By Andrea FERRARI
THURSDAY July 31 is Bloody Good Human Day and Simon “Simmo” Braun hopes to see the national record broken for the highest number of blood and plasma donations made in one day by a single team.
The date marks the end of Simmo’s year-long epic road trip.
He and his three kids have been caravanning across the country, visiting every Lifeblood Donor Centre on a mission to raise
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donation.
While one in three Australians need blood, only one in 50 donate, “so we now import nearly half our supply”, Simmo said.
Simmo passed through Coffs Harbour last August encouraging locals to get on board “The Bloody Good Tour”.
“While I haven’t experienced the need for blood myself, I have faced some deeply personal challenges, and I found regular blood donation positively impacted my mental health.
“I’ve experienced tough times, just like everyone else, and as a blood donor the lifesaving part of my identity lifts my spirits.”
Red Cross Emergency Services volunteer Judith Jackson of Woolgoolga, and Sam Newman and Emily Berry of the Woolgoolga Backpackers, are championing the call-out for "Bloody Good Humans" to help Simmo break a record at Coffs Harbour Donor Centre.
Ms Jackson became a blood donor when the call went out after the Granville Train disaster in 1977.
Since then she has needed her own lifesaving donations on a couple of occasions.
She has continued to donate blood and plasma, knowing it will save many lives, and is fired-up to help Simmo champion the cause.
“It’s such an easy thing to do and doesn’t take too much time.
“The power of giving and the thought of me, an ordinary person, saving someone
else’s life; that’s what I love and that’s what keeps me going back.”
Woopi Backpackers’ Sam Newman has a similar story and has got behind the Bloody Good Humans Day record breaking attempt.
Meeting Simmo last year inspired him to return to donating and now he is only too happy to roll up his sleeve again for the record attempt.
Ms Berry, who has never donated before due to medical reasons, said, “When Sam put his hand up, I checked with my doctor and received the okay to donate."
In addition to this, she has encouraged a
group of berry picker guests to attend with them.
Ms Jackson is thrilled that the Woopi business will be joining her on the day and would like to see more businesses and Donor Teams follow suit to get Coffs Harbour Lifeblood on the map.
“Donor numbers are down so what better time to start giving to help break a record nationally,” she said.
“Let’s join The Bloody Good Humans Day and donate together on July 31”.
To book an appointment go to lifeblood.
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funded through Healthy North Coast, is located at Coffs Harbour Community Village where it offers free, short-to-medium term mental health care with no need for a referral.
It caters to anyone over 18 experiencing mental health distress.
Sean Hayes, Program Services Manager, says the centre is filling a critical gap in the region.
“This service was designed for what we call ‘the missing
middle’ - people who don’t qualify for acute services and can’t access private practice or other community services due to cost, wait-times or referral criteria.
“Access to good mental health support shouldn't just be for the rich.”
The centre sees around 150 people each month.
In its first year, it delivered over 5000 clinical sessions, with 82 percent of clients reporting significant improvements in wellbeing.
Mr Hayes explained that Coffs Harbour has long faced
mental health challenges exacerbated by economic and social factors.
According to a Healthy North Coast’s Health Needs Assessment, the region shows elevated levels of psychological distress compared to national averages.
The Medicare Mental Health Centre is helping to meet this need, with 36 percent of its clients currently unemployed and 13.5 percent of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.
Over a third are unemployed and men are largely representedreflecting the barriers they
typically face in accessing care.
Presenting issues include depression (25%), anxiety (18.4%), PTSD (13%) and trauma-related disorders, with substance use commonly identified as a coping strategy.
These trends highlight the importance of easily accessible, community-based services in tackling mental illness and the broader social determinants of wellbeing.
Mr Hayes said the service can be life changing.
“A lot of people come in with depression, anxiety, PTSD or trauma histories, and many haven’t been able to access help before.”
Coffs Harbour local Stan Ward, who spoke at the anniversary event, credits the centre with helping him cope after suddenly losing most of his vision.
“About four months ago I lost my main eyesight — I’ve only got about 20 percent left,” he said.
“So I was carrying a lot of negativity, being disabled and carrying a cane.
“When my daughter found out about the centre, she brought me over. I got an appointment for the next day.”
Stan now sees a counsellor fortnightly.
“She’s been amazing. She helped me open pathways not to carry negative thoughts.
“When something like this happens to you, people just drop off. Without this help,
my mental health would be really bad.”
Stan now uses walking as a coping mechanism with the bonus that people recognise him and start chatting.
So he gets a “bit of community too”.
He believes he probably wouldn’t have gone to the trouble of accessing another service, which would have taken a lot more time to arrange.
“The point I was at, it was quite urgent for me to
get that support.”
People can access up to six months of mental health counselling and peer support to help with social connection and practical tasks, and guidance on linking to other services such as housing or employment.
The Centre is open weekdays from 8am–6pm, with Saturday appointments available.
To make an appointment, call 1800 595 212.
By Andrew VIVIAN
NSW GREENS MP Cate
Faehrmann and Coffs
Harbour councillor Jonathan Cassell joined a well-attended public gathering in Coramba last week, with local residents condemning ongoing forestry operations in nearby state forests.
Attendees raised their concerns about logging at Mount Coramba, an area within the footprint of the proposed and long-awaited Great Koala National Park (GKNP).
The NSW Labor Government was, yet again, accused of reneging on the promised delivery of the GKNP by local conservation groups, who claim the proposed park becomes increasingly degraded as logging operations continue.
In a statement, Ms
Faehrmann told News Of The Area, “The report into the Upper House Inquiry into Koalas, which I chaired, was handed down more than five years ago now and still we are seeing the wholesale destruction of their habitat.
“Worse, the Environment Minister Penny Sharpe was a member of the Inquiry while in opposition, so she knows what’s at stake.
“The people who live here know these forests better than anyone, and they’re not standing by while they’re destroyed.
“They know what’s at stake if we lose our forests, including for future generations if we are to have any hope of avoiding the worst impacts of climate change.”
A member of the NSW Government’s GKNP Community Advisory Panel,
Cr Cassell is concerned the timeline for announcing the park is being “deliberately delayed for no clear reason”.
“The scientific assessments are finished, the Advisory Panel has not met since November 2024, and the timeframe for implementation seemed imminent,” he said.
“So, why the hold up?
“Alarmingly, I have heard that the formal declaration of the GKNP may not occur until just before the next election in March 2027.”
Friends of the Orara East State Forest spokesperson Nikki Read said logging currently underway at Mount Coramba is undermining the future park and pushing species like koalas, Glossy Black Cockatoos and the rare Moonee Quassia “closer to extinction”.
“The local communities
around the Coffs Harbour and Bellingen districts feel an absolute betrayal by the NSW Premier and I fear that by the time the park is eventually declared, the most ecologically valuable forest will have already been lost,” she said.
Speaking in NSW Parliament last month, Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said the NSW Government remains “totally committed” to creating the GKNP.
“As I and others have outlined a number of times in the House, work is well advanced and underway to create the park, but it is a complicated process,” she said.
“Quite rightly, the Government is engaging with industry, the community, Indigenous groups and others as we work through
TRANSPORT for NSW
(TfNSW) says plans to improve resilience against flooding on the eastern end of Waterfall Way have received “strong community support”.
In late 2024 TfNSW consulted the community on plans to improve flood
resilience at three locations between Bellingen and the Pacific Highway.
TfNSW Regional Director North Anna Zycki said Mill Street at Bellingen, Burdett Park Creek at Fernmount, and Short Cut Road (Camerons Corner) at Raleigh had been identified
as areas where improved flood protection measures were achievable.
“We know how important it is to keep communities connected during flooding and it’s reassuring residents and users of Waterfall Way have given such strong support
to our proposals,” Ms Zycki said.
During consultation over four weeks in October and November 2024, 74 people replied to an online survey and a further four made email submissions about the proposals.
Ms Zycki said work
the process of establishing the boundaries and the park.
“We are also committed to a sustainable [timber] industry going forward, and we will continue to work through those issues in a sensible way.”
Environment Minister Penny Sharpe, speaking in Parliament the same day,
acknowledged that “people are frustrated around the timeline” for delivering the GKNP.
“[However] any suggestion that the Government is not committed to it, that there is a broken promise or that it is not doing the work, is simply false,” she said.
planned included increasing drainage capacity and pavement height, shoulder widening and safety barrier installation.
“The next steps will be to complete a detailed design, carry out a review of environmental factors (REF) where the community will have further opportunity to provide input and, finally, construction,” Ms Zycki said.
“Work at Burdett Park is expected to start in the 2025/26 financial year and will take up to six months to complete, weather permitting, while work at Cameron’s Corner will also start in 2025/26 and work at Mill Street is scheduled for the 2026/27 financial year, with timing dependent on negotiations with property owners.”
•
By Andrew VIVIAN
THE Coffs Coast environment movement is saddened by the passing of passionate environmentalist and campaigner Maggie (Margaret) McCue.
She was the driving force behind the Coffs Harbour Environment Centre, and was involved in the Emerald Beach Ocean Outfall campaign, the creation of Bongil Bongil National Park, and in numerous forest protests.
Maggie was an esteemed member of the committees of the Bellingen Environment Centre, North Coast Environment Council, and the
North East Forest Alliance.
She was also an acclaimed international journalist for the New York Times and Sydney Morning Herald, and was well-known as a journalist in Hong Kong.
Maggie followed the Tao philosophy and walked proudly in Gumbaynggirr country.
Catherine Jones, from the Bellingen Environment Centre, said, “We have lost a much-valued activist and storyteller who touched so many.
“With her gentle strength she will be sadly missed and always remembered.”
Ms Jones said one of her
favourite recollections is of a trip to Canberra in early 2014 for a forum with Australia’s top climate scientists.
“I remember Maggie’s bright eager eyes and the face of experience taking notes from Professor Brendan Mackey, Professor David Lindenmayer, Bob Brown, and Ian Dunlop, among others.
“But it was the trip home that topped it off, with Maggie hopping on the train with all our luggage, and it went without me.
“I’m waving it down running beside it and Maggie’s screaming out from the train to stop; everyone [was] in hysterics and the
train stopped.
“God only knows what Maggie said to the inspector, but we were finally allowed on to everyone in the train cheering.
“We thought it was a sign
the Government would stop and listen to activists.”
All who knew Maggie are welcome to join in sharing memories and celebrating her life and legacy at the Coffs Harbour Botanical Gardens on Sunday 27 July at 11am. The event will be a relaxed, picnic-style gathering and guests are asked to BYO rug, food, and drinks. Tea and coffee will be available.
By Andrea FRRARI
DESPITE the setback of this year’s cancellation, plans for Glenreagh Timber Festival 2026 have been bolstered by the Destination NSW Flagship Event stream of the 2025/26 Regional Event Fund. The funding will be channeled into enhanced marketing strategies, such as the introduction of the
“Timber Tales Series”, which involves sharing bitesized, visually engaging stories on social media and tourism platforms, to build emotional connection and anticipation.
Aimed at attracting overnight visitors and ensuring long-term sustainability, it showcases Glenreagh’s timber legacy, celebrates locals, and keeps the festival's heritage front-
of-mind, especially while the 2025 pause is in effect.
Timber Fest 2025 was cancelled due to safety concerns arising from the unprecedented and sustained wet weather over the Autumn and Winter months which resulted in above-average rainfall across the Clarence Valley.
The recently developed car parking area, intended to accommodate growing
visitor numbers, was deemed unfit for public use.
Organisers worked closely with Clarence Valley Council to explore alternate parking and traffic management options, but despite their efforts, no viable solution could meet the required safety standards.
Risk management and traffic control considerations ultimately
led to the difficult decision to cancel after 10 months of dedicated planning.
“It's a tough call, but safety has to come first,” Glenreagh Timber Festival's Coordinator Rikki Cetinich said, noting their appreciation for community support and the council’s collaborative spirit.
"The investment in a dedicated off-site parking area was a critical step
to managing the growing success of the festival.
“It addressed past challenges related to site congestion and traffic safety and was a huge asset for Timber Fest in 2024."
For updates on the 2026 festival and opportunities to get involved, follow Glenreagh Timber Festival’s official Facebook page or check with Clarence Valley tourism outlets.
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By Andrea FERRARI
A WOOLGOOLGA-born actress is returning home later this month as part of Poetry in Action (PiA), a renowned, world-touring theatre company.
Lucy Dunning was raised in Woolgoolga and was the School Captain and Dux of her final year at Woolgoolga High.
As part of the travelling, educational theatre company, she hopes to inspire a passion for literature in young Australians regardless of their geographic or socioeconomic position.
Founded by stage and TV actor Bryce Youngman, the non-profit organisation has reached nearly one million students over the past 20 years, unlocking the power of words and using the creative power of poetry to help young people find their voice and steer away from negative influences.
This dynamic mode of theatre has seen
PiA’s emergence as one of Australia’s most extensively travelled theatre companies.
It has brought poetry to life for thousands of young audience members across metropolitan, regional and remote Australia, and also Dubai, New Zealand, and Hong Kong.
Lucy hopes to be an encouraging influence for Woolgoolga High students, giving them a look at what future can await them with enough passion, determination and focus.
“Growing up in a regional community gave me a great sense of community and grounding that I may not have experienced were I to grow up in a metropolitan area,” Lucy said.
“As a Chinese adoptee, I always struggled with identity growing up, not knowing where I fit in, being stuck between two worlds.
“Performing, however, gave me this greater sense of belonging and purpose that transcended this feeling; and the community that I found in these spaces became like a second family.
“I was able to express myself completely and found a strong personal voice through performance and literature.
“While I found it hard not having many people in my immediate circles who looked like me or came from similar lived experiences, I think it was this yearning to connect and share perhaps on a more universal level that drove me to create.”
In hindsight, and now residing in Sydney, Lucy said she can see the diligence and dedication that growing up regionally fostered in her.
“Growing up in Woolgoolga has shaped me into the person and performer I am today.
“Use what you’re given and run with it - no one else has ever been you.
“The great thing about working with Poetry in Action is seeing the impact we have on students in real-time.”
For many of the kids they perform to, Poetry in Action will be their first theatre, “so we get to introduce them to the world of live performance and storytelling”.
By Andrea FERRARI
COFFS Harbour Garden Club
(CHGC) celebrated its Jubilee with lunch at Coffs Surf Club and a donation to the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden.
Almost 40 Garden Club members from Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga attended the 75th birthday milestone, along with Coffs Harbour Mayor Nikki Williams, Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh and Garden Clubs of Australia NSW Zone coordinator for the Mid North Coast, Malcolm McKinlay.
A highlight of the event was a presentation by Newsletter Editor Carolan Buckmaster of “For the Love of a Garden - The History of the Coffs Harbour Garden Club 1950-2005” by Betty Newton and Jack Lawson, which includes information from member Pat Roser.
Founded in 1950 as the Coffs Harbour Horticultural Society, the club took on its present name in 1979.
Always with a mission to be ready to support the beautification of Coffs Harbour, it began donating money in 1980 for the
planting of Cuban palms in Hardacre Street, at the entrance to the Botanic Garden. A total of $1160 was donated and the project was completed in 1984.
In 1986 the group affiliated with Garden Clubs of Australia and the North Coast Judges panel.
to mark Garden Clubs of Australia Biennial Convention, CHGC held a BBQ for 250 people in the Botanic Garden, followed by several days of events culminating with a Farewell Dinner with the Mayor and Town Crier in the C.ex auditorium.
zone days promoting the motto “Friendship through Gardens” at Nambucca, Woolgoolga, Bowraville and South West Rocks. These activities continue to this day.
“Everyone enjoyed our history unfolding on the screen,” she told News Of The Area.
In 1987 the meeting venue was changed to the function room at the Botanic Garden, where they still meet today. The Spring Garden Competition also became a main event on the club’s calendar.
In 1992 the club became the first to donate to the Coffs Creek pathway, giving the project $1400.
The beautification of Coffs Airport airside garden has been an ongoing civic pride since 1997 when the club took over its care.
In September 2003,
The financial success of the convention and a grant of $3000 from the NSW Regional Garden Grants, allowed the club to set up the Horticultural Therapy Garden Program at The Botanic Garden in 2005. This enables residents in Aged Care Homes to enjoy gardening using special tools and raised beds.
Also in 2005 the club hosted the floral art and gardening extravaganza “Coffs in Bloom” supported by the City of Coffs Harbour. It began hosting and attending garden club
CHGC has contributed many dollars to the Botanic Garden to enhance the site including The Garden Directory Notice Board, two ponds for the old Glass House, outside lighting of the pergola tables for the Function Room and garden seats.
Testament to the garden clubs’ mission of friendship through gardening Ms Koreny said, “We moved from Melbourne just before COVID [and] knew no one in Coffs beside our son’s young family.
In celebrating its Jubilee, the club presented a donation of $5000 to the Friends of Coffs Harbour Botanic Garden to upgrade the front pond area to include a Frog Habitat with plants recommended by club member Mary Davis.
President Esther Koreny said it was an honour and a privilege to host the Coffs Harbour Garden Club Jubilee.
“I made 40 friends the moment I joined the CHGC.” Mr McKinlay has 35 clubs in his zone, and he reported to the group that he senses change emerging.
“The word is getting out about how good gardening is, the sense of community people feel through gardening… today is testament to that.”
*Andrea Ferrari was a guest speaker at the event on behalf of the News Of The Area.
You Are ACE! Awards.
Aurielle has been recognised in the Leadership category, which honours exceptional leaders making a significant impact within the national aged care sector.
The Shoreline General
Manager Owen Lednor, said Aurielle’s recognition reflected her dedication to delivering high-quality care, her inspiring leadership, and her tireless commitment to improving the lives of older Australians.
“Her work at The Shoreline has not only strengthened the standard of care provided within the facility but has also made a lasting difference across the wider aged care community,”
Mr Lednor said.
“We are incredibly proud of Aurielle’s nomination.
“She leads with compassion, excellence and a clear vision for quality care.
“This acknowledgement is well-deserved and a reflection of the values we hold dear at The Shoreline.”
The You Are ACE! Awards attracted more than 500 nominations, which have been whittled down to 52 finalists across 15 individual,
team and organisation categories.
The awards celebrate excellence in aged care, retirement living, and seniors’ housing, spotlighting the dedicated professionals who continue to innovate and lead with purpose in the aged care industry.
Winners of the 2025 You Are ACE! Awards will be announced on Aged Care Employee Day, on 7 August.
A NEW Southern Cross University (SCU) research project is aiming to increase the seed yields of hemp plants by up to 50 percent.
The university describes the research as a potential “game-changer for the industry’s productivity and profitability”.
The project, looking at naturally occurring variations in the sex determination of hemp plants, has the backing of the Australian Research Council through a $561,251 Linkage grant, with Northern Rivers-based Kavasil Pty Ltd as the industry partner.
