The Northern Rivers Times News Edition 315

Council backs saleyards future after marathon debate

By Tim Howard

The Grafton saleyards will remain under council ownership after Clarence Valley Council unanimously backed the facility’s future following more than an hour of debate over increased fees, ageing infrastructure and its long-term fnancial sustainability.

Councillors also agreed to establish a stakeholder group of producers, livestock agents, transport operators and industry representatives to help guide future improvements at the Grafton Regional Livestock Selling Centre.

The decision followed consideration of a future management options report and 18 public submissions, all of which supported retaining a saleyards facility in the Clarence Valley.

But councillors rejected a proposal from Cr Debrah Novak to seek expressions of interest for the sale, lease or contract management of the facility.

Cr Greg Clancy successfully moved to remove the proposal, arguing it would cost council money and conficted with the decision to retain council ownership.

“I don’t think we need it,” he said. “If council decides that we should take diferent action, that could be the subject of a notice of motion.”

The amendment was carried 6-2, with Crs Novak and Cristie Yager voting against its removal.

The fnal resolution confrmed continued council ownership and operation as the preferred pathway while delaying development of future capital works until consultation with the new stakeholder group.

The committee’s terms of reference will come back to council before expressions of interest are called for members.

While there was unanimous support for retaining the saleyards, councillors difered sharply over who should bear the cost of

keeping the ageing facility viable.

Council has already adopted higher saleyards charges for 2026-27, increasing producer yard dues from $11.03 to $14 a head, agent yard dues from 67 cents to $3 a head and introducing a new $3-ahead capital works levy.

The combined council charges have increased from $11.70 to $20 a head, although the fees are invoiced to livestock agents, who determine how they are passed on to vendors.

Cr Novak argued producers accepted the need for a sustainable business model but wanted to see council demonstrate good faith by tackling long-standing maintenance issues before asking them to pay substantially more.

“What they want to see is no more talk,” she said.

“They want to see action.”

She said the industry had been discussing improvements for years and wanted to see practical progress through a stakeholder group, business plan and master plan.

Cr Novak also described the saleyards as a vital agricultural asset supporting about 365 cattle producers

and generating almost $5 million in farm rates for council.

Cr Yager said many producers were surprised to learn the fee increases had already been adopted before submissions on the management options report were considered.

“This is taking $11 or $12 up to $20 per head and, if you have cattle, that’s actually massive,” she said, adding that smaller producers would be hardest hit.

She said producers had not rejected higher charges outright, but wanted greater involvement in deciding how the money would be spent.

Other councillors argued the saleyards could only survive if council addressed its long-term fnancial position.

Cr Andrew Baker said council could not insist on running the saleyards in a businesslike manner while refusing to charge enough to keep it operating.

“If keeping the doors open is critical, and I accept that it probably is, we need to ensure that the customers know they’re paying the appropriate amount,” he said.

Cr Peter Johnstone said

the increase had come as a shock to many producers, but warned any future attempt to reverse the fees would require council to fnd replacement revenue elsewhere.

Cr Karen Toms said the saleyards was a council business activity that should progressively cover its operating and renewal costs rather than relying on the general rate base.

“We need to make sure that our business activities are fnancially sustainable,” she said.

“We can’t be subsidising private businesses in their business at one of our business activities.”

Cr Clancy said council had to balance support for the rural community with responsible fnancial management.

“We need to support the farmers … but we also need to make it viable,” he said.

“I think the setting up of the advisory group is a really positive thing.”

The council report found the saleyards generated a net operating surplus of $173,508 before depreciation over the past fve years.

However, depreciation totalled $804,698 over

the same period, leaving a cumulative defcit of $631,190 once long-term asset renewal costs were taken into account.

The new capital works levy is expected to raise about $120,000 a year, based on annual throughput of about 40,000 head of cattle.

Money raised through the levy will be placed in a dedicated reserve for future renewal and improvements, with priorities to be developed in consultation with the stakeholder group.

Councillors also discussed the saleyards’ role during natural disasters.

Cr Novak successfully removed the word “potential” from the resolution’s reference to its emergencymanagement value, arguing producers had used the facility to shelter livestock during foods.

However, General Manager Laura Black told the meeting the saleyards was not formally designated as an emergency livestock refuge, with emergency authorities deciding which facilities were used during individual events.

The amended motion was carried unanimously.

Community to Help Create Lismore's Walk of Honour

By Jeff Gibbs

Lismore residents will have the opportunity to recognise the people who have helped shape the city's history, with Lismore City Council moving ahead with plans for a Walk of Honour as part of the new Lismore Boulevard – Shared User Path project.

The initiative follows Council securing funding through the NSW Government's Get NSW Active 2025–2026 program for the major pedestrian and cycling corridor linking the CBD, Lismore Square and the city's sporting precinct.

Mayor Steve Krieg said the Walk of Honour would celebrate individuals whose achievements and contributions have left a lasting legacy in the community.

"The Walk of Honour will recognise and cel-

ebrate individuals who have achieved distinction and made a lasting impact on the Lismore community through professional excellence, community contribution, cultural and creative achievement, sport and recreation, innovation or leadership," Mayor Krieg said.

Council has established a dedicated Walk of Honour Committee to oversee the

project after previously resolving to include the feature within the boulevard's design. The Walk of Honour is proposed to follow the existing footpath alignment as part of the upgraded shared pathway.

Council has also adopted the committee's Terms of Reference and eligibility guidelines to ensure the nomination and selection process is transparent and

individuals they believe deserve recognition for their outstanding service and achievements.

Mayor Krieg said community participation would be essential to ensuring the Walk of Honour truly refects the people who have made a signifcant contribution to Lismore.

between the city's commercial, recreational and community precincts while encouraging walking and cycling.

consistent.

The committee will be chaired by Mayor Krieg and includes Councillors Hall, Bing, Dalton-Earls, Knight-Smith and Rob, who will assess nominations received from the community before making recommendations to Council.

Expressions of interest will soon open, allowing residents to nominate

"Council will call for expressions of interest from the community, giving residents the opportunity to nominate deserving individuals for inclusion in the Walk of Honour," he said.

"Community involvement will be central to ensuring the Walk of Honour refects the people who have helped shape Lismore's history and identity."

The Walk of Honour will become a permanent feature of the Lismore Boulevard – Shared User Path, which is designed to improve connections

The boulevard project is being funded through the NSW Government's Get NSW Active 2025–2026 program, administered by Transport for NSW, and is expected to become one of Lismore's key public spaces.

Council says further details on the nomination process and eligibility requirements will be released as planning for the Walk of Honour progresses.

Once complete, the Walk of Honour is expected to provide a lasting tribute to the people whose achievements have helped shape Lismore's identity while creating a unique attraction celebrating the city's rich history and community spirit.

Mayor pauses Townsend Collective works for community talks

By Tim Howard

Clarence Valley Council has agreed to halt physical work on the Townsend Collective project while it undertakes further community consultation, following concerns raised about the development’s potential environmental impacts.

The unanimous decision came after Mayor Ray Smith introduced a revised mayoral minute at last Thursday’s council meeting, expanding community engagement and delaying any construction or physical disturbance within the site’s boundaries until meetings with stakeholders can be held before the end of August.

The move follows concerns aired publicly in recent weeks, including those raised by Deputy Mayor Cr Greg Clancy, who last week called for the project to be halted while questions surrounding environmental protections and the project’s development were addressed.

Cr Clancy told the meet-

ing the Mayor’s proposal achieved the objectives of his own notice of motion.

“I think this covers the intent of my notice of motion,” he said.

“The intent of my notice of motion was to put things on hold so we can sort out a few issues, not to stop the whole project, and I think this allows us to do that.”

He subsequently withdrew his notice of motion.

Under the adopted mayoral minute, council will pause any site construction or physical disturbance within the lot boundaries until community engagement sessions have been held under council’s Community Engagement

Strategy.

Council will also receive reports at its August meeting detailing any signifcant changes to the project since the master plan was endorsed in June 2024, including any obligations, undertakings or agreements that may require further council approval.

A second report will outline consultation undertaken with stakeholders, including existing site users and adjoining landowners.

Mayor Smith said the intention was to ensure stakeholders had further opportunities to help shape the project while reafrming council’s commitment to delivering it broadly in line with the original concept plan.

He said the decision was intended to “engage further with all of the stakeholders, adjoining property owners, and to delay any further action, particularly any site improvements.”

During question time, Cr Lynne Cairns asked whether a business case had been prepared for the

project, including future leasing arrangements, operating costs and insurance responsibilities.

General Manager Laura Black said council had approved the Townsend Collective master plan in June 2024 and was still implementing that resolution.

“We don’t have a business plan for operating the centre at this point in time, as we haven’t completed all of the actions of the June 2024 resolution,” she said.

Cr Andrew Baker sought assurances that the pause would not delay planning and survey work already underway.

Ms Black said there was no intention to halt planning activities.

“There is no intention to undertake any construction work on the actual site,” she said, noting current work was occurring in the adjoining road reserve rather than on the project site itself.

Cr Clancy also asked about future ownership of buildings within the devel-

opment.

Ms Black said council would retain ownership of the land, but because council was not funding construction, the individual organisations occupying the site would own their buildings, similar to arrangements on other council-owned land.

The Townsend Collective is a partnership between Clarence Valley Council, Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation and Connect You Too.

The master plan includes community facilities, accessible pathways, recreation areas, community artwork, a performance space and other shared infrastructure.

The project has recently attracted criticism from some residents and environmental advocates, who argue further scrutiny is needed to ensure the development remains consistent with earlier commitments to protect environmentally sensitive areas.

Council’s amended mayoral minute was carried unanimously.

Funding Boost Targets Invasive Weeds Across Far North Coast

Nearly $90,000 will help restore native habitats and protect valuable Crown land across the Northern Rivers.

By Jeff Gibbs

A major weed control program is set to improve more than 125 hectares of environmentally signifcant Crown land across the Far North Coast after Rous County Council secured more than $88,000 in NSW Government funding.

The $88,154 grant, awarded through the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund, will fund seven weed biosecurity projects during 2026–27 across the Ballina, Lismore, Kyogle and Richmond Valley local government areas.

The projects will target some of the region's most damaging invasive plant species, including Bitou bush, Alligator weed, Groundsel bush, Tropical soda apple, Chinese celtis,

Cat's claw, Yellow bells and Giant devil's fg.

Rous County Council's Weed Biosecurity and Bush Regeneration Manager Philip Courtney said the funding would deliver lasting environmental benefts by restoring native ecosystems and improving biodiversity.

"The funding will allow Rous and local councils to undertake targeted weed management works that support the recovery of native vegetation and strengthen the natural resilience of these important areas," Mr Courtney said.

"Invasive weeds can rapidly degrade natural ecosystems. By investing in intervention and ongoing control, we can help protect these important Crown land sites."

The projects will be

delivered in partnership with local councils at several key environmental locations, including Albert Park, Jabiru Geneebeinga Wetlands, Tunglebung Public Recreational Reserve and Seven Mile Beach.

Follow-up treatment will also be undertaken at Black Head, Skennars Head and the Lake Ainsworth Sport and Recreation Area, where previous funding successfully reduced Bitou bush infestations.

At Albert Park, weed control eforts will focus on removing Groundsel bush, Yellow bells and Giant devil's fg to encourage the recovery of native vegetation.

Meanwhile, at the Jabiru Geneebeinga Wetlands, crews will target aquatic

weeds to reduce the spread of invasive species into food-prone land, nearby farmland and surrounding community areas.

Further inland, weed management at Tunglebung Public Recreational Reserve will tackle Tropical soda apple, Chinese celtis and Cat's claw, while work at Seven Mile Beach will continue the long-term battle against Bitou bush and other invasive coastal weeds.

Rous County Council General Manager Phillip Rudd welcomed the funding, saying it would allow important environmental protection work to continue across the Northern Rivers.

"These projects build on previous successful weed management programs

and will support the protection of important habitats, waterways and recreational areas," Mr Rudd said.

"Partnerships and funding programs such as this are critical in helping us achieve impactful environmental outcomes across the region."

The Crown Reserves Improvement Fund assists reserve managers throughout New South Wales to improve and maintain public land while addressing environmental threats including invasive weeds and pest species that impact biodiversity.

NSW Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the investment would help ensure Crown land continues delivering environmental, recreational and community

benefts.

"These projects are about making sure Crown land continues to deliver for communities, whether that's through better facilities, safer access or protecting the natural environment people rely on," Mr Kamper said.

He said Crown reserves were an important part of communities across New South Wales, supporting recreation, local economies and environmental conservation.

For communities across the Northern Rivers, the funding represents another important step in protecting valuable bushland, wetlands and coastal environments while preserving habitats for native wildlife and improving the resilience of the region's unique ecosystems.

Prime Tweed Heads Commercial Site Hits the Market

By Jeff Gibbs

A rare development opportunity in one of Australia's fastest-growing regional corridors has come onto the market, with a prominent commercial site at 18 Rivendell Road, Tweed Heads South expected to attract signifcant attention from local and interstate investors.

The 6,212-square-metre property is being ofered for sale through an Expressions of Interest campaign by Colliers on behalf of StoreLocal, with price guidance of ofers above $8.5 million plus GST.

The site is being sold with vacant possession and features approximately 131 metres of frontage to the Pacifc Motorway, providing outstanding exposure to more than 90,000 vehicles each day. Currently operating as a boat and caravan storage facility, the property

is zoned E3 Productivity Support, allowing for a wide range of future industrial, commercial, warehouse and service-based developments, subject to council approval.

Colliers Director of Industrial & Logistics, Marlon Crawford, said the Southern Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales continued to experience strong demand for

commercial land as businesses looked to expand into one of the country's fastest-growing regions.

"The Southern Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales continue to attract businesses looking to establish or expand their operations, however the pipeline of developmentready commercial land has become increasingly constrained," Mr Crawford

he said.

The property enjoys a strategic location less than one kilometre from the M1 Pacifc Motorway, approximately 700 metres from Tweed City Shopping Centre and only 7.4 kilometres from Gold Coast Airport, placing it at the centre of one of the region's busiest commercial precincts.

support a broad range of future outcomes, whether that's immediate occupation, redevelopment or a longer-term land banking strategy," Mr Adcock said.

said.

He said buyers were increasingly seeking sites ofering planning fexibility and long-term development opportunities.

"Purchasers are placing greater emphasis on sites that provide planning fexibility and long-term optionality, allowing them to respond to changing business requirements and future market conditions,"

Surrounded by major retailers, large-format businesses and national service providers, the site also benefts from ongoing investment in transport infrastructure, healthcare facilities and residential growth across the Tweed and southern Gold Coast.

Colliers Senior Executive of Industrial & Logistics Matthew Adcock said opportunities of this size and location had become increasingly scarce.

"This campaign offers buyers the chance to secure a site that can

"We're expecting interest from local groups as well as interstate buyers looking to gain a foothold in a market where development opportunities of this scale have become increasingly difcult to source."

With population growth continuing across the Tweed region and commercial land becoming increasingly limited, wellpositioned sites ofering fexible zoning are becoming highly sought after by developers, owneroccupiers and long-term investors alike.

Expressions of Interest for 18 Rivendell Road, Tweed Heads South close at 4 pm (AEST) on Thursday, 6 August 2026.

Lismore Boulevard to Transform Walking and Cycling Links

$2.38 million project aims to create a safer, greener and better-connected city.

By Jeff Gibbs

A major new shared pathway linking Lismore's CBD with key community destinations is one step closer, with concept designs for the Lismore Boulevard – Shared User Path now open for public consultation.

Lismore City Council has secured $2,383,030 through the NSW Government's Get NSW Active 2025–2026 program, administered by Transport for NSW, to help deliver the project. Council will contribute a further $100,000, bringing the total project value to $2,483,030.

The proposed boulevard will create a four-metrewide, tree-lined shared pathway through Lismore Park, providing a safe and accessible route for pedestrians, cyclists and

Primary school students across the Clarence Valley will soon have the chance to experience competitive Rugby 7s thanks to a $15,000 grant awarded to the Yamba Buccaneers Rugby Club through the NSW Rugby World Cup Legacy Grant Program 2025/26. The funding will establish a new schools competition designed to introduce more young people to the

other active transport users.

Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg said the project would strengthen connections between some of the city's most important destinations while encouraging healthier and more sustainable travel.

"This project will deliver a direct, tree-lined fourmetre-wide shared path through Lismore Park connecting the CBD with our cultural precincts, sporting facilities and health services, making it easier and safer for residents and visitors to walk and cycle around our city," Mayor Krieg said.

The boulevard will connect Lismore Shopping Square, the CBD, the Lismore Skatepark, Dawson Street, the Lismore Regional Gallery and the Lismore Base

Hospital precinct, creating a continuous corridor through one of the city's most heavily used public spaces.

Additional pathways will improve access to nearby sporting facilities, including Crozier Field and entry points to Oakes Oval, expanding recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.

The project also includes extensive landscaping, new shade trees, seating, drinking fountains, bicycle parking and modern pavement treatments designed to create an attractive and welcoming public space.

Mayor Krieg said improved lighting would enhance safety and encourage people to use the pathway well into the evening.

"With improved shade

from trees, seating, bike racks at destination points, bubblers, and modern pavement designs, the boulevard will encourage interaction, active transport, and leisure while supporting wellbeing, inclusivity, and a shift away from car dependency," he said.

The boulevard has also been designed to integrate with Lismore's public transport network, including school bus interchanges, bus stops and taxi services, making it easier for students, commuters and visitors to choose walking or cycling as part of their journey.

The project complements Lismore's Healthy Streets initiative and supports the city's Walking, Cycling and Micromobility Strategy, which aims to make active transport safer, more

convenient and more accessible.

Safety has been a key consideration throughout the design, with wide pathways, improved lighting and clear sightlines intended to provide comfortable shared use for pedestrians, cyclists and skaters.

State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin welcomed the funding, describing the boulevard as an important investment in the city's future.

"This major upgrade of an existing active transport route will really open up these areas, encouraging more locals and visitors to walk or cycle between them, with lighting improving public safety after dark," Ms Saffin said. She said the project would strengthen links between what she

describes as "Town and Square" while supporting economic development, environmental sustainability and improved mobility throughout the city. Council is now inviting the community to review the concept plans and provide feedback through the Your Say Lismore consultation portal.

Construction is expected to begin in mid-2027, with the project scheduled for completion by March 2028. Once finished, the Lismore Boulevard is expected to become one of the city's premier active transport corridors, encouraging more people to walk, cycle and enjoy public spaces while strengthening connections between businesses, health services, recreational facilities and the CBD.

Rugby Boost for Clarence Valley Schools

sport and strengthen local participation pathways.

The Clarence Valley Rugby 7s Schools' Competition will begin in Term 3, welcoming boys and girls in Years 3 to 6. The competition will feature Under 10 and Under 12 divisions, with local primary schools competing at rotating venues across the region to make participation accessible for students and families.

Delivered in partnership with NSW Rugby, the program will provide coaching support and free registration for participants, helping remove barriers to involvement while encouraging children to develop new sporting skills in a fun and inclusive environment.

Clarence MP Richie Williamson welcomed the

funding, describing it as an important investment in grassroots sport and the future of Rugby in the region.

He said the initiative would encourage children to become more active, build confidence and friendships, and create a clear pathway from school sport into local rugby clubs. Mr Williamson also highlighted the program's commitment to increasing

participation among girls, First Nations students and young people living in regional communities.

Yamba Buccaneers Rugby Club President Adrian Miller said the competition would help bridge the gap between school participation and club rugby, giving young players the opportunity to develop their skills while discovering a place within the local rugby community.

