast.

In a demonstration by the people of their total frustration with those in power only wanting to protect their own selfish way of life, the people have lashed out elsewhere on the globe.

The Coast is “open for business” one of our younger councillors said last week.

Indeed, Gosford is a good

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

example of the future under this Liberal council.

The same will happen with the north and the airport and in the meantime the environment will be put on hold, basic infrastructure will lapse and developers will be given full power to proceed.

If this is democracy so be it.

If this is the wish of the majority so be it; the future will be interesting.

Email, Dec 2 Geoff Mitchell, Kariong

Ramifications of a shutdown Does Abigail Boyd realise what she is asking for (Renewed call to shut down greyhound racing industry, CCN 465)?

Does she realise the ramifications a closing down of the greyhound industry would cause?

There are approximately eight or nine thousand greyhounds in NSW; racing, puppies and young ones ready to race as well as adopted.

What do you think would happen to these beautiful greyhounds if this should happen?

In my opinion there is only one answer and it’s not a very pleasant one.

We all know accidents happen every week in all manner of sports.

Email, Nov 23 Bill Deguara, Woongarrah

Why save the library?

Why do some people want to save Gosford Library?

(CCN 465) It’s been years since the Brisbane Water County Council building and clock tower was heritage listed and look at it now.

If one heritage-listed building cannot be utilised, how do they think utilising the library is going to work out?

Fix one problem before creating another.

Next the do-gooders will try and heritage list the old empty Gosford council building opposite the defunct BWCC building.

Knock down the library and fix some potholes.

Email, Nov 26 Jeff Tildesley, Kincumber

ON THE BEAT

Tipper truck with fiery load

Fire in a tipper truck Photo: Ben Sarah Manser

Multiple fire crews came to the rescue last Friday, November 29, when a tipper truck had to spill its load onto the road after it had caught alight.

Emergency services rushed to the scene on the Pacific Hwy near the Roper Rd intersection at Blue Haven.

One witness said he was

driving through Charmhaven and could smell what he thought was a bushfire before noticing that about 200m up ahead smoke was coming off the top of the truck trailer.

He said the smoke was pouring out and the fire seemed to flare up as soon as the truck driver dropped the load onto the roadway.

Flood rescue exercise reinforces inter-agency response Police from Brisbane Water and Tuggerah Lakes districts were among the contingent of emergency services taking part in a multi agency flood rescue exercise at Davistown.

The exercise was led by the Gosford SES unit and designed to reinforce the response capabilities of an inter-agency flood event.

During the event, emergency service personnel were put through their paces facing multiple real world scenarios including mass casualty evacuations, large animal rescue, medical extractions, vehicle rescue, rooftop rescue and incident management.

The exercise was attended by

Woy Woy Sea Scouts acted as casualties in the flood rescue exercise

more than 120 participants with a wide and varied skill set.

1st Woy Woy Sea Scouts took part acting as casualties in the exercise.

The event offered flood rescue operators a chance to share knowledge, learn from one another, and bring back bestpractice flood rescue skills to

their teams, creating positive impacts for their communities.

Participants included SES units from Gosford, Wyong, SwanseaCatherine Hill Bay; Erina Rural Fire Brigade; Gosford Fire and Rescue; NSW Ambulance; Surf Life Saving Central Coast; The Salvation Army Emergency Services; Brisbane Water Police;

Tuggerah Lakes Police; Central Coast Rescue Squad – VRA Rescue NSW; Central Coast Council; and 1stWoy Woy Sea Scouts.

Superintendent Chad Gillies of Tuggerah Lakes Police District and Superintendent Darryl Jobson of Brisbane Water Police District attended to observe as the Local Emergency Management Controllers (Central Coast LEOCONs).

Gosford SES issued a reminder for the community about the risks flooding events could pose and to never drive, ride or enter floodwaters – if it’s flooded, forget it.

To learn more about flood safety visit: www.ses.nsw.gov. au

ON THE BEAT BRIEFS Fatal crash at Long Jetty A woman died in a twovehicle crash on Wyong Rd, Long Jetty, mid-afternoon on Sunday, December 1.

Emergency services and Tuggerah Lakes Police were called to the scene at 2.50pm and found that a sedan and a ute had collided.

The driver of the sedan, a woman aged in her 90s, was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics but died at the scene.

A 55-year-old man driving the ute was taken to Wyong Hospital for mandatory testing.

A crime scene was established, and police commenced inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

As inquiries are ongoing, anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Public appeal over train assault Police are appealing for public assistance following reports of a sexual touching incident at Tuggerah railway station.

Officers arrived at about 4am on Monday, October 21, and were told an unknown man has sexually touched a 51-year-old woman using a gap between the seats while on a train.

As inquiries continue police have released an image of a man who might be able to assist police in their investigation.

Anyone with information that could assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000.

Police want to speak to this man

7 NOVEMBER 2024

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20,000 flock to Lakes Festival

This year’s Lakes Festival was the biggest yet

Central Coast Council’s annual Lakes Festival drew more than 20,000 attendees over 10 days in November.

Now in its ninth year, this year’s event was Council’s biggest program yet, showcasing and celebrating the region’s magnificent waterways

to locals and travellers alike.

Council Director Community and Recreation Services Melanie Smith said the festival not only brought the community together but also injected an estimated $6.5M into the local economy.

“Big events like this are a

driving force for our local economy, creating jobs and providing a significant boost to local businesses,” she said.

Significantly, The Lakes Festival also completed the national Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard with Ecotourism Australia, demonstrating

Please keep the following road closures in mind when travelling to Leagues Club Park for our NYE celebrations. Road closures will apply on Tuesday 31 December 2024.

GEORGIANA TERRACE Closed between Dane Drive and Baker Street from 11AM

VAUGHAN AVENUE Closed from 6AM

BAKER STREET Closed between Georgiana Terrace and Vaughan Avenue from 6AM

BRIAN MCGOWAN BRIDGE Closed for the duration of the fireworks (at the conclusion of the A-League match between 8:45 - 9:15PM)

Council’s commitment to sustainability.

Central Coast Mayor Lawrie McKinna congratulated all involved.

“With over 40 individual events, including kayaking adventures, sand sculpting, yoga by the lake, comedy nights,

beach sports, fun run, theatrical performances, arts and crafts, cinema under the stars, live music and more – the festival had something for everyone, he said.

“We are grateful to all the organisations and individuals who collaborated with us to

deliver a variety of fun and educational activities in 14 different locations across the Central Coast.”

For information on upcoming events go to centralcoast.nsw. gov.au/whats-on and lovecentralcoast.com/events

The following road closures will apply at The Entrance from 3PM-11PM with traffic diversions in place on Tuesday 31 December 2024.

MARINE PARADE Between The Entrance Road and the end of the Marine Parade Car Park

THE ENTRANCE ROAD Closed at Victoria Avenue.

Traffic will be diverted left into Victoria Avenue

CORAL STREET East of Duffy’s Lane. Access into the multi-storey car park still available

TORRENS AVENUE Part road closures at the intersection of Torrens Avenue and Victoria Avenue

Please be aware that ongoing remediation works are impacting parking availability at Gosford City Car Park. This may lead to reduced parking spaces and potential delays when entering or exiting the car park.

Visitors travelling from the north are advised to park on the north side of The Entrance Bridge and walk to Memorial Park. Visitors travelling from the south are advised to park away from road closures and walk to Memorial Park.

We recommend using public transport where possible and allowing extra time for your journey.

Accessible parking spaces located in the multi-storey car park in Duffy’s Lane, The Entrance.

PAGE 14 - EDITION #467

THURSDAY, 5 DECEMBER 2024

OUT&ABOUT

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Enjoying Our Beaches Safely Important Beach Safe Skills Follow these guidelines and you will have lots of fun at our beaches and safely return home.

Always swim between the red and yellow flags on beaches with lifeguards and surf lifesavers.

Look for the beach signs at the entrance to the beach, they have lots of local information and will explain to you the meaning of the signs placed on the beach.

Never swim alone, always with a friend.

Never swim under the influence of alcohol or after a big meal.

If you’re caught in a rip you need to; Stay calm, don’t panic and just float to save energy.

Raise one hand to let everyone know you’re in trouble, preferably your weaker one, so you can use the stronger arm as a paddle along with your legs to help you keep afloat until help arrives.

Never try to swim against the rip directions so first work out which way the water current (rip) is taking you. Only then, if you are able swim left or right (perpendicular) to the rip.

If you are not being rescued a rip will often take you out to the back of the break. Aim to move towards whitewash in the waves as this may be a sandbank, the waves will also help push you back into the beach.

DAVID HARRIS MP MEMBER FOR WYONG

PH: (02) 4352 2711 E: wyong@parliament.nsw.gov.au Shop: 4/142 Pacific Highway Wyong NSW 2259

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Brian Cadd heads for Avoca Brian Cadd says he is addicted to performing.

“I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t do it; I can’t play golf, I can’t fish,” he said.

Before a return to the Tamworth Country Music Festival for a headlining show in January 2025, Cadd is treating fans to a thrilling mix of new tracks from his latest album, Dream Train, with a performance set for Avoca Beach on December 7.

The show will also include a selection of his timeless hits and personal favourites.

Dream Train, released in April this year, quickly became a fan favourite, showcasing Cadd’s versatility and mastery in blending classic country with contemporary sounds The album’s success on the ARIA Country Chart is a testament to Cadd’s enduring appeal and ability to connect

with audiences across generations It also attracted critical acclaim.

When Brian Cadd started out in the 60s, he had no grand plan.

“We thought it was going to last three months,” he said.

“But here we are, still going.”

The story starts in Perth and it’s taken Cadd all around the world, with acclaim for his abilities as a performer and a songwriter.

His songs have been signposts for Australian lives.

A Little Ray Of Sunshine, for example, is just as popular today as when it became a Top 5 hit in 1970.

“It means so much to so many people,” Cadd said.

“If I had a dollar for every person who has said to me, ‘I left the maternity hospital and I swear A Little Ray Of Sunshine came on the radio’.

Photo: Lisa Businovski Brian Cadd

“I secretly believe that there is some kind of radio network that broadcasts right outside hospitals and only plays A Little Ray Of Sunshine.”

In 1973 Cadd was named Best Songwriter and Most Popular Australian Musician at the King of Pop Awards.

