Geelong Indy - 13th December 2024

Council’s January 26 backflip

By Matt Hewson

In its first substantive meeting the new Geelong council, dominated by Liberal party affiliates, has dealt a blow to Geelong’s First Nations community by beginning the process to roll back changes surrounding January 26 introduced in 2023.

In front of a packed and emotion-charged gallery, Geelong councillors spent the majority of Tuesday night’s meeting debating CouncillorEddyKontelj’smotiontodirectCity chief executive Ali Wastie to prepare a report detailing the process for confirming support for the date for Australia Day.

The report will also address the City once again referring to January 26 as Australia Day in all communications and discontinuing advocacy for a different day of national celebration.

The motion was moved by Cr Kontelj and seconded by previous mayor Cr Trent Sullivan - both part of the council group that unanimously voted to support the changes aroundJanuary26inMay2023-andsupported by Mayor Stretch Kontelj, Deputy Mayor Ron Nelson and councillors Chris Burson, Andrew Katos and Rowan Story.

Councilors Anthony Aitken, Melissa Cadwell, Emma Sinclair and Elise Wilkinson voted against the motion.

Council group refused to answer any of the questions put to it during the time allocated for public questions and submissions.

All councillors spoke during the sometimes fiery debate, with Cr Kontelj saying while the motion was “not intended to be disrespectful to anyone in the community, including First Nationspeople”,heapologisedif“somewillsee it that way”.

“Since the adoption of the 26th of January report on the 23rd of May 2023, there has been significantfeedbackandtherehasbeenconcern

raised by the broader Geelong community, particularly related to Council’s decision to cease from referring to the 26th of January as Australia Day,” he said.

“When we unanimously adopted the report… it was not apparent to some of us that what we were actually doing was putting council in that position where we would no longer be acknowledging or recognising Australia Day on any day or any date.”

Before Cr Kontelj’s motion could be discussed, Cr Sinclair introduced an alternate motion that would have reaffirmed support for the 2023 changes, but which was defeated by the same voting blocs.

‘‘

It was not apparent to some of us ... we would no longer be acknowledging or recognising Australia Day ’’

- Eddy Kontelj

In presenting her alternate motion, Cr Sinclair spoke of the good faith placed in council by First Nations community members during the engagement period preceding the 2023 changes.

“We know that celebrating Australia Day on January 26 causes harm; we know this because we asked a bunch of people and they told us that’s what happens,” Cr Sinclair said.

“Weaskedthemtosharesomethingpersonal and talk about a subject that we already knew was a source of trauma for some members of our community. They trusted us to listen and respond.

“Please don’t let this council be the group that closes that door.”

Ms Wastie’s report will be presented to the council at its January meeting.

More than 30,000 fans flocked to GMHBA Stadium on Saturday December 7 to see the Matildas in action. Sern and Cove (pictured) were among the 30,097 soccer enthusiasts who saw Australia defeat Chinese Taipei in an international friendly six goals to nil. It was the Matildas’ first game in Geelong for seven years and they didn’t disappoint despite being far from full strength. It was Clare Polkinghorne’s 169th and final game in the green and gold and she received a standing ovation from the Geelong crowd.  For more pictures see page 25.

Bells to ride a three-year wave

By Jena Carr

Bells Beach will host the Longboard Classic for anotherthreeyears,thankstostategovernment support.

TheWorldSurfLeagueLongboardTourevent willreturntoBellsBeachfromSeptember17to 21 next year, adding to the annual Rip Curl Pro at Bells over Easter, secured until 2028.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said the Longboard Classic had been secured for the beach to 2027 thanks to the state government’s Regional

Events Fund.

“These events bring the world’s best surfers to Victoria, showcasing our extraordinary coastline to millions globally while driving tourism and economic benefits for the region,”

he said “By locking in the Longboard Classic and Rip Curl Pro, we’re cementing Victoria as Australia’s premier destination for surfing events and giving surfers a chance to shine on the global stage.”

Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority community, corporate affairs and visitor economy director Andy Mathers said

the event would bring “big crowds, big waves and a big boost” for the economy.

“We’re thrilled that the world’s best longboard surfers will return to Australia’s spiritual home of surfing at Bells Beach for another three years,” he said.

“The Longboard Classic and Rip Curl Pro attract surfing fans from all over the world to our region, with stunning images of the Surf Coast beamed into homes across the globe.”

Surf Coast Shire Mayor Mike Bodsworth said having the “spectacular” longboard event at the “iconic” Bells Beach location was great.

Un-bee-lievable community support

Geelong beekeepers are making a buzz in the community through a sweet donation to a food relief charity.

The Geelong Beekeepers Club donated more than 200 jars of honey to the Geelong Foodshare (originally known as the Geelong Food Relief Centre) on Wednesday, December 11.

Club president Nathan Whitford said it was important for the not-for-profit organisation to support a local charity and find a cause linked to beekeeping.

“We wanted something that was linked back to what we do with beekeeping and education, which was staring us in the face; honey,” he

said. “It is a pretty special time of the year, but it’s also really hard for the families that are struggling, and I know a small jar of honey might not make an awful lot of difference.

“But, for members of our community to be able to go to the Geelong Foodshare and pick up a quality jar of honey is really important.”

Mr Whitford said the honey donation met food labelling laws and quality standards, and the club was glad to be able to help people in need.

“Aworldwithoutbeesisaworldwithoutyour fruit, nuts, vegetables and seeds, so we really wantedtopromotebeesandtheirimportance,” he said.

“Bees are critically important for life, and they give us honey, royal jelly, pollen, beeswax and a third of our global food supply is pollinated by bees.

“We’re very lucky to have terrific members and volunteers within our club to make the donation possible and... the club does a lot of a lotofeducationandsupportforthecommunity as well.”

The Geelong Beekeepers Club will also look to allocate a percentage of its future honey sales for community initiatives to support local families and promote the importance of bees.

Jena Carr

“Torquay is known as Australia’s home of surfing and... to have this world class event in our backyard helps cement that title,” he said.

“This Bells Beach event is the only stop in Australia of the World Longboard Tour and it’s a great chance for local surfing fans to see the best longboard surfers in the world.”

World Surf League Asia Pacific president Andrew Stark said he was glad to have Bells Beach as the second stop on the world tour.

“Bells Beach is such a fantastic wave to have on this World Longboard tour, so it’s excellent to have it locked in for years to come,” he said.

A new centre providing services to support the mental health of caregivers has opened in central Geelong.

TheBarwonHealthMentalHealthand Wellbeing Connect Centre on Malop Street officially opened on Thursday, December5,openingitsdoorstofamilies and carers of people undergoing mental health and substance abuse challenges.

The centre is part of a network of eight Connect Centres across Victoria, offering its services without the need for a referral.

With a focus on non-clinical support, the centre offers information, networks, resources and hardship funds for people struggling with their own mental health while doing their best to support others.

The centre, operated by provider Wellways in collaboration with Satellite Foundation, is staffed by people with their own experience of supporting people with substance abuse and mental health issues.

Wellways chief executive Laura Collistersaidtheservicewasdesignedfor those who gave so much of themselves, often at great cost.

“Here, carers will find understanding, support, and practical resources from people who have walked in their shoes,” Ms Collister said. “This peer-led model ensures that support is both empathetic and effective, tailored to the unique challenges carers face.”

Member for Geelong Christine Couzens officiated over the centre’s opening.

“Families, carers, and supporters are the backbone of the care and recovery journey for those facing mental health and substance use challenges,” Ms Couzenssaid.“ThenewConnectCentres will provide warm, welcoming spaces to ensure they receive the support and resources they deserve.”

Archibald to return to Geelong for 71-day exhibition

The nation’s most prestigious art prize will be on show for 71 days in Geelong next year.

Geelong Gallery will host the Archibald Prize 2025 from August 30 to November 9 next year,thefirsttourvenuefortheexhibitionafter its initial showing at the Art Gallery of NSW from May to August.

Australia’s best-known portraiture competition, the Archibald Prize was first held in 1921 at the bequest of its namesake, Geelong-born journalist and entrepreneur JF Archibald.

While the prize was long a bastion of conservatism, it has more recently been characterised by works that push boundaries and provoke both thought and conversation. Director and chief executive Jason Smith said

and the centenary exhibition Archie 100: A Century of the Archibald Prize in 2021,” Mr Smith said.

“In our 2018 presentation of the prize, we attracted over 75,000 visitors over 58 days, and with an extended presentation of 71 days in 2025, we anticipate welcoming even greater audience numbers to Geelong to experience this iconic celebration of portraiture.

“The 2025 exhibition promises to build on GeelongGallery’slegacyofpresentingengaging and significant exhibitions that connect with audiences from across the region and beyond, showcasing the breadth of contemporary artistic practice in Australia, and delivering significant cultural and economic benefit to our community.”

The Archibald Prize at Geelong Gallery in 2018. (Andrew Curtis)

The Geelong Beekeepers Club member Simon Taylor and president Nathan Whitford stacking shelves with donated honey. (Ivan Kemp) 449271_10

Sustainability efforts paying off

By Matt Hewson

Geelongcounciliswellonthewaytoachieving net zero by 2025, with a view toward net zero community emissions by 2035.

This week the City of Greater Geelong announced a wide range of measures it had already put in place, such as reducing street light electricity consumption by 60 per cent through the use of energy efficient LED lights and completely eliminating carbon emissions from its buildings and facilities. Among other achievements, the City

has reduced its diesel usage by its fleet by more than 100,000 litres, while usage of its public electric vehicle charging stations has increased from 967 uses in 2020 to 18,600 so far this year.

Councillor Elise Wilkinson said Geelong council was committed to leading by example and empowering the community to make sustainable choices.

“We’ve listened to feedback about wanting a council that is climate ready, working towards a more climate resilient region and supports the community to take action,” Cr Wilkinson

Connecting together

The community can participate in a fun-filled morning with live music and complimentary food and drink in Hamlyn Heights, with a special visit from Santa. VinesRoadCommunityCentre(VRCC)will host its fourth annual Christmas Morning Tea from 10.30am to noon on December 18 at the centre on 37-61 Vines Road.

Executive officer Sally-Ann Muller said the event was a chance for the community to come together and for VRCC to recognise the contributions of its volunteers.

“I’m looking forward to seeing lots of happy faces, community connection and engagement,” she said.

“We’d also love to see new faces that haven’t been here before to experience our beautiful hall and connect with others.

“The event has grown over the years and it’s a great place for connection, networking and engagement, as well as to celebrate the year that was.”

Ms Muller said VRCC also teamed up with Uniting Vic.Tas to donate presents to “families doing it hard this Christmas” through the Christmas Gifts for Families program.

“This is what Christmas is all about; it’s giving and sharing, and we are really excited and happy to be a part of that,” she said.

“Every year, VRCC connects with a different charity or organisation to help people in need at Christmas time, and this year, we are supporting Uniting Vic.Tas.

“The community of children, parents and educators at Manifold Heights Primary School have been incredibly generous and donated buckets of toys. We are incredibly grateful for their support.”

VRCC will collect new and unwrapped presents for Uniting Vic.Tas until 10am on Monday, December 16, with the centre open between 9am and 2pm from Monday to Friday.

Jena Carr

said.

“We are focused on achieving the best outcomes for our community, environment and the economy, and are on-track to achieve our corporate target of being a net zero emissions by 2025.

“The City is testing new industry leading environmentallysustainabledesignrequirements for new urban growth areas including guidelines forzerocarbonoperationalurbandevelopment.

“We look forward to delivering more partnerships with the community to take climate action.

“This is an exciting time to be innovative and we continue to search for ways to divert more waste from landfill, upgrade existing facilities to reduce our use of natural gas and deliver more sustainabletransportinfrastructure.”

Geelong Sustainability’s outgoing chief executive Dan Cowdell welcomed the City’s ambitionsonaddressingclimatechange.

“It is fantastic to see the progress the City of Greater Geelong has made to meet their net-zero target by 2025, and we applaud the Council in setting the municipality target of net-zero emissions by 2035,” Mr Cowdell said.

NO ONE’S UNSINKABLE

To all those Unsinkable Guys out there –

You might think it’s safe to have a few drinks around water, skip the life jacket when you’re out on the boat or go for a swim without checking the conditions.

But statistics prove that 4 out of 5 drownings are men.

Just remember that no one’s unsinkable.

RETHINK TAKING RISKS AROUND WATER UNSINKABLE GUY

Stuart McLean, rear left, Colleen Burville, Sally-Ann Muller, Bindunil Weerakkody with Santa (aka Arthur Herring), Kathleen Carswell and Dianne Barclay. (Ivan Kemp) 448933_06

Work set to start on loading zone

By Jena Carr

Trucks will be able to make their deliveries around Winchelsea’s town centre safer with works due to begin on the Hesse Street loading zone.

Surf Coast Shire Council unanimously decided during its Tuesday, December 10, meeting to implement safety solutions to the loading zone following a petition received in

September. Councillor Adrian Schonfelder said the petition raised genuine and well-founded concerns raised by businesses in the community.

“As someone who is a transformer fan, I note thatthetrucksaregettingbiggerandbigger,and I commend and admire the truck drivers for their backing abilities and manoeuvrability,” he said. “I’d like to highlight the fact that the supermarket is so important to the township

Respectful partnership

Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West (WHWBSW) has been recognised for helping prevent violence against women.

WHWBSW received an award at the 12th Australian Charity Awards for its work on the Respect 2040 partnership, which involves local governments, educational and community organisations, and sporting clubs.

Chief executive Jodie Hill said it was “lovely” toreceivetheaward,especiallyduringtheglobal 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which runs from November 25 to December 10.

“We hope everybody across our region, regardlessoftheirgender,canbesafeandequal by 2040,” she said.

“Respect 2040 is based on bringing gender equity around and ensuring equal decision-making for all genders and an equitable space for everybody.

“It was unexpected, but really exciting to receive the award because we were notified that we had won the award during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.”

Ms Hill said the award reflected the efforts of organisations across the region committed

to raising awareness around gender equity and violence prevention.

“We’ve brought everybody together, but the work is done by many hands, many hearts, and many heads,” she said.

“Ending violence against women requires all of us, local organisations, governments, schools, and individuals, to work together.

“Although WHWBSW were recognised with an award for leadership in this space, the partnership is really about the collaboration and coming together of people from across our community.”

Ms Hill said anybody interested in joining Respect 2040 should visit respect2040.com.au for more information.

Jena Carr

of Winchelsea. It’s vital and other traders have told me and emphasise this importance of the of the supermarket.”

The petition detailed community concerns regarding deliveries made on the Hesse Street loading zone, including a steep road close to the kerb, low powerlines and a need for trucks to complete multi-point turns on Hesse Street to rejoin the highway.

Improvements decided during the

December meeting featured raising powerlines, re-marking the loading zone, and medium-term kerb works.

Cr Tony Phelps said changes to the loading zone would be reviewed at the end of June next year to ensure they’ve been effective.

“Local businesses rely on this loading zone and council officers have been working on safety solutions to make sure it can stay in its current location,” he said.

More children are

working in Barwon South West region

regional areas, according to new Wage Inspectorate Victoria data.

New data from the state’s child employment regulator found that 216 Barwon South West kids joined the workforce before age 15, representing 18 per cent of the state’s total. Businesses must hold a child employment licence before they employ anyone under 15, with regional Victoria making up 49 per cent of kids in the workforce.

