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ISSUE #147

Hall News

NOV 2026

Published by Matcham Public Hall Serving the community since 1915

THE SIMPLE PLEASURES Of Summer A tomato picked straight from the garden. The satisfaction of a freshly mown lawn. A swim at the end of the day, dinner outside, or stepping out after dark to look at the stars. This edition is a celebration of the small things that make life in the Valley special, along with some of the local stories, skills and traditions behind them. Because s‌ometimes the best parts of summer are the ones that don’t need much at all. Wishing everyone a wonderful summer and festive season.

Lois Editor

In This Issue Growing your own in‌Matcham The story of The Ferneries Summer tomatoes & local growing tips Mowing, pools and simple summer pleasures Looking up at the Matcham night sky Plus more local tips & stories HALL NEWS is published by Matcham Hall to keep our community connected and raise funds to care for and preserve our historic Hall. Created by volunteers. Supported by local advertisers. Made for our community.

Hall News Nov 2026

MATCHAM HALL PRESIDENT’S REPORT with ‌Ingrid It’s been a busy and rewarding year at Matcham Hall, and one that has reminded us just how much can be achieved when the community gets behind its Hall. One of our biggest projects was repairing the Hall floor, made possible thanks to funds raised by the community. We also gave the Hall a fresh coat of paint and kept on top of all those less visible jobs that come with caring for an old building — general maintenance, cleaning and even washing the curtains. They may not be glamorous jobs, but they all help preserve the Hall for everyone to enjoy. ANZAC Day was once again a very special morning, with a wonderful turnout from the community. This year we were also proud to unveil a new ANZAC plaque, made possible through a grant secured by the Hall Committee. It was a meaningful addition to the Hall and an important way to recognise and remember those who served. In September we organised a great Sunday Sips session at Fires Creek to help bring the community together and raise funds. We also added something completely new to the calendar this year with The Haunted Hall of Matcham. We hope it becomes another fun local tradition. Next on the calendar is our Christmas event, and we’d love to see everyone there. While there will be plenty for the kids, it’s definitely not just a children’s event — it’s a chance for neighbours, friends and families of all ages to come together and celebrate the end of the year. This edition of Hall News is about the simple pleasures of living in our Valley, and perhaps one of the best is simply having opportunities to come together — to share a conversation, mark an occasion, lend a hand and enjoy being part of a community. Thank you to everyone who has supported the Hall this year. 2

Ingrid

MATT SMITH‌ ELECTRICAL SERVICES ELECTRICAL - DATA - PHONE

MASTER CABLER LIVES IN THE VALLEY NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL

matt@mses.net.au

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Michael Boyce Lawn & Garden Services Lawnmowing Garden & Yard Clean Ups Hedging & Tree Trimming Pressure Cleaning Acreage Mowing Mulching & Planting Turfing & Lawncare For sale & end of lease clean ups Rubbish Removal Landscaping

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Issue #147

XMAS AT THE HALL‌ Santa, friends and plenty‌ of cheer Join us at the Hall on Saturday 28th November from 4–6pm for a relaxed Christmas get-together with neighbours, friends and families from across the Valley. Santa will be making an appearance, with photos for the kids, and there’ll be face painting, games with the elves and plenty of festive fun for younger visitors. For everyone else, it’s a chance to enjoy a drink, share some food and catch up with people from around the community before the year wraps up. Please bring a plate to share and BYO drinks. And remember, this isn’t just an event for families with young children. Come with friends, neighbours or on your own everyone is welcome.

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Hall News Nov 2026

As this issue of Hall News goes to print, Matcham Hall is getting a spooky makeover. For one afternoon, the Hall will become The Haunted Hall of Matcham, filled with cobwebs, skeletons, trick-or-treat boxes and decorations donated and created by locals and volunteers.

MORE THAN‌ JUST A HALL A community space for hire‌

The aim is simple: to give families a fun Halloween stop right here in the Valley — and, more importantly, to open the Hall to more people in our community.

Over the past few months, Matcham Hall has hosted a wonderful mix of gatherings — a wedding, children’s parties, garden clubs, wakes,milestone birthdays and, of course, our own Halloween event.

Events like this help bring new faces through the doors, create shared memories and encourage the next generation to see Matcham Hall as their Hall too. For one afternoon, the old Hall will be a little less historic — and a lot more haunted.

It’s been lovely to see the Hall used in so many different ways. We’d now love to build on that and welcome more regular and longer-term hirers — people looking for a local space for weekly classes, monthly groups, workshops, rehearsals or community activities. Regular bookings help bring life to the Hall, introduce new people to the space and provide important ongoing income that goes straight back into maintaining and caring for this community-owned building. Air conditioned Kitchen facilities Fully Accessible Stage and a disco ball! So if you run a class, group, club or activity or know someone looking for a welcoming local venue — we’d love to hear from you. For enquiries, call Lissa on 0401 256 349.

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BRINGING THE COMMUNITY‌ TOGETHER At Fires Creek Winery Throughout the year, owner Nadia has continued to open the winery for community events, creating opportunities to enjoy art, music, food and good company in a beautiful local setting. The winery hosted a free sculpture event featuring local sculptors and artists, while also helping raise funds for Holgate Public School through cake and sausage sizzle. Sunday Sips brought another simple pleasure to the Valley — organised by the Matcham Hall committee and generously hosted by Fires Creek. Live music, sunshine and time spent together. Featuring local band Giraffe, the event also helped raise funds for Matcham Hall. Fires Creek is also the regular home of the monthly Produce Share, where locals can swap surplus fruit, vegetables, plants and growing knowledge. A big thank you to Nadia for continuing to make the winery a place where community can gather, share and enjoy some of life’s simplest pleasures. Serving the Matcham-Holgate Community Since 1915

Hall News Nov 2026

GROWING‌ YOUR OWN CROPS A simple pleasure with deep roots‌ in Matcham‌ and Holgate Long before growing your own became one of life’s simple pleasures, growing food in Matcham and Holgate was a livelihood. Tomatoes, beans, citrus, potatoes and other produce were grown here by the acre and sent to markets in Sydney and beyond. There are few simpler pleasures than eating something you have grown yourself. A tomato picked warm from the vine. A handful of beans for dinner. Lemons from the tree. Herbs snipped just outside the kitchen door. Today, most of us grow food because we enjoy it. But go back a few generations and growing food in Matcham and Holgate was hard work — and a way of life. Remarkably, growing was exactly what this area was promoted for. Sold as land for growing An early Matcham Estate subdivision plan, dating from around 1909, advertised the area as: “Orchard, Passion Fruit & Market Garden Land.” The sales pitch highlighted an average annual rainfall of 56 inches, good roads and its position just four miles from Gosford Railway Station — useful when fresh produce needed to reach market quickly. By 1928, the Holgate Farms Estate was being marketed in a similar way, with 143 acres divided into five “ideal orchard & farm areas.” On paper, it sounded ready-made for farming. The reality was rather different. 6

NSW Subdivision records from 1928

First, you had to clear it Much of the land was still heavily timbered. Early settlers had to fell trees, remove stumps and rocks, mill timber, plough the ground and dig dams before crops could be planted. When the Kennedy family settled on 96 acres at the end of Oak Road in 1928, the property was hand-cleared so vegetables could be grown for the Sydney Markets. Timber from the area was used to build the family home. The Muir family faced much the same task on their 20-acre property, using gelignite, large jacks, horses and fire to clear towering trees and rocks before planting. The Pattersons also spent years travelling from Sydney to their Holgate land, sometimes camping for a week while they cleared the property, planted orange trees and gradually built their home. The farms didn’t simply appear in the landscape. They had to be made.

