Funding for coal mining regions
“The
and North West – from coal production towards other economic opportunities and employment,” the NSW Government said in a statement.
As part of its remit, the Authority will develop a framework to allow funding to be spent on projects like infrastructure
CONTINUED Page 4
MODERN FARMING
Thrive Festival sows seeds of a sustainable future
By Shannon BENTON
DUNGOG’S inaugural Thrive Field & Flavour Festival has been hailed a resounding success, drawing crowds from across the region and igniting conversations around modern farming, healthy food systems, and rural resilience. Held across multiple
venues from 13–15 June, the festival blended learning with celebration, offering onfarm workshops, expert talks, and local produce tastings
CONTINUED Page 3
to promote regenerative agriculture and communityled food practices. The festival kicked off at the James Theatre on Friday night, where over 40 attendees joined the Dungog Chamber of Commerce to explore the “Future of Farming.” Momentum continued Saturday with around 50
q Minister Ryan Park says it's time to position the Hunter as a national leader in clean energy and advanced manufacturing.
Photo: AAP Image/ Pool, Nikki Short.
Forests reopening but warnings in place
THE region’s State Forests are progressively reopening following the floods and severe weather of May but the Forestry Corporation is urging users to check the status of trails and campgrounds in advance, and to exercise extreme caution.
“We would especially like to reiterate to the public that closures remain in place at two popular visitor sitesBarrington Tops State Forest, which remains closed, and Chichester State Forest, which is partially closed,” a spokesperson said.
“Staff are continuing to undertake work and assessments to clear roads and make areas safe for visitation.
“There may also be active road closures within some State Forests that are open or partially closed, so we would ask that visitors please obey any signage direction or notifications.”
Forestry also advises that Hastings Forest Way is not a diversion for the Oxley Highway (despite Google Maps suggestions).
Other current closures include the following:
— Camping/Picnic Area Closures: The Bluff and Wild Bull Camping Areas, Mount Boss State Forest; Fire Tower No.1 Picnic Area, Mount Boss State Forest; Old Bottlebutt Picnic Area, Burrawan State Forest.
— Road Closures: Blackbutt Road (22km marker), Kerewong
DUNGOG SHIRE COUNCIL
Notice is hereby give pursuant to Section 4.59 of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 (as amended) that the following applications have been granted consent during the period of 1 May - 31 May 2025
State Forest; Jimmy’s Scrub Road (Bottlebutt), Burrawan State Forest; Knodingbul Road (Mt George end), Knorrit and Dingo State Forests; Break Neck Road, Deans
State Forest.
Creek Road and Peters Road, Kiwarrak
State forest permit holders may access forests to check on cattle and bees while residents
needing access may use forest roads only for travel to homes or towns. Locals can stay up to date with these closures by checking the Hazards Near Me app.
q Some of the damage caused by May’s floods in Mid North Coast and Hunter State Forests. Photos: Forestry Corporation.
q Some of the damage caused by May’s floods in Mid North Coast and Hunter State Forests. Photos: Forestry Corporation.
FROM Page 1
people attending a hands-on land management workshop at Rocking Chair Farm in Marshdale.
Dungog Wholefood Cooperative hosted over 40 community members at the CWA Hall for a morning of engaging consumer talks, and that afternoon, 70-plus
visitors returned to the farm for thought-provoking discussions on pasture practices and soil health.
Saturday evening’s soldout screening of Rachel’s Farm, followed by a Q&A with director Rachel Ward, drew a crowd of over 100 and proved to be one of the weekend’s highlights.
The Limestone Permaculture tour on Sunday also sold out, capping off a festival that balanced practical education with a vision for long-term local impact.
Organised by Alan Smith (Rocking Chair Farm) and Matt Barry (The Bower Farm Collective), with support from
Additional flood support petition
AN E-PETITION is now available on the NSW Parliament website calling for upgraded support to assist Hunter and Mid North Coast communities devastated by the May flood.
The petition calls on the NSW Government to maximise Category C
funding and urgently declare Category D funding for devastated small businesses, primary producers and communities in the two regions.
“Category C provides assistance for severely affected communities, regions or sectors and
includes clean-up and recovery grants for small businesses and primary producers and/ or the establishment of a Community Recovery Fund,” said Member for Upper Hunter Dave Layzell.
“Category D is exceptional circumstances assistance
generally considered once the impact of the disaster has been assessed and specific recovery gaps identified.
“Under the joint Australian Government-State Government cost sharing for the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, assistance is requested
from the states and requires agreement from the Prime Minister.”
The e-petition requires 20,000 online signatures to be formally debated in the Legislative Assembly and can be found at: www. parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/ pages/epetitions-list.aspx
Ben Sharp and Annabelle Kater, Thrive was designed to be more than a once-off.
“This is just the beginning,” Smith said.
“We’re building a platform for ongoing education and support for our growers, retailers, and community.”
Future events will raise funds for workshops, training, and shared farming infrastructure, aiming to position Dungog as a hub for small-scale, sustainable farming.
Organisers hope this initiative will attract new farmers, support local supply chains, and make the shire a destination for ethical, fresh food.
As festival-goers returned home with fresh ideas and muddy boots, one thing was clear - Thrive has planted something powerful in Dungog’s soil.
ALISON PENFOLD MP
Authorised by Alison Penfold MP, 144 Victoria Street, Taree NSW 2430
q Matthew Coxhill from Fishtail Solutions hosting at Rocking Chair Farm.
q Rachel Ward and Alan Smith at The James Theatre.
q Talks at Thrive Festival.
Backlash over ‘quiet cut’ to train passes
LIBERAL MLC Aileen MacDonald has called for the NSW Government to immediately reinstate three-month and six-month NSW TrainLink Discovery Passes, describing the removal as a “quiet cut” that disproportionately hurts regional communities.
Speaking in the Legislative Council last week, Ms MacDonald moved a motion highlighting the significant impact of the removal of the passes on regional students, seniors, and families, and condemned a lack of public consultation or explanation.
“These passes weren’t a luxury,” Ms MacDonald said.
“They were essential, used by students to get home from university, by older residents staying socially connected, and by working people accessing health care and services in regional hubs.
“To remove them without warning and call it a ‘pause’ is a cost-of-living hike by stealth.”
The six-month Discovery Pass, previously available for $420, offered unlimited travel across NSW TrainLink’s regional train and coach network.
It has now been paused, leaving only more expensive 14-day and 30-day options.
Ms MacDonald said
the change has effectively doubled the monthly cost for many users.
Labor MLC Emily Suvaal, responding to Ms MacDonald in parliament, said the Discovery Passes were solely designed for tourism use.
“The Discovery Pass is a discount product promoted for tourism travellers and intended for their use only,” Ms Suvaal said.
“It was never intended as a discounted product for commuters or as a concessional entitlement.
“As they are, the terms of the Discovery Pass are not considered fit for purpose by Transport for NSW.
Household water bills to increase
HUNTER Water bills for a typical household customer will increase by 6.9 percent next financial year including inflation and then by 3.8 percent each year plus yearly inflation in subsequent years.
The rise comes after a pricing determination by the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
Tribunal Chair Carmel Donnelly said IPART reviewed costs and prices for water and water-related services provided by Hunter Water as part of setting maximum prices from 202526 to 2029-30.
"The decisions released today by the Tribunal will allow Hunter Water to make important investments to continue delivering highquality and reliable services, without raising bills more than they need to,” Ms Donnelly said.