He said the club was particularly proud of the strong focus on inclusion and hoped the competition would become an annual fixture on the Clarence Valley sporting calendar. Organisers also expect participants to transition into local club programs from the 2027 season and beyond, creating a sustainable pathway for future generations of players.

$1.47 Million Boost for Jack Evans Boat Harbour Foreshore

Major waterfront upgrade will improve safety, accessibility and resilience at one of the Tweed's most popular destinations.

By Jeff Gibbs

One of the Northern Rivers' most visited waterfront precincts is set for a major makeover after Tweed Shire Council secured $1 million in NSW Government funding to revitalise the iconic Jack Evans Boat Harbour foreshore.

The funding, awarded through the NSW Government's Crown Reserves Improvement Fund, will be combined with Council's contribution to create a $1.47 million project aimed at renewing ageing infrastructure, improving accessibility and enhancing the visitor experience at the popular Tweed Heads destination.

Jack Evans Boat Harbour attracts an estimated 1.9 million visitors each year and hosts around 40 community events annually, making it one of the busiest public open spaces in the Tweed.

Mayor Chris Cherry said the project would

restore and future-proof one of the region's bestloved waterfront locations following damage caused by recent floods and severe weather.

"Jack Evans Boat Harbour is the heart of our waterfront and a key gathering place for locals and visitors alike," Cr Cherry said.

"This funding allows

us to restore important infrastructure like the boardwalk and concrete steps, while creating a more vibrant, accessible and resilient foreshore for the future."

The upgrade will include replacing sections of the ageing timber boardwalk with more durable materials, repairing the damaged tessellated

concrete steps, improving pedestrian pathways and accessibility, and installing new seating, landscaping and shade throughout the precinct.

The works are also designed to improve the foreshore's resilience to future storms and flooding, ensuring the popular public space remains safe, functional and attractive for many years to come.

Tweed Shire Council General Manager

Troy Green said the revitalisation would deliver lasting benefits for both residents and visitors while strengthening the local economy.

"The upgraded foreshore will attract more visitors, support local businesses and provide a safer, more welcoming space for everyone," Mr Green said.

"It will also strengthen Tweed Heads as the gateway to NSW, something that we have already been focusing on through the Tweed Heads CBD revitalisation project. We are working hard to

create a destination that reflects the pride of our community."

The project builds on previous improvements in the precinct, including the highly successful Goorimahbah – Place of Stories playspace, creating a more cohesive and attractive waterfront environment.

Community consultation has shown overwhelming support for upgrading the harbour precinct, with more than 1,000 residents providing feedback during the long-term planning process. Improving ageing infrastructure, accessibility, safety and visitor amenities were consistently identified as key priorities.

NSW Minister for Lands and Property

Steve Kamper said the investment would ensure Crown land continues delivering benefits for local communities.

"These projects are about making sure Crown land continues to deliver for communities, whether

that's through better facilities, safer access or protecting the natural environment people rely on," Mr Kamper said. He said Crown reserves play an important role in supporting recreation, local economies and community life throughout New South Wales.

NSW Member for Tweed Geoff Provest also welcomed the funding, saying the project would ensure Jack Evans Boat Harbour continues meeting the needs of both residents and the many visitors who enjoy the foreshore every year.

Construction is expected to begin in mid-2026, with completion anticipated during 2027.

Once complete, the revitalised foreshore will provide a safer, more accessible and weatherresilient waterfront, ensuring Jack Evans Boat Harbour remains one of the Tweed's premier recreational and tourism destinations well into the future.

Elderly Casino Couple Left Devastated After Car Theft

An elderly Casino couple has shared the heartbreaking impact a stolen vehicle has had on their lives, describing how the theft has left them without reliable transport and forced them to change the way they will live.

The couple, both in their 80s, said their 17-year-old vehicle was stolen from their home on 10 June 2026 after intruders broke into their house while they slept. Despite its age, they said the car had been meticulously maintained and they had hoped it would serve them for the rest of their lives.

According to the couple, security cameras captured what appeared to be two men, a woman and a teenager entering their property around 1am.

Using a steel bar, the group allegedly forced open the carport door before entering the home and taking the car keys from the couple's bedroom while they were asleep.

They said they were grateful they did not wake during the break-in, fearing the situation could have turned violent.

The theft created further

financial hardship. Along with the vehicle, the offenders took house keys and a garage door remote, forcing the couple to replace locks, keys and remote controls. They also installed floor anchors to improve security at their home, resulting in unexpected expenses of around $600.

Adding to their frustration, the stolen vehicle was later involved in traffic offences, including speeding and failing to wear seatbelts.

The couple obtained a clear image of the driver from a seatbelt camera and provided it to Casino Police.

The insurance company declared the vehicle a write-off on 30 June,

while police advised the couple that a suspect from Tabulam had been identified. The vehicle was eventually located abandoned near Southport on the Gold Coast but is now being transported to Brisbane for destruction, with none of the belongings inside expected to be recovered.

Unable to replace the vehicle, the couple have decided to use their insurance payout and savings to purchase a twoseat mobility scooter. They hope it will enable them to continue shopping together and attend local medical, dental and other essential appointments, although longer trips to specialists in Lismore and Tugun will likely require public transport.

Dunn finally lands elusive Ramornie Handicap

By Tim Howard

After 15 years of trying, Northern Rivers trainer Matt Dunn has finally claimed one of country racing’s most coveted prizes, with Band Of Brothers producing a courageous front-running performance to win Wednesday’s $200,000 Listed Ramornie Handicap at Grafton.

A delighted Dunn admitted victory in the feature sprint had been a long time coming.

“I’ve been coming here for 15 years trying to win a Ramornie Handicap,” he said after the race.

While Dunn has enjoyed considerable success at the Grafton July Racing Carnival – most notably with Cepheus, who claimed back-to-back Grafton Cups in 2023 and 2024 – the Ramornie

Handicap had remained frustratingly out of reach.

That finally changed when Band Of Brothers, ridden by Dylan Turner, jumped cleanly, took control of the race from the outset and found plenty in the straight to hold off the fast-finishing Pereille. Irish visitor Givemethebeatboys finished third, while Fire Star was fourth.

Dunn praised the toughness of his galloper,

who refused to surrender after making his own luck in front.

The victory completed one of the few missing pieces on Dunn’s impressive Grafton carnival résumé and added the prestigious Ramornie Handicap to a list of feature race successes.

There was drama before the race when Harry’s Bar became fractious in the barriers, dislodging jockey Jean Van Overmeire

before becoming trapped beneath the starting gates.

The mare was eventually freed and scratched, while Van Overmeire escaped without serious injury.

Once the field was dispatched, however, the race belonged to Band Of Brothers, whose determination carried him all the way to the winning post and finally delivered the Ramornie Handicap Dunn had pursued for a decade and a half.

The Ramornie Handicap remains one of the highlights of the Grafton July Racing Carnival and one of Australia’s premier country sprint races, boasting an honour roll that includes champion sprinter Takeover Target. For Dunn, though, this year’s running will be remembered as the one that finally ended a 15year quest.

McEvoy ends 29-year wait as King Pedro claims Grafton Cup

By Tim Howard

Champion jockey Kerrin McEvoy etched his name into Grafton July Racing Carnival history on Thursday, completing the rare South Grafton CupGrafton Cup double aboard the promising stayer King Pedro.

McEvoy, who won the previous Sunday’s South Grafton Cup on Mr Chaplin, became just the seventh jockey to complete the coveted double and the first to do so in 29 years after guiding the $2.30 favourite to victory in the Listed Grafton Cup (2350m).

It was also McEvoy’s first success in the famous staying feature. He has won the Melbourne Cup three times.

The victory was far from straightforward.

Run at only a moderate tempo for much of the journey, the race developed into a tactical affair that appeared to play against the chances of backmarkers like King Pedro.

Trainer Tom Charlton admitted he was concerned as he watched from Sydney.

“I’ve been watching the races all day and I was a bit concerned because nothing was making ground,” Charlton said.

“Early on in the race I was very concerned. It wasn’t pretty and it probably didn’t test the horse’s best assets, but credit to the horse, he picked himself up and overcame it.”

Settled near the rear of the field by McEvoy, King Pedro still had plenty of

This year’s draft will include 16 lots:

3 x PTIC 1st calf 3 year old Heifers

• 2 x 2 year old unjoined Heifers

• Quality joined proven breeders

4 x Rising 3 year old pure bred bulls

Thursday August 6th, 2026

work to do when the field straightened.

McEvoy initially hoped to save ground along the rail, but when that option disappeared he quickly changed tactics, steering the gelding into the clear where his powerful finishing sprint came into play.

“When I got him into the clear he had a lot of ground to make up, but full credit to the horse because he really powered home,” McEvoy said.

“I wanted to find the fence but Ben Looker pushed me out a bit on So You Are, so I had to go to Plan B and follow that horse.

“He’s got an electric turn of foot and he showed his class there. We’re spoiled with talented stayers currently and he’ll no doubt go on to bigger races, but it’s nice to get the Cup with him.”

King Pedro swept down the centre of the track to defeat Chris Waller-trained Etna Rosso by a neck, with Kaluakoi, who had dictated the slow pace, another neck away in third.

The victory continued the outstanding recent form of the four-year-old, who arrived in Grafton after winning the Stayers Cup at Rosehill. His record now stands at four wins from 16 starts and more than $360,000 in prizemoney.

Charlton said the gelding had earned a chance at much bigger targets.

A spring campaign is now on the agenda, with the Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Randwick among the races under consideration after a short freshen-up.

OTC Racing representative

Gus Boyd said King Pedro would now enjoy a couple of weeks in the paddock before the stable mapped out a spring campaign.

“We’ll freshen him up for a couple of weeks and then look at the staying races through the spring,” Boyd said.

“He could even get out

to the two-mile races next year.”

Boyd described the Grafton Cup as a “messy” contest, saying the slow tempo made life difficult for horses settling off the pace.

“It wasn’t run to suit him, but Kerrin just read the race beautifully,” he said.

“He found a way through when it mattered and that’s what top jockeys do.”

The win completed a memorable carnival for McEvoy, whose double on Mr Chaplin and King

will take its place

2028 Scholarships

Applications for Knox Boarding Scholarships for boys from regional areas open Monday 9 November 2026. Examinations will be held at the Knox Grammar School Senior School Campus as below:

• Sunday 21 February 2027 – Years 7-11 Regional Boarding 2028 Scholarship Examinations

• Sunday 28 February 2027 – Year 5 2028 Scholarship Examinations

To nd out more about Knox Boarding

Contact Martin Gooding, Head of Engagement on 02 9473 9768 or email at goodingm@knox.nsw.edu.au

Mid North Coast records busiest June as Marine Rescue volunteers answer 35 call-outs

By Tim Howard

Marine Rescue NSW

volunteers on the Mid North Coast recorded their busiest June on record, completing 35 search and rescue missions during the month, while crews across the Northern Rivers responded to another 24 incidents.

The Mid North Coast was the busiest regional area outside Greater Sydney and the Hunter-Central Coast, highlighting the continued demand for volunteer rescue crews even during the quieter winter boating season.

Across the Mid North Coast, volunteers safely returned 84 people to shore, with 19 of the 35 missions classified as emergency responses.

Marine Rescue Port Macquarie was the busiest individual unit in the region, setting its own

record with 16 rescue missions, followed by Forster Tuncurry with eight and Coffs Harbour with five.

In the Northern Rivers, volunteers completed 24 search and rescue missions, including 16 emergency responses, returning 57 people safely to shore.

Point Danger was the busiest unit with nine

rescues, followed by Iluka Yamba with five and Brunswick with four.

Statewide, Marine Rescue NSW volunteers completed 235 search and rescue missions during June, safely returning 548 people to shore. Nearly 40% of those missions were emergency responses.

Greater Sydney accounted for the highest

number of rescues with 73 missions, followed by the Hunter-Central Coast with 65.

The Mid North Coast’s record 35 missions made it the busiest regional command, ahead of the Illawarra (25), Northern Rivers (24) and Monaro (13).

Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Todd

Andrews said the figures showed there was no room for complacency during winter.

“Winter is no time for complacency. Boaters must remain vigilant, as weather conditions can change rapidly and water temperatures are colder,” he said.

“Even on calm, sunny days, falling into cold water can have serious consequences.”

Engine failure remained the leading cause of rescue missions, accounting for 42% of all responses.

Mr Andrews said many breakdowns could be prevented through regular maintenance.

“Before launching, ensure your vessel is in working condition, your engine has been serviced and all safety equipment is operational,” he said.

He also urged skippers to

use the free Marine Rescue NSW Log On service before heading onto the water.

“Our dedicated volunteer radio operators keep watch over your journey. If you don’t return as planned, they immediately begin making enquiries and can initiate a search much sooner,” he said.

Marine Rescue NSW radio operators handled more than 20,000 radio calls during June and monitored the safe return of 21,654 people aboard 6341 vessels that logged on before departing.

With humpback whales continuing their annual migration along the NSW coast, Mr Andrews reminded boaters to keep a careful lookout, observe the required exclusion distances and slow down if whales surfaced nearby.

“If in doubt, don’t go out,” he said.

You risk more than your own safety going a few K’s over.

No matter how quiet it is, or how many times you’ve driven the road, every kilometre over the speed limit increases the risk of a serious crash.

Isn’t it time we got serious about casual speeding?

All smiles at the track

“Leemo has views on just about anything”

LEEMO’S GARDENING ADVENTURE

‘Leems, I wanna talk with you D TO gottit um ane was in her tetchy voice mode so fgured to respond accordingly.

‘Whaddya want you crabby old woman?’

On refection spose it was a bit fatuous of me but it kinda just came out..EEEK! fgured it wise to get in frst before SHE started asking ME questions: applying my most articulate elocution spo e. um my dearest, BEFORE you ask me questions, keep in mind it is O ON SENSE NOT to ask questions if you aren’t prepared to hear the answers – gottit?’

She looked sulky at my reply but I kindly gave her the nod to go ahead and speak in her annoying ‘question-like’ manner. ‘RIGHT Leems, you KNOW I own a polypropylene tough, stand-up garden waste BAG. In this receptacle I place garden waste & weedy stuff (not cats) & then put it all in the Council Green Bin. The other day (WHEN we had SUN!) I tipped all the waste into the Council bin & threw the bag on the grass, ready to be re flled. came inside, had a nifty corned beef sambo and went back out some time later. As I proceeded toward the bag it moved all on its VERY own toward me rustling & heaving – it was spine-chilling: having had visits from onty Pythons & hearing of a lady being bitten by an Eastern Brown whilst cycling I went into tremor-like shock: is it a koala, a snakie,

a ferce ginormous possum?? aarrghh. THEN I ‘HEARD’ a yowling screaming noise emitting from the tough garden bag, which was still moving toward me with deadly intent: O luc ing up great valour I ventured trepidatiously toward the bag safely (from behind it) poked it with my long & sturdy rake & ran away about 15ft from it. Leems, YOU try to envisage my dismay when your head emerged but your CLAWS were caught in the fbrous material so when you moved you dragged the bag with you. Having lived with you for 13 years, my arms & hands displaying scarred witness to your claws & fangs there was NO WAY IN HELL I was going to task myself with freeing you. So, young an, have a QUESTION for you before I call the amazing animal rescue people to free you. WHY, (when you have 3 BEDS, chairs, plush blankies & stuff) did you choose to have a sleep in the garden waste bag? Well?’ Hmmm, astute feline-thinking needed here. ell um there s just ONE proper answer. I JUST FELT LIKE IT. And you shouldn’t buy such dangerous cat-trapping garden bags anyhow; you should drag the wheeled garden waste BIN (maybe get a harness?) with you everywhere when you’re picking up waste & put each leaf or stick it in as you go & when it’s full drag it up to the Council pick-up spot. Easy peasy!’ Well, of course the wrinky face went apoplectically purple & she emitted a shout. ‘Leems, we live on a hilly steep diffcult tiered bloc . I am 5ft 3ins & of a smallish frame and OLD so it would be very challenging for me. GOTTIT?’ Crikey. humans are dramatic at the best of time but um ta es the ca e for drama. Once I am un-clawed from this poxy stupid bag shall go inside and sit staring at my ‘probably’ empty treat bowl until it is replenished & then ’suck-up’ with purrs

Letters to the Editor

Have your say in The Northern Rivers Times!

We welcome your feedback, opinions, praise, concerns, and refections on local issues, events, and stories.

Send your letters to: Jeff Gibbs letters@heartlandmedia. com.au

Deadline: Fridays at noon

Please include your name, address, and phone number for verifcation purposes (not for publication).

The Northern Rivers Times is committed to providing a platform for diverse community voices. The views expressed in letters are those of the writers and do not necessarily refect those of the publisher, editors, or staff. Letters may be edited for length or clarity. Offensive or defamatory content will not be published

DON’T WASTE FOUR YEARS OF SCIENCE

The CSIRO report has taken four years to complete and reportedly provides the strongest catchment-wide modelling the Northern Rivers has ever had. Governments cannot now retreat into more consultations, committees and reviews.

Further investigation is necessary, but it must have deadlines, transparent costs and a clear pathway to action. Residents who rebuilt after 2022 deserve more than political speeches each time the river rises. Engineered mitigation may not stop every food, but reducing food heights could still protect homes, businesses and lives. The report should be tested thoroughly—not quietly buried because implementation is diffcult or expensive.

C. Beaumont – East Lismore

FALSE HOPE HELPS NOBODY

Cr Greg Clancy is right to question whether large detention structures can genuinely protect communities during foods on the scale of 2022.

Before land is acquired and billions potentially committed, residents deserve honest answers about effectiveness, environmental impacts and who would bear the cost. Flood mitigation must be based on evidence, not desperation.

A. Lockett – Coutts Crossing REDUCTION STILL MATTERS

Critics argue that engineered works cannot eliminate fooding, but that sets an unreasonable test. Seatbelts do not prevent crashes, yet they save lives.

If detention basins can reduce food depths, shorten inundation or protect thousands of raised

homes, they deserve serious consideration. Perfect protection may be impossible, but meaningful risk reduction is still worth pursuing.

M. Quirk – Wollongbar RELOCATION CANNOT BE THE ONLY ANSWER

Telling entire communities to move off foodplains sounds simple until one considers the human and fnancial consequences. Where would thousands of residents go, who would purchase their homes and what would become of established towns, businesses and social networks?

Relocation may be appropriate for the highest-risk properties, but it cannot replace every other mitigation option. The sensible approach is a combination of targeted buybacks, house raising, resilient construction, natural catchment restoration and carefully assessed engineering. Flood policy should offer communities practical choices rather than presenting retreat as the only intellectually respectable solution.

E. Naylor – Woodburn SHOW US THE NUMBERS

Before governments champion detention basins, the public should see clear estimates of cost, land requirements and expected reductions in food levels.

The CSIRO modelling is an important beginning, not a blank cheque. Decisions of this scale must withstand scrutiny from residents, farmers, environmental experts and taxpayers.

V. Dempsey – Alstonville

THREE MILLION IS ONLY A START

A combined $3 million for feasibility studies sounds substantial until measured against the complexity of the proposal. Business cases, environmental assessments, engineering designs and consultation across four council areas will not be cheap.

Governments must either fund the next stage properly or admit they are commissioning another process destined to stall. Half-funded investigations create expectations without producing decisions. Northern Rivers residents have already endured enough uncertainty.

J. Carman – Rappville

NATURE AND ENGINEERING CAN WORK TOGETHER

The food debate should not be reduced to dams versus nature. Restored upper catchments, improved drainage, strategic detention areas, house raising and voluntary relocation could form part of one integrated plan.

Different communities face different risks, so no single measure will provide every answer. The CSIRO report should begin a mature discussion about combining solutions rather than another ideological contest in which each side dismisses the other.

