q Joining the Premier at Medowie was Acting Education Minister Courtney Houssos, Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington and students from Wirreanda and Medowie public schools. Photos: Amanda Green.
Premier turns sod on new high school at Medowie
FROM Page 1
“My youngest was in my arms when I first started fighting for the school,” she said.
“She’s now 19.
“Days don’t come much more special than this.
“I’m so grateful to everyone in our community for never giving up.”
Ms Washington said local residents had been calling for a public high school for decades.
“We had promises made, delays and denials from the Liberal National Government before, and it has taken the Minns Labor Government to deliver what families in Medowie have been wanting for years and years,” she said.
Following the announcement, the NSW Opposition called out the Government for “deliberately ignoring the record investment delivered by the former Liberal and Nationals Government in schools across the Hunter region”.
A statement from Shadow Education Minister Sarah Mitchell accused the Premier and MPs of
spruiking “a series of projects that were funded by the Coalition before the 2023 state election”.
“It’s interesting to see the Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington happily open new classrooms and facilities at schools in her electorate like Irrawang and Hunter River High that were funded by the previous government one day, but then claim the Liberals and Nationals failed to deliver for local schools the next,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Right across the
Hunter region the Coalition invested significantly in school infrastructure delivering new classrooms, upgraded facilities and major capital works that local families and students are now benefiting from - including projects in Muswellbrook, Rutherford and Newcastle.
“Labor might want to rewrite history, but the truth is that every one of these projects was made possible by the strong infrastructure pipeline and record funding that the Liberals and Nationals put in place.”
q Joining the Premier at Medowie was Acting Education Minister Courtney Houssos, Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington and students from Wirreanda and Medowie public schools. Photos: Amanda Green.
q Artist’s impressions of the new school.
q Premier Chris Minns during his press conference in Medowie.
Port Stephens returns 1200 endangered seahorses to the wild in conservation effort
FROM Page 1
threatened seahorse and the second most endangered worldwide.
The Minns Labor Government is committed to saving the species.
“[This takes] our total to 3500 of these endangered
small and delicate seahorses released back into waters, due to the success of our world class breeding program,” Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said.
“The natural habitat of White’s seahorse in Port Stephens has been severely impacted by recent flood events, which underscores the importance of our
recovery efforts.”
The seahorses were released into “seahorse hotels”, which were installed at sites in Port Stephens in 2024, in shallow water Posidonia seagrass meadows.
The hotels start as artificial habitats, but are rapidly covered in algae, sponges and corals.
Over time they transform into a natural habitat and
Cenotaph’s centenary
By Cosette DE LORENZO
RAYMOND Terrace will commemorate 100 years of Anzac Park’s memorial cenotaph on Remembrance Day.
The cenotaph was unveiled on 11 November 1925, revealing the names of locals who served in World War 1 and the Boer War of 1899-1902.
It cost a total of 379 pounds and was erected using donations from townspeople, returned soldiers and their families.
The Raymond Terrace RSL sub-Branch will mark the 100
years by adding the names of eligible returned service personnel from later conflicts who are not already listed.
Other commemorative events will take place on the day including a Remembrance Day March.
“The march will include ADF and RSL contingents, historic vehicles for veteran transport, schoolchildren with the names of veterans from the conflicts listed on the memorial [and] veterans and relatives,” Judith Schofield from the sub-Branch said.
“There will be some noise from the drum corps, [the] Australian Army Band
contingent and the Flypast at 11am, and also the PA systems broadcasting the service.”
The events will kick off at 9:30am and finish around midday.
Raymond Terrace Lions Club will decorate the park with thousands of handcrafted poppies woven into camouflage netting and attached around the park fence line as a tribute to Australia’s armed forces.
The club invites the community to add poppies or deliver poppies they have made themselves on 23 October at MarketPlace.
serve as homes for seahorses.
Four hundred primary school students from 15 schools across the Hunter helped deploy an additional 15 hotels.
“The Port Stephens community welcomes more baby White’s seahorses being released into our stunning waterways, safeguarding the future of this exceptionally cute endangered species,” State Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington said.
q
“Thanks to the very clever team at the Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, the baby seahorses were born and bred locally and are now being released to boost the local populations on the back of recent flood events.”
Local students assisted in deploying the hotels.
q A diver with the seahorse hotels.
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Comfort for hospital babies
By Jacie WHITFIELD
WHEN Kim Franks saw a Facebook post during the height of COVID-19 asking for knitted donations for newborns in hospital, she didn’t hesitate.
With spare wool on hand and a desire to help, she picked up her needles to cast off and hasn’t stopped using those magic wands to conjure warmth, cosiness and kindness from strands of wool.
Now, several years later, Kim dedicates around four hours every day, seven days a week, to knitting bright, comforting items for sick and premature babies.
From tiny beanies and booties to soft blankets and trauma teddies, each item is made with care and without a pattern.
“I just make them up as I go,” she said.
“I like using bright colours. I think when families are going through a hard time, a little bit of colour can help ease the pain and worry.”
Kim estimates she donates around four bags of handmade items every four months to hospitals, and has received thank you emails from staff grateful for her support.
While she hasn’t met any of the families her gifts have reached, the knowledge that her work is making a difference means the world.
Because yarn is cheaper than therapy, Kim keeps knitting so as not to unravel.
“I can’t work anymore due to debilitating psoriasis, so this keeps me busy and gives me purpose,” Kim said.
“Helping others helps me too - it leaves me with less time to think about myself.”
Kim relies on donated wool to keep her work going and is always grateful for contributions.
“No donation is too small,” she said.
“As long as people are donating, I’ll keep knitting.”
She has no plans of slowing down and hopes to continue her mission for happiness being homemade as long as she can.
“It’s a great feeling to know someone can use what I’ve made,” she said.
“That’s what keeps me going.”
Anyone interested in donating wool or getting involved can contact Kim directly on 0435 567 908.
q Kim Franks with one of her creations.
Community groups oppose potential development of Mambo Wetlands
By Cosette DE LORENZO
COMMUNITY groups are voicing strong opposition to potential development within sections of the Mambo Wetlands, under Port Stephens Council’s Salamander Bay Place Plan.
Maps included in the plan show that sections of the wetlands will be used for medical and commercial activity, parking and
mixed-use housing.
The proposal has sparked concern from the Mambo Wanda Wetlands Conservation Group who argue the plan threatens one of Port Stephens’ most significant ecological and cultural sites.
“Mambo Wanda Wetlands Conservation Group will be taking this fight on just as vehemently as we did the previous proposal in Port Stephens Drive in 2016,”
group spokesperson Kathy Brown told News Of The Area.
“We hope that by raising awareness now, the development application will be modified to exclude the wetlands from future construction.”
The wetlands are home to threatened bird species, koalas, gliders and other wildlife, and play a crucial role in coastal resilience by storing carbon, filtering water and
buffering against flooding and sea level rise.
The wetlands have also long been recognised as culturally significant to the Worimi people.
An application first lodged in 2012 by Carol RidgewayBissett to have Mambo declared an Aboriginal Place is currently under detailed assessment by Heritage NSW.
Advocacy has also continued
Terminal officially opens
NEWCASTLE Airport officially opened its new international terminal last Thursday evening, 25 September.
Around 300 guests including dignitaries, industry leaders and community representatives gathered to celebrate the expanded terminal.
The evening opened with a spectacular RAAF flyby, followed by a Welcome to Country from Worimi Elder Uncle John Ridgeway and a Smoking Ceremony led by Uncle Justin Ridgeway beside a custommade fire pit.
Guests were then treated to a vibrant showcase of Hunter culture, complete with live music and the region’s finest food and wine through Tastes of the Hunter.
Proceedings, hosted by Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes, included addresses from Minister for Defence Industry and Federal Member for Shortland Pat Conroy, Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley, Federal Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson, Port Stephens Mayor Leah Anderson and Deputy Lord Mayor of Newcastle City Council Callum Pull.
Formalities concluded with the unveiling of a commemorative artwork by Hunter artist Mitch Revs.
Newcastle Airport CEO
Linc Horton said the terminal’s footprint has now been expanded by 50 percent, opening the Hunter region to the world and making international travel from Newcastle easier and more accessible.
“We commenced direct flights to Perth earlier this month, have direct flights to Bali commencing on 21 October and are working on more exciting routes for our region,” Mr Horton said.
“Our region’s new international terminal is a legacy asset built today for the decades to come; for our shareholder councils Port Stephens and City of Newcastle, for our communities, for the State of New South Wales and for the Federal Government whose investment in us is an investment in our region’s future.”
According to the airport, the completed terminal is expected to deliver $12.7 billion in economic benefit over the next 20 years, including $6.2 billion into the visitor economy, $6.5 billion in freight activity and more than 4,000 jobs.
Newcastle Airport Chair Jude Munro AO said the Board’s
for RAMSAR international protection, which would bring stronger legislative safeguards and international recognition.