“The increases in maximum prices and bills are mainly driven by the efficient costs of new infrastructure, including the proposed Belmont desalination plant.”
Under IPART’s decisions, bills for a typical household customer receiving water and wastewater services will
increase:
• In 2025-26 by $54 (or 4.4 percent), before inflation is added. After adding inflation, these bills will increase by around $86 (or 6.9 percent). This would see typical bills increasing from $1,241 in 2024-25 to $1,326 in 2025-26.
• In the subsequent four years, typical bills will increase on average by $53 (or 3.8 percent) each year, before adding inflation. This would see typical bills increasing to $1,540, plus inflation, in 2029-30.
“The Tribunal’s decision
“Transport for NSW has put a hold on some of the pass options while the current terms are assessed and amendments are considered.
“A decision on the longerterm Discovery passes will be made following this review.”
Ms Suvaal notes that Discovery Passes make up
“just four percent of total annual patronage”.
Ms MacDonald challenged the characterisation of the passes as tourist products.
“Real people, regional people used this pass to live their lives affordably and now they’re left without answers,” she said.
“Meanwhile, metro passengers can tap on and off with regular options, while regional travellers are told to ‘just buy six 30-day passes in a row’.
“Regional people shouldn’t have to beg for services that are taken for granted in the city.”
Funding for coal mining regions
and post-mining land use planning, skills mapping, feasibility assessments and training programs.
This will be done in concert with the Federal Government’s Net Zero Economy Authority.
The NSW Government will also continue its existing commitment to deliver $22.5 million into the fund each year.
The model of the Authority follows the release of a proposed structure in mid-2024, and ongoing consultation with workers, communities and industry.
Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park said the Authority will play a key role in driving job creation in the Hunter, including in the future energy sector.
“The Hunter has always been the engine room of NSW – now it’s time to
will mean the typical household bill in 2029-30 will be 5.9 percent lower than Hunter Water proposed at the beginning of this process," Ms Donnelly said.
“Under these prices, Hunter Water customers will continue to pay around the median of water bills when compared with other major water businesses around Australia.”
The prices set in this review will apply to
position ourselves as a national leader in clean energy and advanced manufacturing as well,” Mr Park said.
"We need innovative, creative job opportunities, and the Authority opens up new possibilities, setting a clear pathway for growth.”
Within the Authority, four local divisions will be created in the Hunter, Illawarra, Central West and North West, featuring representatives of industry, workers, local government and community groups.
“The Authority will work hand-in-hand with our local communities, industry and education providers to ensure our region is at the forefront of this transformation – not left behind by it,” Mr Park said.
"This is about putting the right structures in place to support our workers today while building a stronger, more diverse economy for tomorrow.
“It’s about futureproofing the Hunter,
customers from 1 July 2025.
Hunter Water Managing Director Darren Cleary said the costs of providing water and wastewater services are rising.
“Prices will increase over the next five years to ensure we can continue to deliver reliable, high-quality services and secure our region’s water future,” he said.
“During extensive community consultation with over 9,000 customers,
ensuring that we continue to be a place of opportunity, stability and prosperity for generations to come."
Currently, around 25,000 people are directly employed in NSW coal mines.
Under current planning approvals, by 2040 all four of the state’s coal-fired power stations, and 32 of the state’s 39 coal mines, will close.
Duty MLC for Lake Macquarie Emily Suvaal said mining will continue to be a “massive employer to so many in the Hunter for years to come”, however we must be ready for the reliance on coal to decrease.
“The establishment of the Future Jobs and Investment Authority gives everyone in mining and the supply chain time to reskill and take advantage of the new wave of opportunities coming to the Hunter,” she said.
The NSW Government will legislate these changes over the coming months.
the views and needs of our customers and community have helped to shape our new prices.
“We will recover most of the cost increases through our variable water charge.
“While no price increases are desirable, this approach provides the best opportunity for our customers to influence their bill by managing water use around their homes.”
New prices come into effect on 1 July 2025.
FROM Page 1
q The six-month Discovery Pass, previously available for $420, offered unlimited travel across NSW TrainLink’s regional train and coach network.
Veterans given free vehicle access to National Parks
By Simon EKINS
National Parks and reserves in NSW conserve close to 10 percent of the state, protecting unique ecosystems across deserts, alpine regions, coastal areas, rainforest and Ramsar-listed wetlands.
Only five percent of parks and reserves in NSW have vehicle entry fees.
They range from $4 to $12 a day, and up to $29 a day for Kosciuszko National Park in winter.
“Our veterans have given so much to Australia; this is about giving something small but meaningful back,”
NSW Premier Chris Minns said.
“Access to nature can
have a powerful impact on wellbeing, and we’re proud to reward more veterans with free vehicle entry to enjoy these incredible places.
“The invitation to visit the best National Parks in the country extends to all those who’ve served our nation – whether from NSW or interstate.”
Minister for Veterans David Harris said, “Veterans served in defence of this great land, so it makes sense that they have earned free access to our beautiful national parks.
“We know that many NSW servicemen and servicewomen carry injuries or mental and emotional impacts from their service, so it is important to make it easier for them to access the restorative powers of our state’s great outdoors.”
Commonwealth DVA Veteran Card holders will be able to apply for the pass from Monday, 7 July 2025, by visiting https://pass. nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/ concession/application.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service also offers discount or concession annual passes for eligible seniors, pensioners and visitors who renew their NSW vehicle registration.
q A family runs towards the sea at Booti Booti National Park, where park entry fees for motor vehicles apply. Photo: John Spencer/DPIE.
Chance to win Power Trip
YOUNG rural women and non-binary students in Years 10 to 12 from across Australia will have the opportunity to win a once-in-a-lifetime 'Power Trip' to the nation's capital.
Country to Canberra’s (C2C) prestigious Leadership Competition launched on Monday, opening the door for young rural leaders to embark on a four-day leadership experience designed to help them reach their leadership potential.
They’ll meet with CEOs and politicians, undertake leadership training, tour parliament and have access to ongoing mentorship and support as C2C alumni.
This year, entrants will draw from their own lived experiences as they respond to the 2025 Leadership Competition theme: Technology and innovation is redefining the future of gender equality in our rural communities.
Country to Canberra CEO Courtney Bailey said the Power Trip is about empowering young rural women and non-binary people to see their leadership potential, and the role they play in shaping Australia’s future.
“Young rural leaders
aren’t just the backbone of their communitiesthey’re the changemakers driving innovation, equity, and resilience in regional Australia,” said Ms Bailey.
“Their advocacy, courage, and lived experience are exactly what this country needs to build more inclusive and sustainable rural futures.”
For 2024 winner Lei Yuen, of Broome in Western Australia, Country to Canberra’s Power Trip challenged participants to grow in a way that not many other programs do.
“It’s such an amazing program for young women and non-binary people when they want to branch out,
experience new things, and open themselves up to new experiences,” she said.
Country to Canberra is encouraging eligible regional high school, TAFE, and homeschooled students in Years 10 to 12 to enter the Leadership Competition.
Country to Canberra’s Leadership Competition school resources can also be utilised by teachers in lesson planning for inquiry-based or passion projects as it aligns strongly with general capabilities in the Australian Curriculum.
For further details, visit www.countrytocanberra. com.au.
Entries close 12pm AEST, Friday 08 August 2025.
