Macksville nurses reunite to share memories and friendship
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become an important way for past colleagues to reconnect and reflect on their time in the profession.
“There is something unique about nursing,” Vickie told NOTA.
“We go through a bit of trauma, we see people at their best and worst, and there are always those events that stick in your mind so it’s good to come together and remember those times.”
The group first reunited last year and is eager to make these gatherings a regular event.
Thanks to a Facebook group, staying in touch has become easier in recent years, replacing a White Pages search.
“There are still about 60 of us in contact,” Vickie said.
“We’d love to organise a more formal reunion dinner in the future.”
All of the attendees worked at the old Macksville Hospital, which presented unique challenges due to limited resources, a situation familiar to many regional healthcare workers.
“We often felt forgotten,
but we made do with what we had and supported each other through the tough times,” Vickie added.
Some of the former nurses are still working in the profession, though not all remain in the public health system.
Regardless of where their careers have taken them, it is clear they share a bond forged through years of service and dedication to their community.
New report identifies region’s labour and skills shortage
By Andrew VIVIAN
REGIONAL Development Australia
Mid North Coast (RDAMNC) has released a new study that highlights the growing labour and skills shortages in the region.
The report shows these will pose a significant barrier to economic growth.
Conducted by Charles Sturt University (CSU), the 2024 Skills Audit identifies several critical challenges, including labour and skills shortages, skills gaps, limited vocational training, and infrastructure issues such as housing affordability and access to early childcare education.
The report reveals that the Mid North Coast (MNC) has a lower proportion of working-age individuals compared to the state average, making it more difficult for businesses to find the skilled workers they need.
At the same time, the region is experiencing a significant outflow of skilled individuals, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, aged care, and construction.
The study also underscores the region’s limited access to vocational training, which forces many workers to travel to larger cities for education.
Other key challenges highlighted in the report include the lack of affordable housing, insufficient childcare services, and inadequate infrastructure such as transport and digital connectivity, all of which
hinder both workers and businesses.
RDAMNC's CEO, Dr Madeleine Lawler, said, “The Mid North Coast is experiencing pressure in the labour market across many of the key industry sectors like health and social care, construction and manufacturing.
“We know we need to be working collectively across the region to trial community led solutions over the next few years to ensure we are being as responsive to the needs of industry as possible.
“We have the bones we need but we need to improve
connections by working together.”
The report’s recommendations to address the identified issues include the development of a cohesive regional housing strategy aligned with workforce planning; universal access to Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) to support workforce participation, particularly for women; strengthening the regional skills ecosystem through closer collaboration between employers, training providers, and community services and enhancing infrastructure to improve transport, housing, and digital connectivity across the region.
Security, cleanliness and parking issues to be addressed in Nambucca CBD
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business district (CBD).
Deputy Mayor James Angel raised the matter at Council’s 19 March meeting, in response to a petition containing around 375 names and signatures.
The petitioners are seeking help to address issues such as cleanliness, a lack of green spaces, lighting, signage, and parking.
They also wish to increase the police presence in the main street and CBD of Nambucca Heads.
Identified as a key area of concern in Council’s recent Community Strategic Plan feedback report, this motion ensures funding will be included in the 2025/26 Budget to produce
a Nambucca Main Street CBD Master Plan.
A report into the raised issues will be delivered to Council at a future meeting.
Council will also write to Member for Oxley Michael Kemp seeking his assistance to request an increase in the presence of NSW Police foot patrols.
Councillors David Jones and Jane Smith did not vote on the motion, having declared pecuniary interests.
While she voted in favour of the motion, Cr Susan Jenvey spoke out on a number of points, mentioning that Bowraville is also in need of improvements, having had two master plans without any funding for changes.
q The main street of Nambucca Heads is in dire need of a makeover, according to 375 signatories of a petition received by Council last month.
She also expressed frustration with the motion’s focus on crime prevention.
“I’m also pretty sick of saying that… increasing crime. All the stats are that crime is down from 2010.
“Crime is such a complex social thing to solve.
“It’s more than just extra
policing and it's more than just a politician saying I’m tough on crime,” Cr Jenvey said.
This prompted strong responses from two councillors, with Cr Troy Vance saying, “I was at the
polling booths when you (Cr Jenvey) were getting elected and you told almost every person that you were going to put a motion forward to upgrade the main street.
“It’s pretty upsetting that you’re not supporting it.”
Cr Jenvey’s signature appears in the list of those who have signed the petition, which was delivered to council by Kay Harkness, Director of local business InTouch Boutique.
Candidates outline childcare policies
By Ned COWIE
FOUR of the candidates for Cowper in the Federal Election on 3 May, have discussed their positions on childcare at a forum in Nambucca Heads.
Held last Saturday at the town’s Community and Arts Centre, the event was organised by notfor-profit lobby group “The Parenthood”, which represents the interests of more than 80,000 parents and carers.
However, very few representatives of this demographic attended.
Organisers told News Of The Area they had hoped for a better turnout.
The 35 people at the forum included candidates Greg Vigors (Labor), Caz Heise (Independent), Wendy Firefly (Greens) and Chris Walsh (One Nation), as well as Nambucca Valley councillors David Jones, Susan Jenvey and Ljubov Simson.
Pat Conaghan of the Nationals said he could
not attend due to a prior commitment to present medals to outstanding RFS members at a ceremony in Kempsey on Saturday.
“I have held forums and consulted individually with providers and parents over the last six years in my role as Federal Member for Cowper,” he told News Of The Area.
“I have made a number of speeches in parliament on the issue to highlight our region specifically and continue to fight for appropriate reforms to be made.”
Family First candidate Peter Jackel also sent his apologies.
Five pre-prepared questions were directed at candidates, allowing each of them a minute to deliver their response.
Speakers acknowledged that the problems facing working parents in the area included a shortage of available carers, long waits for early childhood places, no spaces in nearby facilities and few options for shift workers. Other problems were
a lack of appropriate staff training and the cost of childcare.
Most agreed that problems with finding staff were linked to poor pay, low respect, and the shortage of facilities; and they committed to working hard for the sector if elected.
Candidate for Labor Greg Vigors pointed to several commitments the Albanese Government has made, including three days of paid childcare and a grant to providers who offer a 15 percent increase to childcare wages over the next two years.
He also spoke of Labor’s December announcement of a $1b fund to “work with councils to build big [childcare] centres around schools in regional areas.
Caz Heise, the Independent candidate chosen by the Voices4Cowper, said the commitments from Labor were encouraging but noted that “nothing had been done” to improve the situation in the past four
years.
She said the region had been overlooked in a variety of areas due to it being viewed as a “safe seat” for the National Party, and committed to listening to the wishes of the people in a way that she believed the larger parties could not.
One Nation’s Chris Walsh said his was a party for “the people” and advocated for better support of parents in general.
He also said that more should be done to encourage in-home care, such as that provided by grandparents
and stay-at-home parents.
Greens candidate Wendy Firefly reiterated her commitment to First Nations peoples.
“This land has been stolen, and we wouldn’t be facing these problems if it had not been,” she began. She advocated for childcare to be free and accused sitting member Pat Conaghan of “letting us down”.
“One in three corporations don’t pay tax,” she said. “If we had that revenue, we could solve this problem and we could have free education,
free healthcare and people could get the wages they deserve.”
One attendee, Sue Parker of Midcoast Family Day Care, expressed her frustration after the forum.
“It wasn’t really what I thought it would be,” she told NOTA.
“I thought we would get a chance to ask questions and come up with solutions but it was really just about the candidates.”
Ms Parker also thought some of the prepared questions were unrelated to the issues of the industry.
q The Parenthood’s Maddy Butler with Cowper candidates Greg Vigors (Labor), Caz Heise (Independent), Wendy Firefly (Greens) and Chris Walsh (One Nation) at the forum on childcare.
Alarm raised as tough on crime policy 'infects' nation
By Keira JENKINS, AAP
ABORIGINAL and
Torres
Strait Islander children are being set up for a life of suffering, legal services say, as 'tough on crime' policy sweeps the country.
More state and territory governments are locking up children at increasing rates, and not listening to community or evidence about what is best for kids, according to National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services chair Karly Warner.
"These new laws that we're seeing infect the majority of state and territory governments ... are really dangerous," she told AAP.
"They're going to backfire and compound the disadvantage and trauma experienced by too many of our young people and communities."
The Northern Territory Government has lowered the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10, reformed bail legislation and reintroduced the use of spit hoods.
Queensland's "adult crime, adult time" policy, introduced in 2024, means children face the same maximum sentences as adults
for a number of offences, including life sentences for murder, manslaughter and grievous bodily harm.
The state has also criminalised breach of bail for children.
Changes to bail legislation in NSW and Victoria have also attracted the concern of legal services and justice advocates.
Imprisoning children has never worked to curb crime, Ms Warner said, instead it can make young people more likely to become "trapped in an ongoing cycle" of incarceration.
In NSW and the ACT, Ms Warner said there's been a 270 percent increase in the number of bail applications going to the Supreme Court, and an increase in demand in legal services to go with it.
"There's been no reciprocal increase in funding to try and cope with these dangerous laws that governments around the country are creating," she said.
"What that means is that not only are children impacted by the laws themselves but they're more likely to get trapped in the criminal justice system if they're unable to get the help
they need.
"Ultimately what that means is that we've got children who are more traumatised, exposed to a life of crime and they're more likely to go on cycling
into adult prisons and making communities more dangerous."
Ms Warner said it is not too late for governments to re-think youth justice laws in their jurisdictions.
The Big Screen
By Lindsay HALL
ACCORDING to my young
son, this week will be the “most important week in cinematic history”, seeing the release of two features which your own children or grandchildren will insist on seeing at the movies.
A Minecraft Movie will probably receive the bulk of the attention from the middleschool crowd, being the film adaptation of the wildly popular computer game that blends the nostalgic style of 80’s arcade games with the infinite creativity of Lego.
