FEDERAL Lyne MP Alison Penfold has called on the WIN Network to publicly commit to maintain local news coverage and news crews provided by NBN Newcastle following its acquisition from the owners of the Nine network.
NBN currently covers news from the Central Coast in the south to the Gold Coast in the north and west to Lightning Ridge.
According to the broadcaster this market has a population of over 2.3 million people, and is the fourth largest television market in Australia, behind Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
“Our local NBN journalists and camera crews have stood with us in the good times and the bad – from the May 2025 floods, 2019 bushfires to local shows and events,” Ms Penfold said in a statement.
“Their work helps amplify our voice, share our joys and our grief and help bring communities and our region together.
“It may surprise many people that not all regional areas have a local 6pm TV news bulletin and local journalists like we do.
“We therefore cannot assume that the new owners of NBN will keep the same service we have now.
“Having real local crews means we have journalists telling our stories.
“We must protect what we have. If we don’t, we will never get it back.”
The announcement was made by the owners of the Nine Network to the ASX on Friday 30 January and requires the approval of Nine shareholders.
“The sale requires the approval of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and I ask them to consider whether the sale will provide the same local news coverage and reporting, including ensuring local crews remain based in Taree
and Port Macquarie,” Ms Penfold said.
“Any suggestion of a loss of local news coverage should result in a rejection of the deal.
“I will be writing to the ACCC and to the WIN Network to voice my concerns.”
The WIN Network currently broadcasts into 29 markets across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia and the ACT.
“As the largest provider of regional television news in Australia, underpinned by significant investment in newsrooms, journalists and production and broadcast infrastructure,
WIN understands the importance of strong, independent local news and a voice for regional communities,” WIN Network CEO Andrew Lancaster said in a statement.
“This acquisition of WIN reinforces our commitment to providing that local voice, while continuing to deliver Nine’s leading national news, sport and entertainment content to audiences across the northern New South Wales region.
“Along with our deep connection to the communities where we broadcast, WIN’s record of delivering trusted, highquality local news while complementing Nine’s national programming remains unmatched.”
By John WATTS
AUSTRALIAN Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) is calling on private landholders in the Stroud district to join a proposed large-scale conservation precinct.
The initiative aims to strengthen habitat connectivity across the region and increase protection for threatened species, including the koala and greater glider.
One AWC project is the 3871-hectare Waulinbakh Wildlife Sanctuary, located near Stroud, which contains 11 threatened wildlife species and 2 threatened plant species.
The proposal, led by AWC, is being undertaken in partnership with MidCoast Council and MidCoast two Tops Landcare Connection.
The first phase of the project is the seeking of
up to 30 local landholders interested in participating in the Waulinbakh Conservation Precinct.
“Australian Wildlife Conservancy recognises that working together is the best way to create change,” said Wayne Sparrow, AWC Regional Operations Manager.
“As a unified precinct, we can build a landscapescale network of protected and well-managed habitat that benefits wildlife, waterways, and local communities.”
According to the NSW Government and MidCoast Council, private landholders manage more than 80 percent of land in NSW, and around 70 percent in the MidCoast region.
AWC indicates that while the proposed Waulinbakh Conservation Precinct already encompasses an impressive network
of public and private conservation sites, additional support will strengthen an emerging wildlife stronghold.
“Private landholders have an important role to play in wildlife conservation,” explained Wayne.
“We’re keen to support them in managing their properties in ways that enhance biodiversity and ecological resilience.”
Local Gloucester consultant Louise Duff has been engaged by AWC to promote the conservation precinct proposal to landholders and gauge if there is enough interest to bring it to fruition.
“If the Waulinbakh Conservation Precinct gets off the ground, it will enable landholders to join forces and work together at landscape scale to conserve wildlife,” said Louise.
AWC is an organisation involved in the restoration of landscapes at scale, and in the conservation
of Australian wildlife, particularly endangered species.
“We are privileged to work in partnerships with Traditional Owners, as well as with pastoralists, governments, universities and private landholders to powerfully extend the reach of effective conservation action,” explains the AWC website.
“We don’t just conserve; we innovate, we lead, and we inspire change at every level to help shape and secure the future of Australia’s unique biodiversity.”
For those interested in learning more about the precinct, AWC is hosting an open day and guided walk at Waulinbakh Wildlife Sanctuary on 1 March 2026.
Locals can also register to chat to a Project Officer about conservation opportunities, and/ or attend a community meeting at Stroud School of Arts Hall on 31 March 2026.
Those seeking more information can do so at www.australianwildlife. org/waulinbakhconservation-precinct.
q Koala at Waulinbakh.
Photo: Brad Leue/AWC.
Nerong Fires under control
By Thomas O’KEEFE
BUSHFIRES between Nerong and Tea Gardens have been updated to “under control” status as of late Saturday 7 February, after weeks of firefighter efforts on the land and in the skies and river.
As of Sunday 8 February, the Nerong fire had burned over 6,500ha of bush and grassland, bounded by Myall River to the east, the Pacific Highway to the west, Nerong Inlet to the north, and Monkey Jacket Creek to the south.
This area is just a few kilometres from Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest.
Monkey Jacket Creek has been a site of intense land and
airborne firefighting efforts for over a week as persistent north-easterly winds kept pushing it towards the twin towns.
For over two weeks, residents have awoken to the acrid smell of smoke in the air and recent smatterings of rain have done very little to quench the fires.
Even the heavy, but short, evening electrical storms seen at the start of February brought only a few millimetres to the groundbarely wetting the surface.
A new red army of firefighters dug into the pine plantation atop Tea Gardens aquifer, in some cases literally, as it turned out
that the makeshift roadways throughout the plantation are composed mostly of crushed sawdust and wood chips, providing a honeycomb of in-ground fuel that fire can penetrate for several metres.
On the fireground itself heavy machinery meant for tree harvesting has had to be utilised for digging into the ground to access the hidden smouldering amongst the organic material, much like classic peat bogs.
Aircraft using thermal imaging cameras have been used to locate hotspots amidst the thick smoke, and boats have been deployed along the Myall River at Mungo Brush to extinguish
spot fires as the embers attempt to jump the river.
Access for boats is closed on the Myall River north of Tea Gardens to Bombah Broadwater.
The water supply from Tea Gardens aquifer remains functioning and accessible, being a top priority of MidCoast Council, the local water operator.
RFS brigades that helped (not complete due to the lack of an official list) included: PindimarTea Gardens, Bulahdelah, Wootton, Limeburners Creek, North Arm Cove, Maitland, Wauchope, Green Point, Diamond Beach, Tuncurry, Rainbow Flat, Tinonee, Lake
Cathie, Kings Creek, Nabiac, Coopernook, Minimbah, Dungog, Clarence Town, Bendolbah-Salisbury and more.
NPWS units have also remained involved, as much of the fire is within Myall Lakes National Park.
An unexpected hazard has been the bee hives in the area, no doubt stirred up by the smoke, and yet another thing volunteers have to contend with.
A few southerlies have blown up, forcing the fire back from the river and upon its burnt-out wake, but the northern front then flares up and becomes a problem, with Bulahdelah Showground
once again becoming the centre of operations as it was back in December.
Only heavy, sustained, and deeply-penetrating rain will fully extinguish this fire, which is now widely suspected to be the same fire from December, having smouldered away in peaty marches and inaccessible gullies and ravines throughout January
More food supplies were pulled together and donated by volunteers from the Tea Gardens Lions, and RFS has utilised several local restaurants to feed the troops on their 12-hour shifts.
