Coffs Coast News Of The Area 22 March 2024

“The atmosphere was upbeat and fun with a crowd not seen in quite a while in that space,” said organiser John

“On Sunday, the Harbourside Markets were very busy from 9am all day.

“This year, we’ve had a great response and the events seemed to really gel with locals and visitors.

“We spoke to a lot of people and many

q

of them came for stays of two to five or six days.”

Plans are already underway for next year’s event to be held in March/April.

Community partnership rejuvenates bush at Niigi Niigi

By Andrew VIVIAN

GUMBAYNGGIRR Rangers from the Ngiyambandigay Wajaarr Aboriginal Corporation (NWAC) have been working with Forestry Corporation of NSW (FCNSW) to improve biodiversity at Niigi Niigi (Sealy Lookout).

Caring for country has been the focus of the joint community effort of bush regeneration works in the Bruxner Park Flora Reserve undertaken by Forestry Corporation, Envite Environment and the Gumbaynggirr Rangers.

Weed management works in recent

months have seen lantana, camphor laurel, tobacco tree, crofton weed and broad-leafed paspalum removed from the floral reserve.

Staged bush regeneration is now underway with native species planted along the Gumgali Track leading to Korora Lookout.

“The current project of weed management and replanting is just a small part of the ongoing maintenance and management of the reserve to ensure the site continues to be appreciated into the future,” FCNSW’s Partnerships Leader Ryan Ellis said.

“The Bruxner Park Flora Reserve in

Orara East State Forest has a range of nature-based experiences including forest walks, treetops adventures, the cultural tours and cafe, amazing lookouts and a rich blend of Indigenous and European history.”

The Gumbaynggirr Ranger team has worked alongside Envite Environment’s experienced bush regenerators to build their skills and experience expanding their capacity to deliver programs, which manage and protect Gumbaynggirr land and water.

“This partnership provides our team of rangers with good practical experience working on country that complements our team’s existing skills and qualifications,” NWAC Head Ranger Jesse Shilling said.

NOTA

Logan.

q This classic Ford Fairlane 500 transported attendees to the mid-60s. Photo: PIXEL IZM.

A mint Holden FJ on display at the Summer Beach Hop. Photo: David Wigley.

q Trainee Gumbaynggirr Ranger Della Byrnes (right) and Gumbaynggirr Ranger

Angel Williams planting native species on Gumgali Track. Photo: FCNSW.

Lighthouse Optic shines for bumper crowd

BUMPER

up for the turning on of the historic South Solitary Island Lighthouse Optic at the Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshores.

“This is the perfect place for this light as it continues to be a meeting place,” City of Coffs Harbour Mayor Paul Amos said as he officially opened the light which is housed in a special enclosure at the entrance to the Jetty pier.

“To many people it’s the heart of our community.”

It’s been a painstaking and extraordinary conservation effort to make the light operational again after it was decommissioned in 1975 and transported from the island to the mainland.

It was fitting that Jack Duvoisin gave the order on 15 March this year to relight the Optic. While it was 144 years to the day after it was first turned on officially on the island in 1880, it was Mr Duvoisin who decommissioned

the light in 1975 when the station was automated.

“This is one of the finest displays of light piece equipment anywhere in Australia,” the former regional lighthouse engineer told the crowd.

The project to return the light to working order and have it on public display was made possible by funding from both the City of Coffs Harbour and the NSW Government – and driven in part by the volunteers of Friends Of South Solitary Island Lighthouse (FOSSIL).

After being moved to

of place for the community.

“It’s (the light) been largely asleep for the past 49 years,” Mr Duvoisin said.

City of Coffs Harbour Events, Sport and Cultural

“It’s an incredibly significant part of the Yarrila Arts and Museum Collection,” Ms McKeown said.

The opening and lighting ceremony included an

A

crowd of some 400 turned

Coffs Harbour, the light had been kept in a Harbour Drive building which was then a museum but is now used as a table tennis centre.

Services Group Leader Karlene McKeown said the Optic held pride

address by FOSSIL, a stirring performance by a lone piper and the reading of a poem by Bishop Druitt College student Will Bursle. Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh also gave an address on behalf of the NSW Government.

q Former regional lighthouse engineer Jack Duvoisin, City of Coffs Harbour Mayor Cr Paul Amos, and Cr Julie Sechi who emceed the gala opening and lighting of the Optic at the Jetty.

q Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh at Friday night’s community event at the Jetty Foreshores to celebrate the iconic South Solitary Island Lighthouse Optic. Photo: Seen Australia and DPIE.

Forestry Corporation fined for illegal tree removal

By Andrea FERRARI

THE FORESTRY

Corporation of NSW (FCNSW) has been fined $30,000 by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) for an alleged illegal tree removal in Bagawa State Forest, inland of Coramba.

The state-owned forestry body received an additional $15,000 fine for the alleged removal of fifteen trees and vegetation in an Environmentally Significant Area in Nadgee State Forest on the South Coast in 2023.

These incidents were found to be in breach of rules set out by the EPA to protect native forests and endangered species habitat.

According to the EPA, the clearing contravened specific seasonal requirements which were in place in Bagawa State Forest from 1 January to 31 March 2023.

“These restrictions reduce impacts on the environment such as soil erosion during periods when high rainfall can occur,” an EPA spokesperson told NOTA.

The EPA alleges forestry operations including harvesting, ‘snigging’ (dragging trees by chains) and other ground works occurred in February 2023 in Bagawa State Forest contrary to these restrictions and issued a $15,000 penalty notice.

A further $15,000 penalty notice was then issued when FCNSW allegedly failed to identify the area subject to the protocol on a map.

“FCNSW is responsible for ensuring their contractors follow the rules,” said the EPA

In February 2023, an alleged illegal tree removal in Bagawa State Forest occurred on a slope greater than 25 degrees, breaching obligations to prevent soil erosion and resulting in two penalty infringement notices totalling $30,000.

spokesperson.

EPA Director of Operations Jason Gordon said both incidents could have been avoided if FCNSW had complied with the Coastal Integrated Forestry Operations Approval (CIFOA).

“We have rules in place to protect water quality, vegetation and important habitats during forestry operations.

“Ignoring these rules is a blatant disregard for our environment and their duty to protect hollow bearing trees for crucial fauna.

“In no circumstances should fifteen trees have been removed from an Environmentally Significant Area.

“We are disappointed by these incidents, which occurred prior to the recent changes in the CIFOA.”

In regards to the Bagawa incident, Daniel Tuan, FCNSW’s General Manager, Hardwood Forests Division, told News Of The Area, “The error occurred when operations that were scheduled to be completed ahead of the January to March period were delayed and we

sincerely regret this oversight.

“Water quality was continually monitored throughout the operation and no water pollution or potential for water pollution were identified.

“However, we acknowledge that our error risked causing environmental harm and have since put specific procedures in place for managing seasonality conditions and provided additional training to staff to ensure they are fully implemented.”

Mr Tuan said the Bagawa penalty did not relate to hollow bearing trees or gliders.

Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson expressed concern that FCNSW “continues to breach vital environmental

protections”.

“They are serial offenders and cannot be trusted to comply with their operating approvals.

“Minister (Tara) Moriarty has got to put a stop to this.

“She is running protection for this rogue state-owned corporation and they are committing environmental crimes under her nose at sites where she has visited.”

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty visited Bagawa State Forest during the week of 12-16 June, 2023.

The State Forest has been the site of logging controversy in the past, with conservationists up in arms after harvesting started illegally in August 2022.

With logging in progress on Monday morning 15 August 2022, no Harvest Plan was available for Bagawa State Forest on Forestry Corporation’s Plan Portal as legally required two days before operations commence.

A FCNSW spokesperson claimed at the time that “there was a technical issue with

viewing the Bagawa plan”, which was soon rectified.

FCNSW also told NOTA at the time, “Forestry Corporation wrote to neighbours of Bagawa State Forest when we were planning this renewable timber harvesting operation around twelve months ago.”

NOTA spoke with locals who said they had not received any written communication from FCNSW prior to logging operations.

“The insane premise that FCNSW do things by the book is just ludicrous,” local resident Jodie Nancarrow said.

Coffs Coast conservationist Mark Graham said he has observed the location where the recent breaches were committed within Bagawa State Forest. “The primest of koala habitats got badly damaged in the industrial logging operations at Bagawa State Forest,” Mark told NOTA. “Previously highly biodiverse and healthy forests are now a weedy mess badly infested with lantana."

•

•

Survey

q Logging machinery in Bagawa State Forest in 2022.

Up to 450 dwellings proposed for Jetty Foreshores

On February 20 2024, both Greens MLC Sue Higginson and Liberal MLC Scott Farlow questioned Lands and Property Minister Stephen Kamper on the future of the Jetty Foreshores.

Mr Farlow, who serves as the Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, as well as Housing, sought a project update from Mr Kamper, who said the Jetty Foreshores plan was an opportunity to supply “over a few hundred apartments” as well as “key worker housing, general housing and social housing” and commercial opportunities.

“We're moving forward with that and we're really excited about what that will do for Coffs Harbour and what it will do in terms of attracting tourism to Coffs Harbour, and the housing - housing for people who want to work in Coffs Harbour, who want to work in and around that area and can't find housing,” Mr Kamper said.

Mr Farlow then asked Mr Kamper to provide the total projected cost over the next four financial years for the Jetty Foreshores project, and the number of residential and short-stay dwellings planned for the precinct.

Both questions were taken on notice.

On March 18, Property and Development NSW’s Leon Walker responded to those questions, confirming that up to 450 dwellings were destined for the Jetty Foreshores precinct.

“Up to 250 residential dwellings and 200 short stay units are proposed, subject to planning approvals,” Mr Walker confirmed.

“The NSW Government is focused on delivering its election commitment to address the housing crisis and increase housing supply – a live and significant issue in Coffs Harbour.”

Representatives of the City of Coffs Harbour have been left shocked by the Government’s admission.

Mayor Paul Amos, a staunch opponent of the State Government plans, said the number was far in excess of that previously promoted to the community.

“This is an enclave bigger than the population of Coramba, and it comes on the back of breaking an election promise of no private residential at the Jetty Foreshores,” Mayor Amos said.

“It will choke out potential for parklands and our community has been stitched up; we will lose this land forever."

Mayor Amos also addressed the urgent need for affordable housing in Coffs Harbour.

“We have identified that we have 8085 dwelling yields in our Park Beach, Jetty, west and central Coffs and Arthur Street areas.

“These are our affordable housing opportunities.

"I implore the community to write to your local member Gurmesh Singh, Minister Stephen Kamper and the Premier to right this wrong,” Mayor Amos said.

In November 2023, the City of Coffs Harbour submitted a formal offer to the State Government to purchase the Jetty Foreshores land, which was formally rejected earlier this year.

The decision to reject Council’s $6.7 million offer, which included an additional two City-owned blocks of land in the CBD, was also questioned by Greens MP Sue Higginson during Budget Estimates.

Mr Walker said “a lack of detail” in terms of “what would be delivered and when it would be delivered” was a key factor in the refusal of the City’s offer.

Community safety in the regions

THE NSW Legislative Assembly's Committee on Law and Safety has adopted a new inquiry into community safety in regional communities.

Kiersten Fishburn, the Secretary of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, clarified the Government’s position further.

“The proposition from Council was put forward as an unsolicited proposal; it didn't meet the unsolicited proposal guidelines,” she said.

“The valuation was not considered appropriate for the land value, nor was the uses

materially different from what the State was intending to do anyway.

“Secondly, I think it's important to stress that this is intended to be a project to develop the foreshore; it's not a revenue-generating project.

“Monies generated will be brought back into the precinct itself, so it is about revitalisation for Coffs Harbour.”

Single vehicle fatality at Lowanna

"As well as looking at the root causes of youth crime, the inquiry will also examine the wraparound and diversionary services available for youth and families,” Mr Atalla said.

Committee Chair Mr Edmond Atalla said the inquiry would investigate the drivers of youth crime in the regions and actions government can take to improve community safety.

The inquiry will also look at staffing and workforce issues in regional areas, the pressures on police and the impact of recidivism.

The Committee is accepting public submissions until 31 May 2024.

The

Officers from Coffs/

by specialist police.

report will be

for the information of the coroner.

Cartoon Gallery closes doors

By Andrea FERRARI

THE National Cartoon Gallery has closed its doors for the foreseeable future, during which time the Board of Directors will investigate options to reopen.

On Thursday 14 March 2024 the board was made aware of a situation that could impact the National Cartoon Gallery’s legal status and ability to trade.

An emergency meeting was held on Friday 15 March where the Board took the precaution of ceasing trade until the Gallery’s legal status is clarified.

“I know how important it is for all artists to have a venue for their work and for cartoonists; this was it,” Board chair Dahna Knight told News Of The Area.

"Similar to many businesses during the current cost of living crisis and the ripple effects of COVID-19, the Gallery’s trading and visitation has significantly declined.

“This impact is also seen in other businesses in the sector including tourism, hospitality and leisure industry businesses that rely on discretionary spending.”

By Andrea FERRARI

q The National Cartoon Gallery has closed for the foreseeable future.

of Coffs Harbour spokesperson told NOTA.

Dahna said the Board will continue to keep in communication with the community as they investigate options.

The National Cartoon Gallery Board thanked all its supporters, sponsors and customers.

FAUNA exclusion fencing along Hogbin Drive is in the process of being installed by City of Coffs Harbour (CoCH), funded through a NSW Government Koala Program grant.

The funding was approved in April 2022.

With work underway, CoCH published an update on 7 March 2024 which received negative feedback from community members concerned that the fence design would be ineffectual.

CoCH has now provided further details, explaining the fencing is a work-inprogress.

“The final grant agreement for the fauna exclusion fence did not specify a distance, but the City is in the process of using the available funds to construct more than two kilometres of fencing,” a spokesperson for City of Coffs Harbour told News Of The Area.

“The fence line is not in one single run and was installed in accordance with the following considerations: koala sightings including past fatalities, adjacent koala habitat, low lying wetland areas that do not support suitable trees and where the ground is too wet to support the fence posts, and existing infrastructure such as water/sewer/electricity/phone lines.”

The National Cartoon Gallery is not a CoCH asset.

“The City has provided more than $820,000 in subsidies to the National Cartoon Gallery over the past nine years, including an annual subsidy of $60,000 for 2023/24, which was paid to the Gallery in August 2023,” a City

The announcement saw comments on social media incorrectly suggesting that the decision to close had been made by the City of Coffs Harbour (CoCH).

“The City received financial records from the Gallery on 11 March 2024 showing that the Gallery had become insolvent on 2 March 2024, even after the receipt of the City’s $60,000 subsidy, suggesting its operations are and have been financially unsustainable in its current form for years.”

Fauna fencing underway along Hogbin Drive

Local WIRES Koala Coordinator Zaiga Deist said the fencing was a step in the right direction.

“WIRES Coffs Harbour branch welcomes the commencement of mitigation works designed to reduce the risk to koalas along Hogbin Drive, and looks forward to the completion of the fencing,” she said.

"Wildlife fencing can be part of an effective road mitigation strategy, especially when linked to wildlife crossings,” Zaiga told NOTA.

"A key feature of wildlife fence design is ensuring there are no gaps, as gaps can allow wildlife to get on to the road.

“Effective wildlife fencing designs also require either what is known as a ‘floppy top’ or integrated metal sheeting at the top to prevent koalas being able to climb up and over.

“Once the metal sheeting is installed, there’s no remaining gaps and in conjunction with the camera monitoring, WIRES hopes to see a significant reduction in the number of koalas and other wildlife injured and killed on Hogbin Drive,” she said.

q Rex, a young male koala rescued from the Coffs Harbour Airport runway in August 2023. He was observed for any internal injuries, tagged and released in September.

Easter

*Optional trade - some stores may choose not to open. Trading hours correct at the time of publication but are subject to change. Some stores may trade outside of these hours. Please check with individual stores for further details. Friday 29th March

Free bus travel trial to commence

CITY of Coffs Harbour is rolling ahead with a free bus travel plan to bolster community connection and to shine a light on the ease and benefits of public transport.

At its meeting on 14 March, Council resolved to back an initiative by Mayor Paul Amos for a four-month trial of free bus travel on weekends in Coffs Harbour, stretching out to Bellingen and as far south as Macksville.

In what is believed to be an Australianfirst, City of Coffs Harbour will partner with local bus operators Forest Coach Lines and Busways Coffs Harbour.

“It may encourage some people sitting at home to become more active in the community,” Cr Amos said.

“The trial will introduce people to the option of bus travel and potentially spark a habit of using public transport.”

The scheme will see free bus travel on weekends from tentatively 5 April to 28 July.

It’s possible the trial may be extended to incorporate Fridays, too, and if that can be accommodated, it would run for three months, from tentatively 5 April to 30 June.

The bus companies will provide daily statistics on the service's use at the end of the trial.

q A four-month trial of free bus travel on weekends will commence in Coffs Harbour, stretching out to Bellingen and as far south as Macksville.

Six charged following bikie drug supply investigation

a combined 124 offences following an investigation into drug supply in the state’s north.

Strike Force Showview was established by Coffs/Clarence Police District in May 2023 to investigate an alleged drug ring operating

across the north coast with significant Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG) links.

Following extensive inquiries, the Coffs Harbour Firearm and Drug Unit - assisted by Raptor North, Mid North Coast Police District, Coffs Harbour Region Enforcement Squad and the NSWPF Dog Unit - executed three search warrants across the Coffs Clarence and Mid North Coast Police Districts on Thursday 14 March 2024.

During the searches, police allegedly located and seized a range of drug and drug paraphernalia items including cocaine with an estimated potential street value of over $24,000, methylamphetamine, cannabis and cannabis seeds, prohibited weapons, fireworks, and $11,700 cash.

Police arrested six men who were all taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station.

A 31-year-old man was charged with 43 counts of supplying a prohibited drug, three counts of dealing with the property proceeds of crime, three counts of supplying prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, two counts of supplying a firearm to person unauthorised to possess it, using an unauthorised firearm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm in the company of others, and aggravated enter dwelling with intentinflict ABH.

A 73-year-old man was charged with 27 counts of supplying a prohibited drug, seven counts of supplying prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, two counts of dealing with property proceeds of crime, and affray.

A 33-year-old man was charged with eight counts of supplying a prohibited drug, three counts of recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime, three counts of possessing prohibited drugs, and failing to comply with a digital evidence access order direction.

A 31-year-old man was charged with six counts of supplying a prohibited drug, two counts of taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug, dealing with property proceeds of crime, supplying a firearm to a person unauthorised to possess it, and aggravated enter dwelling with intentinflict ABH.

A 65-year-old man was charged with three counts of supplying a prohibited drug, supplying prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, and possessing prohibited drugs.

A 29-year-old man was charged with recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime, and supplying prohibited drugs.

All six were refused bail to appear before Coffs Harbour Local Court on Friday 15 March 2024.

SIX men have been charged with

Opinions divided over regional crime prevention

A PLAN to address regional crime has divided opinion across the state, with various stakeholders arguing it goes too far, or not far enough.

New research from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) exploring crime patterns in regional NSW shows that in 2023, the rate of property crime in regional NSW was 59 percent higher than in Sydney while the rate of violent crime in regional NSW was 57 percent higher.

“A long standing feature of crime in NSW is that regional, rural, and remote locations tend to experience higher rates of crime than in the city,” BOCSAR Executive Director Jackie Fitzgerald said.

“The gap has grown over time.

“Since 2004, crime reductions in Sydney greatly exceeded those in the regions.

“Within regional NSW, crime is also not evenly distributed and particular regional locations show crime rates are much higher than the state average.

“In 2023, rates of both violent and property crime were almost three times the NSW average in the Far West and Orana region.”

While crime is higher in regional NSW than in Sydney, it is not the case that crime is necessarily increasing.

In regional NSW, most property crimes were considerably lower in 2023 compared to 2004.

