The Save our Sand (SOS) group has accused Central Coast Council of holding “secret” meetings with landowners over its application for s68 Authorisation to erect a seawall at the erosion-plagued Wamberal Beach.
Council has invited landowners to participate in a webinar on July 16 where, alongside representatives from Manly Hydraulics Laboratory, it will present the latest proposed design for a seawall as it progresses its application under the NSW Reconstruction Authority Act.
Council has submitted a preliminary application for s68 Authorisation for sand nourishment underpinned by a sloping sandstone rock revetment at Wamberal Beach.
In a letter to landowners, Council said staff have continued to liaise with the NSW Reconstruction Authority in order to “address any outstanding concerns and refine the plan to allow for formal submission of the application”.
In a Facebook post to its members, SOS was it was unacceptable that Council is running special meetings with beachfront landowners to the exclusion of the wider community.
“The beach belongs to all,” the post said.
“Your rates paid for the MHL seawall designs that will be discussed, so you should have every right to join the meeting, ask questions and give feedback.
From left: Senator Tim Ayres, Member for Dobell Emma McBride, Frank Sammut and David Bliss at the opening
(Photo: Elizabeth Ginis)
Members of SOS have long been opposed to a seawall for Wamberal Beach
CONTRIBUTIONS TO CCN
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Managing Editor: David Abrahams
Print Editor & Senior Journalist: Terry Collins
Journalists: Sue Murray, Denice Barnes, Merilyn Vale, Ivona Rose
Graphic Designer: Brad Yee
Distribution: Anthony Wagstaff
Contributors: Cheralyn Darcey, Julie Chessman, Stefan Kataric
Quiet achievers score an important win EDITORIAL
Not every significant success comes with exciting headlines.
Some take years of persistence, quiet determination and people willing to keep turning up long after the spotlight has moved elsewhere.
The official opening of the Food Manufacturing Innovation Hub at Ourimbah is one of those successes.
For more than a decade, Frank Sammut and the team at Central Coast Industry Connect have worked to make this vision a reality.
The planning began back in 2013.
Along the way there were countless meetings, business cases, partnerships and funding applications before the project finally secured $17M in Federal Government support.
Last week, that persistence paid off (see story page 27).
The new hub will help local food and beverage businesses move from small-scale production to commercial manufacturing, giving them access to specialist equipment, expertise and facilities that many could never afford on their own.
That matters because manufacturing remains one of the quiet strengths of the Central Coast economy.
While tourism, housing and major events often dominate the conversation, manufacturing employs about 9,000 people across the region and food and beverage manufacturing alone contributes more than a billion dollars to the local economy.
These are businesses creating products, adding value, selling in Australia, exporting to the world, and providing skilled local jobs.
The hub is also an investment in the future, creating opportunities for students through the University of Newcastle and TAFE NSW while helping local businesses innovate, grow and remain competitive.
Credit is due to everyone who helped bring the project to life.
Emma McBride championed the business case in Canberra, Senator Tim Ayres backed local Australian manufacturing, and many local industry leaders lent their support.
Though this is bigger than party politics and remains, above all, a local success story.
It shows what can happen when industry works together with business leaders, government, education, Council and the community around a shared vision.
Here at CCN, we’ve been
reporting on this project for years, from the first proposals through funding announcements and construction to this week’s official opening.
It has been rewarding to see an idea grow into an asset that will benefit the region for decades.
The Central Coast is often recognised for its beaches and lifestyle.
It should also be recognised for making things.
This new facility is another example that shows our region is also home to innovators, manufacturers and entrepreneurs quietly building a stronger community.
Sometimes the biggest goals are scored by the quiet achievers.
This week, the Central Coast has every reason to raise a glass: Cheers and Bon Appétit!
David Abrahams, Managing Editor
Verna chalks up 50 years at same club
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More than 50 years ago, Verna Stevens began working in the old Bateau Bay Bowling Club’s kitchen where she was encouraged to take up bowls by her boss who was at the time a club champion.
The club recently congratulated Mrs Stevens for 50 years playing bowls for the Bateau Bay Club.
At a special morning tea, President Karen McKay presented Mrs Stevens with a certificate in recognition of her five decades of playing bowls at the same club.
Bateau Bay Bowling Club
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Venue Manager Carlz Roger also congratulated Mrs Stevens on behalf of the Wyong Leagues Group.
It was a different time 50 years ago and at the time Mrs Stevens’ husband was required to join the club to allow her to become a member.
Once a member, she set about acquiring second-hand bowls and took to the greens. She has been playing with these same old Henselite
Classic II black bowls for all those 50 years and has no desire to change to the “newfangled” coloured bowls. She reminisced about the very strict rules for women playing bowls in that era – all white uniforms, correct colour stockings and accessories and white hats and the strict protocols like not being allowed to remove your hat until the Lady President removed hers.
It was with a cheeky smile that she recounted how the women’s hemlines were closely monitored to ensure
they were correct, even to the extent of being measured.
She mused how times have changed, from the former strict rules to where things are today – less formal, more colourful, relaxed and better fun.
She said it is “wonderful” to see young people taking up the sport.
She recalled that back then in order to get a game you needed to put your name down early, especially on weekends and Ladies days.
She also recalled all the wonderful friends she has made playing bowls and the beautiful friendships that still endure today.
She believes in being active physically and socially and says having such good friends is the elixir of life.
IN MEMORY OF
Mary Paolini passed away earlier this July ‘26 at Cessnock Hospital, aged 96.
Mary and husband Peter built their retirement home in Fishermans Paradise where he could enjoy mechanics, CB Radio conversations worldwide and superb fishing. After cancer took gentle Peter away, Mary continued on her own, helped by a nice “handyman” and, when needed, some good neighbours. Strong, independent, positive, cheerful ... she continued on her magnificent garden, so well maintained until rheumatism slowed her efforts. Mary made beautiful fashions & knitwear garments. She was erudite in Opera, Classic music and loved the history of Egypt & Ancient Civilizations. As age slowed her body activities she picked-up “cross-words” magazines with glee but, recent poor vision took away even that pleasure. Her brain never failed.
Mary also loved gentle Vickie, wife of her progressive and much caring son Gary.
President Karen McKay presented Verna Stevens with a certificate in recognition of her 50 years of bowling with the same club
Busy month for rescues
Marine Rescue Hunter Central Coast conducted 65 search and rescue missions during the month of June, 11 of them on the Central Coast.
These included 22 emergency responses with 145 people safely returned to shore across all eight Hunter Central Coast units – Port Stephens, Lemon Tree Passage, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Norah Head, Tuggerah Lakes, Brisbane Water and Terrigal.
Statewide, the organisation completed 235 search and rescue missions, with demand for the service remaining strong despite cooler weather.
Almost 40 per cent of the missions undertaken during the month were emergency responses, with Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Todd Andrews reminding boaters that preparation is critical before heading onto the water.
“Winter is no time for complacency,” he said.
“Boaters must remain vigilant, as weather conditions can change rapidly and water temperatures are colder.”
Cold shock can occur within seconds, while prolonged exposure can lead to hypothermia.
“Even on calm, sunny days, falling into cold water can have serious consequences,” Commissioner Andrews said.
“The best rescue is the one that never has to happen, and that starts with being well prepared.”
Rates and water payments scrapped at post offices
A recent Central Coast Council decision to cease accepting rates and water account payments at post offices has raised the ire of the four Central Coast Labor MPs.
The decision was made at Council’s Ordinary Meeting on June 29, while adopting the Budget and Operational Plan for the financial year 2026-27.
Attempts were made by Labor Councillor Margot Castles, by way of amendment, to have the service reviewed and consult with residents who would be affected, rather than ceasing the service immediately.
The plea fell on deaf ears and the amendment was lost.
The MPs said residents had been left without a convenient, logical and alternative method of payment, which previously existed and addressed digital exclusion.
They are calling on Council to reverse its decision and reinstate the service, saying the reversal would restore faith in the governing body about its commitment to the community it represents while continuing an important service benefiting the ratepayer and the licensed post offices across the Central Coast.
“It makes sense that people can pay their bills at the post office as well as their other bills,” Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris said.
“We should be providing more ways to pay not being restrictive; it could actually
encourage people to pay their bills on time.”
Member for Swansea, Yasmin Catley said not everyone paid their bills online, and they shouldn’t be left behind because Council had decided to remove a service people relied on.
“For many older residents, people without reliable internet or those who simply prefer to pay in person, the local post office is a trusted and practical option,” Ms Catley said.
“This is a common-sense service that works.
“Council should listen to the community, reverse this decision and restore a payment option that so many Central Coast residents depend on.”
Member for The Entrance David Mehan said residents and ratepayers expected
Council to act in their best interests.
“Unfortunately, decisions like this bring the Council into the limelight for all the wrong reasons,” Mr Mehan said.
“Attempts to exclude part of the community from having alternative options to pay rates and water, without consultation, is not best practice decision making.
“Residents deserve better and Council should reverse its decision.”
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said narrowing the options for people, especially seniors, was nothing more than a disservice to the community.
“We have a proportion of the community that is not computer literate and to reduce accessible avenues to pay rates bills is letting our
community down,” Ms Tesch said.
“I predict we are going to receive a lot of complaints about this decision.”
A Central Coast Council spokesperson said Council would continue to offer customers a range of convenient ways to pay rates and water bills, while phasing out the Australia Post payment option from September 29.
She said during the 2026–27
Budget deliberations, councillors considered Council’s services, service levels and funding priorities and as part of that process, a decision was made to cease the Australia Post service, enabling approximately $350,000 per year to be redirected toward other community priorities Customers can continue to
pay online through Council’s website, by direct debit, BPAY or telephone, at a time and place that suits them.
Customers who prefer to pay in person can do so at several Council locations across the Central Coast, including Wyong Customer Contact Centre, Gosford Regional Library, Woy Woy Library, The Entrance Visitor Centre, Erina Library and Lake Haven Library. Details on locations and opening hours are available on Council’s website.
Eligible pensioners can also use Centrepay to arrange regular payments directly from their pension.
Customers who currently use Australia Post and would like help choosing another payment method are encouraged to contact Council for assistance.
A move that sees residents unable to pay Central Coast Council accounts at post offices has raised the ire of Labor MPs David Harris, Liesl Tesch, Yasmin Catley and David Mehan
Council plan to buy MacKillop Oval
Central Coast Council hopes to acquire MacKillop Oval at South Kincumber, which has historically been owned privately.
Council allocated $2.7M in its budget for the current financial year to buy the oval precinct, which includes surrounding land.
Councillor Jared Wright said the move would provide a range of benefits to the community and he hoped that a deal could be struck between Council and the private landowner.
By having the site in public hands, he said Council and community groups would be better able to attract grant funding to help improve amenities and critical infrastructure, such as drainage and sporting club facilities.
Council has also allocated almost $250,000 over the next two financial years to add floodlights to the third playing field at the oval, which will particularly support junior players to be able to train and play in the evening.
“Since being elected, local sporting groups have continually raised the need for lighting on field three and Council has listened by allocating the funding to make it happen,” Cr Wright said.
club would welcome Council purchasing MacKillop Oval and working together to upgrade and develop facilities, not just for rugby league, but for other sports and the wider community.
“We see this as a fantastic opportunity to create a venue that will benefit local sport for many years to come,” Ms Tonga said.
“Our club now has more than 783 junior and senior members, including 215 female players, and we are continuing to look at ways to improve our amenities to meet the needs of our growing club.
“Council currently leases the site and by bringing it into public ownership, we can better allocate funding to amenities and infrastructure improvements knowing that we hold the asset in perpetuity,” he said.
have better access to grant funding from other levels of government for their amenities, such as changerooms.
“Community groups will also
“This is a strategic opportunity that provides significant benefits to the entire region.
“It’s yet another example of why we need a balanced budget, so we can take advantage of opportunities like this as they arise,” Cr Wright said.
“With a growing population and more people playing sport on the Central Coast, upgrades like these are critical in supporting our local sporting clubs across the region.
“This is particularly good news for local rugby league and cricket players who use the facilities year round.”
President of the Kincumber Colts, Jenny Tonga, said the
“Key priorities include improving drainage and providing dedicated female changerooms.”
Council currently leases the site and will now negotiate an acquisition with the private landowner.
Keep your distance from southern right whales
Central Coast swimmers and boaters have been given strict instructions to keep their distance from southern right whales in the region’s waterways.
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has issued a Special Order governing distances to be kept from the animals.
Vessels must stay at least 500m away from the animals and swimmers must maintain a distance of 100m.
The Order will be in place until November 30, when the breeding and calving season ends in NSW.
Southern right whales attract a lot of attention as they stay close to beaches and move slowly on the surface.
Although incredibly rare, they
are easily spotted when they visit.
The Order comes after a mother and calf were recently spotted off Sydney, with curious boaters and locals venturing close to the pair.
The NPWS citizen science project Right Whale ID has tracked individual whales through their unique white facial callosities for the past six years.
Research has found that even a single swimmer approaching too enthusiastically can trigger a significant negative behavioural response in the whale.
Identifying one of the handful or so Southern Right Whales off the NSW Coast each whale season, as opposed to one of the 40,000 humpback whales, is fairly simple.
Any slow moving, 14-16 metre long whale which is 500m or less off an ocean beach could be a southern right.
Identifying features include: a distinctive V-shaped blow when they exhale; large broad
body size and absence of a dorsal fin; white markings (skin growths) on their faces and heads known as callosities; and a geometrically angular tail/fluke, which is usually black on both top and bottom sides.
Unlike humpbacks, mother and calf southern right whales spend more than 90% of their time in waters shallower than 20m, and often less than 500m from shore.
While nursing they move very slowly, engaging in a still, energy-saving behaviour called logging, which is floating at the surface for long periods.
These behaviours make them highly susceptible to disturbance from overly curious people swimming, paddling or boating too close for the mum’s comfort.
Disturbances can cost the animals precious energy as their responses often include significant increases in swim distances as they try to evade them.
The disturbance effect is
Call for action on vacant development sites
Member for The Entrance
David Mehan says inaction by Central Coast Council is the reason there are so many vacant development sites at The Entrance.
He said many sites, including some in Armidale St, are not maintained and have become an eyesore.
Mr Mehan said residents were concerned about the unsightly and dilapidated properties along the road, which had been the subject of squatting and anti-social related behaviour for several years.
He said despite assurances from Central Coast Council
given in 2020 that enforcement action would be taken against the owners of the sites, nothing seems to have happened, and the condition of the sites had worsened.
Residents say their safety, security and the amenity of the area is being compromised, at the expense of cashed-up developers.
The subject sites have all seen development applications lodged and approved but no work has ever commenced at any of them.
Mr Mehan said the lack of real enforcement action by Council is also shown through The Entrance township, with
development yet to eventuate at sites such as The Ebbtide Mall and The Entrance Cinema.
“Central Coast Council told me it had commenced enforcement action in 2020, but nothing seems to have happened, and certainly nothing has changed on the ground,” he said.
“Landowners who have no intention of developing the sites they hold, can’t maintain them and leave them in a state of disrepair and need to be held accountable.
“Residents are sick and tired of the same rhetoric.
“Council needs to now take
some real action and do it now.”
A spokesperson said Council staff had undertaken compliance and enforcement action at a number of properties in Armidale St, including the issuance of Orders under the Local Government Act 1993.
“Penalty Infringement Notices have also been issued where property owners have failed to comply with those Orders,” the spokesperson said.
“As these properties are privately owned, Council’s ability to intervene is limited to the powers and enforcement mechanisms available under the relevant legislation.”
seen in tracking data over subsequent days.
NPWS is asking people to comply with the keep-away distances to help protect the mammals.
Members of the public, partner organisations and NPWS staff will collect witness accounts when people venture too close to southern right whales and proceed with investigations where warranted.
Non-compliance could result in fines or court appearances.
Anyone spotting a southern right whale should report to NPWS or ORRCA hotlines on 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) or 9415 3333 immediately, so the Right Whale ID team can get on site as soon as possible.
Southern right whales stay close to beaches and move slowly on the surface
Member for The Entrance David Mehan at one of the vacant blocks in Armidale St
Cr Jared Wright with Kincumber Colts representatives (from left) Cassie Roese, Amy Kimberley and Jenny Tonga
Central Coast Music and Arts has announced the return of Gossy Weekender for its third year, to be held over three days from Friday, October 16, to Sunday, October 18, throughout the Gosford CBD.
Building on the momentum of two hugely successful festivals which have seen steady growth, the annual event will once again transform Gosford into the Central Coast’s home of live music, art and culture, while bringing together national touring artists, emerging talent and the region’s best local musicians across multiple venues.
Reflecting on the event’s impact, Festival Director Lou Sawilejskij said that over the past two years, more than 25 venues had been activated in the Gosford CBD, with at least 155 artists performing to more than 7,200 people.