Some conservationists are concerned that the Council faces a conflict of interest by pursuing development while simultaneously being involved in Aboriginal Place and RAMSAR nomination processes.
The Conservation Group has pledged to rally community support and raise awareness ahead of formal planning decisions.
Munro
"This terminal represents the long-term vision and commitment of our Board to create infrastructure that supports Government objectives, delivers for today and positions the region for decades of growth," Ms
The new terminal expands the facility to eight gates, introduces an aerobridge for the first time and more than doubles the airport’s passenger capacity during peak periods.
It has been designed to accommodate larger international aircraft, opening the way for future
q The evening opened with a spectacular RAAF flyby.
said.
National recognition for Port Stephens author
By Cosette DE LORENZO
PORT Stephens author and Women’s Healing Sanctuary co-founder Sharalyn Drayton, has released her personal memoir “Finding Tomorrow”.
The book explores Drayton’s journey through grief and healing following personal loss.
She described the writing process as both painful and transformative.
“Writing Finding
Tomorrow was an act of survival as much as creativity,” she said.
“Each word helped me piece together the fragments of loss and point my heart toward healing.
“My greatest hope is that these pages gently remind other women, especially grieving mothers, that even through pain the possibility of tomorrow awaits.”
The book has already gained national attention, being named a finalist in
the 2025 ABLE Golden Book Awards, a national recognition that celebrates authors for their creativity, impact and dedication to the craft of writing.
Reviewers have praised the memoir for its honesty and emotional depth.
“Through Sharalyn’s unflinching honesty, we come to understand that grief is not a dead end, but a radical opening,” one reviewer said.
“It strips away illusion, allowing transformation and
hope to take root where only despair once grew.”
Proceeds from sales will go directly to the Angel Sponsorship Program, an initiative of the Women’s Healing Sanctuary in Port Stephens.
The program funds retreat stays for women experiencing grief, trauma, exhaustion and hardship, offering them a safe space to pause, rest and begin recovery.
Tiny forests breathe life and hope into urban Australia
By Stephanie GARDINER, AAP
LIVING in one of Australia's fastest growing regional areas, Anna Noon was watching in despair as nature made way for sprawling housing developments.
"There was a lot of land clearing happening," she says of her home at Lake Macquarie in the rapidly-expanding Hunter region.
"I knew that was leading to habitat loss, species extinction and exacerbating climate change."
The former social worker felt compelled to act and began volunteering for local treeplanting programs.
Five decades before, Japanese ecologist and botanist Akira Miyawaki felt a similar sense of dread as he watched native vegetation disappear from the landscape across his homeland.
Inspired by the lush clusters of native trees flourishing around temples and shrines, Professor Miyawaki developed a method of dense planting in urban areas for rapid revegetation.
Ms Noon, who re-trained in sustainable living and founded eco charity The Groundswell Collective, is following in his footsteps.
The charity has planted
16 tiny forests at schools and parks across NSW, packing as many as 900 trees into spaces as small as a basketball court.
This includes the Tocal Tiny Forest at Paterson and the Girrga Yabang Tiny Forest at Dungog.
The result is a forest that grows 10 times faster, is 30 times more dense and 100 times more biodiverse than if created via traditional planting methods.
A study by the University of Newcastle showed tiny forests hosted a complete food web within seven months of planting, as insects, birds, lizards and kangaroos made them part of their habitats.
"It just shows what you can do on a small scale if we take these underutilised areas in our community," Ms Noon
told AAP.
There are about 4000 Miyawaki forests around the world and many across Australia, including through a project at Murdoch University in Western Australia.
Groundswell's 17th project is in partnership with Mission Australia and Carbon Positive Australia to plant the nation's first tiny forest at an aged care home in Orange, central western NSW.
Australian blackwoods will grow next to mountain gums, snow boxes, acacias and other wattles at Benjamin Short Grove, a facility for older people who are at risk of homelessness.
The benefits of tiny forests go beyond environmental, Mission Australia's aged care general manager Stephen
Brooker said.
"Many of our residents have had lives filled with challenges, including experiences of homelessness.
"We hope the forest will be a healing space where they can connect with nature and each other."
For Ms Noon, hope and connection are essential parts of navigating a changing environment.
"We see incredible things from people coming together," she said.
"People will often say, 'I've done everything in my own environment to live as sustainably as I can' but they come to our planting days and there's 70 other people that also care about the things they care about.
"They find their people."
Children suffer as hidden victims of coercive control
BARNARDOS Australia warns that children in regional NSW are bearing the brunt of coercive control, as new crime statistics reveal rural communities are experiencing dramatically higher rates than other areas.
The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research quarterly report shows regional NSW recorded 170 coercive control incidents from July 2024 to June 2025 compared to 127 in Greater Sydney, with some regional areas experiencing rates more than three times the state average.
“The data shows that children in regional and rural areas are trapped in a perfect storm: higher rates of coercive control, limited access to support services and greater social isolation,” Barnardos Australia Program Manager Mark Hoare said.
The quarterly report shows 59 per cent of cases involved harassment and monitoring, while financial abuse affected 48 per cent of victims across the state.
Barnardos Australia is calling on state and federal governments to recognise children as victim-survivors of domestic violence and coercive control in their own right, ensuring they receive dedicated support services and are prioritised alongside their parents.
“These controlling behaviours are being experienced by mothers and children daily in the family home,” Mr Hoare said.
“These children often have no escape and they’re paying the ultimate price, and in rural and regional areas there’s often limited access to specialist support services.
“Children are trapped in dangerous situations.
“The data shows only nine charges were laid from 297 incidents over the past year and of these only one was proven while two were withdrawn.
“Of all the incidents across the states, more than half result in no charges.”
q Author Sharalyn Drayton shares her personal journey through grief and recovery.
q Groundswell Collective volunteers have planted 16 tiny forests in schools and parks across NSW. Photo: Groundswell.
PBL winners announced
THE Term 3 Week 10 winners of Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) awards have been revealed.
Week 10 winners:
Irrawang PS: Chelsea has been nominated for her outstanding performance at the Regional Athletics Carnival. Chelsea represented Irrawang with pride and demonstrated good sportsmanship by encouraging teammates and competitors. Chelsea’s positive attitude and commitment to excellence inspire her peers, making her a remarkable role model
and representative of school values.
Raymond Terrace PS: At a local restaurant that had a large play area for kids, a member of the public witnessed Corah J show RTPS values of “big looks after little”. Corah J helped a little girl about three-yearsold when she fell and hurt herself; she kept her calm until her Mum came over and got her. Other people at the restaurant also saw Corah J help the little girl and commented.
Grahamstown PS: Hudson is nominated by the
school’s OOSH for showing responsibility and empathy to a Kindergarten child who was lost and upset. She calmed the student, walked them to find a supervisor to check where they should be. Congratulations Hudson for being a great community member of the school.
Irrawang HS: Sarah consistently demonstrates excellence across all areas of CAPA. Her dedication was evident through her outstanding contributions backstage at Showcase, as well as her support in both pre-show and post-show
preparations.
Hunter River HS: Lily has been consistently demonstrating PBL values in Agriculture. She is always polite, enthusiastic, and willing to help others. Lily showed great commitment during the Cows Create Careers project, ensuring she never missed a feeding of the calves borrowed from Tocal. She is also an active and valued member of the Cattle Show Team and continues to excel as an Agriculture student.
Salt Ash PS: Hunter is receiving this award for
encouraging and supporting his peers at the Hunter River High School Showcase. He displayed Positive Behaviour for Learning values by cheering on all acts and showing enthusiasm and kindness throughout the rehearsals.
Medowie PS: Ava is an exemplary school citizen who always upholds the school’s expectations of being respectful, responsible and resilient. She puts these skills into effect every time she catches the bus home from school, looking after and out for her younger brother.
Seaham PS: Bailey is an exceptional school citizen
always upholding Seaham PBL school values of being a respectful, responsible learner. Bailey displays wonderful manners in all areas and is a kind friend to all. He can always be relied upon to be in the right place at the right time, always giving his best.
Karuah PS: Avarli is nominated for always being a polite and wellmannered student. Avarli consistently shows kindness and friendliness towards her peers and is always willing to assist and help others. She is a true example of the Community PBL values of acting responsibly and respect.
q Week 10 PBL winners.
Longworth Park rehabilitation
By Thomas O’KEEFE
STUDENTS from Karuah Public School joined local Landcare volunteers on Wednesday 24 September to rehabilitate the riverside slope above Longworth Park - just in time for the summer rush.
The volunteer working bee was made possible by a Love Water Grant via Hunter Water.
The group was one of 19 within Hunter Water’s service footprint to be awarded a share of $125,000 in funding to support water-saving and sustainability-focused initiatives.
Hunter Water Executive Manager Strategy and Engagement Emma Berry, said the program continues to strengthen community resilience and environmental awareness.
“Hunter Water received 76 applications, totalling $620,945 in requested funding, from schools, early childhood centres, not-forprofits, and local councils.
