Eight sides are vying for five Bellarine Football League spots with three rounds in the home and away season remaining.
The top three - Queenscliff, Geelong Amateur, and Torquay - are guaranteed to make it.
That leaves five teams fighting it out for the last two positions.
Two of those are Newcomb and Drysdale and judging by Ivan Kemp’s picture here, they will leave nothing in the tank.
Pictured is Drysdale’s James Breust being tackled by Newcomb’s Jarrad Duncan at Grinter Reserve on Saturday 1 August, but somehow the free kick went against him.
The Hawks won the game, though, by three points, to stay in contention.
The other three sides looking to play finals are Barwon Heads, Anglesea and Portarlington.
See page 30 for a full rundown of the season that remains and see if you can predict the final ladder
Cult report tabled
By Jena Carr
It was an emotional time for a Geelong couple, after a report highlighting the impacts of cults and group-based coercion wastabledatstateparliament.
Former Geelong Revival Centre (GRC) members Ryan and Catherine Carey spearheaded the inquiry into the recruitment methods and impacts of cults andorganisedfringegroups.
MrCareysaidthefinalreportwastabled at parliament last week following the 16-monthinquiryandaimedtocriminalise group-based coercion, while maintaining afocusonsurvivor-ledengagement.
“There are a lot of people held in these
situations that don’t want to be there because they’re scared that they’ll lose their family, friends, or community,” he said. “There’s a lot of abuse that gets covered up because these powerful cult leaders can use coercive actions to stop members from escaping or even talking aboutwhat’sgoingon.”
MrCareygrewupintheGRC(Pentecostal church in Norlane) and said it was a long process for him, his wife, and his kids to leave.
“I did pay a price for leaving, as I have family members that won’t talk to me and view me as one of the worst people on the planet,”hesaid.
“EveryfriendIhadinthatplaceinstantly
had to cut me off and treat me like I was dead, and anyone in there who gets caught talkingtomewillfacerepercussions.”
The inquiry was led by the Legislative Assembly Legal and Social Issues Committee and chaired by Member for LaraEllaGeorge.
“The most important part of this inquiry washearingthevoicesofpeoplewithlived experience,”MsGeorgesaid.
“Many people demonstrated immense courage in sharing deeply personal experiences, and their contributions played an important role in shaping the report’sfindingsandrecommendations.”
The report highlighted 98 findings and 39 recommendations on coercion and
harm in high-control groups and is split into two volumes: Crossing the line and In theirwords.
Mr Carey, who is also the co-founder of Stop Religious Coercion Australia Group, said the group was working on services, systems and methods to help victims and survivors.
“These groups can be horrible and dark places, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel...and if you feel like you’re trapped inoneofthesegroups,reachout,”hesaid.
The state government now has six months to consider the report and respond to the committee’s findings and recommendations, with the response led bytheattorneygeneral.
(Ivan Kemp)
Staircase fenced off due to safety concerns
The light pillars at Eastern Beach Grand Staircase have been fenced off due to concretecancer.
Temporary fencing has been erected around parts of the staircase, which was first opened in 1929, due to concerns for publicsafety.
City of Greater Geelong executive director of city life Anthony Basford said the structure’s concrete was approaching theendofitslife.
“This week, comprehensive concrete testing and coring were undertaken by independent experts to assess the
structural condition of the Eastern Beach Grand Staircase, as part of the consideration of its future restoration,” he said. “Due to concrete cancer, concerns havebeenidentifiedwiththelightpillars.
“As a result, we have taken immediate action to fence off sections of handrail, which pose the greatest risk of structural failure with further protection to follow in thecomingdays.”
Mr Basford said public safety was the City’s“primaryconsideration”.
“At this stage, the staircase is safe to use, withthemainconcernsrelatingtothelight
pillars and their associated handrails, but engineers will continue to monitor the situationclosely,”hesaid.
“Discussions are now underway with Heritage Victoria about the future of the staircase, including the potential removal ofthetwomostseverelyaffectedpillars.
“The future restoration of the staircase would be a significant undertaking, given its size, location, and significance to Geelong,butwearecontinuingdiscussions with all relevant stakeholders, including heritage consultants, to determine the mostappropriatewayforward.”
A tray full of memories
By Jena Carr
AGeelongartisttransformsforgottentrays intospecialportraitsofmemory,generosity and connections in a new Ocean Grove exhibition.
Jill Shalless will showcase her repurposed wooden trays during her latest solo exhibition Tray Bien! at The Hive Gallerythismonth.
Ms Shalless said each tray invited viewers to pause and reflect on the beauty of everyday life, while celebrating the comfortoffamiliarobjects.
“I’ve just enjoyed the process of painting the trays and exploring the ideas that have cometogetherforit,”shesaid.
“It’s an exhibition of utilitarian trays that I have been collecting over a number of years that I’ve been decorating with a different still life to tell the story of food andgenerosity.
“The actual object of a tray itself is a rather beautiful object...and I love being able to combine objects that make a good compositiontogethertotellastory.”
An opening celebration will be held on Saturday 8 August from 2pm, with people
able to meet Ms Shalless and discuss her works.
“It is always nice to see how people view my work and talk about the ideas behind them, so I’m excited to share that experience,”MsShallesssaid.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the works ondisplayasagroupofpaintings,catching up with friends and getting a response to thebodyofwork.”
TrayBien!willbeheldatTheHiveGallery from Friday 7 August to 30 August, with everyone welcome to attend the opening celebration.
Diverting stormwater for a healthy Karaaf Wetlands
Installation of a stormwater diversion system to help restore the health of the Karaaf Wetlands is closer to becoming a reality.
Contracts will be finalised this month to install a new pump housed underground at Torquay’s Esplanade Wetland to divert close to 25 per cent of stormwater flows from residential areas away from the Karaaf.
Surf Coast Shire mayor Libby Stapleton said the diversion would help return natural ebb and flow to the wetland, with worksexpectedtostartinOctober.
“Council’s commitment to reducing
stormwater flows is influencing decision-making on future residential growthwithinthearea,”shesaid.
“Installation of the diversion system is a meaningful stride forward as we maintain our commitment to helping restore the healthoftheKaraaf.
“In support of this project, we are also installing a series of flow monitoring stations at strategic locations along the stormwater flow path from north Torquay to measure the amount of stormwater beingdiverted.”
Member for Corangamite Libby Coker said the federal government was proud
Unusual find on Point Lonsdale beach
By Matt Hewson
Point Lonsdale locals were surprised to find a huge ocean fish stranded on aPointLonsdalebeach.
The three-metre-long Mola mola, or ocean sunfish, was spotted by residentsoffthecoastonSundayand found dead on the beach the next day.
Local resident Carole O’Neill said she was “amazed” to see the large, odd-lookingspecimenonherregular beachwalk.
“I’m interested in nature, but I didn’t know much about the sunfish until I Googled it; they’re usually rightdowninthedepthsoftheocean, notlyingonthebeach,”shesaid.
“Another lady told me she saw it the day before, struggling in the area where we all saw it, and she said it lookedsickandsluggisheventhen.”
The enormous ocean sunfish, described by the Smithsonian as “whimsical and goofy”, is one of the largest ray-finned fish in the world, resemblingafishheadwithoutatail.
Deakin Centre for Marine Science director Professor Tim Dempster said while ocean sunfish strandings were uncommon, such events were notunprecedented.
“If you look back through time, you’ll see a number of sunfish washing up year to year, everywhere across the east coast and southern Australia,”hesaid.
“They typically tend to be out in the pelagic waters off the coast, but they do go anywhere that’s marine. I’ve seen them only 500 metres or a kilometre from the coast in certain places.”
ProfDempstersaidcitizenscientist
An Heremans had been contacted by a researcher from the Auckland Museum requesting a sample of the fish after posting pictures of it on websiteiNaturalist.
to support the project with $1.9 million through the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program.
“To reach this milestone, there were three years of environmental monitoring and designing a system that both reduces water flows into the Karaaf and improves waterquality,”shesaid.
“I applaud the commitment of the shire and local community activists who have been determined to see the health of the environmentallyandculturallysignificant KaraafWetlandsrestored.”
Visit surfcoast.vic.gov.au/Karaaf for more information or to keep up to date
Locals discovered a huge sunfish beached at Point Lonsdale. (An Heremans)
Jill Shalless will showcase a collection of repurposed and decorated wooden trays during her new solo exhibition Tray Bien!. (Ivan Kemp) 569576_07
City market an $8m success
TheGeelongCityMarketwillcontinueforat least one more year thanks to backing from Geelongcouncil.
The City of Greater Geelong announced on Friday (31 July) it would invest another $128,000tocontinuetosupportthepopular Saturday morning market, which began in October2025.
The City’s economic data showed the weekly market, which featured more than 40 stalls and drew on average 6500 visitors to Little Malop Street Central, had stimulated $8.3 million worth of activity in itsfirstsevenmonths.
Local beekeepers Jarrod and Maryanne
Shires call for housing target funding
Victoria’speakadvocacygroupforshireson the fringe of Melbourne and Geelong has welcomed a new report supporting its calls for essential infrastructure funding from the federal government to support housing targets.
Peri Urban Councils Victoria (PUCV), which represents Golden Plains and Surf Coast shires, maintains that a reform focused on development-ready land is necessary for it member shires to reach their combined target of more than 85,000 newhomesby2051.
The body has pointed the federal Productivity Commission’s newly-released HousingSupplyRegulationInterimReport, which PUCV’s acting chair and Golden Plains mayor Owen Sharkey said backed thecorepositionadvancedbyPUCVandits membercouncils.
“The Productivity Commission has backedourcentralcase:alineonaplanning mapisnotahome,”hesaid.
“Infrastructure is what turns land into housing.Untilroads,sewer,drainage,power and transport are funded and sequenced, housingtargetsremainnumbersonapage.”
PUCV made a submission to the commission’s enquiry in June 2026, arguing that housing reform relied on roads, drainage, water, sewer, electricity, transport, approvals and funding arrangements.
Mayor Sharkey said the commission’s report strengthened the PUCV’s case for its proposed $90m Development Contributions Plan Loan Fund and $230m PeriUrbanCapitalInfrastructureFund.
“Peri urban councils have targets for 85,450 homes, but the infrastructure bill arrivesfirst,”hesaid.
“Developer contributions and new rates arrive later. Without upfront finance, the land may be zoned, but it is not ready to deliverhomes.”
PUCV also represents Moorabool, Baw BawandBassCoastshiresaswellasGolden PlainsandSurfCoast,coveringapopulation ofnearly200,000people.
Wallis run The Bush Honey Co, which producessingle-sourcerawhoneyandpure beeswax.Theyhavebeensellingtheirwares atthemarketsinceitkickedofflastyear.
“We started at the Geelong City Market andhaven’tleft,”MrWallissaid.
“Wedoquiteafewdifferentmarkets,from here to Ballarat and Melbourne, and this is oneofourfavourites.
“Everyone is really appreciative of being abletoutilisethisspaceabitbetter.”
Market co-founder Simon Toohey said thelicenceextensionandfundingvalidated the ideas he and Barwon Events partner Kieran Blood had for the market when they
originallypitchedittotheCity.
“From day one, the vision has been to create a market that celebrates our incredible local producers, makers and community while helping breathe new life intocentralGeelong,”hesaid.
“Seeing thousands of people return every weekend and hearing the positive feedback from stallholders and surrounding businesses shows just how important this markethasbecome.
“This investment gives us the confidence to continue growing the market, try new thingsandbuildsomethingthatwillbenefit Geelongformanyyearstocome.”
Every answer matters
If you know where you’ll be on Census night, Tuesday 11 August, you can complete the form for your household as soon as you get your instructions. Complete online, on paper or with help from us.
Golden Plains mayor and PUCV chair Owen Sharkey. (Supplied)
The council will continue to support the Geelong City Market for another year. (Supplied)
Skills bloom for LGBTQIA+ youth
By Jena Carr
G21 targets river projects
The Geelong Region Alliance (G21) has calledforsignificantinvestmentfortwoofits lowerMooraboolandBarwonRiverprojects.
The organisation has identified the funding and delivery of the Barwon River Loop TrailandtheMooraboolRiverReservePlayspace, both part of the broader Kitjarradja-bul Bullarto langi-ut masterplan, as key priorities in G21’s election platform.
The organisation is seeking a $10.5 million investment from the next state government to progress the two projects, which G21 chair and Colac mayor Jason Schram said would deliver lasting benefits for communities across Geelong and surrounding regional areas.
“This is about investing in infrastructure that improves quality of life, strengthens community wellbeing and creates opportunities for people to connect with nature and Country,” he said.
“As our region continues to grow, we need strategic investment that ensures everyone can access the spaces, facilities and experiences that support healthy, connected and thriving communities.”
Thetwoprojectsaimtoimprovecommunity access to open space and recreation areas – creating opportunities for tourism and local businesses – while recognising and respecting Wadawurrung cultural heritage and protecting the river corridor environment.
Golden Plains Shire mayor, Cr Owen Sharkey, said the projects would deliver important benefits to communities across the region.
“Kitjarra-dja-bul Bullarto langi-ut is a shared regional vision that will strengthen connections between people, place and Country while creating new opportunities for recreation and tourism,” he said.
“The Barwon River Loop Trail and Moorabool River Reserve Playspace are important projects that will make these benefits accessible to local families, visitors and future generations.”
A new LGBTQIA+ youth-led subcommittee will host its first workshop in Geelong on Saturday to help queer youth understand the tax system.
Rainbow Bloom, which operates under the umbrella of Geelong Rainbow, will deliver a range of specialised life-skills programs for young people aged 15 to 25.
Program coordinator Dex Eastwood (23), who uses they/them pronouns, said the inaugural workshop Taxes 101 was designed to demystify personal finances for young people.
“We really want to focus on youth life skills and the first program we’re running is a tax workshop,” they said.
“The idea of it is to give people, who don’t have adult figures they can reach out to, a chance to come to us to learn certain life skills.
“I really want to help people find connections to themselves and their community because I think it’s just so vital to living, keeping a good headspace and knowing that they’re accepted.”
Eastwood said Rainbow Bloom valued inclusion, community connection and advocacy across Greater Geelong.
“I’mreallyfocusedon,notonlyproviding these spaces, but keeping these spaces safe for people that are in them,” they said.
“The English language doesn’t have enough words to describe how good it feels...tobeabletocreatespacesthatIwant-
ed when I was younger where people have opportunities for connection.”
Rainbow Bloom’s Taxes 101 workshop will be held on Saturday 8 August from 3.30pm at Geelong West Neighbourhood House.
Busting common myths during Stroke Week
The scariest day of a Geelong man’s life has led him to call on the community to be aware of the signs of a stroke.
James Martin was at home when he started experiencing the common signs of a stroke sevenyearsagoat39yearsold,includingnumbness in his left leg, inability to lift his left arm and a droopingmouth.
“I was making a sandwich at the kitchen bench when I felt my left leg and arm go all funnylikeacramp,butIwasn’tsurewhatitwas,”he said.
“It got to the point where I couldn’t stand up at all, and that’s when I went to the hospital to get checked out, and doctors confirmed it was a stroke.
“Iburstintotearsasmymotherandgrandfather both had strokes and died from them, and nowithashappenedtome.
James Martin had a stroke seven years ago. (Ivan Kemp) 569487_06
“I was too scared to go to sleep at night, not knowing what might happen while I slept...and therewasnoreasondoctorscouldfindwhyIhad astroke,butIbelieveitcouldhavebeenstress.”
Stroke Foundation chief executive Dr Lisa
Murphy said there was more of a chance for someonetosurviveastrokeiftheyreceivetreatmentassoonaspossible.
“Around 45,000 people have a stroke in Australia every year, so that’s about one every 11 minutes,”shesaid.
“The reason stress is related to strokes is that it causes high blood pressure, and high blood pressure is one of the biggest risk factors for a stroke. A myth buster that we want to get out is that strokes can happen to anyone at any time because if a young person experiences signs and symptoms of a stroke, they might not get it checkedout.”
This week marks National Stroke Week (3-9 August), aimed at raising awareness of strokes and encouraging everyone to recognise the FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, and Time) signs of stroke.
Origami houses for homeless week
Two Geelong libraries hosted Barwon Homelessness Network exhibitions during National Homelessness Week.
Geelong central and Biyal’a (Armstrong Creek) libraries displayed more than 660 origami houses representing 10 per cent of the public and community homes needed now for households across the Barwon region.
InGreaterGeelongthereare5639households on the priority VHR broadbands, Surf Coast Shire has 531, Borough of Queenscliffe 143 and Colac Otway Shire 328.
Barwon Local Area Services Network (BLASN) chair Jo Baillon said community support for the campaign shows Victorians are demanding the government step up to end homelessness for good.
“Victoriaisinahomelessnesscrisis,and local homelessness agencies are calling for urgent solutions,” she said.
Community sector agencies and community groups across Victoria are folding more than 60,000 origami houses to highlight the scale of Victoria’s homelessness crisis.
Thefigureof60,000representsthenumber of households who are on the Victorian Housing Register needing public or community housing now.
“There needs to be a commitment to build a pipeline of public and community housing beyond the Big Housing Build for 60,000 Victorian households,” Barwon & South West Homelessness Network coordinator Rebecca Callahan said.
The theme for this year’s National Homelessness Week, from 3 to 9 August, is ‘Homelessness action NOW’
To get involved or for more information on the Houses at Parliament campaign see vhn.org.au/housesatparliament
G21 leaders Cr Libby Stapleton, Cr Stretch Kontelj, Cr Jason Schram, Cr Donnie Grigau and Cr Owen Sharkey. (Supplied)
Dex Eastwood will hell LGBTQIA+ youth learn about their finances and taxes during Rainbow Bloom’s inaugural workshop. (Ivan Kemp) 569427_06
Number one for cruelty
Greater Geelong has the highest number of animal cruelty reports for the fifth year in a row, despite numbers dropping from last year.
RSPCA Victoria’s annual Animal Cruelty Report for the 2025/26 financial year identified Greater Geelong as the highest-ranked local government area (LGA) for the most reports of alleged animal cruelty to the inspectorate.
Greater Geelong, which incorporates Ocean Grove, recorded 436 total reports for the recent financial year, with 124 fewer reports than the previous year’s total of 560.
The 2025/26 total marked Greater Geelong’s fifth consecutive year in the top spot, with eight more reports than Casey, the second highest-ranked LGA for Total Cruelty Reports.
RSPCA Victoria South West Region inspectorate team leader Shannon Walsh said there were 2411 cruelty reports received from the region in the last 12 months.
“We know times are tough, and many people love their animals but are struggling to provide even the basics,” he said.
“This year’s data shows underweight animals, horse welfare issues and hoarding
situations continue to be ongoing trends for our team.
“Community support is so important; if you find yourself in a situation where you cannot afford to provide basic care, please seek help before it becomes a much bigger problem.
“We rely on the community to report animal cruelty or neglect, and the animals in your area need you to be their voice.”
Greater Geelong was also the 12th highest LGA for Animals Seized or Surrendered, with 60 animals reported in the data.
Chief inspector Michelle Green said Greater Geelong was one of five LGAs with more than 300 reports of animal cruelty and among 15 LGAs where more than 50 animals were removed.
“This job is hard enough, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has reported animal cruelty this year,” she said.
“Despite the number of cruelty reports reducing, we’ve seen a nearly 19 per cent increase in the number of animals seized by or surrendered to our inspectorate.
“Many of Victoria’s pet owners are facing financial hardship and mental health challenges, as well as drought in some areas, and this has directly affected their pets.”
A drive for period equality
By Jena Carr
The Geelong community can help reduce the barriers towards menstrual equity during the country’s largest donation drive for period products.
Share the Dignity will continue to host its Dignity Drive initiative this month, encouraging people to donate period products like pads and tampons at collection points across the country.