“It’s not just entertainment
Gossy Weekender will boost CBD
venues, but also cafes, tattoo parlours, shops and restaurants,” she said.
Supported by the Australian Government through Revive Live, and by the State Government through Sound NSW, Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said Gossy Weekender had cemented its place as a cornerstone for Gosford and the Central Coast.
“This festival represents the
energy and optimism of a new era for Gosford, and I’m committed to supporting its continued growth as we build a thriving creative and cultural hub for our community,” she said.
Since its inception, the festival has offered a vibrant array of experiences, drawing families and music lovers from across the region.
Amongst the highlights from
last year, Central Coast Australian Idol contestant Kalani Artis and Kassidy Lalor entertained the Central Coast Mariners fans at Polytec Stadium, and multi-awardwinning band Tijuana Cartel closed the event, with the allages crowd dancing into the night.
Hundreds of children joined the K-pop Demon Hunters Disco, while the Heartdancers’
Artistry on Wheels stage featured family yoga, DJs and clowning workshops.
Festivalgoers also took part in Star FM’s giant Central Coast Monopoly game with giveaways and competitions, and enjoyed performances from The Grove Studios student alumni showcase at Big Little Brewing.
A free, all-ages, familyfriendly event is held during the festival, which Ms Sawilejskij said had become a tradition that brought the community together and celebrated creativity and local talent in the heart of Gosford.
“Every year, we see more smiles, more dancing, and a stronger sense of connection,” she said.
Titled Live in Kibble Park in 2025, this year it will be held in Donnison St, between Kibble Park and the new Gosford Regional Library, renamed as Live on Donnison St.
“This street party will create an event in Gosford that is
impossible to miss as it literally puts people into the heart of the CBD,” Ms Sawilejskij said.
A larger, easy-to-view stage will enable bigger performances.
Gossy Weekender 2026 arrives at a pivotal moment for Gosford, coinciding with the city’s trial as the Central Coast’s first Special Entertainment Precinct.
The move is widely seen as a significant step towards strengthening live music, improving night-time safety, and providing greater support for local venues and businesses while setting the stage for a vibrant night-time economy for the region.
For artist applications and festival updates, visit the Gossy Weekender website (www. gossyweekender.com) and follow Gossy Weekender on social media.
Ivona Rose
Court halts industrial subdivision over endangered orchid
An application for consent to subdivide a Bushells Ridge site zoned for decades as industrial land has been rejected by the Land and Environment Court (LEC).
The rejection comes despite the LEC finding the proposal being “meritorious” and acknowledging the significant public benefit in terms of employment and economic activity.
But the LEC also found the proposal must be refused due to the lack of surveys done at the optimal flowering period between September to October for the endangered variable midge orchid.
The judgment said the Court must refuse to grant consent if the proposed development was likely to have serious and irreversible impacts on biodiversity values.
“With consideration of the evidence and submissions, I
From page 1
find that surveys during the flowering period are required and that the proposal is to be refused,” the judgement said.
It was published on July 7.
The site at 555 Bushells Ridge Rd is almost 9ha with a home, a mobile home and associated outbuildings and structures and three dams.
A 60.96m-wide easement for a transmission line crosses the south-eastern corner of the land which is generally clear of vegetation with scattered stands of trees – generally along the Bushells Ridge Rd frontage.
The land has been zoned for industrial purposes since the 1980s and is located 600m or a five-minute walk south of Wyee railway station.
The DA sought development consent for demolition of all existing structures, vegetation and tree removal, earthworks including the construction of an internal loop road and access
to Bushells Ridge Rd to create 13 lots ranging in size from 4,000sqm to 1.3ha for industrial purposes.
The site is zoned E4 General Industrial under the Central Coast Local Environmental Plan 2022 (CCLEP).
Bushells Ridge Rd is the boundary between Central Coast and Lake Macquarie councils.
On September 19, 2024, the DA was lodged with Central
Coast Council and the applicant McMonigal Investments Pty Ltd began deemed refusal proceedings in the LEC in December 2024.
Council said there was insufficient information to assess the impacts to the critically endangered species, the Genoplesium insigne (variable midge orchid), which may be in the area.
The issue had arisen from the proposed road upgrades to Gosford Rd and Bushells Ridge
Rd that the applicant had made in response to issues raised by Lake Macquarie Council.
The property is located within the Bushells Ridge Industrial Precinct with the surrounding land to the south and west being undeveloped land zoned E4 General Industrial.
This adjoining land was previously the subject of a Planning Proposal by the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council (PP-2021-743) which sought to facilitate residential and employment development and conservation outcomes for the site.
“The NSW Planning Portal now shows the status of that Planning Proposal as being withdrawn,” the application noted.
“The land on the opposite side of Bushells Ridge Rd (within the Lake Macquarie LGA) is zoned R2 Low Density Residential and forms part of the ‘Wyee Paper Subdivision’.
“That land comprises 199 residential lots which are zoned R2 Low Density Residential but cannot currently be developed as they are not serviced.
“Planning for the servicing of this land is well underway under a project led by Lake Macquarie City Council.” Residential land further to the northwest (again within the Lake Macquarie LGA) is currently being developed. The residential subdivision known as the Radcliffe Wyee Estate will ultimately comprise 850 new residential dwellings. Development of this estate is well advanced with several hundred homes already there. An earlier development application for a 15 lot industrial subdivision had been lodged with Council in July 2022. It had not been completed when the latest DA was submitted.
Council denies ‘secrecy’ over seawall meeting
“At the meeting, Council and MHL will present an updated version of the rock seawall designs.
“Apparently there have been some less significant changes to the designs that Council wants to discuss with the landowners, but not with others.”
A Council spokesperson said on September 23, 2025,
Council resolved, in part, for the CEO to “engage appropriately qualified consultants to develop, in consultation with private landowners, an alternative design for a medium/long term remediation works at Wamberal”.
“Council can confirm that in line with the Council resolution, an online meeting is scheduled for July 16, involving Council staff, Council engaged consultants, and landowners,
relating to the application for the buried rock revetment at Wamberal that is being finalised,” the spokesperson said.
“This meeting seeks to address the requirements of Council’s resolution.
“Private landowners are requested to attend the meeting as, pending authorisation, they will be funding and delivering construction in accordance
with the requirements of the authorisation (where they as the adjacent landowner are the primary beneficiary), and will own the asset and be responsible for its ongoing maintenance.
“In many cases the structure itself will also be located on their private land.
“This is the second landowners meeting that will
have occurred regarding this application.
“The previous meeting was recorded and published on Council’s website.
“Council intends to take a similar approach with this meeting.
“That a meeting does not have an open invitation to the broader public, does not mean that it is secret.
“The proposed approach is
consistent with the approach identified in the Open Coast Coastal Management Program for future management of Wamberal Beach.
“The Open Coast Coastal Management Program was supported by rigorous public consultation, including two rounds of public exhibition, and was certified by the NSW Minister for Environment last month and gazetted on July 3, 2026.”
Merilyn Vale
The proposed site
There will be lots of family friendly activities Photo: Gladys Smith, Sunflower Sessions Photography
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Vital funding for surf life saving clubs
More than $5.5M in funding is available for surf life saving clubs in the Swansea electorate through the NSW Government’s Surf Club Facility Program.
The program provides funding for the upgrade, restoration or construction of surf life saving facilities to keep clubs modern, inclusive and accessible.
Grants up to $1M are available across three categories, including design and planning, ensuring surf club projects are supported from concept to completion.
Projects that strengthen the preparedness and ability of surf life saving facilities to withstand climate-related and severe weather events are a focus of this year’s program as
well as projects that increase participation and inclusion in surf life saving.
Applications for Category 1 close on August 17 while applications for Categories 2 and 3 close on August 31.
The previous round of the Surf Club Facility Program provided funding to Lakes Surf Life Saving Club at Budgewoi to
replace 15 deteriorated windows with modern, coastalgrade windows.
Swansea Belmont Surf Life Saving Club received funding to replace a shade cover and upgrades to the male amenities in the function and education spaces.
“The Surf Club Facility Program has made a significant contribution to improving the accessibility and inclusiveness of local clubs, so that more people can participate in surf life saving,” Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley said.
“I urge our local clubs to take advantage of the opportunity to better protect visitors to our beaches and apply for a grant.”
President of Surf Life Saving NSW Elissa Hancock said Surf Life Saving NSW was proud to
Taking hard line on tackling fish litter
boast a passionate and evergrowing membership base of more than 86,000 across the state who volunteered their time for the benefit of their communities.
“Programs such as this one allows us to provide safe, secure and accessible facilities to those members and the communities they protect,” she said.
“We’re extremely grateful to the NSW Government for making this funding available to our 129 surf clubs once again – ensuring they are fitfor-purpose is vital to their continued relevance and value.”
For further information and to apply visit www.nsw.gov.au/ grants-and-funding
Pearl Beach residents have taken a hard line on tackling fishing litter while providing a safer environment for wildlife and pets.
The Pearl Beach Progress Association has overseen the installation of Tangle Bins in the area where fishers can drop off their unwanted fishing line and tackle.
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said the community should be congratulated for being the first on the Central Coast to take up the OzFish initiative.
“It’s a small community but they are making a meaningful start to making their
environment cleaner and safer, and promoting sustainable fishing practices,” Ms Tesch said.
“Discarded fishing tackle can cause all sorts of problems, from hooks ending up in children’s feet to tangled fishing line harming marine life.”
The Ozfish Tangle Bins make it easy to dispose of unwanted tackle and keep beaches clean and safe and were installed at a Progress Association gathering on May 16.
Spokesperson Pippa Binfield said two dogs in the neighbourhood had swallowed hooks recently, spurring the group into action.
“A few other people commented sharing their own experiences and someone suggested we contact Council to see what could be done,” Ms Binfield said.
“I did a bit of research and found OzFish and read up on their Tangle Bin program.
“The event we ran was well attended by young families whose kids were really
engaged in the craft activities, teaching them they have the ability, and responsibility, to make a positive impact on the world around them.
“These Tangle Bins are only
going to be a success if fishers and residents work together and can respect each other and the beaches we both use.”
OzFish’s projects are not possible without the help of dedicated volunteers, who regularly collect the contents of the bins and perform an audit, uploading the data to the OzFish database.
The bins were first launched in 2019 throughout South East Queensland, followed by the Northern Territory at the end of 2023.
NSW, South Australia and the Murray–Darling Basin established Tangle Bins in 2025.
First step for Terrigal Dr upgrade
Field investigations for the Terrigal Dr upgrade will commence from July 20 for two months.
Transport for NSW will carry out field investigations at Erina on and around Terrigal Dr between Chetwynd Rd and Serpentine Rd to inform future road planning.
Motorists will see Transport for NSW workers and vehicles along this road corridor,
intermittently on Monday to Friday with work during the day and evening.
The investigations will include lane closures and reduced speed limits, footpath closures and detours.
The investigations will pave the way for the Federal Government’s $115M upgrade of Terrigal Dr announced at the 2025 Federal Election.
Federal Member for Robertson
Rotary club needs new members
Rotary The Entrance is very active in community service and is looking for new members.
Dr Gordon Reid said Terrigal Dr was a major road corridor for residents living in the surrounding communities, as well as for visitors to the Central Coast.
“For decades under previous governments, Terrigal Dr has been neglected or pushed into the too hard basket,” he said.
“At the 2025 Federal Election, I secured vital Commonwealth funding towards a significant upgrade.”
Dr Reid said the field investigation works would determine the scope of the project.
“As this project progresses, I will continue to update our community about key milestones,” he said. To keep up to date with the project, subscribe to the email distribution list by contacting projects@transport.nsw.gov. au
“The continued success and implementation of the variety of projects we undertake is predicated on the availability and capabilities of our membership,” a spokesperson said.
“Consequently, we need to bolster our ranks.
“Males and females are all welcome.
“With an ageing member group and through natural attrition, we are beginning to struggle with the load.
“We support some 20 local and international charities and enjoy an active social calendar.”
The group meets at 6.30pm on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at Mingara Recreation Centre.
For more information call 0421 838 504 or go to www. rotarytheentrance.org.au
Pippa Binfield, Liesl Tesch and Emma Kark, Special Projects Manager Tackling Litter from OzFish
Yasmin Catley with local surf life saving nippers
Member for Robertson Dr Gordon Reid on Terrigal Dr
NEWS IN BRIEF Activists meet
Central Coast Activists will meet at 11am on Wednesday, August 5, at the Ourimbah RSL Club.
Guest speaker will be Kevin Brooks, who has an extensive background in local government and finance and will share his thoughts on the current Central Coast Council.
Attendees will be asked to indicate their preference on which Council Directors they would like to meet and hear from.
DV function
Woy Woy Peninsula Lions Club, in conjunction with Brisbane Water Rotary, will host a domestic violence function on August 15 at Umina Beach Surf Club
The Australiana cocktail party will kick off at 6.30pm.
There will be finger food available and the surf club bar will be open.
All after cost funds raised will be donated to local domestic violence groups; registrations essential by emailing Jayne_mote@bigpond.com
See full story online: coastcommunitynews.com.au
Filmmaker champions inclusion on screen
Award-winning Umina Beach filmmaker Amelia Foxton has received a boost for her growing production company after being named the winner of the 2026 BizGiver $5,000 Small Business Grant.
The grant, awarded by small business insurance comparison site BizCover, will fund a new editing laptop for Ms Foxton, whose independent production company, The Ninth Circle, creates films that champion inclusion and challenge social stereotypes.
Ms Foxton, 46, is a writer, director, editor, sound designer, actor and singer who has built a career creating opportunities for people who are often underrepresented in the screen industry, particularly neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ communities.
She said the grant would provide a practical lifeline for her business.
“My current editing laptop is almost dead,” she said, explaining that editing is where all of the client work gets done.
“It’s where I finish my films, it’s where I put them together, it’s where everything basically happens, and without it, and without it being good
I just think it’s such a valuable thing to offer to small businesses, especially for entrepreneurs who are doing things on their own
Amelia Foxton
(equipment), it’s very hard to keep up in this industry,” she said.
The Ninth Circle is run with her life partner and business partner, Glenn Fraser.
“We work together on all of our films, all of our projects, and we co-direct, but when I’m acting, I get him to direct me,” she said.
Their latest creative project, Cherry Poppins, combines advocacy with storytelling.
The comedy follows a woman navigating perimenopause who rediscovers her creativity and identity after an unexpected encounter with an ancient demon.
“All of my films begin from a place of advocacy,” Ms Foxton said.
She is fixated, at the moment, on “society’s capacity to devalue women” as soon as they hit a perimenopausal age.
“I want to make some
Amelia Foxton
progress culturally and change some hearts and minds,” she said.
Ms Foxton and her three children share neurodivergent diagnoses, a lived experience that informs her work as a writer on Unmasked, a Screen Australia-supported comedy web series created by her friend and collaborator Chiara Gizzi.
Exploring the lives of latediagnosed autistic women, the title refers to the masks that neurodivergent people wear to survive, which then become their identity.
“Working out who you are underneath all of those masks is an arduous process,” she said.
Having been diagnosed with
autism and ADHD, known as AuDHD, at the age of 32 after one of her children was assessed, she said the diagnosis transformed her understanding of herself.
“My life suddenly made sense,” she said.
Whilst juggling commercial productions, independent films and music video projects, Ms Foxton said every story she creates shares a common goal.
“With film, you can create cultural shifts and help people see the world differently,” she said.
Ms Foxton said she was “extremely thrilled” to receive the grant and thanked BizCover for supporting her small businesses.
“I just think it’s such a valuable thing to offer to small businesses, especially for entrepreneurs who are doing things on their own,” she said. BizCover has so far awarded more than $30,000 in BizGiver grants, with a spokesperson saying the grants recognise the dedication, sacrifice and commitment of small-business owners to invest in their dreams.
Ivona Rose
Music and dance good for the soul and charity
An information meeting on PFAS contamination in the Ourimbah Creek catchment will be held on Saturday, August 15, at 10.30am at 734 Ourimbah Creek Rd, Palm Grove.
A number of speakers will address the meeting with a Q&A session.
PFAS chemicals are increasingly being identified as a matter of public concern in Australia and internationally.
The “forever chemicals” persist in the environment for eons, moving through waterways, soils and
Gosford Sailing Club welcomed sailors, supporters and volunteers to its annual SheSails Regatta on Sunday, June 21 – a celebration of competitive sailing, teamwork and the growing participation of women in the sport.
Competitors were greeted by crisp Winter conditions in the morning, then sunshine and mild temperatures during the afternoon.
Light north-easterly winds provided enjoyable sailing conditions while still requiring patience, tactical decisionmaking and precise boat handling from competitors.
