Thompson
Competing
Held in
Lisa WISEMAN 0437 315 191 lisa@newsofthearea.com.au
8882 ads@newsofthearea.com.au
www.newsofthearea.com.au
We have this Printed Edition available online for FREE, as well as
A MAN has been charged following a fatal single-vehicle crash late last year.
About 10.30pm on Sunday 14 December 2025, police were patrolling The Bucketts Way at Limeburners Creek – about 12km east of Clarence Town – when they located a 36-year-old man on the side of the road.
Officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were told the man’s vehicle had crashed nearby.
A short time later, officers
FOR Brookfield’s Peter Todd, service has never been just a job - it’s been a lifelong commitment to community, family, and country.
Growing up in Wentworthville in Sydney’s west, Peter’s early years were grounded in local schools and a strong sense of community.
But at just 18, he made a decision that would shape the course of his life - joining the Australian Army in 1979.
Where
Clarence
Clarence
Clarence
Paterson
Paterson Friendly Grocer
Paterson Service Station
Paterson Country Cafe/Newsagent
Vacy
Vacy
Dungog
Dungog
Dungog Newsagent
Lovey's IGA
Dowling General
Dungog RSL
Long
Hidden
Bottlemart
Royal
Gresford
Gresford
Gresford
Gresford
As a Combat Engineer and driver in the Royal Australian Engineers, Peter rose to the rank of Corporal, becoming a trainer and testing officer responsible for preparing others for the demands of military life.
Over two decades, he served across New South Wales and Queensland, taking part in major exercises from Victoria to Rockhampton and even deploying to Fiji to support infrastructure projects under Australia’s aid program.
After retiring from the Army in 1999, Peter transitioned into civilian life, taking on various
located the vehicle that had left the road and crashed into a tree.
The passenger, a woman aged 35, was located deceased in the vehicle and was unable to be revived.
The driver was taken to John Hunter Hospital for assessment and mandatory testing.
The Crash Investigation Unit commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Following extensive inquiries, police arrested the 36-year-old
roles and learning new skills.
But the physical toll of his military service eventually caught up with him, leading to medical retirement and a long road of recovery - one he continues to navigate today with the support of his veteran assistance dog, Titan.
Beyond his professional life, Peter’s greatest pride lies in his family.
A devoted father, he raised three daughters largely on his own after gaining full custody when they were young.
Today, he is a proud grandfather to six grandchildren - a closeknit family he describes as his “pride and joy.”
But even while raising a family and managing life’s challenges, Peter never stopped giving back.
His volunteering journey began at 18 with Rotaract, where he held leadership roles and helped raise funds for community causes.
Later, he dedicated nearly three decades to school P&C committees, often serving as President
man at Newcastle Police Station on Wednesday 29 April.
He was charged with six offences:
- Dangerous driving occasioning death-drive under influence;
- Negligent driving (occasioning death);
- Negligent driving (no death or grievous bodily harm);
- Drive vehicle, illicit drug present in blood etc;
- Drive motor vehicle while licence suspended, and;
and advocating for improvements like air conditioning in classrooms - something many schools now take for granted.
His connection to service organisations continued through the RSL, where he supported community events, before finding what would become one of his most impactful roles with the NSW State Emergency Service.
Peter joined the Holroyd SES Unit in 1988, eventually rising to Deputy Local Controller.
Over the years, he responded to major incidents including hailstorms in Sydney and Singleton, floods in Kempsey, and windstorms in Dubbo.
In one of his most significant leadership moments, he coordinated a major storm response involving more than 2,000 calls for assistance.
After later transferring to Penrith and eventually stepping away from the SES in 2014, Peter made a tree change to a rural property in Brookfield, seeking a quieter life. But retirement from
- Not give particulars to police.
Police will allege in court that the driver was under the influence of methamphetamine, and his license was suspended at the time of the crash.
He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 2 on Wednesday 29 April, where he was formally refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday 24 June 2026.
volunteering was never going to last.
When the opportunity came to help re-establish the Dungog SES Unit, Peter stepped forward once again, this time as Unit Commander.
Today, he leads a small but dedicated team, training hard to ensure they’re ready to support their community when disaster strikes.
“I wanted to show my girls that you make time to help where you can,” he said.
Now, he’s encouraging others to do the same.
With roles ranging from field operations to behind-the-scenes
support, Peter says there’s a place for everyone in the SES.
“If you are looking for some way to help your local community then I would say become a volunteer of the Dungog SES Unit and learn new skills or even bring skills with you.
“We are recruiting for members for field work and if that is not what you can then maybe in the operations room might be the place to be.
“There is a job for everyone who wants to volunteer at Dungog SES."
Go to the SES website for more information: ses. nsw.gov.au/volunteer
HUNTER Water has begun supplying drinking water from the Tomago Sandbeds to supplement surface water storages as dam levels continue to decline across the Lower Hunter.
Overall water storages have reduced by more than 20 percent since the start of November due to below-average rainfall, with storages currently around 63.7 percent capacity.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s long-term outlook indicates warmer and drier conditions are likely to persist for the remainder of autumn and the start of winter with the forecast of an increased chance of an El Niño developing later in the year, which may further affect rainfall patterns and could place increased pressure on
water supplies.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries drought indicator shows parts of the Lower Hunter region are experiencing drier-thannormal conditions.
Hunter Water’s Executive Manager Customer Delivery, Glen Robinson, says the Tomago Sandbeds play a significant role in the Lower Hunter’s water supply system and can provide up to 20 percent of the region’s drinking water on average during times of shortfall.
“Operating the Sandbeds now gives us additional flexibility in managing our water system and helps ensure supplies remain available for the community,” said Mr Robinson.
“Hunter Water’s first and highest priority remains
the safety and quality of the drinking water we supply.
“Hunter Water has decades of experience operating the Sandbeds and a thorough understanding of the groundwater system, supported by comprehensive monitoring and testing,” said Mr Robinson.
Water sourced from the Sandbeds is tested at multiple points, including at the borefields, during treatment and before entering the drinking water network.
Hunter Water also controls which bores are used, and as a precaution, two bore stations are isolated within the Williamtown Management Area and will not be used for supply.
“These checks confirm the water supplied to
customers continues to meet the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
“We publish water quality results, including for PFAS, on our website and our operations are independently overseen by regulators, including NSW Health.
“Some customers may notice temporary changes to
the taste or colour of their water when groundwater from the Sandbeds is supplied to the network.
“Groundwater contains higher levels of naturally occurring minerals such as iron and manganese and these minerals can be more difficult to remove during treatment and may
occasionally cause some discolouration, which is not a health concern,” said Mr Robinson.
The trigger to introduce Level 1 water restrictions is when overall storage capacity in the Lower Hunter reaches 60 percent, which is forecast around mid to late June, at the earliest.
DETECTIVES are appealing for information following a series of recent grass fires in the Hunter Valley.
Between Monday 2 March 2026 and Friday 24 April 2026, a total of 24 grass fires were reported in areas surrounding Singleton.
The fires have occurred along Golden Highway at Warkworth, and Mitchell Line
of Road, Jerrys Plains Road, and Putty Road at Mount Thorley.
Of the 24 fires, 17 have been classified as suspicious or the cause undetermined; and occurred on weekdays between 12pm and 5pm.
Due to the extremely dry conditions, police and firefighters warn there is a significant risk of a major fire
that could impact local homes, businesses and the broader community.
Hunter Valley Police District Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Andrew Wheatley, said the pattern of fires is concerning.
“The frequency, timing and locations of these fires raise serious concerns, particularly given how dry the conditions
are across the Hunter Valley,” Det Insp Wheatley said.
“A fire under these conditions has the potential to spread rapidly and place lives, property and emergency services personnel at risk.”
Detective Inspector Wheatley said investigators are urging anyone who was travelling through the affected areas to assist.
“We are specifically asking motorists who were in these locations between midday and 5pm on weekdays to review any dashcam footage they may have,” he said.
“Even something that might seem insignificant – such as a vehicle pulled over or a person behaving unusually – could be critical to our investigation.”