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Oranges, beans and potatoes The Muir family grew oranges, lemons, persimmons, beans, peas and sweet potatoes, much of it destined for Sydney markets. Generations of the Patterson family grew beans, potatoes, lemons and oranges. In some seasons, around 10 to 15 acres were planted with potatoes. Slab hut of William James Martin, Coachwood Road Matcham about 1912 source Central Coast Council

Tomatoes by the thousands Once productive, the Valley extraordinary variety of food.

grew

On the Kennedy farm, tomatoes became a major crop, with more than 20,000 plants sometimes planted in a single season, along with stringless beans and cucumbers. To get beans to market early, when prices were better special growing ground was cleared high on a hill overlooking Tumbi. Stumps were blasted out with gelignite and 20-kilogram bags of beans had to be carried downhill at harvest.

Spring beans were particularly valuable. Crops were planted on north-east-facing slopes from July in the hope of reaching the Sydney or Melbourne markets early in October. Once picking began, however, the work could continue almost every day until Christmas. So while this edition celebrates life’s simple pleasures, there was certainly nothing easy about growing for a living.

It puts today’s backyard tomato glut into perspective. What we now grow for the pleasure of eating fresh from the garden was once planted here by the acre. In August 1928, the Daily Telegraph reported on the growing success of early bean farming on Matcham’s steep hillsides. Sydney had a strong appetite for fresh beans after winter, and getting a crop to market early could mean better returns. So local growers sought out Matcham’s warm, sheltered east and north-east facing slopes — even when those slopes were extraordinarily steep. Growers built stone and rock terraces to stop the soil washing away and successfully produced vegetables on gradients as steep as 1 in 3.

Bob Patterson in a bean patch c: 1940

Serving the Matcham-Holgate Community Since 1915

The work wasn’t easy. Heavy rain could destroy a promising crop, but the paper admired the growers’ resilience: they simply “shrug their shoulders and begin over again.” 7

Hall News Nov 2026

‌Kennedy house, showing the steep hillside ploughed and planted out with stringless beans. c. 1950–60s

A Valley of orchards When the Halliday family arrived in Matcham in 1945, their property had already been partly developed as an orchard, but more land still needed clearing, draining and preparing.

Halliday family farm in 1945. Citrus was the main crop, then tomatoes from the 1970s

Eventually, improved transport worked against local farmers. Refrigerated trucks allowed much larger growing regions further away to supply Sydney, while local labour and production costs continued to rise. Gradually, Matcham and Holgate’s commercial orchards and market gardens disappeared.

At its height, the orchard contained around 1,500 citrus trees, mostly navel and Valencia oranges, plus around 600 Silverhill seedless mandarins.

From market garden

From about 1970, tomatoes became the farm’s main crop. The scale was substantial. A good year could produce around 6,000 cartons of tomatoes, 4,000– 5,000 cartons of mandarins and about 20 tonnes of oranges. On one occasion, 500 cases of tomatoes went to market in a single consignment.

But the growing never entirely stopped.

From Matcham to market Growing the crop was only half the job. Local carriers collected produce from farms and took it into Gosford, where it was loaded onto larger trucks for the overnight trip to Sydney. Earlier produce also travelled by rail. Some growers drove produce to Sydney or Newcastle themselves, leaving in the night. 8

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Today, the landscape looks very different. There is no truck waiting to take thousands of cartons of Matcham tomatoes to market.

There are still old citrus trees on local properties, vegetable patches tucked behind houses, herbs beside kitchen doors and fruit trees producing more than one family can possibly eat. And perhaps that is one of the loveliest continuities in the Valley. Earlier generations grew food because their livelihood depended on it. We have the luxury of doing it because we enjoy it. Sources: National Library of Australia and State Library of NSW subdivision records; Central Coast Council heritage research; and Hall News Issue 127, 128, 131 and 137.

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Hall News Nov 2026

HOME-GROWN FOOD With local permaculture‌ expert Meg McGowan It’s a common misconception that permaculture is all about growing food. It isn’t. It’s about restoring the ecological health of the earth while providing for the needs of all living things, including humans. So, let me start by reassuring you that you do not need to grow food to practice permaculture. Are you restoring the ecological health of your land, doing all you can to minimise your own environmental impact and working with others to build community? Then you are already practising permaculture, even if you don’t call it that. I used to grow a lot more food because it was so difficult to buy organic produce, but we are now spoiled for choice. A Sunday trip to the farmers market is often a much better option than hours labouring in the garden to grow what can be a disappointing harvest, and you’ll support local people doing a better job of it. I often wonder what our food system would have looked like if we had learnt from the original Aboriginal inhabitants of this country, who successfully farmed it for over 60,000 years, without the benefit of a massive hardware store and plastic bags of soil and compost. Instead, we inherited our food production systems from countries with different climates, soils and plant species. Rather than working with the patterns of this land, we imposed their patterns. This required everything from lime to manures to NPK fertilisers. This kind of vegetable gardening is hard work. You might still choose to have one, because, like me, you love growing food, but when you actually cost most vegetable gardens in terms of materials, plants, and your own time, you’re eating incredibly expensive produce. 10

If you would still like to grow some food, permaculture has some useful approaches for getting maximum yield with minimum energy and for much less money. Start by working with nature instead of against it. Get to know your land and the various microclimates across it. Choose the plant to suit the site, and not the other way around. This single piece of advice will save you a fortune in failed plants. Create the conditions for plants to thrive naturally so that they resist pests and diseases. That includes planting things that support each other and thrive together (guilds). Consider how much energy will be needed to maintain anything you plant. Will it need regular pruning, pest management, irrigation, fencing, netting or any kind of fertiliser? Is it worth growing? Grow what you will actually eat, favour perennials over annuals, and if you grow annuals, choose tough varieties that selfseed or grow from divisions.