“This incredible interest shows the commitment of our local communities to protect our most valuable resource - water. These projects, from rainwater harvesting systems to educational
gardens and upgraded water infrastructure, will deliver lasting benefits across the Lower Hunter.”
The program is now in its seventh year, and offers oneoff funding of up to $10,000 for projects that promote water conservation and efficiency, as well as those that incorporate education, environmental stewardship, or sustainability outcomes.
“The Karuah Landcare Group chose the Longworth Park project to reduce weeds and provide native vegetation landscaping,” Landcare volunteer Cheryl Crotty told News Of The Area.
“We have also been assisted by Port Stephens Council with supply of some of the plants, and Litoria Ecological Restoration Service with expertise, labour, and equipment.
“The classes came down in groups and together we planted approximately 2500 native plants.
“We managed to plant out the whole area we had prepared (in April we removed all the weeds, and then spread mulch on the site over the last few weeks).”
The project will help link the pathway between Longworth Park and the Boat Ramp by bringing cohesion
between previous plantings at Memorial Park, the boat ramp area, and Longworth Park, dramatically improving the aesthetics of the Karuah River foreshore.
Local fauna will benefit from the increased foraging opportunities once the plants mature.
“We were thrilled to be invited once again by our local Landcare Group, led by Cheryl and Aaron Crotty, to take part in this fantastic community initiative,” Karuah Public School Principal Toni Lyle told NOTA.
“This event offered our students a meaningful opportunity to contribute to
the environment… while also providing a rich, hands-on learning experience.
q Lily was involved in the planting.
q Myles planted some regenerative flora.
the planting bug.”
Frocks, delicacies and strings
By Jacie WHITFIELD
THE Uniting Church in Salamander Bay was abloom with colour, conversation and classical charm last Saturday afternoon as more than 80 guests gathered for a stunning Springtime High Tea, the first event of its kind hosted by the local congregation.
A sea of floral dresses, flouncy skirts and bright pastels filled the hall, as friends, families and community members came together to enjoy an afternoon of elegance, live music, and lovingly homemade treats.
The Bay String Ensemble provided a beautiful backdrop of classical and contemporary favourites, including Pachelbel, Hallelujah and even a cheeky Can Can inspired encore, delighting guests as they sipped tea and savoured sweets.
The event came to life thanks to the simple spark of an idea - one that began over a cup of tea between two church members, Andrea and Mary.
Their vision blossomed into a full-scale community celebration that was a feast for the eyes and tummy, with gorgeous table adornments,
patterned fine China, peony folded serviettes and fanciful tea pots.
Volunteers from the church spent hours in the kitchen preparing a spread that could rival any whimsical Alice in Wonderland tea buffet.
Delicacies included fluffy scones with jam and cream, tasty finger sandwiches,
filled pastries, and a standout palette pleasing amusebouche - a delightful bitesized creamy berry creation by church member Denise.
No high tea would be complete without sweets, and this one certainly delivered.
Guests enjoyed an array of decorated cakes, iced fancies and meringue
kisses, alongside nostalgic favourites like white Christmas and rumless balls, all presented with finesse and care.
“It was such a joyful afternoon,” said one satisfied guest.
“You could tell everything was made with love - from the food to the music to the decorations.”
Organisers were thrilled with the turnout and the positive feedback, already
hinting at the possibility of making it an annual tradition.
“We just wanted to bring people together and celebrate spring,” said Andrea.
“To see so many smiling faces was the best reward.”
With full bellies, warm hearts, and the sounds of string music lingering in the air, the Uniting Church’s first Springtime High Tea was a resounding success.
“Many of our students went home inspired to continue planting in their own gardens – they’ve well and truly caught
q Zayne with trophies from the many plants put into the slope last week.
q The KPS kids are shown how to handle the seedlings before they plant them into the slope. All photos: supplied, Karuah Landcare Group.
q Spirited partygoers enjoying the tea, treats and tunes at the Springtime High Tea.
q One of the high tea towers adorned with homemade cakes, pastries and meringues.
HEATH JONES STEPHEN COSTELLO HUGH MCINNES
JACK JONES DEBORAH DORAN
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From the MAYOR'S DESK
By Mayor Leah Anderson
International terminal a gamechanger
LAST week I had the privilege of officially opening the new international terminal at Newcastle Airport, a proud moment for Port Stephens and the entire Hunter region.
This new terminal is a gateway, not just to the rest of Australia, but to the world.
With year-round international flights now possible, we’re more connected than ever.
With that connection comes opportunity. Opportunity for tourism, business, investment and, most importantly, local jobs.
Council is proud to be a joint shareholder of Newcastle Airport.
It belongs to our councils and to our communities.
With the support of the Federal and State Government, the new terminal is a significant investment in our shared future.
For our visitor economy, this is a game-changer.
Direct international flights will bring more travellers to our region, supporting local accommodation, hospitality, and tourism experienceshelping more people discover the natural beauty and lifestyle that makes Port Stephens so special.
But Newcastle Airport is about much more than travel. It’s a key economic driver for our region.
Located at the heart of Australia’s fastest growing aviation and defence hubs, and alongside a strong manufacturing sector, the airport is critical to attracting new investment and keeping our local industries competitive.
This project delivers a oncein-a-generation boost to our local economy, injecting billions over the coming decades and creating thousands of jobs.
The benefits will flow right across Port Stephens. Small businesses will see new customers, jobs will be created, and the airport’s growth helps drive further investment in our infrastructure and services.
For me, the most exciting part is knowing these long-term economic benefits will flow directly back to our community – building a stronger, more connected Port Stephens for generations to come
& LETTERS
Dorin’s Draws By Paul DORIN
Wartime at Tomaree and beyond
By Anne JOHNSON, Tea Gardens Family Research and Local History
I WAS delighted to learn that Tomaree Lodge is to be maintained for public use, as it is an iconic historic site.
This would be one of the few areas remaining from the American soldiers’ occupation during World War II.
In June 1942 Newcastle and Sydney were shelled from Japanese submarines and from that September Port Stephens became an amphibious training base for some 20,000 Americans and 2,000 Australians.
The base was wound up in October, 1943, due mainly to the distance from Port Stephens to the Papua New Guinea bases.
The U.S. Army “Small Ships” fleet was then assigned to supply the soldiers on the islands up north using vessels from our area.
One of our local men, Bill Ripley, was requested to join the tug “James Wallace” as captain.
This was a 109 feet by 24 feet steel tug which had been acquired by the Royal Australian Navy and then ceded to the U.S. “Small Ships” along with many more.
Bill was considered too old for the Australian military service but the Japanese presence appeared foreboding so he felt compelled to help under the Stars and Stripes.
However it was not until the early 2000s that the Australian government began recognising the service of Australian personnel who served in the U.S.Army “Small Ships”
section.
The American soldiers built some of the dwellings at the Tomaree site.
Because it was an army base, it was connected to electricity in April/May of 1942.
For many years after the war patients who resided at the Stockton Centre were taken to this area for a change of scene.
The patients were allowed to wander the area under supervision.
In the 1950s a friend’s father, who was a dentist working for Hunter Health in Newcastle, bought a unit at Nelson Bay so that he could also attend patients at Tomaree, which was considered an isolated area until more recent times.
After the Stockton Centre closed in 2020, the Tomaree Lodge was no longer needed for patients but thankfully a new use will also
DEAR
On theCouch
Email Jasminda: media@newsofthearea.com.au
Jasminda,
I've told my husband he is sometimes insensitive in his responses, but he doesn't seem to be able to change. Do you have any suggestions?
He's great in every other respect.
Claudia Q.
Dear
Claudia,
Firstly, I offer my condolences regarding your husband's occasional insensitivity.
People can be brash or unthinking at times and it can be hard to handle.
Perhaps you could suggest to your husband that he run his responses through AI.
For example, imagine you are about to go out and you've put on some makeup at which point your husband says something like: 'What have you done to your face?' Now, if he'd run that through AI, it would have given him a few more
celebrate its past.
My wartime memories are of the Tea Gardens ladies attending the occasional ball at Nelson Bay.
One example is a Red Cross Ball held in the church hall in July 1943.
By all accounts the ladies were well chaperoned!
My father had a launch and must have taken passengers on occasion.
Nola Nolan told me she was allowed to attend as her parents trusted mine to take her - she was eighteen-years-old.
Negotiating the long timber
palatable options, such as, and I quote: 'Oh, you look different. Did you try something new with your makeup?' or … 'You did something with your makeup today, right? It's bold. Tell me about it' or … ‘Oh honey, you did not come to play -- you came to slay. I see it. I fear it. I support it.'
These responses could (potentially) make you feel better, but maybe not.
In fact if my husband replied with any of the above AI responses, I'd probably think he was having an affair.
Not just any affair, but an affair with the lovechild of Liza Minnelli and Liberace.
It would also mean toning back on the usual retort, such as, 'At least I didn't brush my hair with the leg of a chair' or 'Mmmm. Shorts and boots. Interesting.'