Geelong volunteer Fiona Threlfall said period poverty was a concern for many people, and it was not a personal issue.
“This is a community-wide problem and an issue for everyone, so we’re calling on all members of the public, not just those who menstruate, to chip in,” she said.
“Everyone’s feeling the pinch of the cost of living, and that’s putting pressure on women, girls and anyone who menstruates
BMX siblings ride to success
Jarrah and Jovie Benning’s outstanding achievements at the 2026 BMX World Championships in Brisbane have led Golden Plains Shire to recognise them with Citizen Recognition Awards.
Bannockburn siblings Jarrah, 13, and Jovie, 11, earned selection to represent Australia after delivering exceptional performances at the BMX National Championships earlier this year.
Competing against some of the world’s best riders, Jarrah finished fourth while Jovie was ranked 33rd overall in her division.
Jarrah and Jovie were presented with their awards at the shire’s monthly council meeting recently.
Golden Plains Shire mayor Owen Sharkey congratulated the siblings on their remarkable achievements and dedication to their sport.
“Jarrah and Jovie have demonstrated incredible commitment, determination and sportsmanship in reaching the BMX World Championships and representing Australia on the international stage,” he said.
“To compete at this level is an extraordinary achievement and their results are a testament to the many hours of training, perseverance and hard work they have invested in their sport.
“Their success is something the entire Golden Plains community can be proud of. They are fantastic role models for young people across our shire, showing what can be achieved through passion, dedication and a willingness to strive for excellence.”
Nominations for Council’s Citizen Recognition Award program can be made at goldenplains.vic.gov.au/citizen-recognition
City’s calendar competition now open
in being able to afford these products.
“In some instances, people are having to make choices between food and those period products, so we’ve definitely seen an increase in the demand across the region.”
Share the Dignity founder and managing director Rochelle Courtenay said the theme for this year’s Dignity Drive was that menstrual equity was “everyone’s business”
“Many people are having to choose between putting fuel in the car to get to work or buying tampons and pads,” she said.
“For those already experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, or severe financial hardship, they don’t have that choice at all, and that’s who our donated products are primarily helping.”
People can visit sharethedignity.org.au/ what-we-do/dignity-drive for more information and to find their nearest collection point.
Geelong’s biggest annual photo competition is open for submissions.
The City of Greater Geelong has invited photographers from across the region to enter the 2027 Geelong Calendar Competition.
The competition’s theme for this year is ‘Capture the Wonders of Greater Geelong’ , encouraging residents of all ages and abilities to seek out the places, landscapes and events that embody the region.
The public will vote from a shortlist on which photos will be included in the City’s 2027calendar,withthecompetitionwinner’s entry featured on the front cover.
Mayor Stretch Kontelj challenged residents to “think outside the box with their submissions”
“We want to see the places, landscapes and local treasures that you might not find on postcards, but that deserve to be celebrated,” he said.
“We’re encouraging residents to get out and about and help us create a calendar that showcases every corner of our region.”
Deputy Mayor Eddy Kontelj, chair of the Arts & Culture, Hospitality & Live Entertainment portfolio, said the calendar would showcase the region through the eyes of those who live here.
“Everyone sees Greater Geelong differently, and that’s what makes this competition so special,” he said.
“Whether you’re a keen photographer or simplyenjoysnappingphotosonyoursmartphone, I encourage you to get involved.”
Submissions are now open and close on Friday 18 September. The calendar will be available for collection in December, with residents able to register for a mailed copy.
Visit geelong.link/calendar to submit a photo or register for a calendar.
South West RSPCA Victoria team leader Shannon Walsh. (Supplied)
Geelong volunteer Fiona Threlfall is encouraging people to donate period products during Share the Dignity’s Dignity Drive. (Supplied)
Golden Plains Shire mayor Owen Sharkey presents Jovie and Jarrah Benning with their Citizen Recognition Awards. (supplied)
Six-year plan pays off
By Justin Flynn
Ocean Grove’s much anticipated ride centre was officially opened on Saturday 2 August after years of campaigning by the community’s youth.
Located at Kingston Park in Ocean Grove the idea for the centre started in 2020 during the pandemic following the removal of makeshift jumps at Woodlands Reserve for safety reasons.
It was agreed to find an alternative location within Ocean Grove for a ride centre and Kingston Park was found to be the most suitable.
Ocean Grove Bike Park committee member Ryan Dodson said the ride centre had been six years in the making.
“It was actually really nice to be at the opening and just overhear conversations from different locals and parents saying how amazing it is and how often they’re going to be there,” he said.
“It is truly an amazing asset to the town. We couldn’t be more stoked with how it’s finished. We started petitioning to council (and at first) all we really wanted was to leave the humps alone or give us a truckload of dirt and it’s just snowballed into what we’ve got now.
“It’s one of the best, if not the best, bike parks in Australia.”
The grand opening kicked off with a demonstration from pro riders and also featured musical performances and a barbecue.
The $3.5 million centre includes tracks forallskilllevels,apumptrack,jumpsand a sheltered viewing area overlooking the course.
“It really has been a whole community
effort, with local schools, businesses, families,kidsandcouncilallplayingapart in getting it to where it is today,” Ocean Grove Bike Park committee member Jo Mansell said.
“Seeing the excitement around the openingandtheparkalreadyfullofpeople has been pretty amazing and it’s honestly exceeded anything we expected.
“We’re so excited to finally see it being used the way we always hoped it would be.
“We’d just encourage everyone to look after it and treat it with respect, so it stays a great place for the whole community to enjoy for years to come.“
Mr Dodson said the current Ocean
“We feel a better committee could be formed by really enthusiastic, passionate riders in the area,” he said.
“There’s a lot of potential for events and competitions at the site. There’s potential for coaching. There’s a whole lot of things that could happen at the site now, but we’re not the best committee to run that from this point forward. It’s better done by really enthusiastic riders rather than parents of kids.”
Contact Ocean Grove Bike Park on Facebook for more information.
Housing emerges as Australia’s biggest economic challenge
Australia’s economic growth is expected to slow as lower house price growth weighs on consumer spending and broader economic activity, with CommBank economists saying housing is now expected to be a bigger drag on the economy than higher oil prices.
Speaking on the latest episode of the CommBank View: Economics & Markets podcast, CommBank Head of Australian Economics
Belinda Allen said the shape of Australia’s slowdown had changed over recent months.
“We’ve certainly seen a shift in what’s going to cause the Australian economy to slow,” Allen said.
“We still think that’s going to happen, but it’s really the housing market that’s going to create that slowdown in the Australian economy, rather than higher oil prices.”
The slowdown in home price growth that emerged in late 2025 has now spread across Australia’s housing market, with weaker conditions for sellers evident in most major capitals.
Allen said higher interest rates and policy changes had weighed on sentiment and prices.
“That combination of factors has seen the housing market pull back, and we’ve seen in past cycles that does impact the consumer through what economists call the wealth effect,” she said.
Falling home values typically make households feel less financially secure, encouraging them to save more and spend less. Allen said
that dynamic was now expected to be a key drag on economic growth throughout 2026.
Consumer spending is also showing signs of moderation.
Allen said CBA’s internal data suggested endof-financial-year sales activity had softened compared with the same period last year.
“There are signs that consumers are pulling back,” she said.
While household savings remain relatively healthy overall, Allen said weak sentiment and softer home prices were likely to keep consumers cautious through the remainder of the year.
Commonwealth Bank forecasts Australia’s economic growth will slow from 2.5 per cent in late 2025 to 1.5 per cent by late 2026, before improving to about 2 per cent by late 2027.
Despite the housing-led slowdown, Allen
said data centre development to fuel AI compute investment was creating important longer-term opportunities for the Australian economy. She cautioned that growth would be constrained by energy availability, water use and the time required to build new facilities, and that while it would help Australia’s economy, it was not going to fully make up for the slowdown in the consumer sector.
Grove Bike Park committee wants to hand over the reins to those who will use the facility.
Ocean Grove District Ride Centre is officially opened to the public at Kingston Park. (Ivan Kemp)
Natasha leads by example
This month Natasha Chandler will attend a five-day leadership program in Melbourne as part of the City of Greater Geelong’s EmpowerHER Leadership scholarships. She spoke to Matt Hewson about growing up in Geelong, finding her voice and becoming a community leader.
Geelong woman Natasha Chandler is, in her own words, “a bit busy”
Following up the master’s degree in sociology she obtained from King’s College in London, Natasha is currently studying her Juris Doctor, or graduate-entry professional law degree, at the University of Melbourne.
She also works at the university’s Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences within the Office of the Dean in Indigenous development, supporting initiatives that strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation and success in the medical field.
That combination of study and work is already quite the hectic schedule. But somehow, Natasha makes time for a wide range of community leadership and advocacy activities as well.
She is a member of two Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West bodies, the Lived and Living Experience Advisory
Group, and the Sexual and Reproductive Community of Practice.
The advisory group advocates for more equitable, culturally safe and responsive approaches to women’s health and wellbeing in our region, while the community of practice focuses on improving sexual and reproductive health outcomes for women.
She is also a contributor to the Royal Women’s Senior Aboriginal Advisory Committee Meeting, a member of Newcastle University’s National Female Infertility Advisory Group, a panel member for Westminster Talking Therapies and part of the NHS Diagnostic Reform Committee for Endometriosis.
A bit busy, indeed.
Natasha, now 36, said even as a child she had always been an advocate for those who were being treated unfairly.
“I’ve always wanted inclusive spaces, I remember doing school speeches about gay marriage, marriage equality,” she said.
“I remember always wanting to push for social progress, I think that was always my nature.
“And I think I’ve refined that skill a little bit. Instead of advocating like a 15 year old, I do it by inviting people to reflect, inviting them into the space and trying to do it that way.”
The time, energy and effort Natasha has put into making an impact in her community has recently been recognised by the City of Greater Geelong by awarding her an EmpowerHER Leadership scholarship, a municipal initiative aimed at supporting emerging community leaders.
Natasha is one of three Geelong women to receive the scholarship this year, which was originally planned for two recipients. The large number of high-calibre expressions of interest saw that expanded to three.
As part of the program, Natasha and her fellow scholarship recipients will travel to Melbourne this month for a five-day Igniting Leadership program designed to equip emerging leaders with tools to build strong
leadership foundations, navigate change, inspire others and develop their interpersonal skills.
Natasha said she was “so excited” to participate in the program.
“I am at the infancy stages of my leadership journey and getting an opportunity to learn some of the skills that they’re going to teach us is really going to make a huge difference to my career trajectory,” she said.
“It’s going to be immensely capacity building, I’m looking forward to networking…we got a list of the participants, so I’ve already added them all on LinkedIn. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Describing her own leadership approach as collaborative, Natasha said she hoped to nurture that natural style.
“I like to lead from behind, and I like to see everybody fulfil their potential,” she said.
“I recognise that there are extroverted people who process out loud, they like to take up space and perhaps dominate the space in some cases.
“And then there’s introverted people who process internally, and perhaps they need a little bit of extra time to come to a conclusion or to put their idea forward or they need to be encouraged to do so.
“But in workspaces, there is opportunity for both people to operate, and just because one is outgoing and one is shy doesn’t mean that the ideas are any better or worse off either way. So I think that it’s important to give everybody an opportunity to speak.
“I think that the quietest person in the room might have the best idea and it’s important to give them the time and the space to be able to put their ideas forward or to lead in their particular way.”
Natasha said she also hoped the Igniting Leadership program would help her build new skills to work with people who were resistant to working in a team environment and develop her confidence in confronting situations.
“I’ve come across individuals who are perhaps a bit ‘type A’...as I said, I’m in my infancy stages, so there have been a couple of situations where I wish I had stronger skills to be able to navigate those tough conversations a little better,” she said.
Natasha said she believed many women stepping into leadership roles experienced similar situations.
“I’m an intersectional feminist, so I would say yes, women are navigating a space that orbits power structures, one of them being sex,” she said.
“Working within the patriarchy, we’re trying to find ways to navigate that. Sometimes there’s resistance to women in power positions, and I think a lot of women have difficulty in those situations but we are making progress towards equality.”
Having grown up in Geelong and experiencing what she called “the best childhood” , Natasha hopes to be able to use her studies in law to one day serve her community further through local politics.
“I love learning about the law; I think it’s incredibly useful, it’s an important foundation to be able to understand the law so that we can deconstruct it to make it fairer for others,” she said.
“I’m doing an internship with Barwon Community Legal Service, which is just around the corner from where I live, as part of the NDIS internship. It’s a subject that we can do at law school and I’m super excited to see how I can make an impact in access to justice, both within the disability space and the Indigenous space.
“I’ve recently been selected as a participant in the 2026 Pathway to Politics for Women program…and I’m learning a lot about the different levels of government.
“Maybe in five years I might be in a place to run as a councillor, I don’t know. And if not local politics, then I would like to do some more work within the women’s health space to create better systems to serve women’s needs and maybe lobby government regarding endometriosis care.”
Local leader and community advocate Natasha Chandler. (Ivan Kemp) 569565_03
Local leader and community advocate Natasha Chandler. (Ivan Kemp) 569565_06
Natasha Chandler with fellow EmpowerHER Leadership scholarship recipients Cecile and Kylie. (Supplied)
Rory leads Dry July
By Jena Carr
Geelong’s Rory Costelloe is the country’s numberoneDryJulyfundraiserafterraising more than $47000 for Barwon Health’s Andrew Love Cancer Centre.
The Barwon Health Foundation director participated in last month’s alcohol-free challenge for his sixth year to raise money for cancer support.
Mr Costelloe said the cancer support was a cause close to his heart and that he was grateful to the Geelong community for its support.
“There’s really not that many people who would not know somebody who’s gone through cancer and it’s such a prevalent disease unfortunately,” he said.
For the last six years, we’ve been the top team in Australia, which exemplifies the amount of support...and empathy that residents of Geelong have for the community
- Rory
“I lost a brother eight years ago, and I lost a niece this year, which was particularly sad because she was 35 years old with two kids under five.
“Then a couple of weeks ago, my first cousin’s wife died of cancer as well, so that’s three direct family members who have gone through cancer.”
Mr Costelloe is Dry July’s leading fundraising individual and has raised $47,852.96 as of 4.30pm on 4 August.
He is also the co-captain of Barwon Health Foundation’s Team Love, the country’s top team fundraiser, which has raised more than $100,350 for the Andrew Love Cancer Centre.
“For the last six years, we’ve been the top team in Australia, which exemplifies the amount of support...and empathy
Costelloe that residents of Geelong have for the community,” Mr Costelloe said. Donations can still be made throughout this month, and people can visit dryjuly. com/users/rory-costelloe to support Mr Costelloe’s fundraising efforts.
People, pets and wellbeing at Port forum
By Jena Carr
Older residents in Portarlington can learn more about their region’s people, pets and community wellbeing during an upcoming forum.
Staying in Portarlington (SIP) will host the forum on Monday 10 August, featuring presentations by Cherished Pets chief executive Dr Alicia Kennedy and Housing for the Aged Action Group participation and early intervention worker Rebecca Cook.
SIP president Jenny Wills said people would have an opportunity to “get on board with key issues within the community”
New community
After two rounds of public consultation, Golden Plains Shire has adopted a new policy for community assets on councilmanaged land.
The council voted for the new rules at its meeting last week, having exhibited drafts of the policy through March and againinMayandincorporatingcommunity feedback from both consultation rounds. The assets the policy relates to include public art installations or memorials, often
“Our intent is about building better communities, and we thought it was important to have a look at what’s happening in terms of those,” she said.
“Dr Alicia Kennedy has recently been overseas with her Churchill Fellowship, so we’re keen to learn about what she learned during her trip.
“Rebecca Cook is focusing on the issue of housing and homelessness, with people able to hear about what’s happening around the issue of housing, which is really problematic these days.”
Ms Wills said the forum aimed to inform older residents of services available in their
community,withtimeavailableforquestions.
“There is a disruption in people’s lives when, mainly around rental housing, someone has to move but doesn’t know where to go or what happens to their pets,” she said.
“Thisforumisaveryinformalandrelaxed way of chatting about what people’s interests are, what they’ve learned and what they could do in the future.”
The forum will run from 1 to 3pm at the Portarlington Senior Citizens Club Rooms, and people must email stayinginportarlington@gmail.com to register their attendance.
Meli names Birch as new chair
Geelong-based not-for-profit Meli has announced the appointment of its new chair of the board.
New chair Rob Birch will succeed Meli’s inaugural chair Chris Bowly, who retires after three years in the role.
MrBirchhasextensiveexperience asabusinessandcommunityleader, having served as chief executive of GforceEmploymentSolutions,chair of Northern Futures and director of Gateways Support Services and the Apprentice Employment Network.
He said he was honoured to be elected chair of the Meli board.
“In this role, I am looking forward to leading our board to achieve our purpose of supporting people and strengthening our communities,” he said.
“My aspiration for Meli is to continue the great work of Chris and our board in guiding the organisation, while supporting and responding to the needs of our staff and the communities we serve.”
Meli chief executive Robyn Hayles said Mr Birch was well placed to lead Meli into the future.
“Rob brings a rare combination of executive leadership, governance experience and a genuine commitmenttoourregion,”shesaid. “Hisstrategicthinking,commitment to community wellbeing and strong regional connections position him well to lead our Board and help guide Meli through its next chapter.”
Ms Hayles thanked Mr Bowly for his contribution and leadership.
“Chris was instrumental in laying the foundations for the organisation we are today,” she said.
“He leaves a legacy that will benefit the Geelong, Barwon and Wimmera South West communities for years to come. We sincerely thank him for his service and dedication.”
assets rules for Golden Plains Shire adopted
created through community projects, which are installed on land owned or managed by the council.
The new policy governs the approval processes for new installations, current and future cost implications, maintenance responsibilities, public safety and amenity.
GoldenPlainsmayorOwenSharkeysaid the adopted policy provides greater clarity and consistency for community groups and volunteers looking to contribute to
local places and spaces.
“Our community takes great pride in creating and maintaining assets that enhance the character and liveability of the shire, from public art and memorials to other important community infrastructure,” he said.
“This policy provides a clear framework for how these assets can be installed on council-owned or managed land, while ensuringappropriateconsiderationisgiven
“Importantly, the final policy has been shaped by community feedback received through two rounds of consultation, helping us deliver an outcome that reflects community expectations and supports future community-led projects.”
Visit goldenplains.vic.gov.au/councilpolicies to view the new community asset policy.
Barwon Health Foundation director and Team Love co-captain Rory Costelloe is Dry July’s leading individual fundraiser. (Supplied)
Rob Birch is Meli’s new chair of the board. (Supplied)
Local lifesaver recognised
By Matt Hewson
A Point Lonsdale surf lifesaver is one of 29 Victorians to receive National Medal honours recognising their service to lifesaving.
Huw Joyce, 30, received the honour for his 15 years of voluntary service to Point LonsdaleSurfLifeSavingClub(SLSC).
The son of club life member Alan Joyce, Mr Joyce first participated in the nippers programatsevenyearsold.
“My father first got me into it as a form of water safety, to make sure I knew how to spot a rip, swim safely at the beach and makefriends,”hesaid.
After completing nippers, Mr Joyce completed his surf rescue certificate and bronze medallion, then a number of other awards including rescue boats, first aid and resuscitation.
He has served the club as junior club captain, patrol captain and first aid officer and taken part in numerous surf rescue and first aid incidents, including a major multi-agency rescue last year when 18 swimmers and kayakers were swept out to sea.
Mr Joyce has also mentored “close to a thousand” young lifesavers on patrol and throughcoursetraining.
“I like passing on what I’ve learnt and conveyingthatontotheyoungermembers,” hesaid.“Ireckonit’sgreat,supportingthem, stepping back and allowing the younger ones to manage a patrol of 20, seeing how theymanageitandinstructingcourses.”