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Hall News Nov 2026

TOMATOES A delicious pleasure of‌ summer We welcome local resident and new Matcham Hall committee member Justin King to Hall News. Justin has spent more than 20 years as a chef. A passionate foodie, home grower and recipe developer, he knows that sometimes the best ingredients, like tomatoes, need the least fuss. Few things say summer quite like a really good tomato. Warm from the sun, perfectly ripe, sweet, acidic and full of flavour, a good tomato doesn't need much doing to it. But if you've ever wondered why a supermarket tomato doesn't taste quite like the ones you remember eating as a kid, there is a good reason. Commercial tomatoes have to survive harvesting, packing, transport and storage, so many varieties are selected as much for their ability to travel and hold their appearance as they are for flavour. What Makes a Good Tomato? For me, it starts with flavour. A good tomato should have a balance of sweetness and acidity, plenty of aroma and that savoury, almost umami character that makes you want another mouthful. Look for tomatoes that feel firm but not hard, with skin that is smooth and tight rather than wrinkled. Most importantly, smell them. A ripe tomato should smell like a tomato. Don't overlook heirloom varieties either. They are often grown with flavour as a priority rather than simply for uniformity, shelf life and transportability. They may not always look perfect, but some of the best tomatoes I've eaten certainly haven't. Choosing the Right Tomato for the Job Think about what you're going to do with it. For a salad, sandwich or Caprese, I want a ripe tomato with plenty of flavour but enough firmness to slice cleanly. Large heirloom or oxheart-style tomatoes are excellent here. 12

Local Chef Justin shares his tomato know-how from his own paddock to plate

Cherry tomatoes are naturally sweet and concentrated, making them great raw, blistered in a pan or roasted. For sauces, soups and slow cooking, Roma and other plum tomatoes are useful because they tend to have meatier flesh and less water. The important thing is not to ask which tomato is best, but which tomato is best for what you're cooking. Buying Tomatoes If you have access to a farmers market or local grower, seek them out. Tomatoes that have travelled a shorter distance can be picked closer to ripeness, and you often get varieties selected for flavour rather than their ability to survive a long journey. At the supermarket, choose carefully. A tomato that feels firm but has slightly soft flesh can be perfect for cooking, while a tomato with wrinkled skin has generally lost too much moisture and may be better destined for a sauce than a salad. Truss tomatoes can be good quality, but don't assume the little piece of vine automatically makes them better. It is how the tomato tastes that matters.

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Getting the Best Flavour Keep tomatoes at room temperature where possible. Cold storage can dull their flavour and aroma. If you do need to refrigerate very ripe tomatoes to get another day or two from them, let them come back to room temperature before eating them. You'll get much more flavour from them. And don't be afraid of salt. Tomatoes have plenty of natural acidity and sweetness, but a little salt brings both into balance. I also like to think about tomatoes in terms of what they bring to a dish. Their acidity can cut through rich food, their sweetness balances bitterness and heat, and their natural savoury character makes them work beautifully with ingredients such as parmesan, anchovies, olives, mushrooms and miso. Basil might be king, but tomatoes are remarkably versatile. Rosemary, thyme, oregano, dill and fennel all have their place, while balsamic vinegar and good olive oil can turn a simple tomato into a dish in its own right.

Don't Waste a Good Tomato A tomato that has passed its best for a salad can still have plenty of life left in it. Roast it slowly, cook it into a sauce, make a soup or simply freeze it whole. When thawed and cooked, the skin will loosen and can be picked out easily. My preference is to keep a few older tomatoes in the freezer and wait until I have enough to make a proper batch of sauce rather than trying to preserve a handful at a time. The same principle applies in the kitchen generally: don't ask whether a tomato is still good — ask what it is still good for.

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Serving the Matcham-Holgate Community Since 1915

Hall News Nov 2026

Tomato Consommé If you want to do something a little more cheffy, tomato consommé is a wonderful way to show just how much flavour a tomato contains.

Blend ripe tomatoes with a few basil leaves, a little onion and a small amount of fennel or celery. Freeze the mixture solid, then place it in a paper-lined sieve over a bowl and allow it to thaw slowly. The clear liquid that drips through is intensely flavoured tomato essence. Don't squeeze the mixture or you'll make it cloudy. Season with sea salt and serve warm in small cups, or add a freshly shucked oyster for a fresh, tomato-inspired take on a Bloody Mary. The remaining pulp still has plenty of flavour and can go straight into a pasta sauce. Perhaps that's what I like most about tomatoes. They can be the star of a plate or quietly provide acidity, sweetness and savoury depth to almost anything else. When they're really good, the best thing a chef can do is almost nothing at all.

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MOWING MAD The Locals’ Favourite‌ Summer Pastime There are certain sounds and smells that belong to summer in the Valley — cicadas in the trees, rain on warm ground and, somewhere nearby, the steady hum of a mower and the unmistakable smell of freshly cut grass. For many Matcham and Holgate residents, mowing is more than another acreage chore. There’s a simple satisfaction in it: a couple of hours outside, a job you can see taking shape behind you and, at the end of it, a wonderfully neat stretch of green. Local mower repair specialist Russ Donovan owner of Robbo’s Mobile Mower Repairs knows all too well that around the valley, “They’re mowing mad.”

Then there are hazards that say a lot about where we live. “Because we live in a Valley where there’s a lot of horses, a lot of people have electric fences and they use that ribbon tape. A lot of that ribbon tape gets wrapped around the blades.” Add baling twine and dog toys and Russ has seen plenty of things disappear beneath a mower that really shouldn’t have. “They get caught up underneath the blades and damage the blades, damage the drive belt. That’d be the main thing I do — repair a lot of belt damage.” So one of the simplest pieces of mower care begins before the engine even starts: have a look at what you’re about to drive over. Sunshine doesn’t mean dry

The Valley is hard on mowers

Then there is perhaps the most Matcham problem of all: rain. Russ says people in the Valley simply aren’t very good at waiting. “It could rain for a week, and the moment they see sunshine, they think, ‘It’s dry.’ But it’s not.”

Russ sees a few problems that are particularly common around Matcham and Holgate. Fuel mix-ups are one. “I get a lot of people mixing the fuel cans up. I’ve had petrol mowers with diesel in them and vice versa.”

The ground is still moist, the grass is wet and it can quickly pack beneath the mowing deck. Russ sees the consequences in his workshop. “When you mow when the ground is still wet you can jam everything up underneath with wet grass and everything else.”

After years repairing mowers around the Valley, Russ knows a thing or two about mowing in the Valley. Here Russ shares some of his know-how.

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Hall News Nov 2026

Russ at work on a local’s mower

Why are we all in such a hurry? Russ has a theory. “People are very big on presentation. If you drive past their house, they like it to look good.” And perhaps that explains part of the pleasure. A freshly mown lawn is one of those rare jobs where you can immediately stand back and see what you’ve achieved. Buy the mower for the property For anyone new to acreage living, Russ has one strong piece of advice: don’t choose a mower purely on price, brand or appearance. Choose it for the block. He regularly sees people with four or five acres who have bought a small ride-on because it ﬁtted their budget, only to discover they are asking a relatively small machine to do a very big job. “People go to a mower shop, and they’ll buy a mower. The mower shop doesn’t come and look at your block of land.” Russ believes the property itself should determine the choice. “The size of the mower should go with the size of the block you’re trying to mow.” A wider deck can make quick work of an open paddock, but bigger isn’t always better. Gates, trees, garden beds and manoeuvring space all come into it.‌ 16

Russ rescuing another so-called ‘dead’ mower

“You might have gates you have to get through or garden beds. It’s all different.” And if your property is steep, that changes things again. “If you’re on a sloping block, your average ride-on mower shouldn’t be on it.” Russ says some machines are specifically designed for steep terrain, whereas conventional ride-ons and zeroturns can be unsuitable. “Zero turns definitely do not like hills.” His advice is to check the manufacturer’s instructions and choose machinery designed for the terrain rather than assuming that because a mower can physically climb a hill, it should. “I’ve seen a mower roll over on someone mowing an embankment. He ended up in quite a bad way. So it pays to read your instructions and not drive on slopes the mower isn’t designed to handle.” Check the oil — yes, every time Ask Russ what maintenance owners should do themselves and one answer comes up repeatedly. Oil. How often should you check it? “Before every mow.” That may come as news to quite a few Valley mower owners. When one local admitted during our interview that his mower oil hadn’t been checked in about a year, Russ laughed: “Well, there you go. There’s your answer... That’s why I’m in business.”