Certain offences however, have increased significantly in regional NSW over the five years from 2019 to 2023.

Motor vehicle theft is up 20 percent, while domestic assault is up 24 percent and non-domestic assault is up fourteen percent.

Sexual assault is up 47 percent, which equates to an additional 1505 incidents.

Last week, the NSW Government announced a package of reforms and initiatives to “support community safety and wellbeing”, particularly in regional NSW, with a focus on strengthening early intervention and prevention programs for young people.

The Bail Act 2013 will be

amended to include a temporary additional bail test for young people between fourteen and eighteen charged with committing certain serious break and enter offences or motor vehicle theft offences while on bail for the same offences.

This means that a bail authority such as police, magistrates and judges will need to have a high degree of confidence that the young person will not commit a further serious indictable offence while on bail.

This approach is designed to stop specific offending behaviour by certain young people who repeatedly engage in serious break and enter and motor theft offences.

The amendments will be subject to a twelve-month sunset clause so that any future action or changes can be made with evidence to assess the efficacy of the new laws.

Legislation will also be introduced which creates a new offence in the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) for ‘posting and boasting’.

An additional penalty of two years imprisonment will be imposed on people who commit motor vehicle theft or break and enter offences and share material to advertise their involvement in this criminal behaviour.

Statewide there have been reports of an emerging phenomenon of offenders posting recordings of their offending behaviour on social media, particularly in relation to motor vehicle offending.

This type of ‘performance crime’ may encourage others, specifically young people, to engage in similar criminal behaviour.

This new provision will be the subject of a statutory review that will take place two years after it commences.

The Government also announced specific measures to improve public safety in Moree, and a range of state-wide regional crime prevention initiatives including an expansion of Youth Action Meetings (YAMs) in nine Police Districts and an expansion of the Safe Aboriginal

Youth Patrol Program (SAY) to an additional five Closing the Gap (CTG) priority locations.

“I’ve spoken to mayors, police area commanders and local communities who have said we need to do more when it comes to crime rates, so that’s what we’re doing,” NSW Premier Chris Minns said.

“We know there is no easy solution but the reforms we are announcing today look at the big picture at a whole-of-community level, to really intervene and help prevent crime and give young people a chance at life.

“We will not leave regional communities behind, and we will ensure regional communities are safe and appealing places to work, live and raise a family.

“We need to work across government – police, schools, mental health – and importantly in partnership with community leaders, Aboriginal organisations and NGOs.”

Member for Oxley Michael Kemp hit out at Labor’s regional crime package this week, labelling it as a knee-jerk reaction which lacks key details and ignores rising rates of crime on the Mid North Coast.

“The government’s package might be good for Moree, but what about our region and the rest of the country NSW suffering rising rates of youth crime?” Mr Kemp said.

“It just displays once again how this government has no understanding of regional areas and doesn’t care to do so.

“More than half of the funding is addressing issues in one community and ignoring the rest.”

Mr Kemp pointed out that in Kempsey, juvenile offenders committing assault have jumped by 55.3 percent over two-years, while incidents of malicious damages to property have risen by 113.6 percent.

In 2023, there were 150 incidents of theft, including 36 motor vehicle thefts and 51 break and enters in a dwelling.

Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh agreed Labor’s package does “not go far enough”, and called on local residents to provide feedback on how regional crime has affected them at https:// www.nswnationals.org.au/ regional-crime/.

“Our hardworking frontline police officers do a great job day

in and day out and they are doing everything they can to keep our communities safe,” said Mr Singh, Shadow Minister for Tourism, Emergency Services and the North Coast.

“However, there is a feeling that they’re being let down by a justice system that is often too soft on repeat offenders.”

Mr Singh welcomed this week’s announcement of an inquiry into regional and rural crime, something which the Coalition has been calling for in recent months.

“We expect this to be a wholeof-government approach to the escalating crime crisis in our regions.

“The Premier and the Police Minister finally appear to be listening and have announced this much-needed inquiry.

“However, because it will take some time for the inquiry to come up with solutions, we want to know what measures the Government will put in place in the interim to help regional residents grappling with crime right now.”

NSW Farmers Rural Affairs Committee spokesman Garry Grant said the new reforms had come as welcome news to regional communities as socioeconomic disadvantage deepened and rural crime rates soared.

“These young offenders are often violent and reckless in their behaviour, and they are also costing landholders and businesses millions of dollars every year, through both loss of goods and increased insurance costs,” Mr Grant said.

“This behaviour of stealing cars or breaking into homes and businesses and then sharing these exploits on social media is extremely concerning, and there needs to be more severe consequences if we want to reduce crime and curb the harm caused by repeat offenders.”

With city dwellers now less likely to be a victim of crime than those living in the bush, Mr Grant said rural and regional NSW needed all the resources available to shift the dial on crime moving forward.

“We need boots on the ground

and real, considered initiatives in place to combat these rising rates of crime, and concerningly violent crime, in rural and regional areas of the state, or else the problem will simply spiral beyond the point of no return.”

On Monday, a range of organisations across Australia united to call on the NSW Premier to scrap the plans which they believe will result in putting more children in jail.

Two open letters were distributed to the media, one from 60 civil society groups and another from over 500 academics, lawyers and community workers.

The civil society groups’ letter said the State Government’s new measures were a betrayal of Closing the Gap commitments and ignore “decades of evidence on how to reduce youth crime”.

The co-signed argue the measures prioritise punishment over investment in proven prevention strategies and will “cause crime to get worse” and “delay measures that could reduce crime”.

The second open letter, co-signed by legal practitioners, community workers and academics working across the fields of law, criminology, social sciences and Indigenous studies, outlines concerns that the proposed laws will make it harder for young people aged fourteen to seventeen to be released on bail for certain offences.

“We support the Premier’s goal to improve community safety and wellbeing and strengthen early intervention initiatives.

“The proposed laws however will have the opposite effect.

”The evidence tells us that such laws do not make communities safer and in fact exacerbate the social drivers of young people’s contact with the justice system,” the letter read.

Report regional crime to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Ecologist alleges targeted incidents

By Doug CONNOR

COFFS Coast ecologist and logging activist Mark Graham has accused the Forestry Corporation of NSW of a series of incidents targeting him and his Billys Creek property adjoining the Clouds Creek State Forest.

One Forestry Corporation staff member has already faced Coffs Harbour local court over an alleged physical assault of Mr Graham in recent weeks.

Mr Graham, well known for his conservation work and protesting forestry operations, alleges that on 8 January 2024 Forestry Corporation staff trespassed onto his property, committing malicious damage by bulldozing a New England Blackbutt.

The long-term ecologist says the tree was the habitat of the endangered Southern Greater Glider.

Forestry Corporation officials admitted several days later via private correspondence to Mr Graham that the tree had been removed from his property without his permission, claiming the tree posed a safety risk to other road users.

“In relation to the entry into private property, this occurred after a crew identified a hazardous tree that had been blown onto State forest from the adjoining property, with the root ball partially exposed,” a Forestry Corporation of NSW spokesperson told News Of The Area.

“There was no question the tree could be saved as it had fallen and was only held up by other trees, with the tree leaning across the road and the head hung up within trees that were on State forest.

“The base of the hazardous tree was approximately five metres inside private property and the crew entered the property to remove the hazard without first consulting with the adjoining property owner, for which Forestry Corporation has apologised to the property owner.

“Staff and contractors have been reminded of the importance of engaging with neighbours when managing issues on land bordering State forests,” the spokesperson said.

Mr Graham claims the tree’s removal constitutes breaches to the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act.

Several weeks later, on 1 February, a locked gate was installed on the only access road to Mr Graham’s property, locking him out of his

home for almost three weeks.

The gate was around two kilometres from his home.

“That gate was intentionally, maliciously and vindictively installed to block me getting to my home,” Mr Graham said, claiming the lack of access to his property had caused his family significant costs, anxiety and stress.

On 21 February 2024, Mr Graham was informed by Forestry Corporation officials he could access his home once more.

When he arrived there, in the company of a neighbour, Mr Graham alleges he found two Forestry Corporation staff trespassing on his property, installing another gate.

Mr Graham says he then proceeded to demand the removal of the gate and the Forestry Corporation staff.

More Forestry Corporation staff then arrived, with one allegedly committing a physical assault on Mr Graham.

The alleged assault was referred to police, with the Forestry Corporation staff member, Luke Seccombe, charged with one count of common assault.

Mr Seccombe appeared before Coffs Harbour Local Court on February 27, with the case due to resume again on 23 April.

The Forestry Corporation spokesperson told NOTA that the organisation was “taking these matters seriously and will assist NSW Police in any investigations or inquiries”.

“It would not be appropriate to comment on matters under review or investigation by the police,” they said.

On 23 February 2024, two days after the alleged assault, Mr Graham claims a Forestry Corporation contractor threw a stone at his moving vehicle while travelling through Sheas Nob State Forest.

“It has been greatly concerning to me that there has been a targeted campaign against me personally by the Forestry Corporation of NSW and their many staff members and some contractors,” Mr Graham told NOTA this week.

“I really wish for the Forestry Corporation to stop persecuting and targeting me and harming me and my family.

“These are very targeted, malicious actions and that is of great concern to me and many others,” he said.

Mr Graham’s issues with Forestry Corporation and its logging company contractors are not new.

In January this year, Michael Luigi Vitali and Rodney James Hearfield of logging company Greensill Bros were found guilty of assaulting Mr Graham and another community member

on a public road in Wild Cattle Creek State Forest on 25 June 2020.

The assaults were recorded on a mobile camera device by a Forestry Corporation employee.

After the incident, Mr Graham was initially charged by police for multiple offences, including trespass, which were later dropped.

Mr Graham said he spent close to $35,000 fighting those charges.

Environmental lawyer and Greens MLC Sue Higginson, who has served as Mr Graham’s legal representative in the past, agrees the ecologist has been systematically targeted by Forestry Corporation, its employees and contractors for several years.

“It started nearly four years ago when Mark was assaulted by logging contractors who were in the company of Forestry Corporation staff.

“It was one of those cases of gross injustice because Mark was the victim of an assault yet he was charged with an offence based on false information provided to the police by the Forestry Corporation, their employees and their contractors.

“It took almost four years to end that

persecution and for the perpetrators of the assaults to be found guilty in the Coffs Harbour local court.”

Ms Higginson said Mr Graham has also been “abused in cafes, while driving his vehicle and even on his own property” by workers in the forestry sector.

“Mark has lawfully observed and reported logging operations for breaches and is a very successful advocate for the end of native forest logging and as a result he has been disrespected, abused and assaulted by the Corporation, its employees and contractors.”

The Greens MP, who is the party’s spokesperson for the environment and the Mid North Coast, described Forestry Corporation as “a rogue entity” which has been “regularly and systemically acting unlawfully”.

“The acting CEO of the Forestry Corporation told me in budget estimates that they take full responsibility for their employees and contractors, but they have done nothing yet to assist Mark as a victim of a violent crime that was committed by their contractors while they were at work,” she said.

q Mr Graham has been a long-time advocate for the protection of forests.

Pictured here at a private conservation reserve at Hernani, between Ebor and Dorrigo. Photo: Gregg Borschmann.

Seal pup birth celebrated

By Andrea FERRARI

The seal pup’s name will be decided via a poll on the Sanctuary’s Facebook page between now and 27 March.

The birth of the seal pup is part of the Sanctuary’s endangered species management program.

"The birth of this adorable seal pup fills us with immense joy and reaffirms our dedication to the conservation of Australian Sea Lions,” Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary Manager Tiga Cross said.

Both seals and sea lions belong to a group of marine mammals called pinnipeds.

“Each birth is a testament to the success of our breeding program and a beacon of hope for the future of this endangered species."

Adelaide, the pup's mother, holds a special place in the Sanctuary's history, having been rescued as an orphaned pup in 2000.

This pup is her second offspring, demonstrating the Sanctuary's role in species management and in the rehabilitation and care of rescued marine animals.

The Australian Sea Lion population faces numerous threats, including habitat loss, entanglement in fishing gear, and pollution. Through its proactive species management program, the Sanctuary aims to contribute to the repopulation and conservation of this iconic species.

International Day of the Seal is celebrated today, Friday 22 March.

NSW Gov toughens polluter penalties

LAST week, the NSW Government announced what they described as the ‘biggest boost to environmental regulation in three decades’.

Changes have been made to the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act) and other environmental laws, to strengthen penalties and the Environment Protection Authority’s (EPA) powers to deter repeat offenders and make polluters pay.

Most NSW environmental penalties have not increased since 2005, including those for serious offences.

The Government says the current criminal investigation into asbestos-contaminated mulch, the biggest in the EPA’s history, has highlighted the need to address loopholes and enhance investigative capabilities.

The Environment Protection Legislation Amendment (Stronger Regulation and Penalties) Bill 2024 includes a doubling of

maximum penalties for Tier 1 serious offences to $10 million for companies and $2 million for individuals.

Maximum penalties for Tier 2 asbestos-related offences will also be doubled to $4 million for companies and $1 million for individuals.

On-the-spot fine amounts for certain Tier 3 offences will rise significantly to $30,000 for companies for a first offence and $45,000 for a second offence.

For individuals this will be $15,000 for a first offence and $22,500 for a second offence.

On-the-spot fines for general littering of small items will double to $160 for individuals and corporations in public places.

The Bill attempts to crack down on small-scale illegal dumping too, with maximum penalties of $50,000 for companies and $25,000 for individuals.

On-the-spot fines of $5,000 for companies and

$1,000 for individuals will be issued by public land managers, including councils, NSW Police and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The Bill will implement a specific, higher penalty for small-scale illegal dumping on sensitive land such as childcare centres, hospitals, schools, national parks and beaches.

Maximum penalties for breaching resource recovery orders and exemptions will increase from $44,000 to $2 million, or $4 million for offences by corporations involving asbestos waste.

New product recall powers will be introduced for materials that may be contaminated with harmful substances across an entire supply chain, to quickly safeguard human health and the environment and warn the public.

A public ‘name and shame’ process will be established to issue public warnings about poor environmental

performers and substandard practices.

The new law is hoped will strengthen investigation powers, introducing investigation notices, and improving and expanding clean-up notice controls.

The bill also gives the Land and Environment Court the power to ban serial and serious offenders from applying for an environment protection licence.

The NSW Government will consider further changes in response to the ongoing investigation into contaminated mulch or recommendations of the Asbestos Taskforce and Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer.

Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe said, “Today is a downpayment on our election commitment to strengthen environmental protections in NSW.

“I’m proud that we’re introducing the biggest boost

to environmental regulation since the creation of the EPA in 1991.

“We need a tough environmental cop on the beat.

“Our changes will give the EPA more power to better protect our precious places and to deter environmental crime.

“The events of the past two months have shown the urgent need to reform environment protection laws and increase penalties.

“These sweeping reforms will directly improve the protection of human health, the environment, and the community.

“Penalties are being ramped up to reflect the risk of harm and disruption to the environment and the community, and for those doing the wrong thing the fine will no longer just be the cost of doing business.”

Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson

said tougher penalties were “beyond overdue”.

“We are starting from a very low bar in NSW in terms of what polluters can get away with, but the changes proposed in this new law are a modest step towards holding the worst offenders to account.

“A doubling in fines for pollution and dangerous goods offences is a good place to start and harmful use of pesticides penalties are set to increase eightfold.

“New powers for the EPA will clear the way for effective compliance action that is consistent with managing pollution and punishing perpetrators.”

While supporting the Government’s move, Ms Higginson said these changes alone will “not make these crimes unprofitable”.

“We must recognise that this cannot be the end, it must be the beginning,” Ms Higginson said.

A MALE seal born in early February at the Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary is now in need of a name.

q Adelaide and her baby sea lion son.

q Have your say on naming the new male baby sea lion at Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary.

Environmental Levy grant applications now open

By Andrea FERRARI

NOMINATIONS for the 2024/2025 Environmental Levy Grants Program run by City of Coffs Harbour (CoCH) are now open.

Applications close on 26 April 2024.

Anyone can apply for grant funding, including groups, not-for-profits, schools, businesses and universities.

Grants from $2,000 to $25,000 are possible for projects which deliver environmental and community benefits.

“These annual grants are funded through the Environmental Levy and reflect our shared vision of a sustainable and thriving community,” said Coffs Harbour Mayor Cr Paul Amos.

Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare is ever grateful for CoCH Environmental Levy Grants, group President Barry Powells told News Of The Area.

"We are looking at getting funding to help link up some specific landcare sites rather than having more individual locations

where we work,” Barry said.

"This will provide wildlife corridors and habitat for many of our native animals and birds.

"We also hope to be able to work on other ecologically important tracts of land nearby to help reduce the spread of weeds such as lantana, senna and priority garden escapes such as Night Blooming Jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum).

"Weeds are the greatest threat to improving the diversity and sustainability of native vegetation.

“Ideally to be successful

both ecologically and economically such funding will need to be required over several years as weed seeds can remain viable in soil for many years."

Landcare currently has a number of active projects funded through the Environmental Levy Grants program.

Through a series of both land and water surveys of macroinvertebrate led by ecologist Lachlan Manning of Coffs Critters, Landcare volunteers have had the opportunity to get an insight into an aspect of local urban greenspaces which we don’t always see.

Macroinvertebrates are a diverse but generally not very visible part of our natural environment and include worms, snails, spiders, insects and many types of waterbugs.

They play an important role in our ecosystems by breaking down organic matter, providing nutrients to soil, pest control and pollination.

Their presence or

absence can indicate how healthy the environment is.

Therefore, knowing the diversity of macroinvertebrates on Landcare sites will help Landcare volunteers understand how urban development is impacting natural areas and the improvements they are making through their restoration work.

Korora Landcare volunteers have been working hard to rehabilitate disturbed bushland in two locations at Korora for over ten years through weed control and revegetation.

To complement its restoration work the group has received funding

through the Environmental Levy Grants Program to purchase, assemble and install nest boxes on their Landcare sites to provide habitat for local bird species that rely on tree hollows for nesting.

The loss of large eucalypts over time through clearing has meant that tree hollows are a dwindling resource in the local environment.

Volunteers from Korora Landcare recently held a working bee to assemble and paint the nest boxes which will be installed in the coming months.

For more information, visit coffsharbour.nsw.gov. au/elgrants.

Teachers urge PM not to short-change North Coast kids

By Mike HELY

REGIONAL and rural communities are bearing the brunt of a NSW teacher shortfall, local teachers have heard.

The NSW Teachers Federation is ramping up its campaign to fully resource North Coast public schools, meeting with teachers in Coffs Harbour last week.

NSW Teachers Federation President Henry Rajendra said the National School Reform Agreement had left NSW public schools grappling with a funding deficit of about eleven percent in 2024.

The National School Reform Agreement is a joint agreement between the Commonwealth, states and territories designed to improve outcomes in Australian schools.

It sets out national reform directions and targets that governments agree to pursue over a set period of time.

It also links funding levels to the targets.

Mr Rajendra said the shortfall translated to $1.9 billion in 2024 and equated to a shortage of more than 10,000 permanent schoolbased teachers.

He said figures released this month revealed 174 vacancies in schools in the Rural North and West region, which includes Coffs Harbour and the Mid North Coast, affecting 69 percent of the region’s 252 schools.

Mr Rajendra called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to “provide the funding needed to give all kids a decent shot at life”.

“Private schools in Sydney, which receive substantial public funding, are splurging on unnecessary vanity projects such as equestrian centres and Scottish castles, while public schools are missing out,” he said.

“Premier Chris Minns and Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car are doing their bit by lifting salaries to tackle the teacher shortages.

“But now it’s time the Prime Minister joined the effort.

“Proper funding would mean more teachers, delivering smaller class sizes.

“This would allow more one-on-one time for students with complex needs.”