Wage Inspectorate Victoria commissioner Robert Hortle said the new data suggested that kids in regional areas were more likely to look for work over summer than those in metropolitan Melbourne.

He also said regional businesses needed to ensure they understood the state’s child employment licensing system and the rules around supervision, rest breaks, and working hours.

“If regional kids are more likely to work, regional businesses have an even greater incentive to learn about child employment laws,” he said.

‘‘ It’s a win-win, as long as it is done safely and legally ’’ - Robert Hortle

“As a country kid myself, I’m not surprised to see so many country businesses giving local kids the opportunity to enter the workforce and earn their first paycheck.

“Kids working in regional areas can be a great help to businesses and the experience can be invaluable for the kids. It’s a win-win, as long as it is done safely and legally.”

Visit wageinspectorate.vic.gov.au for more information on the state’s child employment laws.

Respect 2040 executive governance group. (Supplied)

World’s best on show

By Matt Hewson

Theworld’spre-eminentwildlifephotography exhibition comes to Geelong this week.

The National Wool Museum will play host to the renowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year from the Natural History Museum London from Thursday, December 19 to May 18, 2025.

The exhibition gathers 100 of the best wildlife photos taken in 2024, selected from nearly 60,000 entries from around the globe. Now in its 60th year, this will be the 11th time Wildlife Photographer of the Year has come to the National Wool Museum.

Museum director Padraic Fisher said it was “an absolute joy and pleasure” to host the exhibition once again.

“To be a partner with this major exhibition globally is really very exciting for us,” Mr Fisher said.

“Some of the artists and photographers have been working a lifetime to capture these images.Asphotographers,environmentalists and naturalists they spend their careers trying to capture the lives of these animals in action.

“There are 100 (photographers), some as young as 10. It’s an opportunity to see what people are doing around the world, and it’s very accessible.”

Mr Fisher said the exhibition’s underlying message supported the museum’s work toward sustainability.

“A key component of the program is environmental action; the preservation of these species, the preservation of the planet and a call to action for everyone worldwide to take a look at the big world around us,” he said.

“Ethical and sustainable practice is one of the cornerstones of the museum’s work, and

Our shire’s unsung heroes

Many of Surf Coast Shire’s Community Asset Committees are performing well, however some are not meeting the necessary requirements according to an annualreport.

Council unanimously adopted the 2023-24 Community Asset Committee annual report during its Tuesday, December10,meeting.

Deputy mayor Libby Stapleton said the committees played an “integral role” in maintaining and promoting the community’s use of facilities across the shire.

“These committees cover the full breadth of the Shire, and they manage facilities that are much needed and highly valued by communities across the Surf Coast,” she said. “The annual report shows there is room for improvement for some of our community asset committees to meet the administrative requirements that are expectedofthem.”

Four committees failed to hold five meetings per year, three did not have their annual general meetings and financial statements audited on time, one asset register was not received on time, and not all volunteer members completed a WorkingwithChildrenCheck. Councillor PaulBarkersaidcommitteememberswere the shire’s “unsung heroes” and should be able to focus on their community projects “withoutbureaucraticbaggage”.

“Volunteers on the community asset committees are at it again running our cherishedfacilities.Let’snottaketheirhard workforgrantedthough,”hesaid.

Jena Carr

this helps us further that, not only on a local level, but also globally.”

The free launch event of Wildlife

Photographer of the Year is on Thursday, December 19 from 5pm to 8pm at the National Wool Museum.

National Wool Museum director Padraic Fisher. (Ivan Kemp) 449506_04

CITYNEWS

OUR REGION THE PLACE TO BE IN SUMMER

Whether you’re a local or a visitor to our region, there’s so much to see and do this summer.

Melbourne Renegades

Thursday 19 December at 7.15pm

GMHBA Stadium

See the Melbourne Renegades play their first home game of the 2024/25 BBL season as they face off against the Hobart Hurricanes.

New Year’s Eve fireworks

Geelong Waterfront

See our free NYE fireworks displays –the family-friendly display at 9.30pm and the traditional midnight display.

Enjoy the Floating Christmas Tree Sound & Light Show on the Waterfront and our stunning Christmas Projections on City Hall in Gheringhap Street from 8.30pm daily until Tuesday 7 January.

Festival of Sails

Saturday 25 to Monday 27 January 2025

Royal Geelong Yacht Club, Geelong Waterfront

Enjoy world-class sailing and a threeday festival packed with live music, gourmet food, and unforgettable entertainment.

The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

Wednesday 29 January to Sunday 2 February 2025

Geelong Waterfront

Experience all the action from the start-finish line at Steampacket Gardens, Geelong or from the Challambra Live Site, Highton!

Like family cycling? Join the Geelong Port Family Ride!

Love your bike? Join the TAC People's Ride, with a 59km and a 124km race option.

Vic Open (Golf)

Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 February 2025

See professional male and female golfers compete in this premier event at 13th Beach golf links, Barwon Heads.

For more information, more events and to book, scan the QR code or visit geelong.link/Events 2

Christmas in Geelong

Do you know your local government representatives?

Meet your councillors, who are your eleven recently-elected representatives. Elected for a four-year term, each councillor represents a ward in our Greater Geelong region.

In their first meeting as a council, the councillors elected Cr Stretch Kontelj OAM to represent them as Mayor and Cr Ron Nelson as Deputy Mayor for a twoyear term.

If you would like to read more about your ward representative visit geelong.link/Councillors 2

Congratulations to the Winners of the Geelong Awards for People with Disability

We’re excited to announce our winners of the Geelong Awards for People with Disability for 2024, who were acknowledged at an awards event on International Day of People with Disability on 3 December.

Congratulations to the award winners: Leanne Watson – Volunteering Award

Matthew Gardiner – Leadership and Advocacy Award

Laura Williamson – Achievement Award

Justine Martin – Business Leadership Access and Inclusion Award

These awards recognise the contribution that people with disability make through advocacy, leadership, and empowering others, and in their contributions to the community through their work or volunteering.

The evening at the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre also saw us launch our Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 202428.

For more information about our Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2024-28, scan the QR code or visit geelong.link/DAIP 2

Summer in the Laneways

We’re expanding the outdoor dining area on Little Malop Street to support local businesses, create a more vibrant culture, attract more visitors and take advantage of the summer season. Come along and enjoy the delicious food and drinks on offer, interesting shops and galleries, and colourful street art in our popular laneways precinct – a favourite amongst locals and visitors alike.

Make sure to share your feedback during or after your visit by scanning the QR code or heading to geelong.link/ SummerInTheLaneways 2

TEMPORARY CHANGE IN BIN COLLECTION DAY

On Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, your bin collection day will change from

Instead of… Bins will be collected on… Wednesday, 25 December 2024 Saturday, 28 December 2024 Wednesday,

Only residents with a Wednesday collection are affected. Please put your bins out on Friday night for the Saturday collection. Christmas Day and New Year's Day are the only two public holidays every year that have a collection change. On all other public holidays, bin services operate as usual.

Summer of Fun - free open days

Join Swim Sport & Leisure for a series of summer events, fun for the whole family! Free entry from 12.00pm with food, coffee, music and activities.

›Sunday 12 January, Kardinia Aquatic Centre

›Sunday 19 January, Leisurelink

›Sunday 2 February, Bellarine Aquatic & Sports Centre

›Sunday 9 February, Norlane ARC

›Sunday 16 February, Lara Swimming Pool

Scan the QR to find out more or visit geelong. link/SummerOfFun 2

Join the Geelong Port Family Ride this summer.

Left to right: Cr Anthony Aitken, Justine Martin, Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM, Laura Williamson, Matthew Gardiner. Front: Leanne Watson.

Left to right: Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM, Deputy

Mayor Ron Nelson, Cr Melissa Cadwell, Cr Rowan Darroch Story AM, RFD, Cr Andrew Katos, Cr Elise Wilkinson, Cr Trent Sullivan, Cr Emma Sinclair, Cr Chris Burson, Cr Anthony Aitken and Cr Eddy Kontelj.

May Christmas bring joy, peace and a renewed sense of hope.

As we approach the festive season, I want to take a moment to extend my warmest wishes to you all. We do certainly live in the best part of Australia, close to surf beaches, bushland, and thriving communities.

But I know it has not been an easy year for many households. And that’s why I’ve been working hard to deliver the support and infrastructure our communities need and deserve.

From tax cuts for every taxpayer to energy bill relief for every household, from stronger Medicare to cheaper childcare and student debt relief – I am there to support you.

We’re also building new infrastructure for our rapidly growing region, like Stage 2 of the Barwon Heads Road, aquatic centres for Torquay and Drysdale, and a new Headspace for Armstrong Creek.

So, lets cherish the moments spent with loved ones this season, and look forward to a New Year filled with opportunities for growth, positive change, and friendship.

Warm regards,

Libby Coker

Little Malop dining trial

Alfresco dining in Little Malop Street is on the council’s agenda as a trial expanding outdoor dining areas on the popular strip begins.

The Summer in the Laneways - Little Malop Street West Outdoor Dining Trial kicked off on Friday (December 6) and will run through summer to a proposed end date of Tuesday, March 11.

Thetrialgives14businessesbetweenDennys Place and Shorts Place the chance to extend outdoor dining zones further into the street, with automated bollards restricting vehicle access.

Mayor Stretch Kontelj said the trial, which includes a 56-metre section of the street, had received in-principle support from stakeholders.

“We’re excited to take advantage of summer tradingandtheChristmasperiodwiththisnew trial that’s aimed at enhancing the laneway’s culture and giving local businesses a boost,” Mayor Kontelj said.

“We look forward to seeing the outcomes of this trial, which is in response to trader’s requests to increase their alfresco areas.”

Deputy Mayor Ron Nelson said the Little Malop West End was a special precinct with delicious food and drink, colourful street art and interesting shops and galleries.

“Werecognisethatthislanewayisdistinctive and a real favourite among visitors, and that more can be done for the space to reach its full potential,” Cr Nelson said.

“The City team has an action plan in place to ensure the trial is continually monitored.”

The City will review the trial after its conclusion in March and provide recommendations to councillors on whether the access restrictions should remain in place permanently.

Visit yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au/ SSLMSWODT to give feedback on the Little Malop Street West Outdoor Dining Trial.

Potato Shed’s 2025 lineup

Bellarine Arts Centre, better known as the Potato Shed, revealed the details of its 2025 program at a season launch event last week.

With everything from comedy to opera, theatre to live music, the Potato Shed’s season 2025 draws on artists from the Bellarine, Greater Geelong and around the country.

Cabaret artist Geraldine Quinn hosted the launch at the Potato Shed, where she will return in July to present her Green Room Award-winning show The Passion of St Nicholas.

The 2025 season will begin with ethereal singer-songwriter Georgia Fields, who will perform as part of the outdoor Summer Series in early February.

Also part of that series, Americana on the BellarinereturnstothePotatoShedtoshowcase the best of Geelong and the Bellarine’s blues, roots, country, folk and rockabilly acts.

Otherhighlightsthroughouttheyearinclude the ever-popular Women of Wit comedy night, Three Birds Theatre’s Garage Girls and hilarious physical comedy Stickybeaks.

Recently appointed venue manager Mik Frawley paid tribute to the Potato Shed team, saying they had walked into the job to discover “a really amazing program” for next year.

“(The team) are to be congratulated for the shows that are coming through,” they said.

“I was really impressed with the diversity… I know it’s a cliche, but there is something for everyone.

“There are some really wonderful kids shows, some really high-quality comedy, as well as having some good, meaty theatre. And of course, the Morning Showtime series that people really expect and love.”

Visit geelongaustralia.com.au/potatoshed for tickets and more information.

Matt Hewson

Potato Shed manager Mik Frawley at the season launch event. (Supplied)

Mayor Stretch Kontelj, Sober Ramen’s Alex Yurong Pan, (middle) Bill Votsaris, Batman Group and Andrew Pobjoy from The Piano Bar, and (back) Batman Group’s Penny Stathopoulos and Paul Votsaris. (Supplied)

Festive spirit takes over

By Jena Carr and Matt Hewson

It’s an exciting time of year for Geelong, with five free carols events open to the community to get people into the Christmas spirit.

Carols by Candlelight Geelong will celebrate its61styearonDecember23atJohnstonePark, with more than 5000 people expected to attend the iconic Christmas event from 4.30pm to 9.30pm.

Carols community engagement officer Alisha Nurnaitis said the event was “shaping up well” and that people could expect a few changes to this year’s event.

“Wehaveapre-showthatwillstartat6.15pm and we will see Karen Feldman’s dance studio as well as our first annual Christmas catwalk during that time,” she said.

“We are encouraging people to dress up in their craziest Christmas outfits, and then we’re going to be inviting 10 people up on stage who have the coolest Christmas outfits to walk in a parade.

“This year we are going to be enforcing that the first four to five meters in front of the stage willbepicnicrugsandlow-lyingseatsonly,just so that people behind that can see.”

Lara Carols will return to Pirra Homestead on Saturday, December 14, for the first time since 2019, with a pre-program featuring local artists from 6.30pm before the main carols event begins at 8pm.

Holy Trinity Lara with Christ Church Little River will host the event, and Reverend Roxanne Addley said she was “pretty excited” to have the carols back in Lara after four years.

“It’s really designed for families to come along to have some family-oriented activities and to get to know whoever they sit next to on the picnic blanket,” she said.

“We’re looking forward to families coming to enjoy family time, connection with other

people in the community and to get to know the original Christmas story of Jesus.”

St Cuthbert’s Anglican Church Grovedale will host its Seniors Christmas Carols and Service at 2pm on Friday, December 13, with an afternoon tea available afterwards.

“To come to church during the Christmas period could be a very significant thing to do, particularly for people who may be in residential care,” Father Howard Parkinson said.

“You don’t have to be elderly or a residential persontocomealongasit’scarolsand...it’snice to have these moments where you can just sit and allow these things to wash over you.”

The Good Neighbourhood Project’s annual NorthernCarolswillbeheldat228-236Purnell Road in Corio from 5pm on Sunday, December 15, featuring food, kids’ activities, and carols.

“It’s a great time to bring everyone together in the neighbourhood to celebrate the end of the year and Christmas,” project coordinator Hannah Reeves said. “I really love how it brings people together. It’s always a great time for families and friends to come together to build relationships and connect with everyone, which is always a really lovely time.”

St John’s Anglican Church Highton will also host its Highton Carols in the Park at Highton Reserve at 6.30pm on Sunday.

Mark Mooney, Colleen Powers, Jan McKenzie, Emma Delladio, Barwon Reeves and Hannah Reeves are getting ready for the annual Northern Carols. (Ivan Kemp) 448668_03

Get ready to boogie

By Matt Hewson

‘Tis the season to be jolly, and everyone’s favourite Simpsons-themed doom metal band is here to make your Christmas even more craptacular.

Dr Colossus return to the Barwon Club this December for a Christmas gig you won’t forget, playing their usual brand of heavy tunes with plenty of Simpsons deep cuts and sporting their traditional Stonecutters robes.

Frontman and founding member Jono Colliver said playing in Geelong was like coming home for the Melbourne-based band.

“We love it, they’re hometown shows for us,” he said.

“(Drummer) Josh (Eales) is from Torquay, (bassist) Mike (Findlay) is from Geelong, and (guitarist) Joel (Colliver) and I are both originally from Portland, so it’s the local show for us.