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Don’t forget the tyres

How long should a mower last?

Tyre pressure sounds insignificant until Russ explains what happens when one drops. “If one side goes down, the cutting deck will go down and you’ll have an uneven mowing cut.”

There isn’t a magic number. Russ has seen machines with around 1,000 hours that are still in terrific condition and others ruined much earlier. “I’ve seen mowers that have done 1,000 hours and they’re absolutely hammered. I’ve also seen them smashed to pieces at 100 hours. It depends on how they’re treated.”

He often gets calls from people convinced something has gone wrong with the mower but it’s simply a flat tyre on one side that is impacting the cut. His guide for many of the machines he sees locally is around 10–15 PSI, depending on the mower. “Even a little pump from Bunnings or somewhere — you should always check your air pressure”. And when it comes to the secret of a really satisfying finish, Russ doesn’t complicate it: “Good blades. The right height adjustment on your deck. And good tyre inflation. There you go.”

He compares it with an old car. “If you’ve got a good old car, you could have 500,000 kilometres on it. But if it’s been well maintained through that 500,000, it could be good for another 500,000.” The mower is no different. “It’s how it’s looked after.” Russ recommends servicing a mower approx every 50 hours of use and, if buying second-hand, looking at hours, belts, tyres, oil and service history — or getting someone who knows mowers to inspect it first.

matt@mses.net.au Serving the Matcham-Holgate Community Since 1915

Hall News Nov 2026

What about the robots? And then there are the newcomers appearing on lawns around the Valley. Robotic mowers. Or, as Russ describes them: “The little cockroaches that are on people’s lawns everywhere in the Valley.” He readily admits they’re not his speciality, but says the technology has improved considerably and people he speaks to generally seem happy with them. They still need looking after, though. “Nothing in life is set and forget.” Why do we love it? Some people mow once a fortnight. Others seem to be back out the moment the grass has grown half an inch. And then there are the locals still mowing after dark, headlights blazing. The grass will always grow back. In a Matcham summer, probably sooner than you’d like. But perhaps that’s part of the pleasure. Another warm afternoon. Another couple of hours outside. That familiar smell of freshly cut grass and the satisfaction of looking back over a job well done.

Russ & Karen doing a bit of xmas mowing!

Russ, unsurprisingly, is quite happy for us to keep doing it. “I say to them, keep mowing.” After all, someone has to service all those mowers. And beneath all the jokes, Russ is clearly fond of the community his business has introduced him to. “I am very thankful to the people in the Valley. I’ve met so many wonderful, wonderful people and I enjoy working with them.” Even, apparently, when that involves removing their dog toys from underneath a mower.

MATT SMITH‌ ELECTRICAL SERVICES

matt@mses.net.au 18

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Issue #147

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Hall News Nov 2026

LOOKING UP AT THE NIGHT SKY IN MATCHAM Simply beautiful

One of the simplest pleasures of living in the Valley happens after the sun goes down. With less light pollution, clear skies and plenty of open space, Matcham and Holgate offer wonderful opportunities to simply step outside and look up. Local stargazer John DuncanWatt shares what to look for — and why you don’t need a telescope to get started. Why Matcham is a great place to look up On a moonless, cloudless summer night, our Valley is an ideal place to learn about our night sky. So have a look! Perhaps our greatest strength is the relative transparency; relatively steady and slightly drier elevated air as well as much lower “sky glow” from street, building and car lights. For stargazing, transparency is often as important as darkness. You don’t need anything more than your own eyes to notice that the night sky changes “hourly”, let alone daily or monthly. Start with the Saucepan Summer night skies are a great time for “beginners” because they contain obvious “gateway" objects to see; those that are bright, easy to find, and rewarding even without optical equipment.

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Using 10pm on December nights in the Matcham/Holgate valleys as an example, look towards the NE and you can’t miss 3 bright stars in a row known formally as Orion’s Belt; less formally in the southern hemisphere as the base of “the saucepan”. All 3 are blue “giants” whose luminosities range from tens to hundreds of thousands that of our Sun; but quite a bit further away. If you’re interested in knowing the names of these stars and what other things can be seen near them, there is a very useful free App called “Stellarium”. Importantly, it gives you a zoomable real-time night sky map from the perspective of your exact location, including all the Starlink satellites constantly wandering our sky! Be wary of your internet searches regarding northern-hemisphere maps (orientation issues) and associated AI commentary. What else can you see? Besides the saucepan, Moon, and the planets? Sirius (ESE) - the brightest star in the night sky. For comparison, Venus can outshine Sirius by more than ten times and it is

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frequently mistaken (I am apparently one of many) for an aircraft (or UFO ). Sirius is in the constellation Canis Major ("The Great Dog") which follows the saucepan across the night sky. Canopus (S) - a part of the constellation Carina ("The Keel"), the next brightest star in the night sky. On a clear December night, two of the easiest deep-sky (beyond the Milky Way) objects, visible to the naked eye, are entire galaxies: the Large (SSE) and nearby Small Magellanic (S) “Clouds”. Other things to spot? The Orion Nebula (NNE) - visible as a faint fuzzy patch extending from the saucepan. The Pleiades (Seven Sisters) (N to NNW) - a small cluster of bright blue-white stars, often mistaken for a miniature saucepan or tiny dipper.

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The Milky Way ”Dark Emu” - stretching across parts of the sky as a broad river of over 100 billion stars including roughly a couple of billion suns similar to our own. What about Winter? A moonless cloudless winter evening in the Matcham Valley between 8 pm and 10 pm offers some of the best naked-eye astronomy of the year. Venus is really bright as it sets in the west. The Southern Cross and its pointers hang high overhead, Scorpius dominates the eastern and northern skies with its distinctive curved tail and bright red heart, Antares. When you look at Alpha Centauri, you're seeing a system of three stars. The brighter component, Alpha Centauri A, is remarkably similar to our Sun, while Proxima Centauri is a small red dwarf that happens to be the closest star to us.

Hall News Nov 2026

How it started for me By the way my Prussian grandparents introduced the Saucepan to my early vocabulary via my parents, “Hair” got me interested in Jupiter aligning with Mars, and Douglas Adams’s Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy not only convinced me that one really does need perspective but also that it’s important to be aware of public galactic notices being posted at Alpha Centauri, as well as watching out for beings from Betelgeuse.