A small group of Central Coast friends is proving that a love of Northern Soul and Tamla Motown music can make a meaningful difference in the local community.
Soul on the Central Coast, a not-for-profit group dedicated to celebrating Northern Soul music and dance, has donated $4,000 to Coast Shelter following the success of its Australia Day Weekender held earlier this year.
On Saturday, June 13, members of the Soul on the Central Coast committee met with Kyleigh Holland-Quinn from Coast Shelter to formally present the donation.
Coast Shelter is a leading local not-for-profit and charity supporting people experiencing homelessness, hardship, and domestic and family violence across the NSW Central Coast.
What began as a gathering of friends has grown into one of the key weekenders on the Northern Soul events calendar, attracting dancers, DJs and music lovers from across Australia and overseas.
The event has built a reputation for its welcoming atmosphere, high-quality music and strong sense of community spirit.
The committee also acknowledged the generous support of local partners who
PFAS information meeting at Ourimbah
ecosystems, affecting humans and other living organisms. They are used in a huge range of industrial and consumer products for their useful resistance to heat, stains, grease and water, and these very properties mean they remain in the environment for untold periods.
Residents draw water from the creek (or connected local water sources) for domestic use, edible gardens, beef cattle and other livestock drinking water.
The meeting aims to help residents better understand
the emerging PFAS issues and listen to ABC journalist Fleur Connick, whose investigation highlighted PFAS in Ourimbah Creek and the wider catchment.
Associate Professor Ian Wright from the School of Science at Western Sydney University will explain the science, risks, and questions needing attention.
Dr Wright is renowned for his work in relation to PFAS contamination, water quality and environmental impact.
Central Coast councillors and Council senior staff will also be there.
Organisers said locals were fully aware that PFAS had been detected in Ourimbah Creek, but did not have enough information to understand where PFAS had been detected,
SheSails Regatta a huge success
Building on the success of previous years, the regatta expanded beyond its established Magic 25 Sportboat division with the introduction of an ILCA division.
Six women who recently completed the Gosford Sailing Club’s SheSails ILCA training program put their newly acquired skills to the test in
their first regatta, marking an exciting milestone for the club’s women’s sailing initiative.
The Magic 25 division was won by the crew of Lorna Jackson, Libby Rowbotham, Meggan Turner and Tina Vella, while Nicole Bond, Lilliana Calley, Elisa James and Abby Langley finished second.
Aimee Graham, Kellie Roberts, Leonie Thirlaway, Debi Lloyd and Gaenor Burcul completed the podium in third place.
In the ILCA division, Elisa James claimed victory ahead of Meggan Turner and Tina Vella.
The presentation ceremony was attended by Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch, a Paralympic sailing medallist and a passionate advocate for inclusive sailing.
Ms Tesch congratulated all competitors on their achievements and presented trophies to the winners, acknowledging both the high standard of competition and the welcoming spirit of the event.
The success of the regatta was made possible through the dedication of race officer Peter Walsh; SheSails Fleet Captain Minkang Kim Sankey; Gosford Sailing Club Sailing Academy
help make the event possible, including Coast FM radio station, The Link and Pin venue, and Central Coast Leagues Club.
The next Soul on the Central Coast Australia Day Weekender will be held from January 2224, 2027.
Organisers are encouraging locals and visitors to save the date and join the celebration of Northern Soul music, dancing and community connection on the Central Coast.
For further information and ticketing details, visit the Soul on the Central Coast Facebook page.
what levels had been recorded; whether contamination was moving through the catchment; how waterways, groundwater, soils, livestock or produce were affected; if residents using creek water or local water sources needed advice; what further testing/ monitoring was required and how that was reported; what responsibilities Council, regulators, landowners (including PFAS contamination sources) and the community would each undertake to improve what had been ignored.
manager Sophie McIntosh; onwater support volunteers Nathan Davis, Russell Smith, Charles Hill, Richard Hatherly and Brian Baker and event sponsor RI-TECH Computing Services.
Their collective efforts ensured a safe, well-run and enjoyable event for all participants.
Following another successful SheSails Regatta, Gosford Sailing Club looks forward to welcoming even more women to future sailing events as participation in the sport continues to grow across the Central Coast region.
Wonderful concert raises money for Ukraine
Audience members were treated to a wonderful Troubadour Club concert at the Everglades on June 28 with Newcastle’s Steel City Sue Trio opening the show, followed by the amazing Ukrainian/Australian Mar’yana Jaga Band.
But it wasn’t just the skills of
the artists on stage that stole hearts – it was also the enthusiastic generosity of the 130-plus patrons that came along to the concert. At the encouragement of an audience member from the Ukrainian community, the bucket was passed around during the show seeking
donations for the Ukrainian people.
Money raised on the afternoon totalled $1,730 with the Troubadour Club making a further donation to round that figure up to $2,000.
At the suggestion of Mar’yana Sywak, lead singer and violinist of the Jaga Band, the funds will
be donated to the United Ukraine Appeal, an ACNC registered charity, providing life-saving humanitarian aid and support for the civilians in Ukraine while developing unmanned evacuation vehicles to rescue the injured in highrisk combat zones.
NSW EPA testing for PFAS contamination in Tuggerah Lakes
Soul on the Central Coast committee members met with Kyleigh Holland-Quinn from Coast Shelter to formally present the donation
The Mar’yana Jaga Band
Liesl Tesch and the Magic 25 division winning team, Libby Rowbotham, Tina Vella, Lorna Jackson and Meggan Turner Photo: RI-TECH Computing Services
on Healthcare SAVE
The top 5 ways families living on the Central Coast can save on healthcare this winter
1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. 4. 4. 5. 5.
Save on GP visits by accessing a doctor for free through online urgent care or at our local urgent care clinics in Lake Haven, Long Jetty, Umina and Erina. Get online urgent care for free anywhere anytime by calling healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
Get your kids vaccinated for free by using the new FluMIST, a needle-less flu shot. The Minns Labor Government introduced this for 2-17 year olds to take the stress and cost out of the flu shot.
Visit a Child and Family Health Service for free help with issues such as sleeping and settling, feeding, development and behaviour.
All children under 18 are eligible for free dental services at NSW Health Public Dental Services. To book in with your nearest clinic, call 1800 679 336
Access free mental health care at the 24 Medicare Mental Health Centres and Kids Hubs across NSW by calling 1800 595 212
We know there’s more to do, and we will continue to work with The Minns Labor Government to rebuild our public healthcare system across the Central Coast.
Authorised by Liesl Tesch, David Harris, Yasmin Catley and David Mehan. Funded using Parliamentary entitlements.
FORUM & ON THE BEAT
Does Council really need a CEO?
I refer to the letter by Kevin Brooks (CCN 543).
If Central Coast Council is so cash strapped, why does the CEO receive more than $600,000 as a salary?
The money that could be saved by eliminating this position (could be used to employ) outside workers to get our roads repaired and drains cleaned out to prevent flooding.
The other issue that people are talking about is why did the Council and State Government remove the Flora Festival and close Old Sydney Town?
They brought a lot of money (into) the Gosford Council coffers.
If Gosford is the so-called administrative capital of the Coast why is it that the Council Chamber is in Wyong?
Email, Jul 11
Robert Findley, Point Clare
FORUM
More forum? Scan the QR code or visit coastcommunitynews.com.au/forum
$41M could be better spent
Your editorial (Saga of Gosford waterfront continues, CCN 540) summed up the situation with the Gosford waterfront proposals succinctly.
We’ve fortunately decided not to build ugly home unit blocks in the salt waters of the bay and on what little remains of the Gosford waterfront parkland but unfortunately to build instead a so called “board walk” built of stone, next to the busy main railway line.
Who thinks it will bring joy to people to walk or cycle right next to roaring, smelly, quad headed diesel freight trains as they thunder past?
This is especially so when there are already lovely shared
pathways through the beautiful Carawah Reserve and on to Point Clare which could be moved away from the highway and improved with little money.
And can I ask why we need a third waterfront eatery?
As a frequent user of the shared pathways I see glaring ugliness on the Gosford waterfront that really needs some money spent on it particularly the swimming centre which from the waterfront side looks like a walled prison.
It’s just concrete walls and industrial machinery sheds and totally spoils the view.
However, as I ride my bike along the shared pathways linking Ettalong, Woy Woy and Gosford my enjoyment is marred when I see people spending their winter nights sleeping under plastic sheets right on the
ground or in micro tents with the luckier ones in their cars or vans.
How can we in all conscience spend a king’s ransom on such self-indulgences when all around we see such local poverty?
No doubt the Premier was shielded from such sights on his recent cash splash tour. What good could the local charities do with $41M?
Email, Jun 28 Lance Dover, Pretty Beach
Ratepayers have become a cash cow
When we bought our family home at Woy Woy I expected to pay the normal rates and utilities (for) a sealed road, kerb and gutters, a footpath, and a sewer and water line.
Not so; I got a crook road which I had to photograph to shame the Council into repair of potholes.
Illegal e-bikes seized in police crackdown
Tuggerah Lakes Police seized four illegal e-bikes during a targeted operation last week aimed at addressing ongoing community concerns about unlawful riders.
Operation Desino targeted the use of unregistered trail bikes and unlawful e-bikes on roads, footpaths and public spaces.
During the two-day operation, specialist police trail bike officers patrolled known hotspot locations, resulting in the seizure of four unregistered e-bikes being ridden on local roads and paths.
All four cycles have been impounded and will be subject to forfeiture applications and legal action against the riders.
Two e-motorcycles were stopped on Soldiers Point Dr, Norah Head, after attempting to evade police.
I got no kerb and gutters or footpath.
I was thinking ‘progress will come my way’.
I now mow to the road edge and repair the mudholes with cement after prolonged rain.
The street looks like Venice at low tide as there are no stormwater pipes either.
I came from a home in Queensland that had all of the services – my folks paid for rates and utilities.
I was under the impression that was what they paid for.
Here it is different.
We are paying for the Central Coast’s regional development agenda.
We should be paying for services to our homes with inflation or deflation to the economy integral to those services.
Instead we have become a cash cow for the listed development agenda of the Council.
This is a regional/state issue and not a homeowners’ issue.
If the state does not support Council then it should become a federal Issue.
I have witnessed the calamity of the Council over the years from before administration to the present day.
I remember Dick Persson saying we will soon forget the price hike to fix the losses and massive deficit (never reduced).
I remember CEO David Farmer increasing his salary.
I have also seen every elected new council increase their salaries and also the rates and water almost automatically upon their election.
When are we going to see our rates and services normalise into what they are supposed to be – a service to our homes and not a Council money spinner?
Not all is a loss; I have a sewer line and a water line but I am continually paying an exorbitant increasing amount for that small piece of the services.
ON THE BEAT BRIEFS ON THE BEAT
Roadside testing found both bikes capable of travelling more than 80km/h.
One e-bike was stopped on the Pacific Hwy, Lake Munmorah, and roadside testing found the bike capable of travelling more than 64km/h.
One e-bike was stopped on Bungary Rd, Norah Head, and roadside testing found the bike
capable of travelling more than 44km/h.
In addition, Police attended several addresses to speak with occupants about reports from the community.
Forward Commander, Inspector David Piddington said the operation delivered a strong road safety message
while receiving positive feedback from the community.
“Residents have consistently raised concerns about unlawful riders placing themselves and others at risk,” he said.
“This operation demonstrates our commitment to addressing those concerns and improving safety in public spaces.
“We were pleased with the positive engagement from the community and Tuggerah Lakes Police will continue to conduct targeted enforcement under Operation Desino.”
Police remind the community that e-bikes and motorcycles used on public roads and roadrelated areas must comply with relevant registration and road transport laws.
Anyone with information regarding unlawful trail bike or e-bike activity is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Widespread damage to EV chargers
A man will face court charged with allegedly damaging EV charging stations on the Central Coast and across Newcastle and surrounding suburbs last month.
The investigation commenced after several EV charging stations were damaged between Friday, June 12, and Tuesday, June 30.
Locations affected included EV chargers in Tuggerah, Erina, Gosford, Newcastle, Hamilton, Kotara, Wallsend, Swansea, Warners Bay, Heatherbrae and Raymond Terrace.
Following extensive inquiries,
During the search, police allegedly located and seized 17 EV charging handles (plugs), cutting tools, a taser, and several large bags of stripped cables.
A vehicle allegedly used in the incidents was also seized.
A 29-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken to Belmont Police Station. There he was charged on: 10 counts of stealing; 11 counts of destroy/damage property; possess prohibited drug; supply prohibited drug; possess or use prohibited weapon without permit; drive motor vehicle while licence suspended; dispose propertytheft-serious indictable offence.
Charged over pilates studio fires
Detectives with the Financial Crimes Squad Arson Unit have charged a woman following an investigation into suspicious fires at two pilates studios on the Central Coast earlier this year.
At about 4.30am on Wednesday, January 21, emergency services were called to a business on The Entrance Rd, Erina, following reports of a fire at a pilates studio.
Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the blaze but the business sustained significant damage.
No injuries were reported.
Later the same morning, at about 5.15am, emergency services were called to a second fire at a pilates studio, this time in Enterprise Dr, Berkeley Vale.
Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the blaze, with the studio also sustaining significant damage.
No injuries were reported.
A short time later, emergency services were called to Cobbs Rd, Mardi, where a burnt-out sedan was located which police believed was linked to the two fires.
The investigation was taken over by the State Crime Command’s Financial Crimes Squad Arson Unit under Strike Force Fredonia.
At about 9am on Thursday, July 2, strike force detectives arrested a 38-year-old woman in Kemps Creek. She was charged with various offences and granted bail with numerous conditions and will next face court on August 28.
Three arson attacks at Tunkuwallin Oval
Police are calling for information from the Gwandalan and Summerland Point communities regarding recent arson incidents.
The local rural fire brigade was called out to three suspicious fires over the first two days of the current school holidays – all at Tunkuwallin Oval and involving playground
equipment, public infrastructure and rubbish.
There have been reports that groups of teenage boys and girls were seen in the area at the time of the incidents.
Anyone with information or who might have witnessed suspicious behaviour should contact Crime Stoppers.
officers attached to Newcastle City Police District executed a search warrant at a home on Hexham St, Kahibah, on Friday, July 10.
Email, Jul 4
John Strang, Woy Woy
Bags of items stolen from EV chargers
Illegal e-bikes were impounded
Exit Laughing at Red Tree
For Connie, Leona and Millie, their weekly card game has been the highlight of the past 30 years – a sanctuary of wine, gossip and unconditional support.
That is, until their beloved fourth, Mary, unexpectedly leaves an empty seat at the table.
And so the stage is set for Wyong Drama Group’s production of Exit Laughing, set to play at Tuggerah’s Red Tree Theatre from July 24-August 2.
The riotous comedy explores female friendship, growing older, and the reckless freedom of having absolutely nothing left to lose.
Director Cathy De Vries found the play when looking for a story that celebrates the beauty of the friendships women build and lean on for life.
“I wanted a show about the friendships that women have,” she said.
“Those lifelong friendships that are there for you when things go horrible, when things are sad, or when things are happy.
“Exit Laughing came up, and I read it and went, yeah, that’s it; that’s the one.
“It was just waiting for me to find it.”
What starts as a quiet tribute to a lost friend spirals into an unforgettable night of mischief, mayhem, and a surprise guest nobody saw coming.
“I’m sure there’s going to be lots of talk about our mystery guest on the way home; that’s all I’m going to say about that,” De Vries said.
Rehearsals, she says, have been just as fun as the show itself.
“There’s some really fantastic one-liners,” she said.
“Some of the funniest moments have no dialogue at all, it’s just the look on someone’s face.
“We’ve had to be really careful not to have a cup of tea while we’re watching, because we’d end up wearing it.”
Beneath the comedy, De Vries says the play carries something deeper – a reminder to hold onto the people who make you laugh until you cry.
“We all need those moments where the tears are rolling down your face and you’re snorting with laughter,” she said.
“This play is a reminder to live your life, have a laugh, and do fun stuff in amongst all the seriousness.”
Exit Laughing stars Central Coast favourites Sharon Hogan, Helen Herridge, Kathryn Peterson and Tayah Blackman along with relative newcomer Byron Reeson.
For De Vries, the production is as much about the people behind the scenes as those on stage.
“It’s not just the actors, it’s
this whole team that brings a show together, and I think people don’t always see that in community theatre,” she said.
“You need every one of those people or you don’t have a show.”
De Vries said the show would make the perfect girls’ night out.
” Have a champagne before you come in, or bring one in from the bar with you, bring your mum, bring your sister, bring your girlfriends.
“But if the odd husband wants to come along, he’ll enjoy it too.”
Tickets are on sale now at wyongdramagroup.com.au
The production contains discussions and depictions of death, as well as sexual innuendo and content and is recommended for mature audiences.
