Dubbo Photo News 31.07.2025 by Panscott Media

WHEN ZIGGY MET ROZI

KEEPERS at Taronga Western Plains Zoo have turned to an unusual helper – a puppy named Ziggy – to support the development of Rozi, a cheetah cub born by emergency caesarean in February this year.

Rozi’s mother Siri recovered fully but was unable to produce milk, preventing their reunion. After intensive care at the zoo’s Wildlife Hospital, Rozi bonded with Ziggy, a labrador-cross-kelpie-cross-collie.

Keeper Jordan Michelmore said the friendship provided essential behavioural experiences typically

learned from sibling interaction.

“It’s been beautiful to watch their relationship develop,” Jordan said, noting the bond mirrors that of Rozi’s mother Siri who was similarly raised alongside a puppy in 2015.

Rozi’s genetic importance means she’s expected to join the regional breeding program upon maturity. Cheetahs are classified as vulnerable, with fewer than 7000 remaining globally, making every cub critical to species conservation. Ziggy will eventually be adopted by zoo staff.

PHOTO: TARONGA WESTERN PLAINS ZOO

Replace ‘time-out’ with ‘time-in’: Dubbo psychologist

By SHARON BONTHUYS

WITH increasing pressures on families to manage their children’s behaviour and wellbeing, a Dubbo-based child psychologist says the disciplinary practice of “time-outs” for poor behaviour should be banned – because they fail to help children become more emotionally resilient.

Tanya Forster, founder of Macquarie Health Collective, says parents need to “time-in” on those occasions, explaining that personal connection helps children feel calmer, instead of associating big feelings with rejection.

Ms Forster is sharing her knowledge through a new online program she has developed called “Confident Parenting”.

“If you think about skills that we try to teach our kids in life, think of analogies like learning to ride a bike or teaching our child to swim,” Ms Forster told Dubbo Photo News

“When our child is learning to swim, we don’t send them to their room, tell them to take some time to think about it and come out once they know how to swim. We’re in the pool with them,” she explained.

“The only way that skill develops and is successful is when we’re there to support them and help them build the skills they really need,” she added.

“Learning to manage their emotions is exactly the same. We need to be that scaffolding to support the child and devel-

op the skills. They’re not going to learn it alone, sitting in their room,” she said.

While Ms Forster’s Confident Parenting program targets families with children from birth to age 12, she says the concepts it shares apply to people of all ages.

“Even if you’re 80 and thinking about your adult children, it’s never too late to make a change and to think about how you could do things differently,” she said.

“As parents, we put so much pressure on ourselves to have to be a perfect parent. We beat ourselves up if we think we’ve been doing something wrong, but we’re all just trying to do the best we can with what we know,” she added.

“There’s a lot of confusing information out there, and parents are really struggling [to access] support, particularly if they live in regional NSW.

“I want to make sure that families can access the information they need, but it’s really important for families to remember that it’s never too late to try something different or change the way that you approach your parenting.”

Ms Forster’s low-cost program uses science-backed strategies and provides tools typically shared in a psychologist’s office, made accessible online to families anywhere in the country, especially those in regional areas who face the longest wait times for support.

The top four things that every parent needs to know, Ms Forster says, include:

1. The ‘Naughty Corner’ doesn’t teach emotional regulation.

Time-out teaches kids to associate big feelings with isolation, not support. Instead, stay close, calm and connected because children learn to regulate with us, not away from us.

2. All behaviour is communication.

A tantrum means kids are having a hard time. Decode every outburst with curiosity, not criticism.

3. Connection is the most powerful parenting tool.

A warm hug and steady presence is key. It is possible to hold ﬁrm boundaries while still showing up with love and empathy.

4. Understanding the brain changes how you parent.

A child’s ‘thinking brain’ switches off during a meltdown. Meet them where they are, then guide them back to calm.

You can ﬁnd out more about the Conﬁdent Parenting Program online at tanyaforster.com.au.

BIANCA HARVEY

Where did you grow up? I grew up in Gulgong, the town on the old ten dollar note.

What do you do for fun? If I’m not spending time with my beautiful little family, you’ll ﬁnd me in the kitchen. I love to cook and create beautiful food so in 2024, while I was on maternity leave, I started ‘Evelyn Cookie Co’ and now I spend most of my spare time cooking and creating. Evelyn Cookie Co is named after my beautiful 18-month-old daughter. If I’m not at home creating something delicious, you can usually ﬁnd me at Red City CrossFit surrounded by some of my favourite people.

Who inspires you? There are so many people that inspire me, and I can’t pick just one person, but anyone that can show up and do hard things will always be an inspiration to me.

What advice would you give your younger self? Find your voice and don’t be afraid to use it and stop comparing yourself to others.

What are you watching at the moment? I’m not watching anything currently, but I am reading Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Do you have any pets? I have a cat Benson and 12 silkie chickens which I inherited.

What’s your favourite meal? My mum’s sweet and sour chicken. What do you love about our region? I love that there are so many family-friendly things to do in our region. We also have a great selection of places to eat and beautiful shops – including one of my favourites, Saddler and Co. Everyone needs one of their bags, they are beautiful.

What is your all-time favourite movie? Beauty and The Beast – the original version.

What song means the most to you and why? Fix You by Coldplay – it truly is just a beautiful song and has the power to make hard things feel okay, but anyone that knows me will also know that, after all this time, I still love the Vengaboys.

OPEN7DAYS8:00AM-6:00PM

63WingewarraStDubbo Ph:0429470587 WEEKENDS/PUBLICHOLIDAYS 9:00AM-6:00PM

Australia Day events moved for 2026, Elston Park upgrade, local road repairs

Council Update

By DAVID DIXON

Australia Day events moved for 2026

TRADITIONAL supporters of Australia Day being celebrated on January 26 have lost out with Dubbo Regional Council recently voting to change all local events to January 25, in both Dubbo and Wellington.

Wellington’s celebrations have been held on the evening of January 25 for some time – this was a lways sold to the public as a way of beating the heat at what is often the hottest period of the year.

But now Council has decided that all events in the Dubbo Regional Council LGA will be held during the same morning period, the day before Australia Day.

Some councillors contacted for comment on this little-publicised change were hesitant to go on the record. Mayor Josh Black, one of the majority of councillors who voted for the change, directed Dubbo Photo News to Council’s communications officer for a statement.

Former long-serving mayor Mathew Dickerson – who also voted for the change – also declined to comment further, claiming that any comment after the vote had been taken could see him disciplined under a Code of Conduct v iolation for speaking out against Council.

Wellington-based councillor Richard Ivey, another “yes” voter, said that the change was seen as a way of encouraging Indigenous participation in the day, which many Aboriginal activists describe as “Invasion Day” because it falls on the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet to Sydney Harbour in 1788.

Cr Ivey said that it was really no different from Catholics and other Christians attending Midnight Mass the evening before Christmas, or someone celebrating their birthday on the following weekend, and vehemently denied that t he change was to appease local First Nations opposition to Australia Day.

Shibli Chowdhury – one of the

few councillors to oppose the change – said that a Council survey on the matter found that more t han 80 per cent of ratepayers who responded not only wanted Australia Day to remain on January 26 in Dubbo, but to revert to t hat date in Wellington also.

“It’s a matter of representing the wishes of the community, and

that’s what we are elected to do, and local people want it held on January 26,” Cr Chowdery said.

“That’s what I hear from most people I speak to. It’s what the phone calls I get and the emails I receive say on the matter,” he added.

Deputy Mayor Phillp Toynton agreed, saying in effect that sym-

bolic changes like this decision are simply a form of window-dressing over major problems facing Indigenous Australians.

“I believe that we need to make real progress for Aboriginal people, and I don’t think changing t he date will help that,” Cr Toynton said.

“If we’re going to change the date, we need everyone to have a say, and to have an open debate about it, not have councils unilaterally deciding the date of a national holiday.”

Dubbo Regional Council CEO Murray Wood issued this official comment on the matter: “At the July Ordinary Meeting of Council, elected members resolved to hold both the Dubbo and Wellington Australia Day Ceremonies on Sunday, January 25, 2026. The award ceremonies and family entertainment offerings will remain unchanged at both of these events.

“Council staff are already hard at work in preparation for the 2026 events, which will feature live entertainment, children’s activities,

c ultural performances, market stalls and free barbecues.”

Major water play upgrade For Elston Park

IN some good news for summer, Council recently started works on a major overhaul to the water play area at Elston Park in Dubbo.

The original water play area, now two decades old, is at the end of its functional life with the new infrastructure designed to deliver “fresh and exciting recreational opportunities” for children and families in the summer months.

The works will include total replacement of the water play elements, balance tank replacement, new plant room, filtration and chlorination systems, an upgraded remote monitoring system, and new shade sails.

“Renewal of the water play area will provide an enhanced recreational space for the region’s young people and families, as well as visitors,” Mayor Josh Black said.

“ The new infrastructure will be open in time for the Christmas school holidays and will be a popular spot to cool off in the coming summer months.

Water Play Solutions will undertake the works on behalf of Council.

The shut-down period will extend through to December 2025 to allow construction and safety testing of the new equipment.

Heavy patching of local roads

IT may not be a new, schmick, hotmix rebuild that locals think many of our damaged roads require, but heavy patching will have to do for road repairs taking place in five locations around town.

The work, which has already started, includes St Georges Terrace, North Street, Baird Street, Palmer Street and Wingewarra Street.

The works should run for another two weeks with stop and slow t raffic management in place during daytime working hours.

Works crews will also carry out a door-knock on the day of the work for residents that will have their driveway access affected. Access will be returned to normal on the same day.

The major overhaul to the water play area at Elston Park replaces two-decade old facilities.

An illustration showing the new-look Elston Park water play area. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.

New NALAG grief support group already booked out, but more to come

By SHARON BONTHUYS

A SHORT time after announcing it

would start trialling free online facilitator-led grief support groups for g rieving people, Dubbo-based National Association for Loss and Grief ( NSW) (NALAG) has indicated the first group has already been “booked out”.

The speed with which the registrations were submitted for the initial sixweek, 10-member grief support group that started this week took the organisation by surprise, CEO Trudy Hanson told Dubbo Photo News

“The first set of grief support group sessions online is full, and we’re now taking calls to fill another one,” Ms Hanson said.

The first online group started on July 29, and will run through until September 2.

NALAG decided to offer grief support groups after receiving many requests from across NSW and interstate for this type of support.

“We were getting lots of enquiries from people who wanted that group support, and they weren’t just from Dubbo,” Ms Hanson explained.

“We weren’t able to provide that in person across such a big space, so we decided that we’d have a facilitator run that online so people can attend from anywhere.”

The new NALAG grief support groups are designed to offer grieving people a safe, welcoming space to share, listen, and begin to heal together. While they are meant to be therapeutic, the groups are not “group ther-

ORANA MALL

apy,” Ms Hanson said.

Approaching its 50th anniversary in 2027, and specialising in providing structured bereavement care for t hose experiencing grief and loss, NALAG has worked tirelessly to normalise conversations around these issues and ensure that no one navigates loss alone.

The organisation offers grief support training, counselling, community outreach, and volunteer programs. It now also provides an “emergency response” service, connecting with grieving people who have suddenly experienced loss and providing them with the necessary support. The NALAG emergency response team has done this more than 100 times so far, Ms Hanson said.

“Our team will respond within 24 hours on the phone and talk them

through and give them a phone call every day if they want that, until we get them through that initial shock stage of the trauma,” Ms Hanson explained.

NALAG also has an active grief and loss group in Mudgee, which will host a Dying To Know Day event in Mudgee on Thursday, August 7. NALAG also hosts regular face-to-face meetings in Dubbo for carers of people with dementia. Further details about all of t hese and the grief support groups can be found on the NALAG website.

With more than 80 volunteers working across NSW and others interstate, NALAG’s support services and outreach in the community cannot be understated.

Dubbo Photo News will bring you more information about the work of NALAG in future issues.

Retailer Week

THE OF

Funding available for inclusive local Australia Day events

By DAVID DIXON

WITH millions of dollars in their kitty for great local events, the National Australia Day Council says it’s time for local community groups to start thinking about funding for their 2026 celebrations.

