‘Deadly Inspiring’ doco in Dungog
By Shannon BENTON
FIFTY-SIX people gathered at Dungog’s historic James Theatre on Saturday 31 May, for a special screening of the
documentary “The Voice –A Journey to be Heard”. Presented by Reconciliation Dungog, the event featured the film’s co-director and Cairns Indigenous leader, Semara Jose, who was the evening’s honoured guest.
Semara’s presence brought a personal dimension to the film’s themes of Indigenous empowerment, selfdetermination, and the CONTINUED Page 3
RECOVERY SUPPORT
Dungog Shire Mayor Digby Rayward encouraged those who need support to attend. “I realise there's some anxious memories from the
10 years ago that will be resurfacing in some people,” he said.
“If you're one of those, there CONTINUED Page 2
q Co-director Semara Jose at the screening.
Doug
DUNGOG Shire Mayor Digby Rayward says the full extent of damage to the local road network from recent flooding is still being assessed, but Council will aim to secure as much funding for repairs as possible.
“We certainly expect to see major damage to our roads, and we need to be patient as the team sets about repairing the major damage points,” he said on 30 May.
“We’ll be looking for as much funding as we can secure as a result of this damage from the floods.
“Our assessment teams are preparing that request for funding for us.”
Mayor Rayward has also thanked Muswellbrook Council for its support in the aftermath of the disaster.
“A big shout out to them,” he said.
“They sent a couple of pothole crews over for a couple of days, which was
RECOVERY SUPPORT
Email us the exact wording and we will email back a proof and price ads@newsofthearea.com.au
Dungog Shire Council EOI
Dungog Shire Council is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) from suitably qualified parties for the development and management of a Holiday and Caravan Park located at 138 Abelard Street and/or Abbots Flat, Dungog.
This EOI presents an opportunity for a private operator to either lease the land under a long-term agreement, or to enter into a lease w future option to purchase, subject to conditions ensuring the land is developed and operated as a Holiday and Caravan Park.
EOI Documents are available free of charge by request via email: shirecouncil@dungog.nsw.gov.au
much appreciated. “It shows you the extent to which we reach out to our neighbors and help when we can.”
FROM Page 1
will be people at that meeting you may wish to share your thoughts with.
“So don't be afraid to come along, just have a yarn to anyone.”
No appointments are needed.
NSW Reconstruction Authority CEO Mal Lanyon said, “The scale of the impacts and recovery are significant, and we understand the challenges that come with that.
“But our message to communities is clear: we’re on the ground,
Closing Date: 5pm 20 June, 2025 Development and Management of a Holiday and Caravan Park – Dungog
we’re working hard, and we’ll be here for the long haul.
“The NSW Reconstruction Authority remains committed to standing side by side with flood-affected communities, not just in the immediate response, but throughout the recovery, for as long as it takes.”
Visit a Recovery Centre, call Service NSW on 13 77 88 or go to nsw.gov.au/ floodrecoveryupdates for details on locations and services.
For further information or to submit an expression of interest, please visit our website www.dungog.nsw.gov.au
q Muswellbrook Council crew at work on the roads.
q The top of Jerusalem Creek Falls on 20 May, at the peak of the flood. Photo: Ken Rubeli.
Latin music workshop
A COMMUNITY Latin music workshop will be held at the Dungog Anglican Hall on Saturday, 22 June, featuring ARIAnominated performers ALLY.
Arts Upper Hunter describes the workshop as a “funky fun and rhythmic workshop that's not just for musicians but anyone who wants to learn some great Latin beats”.
ALLY are passionate exponents of South American and Caribbean music styles, and present rhythms and instrumental roles in a
friendly, accessible way to encourage attendees to broaden their listening and to provide some cultural context.
“Via a mix of traditional and modern instrumentation, and a mix of rhythmic patterns you'll play through a few simple compositions that allow everyone to participate,” Arts Upper Hunter said in a statement.
“Once you're getting familiar with the patterns, everyone builds from there.
“Bring your own percussion instruments – or use your body
percussion, everything is possible!”
Some instruments will be provided.
The workshop has been organised by the Performing Artists of Dungog and Arts Upper Hunter, with the support of Create NSW.
Tickets are free for anyone under 25 years, or $10 for ages 25-plus.
The workshop will run from 2-3:45 pm on 22 June at the Anglican Hall, 51 Dowling St, Dungog.
Visit the Arts Upper Hunter website for more information.
WHEN young filmmaker Thomas Ryan decided to change direction from computer science to media production, it wasn’t the result of a single cinematic epiphany.
“One day I just woke up and wanted to do filmmaking instead,” he said.
“I think it started with game design - I loved the stories in those old Nintendo 64 games like Zelda and Star Fox.
“The graphics were limited, so the story had to carry everything. That stuck with me.”
Page 1
ongoing fight for land rights in Australia.
The Voice – A Journey to be Heard chronicles the determined efforts of the Deadly Inspiring Youth Doing Good (DIYDG) group, led by Semara.
Their goal was to travel over 3000 kilometres from Cairns to the Gurindji Freedom Day Festival in Kalkaringi, Northern Territory.
The festival commemorates the
was extremely gratifying.”
That love of storytelling eventually led Thomas to the Horizons program - a Regional Arts NSW initiative for emerging creatives.
“It was really exciting to see how many other people with similar goals and aspirations were living in regional places,” he said.
“You normally associate creatives or studios with the city, but Horizons showed me there are so many different paths you can take without having to move.”
One of those paths led Thomas to Tin City - a unique shack settlement on the Stockton dunes. His short documentary, developed during university, went on to win Silver in the People’s Choice Award at the Short + Sweet Film Festival in Sydney (Heat 3, 2025).
“It looked like something straight out of a movie,” he said.
“The fact that people
actually live there - not even an hour from where I was based - was just too interesting to turn down.”
Filming Tin City, Thomas remembers the moment the rest of the world disappeared.
“It’s not necessarily in the middle of nowhere, but it feels like it.
“You drive along the beach and suddenly Tin City appears.
“The sand dunes were incredible - we tried to capture them, but you really have to be there.
“And the people! Some of the most down-to-earth I’ve ever met.”
The film’s warm reception at the festival helped validate his creative instincts.
“It’s hard to know if you’re on the right track with something like that, even months later,” he said. “To hear people say they loved how the story unfolded - and that they really felt drawn into the world of Tin City - that
‘Deadly Inspiring’ doco in Dungog
landmark 1966 Wave Hill Walk-Off, a key moment in the struggle for Aboriginal land rights led by Vincent Lingiari.
As the film follows the DIYDG convoy’s epic journey ahead of the 2024 Voice Referendum, Semara shares the importance of cultural connection and the role of young leaders in shaping their communities’ futures.
The documentary also explores how Indigenous youth can maintain
their cultural identity while navigating Western systems of success.
Following the screening, Semara engaged with the audience in a heartfelt discussion.
She spoke of the emotional challenges the group faced on returning to Cairns after the referendum’s ‘Yes’ case was defeated.
Yet, she emphasised the unbreakable camaraderie of the DIYDG group and their shared
More recently, Thomas has been working as the videographer on Arts Upper Hunter’s program This Here Then Now, capturing the work of artists across the Upper Hunter as they respond to local stories and museum collections.
“Every artist has their own unique voice and style,” he said.
“It’s been great trying to balance the representation of the local stories and the artists’ approaches.
“I really want the videos to make you feel like you’re stepping into the room with them while they work, and also to give a taste of what the exhibitions were like in person.”
Thomas especially enjoyed documenting Helene Leane’s project in Dungog.
“Her use of colour, the way she turned the story of a cash register into something so dynamic - that really resonated with me. It started as one object, but expanded into something much bigger. “That mirrors my own creative process - things always start small and grow.”
Working regionally has also reaffirmed his
commitment to ensuring young Indigenous voices are heard.
“The inescapable and hopeful conclusion,” said Semara, “is that young people must have a say in the systems that affect them.”
Fran Crane, a member of Reconciliation Dungog, thanked Semara for her presence, her work with young people, and the film.
“We people in Dungog are right behind you,” Fran said.
“We are here for you and we support you.”
Despite being “saddened” by the referendum result, Reconciliation
appreciation for small-town stories.
“It’s just fun to see how other artists interpret local history,” he said.
“There are stories everywhere, and sometimes the most powerful ones come from places where the community is small, but strong.”
Community is a recurring theme in his work.