His songs have been recorded

by Ringo Starr, Joe Cocker, Glen Campbell, The Pointer Sisters, Bonnie Tyler, Yvonne Elliman, Charlie Daniels, Dobie Gray, Cilla Black and Gene Pitney.

Among his most popular songs are Woman You’re Breaking Me, Elevator Driver,

Marshall’s Portable Music Machine, Arkansas Grass, Don’t You Know It’s Magic, Ginger Man and Let Go. He was inducted into the Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007, the same year he entered the ARIA Hall of Fame.

In 2018 he became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant service to the music industry as a singer, songwriter, performer, mentor and producer and to professional associations.

Nearly six decades into his remarkable career, Cadd remains entranced by the power of a great song.

“Everyone is immediately 15 again,” he said.

“It’s amazing how powerful music can be, taking you back.”

In 2016, at the age of 70, Cadd released the album Bulletproof with The Bootleg Family Band.

He followed Bulletproof with his acclaimed Americana album, Silver City, but he says Dream Train is the album he was always destined to make.

“It has taken me so long to actually make a country album, I was unsure how it would feel for me,” he said.

“I have been writing country and country-rock songs for many years, yet I remained locked into my ‘Brian Cadd – rock artist’ persona on stage and particularly in the studio.

“But with Dream Train I found a new freedom which allowed me to think ‘outside the musical artist box’ that I’d existed within for so long.

“I am so proud of this album.”

Tickets for the December 7 show at Avoca Beach Theatre are available at www. avocabeachtheatre.com.au

An afternoon of folk music and connection Music lovers are in for a treat this Sunday, December 8, as internationally acclaimed folk musician Tennyson King makes a special stop at the Fun Haus Factory in Gosford.

The family-friendly live music event, Sonic Sundays, offers an unforgettable afternoon of contemporary folk tunes, storytelling, and cultural connections.

Tennyson King, a nomadic folk-pop singer-songwriter from Hong Kong and Canada, is known for his jovial stage presence and unique ability to weave stories into his performances.

With a repertoire that blends English lyrics and Chinese cultural influences, King captivates audiences worldwide.

Whether performing original

songs on electric and acoustic guitar or incorporating the traditional Zhongruan instrument, his music is an adventure for the soul.

A 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards nominee and recipient of the 2022 Mississauga Music Awards’ Songwriter of the Year award, King has toured globally, appearing at prestigious events such as the Glastonbury Festival and the Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival.

This Sunday’s performance will feature King’s signature mix of punchy folk-pop tunes, humorous stories and heartfelt connections.

Indulge in happy hour specials with $10 cocktails and $6 schooners from 2 pm and enjoy a burger bar menu.

Tickets are $10, with children under 15 admitted free.

Book at funhausfactory.org. au/whats-on/

Photo: Image Flower

Tennyson King

Boost for Drifters Wharf Summer program Drifters Wharf in Gosford has received $50,000 from the Federal Government’s Revive Live Program.

Isaac Aristobil-Adele and Dr Gordon Reid

The venue will use the grant funding to support five all-ages live music events during Summer and attract national and local bands.

The program was designed to support established live music venues or established music festivals to create a sustainable operating environment – to

protect performance opportunities, and the development and discoverability of original contemporary music

by Australian artists.

It also holds a strong focus on activities that improve accessibility providing participation opportunities for audiences, and career pathways for musicians and music workers with disability.

Drifters Wharf co-founder Isaac Aristobil-Adele said it was

exciting to be able to put on five all-ages shows.

“This is something different for us,” he said.

“Normally all our events are 18-plus.

“This support enables us to bring some big national bands through and let the local bands be a part of it.

“We want to also see local bands grow and play with some great acts.”

Member for Robertson Dr

Gordon Reid said the past few years had been challenging for live music events because of COVID-19 restrictions and increasing operating costs.

“I am pleased that Drifters Wharf has been successful in securing support for its all-ages live music events over the coming months,” he said.

“I look forward to continuing to support the live music scene and venues across the Central Coast.”

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Anthology comes to life at Red Tree Theatre Acclaimed Central Coast based playwright and director Joshua Maxwell will bring an anthology of short plays, Liminal, to life on stage for the first time at Red Tree Theatre.

The performances, scheduled for December 6 and 7, will be co-directed by Maxwell and long-time collaborator Tayah Blackman.

The cast features over a dozen emerging and established performers from the Central Coast and Newcastle.

The production marks Maxwell’s fourth original work to be presented on the Coast, following the success of their previous works, including the AWGIE-nominated Very Happy Children With Bright and Wonderful Futures and its sequel, Space Cadets, as well as Bogan in 2018, which Blackman also co-directed.

These productions have cemented Maxwell’s reputation as a leading voice in Australian theatre.

Liminal is a collection of short plays and monologues set over the course of a single night in regional NSW, weaving together themes of loss,

Liminal comes to life on stage at Red Tree Theatre

transformation and selfdiscovery.

Of the 11 pieces in the anthology, four have been performed by various companies along the east coast over the past decade.

The remaining works were crafted specifically for the

anthology or have never been staged before and will make their debut in this production.

“As I started collating my short works a few years ago, I realised that with some very minor tweaking, they could all fall within one night,” Maxwell said.

Flawed Hero

By Chris Masters

reporting of Masters and others which challenges the ideas Australians have of us as a military nation whose soldiers’ actions on the battlefield are always beyond reproach.

This is an extraordinary investigation undertaken over many years, it opens the heart of Australia’s Special Forces and their war in Afghanistan which is perplexing.

Our Special Forces work is often secret.

Their bravery is undeniable and for 13 years they were at the forefront of Australia’s longest war, shunning acclaim.

Yet we send humans to war to protect and defend, to fight for what’s right.

The production explores liminal spaces—those moments that feel suspended in time, where characters confront profound questions

about identity, relationships and life’s transitions.

“While I didn’t set out for these works to all be about losing something or someone— or even themselves—it happened naturally,” Maxwell said.

World famous author to talk at Terrigal

Book Review

Local bestselling author Chris Masters has won the 2024 Australian Political Book of the Year Award for Flawed Hero: Truth, Lies and War Crimes.

This is a comprehensive tale of the journalists who pursued truth in difficult circumstances.

Flawed Hero shows that investigative journalists struggle against far more than just the legal system.

When Ben Roberts-Smith brought his suit against Fairfax Media and journalists Chris Masters and Nick McKenzie, much commentary ensued about the chilling effect of Australian defamation law.

This is a book reflecting the lengthy and courageous

“They’re all snapshots of very simple moments in the lives of everyday people,.”

“It enhances the sense of these spaces feeling altered and fragile.’

The Liminal world premiere is a deeply personal project for Maxwell, whose creative journey has been intertwined with the Central Coast arts scene for years.

From founding and leading the youth theatre company Jopuka to championing bold and innovative works as artistic director of Red Tree Theatre, Maxwell’s influence has shaped the cultural landscape of the region and beyond.

For co-director Blackman, the production represents the latest chapter in a long and fruitful collaboration with Maxwell.

“Joshua has always sought to push boundaries and bring new voices and perspectives to the stage,” Blackman said.

“Liminal is a testament to their creativity and resilience.”

The premiere of Liminal offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience these evocative works in their intended form—live, immediate and profoundly moving.

Tickets are available now at Red Tree Theatre’s website.

Then things go terribly wrong; bullies rise, culture corrodes and the worst decisions emerge.

Flawed Hero offers a stepby-step account of reporters taking on the legal system, the political establishment and much of the Australian media and against those almost impossible odds somehow emerging with a truthful story.

The final word goes to Masters: “The thing that pleased me most about the best political book award was seeing the spotlight swing back onto an issue that is both important and discomforting; truth does not look the other way”.

See the full book review and lots more book reviews on our website scan the QR code or visit coastcommunitynews.com.au/book-reviews

Julie Chessman

Internationally renowned author Sir Alexander McCall Smith is headed for the Central Coast in December courtesy of the Words on the Waves writers’ festival.

He is the author of more than 100 books but best known for his enormously successful The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series which has sold more than 20 million copies in the English language alone.

Smith will appear in conversation with bestselling author Anna Downes at a high tea event at the Crowne Plaza, Terrigal, at 10.30am on Friday, December 6.

For many years he was a professor of medical law and worked in universities in the UK and abroad before turning his hand to writing fiction.

His first book The White Hippo, a children’s book, was published by Hamish Hamilton in 1980.

But it wasn’t until the publication of the highly successful The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series that Smith became a household name.

His various series of books

Alexander McCall Smith

have been translated into 46 languages and become bestsellers throughout the world.

These include the popular 44 Scotland Street novels, the Isabel Dalhousie novels, and the von Igelfeld series.

He has also written a number of stand-alone novels and short story collections and many non-fiction titles.

On December 6 Smith will talk about the five new books he has put out just this year

including the latest book in the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series,The Great Hippopotamus Hotel.

He will also talk about his experiences growing up in Africa, his career before fulltime writing, how he comes up with so many stories and writes so quickly and how he creates characters that resonate so strongly with people around the world.

Bookings can be made at wordsonthewaves.com.au

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Twilight markets Avoca Markets Twilight Edition Market is on this Saturday, December 7, between 4pm and 9pm on the waterfront of Avoca Lagoon at Heazlett Park Foreshore.

Live music acts on the day include the Gypsy Wailers, Chelsea Berman, Arabella, Motion Sickness Summer and Scarlett.

Avoca Beachside Markets will then return on Sunday, January 19, as a special oneoff third Sunday due to Australia day and then all markets will resume as normal on the fourth Sunday of the month.

There will also be over 100 local and curated stalls across the entire site.

Organisers are looking forward to another great end of the year celebrating the local region’s tourism, events and community gatherings and as always at the free event.

For more information visit www.fixxevents.com.au

Christmas songs by candlelight Celebrate the Christmas season with an evening of Christmas hymns and songs by candlelight at Avoca Beach Theatre on December 12.

Hear the familiar sounds from classic festive films like Home Alone, Love Actually, The Polar Express and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Leading global liveentertainment platform Fever will present talented string quartet The Phoenix Collective playing the sounds we all know and love.

New book breaks down stereotypes A children’s picture book developed by Central Coast Council will be launched at a special event in Kibble Park, Gosford, on Thursday, December 5.

The launch of Every Day I Like to Play, aimed at promoting relationships and breaking down gendered stereotypes of traditional roles within the home, coincides with the annual 16 days of Activism against gender-based violence campaign.

