Dungog Shire News Of The Area 22 JULY 2026

New editor for News Of The Area newspaper group

By Andrea FERRARI

EVE Nesmith has been named Editor of News Of The Area, the family-owned independent local newspaper group.

The News Of The Area (NOTA) media group publishes eight local newspapers across the Hunter and Mid North Coast regions: Port Stephens, Myall Coast, Dungog, Gloucester, Camden Haven, Port Macquarie, Nambucca Valley and Coffs Coast.

Ms Nesmith, a former Fairfax journalist/trainer/editor, former NSW and Federal political staffer and now Urunga resident said she felt a burst of butterflies when she saw the advertisement saying NOTA was looking for a new editor.

NOTA owner Michael Wright said Ms Nesmith’s experience and understanding of the communities served by the newspaper group

made her the ideal choice for the role.

“When this position became available, it was so important to have the right person behind the desk and in front of the community as their NOTA editor,” Mr Wright said.

“Eve is so experienced, and she also has so much localised knowledge in each community.

“Even in the first month since starting, it's clear Eve has quickly settled into what she knows and loves.”

Ms Nesmith is “delighted to be back in print journalism”.

She is passionate about regional news and believes that, for these communities, media should be both a window to the world and the voice of the local people.

CONTINUED Page 4

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Farmers Warehouse

Royal Hotel

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Gresford Foodworks

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Gresford Butchery Providore The Beatty Hotel

Dead newborn humpback to be tested for lethal bird flu

By Aaron BUNCH, AAP

A NEWBORN humpback whale that was stranded on a Sydney beach and died will be tested for bird flu, as the number of cases grows to 17.

A member of the public spotted the male humpback calf at a Cronulla beach in Sydney's south and reported it to

authorities early on Friday.

"Responders were rapidly deployed to assess the animal," said Ashley Ryan, president of the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia.

"Despite rescue efforts by responding agencies, the calf sadly died shortly after responders arrived."

It is not known why the neonate calf, measuring about 4.5 metres in length, became stranded.

"There are many reasons why whales can become stranded, including illness, injury, separation from their mother, navigational challenges or other natural factors," Ms Ryan said. The whale will be removed

from the beach.

As part of standard biosecurity procedures, samples have been collected for H5N1 avian influenza testing.

As a precaution, NSW Department of Primary Industries Fisheries and local lifeguards have been notified so appropriate SharkSmart alerts can be implemented.

All the confirmed cases of the deadly bird flu strain have been in seabirds at coastal locations.

A total of 17 cases of the deadly bird flu strain have been found across Australia.

All have been wild seabirds found in coastal locations, and all but one were migratory species.

The most recent cases were two presumed positive results in petrels.

One was found in Denmark on Western Australia's south coast and the other at Seabird, north of Perth.

"There remains no evidence of any mass mortality events and there are no detections in poultry or in our agricultural production system," Australian Chief Veterinary Officer Beth Cookson said.

The risk to human health remains low.

Elenore goes blue for Dolly’s Dream

By Tracey BENNETT

EIGHT-year-old Elenore Lawrence has turned kindness into action, raising funds for Dolly’s Dream with a bright-blue raffle and three Saturdays of community outreach in Dungog.

With the help of her mum, Bree, and her grandmother Maree - owner of Hidden Valley Clothing - Elenore curated a $300 raffle prize where every item was blue, a nod to Dolly Everett’s favourite colour.

Over three weekends, she set up a table with take-home handouts and colouring sheets about bullying and online safety, sparking conversations with both kids and adults.

Seventy raffle tickets later, Elenore had raised $340.

This marks Elenore’s fifth year fundraising for Dolly’s Dream, the national movement established in memory of 14-year-old Dolly Everett to prevent bullying and cyberbullying through education and support.

When asked why she does it every year, Elenore is clear and heartfelt.

media@newsofthearea.com.au

“Dolly was a girl who was bullied, and we want to stop bullying, because it’s not very nice,” Elenore said.

“Bullies are meanies. I was bullied a little bit and I told the teacher. Last year, my friend was getting bullied so I rang her mum and told her, because my friend didn’t want to say anything.”

Every dollar Elenore raises goes directly to Dolly’s Dream to help deliver prevention programs and response strategies for young people, families, schools and communities.

Hidden Valley Clothing has also joined the effort by stocking BAXTER brand cowboy boots and donating $25 from every pair sold to Dolly’s Dream.

The store has also introduced the Kids Dolly’s Dream Boots, giving families another meaningful way to support the cause while helping spread the message of kindness to the next generation.

For the Lawrences, fundraising is a year-round mindset.

"We can get to the end of January and Elenore is asking, 'What are we going to do this year for Dolly's Day?'" Bree laughs.

Elenore is already planning for 2027, aiming to sell 180

9AM - 5PM 9AM - 8PM

raffle tickets and dreaming up even more blue-themed fund-raising ideas.

If her past five years are any guide, next year will be bigger, bluer and kinder - exactly the future Dolly’s Dream stands for.

To learn more about Dolly’s Dream or get involved, visit the official Do It For Dolly Day fundraising pages.

Stratford Energy Hub approved, but community questions remain

By John WATTS

AS NOTA previously reported, the Stratford Coal Mine has come to the end of its useful life and owners

Yancoal lodged an application with the NSW Department of Planning seeking to convert the area into a renewable energy hub, requiring the construction of 660,000 solar panels and a dam in the adjacent hills.

The idea is that water will be pumped from existing

voids to the upper dam using solar generated electricity, and when electricity is needed for the grid, water will be released from the top dam to flow down the tunnel to the lower dam past an electricity generating turbine.

The Planning Minister has now announced that the project has been approved by the Government.

“This is the first pumped hydro project to secure final planning approval in NSW in six years,” said Planning

Minister Paul Scully.

“It’s a sign of our commitment to a clean energy future and the beginnings of an evolution of jobs and energy generation in the Hunter to power homes and businesses.”

Despite the approval, Yancoal has yet to make a decision about whether to proceed with the project.

“Yancoal will now progress with assessing the commercial viability of the Stratford Renewable Energy

Smoking rates fall as partnerships strengthen Aboriginal health

ABORIGINAL and Torres Strait Islander smoking rates have fallen significantly over the past decade, with Cancer Council NSW celebrating the achievement during NAIDOC Week and recognising the partnerships that have helped drive the change.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022–2023 found one in five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people smoked tobacco daily, down from more than one in three in 2010.

Cancer Council NSW says the result reflects years of collaboration between government, researchers and Aboriginal community organisations through its Tackling Tobacco program, which this year marks its twentieth anniversary.

“When organisations listen and follow our guidance, programs are more respectful, culturally safe and actually make a

difference,” Marrin Weejali Aboriginal Corporation Services Manager Melinda Bonham said.

“It’s about partnership, not top-down decisions.”

Ms Bonham said one of the program's greatest achievements had been seeing more Aboriginal people reduce or quit smoking while feeling supported throughout the process.

“It’s also about stronger community voices leading programs, not just being participants in them,” she said.

Cancer Council NSW's Tackling Tobacco program aims to reduce tobaccorelated health disparities by embedding evidencebased smoking cessation support into community organisations working with priority populations across NSW.

The program focuses on six key areas including leadership and partnerships, community engagement, workforce

development, supportive environments, quit support, and ongoing evaluation.

Cancer Information and Support Community Coordinator Natalia Arnas said collaboration with organisations such as Marrin Weejali Aboriginal Corporation had been central to the program's success.

“Cancer Council NSW is proud to work with them to deliver Tackling Tobacco and implement changes across six core areas including leadership and partnerships, community awareness and engagement, workforce development, supportive environments, quit support, and evidence and evaluation,” Ms Arnas said.

Cancer Council NSW said it remains committed to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities by delivering culturally safe, communityled programs that support healthier futures.