“Smaller communities hold things near and dear in a way you don’t see in cities.
“That closeness really interests me.
“But it’d be cool to explore the other side too - what happens when community breaks down.”
So what’s next for Thomas?
“I think I’m ready to dive back into narrative work,” he said.
“It’s been a while since I made something weird.
“I have plenty of ideasjust need to pick one and go for it.”
His advice for other young regional creatives?
“Take notes, and keep it fun! Living regionally actually gives you a leg up. The stories and locations are all around you - you just have to start.”
Dungog convenor Jenny Akers said the film was a reminder to stay positive.
“Hope is always a choice. We can choose hope,” she said.
The film, which won the Intrepid Audience Award at the Melbourne International Film Festival, was directed by first-time documentarian Krunal Padhiar, who brings a background in social work and global volunteerism to his storytelling.
The Voice – A Journey to be Heard is set for online release by the end of the year.
q ALLY will present the Latin music workshop. Photo: supplied.
q Upper Hunter filmmaker Thomas Ryan at Dungog Muesum. Photo: Suzannah Jones.
Workers ‘broke’ as floods cause log jam
By John SAHYOUN
THE region’s primary industries have had a difficult year with the recent floods only adding to the stress being experienced by many businesses.
A very wet summer leading into the recent East Coast Low and then almost immediately followed by flooding rains, has devastated many local businesses.
Anthony Dorney, Managing Director of the Dorney Group, which operates mills and associated services, said there were a number of factors that have led to worsening conditions for the timber industry.
“The Government has been cutting back on available timber and closing off compartments [for] the Great Koala Koala Park which makes it harder to source logs,” he said.
“Also, the wet conditions
have made it impossible to get the cut logs out of the forest with two floods this year hampering the sourcing of wood.
“In the last two weeks we have only been able to work at 20 percent capacity at our mills.”
He said many workers are broke and are unable to access relief payments.
“With the mills and associated services employing 120 people in our area and being the largest employer in Bulahdelah, it has a devastating effect on the entire local economy.
“If the workers have no money, then they can’t support the local businesses let alone look after their families and pay their rent.”
They have tried to source timber from over 600km away but found a lack of hardwood, and poor quality, are significant issues.
Normally they hold a
month’s supply which gets them through very wet conditions but the stockpiles are depleted.
“It’s the worst I’ve ever
seen in the last 40 years and we are really struggling and have had to stand down workers on 12 occasions this year.”
Cattle and dairy farmers have also cited the prohibitive costs of insurance as having a negative impact on business. It costs tens of thousands
of dollars just to insure fences, so it becomes an almost impossible task on a minimal income to protect their properties.
Farmers urged to report disaster damage
NSW FARMERS is encouraging all flood affected landholders to report damage through an official government survey to help target disaster assistance for their region.
The Primary Industries Natural Disaster Damage Assessment (PiNDDA) from the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is a survey used to determine what government support the agricultural sector needs to recover from natural disasters.
NSW Farmers Vice President Rebecca Reardon said filling out the survey would give the NSW Government a clear understanding of the damage caused by record floods across the Hunter and Mid North Coast.
“We know your time is limited and so is your connectivity, but if you have had infrastructure or machinery damage, loss of livestock, crops or fodder as a result of these floods, we really encourage you take a few minutes to report it through this short survey,” Mrs Reardon said.
“This information helps authorities understand the scale and scope of a natural disaster, so they can then target resources and assistance to that area.
“These floods have broken records in a bad way, and it’s important we communicate that back to the government so we can get the assistance we need.
“It’s going to take an unprecedented effort to get our farm communities back on their feet after this
disaster, but our government must back us up so we can keep on producing the food that feeds the 25 million people in our nation alone.”
On Monday, Ms Reardon said farmers were still in the dark as to what further disaster assistance – if any –would be made available by the state government to get them back on their feet in the wake of the disaster.
“This flood has come just months after Cyclone Alfred, and the cumulative effect of these disasters has devastated farmers and their families,” Mrs Reardon said.
“We haven’t been able to assess the full scale of this disaster yet, but we know without a doubt that the damages will be in the hundreds of millions.
“Farmers prepared as much as possible, but fences
and farm infrastructure have been swept away, paddocks washed out, roads cut and ruined, livestock affected, oyster farms wiped out, and pastures, orchards and crops sent underwater.”
Currently, Category B concessional loans and transport subsidies are available for farmers affected by current circumstances in
the Hunter and Mid North Coast.
However, Mrs Reardon said Category C disaster assistance must be rolled out immediately for affected farmers, with Category D assistance to follow directly after.
To submit information to the survey or to find out more, visit https://www.dpi.
nsw.gov.au/emergencies/ emergency/community/ primary-industries-naturaldisaster-damage-survey.
For assistance with completing the survey, farmers should contact their region’s Local Land Services office or a DPIRD Development Officer.
Hunter to Perth flights a ‘game-changer’
By Cosette DE LORENZO
QANTAS has announced it will be the first airline to offer direct flights from Newcastle to Perth.
The new route will launch on 8 September and flights will operate on Fridays, Sundays and Mondays.
“These flights will boost connectivity for Newcastle residents and mean they no longer have to drive to and from Sydney when they want to travel to Perth,” QantasLink CEO Rachel Yangoyan said.
“We know many customers, particularly those working in the mining and resources sector, are having to do that today.”
The announcement is part of the NSW Government’s broader strategy to grow the state’s aviation capacity and is backed by the Aviation Attraction Fund (AAF).
It comes at a transformational time for Newcastle Airport, which is preparing to open its new terminal later this year.
Along with the new Perth route, the upgraded terminal will allow for ongoing international flights into Newcastle for the first time.
“This is a game-changer for our region,” Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington said.
“Connecting Port Stephens and the Hunter directly to Perth opens up incredible opportunities for local tourism, business and jobs.
“With connecting flights from London, Paris and Rome now within reach, this is a powerful example of what we can achieve when we back our regions by investing in great local infrastructure.”
The route will be
serviced by the QantasLink A319, which has the capacity to seat 150 passengers. It is offered alongside a reinstated Perth-Hobart service, as the airline aims to improve travel into Perth.
Kate Holsgrove, Chief Commercial and Aviation Officer at Perth Airport said, “It’s great news for Australia’s tourism industry as the services will promote increased visitation to Western Australia from NSW and Tasmania and will also provide a direct link for West Australians wanting to discover Tasmania and northern NSW.”
Flights are already on sale with prices starting at $299 for Newcastle-Perth one way.
Onboard meals and checked bags will also be included.
q Managing Director Anthony Dorney says the timber industry is under stress.
Dealing with DV after funding 'neglected' for years
By Jack GRAMENZ, AAP
MORE than half a billion dollars will go towards
dealing with domestic violence in a bid to undo years of "neglect" in Australia's most populous state.
The funding will go towards supporting victimsurvivors and keeping alleged abusers behind bars to "build
a safer NSW".
The government announced the funding pledges on Monday before the state budget is unveiled on June 24.
About half of the money is earmarked for a $227 million injection into the state's victims' support service over five years.
The service helps victim-survivors and family members access counselling and financial assistance.
Non-government support services will get more certainty around funding with five-year contracts promised.
Almost $50 million will be spent on making it easier for victim-survivors to give evidence, with remote courtrooms sparing them the risk of attending the same court complex as their abuser.
The funds will also provide counselling, legal aid and financial advice at a hub expected to open in late 2027.
"This hub will make a major difference, especially for women and children who have mustered the courage to give evidence against a domestic violence perpetrator," Premier Chris Minns said.
Recent changes to bail for alleged domestic violence offenders has also increased the number of inmates on remand, pushing the state's prison population to near record-highs.
More than $100 million will go towards corrective services to help cope with the increase.
Another change ensured all bail decisions would be made by magistrates, following the high-profile
Flood victims wait in hope for future-proof solutions
By Sebastian TAN, AAP
FROM the door of Mel Connell's gift shop, in shindeep water, the only things still recognisable were a few hanging festoon and fairy lights.
After 14 years as a small retailer, she had to refashion her premises after floods ripped through the northern NSW town of Lismore in February 2022.
By September, Ms Connell had reopened with $50 in her pocket and an unfinished building. She was thousands more short in products and equipment.
Three years later, she still feels the impact.
"It's been an extremely hard slog, I'm never doing that again," Ms Connell tells AAP.