LSV chief executive Cath Greaves congratulated Huw the other recipients of theNationalMedal.
“We are immensely proud of the contribution our volunteer lifesavers make, givingtheirtime,talentandenergyfreelyto keep our community safe in the water,” she said.
Young musicians prepare for a battle
By Jena Carr
Eight high school bands from across the Bellarine, Surf Coast and Geelong will battleitoutforaperformancespotatthe QueenscliffMusicFestival.
Queenscliff Town Hall will host the Come Together – Battle of the Bands event on Sunday 9 August, giving local high school musicians a chance to showcasetheirtalent.
Queenscliff Music Festival director Claire Stickland said the event was about celebrating the next generation of musicians and giving young artists the chance to perform on a professional stage.
“For many young musicians, this may be their first experience performing outside of a school environment or in a professionalvenue,”shesaid.
“Having access to stages, supportive audiences, and industry experiences
helps build confidence and encourages themtocontinuetheircreativejourney.
“There is something really special about watching young musicians build confidence,supporteachother,andhave that moment where they realise they belonginthemusiccommunity.”
Thewinningbandonthedaywillearn a performance spot at the Queenscliff MusicFestivalinNovember.
“Thisisanincredibleopportunityfora young band, as it’s a chance to step onto a festival stage and perform alongside established artists,” Ms Stickland said.
“This is our way of investing in the next generation of local talent, and hopefully it inspires them to continue creating, performing, and pursuing their passion formusic.”
The event is free for spectators to attend, but registration is required, and peoplecanvisitqmf.net.au/youth-events toreserveaspot.
A college where learning, faith and community thrive
Geelong Baptist College (GBC) is more thanjustaplaceoflearning–itisavibrant, supportive community where faith, education, and personal growth come together.
Established in 2002, GBC is a young and dynamic independent school offering classes fromFoundationto Year 12.
Located just 10km from the centre of Geelong, the college is easily accessible with six college buses servicing Geelong and surrounding areas, including Wyndham Vale.
GBCiscommittedtonurturingthewhole child. The college provides a balanced education that supports academic excellence while also encouraging students to grow spiritually, socially, and emotionally. Through its Christian values, students are guided by principles such as kindness, respect, integrity, and service to others.
GBC partners with families for their child’s education, creating a close-knit community that fosters an environment for each child to thrive.
GBCencouragesstudentstodiscoverand developtheirtalents,pursuetheirinterests. From sports fields to performing arts, from community service to entrepreneurial projects, students are empowered to grow.
The college also offers a unique program for Year 9 students focused on personal growth and community impact. Students explore their identity, resilience, values, and teamwork and emphasise making a difference in the community through creative thinking, entrepreneurship, and engaging service projects.
Camps, physical challenges, and hands-on projects further enrich the
(Supplied)
experience.
With an open enrolment policy, GBC invites families to meet the principals, tour the grounds, and experience a school committed to academic excellence, spiritual growth, and personal development.
Enrolments for the 2027 academic year are well underway.
SCHOOL IN F CUS
Geelong Baptist College encourages students to grow spiritually, socially, and emotionally.
Belmont High School’s The Routine won last year’s Come Together event and received a performance slot at the 2025 Queenscliff Music Festival. (Supplied)
Lifesaver Huw Joyce has been recognised with the National Medal. (Ivan Kemp) 570306_08
A gift that lasts a lifetime
Looking for a gift that truly makes a difference?
A professionally prepared will is one of the most thoughtful and practical gifts you can give, providing peace of mind for todayandcertaintyforthefuture.
Many families help their parents prepare or update their wills, ensuring their wishes are documented and making things easier for loved ones. It’s also a good time to prepare Powers of Attorney for future financial, personal and medical decisions.
A will also makes a meaningful gift for adult children, particularly after a major life event such as buying a first home, getting married, welcoming a baby, starting a business or experiencing a separation.Thesemilestonesoftenchange a person’s circumstances and make it the perfecttimetoputanestateplaninplace.
At Taylor Legal, we believe estate planning should be affordable and accessible. Our professionally prepared online wills start from just $290. Unlike many online will providers, we don’t simply prepare your documents and send them to you. We arrange for your will to be professionally signed and witnessed and securely store the original in our deeds system at no additional cost, giving you confidence that your documents are protected and readily available when needed. We also offer tailored appointmentswithourexperiencedestate planning lawyers for more personalised advice.
Whether it’s for a birthday or Christmas or simply because you care, a will is a gift that provides lasting security, certainty andpeaceofmind.
Contact the friendly team at Taylor Legal to find the estate planning option that’srightforyouoryourlovedones.
Geelong loves walking football
If you’re looking for a fun, social and low-impact way to stay active, Walking Football 4 Health Victoria’s Norlane program is welcoming new participants.
With places currently available, locals are encouraged to come along, meet new people and discover one of Australia’s fastest-growing inclusive sports.
Walking Football 4 Health Victoria is a not-for-profit organisation committed to improving health, wellbeing and social connection through a modified version of football suitable for people of all ages and abilities. Whether you’re returning to exercise, recovering from injury, living with a disability or neurologicalcondition,orsimplylooking for a new way to stay active, walking football offers a safe and supportive environment.
The game captures the teamwork and enjoyment of traditional football while removingmanyofthephysicaldemands.
Players walk instead of run, physical contact is minimised, and games are played on smaller pitches with modified rules, making it suitable for a wide range of fitness levels.
Beyond the physical benefits, walking football helps build friendships, reduce social isolation and improve mental wellbeing. The organisation also offers women-only sessions, family participationopportunitiesandinclusive programs that encourage people from all walks of life to get involved.
The Norlane program continues to grow, providing Greater Geelong residentswithanopportunitytoimprove their health while becoming part of a welcoming community.
Whether you’ve played football before or are trying something completely new, now is the perfect time to get involved. With spots currently available, Walking Football 4 Health Victoria invites you to step onto the pitch, stay active and experience the physical, social and mental benefits that walking football has to offer.
To find out more or register for a session, visit wf4hvictoria.org.au
Walking Football 4 Health Victoria’s Norlane program is welcoming new participants.
Olivia Hill is one of Taylor Legal’s lawyers and predominantly works in Wills and Deceased Estates. (Supplied)
CELEBRATING SENIORS
Learning from our clients
Providingthebestsupporttopeoplewithin their homes is a message that Just Better Care’sstaffliveby.
Support worker Sara Furness said Just BetterCaretreateditsstaffandclientswith the utmost respect as one of Australia’s largest providers of in-home aged care and disabilitysupportservices.
“Every one of our clients are absolutely amazingindividuals.Ilearneverydayfrom themthroughconversations,”shesaid.
“Our care allows our clients to keep their independence and enables them to stay home. It also allows them to be
self-supported in a way, but when it becomesnecessary,we’retheretohelp.
“Just Better Care means supporting people within their home space and creating an environment where they feel comfortable.”
To start your Just Better Care journey, call 03 5222 1518, email mailge@ justbettercare.com or visit the caring team at their office at Level 1 114a Mt Pleasant Road in Belmont. Visit justbettercare.com/Geelong for more information.
Ask this lifestyle question
When considering a retirement village, priceisonlypartoftheequation.
The real question is: which village offers thebestvalueforthelifestyleyouwant?
At The Breeze Point Lonsdale, value goes well beyond the purchase price. It is reflected in the quality of your home, the lifestyle you enjoy, and the confidence that comes from living in a professionally managedcommunity.
Our premium homes and thoughtfully designed amenities are created for people ready to embrace a rewarding new chapter. Enjoy beautifully maintained surroundings, take part in community activities, or simply spend time with neighbourswhobecomefriends.TheBreeze offerstheperfectbalanceofindependence, connection and convenience, while keeping you close to family and familiar localnetworks.
The Breeze is backed by a family-owned
Australian group with more than 40 years of experience in retirement living and aged care. That experience provides stability, ongoing investment and a strong understanding of what matters most in retirement:quality,security,independence andpeaceofmind.
Residents also benefit from Victoria’s strengthenedretirementvillagelegislation, whichoffersgreaterconsumerprotections, improved transparency around fees and contracts, and stronger dispute resolution processes, giving added confidence throughoutyourretirementjourney.
Choosing a retirement village is one of life’s most important decisions. When comparing your options, look beyond the headline price and consider the lifestyle, community, support and long-term securityonoffer.
Learn tips on how to downsize with expert Rachel Lane
For many Australians, the family home has beenthecentreoffamilylifefordecades.
It’s where memories have been made, milestones celebrated and communities built.
But as life evolves, many homeowners begin to consider whether their current home still suits the lifestyle they want for theyearsahead.
Downsizing is becoming an increasingly popular choice for people looking to simplify their lives, reduce the demands of home maintenance and enjoy greater freedom to focus on what matters most. Yet knowing where to start can often feel overwhelming.
To help locals better understand their options, Lifestyle Communities is proud to presentHowtoDownsizewithRachelLane, an informative event designed to provide practical advice and expert insights for thoseconsideringtheirnextmove.
OneofAustralia’sleadingdownsizingand retirement living experts, Rachel Lane has helped thousands of Australians navigate the complexities of selling the family home and planning for the future. At this special event, she will share valuable information on the financial, lifestyle and emotional considerations involved in downsizing, helpingattendeesmakeinformeddecisions withconfidence.
AccordingtoRachel,downsizingisabout far more than moving into a smaller home. Itcanbeanopportunitytocreatealifestyle that better aligns with your current needs andfutureaspirations.
It’s also an opportunity to unlock equity from the family home, providing greater financial flexibility and peace of mind for the years ahead. However, the right move will look different for everyone, which is why access to trusted information and expertguidanceissoimportant.
As a leading developer of land lease communities in Victoria, Lifestyle Communities has spent more than two decades helping over-50s embrace a lifestyle focused on connection, wellbeing and freedom from many of the traditional responsibilitiesofhomeownership.Through
events like these, Lifestyle Communities aims to help people understand all their options and feel empowered to make choicesthatarerightforthem.
Whether you’re actively considering a move,supportingafamilymemberthrough the downsizing process or simply planning for the future, this event offers a valuable opportunitytohearfromanindustryexpert and gain practical advice in a welcoming environment.
With interest in downsizing continuing to grow, these sessions present a valuable opportunity to hear from one of Australia’s
leading experts and gain the confidence neededtoexploreyournextchapter.
Attendance is free, however registrations are essential and places are extremely limited.
To secure your spot, visit lifestylecommunities.com.au or call 1300 505560.
Father’s Day is a chance to celebrate the fathers, grandfathers and father figures whohaveshapedourlives.
But when it comes to choosing a gift for an older loved one, many families find themselves asking: What do you buy someonewhoalreadyhaseverything?
At Homestyle Aged Care, we often see that the most meaningful gifts aren’t the ones that come wrapped in paper. They’re themomentssharedtogether.
A visit over a cup of coffee, a family barbecue, a favourite takeaway meal or an afternoon watching the football can mean far more than another item on a shelf. For older Australians, quality time can strengthen connections, create new memories, and bring joy to everyday life.
Experiences can also make wonderful gifts. A trip to a local museum, a movie, a sportingeventorevenatraditionalbarber
shop visit can provide something to look forward to and memories to cherish. For thosewhoenjoyhobbies,consideraboard game, indoor gardening kit, bird feeder or magazinesubscription.
Practical gifts can also make everyday life more comfortable. Cosy slippers, a warm jumper, a large-display clock, or an organiser for everyday essentials are thoughtful options that combine comfort withconvenience.
Whatever you choose this Father’s Day, remember that your presence is often the greatestgiftofall.
If you or your loved one are looking for aged care in Ocean Grove, Leopold or Grovedale, our admissions team can discuss your individual situation and adviseonthemanyoptionsavailable. Call us on 1300 104 663 or visit our website at homestyleagedcare.com.au
Lifestyle Communities sessions present a valuable opportunity to hear from Rachel Lane, one of Australia’s leading experts. (Pictures: Supplied)
For older Australians, quality time can strengthen connections.
Church patron name honour
Geelong’s live music and performance venue, Church, will now bear a new name in honour of the late Kevin Costa. Twoplaqueswereunveiledonthefacade of the Ryrie Street building, formally naming the building Kevin Costa Church after the philanthropist who died in 2022.
Member for Geelong Christine Couzens said the venue was named after one of Geelong’s most generous and dedicated community patrons and highlighted the “ambitious long-term vision” for the Geelong Arts Centre.
“It has been brought to life thanks to
theenthusiasticsupportandgenerosityof the local community, including the Costa family,” she said.
“It is fitting that Kevin Costa, a true champion for Geelong, will have his name associated with a new drawcard venue where community and visitors will gather.”
Kevin Costa’s son Brad Costa said his dad cared deeply about Geelong, its people and its future.
“It is incredibly meaningful to see his name carried forward through a venue that will support local artists and bring
the community together,” he said.
GeelongArtsCentrechiefexecutiveand creative director Rhys Holden said the venue reflected years of shared ambition, careful planning and commitment.
“Hissupportfortheartsandhisbeliefin whatChurchcouldoffertheregionhelped make this new venue possible, and it feels truly fitting for Church,” he said.
Kevin Costa Church will officially open its doors to the public on 14 August as an intimate and professionally supported home for independent musicians and performers.
New art exhibition explores motherhood
By Jena Carr
A new Geelong exhibition and program of events will highlight the challenges and successesofartistmothers.
Platform Arts brings together artists who explore themes of motherhood through new commissions, existing works, performance and publishing during the CollectiveMotheringexhibitionandevents program.
Curator Dr Amber Smith said a free opening event for the program would be held from 2pm on Saturday 8 August and thatshelookedforwardtogettingeveryone
togetherinoneplace.
“The idea of Collective Mothering is to bring together artist mothers whose practices explore care, kinship and communalcontinuity,”shesaid.
“Itconsidershowactsofmotheringshape our relationships with ourselves, families, communitiesandtheworldaroundus.
“It thinks about how we both practice as artists and have a viable career while also caring for children or family and acknowledging that there are still barriers preventing artist mothers from being as successfulasotherartists.”
Dr Smith said the exhibition and public
programinvitedaudiencestoconsiderhow cultures of care could help shape more connectedcommunities.
“I’m looking forward to getting everyone togetherinoneplace,andI’vehadsomany wonderful conversations with all of the artistmothers,”shesaid.
“A beautiful part of the project is connecting with the artists as well as talking through personal and vulnerable sidesofbeinganartist-mother.”
Collective Mothering will run until 4 October with free and ticketed public programming,andpeoplecanvisitPlatform Arts’websiteformoreinformation.
Feedback guides policy updates
SurfCoast Shire Council has updated two of its policies, with community support, to ensure the documents remain relevant, transparent, and consistent.
The Strategic Asset Management Policy and Infrastructure Special Rates and Charges Scheme Policy were adopted following community engagement.
Councillor Mike Bodsworth said feedback helped shape the final policies adopted by council and he thanked everyone for their contributions.
“These updated policies provide greaterclarityandsupportconsistent, transparent decision-making,” he said. “Community input is an important part of developing council policies and helps ensure they reflect the needs and expectations of our community.
“Good policies help us manage community assets responsibly and provideaclear,transparentframework for delivering infrastructure that benefitsourcommunity.
“Reviewing our policies ensures they remain relevant, effective and alignedwithcurrentlegislation,while givingthecommunityanopportunity tohaveasaybeforetheyareadopted.”
The Strategic Asset Management Policy outlined council’s approach to managing community assets, with community feedback leading to a stronger emphasis on accessibility and universal design across all renewalworks.
The Infrastructure Special Rates andChargesSchemePolicyidentified how council may fund infrastructure projects. Community engagement showedstrongsupportforthepolicy’s principles and led to updates to the Resident Agreement and additional definitionstoimproveclarity.
Both policies underwent an independent legal review to ensure compliance with the requirements of theLocalGovernmentAct2020.
Draft Special Rate and Charge Policy now open for submissions
Golden Plains residents can share their ideas and opinions on the shire’s new SpecialRateandChargePolicy.
The shire council has put a draft version of the new policy online for residents to view and have their say on until 5pm on Monday31August.
Theaimofthepolicyistosetouta“fairand transparent way for council and property owners to work together on improvements thatprovideclear,directbenefitstospecific
Under the draft proposal, property owners who directly benefit from an infrastructure project such as new sealed roads, widened roads, new kerbs and channels, footpath improvements and street lighting would contribute to its cost, with the council funding any wider communitybenefit.
The proposal details a seven-step
process including early engagement, surveys of property owners, public notices,opportunitiesforsubmissionsand transparency.
Golden Plains Shire mayor Owen Sharkey said the draft policy was a way for Counciltodeliverwantedprojectstothose whowoulddirectlybenefit.
“This Policy gives residents a clear pathway to bring forward projects that matter to them, while ensuring fairness
“It’s about working together to deliver improvements sooner and strengthening the partnership between Council and our community.”
Thedraftpolicyisonlineatgoldenplains. vic.gov.au/consultations. Submissions can be made online or via hard copy through the Golden Plains shire council customer hubs.
Lorraine and Brad Costa at the new Kevin Costa Church. (Supplied)
Dr Amber Smith with artwork from the Collective Mothering exhibition at Platform Arts. (Ivan Kemp) 570028_12
The Guide
FATHER BROWN
FATHER BRO ABC TV, Sat
ABC TV, Saturday, 8.20pm
Many of our play called Th like unsc rather un happe of the Insp an a p th getting somet show m trust un
Many of our regular characters are putting on a TheMostPerfectMurder(a play within a play, if you like) only for the production to be derailed by the unscripted murder of the production’s rather unpleasant set designer. Such things do happen surprisingly often around this corner of the Cotswolds, don’t they? Luckily, Chief Inspector Edgar Sullivan (Tom Chambers) and Sergeant Goodfellow (John Burton) –as well as Father Brown (Mark Williams, pictured) – are on hand to help get to the bottom of it. Was it a case of a bully getting his comeuppance, a financial dispute or something else entirely? In the meantime, the show must go on, but the cast and crew find trust uneasy with a murderer in their midst.
RACE AROUND THE WORLD
ABC TV, Sunday, 7.30pm
The rebooted race is done and now it’s time to find out who won. William, Mikaela, Jayden, Elliot, Kate and Lucinda have spent the past 100 days jetting around the globe, delivering a new four-minute documentary every 10 days to be critiqued and scored by resident judge and original ’90s racer John Safran (pictured with host Zan Rowe) and guest judges. On Sunday, the racers are back in the studio to watch their final works (shot in locations of their choosing) and find out who wins the grand prize – filming a longer-form doco for the ABC. Iconic film critic Margaret Pomeranz, Talkto Medirector Danny Philippou and OG Racewinner (now a two-time Walkley Award recipient) Olivia Rousset are on hand to help Safran make the call.