Report any unattended fires to 000 immediately.
Authorised by Alison Penfold MP, National Party of Australia, 144 Victoria St, Taree NSW 2430.
q A water-bombing helicopter refills at a dam on a property near Nerong. Photo: Pindimar-Tea Gardens RFS/Facebook.
q Diggers clear burnt trees and open up hidden ground fires near the pine plantation. Photo: Pindimar-Tea Gardens/RFS Facebook.
q Grass fires erupt when the flames leap out of the trees. Photo: Pindimar-Tea Gardens RFS/ Facebook.
q The 6500ha bushfire sits just a few kilometres north of Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest. Image: Fires Near Me website.
Local artist shares love of rural life
PATERSON PROJECTS
FROM Page 1
funded by Arts Upper Hunter.
Led by artist Jenny McCracken and supported by the Paterson Historical Society and the Paterson Court House Museum, the project will explore the rich citrus-growing heritage of the region.
Workshops and storygathering sessions will invite locals to share family memories, photographs and connections to the Paterson River Orange, which once played a significant role in the area’s agricultural history.
Young people are also
at the centre of several new initiatives this year.
Through the Dungog Region Youth Volunteering project, funded via a grant awarded to the Gresford Community Group, Paterson youth will be invited to participate in local events and projects that showcase volunteering opportunities and community leadership.
In addition, the Cultivating Futures project, supported by the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation’s Backing the Future grant, will offer young people handson opportunities to care for the environment while
building skills, confidence and stronger community connections.
Community spaces and gatherings continue to play an important role locally.
The Paterson ‘Pop-in’ Hub will reopen on Wednesday 4 February, operating every Wednesday afternoon at St Paul’s Church Hall.
The Hub provides a welcoming place for conversation, idea-sharing and access to information, including printed copies of the Paterson Plan.
Other upcoming events include Permaculture at the Pub at the Paterson Tavern
DUNGOG By Design is presenting a collection of works by awardwinning local artist Gaye Shield during the month of February.
Based in Dungog, painting has been Gaye’s lifelong passion; she began at age 11 and has been exhibiting for over 30 years.
Deeply inspired by the people, animals, and landscapes around her, her work often blends vibrant colour,
on Thursday 5 February, a relaxed evening focused on practical sustainability, and the first Vacy Crop Swap for 2026 on Sunday 15 February at the Vacy General Store, encouraging locals to share produce, plants and homemade goods.
Rounding out the month are a Paterson Police community catch-up and a visit from the Service NSW Mobile Centre on Tuesday 17 February, offering residents opportunities to connect with services close to home.
expressive brushwork, and touches of humour.
“An Associate Member of the Royal Art Society of NSW, Gaye has won numerous awards, including eight first prizes, and has exhibited widely across Sydney, the Hunter region, and nationally,” Arts Upper Hunter stated.
Gaye draws much of her inspiration from her rural community and the Australian landscape, as well as
from still life, flora, fauna, and occasional abstract explorations.
In “The Farm Yard” series, Gaye has produced some delightful miniatures and two larger paintings, her love of animals clearly evident.
Dungog By Design is located at 224 Dowling St, Dungog and is open Wednesday to Friday from 10am to 4pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 3pm.
DRAFT CLARENCE TOWN FLOOD STUDY
The Draft Flood Study for the Clarence Town area will be on public exhibition from 12 January to 1 March 2026. th st
The study provides flood information for Council, emergency services and the community. Outcomes of the study will help to develop strategies to support the ongoing strategic development of Clarence Town and its surrounding environs, as well as inform decision-making to minimise potential flood risk for new developments.
You can find out if your property is identified as being flood-prone by scanning the QR code and visiting our website. You can also lodge your feedback via our website, or by writing to Dungog Shire Council: 198 Dowling Street Dungog NSW 2420 before 5pm, 1 March 2026.
Community drop-in session
Like to ask our Council planning team a question about the draft Flood Study? We will be holding a community drop-in session and would welcome you to come along and have a chat to us.
Date: Saturday, 14 February 2026
Times: 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm
Location: Clarence Town School of Arts Hall
q A piece from Gaye’s ‘The Farm Yard’ series. Photo: Arts Upper Hunter.
q St Paul's Anglican Church in Paterson.
Record results for airport
THE final quarter of 2025 delivered Newcastle Airport’s highest ever passenger results.
A total of 340,778 passengers travelled through the terminal in October, November and December, ending a successful year for the airport which included the completion of the expanded terminal and new direct flights to Bali, Perth and Hobart.
December alone saw 111,007 passengers, with the Airport on track to achieve 1.334 million passengers by the end of FY26, a record number for the airport and Hunter region.
This milestone comes as international services expand.
Direct flights to Bali have launched successfully and, from 29 March 2026, passengers will be able to travel from Newcastle to Singapore via Bali, a critical connection to one of Asia’s most important hubs.
Newcastle Airport CEO Linc Horton said the results reflect both strong demand and the confidence of travellers in the region.
“In a case of ‘build it and they will come’, the Hunter is proving that the new terminal and greater connectivity is exactly what the region ordered,” Mr Horton said.
"Passenger demand continues to exceed expectations and this record quarter highlights the Hunter’s readiness for more direct international services.”
Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes, who has recently travelled on both the Bali and Perth services, said he has seen firsthand how Newcastle Airport is “redefining regional air travel”.
“These connections make it easier for local businesses to access new and existing markets and for our community to explore the world from their own backyard,” Mr Hawes said.
“The growth we’re seeing is exactly what the region needs, and the growing passenger numbers through Newcastle Airport has a benefit to local businesses that are active in and service the precinct.
“The growth and development ambitions of the airport are backed by stakeholders across the region and the passenger statistics only add to the confidence we all have for the future.”
News Of The Area would love to hear your OPINION and VIEWS on issues and topics affecting our area. Keep Letters to the Editor under 250 words for its best chance of publication. Please be aware that there is no guarantee or of publication from your submission to us. Publication will be determined by the editor around available space, relevance and appropriateness. media@newsofthearea.com.au
q
A total of 340,778 passengers travelled through the terminal in October, November and December. Photo: supplied.
Illegal, high-power e-bikes to be crushed in crackdown
By Alex MITCHELL, AAP
POLICE will get extra powers to seize and destroy illegal e-bikes that officials say are fuelling anti-social behaviour.
Mirroring a move made in WA, NSW Police will be able to crush non-compliant, highpowered e-bikes including so-called 'fat bikes' and other throttle-only devices.
The move responded to a controversial social media video that showed a group of 40 e-bike riders and motorcyclists driving dangerously across Sydney Harbour Bridge last Tuesday.
The convoy could be seen speeding past cars and doing wheelies across the landmark, prompting condemnation and calls for a crackdown on illegal devices.
"We've heard loud and clear the concern in the
Wine and taxes: only one certainty for small producers
By Stephanie GARDINER, AAP
UNDER the shade of a weeping willow on the banks of a sparkling dam, wine lovers can look out across a sprawling national park while sipping chilled Chardonnay.
Members of the Wombat Crossing Vineyard, in the heart of the NSW Hunter Valley wine region, can also stay in a cosy lodge with a fireplace, aptly named The Burrows.
With grape-growing a notoriously perilous business, producer Ian Napier knew he had to branch out and offer singlevineyard wine, tastings and accommodation to diversify his income.