H. Rosenthal – Tuckurimba

A WORTHWHILE MOTORING REVIEW

I always enjoy the motoring pages, and the review of the eely alaxy was particularly interesting. It was balanced, informative and easy for the average reader to understand without being

overloaded with technical jargon.

Whether readers are in the market for a new vehicle or simply enjoy learning about the latest automotive technology, reviews like this are a valuable addition to the newspaper. Please keep the motoring pages coming— they re an excellent regular feature.

N. Featherstone – Iluka

MORE SPECIAL FEATURES LIKE THIS

I thoroughly enjoyed the Casino All Breeds Bull and Female Sale lift-out. It was well presented, packed with useful information and demonstrated the importance of agriculture to our regional economy.

Features like this support local businesses while giving readers a greater appreciation of the work that goes into producing high-quality livestock. The layout was attractive, the articles were interesting and the advertising complemented the editorial perfectly. I hope The Northern Rivers Times continues producing these outstanding rural lift-outs throughout the year.

T. Wainwright – Eumungerie

BACKING REGIONAL INNOVATION

The $2.1 million grant for Provenance Propagation is an encouraging investment in regional enterprise. Advanced greenhouse technology can increase agricultural productivity while creating skilled employment outside the major cities.

The requirement for businesses to contribute matching private investment also means taxpayers are supporting genuine expansion rather than carrying the entire cost.

This is the type of regional development that builds longterm capability.

S. Bellamy – Wells Crossing

GRANTS NEED

MEASURABLE RESULTS

Public support for private businesses can be ustifed when it produces clear community benefts, but the outcomes must be transparent.

Residents should eventually be told how many permanent jobs were created, how production increased and whether promised effciency gains were achieved. Successful businesses deserve support, but government grants should always come with measurable obligations.

P. Grimshaw – Glenugie

HIGH-TECH JOBS BELONG HERE

Regional young people should not have to leave home to fnd work involving automation, science and advanced production systems.

The expansion at rovenance Propagation shows agriculture is no longer limited to traditional farm labour. odern horticulture re uires technicians, managers and skilled operators. Investments of this kind can help keep talent in the Clarence Valley while strengthening Australia’s food supply.

R. Vanstone – Nana Glen

FOOD SECURITY STARTS WITH SEEDLINGS

The Provenance Propagation expansion highlights an often-overlooked part of food security. Commercial growers

depend on healthy, reliable seedlings before a crop can even begin.

Improving local propagation capacity and disease control could beneft producers far beyond the Clarence Valley. Supporting innovative agricultural businesses is therefore not simply about one company—it strengthens a wider supply chain increasingly exposed to climate, disease and international disruption.

K. Trelawney – Junction Hill

NOMINATE THE QUIET ACHIEVERS any remar able women never receive public recognition because they are too busy caring, volunteering, organising and helping others.

The Women of the Year Awards provide an opportunity to thank those whose contributions are often taken for granted. Communities should look beyond prominent titles and nominate the women doing essential work quietly every day.

D. Armitage – Dunoon

YOUNG LEADERS DESERVE A VOICE

The Ones to Watch category is particularly worthwhile because leadership does not suddenly begin at adulthood. Girls who support classmates, organise community projects or show courage through diffcult circumstances deserve encouragement. Recognition at a young age can build confdence and inspire others to contribute.

L. Fenwick – Burringbar

AWARDS MUST REFLECT THE WHOLE REGION Calls for nominations are welcome, but rural and isolated communities can easily be overlooked when awards depend on people having the confdence and time to prepare submissions. Schools, councils and community organisations should actively identify deserving women from smaller towns, farming districts and culturally diverse communities. Otherwise, recognition risks favouring those with the strongest networks rather than those making the greatest contribution.

T. Norcross – Urbenville RECOGNITION WITH PURPOSE

Awards matter when they do more than provide a photograph and a certifcate. Honouring women in business, health, emergency services, education and volunteering can make their work visible and encourage greater participation in leadership.

The Northern Rivers has no shortage of deserving candidates. The challenge is ensuring communities take the time to nominate them before the deadline passes.

F. Maddox – Tregeagle

STOP KICKING THE CAN

Four years. That's how long experts spent producing this food mitigation wor , yet the frst response from some politicians is to question, delay and call for more studies.

People lost homes, businesses and livelihoods in . any are still paying off loans for properties they may never fully recover. How many more reports do we need before someone has the courage to

make a decision?

If elements of the CSIRO proposal don't stack up, say so. If they do, get on with it. Endless consultation has become a convenient substitute for leadership, and food victims are the ones paying the price.

B. Strickland – Goonellabah

ENOUGH OF THE EXCUSES

Every food brings promises. Every inquiry delivers recommendations. Every election features politicians standing beside swollen rivers declaring, "Something must be done."

Now we have one of the most comprehensive studies undertaken, and suddenly everyone wants to slow the process again. Residents have heard enough excuses. Either governments are serious about reducing food risk or they aren't.

Communities deserve action, not another decade of debate.

N. Ashcroft – South Lismore

WE ARE TIRED OF BEING LAB

RATS

Flood survivors are constantly told they are part of another assessment, another pilot program or another consultation exercise. Meanwhile, insurance premiums continue climbing and many families still live with anxiety every time heavy rain appears on the forecast. At some point governments must stop studying communities and start protecting them. Engineers should test the CSIRO fndings thoroughly, but there should also be a deadline for making decisions.

People don't expect miracles. They expect leadership. Continuing to postpone diffcult choices is not caution—it is failure.

C. Weatherby – Broadwater

WHO TAKES RESPONSIBILITY?

If governments ignore expert advice and another devastating food occurs, who will accept responsibility?

It is easy to criticise proposals from the sidelines. Making diffcult decisions is what elected leaders are supposed to do. The community deserves accountability, not fngerpointing.

I. Fairburn – Coraki

THE COST OF DOING NOTHING

Whenever food mitigation is discussed, critics immediately ask how much it will cost. That's a fair question, but why does nobody ask how much repeated disasters are costing already?

Billions have been spent on emergency response, recovery, rebuilding roads, repairing public infrastructure and compensating communities. Businesses have closed, families have left and insurers have raised premiums. Doing nothing is not free. It is simply a bill that arrives after every major food. Governments need to compare the long-term cost of inaction with the cost of carefully designed mitigation works instead of pretending delay is the cheaper option.

G. Hollis – Evans Head

A SHOWCASE FOR OUR BEEF

INDUSTRY

The Casino All Breeds lift-out was one of the best special features I've seen in a long time. It not only promoted an important annual sale but also highlighted the people, businesses and industry that help make our region a leader in Australian beef production. The combination of informative articles, quality photography and strong local advertising made it a worthwhile read, even for those outside the cattle industry. Congratulations to everyone involved in producing such a professional lift-out that showcases one of the Northern Rivers' greatest strengths.

C. Everingham – Drake

LEEMO HITS THE MARK AGAIN

Leemo has a wonderful ability to fnd humour in everyday situations that the rest of us overlook. His latest column had me smiling all the way through, especially the way a simple moment became an entertaining adventure thanks to his unique perspective. Life can be serious enough, so it's refreshing to have a regular feature that leaves readers laughing instead of worrying. Long may Leemo continue sharing his observations with us.

G. Templeton – Bonalbo

THE PATIENCE HAS RUN OUT

People who weren't fooded

often talk about waiting for more evidence. Those who flled skip bins with ruined possessions and watched lifetime memories foat away have already waited long enough.

The CSIRO has done its job. Governments commissioned the work. Now governments should have the courage to respond with something more substantial than another announcement about further investigations. Flood victims deserve decisions, not delays.

R. Kinsella – Kyogle

DARRELL SHOWS THE WAY

Darrell Chapman deserves enormous credit for turning a personal challenge into an opportunity to help others. Rather than letting Parkinson's disease defne him, he has built a community around exercise, encouragement and hope. That takes courage. Too often we focus only on medical treatments, but stories like this remind us that friendship, physical activity and a positive attitude can make a real difference to quality of life. His work will inspire many people facing similar battles. We need more local champions like Darrell who quietly improve lives without expecting recognition.

J. Hatherleigh – Gulmarrad

EXERCISE REALLY IS MEDICINE

The walking and exercise group led by Darrell Chapman highlights something doctors have promoted for years— keeping active benefts both body and mind.

Living with Parkinson's is never easy, but seeing local people supporting one another proves that no one has to face these challenges alone. Community initiatives like this deserve every success and should be encouraged across the region.

S. Wetherall – Mylneford

A WEEKLY LAUGH WE CAN COUNT ON

One of the frst pages I turn to each week is Leemo's View. His storytelling, colourful imagination and the inevitable appearance of Mum Jane always make for enjoyable reading.

It's not easy to write humour that appeals to readers of all ages, yet Leemo manages

to do it week after week. Congratulations on another entertaining column that adds plenty of personality to The Northern Rivers Times.

R. Blackshaw – Newrybar THANK YOU FOR THE INSPIRATION

Stories about resilience are always worth reading. Darrell Chapman reminds us that determination, humour and community support can achieve remarkable things, even in the face of serious illness.

He is an inspiration to many.

A. Redgrave – Woombah

FLOOD MEMORIES NEVER LEAVE

The personal account of living through the foods is a powerful reminder that recovery is about far more than replacing damaged furniture or repairing homes. For many survivors, the emotional impact remains long after the water disappears. Every heavy downpour brings back memories of fear, uncertainty and loss. We should never assume that because streets have dried out, people have fully recovered. Sharing these stories is important because they help others understand the lasting human cost of natural disasters and why better food planning remains essential.

P. Kingsford – McLeans Ridges

DON'T FORGET THE HUMAN STORIES

Flood statistics tell us how high the water rose, but personal stories reveal what people actually endured. Reading frsthand experiences is often confronting, yet it helps the wider community appreciate the emotional toll these disasters continue to have on families. These voices should remain part of every discussion about future food mitigation.

F. Tilling – Stokers Siding MEMORIES THAT DESERVE TO BE HEARD

Thank you for publishing personal food experiences. They remind us that behind every damaged home was a family trying to protect loved ones and rebuild their lives. Those stories should never be forgotten.

L. Ravenscroft – Bilambil Heights

Vacations in mind…

by Nigel Dawe

When I think back, there were two really lucky, chance developments that led to my now lifelong love of literature. The first was reading and then meeting Colin Theile, the South Australian author of works such as Storm Boy and Blue Fin. The second development came as a result of either my year 10 or year 11 English recommended readings, one of which was simply titled Maestro by Peter Goldsworthy.

Even after having spent the best part of the last three-and-a-half decades reading countless amounts of the world’s most celebrated works, in every conceivable genre. I don’t think I’ve ever been privy to a more pyrotechnic ending to a book than Goldsworthy’s above-mentioned ode to childhood, and all the things that dash through our grasp, during that stage of our life.

Without being too much like the sod who sat in front of me in a cinema years ago, having said in his moronic stage whisper, as the movie The Sixth Sense commenced: “Bruce Willis’ character is actually dead!” Thereby ruining the entire film’s plot for everyone in his proximity; I am going to reference Goldsworthy’s iridescent finale to Maestro:

“Always these deft, elemental touches move me: light breaking through clouds, rain spattering on roofs, pink sunsets. As I glanced across the town, I was overcome by nostalgia… and regret that I had not taken more notice, kept a better record of those beautiful years. Never again will time move as slowly as it did then,

and never again would there be so much to be discovered, to be touched and tasted for the first time. And now it was too late: once we begin to sense our childhoods, we are no longer children… Nostalgia is always as simple, as stylised as that: a child’s game, a single glowing memory… Can I know that mine was a foolish, innocent world, a world of delusion and feeling and ridiculous dreams –a world of music – and still love it? Endlessly, effortlessly.”

For mine, one such ‘glowing memory’ are the annual holidays my family took for the three weeks around Christmas in the tranquil beachside town of Moonta (which is near Adelaide) from 1981 through to 1986. To this day, I can’t smell freshly made cinnamon doughnuts without thinking of that time, nor the wonderful old gentleman who used to make them for tourists upon request at sunset, near the entrance to Moonta Bay jetty. Or as John Steinbeck once said in his 1962 classic, Travels with Charley: “People don’t take trips – trips take people,” and they take us on plights and down paths that reveal ever new sights, the more we review them, over the course of our lives.

Since that early period of my life, I’ve pretty much travelled the world over and seen many, if not all of the things that I set myself the goal of seeing firsthand; but I’ve never once lost that child-like thrill of making each trip I take, a trip that I can look back on – with joy, sprinkled with the purest of pure delight

Casino Truck Show record broken as excitement builds for biggest weekend

By Jeff Gibbs

The countdown is on for one of Australia's most iconic transport events after exhibitor entries for the 2026 Casino Truck Show sold out in less than an hour, setting a new benchmark for the event and reinforcing its status as the largest truck show in the Southern Hemisphere.

Scheduled for Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1, the 2026 Casino Truck Show will once again transform the Richmond Valley town into a showcase of Australia's road transport industry, attracting truck owners, operators, families, enthusiasts and visitors from every corner of the country.

Demand to secure one of the coveted 550 truck display positions was unprecedented, highlighting the event's continuing growth and national appeal.

Casino Truck Show

Organising Committee lead Darren Goodwin said the overwhelming response reflected the pride Australia's transport industry has in the annual event.

"Every year we welcome some of the finest trucks from across Australia, and we are blown away by the amazing response to entries opening," Mr Goodwin said.

"The Casino Truck Show continues to grow in reputation, and we're

looking forward to another outstanding display of pride, passion and craftsmanship from across the transport industry.

"There will be something for everyone across the one-and-a-half-day event, and we're excited to see a massive crowd fill the streets."

What began as a regional truck gathering has evolved into one of Australia's premier transport industry celebrations, drawing thousands of visitors annually and delivering a significant economic boost to Casino and surrounding Northern Rivers communities.

Accommodation

providers, restaurants, cafés, retailers and local businesses all benefit from the influx of visitors, making the event one of Richmond Valley's most important tourism weekends each year.

Festivities begin on Friday evening with the popular Pittsworth Fleet Maintenance Friday Night Lights, when Casino's central business district is transformed into a spectacular display of illuminated prime movers and custom-built trucks.

Saturday's action begins with the Dawsons Haulage Parade at 10am, with hundreds of polished

trucks cruising through Casino before parking throughout the CBD for public viewing.

Live entertainment across two stages will feature Khan Rocks, Tate Cole, Sabotage and the Thor Phillips Band.

Visitors can also enjoy the Days Machinery Travla Bulls Bar, the Commercial Two Mates Brewery Bar, food vendors, family entertainment and transport industry displays.

Popular broadcaster Luke Bona will host a live Bonafide podcast panel discussion from 1.30pm, followed by the annual Truck Show Auction

featuring unique transportthemed items including a custom Cummins engine boardroom table, trailer bars, traditional air cleaner barrels and a painted Kenworth door.

Competition remains central to the event, with 77 trophies to be presented from 3pm recognising excellence in presentation, restoration, innovation and craftsmanship.

Free shuttle buses will operate throughout Saturday between the Casino Showground, BIG4 Casino Holiday Park, Discovery Parks and the CBD.

Richmond Valley Council General Manager

Vaughan Macdonald thanked naming rights sponsor North Coast Petroleum, major sponsors, volunteers, local businesses and hospitality operators for helping deliver the nationally recognised event. Supported by Destination NSW, the Casino Truck Show has become far more than a truck exhibition. It is a celebration of Australia's transport industry and regional communities. With recordbreaking entries already secured, organisers are expecting another huge crowd for what promises to be one of the biggest Truck Shows ever held in Casino.

Life is to be experienced and enjoyed

Title: 100 years of Betty

Author: Debra Oswald

Price: $28.75

Genre: Popular Fiction

Betty is about to celebrate 100 years of living on this earth.

What follows is a memoir of the life of Betty and the incredible journey she undergoes as society changes around her.

Her early memories are of a poverty-stricken life in East London just before the war takes control of the every day living of the city.

The Blitz has its own memories and setbacks that Betty has to deal with.

Into early adulthood and while finding the road pitted with potholes and navigating some tricky situations, Betty manages to grab the opportunity to start a new life in a new country across the globe.

Landing in Ausralia, she has made connections and, eventually, lasting

Stylish Ange wows the judges for second year in a row

By Tim Howard

If bookmakers had framed a market on the Purple Pearls Fashions on the Field Best Dressed Woman competition on Grafton Cup Day, Grafton’s Angela Carroll would have started a shortpriced favourite.

For the second consecutive year, and the fourth time in the past decade, Carroll claimed the title after again impressing the judges with her understated elegance and meticulous attention to detail.

Since winning the title for the first time in 2017, Carroll’s mix of careful planning and understated elegance has consistently caught the judges’ eyes.

She gave a hint of what was to come when she finished runner-up in the Millinery section earlier in the day.

After the event, Carroll revealed her winning headpiece, a Jill Humphries creation from leading

headwear fashion house Millinery Jill, had inspired the rest of her outfit.

“I picked this out last year and had my eye out for pieces that could go with it,” Carroll said.

She said she spotted the dress on the website of independent designer Julia Albert.

“She is based in Moldova and I spotted this dress online. I hoped the green would match the green in the hat,” Carroll said.

When it arrived, it turned out to be a perfect match.

The only rushed element of the ensemble was a purple coat she picked up at Target the day before the event, when the weather took a turn for the worse.

It proved an inspired choice, with one of the judges, Michael Rogers, saying the purple coat provided a pleasing contrast to her dress and hat.

The fashion stakes began with the Millinery section, where Casino’s Shanette Farrell’s feather-cut pillbox hat took the honours.

Farrell said she chose the hat, which she complemented with feather flowers, online.

She said recent trends in millinery had favoured a return to the pillbox style, as evidenced by its prominence at this year’s New York Fashion Week.

In the next event, the Best Dressed Couple, Coopernook visitors Carmel Ward and Len Richards edged out Grafton pair Brody and Sarah Dickson.

The winning pair said the selective use of green in both outfits was their secret to success.

“It was a harmonious colour choice,” Ms Ward said. “And not too mucky-mucky.”

She said they both loved the races and enjoyed the chance the event offered to dress up.

The Best Dressed Gent field was smaller than in previous years, but was not short on quirky entrants.

The winner, Brisbane’s Daniel Saunders, revealed the favourite feature of his outfit, which he purchased in Thailand, was hidden from the judges.

When questioned, he pulled back the lapel of his jacket to reveal a monogram reading: “You can’t spell danger without Dan.”

Daniel beat Jason Sewell into second place.

The judges, Michael Rogers, Renee Lindley and Nicole Cardow, were impressed with the contestants’ stylish presentation and willingness to follow the competition guidelines by choosing outfits suited to the season.

“We saw a lot of original outfits and it was obvious that all the contestants had gone to a significant amount of effort to put together their outfits,” Ms Cardow said.

friendships with some of her fellow immigrants, who will be part of her new life, at times when she truly needs them.

There are many rough events for Betty as well as precious moments that all mix together to create a complex experience of what we all call life.

She is thoughtful, compassionate, silly, curious and ready to explore each new chapter, each new relationship and at times revisiting some past ones.

Betty makes mistakes but she also achieves some amazing goals.

If you’ve ever wondered if your life is worthwhile, you may get some life inspiration from this centenarian.

Debra Oswald is an award-winning Australian writer for for film, television, stage, radio, fiction and children’s fiction. You can grab your copy of 100 Years of Betty from booktopia. com.au

Aboriginal Gathering Strengthens Country Connections

Traditional

knowledge, sustainable farming and community leadership unite at North Coast forum

By Robert Heyward

More than 30 Aboriginal land managers, business owners and industry professionals from across the North Coast have come together to strengthen partnerships, share cultural knowledge and explore new opportunities in sustainable agriculture, highlighting the growing role Aboriginal-led enterprises are playing in caring for Country and supporting local communities.