Friday, August 7
ABC TV (2) SBS (3)
Game on: Grant Denyer welcomes Gretel Killeen to the Deal
PICK OF THE WEEK
DEAL OR NO DEAL: CELEBBRITY JACKPOT O 10, Monday, 7.30pm
The TraitorsAustraliahost Grettel e Killeen is no stranger to puttinng in thhe e a hard yards in the name of charitty, y having served as a UNICEF F Goodwwill Ambassador for seven years, diire r ct c ed a doco about AIDS orrphans and en e tertained Aussie troops in war zones around the world. So hanging w with Grant Denyer and opening g some briefcases to win n up p to $2000,000 foor family violence support orrganisation RizeUp should d be a walk l in the park Holding the cases is a “murder” of Traitors cast meembbers s – including s Rhys Nicholson, Kirby Bentley, Gamble Breaux and Rob Farnh n am m – all eager to help the devoted humanitarian win big for an important cause
SEVEN (6, 7)
NINE (8, 9) 6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.00 Compass. (PG, R) 10.30 Better Date Than Never. (PG, R) 11.00 Race Around The World. (Ma, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Portrait Artist Of The Year. (PG, R) 1.45 Treasure & Dirt. (Mal, R) 2.55 Race Around The World. (Ma, R) 4.00 Murdoch Mysteries. (PG, R) 4.40 Long Lost Family. (R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 10.00 BBC News At Ten. 10.30 France 24. 11.00 Cycling. Tour deFrance Femmes. H’lights. 12.00 Cycling. Tour deFrance Femmes. H’lights. 1.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 The Royals: A History Of Scandals. (PGs, R) 3.00 Nula. 3.30 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Jeopardy! 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. Tour deFrance Femmes. H’lights. 6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 Your Money & Your Life. (PG) 1.30 The Great Outdoors. (PG,R) 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. (R) 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. 6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: Polar Opposites. (2025, G) 2.00 Pointless. (PG,R) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG,R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG,R) 5.00[MELB]
6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG,R)
7.00 ABC News.
7.35 Monty Don’s Rhineland Gardens. (Final) Monty Don ends his journey inthe Netherlands.
8.35 Saint-Pierre. (Mav) Arch’s son issuspected ofmurder.
9.20 Spicks And Specks. (PG,R) Hosted bycomedian Adam Hills.
9.50 Would I Lie To You? (PG) Hosted byRob Brydon.
10.20 ABC Late News.
10.40 New Zealand Spy. (M,R)
11.05 Murdoch Mysteries. (PG,R)
11.50 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv)
5.00 Rage. (PG)
ABC FAMILY (22)
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.35 The Good Ship Murder. (Return) 8.30 WWII With Tom Hanks. (Maw) 10.10 SBS World News Late. 10.40 Guillaume’s Paris. (PG,R) 11.20 Cycling. Tour deFrance Femmes. Stage7. La Voulte-surRhône toMont Ventoux.146.8km mountain stage. From France. 1.50 Australia Uncovered: Bowraville Murders. (Malv,R) 3.30 Before We Die. (MA15+v,R) 4.25 Bamay. (R) 5.00 WorldWatch. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 AFL: Friday Night Countdown. Alead-up tothe Friday night AFL match. 7.30 Football. AFL. Round22. Brisbane Lions vHawthorn. From the Gabba, Brisbane. 10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. 11.15 GetOn Extra. Alook atthe weekend’s best racing. 11.45 The Voice. (PGal,R) Thesearch for asinging superstar returns, with atwist.
1.25 Eyewitness. (MA15+v,R)
2.30 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R)
5.00 NBC Today.
7TWO (62, 72) SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 11.45 Andy’s Safari Adventures. 12.55pm Talking Tom Heroes. 1.20 PJ Masks. 1.50 Kangaroo Beach. 2.30 The Makery. 3.00 Play School: Let The Music Play. 3.25 Wiggle. 4.05 Andy’s Aquatic Adventures. 4.20 Santiago Of The Seas. 5.30 Talking Tom Heroes. 5.55 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.45 HexVets And Magic Pets. 7.05 Gardening Australia Junior. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 8.00 Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! 8.50 Steven Universe. 9.40 BattleBots. 10.25 Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 12.05pm DW The Day. 12.35 Hoarders. 1.30 Sports Gone Wrong. 2.00 Cycling. Tour deFrance Femmes. H’lights. 3.00 Cycling. Tour deFrance Femmes. H’lights. 4.05 WorldWatch. 6.05 Inside The Huddle. 6.35 Over The Black Dot. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 Big Fat Quiz Best Bits: Ultimate Fails. 8.30 History’s Greatest Mysteries. 9.20 The UnBelievable. 10.10 The Americans. 11.50 Vikings: The Rise And Fall. 1.40am Sex Tape Germany. 2.35 Late Programs.
SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Going Places. 12.10pm MOVIE: Samson And Delilah. (2009, M) 2.00 Strait To The Plate. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 4.35 Dreaming Big. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 Nula. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Waterworld Africa. 7.30 MOVIE: BMX Bandits. (1983, PG) 9.20 MOVIE: Jumpin’ Jack Flash. (1986, M) 11.10 Nula. 11.40 MOVIE: The Moogai. (2020, M) Midnight Soh Presents: Generations And Dynasties. 1.30 The Dream Of Love. 2.00 On The Road. 5.00 Bamay. 5.30 Late Programs. NITV (34)
6am My Sailor, My Love. (2022, PGa) 7.55 Time Bandits. (1981, PGahv) 10.05 The Great Escaper. (2023, Mal) 11.55 How To Get Ahead In Advertising. (1989) 1.45pm The Lady And The Highwayman. (1989, PGasv) 3.25 Roman Holiday. (1953, PGalv) 5.35 Living. (2022,PGals,R) 7.30 Priscilla. (2023,Madl,R) 9.35 A Bigger Splash. (2015,MA15+n,R) 11.50 Dirty Dancing. (1987, Mas) 1.45am Beau Is Afraid. (2023, MA15+alnsv) 5.00 Roman Holiday. (1953, PGalv)
6am Morning Programs. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 The Great Australian Doorstep. 2.30 Weekender. 3.00 Feel Good Road Trips. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Better Homes. 5.00 Escape To The Country. 6.00 Bargain Hunt. 7.00 Better Homes. 8.00 Escape To The Country. 11.00 The Americas. Midnight Bargain Hunt. 1.00 The Great Australian Doorstep. 1.30 Room For Improvement. 2.00 Harry’s Practice. 2.30 Animal Rescue. 3.00 Athletics. World Under 20 C’ships.
7MATE (64, 73)
OUTBACK WRECKERS 7mate, Tuesday, 8.30pm
The Aussie-as crews on Outback Wreckersspend their days trawling farms, road sides and Facebook Marketplace looking for abandoned cars, hoping to find something they can to turn from one man’s junk into bona fide treasure. Whether it’s smashing, bashing and cutting up a wreck for parts and valuable scrap metals, or hitting the jackpot with a gem that’s worth restoring, there’s almost always more to these old rust buckets than meets the eye. In Tuesday’s instalment, Vinnie holds out hope for a “unicorn”, Tim attempts to revive a 1992 Toyota Tercel and flip it for profit, and car-mad couple Nicole and Jarrad (both pictured) focus on revitalising a Ford Falcon that’s fast becoming a family heirloom.
TEN (5, 10)
6.00 9News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Find My Country House Australia. Acouple prepare tomove toMoreton Bay.
8.30 MOVIE: Ocean’s Eleven. (2001,Ml,R) Ateam ofthieves tries torob three casinos. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon.
10.55 Resident Alien. (Malv,R)
11.45 Tipping Point. (PG,R)
12.35 Pointless. (PG,R)
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)
4.30 Global Shop. (R)
5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
5.30 Postcards. (PG,R)
9GEM (81, 92)
6.00 10 News+.
6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (R)
7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG,R) Hosted byRebecca Gibney. 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. (R) Acouple are ata crossroads with their little house.
8.30 Have You Been Paying Attention? (Malns,R) Celebrity panellists compete tosee who can remember the most about events ofthe week. 9.30 10’s Late News. Coverage ofnews, sport and weather. 10.30 The Big Bang Theory. (PGs,R) 11.30 10 News+. (R) 12.00 Home Shopping. (R)
6am Morning Programs. 10.00 Storage Wars. 10.30 Pawn Stars. 11.00 Athletics. World Under 20 C’ships. 2pm Pawn Stars. 2.30 Kick Ons. 3.00 Timbersports. 3.30 Duck Dynasty. 4.30 American Resto. 5.00 Storage Wars. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.30 Motorbike Cops. 8.30 MOVIE: Shotgun Wedding. (2022, M) 10.40 MOVIE: Insidious: The Red Door. (2023, M) 12.55am American Pickers. 2.00 Golf. LIV Golf League New York. 6am
6am Morning Programs. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon Poirot. 1.00 The Brokenwood Mysteries. 3.00 Antiques Roadshow. 3.30 MOVIE: The Frightened City. (1961, PG) 5.30 The Travelling Auctioneers. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Roosters vCanterbury Bulldogs. 9.55 NRL Friday Night Footy Post-Match. 10.45 MOVIE: Rush Hour 2. (2001, M) 12.40am Antiques Roadshow. 1.10 1.40 MOVIE: The Frightened City. (1961, PG) 3.30 Late Programs. 10 DRAMA (53, 12)
9GO! (82, 93)
6am Morning Programs. 10.30 Bewitched. 11.30 Jeopardy! Australia. 12.30pm Rugby Heaven. 1.30 Baywatch. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Baywatch. 7.30 MOVIE: Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1. (2010, M) 10.25 TBA. 12.35am Seinfeld. 1.05 Legacies. 1.55 Baywatch. 3.00 Jeopardy! Australia. 4.00 Barbie: A Touch Of Magic. 4.30 Bubble’s Hotel. 4.50 LEGO Friends: The Next Chapter. 5.10 Wild Manes. 5.30 Beyblade Burst: Quad Drive.
6.05 Kath & Kim. (PGals, R) Kath becomes a health professional.
6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) Presented by Tom Gleeson.
7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day.
7.30 Grantchester. (PGa) A student’s death exposes dark secrets at Cambridge.
8.20 Father Brown. (PGv) Father Brown investigates when rehearsals for a play are derailed by a death.
9.05 Doc Martin. (PG, R) Martin and Louisa head to London so that Martin can present his research paper.
9.50 Believe Me. (Malv, R) Worboys
10.40 Little Disasters. (Mals, R) The investigation continues. 11.30 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) Continuous music programming.
6am Children’s Programs. 1.50pm Kangaroo Beach. 2.40 Fizzy And Suds. 3.00 Play School. 3.30 Isadora Moon. 3.50 Talking Tom Heroes. 4.15 Stan & Gran. 5.10 Shaun The Sheep. 5.40 Super Monsters. 6.05 PJ Masks. 6.25 Emerald. 7.05 Let’s Go Bananas! 7.30 Teenage Boss: Next Level. 8.00 Harry Potter: Wizards Of Baking. (Return) 9.20 Chopped Jnr. 10.00 Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 1.10pm Nula. 1.40 Waterworld Africa. 2.30 Over The Black Dot. 3.00 Homesteads. 3.40 Diana Ross: Supreme Sensation. 4.30 Faboriginal. 5.00 Murder In Big Horn. 6.00 Home, Land & Sea. 6.40 The Other Side. 7.30 Alone Australia. 8.40 MOVIE: Rogue. (2007, MA15+) 10.30 Garma Sound Lines. 12.05am Late Programs.
Sunday, August 9
6am Morning Programs. 10.30 France 24. 11.00 Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. H’lights. 12.00 Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. H’lights. 1.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Going Places. (PG, R) 3.30 Lisbon & WWII: Spies, Gold And Diplomacy. (PGa, R) 4.30 Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. H’lights. 5.30 WWII Women On The Frontline. (PGa, R)
6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Prince William: A Life In Pictures. 8.25 Britannia: The Queen’s Ship. (PG) Looks at the ship, Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia 9.25 MOVIE: Call Me Kate. (2023, PGa, R) Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins. 11.05 Those Who Stayed. (Ml, R) 11.45 Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. Stage 8. Sisteron to Nice. 171.9km
2.15 Those Who Stayed. (Mal, R) 3.10 Osher Günsberg: A Matter Of Life And Death. (Ma, R) 4.30 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6am Morning Programs. 2pm Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. H’lights. 3.00 Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. H’lights. 4.05 WorldWatch. 6.00 Mastermind Aust. 6.30 Record-Breaking Dams. 7.30 RecordBreaking Airliners. 8.30 Icons Unearthed: Harrison Ford. 9.20 MOVIE: Firewall. (2006, M) 11.15 Hudson & Rex. 12.05am Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 11.30 The Way Back. (2010, Mal) 1.55pm 55 Steps. (2017, PGanv) 4.00 My Sailor, My Love. (2022, PGa) 5.55 Hook. (1991, PGalv) 8.30 Django Unchained. (2012, MA15+avw) 11.30 The Girlfriend Experience. (2009, Mlns) 12.55am A Bigger Splash. (2015, MA15+n) 3.10 Priscilla. (2023, Madl) 5.15 Living. (2022, PGals)
ABC TV (2) SBS (3)
6am Morning Programs. 10.00 Offsiders. 10.30 World This Week. (R) 11.00 Compass. (PG, R) 11.30 Praise. (PG) 12.00 News. 12.30 Landline. 1.30 Monty Don’s Rhineland Gardens. (Final, R) 2.30 Race Around The World. (Ma, R) 3.30 The Assembly. (PG, R) 4.10 Grand Designs. (R) 5.00 Back Roads. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow.
6.30 Compass: Sandwiched With Sarah Macdonald. (PG)
7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day.
7.30 Race Around The World. (Final) The winning racer is revealed.
8.30 Treasure & Dirt. (Malv) Nulla Day descends into chaos. Suspicion falls on David. Nell and Ivan discover who left Ivan at the Dead Tree.
9.30 Believe Me. (Final, Mal) Sarah and Laila try to keep Worboys in prison.
10.20 Grantchester. (PGa, R)
11.10 Father Brown. (PGv, R)
11.55 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
2.45 Poh’s Kitchen Lends A Hand. (R)
3.10 Doc Martin. (PG, R)
4.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
5.00 Insiders. (R)
6am Children’s Programs. 2.35pm Fizzy And Suds. 3.00 Play School. 3.25 The Snail And The Whale. 4.15 Stan & Gran. 5.10 The Snail And The Whale. 5.40 Super Monsters. 6.05 PJ Masks. 6.25 Emerald. 7.05 Let’s Go Bananas! 7.30 The Inbestigators. 7.45 The Lady Grace Mysteries. 8.10 Epic Adventures With Bertie Gregory. (Final) 8.55 Animal Park. 10.25 Late Programs.
6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Horse Racing. The Valley Day. Saturday Raceday. 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R)
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. Hosted by Johanna Griggs. 8.00 The Great Outdoors. (PG) The team soars over the Whitsundays and takes tuk tuks through Bordeaux’s subterranean networks. 8.30 MOVIE: Jurassic World.
hybrid dinosaur escapes containment and goes on a killing spree at a theme park. Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins. 11.00 MOVIE: Beast. (2022, MA15+av, R) A father and his kids are hunted by a rogue lion. Idris Elba, Iyana Halley, Sharlto Copley. 1.00 Eyewitness. (MA15+av, R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 It’s Academic. (R) 5.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R)
6am Morning Programs. Noon House Calls To The Rescue. 1.00 Harry’s Practice. 1.30 Secrets Of Beautiful Gardens. 2.30 Feel Good Road Trips. 3.00 Better Homes. 4.00 Escape To The Country. 6.00 Dog Patrol. 6.30 Bondi Vet. 7.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 8.30 Lewis. 10.30 Escape To The Country. 11.30 Australia’s Best Backyards. 12.30am Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 2pm Rides Down Under: Aussie Truckers. 3.00 Motor Racing. National Drag Racing C’ship. Top Fuel C’ship. Winternationals. 4.00 American Resto. 5.00 Counting Cars. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 8.30 Surveillance Oz: Dashcam. 9.00 Soccer. Calcio Italiano Tournament. Juventus v Inter Milan. 11.00 Late Programs.
NINE (8, 9)
6.00 Getaway. (PG, R) 6.30 A Current Affair. (R) 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 Today Extra: Saturday. (PG) 12.00 Drive Review. 12.30 Destination WA. (R) 1.00 Space Invaders. (PGa, R) 2.10 The Block. (PGl, R) 5.00 9News First At Five. 5.30 Getaway. (PG)
6.00 9News Saturday. 7.00 Rugby League. NRL. Round 23. South Sydney Rabbitohs v Parramatta Eels. From Allianz Stadium, Sydney. 9.25 NRL Saturday Night Footy Post-Match. Post-match coverage and analysis of the game between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Parramatta Eels.
10.00 MOVIE: Honest Thief. (2020, Mlv, R) A bank robber is double-crossed. Liam Neeson, Jai Courtney, Kate Walsh. 11.55 Wild Cards. (Mv, R) 12.55 Space Invaders. (PGa, R) 2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PGa)
2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.30 Global Shop. (R)
5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
5.30 Helping Hands. (PG, R)
6am Morning Programs. 2.30pm NRLW Wrap. 3.15 Rugby League. NRL Women’s Premiership. Cronulla Sharks v Titans. 5.00 Rugby League. NRL Women’s Premiership. NZ Warriors v Knights. 7.00 Rugby League. NRL. South Sydney Rabbitohs v Eels. 7.30 MOVIE: Lethal Weapon 3. (1992, M) 9.50 MOVIE: Exit Wounds. (2001, MA15+) 11.50 Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 12.50pm Outback Opal Hunters. 3.50 Celebrity Ghost Stories. 4.50 The Dog House UK. (Premiere) 5.50 MOVIE: Space Jam. (1996) 7.30 MOVIE: The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King. (2003, M) 11.35 The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power. 12.45am The Purge. 2.25 MOVIE: Snatchers. (2025, MA15+) 4.00 Late Programs.
TEN (5, 10)
6am Morning Programs. 10.00 PBS News Compass Points. 10.30 PBS Washington Week. 11.00 Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. H’lights. 12.00 Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. H’lights. 1.00 Speedweek. 3.00 Going Places. (R) 4.30 Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. H’lights. 5.30 WWII Women On The Frontline. (PGav, R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Alexander The Great: Legendary Conqueror: Son Of Zeus. (M) 8.25 Secret Weapons Of China’s First Emperor. (PG) 9.25 Castle Secrets. (Mav, R) 10.20 Kennedy: Into The Political Jungle (1946-1956) (PG, R) 11.10 Guillaume’s Paris. (R) 11.40 The Throwback. (R) 11.55 Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. Stage 9.
3.45 Junior Doctors Down Under. (Ma, R) 4.35 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 WorldWatch.
6am Morning Programs. 11.30 Jeopardy! 2pm Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. H’lights. 3.00 Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. H’lights. 4.00 Bamay. 4.20 WorldWatch. 5.50 Bermuda Triangle: Into Cursed Waters. 6.40 Abandoned Engineering. 8.30 Sitting Bull. 10.05 Hudson & Rex. 11.00 Under The Bridge. 12.50am Sex Tape Germany. 1.45 Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 11.50 Priscilla. (2023, Madl) 1.55pm Big Fish. (2003, PGav) 4.15 Black Narcissus. (1947, PGa) 6.10 The Fifth Element. (1997, PGnsv) 8.30 Vengeance: A Love Story. (2017, MA15+v) 10.20 Sin City. (2005, MA15+v) 12.40am Django Unchained. (2012, MA15+avw) 3.40 Evil Does Not Exist. (2023, Mv, Japanese) 5.40 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. Noon Over The Black Dot. 12.30 Inside The Huddle. 1.00 FIFA World Cup Classic Matches. 3.00 Sunny And The Dark Horse. 4.30 Garma Sound Lines. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40
SEVEN (6, 7)
6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 To Be Advised. 12.30 Jabba’s Movies. (PGhv, R) 1.00 Border Security: International. (PG, R) 1.30 Sunday Footy Feast. 4.00 AFL Women’s Pre-Game Show. 4.30 Football. AFL Women’s. St Kilda v Carlton. From Marvel Stadium, Melbourne.
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Football. AFL. Round 22. St Kilda v Carlton. From Marvel Stadium, Melbourne. 10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion and interviews. 11.00 7NEWS Spotlight. (R) Focuses on long-form investigations. 12.00 Curfew. (Premiere, MA15+av) A woman’s life is disrupted when her sister returns.
