A cornerstone producer is Fosterton Biodynamic Bakery, where Simon Brownbridge has been baking sourdough bread and pastries since 2003 from his custom-built bakery on a biodynamic and organic farm.
“Good
he said.
“My
CONTINUED Page 3
By Sis HIGGINS
q Fosterton baker Simon Brownbridge.
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Final bridge plie on M1 extension
By Cosette DE LORENZO
CREWS working on the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace have reached a significant construction milestone with the installation of the final bridge pile.
“Piles are a key part of a bridge’s foundation, transferring weight through soil and clay down to solid rock below,” Member for Maitland Jenny Aitchison said.
“Across the project, 278 piles have now been installed, including 16 driven directly into the riverbed.
“This is complex, highly technical work and a major milestone for the crews delivering this project.”
The difficulty of such installations can be due to water conditions, environmental factors and the need for high levels of accuracy.
Each pile adheres to strict engineering
standards to ensure the long-term strength and stability of the bridge structures.
The completion of piling works marks a major milestone for construction crews, as it underpins everything that follows.
With the foundations now in place, the project is said to progress to the next phases of bridge construction, including the building of piers, decks and spans.
As work continues, each stage brings the M1 to Raymond Terrace Project closer to completion.
“We are another step closer to safer, smoother trips for our community,” Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington said.
Once finished, the project is expected to play an important role in improving traffic congestion and travel times in the region.
The extension is expected to be open to traffic in 2028.
HOLIDAY SPLASH
FROM Page 1
organisations within the local community.
The ceremony will
commence from 9am on Monday 26 January at 6 Brown Street, Dungog.
Following the ceremony, residents are
invited to beat the summer heat with complimentary entry to both Dungog Pool and Clarence Town Pool. Council will cover
all entry costs, with inflatables provided to add to the celebrations and create a fun, relaxed atmosphere for families and friends. Free pool entry will be available from 10am on 26 January at Chapman Street, Dungog, with Clarence Town Pool also open for community use as part of the Australia Day program.
q Crews have driven the final pile to complete foundation works for 11 new bridges between Black Hill and Raymond Terrace. Photos: TfNSW.
From paddock to pantry
FROM Page 1
one of the first steps to good health.”
Using quality flour, good sea salt and rainwater, and milling grain fresh each
week, the bakery prioritises nutrition, flavour and craftsmanship.
Vegetables, eggs and meat for savoury pastries are grown on-farm, with additional grain sourced
directly from biodynamic and organic growers.
Just south-east of Dungog, in the rolling country of Flat Tops, Dave and Robanne Morris have been quietly perfecting their garlic crop
Mental health is as important as physical health
Looking after your mental health and wellbeing helps you stay strong and resilient for the road ahead.
Staying connected with others, keeping active and reaching out when you need support can help you feel strong, grounded and well – no matter what life brings.
For more information to support your mental health and wellbeing, visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/support or call the Mental Health line on 1800 011 511
over the past three years.
Farming organically, the pair began by trialling a range of garlic varieties to identify what best suited the local climate.
Today, their paddocks are largely planted with French Messidrome, Elephant and Rojo de Castro garlic.
“These varieties provide a good balance between climate suitability, depth of flavour, and length of storage,” the couple said.
“In addition, there are other varieties we are currently testing to see what else could be viable for our region.”
Guided by permaculture principles, Dave and Robanne aim for circularity and zero waste wherever possible, using organic inputs sourced on-farm.
Their focus is firmly on producing healthy, nutrient-dense food, which is something they believe is increasingly absent from mainstream food systems.
Alongside garlic, the farm is expanding into vegetables, with plans underway for a large polytunnel and additional infrastructure to scale up production, broaden crop range and extend the growing season.
The Co-op also proudly supports younger producers, including Dungog High School student Maxwell Wood.
At Eden Vale in Vacy, Max supplies free range eggs laid by pasture-raised rescued hens.
A member and volunteer at the Co-op, Max sells his eggs to help fund travel for State and National Athletics competitions, a grassroots example of community backing local ambition.
Together, these producers reflect the Coop’s commitment to ethical food, sustainability and community, proof that local really does taste better.
q Dave and Robanne Morris with some of their garlic crop.
q Maxwell Wood with eggs from his rescued hens.
RBTs and bull wrangling
“HOW many police officers does it take to get a bull back into its yard?”
According to a post shared by the Port Stephens Hunter Police District, the answer is “quite a few”.
While they didn’t share pictures of their encounter, sector police could be seen across the Dungog, Paterson and Gresford areas last Wednesday, 14 January,
conducting Random Breath Testing.
A total of 378 RBTs were completed, with two infringement notices issued. There were zero positive breath tests recorded, which police say is a great result and a credit to sector communities.
Officers have thanked drivers for doing their part to keep the district’s roads safe.
New laws to protect dogs
The
Regional and Western NSW, Tara Moriarty, said the proposed changes “mark the most significant reform to the state’s animal welfare laws in years, delivering modern legislation that reflects contemporary community expectations.”
Changes include offences for leaving dogs in hot vehicles, tougher animal fighting laws and banning painful prong collars.
According to Animal Welfare League NSW CEO, Stephen Albin, the package addresses some of the worst examples of animal cruelty.
“Our inspectors spend a lot of time educating people about animal welfare, but the new laws provide muchneeded new powers to deal
with the worst cases and offenders.”
More than 7,000 submissions were received during a period of stakeholder consultation, leading to the following proposed measures:
• strengthening animal fighting offences to support NSW Police in addressing their links to organised crime and addressing potential loopholes
• new offences, including leaving a dog unattended in a hot vehicle; using or possessing prong collars, which are a discredited and painful dog training tool that is currently illegal to import; and possessing glue traps, which are already illegal to set in NSW
• strengthening enforcement
powers and penalties to send clear signals to perpetrators of animal cruelty
• removing barriers to humane intervention in critical situations, allowing POCTAA inspectors to administer pain relief to animals where necessary and allowing appropriately trained Local Land Services personnel to euthanise animals in emergencies.
The changes build on reforms that have included banning puppy farms; increasing funding to approved charitable organisations to carry out animal welfare enforcement activities; and preventing people convicted of animal cruelty from keeping and breeding animals.
