Dungog Shire News Of The Area 08 APRIL 2026

Trackside action at the Gresford Billy Cart Derby

Crowds lined the safety barriers along Park Street as carts began arriving in pit lane in the early morning, before racing began around 9am.

The atmosphere was electric as an eclectic mix of billy carts - all checked for safety - sped through Gresford to much applause.

“We just loved the happy faces of the families hanging trackside, having fun at the awesome Gresford School games and enjoying the wonderful food and market stalls,” organisers said in a statement.

“Thanks everyone for a wonderful day, especially Mother Nature - keeping the weather at bay all day

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Paterson

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THE Paterson Historical Society's annual historic walk returns on Sunday.

The walk will commence at the Paterson Court House Museum and take visitors around the centre of the village, describing the origins of European settlement.

Buildings date from the 1830s, when the core of the village was surveyed and established as an official settlement adjacent to the river to service a wharf.

“The area is bountiful

and would have supported a considerable population of Aboriginal people,” said the Society’s Cameron Archer.

“We know that the Aboriginal name for the river was ‘Yimmang’, and that Tocal is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning ‘large’ or ‘plenty’.

“It is important to acknowledge that the colonisation of the Paterson Valley and the formation of the Paterson township came at the cost of displacing Aboriginal

people who had lived on and with these lands for thousands of years.

“The arrival of Europeans had a profound impact on Aboriginal people.”

Mr Archer said Paterson village is a “treasure trove” of heritage buildings with many stories to tell.

The walk will pass through Tucker Park, now one of the region's most popular parks.

At one time, part of it grew corn for coach

horses, with visible evidence remaining in the unique corn staddle.

Nearby is the brick shed that once housed the district's hearse.

“These were the days when Paterson was still serviced by riverboats and served as the service centre for the Paterson Valley,” Mr Archer said.

The walk has been held for over 40 years and continues to attract at least 50 people, and often many more.

“It gives locals and

visitors an opportunity to enjoy the ambience and history of this beautiful location.”

The Society has been operating since 1974, with many dedicated people conserving the beautiful Court House Museum, researching and writing about the village and district, and opening the building to visitors every Sunday since its inception.

The cost of the walk is $10.00 per adult, including museum entry and afternoon tea.

There is no charge for children. Bookings are not required.

The walk starts at the museum at 1.00pm, but participants are requested to arrive at least ten minutes beforehand.

Recent publications by the Society will be available, including Robyn Dunlop's history marking the Society's 50th anniversary, and the memoir of foundation member Bill Keppie. A hat, walking shoes, and a water bottle are recommended.

Reasonable mobility is required.

Following afternoon tea, a guided tour of the nearby Paterson Rail Motor Society Museum will be available.

LYNE MP Alison Penfold has launched “Lyne’s Biggest Survey”, an electorate-wide consultation over local priorities.

The survey is being delivered to households across the Lyne electorate.

“This survey is about giving a voice to the concerns of each and every Lyne resident,

whether you live in the big centres of the electorate, the small towns, hamlets and farms big and small,” Ms Penfold said.

“From the cost of living to healthcare access, infrastructure, housing and community safety, I want to hear firsthand what people’s opinions are, what they care about and what they want to see delivered.”

Ms Penfold said the survey would play a key role in shaping her advocacy and representing the region’s priorities at a federal level.

“Too often, decisions are made in Canberra without a clear understanding of what regional communities are facing,” she said.

“This survey is about

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making sure Lyne’s voice is not just heard, but acted on.”

Residents can complete the survey via the reply-paid form delivered to their mailbox from this week and return it in the enclosed envelope to PO Box 244, Wauchope NSW 2446, or complete it online via Ms Penfold’s website alisonpenfold. com.au.

0458 289 989 143 Dowling Street Dungog, NSW www.hiddenvalleyclothing.com.au Like us on Facebook @hiddenvalleyclothing

“I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to fill it out. Your feedback will directly inform the work I do every day representing our region.”

Survey responses will also contribute to future policy advocacy, including submissions to the Federal Budget and ongoing engagement with key decision-makers.

Construction begins on women’s refuge

CONSTRUCTION is underway on a new refuge in the Maitland local government area to provide women and children escaping domestic and family violence with more access to secure accommodation.

Housing Plus is developing the refuge, with specialist support services to be delivered onsite by Carrie’s Place Domestic Violence and Homelessness Services once the project is complete.

“Once built, this refuge in Maitland will be a safe place for women with or without children to rebuild their lives and live free from abuse,” said Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Rose Jackson.

Under the NSW Government’s Core and Cluster program, Housing Plus has been awarded $6.4 million to deliver the refuge, which will provide eight units of crisis accommodation for women and children leaving violence.

The project will include a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units designed to support different household types.

One unit will be wheelchair accessible, and the shared areas will also be accessible for residents with restricted mobility.

Each unit will be fully self-

contained, featuring its own kitchen, bathroom and laundry facilities, private outdoor space and an area for pets.

The refuge will feature indoor and outdoor play spaces for children, as well as designated areas for communal activities.

Once complete, the program will support more than 2,900 additional victim-survivors of domestic and family violence each year.

Member for Maitland Jenny Aitchison said the region has been “crying out for these services for over a decade”.

“Domestic and family violence remains a significant issue in Maitland, with Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) data showing domestic violencerelated assault charges have increased by 3.6 percent and sexual assault charges by 14.3 percent in the last decade.”

Acting CEO of Housing Plus Group, Maria Woods said, “The commencement of construction on this state-of-the-art emergency accommodation marks an exciting milestone for our organisation and the Maitland community.

“The Core and Cluster model offers an innovative approach to independent living while ensuring

access to vital support services, and we are proud to be leading the way in creating a safe and welcoming space for women and children.

“Our partnership with Carrie’s Place brings together our design and construction expertise with their deep local experience in service delivery, and we look forward to opening the doors together in 2027.”

CEO of Carrie’s Place, Jayne Clowes said the facility represents “hope, safety, and a pathway forward” for women and children experiencing violence.

“Demand for crisis accommodation continues to rise, and this purpose-built facility will help ensure that families in danger have somewhere safe to turn.”

Accessing support:

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call the Police on Triple Zero.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, call the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 65 64 63 for free counselling and referrals, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact 1800 RESPECT or 13 YARN.