Hub and is also considering preferred ownership, funding and operating models for the project, which would be subject to Yancoal Board approval,” said a spokesperson for Yancoal.

Several Gloucester locals made submissions to the Department of Planning identifying issues that should be dealt with before the project proceeds.

One person who made a submission was Megan Benson.

“While it is vital that there

be a rapid transition from fossil fuels to renewables, there are several unresolved issues with this project, such as the clearing of over 100 hectares of bushland, the amount of traffic which will be generated, the social impacts and accommodation for all the workers during construction,” said Ms Benson.

“Yancoal has done a really poor job of communicating with the affected communities up and down the Bucketts Way.

“While there are many positives, there are also issues that need to be addressed.”

MidCoast Mayor Claire Pontin welcomed the fact that the approval includes $18.2 million over the life of the project for community and infrastructure projects through an agreement with the Council.

“It’s fabulous that it provides environmental benefits, and the Voluntary Planning Agreement, when signed, will see money coming back into Council over the life of the project,” said Mayor Pontin.

“We will be talking to the community around Stratford and Gloucester on some projects that will benefit them locally.”

Board Members – Application for Appointment

Glen Oak Recreation Reserve Land Manager

Applications are sought for appointment as Board members of the above mentioned Statutory Land Manager of Reserve No. 34733 at Glen Oak notified on 12-Jul-1902 for Public Recreation. The term of appointment will be for a period not exceeding 5 years.

Successful applicants will be responsible for the care, control and management of the reserve(s) in a voluntary capacity.

Application for membership can be made via portal.crownland.nsw.gov.au

All applications are required to be lodged by 19th August 2026.

For further information: - Contact Matthew McGilvray on 0408 055 241 or visit: www.crownland.nsw.gov.au/reserve-manager

Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure - Crown Lands

New editor for News Of The Area newspaper group

FROM Page 1

“It is NOTA's job to ensure that people in our regional communities have access to the information, debates and decisions that shape the places where they work, live and play,” she said.

“It is also NOTA's job to channel people's questions, seek out answers, and, where necessary, take action to amplify and promote the voices of the community.”

Communities without newspapers lose cohesion, she believes.

"They often lose their unity and sense of pride," she said.

Ms Nesmith said it had been proven that people in communities without newspapers also disengaged

with democracy and showed less interest in their local governance.

“Those communities are then left without a watchdog,” she said.

From her early days as a cadet reporter to all manner of editorial roles across newspapers, Ms Nesmith has channelled her personal, emotional reaction to news.

“I don't do the objective 'bearing witness' thing well at all,” Ms Nesmith said.

“I'm a fighter; a campaigner. I am confident that I'm decidedly average and, if I have a strong reaction to something, others probably will too.”

She has a passion to share the stories of love, altruism and triumph, to support those who rally against ugliness, injustice and dishonesty and “to respect readers enough to simply give them all the facts and let them make up their own minds”.

After almost a quarter of a century in newsrooms and coaching countless interns and cadets, Ms Nesmith has a head full of acronyms that help make the essentials stick.

In a nutshell, good journalism starts with ABC.

“A is for accuracy. Above all else, content must be accurate. Facts: check them, then verify them from another source if possible,” she said.

Notice is hereby give pursuant to Section 4.59 of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 (as amended) that the following applications have been granted consent during the period of 1 June - 30 June 2026

“B is for balance. Ensure all sides of an issue are covered.

“And C is credibilityspeak to people who are positioned as experts or have lived experience.

“Be mindful of Vs when people talk to you. Are they saying this stuff because they have a vested interest? Are they looking for vengeance? Can you verify what they are saying?”

Ms Nesmith is passionate about regional journalism.

She worked at the Newcastle Herald for almost 20 years, then served as the Lower Hunter editor for Fairfax and headed the daily Maitland Mercury newspaper and weekly papers The Lower Hunter Star, Cessnock Advertiser and Dungog Chronicle.

She also spent time as a training executive at Fairfax which, after purchasing Rural Press, had more than 140 sites across Australia and New Zealand.

“I was constantly on the road, or in the air, off to coach and train photographers, journalists and editors in newsrooms around the country - including Port Stephens, Port Macquarie, Nambucca and Coffs Harbour,” Ms Nesmith said.

Now an established resident of Urunga with her husband Johnny and youngest

son Angus, Ms Nesmith lives a fulfilling life with tendrils of connection throughout the community.

“We moved up from the Hunter Valley in the middle of COVID,” she said.

“Angus is at Southern Cross University studying nursing, and he plays firstgrade rugby union for the Coffs Harbour Snappers.

“My beloved stepmother Toby, who most recently lived in Dungog, came up to Coffs to be with us and lives downstairs in her own selfcontained space.”

Her two elder sons are identical twins.

“My eldest son Miles is a registered nurse and lives at Gladstone with my beautiful granddaughter Elsie.

“My son Jack lives here in Coffs Harbour and is a small engine/motorcycle mechanic. He has given me two wonderful grandsonsClinton and Patrick.”

Fittingly for an Urunga dweller, where a diverse avian community flourishes, Ms Nesmith is a bird lover“especially native raptors”.

She is currently bonded for life with a once-wounded pigeon.

“I scooped him up off the pavement in Coffs CBD a couple of summers ago and treated him for pigeon fly and bird pox, which took a long

time,” Ms Nesmith said.

In reacclimatising him she began to take him out for walks, expecting him to take wing at any moment.

“I totally forgot that he’s likely a homing pigeon,” Ms Nesmith said.

“He's not going anywhere, except for a lovely long fly to places unknown for the first half of every day and then back home to coo seductively at me from the front verandah for hours on end.”

When Ms Nesmith joined NOTA, she joined an established publishing company, founded by Mr Wright in 2014 with one newspaper in Tea Gardens.

That company now has

eight mastheads.

As NOTA grew, Mr Wright's wife Rochelle, joined the company full time in 2020 taking on the general manager role.

“While the big companies have been closing newspapers down, NOTA presses on launching new editions,” Ms Nesmith said.

“I’m now learning to do things the NOTA way. It’s a business model that works, and it’s keeping newsprint and local journalism in the lives and homes of tens of thousands of readers.

“I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to play a role in that essential service.”

Winter fire warning after two fatal house fires

WINTER has claimed two more lives in separate house fires, prompting Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) to issue an urgent reminder for residents to check smoke alarms and take extra care with heating appliances.

Two people, both believed to have been in their 70s, died in separate residential fires within five days of each other.

The deaths have brought the number of people killed in NSW structure fires to six this winter and 19 since the beginning of 2026.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said the recent tragedies highlighted the increased risks during the colder months.

“These two deaths are a stark and tragic reminder about home fire dangers in winter,” Mr Dib said.

“We know that when temperatures drop, the risk of house fires increases as people use more electrical devices and heating appliances, raising the number of potential fire hazards.

“Take today as an opportunity to make sure you have working smoke alarms

or to book in a free home fire safety visit with your local FRNSW crew.”

Firefighters have attended 480 residential fires across NSW this winter, with 2,025 recorded so far this year.

FRNSW is encouraging residents to take advantage of its free home fire safety visit program, where firefighters inspect or install smoke alarms and provide practical fire safety advice.

FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said simple precautions could save lives.

“I encourage residents to utilise our free home fire safety visit program which will have firefighters visit your home to check your smoke alarms and provide fire safety advice to keep yourself and your family safe this winter,” Commissioner Fewtrell said.

He also urged households to regularly test smoke alarms, avoid overloading power boards, keep flammable items at least one metre from heaters and never leave cooking unattended.

The warning follows another recent incident

in Naremburn, where an electric blanket left switched on as a pet bed ignited after smouldering for several minutes.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze before it spread, with FRNSW reminding residents to inspect electric blankets for frayed wires, scorch marks or damaged controllers before every use and replace them if they show signs of wear.