There’s plenty to go around, and you have a great chance of getting money for your celebration, Council CEO Mark Fraser told Dubbo Photo News

“We’re talking about inclusive events: barbecues, citizenship ceremonies, pool parties, it’s about bringing the community together, for local government or for not-for- profit groups,” Mr Fraser said.

“Help is at hand for those unfamiliar with the funding process,” Mr Fraser revealed. “For groups that have never applied before, we can also offer assistance with applications and training,” Mr Fraser explained.

“Grants range from $2000 to $15,000. We get about 500 applications a year, and around 400 of these are approved, so you’ve got very good odds of success,” he added.

With the application window only running for four weeks, for organisations that are unfamiliar w ith the process now’s the time to get your skates on.

“They’re about to open, so it’s a good time to get started. It runs from Wednesday, August 13, until Monday, September 8.

Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey also encouraged community g roups to consider applying to the Council for Australia Day commemorations.

He explained that the Australia Day Community Events Grant Program offers between $2000 and $10,000 for events that help communities reflect, respect and celebrate on Australia Day. Applicants for the $10,000 grant can also apply for an additional $5000 if their event includes “significant” First Nations elements.

Busy time for Angus & Coote, with tax refunds, spring, and Dad’s Day

Things start to pick-up at Angus & Coote jewellers in the Orana Mall at about this time of year, Dubbo Assistant Store Manager, Dana Flabon recently revealed.

“They do – for a number of reasons – because people’s tax comes in around now, and everyone lines-up to get something that they want,” Dana explained.

“With the start of spring also, people come in for the bright colours and that spring feeling you get in the air, also they start to look for things for Father’s Day,” she added.

Which is great for local shoppers, as our longest-established traditional luxury brand name, has just started a sale for about six weeks.

“The new sale just started on Monday, and will go all the way to Sunday, September 7.

“We’ll be offering up to 50 per cent off for selected styles

and Father’s Day gift ideas coming-up,” Dana added.

White the traditional timepiece is still a favourite for all dads; men today are also generally far more comfortable wearing jewellery, than those in the past.

“They definitely do, chains, bracelets, rings, and watches are always in, mothers, wives, daughters get stuck-in at this time of year,” Dana revealed.

“Kids like to come in and get dad a nice watch or something else also.”

With the local store for four years, Dana loves her work and the satisfaction that shoppers get from buying quality jewellery they will appreciate for years.

“I love the work, you meet a lot of people and learn a lot about them,” Dana said.

“Buying something beautiful, makes them feel good and happy and appreciated,” she concluded.

Time to buy; things start to pick-up at Angus & Coote jewellers in the Orana Mall at about this time of year,

Dubbo Assistant Store Manager, Dana Flabon revealed. Photo: Ken Smith, Dubbo Photo News

Dubbo-based NALAG provides a range of resources for those in need. PHOTOS: DUBBO PHOTO NEWS.

The National Australia Day Council is offering funding for 2026 celebrations to community groups. PHOTO: DUBBO PHOTO NEWS/ KEN SMITH/FILE

“Prisoner of Wello”: Orange pilot ﬁghts US extradition over alleged Chinese training

By DAVID DIXON

MACQUARIE Correctional Centre in Wellington seems an unlikely battleground in the growing “Cold War” standoff between the United States and China.

Yet for former US Marine fighter pilot turned Australian citizen Daniel Duggan – locked in solitary confinement at times and without his wife Saffrine and their six kids for nearly three years – the battle is very real.

Duggan, who had been living in Orange at the time of his arrest, is accused by the American Government of training Chinese pilots at a flight school in South Africa in 2012.

The aircraft involved, however, were never armed and dated from the early 1960s, equivalent to an EH Holden versus a modern Tesla.

Mr Duggan was also only a parttime contractor at the school – but that hasn’t stopped the US from demanding his extradition.

“These were civilian student test pilots, no other instructor or the Training School have been accused or charged, because nothing about it was illegal,” Dan’s mate and supporter Terry Dwyer told Dubbo Photo News

“The genesis of this was created by a notoriously-politicised US Dept of Justice (DOJ) seeking to extradite this father of six for a non-offence from over 13 years ago – in order to send a geo-political message,” Mr Dwyer claimed.

As the decade-long pursuit of Julian Assange showed over the Wikileaks controversy, when it comes to breaches of national security, the Americans are deadly serious – and don’t take any prisoners.

But the other part of the story is how willingly Australian authori-

own laws and sovereignty.

Dan was arrested by the Australian Federal Police in October 2022 as he exited a supermarket in Orange.

He was immediately placed in solitary confinement and assigned the highest security classification – “Extreme High Risk Restricted” (EHRR) – which is normally reserved for terrorists or serial killers. He has remained behind bars for over 20 months, shuffled between maximum-security facilities, and still – to this day – has not been charged or convicted of a crime.

Among the “unusual” legal aspects of the case is that the offences for which the Americans are seeking him were not actually Australian offences at the time he was alleged to have committed them, a basic requirement of any extradition from the Commonwealth.

and Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus signed off in December, Mr Duggan’s appeal is scheduled for the Federal Court in mid-August.

“The US would tell Australia to take a flying jump if we requested the extradition of a US citizen under similar circumstances,” Mr Dwyer said. “Also, our Extradition Act states clearly that we are not obligated to surrender one of our citizens, so it’s solely our Attorney-General’s call, so why does the (current) AG Michelle Rowland allow the US to walk all over us?”

In the meantime, a growing public campaign is trying to bring attention to what many see as a grave injustice.

“Dan’s an Australian citizen, husband and father of six. He’s been locked up in maximum-security for over 1000 days without being charged, let alone convict-

Left, from the family photo album, Daniel Duggan with his wife Saff children in better times. Above, supporters protesting for Mr Duggan. SUPPLIED.

ed,” Mr Dwyer said. “His treatment is not just wrong – it’s unAustralian. The whole thing is politically motivated – Dan’s simply been abandoned by his Government, the very people who should be protecting him”

es, including one count of money laundering, another of conspiracy to defraud, and two counts of violating a US arms embargo targeting China.

Because Duggan isn’t formally charged, he also doesn’t qualify for Legal Aid.

Dan Duggan remains the only prisoner at Macquarie Correctional Centre near Wellington who hasn’t been convicted or even charged. “These are the kind of stories we’re told only happen in places like North Korea – but it’s happening right here in Australia, to one of our own,” Mr Dwyer said.

He also raised concerns about visitation rights being abruptly cut. “I was driving five hours from Sydney to visit Dan regularly until some faceless bureaucrat stopped it. I don’t believe the people at Macquarie were behind this, as they have been very good to Dan.

“Thankfully, due to community outrage, the Corrections Commissioner has now revoked Dan’s restriction on visits.”

The 2017 US indictment alleges that Duggan was involved in a “conspiracy” with eight others to export US defence services in the form of flight training.

“When his wife tried to sell the family property on the South Coast to fund his defence, a USrequested caveat was placed on it by a NSW court,” Mr Dwyer explained.

“They’re now left to rely solely on public donations through freedanduggan.org. He’s been put in the ring with hands tied behind his back. His wife and kids are under enormous pressure – emotionally and financially. It must be the worst miscarriage of justice in our history,” he said.

The office of Federal Member for Calare Andrew Gee – whose electorate includes the prison –was contacted for comment but had not responded by press time.

Dubbo Photo News spoke to a number of commercial pilots about the legal argument of treating the training of foreign nationals in flight skills as “exporting defence services” – they said that the case “stank to high heaven”.

DUBBO AHEAD OF THE CURVE AS NSW PARKING FINE REFORMS TAKE EFFECT

RECEIVING a parking fine notification under your windscreen wiper ahead of the formal fine arriving in the mail became a state government regulation this month, however Dubbo drivers will notice minimal change because Dubbo Regional Council already introduced the procedure last year.

Council has welcomed the statewide parking fine reforms introduced by the State Government on July 1, saying locals will notice minimal change due to the proactive measures it took locally last year.

Since March 2024, Council parking patrol officers have already been issuing notifi-

cation cards alongside the Print and Post ticketless parking fine scheme. Revenue NSW originally rolled out the scheme in 2020, sending fines directly by mail without onthe-spot warnings.

Mayor Josh Black said council implemented the notifications early to improve transparency.

“We didn’t want people unfairly surprised by parking tickets weeks later, which is why our staff took the proactive step to issue the paper notifications alongside the Print and Post system (last year),”

Cr Black said.

The state reforms mandate that councils and issuing agencies place a notification or fine

directly on the vehicle, except when unsafe for the officer.

Officers are also required to submit images of offences and compile data for public review.

DRC Director Development and Environment Steve Jennings said notifications detail the offence clearly and inform drivers that an official fine notice will arrive later.

The Dubbo Region is the best place to build your career

DUBBO WORKS is highlighting the excellent career and learning opportunities the Dubbo region offers. To contribute ideas, email dubboworks@dubbophotonews.com.au phone 6885

Health scholarship winners keen to give back to the bush

By DAVID DIXON

LOCAL high-achieving country kids from the Dubbo area have had their hard work recently recognised through the Royal Agricultural Society Foundation’s (RASF) 2025 Rural Scholarship program.

Winners include students in both physiotherapy and medicine, two high-demand health fields for which rural areas are particularly in need – and it’s a need these committed young people have expressed an interest in fulfilling.

The scholarships are designed to support regional and rural students from a diverse range of tertiary study and training pursuits at recognised universities, or at TAFE, and who also have expressed a desire to “give back” to regional NSW.

The RASF Rural Scholarships provide financial assistance for students who demonstrate a “passion for rural issues and opportunities” and who are committed to contributing to the future of rural and regional NSW, RAS Foundation Manager Cecilia Logan explained.

“The scholarship program aims to build strong, vibrant and resil-

ient regional and rural communities, and enhance skills availability by helping to enable post high school education and training for rural NSW students,” Ms Logan said.

“Scholarship recipients may be of any age undertaking full-time, part-time or external tertiary study or training.

“The scholarships are designed to assist with expenses associated with accommodation, textbooks and other materials and allow them to focus on their studies,” added Mrs Logan.

The three local winners are Abby Wilson studying a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at Charles Sturt University in Port Macquarie, Swazi Sharma studying a Doctor of Medicine at the University of Notre Dame in Sydney, and Clair Stiff studying for her Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours).

Abby is a second-year student and is active in sports pursuits including ladies’ league tag, swimming, running and walking.

She grew up locally, and enjoys spending time with family and friends. Abby moved to Port Macquarie last year to study and says she has really enjoyed having the beach nearby for swimming and

walks. Her scholarship was donated by Quayclean, a leading Australian-owned cleaning, waste management, hygiene and waste management services company.

Swazi is originally from Nepal, moved to Australia more than a decade ago, and has since lived in both Lightning Ridge and Dubbo.

With a strong passion for improving healthcare in rural and remote communities, Swazi is committed to making a lasting impact on equitable healthcare access, and also enjoys engaging with the community and organising cultural events.

Clair was raised on her family’s mixed-operation property near Ballimore where she developed a passion for rural life.

Now in her third year of studying a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (with Honours), she continues her active involvement in the agricultural sector driving machinery over harvest and showing cattle and horses at local events.

Having experienced the challenges of reduced healthcare access in rural areas, Clair aims to specialise in musculo-skeletal care and advance research in women’s health, particularly pelvic pain.

The NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is currently recruiting to vacancies in various locations across Western NSW including Dubbo, Cobar, Coonamble, Mudgee, Nyngan, Orange, Parkes and Walgett.

We do work that really matters. DCJ is all about keeping families together so that children thrive at home. Our ﬁrst priority is always the safety, welfare and wellbeing of the children or young person.

In this role, you will respond to reports about safety concerns surrounding children or young people who may have been harmed.

What you’ll do:

• work sensitively and respectfully with parents, family members, children or young people

• work collaboratively with other agencies and engage in complex problem solving

• assist families in formulating goals that align with their needs, addressing safety and well-being concerns, and provide appropriate assistance through home visits

• develop safety plans and complete risk assessments

• manage cases and situations including working with high needs and highrisk clients and their families

• be involved in court processes, including the preparation of court documents and attending court

• participate in individual and group supervision.