Taking a major lesson from the success of 2023’s Super Mario Bros Movie the major creative idea behind this film seems to be in essentially having the characters play the game while the audience watches on.
That may sound like questionable entertainment
"We have seen the tragic consequences of punitive, tough on crime politicking that drives mass incarceration of Aboriginal children with the death of Aboriginal teenagers in youth detention," she said.
for older viewers, but according to kids watching YouTube, this is exactly what they want to see.
Drawing upon every measure of charisma and innate humour at his disposal, star Jack Black leads a group of young people who have stumbled through a magic portal into the “world of Minecraft”.
To survive they must learn how to collect resources and construct devices from their imagination.
The director tapped for this film was Jared Hess, who made his name with Napoleon Dynamite in 2004 and Nacho Libre with star Jack Black in 2006; both offbeat, borderline nonsensical comedies, where much of the humour was derived from weird characters commenting on the world around them.
This will be a film that defies most attempts at explanation, but will probably
"What is it going to take for government to realise that they are ruining children's lives and they are making communities more dangerous."
be surprisingly entertaining. Dog Man won’t be too far behind in popularity, particularly with the primary school students who have made the source books by Dav Pilkey so successful.
Flowing almost entirely from the premise, “What if we sewed the Dog’s head to the Man’s body?”, this film revels in the nonsensical, madcap escapades of the titular police-hero, evil genius cat Petey, undeadcyborg goldfish Flippy, and a host of equally impossible characters.
Functioning with a Loony Toons sensibility, it’s best not to get caught up on details or trying to understand the story. If it all sounds a bit too bizarre for your taste, consider that you may be just as entertained watching your young ones laugh themselves silly for 90 minutes
q A crackdown on youth crime around the country will backfire and harm children, advocates say. Photo: Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS.
A LACK of access to early childhood education and care (ECEC) on the Mid North Coast is compounding staff shortages at the region’s hospitals.
Nurse and midwife Amanda Bailey-Derrett, who serves as President of the Coffs Harbour branch of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, said the “majority” of the branch’s members are being impacted by childcare shortages in some way.
According to the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, 88 percent of nurses and midwives identify as female.
“We have a very femaledominated workforce in nursing and midwifery,” Ms Bailey-Derrett told NOTA on Thursday.
“What happens is that nurses and midwives go on maternity leave, have their babies and then when they try and return to work they
are not able to get care for their children.
“They can then only return for a day or two a week, which is much less than they would like to, or they can't return to work at all.”
Ms Bailey-Derrett said the issue is not simply a lack of available and affordable childcare places, but a shortage of “shift workfriendly” childcare options for hospital workers.
“Usually kids can't be dropped off until after 7am, and they have to be picked up before 5pm.
“Members have to rely heavily on family, if they have them, to take part in that care.”
A well known advocate for health care sector workers on the Coffs Coast, Ms BaileyDerrett said all levels of government need to work together to deliver childcare options that are “affordable, flexible and accessible”.
One improvement she would like to see is the establishment of 24/7, onsite childcare at hospitals.
“Obviously breastfeeding mothers can’t return to work, particularly for overnight shifts,” she said.
Ms Bailey-Derrett said it was important to classify childcare access as a gender equity issue.
“It disproportionately affects women when it comes to childcare,” she said.
“It forces women into part time roles, career stagnation or leaving the workforce altogether.
“We also need to pay nurses and midwives what they are worth, and what they do in other states, in order to keep them, and so they can afford childcare.”
Much of the Mid North Coast is described as a “childcare desert”, where at least three children compete for an ECEC place. On average, five children compete for a place in parts of Nambucca Heads, and at least six children compete for a place in Port Macquarie and Kempsey.
Have you been affected by Tropical Cyclone Alfred?
The New South Wales Reconstruction Authority is here to help you recover.
Assistance is available in the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast.
You can visit a local recovery assistance point or mobile outreach location for practical advice and support, including:
• Replacing lost documents
• Accessing mental health services
• Applying for Hardship Assistance Grants
For more information, scan the QR code, visit nsw.gov.au/CycloneAlfredRecovery, or call 13 77 88
NSW Reconstruction Authority
q Amanda Bailey-Derrett, President of the Coffs Harbour branch of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association.
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Family day care provider talks childcare concerns
By Ned COWIE
WITH the Mid North Coast experiencing a crisis in childcare which sees parents struggling to find care for their children when they return to work, NOTA spoke exclusively with Sue Parker of Midcoast Family Day Care (MFDC) to discuss some of the challenges.
Prospective family daycare educators in NSW must register with an organisation like MFDC to offer their services, and the long-running business has more than 90 educators providing care for close to 1000 children across the region.
“There have been a number of changes over the past few years affecting our industry, leading to an overall drop in available places,” Sue told NOTA.
“I can tell you we will not have a vacancy in our service until at least 2027 and this means the urgent reform of the system needs to start now,” she said.
According to Sue, most landlords do not allow tenants to open their homes for family daycare, and there are many costly legislated requirements for homes offering the service.
One example of this is a requirement for
safety glass.
Other costs for educators include training courses in child protection, first aid and safe sleeping as well as working with children checks and insurance.
“Many educators are frightened to take babies because of the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and restrictions in place to ensure their safety,” Sue said.
While not advocating for the safety regulations to be dropped, Sue would like to see regulations change to reflect the specifics of either home daycare or centre-based care.
She believes not enough has been done to highlight the work of home day care providers and the childcare industry in general.
“We used to have our own department within government with great support for the sector but over the years this has been eroded by all sides of government,” she said.
To help educators set up their homes for family day care, Sue would like to see “set up grants” returned to community-based services and believes the current focus on setting up new large day care centres is unfair.
She is also calling for greater access to the Inclusion Support Subsidy for family day care educators, which provides extra funding for children with disabilities.
Sue also believes family day care should be a compulsory unit of study (rather than an elective) in the Certificate III of Early Childhood Education, and argues travel grants should be restored to support providers who must travel many kilometres to visit educators.
“Currently this has to be absorbed by the income we raise through levies to parents,” she explained.
“For the last few years governments of all sides (Labor and Coalition) have been shifting the cost of childcare back onto parents,” said Sue.
Victoria, although now retired, was a longterm family daycare educator in the region.
She agrees that the family daycare model can provide an unrivalled level of care for children.
Victoria told NOTA she believes children benefit from the relaxed family-centric environment, while parents frequently report that they love the consistency of having the same educator each day.
Passionate advocates for their field, both women hope that family day care can continue to be an option for parents into the future.
“The demand is so high and I feel terrible when I have to tell parents that I have no places available,” Sue said.
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Drone vision shows GKNP logging
By Andrew VIVIAN
CONSERVATIONISTS are concerned that the public is not completely aware of the type and scale of forestry operations in the proposed Great Koala National Park (GKNP).
They have shared a new drone video of logging in Sheas Nob State Forest, inland from Coffs Harbour, to highlight the damage being done.
The process shown is a large harvester that grabs large trees and slices through them, with the fallen trunks then being dragged to a collection point, damaging the forest floor vegetation.
Darren Grover, the Head of Regenerative Country at the World Wildlife Fund Australia (WWF) said, “The video will be shocking to many people.
“It shows the brutal efficiency of heavy logging machinery, destroying trees which will take many decades to replace, if at all.”
The WWF says that a number of reports, based on publicly-available data from Forestry Corporation
NSW (FCNSW) show that logging has already occurred across 7185 hectares within the GKNP assessment area since the Minns Government was elected, and that currently-available harvest plans show logging is currently underway across a further 1924 hectares within the assessment area.
It says that a delay of six months could take the total logged area to 12,578 hectares, equivalent to more than 6700 Sydney Cricket Grounds.
Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson, has cited a report from Wilderness Australia titled, “The Plan to Keep Logging the Great Koala National Park”, which draws the same conclusion.
“Even in the National Party seat of Coffs Harbour, 70 percent of the community support the creation of the Great Koala National Park,” she said.
“This will go down as one of the biggest environmental political failures of our time.”
Gumbaynggirr Elder Uncle
“My identity and my being is sustained, nourished, upheld and
defined by the Dunggirr.
“For the benefit and wellbeing of all in the Gumbaynggirr Nation we must stop logging our forests and the
promised us."
Parties at odds over direction of youth crime reform
THE NSW opposition introduced a bill in Parliament last week aiming to crack down on the “escalating youth crime crisis gripping regional communities”.
Member for Oxley Michael Kemp, said the bill offers stronger, more effective measures than the bail reforms recently passed by the Labor Government.
“This bill is a direct response to what I’ve been hearing from the community after a 12-month-long campaign,” Mr Kemp said.
“People are sick of weak laws that let repeat offenders run rampant with no real
consequences.”
The bill proposes three key reforms:
• Expanding the definition of repeat offences – Serious indictable offences like murder or sexual assault will now be included, not just break and enter or motor vehicle theft.
• Introducing electronic monitoring and a mandatory curfew – These will become standard conditions of bail for repeat youth offenders.
• Revoking bail for breaches – Bail will be automatically
revoked if an offender breaches conditions, is charged with another offence while on bail, or interferes with their electronic monitoring device.
• Elevating the voice of victims –Victim impact statements will play a stronger role in court to ensure victims’ experiences are properly considered.
“These are real, practical legislative reforms that will help restore safety and confidence in our communities,” Mr Kemp said.
“Our towns should not have to live in fear because of weak laws.
“This is about giving the
Changed traffic conditions on Giinagay Way
MOTORISTS are advised of changed traffic conditions from this week on Giinagay Way to carry out repair work between Bellwood Road and Willunga Avenue in Nambucca Heads. Work to repair a slip caused by heavy rainfall and flooding starting on Thursday 3 April will be carried out from 7am to 6pm on weekdays and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays, and is expected to take three weeks to complete, weather permitting.
Single lane, alternating traffic flow arrangements and a reduced speed limit of 40km/h will be in place at all times for the safety of workers and road users.