Without concrete examples from you, it's hard for me to offer a more specific solution, but I've always found a withering stare is particularly effective in many situations.
Sometimes the less said, the better.
That may be a good message for your husband too.
wharf on arrival, wearing a ball gown and high heels, must have been a challenge.
My Mother also told me stories of the girl next door who had a job as a plane spotter, recording all planes flying in our area.
Our group has a log book covering several months of this work and the details supplied to the military.
The locals were also involved in the Coast Guard watches, reporting on all vessels entering Port Stephens and off the coast.
Carpe diem, Jasminda.
q The ‘James Wallace’. Image: courtesy of Stuart Ripley.
READING by Lynne Miles: Psalm 39: 6
BEHAVIOUR - "Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro; He bustles but only in vain, he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it."
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Soldiers Point Bowling Club
Foodworks Salamander Bay
Wanda Beach Pharmacy
Mobil Salamander Bay
Caltex Salamander Bay
Coles Salamander Bay
Natural Tucker
Woolworths Salamander Bay
Horizons Golf Club
Sunrise Lifestyle Resort
Seaham General Store
Opal Aged Care
Red Eye Café Raymond Terrace
Angeez Takeaway Raymond Terrace
Pet Parlour Raymond Terrace
Terrace Central Plaza Post Office
Newsagent Terrace Central Plaza
Woolworths Terrace Central Plaza
MarketPlace Woolworths
Raymond Terrace Shell
Raymond Terrace Library
Lakeside Newsagent
R&R Property
Foodworks Lakeside
Lakeside Leisure Centre
Muree Golf Club
Saxby's Bakery Salt Ash
Tanilba Bay Nursing Home
Tanilba Bay Retirement Units
Coles Tanilba Bay
Endevour Servo Tanilba Bay
Tanilba Newsagent
Post Office Tanilba Bay
Blue Marine Services
Chemist Lemon Tree
Club Lemon Tree
Tilligerry RSL
Tilligerry Real Estate
Coles Medowie
7-Eleven Medowie
Medowie Newsagent
Medowie Pharmacy
Woolworths Medowie
Medowie Social
Medowie Football Club
BP Servo Medowie
Pacific Dunes Golf Club
Metro Servo (Airport Side)
Metro Servo (Lavis Lane)
Stinker’s History: School life
By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE
OPENED in 1879, the Anna Bay Public School gave the opportunity for the children of Bobs Farm pioneering families to be educated.
Being situated around five kilometers from Bobs Farm it was quite a challenge to walk daily through the swampy marshland to attend school.
Of those pupils to enrol in 1879, little fiveyear-old Morris Upton had the longest journey to school.
Lovell M Blanch reported: "School children did not follow the road coming from Bobs Farm but had a track of their own through the bush and across the paddocks.
“There were four Maslens and four Cromartys and part of their track was right past the front of our house and then through the bush again, coming out at Uncle Steve Blanch’s then onto the road and on to school."
In 1916 there were sufficient children of school age living in the Bobs Farm area to warrant the establishment of a school. A site was chosen and a school building sourced.
The building had been a school, since closed, situated on the Cabbage Tree Road between Williamtown and Tomago.
This building was duly dismantled in sections and transported to Salt Ash from where it was floated down the Tilligerry Creek and up through the drains and finally hauled by bullock train to the site.
On site, roughly on the northern end of the present tennis court, it was re-erected in mid1917.
When opened to students the school was to be known as the Provisional School of Lower Anna Bay.
The school was opened in 1918 with Mr Lockney as the teacher.
The name Bobs Farm did not gain permanent currency until a Post Office was established in the 1920s on a site close to the location of the since burnt-out General Store.
Evidently, postal authorities were uncomfortable with having an Anna Bay and a Lower Anna Bay Post Office in the same area, believing that it would cause confusion.
When they enquired as to whether the Lower Anna Bay area had ever been known by any other name, they were informed that it was laughingly referred to, on occasions, as Bob’s Farm after a convict stockman who worked for Gentleman Smith at Fullerton Cove.
So, Bobs Farm, officially, came to be the new name for the area and, by the end of the 1920s, the school was known as Bobs Farm Public School.
The school building was riddled with termites and was replaced with a weatherboard building in 1928.
Over the past 100 years school enrolments have fluctuated.
In 1973 there were 10 students.
Other times there have been sufficient students for three teachers to be employed.
Memories of Bobs Farm School
A pupil from 1958-1964, Linda Martin said Bobs Farm school was one of her first memories.
One of my earliest childhood memories is waking up in the car and looking out the window to see a house that was to become my home for 11 years and the small school that I would attend for seven years.
“I was three years old at the time.
“Wll classes from kindergarten to Year 6 were in the one classroom and my teacher was my father Vince Martin, who was the teacher-in-charge for 11 years.
“Four of my five younger siblings were also in the
classroom for varying periods of time.”
Linda said three events during the year were eagerly anticipated by students.
One was Empire Day Celebrations, when “all the community came to the hall and partied”.
“There were so many goodies to eat prepared by the mums,” she said.
Another key date was the annual Port Stephens Area Sports Carnival, in which Bobs Farm “always excelled, returning with several trophies and the coveted shield”.
“The students at Bobs Farm were excellent at ball games, tunnel ball, captain ball as well as the orange and sack races. We marched perfectly as we had practiced for weeks.”
The final major event on the calendar was the end of year concert and Christmas party.
“We rehearsed for weeks and always entertained our audience,” Linda said
Stinker’s History: SS Sophia Jane
By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE
THE first ship to sail between Yacaaba and Tomaree, into the calm waters of Port Stephens, was the “Salamander” - a convict ship that arrived in Australia on 21 August 1791 as one of 11 ships in the 3rd Fleet.
Since that first arrival, ships from around the world have sought the refuge of the port.
The “Sophia Jane”, which arrived in 1831, was very different from the sailing ships that had previously entered the harbour.
The paddle wheel steamer was the first vessel of its type to arrive in Australian waters.
It sailed into Sydney Harbour from London on 17 May 1831, under the command of Captain Edward Biddulph, who was a part-owner.
The vessel attracted much interest in the Sydney colony as nothing like it had been seen before.
While being a paddle steamer that could be
powered by either coal or timber, it was also fitted with sails.
The sails enabled the vessel to be sailed from England without the use of coal or wood.
For most of its working life the paddle steamer transported goods and passengers between Sydney, Newcastle, Morpeth and Port Stephens areas.
The first visit made by SS Sophia Jane to Morpeth was on 12 June 1831, via Newcastle.
She later visited Port Stephens on July 26, 1831.
Sophia Jane arrives in Port Stephens for the first time
Sir Edward Parry was the Commissioner of the Australian Agricultural Company (AAC) from 1830 to 1834.
During the early part of his appointment, he was based at Carrington, Port Stephens and lived nearby in a
homestead at Tahlee.
Sir Edward Parry was a very respected and influential person in Sydney Town and had close connections with the two Governors who served during his presence in the colony.
The journal kept by Parry during his residence at Port Stephens show that he was a frequent traveller on the Sophia Jane.
Appreciation for the research conducted by Kevin McGinness
For more, visit portstephenshistory.com.
q Esma, Ivy and brother Allen Maslen off to Bobs Farm school along the bumpy Marsh Road in 1950.
q The SS Sophia Jane. Photo: supplied.
Flags raised for a new season
AS the weather heats up and locals prepare to enjoy another blissful summer, Hunter Surf Life Saving welcomed another season with its annual Raising of the Flags ceremony.
The highly anticipated event took place at 9:30am on Friday 26 September at Dixon Park Beach in Newcastle.
Hunter Surf Life Saving President Henry Scruton ESM highlighted the importance of vigilance this summer.
"Over the course of the summer, our volunteers took over 82,000 preventative measures, clocking up more than 65,000 patrol hours, which is no small feat," Mr Scruton said.
"Our lifesavers are essential to help ensure safety, with more than 858,000 visitors to our beaches last summer and more expected this season.”
Hunter Surf Life Saving has been supported by Newcastle Permanent for over 40 years.
to continue the
as the
for another season.
are
"The raising of the flags signifies an important time on our calendar, and we are honoured to have partnered with Hunter Surf Life
"We're excited to continue this partnership with Hunter Surf Life Saving and help ensure the sustainability of this service through recruitment, training, recognition and retention of local life savers.”
As more people head to the
Stargazing: The young woman who wants to be first on Mars
By Dave RENEKE, Astronomer
PICTURE this: you’re 23 years old, and while most of your peers are still navigating university or working out what to do with their lives, you’ve already chosen your destiny.
Not fame, not fortune - but Mars.
That’s the life of Alyssa Carson, a young American who has devoted almost every waking hour to one extraordinary goal: being one of the first humans to set foot on the “Red Planet”.
For Alyssa, space was never a passing fascination.
While other kids doodled ponies or superheroes, she was sketching rockets and alien landscapes.