“In some ways we’ve grown up and cut our teeth as a band in Melbourne, but the hometown shows are always Geelong.”

Colliver said the show would be Christmas-themed, featuring their very own carol This Christmas (Buy Me Bonestorm or Go to Hell!) and other Yuletide treats, with a few surprises thrown in.

“We’ll have nice little vintage sound grab nods to some of our favourite (Simpsons) Christmas moments, but it’ll be basically the greatest hits catalogue, really,” he said.

“But we’re also going to bring the first taste of some new music as well. A new album is in the works and we’re keen to stretch the legs of at least one of the new tracks, so it’ll be the first time we’ve played some of that stuff live.”

All four members play in other bands, their commitments to which often take precedence over Dr Colossus, but Colliver said this band gave them the chance to try things they “probably wouldn’t in any of our other respective projects”.

“It’s kind of the one where we get to try stupid ideas, and we’re all willing to back it because as far as we’re concerned there’s not really much to lose, with how stupid the whole project is,” he said.

“Sointhatrespect,itisafunspacetobeable to just throw things at the wall and see what makes us laugh the most and see what sticks.”

Dr Colossus is at the Barwon Club on Sunday, December 22, supported by Grindhouse and Dukes of Deliciousness.

Band of brothers play secret gig

Local band De Porsal have been entertaining audiences throughout Geelong, the Surf Coast and Melbourne for the last six years with their diverse, sometimes wacky brand of lo-fi indie rock.

De Porsal formed when four brothers, Cooper, Chay, Rory and Xander Willingham, beganwritingmusictogether,whichseemslike an expected outcome for a bunch of musical lads growing up together.

But Chay Willingham is not so sure.

“We like to think that it happened naturally, but I think secretly our parents plotted it all along,” Willingham said.

“Ithinktheyweretryingtocreateaboyband to make money off of us.

“They were very encouraging. I think it was a way of getting us to do something together without fighting.

“But I’d largely credit our parents for being like, yeah, we’ll give you a drum kit and you can put it in the lounge room and turn it into a studio.”

A quick listen through their discographyfour studio albums and a live recording from the Barwon Club - shows a broad, creative output ranging from psych to indie, punk and even a Western album.

It is obvious that De Porsal, self-described

“indie-rock dipsticks”, are not concerned with fitting in the mainstream.

“We find it hard to take ourselves seriously (but) we take the music fairly seriously in the sensethatweputalotoftimeandeffortintoit,” Willingham said. “Our goal is to try to make ourselves laugh. We like to mess around with a bunch of different genres and ideas.

“Our intention is to do stuff that we find interesting. I think we’re mostly trying to avoid boredom, essentially.”

This weekend De Porsal will feature alongside fellow local acts Ella Sweeney and Finnigan Parker at the final gig of the year for Sofar Sounds, a series of secret location gigs that could be anywhere around Geelong.

The brothers will eschew their electric guitars, pedals and synths for an unplugged acoustic set, which they are fully embracing.

“We’re stoked for it… we’ve only done the unplugged thing once on a radio show in Sunbury, and it was really fun and different,” Willingham said. “We try to make it so that each time you see us it’s a different experience, so we’re excited about that.”

De Porsal will perform somewhere in central Geelong on Saturday, December 14.

A tender new tale of love

Love is always grand, but it’s not always easy.

That’s the underlying theme of the sweet, sometimes soaring ballad from Seal Prince and the Roof Rats, released this weekend; real love needs commitment to survive through the inevitable tough times every relationship endures.

The local band - more a collective gathered by singer/songwriter Lachie Chomley - falls under the broad genre of folk-rock, but Barwon River Song draws firmly on both Americana and honest, Australian acoustic pop.

With the band’s regular guitarist Josh Docker on drums, the track features sound engineer Zac Barter on double bass, Hannah Reeves on piano and industry veteran Dave Steel on lap steel.

Over this sensitive accompaniment floats Chomley’s voice, drawing in the listener with its clarity and honesty.

The dreamy tune starts with the story of two people entranced in their newly-found love by the banks of the Barwon.

However, what is worthwhile is rarely easily attained, as the young lovers discover.

Chomley said the song was inspired by the real-life love story of he and wife Michaela.

“I wrote the song two years after we’d been together, and obviously those early days are just complete bliss,” he said.

“It’s kind of like you’re setting sail into the unknown with this really beautiful sense of possibility and excitement. (But) the challenges inevitably come up when that initial zone of bliss is done.

“Facing the realities and struggles of beingahumanandsharingarelationship with someone else… how to accept those challenges without running away from them. That, I guess, is the crux of the song.”

Barwon River Song hits streaming platforms on Saturday, December 14.

Matt Hewson

Seal Prince and the Roof Rats. (Supplied)

Dr Colossus frontman Jono Colliver and bassist Mike Findlay in action. (Tony Roberts)

Matt Hewson

Local band De Porsal play the final Sofar Sounds gig of 2025 this weekend. (Eve Wickson)

DISABILITY SERVICES

Personalised support for a better life with HomeCaring

In the heart of North Geelong, HomeCaring is transforming the lives of individuals living with disabilities and older Australians by providing personalised, compassionate care. With a deep commitment to empowering individuals, the service creates a nurturing environment where everyone can thrive, maintaining dignity and independence throughout their care journey.

What makes HomeCaring unique?

HomeCaring North Geelong is built on four core values: Passion, Empathy, Respect, and Accountability. These principles guide every aspect of their work, ensuring each person receives the tailored care they need to live a fulfilling life.

What sets HomeCaring apart is their commitment to personalised, person-first care. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, theyworkcloselywithclientsandtheirfamilies to develop care plans that respect individual needs, cultures, and preferences. From daily support tasks to specialized services, every detail is crafted with the individual in mind, ensuring both professionalism and genuine compassion.

Services tailored to every individual HomeCaring North Geelong offers a diverse range of services designed to meet the unique needs of its clients. Whether you’re part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) or receiving a Home Care Package, HomeCaring provides support that enhances your quality of life.

Supported Independent Living (SIL): Helping individuals live independently with support for daily tasks in their own homes or shared accommodation.

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA): Providing comfortable, accessible housing tailored to individual needs.

Respite Care and Short-Term Accommodation(STA): Offering temporary care solutions that provide both individuals and their families a much-needed break.

Day Programs and Activities: A rich variety of activities, including gardening, art classes, exercise programs, and cooking lessons, designed to foster creativity, build new skills, and create a sense of community.

For older Australians, HomeCaring’s services help maintain independence by providing assistance with everyday activities,

ensuring safety and comfort while respecting their preferences and routines.

Navigating the NDIS and beyond Navigating government funding can be daunting, especially for families new to the NDIS or Home Care Packages. HomeCaring’s experienced team offers practical guidance, simplifying the process and ensuring clients accessthesupportthey’reentitledto.Theyalso offer support to culturally and linguistically diverse families, bridging language barriers to make accessing care as smooth as possible.

A holistic approach to well-being At HomeCaring North Geelong, care

extends beyond basic support. Their holistic approach considers all aspects of well-beingphysical, emotional, social, and cultural. They prioritise building meaningful relationships with clients, fostering a sense of trust and belonging.

With a focus on independence, inclusion, and personalised care, HomeCaring North Geelongisredefiningwhatitmeanstoprovide high-quality support. Whether you’re looking for assistance with daily living or seeking a vibrant community that fosters growth and connection, HomeCaring is a trusted partner in achieving a better quality of life. Empowerment through care: that’s the HomeCaring difference.

DISABILITY SERVICES

Understanding the lives of individuals with disability

Disability is an aspect of the human experience that touches the lives of millions around the world. It encompasses a wide range of conditions, affecting people physically, intellectually, or emotionally.

Embracing diversity means acknowledging and appreciating the unique abilities and perspectives that individuals with disability bring to society. In this article, we will explore the various facets of disability, challenge common misconceptions, and discuss the importance of creating an inclusive and supportive environment for everyone.

Understanding disability

Disability is not a monolithic concept; it is diverse and multifaceted. It includes physical disabilities, such as mobility impairments, visual or hearing impairments, intellectual disabilities,andmentalhealthconditions.Each person’s experience of disability is unique, shaped by their individual circumstances, abilities, and the environment they navigate. It is crucial to recognise that disability do not define individuals; they are just one aspect of who they are. People with disability have talents, skills, and aspirations that contribute to the rich tapestry of human experience. By understanding and respecting these differences, we can move towards a more inclusive society.

Common misconceptions

Despite efforts to raise awareness, there are still prevalent misconceptions surrounding disability. One common misconception is that individuals with disability are limited in their abilities or potential. In reality, many people with disability lead successful lives, pursuing careers, engaging in social activities, and contributing to their communities.

Another misconception is that disability is a static condition. However, disability is often dynamic, influenced by factors such as advances in medical treatment, assistive technologies, and changes in social and environmental conditions. It is important to view disability through a lens of capability and adaptability rather than limitation.

Creating an inclusive society

Building an inclusive society involves dismantling physical and attitudinal barriers that may prevent individuals with disability

fromfullyparticipatinginallaspectsoflife.This includes accessible infrastructure, inclusive education, and employment opportunities. Governments, businesses, and communities play crucial roles in fostering an environment where everyone can thrive.

Education is a powerful tool for dispelling myths and promoting understanding. By incorporating disability awareness into school curricula, we can instill empathy and acceptance from a young age. Businesses can also contribute by adopting inclusive hiring practices, providing reasonable

accommodations, and fostering a workplace culture that values diversity.

The role of technology

Advancements in technology have played a transformative role in improving the lives of individualswithdisability.Fromscreenreaders and voice recognition software for the visually impaired to mobility aids and prosthetics, technologyhasopenedupnewpossibilitiesand avenuesforinclusion.However,itisessentialto ensure that these technologies are accessible and affordable for all.

Ready to find a companion?

As a Geelong-based, registered NDIS provider, The Companion Group has proudly supported more than 500 NDIS participants, Barwon Health Carer Gateway clients, and private individuals since 2019.

We believe in helping you shape a dedicated support team that genuinely understands your needs, to better assist you in achieving your goals.

Once signed on you can review our staff profiles, trial selected team members, and confidently choose a group of professionals you can rely on long term.

To further enhance your experience, we provide a dedicated Service Coordinator— your single, consistent point of contact—

ensuring seamless communication and coordination of your supports. Your Service Coordinator will track your progress, regularly engage with your family and care team, and schedule services when and where you need them most.

They’ll also manage roster changes and prepare regular progress updates, ensuring you receive the maximum benefit from your NDIS funding.

With The Companion Group, you can trust that expert guidance, dependable support, and personalised attention are always within reach.

Ready to find a companion? Scan the QR code to get started.

The Companion Group’s expert guidance, dependable support and personalised attention are always within reach.

The Guide

ABC TV, Friday, 7.30pm

Getting out into the garden might be the perfect respite for green-thumbed viewers looking to decompress amid the frantic festive season. At the very least, you’ll get some important jobs done before your guests descend or you head away on holiday. And there’s plenty of inspiration to be found in this Christmas special. Tonight, Millie visits a creative couple who have cultivated their own hedge maze, while Hannah tours a farm with some market gardeners who take a holistic approach to growing their own produce. Also, Costa (pictured) visits a gardener whose passion for plants continues in her retirement village courtyard.

MAGICAL TRAIN

JOURNEYS IN SWITZERLAND

SBS, Saturday, 7.30pm

From astonishing alpine valleys to majestic mountain ranges, landscapes don’t get much more captivating than the wonders to be found in scenic Switzerland. And there’s no better way to explore these memorable vistas than by rail. This mesmerising docuseries offers armchair travellers the chance to enjoy the breathtaking panoramas from the comfort of their couch, while also providing fascinating insights into the landlocked European country and its people. Tonight’s premiere episode climbs aboard the Gotthard Panorama Express, which travels south from Lake Lucerne, through the historic tunnel in the Gotthard Massif, to Lugano at the border to Italy.

Friday, December 13

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News

PICK OF THE WEEK

CRICKET: BIG BASH LEAGUE

Seven, Sunday, 7pm

Clear your schedule, cricket fans. Christmas has come early with tonight’s return of the blockbuster Big Bash League. The 14th edition of the annual domestic Twenty20 tournament will be played across the next six weeks, culminating in the final on January 27. The bumper 2024-25 season kicks off with five-time champions the Perth Scorchers hosting the Melbourne Stars at Optus Stadium. In an action-packed schedule, the Stars will then back up from this clash to face reigning premiers the Brisbane Heat at the MCG on Wednesday. A commentary team led by Aaron Finch and Ricky Ponting will help sports-mad spectators keep their eyes firmly on the ball.

LOVE ISLAND AUSTRALIA

9Go!, Monday, 8.30pm

There’s no question: this season of reality romance LoveIslandAustraliahas been the wildest yet, with lust, betrayal and heartache at every turn. Tonight’s finale, however, is all about love, as host Sophie Monk (pictured) gathers the final three couples to catch up on the past few days and take a look back at their Spanish summer. We get to see some very photogenic young people grow rather nervous as they meet their paramour’s parents for the first time, then one couple makes it “official” as boyfriend and girlfriend. There’s also one last challenge in store and a surprising return sends shockwaves through the villa, before the winning couple is named. Hot and spicy to the end, it’s addictive viewing.

SEVEN (6, 7)

Mornings. 10.00 Back Roads. (R) 10.30 I Was Actually There. (PG, R) 11.00 Royal Carols: Together At Christmas 2022. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Shetland. (Mal, R) 2.00 Maggie Beer’s Big Mission. (R) 3.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 3.25 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 4.15 Grand Designs: The Streets. (Final, PG, R) 5.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 9.20 For The Love Of Dogs. (PGa, R) 10.20 Paddington Station 24/7. (PGal, R) 11.10 The Bridges That Built London. (PGa, R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC World News Tonight. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Such Was Life. (R) 2.10 Lost For Words. (PGal, R) 3.10 Plat Du Tour. 3.15 The Cook Up. (R) 3.45 Australian Fashion Past, Present, Future. (PGadln) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 11.30 Seven Morning News. 12.00 MOVIE: Last Train To Christmas. (2021, PGaln, R) Michael Sheen. 2.15 Catch Phrase. (PG, R) 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. Hosted by Larry Emdur.

6.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice.

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Gardening Australia Christmas Special.

8.30 Shetland. (Final, Mal) Tosh and Calder try to unravel the mystery.

9.30 Question Everything. (Final, R) Presented by Wil Anderson and Jan Fran.

10.05 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

10.35 The Cleaner. (Mdl, R)

11.35 ABC Late News. (Final) 11.50 QI. (Mls, R) 12.20 The Kingdom: The World’s Most Powerful Prince. (Final, Ma, R) 1.20 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv) 5.00 Rage. (PG)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Every Family Has A Secret: Linda Lawless And Lisa Bird. (PGa, R) Presented by Noni Hazlehurst. 8.35 Sammy By Sammy: My Tale Of The 60s. Takes a look at Sammy Davis Jr. 9.35 Kennedy: The Brink Of War (October 1962-June 1963) Kennedy pursues diplomacy with the Soviets. 10.25 SBS World News Late. 10.55 Elvira. (Mal) 12.35 The Wall: The Orchard. (MA15+as, R) 3.00 Employable Me (USA) (Ma, R) 3.50 Heritage Rescue. (R) 4.40 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6am WorldWatch. 10.00 Bamay. 10.35 It’s Suppertime! 11.55 France 24 English News. 12.25pm The Wrestlers. 2.15 Tiny Beautiful Things. 2.50 Make America Swift Again. 3.50 BBC News At Ten. 4.20 ABC World News Tonight. 4.45 PBS News. 5.45 The Joy Of Painting With Bob Ross. 6.15 The Curse Of Oak Island. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 A League Of Their Own: Mexican Road Trip. (Premiere)

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Better Homes And Gardens Summer. Clarissa Feildel shows off her potstickers.