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Walking the roads of Matcham for a year during Covid nights did the rest

Scorpius dominates the eastern and northern skies with its distinctive curved tail and bright red heart, Antares.

Do you need equipment? Beginners are usually encouraged to start with hand held binoculars, learn/experience the sky before buying tripod based binoculars and then Dobsonian telescopes. This approach maximises enjoyment, minimises the tears/frustration (and cost), and helps observers gradually understand what’s happening. Hand held (zero setup) 10×50 and tripod based 10×70 binoculars are for looking at a region of space. Telescopes are designed to look closely at specific objects (galaxies, planets, comets etc). And don’t overlook Spring. Lastly, Spring air in Matcham can be very clear. After a cold front passes, Matcham often enjoys really exceptional transparency, making the early moonlight and brighter stars and planets like Venus especially dazzling. 22

HOW TO SPOT THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FROM MATCHAM AND HOLGATE The ISS is easy to see with the naked eye. After the sun and moon, it’s one of the brightest things in the night sky. It’s fast. The ISS orbits Earth about every 90 minutes, which is roughly 16 laps of the planet a day, at around 28,000 km/h and about 400 km up. The best viewing is usually within an hour or two after sunset or before sunrise. That’s when our sky is dark but the station, high above us, is still catching sunlight. Watch for a bright, steady light. It looks like a brilliant white star gliding smoothly across the sky. A visible pass usually lasts a few minutes, up to about six or seven. Unlike a plane, it has no flashing lights and makes no noise. Check pass times at spotthestation.nasa.gov or in the ISS Detector app. Both list upcoming passes for your location.

Hall News Nov 2026

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WHEN MATCHAM‌ WAS A HOLIDAY‌ DESTINATION The Simple Life at the‌ Ferneries Mention ‘The Ferneries’ on a Central Coast history page and the memories come flooding back — the paddleboats, peacocks, kangaroos, Devonshire teas and those magical fern-filled gardens. For generations of local families, a day out in Matcham was something special. Long before Matcham became known for leafy acreage and secluded homes, people actually came here on holiday. They wound their way into the Valley to a cool green gully filled with towering tree ferns and palms. There were paths to wander, animals to feed, picnic areas, tea and scones — and, most memorably of all, little paddleboats on the creek. This was The Ferneries, one of the Central Coast’s much-loved early tourist attractions. Old photographs and memories of The Ferneries still prompt an extraordinary response from people who visited as children. Ask what they remember and the same things appear again and again: the boats, the animals, the ferns and the feeling of spending an afternoon somewhere completely different. One old promotional brochure was confident enough to declare: “No Central Coast Holiday is Complete Without Visiting ‘The Ferneries”. A garden became the attraction Local histories trace The Ferneries back to the Gethings family, who acquired an old farm property in the 1920s. At its heart was a naturally beautiful rainforest gully. By the early 1930s the family had begun turning it into a place visitors could enjoy. Those paddleboats If there is one thing people seem to remember above everything else, it is the paddleboats. Serving the Matcham-Holgate Community Since 1915

The earliest boats were reportedly built by Jack Gethings himself. One former childhood visitor, Don Turner, remembered helping Jack with the wooden boats during school holidays in Matcham in the 1930s and ’40s — and having the enviable job of testing them afterwards. Later generations remember brightly coloured pedal boats carrying children along the creek beneath the ferns and footbridges. There were fallen branches to duck under, wildlife in the bush and, apparently, plenty of leeches. The tourist brochures probably left that part out. But for countless Central Coast children, climbing into one of those little boats seems to have been the highlight of the day. 23

Hall News Nov 2026

Peacocks, kangaroos and scones There was plenty to do once you climbed back out. Visitors wandered through the gardens and rainforest, looking at ferns, orchids and unusual plants growing in the cool, humid gully. Kangaroos, wallabies, emus, peacocks and other birds became part of the experience, with children able to get much closer to animals than they would on an ordinary family outing. And then there was afternoon tea. The Ferneries became known for its Devonshire teas, and the attraction was popular enough for busloads of visitors to arrive for the afternoon. Tourists sometimes combined a visit with other Central Coast attractions, and old tourism material even provided directions into Matcham for motorists. This wasn't simply a little garden known to locals.

Issue #147

Serving the Matcham-Holgate Community Since 1915

Hall News Nov 2026

Why do people remember it so fondly? Perhaps the most interesting thing about The Ferneries today isn't simply that it existed. It's how warmly people still remember it. There were no giant rides or sophisticated attractions. You walked beneath the trees. You fed an animal. You had a picnic. You climbed into a paddleboat. You ate a scone. You spent the afternoon outside. The attraction was Matcham itself. The end of an era The Ferneries continued as the Central Coast changed around it. Holiday habits changed. Bigger attractions appeared. Cars could take families further afield, and the Coast itself became increasingly developed. Eventually the attraction disappeared. But judging by the affection that still surrounds its name, The Ferneries never really disappeared from Central Coast memory.

The name, however, lives on. The former Ferneries property was later subdivided and is now home to the Ferneries Estate, a collection of private residences set among the same beautiful gardens and rainforest that once drew visitors into the Valley. While it’s lovely to know that much of the landscape remains, today it is private property — so please enjoy the history and memories from afar and respect the privacy of the families who now call it home. Some pleasures don't change Nearly half a century later what stands out iisn’t how elaborate The Ferneries was, but how little it needed to be memorable. And perhaps that is why The Ferneries still feels so familiar to those of us who live here now. The Valley continues to offer many of the same things people came searching for then — space, nature, quiet and the chance to slow down for a while. The details may have changed, but the pleasure of simply being here has not.

Local mortgage and finance advice for Matcham,Holgate & Surrounds Hi, I’m Andrew, a local mortgage broker based right here in our valley. I can help you with: • Getting a home loan • Refinancing • Funding renovations

• Investment loans • Reviewing your home loan • Car and other asset loans

I compare 100+ lenders so you don't have to. Andrew Dunreath-Cooper Loan Market | 0411 722 294 andrew.dunreath-cooper@loanmarket.com.au Loan Market Pty Ltd | Australian Credit Licence 390222

Issue #147

Serving the Matcham-Holgate Community Since 1915

Hall News Nov 2026

THE SIMPLE JOY of a summer swim On a hot summer afternoon, there are few things better than stepping outside and jumping into your own pool. But on acreage, getting the pool in the right place — and planning it properly from the beginning — can make all the difference. Local pool builder Ken Gray, owner of Contemporary Pools and Spas in Coachwood Road, Matcham, has spent years designing and building pools on larger properties. And in many ways, he says acreage can actually make the job easier. “Building pools on acreage is generally easier than on suburban blocks due to access and the freedom to design sizes and shapes that don’t have the same site restrictions.” But more space doesn’t necessarily mean fewer decisions.