A report released by the Australian Education Union

last month highlighted the gap, with one Sydney private school, Cranbrook, spending more on a new pool and expanded fitness and drama facilities in 2021 ($63.5 million) than governments spent on 2,549 public schools, which educate more than 472,000 students. For NSW schools, the

report also found a 30 percent growth in demountables between 2011 and 2022 to over 5,000, no ongoing capital funding from the Commonwealth despite calls from the NSW Government, and that the average annual per student capital investment from 2012-2021 was $1,052

for public and $2,331 for private.

“There’s no better investment than giving students the education they need and deserve,” Mr Rajendra said.

“It allows them to explode out of the starting blocks and contribute back to their community and the nation.”

q The NSW Teachers Federation met with teachers in Coffs Harbour last week.

q Korora Landcare volunteer Phil Bowden assembling one of the bird nest boxes provided by City of Coffs Harbour’s Environmental Levy Grants Program.

q Lachlan Manning and Landcare volunteers examining some of the critters found on site in a project funded by the Environmental Levy Grants Program.

Locals call for action not words on level crossings

By Andrea FERRARI

VOLUNTEER ambulance officer Jodie Williams has issued an invitation to Federal Transport Minister Catherine King to witness the dangers of a level crossing at Morrows Road, Nana Glen.

The National Level Crossing Safety Committee has been included in the invitation.

“(They should) see how dangerous these crossings are and how we cannot wait for grants and trials to be undertaken,” said Jodie, a member of the Nana Glen Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

It is estimated that nationally over 23,000 crossings pose a significant threat to rail and road users, the Morrows Road crossing being one which also threatens the safety of pedestrians.

The Australian Government held a National

Level Crossing roundtable on Wednesday 6 March in Brisbane.

The roundtable discussed opportunities to harness innovation and new technology to upgrade level crossings to improve safety, as well as the need for a consistent national approach to increasing awareness and education.

While the Government claims it is committed to finding better ways to improve the safety of level crossings in the regions, Jodie is seeking more immediate action.

“It certainly is good to see discussion taking place, but there is no talk of fixing them at this stage,” said Jodie.

The Government also announced that applications are open for Round Two of Level Crossing Safety Research and Innovation Grants.

The grants, which are a component of the Regional

Australia Level Crossing Safety Program, aim to fund and support research and investigation of new technologies and approaches to improve level crossing safety, and trials of innovative and lower-cost level crossing safety improvements, or better train illumination and visibility.

The results of the trials will be shared with governments and the rail industry to inform ongoing activities under the National Level Crossing Safety Strategy.

“The grants offered are only aiming to fund and support research,” Jodie said.

“The results will be shared, but no mention of implementation.”

In Round One of the Level Crossing Safety Research and Innovation Grants, the six successful projects were funded to a total of $2.8 million.

The projects are looking to trial a range of technologies, including rumble strips and flashing posts, train visibility, solar powered wireless technology and data monitoring.

“This is not an active fix,” Jodie said, “we are concerned and want to see action now, not sometime in the future.

“Surely this money could be better spent upgrading and installing safer crossings immediately.”

In a media release earlier this month, Minister King stated that every year, crashes at level crossings result in injuries, loss of life, and significant economic costs.

“The Australian Government needs to hold itself, and the contracted companies maintaining and caring for our railways, accountable for fixing the unsafe crossings,” Jodie said.

“When supposedly educated engineers tell you that the crossing does not

Little Wings celebrate IWD

By Andrea FERRARI

LITTLE Wings, a nonprofit organisation that provides free flight and ground transport services for seriously ill children in rural and remote areas, chose Coffs Harbour for its first regional International Women’s Day lunch.

Little Wings CEO Clare Pearson addressed gathered guests at Coffs Harbour Surf Club.

“This is our third consecutive year delivering an International Women’s Day event, opening up important conversations

about women, raising their voices and ensuring that they have a seat at the table to create change; embracing diversity and celebrating the unique offerings of women across all platforms.”

meet current safety standards, such as the Morrows Road crossing into Hilltop Farm and Equestrian Centre, you have to wonder why then it is not immediately addressed,” she said, having experienced that exact conversation.

“Unfortunately, I see nothing coming out of this roundtable discussion that is decisive and taking action to prevent further injuries/ fatalities to rail and road users.

“How many more must occur before it is taken seriously?

“This should be a major priority for the state government, not a grants process or trials but

definitive action to improve all dangerous rail crossings in rural, regional and remote NSW.”

As part of the Government’s commitment to the National Level Crossing Safety Strategy 2023-32, a national driver education campaign will be introduced this year in support of the Government’s zero harm goal at Australia’s level crossings.

“The national drivers education campaign is yet another band-aid in addressing the bigger problem of unsafe railway crossings,” said Jodie.

“Surely this money could be better spent just fixing the issue of safety?”

Ms Pearson said women continue to be impacted by health access disparities in rural and remote locations.

“At Little Wings we proudly support so many women, including the mothers and grandmothers that are supporting their seriously ill children through some of the darkest and most challenging times of their lives.

“But we continue to see children receiving a delayed diagnosis and treatment due to lack of education, support and access to healthcare services in the bush.

“We want to be part of that change, so here we are sharing the knowledge and tools for women and girls to be able to access, to have the language to change their narrative and improve their health.”

The event was made possible through Little Wings’ partnership with Multicultural NSW.

“We want to acknowledge their support, but most importantly, to thank them for being such an important part of the Little Wings journey,” said Clare.

q Gathered guests at the Little Wings International Women’s Day lunch in Coffs Harbour.

q Minister Catherine King at the roundtable in Brisbane on Wednesday 6 March.

q The open rail crossing at Morrows Road used to access Hilltop Farm and Equestrian Centre.

Climate activists take the stage with local poet

By Mary KEILY

PERFORMANCE poet Taj

Abdullah from Coffs Harbour joined an international act on stage in Bellingen earlier this month, in a show that focused on the global climate crisis.

Taj’s Eritrean family came to Australia twelve years ago as refugees from Libya, having fled war and persecution in their homeland.

“Poetry has always been a means of expressing how I feel about the world,” Taj told NOTA.

“At times, it’s felt like my identity has been quite politicised, so I write slam poetry.”

‘Artivism At Sea: The Voyage of Arka Kinari’ was a one-night act which featured a live performance of storytelling, music and video.

It was brought to Bellingen by funding from Arts Mid North Coast through the Create NSW Regional Audience Development fund.

On stage, Grey Filastine from Spain (percussion/ videography and narration) and Nova Ruth (vocals and electric guitars) from Indonesia spoke of their journey with global climate activists on their 70-tonne

ship, the ‘Arka Kinari’.

The pair have sailed for five years, circling the world twice.

They have witnessed Indonesian ports which are obsolete because of the rising water levels, divided whaling communities who threatened to burn their ship,

and survived “the doldrums” during the COVID period when all ships in international waters were stranded at sea and not allowed to dock.

Taj’s first poem was written when she was twelveyears-old, after feeling deeply impacted by the Christchurch mosque shootings of 2019.

Big blueberry wins world acclaim

By Mike HELY

IN a region already known for the Big Banana, the Coffs Coast can now lay claim to the world’s heaviest blueberry.

Costa Group, a global leader in the development of premium blueberry varieties, has hit the record books for developing and growing the world’s heaviest blueberry, according to the official Guinness World Records.

The blueberry was from the Eterna variety, as part of Costa’s globally recognised Variety Improvement Program (VIP), which licenses Costabred blueberry varieties in regions including the Americas, Morocco, China and South East Africa.

The blueberry was picked on November 13, 2023, at Costa’s berry farm in Corindi.

“It was the first time I really knew about politics and it was an awakening for me,” she said.

“Poetry became a means of activism for me and becoming more informed about the world and being able to spread my experience with others.”

Taj has been part of the locally-run ‘All One Under the Sun’ program, a youth arts project that supports young people from diverse backgrounds to build resilience and stand up against racism.

She said it was the first

time she felt her voice was heard.

Since then she has been involved in student activism with the School Strikes for Climate.

“A lot of young people have ‘climate anxiety’ and feel hopeless but coming together helps with that,” she said.

A member of the Bellingen Activist Network, Taj has written about her friends taking direct action to stop logging in the Orara State Forest, and has joined public demonstrations addressing the situation in

Gaza.

“I feel so empowered tonight, it’s interesting that Grey and Nova still found hope through all the turmoil they went through,” Taj said at the Artivism At Sea event.

Taj is seventeen and School Captain in her last year at Coffs Harbour Senior College.

Following school she has plans to attend university, studying International Relations and Politics.

She is also organising the upcoming Concert for Climate at the Coffs Harbour Education Campus.

The previous world record was for a 16.20g berry grown in Western Australia in 2020.

Costa’s VIP program is headquartered at Corindi and has been operating for more than 25 years, developing on average one to two new varieties of blueberries of global commercial value each year.

It utilises Costa’s extensive network of farms in mid latitude, low latitude, and low chill to mid-chill locations to select, evaluate and develop new varieties suitable for a range of global growing conditions, meeting both customer and consumer requirements.

Senior Horticulturist

Brad Hocking said the Eterna variety is known for its large fruit size, crisp texture and

Weighing in at a whopping 20.40g (0.71oz) and measuring 39.31 millimetres, it was grown by Brad Hocking, Jessica Scalzo and Marie-France Courtois.

long shelf life.

“Eterna as a variety has a really great flavour and consistently large fruit.

“When we picked this one, there were probably around 20 other berries of a similar size,” Brad said.

While the team is excited to be recognised with the

world record, quality and flavour remain the top priority in selecting and developing new varieties.

“This really is a delightful piece of fruit.

“While the fruit is large, there’s absolutely no compromise on quality or flavour,” Brad said.

George Jessett, Costa Berries’ International Horticulture Manager, said there was a huge amount of confidence and excitement around the new varieties.

“We are always looking to develop new varieties that improve on the current benchmark and

meet evolving customer requirements.

“We are also looking to breed varieties that are more adaptable to hotter climates, are more drought tolerant and with better resistance against pest and disease pressure,” George said.

q Hands down, this Costa Group blueberry is a world title winner.

q Blueberries are getting bigger, with this monster tipping the scales at 20.40 grams.

q Rahma Hasan and her daughter Taj, with Grey Filastine and Nova Ruth from Artivism At Sea and Alfira O’Sullivan, an Indonesian dancer from Stuarts Point.

q Coffs poet Rataj ‘Taj’ Abdullah.

Helping to buy school essentials

By Andrea FERRARI

OFFICEWORKS Coffs

Harbour’s recent 2024 Back to School Appeal raised $6,600, exceeding their store’s fundraising goal by more than $1,300.

The community-raised funds will go to The Smith Family’s Learning for Life sponsorship program, helping 2,000 children and families impacted by poverty afford the cost of their child’s essential school supplies like uniforms, books and excursions.

It also provides personal support and extra educational programs to help students stay motivated and connected to their learning.

“We’re so proud to have raised more than $6,600 for The Smith Family thanks to the support and generosity of the Coffs Harbour community,” Business Manager Kynam Sims told News Of The Area.

“I would like to thank each and every customer and team member who contributed to this year’s appeal and the vital work it does in enabling Aussie children to have fair access to education.”

Kynam said the local Coffs team feels honoured to

be given the opportunity to contribute in this way.

“This year, more families than ever before need a helping hand, and it’s such a good feeling to know that our support of The Smith Family is making a real impact in students’ lives, and helping to close the literacy and numeracy gap for families impacted by poverty.

“It was clear our customers felt that way too, as we exceeded our store fundraising goal by more than $1,300.

“It’s heartwarming to see that our passion for supporting education is mirrored in our community."

Over the course of its more than a decade long partnership with The Smith Family, Officeworks’ customers and team members have contributed more than $9 million through the retailer’s annual Back to School Appeal, enabling the provision of more than 14,000 one-year Learning for Life scholarships for students across Australia.

“When young people start school without the essentials they need to keep up with their peers, they risk falling behind and disengaging from their learning,” The Smith Family

CEO Doug Taylor said.

“With this long term, wrap-around support, even more students will be able to stay engaged at school and

make the very most of their education.”

The Back to School Appeal is part of Officeworks’ People and Planet Positive

RFS enlists surf lifesaver for aerial beach patrols

By Mary KEILY

A RURAL Fire Service (RFS)

aerial patrol from Red Rock to South West Rocks has taken on board a surf lifesaver to look out for rips and dangerous surf conditions, isolated swimmers and other threats such as sharks.

Covering 100 kilometres of coastline, the patrol has commenced running on busy days such as Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays during the warmer months.

Volunteer surf lifesaver and Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) Duty Officer James McLennan has now joined the team.

“We are really lucky to have a great partnership with the RFS who have a really large number of volunteers just like us,” said Gary McKinnon, SLSNSW’s Emergency Management Manager.

“The RFS has got a helicopter at Coffs Harbour, particularly located for the bushfire season, and now that the season is softening for them, it’s an opportunity for us to partner with them to enable the aircraft to go up and down the coastline and look out to increase coastal safety.”

The project was trialled last year and is now in its second season, commencing last month and running until 7 April.

Joining the regular flights are RFS crew Hamish Heath and Leigh Pilkington, who is trained in search and rescue.

Jason Myhill works on

the ground as the engineer servicing the craft.

“Through binoculars, the operators look for major rips or anything untoward, or any fishermen who have fallen in or sometimes just tricky or risky locations, or if there are any boats that have capsized,” said Gary.

commitment to support 30,000 students by 2025.

Having already supported more than 40,000 students since 2020, and

more than 16,000 Australian students in FY23 alone, Officeworks revised this goal to support 60,000 students by 2025.

“Anything unusual really, but particularly any shark sightings, especially near patrolled beaches.”

If the crew does detect a situation, the aircraft contacts the State Operations Centre in Sydney, then the relevant surf life saving club.

If there is an emergency,

the message will be direct.

“Sometimes the beaches are more remote, where 4WDs have to get to.

“This creates additional risks as there is not a lifesaving club nearby."

Gary offered the following safety message.

“I want to remind people

to swim between the flags and find beaches with patrolled locations, and if not, keep an eye on your friends and family.

“If fishing, wear a life jacket.

“There’s safety in numbers.”

q James McLennan rides alongside Rural Fire Service pilot Mark Fellar.

q Will Moore, Kynan Sims, Layla Olive, Keira Turnbull and Crystal Whalan, the Officeworks Coffs Harbour team who drove the Back to School Appeal instore, raising $6,600 for The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program.

q James gives the thumbs up to Rural Fire Service pilot Mark Fellar.

Championing the circular economy

By Andrea FERRARI

THE family owners of Raleigh Secondhand Barn are on a trajectory of empowerment through education for everyone interested in avoiding landfill.

Having faced the potential of closing the business during COVID-19, the Harfield family has rallied in response to the global responsibility of recycling, restoring, renovating and repurposing to minimise waste in the world.

“Our commitment to salvaging materials from landfill aligns with the urgency of climate crises and economic downturns,” coowner Scarlet told News Of The Area.

Motivated by these global pressures, the family has found renewed purpose by networking with local builders and tradesmen to repurpose excess materials and acquiring furniture from downsizing locals.

“Our aim is to provide quality, affordable furniture and building supplieschampioning the circular economy,” said Scarlet.

“Ours isn't just a shop; it's a haven for connections, bringing together individuals with diverse passions and knowledge, from antique restoration to vintage collecting.”

Their dedication to education reflects a commitment to empower the community.

“We are exploring collaborations with initiatives like Repair Café International, and looking at the potential of running small repair workshops.”

Pivoting in response to textile waste concerns, they have integrated a pre-loved clothing section, spearheaded

by Wendy's passion for vintage fashion.

Her son, Kristopher, has a discerning eye for quality and craftsmanship which has become instrumental in identifying furniture worth salvaging.

Their philosophy centres on preserving the value of these pieces, emphasising that items, when properly valued, endure longer and contribute less to the world's

establishment in 1986.

overflowing waste. Affectionately known locally as

Laws introduced to ban conversion practices

is fit for purpose and provides clarity around obligations for practitioners.”

bill

THE NSW Government last week introduced a bill to parliament to ban LGBTQ+ conversion practices, fulfilling a key election commitment.

Conversion practices, which can include so-called ‘conversion therapy’ and suppression practices, are formal or informal practices based on the ideology that LGBTQ+ people have a ‘disorder’ or require treatment.

Evidence shows that conversion practices are dangerous and damaging.

The NSW Government bill criminalises conversion practices that seek to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity and cause serious mental or physical harm.

It also provides redress to survivors through a civil pathway and makes it illegal to take someone out of NSW to undergo a conversion practice.

“Every person in NSW deserves to be respected for who they are and that’s exactly what these new laws will do,” NSW Premier Chris Minns said.

“It is intolerable that we have a situation in NSW where children can be told something is wrong with them and that they need to be fixed.

“I’ve personally met with survivors of conversion practices and know how important it is that we put an end to this.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park said conversion practices have “severely damaging health impacts”.

“These landmark reforms are the result of diligent and extensive work and consultation across a wide range of stakeholders to ensure the model is tailored to NSW,” he said.

“We want them to function effectively and as we intend.

“We have worked closely with a wide range of health experts to ensure that this Bill

The legislative reform was developed through consultation with stakeholders including members of the health, education, legal and government sectors, faith and multicultural organisations, LGBTQ+ community advocates and victimsurvivors, academics and researchers.

The Government says religious freedom will not be impacted by the legislation, with expressing a belief through sermon, taking offence at religious teachings, and seeking guidance through prayer not included in the ban.

“We have carefully considered this legislation, developing it thoughtfully following extensive consultation to ensure that it strikes the right balance between protecting vulnerable communities as well as legitimate religious and cultural practices,” Attorney General Michael Daley said.

“The Government does not intend to ban the teachings of a religious leader or expression of a religious belief through sermon.

“We have been guided by a core principle - that all people across NSW should be able to live free of practices that cause harm and be protected by evidencebased protections which the community expect, deserve and can rely upon,” he said.

Equality Australia and survivors of conversion practices have welcomed the

“We stand with survivors in welcoming this bill and we urge all MPs to seize this opportunity to end these archaic and harmful practices which have already caused untold harm and have no place in modern Australia,” said Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown.

“Years from now history will remember those who voted to put an end to these damaging practices, saving countless people from a lifetime of pain and in some cases saving lives.”

Before the state election last year both Labor and the Coalition committed to banning LGBTQA+ conversion practices.

Legislation has already been passed in Victoria, the ACT and New Zealand while Tasmania and South Australia are considering reforms.

Queensland has a ban on conversion practices in health settings.

“These practices deny the humanity of LGBTQA+ people and find no support among any medical or psychological professional  association,” Ms Brown said.

“Abuse dressed up as pastoral care or guidance is a breach of trust and power and it’s time we put a stop

to the real and lasting harm conversion practices cause to vulnerable people in NSW.

“We are looking forward to reviewing the bill carefully and working with all MPs in parliament to ensure survivors are protected comprehensively from harm.”

CEO of Ambassadors and Bridge Builders International (ABBI), Anthony VennBrown, said conversion practices were based on outdated information.

“Homosexuality was taken off the list of mental disorders half a century ago.

“Since then, often wellintentioned people acting on ill-informed and outdated information have continued to cause harm to the very people they seek to save.

“This legislation to

protect vulnerable LGBTQ people is long overdue.

“We are not ‘broken’ or need ‘fixing’.

“This bill will save lives and make NSW a safer place for LGBTIQ+ people."

Conversion practice survivor and SOGICE Survivors founder Chris Csabs went through conversion practices in Sydney starting when he was only sixteen years old.

“The introduction of legislation is a good and important step towards protecting LGBTQA+ people from experiencing similar harms,” he said.

“Now we turn our attention to advocating for the legislation to be in line with the survivor-led gold standard.”

q Chris Csabs went through conversion practices in Sydney starting when he was only sixteen years old.

The Barn, the business itself stands as a beacon of sustainability with a 38-year legacy since its

Michael and Wendy Harfield assumed ownership in 2005, transforming the shop into a cherished family endeavour, with Michael at its

core. After Michael’s passing in 2015, Wendy, Kristopher and now Scarlet are committed to growing The Barn as a community asset.

q Raleigh Secondhand Barn owners Scarlet and Wendy with an early Metters Limited Kooka electric stove.

q Kristopher’s discerning eye for value proved a turning point in the family business’ come-back.