Farmers welcome vehicle registration changes

STATE farmers will benefit from simpler vehicle registration rules after changes to primary producer concessional registrations came into effect on 1 July.

NSW Farmers welcomed the updated eligibility requirements, which replace the previous 50 per cent primary production income rule introduced in 2021.

The organisation said the former rule created barriers for genuine farming businesses that had diversified their income to manage seasonal and market risks.

NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said the changes were the result of several years of advocacy with the NSW Government and Transport for NSW.

“We're really pleased that the NSW Government and Transport NSW have aligned with the ATO definition rather than using other income rules to determine

eligibility,” Mr Martin said.

“Income diversification has such an important role in modern businesses to manage ups and downs, and the previous requirement created unnecessary barriers to this common risk management strategy.”

The revised eligibility requirements now use the Australian Taxation Office's definition of a primary producer, providing greater consistency across government agencies.

Mr Martin said concessional registrations remained an important support for farming businesses, particularly for vehicles used seasonally to transport produce and farm supplies.

“Concessional registrations continue to be an important tool used by farm businesses including for vehicles that may only be used on a seasonal basis for the purpose of transporting

their produced commodities and farm inputs,” he said.

Mr Martin said NSW Farmers had consistently pushed for a practical and less complicated system.

“That’s why NSW Farmers has been advocating for simplicity and consistency with other government primary producer definitions to seek a practical solution for the definition used for transport purposes,” he said.

“The 50 percent income rule was not fit-for-purpose and it's positive that the government has listened to our feedback and focused on reducing eligibility complexity for farmers.

“It’s a practical change that we’re pleased to have secured for farmers around the State.”

More information on the primary producer registration concession scheme is available through the NSW Government.

Brace for beeping

A NEW national warning system, AusAlert, is being rolled out and a test message will be sent next Monday, 27 July, at 2pm.

Dave Layzell MP, Member for Upper Hunter, has issued a message to constituents, informing them to expect the message and reassuring people that the Monday afternoon

message is simply a test.

“We are being asked to monitor our mobile devices for an alert next Monday afternoon, 27 July, at 2pm,” Mr Layzell wrote.

“AusAlert, the new national warning system, will send important disaster and emergency alerts to compatible mobile devices including

compatible mobile phones, some tablets and smart watches.

“Devices will vibrate and play a siren-like warning which sounds for about 10 seconds with a message appearing onscreen confirming it is a test.”

AusAlert will be ready to use in October and in an actual disaster will likely tell you the type of emergency, where it is located, how serious it is, what to do, the name of the emergency organisation that has sent the AusAlert, and where to find more information about the emergency.

“You don’t need to do anything if you receive a test alert and, even if you don’t receive the test, that is OK,” Mr Layzell said.

“But if you want to provide feedback, you can contact AusAlert.”

More information on the national test alert is available on the AusAlert website:

www.ausalert.gov.au/ alerts-explained/nationaltest

THANK YOU to all the readers who participated in our survey.

We are now collating the data and will soon announce the five winners of the $100 gift vouchers.

The NOTA team truly appreciates the time you have taken to provide your feedback. All feedback will be reviewed & considered in order to maintain our high standards to the community.

Island fishing hotspots revealed

By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE

I AM continually amazed that so many residents of Port Stephens are yet to visit Broughton Island.

I recently returned from a few days, fishing, swimming and wandering around the island, which I believe to be

a ‘jewel in the crown’ of this beautiful region.

Despite the many times I have visited the island and carried out research, I still feel that there are so many questions unanswered.

The island holds many secrets - from the Worimi, Greek, Italian, Chinese,

French and pioneer commercial fishermen who, at times, have called the island home.

The rock structures are baffling and I continue to ask myself - why is the island treeless?

An account of the island’s history can be found in my

book, ‘Broughton Islanders’, which was first printed in 2009.

My hottest spots on Broughton Island: COD ROCK

Cod Rock is one of the most- popular snapper spots around the island. “Coddie” refers more to a reef system

rather than a particular rock. The jagged structure, which can easily be picked up by a sounder, is ideal habitat for snapper.

I anchor and berley on sundown, preferably in a north-easterly breeze.

Floating a big prawn, fresh fillet of slimy mackerel

or bonito on a 20lb line and 6/0 hook it is only a matter of time before a snapper takes notice.

EAST HEAD

For those who prefer to toss plastics, the drift along the East Head cliff face is perfect, particularly if there is some westerly in the breeze. The most action occurs towards the mosteasterly point of the headland where there is an increase in white water activity. Snapper, mulloway and kingfish can all be caught on this drift.

As a Marine Park restriction, bait cannot be used in this area.

THE GUTZ

Snapper country between the main island and North Island. The same game plan as for East Head if you intend to use plastics. A steady westerly will push you along the inside wall of North Island. You do have the option of anchoring and floating baits down a berley trail.

NORTH BEACH

A cracker whiting and dusky flathead beach over the summer months. Best closer to the rocks where sand and rocks meet. Worms will do the job on whiting while pilchards on a gang of 3x4/0 or plastics will account for the flathead. Bring the worms to the island as they cannot be caught off any of the beaches.

BEST ON THE BOX

SATURDAY

LOVE IT OR LIST IT AUSTRALIA

TEN, 7.30pm

It’s the Melbourne suburb with a name that divides the locals from the pretenders: Prahran. It’s a pronunciation minefield for Englishborn real estate guru Andrew Winter (pictured), who visits the chic inner-city enclave with co-host Neale Whitaker in the fifth season of this property series. The pair are coming to the rescue of parents Joel and Anna, who bought an art deco home on a corner block with the intention of knocking it down and rebuilding their dream dwelling – before parenthood and rising interest rates put the brakes on their budget. Whitaker sets about overhauling their existing layout to create a space that suits the young family, while Winter takes the couple on a tour of open-plan alternatives.

SUNDAY

MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA

TEN, 7pm

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

FRIDAY, July 24

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Monty Don’s Rhineland Gardens. (Premiere)

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

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

9.50 Would I Lie To You? (PG)

10.15 ABC Late News. Coverage of the day’s events.

10.35 New Zealand Spy. (M, R)

11.00 Murdoch Mysteries. (Mv, R)

11.45 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv)

5.00 Rage. (PG)

WEDNESDAY

with a missing teenage daughter (Eubha Akilade). Though Olivia disappeared some time ago, Chris and his wife Michelle (Vinette Robinson, pictured), herself a former undercover cop, are still calling on their professional skills and contacts in the hope of finding out what happened to their daughter. Inspired by the Japanese novel by Hideo Yokoyama, this fourpart series quickly tangles us up in another missing girl’s cold case, raising questions of cover-

6.00 Mastermind Australia.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 The Quest For Camelot.

8.40 Rebuilding Notre Dame Cathedral Pt 2. (R)

9.50 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 19.

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

3.20 Michael Mosley Secrets Of The Superagers. (R)

4.20 Ireland In Music: Sclimpini. (R)

4.50 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 1: Evening.

8.30 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 1: Night. 10.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 1: Late. 12.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 1: Overnight.

2.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 1: Pre-dawn. 4.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 1: Early morning.

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

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

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

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

12.40 Resident Alien. (Malv, R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping.

“There’s Your Problem!”. 10.30 Merlin. 11.15 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Morning Programs. 3pm The Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 The Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30

6.00

SATURDAY, July 25

6.00 WorldWatch. 7.00 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 8.00 WorldWatch. 10.00 The World From Above. (Return) 11.00 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 12.00 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 1.00 WorldWatch. 3.00 Following The Flow. (PGal, R) 4.30 Grand Tours Of Scotland’s Rivers. (PG, R) 5.30 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights.