8.30 MOVIE: West Side Story. (2021, Mv, R) In ’50s New York, a forbidden love affair blossoms amid the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds, over control of the San Juan Hill community. Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose. 11.35 OzHarvest Unite To Feed Australia. (PGa, R) A onenight-only fundraising event.

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R)

5.00 NBC Today.

Harry’s Practice. 8.00 Million Dollar Minute. 9.00 Left Off The Map. 9.30 NBC Today. Noon Better Homes And Gardens. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 The Great Australian Doorstep. 2.30 Harry’s Practice. 3.00 Taste Of Australia With Hayden Quinn. 3.30 Left Off The Map. 4.00 RSPCA Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes And Gardens. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 8.30 Escape To The Country. 10.30 I Escaped To The Country. 11.30 Escape To The Country. 12.30am House Calls To The Rescue. 2.30 Late Programs.

NINE (8, 9)

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra Summer. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: A Christmas Break. (2020, G) 2.00 Pointless. (PG, R) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon.

4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG)

5.00[MELB]TippingPointAustralia.(PG, R) 5.30 WIN News.

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Find My Beach House Australia. Hosted by Shelley Craft.

8.30 MOVIE: Bad Moms 2. (2017, MA15+als, R) Three unappreciated mothers rebel against the expectations of organising the “perfect” Christmas. Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn.

10.30 MOVIE: Fighting With My Family. (2019, Malv, R) A wrestler’s kids dream of a brighter future. Florence Pugh.

12.30 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

3.30 World Aquatics Championships. Budapest 2024. Day 4. Finals.

VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 4.40pm Builder Brothers Dream Factory. 4.55 Bluey. 5.00 Peppa Pig. 5.15 Supertato. 5.20 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 5.35 Peter Rabbit. 5.45 Kiri And Lou. 5.55 Octonauts. 6.05 Kangaroo Beach. 6.20 Bluey. 6.25 Paddington. 6.40 Pfffirates. 6.50 Ginger And The Vegesaurs. 6.55 Hey Duggee. 7.05 Andy And The Band. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 Teen Titans Go! 8.00 Scooby-Doo And Guess Who? 8.25 Mythbusters “There’s Your Problem!”. 8.50 Robot Wars: Battle Of The Stars. 9.50 Doctor Who. 10.35 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Children’s Programs. Noon Hart Of Dixie. 2.00 I Dream Of Jeannie. 2.30 Bewitched. 3.00 The Golden Girls. 3.30 The Nanny. 4.30 The Addams Family. 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 I Dream Of Jeannie. 6.00 The Golden Girls. 6.30 The Nanny. 7.30 MOVIE: The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring. (2001, M) 11.05 MOVIE: A Walk Among The Tombstones. (2014, MA15+) 1.10am The Nanny. 2.10 Life After Lockup. 3.00 Bakugan. 3.30 Beyblade X. 4.00 Transformers: Prime. 4.30 Ninjago: Masters Of Spinjitzu. 4.50 Yu-Gi-Oh!

TEN (5, 10)

6.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R) Hosted by Grant Denyer.

6.30 The Project. A look at the day’s news.

7.30 MOVIE: Daddy’s Home. (2015, Mlv, R) A man’s wife’s ex-husband causes problems. Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg.

9.30 Matlock. (PGa, R) Olympia and Julian get a second shot at a case regarding a tragic death due to contaminated baby formula. 10.30 10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather. 10.55 The Project. (R) A look at the day’s news.

12.00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R)

Pitch perfect: From left, Damien Fleming, Erin Holland, Ricky Ponting and Brad Hodge call BBL14.

Saturday, December 14

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6am Morning Programs. 9.00 Rage. (PG) 10.30 Rage FIFTY 2024 Preview Special. (PG) 12.00 News. 12.25 All Creatures Great And Small. (PGa, R) 1.15 Miniseries: Douglas Is Cancelled. (Ml, R) 1.55 Question Everything. (Final, R) 2.25 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) 3.15 Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery. (R) 3.40 Solar System With Brian Cox. (R) 4.40 Headliners. (PG, R) 5.35 Landline. (R)

6.00 Take 5 With Zan Rowe: Neil Finn. (PG, R) Zan Rowe chats with Neil Finn.

6.30 Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now. (R) Presented by Lisa Millar.

7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day.

7.30 All Creatures Great And Small. (PG) James and Helen help some new farmers.

8.20 Vera. (Mv, R) Vera and her team investigate the death of a John Doe, whose body was found in a pit on a farm.

9.50 Miniseries: Douglas Is Cancelled. (Ml, R) A TV presenter is cancelled.

10.30 Shetland. (Malv, R) Calder and Tosh must work together.

11.30 Rage FIFTY 2024 Special. (MA15+adhlnsv)

5.00 Rage FIFTY 2024 Best Of The Rest Special. (PG)

6am Morning Programs. 9.00 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 9.05 The Eco Show. (R) 10.05 Love Your Garden. (PGa, R) 11.00 Along Ireland’s Shores. (PG, R) 11.30 BBC News At Ten. 12.00 PBS News. 1.00 Surf Life Saving. Shaw and Partners Iron Series. Day 1. Round 1. 3.00 ABC World News Tonight. 3.30 Plat Du Tour. 3.35 Ethnic Business Awards. 5.35 Weeks Of War. (PG, R)

6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Magical Train Journeys In Switzerland: Aboard The Gotthard Panorama Express From Lake Lucerne To Ticino. (PGa) Documents scenic Swiss train journeys.

9.25 The Great House Revival: Old Schoolhouse, Ballyoughter, Co Wexford. (PG) Presented by Hugh Wallace.

10.25 Great Australian Railway Journeys. (PGa, R)

11.35 Miniseries: The Dark Heart. (MA15+as, R)

1.20 Portillo’s Greatest Railway Journeys. (R) 2.20 Employable Me (USA) (Ma, R) 3.10 Make Me A Dealer. (R) 4.00 Heritage Rescue. (R) 4.50 Destination Flavour Down Under Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6am WorldWatch.

SEVEN (6, 7)

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.30 Test Cricket: Pre-Game Show. 11.20 Cricket. Third Test. Australia v India. Day 1. Morning session. 1.20 Test Cricket: The Lunch Break. 2.00 Cricket. Third Test. Australia v India. Day 1. Afternoon session. 4.00 Test Cricket: Tea Break. 4.20 Cricket. Third Test. Australia v India. Day 1. Late afternoon session. From the Gabba, Brisbane.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Victorian Schools Spectacular. (PG) Coverage of the Victorian State School Spectacular from John Cain Arena, Melbourne. 9.30 NSW Schools Spectacular. (PG) Coverage of the Schools Spectacular from the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney’s Olympic Park. Features dance and musical performances by students from diverse backgrounds and communities across NSW.

12.00 Taken. (Mav, R) Kilroy tracks a notorious hacker.

1.00 Travel Oz. (PG, R) Hosted by Greg Grainger. 1.30 Harry’s Practice. (R) Information about pet care.

2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 It’s Academic. (R) Hosted by Simon Reeve. 5.00 My Greek Odyssey. (PG, R)

7TWO (62, 72)

10.00 Bamay.

NINE (8, 9)

6.00 Garden Gurus. (R) 6.30 ACA. (R) 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 Today Extra Summer. (PG) 12.00 Surfing Australia TV. 12.30 Drive Safer. 1.00 Our State On A Plate. (PG) 1.30 My Way. (PG) 2.00 Great Getaways. (PG, R) 3.00 Eatwell Christmas With Emma Dean. (PG) 4.00 The Garden Gurus. 4.30 Helloworld. 5.00

6.00 9News Saturday. 7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 MOVIE: Elf. (2003, G, R) A man raised as an elf at Santa’s North Pole home embarks on a journey to find his biological father. Will Ferrell, James Caan. 9.30 MOVIE: Candy Cane Lane. (2023, PGls) A man makes a pact with an elf to help him win his neighbourhood’s annual Christmas decorating contest. Eddie Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jillian Bell.

11.50 MOVIE: Blue Canaries. (2023, MA15+alv, R) A desperate teenager goes on the run. Tahlee Fereday.

1.50 My Way. (R)

2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PGa)

2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

3.30 World Aquatics Championships. Budapest 2024. Day 5. Finals.

5.30 Helping Hands. (PG, R)

9GEM (81, 92)

TEN (5, 10)

6.30 Bondi Rescue. (PGlv, R) Jack rescues a drunk swimmer.

7.00 MOVIE: The Lion King. (1994, PGa, R) A young lion cub leaves his pride for a life in exile. Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons. 9.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) A pair of Shih Tzu crosses are the last of the five dogs who came into the shelter after their owner died. Their mother and siblings have found love so its their turn to meet their new owner. Narrated by Dr Chris Brown. 10.30 Ambulance Australia. (Mdlm, R) Follows dispatchers and paramedics. 11.40 Shark Tank. (PGa, R) A mum pitches her solution to untangling kids’ hair. 12.50 Ambulance UK. (Ma, R) The ambulance service is hit by a strike. 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power.

NITV (34)

6am

7MATE (64, 73)

6am Children’s Programs. 5.35pm Peter Rabbit. 5.45 Kiri And Lou. 5.55 Octonauts. 6.05 Interstellar Ella. 6.20 Bluey. 6.25 Ben And Holly. 6.40 Pfffirates. 6.50 Ginger And The Vegesaurs. 6.55 Hey Duggee. 7.05 Riley Rocket. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Teenage Boss: Next Level. 8.00 The Crystal Maze. 8.45 Fresh Off The Boat. 9.30 Speechless. 9.50 Officially Amazing. 10.20 Teen Titans Go! 10.40 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Children’s Programs. 12.40pm MOVIE: Pokémon The Movie: I Choose You! (2017, PG) 2.40 MOVIE: Pokémon The Movie: The Power Of Us. (2018) 4.40 Motor Racing. Formula E. São Paulo ePrix. H’lights. 5.45 MOVIE: The Secret Life Of Pets. (2016) 7.30 MOVIE: Harry Potter And The Half-Blood

6am Morning Programs. 2.05pm The Last Land: Gespe’gewa’gi. 2.35 No Distance Between Us. 2.50 MOVIE: The Red Turtle. (2016, PG) 4.20 The First Inventors. 5.15 Black As. 5.20 Black And Dusty. 6.10 No Ordinary Black. 6.20 NITV News: Summer Yarns. 6.30 The Other Side. 7.30 Alone Australia. 8.30 MOVIE: Gremlins. (1984, M) 10.25 Ub40 Feat. Ali Campbell Live Concert. 12.05am Late Programs.

4.45 MOVIE: Yours, Mine And Ours. (1968) 7.00 World Aquatics Championships. Budapest 2024. Day 5. Heats. 10.00 MOVIE: Octopussy. (1983, PG) 12.40am Late Programs.

9GO! (82, 93)

Diana. Continued. (2013, PG) 7.55 I Capture The Castle. (2003, PG) 10.00 The Lost King. (2022, M) Noon The Zookeeper’s Wife. (2017, M) 2.20 Belle. (2013, PG) 4.15 Much Ado About Nothing. (1993, PG) 6.20 Agatha Christie’s Crooked House. (2017, PG) 8.30 Seven. (1995, MA15+) 10.50 Post Coitum, Animal Triste. (1997, M, French) 12.40am Unknown Soldier. (2017, MA15+, Finnish) 3.05 Late Programs.

Sunday, December 15

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6am Morning Programs. 10.00 Secret Science. (PG, R) 10.30 World This Week. (Final, R) 11.00 Compass. (PGa, R) 11.30 Praise. 12.00 News. 12.30 Nigella’s Christmas Bites. (R) 1.20 Gardening Australia. (Final, R) 2.35 Nigella’s Christmas Kitchen. (Final, R) 3.05 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PGa, R) 4.00 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 5.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.00 Grand Designs Australia. (Final, PG, R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now.

8.00 Miniseries: Douglas Is Cancelled. (Ml) Madeline and Douglas’ first encounter is recalled.

8.40 Love Me. (Mdls) Clara goes on a date with Peter.

9.30 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) Hosted by Adam Hills.

11.05 Take 5 With Zan Rowe. (Ml, R) 11.35 You Can’t Ask That. (Mal, R) 12.40 New Leash On Life. (R) 1.10 Rage Vault. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.05 Australia Remastered: Forces Of Nature. (R) 4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales. (PG, R)

6am Morning Programs. 7.30 France 24 English News. 8.00 DD India News Hour. 9.00 APAC Weekly. (R) 9.30 PBS Washington Week. 9.55 Ascot Kayaking. (PG, R) 10.00 FIFA World Cup Classic Matches. 12.00 Speedweek. 1.00 Surf Life Saving. Shaw and Partners Iron Series. Day 2. Round 1. 3.00 Figure Skating. ISU Grand Prix 7. Highlights. 5.30 Weeks Of War. (PG, R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 After The Sky Fell On Lockerbie. (PG) A look back at Lockerbie bombing. 9.20 Jonathan Ross’ Myths And Legends: Wales. (PGa, R) Jonathan Ross explores Wales, a country filled with hidden and intriguing legends. 10.15 Curse Of The Ancients: Pagans. (PGav, R) Charts the rise of civilisation. 11.10 The Forest Maker. (PGa, R) 12.45 Portillo’s Greatest Railway Journeys. (PGas, R)

1.45 Employable Me (USA) (Mal, R)

2.35 Make Me A Dealer. (PG, R)

3.25 Heritage Rescue. (R) 4.15 Bamay. (R) 4.55 Destination Flavour Down Under Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 Al Jazeera News.

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.30 Test Cricket: Pre-Game Show. 11.20 Cricket. Third Test. Australia v India. Day 2. Morning session. 1.20 Test Cricket: The Lunch Break. 2.00 Cricket. Third Test. Australia v India. Day 2. Afternoon session. 4.00 Test Cricket: Tea Break. 4.20 Cricket. Third Test. Australia v India. Day 2. Late afternoon session.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Cricket. Big Bash League. Match 1. Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Stars.

10.30 Big Bash League Post-Game. Post-match coverage of the game between the Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Stars.

11.00 7NEWS Spotlight. (R) A look at Prince George’s future.

12.00 Miniseries: Patrick Melrose. (Mals, R) Patrick spirals back into his destructive behaviour.

1.15 Travel Oz. (PG, R) Presented by Greg Grainger.

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R) Hosted by Grant Denyer.

4.00 NBC Today. News and current affairs.

5.00 Sunrise 5am News. 5.30 Sunrise.

7TWO (62, 72) 6am Children’s Programs. 5.15pm Octonauts. 5.35 Peter Rabbit. 5.50 Kiri And Lou. 5.55 Octonauts. 6.10 Interstellar Ella. 6.20 Bluey. 6.25 Peppa Pig. 6.35 Ginger And The Vegesaurs. 6.40 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 7.05 Riley Rocket. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 MOVIE: A Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon. (2019) 8.55 Fresh Off The Boat. 9.35 Speechless. 10.00 Doctor Who. 10.45 Late Programs.