The Government expects to present a Bill to Parliament in the first half of the year.
Authorised by Alison Penfold MP, National Party of Australia, 144 Victoria St, Taree NSW 2430.
DOG owners tempted to leave their pet in the car when they run to the shops, will soon risk tougher penalties.
State Government is delivering on its election promise to review the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals Act 1979 (POCTAA), flagging heavier fines and longer jail sentences. Minister for Agriculture,
q Sector police conducted RBTs across Dungog, Paterson and Gresford. Photo: NSW Police.
q Even if parked in the shade with the windows partially down, dogs can die in a car in less than six minutes. Photo: GabesDotPhotos/Pexels.
Regional ‘movers’ on
By Stephanie GARDINER/ APP
NEARLY six years after the COVID-19 pandemic sent many city residents over the hills and far away, regional Australia is again experiencing sustained population growth.
Consistent growth in the regions has re-emerged in the last two years, driven largely by city escapees according to research by the Regional Australia Institute.
City residents moving to the country outnumbered migration in the opposite
By Jacob SHTEYMAN/ AAP
has ambitions to turn One Nation into a genuine alternative to the mainstream party duopoly as Australia's rightwing political landscape undergoes a "monumental" shift.
Opinion polls reveal One Nation has overtaken the coalition as the nation's second most popular political movement in the wake of the Bondi terror attack.
The bombshell Newspoll, putting One Nation on a first preference share of 22 percent and the coalition at 21 percent, will heap pressure on Liberal leader Sussan Ley as her party continues its post-election soul-searching.
Opposition home affairs spokesman Jonno Duniam was less than effusive when asked if it was damaging to her leadership.
"You could cut this any which way," he told ABC News.
"You could blame her, you could blame her shadow cabinet, you could blame a range of people. We've got work to do as a team, or else those numbers will never change."
The survey of 1224
direction by 36 percent in the September 2025 quarter, the think tank's Regional Movers Index showed.
The net number of people moving to Australia's regions increased by 11.8 percent, slightly below a recent recorded two-year high.
"Planning and investment to accommodate this growth is a key challenge for governments, industry and communities," the institute said in releasing the index on Monday.
Separate figures from the Bureau of Statistics showed
the regional population grew by nearly 114,000 in 2023/24, with the biggest surge on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
The growth has long put pressure on regional housing markets and infrastructure.
Dwelling values rose by 2.4 per cent in the three months to October 2025, as buyers shunned higher prices and competitive buying conditions in the cities, according to a recent report by analytics firm Cotality.
Regional rental vacancy rates were 1.7 percent in the
final months of 2025, with rents up 6.2 percent in the country compared to 4.8 percent across the capitals.
The Institute has called for a greater focus on the pressures facing regional communities, creating a framework to boost livability, jobs and skills and sustainability by 2032.
The Regional Movers Index, which uses Commonwealth Bank customer data to track population movement, showed Sydney and Melbourne were losing
residents to the regions at a higher rate than the other capitals.
The top five areas for regional movers were Queensland's Sunshine and Fraser coasts, Greater Geelong and Moorabool in Victoria and Lake Macquarie in NSW.
Emerging hot spots for sea and tree-changers were Latrobe, Devonport and the Huon Valley in Tasmania and Wodonga and the Colac Otway Shire in Victoria.
The Tasmanian and Victorian regions were
appealing to new residents for their industries, lifestyle and landscape, the bank's regional and agribusiness executive general manager Kylie Allen said.
"While the outlook is positive, attracting and retaining skilled professionals remains a challenge across regional areas," Ms Allen said.
"Even with a growing population, some sectors remain under pressure.
"Continued investment in training and upskilling will be key to meeting demand."
Australians reported in The Australian on Monday showed One Nation's support surged seven percentage points over summer while the coalition's fell by three.
It's the first time One Nation has outpolled the coalition in the long-running survey and backs up a DemosAU poll, published by Capital Brief earlier in January, that showed Senator Hanson's party level with the coalition.
The polls underscore this is more than the usual mid-cycle wobble, political strategist Kos Samaras said.
"It's a monumental crisis on the right: the conservative vote is fragmenting, the Liberal brand is bleeding legitimacy, and One Nation is vacuuming up the authentic right space that the coalition keeps trying [and failing] to straddle," he wrote on social media platform X.
Looking to shed the tag of a fringe party of protest, One Nation must prove capable of delivering sound policies and provide a genuine alternative to voters concerned about mass migration and high energy prices, Senator Hanson told radio 3AW Melbourne.
Voters aren't the only ones abandoning the coalition for One Nation.
Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce jumped ship from the Nationals to One Nation before parliament broke for the summer.
Mr Joyce said a change was happening in politics in Australia and across the globe, and people were sick of being taken for granted.
In a silver lining for Ms Ley, voters rated her response to the Bondi attack much more favourably than Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's.
In a Resolve poll published by Nine newspapers on Monday, more than half of
1800 respondents rated Ms Ley's response as good and 29 percent rated it poor.
Only 32 percent rated the prime minister's response as good, with 56 percent rating it poor.
Mr Albanese said One Nation had been a divisive force since its inception.
"They promote division, and I don't want to see One Nation with a higher vote than the coalition," he told
PAULINE Hanson
ABC Radio Melbourne. Labor still held a 55-45 lead over the coalition on a two-party preferred basis in the Newspoll, while Resolve put the government ahead 52-48.
q Another poll has put support for Pauline Hanson's One Nation party ahead of the coalition. Photo: AAP Graphics/Paul Braven/AAP PHOTOS.
Hearing checks prompt before school resumes
By Keira JENKINS/AAP
HEARING problems can affect a child's ability to listen, learn and build important skills at school, and Indigenous children are at higher risk of ear issues.
As children head back for 2026, parents and carers are being encouraged to make sure their child's hearing has been checked.
This is especially important for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, who are at higher risk of starting their education at a disadvantage without regular hearing checks.
One in five First Nations children under six-yearsold, have experienced undiagnosed hearing loss at some point in their life, data from Hearing Australia shows.