"Blind Freddy can see that grapes are not a product that is in high demand," he tells AAP.
"You have to add value to them if you are to do any good."
The business was humming along when, in August 2023, Mr Napier was hit with a notice from Revenue NSW saying his property may be subject to land tax as its predominant use was no longer primary production.
The department then sent an assessment in 2024 saying
he owed five years' worth of land taxes, a levy from which growers are generally exempt as they produce food and fibre.
Mr Napier spent more than $100,000 in legal fees challenging the finding in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, which ruled in favour of the revenue office.
The tribunal found the land tax exemption only applied if the cultivated product itself - grapes - was sold.
It ruled that the primary use of the land was instead wine production and sales, in part based on an analysis of income from wine sales compared to grape sales.
Mr Napier says the state government's "avaricious land tax grab" is penalising producers for exactly what they're encouraged to do: innovate and diversify.
"This goes to the heart of many small wine-making businesses," he says.
"I could have achieved the same result by pulling out all of my vineyards, buying grapes, having a winemaker turn them into wine and then selling the wine.
"Is that what we really want to achieve?
"Do we want primary producers to... get rid of the primary production bit and
just focus on the piece that actually makes money?"
Mr Napier's case has become something of a canary in the coalmine for other small producers around the state.
An apple orchardist who turned inferior fruit into juice and sold it, lost a tax exemption after Revenue NSW found the land was not predominantly used for primary production.
A cherry and apricot grower was threatened with penalties after launching a popular "pick-your-own" venture, which was deemed to be a competing use of the land.
Grading and packing of the produce at the farm was classified as "processing", which also affected the tax exemption.
That assessment was ultimately overturned due to the short fruit harvesting and tourist season.
NSW Farmers last week issued a warning to small and medium producersincluding those with cellar doors and fruit standssaying they appear to be firmly in the sights of the revenue office.
The organisation is calling on the government to broaden the meaning of primary production in the
state's tax legislation, which hasn't changed for decades.
It argues the law is a disincentive for farmers to add value to their produce and diversify their income in a sector increasingly prone to disruption from weather, disasters and geopolitics.
"We want to see a system that is a bit fairer," NSW Farmers business, economics and trade committee chair John Lowe tells AAP.
"We want to see our farmers having the opportunity to... make a buck and be able to diversify and re-invent agricultural production without getting penalised the moment they step over an imaginary line."
The primary producer definition could be expanded to include income generated from converting produce into a value-added product, NSW
community about souped-up e-bikes and the anti-social behaviour that seems to go hand in hand with them," Transport Minister John Graham said on Sunday.
"Riders and owners of illegal e-bikes should now hear us loud and clear: if you are breaking the rules, and your bike does not meet the very clear specifications of a pedal-assisted e-bike, expect it to be removed from your possession and crushed."
In addition to being no more than 500 watts, e-bike batteries can only operate as a pedal-assist and cut out when the vehicle reaches a speed of 25km/h.
Anything that exceeds those power or speed limits must be registered as a moped or motorcycle.
Police already have powers to seize vehicles that
Farmers' position paper says.
That would bring NSW closer in line with other states like Victoria, which recognises produce in a "natural, processed or converted state".
Agritourism could also be considered a legitimate primary production activity under the proposed changes.
While some farmers are accusing the government of opportunistic revenueraising, Finance Minister Courtney Houssos has previously told parliament the law has long been consistently applied.
Ms Houssos says she regularly meets with producers to understand the support they need.
"It's encouraging to see producers look for new opportunities to grow their business in the face of difficult economic conditions and natural disasters," she adds via a statement to AAP.
are not road legal.
Government officials said the fresh powers simplify seizure laws that were designed with cars and motorbikes in mind.
It will be one tweak in a wider reform package tackling unsafe e-bikes, it said.
E-bikes, many retailing for more than $2000, and other high-powered vehicles have become a lightning rod for controversy in parts of Australia.
A teenage boy is awaiting trial for manslaughter after allegedly killing a 59-year-old while riding an unlicensed electric motorbike through a park in Perth in July.
At least 100 illegal devices were seized and 2100 fines handed to riders during a Queensland police crackdown in December.
Revenue NSW officials met with farmers throughout 2025, with further talks planned for 2026.
Land tax thresholds are due for review in 2027.
At Pokolbin, Mr Napier has dramatically downsized his venture and no longer sells grapes, instead using all of what he grows to make wine.
Under the beating January summer sun, workers harvest Shiraz grapes for wine that will eventually be sold at the cellar door.
Mr Napier is stuck paying an annual land tax, opting not to launch an expensive appeal against the tribunal's decision.
"This win by the government is not a win for us," he says, offering a final word.
"And it's certainly not a win for agriculture or a primary producer."
"Under the current legislation, producers who diversify their activities will still continue to receive the primary production land exemption as long as primary production remains the dominant use of the land."
q NSW Police will be able to crush non-compliant, high-powered e-bikes. Photo: NSW Police.
q Ian Napier was slugged with five years' worth of land taxes after diversifying his winery business. Photo: Peter Stoop/AAP PHOTOS.
BEST ON THE BOX
FRIDAY
THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB
SEVEN, 8.30pm
The TV equivalent of sitting down to solve a crossword with a cup of tea and a biscuit, this cosy murder series follows a trio of unlikely crime solvers in a quaint English town. As they proved in season one, retired archaeologist Judith (Samantha Bond, pictured left), dog walker Suzie (Jo Martin, pictured centre) and vicar’s wife Becks (Cara Horgan, pictured right) make a brilliant team. Our favourite sleuths are called back into action after an aristocrat is found dead the day before his wedding – with his young fiancée, bitter son and scheming ex top of their suspect list.
FRIDAY, February 13
6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)
7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day.
7.30 Gardening Australia. (Return)
8.30 Professor T. (Return, M) Professor T works on a case while in prison.
9.20 Hard Quiz. (PGa, R) Hosted by Tom Gleeson.
9.50 The Weekly With Charlie Pickering. (PG, R) A satirical news program.
10.20 Dog Park. (M, R)
10.50 ABC Late News.
11.05 Smother. (Mlv, R)
12.50 Rage New Music. (MA15+dhlnsv)
5.00 Rage. (PGadhlnsv)
SUNDAY
CRICKET: WOMEN’S T20 SERIES
7MATE, 7pm
A new innings begins on Sunday for Australian women’s cricket, with all-rounder Sophie Molineux (pictured) named as the squad’s new captain, taking over from a retiring Alyssa Healy. This Twenty20 series opener against India will be the Victoria and Melbourne Renegades skipper’s first time leading the country, taking charge ahead of the T20 World Cup in England and Wales in June. Several members of the team will still be smarting from India’s recordbreaking chase of 339 that knocked Australia out of the ODI World Cup semi-final just a few months ago. With a fresh tactical direction and a score to settle, Molineux and co. are set to shine.
TUESDAY
DR KARL’S HOW THINGS
everything from toilet paper to guitars –the endlessly curious Dr Karl Kruszelnicki (pictured) pulls back the cover on how books are made in the final chapter of this second season. And what better example than F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece The Great . Much attention is paid to the writing and editing behind our favourite novels, but how do those words physically make their way onto the page? At Ligare Book Printers in Sydney, Dr Karl watches as lasers etch words onto metal plates, before being loaded into a press that can print thousands of books a day. You might say it’s a real page-turner.