She threw herself into every opportunity including space camps, science programs, astronaut simulations.
By her teenage years, she was enrolled in the Advanced PoSSUM Space Academy, a demanding program focused on suborbital flight research.
That’s serious training for someone who couldn’t yet rent a car.
And Alyssa hasn’t slowed down.
She’s learned languages, studied science and engineering, and tested her resilience in environments designed to push human limits.
In her mind, there’s no Plan B. Everything points toward Mars.
Now here’s where it gets spinetingling.
Alyssa has said, without hesitation, that she would accept a one-way mission.
No guaranteed return ticket.
No final trip home.
Just her, her crew, and an alien world.
Most of us would balk at such a fate.
For Alyssa, it’s simply the price of progress.
History is full of explorers who sailed into the unknown, not knowing if they’d ever come back.
Mars is the next great ocean.
So when could this giant leap actually happen?
NASA is preparing for the Artemis missions to return astronauts to the Moon in the next few years, using it as a testing ground for the technologies needed to reach Mars.
If timelines hold, the first human footprints could mark Martian soil in the 2030s.
And when that day arrives, Alyssa might just be the one pressing her boot into that alien dust.
But let’s look beyond that first step.
A Mars colony won’t resemble the sci-fi cities of glass spires we’ve seen in films.
At least at first, it will be about survival.
Picture giant domes filled with breathable air, greenhouses glowing with rows of hydroponic crops, and small crews huddled in pressurized habitats.
Outside those domes, the landscape is brutal - dust storms that last for weeks, thin air unfit for breathing, and temperatures that plunge far below zero.
Every breath, every sip of water, every bite of food will have to be engineered or grown under harsh conditions.
Yet imagine children being born there, never having seen Earth’s blue skies or oceans.
They’ll grow up under salmoncoloured sunsets, in one-third gravity, in a culture entirely their own.
They’ll be Martians in the truest sense, members of humanity’s first off-world society.
One day, when people on Earth look up at that red spark in the night sky, they’ll know it’s not just a planet anymore.
It’s a second home. Would you go?
Could you abandon the comfort of Earth for a fragile life on a barren desert world?
Most of us would hesitate.
But Alyssa Carson doesn’t. Her commitment reminds us that exploration has never been about comfort - it’s about courage.
Mars is waiting. And because of dreamers like Alyssa, we’re closer than ever to knocking on its door.
Port Stephens Veteran Golfers Association
By Gary WATT
Newcastle Permanent Head of Customer Lending Greg Hooper said he is proud
partnership
flags
raised
Saving for more than four decades," Mr Hooper said.
coast as the weather heats up, HSLS maintains their dedication to keeping beachgoers safe.
The region is well-prepared for another safe surf season with 13 Surf Life Saving clubs stretching from Tea Gardens-Hawks Nest to Catherine Bay.
q NSW Premier Chris Minns shaking hands with Hunter SLS Nipper Mason Overton.
q The Raising of the Flags ceremony was attended by local politicians and NSW Premier Chris Minns.
SUDOKU
Kids Boot Camp 050
Heartbreak for Knights stars Higgins and White
By Chris KARAS
RAYMOND Terrace rugby league queens Olivia Higgins and Lilly-Ann White have experienced finals heartbreak with the Newcastle Knights.
Higgins, the crafty Jillaroos international and NSW Sky Blues Origin hooker, turned in a non-stop performance in the Knights’ 30-6 preliminary final loss to the Brisbane Broncos last Sunday at Suncorp Stadium.
The skilful dummy half and three time NRLW premiership winner tried hard to spark the Newcastle side against the powerful Broncos who had too many big guns across the park.
Former Karuah Roos centre Shanice Parker also had her hands full containing Brisbane’s slick back division, spearheaded by former Knights champion fullback Tamika Upton, but never stopped probing in attack.
Brisbane now meet the unbeaten Sydney Roosters in a clash of the titans in this Sunday’s NRLW Grand Final at Accor Stadium.
Emerging fullback White was a late withdrawal from the Newcastle side for last weekend’s NSW Women's Premiership Grand Final against Cronulla-Sutherland at CommBank Stadium.
The young gun was drafted into the NRLW squad
for the preliminary final tilt with Brisbane as a reserve and missed the Knights’ heartbreaking 18-12 loss to the Sharks.
White, an exciting prospect who alternated between wing and fullback in Ben Jeffries’ NRLW squad, played a role in Newcastle claiming the NSW Women's Premiership minor title with 10 victories from 11 matches during the regular season.
The Knights defeated Illawarra 34-22 in their semifinal clash at Jubilee Oval but stumbled at the final hurdle against a revved up Sharks line-up, despite a second half revival.
Jayden Baldwin-Rymer is Marlins Player of the Year
By Chris KARAS
NELSON Bay Marlins AFL
midfield dynamo Jayden
Baldwin-Rymer scooped the pool at the club’s recent Senior Presentation Night at Shoal Bay Country Club.
The experienced campaigner took out the Marlins’ Best and Fairest and Players’ Player awards after an outstanding season in the Hunter Central Coast AFL Black Diamond Cup competition.
Jayden turned in skilful displays to spearhead the Marlins’ Grand Final charge - inspiring teammates with his all-action performances on field in the tough and competitive Cup series.
Nelson Bay bowed out of the title race after a 124-77 loss to eventual champions Terrigal Avoca Panthers in an elimination final at Adelaide Street Oval.
Marlins player-coach Wayd Blackburn and superboot Billy Barton were named in the Men's Black Diamond Cup Team of the Year, after powerhouse performances for the blue and golds.
Runner-up for the Best and Fairest Award was the tireless Adam Grant.
Sean McGrath took out the Wayne Weaver Award while the injured Milla Gainsford and Harry Lack were named
the Club Team Players for 2025.
Midfield ace Catalina Labra Knox also capped an amazing season by being named the Hunter Central Coast AFL Women's Black Diamond Plate Player of the Year and taking out the Marlins’ best and fairest award.
Catalina was one of four Marlins players named in the Women's Black Diamond Plate Team of the Year along with skipper Olivia Feldman, Tara Maguire and Mikaela Burrows.
Inspirational leader Feldman also received the Women's Players’ Player award for guiding the team into an epic Grand Final against Newcastle City Blues. Marlins of the Year were
Chaeli Callaghan (women) and Zane Grant (men) while the talented Burrows and Lachy Blyth were named the club’s Most Consistent players.
Scarlett Lack and Beau Redman took out the Best Players Under 20 awards while Barton and centurion Sophie Elliott (100 games) were recognised as the club’s leading goalkickers.
Hard-working volunteer Kris Flegg was acknowledged as the Marlins’ Club Person of the Year.
Life memberships were bestowed to Marlins’ club stalwarts Darryn Hearn, Sue and Don Spencer, Michael and Penny Blyth, Roger Price, Pat White, Darren Duffy and Peter Swarbrick.
Tanilba Bay Tuesday Vets Golf
By Ian WILLIAMS
RESULTS of play for 23rd September
The best possible day for golf was enjoyed by 28 players. The game was a 9 hole Individual Stroke event over the back nine as the front nine was closed for maintenance. Todays game was the 3rd round of our club championships in all three grades and some very good scores were recorded. The
course is in great condition following the bad weather in recent months, a real credit to the outdoor staff, thankyou.
Results of play: Winner; Vince Schubert nett 30
Runner up; Richard Cheslett nett 33 c/b Ball winners; Mark Moore nett 33
David Enderby nett 35
Phil Germon nett 37 c/b
Fred Drury 11th Hole NTP; 18th Hole D&C
q Jillaroos international hooker Olivia Higgins performed strongly in Newcastle Knights’ 30-6 NRLW preliminary final loss to Brisbane Broncos.
NSW Women's Premiership.
Netball mentor Linda Jones named Coach of the Year
By Chris KARAS
MENTORING young netball hopefuls has become a way of life for Nelson Bay sporting identity Linda Jones.
Since arriving in Port Stephens from her native city of Adelaide 10 years ago, the mother of two has nurtured some of the region’s finest netballers and given sterling service to the Nelson Bay Netball Association.
Linda capped a memorable 2025 season when named Coach of the Year at the association’s recent presentation night - just hours after masterminding a Junior 11-12yrs championship title with her undefeated Stingrays team.
It was a deserved accolade for the astute coach and Masters representative.
Regarded as one of the Hunter’s top netball tacticians, Linda guided the Nelson Bay 14-years representative side to a top six ranking in Division Three at the NSW Junior State Netball titles at Penrith earlier this year, before steering her Nelson Bay 17 years team to a Grand Final appearance in the Newcastle Division Two competition.
Souths Ash defeated Nelson Bay 29-15 in the trophy decider but Linda’s 17-year-old charges stamped their mark during the Newcastle series with an impressive record against the
played as a shot gun start on the front nine.