Vidya Makan offers theatre industry workshops

By Andrea FERRARI

SHARING her industry experience was the pot of gold offered by professional Australian-South Asian performer Vidya Makan at workshops at the Woolgoolga Performing Arts Studio on the weekend of 9 and 10 March.

From leading shows such

as 'Sunday in the Park with George' and 'Six the Musical,' Vidya has made a huge impact on young artists from all over Australia, especially from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour) and CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) communities.

“We have so many passionate students, from

kids to adults, training in musical and acting at the studio and we are always aiming to further their scope and exposure of the industry,” Woolgoolga Performing Arts Studio (WPAS) and Naidu Theatre Company Director Jade Naidu told News Of The Area.

Vidya has been seen stepping her way to new

levels in the theatre industry as a performer, writer, composer and mentor.

“Vidya brought hands-on experience and knowledge straight from the industry to our students.

“From workshopping individual participants' audition songs, to breaking down the songs and structure of ‘Six the Musical’, she encompassed rounded training in all aspects of performing in theatre,” said Jade.

Contractor pares footprint at headland car park

By Andrea FERRARI

WALKERS frequenting Boambee Headland are relieved after the size of a fenced-off construction office area at the headland car park was significantly reduced.

Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) contractors have set up shop to work on the Boambee Creek Bridge rail repairs and installation of a new pedestrian footbridge.

When local conservationist Dave, who frequents the car park to access the headland, saw the original worksite footprint, he was dismayed.

“The contractor is taking up half the carpark and blocking the emergency/ maintenance access to the track area,” Dave told News Of The Area.

“This carpark is currently overfull every weekend.

“Maybe they think if the railway footbridge is closed people won't want to park there.”

The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) advised the contractor has been granted approval by the City of Coffs Harbour

to use some of the car park area to accommodate its site facilities, being deemed the most suitable location.

“ARTC will work with the contractor to minimise the impact to the community and make any necessary changes

to the current site to find a safe and practical way to create more spaces in the car park as soon as possible,” an ARTC spokesperson said. And they did.

A City of Coffs Harbour spokesperson told NOTA

q

Having attended the workshops, Cleo Davison from Woolgoolga told NOTA, “I had the absolute best time of my life during all the workshops taught by Vidya.

“I loved working with someone who is currently working in the industry, and I have gained so much knowledge to know about musical theatre.

“In these workshops we did a variety of activities such as: song writing, how to sing, singing warm-ups and

exercises, workshopping a song and a whole lot more.”

Chloe’s favourite activity was ‘how to find your presence’ for a character.

“I loved my learning experience and Vidya created a very welcoming environment for us to learn in.

“Through doing these workshops I have gained so much knowledge and information about musical theatre.”

that the fenced area was adjusted as the work site was established.

Having fenced off a large area to truck in the site office, porta-loo and storage container, contractors were then able to cut back the space significantly.

“The established work zone for a contractor involved in the Boambee Creek Bridge project has been completed, and only some four vehicle parks in the headland car park are impacted.

“This small exclusion area is required for the duration of the works which will see a

q The original fenced-off area as construction works began at Boambee Creek Bridge.

complete replacement of the footbridge.”

Mandy, another frequenter of Boambee Headland, chatted in the car park with a few passers-by on Friday 15 March.

“Most people seem resigned that they will lose access to the dog-walking beach (accessed via the old footbridge across Boambee Creek) for some time – the general consensus is that work will last about three months,” Mandy told NOTA.

Mandy herself has been using the steep pathway between the carpark and

Boambee Creek Reserve which is now closed for the duration of the works.

“My usual walk is from the reserve, then up the steps beside the railway to trek up to the lookout – that certainly raises my aerobic rate.

“I’ll miss that walk but can use the roadway during the bridge works, and those repairs look to be well overdue.”

The new footbridge is scheduled to be completed in July 2024.

q Vidya Makan working with musical theatre groups at Woolgoolga Performing Arts Studio.

q Vidya Makan working with adults training in acting and musical theatre from the Coffs Harbour region.

DEAR News Of The Area,

SCOTT Wolgamot’s letter on Friday 15 March was well researched and informative.

His explanation does well cause one to wonder why the State Government has not acted upon Council’s request of 9/6/22 to have the harbour dredged like it was in 2001.

Back at that time the MV Port Frederick was contracted to collect sand in the harbour and transport it past Muttonbird Island before releasing it.

Action required on harbour sand All-day parking problems

DEAR News Of The Area,

THERE is a petition circulating around businesses regarding employers and staff working in and around the town centre and the problem of a lack of allday parking.

The NSW Government’s latest news states: “extremely low tides, and weather conditions causing rapid sand buildup”.

Such water conditions are to be expected in an ocean environment, and low tides are well noted in all our tidal charts.

So perhaps it's best to blame poor design for the present (and continuing) problems.

And we should not accept that we now have improved facilities, when the reason for the facilities (boat ramp to access the ocean safely) is not safe in the normal

range of weather patterns.

I have witnessed boats caught on the sand, boats pushed around by sea swells, and boats unable to return to the boat ramp facility, effectively stuck at sea until tidal change.

None are a desirable or safe boating option.

It is very clear that such is a losing battle – whilst the rest of the harbour (which receives no dredging attention) also continues to accumulate sand.

So before there is a boating tragedy, or Coffs Harbour is recognised as not being a safe boating/harbour facility, steps should be taken to commence a serious level of dredging to the whole harbour.

Maybe the MV Port Frederick (or a similar solution) could be invited back to Coffs Harbour!

DEAR News Of The Area,

THERE have been many discussions about the Federal Government’s announcement to introduce Vehicle Emission Standards and the vehicle industry consultation which started a year ago.

Most countries around the world have Fuel Efficiency Standards, which is the amount of pollution a vehicle emits - not Australia.

We have become the dumping ground for polluting vehicles with nothing done over the last ten years.

We and our families have been

It is a basic expectation that people can go to work each day, leaving their car until they finish without the threat of multiple parking fines looming over their heads.

Not everyone can leave their place of business to go shift their car every couple

And presently, to try and contain the problem, there are never ending dredges, excavators, and trucks moving sand from the harbour to the quarry and then to places beyond. of hours!

It seems at the moment to be the norm to worry all day whether your car has been ticketed while you're off doing your job.

The petition touches on solutions such as council making more all day parking

It's about air quality Woopi Pool: What a disgrace!

DEAR News Of The Area,

I HAD my grandchildren come to visit over the Christmas holidays and decided to take them to the pool.

What a shame.

breathing in this pollution.

In 2017 Liberal Minister Paul Fletcher wrote an op-ed in which he stated: “Noxious emissions from vehicles - such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide and particulate mattercan lead to respiratory and cardiovascular problems.

“Vehicles also emit greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.

“Fuel efficiency standards are about reducing fuel costs and carbon emissions at the same time. “Eighty percent of the global vehicle passenger fleet is subject to fuel efficiency standards, but Australia has none.”

In Australia in 2016 the average amount of CO2 emitted per kilometre was 182 grams, in the US the target is 105 grams/km by 2025.

If Australia had Fuel Efficiency Standards in line with comparable nations, estimates of the fuel saving per passenger vehicle could be above $500 per year, or nearly $28 billion in total by 2040.

Can I say this is not the only issue; for a decade Australia has been importing the dirtiest fuel in the world and we share this dubious honour with Russia.

If we had vehicles manufactured to give us lower emissions with better quality fuel, we would have a better chance of getting less health issues from vehicle pollution.

I carried out a comparison of fuel

Expensive to get in.

Only one lane was available to play and to share with two other families while all other lanes were taken up by swimmers with one lane each.

There has been no maintenance to this

Living Well Expo draws 1000-plus attendance

By Andrea FERRARI

THE Living Well Expo held at the Coffs Harbour Showground in early March was declared a huge success by organisers and exhibitors, attracting more than 1000 visitors throughout the day.

Housed in the recently renovated Showground Exhibition Pavilion, the event allowed organisers to take full advantage of the vast venue, providing greater accessibility and allowing for larger displays than in previous years.

Curated to promote social inclusion and healthy living, the Living Well Expo was made possible by a small team from Blue Sky Community Services, Healthy North Coast, Shoreline, Carers NSW and Lifetime Connect.

Valuable support was also provided by the

Country Women’s Association, Lions and the Garlambirla Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Elders group.

Seventy-two exhibitors were on hand to provide information about services and support available for older people, people with a disability or chronic condition, and their families and carers.

The day kicked off with a Welcome to Country from Uncle Richard Widders.

Guest speakers throughout the day included Emeritus Professor Colleen Cartwright AM, Emma Lawson from the BCU Fraud Team, Lily Norman from the care finder program EACH and David Thorpe from Carer Gateway.

Special mention needs to be made of the wonderful student volunteers from Coffs Coast Community College, who provided valuable support on the day to the stallholders and attendees.

small 25 metre pool for years.

Does anyone even remember when the slide was up and running?

It's filled with tadpoles and slime!

I tried again another day and we were told it shut at 1.00!

q

Regards, Ian HOGBIN, Coffs Harbour.

spaces available and/or giving out permits for employers and their workers to put on the windscreen of their cars while at work, making them safe from parking fines.

I urge all who are affected by this to sign the petition, to be handed into Coffs Harbour Council ASAP.

Regards, Sharai HOHNER, Coffs Harbour.

consumption in an Australian imported ute and a similar vehicle in America and found the American vehicle used about two to three litres/100 km less, which over 20,000 km is about a $1000.00 saving.

Imagine in 2025 being able to buy the same vehicle with better technology, better quality fuel that produces less pollution.

Next time you are sitting outside a cafe enjoying a coffee or tea, I hope you think it's a good idea to have better quality fuel and less polluting vehicles.

For the health of our families.

Thank you, Colin HUTTON, Thora.

During the school holidays?

Not worth the money!

Get your act together Coffs Council.

Build a proper, new 100 metre pool at Wiigulga Sports Complex!

Woolgoolga deserves to have access to proper pool facilities.

Regards, Glenn H MULLAWAY, Coffs Coast.

Manny WOOD

A WILL seeks to ensure your testamentary intentions are upheld but what happens when the will itself goes missing?

That's the situation facing Dave’s intended beneficiaries.

According to Dave's will, the majority of his estate is left to his two children from his second marriage, Harriet and Daisy and his new de facto partner, Hazel.

However, he only leaves a small legacy to his three older children from his first marriage, believing they are already financially secure.

Dave keeps his original will at home, but after he is admitted to palliative care, his eldest son, Mike, removes the document.

When Dave dies, Hazel is unable to locate the will.

Hazel’s solicitor encourages her to try and locate at least a copy of the will.

Unfortunately, Dave had used a will kit, and there is no record of the will, nor any correspondence with a solicitor regarding his intentions.

Hazel is unsure who witnessed Dave’s will and in any event, they may not have been privy to the will’s contents.

Even if there was a copy of the will, proving that it is accurate and that the original will was not intentionally destroyed by the will-maker can be a lengthy and expensive process.

The solicitor explains to Hazel, that without a will, the NSW intestacy laws dictate how the estate is divided and depending on an assessment of her relationship with Dave, the solicitor advises that she may not be eligible to inherit, and the estate could be split equally among Dave's five children, which goes against his clearly stated testamentary intentions.

This situation underscores the significance of adhering to proper procedures in drafting and safeguarding a will.

Solicitors provide secure safe custody services for crucial documents and generally keep an electronic version in a secured data environment.

It is also recommended that the testator informs the executor/s of the will’s location.

Thank you to Anthony Fogarty for his assistance with this column.

Email Manny Wood, principal solicitor at TB Law at manny@tblaw. net.au or call him on (02) 66 487 487.

This column is only accurate at today’s date and cannot be relied upon as legal advice.

Pigs seen flying at the Jetty

DEAR News Of The Area, MINISTER Jackson says that she will ensure 30 percent of the proposed development at the Jetty will be affordable housing.

History says this won’t happen.

The time honoured form is for the glossy brochures and politicians’ promises to precede a zoning change of the land in question which enormously enhances its value.

The land is then sold immediately to the highest bidding corporate developer to actually carry out the work.

The developer, with legal obligations to shareholders but none whatsoever to

the community, discovers ruefully that modifications to the concept plan will have to be made in the interests of financial viability (public space and affordable housing are always the first babies overboard). The overseeing Consent Authority is the State Government which has just cashed the developer’s large cheque.

They, just as ruefully, accept the modifications.

If the State Government successfully rezones its land at the Jetty only two things are certain; this vital public land will be lost to the public forever and affordable housing will be built east of the railway line when hell freezes over.

Regards,

Frank SCAHILL, Coffs Harbour.

Hidden cost of industrial logging

DEAR News Of The Area,

MARK Graham's cogent and heartfelt letter about the costs of industrial logging to taxpayers and the environment prompt me to tell another revealing tale of an ongoing hidden cost to fires.

A great CSIRO scientist in the NT taught me to regard ants as indicators of the health of an environment, as they recycle plant litter, eat weed seeds and perform other hidden ecosystem services.

So when we often walked in the Gibraltar Range and Washpool National Parks, we could see perhaps fifteen species all going about their business in all parts of the bush.

Then came the massive fires of 2019 and afterwards, as we grieved in the shattered ruins of the rainforest and dry savannahs, we noticed there were no ants.

None.

Even the two metre high white ant mounds were dead, turned into pottery crematoria for whole communities.

The red meat ants that kept walking tracks clear of leaf litter and swarmed out as we passed were completely gone.

The little black ants whose earthern collars presage rain were gone.

None.

We have walked and looked every

five years since and the ants have not returned.

I am sure they will return eventually, and on fringes that were not burnt you can see some resettlement, but it will clearly take decades, maybe even a century to restore the functioning of these world heritage forests, heaths and hanging swamps.

In Victoria they are closing down their entire state forestry corporation on 30 June this year.

How many more millions of taxpayer dollars will we waste before NSW makes the same inevitable and rational decision?

Regards, Howard DENGATE, Safety Beach.

DDEAR Jasminda,

My husband insists on having his window down in the car, regardless of the weather.

He says he feels stifled with the windows up and the air-conditioner on.

I prefer to regulate the temperature.

How do we compromise?

Belinda W.

Dear Belinda,

I WONDER if it's a short-haired thing.

People with short hair (or no hair) can enjoy having the windows down without worrying about the sideeffects. It must feel invigorating to feel the wind on your face without the accompanying hair-whip.

My husband sounds like yours.

If we are going out, I leave with hair like Katy Perry and by the time we arrive I look like Dee Snider.

We've all become accustomed to modern living, but there was a time in the not-too-distant past when cars with air-conditioners were a luxury extra.

In winter, getting into the car was like stepping into the deep-freeze, and in summer, you could almost smell your skin sizzling as it stuck to the seat.

Clutching the steering wheel or attempting to put on a seatbelt was a test in resilience similar to walking on hot coals.

There are times when having the window down is appealing, though.

A few spring to mind:

1. You are driving along a scenic coastal route and enjoying the salty breeze.

2. You are pretending you are Bette Midler and singing Wind Beneath My Wings.

3. You are a Golden Retriever.

Apart from those examples, it's nice to regulate the airflow and temperature.

Also, spare a thought for people in convertibles (or in Mini Mokes or on Motorcycles) who not only have to find their glasses and keys before a drive, but also their berets (or helmets), gloves, scarves, and knitted knee warmers, and in summer, lashings of SPF 50.

Carpe diem, Jasminda.

DEAR News Of The Area,

I WAS saddened that Woolworths has decided to remove Norco milk from their Sydney shelves.

Norco struggled to survive after the devastating floods two years ago. To be knocked down again must be heartbreaking.

Where is the loyalty to an iconic Aussie name?

Regards, Hilary MELITTAS, Coffs Harbour.

From the Mayor’s desk

By PAUL AMOS (Mayor) City of Coffs Harbour

I’M so pleased City of Coffs Harbour has negotiated a trial of free bus travel within our region, also extending into the Bellingen and Nambucca Local Government Areas.

I’m happy to confirm the trial will now include free bus travel on Fridays and on weekends.

The trial is set to start in mid-April and it will now run for three months.

Busways Coffs Harbour and Forest Coach Lines really need to be commended for being such good corporate citizens and providing their support to make this free trial happen.

They have heavily subsidised this, and it really does tick all the boxes for creating a community that is connected, sustainable and thriving.

A core component of being a good Council is to connect the community physically and socially.

It’s great to think this free bus trial may encourage some people sitting at home to become more active and involved in the community, and help combat loneliness.

Just recently bus frequencies have been greatly improved, as have the direct connection timetables.

This initiative is called the 16 Cities program, which has been driven by the State

Government.

The Woolgoolga to Coffs Harbour route is one example of a route with increased frequency and direct service.

There are positive environmental impacts to using public transport too.

The trial will introduce people to the option of bus travel and potentially spark a habit of using public transport.

That can help build long-term sustainability.

The availability of free travel will have positive economic-spin-offs with people travelling around the region and spending with local businesses.

The trial will be promoted, measured and analysed, and it is hoped that it will have a lasting impact in pushing local bus travel to the forefront of people's mind when considering ways to move around in our city and the beautiful surrounding areas.

So please, give it a go and jump on a bus.

No need for illegal dumping

DEAR News Of The Area,

I READ the article in the NOTA February 1 regarding the selfish actions of people with regards to illegal dumping in the bush.

I also read the costs to take rubbish to the waste facilities.

These costs do not discourage illegal dumping.

However, anyone with an address within

the City of Coffs Harbour can ring Coffs Coast Waste Services and have two free Waste Tipping Vouchers per year (up to 200kg each) sent to them, which will enable them to self-haul rubbish to the tip for free.

In other news, it was an honour to be at the public opening event for the Solitary Islands Lighthouse Optic at the Jetty Foreshores last Friday night.

It was a memorable moment when, at last light, lighthouse engineer Jack Duvoisin gave the command to turn the Optic on.

The Optic is the largest item in the City of Coffs Harbour’s museum collection and it is now in a place where it can be seen and enjoyed by all.

The City is hoping to light the Optic in the future for special occasions so more people can see it in all its grandeur.

Lastly, I wanted to confirm that contrary to what you may have seen in misleading media reports, City of Coffs Harbour did not close down the National Cartoon Gallery.

This was a decision made by the National Cartoon Gallery alone.

So if you are going to put your rubbish in a trailer, why would you dump it in the bush with all the risk, when you can take it to the tip for free?

Regards, Glenn O’GRADY, Coffs Harbour.

Hypocrisy in anti-logging arguments

DEAR News Of The Area, Ouch!

A Fizelle (letter in NOTA of 8/3/2024) didn’t play rugby under the same coaches that I did through my early years.

I was taught to play the ball, not the man.

But rather than provide any factual counterarguments, A Frizelle just bundles my views up as the “biased and unhinged advertorial” of an “unabashed timber industry lobbyist” and a “company man” with a “vested interest”.

So, before I address the errors in their letter, perhaps I should lay my cards on the table and declare my interest in the native forest debate.

I’m a second-generation forest scientist (forester) with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the Australian National University (1987).

Does a forestry degree automatically mean that I “cannot see the forest for the wood”?

I don’t believe so, as a forestry degree provides the building blocks to understand how a forest grows, how it responds to disturbance, how to protect the forest and keep it healthy, how to maintain the multiple values a forest provides, including habitat, water quality, aesthetics, amenity and timber, and how to measure those forest values.

A forestry degree is a highly specialised natural resource management degree, and foresters apply their skills in many different occupations, including the many foresters managing National Parks, undertaking research (including anti-logging academic David Lindenmayer) or even representing ENGOs.

It is far easier for critics of native forestry, like A Fizelle, to label all foresters as agents of the timber industry, rather than recognise them as skilled, multi-disciplined forest managers, who care about the forests that they manage, for whatever the purpose.