Hunter Valley Police are working closely with the NSW Rural Fire Service and are appealing to residents and road users to report any suspicious behaviour.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Branxton Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Information can be provided anonymously.
Dungog Shire Council is seeking applications from community-minded residents to join the Dungog Showground Recreation Reserve and Gresford School of Arts Hall Section 355 Management Committees, for the remainder of the Council term.
We welcome applicants of all ages, skills and backgrounds, particularly those with a connection to local sporting and community groups.
Dungog Showground Reserve:
The Dungog Showground hosts a wide range of events and activities throughout the year. Committee members play an important role in supporting the ongoing management, use and future direction of the facility.
We currently have two vacancies on the Showground committee. Your input will directly influence the future direction of this important community assets.
Gresford School of Arts Hall:
he Gresford School of Arts Hall has been at the heart of the community for generations, hosting a wide range of events, gatherings and activities each year. Committee members play an important role in ensuring the Hall continues to thrive for years to come.
We currently have several vacancies on the Committee and are seeking expressions of interest from enthusiastic locals passionate about supporting this much-loved community facility.
Applications close 8 May 2026. For more information visit www.dungog.nsw.gov.au/eoi
By Andrew STAFFORD, AAP
AUSTRALIANS are counting the ballooning cost of extreme weather events after they caused almost $5 billion in insured losses in 2025, more than 700 percent up on the previous year.
And the financial toll is only expected to get worse, with independent analysis indicating it could blow out to $35 billion annually by 2050.
The eye-watering sum was revealed by the Insurance Council of Australia, with worrying implications for higher premiums and the insurability of properties, especially in flood-prone areas.
Five extreme weather events including a cyclone and major hailstorms prompted 294,000 insurance claims in 2025, the council said.
Queensland was the
source of the vast bulk of claims, making up a whopping $4.18 billion out of the $4.8 billion national total in insured losses.
It was the largest insured loss damage bill the state had recorded in more than a decade, eclipsing the $3 billion caused by devastating 2022 floods.
NSW incurred the remaining $539 million in 2025 claims.
The year featured north Queensland floods in February, Tropical Cyclone Alfred in March, NSW's mid north coast floods in May and two severe hailstorms in October and November.
The estimated cost of flooding and damage from Tropical Cyclone Alfred from February 28 to March 11 was estimated at $1.5 billion and was the source of 133,000 claims.
However, the costliest event was hailstorms in
Queensland and NSW in late November, which generated almost 93,000 claims totalling $1.7 billion.
Claims were made for damage varying from dents on car roofs and smashed windscreens to uprooted trees and inundated homes.
The total economic cost of extreme weather events in 2025, including insured losses and broader economic costs, was estimated to be more than $8.6 billion, the council said.
Insured losses from extreme weather stood at $2.35 billion in 2023 and $585 million in 2024underscoring the insurance industry's difficulty in forecasting losses from one year to the next.
The council had previously estimated the cost of 2025's extreme weather at $3.5 billion.
Insurance Council of Australia deputy chief Kylie
Macfarlane said the toll of extreme weather may only get worse.
"According to independent analysis undertaken for the Insurance Council in 2022, the cost of extreme weather events is projected to grow by five per cent each year and reach a total of at least $35 billion annually by 2050," she told AAP.
"Compounding this, inflationary pressure, particularly in the construction sector, is making it more expensive to rebuild and repair, with costs flowing directly through to insurance premiums."
Ms Macfarlane said extreme weather's unpredictability and intensity demonstrated the urgent need for authorities to invest in mitigation strategies to protect vulnerable communities.
"Keeping insurance
FROM Page 1
beyond his years.
Remarkably, Mat achieved this victory just eight weeks into his second year as an apprentice butcher.
Throughout the competition, he stood side by side with exceptional and master butchers from Australia and throughout the world, many of whom have been competing and refining their craft for years.
affordable and accessible will require governments at all levels to strengthen the resilience of homes, businesses and communities, reform land use planning, and support Australia's transition to net zero," she said in a statement.
Costs were expected to increase further due not just to climate risk but to a volatile geopolitical environment, with supply chain issues caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the council said.
The World Butcher Wars competition is widely regarded as one of the toughest and most respected contests in the industry, bringing together top apprentices and master butchers from across the globe.
approach to cuts, setting him apart from a highly competitive field.
Judges praised Mat for his technical excellence, efficiency, and innovative
“Mat’s performance was nothing short of exceptional,” said Mick, owner of Stroud Butchery.
“His attention to detail, speed, and understanding
of the craft truly embody the future of the butchering industry.”
Reflecting on his win, Mat expressed gratitude for the opportunity to compete and the support behind him.
“It was an incredible experience to compete in front of such a huge crowd at Meatstock.
“I’m proud to represent Stroud Butchery and my trade and thankful for everyone who has helped me along the way.”
The win cements Mathew Thompson as a name to watch in the Australian butchery scene, as he continues to refine his craft and build on this remarkable achievement.
saleyard numbers at Scone, Tamworth, and Dubbo signals that cattle producers are selling down, with Hunter Local Land Services (LLS) urging landholders to keep making these proactive decisions as conditions tighten moving into winter.
Three key indicators point to increasing pressure on producers.
Scone’s largest yarding on record, with more than 4,000 head, reflects current on-ground decisions, while the LLS Farming Forecaster shows soil moisture levels in the red zone, and the NSW DPI Seasonal Conditions team expects much of the Hunter to be droughtaffected by June.
In response, Hunter LLS is partnering with livestock marketing and
nutrition advisors to deliver a six-workshop Livestock Roadshow this May and June, bringing together Livestock Officers and District Veterinarians to provide practical advice on feeding, animal health and sale decisions.
Hunter LLS’ Sustainable Agriculture team leader, Sarah Giblin said the volume of cattle leaving the Hunter to both northern and southern interstate buyers, tells an important story about the drought planning strategies already coming into play at the farm gate this autumn.
“For Hunter producers, managing dry conditions is not new and many have made early destocking decisions to conserve available feed and reduce risk,” she said.
“There has been solid demand in the yards for
restocker and feeder cattle, and cattle breeders have met an easier market to sell lighter cows and weaners rather than opting to feed.
“It’s time for land managers to focus on practical strategies for managing a tough winter.
“With dry conditions expected to intensify, our Livestock Roadshow events provide a valuable opportunity to develop a clear, workable plan for your stock, regardless of the size of your operation.”
The livestock roadshow will provide an opportunity for producers to connect with local experts, ask questions and share ideaswhether assessing paddock feed, designing feed rations or navigating the rising costs of fuel, cartage and stock feeding.
The events will focus on building confidence through practical, on-farm tools such as stock feed calculators, feed testing and pasture forecasts.
Taking a planned approach to stock
management can help reduce stress, protect groundcover and support long-term productivity, while keeping paddocks ‘rain-ready’.
Livestock Roadshow events will be held across the Hunter region at Krambach on 8 May, Merriwa on 12 May, Millfield on 13 May, Gresford on 14 May, Scone on 20 May, and Denman on 25 May. To register visit the NSW Government Local Land Services events page.
By Tess IKONOMOU and Andrew BROWN, AAP
POTENTIAL changes to negative gearing or capital gains tax in the federal budget would not be breaking the trust of voters, the treasurer says.
As Jim Chalmers prepares to hand down his fifth budget, the government faces accusations it is coming after "mum and dad" investors as family trusts join capital gains tax discounts and negative gearing on the list of possible targets for change.
While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ruled out negative gearing changes ahead of the 2025 federal election, the treasurer said intergenerational pressures would be a focus of the budget.
"The best way to build trust is to make the right decisions for the right reasons, there are genuine intergenerational concerns and pressures," Dr Chalmers told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
"This budget is not about and never will be about setting some Australians against other Australians, it's about recognising some of these legitimate intergenerational concerns, which, in my experience, these concerns are often
shared by older Australians."
Senior Labor figures have done little to dampen expectations the budget will deliver major changes to the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing for investment properties.