Rego from 7.30, Tee time from 8.30
A grade Lenny Hardes A
grade Jamie Carr
B grade Rob McKinney B
grade Andrew Corbett
C grade Charlie Skinner C grade David Enderby
Longest Drive; A grade Barry Disch
B grade Andrew Cobett
C grade David Enderby
Next weeks game (30th Sept) is an Individual Stroke event and the final round of our club championships in all three grades. And will be
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PORTSIDE REAL ESTATE, TANILBA BAY.
TANILBA BAY AUTOMOTIVE, TANILBA BAY.
leading clubs.
They lost only one match during the regular season to West Leagues Warriors 3732 back in June, and were the only team to beat the eventual premiers - rolling Souths Ash 31-22 at Parkway Avenue on the eve of the finals.
The Nelson Bay girls defeated Souths Ebony 3327, Souths Ash, MarylandWallsend Sparrows 41-22 and Wests League Warriors 37-34, before downing the Sparrows 33-21 and Warriors 38-22 in elimination and preliminary finals to advance to the Grand Final.
Stalwart Jones along with outgoing president Rebecca Keating were also recognised on presentation night for their outstanding service to the association.
Juggling her heavy coaching commitments doesn’t seem to faze Linda, who takes it all in her stride.
She made her representative coaching
debut with Nelson Bay’s Under 11 Development squad in 2003 before taking over the reins of the 12-years and 14-years lineups these past two seasons.
“I enjoy the coaching aspect of netball and nurturing my teams in their development stage,” said the hard-working mentor, who also manages time to watch her talented daughters Ella, 20, and Leila,18, in action. Ella, an experienced wing defence or centre, and shooter Leila, are mainstays in the Nelson Bay and Newcastle competitions and have represented their association with distinction at various levels, and the Hunter, in the Netball NSW Metro League. Linda will coach the Nelson Bay Opens representative team, which includes daughter Ella, at the 2026 Senior State Titles to be co-hosted by the Baulkham Hills Shire and Penrith District Netball Associations.
Wendy Couvaras
q Emerging Knights fullback Lilly-Ann White missed Newcastle’s 18-12 Grand Final loss to Cronulla in the
q Nelson Bay Marlins AFL stars Olivia Feldman and Jayden Baldwin-Rymer took out the Players’ Player Awards for 2025.
q Experienced mentor Linda Jones receives her Coach of the Year Award from newly-elected president Ashleigh Martin.
Junior treble for Nelson Bay FC
By Chris KARAS
NELSON Bay Football Club has capped one of its best campaigns on record with a championship treble in the Newcastle Football Inter District competition.
The Bay had plenty to celebrate after the club’s talented 12/1 Mixed, 14/1 Boys and 15/1 Boys squads won their respective A Division Grand Finals to bring home deserved silverware.
Nick Diemar’s 12-years team downed Stockton Sharks 1-0 in the trophy decider at Beryl Humble Sports Complex at Tenambit to claim the premiershipchampionship double.
Having already secured the minor title, the Nelson Bay youngsters showed skill and tenacity to stave off the Sharks and complete a memorable season with a tremendous team achievement.
Dave Harasti’s 14-years outfit toppled the Maitland Magpies 2-1 at King Park
Raymond Terrace to clinch championship honours while Col Campbell’s mighty 15-years line up also annexed the premiershipchampionship double after defeating Cooks Hill United 5-3 on penalties in a gripping Grand Final at the same venue.
Outgoing Nelson Bay FC president Todd Giles told News Of The Area that the club had experienced a bumper 2025 seasonculminating with three Grand Final triumphs.
“The club fielded a record 725 players across 62 teams this season with sixteen of our 26 competitive sides qualifying for the finals,” Todd enthused.
“Tthree of our Girls squads - the 12/1 A Grade, 16/1 A Grade and 17/1 B
Grade finished runners-up after losing their Grand Finals at Liles Oval and King Park,” he said.
Dudley Redhead won the 12/1 A Grade Girls championship with a 1-0 victory over Nelson Bay FC; Lake Macquarie rolled the
Bay 3-1 in the 16/1 A Grade Girls division while South Wallsend captured the 17/1 B Grade title with a 3-1 win over the Bay.
All Nelson Bay senior women's teams reached the finals with the All Age Women A Grade bowing out after a
2-0 loss to Cooks Hill along with the Over 30s Women A and B Grade sides.
Nelson Bay FC’s courageous All Age Mens first grade and Over 35 K Grade sides also qualified for the Zone League finalsunderlining the club’s depth of talent. In the junior boys ranks, the Bay’s 12/2 C Grade, 12/3 J Grade, 16/1 B Grade and 17/1 A Grade teams also qualified for the finals along with the junior girls 14/1 A Grade team, which lost 3-2 to Merewether.
Golden Glitter Bombs clinch third netball title
By Chris KARAS
LINING up against players two or three years older can be a challenging task for any sporting team.
Medowie Netball Club’s gifted junior Glitter Bombs side have covered themselves in glory again by clinching the Port Stephens Netball Association Intermediate (13-
15yrs) premiership title. Coached by Port Stephens representative netballer Felicity Pacevski, this skilful young outfit upstaged their older Bradson Phoenix rivals
31-14 in the recent Grand Final at Raymond Terrace courts, to claim a third consecutive championship. It was an incredible feat by the Medowie team, which comprises two 11-yearolds, four 12-year-olds and three 13-year-old players, completing a stellar season.
Outstanding goal attack Olivia Pacevski - one of the best young prospects in the region - is still only 11 and has proved a key figure in the Glitter Bombs’ three titles to date.
She displayed her leadership qualities on court as team captain and showed a maturity that far belies her years.
Olivia formed a crack combination up front with goal shooter Lexi Jackson,
All conquering Stingrays bring home netball title
FROM Page 24
“The girls simply enjoy playing netball together and have built a great camaraderie over the past five years,” said Jones, the newly inducted Nelson Bay Netball Coach of the Year.
“Over the past 12 months their skills have improved and they continue to build on combinations and encourage each other on court with smiles on their faces - they are a delight to coach.”
The team was formed back in 2021 when Linda was co-ordinating the association’s Net Set Go Skills Program.
“They were a bunch of
enthusiastic seven-yearolds with natural ability and eager to learn the finer points of netball - so I decided to assemble a squad and mentor them through those formative years.”
In their first competitive season last year in the Junior 10-11yrs division they stepped up an age group and reached the Grand Final.
Twelve months down the track, the Stingrays have grown in stature and dominated the Juniors 1112yrs competition, with their skill across the court, unwavering team spirit, and fine sportsmanship a feature of their success.
Eight players including star goal attack Bella Edwards and twin sister
Gemma - one of the region’s most promising goal keepers - along with gifted centrewing attacks Sailor Jenkins and Jacinta Scott, versatile Amarli Buckton, prolific shooter Bonnie Preston, wing defence Isla Trayling and goal defence Cassia Stallard, were part of this year’s Nelson Bay Under 11 Development representative squad.
Twelve-year-old centre/ defender Isabelle Archer bolstered the well-drilled Stingrays lineup with her allcourt game as the team hit their straps leading into the finals series.
A hallmark of the girls’ lofty standing was the respect they showed opponents.
When not chalking up another victory on court, you’d find the Stringrays applauding and cheering on their rivals with words of encouragement.
“They are a delightful bunch with a deep passion for netball and bright future in the sport.”
Four of the girls - twins Bella and Gemma, and Sailor and Jacinta - have gained selection in the Nelson Bay 12-years representative squad along with Little Rippers quartet Faith Karas, Willow Earnshaw, Willoughby Weber and Emily Noble plus Maitland recruit Mia Petrellis.
They’ll compete at the 2026 State Junior Netball titles in Sydney.
13, piling on the goals as the Medowie girls chalked up victories over the Terrace Central Vipers and Medowie Pulse, and Bradson Phoenix in the qualifying final.
The Phoenix upset the Glitter Bombs 30-25 in a third round fixture on May 17 - the Medowie team’s only loss in a stand out campaign.
Other players to impress were talented 12-year-old centre Madison Thornton; wing attacks Asher McDonald, 12, and Ivy Davey, 11; wing defenders Hannah Bernie, 12, and Charlotte Barry, 12; and 13-year-old goal defence Clair Cousins and goalkeeper Zahlia Stone-Krzanic.
Four of the girls - Pacevski
By Lee RANKIN
(12yrs), plus Cousins, Stone-Krzanic and Jackson (13yrs) - all featured in this year’s Port Stephens junior representative program.
Hot shot Olivia and centre Thornton have gained selection in the 13-years rep squad for the 2026 NSW State Junior titles at Camden and Campbelltown along with Stone-Krzanic, Jackson and Cousins (14 years).
Coach Felicity, who has shone for Port Stephens in Opens and Masters teams over the years, has been at the helm for four years.
She has also coached at representative level these past three seasons and had her Glitter Bombs firing on all cylinders during their 14 match winning streak.
q Medowie Netball Club’s champion Glitter Bombs captured the Intermediate (1315yrs) premiership title at the Port Stephens Netball Association Grand Finals.