If being a forester equated to being in the pocket of the timber industry, then the National Parks and Wildlife Service is full of agents of the timber industry.

After graduating, I built upon the foundational skills that my forestry degree

provided, gaining 20 years’ experience in managing and maintaining the State’s multiple use forests working for the NSW Government’s forestry department, constantly balancing the often-competing needs of forest users and stakeholders.

The State forests that I was charged with managing were established in the late 19th and early 20th century to preserve timber supplies for NSW after years of over-clearing for agriculture and overcutting to provide building products for European colonisation.

Since 2007, I’ve worked for myself as a forestry consultant, providing guidance and advice for clients and landowners about forest management.

As an old forester, I also donate my time to various forestry-related organisations, including Forestry Australia that represents 1,200 plus forest scientists, farm foresters and forestry professionals; Timber NSW that represents pole suppliers, timber processors and private forest owners; the North East Forestry Hub, a Federally-funded forestry research group; and Forest and Wood Communities Australia, a National grassroots organisation that represents the interests of communities that rely on a sustainable forest industry.

Does that make me a “company man” with a “vested interest”?

As a sole trader, I think not.

A Fizelle’s claims that “clear-fall logging” causing “moonscapes of death” occurs in the State’s native forests is false. In NSW, clearfall harvesting only occurs at the end of a rotation in plantations.

I find it hypocritical that those, like A Fizelle, who are seeking to end sustainable native forest harvesting in NSW by falsely suggesting that the hardwood products enjoyed by Australian today can be immediately sourced from a “transition to plantations”, are the very same people now trying to stop plantation harvesting in Pine Creek and Tuckers Knob State Forests.

The Great Koala National Park assessment area contains over 16,000 hectares of plantations, which is more than half of the State’s hardwood plantations.

ENGO’s are calling on the Government to include these plantations in the GKNP, as

even koalas can’t tell the difference between a 40-year-old plantation and a native forest.

Within the GKNP, only twelve percent of the public forests are available for selective harvesting under strict environmental conditions, with the other 88 percent of the public estate already managed purely for conservation.

My comment that fires are allowed to burn in remote, inaccessible National Parks for long periods of time is based on my previous bushfire experiences and more recently observations during the Black Summer fires.

It has long been the practice of both NPWS and Forestry Corp to let fires burn in remote areas, if conditions are favourable.

Conditions were not favourable in the Spring of 2019 due to the prolonged drought.

So, fires burning in remote, rugged terrain became a problem.

There were 11,774 fires recorded during Black Summer.

Of the 32 largest fires, 65 percent originated in National Parks, including the Gosper Mountain fire, which was the largest fire ever recorded from a single ignition point and burnt more than half a million hectares.

Part of the problem is lack of reasonable access for initial attack.

NPWS has a network of 31,000 km of fire trails to access their 7.2 million hectares of National Parks with only ten percent of those trails being in good to very good condition (National Parks and Wildlife Service Advice to the Bushfire Inquiry provided 25 March 2020).

Conversely, “the Forestry Corporation builds and maintains 60,000 kms of fire trails and access roads to provide close and rapid access to fires for mitigation works,

suppression and containment on its (2.16 million hectares) land” (Final Report of the NSW Bushfire Inquiry, 31 July 2020).

The other problem is management intent which requires NPWS to balance altered fire regimes as a threatening process with their statutory responsibility as recognised fire authority.

However, Recommendation 45 of the Bushfire Inquiry proposed that “in order to prioritise early suppression and keep fires small, Government set a KPI for NPWS regarding the percentage of fires that start on-park and are contained within ten hectares, and consider whether 70 percent is an appropriate KPI for the NSW RFS and NPWS”.

There are 9.3 million hectares of coastal native forests in the Regional Forest Agreement regions and that only 15,000 hectares or 0.16 percent is annually subject to (public) timber harvesting.

Over a 20-year period this equates to just 3.2 percent of RFA forests.

Despite this small footprint, Government allocates about the same money ($1.8M per year) to both the cross-tenure landscape monitoring program and just monitoring the Coastal Integrated Forest Operations Approval on State forests.

This equates to $120 per hectare for IFOA Monitoring and $1.80 per hectare for Landscape Monitoring, which still fails to include forests in the western region, River Red Gum forests or the National Parks surrounding the Sydney Basin.

Kind regards,

Steve DOBBYNS, Jamax Forest Solutions.

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Surf life savers make waves at State Championships

By David WIGLEY

THE Coffs Harbour Surf Life Saving Club's surf sports competitors embarked on a journey to Queenscliff for the highly anticipated NSW State Surf Life Saving Championships, held over the weekends of March 8-10 and 15-17.

Leading the charge, Sara Bergen made her mark during the Inclusive Championships on the first weekend, setting the stage for an impressive showing by the club.

Sara's stellar performances resulted in three gold medals in the Swim, Board and Wade events, along with a silver

and bronze in Flags and Sprint, respectively.

In the U19 Junior surfboat category, the team comprising Alexis French, Darcy O'Rorke, Abby Sams and Andie Kennedy clinched a hard-earned Bronze medal.

Battling against formidable competition, predominantly from Sydneybased clubs, the crew showcased their skill and determination, securing their place on the podium after navigating through several rounds of intense racing.

Despite challenging surf conditions at Manly Beach, the club's 200-plus male crew displayed resilience, finishing fifth in their final race.

However, tough luck struck the reserve boat division as the Coffs Harbour crew faced adverse conditions, with members taking a dip during a critical round.

In the water events, amidst towering 4ft to 5ft waves, the club's contingent comprising Maddison O'Leary, Abbey Lawler, Holly Becker and Jenson O'Leary showcased their mettle by making it to various championship finals.

The dynamic sibling duo of Maddison and Jenson secured commendable fifteenth and sixteenth place finishes in their respective board and surf race finals.

Additionally, Maddison, Abbey and Holly teamed up for the U17 Taplin Relay and Board Relay finals, securing sixteenth and fourteenth place respectively.

Holly and Maddison narrowly missed out on the Board rescue final, finishing sixth in their semi-final.

On the shore, Sam Carswell delivered a strong performance with a close fifth place finish in the U17 sprint and beach flags events.

Looking ahead, the club now sets its sights on the Australian Championships, where its crews and competitors will vie for success against the nation's elite.

q Club Competitors Sam Carswell, Abbey Lawler, Holly Becker, Maddison O'Leary and Jenson O'Leary at the championships.

Scheduled to take place on the Sunshine Coast from April 13 to 22, the event promises to be another thrilling opportunity for the club to compete with the best in the nation.

and coaches, acknowledging the months of rigorous training and preparation that paved the way for their excellent results.

Reflecting on the achievements, Club President Dan Backhouse commended the unwavering dedication of the athletes

"All have dedicated months of training to their respective disciplines, and they should all be very proud of their results," Dan said with pride.

Ricochet players converge on Sawtell

By Andrew VIVIAN

SAWTELL’S croquet courts last week welcomed players from a number of clubs, including Ballina Cherry Street, Hurstville, Toronto, Newcastle, Urunga, Coutts Crossing and Sawtell, to compete in three days of Ricochet competition.

Fiercely-contested doubles matches set the tone for the first day’s play, with David Scott of Ballina Cherry Street and Colleen Brooks of Hurstville proving to be a formidable duo, sweeping through their matches with ease and ultimately clinching the top spot in the competition.

The singles event was an

exciting double round-robin format.

Round one was open competition but, in round two, the playing field was levelled with handicapping to keep spectators on the edge of their seats.

The last match of the day for Block A was a decider for winner and runner up.

Kay Munro of Sawtell defeated Ruth Mulvaney of Toronto, clinching victory by a margin of five hoops.

In Block B, Helen Chalmers of Newcastle showed consistency and skill to claim the block.

The runner-up position for Block B hung in the balance and a nail-biting count back between Penny

Reflecting on the competitions, tournament director Jenny Arnold

North Coast make promising start

By David WIGLEY

Edgeworth's

North Coast maintained their composure.

Revan Dalaf sealed the deal with a confident penalty strike, securing a commanding 3-0 victory for the under 16s.

In the under 18s clash, Edgeworth Eagles seized an early advantage, edging ahead 1-0.

However, North Coast's resilience came to the fore, as Loki Marchant capitalised on a set-piece opportunity.

With impeccable timing and a composed finish at the back post, Marchant levelled the scoreline to 1-1.

North Coast rattled the crossbar as they pursued to win the game which ultimately concluded in a hard-fought 1-1 draw.

North Coast triumphed 3-1 in the under 13s and drew 1-1 in the 15s in a wellcontested stalemate.

However, Edgeworth

said, "There were many unforgettable moments in the games, and it was great to see champions such as David Scott share his ideas and skills throughout the competition.”

Eagles asserted dominance in the under 14s encounter, securing a 5-0 victory.

North Coast head coach Greg Brown was pleased with the performances considering the disrupted pre-season.

“It’s a promising start but, to be honest we are a little under-cooked and will get better as the season progresses,” he said.

“All three of our preseason fixtures were cancelled due to hot weather and a waterlogged pitch.

“The players are starting to find their combinations and will have more penetration in the final third as the season progresses.

“On Saturday we travel to Newcastle to face the Weston Bears.

“That will be a really good test and we are looking forward to playing the best teams in Newcastle.”

NORTH Coast Football teams kicked off round one of the Premier Youth League with two wins, two draws and

a loss against Newcastle powerhouse Edgeworth Eagles on Saturday at the Coffs Coast Synthetics. The under 16s set the tone with a stellar performance,

spearheaded by a stunning goal by Harry Creaser from Bowraville.

Creaser's deftly executed shot, guided with precision using the outside of his boot,

propelled North Coast to an early 1-0 lead.

Despite

spirited fightback, including a close call as they struck the crossbar from a penalty kick,

q North Coast’s Under 16s kick off their season with a 3-0 win.

Scott of Ballina Cherry Street and Wendy Forbes of Urunga saw Ms Scott emerging victorious.

q Ruth Mulvaney, Kay Munro, Helen Chalmers and Penny Scott. Photo: Jenny Arnold.

q Doubles winners Colleen Brooks and David Scott.

Raiders reign supreme

By David WIGLEY

THE Urunga Raiders clinched the 2024 Challenge Cup title with a commanding 4-0 victory over defending champions Coffs City United in a thrilling final showdown.

Entering the tournament on the heels of a victorious campaign at the Viking Challenge six-a-side competition in Forster, the Raiders were brimming with confidence.

First team coach Trevor Martin offered valuable insights into their journey over the two-day event.

“Saturday saw the girls win their three opening matches comfortably, clocking up a good tally of goals along the way.

“The fourth of their group games was played early on Sunday against Macleay Valley, who were a stronger opponent, but the Raiders still came away with a 3-0 win to see them top their pool without conceding

a goal,” Martin said.

Maintaining their momentum on Sunday, the Raiders navigated through the final rounds flawlessly.

Martin reflected on the intense battles, particularly the hard-fought encounter against Coffs Lionesses in the semi-finals.

“Finals rounds followed with the girls facing Coffs Lionesses who had progressed after also beating the Rangers that morning.

“This was a competitive and hard fought tussle with both teams creating chances,

but it was Urunga who claimed the win in the last few minutes after Bre Martin got in behind the Coffs back line to set up Kate Fry for the finish.”

With their win, the Raiders progressed straight to the grand final.

The Lionesses then battled through their subsequent second chance games for a second matchup against Urunga in the Grand Final.

“With the benefit of time out to rethink their game strategy and the extra miles

that Coffs has covered to get to the final, this game was not a replay of the first encounter,” Martin said.

“Urunga controlled the tempo and the midfield, creating good chances throughout the game and scoring four unanswered goals,” he said.

Amidst the growing

Sawtell, Nana Glen and Coffs Colts win grand finals

By Aiden BURGESS

COFFS cricket champions have been crowned after winning Coffs Harbour District Cricket Association’s grand finals.

Sawtell Cricket Club won the second-grade premiership beating the Coffs Colts in their season decider at Coffs Coast Sport and Leisure Park.

Sawtell Cricket Club won the second-grade premiership beating the Coffs Colts by eight wickets in their season decider at Coffs Coast Sport and Leisure Park.

Colts were all out for 119, with Daniel Maguire taking 4-21 from 8 overs, and Scott Griffiths 3-13 from 8 overs.

Sawtell finished at 2/120, led home by Dave McCormack on 52 not out.

Sawtell successfully defended the second-grade premiership they won last season.

Nana Glen Lizards won the third-grade premiership with a 27-run win against Bellingen/Dorrigo in their grand final at Toormina Oval. Bellingen/Dorrigo won the toss and elected to bowl, with the Lizards posting 184

all out in the 39th over.

Vincent Shrimpton top scored for Nana Glen with a knock of 64.

Aiden Bailey took 3-32 from 5.4 overs for Bellingen/ Dorrigo, as Aaron Knowles took 2-30 from 8 overs.

Chasing 185 for a grand final victory, Bellingen/ Dorrigo were bowled out for 157 in the 38th over.

Ross Bailey top scored for Bellingen/Dorrigo with 67.

Doc Ellis was the pick of

popularity of women's football, coach Martin commended the emerging talents within the club, signaling a promising season ahead

“Some great performances from some of our younger up and coming players both in the attacking and defensive aspects of the

game showcased the depth in the group.

“If our success in preseason is any indication, we are looking strong for a promising season ahead.”

Port United won the men’s event, defeating Pymble from Sydney 1-0 in the final.

the Lizards bowlers taking 4-22 from 3.5 overs, with Nagan Radhakrishna Pillai taking 2-18 from 7 overs.

The win capped off a great season for Nana Glen, who were minor premiers losing just twice.

Coffs Colts won the fourth-grade premiership with a 36-run against the Northern Districts Rebels at Reg Ryan Oval.

The Rebels won the toss and elected to bowl, with the Colts posting 8/141 from 35 overs.

Josh Graham top scored for the Colts with 44, with Charley Perrett taking 3-29 from 7 overs for the Rebels.

Needing 142 to win the grand final, the Rebels were bowled out for 105 in the 29th over.

Riley Humphreys was the pick of the Colts bowlers taking 3-7 from 5.2 overs.

The grand final win capped off a stellar season for the Colts, who were minor premiers losing just twice.

Coffs Harbour Basketball Round 8 wrap

By Aiden BURGESS

COFFS Harbour Basketball’s latest senior seasons continued with Round 8 games at Sportz Central.

Run It Back won their eighth straight game to start the Men’s A Grade season, having a 76-41 win against You Wouldn’t Understand.

Joseph Moran had a game high 24 points, and Rex Clutario top scored for the winners with 20 points.

All Washed Up! maintained second spot on the ladder with a 93-75 win against The Warriors.

Kaspa Ngohset had a game high 37 points for the winners, and Harrison Rayner scored 30 points for The Warriors.

The Chihuahuas were also winners in Round 8, having a 54-37 win against Shake n Bake.

Jonathon Orange had a game high 15 points.

24fitty maintained top spot on the Men’s B Grade ladder, having a 72-64 win against Can’t Catch A Breath.

Kieran Austin top scored for the winners with 17 points, and Trent Holder also scored 17 points.

Saints maintained second spot on the ladder with a 5141 win against Thunderbirds.

Patrick Whittaker had a game high 15 points for the winners, and Spencer Skinner also scored 15 points for

Thunderbirds.

White Chocolate had a 47-44 win against The Bears, with Edward Townsend having a game high 22 points.

Chiroraptors won their eighth straight game to start the Men’s C Grade season, having a 57-32 win against Clips.

James Hodgkinson had a game high 18 points, and Beau Watson-Sinclair top scored for the winners with 17 points.

Mantas maintained second spot on the ladder with a 73-31 win against The Sharks.

Waratah Women beat Women’s A Grade ladder leaders Coffs Harbour Suns Under 18s Women for the second time this season, edging past 39-38.

Tully Jarvis had a game high 25 points.

Coffs Suns Under 16s Women 1 had an 84-24 win against the Coffs Suns Under 16s Women 2 team.

Madelyn Potter top scored for the winners with 24 points.

Hilliars Roses went to the top of the Women’s’ Social Competition ladder with a 56-36 win against Block It

Like It’s Hot.

Bella Wiffen top scored for the winners with 22 points, and Natasha Heinrich had 20 points.

The Ring Ins had a 52-29 win against Coffs Reo.

q Sawtell Cricket Club’s second grade side.

q Winners are grinners: Urunga defeated Coffs City United 4-0 in the final.

q Urunga (maroon) won the Women’s 2024 Challenge Cup.

q The Nana Glen Lizards third grade side.

Valleys Cricket Club are the kings of Coffs cricket

By Aiden BURGESS

THEY have been the standout team all season.

Now Valleys Cricket Club are the kings of Coffs cricket, after winning Coffs Harbour District Cricket Association’s first grade grand final.

Valleys Cricket Club won the 2023/24 premiership with a 45-run victory against Sawtell, in the two day season decider at Coffs Coast Sport and Leisure Park.

The grand final win capped off a tremendous season in which they only lost once.

Valleys Cricket Club won the toss and elected to bat, and finished all out for 179 in the 63rd over.

Alec Baldwin was the hero of the day for Valleys scoring 93 when others struggled to score.

Richie Gallichan was the pick of the bowlers for Sawtell taking 4-49 from his 19.1 overs.

David Schutt was next best taking 3-40 from 14 overs, with Will Bailey taking 2-26 from 8 overs.

Chasing 180 for a grand final victory, Sawtell were bowled out for 134 in the 60th over.

Josh Bartlett had a top

spell taking 3-23 from 19 overs, with Jamison Dawes taking 4-33 from 12.1 overs.

Surfing for a good cause

By Aiden BURGESS

THE COFFS Coast’s surfers have once again hit the waves for a good cause during the 24th annual Barney Miller Surf Classic at Sawtell Main Beach.

The annual fundraiser helps to raise money for people who have suffered spinal cord and life-changing surfing injuries.

All proceeds from this year’s event went to seventeen-year-old Tamsyn McConnell and her family from Minnie Water.

Tamsyn was a passenger in a life changing motor

vehicle accident in September 2022, in which she was ejected from the car and now has severe spinal cord injury as well as a brain injury.

Event organiser Barney Miller gave his insight on a big three days of surfing at Sawtell.

“We had 164 entrants, which was slightly up on last year,” he said.

“We had people come all the way from the Sunshine Coast to the South Coast, from all the way along the coast.

“We had all the groms on the opening day doubled with the seniors, and the waves were so fun.

“They were a bit bigger than on the second day, it was awesome.”

He explained what made the event unique.

“It brings everyone together for a good cause, and we get some of the best surfers in Australia here which is even better,” he said.

“And we’re lucky to have such an amazing club like Sawtell Boardriders host it for the whole weekend.”

With the 25th anniversary in 2025, Miller floated the possibility of expanding the event.

“Maybe we could add another day, but that depends if we could lock in enough people,” he said.

“We could easily do a four-day event; that could be in the works.”

Competition Coordinator - Mid North Coast, David Horseman, gave a recap of the grand final.

“First grade was a very competitive game played in good spirit,” he said.

“Valleys were too strong over the weekend posting 179 runs despite a late collapse.

“Alec Baldwin starred with the bat on 93 after being dropped on a couple of occasions.

“Richie Gallichan taking 4-49 and ably assisted by Dave Schutt and Will Bailey taking three and two

wickets respectively.

“The Sawtell chase was stifled when their two opening batters were dismissed without troubling the scorers.

“This put the challengers on the back foot but some steady partnerships put them back in the contest with Trent Mitchell scoring 32 before Valleys broke through the middle order and exposed the tail.

“Jamison Dawes took 4-33 from 12, and skipper Josh Bartlett leading the way with 3-23 from his 19 overs as Sawtell were bundled out for 134.”

Horseman explained what made Valleys such a strong side.

“Valleys are made up of players from Macksville, Nambucca, Bellingen and Dorrigo, so they have a wide pool to select from,” he said.