For information on Men’s Behaviour Change Programs operating in your local area, contact the Men's Referral Service on 1300 766 491.

Dungog Shire youth leading the way

A NEW group of young people from across the Dungog Shire is stepping up to make a real difference in the community.

The recently formed Dungog and Surrounds Youth Council is already taking action, with a clear goal to create more opportunities for local young people.

Their first focus is raising funds to help send youth to the Wangat Camp in July - an experience that builds confidence, connection and life skills.

Over the weekend, the Youth Council was part of the Gresford

Billy Cart Derby, running fundraising raffles and meeting community members.

Youth Council members say the group is about giving young people a voice and the chance to get involved locally.

“We want to create more opportunities for young people in our area and make sure they feel connected and supported,” a Youth Council spokesperson said.

The council brings together young people from across the Shire, building a stronger and more connected youth network.

SHOP LOCAL DUNGOG

Councils want guarantees on fuel supplies

be subsidised by the waste levy councils pay to the Government

The

“Councils across NSW are gravely concerned that without a guarantee of fuel supply, garbage services will be disrupted in coming weeks and months,” Mayor Byrne said.

“That’s why we have today called with one voice for the NSW Government to commit to supplying the fuel we need to deliver basic services.

collections

By Andrew VIVIAN

THE Senate Select Committee on Information Integrity on Climate Change and Energy recently released its report about the causes and effects of climate change disinformation.

The report was welcomed by the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), which warns that lies are already harming communities.

The ACF wants tougher action to stop falsehoods derailing climate progress.

ACF Director of Engagement Jane Gardner, who wrote a submission and appeared before the inquiry, said Australians are grappling with a “runaway train” of AI slop and malicious lies, designed to delay progress.

“Disinformation has serious real-world impacts,” she said.

“We’re seeing it turn neighbour against neighbour in renewable energy regions, create confusion during emergencies, and erode trust in the information

people rely on.”

The Committee was chaired by Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson and Nationals Leader Matt Canavan with input from Senators Malcolm Roberts and Ralph Babet.

Senators Canavan, Roberts and Babet released dissenting reports.

ACF’s submission called for a national inquiry into the full impacts of disinformation on communities and democracy, stronger accountability for social media platforms, truth in political advertising laws, and an investigation into coordinated disinformation networks and their funding.

The report contained 20 recommendations, which included improving support for regional and independent media outlets, social sciences research relating to threats to climate and energy information integrity, and relevant regulators to combat and expose corporate “greenwashing”.

It also recommended

“Councils are already at the front line in terms of waste collection and we need the State Government to partner with us to ensure that any increased costs are not being borne by us or our communities.

“Across the state this year, Councils and landfill operators will pay almost $900 million in a waste levy that currently just goes into consolidated revenue.

“That money needs to go

greater transparency of election campaign activities, and broadening the Australian Curriculum to strengthen media literacy.

Jonathan Cassell, Greens councillor for the City of Coffs Harbour, agrees that disinformation about climate change is a regional issue.

“In my experience, regional voters tend to be more conservative,” he said.

“They are likely to accept disinformation if it suits their beliefs of how things used to be or should be.

“Unfortunately, climate change is moving faster than people can cope with and so disinformation and denial reinforce each other."

Ms Gardner said social media companies must be held accountable for their role in amplifying false information.

“Social media giants profit from outrage and amplifying falsehoods. Selfregulation is failing."

The report can be found on the Senate website, via www.aph.gov.au

back into the system to help soften the blow of increases in the cost of petrol.”

Mayor Byrne also met with the Treasurer and with the Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change to outline the position of local government.

At the request of the Treasurer, LGNSW will be collating information on experiences and impacts from local Councils about fuel distribution issues.

“We’re happy to assist the State Government by providing this information direct from Councils on the ground,” said Mayor Byrne.

“In this situation, Councils really are best placed to inform Government responses and policy.”

Moving forward LGNSW will meet with senior representatives from the waste sector to jointly discuss responsible ways forward for communities, Councils and waste service providers. Concerns have also been raised over a range of other council services including the operating of council cemeteries and airports, the impact on community events and festivals, and the rising unpredicted cost of materials for ongoing projects, particularly regarding projects covered by Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Australia needs around 33,000 blood donations a week

Crown land bill to undergo further consultation

THE NSW Government’s Crown Land Management Amendment (Statutory Review) Bill 2026 has been deferred, to allow for more consultation on proposed changes.

The bill, introduced to parliament on 17 March, faced fierce criticism from legal experts and Indigenous land rights advocates.

Critics argued the bill would limit the ability of Aboriginal land councils to claim unused Crown land.

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council warned it could hollow out Aboriginal land rights, while the NSW Greens said it “attacks Aboriginal land claims by stealth”.

The Law Society of NSW (LSNSW) said the bill should be withdrawn immediately before it resulted in “further potential injustice” to NSW Aboriginal communities.

LSNSW President Ronan MacSweeney said one provision in the proposed bill could significantly affect land rights claims under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act

(ALRA) 1983 (NSW).

“This legislation fundamentally alters what has been long understood to be land claimable under the ALRA,” he said.

According to LSNSW, the proposed new section s 5.20B(4) of the Crown Land Management Amendment (CLMA) would deem the granting of a lease under that Act as “lawful use for the purposes of another Act”.

They say this could enable the Government to “bank” any Crown land simply by granting a lease and then “sit” on that land without using it.

Mr MacSweeney said that this subsection was included in the Bill among a number of provisions which responded to a recent statutory review of the CLMA.

“The Law Society is concerned that this proposed section, which has the potential to thwart otherwise valid claims by Aboriginal communities to disused Crown land, was not a recommendation of

the statutory review,” Mr MacSweeney said.

“It was not subject to consultation before being introduced without notice.

“The lack of consultation with affected stakeholders on this provision is exacerbated by the publication of the statutory review two days after the amending legislation was introduced.

“The Law Society is concerned that proposed s 5.20B has been inserted into this Bill, rather than via direct amendment to the ALRA itself, to avoid scrutiny of a measure which would undermine the purpose and operation of the ALRA.

“The Law Society calls on the NSW Government to withdraw the provision and refer the remainder of the amending legislation to a parliamentary inquiry,” Mr MacSweeney said.

The Chairperson of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council, Dr Raymond Kelly, described the bill as an “attack in stealth to erode land rights in NSW”.