Eight per cent suffered persistent and chronic ear troubles.
"That's a lot of our First Nations kids and bubs," Hearing Australia's First Nations partnership specialist Kirralee Cross told AAP.
"If they're starting school and they have this hearing loss then it's going to impact on their ability to listen, to learn, to build connections and build really important skills when they start school."
Ms Cross, a Yorta Yorta woman, said getting children's ears checked early in life, and regularly is critical to make sure any hearing problems are picked up.
She said Hearing Australia recommends checks every six months until a child is four, but they can be performed more often if parents or carers have concerns.
"A lot of the time with these middle ear problems there are no symptoms," Ms Cross said.
"The parents, kids,
families may not even know that there's anything wrong with their hearing.
"If it's not getting checked regularly, when they start school ... they are put at a disadvantage."
Hearing Australia recently launched an educator's guide called Spirit of Sound, designed to support the hearing health of Indigenous children.
Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, released in December, showed the proportion of Indigenous children who had long-term ear or hearing problems had halved since 2001.
These problems had been mainly caused by middle ear infections.
Ms Cross said it is heartening to see the downward trend over the past couple of decades but continued investment in programs like Hearing
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SATURDAY
CALL THE MIDWIFE
ABC TV, 7.30pm
This period drama moves into the 1970s with its trademark care and compassion to unpack the social issues of the era in its 14th season. In Saturday’s episode, there’s a new arrival at Nonnatus House in the shape of Sister Catherine (Molly Vevers, above left, with Jenny Agutter). As the convent’s latest recruit finds her feet, Phyllis (Linda Bassett) supports a pregnant mother of seven who is reluctant to have another child. Elsewhere, Shelagh (Laura Main) and Sister Veronica (Rebecca Gethings) help a mum with her disabled son.
FRIDAY, January 23
6.00 Morning Programs. 12.00 News. 1.00 Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now. (Final, R) 1.45 Goolagong. (Final, PG, R) 2.40 Classic Countdown Extras. (PG, R) 2.55 Would I Lie To You? (PG, R) 3.25 Nigella’s Cook, Eat, Repeat. (Final, R) 3.55 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
Quiz. (PG, R)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 All Creatures Great And Small.
8.20 Art Detectives. (PGv) A wine expert dies during an exclusive tasting.
9.05 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) Presented by Tom Gleeson.
9.35 The Weekly With Charlie Pickering. (Ml, R) A satirical news program.
10.05 A Life In Ten Pictures: Amy Winehouse. (Madl, R)
11.00 ABC Late News.
11.15 Smother. (Mal, R)
1.00 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv)
5.00 Rage. (PGadhlnsv)
MONDAY
AUSTRALIA DAY LIVE
ABC TV, 7.30pm
A live spectacle from the steps of the Sydney Opera House that celebrates the diversity of Australia’s cultures, communities and laidback lifestyle, this annual concert is one hot ticket. Hosts Jeremy Fernandez (pictured), Megan Burslem and John Foreman have saved a spot for ABC viewers as an exciting line-up of homegrown talent takes the stage. Cody Simpson, Kate Ceberano, William Barton, social media sensation Jude York and supergroup The Fabulous Caprettos all feature before an unforgettable aerial show over Circular Quay. The event will also pay tribute to those affected by December’s Bondi Beach terror attack, and introduce remarkable Australians who will share their stories with the nation.
WEDNESDAY
ELSBETH
TEN, 9pm OK, we’ll admit it –when a cop show has high-calibre celebrities lining up around the block to be guest stars, it can make the “whodunnit” format rather redundant. This savvy The Good Wife spin-off solves that problem by presenting its crimes in reverse. Investigator Elsbeth Tascioni (Carrie Preston, pictured) usually has an inkling of who the crooks are from the get-go – and so do we – the fun lies in finding out how she corners them. In season three’s premiere, Stephen Colbert played a late-night host who met an untimely end. This week’s tale casts Arrested Development’s David Cross as an ex-con caught up in a hostage situation. Stay tuned for a seriously star-studded list of suspects.
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 The Great House Revival.
9.30 Isle Of Wight: Jewel Of The South. (R)
10.20 SBS World News Late.
10.50 Sisi. (Mans, R)
11.45 Babylon Berlin. (MA15+ansv, R)
1.35 Silent Road. (Mav, R)
3.30 Sinking The German Fleet. (PGav, R)
4.30 Bamay. (PG, R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning.
5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Cricket. Big Bash League. The Challenger. 10.30 Seven’s Cricket: The Spin. An expert panel examines all the big news and issues with a deep dive into the world of cricket.
11.15 Cycling. Santos Tour Down Under. Men’s. Stage 3. Highlights.
12.15 Travel Oz. (PG, R) Presented by Greg Grainger.
12.45 Dr Harry’s Animal Encounters. (PG, R) Presented by Dr Harry Cooper. 2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 5.00 NBC Today.
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Night 6. From Melbourne Park. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Late Night 6. From Melbourne Park. 12.00 Chicago Med. (MA15+mv, R) Maggie empathises with a patient whose mother is afraid to consent to her son’s risky surgery.
1.00 Next Stop.
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) A bull goes on a rampage.
4.30 Global Shop. (R) Home shopping.
5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
5.30 GolfBarons. (PG, R) The team reboots a game-changing iconic ball.
6.00 10 News+. Hosted by Denham
6.00
SATURDAY, January 24
6.00 Back Roads: The Great Australian Road Trip. (R) Presented by Heather Ewart.
6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) Hosted by Tom Gleeson.
7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day.
7.30 Call The Midwife. (PG) Shelagh and Sister Veronica help a disabled child.
8.30 Vera. (Ma, R) Vera investigates after a student is violently killed and dumped at the foot of three mythical monoliths.
10.05 Goolagong. (Final, PG, R) Evonne Goolagong Cawley competes at Wimbledon. 11.00 The Jetty. (Ml, R) 12.00 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
5.55pm
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Secrets Of Britain’s Historic Houses.