“If there was a senior North Coast Cricket Council representative competition, they would be very competitive at that level.

“While they have a few players that stood out, they have excellent depth and bat deep into their order.

“Definitely the top team all year.”

q Barney Miller and junior surfers.

Coffs junior cricket teams earn grand final spots

By Aiden BURGESS

COFFS junior cricket teams have earned grand final spots after victories in the semi-finals of Coffs Harbour District Cricket Association’s Under 14s and Under 12s seasons.

Nana Glen Lizards and Sawtell Storm play off in the Under 14s grand final this week at Reg Ryan Oval.

The Lizards earnt a place in the grand final with a 79-run win

Puppy Power

build confidence, so we did that and I could see he was really enjoying it and when we did the agility class, he just lit up.”

Alfie has also helped Will out in his private life, particularly on his wedding day two years ago in Kingscliff.

“Alfie was my best man because a dog is a man’s best friend.

“His plus one for the wedding was his dog walker,” said Will.

“My wife Mel and I had eloped, so it was just the four of us with Alfie, the photographer and the plus one who were the witnesses.”

At the Autumn Trials, Alfie got his first qualification in the Open event.

“Despite not being as tall as the other dogs he competed against, he was quick enough to come fourth, which is pretty amazing.

“He is such a quick little guy.

“We came first in Jumping Dog Excellent (JDX), and we are gearing ourselves to run at the national event.”

Coffs Harbour Golf Club

Ladies

By Lynda BUTLER

TUESDAY 12 March – 9 hole Single

Stableford with 41 starters

A Grade – Fiona Ross (42) 22, Suzanne McOrist (16) 20

B Grade – Jenny Carson (53) 21, Lyn Kildea (53) 17

NTP’s - 3rd hole (Pro Pin) Div 1 – Sandra Dollin, Div 2 – Anne KingScott 6th hole Div 1 - Jo Gal, Div 2 –Maria Lindsay

Wednesday 13 March – Ladies

Single Stableford with 102 starters

A Grade – Greer Galloway (14) 41 c/b, Karen Brown (13) 41, Jude Cole (21) 40

B Grade – Clare Judd (27) 39, Dallis Hogan (28) 36, Louise Knight (27) 36

C Grade – Maria Sanford (35) 39, Jo Foggiato (36) 37, Christine Tessari (34) 36

NTP’s – 3rd hole (Pro Pin) Di Lawrence, Yvonne Avery 6th hole Molly Perren-Leveridge, Gael Tosio, Chris Cuthbert 22nd hole Jan Kirk, Robin

against the Coffs Colts in their semi-final at Reg Ryan Oval.

The Lizards opened the batting and scored 2/156 from 20 overs.

Manat Singh top scored with 41 retired not out, with Charlie Cameron finished on 36 not out, and Thomas Craig 34 retired not out.

The Lizards defended their total restricting the Colts to 6/77 from 20 overs.

Zoe Tarlinton took 1-3 from 2 overs for the Lizards.

Sawtell Storm earnt a grand final berth with a three-run win against Diggers Cricket Club in their semi-final at Toormina Oval.

Sawtell opened the batting and finished at 9/99 from 20 overs.

Busby Hibberd top scored with 28 runs, with Lachlan Richardson taking 2-16 from 3 overs for Diggers.

Chasing 100 for victory, Diggers fell four runs short with captain Jacka Britton top scoring with 32 retired not out.

Northern Districts Rebels Blues and Bellingen Green will play off in the Under 12s grand final on Saturday at Woolgoolga.

The Rebels earnt a place in the grand final with a ten wicket win against the Nana Glen Lizards, in their semi-final at Woolgoolga.

The Lizards won the toss and elected to bat scoring 5/48 from 15 overs.

William Jamieson was the pick of the Rebels bowlers taking 2-3 from 2 overs.

The Rebels chased down the total in the 10th over.

Bellingen Green earnt a grand final spot after a four-run win against Diggers Cricket Club Red, in their semi-final at Reg Ryan Oval.

Diggers won the toss and

elected to bowl, with Bellingen scoring 7/62 from 20 overs.

Johan Rajesh took 2-5 from 3 overs, and Darcy Franks took 2-5 from 2 overs.

Needing to defend 62, Bellingen restricted Diggers to 8/58.

Bellingen Green will be going for a rare double, having already won the grand final in the first Under 12s season this summer.

Sawtell Sixers and Macksville Bulls play off in the B grand final at Toormina Oval.

The Under 16s grand final between Bellingen/Dorrigo and Macksville Bulls was washed out last Friday afternoon, and is scheduled to be played this Friday at Dorrigo.

Parsons, Kerry Plummer 26th hole Leanne McComas, Kerry Farmer, Tania Norberry

Saturday 16 March – Ladies

Single Stableford split competition Eastlakes with 11 starters

Trish Lemin (17) 28, Di Lawrence (28) 27

NTP’s – 26th (Pro Pin) Bronwyn Morgan

Sawtell Golf Results

By Janet O’DOWD

12/3 MEDLEY Stableford A: Cameron Pollard 40, Alan Wallis 39.

B: Grant Martin 41, Garry Hardcastle 3. C: Keith Rhoades 35c/b, Charmaine Edwards 38. Balls to 33c/b. NTP 7

A: Grant Uphill (pro pin), B: Gary Vanderaat, C: Geoff Pratt. NTP 11

A: Todd Riley, B: Chris Turnbull, C: Charmaine Edwards 13/3 Irish Team Stableford

Debbie Telford, Gayle James, Liz Jackson & Sharon Shipman 85. Balls to 77. NTP 7 A: Glenys Davidson, B: Jenny Evans (pro pin). NTP 11

A: Charmaine Edwards, B: Debbie Telford

22nd Meryl Fisher

Lakes with 10 starters

Karen Brown (13) 36, Gloria Hickey (18) 32

NTP’s – 3rd (Pro Pin) Tracy Kean

15th Ada Lynch

Westlakes with 15 starters

Annalese KcKee (6) 36, Norma Andrews (19) 34

Urunga Men’s Veterans Golf

By Ross HARDARKER

MARCH 11

Single Stableford.

Another good roll up today with 32 starters contesting the Annual Memorial Shield.

Winner, with 36 points, Selwyn Newby, 2nd on 35, Ross Hardaker, on a countback from Bob Jones, also on a countback.

Run-down, Gary Teale 35, Bruce Ryan 34, Arthur Hassett, Grant Cardow 33, Mal Eades, Garry Matthews, Neil Richardson 32.

Bradmans Lawrie Renshall 17.

NTPs 3rd Jock Haworth, 9th Kevin Sanford.

Longest Putt Peter Inskip.

Slab Winner Peter Wood.

Overall Shield Winner Selwyn Newby. Congratulations Selwyn, who gave a touching acceptance speech on receiving the Shield.

Just a reminder from the greens

staff, our tee time on Monday is 8.30 am.

Please adhere to this to give the boys the time they need to prepare the Course for us.

Thank you all, see you next week.

Sawtell RSL Snooker Club

By Ken MASON

TUESDAY 12th March 2024

Main Draw Winners: - Terry

Jennar - R/U Lindsay Clayton

Consolation Winners: - Dave Lewis - R/U Brian Ng

q Will’s wedding day with his ‘best man’.

Woolgoolga Bowling Club Results

By Glenn LANE

TUESDAY Social Bowls 12 - 3 - 24

A Wroe and R Gurber defeated M Hopes and J Wilcox 22 - 16

M Lampert and C Latham defeated

B Richards and B Parker 23 - 18

R Bryan and S Bailey defeated J Weston and B Merchant 28 - 11

J Gibbins and F Cacciattolo defeated

D Barnard and J Hurrell 23 - 18

G McInerney and M Hodge defeated

Laurie Walsh and Lorna Walsh 15 - 11

J Taylor and H Schutz defeated G

Sawtell Bowls Results

By Geoff HAMPSON

EARLY REMINDER - As From 8th April

Monday Afternoon Bowls (2pm to 4pm) Replaces Twilight Bowls – Draw for Partners- Names on sheet at Club by 1pm- Payment and check in by 1.45pm

MONDAY Twilight Bowls 11/3/2024

R Redman, P Day, C Christian DEF R Hampson, L Kratz, D Tree S Kennedy, N Foy, A Day DEF S Kennedy, W Polly, D Ryan

M Ashley, J Cherne, N Elford DEF E

Safety Beach Women’s Golf Club

By Marilyn ELY

TUESDAY 12 March.

Congratulations to the team of Aileen MacFarlane, Kim Batty, Lyn Reilly and Teresa King for winning the Coloured Ball Shootout competition at Safety Beach golf course on Tuesday 12

Coffs Table Tennis Results

By Dale ALLEN

FRIDAY , 15th March, 2024

Division 1

Arpit Pathak d Will Fang 3/0, Reece Baker d Troy Prystasz 3/1, Will Fang d Troy Prystasz 3/0, Arpit Pathak d Reece Baker 3/1, Arpit Pathak d Troy Prystasz 3/0, Reece Baker d Will Fang 3/1. WINNER: Arpit Pathak from Reece

Park Beach Women’s Bowling Club

By Mandy TRENGOVE

CONGRATULATIONS to Kerry Blow and Lyndy McLeod winning the Minor Pairs defeating Carmen McVicar and Judy Clarke

Social bowls Wednesday 13th

Coffs Harbour District Darts

By Ray BEASLEY

SAWTELL RSL Club

Summer Comp Monday 11 March

Bad Habbits def TeeBeeAye 6-3

Warriors def Fluke Shots 7-2

DILLIGAF def Surgical Steel 5-4

Mid North Coast Veteran Golfers Association

By Colin CUTT

TUESDAY, 12th March, 69 Mid North Coast Veteran golfers competed in a single stableford at Coffs Harbour Golf Course, which was in excellent condition.

A Grade: Winner – Chris Noel 39, 1st runner-up Trevor Neaves 36, 2nd runner-up Drew Glasson 35 c/b, 3rd runner-up Joe Street 35 c/b.

B Grade: Winner – Steven Robinson 42, 1st runner-up Mark Stuckey 38 c/b, 2nd runner-up Terry Parsons 38 c/b, 3rd runner-up Bernie Axford 38.

Smith and T McKenzie 23 - 10

K Stirling and S Dodd defeated B Morris and T Allen 34 - 7

G Lane and I Cork defeated D Hodge and G Pallister 17 - 13

R Ryan and G Cunningham defeated R Shaw and P Wroe 20 - 19

1st Rink A Wroe and R Gurber 2nd Rink G McInerney and M Hodge

3rd Rink J Taylor and H Schutz 4th

Rink R Ryan and G Cunningham No Jackpot

Woolgoolga Wanderers Wednesday

13 -3 - 24

P Diamond, P Devine and I Cork defeated C Smith, J Martin and I Gentle

24 - 23

G Woolley, S Ferro and R Shaw

Korchma, J Ashley, B Kennedy

G Hampson, L Mitchell DEF K Mason, K Taylor TUESDAY– Ladies Social Bowls

12/3/2024

H Muir, J Wheeler DEF G Pickard, J Partridge

M Friend, L Wheeler, E Tindall DEF

M Sharman, M McDonald, D Tree

A Day, K Lewis DEF R Lucas, D Ide

T Rhoades, N Elford, N Foy DEF L Savage, T Thomas, N Harvey WEDNESDAY- Men’s Social Bowls

13/3/2024

C Christian, S Wilkinson, P Warby DEF A Brooks, G Fisher, N Sillar

March with 35 pts. A good win ladies. This is a frustrating game but fun if you don’t take it too seriously.

A single stableford game was the support and winner of the day was Leanne Clark with 38 pts. Runner-up, Wendy Rogers who played a really lovely game and scored 37 pts and Julie Castle 36 pts on c/b from Teresa King.

NTP 4th Di MacRae, 7th Marian Brading, 9th Susan Spiller and 11th Carole Stone. The raffle was won by

Baker. Division 2

Lachlan Dierkx d Ann Joy 3/0, Colin Deng d Steve Hitchcock 3/0, Paul Hendriks d Ann Joy 3/0, Lachlan Dierkx d Steve Hitchcock 3/2, Paul Hendriks d Steve Hitchcock 3/1, Lachlan Dierkx d Colin Deng 3/2, Paul Hendriks d Colin Deng 3/2. Ann Joy d Steve Hitchcock 3/0, Lachlan Dierkx d Paul Hendriks 3/2, Colin Deng d Ann Joy 3/2. WINNER: Lachlan Dierkx from Paul Hendriks.

March

T Thorn, P Garner, L Loadsman def S Betts, M England, C Jones 16/13

C Domjahn, J Kennedy, J Woodford def L McLean, D Futcher, R Crestani 22/12

C Keogh, B Bodel, Y Schmidt def H Illingworth, P Poulton, M Watt 18/11 L Clancy, S Cornish, J Slater def K Moody, C O’Dwyer, C Garrett 15/14

Thunderstruck - Bye 100s

Donna (1)

Hannah (1)

Ben (5)

Bob (3)

Brad (6)

Craig S (3)

David (1)

Dean (2)

Josh (1)

Kevin Ca (2)

NTP’s: 12th Houston Baker, 15th Anthony Grebert, 22nd Matthew Connell, 26th Neville Newman.

Ball run to 32 pts.

defeated Bear, R Pilon and D Mason

18 - 16 M Lampert, B Pendred and P Jones defeated T Collins, J Whalen and I Carruthers 33 - 7

G Lane and K Costelloe defeated S

Oliver and I Brien 30 - 21

G Burgess and B Lipman defeated R Holliday and M Mulligan 23 - 17

1st Rink G Lane and K Costelloe

2nd Rink M Lampert, B Pendred and P Jones

Lucky Loser C Smith, J Martin and I Gentle

No Jackpot

Friday Social Bowls 15 - 3 - 24

T Allen and M Brookes defeated N

Haines and J Hampstead 4 - 3

N Kotrozos, J Oates, R Morris DEF N

McClelland, J Reichman, J Field, N Thomas, N Lamond, L Preston

DEF T Lavelle, C Attard, B Blight

T Brooks, R Cridge, G Denniss DEF

B Cranley, D Bond, B Meadows

K Sharman, D Wheeler, M Flint DEF

P Covington, M Sharpe, A Wagstaff

P Bird, I Muller, J Marshall DEF J Richardson, H Slater, J Urge

B Newling, P Bartholomew, G Campbell DEF J Harter, G Hunt, M

Wilson

R Petterson, A Baker, B Martin DEF

B Fitzpatrick, B Clugston, R Williams

R Smithers, S Shaw, J Rice DEF W

Penny Andrews. Our Pennant team played Coffs Harbour ladies at Macksville recently and the round was squared. A good result on the newly revamped Macksville course. The changes seem to be very popular.

Up-coming games are Safety Beach Open Day then fourteen ladies are travelling to Tenterfield early April to play a two day tournament which is always a good comp followed by a

Division 3 King McKie d Sharee Templeton 3/2, Terry Baker d Char Berglund 3/1, Yash Tyagi d Sharee Templeton 3/2, King McKie d Char Berglund 3/1, Yash Tyagi d Char Berglund 3/0, Terry Baker d King McKie 3/1, Yash Tyagi d Terry Baker

3/1, Char Berglund d Sharee Templeton

3/1, Yash Tyagi d King McKie 3/0, Terry Baker d Sharee Templeton 3/2.

WINNER: Yash Tyagi from Terry Baker.

Division 4

V Maher, S Hancock, R Jupp def J Rodwell, M Trengove, R DeMeio 25/15

Y Hinsley, J Farrell, H Hardwick def

T Rhodes, E Kidd, D Hargraves 16/14

Mixed Pairs Friday 15th March

A Stone, J Phillips def R Coffey, C Cutt 26/13

N and C England def R Jupp, L Loadsman 12/9

R Oakley, V Slater def C Keogh, S

Kevin Co (1)

Kurt (1)

Paul (4)

Peter (1)

Rob (3)

Rory (3)

Sam (3)

Steve (3)

Trevor (3)

High pegs

Ben (74)

Peter (57)

Stroke - Sponsor: Ladies Golf

Winner: D.Navin c/b 76 nett

R/U: M.Cooper 76 nett

Putts: J. Tierney

Balls: H.Trist, A.Cameron, K.Fitzgerald, J.Tierney

Friday 15/3/24 - Irish Stableford

2 person Team - Sponsor: Ladies Golf

Winners: C.Fahey & F.Jones 45 pts

R/U: K.Saye & S.McLean 42 pts

Congratulations to all the winners, and thank goodness the weather has cooled a little. Our Irish stableford event ran true to name, there was confusion with the scoring in one camp, the method was simple, they just made it difficult, it did get sorted though, and we all had a lot of fun . As always, our sincere thanks to our sponsors.

J Hurrell and H Katala defeated M Lampert and R Gurber 9 - 8

J Taylor and P Devine defeated J Hinchley and S Bailey 8 - 6

R Shaw and A Wroe defeated G Lane and I Cork 15 - 8

Jeff, W Prosser and C Davis defeated Gerry Smith, F Cacciattolo and D Mason 14 - 8

H Schutz and R Ryan defeated J Martin and I Gentle 10 - 2

1st Rink T Allen and M Brookes

2nd Rink Jeff, W Prosser and C Davis

3rd Rink R Shaw and A Wroe No Jackpot

Hall, M Aujard, D Anderson

W Vaughn, A Robinson, J Townsend DEF M Cutts, N Wong, J Murtas

N Stahlhut, P Weir, A Sorbello DEF R Rolinson, M Jenkins, G Walsh

THURSDAY 14/3/24 Women’s Fours Championships 2024

J Brown, T Karam, J Smithers, J Townsend DEF S Mason, L Wheler, K Lewis, C Hill

T Rhoades, F Sharpe, J Partridge, N Foy DEF G Pickard, H Muir, L Mitchell, M Sharman

FRIDAY -Open Social Bowls 15/3/2024 /Abandoned due to rain.

Vs Par at Safety Beach on Tuesday 9 April. The new Beach Street Dining 9 hole Medley comp is well underway. Its playable any day of the working week and is a formal stableford comp. Get a partner, husband and/or friend a enjoy the course. A big thankyou to the volunteers who have been out on the course early on Thursday to help clean up around the grounds. The results are obvious and look great.

Nick Jankovic d Boyd McGregor 3/0, David McGrath d Deb Burleigh 3/0, Dale Allen d Boyd McGregor 3/2, Nick Jankovic d Deb Burleigh 3/0, Dale Allen d Deb Burleigh 3/0, Nick Jankovic d David McGrath 3/0, Dale Allen d David McGrath 3/0, Boyd McGregor d Deb Burleigh 3/1, Dale Allen d Nick Jankovic 3/1, David McGrath d Boyd McGregor 3/2. WINNER: Dale Allen from Nick Jankovic.

Jones 17/14

D Hargraves, Y Schmidt def R and M DeMeio 16/13

M Cutts, J Murtas def S Bailey, D Star 17/11

M Miller, E Kidd def D Futcher, R Lane 19/12

K and T Blow def G Duffy, D Lindner 16/13

Rory (56)

Steve (62,56)

Leader Board

Warriors 32

DILLIGAF 31

Bad Habbits 25

TeeBeeAye 22

Surgical Steel 20

Thunderstruck 18

Fluke Shots 14

Coffs Harbour Rifle Club

By Geoffrey HART

MARCH 17 - Dairyville Range

100m Centrefire match was conducted with 14 participants.

Master Grade: Glenn K 94.4, Joel Walker 91.2, A Grade: Daniel Finlay 88.5, Stuart D 85.1, B Grade: Lindsay McConachy 93.5, Member-677 88.3, Tony Bowling 81.1, C Grade: Cooper Finlay 84.3, Michelle D 84.0, Cherelle Steinhardt 81.1, Phil Hartmann 72.1, Ron Dean 70.1, Wendi H 69.0, Using a rest: Bradley K 84.7

HULBERT

Winifred ‘Win’

13th March 2024, passed peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family. Late of Sawtell. Dearly beloved wife of Ted (dec’d). Adored and loving mother of Ross & Fiona, David and Helen. Special mum to Janine. Adored grandmother of Rebecca & Heath, Nikki & Sheree, Melanie & Michael, Danny & Jess, Louise, Rob, Kim & Justin. Treasured great-grandmother and matriarch of her close-knit family. Dear friend to many.