Asked on Sunday if the public would support changes Labor had not taken to the 2025 election, Mr Albanese said voters would make their own decisions about his government's record.
The budget is being finalised later than normal due to volatility in the Middle East affecting economies around the world.
While the treasurer said there would be a range of contingencies for further cost-of-living relief, a decision on whether to extend the fuel excise tax cut beyond the end of June would not be in the budget.
The excise cut wiped 26 cents off a litre of fuel at the bowser and was unveiled as a three-month measure.
"We've made it really clear that it's a temporary thing," Dr Chalmers said.
"If we get closer towards the end of that three-month period... obviously we've got a range of contingencies."
The treasurer also said the budget would have net savings for the second year in a row.
Dr Chalmers said there would be more dollars in savings than revenue upgrades or tax reforms in the fiscal blueprint.
"Savings and spending restraint is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in the very responsible budget," he said.
"So much of the heavy lifting here is being done by savings and re-prioritisations to make room for those pressures."
Some of those savings have already been flagged ahead of the budget, with Labor announcing at least 160,000 people were expected to be removed from the NDIS by 2030 as the government curbs growth in spending on the scheme.
The move will do the heavy lifting in budget repair, providing more than $35 billion in forecast savings, although states have sounded the alarm about the financial burden of people with disabilities being shifted onto their health and education systems.
A further $3 billion will be saved by removing the agebased loading for the private health insurance rebate, also announced in April.
In a speech to the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Melbourne on Monday, shadow treasurer Tim Wilson
will paint the expected changes as a "tax agenda assault on family".
"Their capital gains tax applies to everyday Australians, mums and dads, but probably won't to industry super funds nor foreign investors in renewable energy," he will
tell the business group.
"Labor is building a class of Australians dependent on them being in office. This government is not about a better Australia; it is about securing power."
The government will suspend the commercial broadcasting tax for a further
two years as part of the budget, which it estimated would save the industry $111 million through to June 2028. The move follows announced restrictions on gambling advertising, which are expected to hit many media companies' bottom lines.
RECREATIONAL fishers are invited to have their say on which NSW dams and impoundments they would like to see stocked with their favourite freshwater fish species, as the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) develops its stocking program for the year ahead.
DPIRD Aquaculture Director Ian Lyall said NSW is home to numerous impoundments and reservoirs well suited to freshwater fish stocking, helping create and maintain some of the state’s most popular recreational fisheries.
“Each year, DPIRD partners with recreational fishers and local communities to release key sportfishing species, including Murray Cod, Australian Bass, Golden Perch, Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout into public impoundments across NSW,” Mr Lyall said.
“DPIRD has now drafted a new recreational stocking plan for the 2026–2027 season and is seeking feedback on the proposed sites and species.
“This is a great chance for recreational fishers to directly influence where stocking occurs in future seasons.
“They can even put forward new dams for consideration, provided there is practical public access and fishing is allowed.”
Mr Lyall said all fish stocking activities in NSW are managed sustainably under a Fisheries Management Strategy (FMS) and supported by an Environmental Impact Statement, with all proposals assessed to ensure they align with the FMS.
“Last season, more than 5.2 million fish were stocked into NSW waterways, and more than 3.7 million have already stocked across regional NSW for the 2025-26 season,” Mr Lyall said.
“Recreational fishing in NSW is a significant contributor to the NSW economy, and stocking plans play an essential role in building healthy inland fisheries, delivering fantastic fishing opportunities and supporting regional communities.
“DPIRD operates a network of fish hatcheries across NSW that produce the freshwater species used in our stocking programs, including the Narrandera Fisheries Centre, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, Grafton Aquaculture Centre, and the Dutton and Gaden Trout Hatcheries.
“These annual stockings are a clear example of recreational fishing licence fees being reinvested to improve fishing opportunities right across the state.”
Recreational fishers are encouraged to email their feedback on the draft plan to fish. stocking@dpird.nsw.gov.au by 22 May 2026.
To view the NSW Freshwater Fish Stocking Plan and for more information, visit: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/ recreational/resources/stocking/enhancedfish-production
SATURDAY
OOOPS! I BOUGHT A PUB
SEVEN, 8pm
An actor and a teetotal filmmaker walk into a pub… No, it’s not the set-up for a corny joke, but the premise of this charming country adventure that sees Kenny star Shane Jacobson and his mate Dean Murphy (above left, with Jacobson) buy a tired old pub sight unseen and restore it to its former glory as the heart of the community. Their project is located in the tiny Victorian town of Dederang, about halfway between Melbourne and Canberra, where they assemble a colourful team of locals, tradies and experts to pull off the massive renovation.
FRIDAY, May 8
6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 Gardening Australia.
8.30 Patience. (PGad) A monk is found dead in a chapel.
9.20 Gruen. (PG, R) Presented by Wil Anderson.
9.55 Urzila. (Mals, R) Comedic chaos from Urzila Carlson.
10.20 ABC Late News.
10.40 Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee. (PG, R)
11.25 Murdoch Mysteries. (Ma, R)
12.15 Love Me. (MA15+, R)
1.05 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv)
5.00 Rage. (PG)
Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 8.00 Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! 8.25 BTN Newsbreak. 8.30 My Adventures With Superman. 8.55 BattleBots. 9.40 Gladiators UK.
6.00 Mastermind Australia.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Going Places With Ernie Dingo. (PG)
MONDAY 9-1-1
SEVEN, 8.40pm
It’s grim, but rather standard practice these days for an episode of a crime procedural to kick off with a dead body. However, this unusual instalment of 9-1-1 arrive at the police precinct on a bike and ask for Athena (Angela Bassett), intent on reporting his own murder. The confusing situation begins to make sense when he starts coughing and falls to the ground, apparently poisoned. While Athena teams up with Major Crimes on the confounding case, Buck (Oliver Stark, pictured) hits rock bottom and comes clean to Chimney (Kenneth Choi) about his recent reliance on prescription painkillers. In touching scenes, the entire 118 team rallies around as Buck recovers.
8.30 Mystery Of The First Temple.
10.30 SBS World News Late.
11.00 The King. (Madlsv)
11.55 Babylon Berlin. (Mav, R)
1.45 Brian Cox: How The Other Half Live. (Ml, R)
3.30 Finding Your Roots. (PG, R)
4.30 Bamay. (R)
4.55 Destination Flavour: Singapore Bitesize. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
WEDNESDAY ALEXANDER
He’s on Australian screens every day as the host of hit game Pointless, but British broadcaster Alexander Armstrong (pictured) can’t be confined to the TV studio for too long. In this new three-part documentary, the well-travelled presenter visits India to explore some of the country’s most famous destinations, gaining a stronger understanding of its rich history, sacred traditions and culture along the way. Wednesday’s first leg sees Armstrong dive headfirst into the glorious chaos and splendour of Mumbai. He gets a well-rounded view of the bustling city, checking out colonial sites, sampling street food and even touring local homes with a real estate agent.
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. 8.00 Sydney Weekender Special. Discovers the best Sydney has to offer. 9.00 MOVIE: Tower Heist. (2011, Mls, R)
A building manager and his staff join forces with a thief to take revenge on a Wall Street swindler. With only days to go before he gets away with his crimes, they must work out how to relieve him of his fortune.
Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Casey Affleck. 11.10 My Reno Rules. (PGl, R) 12.55 Quacks. (MA15+d)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 5.00 NBC Today.
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Rugby League. NRL. North Queensland Cowboys v Parramatta Eels.
9.55 NRL Friday Night Footy Post-Match. Post-match coverage of the NRL game.
10.45 MOVIE: Snitch. (2013, Mdv, R) A father makes a deal with the US attorney. Dwayne Johnson.
1.00 Explore TV Viking. (R)
TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)
Global Shop. (R)
TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
Postcards. (PG, R) 6.00 10
6.00 Morning Programs. 10.30 Rage Vault Guest Programmer. (PG) 12.00 News. 12.30 Death In Paradise. (M, R) 1.30 Patience. (PGad, R) 2.20 David Attenborough’s Galapagos. (R) 3.10 David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef. (R) 4.10 Judgment: Cases That Changed Australia. (Final, R) 5.00 Aust Story. (R) 5.35 Landline. (R)
6.05 Kath & Kim. (PGals, R)
6.25 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) Presented by Tom Gleeson.