Council Director Community and Recreation Services Melanie Smith said Council worked with the Central Coast Domestic Violence Committee (CCDVC), a community group aiming to prevent, reduce and eliminate domestic and family violence, through education, awareness, advocacy and community engagement.

‘We work with our community to help address a range of

The book breaks down stereotypes of the normal family

social and health issues that impact everyone, including domestic violence,” she said.

“During 2023 and 2024, Council worked with the CCDV Committee to develop the children’s book.

Burlesque artists will light up the stage A jawdropping burlesque extravaganza inspired by the wild, stylised world of Quentin Tarantino will play at the Fun Haus Factory in Gosford on Friday, December 7.

For one night only in Gosford, TaranTEASO will offer a blend of live music, provocative burlesque and unapologetic

humour in an evening of from Newcastle, Sydney and Wollombi lights up the stage boundary-pushing with fierce, playful and entertainment.

Fresh off a regional tour, the provocative acts inspired by Tarantino’s Fill in each letter of the unforgettable alphabet once only.

Wollombi Burlesque Troupe characters and films. teams up with The Reservoir TaranTEASO is the perfect G V Dags band to bring Tarantino’s event to let loose; group iconic soundtracks to life.

Udiscounts I S T T A are available for From Little Green Bag to C Tmore, happy parties A of five or Jungle Boogie, the band will E hourEstarts S at 6pm and make U it E S perform all the classics, while a full Snight out R with I a delicious E L A a powerhouse line-up of S burger bar menu offering meat, S Y E professional burlesque artists vegetarian and vegan options.

CoastCommunityNews.com.au Visit our website (or scan the QR code) for: • Full flip book version of the newspaper • More local stories (daily) • More Forum and On The Beat • Community Not For Profit (NFP) Listings • Advertising rates and specs • Print schedule SCAN ME • Last edition’s puzzle solutions

MISSING LINK

M A S O L V E S O A D A R D O R S T O O LAST N E L I K EDITION’S E S H PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

Missing Link Solution:

M G V J QU I N S T O T A L C A T G D E K E S R U S E S X S H R I V E L A A S S P Y EW M A B S O L V E E S O Y A D A R I D O R S U T O Z ON E F L I C K E S T H

TaranTEASO is set to play the Fun Haus Factory

SAIGON - MEKONG & TEMPLES OF ANGKOR © Lovatts Puzzles

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Candlelight: Christmas Pop Classics and New Favorites will be held at 8.30pm on Thursday, December 12, at Avoca Beach Theatre. feverup.

domestic violence related incidences in NSW and is also consistently over-represented in statistics for Breach of Apprehended Violence orders.

Every Day I Like to Play will be launched at 10.30am on Thursday, December 5, with

Fantastic night of burlesque

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multisensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations.

Buy tickets at com/m/196237

“It aims to promote positive, age-appropriate messages about respectful relationships and break down gendered stereotypes of traditional roles within the home.”

The Central Coast has the third highest number of

free children’s entertainment and a special outdoor storytime session featuring The QUOKKAS projected on a big screen.

Central Coast Mayor Lawrie McKinna said the book was a wonderful initiative, as it explored positive and respectful relationships, encouraged acceptance and celebrated kindness.

“We all need to continue to work together to build awareness of domestic and family violence and teach our children about healthy relationships,” he said.

“I really encourage everyone, young and old, to attend the launch of Every Day I Like to Play.

“The book will also be available in our libraries and can help you start, or continue, the conversation with the preschool aged children in your lives.”

For details contact your journey escort Glenn today

43 63 1699 MISSING LINK 048 © Lovatts Puzzles

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PUZZLES

FOLLOW US

CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1. From Bangkok 4. US honeymoon falls 8. Actress, ... Winslet 11. Shopping mall 13. Defamation 15. Transactions 17. Burrow 18. Being untruthful 20. Paddle 21. Principle 24. Snare with noose 27. Cove 28. Den 30. Revolt (against) 31. Blue stone, ... lazuli 33. Wimbledon sport 34. Legislative body 35. Inkling 36. Shafts of light 39. Amount 42. Hard iron alloy 44. Scandinavian city 45. Indian garments 46. Marsupial pouches 48. Frantic 49. Grew ashen 50. Snow vehicle 52. Was able to 54. Trifling 55. Speed trap device 56. Word comparison 57. Garden entrance 60. Surrender signal, white ...

62. Shook (tail) 65. Agency 67. Reside 69. Refute 70. Commanded 72. Affirmative answer 73. Animal 75. Elaborate meal 77. Decimal base 79. Goodbye 81. Cancelled 82. Yellow pigment 84. Lion trainer 85. Happen next 86. Orient 87. Marches 88. Bother!

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU 23. Emerges 25. Forewarns 26. Tiles 29. Tool 32. For every 35. Sedating 37. Gangway 38. Mailing 40. Gastric ailment 41. Cutting blade 42. Window ledges 43. Jacket collar fold 44. Beginning 47. Cautious 51. Swing loosely 52. Provides food 53. Make (solution) less concentrated

DOWN

54. Skinflints 58. Assisted

1. Reminder note, ... list (2-2) 2. Separate 3. Unwell 4. Identify 5. Muddles 6. Uses fishing rod 7. Pub drinks 8. Lock opener 9. Courtroom defence 10. Anxious 12. Incidental comment 14. Swell up 16. Canvas support 19. Objectionable 22. Live wire

MISSING LINK MISSING LINK

59. Ram’s mate 61. Viper 63. Stamp book 64. Unscheduled side trip 65. Rubbed 66. Cars 68. Holds back 71. Early anaesthetic 72. Harvard’s rival 74. Broadcasts on radio 76. One-spot cards 78. Hornet home 80. Devour 83. Thinking, chewing the ...

Fill in each letter of the alphabet once only.

Fill in each letter of the alphabet once only.

F K S GA R U S E S I N V E S N A O R S C U S E E S S I O U S U T E R I E T A P E E T C I S O U E ROS T S E © Lovatts Puzzles

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Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Missing Link Solution: Geoff Brazel and all of the Team at Brazel Moore Lawyers wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.

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Afternoon of superb music and friendly company The Brackets and Jam south crew will present another afternoon of superb music and friendly company on top of Kincumba Mountain this Saturday, December 7.

The event is BYO everything – bring a friend, a picnic, a smile, a chair or rug and get treated to what has to be the cheapest and most family friendly day out on the Coast.

The line-up will include Hue Williams, The Moths, Mirrabooka, Jesse Lethbridge and drum jams.

Hue Williams, The One Man Band, is a seasoned performer who has worked with more famous artists than can be mentioned at venues including the Sydney Opera House, Parliament House, The Entertainment Centre, Hong Kong Hilton, Hotel Borobudur in Jakarta, most concert halls in Australia and most clubs and pubs in Sydney.

The Moths will emerge from the darkest corners of Copacabana to play a heady brew of original psychedelic

regulars around the Central Coast and Sydney venues , charity events and corporate functions, commercial and private parties.

While performing and touring they wrote their second album of original songs, River of Dreams, released in 2017.

Jesse Lethbridge is one of the original sparks that started the tribe vibe on the Coast with the jungle bar in Gosford.

From there it grew into brackets and jam on the mountain.

Mirabooka

rock, mixing it up with a dash of funk, a splash of jazz and a twist of pop.

Mirrabooka is a remarkable four-piece band of experienced musicians.

Collectively each member has been involved in the music industry for many decades and performed with many artists/ musicians and genres of music in that time.

The band is made up of two couples, Rob and Liz and Rosie and Glenn, and formed over nine years ago.

Popular around their hometown, the band has

performed nationally and internationally.

After the release of the first album, River of Life, in 2010, Mirrabooka continued to write and perform together and are

Lethbridge will be sharing stories and songs as well as performing songs with his wife Clara, who will share her rich Afro Brazilian culture with original songs and songs from Brazil.

Adults $10 per person and EFP is now available.

Accompanied children under 16 are free.

The Wombats headline 2024 Rolling Sets Festival Bringing those Summer vibes with a raft of international and homegrown talent, Rolling Sets Festival is set to take over Memorial Park at The Entrance on Saturday, December 7 with UK indie stalwarts The Wombats as headliners in a NSW exclusive.

Adopted by Australian fans as a firm crowd favourite, the band has toured our shores countless times and will continue their mutual love affair with Australia this December.

With spiky guitar riffs and heavy choruses, the band’s pan-generational appeal continues to swell as they hint

at new music in the works, on the back of their acclaimed fifth studio album and most recent biggest shows to date at London’s The O2.

Another act will be Lime Cordiale, touted as one of Australia’s hardest working bands amassing countless shows, millions of streams across all platforms, and taking out the coveted number one spot on the ARIA album charts for their latest release Enough of the Sweet Talk earlier this month.

The indie-rocker brothers will bring their infectious stylings to the Rolling Sets stage alongside heart of gold rocker G Flip who makes the kind of highpowered rock/pop music that could only come from the heart

and mind of a drummer,Sydney native pop wunderkind Ruel and queen of pop pixie Peach PRC. This year, festival organisers are working with Disabled Surfers Australia (DSA) and helping to raise much-needed funds for this incredible organisation.

The Disabled Surfers Association was established in 1986 by Gary Blaschke after a motorcycle accident where he lost his kneecap and underwent extensive rehabilitation.

He saw a void that needed to be filled as, over the years, many surfers with disabilities have unfortunately been loners with no-one to help them get back into the water.

His vision quickly extended to all classes of disabilities, from asthmatics to joint injuries to paraplegic as well as the neurodiverse.

Many members have found friendship, support and have renewed their interest in surfing and the love of the beach.

A totally voluntary organisation, with no government funding, the DSA sets world’s best practice for disabled surfing and currently has 18 branches around Australia (including the Central Coast branch) and one in New Zealand.

For more information visit www.rollingsets.com.au

Photo: Nazrin Massaro

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Dr Gordon Reid and Labor are delivering

Cost of Living Relief A tax cut for every Australian taxpayer $300 energy rebate for every household $325 energy rebate for small businesses Freezing the cost of PBS medicines

Dr Gordon Reid MP Member for Robertson (02) 4322 2400 Gordon.Reid.MP@aph.gov.au DrGordonReidMP.com.au DoctorGordonReid Reid4Robertson Authorised by Dr G Reid, Level 3, 69 Central Coast Highway, West Gosford, NSW 2250

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Business & Property

Anna Seymour current Studio Gossie facilitator, Jo O’Toole Gosford Regional Gallery Curator and Kylie Tung MGNSW Chair. Photo credit: Jacquie Manning

Major award for Studio Gossie Central Coast Council’s Gosford Regional Gallery has won a major award at the prestigious 2024 IMAGinE Awards held recently at Paddington Town Hall.