Motorists are advised to allow up to five minutes extra travel time, drive to traffic conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic control.
police the legal backing they need, standing up for victims, and making sure offenders face real consequences.”
Last Tuesday the NSW Government extended a law requiring a strict bail test for young people accused of repeat car theft and break and enter offences.
The law restricts bail for young people aged between 14 and 18 if they are charged with certain car theft or serious break and enter offences while already on bail for the same type of offence.
It requires a judicial officer to refuse bail unless they have a “high
degree of confidence the young person will not commit a serious indictable offence while on bail”.
Originally introduced in April 2024, the law would sunset next month without this extension.
“We can see this law is working and that’s why we’ve extended it – to make sure we break the cycle of youth offending and strengthen community safety,” Attorney General Michael Daley said.
The law will only remain in place until October 2026, after pushback from the Greens and Coalition shortened the extension period.
Have Your Say
News Of The Area would love to hear your OPINION & VIEWS on issues and topics affecting our area. Keep Letters to the Editor under 250 words for its best chance of publication. Please be aware that there is no guarantee of publication from your submission to us. Publication will be determined by the Editor around available space, relevance and appropriateness. Email us media@newsofthearea.com.au
q Logging in Sheas Nob State Forest. Photo: Paul Hilton and Calumn Hockey for Earth Tree Images.
Micklo Jarrett said, “One of my main totems is the Dunggirr, the koala.
entire 176,000 hectare Great Koala National Park must be declared immediately, because that is what our government
Edward Barns offers solo exhibition after Bundanon retreat
By Kim SATCHELL
FOLLOWING a successful and creatively inspiring artist residency at Bundanon in 2024, Nambucca Valley artist Edward Barns is launching his own solo exhibition at the Phoenix Gallery in Bowraville.
A creative showcase 20 years in the making, and the culmination of Barns’ artistic career so far, the exhibition is sure to delight audiences through its audacious use of colour and bold form.
“Ed is so prolific using his own signature intuitive-style employing bold colours and striking composition - definitely collectable,” Phoenix Youth Arts Coordinator Jack Hodges told News Of The Area.
“Bundanon to Bowraville” is on exhibition at the Phoenix Gallery from 12 April to 5 May.
The artistic journey traverses the wildlife and landscapes of the
South Coast and Mid North Coast, demonstrating a pervasive influence of the spirit of place upon the artist’s psyche.
The series he began at the residency at Bundanon - an art museum and wildlife sanctuary on the South Coast - paved the way for the ongoing works, utilising the playful imagery and confident compositions that unlock an inner freedom for creative licence.
The flora and fauna experienced at home and at Bundanon are a feature of the new exhibition.
“I saw lots of wombats and kangaroos at Bundanon and at my place there are sugar gliders, wallabies, eagles and galahs that pique my interest,” Barns told NOTA.
Barns exudes a creative impulse that gives vent to the uncanny and an overwhelming sense of curiosity in regard toward the world around him.
and
Italian POWs in the Nambucca Valley
By Mick BIRTLES
HISTORIAN and author
Trevor Lynch is reaching out to the community as part of his research into a little-known wartime story, the Italian prisoners of war (POW) who worked on farms in the district during World War II.
During the war, approximately 400,000 Italian troops were captured by the Allies and sent to POW camps worldwide.
At first, they were confined to camps, only allowed to work under strict guard.
By 1943, as Australia’s agricultural workforce was significantly depleted due to the war effort, the government introduced the initiative of sending Italian POWs to farms to help struggling landowners.
In March 1944, Macksville
Between 1941 and 1944, nearly 18,500 of these prisoners were transferred to Australia, many arriving from camps in India.
became home to Prisoner of War Control Centre (PWCC) No. 12, one of many centres established across Australia to administer the employment of Italian POWs.
The local centre operated from a leased building on the corner of River and Princess Streets, which was then owned by the merchants Reid and Fotheringham and is now the site of a dental practice.
Through the War Agriculture Committee, local farmers could apply for up to three POW workers.
Once approved, these Italian men were transported from Cowra via Liverpool to Macksville by train.
At its peak, the Macksville centre was allocated up to 200 POWs, although not all were present in the district at once.
Many stayed in the Nambucca Valley for over a year, some for more than 18 months.
The scheme proved immensely successful, playing a part in preventing the collapse of rural industries and ensuring food production during wartime.
The Italian workers became an integral part of
farm life, and in some cases strong bonds were formed between them and the local community.
Researching for his new work “Nambucca Anzacs WW2”, Mr Lynch has uncovered records of over 200 Italian POWs who were sent to the region.
He has also found documents about the Macksville PWCC, including details of the Army personnel who administered it.
“It is a fascinating local and international wartime story,” Mr Lynch told News Of The Area.
“This story may have to be told in a stand-alone book,
given the volume of material I am finding, but it needs to be told because it involved so many local Nambucca Valley families.”
At least two Italian POWs later returned to the Nambucca Valley to establish their lives, with one marrying a local woman.
Mr Lynch is now calling on the community to help fill in the gaps.
He would love to hear from anyone, whether through family memories, old photographs, or personal stories, who has information about the Italian POWs who worked on farms in the Nambucca district.
If you have a story to share, you can contact Trevor Lynch at 0408 669 449.
q This building on the corner of River and Princess streets in Macksville, once owned by the merchants Reid and Fotheringham, was the site of Prisoner of War Control Centre No. 12. It is now the site of the Fresh Dental Care Practice.
q Killmore’s banana packing shed at Burrapine 1945. Standing: (L-R) Charlie Killmore Jnr, Ernie Kinny (Killmore relative), Nancy Killmore, Frank (POW). Front: (L-R): Angelo (POW), Petro (POW), unknown, and George Killmore nursing his son Kevin. Photo: supplied.
q Edward Barns is a bold
imaginative local artist.
Marine Rescue urges boaters to stay vigilant
By Mick BIRTLES
WITH just over a month left in the boating season, Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Alex Barrell has issued a strong reminder for boaters to stay cautious, as preventable mechanical issues accounted for the majority of call-outs in February.
Statistics from last month reveal that engine, battery and fuel-related problems were responsible for 67 percent of Marine Rescue NSW’s responses.
Commissioner Barrell emphasised the need for boaters to conduct thorough
pre-launch checks to avoid unnecessary breakdowns.
“It is concerning that two-thirds of the missions conducted by our volunteers last month were for preventable issues,” Commissioner Barrell said.
“Boaters need to ensure their vessel is in good working order every time they launch and that they have enough fuel on board, with some in reserve.
“Please don’t think for one minute, ‘I’ve got through the season without any issues, it won’t happen to me’.”
February was a busy month for Marine Rescue
NSW, with volunteers completing 415 search and rescue missions across the state, including 114 emergency responses, successfully returning 936 people to shore.
Radio operators handled 19,013 calls and monitored over 22,500 vessels that “Logged On” to the free Marine Rescue NSW app or VHF Channel 16.
“Logging On provides details of their trip, and in the event they don’t return as planned, a search can be initiated. Logging On saves precious time in an emergency, it only takes a
minute to protect a lifetime,” Commissioner Barrell added.
The Mid North Coast region, which includes the Nambucca Valley, saw 31 search and rescue missions in January, with 17 classified as emergency responses.
A total of 65 people were safely returned to shore across the region’s nine Marine Rescue units, including at Nambucca, Coffs Harbour, Trial Bay, and Port Macquarie.
As the colder months approach, many boaters begin to store their vessels, but improper storage can lead
q Marine Rescue recently conducted a floodwater training exercise with the SES at Urunga.
to mechanical issues when the warm weather returns.
One of the most common problems is fuel deterioration.
Many boaters leave fuel in their tanks, unaware that petrol begins to break down over time.
This can lead to engine troubles when the boat is used again after months of storage.
“To avoid this issue, boaters should drain their fuel before storage and use it in their lawnmower or car, or add a long-life fuel stabiliser to keep it effective,” Marine Rescue Nambucca Unit
“It’s also important to close or block the air vent on your motor to prevent moisture from entering the fuel system.”
Mr Nichols said battery maintenance is another key concern.
“Even a well-maintained battery will lose charge if left unused for three to four months,” he said.
“Don’t let a preventable issue ruin your day on the water and potentially put your life and others’ lives at risk.”
Commander Gary Nichols told News Of The Area.
Stricter rules for E-bikes take small businesses by surprise
By Ned COWIE
SMALL business owner Steve Kimber is surprised at the lack of information he received before the State Government recently introduced tighter rules on the selling and hire of e-bikes.
Mr Kimber originally contacted NOTA concerned that he was being asked to jump through “bureaucratic hoops” to operate the e-bike hire arm of his Nambucca Heads newsagency business, however investigations by NOTA revealed that his eight e-bikes had already been certified to the new standards.
After a spate of fires linked to lithium batteries such as those found in many e-bikes and e-scooters, the State Government moved to increase standards for items entering the market passing new legislation mid-2024 to come into effect from February this year.
In 2021, NOTA reported on e-bikes for hire at Nambucca Newsagency and since then, although not a huge money-spinner for the business, the bikes have proved popular with tourists to the area.
Mr Kimber said the first he heard of new regulations was last week when an investigator from NSW Fair Trading stopped by his shop to tell him that all his existing e-bikes, batteries and chargers (currently available for hire), should be tested and certified to newer safety standards which were already in effect.
“I thought it was laughable,” he said.
“The number of illegal bikes we see on the roads and around, yet our bikes which were imported just four years ago legally, following Australian government rules, are being targeted,” Mr Kimber told NOTA.
Since then, with the assistance of NOTA, enquiries were made to the overseas company from which he purchased the bikes, and the newer certification for each model of the eight bikes in his fleet has been obtained.
“We tried to buy quality bikes in the beginning, so I’m very pleased to hear that has paid off,” Mr Kimber said after learning that his bikes were in the clear.
“I just wonder what they
are going to do about all the non-complying bikes that are out there in people’s houses,” he added.
