Coast Community News #500

Avoca paddlers win Patonga race

With the publication of its 500th edition on August 21, Coast Community News marks an important milestone in local journalism.

The milestone is also a time to acknowledge those who helped shape CCN’s journey.

Founding Editor Cec Becello and his family established a communityfocused publication, while former owner Ross Barry successfully restructured, refinanced and grew the organisation Central Coast Newspapers, ensuring its continued presence and influence.

The publication was first published in January 2011 under the name Gosford Central Community News as part of three sub-regional newspapers, The Peninsula News and The Wyong Chronicle.

The masthead changed to its current title in January 2012.

It became the voice of the Central Coast region after the two councils merged in 2016.

David Abrahams, who had worked for the organisation for over a decade, took over the reins in a management buyout in 2023.

Since taking on the role of Managing Editor just over two years ago, Abrahams has steered the organisation back into profitability and broadened its reach across the region.

Under his leadership, CCN has expanded its news delivery to include regional radio news while strengthening its digital presence with a national audience at its website coastcommunitynews.com.au

He promoted the masthead’s importance after closing down the Wyong Chronicle and Pelican Post due to pandemic era financial shocks in 2022.

In 2018 local businessman Ross Barry purchased the masthead with a vision to represent the up-and-coming Central Coast region.

The news service, which publishes daily online and on radio, maintains an archive of more than 25,000 local stories.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO CCN

Coast Community news (CCN) encourages “community journalism”, including story leads, citizen reports, media releases, photos and letters to the Editor (forum).

We reserve the right to use, or not use, any material sent to us for publication and to validate, amend, update, expand or reduce the information provided at our sole discretion and in accordance with our editorial guidelines.

Material that is considered offensive, defamatory, or overtly political will not be published.

500 editions show the vital role of regional newspapers

Regional newspapers are more than just a source of news; they are the living record of a community, the heart of a region’s identity.

EDITORIAL

editorial@centralcoastnews.net

Provide at least one high-res portrait and landscape image. Do not crop, edit or add text to the images. Include a caption for the images if necessary.

Photography:

Stories and forum: sales@centralcoastnews.net

Submit any high-res photos of the Central Coast that could be used in a future editorial. A photo credit will be included with your photo.

Managing Editor: David Abrahams

Print Editor & Senior Journalist: Terry Collins

Journalists: Sue Murray, Denice Barnes, Merilyn Vale

Graphic Designer: Brad Yee

Distribution: Anthony Wagstaff

Reporters and Contributors: Cheralyn Darcey, Skaie Hull, Julie Chessman, Ivona Rose

7:30am, 8:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am & 11:30am 96.3FM Coast FM - www.coastfm.org.au RADIO - LISTEN TO THE LOCAL NEWS

The latest news at:

Phone: 0493 641 652

Email: sales@centralcoastnews.net or see our website for rates and specs www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

• 100,000+ local readers each

• 300,000+ search results each week

• 20,000 hard copies collected every week

• Cross publishing on Google News & Apple News

• 50,000+ social media engagements each week

They report impartially on current events, shine a light on powerful forces, and celebrate the achievements of local people and organisations.

When regional news thrives, so too does community life, because a trusted local newspaper provides the common ground on which informed conversations can take place.

In recent years, many hundreds of regional news services around the world have closed their doors.

This has been the result of a consistent undermining of advertising revenues by offshore digital giants, most of whom show little regard for the wellbeing of local regions. Instead, their platforms often amplify misinformation and disinformation under the guise of news, corroding public trust and discouraging investment confidence.

The loss of a local news outlet is more than a commercial failure; it is a wound to the civic life of a region.

Coast Community News has endured despite these challenges.

We have done so by holding firm to a commitment to regionalism, reporting for, with, and about the Central Coast.

That commitment is evident in these pages, on our website, in our radio bulletins, and across our digital platforms.

It is reflected in the tens of thousands of readers who continue to pick up and engage with CCN every week, and in the 25,000 stories that now form part of our archive, a living record of the Coast’s modern history.

Above all, it is the dedication of our journalists, freelancers, and contributors that sustains this mission.

Their experience, integrity,

and level-headedness provide the backbone of our coverage.

In an era where trust in media is under strain, their work creates a haven where local conversations can flourish.

As we mark our 500th edition, we reaffirm the essential role of regional newspapers.

Independent, impartial and grounded in the communities they serve, they are not just chroniclers of local life but defenders of democracy and builders of community identity.

The Central Coast deserves nothing less.

David Abrahams, Managing Editor

We’re celebrating our 500th edition

From page 1

Each month, these stories appear in over two million search results across the country, reflecting the enduring demand for independent, trusted local journalism.

And despite repeated claims that print media is dying, CCN proudly sustains one of the largest regional print readerships in Australia.

Our tens of thousands of weekly copies are picked up and read across the Central Coast, proving that a wellmade, community-centred newspaper continues to thrive alongside digital platforms.

Reaching 500 editions has been made possible not only through the support of readers, advertisers, and contributors but also thanks to the enduring dedication of our experienced journalists, our freelancers, correspondents, and community contributors, all of whom ensure that Coast Community News reflects the voices and stories of the Coast.

Numerous experienced journalists have guided and guarded the publication’s local independent editorial approach over the years, including longterm journalist and editor Jackie Pearson.

The masthead has trained and employed half a dozen upand-coming journalists, all of whom have gone on to successful careers around the country.

“retirement”, during which time she realised she wasn’t really ready to retire at all.

Beginning her career on the now defunct Gosford Star newspaper in 1976, she has her finger on the pulse of everything happening in the region.

Sue Murray formerly worked for various mastheads of Cumberland Newspapers (now a part of News Limited) and was editor of two, as well as working for Messenger Newspapers in Adelaide, Community Newspapers in Perth, and the Broome Advertiser and Kimberley Times when she was travelling for six years in a caravan around Australia.

She joined the CCN team in February, 2019, working originally on the former Wyong Regional Chronicle and Peninsula News, later switching to CCN.

pedigree in regional newspapers, having been a journalist, editor and Chief of Staff for Cumberland Newspapers (now part of News Limited), Editor in Chief for Quest Newspapers in Brisbane and a journalist and trainer for Fairfax Newspapers.

These days she is a dedicated Council watcher, running her own website and Facebook page as well as writing probing and comprehensive Council stories for Coast Community News.

Regular contributors to CCN are Skaie Hull, Ivona Rose, Julie Chessman and Cheralyn Darcey.

Brad Yee puts the paper together, placing the editorial content and selling much of the advertising as well as designing some of it.

He has been a graphic designer for more than 10 years.

sterling team of delivery staff capably spearheaded by Anthony Wagstaffe.

Looking ahead, CCN remains committed to serving the Central Coast with the same independence, energy and dedication that has carried it through the first 500 editions.

IN MEMORIAM

Richard Love OAM

1939 - 2025

Richard (Dick, Dickie) passed away peacefully in Gosford on 18th August having lived a full and remarkable life.

Husband to Marion for 61 years, Father, beloved Grandfather, Uncle and Friend to many, many people.

Dick spent his life giving to and serving others across many domains; family, professional, music, sport and importantly to his fellowship.

Threads: @centralcoast.news

CCN’s Print editor Terry Collins has been with Coast Community News for six years, following a career spanning almost 40 years as a journalist and editor with News Limited and a brief 18-month

Denice Barnes has more than 35 years’ experience as a print journalist, serving as both an editor and senior reporter.

Barnes has specialised in several fields including health, council reporting, feature writing and politics.

Merilyn Vale has a huge

He moved with his young family to the Coast in January 2022, and came on board with CCN as a graphic designer in April of that year.

Six months later, he also took over advertising sales.

CCN is supported by Sophie Walshe in accounts and a

A life well lived. Forever remembered.

Service at Green Point Baptist Church, 11am Friday 22nd August.

Wamberal erosion issue continues to escalate

Wamberal Beach – or the lack of the sandy beach at Wamberal to be precise –continues to dominate the news and the stories are likely to continue for weeks to come.

Court cases are being held in the Land and Environment Court in Sydney and at Gosford courthouse; the regional planning panel is deliberating on a seawall application and Central Coast Council will next week debate alternatives for a medium to long-term solution to the coastal erosion.

Meanwhile, sections of the beach are closed to the community.

The story has gone off on social media and also in the traditional media including making the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald, after what police described as an “altercation” on the beach on August 12.

Councillor Corinne Lamont and husband Mark Lamont are charged with assault and affray and the case goes to Gosford Court today, Thursday, August 20, for mention and again on September 4.

They are alleged to have assaulted Wamberal Beach landowner Warren Hughes who will face the Land and Environment Court (LEC) on Friday, August 22, after Council issued two stop work orders on rocks being placed in front of his beachfront home at 9 Pacific St.

Both cases are expected to be adjourned to continue at future dates.

A group of Central Coast residents will take part in a Nationwide Day of Action for Palestine on Sunday, August 24, with a local event planned for The Entrance.

Glynn Ryall from Woy Woy, who has just turned 80, said she is looking forward to being part of the action.

“The tragic scenes coming out of Gaza leave me feeling distraught,” she said.

“I believe that Australia and all nations need to follow international law to prevent the enormous catastrophe beaming

Central Coast Council addressed the LEC on Wednesday, August 20, asking for permission to add two more landowners to its summons.

They are the owners of homes at 5 and 11 Pacific St, Wamberal.

The LEC meets again on Friday, August 22.

Central Coast Council and the regional planning panel are in deep conversations about the future of Wamberal Beach.

On Wednesday, August 19, the regional planning panel met to make a decision on a seawall development application from beachfront owners at 85, 87, 89 Ocean View Dr, Wamberal.

Councillors Rachel Stanton and Doug Eaton attended as members of the panel.

A decision won’t be public until next week but the recommendation to the panel was to refuse the application.

Council’s development control plan 2022 states that all structures constructed within a designated Coastal Hazard Area should not give rise to any increased coastal hazard on other land.

On top of that DA, Wamberal Protection Association, a group of landowners, has submitted three DAs for three different sections of a proposed seawall that would extend along the entire beach.

But in April of this year, Premier Chris Minns said the State Government was not interested in being part of that solution for its land on the waterfront.

Instead, he talked about sand nourishment as a possible plan.

The 2025-26 State Budget saw $21.5M committed to fund the next stage of sand nourishment works at Stockton Beach, north of Newcastle, and Minns said that will act as a statewide trial site for similar soft management approaches at other erosionimpacted beaches.

Coastal erosion of Wamberal Beach has been front page news periodically since 1974 when storms threatened homes.

Homes were lost in 1978 storms.

Council says there is a long history of emergency mitigation works and there are very limited further temporary works practicable.

Council wants a longer-term sustainable solution.

It says erosion is impacting land loss but no homes are at immediate risk of collapse.

“While this is impacting land loss and consequently loss of

landscaping materials, including unauthorised works, there is no immediate risk of significant structural collapse –notwithstanding the recognised likelihood of significant structural collapse during a major or extreme coastal storm event, for which no further temporary emergency works are practicable,” Council said this week.

“A long-term solution consistent with Council’s Engineering Design Requirements is necessary.

“The approved protection to be provided at The Entrance North offers a similar level of protection to that existing at Wamberal from previous emergency works.”

Council said owners have been advised to reduce pressure on the slope by removing unauthorised works and to redirect any local rainfall runoff away from the escapement.

“These works undertaken with proper guidance and support offered will reduce present slope

instability risk and do not require Ministerial Authorisation,” Council said.

“Many owners have not complied with this advice.”

Meanwhile, Council says advice at this point in time is that only a terminal protective structure correctly designed in accordance with Council’s Engineering Design Requirements can provide an acceptable level of further risk reduction to dwellings while improving and sustaining public beach amenity and public safety.

As Coast Community News was going to press, Council’s agenda for the August 26 meeting included a notice of motion about that.

In summary, it wants to draw up an alternative seawall and sand nourishment plan to present to the relevant minister for approval.

The motion is expected to ask Council to direct the CEO to engage appropriately qualified

Day of Action for Palestine at The Entrance

on everyone’s TV and phone screens.”

Ryall said she has friends with children and other friends with mobility difficulties, for whom a trip to Sydney to join a protest can be challenging, and was delighted to learn of a local protest that is accessible and part of the national event.

The event, organised by Central Coast Friends of Palestine, is planned as a stationary vigil to coincide with a large number of events happening all over Australia at the same time.

The vigil will occur from 11am-

Congratulations to Manager David Abrahams and the dedicated staff of the Coast Community News on reaching their impressive milestone of the 500th edition.

David Harris MP Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong (Labor)

1pm at The Entrance waterfront near the pelican feeding area, and all are welcome to attend.

“I went to the Sydney Harbour Bridge march in early August along with 300,000 other people,” Ryall said.

“All I could say was that we needed a bigger bridge.

“We hope this Sunday will bring out more people.

“I also encourage the public who are less familiar with what’s happening in Gaza to come along and ask us questions to learn more.

“Community groups, including

the Greens and many local Labor Party branches, are putting pressure on our two local Federal MPs for Robertson and Dobell, as well as the Federal Government, to end Australia’s sale of weapons parts to Israel.”

She said she was hopeful a large turnout would exert even greater pressure on local MPs to demand that the Australian Government end the country’s involvement in weapons supplies to Israel.

“This is an opportunity for growth and courage in the face of government inaction,” she said.

Coast Community News is a truly outstanding and trusted publication for our region, run by locals for locals on the Coast –congratulations on this massive milestone.

Adam Crouch MP

Shadow Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal (Liberal)

consultants to develop, in conjunction with private land owners, an alternative design for medium/long-term remediation works including sand nourishment underpinned with a rock toe wall at Wamberal.

The work would to be funded from Council’s special project reserve.

Once approved by impacted land owners, Council would seek a ministerial authorisation for such works via a request to the Reconstruction Authority.

The Reconstruction Authority (RA) is the government agency tasked with responding to the coastal erosion emergency at North Entrance and Wamberal.

RA works are paid for by the affected residents, whereas storm emergency works directed by the LECON (the local emergency management committee) are paid for by the general ratepayer.

The motion is expected to generate debate among the councillors and possibly will attract speakers addressing them at the public forum held half an hour before the meeting. The forum starts at 6pm at Council’s chambers in Hely St, Wyong.

Meanwhile, Council has closed the section of the beach where the rock works occurred. Council said the main reason is potential unsafe conditions.

Council has a sign at each end of the impact zone around Pacific St.

Congratulations to Coast Community News and all the contributors, readers and advertisers that keep the region’s stories alive.

Lawrie McKinna Central Coast Mayor (Independant)

One small action would open up Rodney’s world

Rodney Johnson relies on a wheelchair and mobility scooter to get around.

He lives at Blue Haven, on Birdwood Dr, right opposite a fire trail known as the Birdwood-Alambee fire trail, well-used by the community for all sorts of purposes, especially as a direct route to shops and other services.

Hamish Brock is Rodney’s support worker and lives in the unit above Rodney.

Rodney suffers from a degenerative condition known as Spinocerebellar ataxia, a group of progressive, neurodegenerative disorders that affect the cerebellum, spinal cord, and brainstem causing a loss of muscle control, coordination, and balance.

He is also non-verbal.

Hamish estimates the fire trail to be about 10m from Rodney’s front door and says it is used by the entire community, especially at the weekends by children with their parents, push bike riders and people going for a fish or for a walk.