"I've got a business, my partner also has a job here, we've got a home loan. We can't just pack up and leave."
Every time it rains heavily, she "freaks out".
"People died here and we had a billion-dollar emergency, so I just wish the government would actually have some kind of plan in place to help us in the future."
Tensions are high across the state's mid north coast and Hunter regions with more than a thousand properties uninhabitable and dozens more beyond repair.
Insurance premiums have skyrocketed, with residents launching GoFundMe efforts to help salvage inundated homes.
The Fitzgerald family in Taree had to set one up after insurers declined to cover them after they were flooded for the first time.
"When the second flood
struck, they were left with absolutely nothing," says campaign organiser Sharon Revell.
"To make matters even more heartbreaking, the boys recently lost their beloved mum to terminal cancer.
"Her passing has left three sons, one of whom lives with a disability, without their home, their stability and their mother."
Elsewhere, GoFundMe organisers say insurance premiums for another second-time victim jumped four times their original cost following NSW floods in March 2021.
About 1.36 million properties are at any time at risk of flooding across the state and in Victoria and Queensland, according to the Insurance Council of Australia.
In Lismore, Ms Connell wants to see infrastructure built to withstand future events after 2022 triggered an exodus of residents.
"People would reinvest into the town and not just our town, everywhere," she says.
"We've had eight years with floods, we're trying to get the town back on its feet and it would bring positivity back.
"It would be life-changing for a lot of people and having some kind of... solution so they don't leave the postcode and can still purchase a property out of the flood zone would contribute to the economy here."
There may be light at the end of the tunnel for residents and business owners with the insurance council calling for government and the sector to establish a $30 billion dollar fund to protect flood-prone
communities.
In a report issued prior to the federal election, it urged the building more flood defence infrastructure, buying-back properties and strengthening others in harm's way.
"There is a solution. It's going to be a publicprivate partnership between government and insurers," the council's executive director Andrew Hall told Sydney radio station 2GB this week.
"There are 220,000 homes on the east coast of Australia that are sitting in a two or five percent chance of flooding every year.
"We've priced the derisking of 24 catchments on the east coast over a period of 10 years."
However in Taree, a community which has been decimated by the recent floods, Mayor Claire Pontin says council looked at constructing higher levees but the cost outweighed the benefit.
"Had we built those levees back then, this flood would have gone over the top of them anyway," she says.
"All those issues about flood mitigation works to try and make our assets, and the community's assets, more resilient to flooding is on the table."
Inflated insurance premiums have become a recurring conversation with flood affected victims.
Last year, residents told of being forced to endure unreasonable wait times and being overcharged by insurers to an inquiry into flood failures.
One claimed to have been left in the lurch for 18
months.
"I am emotionally exhausted, I lost all my belongings," they said in a submission.
"I have tried to obtain online quotes from other insurers and they are either exorbitant or they refuse to insure in our area.
"We applied for a buyback of the property through the resilient homes fund but have been rejected, despite having six properties surrounding us that have been bought back and in the process of being demolished."
The NSW Department of Planning is in the throes of responding to inquiry recommendations following the 2022 floods.
"The government is stopping inappropriate developments on dangerous floodplains," according to a
spokesperson.
"To proactively plan and mitigate against the impacts of floods in NSW, the Department is taking a riskbased approach to planning decisions on dangerous flood plains."
Queensland's Department of Infrastructure says it has been liaising with other agencies on policy.
"Key actions such as natural hazard mapping (has been) undertaken across the state and each local government area implements their own flood risk mapping tools for Queenslanders to utilise and check risk for personal safety and property," a spokesperson says.
"The department continues to work closely with various other agencies and local councils responsible for navigating the state's preparedness for natural hazards, risk and resilience, particularly when it comes to
April 2024 murder of Molly Ticehurst in Forbes, allegedly by her former boyfriend Daniel Billings, who was granted bail by a registrar about two weeks earlier. Ten virtual courtrooms are planned to support remote bail hearings, along with an additional five courtrooms at major courthouses in Sydney's city centre, costing almost $35 million.
The funds will lay the foundation for longer-term reforms, Domestic Violence Prevention Minister Jodie Harrison said.
"This is work that previous governments have neglected for many years."
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
land use."
About 300,000 people lodged claims with insurance companies after the 2022 NSW floods, with the state and Commonwealth committing more than $3.5 billion for recovery.
Assistant federal treasurer Daniel Mulino says some insurers have been too slow to clean up devastated communities.
"(About) 90 to 95 percent of claims are resolved within a year or so but that still leaves a very large number of claims hanging on," he this week told ABC Radio.
"We've seen in a number of instances, hundreds and sometimes thousands of people with still unresolved claims a year or even two years after the disaster."
Some 6000 people currently have claims lodged with the insurance council.
Applications opened on Friday for commonwealthstate payments to help cover costs for items including food, clothing, medication and emergency accommodation.
q NSW Premier Chris Minns. Photo: Nikki Short/AAP Image.
q Flood victims in Lismore like Mel Connell want more done to prepare for future disasters. Photo: Mel Connell.
By Jack GRAMENZ, AAP
KING Charles III has expressed his admiration for emergency services and volunteers who responded to deadly flooding in Australia's most populous state.
Five people died and more than 1200 buildings were made uninhabitable after the record-breaking deluge across the NSW midnorth coast and surrounding regions.
The flooding, which has now mostly ended, "greatly concerned" himself and his wife, Queen Camilla.
"We can only say that our thoughts are very much with all those who have been affected so badly, especially the family and friends of the five people who tragically lost their lives," the King said in a message shared by Australia's Governor-General Sam Mostyn.
"We send our special prayers and deepest sympathy to all who mourn them."
The King also praised the thousands of people who responded to the disaster, including 2200 SES volunteers, 2000 council and
utilities workers and scores of volunteers from grassroots groups.
"I have the greatest admiration for the emergency services, the volunteers and volunteer organisations, as well as the disaster recovery agencies, who are now gathering to work together and support one another on the long road to recovery," he said.
Dairy farmers, meanwhile, are facing crippling financial situations to keep their cows fed and watered on the mid-north coast.
The mammoth floods wiped out farmland and swept some cattle into towns and out to sea, while others were drowned where they stood.
"Tackling the 'cash crunch' for farmers and communities will not only keep our farmers producing milk, but also benefit the regional communities where they shop," Australian Dairy Farmers president Ben Bennett.
He called for more government support, as more assistance was made available for those impacted
by flooding on Friday.
Federal disaster recovery payments will be available for impacted residents on the Central Coast and Lake Macquarie council areas on Friday afternoon.
The payments have already been made available in Bellingen, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Kempsey, Maitland, Mid Coast, Nambucca Valley, Port Macquarie-Hastings and Port Stephens local government areas.
"We know this has been a traumatic time for many,
The one-off payment is worth $1000 for adults and $400 for children who have suffered major damage to their homes, serious injuries, or deaths in the family as a result of the flooding.
and this financial support is about making sure people aren't left to face the recovery alone," Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said.
Applications also opened on Friday for federal-state payments to help cover costs for things like food, clothing, medication and emergency accommodation.
The one-off payment is worth up to $180 for individuals and $900 for families in severely impacted suburbs.
Primary producers such as dairy farmers can also access concessional loans.
More support is being finalised, pending the completion of damage assessments.
Authorised by Dave Layzell MP, 94 John Street, Singleton NSW 2330 Funded using Parliamentary entitlements.
Authorised by Dave Layzell MP, 94 John Street, Singleton NSW 2330 Funded using
entitlements.
q King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited NSW seven months ago. Photo: Mark Baker/AAP Image.
BEST ON THE BOX
SUNDAY
THE PIANO
ABC TV, 7.30pm
You’d have to be made of stone not to shed a tear when watching this poignant and powerful reality series highlighting the extraordinary stories of everyday Australians and the power of the piano. Hidden away as host Amanda Keller interrogated the public in train stations, shopping centres and markets, musical powerhouse Harry Connick Jr and classic concert pianist Andrea Lam have slowly been casting for a concert at Sydney’s City Recital Hall – and tonight’s the big night. With Connick Jr and Lam guiding them, Grace, John, Stefania (pictured), DJ and Vincenzo will share the musical opportunity of a lifetime.