APPLICATIONS are now open for Australia Post’s 2025 Community Grants program, which funds community-led, local projects across Australia.
Eligible not-for-profit groups from New South Wales can apply for grants of up to $10,000 to support projects which have the primary purpose of improving connection and mental wellbeing in their local communities.
Since 2020, Australia Post has awarded more than 350 grants to community groups across Australia.
Last year, the program awarded 71 projects across the country, contributing more than $500,000 of funding.
More than half of successful applications
were in regional areas.
This year, Australia Post has announced a significant expansion of its Community Grants program for 2025, with an additional allocation of up to $250,000 allocated to support grassroots initiatives that enhance mental wellbeing, foster connection, and build resilience in disasterimpacted communities.
“In times of disaster, it’s local organisations that are best placed to support the recovery process,” said Nicky Tracey, Australia Post General Manager, Community and Stakeholder Engagement.
“They understand their communities, know what’s needed, and are there for the long haul.
“That’s why we’re
proud to offer an additional allocation of up to $250,000 in community grants this year, to support projects in disasterimpacted communities across Australia that promote mental wellbeing, strengthen social connections, and build resilience within their communities.”
Organisations interested in applying are encouraged to review the Community Grant guidelines carefully to check eligibility requirements, with eligible organisations able to apply until 11.59pm on Monday, 7 July 2025.
To check eligibility, visit: auspost.com.au/grants.
Successful applicants will be notified in September 2025.
q 2024 Power Trip winners from rural, regional, and remote Australia at Parliament House.
BEST ON THE BOX
SATURDAY GRANTCHESTER
ABC TV, 7.30pm
Take one 1950s Cambridgeshire village, add a jaded cop and a local vicar with a talent for solving crimes and you have the winning formula for this cosy murder-mystery series. After a somewhat rocky start, new vicar Alphy Kotteram (Rishi Nair) has found a home in Grantchester, and a good friend in DI Geordie Keating (Robson Green, pictured, with Nair). Season 10 begins with a double episode tonight, which sees the Easter fete upended by a suspicious death, while there might be romance on the horizon for Alphy. Then, a murder at the university uncovers some deadly academic rivalries.
FRIDAY, June 27
6.30 Claire Hooper’s House Of Games. (Final)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 Gardening Australia.
8.30 The One That Got Away. (Final, Mal) Helen is missing as the countdown to day seven nears and there are fears she may be the next victim.
9.25 Gruen. (R) Presented by Wil Anderson.
10.00 Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee. (PG, R)
10.50 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R)
11.20 ABC Late News.
11.35 Silent Witness. (Mav, R)
12.35 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv)
5.00 Rage. (PG)
FAMILY (22)
“There’s Your Problem!”. 8.55 Robot Wars. 9.55 Walking With Dinosaurs. 10.45 Late Programs.
6.00 Mastermind Australia.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.35 Shetland: Scotland’s Wondrous Isles.
8.25 Ross Kemp: Shipwreck Treasure Hunter. (PGa, R)
9.20 Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes. (R)
10.30 SBS World News Late.
SATURDAY
MOVIE: BARBIE
NBN, 7.30pm, PG (2023)
Margot Robbie (pictured) stars in Greta Gerwig’s brilliantly feminist live-action take on the life of the world’s most famous plastic doll. Barbie is enjoying an idyllic life in Barbieland, a matriarchal utopia populated by impressive versions of Barbie (notably played by Issa Rae, Emma Mackey and Kate McKinnon) and equally unimpressive versions of Ken (including an unforgettable Ryan Gosling’s blonde bombshell as their de facto leader). Then one day, Barbie finds herself contemplating her own mortality and soon some very unusual things start happening to her. It seems the answers to her problems lie in the Real World, where Barbie will not only have to find a way to save herself, but also prevent a Ken uprising. It’s pink-hued perfection.
MONDAY
PARENTAL
GUIDANCE
NBN, 7.30pm Often thoughtprovoking, sometimes controversial, this parenting panel program returns for a third season with eight new families keen to get to the bottom of their child-rearing quandaries. Over four episodes, they’ll tackle screen time, peer pressure, body image and mental health – working through real-world challenges designed to test their at-times polarising parenting philosophies and discussing with the group other ways the situation could have been handled. Gold Logie nominee Allison Langdon and Dr Justin Coulson (both pictured) return to lead the conversations and take a closer look at the issues on the table. With a focus on technology and online safety, Monday’s premiere is a must-see.
11.00 Atlantic Crossing. (MA15+a, R)
12.05 Exterior Night. (MA15+v, R)
3.15 Colosseum. (Mav, R)
4.05 Growing A Greener World. (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. Johanna Griggs meets an inner-city dweller. 7.30 Football. AFL. Round 16. Sydney v Western Bulldogs.
10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion and interviews.
11.15 GetOn Extra. A look at the weekend’s best racing.
11.45 House Of Wellness. (PGals, R) The team uncovers tips for better sleep. 12.45 Nurses. (Ma, R) A patient undergoes deep brain stimulation.
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 5.00 NBC Today.
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 17. Newcastle Knights v Canberra Raiders.
9.55 Golden Point. A wrap-up of the Newcastle Knights versus Canberra Raiders match, with news and analysis.
10.45 MOVIE: The Jackal. (1997, MA15+lv, R) A jailed Irish sniper is hired by the FBI. Bruce Willis.
1.00 Next Stop. (PGa, 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)
Children’s Programs. 8.00 Nanny. 9.00 Jeopardy! UK. 10.00
6.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R)
6.30 The Project. (Final) A look at the day’s news. 7.30 House Hunters Australia. A couple need a larger home in Western Sydney. 8.30 Have You Been Paying Attention? (Malns, R) Hosted by Tom Gleisner. 9.30 The Graham Norton Show. (Ml, R) Guests include Dominic West. 10.30 10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather. 10.55
6.00
SATURDAY, June 28
6.00 Landline. (R)
6.30 Australian Story: Break It Down – The Raygun Phenomenon. (R)
7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day.
7.30 Grantchester. (Return, Mv) A suspicious death interrupts the Easter Fete.
9.05 Bay Of Fires. (Mlv, R) Tensions rise to boiling as Stella scrambles to adapt to her new way of life. 10.00 Little Disasters. (Mdls, R) Police and Social Services investigate jointly.
10.50 David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef: Visitors. (R) 11.50 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
ABC FAMILY (22)
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. 8.55 Dance Life. 9.45 Fresh Off The Boat. 10.25 Dragon Ball Super. 10.50 Late Programs.
SUNDAY, June 29
6.30 Compass. (PG)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 Spicks And Specks. (PG)
8.00 Bay Of Fires. (Malv) Stella forms an unlikely alliance.
8.55 Little Disasters. (Mals) The investigation continues.
9.45 MOVIE: The Tracker. (2002, Mav, R) Four people search for an accused murderer. David Gulpilil.
11.20 Take 5 With Zan Rowe. (PGl, R)
11.45 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
3.00 Ask The Doctor. (PG, R)
3.30 The Art Of... (Ml, R)
4.00 Gardening Australia. (R)
5.00 Insiders. (R)
ABC FAMILY (22)
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 Secret Life Of The Tasmanian Devils. (Premiere) 10.25 Abbott Elementary. 10.45 Late Programs.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Travels With Agatha Christie And Sir David Suchet.