“For more than 40 years, Aboriginal land rights has been a driving force for justice, empowerment and self-determination for our communities,” Dr Kelly said.

“We have secured land, defended Country, built housing, created jobs, and grown an economic base for our people. This benefits everyone in this State.”

Greens MP Sue Higginson labelled the process to date as “highly flawed”.

“This bill has sparked major opposition because people can see exactly what it is, an attempt to make serious changes to Crown lands law, including changes that impact Aboriginal land claims, through a process designed to avoid proper scrutiny.

“The High Court made it clear that the State cannot defeat an Aboriginal land claim by pointing to a lease on paper where the land was not actually being used when the claim was made.

“This bill is designed to get around that decision

by letting the Minister retrospectively change the use of Crown land after the fact, to defeat a claim that was valid when it was lodged.

“This is an injustice in the making and an attempt to avoid the return of Crown lands subject to Aboriginal land claims.”

The proposed amendments will now be the subject of further consultation before the bill is considered again.

A spokesperson for Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper told NOTA, “While a range of stakeholders were engaged as part of the statutory review of the act last year, the NSW Government will take the time to engage with stakeholders including Local Aboriginal Land Councils prior to the Bill being debated in the upper house.”

The spokesperson said the land claims system has “arguably never properly worked since its introduction” in 1983.

“We have more than

43,000 historical claims, some dating as far back as 1984,” they said.

“We want a system that works for everyone.

“One that can protect vital community assets like well-used sporting fields, fire stations, surf clubs and community centres, but that can at the same time activate unused land for Local Aboriginal Land Councils.

“That’s why we invested $1.5 million in a business case to try and find a way to address the historic backlog in cases.”

Mr Kamper’s spokesperson said the NSW Government stands by the principle that unused Crown Land should be claimable and provided to Local Aboriginal Land Councils.

“The proposed changes we have put forward are there to address edge cases that became claimable due to technical non-compliance, such as an invalid sub-lease.

“These sites are well utilised by the local community.

“They were never intended to be claimable in the spirit of the Act.”

1800 petrol stations inspected for fuel price compliance

THE NSW Government has inspected just under 1800 petrol stations for fuel price compliance, issuing

93 penalty infringement notices.

Over the last fortnight, the government fast-

tracked a statewide fuel price compliance blitz to “strengthen fuel price transparency and protect

motorists from misleading pricing”.

Around 75 percent of stations in NSW were inspected by the beginning of April, with around half located outside Sydney.

Retailers who break the rules face on-the-spot fines of $1,100, or Court penalties of up to $22,000 for individuals and $110,000 for corporations.

NSW Fair Trading will continue to update its targets for inspection based on “consumer complaints, intelligence and the changing conditions in the marketplace”.

“The Government has developed a robust inspection forward plan and expects to physically inspect the majority of NSW’s service stations in the coming weeks,” the NSW Government said in a statement.

“As the program progresses, regional areas will remain a key target.”

To ensure businesses are properly passing on the cost savings promised by the Federal Government’s fuel excise reduction, consumers are urged to report fuel price issues via FuelChecka government site and app which provides real-time information about fuel prices at service stations across NSW and the ACT - or the NSW Fair Trading website.

This includes mismatches between bowser prices and FuelCheck listings, as well as suspected price exploitation following the fuel excise cuts.

Consumer reports are supporting compliance activity, with NSW Fair Trading issuing 24 user intelligence-based fines last week.

On Sunday, the NSW Government announced a $2.2 million investment to upgrade FuelCheck.

Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said, “Over the past two weeks, millions of NSW motorists have turned to FuelCheck to help find the best fuel price and navigate fuel supply gaps.

“This funding will allow us to make FuelCheck better for the hundreds of thousands of people who use it daily – through better data collection, stronger analysis, and streamlined user experience.

“These are uncertain times, but we want the people of New South Wales to have the utmost confidence in the real-time price transparency data provided by FuelCheck.”

BEST ON THE BOX

FRIDAY

GARDENING AUSTRALIA

ABC TV, 7.30pm Autumn is synonymous with fallen foliage at the end of its life cycle, but leave it to optimistic Gardening Australia host Costa Georgiadis to find a fresh perspective to the season. In this episode, he focuses on fiery shrubs that can bring vibrant colour to any garden – without the epic clean-up. Meanwhile, Millie Ross focuses on seasonal produce, spending time with a Victorian family who operate a heritage quince orchard to learn more about the ancient, aromatic fruit. Plus, Sophie Thomson sets up wicking beds for vegie success.

FRIDAY, April 3

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

7.00 ABC National News.

7.30 Gardening Australia.

8.30 Patience. (Mv) A music student is found dead.

9.20 Tonight At The Museum. (PGs, R)

9.50 The Weekly With Charlie Pickering. (Ms, R)

10.20 Shaun Micallef’s Eve Of Destruction. (PG, R)

10.55 Melbourne Comedy Festival: Allstars Supershow. (R)

12.20 Shaun Micallef’s Eve Of Destruction. (PG, R)

12.55 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv)

5.00 Rage. (PG)

7.00 Superbuns. 7.05 Gardening Australia Junior. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 8.00 Scooby-Doo And Guess Who? 8.25 My Adventures With Superman. 8.45 BattleBots. 9.35 Gladiators UK. 10.30 Late Programs.

MONDAY

MASTERMIND AUSTRALIA

SBS, 6pm

Despite best efforts from rival networks, the hottest seat on Australian TV remains black chair. The only thing that could make facing host Marc Fennell’s (pictured) intense questioning more difficult is a touch of sibling rivalry – enter Family Week. The hardest quiz show on the box returns for its eighth season with a quartet of families eager to test not just their own knowledge, but their bonds. The Coutinho clan kicks things off in Monday’s premiere, when West Coast Eagles tragic Josh, Good Luck Charlie fan Aerin, Thirsty Merc enthusiast Tiarne and their vintage Chrysler Valiant-loving dad Kemal go head to head in their chosen categories and a gruelling general knowledge round.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Going Places With Ernie Dingo. (PG) 8.30 Secrets Of The Conclave.