8.40 Swiss Alpine Rail Journeys: The Adaptable Arosa Line. (PGn, R) Looks at the Arosa Railway.
9.40 The Secret DNA Of Us. (PGa, R)
10.50 Scottish Islands With Ben Fogle. (PG, R)
11.55 House Of Promises. (Ma, R)
3.30 Gestapo: Hitler’s Secret Police. (Ma, R)
4.30 Bamay. (PG, R)
5.00 Euronews. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 MOVIE: The Sound Of Music. (1965, G, R) A woman becomes governess to an Austrian family. Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer. 10.40 Air Crash Investigations: Control Catastrophe. (PGa, R) A look at the case of Air Astana Flight 1388. 11.40 Cycling. Santos Tour Down Under. Men’s. Stage 4. Highlights. 12.40 MOVIE: A Job To Die For. (2022, Mav, R) A woman lands her dream job. Revell Carpenter.
2.30 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 It’s Academic. (R)
5.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R)
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Night 7. From Melbourne Park. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Late Night 7. From Melbourne Park. 12.00 Chicago Med. (MA15+mv, R) Marcel clashes with the chief of oncology.
1.00 The Gulf. (Madlsv, R) A death puts Sarah Scully in the spotlight.
2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PG) Religious program.
2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.30 Global Shop. (R) Home shopping.
5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
5.30 Helping Hands Summer Series. (PG)
6am Mary Shelley. Continued.
SUNDAY, January 25
6.00
6.00 Grand Designs Transformations. (R)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 Australian Of The Year 2026. Hosted by Leigh Sales.
8.45 The ABC Of: Evonne Goolagong Cawley. (PG, R) Hosted by David Wenham.
9.15 The Jetty. (Final, MA15+a) Ember tries to uncover the truth about Amy.
10.20 Call The Midwife. (PGa, R)
11.20 MOVIE: Wake In Fright. (1971, Masv, R)
1.05 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
1.55 Smother. (Mal, R)
4.30 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R)
5.00 Insiders. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Once Upon A Time In Space. (PG) 9.30 Pompeii: The Last Mysteries Revealed. (Mans, R)
10.20 Putin And The West: The Next Chapter. (PG, R)
11.30 Black Gold. (PGal, R)
1.05 Building The Impossible. (PG, R)
2.00 Rise Of The Nazis: The Downfall. (Mav, R)
3.10 24 Hours In Emergency. (Ma, R)
4.05 Craig & Bruno’s Great British Road Trips. (PG, R)
4.30 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 PBS Science Technology Health Show.
6.00 Seven News.
6.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) Narrated by Mark Coles Smith. 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. A couple in Essendon want to renovate their home.
8.40 Sort Your Life Out. (PGa, R) Stacey Solomon and her team help families declutter and transform their lives.
9.50 Ambulance UK. (Madl, R) Someone threatens to use a nerve agent against the emergency services.
11.00 Matlock. (PGadl, R) The team takes on an arson case.
12.00 Elsbeth. (PGa, R) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power.
Kick It. 8.30 Irresistible: Why We Can’t Stop Eating. 10.15 The Grudge. 11.45 The Gentle Art Of Swedish Death Cleaning. 2.45am NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera. 6am Morning Programs. 1.30pm
7.00 Cricket. Big Bash League. The Final. 10.30 Big Bash League Post-Game. Post-game coverage of The Final. 11.00 7NEWS Spotlight. Looks at an undercover operation.
12.00 Cycling. Santos Tour Down Under. Men’s. Stage 5. Highlights. 1.00 Temple. (Premiere, Malv) A surgeon becomes embroiled in a strange enterprise.
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R) Hosted by Simon Reeve.
4.00 NBC Today. News and current affairs.
5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 NBN News. 7.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Night 8. From Melbourne Park. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Late Night 8. From Melbourne Park. 12.00 The First 48: Cruel Intentions. (Ma, R) Detectives investigate a mother of two’s murder. 1.00 Next Stop. (R) A look at holiday destinations.
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)
4.30 GolfBarons. (PG, R)
5.00 Today Early News. A look at the latest news, sport and weather.
5.30 Today.
6.30 10 News+. 7.00 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (PGal) Hosted by Julia
9GO! (83)
6.00
MONDAY, January 26
6.00 Morning Programs. 10.35 Bamay. 11.40 Preserving Kandiwal’s Culture. 11.55 Yiyili. (PGa, R) 12.05 WorldWatch. 2.00 Where The Dreamings Come From. (R) 2.10 Going Places. (PG, R) 2.45 The Cook Up. (R) 3.17 Ocean Wreck Investigation. (PG, R) 4.03 Jeopardy! 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
3.35 Craig & Bruno’s Great British Road Trips. (PG, R)
4.05 Barkley Manor. (PG, R) 4.35 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6am Children’s Programs. 5.40pm Kangaroo Beach. 5.55 Octonauts. 6.05 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.20 Bluey. 6.25 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.45 Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Ninjago. 8.00 Deadly 60. 8.30 TKO: Total Knock Out. 9.10 The Crystal Maze.
Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 MOVIE: Nikki And Nora: Sister Sleuths.
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away. (PG)
7.30 The 1% Club UK: Rollover. (PGl) Hosted by Lee Mack.
8.30 9-1-1. (Return, M) In honour of Bobby Nash’s sacrifice, the 118 comes together to dedicate the firehouse in his memory.
10.30 Crime Investigation Australia: Most Infamous. (MA15+asv, R) 12.00 Girlfriends’ Guide To Divorce. (MA15+s)
1.00 Conviction. (MA15+v, R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
VICELAND (31)
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Night 9. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Late Night 9.
12.00 Chicago Med. (MA15+mv, R) Ahmad works to thaw a frozen criminal.
1.00 Next Stop. (PGa, R) A look at holiday destinations.
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
2.30 Global Shop. (R) Home shopping.
3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) Sonny has a series of strange encounters.
4.30 GolfBarons. (PG, R) A panel of experts discusses golf.
5.00 Today Early News.
5.30 Today.
6am Whisky
Galore. (2016, PG) 7.50 Roman Holiday. (1953, PG) 10.00 Girls Will Be Girls. (2024, M, Hindi) 12.10pm White Squall. (1996, M) 2.30 Discovering Film. 3.20 Walk With Me. (2017, PG) 5.05 The Importance Of Being Earnest. (1952) 6.45 Kindred. 8.30 Gurrumul. (2017, MA15+) 10.25 Sing Street. (2016, M) 12.25am Maggie Moore(s) (2023, MA15+) 2.15 Charlie And Boots. (2009, M) 4.05 Late Programs.