More info: www.seek.com.au/ job/81679870

Teal Table dinner and trek for ovarian cancer

By SHARON BONTHUYS

AN inspiring local mum and her daughter will ask the community to dig deep for ovarian cancer at a fundraising and awareness event they are holding next month in Dubbo, and an associated fourday trek of the spectacular New Zealand Fiordlands in October.

Ovarian cancer is a subject close to the hearts of Kristina Powell and her daughter Alice Powell, both hailing from Narromine, who will combine to host the Teal Table dinner at Lazy River Estate on Saturday, August 16.

The Powells’ journey to raise awareness and fundraise for the cause derived from the loss of a close family friend to the disease several years ago, and the sobering statistics from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare that show annual diagnosed cases among women doubled to 1625 between 1982 and 2019.

Raising awareness of the disease, symptoms, treatment, and support has become an important cause for Kristina, who works locally in education support, and Alice, 26, who works for a consultancy firm in Canberra.

“Before my friend died, we had lots of conversations. One of the things we talked about was the importance of raising awareness within our communities about the signs and symptoms and then also promoting the support that is available to women when they are diagnosed,” Kristina told Dubbo Photo News

“It’s the most incredibly underfunded area,” she said of ovarian

cancer research, treatment and support.

Last held in 2022, the Teal Table dinner will raise funds for Ovarian Cancer Australia’s (OCA) Teal Support Program, a free telehealth outreach program supporting women with ovarian cancer throughout their diagnosis, treatment and beyond.

The importance of the OCA telehealth program to rural, regional and remote women who may find it more difficult to access treatment and support services cannot be understated, Al-

ice said.

“We’re also looking at it from the lens that women in rural areas also deserve to have access to things that promote positive health outcomes. Just because we’re not close to a metropolitan centre doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have those positive health outcomes as well,” she explained.

“The Teal Support Program, which offers telehealth and support programs particularly for women that do not have access to the metropolitan health services, is particularly applicable to

women in our area, and in Dubbo and the surrounding central west [and beyond],” Alice added.

The statistics for ovarian cancer are alarming, with the disease often called the “silent killer” for its lack of broad symptoms and no early detection available.

“When you actually look at the statistics, five women every day are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and then out of those five, three of them will unfortunately pass away within five years of being diagnosed,” Alice said.

cent survival rate in five years, whereas breast cancer has a 92 per cent five-year survival rate,” she added.

In October, the Powells will join other OCA supporters on a four-day trek of the picturesque Fiordlands area in New Zealand, which will also help raise funds for the support program.

Narromine’s flat landscape has made training for the challenging trek a little problematic for Kristina, 54, who has already completed two previous treks for the cause within Australia.

“A lot of thought has had to go into the training so that I’m physically prepared,” she said.

The mum and daughter aim to raise $6000 from the fundraising dinner and their trek, but hope that with good community support, they can smash this goal.

They are grateful to those who have already bought tickets and donated items for the live, silent auction to be held at the Teal Table dinner.

“Alice and I are grateful to the businesses that have already donated items. Their support will make the Teal Table a huge success,” Kristina said.

“Something my friend always kept sight of was hope that the future would be different for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer,” she added.

“That remains a big motivator for me.”

Further information about the Teal Table dinner and a link to

FAMILY CAMP FOR KIDS FIGHTING CANCER IS HOSTED AT DUBBO ZOO

By DAVID DIXON

QUALITY by name, quality by nature, children’s family cancer charity Camp Quality certainly puts on a great show!

This was witnessed by the fantastic Family Camp they hosted at Taronga Western Plains Zoo recently, to give those facing cancer the opportunity to have a muchneeded break from the trauma of their illness and treatment.

This included the local Fraser family, whose son Oliver was diagnosed with cancer in 2017.

“The impact of Camp Quality’s recreation camps is real,” a spokesperson for the group said.

“Research shows that 99 per cent of parents say family camps result in a marked improvement in ‘family connection and adaptability’, and for kids, over 80 per cent said they felt less anxious and more confident after camp,” they added.

The program at Taronga

Western Plains Zoo included activities such as visiting all the animal enclosures and having lunch and games, with Camp Quality mum “Sarah” describing these as one of the highlights.

“There were so many great moments from the Camp Quality Family Camp, but if I had to name just one or two of the activities, it would be the Lego Challenge and the mini-Olympics run by the volunteers,” she said.

The events, she added, are about tuning out, having a break, and forming lifelong bonds.

“These Family Camps give us quality time together, without having to worry about day-to-day life.

“We got to reconnect in new ways and also had the chance to have kids-only and adults-only times which gave us the opportunity to get to know other families facing the same battles.”

She added that the camps also are a wonderful way of recharging the batteries for

the battles ahead.

“Before camp, we were all exhausted,” Sarah said.

“Now, we feel a little more relaxed and ready to step back into our normal with a spring in our step.”

Another mother agreed, saying that Camp Quality events are a release form the daily grind of life as a young cancer patient.

“Family Camp has meant we could have a break from all of the hospital trips and enjoy time as a family to reconnect and find some time for our daughter, to have some fun and to be a kid,” she said after attending Family Camp for the first time.

Camp Quality aims to bring positivity, fun and laughter back into the lives of kids up to 15 years old who are dealing with their own cancer diagnosis, or the diagnosis of a sibling, parent or carer, Camp Quality CEO Deborah Thomas said.

“Every day, two Australian families will receive the

devastating news that their child has cancer. A cancer diagnosis turns normal life upside down, beginning a relentless world of hospitals, debilitating treatments and sickness,” Ms Thomas explained.

“Camp Quality recreation programs give children and their families post-hospital support by providing a break from cancer for the family to reconnect, have fun and become part of a like-minded community. We provide the opportunity for families to create happy memories,” she concluded.

Alice and Kristina Powell are raising funds for ovarian cancer support with a dinner in Dubbo and a challenging trek in New Zealand later this year. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED; OVARIAN CANCER AUSTRALIA.

cancer in 2017, enjoying the recent Family Camp hosted by Camp Quality at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

ALISA’S OPULENT THAI MASSAGE WELCOMING NEW CUSTOMERS

JUST three months after opening their doors, Alisa’s Opulent Thai Massage continues to welcome a steady stream of new customers to its Wingewarra St premises in central Dubbo. Proprietor Alisa Crowley couldn’t be happier.

The centrally located business is an easy walk from Macquarie St and Brisbane St, and is a stone’s throw from the Dubbo RSL. With ample parking along Wingewarra St, getting to Alisa’s studio is easily managed.

Proprietor Alisa is thrilled with the response to her new business, which offers a range of massage services.

“Some services are more popular than others,” Alisa told Dubbo Photo News

Aromatherapy massage, deep tissue massage, and head and shoulder massage are particularly popular, she said.

The business also offers oilrelaxing massage, foot massage, and as the business name suggests, traditional Thai massage.

Alisa, who is Thai, has been practising for five years and is fully licensed and insured. She jumped at the chance to start

her own business in Dubbo, her decision fully supported by her husband Pat.

The Wingewarra Street studio is a relaxing and inviting space set up to accommodate different types of clients. Couples can have massages on adjacent beds in the same booth, Alisa said, while clients on their own seeking some peace and quiet can have a silent massage.

“We have had a mother and son in for a massage at the same time, and friends visiting together,” Alisa added.

“Some people also just like the quiet.”

Although the studio is heated in winter, Alisa has added electric blankets to the massage beds as a further comfort to her clients.

As business grows, the longterm plan will include adding a website so customers can find out more about Alisa’s services online, and to employ more staff.

Alisa’s Opulent Thai Massage is located at 63 Wingewarra Street, and is open seven days a week to 6pm. Walk-in customers are welcome.

Promoting young rural leaders through NSW Farmers Tertiary Scholarships

By DAVID DIXON

PROMOTING the next generation of rural leaders, five worthy country students were recently named as the successful recipients of the NSW Farmers Tertiary Scholarships at its annual conference.

Each year, NSW Farmers awards five tertiary scholarships to members or their children to support their university or vocational qualification in a field relevant to agriculture, or regional and rural Australia.

The scholarships would enable this year’s recipients to access opportunities and excel in their chosen fields, winner and Bachelor of Nursing student Charlotte Leys from Goolhi (near Coonabarabran) said.

“This scholarship is very meaningful to me, but also for the rural communities I plan to support in the future. I am incredibly grateful to live in such a small yet tight-knit rural community, and I want to utilise my studies in a way that can give back, especially in the field of

rural health,” Charlotte explained,

“This support from NSW Farmers is not just supporting students like me, but is also an investment in the future of rural communities,” she added.

The 2025 recipients hail from the North Coast, North West, Central West and South West Slopes, and were all committed to improving farming futures, NSW Young Farmers Chair Martin Murray

COUNCIL SNAPSHOT

said.

He said that the scholarships sought to “open doors” for the next generation of agriculture and regional Australia, so they could unlock their full potential.

“As an industry body, we have a responsibility to give the talented next generation coming through the very best possible chance to succeed and secure a brighter farming future,” Mr Murray said. “These recipients are to be congratulated for their efforts, and I look forward to seeing all they are able to achieve with the help of the program now and into the future,” he said.

•••

The 2025 NSW Farmers Tertiary Scholarship recipients were:

Reuben Huf, Sleepy Hollow (in northern NSW) – E.L. O’Brien Scholarship

Kari Donaldson, Willala (near Coonabarabran) – John White Memorial Scholarship

Charlotte Leys, Goolhi (near Coonabarabran) – Alan Chapman Memorial Scholarship

Grace Wilkes-Bowes, Naradhan (near Hillston) – Graham Blatch Memorial Goobang Scholarship

Abigail Tozer, Wallendbeen (near Young) – Paul Lockyer Memorial Scholarship

Catering for individuals and couples, Alisa Crowley looks forward to welcoming new clients to her new business.

2025 NSW Farmers Tertiary Scholarship winners : Charlotte Leys, Kari Donaldson, Grace Wilkes-Bowes, NSW Premier Chris Minns, Reuben Huf, Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty, and Chair of NSW Farmers Young Farmers Committee Martin Murray. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.

More money needed for road repairs as Scabbing Flat work continues: Council

By DAVID DIXON

WHILE the drama of the Scabbing Flat Bridge has been a long-running issue of direct impact to a whole community of farmers in the Wellington district, it is now affecting the wider community also.

The saga – which has left the historic structure operating on restricted loads with regular closures for more than 18 months – has recently seen long overdue repair works accelerating as Transport for NSW (TfNSW) crews continue bridge safety and strengthening work on the historic structure.

Since late 2023, a reduced safety load limit of 16 tonnes has been in place on the timber truss bridge which was built in 1910 from local hardwoods.

Council is going to seek extra funds from TfNSW to fund repair works to the impacted local and regional road network, as a result of the prolonged road closures and load limits on the Scabbing Flat Bridge.

WELLINGTON WOMAN’S $4.2M LOTTO WIN SPARKS WORKPLACE CELEBRATION

The pressure from these resultant detours on local roads has now seen Dubbo Regional Council get involved.

Public pressure from the local community has resulted in accelerated work on the bridge, however this has also resulted in longer closure terms for the bridge as the repairs progress.

At its last meeting in July, Council committed to write to the Minister for Regional Transport and the Minister for Roads and the Regional Director West in Transport for NSW over the issue of the road closures and detours.

The bridge work involves the replacement of decaying timber, installing temporary support systems, repairing piers and replacing cross girders and stringers to provide structural integrity to the bridge, Transport for NSW Director West Maintenance and Delivery, Craig Matthews, explained.

The reconstruction is likely to continue until towards the end of the year.

Wellington Library set for upgrade, HSC resources highlighted

WELLINGTON Library will soon undergo upgrades aimed at improving accessibility and enhancing space usage for students and the community. Similar work has been recently completed at the library’s Dubbo branch.

The upgrades aim to improve the utilisation of the space and accessibility for users of both libraries, which are currently celebrating Library and Information Week from July 28 to August 3.

Macquarie Regional Library Acting Manager Anne Barwick emphasised the extensive resources available for local students preparing for their HSC and preliminary exams.