9.40 Lost Secrets Of Jesus.

10.40 Haigh’s Chocolates: From Bean To Bar. (R)

11.10 Sisi. (Mav)

12.15 Babylon Berlin. (MA15+av, R)

2.05 Nordland 99. (Mals, R)

3.05 Designing Paradise With Bill Bensley. (R)

4.00 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

WEDNESDAY TONIGHT AT THE

MUSEUM

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. 8.00 MOVIE: My Best Friend’s Wedding. (1997, Ml, R) After a woman’s friend announces his engagement, she realises she loves him and sets out to prevent the wedding. Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz.

10.15 MOVIE: The Bounty Hunter. (2010, Mlsv, R) A bounty hunter is assigned to find his ex-wife. Gerard Butler. 12.35 GetOn Extra. 1.05 Damnation. (MA15+asv, R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 5.00 NBC Today.

host Alex Lee invites Becky Lucas, Takashi Wakasugi, Bron Lewis and Dilruk Jayasinha (all pictured) to unleash their creativity and showcase their knowledge of Australian history, animal facts, priceless artworks and prehistoric creatures. Perhaps most impressive: even though TMAG holds the world’s most significant collection of Tasmanian tiger specimens, it took episodes for a thylacine to become the topic of discussion. The winner will place a personal treasure on display – will visitors be treated to Lucas’s broken phone, Wakasugi’s dog statue, Lewis’s lock of hair or Jayasinha’s first plane ticket to Australia?

6.00 NBN News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 5. Penrith Panthers v Melbourne Storm.

9.55 NRL Friday Night Footy Post-Match. Post-match coverage of the NRL game.

10.45 MOVIE: The Foreigner. (2017, MA15+alv, R) A restaurateur seeks justice. Jackie Chan.

1.00 Explore TV: Antarctica. (R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)

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

ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Children’s Programs. 8.30 Nanny. 9.30 Addams Family. 10.30 Bewitched. 11.30 Rugby Heaven. 12.30pm

6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (PGa, R) 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG, R)

6.00

SATURDAY, April 4

6.00 Kath & Kim. (PGals, R)

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

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

7.30 Blue Murder Motel. (M) Vinny and Cole investigate a fun-run attack.

8.15 Top End Bub.

(Mlv, R) Trouble from home catches up with Bilal. 10.30 Rage. (MA15+dhlnsv)

6am Children’s Programs. 6.10pm Knee High Spies. 6.20 Bluey. 6.30 The Adventures Of Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Supertato. 6.55 Piripenguins. 7.05 Let’s Go Bananas! 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Kids Baking Championship. 8.10 Harry Potter: Wizards Of Baking. 8.50 Chopped Junior. 9.35 Mr Bean: The Animated Series. 9.55 Fresh Off The Boat. 10.40 Abbott Elementary. 11.00 Late Programs.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Edward Vs George: The Windsors At War. (Premiere)

8.25 Magical Train Journeys In Switzerland. (PGa, R)

9.25 Jersey And Guernsey. (R) 10.15 Highclere: The Real Downton Abbey. (R) 11.15 Snowpiercer. (MA15+s, R)

1.00 Going Places With Ernie Dingo. (PG, R)

3.00 Matched. (PG, R)

3.50 Bamay. (R)

4.50 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 Bamay. 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

Seven News.

6.00

7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. Hosted by Johanna Griggs.

8.00 MOVIE: Snow White And The Huntsman. (2012, Mhv, R) A sorceress orders for her former husband’s daughter to be killed after learning she will be defeated by her. Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron.

10.45 MOVIE: Mercury Rising. (1998, Mlv, R) An autistic boy cracks a government code. Bruce Willis. 1.00 Devils. (MA15+av, R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Tales Of Aluna. (R) 5.00 House Of Wellness. (PG, R)

6.00 NBN News.

7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 Space Invaders. (PG)

8.30 MOVIE: Wonka. (2023, PGav)

10.50 MOVIE: The Legend Of Tarzan. (2016, Mav, R)

12.50 Taronga: Who’s Who In The Zoo. (PGam, R)

1.50 My Way.

2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PGa)

2.15 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

2.30 Epic Builds. (R)

3.00 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. (R) A couple dream of different dogs. 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. Andrew Winter tempts an Aussie larrikin to move. Neale Whitaker tries to convince Michelle to give up on her dream. 9.30 Gogglebox Australia. (R) TV fanatics open up their living rooms to reveal their reactions to popular and topical TV shows. 10.30 Ambulance Australia. (Mdlm, R) Follows dispatchers and paramedics. 12.30 Elsbeth. (Mlv, R) 1.00 NCIS: Origins. (Mav, R) 1.30 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power.

SBS MOVIES (32)

6am The Boy And The Heron. Continued. (2023, PG) 8.10 Without A Clue. (1988, PG) 10.15 Something’s Gotta Give. (2003, M) 12.40pm What We Do In The Shadows. (2014, M) 2.15 Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind. (1984, PG) 4.25 Castle In The Sky. (1986, PG) 6.50 The Secret World Of Arrietty. (2010) 8.30 John Wick. (2014) 10.25 Sanctuary. (2022) 12.15am Late Programs.

SUNDAY, April 5

6.30 Compass. (PG)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 The Piano. (PG)

8.20 Can You Keep A Secret? (Ms) Neha and Debbie team up.

8.50 Frauds. (Mal) An unforeseen disaster derails the gang’s plans.

9.40 Blue Murder Motel. (Ml, R) Vinny and Cole investigate a fun-run attack.

10.25 Top End Bub. (PGs, R)

10.50 MOVIE: Ten Canoes. (2006, M, R)

12.25 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

1.45 Unforgotten. (Mal, R)

3.00 Gardening Australia. (R)

4.55 Dream Gardens. (R)

5.30 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R)

6am Children’s Programs. 5.10pm MOVIE: Tummy Tom 2: A New Friend For Tummy Tom. (2024) 6.10 Knee High Spies. 6.20 Bluey. 6.30 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Supertato. 6.55 Piripenguins. 7.05 Let’s Go Bananas! 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 The Inbestigators. 8.00 Foxes: Their Secret World. 8.45 Amazing Animal Friends. 9.35 Fresh Off The Boat. 10.15 Merlin. 11.00

6.00 Grand Tours Of Scotland’s Rivers. (PG, R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Unwrapping King Tut: Secrets Of The Mummy.