Researchers hope it will offer a significant and sustainable boost to the industry with better seed yields and less chemical intervention.
‘Swinging both ways – the genetic control of sex expression in hemp LP240200616’ will look at characterising the sexdetermining genetic factors in low-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Cannabis genetics, with the aim of modifying male plants so they produce seed as well as pollen.
Hemp is an emerging high-value crop in Australia that produces high-quality edible oils and plant-based protein from seeds.
Typically, hemp has
separate male and female plants.
While male plants are important for pollination, they don’t produce seed, causing low and variable yields.
Low-THC Cannabis is also the natural source of the cannabinoid known as cannabidiol or CBD.
While agrochemicals, such as the plant growth regulator Ethephon can be used to induce female flowers on male plants, SCU researchers on Kavasil Pty Ltd projects have identified a genetic solution to favourably alter sex expression in plants.
Lead investigator
Professor Tobias Kretzschmar said he hopes that this technology could be developed to increase hempseed yields by up to 50 percent.
“If we can boost seed production, that in turn will boost profitability for farmers and ultimately lower the cost of hempseed products for consumers,” he said.
Industry partner Kavasil Pty Ltd focuses on high-value hempseed as a functional food.
Founder and Chief Executive Andrew Kavasilas said he was pleased to see the endorsement of hempseed
research through the latest grant.
“Increasing yields and predictability will help further develop our capacity to supply the domestic markets and supply chain with high-quality Australiangrown hempseed and related products.
“It’s good to see recognition of this work as a crucial research endeavour that will help the broader cannabis industries focused on superior nutritional value, industrial and medical uses.
“The benefits to farmers and consumers are clear,” he said.
The latest Linkage grant builds on a successful 2022 Linkage bid for a $530,543 grant to advance the University’s work on hempseed development with Mr Kavasilas, supporting research into hemp's nutritional and functional properties.
The University has decades of established expertise in hemp and medicinal cannabis science and is the research lead on the Australian Industrial Hemp Program of Research, a five-year initiative funded by AgriFutures Australia to assist with the growth of the industry.
Key research themes of the Australian Industrial
Hemp Program of Research include enhancing hemp germplasm, optimizing agronomic techniques, exploring value adding of hemp seed products, and assessing sustainability criteria of hemp cultivation.
The goal is to support the growth of the Australian hemp industry guided by the Australian Industrial Hemp Strategic Research, Development and Extension Plan (2022–2027) and involves collaboration with various partners, including government departments, other universities, and private enterprises. Collectively, these efforts aim to position hemp as a viable and environmentally beneficial crop in Australia.
By Jacob SHTEYMAN, AAP
PRIME Minister Anthony Albanese has backed a greater role for the government in childcare as he prepares to push through legislation tightening up the sector following horrifying allegations of child abuse at Melbourne early learning centres.
Universal affordable childcare was identified by the prime minister during the recent federal election as the one reform he'd most want to be remembered for.
But the accusations levelled against Joshua Brown, whose 70 counts of alleged abuse, including child rape, have raised concerns that the rapid expansion of government subsidies into the sector has not been met with a commensurate increase in safety and scrutiny.
"Well, it reinforces why you need a stronger commonwealth role in childcare," Mr Albanese said when asked by AAP whether the case had changed his views on how his universal childcare ambition should be enacted.
Commentators have criticised the current model of handing subsidies to for-profit providers, arguing the incentive to cut costs
and boost margins sacrifices standards and oversight.
When asked whether he envisaged the sector being run more like public schools, Mr Albanese said "we'll see how that evolves".
"I think it makes sense to have co-location of childcare centres wherever possible in schools. It is just a practical thing to be done.
"If you're starting again you would completely have co-location of child care.
"I know as a parent, we had a public school in our street but we had to send our son to a different school that was driving distancea short drive - but the next nearest school, because they had after school care.
"That's something that people across the board feel as well - that convenience - and that's part of the productivity agenda."
But first, Education Minister Jason Clare will introduce legislation giving his department powers to conduct spot checks and pull funding from childcare centres deemed to be consistently failing safety and quality standards.
It's one of four priorities Mr Albanese identified for his first sitting fortnight back in parliament since his swingeing election win.
From Tuesday, the government will also push forward legislation cutting student debt by 20 percent and enshrine penalty rates into law.
The fourth priority, Mr Albanese said, will be seeing Labor's 24 new members sworn in and ensuring they all participate fully towards the government's long term goals.
"I'm feeling very energised about parliament coming back and seeing the outcome of the election in real form," he said.
"What that represents... is it gives the confidence that we were correct last term to prioritise people's living standards and cost of living, dealing with those pressures, and that we're correct to continue to prioritise that.
"You need to deliver for people what they
By Andrea FERRARI
BISHOP Druitt College (BDC) is among 800 individual exhibitors heading to Gunnedah in August for the 52nd AgQuip.
Showcasing more than 2500 brands over three days from 19-21 August, AgQuip will see more than 50,000 visitors exploring and
learning about many of the world's biggest names in agriculture.
They can watch live product demonstrations, check out new machinery, experience world-class AgTech, and browse the shopping precinct “Lifestyle Lane”.
Head of School at BDC Horizon Online Craig Verbruggen said, “Attending this event
provides a wonderful opportunity to connect with the agricultural community and share the benefits of BDC Horizon Online, a flexible, future-focused learning model designed to support students in regional and remote areas.
“We know that every student’s journey is unique, and our online platform allows young people to pursue academic excellence without having to leave their community or lifestyle behind.”
BDC Horizon Online offers access to expert
need in order to then have the legitimacy to push forward on longer term changes."
The prime minister was feeling buoyant as he flew back from a successful six-day tour of China, where he balanced tensions over Chinese military build-up and a mutual desire to strengthen economic ties.
Amid coalition criticism that he had failed to deliver enough tangible outcomes, Mr Albanese hit back that they didn't understand how patiently nurturing the relationship would pay dividends in the long-term.
Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor's clumsy comments that Australia should be "prepared to act" alongside the US in conflict with China over Taiwan broke with the bipartisan "One China" policy in support of the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, Mr Albanese said.
His eye is on a Labor dynasty to carve out a positive future for Australia in a challenging region.
"One of the things we're very determined to do is to have long-term Labor government in Australia so that we can implement the longterm changes that Australia needs.
"The world is changing fast and you can either shape that change or it will shape you."
teachers, engaging digital resources, and a supportive virtual environment grounded in connection and care.
For families in the ag sector, it’s a chance to learn how students can thrive academically while staying closely connected to their rural roots.
An ever-evolving exhibition, this year’s AgQuip also launches the Tractor Game.
Another first this year is the “Local to the Plains” section,dedicated to celebrating and supporting local makers, artisans, and businesses from surrounding regional communities.
By Andrea FERRARI
BELLINGEN Rotary has farewelled two outstanding international students who have completed their year-long exchange in the community through the District 9660 Rotary Youth Exchange Program (YEP).
Taro Okamoto from Japan set off for home on Monday 21 July, and Sofia
Escarcega from Mexico left on Wednesday 23 July.
The program provides students aged 15–17 with the unique opportunity to live and study in a different country for a year.
It is a one-for-one exchange that not only broadens horizons but also builds lifelong cultural understanding.
Students typically live
with four host families, giving them a diverse experience of local life.
Both students experienced a warm welcome by Bellingen host families and the community, and have made lasting connections at Bellingen High School where they were students for the year.
“Taro became proficient in Aussie English and was a standout in mathematics, while Sofia learnt our Aussie lingo,” Bellingen Rotarian for YEP Diana Christian told News Of The Area.
“Both students embraced all the experiences on offer, from surfing and camping to forming close friendships at school.”
In August, Bellingen Rotary will welcome Murilo, a 17-year-old student from Brazil.
Murilo will attend Bellingen High School and is excited to experience Australian life.
In communication with
the club, he writes that he enjoys basketball, tennis, running, going to the gym, and spending time with his dog.
He dreams of becoming a mechanical engineer.
Bellingen Rotary is currently seeking local host families to welcome Murilo during his exchange year.
Hosting is for a three to four-month period and is a unique opportunity to share Australian culture, build lasting international
friendships, and support a young person’s educational journey.
“Being a Rotary Youth Exchange host family is a fun, educational and rewarding experience that can lead to lifelong friendships and relationships, not just with your exchange student but their family, other host families, and Rotary members involved in the community.”
All that is expected is that a caring and friendly family and home atmosphere is provided.
NSW Child Protection requires family members over the age of 18 years to hold a NSW Working with Children’s Check and they must complete a Rotary Volunteer Information Declaration, which can be done with the club’s assistance.
Host families come in many shapes and sizes, there is no typical family structure required.
By William TON and Rachael WARD, AAP
A NATIONAL childcare worker register should show the employment history of staff after revelations an accused child abuser was sacked from one facility but continued working unimpeded.
Joshua Dale Brown, 26, has been charged with more than 70 sex offences against eight alleged victims aged under two at a childcare centre in Melbourne.
Authorities have previously said there were no known complaints against him, however childcare giant Nido Early Learning has confirmed Brown was sacked while on probation after completing 18 shifts at a centre in Werribee, in Melbourne's west. The incident happened
before he started working at the G8-owned Creative Garden centre at Point Cook in Melbourne's southwest, where he is accused of abusing children between April 2022 and January 2023.
A Nido Early Learning spokesperson said Brown was terminated over "unsatisfactory attention" given to an internal incident report related to one child's behaviour towards another child.
He was also subject to two misconduct investigations while he was working at G8, both of which found the non-sexual claims involving children were substantiated.
He was suspended and then resigned after the second investigation. Both incidents came after the alleged abuse for which he has been charged. Federal and state
jurisdictions have promised to fast-track a national register for childcare workers, after it was discovered Brown had worked at 24 facilities since 2017.
New laws to strip dodgy childcare centres of federal funding and other changes will be introduced by the government when parliament resumes, however there are concerns that may not be enough to prevent abuse.
Early Childhood Australia chief executive Sam Page said the proposed register must provide more oversight on educators' employment histories, including where they have worked and their employment patterns.
"What we want to stop is educators demonstrating poor practice or harm towards children from jumping from one service to the next and nobody can see
the pattern or complaints," she told AAP.
Currently, the only information about educators childcare employers have access to when a worker applies for a job is their CV and referees.
Ms Page said the register's board must take firm action against misconduct that may not reach the criminal threshold.
"Children are such a vulnerable cohort. It often is difficult to reach that threshold of evidence ... so I do think we need to have better safeguards in place," she said.
The parents of about 2000 children who crossed paths with Brown have been told to get them tested for infectious diseases.
His work history was updated this week to include five new centres.
Investigators have blamed delays on gathering information on his employment on a lack of centralised records, revealing they had to get search warrants to obtain handwritten records, shift rosters and other critical data.
Former royal commissioner Robert Fitzgerald, who sat on the inquiry into institutional responses to child sexual abuse, said it had been difficult to get Australia's governments to act on recommendations around record keeping and information sharing.
"Ten years on... the job has not yet been done and it has not been done because the nine governments of Australia have not committed the willpower to get it done in a timely
manner," Mr Fitzgerald said.
"These are all manageable. These are all achievable and my disappointment is that progress has been made, but the job should have been done."
The former commissioner said every gap left in safeguarding the sector meant children were put at risk.
Early childhood education expert Erin Harper said the proposed register should delineate between criminal activity and non-criminal conduct to protect workers who make one small mistake but still weed out more concerning patterns.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028.
BELLINGEN Shire Council has announced the recipients of the Community Grants and Environment Levy Community Program for Round 1 of the 2025/26 financial year.
At the June Ordinary Council meeting, Council approved a total of $45,144 in grant funding across four categories: the Community Support Fund, Community
Event Sponsorship Fund, Creative Placemaking Fund, and the Environment Levy Community Program.
“The Community Grants Program continues to attract a high number of strong applications, reflecting the community’s passion, creativity, and commitment,” said Mayor Steve Allan. Community Support Fund
Council has awarded a total of $8,027 for the following activities:
• Bellingen Community Arts Council for the Bellingen Shire Arts Trail Weekend 2025.
• Urunga Surf Lifesaving Club for enhancing junior surf lifesaving safety and participation through the purchase of new nipper boards.
• The Full Circle Collective for a Conscious Christmas upcycling ornament decoration workshop and a Kids Clothes Swap event.
• Urunga Football Club for the purchase of new soccer nets.
Community Event Sponsorship Fund
A total of $18,000
has been awarded to the following events:
• Rotary Club of Dorrigo for the Dorrigo Rotary Valentine’s Day Ball.
• Taranta Arts Inc for the Bellingen Taranta Festival 2025.
• Toni Swain for The Mylestom Mollusc – a day celebrating the wonderful oysters, seafood, produce and environment surrounding Mylestom
• Camp Creative for the 40th Birthday Community Evening Event Program.
• Loving Spoonful Productions for The Great Fashion Stitch Up – a creative community event promoting textile waste production and sustainable fashion practices.
• Gig Big for Urunga Blues by the Sea – a full day music event to be held in October 2025.
Creative Placemaking Fund
Council awarded $4,148 in this category to support the following projects:
• Hayley Egan for Those Before – a multi element community art project.
• Urunga Sail Training Club for Sharing the River Histories Story of the Bindarray Yurruun (Long River) Sail.
• Luke Rhodes & Melissa Seelenmeyer for Guunu Maana: Sharing Songs & Stories – the first of a series of community led cultural events.
Environment Levy Community Fund Council has allocated $14,969 to 5 projects:
• Flow-On Effect: an engaging event by OzGreen designed to connect the Shire's tourism industry workers with local river ecosystems.
• The Great Fashion
By Andrew VIVIAN
JEAN Bain has lived a rich and varied 100 years and is still active and involved, keeping her mind and body healthy.
After moving to the Coffs Coast in 1999, she completed HSC English as an external student, joined a writing group and had singing lessons at the Conservatorium.
She still uses her Pilates bed for 20 minutes each morning.
Born Jean Cronin in Bankstown, she went to high school at Dulwich Hill and wanted to be a teacher.
A talented singer at the age of 14, she was looking forward to performing a solo at a school function.
However, her mother organised for her to work as a dressmaker and Jean said she did not even have a chance to go back to get books from school.
Although she hated
dressmaking, Jean worked for her employer for five years, before establishing a successful business that she continued until her marriage in 1949.
She was also the singer with a big band that played dances at the Petersham Town Hall where she met a “bouncer” and fell in love.
Doug Bain was the son of a local Mayor, and the couple moved to Campsie and had Margaret, Julie and David.
Doug had a plumbing business. Like Jean, he had no say in his job and said he would only work as a plumber until he had enough money to buy a farm, which happened when he took early retirement in his 50s.
They bought a beautiful old home as the centrepiece of soldier settlement farms at Barraba, west of Armidale.
Jean learned to drive tractors, herd cattle, plough fields and anything else that needed doing.
“A highlight was clearing
a huge paddock, planting a crop and watching it grow," she said.
During their 10 years there Jean also learned spinning, weaving and pottery with a local craft group.
“I had hoped that we would spend the rest of our lives there but my husband was offered a job he had always wanted in Sydney."
Doug became a trustee of the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) but Jean wasn’t enjoying life in the city.
One day, she struck up a conversation with a neighbour who was also an actress.
She connected with the neighbour’s agent and got lots of work because “I did as I was told.”
Her more than 11 years as an actor included a role in “Tulip”, a short film that launched Rachel Griffiths’ directing career, and roles as an extra in “Priscilla” and “Babe”.
(Great Dane x Groodle) looking for their forever homes. Mum & Dad available to view, both have lovely temperaments. 5 girls. Wormed, microchipped & vaccinated. $1,200. Ready to go. Pics available or come visit. Call or text: 0422 070
Stitch-Up: a creative community event by Loving Spoonful Productions promoting textile waste reduction and sustainable fashion practices.
• Biodiversity Protection in Mylestom: removal of weed trees at the Johnson Avenue Landcare Site to protect a critically endangered ecological community.
• Mrs Wilson's Community Garden: the establishment of a community garden by the Urunga Country Women's Association.
• Native Seed Project: seed collection, propagation, community workshops and regeneration by Dandarrga Landcare.
Round 2 dates for both programs will open on Wednesday 10 September and close Wednesday 8 October 2025.
Bain has led a varied and interesting life.
Jean is now part of a Shakespeare group that meets each fortnight at her house.
“I hadn’t done any Shakespeare so it’s been a lot of fun.
“I’m enjoying life at the moment and three children, seven grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren keep me busy.”
MOTORISTS are advised of changed traffic conditions on Waterfall Way near Bullock Creek, Ebor for pavement rehabilitation and widening work. Work will be carried out from Thursday 24 July for three months and is expected to be completed by 30 October 2025, weather permitting.
Work hours are weekdays from 9am to 5pm.
A single lane closure with alternating traffic flow arrangements will be in place for the duration of the work with a reduced speed limit of 60km/h through the work area for the safety of workers and road users.
Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic control.
Transport for NSW thanks motorists for their patience during this time.
For more information on this work visit www. livetraffic.com/incidentdetails/242584<https:// www.livetraffic.com/ incident-details/242584>, download the Live Traffic NSW app or call 132 701.
To receive updates direct to your phone, search for 'Ebor' in your Live Traffic app, select the incident and click 'Follow'.
By Andrea FERRARI
THE owner of Freelance Flowers in Coffs Harbour, Nikki Burrell, is again rallying a team to take on “Fred’s Big Run".
The month-long virtual fitness challenge is raising funds to end avoidable blindness through The Fred Hollows Foundation.
Last year, Nikki and the Freelance Flowers team raised over $8000.
This year, they’re aiming higher; with more people, more kilometres, and their
own fundraising twist.
The business will donate $1 from every flower product sold in-store throughout August directly to the Foundation.
“The work of The Fred Hollows Foundation is inspirational in changing people’s lives and ending avoidable blindness,” Nikki told News Of The Ara.
“We felt as a workplace it was a great cause to get involved in as a team.
“Last year it was a team of mainly staff and our families, whilst this year it has grown
By Andrea FERRARI
IN A touching display of community, creativity, and connection, neurologist
Dr Hugo MoralesBriceño joined a group of Parkinson’s patients for a private musical jam session at the Coffs Harbour Men’s Shed.
The event was orchestrated by the Mid North Coast Local Health District’s Parkinson’s nurse Vince Carroll, who works closely with Dr MoralesBriceño.
The session was led by lead vocalist Neil Matthews,
who brought the room to life playing his harmonica and saxophone.
While Dr MoralesBriceño admitted he didn’t recognise many of the legendary rock songs played, his artistry on the drums impressed everyone in the room.
“Music has a powerful way of bringing people together and lifting spirits,” he said.