6.00 Hello SA. (PG, R) 6.30 A Current Affair. (R) 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 Cross Court. 10.30 Fishing Australia. 11.00 Maritime Masters: Expedition Antarctica. (PG, R) 12.00 Drive TV. 12.30 Bondi Vet. (PGm, R) 1.30 MOVIE: Merry And Bright. (2019, G) Jodie Sweetin. 3.30 Endangered: Expedition Kimberley. 4.30 Helloworld. 5.00 9News First At Five. 5.30 Postcards Summer. (PG)

6.00 9News Sunday.

7.00 2024 The Year That Was. (PGv) Presented by Amelia Adams. 8.00 John Farnham: Celebrating 60 Years. (Ml, R) A celebration of John Farnham’s 60 years at the centre of the Australian entertainment industry.

9.50 MOVIE: The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart. (2020, Ml, R) An exploration of the Bee Gees. Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb. 12.00 Maritime Masters: Expedition Antarctica: The Beginning. (PG, R)

1.00 Helloworld. (R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

3.30 World Aquatics Championships. Budapest 2024. Day 6. Finals.

5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

9GEM (81, 92)

ABC FAMILY (22) 6am MOVIE: LOL Surprise: The Skate Dance Movie. (2024) 7.00 Children’s Programs. 12.30pm Basketball. WNBL. Adelaide Lightning v UC Capitals. 2.30 Surfing Australia TV. 3.00 Motorway Cops: Catching Britain’s Speeders. 4.00 MOVIE: Mr Mom. (1983, PG) 5.50 MOVIE: Over The Hedge. (2006) 7.30 MOVIE: Ocean’s Thirteen. (2007, PG) 10.00

6.00 The Sunday Project. A look at the day’s news.

7.00 Harry And Meghan: The Rise And Fall. (PGa) Looks at Harry and Meghan’s life. 8.30 The Graham Norton Show. (Ml) Graham Norton is joined on the couch by guests Billy Crystal, Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Pharrell Williams and Michael Kiwanuka. 9.40 FBI. (Mav) After a park ranger is shot dead by a masked assailant, the team discovers a string of connected crimes.

10.40 FBI: International. Wes’ former colleague enlists the team’s help. 11.30 The Sunday Project. (R) A look at the day’s news. 12.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings. 6am WorldWatch. 9.30 Small Business Secrets. 10.00 Food Lover’s Guide. 11.40 Gymnastics. FIG Rhythmic World Cup Series. Replay. 1.40pm Jeopardy! 3.45 WorldWatch. 4.15 PBS Washington Week. 4.40 Scandinavian Star. 5.50 The Engineering That Built The World. 6.40 Abandoned Engineering. 8.30 Charge Around Australia. 9.40 WWE Legends. (Return) 11.15 Hoarders. 12.10am Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Escape To The Country. Noon I Escaped To The Country. 1.00 Better Homes. 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 The Great Australian Doorstep. 3.00 The Highland Vet. 5.00 I Escaped To The Country. 6.00 Taste Of Aust. 6.30 Heathrow. 7.00 St John Ambulance Carols By Candlelight. 9.30 St John Drive-A-Thon. 10.00 The Highland Vet. 11.00 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 8.30 The Incredible Journey. 9.00 Turning Point. 9.30 TV Shop. 10.00 Thunderbirds. 10.30 My Favorite Martian. 11.00 Building Icons. Noon MOVIE: Silent Dust. (1949, PG) 1.40 MOVIE: The Big Country. (1958, PG) 5.00 M*A*S*H. 7.00 World Aquatics Championships. Budapest 2024. Day 6. Heats. 9.00 MOVIE: A View To A Kill. (1985, M) 11.35 Late Programs.

Monday, December 16

ABC TV (2) SBS (3) SEVEN (6, 7)

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mornings. 10.00 Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now. (R) 11.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Vera. (Mv, R) 2.30 Back Roads. (PG, R) 3.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 3.30 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 4.15 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (R) 5.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice.

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30. Presented by Sarah Ferguson. 8.00 Australian Story: If You Build It – Greg Donovan. (Final, R)

The story of Greg Donovan.

8.30 The Forest. (PG) Looks at the story of an ecologist with a plan to save the world by restoring the planet’s forests.

9.35 The Rise And Fall Of Boris Johnson. (Ml, R) Scandals from Boris Johnson’s private life emerge.

10.25 A Life In Ten Pictures: Robin Williams. (PG, R)

12.10 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (R)

1.00 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 1.45 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.30 Lily’s Life Hacks. (R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Earth’s Sacred Wonders. (PGa, R) 12.05 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC World News Tonight. 1.00 PBS News Weekend. 1.25 Al Jazeera News Hour. 2.00 TradFest: The Fingal Sessions. 2.30 Plat Du Tour. 2.35 French Atlantic. (PG, R) 3.05 The Cook Up. (R) 3.35 Australian Fashion Past, Present, Future. (PGn) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Costco At Christmas. (R) A look at Costco during the festive season.

8.30 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. Hosted by Jimmy Carr. 9.25 Never Mind The Buzzcocks. (M) Hosted by Greg Davies.

10.05 Australia Uncovered: The Truth About Anxiety With Celia Pacquola. (Mad, R)

11.15 SBS World News Late.

11.45 Dead Mountain: The Dyatlov Pass Incident. (Mahv) 1.35 Portillo’s Greatest Railway Journeys. (PG, R) 2.30 Legacy List With Matt Paxton. (R) 3.35 Make Me A Dealer. (R) 4.25 Peer To Peer. (R) 4.55 Destination Flavour Scandinavia Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 10.30 Test Cricket: Pre-Game Show. 11.20 Cricket. Third Test. Australia v India. Day 3. Morning session. 1.20 Test Cricket: The Lunch Break. 2.00 Cricket. Third Test. Australia v India. Day 3. Afternoon session. 4.00 Test Cricket: Tea Break. 4.20 Cricket. Third Test. Australia v India. Day 3. Late afternoon session.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Cricket. Big Bash League. Match 2. Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Renegades. From the SCG.

10.30 Big Bash League Post-Game. Post-match coverage of the game between the Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Renegades.

11.00 Murder In A Small Town. (Mav) When Cassandra is placed in a life-threatening situation, Alberg and the team work to find the culprit responsible.

12.00 Satisfaction. (MA15+ads, R) Neil and Grace confront their infidelities.

1.00 Travel Oz. (PG, R) Hosted by Greg Grainger.

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 NBC Today. News and current affairs.

5.00 Sunrise 5am News. The latest news, sport and weather. 5.30 Sunrise.

NINE (8, 9)

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra Summer. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: Christmas In The Highlands. (2019, G) Brooke Burfitt, Dan Jeannotte, Nicholas Farrell. 2.00 Pointless. (PG, R) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.00[MELB]TippingPointAustralia.(PG, R) 5.30 WIN News.

6.00 9News. 7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 RBT. (Mal, R) Follows the activities of police units.

8.30 Australian Crime Stories: The Investigators: Undercover. (MA15+dlv, R) The story of one of Queensland’s most decorated police officers, Keith Banks.

9.40 A Killer Makes A Call: Dixon. (Ma) A look at the case of Julie Dixon.

10.50 Chicago Med. (MA15+amv)

11.40 First On Scene. (Mv)

12.05 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.00 Drive TV. (R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

TEN (5, 10)

6.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R) Hosted by Grant Denyer.

6.30 The Project. A look at the day’s news. 7.30 Wheel Of Fortune Australia. Hosted by Graham Norton. 8.30 Matlock. (PGal) Matty works on a case with Julian. Olympia learns a secret about Julian’s past. 9.30 Five Bedrooms. (Mals) Liz bears the brunt of Harry’s anger and grief and, in an effort to rescue their friendship, asks someone for help.

10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather. 10.55 The Project. (R) A look at the day’s news. 12.00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

6am Morning Programs. 1.40pm Black As. 2.00 First People’s Kitchen. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Our Stories. 5.15 Harlem Globetrotters. 6.00 Bamay. 6.30 NITV News: Summer Yarns. 6.40 Guardians Of The Wild. (Premiere) 7.30 Who Do You Think You Are? 8.30 Karla Grant Presents. 9.00 Roberta Flack. 10.30 MOVIE: I Called Him Morgan. (2016, M) 12.10am Late Programs. NITV (34)

7MATE (64, 73)

6am Morning Programs. 1.30pm Rides Down Under: Workshop Wars. 2.30 Boating. Circuit Drivers C’ship. 3.30 BarrettJackson: Revved Up. 4.30 Storage Wars. 5.00 American Pickers. 6.00 Cricket. Third Test. Australia v India. Day 3. Late afternoon session. 7.00 Pawn Stars. 7.30 Outback Farm. 8.30 Mega Mechanics. 9.30 When Big Things Go Wrong. 10.30 Frozen Gold. 11.30 Late Programs.

9GO! (82, 93) 6am Morning Programs. 8.50 Agatha Christie’s Crooked House. (2017, PG) 11.00 Post Coitum, Animal Triste. (1997, M, French) 12.50pm Tuesday Club. (2022, M, Swedish) 2.45 Mrs Lowry And Son. (2019, PG) 4.25 The Kid From The Big Apple 2. (2017, PG, Mandarin) 6.35 Whale Rider. (2002, PG) 8.30 Top End Wedding. (2019, M) 10.25 Juliet, Naked. (2018, M) 12.15am Late Programs.

Tuesday, December 17

ABC TV (2) SBS (3) SEVEN (6, 7)

6.00 News. 9.00 News. 10.00 Teenage Boss: Next Level. (Final, R) 10.30 Secret Science. (PG, R) 11.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Headliners. (PG, R) 2.05 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 2.30 Back Roads. (R) 3.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 3.30 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 4.15 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (R) 5.05 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 10.00 Paddington Station 24/7. (PGal, R) 10.50 Earth’s Sacred Wonders. (PG, R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC World News Tonight. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 TradFest: The Fingal Sessions. 2.30 Plat Du Tour. 2.40 French Atlantic. (R) 3.10 The Weekly Football Wrap. (R) 3.40 The Cook Up. (R) 4.10 The Supervet. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Britain’s Scenic Railways At Christmas. (R) A festive look at Britain’s scenic railways.

8.30 Who Do You Think You Are? Lesley Manville. (PG) Lesley Manville explores her roots, along the way learning about her grandparent’s unorthodox relationship.

Joanna Lumley And The Human

(R) 11.35 Ithaka: A Fight To Free Julian

(Mlv, R) 12.35 Keep On Dancing. (PG,

1.35 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (R) 2.25 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 3.10 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.30 Matt Okine Is Going To Die. (PGa, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R)

5.30 7.30. (R)

9.35 London Zoo At Christmas. (PG, R) Behind the scenes at London Zoo.

10.30 SBS World News Late. 11.00 Babylon Berlin. (MA15+v) 12.55 Miniseries: Safe Home. (Malv, R)

2.50 Legacy List With Matt Paxton. (PGv, R)

3.50 Make Me A Dealer. (R) 4.40 Bamay. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6am Morning Programs. 11.20 Cricket. Third Test. Australia v India. Day 4. Morning session. (Please note: alternative schedule may be shown due to changes to cricket coverage). 1.20 Test Cricket: The Lunch Break. 2.00 Cricket. Third Test. Australia v India. Day 4. Afternoon session. 4.00 Test Cricket: Tea Break. 4.20 Cricket. Third Test. Australia v India. Day 4. Late afternoon session. 6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra Summer. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: The Nine Kittens Of Christmas. (2021, G, R) Brandon Routh, Kimberley Sustad. 2.00 Pointless. (PG, R) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.00[MELB]

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Cricket. Big Bash League. Match 3. Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers.

10.30 Big Bash League Post-Game. Post-match coverage of the game between the Sydney Thunder and Adelaide Strikers.

11.00 Motorway Patrol. (PGad) Officers patrol the freeways of New Zealand. 11.30 Highway Cops. (PGa) A breakfast beer ruins a driver’s day.

12.00 Criminal Confessions: A Killer App. (Mav, R) A look at the case of Jason Dalton.

1.00 Satisfaction. (MA15+ads, R) Neil and Simon begin to work together.

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 NBC Today. News and current affairs.

5.00 Sunrise 5am News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 The Hundred With Andy Lee. (PGls) A special Christmas episode.

8.30 The Grand Tour. (Ml, R) The presenters head to Kakslauttanen, Finland, deep within the Arctic Circle.

9.50 Resto My Ride Australia. (R) The crew restores a XW.

10.50 Transplant. (MA15+m) A Syrian doctor goes to work in Canada. 11.40 Prison. (Mal, R) 12.30 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Our State On A Plate. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

6.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R) Hosted by Grant Denyer.

6.30

Wednesday, December 18

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News

Mornings. 10.00 Nigella’s Christmas Bites. (R) 11.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 The Forest. (PG, R) 2.00 Simply Nigella. (R) 3.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 3.25 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 4.15 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (R) 5.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice.

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30. Presented by Sarah Ferguson. 8.00 Neighbours Does Hard Quiz. (Final) Presented by Tom Gleeson.

8.30 The Yearly With Charlie Pickering. Charlie Pickering is joined by celebrities to take a look back at the highs and lows of 2024.

9.30 The Cleaner. (Ml, R) Wicky attends the home of an influencer.

10.35 Adam Hills: The Last Leg. (R)

11.15 Summer Love. (PG, R)

12.20 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (R)

1.10 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 1.55 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.30 Monsters Or Medicine? (PGm, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

5.55 Octonauts. 6.05 Kangaroo Beach. 6.20 Bluey. 6.25 Thomas. 6.40 Piney: The Lonesome Pine. 7.05 Andy And The Band. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 The Inbestigators. 7.50 Operation Ouch! 8.20 Doctor Who. 9.50 Mythbusters “There’s Your Problem!”. 10.15 Operation Ouch! 10.45 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 10.55 Earth’s Sacred Wonders. (PGa, R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC World News Tonight. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 TradFest: The Fingal Sessions. 2.30 Language Of Light. (Premiere) 3.00 Plat Du Tour. (PG, R) 3.10 French Atlantic. (R) 3.40 The Cook Up. (PG, R) 4.10 The Supervet. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) Presented by Marc Fennell.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Wham! Last Christmas Unwrapped. A look at Wham!’s LastChristmas 9.30 The Night Manager. (R) A hotel night manager receives a plea for help from a well-connected guest. 10.35 SBS World News Late. 11.05 Maxima. (Mals) Maxima gets bad news.

12.00 Pagan Peak. (Return, Mas)

3.00 Legacy List With Matt Paxton. (PG, R)

4.05 Make Me A Dealer. (R) 4.55 Destination Flavour Down Under Bitesize. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

1.20

3.15

&

Weekly

Girls. 2.20 Queer

Wrap. 3.45 WorldWatch. 5.45 Joy Of Painting. 6.15 Curse Of Oak Island. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 MOVIE: The Goonies. (1985) 10.35 MOVIE: Johnny Mnemonic. (1995, M) 12.25am Late Programs.