25 years of experience in designing and building challenging & unique pools with extraordinary landscaping‌

For an exceptional backyard call Coachwood Road local‌ Ken 0408 433 378

info@contemporarypoolsandspas.com.au 28

contemporarypoolsandspas.com.au

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Put it where you’ll enjoy it. For Ken, one of the biggest planning mistakes is simply putting the pool in the wrong place. He generally tries to position a pool close to the house and where it can be seen from the main living areas, particularly the kitchen and family spaces. That isn’t just about convenience or safety. It also means the pool becomes part of the view. As Ken tells his clients: “You only swim a small amount of the time, but you can enjoy the view and use the area to entertain or chill anytime.” That can be particularly important for people working from home. A well-designed pool and landscaped area can become something you enjoy looking at all day, not just somewhere you swim. Design for the whole family

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Ken recommends thinking beyond the basic pool shape. Lighting is high on his list — both to make night swimming safer and to

make the pool look beautiful after dark. He also likes to include a generous entry area, such as wide steps, a beach area or bench, plus a ledge or bench in the deeper end. These can make a big difference for older people, small children, people with a disability or anyone who isn’t a confident swimmer. Heating is another consideration if you want to stretch the swimming season beyond summer. And then there is the area around the pool itself.Good landscaping can turn the pool from somewhere you swim into somewhere you actually want to spend time, eating, entertaining, reading or simply sitting outside. Make the site work for you One of the benefits of larger properties is having more room to work with, but Matcham and Holgate blocks can also bring their own challenges.

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Hall News Nov 2026

Slope, access, trees, waterways, dams and environmentally sensitive areas can all influence where a pool can go. Sometimes, though, a difficult block creates an opportunity. A slope might lend itself to an infinity edge or another design feature that wouldn’t be possible on a flat suburban site. Limited access can add cost if smaller machinery, cranes or specialised equipment are needed, so Ken says this needs to be considered early. Think about what’s already underground Before choosing a location, it’s important to understand what else is happening on the property. Septic systems, water collection, easements, underground services and tree roots all need to be considered. Ken advises avoiding locations that could interfere with existing systems: for example building on the downside of a septic system or in a position that affects water collection. Nothing better than a summer swim in a pool built by local Ken

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Tree roots and underground services may sometimes need to be removed or diverted, which can add unexpected cost. Trees also bring another issue: maintenance. Pools positioned close to large trees can mean more leaves, debris and root problems. Low-lying areas prone to flooding also need careful planning. Ken says good circulation is crucial, with skimmers and return lines positioned to work with prevailing winds. A well-designed cleaning system can also make ongoing maintenance much easier. Plan now for next summer If you are thinking about a pool, Ken’s advice is not to leave it until the first really hot day. There are plenty of variables: council or certifier approvals, consultants, trade availability and, of course, weather. Most of Ken’s larger projects are built through autumn, winter and spring, with the aim of having them finished and ready for summer.

Serving the Matcham-Holgate Community Since 1915

Starting early also gives you more time to get the location, design and landscaping right rather than rushing decisions. Can you do some of it yourself? For people working to a tighter budget, Ken says for some projects there might be scope for a more hands-on approach. He has worked with owners who begin with a professional pool design, then manage their own council, certification and consultant requirements and obtain an owner-builder licence. Ken can then complete the parts of the pool construction the owner needs help with. Built for the way we live For Ken, building pools around Matcham and Holgate has been about far more than construction. “Building pools in areas like Matcham and Holgate has given me the opportunity to

Hall News Nov 2026

design and build beautiful pools, and I’ve been lucky to meet some lovely people who are now some of my best friends.” And perhaps that is what a pool is really about. Yes, it can add value to a property. Yes, it can transform a garden or entertaining area. But on a hot summer afternoon, none of that matters quite as much as being able to walk out the back door and jump in. One more simple pleasure of summer. Ken’s final advice? Maintain your pool fence — and enjoy your pool this summer.

POOL FENCE CHECK‌ ‌BEFORE SUMMER On acreage, things have a way of creeping up around the pool fence: a chair, a pot plant, the mower, a branch that’s grown over. Before the hot weather arrives, it’s worth a quick walk around the fence line. Central Coast Council suggests a few simple checks: Clear the fence line. Move anything a child could climb, such as furniture, pots, toys or ladders, at least 900mm away from the fence, and trim back overhanging branches.

Test the gate. It should swing shut and latch on its own every time, and it should never be propped open. Look for gaps. Watch for loose panels, or for soil washing away under the fence. Check your CPR sign. It should be in place and easy to read. Rules can differ depending on when your pool was built, so if you’re unsure what applies to you, Council’s Pools and Spas page has the details, or you can contact Council. Even the best fence is no substitute for keeping an eye on the kids. Shut the gate, check the latch and clear the fence line before summer.

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PDB Plumbing 0416 265 597 licence 28177c For prompt, friendly and professional service, call Pat.‌ Services include: • Plumbing maintenance and repairs.‌ • Drainage.‌ • Gas fitting.‌ • Hot water system installation, replacement and maintenance.‌ • Pump repairs and replacement. • Drain cleaning using a high-pressure water jetter. • CCTV drain camera for inspection of sewer and stormwater pipes. • Water tank installation and maintenance.

We are a small family-owned business that appreciates every customer.‌ ‌We don’t try to turn small jobs into major expenses. We listen to you,‌ ‌assess your problem and offer honest practical advice on the most‌ ‌efficient way to fix your issue. • Servicing the Valley and surrounding areas since 1990. • Over 40 years experience.‌ • Licensed and fully insured.‌

Pat Brennan 0416265597 pdbplumbing@gmail.com Serving the Matcham-Holgate Community Since 1915

Hall News Nov 2026

SUMMER THROUGH THE EYES OF YOUR LOCAL‌ ‌RURAL FIRE BRIGADE Prepare together.‌ Protect together "If We Had to Get to Your Property Tonight..." Around Matcham and Holgate, we are fortunate to live among beautiful bushland, rolling acreage, dams, creeks and wildlife. Most of us wouldn't swap it for anywhere else. But every summer, those same features that make our area special can also make firefighting more challenging. Access Matters More Than Most People Think One of the biggest challenges local firefighters face is simply getting to properties quickly and safely. Put simply, if firefighters cannot find you, reach you, or turn around safely, precious time is lost. If brigade members were driving to your home tonight, they would hope to find: A clearly visible street number An accessible driveway with adequate clearance Gates that can be opened quickly Vegetation trimmed back from access routes Water sources that are identifiable and accessible Water: The Most Valuable Resource During a Fire Many residents are surprised to learn that some of the best firefighting resources already exist on local properties. Dams, creek access points and suitably equipped water tanks can provide vital water supplies during bushfires and grass fires. 34

This is where the Rural Fire Service's Static Water Supply (SWS) Program becomes important. The program identifies water sources that firefighters can access quickly during emergencies, including: Property dams Creeks with suitable access Large water tanks fitted with Storz fittings (luxury!) Water sources capable of supporting firefighting operations and, where appropriate, helicopter water collection The Matcham-Holgate Rural Fire Brigade is currently revalidating existing SWS records across our area and inspecting sites for accessibility and capacity. If you have a dam or creek with a reliable year-round water supply and would like to participate in the program, please contact the brigade: 4367 7563 Matcham-Holgate@rfs.nsw.gov.au or message the brigade via Facebook.