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 The Lost Cities Of The Incas. (Premiere)
9.25 Isle Of Wight: Jewel Of The South. (R) Follows the Seaview Salties.
10.15 SBS World News Late.
10.45 Sisi. (Masv, R)
11.40 Babylon Berlin. (Mav, R)
1.25 The Lesson. (Mal, R)
3.40 Celebrity Mastermind. (PG, R)
4.40 Bamay. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning.
5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. (Return) Johanna Griggs heads to Bribie Island.
8.30 The Marlow Murder Club. (Return, Mav) A wealthy baronet dies alone in his study the day before his wedding.
10.30 Australian Idol. (PGal, R) Hosted by Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie.
12.15 GetOn Extra. (Return) A look at the weekend’s best racing.
12.45 Dare Me. (MA15+asv)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R)
5.00 Dr Harry’s Animal Encounters. (PG, R)
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 7 – Night. Coverage includes women’s snowboard cross qualifiers and finals and men’s crosscountry 10km final and ice hockey prelims.
12.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 7 – Post Midnight. Coverage includes women’s snowboard cross finals and skeleton runs and men’s 10,000m speed skating final and 10km biathlon sprint final.
3.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 7 – Overnight.
6.00
SATURDAY, February 14
6.00 Kath & Kim. (PGals, R) Kim swears off men and takes up golf.
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 Call The Midwife. (Md) The midwives help a family with a history of drug addiction.
8.30 Midsomer Murders. (Mv) Engagement celebrations at Godley Manor are brought to a sinister end by a booby-trapped cuckoo clock.
10.00 This England. (Ml, R) Looks at Britain during COVID-19. 11.00 Rage. (MA15+dhlnsv)
6am Children’s Programs. 10.10 Tiddler. 10.35 Children’s Programs. 6.20pm Bluey. 6.30 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Andy And The Band. 7.05 Piripenguins. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Hard Quiz Kids. 8.00 Chopped Jnr. 8.40 Shaun Tan’s Tales From Outer Suburbia. 9.05 Mr Bean: The
7.30 Muster Dogs. (PG) The handlers and their pups perform assessment tasks.
8.30 Dog Park. (Ml) Roland and Emma finally confront their future.
9.00 This England. (Ml) Looks at Britain during COVID-19.
9.55 Call The Midwife. (Md, R)
10.55 Midsomer Murders. (Mv, R)
12.25 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
3.00 Gardening Australia. (R)
4.00 Dream Gardens. (R)
4.30 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R)
5.00 Insiders. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Dominic West: Extreme Silk Road. (PG)
8.25 Fengyang: The Forgotten Imperial City.
10.10 Dunhuang: Ancient Frontier Fortress. (MA15+v, R)
11.10 South Korea With Alexander Armstrong. (PGa, R)
1.45 24 Hours In Emergency. (Ma, R)
2.40 24 Hours In A&E. (Mal, R)
3.35 Celebrity Mastermind. (PG, R)
4.40 Bamay. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News.
5.15 Euronews.
5.30 PBS News Horizons.
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R) An influencer’s baggage attracts attention.
7.30 MOVIE: The Mummy Returns. (2001, Mhv, R) A couple battle a resurrected mummy. Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz.
10.10 MOVIE: Atomic Blonde. (2017, MA15+lsv, R) An MI6 agent investigates an agent’s murder. Charlize Theron, James McAvoy.
12.30 MOVIE: The Right Mom. (2021, Mav, R) Anna Schafer.
2.30 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 It’s Academic. (R)
5.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R)
7TWO (62)
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 8 – Night. Coverage includes men’s alpine skiing giant slalom and women’s mogul dual finals and 4x7.5km cross-country relay.
12.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 8 – Post Midnight.
Coverage includes men’s alpine skiing giant slalom, women’s cross-country relay, speed skating women’s team pursuit and men’s 500m finals.
3.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 8 – Overnight.
6.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) Narrated by Mark Coles Smith. 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. A couple deals with a dysfunctional property. 8.40 Sort Your Life Out. (PGa, R) Stacey Solomon and her team help families declutter and transform their lives. 9.50 Ambulance Australia. (Mdlm, R) A specialist critical care paramedic responds to a head-on collision that has left a driver trapped in their car. 10.50 Matlock. (PGad, R) 11.50 Elsbeth. (PGav, R) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power.
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Australian Idol. (PGal) Hosted by Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie.
8.45 The Meghan Effect: Transforming The Royals. (PG) Looks at Meghan Markle, who went from being an actor to becoming part of the British monarchy.
10.15 The Hunters: Mr Cruel. (Mav, R)
11.45 Autopsy USA. (Ma, R)
12.45 Temple. (MA15+al)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R)
4.00 Better Homes And Gardens. (R)
5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 Married At First Sight. (PGls) After an explosive revelations week task, the actions of some have a major effect on the others.
8.45 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 9 – Night.
Coverage includes women’s slalom and monobob bobsleigh, men’s dual moguls and mixed team snowboard cross.
12.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 9 – Post Midnight.
3.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 9 – Overnight.
5.30 Today. The latest in news and current affairs.
6.30 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 7.00 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (PGal) Hosted by Julia Morris and Robert Irwin. 8.30 NCIS: Sydney. (Masv) When a petty officer is found brutally murdered and frozen, it leads the team into a twisted underworld of seafood and sex trafficking. 9.30 Law &
MONDAY, February 16
6.00
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.35 Inside The Tower Of London. (PG)
8.30 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. (M) 9.25 Never Mind The Buzzcocks. (M)
10.10 SBS World News Late. 10.40 Other People’s Money. (PGals) 11.30 Vigil. (Mav, R)
2.45 The Real Crown: Inside The House Of Windsor. (PG, R)
3.40 Celebrity Mastermind. (PG, R)
4.40 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6am Children’s Programs. 5.55pm Octonauts. 6.05 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.20 Bluey. 6.25 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Ninjago. 8.00 Deadly 60. 8.30 BTN Newsbreak. 8.35 TKO: Total Knock
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6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away. (PGas) Leah crafts a romantic apology.
7.30 Australian Idol. (Ml) Hosted by Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie.
9.15 9-1-1. (Mahv) The 118s beliefs are put to the test as they respond to emergency calls involving a Jack-o’-lantern.
10.15 Ivan Milat: Buried Secrets. (MA15+av, R) Takes a look at the crimes of Ivan Milat.
12.15 Conviction. (MA15+a, R)
2.30 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Better Homes And Gardens. (R)
5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Married At First Sight. (Mls) The newlyweds enter intimacy week and while some couples choose to embrace the challenge, others remain hesitant.
9.05 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 10 – Night. Coverage includes men’s alpine slalom, bobsleigh and short track and women’s snowboard slopestyle and short track.
12.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 10 – Post Midnight.
3.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 10 – Overnight.
5.30 Today.
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6am Notorious.
(1946, PG) 7.55 A United Kingdom. (2016, PG) 10.00 Discovering Film. 10.50 The Good, The Bad And The Ugly. (1966, MA15+) 2pm Broken Hill. (2009, PG) 4.00 Anne Of Green Gables. (2016, PG) 5.35 Go. (1999, PG) 7.30 The Bodyguard From Beijing. (1994, MA15+) 9.15 My Father Is A Hero. (1995, MA15+) 11.15 Above The Dust. (2024, M, Mandarin) 1.25am Late Programs.