8.25 Akhenaten, The Secrets Of The Forgotten Pharaoh. (R)

9.25 Leonardo Da Vinci. (PGadn, R)

10.25 Lost Treasures Of Egypt. (PGa, R)

11.20 Bronze Age Apocalypse. (R) 12.55 Me And My Tourette’s. (Mals, R)

2.00 Matched. (PG, R)

2.50 Mastermind Australia. (R)

3.55 Mountain Vets. (Ma, R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 PBS News Horizons.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 The 1% Club UK. (PG) Hosted by Lee Mack. 8.00 Working Class Man. (Madl, R) Looks at rocker Jimmy Barnes’s hit book Working Class Man and the next chapter in his life. 10.30 INXS: Live At Wembley. (Ml, R)

A look at INXS performing at Wembley.

12.30 A Friend Of The Family. (MA15+a, R)

1.30 Travel Oz. (PG, R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R)

4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News.

5.30 Sunrise.

SBS MOVIES (32)

6am Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind. Continued. (1984, PG) 8.00 Howl’s Moving Castle. (2004, PG) 10.15 What’s Love Got To Do With It? (2022) 12.20pm Princess Mononoke. (1997, M, Japanese) 2.50 My Neighbour Totoro. Spirited Away. (2001, PG) 8.30 10.10 Io Capitano. (2023, Late Programs.

6.00 NBN News. 7.00 60 Minutes. Current affairs program. 8.00 MOVIE: Hot Potato: The Story Of The Wiggles. (2023, PGaa) The true story of The Wiggles. Jeff Fatt, Murray Cook. 10.15 9News

Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)

The Garden Gurus. (R)

6.30 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 7.00 Australian Survivor: Redemption. (PGl) A night of rewards proves too much for some to handle. 8.30 NCIS: Sydney. (Final, Mav) With a Stinger missile and murderer in the wind, the team races to prevent a deadly attack. 9.30 Law & Order: SVU. (Mav) The hunt for

MONDAY, April 6

6am Children’s Programs. 4.15pm Play School Dance It Out. 4.20 Fizzy And Suds. 4.40 Bluey. 5.00 Bluey’s Big Play. 5.45 Kangaroo Beach. 5.55 Knee High Spies. 6.20 Bluey. 6.25 Flower And Flour. 6.35 Kangaroo Beach. 6.55 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.35 Gladiators UK. 9.35 Kids BBQ Championship. 10.20 Kids Baking Championship. 11.00 Late Programs.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (Return)

8.30 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. (M) 9.20 Never Mind The Buzzcocks. 10.10 SBS World News Late. 10.40 Herrhausen: The Banker And The Bomb. (Premiere, Ml) 11.35 Gomorrah. (MA15+av, R)

2.25 Mastermind Australia. (R)

3.30 Mountain Vets. (Ma, R)

4.35 Bamay. (R) 4.55 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R)

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

VICELAND (31)

SBS MOVIES (32)

6am My

Neighbour Totoro. Continued. (1988, PG) 6.35 The Secret World Of Arrietty. (2010) 8.20 Spirited Away. (2001, PG) 10.35 Animalia. (2023, M, French) 12.20pm Discovering Film. 1.10 Castle In The Sky. (1986, PG) 3.30 Ponyo. (2008) 5.30 Kiki’s Delivery Service. (1989, PG) 7.30 Undercover. (2021, M, French) 9.50 Barbarella. (1968, M) 11.40 Late Programs.

TUESDAY, April 7

6.00 Mastermind Australia.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Great Continental Railway Journeys. (R)

8.30 Insight. 9.30 Dateline.

10.00 Rock Legends. (PGl)

10.30 SBS World News Late.

11.00 Exit. (MA15+adlns)

11.55 Elvira. (Malv, R)

3.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

4.05 Bamay. (R)

4.50 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R)

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

VICELAND (31)

6am Children’s Programs. 10.15 TBA. 10.25 Children’s Programs. 6.20pm Bluey. 6.25 Flower And Flour. 6.35 Big Lizard. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 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.

SBS MOVIES (32)

6am Mosley. Continued. (2019, PG) 7.05 Kiki’s Delivery Service. (1989, PG) 9.05 My Neighbour Totoro. (1988, PG) 10.40 Barbarella. (1968, M) 12.30pm The Miracle Club. (2023) 2.10 Discovering Film. 3.05 The Great Dictator. (1940, PG) 5.20 A River Runs Through It. (1992, PG) 7.35 The Delinquents. (1989, M) 9.30 Logan’s Run. (1976, M) 11.40 Mad Max. (1979, M) 1.20am Late Programs.

MADE FRESH, MADE DELICIOUS

Chargrilled steaks Fresh Fish Pub classics Chef’s specials WEEKDAY LUNCHES

$20 meals + $5 schooner

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGas)

7.30 Australian Idol. (PGal) The top six take to the stage. 9.15 9-1-1. (M) Harry’s first day as a probie proves to be more challenging than Chimney expects. 10.15 The Agenda Setters: Rugby League. (R) 11.15 The Agenda Setters. 12.15 Conviction. (MA15+av, R)

Travel Oz. (PG, R)

Home Shopping. (R)

NBC Today.

7MATE (64)

Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise. 6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGa) 7.30 Australian Idol. (PGal) Hosted by Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie. 8.40 Doc. (Ma) The race for chief resident intensifies. 9.40 House Of Wellness. (PG) Insights and experiences that highlight living well.

The Agenda Setters.

St. Denis Medical. (PGas)

Dirty John. (MA15+v)

Travel Oz. (PG, R)

Home Shopping. (R)

7MATE (64)

Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Green Lantern. (2011, M) 10.50 Seinfeld. 11.50 The 100. 12.40am Love Island UK. 1.35 The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City. 3.15 Late Programs.

WHAT’S ON

Wednesday - Trivia from 6.30pm

Thursday - Meat Raffle & Joker Poker from 5.30pm

Sunday - Roast Lunch, Full menu also available BEHIND THE BAR

8 tap beers • Great wines • Cocktails ENTERTAINMENT

Plenty to keep locals and visitors coming back

WEDNESDAY,

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.00 Four Corners. (R) 10.45 Foreign Correspondent. (R) 11.30 Back Roads. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Press Club. 1.45 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) 2.20 Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 2.50 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 3.50 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGv, R) 4.40 Long Lost Family. (R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

April 8

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 The Point. (R) 9.05 Bitesize. (R) 9.15 Sun & Splendour: History Of Marbella. (PGa) 10.05 Kew Gardens: Season By Season. (R) 10.55 DNA Journey. 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Dateline. (R) 2.35 Insight. (R) 3.35 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.40 The Cook Up. (R) 4.10 Secret World Of Snacks. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 48 Hours: Escape From Chernobyl.