But not Rodney.

His mobility scooter is just a tad too wide to get through the gate.

Hamish has contacted Central Cost Council several times requesting that a post blocking Rodney’s access be moved about 100ml.

“He literally opens his front door and can see the fire trail,” Hamish said.

“I have requested them to make the gateway 100ml wider or whatever it needs to be for Rodney to get his mobility scooter through.”

The responses have infuriated Hamish who describes them as discriminatory and “putrid”.

Council staff have said the

existing fencing infrastructure was specifically designed to restrict general access and the fire trail was for operational purposes and limited to council maintenance crews, the RFS and other emergency services.

But, in another email, staff acknowledged the trail was accessed by pedestrians for the purpose of “low-impact walking, as they do at present” and that Council could not provide “a level of service any more than this”.

Hamish said he understood that in Australia, a pedestrian

included somebody who used a mobility scooter.

“This was such a kick in the teeth for Rodney because he heard the conversation,”

Hamish said,

“He heard him say that if Rodney could walk, it would be okay for him to lift his bike over the fence like other bike riders.

“Rodney is listening to you blokes; he is in a wheelchair and he’s never going to ride a bike.

“He’s never going to walk.

“Rodney wants to go to those shops; he also wants to go to

the men’s shed which is just on the other side in San Remo.

“If nobody is supposed to be using this trail, why have they got a gateway that’s open?

“Why is there a walk-through?

“Why is everybody using it?”

“I’m not going to give up, no way.

“It’s absolutely wrong what they’re doing.

“They exclude one person.

“You can see it from our window, from the front door and people are going down the track and Rodney can only ever watch them.”

Central Coast Council’s response proved cold comfort for Rodney and Hamish.

While a spokesperson reaffirmed Council’s position on the use of the fire trail, the pair were advised to access a guide developed by Council to help locals and visitors “find some accessible bushland destinations, reserves and foreshore areas on the Central Coast”.

“Council has explained the purpose of Council’s fire trails is for use by emergency services in the event of an emergency such as bushfire, and also for Council maintenance crews,” the spokesperson said.

“Fire trail access is restricted by gates to prevent access by unauthorised vehicles and motor bikes and to prevent risks such as fire, illegal dumping and environmental degradation.

“The public is able to access our fire trails for low impact walking, however our fire trails are not designed or constructed in accordance with the Australia Standards for access for mobility scooters and wheelchairs.”

Denice Barnes

Wyong Fire and Rescue team take the honours

Intersection

The Wyong team from Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is celebrating its victory in the latest round of the Regional Firefighters Championships at Forbes recently.

The Wyong Fire Station team took out the top spot after an exhilarating display of teamwork and skill, placing ahead of CFA’s Echuca and FRNSW’s Wangi Wangi crews, which came in second and third place respectively.

The Championships put teams through their paces in events like Urban Pumper Collector and Ladder and Hose

Hydrant and Extinguisher, all designed to replicate real-life scenarios faced by firefighters.

FRNSW Zone Commander, Superintendent Dean Campbell, said the atmosphere in Forbes was electric.

“The Firefighter Championships are all about community spirit and skills development; it’s always a great event to be part of,” he said.

“We throw in a bit of friendly competition and see some great displays of stamina, endurance and firefighting techniques.

delays frustrating

The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has expressed concern over continued delays to the Rawson Rd/ Ocean Beach Rd intersection.

“Whilst the Chamber is relieved that the Federal Funding has now been locked in with Central Coast Council, we are concerned that Council has only recently issued a selective tender for the redesign of the intersection with design contracts unlikely to be awarded before October

this year,” Chamber President Matthew Wales said.

“Frustratingly, it has been nearly five years since the initial design process was commenced by Council with the Chamber constantly being reassured that design development and community consultation was proceeding.

“You can understand the business community’s frustration when we are advised yet again that the intersection is being redesigned with yet another community consultation process to follow.

“We should not forget that Council has still to go out to tender for construction once the redesign and consultation has been finalised.”

Wales said he would be surprised if the actual works on the intersection commenced before Christmas next year.

“Also of concern is the continual rise in construction costs and materials and every delay surely will impact on the final cost of the signalised intersection,” he said.

“We can only hope that the

allocated $32M is going to be enough noting that the budget was doubled way back in 2021.

“With the increased pressure on our roads, the Chamber is encouraging Council to move quickly in finalising the design process and putting the project out to tender.”

Wales said it was also concerning that 80% of roads on the Peninsula remain without kerb and gutter, stormwater drainage and usable footpaths.

“I’m confident that each competitor has returned home with additional knowledge and skills that will benefit their local communities.

“I send my congratulations to the winners from Wyong Fire and Rescue NSW, and my thanks to all competitors, including our friends from CFA and RFS.”

For overall results and placings, visit www. firefighterchampionships.com

The next round of Firefighter Championships will take place at Casino in October.

forward to your new home

Designed for over 55s, discover modern homes priced from $660,000 to $1,299,000*

You’re invited to the Community Showcase at Ingenia Lifestyle. With beautiful coastal locations to choose from, you’ll discover impressive display homes, resort-style amenities and welcoming communities designed with health, wellness and social connection in mind. Explore modern two and three bedroom homes now selling and made for easy living.

Save $15,000^ on selected homes at participating communities

Coast Connect

Central Coast Council news and community information

MAYOR’S MESSAGE

Kicking goals for sport, leisure and recreation

When we were preparing our strategic plans, we devised a list of Councillor priorities that aligned with community feedback. People told us they value local sport, leisure and recreation and we’ve made this one of our key priorities. During this term of Council, we’re focusing on improving accessibility and modernising our facilities through targeted works programs. Within our Delivery Program, we’re allocating:

• Sporting facilities works: $35M

• Sporting amenities works: $10.5M

• Playspaces works: $10.2M

• Leisure Centres works: $9.2M

• Skateparks, BMX and hard-court facilities: $5.4M

• Parks and reserves works: $4.5M

• Recreational aquatic infrastructure works: $3.4M

• Pool facilities renewals: $1.9M

• Surf Life Saving Clubs: $1.3M

• Tennis facilities renewal: $303k

We also want to increase participation in sports though delivering programs like Girls Get Active, Mums Basketball, and adult learn to swim programs.

We’ll be promoting accessible beach opportunities and delivering playspace upgrades with inclusion features that align with ‘Everyone Can Play’ guidelines. And we’ll be continuing to provide a high level of service for users of our parks and reserves. We’ve recently completed consultation on our draft Leisure and Aquatic Strategy 2025-2035, and we’re now incorporating community feedback. Once adopted, this 10year framework will guide the infrastructure upgrades, asset management and program expansion for leisure and aquatic services across the Coast. You can view the draft strategy on the Your Voice Our Coast website.

The next Council meeting will be held at Central Coast Council Chambers, 6.30pm Tuesday 26 August 2025

To view the agenda, reports, live webcast and minutes search ‘council meetings’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

What’s On

Gosford Regional Library grand opening!

Celebrate our brand-new Gosford Regional Library with a day of activities and entertainment for the whole family! 9:30am Saturday 6 September at 123A Donnison Street, Gosford.

Search ‘Gosford Regional Library grand opening’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Strengthening community connections through art

We’ve awarded commissions to five local creatives from our 2024-25 Creative Art Central program. Through visual, performance and installation art these artists will collaborate with the community to co-design works that reflect the Central Coast’s diverse stories - including those of First Nations people.

Learn about the creatives, search ‘Creative Art Central’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Give your shopfront a fresh new look!

Applications for our 2025-26 Façade Improvement Support Program open on 1 September, offering eligible businesses and commercial property owners matched funding of up to $5,000 to enhance the appearance and accessibility of shopfronts.

Join our free online information session at 5.30pm on Tuesday 26 August to learn about eligibility, guidelines and the application process. Search ‘façade’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au for more information.

Have your say on what’s happening locally

View our engagement platform, Your Voice Our Coast to explore projects on exhibition and provide your feedback! Projects include Woy Woy Masterplan, Toukley Desalination Water Treatment Plant, Flood Policy, Open Coast Coastal Management Plan, draft Squirrel Glider Species Management Plan and more! Visit yourvoiceourcoast.com to have your say and shape the future of the Central Coast.

Nominate someone making a difference on the Coast

Calling on residents and businesses! Nominate a Coastie or local group who make the Central Coast a better place to live, work and play! There are five categories for the awards including Young Person, Volunteer, Senior Citizen, Community Groups and Community Life (sports, arts, culture or environment). Nominations close 29 August.

For more information, search ‘nominate’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Cars,

chrome

and

tunes

from the good ol’ days

The Entrance will come alive on Friday 24 to Sunday 26 October with over 500 show cars - pre-1979 on display! There will be lots to do from live music - across five outdoor stages, market stalls, fashion parade and much more. Plan your weekend at chromefest.org

To celebrate the 500th edition of Coast Community News, we look back at the stories that continue to pop up throughout the years, hogging the headlines since late 2010 at least, which is when we first hit the news stands.

Some stories, of course, started decades, or centuries earlier, and 2010 to 2025 is a mere blimp in the story line.

Gosford Waterfront Plan Unveiled was the front page headline in the second edition in December 2010 and Regional Library to Progress was the front page headline in Issue 30 in April 2012.

The library opens on September 6 this year, a mere 13 years later, while the waterfront plans are still … um… still… um…being refined.

Back in April 2012, the regional library was going to be a building between the Broadwater Hotel and the Council Chambers in Mann St, Gosford.

It wasn’t until years later that the current site of the new regional library was mentioned.

The current library, which closed last week, thereby ending its working life as a library, will likely know its fate at the August 26 council meeting after councillors Trent McWaide, Rachel Stanton, Kyla Daniels, Kyle MacGregor, Margot Castles and Jane Smith, all members of the library review committee, made it clear they want the building saved.

Dredging Plans for The Entrance Channel was the headline on August 20, 2012.

And again in 2020; when dredging was done differently to previous years.

Four years’ later, a community campaign was needed in 2024 to bring back Reg the Dredge which had not been used since 2020.

The campaign was successful with the new councillors, voted in last September, agreeing at their June meeting to get dredging underway again – but when that will happen was not actually stated.

Locals will be hoping that will feature sooner rather than later in a future Coast Community News edition.

New policy regarding dogs was the exciting announcement (note the sarcasm there) on the front page on February 13, 2012.

The article said the then Gosford Council was developing a dogs in open space policy.

Four years later of course, the former Gosford and Wyong

Some stories never go away

Central Coast was the front page headline on January 30, 2013.

The number of homeless people had risen to 1,996 in 2023.

McKinna to attempt Brisbane Water name change

Newer figures are not available but homelessness on the coast is estimated to have increased by up to 60 per cent and CCN has run special content highlighting the issues in 2025.

August 2014 saw the front page headline $10 million performing arts centre officially opened but it was all about a 750-seat auditorium at Central Coast Grammar School.

As noted earlier, the Gosford waterfront, where a performing arts centre for the public was mooted donkeys years ago, has been the subject of dozens of front page headlines including Minister Hazzard to Progress Stage one of The Landing on April 23, 2012, and plenty of other iterations of plans, culminating in an advertisement currently on CCN web site home page from the Hunter Central Coast Development Corporation asking people to do a survey on what they want to see on the waterfront.

There is no mention of a performing arts centre among the options in the survey.

from a public private partnership in October 2016.

In 2017 we saw the termination of the Chinese Theme Park proposed for Warnervale.

Until 2017, it was a long running story, being front page in September 2012 CCN’s sister publication The Wyong Chronicle.

Other stories are like television serials where some stars’ fortunes ebb and flow, and it makes one wonder what will happen next.

Yes, we’re talking Warnervale Airport.

The preparation of a masterplan for the site was approved by Wyong Council; but then the prepared plan was rejected by the first Central Coast Council and a new one adopted by the latest Council recently.

More to come, I’m sure, on that score.

November 21, 2017 saw the front page of sister paper The Chronicle devoted to the success of the Long Jetty Street Festival, but by 2024 organisers had trouble with Council and police in getting approval to hold the event and it hasn’t been held since, despite the rescheduling to March 2025.

councils were merged to form Central Coast Council.

The new Council also began developing a dogs in open space policy.

And forgive me if I am not politically correct on this but the council is still stuffing around with it.

Last the public heard about it was from Administrator Rik Hart and he’s been gone almost a year now.

The public is still awaiting the outcome of his final decision which was to ask Council staff to Review Environmental Factors (REFs) for a number of sites across the local government area.

In July 2024 he said: “I removed Memorial Park, Davistown, as a possible replacement for Pippi Point, as I do not believe it to be a suitable alternative location; it is prone to flooding, is relatively small and is located close to the open road.

“On the other hand, I believe that there’s a real need for a fenced off-leash dog area at The Haven in Terrigal due to the safety concerns to dog owners, non-dog owners, the environment and open space facilities.

“As such, I have endorsed the

preparation of detailed concept plans and REF for this area.

“The outcome of the REF and concept design will to be reported back to the newly elected Council to allow for consideration of options and further community consultation.”

By the time the community hears anything more, the “newly elected Council” will be more than a year old – at least.

But back to the merger: the new Mayor and his Deputy were, back in pre-merger days, mayors of Gosford and Wyong respectively and both voted for their councils to remain individual councils before the State Government decided to amalgamate them in 2016 and elections were held in 2017.

That is the simplified version: there were dozens and dozens of meetings and changes of heart with lots of discussion about the costs involved.

When change came, it left the councillors surprised and the new council under administration for more than a year.

The surprises continued.

The new council got into financial trouble in 2020; the councillors were suspended

and the Council was put back into administration.

After a public inquiry, the councillors were sacked and the Coast missed out on the 2021 elections with administration lasting until September 2024.

1462 homeless persons on

Freedom of Information documents provided a damning story about the Mangrove Mountain landfill saga in 2016.

Other environment stories include the Vales Point power station emissions issues which continue to this day.

Some stories have finally been laid to rest.

More than 1,000 people rallied to save Wyong Hospital

Coastal Twist had the same problem this year: it’s all about the DAs – development applications.

And talking DAs, the Coast got a Local Planning Panel in 2019.

Also the State Government announced that Leagues Club Park in Gosford was about to be transformed into “a world class” public space.

2020 started with bushfires and flooding and moved on to Covid lockdowns, with virtually every story in the March 26, 2020, edition of CCN about an aspect of the lockdown.

A second lockdown came in 2021 and Molly Picklum won her first surfing Pro event.

Long-time Central Coast journalist Terry Collins joined Coast Community News in 2019 and in 2021 introduced a year-in-review story idea.

At the beginning of every year, a journalist writes up the major stories reported over the past year to appear on our website and in print.

Which means it is so much easier to see the stories that continue to fill our pages, year on year.

For a recap on the years 2021-2024, see the links in this story on our website. But, fair warning, there are a thousands of stories to choose from.

Call for more action on homelessness

Urgent government action is needed to address homelessness on the Central Coast, with local advocates warning the community is “past the point of just creating awareness”.

The warning came as the State Government unveiled a 10-year strategy to tackle homelessness across the state – the first of its kind – aiming to shift the focus from crisis management to prevention and long-term housing solutions.

The NSW Homelessness Strategy 2025–2035, announced on Friday, August 8, is led by Homes NSW and was developed in collaboration with homelessness and housing services, people with lived experience, and Aboriginal organisations.