The cast of Exit Laughing Photo: Shayne Leslie
There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about rhubarb.
For many of us, it brings back memories of steaming bowls of rhubarb crumble fresh from the oven, homemade pies cooling on the kitchen bench or jars of ruby-red jam tucked away in the pantry.
It was one of those dependable plants that seemed to grow in almost every backyard, quietly producing armfuls of colourful stems year after year with very little fuss.
While rhubarb may not be as fashionable as some of today’s trendy edible crops, it’s one of the most rewarding perennial vegetables you can grow.
Better still, July is an excellent time to plant it across much of southern Australia, giving it plenty of time to establish before spring arrives.
Yes, I did say vegetable.
Although we almost always use rhubarb in desserts, botanically it’s considered a vegetable.
It’s the crisp, tart leaf stalks we harvest and cook, while the large leaves themselves should never be eaten because they
Down in the Garden
Rhubarb: The Winter Wonder
www.cheralyndarcey.com
by CHERALYN DARCEY
Cheralyn hosts The Nightline, weeknights, on 2HD Newcastle across Australia on the Super Radio Network (SRN). Listen on your local SRN station or stream at 2SM.com.au
contain high levels of oxalic acid.
That little piece of gardening trivia often surprises visitors to my garden.
What doesn’t surprise them is just how handsome a rhubarb plant can be.
Long before you harvest the first stalk, it earns its place simply as an ornamental feature. Huge crinkled leaves rise from thick crowns, creating bold architectural shapes that look just as at home in a cottage garden as they do in the vegetable patch.
One healthy plant can easily produce for ten years or more, making rhubarb one of the best long-term investments you can make in the edible garden.
July is the traditional planting season because rhubarb is dormant through winter.
You’ll usually find dormant crowns available at nurseries and garden centres, looking rather unimpressive at first glance.
It’s hard to believe that these knobbly roots will soon develop into enormous leafy plants, but once the soil begins warming in spring they quickly burst into life.
Choosing the right position is
one of the keys to success. Rhubarb enjoys plenty of sunshine during winter and spring, although gardeners in hotter parts of Australia may find it appreciates some afternoon shade during the height of summer.
Rich, well-drained soil is essential, and this is one plant that certainly appreciates generous helpings of compost before planting.
In fact, if there were ever a plant that deserved the description “hungry”, rhubarb would be it.
Before planting, dig plenty of well-rotted compost or aged manure through the soil. The richer the ground, the larger and more productive your plants are likely to become. Space crowns about a metre
apart, allowing plenty of room for those impressive leaves to spread.
One mistake enthusiastic gardeners often make is harvesting too soon.
Freshly planted crowns should be left largely untouched during their first growing season.
It requires patience, but allowing the plant to establish a strong root system will reward you with much heavier harvests in future years.
By the second season, you can begin harvesting stems regularly without weakening the plant.
Harvesting itself couldn’t be simpler. Rather than cutting stems, gently grasp them near the base and pull with a slight twisting motion. The stalk will
Half His Age
By Jennette McCurdy
separate cleanly from the crown. Always leave plenty of stems behind so the plant continues producing energy for future growth.
Another useful habit is removing flower stalks as soon as they appear. While they’re certainly attractive, flowering diverts valuable energy away from producing the delicious stems we’re really after.
Like many perennial plants, rhubarb benefits from a yearly top dressing of compost or well-rotted manure during winter.
Think of it as repaying the plant for all those generous harvests it has provided over the previous year.
For gardeners with limited space, don’t assume rhubarb is out of reach.
It grows surprisingly well in large containers, provided the pot is deep enough to accommodate its substantial root system.
Just remember that containergrown plants require more regular watering and feeding than those planted in the ground.
One of the things I love most about rhubarb is its reliability. While some crops demand
constant attention, rhubarb quietly gets on with the job. Once established, it asks for little more than occasional feeding, watering during prolonged dry spells and a little patience through winter.
Then one day, almost as if by magic, the first tightly furled leaves begin pushing through the soil.
Within weeks, those tiny shoots have transformed into enormous leafy plants ready to fill the kitchen with crumbles, tarts, muffins, jams and desserts that taste like home.
Perhaps that’s why rhubarb has remained a favourite for generations. It’s more than simply another edible plant. It’s one of those rare crops that feeds both the body and the memory, connecting us to gardens, kitchens and family traditions that have been passed from one season to the next.
So if you’ve been thinking about adding something permanent to your edible garden this winter, make room for a rhubarb crown. It may look unremarkable in July, but by spring you’ll understand why so many gardeners simply wouldn’t be without it.
Jennette McCurdy’s memoir I am Glad My Mom Died was nothing if not controversial and confronting, and it was an extraordinary spectacular success, making the best seller list in multiple countries.
McCurdy turns to fiction with Half His Age, a psychologically astute novel that explores the fragile intersection of loneliness, power and emotional manipulation.
While the themes will be familiar to readers of her memoir, this is no fictional retelling of her own life.
She crafts an unsettling coming-of-age story that examines how vulnerable
young people can mistake exploitation for affection.
The main protagonist is Waldo, a 17-year-old girl growing up in an isolated Alaskan community.
Astute, intelligent and introspective, Waldo finds
little comfort at home, where emotional neglect and instability have shaped her understanding of relationships.
When her charismatic creative writing teacher, Mr Korgy, begins to show an interest in her talent, Waldo mistakes his attention for genuine care, and here McCurdy slowly reveals how this unequal relationship develops, exposing the subtle and calculated nature of grooming rather than presenting it as a forbidden romance.
McCurdy refuses to sensationalise the relationship at the novel’s centre, instead allowing readers to experience events through Waldo’s hopeful but increasingly conflicted
perspective and the tension comes from recognising the imbalance of power long before Waldo herself is able to see it.
There are flashes of the dry humour that distinguished her memoir, but they never undermine the seriousness of the subject.
Instead, they provide moments of relief that make the darker scenes even more affecting.
McCurdy has faith in the reader to draw conclusions, resisting dramatic flourishes in favour of quiet emotional truth.
The supporting characters are convincing.
Waldo’s mother is portrayed with complexity, revealing
how neglect can leave lasting emotional scars without reducing her to a simple villain.
Mr Korgy is more disturbing because he is depicted as believable rather than monstrous.
The novel unfolds at a measured pace, and this careful development allows the psychological themes to emerge naturally, with every conversation and seemingly insignificant encounter contributing to Waldo’s emotional journey, building a portrait of a young woman desperately seeking validation in all the wrong places.
Half His Age is ultimately less about scandal than about the desperate human need to be seen, and McCurdy explores
how trauma distorts perception, leaving people vulnerable to those who exploit their longing for connection.
Yet it is a compassionate novel that never excuses abuse but seeks to understand the circumstances that allow it to flourish.
Over the course of the novel, Waldo confronts the distance between the meaning she projects onto the relationship and the reality of Mr Korgy’s selfishness and inadequacy.
As the relationship deteriorates, the novel follows her through loneliness, disillusionment and a painful reckoning with the power dynamics that have defined it.
Julie Chessman
Children’s book brings sanctuary animals to life
The animals at Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary have been brought to life in a delightful children’s book, Gundy’s Walkabout Guide.
Written by Deb Armitage, the hardback book features charming illustrations by Fee Smith and introduces some of the Sanctuary’s most endearing residents.
Through the experiences of Gundy the blind wombat, young readers are introduced to Arnold the koala, Maliki and Miri the dingoes, Aisha the wallaby and even a park ranger as Gundy navigates his way around the Sanctuary guided by Happy Feet the emu.
Walkabout Founder and General Manager Tassin Barnard said the book wasn’t just for the children, but also for the adults reading the story to them.
“Deb volunteers with us regularly and is also very active with the SES,” Barnard said.
“Deb is always talking about how our animals have amazing stories and how the stories aren’t out there and she asked if she could tell Gundy’s story.
“I’ve been volunteering at the Sanctuary one day a week for almost four years and I just thought it would make a lovely story – a blind baby wombat being cared for,” she said.
“Then I thought about how other animals could be involved, many of them with a disability, in a book with the themes of connection and acceptance.
“Happy Feet was the obvious choice as Gundy’s guide – he walks around the Sanctuary like he owns the place.”
“She wanted to tell about how the animals cope with various disabilities – from Gundy himself to Aisha the wallaby with an amputated tail.
“She wanted to tell the children that many of the animals are disabled – and that’s OK.”
Following the beautifully illustrated story, there are photos of the actual animals which feature in the tale, along with facts about them.
Armitage said she had always thought it might be nice to write a children’s book but had never thought about it seriously until Gundy worked his way into her heart.
“She has woven all of our perfectly imperfect animals’ stories together, getting the balance between entertaining and teaching just right.
Armitage said writing the book was a bucket list item she could tick off.
“Walkabout does such an incredible job and I wanted to highlight that,” she said.
“I was a nurse for 45 years, but this is the most physically demanding work I have ever done.
“I hope the book helps encourage people to visit the Sanctuary.”
The book is available at Aussiestoriesforkids.com or for $25 in the Sanctuary’s gift shop.
Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary is at 1 Darkinjung Rd, Calga, and is open from 9.30am-5pm daily.
Tiny koala relies on carer Seleena
A tiny koala joey is fighting for her future at the Australian Reptile Park, with Head Mammals Keeper Seleena De Gelder stepping in as her full-time carer.
Helene was rescued after her mum Hazel became unexpectedly sick, leaving the joey with no way to survive on her own.
Without the Park’s intervention, Helene would not have made it.
“Helene is one of the smallest
koala joeys we’ve ever raised here at the Park,” De Gelder said.
“She came into my care when her mum got unexpectedly sick and we had to intervene to ensure her survival.
“When Helene first came into my care she was a tiny 240 grams, but each day she’s growing and getting stronger; she is absolutely thriving.”
Koala joeys are born weighing less than a gram and spend the first six to seven months of
their lives developing inside their mother’s pouch.
When she came into care, Helene was barely covered in fur, weighing about the same as a stick of butter.
De Gelder has taken on the full-time responsibility of raising tiny Helene, which means bottle feeds every two hours, day and night, to replicate the constant nourishment she would otherwise be receiving from her mum.
“Raising a koala joey is exhausting,” she said.
“But I’m so lucky; I can’t believe I get to do this.”
Already, Helene is starting to show her personality.
“She is the absolute cutest,” De Gelder said.
“She’s very sweet.
“She can be very demanding when she wants her bottle, and she’s just trying to figure out how to get the leaf into her mouth.”
Helene will remain in Seleena’s care for up to seven
months as she continues to grow and develop, before she is big enough and strong enough to rejoin the koalas at the Park.
She will be part of the koala breeding program which is is helping safeguard the iconic species.
Every year the Park welcomes new koala joeys to the world, with educational resources throughout the Park for visitors, to help raise awareness for conservation of Australia’s most notable animal.
Koalas are listed as vulnerable in NSW and Queensland, with populations under ongoing pressure from habitat loss, disease and urban development. At birth, koala joeys are roughly the size of a jellybean and instinctively crawl into their mother’s pouch unaided, where they continue to develop for the next six to seven months.
The ability of wildlife parks and sanctuaries to step in when joeys are separated from their mothers plays an important r
Deb Armitage with Gundy the wombat, who inspired the book The cover of the book
Helene is starting to develop a personality
Photo: Australian Reptile Park
Helene with carer Seleena De Gelder Photo: Australian Reptile Park
WHAT’S ON AT THE FUN HAUS
Sounds of salsa fill the air
The sounds of salsa, cumbia and Latin rhythm will once again fill the air when Salsa Social Club returns to Gosford’s Fun Haus Factory on Saturday, July 18, transforming the venue into a vibrant celebration of music, dance, culture and community.
Salsa Social Club has become a meeting place where people of all ages and backgrounds come together on the dance floor.
From first-time dancers to seasoned salsa enthusiasts, families,friends and neighbours share an evening of connection,
laughter and the infectious energy of Latino culture.
This month’s special guest is Kachimbaz, one of Australia’s most exciting multicultural Latin bands.
Formed by musicians from across Latin America and the Pacific, Kachimbaz has built a reputation for delivering unforgettable live performances packed with rhythm, energy and authentic Latin flavour.
Their unique sound combines traditional salsa with cumbia, merengue, ska and Latin rock, creating a dynamic musical experience that keeps dancefloors moving from the first song to the last. Known throughout Australia’s
Latin music scene for their powerful stage presence and party atmosphere, Kachimbaz promises an evening of nonstop entertainment.
“Whether you’re a dedicated dancer, a casual toe-tapper or simply looking for a fun night out with family and friends, Salsa Social Club is all about bringing people together through music and shared experiences,” the organisers said.
Alongside the live music, guests can enjoy burgers and street food from Beau’s Burgers, a cocktail happy hour from 6pm, and plenty of seating for those wanting to relax and soak up the atmosphere between dances.
Relaxed afternoon of jazz and blues
In a world of rushed weekends and busy schedules, Jazz & Blues Piano Bar offers a reason to slow down.
Returning to FunHaus Factory on Sunday, July 19, the monthly afternoon lounge experience invites locals to gather their lunch crew, order a drink, and spend a few unhurried hours enjoying exceptional live music in a relaxed and welcoming setting.
Inspired by the timeless charm of jazz clubs and neighbourhood piano bars, the event has quickly become a favourite for those looking to catch up with friends, enjoy a leisurely long lunch, and let
great music provide the soundtrack to the afternoon.
At the heart of the experience is resident pianist and vocalist La Gati, the musical project of Sydney artist Patricia Alvarez, whose unique interpretation of jazz and blues is anything but traditional.
Drawing inspiration from her multicultural upbringing in Western Sydney and the deep African roots of Latin music, La Gati blends jazz, blues, soul, afrobeat, reggae, reggaeton, dancehall and Caribbean rhythms into a sound she describes as afro-soul-folk.
The result is a fresh and contemporary take on jazz that feels both familiar and completely unexpected.
Audiences can expect reimagined classics, soulful originals and inventive arrangements that weave effortlessly between genres.
From jazz-infused interpretations of artists such as Stevie Wonder and Bob Marley to contemporary afroinspired grooves, La Gati transforms Sunday afternoon listening into an immersive musical journey.
Her smoky vocals, expressive piano playing and rhythmic storytelling have earned her a strong following across Sydney’s live music scene, where she is known for creating performances that are intimate, uplifting and deeply engaging.
More than a concert, Jazz &
Blues Piano Bar is designed as a social experience, a place where conversation flows, food and drinks are shared, and live music enhances the atmosphere rather than competes with it.
Whether gathering with friends, enjoying a date afternoon, or simply looking for the perfect soundtrack to a long Sunday lunch, this is live music designed to be experienced together. Great company, delicious food and some of the Coast’s most unique live music, Sunday afternoons never sounded so good.
Luke Heggie heads to Gosford this weekend
One of Australia’s most acclaimed and uncompromising stand-up comedians is heading to Gosford this Friday, July 17.
Luke Heggie will bring his latest one-man show, I Won’t Say It Again, to the Fun Haus Factory for what is shaping up to be a near sell-out performance.
chance for audiences to experience some of his most celebrated work in one sharp, hilarious and unapologetically honest hour.
Described by Heggie as a “lovingly curated” collection of material from the past five years, I Won’t Say It Again is a
In true Heggie style, he’s upfront about the concept.
“There will be one new joke in this show; the rest is old,” he said.
A cult favourite on the Australian comedy circuit, Heggie has spent more than a decade building a devoted following through his deadpan delivery, razor-sharp observations and uniquely Australian take on everything from everyday frustrations to the absurdities of modern life.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Heggie has earned his reputation the old-
fashioned way — touring relentlessly, performing hundreds of live shows every year and consistently selling out rooms across the country.
Beyond stand-up, Heggie is
the co-host of the hugely popular Mid Flight Brawl podcast alongside Nick Cody and has appeared on The Weekly, Question Everything, The Project, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Gala and multiple television comedy specials. His stand-up specials have amassed more than 700,000 views online.
His impressive list of accolades includes winning RAW Comedy, Sydney’s Best Comedian, the Sydney Comedy Festival Best in Fest Award, and the prestigious Piece of Wood Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, voted by fellow comedians. Critics have called him “a comedian in complete command of his powers” and “a true one-off”.
With tickets almost exhausted, comedy fans are encouraged to get in quickly for what promises to be a standout night of live comedy.
La Gati
Luke Heggie
Multicultural Latin band Kachimbaz
OUT&ABOUT BRIEF
Writers’ workshop
Wyong Writers Group will present a workshop at 1.30pm on Saturday, July 25 at Mardi Community Centre.
Pippa Kay will present the workshop on crafting a short story.
Practise the tools you need to craft a short story, with fun exercises and some challenges.