7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day.
7.30 Death In Paradise. (M) A game show contestant is stabbed during filming of the series’ grand finale.
8.30 Silent Witness. (MA15+v) Benjamin is visited by the police who promise to look into Gloria’s disappearance. Nikki performs post-mortems on a couple found in the woods.
10.15 Bergerac. (Mdl, R)
11.00 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) Continuous music programming.
6am Children’s Programs. 3.30pm Tiddler. 3.55 Children’s Programs. 6.20 Bluey. 6.25 Emerald. 6.40 Hey Duggee’s Squirrel Club. 6.45 Supertato. 6.55 Piripenguins. 7.05 Let’s Go Bananas! 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Kids Baking C’ship. 8.10 Kids BBQ Championship. 8.50 Caper Crew. 9.15 Mr Bean: The Animated Series. 9.40 Fresh Off The Boat. 10.20 Abbott Elementary. 10.40 Late Programs.
3.00 Stories From The Cities. 3.30 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Liege-BastogneLiege. Men’s race. H’lights. 4.30 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Giro d’Italia. Stage 1.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Jewels Of The Mediterranean. (PGa)
8.25 Magical Train Journeys In Switzerland. (R)
9.25 Jersey And Guernsey. (R)
10.20 The Wonders Of Europe. (PGa, R)
11.20 Snowpiercer. (MA15+v, R)
2.00 Matched. (PG, R)
2.50 Finding Your Roots. (PG, R)
3.50 Colors Of The Islands: The Caribbean. (PGaw, R)
4.25 Bamay. (R) 4.50 Destination Flavour: Singapore Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. Hosted by Johanna Griggs. 8.00 Ooops! I Bought A Pub. (Mal) Hosted by Shane Jacobson. 8.30 MOVIE: Apollo 13. (1995, PGal, R) Three NASA astronauts find their lives in danger after a potentially catastrophic explosion. Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon. 11.20 SAS: AUS v ENG. (Malv, R) 12.20 Devils. (MA15+av) 1.20 Harry’s Practice. (R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 It’s Academic. (R) 5.00 House Of Wellness. (PG, R)
7TWO (62)
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 MOVIE: Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back. (1980, PGv, R) 10.00 MOVIE: Conan The Destroyer. (1984, Mv, R)
11.55 Law & Order: Organized Crime. (MA15+av, R)
12.45 Tasman Trails. (R)
1.35 Open For Inspection. (R)
2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PGa)
2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.30 Global Shop. (R) 5.00 TV Shop. (R) 5.30 Helping Hands. (PG, R)
6.30 The Dog House. (PGa, R) A couple are looking for an outgoing pup. 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. Newlyweds must decide if their townhouse is suitable.
8.30 Building The Dream. Architectural designer Charlie Luxton helps first-time builders design budget-friendly homes that suit their lifestyles. 9.30 Ambulance Australia. (Ma, R) Follows paramedics as they respond to a seven-year-old boy who is gasping for air. 10.30 Matlock. (PGa, R) An airport ramp operator is accused of negligence. 12.30 Home Shopping. (R)
6.00 Morning Programs. 10.00 Offsiders. 10.30 World This Week. (R) 11.00 Compass. (PG, R) 11.30 Praise. 12.00 News. 12.30 Landline. 1.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 2.30 The Assembly. (R) 3.20 Judgment: Cases That Changed Australia. (Final, R) 4.10 Grand Designs. (PG, R) 5.00
6.30 Compass. (PG)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 The Assembly: Jimmy Barnes. (PGa)
8.15 Bad Company. (M) Julia learns about Margie’s famous sister.
8.45 Bergerac. (Mlv) Bergerac and Barney’s relationship reaches breaking point.
9.30 Death In Paradise. (Ma, R) A game show contestant is stabbed during filming.
10.30 Silent Witness. (MA15+av, R)
12.15 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
3.00 Gardening Australia. (R)
4.00 Dream Gardens. (PG, R)
4.30 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R)
5.00 Insiders. (R)
6am Children’s Programs. 5.40pm Super Monsters. 5.55 Octonauts. 6.05 Knee High Spies. 6.20 Bluey. 6.25 Emerald. 6.40 Hey Duggee’s Squirrel Club. 6.45 Supertato. 6.55 Piripenguins. 7.05 Let’s Go Bananas! 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 The Inbestigators. 7.45 Caper
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 History’s Greatest Mysteries. (PG, R) 8.20 Bettany Hughes’ Lost Worlds: Nabataeans. (R) 9.20 Tulum: The Last City Of The Mayan Empire. (Ma, R) 10.20 The Kim Dynasty: A Family Affair. (PGa, R) 11.15 MOVIE: Duran Duran: A Hollywood High. (2022, G, R) 12.35 MOVIE: Sheryl. (2022, Ml, R) 2.20 Matched. (PG, R) 3.10 Finding Your Roots. (PG, R) 4.10 Colors Of The Islands: The Caribbean. (PGa, R) 4.45 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 PBS News Horizons.
MOVIES (32)
6am Anton Chekhov 1890. (2015, PG, French) 7.25 Discovering Film. 8.20 Meek’s Cutoff. (2010, PG) 10.20 The Invisible Fight. (2023, M, Estonian) 12.25pm Moulin Rouge! (2001, M) 3.00 The Straight Story. (1999, PG) 5.05 The Assassin. (2015, PG, Mandarin) 7.05 The Little Shop Of Horrors. (1960, PG) 8.30 Treasure. (2024, M) 10.35 The Piano Teacher. (2001, MA15+, French) 1.05am Late Programs. 6am The Movie Show. 6.40 The Assassin. (2015, PG, Mandarin) 8.35 The Little Shop Of Horrors. (1960, PG) 10.00 The Way Back. (2010, M) 12.25pm Anton Chekhov Forever Enthralled. Roxane. (2019, PG, Joan Baez: I Am A Noise. (2023) 8.30 Little Loves. (2024, Late Programs.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 The 1% Club. (PGls) 8.00 7NEWS Spotlight. 9.00 Betrayal. (Malnsv) John tracks down an elusive Iranian general. 11.00 24 Hours In Police Custody: Family Secrets. (MA15+a, R) Follows a police investigation. 12.00 A Friend Of The Family. (MA15+a, R)
1.00 Harry’s Practice. (R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 NBN News. 7.00 The Floor. (PGl) 8.15 60 Minutes. Current affairs program. 9.15 Australian Crime Stories: The Investigators: The Golden Hour. (Mavv) Detectives race to find the killer of So Ra Moon.
The First 48. (Mav, R)
American Ripper. (Mav)
Oz Off Road TV. (PG, R)
TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)
The Garden Gurus. (R)
Today Early News.
6am Children’s Programs. 6.05pm Spidey And His Amazing Friends. 6.20 Bluey. 6.25 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.00 Superbuns. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.20 BTN Newsbreak. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.45 Gladiators UK. 9.40 Kids BBQ Championship. 10.25 Kids Baking C’ship. 11.05 Late Programs.
6.00 Mastermind Australia.
6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes. (PG)
8.40 Ancient Greece By Train. (R) 9.35 Never Mind The Buzzcocks. (M)
10.25 SBS World News Late.
10.55 Sambre: Anatomy Of A Crime. (Mav)
12.05 Gomorrah. (Malv, R)
2.45 MOVIE: Fiona Clark: Unafraid. (2021, Malns, R)
4.10 Bamay. (R) 4.45 Destination Flavour: Singapore Bitesize. (PGa, R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGa) 7.30 Glenn And Mick’s Celebrity Intervention. (Mal) 8.40 9-1-1. (Madv)
9.40 The Agenda Setters: Rugby League. (R)
10.40 The Agenda Setters. 11.40 Happy’s Place. (PGa) 12.10 New Amsterdam. (MA15+a, R) 1.05 The Outdoor Room With Jamie Durie. (R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
NBN News.
