THERE were few surprises for the Hunter and little relief for businesses battling challenging economic conditions from a conservative NSW Budget handed down last week, according to the region’s peak business body.
Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes described Treasurer Daniel Mookhey’s third
budget as “anti-climactic for the Hunter”, with the big-ticket new investments having been announced prior and other major funding commitments largely for ongoing projects such as road upgrades and the Stage 1 redevelopment of the John Hunter Hospital.
“The key new investments for the region – including the
$115 million for the Newcastle renewable energy logistics precinct, $35 million for the Thornton railway bridge, $21.5 million for Stockton beach sand renourishment and $27.5 million to establish the Future Jobs and Investment Authority – were all pre-announced,” Mr Hawes said.
IMMORTALISED
FROM Page 1
Melbourne Cricket Ground, has captured Walters just after smashing a cut shot.
The statue’s unveiling will be attended by a host of dignitaries, including Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley and a number of Walters’ legendary teammates.
The Doug Walters Foundation is also using the occasion to raise funds to develop junior cricket in the Dungog area with the Hunter Valley Cricket Association.
A celebratory ‘Dinner and Show’ function will be held from 6pm on Saturday 19 July at the Dungog RSL.
“This event will feature
“These initiatives are all welcome, but we would like to have seen funding to get the Broadmeadow Precinct up and running and a commitment to the cargo handling facility at Newcastle Airport to maximise the economic benefit of the airport upgrade.
“Our Budget submission also sought an acknowledgement of the funding required for the second stage of the
Country singers Matt Scullion and Greg Hayes with renowned magician Philip Cornwall hosting and interviewing some sporting legends with Doug,” said Garry Johnson from the Doug Walters Foundation.
“An auction of some valuable items and memorabilia will be held and a raffle with prizes including items and vouchers primarily donated by nearly all of the local businesses and stores in Dowling St, Dungog.”
Ticketing information can be found on www. tickettailor.com or at the Dungog RSL.
Doug Walters was born in Marshdale, Dungog in 1945, going on to play 74 Tests and 28 ODIs between 1965 and 1981.
John Hunter Hospital redevelopment, to ensure the new building is equipped to run at capacity after the doors open. Based on funding timing in the budget for the stage 1 work, this will be a priority for the 2026 budget.
“We have welcomed funding for the Jobs and Investment Authority and Newcastle Logistics Precinct as important commitments that will directly support the economic diversification of the Hunter and its aspirations to become a renewable energy hub.
“The region will also benefit from the $2.1 billion investment in the Hunter Transmission Project and Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone over the next four years.”
Mr Hawes said the Budget was light on initiatives to ease rising cost pressures on business.
“Our latest Business Conditions Survey, released this month, shows businesses are struggling with the rising costs of insurance, energy, taxes and levies and red tape, as well as dealing with the uncertainties of a volatile global economic environment,” Mr Hawes said.
“The $150 energy rebate will provide some assistance for small business but we would like to have seen payroll tax relief and a commitment to overhauling the workers compensation system, which
is costing businesses and taxpayers millions of dollars a day.”
Business Hunter welcomed initiatives in the budget to boost housing construction and extend free-free TAFE training for apprentices and trainees.
Duty MLC for the Upper Hunter Emily Suvaal said the Budget was a win for the region.
“The Budget delivers for the Upper Hunter - funding that speaks to who we are and what we value - strong hospitals, safer roads and quality education,” she said.
“We’re laying the foundations for stronger services, better facilities and a more connected region.
“When our communities speak, we listen and this funding reflects what matters most to people in the Upper Hunter.”
Member for Upper Hunter Dave Layzell however, said the electorate has “every right to feel let down” by the government's third budget, particularly in terms of health services.
“Despite the known existing burden, there is no further investment for patient transport after this budget,” Mr Layzell said.
A summary of what the 2025-2026 NSW Budget delivered for the Hunter can be found at www.budget. nsw.gov.au/2025-26/budgetpapers/regional-nsw#hunter.
q Iconic Australian cricketer Doug Walters. Photo: National Archive of Australia.
New PFAS guidelines released
THE National Health and Medical Research Council has published updated Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, which confirm new, lower values for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Australian drinking water supplies.
PFAS are a class of more than 4,000 manufactured chemicals that are not found naturally in the environment.
These chemicals have been widely used in industrial and consumer products, such as firefighting foam, nonstick cookware, cosmetics, and waterproof clothing.
PFAS are sometimes called ‘forever chemicals’ because they do not break down easily in the environment and tend to build up over time in the bodies of living organisms.
Last week the NSW Government stated that all the state’s public drinking water supplies currently meet the updated guidelines.
PFAS can end up in drinking water supplies when products containing the chemicals are used on land and washed into waterways and infiltrate groundwater, or when PFAS are used at home
and are flushed down the drain.
NSW Health has recommended that all 83 local water utilities test each of their drinking water supplies again in 2025, to assess the risk and also undertake source water testing in order to determine the ongoing frequency of PFAS testing in drinking water.
Minister for Water Rose Jackson said, “Since the draft proposal in October last year, our agencies have been working hard to bring our state’s water utilities into line with the new, lower PFAS
values.
“As a result of this work, testing in 2024 or 2025 from all drinking water supplies across NSW meets the updated Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and I want to assure people that NSW drinking water remains safe to drink.
“This isn’t about meeting the updated guidelines as a one-off testing result – Sydney Water, Hunter Water and WaterNSW have a rigorous system of regular monitoring to detect and manage PFAS and help address levels before they
become an exceedance.”
Under a water quality testing and monitoring program established more than eight years ago, Hunter Water routinely tests for PFAS in all drinking water supply zones, including at 83 verification sampling points across its water distribution network.
The testing program confirms that drinking water supplied by Hunter Water is safe and meets the revised guidelines.
This is based on the results of more than 4,000 samples collected from water
quality verification sampling points.
“Hunter Water’s approach to testing for PFAS is comprehensive and reflects best practice,” a spokesperson for the organisation said.
“We routinely test for a suite of 28 PFAS compounds.
“The values for PFAS in the revised Australian Drinking Water Guidelines apply to the treated drinking water supplied to customers, and not to the untreated (raw) water stored in our dams or from aquifers.
“Hunter Water reports all detections at or over two parts per trillion, or 0.002 micrograms per litre, which is our independent laboratory's limit of reporting.”
RESEARCHERS are attempting to develop a device capable of degrading a carcinogenic form of the so-called “forever chemicals” PFAS in water in as little as six minutes using lowwavelength ultraviolet light.
PFAS - used in firefighting foam, products such as nonstick pans, and by many industries - repel oil, grease and water, but persist in the environment, resist breakdown, and are typically only filtered and stored, risking recontamination.
Locally, the Australian Defence Force has been
working to manage, remediate and monitor PFAS contamination on and around RAAF Base Williamtown since 2018.