Kay’s collection of short stories, Keeping it in the Family, won the 2018 SWW Fiction Awards and she is President of The Society of Women Writers NSW INC
Bookings are essential: email wyongwritersfawnsw@gmail. com
Talent quest
It could be your time to shine, with the Central Coast Leagues Club Talent Quest kicking off from 2pm on Sunday, July 19, in the piano bar.
Musicians, stand-up comics and unique performers aged 18+ are welcome.
You could walk away with the $1,000 prize.
To register, search ‘talent quest’ at cclc.com.au
THU 16 JUL
FOREVER CHANGED - NAT BARTSCH: LAYCOCK STREET COMMUNITY THEATRE, WYOMING 11AM
Dan Rath: Special Trial Show: Link & Pin, Woy Woy 7pm FRI 17 JUL
SIGNOR BAFFO: LAYCOCK STREET COMMUNITY THEATRE, WYOMING 10.30AM / 1.30PM
SHP: Print, Play And Design
Your Own T-Shirt: Gosford Regional Library 10am
SHP: Winter Whale Talks: The Skillion 10am
SHP: Lamp It Up!: Bateau Bay Library 10.30am
Thelma Plum’s road trip sure to please
ARIA-winning Gamilaraay artist Thelma Plum is hitting the road this July and August, performing strippedback sets across the country for the I Don’t Play That Song Anymore tour including a performance at Avoca Beach Theatre on July 18.
Marking her first ever national acoustic tour, Plum is dusting off her songbook and acoustic guitar, ready to warm hearts with her spellbinding storytelling and soaring vocals.
An up close and personal experience, Plum’s unplugged set will have fans mesmerised
and singing along to their favourite songs in intimate settings.
Performing in a duo format, she’ll be playing a careerspanning set including songs from her ARIA-winning release I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back, while hinting at revisiting some tunes from the archived set lists.
“I actually can’t believe that this is the first time I’ve done an acoustic tour,” Plum said.
“When I started out playing shows it was just me and a guitar, but it’s been a long time since I’ve performed like that.
“It’s been a big year, I am working on a new record, and it feels like the perfect time to
pack up the songbook and play some intimate shows with my friend Toby and let the songs
and the stories behind them breathe.”
Released in 2025 to critical acclaim, Plum’s second studio album I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back earned an ARIA for Best Pop Release and saw her nominated for Album Of The Year and Best Solo Artist. Riding waves of success, she also won Rolling Stone Australia’s Best Single Award for 2025 with her track Freckles, along with a nomination for the Rolling Stone Readers Award.
Laura Targett launches latest album
Spiderbait: Ivy and the Big Apples 30th Anniversary Tour: The Entrance Leagues Club, Bateau Bay 6pm
Luke Heggie: I Won’t Say It Again: Funhaus Factory, Gosford 7.30pm
Robbo & Mates: Hardys Bay Club 6pm
Chocolate Starfish – All Fired Up Tour: The Art House Theatre, Wyong 7:30pm
K-Pop Live!: Laycock Street Community Theatre, Wyoming 2.30pm & 6pm
Starcrazy: Link & Pin, Woy Woy 7pm West Coast 70’sThe Album Show: Avoca Beach Theatre 7:30pm
John O’Reilly: Gosford RSL Club 8pm
SAT 18 JUL
CIRQUOSIS: LAYCOCK STREET THEATRE, WYOMING 2PM / 6PM
Reptiles On The Go Show: Gosford RSL Club 11am
Central Coast Zine Fair: Gosford Regional Library 10am
Salsa Social Club – Kachimbaz: Funhaus Factory, Gosford 6pm
Majesty Rising: Avoca Beach Theatre 1:00pm
Santas Shenanigans Ticketed Event: Hardys Bay Club 6.30pm
Laura Targett will launch her new album The Road to Tpot at Avoca Beach Theatre on July 24.
The album marks a bold new chapter in her musical journey.
The song 5 Pairs of Hands bursts with energy, rooted in Celtic fiddle fire and the joy of collaboration, while Children of War offers a hauntingly beautiful instrumental that carries both sorrow and hope, dedicated to children affected by conflict.
Thelma Plum “I Don’t Play That Song Anymore Tour”: Avoca Beach Theatre 7:30pm [+ 19 July]
Gemma Glendenning / The Covers Syndicat: Gosford RSL Club 2pm / 8.30pm
Loaded Barrel: Reggae // Ska // Dub Jam!: Link & Pin, Woy Woy 2pm
Wild Woy Woy: No Bull With Amiste: Link & Pin, Woy Woy 7pm
The Boatshed Blues: Gosford Sailing Club 12pm
Boot Sale Woy Woy Peninsula Lions Club Sunday 26 July 2026
7am-1pm Cnr. Ocean Beach Rd, Woy Woy Dunban Road Car Park (Near The Everglades) Great variety of stalls, BBQ, Tea & Coffee Vendors Welcome $25 per car NB stall sites not open until 6.30am
Always last Sunday of the month (no events in December 2026 and April 2027)
Each track is a glimpse into Targett’s evolving sound, sometimes fierce, sometimes tender, always deeply human.
With more new music on the horizon, these releases weave together her Celtic roots and global influences, creating music that resonates far beyond borders.
A fiddler, songwriter and musical shapeshifter, Targett radiates a passion for music that lights up every stage.
SUN 19 JUL
Middle Raged - A Musical Meltdown: The Art House Theatre, Wyong 1pm / 5pm
Music of the Night - A Celebration of Musicals: Avoca Beach Theatre 1:30pm
Jazz & Blues Piano Bar: FunHaus Factory, Gosford 1pm
Bill Young and Mates: Hardys Bay Club 1pm
Kuta Groove: Gosford RSL Club 1pm
Get Lit! The Lamps Are Back: Link & Pin, Woy Woy 2pm
MON 20 JUL
Writers Club: Erina Library 10am
Intro to Latin Dance! / Line Dancing Classes!: FunHaus Factory, Gosford 6pm / 8pm
TUE 21 JUL
HUT TALKS BY THE TRAVELLERS HUT: INDIA & SRI LANKA: THE TRAVELLERS HUT, KINCUMBER 10:30AM
Drawing on her Irish fiddle roots and a tapestry of Balkan, Middle Eastern and experimental influences, her music is rich, raw and unmistakably her own. She is joined by acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Tom Botting on guitar. Their dynamic performances blend tradition and invention, carrying audiences from driving rhythms to heart moving melodies and moments of spontaneous musical magic.
Author Talk: Meredith Jaffe presents ‘The Importance of Being Delia’: Erina Library 10.30am
THU 23 JUL
Be Connected Webinar: Useful Tips for your iPhone: Erina Library 10am
The Matter of Facts: Media Literacy Workshop: Gosford Regional Library 10am
Electrity Bouddi Forum: Hardys Bay Club 6.30pm
Mark Wilkinson: Avoca Beach Theatre 7:30pm
Dan Rath: Special Trial Show (Woy Woy): Link & Pin, Woy Woy 7pm
FRI 24 JUL
MORIARTY - A NEW SHERLOCK HOLMES
ADVENTURE: WOY WOY LITTLE THEATRE * TO 9 AUG
Thelma Plum
See page 24 for previous edition’s solutions. The puzzle solutions for the last 4 editions can always be found online. Scan the QR code or visit coastcommunitynews.com.au/puzzle-solutions
9.30am Launch of Wyong Pioneer Register
9.45am Talk by Laurie Turtle - Writing up your family history 11:00am Talk by Lorraine Turtle - Using Medical &Education Records 1:00 pm Talk by Amelia Young - Forensic uses for DNA 2:15pm Talk by Amanda Bede - Collecting Ephemera 3:00pm Forum for questions
Also over 20 trade and information tables. Including other Family History and Local History groups, local authors, men's shed, woodturners, scrapbooking, displays and research assistance. Plus the launch of our latest publication " Wyong Pioneer Register". PROGRAMME:
Warble
Endeavour
Beach grains
Flag,
3:45pm Raffle drawn (tickets $2 each or 6 for $10) Bookings required for the talks. See our website for the link or call 02 4351 2211 www.wyongfamilyhistory.com.au ACROSS
PNG, Papua New ...
Legitimate
Luggage items
Disapproving cry
Fulfilled (demand)
Author unknown
Turrets
Crowded around
End piece
Wrongdoing
Fish with line & hook
Small spots
Isolated tract 14. Church passage 16. Walk onstage 19. Promises
Doormen 23. Berlin language 25. Bends to circumstances 26. Regard favourably 29. Mugging 32. Poet’s word for
Rasped
Salesman
Apparent
MISSING LINK
Drug addicts
41. Tibetan monks 42. Strange
Swift
Mediterranean island
Theatres 51. Simpler 52. Freedom fighters
53. Rude comment
Swoop 58. European currency units
59. Dehumidify 61. Horse-like animals 63. More than sufficient
Lodge 65. Engine seal 66. High-ranking lords
68. Dwelling 71. Hollow
72. Cigarette’s filter tip
74. Rams’ mates
76. Jealousy 78. College 80. Expert
83. Ready, ..., fire!
Fair to mark Family History Month
Wyong Family History Group will present a fair at Toukley on Saturday, August 1, in honour of Family History Month.
The fair will begin with the launch of the group’s latest publication, Wyong Pioneer Register, completed late last year.
Copies will be available for purchase on the day, which will also feature four very interesting guest speakers.
Certificate Transcription Agents, Laurie and Lorraine Turtle will speak in the morning.
Laurie will talk on Writing Up your Family History, covering why you should do so, ways you can go about this and what you can do once
the story is written up.
There are many ways this can be approached to make your story engaging and to preserve it for future generations.
Then Lorraine will speak on the use of education and medical records for family history research.
She will cover what files have survived, where they are held and how to access them.
She will also talk about how you can incorporate them into your family story to add meat to the bones of your family tree.
After a lunch break, Amelia Young, a PhD student at the University of Newcastle, will give a talk.
She is exploring forensic
investigative genetic genealogy – a fresh approach to solving crimes and identifying unidentified human remains.
This method taps into commercial genealogical databases like GEDmatch and FamilyTreeDNA to link unknown DNA with the public.
It has already helped make arrests in cold cases across Australia, but it does raise some privacy concerns.
Before starting her PhD, Ms Young spent time working in homelessness, domestic violence and suicide prevention in the Hunter Valley while finishing her Master of Laws in dispute resolution.
She is also a recipient of the Australian Government
Zumba class for kids
Instructor Carin Clegg will commence Zumba Kids Junior dance classes at Roundabout Circus on Showground Rd, Gosford, on Monday, July 27.
She said research showed that children today were less fit than kids a few generations ago for a number of reasons. And if they get injured, their injuries last longer which impacts their physical development, co-ordination, confidence and self-esteem as well as their ability to be a fit and active adult, impacting their long-term health.
Zumba Kids Junior is a different sort of dance class for four to six-year-olds.
It meets the needs of many children who may not fit in to a regular structured sport or dance class with uniforms, expected performances or exams.
Having fun is at the top of kids’ priority list.
So Zumba Kids has a focus on playing through dance, but still aims to teach children some important life skills whilst allowing them to express their own unique personality.
They will learn respect, leadership and teamwork, while exploring their creativity and imagination.
‘I love keeping traditional dances alive,” Clegg said.
“In each class we use our
imagination and travel to a different country to learn about the country, culture and the traditional dance.
“Zumba Kids classes are a place where kids can express themselves by wearing what they choose and bringing their own dance moves to the dancefloor, with dance games like Freeze, Follow the Leader and Rising Star.”
She said Zumba Kids built pride, self-esteem as well as helping kids develop coordination and confidence.
If interested in enrolling your child or even booking a Zumba Kids dance class at your child’s party, contact Carin Clegg on 0413 77 44 11 or email brightdiets@gmail.com
Research Training Scholarship and recently worked with the Australian Federal Police for three months to focus on her research.
Now she is an academic in law and criminology and a new mum.
The last speaker of the day will be President of the Ephemera Society and State Library of Victoria librarian Mandy Bede, who will give an address titled Family historian or hoarder?
“The printed material you have inherited or collected from your parents and grandparents can be interesting and significant,” she said.
“It can create a picture of their lives, and the life of
their community.
“Keep it, it’s important, and you probably aren’t a hoarder.”
The day will conclude with a forum where the speakers will answer audience members’ questions more fully.
The fun will get underway at 9.30am and should conclude at about 4pm.
Throughout the day, the main hall will be full of trade and information tables from other Family History and Local History groups, some commercial traders, Central Coast Woodturners Cooperative, Mannering Park Men’s Shed, and a number of local authors, such as Sara Powter, Greg Powell and Trish Skehan.
The group will also have its own publications for sale, as well as secondhand books and basic research assistance available from experienced members.
The fair will be held Toukley Memorial Hall, 13 Pearce Ave, just behind Toukley 50 plus Leisure and Learning Centre.
Although attendance is free, people are asked to book their seat via Trybooking for any talks they wish to attend.
The booking site will go live closer to the event.
For more information, contact the Cottage on 02 4351 2211 (10.30am-3pm TuesdayThursday, check the group’s website or follow its Facebook page.
Laurie and Lorraine Turtle; Amelia Young; examples of ephemera (Parents’ guide and Houston woman, post 1908)
Mon – Fri: 8:30am – 8:30pm Sat/Sun: 8:30 am - 6:30 pm PH: 8:30am – 8:30pm 7 days a week
Health & Education
Coastability honours 2026 scholarship recipients
CoastAbility recently held its Scholarship Awards night at Gosford RSL Club, recognising 2026 scholarship recipients.
Every year CoastAbility Limited offers academic and sporting scholarships to young people who are living with a physical disability and studying at a tertiary institution or competing in sport at a high level.
Three academic scholarships were awarded.
Ella Mackay of Woongarah is completing a Bachelor of Public Health at the University of Technology in Sydney.
Mikaela Magro of Horsfield Bay who is studying for a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science, achieving excellent results in her first year with distinction or high distinction averages in all her classes.
Abie Smith of Wamberal is in her first year of an Arts Law Degree at Macquarie University.
“The academic scholarship means so much to me as a disabled law student who is determined to specialise in human rights law,” she said.
“To be supported by CoastAbility truly inspires me to continue achieving my dreams bit by bit.
“I am very determined to work alongside the UN or Amnesty International to fight for disabled liberation on a global scale.
“The scholarship not only allows me to pursue my studies comfortably, by covering necessities, but makes me feel so incredibly supported by the disabled community I was and still am so proud to be part of, here on the Coast.”
Four sporting scholarships were also awarded.
Aiden Knevett of Wyoming competes successfully in athletics – in shotput, discus, javelin, long jump and sprint –and is a frequent placegetter in school, regional and state competitions.
He holds a black belt in karate and is a NSW representative in the National Karate Championships.
Chloe Karsten of Umina competes in equestrian and dressage events.
She had success in international and Australian
competitions last year, achieving two individual gold and one team silver at the Virtus World Equestrian Games.
Chloe intends to compete in national events in 2026, campaigning for the 2027
Virtus Global Games in Eygpt.
Mikaela Magro, who also received an academic scholarship, continues to achieve big things in her chosen sport of soccer.
She attended the Deaf Olympics in Tokyo last year and scored the first goal for the deaf football Australia women’s team at an international level.
This year she will attend the Australian Deaf Games on the Gold Coast and compete in Korea in the Qualifiers for the World Cup.
Violet Fuller of Lake Munmorah competes in multiple events in athletics and has excelled in sprints, relays and cross country.
She is a NSW representative at Nationals, where she previously set a record in 800m sprint.
Violet recently competed in the National Little Athletics Championships in Brisbane,
receiving a silver medal in javelin, silver in 100m and bronze in 800m, 400m and 200m.
She will compete in the PSSA Nationals for Cross Country in September and PSSA Athletics in November.
CoastAbility supports Central Coast young people with physical disabilities from birth to age 25 by providing financial assistance towards the costs of disability related needs not covered by NDIS funding.
The organisation has received substantial support from the Chapman Trusts since 1964 and is mindful of continuing its commitment to use these funds to support Central Coast young people.
The scholarships are part of this ongoing commitment.
Scholarships can be used to cover expenses for items such as equipment, transport, accommodation, training and general education needs.
For more information go to www.coastability.org.au
Registration with CoastAbility is free and registration forms are also available on the website.
Heritage Now, on behalf of the proponent (Adam Lowe Earthmoving), is undertaking an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment for proposed industrial development at 10 Vere Place, Somersby in Central Coast LGA. Aboriginal people who hold cultural knowledge relevant to determining the significance of Aboriginal objects and places in the area are invited to register an interest in the community consultation process. The purpose of the consultation is to assist in the preparation of an Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit (AHIP) application, if required, and to assist the Secretary of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water in their consideration and determination of the application.