Hosted by North Coast Local Land Services, the two-day gathering brought together representatives from Aboriginal organisations involved in native plant nurseries, bush tucker production, horticulture, food enterprises and land management. The event provided a unique opportunity to exchange knowledge, develop professional networks and explore practical ways to grow environmentally sustainable businesses while preserving cultural traditions.

The forum was delivered under the North Coast Climate Smart Agriculture project and received support from the Australian Government's Natural Heritage Trust through the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program. The initiative is designed to strengthen regional resilience by supporting sustainable farming practices and helping communities adapt to changing environmental conditions.

The first day was held at Namabunda Farm near Alstonville, where discussions centred on strengthening Aboriginalowned businesses, building community

partnerships and creating opportunities that benefit future generations.

Participants exchanged ideas on leadership, education, employment and environmental stewardship, with a strong emphasis on protecting Country while developing sustainable economic opportunities.

Namabunda Farm's Aunty Tracey said the gathering demonstrated the power of bringing people together around shared goals and aspirations.

She described the event as an inspiring opportunity to unite organisations and communities with a common vision for caring for Country and creating lasting outcomes through collaboration.

Aunty Tracey said the

connections formed during the gathering would help build stronger networks focused on education, employment, environmental management and biodiversity conservation, creating benefits that extend well beyond individual organisations and into the wider community.

The second day moved to Conscious Ground Organics at Byron Bay, where the focus shifted to the growing opportunities presented by Australia's native foods and traditional plants.

Sessions explored how native species can contribute to sustainable food production while also supporting medicinal products, natural beauty industries and broader commercial enterprises.

Participants discussed

practical methods for cultivating native foods that are environmentally responsible while preserving traditional ecological knowledge.

Among those sharing their experiences was Bianca from Backarindi Bushfoods, who spoke about the importance of restoring native food species to the landscape and reconnecting younger generations with their cultural heritage.

She said growing native foods is about restoring Country to the way it existed before colonisation while creating opportunities for young Aboriginal people to engage with culture in meaningful and contemporary ways.

By combining traditional ecological knowledge with modern agricultural

practices, enterprises such as Backarindi Bushfoods are demonstrating how cultural values and commercial success can work hand in hand to deliver environmental, social and economic benefits.

The gathering concluded with networking sessions that connected participants with industry specialists able to provide advice on business development, training pathways and future partnerships.

Organisers said these connections are essential in helping Aboriginal organisations expand their capabilities, develop sustainable enterprises and access the knowledge required to grow successful businesses while maintaining strong cultural foundations.

Across the North Coast,

Aboriginal-led land management continues to gain recognition for blending thousands of years of traditional ecological knowledge with contemporary environmental practices.

From bush food production and habitat restoration to regenerative agriculture and biodiversity conservation, Indigenous land managers are increasingly leading innovative approaches that deliver positive outcomes for both communities and the environment.

The gathering reinforced the value of collaboration, demonstrating that when knowledge, culture and innovation come together, they create lasting opportunities for healthier landscapes, stronger communities and a more sustainable future for the North Coast.

$50,000 Grants Open for Rural Youth Innovators

Funding program backs bold ideas to improve the lives of young people across regional and rural NSW

By Robert Heyward

Individuals with innovative ideas to support young people in rural and regional New South Wales are being encouraged to apply for grants of up to $50,000, with applications now open for the latest round of the Backing the Future program.

Delivered through a partnership between the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF) and the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR), the initiative is designed to help turn promising ideas into practical projects that improve the lives and wellbeing of young people aged 12 to 30 across country NSW.

Unlike many traditional grant programs, Backing the Future provides funding directly to individuals aged 18 and over, removing the requirement for applicants to be registered charities or have Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status. This approach allows community-minded people with strong ideas—but without formal organisational structures—to access philanthropic funding that may otherwise be out of reach.

The program is specifically aimed at

supporting early-stage concepts and pilot projects that have the potential to create lasting benefits for young people living in regional, rural and remote communities.

VFFF Foundation Manager Claire Mannion said the foundation was committed to backing innovative ideas that may struggle to secure funding elsewhere because they are still in their infancy.

She said the foundation recognised that many worthwhile initiatives never progress because they lack the financial support needed to move beyond the concept stage.

Since the program began, VFFF has invested

$1.9 million across 38 projects in New South Wales, helping recipients transform creative ideas into successful community initiatives that enhance opportunities and wellbeing for young people.

Among the previous success stories is the Young Regional Storytellers program, which gave young people the opportunity to develop writing, journalism and media production skills while building confidence and creating pathways into regional media.

The project began as a simple concept before receiving Backing the Future support, illustrating the program's

focus on nurturing ideas with strong community potential.

Another successful recipient is environmental advocate Kal Glanznig, whose funding enabled him to expand the Blue Minds Youth Ocean Leadership program throughout regional New South Wales.

The initiative delivers environmental leadership workshops that equip young people with practical knowledge about climate challenges while encouraging them to become leaders within their own communities.

Mr Glanznig said the grant transformed Blue Minds from a promising idea into a

nationally recognised program, allowing thousands of students to participate while building partnerships with organisations including Orygen and Cool.org.

He said the funding also helped develop a sustainable workshop model that empowers young people to respond positively to environmental challenges while making meaningful contributions to their local communities.

FRRR works alongside VFFF to deliver the program, providing mentoring and ongoing support to recipients as they develop and refine their projects.

FRRR Youth Futures Manager Lauren Ryan said the combination of financial assistance and practical guidance gives participants the confidence and resources needed to transform ideas into projects that make a genuine difference.

She said the range of initiatives already supported through Backing the Future demonstrates the remarkable impact individuals can have when provided with the opportunity to pursue innovative solutions for young people.

Ms Ryan said she looked forward to seeing

another diverse range of ideas emerge during this funding round and working with recipients as they brought their visions to life.

The funding is open to anyone aged 18 years or older with an idea that will benefit young people living in rural or regional New South Wales.

Applications close on 19 August 2026, with prospective applicants encouraged to discuss their ideas with FRRR's Youth Futures team before applying. An online information webinar will also be held on 27 July to explain the program and answer questions from potential applicants.

For communities across the Northern Rivers and regional NSW, the program represents an opportunity to develop locally driven solutions that address the unique challenges facing young people while fostering innovation, leadership and stronger community connections.

By investing directly in individuals with fresh ideas and a passion for making a difference, Backing the Future continues to demonstrate that meaningful change often begins with one person's vision and the support needed to bring it to life.

Tweed Health Services to Move into New Community Hub

By Robert Heyward

Residents in the Tweed Heads region will continue to access essential community health services close to home, with plans confirmed to relocate several key health services from the former Tweed Hospital site to modern facilities at Tweed Mall later this year.

Planning is now underway for the move, which will see services transition to newly refurbished clinic spaces on Wharf Street in late 2026. The relocation is aimed at providing patients and healthcare staff with contemporary,

purpose-built facilities while maintaining easy access to healthcare in the heart of Tweed Heads.

The services relocating include the BreastScreen NSW clinic, Tweed Community Health, and community-based Mental

Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs services.

The Needle and Syringe Program kiosk and the Tweed Heads Ambulance Station will continue operating from the former Tweed Hospital site.

Northern NSW Local

Health District Chief Executive Tracey Maisey said the relocation fulfils an earlier commitment to keep vital community health services within the Tweed Heads area.

She said the move would allow residents to continue

receiving a broad range of healthcare services locally while benefiting from modern, refurbished facilities designed to meet current healthcare standards.

Ms Maisey said the new location at Tweed Mall offers a safe and convenient environment, including ample free parking for patients and visitors, making it easier for people to attend appointments and access ongoing care. She added that staff and patients would be kept informed throughout the relocation process to ensure a smooth transition.

Health authorities have stressed that there are

no immediate changes to existing services. All clinics currently operating from the former Tweed Hospital site will continue to run as normal until the relocation takes place, with contact numbers, opening hours and service locations remaining unchanged for the time being. Updated information will be provided as the move progresses. The relocation represents another step in the ongoing redevelopment of health services across the Tweed region, ensuring local residents continue to have access to essential community healthcare in modern, accessible facilities.

Comment

By Tim Howard

I still remember a university lecture that stayed with me long after I had forgotten most of the course.

It wasn’t about politics, but drama.

Like most students, I assumed the difference between tragedy and comedy was obvious: tragedies were sad, comedies were funny. Our lecturer smiled and suggested we were asking the wrong question.

The difference, he said, lay not in how they made us feel, but in how they resolved conflict.

A tragedy reaches its conclusion through destruction. The tensions that have built throughout the story are finally released when someone falls. A king dies. A hero is destroyed. A family is shattered.

Aristotle called the emotional release catharsis. Order is restored, but only because someone has paid the ultimate price.

Comedy, at least in its classical sense, works differently.

The misunderstandings are untangled. The lovers are reunited. Families are reconciled. The conflict is resolved, but the leading characters survive to live another day.

At the time I thought it was simply an interesting observation about literature.

Only years later did I begin to wonder whether it also explained politics.

Keeping tragedy in the theatre

Perhaps it is no coincidence that the earliest great tragedies were stories of kings, queens and empires.

For much of history, the fate of ordinary people was inseparable from the fate of those who ruled them.

A king’s death could plunge a nation into civil war. An emperor’s ambition might determine whether thousands lived or died.

Political power was concentrated in a single person, so the drama of one life often became the drama of an entire people.

Politics really was tragedy.

Even Shakespeare, writing at the dawn of the modern age, seemed to glimpse another possibility. At the end of

Hamlet, Fortinbras does not celebrate that a rival prince has fallen. Instead, he laments what has been lost. Hamlet, he says, was likely to have “proved most royally.”

The tragedy is no longer simply that a throne has become vacant. It is that a gifted human being will never fulfil his promise. Perhaps that was the beginning of a different political imagination.

It is an ancient and seductive story, and one that has never entirely disappeared.

We still hear echoes of it whenever someone promises that all our problems will be solved if only the right leader takes charge or the right

the story. That was what successful revolutionaries had almost always done.

Washington quietly did something else.

He returned to his farm and, in doing so, performed what may have been the most revolutionary act of all.

As Washington made his choice, the world was already witnessing the alternative. Napoleon Bonaparte had gone from revolutionary general to crowning himself Emperor.

In America the new republic would not depend upon one extraordinary man. It would depend upon institutions strong enough to outlive every man.

Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and the remarkable generation that followed argued fiercely about the future of the new republic.

enemies are defeated. It is emotionally powerful because it promises a final act.

Democracy changed the plot.

Instead of resolving political conflict through force, it sought to resolve it through argument. Instead of eliminating opponents, it expected them to return. Instead of asking who was strong enough to rule, it asked the people, every few years, who had made the better case.

Conflict was not abolished. It was civilised. Perhaps no one understood that better than George Washington.

History expected the victorious general to remain at the centre of

instead of violence and arguments prevail over assassination.

None of this means democracy is easy. Far from it.

We are living through a period when many people understandably feel that something is no longer working. Housing is expensive. The cost of living bites. Work feels less secure.

In times like these, simple answers become especially attractive. We begin to long for decisive endings.

The German playwright Bertolt Brecht understood that temptation. After witnessing the rise of fascism, he warned that “the womb is still fertile from which this crept.” He wasn’t merely warning about one ideology.

Their disagreements were profound. But beneath those arguments lay an even deeper agreement.

Every four years the people would decide who had the better argument.

The losers would leave the stage, but not forever, just until the next act.

Democracy’s greatest innovation has not been elections, but continuity.

Today we often complain when Question Time becomes too heated or too personal.

We tend to forget that not so long ago political arguments were settled with pistols at 10 paces.

Parliamentary debate, at its best, is not a failure of civilisation.

It is one of its triumphs because words replace weapons, votes count

He was warning about a permanent feature of human nature.

The temptation to believe that history can finally be put right if only someone strong enough is prepared to sweep away the old order.

Perhaps that is why the lesson from that university lecture has remained with me for so many years.

The great playwrights understood something politicians sometimes forget.

Human beings need tragedy. We need stories that explore ambition, revenge, sacrifice and loss. We need the emotional release that great drama provides.

But civilisation has gradually discovered a better place for those stories.

We keep tragedy in the theatre, not on the streets.

Former Tweed Hospital Site to Deliver 800 New Homes

Major redevelopment to ease housing pressure while creating affordable homes and improved public spaces

By Jeff Gibbs

The former Tweed Hospital site is set to begin a new chapter, with the NSW Government announcing plans to transform the landmark property into a vibrant residential precinct featuring 800 new homes, including affordable housing, as part of a major effort to address the region's housing shortage.

Located on the corner of Powell and Florence streets in Tweed Heads, the site will be transferred from NSW Health to Landcom, the state's property developer, paving the way for one of the largest housing developments ever undertaken in the Tweed. Up to 10 per cent of the homes will be allocated as affordable housing, helping provide greater opportunities for essential workers and lower-income residents to remain in the area.

on families, workers and first-home buyers competing for limited housing options.

In addition to delivering hundreds of new homes, the redevelopment will improve public access to the Tweed River waterfront through new

years ago, after services transferred to the stateof-the-art $723 million Tweed Valley Hospital at Cudgen. Community health services currently operating from the old hospital site, including BreastScreen NSW and other community-based

The announcement comes at a critical time for Tweed Heads, where the residential vacancy rate sits at just 0.8 per cent, one of the lowest in New South Wales. The tight rental market has placed increasing pressure

pedestrian and cycling paths, while expanded tree planting and landscaped open spaces are expected to create a greener, cooler and more connected neighbourhood.

The project follows the closure of the former Tweed Hospital almost two

health services, will relocate nearby to ensure local residents continue receiving the healthcare they rely upon.

The redevelopment forms part of the Minns Government's broader strategy to unlock surplus government-owned

land for housing. The former hospital is one of 75 government sites identified through the State Property Audit with the potential to deliver more than 12,000 homes across New South Wales.

A State Significant Development Application

and would continue to benefit the community in a different way.

He said while healthcare had moved to the modern Tweed Valley Hospital, repurposing the site for much-needed housing would ensure the land continued serving the

more public green space and better waterfront access, creating a stronger and more liveable community.

North Coast Minister Janelle Saffin described the project as a major boost for one of the state's fastest-growing regions, saying the additional housing would help relieve pressure on the local market while transforming the historic site into a well-connected residential precinct with vibrant public spaces.

Landcom Chief Executive Officer

Alexander Wendler said the organisation remained committed to increasing housing supply across the Northern Rivers, pointing to its ongoing projects in Lismore, Goonellabah and Mullumbimby as part of a broader investment in regional communities.

If approved, the redevelopment will mark one of the most

is expected to be lodged in early 2027, with construction anticipated to commence in 2029, subject to planning approval.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said the former hospital had served local families for more than five decades

people of the Tweed, while nearby community health services would remain accessible.

Planning Minister Paul Scully said the development would not only increase housing supply but also deliver

significant urban renewal projects undertaken in Tweed Heads in decades, providing much-needed homes while preserving the site's long-standing role as a place that continues to serve the local community.

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY (2026) REVIEW

Spider -Man Swings Into a Bold New Era

By Jeff Gibbs

Following the emotional conclusion of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Marvel and Sony deliver a refreshing new chapter with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, a film that confidently moves Peter Parker into adulthood while reminding audiences why he remains one of the world's most beloved superheroes.

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the film embraces a darker, more grounded tone without sacrificing the humour, heart and exhilarating action that have defined Tom Holland's Spider-Man. Four years have passed since the world forgot Peter Parker's identity, leaving him completely alone. With no family, friends or support network, Peter dedicates himself entirely to protecting New York City as Spider-Man, only to discover that isolation comes with consequences far greater than he imagined.

Tom Holland delivers what is arguably his strongest performance as Spider-

Man. Gone is the teenage uncertainty of previous films, replaced by a more mature hero carrying the emotional burden of living in a world where those he loves no longer remember him. Holland balances vulnerability with determination, creating a Peter Parker that feels more human than ever.

Zendaya returns as MJ, while Jacob Batalon reprises his role as Ned. Joining the cast are Sadie Sink in a closely guarded role, Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/ The Punisher, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, Michael Mando returning as Mac Gargan/Scorpion, and Tramell Tillman in a significant supporting role. The chemistry between the cast helps elevate both the emotional moments and the action sequences.

Visually, Brand New Day is everything audiences expect from a modern Marvel blockbuster. Spider-Man's web-swinging through New York has never looked smoother, with breathtaking cinematography and large-

scale action sequences that make excellent use of IMAX presentation. The choreography is fast, fluid and inventive, while the visual effects rank among Marvel's finest.

The story wisely focuses on Peter's emotional journey rather than relying solely on multiverse spectacle. Instead of repeating the formula of previous entries, the film explores identity, loneliness, responsibility and personal sacrifice. A mysterious new threat forces Spider-Man to confront challenges unlike anything he has previously faced, pushing both his physical and emotional limits.

Michael Giacchino's powerful musical score perfectly complements both the intimate character moments and the explosive superhero battles, giving the film an emotional weight that lingers long after the credits roll.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day successfully launches a fresh era for Marvel's iconic webslinger. It delivers spectacular

action, genuine emotion, outstanding performances and enough surprises to satisfy long-time fans while welcoming newcomers into Peter Parker's next chapter. Marvel has given SpiderMan exactly what the title promises—a genuine brand new day.

Interesting Facts

• Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, best known for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

• Marks Tom Holland's fourth solo Spider-Man film.

• Set four years after SpiderMan: No Way Home.

• Features the return of Michael Mando as Scorpion.

• Introduces a mysterious new villain whose identity was kept secret before release.

Verdict

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a thrilling, emotional and confident return for Marvel's most popular hero. It balances blockbuster spectacle with heartfelt storytelling, making it one of the standout superhero films of 2026.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

HOLY DAYS (PG Wed: 1:00PM

NT LIVE: LES LIAISONS

DANGEREUSES (CTC) Thurs, Sun: 6:00PM. Fri, Sat: 1:00PM

PARIS OPERA BALLET: THE NUTCRACKER CTC) Sun: 1:00PM. Wed: 11:00AM

PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE (M Mon: 6:30PM

THE BLUE TRAIL M) Fri, Sat, Sun: 1:30PM

WHAM! 10 DAYS IN CHINA (CTC) Tues: 6:30PM

FAMILY FILMS

MINIONS & MONSTERS PG Thurs, Mon, Tues: 10:45AM, 1:10PM, 6:30PM. Fri, Sat: 10:45AM, 6:30PM. Sun: 10:45AM, 1:15PM, 6:30PM. Wed: 10:45AM, 1:10PM, 6:45PM

MOANA (PG) Thurs, Mon, Tues: 11:00AM, 1:00PM. Fri, Sat: 11:00AM, 1:20PM, 7:10PM. Sun: 11:00AM, 1:20PM. Wed: 1:00PM, 6:00PM THE SHEEP DETECTIVES PG) Daily: 10:50AM TOY STORY 5 (G Daily: 10:50AM, 1:30PM

ALL FILMS

COLOURS OF TIME (M Thurs, Mon, Tues: 11:15AM, 3:10PM, 5:45PM. Fri, Sat, Sun: 10:45AM, 3:30PM, 6:00PM. Wed: 10:50AM, 3:10PM, 5:45PM DISCLOSURE DAY (M) Thurs: 1:50PM. Fri, Sat, Sun: 3:45PM, 6:45PM. Mon, Tues: 1:50PM, 6:50PM. Wed: 3:15PM, 6:50PM JACKASS: BEST AND LAST (MA15+) Mon, Tues: 4:45PM, 8:30PM. Wed: 8:30PM

MICHAEL PG Daily except Fri, Sat: 3:20PM. Fri, Sat: 4:30PM

OBSESSION MA15+) Daily except Wed: 8:30PM. Wed: 8:40PM TENOR: MY NAME IS PATI PG) Daily except Wed: 4:15PM. Wed: 4:30PM THE INVITE (MA15+) Thurs, Mon, Tues, Wed: 3:40PM, 6:00PM, 8:20PM. Fri, Sat, Sun: 3:40PM, 6:00PM, 8:30PM THE ODYSSEY M) Daily except Sun: 10:45AM, 11:30AM, 12:45PM, 2:15PM, 3:00PM, 4:15PM, 5:45PM, 6:30PM, 7:45PM. Sun: 10:45AM, 11:30AM, 2:15PM, 3:00PM, 4:20PM, 5:45PM, 6:30PM, 7:45PM

THE WIZARD OF THE KREMLIN MA15+ Daily except Wed: 1:20PM, 8:15PM. Wed: 1:40PM, 8:15PM

TUNER MA15+ Thurs, Fri, Sat: 11:00AM. Sun, Wed: 10:45AM. Mon: 11:00AM, 8:30PM. Tues: 11:00AM, 8:45PM.