The new NSW Smart Sensing Network Grand Challenge Fund project centres on a new Australian National Universitydeveloped technology which uses a hydrogen-fuelled plasma to generate vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation.
This low-wavelength radiation triggers photolysis, breaking the strong carbonfluorine bonds in PFAS and converting them into harmless byproducts like fluoride and carbon
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compounds - without producing secondary pollutants.
“This technology has the potential to treat large volumes of water simultaneously, much faster than current alternatives, and is another great application of low-pressure plasmas,” Project Co-Investigator Professor Christine Charles said.
“Using this technology, it could take six minutes to treat the same amount of water a conventional radiation source could treat in 10 hours.”
Australian National University (ANU) is building
a prototype water-treatment reactor to test the method, which is also highly powerefficient – up to 30 times more efficient than traditional methods.
Researchers say it is also scalable, making it a practical solution for large-scale environmental clean-up and waste-water treatment.
The reactor will feature an integrated in-situ sensing unit designed by University of Sydney researchers, which will monitor the PFAS degradation in real time during treatment.
The project comes after elevated levels of concentrations of PFAS were
detected in a Blue Mountains drinking water catchment last year.
It began unexpectedly when PhD researcher Josef Richmond set out to replicate how fine, potentially toxic, and electrostatically charged dust behaves on the Moon, Mars and asteroids.
“In order to replicate these extreme space environments in the lab, I needed to build a radiation source to replicate the highenergy, low-wavelength portion of the solar radiation that is constantly bombarding these bodies in outer space,” Mr Richmond said.
While the original aim was
to study a space phenomenon, a student’s remark about its lack of real-world impact led the researcher and Rural Fire Service volunteer to studies on using low-wavelength deep ultraviolet light to destroy PFAS via photolysis.
“The UV sources used in these studies were very inefficient, limiting the effectiveness of the treatment process,” Mr Richmond said.
“After some investigation, it turns out that the radiation source we had developed was significantly more efficient and could potentially remove this barrier to scaling up to levels that are useful in the real world.”
New paramedic interns for the Hunter
TEN new paramedic interns set to begin the onroad component of their 12-month internships in the Hunter region, taking their next steps towards becoming fully qualified paramedics.
Four of the interns will be based in Hunter Zone 1, with the remaining six heading to Hunter Zone 2.
Zone 1 is a smaller geographical area which includes parts of Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Port Stephens, while Zone 2 covers the remainder of the Hunter.
These placements are part of a broader intake by NSW Ambulance, which on Friday officially welcomed 127 new paramedic interns
and 28 trainee emergency medical call takers during an induction ceremony at the State Operations Centre at Sydney Olympic Park.
Minister for Health Ryan Park said the induction of these new health staff reflects the “continued growth and evolution of NSW Ambulance”.
“Each new officer has already demonstrated the
core values of integrity, compassion, and service which remains central to NSW Ambulance,” he said.
Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the interns were stepping into a “vital role”.
“Our region deserves strong, reliable frontline care and these interns will be a valuable part of that. “They’re not just training - they’re making a difference.”
THE Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) and Vincent Fairfax Foundation (VFFF) are inviting applications for grants of $50,000 from individuals to develop innovative ideas that enhance the lives of young people (aged 12-30) in remote, rural, and regional NSW.
The grants are available through the Backing the Future program.
In NSW, the program has already supported 28 individuals by investing $1.4 million in their rural youthfocused projects.
VFFF CEO Jenny Wheatley said the foundation is excited about Backing the Future’s potential to discover transformative ideas.
“Our experience shows that the hardest part of getting a project off the ground is securing initial funding to test the idea,” she said.
“This is especially true in rural and remote areas, where high costs and smaller populations make piloting new projects even more challenging.
“Backing the Future bridges this gap by trusting that leaders in local communities can create transformative opportunities
for young people, when provided with the right resources.
“Applicants not only get the grant funding, but they are also connected with the staff from FRRR, who provide additional capacity building, connections and networking to ensure that grantees have an opportunity to pilot innovative ideas,” Ms Wheatley explained.
Previous grant recipient, Bianca Bellicanta, said that the grant had more of a personal impact than what she even anticipated.
“Backing the Future gave me the chance to lead a project that truly made a difference
“With my $50,000 grant, and support from the Backing the Future team, I was able to work alongside young emerging artists from across the Bega Valley to bring a stunning mural to life.
“I created paid opportunities for these young local artists and ran creative programs that connected and inspired young people to talk about environment and community impact.
“It’s been a huge learning curve and a really rewarding way to grow my leadership and community-building skills,” Ms Bellicanta shared.
Unlike many other programs, VFFF’s granting structure enables Backing the Future to fund individuals without requiring the backing of an established organisation, eliminating traditional barriers to entry.
The Youth Futures team will also be holding a webinar at 12pm (AEST) Monday 7 July, and FRRR encourages interested applicants to register to learn more.
Register at https://ow.ly/
OWSH50W8a6c.
Applications are open to anyone aged 18-plus with an idea to benefit young people in their remote, rural or regional NSW community.
Authorised by Dave Layzell MP, 94 John Street, Singleton NSW 2330 Funded using Parliamentary entitlements.
q Grant recipient Bianca Bellicanta was able to work alongside young emerging artists from across the Bega Valley to bring a stunning mural to life.
Roadblocks to decarbonisation of Australia’s freight industry
FREIGHT is critical to Australia’s economy but a University of NSW (UON) expert is warning the industry is falling behind on the road to net zero.
Freight supply chains underpin nearly every sector of the economy, delivering petrol to service stations, food to supermarket shelves and goods to retail centres across the country.
But the freight industry is under growing pressure as it struggles to align with
Australia’s sustainability targets - with the sector still heavily reliant on dieselpowered transport.
Transport engineering expert, Dr Elnaz Irannezhad from UNSW’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, warns that without urgent innovation and coordinated policy action, the industry risks becoming a roadblock to Australia’s path to net zero.
“From our ports and rails to our intermodal terminals, where containers are moved between different modes of transport, almost all our freight fleet currently runs on diesel fuel,” she said.
“There is a huge opportunity to decarbonise the freight and logistics sector – and it starts with collaboration between industry, researchers and government.”
Are we headed in the right direction?
Transport accounts for approximately 21% of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions.
Heavy freight makes up about 40 percent of transport emissions and represents approximately seven percent of Australia's total emissions.
According to the Federal Government’s Emissions Projections 2024 report, freight emissions are expected to increase by 16 percent by 2040, due in part to the slow uptake of electric heavy vehicles.
“Compared to Europe, where green fleet adoption is further advanced, Australia’s freight challenge is unique,” said Dr Irannezhad.
“Our population and infrastructure is spread over vast distances, which makes electrification more complex.”
Regulatory inconsistencies between states
Bigger distances require bigger batteries for electric freight vehicles.
Over the years, most state transport authorities have increased the axle mass limits for the next generation of zero emission heavy vehicles to accommodate for the heavier battery load.