“Our libraries offer comprehensive resources including course notes, topic tests and prescribed texts,” Ms Barwick said.

Both Wellington and Dubbo library members can borrow up to 30 items at once. Students also have free access to databases such as State Library NSW, Gale Research Databases, and Britannica Library.

Dubbo Regional Council Mayor Josh Black said libraries were crucial during exam preparations.

“Your local library provides study spaces, free Wi-Fi, educational resources and helpful staff to support students during exam periods,” Mayor Black said.

A WELLINGTON woman erupted in colourful celebrations at her workplace after learning she had won a life-changing $4.2 million in Saturday’s Lotto draw, attributing her windfall to an unusual social media post.

The thrilled resident was one of seven division one winners nationwide in Saturday Lotto draw 4593, drawn on Saturday, July 26. Each winner received an impressive $4,285,714.29.

When an official from The Lott delivered the exciting news on Monday morning, the stunned woman exclaimed loudly at her workplace, relieved no customers were nearby.

“Wow. I’m glad you warned me to sit down!” she laughed.

“I’m ecstatic. Oh my god. I can’t believe this. It’s funny, I had a thing on Facebook that said, ‘If you watch this until the end, a large sum of money will come your way!’. I didn’t really think anything of it, and here we are!”

The winner, who has played Lotto since turning 18, said she plans to pay off her house and car, becoming completely debt-free. Her winning 18-game QuickPick entry was purchased at Wellington Newsagency. Owner Patrick SlackSmith expressed delight over the win, noting the outlet’s rich history of luck.

“I was amazed to hear we’d sold another big win! This time worth over four million dollars!” Mr SlackSmith said.

brary.

“It will generate a positive buzz around town. We’ll be putting up balloons and letting customers know the exciting news.”

Repair work on and around Scabbing Flat Bridge continue. Image: TfNSW

IN FOCUS

THUMBS UP!

Thumbs Up to the awesome people at Macquarie Home Stay, accommodating and helping so many people from the bush who come to Dubbo for medical treatment. We need more people and organisations like this in the world.

Thumbs Up to Dubbo Regional Council for the great job they do looking after places like the Japanese Gardens in Dubbo and Wellington, Victoria Park, Cameron Park Sunken Gardens, and more. It’s wonderful to walk through these beautiful parks and gardens and see how well looked after they are. Good job!

Thumbs Up to the Reading Cinemas in Dubbo for screening ‘JAWS’ next month on the 50th anniversary of the movie’s release. I was a little kid when it ﬁrst hit the cinemas and missed seeing it. Now I’m taking a bunch of friends and we’ll all scream together!

Thumbs Up to Platform 11 Cafe, Narromine – in my opinion they have the best coffee and cake in Central West NSW!

Thumbs Up to Noah and staff of 90 Degrees Cafe at Charles Sturt University, Dubbo, for amazing coffee and food at excellent prices for uni staff, students and the public. What Noah doesn’t know about coffee isn’t worth knowing!

Thumbs Up to A Picture Framing Shop. Great work on my framing and such lovely people. Thanks so much.

Thumbs Up to David Wilson, a support worker at Westhaven for several years. The care, generosity, dedication and commitment he constantly provides is superb and deeply appreciated by the families of those he looks after.

You can contribute too

If you’d like to send in a Thumbs Up, story or photos for our InFocus page, email photos@ dubbophotonews.com.au. Please include a caption with each photo letting us know the names of the people pictured. We also prefer the original high-resolution versions of contributed photos – they always look much better in our paper!

Dubbo South’s Tessa wins at national ANZAC School Initiative competition

SHOWING artistic talent beyond her tender years, congratulations went out recently to Dubbo South Public School’s Tessa Osborne for her win in a national competition.

Tessa’s poignant effort of a lone soldier standing to salute won top spot in the Koori Kids 2025 ANZAC School Initiative Competition as Year Four winner, out of more than 45,795 Australian entries, School Assistant Principal, Curriculum and Instruction, Natalie Polak revealed.

“Her artwork beautifully demonstrates the visual literacy skills she has developed in Extension English and Creative Arts lessons,” Ms Polak said.

“Through thoughtful use of colour, symbolism,

composition and storytelling, she captured the depth of the ANZAC legacy in a way that resonates deeply,” she added.

The work, she believes, displays the depth of Tessa’s understanding of her craft.

“This is more than just an artistic triumph – it shows how she can interpret, analyse and communicate meaning visually. Her creative insight and technical skill combined to create a piece that truly stood out,” Ms Polak said.

“This impressive national accolade and medal is reflective of her dedication and talent, bravo! Your school and community are all extremely proud of you,” she concluded.

Kicking back and counting clouds: Mudgee lads’ song with country star Andy

Well-known local country performer Andy Penkow recently teamed up with two Central West reality TV stars to release an upbeat country/rock single in the style of Keith Urban. Andy, who has a strong regional fan base and last month performed in Dubbo and surrounds, crafted the work with Mudgeebased twosome and former X-Factor ﬁnalists, Mak & Shar, for their debut collaboration ‘Counting Clouds’.

is driven by breezy melodies and heartfelt lyrics as a way of celebrating life’s simple pleasures.

“For me, ‘Counting Clouds’ was a song we wanted to write for everyone. It’s about letting go of stress and remembering to appreciate the little things – sometimes, we all just need to kick back and count clouds,” Mak revealed.

Shar explained that the trio didn’t want to create a ballad that was overly-dramatic or “heavy”.

The song is a blend of the duo’s typical buoyant harmonies with Andy’s rich country-blues sound, aiming to deliver an optimistic anthem for mid-year playlists.

The collaboration was sparked by a mutual friend who, he said, recognised the potential synergy between the trio.

“From the moment we jumped on that ﬁrst Zoom call, we just clicked,” Mak said. “It felt natural – like we’d been working together for years,” he explained.

Seeking to offer a break from the chaos of the modern world, Mak explained that the song

“This track is all about embracing life on your own terms and making room for others to do the same,” Shar said. “It’s optimistic, light-hearted, and a reminder to live fully,” he added.

Penkow, better known for soulful songwriting and introspective observations, welcomed the chance to create something more upbeat.

“This was such a fun project,” Andy said. “Working with Mak & Shar was effortless. They brought incredible energy and creativity to the table, and the whole process was collaborative and inspiring,” he said.

Congratulations went out recently to Dubbo South Public School’s Tessa Osborne for her poignant artwork of a lone soldier standing to salute. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Spotlight on mineral paint: an eco-friendly and long-lasting alternative for home renovation projects

Are you looking for an ecofriendly and long-lasting alternative to acrylic latex paint for your next home renovation project? Mineral paint could be just what you need.

Mineral paints are made from natural ingredients and provide a unique ﬁnish that can enhance the beauty of your home. Here’s an overview of three types of mineral paints and their advantages.

exterior walls.

• Silicate paint is made using potassium silicate, also known as water glass. It’s highly resistant to UV radiation, weathering and microbial growth, making it ideal for

SUNSET STROLLS TO THE RIVER, TOGETHER.

• Clay paint is made of natural clay, mineral pigments and other non-toxic organic additives that don’t release any volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It has excellent vapour permeability, which can help regulate humidity levels indoors, creating

a healthier living environment.

• Limewash paint is made primarily from natural lime, water and pigments. It’s breathable and naturally resists mould and bacteria, making it ideal for bathrooms and kitchens.

When applied, mineral paints chemically bond to

Walk around our estate, and you’ll meet people who value the things you do; community, comfort and connection.

We’re ready to welcome you to a lifestyle designed by you.

the surface, creating a durable ﬁnish that lasts for years. They don’t peel or crack like traditional paints, and they’re easy to maintain.

If you’re planning to renovate your home and want to try mineral paint for your next project, check out your local hardware stores.

Mineral paints are made from natural ingredients and provide a unique ﬁnish that can enhance the beauty of your home.

Four ways to use limewash in your interior decor

Limewash is a type of paint that provides a natural and rustic effect. It’s made by heating limestone blocks to a very high temperature and then grinding them into a powder. The powder is then mixed with water, natural pigments and alum salt.

The paint provides a slightly textured quality that sinks into the wall surface. This makes it ideal for porous surfaces such as brick, stone and plaster.

Here are a handful of ways you can use limewash in your interior decor:

In New South Wales, buyers of residential property generally have a cooling-off period of ﬁve business days after signing the contract of sale. This legal safeguard allows buyers to reconsider their purchase and withdraw from the contract if needed, especially if contracts were exchanged immediately after offer and acceptance.

When a buyer signs a contract for a property sold via private treaty, they typically pay a 10% deposit. The cooling-off period then begins, giving them time to conduct further due diligence, such as arranging ﬁnance, obtaining legal advice, or conducting additional inspections.

If the buyer decides to withdraw within the ﬁve-day timeframe, they must provide written notice to the seller. However, they forfeit the 0.25% deposit as compensation to the seller.

The cooling-off period does not apply to properties sold at auction or where a buyer has signed a Section 66W certiﬁcate. This certiﬁcate, signed by a solicitor or conveyancer, waives the buyer’s right to the cooling-off period, making the contract immediately binding.

Buyers can negotiate an extension with the seller, but this must be agreed upon in writing before the standard ﬁve days expire.

Understanding the cooling-off period helps buyers make informed decisions while ensuring they are protected during the property transaction process, particularly when contracts are exchanged immediately after their offer is accepted.

Want to know more? Contact Karen Chant on 0448 191167 or email karen@chantandco.com.au

1. Kitchen and bedroom. Limewash doesn’t release volatile organic compounds (VOC) and has ﬂ ame-retardant properties, making it an ideal option for the kitchen. It can also add a lot of texture and personality to your bedroom without too much eﬀ ort.

2. Bathroom. Limewash paint is non-ﬁlm-forming, which means it doesn’t blister or peel, making it ideal for damp spaces like the bathroom. Plus, it’s naturally antibacterial and resistant to mould.

3. Living room. The light hues and slight texture in limewash can help soften your living room and provide visual warmth. Limewash is a particularly suitable option if you favour boho or Japandi style.

4. Furniture. You can use limewash to upcycle old furniture. You don’t need to sand wooden items unless you want that distressed, aged look. Limewash paint is an eco-friendly way to repurpose an unloved piece.

Visit your local hardware store to pick up limewash paint for your next DIY project.

The world of interior design is always evolving and searching for innovative materials and textiles that can enhance both beauty and functionality. Here are a few textiles to keep an eye out for.

o2. Recycled textiles are made from industrial waste, such as plastic bottles or reclaimed wood and bamboo. Some designers are even turning to food to make new textiles. For example, vegan leathers made of pineapple leaves, grape skins and apples are gaining popularity.

1. Biophilic textiles are designed to mimic natural patterns and textures. For example, textiles that look like tree bark, ﬂoating leaves or blooming sunﬂowers are all the rage. Biophilic textiles also often incorporate raised textures and woven elements to evoke the tactile aspects of nature.

3. Thermochromic textiles can change colour

based on the temperature. This is because of the use of special dyes. For example, drapes and blinds made with thermochro-

mic dyes can automatically tint in the presence of heat.

The latest textiles offer designers an opportu-

nity to transform interior spaces into unique, functional and visually appealing areas with no limit to their creativity.

Innovative materials and textiles can

Hatches

Name: Jaxtyn Wayne Colliss

Born: 24/7/25

Weight: 3200g

Parents: Elijah Colliss and Darci Dwyer, from Wellington

Grandparents: Tony Colliss, Cherie Bell, Darren Dwyer, Joella Daley

Name: Ivy Rebeka Therese Thurston

Born: 24/7/25

Weight: 2550g

Parents: Sharnie Thurston, from Bourke

Siblings: Stevahni Johnson (10), Shakyla-Lee Johnson (8), Jerkyrin Carr-Thurston (6) and Jimmy Thurston

Grandparents: Victoria Harris, Andrew Smith, Thomas Thurston

You can contribute to Hatches

If you’d like to send in a photo of your newborn to feature here, email photos@dubbophotonews.com.au. Please include your baby’s details, as seen on this page, as well as your daytime contact number in case we have any questions. We prefer the original high-resolution versions of contributed photos – they always look much better in our paper!