“It was incredible to see my patients enjoying themselves and expressing their creativity through music.”
For Vince Carroll, who
discreetly coordinated the gathering, organising the jam session was a labour of love.
“Seeing everyone come together and have such a great time made all the effort worthwhile,” he said
Neil Matthews added, “Hugo may not have known all the songs we played, but his rhythm and energy on the drums were spot on.
“It was fantastic to have him join us.”
The event not only showcased the therapeutic power of music but also highlighted the deep bonds formed between healthcare
to friends joining the team also, from Ballina, Tenterfield and Toowoomba.”
They have teamed up with Ballina Insurance Brokers this year.
“They also have a very dedicated team and together we hope to beat our fundraising and activity goals again.”
To achieve their Big Run kilometres individually and as a team Nikki and the Freelance Flowers team are going to take advantage of the beautiful local coastal walks over the month of
August.
“We are running certain parts of the Solitary Islands coastal walks which will take us on tracks, beaches, headlands and rainforests.
“You will see us anywhere from Look At Me Now Headland walk, to Dorrigo rainforest to Muttonbird Island to Moonee beach."
Passionate about the life-changing work of Fred Hollows, Nikki is committed to continuing his mission of restoring sight and hope, especially for First Nations communities.
professionals and their patients.
“The Men’s Shed was filled with laughter, music and camaraderie, a testament to the healing power of shared experiences.”
President of the Men’s Shed Robert Houston and music Co-Ordinator Vern McAlpine were thanked for their invaluable support and coordination, which ensured the event ran smoothly and provided a welcoming space for all participants.
Carers attending the session played a vital role in supporting their partners
By Karen FILEWOOD
EARLY on a foggy Tuesday morning, 5 November 1928, people at Corindi’s beach with several others, heard long blasts of a ship’s siren repeatedly sounding at sea from the direction of NorthWest Solitary Island.
Concluding it must be a vessel in distress blowing its siren as it sank – its crew
and perhaps passengers, struggling in the ocean, miles from land – a camper at Pipeclay hastened to report it.
Corindi’s post-mistress, Miss Loder, heard it around daylight, then around 7am, still going after she woke up again.
After it was suggested a ship was in distress, she rang Woolgoolga’s wharfinger,
Con Graham.
The coastal steamer ‘Glenreagh’ was loading cargo at Woolgoolga’s wharf and at 9am, went to sea for several miles to investigate but nothing was seen, so returned.
Meanwhile, Mr Graham drove a car along the beach for several miles but no wreckage or vessel could be found.
By this time, the fog had cleared to reveal a beautiful clear day with excellent visibility at sea.
By Tuesday night newspaper reporters had heard of the mystery and learnt that Mr Walter Shea was a member of the fire brigade and communicated with the South Solitary Island lighthouse keepers daily by morse signal.
living with Parkinson’s disease.
“Their presence and encouragement added to the warmth and inclusiveness of the gathering,” Mr Carroll said.
According to Parkinson’s NSW, more than 80,000 Australians are living with the disease.
Support services and community engagement events like this jam session are essential in improving quality of life and in raising awareness.
The jam session also highlighted the broader support network available
As a result, the brigade’s phone was beset with calls from the Grafton and Sydney press, attempting to contact him.
By midnight, the brigade’s attendant wondered if they would get any sleep, as did Mr Shea, however neither he nor the lighthouse crew had any information, so the mystery deepened.
The phone calls continued as late as Wednesday morning and
in Coffs Harbour, including the Movement Disorders Service - a collaborative initiative that brings worldclass medical care to rural and regional communities.
Led in partnership with renowned neurologist Dr Victor Fung, the service provides specialised treatment and support for individuals living with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders.
This partnership ensures that patients in regional areas have access to cuttingedge diagnostics, therapies, and compassionate care close to home.
Captain Cockle, with other ‘old sea dogs’, discussed events, concluding the ship was simply using its siren to sound fog signals in compliance with shipping regulation, in case other vessels were nearby.
This was verified by other campers, when a fisherman reported to Con Graham that he had seen part of a large ship at sea through the thick fog, the siren coming from its direction.
By Andrea FERRARI
C.EX COFFS has cooked up a winner in the Far North Coast category of the Your Local Club Perfect Plate Awards.
It has been recognised for its standout dish, Chicken Ballotine.
The annual competition saw 171 clubs across NSW create a signature dish for the event, with patrons
By Andrea FERRARI
PAST members of St John’s Physical Culture across the Nambucca Valley are rallying other past members for a reunion in September.
The ‘Physie’ reunion seeks to bring together former members, teachers, parents and supporters to celebrate the club’s history and achievements.
St John’s Physical Culture first began in Macksville in the early 1970s, founded by
Jan Welsh, whose passion for Physie inspired generations of local girls and women.
“This long-awaited reunion is open to anyone who was involved in the club across both Macksville and Nambucca - whether you participated, taught, or supported from the sidelines,” past member Raelene Stig said.
“We’d love everyone to bring along old photos, medals, uniforms, or any memorabilia… let’s take a
walk down memory lane and celebrate the wonderful memories we all share through Physie.
“After all, Physie was never just about the competitions, it was about the lifelong friendships, confidence, and community that grew from those early days in Macksville and Nambucca.”
Through Jan Walsh’s influence, many dedicated teachers like Norma Johnson and Judy Summerville helped the club grow, with classes eventually extending to Nambucca Heads.
The club continued to thrive well into the 1980s, with strong teams representing Macksville and Nambucca at Zone competitions held in Coffs Harbour.
Along with impressive team performances, many individual members also enjoyed success, with several progressing to State competitions.
Over the years, several passionate teachers kept the Nambucca club going strong, including Gloria Gavenlock, Judy Steele, Yvonne Graham and Raelene
Members performed in traditional tunics and ballet shoes, all kept perfectly in time by talented pianists Dolly Rowe and Melissa Worbouys, whose beautiful playing filled every class and competition with energy and rhythm.
In Nambucca Heads, the club proudly wore its red, white, and blue colours.
“Please help spread the word, as tracking down past members has been a challenge,” Raelene said.
The reunion will be held at the Downunder Bar,
invited to dine and vote for their favourites.
C.ex Group Chef Aby Calicaran created the Chicken Ballotine dish specifically for the competition, showcasing both technical skill and crowdpleasing flavour.
Mr Calicaran told News Of The Area the dish was made with full effort and love and he’s really happy that the team has won this award.
He describes this dish as “a tender chicken breast roulade with a delicate parsley and basil pancake, filled with ham, mushroom duxelles, and brie cheese".
“[It is] served with potato pavé, broccolini, baby carrots, confit cherry tomato, and finished with a silky French mousseline sauce and a drizzle of green herb oil.”
The Chicken Ballotine was delivered with consistent quality throughout the five-week promotional period by the
dedicated C.ex Coffs kitchen team, with 403 dishes sold.
Speaking after the awards, C.ex Group CEO John Rafferty said, “It’s great recognition for our entire kitchen team - for the hard work they do behind the scenes and the high standard of food they produce every day.
“The team delivered the dish flawlessly throughout the competition period.
“Our members really embraced the dish, with many enjoying it multiple times throughout the campaign,” Mr Rafferty added.
“We’re thrilled with the result and proud to be recognised for the quality of our food and service.”
The Perfect Plate Awards, an initiative of ClubsNSW, shine a spotlight on the exceptional culinary talent found in club venues across the state, celebrating the creativity and skill of chefs in the industry.
Nambucca Heads RSL, on Saturday 13 September at 1pm. For more information or to RSVP, contact Raelene Squires (née Stig) on 0438 412 128 or Laraine Kemp on 0422 994 632.
By Andrea FERRARI
THE Coffs Coast Justice of the Peace (JP) Association has opened a new community desk at the Coffs Harbour Courthouse - its thirteenth between Yamba and Nambucca Heads.
The desk will be run by Terry Tweedie, who has over 45 years’ experience as a JP.
Closed five years ago during COVID, the reopened desk will operate every Friday between 9am - 12pm.
Mr Tweedie is looking forward to this new opportunity and admits a
passion for the post.
“I am hopefully going to be able to sign heaps of documents to help the community of Coffs Harbour but also to help the Coffs Harbour District Courthouse.
“Last year we signed something like 17,700 documents which was a record for our branch,” he told News Of The Area.
“I originally was asked in 1980 by a friend of mine if I would like to become a JP and I said yes.
“He then nominated me to the State Member of Parliament Matt Singleton,
and I filled out all the paperwork and it was sent away and seven months later I received a letter from Mr Singleton confirming I had been accepted.
“I was then sworn in by placing my hand on the Bible with the local Magistrate at the old courthouse in Moonee Street.”
When Mr Tweedie retired, he was looking for something to do.
“That’s when I took on a community desk at Park Beach Plaza.”
Some of the memorable moments are just meeting
people you have never met before and assisting them by signing their documents, Mr Tweedie said.
“I never realised that these people are locals, travellers, interstate, and culturally diverse people that live here or are going to university at SCU.
“We have had people from Asia, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Middle East, Africa and South Africa and a lot of European countries, US, Canada, N.Z. and South Pacific Islands that are living in our community.
“I just like talking to people, just ask all the JPs I
work with.”
Local to Coffs Harbour there are JP desks at Park Beach Plaza, Coffs Central, Coffs Harbour Library, Moonee Shopping Centre,
By Andrea FERRARI
WHILE flooding rain prevented the Coffs Harbour Music Society's concert in May it is hoped that fine weather will smile on the Mendoza Argentine Tango Quintet, Australia’s leading exponents of Tango, who are scheduled to perform at St John Paul College at 7.30pm on Saturday 2 August.
Featuring the quintessential ferocity of the bandoneón and the velvety voice of Argentinian Solange Lipcin, the Mendoza Tango Quintet includes violin, piano and double bass.
The ensemble will deliver an impassioned, gutsy performance that spans the traditional dance music of the 1930s, to the avant-garde Tango of the 1970s, through to the music of
the 21st century, unpacking the music and rich history of the Tango.
“Our audiences need and deserve a concert like this to lift us out of the winter doldrums,” President of the Coffs Harbour Music Society Dr Leigh Summers told News Of The Area.
“The five fiery Mendoza musicians have impressive international experience.
“Violinist Liz Young was taught by Ramiro Gallo and later studied with Soledad Grigera from La Academia Tango Club.
“Argentinian born singer, Solange Lipcin, completed her studies at the Conservatory of Music in Buenos Aires, at the Orquesta Escuela de Tango.
“Thomas McCorquodale, Mendoza’s pianist, studied in Buenos Aires with
q Coffs Harbour Music Society's concert features the Mendoza Argentine Tango Quintet.
musicians of the Orquesta Escuela.
“Mendoza’s indefatigable bandoneónista is Stephen Cuttriss, who is now considered one of Australia’s leading exponents of the mystifying and obtuse instrument.”
Woolgoolga Gallery Art Classes Term 3 2025 (28/7 to 26/9) is taking enrolments for classes in: Stained Glass Collage Pottery Sculpture Acrylic painting Oil Painting Watercolour Mixed Media Drawing Floral Art
Day and evening classes available. Enrolments are through Humaninitx website: https://events.humanitix.com/host/woolgoolga-art-group
e: info@woolgoolgagallery.com.au p: 02 6654
a: Woolgoolga Art Group Inc 73 Turon Parade, Woolgoolga, NSW 2456
By Manny WOOD
ALAN appoints his three children, Jim, Robert and Mary as his attorneys under a validly executed enduring power of attorney.
Alan’s children are appointed “jointly and severally”, so that either one of them can use their power as Alan’s attorney without the consent of the others.
Several years later, at 90 years of age, Alan is admitted into a nursing home.
Mary’s relationship with her long-term husband breaks down and needing funds to purchase her husband’s share of the matrimonial home, she sells two large parcels of shares in Alan’s portfolio and withdraws $700,000 to fund the property settlement.
Mary makes small weekly cash payments into Alan’s bank account in partial repayment of the funds.
When Alan passes away, his executors, Jim and Robert, allege that Mary misused her role under the power of attorney.
Mary ultimately repays the whole of the funds, including interest, calculated three percent per annum. The repayment is primarily made by offsetting her entitlement in Alan’s estate.
The executors claim damages of over $400,000, including the loss of dividends and the loss of the capital increase in the value of the shares.
In her defence, Mary states that Alan consented to the transactions, that the executors were aware of the transactions and otherwise disputes the quantum of damages claimed.
The matter proceeds to the Supreme Court and evidence demonstrates that at the time of the transactions, Alan was suffering from cognitive decline.
However, evidence also indicates that Jim and Robert agreed to the “loan” and specifically the three percent interest rate.
The Court ultimately rules that Alan, whilst suffering from some degree of cognitive decline, did in fact have capacity to consent to the loan, and did so.
Furthermore, because Jim and Robert were aware of the transaction, they were “estopped” from now making a claim against Mary and given the nature of the loan, Mary did not breach her obligations to Alan.
The claim is dismissed and Jim and Robert are ordered to pay Mary’s Court costs.
This fictional column is not legal advice.
THE growing calls from eminent and expert Australians for an urgent review of the AUKUS strategic defence pact and issues over sovereignty are sadly 50 years too late.
The recent US Administration pressing Australia to up our defence spending and make a pre-commitment to engage in conflict with our major trading partner raises significant questions regarding the extent to which Australian sovereignty has been compromised under the auspices of ANZUS.
The sad truth is we indirectly ditched our sovereignty in 1975 when a younger Murdoch press ran its successful antiWhitlam campaign and we voted to oust the then government.
Much to the relief of the CIA; this resulted in the US retaining their Australian based intelligence gathering and communications facilities (Pine Gap and North West Cape) which Whitlam had been intent on closing down.
Whitlam had at least managed to confirm a ‘full knowledge and concurrence’ agreement, which is still in place and is supposed to keep the Government (and the people) in the loop.
Good luck trying to find out what communications these facilities have made with recent governments, or what involvement they have had in the recent US bombing of Iran, for example. Successive
Australian governments, a complicit public, and a defence department seemingly devoid of any alternative national security strategy have since dutifully enrolled us in costly and disastrous US led wars, so consolidating US military presence here was always on the cards, despite Sovereignty concerns.
This came with the Abbott Government’s 2014 Force Positive Agreement which further relinquished time honored restrictions on the deployment of foreign troops on Australian soil.
This has led to a multimillion dollar expansion of our military base infrastructure to house US personnel and materiel.
AUKUS and further compromises with the inclusion of nuclear capable subs and basing infrastructure has simply ‘sealed the deal’.
To suggest that this doesn’t negatively impact on our relations with our near neighbors, make us a target, and/or, that we are somehow able to remain noncomplicit in US actions; or remain neutral; or can opt out; or simply wind back these major concessions if the US behaves badly or declares war is a nonsense.
The US is not the nostalgic ‘big bro’ of 1945 that ‘has our backs’, and for that matter China is not the Imperial Japan of the 1930s, despite US war mongering.
Regards, Dave WOOD, Boambee East.
News Of The Area,
CONGRATULATIONS to the City of Coffs Harbour for the recent awarding of the Sulman Medal for Public Architecture by the Australian Institute of Architects to Yarrila Place and architects BVN.
This is the highest honour for public architecture in NSW and the building has also been shortlisted in the 2025 World Architecture Festival Awards, to be announced in November.
This recognition of our cultural and civic building is welcome but leads me to ask our Mayor: why does the community
still not have access to the River Oak room (aka the Council Chamber) at Yarrila Place?
Locals will recall that during the design process, we were assured that this room, which seats around 200 people and has a commercial kitchen and bar, would be available for gatherings, events, musical recitals, talks and so on.
Yet, the community organisations that I’m involved with have been quoted a totally unaffordable fee to use this room.
The only explanation I’ve heard is that it’s time-consuming to move the furniture and technology used in Council meetings.
Now that Council meetings take place only once a month, can the Mayor please explain why the community can’t affordably access this beautiful room,
Email Jasminda: media@newsofthearea.com.au
DEAR Jasminda,
There has been so much hype around the gotcha moment when Astronomer CEO Andy Byron was caught in an embrace with his chief people officer at a Coldplay concert. Why is there so much interest?
Jerry P.
Dear Jerry,
Coldplay songs cover the gamut of emotions. It's one thing to drive a loved one to the airport, but making that trip accompanied by a Coldplay playlist is another experience altogether.
Chris Martin is an incredible songwriter.
He expresses the depth of human emotion from love to regret to redemption (and that's just in The Scientist).
He's incredibly astute, and that was pretty evident when he said, straight after the concert gotcha moment, that the deer in headlights couple were either having an affair or just very shy. The wide-eyed look of shock followed by a quick turnabout and hasty duck seemed to indicate that Martin was on the money with his first observation.
No longer swaying, the CEO and his people person were thrust into the limelight in a way that was never going to be good for Astronomer.
How, for example, was the chief people officer going to talk about ethical work practices at the next staff meeting? How was the CEO going to address the organisation's reputational management when his own reputation had just gone down the gurgler?
Perhaps the only way for Andy's wife to deal with the fallout will be in true Coldplay style.
When her husband arrives home with his tail between his legs, she could simply play lyrics that have suddenly taken on a whole new level of meaning. He will no doubt be greeted with 'Nobody said it was easy, it's such a shame for us to part' blaring out the bedroom window at which point she could throw down his clothes, his shoes, and his vintage album collection featuring a signed copy of A Rush of Blood to the Head.
I very much doubt this is going to be a conscious uncoupling.
Carpe diem, Jasminda.
so Yarrila Place is used to its fullest potential?
Regards, Jo BESLEY, Karangi.
City of Coffs Harbour response: Yarrila Place has a variety of wellequipped rooms available for community use. The Red Cedar, Mahogany and Banksia rooms can be booked through an online portal. The River Oak Room is by quotation, and interested parties can contact the City’s Events team on (02) 6648 4950. Hire pricing is reflective of the cost of providing the service.
DEAR News Of The Area,
I AM bemused as to what “lies” Patrick Walters (NOTA 11/7) believes are being put about by defenders of the foreshore as public space.
The planning controls embedded in last month’s exhibited rezoning proposal makes the Government’s intentions crystal clear.
The core of the proposal will take place either side of the Jetty walkway on land presently zoned for and used as public
recreation - not in Patrick’s “fenced off paddock”.
This furphy is hard to kill but constant repetition does not make it any less false.
The proposed height control for this precinct is 25 metres, potentially allowing for eight storey buildings.
Similarly, the foreshore north of Marina Drive from the railway line to Jordan Esplanade has a proposed height control of 21.5 metres, potentially seven storey buildings.
These controls are subject to affordable
housing provisions allowing for height increases of up to 30 percent (another two storeys) solely at the discretion of the developer.
Another notorious furphy demolished by the actual zoning controls is that the development will focus on tourist accommodation.