TUESDAY, January 27
6.00
R) 3.55 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
6.00 Morning Programs. 10.00 Paddington Station 24/7. (PGa, R) 10.50 Mountain Vets. (PG, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Auschwitz: The Hidden Traces. (PGavw, R) 3.00 Going Places. (PG, R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Inferno: Letters From Auschwitz. (PGavw, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Who Do You Think You Are? (Ma, R)
8.30 Portillo’s 200 Years Of The Railways. (PG)
9.40 Aerial Australia. (PGaw, R)
10.30 SBS News.
11.00 Exit. (MA15+adls)
11.55 DNA. (MA15+a, R) 1.40 24 Hours In Emergency. (Ma, R) 2.30 24 Hours In A&E. (Mal, R) 3.25 Craig & Bruno’s Great British Road Trips. (PG, R) 3.55 Barkley Manor. (PG, R) 4.25 Bamay. (R) 4.55 China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
VICELAND (31)
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away. (PG)
7.30 The 1% Club UK: Rollover. (PGal) Hosted by Lee Mack.
8.30 Doc. (Return, Mav) Amy’s past comes back to haunt her when a desperate father sacrifices everything to secure his daughter’s heart transplant.
10.30 St. Denis Medical. (Return, PGal)
11.30 Autopsy USA. (MA15+a, R)
12.30 MOVIE: A Jealous Friendship. (2021, Mav, R)
2.30 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 NBN News. 7.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Night 10. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Late Night 10.
12.00 Chicago Med. (MA15+mv, R)
6.00 10 News+. Hosted by Denham
6am The Importance Of Being Earnest. (1952) 7.40 Walk With Me. (2017, PG) 9.20 Kindred. 11.05 Haute Couture. (2021, M, French) 12.55pm Charlie And Boots. (2009, M) 2.50 Dean Spanley. (2008, PG) 4.45 Gurrumul. (2017, PG) 6.35 The Return Of The Soldier. (1982, PG) 8.30 Perfect Days. (2023, PG, Japanese) 10.50 The Last Emperor. (1987, M) 1.55am 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 to Sunday for good food, drinks, functions and live music. And the place to stay for work or holiday.
WEDNESDAY, January 28
6.00 Morning Programs. 11.10 All Creatures Great And Small. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 TBA. 1.00 Miniseries: The Cry. (Final, Mals, R) 1.55 Restoration Aust. (R) 2.55 Would I Lie To You? (PG, R) 3.25 Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.55 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (PG, R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
11.00 Face To Face. (Mals) 11.50 Darkness: Those Who Kill. (MA15+s) 1.30 Golden Boy. (Mdln, R) 2.25 24 Hours In Emergency. (Mal, R) 3.20 Craig & Bruno’s Great British Road Trips. (PGn, R) 3.50 Barkley Manor. (PG, R) 4.50 China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6am Children’s Programs. 6.20pm 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 Steven Universe. 8.50 Adventure Time. 9.15 Teen Titans Go! 9.35 We Bare Bears. 9.50 Shaun Tan’s Tales From Outer Suburbia. 10.10 My Adventures With Superman. 10.35 Late Programs.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PG)
7.30 The 1% Club UK: Rollover. (PGl) Hosted by Lee Mack.
8.30 MOVIE: The Sapphires. (2012, PGalsv, R) Four singers learn about love, friendship and war. Miranda Tapsell. 10.40 Air Crash Investigations: Cockpit Catastrophe. (PGa, R)
11.35 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R)
12.05 Wolfe. (MA15+av)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Night 11. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Late Night 11. 12.00 Chicago Med. (MA15+mv, R) Maggie’s budding romance takes flight.
1.00 Next Stop. (R) A look at holiday destinations.
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
2.30 Global Shop. (R) Home shopping.
3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) The park receives much-needed rain.
4.30 GolfBarons. (PGl, R) A panel of experts discusses golf.
5.00 Today Early News.
5.30 Today.
6.00 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace.
6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (R) Hosted by Grant Denyer.
7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Hosted by Julia Morris and Robert Irwin. 9.00 Elsbeth. (PGav) A murder investigation at a famous New York toy store spirals into a hostage crisis. 10.00 10’s
6am The Movie
Show. 6.25 The Return Of The Soldier. (1982) 8.20 Perfect Days. (2023, PG, Japanese) 10.40 My Father’s Mexican Wedding. (2023, M, Spanish) 12.40pm Sing Street. (2016, M) 2.40 The Movie Show. 3.20 Discovering Film. 4.15 Finding You. (2020, PG) 6.30 The Three Musketeers. (1973, PG) 8.30 The Whale. (2022, M) 10.40 I Want You Back. (2022, M) 12.50am Late Programs.
THURSDAY, January 29
6.00 Morning Programs. 10.30 The Weekly. (Ml, R) 11.00 Creative Types. (PGv, R) 11.30 Home Delivery. (PG, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Miss Austen. (PG, R) 2.00 Restoration Aust. (PG, R) 2.55 Would I Lie To You? (R) 3.30 Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.55 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
News.
10.50 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (R)
11.35 Long Lost Family. (PG, R)
12.25 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
4.00 Gardening Australia. (R)
5.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R)
5.30 7.30. (R)
6am Children’s Programs. 5.55pm Octonauts. 6.05 PJ Masks Power
6.00 Morning Programs. 10.50 Mountain Vets. (PG, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 1.00 Going Places. (R) 1.30 Cycling. Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. Men’s Surf Coast Classic. 2.30 WorldWatch. 3.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.40 The Cook Up. (R) 4.10 Ocean Wreck Investigation. (PGav, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 MOVIE: Just Add Romance. (2019, PGa, R) 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. 3.00 The
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.35 Toronto Airport Uncovered. (PG)
8.25 Robson Green: World’s Most Amazing Walks. (PG)
9.20 In Flight. (Madlv)
10.15 SBS World News Late.
10.45 Before We Die. (MA15+v) 11.40 This Town. (MA15+l, R)
2.00 24 Hours In A&E. (M, R)
2.50 Craig & Bruno’s Great British Road Trips. (PGas, R) 3.20 The Andes Tragedy: 50 Years Later. (PGa, R) 4.15 Bamay. (R) 4.45 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (PGaw, R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
5.50 Lost Gold Of The Aztecs. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 James May And The Dull Men. (Final) 9.25 History’s Greatest Mysteries. 10.15 The UnXplained. 11.05 Homicide. Midnight Late Programs.