A Current Affair.
A 7.30 Special. (R)
FAMILY (22)
6am Children’s Programs. 6.20pm Bluey. 6.25 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.00 Superbuns. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.20 BTN Newsbreak. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.45 The Slow Mo Guys’ Big Adventures. 9.10 MythBusters “There’s Your Problem!”. 9.35 BattleBots. 10.20 Merlin. 11.05 Late Programs.
SBS MOVIES (32)
6am Morning
6am
6.00 Mastermind Australia.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Who Do You Think You Are? (Return)
8.30 Insight. Kumi Taguchi looks at the work-life balance in 2026. 9.30 Dateline.
10.00 SBS World News Late.
10.30 Living Black. (R)
11.05 Exit. (MA15+av)
12.00 Breaking Point. (Mlv, R)
2.35 Primitive Medium. (R)
2.45 Great Coastal Railway Journeys. (PGa, R)
4.30 Bamay. (R)
5.00 Eurovision Song Contest.
(31) VICELAND (31)
Programs. 7.55 Joan Baez: I Am A Noise. (2023) 10.00 Manon Des Sources. (1986, M, French) 12.05pm Man Who Didn’t Want To See The Titanic. (2021, M, Finnish) 1.40 The Assassin. (2015, PG, Mandarin) 3.40 The Little Shop Of Horrors. (1960, PG) 5.05 The Eagle Has Landed. (1976, PG) 7.30 The Three Musketeers: Milady. (2023, M, French) 9.40 The Idol. (2015, M, Arabic) 11.35 Late Programs. 6am Forever
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGa) Preparations begin for Archie’s birthday. 7.30 My Reno Rules. (PGl) Hosted by Dr Chris Brown.
9.05 Doc. (Ma) While navigating the fallout from Katie’s secret, Amy treats a critically-ill patient with a dark one of her own. 10.05 House Of Wellness. (PG) Insights and experiences that highlight living well. 11.05 The Agenda Setters. 12.05 New Amsterdam. (MA15+a, R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
SBS MOVIES (32)
Enthralled. (2008, PG, Mandarin) 8.45 The Eagle Has Landed. (1976, PG) 11.10 Little Loves. (2024, Spanish) 1pm The Idol. (2015, M, Arabic) 2.55 Discovering Film. 3.50 Joan Baez: I Am A Noise. (2023) 5.55 Dancing At Lughnasa. (1998, PG) 7.35 Hating Alison Ashley. (2005, PG) 9.30 Love And Mercy. (2014, M) 11.45 Sing Street. (2016, M) 1.45am Late Programs.
MADE FRESH, MADE DELICIOUS
Chargrilled steaks Fresh Fish Pub classics Chef’s specials
WEEKDAY LUNCHES
$20 meals + $5 schooner WHAT’S ON
Wednesday - Trivia from 6.30pm Thursday - Meat Raffle & Joker Poker from 5.30pm Sunday - Roast Lunch, Full menu also
WEDNESDAY, May 13
TV (2)
6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.00 Four Corners. (R) 10.45 Dr Ann’s Secret Lives. (R) 11.20 Back Roads. (Final, PG, R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Press Club. 1.35 Media Watch. (PG, R) 2.00 Parliament. 2.55 Grand Designs Australia. (PG, R) 3.55 Murdoch Mysteries. (PG, R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
6.00 Morning Programs. 10.00 Legacy List. (PGa, R) 11.00 Wonderland: Lewis Carol To JRR Tolkien. (PGa, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Dateline. (R) 2.30 Insight. (R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Jeopardy! 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Giro d’Italia. Stage 4. H’lights.
6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.
7.35 Alexander Armstrong In India. (Premiere)
8.30 The Trial Of Michael Jackson. (M)
9.25 The Audacity. (M)
10.30 SBS World News Late. 11.00 Rise Of The Raven. (MA15+asv)
12.00 Blue Lights. (Malv, R)
2.05 Classified. (Malv, R)
3.45 Great Coastal Railway Journeys. (PG, R)
4.20 Bamay. (R)
4.55 Destination Flavour: Singapore Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning.
5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
ABC FAMILY (22)
6am Children’s Programs. 6.40pm Hey Duggee. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.00 Superbuns. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.20 BTN Newsbreak. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.45 Steven Universe. 9.05 Adventure Time. 9.30 Teen Titans Go! 9.55 Pokémon: Diamond And Pearl. 10.15 My Adventures With Superman. 10.35 Late Programs.
VICELAND (31)
(32)
6am Discovering
Film. 6.55 The Boy And The Heron. (2023, PG) 9.10
Hating Alison Ashley. (2005, PG) 11.00 Dancing At Lughnasa. (1998, PG) 12.40pm Post Coitum, Animal Triste. (1997, M, French) 2.30 The Eagle Has Landed. (1976, PG) 4.55 Discovering Film. 5.45 Moonlighting. (1982, PG) 7.35 Xanadu. (1980) 9.30 Walk The Line. (2005, M) Midnight Body Melt. (1993, MA15+) 1.30 Late Programs.
THURSDAY, May 14
TV (2)
6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.00 Gruen. (PGs, R) 10.35 Guy Mont Spelling Bee. (PG, R) 11.25 Urzila. (Mls, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Bergerac. (Mlv, R) 1.45 Tech Smart Agriculture. (R) 2.00 Parliament. (Final) 2.55 Grand Designs Australia. (PG, R) 3.55 Frankie Drake. (PGv, R) 4.40 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.25 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
The Assembly: Jimmy Barnes. (PGa, R)
The Business. (R)
Frankie Drake Mysteries. (PGv, R)
Long Lost Family. (PG, R)
ABC FAMILY (22)
6am Children’s Programs. 5.55pm Octonauts. 6.05 Spidey And His Amazing Friends. 6.20 Bluey. 6.25 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.00 Superbuns. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.20 BTN Newsbreak. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.45 Ultimate Vets. 9.05 Animal Park. 10.35 Late Programs.
(3)
6.00 Morning Programs. 10.00 Legacy List With Matt Paxton. (PGah, R) 11.00 Finding Your Roots. (PG, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 The Point. (R) 2.05 Cotswolds And Beyond With Pam Ayres. (R) 3.00 Living Black. (R) 3.30 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Jeopardy! 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Giro d’Italia. Stage 5. H’lights.
6.00 Mastermind Australia.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Rick Stein’s Australia.
8.40 American Prince: JFK Jr: Ladies And Gentlemen, Meet George. (Ml, R) John F Kennedy Jr launches George magazine.
9.30 A Gentleman In Moscow. (Premiere)
10.30 SBS World News Late.
11.00 Under The Bridge. (Madl) 11.50 DNA. (MA15+a, R)
2.25 Great Coastal Railway Journeys. (PGa, R)
4.10 Bamay. (R)
5.00 Eurovision Song Contest.
VICELAND (31)
MOVIES (32)
6am Discovering Film. 6.25 Xanadu. (1980) 8.15 Grandpas. (2019, PG, Spanish) 10.05 Corsage. (2022, M) 12.05pm Ali. (2001, M) 2.55 Discovering Film. 3.45 Monsieur Verdoux. (1947, PG) 6.00 Golden Years. (2016, PG) 7.50 Monty Python’s Life Of Brian. (1979, M) 9.30 The Commitments. (1991, M) 11.40 Long Story Short. (2021, M) 1.20am Unfaithful. (2002, MA15+) 3.30 Late Programs.
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away. (PGa)
7.30 SAS: AUS v ENG. (Madlv) Recruits must maintain their composure.
8.30 The Front Bar. (Ml) Hosts Sam Pang, Mick Molloy and Andy Maher take a lighter look at all things AFL.
9.30 Unfiltered. (M)
10.00 The Agenda Setters.
11.00 Why Bridges Collapse. (PGa, R)
12.15 Kochie’s Business Builders. (R)
12.45 New Amsterdam. (MA15+a, R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Events That Changed Australia. (Madlv)
8.30 Outback Murder Highway. (Mdv)
9.30 NRLW Wrap: Women’s State Of Origin Special. (PG)
10.30 9News Late.