The proposed zoning of MU1 (mixed use) allows the mix of uses (Residential, Commercial, Tourist) to be determined, once again, solely by the developer.
And I’m afraid that as far as a
“compromise solution” is concerned; that ship has sailed.
If the Government now accepts its own rezoning application the land is ready for sale to a property developer/developers who will build whatever configuration is available to them under the above controls to maximise profit.
There is no doubt that the poll’s characterisation of “multi-storey residential” development is what we will be getting.
Regards, Frank SCAHILL, Coffs Harbour.
DEAR News Of The Area,
AFTER more than 25 years as a Landcare volunteer and 15 years as a professional Bush Regeneration Contractor along the Coffs Coast, including the Jetty Foreshore, I feel compelled to put the record straight in response to Bob Cameron’s letter from 11/7/25 titled “Vegetation Intrusion”
The North Bank Planting project will not block views as all the species being planted are low growing.
This grassroots community initiative will not only beautify this area but will save valuable resources over time.
Far from being usable recreational space this area had been unmanaged and unsightly for many years.
The expense and danger of contiguously mowing such a steep slope resulted in it being left allowing a wide variety of environmental
DEAR News Of The Area,
EVEN a cursory glance at the empty shops in the western end of the CBD show a bleak aspect.
That area of town is dying.
There is no quick fix, however, over time it can change.
The main revenue for the town comes from tourism.
We have a problem; we do not have
DEAR News Of The Area,
I visit Yarrila (YAM) at least twice a month. Library, art gallery, museum, cafe.
It’s exciting to see the facility so widely used and enjoyed by so many.
The quality is of a high standard and equal to any I have seen Australia wide.
I feel confident council and majority of residents (ratepayers) are able to see the benefits to the community.
It is my hope that council will now recognise the wishes of myself and many other residents (voters and ratepayers) that
weeds to establish.
This was compromising all of the surrounding natural areas which have been restored and cared for by Jetty Dunecare volunteers for over 40 years.
The area is now being transformed into a low maintenance, self-sustaining natural area showcasing a range of the region's well adapted low growing coastal flora.
I would invite anyone who would care to inspect this site to see this for themselves.
Do you think the Jetty Foreshore would be such a popular place if it was still ‘denuded’, as it once was, allowing wind-blown sand to stop trains as it once did, and the public amenities to be inundated during high tides and storm surges as I’ve been told it used to, by others who grew up here.
I have only been living in this area since the mid-’80s so was not around when the Army was brought in to plant trees and build
sufficient accommodation for the numbers who could and do come here.
This is a disincentive to tourists.
Look what happens when we have big sporting events, such as the cricket, NRL or touch footy. Thousands of people come but many have real difficulty finding suitable accommodation. Surrounding towns take up the excess but it still leaves people looking.
We need more tourist accommodation, for that reason the position adopted by Coffs
our Jetty Foreshore will not be used for residential development.
While we all want to see our Coffs Harbour area prosper and be developed to its best advantage, this is not the answer for the Jetty Foreshore.
We have all read and heard the reasons.
Time for council, Gurmesh Singh and the State government to respect our wishes and take action.
Regards, Marie MORAN, Sawtell.
a fence to protect the coastline after it had been cleared and used as a place for planes to land back in the early days.
Since then, the dunes along our foreshore have been effectively restored by decades of unceasing volunteer efforts.
Rather than planting, the Dunecare Volunteers have used a system known as Natural Assisted Regeneration where weeds are removed systematically and natural balance allowed to re-establish.
Functional, well balanced dunal systems can quickly recover, even after serious erosion events.
The various species have all adapted to this ecosystem, each species having its own way of trapping the sand and rebuilding the dunes at no cost to anyone.
I can understand why the early European settlers felt the need to do battle with natural vegetation, especially in an area where
Council towards the foreshore development makes sense.
It is now in a position to make a plea to the State Government for more tourist accommodation.
To adopt the previous Council’s approach was to bury their head in the sand and have no say in the development.
With both Labor and Coalition parties in favour of the development, I suggest it is a fait accompli.
DEAR News Of The Area,
REGARDING the Jetty Foreshores I had cause to reflect the other day about how lucky we are here in Coffs to have such visionary leaders.
My daughter took me to the Botanical Gardens on the harbour foreshores in Sydney.
I immediately thought what a wasted opportunity this area was.
There were grassed areas with people having picnics, children running around
growth is so diverse and abundant like here. It must’ve been overwhelming for them.
But we now know better and can see in real time the ongoing damage from extreme weather events on poorly managed coastlines from the ill-informed decision making of the past.
I would invite Bob Cameron and anyone else interested to come visit the Jetty Dunecare Group on almost any Tuesday or Saturday from 7:30 am, for a free tour of the area we care for and take pride in (bookings essential). Then perhaps the community at large could have a better understanding of the critical importance and value of these special places, and why we all need to protect and care for them into the future for the generations to come.
Together in restoration, Lindy DAVIS, Coffs Harbour.
The new C.ex high rise in town should bring life into that area of town, it is hoped with its success, Gowings may be persuaded to complete their high rise above Coffs Central.
The sight of those rebars above the current building is a reminder of something lost to the town.
Kind regards, Peter DAVIES, Coffs Harbour.
and older folk just taking in the views of the magnificent harbour.
What a waste of space, when you consider how wonderful it could be with blocks of flats, car parks and cafes, lots and lots of cafes.
Talk about a lack of vision; those people who saved that Sydney foreshore land back then in the early 1800s should be ashamed of themselves.
Regards, Anthony HALL, Coffs Harbour.
DEAR News Of The Area,
LOCAL State MP Gurmesh Singh has the cheek to say most residents quietly support the proposed Jetty Foreshore revitalisation project “even if they have been drowned out by the noisy minority”.
Mr Singh is completely ignoring the 68plus percent of residents who voted against
the proposal; hardly a noisy minority!
One of the roles of an MP is to make representations to Ministers on behalf of local organisations and individuals; and serve as the voice of their electorate in Parliament.
This means listening to local concerns, and advocating for community needs.
In this area, Mr Singh has failed.
It is no wonder there are many angry folk in the community.
Regards, Trish WELSH, Coffs Harbour.
HOW many times have we all driven past stolen or abandoned cars left sitting on the roadside for weeks - sometimes even months?
These vehicles, often still displaying number plates and marked with police tape or hazard stickers, are left to deteriorate.
In many cases, they are stripped for parts or eventually set alight.
Worse still, this often happens on sealed
road shoulders, causing damage to the bitumen and creating additional repair costs for ratepayers.
Can anyone explain why this happens so frequently?
Why do authorities appear slow to act, and why do vehicle owners seem uninterested in retrieving their property before it’s beyond repair?
Surely there’s a better system we could be using to address this unsightly and potentially dangerous problem.
Regards, Trevor PIGOT, Orara Valley.
82 Ayrshire Park Drive, Boambee
Price: $1,799,000
Beds: 4, Bath: 3, Car: 2
Land size: 8,178sqm
NESTLED in the sought-after Boambee Valley, this home offers breathtaking valley views and ocean glimpses from the rear.
Partially concealed from the street by elegant sculptured hedges, the property features convenient access via a circular driveway and ample off-street parking for
multiple vehicles.
Offering over 347sqm under the roof, not including garage and workshop, this is a large home.
As you step inside, you are welcomed by a spacious foyer adorned with slate floors, which lead to two sets of stairs-one ascending to the bedroom level and the other descending to the living area. This entryway is complemented by a sizable double garage complete with a workshop on one side and a versatile rumpus room/living
area on the other.
This adaptable space has previously served various purposes, including a bedsit and a showroom for a home-based business.
Ascending to the bedroom level, you will find the master suite-an expansive bedroom featuring a walk-in robe and a modern ensuite.
This room is enhanced with contemporary plantation shutters, a ceiling fan, and is serviced by ducted air conditioning, as are all the bedrooms.
multitude of living configurations.
The kitchen space boasts a large, modern kitchen outfitted with generous stone benchtops, numerous pot drawers, and two sets of pantry cupboards.
The 900mm stainless steel electric oven, combined with a gas cooktop, stainless steel dishwasher, and double-bowl sink, make this kitchen a chef's delight.
Adjacent to the kitchen, a large informal living area provides the perfect spot for casual dining or lounging while overlooking the gorgeous inground, billabong-style pool.
WE HAVE AN INNER CITY OFFICE SUITE AVAILABLE OF APPROXIMATELY 410 SQUARE METRES. FOR SALE OR RENT CONTACT THE OWNER FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. 0418 654 371
THE SUITE HAS A PRIVATE AMENITIES ROOM, RECEPTION, THREE SEPARATE OFFICES AND HUGE WORKING AREA, A LARGE HALLWAY WITH AIR CONDITIONED COMPUTER SERVER CABINET, STORAGE SPACE, KITCHEN AREA, REAR ACCESS TO CARPARK AND INCLUDES TWO CAR PARKS.
THE SUITE IS WITHIN THE MAX MURRAY MALL WITH DOUBLE DOOR ACCESS FROM THE PUBLIC WALKWAY, IT IS FULLY AIR CONDITIONED AND A RENOVATION ALMOST COMPLETE WITH NEW PAINT THROUGHOUT AND CARPET SQUARES TO GO DOWN
The three additional bedrooms come equipped with large built-in robes, ceiling fans, and plantation shutters, all comfortably accommodating queen-sized beds.
This level also includes a beautifully renovated bathroom, complete with a spacious shower and a freestanding bathtub, ideal for unwinding after a long day.
A separate toilet adds convenience, making it a great asset for families.
The downstairs living areas offer a
This area is conveniently serviced by an additional bathroom.
On the opposite side of the kitchen, the formal living space features large windows that frame the stunning valley views, centered around an open fireplace with granite surrounds, creating a cozy focal point.
Extending from this area is the 'Ultimate Mancave'-a spacious room featuring a central bar with granite benchtops, a beer tap, and built-in under-bench glass door refrigerators.
At one end, there's a slate pool table, accompanied by large windows that invite the serene valley views inside.
This unique rural home has been cherished by a single family for over twenty years and is now ready for its next owners to create lasting memories.
Call today to arrange your inspection.
Agent's interest declared.
Agents: Kim McGinty (0432 953 796) and Chris Hines (0439 667 719).
By Iain WATT, Marine Scientist
MARINE algal blooms are the result of a rapid increase of phytoplankton in the ocean.
While phytoplankton and algae are essential to marine ecosystems, forming the base of the marine food web, producing much of the world’s oxygen, and are a major sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide, their excessive growth can cause harmful effects on marine life, water quality, and human health.
The extensive and longlived bloom event recorded off South Australia in recent months is a timely reminder that when a coastal system is out of balance, catastrophic consequences can occur.
Algal blooms have been around a long time and in some cases are natural, and not all algal blooms are harmful.
Most algal blooms recorded to date in NSW have been harmless but there are about 200 species of microalgae with the potential to produce harmful biotoxins that can be detrimental to marine life and human health.
These are primarily species of cyanobacteria, certain dinoflagellates and some diatoms.
In low numbers these species are innocuous, but the rapid increase of any one or combination of these species can cause Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), which are generally the result of human activity, poor environmental management, pollution (overloading of nutrients) and climate change.
Algal blooms can often be identified by seafoam and what can look like a light oil spill or paint spilled in the water, but these are not always HABs.
River and land-based runoff containing high levels of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), from agriculture, sewage or industrial discharges, together with warm waters and sunlight provide favourable environmental conditions for accelerated phytoplankton growth, which may lead to algal blooms.
Shellfish can filter and accumulate the biotoxins produced by HABs leading to contaminated seafood.
To manage and safeguard consumers from potential risk the NSW biotoxin monitoring programme tests the shellfish flesh and the waters around shellfish growing areas.
Another major risk associated with algal blooms is eutrophication which
occurs when excess nutrient loading (often Nitrogen and Phosphorus) surpasses the ability of the water body to naturally flush out the nutrients.
Excess nutrients can stimulate rapid overgrowth of algae.
As the algal bloom dies back and sinks to the seabed the decomposition process consumes oxygen from the water column causing a dead zone in the water and the seabed.
This low oxygen zone suffocates fish and other marine life, particularly impacting species with limited home ranges, and strong site fidelity that lack the ability to escape the dead zone.
HABs can also cause direct physical impact on marine fauna: clogging and lacerating fish gills, destroying the waterproofing of seabird feathers, potentially causing mortalities in turtles, dolphins, whales and seals.
The reduced light penetration and smothering impacts seagrass and kelp beds, important fish habitat and causes extensive economic impacts.
Coastal communities that rely on fishing, aquaculture, recreation and tourism are particularly vulnerable to
impacts from algal blooms.
In Australia, there is a select, but growing, group of biotoxin-producing estuarine microalgal species that have been documented to cause seafood poisoning, and the deaths of fish or other marine life, and direct human impact including skin rashes and respiratory symptoms.
The recent HAB in South Australia has impacted important habitat and resulted in the death of thousands of fish, sharks, rays, and other marine life essentially suffocating, dying and being washed up onto the beaches, impacting the beaches as a tourism asset.
In NSW, blooms linked to fish kills are a regular phenomenon, with around 20 cases reported annually.
However, the mechanisms of toxicity in these cases ranges from well-known to poorly understood.
The free-swimming microalgae Heterosigma akashiwo has been recorded in NSW waters.
It frequents brackish to full sea water and produces the biotoxin, Brevitoxin, which in sufficient abundance is strongly toxic to humans and marine fauna.
In California, this biotoxin was responsible for widespread seabird deaths by
destroying the waterproofing of their feathers among other ecological and economic impacts on visual amenity, shellfish harvest, fish kills and fishing.
The solution for HABs?
Early mitigation is probably the best option, before it becomes the usual expensive catch-up blame game.
With clear warnings from events in South Australia and elsewhere, relevant authorities should be taking steps now to mitigate against this possible future outcome.
Decreasing nutrient laden water entering the
estuary and urgent action on climate change can help reduce the risk and severity of a HAB.
Implementing effective riparian management, riverbank stability etc. and better agricultural practices to reduce the sediment and nutrient runoff entering an estuary is a critical step in improving estuarine health and productivity.
Decreasing urban pollutants by improved urban planning and storm water management in urban areas and adopting climate mitigation strategies at a local council level by encouraging mitigation projects will help mitigate the worst of climate induced changes on an estuary.
THE Regional Tech Hub has announced a new grants program, offering up to $3000 to community groups across rural, regional and remote Australia.
The Connect Grants are open to grassroots projects that help people navigate the complex world of phone and internet connectivity.
Regional Tech Hub General Manager, Jennifer Medway, said the program is about delivering practical, onthe-ground support.
"People now have more options for connectivity than ever before, but having options isn’t enough if you don’t know how to access them or where to start," Ms Medway said.
"The Connect Grants are designed to bridge that gap by supporting local groups to create opportunities to
explain services, support people through choices, and share tools to improve connectivity.
“The funding can be used for things like hosting community workshops, facilitating local training sessions, producing simple, localised resources, upskilling staff or volunteers in connectivity literacy, promoting the Regional Tech Hub, or sponsoring events where connectivity information can be shared.
"We know from working with thousands of communities across Australia that people are crying out for practical, local help. “This program goes a long way to providing it,” Ms Medway said.
The Regional Tech Hub is an Australian Government initiative delivered by the
National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), and provides free, independent advice on phone and internet connectivity to anyone living and working in rural, regional and remote Australia.
NFF President David Jochinke said the grants will empower community-led solutions.
"Connectivity challenges won’t be solved by infrastructure alone. We need local groups and trusted organisations to help people make sense of their options," Mr Jochinke said.
"These grants compliment the work already happening in communities by supporting local groups to run events, workshops, training sessions, or create resources focused on improving phone and internet connectivity."
Eligible applicants
THE Australian Government is seeking input from community and industry stakeholders on the “On Farm Connectivity Program” to ensure it is delivering the best possible outcomes for primary producers through the upcoming third round.
Through over $30 million in rebates provided
over the first two rounds, the government says thousands of primary producers have been able to extend connectivity and take advantage of connected machinery and sensor technology.
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and
the Arts has commenced public consultation on design aspects of Round 3, ahead of opening applications later this year.
The department is requesting feedback on options to adjust the Program to ensure opportunities are optimised for primary producers to address
connectivity gaps, particularly in light of the unprecedented demand in Round 2.
Proposed changes to the Program including refining the scope of equipment eligible for rebate, and streamlining processes by providing rebates directly to primary producers.
The public consultation
builds on discussions already underway with state and Commonwealth government agencies and industry representatives, including the National Farmers’ Federation, as well as feedback already received following delivery of the first two rounds.
The Government has allocated $53 million
include not-for-profits, community groups, councils, and regional service providers.
"The Regional Tech Hub has supported hundreds of thousands of people right across the country over the past few years,” Ms Medway said.
“The Connect Grants mean we can help even more people access the very latest connectivity solutions.” Applications open on Wednesday, 9 July 2025 and close at noon on Friday, 8 August 2025.
Projects must be delivered within six months of approval, but applicants don’t need to have confirmed dates when applying.
For more information visit the RTH website, or contact hello@regionaltechhub.org. au.
across all three rounds of the Program over 2023-24 to 2025-26, as part of the Government’s Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia.
For more information and to have your say on the proposed changes for Round 3, visit the On Farm Connectivity Program Round 3 consultation page. Consultation closes on Tuesday 26 August 2025.
By Aiden BURGESS
Coffs Coast Raiders are putting out the call for young female players to take part in the biggest annual
q The Gumbaynggirr Coffs Coast Raiders are playing in this year’s Koori Knockout.
The Raiders are on the lookout for players to join their Under 17s girls team that will play in this year's Koori Knockout held over the October long weekend in Tamworth.
The Raiders are also looking for any sponsors to help get their three teams to the Knockout.
The Raiders are aiming to have women’s, Under 17s Boys, and Under 17s
Girls teams compete at the prestigious carnival.
If you know any young women of Aboriginal descent, aged 17 and under, who’d love to play footy, or if you’d like help sponsor the Raiders in their Korri Knockout quest, please contact the club at coffscoastraiders@gmail. com.
Raiders teams have previously played in the East Coast Tribal League, with the women’s side winning the title in 2023.
By Aiden BURGESS
AUSTRALIA’s best junior rugby league talent have played off for national championships in Coffs Harbour.
The Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League Championships were held for the second straight year at the C.ex Coffs International Stadium.
Just like their senior counterparts in this year’s
State of Origin series, the Queensland Representative School Sport 18s Boys side were victorious, winning their grand final by 22-10 against defending champions New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges.
The Queensland side went through the National Championships undefeated on their way to winning the title, including a 32-22 win in their semi-final against NSW Combined Independent
Schools.