While this was a welcomed move from the industry, there are still inconsistencies in limits between states and territories.
In NSW, zero-emission heavy vehicles can have a higher axle weight limit of up
to eight tonnes and a tandem drive axle limit of up to 18.5 tonnes, as long as the total gross vehicle mass does not exceed 26 tonnes.
Across the border, Victorian heavy-duty electric trucks can only operate with a 7.5 tonne weight on the steer axle – half a tonne less than NSW.
“There is a lack of harmonisation in load per axle regulations across Australia,” says Dr Irannezhad.
“Electric vehicles that comply in one state can become non-compliant once they cross the border, adding another barrier to adoption.”
E-commerce growth puts pressure on supply chains
In 2024, nearly 10 million households made a purchase online, contributing to a record $A56 billion in domestic e-commerce spending.
Globally, the market was worth over $US6.3 trillion.
With many retailers now offering same or next day delivery, there is further pressure on the freight and logistics supply chain to move goods to consumers even faster.
“During the COVID-19 lockdowns, the closure of shops meant consumers were doing their shopping online –and that behaviour has stuck around,” said Dr Irannezhad.
“Orders that would have once taken days or weeks to be delivered can now arrive on your doorstep the same day or even within a few
hours.
“Companies are working around the clock on fulfilling the last mile delivery expectations.”
Last mile delivery – the final leg in the delivery chain from the manufacturer to the customer’s doorstep—is a major contributor to urban congestion.
Dr Irannezhad says there’s been a rise of micro hubs or local fulfillment centres to keep up with demand, especially in larger cities such as New York.
“In Australia, a majority of the fleet making these last mile deliveries are not electric – especially when you move further away from the city centre,” she said.
“If we want to reduce environmental impacts, we must connect these fulfilment centres with sustainable transport options.”
What needs to happen next?
Dr Irannezhad says the challenge of investing in high-powered charging infrastructure mirrors a familiar dilemma: which comes first — the vehicles or the charging stations?
Without widespread charging infrastructure, freight companies are hesitant to adopt electric trucks. But until more lowemission vehicles are on the road, there’s little demand to build the infrastructure.
“The same can be said about importing low emission trucks to Australia.
Since we’re a smaller market, the technologies
available to us are seven years behind the United States and countries in the European Union.”
Similar to the recent New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) which aims to reduce emissions from new passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles, Dr Irannezhad said we also need a fuel-efficiency standard for heavy vehicles.
“Currently, heavy vehicles in Australia must comply with Euro V emissions standards under the Australian Design Rules. While these standards regulate criteria pollutants such as CO, HC, NOx, they fail to address CO2 emissions which is directly linked to fuel efficiency,” she said.
“In stark contrast, the United States, European Union, India and Canada all have mandated heavy vehicle emissions standards for decades.
“For example, the European Union has set emission reduction targets for heavy-duty vehicles (HDV) aiming for a 15 percent cut by 2025, 30 percent by 2030, and 45 percent by 2035, with the ultimate goal of 100 per zero emission HDV sales by 2040.
“If Australia is serious about meeting our emission targets, we need to raise the bar.
“More incentives and subsidies and clear fuelefficiency standard for heavy vehicles are just some of the ways we can help lower our emissions.”
q Transport engineering expert, Dr Elnaz Irannezhad from UNSW’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
q The freight industry is under growing pressure as it struggles to align with Australia’s sustainability targets. Photo: NSW Government.
BEST ON THE BOX
SATURDAY
THAT BLACKFELLA SHOW
ABC TV, 7.30pm
Premiering on the eve of NAIDOC Week, this one-ofa-kind variety special guarantees laughs, music and quality yarns told in front of a studio audience. Aussie icon Ernie Dingo and ABC News Breakfast journo Bridget Brennan host, with musician, activist and social media star Isaac Compton (above right, with Dingo and Brennan) providing comic relief. While it’s a loud, proud celebration of Indigenous voices and culture, That Blackfella Show aspires to be a source of entertainment and a point of connection for all Australians. It’s a stacked hour of power that TV has been crying out for.
FRIDAY, July 4
6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) 7.00 ABC News.
7.35 Gardening Australia.
Patience. (Premiere, Ma)
woman who works in the Criminal Records Office has unusual powers of detection due to being autistic.
Gruen. (R) Presented by Wil Anderson. 10.00 Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee. (PG, R) Presented by Guy Montgomery.
10.45 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R)
11.15 ABC Late News.
11.35 Silent Witness. (PGa, R)
12.40 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv)
5.00 Rage. (PG)
SUNDAY
DANCING
WITH THE STARS
SEVEN, 7pm
Now that we’ve seen all 12 celebs (and host Sonia Kruger) put their best footwork forward, the first elimination looms for the second batch of stars. and Away’s Kyle Shilling opens tonight’s show with a powerful Viennese waltz, before newsreader Karina Carvalho shuns her serious side for a sexy salsa, and Mia Fevola pays tribute to her mum Alex by waltzing to a sentimental song. It’s a hard act to follow, but Shaun Micallef (pictured) brings his very best Fred Astaire to the foxtrot. Then, the only way is up for Osher Günsberg, who’s determined to improve upon his single-digit score. Comedian Felicity Ward closes the show with a paper-doll cha cha that’s anything but onedimensional. This disco inferno is only just heating up.
6.00 Mastermind Australia.
6.30 SBS World News. 7.35 Shetland: Scotland’s Wondrous Isles. 8.25 Ross Kemp: Shipwreck Treasure Hunter. (PGv, R) 9.20 Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes. (R)
10.30 SBS World News Late.
11.00 Atlantic Crossing. (Ma, R)
12.05 True Colours. (Mlv, R)
3.50 Growing A Greener World. (R)
4.20 Bamay. (R)
4.50 Destination Flavour. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
TUESDAY
GREAT CONTINENTAL RAILWAY JOURNEYS
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. Johanna Griggs visits Jimmy Rees. 8.00 Football. AFL. Round 17. West Coast v GWS Giants.
11.00 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion and interviews. 11.30 GetOn Extra. A look at the weekend’s best racing.
12.00 House Of Wellness. (PGals, R) The team explores ASMR. 1.00 Nurses. (Ma, R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R) Hosted by Simon Reeve. 5.00 NBC Today.
SBS, 7.30pm
The always colourful Michael Portillo (pictured) and his trusty 1936 Bradshaw’s Continental Handbook are back for an eighth season of riding the rails through culture and history. This season sees Michael journey into Europe, the Balkans, Central Asia and India, seeing how things have changed since Bradshaw’s days and immersing himself in traditions and practices. The journey begins with a trip through Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, where Michael faces some modern-day gladiators, assumes the duties of stationmaster and explores an organic olive farm, before discovering some beautiful 15th-century frescoes in a tiny church.
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 18. Canterbury Bulldogs v Brisbane Broncos. From Accor Stadium, Sydney.