Museums, galleries and Aboriginal cultural organisations from across NSW gathered at the annual event which recognises the exceptional achievements of cultural institutions and individuals, with this year’s winners showcasing outstanding excellence in exhibitions, community engagement and accessibility initiatives.

The Regional Gallery won the Accessible Arts Award for Access and Inclusion for Studio Gossie.

Studio Gossie is an inclusive arts program which provided Central Coast artists with disability a safe space to develop their skills and learn professional practices.

Culminating in the Here and Now exhibition, the program emphasised accessibility

through inclusive exhibition design, accessible paths and artist statements at varied heights.

Artists were also supported with audio statements and opportunities to speak at public events, promoting inclusivity and professional development.

The IMAGinE Awards provide an essential platform to celebrate the resilience, creativity and dedication of museums, galleries and Aboriginal cultural centres.

Judges were especially impressed by the strong focus on community engagement, inclusivity and accessibility – particularly among smaller and regional organisations achieving meaningful outcomes with limited resources.

Museums & Galleries of NSW CEO Brett Adlington said the IMAGinE Awards continued to celebrate and champion the extraordinary efforts of the cultural sector.

“The work recognised this year reflects an inspiring

commitment to creativity, inclusivity and community impact, strengthening the cultural landscape of NSW and enriching the lives of our communities,” he said.

“The IMAGinE Awards remain a cornerstone in acknowledging and celebrating the vital contributions of NSW’s cultural sector to the state’s rich and diverse tapestry.”

Central Coast Mayor Lawrie McKinna said the win was another example of Council’s commitment to inclusiveness for the community.

“We have a fantastic arts culture here on the coast, and programs such as Studio Gossie is an example of how our Gosford Regional Gallery is providing opportunities and spaces for artists with a disability to develop their talents and showcase them to the community,” he said.

For a full list of the winners and highly commended visit: mgnsw.org.au/sector/ programs/imagine/winners/ winners-2024

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Council identifies priority projects

BUSINESS BRIEF

Central Coast Council has identified priority infrastructure and investment projects aimed at benefitting residents, businesses and visitor across the region.

Former company operator penalised

Its recently launched document – Key Enabling Projects 2025: Central Coast Region – highlights projects that are funding-ready opportunities for improved sustainability, liveability and economic growth.

Council is now calling on federal and state governments, industry bodies, specialty groups and private enterprise to partner with it to help deliver on these and other priorities.

Central Coast Mayor Lawrie McKinna said the document clearly laid out what both Council and the community wanted to see delivered to transform the region.

“I believe that partnerships with government and collaboration with industry groups and our community around accessibility, housing, employment, recreation and environmental sustainability are essential in managing the Central Coast’s predicted growth,” he said.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has secured a $12,652 penalty in court against the former operator of a tiling business on the Central Coast.

A concept diagram showing the location of a proposed Warnervale Education and Business Precinct

“Council has already proven it can work successfully in partnership with government and other key stakeholders, having delivered some major developments over the past decade.

“However, with a growing population, we must form ongoing partnerships with state and federal government to secure funding for projects that build our region and make a difference in the community.”

The document outlines the make-up of the Central Coast, its population, employment levels, number of dwellings,

language spoken in households, numbers of families, where people work, and how they get to work.

It also identifies key growth areas – Gosford, Greater Warnervale, the Woy Woy Peninsula and Greater Lake Munmorah – with some key enabling projects in each of those areas.

Community priorities are also identified, noting the Central Coast population is expected to grow by nearly 14 per cent over the next 20 years (351,934 in 2023 to a projected 400,878 in 2041).

Advocacy for affordable housing is prominent in the document.

The cost of many of the Key Enabling projects is also laid out including: $35M for the development of a Food Organics and Garden Organics services and associated infrastructure; $155M for sewage treatment plant major works across the Coast; and $2.5M for the Warnervale Business Precinct.

“Council must continue to partner with government and other organisations to address key priorities to support our

communities and create positive change,” McKinna said.

Council will now present the document to government and industry groups to progress the identified projects and partnerships.

To view the document visit www.centralcoast.nsw.gov. au/business/opportunitiesand-investment/centralcoast-region-key-enablingprojects

The Federal Circuit and Family Court has imposed the penalty against sole trader Daniel Patrick Sullivan, whose business traded as T for Tiling.

The penalty was imposed in response to Sullivan failing to comply with a Compliance Notice requiring him to calculate and back-pay entitlements to a worker he employed as a casual tiling labourer between April 2020 and July 2021, and for failing to issue the worker pay slips.

The Court has also ordered Sullivan to take the steps that were required to comply with the Notice, including calculating and paying the outstanding entitlements to the worker, plus superannuation and interest.

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Huge accolade for Lakes hotel

The Lakes Hotel; Licensee Zane Tredway (left) and Group General Manager H&N Hotels Jordan Harris with the award

The Lakes Hotel at The Entrance has been crowned as the number one TAB/ Wagering Venue in Australia at the prestigious 2024 AHA National Awards for Excellence.

It is the first Central Coast venue to win the national award.

The win solidifies the hotel’s position as a leader in

Australia’s wagering and hospitality scene.

Following a complete refurbishment of the venue in 2022, The Lakes Hotel has redefined the standard for betting facilities, creating a welcoming environment for sports fans and punters alike Key achievements that contributed to the win include: hosting the biggest pub NRL

tipping competition in NSW, with over 300 participants; winning NSW’s Best Wagering Venue at the 2023 and 2024 AHA NSW Awards for Excellence; and providing state-of-the-art TAB and betting facilities, including a 6-metre widescreen.

Patrons can enjoy a weekend punt with friends in a vibrant atmosphere, complemented by

a wide selection of refreshing beers and exceptional service.

“We’re so grateful to our incredible tippers and loyal guests for making this possible,” hotel licensee Zane Tredway said.

“This award reflects our commitment to delivering the ultimate experience for sports fans and punters.

“It’s not just about the games

– it’s about creating a place where people can come together, share the thrill of sport, and enjoy great company.”

The Lakes Hotel is part of the Harris & Narvo Hotel Group, which also owns and operates The Banjo Paterson Inn in Jindabyne, Hotel Jesmond at Jesmond and Hotel Gosford.

The partnership – led by Peter

and Jane Harris, along with Gary and Kerry Narvo – has long been a pillar of excellence in hospitality.

This year, the four were inducted into the AHA NSW Hall of Fame at the 2024 AHA NSW Awards for Excellence and awarded the prestigious Cyril Maloney Medal, further cementing their legacy in the industry.

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Community lifestyle at Pine Needles a winner

Pine Needles Village owner Jenny Phillips (centre) with Angela McKeough and Nicola Hill

Family-owned Pine Needles Village at Erina has been named Community of the Year at the 2024 Land Lease Living Industry Association NSW Awards of Excellence.

The awards were presented on November 20 at the Sofitel Wentworth Hotel in Sydney, bringing together the best in the industry and celebrating remarkable contributions that drive the success of NSW’s caravan, camping and land lease living sectors.

Pine Needles is an over-55s resort-style land lease community of 328 homes on 11.3ha of landscaped gardens at the foot of Kincumba Mountain.

“Winning this award is a testament to our team’s hard work and commitment to excellence and we are incredibly proud to be recognised,” said owner Jenny Phillips, who started the village in 1993.

Award judges said Pine Needles Village was victorious for its “exceptional support and engagement with residents offering initiatives like sit-andchat sessions along with beautiful gardens encouraging connection, which made it a standout choice for this honour”.

CEO of Land Lease Living Industry Association NSW Lyndel Gray said land lease living communities across

NSW were rising to meet the needs of the growing population.

“They offer flexibility, affordability and sustainability and their success underscores their critical role in providing innovative and accessible solutions for the housing market,” she said.

“These awards showcase the exceptional talent and innovation driving our industry forward.

“It’s inspiring to see such dedication to customer service, sustainability and community engagement, and we congratulate all the winners on their remarkable achievements.”

Development assessment times continue to miss target The first quarter review of Council’s 2024-25 operational plan shows development applications (DAs) are still not being assessed in line with targets.

At the end of September, it was taking an average of 142 days for a DA to be assessed.

That is more than double the target.

The NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has even more up-to-date figures that show the average figure at the end of October for the Central Coast was 156 days.

The average assessment time for NSW councils is 104 days.

Water and Sewer Director Jamie Loader, who is acting planning and environment director, said it would take some time for the figures to improve.

Speaking at the November 23 meeting, he said the older DAs were not showing up at all in the figures and so the numbers could deteriorate before they get better.

Deputy Mayor Doug Eaton had noted the figures were trending backwards

Eaton had put a question on notice to Council asking for a monthly report to the meetings on the number of outstanding development applications, the average/median time for determination and the number of DA appeals lodged with the Land and Environment Court.

In reply, CEO David Farmer said Council staff could provide the requested reports via the Councillor Newsletter “to ensure the currency and timely provision of information”.

Mayor Lawrie McKinna said a a lack of experienced staff in the department had led to a backlog.

“In the first quarter last year we were 20 staff members short in the Planning Department,” he said.

“But we are investing $8M to bring in senior staff, with nine senior positions to fill, including a new director.”

McKinna said the Council received the highest number of DA applications in the state, surpassing large councils including Sydney and Blacktown.

“We received 2,170 in the last financial year,” he said.

DA approval times are still lagging

Major coup for Modelrock Woy Woy cosmetics business Modelrock has been named winner of the Best Beauty Brand Aust/NZ category in the 2024 Global Makeup Awards.

Celebrating inclusive makeup and beauty across the globe, the awards recognized Modelrock for its commitment to innovation, inclusion and product development.

Announced online in the UK on Monday, December 2, the awards also saw Modelrock take a bronze medal in the Best False Lashes category for its top selling Ready-to-Wear Plant Fibre Press-On Lashes and a bronze medal for Modelrock’s sister brand, The Good Nail Co, in the Best Nail Product category.

Now in its sixth year, the 2024 Global Makeup Awards

attracted over 450 entrants from across all sectors, with 2024 the biggest year for the awards to date.

Due to over subscription in many categories, more categories were created to showcase more brands and celebrate new products.