MINIONS & MONSTERS (PG Daily except Sat, Sun: 10:00AM, 1:20PM, 5:30PM. Sat, Sun: 9:45AM, 1:20PM, 5:15PM MOANA PG) Daily except Sat, Sun: 12:30PM, 2:50PM, 7:30PM. Sat, Sun: 11:50AM, 2:30PM, 7:20PM THE INVITE MA15+) Daily except Sat, Sun: 5:15PM, 7:30PM. Sat, Sun: 5:00PM, 7:15PM THE ODYSSEY (M) Daily except Sat, Sun: 10:00AM, 12:00PM, 3:20PM, 6:40PM. Sat, Sun: 10:00AM, 3:20PM, 6:40PM TOY STORY 5 G) Daily except Sat, Sun: 10:15AM, 3:20PM. Sat, Sun: 9:50AM, 3:00PM

Place the digits 1 to 9 in the blue squares, so that all 6 equations are correct. Multiplication and/or division are performed rst, in whichever order they appear –followed by addition and/or subtraction, in whichever order they appear.

TIME FOR TRIVIA

1 In October 2019, Tiger Woods equalled the all-time record of 82 PGA Tour victories set by which player?

(a) Jack Nicklaus (b) Seve Ballesteros (c) Gary Player (d) Sam Snead

2 Conakry is the capital city of which African country? (a) Ghana (b) Benin (c) Burkina Faso (d) Guinea

3 Which word represents the number, ten, in Spanish? (a) Siete (b) Nueve (c) Diez (d) Ocho

4 Who starred as Montgomery “Scotty” Scott in the original Star Trek series? (a) DeForest Kelley (b) James Doohan (c) Leonard Nimoy (d) William Shatner

5 What is the symbol of the chemical element, osmium? (a) O (b) Os (c) Sb (d) Li

6 In 2025, who won the ARIA Award for Best International Artist? (a) Post Malone (b) Ed Sheeran (c) Taylor Swift (d) Sabrina Carpenter

ALFAKODO

WHICH WORDS

Which is the correct meaning for these words?

1 DIFFIDENT

(a) Tending to flow apart

(b) Requiring much effort

(c) Timid

2 INVERACITY

(a) An untruth

(b) The value of a stock of goods

(c) The state of being involved

3 MINATORY

(a) Menacing (b) Affectedly nice

(c) Attentive

4 PARLOUS

(a) Dangerous

(b) Talkative

(c) Brave

5 SALUTARY

(a) Welcoming (b) Containing salt

(c) Conducive to health

BEST ON THE BOX

SUNDAY MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA

TEN, 7pm

When it comes to VIP guests, this season of MasterChef has seen its fair share of star power – from Jimmy Barnes to Robert Irwin – but securing Sunday’s guest will be the show’s crowning achievement. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (right), is bringing her love of food, entertaining and seasonal produce to the kitchen for an unforgettable episode. The final four contestants are tasked with creating a dish that celebrates one of the Duchess’ favourite ingredients – among them artichokes, honey, macadamia nuts and quinces – and accompany it with a personal story that allows Meghan and judges Poh Ling Yeow (above left), Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli to feel a connection to the meal.

TUESDAY

GLASGOW

SEVEN, 7pm

FRIDAY, July 24

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) Hosted by Tom Gleeson.

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

7.30 Monty Don’s Rhineland Gardens. (Premiere) Monty Don journeys along the Rhine River.

8.30 Saint-Pierre. (Mav) Arch and Fitz search the island for an infamous bank robber who’s escaped to Saint-Pierre.

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

9.50 Would I Lie To You? (PG) Hosted by Rob Brydon.

10.15 ABC Late News.

10.35 New Zealand Spy. (M, R)

11.00 Murdoch Mysteries. (Mv, R)

11.45 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv)

5.00 Rage. (PG)

2026 COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Unlike other recent world sporting events (looking at you, FIFA World Cup and Tour de France), the prime-time friendly nine-hour difference between us and Glasgow puts the Commonwealth Games at a very watchable hour. Emma Freedman and Matt Shirvington (right) start Seven’s coverage from 7pm (AEST) each night, which promises to help any jet-lagged fans readjust. Tune in on Tuesday night to catch Australia’s fastest man, Lachlan Kennedy, run for gold in the men’s 100m sprint final, while Kyle Chalmers continues his campaign in the pool and Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson battle it out in the high jump final.

THURSDAY

SAY NOTHING

SBS, 9.20pm

Based on Patrick Radden Keefe’s intricate tale of murder, war and their aftermath, this ninepart series spans four decades as it contends with the history of the IRA and the Troubles in Northern Ireland. It opens with the shocking 1972 disappearance of Jean McConville (Judith Roddy). Say Nothing then shifts the spotlight to sisters Dolours (Lola Petticrew) and Marian Price (Hazel Doupe, right with Petticrew), and their journey from peaceful protesters to IRA fighters.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. The weekly winners return.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 The Quest For Camelot.

8.40 Rebuilding Notre Dame Cathedral Pt 2. (R) British historian Lucy Worsley revisits the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris ahead of its re-opening.

9.50 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 19.

2.15 The Truth About Anxiety With Celia Pacquola. (Mad, R)

3.20 Michael Mosley Secrets Of The Superagers. (R)

4.20 Ireland In Music: Sclimpini. (R)

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

(31) 6am Children’s Programs. 1.30pm PJ Masks. 1.50 Kangaroo Beach. 2.30 The Makery. 3.00 Play School. 3.25 Wiggle. 4.05 Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures. 4.20 Santiago Of The Seas. 5.30 Talking Tom Heroes. 5.55 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.45 HexVets And Magic Pets. 7.05 Gardening Australia Junior. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 8.00 Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! 8.50 Steven Universe. 9.40 MythBusters “There’s Your Problem!”. 10.30 Merlin. 11.15 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22)

6.00 7News Local.

6.30 7News @ 6:30.

7.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 1: Evening.

8.30 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 1: Night. From Glasgow, Scotland. Hosted by Bruce McAvaney, Matt Shirvington, Emma Freedman, Mel McLaughlin, Jason Richardson, Johanna Griggs, Matt White, Rebecca Maddern, Trent Copeland and Lizzie Jelfs.

10.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 1: Late.

12.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 1: Overnight.

2.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 1: Pre-dawn.

4.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 1: Early morning.

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current A air.

7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 21. South Sydney Rabbitohs v Melbourne Storm.

9.55 NRL Friday Night Footy PostMatch. Post-match coverage and analysis of the NRL game between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Melbourne Storm.

10.45 MOVIE: Death Wish V. (1994, MA15+lv, R) A vigilante goes after mobsters. Charles Bronson, Lesley Ann-Down.

12.40 Resident Alien. (Malv, R) D’arcy inserts herself into Harry’s mission.

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)

4.30 Global Shop. (R)

5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 5.30 Postcards. (PG, R)

6.00 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace.

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

7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG, R) Hosted by Rebecca Gibney.

7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. (R) A couple own a home in Brighton.

8.40 Have You Been Paying Attention? (Malns, R) Celebrity panellists compete to see who can remember the most about events of the week.

9.40 10’s Late News. Comprehensive coverage of local, national and international news, as well as the latest sport and weather.

10.40 The Big Bang Theory. (PG, R) 11.30 10 News+. (R) 12.00 Home Shopping. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 2pm Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 17. Highlights. 3.00 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 18. Highlights. 4.05 BBC News At Ten. 4.35 France 24. 5.05 PBS News. 6.05 Inside The

Noon Better Homes. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 The Great Australian Doorstep. 2.30 Weekender. 3.00 Feel Good Road Trips. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape

7MATE (64) SBS MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 2.15pm ER. 3.00 QI. 3.30 Would I Lie To You? 4.00 MythBusters. 4.50 The Piano UK. 5.40 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. 6.30

6am Morning Programs. 9.30 Addams Family. 10.30 Bewitched. 11.30 My Way. 11.45 Snackmasters. 2.30pm The Nanny: Oy To The World. 3.00 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 MOVIE: Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix.

(83) 6am The Movie Show. 6.20 The Ploughman’s Lunch. (1983, PG) 8.20 Satellite Boy. (2012, PG) 10.00 The Big Lebowski. (1998, M) 12.10pm After Hours. (1985, M) 2.00 Men In War. (1957, PG) 4.00 Dancing At Lughnasa. (1998, PG) 5.45 The Silver Brumby. (1993, PG) 7.30 Rogue Agent. (2022, M) 9.40 The Fisher King. (1991, M) 12.10am The Professor And The Madman. (2019, M) 2.35 La Maison. (2022, MA15+, German) 4.10 The Fence. (2022, M) COMEDY (52)

SATURDAY,

July 25

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

6.00 Rage Charts. (PG) 7.00 Wknd Brekky. 9.00 Rage. (PG) 10.30 Rage Vault Guest Programmer. (PG) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 Cooper & Fry. (Ma, R) 2.00 Saint-Pierre. (Mav, R) 3.00 Bill Bailey’s Wild West Australia. (PG, R) 3.45 Gri ’s Canadian Adventure. (PG, R) 4.35 Kitchen Cabinet. (R) 5.05 Australian Story. (R) 5.35 Landline. (R)

6.05 Kath & Kim. (PGals, R) Brett plans a romantic trip away.

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) Hosted by Tom Gleeson.

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

7.30 Cooper & Fry. (Ma) A local photographer is found dead.

9.05 Doc Martin. (PG, R) Martin advises Mrs Moore to stop cold-water swimming until they’ve ruled out the cause of her migraines.

9.55 Believe Me. (R) The victims of a serial rapist ght for justice.

10.40 Little Disasters. (Mal, R) 11.25 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

6am Morning Programs. 8.30 France 24 English News. 9.00 DD India News Hour. 10.00 The World From Above. (Return) 11.00 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 12.00 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 1.00 BBC News At Ten. 1.30 France 24. 2.00 PBS News. 3.00 Following The Flow. (PGal, R) 4.30 Grand Tours Of Scotland’s Rivers. (PG, R) 5.30 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights.

6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 20. Le Bourg d’Oisans to Alpe d’Huez. 170.9km mountain stage. From France. 1.00 Underground Army. (Ma, R) The underground blows up trains.

2.55 Michael Mosley Secrets Of The Superagers: Future Of Ageing. (PG, R) Dr Michael Mosley focuses on medicine.

3.50 Ireland In Music: Sclimpini. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.15 Euronews.

5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 1.30pm PJ Masks. 1.50 Kangaroo Beach. 2.30 The Makery. 3.00 Play School. 3.30 Octonauts And The Ring Of Fire. 4.50 Gardening Australia Junior. 5.15 MOVIE: Tummy Tom 2: A New Friend For Tummy Tom. (2024) 6.25 Emerald. 7.05 Let’s Go Bananas! 7.30 Kids Baking C’ship. (Final) 8.10 Kids BBQ Championship. 8.55 Chopped Jnr. 10.00 Fresh O The Boat. 10.40 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22)

ABC ENTERTAINS (23)

SBS MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 2.05pm ER. 2.50 Penn & Teller: Fool Us. 3.30 QI. 4.00 Would I Lie To You?

4.30 MythBusters. 5.25 The Piano UK. 6.10 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. 7.00 Spicks And Specks. 7.30 QI. 8.00 Would I Lie To You? 8.30 MOVIE: Da Kath & Kim Code. (2005, PG) 9.55 Arrested Development. 11.00 ER. 11.45 My Family. 12.15am Rage. 1.15 Late Programs.

SUNDAY,

ABC TV (2)

6am The Silver Brumby. (1993, PG) 7.45 A River Runs Through It. (1992, PG) 10.00 The Fisher King. (1991, M) 12.30pm Only The Brave. (2017, M) 2.55 The Ploughman’s Lunch. (1983, PG) 4.55 The Amazing Mr. Blunden. (2021, PG) 6.30 Jumanji. (1995, PG) 8.30 Gone Girl. (2014, MA15+) 11.15 The Little Death. (2014, MA15+) 1am The Client. (1994, M) 3.15 Late Programs.

6.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 1: Morning. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Horse Racing. Industry Celebration Day and Caul eld Season Finale. 3.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 1: H’lights. 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R)

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 2: Evening.

8.30 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 2: Night.

10.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 2: Late.

12.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 2: Overnight.

2.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 2: Pre-dawn.

4.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 2: Early morning.

7TWO (62)

6am Morning Programs. 10.30 Auction Squad. 11.30 Australia’s Amazing Homes. 12.30pm Feel Good Road Trips. 1.00 Animal Rescue. 1.30 Secrets Of Beautiful Gardens. 2.30 Harry’s Practice. 3.00 Horse Racing. Industry Celebration Day and Caul eld Season Finale. 5.00 Dog Patrol. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bondi Vet. 7.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 8.30 Lewis. 10.30 Escape To The Country. 11.30 Late Programs.

7MATE (64)

(8, 80)

6.00 Getaway. (PG, R) 6.30 ACA. (R) 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 Today Extra: Saturday. (PG) 12.00 Great Australian Detour Snow. (R) 12.30 Rugby League. NRL Women’s Premiership. Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks. 2.30 NRLW Wrap. (PG) 3.15 Rugby League. NRL Women’s Premiership. Canterbury Bulldogs v Dragons. 5.00 9News First At Five. 5.30 Getaway. (PG)

6.00 9News Saturday.

7.00 A Current A air.

7.30 MOVIE: Legally Blonde. (2001, PGls, R) A ditzy blonde enrols in law school. Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson.

9.30 MOVIE: Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011, Mls, R) A middle-aged man’s life changes dramatically after his wife asks him for a divorce. Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling.

11.50 MOVIE: If I Stay. (2014, Ma, R)

2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PGa)

2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 Global Shop. (R)

5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 5.30 Helping Hands. (PG, R)

9GEM (82)

v Gordon. 5.00 Rugby League. NRL Women’s Premiership. Round 4. North Queensland Cowboys v Gold Coast Titans. 7.00 Customs. 7.30 TBA. Midnight Late Programs.

9GO! (83)

6.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) Narrated by Dr Chris Brown. 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. A couple live in the “worst house on the best street”, in a space that is not conducive at all to their lifestyle.

9.50 Ambulance Australia. (Mal, R) In Brisbane, a bystander calls in a crash in the heart of Brisbane’s CBD involving a motorcyclist and taxi. 10.50 Ambulance UK. (Mlm, R) Paramedics deal with a hit-and-run accident. 12.00 FBI. (Madv, R) 1.00

DRAMA (51)

6am Morning Programs. 10.00 The Last Ice Hunters. 11.15 Kids On Country. 12.10pm The Whole Table. 1.10 Nula. 1.40 Wild, Smart And Deadly. 2.30 Over The Black Dot. 3.00 Homesteads. 3.35 Stompem Ground 2022: Blekbala Mujik. 4.30 Faboriginal. 5.00 Murder In Big Horn. 6.00 Home, Land & Sea. 6.40 The Other Side. 7.30 Alone Australia. 9.40 MOVIE: Event Horizon. (1997, MA15+) 11.30 Late Programs. SKY NEWS (53) NITV (34) SBS FOOD (33) 6am Morning Programs. 3pm Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 4.05 WorldWatch. 6.05 Mastermind Aust. 6.40 The Mega-Brands That Built The World. 7.30 Record-Breaking Submarines. 8.35 Icons Unearthed: Harrison Ford. (Premiere) 9.30 MOVIE: Crossing Over. (2009, MA15+) 11.30 The Expanse. 1.15am WWE Legends. 2.10 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera.

July 26

SBS (3) SEVEN

6.00 Rage. (PG) 7.00 Wknd Brekky. 9.00 Insiders. 10.00 O siders. 10.30 World This Week. (R) 11.00 Compass. (PG, R) 11.30 Songs Of Praise. 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 Landline. 1.30 Monty Don’s Rhineland Gardens. (R) 2.30 Race Around The World. (M, R) 3.30 The Assembly. (PG, R) 4.10 Grand Designs. (PG, R) 5.00 Back Roads. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. 6am Morning Programs. 7.00 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 8.00 PBS News Horizons. 8.30 France 24 English News. 9.00 DD India News Hour. 10.00 The World From Above. (PG) 11.00 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 12.00 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 1.00 Motorcycle Racing. Aust ProMX C’ship. 4.00 WorldWatch. 5.00 Going Places. (PG, R) 5.30 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 6.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 2: Morning. Cont. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Sunday Footy Feast. 1.00 MOVIE: Flushed Away. (2006, G, R) 3.00 Better Homes And Gardens. (R) 4.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 2: Highlights. 5.30

6.30 Compass: Faith, Power And Modi.

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Race Around The World. William heads to Madagascar.

8.30 Treasure & Dirt. (Maln) Ivan and Nell nally catch up with Stanley. Nell gets a disturbing call from Phelan.

9.30 Believe Me. (Mals) Laila’s assault claim is dismissed by police.

10.15 Cooper & Fry. (Ma, R)

11.55 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

2.40 Poh’s Kitchen On The Road. (R)

3.10 Doc Martin. (PG, R)

4.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

5.00 Insiders. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Paris Underground. 8.30 Arc De Triomphe: The Passion Of A Nation. (PG, R) Takes a look at the Arc de Triomphe, a monument at the heart of Paris. 9.30 Castle Secrets. (Mav, R) Takes a look at castles.

10.25 Kennedy. (PG, R)

11.20 Framed. (PGad, R)

12.05 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 21. 4.25 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 PBS News Horizons.

VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 2.30pm The Makery. 2.45 Wiggle. 3.00 Play School. 3.25 The Wiggles. 4.25 Little J And Big Cuz. 4.50 Gardening Australia Junior. 5.15 Zog. 5.40 Super Monsters. 6.05 PJ Masks. 6.25 Emerald. 7.05 Let’s Go Bananas! 7.30 The Inbestigators. 7.45 The Lady Grace Mysteries. 8.10 Epic Adventures With Bertie Gregory. 8.55 Animal Park. 10.25 Secrets Of The Zoo. 11.10 Late Programs.

ABC ENTERTAINS (23)

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 3: Evening. 8.30 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 3: Night. 10.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 3: Late.

12.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 3: Overnight.

2.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 3: Pre-dawn. 4.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 3: Early morning. 5.30 Sunrise.

7TWO (62)

6am Morning Programs. 3.40pm MOVIE: Blueback. (2022, PG) 5.40 MOVIE: Red Dog. (2011, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring. (2001, M) 11.05 The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power. 12.15am The Purge. (Premiere) 2.00 MOVIE: Sun ower. (2023, MA15+) 3.45 My Way. 4.00 Big Rigs Of Oz. 4.30 Barney’s World. 4.50 I Love VIP Pets. 5.30 Beyblade Burst: Quad Drive.