SBS MOVIES (32) SBS MOVIES (32)
6am Finding You. (2020, PG) 7.15 Dean Spanley. (2008, PG) 9.10 The Three Musketeers. (1973, PG) 11.10 The Last Emperor. (1987, M) 2.15pm The Return Of The Soldier. (1982, PG) 4.15 Perfect Days. (2023, PG, Japanese) 6.30 The Four Musketeers: Revenge Of Milady. (1974, PG) 8.30 Robot Dreams. (2023, PG) 10.30 Nobody Has To Know. (2021, M) 12.20am The Whale. (2022, M) 2.35 Late Programs.
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away. (PGa) Justin and Leah are at an impasse.
8.30 MOVIE: Kingsman: The Secret Service. (2014, MA15+lv, R)
A troubled young man must prove his mettle after he is recruited into a secret British spy organisation. Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Samuel L Jackson.
11.15 To Be Advised.
12.15 MOVIE: A Mother’s Terror. (2021, Mav, R)
2.30 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
(64) 7MATE (64)
6.00 NBN News. 7.00 Australian Open Tennis Pre-Show.
7.30 Tennis. Australian Open. Night 12. Women’s semi-finals. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Late Night 12. Women’s semi-finals. 12.00 Chicago Med. (MA15+mv, R) 1.00 Next Stop. (R) 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 GolfBarons. (PG, R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.
DRAMA (51)
DRAMA (51)
9GO! (83)
9GO! (83)
GERMON Noreen June
Known as Jerry Late of Gloucester. Passed away at home on the 16th January 2026.
Aged 83 years
Loving partner to Bev. Cherished Aunty to Nicole, Lisa & their families. Jerry will be sadly missed by all her family and friends.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Jerry’s Funeral Service to be held at the Uniting Church Gloucester on Wednesday 28th January 2026 commencing at 11am prior to interment in the Gloucester Lawn Cemetery.
DOUBLE Pine Bed w/good mattress. $100 4982 0063 F170725
and stool in GC, over 50 player rolls $1800 ono 0498 176 876 RTS051125
COFFEE table, lovely walnut with 3 drawers $100 ono 0448 521 466
COLLECTERS editions empty Chivas Salute Whisky porcelain flagons with velvet covers and boxes. Make an offer. 4981 2713
News Of The Area OPINION
Dorin’s Draws By Paul DORIN
PUZZLES
DEAR Jasminda, Frequently when I go shopping someone pushes a trolley into my ankles. How do I avoid this painful scenario?
Jim R.
Dear Jim,
In the wrong hands, a trolley can be a weapon of mass destruction, thrust into the legs of an unsuspecting shopper when they are simply trying to reach for a bag of frozen peas (or, if in Aldi, a pair of snow boots, a cocktail shaker, and a battery-operated
angle grinder). There should be the requirement of a trolley licence, with no trolley issued unless the shopper has been through a series of basic etiquette tests. These include, at a minimum:
-the ability to start and stop within five seconds without the need to operate as a battering ram
-competence in moving quietly and efficiently down the aisle instead of using the trolley as a dodgem car with a squealing toddler in tow
-the ability to make your way calmly to a checkout instead of standing with a leg in each queue, a bit like Trump between Greenland and Venezuela (hedging your bets on whatever
scenario will move more quickly so you can bludgeon your way through).
The trolley licence should also include postshopping etiquette.
All shoppers should be marked as “Competent” or “Not Yet Competent” as they make their way to their vehicle. Scraping the trolley along the side of a mint-condition BMW without leaving a note is an instant suspension.
Parking the trolley on a verge and then walking away as it rolls into incoming traffic is also a black mark indicating that further training is required.
Standing in a huddle with other shoppers talking about utter dribble while another person is trying to pass,
will be noted as extreme passive aggression (and/ or willful ignorance) and result in additional social skills training (which is a core competency unit that can cross over to other training courses such as 'Parking in a Public Carpark' and 'Cafe Considerations 101').
And, finally, leaving your trolley with rubbish in it, making it the problem of the next shopper, will require a trolley training intervention.
I feel these interceptions will resolve your issues, Jim.
Perhaps it will make you feel better to know you are not alone.
Many of us bear the scars (quite literally) of callous trolley steerers.
Carpe diem, Jasminda.
SUDOKU
Kids Boot Camp 062
OPINION
New role and Tocal’s ‘hive of knowledge’
MEMBER for Upper Hunter
Dave Layzell has shared his first State Matters newsletter for the year. It includes the following key updates.
New role
The Nationals and Liberals have refreshed the Shadow Ministry and I have been given new responsibilities for 2026.
I thank the Coalition for the confidence it has shown in me for my appointment as Shadow Minister for Mining and Natural Resources and Shadow Minister for Racing.
Hive of knowledge
Tocal College, Paterson, has an important role to fulfill in the NSW Varroa Mite Management program, which is commencing this month.
New honey bee compliance officers, a major research and development program and tailored education and resources are part of the NSW Government’s $9.5 million commitment to the state’s honeybee and pollinationreliant industries.
Over $1 million is funding a comprehensive program of education and training resources for commercial and recreational beekeepers through Tocal College.
The initiatives will include a traineeship program to attract new workers to the beekeeping industry, chemical user training tailored for beekeepers, and a short course on honeybee nutrition and seasonal management to support both honey production and pollination services.
Tocal College is part of NSW’s comprehensive program of ongoing support for the honey bee industry, being the nation’s leading provider of specialist education and training for the industry and home of the $2.8 million Bee Research and Training Centre.