“Winning these accolades – especially Best Australian/NZ Beauty Brand – and being recognised on an international awards platform is just so humbling,” Modelrock founder and CEO Raelene Mara said.

“To have our products judged by beauty and cosmetic experts from across the globe as medal winning is absolutely an affirmation that Modelrock continues to be a world-class brand which is we have strived for.

“We also need to thank our incredible customers for their continued support and belief in our brand – without them the brand would not be able to

Raelene Mara and Jeremy Spears

continually thrive and flourish and showcase our passion.”

2024 has been a good year for Modelrock, which won two MAGAP Australian Beauty Brand of the Year awards, two silver medals at the 2024 Universal Beauty Awards for its Lip Essentials and Lash Play products, and a highly commended award in the 2024 Pure Beauty Global Awards for

its Tube Tech Tubular Mascara.

Modelrock has carved out a global reputation for producing high quality products and always going the extra mile to research and deliver only the very best.

Everything from the manufacturers to cosmetic formulas, lash artisans, packaging and branding is overseen by owners and co-

founders Raelene Mara and Jeremy Spears; no product hits the market until it is perfect in their eyes.

“To win these awards is a huge boost for our brand’s reputation and visibility,” Mara said.

“They deliver opportunities for us to connect with new customers, partners and influencers in the beauty industry and help us expand our reach even further.

“They also inspire us to continue pushing boundaries, innovating and striving for excellence in everything we do.”

Modelrock’s premium quality faux lashes and cosmetics are 100 per cent vegan and cruelty free.

For more information visit www.modelrocklashes.com or call 0414 864 186.

The company is also on Instagram – @modelrocklashes

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BUSINESS BRIEF Acclaim for rugby fee subsidy program Wyong Leagues Group has been awarded the prestigious John Knipe Award in recognition of its registration fee subsidy program for young players.

The award is presented annually to a member club for an outstanding community or charitable initiative or project which promotes or serves charitable, sporting or humanitarian ideals to benefit the community either locally or further afield.

The 2024 John Knipe Award was presented at the recent Leagues Club Association annual conference held in Surfers Paradise.

Wyong Roos rugby league coordinator Belinda Hill accepted the award on behalf of Wyong Leagues Group, given in recognition of the 2024 Wyong Leagues Group Junior Rugby League Subsidy program.

It is a program that provides a $100 subsidy toward registration fees for players aged five to 13 to help families across the Central Coast with the cost while also boosting player numbers.

Following success of the 2024 program, Wyong Leagues Group has announced it will continue the subsidy program for the 2025 season.

The John Knipe Award is named in honour of a former life member and patron of the Leagues Club Association, an individual who worked tirelessly to get his Cessnock Leagues Club up and running.

He was the Club’s long serving manager, as well as Board member, and also served on Cessnock City Council.

The award was so named in memory of Knipe’s dedication and tireless efforts on behalf of his community.

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New tourism awards program for Central Coast Business NSW and Gosford Erina Business Chamber (GEBC) have partnered to launch the 2025 Central Coast Visitor Economy Awards in late January 2025.

The awards will showcase the best of Central Coast regional tourism, highlighting the operators and businesses demonstrating exceptional dedication, innovation and customer service across categories including festivals and events, accommodation, cultural experience and ecotourism.

“While decades in the making, the incredible work from local business owners and supporting stakeholders has seen our region burst onto the national and global stage as an award-winning tourism destination in recent years,” Business NSW Regional Director Scott Goold said.

“In the past 12 months alone, 11 Central Coast Tourism

From left: Gosford Erina Business Chamber President Peter Lawley, Former Deputy Chair Central Coast Tourism Matthew Hingerty, Gosford Erina Business Chamber Vice President Ralf Dahmen, Gosford Erina Business Chamber former VP Anna Cruckshank and Business NSW Central Coast Regional Director Scott Goold

businesses have taken home gold medals across various state, national and international awards programs.

“There is no doubt that the Central Coast visitor economy sector has well and truly earned its own program of recognition.”

The ambitious awards

program has been specifically designed as a business development tool.

Not only will it be a platform for businesses to celebrate and

share successes and achievements, but it will also shine a spotlight on areas for improvement and transformation.

“We want finalists to not just leave with a certificate and trophy at the end of this experience,” GEBC President Peter Lawley said.

“We want all entrants to walk away with key insights and feedback that will help drive the growth and longevity of their business.

“We are proud to partner with Business NSW on the 2025 Central Coast Visitor Economy Awards.

“Everything we do to strengthen our local operators and industry makes us stronger as a region.”

The 2025 Central Coast Visitor Economy Awards will open in late January.

Finalists will be announced in early April, culminating in a gala awards event at the end of May.

Cutting down on referrals to planning panel Proposed developments will have to attract 20 unique submissions (double the current figure of 10) before a development application to Central Coast Council will trigger the involvement of the Local Planning Panel.

Councillors voted 8-7 at the November 23 meeting to double the number of public submissions required for referral to the panel.

The five Liberals and three Team Central Coast councillors voted for the change while the five Labor and two independent councillors voted against it.

The change will need to be approved by the State Department of Planning before it is implemented.

The number of submissions is only one trigger for a DA to go

Deputy Mayor Doug Eaton put the motion

to the independent planning panel.

Other triggers include proposals that are sensitive, or are above development guidelines such as height.

Deputy Mayor Doug Eaton introduced the change, saying it added two to three months to

determine a DA by sending it to the LPP. He called it a modest change.

Councillor Kyle MacGregor said it was an unnecessary change. ‘’The conversation should be around resourcing and planning powers: the State takes the power away from Council but the council staff still have to do all the work assessing the applications,” MacGregor said.

Earlier in the evening, a representative of the Woy Woy Peninsula Residents Association (PRA) addressed the topic at the Public Forum.

Peter Gillis said collecting the 10 objections required to refer a DA to the LPP was quite difficult for the community to achieve – let alone doubling it. ‘’For example, any suburban home adjacent to a developer’s

proposal for a multi-storey unit block will be impacted by reduced solar access, privacy, increased traffic and noise, and the block itself will be denuded of trees; the sale value of adjacent homes will be reduced,’’ he said.

However, the difficulty in getting 10 people to lodge objections during the exhibition period was enormous, he said. ‘’Those objections will have the same basis – noncompliance issues, loss of privacy, loss of views, traffic impacts, etc,’’ Gillis said. ‘’Cr Eaton’s proposal for a minimum of 20 unique objections has no redeeming features. ‘’The objections will all be about the same issues, and could, and probably would, all be considered non-unique by the Council.

‘’The number of DAs referred to the LPP is very small – figures to March 2024 show approximately 30 referrals per year out of a total of 1600 exhibited DAs.” Mayor Lawrie McKinna said that the majority of councillors felt it was “just too easy to block or stall things” by referring matters to the LPP with just 10 submissions.

“It was slowing the DA process down and taking longer to reach the same goal,” he said.

“It is a modest change, but requiring 20 submissions before referring to the LPP will make for a more streamlined process.”

The Council discussed the backlog of DAs during another part of the evening.

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CHERALYN DARCEY’S

DOWN IN THE GARDEN BEAUTIFUL LAWNS coastfmgardeninggang@gmail.com I’m not the biggest fan of lawns, but I do see their use and their desirability, particularly for those who have a young family, enjoy outdoor games and for those who like a bit of manicured green lushness as a design feature.

I’ve spent a lot of time in my garden replacing expansive lawns with vegetable gardens and flower beds and the lovely backyard ‘green carpet’ I did have was ripped up by my two Boxers, Daisy and Lily!

I’m not completely void of lawn as I’ve retained paths and pockets of grass and those I can I say, I do firmly love.

Who does not like the feeling of cool fresh grass between their toes on a warm summer day after all?

CREATING YOUR OWN LAWN If starting from scratch, you can either grow from seed or lay turf to start your green oasis.

Turf can pretty much be laid at any time of the year while seed sowing should be done either in spring or early autumn, (throughout autumn on The Coast).

cheralyn

It is also a little shade-tolerant, withstands dry periods and it stays very green in winter.

A newer grass is Zoysia which requires less water and mowing and along with being very soft in texture, is a lovely darker green.

These are just a few of the many grasses that could suit your needs.

Other alternatives that are rising in popularity include Australian Native grasses such as Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra), Red Grass (Bothriochloa macra) and Wallaby Grass (Austrodanthonia spp.).

Have a chat with the team at one of our wonderful local garden care centres to find the exact match for your garden and you.

Step by Step to Laying Turf Weed and rake over the soil and make sure it is level.

Roll out the turf and stagger your edges but make sure they are firmly butted up against each other.

Sprinkle a top dressing over the turf and using a broom work it gently into the turf.

Water in well.

Which Grass?

Step by Step to Sowing Seeds

For the Coast and similar climates, Buffalo Grasses are recommended as they are very hard-wearing, shade tolerate and do well in hot conditions.

A vigorous grower, (something that may or may not appeal to you), is Kikuyu.

Weed and rake over the soil and make sure it is level.

Measure the area you are sowing and following the seed supplier instructions for amount to sow for your area.

Sow as evenly as possible.

Rake over the seeds gently

cheralyn.darcey

THIS WEEK YOU COULD PLANT French climbing beans, beetroot, carrot, celery, chicory, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, herbds, lettuce, melon, okra, pumpkin, rosella, silverbeet, sweetcorn, sweet basil, dill, parsley, lemongrass, rocket, sweet potatoes, alyssum, aster, boronia, California poppy, celosia, carnations, cosmos, cyclamen, dahlia, gazania, geranium, gerbera, marigolds, nasturtium, petunia, phlox, portulaca, rudbeckia, salvia, snapdragons, sunflower, verbena, waratah, zinnia and then cover with 2mm of soil. Water in well.

You will find without a border, grass tends to run away and grow in places that you would rather it did not and can be detrimental to other plants in your garden.

When it comes to selection of edging you will need to factor in price, durability and suitability and then let’s not forget design.

Bricks and pavers are a great option as they can simply be the edge of a feature adjoining your lawn such as a patio, path or driveway.

They can be laid in various manners to create patterns, styles and heights that please you.

I particularly like what is known as a ‘diamond or zigzag style’, creating a standing edge by half burying bricks.

Timbers can be used but unless treated most will decay.

Treated timbers are not to be used as lawn edges to food gardens and to be honest, I

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personally don’t mind a slowly ‘decaying into the earth’ timber edge in some places but that is up to you.