COMEDY (52)

6am Morning Programs. 11.00 The 4WD Adventure Show. 11.30 Life O Road. Noon Aussie Adventure Bike Show. 12.30 Timbersports. 1.00 Blokesworld. 1.30 The Car Club. 2.00 Rides Down Under: Workshop Wars. 3.00 Motor Racing. Night Thunder. High Limits World Tour. Night 2. Replay. 4.00 American Resto. 4.30 Football. AFL. Round 20. GWS Giants v Sydney. 7.30 MOVIE: Gladiator. (2000, M) 10.40 Late Programs. 6am Good Chef Bad Chef. 7.00 The Bold And The Beautiful. 9.30 Millionaire Hot

The

6.00 9News Sunday.

7.00 LEGO Masters Bricktacular. (Final, PG)

8.30 60 Minutes. Current a airs program, investigating, analysing and uncovering the issues a ecting all Australians.

9.30 9News Late.

10.00 The First 48. (Mav)

11.00 Black Widow. (Premiere, MA15+a)

11.50 Murder In The 21st. (Mav)

12.40 For The Love Of Pets. (PGa, R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)

4.30 CampByMe.

5.00 Today Early News.

5.30 Today.

9GEM (82)

6.30 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace.

7.00 MasterChef Australia. (PG) Special guest is Meghan Markle.

8.15 Watson. (Md) Watson’s father visits UHOP to introduce Watson and the fellows to his protégée, a saxophone prodigy with musically induced blackouts. 9.15 FBI. (Mav) When a large-scale explosion rocks a Brooklyn apartment complex, the team quickly locates the perpetrator and discovers he’s acting on the orders of a convicted felon currently serving time.

10 News+. (R) Hosted by Denham

and Amelia Brace.

Home Shopping. (R)

DRAMA (51)

8.30 MOVIE: Ready Player One. (2018) 11.00 Under The Bridge. 12.50am QAnon: The Search For Q. 1.45 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera. 6am Morning Programs. 10.00 The Great Australian Doorstep. 10.30 Australia’s Best Backyards. 11.30 Escape To The Country. 12.30pm Harry’s Practice. 1.00 The Master. 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 Better Homes. 3.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 4.30 My Greek Odyssey. 5.30 Australia’s Best Backyards. 6.30 Escape To The Country. 7.30 The Coroner. 8.30 Vera. 10.30 Landscapers. 11.30 Late Programs. 6am Shopping. 7.30 Leading The Way. 8.00

7MATE (64) SBS MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 2.45pm Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee (NZ) 3.30 QI. 4.00 Would I Lie To You? 4.30 MythBusters. 5.25 The Piano UK. 6.10 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. 7.00 Spicks And Specks. 7.30 QI. 8.00 Would I Lie To You? 8.30 Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job. 9.30 Race Around The World. 10.35 ER. 11.15 O siders. 11.50 My Family. 12.20am Rage. 1.20 Late Programs.

Morning Programs. 10.00 AFL Sunday Footy Show. Noon Getaway. 12.30 My Favorite Martian. 1.00 The Baron. 2.10 MOVIE: Operation Bullshine. (1959) 4.00 Midsomer Murders. 6.00 Rugby League. NRL Women’s Premiership. Round 4. Wests Tigers v Sydney Roosters. 8.00 David Attenborough’s Asia. 9.10 Paramedics. 10.10 Emergency. 11.10 Late Programs.

9GO! (83) 6am The

Amazing Mr. Blunden. Continued. (2021, PG) 6.40 Dancing At Lughnasa. (1998, PG) 8.25 Jumanji. (1995, PG) 10.20 The Professor And The Madman. (2019, M) 12.45pm Rogue Agent. (2022, M) 2.55 The Silver Brumby. (1993, PG) 4.40 A River Runs Through It. (1992, PG) 6.55 The Terror. (1963) 8.30 Arcadian. (2024, M) 10.10 Gangster Squad. (2013, MA15+) 12.15am Late Programs.

COMEDY (52)

6am Morning Programs. 3pm The Toys That Built The World. 5.00 Cards And Collectables Australia. 5.30 MOVIE: The Lego Movie. (2014, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story. (2004, M) 9.25 MOVIE: The Hangover. (2009, MA15+) 11.30 Top 20 Funniest. 12.25am Arrow. 2.55 The Summit. 4.00 Big Rigs Of Oz. 4.30 Lego Dreamzzz. 5.10 Hop. 5.30 Beyblade Burst: Quad Drive. 6am Morning Programs. 9.00 Counting Cars. 9.30 American Pickers. 10.30 Pawn Stars. 11.30 Step Outside. Noon The Fishing Show By AFN. 1.00 Fishing Addiction. 2.00 Fishy Business. 2.30 AFL Pre-Game. 3.00 Football. AFL. Round 20. North Melbourne v St Kilda. 6.00 Border Security: Int. 6.30 Border Security USA. 7.00 Border Security. 8.30 MOVIE: Free Guy. (2021, M) 10.50 Late Programs. 6am Good Chef Bad Chef. 7.00 Deal Or No Deal. 9.30 Family Feud. 1pm Friends. 6.00 The Big Bang Theory. 10.30 Ridiculousness. Midnight Home Shopping.

TARGET TIME

L E U C E I X V S

Today’s target: 10 words average 14 words good 18+ words excellent

Find words of four letters or more. Every word must include the centre letter and each letter is used once only. Find at least one nine-letter word. No colloquial or foreign words, capitalised nouns, apostrophes, hyphens. No verbs or plural words ending in ‘s’. Solution list is not exhaustive. Ref: Macquarie Dictionary

ASTROLOGY

ARIES (Mar 21 - Apr 19)

With the Sun and Jupiter in your joy and creativity zones, the key to happiness and fulfilment this week is expressing your colourful inner child. Karma and destiny are also around, as Saturn and Neptune (both in Aries) link up with powerful Pluto and your ruler, Mars. So, it’s time to be disciplined, follow your dreams and transform your life in positive ways. As actress (and birthday great) Helen Mirren reminds us: “We write our life story by the choices we make.”

TAURUS (Apr 20 - May 20)

When it comes to a financial issue, Saturn encourages you to take your time and look at all sides of the situation, particularly the ones that are less obvious. And things are about to get busy at home (via DIY projects, professional renovations or an influx of unexpected guests?) as the Sun and Jupiter jump through your domestic zone. A misunderstanding or a problem with a car, computer or phone should start to clear up after Mercury moves forward on Friday.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 20)

Proactive Mars and independent Uranus are both dashing through your sign, so this week will work best if you keep your nose out of other people’s business and concentrate on pursuing personal projects. Tuesday’s terrific link between Jupiter and Uranus (in Gemini) encourages fiery bursts of inspiration. However – with Saturn aspecting Mars (in your sign) – good ideas on their own won’t get you far. You must combine creativity with plenty of hard work and practical productivity.

CANCER (June 21 - July 22)

It’s a good week for Crabs. After three weeks in retrograde mode, Mercury starts moving forwards in your sign on Friday (at 9 am, Sydney time). Yeah! So, plans, projects and relationships that have been stalled and stymied should gradually start to pick up pace, particularly at work. And the current planetary aspects are especially good for professional and financial matters. Monday is a wonderful day to write down your wish list and make your dreams come true.

TINY CROSS WORD

LEO (July 23 - Aug 22)

Have you been waiting in the wings or sulking on the sidelines, Lions? Remember that expansive Jupiter is now transiting through your sign (which only happens every 12 years). So, spring into action – wake up, explore, experiment, take a calculated risk and make some noise! Be inspired by fellow Leo, birthday great Helen Mirren (who was born on July 26, 1945): “If you want to go make your mark in the world, you’ve got to go out and do it. Don’t be shy, be adventurous.”

VIRGO (Aug 23 - Sep 22)

Mercury (your patron planet) is still in retrograde mode (until Friday), and the Sun and Jupiter are transiting through your solitude zone. So, this week is a time for meditation, contemplation, rumination and relaxation, as you reboot and refresh from within. Clever Virgos will have a digital detox, reschedule work appointments and/or postpone social plans. Your motto for the moment is from birthday great, Carl Jung: “Solitude is for me a fount of healing which makes my life worth living.”

LIBRA (Sep 23 - Oct 22)

Monday’s Jupiter/Neptune trine is terrific news for loved-up Librans, as you romance your longterm partner, or sparks fly with a new sweetheart. It’s also a wonderful week to express yourself creatively. And thank goodness Mercury finally turns direct in your career zone on Friday morning (Sydney time) after three weeks of confusion. So, a professional problem, work challenge or complicated relationship with a colleague, client or customer should gradually improve.

SCORPIO (Oct 23 - Nov 21)

There could be friction early in the week, when the Jupiter/Pluto opposition amplifies a workplace problem or exaggerates a domestic drama. Aim to calm troubled waters with a dash of charm and a double dose of diplomacy. Then Mercury charges forward in your travel zone on Friday, so plan a fabulous getaway for sometime soon. Motivation for the moment is from fellow Scorpio, writer Albert Camus: “Charm is a way of getting the answer yes, without asking a clear question.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 - Dec 21)

With the Sun and Jupiter (your patron planet) visiting your wanderlust zone, many restless Sagittarians will be feeling cooped up, housebound and a bit stir-crazy. Thank goodness Mercury finally moves forwards on Friday morning (Sydney time). So, the weekend is the time to dream big dreams and make connections with folk from foreign shores. Plus, pull on your travelling shoes and escape on a short getaway – or plan a longer trip to faraway places for sometime soon.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 - Jan 19)

Do you have a frustrating problem that needs fixing? Have you asked numerous other people for advice but still can’t find a satisfactory solution? This week, the Sun, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune all activate your trust and wisdom zones. So, listen to your inner voice and pay close attention to symbolic messages and intuitive insights. Your motto for the moment is from birthday great, Carl Jung: “The person who looks outward dreams, the person who looks inward awakens.”

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 - Feb 18)

A close partnership (of the romantic, platonic or business variety) should gradually improve as the Sun, Jupiter and Uranus all rev up your relationship zone. The more proactive you are about communicating clearly and contributing generously, the better. Four planets also stimulate your conversation, education and neighbourhood zones. So, it’s a fabulous week to focus, plan, study, organise and strategise, especially involving neighbours and projects within your local community.

PISCES (Feb 19 - Mar 20) Physical energy and mental enthusiasm are higher than usual, as the Sun and Jupiter fire up your health-and-wellbeing zone. So, get moving, mingling, walking and talking! The focus is also on self-expression, entertainment and friendship, as Mercury moves forward in your creativity and social activity zones on Friday morning. So, the weekend is a good time to plan a party, book a massage, attend a concert, see an exhibition, enjoy a lunch date or a night at the movies with friends.

On the Road Again at the Cassino Art Gallery

Cassino Art Gallery will open their annual exhibition, ‘On the Road Again’, in time for the Casino Truck Show.

Gallery President, Maree Beek, said the exhibition will open Saturday 25th July and run until 5th September and ofers artists the opportunity to celebrate the trucking industry and Australian ‘s love of travel on our open roads.

“What curious buildings, or vehicles might artists see? What animals or birds might decorate the scene?” Maree said.

Entries rolled in and we are delighted with the variety of approaches artists are taking.

“There is painting, photography, artefacts, and more, from artists young and old,” Maree said.

“We invite everyone to come to the Gallery and travel the open road through the artists’ works.”

Maree said Casino’s new suspension bridge is attracting people who cross the road and into the Gallery.

“The Cassino Art Gallery connects to our community in exhibitions celebrating Casino Beef Week, NAIDOC Week and The Casino Truck Show.”

“The Gallery started the year with our popular Fibre to Fabric exhibition and will fnish the year with our Watercolour Art Prize and On the Small Side.

“We are already planning some exciting additions to our annual program.” Maree said.

“Visitor numbers to the Gallery are increasing every year and 2027 promises to present our most ambitious program to date.”

Full details of On the Road Again and to view the Gallery’s activities follow us on: https://www.facebook. com/cassinoartgallery https://www.instagram.com/cassinoartgallery

https://www.youtube. com/@CassinoArtGallery

Web www.cassinoartgallery.org.au Cassino Art Gallery,

148 Barker St, Casino. On the Road Again Exhibition details Opening Event Saturday 25th July 2-4pm –all welcome, $10 entry includes nibbles and a drink.

Gallery Hours: From July 26th every Thurs to Sat 10am3pm; Sunday 10am – 2pm Entry: By donation

Photo: Pyrograpy.jpg

Caption: On the Road Again entry by Rex Cole using the technique of pyrography the ancient art of "writing with fre". It involves using a heated, pen-like tool to burn controlled marks, shades, and textures onto natural materials to create detailed imagery or decorative patterns.

10 affordable retirement homes on the Northern Rivers

When the kids have left and you don’t think there is any point keeping clean a large multi-bedroom house, then you may want to downsize.

Following are some of the best valued retirement properties on the Northern Rivers that can hopefully help you release the

mortgage for good.

We have searched across the Northern Rivers between $100,000 - $700,000 in no particular order. All information gathered from

By Jeff Gibbs

By Jeff Gibbs

A substantial commercial development site in Tweed Heads South has been brought to market as population growth, infrastructure investment and business expansion continue to strengthen demand for strategically located land across the Southern Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales.

The property at 18 Rivendell Road, Tweed Heads South comprises approximately 6,212 square metres and is being offered with vacant possession through an Expressions of Interest campaign.

Colliers agents Matthew Adcock and Marlon Crawford have been appointed to market the property on behalf of StoreLocal, with price guidance of offers above $8.5 million plus GST.

The site occupies a highly visible position with approximately 131 metres of frontage to the Pacific Motorway, providing exposure to more than 90,000 passing vehicles each day.

It is zoned E3 Productivity Support, allowing a broad range of potential industrial, commercial, warehouse and service-based uses, subject to council approval. The property currently operates as a boat and caravan storage facility, offering buyers the option to continue its existing use, pursue redevelopment or hold the land as a longerterm investment. Its zoning and scale

Tweed Heads Commercial Site Hits Market

A prominent development-ready property with Pacific Motorway exposure is expected to attract local and interstate buyers seeking scarce commercial land.

are expected to appeal to developers, owneroccupiers, investors and businesses seeking flexibility in a market where large, developmentready commercial sites are becoming increasingly difficult to secure.

The property is located less than one kilometre from the M1 Pacific Motorway, approximately 700 metres from Tweed City Shopping Centre and about 7.4 kilometres from Gold Coast Airport.

It also sits within an established commercial and large-format retail precinct occupied by national retailers, service businesses and other major operators.

The surrounding Tweed Heads South area has experienced continued commercial activity as population growth on both sides of the Queensland–New South Wales border generates demand for additional services, employment space, warehousing and business infrastructure.

Mr Crawford, Colliers Director of Industrial and Logistics, said the Southern

Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales market remained attractive to businesses looking to establish or expand their regional operations.

“The Southern Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales continue to attract businesses looking to establish or expand their operations, however the pipeline of developmentready commercial land has become increasingly constrained,” Mr Crawford said.

“Purchasers are placing greater emphasis on sites that provide planning flexibility and long-term optionality, allowing them to respond to changing business requirements and future market conditions.”

The site’s motorway frontage and accessibility are expected to be major selling points, particularly for businesses requiring strong visibility, convenient transport links and access to customers across the Tweed, Gold Coast and wider Northern Rivers.

Continued investment in transport, healthcare and community infrastructure

throughout the broader cross-border region is also contributing to business confidence and placing further pressure on the supply of suitable commercial and industrial land.

Mr Adcock, Colliers Senior Executive of Industrial and Logistics, said the property could accommodate several potential ownership and development strategies.

“This campaign offers

buyers the chance to secure a site that can support a broad range of future outcomes, whether that’s immediate occupation, redevelopment or a longer-term land-banking strategy,” Mr Adcock said.

“We’re expecting interest from local groups as well as interstate buyers looking to gain a foothold in a market where development opportunities of this scale have become increasingly difficult to source.”

The property’s existing improvements may provide an interim income or operational opportunity while future plans are considered, although any redevelopment would remain subject to the necessary planning and approval processes.

The marketing campaign comes amid broader pressure on commercial land supply across the Tweed and southern Gold Coast, where geographical constraints, infrastructure requirements and strong residential growth have increased competition for well-positioned employment land.

For prospective buyers, 18 Rivendell Road offers a combination of motorway exposure, proximity to major retail and transport infrastructure, flexible zoning and a substantial landholding within an established business precinct.

The Expressions of Interest campaign is scheduled to close at 4pm AEST on Thursday, August 6, 2026.

EV Owners Face Lengthy Warranty Delays

Dealers

warn inadequate parts supplies and slow manufacturer approvals are leaving motorists without transport for weeks or even months

By Jeff Gibbs

Australian motorists are being left without reliable transport for extended periods as dealerships struggle to secure repairs, replacement vehicles and refunds from some recently arrived overseas car manufacturers.

The warning comes as electric and hybrid vehicles claim a rapidly growing share of Australia’s new-car market. More than one in three vehicles sold nationally in June was either hybrid or fully electric, while buyers can now choose from more than 150 electrified models offered by more than 40 brands.

While increased competition has broadened consumer choice and helped bring more affordable electric vehicles into Australia, dealers say the expansion has also exposed significant weaknesses in the country’s warranty and consumerprotection system.

Motorists are reportedly waiting six to eight weeks in many cases for warranty issues to be resolved, with delays caused by shortages of replacement parts, slow approval processes and difficulties obtaining reimbursement from manufacturers. In more severe cases, drivers have been without their vehicles for several months.

The concerns are detailed in research commissioned by the Australian Automotive Dealer Association and prepared by University of New South Wales emeritus professor Jenny Buchan.

The report argues that Australia’s consumer laws place responsibility for providing remedies on the dealership that sold the vehicle, even though the dealer may have limited control over whether the manufacturer approves a repair, supplies the required part or authorises a refund or replacement.

That divide between legal responsibility and practical control is creating uncertainty for customers

and financial pressure for dealerships.

Family left without transport

One de-identified case examined in the report involved a motorist with two children with disability who was left without suitable transport for more than six months because of engine problems.

The customer had unknowingly purchased a vehicle fitted with a replacement engine and was initially advised that the manufacturer, rather than the selling dealer, would need to address the fault.

According to the report, the manufacturer—described as new to the Australian market—eventually stopped responding to emails and ceased meaningful communication.

A separate dealership attempted to assist the customer and threatened to end its relationship with the manufacturer. The company then supplied a new vehicle worth about $55,000 as a loan car and resumed communication with the customer in a manner consistent with its consumerlaw obligations.

Another case involved a customer waiting several weeks for an overseas replacement part because the manufacturer did not hold adequate stock in Australia.

The manufacturer initially refused to pay for a temporary replacement vehicle. That position reportedly changed after the dealer reminded the company of its responsibilities under Australian Consumer Law. Battery replacements add complexity

The arrival of more electric vehicles has introduced additional logistical challenges, particularly when a replacement high-voltage battery is required.

Unlike many smaller automotive components that can be transported by air, large lithium-ion vehicle batteries are subject to strict dangerous-goods transport requirements and are generally shipped by sea.

This can extend waiting periods from weeks to months when a suitable battery is not already available in Australia.

Some dealerships have responded by holding expensive batteries and other specialised components in stock. While that may reduce the disruption experienced by customers, the report found it also transfers considerable financial risk to local businesses.

Electric vehicles generally contain fewer moving mechanical parts than petrol or diesel vehicles and typically require less routine servicing. However, when major battery, electronic or software-related faults occur, repairs can require specialised equipment, trained technicians and direct support from the manufacturer.