FRIDAY, June 6
6.30 Claire Hooper’s House Of Games.
7.00 ABC News.
7.35 Gardening Australia. Costa Georgiadis discovers how a sauna can save frogs.
8.35 The One That Got Away. (Mal) Rick and Ffion face a dangerous new suspect.
9.25 Gruen. (R) Presented by Wil Anderson. 10.05 Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee. (PG, R)
10.50 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R)
11.20 ABC Late News.
11.40 Father Brown. (PGav, R)
12.25 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv)
5.00 Rage. (PG)
MONDAY
FARMER WANTS A WIFE
SEVEN, 7.30pm
As finale week begins for this romantic reality romp, two farmers have already found their happily ever afters (or so we believe… we’ll find out how their fairytales have turned out in an upcoming reunion). A third – South Australian wheat, barley and lentil producer Thomas (pictured) – is on the cusp of telling Clarette that she’s won his heart, but first he has to break the news to Rachael and Laura. Meanwhile, Jack and Corey find out if mother really knows best – taking the contestants of their parents’ choosing on their final 24-hour dates. Jack makes up for lost time with vet Olivia, while Corey heads out on the water with Keeley and prepares for a tough goodbye back at the farm.
THURSDAY
KILLING SHERLOCK WITH LUCY WORSLEY
It’s hard to imagine that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of literature’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes – the hero of more than 60 original stories and more adaptations than we have space to list – came to hate his iconic creation. But as historian Lucy Worsley (pictured) examines in this intriguing three-part series, Doyle decided that his rather lucrative character had made him enough money, and sent Holmes over the edge of a waterfall in a 1893 story. In Thursday’s conclusion, Worsley investigates what drove Doyle to revive the sleuth in 1903 and how the author had a falling out with magician Houdini.
6.00 Mastermind Australia.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Malta: The Jewel Of The Mediterranean. (PGa, R) 9.15 Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes. (R)
10.25 SBS World News Late.
10.55 Atlantic Crossing. (PGa, R)
11.55 Rex In Rome. (Mv, R)
1.45 The Head. (Malv)
3.45 Living With The Boss. (PG, R)
4.35 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.
8.30 House Of Wellness. (PGal) Mel Doyle and Shane Crawford are joined by Yvie Jones and Dr Renee Lim to explore pet therapy.
9.30 MOVIE: Where The Crawdads Sing. (2022, Masv, R) A girl becomes a murder suspect. Daisy Edgar-Jones, Taylor John Smith.
12.05 Nurses. (Ma, R)
1.05 Harry’s Practice. (R)
1.35 Travel Oz. (PG, R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 5.00 NBC Today.
(62) VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 6.20pm Bluey. 6.30 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Isadora Moon. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Gardening Australia Junior. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 Teen Titans Go! 8.00 Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! 8.25 BTN Newsbreak. 8.30 MythBusters “There’s Your Problem!”. 8.55 Robot Wars. 9.55 Merlin. 10.40 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22)
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 14. Dolphins v St George Illawarra Dragons.
9.55 Golden Point. A wrap-up of the Dolphins versus St George Illawarra Dragons match, with news and analysis.
10.45 MOVIE: Sicario. (2015, MA15+alv, R) An FBI agent is enlisted to help fight the war on drugs. Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin.
1.00 Young Sheldon. (PGadlsv, R)
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)
4.30 Global Shop. (R)
5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
5.30 Postcards. (PG, R)
6.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R) 6.30 The Project. 7.30 House Hunters Australia. A couple want to move to the Northern Beaches.
8.30 Have You Been Paying Attention? (Malns, R) Celebrity panellists compete to see who can remember the most about events of the week. 9.30 The Graham Norton Show. (Ml, R) Celebrities include Pamela Anderson. 10.30 10’s Late News.
The Project. (R) A look at the day’s news.
6.00
SATURDAY, June 7
6.10 Father Brown. (Final, PGav) Mrs Devine’s son is framed for murder.
7.00 ABC News. Takes a look at the top stories of the day, including coverage of developing stories and events.
7.30 Call The Midwife. (PGa) Sister Julienne presents Joyce with an award.
8.30 Midsomer Murders. (Mv, R)
The discovery of a saint’s bones at an archaeological dig causes a stir in the village.
10.05 Bergerac. (Ml, R) There’s a breakthrough in the search for Cate’s phone.
10.50 Reunion. (Mlv, R) Christine is closer to the answers she seeks.
11.50 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) Music video clips.
6am Children’s Programs. 5.10pm The Most Magnificent Thing. 5.30 Peter Rabbit. 5.55 Octonauts. 6.10 Super Monsters. 6.20 Bluey. 6.30 The Adventures Of Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Isadora Moon. 7.05 Rocket Club. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Kids Baking Championship. 8.10 Chopped Junior. (Return) 8.55 The Piano. 9.50 Fresh Off The Boat. 10.35 Dragon Ball Super. 11.00 Late Programs.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar: Freedom. (Mal, R) Elizabeth Taylor struggles to reinvent herself.
8.25 Secrets Of Britain’s Historic Houses: English Country Idyll (Stourhead And Scotney Castle) (PGa) Explores a missing masterpiece.
9.35 Alone Australia. (Ml, R) The weather creates havoc. 11.35 Suspect. (MA15+av, R)
3.35 Living With The Boss. (PG, R)
4.25 Bamay. (R)
5.15 France 24 Feature.
5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R) A look at immigration, customs and quarantine.
7.30 Football. AFL. Round 13. GWS Giants v Port Adelaide. From Corroboree Group Manuka Oval, Canberra.
10.30 MOVIE: Battleship. (2012, Mv, R) A US Navy ship fights aliens. Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgård.
1.05 Motor Racing. Supercars Championship. Round 5. Perth Super 440. Day 1. Highlights.
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 It’s Academic. (R) 5.00 House Of Wellness. (PGal, R)
6.00 NBN News. 7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 Holiday Home Makeover With Rachel & Ryan. (PG)
8.30 MOVIE: No Time To Die. (2021, Malv, R) 11.45 MOVIE: Into The Blue 2: The Reef. (2009, MA15+sv, R)
1.15 Young Sheldon. (PGadlsv, R) 1.35 The Garden Gurus. (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)
The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. A couple are at a crossroads with their little house in the Sutherland Shire of NSW. 8.40 House Hunters Australia. (R) Married business owners who need a weekend escape from their chaotic lives search for a retreat in the Blue Mountains. 9.40 Airport Australia 24/7. (PGad, R) The airport faces a blackout and a plane has to turn back shortly after take-off with a reported faulty engine.
SUNDAY, June 8
6.30 Compass: Grief, A Love Story. (PG)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 The Piano. (Final, PG) The day of the concert arrives.
8.30 Bergerac. (Final, Mlv) Bergerac must save his daughter, confront his past and finally crack the case.
9.25 Reunion. (Final, Malv) Brennan promises Carly he won’t leave her.
10.25 MOVIE: Partisan. (2015, MA15+av, R)
12.00 Take 5 With Zan Rowe. (Ml, R)
12.25 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
1.35 Grantchester. (Mv, R)
4.00 Gardening Australia. (R)
5.00 Insiders. (R)
6am Children’s Programs. 4.45pm Gardening Australia Junior. 5.00 Peppa Pig. 5.10 Bluey’s Big Play. 5.55 Octonauts. 6.10 Super Monsters. 6.20 Bluey. 6.30 The Adventures Of Paddington. 6.40 Isadora Moon. 6.55 Rocket Club. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Moominvalley. 8.00 Walking With Dinosaurs. 8.50 Super Shark Highway. (Premiere) 10.30 Abbott Elementary. 10.50 Late Programs.
SBS MOVIES (32)
6am The Emperor’s Club. (2002, PG) 8.05 The Final Countdown. (1980, PG) 10.00 The Tender Bar. (2021, M) Noon Radioactive. (2019, M) 2.05 Flash Of Genius. (2008, PG) 4.15 Goal! (2005, PG) 6.25 The Magic Of Belle Isle. (2012, PG) 8.30 The Drover’s Wife. (2021, MA15+) 10.30 Day And Night. (2010, MA15+, German) 12.25am The 355. (2022, M) 2.40 Late Programs.
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ePrix. 2.00 Jeopardy! UK. 3.00 Young Sheldon. 3.30 MOVIE: Hating Alison Ashley. (2005, PG) 5.30 MOVIE: Monster Family 2. (2021, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: Harry Potter And The Prisoner
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 London: 2,000 Years Of History. (Final, PG, R)
8.25 Queens Of Ancient Egypt. (Mav, R)
9.25 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Critérium du Dauphiné. Stage 1. 11.05 Into The Gobi Desert With Nick Knowles. (PGa, R)
11.55 24 Hours In Emergency. (Ma, R)
2.40 The World From Above. (R)
3.40 Living With The Boss. (PG, R)
4.30 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning.