8.50 Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes. (Ma, R) Explores the story of Chernobyl.

10.35 SBS World News Late. 11.05 Rise Of The Raven. (Masv)

12.10 Darkness: Those Who Kill. (Malsv)

1.55 Classified. (Malv, R)

3.35 Mastermind Australia. (PG, R)

4.35 Bamay. (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 The 1% Club UK. (PGl, R)

8.30 The Front Bar. (Ml) Takes a lighter look at all things AFL.

9.30 Unfiltered. (M) Hamish McLachlan chats with Alastair Clarkson.

10.00 The Agenda Setters. 11.00 No Holds Barred: GWS Giants. (Ml)

12.00 Kochie’s Business Builders. (R)

12.30 The Act. (MA15+ans, R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6am Morning Programs. 7.30 Harry’s Practice. 8.00 Million

6.00 NBN News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Travel Guides. (PGl, R)

8.40 MOVIE: Vacation. (2015, MA15+ln, R) Ed Helms.

10.40 9News Late.

11.10 Freddy And The Eighth. (Ml)

12.05 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

1.00 Hello SA. (PG)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

2.30 Global Shop. (R)

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)

4.30 A Current Affair. (R)

5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

6.00

SBS MOVIES (32)

6am Ponyo.

Continued. (2008) 7.45 Discovering Film. 8.45 A River Runs Through It. (1992, PG) 11.00 Undercover. (2021, M, French) 1.15pm Mad Max. (1979, M) 2.55 Forever Enthralled. (2008, PG, Mandarin) 5.35 The Ipcress File. (1965, PG) 7.35 Hard Eight. (1996, M) 9.30 Zardoz. (1978) 11.30 Mad Heidi. (2022, MA15+) 1.15am Logan’s Run. (1976, M) 3.20 The Delinquents. (1989, M) 5.15 The Movie Show.

THURSDAY, April 9

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.30 The Weekly. (Ms, R) 11.00 Creative Types. (PG, R) 11.30 Can You Keep A Secret? (Ms, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Frauds. (Mal, R) 1.45 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) 2.20 Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.00 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 4.00 Sister Boniface Mysteries. (PGa, R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

Matter Of Facts. (Final, PG, R)

Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 2.30 Unforgotten. (Mlv, R) 4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 A Bite To Eat. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 The Point. (R) 9.05 Bitesize. (R) 9.15 Matched. (PG, R) 10.05 Kew Gardens: Season By Season. (R) 10.55 DNA Journey. (PG) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 The Great House Revival. (R) 3.00 Going Places. (PG, R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.10 Secret World Of Snacks. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Treasures With Bettany Hughes. (PG) 8.30 Our Medicine. (PGa, R) 9.45 Riot Women.

10.55 SBS World News Late.

11.25 In Memoriam. (Malv)

12.15 Bonn. (Mav, R)

2.10 Beyond Signs. (MA15+a, R)

3.05 Mastermind Australia. (R)

4.05 Going Places With Ernie Dingo. (PG, R)

5.00 NHK World English News.

5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

Leg. (Final) 9.20 MOVIE: Enigma. (2001) 11.35 Brassic. 1.25am Dark Side Of The Ring. 2.20 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera. 6am WorldWatch. 11.00 The Movie Show. 12.10pm WorldWatch. 12.40 Alone. 1.55 UFOs: Investigating The Unknown. 2.45 Insight. 3.45 News. 3.50 WorldWatch. 5.50 Curse Of Oak Island. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 United Gangs Of America. 10.20 The UnXplained With William Shatner. 11.10 Brassic. 1am Dark Side Of The 2000s. 2.50 Late Programs.

SBS MOVIES (32)

6am The Movie Show. 6.25 The Great Dictator. (1940, PG) 8.40 The Ipcress File. (1965, PG) 10.40 The Delinquents. (1989, M) 12.35pm Logan’s Run. (1976, M) 2.50 A River Runs Through It. (1992, PG) 5.05 Discovering Film. 5.50 What We Did On Our Holiday. (2014, PG) 7.40 Risky Business. (1983, M) 9.30 Mars Attacks! (1996, M) 11.30 Doctor Sleep. (2019, MA15+) 2.15am Zardoz. (1978) 4.10 Hard Eight. (1996, M)

7MATE (64)

Morning Programs. 10.00 Australia ReDiscovered. 10.30 American Resto. 11.30

Warrior. 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Bride Wars. (2009, PG) 10.20 One Tank Holiday. 10.50

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGav)

7.30 Highway Patrol. (Ma, R)

8.00 Motorway Patrol. (Ma)

8.30 Britain’s Got Talent. (PG) More performers take to the stage. 9.45 Unbelievable Moments

Caught On Camera. (PGa, R)

10.45 Soham: Catching A Killer. (Mav, R) 11.45 HMP: Behind Bars. (MA15+a, R)

1.15 Damnation. (MA15+asv, R)

2.30 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 Rugby League. NRL. Round 6. Canterbury Bulldogs v Penrith Panthers. 9.55 NRL Thursday Night Footy Post-Match. 10.40 9News

7MATE (64)

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On the Couch

By JASMINDA

DEAR Jasminda,

THE cost of fuel is ridiculous. How do I make travel arrangements to my work and my gym and my social engagements when it is so expensive?

Leanne M.

Dear Leanne,

It is hard not to feel particularly vulnerable at the moment, when there are many external factors impacting domestically.

A trip around Australia in a Winnebago suddenly seems frivolous, when fuel costs are out of control and news reports are suggesting we take unnecessary

OPINION

items out of the boot to improve fuel efficiency.

While governments are trying not to alarm people, there's a sense of COVID-like economic uncertainty in the air with suggestions like working from home coming into play (which isn't tenable for many occupations).

You know, sometimes I fantasise that this is some grand plot by the 'drill baby drill' brigade to force us to realise how much we need to refocus on local solutions and sustainable options.

Isn't this just another wakeup call to show that if more money and time was spent on funding ways of life that preserved resources, we'd have a fighting chance?