The concerns are not limited to battery-electric cars. Modern hybrids, petrol vehicles and diesel vehicles also rely heavily on computers, sensors and proprietary software, meaning dealers increasingly need manufacturer approval, technical data and specialised replacement components to complete repairs.

Dealers caught between customers and manufacturers Australian consumer guarantees require vehicles to be of acceptable quality, match their description and remain fit for their intended purpose. Consumers may be entitled to a repair, replacement or refund depending on the nature and seriousness of the failure.

Manufacturers are also required to indemnify suppliers for reasonable costs incurred while resolving certain consumer claims. However, the dealer association’s report says reimbursement can be difficult and time-consuming. Some manufacturers reportedly

rely on complicated claims procedures and approval systems that make it harder for dealerships to recover the cost of warranty work.

One dealer told researchers that preparing a single warranty claim took six hours. In other cases, manufacturers required prior authorisation for every repair, including relatively minor work, with a failure to obtain approval potentially resulting in the claim being rejected.

For higher-value claims, decisions may need to be referred to an overseas head office. The report cited one manufacturer whose claims above $5,000 were sent to China for an approval process that could take eight weeks.

Language differences, international time zones and unfamiliarity with Australian law were also identified as factors contributing to delays.

Dealers told the report they felt caught between customers who were legally entitled to a remedy and manufacturers that controlled access to parts, funding and technical approval.

The association warned that continued underpayment for warranty work and the expense of supplying loan vehicles could eventually cause some dealerships to stop servicing particular brands or withdraw replacement-car assistance. Calls for consumer-law reform

Australian Automotive Dealer Association chief executive James Voortman said the existing legal framework had not kept pace with the changing nature of modern vehicles or the rapid arrival of new manufacturers.

He said greater competition was positive for buyers, but brands entering Australia needed to support the vehicles they sold with adequate parts, customer service and clear processes for repairs, replacements and refunds.

Mr Voortman argued that dealers were often unable to offer immediate solutions because the manufacturer controlled the practical outcome.

He called for stronger legal clarity and government intervention, warning that motorists could face increasing harm as more brands unfamiliar with Australian consumer obligations entered the market.

Manufacturers defend support arrangements

The Electric Vehicle Council said manufacturers understood the importance of maintaining adequate parts supplies and providing a positive ownership experience.

Its head of policy, Aman Gaur, said council members were confident they had arrangements in place to support Australian customers.

He acknowledged Australia’s position near the end of global supply chains made local inventory important, but said electric cars could be simpler to service because they contained fewer components than internal-combustion vehicles.

Swinburne University professor of transport, technology and sustainability Hussein Dia said manufacturers that failed to resolve customer problems risked serious reputational damage in an increasingly competitive market.

He said vehicle brands needed to focus on the entire ownership experience rather than simply concentrating on initial sales.

Poor after-sales service could also undermine confidence in Australia’s transition to electric transport, particularly when negative experiences were shared by owners through word of mouth and online forums.

Financial safeguards

proposed

The dealer association’s report recommends requiring incoming manufacturers to provide stronger financial security within Australia. Suggested measures include locally held trust funds, insurance bonds or other financial guarantees that could be accessed if a manufacturer withdrew from the market or failed to meet its obligations.

It also proposes specific duties requiring manufacturers to make timely decisions on warranty claims and vehicle buybacks, along with protections preventing companies from retaliating against dealers that advocate for customers.

Another recommendation is the creation of a national vehicle-fault database. Such a system could record recurring problems across particular models and allow regulators, dealers and consumers to recognise widespread defects earlier.

The proposal would help distinguish isolated faults from systemic failures affecting thousands of vehicles.

Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh said the Federal Government would consider the report as part of its 2026 consumer-policy priorities.

That work includes examining possible reforms to strengthen consumer guarantees and the rules requiring manufacturers to reimburse suppliers.

For buyers, the report reinforces the importance of looking beyond a vehicle’s purchase price, driving range and technology.

The strength of a manufacturer’s Australian parts network, dealership support, warranty processes and long-term commitment to the market may prove equally important when choosing a new vehicle.

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Aged Care Groups Push for More Compassionate End-of-Life Support at Home

Peak organisations say care should be based on need, not a prediction of how long someone has left to live.

By Jeff Gibbs

Australia's leading aged care and palliative care organisations are calling for major changes to the way end-of-life care is funded, welcoming a Senate recommendation that would remove strict time and funding limits for older Australians wishing to spend their final days at home.

Ageing Australia and Palliative Care Australia have backed a recommendation from the Senate Community Affairs References Committee to abolish the funding and time restrictions attached to the Support at Home End-of-Life Pathway and replace them with a flexible, clinically guided model based on a person's

actual care needs.

The organisations say the current system forces clinicians to estimate how long a person has left to live before they can qualify for support, leaving many older Australians with serious illnesses unable to access the care they need.

Ageing Australia Chief Member Experience Officer Belinda Allen said end-of-life care should focus on the individual rather than arbitrary eligibility rules. "At the end of life, people and families need care that can respond to their circumstances, not a model that puts arbitrary limits around support," Ms Allen said.

She said older Australians who wish to remain at home during their final

stages of life should be supported wherever possible with care that adapts to changing health needs.

"Access to aged care at home should be based on a person's needs, not a prediction about how long they have left to live," she said.

Ms Allen added that providing better support at home would also ease pressure on hospitals and the wider health system by reducing avoidable admissions and helping families better manage complex care.

Palliative Care Australia National Policy Director Josh Fear said the Senate recommendation addressed a major weakness in the existing Support at Home End-of-Life Pathway.

"The current model does not always work because access is tied to a time limit and a prognosis, rather than to a person's care needs," Mr Fear said.

He said the problem was particularly significant for people living with dementia, frailty, neurological disorders and other progressive illnesses, where accurately predicting life expectancy is extremely difficult.

Under the current arrangements, eligibility is generally linked to an expectation that a person has less than three months to live.

While the Federal Government recently announced that people who outlive the initial 12-week funding period will be able to receive a second round of funding from early

2027, the sector says this still fails to address the underlying shortcomings of the system.

Mr Fear welcomed the additional funding but said it remained only a partial solution.

"Providing a second round of funding for people who survive longer is a positive step, but it does not fix the core issue," he said.

He argued that some people may continue to miss out altogether simply because clinicians cannot confidently predict their life expectancy.

Instead, the organisations are advocating for a clinically guided assessment model that determines eligibility based on unmet palliative care needs rather than expected survival time.

Palliative Care Australia

is preparing a detailed proposal for a needs-based funding model, which will be submitted to the Senate inquiry into the broader Support at Home Program before the 31 July deadline. If adopted, the proposed changes would provide greater certainty for older Australians and their families while allowing healthcare professionals to deliver care that is more responsive, equitable and focused on quality of life. For many families across the Northern Rivers and throughout Australia, the reforms could mean more people are able to spend their final days in the comfort of their own homes, supported by services tailored to their individual circumstances rather than constrained by fixed funding periods.

Urgent RSV Vaccine Call as Cases Surge Across Australia

By Jeff Gibbs

Australian health authorities are urging eligible people to be vaccinated against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as infections continue to climb across the country, placing growing pressure on hospitals during an already demanding winter respiratory illness season.

More than 83,000 RSV cases have been recorded nationally so far this year, making it Australia's most commonly reported respiratory virus in 2026, ahead of both influenza and COVID-19. At the current rate of almost 900 new infections each day, health experts warn the total number of cases could exceed 127,000 before winter ends.

RSV is a highly contagious virus that usually causes cold-like symptoms in healthy adults but can

lead to severe illness, hospitalisation and even death among infants, older Australians and people with weakened immune systems.

Health organisations, including the Immunisation Foundation of Australia (IFA) and the Australian Medical Association (AMA), are encouraging eligible Australians not to delay vaccination, warning that uptake among older Australians remains well below expectations despite the vaccine now being available free under the National Immunisation Program for people aged 75 years and over.

The vaccine is also available free to pregnant women from 28 weeks' gestation, helping protect newborn babies during their first months of life when they are most vulnerable to severe RSV infection.

Health experts say the

benefits of vaccination are already becoming evident.

A recent Australian study has shown the maternal and infant RSV immunisation program has dramatically reduced serious illness in young babies, with hospital admissions falling by around 50 per cent compared with previous seasons. In New South Wales alone, the program has achieved more than 60 per cent vaccination coverage among pregnant women and produced a significant decline in RSVrelated hospitalisations and notifications among infants younger than six months.

NSW Health Executive Director of Health Protection Dr Kerryn Coleman described the results as one of the most significant public health successes seen for newborns in recent years.

She said RSV infection could cause severe respiratory illness, lengthy

hospital stays, intensive care admissions and, in some cases, death in young babies, making vaccination during pregnancy an important protective measure.

While the infant vaccination program is delivering encouraging results, health authorities remain concerned about vaccination rates among older Australians.

More than one million Australians aged 75 years and over are estimated to remain unvaccinated despite being eligible for the free vaccine. Health experts warn older adults are at increased risk of developing pneumonia and other serious complications if they contract RSV.

The surge in RSV comes as hospitals continue managing multiple seasonal respiratory viruses simultaneously.

NSW Health has also warned that the annual

influenza peak is still approaching, with health officials urging anyone who has not yet received a flu vaccination to do so as soon as possible. Medical experts say receiving both influenza and RSV protection is particularly important for older people and those with underlying medical conditions.

Across the Northern Rivers, local hospitals and medical practices traditionally experience increased demand during winter as respiratory illnesses spread through the community. Health professionals continue encouraging residents to stay home when unwell, maintain good hand hygiene and seek medical advice if symptoms worsen, particularly for young children, older family members or anyone experiencing breathing difficulties.

RSV symptoms typically

include a runny or blocked nose, cough, fever and wheezing. In babies and very young children, symptoms can rapidly become more serious, including difficulty breathing, poor feeding, dehydration and bluecoloured lips or skin, all of which require urgent medical attention.

Health authorities stress that while most healthy adults recover from RSV without complications, vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to reduce severe illness among those at greatest risk.

With RSV continuing to circulate widely across Australia and influenza activity expected to increase further over coming weeks, officials are urging eligible Australians to speak with their GP, pharmacist or maternity care provider about vaccination before winter reaches its peak.

ANGUS STEERS REACH $2,200 AT BEAUDESERT STORE SALE

Strong buyer competition drove prices higher across all categories at Saturday's Beaudesert Store Sale, with quality restocker and feeder cattle attracting spirited bidding and replacement females exceeding vendor expectations.

Agents Bartholomew & Co reported a dearer market across the board, with confidence evident from both restockers and feeders keen to secure quality lines. Strong

demand for PTIC cows and heavy breeding females also underpinned the sale. Leading the market was an outstanding run of Angus milk and two-tooth steers from Jim and Robyn Picton of Dugandan, with the top pen selling for $2,200 a head. Santa cross steers, 20 months, from Graeme and Karen Richards of Rathdowney reached $2,050, while Yawarra Pty Ltd of Nindooinbah sold 15-month-

old Santa steers for $2,000. Tony and Megan Gleeson of Purga received $1,970 for their Santa steers.

Droughtmaster cross steers from Keith and Sandra Trace of Chambers Flat sold to $1,910, while Steven Hermann of Tarampa achieved $1,770 for his 15-month-old Droughtmaster cross steers.

Competition remained solid for younger cattle. Graeme

and Karen Richards sold Santa cross weaner steers for $1,500, matched by Trevor and Sue Whitehall of Mt Berryman. Charolais cross weaner steers sold to $1,450, while lightweight weaner steers reached $1,150.

Replacement heifers were in particularly strong demand. Richard and Anne Worley of Coulson topped the heifer section with Droughtmaster cross heifers at $1,500. Charbray heifers sold for

$1,420, Droughtmaster heifers reached $1,400, and quality Santa weaner heifers topped at $1,210.

Heavy breeding cows also attracted excellent competition, with Lotus Property Pty Ltd of Kingsholme selling Droughtmaster cows for $2,310. Warrick and Johanne Stewart of Pimpama achieved $2,210, while PTIC Santa cows from Oppermann Pastoral at Kerry sold for

$1,800.

The strong market reflected continued confidence among producers looking to secure quality breeding and feeder stock despite seasonal challenges. Bartholomew & Co will conduct the next Beaudesert Store Sale on Saturday, August 1, commencing at 9.30am.

By The Northern Rivers Rural News Desk

Strong Demand Delivers Another $3.11 Million NRLX Sale

Buyer confidence remained firmly intact at the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange (NRLX) on Friday, with strong competition across both prime and store cattle helping drive total sales beyond $3.11 million. Demand from processors, feedlot operators and restockers ensured quality cattle continued to command premium prices despite the cooler winter conditions.

The sale featured 2,679 prime cattle sold on a cents-per-kilogram basis,

STEERS TOP 628C/KG AS MORE THAN $3.27 MILLION WORTH OF CATTLE CHANGES HANDS.

complemented by 136 store cattle offered on a per-head basis. While buyers remained selective, well-bred and well-presented cattle attracted consistent bidding throughout the sale, reflecting ongoing confidence in the region's beef industry.

Steers again dominated proceedings, with 1,413 head accounting for more than half of the prime yarding. Prices ranged from 240c/ kg for lighter descriptions to a sale-high of 632.2c/kg, averaging a healthy 531.4c/

kg. Individual returns varied from $216 to $2,789.92 per head, generating a category turnover of $1,799,247.16, making steers the standout performers of the day.

Heifers also sold exceptionally well, with 1,236 head averaging 461c/ kg and reaching a top of 526.2c/kg. Buyers paid between $315 and $1,836.90 per head, producing a combined value of more than $1.27 million. Competition remained particularly strong for younger heifers suited to

breeding, backgrounding and feedlot operations.

Although offered in smaller numbers, cows continued to attract solid support. Sixteen head averaged 345.3c/kg, topping at 368.2c/kg, with prices ranging from $982.52 to $2,618.07 and averaging $1,605.71 per head. Vealer bulls also experienced firm demand, averaging 428.4c/ kg, topping at 442.2c/kg, and returning up to $1,209.73.

The store cattle market mirrored the strength seen in the prime sale. A single

quality bull realised $5,000, while 25 cows averaged $1,585.20. Buyers showed particularly strong interest in breeding stock, with 31 cows and calves averaging $2,017.10 and selling to $2,400. Seventy-nine store heifers averaged $1,708.86, topping at $2,060, highlighting continued demand for quality replacement females.

Across the prime sale, cattle averaged 497.5c/kg, with prices ranging from 240c/ kg to 632.2c/kg, producing

a total liveweight turnover of $3,113,453.40. Combined with the store cattle section, the sale reinforced the resilience of the Northern Rivers cattle market, where quality livestock continue to attract strong competition. As producers take advantage of improved seasonal conditions in many districts, demand for well-bred breeding and feeder cattle is expected to remain firm over the coming weeks.

By The

Northern Rivers Rural News Desk

Strong Demand Keeps Northern Rivers Cattle Market Firm

Despite seasonal conditions, demand remained consistent from processors, feedlot operators and restockers seeking quality lines.

Strong buyer competition continued to underpin the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange this week, with quality cattle attracting solid prices across most categories and steers leading the market.

The prime cattle sale held on 15 July saw 2,607 head offered across 973 lots, generating a total sale value of more than $3.27 million.

Steers again dominated the sale, averaging 513.1 cents per kilogram and reaching a top price of 628.2c/kg. Individual returns ranged from $140 to $2,520.14, reflecting continued confidence in well-finished cattle.

Heifers also attracted solid bidding, averaging 446.1c/ kg and topping at 534.2c/ kg, with prices ranging

from $144 to $2,162. The strong average indicates continued demand for quality replacement and feeder stock despite winter conditions.

The large offering of 744 cows averaged 347.1c/ kg, with a top of 395c/ kg. Returns ranged from $189.45 to $2,814.38, demonstrating continued processor demand for heavy manufacturing cattle.

Heavy bullocks averaged 391.4c/kg, topping at 436.2c/kg, while 24 head sold for an average return

of $2,411.85, with the best animal making just over $3,000.

A total of 34 bulls averaged 360.4c/kg, peaking at 412.2c/kg, with the highest-priced bull returning $4,000.

Young cattle also sold well, with 47 vealer bulls averaging 422.7c/kg and topping at 500c/kg, while yearlings averaged 280c/kg in limited numbers.

The sale also included a single pen of cows and calves, which sold for $2,500, while one heifer

sold for $50 under the headonly category.

Overall, the market reflected steady confidence from buyers, particularly for quality feeder and prime cattle, with steers and heifers continuing to command strong competition.

With winter feed supplies varying across the Northern Rivers and surrounding districts, agents expect seasonal conditions to continue influencing yarding numbers in the weeks ahead.

However, solid processor demand and ongoing interest

from feedlot buyers should continue to support prices for well-presented stock.

The Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange remains one of the region's key selling centres, providing an important marketplace for producers across northern New South Wales and southeast Queensland.

By The Northern Rivers Rural News Desk

Warwick Livestock Market Holds Firm Despite Winter Conditions

LAMB PRICES STRENGTHEN WHILE CATTLE MARKET REMAINS RESILIENT AS FROSTY WEATHER LIFTS SHEEP NUMBERS.

Dry, frosty conditions across southern Queensland and northern New South Wales saw sheep and lamb numbers surge at the Warwick Livestock Markets this week, while cattle yardings remained seasonally low.

The weekly sale for the period ending 17 July 2026 attracted 929 cattle and 3,063 sheep and lambs, with agents reporting strong demand for quality heavy stock despite producers becoming increasingly cautious as winter conditions persist.

The overall cattle market remained solid across most categories, with feeder cattle continuing to attract strong competition.

Feeder steers averaged 515.7 cents per kilogram, topping at 622.2c/kg, returning between $1,943 and $2,651.28. Feeder heifers averaged 448.2c/kg, reaching a top of 510c/kg and selling for up to $2,070.92.

Heavy bulls averaged 409.6c/kg, topping at 470.2c/ kg, with prices ranging from $2,523.22 to an impressive $4,986.33.

Cows averaged 337.1c/kg, topping at 385c/kg, returning between $1,757.42 and $2,811.75.

Trade steers averaged 422.1c/kg, reaching 489.2c/kg,

while manufacturing steers averaged 382c/kg, topping at 396.2c/kg.

Young cattle continued to sell well, with vealer steers averaging 464.3c/kg and topping at 632.2c/kg, while yearling steers averaged 492.3c/kg, peaking at 590c/kg.

The overall cattle sale averaged $1,634.56 per head, reflecting continued confidence from buyers despite lower seasonal numbers.

The sheep and lamb market experienced a significant increase in yardings as producers responded to ongoing dry and frosty conditions.

While larger supplies of lighter lambs and lower-

yielding stock softened competition in some categories, heavy export lambs and quality mutton remained in strong demand.

Lambs topped the sale at $350, averaging $260.41 per head, an increase of $24 on the previous week.

Hoggets reached $281, averaging $222.90, while ram lambs sold to $250, averaging $215.41, up $25 per head.

Heavy ewes sold to $270, averaging $189.54, while wethers topped at $280 and rams reached $206.

The combined sheep and lamb sale averaged $230.09 per head, remaining in line with the previous week's results.

Among the sale highlights,

Nolan Past Co sold 60kg

Dorper lambs for the day's top price of $350, while the Thompson Family achieved $344 for 62.2kg Dorset lambs.

Gooroo Grazing sold 58.5kg Dorper lambs for $340, while the Finlay Family marketed an impressive line of White Suffolk lambs from their feedlot, selling up to $342 for 69.8kg lambs.