The strategy sets out a coordinated approach to reform across government, the homelessness and housing sectors, local services and communities.

Key reforms in the first stage of implementation include: replacing hotel and motel stays with more appropriate homelessness accommodation, delivered with supports tailored to the individual or family’s needs; developing local housing and homelessness collaboration networks to identify and address service gaps, reduce duplication and target resources effectively; establishing a NSW Street Sleeping Registry to improve service coordination for people sleeping rough and reduce the need for people to repeatedly tell their story; targeted responses for young people and Aboriginal people who face particular challenges in the service system; and designing a Housing First approach for NSW, ensuring people can access stable housing as quickly as possible, supported by the services they need.

The Government says the strategy builds on recent actions to make the housing system fairer, including: a

record $6.6B investment in social housing and homelessness through the Building Homes for NSW program; the delivery of more than 1,700 homes over the past year – the largest increase in government-built public, community and affordable housing in over a decade; upgrading more than 6,000 social homes; reducing the social housing wait list by an average of eight months across NSW; and the introduction of modular housing for mass public housing, with over 90 modular public homes to be delivered over the next year.

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said the strategy was about embedding a long-term plan.

“We are formalising and embedding the Housing First approach as the official government policy to end homelessness in NSW,” she said.

“This approach ensures that people have stable housing first, backed in by the support they need to rebuild their lives.”

Homelessness NSW CEO Dom Rowe welcomed the announcement, saying the strategy sets “a path to a better future” for people at risk of homelessness and the services that support them.

Minister for the Central Coast David Harris said homelessness is a concerning issue on the Central Coast, as it is in every region and city in NSW.

“Everyone has the right to housing that is safe, affordable and appropriate for their needs,” he said.

“But NSW is in a housing and homelessness crisis after decades of neglect.

“I applaud Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson for releasing this 10-year strategy.

“In a first for our state, the strategy will take a whole-ofgovernment approach to tackle the root causes of homelessness by shifting focus from crisis management to prevention and support.

“A key part of the strategy is setting up or strengthening local partnerships operating in every region in the state.

“On the Central Coast this will streamline the efforts of homelessness services, housing providers, councils, Aboriginal organisations, communities and government agencies to get everyone working together to help put a safe roof over the head of people impacted by homelessness in our region.”

Member for Gosford Liesl Teach said with the cost-ofliving crisis hitting our community hard, too many are doing it tough and sleeping rough.

“For too long, a crisis driven approach has resulted in a lack of long-term vision for tackling homelessness in our community,” Tesch said.

“This strategy is a gamechanging, whole-ofGovernment initiative, which goes to the root of homelessness – to prevent and support – with an approach to provide stable housing first, bolstered by the strategic resources needed to rebuild lives.”

Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch was contacted for comment but a response has not yet been received.

A spokesperson for Toukley Neighbourhood Centre has welcomed the news but says there is a critical gap in both short-term and mid-term accommodation options for vulnerable community members.

“Without these pathways, many who have bravely fled unsafe, abusive, or harmful situations are left with no viable alternative but to return to the very environments they escaped,” the spokesperson said.

“We call for solutions to be developed in genuine consultation with the community, existing government agencies, and NGO partners — building on and coordinating current services.

“A structured approach must be implemented to address individual needs, provide safe and feasible short-term options, and deliver mid-term accommodation that offers stability.

“With strong wrap-around

NEWS IN BRIEF Residents say children are at risk

The Central Coast’s homelessness crisis remains visible on streets, in parks, and around schools.

One local parent, who lives near The Entrance Public School, is demanding immediate action regarding squatters living close by.

support, individuals can lay the foundations for independence and secure long-term housing — breaking the cycles of domestic and family violence, elder abuse, poverty, and other entrenched social challenges.”

Central Coast homelessness advocate Jake Cassar, who has spent decades working with vulnerable communities and running outreach in places like Rumbalara and Coast Shelter, says the Government must build on existing services rather than start from scratch.

“There are already great examples of refuges for men, women, and youth on the Central Coast,” he said.

“But as the issue of homelessness grows, we need the services to grow also.”

These buildings are mostly owned by Council with State and Federal Government funding and sponsorships by local businesses keeping them running.

Cassar says they not only provide a safe haven for the most vulnerable in our community but also provide much-needed local employment for the staff and other associated services.

“The bottom line is that we don’t need to reinvent the wheel here,” he said.

“We have the infrastructure and the business model already well and truly up and running.

“Things aren’t getting better; they are getting exponentially worse.

“If the demand is increasing, then so too must the support services.

“We need more funding as a region, and the community’s most vulnerable need urgent help.

“We are past the point of just needing to create awareness.

“We need the government to urgently prioritise ensuring that no Australian who needs a roof over their head is denied that basic human right.”

Skaie Hull

“What’s alarming is the lack of action anyone is taking – be it Central Coast Council, the Police, these land-owners or the other citizens that make up this once beautiful community,” he said.

“Thoughts aren’t what make action or change, but speaking up and being persistent does.”

Residents say the safety of children is being overlooked.

“These properties are across the road from a school full of minors and children,” another parent said.

Residents say the squatter area is often littered with alcohol bottles and smashed glass, with questionable behaviours in evidence.

“Enough is enough,” one parent said.

“The Central Coast used to be family-friendly; it used to be safe.

“If parents don’t speak up for our children, who will?”

Another bone of contention with residents is Picnic Point, a major local reserve, which became what they describe as a “tent city” before the new children’s playground even opened.

“Places like Picnic Park are not family-friendly or welcoming, nor worth the taxpayers’ money if it was only to become a tent city,” a resident of The Entrance said.

“Car parks like the one next to the Entrance Bridge are also now housing people — and this was meant to be a family space.”

Residents say their frustration is not aimed at those sleeping rough but at the lack of coordinated response.

“These problems are known to Council and Police, but what’s being done about it?” one resident said.

See full story online: coastcommunitynews.com.au

The Glen’s generosity and dedication wins SES award

The Glen for Men, a leading drug and alcohol centre at Chittaway Point, has been recognised for its ongoing generosity and dedication in assisting the NSW SES during challenging weather events on the Central Coast.

The Glen received the NSW SES Cultural Community Connection and Engagement Award for its dedication to serving and supporting the Central Coast community, fostering stronger connections, and demonstrating a commendable commitment to

community engagement and cultural inclusion.

Executive director at The Glen Rehabilitation Centres Joe Coyte said he was “very proud” that The Glen as an organisation was always looking for ways of helping out the local community.

“We’re honoured to share that The Glen has received the NSW SES Cultural Community Connection and Engagement Award,” he said..

“This recognition means a great deal to us.

“It’s a privilege to serve, support, and stand alongside our community, and we’re

deeply grateful for this acknowledgment.

“A heartfelt thank you to NSW SES for recognising the work we do.”

Over the years, the men have pitched in during significant weather events to help the SES fill sandbags to distribute to those in need.

“Congratulations to The Glen for Men on their community spirit and willingness to help during tough times,” Member for Wyong and Minister for the Central Coast David Harris said.

“It is truly commendable and

greatly appreciated by all those affected.”

The Glen operates drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres for men and women providing a 12-week program offering a culturally safe, supportive environment in which to recover from addiction and start building practical like skills for clients over 18 years old.

The Glen also offers a transition program to support clients achieve their psychosocial goals such as education, employment, finances and housing.

Vinnies funding makes lasting difference

St Vincent de Paul Society Woy Woy has received $18,528 under the State Government’s Community Building Partnership program (CBP) to expand its support centre.

Vinnies co-ordinator Krystal Lyle said the government grant was welcomed and would be used to improve facilities for locals.

“We are truly grateful for the funding, which will be critical in

The undersigned community organisations wish to add our support to the 3500+ people who have already signed a petition to save the library building in Kibble Park. More people are signing the petition every day. We all know the community needs social infrastructure far more than it needs a concrete amphitheatre. You will be cutting the heart out of Kibble Park if you demolish one of the most significant cultural buildings left in Gosford.

The NSW Government Architect (GA) recognised the value of the ‘Sydney School Nuts and Berries’ mid-century Gosford Library building and said it could be used as a future town hall or community centre to help breathe some daily life into the Gosford CBD. It’s called adaptive reuse, and the GA understood its importance. The Central Coast Council needs to understand it too.

The library building is listed with the Australian Institute of Architects’ significant buildings in NSW. It has a National Trust listing as a building of heritage significance. It is included on our local heritage inventory and it’s formal listing is now a matter of urgency. The Gosford Library building has been loved by generations of residents. The council’s own consultant’s assessment concluded that the building is in very good shape.

EVERYBODY KNOWS IT IS WORTH KEEPING and could be a future jewel of Gosford. But something happened while our council was under administration. Staff and an unelected administrator decided to demolish the building – without any direct community consultation. Thankfully our newly elected councillors had the foresight to review that resolution.

The signatories of this open letter call upon the Central Coast Council to imagine a lively ground floor café complemented by meeting spaces, a performance space, exhibition spaces. We request that the council retains the current library building and works with the community to transform it into the vibrant, unique community hub Gosford deserves.

The building can become a piece of essential social infrastructure, open for the use and enjoyment of all kinds of community groups. The adaptive reuse of the Gosford Library building will be an effective way to revitalise the city’s heart. It will complement the new library building and give residents and visitors another reason to visit Gosford.If Central Coast Council is serious about revitalising Gosford, please be innovative and forward thinking: Keep, adapt and reuse the Gosford Library building.

allowing us to innovate our support delivery model and create a more collaborative centre for our community,” she said.

“The contribution will make a significant and lasting difference here in Woy Woy.”

The Rosalee’s Garden renovation project aims to transform an existing building into a modern, inclusive community hub.

The revitalisation will

prioritise client privacy and dignity by creating secure and comfortable, wheelchairaccessible spaces for essential services with expanding consultation rooms, lift access, collaborative office spaces and safety for staff and visitors.

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said the funding would deliver much-needed improvements to local facilities such as Vinnies at Woy Woy.

“It’s great to see this grassroots funding supporting

local projects that make a real difference on the Central Coast,” she said.

The Gosford electorate has secured $448,000 in funding for a total of 22 infrastructure projects through the $41M CBP program.

“I congratulate all the organisations that were successful in their application and look forward to seeing the positive outcomes in our community,” Tesch said.

Second Avoca Beach parking review underway

Central Coast Council has begun its second review into parking arrangements at Avoca Beach this year, with improvements now being investigated for the Avoca Beach Surf Club carpark.

Central Coast Councillor Jared Wright said the review would form the second stage of improving arrangements in Avoca Beach.

“People come from right across the Central Coast and broader NSW to visit Avoca Beach year-round,” he said.

“What this review seeks to do is free up more spaces and also make parking more accessible, so that everyone can enjoy the beach area.”

The proposed design for the carpark includes adding additional motorbike parking to free up more spaces for cars and upgrading the accessible parking.

Tweaks have also been proposed to restricted spaces, such as those for emergency services, to ensure they can access the beach while also opening up more parking opportunities.

Wright said the first stage of the process was kickstarted in early 2025, with a review into

parking arrangements at the shopping precinct.

“Between both parking reviews and the upgrades to Burns Street Carpark, Avoca Beach is having a major shakeup when it comes to parking, providing more spaces and better accessibility,” he said.

“I have spoken to stakeholders in the area and will work with Council staff to propose some changes to the original design,

to make sure that it is fit-forpurpose.”

He said he had also worked with other councillors, including Councillor Kyla Daniels, and staff on parking reviews in other areas including Copacabana and Gosford CBD.

“Parking remains a top concern for local residents and I will continue to work on ways to make it easier, so that more people can enjoy the many recreational and business

opportunities that the Central Coast has to offer,” he said.

Newly-elected president of the Avoca Beach Community Association Janet Aitchison said local residents and businesses were eager to see parking improvements that made it easier to enjoy the area, but said further design tweaks were needed.

“With more parking, more people can enjoy the beach, as well as our cafes and restaurants,” she said.

“Our community association and relevant stakeholders will work with Council to ensure the design best meets the needs of the community,”

Central Coast Council has engaged with stakeholders including residents, businesses and the Avoca Beach Community Association, on the proposed design.

Feedback will be collated and reviewed before a final proposal is put forward.

Nominations for the Gosford Community Champion Awards are now open.

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said awards seek to reward the quiet achievers of the Central Coast, those who make a positive impact.

The first-ever Gosford Community Champions were recognised last year and ranged from Gosford Hospital food services worker Deb Chalker to Nikki Willmette for her unselfish work with the homeless.

Junior Johnson was rewarded simply for being “a local who gives back to the community” by raising funds for local football clubs.

Nominees must live in the Gosford electorate.

Nominations must be made before 5pm on September 10, with paper-based nomination form avvailable 71 Blackwall Rd, Woy Woy, or digital forms available at www.liesltesch. com.au

See full story online: coastcommunitynews.com.au

Upgrade for Toukley boat ramp

Toukley boat ramp is set for an upgrade, following a funding allocation of $430,220 to Marine Rescue NSW through the State Government’s Boating Infrastructure for Communities Grant Program.

Member for Wyong David Harris said the investment will make a real difference for the community.

“Projects delivered under the

program mean safer launching and retrieval, better access for people of all abilities, and more reason for visitors to spend time and money in our local cafes, tackle shops and accommodation,” he said.

“This program will support upgrades to public boating infrastructure, improve disability access, and fund strategic plans for future needs, delivering safer, more accessible waterways for communities across NSW.”

A full list of successful projects is available at www. nsw.gov.au/grants-andfunding/boatinginfrastructure-forcommunities

Minister for Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison said the upgrades are about delivering better, safer, and more accessible infrastructure to communities who rely on the state’s waterways for work, leisure, and connection.

“From Macleay to Lake Macquarie, Ulladulla to the Hawkesbury,these investments will make a real difference, supporting tourism, local jobs, and long-term economic growth in regional NSW,” she said.

“The Minns Labor Government is getting on with the job of delivering infrastructure that matters – projects that support safer launching, better access, and inclusive facilities for people of all abilities.”

Wetlands restoration complete

More than 5,000 trees and shrubs have been planted by the community over six years to support swift parrot habitat at Pioneer Dairy Wetlands, with the final planting celebrated on National Tree Day.

The project was delivered by Greater Sydney Local Land Services through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program (NLP2) and NSW Treasury.

The long-term restoration effort has brought together volunteers, school students, bushcare groups and local organisations to restore vital

habitat for the critically endangered swift parrot, regent honey eater and squirrel glider, while also improving water quality and landscape resilience.

Senior Land Services Officer with Greater Sydney Local Land Services, Mick Budden, said the project’s success shows what can be achieved when the community comes together.

“This collaborative restoration project has been incredible to be part of,” he said.

“We’ve worked with passionate volunteers, young people, environmental groups

and land managers to create real change in the landscape.

“This final planting was a proud moment for everyone involved.”

Located within the Tuggerah Lakes catchment, the Pioneer Dairy site is a key foraging and breeding area for both migratory and resident birds.

Jed Field, Land Manager at Pioneer Dairy, said the transformation is clearly visible.

“Thanks to the funding, we’ve restored 6 hectares of habitat and planted key winterflowering gums like swamp

mahogany and spotted gum,” he said.

“Where there were once weeds and open paddocks, we’re now seeing native trees maturing, more wildlife activity, and a healthier, more resilient wetland system.”

The final planting marked a celebration of restored habitat, stronger community connections and increased environmental awareness.