8.25 Secrets Of Britain’s Historic Houses. (Final, PG)
9.35 Irish Road Trip With Miriam Margolyes. (PGa, R)
10.35 Guillaume’s French Atlantic. (R) 11.35 Homicide: Life On The Street. (Mav, R)
3.10 Colosseum. (Mav, R)
4.00 Growing A Greener World. (R)
4.30 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R) There’s a huge threat to biosecurity.
7.30 MOVIE: Ford V Ferrari. (2019, Ml, R) American car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles try to build a race car for Ford so they can defeat Ferrari. Matt Damon, Christian Bale.
10.40 MOVIE: Baby Driver. (2017, MA15+v, R) A getaway driver gets involved in a doomed heist. Ansel Elgort.
1.00 Nurses. (Ma, R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 It’s Academic. (R) 5.00 House Of Wellness. (PGals, R)
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 MOVIE: Barbie. (2023, PGlv) Barbie leaves Barbieland for the first time. Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling. 9.50 MOVIE: Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011, Mls, R) A middle-aged man’s wife asks for a divorce. Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling. 12.00 MOVIE: Love Road. (2023, Mls, R)
1.35 Great Australian Detour. (PGl, R)
2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PG)
2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.30 Global Shop. (R)
5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 5.30 Helping Hands. (PG, R)
6.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) Narrated by Mark Coles Smith. 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. A woman is suffering buyer’s remorse. 8.40 House Hunters Australia. (R) Clare and her best friend Brid are on a mission to find Clare’s family a home in Western Sydney. 9.40 Airport 24/7. (PGdl, R) A revolutionary airport trial 10 years in the making faces cancellation. Australian Border Force new recruit Nelson makes a find. 10.40 Elsbeth. (Mas, R) 11.45 Ambulance UK. (Mal, R) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power.
6am Petite
6am Morning Programs.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Paris: Mystery Of The Lost Palace. (PGav, R)
8.30 Arc De Triomphe: The Passion Of A Nation. (PG, R)
9.30 The Zelensky Story. (Malv, R)
10.30 New Zealand From A Train. (PGa, R)
11.25 Jerusalem: Builders Of The Holy City. (PGav, R)
12.30 24 Hours In Emergency. (Ma, R)
3.15 Colosseum. (MA15+v, R)
4.05 Growing A Greener World. (R)
4.35 Bamay. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 APAC Weekly.
Maman. Continued. (2021, PG, French) 7.05 What Do We See When We Look At The Sky? (2021, Georgian) 9.50 The Movie Show. 10.25 Quake. (2021, M, Icelandic) 12.20pm On The Basis Of Sex. (2018, M) 2.30 8 1/2. (1963, PG, Italian) 5.00 The Glassworker. (2024, PG, Urdu) 6.50 Lord Of The Flies. (1963, PG) 8.30 Only The Brave. (2017) 11.05 Late Programs. 6am 8 1/2. Continued. (1963, PG, Italian) 8.05 The Glassworker. (2024, PG, Urdu) 9.55 Lord Of The Flies. (1963, PG) 11.35 The Ides Of March. (2011, M) Children Of Heaven. (1997, PG, Farsi) 3.05 A Room With A View. (1985, PG) 5.15 Petite Maman. Spitfire. (2018,
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Dancing With The Stars. (PGa)
8.45 7NEWS Spotlight.
9.45 24 Hours In Police Custody: Murder On Prescription Pt 2. (MA15+dlv) The original murder suspect is found dead.
10.45 Crime Investigation Australia: On Borrowed Time – The Michael McGurk Assassination. (Malv, R) 12.00 Shades Of Blue. (MA15+adsv, 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) 8.30 60 Minutes. Current affairs program. 9.30 The Wrong Man: 17 Years Behind Bars. (Mal) Profiles the wrongfully convicted Andrew Malkinson. 10.50 9News Late. 11.20 The First 48. (Mal, R) 12.10 Embarrassing Bodies. (MA15+dmns, R) 1.00 Destination WA. 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa)
3.50 MOVIE: Over The Hedge. (2006) 5.30 MOVIE: The LEGO Ninjago Movie. (2017, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince. (2009, M) 10.30 Late Programs. Morning Programs. Innovation Nation.
6.00 The Dog House Australia. (PGa) Emily and her son meet a chilled-out pug. 7.00 MasterChef Australia. Ten contestants compete in a classic challenge set by Maggie Beer.
MONDAY, June 30
6.00 Mastermind Australia.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Portillo’s Andalucia. (PGaw, R)
8.20 Sue Perkins: Lost In Thailand. (PG, R) 9.15 Stephen Fry: Willem And Frieda. (PGa, R)
10.30 SBS World News Late. 11.00 Classified. (Mlv)
11.50 Kin. (MA15+lv, R) 1.45 Colosseum. (Mav, R)
2.35 Growing A Greener World. (R)
4.35 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
VICELAND (31)
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGad) Kirby puts on the performance of her life.
7.30 Stranded On Honeymoon Island. (Mal) The first Couples Cove arrives. 8.50 9-1-1. (Mav) Athena begins to question her abilities when she is assigned a rookie to mentor.
10.50 The Agenda Setters. An expert panel tackles the biggest AFL topics. 12.00 You, Me And The Apocalypse. (Mals)
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. (Return, PGa) 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 1. 12.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 1 Late. 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.
6am Lunana: A Yak In The Classroom. (2019, PG, Dzongkha) 8.10 Spitfire. (2018, PG) 10.00 Only The Brave. (2017) 12.35pm All The King’s Men. (2006, M) 2.55 The Movie Show. 3.30 Children Of Heaven. (1997, PG, Farsi) 5.05 The Movie Show. 5.40 Cheerful Weather For The Wedding. (2012, PG) 7.30 The Heartbreak Kid. (1993, M) 9.20 The Talented Mr Ripley. (1999, M) 11.50 Late Programs.
TUESDAY, July 1
3.30 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? (Final)
8.30 Insight. 9.30 Dateline.
10.00 SBS World News Late.
10.30 Living Black. (R)
11.00 The Point. (R)
12.00 Headhunters. (MA15+av, R)
1.45 Freezing Embrace. (Malv, R)
4.15 Growing A Greener World. (R)
4.45 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. (PGad) 7.30 Stranded On Honeymoon Island. (Mals) The couples look at an intimacy crate. 9.00 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA. (Return, MA15+) Gordon Ramsay helps struggling New Orleans restaurants get reinvigorated before Super Bowl LIX.
10.00 First Dates UK. (PG) Singles experience the thrills of dating.
11.00 The Agenda Setters.
12.00 Fairly Legal. (Mav, 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.
7.40 Tipping Point: Wimbledon Special. A trio of Australian tennis royalty, including John Millman, Sam Stosur and Dylan Alcott, trade their racquets for buzzers in a special tennis legends edition in the name of charity. 9.10 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 2. From the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England. 12.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 2 Late. 5.00 Today Early News. A look at the latest news, sport and weather. 5.30 Today. The latest in news and current affairs. 6.00 10 News+. (Premiere) 7.00 Deal Or No Deal. 7.30 MasterChef Australia. A batch of 23
MOVIES (32)
6am Morning Programs. 7.40 Cheerful Weather For The Wedding. (2012, PG) 9.30 The Movie Show. 10.05 If Life Gives You Lemons. (2018, M, Italian) 11.45 The Talented Mr Ripley. (1999, M) 2.15pm Malcolm. (1986, PG) 3.50 Lunana: A Yak In The Classroom. (2019, PG, Dzongkha) 5.55 The Snow Foxes. (2023) 7.30 Thunderbirds Are GO. (1966, PG) 9.15 But I’m A Cheerleader. (1999, M) 10.50 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 food, drinks, functions and live music. And the place to stay for work or holiday. Check
9GO!