The NSW Combined High Schools side won the 18s Girls national title, defeating Queensland Representative School Sport 18-16 in their grand final.
The NSW side went through the championships undefeated, including a 24-12 win in their semi-final against NSW Combined Independent Schools, and an 18-14 win in their previous encounter with Queensland.
By Aiden BURGESS
THE COFFS Harbour Comets have earned bragging rights after a 24-4 win against the Sawtell Panthers in their local derby at Geoff King Motors Oval.
It was a vital win for the Comets as they moved into fourth spot on the ladder and equal points with the Panthers.
The Woolgoolga Seahorses maintained their unbeaten record this season, recording their
eighth straight win by defeating the Grafton Ghosts 54-16 in Woolgoolga.
The Nambucca Roosters consolidated second spot on the ladder, thrashing the South Grafton Rebels 60-0.
Reserves
The Woolgoolga Seahorses moved into top spot on the ladder with a 60-10 win at home against the Grafton Ghosts.
The Sawtell Panthers moved into third spot on the ladder after having a 14-6 win against the Coffs
Harbour Comets.
Nambucca Roosters had a 32-14 win away from home against the South Grafton Rebels.
Women’s
The Grafton Ghosts moved to the top of the ladder with an 18-4 win against the Woolgoolga Seahorses, in their top of the ladder clash in Woolgoolga.
Nambucca Roosters moved into third spot on the ladder with a 26-12 win against the South Grafton
Rebels.
Under 18s
Ladder leaders the Grafton Ghosts had a 24-20 win against the Woolgoolga Seahorses.
Sawtell Panthers edged out the Coffs Harbour Comets 18-16, and the Nambucca Roosters thrashed the South Grafton Rebels 58-10.
Round 12
The Group 2 Rugby League season continues this weekend with Round 12 matches, as teams play
off for the second time in as many weeks due to playing Round 5 catch-up games last weekend.
Sawtell Panthers host the Coffs Harbour Comets at Rex Hardaker Oval, in their second local derby of the season.
Grafton Ghosts host ladder leaders the Woolgoolga Seahorses, and Nambucca Roosters host the South Grafton Rebels.
First grade ladder
1. Woolgoolga Seahorses. 21 points. 8
wins. 0 losses. 2 byes. 132 (points differential).
2. Nambucca Roosters. 16 points. 6 wins. 3 losses. 2 byes. 86 (p.d).
3. Sawtell Panthers. 12 points. 5 wins. 5 losses. 1 bye. 40 (p.d).
4. Coffs Harbour Comets. 12 points. 4 wins. 5 losses. 2 byes. -4 (p.d).
5. South Grafton Rebels. 11 points. 3 wins. 5 losses. 2 byes. -122 (p.d).
6. Macksville Sea Eagles. 10 points. 4 wins. 6 losses. 1 bye. -18 (p.d).
7. Grafton Ghosts. 6 points. 2 wins. 8 losses. 1 bye. -114 (p.d).
By Aiden BURGESS
THE COFFS Harbour
Breakers and Sawtell/ Toormina Saints have ended up all square, sharing the points in a 13.9 (87) to 13.9 (87) draw in their local derby at Fitzroy Oval.
The Breakers led by 11 points at half-time, before the Saints outscored the
home side by 12 points in the premiership quarter to take a one-point lead into the final stanza, setting up the grand stand finish.
The Saints won the season series against the Breakers having won the previous two encounters with their cross-town rivals.
Port Macquarie Magpies won by forfeit against the Macleay Valley Eagles, during Round 11 of the AFL North Coast season.
Reserves
The Coffs Harbour Breakers had an 11.7 (73) to 1.4 (10) win against the Sawtell/Toormina Saints at Fitzroy Oval.
Women’s Ladder leaders the Coffs Harbour Breakers had a 5.8 (38) to 1.2 (8) win against the Sawtell/Toormina Saints at Fitzroy Oval.
Under 18s
Coffs Harbour Breakers had a 6.3 (39) to 5.6 (36) win in their local derby against the Sawtell/
Toormina Saints at Fitzroy Oval.
Round 12
The AFL North Coast season continues with Round 12 matches this weekend.
The Port Macquarie Magpies host the Coffs Harbour Breakers in their top of the ladder encounter, with the Breakers having won both matches against the Magpies this season.
The Macleay Valley Eagles host the Grafton
Tigers in South Kempsey, with the Eagles having won their only meeting this season by six points.
Sawtell/Toormina Saints and Northern Beaches Blues reserves, women’s and Under 18s sides play off at Richardson Park.
The Saints seniors side have the bye.
Seniors ladder 1. Port Macquarie Magpies. 20 points. 5 wins. 2 losses. Match ratio: 71.42. 232.53%
2. Coffs Harbour Breakers. 22 points. 5 wins. 2 losses. 1 draw. Match ratio: 68.75. 217.89%.
3. Sawtell/Toormina Saints. 18 points. 4 wins. 2 losses. 1 draw. Match ratio: 64.28. 151.45%.
4. Macleay Valley Eagles. 8 points. 2 wins. 5 losses. Match ratio: 28.57. 34.19%.
5. Grafton Tigers. 1 win. 5 losses. Match ratio: 14.28. 41.26%.
By Aiden BURGESS
THE Coffs Harbour Snappers and SCU Marlins have both been victorious during Round 12 of the Mid North Coast Rugby Union Northern Division season.
The Snappers got the job done away from home, beating the Hastings Valley
Vikings 22-12 in Port Macquarie.
The SCU Marlins triumphed at home edging out the Grafton Redmen 3433 at Coffs Coast Sport and Leisure Park.
Ladder leaders the Port Macquarie Pirates flexed their muscles smashing the Kempsey Cannonballs 64-7
in Port Macquarie. Round 13
The Mid North Coast Rugby Union Northern Division season continues this weekend with Round 13 games.
Coffs Harbour Snappers host the Kempsey Cannonballs at Coffs Rugby Park.
The Snappers had a 4110 win in their only meeting this season.
SCU Marlins travel to take on the ladder leading Port Macquarie Pirates.
The Marlins went down by just one, 28-27, when they last played.
Grafton Redmen host the Hastings Valley Vikings, with
the Redmen victorious 37-12 in their last meeting.
First grade ladder 1. Port Macquarie Pirates. 44 points. 8 wins. 1 draw. 2 losses. 201 (points differential).
2. Coffs Harbour Snappers. 40 points. 7 wins. 1 draw. 3 losses. 137 (p.d).
3. Grafton Redmen. 34
By Aiden BURGESS
NORTH Coast Football’s best junior teams are in pursuit of premierships, as the season heads into its final stretch.
Northern Storm
Tornadoes lead the way in the 16s Division 1 competition, having lost just once all season.
Coffs City United Lionesses have been the standout of the 16s Girls Division 1 competition,
having remained undefeated so far this season.
Woolgoolga Waves are the ladder leaders of the 16s Girls Division 2 competition having lost just once this season.
Boambee Bombers have
won all their matches as they sit at the top of the 15s Division 1 ladder.
Bellingen Bats have lost just once to sit at the top of the 14s Division 1 ladder.
Northern Storm Cyclones have won all their
matches to lead the way in the 14s Girls Division 1.
Woolgoolga Sharks’ 13s Division 1 side remain undefeated this season.
Woolgoolga Sharks are also the 12s Division 1 competition leaders.
points. 6 wins. 1 draw. 4 losses. 33 (p.d).
4. SCU Marlins. 31 points. 5 wins. 1 draw. 5 losses. 51 (p.d).
5. Hastings Valley Vikings. 12 points. 2 wins. 1 draw. 8 losses. -122 (p.d).
6. Kempsey Cannonballs. 12 points. 2 wins. 1 draw. 8 losses. -300 (p.d).
The Boambee Jets sit at the top of the 12s Division 2 ladder.
Woolgoolga Starfish have been the standout team so far in the 12s Girls Division 1 competition.
Urunga Raiders are the ladder leaders in the 12s Girls Division 2 competition.
By Aiden BURGESS
THREE talented Coffs Coast surfers have achieved top results at prestigious junior events.
Former Coffs Harbour Boardriders Club member
Luca Martin won the Under 16 Boys title at the Occy’s Grom Comp at Snapper Rocks. He backed up his title win in 2024 with another dominant showing, cementing his status as one of the country’s most consistent junior surfers.
Luca was over the moon
to be able to defend his title.
“I’m so stoked, I had a plan in my head to take this out, meaning I went backto-back because I won it last year, and I’m so stoked to have made the plan work out,” he said.
Sawtell Boardriders
Club member Rio Luther Barr made the semi-finals and was knocked out by the eventual winner.
Occy's Grom Comp is recognised as the world's most prestigious event for groms aged 18 and under, attracting surfers from all
By Aiden BURGESS
COFFS Harbour Basketball
Association’s senior winter season continued with the latest round of games played at Sportz Central.
Men’s A Grade ladder
leaders We Can’t Dunk had an 80-68 win against the Coffs Harbour Suns Under 18s.
Jayden Dean top scored for the winners with 36 points, Jonah Martin was next best with 25 points.
Chihuahuas beat All Washed Up 61-41, Clarke Simpson top scored with 17 points.
Duwant became the first team to beat Men’s B Grade
ladder leaders Can’t Catch A Breath this season, defeating them 68-55.
Maeson La Rosa had a game high 27 points for the winners.
White Chocolate had a 55-38 win against The Bricklayers, Joe Greer scored a game high 26 points.
Men’s C Grade ladder
over the globe.
Coffs Harbour Boardriders Club member
Hamish Harrigan finished runner up in the Under 16 Boys division at the Soundboks Oz Grom Open in Lennox Head.
leaders Pingas continued their undefeated season with an 88-39 win against Giddy Party.
Ewan Maggio and Spencer Skinner both top scored with 22 points each.
Pulsars had a 71-38 win against the Coffs Harbour Suns Under 16s Division 1 team.
The Soundboks Oz Grom Open has become one of the most iconic junior surfing events in the world.
James Watson top scored with 28 points.
Women’s Narwhals Loaded went to the top of the Women’s A Grade ladder after beating the Coffs Harbour Suns Under 18s Division 1 team, 60-48.
Maya Duncan led the way for the winners with 28 points.
Coffs Harbour Suns Under 16s Division 1 team had a 48–44 win against the
Hosted annually in Lennox Head by Le-Ba Boardriders, this worldclass competition draws elite junior surfers from across Australia.
Coffs Harbour Suns Under 16s Division 2 team.
Aribelle Dawes top scored with 20 points.
Women’s social competition ladder leaders Coffs Flames beat Mantas Mummas 55-12.
Charlotte Sommers top scored with 24 points for her team.
Ring Ins edged out Mantas Mystics 35-34, and The Mighty Ducks beat Mantas Mermaids 44-41.
By Mick BIRTLES
NAMBUCCA High School
student Toby Batten has earned one of the highest honours in junior rugby league, being named as halfback in the 2025 Australian Schoolboys rugby league team.
STORY STARTS on BACK COVER, Page 36
the Cadet Elementary Individuals 11 years final.
The three state champions are part of the B Wild Fitness and Sport Aerobics team, and are coached by Australian champion Brooklyn Leonard.
Leonard highlighted how great of a year Aria Grebert was having in her first year as an individual competitor.
“She won her first
competition in Coffs Harbour in May, then won another competition a week later in Newcastle,” she said.
“She won the following competition in Queensland, and then the State Championships.
“And it’s just her first year competing as an individual competitor.”
The three newly-crowned state champions are now off to compete at next month’s National Championships on the Gold Coast, alongside nine other girls from B Wild Fitness and Sport Aerobics.
The selection comes during another stellar season for Batten, who plies his trade in Group 2 with the Nambucca Roosters, playing
U/18s and First Grade.
Batten has also had strong performances at the national school championships, representing NSW Combined
High Schools (CHS), where he was identified as a standout for his leadership and playmaking ability.
While the official international match program is still being finalised, it is likely the Australian Schoolboys team will travel to Papua New Guinea in October to compete against international opposition.
Batten described the moment he learned of his selection as “overwhelming”.
“At first I was in shock to hear I was named the halfback for the Aussie Schoolboys,” he told News Of The Area.
“But I’m also very proud and honoured to be representing my country.”
Heading into the national championships, Batten said his focus was on performing for the team rather than personal selection.
“My main focus leading into the Australian Championship was on my role for CHS, communicating and leading well on the field,” he said.
“I was definitely more focused on winning the championship with CHS than on earning an Australian jumper.”
Now preparing for the upcoming tour, Batten is
embracing both the challenge and the opportunity.
“I’m looking forward to the whole experience such as developing my game, training and playing with and against the best 18-year-olds in the world and having our games played in PNG definitely makes me excited too.”
With preparation already underway, Batten is keeping things simple.
“I’m just trying to keep myself fit and healthy so I’m ready to train and play, but I’m also making sure I enjoy the time and the experience as it’s not something many people get to do.
“I won’t be taking it for granted.”
Parents Linda and Geoff Batten say they couldn’t be prouder, not only of their son’s selection, but of his commitment and character.
“We are immensely proud of Toby’s achievement, but even more proud of how he got there; the hours of training, the extras on his own and looking after himself.
“We’re extremely proud of the humble young man he is.”
Batten now joins an elite group of players to wear the Australian Schoolboys jersey, a proven pathway to higherlevel rugby league.
He has recently signed up to play in the Redcliffe Dolphins pathways system.
Coffs Table Tennis Results
By Margaret ILES
FRIDAY 18th July, 2025
Group A (Division 1 & Division 2)
Reece Baker d King McKie 3/0, Lachlan Dierkx d Tim Garrad 3/0, George Ruaporo d Paul Hendriks
Coffs Harbour Golf Club Ladies Golf
By Leah RAY
TUESDAY 15th JULY 4 PERSON
AMBROSE OVERALL WINNERS 1. Tania Norberry 18 & Karen Webster & Kerry Farmer & Kathy GoodsellPark Beach Bowl’s Club
By Doug POWELL
THURSDAY Men’s Triples 17/07/2025
G. Brewis, R. Kelly, T. Cooper d
Park Beach Women's Bowls Club
By Anne ORR
LADIES Master Pairs 12 & 13 July
Winners Janine Katon & Chris Constable (Maitland City) 128; runners up Genevieve Delves & Kate Matthews (Raymond Terrace) 126; 3rd Sue Wood & Joelen Bianchetto (Lake Cathie & Cabramatta) 124; 4th Mandi Monck & Chris Sheridan (Park Beach) 122; 5th Judy Monks & Lynne Tarrant (Park Beach & Urunga) 100; AM winners Shirley Willis & Brenda Fane (Park Beach), and Michelle van Praah & Sharon Howard (Myrtleford VIC and South West Rocks). PM winners Rhonda
Sawtell Golf Results
By Janet O’DOWD
15/7 MEDLEY Stableford Grant Martin 38, Andy Bruce 37, Robert Poyntz 36c/b, James Murdoch 36. Balls to 32c/b. NTP 7 A: Ethan Thornborough (pro pin), B: David
Mid North Coast Veterans Golfers Association
By Collin CUTT
TUESDAY, 15th July, 67 MNC
Veteran Golfers competed at Coffs Harbour Golf Course, which was in
Urunga Men's Veterans Golf
By Ross HARDAKER
JULY 21
Single Stableford 22 players contested today's
Coffs Harbour District Darts
By Ray BEASLEY
SAWTELL RSL Club
Winter Comp
Monday 14 July
Warriors def Who Darted
7-2
3/0, Troy Prystasz d Yash Tyagi 3/0. Division 1
Reece Baker d Troy Prystasz 3/0, Lachlan Dierkx d George Ruaporo 3/0, Troy Prystasz d George Ruaporo 3/0, Reece Baker d Lachlan Dierkx 3/2. WINNER: Reece Baker from Lachlan Dierkx. Division 2
Yash Tyagi d King McKie 3/1,
Eagles 29.125 2. Norma Wilson & Janice Hickey & Sue Seaton
30.833 WEDNESDAY 16th JULY
SINGLE STABLEFORD A GRADE WINNERS - 1. Machelle Nichol 41, 2. Carrie Fagan 40, 3. Caroline Campbell 36 (CB), 4. Meryl Fisher 36 B GRADE WINNERS - 1. Shirley Willis 39, 2. Kerry Farmer 36, 3. L, Goodacre, K. Crooks, N. McVicar 25-22
C. Bryan, N. Campbe[[, K. Watts d N. Nelson, C. Hansen, J. Robinson 35-13
G. Williams, R. Beaumont, G. Hinsley d J. McLeod, G. Wallace, P.
Harris & Roe Martin (South West Rocks), and Narelle Foy & Lee North (Sawtell).
Social Bowls Friday 18.7.25. D Hargraves, T Lainchbury def J Woodford, R DeMeio 18-15; M Arundel, B Arundel def R Coffey, C Cutt 16-14; P Poulton, E Kidd def M England, C England 13-13; K Breen, T Breen def C McVicar, N McVicar 18-12; M Berude, R Finch def L McLeod, K Cutmore 22-16; M Cutts, J Murtas def J Barker, T Brown 15-10; D Futcher, R Lane def B Edwards, F Gaunt 27-13; J Boyd, J Boyd def K Dunn, L Loadsman 17-15; G Duffey, D Lindiner def N Hallett, M Van Praagh 18-13; T Blow, K Blow def S Crawford, D Francis 24-11; J Jones, B Jones def J Kennedy, R Oakley 28-15.
Hilton, C: Wayne Edwards. NTP 11 A: Brian Wilson, B: Robert De Groot, C: Andy Bruce 16/7 Multiplier 2 Person Stableford Wendy Mason & Lynne Rapley 58, Annie Waters & Margaret Gill 55, Karen Wilson & Rhonda Cooper 53c/b 17/7 Play 9 James Atkin 19,
very good condition and a credit to the grounds staff.
A grade: Winner - David Nicholls 38 c/b, 1st runner-up
David Eather 38, 2nd runner-up
Ross Donnelly 37, 3rd runner-up
Matt Lark 36 c/b.
B grade: Winner – Col Osland event, including one visitor from Scone.
Winner, with 37 points, was that visitor, Michael Alsleben, 2nd John Davis 34 c/b, 3rd Andrew O'Keeffe 34.
Run-down Lawrie Renshall, Garry Matthews 32, Alan Titley,
Thunderstruck 7-2
Fluke Shots def Bull Finish
5-4
5-4
Surgical Steel def DILLIGAF
100s
Elaine (1)
Kelly (1)
Wendy (1)
Asttan (1)
Tim Garrad d Paul Hendriks 3/1, Paul Hendriks d King McKie 3/0, Yash Tyagi d Tim Garrad 3/2. WINNER: Yash Tyagi from Tim Garrad.