In accordance with the Aboriginal cultural heritage consultation requirements for proponents 2010, please send your registration to Crystal Phillips (Heritage Now, 1/48 Kalaroo Road, Redhead NSW 2290, hello@heritagenow. com.au) by 30 July 2026. Your details will be provided to Heritage NSW and the relevant Local Aboriginal Land Council, unless you specify that you do not want your details released.
The 2026 scholarship recipients
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment –Invitation to Register Interest – HN205-B
Hospital auxiliary needs helpers
If you have some time on your hands and would like to help better your community, you might consider joining the Wyong Hospital Auxiliary.
Members of the Auxiliary are dedicated to raising funds to buy equipment for the hospital that can’t always be found within their budget.
These purchases significantly make the lives of patients more comfortable and in some cases can be life-saving.
The auxiliary has a shopfront
at the main reception area of the hospital.
It is full of wonderful items handcrafted by the volunteers, ranging from items for a new baby or toddler to blankets both large and lap-sized, dolls, toys, shopping bags, baby bibs and much more.
The auxiliary holds several raffles per year with tickets sold at Village Central Wyong shopping centre, Lake Haven Centre and Bunnings at Lake Haven.
Members of the Auxiliary man
the shop and sell raffle tickets at the various locations.
There are also many donation boxes scattered around. At the beginning of each financial year the hospital gives the auxiliary a wish list of items that would greatly benefit patients.
Members then choose what to purchase.
Monthly meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of the month.
Contact Secretary Carol Ferguson on 0404 044 399 for any further information.
GPs urged to become ADHD medication certified
Dr Ruben Karalasingham of The Entrance Medical Centre is the first GP in NSW to become an endorsed prescriber of ADHD medications.
He is urging fellow GPs to complete the qualifying course which allows them to prescribe meds for the condition, which until now have been able to be prescribed only by paediatricians and psychiatrists.
“Untreated children with ADHD, due to their inattentiveness, are unable to focus in their studies and complete school tasks,” he said.
“Due to their impulsivity, they may get into fights at home or school …. hence (they) can cause disruption to the class and at home.”
He said if untreated the condition could contribute to substance abuse, high unemployment rates,
dependence on social security, road rage and incarceration.
“Some studies show that among incarcerated people, ADHD is prevalent in 50%,” he said.
Dr Karalasingham told fellow GPs at a meeting at Forresters Beach on June 10 that they had an “ethical and moral responsibility” to actively get involved in ADHD prescribing.
“The metropolitan areas have high number of paediatricians and psychiatrists, but regional areas lack these specialities,” he said.
“That is why NSW Health is keen to encourage regional GPs to become prescribers.”
The meeting was addressed by NSW Health Medical Advisor Dr Sarah Khanlari, with four
paediatricians speaking on ADHD prescribing.
Dr Khanlari outlined the two methods GPs could follow to become a prescriber.
She said if a child or adult was already diagnosed by a paediatrician or a psychiatrist, their own GP could continue prescribing the stimulant medication.
This will reduce the workload
of specialists in seeing patients for repeat prescriptions, she said.
For a GP to become an endorsed prescriber, they must follow a prescribed course.
An endorsed prescriber can diagnose an undiagnosed child or adult with ADHD and treat them with stimulants, without the help of a paediatrician or psychiatrist.
Bluey frames make wearing glasses fun
The school holidays are the perfect time for an eye check for children and Specsavers has just launched its new Bluey range, inspired by the world of Bluey.
The cheerful collection features four children’s frames,
created in collaboration with BBC Studios and Ludo Studio, the makers of the globally celebrated animated TV hit. The frames come in a mix of vibrant colours, including pink, green and the iconic shade of Bluey blue. Each pair features character artwork of Bluey, and some designs
include her sister Bingo too. The glasses are designed to feel light and comfortable on little faces, combining everyday durability with a style kiddos will genuinely enjoy wearing.
Senior Frame Buyer at Specsavers Sarah Hodgson said Bluey was a much-loved
Dr Karalasingham said this would help counter long waiting list for specialists, with costs cheaper for adults and bulk billed for children.
Dr Preena Uppal spoke on adjusting medications for ADHD.
Dr Minna Khoo spoke on diagnostic tools and Dr Santhini Kumaran spoke on diagnosis of autism spectrum.
part of family life.
“This collaboration allows us to translate that joy into eyewear that children are excited to wear,” she said.
“By combining imaginative design with trusted eyecare, we’re helping kids feel comfortable, confident and
supported in seeing the world more clearly.”
Director of Brands & Licensing at BBC Studios ANZ Sharon Wilson said Bluey resonated with families by celebrating play and everyday moments.
“These frames capture the fun and warmth of the series in
a way that feels both practical and exciting for kids,” she said.
“We’re confident this collection will be a hit with little fans.”
The new Bluey collection will be available at Specsavers on the Central Coast from Thursday, July 9.
The auxiliary runs a shop at Wyong Hospital
One of the new designs
Dr Ruben Karalasingham; The meeting of GPs
HEALTH BRIEF
Dementia funding
Dementia Australia has launched its 2026 Diversity Small Grants program to help build understanding and awareness of dementia in Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Applications are now open for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse organisations and community groups on the Central Coast and across Australia to apply for up to $30,000 in funding for activities to create awareness and improved understanding about dementia in their communities.
Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said that following the success in 2024 and 2025, the program is being offered for a third year.
“Through the grant program
Dementia Australia hopes to facilitate greater equity of access to dementia information and support in ways that are culturally appropriate and meaningful,” Professor Buchanan said.
Previous grant recipient, Bidgerdii Community Health Service, used its 2025 funding to run dementia awareness and risk reduction workshops within the community which culminated in the development of a book which draws on the lived experiences of community members.
Submissions close on Wednesday, August 5.
For more information or to apply, search ‘diversity small grants’ at www.dementia. org.au
See full story online: coastcommunitynews.com.au
Freemasons’ High Tea supports Smith Family
Since 2017, Freemasons from District 21 have been raising money for 10 students living on the Central Coast and participating in The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program and their efforts so far have provided more than $61,800 to the charity. In addition, Freemasons on
the Central Coast (FotCC) provided the same 10 students with $100 gift cards each Christmas.
Students are nominated by schools within the area and, where possible, all are assisted. They range in age from Year 4 students to those undertaking tertiary studies.
The initiative has been a great success and is very much appreciated by both students and their parents.
Always looking for ways to help the local community, a discussion took place in August 2025 between Freemasons Dennis Young, Chris Matthews and Graeme Ingall where it was decided to hold a raffle to raise
money which would be donated to The Smith Family.
An open travel voucher valued at $1,500 from Helloworld, Gosford, was purchased as the major prize and Bunnings West Gosford donated second and third prizes.
More than 70 people attended the raffle draw in March held at Wyong Masonic Centre where
an indulgent High Tea was served.
On the day $4,400 was raised, and with the help of Masonicare – the Grand Lodge Charity – the amount was doubled to a final donation of $8,800 which will be presented to The Smith Family in July.
Students to benefit from new bus timetable
It will be a smoother journey for Central Coast students taking the bus when school resumes next week with the rollout of a new timetable.
The changes are designed to deliver more reliable journeys, better on-time running, and a closer alignment with school bell times while supporting stronger connections across the network.
Transport for NSW has
worked closely with bus operator Red Bus CDC NSW to refine services in response to community feedback.
School bus services are now running to the adjusted timetables, which commenced on June 29, in the Gosford, Erina, Wyong, Ourimbah, Tumbi Umbi and Terrigal areas, supporting students at 32 schools.
Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David
ADAM CROUCH MP
Harris said the improvements are a win for local families, with better bus connections that will ensure safer and more reliable travel for students across the Central Coast.
“It is all about giving our communities the services they need,” he said.
“These changes will make it easier for families to ensure their children can travel to and from school safely and on time.”
Member for The Entrance David Mehan said better school bus services mean less stress for families.
Member For Gosford Liesl Tesch said the timetable adjustments would see bus services better align with school bell times.
“We have listened to parents and school communities about where bus services needed to improve and have acted to improve connectivity and
reliability, so students have faster, more convenient and direct journeys to school,” she said.
“This is all part of the Minns Labor Government’s work to improve public transport in our growing Central Coast region.” Check out the new timetable by searching Central Coast buses at www.transportnsw. info
Supporters enjoyed a High Tea at Wyong Masonic Centre Photo: Jack Wilson
Business & Property
Wyong Village hits the market
The village operates as a long-term residential and rental park Wyong Village, a substantial mixed-use rental accommodation community in Kanwal, is up for sale.
HTL Property has been exclusively appointed to bring the property to market.
The established village currently operates as a longterm residential and rental park, offering a diverse mix of resident-owned dwellings and park-owned rental accommodation.
Facilities include a manager’s residence, swimming pool, amenities block, and dedicated storage areas for boats and caravans across the expansive 5.9ha site.
The village is close to
Tuggerah Lake, key transport connections, local retail centres, and essential health services.
Andrew Jackson, National Director at HTL Property, said the property would appeal to investors.
“Already benefiting from established tenancy, consistent demand, and a location that supports long-term occupancy, the investment thesis is supported by all the fundamentals astute investors seek,” he said.
“The underlying appeal of this asset is amplified by its scale, its coastal-fringe positioning; and the flexibility it offers future owners with the
approvals that have been achieved.”
In addition to the existing operating village, Wyong Village holds an approved expansion opportunity that significantly enhances its long-term potential.
A development approval secured in 2024 enables the site to be extended into a larger land-lease community, allowing for 247 sites in total.
This strategic expansion capitalises upon the region’s sustained population growth, ongoing infrastructure upgrades, and strong demand for affordable, communityfocused residential living options across the Central Coast.
“The ability to expand the village into a larger-format residential land lease community unlocks genuine upside for the next owner,” Mr Jackson said.
“This represents an increasingly rare planning outcome in a corridor where demand for accessible and
affordable housing continues to rise.”
The property also benefits from a transformative rezoning outcome delivered under the NSW Government’s Rezoning Pathways Program.
This would allow it to be redeveloped into a high-density mixed-use precinct comprising
multiple residential buildings, ground-floor commercial activation, and extensive new public open space.
Expressions of Interest are due on or before Thursday, August 13.
For more information call 0405 355 972.
The village’s office
BUSINESS BRIEF
New guide for first homebuyers
Tuggerah-based business owner and director of Sphere Home Loans
Rachelle Kroon has coauthored a new book, The Quick Start Guide to Your First Property, alongside finance educator Glen James.
The book is a practical resource for first homebuyers navigating one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives, written by someone who works with local buyers every day.
It is a practical, no-nonsense guide for anyone saving for their first home or investment property.
It covers how to get financially prepared, avoid common firsttime buyer mistakes and navigate a process that can feel overwhelming, especially in today’s market.
Ms Kroon is a mortgage broker and co-hosts This Is Property, a podcast with a national presence covering all things property.
Glen James is a well-known finance educator and podcaster (My Millennial Money).
The straightforward guide for first homebuyers and parents wanting to set their kids up is available through QBD, Dymocks, Big W, Amazon and Booktopia.
See full story online: coastcommunitynews.com.au
How to apply for community funding program
Central Coast Council is encouraging community groups and not-for-profit organisations in Chain Valley Bay, Gwandalan, Mannering Park and Summerland Point to apply for up to $30,000 in funding through the Chain Valley Colliery Community Funding Program.
The annual program is a joint initiative between Central Coast Council, Delta Power & Energy and local communities, aimed at supporting projects that enhance community infrastructure and services in the area.
Mayor Lawrie McKinna said the Chain Valley Colliery Community Funding Program was part of Council’s ongoing commitment to supporting Mannering Park and surrounding communities.
“Last year, over $58,000 was allocated in funding to seven projects,” Cr McKinna said.
“By supporting local organisations, this program helps deliver projects that
respond to community priorities and create positive outcomes for the area.”
To assist interested groups, Council will host two free grant information sessions on Wednesday, July 22, where community groups can ask questions about their proposed initiatives, eligibility and the application process.
There will be an in person session from 10am-11am at Mannering Park Community
Hall and an online session from 5pm-6pm via an online link, which will be shared with those who register in advance through the Eventbrite website.
Attendees to the information sessions must also register in advance via Eventbrite.
If you require an AUSLAN or TIS interpreter, this can be arranged by sending an e-mail to Council’s Grants and Sponsorship team at grants@ centralcoast.nsw.gov.au
Delta Company Secretary
Steve Gurney encourages eligible community groups to submit their applications before the funding round closes.
“We know local community groups have a strong understanding of what their communities need and this program helps turn those ideas into reality,” Mr Gurney said.
“Whether it’s improving local facilities and services or
creating opportunities for people to connect, we’re pleased to back initiatives that deliver lasting benefits for the people living and working in these communities.”
Applications will be open from August 1-31.
For information on grant guidelines or how to apply, search ‘Chain Valley Colliery Community Funding Program’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au
Council speeds up DA processing
Central Coast Council launched a new Accelerated Development Application (ADA) process on July 1.
A range of development application improvements are underway, including the recruitment of additional planners and streamlined assessment processes to deliver faster, more efficient outcomes.
The new ADA process aims to to significantly cut assessment times for eligible proposals.
The process has been modelled on the successful implementation of a similar scheme by the City of Newcastle.
Under the new ADA process, applicants who submit wellprepared information up front and their applications will undergo a quick eligibility
check before being fasttracked through the new process – helping Council to deliver faster decisions for straightforward proposals.
By speeding up well-prepared eligible applications, the ADA process will also allow Council planners to focus on more complex developments, improving overall service and outcomes for the community.
Over the past 18 months, in the lead up to the new ADA process, Council has made significant progress in reducing development assessment backlogs, with the number of outstanding DAs reducing from a peak of 1,099 to 652 (as at end May 2026).
The number of legacy applications (those older than 12 months) has fallen by 63%, from a peak of 186 applications to 68, representing the lowest level since October 2022.
Central Coast Mayor Lawrie McKinna
welcome innovation that would help to enable growth and build stronger communities.
“When we held our first Building a Strong Foundation for the Future forum, the message was clear – Council must improve assessment times,” Cr McKinna said.
“We look forward to the outcomes of the Accelerated Development Application pathway, and to ongoing improvement to our performance over the long term.
“We have already made huge progress in the Development Assessment space, and we are building on that success with this process.”
• Divorces
• De facto
• Children's Issues
• Property • Binding Financial Agreements
WILLS & ESTATES
• Power of Attorney
These improvements have been achieved through targeted process reforms, additional resources and a strong focus on clearing older applications.
• Probate, Wills & Disputes
• Enduring Guardianship
Mayor Lawrie McKinna said the ADA initiative was a
CONVEYANCING
• Purchase & Sale of Property
• Refinancing Mortgages
For more information about the ADA process search ‘Accelerated Development Applications (ADA)’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au
• Criminal Law
• AVO Matters
• Traffic Matters
• Drink Driving
Ground Floor, Suite 6, 22 Watt St Gosford FAMILY LAW
• Purchase & Sale of Business • Leasing • Retirement Villages COURT APPEARANCES
Email: lemery@lindaemery.com.au
Web: www.lindaemery.com.au
Rachelle Kroon
Mannering Park community members
State Government funds more council apprentices
The State Government is extending the state’s largest apprentice program in decades, enabling councils to hire hundreds more apprentices, creating stable jobs in regional communities and strengthening the future local government workforce.
The Fresh Start program has created 1,300 more apprenticeship, trainee and cadet roles in councils across NSW to address workforce shortages.
Central Coast Council has been an active participant in the program since its inception.
The new program funding has enabled Council to add to its already robust cohort of trainees and apprentices with the addition of an extra four apprentices, two trainees and two cadets.
Council currently employs a total of 51 trainees and apprentices with 12 new positions, replacing recent successful graduates, scheduled to be advertised in August/September.
Discount driveway clean for seniors
Collective Exteriors has just opened on the Peninsula and has an introductory offer for seniors.
The locally owned business was founded by two Central Coast residents after they saw a need for a premium exterior cleaning service that focused on improving the overall presentation of homes and commercial properties, not just removing dirt.
The latest multi-million dollar investment will create 400 more roles next year including 200 apprentices, 100 trainees and 100 cadets, bringing the total number of new council roles funded under the program to 1,700 in just four years.
Since the Fresh Start program commenced, more than 1,100 people have started working in councils, the majority of these under the age of 25.
The program enables students and school leavers to study and learn on the job while gaining a nationally accredited qualification, with their wages fully funded by the NSW Government.
There are also 112 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recruits, most of them working in regional and rural councils. The program has been particularly beneficial for the regions where young people typically have fewer opportunities to build careers in their hometowns.
So far 65% of Fresh Start recruits have been hired in regional and rural councils, delivering vital skills where they’re needed most.
As current recruits come to the end of their training, hundreds of young people will soon land permanent jobs in councils for in-demand roles including in civil construction, carpentry, planning, early education and mechanics.