Dubbo Public School

Year 6 Galileo

Year 6 Galileo were diving into the rich cultural heritage of Indigenous Australians as they prepared for NAIDOC Day.

The students were engaging in a vibrant dot painting activity, discovering how this traditional art form serves as a powerful medium for storytelling across generations. Through their creative expression, they were not only honing their artistic skills but also deepening their understanding of Indigenous history and culture.

Year 6 Galileo was excited to celebrate NAIDOC Day with their newfound knowledge and artistic creations!

WHAT KIDS SAY

Hallie

How old are you? 4

What are you good at?

Drawing

What is your favourite food? Ice

What

KNOW A BIRTHDAY CHILD THIS MONTH?

Send in a photo, details and a short birthday wish, and your special birthday child will be elligible for a FREE kids doughnut to help them celebrate!

Send entries to: myentry@ dubbophotonews.com.au Entries must be in by 5pm Friday the week before.

Know a local hero? Last chance for Australian of the Year nominations

By DAVID DIXON

WANT to nominate a worthy local for one of the Australian of the Year Awards for 2026?

Well, now’s your last chance because they’re closing at midnight tonight (Thursday, July 31).

The awards include four categories – Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year, and Australia’s Local Hero.

With time running out, Federal Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey is calling on interested residents to make sure our outstanding community members are recognised.

“The Federal Electorate of Parkes covers more than 400,000 square km of NSW, and includes many hardworking and dedicated people,” Mr Chaffey said.

“People are the heart of the Parkes electorate, they are what make our communities such amazing places,” he added. “I would love to see some of those community members recognised for their contributions in the Australian of the Year Awards. I urge people to nominate those who go above and beyond to make a difference.”

Although nominations close Thursday, the good news is it’s as easy as losing your hat, National Australia Day Council CEO Mark Fraser revealed, with a short application enough to get someone

noticed.

“The important thing is, the only way someone can win is if someone nominates you, it’s the ultimate in grassroots participation.

“It can be people who inspire you, someone you know – the pow-

er ultimately rests with those who nominate,” Mark emphasised. Winners have come from simple things like attending a community event, or from someone listening to a radio interview which touched a nerve in their hearts.

go on the website with a story that inspires, click ‘nominate’, do it now, don’t delay,” Mark advised.

He said that every nomination goes to a state committee, with provincial winners then considered by a national council for Australian of the Year.

“Ultimately, it’s Australia’s preeminent award, our most prestigious recognition of lifetime achievement,” he told the Dubbo Photo News

“This is your opportunity to show who represents the very best of Australia, I would love to see the nominations roll in from western NSW,” Mark said.

One of the unique features of the competition this year is the theme ‘See Them, Hear Them, Nominate Them’, a true reflection of the national mood at a particular time in history.

“But you’ve gotta get onto it now, the reason is, we get thousands of nominations a year, and they are shortlisted for every state and territory from a committee of ten, one in every category, and then they have to be forwarded to the national committee,” Mark explained.

“It’s a story, that’s what we’re looking for – what stories bring us together in the way of contribution and service.

“They can be unsung heroes, and they don’t know they’ve been nominated. All you have to do is

“(Judging is) a very long process, that’s why the nominations have to be in now,” he concluded. You can nominate someone here: https://australianoftheyear. org.au

Want to nominate a worthy local for one of the Australian of the Year Awards for 2026? Now’s your last chance! Pictured are previous winners with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. PHOTO: AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS.

1 Plant of the genus that includes cabbage (8) 5 Prizes (6)

Riverside embankment (5)

21 16th US president (7) 24 Common fruits (6)

Garrulous (9) 28 Popular aquarium ﬁsh (5)

Peril (6) 30 Resent someone’s pleasure or good fortune (8)

1 Light globe (4) 2 Publicly supported (9)

Slur (5)

Box (8)

Hub for military planes (7)

Recommends (5)

Brazen (9)

Crust formed over a cut (4)

Not connected by kinship (9)

16 Clothed (9)

17 Of or from Japan (8)

19 Retention (7)

22 A tough synthetic polymer (5)

23 Fastener (4)

25 Father (arch) (5)

26 Counterfeit (4)

Alliance (6) 18 Round, red root; salad vegetable (6)

Central American country (9) 12 Tallies (6) 13 I don’t know (coll) (5,2) 14 Inverted (8)

or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural nouns ending in ‘s’.

YOUR STARS

ARIES: A colleague’s departure could pave the way for your promotion. Use your time away from work to take a step back and clarify your plans. Your friends may invite you on an energising getaway or a relaxing retreat.

TAURUS: You’ll participate in various activities off ered by your community or council this week. Your determination will drive you to take on new projects. Even if you’re reserved by nature, nothing will stop you from turning your ideas into reality.

GEMINI: Realising your dreams t akes time and patience. Collaborating with others will be key to achieving your goals. Sometimes, you must clear the air and start fresh.

CANCER: You’ll need to be patient in both your personal and professional life to reach an agreement. Avoid getting bogged down by the same old conflicts. If you need to settle a legal matter in court, luck could be on your side.

QUICK QUIZ

1. What colour is Postman Pat’s cat?

2. Which city had the world’s ﬁrst subway?

3. By what stage name was actor Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland better known?

4. Which character narrates How I Met Your Mother?

5. As of 2025, how many studio albums has pop singer Lily Allen (pictured) released?

WORD SEARCH

LEO: This week, your doctor might f inally find the right treatment for your health issue. At work, an unexpected advancement could be on the horizon. In your romantic life, your significant other may propose a serious commitment.

VIRGO: You’ll achieve an impressive feat that fills you with pride. You’ll help someone in need by lending a listening ear. You’ll earn their heartfelt gratitude. At work, you’ll be tasked with more responsibilities.

LIBRA: Your children or elderly parents will need your undivided attention this week. You won’t hesitate to dedicate your time and energy to support them. In your relationship, you’ll openly express your love.

SCORPIO: You may consider going back to school or taking a short training course to enrich your career. Even if you’re short on time and need to put in a lot of effort, you’ll accomplish a meaningful goal that makes you proud.

6. Dhaka is the capital of which Asian country?

7. What does a garbologist study?

8. Is an ibex a type of a) goat, b) bull or c) spider?

9. Who is the lead singer of rock band Blondie?

10. To dine alfresco is to dine where?

JGTHNEJOBOSNIAE UAQATARRGSNGERY MBMJAPANOANHIUO FOAANNOAARTAHBO

ARMENIA

ARUBA

BERMUDA

BHUTAN

BOSNIA

BRUNEI

CHAD

SAGITTARIUS: You’ll work overtime this week and be generously compensated. This could boost your salary and improve your working conditions in the long run. You’ll be showered with love and aff ection by your romantic partner.

CAPRICORN: Chances are, you’ll s tart a promising and well-paying new job. This new position will allow you to save money and minimise the financial burdens that have been holding you back from true happiness for too long.

AQUARIUS: Your strong intuition and vivid imagination will help you set your priorities straight and design a future that’s right for you. This newfound mental clarity will guide you along the right path.

PISCES: You’ll organise a large gathering this week. Your charisma will captivate everyone around you. After reflecting on your romantic relationship, you may find that you need to take a step back to rekindle the flame. The luckiest signs this week: Pisces, Aries and Taurus.

COMOROS

GMAUOTOBAGOEWTC

UBIDHRPARAGUAYU

AITALYOAFIJIYSB

MAIINGLSNESTEPA

Insert the missing letters to make 10 words – five reading across the grid and five reading down.

PERU

POLAND

QATAR

SPAIN

SYRIA

TOBAGO

TOGO

URUGUAY

ZAIRE

Place each of the tiles of letters into the blank jigsaw below to create four

words going across and down.

Insert each number from 1 to 9 in the shaded squares to solve all the horizontal and vertical equations. Multiplication and division are performed before addition and subtraction.

INSANITY STREAK by Tony Lopes

OUT ON A LIMB by Gary Kopervas

WUMO by Wulff & Morgenthaler

COMPLETE EACH GRID WITH NUMBERS FROM 1 TO 6, KEEPING IN MIND THAT:

-a number can only appear once per row -a number can only appear once per column

-a number can only appear once in each box of 6 squares

colour copy shop

Passed away 26th July 2025. Aged 83 years. Late of Dubbo and formerly of Tottenham.

Dearly loved husband of Jill.

Loving father & father-in-law of Kathleen & Ian, Ngaire & Davin. Cherished & adored Pop of Dayna, Bryson & Ngaire.

Bruce’s cremation service will be held in the Chapel of the Dubbo commencing at 10.30am Tuesday 12th August 2025.

Funeral arrangements are in the care of The Abbey Funeral Home Dubbo 02 6881 8988

Bruce William Livingston SATURDAY, AUGUST 2 8:30AM - 4PM

THE DIARY

THIS WEEK

Ladies Luncheon: Meeting on Saturday, August 2, 12pm, at Burger Club, 84 Macquarie Street, Dubbo. Ring Bev on 6884 5401 by 31 July if interested.

Talbragar CWA: Meeting again on Saturday, August 2, at 2pm in the CWA Hall, 45L Boothenba Road, Dubbo. For info call Ronda, 6888 5231 or 0419 275 223.

THURSDAY

Above Board Gamers: SECOND and FOURTH Thursday of the month, 6pm, Devil’s Hollow Brewery. Alan 0432 278 235 Akela Playgroup: 9.30am, Scout Hall, 4 Akela St, Sharna 0438 693 789 Badminton: 7.30pm-9.30pm, Delroy High School Auditorium, East Street, West Dubbo, $5 to play, $22 insurance ($20, school students). Chris 6887 3413 Bingo – South Dubbo Veteran’s & Community Men’s Shed: 11am12.30pm, West Dubbo Bowling Club. Barry 0439 344 349

Catholic Healthcare – Dementiafriendly day respite: Open Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm. A caring day away from home with engaging activities, trained staff, nutritious meals, and a safe, social space promoting independence and wellbeing. Contact Kelly on 0478 282 588. Coffee, Craft and Chat: 9.30am12pm, Gospel Hall, Cnr of Boundary Road and Taylor St. Anne 0428 425 958 Croquet: 8.15am for 8.30am start, Tuesday, Thursday. Croquet courts, Brisbane St, North Dubbo. Kate 0409 927 140, Lillian 0429 471 921

CWA Dubbo: FIRST Thursday of the month, 9.30am-11am, Oaktree Retirement Village Peel Street, Dubbo. Marion 6884 2957

CWA Wongarbon Handicraft: SECOND Thursday of the month, Liz 0401 174 883.

CWA Wongarbon: FIRST Thursday of the month, 10am, Wongarbon CWA rooms. Marjorie 6884 5558

Dubbo Community Men’s Shed Inc: Mondays 9am-1pm and Thu/Sat 1pm5pm. Small joining fee after three visits. All men are welcome, Kevin 0427 253 445 Family History Society (Dubbo & District): 1pm-4pm, volunteers on site during these hours, Western Plains Cultural Centre Community Arts Centre, Cnr Wingewarra and Gipps St Heart Support Walking Group: 12.30pm, (also Tuesdays), Ollie Robbins Oval, Cnr of Bligh Street. Supports gentle exercise promoting healthy hearts, Ray 0437 541 942

Let’s Walk together: 10am Thursdays weekly meet at Regand Park near the Walkway Bridge. Everyone is welcome. Supported by the Heart Foundation. Contact Jimmy at Connecting Community Services 1800 319 551.

Line Dancing: 9.30am-12 noon, Greek Hall, corner Gipps and Roper Street, Dubbo.

Kathy 6888 5287 or Lynn 6888 5263. Macquarie Masons Dubbo: SECOND Thursday of the month. All visitors are welcome, John O’Brien 0405 051 896. Outback Dragons Dubbo: 5.45pm (in summer), Sandy Beach amenities block. Come and try dragon boating, your ﬁrst ﬁ ve paddles are FREE. info@outbackdragons.com.au, Robyn 0427462504

Wellington Arts and Crafts: 10am3pm, Small Hall in the Anglican Church grounds, Wellington, variety of crafts, activities and workshops offered. Dorothy 0408 601 066

Wellington Lions Preloved Books: Thursday to Saturday 10am-2pm. Kimbell’s Bakery, 44 Warne Street (opposite Cow & Calf Hotel). Books, DVDs, CDs and jigsaw puzzles are available, with lots more stock coming in.