SEVEN (6, 7)

6am Morning Programs. 11.20 Cricket. Third Test. Australia v India. Day 5. Morning session. (Please note: alternative schedule may be shown due to changes to cricket coverage). 1.20 Test Cricket: The Lunch Break. 2.00 Cricket. Third Test. Australia v India. Day 5. Afternoon session. 4.00 Test Cricket: Tea Break. 4.20 Cricket. Third Test. Australia v India. Day 5. Late afternoon session.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Cricket. Big Bash League. Match 4. Melbourne Stars v Brisbane Heat. From the MCG.

10.30 Big Bash League Post-Game. Post-match coverage of the game between the Melbourne Stars and Brisbane Heat.

11.00 Unbelievable Moments

Caught On Camera. (PGa, R) Footage of headline-grabbing moments captured on camera by members of the public.

12.00 Criminal Confessions: She Never Came Home. (MA15+alv, R)

A look at the case of Kenia Monge.

1.00 Stan Lee’s Lucky Man. (MA15+av)

A hitman takes out an entire charter plane.

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 NBC Today. News and current affairs.

5.00 Sunrise 5am News. The latest news, sport and weather. 5.30 Sunrise.

TBA. 6.30 Escape To The Country. 7.30 Harry’s Practice. 8.00 Million Dollar Minute. 9.00 Left Off The Map. 9.30 NBC Today. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 TBA. 2.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 3.30 Left Off The Map. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Heartbeat. 8.45 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries.

NINE (8, 9)

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra Summer. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: Destination Christmas. (2022, PGa) Natasha Wilson, Edward Ruttle, Eva Tavares. 2.00 Pointless. (PG, R) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.00[MELB]TippingPointAustralia.(PG, R) 5.30 WIN News.

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Taronga: Who’s Who In The Zoo: Chimp Challenge. (PGm) The vet team checks 21 chimpanzees.

8.30 Budget Battlers. Jess Eva, Norm Hogan and the team help restore the community in Cairns in the wake of a cyclone.

9.30 Space Invaders. (PG, R) The team comes to the rescue of a couple are drowning in clutter after a tragic accident.

10.30 Millionaire Holiday Home Swap. (PG)

11.30 The Equalizer. (MA15+v, R)

12.20 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

1.20 Talking Honey. (PG) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Children’s Programs. 6.30 MOVIE: L.O.L. Surprise! The Movie. (2021)

Tricks. 2.50 Antiques Roadshow. 3.20 MOVIE: Piccadilly Incident. (1946) 5.30 The Travelling Auctioneers. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 To The Manor Born. 8.35 MOVIE: GoldenEye. (1995,

TEN (5, 10)

6.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R) Hosted by Grant Denyer. 6.30 The Project. The hosts and guest panellists take a look at the day’s news, events and hot topics. 7.30 Jamie Oliver: Christmas. Jamie Oliver hosts a Christmas party for his family and friends, serving hearty dishes made with seasonal produce. 8.30 NCIS. (Mv) Torres receives intel from an informant regarding top secret naval information that is at risk of being sold.

9.30 NCIS: Origins.

10.30 10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather. 10.55 The Project. (R) A look at the day’s news. 12.00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) Hosted by Stephen Colbert. 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings.

6am Remi

7MATE (64, 73) SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning

Nobody’s Boy. (2018, PG, French) 8.00 Whale Rider. (2002, PG) 9.55 The Falcons. (2018, PG, Icelandic) 11.50 Juliet, Naked. (2018, M) 1.40pm Lola. (1961, PG, French) 3.15 Magnetic Fields. (2021, PG, Greek) 4.50 Viajeros. (2022, PG, Spanish) 6.25 Heidi. (2015, PG, German) 8.30 The Nugget. (2002, M) 10.20 Long Story Short. (2021, M) 12.05am Falling. (2020, M) 2.10 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 1pm Outback Truckers. 3.00 Billy The Exterminator. 3.30 Barrett-Jackson: Revved Up. 4.30 Storage Wars. 5.00 American Pickers. 6.00 Cricket. Third Test. Australia v India. Day 5. Late afternoon session. 7.00 Pawn Stars. 7.30 Highway Patrol. 8.30 The Force: Behind The Line. 9.30 World’s Wildest Police Videos. 10.30 Getting A Ticket In America. (Premiere) 11.30 Late Programs.

9GO! (82, 93)

7.30 Children’s Programs. Noon Hart Of Dixie. 1.00 I Dream Of Jeannie. 1.30 Bewitched. 2.00 The Golden Girls. 2.30 The Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 The Addams Family. 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 I Dream Of Jeannie. 6.00 The Golden Girls. 6.30 The Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: National Lampoon’s European Vacation. (1985, M) 10.30 Late Programs.

Thursday, December 19

Roads. (R) 11.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Grand Designs Australia. (Final, PG, R) 2.00 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 2.30 Back Roads. (R) 3.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 3.25 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 4.15 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (R) 5.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 10.20 Paddington Station 24/7. (PGal, R) 11.10 Kew Gardens: Season By Season. (R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC World News Tonight. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 TradFest: The Fingal Sessions. 2.30 Language Of Light. 3.00 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.10 French Atlantic. (R) 3.40 The Cook Up. (R) 4.10 The Supervet. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice.

6.30 Hard Quiz Kids. (PG, R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30. (Final) Presented by Sarah Ferguson.

8.00 Long Lost Family: Born Without A Trace. (Premiere) Hosted by Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell.

9.05 Fake Or Fortune? Joshua Reynolds. Hosted by Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould.

10.05 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (Final, PG)

10.55 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (Final, R)

11.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 12.30 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.35 The Truth About Menopause With Myf Warhurst. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (Final, R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Going Places With Ernie Dingo. (PG) Mark Coles Smith visits Esperance. 8.30 Gods Of Tennis: Martina Navratilova And Chris Evert. (Ml, R) The story of the intense rivalry between Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert. 9.35 Daddy Issues. (Premiere, Mls)

A woman discovers she is pregnant. 10.35 SBS World News Late. 11.05 DNA. (Mav) 11.55 Blackout: Tomorrow Is Too Late. (Malsv, R) 12.50 Miniseries: The Night Logan Woke Up. (MA15+a, R) 3.05 Legacy List With Matt Paxton. (PG, R) 4.05 Make Me A Dealer. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 11.30 Seven Morning News. 12.00 MOVIE: A Christmas Spark. (2022, PGa, R) 2.00 Motorbike Cops. (PG, R) 2.15 Catch Phrase. (PG, R) 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Cricket. Big Bash League. Match 5. Melbourne Renegades v Hobart Hurricanes. 10.30 Seven’s Cricket: The Spin. An expert panel tackles all the big news and issues with a deep dive into the wild world of cricket.

11.15 Pam & Tommy. (MA15+alns) Rand teams up with an old porn-world associate to shop the sex tape around town.

12.15 Criminal Confessions: Who Killed Little Mama? (Madlv, R) An elderly free spirit is left for dead.

1.15 Travel Oz. (PG, R) Presented by Greg Grainger.

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 NBC Today. News and current affairs.

5.00 Sunrise 5am News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra Summer. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: Christmas In Alaska. (2023, PGa) Marcus Rosner, Emma Johnson, Essek Moore. 2.00 Pointless. (PG, R) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon.

4.30 Tipping

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Great Getaways. (PG) The team tours some of Turkey’s ancient sites.

8.30 Budget Battlers. Jess Eva and Norm Hogan come to the aid of a couple who spent their whole lives helping others.

9.30 A+E After Dark. (Mlm) Language is a barrier in dealing with an aggressive male who claims he has been attacked.

10.30 Captivated. (Mals)

11.30 Resident Alien. (Msv)

12.15 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.05 Cross Court. (R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

6.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R) Hosted by Grant Denyer. 6.30 The Project. A look at the day’s news. 7.30 Jamie Oliver: Christmas. Jamie Oliver shares spectacular dishes. 8.30 MOVIE: Mean Girls. (2004, Ma, R) A teenager attending school in the US for the first time finds herself at odds with a clique of snooty girls. Lindsay Lohan,

WorldWatch. 5.45 Joy Of Painting. 6.15 Curse Of Oak Island. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 Holy Marvels With Dennis Quaid. 10.05 The Last Overland: Singapore To London. 11.55 Late Programs. 6am TBA. 6.30 Escape To The Country. 7.30 Harry’s Practice. 8.00 Million Dollar Minute. 9.00 Left Off The Map. 9.30 NBC Today. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 Mt Hutt Rescue. 3.30 Left Off The Map. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Father Brown. 8.30 Murdoch Mysteries. 11.30 Late Programs. 6am Seaway. 7.00 Creflo. 7.30 Skippy. 8.00 TV Shop. 10.30 Pointless. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon Days Of Our Lives. 12.55 The Young And The Restless. 1.50 To

(22) 6am Children’s Programs. 6.15 MOVIE: L.O.L. Surprise! Winter Fashion Show Movie. (2022) 7.30 Children’s Programs. Noon Survivor 47. (Final) 2.00 The Golden Girls. 2.30 The

DISABILITY SERVICES

Matching clients with the right behavioural support

Anna Treloar-Tanner and her team at Barwon Occupational Therapy in Victoria, Australia, provide a comprehensive approach to behavioural support through practitioners with Allied Health backgrounds and many years of experience.

Central to their philosophy is the belief that all behaviour is a form of communication. By understanding the purpose behind challengingbehaviours,theteamcollaborates with clients and their families to implement adaptive strategies that effectively meet the clients’ needs.

Anna Treloar-Tanner leads Barwon Occupational Therapy with a commitment to personalising support for diverse clients, many of whom are neurodiverse, including those with autism, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and other neurological conditions. Anna’s approach, as an Endorsed Mental Health Occupational Therapist, emphasises understanding clients rather than changing them.

Recognising that all behaviour serves as a form of communication shifts the focus from suppressing or altering behaviours to understanding their underlying functions. Identifying why a behaviour occurs and what needs it fulfils is essential.

The team works extensively with clients and their families to identify the functions of challenging behaviours and to implement functionally equivalent replacement behaviours—adaptive behaviours designed to meet the same needs as the original behaviours in a more constructive manner. Their holistic approach ensures that support is comprehensive and effective. By addressing both psychological and social aspects of clients’ lives, the team collaborates with carers, schools, and other agencies,

providing consistent support across various environments. Their methodology prioritises non-pharmacological interventions, functioning as a “scaffolding” that adapts to each individual’s needs in diverse settings. Respect and a non-judgmental ethos underpin the team’s practice. Anna

emphasises advocacy for clients, reframing what might be perceived as problematic behaviours through the lens of clients’ needs and perspectives. Her personal insights as a parent of neurodiverse children inform her approach, implementing strategies that benefit the entire family.

Barwon Occupational Therapy embodies a comprehensive, empathetic, and adaptive approach to behavioural support. By viewing behaviour as communication and working closely with clients to adaptively meet their needs, the team provides high-quality, respectful, and effective interventions.

Barwon Occupational Therapy’s Anna Treloar-Tanner. (Ivan Kemp) 423811_05

Luson Aged Care offers a home away from home

Luson Aged Care has two well-established aged care homes that have been servicing the Geelong community for several years and importantly,catertotheneedsofthosethatcan no longer care for themselves at home.

The Vue in Grovedale and Eden Park in Whittington both have a warm and inviting atmosphere as soon as you walk through the door.

In fact, you get the feeling that it’s a home rather than an aged care facility as the smell of home-cooked meals permeates through the building around lunch times and dinner.

Staff at both homes dedicate themselves to providingthebestincareandattentiontotheir residents with many employed at the homes for several years.

“It is a great opportunity to work with such compassionate people who come with a caring heart for those living in the home,” noted one staff member.

“We aim to ensure those living with us are well cared for, enjoy their lives with us whilst creating opportunities, happiness and friendships. We are one big happy extended family.”

Care is provided 24/7 by a team of dedicated registered nurses and qualified care staff.

Residents will also be supported by a lifestyle team that willbe focusedonensuringeveryone isengagedinarangeofactivitiesandprograms that are adapted based on the residents’ needs and wishes.

The homes cater for Respite care, Permanent care and Dementia-specific care.

All rooms are private, single rooms with their own ensuite bathroom and have access to landscaped gardens. Pets are welcome to visit and there are some animals on-site for the residents’ enjoyment.

Aged care can be a complex and confusing

journey for many families. The experienced team at Luson Aged Care are well-versed in the process and are aware of opportunities that exist for families and individuals considering a

move into residential aged care. The team is standing by to provide information and step-by-step guidance on the process and financial aspects of the aged care

Your community aged care home

Carols in the Park

A huge crowd turned out at Ocean Grove Park on Sunday December 8 for Carols in the Park and Independent photographer Ivan Kemp got involved in the Christmas spirit.

Lynda Glover (front) with her children Neve and Cheohen and Emma May with her children Noa and Royal.

Leah and Archie Andrews with daughters Ruby and Cheryl.

Left: Steve Grueber and daughters Abigail and Elizabeth. Centre: Dane Nielson and Ali Madden with their daughter Maeve. Right: Julie Pekin and daughters Chelsea and Isabel. (Pictures: Ivan Kemp) 448436

Left: Lauren Hinkley with her children Alaina and Austen. Centre: Members of the Ocean Grove Callisthenics College. Right: Sarah and Nick Edgar with their kids Millie and Max.

Above: Mia and Tony Ramino with their daughters Rebekah and Mikayla. Right: Tara Callinan and daughter Winter.

Left: Brodie and Chandelle Terry with their children Dolly, Noah and Pearl. Above: James Muling and his son William. Below: Fiona Crapp with her children Elliot, Lennox and Georgie.

Rolling into disability advocacy

Drysdale’s Leanne Watson recently received a Volunteering Award at the Geelong Awards for People with Disability for her community advocacy. She speaks with Jena Carr about the changes in her life that led her on a journey to normalise disability.

Leanne Watson was an active mother of three teenagers with a lively social life and various hobbies when her life would change forever.

Leanne lived an ordinary life unaffected by thesocietalandindividualimpactsofdisability beforeabloodtestin2007spiralledherintothe world of muscular dystrophy.

“At the age of 42, I was diagnosed with limb girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD), which is a neuromuscular degenerative muscle-wasting condition,” she said.

“Over the last 17 years, that’s very rapidly progressed. There are over 30 types of LGMD, and there are a lot of subtypes, and so far, my subtypes have not been identified.

“Because I manifested the symptoms at a later age, doctors thought it would be a slow progression. However, that has not happened, and I now not only don’t have use of my legs, but I also don’t have use of my arms.

‘‘

My quest is about shoving disability in as many faces as I can to make people feel more comfortable

’’ - Leanne Watson

“I was more restricted with visiting friends’ houses, gardening, and quilting, with all my hobbies winding up pretty quickly, so I turned to writing and blogging on my website, Leanne’s Wheel Life.”

Leanne could walk unassisted for the first three years since her diagnosis. She could shower herself until nine years ago, move from one seat to another until eight years ago and turn in bed until six years ago.

Fouryearsago,shelosttheabilitytoraiseher arms. The now 59-year-old Drysdale woman is a power-wheelchair chair user with limited use of her hands and a passionate disability inclusion advocate.

“My husband and I moved down to the Bellarine about six years ago, and since then I’ve still been writing and blogging,” she said.