More than 50,000 people work across the state’s 128 councils, with many people who start learning their trade in councils going on to have lifelong careers in local government.
Premier Chris Minns said the
program was the biggest state government investment in directly hiring new apprentices in decades.
“It’s a huge boost to the local government workforce that will give more young people the chance to learn hands-on skills in jobs that are close to home,” he said.
“This is about backing councils to ensure they have a strong workforce for the future so they can continue providing the services we all rely on.”
Major global award for disability service founder
Sarah MacRae of 24/7 Care Disability Services and Activity Hub has been named the third-place recipient in the Diversity and Inclusion Impact Award at the 2026 Women Changing the World Global Awards.
This year’s awards saw more than 1,500 nominations from 97 countries, highlighting the extraordinary global impact of women leading change across industries and communities.
The awards celebrate and recognise women achieving outstanding success in areas such as sustainability, humanitarian work, leadership, advocacy, education, health and innovation and are designed to recognise the growing number of women who are leading the way in making the world a better place, inspiring other women to make a difference.
Ms MacRae is the founder and CEO of 24/7 Care Disability Services and Activity Hub, a registered NDIS provider based on the Central Coast.
Drawing on nearly three decades of frontline experience and her own lived experience as a parent, Ms MacRae built
24/7 Care around a simple but radical philosophy: accept the complex, high-needs participants that other providers turn away, and design environments that adapt to the person rather than forcing the person to adapt.
Today her organisation delivers centre-based day programs, community access, short-term accommodation and respite, and support coordination to participants across the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and the Lower Hunter.
Every program 24/7 Care runs is built on the belief that no one is unsupportable, and
that dignity, inclusion and genuine belonging are not privileges to be earned but rights to be protected.
“Winning this award broke me open in the best way,” Ms MacRae said.
“I sat there thinking about every participant who was told they were too complex, too hard, too much — and I realised this bronze belongs to them, not me.
“It’s proof that the people the world overlooks are worth fighting for, and that’s why this matters more than any trophy ever could.”
The vision for these awards is
to empower women everywhere to step into their power and call on women across the globe to pave the way towards a better future for all.
“Follow the thing that keeps you up at night, not the thing that looks impressive,” Ms MacRae said.
“Real change is built in the unglamorous moments when no one’s watching — so stay stubborn about your ‘why’ and let that carry you.”
She said she was proud of her achievements.
In the past 12 months, 24/7 Care has grown to support 66
participants with a team of 46 staff and launched the Phoenix Grind participant-run café social enterprise.
Her recognition has spanned local, regional and global stages: she won the 2026 Hunter Region Business Excellence Award for Access and Inclusion, was named Micro Business of the Year at the Asia Pacific Awards and took Silver for Diversity and Inclusion Impact at the same event, before going on to the Global Awards where — against strong leaders in both categories — she placed third in the world for Diversity and Inclusion Impact.
She attributed this success to an incredible team who share the vision, and a refusal to compromise on the people 24/7 Care exists to serve.
She said she was committed to continuing to make an impact through her work, and her vision for the future is to expand pathways into meaningful employment and community life for people with disability, and to build 24/7 Care into a model that proves inclusive, person-centred care can be delivered at scale without ever losing its heart.
“We’re passionate about helping people take pride in their properties through highquality exterior cleaning, including driveways, house washing, windows and garden maintenance,” they said.
“Our focus is on delivering exceptional results with reliable service and attention to detail.”
The company is offering seniors a discount driveway clean to help prevent falls and slips this Winter.
The initiative is designed to help Central Coast seniors maintain a safer home while restoring the appearance of one of the most used areas of their property.
“Over time, driveways can become slippery with mould, algae and built-up grime, increasing the risk of slips and falls, especially during the cooler months,” the owners said.
“As part of our launch, we’re offering eligible Peninsula seniors a professional driveway clean for a fixed price of $199.”
The Community Safety Driveway Clean includes: professional pressure cleaning of a standard residential driveway; removal of mould, algae and slippery surface build-up; a thorough rinse and tidy of the surrounding area; and friendly, respectful service from a fully insured local team.
“We know many Peninsula residents have spent decades caring for their homes,” the owners said.
“This is our way of giving back and helping make properties safer while bringing new life to the entrance of the home.”
For more information call 0400 937 000.
See full story online: coastcommunitynews.com.au
Sarah MacRae, left, was named the third-place recipient in the Diversity and Inclusion Impact Award at the 2026 Women Changing the World Global Awards
Central Coast Council Horticulturist Parks and Gardens apprentice Damo Hindson
The Federal Government has officially launched the Food Manufacturing Innovation Hub at Ourimbah.
The new state-of-the-art facility will support local food and beverage businesses to scale up from small-batch production to larger, commercially viable operations, helping to create jobs, strengthen supply chains and retain value-adding manufacturing in Australia.
The Australian Government awarded $17M to Central Coast Industry Connect to deliver the facility under the Establishing a Food Manufacturing Innovation Hub grant.
The hub will give small and medium-sized food producers access to commercial-scale facilities, industry expertise and specialist growth support to help businesses develop, test and commercialise new products more efficiently.
Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science, Senator Tim Ayres, said the hub would help local
Food manufacturing hub officially open
businesses turn great ideas into successful products –creating jobs, lifting productivity and strengthening Australia’s manufacturing capability.
“This is about backing Australian producers with access to world-class facilities helping them to scale up, innovate and compete in growing domestic and international markets,” he said.
“Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing sector is critical to our agricultural supply chains, food security, exports and regional economies.
“This hub is an investment in the future of Australian manufacturing capability.”
Member for Dobell Emma McBride said the hub demonstrated the Government’s investment in local jobs, supporting local businesses and helping the region continue to grow.
“We’ve got some incredible food and beverage producers right here on the Coast, and this hub backs the hardworking local people behind them to grow their businesses, create
jobs and reach new markets,” she said.
Industry Connect chairperson Ian Hemphill said manufacturing made countries and economies actually viable.
“Manufacturing is sustainable, it’s resilient, and it’s something that is so important to an area like the Central Coast,” he said.
He said Central Coast Industry Connect was an umbrella organisation for manufacturing
industry, a not-for-profit organisation which communicated with government at all levels.
“Manufacturing is the largest exporter out of this region, and it employs about 9,000 people so,it is extremely important,” he said.
Industry Connect Executive Director Frank Sammut said manufacturing on the Central Coast was second only to construction in output.
“(The hub is) a commercially based facility that represents user vision, partnership and persistence, and a major step forward for the $2B food and beverage manufacturing sector on the Central Coast,” he said.
He said planning for the hub began in 2013.
“It’s been a slow process but it has made Central Coast Industry Connect a recognised peak manufacturing body for the region and the leader in the development of the food manufacturing sector,” he said.
He recognised Emma McBride for championing the business case for the hub, which saw it become a commitment at the 2022 election.
He said Senator Ayres had followed progress and supported the initiative from the start.
Mr Sammut said the project had been delivered in three stages – an infant skills hub using facilities at University of Newcastle and Regional Development Australia Central Coast, followed by the hub itself, providing spaces for food
producers to scale up and accelerate their growth and then a bio facility, which serves training needs, allowing for product development and production for test markets, and for supplies to demonstrate new ingredients or equipment.
He said the future would see the hub provide more learning opportunities for students at the University of Newcastle and TAFE NSW and expand operator programs from the original paving format to include food processing and development of an advanced operator program. The programs will also be adapted for non-food manufacturers.
“With further investment, we’re looking to establish a cobalt facility, low-cost home screen robots that pack off and place product in containers, and great opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses to get into low-cost automation and prove their productivity and improve their cost base,” he said.
“And using our equipment to provide opportunities to upscale food waste is another great opportunity for us.”
New outdoor space and EV chargers at Diggers
Sport, socialising and hospitality come together in one fresh, vibrant space at Diggers The Entrance’s new outdoor recreation precinct, Roll ‘n’ Pickle.
Representing a significant investment in the club and the local community, the new precinct has transformed a previously under-utilised area into a contemporary outdoor destination where members and guests can play, relax, dine and connect.
Chief Executive Officer Michael Kowaliw said the development reflected Diggers’ commitment to Dare to be Different, delivering innovative facilities that continued to enhance customer experiences.
The Roll ‘n’ Pickle Outdoor
Precinct features two purposebuilt outdoor pickleball courts, a new synthetic bowling green with four competition-standard rinks, a spacious outdoor terrace and entertainment area, a large outdoor LED screen, landscaped seating areas and a relaxed alfresco environment designed for social gatherings, live entertainment and recreation.
A standout feature of the development is the inclusion of two purpose-built outdoor pickleball courts, making Diggers The Entrance the first licensed club on the Central Coast to introduce dedicated pickleball facilities. As one of the fastest-growing sports in Australia and around the world, pickleball is
attracting participants of all ages and skill levels, offering a fun, social and accessible sporting experience.
Kowaliw said the opening of Roll ‘n’ Pickle reflected the club’s commitment to continually invest in modern facilities that strengthened community connections while enhancing the overall customer experience.
“Roll ‘n’ Pickle positions Diggers The Entrance at the forefront of this emerging trend, creating another reason for people to visit and enjoy our club,” Kowaliw said.
“We are particularly proud to be the first licensed club on the Central Coast to offer dedicated pickleball courts.
“Whether you’re an experienced player, trying pickleball for the first time, enjoying a meal with family and friends, or simply relaxing on the terrace while watching live sport on the big screen, Roll ‘n’ Pickle offers something for everyone.”
The development forms part of Diggers ongoing commitment to providing modern recreation, entertainment and hospitality experiences that bring people together while encouraging healthy, active lifestyles.
The club expects the precinct to become a major drawcard for both locals and visitors.
The Roll ‘n’ Pickle Outdoor Precinct operates daily and bookings for the pickleball court and bowling green can be
made through Diggers The Entrance website.
Meanwhile, Diggers is making it easier than ever for electric vehicle drivers to visit the Central Coast, with the installation of four new NRMA Electric Vehicle (EV) fast charging stations now available on-site.
Located in the club’s front carpark, the chargers provide EV owners with a reliable and accessible place to recharge while enjoying everything Diggers The Entrance has to offer.
Visitors can relax with a meal, catch live entertainment, enjoy the club’s facilities, or unwind in the new outdoor Roll N Pickle precinct while their vehicle charges.
Chief Executive Officer Michael Kowaliw said the installation was another step forward in ensuring the club continued to meet the evolving needs of its members and guests.
“As electric vehicles become increasingly popular, it’s important that we continue investing in facilities that make visiting Diggers even more convenient,” Mr Kowaliw said.
“These new NRMA EV chargers not only support sustainable travel but also encourage motorists travelling through the Central Coast to stop, recharge, and experience everything our club has to offer.”
Diggers’ new recreation area brings sport
together
outdoor space; Four NMRA electric vehicle charging stations are now at Diggers The Entrance
Demonstration of 3D Food Printer; The Hon Emma McBride MP, Dr Gordon Reid MP, Senator the Hon Tim Ayres, Mr Nathan Scott (Photo: Elizabeth Ginis)
State victory for U12 netball team
NETBALL
Woy Woy Peninsula Netball Association’s under-12s have been crowned Division 3 State Champions after an outstanding performance at the Hart Junior State Titles.
The competition was held over three days, from July 4-6, at the Camden & District Netball Association in Narellan.
A spokesperson said it was a historic moment for the association.
“This is the first time an under-12s team from Woy Woy Peninsula Netball Association has ever won a state title, making it a truly historic achievement for the club and our community,” they said.
Coach Tiah Santarossa said she believed the dedication and commitment shown by the players and their families played a significant role in the success.
“This support provided us with the opportunity to attend six carnivals throughout the representative season,” she said.
The team travelled to Forster for the Great Lakes Representative Carnival, which also served as a valuable team bonding experience for players, families, and coaches.
“What stood out most was the strength of our team connection,” Santarossa said.
She said strong relationships built off the court translated into team
BASKETBALL
The Central Coast Crusaders endured a frustrating afternoon in NBL1 East action on Saturday, July 11, with both the women’s and men’s teams falling to the Newcastle Falcons at Guzman y Gomez Stadium at Terrigal.
The Crusaders women were first on court and came up against the defending champions, who showed why they remain one of the competition’s benchmark teams, claiming a commanding 102-62 victory.
Newcastle wasted little time asserting its authority, establishing an early lead through relentless defensive pressure and fast-paced transition offence.
performance on court.
“They consistently supported one another, played selflessly, and lifted each other during challenging moments throughout the season and our state titles campaign,” she said.
The 27-year-old coach from the Woy Woy Peninsula has been playing netball at WWPNA since she was four years old, and is in her third year involved
in the representative program.
“I have been coaching at club level since I was 15, and I am passionate about developing young athletes both on and off the court,” she said.
The team comprised cocaptains Billie Harris and Ivy O’Sullivan, Ira Phillips, Cadence Gurleyen, Bowie Morris, Soul Hickey, Mimi Washington, Lillian Stanley, Ella Beauclaire and Isobel Stringer.
No joy for Crusaders
Co-captain Billie Harris said the journey to state titles took months of hard work.
“We trained hard every week, including Thursday sessions with our personal trainer, and learnt how to accept criticism, stay disciplined, and perform under pressure,” she said.
“We played for each other, and all that hard work and commitment paid off.
Ivy O’Sullivan said playing in state titles could be very mentally and physically tiring, but the result made it worth it.
“Playing with all the girls and having the best coach ever keeps you going and doing your best,” she said.
“To win the title after three hard days was one of the happiest moments of my life.”
Alongside Santarossa were assistant coach Mareta Crowdy and manager Michelle Stone, who were acknowledged by WWPNA for their dedication and leadership, which played a vital role in the team’s success.
Ivona Rose
Countdown to rugby union finals
With just a handful of rounds remaining before the finals, Round 11 of the Central Coast Rugby Union competition delivered another afternoon of highquality sport on Saturday, July 11.
In Premier 1, Lake Macquarie defeated Warnervale 44-15, further strengthening their finals credentials.
The home side controlled the contest from the opening whistle, combining physical forward play with clinical finishing to claim an important five competition points.
Avoca Beach Sharks accounted for the Razorbacks 27-15 in one of their strongest performances of the season at Ourimbah Rugby Park.
The Sharks were disciplined throughout the afternoon, taking their opportunities when they presented themselves and claiming an important away victory to keep their minor premiership hopes alive.
Despite the scoreboard, Central Coast continued to compete throughout all four quarters.
The rebuilding Crusaders showed encouraging signs in patches, moving the ball well offensively and refusing to let the contest get away without a fight.
Against one of the league’s premier teams, the match provided another valuable opportunity for the club’s young roster to gain experience at NBL1 level as they continue to build for the future.
The men’s clash proved to be one of the most entertaining games of the round, with the Crusaders falling heartbreakingly short in
The Falcons consistently converted turnovers into points and shot efficiently throughout the contest, making it difficult for the Crusaders to gain any sustained momentum.
ICE HOCKEY
The Central Coast Rhinos were unable to complete a weekend turnaround, falling 5-2 to the Sydney Bears at Macquarie Ice Rink on Sunday, July 12, in Australian Ice Hockey League action.
The game was delayed by about 20 minutes before the opening face-off after officials discovered a crack in the protective glass following warm-ups, but once play got
an 82-81 thriller.
After entering the contest in strong form, Central Coast matched Newcastle possession for possession in a contest that remained in the balance from the opening tip-off.
Neither side was able to establish a significant advantage as the lead changed hands throughout the evening.
The Crusaders looked capable of stealing the win in the closing stages, but the
Rhinos fall to Sydney Bears
underway it was the Bears who made the early running.
Sydney established control in the opening period, racing to a 3-0 lead and putting the Rhinos on the back foot early.
The home side’s aggressive forecheck and efficient finishing allowed them to dictate the tempo, forcing Central Coast to chase the game from the outset.
The Rhinos responded with a much-improved defensive effort in the second period,
holding the Bears scoreless while creating several opportunities of their own.
Although Central Coast was unable to reduce the deficit before the second intermission, the scoreless middle frame gave the visitors renewed belief heading into the final 20 minutes.
Central Coast finally found its rhythm in the third period, launching a spirited comeback with two goals to close the gap and place pressure on the Bears.
The Rhinos continued to push forward in search of a way back into the contest, but Sydney responded at crucial moments to halt the momentum before sealing the result with a late goal to secure the 5-2 victory. Despite the defeat, the Rhinos showed plenty of character after a difficult opening period. Their response in the second half of the game demonstrated the resilience that has been a feature of the squad throughout the season, with the visitors
Falcons held their nerve in the final moments to escape with the one-point victory.
While the result snapped the men’s recent momentum, their performance reinforced their standing as one of the competition’s most improved teams.