1.00 Harry’s Practice. (R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R)
4.00 NBC Today. News and current affairs.
5.00 Sunrise Early News. The latest news, sport and weather.
5.30 Sunrise.
6am Morning Programs. 12.30pm Your Money & Your Life. 1.00 The Master. 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 Better Homes. 3.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 4.30 My Greek Odyssey. 5.30 The Great Outdoors. 6.00 Australia’s Best Backyards. 6.30 Escape To The Country. 7.30 The Coroner. 8.30 Vera. 10.30 The Thief, His Wife And The Canoe. 11.30 The Coroner. 12.30am Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Athletics. World Under 20 C’ships. 2pm Fishy Business. 2.30 Fish’n Mates. 3.00 American Resto. 5.00 Counting Cars. 6.00 Football. AFL Women’s. St Kilda v Carlton. 6.30 Border Security USA. 7.00 Border Security. 8.30 MOVIE: Central Intelligence. (2016, M) 10.45 MOVIE: The Scorpion King. (2002, M) 1am Golf. LIV Golf League New York.
6.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) Follows the staff at the Animal Welfare League as they Staffordshire bull terrier. 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. Neale helps Melbourne couple Leonie and Noel, who must decide if they move from the house they built after 18 years. 9.50 Airport 24/7. (PGal, R) A tarmac collision disrupts passengers. mysterious plane lands unannounced. 10.50 Ambulance Australia. (Ma, R) A code one comes in for a two-year-old. 11.50 FBI. (Mv, R) A chaotic campus protest turns deadly. 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power.
6.00 Hello SA. (PG, R) 6.30 A Current Affair. (R) 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 AFL Sunday Footy Show. (PG) 12.00 Wide World Of Sports. (PG) 1.00 GolfBarons. (PG, R) 1.40 The Block. (PGl, R) 4.00 Ski Rescue Down Under. (PGal) 5.00 9News
6.00 9News Sunday.
7.00 The Block. (PGl) A body corporate meeting rattles one team.
8.40 60 Minutes. Current affairs program, investigating, analysing and uncovering the issues affecting all Australians.
9.40 9News Late.
10.10 The First 48: School’s Out. (Mav)
11.10 Black Widow: Unraveling The Web. (Mav)
12.00 Murder In The 21st: The Brutal Truth. (MA15+v) 12.50 GolfBarons. (PG, R)
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)
4.30 Destination WA. (PG, R)
5.00 Today Early News.
5.30 Today.
6am Morning Programs. 1.30pm Rugby League. NRL Women’s Premiership. Dragons v Tigers. 3.30 Rugby League. NRL. Dragons v Cronulla Sharks. 6.00 Rugby League. NRL Women’s Premiership. Roosters v Eels. 8.00 David Attenborough’s Asia. 9.10 Paramedics. 10.10 Emergency. 11.10 Major Crimes. 12.10am Midsomer Murders. 2.10 Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 11.30 The Last Pope? 1.20pm LEGO Masters Aust Vs World. 4.00 The Toys That Built The World. 5.00 Cards And Collectables Australia. 5.30 MOVIE: The LEGO Ninjago Movie. (2017, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: Meg 2: The Trench. (2023, M) 9.40 MOVIE: Deep Blue Sea. (1999, M) 11.50 Bel-Air. 1.35am Love Island Games. 3.50 Late Programs.
6.30 10 News+. (Final) Comprehensive coverage of the day’s top stories, investigative reports and stories that haven’t been heard. 7.00 MasterChef Australia. (Final, PG) title of MasterChef champion 2026. 9.00 The Traitors Australia. (PGl, R) Gretel Killeen invites 22 infamous Australians to Claremont Manor to play the ultimate game of trust and treachery, with a chance at winning $250,000. 12.00 10 News+. (Final, R) Comprehensive coverage of the day’s top stories, investigative reports and stories that haven’t been heard. 12.30 Home Shopping. (R)
Monday, August 10
ABC TV (2) SBS (3)
6am Morning Programs. 10.45 Father Brown. (PGv, R) 11.30 Nigella At My Table. (R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Landline. (R) 2.00 Back Roads. (PG, R) 2.25 Home Delivery. (PG, R) 2.55 Race Around The World. (Final, R) 4.00 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGv, R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
6.25 Hard Quiz. (PG,R)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 7.30.
8.00 Australian Story. Australians tell personal stories.
8.30 Four Corners. Investigative journalism program.
9.20 Media Watch. (PG) Presented byLinton Besser. 9.35 Foreign Correspondent. (R) Looks atthe geisha community inJapan.
10.05 ABC Late News.
10.20 The Business. (R)
10.40 Murdoch Mysteries. (PG,R)
11.25 Long Lost Family. (R)
12.10 Rage. (MA15+dhlnsv)
2.45 Gardening Australia. (R)
3.45 Love Your Garden. (R)
4.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
5.30 7.30. (R)
6am Children’s Programs. 3pm Play School: Down At The Beach. 3.25 Wiggle. 4.05 Andy’s Aquatic Adventures. 4.20 Santiago Of The Seas. 5.30 Talking Tom Heroes. 5.55 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.45 HexVets And Magic Pets. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.40 Ninjago. 8.05 Young Sheldon. 8.30 Young Sheldon. 8.50 Secrets Of The Zoo. 9.35 Hard Quiz Kids. 10.00 Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. Noon MOVIE: Singing Back The Buffalo. (2024, PG) 1.45 First Horse. 2.00 On Country Kitchen. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 4.30 Dreaming Big. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 The 77 Percent. 5.55 Bamay. 6.35 Waterworld Africa. 7.30 Who Do You Think You Are? 8.30 Garma Sound Lines. 10.05 MOVIE: Charlie’s Country. (2013, M) Midnight Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Cycling. Tour deFrance Femmes. H’lights. 12.00 Cycling. Tour deFrance Femmes. H’lights. 1.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 The Royals: A History Of Scandals. (PG, R) 3.00 Going Places. (R) 3.30 The Cook Up. (PG, R) 4.05 Jeopardy! 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. Tour deFrance Femmes. H’lights.
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Scandinavia With Simon Reeve. (PG,R)
8.40 24 Hours In Emergency: Picking Up The Pieces. (Mal) A45-year-old has fallen three metres from aladder.
9.35 Alone Australia. (Ml,R) Oneparticipant attempts tochange the game.
10.45 SBS World News Late.
11.15 Gomorrah. (MA15+v,R)
3.00 The Royals: A History Of Scandals: Wealth And Opulence. (PG,R)
3.55 Junior Doctors Down Under: Spider Bite. (Ma,R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6am Morning Programs. 1pm Inside The Huddle. 1.30 Over The Black Dot. 2.00 Cycling. Tour deFrance Femmes. H’lights. 3.00 Cycling. Tour deFrance Femmes. H’lights. 4.10 WorldWatch. 6.10 Mysteries From Above. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 History’s Greatest Mysteries. 9.20 The UnBelievable. 10.10 The Americans. 11.50 Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. Noon Manganinnie. (1980, PGa) 1.40 Under The Cover Of Cloud. (2018, PGals) 3.20 The Caine Mutiny. (1954, PG) 5.35 Shin Ultraman. (2022, PGv, Japanese, English, Russian) 7.40 The Nugget. (2002, Ml) 9.30 Atlantis Inferno. (1983, M) 11.25 Sky Pirates. (1986, Mv) 1am Vengeance: A Love Story. (2017, MA15+v) 2.50 Late Programs.
SEVEN (6, 7)
6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 Clarkson’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire UK. (R) 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. (R) 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGadv) Remi gives Sonny anultimatum. 7.30 The Voice. (PG) Afresh batch ofundiscovered talent step into the spotlight for their chance toprove they have the voice.
9.00 The Rookie. (Mav) Nolan and Garza lead ahigh-stakes operation that quickly goes south.
10.00 The Agenda Setters. (R) Anexpert panel tackles the biggest AFL topics.
11.00 The Agenda Setters: Rugby League. Anexpert panel tackles the biggest rugby league topics.
12.00 New Amsterdam. (MA15+av,R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
6am Morning Programs. 11.30 The Great Australian Doorstep. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 My Greek Odyssey. 2.00 Weekender. 2.30 Auction Squad. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Doc Martin. 8.30 A Touch Of Frost. 10.50 Escape To The Country. 11.50 Doc Martin. 12.50am Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 2.30pm Motor Racing. Supercars C’ship. Perth Super 440. Support Races. Dunlop Series. H’lights. 3.30 Duck Dynasty. 4.30 American Resto. 5.00 Storage Wars. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.30 The Agenda Setters. 8.30 Aussie Gold Hunters. 9.30 Gem Hunters Down Under. 10.30 Outback Opal Hunters. 11.30 Late Programs.
7.30 The Block. (PGl) Oneteam goes AWOL. (Ml) Ateam offooty experts tackles the AFL’s big issues and controversies.
9.45 Players. (Ml) Three ofthe AFL’s biggest stars talk about all
10.45 9News Late.
11.15 100% Footy. (Mal)
12.10 Tipping Point. (PG,R)
1.05 Hello SA. (PG)
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
2.30 Global Shop. (R)
3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)
4.30 A Current Affair. (R)
5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.
6am Morning Programs. Noon David Attenborough’s Asia. 1.10 Midsomer Murders. 3.10 Antiques Roadshow. 3.40 MOVIE: Tender Mercies. (1983, PG) 5.30 The Travelling Auctioneers. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 Death In Paradise. 8.40 The Madame Blanc Mysteries. 9.40 Agatha Raisin. 10.40 Love Rat. 11.40 The First 48. 12.40am Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 11.40 Jeopardy! Australia. 12.40pm MOVIE: Drink, Slay, Love. (2017, M) 2.30 Baywatch. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Baywatch. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Sicario. (2015, MA15+) 11.00 Seinfeld. Midnight The 100. 12.50 Legacies. 1.40 The Real Housewives Of Durban. 2.35 Jeopardy! Australia. 3.30 Late Programs.
Tuesday, August 11
ABC TV (2) SBS (3)
6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.00 Aust Story. (R) 10.30 Kitchen Cabinet. (R) 11.00 When The River Rose. (Ml, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Grantchester. (PGa, R) 2.00 Parliament Question Time. 3.00 Restoration Australia. (R) 4.00 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGv, R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 10.00 Great Irish Interiors. (Return) 11.00 Cycling. Tour deFrance Femmes. H’lights. 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 The Royals: A History Of Scandals. (PG, R) 3.00 The Cook Up. (PG, R) 3.35 Agatha’s Story. 4.35 Jeopardy! 5.00 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.30 North American Fan Feasts. (PG, R)
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 6.30 SBS World News.
7.35 Portugal With Michael Portillo. (PGv,R) 8.30 Insight. 9.30 Dateline: The
10.00 SBS World News Late.
10.30 Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy: Bologna. (Ml,R)
2.40 Gardening Australia. (R)
3.40 Love Your Garden. (PG, R) 4.30
Roadshow. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)
6am Children’s Programs. 3pm Play School: Down At The Beach. 4.05 Andy’s Aquatic Adventures. 4.20 Santiago Of The Seas. 5.30 Talking Tom Heroes. 5.55 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.45 HexVets And Magic Pets. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.40 Ninjago. 8.05 Young Sheldon. 8.30 Young Sheldon. 8.50 Secrets Of The Zoo. 9.35 Harry Potter: Wizards Of Baking. 10.55 Late Programs.
Morning Programs. 12.30pm Ella. 2.00 On Country Kitchen. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 4.30 Dreaming Big. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 Indian Country Today News. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40
11.20 Mozart/Mozart. (Premiere, PGa) 1.10 Blackwater. (MA15+alv,R) 3.25 The Royals: A History Of Scandals. (PGs,R) 4.20 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6am Morning Programs. 12.25pm Help, I’ve Gone Viral! 1.30 Sports Gone Wrong. 2.00 Cycling. Tour deFrance Femmes. H’lights. 3.00 Where Are You Really From? 3.30 Food Lovers’ Guide. 4.10 WorldWatch. 6.10 Mysteries From Above. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 MOVIE: Robin’s Wish. (2020, M) 9.55 MOVIE: Good Morning, Vietnam. (1987, M) 12.05am Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 11.20 Atlantis Inferno. (1983, M) 1.10pm Without A Clue. (1988, PGav) 3.10 The Fifth Element. (1997, PGnsv) 5.30 The Three Musketeers. (1973, PGsv) 7.30 The Mask Of Zorro. (1998, Mv) 10.00 Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood And Honey. (2023) 11.35 Anna And The Apocalypse. (2017, MA15+hvw) 1.40am The Survivor. (2021, MA15+av) 4.05 Late Programs.
SEVEN (6, 7)
6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 Clarkson’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire UK. (R) 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. (R) 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. 7.30 The Voice. (PG) Thehalfway mark ofthe blind auditions arrives. 8.45 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA. (MA15+l) Gordon Ramsay heads toThe Verdict, arestaurant known for serving traditional New Orleans cuisine.
9.45 The Agenda Setters. (R) Anexpert panel tackles the biggest AFL topics. 10.45 Happy’s Place. (PGal)
11.45 Motorway Patrol. (PGl)
12.15 New Amsterdam. (MA15+av,R)
1.15 Harry’s Practice. (R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
6am Morning Programs. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 Creek To Coast. 2.30 The Amazing Homemakers. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Call The Midwife. 8.30 Inspector Morse. 10.50 Escape To The Country. 11.50 Call The Midwife. 12.50am Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 12.30pm Pawn Stars. 1.30 Aussie Gold Hunters. 2.30 Gem Hunters Down Under. 3.30 Duck Dynasty. 4.30 American Resto. 5.00 Storage Wars. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.30 The Agenda Setters. 8.30 Outback Wreckers. 9.30 Outback Truckers. 10.30 Heavy Tow Truckers Down Under. 11.30 Ice Road Truckers. 12.30am Late Programs.
7.30 The Block. (PGl) Scott Cam announces a$250,000 prize for the winner ofthe week’s bathroom.
8.40 To Be Advised. (Ml) Footy experts tackle the AFL’s big issues.
10.55 9News Late.
11.25 Outback Opal Hunters. (PGal)
12.15 Tipping Point. (PG,R)
1.10 GolfBarons. (PG,R)
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Explore TV: Colorado. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.
6am Morning Programs. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon Death In Paradise. 1.00 The Madame Blanc Mysteries. 2.00 Agatha Raisin. 3.00 Antiques Roadshow. 3.30 MOVIE: Steptoe And Son Ride Again. (1973, PG) 5.30 The Travelling Auctioneers. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 New Tricks. 8.40 Agatha Christie’s Marple. 10.40 Rizzoli & Isles. 11.40 Poirot. 12.40am Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 11.30 My Way. 11.45 Jeopardy! Australia. 12.45pm MOVIE: Galentine’s Day Nightmare. (2021, M) 2.30 Baywatch. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Baywatch. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: The Suicide Squad. (2021, MA15+) 11.00 Seinfeld. Midnight The 100. 12.50 Legacies. 1.40 The Real Housewives Of Durban. 2.35 Late Programs.
6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (PG) Hosted byGrant Denyer.
7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG) Sixcontestants answer multiple-choice questions that escalate incash-prize value.
7.30 Deal Or No Deal: Celebrity Jackpot. (Premiere) Hosted byGrant Denyer.
8.40 Have You Been Paying Attention? (Malns) Celebrity panellists compete tosee who can remember the most about events ofthe week.
9.40 10’s Late News. Comprehensive coverage oflocal, national and international news, aswell asthe latest sport and weather.
10.40 The Big Bang Theory. (PG,R) Sheldon takes aninterest inAmy’s work. 12.00 Home Shopping. (R)
6am Morning Programs. 8.00 Lingo. (R) 9.00 The
6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (PG) Hosted byGrant Denyer. 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG) Hosted byRebecca Gibney. 7.30 The Traitors Australia. (PGl) Another murder places the players onhigh alert. As suspicions run wild, alliances begin 9.00 The Cheap Seats. (Mal) Presenters Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald take alook atthe week that was. 10.00 10’s Late News. Comprehensive coverage oflocal, national and international news, aswell asthe latest sport and weather. 11.00
Wednesday, August 12
ABC TV (2) SBS (3)
6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.00 Four Corners. (R) 10.45 Foreign Correspondent. (R) 11.15 Back Roads. (PG, R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Press Club. 1.35 Media Watch. (PG, R) 2.00 Parliament. 3.00 Restoration Aust. (R) 4.00 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGv, R) 4.40 Long Lost Family. (R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 7.30.
8.00 Hard Quiz. (PGa)
8.30 Spicks And Specks. (PG) Hosted by comedian Adam Hills. 9.00 New Zealand Spy. (PG) The spies undertake a mission on a train.
9.25 Race Around The World. (Final, R) The winning racer is revealed.
10.30 ABC Late News.
10.45 The Business. (R)
11.00 Treasure & Dirt. (Malv, R)
12.00 Murdoch Mysteries. (MA15+av, R)
12.45 Long Lost Family. (R)
1.30 Parliament Question Time.
2.45 Gardening Australia. (R)
3.40 Love Your Garden. (R)
4.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
5.30 7.30. (R)
6am Children’s Programs. 3pm Play School: Down At The Beach. 3.25 Wiggle. 4.05 Andy’s Aquatic Adventures. 4.20 Santiago Of The Seas. 5.30 Talking Tom Heroes. 5.55 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.45 HexVets And Magic Pets. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.40 Ninjago. 8.05 Young Sheldon. 8.30 Young Sheldon. 8.50 Secrets Of The Zoo. 9.35 The Piano. 10.30 Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 2pm On Country Kitchen. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 4.30 Dreaming Big. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.35 News. 6.05 Bamay. 6.45 Seasons Of The Wild. 7.35 Breaking Wild. 8.30 Pro Bull Riding Australia. 9.30 Over The Black Dot. 10.00 Inside The Huddle. 10.30 MOVIE: Mahana. (2016, M) 12.20am Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 8.00 DD India News Hour. 9.00 For The Love Of Dogs. (PGa, R) 10.05 Great Irish Interiors. 11.05 Make Up: A Glamorous History. (PGa, R) 12.00 WorldWatch.
2.00 Dateline. (R) 2.30 Insight. (R) 3.30 The Cook Up. (R) 4.00 Lost For Words. (PGal, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Alone Australia. (Ml)
8.40 Titanic Sinks Tonight. (Mav) The Titanic slips deeper into the freezing Atlantic.
9.45 Six Four. (Mv) Chris has an unexpected visitor.
10.40 SBS World News Late. 11.10 The Congregation. (Return, Ms) 12.05 Crime. (Malv, R)
2.50 The Royals: A History Of Scandals: Suspicious Deaths. (PG, R)
3.45 Junior Doctors Down Under. (Mal, R)
4.40 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6am Morning Programs. 11.55 DW The Day. 12.25pm Figure Skating. ISU Grand Prix 5. H’lights. 3.00 The Feed. 4.10 WorldWatch. 6.10 Mysteries From Above. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 History’s Greatest Mysteries. 9.20 The UnBelievable. 10.10 The Americans. Midnight Threesome. 12.55 Sex Tape Finland. 2.40 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera.
6am Morning Programs. 11.45 The Nugget. (2002, Ml) 1.35pm Moonlighting. (1982, PGal) 3.25 Shin Ultraman. (2022, PGv, Japanese, English, Russian) 5.30 The Four Musketeers: Revenge Of Milady. (1974, PGlv) 7.30 Captain Fantastic. (2016, Malns) 9.40 Sky Sharks. (2020, Spanish, English, French) 11.35 OBEX. (2025, MA15+v) 1.20am Late Programs.
Thursday, August 13
ABC TV (2) SBS (3)
SEVEN (6, 7)
6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 Clarkson’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire UK. (PG, R) 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. (R) 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PG)
7.30 The 1% Club UK. (PG, R) Hosted by Lee Mack.
8.30 The Front Bar. (Ml) Hosts Sam Pang, Mick Molloy and Andy Maher take a lighter look at all things AFL. Hamish McLachlan chats with Tayla Harris.