To find out more about this project contact your closest Local Land Services office on 1300 795 299.

Draft CMP a failure

I object to Central Coast Council’s Draft Open Coastal Management Program CMP) because it does not comply with the Coastal Management Act 2016 for several reasons.

The CPM fails to recognise the Terrigal and Wamberal lagoons and related residential floodplains as coastal vulnerability areas that are subjected to ocean inundation as well as catchment flooding if the Wamberal beach opening is significantly opened or restricted.

Its proposal for Wamberal Beach is a terminal protection (page 123) whose ‘end effects’ could directly cause ocean inundation to the adjacent lagoons, flooding the homes on the floodplain, and causing sewerage pollution to these residential areas.

Not only is there no recognition of these coastal issues but

FORUM

Read more forum on our website by scanning the QR code or visit coastcommunitynews.com.au/forum SCAN ME

there are no actions or emergency planning in this regard.

The CMP prioritises vertical seawalls at Wamberal without DA approval, funding commitments or proper assessment of alternatives.

The CMP does not prioritise or consider options such as sand nourishment which would allow sand to be dredged and dispersed within the wave zone (not the beach itself) to build the beach back and allow the waves to break well away from the dunes.

This is a workable alternative that Angus Gordon (an experienced ocean engineer who knows Wamberal Beach very well) has put forward as a workable alternative.

Community feedback opposing hard protection measures has been disregarded (approx 3200 objections to Wamberal Seawall DA) and other options such as sand nourishment (have been) criticised by staff involved in drafting the CMP – the same staff who have worked closely with the proposed Wamberal Beach DA applicants to build a 1.3km seawall on Wamberal Beach, which in itself is a major conflict of interest.

The draft CMP is not legally fit for certification, as it does not include cost, legal and responsibility planning, particularly when considering the responsibility of council when hundreds of homes flood as a result of ocean inundation to the residential floodplains

due to what was proposed as solutions in the CMP.

The CMP has been drafted without the necessary due diligence and flood studies to understand the potential impacts on the impacted vulnerable areas.

The beach and lagoons are one ecosystem and the CMP should not ignore this, which it appears to do, with impacted beach lagoons and floodplains not considered.

The lagoons may be a separate CMP which at this point has not been completed – the ocean CMP and the Lagoon CPM need to be considered holistically.

Email, Aug 4

Tania Crafford, Wamberal

Diminishing the rights of women

Clare’s Law is a great initiative (CCN 498) but the changes to the Sex Discrimination Act in 2013 have diminished the rights

THE BEAT

Bicycle thefts on the rise

Brisbane Water police have issued a warning that bicycle theft is on the rise. But they say a few simple steps can make all the difference in helping them getting your bike back to you if it’s stolen.

Police advise bike owners to record and save their serial number, usually stamped underneath the frame near the pedals.

They are also advised to take clear photos, capturing the whole bike plus close-ups of unique features, accessories, or custom parts.

Owners should keep proof of purchase – this helps prove ownership if it’s recovered.

If your bike is stolen call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444

Guard against number plate theft

Tuggerah Lakes police have warned that thefts from motor vehicles continue to occur across the command, with one of the most common items targeted and stolen being registration plates.

Police say typically plates are stolen to use to commit other crimes.

of women, and that sends a message that women do not matter which in turn leads to violence against women.

How does the Labor leadership not realise this?

All the things wrong with our country stem from our leaders’ bad choices.

Email, Aug 9

Kay Donaldson, Hamlyn Terrace

Why net zero at all costs?

Your nuclear correspondent in Issue 498 has written some inconvenient truths.

Speaking as someone with a multidisciplinary and relevant academic background in energy and more than four decades in relevant industries (including energy companies), I agree with nearly all he said, but I was not so bold as to say some of the things he did for fear of being sued.

Politicians should listen to the

experts who do not depend on them for their career.

But, of course, it is all about being voted in again.

Your correspondent was focusing on the present, which is quite reasonable; we have to do that.

However, there is no immaculate solution to our energy needs.

In the interim, nuclear is a good option, being emission free and dispatchable.

However, nuclear fission has a problem about permanent disposal and there are millions of tonnes of it around the world waiting to be properly disposed. I have yet to understand why we want net zero at all costs, when we are a significant exporter of coal.

We are actually contributing to the emissions that seem to be warming the planet.

The word that comes to mind is ostrith (head in the sand).

ON THE BEAT BRIEFS

Teen charged over liquor thefts

Tuggerah Lakes Police District have charged a teen over a string of alleged retail thefts.

On Tuesday, August 12, officers from the Proactive Crime Team at Tuggerah Lakes Police District arrested and charged a 17-year-old male from San Remo with 21 counts of stealing from a retail store.

Police will allege 19 of these

offences were committed between June 6 and July 31, when more than $16,000 worth of liquor was stolen from a San Remo liquor outlet.

Another two retail theft offences were allegedly committed at Hornsby and Town Hall in Sydney.

The teen was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Wyong Children’s Court on Tuesday, October 7.

Police suggest owners do not leave valuables in their car, no matter where they park, including garage remotes.

Owners are advised to park in a garage or secure parking space, near security lights and/ or CCTV.

Do not post pictures with your number plate online and immediately report stolen number plates to police.

You can reduce the chances of your plates being stolen by installing anti-theft or tamper resistant screws.

Focus on domestic and family violence

Tuggerah Lakes Police District recently focused on a local response to addressing incidents of domestic and family violence on the Central Coast as part of the statewide Operation AMAROK.

Key results saw 299 Proactive Incidents, including 252 Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO)

Compliance Checks, 16 Bail Compliance Checks, 9 Breach ADVO offences and 3 Firearm Prohibition Orders.

Police responded to seven assault matters, seven intimidation reports and attended 34 domestic violence episodes.

A number of offenders were

charged and bail refused with serious current and historic offences which were domestic and family violence related.

Commander, Superintendent Chad Gillies, said the results demonstrate the command’s ongoing commitment to responding to and investigating domestic and family violence incidents.

“Our primary focus will always be holding perpetrators to account and supporting our victims and vulnerable,” he said.

“Importantly, some of our arrests were a direct result of our proactive checks on ADVO and bail compliance.”

Two women face drug supply offences

Two women have been charged with alleged drug supply offences after being apprehended at Wyong.

In July 2025, the Hunter Region Enforcement Squad (RES) established Strike Force Carrolup to investigate the alleged supply of drugs in the Newcastle area.

RES officers stopped a vehicle on the M1 at Wyong about 6.20pm on Tuesday, August 12.

Police allegedly located and seized quantities of drugs, assorted prescription medication, pepper spray, and $2,325 cash.

Two women, both aged 23, were arrested at the scene. Officers, assisted by Hunter UTAH, then executed two search warrants at Newcastle

and Mayfield West, where they allegedly located and seized quantities of drugs, assorted prescription medication, a pistol, electronic stun device, ammunition, and $19,000 cash.

One woman was charged with 32 drug and firearm offences and refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 2 on Wednesday, August 13, where she was formally refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Friday, August 15. The other woman was charged with 18 offences and refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 2 on Wednesday, August 13, where she was formally refused bail to appear before the same court on Thursday, August 14.

Big Bike Film Night at Avoca

The Big Bike Film Night will screen at Avoca Beach Theatre on Friday, September 5, with a program celebrating cycling in all its glorious shapes and forms.

Proclaimed as “a feast of short films devised and designed for the two-wheel devotee”, it had its humble beginnings in Taupo, New Zealand in 2015.

The Big Bike Film Night is now a much-anticipated global film festival that brings a love of cycling to cinemas, presenting an array of international movies specifically selected by New Zealander curator Brett Cotter.

“Each year I set out with just one goal – to bring together the best short cycling films from around the world for our audiences, celebrating the fun, the adventure, and inspiration that bikes enable,” Cotter said.

“Our 2025 collection contains eight mesmerising films that are as varied and diverse as you could hope for.

“With arguably the finest selection of cycling films yet, from the exotic location of northern Pakistan to the suburban streets of Santa Barbara in America, from the soaring mountain peaks of Austria to breathtaking Queenstown, New Zealand, to

Featuring MARK SHELLEY

the captivating Scottish Highlands.”

All In or Nothing is a classic Kiwi story set around the magnificent Nelson/Tasman region in New Zealand.

It follows the young Kiwi 19-year-old trailblazer, Matt Fairbrother, as he participates in the multistage enduro event

The New Zealand Mountain Bike Rally against 120 riders.

The film follows Fairbrother as he chooses a different approach to the race, competing in a league of his own in his entirely signature unsupported style, fuelled by a penchant for chocolate milk and a “can do” attitude over the gruelling sixday schedule.

“Matt is known for doing things differently,” Cotter said.

“This mind-blowingly awesome film not only showcases Matt’s grit, determination, and resilience over the 27 downhill enduro race stages, there’s also the additional 500km cycling that he did between the stages carrying his own kit, eating what he carried, sleeping rough in a bivy, kayaking 50km across the ocean, and grinding up 18,000 extra vertical metres to get to the finish line.

“This human-powered adventure is epic in every sense.”

Also in the treasure chest of films are: an exhilarating film

that redefines what’s possible on a gravel bike on technically challenging terrains; an inspiring mountain bike ride through back country in Queenstown, New Zealand, that is both poetic and meaningful; an uplifting film that follows a group of adventurers who gather to cycle from town out to the local ski field and back; and a film on a life-changing experience for a group of friends who undertake a trip to a bothie (hut) in the Scottish Highlands to show what can be achieved by people with disabilities in relation to having adventures.

offer, and the belief that a bike is more than two-wheels, it can be whatever you want to be,” Cotter said.

“It can help improve our health and inspire and uplift people with where it can take us.

“It’s a real honour connecting communities with stories that captivate us, move us, and most importantly of all, inspire us to get out and ride.”

The Big Bike Film Night screens at the Avoca Beach Theatre on Friday, September 5 at 7pm.

”W ithout a doubt, John Robertson and Mark Shelley perform the world’s best characterisations of Willie & Roy. Their appearance, voices, manner and ‘spirit’ are uncanny!“

“The power of storytelling is at the forefront of what we

For more information and to buy tickets visit www. bigbikefilmnight.nz

Musical afternoon at Pearl Beach

Dietitian Carin Clegg will hold free Zumba Gold classes in September at various venues on the Central Coast.

“Despite the insane popularity of weight loss diets, pills, shakes and programs out there, the research says that it is not energy intake that impacts body size, rather physical activity,” Clegg said.

“As a dietitian, I see firsthand that when people increase their physical activity levels, not only does their metabolism increase, but their ability to make better food choices improves.

“It is a win-win.

“This is why I have also become a fitness professional because I know how important body movement is to both my

Enjoy a musical afternoon and singalong with the Pearl Beach Singers at 2pm on Saturday, August 23, at Pearl Beach Memorial Hall.

The singers have a range of new and lively songs which are sure to entertain, along with special guest appearances to surprise.

“This year we are delighted to have amazing young performers from the musical Telvarajan family – Yaalini with a flute recital, and Kairavan and his brother Vishoka performing on trumpet,” a

spokesperson said.

“Kairavan was a finalist at the recent Pearl Beach Scholarship Concert, and played at the Dawn Service on Anzac Day.

“As a special treat the Sing for Fun choir will entertain us with their a capella version of Lollipop.”

Originally a Glee Club which was formed in the 1950s to raise funds to complete the building of the Memorial Hall by putting on a number of Grand Concerts, the group reformed a number of years ago as the Pearl Beach Singers.

Members continue to meet

Free Zumba Gold classes

health and well-being and that of my clients.”

Clegg belongs to AUS Active, the Australian Fitness Association, which has created the Million Moves Campaign.

“In September, we are all encouraged to do 75 moves a day for 21 days to represent the

75% of Aussies who do not move their body enough,” she said.

“It will take millions of us to make the movement to change this statistic and I think we can do it.

“When it comes to exercise, the best kind is the one that you enjoy.

“If you want to increase your physical activity levels, just like eating a buffet dinner, you need to increase your choices.

“I recommend having at least three different types of physical activities a week including both cardio and weight bearing exercise.

“I love running, but you could walk.

“I also love yoga, hula hoop (weight bearing) and dance.

“I have danced my whole life,

starting with ballet and Irish dancing then moving on to Latin, ballroom, tap and hoop dance.

“I love moving my body to music and it makes me feel so good, especially if I have had a bad day or week.

“And this is why I became a Zumba Gold instructor.”

Clegg said Zumba Gold is the lower impact, easier and more accessible form of the Zumba dance class.

It is specifically designed for: people getting back into to fitness or dance, including post-pregnancy; the older active adult; people with an injury; people with disability or neurodiversity; and anyone who finds the regular Zumba class too fast and intense and may not be overly keen on too

Book Review by David Abrahams

Psychiatrist Professor Ian Hickie and broadcaster

James O’Loghlin have teamed up to produce A User’s Guide to the Mind, a practical and engaging look at how our brains shape the way we think, feel and act.

Hickie, a Central Coast local and head of the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre, brings decades of clinical and research expertise.

O’Loghlin, well known for his wit and clarity as a broadcaster, ensures the science never feels heavy.

The result is a book that is both accessible and authoritative.

Rather than drown readers in jargon, the authors focus on

A User’s Guide to the Mind

By Ian Hickie and James O’Loghlin

everyday challenges: anxiety, low mood, lack of motivation and unhelpful patterns of thought.

Each chapter outlines how the mind works and offers simple strategies to respond more effectively.

Hickie explains the neuroscience and psychiatry, while O’Loghlin grounds it in relatable stories. Together, they manage to make complex ideas understandable and often entertaining.

Local readers may also know the pair from their popular podcast, Minding Your

Mind, where many of these themes are explored in a conversational style.

The book goes deeper, offering more detail and structure while keeping the approachable tone of the podcast.

This is a guide designed to help people reflect on their own thinking and take small, useful steps towards better mental health.

Available in print, e-book and audiobook formats for those commuting on the train or in the car.

regularly on Friday afternoons and enjoy the ambience and acoustics of the Memorial Hall which continues to be a very special gathering place.

The Singers maintain the tradition that has been passed down through the years to entertain enthusiastic audiences and invite the community.

Proceeds from the concert go toward the Memorial Hall upkeep and maintenance.

Bookings are recommended by calling Pauline on 0411 752 834 or Margaret on 0401 968 947.

much Latino or electronic music.

“I actually prefer Zumba Gold to the regular Zumba as there is more time to enjoy the music when you dance,” Clegg said.

“There is a bit of salsa, rock ‘n’ roll, disco, swing, cha cha, belly dancing, tango, flamenco and more.

“Zumba Gold can be just the thing you need to improve your strength, endurance, cardio capacity, bone density, flexibility, posture, coordination, range of motion, balance, brain function and mood.

“It reduces aches and pains and falls risk and helps you age gracefully, or at least feel more like it.

“If diagnosed with diabetes, cardiovascular disease,

arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer or any kind of chronic disease, exercise, including dance, can be an important way of managing and preventing progression of the condition, in conjunction with or sometimes as a replacement to medicine.

“For mental health conditions, like anxiety and depression, dance has been proven to be a better therapy than taking medicine.”

The free Zumba Gold classes will be held: at 11am on Friday, September 5, at Narara EcoVillage; at 3pm on Sunday, September 14, at the Sensory Park, Showground Rd, Gosford; and from 2.30pm on Tuesday, September 30, at Gosford 50 + Leisure Centre.