6.30 SBS World News.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6am Children’s Programs. 2.30pm The Makery. 3.00 Play School. 3.30 Octonauts And The Ring Of Fire. 4.50 Gardening Australia Junior. 5.15 MOVIE: Tummy Tom 2: A New Friend For Tummy Tom. (2024) 6.25 Emerald. 7.05 Let’s Go Bananas! 7.30 Kids Baking Championship. (Final) 8.10 Kids BBQ Championship. 8.55 Chopped Junior. 10.00 Fresh Off The Boat. 10.40 Merlin. 11.25 Late Programs.

SUNDAY, July 26

7.30 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 20. Le Bourg d’Oisans to Alpe d’Huez.

170.9km mountain stage. From France.

1.00 Underground Army. (Ma, R) The underground blows up trains.

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

3.50 Ireland In Music: Sclimpini. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.15 Euronews.

5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

VICELAND (31)

6.05

H’lights. 4.05

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

6.30 Compass: Faith, Power And Modi.

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Race Around The World.

William heads to Madagascar.

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

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

10.15 Cooper & Fry. (Ma, R)

11.55 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

2.40 Poh’s Kitchen On The Road. (R)

3.10 Doc Martin. (PG, R)

4.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

5.00 Insiders. (R)

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

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

6.00 WorldWatch. 7.00 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 8.00 WorldWatch. 10.00 The World From Above. (PG) 11.00 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 12.00 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 1.00 Motorcycle Racing. Aust ProMX C’ship. 4.00 WorldWatch. 5.00 Going Places. (PG, R) 5.30 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Paris Underground.

8.30 Arc De Triomphe: The Passion Of A Nation. (PG, R)

9.30 Castle Secrets. (Mav, R)

10.25 Kennedy. (PG, R)

11.20 Framed. (PGad, R)

11.50 this bond i and Bondi. (PGns, R)

12.00 Beautiful Game Changers. (R)

12.05 Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 21.

4.25 Bamay. (R)

4.55 China Bitesize. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.15 Euronews.

5.30 PBS News Horizons.

VICELAND (31)

6.40 The Mega-Brands That Built The World. 7.30 Record-Breaking Submarines. 8.35 Icons Unearthed: Harrison Ford. (Premiere) 9.30 MOVIE: Crossing Over. (2009, MA15+) 11.30 The Expanse. 1.15am WWE Legends. 2.10 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera. 6am Morning Programs. 3pm Cycling. Tour de France. Stage 20. Highlights. 4.00 Bamay. 4.20 France 24. 4.55 PBS Washington Week. 5.20 PBS News Compass Points. 5.50 The Food That Built The World. 6.40 Abandoned Engineering. 8.30 MOVIE: Ready Player One. (2018) 11.00 Under The Bridge. 12.50am QAnon: The Search For Q. 1.45 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera.

6am The Amazing Mr. Blunden. Continued. (2021, PG) 6.40 Dancing At Lughnasa. (1998, PG) 8.25 Jumanji. (1995, PG) 10.20 The Professor And The Madman. (2019, M) 12.45pm Rogue Agent. (2022, M) 2.55 The Silver Brumby. (1993, PG) 4.40 A River Runs Through It. (1992, PG) 6.55 The Terror. (1963) 8.30 Arcadian. (2024, M) 10.10 Gangster Squad. (2013, MA15+) 12.15am Late Programs.

8.30 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 2: Night. 10.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 2: Late.

12.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 2: Overnight.

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

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

6am Morning Programs. 10.30 Auction Squad. 11.30 Australia’s Amazing Homes. 12.30pm Feel Good Road Trips. 1.00 Animal Rescue. 1.30 Secrets Of Beautiful Gardens. 2.30 Harry’s Practice.

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

6.00 9News Saturday.

7.00 A Current Affair.

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

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

11.50 MOVIE: If I Stay. (2014, Ma, R)

1.50 My Way.

2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PGa)

2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 Global Shop. (R)

5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

5.30 Helping Hands. (PG, R)

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 3: Evening.

8.30 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 3: Night.

10.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 3: Late.

12.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 3: Overnight.

2.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 3: Pre-dawn.

4.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 3: Early morning.

5.30 Sunrise.

7.30

5.40

(2001,

11.05

12.15am

Purge. (Premiere) 2.00 MOVIE: Sunflower. (2023, MA15+) 3.45 My Way. 4.00 Big Rigs Of Oz. 4.30 Barney’s World. 4.50 I Love VIP Pets. 5.30 Beyblade Burst:

6.00 9News Sunday.

7.00 LEGO Masters Bricktacular. (Final, PG) Hosted by Hamish Blake. 8.30 60 Minutes. Current affairs program, investigating, analysing and uncovering the issues affecting all Australians.

9.30 9News Late.

10.00 The First 48. (Mav)

11.00 Black Widow. (Premiere, MA15+a) 11.50 Murder In The 21st. (Mav) 12.40 For The Love Of Pets. (PGa, R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)

4.30 CampByMe. 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

FAMILY (22) ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Morning Programs. 3.40pm MOVIE: Blueback. (2022,

6.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) Narrated by Dr Chris Brown. 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. A couple live in the “worst house on the best street”, in a space that is not conducive at all to their lifestyle. 9.50 Ambulance Australia. (Mal, R) In Brisbane, a bystander calls in a crash in the heart of Brisbane’s CBD involving a motorcyclist and taxi. 10.50 Ambulance UK. (Mlm, R) Paramedics deal with a hit-and-run accident. 12.00 FBI. (Madv, R) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power. 6.30 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 7.00 MasterChef Australia. (PG) Special guest is Meghan Markle. 8.15 Watson. (Md) Watson’s father visits UHOP to introduce Watson and the fellows to his protégée, a saxophone prodigy with musically induced blackouts. 9.15 FBI. (Mav) When a large-scale explosion rocks a Brooklyn apartment complex, the team quickly locates

MONDAY, July 27

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Big Fat Quiz Of Telly 2026. 9.10 Alone Australia. (Ml, R)

10.20 SBS World News Late. 10.50 Gomorrah. (MA15+v, R) 2.25 Merrill’s Marauders: Burma WWII. (Mav, R)

3.25 The Kim Dynasty:

A Family Affair. (PGa, R)

4.20 Bamay. (R)

4.55 China Bitesize. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 4: Evening.

8.30 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 4: Night. 10.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 4: Late. 12.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 4: Overnight.

2.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 4: Pre-dawn.

4.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 4: Early morning.

5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 9News. 7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Travel Guides. (PGl)

6am Children’s Programs. 2.30pm The Makery. 3.00 Play School. 3.25 Wiggle. 4.05 Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures. 4.20 Santiago Of The Seas. 5.30 Talking Tom Heroes. 5.55 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.45 HexVets And Magic Pets. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.40 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.05 Young Sheldon. 8.30 Young Sheldon. 8.50 Badgers: Their Secret World. 10.20 Kids Baking Championship. 11.05 Late Programs.

FAMILY (22) ABC FAMILY (22)

6am The Terror.

Continued. (1963, M) 6.45 Finding Altamira. (2016, PG) 8.25 All At Sea. (2010, PG) 10.00 Arcadian. (2024, M) 11.40 The Client. (1994, M) 1.55pm The Amazing Mr. Blunden. (2021, PG) 3.30 Mr. Holmes. (2015, PG) 5.25 Where Angels Fear To Tread. (1991, PG) 7.30 Michael Collins. (1996, M) 9.55 Seven Samurai. (1954, PG, Japanese) 1.35am Perrier’s Bounty. (2009, MA15+) 3.15 Late Programs.