TUESDAY, February 17
(R)
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Who Do You Think You Are? (PGa, R)
8.35 MOVIE: Bardot. (2024, Malsw)
10.20 SBS World News Late.
10.50 Exit. (MA15+ads, R)
11.50 Syndrome E. (Malv, R)
1.55 24 Hours In Emergency. (Ma, R)
2.50 The Real Crown: Inside The House Of Windsor. (PG, R)
3.40 Barkley Manor. (PG, R)
4.40 Bamay. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News.
5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
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6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away. (PGad)
7.30 The Chase Australia. 8.30 Doc. (Ma) Michael is under investigation for his actions during the hostage crisis.
9.30 Ambulance: Code Red. (Ma) A man is attacked by a gang with a machete.
10.30 St. Denis Medical. (Ms)
11.30 Madeleine McCann: Searching For The Prime Suspect. (Mav, R)
12.30 Childhood’s End. (Mav)
2.30 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Better Homes And Gardens. (R)
5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Married At First Sight. (Mls) Intimacy week tasks have a mixed effect on the newlyweds. A tense men’s workshop results in poor behaviour. 9.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 11 – Night. Coverage includes men and women’s aerials qualifiers, women’s snowboard slopestyle and men’s ice hockey. 12.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 11 – Post Midnight.
3.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
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6am Morning Programs. 7.20 Discovering Film. 8.10 Go. (1999, PG) 10.05 Above The Dust. (2024, M, Mandarin) 12.20pm Limitless. (2011, M) 2.20 Mrs Lowry And Son. (2019, PG) 4.00 Notorious. (1946, PG) 6.00 The Eagle Huntress. (2016, PG, Kazakh) 7.35 The Legend Of Fong Sai-Yuk. (1993, M, Cantonese) 9.30 The Legend Of Fong Sai-Yuk 2. (1993, M, Cantonese) 11.20 Late Programs.
Start your day with coffee and brekky from 7.30am, lunch from 11.30am, dinner from 5.30pm, and great hospitality all day. Open Tuesday
and
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9GO! (83)
WEDNESDAY, February 18
6am Children’s Programs. 6.40pm Hey Duggee. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Ninjago. 8.00 Deadly 60. 8.30 BTN Newsbreak. 8.35 Steven Universe. 8.55 Adventure Time. 9.20 Teen Titans Go! 9.40 We Bare Bears. 9.55 Shaun Tan’s Tales From Outer Suburbia. 10.15 My Adventures With Superman. 10.40 Late Programs.
THURSDAY, February 19 6.00
6.00 Morning Programs. 9.10 Good With Wood. (PGal, R) 10.10 Paddington Station 24/7. (PGadlv, R) 11.00 China On Stage. (R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.05 Asia’s Ancient Civilisations. (PG, R) 3.00 Going Places. (PGa, R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Silk Road From Above. (PG, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)
8.30 Seven Wonders Of The Ancient World. (PGa, R)
9.25 Trespasses. (Mals)
10.20 SBS World News Late.
10.50 Face To Face. (Mals, R)
11.45 Darkness: Those Who Kill. (Mav, R)
1.35 Golden Boy. (Mal, R)
2.25 The Real Crown: Inside The House Of Windsor. (PG, R) 3.15 Barkley Manor. (PG, R) 4.45 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
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Bergerac. (Mal, R) 2.00 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 3.00 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) 3.30 Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.55
Your Garden. (PGa, R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
8.30 Highway Patrol. (PGl) A driver sideswipes another vehicle.
9.00 Operation Dark Phone: Murder By Text. (MA15+av)
10.00 Air Crash Investigations. (PGa)
11.00 The Disappearance Of Gabby Petito. (Malv, R)
12.15 The Last Weekend. (Malv)
1.15 Travel Oz. (PG, R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Better Homes And Gardens. (R)
5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
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6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Married At First Sight. (Mls) The couples attend the second dinner party.
9.10 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 12 – Night. Coverage includes women’s alpine slalom and aerials finals, men’s snowboard slopestyle and men’s and women’s cross-country team sprint.
12.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 12 – Post Midnight.
3.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 12 – Overnight.
5.30 Today.
6.00 10 News+. 6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (PGa, R)
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6am The Eagle Huntress. Continued. (2016, PG, Kazakh) 7.15 Discovering Film. 8.15 Mrs Lowry And Son. (2019, PG) 10.00 House Of The Seasons. (2023, M, Japanese) 12.10pm Godland. (2022, M, Danish) 2.40 Go. (1999, PG) 4.35 The Bridge On The River Kwai. (1957, PG) 7.30 Fist Of Legend. (1994, M) 9.30 Tai Chi Master. (1993, MA15+, Cantonese) 11.20 Late Programs.
6.00 Morning Programs. 10.10 Paddington Station 24/7. (PGal, R) 11.00 China On Stage. (R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 The Point. (R) 2.05 Asia’s Ancient Civilisations. (PG, R) 3.00 Going Places. (R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Who The Bloody Hell Are We? (PGav, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Toronto Airport Uncovered.
8.20 Robson Green: World’s Most Amazing Walks. (PG)
9.15 A Spy Among Friends. (Premiere)
10.20 SBS World News Late.
10.50 In Memoriam. (Premiere, Madl)
11.40 Forest Of The Missing. (Malv, R)
1.25 Silent Road. (Ma, R)
3.25 The Real Crown: Inside The House Of Windsor. (PG, R)
4.20 Barkley Manor. (PG, R)
4.50 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
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SBS MOVIES (32) SBS MOVIES (32)
6am Morning Programs. 7.55 The Bridge On The River Kwai. (1957, PG) 10.45 The Legend Of Fong Sai-Yuk 2. (1993, M, Cantonese) 12.35pm Within Sand. (2022, M, Arabic) 2.45 Discovering Film. 3.40 Master Cheng: A Spice For Life. (2019, PG) 5.50 The Silver Brumby. (1993, PG) 7.30 Once Upon A Time In China. (1991, M, Cantonese) 10.00 Once Upon A Time In China II. (1992, M, Cantonese) 12.05am Late Programs.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGa) Remi and Sonny go head-to-head.
8.30 MOVIE: Under The Tuscan Sun. (2003, Ml, R) A recently divorced woman holidaying in Tuscany buys a villa on a whim and encounters unexpected romance. Diane Lane, Sandra Oh, Lindsay Duncan.
10.50 To Be Advised.
12.35 Dare Me. (MA15+asv) The party fallout leads to a shocking accident.
1.35 Harry’s Practice. (R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Better Homes And Gardens. (R)
5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
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6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 13 – Night. Coverage includes men’s and women’s ski mountaineering sprints heats and finals and men’s aerials finals.
12.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 13 – Post Midnight.
3.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 13 – Overnight.
Coverage includes women’s ice hockey, men’s 1500m speed skating final and women’s figure free skating.
5.30 Today. The latest in news and current affairs.
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DRAMA
DRAMA
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Gloucester Pre-School & Early Years
Learning Centre is looking to employ 2 highly motivated males/females to be a part of our vibrant, dynamic, and friendly team.
What We Offer:
• A supportive, collaborative team culture
• Ongoing professional development opportunities
• Flexible rostering to fit your lifestyle
• A leadership team that values your wellbeing as much as your skills
• Beautiful natural outdoor environments, and well-resourced play spaces
We are looking for a CIII qualified educator and a CIII trainee to join our ‘school family.’