Division 3
Ann Joy d Ryland McDonough 3/0, Sharee Templeton d Dominic Arjona 3/1, Char Berglund d Aiden
Haigh 3/0, Nick Jankovic d Ann Joy
Jackie McIntosh 35 (CB), 4. Janet Neville 35 C GRADE WINNERS - 1. Yvonne Avery 35, 2. Elaine Bowers 34, 3. Glenice Cutt 33, 4. Jan Silvy
32 (CB) NTPs - NTPs - 3rd hole
- Janice Hickey, Karen Webster, Betty Peen, 6th - Gayle Jones, 22nd - Wendy Johnstone, Janet Neville, Viv Gayford, 26th - Gail De Groot,
Newman 27-22
P. Woodsell, P. Tpoy, L. Morris d M. Berube, R. Finch. D. Lindner 14-13
J. Boyd, B. Jones, B. Arundel d C. Lloyd, B. Smith, R. Harris 24-15
P. Elliott, P. Lilly, R. Douglas d K.
3/2, Ann Joy d Aiden Haigh 3/0, Char Berglund d Sharee Templeton 3/1, Dominic Arjona d Ryland McDonough 3/0, Nick Jankovic d Sharee Templeton 3/0, Ann Joy d Dominic Arjona 3/0, Sharee Templeton d Aiden Haigh 3/1, Char Berglund d Ryland McDonough 3/0, Nick Jankovic d Dominic Arjona 3/1, Ann Joy d Char Berglund 3/0, Sharee
Sue McLean, Yvonne Avery FRIDAY 18th JULY SINGLE STABLEFORD
LADYBIRD CHALLENGE OVERALL
WINNERS - 1. Karen Brown 37, 2. Maureen Costello 36 (CB), 3. Trish Lemin 36 NTPs - 3rd hole - Karen Brown, Barb Withers, 6th - Tracey Moore, 22nd - Carrie Fagan, Tracey Moore, 26th - Caroline Campbell,
Johnson, W. Moore, S. Jones 28-21
C. Williamson, T. Wisely, D. Catling, B. Garner d G. Spinks, J. Lowndes,R. Felton. M.Baker 25-13
M. Lee, M. Finn, K. Morrison d G J Meyer, A. McKee, P. Rambow 25-18
C. Weatherall, G. Stanford, T.
Templeton d Ryland McDonough 3/1, Dominic Arjona d Aiden Haigh 3/0, Nick Jankovic d Aiden Haigh 3/1, Sharee Templeton d Ann Joy 3/2, Char Berglund d Dominic Arjona 3/2, Ryland McDonough d Aiden Haigh 3/0, Nick Jankovic d Char Berglund 3/2, Nick Jankovic d Ryland McDonough 3/0. WINNER: Nick Jankovic from Ann Joy
Mandy Darley SATURDAY JULY 19th GOLF NSW MEDAL ROUND 4 - STROKE OVERALL WINNERSBrenda Fane 71, 2. Kerryn Little 73 (CB) GROSS WINNER - Alex Brett 86 NTPS - 3rd hole Alex Brett, 6thKaren Brown, 22nd - Shirley Willis, 26th - Cheryl Bonthorne PUTTING COMP - Helen Rhodes 26 putts
Erskine d R. Aitken, J. Long, J. Swan 26-23
R. Wisely, R. Alford, K. Kaaden d N. Dean, R. Host, J. Bishop 25-11 S. McCudden, P. North, P. Booth, J. Dunn d P. Wirth, B. McLehose, D. Hoffman 23-14
Michael Howard 18. Balls to 17 19/7 Stroke A: Warren Johnstone 66, Peter Matten 71. B: Gary Devine 71, Rodney Watt 72c/b. B: Aussie Foy 66, Paul Bayliss 72. Balls to 76c/b. Gross A: Scott Pollard 74c/b. B: Anthony Clack 87, C: Wayne Parkin 95. Hole in One
38, 1st runner-up Maurice Tate 37 c/b, 2nd runner-up Anthony Grebert 37, 3rd runner-up Bob Alexander 36 c/b.
NTP’s: 3rd Dennis Moore, 6th Geoff Knight, 22nd Uri Ylinen, 26th Steve Robinson.
Ball run to 32 pts.
Grant Cardow, Tom Faulkner 31, Brett Bosbach 30, Peter Wood 29 c/b.
Bradmans Gary Teale 21. NTPs 3rd Michael Alsleben, 9th Tom Faulkner. Longest Putt Tom Faulkner. Slab Winner Brett Bosbach.
Bob (2)
Chris (2)
Craig S (3)
Dave H (3)
Dean (7)
Edward (1)
Garry (4)
Kurt (3)
Kyle (3)
Michael (1)
Chris Barrow. NTP 7 A: Ethan Thornborough, B: Peter Watt, C: Bob Everitt. NTP 11 A: Greg Bartlett, B: Grant Martin, C: Brian McKellar. Nearest the pin Andrew Dent. NTP 15 Brian McKellar
Ladies Stableford
Jenny Kelloway 29c/b
By Vicki SILVER
MONDAY Vets Results Monday 21st
July 2025
42 members and visitors managed to stay dry today, playing a 9 hole single stableford event. Winners: GentsGeoffrey Clerke 18 David Turnbull 17 Norman Shannon 16 c/b Grazzi Toscan 16 Ball Comp: Trevor Bissett 14 c/b Roger Martin 14
Ladies 9 Hole
Stableford Gaye Hardcastle 22, Vicki McNamara 18c/b. NTP Vicki McNamara. Saturday Sal Margaret McIntyre 20/7 Medley 2 Person Ambrose Lochie & Ruth Smith
65.5, Tara & Dave Rava 66.25. Balls to 68.75
Rick Jenkins 13 c/b
Ladies-
Susan Maione 23
Jean O’Connor 19 c/b
Bev Miles 19 c/b
Betty Snow 19 c/b
Ball Comp:
Lois Elworthy 19
Vicki Silver 16
Marilyn Waterhouse 15
Nearest the Pins:
3rd Hole Carol Whitelegge & John Wilgress
6th Hole Mark Cooney.
Next week is a four person team event shot gun start 8.30 for 9am. No golf for Monday Vets on Monday 4th August.
Bad Habbits def
Ben (1)
Ray (1)
Agent
Sawtell Real Estate
Toormina Real Estate
URUNGA/BELLINGEN
IGA Supermarket
Spar Supermarket Urunga
Foodworks Urunga
Urunga Bowling Club
Welcome Dental Urunga
Lindsay’s Oysters
Kombu Wholefoods
Fermount Fire Station
Ray White Real Estate
Bellingen Pet & Vet Supplies
Bellingen Golf Club
Cardows Urunga
CEX Woolgoolga Lawn Bowls
By Suzanne BRACHER
SUNDAY 13/7/2025 social games for members or non members.Rink 2: B Richard, B Parker (D) A Dellis, W Dellis. Rink 3: D Leach, T Wylie. Rink 4:D Mahoney, G McInerney (D) G McInerney, D Barnard. Rink 5: J Leach, N Campbell, (D) I Coultmann, B Wylie. Rink 7: P Diamond, S Wall (D) J Martin, D Mason. Tuesday 15/7/2025 ( P.M Pairs) Rink 2: P Cumiss, N Campbell, B Minchan (D) H
By Peter BERRINGTON
20 JULY 2025 at Sawtell Beach
RESULTS: 2km (Male) - Hugh Morgan 6:40, 1; Angus Morgan 6:43, 2; Oliver Philip 7:12, 3; Daniel Ham 7:42, 4; Lennox Bennington 8:04, 5; Ziggy Walker 8:06, 6; Taylor Lay 8:11, 7; Matthew McAleer 8:36, 8; Astin Nuttall 8:51, 9; Leo Tarran 8:57, 10; August Hamilton 9:26, 11; Chris Hamilton 9:32, 12; Bryson Kelly 9:42, 13; Matt Evans 9:49, 14; Jesse Munn-Power 9:50, 15; Thomas Hinshaw 9:53, 16; Leon Petrohelos 9:54, 17; Kane Woodgate 9:55, 18; Shane Dwyer 10:03, 19; Russell Crane 10:20, 20; Iggi Nuttall 10:37, 21; Max Kelly 10:54, 22; Harvey Griffin 11:04, 23; Sawtell Bowls Results
By Geoff HAMPSON
SUNDAY 13/7/25; Men’s Major Triples:
Winners D Wells, P Smith, R Newick
Runners Up T Mitchell, B Fitzpatrick, D Hyde
MONDAY Twilight Bowls
14/7/25
R Redman, J Cherne, C Christian
DEF C Veerhuis, L Kratz, B Smith
J Poyntz, S Beedie, A Day DEF J Chapman B Tremayne, L Mitchell
D Beedie, G Davidson, T Spiers
DEF J Fleming, R Hampson, K Taylor
E Korchma, C Rogers, G Hampson DEF R Avery, P Day, N Elford
S Cook, L Read, S Kennedy DEF A Waters, G Nichols, B Cook
LADIES Major Singles
N Foy DEF N Elford / E Tindall
Coffs Harbour Bridge Results
By Nerellyn MITCHELL
JUNE 9th - A NS N Williams, J Burrows; EW B Butler, M Pailthorpe - B NS R Irwin, M Cotsell; EW C Everson, J Isaacs
June 10th - S Kreplins, J Isaacs
June 11th - NS J Burrows, T Cooper; EW R Rutter, T Booth
June 13th - NS H Pitt, F Gaunt; EW J Stimpson, G Battershell
June 14th - NS J Parker, P Houlton; EW D Johnson, M Johnson
June 16th - A NS H Pitt, F Gaunt; EW T Cooper, D Hickie
- B NS G Stubbington, D Jeffrey; EW H Michener, J Boyle
June 17th - D Featherstone, N McIvor
June 18th - NS N Williams, D Hickie; EW J Herring, B Herring
June 20th - NS I Doland, S Dilosa; EW V Gayford, P Haigh
Pallister, D Foster, G Pallister. Rink 3: J Hurrell, D Barnard (D) C Nightingale, K Costelloe.
Rink 4: T McKenzie, P Buck (D) P Diamond, J Taylor. Rink 5: S Oliver, P Wroe (D) J Leach, B Riley. Rink 6: Les C, Rick B, (R) J Gibbons, Fred C. Rink 8: Corinne, Rob (D) Athol, Rob. Rink 10: S Wall, J Brookes (D) A Wroe, R Shaw. Rink 11: S Barnard, H Katala (D) L Walsh, G McInerney. Rink 12: N Wood, J Evan’s (D) W Gavenlock, M Hopes.
Rink 13: D Leach, T Wylie, (D) k Breem, T Breen.
Wednesday 16/7/25 (Wanderers) Rink 2: D Randall, G
Neil Griffin 11:05, 24; Chris Walker 11:35, 25; River Woodgate 11:46, 26; Darcy Kelly 11:59, 27; Stephen Boyd 12:33, 28; Oaklei Nuttall 12:49, 29; Kumsal Gozeloglu 14:48, 30; Steel Beveridge 27:31, 31.
RESULTS: 2km (Female) - Lacey Van Hoeck 7:33, 1; Madeline Ham 7:41, 2; Sophie Van Hoeck 8:07, 3; Willow Nuttall 8:23, 4; Anika Bates 8:41, 5; Felicity Bates 8:56, 6; Sarah Morgan 9:09, 7; Anthea Martin 9:22, 8; Ella Petrohelos 9:24, 9; Sara Evans 9:44, 10; Lucy Ham 9:45, 11; Leah Ham 9:46, 12; Tegan Van Hoeck 9:47, 13; Morgan Liubinas 9:52, 14; Sara Bergen 10:08, 15; Quinn Woodgate 10:46, 16; Laura Tarran 11:06, 17; Joanne Munn 11:17, 18; Caron Mackie 11:33, 19; Evelyn Hinshaw 11:39, 20; Rhea Nuttall 12:13, 21; Wendy Maley
DE F Sharpe/ A Day DEF G StauntonLatimore
J Townsend DEF L North/ B Eden DEF H Muir (Forfeit)
TUESDAY Ladies Social Bowls
15/7/25
T Ide, H Dodd, M Baguley DEF J Carey, L Kratz, S Brandenburg
R Cook, C Dodds, D Garth DEF J Poyntz, M Friend, T Goninan
C Samuels, A Bailey, A Day DEF G Brabender, G Pickard, C Weir
J Fleming, B Connors, D Grebert
DEF J Townsend, H Muir, L Savage
C Veerhuis, C Irvine, L Mitchell
DEF M McDonald, N Feltrin, K Lewis
WEDNESDAY Men’s Social Bowls
16/7/25
P Covington, W Vaughn, J Townsend DEF P Paunovic, R Petterson, B Sorrenson
J Blaikie, D Anderson, A Berry
DEF P Swain, G Fisher, N Sillar
J Chapman, D Williams, A Robertson DEF I Maderic, G Walsh,
June 21st - NS A Fox, S Fox; EW E Colley, D Strachan
June 23rd - A NS R Roark, D O'Meara; EW T Cooper. D Hickie
- B NS G Battershell, P Rongen; EW J Archer, B Brebner
June 24th - D Johnson, J Watson
June 25th - NS H Pitt, R Roark; EW R Rutter, P Quinlan
June 27th - NS J Burrows, C Brown; EW L Quinn, P Haigh
June 30th - NS L Power, J Leach; EW J Archer, B Brebner
July 1st - D Featherstone, N McIvor
July 2nd - NS J Bryant, B Salisbury; EW D Hickie, N Williams
July 4th - NS B Salisbury, N Mitchell; EW C Coupe, L Coupe
July 5th - NS P Jonutz, N Mitchell; EW E Colley, D Strachan
July 7th - A NS J Abbey, P Griffin; EW H Pitt, F Gaunt - B NS P Jonutz, H Eyers; EW J Stimpson, P Houlton
July 8th - P Jonutz, H Eyers
12:30, 22; Vicky McClure 13:01, 23; Sue Claughton 14:07, 24; Ellie Luhr 14:16, 25; Alicia Gozeloglu 14:49, 26; Naomi Dalton 14:49, 27.
RESULTS: 5km (Male) - Kyle McIntosh 17:56, 1; Cameron Hinshaw 20:25, 2; James Karrasch 22:32, 3; Oliver Philip 23:12, 4; Peter Hood 23:39, 5; Kweller Happ 24:04, 6; Chris Hamilton 24:39, 7; Greg Crowe 26:48, 8; Matthew McAleer 28:29, 9; Marcel Philip 29:28, 10; John Philip 29:28, 11; Ben Happ 29:51, 12; Brett Taylor 30:29, 13; Matt Evans 34:50, 14; Keith Williams 39:45, 15.
RESULTS: 5km (Female)Amelia Harrigan 27:25, 1; Clara Philip 27:44, 2; Felicity Bates 27:49, 3; Anthea Martin 29:29, 4; Ella Petrohelos 32:49, 5; Laura Tarran 33:08, 6; Sara Evans 34:47, M Jenkins
N Kotrozos, J Oates, J Tainsh DEF M Hastings, M Aujard, A Vivian
G Campbell, P Weir, B Newling
DEF T Brooks, R Cridge, J Rankin
K Garth, R Poyntz, P Brabender, DEF R McLennan, G Hitchen, S Wilkinson
H Slater, M Cutts, J Murtas DEF C Christian, D Wheeler, B Samuels
B Martin, R Williams, P Collins
DEF N Wong, C Rogers, G Hobson
R Smithers, T Mitchell, L Preston
DEF I Muller, L Zecchinati, N Lamond N McClelland, J Richardson, D Wilson DEF M Finn, D Bond, W Meadows
A Jones W Kellam, M Gibbons
DEF F Symes, G Nichols, G Denniss
T Lavell, A Baker, SA Sorbello
DEF E Nicolaou. G Hinsley, J Burt FRIDAY Mixed Social Bowls 18/7/25
G Brabender, R Poyntz, P Brabender DRAW J Richardson, K
July 9th - NS H Pitt, R Roark; EW B Johns, E Colley
July 11th - NS I Doland, S Dilosa; EW V Gayford, P Haigh
July 14th - A NS R Bingham, H Chalk; EW B Butler, M Pailthorpe - B NS J Bryant, B Herring; EW H Murray, H Lawrence
July 15th - D Featherstone, N McIvor
July 16th - NS H Pitt, R Roark; EW D Hickie, N Williams
July 18th - NS C Hocking, P Hocking; EW S Thorne, J Thorne
July 19th - NS R Roark, F Gaunt; EW J Stimpson, H Chalk
Buck. Rink 4: M Hodge, D Barnard, (D) D Mason, I Hawaslow. Rink 5: W Gavenlock, G Pallister (D) John, C Nightingale. Rink 6: Norm, Les (D) I Coltman, B Symes. Rink 7: J Martin, T Wiley, G Cunningham (D) P Diamond, G Lang, R Bennell. Rink 10: D Randall, B Rennie, (D) A Wroe, J Merchant. Rink 11: G McInerney, G McInerney (D) J Gibbins, Fred C. Rink 12: J Burgess, K Costelloe (D) W Rice, Simon Rice. Rink 13: S Barnard, D Washfold ( D ) N Haines, J Hampstead. Rink R Gurber, B Merchant (D) Glenda, Roman.
Marsh , R Marsh (D) J Simmons, B Pevbred, A Jones. Rink 3: K Dunstons, P Stirling, B Rennie (D) J Lynn, K Duryea, M Mulligan. Rink 4: T Collins, J Hampstead, J Taylor (D) N Wills, J Simpson, K Costelloe. Rink 5: I Brien, S Oliver, G Burgess (D) Bear, P Pillon, D Mason. Rink 6: C Zelivis, L Virag, S Wall (D) T Leach, L Collol, J Evan’s. Rink 7: G Woolley, S Ferro, I Gentle, (D) J Martin, C Nightingale, P Diamond. Friday 18/7/25 (2.4.2) Rink 1: T Teer, H Katala (D) L Walsh, L Walsh. Rink 2: J Lynn, S Oliver (D) K Jordan, R Foster. Rink 3: D Evan’s, L Evan’s (D) J Taylor, P 7; Wendy Maley 36:00, 8; Kirsten Dwyer 43:23, 9; Rebecca Ridges 44:13, 10; Stella Hood 44:15, 11; Kristie Hood 44:15, 12; Ellie Luhr 45:30, 13.
RESULTS: 10km (Male) - Nick Murray 41:36, 1; Bruce Meder 47:47, 2; Leon Petrohelos 49:45, 3; Leo Tarran 49:47, 4; Shane Dwyer 1:05:48, 5; Stephen Boyd 1:05:48, 6; Russell Crane 1:05:49, 7.