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What Long-Term Locals Already Know People who have lived in Matcham and Holgate for decades understand that bushfire preparation isn't something you start when smoke appears over The Ridgeway. Preparation happens before summer. They know that property maintenance, vegetation management, water access and emergency planning are ongoing responsibilities of living on acreage. To help ensure our new residents don’t discover this the hard way, brigade volunteers will be conducting brief welcome visits over the coming weeks to deliver our Preparation Booklet. If we miss you at home you’ll find this in your mailbox. If that fails, please get in touch via the phone/email details above and we will bring one around. Tea and bikkies not mandatory however will be accepted. It's a great way to learn about living safely in a bushfire-prone area and an even better way to meet some of the remarkable volunteers who protect our community. Preparing Together: Brigade Activities and Street Meetings The past couple of months have certainly kept brigades across the District busy. Between significant hazard reduction Serving the Matcham-Holgate Community Since 1915

burns, the Central Coast Emergency Services Expo, Get Ready Weekend, extensive training, wildfire events and the broad range of general emergency responses we attend day to day, there has been no shortage of work to do. Closer to home, we have also been out and about at our Get Ready street meetings, sharing practical preparation advice and talking with residents about street-specific risks, property access and water supplies. If you have missed us so far, there are still two chances to say hello on 21 November 2026: at the junction of Coachwood Road and Matcham Road at 10.00 am, and on Clyde Road at 12.00 pm. Alternatively, get in touch and we can arrange a Resident Bushfire Risk Assessment for your property. It is a great opportunity for us to offer practical advice tailored to your place —preferably before smoke on the horizon moves preparation to the top of the to-do list. A Final Thought Dolly Parton once sang about a World on Fire. Great song. We'd prefer Matcham and Holgate not audition for the remix version though. A few hours spent preparing now could save firefighters valuable time and give your property its best chance when it matters most. 35

Hall News Nov 2026

Call Trent 0417 677 524 36

Issue #147

YOUR LOCAL MECHANIC R O LO NA I CT E D F AYO M IU LY WCNAELDM&E C OH PA ER FA M I LY OW N E D & O P E R AT E D

0409 676 563 0416 109 982

Professional quality work guaranteed Licensed and qualified Vehicle Repairer Log book Servicing Computerised Diagnostics & Repairs LPG E-safety & e-Auvis inspections Pre-purchase vehicle & caravan inspections

10 Erina Valley Road, Erina

jcauto@bigpond.com

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jcautoerina.com.au

Serving the Matcham-Holgate Community Since 1915

Hall News Nov 2026

LOCAL WILDLIFE Turtles of Matcham Local wildlife enthusiast Matt Barnett shares another glimpse into the remarkable creatures living alongside us in Matcham and Holgate, with practical tips on how we can help them thrive. Eastern Long-necked Turtle | Chelodina longicollis Hidden beneath the surface of Matcham’s creeks, ponds and wetlands lives one of our most ancient-looking residents: the Eastern Long-necked Turtle. Although they spend much of their lives underwater, these remarkable reptiles are surprisingly adventurous, regularly travelling overland between waterways, particularly after heavy rain. You might even encounter one wandering across your garden or slowly crossing a road.

With a dark oval shell reaching approximately 25 centimetres and an extraordinarily long neck, they’re unmistakable. Unlike many overseas turtles, which retract their heads backwards, Australian long-necked turtles fold their necks sideways beneath their shells. They’re carnivorous, feeding on aquatic insects, tadpoles, frogs, small fish and crustaceans. They’re also scavengers, helping clean up dead animals in our waterways. These turtles can live for several decades, and have a particularly unpleasant defence mechanism. When threatened, they release a foul-smelling liquid from glands near their shells, earning them the rather unfortunate nickname ‘stinkers’. Despite their prehistoric appearance, they’re surprisingly mobile, sometimes travelling hundreds of metres across land in search of new waterholes.

Who are we?

Where can you find us?

The Eastern Long-necked Turtle (Chelodina longicollis), also known as the Eastern Snake-necked Turtle, is the freshwater turtle you’re most likely to encounter around Matcham.

Around Matcham, turtles inhabit our creeks, farm dams, ponds and seasonal wetlands.You might spot them basking on fallen logs along our creeks, although ponds are often the easiest places to find them. A turtle basking in Seymour Pond last week

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Seymour Pond in Katandra Reserve is a particularly good place to look. A couple of large turtles live here, alongside abundant frogs and water dragons. Approach quietly and watch the half-submerged logs. With a little patience, you may spot one basking in the sunshine. Turtles also appear in flooded paddocks and roadside drains, particularly following heavy rainfall. Unfortunately, this means they’re sometimes encountered crossing our roads. Spring and early summer are particularly active periods as females leave the water to find suitable nesting sites. Using their hind legs, they dig shallow nests in soft soil, laying approximately 4–20 eggs before carefully covering them and returning to the water. Several months later, tiny hatchlings emerge and begin their dangerous journey towards water, entirely on their own.

Introduced foxes are another major threat, frequently digging up nests and eating turtle eggs. Young hatchlings also face predation from birds, fish and other wildlife. You can help protect our local turtles by: Protecting waterways. Maintain native vegetation around creeks, dams and ponds to provide shelter and improve water quality. Leaving fallen logs. Submerged and partially exposed timber provides valuable basking and resting sites. Reducing pollution. Keep pesticides, fertilisers and other chemicals out of waterways. Maintaining habitat connections. Turtles need to move between wetlands, particularly during floods and droughts. Keeping pets away. Keep dogs away from turtles and nesting areas, and cats indoors, particularly during nesting and hatching season. And next time you’re exploring Matcham’s waterways, take a moment to watch the half-submerged logs and quiet pond edges. You might spot a turtle that’s been quietly living in our valley for decades.

The young mostly hatch around March > May however some overwinter underground and are emerging now!

How can you protect and encourage us? Despite their protective shells, freshwater turtles face several serious threats. Roads are particularly dangerous. Turtles move slowly, and their instinct to retreat into their shells offers little protection from passing vehicles. If you encounter one crossing a road, slow down. I’ve seen a few on roads in the areas; If it’s safe to assist, move it to the side it was already travelling towards. Never relocate it to another pond or creek simply because it appears safer. Serving the Matcham-Holgate Community Since 1915

Crossing a road, look for round “Stones” that shouldn’t be there and slow down.

Hall News Nov 2026

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Issue #147

CONTROLLING FIREWEED Fireweed is now common on roadside verges in the Matcham and Holgate valleys. The NSW Department of Primary Industries lists fireweed as a toxic, notifiable and controllable weed under regional biosecurity obligations. It is a weed that landholders must remove or suppress. Why? Because the weed causes irreversible liver damage (and subsequent death over various periods) to cattle, horses, sheep and goats. Fireweed's pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) do not readily penetrate intact skin, but absorption increases if the skin is damaged (cuts, abrasions, dermatitis). In those cases, small amounts of PA's can enter the bloodstream and, over repeated exposures, can lead to chronic liver damage. Avoid contact if you have eczema, cuts or cracked skin, and do not rub your eyes or mouth after handling. USE RUBBER GLOVES TO REMOVE.