More information on the National Varroa Mite Management Program,
including online tools, resources and contacts, is available at varroa.org.au.
Roads warning A reminder for motorists to be alert with double demerit points in force across the Australia Day Long Weekend.
Enforcement commences on Friday morning 23 January and continues until Monday night 26 January.
Double demerit offences apply for speeding, using a mobile phone illegally, riding without a helmet, not wearing or incorrectly wearing a seatbelt or carrying passengers not wearing or incorrectly wearing a seatbelt or restraint.
Get caught during the enforcement period and you face the loss of double the points, not double the fine.
In 2025, NSW recorded a total of 355 people dying on the state’s roads, 28 more deaths than for 2024, with speeding a contributing factor for 134 of last year’s crash deaths.
On roads where there is a speed limit sign, which is the maximum speed you can drive in good conditions, you must not drive faster than that speed regardless of the speed limit displayed by any other electronic device or mobile phone app.
And, a heads-up that 40km/h school zones operate on school development days which for Term 1, 2026, are between Tuesday 27 January to Friday 30 January.
Safe storage
The NSW Police Force Rural Crime Prevention Team has renewed its reminder to firearms licence holders about the safe storage requirements for weapons.
Officers continue to see examples of non-compliant safes including flimsy lockers which do not have a three-point locking system and are only secured by an externally fitted lock and hasp, or pad bolt secured
with a padlock.
If firearms are found to be stored in safes such as these, firearms may be seized, and license holders may have their firearms license suspended.
The firearms legislation sets out the responsibilities as a firearms owner in relation to safe storage including ensuring that the firearm is kept safe, is not lost or stolen and does not come into the possession of a person who is not authorised to possess the firearm.
If you have recently moved and not had your safe inspected, please contact your local police for a Safe Storage Inspection to be conducted: police.nsw.gov. au/online_services/firearms/ safe_storage
Allowance Increase
(As reported in News Of The Area) foster and kinship carers of vulnerable children in out-of-home care across NSW have received a 20 percent increase to their care allowance.
The tax-free allowance rise commenced on 1 January.
The increase benefits all authorised carers receiving statutory care, supported care, guardianship or adoption allowances supported by either the Department of Communities and Justice or nongovernment organisations.
This lift in the day-today expenses of caring for children, will see a carer of a typical 14- year-old receive $4,576 more per year, and a carer for a typical five-yearold receive an additional $3,411 per year.
For more information, visit the NSW Government Community Services website.
Register now
The Upper Hunter will be one of the first locations this year to host the Rural Women’s Network Skills Roadshow.
Sixteen workshops are
planned for the opening half of 2026.
Over 300 women participated in the free workshops last year, which empower regional and rural women with essential skills in first aid, and mental health crisis support through feefree training with St John Ambulance.
The workshops include skills to respond effectively in emergency situations, recognise mental health issues, recognise situations where people may be in imminent crisis, provide appropriate interventions and learn where to direct people for further support.
A full day workshop will be offered for both First Aid and Mental Health in each location.
Applications open
People interested in providing input into the future management of NSW national parks can now apply to join the National Parks and Wildlife Service’s (NPWS) regional advisory committees.
There are eight committees, one for each of the NPWS operational branches such as Hunter Central Coast, Blue Mountains and Northern Inland, with each committee having 12-17 members.
The committees have an important role as the voice of the local community and interest groups to help inform park management.
They will see their term end on 30 June 2026 with prospective applicants for the next four-year term to apply by Monday 16 February.
To learn more and submit an expression of interest head to Environment NSW.: Water meter training
Tradespeople can now upskill to meet the demand for qualified non-urban water meter installers through the new TAFE NSW Non-Urban Water Meter Installation course.
The course responds
directly to the statewide shortage of accredited installers and new water regulations mandating accurate water measurement of rivers, creeks and groundwater take.
The fully-subsidised, online and self-paced microskill course, has been developed by TAFE in collaboration with NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and WaterNSW.
It provides the essential skills and knowledge required for qualified tradespeople to work under the Trade Meter Installer (TMI) pathway, critical to supporting sustainable, compliant water use across the state.
On completion of the three-hour course, qualified tradespeople can apply to WaterNSW to be set up as Duly Qualified Persons (DQPs), certified to install, validate, and maintain nonurban water meters.
To check if you are eligible or to enrol, visit the
website for TAFE NSW.:
Tidy little earner
Return and Earn continues to be a nice little earner for people across the state.
Latest figures show recyclers have now received $1.5 billion in refunds by returning a record 15 billion containers.
Enthusiasm for Return and Earn has seen the tally of bottles, cartons and cans returned through the network soar from 14 billion to 15 billion containers in less than six months.
Return and Earn has also become a key fundraising platform for charities and community groups, with over $91.5 million in container refund donations and fees from hosting return points since December 2017.
Preparations are underway to expand the scheme to accept wine and spirit bottles and larger drink containers from mid-2027.
Dave LAYZELL Member for Upper Hunter
q Member for Upper Hunter Dave Layzell.
Still no fix to dangerous bottleneck
By John WATTS
THERE is still no relief in sight for long-suffering motorists trying to turn right from Bucketts Way onto the Pacific Highway during busy periods.
On 8 January 2025, News Of The Area reported that “those travelling south
from Gloucester will, for the foreseeable future at least, continue experiencing the often-long delays, and significant risks associated with turning right from Bucketts Way onto the Pacific Highway.”
That statement is as true in January 2026 as it was 12
months ago.
“Transport for NSW will develop options to address access points, including investigating upgrades for Italia Road, Medowie Road and Bucketts Way to support safe movement of vehicles and population growth in the area,” said a spokesperson
for Transport for New South Wales (TFNSW) at that time.
“Further investigations are underway to develop a business case and explore options for enhancing safety.
“Transport for NSW is working with the Australian Government to understand timeframe considerations for individual projects within the Pacific Highway corridor.
“Further funding will be needed for project planning, progression and construction work.”
The problem for motorists wanting to turn right onto the highway is particularly acute during holiday periods, with the queue often stretching a long distance up Bucketts Way as drivers wait for a gap in the northbound traffic.