TUESDAY, July 28

6am Children’s Programs. 4.05pm Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures. 4.20 Santiago Of The Seas. 5.30 Talking Tom Heroes. 5.55 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.45 HexVets And Magic Pets. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.40 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.05 Young Sheldon. 8.30 Young Sheldon. 8.50 Ice Age. 9.35 MythBusters “There’s Your Problem!”. 10.00 BattleBots. 10.45 Animals Up Close With Bertie Gregory. 11.25 Late Programs.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Portugal With Michael Portillo. (PG, R)

8.30 Insight. 9.30 Dateline.

10.00 SBS World News Late.

10.30 Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy. (R)

11.20 The Negotiator. (Malv)

12.55 MOVIE: Julia. (2021, Mals, R)

2.40 A Certain Mother. (PGan, R)

4.00 Bamay. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News.

5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 5: Evening.

8.30 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 5: Night.

10.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 5: Late.

12.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 5: Overnight.

2.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 5: Pre-dawn.

4.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 5: Early morning. 5.30 Sunrise.

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6am Mr. Holmes. Continued. (2015, PG) 6.55 Seven Samurai. (1954, PG, Japanese) 10.35 Princess Mononoke. (1997, M, Japanese) 1.05pm Finding Altamira. (2016, 4.15 All At Sea. (2010, I Know Where I’m Going! (1945) 7.30 A Samurai In Time. 12.15am Darkland. (2017, Late Programs.

WEDNESDAY, July 29

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.00 Four Corners. (R) 10.55 Foreign Correspondent. (R) 11.25 Back Roads. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Press Club. 1.35 Media Watch. (PG, R) 1.55 Back Roads. (PG, R) 2.25 Home Delivery. (PG, R) 3.00 Race Around The World. (R) 4.00 Murdoch Mysteries. (Ma, R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.05 For The Love Of Dogs. (PGa, R) 10.05 Canada’s National Parks. (PG, R) 11.05 America’s Great Trails. (PGa, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 1.00 PBS NewsHour. 2.00 Dateline. (R) 2.30 Insight. (R) 3.30 The Cook Up With Adam Liaw. (R) 4.05 Ireland’s Wild Islands. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Alone Australia. (Ml)

8.40 Titanic Sinks Tonight. (Premiere, PGa) 9.45 Six Four. (Premiere, Mv)

10.40 SBS World News Late.

11.10 Forest Of The Missing. (MA15+asv, R)

2.55 Children Of Chaos: What Became Of WWII Orphans. (PGa, R)

4.40 Bamay. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6am Children’s Programs. 2.30pm The Makery. 3.00 Play School. 3.25 Wiggle. 4.05 Andy’s Aquatic Adventures. 4.20 Santiago Of The Seas. 5.30 Talking Tom Heroes. 5.55 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.45 HexVets And Magic Pets. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.40 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.05 Young Sheldon. 8.30 Young Sheldon. 8.50 Steven Universe. 10.00 Pokémon: Diamond And Pearl. 10.55 Late Programs.

THURSDAY,

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VICELAND (31)

6am Where Angels

Fear To Tread. (1991, PG) 8.05 A Samurai In Time. (2023, PG, Japanese) 10.30 Michael Collins. (1996, M) 12.55pm Once Upon A Time In China II. (1992, M, Cantonese) 3.00 The Movie Show. 3.35 Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind. (1984, PG) 5.50 Brief Encounter. (1945, PG) 7.30 Dog Day Afternoon. (1975, M) 9.45 Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai. (1999, MA15+) 11.55 Late Programs.

July 30

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.30 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) 11.00 New Zealand Spy. (PG, R) 11.25 Dr Karl’s How Things Work. (R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Believe Me. (Mals, R) 1.55 Back Roads. (PG, R) 2.25 Home Delivery. (R) 2.55 Race Around The World. (PG, R) 3.55 Frankie Drake. (PG) 4.40 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.05 For The Love Of Dogs. (PGa, R) 10.05 Canada’s National Parks. (PGaw, R) 11.05 America’s Great Trails. (PG, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 1.00 PBS NewsHour. 2.00 Queens That Changed The World. (Ms, R) 3.10 The Cook Up With Adam Liaw. (R) 3.40 Ireland’s Wild Islands. (PGa, R) 4.40 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Spain With Michael Portillo. (PG)

8.30 Eva Longoria: Searching For France. (PGa) Eva Longoria continues her journey in Burgundy.

9.20 Say Nothing. (Premiere)

10.10 SBS World News Late.

10.40 Bonn. (Mav, R)

4.25 Bamay. (R)

(PG, R)

5.30 7.30. (R)

6am Children’s Programs. 3.25pm Wiggle. 4.05 Andy’s Aquatic Adventures. 4.20 Santiago Of The Seas. 5.30 Talking Tom Heroes. 5.55 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.45 HexVets And Magic Pets. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.40 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.05 Young Sheldon. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.45 Ultimate Vets. 9.10 Animal Park. 9.55 Secrets Of The Zoo. 10.40 Amazing Animal Friends. 11.30

4.55 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

VICELAND (31)

7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 History’s Greatest Mysteries. 9.20 The UnBelievable With Dan Aykroyd. 10.10 Alone Australia. 11.20 The Expanse. 1am The Change. 2.10 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera.

6am The Movie Show. 6.30 Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind. (1984, PG) 8.40 I Know Where I’m Going! (1945) 10.25 Resistance. (2020, M) 12.40pm The Tunnel (Part 1) (2001, M) 2.25 Rabbit-Proof Fence. (2002, PG) 4.10 The Crow’s Egg. (2014, PG, Tamil) 5.50 The Blockhouse. (1973, PG) 7.30 The Prestige. (2006, M) 9.55 The Last Samurai. (2003, MA15+) 12.45am Late Programs.

6.00 Sunrise. 9.30 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 National News At Noon. 1.00 Bridge Of Lies. (R) 2.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 5: Highlights. 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 6: Evening.

8.30 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 6: Night.

10.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 6: Late.

12.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 6: Overnight.

2.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 6: Pre-dawn.

4.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 6: Early morning.

5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Live Aid: When Rock ‘n’ Roll Took On The World. (Ml, R)

9.25 To Be Advised.

10.25 9News Late.

10.55 Freddy And The Eighth. (Ml)

11.50 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

12.40 Pointless. (PG, R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

2.30 Global Shop. (R)

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)

A Current Affair. (R)

Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

6am Morning Programs. 10.00 The Car Club. 10.30 American Resto. 11.00 Storage Wars. 11.30 American Pickers.

6.00

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 7: Evening.

8.30 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 7: Night.

10.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 7: Late.

12.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 7: Overnight.

2.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 7: Pre-dawn.

4.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Day 7: Early morning. 5.30 Sunrise.

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6.00 9News. 7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 22.

Area:

Email: admin@hunterpodiatry.com.au

Services: Podiatry

Hunter Podiatry Services

Address: 2/3 George Road, Salamander Bay

Ph: 1800 693

Email: admin@hunterpodiatry.com.au

Services: Podiatry

Notice

Members

On the Couch

By JASMINDA

DEAR Jasminda,

I AM getting married in a couple of months and both my father and stepfather are in a battle to walk me down the aisle to my husband. Would it be strange to have one on either side of me? How can I resolve this without upsetting either of them?

Leanne C.

DEAR Leanne,

BEING walked down the aisle. What a strange tradition.

At my own wedding, there were a number of strange traditions that

OPINION & LETTERS

were enforced that made me wonder about our readiness for married life (though we still are married, almost a quarter of a century on).

For starters, my to-be-betrothed and I (he, a casual Catholic, me, a passionate agnostic) had to attend wedding preparation classes.

I can't tell you what they involved, because that particular priest went on extended sick leave after our first session (an ominous sign).

Next we had to select Bible verses, which seemed like an easy enough task, but I found myself spending hours wading through some pretty confounding content, when I should have been focused on the Jukebox playlist and/or planning an elopement.

'It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am' and 'I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man' were among the quotes that jumped out at me for all the wrong reasons.

Further, on the wedding day, our priest completely disregarded our carefully prepared vows and orated

the patriarchal summons to obey.