5.15 France 24 Feature.
5.30 Al Jazeera News.
(31) VICELAND (31)
SBS MOVIES (32)
6am The Movie Show. 6.35 Belle. (2013, PG) 8.30 The Magic Of Belle Isle. (2012, PG) 10.35 The 355. (2022, M) 12.50pm Lions For Lambs. (2007, M) 2.30 The Final Countdown. (1980, PG) 4.25 The Emperor’s Club. (2002, PG) 6.25 Charade. (1963, PG) 8.30 The Whole Truth. (2016, M) 10.15 Sira. (2023, MA15+, French) 12.30am The Drover’s Wife. (2021, MA15+) 2.30 Late Programs.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 The 1% Club. (PGls) 8.00 7NEWS Spotlight. 9.00 24 Hours In Police Custody. (Malv) 10.00 Crime Investigation Australia. (Mav, R) 11.20 Motor Racing. Supercars Championship. Round 5. Perth Super 440. Day 2. Highlights. 12.20 Shades Of Blue. (MA15+adsv, R) 1.20 Travel Oz. (PG, R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R)
NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News.
Sunrise.
6.00 NBN News.
LEGO Masters: Grand Masters Of The Galaxy. (PGl) 8.40 60 Minutes.
The Killer Interview With Piers Morgan. (Mav) 10.40 9News Late. 11.10 The First 48. (MA15+v, R)
Embarrassing Bodies. (MA15+mns, R)
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Series. Detroit Grand Prix. H’lights. 2.05 Jeopardy! UK. 3.05 MOVIE: Courage Mountain. (1990, PG) 5.00 Young Sheldon. 5.30 MOVIE: War With Grandpa. (2020, PG) 7.30 MOVIE:
ABC FAMILY (22)
MONDAY, June 9
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 Dino Dex. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 The Inbestigators. 8.05 Junior Vets. 8.35 BTN Newsbreak. 8.40 Hard
6.00 Mastermind Australia.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Portillo’s Andalucia. (PGa, R)
8.20 Michael Palin In Nigeria. (PGaw, R)
9.15 Inside Windsor Castle. (PG, R)
10.05 SBS World News Late.
10.35 Living Black. (R) 11.35 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Critérium du Dauphiné. Stage 2. 1.25 Kin. (MA15+lv, R)
3.15 The World From Above. (PG, R)
3.45 Living With The Boss. (PG, R)
4.40 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
VICELAND
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away. (PGa)
7.30 Farmer Wants A Wife. (PGal) The final 24-hour dates end with some unexpected revelations from the ladies before an emotional farm farewell.
9.00 9-1-1. (Mav) Athena attempts to land the plane before it crashes and calls on the 118 for help.
11.00 The Agenda Setters. 12.00 You, Me And The Apocalypse. (Malv)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
SBS MOVIES (32)
6am Dancing Ninja. (2010, PG) 7.50 Charade. (1963, PG) 10.00
TUESDAY, June 10
R) 12.50 Love Your Garden. (R) 1.35 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 2.25 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.10 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)
6.00 Mastermind Australia.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Who Do You Think You Are? (PGals)
8.30 Insight. 9.30 Dateline.
10.00 SBS World News Late.
10.30 Highgrove: The King’s Country Home. (R)
11.25 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Critérium du Dauphiné. Stage 3.
1.25 Enemy Of The People. (Mlv, R)
3.05 The World From Above. (PG, R)
4.35 Bamay. (R)
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6.00 NBN News.
A Current Affair.
LEGO Masters: Grand Masters Of The Galaxy. (PG) 8.45 Swimming. Australian Trials. Day 1. Finals.
100% Footy. (M)
SBS MOVIES (32)
Four Souls Of Coyote. (2023, M) Noon The Whole Truth. (2016, M) 1.40 The Magic Of Belle Isle. (2012, PG) 3.45 Goal! 2: Living The Dream. (2007, PG) 5.50 Sometimes Always Never. (2018, PG) 7.30 The Straight Story. (1999) 9.40 Vampyros Lesbos. (1971, German) 11.20 The City Of Lost Children. (1995, M, French) 1.30am Late Programs. 6am Skating To New York. (2013, PG) 7.40 Sometimes Always Never. (2018, PG) 9.25 The Movie Show. 10.00 The City Of Lost Children. (1995, M, French) 12.05pm The Straight Story. (1999) 2.15 Petite Maman. (2021, PG, French) 3.35 Every Day. (2018, PG) 5.25 The Bookshop. (2017, PG) 7.30 Gosford Park. (2001, M) 10.05 Like Water For Chocolate. (1992, M, Spanish) 12.05am Late Programs.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGa)
7.30 Farmer Wants A Wife. (PGal) Hosted by Natalie Gruzlewski.
8.35 Doc. (Ma) Amy and Richard reconnect while treating a patient whose diagnosis is not at all what it seems.
9.35 Accused. (Mav) A divorced woman is put on trial.
10.35 The Agenda Setters.
11.35 Autopsy USA: Adam West. (Ma)
12.35 Fairly Legal. (PGalsv, R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
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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 food, drinks, functions and live music. And the place to stay for work or holiday. Check what’s on at dungogroyalhotel.com.au or call us on 0418 443398
6.00
WEDNESDAY, June 11
6.00 Morning Programs. 9.05 Short History Of The English Garden. (R) 10.05 WorldWatch. 10.35 Soccer. 2026 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL Qualifier. Brazil v Paraguay. 12.45 WorldWatch. 2.00 Dateline. (R) 2.30 Insight. (R) 3.30 Going Places. (R) 4.00
6.00 Mastermind Australia.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Alone Australia. (M)
8.30 The Veil. (Mal) Imogen and Adilah continue their journey to Paris.
10.10 SBS World News Late.
10.40 History Of The Amalfi Coast. (PGa, R)
11.30 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Critérium du Dauphiné. Stage 4.
1.25 The Wall: The Orchard. (Malsv, R)
3.05 The World From Above. (R)
4.05 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. (R)
4.35 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away. (PGad)
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 Unbelievable Moments
Caught On Camera. (PGa, R)
11.00 Born To Kill? (Mav, R)
12.00 Touching Evil. (MA15+adv)
1.00 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 Swimming. Australian Trials. Day 3. Finals.
9.40 Freddy And The Eighth. (Ml)
10.40 9News Late.
11.10 The Equalizer. (Mv, R)
12.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R)
1.00 Next Stop. (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)
5.00 Today Early
THURSDAY,
(R)
(Final, Ml) 8.50 Grand Designs Revisited. (PG) Presented by Kevin McCloud.
Grand Designs Australia. (R)
The Business. (R)
Love Your Garden. (R) 12.00 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 12.45 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.10 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)
Jedi Adventures. 7.50 Little Lunch. 8.05 Junior Vets. 8.35 BTN Newsbreak. 8.40 Secrets Of The Zoo. 9.25 Saved By The Barn. 10.05 Amazing Animal Friends. 10.55 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) ABC FAMILY
June 12
Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.55 Love Your Garden. (R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
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 Dino Dex. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 The Inbestigators. 8.10 Junior Vets. 8.40 BTN Newsbreak. 8.45 Abbott Elementary. 9.30 Doctor Who. 10.55 Late Programs. 6am Children’s Programs. 6pm Octonauts. 6.10 Super Monsters.
6am The Movie
6.00 Mastermind Australia.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Our Medicine. (PG)
8.45 Killing Sherlock With Lucy Worsley. (PGh)
9.45 Sherlock & Daughter. (Mv)
10.35 SBS World News Late. 11.05 The Day The Rock Star Died: Buddy Holly. (R)
(31) VICELAND (31)
6am WorldWatch. 9.50 Soccer. Noon WorldWatch. 12.30 (Re)Solved. 1.25 Uncovering Incels. 1.40 Late Life Lesbians. 2.35 Framed. 3.05 News. 3.10 WorldWatch. 5.10 Forged In Fire. 6.00 Alone Germany. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 MOVIE: Seven. (1995, MA15+) 10.50 MOVIE: Hereditary. (2018, MA15+) 1.10am (Re)Solved. 2.05 Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over. 3.00 Late Programs. 6am WorldWatch. 10.00 Mastermind Australia. Noon WorldWatch. 12.30 Dirty Rotten Cleaners. 2.10 Insight. 3.10 News. 3.15 WorldWatch. 5.15 Forged In Fire.