10.00 The Agenda Setters. (R)
11.00 The Fall And Rise Of Reggie Dinkins. (PGals) Monica helps Brina with her music career.
11.30 Stumble. (PGals)
12.00 Everything I Know About Love. (MA15+s)
1.00 Harry’s Practice. (R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
6am Morning Programs. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 Secrets Of Beautiful Gardens. 2.00 Weekender. 2.30 House Calls To The Rescue. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Heartbeat. 8.45 Foyle’s War. 10.50 Air Crash Inv: Accident Files. 11.50 Bargain Hunt. 1am Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 12.30pm Pawn Stars. 1.30 Outback Truckers. 2.30 Heavy Tow Truckers Down Under. 3.30 Duck Dynasty. 4.30 American Resto. 5.00 Storage Wars. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.30 The Agenda Setters. 8.30 The Force: BTL. 9.30 Caught On Dashcam. 10.30 World’s Wildest Police Videos. 12.30am Late Programs.
6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (PG) Hosted by Grant Denyer.
7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG, R) Hosted by Rebecca Gibney. 7.30 The Traitors Australia. (PGls) Elation reigns as all the players survive the night, but the Traitors’ unexpected twist sows confusion.
9.00 Boston Blue. (Mav) Danny and Lena’s investigation into a robbery gone wrong quickly turns personal, pushing Lena to devise a plan.
10.00 10’s Late News. Comprehensive coverage of local, national and international news, as well as the latest sport and weather.
11.00 The Cheap Seats. (Mal, R) Presenters Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald take a look at the week that was.
12.00 Home Shopping. (R)
SEVEN (6, 7)
(5, 10) NINE (8, 9) 6am Morning Programs. 10.30 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) 11.00 New Zealand Spy. (PG, R) 11.25 Dr Karl’s How Things Work. (R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Believe Me. (Final, Mal, R) 2.00 Parliament. 3.00 Restoration Aust. (Final, PG, R) 4.00 Frankie Drake. (PG) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.35 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) 7.00 ABC News. 7.30 7.30. 8.00 Back Roads: Barcaldine, Queensland.
8.30 Grand Designs: Sevenoaks Revisit. (Final, PG)
9.15 Treasure & Dirt. (Malv, R)
10.20 ABC Late News.
10.35 The Business. (R)
10.50 Frankie Drake Mysteries. (PGav, R)
11.35 Long Lost Family. (PG, R)
12.25 Parliament Question Time.
1.25 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
2.45 Gardening Australia. (R)
3.45 Love Your Garden. (R)
4.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
5.30 7.30. (R)
6am Children’s Programs. 3pm Play School: Down At The Beach. 4.05 Andy’s Aquatic Adventures. 4.20 Santiago Of The Seas. 5.30 Talking Tom Heroes. 5.55 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.45 HexVets And Magic Pets. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.40 Ninjago. 8.05 Young Sheldon. 8.30 Young Sheldon. 8.50 Secrets Of The Zoo. 9.30 Teenage Boss: Next Level. 10.00 Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 1.25pm Inside The Huddle. 2.00 On Country Kitchen. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 4.30 Dreaming Big. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 Te Ao With Moana. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Seasons Of The Wild. 7.30 Going Places. 8.30 The End Of The Valley. (Premiere) 9.05 MOVIE: Unforgiven. (1992, M) 11.25 Servant Or Slave. 12.25am Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 9.00 For The Love Of Dogs. (PGa, R) 10.05 Great Irish Interiors. 11.05 Make Up: A Glamorous History. (PGa, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Junior Doctors Down Under. (Ma, R) 2.55 The Cook Up. (R) 3.30 Lost For Words. (PGal, R) 4.35 Plating Locally. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Spain With Michael Portillo. (PG) 8.30 Eva Longoria: Searching For France. (PGalv) Eva Longoria heads to Alsace. 9.20 Say Nothing. Dolours’ friends and enemies starts to blur.
10.05 SBS World News Late. 10.35 Reyka. (Return, MA15+av) 11.35 Kin. (MA15+lv, R)
3.25 The Royals: A History Of Scandals. (PG, R) 4.20 Bamay: Ngarrindjeri And Yuin Country. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6am Morning Programs. Noon DW The Day. 12.30 What Does Australia Really Think About… 2.40 Jeopardy! 3.05 Insight. 4.10 WorldWatch. 6.10 Mysteries From Above. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 History’s Greatest Mysteries. 9.20 The UnBelievable. 10.10 Alone Australia. 11.20 The Americans. 1.05am The Change. 2.00 Sex Tape Finland. 2.50 Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 10.50 The Mask Of Zorro. (1998, Mv) 1.20pm The Way. (2010, PGadl) 3.40 The Three Musketeers. (1973, PGsv) 5.40 Funny Face. (1957) 7.40 Bring It On. (2000, PGals) 9.30 Cats. (2019, PG) 11.35 Hope Springs. (2012, Mas) 1.30am Sky Sharks. (2020, Spanish, English, French) 3.25 Oskars Kleid. (2022, Mal, German, Spanish) 5.20 The Way. (2010, PGadl)
6.00 Sunrise. 9.30 Test Cricket: PreGame Show. 10.30 Cricket. First Test. AUS v Bangladesh. Morning. 12.30 Test Cricket: The Lunch Break. 1.10 Cricket. First Test. AUS v Bangladesh. Arvo. From Marrara Stadium, Darwin. 3.10 Test Cricket: Tea Break. 3.30 Cricket. First Test. AUS v Bangladesh. Late arvo. From Marrara Stadium, Darwin.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Football. AFL Women’s. Round 1. Hawthorn v Melbourne. From Ikon Park, Melbourne. 9.15 Kick Ons. Kane Cornes, Josh Jenkins and Jason Richardson debate the hottest topics and preview the upcoming AFL matches.
9.45 Air Crash Investigations: (PGa, R)
Looks at a cargo jet crash.
10.45 Ron Iddles: The Good Cop: Slawomir Tomczyk. (Malv, R)
11.45 Motorway Patrol. (PG)
12.15 Mr Robot. (MA15+adlsv, R)
2.30 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
6am Morning Programs. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 Air Crash Inv: Accident Files. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Better Homes. 5.00 Escape To The Country. 6.00 Bargain Hunt. 7.00 Home And Away. 7.30 Father Brown. 8.30 Karen Pirie. 10.30 Genius: Einstein. 11.30 Father Brown. 12.30am Bargain Hunt. 1.30 Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 12.30pm Pawn Stars. 1.30 Highway Patrol. 2.30 The Force: BTL. 3.30 Counting Cars. 4.30 American Resto. 5.00 Storage Wars. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.30 Highway Patrol: Dumb Decisions. 8.30 Air Crash Inv. 9.30 MOVIE: Resident Evil: Extinction. (2007, MA15+) 11.30 American Pickers. 12.30am Late Programs.
6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 The Block. (PGl, R) 1.10 C’ships. Finals. From William Woollett Jr Aquatics Center, Irvine, California, US. 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.30 WIN News.
6.00 9News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 RBT. (Mdl, R)
8.30 Emergency. (Mm, R) An elderly man falls off a roof.
9.30 A+E After Dark. (Malm, R) Staff treat a drunk driver after a car crash.
10.30 Chicago Med. (MA15+amv)
11.20 9News Late.
11.50 Tipping Point. (PG, R)
12.40 Pointless. (PG, R)
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
2.30 Global Shop. (R)
3.00 Swimming. Championships. Day 2. Heats.
4.15 My Way. (R)
4.30 A Current Affair. (R)
5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.
6am Morning Programs. 1.10pm Swimming. 3.00 Antiques Roadshow. 3.30 MOVIE: The Siege Of Pinchgut. (1959, PG) 5.30 The Travelling Auctioneers. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Penrith Panthers v Roosters. 9.55 NRL Thursday Night Footy Post-Match. 10.40 The Brokenwood Mysteries. 12.40am Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 11.30 Innovation Nation. 11.45 Big Rigs Of Oz. 12.15pm Cards And Collectables Australia. 12.45 MOVIE: Deadly Sorority. (2017, M) 2.30 Baywatch. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Baywatch. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: The Vow. (2012, PG) 10.35 Seinfeld. 11.35 Rugby Heaven. 12.35am Legacies. 1.25 Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 7.30 Everyday Gourmet. (R) 8.00 Lingo. (R) 9.00 The Finish Line. (R) 10.00 Ent. Tonight. (R) 10.30 The Traitors Australia. (PGls, R) 12.00 Everyday Gourmet. 12.30 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG, R) 1.00 News. 2.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R) 2.30
6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (PG, R)
7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG) Six contestants answer multiple-choice questions that escalate in cash-prize value.
7.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) A family hopes a dog called Peanut can help heal them. Two staffy sisters, Nebiru and Nobu, need loving homes.
8.40 NCIS: Sydney. (Mv) The team tracks a killer after a US Navy attaché is found dead with a USB lodged in his throat. 9.40 10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather. 10.40 The Big Bang Theory. (PGs, R) Sheldon works with Bert. 12.00 Home Shopping. (R)
Pino still bringing the music
With 40 years of experience playing and teaching music in the Geelong region, Pino Pantano has not only been a stalwart of the local music scene but helped many young (and some not so young) budding musicians cut their teeth.
Pantanostillremembersthefirsttimehe played a musical instrument and instantly fell in love.
“I was about seven and I got a toy drum for Christmas, with little wooden sticks thatcamewithit,”hesaid.“AndIputahole in it so quickly and I was just shattered. Soon after that, I go up to my dad, tugging his leg, telling him I needed some drum lessons. He just said, nah, forget it.
“But I kept bugging him about it, and
he said look, you can go to a friend of the family and you can get guitar lessons. So I had guitar lessons, which was fine, and I’m reallygratefulforitatthispoint.Ijustknew Ilovedmusic.”
A lifelong Geelong resident (“Born in Baxter House just around the corner, went to South Geelong Primary School just down the road, Geelong High School just up the road, I run my business from Fenwick Street and they’ll be burying me inthecemeteryatEastGeelong”),Pantano has been making a living teaching music sincehewas16 yearsold.
“I love music, and the people that come tome(tolearn)lovemusictoo,that’swhere it all begins,” he said.
When ska rode into town
From beginning his own cover band as a teenager in the late 70s to writing, recording and performing with the likes of John Butler and Joe Camilleri, legendary Australian musician Nicky Bomba has toured the world playing funk, reggae, rock,jazz androots.
But he maintains that performing with the Melbourne Ska Orchestra, which he founded in 2003, is one of the best experiences he has ever had on stage.
Bomba said playing with the group, which features more than 20 players on stage on a given night, was always “a party in the bandroom, before we even go on”.
“There is a tangible energy when you are on stage with that amount of gifted musicians who are on the same page when it comes to going on that journey,” he said.
“At any point we might just take a left turn and go, ‘stop here, we’re going to do
this rhythm’. It’s a really fluid unit…it has that energy, that confidence that we can go anywhere.”
Bomba brings the ARIA award–winning orchestra to Geelong’s Eureka Hotel on Friday 21 August as part of a 14-date national tour.
The tour features music from the band’s 2025 album The Ballad of Monte Loco – a spaghetti Western–inspired collection of ska and reggae songs evoking shades of Ennio Morricone – and coincides with the release of a deluxe edition Monte Loco Rides Again.
The new edition includes a selection of liveversionsofalbumtracks,whichBomba said was “where the real joy happens”.
“These live recordings capture that side oftheband…theessenceofitisalotofjoy,” hesaid.
Visit tickets.avclive.com.au for tickets.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
17 years ago
7 August, 2009
Council worker sacked for accepting a free steak sandwich has been offered his job back, according to a union representative. But he has refused to return to work after City Hall offered extra pay-out money rather than reinstatement to his colleague sacked for the same offence.
12 years ago 8 August, 2014
Crooksarepassingcounterfeit$50notesin shops across central Geelong and as far as Waurn Ponds. Police have warned traders to be wary of the bogus notes, which they described as “reasonable quality”.
“My job is to fan that flame. You can get any musical information you want on the internet, it’s right there…but no, you’ve got to surroundyourself with it.
“I love teaching because I love how the human brain learns, and everyone comes from a different point of view. There’s value in music – learning music, listening to music, being part of a live gig, it’s unbelievable.
“Andwhenitcomestogigs…at56,it’snot about me, it’s about the audience. I want to engage with them, interact with them, do somethingthatmakesthemhappy.Forme, that’s the whole point of being on Earth.”
Pino Pantano is at the Portarlington Grand Hotel on Friday 14 August.
7 years ago 9 August, 2019
Ahousingaffordabilitycrisishasproduced arecordnumberofhomelesspeopleacross the Geelong region, according to a welfare agency.
More than 5000 people in need of housing sought help from local agencies in the past year, said Barwon South West Homelessness Network coordinator Rebecca Callahan.
2 years ago 9 August, 2024
Ten people have been arrested, and several firearms seized during an ongoing crackdown on serious offences across Greater Geelong. Geelong Crime Investigation Unit detectives targeted individuals linked to recent incidents, such as armed robberies, burglaries, firearms offences and police rammings, over the past week.
The Geelong Independent looks back through the pages of our archives
The Melbourne Ska Orchestra bring the party to Geelong this month. (Supplied)
Pino Pantano performs solo at the Portarlington Grand next weekend. (Supplied)
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. Due to the ever increasing entries coming in each week for our Community Calendar page, we have enough to fill almost three pages. This means your entry will not appear each week. We will do our best to rotate them fairly. If you have an existing entry that no longer operates, please let us know so we can remove it. Your patience and understanding is welcome for this FREE service. The calendar in its entirety with every entry is posted every Saturday at 9am at geelongindy.com.au
Talk
Cherished Pets’ Dr Alicia Kennedy speaks about her recent overseas study tour for improving the lives of people and their pets. Portarlington Senior Citizens Club, Monday 10 August, 1-3pm. RSVP stayinginportarlington@gmail.com 0409 790 050
Leopold Library
Tuesdays 2pm: Digital drop in for basic tech needs. Free school holiday programs. All ages, all interests. 4201 0675, grlc.vic.gov.au
History talk
Last Sunday of each month, 1.30-3pm, National Wool Museum. Gold coin donation. Topics usually relating to Greater Geelong. Facebook: Geelong Museum Association
Chatty Cafe
Indulge in cake, coffee/tea and chat, South Barwon Community Centre, 33 Mt Pleasant Road, Belmont. Open 2nd and 4th Monday each month, 10-11am, $5 donation. 5243 8388
Geelong ME/CFS Support Group (including fibromyalgia, long COVID and Lyme disease) meets first Tuesday of the month, 36 Saffron Street, Newtown, 1-3pm. geelonggroupcfsme@hotmail.com
Highton Seniors
Carpet bowls, bingo, cards, taichi, line dancing, mahjong. Community Centre, 84 Barrabool Road, Highton. Elma, 0411 065 524
Australian Multicultural Support Services
Social Support Groups for communities from different multicultural backgrounds for seniors over 65. Meals, activities and fun. White Eagle House, Breakwater, 10am-2.30pm Fridays. 9689 9170, amcservices.org.au, info@amcservices.org.au
Cards
Wanted: card sharp partners to play the game of Bolivia on Thursday evenings. For venue email Ingrid. griddlepop@hotmail.com
Geelong Historical Society Inc.
Guest speaker first Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm, Virginia Todd Hall, 9 Clarence Street, Geelong West. Harry, 0473 807 944, geelonghistoricalsociety.org.au
Stamps
Geelong Philatelic Society Inc meets 7pm first Saturday of the month (excluding January) at Virginia Todd Community Hall, 9-15 Clarence Street, Geelong West, and 12.30pm third Monday of the month (excluding December) at Belmont Pavillion, 162 Barrabool Road, Belmont. Julie, 0438 270 549
Sing Australia Geelong Choir Wednesdays 7.30-9.30pm at Senior
Social badminton Players wanted. Mondays 9.45am, Barwon Valley Activities Centre. Lynne, 5243 1275
Citizens Centre, 52 Thomson Street, Belmont. No auditions needed. Mary, 0419 278 456
Mindfulness & meditation U3A
9.30am and 12.30pm Wednesdays, Cobbin Farm, Grove Road, Grovedale. Jean, 5264 7484
Lions Club of Geelong Breakfast Inc
Meets first Tuesday of each month at 8am, Eastern Hub (behind East Geelong Cemetery), followed by breakfast. Dinner event third Thursday of each month in Geelong. ajd53m@yahoo.com
Scribes Writers Group
South Barwon Community Centre, Mondays 9.30am-noon. Welcoming new members to refine their skills. geelongscribeswriters@gmail.com, 5243
Ballroom dancing Belmont Park Pavilion, Thursdays 2-4pm. Val, 5251 3529
Kids’ church Group lessons for children aged 3-6, 7-10 and 10+, 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, 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
Combined Probus Club of Highton Meets third Thursday of each month, South Barwon Football & Netball clubrooms, McDonald Reserve, Reynolds Road, Belmont, 10am. Sandra, 0427 348 260
Zonta Club of Geelong Global human rights organisation working to build a better world for women and girls. Meets first Wednesday monthly for dinner, 6pm. zontaclubgeelong@yahoo.com.au, 0411 628 361
Geelong Prostate Cancer Support Group Meets last Friday of the month (except December), 10am-noon, Belmont Park Pavilion, 162 Barrabool Road, Belmont. Bill, 0414 524 155, info@geelongpsg.net
Geelong ballroom dancing
Saturdays 7.30-10.15pm, corner Bayview Parade and Carey Street, Hamlyn Heights.
Entry: $10. BYO drinks and a plate. 5278 9740, geelongballroomdc.com.au
Corio Bay Lions Club Meets first and third Thursday of each month 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
Children’s play group
For babies, toddlers, and preschoolers with parent/carer. Free play, story time, and music. Wednesdays 10-11.30am in school term, St John’s Highton, 269 Roslyn Road, Highton. office@stjohnshighton.org.au, 0433 191 890
Belmont Seniors
Players wanted to play 500 each Monday 12.30pm. Belmont Senior Centre, 52 Thomson Street, Belmont. 5241 1776
Ocean Grove Library
Tuesday 11 August, 5.40-6.30pm: author event - Sophie Green Wednesday 19 August, 2-3pm: book chat Mondays 10.30-11.30am: preschool story time (during school term) Tuesdays 4-5pm: youth collective (ages 12-18, during school term) Wednesdays 9.30-10am: toddler time (during school term) Thursdays 11.30-11.50am: baby time (all year) Thursdays 3.45-4.45pm: after-school program (during school term)
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
Welcome mat
Belmont Uniting Church every Friday from 10am-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
Bike riding
Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from Belmont. Rides to suit all levels of fitness; e-bikes welcome. Rob, 0412 308 166
Lara Community Market
Run by Rotary Club of Lara District every second Sunday of the month at Lara RSL, 9am-1pm.
St Paul’s Choir rehearses Wednesdays from 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.