FRIDAY

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings: 7pm (1.5hrs) – ID meeting, Dubbo Community Health, Palmer Street, Dubbo. Contact Dee 0417 422 750, 1300 222 222 or www.aa.org.au.

Catholic Healthcare – Mind + Move: Fridays – Remain Active 9-10am. Fun, movement, and connection in a supportive space. Contact Kelly 0478 282 588. Central West Makers Place: 12pm-6pm, South Dubbo Veterans and Community Men’s Shed, Cnr Palmer and High Streets. 3D printing, robotics, pottery, and more. Adam 0431 038 866.

Community Kitchen: FIRST Friday of the month, 6.30pm, Holy Trinity Hall, Brisbane St, free meal. CPSA (Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association): Friday, July 11, 10am, Dubbo RSL Club. Discuss issues, guest speaker. Further Information Barb 0427 251 121 Dubbo Nepalese Christian Fellowship: 6.30-8pm. Cyrel on 0416 826 701 or Kabita 0452 406 234. Dubbo Parkinson’s Support Group: FIRST Friday of each month, 10.30am, Horizons village, Minore Road, Dubbo. Marsha Isbester 0427 373 842. Holy Trinity Kids Club: For ages 6-12 years. Holy Trinity Hall – 158 Brisbane Street. 4-5.30pm. Every 2nd Friday – School Term. Phone Justin 0411 250 760 for more information.

Lunchtime Prayer Group –Dubbo Anglican Church: 1-2pm in Brotherhood House, 158 Brisbane Street. Bring your lunch

Narromine Food Barn: 8.30am-11am, Low-cost groceries, fruit, vegetables and FREE bread with any purchase to people in need. Geoff Smith 0427 895 447

Spinning and Weaving: 10am, at Dubbo Arts and Craft Cottage, 137 Cobra Street. Anne 0408 891 225 Tai Chi at U3A: 10am, at the Community Arts Centre, Western Plains Cultural Centre, 76 Wingewarra Street. Richard 6888 5656 Urban Tribe: 2pm, with dancing, music, singing, caring and sharing. 0459 762 702 Wellington Lions Preloved Books: Thursday to Saturday 10am-2pm. Kimbell’s Bakery, 44 Warne Street (opposite Cow & Calf Hotel). Books, DVDs, CDs and jigsaw puzzles are available, with lots more stock coming in.

Western Plains Trefoil Guild: SECOND Friday of each month, 10.30am, Orana Gardens round house. Please conﬁrm the meeting will be on. Dorothy 6884 6646

SATURDAY

Beekeepers Inc – Orana: SECOND Saturday of the month, 9.15am, Narromine Tennis Club rooms, unless other arrangements are made. orana.secretary@beekeepers.asn.au

Bridge Club – Dubbo: 1pm until approximately 4.30pm, Bultje Street. $7 members, $9 non-members. Libby 0428 254 324.

Croquet: 8.15am, Muller Park Tennis and Croquet courts, Brisbane St, North Dubbo. New players of all ages are welcome. Tricia 0428 876 204 or Margaret 0427 018 946. CWA Gilgandra Market: FIRST Saturday of the month, 9am-1pm, cakes, fruit, pickles, plants and more! New stall holders are welcome. $5 per table, proceeds to CWA. Contact Hilda 0427471270.

Dubbo Anglican Church Vigil Communion Service: 6pm, 158 Brisbane Street. Contact 6884 4990

Dubbo Bridge Club: 1pm, Bultje Street (Tennis Courts), Dubbo. $7 members, $9 non-members. Libby 0428 254 324

Dubbo Community Men’s Shed Inc: Mondays, 9am-1pm and Thu/Sat 1pm-5pm. Small joining fee after three visits. “All men are welcome.” Kevin 0427 253 445

Dubbo Slot Car Racing Club: FIRST and THIRD Saturday of the month, 4pm, Seniors (15+), old Scouts Building, 189-191 Talbragar Street, across from Aldi. Terry 0408 260 965.

Embroiderers – Dubbo: 10am-3pm (also see Tuesday listing). All are welcome, Macquarie Regional Library. Contact Patricia 0439846400

Family History Society (Dubbo & District): 10am-1pm, volunteers on site during these hours, Western Plains Cultural Centre Community Arts Centre, Cnr Wingewarra and Gipps St.

Orana Writers’ Hub: 1st Saturday of the month 10-1. Music Room WPCC

Patchwork and Quilters Group: 9am, SECOND and LAST Saturday of the month, Dubbo Pipe Band Hall, Cnr Darling and Wingewarra Sts. Charlene on 0408 825 180

Diary entries need to be 40 words or less, and are only for not-for-profit community groups . Placement will be at the editor’s discretion and subject to space availability – because Diary listings are free! Please include your daytime phone number and/or address when submitting details. Entries close 10am Tuesday for that Thursday’s edition.

Parkrun – Dubbo: 8am every week, FREE timed (with barcode), 5km run, jog or walk, starts at Sandy Beach, dogs, prams are welcome. Email dubbohelpers@ parkrun.com to help!

RSL Tennis Club: 12.30pm, Paramount Tennis Club courts for enjoyable social tennis. All welcome 0437824743

Saturday Art: 10am, at Dubbo Arts and Crafts Society Cottage, 137 Cobra St. Pam 6885 1918.

Seventh-day Adventist Church Bible Study: 9.30am, Sabbath School and children’s/youth Sabbath School, 11am, Divine Service. Cnr Cobra and Sterling Sts. dubbo.adventist.org.au

Talbragar CWA: First Saturday of the Month. 45L Boothenba Road, Dubbo commencing at 2pm. Will be 90 this year! Contact Ronda on 0419 275 223.

Transition Dubbo Food + Film Night: For information about future events, contact Peter 0439 091 767

SUNDAY

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings (Steps and Traditions): 7pm (1.5hrs), ‘Steps and Traditions’ meeting, Dubbo Community Health, Palmer St. Jack 0418 605 041, Sally 0427 829 807, 1300 222 222 or www.aa.org.au

Australian Kite Flyers Society: SECOND Sunday of the month, 10am, Jubilee Oval. See how to build and ﬂy modern (and old) kites. David 0476 223 342 Bicycle User Group Social Ride: 9am, at Wahroonga Park. Mick 0437 136 169 or Sam 0429 826 076, dubbobug.org.au

Dubbo Acoustic Musicjam (DAMjam): SECOND Sunday of the month, 2pm-5pm, Milestone Hotel, upstairs. Join acoustic sessions or just listen. Peter 0457 787 143

Dubbo Anglican Church Traditional Communion Service: 8am, 158 Brisbane Street. 6884 4990

Dubbo Anglican Church: 10am, Trinity Kids Sunday School and family Communion service.

Dubbo Baptist Church: 6pm, at 251 Cobra Street (next to Spotlight), during school terms. Come along and discover if church is still relevant in today’s world. Everyone is welcome. 6884 2320

Dubbo Baptist Church: 9.30am, 251 Cobra Street (next to Spotlight). Everyone is welcome. 6884 2320

Dubbo Pistol Club: 12.30pm, 143L Old Dubbo Road, 6882 0007

Orana K9 Training Club INC: New intake class every 7th Sunday, daylight savings start time 8.45am, Eastern Standard time 9.45am. Orana K9 Training is now training at Pioneer Oval, Howard Ave, West Dubbo. Contact Reg 0428849877 or Dianne

0429847380.

Orana Pistol Club: 9am, Hyandra Lane, Dubbo. Sundays only, 6887 3704

The Write In: An opportunity for writers to sit in writerly companionship, writing. 3rd Sunday of the month. Dubbo library meeting room from 11.30.

Traditional Catholic Latin Mass – Rawsonville: SECOND Sunday of the month, 9am, Rawsonville Soldier’s Memorial Hall, Rawsonville Road. 0429 920 842

Transcendental Meditation (TM): Free introductory talks via www.tm.org.au. Maharishi Foundation Australia, scientiﬁcally proven beneﬁts of TM. Contact David 0424 252 834

MONDAY

Alcoholics Anonymous (Daily Reﬂections Meeting): 12pm Monday

Lunch (1.5hr) – ‘Daily Reﬂections’ meeting

St Brigid’s Catholic Church meeting rooms, 198 Brisbane St, Dubbo. Please contact David 0417 063 087 or contact 1300 222 222 or www.aa.org.au.

Amnesty International Dubbo: SECOND Monday of the month, 5.30pm6.30pm, St Brigid’s meeting room. Contact Sandra Lindeman amnesty.dubbo@gmail. com or 0419 167 574.

Anglican Women’s Association: 5.30pm, at Holy Trinity. Dorothy 6884 4990. Australian Air Force Cadets 313 “City of Dubbo” Squadron: 6pm9.30pm, Army Barracks (Cnr Kokoda Pl and Wingewarra St). NOW recruiting, 13 to 18 years, rewarding activities.

Dubbo Bridge Club: FOURTH Monday of the month, 10am-1pm, Bultje Street. $7 members, $9 non-members. Libby 0428 254 324.

Dubbo City Physical Culture Club: 4.30pm start, Wesley Community Hall, 66 Church St. Fun, affordable dance for girls/ ladies, 4yrs and up, all ﬁ tness levels. dubbocityphysie@live.com.au

Dubbo Community Men’s Shed Inc: Mondays, 9am-1pm and Thu/Sat 1pm-5pm. Small joining fee after three visits. “All men are welcome.” Kevin 0427 253 445.

Dubbo Filmmakers: Expressions of Interest. Short features movies and documentaries, shot on smart phones. Contact Sue 0455 255 137 after midday to ﬁnd out more.

Dubbo Multicultural Women’s Group: THIRD Monday of the month, 10am, St Brigid’s Meeting Room in Brisbane Street. Women of all backgrounds are invited. 1800 319 551. Narromine Community Women’s Shed: 10am-3pm, (also Wednesdays),

The Wesley Centre, 138 Dandaloo Street, Narromine. Leona 0487 200 987

Patchwork: 10am-3pm, at Dubbo Arts & Craft Cottage, 137 Cobra St, June 6882 4677. RFDS Dubbo Support Group monthly meetings: FIRST Monday of the month, RFDS Visitor Experience, 5pm, 21 Judy Jakins Drive, Dubbo Airport. Jeanette Hamilton 0429 673 366. Rotary Club of Dubbo: 6pm-8pm, Westside Hotel, Whylandra Street, West Dubbo. Contact Lyn Wicks, 0428 342 374, Carla Pittman 0418 294 438 or dubborotaryclub@hotmail.com

Sing Australia Dubbo Choir: 6pm8pm, Bridge Club, Bultje Street. NO auditions, no requirements to read music and no singing experience necessary. Contact Michele Peak 0428 680 775. Tai Chi 10 Form: 2.30pm-3.30pm during school terms at U3A, Community Arts Centre, WPCC, 76 Wingewarra St. Laney 6882 4680 or laneyluk@gmail.com.

TUESDAY

Aboriginal Elders Walkabout Ministry Group: 9.30am-2pm in Holy Trinity Church Hall, 158 Brisbane Street Catholic Healthcare – Dementiafriendly day respite: Open Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm. A caring day away from home with engaging activities, trained staff, nutritious meals, and a safe, social space promoting independence and wellbeing. Contact Kelly on 0478 282 588. Croquet: 8.15am for 8.30am start, Tuesday, Thursday. Croquet courts, Brisbane St, North Dubbo. Kate 0409 927 140, Lillian 0429 471 921 Dementia Sing Out Choir: Weekly 11am-12.30pm, Generosity Church, 51 Sheraton Road, Dubbo. Contact Anne Gemmell 0481396404.

Depression Recovery Group: 10.30am, at the Catholic Parish Meeting Room, Brisbane St. Norm 6882 6081 or Sandra 0432 647 877

Dubbo Camera Club: Meet 1st Tuesday of the Month at Club Dubbo at 7pm. Everyone is welcome to join. See FB page for more details.