RESULTS: 10km (Female) - Leah Doman 48:25, 1; Kate Marsden 58:58, 2; Caron Mackie 1:07:58. 3. Next week the runs are on the Habitat Walk track. Please check in at the reserve next to Coffs Wildlife Sanctuary, Orlando Street. This is the Tina Thompson Memorial run please wear pink or orange and a donation to the leukemia foundation would be appreciated.
Stirling, E Tindall
D Isaacs, R Stock, T Hodgson DEF K Lewis, C Weir, P Weir
J Wills, W Meadows, D Williams DEF J Fleming, C Rogers, T Spiers
T Brooks, G Dennis, R Cridge DEF P Paunovic, B Hamilton, H Slater
N Wong, S Brandenberg, G Hobson DEF J Urge, M Sillard, T Karam
M Friend, W Kellam, A Jones DEF W Vaughn, A Wagstaff, D Anderson D Hammond, D Bond, P Roach DEF K Sharman, C Christian, A Berry Kev Taylor, G Fisher, N Sillar DEF K Lowry, L Feltrin, W Bujeya J Brown, J Smithers, R Morris DEF J Poyntz, D Garth, K Garth J Grebert, M Baguley, D Grebert DEF N Kotrozos, J Oates, S Fleming A Burt, J Chapman, J Burt DEF Ken Taylor, N Elford, G Hampson R Avery, T Lavell, A Baker DEF H Muir, A Day, J Partridge
By Ken MASON
By Ian REYNOLD
RESULTS for 21st July 2025 9 Hole Stroke Net 9 Starters
Ladies Lynda Wood 33
Men Glwyn Dawson 24
Advertising within the Coffs Coast News Of The Area reaches your local customers. Connect with them from next edition. Print media has never been as affordable for your business. Call us today 02 4981 8882 or email ads@newsofthearea.com.au
Arthur Eric Hicks
23.03.1944 - 20.07.2025
Passed away peacefully at Coffs Harbour Health Campus. Loving father of Eric, Brian, Edward. Grandfather of Damien, Aaron, Jayden, Riley and Courtney. Beloved brother of Dot, Mary, Helen, Mavis, Bill (Dec), Hazel (Dec) and Eileen (Dec) and their partners.
Aged 81 Years Now at Peace
Relatives and Friends are respectfully invited to attend Arthur’s graveside service on Friday, 1st August 2025 at 10.30am at Coffs Harbour Lawn Cemetery, Coramba Road, Karangi.
Special Thanks to Dr Dan Martin at SunDoctors Coffs Harbour.
VICTOR RULLIS FUNERAL SERVICES
(02) 6651 5007 www.funeralcoffsharbour.com.au
Passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her cherished family. Loving wife of John (dec’d), loved mother of Dennis, Deborah, Susan and their families. A dear nan to her 8 grand-children & 10 great grand-children.
Aged 94 years
“To Be With Christ Which Is Far Better.”
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to a celebration of Margaret’s life at a Graveside Service to be held in the Coffs Harbour Lawn Cemetery, Karangi on Tuesday 29 th July 2025 commencing at 11am.
The family would like to especially thank Dr. Cathryn Platt and Fran and Peter for their dedicated care.
In the caring hands of ALLIED FUNERAL HOME
124 West High Street, Coffs Harbour Ph: 6651 2363
Thursday 31st July 10am, Blue Room Coffs Ex Services Club Family & friends welcome Memorial Notice
DULCIE PITMAN
BABY Netherlands Dwarf/Australian Cottontail X rabbits. Beautiful nature, loving and playful. Wonderful first pet for children. Gender uncertain at this early age. Weened; eating and drinking independently of the mother. Will deliver free in Coffs local area. Can provide pics. $20 each. 0418 495 388
43 Circular Ave Sawtell Sat 26 & Sun 27 8-4 Household items, electric power tools, camping gear & surfboards. Garage Sale
ARMCHAIR, linen blush, brand new $500 ono. Ph Anne 0400 647 452 e080825
DOG kennel, grey exc cond, heavy duty plastic, 70cm H x 70cm W x 63cm D. $40 0415 981 605
DOOR Gym set new
$50. Ph 0412 081 950
DOUBLE bed, white air lift, in box, new. $100 0415 981 605
ELECTRIC heater by Vulcan. 3 heat settings + auto & multi speeds EUC. Moonee Beach $90 Ph 0422 440 802 f250725
ELDERY bed safety rail for seniors brand new in box $65 Photos can be supplied 0490 161 119 F140225
FORD V8 Cleveland and Windsor heads and exhaust manifolds from $75. 0499 684 401
FOX tail palm seeds $1 each, beautiful North QLD palm 66538337 / 0419 166 688
GIRLS Dressing Table
Circa 1950’s original mirror & handles $80 0427 544 008 F140225
BODY Board, Manta Pro Comp Rail with leash, turns quick, Red/ Black, 44inch - 20 inch wide, VGC. $49. Ph 0417 471 225
LADIES clothing mostly new, size 6. Must sell going cheap. Contact Kim 0403 280 231 F210325
LEATHER lounge 3 x 1 + 2 x 1, 2 timber outdoor settings & 2 budgies in large cage. 0407 580 436 F280624
LOUNGE suite, green fabric, dbl couch + 2 reclining chairs $100 0412 254 563
LOVELY vertical circular 5 shelves display tower for collectibles etc. $80 6652 3791
“MORRIS” recliner chair (old replica) $95 pic avail 0439 682 267 F250725
OLD rosewood fence posts, suit wood turning & wood craft from $30 each. 0499 684 401 F160525
QUEEN size divan bed base. Excellent condition $100. Emerald Beach 0419 632 117
each 0481 966 840 F060625
COCA-COLA Memorabilia Collection $95. 0409 863 898 F270625ALL
DINING chairs, grey velvet swivel near new 4 available $40ea ono 0400 513 862 F020525
DOG house, smallmedium $15 6656 4700 F020525 DOG bed, plastic medium $8 6656 4700 F020525
GOLD frame mirror. 75 x 50cm GC $45. Photos can be supplied 0490 161 119
HEATER , electric Abode EUC $50 6656 4700 GRANITE coffee table sitting on nice wrought iron frame 58cm L x 41cm W x 44cm H Perfect condition. $50 0491 035 704 F070325
HEAVY duty glass table top. 90cm Diameter x 1cm thick $65 Photos can be supplied 0490 161 119 F140225
HOOVER EVC500
Evaporative Cooler, new from Bunnings $299, still in box. $80. 0434212460
JACKET, Ladies Brown, suede leather Size 10, zip front, no marks $45. 0407654879
12 month 2008 Suzuki Boulevarde c50 motorcycle 8640km unregistered $15,000 6653 7595
RAILWAY line small gauge, 70mm high x 5m lengths. Suit cattle grid, $75 each 0499 684 401
SONY Super Stereo System 7.2ch. As new cond. Home theatre system. 1695w (185w x 7 + 200w x 2) RMS output power. 10% THD per channel driven. RRP $7130. $1,500. Ph 0491 035 704
2019 New Age Mantra Ray 19ER Caravan
2012Olympic14’Sprinter Pop top Caravan, sleeps 2, exc cond. Many extras $16,000. TR82BT Ph 0457 576 445
REEL to reel tapes x 38 7in. All recorded by favourite singers. $50 ono 0491 035 704
ROLLER blinds to fit window 120cm wide x up to 210cm drop $5each 0400 513 862
ROLLER Blinds x 2 White. 2385 x 2100 & 1490 x 2100 w/ brackets. GC. $100 for both. 0427 965 015 RED overcoat size 10 Jigsaw brand fabric made in Italy 80% wool Never used. Pic ava. $95 0439 682 267 LEAD light wall unit 390w x 440h x 100d $65 pic avail. 0439 682 267
OUTDOOR setting, 3-piece, plus 8 seat table with chairs white, as new never used. $2500 ono 0418 656 845
OUTSIDE Gas Heater with cover 120cm high $100. 0400 513 862
PAIR of lovely jacquared fabric vintage-style footrest 60cm x 40cmx 30cm H $35 each Photos can be supplied 0490 161 119
PAVERS 90mm square $1 each. 0467 640 964 F190724
PEAK ellipse rollator safewok load 1150kgs only 6mth old As New $95 Photos can be supplied 0490 161 119
PORCELAIN biscuit jar (8in high) with cream and jam pots, tea strainer and small flat teaspoon holder. $35 0400 641 561 F210225
SHOES, Birkenstock size 37, narrow fit. Paid $150. selling $50 ono. 0459 040 014 or 6651 4237
SHOES, LADIES
Colorado Silverton CF sure grip black leather work/walking shoe size 8, still new in box. $75. 0402 102 558
SHOES, winter ARA Europe. Black suede Size 37 like new. Worn 3 times. Paid $300, selling $100 ono. 0459 040 014 or 6651 4237 F270625
SMALL bar fridge in good working order $100. 6649 1472
SMALL mobile bench 2 shelves, suit shop or office. $40. 6652 3791 F020525
SOLAR hot water panels 300L $85 0487 239 157
PORCELAIN biscuit jar $18 ono - For die-hard morning tea enthusiasts! 0400 641 561
SOUND Bar 2.0.2 CH 120W Dolby ATMOS 12 months old with 2 built in subwoofers. Price $100 Ph 0412 081 950
STAMPS date back to 1900 and prior. First Day Covers unopened 19612004. Offers accepted. Ph Wyn 0417 969 322 F040725
STOOL seats. Variety size, type and colour. $30 6652 3791 F110425
SUITCASES - X Large $15, Large $10, Med $5 0481 966 840
1995 SUZUKI GSXR 750 82,000km Has been stored for the last 3 yrs Great cond for age Last of the classic shape GSXR Can be sold with or without rego $7,500 Contact Robbie 0403 612 733
1999 Mercedes sedan C200 Elegance LTP000 POA price reduced. Text Michael 0422 044 420RUS030126
2015 Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport manual 1 owner, service history available, insured $15,900 asking $13,900 ono. 178,700kms, new clutch 2024. Rego June 2026, CZD14P Dianne 0410 266 165
Part annex BBQ, car fridge freezer, towing system 30 years of caravan bits & pieces everything
LUXURY 2010, 23ft Regent Brenwood caravan, exc cond electric jack, 2,100 amp battries, Ac and Dc charges,
ATM 3190 NSW rego XO1912
$39,000 ono. Ph Ron 0417 231 317 Re281125 Boats
3.4m Savage with trailer rego, 6HP and electric swivel seats, cover safety gear, lots of extras ACF724N. L26949 $2,000. 0427 528 084
TEASPOONS large collection as new feat various characters $3-5 per spoon 0403 425 913
4981 8882 TABLE Tennis table w/ new fittings $80 0458 041 772 f180725 TV 80cm (32”) +
TWO macrame wall hangers hand made $50 both 0412 254 563
TWO single bed frames round heads & foot rail black. $50 both 0412 254 563
Zen is a 1-year-old Mastiff-cross who’s still learning to trust the world. He can be a bit unsure when meeting new people, but once he knows you’re safe, he opens up and shows his affectionate and loyal personality. Zen will require time and patience, and a safe environment with slow introductions. A meet and greet will be required if you own other dogs. Secure fencing must also be provided. Adoption fee for 2024/2025 is $220, and this includes microchipping, vaccination, desexing and lifetime registration.
Please visit Council’s website to view the full list of animals lost or available for adoption. For any adoption enquiries, please complete the Adoption Enquiry Form on Council’s website.
By Iain WATT, Marine Scientist
THE eastern blue groper
(Achoerodus viridis) is endemic and one of the most iconic fish species found in New South Wales coastal waters.
Recognised for its striking cobalt blue colouration and curious nature, this fish holds ecological, cultural, and conservation significance.
Its visibility and frequent non-aggressive interactions with snorkelers and divers have made it an icon of the NSW rocky reefs and was proclaimed the official fish emblem of NSW in 1998.
Their gentle and curious nature makes them the highlight of any underwater experience.
Although colloquially referred to as a “groper,” A. viridis is technically a large wrasse of the Labridae family, a group known for their vibrant colours, interesting biology and dynamic sexual phases.
It should not be confused with the tropical grouper (Epinephelus spp.).
Meet the Eastern Blue Groper
The eastern blue groper
(Achoerodus viridis) can grow up to 1.2 m long and can weigh over 20 kg.
They have prominent fleshy lips and large peg-like teeth.
Eastern blue groper start life as plankton before settling into seagrass beds or other appropriate habitat where they develop into an all-female cohort, reaching sexual maturity between one and four years and breeding between July and September. They will all remain as females until around 18 years old or a length of 50 to 60 cm when some but not all, change sex to males, reaching a maximum recorded age of 35 years in NSW, but could be longer.
This sex change is a result of an extraordinary biological process known as protogynous hermaphroditism.
If the large male is removed (by fishing or natural mortality) the next-ranking female changes her behaviour and physical appearance over weeks to become male and ensure a stable breeding population.
As juveniles, the eastern blue groper displays green/ brown hues and as adult females a reddish-brown coloration, with the signature
cobalt blue colouring being the terminal phase when/if they transition to become males.
Being slow growing and long lived (18 to 35 years before changing sex from female to male) makes the blue groper vulnerable to fishing pressure and environmental change.
The sudden removal of the dominant males through fishing can lower productivity causing social disruption and disrupted fertilisation rates.
Fishing pressure can also reduce the numbers of large female fish in the population.
A reduction in available large females able to change sex could reduce the number of available spawning males.
This situation may persist until a remaining female attains that critical size (DPINSW Stock Status Summary –Blue Groper 2024).
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List classifies Blue Groper as “Near Threatened”, due mainly to loss of key habitat and historical overfishing.
The NSW DPI stock status summary noted that the stock structure is not well understood but considered the groper stock to be sustainable
but subject to other potential risks such as climate change and warming seas.
Since the mid-1990s, this species has not featured highly in catch records so it may not be a heavily targeted species by recreational fishers.
Where do they live?
The blue groper ranges from Hervey Bay in Queensland to Wilson’s Promontory in Victoria, but they tend to be more common along the NSW coast.
They inhabit shallow rocky reefs, headlands, and kelp forests.
Blue groper generally
live in harems with a few females, several juveniles and one male presiding over a small home range. Juveniles typically inhabit estuaries and shallow seagrass beds which provide food and shelter from predators.
As they mature, they migrate to deeper, more exposed rocky reef areas that provide both habitat and hunting grounds.
The blue groper displays high levels of site fidelity (remaining on the same site for all or most of their lives).
As a result, individuals become recognised and cherished by divers and snorkellers who often “adopt” and name local gropers.
The blue groper is primarily diurnal (hunts by day and sleeps at night) and known for its territorial behaviour.
Their diet primarily consists of hard-shelled invertebrates such as molluscs, crabs, echinoderms, prawns, and worms.
They use their peg-like teeth to dislodge prey and their pharyngeal (crushing) plate in their throat to crush prey before swallowing and larger shell fragments are expelled through the gills.
The blue groper is a keystone species playing an important ecological role in maintaining the balance of biota on rocky reefs.
While the Blue Groper does eat sea urchins, according to recent studies at the University of Newcastle the groper has a limited role in controlling the long spined sea urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii) considered by some to be responsible for destroying kelp beds and creating “urchin barrens”.
Conservation and legal protection
Their large size and visibility made them an easy target for fishers but over time growing public appreciation for their beauty and ecological importance, and concerns over declining numbers led to calls for better protection.
All fishing of the groper was banned in NSW in 1969. Line fishing and commercial fishing, but not spearfishing, was reinstated in 1974 with recreational bag limits of
two fish per person, with a minimum size of 30 cm.
The commercial fishery was closed in 1980.
Fifty years later in February 2024, following spear fishing incidents in Sydney and Jervis Bay, the NSW Government announced a total fishing ban on groper by any method for 12 months except for Aboriginal cultural fishing.
In February 2025 the NSW Government announced that, following scientific advice and community feedback, the total ban would continue for a further three years starting in March 2025 allowing further research and monitoring of the impacts from the climate crisis, such as seawater warming and acidification on this species.
This aligns NSW with Victoria where blue groper is fully protected.
Any person contravening the regulations may face a $500 fine for a penalty infringement notice and/or a maximum court enforced fine of up to $22,000 and/ or six month imprisonment for a first offence and up to $44,000 and/or 12 month imprisonment for a second offence.
At the time, the NSW Minister for DPI stated that “these fish should be admired not targeted”.
It should be noted that it is an offence to interfere with any protected species in any way.
The road ahead
Since protective regulations were introduced, populations in many areas have shown signs of recovery.
Divers frequently encounter large individuals in marine reserves, a testament to the effectiveness of habitat protection.
However, conservation is an ongoing process.
Maintaining healthy populations of Achoerodus viridis (together with many other species) will require continued vigilance, adaptive management, and public support.
Strengthening marine protected areas, improving enforcement, and mitigating climate impacts are all critical steps in securing the future of this iconic species.
FRIDAY
SBS, 7.30pm
It’s quite an odd time of year to be rolling out a Christmas special – but Christmas in July is a thing now, so why not? The Good Ship Murder is docking in Dubrovnik at this most wonderful time of the year, and Jack (Shayne Ward, pictured) and Kate (Catherine Tyldesley) are on the hunt for a replacement Santa after the ship’s usual one falls ill so that Christmas on board isn’t ruined. But when their pick, local comedian Buddy (Cliff Parisi), turns up dead (what else did you expect on a ship with a name like that?) it’s looking like Christmas might have to be cancelled after all.
6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 Gardening Australia. Jane escapes to a
(PG, R) Presented by Guy Montgomery.
10.35 Spicks And Specks. (PGs, R)
11.05 ABC Late News.
11.25 Silent Witness. (Ma, R)
12.25 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv)
5.00 Rage. (PG)
FAMILY (22)
Robot Wars. 10.25 Merlin. 11.10 Late Programs.
TUESDAY
FBI: MOST WANTED
TEN, 9.40pm
There’s both good news and bad for fans of this high-stakes police procedural: while US network CBS cancelled both Most Wanted and its fellow FBI spin-off, International, earlier this year; the silver lining for Aussie fans is that we’ve still got a full season of new episodes to catch up on before Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott (Dylan McDermott, pictured) and the squad tackle their final case. Tonight, in “Radio Silence”, the task force must act quickly when two NYPD officers are gunned down during a robbery, and another pair are targeted while responding to a call. With precincts across the city on edge, the team works against the clock to track down the killer and end the bloodshed.
A travelogue that’s as much about the journey as the destination, this entertaining new
comedian
Nazeem Hussain, foodie Melissa Leong, writer and performer Steph Tisdell and Aussie acting royalty Claudia Karvan head off on six epic road trips that celebrate Australia’s natural beauty. Tonight, Leong introduces Hussain (both pictured) to the magic of the Red Centre on one of her favourite drives: cruising the almost 500km between Alice Springs and Watarrka National Park. There’s camel rides, bush tucker, a desert song festival and outback footy along the way, before the pair catch the sunset in Kings Canyon, surrounded by iconic rock formations made famous by Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 The Good Ship Murder. (Return, Mv) A comedian is murdered on the ship. 8.25 The Royals: A History Of Scandals: Sex. Suzannah Lipscomb investigates royal sex scandals.