For more details go to www. zumba.com/p/CarinClegg/2756837

Join us in the journeys room at The Travellers Hut for our informative talks

Monday 1 September - 10 30 am

Tikka Tours group or independent travel India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan & Nepal

Speaker: Claudia and special guest Mohan from Delhi

Tuesday 2 September - 10 30 am

We will discuss our March & August 2026

Escorted Small Group Journeys to Vietnam

Speaker: Glenn from The Travellers Hut

HOMELAND VIETNAM

Fully escorted small group journey with Tony Nguyen from MAGENTA NAILS ETTALONG

ESSENCE OF NORTHERN VIETNAM

Fully escorted small group journey with Glenn Jarvis from THE TRAVELLERS HUT

RSVP

OUT&ABOUT BRIEF

Poetry workshop

Wyong Writers Group will host a haiku poetry workshop by Vanessa Proctor from 1.30 pm on Saturday, August 23.

Participants are asked to bring a paper and pen.

Venue will be Woodbury Park off Woodbury Park Dr, Mardi. For more details call 0413 291 129 or email Glenndc@ ozemail.com.au

Knitted goods for Syria

Women from Gosford Wyoming Uniting Church, their family and friends, have held their seventh and final handover of knitted items for the humanitarian outreach known as AKWAK – Aussies Knitting for War Affected Kids in Syria.

Pastor Gray Knight blessed 283 items which included jumpers, neck cowls, mittens, slippers, rugs, ponchos, beanies and knitted toys.

The items have been made in the past five months, taking the number of items donated since 2021 to 1,484.

See full story online: coastcommunitynews.com.au

Special film night at fun Haus Factory

Film lovers on the Central Coast are in for a treat when the Fun Haus Factory presents an inspiring evening of queer short films that celebrate powerful, diverse stories from around the globe on Friday, August 22.

Flying in from Melbourne, multi-award-winning filmmaker Louise Lever will present her acclaimed short film Joey’s Heart and has curated a stunning program of international queer cinema especially for this one-nightonly event.

Far more than just a film screening, this will be a chance to experience a collection of high-quality short films rarely

seen on the big screen in Australia.

The line-up is diverse, thought-provoking, and full of heart – perfect for anyone who loves film, storytelling, or seeing the world through new perspectives.

“This night is about creating a safe and inclusive space to gather, enjoy incredible films, and reflect our rainbow culture while opening doors for everyone to engage with these stories,” Lever said.

Joey’s Heart stars beloved Kiwi actress Angela Bloomfield (best known for Shortland Street), in a bold new role she has described as “a privilege to be part of”.

“There just aren’t enough

films that portray queer love stories,” she said.

The film has already received

international acclaim, screening at the BFI Flare Film Festival (London) and Roze

FilmDagen (Amsterdam).

Louise Lever is a respected film director, producer, and writer, with over a decade of experience championing LGBTQIA+ representation on screen.

Her work is fearless, moving, and deeply human – a reminder of of the power of cinema to connect us all.

Whether you identify as LGBTQIA+ or are simply passionate about unique, diverse storytelling, this event is for you.

It will take place at the Fun Haus Factory , 141 Mann St, Gosford.

For more information and tickets, visit funhausfactory. org.au

Documentary screening at ecovillage

The New Peasants, a documentary by Happen Films, will be screened at Narara Ecovillage at 6pm on Thursday, August 28.

The film explores what happens when the values of the culture you’ve always known no longer align with how you see the World. It is a powerful and loving

portrait of life lived to the full in relationship to place, kin and community.

The New Peasants offers an intimate look into the life of Meg, Patrick, Zephyr and Woody.

They are a family who, for 20 years, have been transitioning away from modern industrial culture toward a radically simple,

sustainable, and beautiful way of life.

Concerns about the industrial food system and environmental crises provided the family’s initial motivation to live differently.

Now it’s 15 years since they’ve eaten from a supermarket or owned a car.

The household, living

intentionally below the poverty line and meeting 80% of their needs without using money, is nonetheless rich in so many ways.

Wealth is found in a cellar of preserved foods, connections with community, saved seeds, homesteading skills and the time to focus on what really matters in life.

Yet the decision to live this way has brought profound challenges for the family, in the form of their eldest son’s encounters with the law.

These experiences have produced immense grief, but, in the end, also great joy.

See the Narara Ecovillage Facebook page for details of the screening.

Australian Bee Gees Show plays Laycock St

The Australian Bee Gees Show

The annual show ‘n’ shine day, which is part of the Chrysler Wake Run, will be held at the Canton Beach Holiday Park on Sunday, August 31.

The Chrysler Wake Run is a weekend-long event and entrants must be driving a Chrysler product such as a Valiant, Dodge, Plymouth, DeSoto, Hillman or Rootes Group.

It kicks off with a mystery lunch cruise on Saturday, August 30, with cars leaving the carpark at about 10am, heading up Oleander St and proceeding

Fresh from celebrating 14 years and over 4,000 shows headlining on the Las Vegas strip, the Australian Bee Gees Show is headed for Laycock St Community Theatre on Sunday, August 24.

The show has cemented its reputation as the world’s leading Bee Gees Show and is scheduled to continue in Las Vegas until 2029.

This new show will be presented in two parts and

feature all of the hits in a nostalgic trip down memory lane in a multimedia concert event.

The Australian Bee Gees Show was recently voted Best Tribute Show in Las Vegas by the prestigious Las Vegas Review Journal and has made the top 10 in the Overall Best Show category, an amazing achievement in Las Vegas.

It has evolved to become the definitive live celebration of the wonderful music written by the Brothers Gibb.

Chrysler Wake Run set for Canton Beach

through Budgewoi, Buff Point, Doyalson, Wyee and Morisset and to the M1 motorway towards the Hunter Valley.

Sunday is the main day for spectators , with the static show ‘n’ shine to be held on the foreshore and inside the holiday park.

Entry for Sunday only is $20 per car and can be paid on the day at the gate.

Top 10 trophies will be presented and Special Olympics Central Coast Region will man the barbecue for breakfast and lunch.

THU 21 AUG

ART HALL 25: GOSFORD REGIONAL GALLERY * TO SEP 3

Bolton Clarke Talk: Healthy Eating and Nutrition: Toukley Library 10am

Author Talk: Sophie Green presents ‘Lessons in love at the Seaside Salon’: Erina Library 10.30am

Book Week: Explore Hidden Worlds with Britannica Online: Umina Beach Library 3pm

Josephine Wants to Dance: The Art House Theatre, Wyong 10am & 12pm

FRI 22 AUG

Joey’s Heart - A Night Of Queer Short Films: Funhaus Factory, Gosford 7.30pm

Baggy Trousers: Everglades Country Club, Woy Woy 7pm

ART HALL 25 OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATION: GOSFORD REGIONAL GALLERY 6PM

Ballet Of Lights: Sleeping Beauty In A Sparkling Show: The Art House Theatre, Wyong 6pm & 8pm

Unlocking The Doors - A Tribute To The Doors: Avoca Beach Theatre 7.30pm

Trium / Hardys Archies Finale: Hardys Bay Club 6pm

Brent Murphy: Gosford RSL Club 8.30pm

Shed Social - Berkeley Vale: Women’S Shed Central Coast, Berkeley Vale 10am

Lucas Cavanagh & The Train Wrecks With Special Guests: Link & Pin, Woy Woy 6pm

SAT 23 AUG

Central Coast Philharmonia & Central Coast Youth Orchestra

The Hustle & Grind coffee van will be pouring out the hot drinks from 7.30am until midday.

DJ Marty will provide the tunes and announcements and Mr Whippy will be there as well.

A raffle on the day will raise money to send Special Olympics athletes to compete in their chosen sport.

The Wake Run was put together to mourn the loss of Chrysler in Australia; it is a full weekend of fun, driving and trophies.

Pre-enter online at www.hvcc. org.au; $30 for the weekend or $20 for the Sunday only.

/ Requiem for the Living: St John the Baptist Catholic Church, Woy Woy 7.45pm

WALTZING THE WILARRA: LAYCOCK ST THEATRE, WYOMING 7:30PM

Haiku Poetry Workshop: Woodbury Park off Woodbury Park Drive, Mardi 1:15pm

Prinnie Stevens - Lady Sings Soul: Avoca Beach Theatre 7.30pm

The Carole King & James Taylor Show: The Art House Theatre, Wyong 8pm

The show features a chronology of the greatest hits from the Bee Gees, including More Than A Woman, Night Fever, Stayin’ Alive and How Do You Mend A Broken Heart, just to name a few.

The Australian Bee Gees Show has captured the look, the sound and the personality that defines one of the most successful and adored acts in musical history.

Book on the theatre website.

Hypnotik: Hypnosis, Illusion And Comedy Show: Drifters Wharf, Gosford 7.30pm

Woybiza With The Central Coast Music Collective: Link & Pin, Woy Woy 12.30pm

East Coast Low (Badlanding Album Launch): Link & Pin, Woy Woy 6pm

Acrylic Butterfly PaintingStep by Step: Women’s Shed Central Coast, Berkeley Vale 12pm

SUN 24 AUG

Ice Hockey: Central Coast Rhinos vs Newcastle Northstars: Erina Ice Arena 3:15pm

Jack Nolan Live: Link & Pin, Woy Woy 2pm

Doin’ It for DippaFundraiser For Mental Health: North Entrance Surf Lifesaving Club 12pm

John Waters - Radio Luxembourg feat. Stewart D’Arrietta and the Chartbusters: Avoca Beach Theatre 7.30pm

The Australian Bee Gees Show: Laycock St Community Theatre, Wyoming 8pm

Two Buck Band: Hardys Bay Club 1pm

Velvet Soul: Gosford RSL Club 1pm

SONIC SUNDAY’S FEAT.

IVONA ROSE: FUNHAUS FACTORY, GOSFORD 1PM

MON 25 AUG

Mandala Drawing Workshop - Berkeley Vale: Women’s

Shed Central Coast, Berkeley Vale 10.30am

TUE 26 AUG

Read Aloud Book Club: Woy Woy Library 1.30pm

WED 27 AUG

Shed Social - Berkeley Vale: Women’s Shed Central Coast, Berkeley Vale 10am The Men’s Shed: ‘What We Do’: Erina Library 10.30am

TTT-Turbo (De) Aus Tour - Woy Woy: Link & Pin, Woy Woy 6pm

THU 28 AUG

Quilting Queens: Women’s Shed Central Coast, Berkeley Vale 9.30am

Artist Talks: Deep Water Art Space, Woy Woy 6:30pm 7am-1pm Cnr. Ocean Beach Rd, Woy Woy Great variety of stalls, BBQ, Tea & Coffee Vendors Welcome $25 per car Dunban Road Car Park (Near The Everglades) NB stall sites not open until 6.30am

The Future Choices Transition Expo: Mingara Recreation Club, Tumbi Umbi 9am

Cemeteries Open Day: 35 Wilfred Barrett Drive, Noraville 11am

OUT&ABOUT BRIEF

Justices meet

The NSW Justices Association Central Coast will hold its next meeting at 2pm on Thursday, September 4, in Georgiana’s Café at Central Coast Leagues Club.

This will be followed by the branch Annual General Meeting at 3pm.

Hardys Archies winners

The judges’ awards and a People’s Choice award for this year’s The Archies at Hardys Bay Club will be announced at a special awards night on Friday, August 22.

The exhibition opened on July 12 and is sponsored by Fat Goose, Ray White Real Estate and Mooch Inside.

A panel of judges selects first, second and third prizes and the community votes for the People’s Choice.

The exhibition is open for viewing Thursday from 3pm and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from noon until August 31.

See full story online: coastcommunitynews.com.au

Pat Farmer Quicksand run returns

The second Annual Pat Farmer Quicksand

Australia soft sand run will take place at Terrigal Beach on Sunday, August 31.

The ultra marathon legend will host the event in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Gosford North.

There will be multiple events on the day including 2km, 5km and 10km runs and a fiveperson 10km relay, with each team member running 2km.

There will also be a 10km Surf Club Challenge relay with the winning club taking away $1,000, a High Schools fiveperson 10km relay and a Primary Schools 2km run.

The run will take place on Terrigal Beach over a 1km loop.

All proceeds from the day will go to local organisations, namely SOKS (Save Our Kids from Suicide), Central Coast Surf Life Saving, Terrigal Surf Life Saving Club and participating schools.

SOKS is a project of the Gosford North Rotary Club.

It has two major initiatives: suicide prevention, including suicide prevention programs, mostly provided by Lifeline and the Iris Foundation; and youth

enrichment, sponsoring youth to further empower themselves.

For more information go to www.soks.org.au.

A number of Central Coast business have already thrown their support behind the event, ensuring its financial success and enabling organisers to offer $4,500 worth of vouchers as prizes for event winners, as

well as 100 participating runners on a random basis.

There will also be a monster raffle with more than $1,500 worth of prizes.

Each runner will receive a sausage sandwich and an Up & Go courtesy of Sanitarium.

East Coast Beverages will supply water bottles.

The Rotary Club of Gosford

North will conduct a breakfast barbecue, with all proceeds from the day going to SOKS and Terrigal Surf Club.

Sponsors already on board include Bendigo Bank, Orbell Family Lawyers, Breakers, Kwik Kopy, Trojans Restaurant, Prestige Party Hire, Stone Real Estate, LJ Hooker Terrigal, MARS Design, Crown Plaza, Zilzie Wines, NBN News,

Oddfish Media, North Construction & Building, East Coast Beverages, Sanitaruim, Milparinka Heritage Centre, and the Central Coast Council. For more information and to register for the run go to www. quicksandaustralia.com Online registrations will close on Wednesday, August 28, with registrations taken on the day from 6.30am.

67. Erased (7)

68. Forgo (5)

70. Vertical fin (6)

72. Perplexed (7)

75. Land measure (4)

79. Precipitation (4)

80. The month preceding the present one (6)

83. Fruit (5)

85. Planet (5)

88. Frequently (5)

89. Excuse (5)

90. Combine (5)

91. Discussed (7)

92. Lure (5)

93. Stark (7)

94. Highly emotional episode (5)

95. Acquires by effort oraction (5) DOWN

1. Bet (5)

2. Vague (7)

3. Graceless (6)

4. Shiver (7)

5. Slow, broad musical performance (5)

6. Edible crustaceans (7)

7. Fusillade (6)

8. Secret store of valuables (5)

9. Conspicuous (7)

10. Scorch (5)

11. Military vehicle (4)

12. Enclosed territory (7)

13. Rising warm air current (7)

22. Beverage made from apple juice (5)

23. Chasm (5)

MISSING LINK

MISSING LINK

25. Mentor (4)

27. Ice pellets (4)

28. Reddish brown (5)

30. Long and eventful journey (7)

31. Stringed instrument (5)

33. Bizarre (9)

34. Dig into (5)

36. Rue (6)

37. Profited (6)

39. High-spirited (9)

40. Private instructor (5)

46. Unilluminated area (6)

47. Romp (6)

48. Easily cracked (7)

49. Map (5)

52. Domesticated (5)

54. Pursue (5)

57. Still legally acceptable (5)

61. Deceitful scheme (5)

62. Tender (5)

63. Passport endorsement (4)

64. Musical symbol (4)

68. Supreme military leader (7)

69. Insanely irresponsible (7)

71. Dried grapes (7)

73. Made a formal request (7)

74. Spiny anteater (7)

76. Custodian of a collection (7)

77. Loudness (6)

78. Weak (6)

81. South American animal (5)

82. Speak up (5)

84. Sports field (5)

86. Conceals (5)

87. Jealousy (4)

Fill in each letter of the alphabet once only.