On the morning of 2 January, there was a queue of more than 50 vehicles waiting for a chance to turn right from Bucketts Way onto the Pacific Highway.
NOTA sought comment from Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison, but has yet to receive a response.
TFNSW responded to NOTA’s questions in almost identical terms to its comments 12 months ago.
“The Australian and NSW Governments have committed funding to develop safety improvement options
for the section of the Pacific Highway between Raymond Terrace and Karuah,” said a spokesperson.
“This includes an additional $12 million commitment to design upgrades for The Bucketts Way and Medowie Road intersections.
“Transport will develop options to address access points, including investigating upgrades for Italia Road, Medowie Road and Bucketts Way, to support safe movement of vehicles and population growth in the area.
“Further investigations are underway to inform development of a business case for staged upgrades to improve safety along this section of the M1 Pacific Motorway.
“Transport advises further funding will be needed to complete development and delivery of the identified projects.”
According to Matt Clich, President of the Gloucester Chamber of Commerce, the dangerous intersection is also having an adverse economic impact on Gloucester.
“I fully support the urgent calls for action at the Bucketts Way and Pacific Highway intersection,” said Mr Clinch.
“The combination of high-
speed highway traffic, long queues of vehicles attempting right-hand turns, and limited safe gaps creates conditions that are plainly dangerous.
“Local businesses, residents and visitors alike have been voicing these concerns for years, and the evidence is now undeniable.
“Beyond safety, the intersection has become a clear economic impediment for Gloucester.
“Tourism is a cornerstone of our local economy and when visitors are deterred from travelling here, or choose not to return because access is perceived as unsafe or frustrating, our accommodation providers, hospitality venues, retailers and service businesses all suffer.
“Waiting for a fatality before infrastructure is addressed is not a responsible approach to road safety or regional planning.”
Trudy Schultz from Accommodation Gloucester indicated that what was once a minor intersection is now a regional traffic bottleneck.
“An overpass is no longer a nice to have”, said Ms Schultz. “It is required infrastructure for the safety, efficiency and future growth of our region.”
Join our Australia Day Celebrations
Australia Day Awards
Join us as we celebrate Australia Day and present our Australia Day Awards on Monday 26 January 2026. The celebrations and presentation of citizen awards will be held at the James Theatre, Dungog, with breakfast from 8am (hosted by Dungog Rotary), followed by the official ceremony at 9am. And don’t forget to say hello to the CWA, who will have their freshly baked, delicious ANZAC biscuits. Make sure you grab one while you’re there!
Then cool off with FREE pool entry!
Grab the family and head to Dungog or Clarence Town Pools, with free entry all day for residents.
q Drivers queue, waiting to turn from Bucketts Way onto the Pacific Highway
Aussies using AI at home but want rules at work
By Jennifer DUDLEYNICHOLSON/AAP
MOST Australian workers are honing artificial intelligence skills on their own time but more access, greater control and strict rules might be needed to boost its adoption in workplaces.
Software firm Salesforce on Tuesday released the findings from a study of more than 2000 workers which also found personal AI use significantly boosted employees' trust in the technology.
The research comes days after Microsoft signed an agreement with the Australian Council of Trade Unions over the design of AI tools and rules, and a month after the government released a National AI Plan to encourage investment in the technology.
The Salesforce study, conducted by YouGov, surveyed 2132 knowledge
workers in Australia and New Zealand across fields including law, finance, marketing, technology, research and consulting.
More than four in every five workers (86 percent) said they used AI in their personal lives, and most (71 percent) said their experiences at home had improved their trust in AI at work.
Many knowledge workers had also experimented with AI agents that performed several tasks (76 percent), the study found, and most expected the technology to positively affect their work within two years.
Workers' experience with AI tools did not mean they would place blind trust in its outcomes, Salesforce regional vice-president Kevin Doyle said, but it made them more likely to understand the software's limitations.
"The research tells us right now for knowledge
workers, the best experience they're having with AI is in their personal lives and they're ready for their professional life to catch up," he told AAP.
"Personal experimentation is boosting their confidence because when they do it in their personal lives… they can test things. If it doesn't work, they understand why [and] they understand the hallucinations."
While personal AI use boosted confidence, almost half of the workers surveyed said they wanted greater transparency and control of AI tools in the workplace (47 percent) and strict rules about security and privacy (43 percent).
"There are more guardrails required and knowledge workers told us that they're looking to leadership to put them in place and put them in place now," Mr Doyle said.
Scouts on the go
From climbing and balancing on stacks of crates to swapping boots for paddles to go canoeing in the Wilson River and mastering water activities at the Dungog Pool, the Scouts were kept busy around the clock.
They even enjoyed a stormy overnight bivouac at Dungog Mayor Digby Rayward’s property.
Participants also explored their creative side, trying their hand with Aboriginal dot painting and connecting with culture between high-energy exercises and competitions.
Held at the Showground and hosted by the Hunter and Coast Region Scouts, the theme of the Corroboree was Outback Australia.
It all wrapped up on Monday, having achieved its aim of building skills for life through adventure and culture.
"Knowledge workers had a lot of patience over 2024 and 2025 but 2026 is the year that AI needs to graduate and become available.
"The patience is starting to wear thin."
Heidi Verlaan, brand manager for student accommodation provider Scape, said she started using AI at home after taking a course in the technology for work.
While she uses ChatGPT to plan her weekends, she uses Microsoft Copilot to manage work meetings and refine communications.
"There's a lot of overlap between how it's applied in your personal life and the learnings you can take into your work life," she told AAP.
"It's a bit of a supporting tool for things that used to be manual work for me."
q Using AI at home is improving employees' trust
at work, a study shows.
q Camel riding was one of the more unique activities on offer.
q The Scouts tested their skills during a raft building exercise.
in adopting the technology
Photo: Rounak Amini/AAP PHOTOS.
By Sue STEPHENSON
q Kayaking on the
was a popular activity.
Wilson River
CANOEING, rock climbing and camel riding were just some of the sporting activities enjoyed by 436 Scouts and their leaders at Dungog Corroboree 2026. Converging on the town were groups from across the Hunter and Upper Hunter, as well as from Newcastle and Sydney.