“I did a podcast with Loretta Hart for Loretta’s Front Page (radio program) at 94.7 The Pulse, and she invited me twice to interview with her.

“She then offered me my own show after the second interview, which was quite a shock, and I never expected to do that as my background is bookkeeping.

“My husband’s the talker out of the two of us in the family. I don’t do too badly at it, but he’s way more professional about it all. So, it’s been a great learning curve.”

Leanne hosts her radio show Rolling

Through Wednesday with her support worker and friend Andrea Tierney at 4pm each Wednesday on 94.7 The Pulse.

Andrea, a Rotary Club of Ocean Grove member, met Leanne close to 18 months ago and said their relationship had “really developed” not just as support worker and client, but as friends.

“I feel like Leanne just lives every day to the fullest and, whether your able-bodied or not, that’s inspiring,” she said.

“She’s incredible at advocacy and so passionate about doing it, so I’ve been taken along for the ride, and it’s been awesome.

“My daughter had been one of Leanne’s support workers, and I got into doing some support work too. I just happened to be the person that brought her to the interview with Loretta Hart.

“I should have got there before she did, but

I walked in and there’s this lady with these awesome floral pants on and drinking a champagne. As soon as I saw her, I knew we were going to be friends.”

Leanne and Andrea’s radio show discusses disability, inclusion, community and hope whilehighlightingpeoplelivingwithdisability in the Geelong community.

“94.7 The Pulse is all about diversity and inclusion and they’ve really come to the party and allowed me to be a voice to and for other people with disabilities,” Leanne said.

“We chat with people living with a disability on whatever they want to talk about regarding their story, what sort of messages they might have, their achievements, or how they live their life.

“It’s always cathartic for the person sharing, and... it meant that people with disabilities could find some solace that other people were

going through the same thing or similar.

“We also have a segment called ‘Inspect-Our Gadget’ where we... talk with people about the assistivetechnologyorappstheyusethatmake life more comfortable, easier or convenient.

“It’s quite a unique show that you just don’t find on commercial radio. I’m really grateful that I’ve been given this opportunity to share information that allows people to access what they can.”

Leanne received the 2024 Geelong Awards for People with Disability’s Volunteering Award at Geelong Library and Heritage Centre on Tuesday December 3.

She said the award humbled her and that it was important to get more community recognition for people living with a disability, their families and carers.

“No one volunteers to get an award, and there’s people that do a lot more than I do in the terms of visibility, inclusion and general volunteering,” she said.

“My quest is about shoving disability in as many faces as I can to make people feel more comfortable because I hadn’t known anyone with a disability before myself.

“The way you approach life is not about worrying about what’s being done to you; it’s what you can do from now on, and that’s the only way I feel you can live a quality life.

“Try to deal with what you’ve got with humour and appreciate the people around you or what you’ve got in your life... I also don’t like saying ‘no’ too much.

“You take the support that is around you more for granted when you’re able-bodied, but noneofuscansucceedordoasmuchaswecan without the community around us.

“There are heaps of people dealing with things... and it’s very hard when you’re tired, worn down and financially stressed to see ahead, and that’s where community comes in and helps all of us.”

Leannesaidshehopedthatmorepeoplewho listen to her show or read her blog would treat people living with a disability like everybody else within the community.

“There are people with disability living and working in our community and we need to normalise disability within the community,” she said.

“Let’s not walk past someone rolling down the street and tell them how great it is to see them out for the day or whether they are enjoying their outing.

“One of my husband’s and I’s favourites is that; we were at a shoe shop, and the lady asked my husband, ‘What does she want?’. That was a few years ago when I was in a manual chair.

“I’m hoping that people, including myself, learn to look people in the eye, to say hello, and if they look like they need help, just ask them. They can say no, but you can ask.”

Leanne Watson was diagnosed with limb girdle muscular dystrophy at age 42. (Ivan Kemp) 448602_03

To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.

ACROSS

1 Sending to press (8)

5 Bank order (6)

10 Disconnected (5)

11 Speed of pulse (5,4)

12 Downhill ski race (6)

13 Repeating (7)

14 Large Australian spider (8)

15 Former prime minister of Sweden, – Löfven (6)

18 Knife (6)

20 Gleefully (8)

21 Against the law (7)

24 Comic character, – the Menace (6)

27 Pathological self-admirer (9)

28 Watercrafts (5)

29 English county (6)

30 Appraised (8)

Show sullenness (4)

Laziness (9)

Of the tide (5)

Book of the Hebrew Bible (8)

Small axe (8)

Resembling (5)

Crisis (9)

Sham (4)

Pleasure (9) 16 Carnivals (9) 17 Leads an orchestra (8) 19 Related (7) 22 Fierce animals (5)

23 Den (4)

25 Illustrious (5)

26 Accustomed (to) (4)

letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural nouns ending in “s”.

1 Charlie Brown first starred in the Peanuts comic strip in what year? 2 TheParishBoy’sProgress is the subtitle for which Charles Dickens novel?

3 What object features on the Arsenal soccer team shield?

4 How did the Wright brothers decide which of them would be the first to fly their plane?

5 Clarke Griffin, played by Eliza Taylor

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

WANT YOUR EVENT LISTED? Community Calendar is made available free of charge to not-for-profit organisations to keep the public informed of special events and activities. Send item details to Geelong Independent Community Calendar, 1/47 Pakington Street, Geelong West, 3218, or email to editorial@geelongindependent.com.au. Deadline for copy and announcements is 5pm Tuesday.

Ballroom dance

Leopold Hall, Leopold Hall, 805-809 Bellarine Highway, Saturday December 14, 7.30-11pm, $10 includes supper, music Charles. Sunday December 15, 2-4.30pm, free, bring a plate, music Kevin.

 0400 500 402

Christian singles

Sunday December 15, 10.30am, church visit at Grace Church, Covenant College MPC Auditorium, 105 Creamery Road, Bell Post Hill.

Book club

Leopold CAE book club meets second Tuesday of each month 6.30pm.

 Shirley, 0488 055 969

Sing Australia Geelong Choir Wednesdays 7.30-9.30pm at Senior Citizens Centre, 52 Thomson Street, Belmont. No auditions needed.

 Mary, 0419 278 456

Mindfulness & meditation

Wednesdays 11am at U3A Geelong, Thursdays 10am, U3A Torquay.

 Jean, 5264 7484

Geelong Breakfast Lions Morning club for those who want to help others, first Tuesday of each month at 8am, Eastern Hub (formerly Karingal) in East Geelong. Dinner somewhere in Geelong each month to suit members.

 ajd53m@yahoo.com

Ocean Grove Seniors

Play 500 every Thursday at 1.15pm. Cost $20 annually and coffee included. 102 The Terrace, Ocean Grove.

 Lyn, 5256 2540

Scribes Writers Group

South Barwon Community Centre, Mondays 9.30am-noon. Welcoming new members who wish to refine their skills.

 geelongscribeswriters@gmail.com, or 5243 8388

Mr Perfect

Monthly free bbq for men of all ages to get together over a BBQ for a chat. Norlane Community Centre first Sunday each month except January, 10.30am-12.30pm.

 0430 022 446, or michaeldg999@gmail.com

Ballroom dancing

Belmont Park Pavilion, Thursdays 2-4 pm.

 Val, 5251 3529

Kids’ church

Group lessons for children aged three to six years; 7-10 years; and 10+ years at St Paul’s Anglican Church Hall, 171a Latrobe Terrace, Geelong, first Sunday of the month during school term, 10.30-11.30am.

 Suzie, 0402 963 855, or Althea, 0403 005 449

Geelong Dragon Boat Club

Paddle at Barwon River. Training Wednesdays 5pm, Saturdays 9am. Free one-month trial.

 revolutionise.com.au/geelongdragons

Zonta Club of Geelong Meets monthly for dinner first Wednesday of the month between February and December at 6.30pm for a 6.45pm start. RSVP essential.

 zontageelong.org.au or zontaclubgeelong@yahoo.com.au

Geelong Prostate Support Group Meets last Friday of the month (except December), 10am-noon, Belmont Park Pavilion, 162 Barrabool Road, Belmont.

Bingo

Tuesdays 1-3pm, great grocery prizes plus $50 jackpot books $2.50. Belmont Seniors Centre, 52 Thomson Street, Belmont.  Frank 5241 1776

 Bill, 0414 524 155, or info@geelongpsg.net

Choir St Paul’s Choir rehearses Wednesdays 7.45- 8.45pm and 9.30am Sunday for 10.30am service. Choral scholarships available. Occasional choir for those unable to make commitment to main choir.

 Dr Terry Norman, 0411 875 033, or termernorman@gmail.com

Geelong ballroom dancing

Saturdays 7.30-10.15pm, corner Bayview Parade and Carey Street, Hamlyn Heights. Entry: $10. BYO drinks and a plate. Afternoon tea dance, Wednesdays 2-4pm. Teaching segment for a new dance 1.30-2pm  5278 9740, or geelongballroomdc.com.au

Corio Bay Lions Club Meetings

First and third Thursday of each month at 6.30pm.

 geelongcoriobay.vic@lions.org.au

Alcoholics (and other addicts) For Christ 12 Steps Group

Meets Thursdays 7.30pm at Belmont-Highton Baptist Church, 43 Mt Pleasant Road, Belmont.

 0420 910 763

Belmont Seniors

Players wanted to play 500 each Monday 12.30pm. Belmont Senior Centre, 52 Thomson Street, Belmont.

 5241 1776

Geelong Vietnam Veterans

Coffee and a chat at 31 Mt Pleasant Road, Belmont. Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10am-3pm. Fortnightly lunch at various locations. Meetings second Monday of each month.

 Gary, 0400 862 727

Welcome mat

Belmont Uniting Church every Friday from 10am to 1pm. Games, lunch and friendship.

 Fay, 0409 361 414

OMNI

Older Men New Ideas men’s friendly informal chat group, South Barwon

Community Centre, 33 Mt Pleasant Road, Belmont, 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, 10.30am.

 Allan, 0409 665 608

First steps in music

Babies, toddlers and preschoolers welcome with parent/carer. Thursdays Northern Bay

College, Tallis, and Fridays at Northern Bay College, Peacock. Free if living in 3214 postcode, bookings essential.

 info@bluebirdfoundationinc.org.au

Lara Community Market

Run by Rotary Club of Lara District every second Sunday of the month at Lara RSL from 9am to 1pm.

Geelong Amateur Radio Club

Storrer Street Clubhouse, Geelong, Wednesdays 1.30-4pm and Fridays at 6.30pm.

 Robert, 0438 409 979, or vk3atl.org

Geelong’s Soroptimist International Service club for women and girls, every second Tuesday of the month from 6pm at Belmont RSL.

 0455 835 691, or geelong@siswp.com

Geelong Sports & Game Fishing Meets first and third Monday of the month at Belmont Park Pavilion, 7.30pm.

 John, 0409 234 307

Combined Probus Belmont Central The Combined Probus Club of Belmont Central meets at 10am on the second Wednesday of each month at Waurn Ponds Hotel. Visitors welcome.

 Secretary, 0417 555 547

Geelong Anglers Club

Meets fourth Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm, 9 Yuille Street, Geelong West. Monthly fishing competitions.

 Brian, 0417 190 092, or Ian, 0470 114 787

Drysdale CWA

Every second Tuesday at 1pm and crafts every fourth Tuesday at 11.30am of each month at Drysdale RSL Club.

 Jenny, 045 258 333

Scottish country dancing classes

GOG Scottish Country Dance classes 7.30pm Tuesdays at Leopold Hill Hall, $5.

No partner needed.

 Vicki, 0412 762 983, or Barbara, 0419 511 781

Geelong Scottish Dance Highland dance classes for all ages Wednesday from 4pm and Saturday from 10am at Western Heights Uniting Church Hall, St Herne Hill.

 Christine, 0468 311 788, or facebook.com/GeelongScottishDance

Dragons Abreast Geelong Dragon boating for breast cancer survivors,

Saturdays 12.30pm, Geelong Canoe Club, Marnock Road, Highton. Free come and try.

 Traci, 0417 301 226, or Facebook Dragons Abreast Geelong - Juggernauts

PlayLinks

Music and art playgroup where babies, toddlers and preschoolers learn together with their parent/carer. Wednesdays St Thomas Aquinas Primary School, Norlane. Free if living in 3214 postcode, bookings essential.

 info@bluebirdfoundationinc.org.au

GROW Australia

Community organisation offering practical steps and peer support to help recover and maintain mental health through free face to face and online groups. Mondays 7pm, 195 Ormond Road, East Geelong, Fridays 12.45pm, Vines Road Community Centre, Hamlyn Heights, Zoom group 7pm Tuesdays.

 grow.org.au, or 1800 558 268

Grovedale Seniors

Indoor bowls Monday 1-3pm; gentle exercise Tuesday 9-9.45am; cards (Euchre) Tuesday 1-3pm; bingo Thursday 1-3pm. Grovedale Community Hub, 45 Heyers Road.

 Julie, 0419 549 521

Laughter Club Geelong

Saturdays 9am, Eastern Beach in front of the swimming enclosure. 30-minutes free laughter yoga done standing or seated.

 0418 521 265

Drysdale Day VIEW

Fourth Friday of each month at Portarlington Golf Club for lunch.

 Margaret, 0431 636 090

Geelong Day VIEW

First Monday monthly from 11am at Eastern Hub, East Geelong.

 geelongdayview@gmail.com

Leopold VIEW

Second Tuesday of each month at Leopold Sportsmans’ Club at 10.30am.  leopold.viewclub@gmail com

Geelong Evening VIEW

Third Monday of the month, 6pm at Waurn Ponds Hotel.

 Von, 0414 930 259, or geelongeveningview@gmail.com

Lions Club International

Enjoy meeting great people and help out your community at the same time. Clubs all over greater Geelong - see which one is right for you.

 Les, 0428 466 446

Grovedale Marshall Probus Second Thursday of the month,10am at The Grovedale Hub, 45 Heyers Road, Grovedale.

 Anne, 0425 356 973

Chess Group chess lessons at Geelong West. Suitable for beginners who have a reasonably firm understanding of the game rules. Kids and adults welcome.

 Isaac, isaacsmith5603@gmail.com or 0406 199 457

Community kitchen

Do you enjoy cooking or want to learn cooking and budgeting skills with a small group of like-minded people in your community? Are you interested in volunteering to facilitate a Community Kitchen?

 healthycommunities@barwonhealth.org. au

Out and about

More than 30,000 fans filed into GMHBA Stadium on Saturday night to see the Matildas defeat Chinese Taipei 6-nil and Independent photographer Ivan Kemp was there.

1/ Jack, Chloe, Matilda and Ryan. 2/ Stella in the green and gold. 3/ Katie and Daisy. 4/ Adam Costin with his children Marcus and Nina and Chris Edwards with his daughter Alexis. 5/ Freddy, Louis, Leo and Alice. 6/ Charlotte gets her face painted. 7/ Marcus and Sam Amato with their children Will and Connor. 8/ Alistair and Juliet King with their daughters Bella and Charlotte. 9/ Rachel and Waz Jones with their daughters Olive and Dot. 10/ Kate Taylor with her daughter Taeissa. 11/ Janai and Tahli Dawson.