Several feminist heads swivelled in response (never a good look in a church).

It felt very Republic of Gilead.

Now, with reference to walking down the aisle, that was one tradition we managed to break.

Both my mother and father walked me down the aisle, which seemed like a nice modern touch at the time, but we had great difficulty keeping our strides in synch.

My father is a tall, notoriously fast-walker; mum is quite short with a delicate stride, so trying to accommodate both of them felt like a haphazard four-legged race.

Also, with one person on either side of the bride, as you have suggested in your conundrum, I couldn't help but feel that it gave the impression of a suspect flanked by two law enforcement officers.

Being frogmarched to 'Canon in D' is probably not the effect you want to achieve.

Now I'm not sure if yours is a traditional marriage, Leanne, but

News Of The Area

may I suggest that it is your day and any misgivings should not be yours nor your husbands to bear. Talk together about what you both want on your special day and

Dorin's Drawings

stay united in your decisions, as you will hopefully be for many years to come.

By Paul DORIN

The Write Direction

By John BLACKBOURN

How do you hide an oil tanker?

HOW do you hide an oil tanker ?

I thought the answer to a question like that might be “with a great deal of difficulty”. But it becomes a lot easier when you are not looking.

There are literally hundreds of ships anchored in the Gulf of Hormuz and none of them are allowed in or out of that waterway by both sides of the warring entities.

Iran’s land occupies the eastern side of the gulf and is using its strategic position to control who goes into or out from the straits, as a weapon to try to stop the USA from bombing their nation.

Whereas the USA has stationed its armada of warships across the mouth of the Straits and has used its navy to prevent any ships from entering or exiting the Straits as a method of bringing economic pressure to bear on the Arab nation of Iran, in order to achieve certain objectives.

However marine traffic observers have revealed that hundreds of commercial ships are making these journeys quite regularly by taking what is called “dark Journeys” through Iran’s tollbooth route, with their locator beacons switched off.

This is the direct opposite to what we are all told, which is that neither Iran nor the USA are allowing any ships access to the Straits, especially when carrying oil for export, as produced by Iran.

There are a number of marine intelligence agencies watching these waters and reporting on this no-go zone and what they see happening.

One is saying that some 40 dark transits happened very quickly after it was announced by the USA that this would not be allowed to happen.

While each of these watching organisations uses different parameters and methods for making these numbers available, it is clear that a good deal of oilcarrying traffic is happening, probably for political reasons.

China still seems to have access to oil from Iran carried on these vessels that the USA says cannot escape their naval blockade.

One intelligence company Kpler is reporting that 264 ships have recently passed through the straits since early June and that a few of those are Iranian flagged vessels and probably part of the dark fleet.

They travel at night without any lights and switch off their navigation beacons, but surely they can be tracked by radar and satellites.

What does that say for the US Navy’s ability, which is supposed to be stopping that traffic?

What is really going on?

Stargazing

By Dave RENEKE

Look up into the sky and you look back in time

LOOK up at a clear night sky and you are not seeing the Universe as it isyou are seeing it as it was.

Every point of light above you is a message from the past, carried across unimaginable distances at the speed of light.

Even the unaided eye can reach back years, decades, sometimes centuries.

With a telescope, that journey becomes even more dramatic: you are effectively looking across deep time.

In a very real sense, your telescope is a time machine.

The reason is simple, yet astonishing. Light does not arrive instantly. It travels at about 300,000 kilometres per second, which sounds fast - until you start measuring the Universe in kilometres.

The numbers quickly become absurd.

To describe the distance to even

a nearby galaxy, you would need strings of digits so long they feel almost fictional.

Astronomers solve this by using light-years: the distance light travels in one year, roughly 10 trillion kilometres.

Once you think in these terms, even the Solar System becomes a place of delayed vision and communication.

The Moon you see tonight is not the Moon “now,” but the Moon as it was 1.3 seconds ago. Sunlight takes just over 8 minutes to reach Earth, meaning every sunset is slightly behind reality.

A telescope does not shorten this journey. It simply collects more of the ancient light, making distant objects brighter and more detailed.

What you gain in clarity, you do not gain in immediacy. You are always looking backward.

Scale this up further and the effect becomes mind-bending.

Some of the stars in familiar constellations like Orion’s “Saucepan” pattern are so far away that any dramatic change occurring there would not be known to us for hundreds of years.

If one of those stars exploded tonight, Earth would continue to see its calm, unchanged light until the year 2900 or beyond.

We would be living through a cosmic delay of centuries.

Then there are galaxies - entire systems of billions of stars - whose light began its journey before humans even existed.

When you observe them, you are witnessing the Universe in its deep history, not its present state.

For many people, this idea becomes unforgettable the first time it truly sinks in. It did for me during the

Camping and country music

DEAR News Of The Area, THE Coopernook and Lansdowne Forest History (CALF) Group, in conjunction with the Mid North Coast Country Music Association, will soon present its annual Country Music Fundraising Weekend.

This will be held at Forest Headquarters in the Coopernook State Forest, on Forest Road Coopernook, on August 9 and 9, 2026.

There will be free camping in the Forest Headquarters Park and a kids playground, so get in early.

A $2 gold coin entry donation will be appreciated, and walkup country music artists are welcome.

If you can sing or play country music, then come and have a go.

Entry is by Forest Road, South Moorland; Pinchgut Road, via Lansdowne Rd; and Bangalow Road in Coopernook – all will be signposted.

By donation there will be morning tea (cakes, biscuits, slices, sandwiches), BBQ lunches (steak, bacon,

early days of the Space Age.

The launch of Sputnik 1 - the first artificial satellite - changed everything. A polished metal sphere roughly the size of a beach ball, it circled Earth every 98 minutes, broadcasting simple radio “beeps” that could be picked up worldwide.

To some, it was a curiosity. To others, it was a shock. To me, it was electrifying.

I remember listening to those faint beeps on a radio as a young observer and believing I had glimpsed something extraordinary passing overhead.

Later I learned that what I had likely seen was not Sputnik itself; it was too small - but the rocket stage that carried it, racing across the sky

sausages, eggs), coffee/ tea?cold drinks. No alcohol will be sold.

Saturday night tea and Sunday breakfast will be available if wanted/ordered.

There will be plenty of raffles drawn daily, with prizes donated/ supported by local businesses and CALF members.

All monies raised will go toward the Cottage Restoration Forest Museum Project.

The cottage museum will be open for inspection daily for those wanting to peruse the history of the forest area and timber cutting workings.

Old and new timber cutting movies can be seen in our movie area - bring a table and comfortable chair to enjoy the music.

CALF is open for new members to participate and help with the project.

Contact Bob Smith on 049316549 for further information.

Regards, Bob Smith, Coopernook and Lansdowne Forest History.

at orbital speed.

Yet the experience felt no less historic. I was watching humanity’s first steps into space unfold in real time.

Sputnik was only 56 centimetres across, with four long antennae extending like whiskers into the vacuum. But its impact was enormous. It marked the beginning of the Space Age and the Space Race - a moment when the night sky stopped being only a source of wonder and became a destination. And in that sense, nothing has changed.

Every time you look up, you are still travelling through time.

See my website for more stories www.davidreneke.com

Positive changes to end-of-life care options

OLDER people with lifelimiting illness should be able to receive the care they need at home, without their support being constrained by fixed funding and time restrictions, according to Ageing Australia and Palliative Care Australia (PCA).

The two peak bodies have welcomed a Senate Community Affairs References Committee recommendation to abolish the funding and time restrictions placed on the Support at Home End-ofLife Pathway and develop a flexible, clinically guided, needs-based model for endof-life care at home.

Ageing Australia and PCA said the recommendation recognises that care at the end of life should be shaped around a person’s needs, not arbitrary limits or uncertain predictions about how long they may live.