If you believe you can deliver highquality education and care for each child, applicants can access our website ‘www. gloucesterpreschool.com.au’ and follow the directions under Positions Vacant. Applications close 20th February 2026. Enquiries to director@gloucesterpreschool. com.au or call Kareen on 0265581643.
4981
DOUBLE Pine Bed w/good mattress. $100 4982 0063
Caravans
Position Vacant
News Of The Area OPINION
Dorin’s Draws By Paul DORIN On theCouch
Email Jasminda: media@newsofthearea.com.au
DEAR Jasminda,
MY ex-boyfriend is in many significant family photos such as Christmases, weddings, birthdays and other occasions.
Now we are no longer together, what on earth do I do with all the pictures?
It upsets me to look at them, but I don't want to forget the occasions.
Rachel P.
Dear Rachel,
This one is very fraught.
You obviously want to remember these important milestones, but you're still as
emotionally raw as Noah and Allie from The Notebook, so don't make any hasty decisions (like buying a rundown house with a strategically placed piano and restoring it in a metaphorical attempt at rebuilding the relationship).
My nanna, who was known for her practicality, once suggested I cut my ex's face from family portraits and replace them with Tom Cruise.
Given Tom Cruise's trajectory, it was perhaps not such a great choice, but this was back in the days when cut and paste quite literally involved a pair of scissors and a Bluestick.
I didn't, of course. Instead I put the photos in a box and that is where they remain.
Yesterday, which is somewhat serendipitous for this column, I caught up with a group of former work colleagues and one showed me a family photo that
celebrated the birthday of her ninety-nine year old mother.
Through some sort of AI wizardry, she had added her father (now deceased) to the photo.
She'd also added another family member who'd been unable to attend.
While the photo was quite beautiful, I couldn't help but consider it from an ethical perspective.
What happens when histories are magically altered or changed?
How can a person in the future reconcile a photo that celebrates an event where a person is absent (i.e dead!) but (digitally at least) present?
At what point does this ability to recast the truth become dangerous? I think we are already seeing this play out in many ways on social media.
It's a slippery slope when it becomes harder and harder to distinguish what is real and
what is an approximation of real (cast in a way that benefits the creator and potentially harms others).
We can't change the past.
All we can do is work on our response to it (this is a damn heavy Jasminda, Rachel. Couldn't you have asked about e-bikes?).
May I suggest you put the photos in a clearly marked box while you are still feeling vulnerable.
Or archive photos with him in them (since they upset you) and keep the photos of those events where he is absent on display.
In keeping with my nanna's practicality, put partners from new relationships at the extremities of family photos.
Cropping a photo is far less sinister than some of the alternatives now on offer.
Kids Boot Camp 065
Carpe diem, Jasminda.
Dungog Community Preschool solidifies success
DUNGOG Community
Preschool continues to prepare for the growing needs and wants of the Dungog community. Over the past 18-months, the preschool has worked hard to advocate for today’s families and to secure a stronger future for the wider community.
That work has delivered real results, including four successful grants, totalling $130,107, to invest in new programs, projects and facilities improvements.
The preschool’s focus for 2026 includes:
Trialling new extended hours for preschool families
A 12-month trial of extended hours at Dungog Community Preschool (1 Chapman St site) will commence in Term 1 2026, supported by a successful NSW Department of Education “Flexible Initiative Trial” grant.
This grant will provide $74,200 in funding to run a pilot program in Dungog, enabling families to “opt-in” to an extended hours program,
which will operate between 8am and 6pm Monday-Friday.
The trial is fully-funded and aims at improving service access and flexibility, and establishing a greater understanding of Dungog community needs.
Progressing activation of the 63 Dowling Street site
Activation of the former St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and hall site at 63 Dowling Street will continue this year, as part of a future Dungog education precinct.
The Development Application (DA) for a future early education centre was approved in June 2025 and funding has already been secured for early activation works through two grants: the Elders Community Giving Project ($10,000) and the NSW Government Community Building Partnership ($39,907).
These grants will see minor works undertaken between March and June 2026, including accessibility improvements (such as a new accessible bathroom) and a
new shaded playground and softfall area.
These works will not only prepare the site for future early education use but will provide immediate benefits for broader community use of the site in the interim.
Collaborating to deliver new extra-curricular activities and services
As activation of 63 Dowling St continues, unused capacity at the site is being prioritised for the co-existence of aligned services and partnerships, like the Branxton Community Preschool NEST (“Nurturing Every Stage Together”) hub, where services such as allied health, kindergym, and other education and wellbeing programs are offered for students, parents and community, in facilities adjacent to the local community preschool.
Wellness and community programs at the site have already commenced this month, with more to come.
User agreement and fee schedule can be made available to prospective users.
Please email dcpscommittee@ dungogpreschool.com.au for further details.
Strengthening health and development skills
Dungog Community Preschool will also benefit this year from a successful NSW Department of Education “Health and Development Participation Grant” of $6,000 which will support educators in identifying and responding to health and development concerns for enrolled children, across a wide-cohort of needs.
Activating the Dungog Community Preschool School Building Fund
The Dungog Community Preschool School Building Fund was established in
2025, allowing individuals and businesses to make taxdeductible donations to the Preschool as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) contribution. Donations will complement fundraising efforts and will be used to facilitate much needed building works and improvements at both the 1 Chapman Street and 63 Dowling Street sites, ensuring quality local preschool services continue to exist in the years that follow.
Celebrating 60 years
Dungog Community Preschool enters its 60th year of early-education in Dungog this year.
This birthday milestone will be celebrated with staff, families and our community.
q Over the past 18-months, the preschool has worked hard to advocate for today’s families and to secure a stronger future for the wider community.
Dungog Community Preschool is a not for profit Community owned and operated preschool that has been proudly providing 60 years of early education for three to six year olds in the Dungog Community.
We are an Exceeding service with a strong community focus and a reputation for delivering exceptional early learning experiences. play based learning with school readiness embedding into the daily program large natural environments strong relationships with children, families, educators and the community above-ratio staffing WE ARE RECOGNISED
Our passionate and experienced team is committed to ensuring every child receives a high-quality preschool education that supports their lifelong learning journey.
Details for this special occasion will be released in the coming months.
Welcoming new faces and recognising longstanding staff
This year the preschool welcomes three new staff as part of its 2026 extended hours program: Diane Johanson (Acting Director), Jodie Padmore and Bridie Harris.
“We would also like to thank Tina Overton, who has recently announced her retirement, for her many years of service both as educator and outgoing Director of the Dungog Community Preschool.”
Undertaking a futureproofed Strategic Review
Ensuring this communitybased service is “fit-forthe-future” is an important committee priority, which is being supported by an independent strategic planning activity, which commenced in January.
The review will ensure alignment of industry needs, governance instruments and key Council planning strategies. Community and family consultation throughout this process will occur, with plans for a community meeting to be held in the first half of the year.
Open: 8am-6pm Monday-Friday (during school terms)
admin@dungogpreschool.com.au
www.dungogpreschool.com.au Ph:
Call for $3.85m for international tourism
FROM Page 1
a vibrant and sustainable tourism industry provides.”
“The tourism sector supports over 2,000 jobs in Port Stephens and in 2024, the region welcomed 1.72 million visitors, generating $822 million in expenditure.”
“It’s a vital part of our economy,” she said.
“Last year we celebrated the opening of the new international terminal at Newcastle Airport - a major milestone for the Hunter and
for Port Stephens.