9.55 Golden Point. A wrap-up of the Canterbury Bulldogs versus Brisbane Broncos match, with news and analysis. 10.45 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 5. From the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England.
SATURDAY, July 5
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Travels With Agatha Christie And Sir David Suchet. (PG)
8.25 Hitler’s Jewish Soldier? Australia Uncovered. (Mav, R)
9.35 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 1.
2.15 Homicide: Life On The Street. (Mv, R)
3.05 Blue Water Safari. (PGaw, R)
4.55 Destination Flavour Down Under Bitesize. (R)
Of Fires. (Malv, R)
10.55 Little Disasters. (Mals, R) 11.40 David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef. (Final, R) 12.40 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. 7.00 Andy And The Band. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Kids Baking Championship. 8.10 Chopped Junior. 8.50 Dance Life. 9.40 Fresh Off The Boat. 10.20 Dragon Ball Super. 10.45 Late Programs.
5.00 NHK World English News Morning.
5.15 France 24 Feature.
5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
VICELAND (31)
6am The Big Steal. Continued. (1990, PG) 7.35 The Movie Show. 8.05 Murder Party. (2022, PG, French) 10.00 Suffragette. (2015, M) Noon The Lawnmower Man. (1992, M) 2.40 RBG. (2018, PG) 4.30 Francis: Pray For Me. (2015, PG, Spanish) 6.30 Music & Lyrics. (2007) 8.30 May December. (2023) 10.40 Alma & Oskar. (2022, MA15+) 12.20am Kill Bill: Vol. 2. (2004, MA15+) 2.55 Late Programs.
SUNDAY, July 6
6.30 Compass. (PG)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 Spicks And Specks. (PG) Hosted by Adam Hills.
8.00 Bay Of Fires. (Madv) Stella is thrown into a tailspin. 8.50 Little Disasters. (Mal) Social Services threatens to split up the Carrisfords.
9.40 Namatjira Project: The Quest For Justice. (Ml, R) Charts the story of the Namatjira family.
11.05 Take 5 With Zan Rowe. (Ml, R) 11.35 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. 7.00 Andy And The Band. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Moominvalley. 8.00 Walking With Dinosaurs. 8.50 Fresh Off The Boat. 9.30 Abbott Elementary. 10.15 Speechless. 10.35 Merlin. 11.20 Late Programs.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Mont-Saint-Michel: Rising Again. Looks at Mont-Saint-Michel, a triumph of technical prowess, spiritual ambition and architectural audacity.
8.30 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 2. Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-surMer. 209.1km hilly stage. From France.
2.10 24 Hours In Emergency. (Ma, R)
3.05 Blue Water Safari. (PGalw, R)
4.55 Destination Flavour Down Under Bitesize. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning.
5.15 France 24 Feature.
5.30 APAC Weekly.
(32)
RBG. Continued. (2018, PG) 6.50 Like Father, Like Son. (2013, PG, Japanese) 9.05 Music & Lyrics. (2007, PG) 11.05 History Of The Occult. (2020, M, Spanish) 2.35 The Big Steal. (1990, Murder Party. (2022, PG, French) 6.25 Where Angels Fear To Tread. (1991) 8.30 This Boy’s The Broken Land. (2021, M, Late Programs.
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R)
7.30 MOVIE: Evan Almighty. (2007, G, R) A man is ordered to build an ark. Steve Carell.
9.30 MOVIE: No Hard Feelings. (2023, MA15+lns) A woman tries to help a teenage boy. Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman.
7.30 Wimbledon 2025 Pre-Show. Pre-game coverage of the Wimbledon tennis tournament, featuring reviews, previews, interviews, highlights, opinions and topical stories, from the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. 8.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 6. From the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England.
12.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 6 Late. From the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England.
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 couple know it’s time to make a decision. 8.40 Ambulance Australia. (Mlm, R) Ambulance NSW responds to calls about an 88-year-old with a severe head wound. 9.40 House Hunters Australia. (R) A couple need a larger home in western Sydney. She wants a modern house with open plan living while he prefers an older home. 10.40 Elsbeth. (Mv, R) 11.50 Ambulance
6am Morning Programs. 1pm Blokesworld.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Dancing With The Stars. (PGl) The second group hits the ballroom floor once again.
8.30 7NEWS Spotlight.
9.30 The Philpotts: A Very British Horror. (Mlsv) Examines a house fire. 11.00 Crime Investigation Australia. (Mav, R)
12.20 Shades Of Blue. (MA15+adsv, R) 1.20 Harry’s Practice. (R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 NBN News. 7.00 Travel Guides. (PGl) Ordinary Australians become travel critics, continuing with a trip to San Francisco, where they explores its steep hills, see some new technology and take in Yosemite National Park. 8.10 60 Minutes. Current affairs program, investigating, analysing and uncovering the issues affecting all Australians. 9.10 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 7. From the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England. 12.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 7 Late. 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.
ABC FAMILY (22)
MONDAY, July 7
6.00
6.00 Mastermind Australia.
6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Portillo’s Andalucia. (Ml, R) 8.20 Sue Perkins: Lost In Thailand. (PG, R) 9.15 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 3.
2.00 Great Coastal Railway Journeys. (PGa, R) 3.10 Eva Longoria: Searching For Mexico. (R) 3.55 Growing A Greener World. (R) 4.25 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning.
5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
Programs. 6pm
6am Morning
Programs. 6.15 Sissi: The Young Empress. (1956, PG, German) 8.15 Where Angels Fear To Tread. (1991) 10.20 The Movie Show. 10.55 A Most Wanted Man. (2014, M) 1.10pm The Movie Show. 1.45 Music & Lyrics. (2007, PG) 3.45 Like Father, Like Son. (2013, PG, Japanese) 6.00 Another Country. (2015, PG) 7.25 The Monk And The Gun. (2023, PG, Dzongkha) 9.30 Sweet As. (2022, M) 11.10 Late Programs.
TUESDAY, July 8
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away. (PGad)
7.30 The 1% Club. (PGls, R) Hosted by Jim Jefferies.
8.30 9-1-1. (Mav) Athena investigates the brutal beating of a man found behind a grocery store.
10.30 The Agenda Setters.
11.30 Police Custody USA. (Malv, R) 12.30 You, Me And The Apocalypse. (Malv)
1.30 Travel Oz. (PG, R)
2.00 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 Parental Guidance. (PGas) Eight sets of parents with very different parenting styles put their methods to the test. 9.00 100% Footy. (M) Phil Gould, Paul Gallen, Cam Smith and James Bracey look at the latest rugby league news, with exclusive insights from an expert panel of some of the sports’ most influential figures.
10.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 8. 12.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 8 Late.