Ageing Australia Chief

Member Experience Officer

Belinda Allen said older people and their families need certainty, flexibility and practical support when someone is nearing the end of life.

"At the end of life, people and families need care that can respond to their circumstances, not a model that puts arbitrary limits around support," Ms Allen said.

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

"Older people who want to remain at home at the end of life should be supported to do so wherever possible, with care that is clinically guided and responsive to their circumstances."

Ms Allen said a more flexible model would also help reduce pressure across the broader health and aged care systems.

"When people cannot access appropriate support at home, they are more likely to experience unnecessary hospital admissions and families are left trying to navigate a system that is not designed around their needs," Ms Allen said.

Palliative Care

Australia National Policy Director Josh Fear said the recommendation was an important step towards fixing a fundamental flaw in the Pathway.

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

"That is a particular problem for people living with frailty, dementia, neurological conditions and other progressive illnesses, where predicting life expectancy is inherently difficult.

"As long as access to

the End-of-Life Pathway depends on whether someone is expected to live less than three months, older Australians with significant unmet palliative care needs will continue to miss out."

The Federal Government recently announced it would, from early 2027, introduce a second round of funding for people who live beyond the initial 12week funding period. While welcomed as a practical improvement, Mr Fear said the change did not address the underlying problem with the Pathway’s design.

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

"Some people may still outlive the Pathway’s funding, while others may never gain access because their prognosis is uncertain.

"Eligibility should be determined by unmet need, not by asking clinicians to predict exactly how long a person has left to live.

"That is why the sector is developing a clinically guided alternative model that would better identify unmet need and support older Australians to receive the care they need, when they need it.

"We look forward to presenting that model in our submission to the current Senate Inquiry on the broader Support at Home Program, and to working with government on a model that better supports older people, families, providers and clinicians."

Palliative Care Australia will outline the sector's proposed needs-based model in submissions to the Senate inquiry into Support at Home by the 31 July deadline.

‘This is not just another local road’: Mayor Rayward

most important pieces of water infrastructure.”

Lower Hunter’s drinking water and services around 600,000 people, the overwhelming majority of whom are not local ratepayers.

It was this logic that initially led Dungog Shire Council to request funding assistance from the NSW Government.

“This is not just another local road,” Mayor Rayward said.

“It is the primary access road to one of the State’s

Cr Rayward said Dungog Shire Council had recently been informed by the NSW Minister for Roads, The Hon Jenny Aitchison MP, that the request had not been supported as no funding was available.

Council has since written back to Ms Aitchison and asked that she reconsider the decision.

The Dungog mayor is also calling on the Minister to consider the request outside the usual funding programs.

“We have asked the NSW

Government to reconsider,”

Cr Rayward said.

“This is not about seeking special treatment. It is about fairness.”

Council believes roads serving critical State-owned infrastructure should attract State support, and has urged the NSW Government to consider Hunter Water’s support for the proposal.

“Every day, Hunter Water relies on this road to operate, maintain and protect Chichester Dam,” he said.

“In times of flood, bushfire or other emergencies, reliable access

Buses replace trains on some services

RAIL commuters are advised to plan their journey this week with the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) undertaking essential maintenance work on the Hunter Valley line.

ARTC will deliver the works program from 6.30am Tuesday, 21 July, to 6.30am Friday, 24 July, on the rail corridor covering the Warabrook-Muswellbrook, Muswellbrook-Ulan and Muswellbrook-Narrabri sections.

From 4am Tuesday to

becomes even more critical.”

In a letter supporting Council's application, Hunter Water acknowledges that Chichester Dam Road services state-significant infrastructure and says that the road plays a critical role in supporting the Lower Hunter's drinking water supply.

“Hunter Water also recognises that dependable access is essential for emergency response during floods, bushfires and other natural disasters, and supports consideration of

7.30am Friday, buses will replace trains between Scone and Maitland, and buses will replace all trains between Scone, Dungog and Newcastle Interchange on Tuesday and Wednesday nights from 7.20pm to 4.20am.

Buses will also replace the 6.01pm Maitland to Dungog service.

Road coaches will replace NSW TrainLink services Tuesday to Thursday, with the SydneyArmidale Xplorer and the Sydney-Moree

reclassifying these roads to better reflect their true regional and state significance,” Cr Rayward said.

“This is not simply Dungog Council making the case.

“The State Government's own water utility is saying these roads perform a State function.

“The current arrangement is difficult to justify.”

Cr Rayward said that Dungog residents already played a unique role in

Xplorer replaced by coach for the entire journey.

ARTC reminds motorists and pedestrians to remain vigilant for altered traffic conditions near the rail corridor, pay attention to signage and obey all road rules at level crossings.

Travellers should check https://transportnsw.info/ alerts/metro-train or call 13 22 32.

Information on road closures or diversions is available at: www. livetraffic.com

protecting the catchment that supplied much of the Lower Hunter's drinking water.

“Landowners face additional planning restrictions to safeguard water quality, while our community carries the burden of maintaining the road that allows the State to operate this essential asset,"

Cr Rayward said.

“We are proud to play our part in supplying clean drinking water to the region.

“But that partnership should work both ways.”

Rare sighting of elusive treedwelling marsupial at Myall Lakes

By Jacie WHITFIELD

for the first time in 13 years, providing a rare glimpse of one of Australia's most elusive native marsupials.

The nocturnal, treedwelling animal was

recorded in the park's western section during the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service's first targeted feral cat monitoring program.

While the cameras were deployed to track invasive predators, they instead captured the unexpected visitor.

A NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service spokesperson said the discovery was an exciting outcome.

"The photos were captured during targeted feral cat monitoring at the Myall Lakes National Park Scorecards site,” they said.

“While our motionsensing cameras were deployed to monitor feral cats, we were excited to capture a brush-tailed phascogale on camera.

"The phascogale was detected in the western part of Myall Lakes National Park and is an isolated record."

The spokesperson said

Broughton Island wonderland

Stinker's Stories

By John 'Stinker' CLARKE

“I HAVE just returned from a fantastic overseas holiday where the weather was perfect and the fishing excellent. Magnificent scenery and a fascinating local history. Travel time by boat around about 40 minutes from the entrance to Port Stephens.

“Broughton Island is an absolute wonderland with high peaks rolling down to long golden beaches. The bird life is abundant with the mighty sea eagle being the top of the food chain.”

No fishing book written about Port Stephens, the local beaches, islands and reefs can be complete without a focus on Broughton Island.

Once a little-known NSW island, Broughton has become a ‘must visit’ destination for fishermen, boaties and day trippers. Over recent years the island has changed socially, for the better, with an influx of families rather than a domination of fishermen. Bird watching, hiking, photography, snorkelling and of course fishing are all part of the island experience.

I have been fortunate to have been a regular visitor to the island since my first trip in 1978 on board the “Waranah” with the late Col Jenkins. It is pleasing to report that the fishing, on and around the island, remains excellent. The fishing is red hot however there is far more

to Broughton with whales, seals, turtles, giant sting rays and dolphins cruising through the opal blue water.

Eight nautical miles (14km) north from the heads and two kilometres off the coast sits Broughton Island, three kilometres long and two kms wide. The island was named by Captain James Cook after his mate Captain William Broughton.

The history of Broughton Island is rich and colorful, which I discovered while researching my book “Broughton Islanders” back in 2013.

The first to arrive were Worimi folk. Ample evidence indicates the presence of Aboriginal people who may well have walked onto the “island” before the ice caps melted.

European lobstermen were recorded back as far as the 1880s along with the Chinese who, after failing to find gold out west, moved to the coast.

On the island the Chinese caught fish, trapped lobsters and collected muttonfish (abalone), which were salted and sent either to their countrymen, still at the diggings, or transported back to China.

In the 1890s Italians were dropped off on the island by passing coastal traders to trap lobsters and were picked up, with their catch, on the return journey to Sydney.