In Her 102nd Year

Reunited With Ted A private family Funeral Service was held for Win in the Chapel of Hogbin Drive Crematorium, Stadium Drive, Coffs Harbour.

KEITH LOGUE & SONS Coffs Harbour 6652 1999 Funeral Director’s Assoc. of NSW Accred No 12033-01

Irene Elaine Brown

17th March 2024

Passed away peacefully with family by her side at Mater Christi Nursing Home. Much loved wife of Bob (dec). Loving mother and mother-in-law to Colleen McNabb & Fred Stelfox, Robert (dec), Janette (dec), and Wendy & Wayne Hardaker. Much loved Nana to Scott, Damon, Caine, Carlee, Aaron, Justin and their partners. Cherished Great Gran & Great-Great Gran. Sadly missed by extended family and friends.

Aged 101 Years

Forever in our hearts

Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend Irene’s Requiem Mass to be held on Thursday, 28th March 2024 at 11am in the Our Lady of the Way Chapel, Marian Grove, Toormina. Thence for private cremation.

For those who cannot attend in person, you are invited to view the livestream on the Victor Rullis Funerals website.

VICTOR RULLIS

FUNERAL SERVICES

(02) 6651 5007

www.funeralcoffsharbour.com.au

Barry James Hunter

15th March 2024

Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend Barry’s funeral service to be held on Monday, 25th March 2024 at 11am in the Chapel of the Coffs Harbour Crematorium, Coramba Road, Karangi.

VICTOR RULLIS FUNERAL SERVICES

(02) 6651 5007

www.funeralcoffsharbour.com.au

COOLEY Elsie Edna

16th March 2024, passed peacefully at Coffs Harbour Health Campus following a short illness, surrounded by family. Late of Toormina, formerly of Dorrigo. Dearly beloved wife of Neville (dec’d). Loving mother of James & Penny and Michael & Lena. Adored grandmother of Mitchell, Tashy, Lexi, Issa and Ella. Loving sister of Leonie, Valerie, Yvonne and Jack ‘Boy’ (all dec’d).

Aged 87 Years

Will Be Lovingly Remembered Always

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Elsie’s Funeral Service to be held in the Chapel of Hogbin Drive Crematorium & Memorial Gardens, Stadium Drive, Coffs Harbour on Monday 25th March 2024 commencing at 10.00 am.

KEITH

Kenneth Morley (Ken)

20th March 2024

Passed away peacefully at Coffs Harbour Health Campus. Late of Boambee East. Beloved husband of Kath, previously Jean (dec). Adored father of Kim, Mick, Coral and Jenita. Loved father-in-law, Poppy and Pa to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Fond brother-in-law to Tony. Loved and sadly missed by all his family and friends.

Aged 93 Years

Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend Ken’s funeral service to be held on Wednesday, 27th March 2024 at 11am in the gardens of the Coffs Harbour Crematorium, Coramba Road, Karangi. Thence for burial in the adjoining Coffs Harbour Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of floral tributes, donations can be made to Coffs Harbour Legacy and the Harbour Lights Volunteer Group.

VICTOR RULLIS FUNERAL SERVICES

(02) 6651 5007 www.funeralcoffsharbour.com.au

Siegfried Meyle ‘Fred’ ‘Siggy’

7th March 2024

Passed away unexpectedly at home. Loved husband of Lotte (Dec). Adored father of Heidi & Linda, treasured Opa to Ben, Connor, Hannah, Aliana and Sam. He will be sadly missed by extended family and friends.

Aged 86 Years

Forever in our hearts.

Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend Siegfried’s funeral service to be held on Saturday, 23rd March 2024 at 10am in the chapel of the Coffs Harbour Crematorium, Coramba Road, Karangi. For those who cannot attend in person, you are invited to view the livestream on the Victor Rullis Funerals website.

VICTOR RULLIS

FUNERAL SERVICES

(02) 6651 5007 www.funeralcoffsharbour.com.au

SPRIGGS, Mavis Aileen

Late of Coffs Harbour and formerly of Taree and Old Bar, passed away peacefully Tuesday 12th of March 2024.

Aged 98 Years.

Beloved wife of Alan (dec). Loving Mum of Ann & Lennie and Jane & Andrew. Cherished Nan of Robert, Timothy (dec), Matthew, Jodie, Michael and Great Nan to her seven great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. Will be sadly missed by her extended family and friends.

Mavis' Funeral Service is to be held in the Chapel at Manning Great Lakes Memorial Gardens Crematorium, 183 Pampoolah Road, Pampoolah, commencing at 11.00am on Friday 5th of April.

Funeral

Funeral Notices

TEGG

Thomas John ‘Tom’

20th March 2024, peacefully at Mater Christi with his family by his side. Much loved husband of Stella. Loving father and father-in-law of Michael & Dani, Oliver & Angela and Brendan & Nikki. Loved ‘Poppy’ of Harry, Ella, Lexi, Brody, William and Lachlan. Tom will be sadly missed by all his extended family and friends.

Aged 83 Years

Rest In Peace

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Tom’s Requiem Mass to be celebrated in Our Lady of The Way Chapel, Marian Grove, Toormina on Monday 25th March 2024, commencing at 10.00 am, thence for private cremation.

KEITH LOGUE & SONS

Coffs Harbour 6652 1999 Funeral Director’s Assoc. of NSW Accred No 12033-01

WIGGINS

Geoffrey Herbert ‘Wiggo’

Public Notices

COFFS HARBOUR JETTY FORESHORE PRECINCT ABORIGINAL CULTURAL HERITAGE ASSESSMENT

COFFS HARBOUR JETTY FORESHORE PRECINCT

Property and Development NSW (PDNSW) is continuing to progress a community led revitalisation of the Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshore Precinct (Precinct) on behalf of the NSW Government. The Precinct is wholly owned by the NSW Government and located on the traditional lands of the Gumbaynggirr people, within the bounds of the Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) and the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area.

In December 2022, following extensive community consultation, PDNSW released a refined masterplan which incorporated community feedback and had an even greater focus on public open space, support for local businesses and tourism opportunities, to create a thriving regional economy. PDNSW is finalising detailed technical studies to support the precinct masterplan and is now targeting lodgement of a rezoning proposal with Department of Planning, Housing an Infrastructure (DPHI) by the end of March 2024.

Public Notices

TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE

Woolgoolga

Vasahki Sikh Parade

13 April 2024 Tasman Street, Corindi Beach

To register for latest news and updates on the Precinct visit https://www.dpie.nsw. gov.au/housing-and-property/our-business/precinct-development/coffs-jettyrevitalisation or the Proponent can be contacted via email at precinctdevelopment@ dpie.nsw.gov.au

ABORIGINAL CULTURAL HERITAGE ASSESSMENT REPORT (ACHAR)

Artefact Heritage has been commissioned by Property and Development NSW (PDNSW) (‘the Proponent’) to conduct an ACHAR for the Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshore Precinct. The ACHAR will be conducted in accordance with the relevant guidelines under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, including community consultation with Registered Aboriginal Parties.

The assessment will detail the nature, extent, and significance of any Aboriginal cultural heritage resources that may exist within the subject area and provide recommendations regarding management of those resources. With this front of mind, the DPHI has accepted the staged submission of the ACHAR to allow the appropriate time required for community consideration. DPHI will not commence public exhibition of the Explanation of Intended Effect until the final ACHAR is submitted as part of the supporting studies.

INVITATION TO REGISTER AN INTEREST

The Proponent is inviting registrations of interest in the project from Aboriginal parties, groups or individuals who hold cultural knowledge relevant to determining the significance of Aboriginal objects and/or places in Coffs Harbour area.

Please register your interest by writing to the contact details below by COB 5 April 2024:

17th March 2024, peacefully at home. Much loved husband of Dot (dec’d). Loving father of Karen & Terry, John & Carmel and Kim. Adored pa of Nicole, Geoff, Rebecca, Carlie, Jake, Hope, William and Koby. ‘Old pa’ to their children. Geoff will be sadly missed by all that knew him.

Aged 81 Years

Reunited With Mum

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a Celebration of Geoff’s Life to be held in the Chapel of Hogbin Drive Crematorium & Memorial Gardens, Stadium Drive, Coffs Harbour on Friday 22nd March 2024 commencing at 1.00 pm.

Geoff’s Funeral Service will be live streamed on Keith Logue & Sons Facebook page.

KEITH LOGUE & SONS

Coffs Harbour 6652 1999

Funeral Director’s Assoc. of NSW Accred No 12033-01

City of Coffs Harbour herby advises that pursuant to Section 115 of the Roads Act, 1993 and in accordance with the authority delegated to it by Transport for NSW, it proposes to allow the rolling road closure of:

City of Coffs Harbour hereby advises that pursuant to Section 115 of the Roads Act, 1993 and in accordance with the authority delegated to it by Transport for NSW, it proposes to allow the rolling road closure of: Tasman Street, Corindi Beach from 8th April 2024 to 3rd May 2024 between 7am to 5pm.

Kelly Barton Artefact Heritage Suite 56, Jones Bay Wharf, 26-32 Pirrama Road Pyrmont NSW 2009

Or email consultation@artefact.net.au

Note: consultation guidelines require sharing the contact details of Registered Aboriginal Parties with Heritage NSW (formally Office of Environment and Heritage) and the Coffs Harbour and District LALC. If there is a preference towards not sharing these details, this must be specified in the response. Suggested format: Permission to share contact details is not provided at this time.

Telephone enquiries should be directed to City of Coffs Harbour on (02) 6648 4000. For Rent

• River Street, Nightingale Steet, Beach Street, High Street, Nelson Street, Scarborough Street, Gordon Street, Queen Street and Hastings Street, Woolgoolga, between 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and the temporary road closure of:

• Beach Street, Woolgoolga between 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm

Telephone enquiries should be directed to City of Coffs Harbour on (02) 6648 4000.

MALTESE Shih

Tzu puppy. Boy

Available now.

Located in Port Stephens BIN# B000616552

Call or text

0474 378 452

RURAL Cottage, 1 bedroom, $350 pw plus power. 11mins to Coffs CBD. References essential. 0423 704 868 e220324

EASTER garage sale, Sat 23/3, 8am - 3pm, camping gear kitchenware, furniture, bric a brac, books, games plus more. 179 Edinburgh St, Coffs

For Sale For Sale

2 fridges plus wine fridge corner cupboard unit and gas heater. Prices neg. 0407580436

80 DVDs, a few movies but majority war documentaries. $50. Ph 0411 352 198

A variety of pictures old & modern prints, several by old masters. Reducing collection, prices lower Phone 6652 3791

ASSORTED tools from $2. Open to offers. 6654 0829 e290324

BBQ, GC, 4 burner captain cook, older style $15. 0419 166 688

BENCH grinder. $100 0400 323 656

BILLARD table 8ft x 4ft plus accessories - equal to new. Slate top, Drop pockets, turn legs and sides. Full price $5,000 Ph: 6653 7595

BISLEY womens workpant stretch cotton S10 1x black 1x stone Brand new $30 each Ph 0432 294 491

BLOWER Vacuum Morrison. $30 0499 592 475

BOOKCASE, white 4 shelves, 150cm H x 90cm W x 30cm D. $20 0499 592 475

BOOTS blk 37 Dj & J $90. 0432 294 491

BOOTS, blk s37 Effegie $50. 0432 294 491

BOX trailer, 6 x 4, brand new with cage at sides Never used. TK16WC $1,500. 0412 852 321 F150324

BOX Trailer 6 x 4, steel trailer with marine grade laminate timber floor New LED lights, harness & trailer plug, new galv 6" jockey wheel, new vinyl, zippered PMG style camping cover, 3 new commercial grade tyres, rego. TM 57BH 99 months rego (Sept. '24)

$2,000 ono. Ph 0415 669 378 e220324

BREVILLE bread and dough maker, used once. $98. 6653 8337 or 0419 166 688

CAMPING Rooftop ladder. Extendable. Alum James Baroud. Never used. $70. 0437 543 943

CANON Printer colour Pixma. $25ono Ph: 6650 0380

CASSETTE, Turn table and CD player (without remote) in beautiful cond $100. Can send photos Call 0488 799 424

CD Rack stand, Solid timber holds 60 CD’s in excel cond $40 Ph 0422 440 802 Woopi F180823

CHILDRENS play table and 2 chairs, painted wood, 1 metre plus. $90. 66523791

CHILDS bed, suit 2-10 year old, drawers mattress, GC. $95 66536275

COMPUTER aided drawing machine Open to offers Ph: 0429 945 374

COMPUTER desk vgc $70 ono. 6650 0380

COOK canopy rangehood 60cm $50 Kitchen sink 1/1/2 basins with tap $50. Sawtell Ph: 0458 006 643

COOKIE jar, smiling cow, novelty, white ceramic, 2 litre, you fill with easter eggs $45. 0407 654 879

CORNINGWARE

Platter on stand, Blue Corn Flower, 1960's. $85 0407 654 879

For Sale

DOG cage, metal collapsable, GC, 90cm L x 60 cm W x 65cm H $40. 0418 795 449

DVD complete set all 7 seasons Madmen $50ono 0488 763 132

ELECTRIC exercise bike, exc cond. $250 0431 310 830 Re260924

ELECTRIC Fencer 240 v energiser. Daken perfect cond. Electric tape also avail. $90 0418 795 449

ELECT tread mill, GC $200. 0431 310 830

ERGONOMIC Height adjustable study desk chair. $50. 0490 161 119

FEED bin, solid metal with lid, used for animal feed, capacity equivalent to a 44 gal drum. $75 6653 8337 F250823

FEEDER bin, metal galvanised, hooks onto fence or post. $55. 6653 8337

FENCING Star Pickets new, 10 x 5' 6" (165cm) $5 each, 10 x 2' $2 each 0437 543 943

FLAMMETTA gas outdoor patio heater inc gas bottle. $65. Photos can be sent. 0490161119

FLAVOURCHEF cooking systyem-brand new $50 ono SMS 0409 916 076

FLOOR rugs, 2 green rugs, 1 - 180cm x 125cm $50. Silver collection made in Turkey. Photos can be supplied. 0490 161 119

DESK Grey, very strong folds down for moving 1.5m L x 73cm H x 75cm

W. Exc cond. $40. 0415 981 605

DINING room table with turned red cedar legs and frame and coachwood top $200 Restored antique bed $3,500. 0400 976 080

DISPLAY shelving units 3 types for ornaments plants, models etc. $75 each. 66523791 F260124

HORSE rugs. 2 x winter rugs 6' 3" brand new belly straps, very warm polyester filling. $50 each 0418795449

JUST Cars magazines 60 total just $50 Ph: 0467 587 536

KAYAK, light weight & fast. Green Ant 580mm W x 4.570 m L fibreglass has extras Exc cond. $850 0439 740 453

LARGE bench for work or decoration. 2m have a look. Phone 6652 3791

LARGE gold framed wall mirror. 75cm x 50cm. Photos can be sent. $30. 0490161119 F110823

LEATHER jacket, tan perfect cond, size 12 $50. 0419 166 688

LG Bluray CD/DVD disk player. With remote. $45. Photos avail. 0490 161 119 F011223

LOUNGE 2 seater 2x 1 seater wooden arm rests exc cond $100 Call John 6651 7710

MARKWELL 3 phase 18cfm air compressor $99. Ph 0474 378 447

MATTRESS

FRIDGE Fisher & Paykel.142cm high x 63cm wide x 70cm deep Fridge only, no freezer VGC. $100. 0437 543 943

GYM

MICROWAVE 1200W looks and works as good as new $40. 6656 2373 F220324

MOWING machine, TORO GROUNDSMASTER

72" cut, 28hp DSL hydro drive, new belts Heavy duty machine $3,000. 0418 235 973

NORDIC track exercise bike fully featured console $350. 0417 481 120

OTTOMAN padded with 2 storage drawers $30. Photos can be supplied. 0490 161 119

OVEN/GRILLER, small $20. As new. 6653 8337

OZ trail wardrobe four shelves and hanging space $50 Ono 0456 210 772 F300623

PALMS 1m Alexander 8" pots. $10 each 6652 8815 e100524

PICK up walking frame no wheels, collapsible / foldable lightweight Adjustable legs. Very sturdy. $40 0449707828 F090224

PLANT sale including advanced trees in 500mm pots. Ph 0428 812 383

PUPPY pen, metal panels x 8. Each panel 61cm L x 91cm H. GC $70. 0418 795 449 F080324

QUALITY wooden furniture for sale made by craftsman/carpenter variety to choose from view anytime. 66523791

RECLINER Jason brand. Fully operational $50. 0409 022 456

RED Roo Garden Tiller brand new, never used Cost $4,500, sell for $3,000. 0418 660 838 e050424

RUSTIC oblong 6 seat 1930's white mahogany farm table $60. Ph 0474 378 447

SADDLE, stock saddle 17", Marshall Poley. Price neg. Ph 6653 8337

SHED

COFFS COAST NEWS OF THE AREA

PHONE: (02) 4981 8882 (phone line open Mon, Tue, Wed & Fri 9am -2pm)

For Sale

SHOWER

good

SINGLE bed with wooden frame & unused mattress. $100. Call 0488 799 424 F150324

SMOKE alarms, 5 clipsal, fire tek 755psma2 New in box. $20 each Photos can be sent 0490161119

SPEED music albums 7 + others, country & popular hits. $50 0407 654 879 F160224

STAND up work bench ornamental for play or computer use. 1.2 h and wide, $99. 66523791 F260124

STEAM Mop Hoover with 2 cleaning pads in very good as new condition $40 Moonee 0422440802 F271023

STORAGE cupboards complete with shelves and coat storage space (1) 0.9m W x 1.8m H x 0.3m D. 2 doors. 2nd unit 1.2m W x 1.8m H x 0.3m D. Fair cond. $100 for the two. Photos available 0415 669 378 F010324

TANDEM Holstar Grand Tourer bike, exc cond $1200. 0458 274 319

TAPESTRY, Glass framed and wall hung $95. 0422 440 802

TENNIS racquets, man and ladies older style (Yvonne Goolagong) $40.00 each. Phone 0401 221 864

THREE Heavey duty collapsible reflective safety truck triangles $30 0490 161 119

Camper

Trailers

CAMPER Trailer, 6 x 4,12 months rego, new tyres electricals, battery and solar panel. Pull out kitchen and fridge. TH00YR. $16,000 ono. 0429 945 374 e220324

For Sale

WINE Bar decor 3 green glass bottles in Seagrass Vintage 1970 $100 ono 0407654879

WINE Fridge – Large

Transtherm Ermitage Holds 240 bottles

Reasonable Offer Accepted. 0418278966

STACER 429 RAMPAGE. Aluminium revolution hull. Ali trailer. Mercury EFI 40 HP, 25 hrs, under warranty. 2 years old. Lowrance Elite 9" sounder. All safety gear. New cond. $17,000. Ph 0437 543 943 e120424

Camper Trailers

KIMBERLEY hard floor off road kamper.