6.00
WEDNESDAY, July 2
(PGa, R) 10.05 Station: Trouble On The Tracks. (PGal, R) 11.00 Outside: Beyond The Lens. (PG, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Dateline. (R) 2.30 Insight. (R) 3.30 The Cook Up. (R) 4.00 Great Coastal Railway Journeys. (R) 4.35 Jeopardy! 5.00 Letters And Numbers. (PGls, R)
6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News. 7.35 How Disney Built America. (Premiere, PG) 8.25 The King & The Prince’s Secret Millions.
9.20 The Veil. (MA15+v)
10.35 SBS World News Late.
11.05 My Brilliant Friend. (Mals)
12.20 L’Opera. (Mls, R)
4.05 Growing A Greener World. (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. (PG)
7.30 The 1% Club UK. (PG, R)
8.30 The Front Bar. (Ml) Takes a lighter look at all things AFL.
9.30 Unfiltered. (PGa) Hosted by Hamish McLachlan.
10.00 Ashley Cain: Into The Danger Zone. (Premiere, MA15+a)
11.20 Stags. (MA15+adlv)
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 A Current Affair.
7.30 To Be Advised.
8.30 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 3. From the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England. 12.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 3 Late. From the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England.
5.00 Today Early News. A look at all the news from Australia and around the world, as well as the latest sport and weather.
5.30 Today. The latest in news, current affairs, sport, politics, entertainment, fashion, health and lifestyle.
6.00 10 News+. 7.00 Deal Or No Deal. 7.30 MasterChef Australia. A batch of 23 former contestants returns. 8.40 Elsbeth. (Mv) Elsbeth takes a tour of famous New York crime scenes and is left with nagging questions. 9.40 FBI: International. (Mav) A televangelist on the FBI’s most wanted list surfaces.
10.30 10’s Late News. 10.55 10 News+. (R) 12.00 The Late
6.00
THURSDAY,
July 3
6am Hum Do
6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Great Lighthouses Of Ireland. (R) 10.05 Station: Trouble On The Tracks. (PGa, R) 11.00 Outside: Beyond The Lens. (R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Supertunnels. (PG, R) 3.00 Living Black. (R) 3.30 The Cook Up. (R)
6.00 Mastermind Australia.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Treasures With Bettany Hughes: Turkey.
8.25 7/7: The London Bombings: Bombers Strike Again. (Mal)
10.45 SBS World News Late.
11.15 The Silence. (MA15+av)
1.15 Pagan Peak. (MA15+av, R)
3.00 The Best Of The HAVASI Symphonic. (R)
4.40 Bamay. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning.
5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 MOVIE: Coriolanus. (2011) 10.45 MOVIE: The Promise. (2016, M) 1.05am Late Programs. 6am WorldWatch. 10.00 Mastermind Australia. Noon WorldWatch. 12.30
SBS MOVIES (32) SBS MOVIES (32)
Hamare Do. Continued. (2021, PG, Hindi) 7.50 Goal! (2005, PG) 10.00 The Heartbreak Kid. (1993, M) 11.45 But I’m A Cheerleader. (1999, M) 1.20pm Mad Max. (1979, M) 3.00 All Quiet On The Western Front. (1979, PG) 5.55 All At Sea. (2010, PG) 7.30 Risky Business. (1983, M) 9.20 Interview With The Vampire. (1994, MA15+) 11.35 L.A. Story. (1991, M) 1.20am Late Programs. 6am The Movie Show. 6.40 The Snow Foxes. (2023) 8.20 Thunderbirds Are GO. (1966, PG) 10.00 Risky Business. (1983, M) 11.50 L.A. Story. (1991, M) 1.35pm Hum Do Hamare Do. (2021, PG, Hindi) 3.55 Goal! (2005, PG) 6.05 Oink. (2022, Dutch) 7.30 Mars Attacks! (1996, M) 9.30 Kill Bill: Vol. 1. (2003, MA15+) 11.35 Romper Stomper. (1992, MA15+) 1.20am Late Programs.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGav)
8.30 Clarkson’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire UK. (Return, PG) Contestants compete for a top prize of £1 million. Hosted by Jeremy Clarkson.
9.30 Air Crash Investigations: Pacific Ditching. (Return, PG) Looks at a cargo jet crash.
10.30 Million Pound Pawn. (Return, PG)
11.30 Evil By Design. (Malv, R)
12.30 Life. (Madv, R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 The Curse Of Oak Island. (Return) 10.10 The UnXplained. 11.00 Homicide. 11.55 Late Programs. 6am Shopping. 6.30 Escape To The Country. 7.30
(64)
6.00 NBN News. 7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 Rugby League. NRL Women’s Premiership. Round 1. Cronulla Sharks v Parramatta Eels. From Sharks Stadium, Sydney. 10.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 4. From the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England. 12.00 Tennis. Wimbledon. Day 4 Late. From the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England.
5.00 Today Early News. A look at the latest news, sport and weather. 5.30 Today. The latest in news and current affairs.
9GO! (83) 9GO! (83)
RUTH CAMPION DIRCKS OAM
Passed away peacefully 19th June 2025
Late of Dungog Formerly of Hunters Hill Aged 95 years
Widely known and respected in the Science Education Community and the Dungog Community.
Loved Mother of Judy, Andrew, Bob and Sus. Much Loved Ma of 10 Grandchildren and 19 Great Grandchildren.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Ruth’s Funeral Service to be held in The Tocal Homestead Function Centre, 957 Tocal Rd, Paterson THURSDAY (26.6.2025) at 2.30 p.m.
The Service can be Livestreamed at www.jandehawleyfunerals.com.au
Hawley Funerals
Dungog Phone 02 49921572
Dungog Shire & Gloucester District News Of The Area newsofthearea.com.au
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
Sale
HORSE riding boots Elastic sided, Black leather, ladies, GUC 2 pairs available, $25 per pair: 1 x Dublin 36 (EU) / 5 (AU), 1x Dublin 37.5 (EU) / 6.5 (AU) Dungog area. 0425 334 153
MOBILITY Scooters
A range of pre-loved, all in very good condition From $500-$1600. Can deliver! 0418 430 643 Motors
STAND Up Paddle board, Kings inflatable Located in HN. $99.00 Call 0493 078 190
CLASSIFIEDS ads@newsofthearea. com.au
BIRD Aviary, hexagonal 58” diameter. Netting 3 sides; green colourbond walls. Good condition $50 ONO 0429 959 409 F180625
BAR table, great for pool or outdoor area. Tempered glass top, aluminium frame with white canvas, storage shelf below. $300 ono 0417 216 598
PIANOLA and stool in GC, over 50 player rolls $1800 ono 0498 176 876
VINTAGE cameras Offers accepted. 4982 8787
WHEELCHAIR
electric Shoprider VGC, easy to use new batteries can deliver. $950 0418 430 643
Items for sale
SINGER hand sewing machines x 2, antique. Make an offer. 4982 3495
WHITE 6 drawer chest of drawers, GC, $50 Teac JC12 digital stereo hi-fi system, still in box $100. White half pantry cupboard with shelves VGC $50. 0434 521 457
newsofthearea.com.au
$6,500. 0431 607 774
HSV Maloo R8. 2009 LS3, Auto 240,00km serviced & cared for DLN29T. $39,000. Ph 0494 084 213 e160725
SUBARU Liberty 1991, AWD, 5 spd manual, cruise control 300,330kms.One owner/driver from new regular serviced. $7500 Medowie 4982 9942 Re021025
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 678 687
Dorin’s Draws
By Paul DORIN
PUZZLES
Of The Area OPINION
DEAR Jasminda,
I WAS scrolling through the local community page on the weekend and came across a cheeky post.