Fair Trading NSW told NOTA that they have been working with industry to ensure businesses are prepared for the changes.
“The Australian and international Standards for e-bikes were set as a result of industry consultation in 2024,” a spokesperson said.
“These standards were nominated as the standards that most manufacturers and sellers already complied with.”
The new requirement applies to all e-bikes sold or available for hire after 1 February 2025, including e-bikes purchased before this date.
“The changes are expected to have minimal impact on businesses which already sell quality, compliant products, however, sellers of low-quality or counterfeit products that do not meet safety standards will need to adjust their supply chains,” Fair Trading NSW said.
A spokesperson from NSW Fire and Rescue told NOTA, “There have been
q E-bikes sold in NSW must meet stricter standards under new rules effective from February.
around 26 fires just since January this year related to micromobility (small vehicles including e-bikes, e-scooters, mobility scooters).”
Figures obtained by NOTA reveal that micromobility devices (e-bikes, scooters etc) were responsible for around 98 of the 324 battery-related incidents in NSW in 2024.
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According to the
spokesperson, a large factor in these fires was incorrect use of charging devices, especially when the wrong charger or battery is paired together, modifications made to original devices and poorquality products.
“These devices should also never be left unattended to charge,” he advised.
Although the small-size
of an e-bike or e-scooter’s lithium-ion batteries means they are consumed by fire quickly, the resulting explosion can ignite nearby flammable items.
In 2024 there were two fatalities from a house-fire in the Lake Macquarie district which have been linked to lithium-ion batteries.
Ongoing support required for defib project
By Jen HETHERINGTON
COMMUNITY fundraising is underway to support the Valla Beach Community Defibrillator Project.
The initiative was established in 2022 as an offshoot of the Valla Beach Community Resilience Team, with an aim to install two 24-hour accessible automatic external defibrillators (AED) in the community at a cost of $6000.
Over $20,000 was raised by the committee through sponsorship from local businesses and community groups, a raffle and an afternoon soiree.
“This enabled us to purchase and install the first seven accessible defibrillators in the Valla Beach district and they are maintained by a group of volunteers to ensure that they are ready to be used at all times,” organiser Julie Collins explained.
This year project organisers
are fundraising to replace the AED batteries ($300 per unit) and to maintain the installed cabinets.
They are also seeking further sponsorship, and recently benefited from a council grant of $500.
At the Valla Beach markets on Saturday 5 April, all gold coin donations taken at the gates will go towards the defib project.
There will also be a "tombola" stall at the market office tent where visitors can purchase tickets to win a selection of prizes.
"It takes a great community to come together to fund a project such as this and I am hopeful that we will have continued support to raise enough money to keep the AEDs maintained for the next three years,” Julie said.
The Coffs Coast Freemasons Association sponsors the AED unit at Anderson Park
“The funds for this defibrillator were provided by the Coffs Coast Freemasons Association to improve the chances of survival of locals who may experience cardiac arrest,” said the group’s Peter Collins.
The community also pitches in to make sure the AED units are
correctly maintained.
Harry Greenwood, Senior Deputy Captain of Valla Beach Rural
Fire Service, said, “I perform the monthly check on defib 130 located at the Fire Station and a report is
sent to Sydney to ensure that the AED is in perfect working order.”
A community tradition that gives back
By Mick BIRTLES
FROM humble beginnings in 2010, the Valla Beach Markets has grown into a vibrant and much-loved event that brings the community together and funds a variety of local projects.
Managed by the Valla Beach Community Association (VBCA), a S355 Committee of Management of Nambucca Valley Council (NVC), the markets have become an integral part of life in the valley. Originally started as a way for
local farmers to sell their produce and generate funds for community projects, the markets quickly gained popularity.
Today, they attract between 80 and 90 stallholders, offering a diverse range of goods including
q The new permanent stage at the Valla Beach Reserve, built with the support of Nambucca Valley Council, provides a venue for live music to be performed at the markets.
clothing, books, ornaments, toys, carpentry, food, and drinks.
The Valla Lions Club adds to the local flavour through a BBQ and refreshments.
To enhance the lively market atmosphere, free live music is provided at each event, with artists now performing on a permanent stage; a project completed with the support of Council.
For children, activities such as free arts and crafts, book readings, hula hooping and face painting ensure the event has something for everybody.
“Our Markets create such a great atmosphere not only for the free entertainment and the amazing array of stalls available, but also a fantastic way to catch up with friends and family,” VBCA secretary Carole Andersen told News Of The Area.
The funds raised through the Markets go directly back into the community.
Over the years, VBCA has contributed to numerous projects,
including:
• The purchase of seven defibrillator machines for Valla Beach, ensuring the community is better equipped for medical emergencies. VBCA is now planning to fund new batteries for these machines by the end of 2025.
• Support for the annual Valla Beach Art Expressions Gallery.
• Upkeep and maintenance of the Valla Beach Community Hall, which is currently under review for extensions to accommodate larger events and playgroups.
• Funding for the annual Valla Beach Christmas Carols. VBCA works closely with Council to address community needs and produces the Valla Views newsletter every two months, providing residents with local news, upcoming events, and wildlife updates.
The next Valla Beach Community Markets will be held on Saturday 5 April from 8:00am until 1:00pm.
q Community members learning how to use the AED devices.
Teddy bears picnic
By Jen HETHERINGTON
THOUGH Yarrahapinni Community House rarely opens to the public on weekends, Saturday morning 15 March was special, as volunteers opened the house and garden to hold
a delightful ‘Teddy Bears Picnic’.
“For the first Saturday trial opening of the Yarrahapinni Community House in many years we were pleased with the response from our locals and saw a few new faces,” organiser Chris Parke told
“The children enjoyed the Teddy Bears Picnic and sausage sizzle, as did many mums, dads and visitors to the op-shop.”
As a not-for-profit organisation the objective of the enterprise is to assist the community by providing information, counselling, referrals and access to government, healthcare and services at local, state and federal levels.
Renowned as one of the best
little op-shops on the Mid North Coast, the facility also offers space for small groups to host meetings or classes in the central common room adjacent to a fully functional kitchen and boasts a thriving back yard veggie garden.
Chris told NOTA that more plans are in the works too.
“It is planned to have a regular Saturday opening once a month for those who are unable to drop in during the week, the next date being
Album review: ‘Slipping Stones’ by Ali C
By Mick BIRTLES
ON a somewhat soggy Saturday night a loving congregation assembled at the Music Station on Princess Street, Macksville to see and hear Nambucca Valley-based singer/songwriter Ali C deliver her new album, “Slipping Stones”.
Although live performances are never able to replicate the polish of a quality studio product, Ali C and the band constructed especially for this performance, The Defibrillators, came close and the grateful audience went home with their musical appetite fully satisfied.
Bottom line: Slipping Stones is sonically exquisite and this is due to a number of factors.
Ali C has a voice that mixes a soft sweetness with a timber that only comes from years of vocal experience.
The end result is sublime.
The poetry in her songwriting flows with clever turns of phrase and paints images in the mind of the listener that make each song relevant.
But perhaps the ‘secret sauce’ in this record is in the production.
Producer Stewart Peters has seemingly turned his own standards of perfection up a notch with this offering.
With the elegant lyrics, and the beautiful voice delivering them, being the undisputed hero of the dish here, Peters’ labour at the mixing desk of his Sound Shed Studios has ensured that rich layers of music, backing vocals and harmonies, never rise above Ali C’s singing.
The structure of the album also works.
Each song is placed exactly where it should
be and playing it from cover to cover is the best way to enjoy it.
The opening track, “Circumstance”, as Ali explains, is her deeply personal dig at our belief that good and bad occurrences in our lives are a result of Karma.
Next is the softly funky “Outside the Square" which is followed by “Diamond River”, a song that oozes the vibe of life in the Nambucca Valley and a homecoming song for the ages.
It is an album where every listener will have their favourite song, however they all deserve your attention and at no point along the journey are you likely to skip a track.
“Everything you Fear” is, musically, the richest song on the album with most of the playing done by the multi-instrumentalist Stewart Peters himself.
Two tracks, “The Knot and Light” and “Honey” form the deliciously gooey centre of this album, with the latter coming across as a sultry dreamscape for lovers.
If there is an ear worm on the list it is “Circular Reasoning”, which is as relevant to us all as it is impossible not to sing along with.
Even the backing vocals play
over and over in your head.
While the eighth song on the album, “Sunday’s Leaving”, is tinged with sadness, the final track, “House of Hope”, is an anthem to positivity and taking a stand against the things that come to test us.
Ali and Stewart account for all of the instruments played on the album.
At the album launch on Saturday night The Defibrillators were Ali C on vocals and guitars, James (Jimbo) Allen on percussion, Richard Fisher on Dobro, Mick Sadowski on saxophone, and Stewart Peters on bass and vocals.
Special guests were Cohen Pithers on piano and Alicia Parry offering backing vocals.
“These songs are a glimpse into the Slippery Stones I have traversed in my journey so far, each song a chapter,” Ali C told NOTA.
“Another stone safely crossed.”
Slipping Stones is available on Spotify and Bandcamp while CDs and download cards can be purchased from the Driftwood Cafe, Scotts Head, or by reaching out to Ali C Musicali on her Facebook page.
April 19, 9am to 12.30pm with an Easter egg hunt for the children.”
Yarrahapinni Community House is regularly open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am to 2.30pm, and is partially funded by the NSW Department of Family and Community Services.
It is located at 42 Ocean Avenue, Stuarts Point.
Phone 02 6569 0484 during operational hours for more information.
q Picnic play time at Yarrahapinni Community House.
NOTA.
q Yarra Pippin and baby Ochre.
q Ali C, with help from The Defibrillators, launches her new album ‘Slipping Stones’ at the Music Station Macksville on Saturday night.
q Nambucca Valley-based Ali C’s new album
‘Slipping Stones’ was produced by Stewart Peters and Sound Shed Studios, Valla.