Fill in each letter of the alphabet once only.

Saturday 23 August 7.30pm

Catch Ivona Rose at the Fun Haus Factory’s Sonic Sunday

Central Coast-based singer, songwriter, and multiinstrumentalist Ivona Rose will feature at the Fun Haus Factory’s Sonic Sunday on August 24.

Weaving together folk, artpop, alt-country and singersongwriter traditions, Rose performs on piano, autoharp, ukulele, and banjo, delivering songs that are raw, resonant, and unforgettable.

A stunning 1978 walnut Petrov baby grand piano has been gifted to the Fun Haus Factory project, the Gosford Arts Centre, located in the heart of Gosford CBD.

The donation is part of a national initiative celebrating

The Troubadour Folk Club will present two top acts on one night at the Everglades Country Club, Woy Woy, on August 23.

Mal Webb and Kylie Morrigan from Victoria will feature, along with Traditional Graffiti from NSW/UK.

If you have heard of and can appreciate Albert Einstein, Dr Seuss and Niccolo Paganini, this is the show for you.

Musical duo Mal Webb and Kylie Morrigan have managed to roll these three historical yet diverse characters into one and pump out a musical interpretation that is both mind-blowing and simply exquisite.

They are just back from their latest UK tour.

Mal performs with voice, guitar, mbira, slide trumpet, trombone, chromatic harmonica and a loop recording pedal called Derek, while Kylie provides dazzling vocals, harmonies and violin work that has seen her share the stage with Orchestra Victoria and the

music, community and connection, linked to the ABC’s heartwarming new series The Piano, which highlights everyday Australians and their passion for piano.

Natively from Poland but raised in Australia, Rose said it was an honour and a joy to be invited to play the exquisite instrument.

“A good keyboard sounds fantastic, but nothing beats the tone and touch of an acoustic instrument and particularly a baby grand piano,” she said.

Rose is a confessed instrument addict who has performed at Tamworth Country Music Festival, Sydney Festival and Peats Ridge Music Festival.

Throughout 2024-25, she featured at the Central Coast’s Gossy Weekender x Live and Local Festival and Woytopia Festival.

She performs for the Troubadour Folk Club, Folk Federation of NSW and the Oh Bee Three’s Jazz & Blues nights.

Earlier this year, she was selected as the folk/pop artist for Coast FM’s Sounds of the Coast Festival.

Her evocative voice and poetic lyricism have earned her critical acclaim, with her 2018 debut album So Modern being named Album of the Week by the Sydney Morning Herald. Recently, she undertook a

songwriting mentorship with American folk artist Molly Sarlè of Mountain Man, exploring Appalachian and traditional American folk influences and crafting a new collection of original songs.

As part of Sonic Sundays, the Funhaus Factory will open its doors from noon to welcome the community to explore its newly launched Arts Centre Gosford.

The event is free and familyfriendly (under 18s must be accompanied by an adult).

Showtime is from 1-3 pm on Sunday, August 24.

For more information and tickets, visit funhausfactory. org.au

Great double folk bill

likes of Stevie Wonder and Barry White.

After a short break and a reset of the sound system, attendees will be in for a special treat.

Who remembers the famous, if intriguingly named, Wheeze & Suck Band?

In their latest incarnation as Traditional Graffiti they have once again set the local folk scene on fire.

Traditional Graffiti is a collective of musicians specifically celebrating British Folk music in the tradition of

Steelyeye Span and Fairport Convention.

This is glorious, harmonic, stirring folk at its best.

The core of the band now reside in Australia, but they grew up in the UK and immersed themselves in local folk traditions.

Traditional Graffiti’s performances are premised upon the belief that the presentation of traditional music is a shared experience exploring the lives, loves,

labours and the pastimes of everyday people.

Pumping melodeon, jangling mandolin, rhythmic guitar, driving percussion and searing fiddle combine to deliver an energetic, relaxed, spirited and humorous concert drawing from the music of Steeleye Span, Ewan McColl, sea shanties and many, many other sources.

The concert will begin at 7pm on Saturday, August 23.

Bookings can be made at trybooking.com/DDSKT

Education and schools

Education and schools

Transport and state roads

Transport and state roads

Police and emergency services

Police and emergency services

Health and hospitals

Health and hospitals

Congratulatory messages Congratulatory messages

Business & Property

Bold new vision for Gosford CBD

The cultural, social and economic landscape of the Gosford CBD is set to be reshaped, thanks to $175,000 in State Government funding.

The “Gosford Strip” has been named as one of the successful recipients in round three of the Government’s Uptown Grant Program.

The Gosford Strip Precinct group, comprising over 30 local stakeholders, including Newcastle University Gosford Campus, Railway Hotel Gosford – John Singleton Group, Fun Haus Factory Inc and Aland Development Group along with owners of small shops, coworking spaces, food outlets

and bars, will now unlock transformative plan to activate theccity’s high street with food, bars, live entertainment, latenight trading, community programming and employment pathways.

The Uptown Program is a cornerstone initiative of the Government’s 24 Hour Economy Strategy, designed to fast-track the formation of local business communities and facilitate the growth of their districts into vibrant going-out hubs.

Gosford Strip Precinct Chair Juan Iocco said without an aligned CBD focus, a collaborative precinct will continue to struggle.

Members of the Gosford Strip Precinct group

“This collaboration is a gamechanger for the future of Gosford’s urban regeneration and marks the first time local businesses and cultural organisations, all with direct skin in the game and a lot of love to give Gosford, are leading the revitalisation of our CBD literally from the inside out,” he said.

“Amazing things happen when the front line of entrepreneurs, creatives and community leaders are enabled to come together and have a voice.”

Gosford is one of 37 districts across the state funded under the first-of-its-kind program.

Iocco said over-promising

and lack of progress have deeply impacted local community faith, with small businesses buying in to the strip and abandoning buildings.

“Those lemons are now the pillars which have enabled a forward thinking, results driven precinct to come together and it marks a real time, tangible supported rebirth of the Gosford CBD,” he said.

Iocco said the cycle would be broken through the delivery of unique products, experiences and ultimately a new identity against a backdrop of new development and prosperity.

“It’s a fresh new collaborative recipe primed for social,

cultural and economic returns,” he said.

State Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said the result was a true credit to the collaborative work of the excellent businesses in Gosford.

“This program will help to rejuvenate the Gosford nighttime economy and activate the booming Gosford CBD,” she said.

Businesses have cited a lack of parking as one of the top three challenges in developing a working CBD.

Central Coast Council Councillor Jared Wright recently moved a motion to

investigate opening the Baker Street car park after hours.

“I want to thank the Gosford Strip Precinct Committee for their advocacy on this important matter,” he said.

“Council will look to review and increase the technology available at the car park this financial year, with the view to try and get it open for longer.”

Iocco said the project was about reigniting civic pride and create a “vibrant, safe and buzzing CBD as somewhere to go to, not go through”.

For more information or to have your business involved in the Gosford Strip contact precinct@visitgosford.com.au

PLANNING A BATHROOM RENOVATION?

The Terrigal Hotel has been bought for an undisclosed sum by Hunter Hotel Group, whose portfolio spans prime hospitality assets across the NSW Central to Mid-North Coast.

The transaction was brokered exclusively by JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group Managing Director, Ben McDonald, and Executive Director, John Musca.

Keys to the hotel, owned by Patrick Gallagher of Gallagher Hotels in partnership with John Daly, will be handed over in September.

Gallagher said he and Daly would miss their the longstanding affiliation with the Central Coast community.

“We’re very sad to be leaving Terrigal and the local community we have enjoyed such a close, positive relationship with during our tenure,” he said.

“From the Surf Club to the Terrigal Sharks and the Fishing Club, owning and operating this hotel in such a vibrant community has been a real joy for John and I and our respective families.

“We wish the Hunter family every success in the future.”

Gallagher and his family are

New owners for Terrigal Hotel

planning to turn their heads to completing their large scale, $10M refurbishment of the famed Hunters Hill Hotel, set to open in the coming weeks, along with optimising the balance of their portfolio which includes the Longueville Hotel, Jacksons on George in Sydney’s CBD and the Railway Hotel, Fairfield.

The Terrigal Hotel is a multilevel hospitality venue comprising expansive bar and dining spaces, high-capacity function areas, and a highperforming gaming lounge. The venue generates average weekly revenues in excess of $285,000, underscoring its strong local patronage and year-round tourist appeal.

“This discreet off-market transaction highlights the continued appetite for premium coastal pub assets,” Ben McDonald said.

“Terrigal Hotel’s scale, trading performance, and blue-chip location made it a highly attractive acquisition for experienced operators like the Hunter family.”

Managing Director of Hunter Hotel Group, Paul Hunter, said the group was excited to be taking on such an iconic venue in a great location.

“We look forward to building on its strong reputation and continuing to deliver great hospitality for the local community and visitors alike,” he said.

BUSINESS BRIEF Business summit

A Cost of Doing Business Summit to be held at Terrigal on August 29 will bring together businesses of all sizes from across the Central Coast to tackle one of today’s most pressing challenges: the rising cost of doing business.

The event aims to empower local operators with insights, strategies, and direct engagement on the key cost pressures impacting profitability and sustainability. From skyrocketing energy prices and rising insurance premiums, to increasingly complex tax obligations and access to government procurement opportunities, the summit will deliver expert-led discussions, practical advice, and collaborative solutions tailored for the Central Coast business community.

The summit will be held from 8.30am-12.30pm on Friday, August 29, at Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific. Buy tickets by searching Business Summit at www. stickytickets.com.au See full story online: coastcommunitynews.com.au

Big year for Spices 29

Spices 29 Goan Indian Restaurant at Woy Woy has added two feathers to its cap so far this year.

On Wednesday, August 13, the restaurant took out Precedent Productions’ Local Business Award as the most outstanding restaurant on the Central Coast for the second time in a row.

Just two weeks earlier it received the Business Excellence Award 2025 in the Restaurant, Cafe and Bakery Category.

The awards come at the perfect time for the business to

support its upward momentum, providing expanded recognition and strengthening the brand.

Opened in 2018, the restaurant offers authentic Indian cuisine, with each dish carrying true Indian heritage and spirit, in its modern yet classy interior.

During the first two years, owner Nelson Fernandes and his wife Selma worked hard to establish the place.

By the time the pandemic hit in 2020, the restaurant was already a well-known name in the community.

The Covid years were unexpectedly productive for the business with sales growing and the customer base expanding.

Within a couple of years, the business had grown significantly and in 2023 was a winner at the Restaurant and Catering Association awards in Regional NSW and claimed third place at national level.

Since then, an upward trajectory has been seen.

Last year also saw the restaurant named the most outstanding business at the Local Business Awards.

Free seminar on planning ahead

The Law Office of Conrad Curry will host a free community seminar at Erina on Wednesday, September 10, bringing together experts in aged care, estate planning, retirement, and funeral services to help you make empowered, personalised choices for the road ahead. Discover how planning ahead across care, finances, legal matters, and funeral wishes can ease stress, protect your loved ones, and ensure your values are honoured.

Samantha Farham from Dovida Australia will talk on Navigating Home Care Options, helping you understand support services available to you or your loved ones.

Rosie Copp from Coastal Advice Group will speak on Smart Financial Planning for Retirement, Aged Care and Beyond to build confidence in your future.

Conrad Curry from the Law Office of Conrad Curry will outline Estate Planning: Protecting Your Legacy to help secure your wishes and

avoid legal conflict.

Andy Poumale from InvoCare will talk on Planning Ahead for Funeral Services to help personalise your farewell and ease the burden on family.

A light morning tea will be provided and there will be lucky door prizes to win.

The seminar will take place from 10am-noon on Wednesday, September 10, at 4 Karalta Lane, Erina.

To register go to www. eventbrite.com.au and search for Conrad Curry.

Enjoy the good life

What better way to open your next chapter than settling into a brand new apartment at Tarragal Glen Retirement Village.

With every detail purposefully designed and quality finishes at every turn, Tarragal Glen Apartments offer a living experience without compromise. Book

The Central Coast’s own Casey Squires has taken top honours in the prestigious Kochie’s Business Builders Regional Hero Awards – a celebration of small businesses making a big impact in regional Australia, supported by Vodafone Business.

The founder of Signature Talks said winning the award was “surreal”.

“It’s a reminder that building something meaningful from outside of a metro centre is absolutely possible,” she said.

“It’s proof that you don’t have to be in a big city to make a big impact.

“This recognition isn’t just about me – it’s about the women I serve.

“It shows that when we empower women to own their voice, we create ripple effects that go far beyond one stage, one talk, or one town.”

Squires has dedicated her

Casey is the Coast’s own regional hero

career to helping female entrepreneurs craft their Signature Talk, so they can stand on stages with confidence, own their message, and grow their business through speaking.

Early in her career, while speaking at high schools across the country, she found that in co-ed settings, many girls stayed quiet, letting the boys take the lead.

“Years later, curating speakers at universities, I saw that same pattern repeat –brilliant, capable women holding themselves back,” she said.

That spark lit the flame that became her business, based on the power of a Signature Talk.

Squires sees her Central Coast location as a strength.

“The business community here feels more personal, and I’ve made genuine friendships through networking events,” she said.

“My advice to local

entrepreneurs would be to think beyond borders.

“Use tools that help you reach further.

“I’ve coached clients from Perth to Chicago – so although I live regionally, my impact is global.”

Receiving the most public votes out of 20 inspiring finalists, Squires’s mission to help women in regional and rural Australia find their voice clearly struck a chord.

“Being named a Regional Hero is an unbelievable honour

and, honestly, I still can’t quite believe it,” she said.

“I put it down to the generosity and spirit of my local community.

“Regional areas love to support their own, and that’s

Star Scientific - Central Coast Science Spotlight

As part of CCN’s Science Series, we present our first focus: Berkely Vale’s Star Scientific and its remarkable founder, Andrew Horvath.

A Central Coast innovator is making waves in the global clean energy sector.

Andrew Horvath, Global Group Chairman of Star Scientific Limited, is spearheading the development of the company’s breakthrough technology known as HERO, or Hydrogen Energy Release Optimiser.

Founded in 1997 and headquartered at Berkeley Vale, Star Scientific has grown from a research lab established by his father, nuclear physicist Stephen Horvath, into a global enterprise with projects on multiple continents.

HERO® generates industrialscale heat from hydrogen and oxygen without combustion, producing only pure water as a by-product.

what makes this win so special, and very humbling.”

Her purpose-led business helps women create and deliver unforgettable signature talks so they can speak up with clarity and confidence.

Her work has touched everyone from rural mums to industry professionals, and even the next generation of changemakers.

“We are the role models for the next generation,” she said.

“This win gives me a moment to pause, celebrate, and reflect on just how far I’ve come, and what’s still to come.”

Squires encourages considering launching a regional business.

“Go for it, seriously,” she said.

“There’s never been a better time to live regionally and run a business that makes a difference.