7MATE (64)
11.35 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Critérium du Dauphiné. Stage 5. 1.25 Pagan Peak. (MA15+asv, R) 3.05 The World From Above. (R) 4.05 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. (PGa, R) 4.35 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
SBS MOVIES (32) SBS MOVIES (32)
Show. 6.20 Kung Fu Yoga. (2017, PG) 8.15 The Bookshop. (2017, PG) 10.20 Gosford Park. (2001, M) 12.55pm Hum Do Hamare Do. (2021, PG, Hindi) 3.15 The Movie Show. 3.45 Rabbit-Proof Fence. (2002, PG) 5.25 A River Runs Through It. (1992, PG) 7.40 What We Did On Our Holiday. (2014, M) 9.30 The Piano. (1993, MA15+) 11.45 Late Programs. 6am The Movie Show. 6.30 Rabbit-Proof Fence. (2002, PG) 8.10 A River Runs Through It. (1992, PG) 10.25 What We Did On Our Holiday. (2014, M) 12.20pm Like Water For Chocolate. (1992, M, Spanish) 2.20 Helene. (2020, PG, Finnish) 4.35 The Chaperone. (2018, PG) 6.35 Discovering Film: Gene Hackman. 7.30 Casablanca. (1942, PG) 9.30 Apocalypse Now Redux. (1979, MA15+) 1.25am Late Programs.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGads) Harper might be making the wrong choice.
7.30 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly. (PG)
8.30 Britain’s Got Talent. (Final, PG) Judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli must decide who will be the winner and pocket $250,000.
11.00 Inside Detroit. (Mal, R)
12.30 Raines. (Mahv)
1.30 Harry’s Practice. (R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
6.05 Over The Black Dot. 6.35 Travel Man. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 Roswell: The First Witness. 10.05 The UnXplained With William Shatner. 10.55 Homicide.
7MATE (64)
9GO! (83)
9GO! (83)
HEART OF GLOUCESTER DISTRICT
Do you know someone who goes above and beyond for the Gloucester community? Whether they are a dedicated volunteer, a standout community member, or an all-round legend, we want to hear about them.
Please email with their details and we’ll get in touch to celebrate their wonderful contributions. tracey@newsofthearea.com.au
Dungog Shire & Gloucester District News Of The Area newsofthearea.com.au
deliver! 0418 430 643
Antique China & Figurines, English Silver, Fountain Pens, Old Jewellery & Watches. Please phone: Annie 0419 219 634 or Ron 0408 967 747
SUZUKI Grand Vitara 2001, 3 door 4 x 4 manual, Hi/low range 203,000 klm’s, VGC many extra’s, always serviced. Reg: YDB27S $7,800. 0415
OPINION
Dorin’s Draws By Paul DORIN
PUZZLES
DEAR Jasminda,
It’s Normine B again. It was so much worse than you imagined.
As my brother in law was ripping down the driveway, he knocked over my prize geraniums, breaking the pot and my heart while he was at it.
The dog thankfully came away unscathed, but the cat wasn’t so lucky.
He now has a bruise on his nose.
I’m thinking of filing a lawsuit. What do you think?
Normine
B
Dear Normine,
While I would not normally respond to two conundrums from the same person, I now feel emotionally
involved in your life (a dangerous position for an Agony Aunt to be in).
This morning, I woke to a frightful vision of your brother fanging it down the driveway in his (noiseless) Tesla, hence not alerting the dog or cat.
I then imagined him careening into your prized geraniums, a shard of terracotta flinging against his bumper and slicing through his "I bought it before he was crazy" sticker (a foreshadowing of your brother's declining mental state that those following along should take note of).
The dog (a white Shitzu) now alert to the ruckus, bolted under the house and managed to commando roll in a sticky black substance hidden there for a future fireplace restoration.
When he emerged, he looked more like Pepe le Pew.
It was not his finest moment and an ominous precursor to his showdog potential the following weekend.
Meanwhile, while your head
was buried in your lap (crying over spilt geraniums and your diminished social standing at the Brinsdale Best in Show Extravaganza), Calvin (your rare Exotic Shorthair with attitude) took the Tesla head on (quite literally).
That he came away with only a bruised nose (and ego) was a miracle in this otherwise cataclysmic (intentional witticism) evening.
Normine, I feel as though this situation is getting too unwieldy to remedy.
I don't recommend a lawsuit, which would be a drawn-out process with no winners.
Sort of a cross between Careful, He Might Hear You and Wolf Creek.
Normine, you need to rise above the situation and let bygones be bygones (though I doubt Calvin will forget this anytime soon).
Re-pot some new geraniums (a tad too obvious metaphor for regeneration) and hold your head high.
SUDOKU
Carpe diem, Jasminda.
Is it time for an Australian National Guard?
By Councillor Liam LEY
AS we face yet another major flood here in Dungog Shire, the cleanup feels painfully familiar.
Roads cut, homes damaged, bridges blocked or damaged.
Volunteers and emergency services working around the clock, many of them exhausted, few full-time.
It’s a reminder that, while our community spirit is strong, our disaster response resources are stretched thin.
Dungog, like many rural towns across Australia relies heavily on volunteers from larger towns and cities when disaster strikes.
These volunteers are dedicated, but frequency and duration of events make timely and sustained support harder to maintain.
Nationwide, volunteerism is declining.
The ABS reports formal volunteering fell from 36 percent in 2010 to 26 percent in 2022.
Younger generations are volunteering far less than their parents and grandparents did, and our ageing volunteer base is now at capacity.
Extreme weather events are also on the rise.
Whatever you believe is causing this trend, the data doesn’t lie: natural disasters in Australia have more than doubled in the past decade.
These events are becoming more frequent, more severe, and more disruptive, affecting larger areas and more people each year.
They are no longer rare; they are recurring.
The Australian Defence Force continues to support disaster responses where needed and do receive some training in this area.
However, natural disaster recovery is not the ADF’s core role, nor should it be.
The ADF’s primary responsibility is national defence, and as global conflict risks rise and regional tensions increase, this is where their focus and training must remain.
Stretching the ADF thin across both combat preparedness and domestic response is not a sustainable long-term solution.
At the same time, the ADF is facing serious challenges with workforce retention.
The full-time ADF workforce has declined by 1.4 percent over the past five years, and the force is currently thousands below its authorised strength.
As the ADF works to rebuild and refocus on its core mission, we need to seriously consider how Australia can meet growing domestic challenges, without compromising national security.
So what is the alternative?
Should Australia consider establishing a National Guard, a dedicated, federally funded disaster-response and domestic resilience force that would operate as a fourth service under the Australian Defence Force?
This structure would allow the Guard to utilise existing ADF assets and infrastructure, making it more cost-effective and operationally efficient.
Its focus would be on emergency response and recovery, enabling the Army, Navy, and Air Force to maintain their core defence capabilities while ensuring Australia has a ready, well-trained force to assist during natural disasters and domestic emergencies.
The Guard would be trained in flood, fire, recovery, and emergency logistics.
This force would be ready to respond quickly and effectively to the increasing number of natural disasters, easing the burden on volunteers, emergency services, and existing branches of the ADF.
While the Guard would operate as its own structured entity, it could work closely alongside existing agencies such as the SES, providing reinforcement, surge capacity, and a consistent national standard of training, without disrupting the volunteerled community model that is already in place.
Importantly, the Guard wouldn’t just respond to disasters, it could also assist with what often proves the most difficult part: the aftermath.
As we face a mammoth clean-up across the mid-east coast of NSW, it’s clear that having a ready, deployable clean-up and recovery force would be invaluable.
The initial response is often swift, but the longterm recovery, clearing debris, restoring access, and rebuilding infrastructure lags behind due to limited hands
and local funding limitations.
A dedicated, federally backed team focused not just on response but on clean-up would make a real, tangible difference to affected communities.
There’s also scope to explore how the National Guard could support broader community resilience beyond disaster response.
In regions experiencing increased crime or social pressure, particularly in parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory, Guard members could work in coordination with police, councils, and local organisations to provide temporary, structured assistance.