There are commercially made timber edges as well available.

Other options are stones, concrete (poured and recycled broken pieces), metals and I’ve even seen clever use of old glass bottles buried neck end down, hub caps and even china plates.

Go and explore!

Caring for Your Grass Oasis Whether growing from seed or laid turf, lawn needs lots of water until it is very well established and has attained a height of 2cm.

Water again very deeply and then hold off on the water for a few days so that roots will start seeking out water at lower levels.

Now you can settle into a deep watering every week when there is no heavy rainfall, but you may find that it needs additional watering during the

height of summer or very hot dry periods.

Lawns are also hungry and there are many commercially grown fertilisers on the market specifically catering to them or you can make your own.

Whatever you use, do not use too much or use it too often as you can ‘burn’ and even kill your lovely lawn.

A Homemade Fertiliser Recipe

Lawn

½ cup ammonia - contains nitrogen which leafy plants love 1 can lemonade - not diet as its included to provide sugars to feed the soil microbes 1 can beer - feeds the microbes and bacteria in the soil 1 cup baby shampoo assists in absorption of fertilisers, don’t use antibacterial, 40 litres water Spray lightly and evenly over your lawn evenly once a week and water in well.

Weed lawns by hand as soon as you see them pop up and ensure that you have lifted their roots out.

Pests can be troublesome, and, on The Coast, we experience more than our fair share of curl grub and the best way to prevent them is by ensuring your lawn is healthy and doesn’t dry out as they much prefer a poor lawn to a well maintained one.

An organic treatment is

‘Neem Oil’ and it is easily obtained commercially, follow the supplier’s instructions.

To keep lawns healthy, you do need to mow them regularly as it encourages the grass to develop stronger root systems and it prompts new growth.

Your lawn is made up of lots of tiny plants that run and multiply, and this means it will become compacted by too many plants trying to fit into your defined area.

To help it, aerate your lawn in spring and autumn by spiking it with a garden fork every 10cm all over and wiggling it back and forth to create holes.

There are also spiked sandals and other ingenious gardening contraptions that can help with this process out there.

In autumn you should also ‘top-dress’ your lawn to add to the quality of the hard-working soil.

Do this a few weeks after autumn aeration.

Use a mixture of three parts sand to three parts loam to one-part organic matter.

Spread evenly across the lawn to about 10mm in depth and work in with a broom.

Scarifying your lawn sounds scary but it is a way to remove build-up of dead grass in your lawn.

In spring and autumn, rake over the lawn to pick up this ‘thatch’.

Go in one direction and then the opposite with a spring-rake to encourage the dead grass out.

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Health & Education The French Chef serves up quality meals for elderly

As head chef, Stephan Blant ensures Peninsula Villages residents are served up only the very best

At Peninsula Villages in Umina, the commitment to providing the highest quality care extends to every aspect of their services, including the meals they serve every day to residents.

At the heart of this endeavour is Stephan Blant, the Peninsula Villages’ esteemed Food Services and Catering Manager, affectionately known as “The French Chef”.

Blant is a third-generation chef hailing from the Alsace region in France, a renowned culinary pocket nestled

between Switzerland and Germany.

His passion for food has been a lifelong journey, beginning in his family’s kitchens and continuing even as he pursued studies in accountancy.

Blant’s culinary expertise is richly diverse, influenced by his time in the south of France, where he embraced Mediterranean flavours and techniques.

His journey brought him to Australia in 2011, where he worked in prestigious resorts and high-quality restaurants before finding his true calling in

aged care when he started a family.

Since joining Peninsula Villages, Blant has been driven by a deep desire to make a positive impact on the lives of the Village residents.

He takes immense pride in his work, knowing that the meals he and his team prepare play a crucial role in the well-being and happiness of those in his care.

He believes wholeheartedly in Peninsula Villages’ mission to provide the best for residents, and he works tirelessly to

ensure that this standard is met every day.

Under Blant’s leadership, the catering department has flourished.

What began as a modest operation has grown into a dynamic team, now comprising five kitchens, 15 serveries, and 43 dedicated staff members.

The department continues to expand, driven by Blant’s vision and the ever-growing needs of the Villages community.

His culinary offerings are as diverse as they are nutritious.

The department offers an extensive six-week menu, which changes twice a year to reflect the seasonal delights of Winter and Summer.

In addition to the main menu, residents have access to an alternate menu and a 24/7 snack menu, ensuring that their dietary preferences and needs are always met.

All menus are reviewed by a dietitian to ensure they meet the highest standards of health and nutrition.

A testament to the department’s excellence is the consistent achievement of an A

rating in the NSW Food Safety Authority audit.

This accomplishment, while expected by Blant and Peninsula Villages, is no small feat.

It is a reflection of the hard work, dedication and attention to detail exhibited by every member of the catering team.

Blant is quick to acknowledge the collaborative effort with the Care Department, whose support is invaluable in maintaining these high standards.

Seniors helping seniors become healthier A free health services program available on the Central Coast shines a light on seniors helping seniors become healthier.

The program, Health Promotion Services for Old People (HPSOP) where peer educators help other seniors, has been operating since 1991 under the auspices of the Combined Pensioners & Superannuants Association NSW and is available in English and 10 different languages.

During 2023-24, a team of four Central Coast and Hunter

peer educators gave health presentations to a total of 667 seniors on health topics such as falls injury prevention, diabetes awareness, healthy bones and osteoporosis, StrokeSafe, arthritis management, healthy bladder and bowel habits, medicine management, and oral health care.

As older people are eight times more likely to be hospitalised and 68 times as likely to die from falls, the topic falls injury prevention was certainly the most popular presentation.

In response to the ageing population on the Central Coast and the importance of falls prevention in the Healthy Ageing strategy, Central Coast Health Promotion Service partnered with local presenters by providing practical falls prevention resources for distribution to senior groups.

Peer educators recently met with long-serving volunteer Vivienne Scott to discuss the valuable impact of health presentations and the need to recruit more volunteers.

The team also discussed the

benefits of being a volunteer, including receiving training, learning to improve their own health, making a valuable contribution to the community, giving more purpose in their retirement and the flexibility of HPSOP, which they can fit in with their other commitments.

For more information on either becoming a volunteer or hosting a presentation for your senior’s group, contact CPSA at health@cpsa.org.auor Habib on 0404 548 063, or visit https://cpsa.org.au/freehealth-information-sessionsfor-the-elderly.

Central Coast and Hunter peer educators met for Christmas lunch recently

PAGE 28 - EDITION #467

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Central Coast a melanoma hotspot Revelations that the Central Coast is at number 23 of a newly released melanoma hotspot map from the Cancer Institute NSW is a timely reminder for Coasties to protect their skin while outdoors.

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch MP cited the sobering reality that Australia has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world.

“Two out of three Australians will be treated for skin cancer in their lifetime which is why protecting our skin from the sun from a very young age, and into adulthood, is key to reducing our risk of this devastating disease,” Tesch said.

“Here on the Central Coast, we love being outdoors enjoying the natural environment or being active.

“This is healthy, but only if you’re being sun smart.

“Otherwise, it can be deadly.

“Whether you’re heading to the beach, hanging the washing or walking to the shops or train station, I urge everyone to do

the simple things like seeking shade when outdoors, wearing sunscreen, putting on a hat, sunglasses and protective clothing to safeguard themselves from harmful UV radiation from the sun.”

Melanoma is one of the most common cancers among young Australians, and the third most

diagnosed cancer in NSW, with more than 5,000 people expected to be diagnosed in the state in 2024.

As the most serious form of skin cancer, melanoma can be deadly and is projected to take the lives of close to 500 people across NSW this year.

Ninety-five per cent of

melanoma and 99 per cent of non-melanoma skin cancers are caused by overexposure to UV radiation from the sun and can be prevented with proper sun protection.

The summer relaunch of its If You Could See UV campaign forms part of a suite of initiatives underway at the

Cancer Institute NSW to help reduce the impact of skin cancer in NSW. The most effective defence against UV radiation is to follow these five key steps before leaving the house: slip on protective clothing; slop on SPF50+ sunscreen ( apply 20 minutes before heading outdoors and re-apply every two hours); slap on a wide brimmed hat; seek shade; and slide on sunglasses.

Ballina, Lismore, Byron, Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour local government areas have the state’s highest rates of melanoma, with almost 350 cases projected to be diagnosed in those areas in 2024.

Sutherland Shire, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Tweed and Kempsey and Richmond Valley LGAs are also in the state’s top 10 melanoma hotspots, while Mosman, MidWestern Regional, Shoalhaven, Cessnock and Wagga Wagga LGAs have entered the top 25.

Star 104.5’s Matty’s amazing run for men’s mental health Co-host of Star 104.5’s Gina and Matty Breakfast show, Matty Baseley, recently completed an extraordinary 30km run while broadcasting live on air, raising an incredible $18,000 for men’s health charity Movember.

Choosing to run 30km to symbolise the 30 per cent rise in male suicide over the past decade, Baseley’s effort has not only exceeded fundraising goals but also sparked vital conversations about men’s mental health on the Central Coast.

The run capped off a monthlong campaign involving the entire Star 104.5 team, who grew moustaches, set fitness goals and led individual fundraising efforts.

Local businesses and Coasties united to make a difference, with businesses like Erina Fair contributing a $1,000 shopping spree, Choices Flooring Erina donating $500, and Café 2261 raising funds with free coffees and a $250 donation, among other generous givers.

Exciting prizes, including a three-night stay at Sea World Resort, further incentivised donations and helped raise $10,000 even before Baseley’s run began.

The entire Star 104.5 team got behind Matty’s campaign

After completing the run, Baseley reflected on the achievement and the cause at the heart of his motivation.

“It was a huge challenge, but it’s nothing compared to what some men are battling at the moment,” he said.

“The Central Coast has amazed me with their generosity, and to raise over $18,000 for this very important charity is just amazing.

“I couldn’t be prouder of what we have accomplished together.”

The month was more than just raising money; it also created a platform for meaningful conversations about men’s mental health, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

Throughout the campaign, Gina and Matty spoke with local advocates and community members including local real estate agent and host of the Chasing Optimism podcast, Mat Steinweide, who lost his son to suicide.

The team highlighted the importance of fostering open dialogue and providing support for those who need it and shared tangible support options that those struggling can access.

Gina Jeffreys, Baseley’s cohost on Gina and Matty, reflected on the impact of the campaign.