The post didn't raise an eyebrow, but what did was the pile-on from adults hating on this young person.
It seems strange that people over a certain age would stoop this low.
Why are people so cruel on social media, and where are the checks and balances?
Gina T.
Dear Gina,
The vision that came to
mind reading your post was of Taylor Swift in an outfit reminiscent of Jayne Torvill (from Torvill and Dean fame), skating over the hate (metaphorically) and shaking it off (literally).
Community pages, despite their mission to be fun, friendly places for people to share stories and pictures with each other, are sometimes (unfortunately) a breeding ground for behaviour that wouldn't be anticipated (or tolerated) elsewhere.
For every genuine post about a missing cat or a person needing a handyman to fix a sink, there's an unnecessarily cruel laughing emoji or a completely unrelated rant.
These attacks ensue with a level of unconnectedness akin to Bob Katter sideswiping a conversation about same sex marriage and
replacing it with a focus on limbs being torn off bodies by north Queensland's crocodiles (sans Bob's adroit conversational dexterity).
This is despite very clear group rules with more good behaviour cues than a school anthem.
Are the group admins overworked? Complicit?
Trying to moderate posts but really working for ASIO and taking notes on potential security breaches?
Nigel from the ATO crossreferencing cashie requests?
Retired sportsmasters (feeling dispensable, sportsrelated bunions, socks and sandals, more self-loathing than Sue
Sylvester from Glee)?
These are questions I cannot answer, Gina.
I do know, however, that the behaviour people display in person is very different from the behaviour some
people display from their keyboard.
The psychological effects of trolling are also very real, so the role of a moderator is an important one.
As is the role of an editor (if mine thinks I've been unnecessarily cruel to retired sportsmasters, I apologise for my own - until now subconscious - residual hostility over a poorly-timed balance beam transition and a lunchtime detention).
All I can suggest is to lead from the front, Gina.
Post sunsets and sunrises, help search for lost dogs, never post a picture of someone's poor parking skills, call out racism (and all the other 'isms) and don't stoop to the pettiness of mocking spelling errors in a futile game of oneupmanship.
Carpe
SUDOKU
diem, Jasminda.
Kids Boot Camp 043
Farm flood damage trickling through to grocery checkout
By Sebastian TAN, AAP
EYE-WATERING prices for blueberries are set to continue but shoppers will be mostly protected elsewhere from recent widespread farm
flooding.
Extensive rainfall and floods across northern NSW in May left thousands of farmers with crop and cattle losses.
About one in four
blueberries will not make the shelves this season due to the floods as the out-ofseason fruit's price surges to almost $10 a punnet in some supermarkets.
Prices were already
Bridge closures
TRANSPORT for NSW has advised it will be temporarily closing the Brig O’Johnston Bridge to carry out essential maintenance and safety upgrades.
The NSW Government is investing in rehabilitation of the Brig O'Johnston Bridge as part of its bridge maintenance program.
The bridge over the Williams River at Clarence Town was built in 1880 and is the oldest surviving timber truss bridge in NSW.
To get the work done safely, the bridge will be closed between 9am and 3pm on Tuesday 1 July, Wednesday 2 July and Thursday 3 July.
During these times, a
detour will be in place via Clarence Town Road, Italia Road, the Pacific Highway, and The Bucketts Way.
“Please note this may add up to 50 minutes to your travel time so please allow additional time for any planned travel,” Dungog Shire Council said in a statement.
expected to be high this time of year but will now not plunge significantly once harvesting season begins in September, Berries Australia executive Rachel Mackenzie told AAP.
"We're not thinking at this point that there'll be longterm impacts on the industry," Ms Mackenzie told AAP.
"But certainly short-term (impacts are expected).
"Production is growing significantly every year so a 25 per cent drop this year will probably bring us back to where we were a couple of years ago."
While a lack of supply is reflected in fluctuating berry prices, the impact of flooding is not expected to change the price of milk or tofu.
Dairy farmer Malcolm
Council adopts key plans
DUNGOG Shire Council has adopted the Community Strategic Plan 2035 and Operational Plan 2025-2026 (which includes the Resourcing Strategy, Budget and Fees & Charges 2025-2026), and an alternate motion of the Delivery Program 2025-2029.
The latter was progressed following a foreshadowed motion put forward by Councillor Fred Paton to adopt option two in the Delivery Program to allow for the refurbishment of Fisher’s Hill Road.
“The Community Strategic Plan sets a 10-year vision, while the Delivery Program and Operational Plan focus on short-to-mediumterm strategies for service delivery, infrastructure, financial sustainability, and community wellbeing and the Resourcing Strategy addresses future planning around workforce, finances, and
Off-leash dog area progressing
FOLLOWING consultation which resulted in 276 submissions made by the community, Council has endorsed to proceed to investigate two primary locations to determine the feasibility of off-leash dog exercise areas.
Key findings of the survey are:
- 67.8 percent of respondents travel to exercise their dog;
- 37.3 percent of respondents utilise a Council park/sportsground to exercise their dogs, with the most popular facilities being:
• 14.1 percent - Bennett Park and Jubilee Park (Dungog)
• 13.8 percent - Village Green (Clarence Town)
- 32.2 percent of respondents who travel selected Dungog Common
Holm says milk prices were already not reflective of farmers' work.
The recent floods could force more farmers to hang up their boots as they would struggle to pay off damages, even if they recover.
"The processors, the farmers and the industry will ensure that there's still milk on the supermarket shelves," Mr Holm told AAP.
"To some degree, that's a disadvantage for the industry because I don't think the consumer actually realises what's actually going on behind the scenes to actually get that milk onto the shelf."
Soybean farmers in northern NSW, where 60 percent of the nation's industry is based, have lost the crop they had been
assets,” a Council spokesperson stated.
“Council received an overwhelming response during community consultation of the documents, registering a record total of 79 submissions.
“The high level of community engagement and involvement has been crucial throughout Council’s assessment process, underscoring
as their location of choice; and
- 58.7 percent of respondents allow their dogs to play off-leash.
Council will now investigate Bennett Park and Jubilee Park as potential sites for an offleash dog park in response to community demand.
“The sites will be assessed on accessibility, safety, land use compatibility, and community impact,” a Council spokesperson stated.
“Once a suitable site is identified and Council has determined the costs associated with the development of the site, Council will seek to obtain funding for the development and implementation of the offleash dog park.”
growing for six months, Soy Australia's Judy Plath said.
But other areas of the country have had a good season, meaning shelf prices should not change, she said.
Oyster farmers are meanwhile ruing another lost year after floods in 2022 devastated the industry.