Nambucca Heads Island Golf Club
By Chris KNIGHT
A COALITION of the willing and a Daryl with a bigger hit since the Sherbet lead singer sang about horses marked action at the Nambucca Heads Island Golf Club.
Steady rain on the Mud North Coast kept the fields small, but those prepared to have a go as if it's your lastand one day you'll be rightteed up for action.
Nine-marker Daryl Wall smoked his way to victory in the Nambucca RSL Dolphin Day medley stableford on Thursday 27 March with 43 points - 71 off the bat including birdies on 2, 13 and 15.
Graham Watson (7 handicap) was next best with 38 points - 12 pars and a bird on 8, ahead of Peter 'Boom' Scott on 37.
Wall's big day out included the Ecomist long
putt on 1, the pin on 15 and the Pizza This Pizza That voucher on 13.
Divot-botherer Geoff Brooks won the Nambucca News nearest the pin on 5, Watson on 8 and Kenny Klem snaffled the $25 Pro Pin on the last with just 27 in the field.
Liam Sweeny (17) had a chill ride on the bogey train with 15 of them, and three pars, to post an outstanding 38 points on Saturday 29 March when most looked at the clouds and said solid pass.
The championship course is actually only about three weeks away from Mona Lisa smiley condition, and Sweeny's hot round was enough to hold out Frederickton's Stephen Clarke (25) on 36.
Made of sterner stuff was the field of 26 which fronted the starter in the women's monthly medal on
Wednesday 26 March.
Judith Boyle (27) shone with the best nett of the day with a 70 to street Div 2 from runner-up Jenny Thorne (24) on 75.
Fiona Chaffey (37) parred 7 and 8 on her way to nett 71 to salute in Div 3 ahead of Shayne Scott (42) on 75.
In Div 1, Bonville's Susan McWilliam (16) had 75 nett to edge Henny Oldenhove (17) for the win on countback.
Nearest the pins on 8 went to Cheryl Gilmour and Chaffey, while Marilyn McNally snagged the 13th and Lisa Urquhart grabbed the $27 Pro Pin on 18.
Geoff Goesch (22) smashed with 68 nettincluding four pars - to win the Toyota Genuine Service medley stroke on Tuesday, 26 March.
Runner-up was Craig Riddington (27) on 71, while Heather Gray (24) was the
Presentation for little athletes
By Jen HETHERINGTON
STUARTS Point Little
Athletics Club held its endof-season presentation at the Stuarts Point Tavern on Friday 28 March.
Originally scheduled to take place at the Yarra water slide facility at Grassy Head, persistent recent rain forced a venue change to the Tavern.
Young athletes proudly and respectfully accepted their awards, before engaging in exuberant play time in the designated
Nambucca Valley Bridge Club News
By Barbara MARANIK
RESULTS for 30th March
2025
Monday 17th March 2025
1st Linda & Mike Siford 67%, 2nd Amber & Carol McKee 57%, 3rd Lynne & John Slade 50%, Tuesday 25th March 2025
Equal 1st Michael Finucane & Margaret Sullivan, Maureen Cowan & Barbara Maranik
55%, Equal 3rd Carol McKee & Amber Fox, Greg & Jane Wood 44%
Wednesday 26th March 2025
North/South 1st Susie Keur & Pamela Rongen 58%, 2nd Colleen
Robertson & Danny O’Keefe 55%, 3rd Richard Levy & Megan Williams 51% East/West
1st Les Sinclair & Michael Finucane 57%, Molly Bence & Leonie Harrison 53%, Robert Baker & Babs O’Keefe 52%
best of the women on 78.
Rocket-launcher Kai Burkinshaw (1) won the gross with 72.
Pin-magnet Daryl Wall wrote his name on the card on 8 and 15, Maxine Townsend on 5, Michael Jolly on 13 and Liam Sweeny on the last.
The Island's strong Div 3 pennant side in the Mid North Coast competition stormed to a 3.5 to 1.5 victory at home to Coffs Harbour 2.
Glen Crow, Joe Street and team captain Steve Doherty engineered wins and Garry Johnstone scrapped and fought hard to square his match.
The men's Div 2 side went down away to South West Rocks 3.5 to 1.5 with Graham Watson getting the win and Greg Jager squaring his match.
The club's fledgling Div 4 side are yet to hit a ball in anger after the rain cruelled
q If you can bend it like this you are either young or a pilates sensei. Nambucca's Ashton Herbert is coiled for a 300 metre drive in his pennant match against South West Rocks legend Mark Bird, who many may know for his longtime fishing segment on ABC Local Radio.
their away match against Bellingen. But with a bye and shared points from the washout to open, the boys are in the Mayor's chair for a
place in the finals. Catchya on The Island if the river doesn’t grab you first.
indoor play area.
Organiser Samantha Bonanno thanked the club’s volunteers and supporters for facilitating a successful season.
“A huge thank you to all the volunteers from our club that helped with set
Thursday 27th March 2025
1st Mike Siford & Colin Tolley 62%, 2nd Barry Butler & Merita Pailthorpe 55%, Equal 3rd Vicky Walker & Sandra Ellis, 54% 3rd
Maureen Cowan & Janet
Dyson 52%
Saturday 15th March 2025
1st Linda & Mike Siford 56%, 2nd Lynne & John Slade, Triple equal 3rd Colleen
Robertson & Scott Parker, Julianne Cowles & Geoffrey
Gardner, Maureen Cowan & Barbara Maranik 51%
up, equipment, canteen and pack up, for their events during our past season.
“We are very grateful for the generous monetary donation from Yarrahappini Community House in Stuarts Point which allowed us to purchase new equipment.”
Bowra Bowls Report
By BUNCHA
THURSDAY 27th social bowls results saw the ever consistent Graham Hines with Bill Crossingham take home the winners money. Runners up were Mike Oldham and Geoff McKay with Mike picking up the lucky bowler award as well. Well done.
Two games of the Club Championship Fours were played over the weekend with Paul O’Neill, Tracy Armes, Dean Roe and Steve Wellington proving a little too slick for John Cowie, Trev Ryan, Lloyd Laird and Jimmy Harter winning 20-12.
A mighty game from Wello proved the difference.
Steve Johnson, Baily Johnson (son of David and grandson of Steve), Graham Keys and David Johnson were a bit too strong for Lyn McKay, Tim Gardner, Greg Lamberth and Geoff McKay winning 23-11.
Monday 31st saw 102 bowlers converge on the Hub for the North Coast Zone 7
The next season will commence in September 2025 with registrations expected to open in August. The Club’s AGM will be held at 4:30pm on 9 May 2025 at Buz Brazel Oval, Scotts Head.
bowls monthly “get together day” and what a magnificent day it turned out to be.
RSL bowlers from Grafton, Yamba, Woopi, Park Beach, CEX Coffs, Urunga, Macksville and Bowraville all turned out for a great day of fun and companionship.
A huge thank you to Bowraville Ex Services Club for providing all the trophies and a huge thank you to the Hub, the kitchen and the volunteers for making the day a great success.
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Medals at the ready.
Proud award recipients.
Celebrating a successful season.
Avalon Vowels shines in the surf
By Jen HETHERINGTON
THE 25th annual Barney
Miller Classic surf contest took place on the weekend of 21-23 March in Sawtell.
Yarrahapinni teenager
Avalon Vowels was placed first in the Under 18 Girls division, solidifying a back-to-back result.
“I would like to give a big thank you to the ColemanSmith foundation for the generous grant that I received last year,” Avalon said.
“[It] helped to pay for NSW Team training, which has paid off in my results this year.
“I also won the Regional Titles in Sawtell two weeks ago. In my semi-final, I scored my highest single wave score yet - a 9.33.”
The Barney Miller Classic,
established in 1999, is a charity event that raises funds for people in the community who are in need.
This year, proceeds will go to Coffs Coast local Mike Thorncroft, who was involved in a motocross accident in January 2024.
The Classic is supported by many local businesses, and every year Sawtell board riders come along and help out, whether it's cooking on the barbeque, or helping set up and pack up.
What began as a tribute to Barney Miller’s resilience and love for surfing, has grown into a cornerstone event for the Coffs Harbour community and the broader Australian surfing scene.
In 25 years, the Classic has raised more than $500,000.
There is more competitive surfing ahead for Avalon, with a nationwide contest in Coolum and State Titles in
May. In the meantime, she’ll be staying on top of her Year 11 and 12 studies.
Haldon’s five goal masterclass
By David WIGLEY
THE North Coast’s Anderson Haldon ran riot with five goals in a 6-1 demolition of Newcastle heavyweights
Edgeworth Eagles in the Premier Youth League under18s at Coffs Coast Synthetics on Sunday.
The 18-year-old striker delivered a masterclass in finishing, tormenting the Edgeworth defence with a ruthless display that had the visitors shell-shocked.
Every touch was clinical as he showcased the kind of composure that will have scouts taking notice.
Haldon opened the scoring in the twelfth minute, weaving past defenders before coolly slotting the ball into the bottom corner.
Five minutes later, he was at it again, ghosting into the
box to glance home a welltimed header from a free kick. His hat-trick was complete before halftime, with the No.9 winning and converting a penalty with trademark confidence, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to put North Coast in complete control at 3-0.
And he wasn’t done yet.
Back on the water after Alfred
FOLLOWING a soggy start to the new year, the Urunga Sail Training Club (USTC) has been taking a group of dedicated students through small boat courses in recent months.
Despite unusually low student numbers, USTC secretary Kerry Ridgley said the courses were off to a “pretty good start” before being brought to an abrupt halt by the arrival of ExTropical Cyclone Alfred.
“[After] torrential rain and flooding, with the Bellinger and Kalang rivers flushing out floodwaters and debris out to sea, the USTC finally got back onto the river to finish up the last two weeks of the current sailing course,” said Kerry. The sail training club has also welcomed a new vessel to its fleet.