“I always knew about Movember but never really understood what it was all about until now,” she said.

“As a mother of a young boy, it’s incredible to see the impact that having these conversations can have, and Matt is such a champion for the work he’s done for this cause.”

Star 104.5’s Movember journey might have come to a close with Baseley’s run, but the conversation continues as Star 104.5 continues to support local initiatives and charities that matter most to the local community.

HEALTH BRIEFS Hearing loss A hearing loss support group for hearing impaired people is held at Wyoming Community Centre every Monday between 9am and 10am.

Participants are invited to enjoy coffee at the centre after the meeting.

The group focusses on lip reading and shares helpful hints about hearing aids, cochlear implants and assisted listening devices.

Inquiries: 0405 750 145.

Hospital donation Residents of Brentwood Village at Kincumber have donated a vital signs monitor to be used in Gosford Hospital’s Cancer Day Unit.

Cancer Day Unit nurse unit manager Madeleine Papeix said the donation would provide important observations on blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and oxygen saturation.

The residents are regular supporters of Central Coast Local Health District’s Cancer Services, raising money at their annual Big Morning Tea and other fundraisers.

Navigating perimenopause The Debbie Gaunt Foundation marked a major milestone on November 21 with a successful inaugural event for health professionals the CentralCoast–Perimenopause Uncovered.

Held at The Olive Grove in Forresters Beach, the event brought together more than 80 local practitioners, including doctors, mental health professionals, exercise physiologists and allied health specialists, to explore the diverse impacts of perimenopause on women’s health.

Perimenopause Uncovered was hosted by Dr Shauna Watts, a Coast-based GP with a special interest in women’s health.

She was joined onstage by four expert clinicians who shared their specialised knowledge and practical advice, covering the physical, mental, and emotional challenges that come with perimenopause.

The evening was rounded out with a lively Q & A session covering the best ways to support clients and patients navigating perimenopause.

The Debbie Gaunt Foundation is a project of Coast-based suicide prevention charity Iris Foundation.

See full stories online: coastcommunitynews.com.au

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Young minds explore maths and future careers Five of the Central Coast’s most inquisitive young minds explored how maths can shape their future career at the Newcastle Permanent Primary School Mathematics Challenge held in Newcastle recently.

The Year 5 and 6 students from Wyong Public School, Gosford Public School and Coast Christian School joined 18 others from across NSW, with the challenge celebrating winners and District Award recipients from this year’s Newcastle Permanent Primary School Mathematics Competition.

From finance to medical

research and even getting hands-on to extract DNA from a strawberry, the students were challenged to collaborate with their peers and imagine maths as something more than a subject at school through presentations and quizzes from professionals from Newcastle Permanent, the Hunter Medical Research Institute and the University of Newcastle.

Newcastle Permanent chief distribution officer Paul Juergens said that the maths challenge inspired students to dream big.

“This isn’t just about challenging students on paper, we want to challenge what they know about mathematics and its

possibilities,” Juergens said.

“More than 15,000 students participated in our maths competition this year, and we know that the interest in all that STEM can offer is growing and growing.

“At Newcastle Permanent we love being part of it, and the enthusiasm we saw from the kids shows that they love being part of it too.”

This year’s Central Coast participants were Yian He from Wyong Public School, Niamh Fearnley and Tahsina Meherush from Gosford Public School and Abby Wang and Roy Feria Amador from Coast Christian School.

Niamh Fearnley and Tahsina Meherush from Gosford Public School

Wellbeing event at Terrigal Whole Food

Sherrie Laryse with her book

Terrigal Whole Food at Erina is set to bring the community together for a wellbeing event offering an insight into the power of meditation on Saturday, December 7.

Owner and chef David Lee and the team at Terrigal Whole Food will host the much-anticipated launch of The Body Talks Back, a powerful new memoir by emotional intelligence, yoga and meditation teacher Sherrie Laryse.

Interested residents can join Laryse from 1pm on the day for an afternoon of meaningful conversation and insight as she outlines the world of mind-body connection and the resilience of the human spirit.

Alongside a conversation led by meditator and counsellor Lou Rubie, Laryse will give live readings from her book, answer questions and sign books.

“Community is essential because it provides a sense of belonging, fostering connections that support emotional and mental well-being,” Lee said.

“We jumped at the opportunity to host the launch of a book about using meditation to improve your wellbeing as it is a perfect fit for our philosophy.

“This is also a great social event where you can meet likeminded bookworms and have a copy of your book signed by the author.

“Plus, there will be some

Bulk billing initiative extended to veterans Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris says medical care will be more accessible for the region’s veterans with the payroll tax rebate for GPs available under the State Government’s $189M BulkBilling Support Initiative set to be expanded to include to veterans with a Gold, White or Orange DVA card.

“This means that clinics which specialise in the treatment of veterans are more likely to be able to access the rebate,” Harris said.

“It will keep their costs down and allow them to continue to offer important primary care services to veterans.”

Harris, who is also Minister for Veterans, said the government was committed to helping those who served the nation.

Minister for the Central Coast and Minister for Veterans David Harris

“The Bulk-Billing Support Initiative is a win-win that makes medical care more affordable and accessible for our brave service men and women while easing cost pressures on our medical care providers,” he said.

The Bulk-Billing Support Initiative was introduced in the 2024/25 NSW Budget to protect bulk-billing for people needing a GP and reduce the

strain on emergency departments.

Under the initiative, the NSW Government established an ongoing payroll tax rebate for GP clinics of at least 80 per cent of their patient services in metropolitan Sydney and 70 per cent outside of metropolitan Sydney.

The expansion of the BulkBilling Support Initiative means that services billed to veterans will count towards the threshold needed to benefit from the payroll tax rebate.

It will apply retrospectively to September 4, 2024, when the initiative commenced.

The NSW Government consulted extensively with peak bodies, clinics and agents throughout the design and implementation process of the initiative.

This included legislating a 12-month pause on payroll tax audits for GP practices in

September 2023 to allow time for engagement with the sector, and the establishment of a Revenue NSW-led working group to create a practice note to assist clinics, their accountants and legal advisors.

The Government has responded quickly to strengthen the initiative following consultation with RSL NSW. Recent Medicare data showed that an additional 1.8 million GP visits in NSW were bulk-billed in the year to October 2024.

This resulted in a 1.3 per cent increase of the overall bulkbilling rate in NSW to 81.9 per cent, the highest in Australia.

Extending the Bulk-Billing Support Initiative and will boost its effectiveness to provide cost-of-living support for patients and certainty for GPs and clinics, the government says.

special treats on offer.”

In The Body Talks Back, Laryse shares her journey from health challenges to deep selfdiscovery, offering readers a unique way of thinking and a reminder to listen closely to our bodies, especially when facing life’s toughest challenges.

She encourages readers to foster a nurturing relationship with their emotions, transforming adversity into peace of mind with a simple meditation technique.

“As an emotional intelligence teacher, nothing else in the world is as profound as this technique for finding peace in the face of adversity,” she said.

“Having emotional intelligence tools doesn’t make life less

bumpy, but it does provide a robust suspension system to ride the bumps.”

Terrigal Whole Food is an independent, family-owned business.

It offers sustainably sourced and ethically produced meats and fish, along with quality fruits, vegetables and grains and caters to all dietary requirements including lowcarb, dairy and gluten-free, plant-based/vegan menus.

Doors will open at 12.3pm on December 7 at Terrigal Whole Food, 19 Chetwynd Rd, Erina.

Save your seat at www. sherrie.com.au/events/ central-coast-book-launchthe-body-talks-back

INVITATION FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Torrens Title 8-Lot Industrial Subdivision, Wyong, NSW (EPBC 2023/09648) Red Eye Constructions Pty Ltd propose a one (1) into eight (8) lot Torrens Title subdivision (the ‘proposed action’) of lands located at 460 Pacific Highway, Wyong NSW (Lot 1212, DP 818944). The development will include earthworks and related activities to support future land use for light industrial purposes.

The proposed action has been determined to be a “controlled action” under the EPBC Act. The controlling provision under the EPBC Act is “Listed threatened species and communities” (Sections 18 and 18A).

In accordance with section 95A(3) of the EPBC Act, public comments are now invited on the Draft Preliminary Documentation for the proposed development for a period of 10 business days from Thursday 5th December 2024 to Thursday 19th December 2024. Hard copies of the Draft Preliminary Documentation will be available, without charge, to view at each of the following locations: Central Coast Council Wyong Service - 2 Hely Street, Wyong, NSW 2259, 8.30am-5:00pm, Monday to Friday.

State Library of NSW – 1 Shakespeare Place, Sydney NSW 2000, 9:00am-8:00pm Monday to Thursday, 9:00am-5:00pm Friday and 10:00am-5pm Saturday.

The documents can also be viewed and/or downloaded at: https://ecoplanning.com.au/public-exhibition/ Interested persons and organisations are invited to comment in writing on the proposal via: Email: brian.towle@ecoplanning.com.au Post: Brian Towle Senior Ecologist Ecoplanning Pty Ltd 428 Princes Highway Woonona NSW 2517 The deadline for submissions is 5pm (EST) on 19th December 2024.

Note: persons with special needs (i.e. for whom English is a second language or who has a vision impairment) may contact Brian Towle on (02) 4244 2736 for assistance in accessing the material.

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Clipperton steals the show at Wyong ahead of Magic Millions It was all about Sam Clipperton at Wyong on Saturday, November 23, with the multiple Group 1-winning jockey riding an impressive treble.

The show of prowess signals a strong field ahead for the Magic Millions at Wyong Race Track on Wednesday, December 11.

Clipperton, who famously claimed last year’s $20M The Everest aboard the recently retired Think About It, has long been a regular on the Saturday Metropolitan circuit.

However, a recent shortage of top jockeys has seen him take more provincial rides—and he made every moment count at Wyong From six rides, he secured three wins and a close second, leaving an undeniable mark on the day’s racing.

His first win came in the opening event, the 2000m BM64, aboard the John Sargent-trained Coto De Caza.

Dissatisfied with the early slow tempo, Clipperton made a

SPORTS BRIEF Mariners’ mixed “He was rock-hard fit and ready to go.” fortunes Clipperton capped off his

Photo Steve Hart Photographics

Sam Clipperton

bold move to take the lead at the 1400m mark.

Despite strong challenges down the straight, he showed his class, pulling away in the final stages to win by over two lengths.