Tom Healey, 0451 960 768, healeytf@gmail.com
Bellydance classes
Beginner level, new term commencing. New students welcome. Tuesdays 1.30pm, Life Activities Club, Belmont Park Pavillion, Belmont. Glenys, 0400 214 897
Geelong’s Soroptimist International Service club for women and girls, every second Tuesday of the month from 6pm at Belmont RSL. 0455 835 691, 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
Geelong Anglers Club Meets fourth Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm, 9 Yuille Street, Geelong West. Monthly fishing competitions. Brian, 0417 190 092, 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, 0452 258 333
Scottish dancing GOG Scottish Country Dance classes 7.30pm Tuesdays at Leopold Hill Hall, $5. No partner needed. Vicki, 0412 762 983, Barbara, 0419 511 781
Geelong Showgrounds Museum Museum open to the public on first Sunday of the month 10am-2pm (January and October excepted). Adults $10, students 13-18 $5, under 13 free. 5221 1707
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, facebook.com/GeelongScottishDance
Bingo
Tuesdays 1-3pm, great grocery prizes plus $50 jackpot books, $2.50. Belmont Seniors Centre, 52 Thomson Street, Belmont. Frank, 5241 1776
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
Mainly Music
Music and fun for preschoolers during term time at the Welcome Centre, St Mark’s, Vicarage Road, Leopold, Thursdays at 9.15-11am. $5 per family per week. Text: 0461 582 618 for bookings
Geelong Patchwork & Quilter’s Guild Meets third Saturday of each month 10.30am-3.30pm, Newcomb Hall, Wilsons Road. Visitors welcome. $6 includes time to sit and sew, morning tea and guest speaker. info@geelongpatch.org.au
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, Facebook Dragons Abreast Geelong - Juggernauts
Ride centre officially opened
Ocean Grove’s much anticipated ride centre was officially opened at Kingston Park on Saturday 2 August, after years of campaigning by the community’s youth. Independent photographer Ivan Kemp went along and got these pictures.
The track is opened.
Hendrix gets ready to ride on the track.
Local band Caught in the Crossfire entertained the crowd.
Left: Local didgeridoo player Michael. Centre: Hamish, Nat and Rich are pro riders who, as part of World Trail, designed the track. Right: All smiles for the grand opening.
Flynn and Freddie built jumps for themselves before the track was built.
Mayor Stretch Kontelj and Cr Elise Wilkinson.
Cr Rowan Story and City of Greater Geelong chief executive Ali Wastie.
Pro riders and track designers.
Kids try out the track.
PUZZLES
1 Reason for doing or not doing something (6) 4 In very high spirits (8)
9 Recipe (7) 11 Former US First Lady, – 'Lady Bird' Johnson (7) 12 Flash of lightning (11) 13 Cover (3) 14 Gathers dimensions (8) 16 Governs (5) 19 Expel (5)
20 A form of pasta (8)
22 Hot beverage (3) 24 Great playwright (11)
26 Persecute (7) 27 Understanding of surroundings, – awareness (7)
29 Expenditure (8) 30 Abandon (6)
1 Santa's helper, say (3) 2 Distribute (9) 3 Small military unit (5)
Swathe (6)
Restaurant in Italy (9)
Relating to ocean movements (5) 8 Secret (11) 10 Were of the same opinion (6) 12 Stormy (11)
15 Fully informed; performing at the right rate (2,2,5)
17 Doppelganger (4-5)
18 Strata (6)
21 Holmes’ companion, Dr – (6)
23 Fruit (5)
25 Carpentry tool (5)
28 Tenanted (3)
Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four 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'.
Today’s Aim:
12 words: Good 18 words: Very good 24 words: Excellent
3 LETTERS AGO
1 What type of animal is the South African Boerboel?
2 Which Williams sister is older, Venus or Serena?
What fish is used in the making of
sauce?
What is the first name of Wonder Woman’s alter ego?
In what decade was Frank Sinatra born? 6 In which South American city is the 16th-century Plaza de
Premium car for less cash
By Alistair Kennedy, Marque Motoring
Launched here in late 2025 the Leapmotor B10 is a fully-electric compact SUV from thenewChinesebrandbackedbythehuge Stellantis group which brings a number of brands to Australia including Jeep, Peugeot, RAM, Fiat and Alfa Romeo.
We’re told that the unusual name is a loosetranslationfromtheChineseLingpao Qiche that means Zero Run Automobile. Makes sense.
Leapmotor B10 is the brand’s second model joining the larger C10 SUV that arrived here in early 2025. It’s currently EV only but we’re told that an extended range hybrid (REEV) version will be added later this year.
We understand that a Leapmotor B05 compact electric hatchback will be added totherangelaterthisyear.Others,yettobe confirmed, include a city electric SUV and a large seven-seat SUV plug-in hybrid.
Two variants of the B10 are available, both powered by the same rear-mount motor but charged by different Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries.
The entry-level Style has a 56.2 kWh battery and is priced at $37,888 plus on-road costs while the B10 Design Long Range generates 67.1 kWh and sells for $40,888 plus ORCs.
The B10 is backed by a six-year, 150,000km vehicle warranty and an eight-year,160,000kmhigh-voltagebattery warranty.
Exterior
While Leapmotor B10 shares much of its overall styling with its larger C10 sibling, its compact proportions give it a slightly sportier look. Having said that there’s little that will have it stand out from its numerous compact SUV rivals.
Both B10 variants come with LED automatic head and brake lights, a fixed panoramicglassroofwithapoweredblind, LED automatic headlights and 18-inch alloy wheels.
The Design LR grade adds an LED dynamic rear light bar, rear privacy glass, automatic power folding mirrors, rain-sensing wiper and a power tailgate.
Oddly, there are no rear wipers on either model.
Sixcoloursareavailable.LightWhiteand Starry Night Blue are standard. The other four are $990 options: Galaxy Silver, Tetra Grey, Dawn Purple and Metallic Black.
Interior
The inside of the Leapmotor B10 is a real surprise with a look and feel that’s comparable with a much more established and more expensive brand. As is the norm with Chinese EVs the dash is dominated by a large touchscreen and no physical controls.
There are some quirky features such as the three oval openings at the top and bottom of the dashboard in front of the passenger. Nobody could work out if they were functional or just decorative.
Style comes with grey fabric seats with the Design getting what Leapmotor calls TechnoLeather aka synthetic seats.
Thefrontseatsareheated,ventilatedand poweredwithsixsettingsforthedriverand four for the passenger. The steering wheel is also heated.
The customizable 64-colour interior ambient lighting system can sync with the car’s sound system.
The twin cupholders in the front are tucked behind the centre console and difficulttoreachespeciallyatnight.Which isn’t a bad thing because they fold up and down,asmygrandsonsuggested,liketoilet seats. Five-year olds notice these things.
Boot space, once you discover that it’s accessed through a small button in the
RATINGS
Looks: 8/10
Performance: 8/10
Safety: 8/10
Thirst: 7/10
Practicality: 7/10
Comfort: 7/10
Tech: 7/10
Value: 8/10
right centre of the rear, is a decent 490 litresincludingtheextraunder-floorspace where items such like as the charging cables (mode 2 and 3) and the tyre repair kit which, sadly, is required in lieu of a spare wheel.
There is a small frunk for storage under the bonnet.
Vehicle to Load (V2L) is standard although the cable isn’t. It costs around $280.
With the rear seatbacks folded, boot space expands up to 1475 litres.
The tailgate can also be opened through the touchscreen.
Powertrain
The B10 is powered by a high-efficiency electric motor delivering 160kW and 240Nm of torque. Zero to 100km/h is listed at 8 seconds with a top speed of 170km/h.
The Style has a 56.2 kWh battery with an 11kW maximum AC rate through three-phase power that can charge from zero to 100 per cent in around six hours. With single-phase power that drops to 7.4kW and around 10 hours.
Both Style and Design LR support 11kW AC charging and ultra-fast DC charging up to 168 kW (Design LR), enabling a 30 to 80 per cent charge in approximately 20 minutes.
The charge port is located at the rear driver’s side.
Both Style and Design LR support DC charging up to 168 kW (Design LR), enabling a 30 to 80 per cent charge in approximately 20 minutes.
Safety
Leapmotor B10 was tested by ANCAP in November 2025 and received the maximum five-star rating. A positive for parents is a near-perfect child occupant protection score.
There are seven airbags including one in the front centre position. Also standard are adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, emergency lane keeping, speed assist system, blind spot monitoring, front collision warning, rear crosstrafficalertandbraking,rearparking sensors, and driver attention monitoring.
AsisnowthenormwithChineseEVsthe frustrating and incessant alerts that have
drivers screaming ‘Just Let Me (expletives deleted) Drive!’ such as lane correction, speed limit alert and driver alert can be turned off
While they do need to be turned on every time the car re-starts there is a customisable button on the steering wheel where they can be turned off again with a single touch.
Onesurprisingomissionineithermodel, and a trap for the unwary, is the absence of front parking sensors.
Infotainment
Standard in both B10 variants are a 14.6-inch colour touchscreen and an 8.8-inch LCD driver instrument cluster. There’s also satellite navigation, 360-degree camera with guidelines, an integrated 360-degree dashcam recorder and wireless smartphone charger.
Thehigh-resolutionscreensarebothfast and sharp.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both wireless.
Style comes with a basic six-speaker audio system. Design adds 12-speaker surround sound.
Driving
At 4.5 metres the Leapmotor B10 is only marginally smaller than the C10 and can carry five adults in reasonable comfort.
EntryintotheB10isthroughafrustrating digital keyless system that requires an NFC key card to be tapped on a tab on the outside of the driver’s side mirror. There is a smartphone app as an alternative. While both methods unlock the doors, they don’t open the flush handle which needs a button to be pushed and the handle then pulled out.
The card then has to be placed on the left-hand side of the centre console otherwise the vehicle won’t start, although it can then be moved. Fortunately, common sense has prevailed and after a wave of buyer complaints, we’re assured that physical keys will progressively be introduced with the keycards remaining only as a backup.
OnthepositivesidethereisaLeapmotor App that provides remote access as well features such as vehicle status, vehicle location and scheduled charging.
B10 is a capable city transporter with
the smooth, steady acceleration that is the norm in electric vehicles. It lacks the whiplash pick up of performance EVs but does move from zero to 100km/h in 8 seconds making it sharp enough for quick lane changes when needed.
There are three drive modes: Comfort, Standard and Sport. In Sport there’s noticeably more response in steering and throttle for greater driving enjoyment. Stellantis input shows up in a relatively firm but comfortable ride. It grips the road and corners securely with minimal body roll.
There is three-stage brake regeneration with One-Pedal driving available in the Design LR.
LeapmotorquotesNEDCrangeof442km from the Style and 516km with the Design. These equate to the more realistic WLTP numbersof361kmand434kmrespectively. Energy usage is listed at an impressive 14.0 kWh (Style) and 14.1 kWh (Design).
Summing up
With so many new brands coming from China it’s getting increasingly difficult to evaluate each of their credentials and compare them with each other.
While some like MG, BYD and GWM are now well-established, others, including Leapmotor, are still largely unknown. The fact that it’s part of the Stellantis group, currently the world’s fourth-largest automobile manufacturing group should reassure potential buyers.
Importantly, Stellantis didn’t just take Leapmotor off the shelf. Its engineers provided significant input into the design, chassistuninganddrivingcharacteristics. It’s a reasonably spacious and comfortable family vehicle that’s equally at home in either urban or motorway conditions and it’s large enough to make for an excellent long-distance cruiser.
Potentialbuyerswillneedtobepatientas they scroll through the seemingly endless controls stored within the touchscreen but by the end of our week-long test we had grown to understand and appreciate its quality.
Best of all, it offers outstanding value for money especially with the extra features and extended range in the Design variant costing just around $3000 more than the Style.
The Leapmotor B10 offers outstanding value for money. (Pictures: Supplied)
Around the grounds
Results, goal kickers and best players from the round of Geelong & District, Geelong, and Bellarine Football League matches played on Saturday 1 August.
Goals: Werribee Centrals - B. Houlihan 4, C. Saliba 3, J. MacDonald 3, M. Ryan 2, D. Chesterman, T. Camilleri, L. Kalos, B. Linehan-Cunningham, C. Linehan-Cunningham. Belmont Lions - B. Evans 5, A. Wylie 2, C. Anderson 2, J. Beasley, W. Maclean, J. Grohmann. Best: Werribee Centrals - A. Stone, B. Houlihan, C. Linehan-Cunningham, M. Ryan, J. Stephenson, M. Culliver. Belmont Lions - B. Evans, L. Slorach, B. Michell, C. Anderson, D. Johnston, J. Steel.
Goals: Anakie - J. Francese-Fulton 6, J. Mawson 4, L. Dahlhaus 4, J. Sutherland 2. Corio - T. McMahon 5, C. Gibson 3, K. Manning-Stratton 2, M. Roberts, C. Shoebridge, H. Burns.
Best: Anakie - B. Goodwin, I. Durran, J. Francese-Fulton, L. Dahlhaus, J. Mawson, M. Crossett. Corio - T. Mcmahon, C. Gibson, K. Manning-Stratton, H. Burns, J. Bigham, J. Evans.
Winchelsea 2.5(17), 6.8(44), 7.15(57), 13.16(94)
Inverleigh 2.5(17), 3.8(26), 5.9(39), 8.15(63)
Goals: Winchelsea - C. Primmer 3, F. Parish 3, L. Carver, S. Adams, J. Sampi, J. Gould, C. Parish, I. Parish, R. Williams. Inverleigh-M.Dickson4,J.Viney,J.Miles, Z. Plant, J. Bacon.
Best: Winchelsea - F. Parish, J. Huff, H. Nagle, C. Primmer, R. Baulch, L. Carver. Inverleigh - B. Collins, D. Grundell, J. Love, B. Warren, L. Wilson, B. McIntosh. Bannockburn 2.6(18), 3.7(25), 6.10(46), 9.14(68) East Geelong 1.1(7), 4.4(28), 5.8(38), 8.11(59)
Goals: Bannockburn - H. Hawker 4, B. Harding 2, R. Maibaum, A. Beardsell, T. Battaglia. East Geelong - C. Ezard 3, A. Farrow, A. Steele, W. Hough, J. Doyle, L. Zimmer.
Best: Bannockburn - A. Beardsell, D. Giddings,R.Ginn,H.Hawker,C.Jervies,T. Bath. East Geelong - B. Flintoff, J. Mclean, P. Visentin, M. Kasparian, D. Martin, M. Mccombe.
NorthGeelong5.5(35),7.10(52),8.13(61), 10.16(76) Bell Post Hill 2.1(13), 3.3(21), 7.8(50), 9.9(63)
Goals: North Geelong - L. Parker 3, J. Kenna 3, J. Bertucci 2, C. Vaughan, O. Riccardi. Bell Post Hill - Z. Jones 4, J. Saunders, S. Harmer, T. Barton, J. Yates, F. Jones.
Best: North Geelong - B. O’Brien, C. Farrell, C. Vaughan, T. Schwennesen, L. Parker, B. Orr. Bell Post Hill - B. Carter, D. Witney, W. Kerrins, B. Hickey, N. Flaccavento, J. Yates.
Goals: Thomson - J. Hanneysee 7, J. Camm 6, D. Jose 4, A. Anticev 3, M. Deller 2, D. Smith 2, J. Blair 2, P. Davis, S. Jacka. GeelongWestGiants-S.Goddard3,J.Jans 2, C. Roberts, T. Richmund.
Best: Thomson - J. Hanneysee, A. Anticev, J. Camm, S. Jacka, D. Smith, G. Wilson.
Geelong West Giants - B. Mitchell, M. Leamer, T. Adams, Z. Rowarth, L. Wealands, R. Croft.
4, M. Dodos 3, L. Nash 2, J. Modola 2, B. Hocking, J. Colville, N. Harris, T. McMillan, N. Caracella. Grovedale - R. Abbott 3, B. Kreuger 3, T. Gillett 2, C. Gardiner 2, J. McCarthy 2, E. Edwards, J. Greene.
Best: Newtown & Chilwell - N. Harris, M. Diamond, O. Murdoch, C. Fopiani, N. Tullio, M. Dodos. Grovedale - T. Degoldi, R. Quinn, C. Gardiner, N. Deans, R. Abbott, H. Whyte.
Bell Park 5.4(34), 8.4(52), 9.9(63), 10.13(73)
Leopold2.1(13),5.1(31),8.1(49),11.4(70)
Goals: Bell Park - M. Mahady 3, K. George 2, R. Hanrahan, D. Melksham, O. Hicks, A. Osborne, H. Mansfield. Leopold - D. Brislane4,W.Sheahan3,H.Morphet2,D. Henderson, O. Morphet.
Best: Bell Park - O. Bridgewater, K. George, I. Wareham, T. Norton, E. Pearce, D. Melksham. Leopold - W. Sheahan, M. Thompson, D. Brislane, L. McLean, B. Clark, H. Morphet.
South Barwon 6.2(38), 9.3(57), 14.6(90), 18.9(117)
Colac3.0(18),6.1(37),9.2(56),13.7(85)
Goals: South Barwon - A. Boseley 7, M. Caldow 4, L. Noble 3, G. Richardson 2, T. Mulraney, O. Pollock. Colac - K. Smartt 3, J. McCormack 3, J. Garner 2, A. Walters, J. McDonald, C. Seuren, R. Monaghan, E. Liddle.
Best: South Barwon - A. Boseley, E. Borys, F. Fort, T. Burke, L. Noble, S. James. Colac - Z. Zdybel, W. Parkhouse, J. Walters, K. Spokes, M. Buchanan, C. Murray.
St Joseph’s 9.5(59), 14.9(93), 22.13(145), 30.17(197) North Shore 1.2(8), 2.4(16), 2.7(19), 3.7(25)
Goals: St Joseph’s - J. Jovanovic 7, P. De Grandi 7, M. Chafer 5, A. Hickey 2, J. Gow 2,M.Adams2,G.Morrison2,L.McCallum 2, L. Hocking. North Shore - H. Purcell 2, B. Collier.
Best: St Joseph’s - J. Jovanovic, A. Hickey, M. Chafer, L. Kershaw, P. De Grandi, C. Clark. North Shore - B. Shelley, B. Collier, L. Vivian, J. Purcell, J. O’Brien, H. Purcell.
St Mary’s 6.3(39), 10.8(68), 15.15(105), 17.18(120)
St Albans 4.1(25), 8.3(51), 10.6(66), 11.10(76)
Goals: St Mary’s - J. Willson 6, O. Flynn 2, L. Peck 2, J. Garner 2, C. Vallelonga, R. Pendlebury, J. Travaglini, L. Bartolo, E. MacDonald. St Albans - T. Higgins 3, W. Lane 2, H. Cockerell 2, Z. Larkins, E. Guida, H. Dickson, F. Keck.
Best: St Mary’s - H. McMahon, J. Garner, J. Willson, J. Sanders, O. Flynn, C. Jansen. St Albans - A. Taylor, H. Elliot, S. Cunningham, F. Keck, T. Higgins, B. Thomas.
BELLARINE
Modewarre 3.1(19), 6.6(42), 10.10(70), 17.10(112)
Barwon Heads 3.4(22), 7.5(47), 9.5(59), 12.9(81)
Goals: Modewarre - C. Joseph 6, T. Hornsey5,O.Butler2,T.Scott2,S.Morter, C. Farrell. Barwon Heads - C. Ward 5, J. Stevens2,H.Hyland2,O.Poon,M.Jensen, A. Ford.
Best: Modewarre - O. Cooke, M. Mckim, T. Hornsey, M. Fenton, J. Johnstone, C. Joseph. Barwon Heads - C. Ward, H. Hyland, K. Hinchcliffe, K. Polley, M. Moulton, L. Blacket.
Goals: Drysdale - J. Watson 3, J. Hargreaves 2, B. Fennell 2, M. McGuire, J. Robbins, L. Nelis. Newcomb - T. Webster 5, J. Saltalamacchia, B. Clark, J. Duke, D. Johnstone.
Best: Drysdale - B. Fennell, J. Breust, L. Nelis, L. Preece, L. Dalgleish, J. Hawkins. Newcomb - L. Wagener, T. Webster, A. Pepper, J. Taylor, J. Duncan, L. Justin.