On Saturday morning, 22 March, under a somewhat overcast sky with light winds and a slightly turbid low tide, the USTC was able to give
“Kitty Kat”, a fire engine-red Pacer, its first spin on the river.
Like many of the USTC’s training boats, this beautiful timber Pacer was recently donated to the club by Rick Sutherland of Sawtell.
The new boat will be used by beginners but also has spinnaker rigging that can be used by more advanced sailors.
Registrations for the club’s next course on 3 May are now open.
q
Bowra Golf Results
By Julee TOWNSEND
BOWRA Record Breaking Weekend of Golf
It was a record-breaking weekend on Sat 22nd and Sun 23rd of March. The Golf Course Record was broken on the new layout. The course had a somewhat challenging new layout done a few years ago to accommodate the ‘Bowra Sport Hub’. Salutations to Daniel Wren, who has been playing fantastic golf of late even had an Eagle, entered the Stableford competition
Haldon added two more in the second half, capping a five-star performance that will be talked about for years to come.
North Coast were rampant and Edgeworth were stunned, as the locals romped to a statement victory.
While Haldon stole the headlines, it was a mixed day for the North Coast squads.
The Under 13s battled to a gritty 1-0 win, but the Under 15s and Under 16s struggled against a well-
on Sat. Daniel - 6 comes in with 2 over par 74! Breaking the record on the new layout. Greg Gillion held the record with a 10 under par for 20 years on the old one. Daniel only held it for 24hrs because The Men’s Pennants was held on the Sunday Bowra vs Urunga. David McBaron + 1, comes in with a 2 under par a 70 breaking the record set the day before. Congratulations to David McBaron . The new record is now 70. Bowra won the Pennants on the day 3.5 to 1.5.
drilled Edgeworth outfit, going down 4-0 and 4-1, respectively.
The Under 14s looked set for a share of the spoils thanks to Pippa Dodd’s stunning free kick, but Edgeworth struck late to snatch a 2-1 victory, rounding off a day of highs and lows for the hosts.
North Coast now turn their attention to New Lambton, making the trip south on Saturday, 5 April, as they look to build on their momentum.
Holmes à Court’s ulterior motive
DEAR News Of The Area,
JANET Olney, in her Letter to the Editor on 21 March, speculates as to the agendas of the billionaire businessman Holmes à Court’s ulterior motive who is backing the Cowper Independent candidate, Caz Heise. Jim Knight wonders about his ulterior motive for Australia.
Yes, he has an agenda, but it is not a business agenda.
It is the future of every person in this electorate, our children and their children.
His agenda is action on Climate Change.
Sadly, this is not possible to comprehend by followers of a certain political persuasion who can only see
things in terms of “business self-interest” and whose response to the threat of global warming is often compared to that of a large African bird.
In a word, Holmes à Court’s ulterior motive is not a businessman in the alternate energy industry, or this would be trumpeted from the rooftops by the Murdoch press.
His second agenda is integrity in politics, so his organisation publishes the source of every dollar gathered and spent from the 35,800 plus citizen donors to his fund.
This legislation effectively allows them to spend as much as they can lay their hands on in a political campaign, but limits the spending of independents.
Yes, follow the money folks but look how it is gathered and spent rather than jump to conclusions.
Check out the policies of each candidate for Cowper and bypass disinformation fueled by an entrenched ideology lit by speculation and innuendo.
Regards, Max BRINSMEAD, Coffs Harbour.
His third agenda is a fairer democracy as he seeks to counter the funding gerrymander created by a rare bipartisan bill enacted by the major parties on the last day of parliament.
q Anderson Haldon celebrating another goal for North Coast under 18s. Photo: David Wigley.
q Pippa Dodd scored a ripper free kick for North Coast under 14s. Photo: David Wigley.
q Young surfing star Avalon Vowels. Photo: Sean McMahon.
Students sailing on a Pacer.
Kids Boot Camp 035
By Manny WOOD
High-stakes claim in Supreme Court
BETTY makes a will, leaving her whole estate to her daughter. She decides not to include her son, Barry.
When Betty passes-away, her estate is valued at around $400,000, consisting primarily of her principal place of residence, in which her daughter resides.
Barry makes a “family provision” claim.
Barry alleges that during his childhood, he was the victim of domestic violence.
He says that as a result, he performed poorly at school and left before completing his school certificate.
Barry says that he had a good relationship with his mother and that later in life, she enjoyed the times that he would visit her with his children.
The Court hears that Barry’s legal costs, up to the conclusion of a three day hearing, were $150,000 on a “no win, no fee” basis and that the estate had incurred $140,000 in legal costs.
The Court observes that the legal costs are “very high” and “unjustified”.
The Court finds Barry to be an “unreliable witness” and does not accept that his recollection of events and conversations were “accurate or reliable”.
Nonetheless, the Court accepts that Barry, as a child of the deceased, is eligible to make a claim and that he is entitled to “proper and adequate” provision from his late mother’s estate, as perceived by the “prevailing community standards of what is right and appropriate”.
The Court accepts that the alleged domestic violence is relevant in assessing the deceased’s moral duty to Barry. The Court also accepts that as a disability pensioner with no substantial assets, Barry had demonstrated that he has financial needs, claiming $150,000 to assist with accommodation, transport and medical expenses.
However, evidence is adduced, to the effect that Barry was estranged from the deceased for more than 10 years prior to the making of her last will.
In dismissing Barry’s claim, the Court rules that in light of the deceased’s wish that her daughter reside in her home and the lack of other assets in the estate, her “testamentary intentions” should not be disturbed.
This fictional column is not legal advice.
DEAR News Of The Area,
DUTTON and his LNP members say that they will reduce electricity prices, reduce the cost of living, reduce inflation - how?
Just slogans with no policies underpinned with competent concrete data.
Their nuclear electricity “policy” was evaluated by the Australian Energy Market Operator and CSIRO as being unrealistic and unaffordable.
Under such considered scrutiny some members of the Coalition had to admit that nuclear will not reduce electricity prices in the short term or long term!
So how does that affect our electricity prices, cost of living and inflation?
Dorin’s Draws By Paul DORIN On theCouch
Campaign fails to excite so far
DEAR News Of The Area,
THE election campaign so far has done little to encourage our attention.
Mr Albanese more or less offered a direct bribe to vote Labor via the budget’s tax cut offer, then adopted the policy of not doing or saying anything which might frighten the horses.
Meanwhile the opposition leader has been reminding people that he is Peter Dutton.
In quick succession he made contributions which unkind observers could interpret as homophobic (calling the PM “limp wristed”), dishonest (alleged insider trading), unethical (numerous times in the train wreck interview with Kyle and Jackie O) and deluded (doubling down on fossil fuels).
Meanwhile at a local level,
our member for Cowper Mr Conahan has broken cover via an email on the government’s budget which could be described as quite negative.
In short order he was against the ALP in general, public servants, potholes, tax cuts and more.
Emotive terms such as “slashes”, “burden”, “struggling” and “frustration” abounded.
The only positive he could find was for the coalition’s energy policy, promising “clean and efficient” nuclear energy (provided of course they can find somewhere to store the resulting waste for the next 20 or 30 thousand years).
His opponent Caz Heise doesn’t have this problem.
Her campaign is relentlessly upbeat, with earnest locals promoting the message that Caz “listens, cares and knows how to get things done.”
The only thing I could identify that she was against was cancer – perhaps
DEAR Jasminda,
I HAVE a friend who is a beautician.
She gives me cheap massages and facials but she talks the whole way through the experience and it's torture.
Can I tell her to be quiet?
Rebecca D.
Dear Rebecca,
Unfortunately in this world, you get what you pay for, and when you want an hour-long silent massage, you have to pay full price.
Your friend sees your massage and facial treatments as a chance to catch up, and rightly so if you are only paying a fraction of the normal cost.
I think you should come clean and suggest that having a massage is one of the few times you get to relax.
If your friend is a good friend, she will completely
this was a dig at the coalition’s energy policy.
understand.
Maybe suggest that you catch up for coffee on another day, so you can chat about life without your head in the massage table face port. It's never easy to talk during a massage anyway because you are too busy drooling or else clenching your teeth as the masseuse pummels the knots in your neck and shoulders. Alternatively, you could save your conversations for treatments that are torture anyway - eyebrow and underarm waxing, chemical peels, eyeliner tattoos, and laser sunspot removal. During these treatments, you can not only chat, but also scream or cry for mercy.
While not quite the same as talking about the kids or your latest holiday plans, it will let your friend know that you are fully present.
Alternatively, book in to see a professional that you have no social ties to. You will then be able to sigh or scream or remain as silent as a stone without feeling bad about it.
Carpe diem, Jasminda.
The upshot of all this is that the unthinkable could happen – latest polling shows Cowper may ditch the Nationals. Stay tuned readers, something interesting might happen and you’d hate to miss it.
Don’t dis the crossbench
DEAR News Of The Area,
BOB Harris’ letter (NOTA 14 March) highlighting the trap of ‘misinformation’ and ‘disinformation’ is timely given the upcoming Federal election.
Of course historically there has always been the good old fashioned strategy of ‘character assassination’, outlandish promises, and downright lying, but with personal pride and the threat of defamation hanging in the wind, there was usually a sense that you needed to be reasonably close to the truth.
Electricity prices
statements over the months?
• Nuclear is the cheapest form of electricity (but it isn’t);
• No taxpayer funds to build them because big business will jump at the chance to build them (but they didn’t);
• Now the taxpayer will fund them;
• Dutton’s “coke can” of radioactive waste misinformation to voters.
Changing policy on the run doesn’t pass the pub test!
Do you remember the LNP’s changing
Regards, Michael TRIST, Urunga.
Recent tactics, used to great effect by Steve Bannon in the US during Trump’s first term and of significant concern in a healthy democracy, is the deliberate spread of false or misleading information which creates fear, anger, skepticism, and confusion, given the term, “spreading the zone with sh@#”.