Clipperton quickly followed up with a race-to-race double, guiding the Ciaron Maher-

trained Pasima to victory in the 1600m Class 1.

The four-year-old Pierro entirely relished the drop back to provincial grade, delivering another dominant two-length win.

It was a polished, frontrunning ride from Clipperton, showcasing his ability to control the tempo and execute with precision.

Pasima, a $1.5M purchase from the 2020 Magic Millions Yearling Sales, proved his connections’ investment worthwhile.

Stable representative Liam Ruddy was pleased with the result.

“He’s been racing well in stronger company, and this looked like a good race for him on form,” Ruddy said.

treble in the 1200m Midway Maiden, steering Revolt to a strong front-running victory for trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou.

Another expertly judged ride saw him bring up his third win of the day, reinforcing his reputation as a jockey in top form.

It was a masterclass from Clipperton at Wyong—a reminder of his skill and experience, no matter the stage.

A large crowd was on track for the Wyong meeting, with a plenty of groups enjoying Christmas parties and shopping at a number of on course market stalls.

The next meeting will be the annual Magic Millions Race Day on Wednesday, December 11, featuring the $200,000 2YO Classic and $150,000 3YO & 4YO Stakes.

Coast takes bronze in interbranch championships

The Central Coast Mariners’ struggles in the 2024-25 AFC Asian Champions League Elite continued with a 4-0 defeat to Yokohama F. Marinos at Industree Group Stadium on Tuesday night, December 3.

Mariners legend John Hutchinson, now interim head coach of Marinos, returned to Gosford in emphatic fashion, with his side dominating the reigning Isuzu UTE A-League champions.

Kenta Inoue struck twice in the first half, setting the tone for Yokohama’s clinical display.

Anderson Lopes added a third before Jun Amano’s sublime free kick in the second half capped off the visitors’ commanding performance.

The loss leaves the Mariners with just one point from six matches, sitting 11th on the ACL Elite Eastern League table with two games left to play.

With their ACL campaign all but over, the focus now shifts to regaining domestic form and reigniting the spirit that delivered last season’s A-League championship with a home game against Sydney FC set for Sunday, December 8.

Meanwhile, the Mariners women extended their unbeaten run to five matches with a 2-1 comeback victory over Canberra United at Industree Group Stadium on Saturday, November 29, climbing to third in the Ninja A-League.

The Central Coast Interbranch Team; Eden Pearson and Zahra Green

Challenging conditions faced the swimmers of the Central Coast Interbranch Team who contested the NSW Interbranch Championships at Cape Hawke over the weekend November 29-December 1.

The team of 40, ranging from Under 12s through to U17s in age, travelled by bus on Friday, November 29, to their accommodation and completed a final training session before competition commenced on Saturday.

Captains Eden Pearson and Zahra Green from Terrigal led their team to finish third place in the overall point score.

“I had the honour of being team captain and felt privileged to have that opportunity as I

really got to bond with everyone in the team,” Pearson said.

“Over the three days that I was with the team, I got to know many of the competitors better than I have ever before.

“They were a great bunch of kids with a passion to do well in the two days we had to compete.

“Everyone embraced the team spirit by cheering for one another and singing the team song with pride.”

The event focuses on team bonding; the athletes showed up to support each other for both sand and water events.

The first morning of competition saw U13s Hamish Shorter win the gruelling 2km Beach Run and Jackson Eagles

win the Beach Sprint.

U12 debutants Lucas Scott and Imogen Hyslop impressed with Scott winning both the Beach Flags and Beach Sprint while Hyslop took second in the Beach Flags.

On the water female Team Captain Zahra Green led the way, taking 3third in the Board Race and in a standout performance, winning the Ironperson event which included beating Sydney Northern Beaches star competitor Pipi Te Pania who has qualified for this year’s Shaw and Partners Iron Series.

The NSW Interbranch Championships are a tightly contested event however and every competitor is fighting for team points.

U15 Jasper Hunter stood up to be counted after a fellow competitor’s illness saw him being asked to contest the Ironperson and providing a solid result for the team to keep the points ticking over.

The team was well served by the U14 boys on the water with Billy MaCarthy, Ashton Bone and Samuel Wetti on or near the podium in every event contested with MacCarthy winning the Ironperson.

U13 Stella Webster also made a maximum point contribution with a win in the Surf Race.

Back on the sand, U17 senior competitors Finn Robertson and Tahlia Goy kept the momentum going with Robertson taking first in the Beach Flags while Goy took

second in Beach Sprint and 3third in Beach Flags.

At the end of the first day the team was sitting provisionally on the podium in third place but with rival Hunter only 9 points behind.

Rough surf greeted the team on the final day of competition and with water team events cancelled it was down to a small team of beach competitors to hang onto the podium position with only the beach distance and sprint relays contested.

With the rest of the team cheering them on the Central Coast Team held onto the bronze medal position with just a three-point margin to Hunter in fourth.

Maja Markovski’s stunning first-half strike gave Canberra the lead, but an inspired double substitution from Mariners coach Emily Husband changed the game.

Sixteen-year-old Tiana Fuller scored on her Ninja A-League debut just five minutes after coming on, while Shadeene Evans netted the winner with a brilliant finish.

Mariners keeper Sarah Langman was instrumental, making crucial saves to keep her side in the contest.

Fuller’s dynamic play and Evans’ composure secured a memorable win as the Mariners continue to impress this season See full story online: coastcommunitynews.com.au

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Blind cricket community challenge A strong line-up of Central Coast community leaders and local identities are ready to take their place on the Community All Stars side to face off against the NDIS Social Futures team in the annual Blind Cricket Community Challenge on Friday, December 6.

To be held at Gosford’s Adcock Park in celebration of International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD), the challenge has been organised

by NDIS partner Social Futures in conjunction with Blind Sports and Recreation.

It will showcase a sport enjoyed worldwide, while raising awareness and understanding for the 5.5 million people (one in five) living with disability in Australia.

Former captain of the NSW Blind Cricket Team and Social Futures Community Development Co-ordinator Scott Jones said the competition was heating up heading into its third year.

“The Blind Cricket Community Challenge offers participants a chance to wear experiential glasses that replicate different vision impairments, and players bowl underarm using an audible ball so others on the field can hear it coming,” he said.

“With scores level at one apiece, this third match will break the tie as both sides are gearing up for a spirited rematch.”

Each side will be captained by professional athletes from Blind Cricket Australia, who will

Scott Jones of Social Futures passes on valuable blind cricket tips to the team

give lots of great tips along the way.

The whole community is invited to join in kicking the day off at 11am with a come-andtry session where everyone can have a go at batting and

bowling out on the pitch, with experts on hand to guide participants.

Enjoy tandem bike rides designed for people living with visual impairment, meet seeing-eye dogs and tuck into

a free barbecue lunch before the big match starts at 1pm.

Jones said skills developed by players benefit them on and off the field.

“As a former captain of the NSW Blind Cricket team, I’ve

seen firsthand how sport develops leadership qualities in people living with disability,” he said.

“Playing Blind Cricket teaches adaptability and strategic thinking and fosters teamwork.

“These are qualities players carry with them off the field and into leadership roles in our communities.”

Disability sports are a great way for people to connect and meet new friends, spend some extra time enjoying the outdoors and improve health and fitness, Jones said.

NDIS partner Social Futures also offers The Blind Cricket Experience as a free initiative for NSW schools.

For more information visit Social Futures Blind Cricket or call 1800 719 625.

Funding welcomed for new Little Athletics centre Warnervale Little Athletics has been given a jump start to their maiden season with a $3,100 grant from the Coles Little Athletics Community Fund.

The new Little Athletics centre based at Warnervale Oval will use the grant to purchase a range of equipment including shot puts, discuses, stopwatches, marquee and a PA system.

Warnervale was one of 43 grassroots clubs and centres which shared in $150,000 from the latest round of Coles grants, which has netted Little

Athletics centres more than $2.5M since 2018.

Warnervale Little Athletics spokesperson Chelsea Manca said the grant would help the centre to provide a quality program for its athletes and volunteers.

“We have passionate committee members who share the goal of ensuring all kids within our program are having fun and feel part of our athletics community,” she said.

“The Coles grant will ensure we have all the right equipment for our athletes and volunteers in our first season.

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“The funds have helped centres buy a range of new sports equipment such as high jump mats, hurdles and discuses for athletes, as well as equipment for volunteers such as trolleys, laptops and printers.

“All our centres are run by dedicated parent volunteers and grants like this help them immensely.”

In addition to supporting Little Athletics centres with equipment grants, Coles has also donated more than five million bananas to help fuel future Aussie athletes since 2017.

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“The new equipment will help create an environment where everyone will want to be a part of our family friendly club and help the future growth of athletics in our area.”

Coles Little Athletics Australia CEO Myles Foreman said the Coles LittleAthletics Community Fund had already helped more than 480 centres across Australia.

“Our Little Athletics centres, parents, volunteers and athletes have been extremely grateful with the grants distributed from the Coles Little Athletics Community Fund over the past six years,” he said.

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Tennis, anyone?

Emma McBride with members of the midweek women’s tennis competition

Member for Dobell Emma McBride took a trip down memory lane when she popped into Wyong Tennis Centre to celebrate its recently completed court upgrades.

“Growing up in Wyong, Baker Park was my second home – my brothers, sister and I all played tennis, netball, cricket, soccer and swam there,” McBride said.

Wyong Tennis Centre is home to more than 2,000 active players, bringing together people of all ages from across the Coast.

“That’s why I committed $100,000 for Wyong Tennis at the last election, and I’m thrilled to see the upgraded courts being enjoyed by local players,” McBride said.

The recent work saw the main tennis courts resurfaced and drainage improved, creating safer courts and better playing surfaces.

McBride said that with many of the players at the club being in their 70s and 80s, safe playing facilities were imperative in empowering them to stay active and involved.

McBride joined members of the midweek women’s tennis competition and joined in a POP tennis match during her visit.

POP tennis is a new form of tennis where the court is

smaller, the ball is slower and the racquet shorter.

A POP tennis competition is set to launch at Wyong Tennis in early 2025.

Wyong Tennis Association President Leoni Baldwin said the courts were used extensively as they were

directly in front of the clubhouse.

“Our players at Wyong Tennis are delighted with the new surface on our two main courts,” she said.

“It has made playing easier with the new surface, particularly after wet weather as the drainage is excellent.”

Emma McBride joined in a POP tennis match