11.00 Freddy And The Eighth. (Ml)
11.50 Tipping Point. (PG, R)
12.40 Pointless. (PG, R)
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
2.30 Global Shop. (R)
3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Skippy. (R) 4.30 ACA. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.
6am Morning Programs. 10.00 Australia ReDiscovered. 10.30 American Resto. 11.00 Storage Wars. 11.30 American Pickers. 12.30pm
(6)
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away. (PGl)
7.30 Highway Patrol. (PGl, R)
8.00 Motorway Patrol. (PG) A laptop left on a rooftop causes grief for a sole trader.
8.30 Britain’s Got Talent. Hosted by Ant and Dec.
10.30 Unbelievable Moments Caught On Camera. (PGa, R)
11.30 SAS: AUS v ENG. (Madlv, R)
12.30 New Amsterdam. (MA15+a, R)
1.30 Harry’s Practice. (R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
7TWO (62) 7TWO (62)
6.00 NBN News. 7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 Rugby League. NRL Women’s State Of Origin. Queensland v New
6am Children’s Programs. 8.30 Nanny. 9.30 Addams Family. 10.30 Bewitched. 11.30 Motor Racing. FIA World Endurance C’ship. 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. H’lights. 12.35pm MOVIE: Police Academy. (1984, M) 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Tango & Cash. (1989, M) 10.35 Seinfeld. 11.35 Late Programs. 6am Children’s Programs. 8.30 Nanny. 9.30 Addams Family. 10.30 Bewitched. 11.30 Motor Racing. Indycar Series. Sonsio Grand Prix. H’lights. 12.35pm MOVIE: June Again. (2020, M) 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Never Been Kissed. (1999, PG) 10.40 Seinfeld. 11.40 Rugby Heaven. 12.40am Love Island UK: All Stars. 1.40 Late Programs.
BENDOLBASALISBURY RFB Annual General Meeting Wed 20 May 2026 BBQ 6pm - Meeting 6.30pm. Enquiries: Nick Helyer (President) 0418 620 934
DINING chairs, 6 black leather & chrome, msg for photo. 0427 818 294
LOUNGE chairs x 4 pieces. good cond Ph 0493 777 707 F070825
MUGS, 15x brand new Ph 0493 777 707
OUTDOOR table glass top, 8 chairs 150 x 150, VGC. 0412 949 695.
RUG good condition Ph 0493 777 707
BEER brewing kit complete plus 250 bottles. $99. 6559 6656
CAMPING chairs x 2 with side table. Very good cond. $25 each Ph 0434 521 457
COCA-COLA
Memorabilia Collection $95. 0409 863 898
COKE bottles & cans x 14, some bottles full 2000 Olympic can, 1989 Ghost Busters can, 1987 America Cup bottle & more. $40. 0447 076 485
TIMBER double bed base with 4 drawers underneath. GC. Pick up Medowie. Ph 0466 013 853 F260226
WINDSURFING board F2 AXXIS plus boom & bag. 85 liters, No dings 0419 932 992
4981 8882
casserole dish $50 Ph 0477 827
DESK, 2ft x 6ft 4 drawer older style timber desk GC. $75. 0434 521 457
SWIMMING pool magnesium salt 25kg bag $90. Ph 0477 587 881
TOYS, battery operated assortment starting from $10. Ph 0432 050 619
ELECTRIC lift chair good working order $100. Ph 0434 521 457
KIDS clothing boxes $20 each. Sizes 000 to 8. Boys & girls. Ex cond some new. Massive savings! Pick up Clarence Town. Ph 0432 050 619
KIDS pirate ship, water fun, GC. $80. Ph 0432 050 619 F150426
MAKYBE Diva framed print. Very good cond $50. Ph 0409 022 542
print $50 0477 827
COLLECTION of frogs approx. 60 pieces, all sizes. $50. 0457193 071 F070126 SPALDING tennis racquet with cover. $20 0457 193 071
VICTOR special and utility, 2 each also Sheerline and many other mower parts. $150 6558 9242
WIGGLES 4 drawer chest, $60. Ph 0432 050 619
CLASSIFIEDS 02 4981 8882
JAYCO Journey 2018 19ft 6”, exc. cond. dual axle, island bed, ensuite shower, $49,000 ono Ph 0439 000 300 e200526
SPONSOR A DISADVANTAGED AUSTRALIAN CHILD TODAY.
By JASMINDA
DEAR Jasminda,
Last night I made a birthday dinner for my mum.
I decided to make the veggie burgers that I used to love as a teenager because I thought it would be nostalgic.
The dinner was panned by every family member as being 'bland', 'missing something' and 'disappointing'. I feel as though my energy and enthusiasm was completely wasted.
I doubt I'll bother again.
Dear Innes,
Innes P.
In a strange way, this reminds me of a fateful trip to Europe to try to
relive my younger days.
Before this, my memories of Europe were of languid afternoons sitting at bars on the top of snowcapped mountains, vigorous clubbing, copious quantities of chocolate, fondue, and, importantly, the joie de vivre one experiences in the giddy throes of youth with a childhood friend.
The return trip had a few key differences.
One: I was decades older.
Two: I was travelling with a family including sulky teens instead of my lifelong friend.
Three: It was a different season, so the snow-capped mountains were replaced with fields of green (still beautiful, but inconsistent with my memories).
Four: There was an inability to bounce back from an overconsumption of food (and Schnapps -- but that's another story).
Sitting now, on my back deck, my mind is travelling back to experiences only accessible by drawing on my memories.
And that is the point I am trying to make (if I can pull myself out of the depths of sentimentality).
You can't recreate the past, Innes. I suspect your decision around the veggie burgers was doomed from the start, because it was never about the veggie burgers.
It was about a time of life when dreams and ambitions were within your grasp.
It was about the salt in your hair after a day at the beach.
The smell of coconut oil that you'd plastered all over your body. It was about a time as vivid and evocative as a Don Henley song.
And now it has been replaced with the cold slap of being an adult, (and solar keratoses from too much youthful sun exposure) coupled with an ungrateful family, and, to top if off, an unpalatable veggie patty washed down with alfalfa, a whole grain bun and wilted lettuce.
Heck, Innes, now I'm feeling despondent.
From experience, sharing meals based on memories can be a success
or an unmitigated disaster. Either way, no one can hold you solely responsible.
We can't relive the past, and we certainly can't expect others to understand the deeply personal elements of our particular blend of nostalgia.
Instead, they may view something important to you as 'bland', 'missing something' or 'disappointing'. There's nothing you can really do about that.
Well... nothing except perhaps swap out the veggie burger for a
baked dinner with succulent roast lamb, potatoes twice-baked in duck fat to give them that satisfying crunch, honeyed carrots topped with sesame seeds, homemade gravy, and a selection of sauces including mint sauce and cranberry (gently warmed).
I suspect that may help your other family members lean into their sense of yearning.
Carpe diem, Jasminda.
By Claire STUCHBERY, Executive Director of the Local and Independent News Association
YOU may have heard that the government is proposing a new levy on tech giants like Google and Facebook to help fund Australian journalism.
Before you look away, thinking ‘what has this got to do with me?’ – a quick question.
What do you like about the website or newspaper you’re currently reading?
Maybe it publishes stories and issues that other news outlets would never cover.
Maybe it represents your culture and platforms voices that too often go unheard.
Or perhaps it tells you what’s on in the community and contributes to making the place you live feel like home.
All those things matter – a lot.
Which is why we are fighting for the funds raised from the new levy on tech giants to make their way to local and independent newsrooms.
Because the concerning thing is, under the government’s current plan, they probably won’t.
To back up a little, what the government is essentially trying to do is ensure Australians still have access to quality news and information.
As advertisers have increasingly moved towards digital platforms, newsrooms – whose work is often read or watched on those same digital platforms – have lost revenue despite still providing a valuable service to the public.
To use a sweet little metaphor, you could say newsrooms are
making chocolate, but because the ads are printed on the wrapper, only the wrapper manufacturers are making money.