Dubbo City Physical Culture Club: 5pm start, Holy Trinity Hall, Brisbane Street, Dubbo. Fun, affordable dance for girls/ladies, 4yrs and up, all ﬁtness levels. dubbocityphysie@live.com.au

Dubbo Chess Club: 7pm-9pm, at Dubbo RSL. Juniors welcome. Trevor 0424 225 323 and Babu 0422 877 165 Dubbo City Ladies Probus Club: Meet on the second Tuesday of each month in the Masonic Village Hall, Darby Close at 10am, contact Marie Francis 0408845640. Dubbo Embroiderers: 9.30am3pm SECOND and FOURTH Tuesday of the month (also see Saturday listing) Dubbo Bridge Club, Elston Park, Bultje St Dubbo. All are welcome. Contact Patricia 0439846400 Dubbo Lions Club Inc: FIRST and THIRD Tuesday of the month, 6.30pm, Club

Dubbo. PO Box 285 Dubbo, Lois on 0428288325 or dubbolionsinc@gmail.com.

Dubbo Men’s Probus: FIRST Tuesday of every month, 11am, Masonic Hall, Bob Ellis 0428217752

Dubbo Prostate Support Group: For information about future meetings, Elizabeth 0408 682 968 Dubbo RSL Euchre Club: 7pm, for 7.30pm, Dubbo RSL, Glen 0419 179 985 or Doreen 6882 6163

Family History Society (Dubbo & District): 1pm-4pm, Cnr Wingewarra & Gipps Sts, Western Plains Cultural Centre, Community Arts Centre.

Girls Brigade: During school term, 6pm-8pm, Orana Baptist Church, 4 Palmer St. For all school aged girls. Enjoy crafts, games, camps, stories, songs, cooking and much more. Julie 0428 821 829

Heart Support Walking Group: 12.30pm, (also Thursday), Ollie Robbins Oval, Cnr of Bligh Street. Supports gentle exercise promoting healthy hearts, contact Ray 0437 541 942

Orana Physical Culture: 4pm onwards, starts with 2-4 years Sparkles class, Auditorium at St Mary’s Primary School. See the Orana Physical Culture Facebook page Rotary Club of Dubbo Macquarie: 12.30pm2pm, Westside Hotel, contact Peter McInnes 0417 140 149 Rotary Club of Dubbo South: 6pm, at South Dubbo Tavern Silver Craft: THIRD Tuesday of the month, 10am, at Dubbo Arts and Crafts Society Cottage, 137 Cobra St. Julie 6884 4919

Smart Recovery (Behaviour Change Support Group): 5pm, online or in person. Rob on 0417 497 187 Spinning Group: Every third Tuesday 10am-4pm Dubbo Art and Craft Cottage, 137 Cobra Street. Contact Julie 0418 976 663 South Dubbo Veteran’s & Community Men’s Shed: 9am-12pm, Cnr of High and Palmer Streets. New members welcome

Reach Out & Discussion Group for people with Eating Disorders: Expressions of Interest, Tuesdays. Venue TBA. Ph: 0455255137 after midday to express interest.

Toastmasters Club: FIRST and THIRD Tuesday of the month, 7pm-9pm, Dubbo RSL Club, Brisbane St. Sharon Allan 0408 156 015 or email sallan@rhdubbo. com.au

Women’s Wellbeing Walking Group: 10am Tuesdays fortnightly meeting at Victoria Park BBQ area. Women of all ages welcome. Kathryn at Connecting Community Services 1800 319 551.

WEDNESDAY

Akela Playgroup: (also see Thursday listing), 10.30am, Scout Hall, 4 Akela Street, Sharna 0438 693 789.

Alcoholics Anonymous Dubbo: Meet Wednesday 7pm (1.5hr) – ‘Topic’ meeting St Brigid’s Catholic Church meeting rooms, 198 Brisbane St, Dubbo. Please contact Ian 0447 176 590, or 1300 222 222 or www. aa.org.au for info on meetings.

Ballroom Dancing: Wednesday 7.30-9.30pm $10. Wesley Hall Cnr of Carrington Avenue & Church Street, Dubbo. Graham Woods 0447 885 603

Blood Cancer Support Group: FIRST Wednesday of month, 10.30am-12pm, Venue changes each month. Louise or Emma 0412 706 785 Breast Cancer Support Group: FOURTH Wednesday of every month, 10am, Baptist Church, Palmer Street, Community Health 5853 2545 Bric-a-brac sale, weekly – South Dubbo Veterans and Community Men’s Shed: 10am12pm, Corner of Palmer and High Streets. Contact Barry on 0439 344 349

Cake Cupper & Cancer Support Group: SECOND Wednesday of month, 2.30-4pm, Western Cancer Centre Dubbo, carer is also welcome. For patients having current cancer treatment. Megs or Fi 6809 6200 Catholic Healthcare – Dementia-friendly

day respite: Open Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm. A caring day away from home with engaging activities, trained staff, nutritious meals, and a safe, social space promoting independence and wellbeing. Contact Kelly on 0478 282 588.

Catholic Healthcare – Mind + Move: Wednesdays – Gym Ball Drumming 12-1pm. Art 1.302.30pm. Contact Kelly 0478 282 588.

Coffee, Craft & Chat: FORTNIGHTLY, 10am-12pm, Gospel Chapel on Boundary Road. Anne 0428 425 958

CWA Dubbo Evening Branch: THIRD Wednesday of the month, 6pm, 3 Frith Street. Contact Barb on 0409 159 556.

CWA Narromine: SECOND Wednesday of the month, 5.30pm, USMC. Carolyn 0427747478

CWA Terramungamine: SECOND Wednesday of the month, 10am, Dubbo RSL Club. Barb 0427 251 121

CWA Wellington Branch: Second Wednesday of Month, 10.30am, Wellington CWA Rooms, Warne St, Wellington. Contact Marion on 0429033836

Dementia Friendship Group: SECOND Wednesday of month, 10.30am, Western Plains Cultural Centre, Creo Cafe, Wingewarra St. Anne Gemmell 0481396404.

Dubbo Anglican Church Trinity Kids

Playgroup: 10am-12pm, Anglican Church Hall, 158 Brisbane St., during School terms. Contact 6884 4990

Dubbo Arts and Craft Cottage: 10am-4pm, 137 Cobra Street. A large range of handcrafted gifts made by members available. Contact 6881 6410

Dubbo Bobbin Lacemakers: THIRD Wednesday of the month, 10am-3pm, Arts & Crafts Society Cottage and Craft Shop, 137 Cobra Street. Judy 6882 5776

Dubbo Bridge Club: 9.45am, for 10am-1pm, Bultje Street (Tennis Courts), Dubbo. $7 members, $9 nonmembers. Libby 0428 254 324

Dubbo Community Garden: 9am-12pm, 4 Palmer Street. A time to garden with others, learn more skills and grow friendships. Contact Denise 0433 623 842 or Julie 0428 821 829

Dubbo Electric Vehicle Interest, Owners, Users & Supporters (DEVIOUS) group: FIRST

Wednesday of each month, 12.30pm-1.30pm, Western Plains Cultural Centre café. Chris 0409 321 470

Dubbo Garden Club: 10am, FIRST Wednesday of month, Garden gatherings with morning tea. Contact President Annette Storer 0429 828 882

Dundullimal Dubbo Support Crew Inc: FOURTH Wednesday of month, 10am, Dundullimal Homestead. Support Homestead functions. 6884 9984, dundullimal@nationaltrust.com.au

Gamblers Anonymous: 6pm, Baptist Church, Dubbo. Victor 0407 799 139

Geurie Craft Group: 9am-2pm, Geurie Bowling Club. Everyone is welcome. Contact Colene 0400422335

Line Dancing: 6.30pm-8.30pm, Greek Hall, corner Gipps and Roper Street, Dubbo. Kathy 6888 5287 or Lynn 6888 5263. Lodge Allan Stuart 416: SECOND Wednesday of month, Geurie Masonic Centre. Please email secretary@ lodgeallanstuart416.org.au

Narromine Community Women’s Shed: Mondays and Wednesdays, 10am-3pm, The Wesley Centre, 138 Dandaloo Street, Narromine. Leona 0487 200 987

Survivors Of Suicide Bereavement Group: Wednesdays, by expressions of interest. Please contact 0455 255 137 after midday. Walter T. Grant Seniors Social Club: 9am-2pm, Scout’s Hall, Welchman Street. $10 per day. BYO lunch. Pre-lunch cards and games, post-lunch bingo. Jan Miller 0418 255 217

West Dubbo Rotary: 6pm, Club Dubbo, Whylandra Street, West Dubbo Zumba Kids: 4.15pm, West Dubbo Primary Community Centre. A FUN dynamic class that keeps young bodies active, for kids aged 5 to 12. Gold coin donation per family.

RHONDA BRINGS HOME A MEDAL FROM WORLD DRAGON BOATS REGATTA

By GEOFF MANN

Dubbo’s Orana Dragon Boat drummer Rhonda Lang is proudly showing off the Bronze Medal she won at the World Para Dragons Championships recently.

Rhonda earned the right to steer the national team after her impressive form at Country and State titles and a series of selection events.

CYMS EDGE CLOSER TO MINOR PREMIERSHIP

By GEOFF MANN

THE Fishies were forced to draw on everything in their tank to hold off a resurgent Macquarie Raiders team on Sunday.

CYMS 20-12 win was almost a repeat of the 1975 scoreline, the first time the two Dubbo clubs had met in a first grade grand final. That day John McDonnell’s Greens beat Noel Sing’s Blues 20 points to 7.

At Apex Oval on Sunday several of the team gathered to remember that historic occasion and reflect on teammates and club officials who have passed.

CYMS lead the Peter McDonald Premiership (PMP) on 22 points, one ahead of Forbes, with this Sunday’s opponent Orange CYMS on 20.

Wellington and Mudgee are vying for fourth spot on 18 with Bathurst St Pats 16, Orange Hawks on 13, Parkes 12 and

Macquarie still in the hunt on 10.

Dubbo CYMS formed in 1947, two years after Orange which is currently celebrating its 80th year, and the locals can wrap up top spot and a home final if they can overcome “big brother”. They will have to do so against a fervent Orange crowd when Jack Buchanan leads his “CYMMIS” onto Wade Park.

Macquarie meantime hosts Bathurst St Pats in a must-win game. The Raiders lost their coach Justin Carney two weeks ago and seem to be playing with plenty of spirit so should draw a huge crowd to Apex Oval on Sunday.

Wellington can consolidate their spot in the top four against an underperforming Bathurst Panthers while premiers Mudgee travel to Nyngan to meet the dangerous, if inconsistent, Tigers.

SUNDAY MORNING RSL COMBINATION BOWLS FOR JULY 27

By GRAHAM ROSS, PRESIDENT

NUMBERS were a bit light on for RSL Combination Bowls on Sunday, July 27, though 23 Bowlers still braved the wet and cold conditions to enjoy their morning of bowls at the RSL Sporties Club.

On rink 1, first place for the day with a convincing win of 27 shots was the team of Chris Straojny, Jenny Spratt and Col Teale from Merv Teale, Peter Bennison and Neil Hayburn bowling 10 shots.

Ricky See, Alan Stratford and Steve Evans bowled a very respectable 17 shots to take 2nd place from Ray Strawhan, Shirley Marchant and Graham Ross on 11 shots.

won their game for 3rd place with 15 shots from Peter Collins, Mel Giddings and Bryan O’Sullivan bowling 8 shots.

A close game on rink 4 with the team of Gordon Scott, Cheryl Storch and Chris Castlehouse playing swinger holding their nerve to bowl 13 shots from Steve Kelly, Gai Teale and Chris Castlehouse on 11 shots.

The team of Leo Balstad, John Zeb and Peter Sinclair

Only one Rester this week won by the ever “Lucky Leo” Balstad and the Lucky Numbers were won by Peter Bennison, Alan Stratford and Ricky See. A reminder, new and casual players are most welcome and can contact Graham Ross on 0419 248 520 or Sporties Club on 5820 0380 from 8am on the Sunday. Players names to be in by 9am for a 9.30 start please.