“Start where you are, lean into your story, and trust that you can build something bold and brilliant from anywhere.”

at Berkeley Vale to pilot HERO in food production, demonstrating how hydrogen can replace fossil fuels in the local industry.

More recently, the company partnered with Central Coast packaging firm TrendPac as part of the newly formed Central Coast Food Hydrogen Cluster, coordinated through Central Coast Industry Connect.

The cluster brings together local manufacturers, researchers and businesses to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen in food and beverage production.

As governments and businesses search for practical ways to reduce emissions, Star Scientific’s HERO technology is drawing international attention.

The technology has been recognised internationally, winning the S&P Global Platts Global Energy Award in 2020 and the World Hydrogen Award in 2021.

• De facto

It also secured Horvath a place on the World Hydrogen Advisory Board and saw the company named a finalist in the SXSW Innovation Awards.

While the company is engaged in projects across Asia, the Pacific and the Americas, it has kept its roots firmly on the Central Coast.

In 2023, Star Scientific joined forces with Mars Food Australia

Horvath said the initiatives highlight the role of the Coast as a proving ground for clean energy.

“These projects show how our local industries can lead the world in decarbonisation,” he said.

“It’s about building solutions here that are exportable globally.”

CONVEYANCING

• Purchase & Sale of Property

• Refinancing Mortgages

• Purchase & Sale of Business

• Leasing

• Retirement Villages

Yet the company continues to emphasise its Australian base, with the Central Coast at the centre of its research and pilot operations. For locals, the involvement of household names such as Mars Food and TrendPac demonstrates that hydrogen innovation is not just a global story but one firmly anchored in the region’s industrial future. CCN invites readers to help shape this new Science Series by nominating other local scientists, innovators and organisations whose work deserves to be recognised. Nominations can be submitted via our website or by contacting the newsroom directly.

See details online.

• Criminal Law

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Email: lemery@lindaemery.com.au

Web: www.lindaemery.com.au

Ground Floor, Suite 6, 22 Watt St Gosford

Succulents and cacti, those jewel-like treasures of the plant world have captured the hearts of gardeners, stylists, and collectors alike.

They’re quirky, sculptural, and often strikingly beautiful.

Best of all, they’re usually easy to grow indoors or out, making them perfect for beginners and seasoned green thumbs.

With Christmas rapidly approaching, there’s still plenty of time to cultivate and create living gifts for your family and friends.

Imagine giving someone a miniature garden that not only looks spectacular but will last long after the festive season has ended.

Born to Survive: Nature’s Little Camels Succulents and cacti are some of nature’s greatest survivors.

DOWN IN THE GARDEN Stunning Succulents and Cool Cacti

Cheralyn hosts The Nightline, weeknights, on 2HD Newcastle across Australia on the Super Radio Network. Listen on your local SRN station or stream at 2SM.com.au

www.cheralyndarcey.com

Their thick, eshy leaves and stems act like water reservoirs, allowing them to endure in some of the harshest, driest places on Earth.

Where most plants would wither, succulents adapt.

Their strange, almost alienlike forms from pebble-like Lithops to towering pipe organ cacti – tell the story of evolution’s ingenuity.

Growing and Keeping Them Alive

The golden rule in gardening is simple: plants thrive when grown in conditions close to their natural habitat.

Succulents and cacti are no exception.

Once you understand where they come from, you’ll know how to make them ourish at home.

Pots: Drainage is Everything

Although succulents need little water, they still dislike sitting in soggy soil.

Always choose pots with

drainage holes, or drill them yourself.

A clean pot is equally important—wash containers well before planting or repotting to avoid spreading pests and disease.

To improve drainage further, add a thin layer of gravel at the bottom of the container.

Decorative outer pots without holes are ne for display, but keep plants in their own welldrained nursery pots inside. That way, you can lift them out to water and let them drain properly.

Soil: Mimic the Desert Succulents and cacti do not want standard potting mix.

Their natural homes are rocky, sandy, and low in organic matter.

The easiest option is to buy a ready-made cacti and succulent mix from a garden centre.

If you’re a DIY gardener, make your own by blending:

 50% loam-based compost

 50% horticultural grit or bonsai grit

For fussier plants, add perlite for extra drainage or a little horticultural sand.

This gritty mix mimics the sharp-draining soils of deserts and ensures roots stay healthy.

Food and Water: Less is More The most common cause of succulent and cactus death? Overwatering.

Remember – these plants are designed to hold water within their tissues.

Too much moisture around the roots can lead to rot, fungus, and pests.

A few key tips:

 Water the soil, not the plant. Use a spouted watering can, syringe, or bottom-watering tray method.

 Choose rainwater or distilled water. Tap water often contains minerals that can accumulate in the eshy tissues.

 Feed sparingly. Use a cactus and succulent fertiliser, and always check the needs of your particular plant.

During their active growing season (spring and summer), water thoroughly but infrequently, letting soil dry out between drinks.

In their dormant phase (autumn to late winter), reduce watering dramatically.

Pruning and Repotting

Pruning keeps plants tidy and healthy.

Remove damaged or diseased growth with sharp, clean scissors or secateurs.

Always disinfect tools with methylated spirits to prevent spreading disease.

Repotting is only necessary when plants outgrow their containers or become rootbound.

Signs include roots poking through drainage holes or circling the soil mass.

Repot every two to three years, but avoid unnecessary disturbance, these plants dislike constant moving.

When repotting, add a layer of decorative pebbles on top of the soil.

This keeps the medium cool, prevents rapid drying, and gives your arrangement a neat, nished look.

Tip: Never mix succulents with tropical houseplants in the same pot.

They have completely different needs, and one will always suffer.

Common Problems and Solutions

Even with the best care, problems can arise.

Here’s a quick troubleshooting guide:

 Yellow leaves/stems: Could indicate over- or under-watering, poor light, or nutrient de ciency. Adjust conditions gradually.

 Soft, mushy leaves: Almost always caused by overwatering or high humidity. Cut back water and improve air ow.

 Brown raised patches (“corky scab”): Harmless but unsightly. Reduce humidity and improve air circulation.

 Fungal leaf spots: Remove affected parts and avoid splashing water on foliage.

 Pests (aphids, mealybugs, spider mites): Wash plants with mild soapy water, or use eco-friendly insecticides. Severe infestations may require repotting.

One particularly frustrating problem is etiolation, the leggy, stretched growth caused by low light. Move your plant to a sunnier spot, and it will soon resume compact, healthy growth.

Encouraging Blooms

Succulent owers are among the most extraordinary in the plant world, they can be bright, starry blooms, sometimes opening at night and lling the air with perfume.

But getting them to bloom indoors can be tricky. The key is maturity and patience.

Many species won’t ower until they are several years old.

Feeding correctly, providing enough sunlight,and respecting their natural dormancy period are essential.

Don’t despair if yours take time, healthy plants will reward you eventually.

Propagation: Making More One of the joys of succulents is how easy they are to multiply. Spring is the best time for propagation.

 Offsets (“pups”): Many plants produce miniatures

around their base. Gently remove, dry for a week or two, then pot up.

 Leaf cuttings: Pull off healthy leaves, let them callus, then lay on gritty mix. New roots and baby plants will appear.

 Stem cuttings: Take 8–10cm pieces, strip the lower leaves, let dry, then pot. Works for both succulents and cacti (with gloves!).

 Seeds: Tricky but rewarding. Buy from reputable sources, sow in sandy mix, and be patient as germination can take months.

Beginner-Friendly Choices

If you’re just starting out, these tried-and-true varieties are both easy to nd and forgiving:

Cacti:

 Cereus (Queen of the Night, Pipe Organ Cactus)

 Echinopsis (Sea Urchin, Hedgehog Cactus)

 Ferocactus (Barrel Cactus)

 Mammillaria (Pincushion Cactus)

Succulents:

 Aloe (including the wellknown Aloe Vera)

 Aeonium (Houseleeks)

 Crassula (Jade Plant)

 Haworthia (Zebra Plant)

 Lithops (Living Stones)

Final Thoughts

Succulents and cacti aren’t just trendy décor pieces, they’re living marvels of adaptation.

Whether grouped in a bowl on your patio, perched on a sunny kitchen windowsill, or grown as striking sculptural centrepieces, these plants bring both beauty and resilience to your home.

With their easy propagation, sculptural forms, and relatively low care needs, they’re the perfect “gateway plants” for new gardeners.

And for seasoned growers, their diversity and charm offer endless opportunities for creative displays.

So this festive season, why not give a gift that grows?

A living arrangement of succulents or cacti is more than just a plant, it’s a little desert miracle, a piece of living art, and a symbol of resilience that will brighten homes long after the decorations are packed away.

Health & Education

Cancer centre celebrates 30 years

The Icon Cancer Centre in Gosford celebrated its 30th anniversary with an onsite barbecue on August 7.

Current, past and long-term staff, doctors, patients and healthcare partners attended, with this month marking 30 years since radiation therapy first became available on the Central Coast, transforming cancer care for thousands of local families and our community

Originally opened in August 1995 as Radiation Oncology Institute, the centre is now part of Icon Group, Australia’s largest dedicated provider of cancer care and continues to deliver world-class cancer treatment close to home.

From manually loaded film cassettes in a darkroom to today’s most advanced cancer technology and comprehensive support services, the centre has evolved dramatically while

keeping its focus firmly on compassionate, personalised care and Icon’s mission to deliver the best care possible, as close to home as possible.

The team delivers the latest in radiation therapy treatment to cancer patients on the Central Coast as well as support services including lymphoedema screening, access to allied health services and survivorship programs to deliver truly comprehensive

care for patients and their families.

Having this service locally for three decades means people can access timely cancer treatment, avoid long daily travel, and stay connected with their loved ones – something that makes a profound difference during a cancer diagnosis.

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch recognised Icon Cancer Centre in Parliament to

commemorate the significant milestone and contribution to community.

Looking ahead, the centre is preparing for its next chapter, a planned relocation in 2027 to the newly announced $75M Gosford Health Hub.

Garry O’Sullivan underwent 39 days of treatment for prostate cancer last year.

“During my time at Icon Cancer Centre Gosford, I really enjoyed Fun Fridays where we

would all get dressed up and it meant another week was complete,” he said.

“It was great to see the same faces all the time – everyone at Icon was so happy to see you, even on the days where you didn’t feel like being there.

“The whole Icon team at Gosford were fantastic.

“They were very friendly, professional and you felt confident that they knew what they were doing.”

Registrations open for Relay for Life

Registrations are now open for one of the Central Coast’s most inspiring community events –

Mingara Relay For Life 2025, which will take place overnight from 10am on Saturday, September 20, to 10am on Sunday, September 21, at the Mingara Athletics Track.

Organised by passionate local volunteers, Mingara Relay For Life gives the Central Coast community a chance to join forces in support of everyone affected by cancer, have fun at a community festival, and raise vital funds Cancer Council’s world-class research, prevention, advocacy and support services.

Holly Bennett from Cancer Council NSW said the event is a powerful symbol of hope and resilience in the face of cancer.

“Mingara Relay For Life is about more than just walking;

it’s about community, connection and getting on track to end cancer,” she said.

“This year, we have a fantastic program planned, including a vibrant Kids Zone, Workshops, Live Entertainment, an Honouring Survivors and Carers morning tea, and the

moving Candlelight Ceremony (at which people can) reflect and remember.”

Mingara Relay For Life welcomes participants of all ages and backgrounds.

In the lead-up to the event, teams of friends, families, schools and workplaces raise

funds, before coming together on event weekend to walk or run in relay-style – symbolising that cancer never sleeps, and neither do we.

This year’s local Relay Ambassador is Elle Sproll, a passionate cancer survivor and health advocate.

Seminar on living with myeloma

More than 40 myeloma patients and carers attended an information and education seminar at Erina Leagues Club on August 11.

Myeloma is a specific form of cancer of the plasma cells (one of the blood cells) and is an incurable disease.

Treatment comprises a combination of chemotherapy, stem cell transplants and novel agent drugs.

Experts at the seminar included two haematologists, a physiotherapist, a pharmacist, a social worker and a nurse practitioner, combining to offer a holistic approach to the treatment and care of myeloma patients.

The seminar emphasised the practical support that could be provided to patients and their carers as they navigate their journey.

Dr Cecily Forsyth described how myeloma accounts for 1 per cent of all cancers in Australia with about 80% of patients having some bone damage.

She said that the most serious respiratory outcomes of myeloma were bronchitis and pneumonia.

In 2025 the average survival period for patients was 103

months, whereas in the 1980s it was only 22 months.

Dr Alison Lyons described how clinical trials provided a method of accessing novel therapies prior to their official implementation.

For example, CAR-T cell therapy offered personalised chemotherapy in which the body’s T-cells are collected and genetically modified before they are returned to the patient. To assist the patient navigate a better myeloma journey, pharmacist Karen Hunter described the importance of understanding the terminology around myeloma medications.

She also described the benefits of the Myeloma Scheduler, a document that informs patients of the sequencing of their medications across multiple cycles.

Oncology physiotherapist Melissa Jackson demonstrated

the most effective technique for maintaining good balance and recommended 150 minutes a week of aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise.

She also said that two sessions of resistance training was critical for the body’s major muscle groups.

Jessica Latter, a social worker at Wyong Hospital, said it was perfectly normal for patients to experience an emotional rollercoaster in their journey and seek help through groups such as Myeloma Australia and NSW Cancer Council.

She said that there is strong support available for carers through groups such as the Carer Gateway – an Australian Government program that provides emotional support and free services for carers.

Nurse practitioner Jacqui Jagger outlined the risk to

She will be hosting a free Own Your Health workshop during the event, sharing her personal story and empowering others to live well.

Register today at relayforlife. org.au/event/mingara-2025

HEALTH BRIEF

Huge drop in teacher vacancies

Teacher vacancies in The Entrance electorate have fallen by 82%, with Member for The Entrance David Mehan crediting the State Government’s action to rebuild public education for the fall.

The dramatic improvement means local students are more likely to have a consistent teacher in their classroom, ensuring stability and better learning outcomes, Mehan said.

“An 82 per cent drop in teacher vacancies in The Entrance electorate is fantastic news for local families,” Mehan said.

patients ofy their exposure to different types of bacterial and viral infections.

For example, patients are 10 times more likely to contract COVID 19 than the general population.

To minimise exposure to preventable diseases like influenza, pneumococcal disease and shingles, she said it was important to keep all vaccinations up to date.

She outlined the support available to myeloma patients, through Central Coast Myeloma Support Group which meets bimonthly at Gosford and The Entrance Leagues Clubs.

The group helps patients and carers raise their awareness and knowledge of myeloma and to ask questions and meet others with similar interests or concerns.

For details email bjarmstrong13@hotmail.com

“This progress shows the results of properly valuing teachers by scrapping the wages cap, delivering the largest pay rise in a generation and making thousands of temporary teachers permanent.

“While there is still more to do, this massive drop in vacancies is proof that our plan to rebuild public education is working.

“We’ll keep backing teachers and students here in The Entrance so every child gets the best possible start in life.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the fall in vacancies was a step in the right direction.

“I’ve always said you can’t replace a teacher in front of the classroom,” he said.

Across NSW, the number of permanent teacher vacancies has dropped by 61% compared to 2022, bringing vacancies down to their lowest level in four years.

Statewide, public schools began Term 3 with 962 vacancies, down from 2,460 at the same time in 2022 under the former Liberal National Government.