5.00 Today Early News. A look at the latest news, sport and weather. 5.30 Today.
(R)
6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Great Continental Railway Journeys. (Return, PGav)
8.30 Insight. 9.30 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 4.
2.00 Great Coastal Railway Journeys. (PG, R)
3.00 Eva Longoria: Searching For Mexico. (R)
3.50 Growing A Greener World. (R)
4.20 Bamay. (PG, R)
4.50 Destination Flavour Down Under Bitesize. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGas) Dana’s worried for Irene.
7.30 Stranded On Honeymoon Island. (Mlns) The couples receive another surprise crate and face off at the next Couples Cove.
10.25 The Agenda Setters. An expert panel tackles the biggest AFL topics.
11.30 Police Custody USA: Meth Wars. (Madl, R) Cops try to bring down a drug kingpin.
12.30 Fairly Legal. (Ma, R)
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 Paramedics. (Return, Mlm) 8.30 Freddy And The Eighth. (Ml) Hosted by Brad Fittler, Danika Mason and Andrew Johns. 9.30 Wimbledon 2025 Pre-Show. Pre-game coverage of Wimbledon. 10.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 9. Quarter-finals. 12.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 9 Late. Quarter-finals. 4.00 Getaway. (PG, R) 4.30
6am Sissi: The Fateful Years. Continued. (1957, PG, German) 7.10 An Ideal Husband. (1999, PG) 9.00 Another Country. (2015, PG) 10.25 The Broken Land. (2021, M, Italian) 12.05pm Sweet As. (2022, M) 1.40 Sissi. (1955, German) 3.40 Sissi: The Young Empress. (1956, PG, German) 5.40 Finding Graceland. (1998, PG) 7.30 A Bronx Tale. (1993, M) 9.45 The Drover’s Wife. (2021, MA15+) 11.45 Late Programs.
Start your day with coffee and brekky from 7.30am, lunch from 11.30am, dinner from 5.30pm, and great hospitality all day. Open Tuesday to Sunday for good
drinks, functions and live music. And the place to stay for
6.00
WEDNESDAY,
July 9
6.00 Morning Programs. 11.00 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 3. H’lights. 12.00 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 4. H’lights. 1.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Insight. (R) 3.00 Going Places. (R) 3.30 The Point. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Jeopardy! 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 4. H’lights.
6.00
7.30 How Disney Built America. (PG)
8.20 Eat Smart: Secrets Of The Glucose Goddess. (Premiere)
9.25 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 5.
2.10 Great Coastal Railway Journeys. (PG, R)
3.10 Eva Longoria: Searching For Mexico. (PG, R)
4.00 Growing A Greener World. (R)
4.30 Bamay. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning.
5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6am Lunana: A Yak In The Classroom. (2019, PG, Dzongkha) 8.10 Finding Graceland. (1998, PG) 10.00 The Movie Show. 10.35 Tudawali. (1987, M) 12.15pm A Bronx Tale. (1993, M) 2.30 Another Country. (2015, PG) 3.55 Sissi: The Fateful Years. (1957, PG, German) 5.55 Rabbit-Proof Fence. (2002, PG) 7.35 The Delinquents. (1989, M) 9.30 Mad Bastards. (2010, MA15+) 11.20 Late Programs.
THURSDAY,
July 10
6.00 Morning Programs. 11.00 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 4. H’lights. 12.00 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 5. H’lights. 1.00 WorldWatch. 2.05 Going Places. (PG, R) 2.35 Dylan Alcott Interviews. (PG, R) 3.00 Living Black. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Jeopardy! 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 5. H’lights. 6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning
6.00 Mastermind Australia.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.35 Treasures With Bettany Hughes. (PG)
8.30 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 6.
1.55 Great Coastal Railway Journeys. (R)
2.55 Eva Longoria: Searching For Mexico. (PGad, R)
3.45 Growing A Greener World. (R)
4.15 Bamay. (R)
4.50 Down Under Bitesize. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning.
5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
WorldWatch. 6.00 Over The Black Dot. 6.30 Travel Man. 7.00 Jeopardy! 7.30 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 The Curse Of Oak Island. 10.10 The UnXplained. 11.00 Homicide. 11.55
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away. (PGa)
7.30 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R) 8.30 The Front Bar. (Ml) Takes a lighter look at all things AFL.
9.30 Unfiltered. (PGa)
10.00 Ashley Cain: Into The Danger Zone. (Malv)
11.20 Stags. (MA15+adv)
12.20 Touching Evil. (MA15+av)
1.20 Travel Oz. (PG, R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 Rugby League. State of Origin. Game 3. New South Wales v Queensland. 10.00 State Of Origin Post-Match. A post-match wrap-up of Game 3 of the State of Origin match between New South Wales and Queensland. 11.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 10. Quarter-finals. 12.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 10 Late. Quarter-finals. 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) Hosted by Ben Shephard. 4.00 Pointless. (PG, R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.
(64)
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away. (PGa)
8.30 Clarkson’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire UK. (PG) Hosted by Jeremy Clarkson.
9.30 Air Crash Investigations: Running On Empty. (PGa) Looks at an Air Tahoma cargo plane crash.
10.30 Million Pound Pawn. (PG)
11.30 Evil By Design. (Mav, R)
12.35 Life. (Madv, R) 1.35 Harry’s Practice. (R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
(64) SBS MOVIES (32) SBS MOVIES (32)
6am It All Began When I Met You. Continued. (2013, PG, Japanese) 7.35 The Movie Show. 8.10 Lara. (2019, PG, German) 10.00 The Delinquents. (1989, M) 11.55 Into The Darkness. (2020, M, Danish) 2.40pm Anne Of Green Gables. (2016, PG) 4.20 Lunana: A Yak In The Classroom. (2019, PG, Dzongkha) 6.20 Bran Nue Dae. (2009, PG) 7.55 A Hard Day’s Night. (1964, PG) 9.30 Walkabout. (1971, M) 11.30 Late Programs.
6.00 NBN News. 7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 Rugby League. NRL Women’s Premiership. Round 2. Wests Tigers v Canterbury Bulldogs. 10.00 Wimbledon 2025 Pre-Show. Pre-game coverage of Wimbledon. 10.30 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 11. Semi-finals. 12.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 11 Late. Semi-finals. 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 Next Stop.
Notice is given that the Gloucester School of Arts Inc. Annual General Meeting will be held in the Gloucester School of Arts Meeting Rooms, 25 Denison St Gloucester NSW on Monday 28 July 2025 at 1700 hrs Members are invited to attend, and anyone interested in being involved in Gloucester School of Arts activities is welcome.
For further information contact the Secretary - gsofarts@gmail.com or 0428 209 944
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PUZZLES
DEAR
Jasminda,
My wife is preparing for the latest weather event like we are getting ready for a world war. What can I do to put her mind at ease?
Kevin B
Dear Kevin,
I received your conundrum during the calm before the storm, so to speak, at which point some media outlets were using words like powerful, heavy, strong, and persistent, and others were using words like wild, smashing, battering, and cyclonic.