NSW Farmers Federation president Xavier Martin said one oyster farmer had suffered about $1 million in losses from the recent deluge.
"Since the oysters take three years to mature, this was said to be their first healthy crop since 2022, and now it's been washed away," Mr Martin told AAP. He urged the government to upgrade natural disaster grants to help farmers get back on their feet.
Council’s commitment to open communication with the community to deliver better outcomes for the Shire.
“The consistent themes indicate strong community expectations for more transparent, equitable, and responsive council planning into the future.”
q Blueberry prices are expected to remain high with recent flooding destroying Australian crops. Photo: Frank Redward/AAP PHOTOS.
DUNGOG Shire Council
will reinstate its Rural Lands Steering Committee, following a motion at its 18 June meeting.
Originally established
DA processing improves Estimated thousands trapped in Australian farm slavery Rural Lands committee to be reestablished
By Stephanie GARDINER, AAP
A BACKPACKER hoping for a memorable working holiday on an Australian farm finds himself crammed into a house with 17 people, eating dry bread and deprived of sunshine and fresh air.
After arriving on a visa from China, the young man had headed to a small town on the NSW coast in 2024 to pick blueberries and was immediately slapped with a rental debt.
Three or more backpackers slept in each room of the residence, where the landlord set up security cameras to watch their every move and protested when they opened the garage to encourage light and ventilation.
"No one's daily life should be constantly monitored by someone with more resources and power," he wrote in a submission to a NSW parliamentary inquiry examining modern rural slavery risks.
The migrant workers harvested up to 30 buckets of berries each day at $4.50 per
in 2019, the Committee was designed to inform and guide the development of the Rural Lands Strategy.
With the strategy now being revisited under the
Commonwealth’s Housing Support Program, Council has endorsed to re-activate the committee with updated terms of reference and the implementation of an
expressions of interest campaign to appoint three new independent community representatives.
The committee will consist of the Mayor (Chair),
three Councillors, three independent community members, and three agency representatives from relevant planning and agricultural departments.
load but despite sometimes toiling for 17 days straight, were regularly told they weren't doing enough.
"Going to the farm each day felt like descending into a blueberry hell of prolonged suffering," the man wrote.
While many Australians assume the days of slavery are long gone, the NSW inquiry has revealed migrant workers in industries like agriculture, horticulture and meat processing are highly vulnerable to exploitation.
It's estimated more than 40,000 people are enslaved across the nation, subject to violence, threats, punishing hours, low pay, poor housing and restricted movements.
More than 16,000 are trapped in modern slavery in NSW, one of the few states that does not regulate the hire companies central to recruitment.
Nearly half of all people who approach the office of the NSW anti-slavery commissioner for help are temporary migrants working in rural areas, with four people asking for support each week.
"We might tend to assume
slavery means shackles and chains, people physically restrained," commissioner James Cockayne tells AAP.
"But the constraints we see now that lead to a slavery-type outcome are not physical constraints, they are structured as contracts.
"They're employment contracts that tie people to a workplace in unjust ways, marriage contracts that people are forced into or debt contracts that are impossible to escape."
The federal government's Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme, which employs people from nine Pacific islands and TimorLeste, has been heavily scrutinised at the inquiry.
While agriculture industry bodies point to a 2023 survey showing the vast majority of PALM workers are "very satisfied", conditions on the ground sometimes tell another story.
Visits with participants in fruit-growing districts across rural Australia uncovered dire conditions between 2022 and 2024, according to a report by Sydney's Immigration Advice and Rights Centre.
Workers in Bundaberg, Queensland were sleeping on benches and lining up at soup
COUNCILLORS have congratulated Dungog Shire Council’s Planning and Environment team for overseeing an increase in development applications (DA) processed in the first quarter of 2025.
A quarterly report was offered at Council’s 18 June meeting, providing an overview of development activity across the Shire.
A total of 57 development applications
kitchens.
One PALM worker had metal lodged in his eye while using a staple gun, leaving him with significant vision loss.
His employer forced him to continue lifting heavy bags of fruit against medical advice and didn't apply for another visa on his behalf after the injury.
The legal centre successfully sought ministerial intervention and the Samoan man was granted permanent residency in 2023.
Others in the scheme have fled their employers and are living in tents in the NSW Riverina, while support services have noticed a spike in female workers reporting sexual exploitation.
Part of what makes participants so vulnerable is the inability to change
were lodged in the quarter (up from 33 in the same quarter last year), with 52 determined.
The total value of approved developments was $8.3 million.
DA processing times had a median of 81 days, with the average at 88.1 days.
“Dungog outperformed other Group 10 (Large Rural) Councils in terms of DA lodgements and assessments, and met the
employers under their visa conditions, the inquiry has been told.
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations can intervene, though it usually requires documented evidence of exploitation.
The federal government has made several reforms to strengthen PALM, including pay parity, minimum hour rules and extra resourcing for the Fair Work Ombudsman.
The national workplace relations system is in force regardless of a worker's immigration status, an inquiry submission from several federal agencies said.
"Therefore, under workplace laws ... no worker should be subject to any form of labour exploitation, including the more egregious forms that could risk becoming modern slavery
Expressions of interest for community representatives will open on Friday 20 June and close at 5pm on Monday 7 July.
Ministerial expectation for lodgement times,” Council said in a statement.
“However, staff shortages continued to affect assessment capacity and building certification market share.
“The private certification market remains dominant, and Council’s attempts to recruit additional building surveyors have so far been unsuccessful.”
practices."
There have been 228 investigations of PALMapproved employers since mid-2019, resulting in $762,625 in recovered wages for 1937 workers, according to the ombudsman.
The changes to PALM are a good start but worker mobility should be the top future priority, Dr Cockayne says.
"We know from experiences overseas that tied visas - where workers are made entirely dependent on the discretion of their employer - are the number one correlate of vulnerability to modern slavery."
Moe Turaga came to Australia from Fiji as a teenager to work on a farm in Victoria, pruning vines and harvesting crops.
He and nine others had their passports taken, lived in a spartan shack and were told they had to pay off their travel expenses.
"I was often cold and hungry and when I got injured... I did not get medical care," Mr Turaga says.
"Things were really tough but I was focused on helping my family."
It wasn't until two years into the job Mr Turaga was able to call his mother, who asked when he would start sending money home.
None of his earnings had been passed on by his boss, as promised.
After escaping with the help of locals, Mr Turaga made a home in Australia and is now an advocate for others.
Most workers who come from the Pacific have a good experience but rogue employers and labour hire companies have exploited many in the PALM scheme, he says.
"So much of the fruit, vegetables and meat you have in your fridge is (processed) by PALM workers," he adds.
"The Australian economy relies on migrant workersand the government should be doing more to protect us."
q A parliamentary inquiry has been told imported fruit pickers were subjected to prolonged suffering. Photo: AP PHOTO/ Robert F. Bukaty.
Sydney locations.
Domestic violence, assaults and theft on the rise
By Cosette DE LORENZO
NEW data reveals rates of domestic violence, sexual assault and retail theft have increased in NSW over the last two years.
The NSW Bureau of
Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) has released its latest report on 13 major criminal offences.
Stealing from a motor vehicle was the only major offence to show a significant decline over the past two years, while the other nine offences remained stable.