Pushing a quality Newcastle side to the final possession highlighted the growth the squad has shown over the second half of the season.
Although the results did not fall Central Coast’s way, both teams displayed resilience against quality opposition.
The women continue their long-term rebuilding process, while the men will be confident they can quickly bounce back after narrowly missing out in one of the closest contests of the NBL1 East season.
Stefan Kataric
refusing to let the contest slip away without a fight.
While the result leaves Central Coast without the points, there were encouraging signs in the way the Rhinos regrouped after a slow start and competed strongly over the final two periods against one of the AIHL’s leading teams.
The side will now look to build on that fighting performance as it prepares for the next round of competition.
Stefan Kataric
In the match of the round, Northlakes defeated Woy Woy 33-31 in a thrilling contest.
In a game that swung back and forth throughout the afternoon, Northlakes held their nerve in the closing stages to secure an important victory by just two points.
At The Haven Terrigal defeated GK Rugby 48-15, maintaining their recent form.
With only a handful of rounds remaining, the battle for ladder positions remains incredibly tight.
Women’s Premier 1 showcased the continued growth and quality of women’s rugby in the region with wins to Terrigal, Avoca Beach, Warnervale and Woy Woy over the weekend.
The competition remains incredibly close, with every fixture proving important in shaping the ladder. On Saturday, July 18, the Mental Health Awareness Round will be hosted by GK Rugby at Gosford Showground.
The day aims to raise awareness of the importance of mental health, encourage conversations within the rugby community, and remind everyone that no-one has to face challenges alone.
GK Rugby will take the field in special commemorative jerseys to mark the occasion.
The victorious U12 team
Haidyn Gunderson pulling up for a jump shot (Photo: Kye Santarossa)
Coast named Association Champion
FOOTBALL
Central Coast Football entered four teams into the inaugural Association Championships and has been awarded the 2026
RUGBY LEAGUE
The 2026 State of Origin series has once again shone a light on the Central Coast as a premier breeding ground for future rugby league stars.
NSW’s stirring success was achieved with meaningful contributions from Bradman Best (Woy Woy Roosters) and Ethan Strange (The Entrance Tigers).
The Blues clinched this year’s series with a powerful 30-12 victory in Brisbane.
The parochial Queensland crowd was left stunned when Best raced 90m to score a crucial length of the field try in
FOOTBALL
Association Champion title.
Giving strong performances across all four representative teams, CCF was crowned under-15 girls champions and under-13 boys champions.
A spokesperson said positive fair play and referee participation outcomes contributed to the overall title.
“There was excellent representation of the Central
Coast on and off the field,” he said.
“The story is bigger than just results.
“It demonstrates the strength of the player pathway across
both boys and girls football, the depth of talent within the region, and the contribution of volunteers, coaches, referees and staff who support the program.
State of Origin shines light on Coast
the 56th minute of a tense second half.
Canberra Raiders five eighth, Ethan Strange was given limited game time in the decider, however starred in the opening game of the series which was his State of Origin debut.
The success of the men’s team came a month after the NSW women held aloft their own State of Origin Shield.
Coached by John Strange (Ethan’s father), the Blues won all three games in a dominant display.
Former Berkeley Vale Panthers: Isabelle Kelly, Jayme Fressard and Olivia Kernick (who also had a stint at Wyong),
were prominent in NSW’s successful campaign. In Central Coast related NRL
news – Ourimbah and Terrigal junior Dayne Jennings made an eye-catching debut for South
Sydney in their early July clash with the champion Penrith team.
The 18-year-old threequarter capped a tremendous game, scoring a try in the corner.
A mid-season transfer has seen Oryn Keeley move from the Redcliffe Dolphins to the Melbourne Storm.
The edge backrower began his NRL journey at Newcastle, where injury limited his opportunity to lock down a spot in the top grade.
Keeley was a strong and skilful five-eighth during his junior days playing for Northern Lakes and The Entrance.
In the most recent round of the local competition Erina 22
“For an inaugural tournament, to leave as the overall Association champion is a fantastic outcome and a great reflection of football on the Central Coast.”
defeated Wyong 18, Woy Woy 34 defeated Berkeley Vale 6 and Kincumber and Terrigal played out a 20-all draw. Ethan Strange was in attendance to watch his junior club The Entrance defeat a plucky Ourimbah 40 -16. This Sunday, July 19, the high-flying Erina Eagles welcome Woy Woy to Karalta Road, Ourimbah head to Sir Joseph Banks Oval to take on the Terrigal Sharks, Darren Kennedy Oval hosts a top four clash between Toukley and The Entrance, Kincumber do battle with the Berkeley Vale Panthers at MacKillop Oval, while the Wyong Roos are rostered off. Andrew Stark: Magpie Memoir Magazine
Hutchinson returns to Mariners as Head Coach
Central Coast Mariners have appointed John Hutchinson as the club’s new head coach ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Hutchinson needs no introduction to the Mariners family.
He holds the all-time Mariners appearance record with 271 in all competitions, across a 10year playing stint with the club. Serving as captain for his final three years on the Coast, between 2012 and 2015, Hutchinson spearheaded the club’s first ever A-League Championship in 2013 when it defeated Western Sydney Wanderers.
His coaching journey then began at the Mariners with a one-year stint as assistant
manager following his retirement.
He has since coached with Seattle Sounders 2 in the US, El Paso Locomotive FC in the USL Championship and most recently Japan.
His first spell in the J-League in 2021 saw him assist Aussie coaching greats Ange Postecoglu and Kevin Muscat at Yokohama F. Marinos. Hutchinson headed back to Japan in 2023, first joining Yokohama FC as assistant, then returning to Marinos as assistant to Harry Kewell, later becoming interim manager of the J-League giants, after Kewell was sacked. As interim manager, Hutchinson oversaw 28 matches in the J-League and AFC Champions League Elite,
which included a visit to Our Paradise in December 2024.
Hutchinson departed Marinos later that month and was appointed head coach of Júbilo Iwata, helping them to a fifth placed finish in J2 League in the 2025 season.
Hutchinson now returns to the Central Coast with vast coaching experience to go alongside his deep understanding of the Mariners’ identity, looking to make history as head coach just as he did as a player.
“It’s an incredibly special feeling to be back at the Mariners,” he said.
“This club has been such a huge part of my life.
“I’ve got so many incredible memories here as a player, and to now have the opportunity to make more as head coach is something I’m extremely proud of.
“As a coach, I’ve been fortunate enough to learn from some outstanding people and experience football in different countries and environments.
“ I am looking forward to bringing all that experience to the Central Coast.
“It’s also an exciting time to be coming back to the Mariners.
“It’s a project I’m incredibly excited to be part of.
“I know exactly what this football club stands for.
“We want to play positive football, develop young players, compete every single week and build a team that our members and supporters are proud to get behind.
“The supporters have always been the heartbeat of this football club.
“I experienced that as a player and I’m looking forward to reconnecting with them as we begin this exciting new chapter together.”
Sporting Director Matt Simon said Hutchinson brought a perfect blend of coaching expertise and understanding of the club.
“I believe in the vision TSG has for the club and I’m looking forward to working closely with the group and drawing on their experience.
The victorious under-15 girls; The under-13 boys were also victorious
Flashback: Bradman Best on the charge for the Woy Woy under 10s of 2011 (Photo: Andrew Stark)
John Hutchinson
SOFTBALL
Local softballers compete on national stage
Two outstanding local softball players took part in the 2025/26 Over 35 Men’s National Championships, being held at Blacktown International Sports Park from July 7-12.
Josh Bugg, a Life Member of Blue Thunder Softball Club, was selected to represent NSW, while former President of Central Coast Softball Association, Jamie Stojanovski, represented Tasmania in the competition.
Current Central Coast Softball Association president Mary Tubner said having two local representatives competing at a national level was a fantastic achievement.
“It reflects the strength, dedication and continued growth of softball on the Central Coast and deserves to be celebrated by our community,” she said.
Stojanovski, 40, from Wyoming, said he loved the game’s fast pace and the friendships he had made with teammates.
“I get to play with and against some great mates from the Central Coast; some of us have played together for over 20 years,” he said.
Bugg, in his late 30s, said
their selections highlight longevity in the sport and the opportunities available beyond junior competition.
The pair have progressed through local competitions before earning repeated representative honours, including playing for NSW.
Tubner said both men had dedicated most of their lives to softball while balancing work, family and community commitments.
“It goes to show that no matter what stage of life you’re at, you can still represent while fitting everything else in,” she said.
“They have families, full-time
jobs and all the responsibilities that come with that, yet they’re still able to represent their state, their association and their clubs.”
Bugg and Stojanovski also continue to give back through coaching, mentoring and volunteer roles that help develop the next generation of players.
Throughout his sporting career, Bugg has coached numerous teams, including his son’s T-Ball team, and has been a driving force behind the growth of the men’s competition.
Stojanovski contributes to player development through
his ongoing involvement in state-level softball programs in Sydney and is involved with the Central Coast Dodgers Baseball Club in the CCBA Winter League.
As a longstanding champion of local sporting organisations, his ambition is to highlight the region through the upcoming 2027 Australian Masters Games, which are to be held here on the Central Coast.
The CCSA 2025/2026 season had 220 players during the Summer season at Bateau Bay, with many athletes continuing to play year-round in competitions elsewhere across the state.
The association hopes to build on the momentum in a sport considered inclusive, low-impact, fun, and familyoriented, with proven development pathways across divisions.
Additionally, with the LA Olympics in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032, there are opportunities for players, coaches, or statisticians to be included in the games.
Stojanovski said the Central Coast continued to produce class, state and national players from a small-sized sporting organisation with a long and proud history.
Central Coast Heart expands its horizons
NETBALL
Central Coast Heart is expanding its horizons and is set to officially become Hunter Central Coast Heart.
The name change reflects the club’s ongoing commitment to representing and supporting athletes, coaches, umpires, officials and volunteers across both the Hunter and Central Coast regions.
The decision acknowledges the significant contribution made by participants from both communities and reinforces the club’s commitment to fostering talent, strengthening regional connections and providing high-performance pathways across one of the state’s
Top baseball action
BASEBALL
The Wolves defeated the Roos 15-4 in A grade of the Central Coast baseball competition on Saturday, July 11, at Watanobbi Oval.
The Wolves collected 25 hits in the game and didn’t commit a single error.
Also in A grade, the Lions won over the Magpies 10-4 on Saturday at Watanobbi as
Michael Ashton collected three hits in four at bats.
Right-handed pitcher Joel O’Keeffe earned the win, giving up one hit and zero runs over four innings, striking out one and walking one.
Lions A grade had patience at the plate, collecting 11 walks for the game and turning two double plays.
In B grade, the Lions were victorious over the Magpies
5-4 and the Wolves defeated the Roos 11-6.
The Wolves amassed 25 hits and didn’t commit a single error in the field.
C grade saw Kristy Pearce collect three hits in three at bats, as the Dodgers took the Roos Green down 17-4.
A close game between the Wolves and the Magpies White saw a 10-10 tie.
strongest netball catchments.
Chairperson Dianne Selby said the new name was a natural progression for the organisation.
“We are incredibly proud to formally recognise our extended Heart family across the Hunter region,” she said.
“Our new name acknowledges the talent, passion and dedication of the many athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and supporters who have contributed to our journey.
“It reflects who we are today while reinforcing our commitment to unity, opportunity and excellence both on and off the court.”
While the name has evolved,
the organisation’s purpose remains unchanged.
Hunter Central Coast Heart will continue to compete in the NSW Premier League while delivering high performance pathways for athletes, coaches, umpires and officials.
Through its Premier League and Talented Athlete Immersion Pathway (TAiP) programs, the organisation remains committed to developing talent, promoting excellence and strengthening the future of netball across the Hunter and Central Coast.
All existing programs, competitions, partnerships and community initiatives will continue under the Hunter Central Coast Heart banner.
Three new Mariners signings
The Central Coast Mariners have announced two more signings ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Exciting young forward Max Naylor, 18 joins the Mariners after departing Perth Glory, where he progressed through the club’s academy system. He has impressed on the international stage with Australia, previously representing the Subway Joeys alongside his new Mariners teammate Jai Ajanovic.
Naylor’s arrival further reflects the club’s commitment to identifying and developing the next generation of Australian footballers, providing talented young players with the opportunity to establish themselves at senior level.
Also joining the ranks is 17-year-old defender Shumba Mutokoyi, who has signed a scholarship contract with the club.
The highly rated young defender has spent the past four years in the Mariners Academy and is a lifelong Mariners supporter.
A naturally athletic and powerful defender, Mutokoyi has consistently played above his age group during his time at the Mariners.
Last season, he made 20 appearances in the NPL NSW Men’s competition while also being named on the bench for six Isuzu UTE A-League matches, although he is yet to make his professional debut.
Scotland youth international defender Noah McCann, 20, has also been signed.
The promising left-footed centre-back joins the Mariners as a free agent, subject to international clearance and visa approval, after spending over 10 years in the Queens Park Rangers Academy.
McCann has represented Scotland at U20 level, and has gained valuable experience in senior football through a number of loans in the English football pyramid, most recently in the sixth tier with Tonbridge Angels where he played 15 times in the second half of the 2025/26 season.
McCann overcame a serious injury before signing his first professional contract with QPR in 2025.
He now joins the Mariners as another exciting young player in line with the club’s commitment to developing emerging talent.
Ivona Rose
Josh Bugg with his boys Cooper and Mason
Jamie Stojanovski at the bat
Ben Hunter making his debut as pitcher for Dodgers C grade
The organisation will become Hunter Central Coast Heart
ACCESS PEST CONTROL
Marlins shine at state championships
The Central Coast Marlins capped off an outstanding campaign at the 2026 NSW Women’s Country Baseball Championships by finishing runners-up after an impressive tournament that showcased determination, teamwork and resilience. The squad, brought together on May 11, included a mix of experienced teammates and
players meeting for the first time.
United by a shared goal of representing the Central Coast, the group spent nine weeks preparing for the championships through demanding training sessions in challenging conditions.
With wet weather forcing changes to training plans, the team adapted by holding sessions on fog-covered fields, makeshift diamonds inside
soccer 5 courts, and even backyard practices.
Their commitment and work ethic laid the foundation for a memorable campaign.
The team won four of its six matches to secure second place overall and earn a berth in the grand final – an achievement few had predicted given the strength of the competition.
Throughout the
Fantastic afternoon of racing at Wyong
Racing returned to Wyong last Saturday, July 4, under brilliant sunny skies, with a great crowd enjoying a fantastic afternoon of racing and hospitality.
On the track, Nacim Dilmi further strengthened his seemingly unassailable Wyong Race Club training premiership lead, guiding home the winner of Race 2 in the shape of Stability.
Fittingly, the race was sponsored by Domeland, the company for which Nacim is the private trainer.
Meanwhile, at Rosehill, Wyong apprentice Anna Roper broke through after a frustrating run of placings with a memorable winning double.
Roper claimed Race 1 aboard Nullabor Jane before completing the double in Race 8 with Dark Glitter, capping off a terrific day for Wyong racing participants.
Attention now turns to the Club’s upcoming race meetings, beginning with the Clubs NSW Race Day on Thursday, July 23, followed by another exciting meeting on Sunday, August 2.
From there, anticipation builds for the Club’s biggest period of the year as the 2026 Wyong Cup Carnival gets underway with the Wyong Cup Prelude on Sunday, August 16. This will be followed by the ever-popular Ladies Day on Sunday, August 30, before the
pinnacle of the carnival, the Wyong Cup, on Friday, September 4.
Ladies Day tickets are selling quickly, particularly for the exclusive Pavilion function hosted by Ali Daddo, an Australian television presenter and author known for her work across lifestyle and entertainment programs.
She has built a career in media spanning modelling, onscreen presenting, writing, and content focused on lifestyle and wellbeing.
Tickets are $160 per person.
For bookings and further information, visit wyongraceclub.com.au
championships, the Marlins were recognised not only for their on-field performances but also for their sportsmanship.
Players consistently displayed respect for their opponents, checking on injured players and demonstrating the spirit of the game at every opportunity.
The team’s defensive strength proved to be one of its greatest assets.
Across the tournament, the
Central Coast Marlins conceded the fewest runs of any team, highlighting their disciplined fielding and teamwork.
Their campaign also featured standout moments, including a rare triple play and a two-run home run that showcased the talent within the squad.
Having last competed at the championships two years ago, the Marlins returned to make a significant impact, exceeding
expectations with a determined and united performance.
While the grand final ended in disappointment, the team’s runner-up finish stands as a testament to the dedication, perseverance and camaraderie developed over nine weeks of preparation.
The 2026 NSW Women’s Country Championships will be remembered as a milestone for the Central Coast Marlins.