(Pictures: Ivan Kemp) 447489

Alfa plug-in a flash of the future

By Derek Ogden, Marque Motoring

Intheidealautomobiletrifectaofperformance, economy and little nasty pollution Alfa Romeo has its money on plug-in hybrid electric vehicle technology, with the Tonale Plug-in Hybrid Q4 carrying top weight.

The new edition to the premium SUV line-up has form – sprinting from rest to 100km/h in 6.2 seconds, the ability to travel up to 60 kilometres on electric power alone with 34g/km CO2 tailpipe emissions. Top speed is 135km/h in full electric mode and 206km/h in hybrid.

While the figures speak for themselves, like SUVs of this ilk, the Veloce spec vehicle comes at a hefty price – from $77,500, plus on-road costs. Options of 20-inch alloys add $1500, or two premium paint finishes $1600 or $2500 respectively.

Equipped with the Alfa Q4 all-wheel drive system, the front wheels are powered by the petrol engine, the rear wheels by an electric motor, providing up to 208kW of power. The car takes advantage of a 7.4kW AC on-board charger and a Type 2 Smart Charging Port that enables home AC or public AC charging.

The Tonale Veloce Plug-in Hybrid Q4 is covered by a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty and Alfa Romeo roadside assist support package.

Styling

On the outside there’s plenty going on with Dark Miron body kit with matte inserts, Dark Miron ‘Scudetto’ front grille finish, Veloce badging and in line with the ‘electrification’, Alfa’s historic logo has been reinterpreted in an elegant elettro-biscione serigraphy on the dark tinted privacy glass left rear window.

Automatic LED matrix headlamps with adaptive beam and dynamic turn indicators share space with gloss black painted power foldingheatedexteriormirrorswithItalianflag.

The Tonale Plug-in Hybrid rolls on 19-inch diamond cut alloy wheels with stand-out Brembo red brake callipers.

Interior

Inside the cabin is luxury all round with perforated black leather-accented seats with embroidered Alfa Romeo logo and dark grey doublestitching,plusdarkgreyaccentstitching on front centre armrest and door trims. Front seats are heated and ventilated.

Aluminium door sills, steering wheelmounted shift paddles and floor pedals add a sporting touch, while customisable ambient lighting has found its place on board from post-September models.

Infotainment

A 10.25-inch touchscreen taps into infotainment and navigation, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto join Alfa Connect services and DAB+ digital radio being fed through a supreme 465W 14-speaker Harman/ Kardon sound system. There is a wireless charging pad and front and rear USB-A and -C ports.

Engines/transmissions

The Tonale Plug-in Hybrid Q4 powertrain combines a 132kW 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated with a six-speed automatic transmission providing traction to the front axle with an electric motor supplying 90kW of peak power and 250Nm of torque to the rear axle.

A 306V 15.5kWh lithium-ion battery is good for up to 60km electric range or in tandem with the petrol engine. A 7.4kW AC on-board charger and a Type 2 Smart Charging Port enables domestic AC charging or public AC charging.

Alfa Romeo says it takes less than two-and-a-half hours to fully charge the battery from the on-board system. The test car battery was topped up by 20 per cent in 90 minutes through a home three-pin plug set-up.

The local Type 2 public charger required a BYO cable. Sadly, this

was bereft of one.

RATINGS

Looks: 8/10

Performance: 7/10

Safety: 7/10

Thirst: 5/10

Practicality: 7/10

Comfort: 7/10

Tech: 8/10

Value: 6/10

Safety

The Tonale Plug-in Hybrid has earned a five-star Euro safety rating. Nothing from ANCAP yet. Autonomous driving features include active blind spot assist with rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane support system, and driver behaviour alert. There’s a 360-degree camera with dynamic guidelines, front, rear and side parking sensors and Magic Park, plus traffic sign recognition and intelligent speed control.

Driving

Alfa Romeo has attached to the Tonale Plug-in Hybrid that much (over)used term DNA to describe a series of driver assistance systems that point the way to an incomparable driving experience.

From the get-go there’s a hint of excitement from the Alfa Romeo Tonale Veloce Plug-in Hybrid, with its instant torque electric motor. And there’s no letting up with a surprising range of advanced automobile systems on offer.

For example, with its rotary drive selector, it is capable of calling on Dynamic, Natural or Advanced efficiency (DNA), plus ESC Off modes, to arouse the interest of any driver.

Dynamic has the petrol engine and electric motor combining for sporty performance; Natural produces optimum power with minimum fuel consumption; and Advanced Efficiency uses electric power only for low emissions in city traffic. ESC Off has the driver in full mechanical control of the vehicle in

Dynamic mode.

Alfa Link stumps up the suspension with variable damping for optimum handling and comfort, and rear axle geometry comes into action on fast cornering. Then there’s e-Coasting Descent, which intervenes in place of the exhaust brake, even when the throttle is

released, to recover energy when slowing, even when the brake pedal is released.

Summary

AlfaRomeohastakentheTonaleVelocePlug-in beyond the range of the run-of-the-mill petrol/ electric hybrid.

Tonale

From the get-go there’s a hint of excitement from the Alfa Romeo Tonale Veloce Plug-in Hybrid. (Pictures: Supplied)

Cricketers get back onto the field

After rain prevented play the week before, Independent photographer Ivan Kemp was busy on Saturday, heading to Reynolds Oval in Belmont for the GCA Division 1 game between South Barwon and East Belmont and to Steeline Ray Menzies Oval in Ocean Grove where the home team hosted Anglesea in BPCA A1 Grade.

Zac Jones in action for Ocean Grove, and right, James McMahon gives this delivery plenty of air.

Ned Thorley hits the crease.

Left: David Turner swings the ball to mid-wicket. Centre: Anglesea’s Vic Morrow leg glances this delivery. Right: Dylan Moroney bowled solidly to take 3 for 61. (Pictures: Ivan Kemp) 448444

Ky Eskrigge celebrates his first wicket.

Above: Sam Ellis drives through mid-wicket on his way to 96. Below: Jess Croker glides this delivery through gully.

Left: Bryson Nicholls made a superb 78 for South Barwon. Above: Amritpal Singh Chhina in action.

Matthew Miller was the best of the East Belmont bowlers taking 4 for 44.

Grovers win close one

Independent photographer Ivan Kemp was at Ocean Grove Bowling Club on Tuesday December 10 to see the home side defeat Highton by three shots in Midweek Bowls Division 1.

Ric Stephens leads off for Highton.

Left to right: Robert Priddle steps into this bowl; Margaret White looks to consolidate the end; Lorraine Kirk tries to save the end; Trevor Moore skippered his rink

27 shots to 22 win.

Robyn Hunt leads off for Ocean Grove.

Jill Dwyer watches her bowl closely.

Helene Gilmore looks for position.

Maddie Jacobs plays the forehand.

Stuart Errey checks his line.

Adele Ryan leads off for Ocean Grove. (Pictures: Ivan Kemp) 448452

Helen Hulme leads off for Highton.

Masters winners crowned

The culmination of this year’s 360Q Masters Series of tennis tournaments was held at Point Lonsdale Tennis Club on Sunday December 8.

Throughout the year Kerry Humphrey at Drysdale Tennis Club and Denis Day from Point Lonsdale Tennis Club have conducted a UTR tennis tournament every month.

These have attracted, at times, in excess of 50 players for the individual events, from districts in Warrnambool and Melbourne, and more than 200 players overall.

Players have been awarded points for their performanceateachofthe11tournamentsand thetopfourplayersineachsectionwereinvited to participate in the Grand Masters event on Sunday.

Itwasgreattoobservetheveryhighstandard of tennis played and the sportsmanship

displayed by all the participants at the tournament.

Section Winners

Section 1: Jaylen Sach

Section 2: Archie Shih

Section 3: Azure Shih

Section 4: Streicher Jansen Van Vuren

Section 5: Svanik Reddy Vootkuri

Section 6: Trinity Rodrigues

Section 7: Tahnee Sanim

Section 8: Sukeerthi Meenakshi

Section 9: Jake Pearson

The tradition will continue in the new year withthe2025MastersseriesbeginsatDrysdale on the weekend of January 18 and 19 with details on the tournament website.

School’s out, fishing in

ON THE BITE Peri Stavropoulos

With many young anglers already finished for the year with school we have seen lots of our local land-based fishing locations producing some good fishing.

The Geelong waterfront has offered some great species including pinkie snapper, King George whiting, flathead and salmon.

Most anglers are finding their best success throwing soft plastics around but there is still a large percentage of fish being caught on bait.

Salted pilchard and squid are two fantastic baits to run when fishing here.

The outer harbour has continued to hold some good fishing for those chasing snapper. Reports have slowed down a little bit but this could be due to weather and not heaps of boats out on the water chasing them.

The anglers that have been getting out have been reporting with good captures. Bait fishing has been most popular with lots of fish being caught by throwing soft plastics around.

Queenscliff has offered some hot fishing this past week with huge numbers of calamari. Although they aren’t huge in size they are in ridiculous numbers. Just off Bell Reef and the football oval has been a great area for them with depths anywhere between 3 to 10 metres. They seem to be everywhere but finding good water clarity is key, ideally the high tide slack.

Offshore has been fishing very well for snapper and is showing no sign of slowing

down. The 50 metre line continues to produce some good fishing with snapper to 3kg in great numbers with plenty of fish up to 6kg being caught also.

Gummy sharks remain a common catch with a few more kingfish starting to pop up. It’s well worth heading out with some pelagic gear as the kings are obviously around and the tuna should rock up just about any day.

Bellarine Masters Section 7 Winner Tahnee Sanim (right) with Kerry Humphrey. (Supplied)

A nice haul of squid. (Supplied)

Grubbers upset flag favourites

By Justin Flynn

Ocean Grove inflicted Anglesea’s first loss of the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association season in a performance captain Fletcher Long described as “nearly the best win I’ve ever played in”.

Withthreeballsremainingandtworequired to tie the scores, Ned Thorley lofted Ben Harcombe just out of reach of mid-on’s hands tobringupthethreerunstowinthegamewith two wickets in hand.

“Ithinktowinoffthesecondlastballagainst the top side, you don’t do that very often,” Long said.

“He (Thorley) showed great composure. He’s probably a bit better than a number nine bat.

“He knew he’s probably going to get one that hecouldhit(during)thatoverwiththefieldup. He didn’t panic, kicked away the first three and then got one in his zone and put it away.”

Although Anglesea wasn’t at full strength, missing Brett Venables, Mick Thornton and Ollie Huby, the side still had a lot of star power and Long is hoping the win will be a sign of things to come.

“The last month or so training has been off the charts and we’ve been putting in so much work and to see it come off on a day like today is great,” he said.

“I think that’s got to be a bit of a spark now to keep it going and hopefully get a win next week or at least just play the type of cricket that we know we can play now.”

Ocean Grove did well to restrict Anglesea to 8/165 with underrated leg-spinner Alex Mann taking 3/17 from eight overs.

“He’s (Mann) obviously not from our end (underrated) - we rate him so highly,” Long said.

“He just does his job every week. He’s quite tall so he gets that turn and bounce, which on

the hard wicket it’s pretty hard to face.

“I know that I can throw him the ball and I know what I’m going to get. I can set a field and you know that most weeks he’s going to jag at least a couple of wickets so he’s someone I rely on a lot.”

Ocean Grove timed its run chase to perfection with Shaun Fankhauser (69 from 107deliveries)andLong(30off42)playingwell at the top of the order.

Next up the Grubbers take on arch rivals Barwon Heads in a two-day game to finish off 2024.

“They’re obviously going really well and we had a bit of a stinker the last time we played them,soIthinkwe’reallprettykeen,especially after a day like today coming in with a bit of momentum to hopefully put up a similar performance,” Long said.

ARMSTRONG Creek won a low-scoring clash against Drysdale. Clay Mulgrew took his season’s run tally to 341 with a classy 72 out of the Titans’ score of 118 all out. Blake Dobbin was again the star with the ball with four wickets for the Hawks. Jack Maclean then producedthestunningfiguresofsixwicketsfor

eightrunsfromeightoverstohaveDrysdaleall out for 80.

JAN JUC defeated Queenscliff with Jake Hewitt taking three wickets and Peter Buszard making a fine 76. Pat Mileto took 3/14 from eight for the Coutas.

MICHAEL Kelson passed 300 runs with a further 83 as Barrabool and Barwon Heads shared the points. Play began late at Ceres with the ground not fit for play on time. Heads‘ debutante Damian Clarke, closing in fast on his 49th birthday, took 3/19 from eight overs for Barwon Heads.

Swans’ batters hit 300-plus for the second time

South Barwon posted its second 300-plus total for the Geelong Cricket Association Division 1 season to hold the upper hand against East Belmont going into day two of round 8.

Skipper Nick Butters said he would have bowled first had he won the toss, so a total of 314 all out was a good result.

“Really happy, we’ve sort of been a bit up and down all year so it was nice to get a decent total,” he said.

“They set pretty aggressive fields all day which allowed us to probably get away at times. I think 300 is probably about par.”

Sam Ellis was among the runs with a patient 96 from 181 deliveries.

“He batted really well,” Butters said.

“He’s batted well all year, but probably just found weird ways to get out. Today he was just

really composed and worked the ball really well.”

Butters said Ellis was disappointed not to get three figures, but understood the importance of his innings.

“You’re never going to walk off and be disappointed with 96, but you’re always disappointed not to get a hundred,” he said.

“He hasn’t got one at South yet, so he would have liked to have got that monkey off the back.”

Bryson Nicholls complimented Ellis’ knock with 78 from 107 balls.

“Bryson was really positive today, which was nice to see,” Butters said.

“He showed good intent and he’s been batting pretty well for us. He’s had a couple of thingsgoingagainsthimthisyearsoitwasnice

for him to get a score.”

Butters chimed in with 53 from 45 to help push the total past 300.

“It was nice to have a bit of freedom, if you get off to a good start, you can have a bit of a slog late,” he said.

Butters said early wickets would be the key on day two and was looking forward to seeing teenage spinner Aanlin Cheeran bowl.

“He’s going to be a really good player for us,” he said.

“He’ll be a big weapon, nobody’s really seen him yet. We’re excited about what he can do for us.”

Seamers Matthew Miller (4/44) and Dylan Moroney (3/61) toiled hard for East Belmont.

BALL dominated bat in the St Peters vs St Joseph’s game. Joeys were all out for 92 with

Tom Webster and James Stokes each snaring three wickets. St Peters was cruising at 0/35 in reply, but four wickets for five runs had them 4/42atstumpswithCameronPorttakingthree late scalps.

HIGHTON is 8/246 against Newtown & Chilwell. Opener Zac Wills made 61 from 128 balls and Chris Young contributed a valuable 43 from 66 at No 9. Jorden Lewis snared 3/64 for the Two Blues.

GROVEDALE batted all day to be all out for 156 against North Geelong. Corey Paull (43 off 127 deliveries) and Jack Wrigglesworth (37 from 91) dug in, but seamer Tom Mathieson (3/33) and spinner Bailey Sykes (3/37) were difficult to get away.

Justin Flynn

Left: Sam Ellis batted beautifully to make 96 for South Barwon against East Belmont Right: Bryson Nicholls played well to make 78. (Pictures: Ivan Kemp) 448444

Left: David Turner is bowled by Ky Eskrigge. Right: Fletcher Long takes a spectacular catch to dismiss Tom Beasley. (Pictures: Ivan Kemp) 448454