“More international visitors mean more people staying in our accommodation, dining in our restaurants, and spending in our local businesses.
“Looking long term, tourism contributes to building a vibrant and resilient Port Stephensvisitation drives investment in infrastructure, services, and amenities that benefit residents and visitors alike.”
The proposed investment
is aimed at supporting the development of international aviation access through Newcastle Airport, strengthening the Hunter’s position as a competitive destination for overseas visitors.
Regional leaders argue that relatively modest, welltargeted funding could deliver outsized returns for the local economy by unlocking new visitor markets and encouraging longer stays across the region.
Forecasts associated with the advocacy indicate international visitation could increase by at least one per cent, translating to an additional $268 million flowing through the Hunter economy over the next three years.
The advocacy comes at a pivotal time for the Hunter, as the region continues its transition away from coal and works to broaden its economic base.
Supporters of the
Smoky skies persist
By Thomas O’KEEFE
MISERABLE grey skies in the morning, followed by daytime gloom, have joined the biting odour of smoke across the Myall Coast and regions nearby in the aftermath of the Nerong fires, lingering in place thanks to a natural meteorological pattern called the “inversion layer”.
While ordinary atmospheric conditions usually see cooler air temperatures at higher altitudes, almost every evening that normality
is inverted when the sun vanishes, and the upper atmosphere cools more slowly than the ground beneath.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology’s description of such atmospheric dynamics, when the ground cools at night it lowers the temperature of the lowest level of atmosphere with it.
Warmer air above is free to move, and the upper and lower layers tend to physically separate.
When the air is relatively cool, that means still and
steady air at night, but when the atmosphere is loaded with heavy smoke, that smoke gets trapped with the cooler air below, dragging it down to the ground and sealevel along the coast.
“When an inversion is strong, with light and variable winds at ground level, smoke is trapped close to the ground, the inversion acts as a lid, letting the smoke build up, causing problems with air quality and visibility,” the Weather Bureau explains.
Recent mornings have been blanketed by heavy
smoke clouds that tend to lift, slightly, throughout the day as what little sunlight gets through warms the ground.
The headlands and islands off Bennetts Beach offer a good background to contrast these lower smoke layers.
Terrain is also a significant factor, with the heads of Port Stephens and Yaccaba acting like walls for the cooler low levels of atmosphere.
Indeed, all down the coast as far as Sydney, headlands have been trapping smoke that has drifted down on persistent nor-easter winds, with nights in Newcastle recently plagued by the Nerong fire pollution.
It is the ‘inversion layer’ concept that actually makes evacuating to bodies of water, including the beach, less of a good idea, as the smoke will indeed settle on these lowest areas at sea-level.
People often automatically consider evacuating to water because “water does not burn”, but the smoke and its tendency to
proposal say investment in international tourism is a practical example of catalytic infrastructure that can accelerate economic transformation while building on existing strengths in food, wine, nature and coastal experiences.
By aligning councils, the airport and destination partners around funding, the Hunter Joint Organisation is positioning the region to compete more effectively on the global tourism stage.
linger must not be ignored – a fact that Myall Coast residents have been reminded of daily for the past few weeks.
Almost impenetrable smoke is also seen along highways in the morning because the roadway tends to be the lowest point, especially between trees and mountains heading north.
All motorists should remain aware that smoke visibility issues may shut off the Pacific Highway.
Air quality should also be monitored – such as weighing the benefits of getting out to do some manual labour clearing up fuel versus the likelihood of fainting from prolonged smoke inhalation and no-one finding you until it’s too late.
Little known fact: when the ground eventually heats up throughout the day, the cool low air does too, allowing it to mix with higher atmosphere layers.
This means the wind from above tends to come down to the ground more in the afternoon, making that the most dangerous time of day for bushfires.
Schools collaborate and celebrate
By Wendy BUSWELL
GLOUCESTER High
School hosted Gloucester, Barrington, Stratford, Stroud Road and Stroud primary schools for a morning dedicated to fostering collaboration, sharing best practices, and celebrating collective achievements within the public school community.
Michael Wisely, Deputy Principal of Gloucester High School, set the tone for the gathering.
“This morning brings us together to celebrate successes, look to the future, and find links between our schools which will hopefully spark new ideas,” he said.
Building on Wisely's
remarks, principals of each school shared their school’s 2025 achievements and outlined goals for 2026.
A common thread emerged: all schools reported impressive NAPLAN results across Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 in 2025, reflecting sustained growth in student performance.
Toni Johnson, Principal
of Stratford Public School, emphasised that while her school may be small, it offers significant opportunities for students across sport, environmental programs, and creative arts.
Leanne Wakefield, Principal of Gloucester Public School, spoke with pride about her staff.
“Every day, this team makes a real difference for our students,” she said.
Erin Wilson, Principal of Stroud Public School, attributed her school’s success to two key factors: collective staff engagement and clarity in teaching.
Amy Hughes, Principal of Barrington Public School, highlighted three years of improved results, not only in academic achievement but also in sporting and creative arts programs.
Kate Slaven, Relieving Principal at Stroud Road Public School, reflected on her brief tenure.
DEAR News Of The Area,
Thanks for Jasminda's sensible response to the Kids on e-bikes question (NOTA, 4 February).
Below is a description of a legal e-bike [from the State Government].
“In NSW, legal e-bikes (Pedalec) must have a maximum continuous motor output of 250 watts, with power cutting off at 25 km/h and only assisting while pedaling. They must weigh under 50kg, have a height-adjustable seat, and meet EN 15194 standards. Throttles are generally illegal unless limited to 6 km/h.”
Unfortunately, illegal e-bikes are getting all e-bikes a bad name.
Recently, 17 illegal e-bike riders were fined on Fernleigh Track. The fines are about $2,000.
All the Pedal Assist bikes that ride with our Dungog Social Riding group are legal. Stay safe.
Allen Shrimpton, Former Road Safety Officer
DUNGOG
Tree lopping accident
“In my short time here, I’ve witnessed the staff’s deep understanding of students and their families,” she said.
“The staff and students are truly amazing.”
Throughout the presentations, one teaching approach emerged as the common foundation for student success: Explicit Teaching.
This evidence-based approach involves teachers directly explaining, modelling, and guiding students through new concepts and content.
By building foundational skills and knowledge, students gain the confidence to apply their learning with greater independence.
Amy Schafer, Assistant Principal at Gloucester Public School, elaborated on the tangible benefits.
“We’ve noticed improved student engagement and performance, as well as enhanced teacher confidence,” she explained.
A WESTPAC Rescue Helicopter was tasked by NSW Ambulance to an accident on property at Nooroo, east of Dungog, at around 8.45am on Monday 9 February.
A man in his 60s was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics and the helicopter’s critical care medical team for multiple injuries after being struck by a falling tree branch.
The man was airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition.
As the session drew to a close, Michael Wisely reinforced the collaborative spirit of the morning.
The schools were there to support one another, he noted, and he looked forward to continued information sharing that would enhance student engagement and learning across the region.
q Clear skies above Bennetts Beach in the morning contrast with smoke sitting under the inversion layer all night Photo: Thomas O’Keefe.
q Staff from Gloucester, Barrington, Stratford, Stroud Road, and Stroud primary schools and Gloucester High School.
A passion for social justice inspires new event
What a devil!
By Kim TEOH
and Dannielle
Taverner couldn’t quite forget their visit to Aussie Ark wildlife sanctuary at Barrington Tops six years ago.