Goals: Queenscliff - N. Rippon 5, S. Bowtell 5, J. Monahan 5, J. McHenry 5, K. Keenan 5, M. Annandale 4, M. Waight 2, C. Whitley, J. Cincotta, J. Wright, I. Grant, J. Lindrea. Ocean Grove - J. Paterson 2, H. Cashin, A. Woods, J. Thomson, R. Cook. Best: Queenscliff - L. Kidd, N. Rippon, K. Keenan, J. Cincotta, B. Jones, M. Waight. Ocean Grove - B. Hayward, H. Walsh, L. Jarrad, B. Poyser, J. Lange.
Anglesea 5.3(33), 10.8(68), 13.13(91), 18.16(124)
Surf Coast 1.0(6), 4.1(25), 8.2(50), 11.4(70)
Goals: Anglesea - A. Gras 3, L. Smith 2, C. Lawless 2, J. King 2, D. Everrett 2, J. Gray 2, J. Anderson, M. Virgona, R. Bell, N. Collins. Surf Coast - L. Cartelli 4, T. Lee 3, H. Gravener, Z. Warne, J. Learmonth. Best: Anglesea - C. Lawless, J. Fulton, W. Batson, N. McGregor-Dawson, N. Collins, M.Virgona.SurfCoast-T.Lee,L.Cartelli, H. Gravener, T. Schultz, Z. Warne, T. Barker.
Goals: Geelong Amateur - S. Lloyd 4, J. Sheahan 3, H. Kershaw 2, B. Barnett, R. Ferguson. Torquay - J. Wylie 2, T. Boak, B. Henderson, D. Pascoe, C. Patton, J. Darby. Best: Geelong Amateur - M. Day, J. Sheahan, J. Toll, H. Goddard, C. Jerinic, H. Orr. Torquay - T. Smith, N. Mifsud, B. McNamara, N. Turner, M. Croxford, J. Darke.
Around the courts
Results and best players from Geelong & District, Geelong, and Bellarine Netball League matches played on Saturday 1 August.
GEELONG&DISTRICT
Thomson 79 def Geelong West Giants26
Best: Thomson - Alexandra Drake, Alexandra Muraca, Ebony Harris. Geelong West Giants - Kathryn Eastman, Taleea Drever, Kirsten Martin.
Corio55defAnakie40
Best: Corio - Stephanie Cockerell, Sarah Kasparian, Holly Ross. Anakie - Kathryn Eastman, Tori Hogan, BronteWeigl.
Bannockburn 61 def Bell Post Hill 36
Best: Bannockburn - Alyce Willie, Jade Merry, Lila Morris. Bell Post Hill - Alex Smith, Jorja Caruso, Aimee Hooper.
Best: Drysdale - Ella Ogier, Jesse Hasell,MiaFallon.
Newcomb star Logan Wagener is tackled by Drysdale’s Lachlan Nelis. (Ivan Kemp) 569003_07
Cougars rage into GF
By Justin Flynn
Geelong Cougars are into the Victorian Netball League Under 23 grand final for the secondconsecutiveyearwithasuperbteam performance in the preliminary final.
The Cougars will meet North East Blaze, the same side that beat them in the qualifying final by 10 goals, in the grand final next Wednesday night.
Geelong led by three goals against City West Falcons at the first break at the State Netball Centre in Parkville on Wednesday 5 August and by four at half-time.
Zoey Shaw played a pivotal first half at wing defence, but Cougars coach Mel Savage changed things up at the break, bringing on Eliza Hannagan.
“I thought Zoey Shaw had a huge impact in that first half, but we just wanted to try something different, give them something to think about,” she said.
“As soon as she (Hannagan) stepped on court, she took an intercept. I was just so proud of Eliza Hannagan’s performance in that game last night.
“She was a real catalyst in that third quarter and had five intercepts. I watched her train on Monday night (and) I just had this feeling that she was going to do something special and she certainly did.”
Piper Stephens scored the first two goals of the third term, but the Falcons lifted and reeled off the next five to make it a one-goal game.
That’s when Eliza Dunell took control and, with the aid of some superb defence fromMiaAitkenandmidcourtplay,Geelong scored 16 goals to nine to head into the final term in front by eight.
Dunell netted 14 of those 16 goals and then slotted four of the first five last quarter goals to give the Cougars an 11-goal buffer.
But City West wasn’t done with and clawed its way back into the contest to trail by four with five minutes still on the clock.
Portarlington goaler Tully Bethune was on fire under the net for the Falcons after coming on to replace Newtown & Chilwell young gun Holly Adams-Alcock, who had scored 28 goals with only two missed attempts.
When Bethune goaled with a minute left, the Cougars were still up by four ended with a 66 to 61 win.
Savage said her team showed resolve when challenged.
“The big theme for our team was connection,” she said.
“We know regardless of any situation that we are in, we can lean on each other,
support each other.
“CityWestarenevergoingtostopfighting so you can never think that you have a game under control.
King crowned queen of the waves at longboard titles
Torquay’s Angela King put in a dominant display to win the Over 40 Women’s Australian Longboard title on the Tweed Coast.
King spent much of her junior career competing in longboarding events, but it was the urge to surf alongside her teenage daughter that inspired her to pull the competition jersey back on.
“It was so exciting to win the Over 40 Women’s this year,” she said.
“I’ve never done it before – it’s my first year in the division. I used to compete when I was younger, and this year I came back to give it a go because my daughter was in the Under 18s and I wanted to surf with her.
“It’s been really amazing at the event this year. Coming up from Victoria, obviously it’s a lot colder down there at the moment and the waves are a lot stronger.
“I actually grew up in Byron Bay, and it’s a place still really close to my heart, so it’s beenamazingtohavemyfamilyhereduring the whole event.”
Torquay’s Janene Nelson made history as the first Australian Champion crowned in the Over 70 Women’s division.
“I love this sport because even if you’re over 70, you can still do this,” she said.
“Every day you wake up, you can achieve you put your mind to. Come on Over 70s ladies, let’s completely fill this division.”
A major upset unfolded in the Over 55 Men’s division as Lorne’s Greg Brown stunned Jason Livingston in the final, posting a strong 12.07 heat total to claim the Australian Title.
Brown remained composed when it mattered most, delivering the decisive performance to overcome one of the
Grovedale Gold makes big move
LOCAL TENNIS
Donna Schoenmaekers
Things are heating up at the top of 3 Open with the top four teams moving positions and Grovedale Gold sitting just outside at the end of Round 12, with just two rounds before finals.
Interestingly, home court advantage didn’t play any part in results for this week, with all winners playing away with results of three rubbers to one.
Grovedale Gold inched closer to the four beating Ocean Grove White, who started the match in third, but dropped to fourth with the loss.
Ross Gibson put the Grove out to a good start winning the first singles 6-0, 6-0, but that was as far as they got, with Riley Robertson and Ashton Hageman winning the first doubles 6-2, 6-4, Hageman going on to take the second singles6-4,6-1,andRobertsonteaming with Finn Duffy to take the final rubber 7-5, 6-1.
Ocean Grove Blue travelled to Highton, and the scoreline looked to be the mirror image of their club compatriots.
“But we just knew if we stuck to our processes and stayed connected and engaged with each other on court, the score would take care of itself.
“When we were challenged, we stepped up.”
Savage said there were some learnings to take from the loss to the Blaze in the qualifying final, but her focus would be with her squad.
“We’vegotacoupleofthingsupoursleeve that I won’t share, but we’re confident that if we bring our best and stay in the moment and connect on court, which is something that we lost in that last quarter against them last time, that we will be okay,” she said.
“We, as a team, have never dwelled on what’s happened in the past and hindsight is great, but they changed their defensive style on us in the last quarter and we didn’t adjust.
“So that’s something that we’ll look at (at training) on Monday night, but our focus is on what we do well.”
ThegrandfinalbetweenNorthEastBlaze andGeelongCougarsisbackatStateNetball Centre on Wednesday 12 August at 6.50pm.
division’s favourites.
“I’dliketogiveamassivethankyoutothe Victorian Team, or the ‘Vic Mafia’ as we call ourselves,” he said.
“They’re an incredible bunch and the supporttheygiveisamazing–they’realways down on the beach cheering me on through every heat. And, of course, a huge thank you to my wife, who is always there supporting me every step of the way.”
Dev Rushi put Highton on the board with a 6-4, 6-4 win, but OG Blue controlled the balance of the match with George Montgomery and Campbell Doughty getting up 6-0, 6-2, Dean Montgomery taking the second singles 6-0, 6-0, before father/daughter combination of Campbell and Lulu Doughty finished off the win in the second doubles 7-5, 6-0.
While both teams are out of finals contention, OG Blue pushed ahead of Highton to move into sixth.
Grovedale Yellow hosted Moolap, and while the win looked comfortable to Moolap, the set scores showed it was a battle.
Darcy King proved too good in the first singles winning 6-2, 6-2, keeping his unbeaten run intact, while Amy Kuskunovic and Dwayne Thompson slogged it out against another father/ daughter combination Peter and Kira Aitken with Moolap winning 7-6, 6-4. Kira Aitken put Grovedale on the board coming from behind to win the second singles 4-6, 7-5, 10-7, but King and Amy Lizmore sealed the win in the second doubles 6-4, 7-5.
The effort was worth it for Moolap withthewinpushingthemintosecond, five points behind Grovedale Black and three in front of Leopold/Moolap.
Thefinalmatchwasabattlebetween ladder leaders Leopold/Moolap and Grovedale Black, who have been swapping positions each week for the last month.
Grovedale were first on the board with Hiro Sekine winning the first singles 6-3, 6-3, while teammates Andrew Smith and Maddie Mohr snuck over the line 7-6, 7-5 in the first doubles.
Leopold/Moolap cracked a win in the second doubles with Hayden Walters and Georgia Verlin going up 6-3, 6-1, but with Smith backing up in the second singles with a 6-0, 6-2 win, Grovedale took the win and top spot. Leopold/Moolap were relegated back to third and have Grovedale Gold and Moolap in the run home while Grovedale Black meet Ocean Grove Blue and Grovedale Gold, so all results will be important to determine positioning for the double chance at the end of round 14.
Indiah Madden gets things moving for the Cougars. (Pictures: Tara Murray)
Mimi Lockwood restarts play for Geelong.
Over 40 Women’s champion Angela King at the 2026 Thermos Australian Longboard Titles.
(Surfing Australia/Andy Morris)
Grubbers knock off Coutas
Ocean Grove kept third spot on the Bellarine Netball League A Grade ladder on Saturday 1 August with an impressive win against Queenscliff at Queenscliff Recreation Reserve and Independent photographer Ivan Kemp was there to see some of the action unfold.
Georgia Ryan passes on the run.
Gemma Bell reaches for the ball. 569002
Caitie Kennedy gets to the ball before it goes out of bounds.
Perri Jones played well for the Grubbers.
The safe hands of Phoebe Knox.
Georgia Berry takes the ball on the wing. Ashton O’Brien
Sienna Bruhn takes a strong grab.
Amelia Bakker gathers the ball at the back of the court.
Alex Booker reels the ball in for Queenscliff.
Jesse Sutton looks for a teammate.
Hawks alive, Power nearly out
It was a cracking game at Grinter Reserve on Saturday 2 August as Drysdale kept its Bellarine Football League finals hopes flickering with a three-point win against Newcomb Power whose chances of featuring in September took a dent. Independent photographer Ivan Kemp was there to take these photographs.
Luke Preece punches the ball away from Luke Justin. 569003
Josh Taylor takes possession.
Jack Jenkins marks in front of his opponent.
Jacob Watson marks strongly for Newcomb.
Josh Saltalamacchia is tackled.
Flynn Chirgwin is tackled and brought to ground by Dion Johnstone.
Left: Jack Duke handballs while being tackled on two sides. Centre: Bailey Sykes picks up the ball while being tackled by Thewin Robertson. Right: Jarrad Duncan kicks to a teammate.
Drysdale’s Luke Preece makes in the goal square to repel an attack by Newcomb in the dying moments of the game.
Drysdale’s Andrew Crosbie and Tim Delaney celebrate the three-point win, and right, Lachlan Nelis clears the ball.
Five sides fighting for two spots
Five sides are vying for two spots in the Bellarine Football League finals with three rounds remaining in the home and away season.
The Coutas have one hand on the minor premiership and after they defeat Surf Coast this week, will be able to grab it with both hands. They will be thankful that their second bye is in round 19 and not the final round as two weeks off wouldn’t have been ideal.
Geelong Amateur (2nd, 48, 143.08)
Whether Ammos finish 2nd or 3rd doesn’t really matter. They will be playing Torquay in a qualifying final. A big game against Barwon Heads this week followed by Portarlington and Surf Coast.
Torquay (3rd, 44, 181.81)
The Tigers’ preparation for the finals is pretty much ideal with Anglesea this week followed by a dangerous Modewarre and then Newcomb to finish. Three sides that can trouble anyone on their day.
Barwon Heads (4th, 36, 112.89)
Two games clear of 6th-placed Newcomb, the Seagulls face Geelong Amateur at the neutral venue of Winter Reserve and then a massive game against the Power in round 19. They should win the Battle of the Bridge against Grove in the final round and should
sneak into an elimination final, but they will want to lift their form if they are to trouble the top three.
Anglesea (5th, 32, 116.46)
Drysdale did the Seas a favour by beating Newcomb and finish off with Torquay, Drysdale and Modewarre. Two wins will guarantee a spot in the five while one may be enough depending on other results.
Newcomb (6th, 28, 109.00)
That three-point loss to Drysdale last week really dented the Power’s finals hopes, but they should beat the Grubbers this week. The final two matches are difficult with the Heads and Torquay awaiting. They will need to win at least two more to make it.
Drysdale (7th, 28, 90.27)
Kept the dream alive in a nailbiter in round 17. The Hawks play Port this week in a quasi elimination final and then the same scenario awaits against Newcomb. Counting against them is a final round bye in which they won’t be able to add to their wins column.
Portarlington (8th, 28, 88.95)
As above, the Demons’ season rests on this week’s game against Drysdale and then they will have to beat Ammos before finishing off with Queenscliff. A nightmare run home, Port will be counting the cost of losses to Surf Coast and Ocean Grove earlier in the season.
Modewarre (9th, 20, 104.50)
The Warriors took a scalp last week in Barwon Heads, but will enjoy a week off before looking to do the same to Torquay and Anglesea. Any side with a percentage of 104.50 has firepower and although finals are out of reach, if Modda puts it together they can beat anyone.
Ocean Grove (10th, 12, 46.44)
The Grubbers have actually gotten worse since deciding to part ways with co-coaches Dave Farrell and Nick Bourke with losses of 136, 61 and 188 points. Their best chance of a fourth win is in the penultimate round against Surf Coast, but on recent form, the Suns will probably start favourites.
Surf Coast (11th, 4, 38.68)
The Suns will have their sights set on Grove on 15 August for their second win. It doesn’t get any harder on either side of that clash, though, with Queenscliff this week and Ammos to round off the season.
Drysdale’s Joel Watson marks in the goal square and then kicks one of his three goals gainst Newcomb to make it 39 for the season. (pictures Ivan Kemp) 569003_15
Les Ash Medal favourite Logan Wagener has a superb season for Newcomb. 569003_33
Pat McGinley and Mitchell Lindsey compete in a ruck duel on Saturday 1 August. 569003_03
Finals countdown begins
With three rounds left to play before finals we take a look at the state of play in the Bellarine Netball League A Grade competition.
Mathematically impossible for Ammos to finish anywhere other than minor premiers. They were tested by Torquay on Saturday, getting home by a goal to stay unbeaten.
Key player: Eliza Oxley has had a fine season under the ring with 445 goals and looms as a nightmare matchup for opposition defenders come finals time.
Torquay (2nd, 52, 125.19)
The Tigers should win their final three games against teams outside the top five. Second spot and a double chance looms.
Whether Ocean Grove sneaks above the Tigers on percentage doesn’t really matter. They should play each other in a qualifying final.
Key player: Daisy O’Kane has been restricted to 10 games this season, but has 348 goals under her belt and is a big-time player.
Ocean Grove (3rd, 52, 124.30)
The Grubbers will start favourites in all of their games, but the round 19 encounter against Surf Coast will be a tough one. Half a win ahead of Portarlington, but the Dees have a fairly tough run home. Grove should do enough to finish with the double chance.
Key player: Any side that has Zanna Punshon in it has to be taken seriously for the premiership. Punshon’s ability to cut through the opposition’s best defenders has been on show for a while now.
Portarlington (4th, 50, 119.39)
The Demons are almost there. A huge danger game against rivals Drysdale this week, but win and Port should make it. Ammos the week after and Queenscliff to finish in a game that could have a massive influence on the finals standings.
Key player: Mikayla Mevissen is a leader on and off the court and can switch effortlessly between centre and goal attack.
Surf Coast (5th, 42, 104.69)
What an opportunity for the comp’s newest side. The Suns finish with Queenscliff, Grove and Ammos. They must win this week in what will be a mini elimination final. Regardless, the club should be proud of their side’s efforts this season.
Key player: Elisa Hall is in outstanding form in attack. With 547 goals Hall’s game more than stands up in finals should Surf Coast make it.
Queenscliff (6th, 40, 105.98)
Firstly, the Coutas must win this week against Surf Coast. A guaranteed four points in round 19 courtesy of the bye and then Port to finish. Queenscliff will treat every game from here on as a knockout final.
Key player: Kaitlin Gladman has only just returned from an ACL injury and in her first proper hit-out last week was the Coutas’ best. Gladman’s presence, class and skill could be the wildcard Queenscliff needs. Newcomb (7th, 32, 83.97)
Outside the five by 10 points with three matches remaining means the Power won’t return to finals for the third consecutive season. If Newcomb can beat Barwon Heads and maybe pinch one from Ocean Grove or Ammos, it will have finished off the season well.
Key player: It’s pretty obvious, but Carly Sanders gives defenders headaches. Despite missing games with VNL commitments, Sanders has shot 420 goals from 474
attempts. Barwon Heads (8th, 24, 90.47)
The Seagulls will look to the round 19 clash
against Newcomb as a winnable one and good showings against Ammos and Grove will give them some confidence for 2027.
Key player: Racquel Scott has been terrific and can play in multiple positions including in defence, wing defence and centre.
Drysdale (9th, 24, 90.33)
We’re tipping the hawks to leapfrog the Heads into 8th position even if they lose this week to Port. They should beat Anglesea in round 19, which is their last of the season. Drysdale has a final round bye, which also adds four points to their final tally.
Key player: Chloe Hobbs has been a rock in defence, but also provides attack from the back half.
Modewarre (10th, 16, 71.41)
Just two games left for Modda with a bye this week followed by Torquay and Anglesea, which presents the opportunity to finish off with a win. With a young squad, there have been lots of green shoots for the Warriors this year, which bodes well for the future.
Key player: It’s a tough choice, but Hannah Richards has been immense in the last line of defence.
Anglesea (11th, 12, 54.30)
The Seas will be all in for their final game of the season against Modda. It represents the best chance for a breakthrough victory. Anglesea also plays Torquay and Drysdale, and like the Warriors, have a youthful list that will only get better the more they play A Grade together.
Key player: Whether it’s at wing attack or defence or centre, Joss Bennetts’ presence in midcourt has been consistent and team lifting this season.
Zanna Punshon scored 41 goals for Ocean Grove against Queenscliff and looms as her side’s trump card. (pictures Ivan Kemp) 569002_05
Kaitlin Gladman returned for her first full hit-out for Queenscliff after a knee reconstruction and by the looks of it, has lost none of her athletic prowess. 569002_33
Final 5 homes now selling
Resort style living designed for over 55s
This is your final opportunity to call Ingenia Lifestyle Lakeside Lara home. Homes have been thoughtfully designed for comfort, connection and lowmaintenance living.
Enjoy contemporary homes, quality finishes and a range of resort style facilities designed for relaxed connected living — all within a welcoming neighbourhood you’ll be proud to call home.