It's hard to focus on individual commitments to plastic reduction and EV use and market gardens, though, when countries are blowing the bejesus out of each other.

In relation to your personal plight, are you able to access public transport to work?

Are there any car-pooling opportunities?

Could you combine your gym and work travel by riding a bike to work?

With social engagements, local opportunities can offer that muchneeded sense of community and friendship without the high travel costs.

Buying local is another way to save on transport costs and it also gives a boost to regional areas, which currently need all the help they can get.

Earth overshoot day shows that globally we are using natural resources 1.7 times the rate that the earth can replenish them, so clearly our world leaders are doing something wrong.

Now, Leanne, excuse me while I drink some water with a squeeze of lemon through a paper straw while people with too much power and more money than they could ever use make decisions fuelled (no pun intended) by greed that the rest of us will pay dearly for.

News Of The Area

Drawings

Verse of the week

Be loving and happy

DEAR News Of The Area,

JASMINDA’S answer to Georgia D (1 April edition) is wonderful and full of wisdom.

My life has changed since I accepted the Philosophy of Absurdism, which is, we really do not know what is going on.

Quantum Field Theory and the fact that we could be living in a dream or a Matrix computer program leaves me thinking that we should choose to be the most loving and happy people that we can be.

Love all, serve all.

Kind regards, Allen SHRIMPTON.

RODEO MAGIC

FROM Page 1

entertainment”.

“The crowds weren’t deterred in any way by the weather nor the fuel prices, and it was a full house once again at Dungog Rodeo.

“Well done to the hardworking committee.”

The event’s grand entry included a solemn tribute to the late Owen Nicholson,

who supported the rodeo and Dungog Show for many years and was killed in a tragic accident last month.

“Owen was a stalwart of the show and showground committee,” Mr Layzell said after the rodeo.

“He was a well-known hard worker for the Dungog community in general.

“He will be missed by us all.”

The health benefits of walkable neighbourhoods

AMID soaring fuel prices which are prompting Australians to explore alternative transport options, a new study highlights the health benefits of walkable neighbourhoods.

The new paper, led by the Menzies Institute for Medical Research at the University of Tasmania, was published last week in the Australia and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.

It's the first of its kind to

New research shows that regional residents living in walkable towns and centres walk 75 minutes more each week, prompting calls for Governments to invest more in well-connected, safe footpaths to boost community health.

show walkability has a bigger impact on the amount of time spent walking in regional communities.

Lead author Dr Sharon Campbell, post-doctoral research fellow in the Environmental Health Research team at the Menzies Institute for Health Research, said that the study highlights the need to enhance

walkability in regional and rural towns across Australia.

“Our study assessed walkability based on how connected and convenient it is to get around an area by foot. For instance, how easily and quickly can you walk to the local shops, schools, parks or public transport,” said Dr Campbell.

“When we merged

Tasmanian government health data with geospatial walkability assessments, we revealed a clear link between walkability and residents’ physical activity levels across the state, with an even stronger relationship in regional and rural areas.

“Our research found residents in high walkability regional areas walked 75 minutes more a week compared to those living in low walkability regional areas.

“Even those in regional areas of medium walkability walked over 60 minutes more a week compared to those in low walkability regional areas. In comparison residents in high walkability urban centres walked 38 minutes more when walkability was high.”

Senior author Professor Verity Cleland, from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, said that with regional Australian towns experiencing unique health challenges including higher rates of preventable chronic disease, improving walkability could offer a simple, but effective solution

to help address health inequalities.

“Imagine if all Australian towns were built with walkability in mind –everyone would be able to travel easily and conveniently on foot, boosting their health while saving money on fuel and protecting the environment,” said Professor Cleland.

“But traditionally government planning and funding has prioritised roads and driving, particularly in regional areas, leading to lack of well-connected footpaths and facilities.

“Our research uncovered a higher number of regional areas that had low walkability compared to urban areas.

“Walkability shouldn’t be limited to urban centres.

“No matter where you live you should be able to walk around your local area safety and conveniently.

“We need local, state and Federal Governments to do more to set up regional towns with walkable infrastructure to help boost health, particularly in our regional communities.”

Trackside action at the Gresford Billy Cart Derby

FROM Page 1

for us!

“In the end it came down to brother versus brother and it was the Lambert family taking it out for both Open and Junior Champions, with Jeshua Lambert getting the overall win for the day.”

Organisers have reported that more than $8000 was

raised in the auction for the Gresford Public School P&C.

Attendees of all ages enjoyed visits from the Easter Bunny and the Paterson Valley Platypus, plus market stalls, hot food, live music, the gumboot toss, a vintage car display and more.

The much-loved community event is organised by the Rotary Club of Dungog.

Top marks for sports uniform proposal

NEW research suggests most Australians support a simple change that could significantly boost children’s physical activity levels: letting students wear sports uniforms every day.

The majority of young Australians are still not active enough, despite wellestablished evidence that regular physical activity improves children’s physical and mental health.

Schools are seen as an important setting to address this - but some principals have been hesitant to move away from traditional uniforms due to concerns about community expectations.

A University of Newcastle (UoN) study in partnership with Hunter New England Local Health District’s Population Health, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, analysed nearly 2,000 public responses and hundreds of community comments, finding more than three-quarters of respondents back the daily wearing of activity-enabling sports uniforms in schools.

UoN’s Belinda Peden, of HMRI’s Population Health Research program, said ensuring children obtained adequate amounts of physical activity was important for their physical, social and mental health and could improve their attention and academic performance.

“Because physical activity patterns established in childhood often track into adulthood, supporting children to be sufficiently active can help prevent chronic disease later in life,” she said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends children do at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intense, physical activity each day.

However, global data shows that only one third of children are sufficiently active, highlighting the need for population-wide interventions.

Traditional school uniforms are often formal in design, consisting of a dress or skirt and blouse for girls and trousers or shorts with a button-up business styleshirt for boys, paired with black leather shoes.

Sports uniforms, consisting of shorts, polo shirts and sports shoes are only worn on days with physical education classes or scheduled sport, often requiring children to change at school.

Several identified studies have formal school uniforms as a barrier to students participating in physical activity, especially for girls.

“Reviews have found that traditional uniform policies more frequently disadvantage girls, students from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, low-income families, and gender, and sexually diverse students,” Ms Peden explained.