The experience left a lasting impression after they took their toddler son, Finley, to see the critically endangered Tasmanian devils.
Now that there is a new addition to their family, toddler Angus, they thought they would also give him the same experience, and that Finley would enjoy the return visit.
“Aussie Ark is beautiful, and the staff are deeply
committed to the wonderful work of conservation, something that is very close to our hearts,” said Dannielle.
“It’s a two-hour drive from Muswellbrook and a pleasant one.
“We need to appreciate and support the wonderful work of conservation.”
The project began as Devil Ark in 2011, initially focused on breeding Tasmanian devils free of the facial tumour disease that is highly contagious amongst them, and has devastated wild populations.
Now evolved into Aussie Ark, it supports recovery efforts for multiple species.
Managing Director Tim Faulkner said, “Aussie Ark is
By Wendy BUSWELL
LONGTIME Gloucester
resident Julie Lyford and newcomer Sonja Duncan have discovered a common passion: social justice.
The two women are organising an event in Gloucester titled ‘Hidden In Plain Sight: Connection with Purpose’, which aims to spark community conversation about social justice issues both locally and internationally.
Both women bring more than 25 years of experience in social justice and sustainable futures to the event.
Julie has been Chair of WELA (Women's Environmental Leadership Australia) since 2021, is a foundation member of the Gloucester Environment Group, and was awarded an
the only targeted, threatened species conservation charity working to reverse biodiversity loss in Australia through science-backed programs that breed, rewild, and protect native species.
“We don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk.
“We are working endlessly to protect Australia’s wildlife
OAM in 2015 for her work with the community and the environment.
Sonja is a sustainability and human rights practitioner working across Australia and internationally.
She has run her own consultancy business for over 26 years.
Gloucester Transitions (previously Gloucester Sustainable Futures), an organisation that ran community conversations in 2015, 2017, and 2019, is auspicing the event.
“The events were popular and out of these conversations tangible actions happened in town,” Julie stated.
“We hope this new event, the first one since COVID, will again inspire some initiatives,” she continued.
‘Hidden In Plain Sight’ speaks to both the social
for future generations.”
Aussie Ark sits on 400-hectares in wild forest country and is a predator proof refuge designed to protect native wildlife.
It is open during selected dates each month for their Devils in the Wild Tours, where visitors can learn about their vital conservation
Selection question
STORY STARTS on BACK COVER Page 16
league's worst attack after zippy and skilful Sharpe was sidelined with kidney and spleen injuries last June.
Sharpe has emerged as a genuine game-breaker across 26 first-grade games and both he and Smith impressed their coach on Saturday.
"I thought they both complemented each other well," he said.
"Dylan Brown will play next week so I'll only have one of them start there.
I'll work that out in the next couple of days. I'm happy with whichever way we go."
Smith followed former Sydney Roosters assistant Holbrook up from the Tricolours over the offseason after becoming stuck behind Sam Walker, Hugo Savala and now Daly
Cherry-Evans for starting opportunities.
He's comfortable having swapped that selection battle for another challenge to make the NRL side each week at the Knights.
"In the NRL, there's 30 players in each club, there's always going to be a battle," he said.
"If you're not up to it, then you're not going to be there."
Smith was hopeful there was room for both he and Sharpe in the starting side, with Sharpe capable of playing in the outside backs or at fullback should Kalyn Ponga go down.
Alternatively, Smith spent some time at hooker in Saturday's trial and could share that role with Phoenix Crossland now that Jayden Brailey has joined Canberra.
"We want all three, four of us on the field at the same
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
time however we can," said Smith, with Tyson Gamble an additional halves option.
"There's definitely a world where we can work it out.
"We'll find out over the next few months and we'll make it work. It'll put us in a very good spot to play some good footy."
Holbrook is open to Brown, Sharpe and Smith all sharing the field in 2026.
"Possibly, with how fast the game's getting, those guys are really important to your team. It's just about getting the balance right," he said.
Holbrook wants Sharpe to be starting if he lands on Smith as halfback, even if a new rule change now permits six players on the bench rather than four.
"He's such a good footy player. That (a bench role) would be unlikely," Holbrook said.
justice programs currently available in Gloucester that many people may be unaware of, and to the issues of modern slavery.
“Modern slavery takes many forms,” Sonja told News Of The Area.
“The reality is that modern slavery is woven through global supply chains, which means it can touch almost everything we use in daily life: food, clothing, building materials, electronics.”
Julie and Sonja want to open up a discussion and share information because, as Sonja points out, “knowledge builds understanding”.
Sonja’s presentation aims to raise awareness of a complex and serious issue that is often hidden from view.
“My work isn’t about
work and see Tasmanian devils in the wild.
The tour includes a ranger-led walk around the sanctuary and insights into their rewilding and breeding programs, an experience suitable for families and wildlife lovers.
There are also accommodation options like
pointing fingers at consumers - it’s about helping businesses and organisations understand where risks can arise and what practical steps they can take to reduce harm.”
Julie will speak about an organisation called Voices 4 Freedom, and two panels will discuss a range of social justice issues.
Both Julie and Sonja noted that difficult topics can be ignored, and they are looking forward to opening the conversation to enable people to develop tools that will help them have informed conversations.
‘Hidden In Plain Sight’ will be held on Saturday, 7 March from 2 pm to 5 pm at the Senior Citizen Centre (The CITZ).
This is a free event for any member of the community.
RSVPs are recommended via gloucestertransitions@ gmail.com or 0424 269 784.
Quoll’s Cottage and Devils Retreat nearby for longer stays within the Barrington Tops.
Aussie Ark tour bookings can be made online or through local information centres.
q Tasmanian devils feed while sanctuary visitors watch on.
Paterson Golf Club
By Ramsey VANE-WOOD
SATURDAY 7TH FEBRUARY
INDIVIDUAL STROKE & MONTHLY MEDAL FIELD | 39 members. DIVISION 1 (<15) | Winner Paul Geddes (6) 61 Nett, Runner Up Gerg Scott (6) 62 Nett, 3rd Place
David Bambach (9) 62 Nett DIVISION 2 (16-36) | Winner & Monthly Medal Benjamin Herden (22) 58 Nett, Runner Up Noah Bambach (20) 62 Nett, 3rd Place Gerg Sainsbury (19) 63 Nett BALL
COMP | Chris Bryant (9) 63 Nett, Wayne Stedman (9) 64 Nett, Brodie Thackeray (10)
64 Nett, Michael Rose (6) 65 Nett, Peter Nicholson (12)
66 Nett, Glenn Davies (6) 66 Nett, Paul Bennetts (23) 66 Nett, Stephen Pilgrim (15)
67 Nett, Peter Griffin (18) 68 Nett, Paul Langley (11) 68 Nett, Denis Crossman (19)
68 Nett, Stephen Watson (13) 68 Nett, Lee Hunt (10)
68 Nett & James Cowled (11)
68 Nett. PUTTING COMP | Div 1 - Paul Geddes (6) 27 Putts,
Div 2 - Michael Croucher (18) 30 Putts NEAREST THE PIN | 1st/10th - Lee Hunt (10), 5th/14th - Chris Bryant (9), 6th/15th - Brodie Thackeray (10) MEMBERS DRAW | No.26, Greg Scott (4th/39), $306 MEMBERS EAGLES NEST | Unclaimed - 10 Balls UPCOMING EVENTS | 14-Feb