Mehan said the turnaround follows the decision to scrap the unfair wages cap that held back salaries and devalued the teaching profession for more than a decade.

Over the past 12 months alone, more than 6,300 permanent teachers have been appointed, while resignation and retirement rates have declined, pointing to a more stable and valued workforce.

See full story online: coastcommunitynews.com.au

Residents and Planet Fitness members laced up their runners and took a step towards ending bullying in Australia at Planet Fitness Tuggerah on Wednesday, August 13.

Planet Fitness Australia and leading bullying prevention charity Bully Zero launched a week-long initiative – The Purple Power Walk – as part of a multi-year national partnership.

In honour of National Bullying Prevention Week (August 1117), Planet Fitness and Bully Zero urged Aussies to lace up their runners and take a step,

Taking steps to prevent bullying

literally, towards ending bullying in Australia.

Across the week, all Planet Fitness clubs across the country transformed into hubs of action, where members and guests walked or ran on treadmills with the shared goal of reaching 100,000 kilometres in just seven days.

Through its bullying prevention programs, Bully Zero provides face-to-face education across schools, workplaces and communities, helping people understand bullying, build resilience and become empowered to create positive change.

Managing Director at Planet Fitness Australia Danielle Monroy said the team is proud to partner with Bully Zero to take real action on something that matters to create safer more inclusive communities.

“This is more than a challenge – it’s a movement,” she said.

“The partnership reflects our commitment to upholding a culture of inclusivity and selfempowerment.

“The Purple Power Walk is our chance to show up, stand together, and walk for the 1 in 4 young Australians affected by bullying.”

NAISDA applications open for young indigenous artists

Two indigenous developing artists from the Central Coast are encouraging other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to apply for a unique opportunity to study dance and culture at NAISDA in 2026.

Wiradjuri woman Aliya Dudgeon from Lake Haven and Dunghutti and Worimi man Blake Escott from Kanwal are both studying at the prestigious performing arts organisation.

NAISDA, located in Kariong, offers nationally accredited training in dance, performance and creative arts, combining cultural learning with contemporary practice.

Applications are open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 16 and over who are passionate about dance, culture and the performing arts.

Applications close on September 1.

Aliya, who is currently

completing a Certificate IV at NAISDA, said the experience has opened up new opportunities and shaped her as a person and artist.

“NAISDA has helped me grow not only as a dancer but also as a Wiradjuri person,” she said.

“I’ve been able to connect with culture, develop my creative voice, and work with incredible artists from across the country.”

NAISDA CEO Kim Walker encouraged young Aboriginal

and Torres Strait Islander people from the region to apply.

“NAISDA is a place where your artistic dreams can become a reality,” he said.

“We encourage young people with a passion for creativity and storytelling to apply, and take the first step on an exciting journey towards a career in the performing arts.”

Prospective students can find out more about the application and audition process at naisda. com.au/apply.

More than 75 participants in the Central Coast Harbour Classic Paddling Race were welcomed to Patonga on Saturday, August 16, with perfect paddling weather.

After weeks of on and off rain on the Coast a lucky break saw sunshine, minimal wind and a tame swell backed by an outgoing tide which all combined to make for fast racing out to Broken Bay.

The fourth annual Central Coast Harbour Classic was race four in the annual Harbour Series run by Paddle NSW and organised by Brisbane Water Paddlers in association with Central Coast Ocean Paddlers, a community-based club of local kayakers who train, race and paddle together.

Avoca locals dominated the 9km short course with Cronulla

Avoca paddlers win Patonga race

Sutherland Kayak Club dominating the long course.

The 9km short course saw paddlers start at the jetty and head out to a turning mark at Juno Point before they raced toward Broken Bay to turn at a second marker near Middle Head and back to Patonga.

The 13km long course was

similar but saw paddlers continue past Middle Head and race anti-clockwise around the iconic Lion Island before the home stretch to Patonga.

With a mix of ocean skis, outriggers and stand-up paddleboards, there was an option for everyone.

The conditions made for fast

harbour racing with some great results from Central Coast paddlers including Trent Martin (2nd place long course overall),Tor Manser (4th place long course overall), Erin Braund and Kerry Davenport (1st place double ski), Jasper Hunter (1st place short course overall) and Liv Manser (1st place female short course).

The post-race presentation took place at Patonga Beach House where paddlers shared stories and laughs from the race over a coffee and enjoyed a raffle of great prizes donated by Tango Charlie, Salty Cheeks and OceanPaddler.

A new initiative for 2025 by Brisbane Water Paddlers was to introduce a new trophy in the shape of Lion Island titled The Lion Legend, to be awarded to the fastest male and female in the long course, who have their name etched into the trophy as Lion King and Lion Queen respectively.

The first title of Lion King and Lion Queen went to Vukasin Vujanic and Montannah Murray, both speedy young-guns from Cronulla Sutherland who carved up the long course.

Brisbane Water Paddlers received positive feedback from the event with one paddler

Lalie set to take the plunge

Meet Lalie Conway – a determined and kindhearted 14-year-old who is proudly part of the Special Olympics Central Coast tennis team.

One of the youngest athletes in the club, Lalie will take on a bold challenge this weekend: the Polar Plunge in Newcastle on August 24 – and she’s doing it solo to represent the Central Coast.

The Polar Plunge is a nationwide fundraiser for Special Olympics, with athletes and supporters diving into icy waters to raise vital funds for their clubs.

The money helps reduce costs for families, covering expenses like uniforms, training and events, and ensures athletes have the chance to thrive through sport.

For Lalie, the plunge is about more than fundraising – it’s about giving back to the club that has supported her and her family every step of the way.

Her mum, Nicole Conway, said the Special Olympics community had become like family.

“We are raising money to help our club to keep it running and the cost down low for families,”

Nicole said.

“Our club is like a family to us – they have given us an outlet for Lalie to shine and also helped her socially.

“Most of all they have helped us through the ups and downs and given me a shoulder to cry on.

“Every parent understands each other.”

Lalie, who trains every second day and is currently ranked number one in Division 3 in NSW, said she couldn’t wait to take part.

“Why am I doing the Polar Plunge? To raise money for my club because we need it,” she said.

“I’m looking forward to jumping into the water and having fun.”

Her passion for tennis and the friendships she’s built through the Special Olympics shine through in everything she does.

“I love tennis – it’s fun,” she said.

“The people you meet along

the way are awesome and the opportunities we get are amazing.

“What I like most about Special Olympics is meeting new people and making new friends.”

Nicole admitted she was nervous about her daughter jumping into freezing water, but proud of her courage.

“Lalie loves tennis, she loves going to training to see all her friends,” Nicole said.

“They are so supportive of her and help her through anything.

“I’ll be there, along with her younger sister and if she has a seizure in the water we will jump in and save her, but the shock to the nervous system should actually stop it from happening.

“I’m so proud of her – when she heard no one else was doing it she said ‘Mum, I have to do it’.

“The club needs this and if it helps the club, I don’t mind.

“Lalie is doing this because she always wants to give back to the people who have supported her, and she wants to spread awareness to other people like her – to show them there is a place for them in life,

Umina soccer team heads for Japan

saying: “A big thank you to Brisbane Water Paddlers for hosting another beautiful leg of the Harbour Series; great day out!”.

The Central Coast community spirit was alive, with Central Coast Marine Rescue members present in their jetskis to support the event and keep a safe eye on paddlers.

The Avoca Kayak Club also participated in large numbers.

Brisbane Water Paddlers would like to thank Central Coast Council, Tango Charlie Lights and PaddleNSW for their support.

If you are interested in joining a local kayaking group, or trying out kayaking for the first time contact Brisbane waterpaddlers@gmail.com or visit their website to find out more.

and if they can believe it, they can achieve it.”

The Polar Plunge is traditionally combined with the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR), where members of the police force run alongside Special Olympics athletes carrying the Olympic flame before the plunge itself.

Lalie will travel to Newcastle for the event, but every dollar she raises will go directly back to support the Central Coast club.

Lalie dreams of making the Special Olympics National Team this year and representing Australia at the World Games. But for now, her focus is on helping her club and inspiring others.

To support Lalie go to include. specialolympics.com.au/ fundraisers/nicoleconway/ppnew-25

The U15 soccer team from Umina United will head overseas in September to attend Japan Camp and represent the club in a series of friendly matches.

The once-in-a-lifetime experience will help the young players develop their football skills and immerse themselves in another culture while building friendships through sport.

The boys will host a barbecue and bake sale at IGA Umina from 9am-2pm on Saturday, August 23, to help boost funds.

The team will fly out to Tokyo on September 23 to play some night games and visit a school before moving into a training camp to prepare for an allweekend tournament.

Coach Neil Cardow said it will be a great opportunity for the

The team has been working hard both on and off the field to prepare and fundraising throughout the season to help cover costs.

boys to learn a different footballing style and culture.

“Also the Umina club will benefit from these players bringing back what they learn,” he said.

“They can influence other players through either word of mouth or their actions on and off the pitch.

“I imagine it will be an exciting experience that will live with these players for the rest of their lives.”

SPORTS BRIEF

Central Coast Heart turns 10

NETBALL

Central Coast Heart will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a Gala Dinner on Friday, August 29.

To be held at Wyong Leagues Club, the evening will get formally underway at 7pm.

Dress code is After 5 (cocktail/ evening attire).

The $50 cost includes a twocourse meal and entertainment.

Heart is the Central Coast’s elite netball pathway, with teams in the Netball NSW Premier League and a TAiP (Talented Athlete Immersion Program).

With the support of netballers across the region, Central Coast Heart has fielded two teams in the Netball NSW Premier League competition since its inception in 2016, as well as teams in the Dooley’s Metro League competition - supporting coaches, players, managers, umpires and bench officials.

Purchase your tickets by Friday, August 22 at www. ticketebo.com.au

See full story online: coastcommunitynews.com.au

Terrigal takes out major rugby semi final

Terrigal defeated the Razorbacks 33-23 in the major semi final of the WLG Premier 1 Central Coast Rugby competition on Saturday, August 16, securing a spot in the grand final.

The Razorbacks got off to a flying start, storming to a 13–0 lead after Robert Peden and Jake Hubbard crossed the line inside the opening quarter.

Both tries went unconverted, but the Razorbacks had all the momentum.

Their energy and accuracy at the breakdown frustrated Terrigal and allowed them to dictate the tempo.

But as often happens in finals rugby, one or two moments changed the narrative.

Terrigal steadied and struck back late in the first half, with Jye Cornish scoring in the 28th minute before Reid Yarnold finished in the corner right on the stroke of halftime.

Suddenly the Trojans had clawed back to trail by just one at the break, 13–12.

Both sides knew what was required in the second stanza: the Razorbacks had to tighten their fringe defence, while Terrigal needed to hold possession and build pressure across longer phases.

It was Terrigal who delivered.

Controlling much of the half, they pushed ahead to lead 26–18, before producing the match-defining moment, a perfectly executed set-piece lineout just 15 metres out that once again saw Cornish cross for a clinical try.

That score cemented Terrigal’s victory.

For the Razorbacks, the scrum battle proved costly as the match wore on, with their early dominance fading under sustained pressure.

Best on ground for Terrigal were Jayden Woolley and Tom Leslie.

For the Razorbacks, Alifereti Joji stood tall on the right wing.

In Premier 2, Terrigal defeated Avoca Beach 32-27 and in Premier 3, Avoca Beach was victorious over Warnervale 3418.

In the Women’s Premier 1, it was Avoca Beach who scored a grand final berth with a 29-20 win over Terrigal.

The local derby delivered intensity, skill, and end-to-end action.

In the end, Avoca Beach remained undefeated in 2025, claiming a hard-fought major semi victory.

It was a match where the smallest of margins mattered.

Both sides crossed for four

tries apiece, but the difference came down to the boot.

While Terrigal were unable to convert any of their four tries, Avoca’s Jaida Staben held her nerve, landing two conversions and a crucial penalty goal that ultimately proved decisive.

The Sharks had standout performances from Priya Lama, who carried strongly and defended relentlessly, while Taylah Reihana added spark and composure across the park.

For Terrigal, Katie O’Mara and Sophie Dryden shone in the backline.

PHONE:

Picklum claims Tahiti Pro ahead of world title push

Shelly Beach surfer Molly Picklum has outclassed American rival Caitlin Simmers to win the Tahiti Pro, sealing a victory ahead of her world title campaign in Fiji later this month.

Picklum had already secured the top seeding for the World Surf League Finals by reaching the deciding heat, held in powerful Teahupo’o conditions on Thursday August 14.

The 21-year-old Central Coast local produced three scores in the ‘excellent’ range,

finishing with a 17.26-point total for her second win and fifth podium finish of the season.

Her opponent Simmers managed just 4.94 points after a heavy wipe-out on what could have been a perfect 10-point ride, as both surfers

pushed the limits in the heavy Tahitian swell.

Picklum’s run to the final included a dramatic semifinal in which she recovered from a huge wipe-out to secure victory, demonstrating both the courage and composure she’s known for.

“It was sick – so nice to make a few waves and not get so flogged,” she said.

“I feel like I’ve earned my stripes in this event.

“What a special place.

“You just feel the energy, the dream comes alive, and Fiji’s next.”

The win confirms Picklum’s status as the surfer to beat heading into the WSL Finals, where she will carry the extra pressure of being the world’s number one female surfer.

Favourites triumph on day one of Wyong Cup

Day one of the Wyong Cup Carnival got underway on Sunday, August 17, with the running of the $60,000 Wyong Cup Prelude and the $60,000 Mona Lisa Stakes Prelude.

Both feature races went the way of the heavily supported favourites,withRoyalSupremacy ($1.55F) and Dollar Magic ($2.05F) saluting.

Royal Supremacy, trained by Ciaron Maher, made it back-toback wins at Randwick and Wyong, with the import now likely to head to the Wyong Leagues Group Wyong Cup on Friday, September 5, where he will be among the top hopes.

Dollar Magic proved too strong in the Mona Lisa Prelude, holding off a fast-finishing Countyourblessings to prevail narrowly.

Away from the feature events, local apprentice Anna Roper and trainer Denim Wynem continued their impressive start to the new racing season.

The pair combined to take out race two with Triple Triple ($8.00 to $3.60), fresh off their Rosehill success on Saturday with Monkhana.

Roper’s season is off to a flying

start, with five wins, seven seconds and four thirds from 43 starts to her name already.

Wynem has saddled up just eight starters since August 1, recording three winners, two seconds and a third – an impressive winning strike rate of 37.5%.

Roper was full of praise for Wynem’s stable.

“They’re winning fairly often at the minute,” she said.

Two of the biggest days on the Wyong Racing Club calendar are just around the corner with Ladies Day and the Wyong Cup to be held on Sunday, August 31, and the Wyong Leagues Group Cup to be held on Friday, September 5.

In an exclusive offer just for Central Coast Community News

readers, Wyong Cup is offering a free ticket (valued at $20).

Simply cut out the voucher featuring on this page to redeem the offer at the entrance gate. Club CEO Greg Purcell said there will be something for everyone at the feature days.

“Whether you are a casual race goer, a horse enthusiast or just looking for a great day out with friends and family Wyong Race Club is the place to be,” he said.

“We have been overwhelmed with interest from both corporates and the general public, and whilst there are still corporate hospitality packages available, best you be quick.” Corporate hospitality packages are available from just $40 at wyongraceclub.com.au