Kakadu. Australian made - Quality built & fitted out. 3 brand new tyres, new battery, 12 months rego. Many extras inc. Ready to go. $14,000. Call Dave 0414 393 333

Motorcycles

TRIUMPH Street Triple 3 cylinder, 675c - 83Kw (110 bhp), white metallic flyscreen, belly pan tank bag, rear touring bag, Arrow pipes, LED indicators, Triumph bike cover, wheel lock pristine cond, genuine 16,091 kms, bike stand not LAMS, some riding gear. $5,800 ono DC -70. (Sept. 2024) 0415 669 378

Motors

2006 Ford Territory rego until Dec 24. Full service history. CMC80G $3,000. 0488 280 296

TRAILER Sailer Hutton 24 registered. Trailer & boat ready to go. $7500. 0427034446

Caravans

2012 Evernew E900

21’. Fully serviced, new tyres. Queen size bed, ensuite, washing machine, full sized fridge, microwave, elect, gas, battery, twin solar panels. Air con and diesel heater. Sat dish and water tanks. Stone guard. Reg til June 2024. Y-07503

Exc cond. Extras inc $45,000 ono Ph 0412 628 186

SHEET Music, piano/ guitar, artists from 50's - 80's, 90+ pieces $60 0407 654 879

VACUUM, RYOBI, wet & dry, stainless steel barrel. $59. 0410 439 950

2008

HORSE blankets various sizes, summer and winter. $49 each 0419 166 688

SHOWER screen 2 sliding doors 890 x 840 x 1690, VGC, $70 ono 0467 634 668 F010324

2015 Ford Focus Sedan 12mths rego,

188 138

MILLARD Toura semi off road, Nov 2023 delivery. TT13DM Toilet ,shower, single beds, air cond, diesel heater, sliding doors on bedroom & bathroom washing m/c, 2 TVs 28", sphere satellite receiver, large 3 way fridge, independent coil spring suspension electronic sway control Used 2 nights only. Extras inc. Save $15,000 on replacement price. Bargain at $95,000. 0403 033 205 Coffs Harbour

Contractors Licence 77993C

SPECIALISING IN ROOF LEAKS, ROOF REPAIRS, ROOF RESTORATION, RE-ROOFING, GUTTER REPLACEMENT, FASCIA BOARD REPLACEMENT, COLORBOND FASCIA COVER, COLORBOND EXTERIOR WALL, EAVE CLADDING AND EXTERIOR PAINTING

DESIGNER OF VERSATILE CLADDING MADE FROM COLORBOND

SUPPLY ONLY OR SUPPLY

BEST ON THE BOX

FRIDAY

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS

SEVEN, 7pm

After 30 years, we all know this veteran family lifestyle show is about more than just complicated DIY projects. Sometimes food is the hero and what better time than Easter to pander to your tastebuds. As much concerned with nourishing the soul as simplifying DIY, the friendly, inspirational content magically makes us feel like we could build or whip up anything – perhaps even an awardwinning garden? Outdoor inspiration blooms tonight with Charlie Albone, Melissa King and Graham Ross like kids in a candy store at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Colin Fassnidge also has the ultimate seasonal treat – a hot cross bun and butter pudding.

R) 2.55 Cook And The Chef. (R) 3.25 Tenable. (PG, R) 4.10 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 5.10 Grand Designs. (PG, R)

SUNDAY

I’M A CELEBRITY… GET ME OUT OF HERE!

TEN, 7.30pm

Fun-loving but chock-full of disgusting and terrifying challenges, this reality TV staple returns for its 10th season, along with its sparky and knowledgeable new co-host: wildlife warrior Robert Irwin. Now that Dr Chris Brown has flown the coop, Julia Morris has a fresh jungle comrade in the young and enthusiastic son of Steve Irwin, who has inherited his father’s showman-like style. Filming in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, the cast of celebrities competing can arguably rest assured knowing there’s someone who isn’t afraid of snakes or cheetahs in their midst. Tonight’s premiere reveals who’s gutsy enough to forgo creature comforts to compete for charity.

9.15 Singfest: The Literacy Of

(R) 10.10 Kew Gardens: Season By Season. 11.00 Food Markets: In The Belly Of The City. (PG, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Mastermind Aust. (R) 3.00 NITV News: Nula. 3.45 The Cook Up. (R) 4.15 World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

WEDNESDAY ALONE AUSTRALIA

SBS, 7.30pm

Armed with only 10 permitted items, such as a sleeping bag, a water bottle and perhaps a toothbrush, there’s no bluffing in this extraordinary survival series.

Returning with its keenly anticipated second season after hooking audiences with its Tasmanian-set debut last year, the stakes are high for the 10 competing survivalists after no doubt taking feverish notes from reigning champion Gina Chick’s audacious feat winning the 250,000 cash prize. This time they’re in New Zealand’s South Island, where being cold takes on a painful new meaning. Featuring NSW tradesman and wild game hunter Jack and Victorian wilderness adventure guide Suzan, there’s no shortage of skill and chutzpah.

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG)

11.30 Seven Morning News.

12.00 MOVIE: The Perfect Parents. (2017, Mav, R)

2.00 House Of Wellness. (PG)

3.00 The Chase. (R)

4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00

Post-match NRL wrap-up. 10.45 MOVIE: The Infiltrator. (2016, MA15+adlv, R) A US agent tries to bring down a drug kingpin. Bryan Cranston.

6.00 Deal Or No Deal.

Hosted by Grant Denyer.

6.30 The Project. A look at the day’s news.

7.30 Ready Steady Cook.

Hosted by Miguel Maestre.

8.30 The Graham Norton Show. (Final, Mal) Irish comedian Graham Norton presents the second of two compilations of highlights from the recent series.

10.50 Albert Park All Access. (R) Commentary and analysis ahead of the race.

11.50 The Project. (R)

12.50 Fire Country. (Mmv, R)

1.40 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

2.30 Home Shopping. (R)

SATURDAY, March 23

6.00 Rage. (PG) 7.00 Weekend Breakfast.

9.00 Rage. (PG) 12.00 News. 12.30 Death In Paradise. (Mv, R) 1.30 Miniseries: Life After Life. (Mav, R) 2.35 Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery. (PG, R) 3.05 Extraordinary Escapes. (PG, R) 3.55 Universe With Brian Cox. (R) 4.55

Better Date Than Never. (R) 5.25 Landline. (R) 5.55 Australian Story. (R)

6.30 Back Roads: Gunbower And Torrumbarry, Victoria. (R) Presented by Heather Ewart.

7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day.

7.30 Miniseries: Life After Life. (Masv) Part 3 of 4.

8.30 Endeavour. (Mav, R) Part 2 of 3. A crime wave of the kind more usually associated with London has taken hold of Oxford.

10.00 House Of Gods. (Ml, R) Sheikh Mohammad’s plans struggle.

11.00 Happy Valley. (Mal, R) Faisal comes under increasing pressure.

12.00 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.15 Love Your Home

And Garden. (PG, R) 10.10 Vintage Voltage.

11.00 Urban Conversion. (R) 12.00

WorldWatch. 2.00 Gymnastics. Trampoline

World Cup. H’lights. 3.10 Portillo’s Greatest

Railway Journeys. (PG, R) 5.00 Grand

Tours Of Scotland’s Rivers. (PG, R) 5.35 The American Fuhrer.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Britain’s Most Beautiful Road. (PGa)

8.30 Royal Crisis: Countdown To Abdication.

9.30 From Paris To Rome. (PG, R)

10.25 Those Who Stayed. (PGa)

11.05 Between Two Worlds. (Mal)

12.00 Suspect. (MA15+av, R)

3.30 Face To Face. (Mals, R)

4.30 Bamay. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.15 France 24 Feature.

5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise.

10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG)

12.00 Horse Racing. Golden Slipper Day and William Reid Stakes Day.

5.00 Seven News At 5.

5.30 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R)

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Football. AFL. Round 2. Sydney v Essendon.

10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion and interviews.

11.00 Lockerbie. (PGav, R) Part 1 of 4. Documents the investigation into the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.

1.20 Motor Racing. Supercars Championship. Round 2. Melbourne SuperSprint. Day 1. Highlights.

2.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Get Clever. (R) The wonders of science are explored.

5.00 House Of Wellness. (PG, R)

5.00 9News First At Five. 5.30 Getaway. (PG)

6am Fried Green Tomatoes. Continued. (1991, PG) 7.25 Mrs Lowry And Son. (2019, PG) 9.05 Bye Bye Birdie. (1963, PG) 11.10 Undine. (2020, M, German) 12.50pm The Hole In The Ground. (2019,

SUNDAY, March 24

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.30 World This Week. (R) 11.00 Compass. (PGa, R) 11.30 Praise. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Landline. 1.30 Gardening Aust. (R) 2.30 Dream Gardens. (R) 3.00 Nigella Bites. (R) 3.30 Cook And The Chef. (R) 3.55 Grand Designs NZ. (PG, R) 4.45

Extraordinary Escapes. (PG, R) 5.30 The ABC

Of... (Final, PG, R)

6.00 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (Final, PG, R)

6.30 Compass. (PGa)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Death In Paradise. (Mv) A water taxi driver is murdered.

8.30 House Of Gods. (Ma) Seyyed Modhaffer devises a new and risky way for Isa’s payments to be transported to Iraq.

9.30 Happy Valley. (Mal, R) Faisal comes under increasing pressure.

10.30 MOVIE: Suffragette. (2015, Malv, R)

12.15 Significant Others. (MA15+s, R)

1.05 Rage Vault. (MA15+adhlnsv)

4.00 Catalyst. (R)

5.00 Insiders. (R)

6.00 Morning Programs. 12.30 PBS

Washington Week With The Atlantic. 12.55

Swan Football. (R) 1.00 Motorcycle Racing.

Australian Superbike C’ship. Round 2. H’lights. 4.00 Motor Racing. World Rally-Raid C’ship. Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. H’lights. 5.00

Wonders Of Scotland. (PG, R) 5.30 Harbour

From The Holocaust. (PGavw, R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Unlocking The Secrets Of The Nazca Lines. (PGa)

8.20 Bettany Hughes: Treasures Of Cyprus. (PGas, R)

9.15 A Year From Space. (PGavw, R)

10.35 Latest Secrets Of The Hieroglyphs. (R)

11.35 Beyond The Cut.

11.40 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Gent-Wevelgem. Men’s race.

2.45 Cycling. UCI World Tour.

Gent-Wevelgem. Women’s race.

4.00 Going Places. (PG, R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature.

5.30 Al Jazeera.

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise.

10.00 Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 House Of Wellness. (PG, R) 1.00 Jabba’s School Holiday Movie Special. (PGahv, R) 1.30 MOVIE: Storm Boy. (2019, PGal, R) 3.30 Border Security. (PG, R) 4.00 Better Homes. (R)

5.00

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Australian Idol. (PGl)

8.30 Lockerbie. (PGav) Part 3 of 4. The FBI case against the two suspects is strong but circumstantial.

10.50 Quantum Leap. (Mav)

11.50 Motor Racing. Supercars Championship. Round 2. Melbourne SuperSprint. Day 2. Highlights.

12.50 MOVIE: Jesse Stone: Sea Change. (2007, Msv, R)

9GO! (83)

6.00 Fishing Aust. (R) 6.30 ACA. (R) 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 Wide World Of Sports. (PG) 11.00 NRL Sunday Footy Show. (PG)

1.00 Fish Forever. 1.30 Drive TV.

2.00 Space Invaders. (PGl, R)

3.00 Rugby League. NRL. Round 3. Parramatta Eels v Manly Sea Eagles.

6.00 What’s Up Down Under. (R) 6.30 Leading The Way. 7.00 Camper Deals. (R)

7.30 Escape Fishing With ET. (R)

8.00 Ready Steady Cook. (R)

9.00 Albert Park All Access. (R)

10.00 Motor Racing. Formula 1. Round 3. Australian Grand Prix. Day 2. 5.30 10 News First.

6.30 Ready Steady Cook. (R) Hosted by Miguel Maestre.

7.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) Narrated by Mark Coles Smith.

8.40 The Dog House. (PGa) A family considers an energetic cockapoo pup who their seven-year-old immediately falls in love with.

9.40 Ambulance Australia. (Ma, R) NSW Ambulance delivers a baby and saves a four-year-old with a critical heart condition.

10.40 Ambulance UK. (Mlm, R)

11.55 So Help Me Todd. (PGa, R)

12.50 FBI: International. (Mav, R)

1.30 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power.

9GO! (83)

6.00 Mass. 6.30 Key Of David. (PGa) 7.00 Joseph Prince.

7.30 Good Chef Bad Chef. (R)

8.00 Everyday Gourmet With Justine Schofield. (R)

8.30 Motor Racing. Formula 1. Round 3. Australian Grand Prix. Day 3.

5.00 10 News First.

6.30 The Sunday Project. A look at the day’s news.

7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (Return, PGals) A group of Aussie celebrities competes in a test of survival in the wilds of Africa.

9.30 NCIS: Hawai’i. (Mv, R) When a US Navy seaman is involved in a murder, the NCIS team is called to work the case on their day off. Lucy is surprised to find out Whistler turned down a promotion in Washington, DC, to stay in Hawaii.

11.30 The Sunday Project. (R) A look at the day’s news.

12.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

MONDAY, March 25

6.00 News. 9.00 News. 10.00 Landline. (R)

11.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 12.00 News.

1.00 Australia Remastered. (R)

2.00 Parliament Question Time.

3.00 The Cook And The Chef. (R)

3.25 Tenable. (R)

4.15 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

5.10 Grand Designs. (R)

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.20 Kew Gardens: Season By Season. (Final) 11.10 Food Markets: In The Belly Of The City. (PGa, R) 12.10 WorldWatch. 2.00 Druids: The Mystery Of Celtic Priests. (PGa, R) 3.00 Mastermind Aust. (R) 3.45 The Cook Up. (R) 4.15 World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Home And Away. (PGa)

7.30 Australian Idol. (Final, PGl) Hosted by Ricki-Lee and Scott Tweedie.

9.00 The Irrational. (Mav) Alec takes a case involving a

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

6.00 Deal Or No Deal.

Hosted by Grant Denyer.

6.30 The Project. A look at the day’s news.

7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (PGals) Hosted by Julia Morris and Robert Irwin.

9.00 FBI: Most Wanted. (Mv, R) The team is called to Vermont after a couple growing illegal marijuana massacre their employees.

11.00 The Project. (R) A look at the day’s news.

12.00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings.

9GO! (83)

6am A Monster

In Paris. Continued. (2011, French) 6.40 To Sir, With Love. (1967, PG) 8.40 Belle And Sebastian 2. (2015, PG, French) 10.30 Room. (2015, M) 12.40pm Angels Wear White. (2017, M, Mandarin) 2.40 Capricorn One. (1977, PG) 4.55 Modern Times.

TUESDAY, March 26

6.00 News. 9.00 News. 10.00 Foreign Correspondent. (R) 10.30 One Plus One. (R) 11.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Call The Midwife. (PG, R) 2.00 Parliament. 3.00 Cook And The Chef. (R)

3.25 Tenable. (Final, R)

4.15 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

5.10 Grand Designs. (R)

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs. (PGa, R) 10.00 Wonderful World Of Baby Animals.

6.00

10.30 Great British Railway Journeys. (R)

11.05 Blackout: Tomorrow Is Too Late. (Final, Mlnsv) 12.00 Miniseries: Bonnie And Clyde. (MA15+lsv, R) 12.30 Vise Le Coeur. (MA15+a, R) 3.15 Mastermind Aust. (R) 4.15 Bamay. (R) 4.50 Destination Flavour Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Deal Or No Deal.

Hosted by Grant Denyer.

6.30 The Project. A look at the day’s news.

7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (PGals) Hosted by Julia Morris and Robert Irwin.

9.00 NCIS. (Mv, R) The team investigates the case of a US Navy reservist whose body was found in a car at a gun range.

10.00 NCIS: Los Angeles. (Mv, R) An ATF agent goes missing.

11.00 The Project. (R)

12.00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings.

9GO! (83)

Ice Cowboys. 9.30 Over The Black Dot. 10.15 Hunting Aotearoa. 10.50 Late Programs.

WEDNESDAY, March 27

6.00 News. 9.00 News. 10.00 Four Corners. (R) 10.30 Nigella Bites. (R) 10.55 Q+A. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Press Club. 1.35 Media Watch. (PG, R) 2.00 Parliament. 3.00 Cook And The Chef. (R) 3.25 Prince Charles: Inside The Duchy Of Cornwall. (PG, R)

4.15 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

5.15 Grand Designs. (R)

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs. (PGa, R) 10.00 Wonderful World Of Baby Animals. (PG, R) 10.55 Mountain Vets. (Ma) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Dateline. (R) 2.30 Insight. (R) 3.45 The Cook Up. (R) 4.15 World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00

10.20

11.45

3.05

4.35 Bamay. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00

7.00 Home And Away. (PGa)

7.30 The 1% Club UK. (Premiere, PG)

8.30 The Front Bar. (Ml) Takes a lighter look at all things AFL.

9.30 Unbelievable Moments

Caught On Camera. (PGa) Footage of headline-grabbing moments.

10.30 The Latest: Seven News.

6.00 Deal Or No Deal.

Hosted by Grant Denyer.

6.30 The Project. A look at the day’s news.

7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (PGals) The celebrities face the ultimate test of the jungle, all in the hope of winning money for their chosen charity.

9.00 FBI: International. (Mav) The team delves into a case involving an American who killed an elderly German man in Berlin.

11.00 The Project. (R) A look at the day’s news.

12.00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

1.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBS Mornings.

9GO! (83)

6am Welcome

Home, Roxy Carmichael. Continued. (1990, PG) 7.50 The Color Purple. (1985, PG) 10.35 Salvation Boulevard. (2011, M)

THURSDAY, March 28

6.00 News. 9.00 News. 10.00 Aust Story. (R) 10.30 Compass. (PGa, R) 11.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Big Deal. (Ml, R) 2.00 Parliament. 3.00 Cook And The Chef. (R) 3.25 Prince Charles: Inside The Duchy Of Cornwall. (R)

4.15 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

5.15 Grand Designs. (R)

7.30

8.00

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs. (PGa, R) 10.00 Wonderful World Of Baby Animals. (PGa, R) 10.50 Mountain Vets. (Ma) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Alone Australia. (Ml, R) 3.00 Mastermind Aust. (R) 3.45 The Cook Up. (PG, R) 4.15 World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Bettany Hughes: Treasures of Bulgaria. (PGa)

8.30 Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy.

9.20 The Vanishing Triangle. (Malsv)

10.10 SBS World News Late.

10.40 Illegals. (Malsv)

11.40 La Jauria. (MA15+sv, R)

3.30 Mastermind Australia. (R)

5.30

9GO! (83)

6.00 Deal Or No Deal.

6.30 The Project.

7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (PGals) Hosted by Julia Morris and Robert Irwin.

8.30 Gogglebox Australia. TV fanatics open up their living rooms to reveal their reactions to popular and topical TV shows.

9.30 Law & Order: SVU. (Mv, R) Rollins struggles on her return to work.

10.30 Blue Bloods. (Ma, R)

11.30 The Project. (R)

12.30 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

1.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings.

Our Stories. 5.30 The 77 Percent. 6.00 Bamay. 6.30 News. 6.40 Volcanic Odysseys. 7.30 Going Places With Ernie Dingo. 8.30 Bones Of Crows. 9.30 MOVIE: Natural Born Killers. (1994, MA15+) 11.35 Late Programs.

By Mary KEILY

THE Coffs Harbour Dog Club has hosted their Autumn Trials in agility, jumping and games at the Rex Hardaker Oval in Toormina over the weekend.

Dogs jumped hurdles, traversed tunnels, and clambered over A-frames, dog walks, seesaws and through weave poles.

“The Friday afternoon was so wet, even the paperwork going back to the office was a bit soggy, but the volunteers and the judges were out there, so we got it done to put the competitors through,” said Will Sinclair-Huggins, Trial Manager.

Luckily the weather cleared over the weekend.

Will’s role involved contracting judges, booking the grounds, deciding on the event format and liaising with governing body Dogs NSW.

He also ran his dog Alfie in the competition.

“Alfie was a rescue dog at six months of age, and he hadn’t had a normal life before we got him, so he wasn’t a confident dog,” said Will.

“People said to me if you can get him to jump up on things and go over strange surfaces, it will

CONTINUED Page 28

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q Will Sinclair-Huggins and ‘Alfie’ from Raleigh.