HENRY
David
of Rhonda.
and Paul, daughter-in-law Suzie. Poppa of Blake & Leyla. Friend to
Celebration of David’s life will be held at Soldiers Point Bowling Club on Friday 3/10/25 at 11am. All welcome. Funeral Notices
If interested please call 0483 382 534
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BEST ON THE BOX
SATURDAY
BEYOND PARADISE
ABC TV, 7.30pm
Having left the sun-soaked shenanigans of Saint Marie behind, this Death in Paradise spin-off delves deeper into the lives of DI Humphrey Goodman and his fiancée Martha (Kris Marshall and Sally Bretton, both pictured) as they settle into her coastal Devonshire hometown. There’s still silly crime capers (case in point: this week, Goodman joins the local players to act out a murder mystery that turns out to involve a very real knife in the victim’s back), but the focus is on the characters’ personal narratives.
FRIDAY, October 3
Presented by Tom Gleeson. 9.55 Mother And Son. (PGdl, R)
ABC Late News. 10.40 The Assembly. (PG, R)
Silent Witness. (Malv, R)
Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv)
5.00 Rage. (PG)
SUNDAY
THE FOLLOWING EVENTS ARE BASED ON A PACK OF LIES
ABC TV, 9.05pm
Fifteen years after her husband, Rob (Sex Education pictured), vanished without a trace – along with her life savings and her parents’ retirement fund – Alice (Rebekah Staton) walks past him on the street. Alice soon discovers she’s not the only one Rob has fleeced… in fact, the conman has been operating all over the UK. While her charming cad of an exhusband sets about wooing his latest victim, widowed author Cheryl (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), Alice uses the tricks she learnt from him expose his scam. Marrying whimsy with dark humour, this revenge drama will have you falling for both sides of the story.
MONDAY THE AMAZING RACE AUSTRALIA: CELEBRITY
Energetic host Beau Ryan (pictured) always appears larger than life, but in Monday’s episode of the Race, the former NRL player takes it to another level, literally – appearing on a digital billboard above the streets of Taipei to direct the five remaining teams to their next challenge. From embracing local cuisine at the bustling markets to testing their gaming skills at an arcade and tracking down “techno dancing gods”, the teams’ Taiwanese adventure is a smorgasbord of traditional and nextgeneration cultural experiences in the crowded city. Exhaustion is beginning to set in, but there’s one final push for the pit stop.
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Amazing Railway Adventures With Nick Knowles. (PGa, R)
8.25 Lost Temples Of Cambodia. (PG, R)
9.20 Lost Treasures Of Egypt. (PG)
10.15 SBS World News Late.
10.45 Catch Me A Killer. (Malsv)
11.45 Rogue Heroes. (Malv, R)
2.00 Qatar: A Dynasty With Global Ambitions. (PGav, R)
3.00 Curious Traveller. (R)
4.00 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
(31) 6am Children’s Programs. 6.20pm Bluey. 6.30 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Ben And Holly. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Gardening Australia Junior. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Good Game Spawn Point. (Final) 7.55 Teen Titans Go! 8.05 Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! 8.30 BTN Newsbreak. 8.35 MythBusters “There’s Your Problem!”. 9.00 Robot Wars. 10.00 Merlin. 10.45 Late Programs.
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. 8.30 MOVIE: Ticket To Paradise. (2022, Ml) A divorced couple team up and travel to Bali to stop their daughter from getting married. George Clooney, Julia Roberts.
10.45 Motorway Patrol. (PGl, R)
11.15 GetOn Extra.
11.45 Healthy, Wealthy & Wise. (PG, R) Presented by Chrissie Swan. 12.45 Riviera. (MA15+adlsv, R) Georgina joins forces with an unlikely ally.
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 Find My Country House Australia.
8.30 MOVIE: Expend4bles. (2023, MA15+alsv) A team of mercenaries tries to prevent World War III. Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone.
10.30 MOVIE: The Foreigner. (2017, MA15+alv, R)
12.40 Tipping Point. (PG)
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)
ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Morning Programs. 9.35 Addams Family. 10.05 Bewitched. 10.35 Jeannie. 11.05 The West Wing. 12.05pm MOVIE: How To Find Forever. (2022, PG) 2.00 Golden Girls. 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 Jeannie. 6.00 Golden Girls. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 MOVIE: Night At The Museum: Battle Of The Smithsonian. (2009, PG) 9.40
6.00 10 News+. 7.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R) 7.30 The Dog House. (Return, PGa) A five-year-old girl considers a poodle-cross. 8.30 The Brighter Side. Looks at a loaded fries business that proves big dreams can start small. Matty J and Laura talk life and money. The team provides smart scam tips. 9.00 Have You Been Paying Attention? (Malns, R) Hosted by Tom Gleisner. 10.00 10’s Late News. 10.25 10 News+. (R) 11.25 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 12.30 Home Shopping. (R)
6.00
SATURDAY, October 4
6.30 Back Roads: Lucindale, South Australia. (PG, R)
(Return, Ma)
Return To Paradise. (Mv, R)
(Final, Mal, R)
Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Orient Express: A Golden Era Of Travel. (PGav)
8.25 75 Years At Longleat.
9.20 Royal Crisis: Countdown To Abdication. (PGa, R)
10.20 Great Australian Walks. (PG, R)
11.15 Homicide: Life On The Street. (Mav, R)
12.55 Murder On The Dancefloor.
1.00 Going Places With Ernie Dingo. (PGl, R)
4.00 Life In Bloom. (PG, R)
5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6am The Movie Show. 6.35 Finding
SUNDAY, October 5
6.00 Pilgrimage: The Road Through The Alps. (PG)
ABC News. 7.30 The Assembly. (PG)
Mystery Road: Origin. (Mal)
The Following Events Are Based On A Pack Of Lies. (Premiere, M)
10.05 Mother And Son. (PGdl, R)
10.35 MOVIE: Love And Other Catastrophes. (1996, Md, R)
11.55 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (PG, R)
12.25 Rage. (MA15+dhlnsv)
3.00 Ask The Doctor. (PG, R)
3.30 The Art Of... (PG, R) Gardening Australia. (R) (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Nefertiti: To Whom Belongs This Beauty? (R)
8.30 Destination Ancient Rome. (PGa, R) An exploration of ancient Rome.
10.15 Kiss The Future. (Malv, R) The story of the Siege of Sarajevo.
12.05 Humanity In Danger. (Premiere)
2.00 Auschwitz: The Hidden Traces. (Mavw, R)
3.00 Curious Traveller. (R)
4.00 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Healthy, Wealthy & Wise. (PGl) A deserving mum gets a makeover.
8.00 MOVIE: Die Hard 2. (1990, Mlv, R) A cop becomes involved in a hostage situation at an airport while waiting for his wife’s plane to arrive. Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedelia, William Atherton.
10.30 MOVIE: The Jackal. (1997, MA15+lv, R) A jailed Irish sniper is hired by the FBI. Bruce Willis, Richard Gere. 1.00 Riviera. (MA15+adlsv, R)
3.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 It’s Academic. (R) 5.00 House Of Wellness. (PG, R)
7TWO (62) VICELAND (31) 6am Bing. 6.05 Bananas In Pyjamas. 6.20 Peppa Pig. 6.25 Wiggle. 6.40 Shaun The Sheep. 6.45 Paddington. 7.00 Bluey. 6.40pm Bluey’s Big Play. 7.25 Bluey. 7.30 Hard Quiz Kids. (Return) 8.00 Kids BBQ Championship. 8.40 Chopped Junior. 9.20 Fresh Off The Boat. 10.05 Abbott Elementary. 10.25 Speechless. 10.45 Pokémon: Diamond And Pearl. 11.05 Late Programs. 5.55am Numberblocks. 6am Bing. 6.05 6.20 Peppa Pig. 6.25 Wiggle. Shaun The Sheep. 6.45 Paddington. 7.00 Bluey’s Big Play. 8.05 Bluey. 7.30pm 7.35 MOVIE: My Freaky Family. MOVIE: Hotel Transylvania: Transformania. (2022,
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 The 1% Club. (PGl, R)
8.00 Andrew And Fergie: Duke And Duchess Of Excess. (Premiere) Examines the duke and duchess’s journey.
9.30 MOVIE: The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart. (2020, Ml, R) An exploration of the Bee Gees. Barry Gibb.
12.00 Miniseries: The Victim. (Mav, R)
1.15 Travel Oz. (PG, R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R)
4.00 NBC Today. Sunrise Early News.
3.05 Late Programs.
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Rugby Union. The Rugby Championship. Australia v New Zealand. 9.40 Test Rugby: Australia v New Zealand Post-Match.
10.30 MOVIE: Sharko: The Mark Graham Story. (2024, Mav)
12.00 Next Stop. (R)
12.30 The Garden Gurus. (R)
1.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PGa)
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.30 Global Shop. (R)
5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
Helping Hands. (PG, R) 6.00 NBN News.