You are possibly like the
early reports: becalmed and casually turning the pages of the newspaper, while your wife is in full bomb cyclone phase with her eyes glued to social media where she's watching Insta reels of cows flying through the air and people canoeing down main roads.
There are some of us, Kevin, that like to be prepared.
Others call us catastrophisers.
Maybe we are, but you can bet when the mud hits the fan and the power goes out for five days, that we will be called upon for assistance.
And we may or may not choose to share our storm plan, complete first aid kit, battery operated AM/FM radio, torches with spare batteries, travel chargers, spare clothes and shoes, sand bags and various dehydrated meals that we will be happily warming on our Butane Combi stove.
And we will be too tired, Kevin, to assist you with your
preparations, because we have spent the last week, during clear weather, trimming branches and overhanging limbs, cleaning gutters, checking the roof for loose tiles, double checking the coverage of our home and contents insurance, and preparing our flood evacuation plan.
You, meanwhile, will feel that dusting off the UNO cards, buying a six-pack of tealight candles, and having a vague (and possibly mistaken) idea of where the solitary torch is, will suffice.
And it may suffice, Kevin, but those of us who have battled through past extreme weather events will most likely empathise with your wife.
Preparation is the key when we are experiencing more and more intense storms.
I sincerely hope, for your sake, that this one is just a storm in a teacup.
SUDOKU
Carpe diem, Jasminda.
Tax time scam alert
By Thomas O’KEEFE
THE clock is now ticking to get annual tax returns in before the 31 October deadline.
Sadly, this window provides a veritable hunting ground for scammers, prompting warnings from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), financial institutions, and the Australian Competition and Consumer
Commission (ACCC).
The ATO has previously warned of “impersonation scams”, which are messages pretending to be from either myGov or the ATO that falsely claim a person’s taxable income has been recalculated and they are due to receive compensation.
To claim the amount, they are asked to reply to an email or SMS, with identifying information such as payslips,
their tax file number (TFN), driver's licence and Medicare details.
“If someone claiming to be from the ATO contacts you and advises that you have a debt or are owed a refund or asks for your myGov sign-in credentials, bank or personal details such as your TFN, it is likely they are a scammer,” the ATO warns.
As of last year, the ATO has removed all hyperlinks from
its unsolicited messages.
“Don’t click on links, open attachments or download any files from suspicious emails or SMS; we will never send an unsolicited SMS that contains a hyperlink.
“Know your tax affairs – legitimate email communication from us can be located in ATO online services.
“You can check this by logging into your myGov
q A Commonwealth Bank infographic illustrates that Aussies are scam-aware, but a third of us still miss the clues. Image: CBA.
account – you can also contact your tax agent or the ATO.”
While the ATO is on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn, the organisation will never use these social media platforms to discuss personal information or documentation, or ask for payments.
Scammers are criminals who primarily prey upon the unsuspecting, the unobservant, and the vulnerable.
Their modus operandi never change and include:
1. Creating a sense of urgency about a vague yet serious problem that needs attention, as soon as possible (ASAP)
2. Providing a convenient, quick and easy solution in
the form of a “just click here” button or hyperlink
3. Going to great lengths to look bona-fide, even copying the logos, layout and colour schemes of real messages.
The major banks and the ATO have made information and advice readily available, so customers and taxpayers can go straight to the source. At the end of the day, it is up to the individual to make the right call, with the simplest solution being “if in doubt, don’t do it.”
For examples and more information about identifying and reporting scams, go to ato.gov.au/online-services/ scams-cyber-safety-andidentity-protection/scamalerts.
The first astronomers: Australia’s Indigenous stargazers
By David RENEKE, Astronomer
LONG before observatories dotted the land and satellites blinked overhead, the First Peoples of Australia were reading the stars.
For over 65,000 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have looked to the sky - not for abstraction, but for connection, direction, and survival.
Theirs is the oldest continuous astronomical tradition on Earth.
To these communities, the stars weren’t distant curiosities.
They were living knowledge systems, entwined with daily life.
Far more than campfire stories, these were calendars, compasses, governance tools, and moral codes - passed down through generations in song, ceremony, and story.
Each of the 250-plus language groups across the continent held its own celestial map.
Where Western astronomy joins stars into constellations like Orion or the Southern Cross, Indigenous stargazers focused on the spaces between the stars.
A striking example is the Emu in the Sky - not formed from stars, but from the dark
dust lanes of the Milky Way.
When this shadowy emu appeared to be running across the sky, it signalling that emus were laying eggsan important seasonal food cue.
The sky wasn't just a spectacle; it was a guidebook.
The Yolŋu people of Arnhem Land share the story of Walu, the Sun-woman, who carries her torch across the sky each day - explaining daylight, warmth, and the passage of time.
The moon, too, is a character: Ngalindi, the Moon-man, was once strong and full, but after being attacked by his wives, his form waned.
He eventually died, only to rise again - a poetic teaching of the lunar cycle. No telescopes were needed.
Patience, observation, and story did the work.
This wisdom is preserved through songlines - oral maps linking land, stars, and lore.
A songline may describe a journey across the country, guiding a traveller past waterholes and ridges, while also tracing constellations overhead.
To walk a songline is to walk in tune with culture, cosmos, and country.
For Ghillar Michael Anderson, a Euahlayi elder and leading voice in
Indigenous astronomy, the sky was a classroom.
“When I was a kid,” he recalls, “we would lie on our backs at night, and the old fellas would point to the sky and tell us who we are, where we came from, and what’s coming next.”
Today, modern science is starting to listen.
Physicists and astronomers are recognising that many Aboriginal sky stories align with observable phenomena - from eclipses and meteor strikes to tidal patterns.
The Wolfe Creek crater in Western Australia, for instance, is explained in Jaru and Walmajarri lore as the spot where the Rainbow Serpent crashed to Earth - a striking echo of the actual meteorite impact.
Efforts are underway to integrate this knowledge into mainstream education and research.
Universities and the CSIRO are collaborating with elders to explore how traditional sky knowledge
complements contemporary science.
Schools are now teaching Aboriginal and Western star lore side by side, not as rivals but as layers of understanding.
Even observatories are evolving.
At the Sydney Observatory, visitors now hear Aboriginal sky stories alongside views through telescopes.
It’s a welcome reminder that curiosity about the cosmos isn’t new - it’s deeply
human and deeply ancient. For too long, this rich knowledge was dismissed as myth rather than method. But as we charge ahead into space tourism and AI-driven science, there’s growing respect for old ways of knowing.
As elder David Mowaljarlai once said, “Our law is not written in books. It is written in the earth and in the sky.” It’s still there - waiting to be read.
A recently received scam email.
q The Emu in the Sky - not formed from stars, but from the dark dust lanes of the Milky Way.
More Aussies wanting to live regionally, work remotely
NEW research has uncovered the immense potential of ‘working from home’ to regional Australia, with data capturing the nation’s growing desire to live in a regional setting but work in an urban one.