Domestic violence rates showed a widespread increase throughout the state, with higher rates recorded in eight of 13 regional areas, and three of 15 Greater
Masterplan adopted
COUNCIL has adopted the Clarence Town Structure Plan and Streetscape Masterplan, following a lengthy community consultation process and public exhibition period.
The plans aim to guide growth, housing, transport, and public space improvements in Clarence Town.
Changes were made to the final version to
Share Our Space program returns
FRIDAY 4 July is the last day of Term 2 for Upper Hunter Electorate public school students, marking the halfway point for the 2025 school year.
That means from
Saturday 5 July to Sunday 20 July, the Share Our Space program returns for the winter school holiday.
School grounds will be open to the public daily from 8am to 5pm at Ellerston
address feedback, including refinements to heritage considerations, design guidelines, and traffic management strategies.
Public, Scone Public, Muswellbrook Public, Dungog Public and Booral Public.
Gloucester Public and Stroud Public will welcome the community during weekends only, 8am-5pm.
Term 3 begins with a school development day on Monday 21 July then students are back to the classroom on Tuesday 22 July through until Friday 26 September.
'Wasn't ideal': Lomax opens up on Origin goalkicking
By Jasper BRUCE, AAP
ZAC Lomax concedes his goalkicking "wasn't ideal" in the second State of Origin game but has vowed not to board any emotional rollercoaster triggered by NSW's tight loss.
NSW scored five tries to Queensland's four in Wednesday night's game but went down 26-24 as Lomax landed only two of five attempts at goal in wet and wild conditions.
Nathan Cleary's groin
injury left goal-kicking duties to Lomax at the 11th hour and the right winger could have pushed the Blues to an unassailable 2-0 series lead off his boot.
Instead, the result moves the series to a game three decider in Sydney on 9 July, and denies NSW the chance for a first series clean sweep since 2000.
Lomax said it was important not to become weighed down after the defeat.
Executive Director of BOCSAR Jackie Fitzgerald said, “Of the three major offences trending upwards, the increase in domestic violence-related assault is the most geographically widespread.
“Most of regional NSW and several Sydney locations are showing increases.
“We’re also seeing sharper rises in family violence (up 7.3 percent) compared to intimate partner assaults (up
4.9 percent), along with a 9.5 percent increase in child victims of domestic assault.”
Ms Fitzgerald noted that increased rates do not necessarily mean a higher occurrence.
“It’s possible that greater community awareness and proactive policing are encouraging more victims to come forward,” she said.
"Week in week out, it's a rollercoaster of emotions. I guess like the first game, everyone was singing NSW's praises and game two, we lost. That's the way it goes," he said.
"That's why you can't buy into it too much."
Parramatta winger Lomax said it could be easy to fall into thinking it was he alone who cost NSW the game.
In reality, the Blues conceded eight unanswered penalties and completed at only 58 per cent as they fell 26-6 down at halftime.
While critics may have pinned the loss on his kicking, Lomax said: "It's easy to look at it that way because it (the margin) is two points and a goal is two points. For me, I pride myself on being a good goalkicker as well.
"It was not ideal. But as I said, it gives you guys (the media) something to talk about and the lead-in into game three.
"The thing is, I probably couldn't have struck them any better. They just sat out there.
"We were on the receiving end of it (defeat) but that's the way that footy goes. The best thing is we get another game, game three, and we'll be up for it."
Before then, Lomax is predicting a harsh reception playing before St George Illawarra's home crowd for
MORE locations in the Upper Hunter Electorate have been added to the impact area for the East Coast Severe Weather Personal Hardship Assistance grant.
The one-off payment provides $180 for eligible individuals, or up to $900 per household.
As of the Thursday 19 June update, residents of 29 communities are now eligible for the personal hardship
assistance payment.
Retail theft was the only property offence to increase over the two year period.
“Liquor continues to top the list of stolen goods.
“In the year to March 2025, it was involved in nearly one in four shoplifting incidents.”
Alongside regular reports, BOCSAR conducts crime and victim surveys to provide insights on both reported and unreported crimes.
“These figures highlight the growing willingness of victims to speak out, supported by more accessible and confidential reporting pathways.”
Additional communities eligible
It now includes Bandon Grove, Belbora, Bendolba, Bolwarra, Bretti, Bundook, Dungog, Glen Martin, Glen William, Gloucester, Gresford, Hillsborough, Lambs Valley, Largs, Luskintyre, Melville, Mindaribba, Monkerai, Paterson, Phoenix Park, Rosebrook, Stanhope, Stratford, Stroud, Stroud Road, Tibbuc, Tiri, Tocal and Webbers Creek.
“That was despite my efforts to raise the need to include Vacy, Barrington and
Cobras strike
STORY STARTS on BACK COVER Page 16
Hawks started pushing in the right direction.
With four minutes left in the first half, the Lady Hawks found the tryline, but couldn’t score.
The attempt was answered by Clarence Town with a vengeance, ending in Taylah Bultitude scoring
close to the posts in the penultimate minute of the first half.
A sprint to the tryline by another Cobra in the final few seconds was foiled by an accidental step out-ofbounds, but it served as a reminder that there is still a window for a dash after the buzzer or the fifth tagging.
The Cobras returned to dominate the second half,
the first time since his highlypublicised exit from the club.
Lomax surprised the NRL world last year by requesting a release from his Dragons deal amid career-best form that eventually yielded Australian and NSW debuts.
After weeks of buildup the Dragons relented to Lomax's request and paved the way for him to sign at
Parramatta, where he has continued to excel on the wing.
A Dragon for 114 games, Lomax expects some rough treatment when he runs out at Wollongong in the Eels' blue-and-gold strip on Saturday evening.
"I'm sure I won't get a real nice reception there but that's the way that it goes," he
Branxton to name just some of the additional locations that I have written to the Minister for Reconstruction about requesting their inclusion in the program,” said Member for Upper Hunter Dave Layzell. The application period has been extended until Monday 21 July. Visit the Service NSW website at www.service.nsw. gov.au/services/financialassistance-after-a-naturaldisaster/suburbs
while the Lady Hawks had trouble getting the ball back to halfway.
After only five minutes, a fourth try for Clarence Town was scored.
The Lady Hawks’ remained on the defence after that, rarely getting beyond the 30m line.
The fifth Clarence Town try was also a second for Jemma Walters, but this time it came with a solid conversion.
With just over 10 minutes to go, Lady Hawk Mikayla Perry found the tryline in the far-right corner after a bouncing kick from Abby - putting the team on the board.
Clarence Town’s sixth try, to Alexandra Merrick, was in the corner with four minutes to go, taking advantage of an enormous gap on the Hawks’ left side.
The final minutes saw several handovers as the Hawks attempted to break past halfway, with one promising run up the wing by Elizabeth Papamau.
But the final kick was scooped up by a Cobra as the siren wailed, ending the game 4-26.
said after Parramatta's 36-20 defeat of Gold Coast.
"You completely try and take the emotion out of it because emotion can affect your game positively and negatively
"For us it's learning what we did well tonight (against Gold Coast), learning things we can improve on."
q Ladies’ Tag is all about speed.
By Thomas O’KEEFE
TEA GARDENS Lady Hawks hosted Clarence Town on a rare clear winter’s day on Saturday 21 June, with the match ending 4-26.
Clarence Town’s Jemma Walters at the far left corner, only
Cobras courtesy of Emma Scriven in the far right corner. Both
lines even as the q Clarence Town’s kicker charges up for a conversion attempt.