9.20 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 19.
2.00 World’s Most Secret Homes. (R)
3.45 Blue Water Safari. (PG, R)
4.40 Bamay. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning.
5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. Hosted by Johanna Griggs. 7.30 Football. AFL. Round 20. GWS Giants v Sydney. 10.30 Shaking Down The Thunder. (PGl, R) Follows the 2005 Sydney Swans. 11.45 GetOn Extra. A look at the weekend’s best racing.
12.15 The Disappearance. (Madv, R) Charles and Susan continue their investigation.
1.15 Travel Oz. (PG, R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R)
5.00 NBC Today.
6.00 NBN News. 7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 21. Brisbane Broncos v Parramatta Eels.
9.55 Golden Point. A wrap-up of the Brisbane Broncos versus Parramatta Eels match, with news and analysis. 10.45 MOVIE: Rambo: First Blood. (1982, Mlv, R) A Vietnam War veteran is pushed to the brink. Sylvester Stallone. 12.40 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)
TV (2)
6.00 Rage Charts. (PG) 7.00 Wknd Brekky.
9.00 Rage. (PG) 12.00 ABC News At Noon.
12.30 Grantchester. (Ma, R) 1.15 Patience. (Ma, R) 2.05 All Creatures Great And Small. (R) 2.55 Great Southern Landscapes. (PG, R) 3.25 Earth. (R) 4.25 Spicks And Specks. (PGs, R) 4.55 Dr Ann’s Secret Lives. (R) 5.30 Landline. (R)
6.00 Australian Story: Making A Scene – Claudia Karvan. (R)
6.30 Back Roads: North East Tasmania. (PG, R)
7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day.
7.30 Grantchester. (Ma) Alphy and Geordie step in to help Leonard.
8.20 Midsomer Murders. (Mv, R) Barnaby and Winter investigate after a body is found covered in live rabbits at the Belville Small Pet Show.
9.50 Bay Of Fires. (Mal, R) A date night turns into graveyard duty for Stella.
10.40 Little Disasters. (Final, Mal, R) 11.25 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
6am Children’s Programs. 5.35pm Peter Rabbit. 6.00 Octonauts. 6.10 Super Monsters. 6.20 Bluey. 6.30 The Adventures Of Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Isadora Moon. 7.05 Andy And The Band. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Teenage Boss: Next Level. (Return) 8.00 Kids Baking Championship. 8.40 Chopped Junior. 9.20 Fresh Off The Boat. 10.05 Speechless. 10.45 Late Programs.
6.00 Morning Programs. 11.00 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 18. H’lights. 12.00 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 19. H’lights. 1.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Sailing. Sail Grand Prix. Round 7. H’lights. 3.00 Going Places. (PG, R) 4.30 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 19. H’lights. 5.30 Such Was Life. (R) 5.40 Hitler’s American Battleground. (PGa, R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Great British Cities With Susan Calman: Newcastle. Susan Calman explores Newcastle. 8.25 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 20. Nantua to Pontarlier. 184.2km hilly stage. From France.
12.50 Guillaume’s Paris. (R) 1.20 Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. Stage 1. 3.50 Blue Water Safari. (PG, R)
4.45 Destination Flavour: Singapore Bitesize. (R)
5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
VICELAND (31)
6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Horse Racing. Industry Celebration Day, Caulfield Season Finale and Saturday Raceday. 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R)
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 The Great Outdoors. (PG) The team visits Tasmania’s world heritage wilderness.
7.30 Mysteries Of The Pyramids. (Premiere, PG) Presented by Dara Ó Briain.
8.30 MOVIE: The Da Vinci Code. (2006, Mav, R) An academic uncovers a conspiracy while helping investigate a murder inside the Louvre. Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen.
11.30 Autopsy USA. (Mad, R)
12.30 The Disappearance. (Mav, R)
1.30 Travel Oz. (PG, R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 It’s Academic. (R)
5.00 My Greek Odyssey. (Final, PG, R)
6.00 Morning Programs. 12.00 Great Australian Detour Snow. (R) 12.30 Rugby League. NRL Women’s Premiership. Round 4. New Zealand Warriors v Gold Coast Titans. 2.30 NRLW Wrap. (PG) 3.15 Rugby League. NRL Women’s Premiership. Round 4. Sydney Roosters v Canterbury Bulldogs.
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Rugby Union. British & Irish Lions Tour. Game 2. Australia v British & Irish Lions.
10.00 Test Rugby: Australia v British & Irish Lions Post-Match.
10.15 MOVIE: Creed. (2015, Malv, R)
12.45 My Life As A Rolling Stone. (Madl, R)
2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PG)
2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.30 Global Shop. (R)
5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
5.30 Helping Hands. (PG, R)
6.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) Narrated by Dr Chris Brown.
7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. A project manager hunts for a new home. 8.40 Ambulance Australia. (Ma, R) NSW Ambulance delivers a baby and saves a four-year-old with a critical heart condition.
9.45 House Hunters Australia. (R) A couple search for a home in Sydney’s Northern Beaches for their growing family. 10.45 Elsbeth. (Mv, R) Elsbeth visits a historic funeral home.
11.45 Ambulance UK. (Ma, R) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power.
6.00 Morning Programs. 10.00 Offsiders. 10.30 World This Week. (R) 11.00 Compass. (PGals, R) 11.30 Praise. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Landline. 1.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 2.30 Griff’s Great American South. (R) 3.15 Nigella Bites. (R) 3.40 Martin Clunes: Islands Of Australia. (PG, R) 4.40 Hippo Watch. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow.
6.30 Compass: The GovernorGeneral – One Year On. (PG) 7.00 ABC News.
7.30 Austin. (Return, PG) Austin grapples with sudden literary fame.
8.00 Bay Of Fires. (Malv) Stella must deal with another dead body.
8.50 Miss Austen. (Premiere) Charts the lives of Jane and Cassandra Austen.
9.45 MOVIE: Gayby Baby. (2015, PG, R) Follows four children of gay parents. Gus. 11.10 Take 5 With Zan Rowe. (PG, R) 11.40 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
1.40 Under The Vines. (PG, R)
4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 Insiders. (R)
6am Children’s Programs. 5.35pm Peter Rabbit. 6.00 Octonauts. 6.10 Super Monsters. 6.20 Bluey. 6.30 The Adventures Of Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Isadora Moon. 7.05 Andy And The Band. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 The Mysterious Benedict Society. (Premiere) 8.25 Fresh Off The Boat. 9.10 Abbott Elementary. 9.50 Speechless. 10.15 Merlin. 10.55 Late Programs.
6.00 Morning Programs. 10.55 Singapore Bitesize. (PG, R) 11.00 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 19. H’lights. 12.00 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 20. H’lights. 1.00 Motor Racing. ProMX C’ships. Round 7. 4.00 Going Places. (PGl, R) 4.30 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 20. H’lights. 5.30 Such Was Life. (PG, R) 5.40 Hitler’s American Battleground. (PGa)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 The Lost World Of The Hanging Gardens.
8.35 The Secrets Of Mount Olympus. (R) Takes a look at Mount Olympus, considered the residence of the gods in Greek mythology.
9.30 Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. Stage 2. 11.30 Guillaume’s French Atlantic. (R) 12.00 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 21.
4.25 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning.
5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 APAC Weekly.
VICELAND (31)
6am WorldWatch. 10.00 Mastermind Australia. Noon Abandoned Americana. 12.55 We’re All Gonna Die (Even Jay Baruchel) 1.25 SBS50. 1.30 Over The Black Dot. 2.00 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 3.00 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 4.00 News. 4.05 WorldWatch. 6.05 Mastermind Australia. 6.35 The Frontier. 7.30 Impossible Engineering. 8.30 James May: Our Man In Italy. 10.30 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 1pm Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. H’lights. 2.00 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 4.00 WorldWatch. 4.25 PBS Washington Week. 4.50 Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. H’lights. 5.50 Lost Gold Of The Aztecs. 6.40 Engineering Reborn. 7.35 Abandoned Engineering. 8.30 The Legend Of Bigfoot. 9.25 The Phoenix Lights Phenomenon. 10.15 Late Programs.
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6am Home Shopping. 8.30 Better Homes And Gardens. 11.00 Harry’s Practice. 11.30 GetOn Extra. Noon Room For Improvement. 12.30
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6.00 Better Homes And Gardens. (R) 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Sunday Footy Feast. 2.30 To Be Advised. 4.00 Better Homes And Gardens. (R) 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Sydney Weekender.
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Dancing With The Stars. (PGa)
8.20 7NEWS Spotlight.
9.20 Crime Investigation Australia: Most Infamous: Mystery Of The Homestead Murders. (MA15+av, R) Takes a look at the 1978 murders of Mick and Sue Lewis, whose bodies were found in their homestead.
10.40 The Crow Girl. (MA15+av)
12.50 Jamestown. (MA15+av, R)
2.30 Home Shopping. (R)
3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R)
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
7TWO (62)
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 The Block. (Return, PGl)
8.55 60 Minutes. Current affairs program, investigating issues affecting all Australians.
10.00 World Aquatics Championships. Singapore 2025. Day 1. Finals.
11.00 9News Late.
11.30 The First 48. (Mav) 12.30 Embarrassing Bodies. (MA15+dms, R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa)
4.30 Fishing Australia. (R)
5.00 Today Early News.
5.30 Today.
Are You Being Served? 3.30 MOVIE: Khartoum. (1966) 6.00 Rugby League. NRL Women’s Premiership. Round 4. Cronulla Sharks v Wests Tigers. 8.00 M*A*S*H. 9.00 World Aquatics Championships. Singapore 2025. Day 1. Finals. 10.00 To Be Advised. Midnight Late Programs.
6.00 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace.
7.00 MasterChef Australia. (PGl) A batch of 23 former contestants returns. 8.20 Watson. (Ma) Watson and the fellows investigate the perplexing case of a family man with a bullet lodged in his head, who insists he is a Scottish soldier and seems to be hiding something nefarious. 9.15 FBI. (Mav, R) All eyes are on the FBI when it tries to find out who kidnapped the only child of a prominent senator. 11.00 10 News+. (R) Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 12.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings.
6.00
Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 21. H’lights.
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Portugal With Michael Portillo.
8.20 Abandoned Railways From Above. (PG, R)
9.15 Britain’s Most Beautiful Road. (PGaw, R)
10.10 SBS World News Late.
10.40 The Andes Tragedy:
50 Years Later. (PGa, R)
11.35 Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. Stage 3. 2.05 Blackport. (MA15+s, R) 3.00 Weeks Of War. (PGav, R) 3.55 Blue Water Safari. (PGal, R) 4.55 Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6am Children’s Programs. 6pm Octonauts. 6.10 Super Monsters. 6.20 Bluey. 6.30 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Isadora Moon. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Piripenguins. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Do Not Watch This Show. 7.40 The Inbestigators. 7.55 Junior Vets. 8.20 BTN Newsbreak. 8.25 Hard Quiz Kids. 8.55 The
6am What Do
6.00
3.40 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PG)
7.30 Dancing With The Stars. (PG) Shaun Micallef, Kyle Shilling, Felicity Ward and Mia Fevola hit the dance floor in the semi-finals.
8.50 9-1-1. (Masv) The 118 is called to a research lab that has been set on fire and becomes a biohazard.
10.50 The Agenda Setters. An expert panel tackles the biggest AFL topics.
12.00 Gone. (MA15+v, R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
7TWO (62)
6am Morning Programs. 9.00 The Zoo. 9.30 NBC Today. 10.30 Better Homes. 1pm Your Money &
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 The Block. (PGl)
8.40 100% Footy. (M)
9.40 World Aquatics Championships. Singapore 2025. Day 2. Finals.
10.45 9News Late.
11.15 Aussie Road Train Truckers. (Ml)
12.15 Footy Classified. (Ml)
1.15 Innovation Nation. (R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa)
4.30 A Current Affair. (R)
6.00 Morning Programs. 12.00 Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. Stage 3. H’lights. 1.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Iceland. (PGl, R) 2.55 The Day The Rock
And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. Stage 3. H’lights. 6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 To Be Advised. 2.30 Border Security: America’s Front
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Great Continental Railway Journeys.
8.30 Insight.
9.30 Dateline.
10.00 SBS World News Late.
de France. H’lights. 3.00 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 4.00 WorldWatch. 4.45 Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. H’lights. 5.45 WorldWatch. 6.15 The Food That Built The World. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.30 News. 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Raw Comedy 2025. 10.05 Late Programs. 6am WorldWatch. 10.00 Front Up. 11.30 Fashionista. 11.40 WorldWatch. 12.10pm Homicide. 2.00 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 3.00 Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. H’lights. 4.00 Fashionista. 4.10 News. 4.15 WorldWatch. 6.15 The Food That Built The World. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 Alone. 9.40 Hoarders. 11.20 Pitino: Red Storm Rising. 12.15am Late Programs.
(PG, R) 3.25 The Point. (R) 3.30 SBS50. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Jeopardy! 4.30
10.30 Making Sense Of Cancer With Hannah Fry. (Mal, R) 11.35 Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. Stage 4. 2.05 Lady Jane Grey: Murder Of A Child Queen. (PG, R) 3.10 Weeks Of War. (PGavw, R) 4.05 Blue Water Safari. (PGal, R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
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We See When We Look At The Sky? Continued. (2021, Georgian) 8.20 What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. (1993, PG) 10.30 All The King’s Men. (2006, M) 12.55pm All Quiet On The Western Front. (1979, PG) 3.45 The Four Musketeers: Revenge Of Milady. (1974, PG) 5.45 Lara. (2019, PG, German) 7.35 Ondine. (2009, M) 9.30 First Snow Of Summer. (2023, M, German) 11.25 Late Programs. 6am The Movie Show. 6.10 Lara. (2019, PG, German) 8.00 Anton Chekhov’s The Duel. (2010, PG) 9.45 The Movie Show. 10.15 The Humbling. (2014, M) 12.15pm Into The Darkness. (2020, M, Danish) 3.00 8 1/2. (1963, PG, Italian) 5.35 The Loss Of A Teardrop Diamond. (2008, PG) 7.30 I Love You Too. (2010, M) 9.30 One Fine Morning. (2022, MA15+, French) 11.35 Late Programs.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGa)
7.30 The 1% Club. (PGls, R) Jim Jefferies hosts a game show where contestants must answer increasingly obscure questions.
8.30 Stranded On Honeymoon Island. (Mns) The 10 remaining castaways come to the end of their adventure and return to reality.
11.20 The Agenda Setters. An expert panel tackles the biggest AFL topics.
12.20 Fairly Legal. (Mav, R)
2.30 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (PG, R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 How Disney Built America. (PG) 8.20 Aerial Australia. (Premiere, PGa)
Smilla’s Sense Of Snow. (Premiere)
SBS World News Late.
Who Do You Think You Are? US. (PGa, R)
Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. Stage 5.
Lady Jane Grey: Murder Of A Child Queen. (PGv, R)
3.10 Weeks Of War. (PG, R) 4.05 Blue Water Safari. (PGan, R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6am Children’s Programs. 6pm Octonauts. 6.10 Super Monsters. 6.20 Bluey. 6.30 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Isadora Moon. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Piripenguins. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Do Not Watch This Show. 7.40 The Inbestigators. 7.55 Junior Vets. 8.20 BTN Newsbreak. 8.25 Abbott Elementary. 9.10 The Mysterious Benedict Society. 10.00 Merlin. 10.45 Late Programs. 6am Children’s Programs. 6pm Octonauts. 6.10 Super Monsters. 6.20
THURSDAY,
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PG)
7.30 The 1% Club UK. (PG, R)
8.30 The Front Bar. (Ml) Takes a lighter look at all things AFL. 9.30 Unfiltered. (PGa) Hosted by Hamish McLachlan.
10.00 Ashley Cain: Into The Danger Zone. (MA15+a) 11.20 Stags. (MA15+av)
12.20 Imposters. (Madlv, R)
1.20 Touching Evil. (MA15+av)
2.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 NBN News. 7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 The Block. (PGl) Bathroom week brings some teams undone. 8.40 World Aquatics Championships. Singapore 2025. Day 4. Finals. 11.10
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Great Australian Road Trips. (Premiere)
8.25 Into The Amazon With Robson Green. (PGa, R)
9.20 Snowpiercer.
10.15 SBS World News Late.
10.45 Who Do You Think You Are? (PG, R)
11.35 Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. Stage 6. 2.05 Lady Jane Grey: Murder Of A Child Queen. (PGv, R) 3.10 Weeks Of War. (PG, R) 4.05 Blue Water Safari. (PGn, R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
MOVIES (32) SBS MOVIES (32)
6am The Loss Of A Teardrop Diamond. Continued. (2008, PG) 7.40 8 1/2. (1963, PG, Italian) 10.15 First Snow Of Summer. (2023, M, German) 12.10pm Ondine. (2009, M) 2.05 Lara. (2019, PG, German) 3.55 Manganinnie. (1980, PG) 5.35 The Company. (2003, PG) 7.40 The Heartbreak Kid. (1993, M) 9.30 Book Of Love. (2022) 11.30 My Salinger Year. (2020, M) 1.25am Late Programs. 6am The Company. Continued. (2003, PG) 7.35 Arthur And The Revenge Of Maltazard. (2009, PG) 9.20 Manganinnie. (1980, PG) 10.55 Falling. (2020, M) 1pm I Love You Too. (2010, M) 3.00 The Movie Show. 3.30 The Loss Of A Teardrop Diamond. (2008, PG) 5.20 Fried Green Tomatoes. (1991, PG) 7.40 Charlie And Boots. (2009, M) 9.35 Some Kind Of Beautiful. (2014, M) 11.30 Late Programs.
SATURDAY 26 JULY, 7PM
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGa) Cohen’s world is turned upside down. 7.30 Football. AFL. Round 21. Western Bulldogs v GWS Giants. 10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion and interviews. 11.00 Kick Ons.
11.30 Code Blue: One Punch Killers. (Madv, R)
12.30 Life. (Madv, R)
1.30 Travel Oz. (PG, R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
By Aiden BURGESS
A TERRIFIC trio of Coffs Coast athletes have won sport aerobics state titles.
Aria Grebert, Mekayla McLaughlin and Harriet Rampling all won their competitions at the FISAF Australia Sport Aerobics State Championships in Sydney.
Aria Grebert won her event taking out the Pre-Mini Elementary Individuals 8 years final.
Mekayla McLaughlin won the Cadet Elementary Individuals 12 years final, and Harriet Rampling won
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