As a result, many Australian newsrooms have closed, laid off journalists or simply have not had the resources to dive deeply into the stories that matter.
So the government’s on the right track, broadly-speaking, because protecting news from our own backyard is crucial. But it’s a question of which backyard.
Quality journalism is key to a well-functioning democracy, and democracy doesn’t just happen in Canberra. Or Sydney or Melbourne or any other capital for that matter.
Democracy happens all around us, every day. In the decisions of councils, the actions of local MPs, and the experiences of everyday people. But in news deserts, democracy fights for air.
Australia already has one of the most concentrated media markets in the democratic world. Our democracy has strong foundations in many other ways –think compulsory and preferential voting – but the lack of diversity in media ownership and voices takes us down a rung on the democratic health ladder.
The government’s proposed legislation risks further entrenching this if it doesn’t create a clear path for local, independent and emerging newsrooms to benefit from the levy on tech companies.
A percentage of funds raised through the levy should go to growing diversity in the news media industry, bringing new voices into the public dialogue and addressing news deserts.
The good news is we already
have a policy framework in place outlining where government intervention is appropriate and needed through the News Media Assistance Program Policy Framework. Government merely needs to apply its own policy objectives to the estimated $250 million per year the proposed levy would raise for Australian journalism.
Basing eligibility around revenue thresholds, as the current proposal does, will only entrench the status quo, further harm small publishers and volunteer-based community media, and benefit the big players (who have an important role to play, but not the only role). It creates further barriers to entry in a field that is already difficult but is so needed to help us know what’s going on around us.
In Australia we have long known there are some extremely valuable public services that cannot be funded by the user alone – think healthcare, education or roads. News and information is no different.
The government's proposed levy on tech giants is a rare chance to move the needle on media diversity and public interest journalism without dipping into its own pocket.
The trick now is to make sure the benefits flow to strengthen publications like this one right here.
About the author: Claire Stuchbery is Executive Director of the Local and Independent News Association, a not-forprofit representing more than 170 digital, local and independent newsrooms around Australia.
By Steven WHYBROW, FinTech and payments innovation consultant
WALK down any main street in regional Australia and you’ll find small businesses doing what they do best: serving their communities with pride, hard work, and a personal touch.
Businesses in our regional towns thrive on trust, the kind that comes from knowing the people behind the counter.
But there’s a growing issue quietly affecting many small businesses, here and across the country.
It’s not rising costs, staffing shortages, or competition from online giants.
It’s something far less visible yet surprisingly damaging.
Sometimes, customers don’t recognise the business name that appears on their bank statement.
It sounds trivial. It isn’t.
Unclear or unfamiliar billing descriptors (the short line of text that identifies a business on a cardholder’s statement) are one of the biggest drivers of unnecessary disputes.
For small businesses, those disputes translate into lost revenue, wasted time, and strained customer relationships. Industry data shows that 35 percent of all card transaction disputes occur simply because the customer doesn’t recognise the merchant’s name.
Worse still, 85 percent of customers go straight to their bank to complain when they don’t recognise a charge.
What begins as confusion quickly becomes a formal dispute, complete with fees and administrative headaches.
These aren’t fraud cases.
They’re misunderstandings and they’re entirely preventable.
When a customer disputes a charge, the business is hit with more than inconvenience.
Chargebacks come with fees, and even when the business successfully defends the transaction, the time spent gathering evidence and responding to the bank is time taken away from serving customers.
Repeated disputes can also affect a business’s risk rating with its bank or payments provider, leading to higher fees or stricter monitoring.
But perhaps the most damaging consequence is the erosion of trust all because the name on their statement didn’t match the name on the shopfront.
Businesses don’t intentionally choose confusing billing descriptors.
Often the descriptor defaults to a legal entity name, an abbreviation, or a generic label from the payment provider. In a world where customers skim their statements quickly, clarity matters.
The good news is that it’s easy to fix.
A clear descriptor should use the trading name and correct location that customers recognise.
Avoid abbreviations and match what appears on receipts, signage, websites, and booking confirmations.
Since moving to the Mid North Coast, I’ve noticed a handful of local businesses whose billing descriptors don’t match the names customers see on their shopfronts or websites.
It’s a common oversight, but fixing it can reduce disputes, protect revenue, and strengthen customer trust.
If you’re a business owner, take a moment to check how your business name appears on a customer’s bank statement.
It’s a five‑minute task that could save you hours of dispute management and fees.
By Jacob SHTEYMAN and Nick WILSON, AAP
A SPATE of fire bombings could be just the beginning as concerns mount the tax system is driving a burgeoning alcohol black market putting lives and the budget bottom line at risk.
Police have not confirmed whether illicit alcohol was behind 15 incidents at hospitality venues across inner Melbourne since 14 April, but the industry is warning Australia's high excise settings is fuelling organised crime.
Two more Melbourne hospitality venues were attacked in the early hours of Saturday, as police investigate whether they are linked to the broader spree.
A Molotov cocktail was thrown towards a licensed venue on Cecil Street at South Melbourne about 2.20am.
About an hour later, the glass doors of a Docklands restaurant were smashed before accelerant was used to set it alight, police said.
Three males - aged 16, 19 and
22 - were arrested in relation to the Docklands attack while no alleged offenders have been identified for the earlier incident.
Detectives from Operation Eclipse will investigate whether the incidents are linked to the broader spate of attacks on licensed venues.
If the alcohol excise is left unchecked, the nation could face a second black market scourge, after the explosion in illicit tobacco that has decimated the federal budget's excise take and spurred gang violence.
The experience of the tobacco market was a "cautionary tale", industry body Spirits and Cocktails Australia chief executive Steven Fanner told AAP.
High excise rates equate to more than $30 on a standard 700ml bottle of spirits.
Mr Fanner warns the excise is interacting with the alcohol manufacturers remission scheme - a tax break intended to support craft distillers by allowing small manufacturers to produce their first 8500 litres or so excise-free - to do
more harm than good.
The system is being gamed by dodgy operators and opportunistic middlemen, who are exploiting the scheme to buy up tax-free alcohol and undercut genuine manufacturers.
Spirits and Cocktails Australia and the Australian Distiller's Association have written to the treasurer outlining their concerns over the scheme and calling for stronger integrity measures to ensure it isn't exploited by bad actors.
They estimate tightening the scheme could save the federal budget about $224 million over four years.
Last November, the Australian Taxation Office estimated illicit alcohol sales were worth at least $767 million, which was more than 10 percent of all spirits consumed legally in Australia, said the National Drug Research Institute.
A spokesperson for Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino said the alcohol remission scheme was about supporting Australian distillers.
"We take integrity very seriously. The ATO is responsible for compliance and we expect them to crack down on anyone who is doing the wrong thing," the spokesperson said in a statement.
Police were aware alcohol could also be coming into the nation without being taxed, said Victoria Police Detective Superintendent Jason Kelly, although it wasn't clear whether the attacks were the beginning of an illegal alcohol trade war.
"That's the million-dollar question," he told reporters on Tuesday.
"Everything is on the table."
But Det Supt Kelly suggested unknown crime figures were employing the same techniques used in the state's long-running tobacco turf war.
Nationals MP Pat Conaghan wants a review of the alcohol excise, which he says is unsustainable for operators and drives consumers to the black market.
As a former undercover drug
operative, he believes enforcement agencies are severely underresourced and penalties are far too low to act as a deterrent.
Mr Conaghan says there is still time to "break the back" of the illicit alcohol networks before they become entrenched.
"If we don't get on top of it now, it will turn into the same kind of monster that tobacco is," he said.
FROM Page 1
first Henry Harvey Dare-type timber bridge built in NSW and one of only 15 historic bridges built in the Hunter before 1905.
The project involves replacing the bridge’s dilapidated timber abutments with concrete.
Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said the upgrade is a major investment in both local infrastructure and the preservation of a unique piece of the region’s heritage.
“We know how important connectivity is for the Dungog community,” she said.