While we all have our own prejudices and will either seek out information to make intelligent informed choices or believe what suits us, each of these four factors have the ability to seriously undermine public confidence in democratic processes, as has been borne out in the US and globally. We all need to be awake to the major forces in this Country which are manipulating popular opinion.
Now we are expected to believe the LNP’s own “creative” modelling - an analysis in complete disagreement with competent independent analysis.
The LNP is treating all voters as pliant non thinking pawns in their power deception.
So remember that if you vote, with an unprejudiced mind, for the LNP’s nuclear option, you will be voting for the most expensive and delayed form of electricity for yourself, your children and the generations to come, and the consequent taxpayer cost of keeping old coal fired powered stations operative.
But perhaps these LNP promises are just “non core policies” or “aspirational policies” of two previous Liberal PMs.
Regards, Peter MEIN, Toormina.
While Pauline Hanson has used fear and anger to considerable effect over the years, No campaigner Matthew Sheahan’s Advance, which has apparently managed to secure over $15 million in donations to target the Greens and Teals, via social media, emails and mail outs is one such culprit.
God knows we need a deeper debate, major structural changes and greater scrutiny within our Federal Parliament.
The current Greens and Independents have at least added some integrity, often holding the current two major parties to account and forcing beneficial change.
Contrary to much of the disinformation, the wheels of government have not fallen off, nor the sky fallen in.
Regards, Dave WOOD, Boambee East.
Have Your Say
News Of The Area would love to hear your OPINION and VIEWS on issues and topics affecting our area. Keep Letters to the Editor under 250 words for its best chance of publication. Please be aware that there is no guarantee of publication from your submission to us. Publication will be determined by the Editor around available space, relevance and appropriateness. Email us media@newsofthearea.com.au
Nambucca Plaza Sunday 6th April
8.00am - 1.00pm Rain or Shine ‘Serving the Community’
Position Vacant
BOWRAVILLE LOCAL
ABORIGINAL LAND COUNCIL
PO BOX 90 BOWRAVILLE NSW 2449
PH: (02) 6564 7812
EMAIL: bowralc@bigpond.net.au
ABN 88 460 410 263
Chief Executive Officer
Bowraville Local Aboriginal Land Council
Salary range $85k - $95k plus superannuation
Job Description
BLALC is seeking a CEO who practices purpose-led leadership to achieve the social, cultural, economic and environmental aspirations of the BLALC Aboriginal Community. The CEO is responsible for ensuring the statutory functions of the NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (ALRA) are met, reporting to the Board, managing the day-to-day operations and administration of BLALC, achieving outcomes through the BLALC Community Land and Business Plan, and applying best practice principles to the functions of BLALC. The CEO will develop and maintain strong, respectful relationships with current and emerging partners to ensure the continuation of current BLALC programs, and identify and deliver new opportunities. Salary packaging and salary sacrifice options are available to the successful applicant. Motor vehicle, mobile phone, tablet and laptop provided for work related use.
This position is a targeted position open to Aboriginal applicants only. Applications from Non-Aboriginal applicants will not progress to the next stage of recruitment. In accordance with Sections 14 and 21 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 and under Clause 26 of the Government Sector Employment (General) Rules 2014.
To obtain a recruitment package including the selection criteria and position description, please email your request to trent@ leavie.com.au using the subject line: Chief Executive Officer –Bowraville LALC or call 0400 563 018.
Applications close: 5:00pm Friday 25th April 2025
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SUNDAY
AUSTRALIAN SURVIVOR
TEN, 7pm
After last night’s tribal council, the numbers have well and truly fallen on the Brains side and the members of the “Postgraduate alliance” – Kaelan, Myles, AJ and Zara – should be riding high. The quartet easily outnumbers the two remaining Brawns, Kate and Morgan, so choosing who to eliminate next is straightforward, right? Wrong. With the end game in sight, the allies realise that just one player turning could see their hard-won advantage crumble. Adding fuel to the fire is host Jonathan LaPaglia (pictured), who shares an explosive twist at tribal council.
FRIDAY, April 4
With Charlie Pickering. (PG, R) A satirical news program.
Hard Quiz. (PG, R)
Spicks And Specks. (PG, R)
ABC Late News.
Father Brown. (PGav, R) 11.55 Grand Designs Revisited. (PG, R)
Long Lost Family. (PG, R)
Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv)
Rage. (PG)
6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.
7.35 The Hunt For Cleopatra’s Missing Tomb. (PGa, R)
8.25 Bettany Hughes’ Lost Worlds: Nabataeans. (PG)
TUESDAY
THE AGENDA SETTERS
SEVEN, 10.30pm
By now even the most casual viewer of AFL commentary might have noticed that things look a little different on the box this year. There’s a free-toair footy war heating up – and so far, audiences are the clear winners. With matches, news and opinion programming on every day of the week, there’s no excuse for not knowing a Daniher from a Daicos. Airing on Monday and Tuesday nights, this new home of hard-hitting viewpoints and expert analysis showcases Seven’s recent signings: Kane Cornes, Craig Hutchison, Nick Riewoldt and Caroline Wilson (pictured). In tonight’s edition, Cornes leads the charge, with Wilson, Dale Thomas and Luke Hodge tackling the biggest topics of the game.
9.25 Scotland’s Scenic Railways. (R)
10.20 SBS World News Late.
10.50 A Body That Works. (Mls)
11.50 Romulus. (MA15+av, R)
1.40 Hugh’s Wild West. (PG, R)
3.40 Inside The Modelling Agency. (Ml, R)
4.35 Bamay. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
WEDNESDAY
THE HANDMAID’S TALE
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. Hosted by Johanna Griggs.
8.30 MOVIE: Pitch Perfect. (2012, Mls, R) A university freshman is coaxed into joining an all-girl a cappella group. Before they can take on their rivals, they must first revamp their new recruits, incorporating their unique style into their repertoire. Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson.
It’s been a long road for heroic former handmaid June (Elisabeth Moss, pictured) in this dystopian drama. Over five seasons (which began airing in 2017), this addictive adaptation has gone far beyond the pages of Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel; taking June to Chicago and Canada, as well as adding details and diversity to the famed story, sharing other perspectives on life in Gilead. Its sixth and final chapter begins tonight as June returns to Gilead to finish what she started – securing the freedom of her fellow handmaids – this time, with more allies on her side than ever before. Serena (Yvonne Strahovski) is also back, with a plan to reform the regime from the inside.
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 5. South Sydney Rabbitohs v Sydney Roosters.
9.55 Golden Point. A wrap-up of the South Sydney Rabbitohs versus Sydney Roosters match, with news and analysis.
10.45 MOVIE: The Foreigner. (2017, MA15+alv, R) A restaurateur seeks justice. Jackie Chan, Pierce Brosnan.
12.40 Tipping Point. (PG, 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) Hosted by Grant Denyer. 6.30 The Project. A look at the day’s news. 7.30 Soccer. Women’s international friendly. Australia v Korea Republic. From Allianz Stadium, Sydney. 10.30 10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather. 10.55 Sam Pang Tonight. (Mals, R) A weekly tonight show hosted by Sam Pang, featuring a monologue roasting the news of the week. 11.55 The Project. (R) 12.55 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
6.15
SATURDAY, April 5
Father Brown. (PGav) Father Brown’s friend is suspect of murder.
7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day.
7.30 Death In Paradise. (Ma) The team looks into a tourist’s death.
8.30 Vera. (Ma, R) DCI Vera Stanhope is on track to uncover an intriguing yet puzzling case when the body of a sickly young girl is discovered at the side of an isolated railway crossing.
10.00 Unforgotten. (Ml, R) The team discovers Gerry’s nationalist views.
10.50 Boat Story. (MA15+l, R) Janet and Samuel celebrate their newfound riches.
11.45 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
6am Children’s Programs. 6.05pm PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.15 Bluey. 6.25 Octonauts: Above And Beyond. 6.35 Hey Duggee. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Riley Rocket. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Harry Potter: Wizards Of Baking. 8.10 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament Of Houses. 8.50 Fresh Off The Boat. 9.35 Speechless. 9.55 Officially Amazing. 10.25 Dragon Ball Super. 10.50 Late Programs.
SUNDAY, April 6
6.30 Compass: Meditating For Change. (PG)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 Darby And Joan. (PGa) Jack and Joan’s winery stay is disrupted.
8.15 Unforgotten. (Mal) The team finds suspects further afield.
9.05 Boat Story. (MA15+dlv) Janet and Samuel are caught in the crossfire.
6am Children’s Programs. 5.45pm Tish Tash. 5.50 Paddington. 6.05 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.15 Bluey. 6.25 Octonauts: Above And Beyond. 6.35 Hey Duggee. 6.40 Ben And Holly. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Riley Rocket. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Moominvalley. 8.00 Horrible Histories. 8.30 Fresh Off The Boat. 9.10
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 The Wonders Of Europe. 8.30 Blenheim: The People Behind The Palace.
9.25 Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy: Naples And The Amalfi Coast. (R)
10.15 Great Coastal Railway Journeys. (R)
11.15 Paris Paris. (Mls, R)
1.45 Bamay. (R) 1.59 Going Places With Ernie Dingo. (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)
7.30 MOVIE: Central Intelligence. (2016, Mlsv, R) An accountant and a CIA agent work a case. Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart.
9.45 MOVIE: Battle Los Angeles. (2011, Mlv, R) US Marines battle aliens. Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez.