Simply Foliage‌ Landscaping Landscape Design & C o n s t r u c ti o n

It is very invasive. Its seed can be viable for up to 15 years in the soil. If the weed has flowers developing, they need to be removed. If you pull out the whole plant on the ground to rot, the flower will still develop and set viable seed. If removing the plant, take the flowers off and place them in the red bin. Do not compost them.

Property & Garden Maintenance

You must actively remove or suppress or destroy fireweed on your property. For more information, please see www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/_data/assets/pdf_file/0 007/49840/Fireweed.pdf

0418 433 959

Serving the Matcham-Holgate Community Since 1915

Acreage Mowing

Call Simon

simplyfoliage.com.au

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Hall News Nov 2026

Issue #147

HOLGATE PUBLIC SCHOOL‌ ‌UPDATE Dear Families and Friends of our beautiful valley We can’t believe we’re already in Term 4. The year is going so quickly and there’s still so much to do. Just a reminder that due to changes in the Department of Education Enrolment Availability Policy we currently have vacancies K to 6 and would love to speak to you, friends and relatives if you are interested in enrolling your children at our wonderful school. Due to our enrolment buffer being increased we can take Out of Area enrolments. If you would like a tour of HPS please ring the school to arrange an appointment. Last term our Year 3/4 students studied the book Wandi and then the whole school enjoyed an immersive wildlife encounter where students had the unique opportunity to meet dingoes, Flynn and Bindi, in a safe, controlled environment outside of the normal sanctuary or zoo. Year 3/4 also enjoyed an excursion to Sydney Zoo in Western Sydney. We celebrated: Father’s Day with a Dad’s and Donuts Breakfast; Bullying No Way Day; our Annual Athletics Carnival at Mingara; Public Education Week Writing Expo; Book Week Parade; Kindergarten made bee hotels for our garden.

Our new Kindergarten 2027 students have started their Headstart Transition Program. We want to welcome them and their families to Holgate Public School. This term our students are participating in Art, STEM and Gardening Clubs during lunch. Our 5/6 students are off to Port Stephens for camp and we welcome Healthy Harold. Year 6 will challenge the staff to the annual Charity Shield Game and

0418 433 959

Serving the Matcham-Holgate Community Since 1915

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Hall News Nov 2026

Hhold their mini-fete fundraiser. We will come together as a school for an evening of Christmas Carols with picnic/BBQ dinner; and, we will finish the term with our Helpers Thank You Breakfast, Year 6 Farewell, Presentation Day Ceremony, Year 6 Fun Day and Whole School Fun Day. Finally, we would like to congratulate three of our talented students: Abbey who recently represented the Northern NSW Futsal Team at Nationals in Brisbane where they won and she has been offered a place in the National Team to compete in Spain next year. Bella who competed with EBSDN in Ulldulla and placed 1st in Jazz, 1st in Lyrical and has now qualified for Nationals. Knox who competed at the BMX State Tiles in Newcastle where he placed 3rd and 5th. Knox has also made the Central Coast Public Speaking Final at Kariong Public School. Good Luck Knox!!

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” 0438 277 421 We offer an extensive range of residential pest control services and/or packaged programs for all common household pests & rodents Timber pest inspection services,‌ ‌termite removal and prevention‌ ‌strategies

” Serving the Matcham-Holgate Community Since 1915

Hall News Nov 2026

RAINFALL UPDATE 30 years of rainfall data collection in the Valley

The wild ride in this year’s first 6 months rainfall ended in the last three months bringing us back to the average for our recorded period. The water tankers are again active.

The comparison of the 9 months of 2026 to the most recent 29 and 10 year average rainfall numbers indicates an unusually wet May but subsequent below average months. Note that the 10 year average has tended to be higher than the 29 year due to the relatively heavier annual falls since 2020.

It is normal to have a wetter first six moths of the year and this year is proving the rule (so far). We crossed our fingers that the sun would come out again in the July Newsletter and it worked!! The days of rain in the last three months are hovering around the 29 year average. 46

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LOCAL SERVICES DIRECTORY Please support those who support our community! ACCOUNTANT‌

GARDEN MAINTENANCE‌

Kennedy Cross‌ 4365 6789‌

Michael Boyce Lawn & Garden‌ Services0431 789 808

ARBORIST

Permaculture Habitat Call Adrian 0435 828 690

Habitat Tree Works Call George 0402 574 616 Al’s Tree Care Call Al 0414 326 375 BUYER’S AGENT Bryson Buyer’s Agent Call Mitch 0413833449 CARPENTER Living Spaces Carpentry Call Jason 0417 499 068 Ben J Built Constructions Call Ben 0488 017 416 CRUISES Cruise Addict 1300 076 101 EARTHWORKS ASAP EARTHWORX‌ Call Cheyne 0408 677 413 ELECTRICAL & DATA‌‌ Quick Connect Electrical & Data Call Keiron 0407 668 689 ELECTRICIAN Matt Smith Electrical Call Matt 0412 391 438‌

HONEY BEE-U-tiful Honey Call Max 0424 168 590‌ LANDCARE

24 Hour‌ ‌0420 100 074

PDB Plumbing Call Pat 0416 265 597 POOLS Contemporary Pools & Spas Call Ken 0408 433 378 REAL ESTATE Gittoes Real Estate‌ Ingrid 0428 372 953‌ Prestige Properties Call Adrienn 0414 729 453

LANDSCAPING

SECURITY

Silver Fern Landscapes Call Joe 0432 589 318

CommuniCable Call Paul 0417 822 188

Simply Foliage Landscaping Call Simon 0418 433 959

SEPTIC

LEGAL KOA Legal 43 266 522 Oak Legal & Conveyancing Call Daniel 0403 200 713 MECHANIC JC Auto Erina Your Local Mechanic

Absoloot Septic‌ 0401 397 754 or 02 4362 1060 SOLAR EnergyVolt Call Brett 0412 233 420 TILER John Bromfield 0411 851 417 john@bromfield.com.au

0409 676 563 or 0416 109 982

TOWING

MOWER REPAIRS

Adams Towing 4337 7000

Robbo's Mobile Mower Repairs Russ 0427 435 572 PAINTER

Emerald Exterior Services‌‌ Call Joel 0401 266 299

Painless Painting Peter 0402 374 752

FENCING

PEST INSPECTIONS

Hidden Dog Fence Call Tim 0413 404 133

Pestmac Call Norman 0438 277 421

Loan Market Call Andrew 0411 722 294

Fluid Plumbing

Gellatley Landcare Solutions Call Richard 0412 636 550

EXTERNAL CLEANING

FINANCE

PLUMBING

PHYSIOTHERAPIST‌ Aspire Physiotherapy 02 4380 8277

Serving the Matcham-Holgate Community Since 1915

VET Petstock Vet 02 4367 4066 Vet on the Road 0490 877 553 WATER SUPPLIES Wally’s Water Cart Call Trent 0417 677 524 RU Empty SMS or Call Bron 0410 057 215 47