A nationwide survey, commissioned by the Regional Australia Institute (RAI), showed two-in-five city dwellers would consider a move to regional Australia,
up from one-in-five in May 2023.
Of those considering a move, 47 percent said they’d continue in their current work role on a remote or hybrid basis, 29 percent would look for a role in their new community and 61 percent indicated they’d look to relocate in the next five years.
RAI CEO Liz Ritchie said the results not only
demonstrate the nation’s appetite for work-from-home (WFH) roles but highlight an incoming economic opportunity for regional Australia.
“A decade ago, the world was a different place, and many people simply didn’t have the ability to workfrom-home,” Ms Ritchie said.
“The pandemic proved it can be done successfully, whilst the recent federal
election campaign highlighted how valuable this new way of working is to the wider Australian public.”
Earlier this year, Ms Ritchie joined the many thousands of people making the move from metropolitan Australia to the regions and now works remotely from the Bega Valley in NSW.
“While the RAI’s head office is based in Canberra, more than half of our staff work remotely from around the country, including three executives and the majority of the board. Individuals shouldn’t be limited in their career goals due to their postcode,” Ms Ritchie said.
“Remote skilled workers build human capital in regional communities, bringing with them ideas, information and innovation.
“Forging this ‘knowledge economy’ in regional Australia helps in diversifying our communities and ensuring our entire nation can play a role in our rapidly evolving world.
“To date there is limited research about remote working within a regional context.
“Recent analysis from the Committee for Economic
DUNGOG HOUSING & INFRASTRUCTURE MASTER PLAN
Help us shape the future of our shire
Development of Australia (CEDA) found workforce participation has increased by over four percent in the WFH era, post the pandemic.
“Additionally, the 2024 Australian Workplace Index – a research collaboration between the Australian National University and the University of Newcastle –suggests staff working in a hybrid model felt less burnt out.
“It is a topic that needs to be explored in more detail, particularly the WFH impact on regional Australia, so we can better understand and manage workplaces of the future.”
The survey also delved into the demographics of potential movers finding Millennials (b. 1981-1996) were the most likely to consider a regional move, followed by Gen Z (b. 19972009) and Gen X (b. 19651980).
Further, families with children under the age of 18 were more likely to relocate regionally than those without.
Amenity and economic gains were the top drawcards for potential movers, with:
- 41 percent citing more affordable housing as an
influencing factor
- 39 percent seeking a cheaper cost of living
- 35 percent wanting a closer connection to nature
- 31 percent craving more space
- 29 percent longing for a stronger sense of community
Ms Ritchie said the findings build on research undertaken by the RAI showing that Australia’s migration patterns are shifting towards regions.
“Regional Australia is going through an unprecedented era of growth. The regions are no longer seen through a lens of deficit – a place you wouldn’t choose to live, a place you’d leave to get ahead.
“Now, the regions are viewed as a land of abundance, and in the net zero transition they will play a vital role in the nation’s future productivity,” Ms Ritchie said.
Survey respondents also outlined potential barriers to making a move to regional Australia, with:
- 53 percent worrying about access to healthcare
- 52 percent thinking about being isolated from family and friends
- 38 percent wondering about transportation options and access to cities
- 36 percent caring about telecommunication access and technology.
Dungog Shire is at a turning point, with more people discovering our lifestyle and the new opportunities our region offers. To ensure growth stays true to the charm and character we all value, Dungog Shire Council is developing a Housing and Infrastructure Master Plan to shape the future of our rural lands and guide housing, jobs and infrastructure developments over the next 20 years.
We’re inviting the community to share their ideas and aspirations with us — because we believe the future of the Dungog Shire should be guided by the people who call it home.
Whether you live in town or in the country, whether you’re a farmer, a young person, a business owner, or just someone who cares about your community — your voice matters.
Register now to come along to a Community Information Session, or drop in and ask any questions at our market pop-up stalls:
DUNGOG
- Saturday 5 July:
8am to 12pm: Dungog Community Markets (Anglican Church) pop-up stall
- Sunday 6 July
2pm to 5pm: Information Session: Doug Walters
Pavillion
GRESFORD
- Saturday 12 July:
2pm - 5pm: Information Session: Gresford School of Arts Hall
VACY
- Sunday 3 August 10am to 12pm: Information Session: Vacy School of Arts
PATERSON
- Sunday 3 August
2pm to 4pm: Information Session: Paterson School of Arts
ONLINE INFORMATION SESSIONS
- Thursday 3 July 6:30pm to 7:30pm
- Wednesday 9 July 6:30pm to 7:30pm Please head to Council’s website to register
For more information, please visit our website: dungog.nsw.gov.au/HIMP
q RAI CEO Liz Ritchie with her partner Tom, daughter Chloe, and dog Cricket at their new home in the Bega Valley.
Firewood collection authorisations required
FORESTRY Corporation is reminding residents to purchase firewood authorisations before collecting wood from State forests.
Recent updates have been made to Forestry Corporation’s online firewood permit page.
The conditions for firewood collection have also been updated and should be understood prior to entering State forests.
The system now distinguishes some locations between pine and native hardwood forests, making firewood collection easier for authorisation holders.
“State forests in NSW continue to offer the public an affordable way of collecting firewood, with authorisations ranging from $8 to $30 per tonne depending on location,
with pensioner discounts also available," Forestry Corporation’s Governance Officer – Forests and Land, Melanie Klootwijk said.
"These prices have remained stable for many years, which is important for regional communities in cooler climates where firewood is essential for heating," she said.
Authorisations allow the public to collect between one and three tonnes of firewood per visit, depending on the location.
Each selected forest collection area is clearly mapped when applying for an authorisation.
The areas available for firewood collection change each year and are generally areas where timber harvesting has taken place.
Firewood can only be
collected from the ground - felling standing trees is strictly prohibited.
Authorisation holders must print maps of the collection areas and carry the map when collecting firewood to avoid confusion and penalty notices up to $200 if found not to be adhering to the permit conditions
Forestry Corporation urges authorisation holders to practice safe chainsaw use and wear protective equipment.
Firewood collection is prohibited during Solid Fuel Fire bans - authorisations cannot be used when a ban is active, even if purchased beforehand.
For more information visit www.forestrycorporation. com.au.
Report paints 'catastrophic picture’ of environment
THE NSW Government
tabled the 2024 State of the Environment Report last week.
Compiled by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), the report is published every three years.
According to EPA CEO Tony Chappel, the 2024 report indicates that climate change is already a major factor impacting many environmental trends.
“In 2021-22, greenhouse gas emissions in NSW were 111 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, which is 27 percent lower than the annual rate back in 2005,” Mr Chappel said.
The report found that sea levels rose by 12cm between 1991 and 2021, and may rise by up to one metre by the end
of the 21st century.
Severe fire weather days and hot days (35°C or more) are also projected to increase.