12.10 Idris Elba Meets Paul McCartney. (PGa, R)
1.10 Travel Oz. (PG, R)
2.00 To Be Advised.
4.00 It’s Academic. (R) 5.00 My Greek Odyssey. (PG, R)
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Space Invaders. (PGa)
8.30 MOVIE: Black Adam. (2022, Mav, R)
10.50 MOVIE: Shazam! (2019, Mav, R)
1.10 Let’s Eat With George. (R)
1.35 The Garden Gurus. (R)
2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PG)
2.15 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
2.30 World’s Greatest Natural Icons. (R)
3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.30 Global Shop. (R)
TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
6am Arthur And
The Two Worlds War. Continued. (2010, PG) 7.30
The Magic Of Belle Isle. (2012, PG) 9.35 Fantastic Mr. Fox. (2009, PG) 11.10 Love Songs For Tough Guys. (2021, M, French) 1.10pm The Duke. (2020, M) 3.00 Gambit. (2012) 4.40 Phar Lap. (1983, PG) 6.50 Horrible Histories: The Movie. (2019, PG) 8.30 Marlowe. (2022, MA15+) 10.35 Sex, Lies And Videotape. (1989, M) 12.30am Late Programs.
6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Ancient Empires. (Premiere) 9.25 Maya: The Fall Of An Empire: The Maya: Demise Of An Empire.
10.30 Mayhem: Secret Lives Of Georgian Kings. (PGav, R)
11.25 Rebel With A Cause. (PGa, R)
12.25 Empires Of New York. (Madl, R)
2.55 Britain’s Great Outdoors. (R)
3.25 Fergal Keane: Living With PTSD. (MA15+avw, R)
4.25 Bamay. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning.
5.15 France 24 Feature.
5.30 Al Jazeera News.
VICELAND (31) VICELAND (31)
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Australian Idol. (PGl) Hosted by Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie. 8.40 7NEWS Spotlight. Liam Bartlett uncovers the dirty truth behind so-called clean, green electric vehicles.
9.40 Waco Untold: The British Stories. (Premiere, MA15+asv) Takes a look at the Branch Davidians.
12.00 The Bay. (Mal, R)
1.00 My Greek Odyssey. (PGl, R)
2.00 To Be Advised.
3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R)
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
Helping Hands. (PG, R) 6.00 NBN News. 7.00 Married At First Sight. (PGls) 8.50 60 Minutes. Current affairs program, investigating, analysing and uncovering the issues
6am Horrible Histories: The Movie. Continued. (2019, PG) 6.40 Walk With Me. (2017, PG) 8.25 I Capture The Castle. (2003, PG) 10.30 Larry Crowne. (2011, M) 12.20pm The Glorias. (2020, M) 3.00 Moonstruck. (1987, PG) 4.55 The Importance Of Being Earnest. (2002) 6.35 Percy Vs Goliath. (2020, PG) 8.30 The Good German. (2006) 10.30 These Days. (2016, M, Italian) 12.45am Late Programs.
6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.
7.35 Milan With Michael Portillo. (PG)
8.25 Pompeii: The New Dig. (PGa, R)
9.35 24 Hours In Emergency. (Ma)
10.30 SBS World News Late. 11.00 Syndrome E. (MA15+s)
12.00 Infiniti. (MA15+av, R)
2.00 Hugh’s Wild West. (R) 3.05 Inside The Modelling Agency. (Ml, R) 4.00 Bamay. (R) 4.30 Peer To Peer. (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 Australian Idol. (Final, PGl) Hosted by Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie.
9.10 9-1-1: Lone Star. (Ma) The 126 is called on the scene to a hoarder’s rat-infested house before being trapped in an elevator.
10.10 Suits L.A. (M)
11.10 The Agenda Setters.
12.10 Treadstone. (Premiere, MA15+av)
1.20 Harry’s Practice. (R) 2.00 To Be Advised. 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 NBN News. 7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Married At First Sight. (Mls) 9.20 Love Triangle. (Return, Mls) Singles meet for a date after only texting. 10.50 9News Late. 11.20 Police After Dark. (Mlv, R) 12.15 Next Stop. 12.40 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R)
6.00
SBS MOVIES (32)
6am The Movie Show. 6.20 The Importance Of Being Earnest. (2002) 8.00 Phar Lap. (1983, PG) 10.10 Ordinary Happiness. (2019, M, Italian) 11.50 Sex, Lies And Videotape. (1989, M) 1.40pm Horrible Histories: The Movie. (2019, PG) 3.25 Heidi. (2015, PG, German) 5.30 Bride And Prejudice. (2004, PG) 7.30 Couch Potatoes. (2017, M, Italian) 9.30 Usogui. (2022, Japanese) 11.45 Late Programs.
3.55 Inside The Modelling Agency. (Ml, R) 4.50 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (PGaw, R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
7MATE (64)
SBS MOVIES (32)
6am Bride And Prejudice. (2004, PG) 8.05 Percy Vs Goliath. (2020, PG) 10.00 These Days. (2016, M, Italian) 12.15pm Marriage Italian Style. (1964, M, Italy) 2.10 White Lion. (2010, PG) 3.50 The Final Countdown. (1980, PG) 5.45 Emu Runner. (2018, PG) 7.35 Falcon Lake. (2022, M) 9.30 Motherhood. (2022, Japanese) 11.45 Gloria Bell. (2018, M) 1.40am Usogui. (2022, Japanese) 3.50 Late Programs.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGa)
7.30 The Americas: The Wild West. (PG) 8.30 The Hunting Party. (M) The team tracks Jenna Wells. 9.30 The Irrational. (Mav) Alec must extract a confession.
10.30 The Agenda Setters.
11.30 St. Denis Medical. (PGa)
12.00 The Act. (MA15+ans, R)
1.10 Travel Oz. (PG, R)
2.00 To Be Advised.
4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
7MATE (64)
FAMILY (22)
WEDNESDAY, April 2
6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Alone Australia. (Ml)
8.40 Eurostar: Minding The Gap. Looks at the Eurostar.
Rogue Heroes. (MA15+v)
SBS World News Late.
Blackwater. (Malsv)
My Brilliant Friend. (Malv, R)
3.50 Bamay. (R)
4.50 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning.
5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6am Children’s Programs. 6.05pm PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.15 Bluey.
SBS MOVIES (32)
6am Tourism.
Continued. (2017) 6.25 Belle. (2013, PG) 8.20 Selkie. (2000, PG) 9.55 Dafne. (2019, PG, Italian) 11.40 Hajjan. (2023, M, Arabic) 2pm The Movie Show. 2.35 The Kids Are Alright. (2021, PG, Spanish) 4.15 Viajeros. (2022, PG, Spanish) 5.50 Eat Wheaties! (2020, PG) 7.30 Made In America. (1993, M) 9.35 Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery. (1997, M) 11.15 Late Programs.
THURSDAY, April 3
6.00 Mastermind Australia.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Finding Your Roots. (PGa)
8.30 Sydney’s Super Tunnel. (Return) 9.30 Virdee. (M) 10.35 SBS World News Late. 11.05 Breaking Point. (Mlsv) 11.55 Blinded. (Madl, R)
1.40 Hugh’s Wild West. (R)
3.45 Inside The Modelling Agency. (Ml, R)
4.40 Bamay. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning.
5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.15 Over The Black Dot. 6.45 Travel Man. 7.15 Jeopardy! 7.45 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 History’s Greatest Mysteries. 10.10 The UnXplained. 11.00 Homicide. 11.55 Late
SBS MOVIES (32)
6am Dafne. Continued. (2019, PG, Italian) 6.45 Viajeros. (2022, PG, Spanish) 8.20 The Kids Are Alright. (2021, PG, Spanish) 10.00 My Neighbor Adolf. (2022) 11.50 The Grump: In Search Of An Escort. (2022, M, Finnish) 1.55pm Belle. (2013, PG) 3.50 The Magic Of Belle Isle. (2012, PG) 5.55 Fantastic Mr. Fox. (2009, PG) 7.30 Gambit. (2012) 9.10 The Duke. (2020, M) 11.00 Late Programs.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PG) 7.30 The 1% Club UK. (PG) 8.30 The Front Bar. (Ml) Takes a lighter look at all things AFL. 9.30 Unfiltered. (PGal) Hosted by Hamish McLachlan.
10.00 Lawrence Mooney: Embracing Your Limitations. (MA15+s, R)
11.30 Autopsy USA. (Mad)
12.30 Covert Affairs. (Mv, R)
1.30 Travel Oz. (PG, R)
2.00 To Be Advised.
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 The Hundred With Andy Lee. (Return, PGs)
8.30 The Grand Tour. (Return, MA15+l) 9.50 Freddy And The Eighth. (Ml)
10.50 9News Late.
11.20 The Equalizer. (MA15+v, R) 12.10 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.05 Hello SA. (PG) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
2.30 Global Shop. (R)
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGa)
7.30 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly. (PGa) An Australian labradoodle won’t stop licking.
8.30 Britain’s Got Talent. (PG) Auditions begin as weird, wacky and wonderful acts compete in front of celebrity judges.
9.45 The Amazing Race. (PG)
11.15 The Chernobyl Disaster. (Ma, R) 12.15 Damnation. (MA15+asv)
1.30 Harry’s Practice. (R)
2.00 To Be Advised.
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
(34) 7MATE (64)
7MATE (64)
History makers
By Aiden BURGESS
NORTH Coast Bulldogs
Under 17s girls team have made history by winning the region’s first NSW
Rugby League Regional Representatives premiership.
The Bulldogs team won this year’s Lisa Fiaola Cup Regional title, triumphing 32-4 against the Northern Tigers in the grand final in Canberra.
The win capped off a stellar season in which they went undefeated.
Leading 8-0 at half-time, the Bulldogs romped home
to win the Lisa Fiaola Cup for the first time.
Keira Donovan and Arliah Morris both scored doubles, while Belle Cockeram, Tilly Cooper, and Poppi Flanders were also amongst the try scorers.
Bulldogs fullback Milla Swain earned player of the match honours.
North Coast Bulldogs junior representative sides had previously
finished runners up in two competitions.
Bulldogs coach Lauren Fearnley said her side were now part of history.
“It’s really special for women to be able to play Rugby League so, while trophies may come and go, these girls are now part of history,” she said.
“And that will inspire the next generation of girls coming through.”
q North Coast Bulldogs Under 17s girls side celebrate their premiership win.