The focus would not be on enforcement, but on backing overstretched services with trained personnel offering visibility, logistical support, and community engagement.
It would be done carefully and with clear oversight, ensuring the Guard complements, not replaces, existing institutions.
With the right approach, the Guard could also offer a pathway for young people who feel trapped in cycles of crime, disengagement, or disadvantage.
This would need to be developed in full partnership with local communities, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, to ensure it is safe, culturally appropriate, and voluntary.
It’s not a solution to deeprooted issues, but it could be part of a broader, communityled strategy to reconnect young people with meaningful paths forward.
Participation would be an opt-out approach for high school graduates, rather than opt-in.
Members would undertake structured training in emergency response, logistics, leadership, and recovery operations.
In return, they could receive a base wage and a range of service-linked incentives.
For example, every year of service, participants could earn one year of free university or TAFE education.
For those not pursuing study, an alternative could be a First Home Buyer benefit, a scalable housing incentive that grows with each year of
service.
Helping participants step into the housing market with stronger financial footing.
These benefits would be paired with accredited training, practical life skills, leadership development, improved physical fitness, and greater confidence.
Equipping young Australians with the tools to succeed both during and after their time in the Guard.
And what about youth mental health?
We cannot ignore the crisis unfolding in youth mental health.
According to the ABS, nearly 40 percent of Australians aged 16–24 experienced a mental disorder in 2020–22.
Around 26 percent reported high or very high psychological distress in a single month.
These figures are rising, and they highlight the need for more than reactive mental health services; we need proactive, preventative engagement.
Volunteering and structured service can help.
Research shows that young people who engage in prosocial activities like volunteering work are significantly less likely to experience mental health challenges.
These activities increase life satisfaction, self-esteem, social connection, and psychological resilience.
A National Guard could provide not just training and opportunity, but stability, support, and belonging at a time when many young Australians feel lost.
Yes, the cost would be significant. But what is the cost of doing nothing?
Natural disasters now dominate our news cycle every few months.
State and federal leaders move from one emergency to the next.
Our system is reactive, and under-resourced at the local level; our youth are crying out for opportunity, structure, and hope.
As the mid-east NSW coast begins another massive cleanup, we should ask: are we prepared for the next one?
And are we doing enough for the next generation?
Maybe it’s time we were.
By Ken RUBELI
VAPOUR from the ocean… East-wind motion presses cloud to shore. Coolness coalesces rain where isobars hang still, until a soak invokes a surface flow to then bestow a flood from rush of creek to river to this muddied-brown expanse… What chance of sun? There’s noneit’s done its dance. Now for days relentless gloom skies, doom skies, grey-wools-in-the-loom skies: more than a week so bleak.
A home becomes an island.
An invasion seeps, creeps, under doors, across floors. Until despair: she sits marooned on a kitchen chair to stare… and feel the rising… Helpless. Distress pointless. Until the din on roof tin eases, tide turns, A thought burns…
In the pattern of her outstretched hand this land she sees a thousand years ago: creases of country where a culture never ceases. She reads the lines and there divines a tale of elders knowing here a threat was growing:
Dark days, cruel, sodden wood for fuel, chill air, whimpering children huddled there in meagre shelter, through hunger dealt a weakening blow, so to unwind spirit, mind. This humankind no station against brutal nature’s fluctuation. Pulse-weak, bone-cold – the capitulation. High ground no defence, and hence when waters drain but one or two or none with breath remain.
Her hand folds. News holds hope of an easing. Boats and helicopters teasing out the desperate from the needing. Triage. Tragedy. Heeding pleas for calm. A glimpse of sun scant balm for those bereft. What’s left? What’s left?
Scanned now a thousand years on…. The seer seeks within her hand a trace of hope this land ever holds a place for those who share a care for Earth and atmosphere for all the living; forces of nature, take and giving.
Reflect on all of this sustained: The days sun shone; The days it rained.
Barrington beef success
By Joshua GILBERT
BARRINGTON beef farmer
Allan Waldon, received top
placings in Wingham Beef Week for four unled steers. The week-long program focused on the beef cattle
industry and was held at the Wingham Showgrounds between 12-16 May - before the town was flooded.
The Big Screen
By Lindsay HALL
TO the action enthusiasts who were devastated by the conclusion of John Wick: Chapter 4, there is the promise of exquisitely choreographed violence in the new entry to that film series, Ballerina.
Marketed with the tag “From the world of John Wick”, this spin-off concentrates on the exploits of Eva (Ana de Armas), a graduate of the Ruska Roma Ballet Assassins, whose director is played by Angelica Houston.
Seeking revenge for the death of her father, Eva must confront The Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne) and a whole town against her.
Lance Reddick, Ian McShane and Keanu Reeves all make cameo appearances to remind everyone of the film’s origins.
While the previous films were all directed by legendary stunt coordinator turned filmmaker Chad Stahelski, this latest entry comes from Len Wiseman, best known for the middling Underworld film series.
Hopefully the film's producers will maintain the strong sense of worldbuilding
and balletic action set pieces…pun intended.
Yet another possessionthemed Hollywood film comes to cinemas in The Ritual Erroneously cited as being “based on the true story that inspired The Exorcist”, this film draws on several written accounts of the efforts over many years by Father Theophilus Riesinger to free a young woman named Emma Schmidt from demonic possession.
Al Pacino takes this role and plays it with an appropriately over-the-top level of zeal and a slightly unidentifiable accent, with Dan Stevens playing Father Joseph Steiger as a skeptical partner.
The question of whether the afflicted girl is truly supernaturally afflicted or simply beset by mental illness is given lip-service, but quickly falls to the side as director David Midell revels in the spooky flickering lights, tipping furniture and sudden screaming of Emma (played by Abigail Cowen).
The Great Lillian Hall is a made-for-television film that has been upgraded to a limited theatrical release.
The film is loosely based
on legendary Broadway actress Marian Seldes, and depicts the titular “first lady of the American theatre” coming to terms with her encroaching dementia, even as she commits to completing her most recent play.
Led by Jessica Lange, the cast includes Pierce Brosnan and Kathy Bates in a role that won a Screen Actors Guild Award.
The performances are powerfully emotive, to the point that the film feels overwhelming at times, but they create some fertile ground to ask the question “what does art mean to the artist?”
Finally, indie crimethriller Barron’s Cove also comes to select screens.
When Caleb (Garret Hedlund) learns that his son Barron has been killed, he kidnaps the schoolboy he holds responsible (Christian Convery).
That boy's father turns out to be an incumbent State Senator (Hamish Linklater) who has dark secrets of his own, and mobilises local police to resolve the situation quickly - and quietly.
Bleak might not be an adequate word to describe this film's worldview, and
“This year we had a record number of entries,”
Vice President Mat Knox told News Of The Area.
“Over 150 head of cattle were entered in the unled competition, doubling the number of entries from last year.”
A former butcher turned beef farmer, Allan received top prizes for his steers in the unled lightweight carcase competitions.
His efforts were recognised at the awards dinner, which over 120 producers attended.
Across the four steers he entered, Allan won Champion unled lightweight carcase with a square meater steer and a score of 91.05; Reserve Champion unled lightweight carcase, and an Angus cross
ultimate ending.
The performances are, across the board, pitch perfect for this kind of throwback genre piece, not leaning too hard into deep
steer in the next weight class, which had a marble score of 820 - the highest across the competition.
“My focus is producing top of the range for the local market while using regenerative farming practices, reduced use of chemical sprays and raising cattle on grass pastures,”
character drama but also not interested in explosive setpieces.
This is a gritty, grimy film about gritty, grimy people who are incapable
Allan told News Of The Area.
“Gloucester has always been recognised as a good beef production area, and Wingham Beef Week shows this.
“The scores for these steers put them, for meat quality, in the top one percent of quality beef in Australia.”
of operating in the world without resorting to violence. It will likely struggle to find an audience, but will stick with those people brave enough to give it a go.
Youth crime committee
tables first report
THE first report of an inquiry into community safety has been tabled, highlighting an urgent need for early intervention to deal with the complex social drivers of youth crime in regional and rural NSW.
Since adopting the inquiry on 20 March 2024, the Committee of Law and Safety received almost 200 submissions and conducted hearings in Bourke, Broken Hill, Kempsey and Sydney, with additional meetings held in Wagga Wagga and the Mid North Coast.