“As the last stop on the
Hunter train line and a key crossing over the Williams River, I’m proud to announce the start of this important rehabilitation work which will ensure this iconic timber truss bridge is fit for purpose for many years to come.”
Preparation work started in late 2025, with the project expected to take around 16 months to complete, weather permitting.
While most of the work will be carried out underneath the span, the bridge will need to be temporarily closed at times to allow replacement of the abutments and reconnection of the bridge to Stroud Hill Road.
SOME 30 percent of Hunter locals are more concerned about climate change than they were a year ago, a new poll has revealed.
The polling of 302 Hunter residents, completed on 20 March, was part of a broader poll of 1,965 residents across key renewable energy zones.
Renew Australia for All commissioned research firm 89 Degrees East to investigate public support for Australia’s shift to renewable energy across select Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
The poll measured
sentiment towards the shift to renewable energy as well as perception of that support in key REZs.
Highlighting the results is Farmers for Climate Action (FCA) CEO Verity MorganSchmidt, who said they showed growing concern around climate change.
"Thirty percent of those polled in the Hunter have become more concerned about climate change in the past 12 months,” she said.
“Bushfires (77 percent), heatwaves (75 percent) and floods (68 percent) were the top answers when Hunter residents were asked
SATURDAY 2ND MAY
INDIVIDUAL STROKE & MONTHLY MEDAL FIELD | 35 members DIV 1 (<15) | Winner & Monthly Medal Michael Shanley (15) 64 Nett, Runner Up Peter Nicholson (11) 64 Nett, 3rd Place Michael Rose (5) 65 Nett DIV 2 (16-36) | Winner David Singles (27) 64 Nett, Runner Up Peter Griffin (17) 66 Nett, 3rd Place Robert
Radin (17) 66 Nett BALL COMP | Jordan Wilkinson (5) 66 Nett, Michael Dobosz (24) 68 Nett, Darren Mathers (18) 68 Nett, & Glenn Davies (6) 68 Nett
PUTTING COMP | Div 1 - Jordan Wilkinson (5) - 24 Putts, Div 2 - David Singles (27) 27 Putts
NEAREST THE PIN | 1st/10th - Micahel Shanley (15), 2nd/11th - Benjamin Herden (18), 5th/14th - Paul Langley
what had made them more concerned about climate change.”
According to the polling, 56 percent of Hunter residents blame energy company profiteering as the key reason for high energy bills.
“Others named global energy price spikes and coal power station breakdowns; just 15 percent said clean energy was responsible,” Ms Morgan-Schmidt said.
"Some 69 percent of Hunter residents name solar as the ‘significant’ energy source for the future, while 43 percent nominate onshore
PORT Stephens Hunter Police District has issued the invitation for the Stroud community to join them for a cuppa.
An informal catch up over coffee will allow Stroud and surrounding residents to meet local Lock Up Keeper, Senior Constable
wind, 42 percent say offshore wind, 40 percent pumped hydro, with gas and coal equal at 30 percent, and nuclear last at 22 percent."
Ms Morgan-Schmid said the data shows a striking gap between real and perceived support for clean energy.
“Support for clean energy in the Hunter remains strong at 60 percent, with 17 percent opposed, and 23 percent
(13), 8th/17th - Michael Rose (5) MEMBERS DRAW | No.31, Michael Cairney (28th/35), $88.61 won, $88.60 carries forward MEMBERS EAGLES NEST | Jordan Wilkinson (5)4th hole - 6 Balls UPCOMING EVENTS | 9-May Individual Stableford, 16-May 2-Person Ambrose Championships (1st Round), 23-May 2-Person Ambrose Championships (Final Round), 30-May Individual Stableford. Schedule subject to change.
STORY STARTS on BACK COVER Page 16
who completed this ride, Josh was covered in mud from head to toe, thanks to the heavy high-country rain showers the previous day.
The second option is a 92 km circuit known as “The Colt”, which follows the Scone, Mud Hut, Bowman River and Bowman Farm Roads.
Stuart Holder was first to finish this ride with a time of just three hours and nine
minutes.
Only about five minutes behind was teen rider Max Amidy and his father, Paul Amidy, from the Hunter Valley.
“My favourite part was doing the whole thing with Dad,” said Max.
Max explained that his least favourite part was getting cow poo in his mouth.
“It’s hard to keep your mouth closed when you’re going at your limit, but I’ll have to try harder.”
The easiest of the three rides is “The Remington”, which is a relatively leisurely 46-kilometre tour “through the beautiful, gently rolling cattle country around Gloucester,” following Gloucester Tops Road and Barrington Road East.
Mother-daughter pair, Donella and Olive Tutt, said they enjoyed the ride.
“It’s the first time we’ve ridden together,” Donella explained.
“The gravel was gorgeous,
Aaron Wright, Sectors Manager Acting Inspector
Tim James and Sectors Supervisor Sergeant Wes Taylor.
Port Stephens Hunter Commander, Superintendent Wayne Humphrey, encourages the community to meet their
neither supporting nor opposing,” she said.
“Yet, only 40 percent of those polled said they thought there was majority support for clean energy in the region.”
Support for renewable energy projects is often seen as mixed in agricultural communities, but one Gloucester farmer says that energy sustainability is “just good farm management”.
local police in a relaxed setting, raise anything of concern, share ideas, or simply say hello. Coffee with the Cops will be held at Billy Tea Cafe, Cowper Street Stroud on Friday 15 May from 10.00am-noon.
“As a farmer in the region, our focus is simply on running a more efficient and resilient business,” said Macka’s Pastoral Director Robert Mackenzie.
“We’re improving soil health, animal performance and energy use, with a clear focus on reducing our footprint, delivering benefits for both the business and the environment.”
and the hills were not too bad.”
A combined total of 250 riders took part in the event.
Organiser Mike Israel was delighted with how the rides were embraced by the Gloucester community.
He was particularly grateful for the help provided by Rotary and the RSL.
In return, the riders pumped money into local businesses, particularly the pubs and cafes.
“As organisers we were very grateful for all the support we received from local volunteers and the local
businesses, and in the future we are looking for greater community engagement,” Mike said.
“We are aiming for 500 cyclists at next year’s event on 24 April.”
There are proper ties you own- and those that become par t of your stor y S et across 320 acres in Upper Monkerai, this exceptional estate of fers a rare blend of lifest yle, scale, and income.
The five -bedroom homestead features wraparound verandas , a fireplace, and inviting indoor- outdoor living overlooking river and lake. A separate, st ylish guest retreat operates successfully as Airbnb accommodation.
Enjoy a private swimming hole, rolling paddocks , and established infrastruc ture suppor ting a produc tive cat tle operation.
Ef for tless Living, Proven Per formance. While the lifest yle is idyllic, the proper t y remains highly produc tive: Established Angus and Charolais breeding operation Carr ying capacit y of 80-100 head Excellent water securit y from river systems , dams , and irrigation Qualit y infrastruc ture including cattle yards , machiner y shed, and workshop
A proper t y to be held, shared, and passed on
AUC TION GUIDE $2 ,135,000 - $2 ,350,000
Knight Frank & McGrath Gloucester present 15 8 Foster ton Road, Dungog - a 29.54ha rural holding of fered for sale by Public Auc tion.
Just minutes from Dungog township, it combines river front living, grazing land, and subdivision potential (STCA), with an original homestead, farm buildings , sheds , approx 265m of Williams River frontage, flexible zoning, town water and fenced paddocks .
Two land component s of fering both lifest yle appeal and development potential: West of Foster ton Road - R5 Large Lot
Residential, minimum lot size 2 acres East of Foster ton Road (towards river) RU1
Primar y Produc tion zoning mix with direc t access to Williams River
This is a rare chance to secure a substantial rural estate with immediate lifest yle appeal and longterm upside.
By John WATTS
2026
The toughest option is known as “The Monument” and involves the 173-kilometre ride over difficult terrain.
Josh Amberger was the first to finish, completing the course in just 6:55:45. Despite the huge elevation and the difficult and muddy tracks, he maintained a ripping pace of 24.96 kilometres per hour. Like every other rider
CONTINUED