Grand Final Night.
Rugby League. NRL. Grand Final. Melbourne Storm v Brisbane Broncos. 9.30 NRL Grand
MONDAY, October 6
6.00
6am Children’s Programs. 6pm Octonauts: Above And Beyond. 6.10 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.20 Bluey. 6.30 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Ben And Holly. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Piripenguins. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Operation Ouch! 8.30 BTN Newsbreak. 8.35 Gladiators. 9.35 The Crystal Maze. 10.20 Merlin. 11.05 Late Programs.
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes. (PG)
8.40 Railway Revolution: How Trains Shaped Our World. (Premiere)
10.20 SBS World News Late.
10.50 Mayflies. (Mal, R) 11.55 The Allegation. (Mav, R)
2.30 Curious Traveller. (R)
3.35 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. (R)
4.35 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PG)
7.30 My Kitchen Rules. (PGl) Hosted by Colin Fassnidge and Manu Feildel. 9.00 The Rookie. (Madv) The team mobilises to locate a suspect. 10.00 Alert: Missing Persons Unit. (Mav) 11.00 S.W.A.T. (Mav) 12.00 The Great Diamond Heist. (PGa, R)
1.00 Travel Oz. (PG, R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
7TWO (62)
SBS MOVIES (32)
6am Casablanca.
Continued. (1942, PG) 7.35 The Movie Show. 8.10
Sidonie In Japan. (2023, PG, French) 10.00 The Last Emperor. (1987, M) 1pm The Straight Story. (1999, PG) 3.05 The Three Musketeers. (1973, PG) 5.05 The Legend Of The Christmas Witch. (2018, PG, Italian) 6.55 Where The Money Is. (2000, PG) 8.30 Bad Company. (1972) 10.15 November. (2022, M, French) 12.15am Late Programs.
TUESDAY, October 7
(MA15+adhlnsv) 3.30 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)
6am Children’s Programs. 6pm Octonauts: Above And Beyond. 6.10 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.20 Bluey.
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (PG, R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Great British Railway Journeys. (PGv)
8.30 Insight. 9.30 Dateline.
10.00 SBS World News Late.
10.30 The Point. (R)
11.30 Spies Of Terror. (Malv)
1.25 Charles I: Downfall Of A King. (R) 2.30 Curious Traveller. (R) 3.35 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. (R)
4.35 Bamay. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
(64)
SBS MOVIES (32)
6am Sidonie In Japan. (2023, PG, French) 7.50 The Movie Show. 8.25 Where The Money Is. (2000, PG) 10.00 Sing Street. (2016, M) Noon 20th Century Women. (2016, M) 2.10 The Legend Of The Christmas Witch. (2018, PG, Italian) 3.55 Fried Green Tomatoes. (1991, PG) 6.15 First Cow. (2019, PG) 8.30
Unforgiven. (2013, MA15+, Japanese) 11.05 Iceman. (2017, MA15+, Rhaetic) 12.50am Late Programs.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PG)
Murder In A Small Town. (M) The team investigates when a body is found at a local wedding between members of two feuding families.
Grosse Pointe Garden Society. (Masv) Brett’s new bond stirs buzz.
The Agenda Setters.
Pretty Hard Cases. (Madv)
Home Shopping. (R)
Sunrise Early News.
(64)
6.00 NBN News. 7.00 A Current Affair.
The Block. (PGl) 9.10 Murder Down Under: The Toolbox Murders Pt 1. (MA15+adv) 10.10 9News Late.
The Equalizer. (Return, MA15+v)
Transplant. (MA15+m, R)
Tipping Point. (PG, R)
TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
Global Shop. (R)
DRAMA (51)
9GO! (83)
9GO! (83)
WEDNESDAY, October 8
6.00
ABC FAMILY (22)
6am Children’s Programs. 6pm Octonauts: Above And Beyond. 6.10 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.20 Bluey. 6.30 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Ben And Holly. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Piripenguins. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Operation Ouch! 8.30 BTN Newsbreak. 8.35 Fresh Off The Boat. 9.15 Wallace And Gromit: A Grand Day Out. 9.40 Merlin. 10.25 Late Programs.
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 The People Vs Robodebt. (Final, Mal)
8.40 Great British Train Journeys From Above. (Premiere, PG)
9.35 Code Of Silence. (Malv)
10.30 SBS World News Late. 11.00 COBRA. (Mal)
11.50 Freezing Embrace. (Mals, R)
1.35 Charles I: Downfall Of A King. (PGav, R)
2.40 Curious Traveller. (R) 3.45 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. (R) 4.40 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away. (PG)
7.30 RFDS. (Ma) Eliza second guesses herself.
8.30 Off The Grid With Colin And Manu. (M) Hosted by Colin Fassnidge and Manu Feildel.
9.30 House Of Wellness. (PG) Experts share advice on living well.
10.30 Chicago Fire. (Mas)
11.30 Lopez Vs. Lopez. (PGal)
12.00 Imposters. (Madlsv, 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 The Block. (PGl)
8.35 Sydney 2000. Looks at the Sydney 2000 Olympics 25 years on.
10.05 The Grand Tour. (Ml)
11.20 9News Late.
11.50 Tipping Point. (PG, R)
12.40 Pointless. (PG, R)
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R)
3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today
6.00
ABC Late News.
The Business. (R)
Grand Designs. (PG, R)
Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 12.45 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.15 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)
ABC FAMILY (22)
6am Children’s Programs. 6.20pm Bluey. 6.30 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Ben And Holly. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Piripenguins. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Operation Ouch! 8.30 BTN Newsbreak. 8.35 Secrets Of The Zoo. 9.20 Amazing Animal Friends. 10.05 The Mysterious Benedict Society. 10.55 Late Programs.
SBS MOVIES (32)
THURSDAY, October 9
6am Morning
Programs. 6.55 The Legend Of The Christmas Witch. (2018, PG, Italian) 8.45 First Cow. (2019, PG) 11.05 Bad Company. (1972) 12.50pm November. (2022, M, French) 2.50 Murder Party. (2022, PG, French) 4.50 Where The Money Is. (2000, PG) 6.25 The Straight Story. (1999, PG) 8.30 The Drover’s Wife. (2021, MA15+) 10.30 Heathers. (1988, MA15+) 12.30am Late Programs.
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Eurostar: Minding The Gap. (R)
8.30 Scandinavia With Simon Reeve. (Premiere)
9.40 Blue Lights. (Return)
10.40 SBS World News Late.
11.10 Davos 1917. (Mlv)
12.05 The Head. (MA15+a, R)
2.00 Charles I: Downfall Of A King. (PGalv, R)
3.05 Curious Traveller. (R)
4.10 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. (R)
4.40 Bamay. (R)
VICELAND (31) VICELAND (31)
3.45 News. 3.50 WorldWatch. 5.50 The Food That Built The World. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 The Patient. 9.40 MOVIE: What We Do In The Shadows. (2014, M) 11.15 The Bloody Decade. 12.15am Late Programs. 6am WorldWatch. 10.00 The Movie Show. Noon WorldWatch. 12.30 The Rap Game UK. 1.25 Addicted Australia. 2.30 Bamay. 2.55 Insight. 3.55 News. 4.00 WorldWatch. 6.00 Our Medicine. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 The Curse Of Oak Island Specials. 10.10 The UnXplained With William Shatner. 11.00 Homicide. 1.35am Conversations. 2.15 NHK World English News. 5.00 Late Programs.
6am Surf Patrol. 6.30 Escape To The Country. 7.30 Harry’s Practice. 8.00 Million Dollar Minute. 9.00 Animal Rescue. 9.30 NBC Today. Noon My Kitchen Rules. 1.30 The Great Australian Doorstep. 2.00 Weekender. 2.30 House Of Wellness. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30
7MATE (64)
6am Children’s
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away. (PGav) David struggles to contain his anger.
8.30 Jim Jefferies And Friends. (MA15+s) Jim Jefferies tells the story of the time he met and nearly killed his comedy idol John Cleese.
9.30 The Amazing Race. (PG) The teams head to Prague, but their train plans are soon thrown into chaos.
11.00 Gatecrashers.
12.00 Life. (Malsv, R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
SBS MOVIES (32)
6am Murder Party. Continued. (2022, PG, French) 6.40 The Straight Story. (1999, PG) 8.40 Fried Green Tomatoes. (1991, PG) 11.05 The Te$t. (2022, M, Spanish) 1.05pm Long Story Short. (2021, M) 2.50 First Cow. (2019, PG) 5.05 Mosley. (2019, PG) 6.55 All At Sea. (2010, PG) 8.30 The Thicket. (2024, M) 10.30 Master Gardener. (2022, M) 12.35am The Drover’s Wife. (2021, MA15+) 2.35 Late Programs.
7MATE (64)
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9GO! (83)
9GO! (83)
NITV (34)
NITV
By Chris KARAS
Super Stingrays Super Stingrays