Other notable results included Rory and Kathy Frost, whose Charollaiscross lambs sold to $306, and Graham Newberry, whose White Suffolk lambs reached $300.

The pig market remained relatively quiet between seasonal peaks, with sows selling from $230 to $260,

porkers making $174 to $260, and store pigs returning $120 to $169.

Poultry numbers remained consistent, with hens selling to $55, pullets reaching $80, roosters making $32.50, and peacocks topping the bird sale at $100.

Agents said while winter conditions have increased sheep numbers, strong processor demand continues to underpin prices, particularly for well-finished export stock. However, ongoing dry weather is making restockers more cautious, particularly in the lighter lamb and mutton categories.

By The Northern Rivers Rural News Desk

Australian macadamia crop forecast revised to 56,888 tonnes

By Ian Rogers

The 2026 crop forecast has been revised down to 56,888 tonnes at 3.5 percent moisture or 61,000 tonnes in-shell at 10 percent moisture, with a forecast range of 60,000 to 62,000 tonnes at 10 percent moisture.

The revised forecast reflects updated industry data following the June harvest assessment and represents a slight reduction from the initial March forecast of 59,080 tonnes in-shell at 3.5 percent moisture (63,350 tonnes at 10 percent moisture). Despite the revision, the 2026 crop is still expected to be significantly larger than the 2025 crop of 43,800 tonnes.

Australian Macadamia Society CEO Ben Baldwin said the season had delivered mixed outcomes

across Australia's growing regions.

"The 2026 crop has been highly variable, with results differing considerably between regions, farms and varieties," he said.

"Overall production is expected to exceed last year's crop, although the increase has not been as substantial in all areas, and many orchards are continuing to recover from the impacts of several consecutive wet seasons."

Harvest has progressed to around 90 to 95 percent complete in Bundaberg, Australia's largest macadamia growing region, where favourable conditions have supported good harvest progress and high-quality nut.

However, persistent rainfall has delayed harvest across parts of northern New South Wales and south-east Queensland,

particularly the Northern Rivers, Gympie and Glass House Mountains regions, where harvest is still underway.

"Weather conditions have varied significantly across the growing regions this season," Mr Baldwin said.

"While Bundaberg has enjoyed relatively favourable harvest conditions, ongoing rainfall in southern production regions has slowed harvest and increased the risk of quality losses where nuts have remained on the orchard floor for extended periods."

Flowering and crop development conditions were generally favourable across most regions, with good pollination and crop retention. However, early flowering and limited nut shed did not translate into an earlier harvest in all areas.

Kernel recovery was lower than expected early in the season across several regions but has generally improved as harvest has progressed. Smaller nut size in some varieties has continued to influence kernel recovery outcomes.

With harvest still underway in parts of New South Wales and southeast Queensland, final production volumes are yet to be confirmed.

The Australian Macadamia Society will release the final 2026 crop figure once harvest has concluded later this year.

* The ‘Macadamia Crop Forecasting’ project has been funded by Hort Innovation using the macadamia industry levy and contributions from the Australian Government.

Southern Crops Thrive While Northern NSW Awaits Winter Rain

By Ian Rogers

Southern Australia's winter cropping regions continue to benefit from favourable growing conditions, while much of northern New South Wales, including parts of the Northern Rivers, remained largely dry during the latest reporting period.

The latest ABARES Weekly Australian Climate, Water and Agricultural Update shows that, during the week ending 15 July 2026, cold fronts and low-pressure systems delivered useful rainfall across southern and central Australia, while Queensland, northern New South Wales and much of Western Australia recorded little to no rainfall.

Cropping regions across South Australia, Victoria and southern New South Wales received between 5 and 25 millimetres of rain. These falls have helped maintain healthy soil moisture levels and continue supporting the

growth of winter crops. In contrast, cropping regions throughout Queensland and northern New South Wales remained largely dry, with producers continuing to closely monitor seasonal conditions as winter progresses. Looking ahead, ABARES forecasts further cold fronts and low-pressure systems will move across parts of eastern and south-western Australia over the coming week. Forecast rainfall of 5 to 50 millimetres is expected across cropping regions of Western Australia, providing a timely boost following a relatively dry start to July. Most other cropping regions, including northern New South Wales, are forecast to remain largely dry. While the Northern Rivers is better known for livestock, sugar cane, horticulture, macadamias and other high-value agricultural industries than broadacre cropping,

the region's producers will continue watching rainfall and soil moisture conditions closely as spring approaches. Internationally, seasonal conditions have varied across many of the world's major grain and oilseedproducing regions.

According to ABARES, growing conditions have generally remained favourable for wheat, maize, soybeans and rice, although unfavourable weather across parts of the United States, India, the European Union and South-East Asia continues to weigh on production prospects for some crops.

Overall, the global outlook has improved slightly since ABARES released its June Agricultural Commodities Report, with small improvements in worldwide wheat and maize production expected to lift overall grain and oilseed output beyond earlier forecasts.

Meanwhile, water availability across

Australia's major irrigation districts has improved.

Water storage levels in the Murray-Darling Basin increased by 400 gigalitres between 9 and 16 July, bringing total storage to 12,432 gigalitres, or 56 per cent of total capacity. Despite the increase, storage levels remain 983 gigalitres, or around 7 per cent, lower than they were at the same time last year.

Water allocation prices also eased during the week, with prices in the Victorian Murray below the Barmah Choke falling from $426 per megalitre to $403 per megalitre.

As winter continues, producers across northern New South Wales will be watching seasonal conditions closely, while southern cropping regions remain well supported by healthy soil moisture and recent rainfall.

The latest findings are contained in the ABARES Weekly Australian Climate, Water and Agricultural Update.

Gardening Tips & Ideas

Retaining Wall Rules Northern Rivers Property Owners Must Know

Before digging, cutting or filling land, homeowners should confirm whether their retaining wall is exempt, complying development or requires council approval

By Jeff Gibbs

Retaining walls have become an essential feature on many Northern Rivers properties, particularly as new housing estates expand onto sloping land and homeowners seek to create level gardens, driveways and outdoor living areas.

Whether constructed from timber sleepers, concrete blocks, stone or reinforced concrete, retaining walls play a critical role in supporting soil and protecting land from erosion.

Despite appearing to be straightforward landscaping projects, retaining walls are structural works governed by planning laws, engineering standards and local council requirements.

Failing to comply with these rules can result in expensive rectification work, neighbour disputes or enforcement action.

Before starting any excavation or earthworks, property owners should understand the approval process and ensure their proposed wall complies with New South Wales planning legislation.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that every retaining wall requires council approval. In reality, some smaller retaining walls may qualify as Exempt Development, allowing construction without formal planning approval. However, the work must satisfy all relevant standards contained within the State Environmental Planning Policy

(Exempt and Complying Development Codes).

Even where approval is not required, the wall must still be structurally sound and must not create drainage, erosion or safety issues for neighbouring properties.

Exempt development does not remove the owner's responsibility to build safely and in accordance with the law.

Many people believe the 600-millimetre height limit is the only rule that matters. While this measurement is an important threshold within the NSW planning framework, it is only one factor considered when determining whether approval is necessary.

The amount of excavation or fill, proximity to boundaries, nearby buildings, swimming pools, driveways, drainage systems and environmental constraints can all influence the approval pathway.

Several smaller stepped retaining walls may also require further assessment if, together, they retain a significant volume of soil. Where exempt development standards cannot be met, a Complying Development Certificate or a Development Application may be required before work begins.

Local conditions across the Northern Rivers also play an important role. Councils apply the NSW planning framework alongside their own Local Environmental Plans, Development Control Plans and engineering standards. Sites affected by flooding, bushfire risk, heritage

controls, biodiversity protections, landslip hazards or acid sulfate soils often require additional assessment before approval can be granted.

Existing subdivision approvals should also be reviewed, as they may contain specific conditions relating to earthworks, retaining walls, drainage or landscaping. A survey, title search and planning certificate can identify easements, restrictions and other matters that could affect the design.

Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of retaining wall construction is drainage. Water pressure building behind a retaining wall is one of the leading causes of structural failure.

During prolonged wet weather, saturated soil can place enormous pressure on a wall that has not been designed to relieve groundwater.

Proper drainage generally includes free-draining backfill, agricultural drains or drainage cells and a lawful discharge point. Importantly, stormwater or groundwater must not be redirected onto neighbouring land or public areas. Given the Northern Rivers' high rainfall and frequent storm events, drainage is often just as important as the wall itself.

Walls built close to property boundaries require additional care. A retaining wall serves a different purpose to a dividing fence and should not be treated as the same structure. Before construction begins, owners should accurately identify

the legal boundary through a registered survey rather than relying on existing fences or boundary markers.

Excavation, footings or drainage systems should not extend onto adjoining land without the appropriate agreements. Responsibility for a retaining wall also depends on factors such as who altered the natural ground level and which property benefits from the structure, rather than simply whose side of the fence it occupies.

Engineering is another important consideration.

Larger retaining walls or those supporting additional loads such as buildings, swimming pools or driveways often require design by a structural or geotechnical engineer.

Engineering plans may specify footing sizes, reinforcement, concrete strength, drainage systems, soil-bearing capacity, backfill requirements and inspection stages.

Professional engineering helps ensure the wall remains stable throughout its life and significantly

reduces the risk of future structural problems. It is important to remember that engineering approval does not replace planning approval, and planning approval does not replace engineering requirements where they apply.

Choosing an appropriately licensed contractor is equally important. In New South Wales, retaining wall construction may fall within structural landscaping or other licensed building work.

Homeowners should verify licences, insurance and previous experience before signing contracts. Where engineering drawings have been prepared, builders should construct strictly in accordance with those approved plans rather than making changes on site.

Before excavation begins, owners should also identify underground utilities. Water mains, sewer lines, electricity cables, telecommunications services and stormwater infrastructure may all be present beneath the proposed work area.

Striking underground services can create safety risks, expensive repairs and lengthy construction delays.

Careful planning is ultimately the key to a successful retaining wall project. Confirming council requirements, obtaining engineering advice where necessary, designing appropriate drainage, checking underground services and engaging qualified contractors will help ensure the finished structure is both safe and compliant.

A well-designed retaining wall can increase the value, functionality and appearance of a property while protecting it from erosion for decades.

However, cutting corners during planning or construction can result in costly repairs, legal disputes and safety concerns. For Northern Rivers property owners, seeking advice from the local council or an accredited certifier before work begins remains the safest and most costeffective approach.

WEATHER

Northern Rivers District:

Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog. Slight chance of a shower in the morning and afternoon. Light winds. Thursday. Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog. Slight chance of a shower in the evening. Light winds.

Northern Tablelands District:

Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog. Light winds becoming westerly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the afternoon.

Thursday. Areas of morning frost on and west of the ranges. The chance of morning fog. Mostly sunny afternoon. Light winds becoming west to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening.

New South Wales:

Scattered showers on the southern ranges and adjacent slopes, isolated in the far west, central inland and far north east. Dry and sunny elsewhere. Patchy morning fog or frost on the ranges and adjacent southwest slopes. Daytime temperatures above average. Light and variable winds, tending west to northwesterly on the ranges during the day, and freshening along the southern ranges in the afternoon and evening.

Thursday. Isolated showers about the central and northern ranges and western slopes, tending scattered in the south, and falling as snow about the Alpine peaks. Mostly dry and partly cloudy elsewhere. Daytime temperatures below average in the west and south, tending above average in the northeast. West to southwest winds, fresh and gusty in the southeast.

Coast: Winds: Variable below 10 knots becoming northerly 10 to 15 knots during the morning.

1 to 1.5

Gold Coast Waters: Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to 1 metre during the afternoon. Swell: Easterly 2 to 2.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Redmen shine on Old Boys’ Day

By Gary Nichols

The Grafton Redmen put the cleaners through the Kempsey Cannonballs on Saturday with a stunning second -half onslaught to claim a 67-24 victory.

Grafton ran in 11-tries with the backline unleashing their attacking brilliance from all parts of the field.

Scrum-half Ravu Seruvakula was up to his eyeballs in everything dangerous while powerhouse centre Wally Tau Vesi constantly threatened the opposition defence and was rewarded with three five-pointers.

Back-rower Ed McGrath wound back the clock with an inspiring performance to lead the forwards.

Redmen coach Gary Powell was elated with the win but added there was still plenty of work to be done if they are to challenge the top teams in the competition.

“Kempsey were in the game for most of the first half,” Powell said after the match.

“We didn’t see much ball, but when we received a fair share of possession, we proved just how a dangerous a side we can be.

“We scored some amazing tries today but at times we were guilty of pushing the pass and not showing enough patience.

“It’s something we need to work on and talk about at training. We cannot afford to turnover the ball against teams like Port Pirates and Coffs.”

The day coincided with the clubs annual Old Boys Day featuring the 1986 and 2006 premiership winning sides, who were treated to an exhilarating afternoon of running rugby.

“It’s always good to win at home, but to win in front of so many past players was something very special,” Powell said.

Northern Rivers Football Announces Arrival with State Championship

Northern Rivers Football has firmly established itself as one of regional Queensland and northern New South Wales' emerging football development programs after an outstanding performance at the 2026 StepOut Football Queensland Academy State Championships. Competing against Queensland's most established academy clubs, Northern Rivers Football returned home with a state championship title, a

third-place finish and two additional top-10 placings, despite receiving an invitation to the prestigious tournament with only two weeks to prepare. Held over five days at the South Pine Sports Complex and Moreton Bay Sports Complex, the championships featured 87 teams representing 39 academy clubs, showcasing many of Queensland's most promising young footballers. Northern Rivers Football entered

four representative teams, each producing impressive performances throughout the tournament.

Leading the way were the Under-17 Girls, who claimed the 2026 Football Queensland Academy State Championship in emphatic fashion. The side displayed exceptional attacking football while conceding just one goal across six matches. Their success reflected years of dedication, with many players regularly challenging themselves by competing in older age groups and boys' competitions to accelerate their development.

and disciplined football to finish among the state's elite teams.

Northern Rivers' boys also demonstrated the strength of the region's development pathway. The Under-16 Boys finished sixth overall after matching it with some of Queensland's strongest academy programs, while the Under-15 Boys earned a top-10 finish despite assembling their squad little more than a week before the competition. The younger side included six players from the Under-13 and Under-14 age groups, highlighting the depth of emerging talent.

pathway and reinforce the Northern Rivers' growing reputation for producing talented footballers capable of competing with the very best in Queensland.

WET WEATHER LIMITS GOLF TO ONE DAY

Persistent wet weather restricted competition to Tuesday this week, with Thursday's scheduled round abandoned after rain made the course unplayable.

Despite the shortened week, those who played on Tuesday enjoyed a competitive round, with Denise McInerney producing an outstanding 20 points to claim first place.

Maria Donnelly finished runner-up with 19 points, while Susan Frazier secured third place on a countback after also finishing on 19 points. The novelty prizes were also keenly contested.

Paula Bale claimed the

Division 2 Nearest the Pin prize, while there were no successful drives recorded in Division 1.

Denise McInerney completed an impressive day by also winning the Longest Putt prize on the final hole, capping off a memorable performance.

Although Thursday's competition was cancelled due to the wet conditions, many club members still gathered for lunch, enjoying the opportunity to socialise and catch up despite the weather.

Members are now hoping for improved conditions next week so the full competition schedule can resume.

By The Northern Rivers Sports News Desk

The Under-15 Girls also enjoyed a remarkable campaign, securing third place in Queensland.

Featuring players aged between 12 and 15, the squad overcame its limited preparation time through determination, resilience

Head of Football James Rowe said the performances demonstrated that Northern Rivers players belong on the state's biggest stage and reflected the continued growth of football across the region. The results underline the strength of the club's development

Ghosts go down in a nail-biter

By Tim Howard

The Grafton Ghosts have endured a heart-breaking 18-14 loss to the secondplaced Woolgoolga Seahorses at Frank McGuren Field in their last home game of the Group 2 Rugby League season.

Both sides scored three tries apiece, with the Seahorses’ kickers enjoying the advantage of converting tries scored close to the posts, which ultimately proved the difference.

Territorially, the Ghosts were marginally the dominant team, but some outstanding defence kept them at bay.

The difference between the two teams was Woolgoolga fullback Dane O’Hehir, who scored a try and set up the other two.

He was also alert in defence, snuffing out a couple of plays close to the line, while proving safe under the high ball.

After a see-sawing opening 15 minutes, Woolgoolga struck first.

Taking the ball in his own half, O’Hehir burst into the clear, sprinted up the middle of the field and drew the fullback before passing to lock Jake Elphick in support.

Elphick’s pass to halfback Michael Hart was juggled, but Hart held on to score about 15 metres to the left of the uprights.

Elphick converted to make it 6-0.

The Ghosts tried to level the scores, but the Woolgoolga defence was relentless. Several times, last-ditch tackles stopped promising Grafton attacks.

At the 30-minute mark the Seahorses scored again and, once more, it was O’Hehir in the thick of the action.

He sliced through the defence and looked certain to score before a desperate Brendan Williams tackle

brought him down just short.

With the defence scrambling, a short ball from dummy half to a charging Shayde Perham gave the Ghosts’ tacklers no chance as he crashed over beside the posts.

Elphick’s conversion made the score 12-0.

In the final 10 minutes of the half, the Ghosts went close twice.

Winger Jay Olsen was held up over the line and, in the dying minutes of the half, O’Hehir rescued his team by grounding a loose ball in the in-goal.

Woolgoolga’s 12-0 lead was a credit to its defensive efforts and the clinical way it finished the few chances it created.

The change of ends also seemed to change the Ghosts’ fortunes and, six minutes into the second half, they scored a classic try.

From a play-the-ball about 30 metres out and 15 metres in from the

right touchline, the Ghosts swung the ball to the left.

Koopah Walter fired a short ball to Williams, who quickly shifted it to centre Cooper Woods.

Woods straightened, drew the winger and passed to Kyron Nipperess, giving the winger the chance to round his opposite number and score in the corner.

Although Woods’ conversion missed, the try gave the Ghosts confidence they could crack Woolgoolga’s resolute defence.

Five minutes later they were in again with a similar move down the left edge.

This time Woods held onto a pass from his fiveeighth and charged at the line.

Despite a desperate attempt from Woolgoolga back-rower Bradley Collinson, Woods stretched out to plant the ball over the line.

He converted to narrow the score to 12-10.

The Seahorses went close to scoring again a few minutes later and it took a superb Austin Cooper tackle on O’Hehir a metre from the line to save the day.

But the crucial play came in the final 10 minutes.

Woolgoolga made a break up the middle before executing a perfect shortpassing movement to put O’Hehir over for what proved to be the matchwinning try.

Hart passed to Shayde Perham, who surged towards the line before squeezing a short ball to O’Hehir, who plunged over.

With only a few minutes remaining, it looked to have sealed the result.

Instead, the Ghosts hit back immediately.

A clever kick-off found the ground in midfield and a favourable bounce gave centre Jake Martin a chance to attack the line.

He was brought down just short, but Olsen darted into dummy half and plunged

over.

Woods’ conversion cut the margin to 18-14, leaving everything to play for in the closing minutes.

From the kick-off, the Ghosts launched one final desperate attack from deep inside their own half.

Austin Cooper charged 50 metres through some flimsy defence, but his pass under pressure to the supporting Woods was low and the centre could not hold on.

Fittingly, with the siren sounding, a desperate final kick from Williams found O’Hehir, who set off upfield before being brought down by his opposite number in the final tackle of the game.

The South Grafton Rebels had no luck on their road trip to Macksville, going down the Sea Eagles 32-22. This weekend the Ghosts head to Coffs Harbour for a game agains the Comets.

The Rebels have the bye.

Sports

GHOSTS GO DOWN IN A