This study conducted a multi method content analysis, examining public responses to media coverage of proposals to allow students to wear sports uniforms in schools.

An article originally published in research-based news and analysis media outlet The Conversation,

Paterson Golf Club

SATURDAY 28TH MARCH

INDIVIDUAL STABLEFORD FIELD | 26 members Winner Joseph Jackson (22) 41 Points, Runner Up Phillip Watson (29) 39 Points, 3rd Place Greg Barry (16) 38 Points BALL COMP | John Walker (11) 38 Points, Benjamin Herden (19) 38 Points, David Bambach (8) 37 Points, Dion Rose (36) 37 Points, Michael Cairney (24) 36 Points, Lee Hunt (10) 36 Points, Robert Richardson (13) 35 Points, Cain Gorfine (19) 35 Points, Jarrod Roberts (13) 35 Points, James Cowled (12) 34 Points & Jan Cheetham

STORY STARTS on BACK COVER Page 16

in, widely regarded as the toughest breeding ground for young players on the cusp of first-grade football.

titled ‘Four reasons

Australian schools should let students wear sports uniforms every day’, attracted coverage across television, digital, print and radio news, as well as social media platforms.

The multi method content analysis found the majority of responses to media coverage of The Conversation article (76 percent) supported schools permitting students to wear sports uniforms every day with only 22 percent opposed and two percent categorised as unclear.

“This is one of the first studies to really look at what the public thinks - and it shows people are more open to flexible school uniforms than many might expect,” Ms Peden said.

“We found strong support for letting kids wear sports uniforms every day, which could make it much easier for schools to help students be more active.

“It’s a simple, low-cost change that could have a big impact, especially when we know parents, students and teachers are already on board.”

Ms Peden said themes around equity, inclusion and autonomy also came through strongly across all the data.

“The data showed people felt that letting students wear sports uniforms every day could make a real differencesupporting gender equity and inclusion, giving kids more choice, and simply making them more comfortable.

“We also know from previous research that strict uniform rules can have the opposite effect, particularly for gender-diverse students,

impacting both wellbeing and learning.”

While global, national and state level physical activity guidelines recommend increasing opportunities for students to be active at school, uniform policies are often overlooked as an easy modifiable factor that could potentially influence student activity, particularly during school break times.

Ms Peden said the study’s findings could inform strategies to address a barrier to a simple, scalable, population-level intervention to increase school-based physical activity.

“What this study shows is that the community is ready

for change,” she said.

“There’s strong support for more flexible school uniforms, which could help remove a key barrier to getting kids more active.

“When you combine this with support from parents, students and teachers, it’s a great opportunity to rethink uniform policies in a way that supports wellbeing, inclusion, and equity.”

Professor Luke Wolfenden is Editor-in-Chief of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health and works alongside the research group that developed the paper.

He hopes the research will help settle the ongoing

debate regarding community support and perceived benefits of more physically activity-enabling versus traditional school uniforms.

"This study suggests there is broad community support for school uniforms that support physical activity,” he said.

“Hopefully the findings prompt school principals and committees to focus on health when choosing school clothing. It’s a simple change that has the potential to have a big impact.”

HMRI is a partnership between the University of Newcastle, Hunter New England Local Health District and the community.

(24) 34 Points. NEAREST THE PIN | 7th/16th - John Walker (11), 8th/17th - Michael Rose (5), 9th/18th - Benjamin Herden (19) MEMBERS DRAW | No.74, Jackpot, $227.75 MEMBERS EAGLES NEST | Unclaimed - 1 Ball UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR | 4-Apr Individual Stroke & Monthly Medal, 11-Apr Individual Stableford, 18-Apr Individual Stableford, 25-Apr Individual Stableford (8am shotgun start). Schedule subject to change.

SATURDAY 4TH APRIL INDIVIDUAL STROKE &

MONTHLY MEDAL FIELD | 26 members & 5 visitors. DIV 1 (<15) | Winner Glenn Davies (6) 63 Nett, Runner Up Paul Geddes (5) 63 Nett DIV 2 (1636) | Winner & Monthly Medal Glenn Radford (22) 63 Nett, Runner Up Greg Sainsbury (19) 68 Nett BALL COMP | Luke Glendenning (11) [Maitland] 64 Nett, Robert Richardson (12) 65 Nett, Lee Hunt (10) 66 Nett, Troy Barry (23) [Hunter Valley] 66 Nett, Daniel Kelly (22) [Maitland] 66 Nett, Michael Shanley (15) 67 Nett. Stephen Pilgrim (14) 67 Nett & Christopher Burg (13) 67 Nett. PUTTING COMP | Div 1 - Robert Richardson (12) - 28 Putts, Div 2 - Michael Dobosz

(23) - 29 Putts NEAREST THE PIN | 1st/10th - Brian Wright (23), 2nd/11th - James Cowled (12), 5th/14th - Brian Mowle (14) MEMBERS DRAW | No.73, Jackpot, $289.75 MEMBERS EAGLES NEST | Unclaimed - 2 Balls UPCOMING EVENTS | 11-Apr Individual Stableford, 18-Apr Individual Stableford, 25-Apr Individual Stableford (8am shotgun start), 2-May Individual Stroke & Monthly Medal, 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.

through and through; a Nelson Bay Marlins junior who represented his club through to Under-17s before making the move across to the Hawks Under-19s squad.

Both rookies came through Hunter Sports High School before converging at the Northern Hawks.

Slade is a local product

But at this stage of their careers it's a step, not a destination, and you can be sure the two friends would have had plenty to say to each other about it afterwards.

Young gun Patrick has since earned a place in Manly's system as a versatile outside back.

Barnes, a promising forward, has travelled a

longer road, starting with the Dungog Warriors before moving to Raymond Terrace Roosters for first division and working his way through the Newcastle Knights junior representative program before impressing club officials at Bondi.

The tough tackling Barnes claimed bragging rights - but only just.

Manly led 22-8 at the break before the Roosters stormed home to win 4420, giving the two mates very different halftime and fulltime experiences to compare notes on.

Northern Hawks President Andrew Chapman told News Of The Area that the whole Hunter community would be watching their

progress closely.

"We're delighted for both Patrick and Charlie, but they'd be the first to tell you they've still got a long way to go,” revealed Chapman.

“The Jersey Flegg Under 21 series will test them every week and that's exactly what they need."

By Chris KARAS