It is recorded that they set up to 900 pots around the island.

The Italians never ventured onto the mainland.

It was 1906 when French Scientist Dr Danzig, the nephew of Louis Pasteur, arrived on the island with his

entourage of assistants and researchers.

A plague of rampaging rabbits was causing havoc in the pastures of sheep farmers in New South Wales, turning green fields into deserts.

The aim of the French involvement was to introduce rabbits onto the island, as part of a controlled study, then inject them with a virus in the hope that it would spread from one rabbit to another.

Unfortunately, the experiment failed miserably so the French team left the island - but the rabbits did not.

The rabbits remained until 2009 when they were eradicated by National Parks and Wildlife. With the rabbits went the rats and cockroaches, resulting in a return of natural vegetation and an increase in the bird population from the tiny cisticolas, shorebirds, oystercatchers and quails to the apex predator, the sea eagle.

Sometime around 1920 a small Greek settlement was established behind the first line of dunes on the northern aspect of the island, referred to as North Harbour. This was a semi-permanent community of lobstermen which was abandoned following a second fire in the late 1930s.

A small gathering of privately owned huts, along with a National Parks and Wildlife Service building, remain nestled out of the conditions in Esmeralda Cove, known as East Harbour.

One of the most frequent questions I am asked iswhere can I catch a fish around Broughton Island?

small native mammals such as the brush-tailed phascogale were particularly vulnerable to feral cat predation, making largescale monitoring programs vital for understanding and protecting wildlife.

With their identifying bushy bottle-brush tail and heart-shaped ears, paired with big, dark eyes, the phascogale are perfectly adapted for their nocturnal, tree-dwelling lifestyle.

"The absence of records doesn't necessarily mean the species is rare or declining,’ the spokesperson said.

"Large-scale monitoring programs like this are critical because the more cameras deployed, the greater the chance of detecting cryptic species like the phascogale and gathering the information needed to protect them."

The monitoring program also records invasive species including foxes, pigs, goats and deer, with data feeding into the Ecological Health

Performance Scorecards program to help assess the health of national parks and guide future conservation decisions.

Future surveys at Myall Lakes will include cameras mounted in trees, improving the chances of detecting arboreal species such as the brush-tailed phascogale.

Featured recently in Naturescapes, the brushtailed phascogale is a small marsupial recognised by its distinctive bushy tail and remarkable breeding strategy.

Males put all their energy into a single breeding season before dying, while females can live for up to three years, raising multiple litters in tree hollows.

The rediscovery highlights the importance of long-term ecological monitoring as NPWS undertakes its largest-ever investment in tracking the health of national parks and protecting vulnerable native species.

The beaches around the island are spectacular with excellent fishing for whiting and flathead in the summer months. It is the surrounding reef system that provides ideal habitat for snapper, mulloway, teraglin, a growing population of pearl perch and kingfish that gets the recreational fishers very excited.

There are literally hundreds of spots to drop the anchor or drift around the island. It all depends on the direction of the current, the wind direction and strength and the size and direction of the swell. There is no X marks the spot.

Generally speaking, in a strong southerly wind, target the north side of the island and the opposite applies. Island GPS marks are freely available on the internet.

I do prefer to chase snapper in a solid northeasterly breeze on the extensive reef system south off Cod Rock. I anchor, berley heavily and float an unweighted king prawn, fillet of bonito or slimy mackerel down, just on sundown. Rarely do I go home empty handed.

I’m sure if you drifted and tossed plastics you would have equal success. Maybe do better. Give it a shot.

Another spot I would suggest is to drift along the inner wall on East Head working plastics close in to the rock face.

Other spots I have had success are the Gutz, North Island and The Sisters. Ask your local Bait and Tackle outlet to identify these spots. Like I said, there are hundreds of spots where snapper can be caught - in the

right conditions.

It must be realised that Broughton Island is part of the Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park and a significant area has been classified as Sanctuary Zone.

As mentioned, the restrictions and zonings within the marine park are currently being reviewed. Maps are available throughout Port Stephens.

If you are considering visiting the island there are a few precautions to consider. Firstly, a boat that can handle the conditions, preferably over 16 foot.

Contact Marine Rescue on your departure and arrival at the island.

There are shallow reefs that need to be avoided and of course you must also be prepared for a change in weather conditions.

Basic, but adequate, camping facilities are

provided by NPWS, who you will need to contact if you intend staying overnight as a camping fee does apply.

Travelling by private boat will require an understanding of the shallow reef system and the availability of mooring facilities.

Running up onto the beach also requires thought. A dinghy would be recommended to ferry supplies from the moored boat onto the island.

Keep in close contact with Port Stephens Marine Rescue and be aware of changes in the weather patterns.

Broughton Island is a wonderland however it can become quite inhospitable if the weather turns. An alternative is to engage one of the charter vessels based in Nelson Bay to ferry you to the island and to pick you up at the end of your stay.

DUNGOG SHIRE

Wednesday, 22 July 2026

SPORT

Will to win

By Chris KARAS

HISTORIC Dungog is famous for producing sporting sons like legendary Test cricketer Doug Walters; triple equestrian Olympian Kevin Bacon; NSW rugby league forward Henry “Tarzan” Porter, who won premierships with Newtown and Canterbury-Bankstown; and current South Sydney colt Tallis Duncan, who has taken the NRL by storm.

Now the Dungog & District Netball Association is the organisation on everyone’s lips after their representative teams’ outstanding deeds at this year’s Netball NSW State Senior and Junior titles in Sydney.

Last month the small association made pundits sit up and take notice when their under-15s representative outfit won the State

Division Four championship while the under-17s finished a creditable fifth.

There was more joy for Dungog at the recent HART State Junior Netball titles at Narellan Sports Hub when the talented under12s lineup returned home with Blue Patches after claiming the runners-up tag in the Division Four category.

For both astute coach Jess Murray and team manager Brandi Palermo it was a significant achievement.

They mentored the association’s sole junior team to compete at the State titles and came within an ace of bringing home the trophy.

The Dungog under-12s won 18 of their 20 fixtures to finish equal with overall champions Narrabri on 36 points, who took the honours on percentages.

A proud Murray told News Of The Area that her charges executed their skills and found a “will to win” during the entire three days of the prestigious netball event.

“The girls were a delight to coach and grew in confidence with each victory during a pressurepacked schedule,” reflected Jess, who was an ace goal shooter with Port Stephens representative teams in her heyday.

She was ably supported by the

experienced Palermo, who also earned her representative netball spurs with Port Stephens as a fierce defender.

Five members of the 10-player squad hail from Medowiepromising centre Ashlee Drake, wing attack Violet Davison, sharp shooter Sophie Campbell and top goalkeeper and goal defence prospects Kayla Hladky and Zoe Bevear.

All were key factors in the team’s success along with skilful midcourters Ashleigh Walters, Lexi Mitchell, rising goal shooters Amber Parrish and Loxley Vella and capable defender Josie Boyton.

Eight of the team graduated from last year’s under-11 Development squad that was coached by Murray with Sophie and Amber the two valuable acquisitions.

Dungog chalked up victories over Leeton (21-3), Coolamon Comets (15-8), Temora (17-4), Tumut (14-8), Young (16-4), Grafton (20-9), Casino (16-9), Wollondilly (21-6), Blayney (21-8), Armidale (10-7), Port Stephens (13-3), Forbes (12-10), Gunnedah (18-6), Parkes (9-6), Sapphire Coast (15-6), Cowra (22-5), Brunswick-Byron (24-1) and Gloucester (30-3).

The side tasted defeat only twice, with losses to trophywinners Narrabri (16-4) and seventh-ranked Eurobodalla (15-11).

“A big factor was the team’s versatility, sound defence and ability to convert scoring opportunities that put the girls in the title mix,” Jess said.