“Average temperatures across the state have already risen 1.4 °C since 1910 and sea surface temperatures in the Sydney area have increased by about 0.14 0.2°C per decade since the 1950s,” Mr Chappel said.
Native vegetation cover has also declined over the past three years.
“The ability of remaining habitats in NSW to support native plants, animals and ecosystems has dropped to 29 percent of their original capacity since pre-industrialisation,” Mr Chappel said.
Additionally the number of threatened species listings
in NSW has increased by 36 since December 2020.
In 2024, more than 600 plant species and 300 animal species in NSW are threatened and risk extinction.
The report found NSW air quality however meets national standards most of the time.
“In the past three years air quality has been negatively affected during extreme weather events, such as storms and bushfires,” Mr Chappel said.
Most soils in NSW are in a moderate condition, according to the report, although much of the state's agricultural land is becoming slightly more acidic, with soil pH changing by at least 0.15 from 2006-20.
Paterson Golf Club
By Ramsey VANE-WOOD
SATURDAY 28TH JUNE
INDIVIDUAL STABLEFORD & 2BBB IN CONJUNCTION FIELD | 26 members & 3 visitors. STABLEFORD | Winner Ramsey VaneWood (7) 40 Points, Runner Up Paul Langley (15) 37 Points, 3rd Place Denis Crossman (21) 37 Points 2BBB | Winners Peter Griffin (15) & Paul Langley (15) 42 Points, Runners Up Brodie Thackeray (10) & Ramsey Vane-Wood (7) 42 Points BALL COMP | Glenn Davies (5) 35 Points, Robert Radin (19) 35 Points, Rigby Vane-Wood (10) 34 Points, Mark Maddock (11) 33 Points, Paul Geddes (11) 32 Points, Paul Monaghan (7) 30 Points, Graeme Valentine (12) 30 Points, Andrew Woodley (16) 29 Points, Bryson Braham (14) [Dungog] 29 Points, Wayne
Good rainfall in the past three years has helped improve water quality in some areas, but may also have been associated with significant fish kill events during that time.
Coastal vegetation and habitats such as saltmarsh, mangroves and seagrass continue to be threatened by development and climate change, Mr Chappel said.
Invasive species continue to exert pressure on native plants and animals.
“New threats, such as fire ants, will continue to pose a significant biodiversity risk if not eradicated,” he said.
Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment and climate change Sue Higginson, said the report paints a
Stableford
Stedman (9) 29 Points & Robert Richardson (14) 29 Points. NEAREST THE PIN | 2nd/11th - Brodie Thackeray (10), 5th/14th - Wayne Stedman (9), 7th/16th - Glenn Davies (5) MEMBERS DRAW | No.25, Jackpot, $90 MEMBERS EAGLES NEST | Unclaimed,
“The biodiversity crisis has continued unabated in NSW, despite Premier Chris Minns promising to halt extinction in NSW, with 36 new species added to the threatened species list since 2020 and a shocking five percent increase in the number of animal species threatened with extinction.
and Paul
Play Qualifiers (subject to entries), 9-Aug Stableford & Match Play 1st Round, 16-Aug Stableford & Match Play Quarter Finals, 23Aug Stableford & Match Play Semi-Finals, 30-Aug Stableford, 2BBB & Match Play Final.
entertainment, country style market stalls and a plethora of family-friendly activities.
The fun kicks off in the centre of town with a vibrant Street Parade at 10am featuring a dazzling array of floats, motorbikes, cars, spirited bands, the Hunter Heroes and local school children.
Highlight of the day, the Brick Throwing contest, will officially commence at 11am with the ceremonial throwing of the first brick by Member for Upper Hunter Dave Layzell MP.
Participants can register starting at 10:30am, with categories for all ages and skill levels, including Men’s Adult Brick Throwing; Women’s Adult Rolling Pin Throwing; Kids Brick Throwing; Junior Rolling Pin Throwing; Rubber Chicken Throwing; and Masters Brick and Rolling Pin Throwing (60+ years).
“Of the 70 key indicators covered in this report, just seven of them show any improvement.
“The number of indicators that are going backwards is more than three times higher with close to double remaining unknown.”
“With average temperatures in NSW already 1.4 degrees celsius above earliest records, we can assume with confidence that this means our state is already living beyond the 1.5 degrees that was legislated as a target less than two years ago. The revelations that sea levels have risen by 12 centimetres in 30 years pales compared to the existential threat posed by the likely additional one metre sea level rise predicted by the report between now and the end of the century.” Ms Higginson said regional NSW and agricultural districts are in “serious decline” on almost all measures, noting “significant losses to woody and non-woody native vegetation, increasing rates of soil acidification, and plummeting levels of organic carbon in our soil”.
Exciting prizes and trophies will await the winners in each category and those eager to etch their names in the record books will need to throw a brick at least 90 feet and a rolling pin at least 101 feet.
Live performances from local acts such as the Buckett Swayers, Waratah Brass Band, and Newcastle RSL Pipe Band will keep the energy high.
Kids will enjoy a day full of fun with baby animals at the Sweet Valley Petting Zoo and the ever-popular Hunter Hero characters available for photos and fun.
The Brick & Rolling Pin Competition began in the 1960s inspired by brickmaking towns in Stroud, United Kingdom and the United States with Australia and Canada joining the festivities soon after.
Tickets can be purchased at the Showground gate (open from 7am) on the day of the event: $15 adults, $5 children and $30 family.
q
Winners, Ramsey Vane-Wood (r)
Langley (l).
q Authorisations allow the public to collect between one and three tonnes of firewood per visit, depending on the location.
Quirky competition
By Chris KARAS
IF quirky community events are your fancy then the upcoming Stroud Brick and Rolling Pin Throwing competition on Saturday July 12 is worth a visit.
This popular event returns to the Stroud Showground in Cowper Street, bringing with it a funfilled day of laughter, rivalry and rural charm and a theme of “Music makes the world go around”.
“There’s something for everyone,” said event organiser Karen Hutchinson.
“Join in oversized games such as cage soccer and dart ball.
Locals and visitors alike are invited to join this wonderfully weird showdown of skill, strength and sheer good fun.
Whether you're lobbing a brick with pinpoint precision or hurling a rolling pin like a country pro, there's no better way to spend a crisp winter weekend in regional NSW. This annual event promises a blend of thrilling competitions, a festive street parade, live music and local
“There will be impressive demonstrations of post splitting and wood chopping, and displays of knitted, crocheted and macrame items.” Now a staple in Stroud’s annual calendar, the event celebrates community spirit, good-natured rivalry and a bit of old-fashioned silliness. It’s the kind of grassroots gathering that makes country towns so special - and it continues to draw crowds from across the region and beyond.
q Celebrate community spirit and old fashioned silliness at Stroud’s annual Brick and Rolling Pin Throwing competition event on July 12 at Stroud Showground.