Roolettes reverse second round loss

By GEOFF MANN

TWO-TIME Ferguson Cup champions Dubbo knew it would be a tough year with Orange Lions attracting many new players to their Women’s team.

Coaches Kieran Smith and Gus McDonald, with their experienced players, felt the change in Orange in the second game of the new comp but came away with the points. In the second round encounter the Lions roared, so last week’s game had extra sting in the tails of both lineups.

The Dubbo team showed plenty of character to retain the competition lead with a hard-fought 19-5 victory. Rep star Alahna Ryan scored three tries in another classy performance, but it was a 15-person effort with some talented youngsters developing in the red kangaroos guernsey.

Finals will no doubt feature these two fearless, talented lineups but expect another dogged performance from the Bathurst girls.

Final round to decide final five

By BRYSON LUFF

DUCKS SWIM FOR CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

THE final five in the 2025 Christie and Hood Castlereagh League first grade competition will not be known until all the fulltime sirens at three different venues are sounded to signal the end of the competition rounds this Saturday afternoon.

The only certainty is that the Coolah Kangaroos will be the minor premiers, but the finishing order of another six clubs who are in the fight for the remaining four semi-final berths is very much a mystery and will not be resolved until the results from games played at Cobar, Coolah and Gulgong are known.

Currently the Coonabarabran Unicorns hold down second position on the ladder after they scored a tense 34 to 28 win over the Cobar Roosters at Coonabarabran, but the Unicorns face the daunting task of trying to be the first team to lower the Kangaroos colours this season when they travel to Coolah this Saturday, with a win guaranteeing them second place and qualifying semi hosting rights with the Boronia Cup thrown in as an added bonus.

Sitting just one point adrift of the Unicorns on the competition ladder are the Narromine Jets who stayed in the race for second when they downed the Warren Bulldogs 30 to

20 at Warren last Saturday.

The Jets can expect a warm reception at Cobar’s Tom Knight Oval this Saturday, especially with the Roosters still in contention for the semis.

The Gulgong Bull Terriers can leapfrog the Jets on the ladder and finish in third position if they can get over the top of the Coonamble Bears at Billy Dunn Oval, and the Jets lose to Cobar.

Irrespective of their result against the Bears, the Terriers are assured of a semi-final berth. At worse they will finish fourth.

Fifth position on the ladder is a three-way shootout between the Cobar Roosters, the Coonamble Bears and the Dunedoo Swans, with all three clubs currently sitting on 25 competition points.

The Swans will finish on 28 points due to having the bye this weekend, and if both Cobar and Coonamble lose then the Swans are in.

If either, or both, Cobar and Coonamble win then it will come down to points differential determining who gets the nod to play on after round 14, and in that regard the Swans are the worst placed.

Similar to the first grade, the final composition of the both the league tag and reserve grade semifinalists also remain unknown and will not be decided until this Saturday afternoon.

THE Champion of Champions Trophy called the Dubbo Ducks into action this past Sunday, July 27, when they gathered for the last swim of the month in the refreshingly warm waters of the Duckpond at the Dubbo RSL Indoor Pool.

The warm-up event was a 50m Freestyle. Swimmers on the blocks with five heats to be swum. In form

Amy Barling coming in 1st, followed by Brian Schloeffel 2nd, Mark Scullard 3rd, Marg Ross 4th with Katharine O’Rourke rounding out the top five.

Next came the main event – The Champion of Champions Trophy – a contest fought out over 25m against the handicappers estimation, in Freestyle. You cannot break, you must win your heat and you must win your semifinal to make it through to be one of the last two standing in order to contest the final.

An epic test of nerves and pace and courage resulted in Ron Everett and Neil Harris taking up their positions upon the blocks for the final, the great and ancient

their kind.

Ron touching first, Neil closing faster beside him, but how did Ron go for pace, how did he go against the handicapper? Ron took it too hard, breaking, giving Neil Harris the win, his name set to adorn the Champion of Champions Trophy for 2025! Congratulations Neil.

Handicap racing is a discipline. You are swimming against yourself, the most difficult opponent you will ever

your cool, you must zero in on your time, and you must find your way to become a master of consistency despite everything the handicapper and other contestants throw at you.

Lucky numbers this week: Judy Walsh (24) and Mark Scullard (44). Thanks to Nicole Johnstone for her assistance.

A big hello and welcome to Indi and Amy who came to test the waters. Both showing their promising futures.

The last event on the

card, a 25m Breastroke. A rare sight in one of the heats being made up of five ladies. Newcomer Indi Toole fired up and in race mode, exceeding her trial time to break, giving Mark Scullard 1st, Ron Everett 2nd, Mark Prentice 3rd and Henry Wilcockson 4th.

Monthly pointscores for July: Katharine O’Rourke (55), Judy Walsh (53) and Neil Harris (50). Other big milestones for July being Mark Scullard passed a total of 800 swims! Congratulations

Next week will see the Dubbo Ducks compete for the SportsPower Trophy after which we will have our monthly meeting and then we will will have lunch in the Bistro. All and any inquiries please contact Henry on 0439 482 824

Looking forward to seeing all drakes, ducks and ducklings in the warm and revitalising waters of the Dubbo RSL heated Indoor Pool, 9am this coming Sunday morning.

That’s this week’s tidings from the Duckpond.

DUBBO ROOS VS ORANGE CITY, WOMEN’S GAME

Action from Saturday’s game.

See Geoff Mann’s report in this week’s Sports section of Dubbo

PhotoNews

Photos by STEVE COWLEY

Dubbo’s longest continuously operating sporting club

By SOUTH STAKE

QUICK quiz: which is the oldest sporting club in Dubbo and the surrounding district? Even South Stake can tell you in a flash that the Kangaroos Rugby Club takes the biscuit, having kicked off in 1899.

And now for the follow-up question: the Roos closed temporarily due to world wars, so which club has operated the longest without a break?

It’s the Croquet Club!

Although the earliest mention of croquet in Dubbo is an inter-town competition in 1906, the Dubbo City Croquet Club formed in 1921 as a section of the Dubbo City Bowling Club.

As the membership at that time was all women, play continued uninterrupted throughout the hostilities.

The club geared up to help the war effort mostly through the Red Cross.

The work of charities and volunteer organisations, such as the Red Cross, raised funds by running dances, cake stalls, fetes, jumble sales and appeals.

Additionally, they conducted clothing drives, held knitting bees, assembled comfort packages, and anything else that imagination and organisation could achieve.

Mrs Palmer was the first presi-

dent of the Dubbo City Croquet Club and served for an incredible length of time.

Succession planning was clearly not on the agenda as her tenure ran for 33 years.

When she finally indicated her strong desire to step down, the membership refused her request.

The following year, the venerable lady died in office which South Stake views as an extreme response to reluctance denied, though quite understandable in the circumstances.

Other respected and remembered names are not limited to Bessie Bewglass, Millie and Bill Phillips, Caroline Christian, Norma MacCullough, Dot and Tiger O’Malley, Faye Williams, and Margaret and Don Lewer who introduced the golf croquet version to the club which continues to be the dominant code played here.

The facilities the club enjoyed as part of the Dubbo City Bowling Club were two professionally maintained grass courts, a storage shed, clubrooms, and shelters.

In 2016, the 95th anniversary was celebrated in grand style but clouds were on the proverbial horizon.

Two years later the Bowling Club succumbed to financial pressure and a buyer for the assets was sought.

Jenny Brown, as president, val-

iantly held the club together during the ensuing period of instability.

She was able to negotiate an extension of tenure with the new buyers, and thereby gained valuable time to explore alternative venues.

Coincidentally, the Muller Park Tennis Club was facing closure due to declining membership and contemplating the sad prospect of disposing of honour boards, trophies and all the other hallmarks of a history of healthy activity, community cohesion and a long association with their chosen charity, Canteen.

Working with the president Ken Bailey, Jenny Brown was able to effect a merger of the two clubs.

Anne Barwick, Col and Marg Rootes, Gladys Thornbury and Tom Barclay were closely involved in the process by which the Dubbo City Croquet Club and the Muller Park Tennis Club (formerly the Catholic Tennis Club, founded 1924) merged to become the Muller Park Tennis and Croquet Club.

Over time, and under the direction of presidents Peter Heywood, Tricia Shanks and Kate Colwell, the transition was made to the present Dubbo Croquet Club with three synthetic courts, two of which are unique to Dubbo, having been developed specifically for croquet and installed in 2020.

Be part of history and the future: play croquet!

Demons teams play in Cowra and Bathurst

By DUBBO DEMONS

WITH the 2025 season coming towards the pointy end, the Demons divided on their Saturday journeys with the Men’s Tier 2 and Senior Women taking on the Cowra Blues in Cowra, and the Tier 1 Men heading to Bathurst to battle the Bushrangers.

The Tier 2 Men knew they would be up against a tough Cowra team on their home turf and with the home crowd. The Demons started well in the first quarter in a tightly contested game and the scoreline neck and neck.

The wind was proving to be a challenge and the Cowra defenders continued to intercept and spoil the Demons’ forward line entries.

While the boys fought hard and

lifted their work rate, they struggled to connect and find the linkup options.

Sadly, the game was cut short by an injury to a Cowra player just before the final siren sounded. The first defeat of the season for the Tier 2 Men will provide good motivation for the boys to work hard at training again and come back firing for the last few minor round matches before finals.

Final score: Cowra Blues 4.6.30 defeated Dubbo Demons 2.4.16

In the Senior Women’s game, the Demons were looking to lift their intensity and physicality against the Blues.

Cowra started the game well with the first centre clearance sending the ball straight into their forward line and testing the Demons defence early. The Lady De-

mons soon went to work though, and it wasn’t long before the first scores were on the board.

The Demons forwards were looking dangerous with goals coming through a number of different avenues. Kat Wilkinson was causing headaches for the Blues on the wing with her ability to glide through would-be tacklers, and Olivia Peake, in her second game, slotted her second goal for the Demons earning herself the Action Award.

Brooke Garland took home best on ground with her versatility on show in the forward line, taking overhead marks, winning ground balls and kicking accurately in front of goal.

Rachel Fairman was a standout in defence, reading the play to intercept the ball and even adding a goal to her own tally

with a stint in the forward line for the final quarter.

The Demons ran away victorious, however the scoreline was not reflective of the physicality of the game and the girls really had to work hard to get the points this week.

Final Score: Cowra Blues 0 defeated by Dubbo Demons 14.10.94

Over to Bathurst, in the Men’s Tier 1 top-of-the-table clash against the Bushrangers, the Demons started well with the scores very close at the first break. The first half was a tight battle but the Demons fell into the trap of consistently kicking into spearhead Jake Egan and allowed the defenders to set up and create the turnover.

Will Marris earned Best on Ground in his efforts to shut down the dangerous Bushrangers

skipper Andy James while also winning the ball and driving it forward.

Charlie Leishman continued his excellent form taking on opposition players and providing clean forward entries. The bash brothers Will Wakeling and Andrew Grinter ensured the Bushies would have a sore return to work on Monday, while Max Grant, Cameron Herd and Jarred Clark also had solid games.

The Tier 1 Men now look to recover next weekend with a bye before taking on the Giants in the final home and away game.

Final score: Bathurst Bushrangers 13.12.90 defeated Dubbo Demons 5.4.30

After a week off, the Dubbo Demons Juniors will head to Orange for the final gala day of the season.

DUBBO ROOS VS ORANGE

Action from Saturday’s game.

See Geoff Mann’s report in this week’s Sports section of Dubbo PhotoNews

STEVE COWLEY

Cold hands and fast greens at Dubbo City Bowls for mid-month games

Contributed by THE CLUB

DUBBO North RSL Sporties, the home of Dubbo City Bowls, saw 28 bowlers turn up on a cold and foggy Wednesday morning mid-July.

With cold hands and fast greens there were some rough bowls early, but as the morning wore on, the heads tightened up and our bowlers settled into their rhythm.

Winners for the day were a triples game of Ken Whitiker, Mel Giddings and Matt Quill.

Runners-up was another triples game of Paul Goodstat, John McKenzie and Peter Sinclair.

Closest game was the pairs game of Ross Pharo and Colin Cottee.

Resters for the day were Trevor Tink, Allan Stratford and Colin Cottee.