Committee Chair and MP for Mount Druitt, Mr Edmond Atalla, said the report is informed by powerful testimonies from individuals and communities directly impacted by crime.
“We’ve heard firsthand from people who've experienced the trauma of
available to be read online.
crime in their communities.
“The message is loud and clear: people feel unsafe, and they want lasting solutions,” Mr Atalla said.
"Our report emphasises that youth crime is a complex issue that can't be addressed through policing alone.
“Evidence overwhelmingly supports early intervention and community-based support programs as the most effective tools to prevent youth offending.
“Our recommendations highlight the need for a long term approach to community safety."
Mr Atalla said toughon-crime responses might seem appealing, but don’t deliver long-term change.
“We need to invest in what works and that means supporting vulnerable young people early, before
they come into contact with the justice system,” Mr Atalla said.
The report also identifies significant service gaps, referral inefficiencies, and funding constraints that limit the effectiveness of current early intervention efforts.
The Committee’s recommendations aim to strengthen these systems and expand effective programs.
“We are deeply thankful to the people who shared their experiences and insights with us.
“Your voices have shaped this report, and we have tried to reflect your testimony as authentically as possible.”
The Committee's inquiry is ongoing, and a final report will be furnished at a later date.
The report can be found on http://www.parliament. nsw.gov.au/committees/ inquiries/Pages/inquirydetails.aspx?pk=3042.
q Allan Waldon (centre) with Joshua Gilbert (President, Wingham Beef Week) and Chris Black (General Manager, Wingham Beef Exports). Picture: supplied.
q Allan’s steers. Picture: supplied.
Pix from the Stix open to entries
By Wendy BUSWELL
PHOTOGRAPHERS of all skill levels, from emerging talents to seasoned hobbyists and professionals, are invited to take part in the 2025 Pix from the Stix competition hosted by the Gloucester Arts and Cultural Council (GACCI).
Initiated by local resident
Gary Lyford, the competition has been running for 25 years and continues to celebrate the photographic art of locals and out-of-towners.
Participants can submit their work across a range of categories, including Portraiture, Nature, and Culture.
To ensure the competition
has local content, there is a “Lie of the Land” category, which challenges entrants to capture the essence of the Barrington Coast’s distinctive landscape features.
Young photographers aged 17 and under are encouraged to participate in the Junior section, which is not bound by specific
categories.
This gives budding artists the freedom to explore different styles, forms, and subject matter.
“We had a great response to the Junior section in 2024, and I hope to see even more entries this year,” said Charlie Lethbridge, GACCI Arts Administrator and competition coordinator.
This year’s entries will be judged by professional photographer and educator Peter Sedgwick, who brings years of experience behind the lens and in the classroom.
“Great photography comes from finding excellent subjects and capturing them in beautiful light,” he said.
“I look forward to seeing that come through in this year’s submissions.”
Charlie also highlighted the vital support of local sponsors in keeping the competition running strong for a quarter of a century.
“The longevity of this competition is due not only to the talent of our
photographers but also to the ongoing support of our local business community.”
Detailed entry guidelines can be found on the GACCI website.
Selected photographs will
be exhibited at the Gloucester Gallery from 13 August to 7 September, with the winners announced during a special event at the gallery on Saturday 16 August at 2pm.
Recovery coordinator appointed
FORMER NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Dave Owens has been appointed as the Recovery Coordinator for the Hunter and Mid-North Coast in the wake of devastating floods.
Mr Owens commenced the role last week and will be based out of Taree.
“Dave Owens has a lot of experience helping communities after natural disasters, so I am grateful he has agreed to lead our recovery effort,” said Premier Chris Minns.
“He is on-the-ground in Taree, ready to go, to help the community recover from these terrible floods.
“There are literally thousands of NSW Government staff and volunteers working on this recovery.
“The Recovery Coordinator will ensure our agencies continue
working closely together to help these regions over months ahead.”
Mr Owens has previously acted as the NSW State Recovery Coordinator for a number of severe weather events.
In June 2016, he was appointed as the NSW State Recovery Coordinator for the East Coast Low and in September 2016 as the Regional Recovery Coordinator for the Central Western floods.
He was also appointed as the State Emergency Operations Controller (SEOCON) in 2007 and performed this position for four years.
As SEOCON, he was responsible for overall emergency management responses within New South Wales.
He was also the 2020 Co-Lead for the NSW Independent Bushfire Inquiry.
Mr Owens will also be supported by other local Recovery Coordinators for the Mid North Coast, and for the Hunter and Central Coast.
They will report to Mr Owens, ensuring the two regions are equally represented in recovery considerations.
As Mr Owens steps into the role, five Recovery Access Points are up and running in Taree, Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Macksville, and Maitland.
These centres are there for people who need assistance, including assistance with financial aid, identification documents, accommodation, legal support, insurance, and more.
Critical information about recovery support for impacted communities – including locations of the recovery centres – is available at www.nsw.gov.au/ floodrecoveryupdates
Greens MPs call for raft of climate change measures
AS Hunter and Mid North Coast communities grapple with the aftermath of catastrophic flooding, NSW
Greens MPs Tamara Smith and Sue Higginson have called on the NSW Government to urgently abandon its “ongoing support for policies that fuel climate disaster”.
The MPs have called for an immediate end to new coal and gas approvals in NSW; a moratorium on native forest logging to protect carbon stores and natural flood
Worth the wait?
STORY STARTS on BACK COVER Page 16
and most recently Lyon.
Montemurro's acquisition is a win for FA and finally ends months of uncertainty since Gustavsson's departure in the aftermath of Australia's group-stage exit at last year's Paris Olympics.
Matildas striker Caitlin Foord had accused FA of wasting time in their goslow recruitment process given Australia will host next
year's Women's Asian Cup in what shapes as the most likely realistic chance for the team's senior players to lift silverware.
Prior to taking the Lyon job last June, Montemurro was a free agent and even took charge of the A-League Women All Stars in a one-off match in Melbourne.
FA had the perfect opportunity to sound the Melburnian out but didn't and left the Matildas in a holding
mitigation; urgent review of planning and housing approvals in flood-prone regions; and increased funding and permanent support for disaster preparedness and community resilience programs.
pattern under interim head coach Tom Sermanni.
"Twelve months ago Joe was appointed the All Stars coach and we were about to go into an Olympic Games," interim chief executive Heather Garriock said in Sydney on Monday.
"Respect is important for Football Australia and Tony Gustavsson was taking the Matildas to the games to win a medal, so I don't think it's a missed opportunity.
"Everything happens for a reason, and I believe this moment is now, and to have Joe with a French
“Some flood levels in the Hunter and Mid North Coast have exceeded those of 1929,” said Tamara Smith MP, Greens NSW spokesperson for Disaster Relief.
“These are not one-in100-year events – they are our
championship under his belt is only going to help the Matildas."
Garriock said "all good things come to those who wait" and described Montemurro's appointment as a coup for FA.
"We had a criteria going into the global search for a coach and every one of the criteria, Joe ticks," Garriock said.
"That's the reason why we have fought so hard to get Joe back to Australia because he's Australian, Australianbased, he loves football, he loves the nation.
new reality, and they demand a serious response from Government.”
Sue Higginson MLC, Greens NSW spokesperson for Climate Change, said the disaster must be a turning point for government action on climate.
"He wants to develop the next generation, and he knows how to win trophies."
Montemurro walked away from the final year of his contract with Lyon on Sunday to take the Matildas gig with the Asian Cup on the horizon.
"I can smell some success. So let's hope it goes that way," he said.
Montemurro was due to watch Monday's friendly with Argentina in Canberra before briefly returning to Europe.
Montemurro, who will base himself back in Australia, missed out to
“The science has long warned us that climate change would drive more frequent and more intense flooding across the East Coast of NSW.
“We are now living that warning.”
Gustavsson in 2020 but will finally get the chance to coach the Matildas starting with a series of friendlies against Slovenia and Panama in WA later this month.
"There was something inside of me that was just telling me, it's time," Montemurro said.
"I had to make a hard decision but I believe the decision standing here now is the right one.
"I know the pressure that comes with this job, I know the expectations, but I also know what needs to be done."
q A Moment of Piece 2024 by Isabella Warters,14 years.
q Python on a Wire 2024 by Sarah-Jane Eggins.
q Former NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Dave Owens.
By George CLARKE, AAP
q Football Australia have finally announced Joe Montemurro as the Matildas' new full-time coach. Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS.