By Rachael THORPE
By Sis HIGGINS
Kim AMBROSE 0423 226 651 kim@newsofthearea.com.au
Pauline CAIN 0409 394 499 pauline@newsofthearea.com.au
Bill HARROW 0437 776 247 bill@newsofthearea.com.au
Sis HIGGINS 0488 027 142 sis@newsofthearea.com.au
Sue STEPHENSON sue@newsofthearea.com.au
Rikki WALLER 0417 833 279 rikki@newsofthearea.com.au
Doug CONNOR 0431 487 679 doug@newsofthearea.com.au
EDITOR
By Sue STEPHENSON
DAMON Moroney is proof that a solution can be found to the unsightly graffiti adorning public buildings, bridges and abandoned homes around the Hastings Valley.
He’s the street artist from Iknograffix responsible for parts of the Phillips Lane makeover in Port Macquarie, some of the Walls of Wauchope, and a new mural at the Hastings Secondary College campus - among many other public
artworks.
He reckons murals “work 100 percent” in deterring offenders.
“They aren’t being tagged because young people have a mutual respect for them,” he told News Of The Area.
Damon is working with Port MacquarieHastings Council to install murals on some of the LGA’s worst visual eyesores.
The pump station at the bottom of Munster Street in Port Macquarie is next on his list.
He hopes to enlist young artists to join him on that project.
Also helping Council tackle the problem is Tony McEwen, who removes graffiti on a contract basis.
“Any Council items need to be reported,” he reminds residents.
A spokesperson for Port Macquarie-Hastings Council said the best way to report graffiti is to go to the “Report an Issue” page on Council’s website - pmhc.nsw.gov.au/Reportan-issue.
“This website is
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relevant for just about anything - including graffiti.”
Part of the problem is knowing who owns the property plastered in often offensive language and images.
A shout-out on social media revealed a long list of eyesores that residents have been waiting years to see removed.
These are not only on Council buildings, but also on state-owned land and facilities, and private businesses and homes.
The derelict homes on Gordon and Munster streets are high on the wishlist, as are industrial properties, fencing and vacant land.
Gail Veronica is urging Council and Police to “get the job done”.
“How long have Wauchope businesses and residents been putting up with it?”
Tomo Morton shared a post of the elevator heading up to the rooftop at Coles Port Macquarie, which is literally covered in graffiti, as are the carpark stairwells at Port Central.
Graham Johnstone said he has reported the Buller Street underpass multiple times, and is still waiting for graffiti to be removed.
“The colourbond fences between the hospital roundabout and all the way along to the school [are] not a good look or good first impression when entering town,” shared Jodi AtkinsFranks.
These are a state responsibility, with Member for Port Macquarie Rob Dwyer confirming the good news that they are about to go.
“The disgraceful fencing along the Oxley Highway between Wrights Rd and Fernhill Road is set to be either replaced or repaired,” he said.
“As the gateway into Port Macquarie, the condition of the fence is appalling and shows a severe lack of pride in the
entrance to our beautiful town.
“Many people have raised this issue with me after sitting in traffic congestion and they want it fixed.”
Mr Dwyer has met officials from Transport of NSW and said a procurement order has been raised to purchase new fencing.
But before this work can be carried out, a number of overhanging trees along the road reserve need to be removed for the safety of workers.
This will be carried out at night with Transport for NSW working closely with Essential Energy and Council.
“The overall appearance of the road reserve with overgrown weeds and vegetation also needs to be addressed and better maintained,” Mr Dwyer said.
“I will continue to advocate for this work to be done as soon as possible and will keep our community informed on any progress.”
The general state of the town’s parks and roadsides is a common concern.
However, responsibility is also split between various owners.
Council’s Director of Community, Planning and Environment Melissa Watkins, said parks, gardens and roadside vegetation maintenance is regularly reviewed and “prioritised in accordance with Council’s parks hierarchy and available resources”.
The weekly urban mowing schedule is available on the Council website at pmhc.nsw. gov.au/Places/SportRecreation/Weekly-urbanmowing-schedule.
If community members want to report areas in need of maintenance, they should go to the “Report an Issue” page.
“It is heartening to know that the maritime history of Port Macquarie is being recognised and preserved,” she said.
“My grandfather Albert Lindman was transferred here in 1901 from Urunga Pilot Station to oversee the building of the three houses at the top of William Street and then made Chief Boatman for the Pilot, a position he held till his retirement.
“I congratulate those people who are endeavouring to keep the boat shed going.
“To be able to tell my seven grandchildren some of their heritage has been a joy for me and I trust the
tradition can continue.”
Greg Higgins, the greatgreat grandson of Albert Lindman, reflected on the significance of the historical structures.
“These landmarks are more than just old buildings,” he said.
“It’s where my family’s connection to the sea, and Port Macquarie, began. So it means a lot to see that our community values that history.”
The great-great granddaughter of Albert Lindman, Maree Johnstone, told Port Macquarie News Of The Area that while she recently moved away, she cherishes her family history
FROM Page 1 offered and committed to listening to the lived experience of those with disability.
when she returns “home” to see her four sons.
“My children, and future grandchildren, can stand where their forebears lived and worked, and understand what came before them,” she said.
The boat shed closed for maintenance on 17 September.
The Mid North Coast Maritime Museum shared that they “look forward to welcoming you back when everything is new and shiny.”
The museum, run by volunteers, continues to call for community support to ensure these historic sites are preserved for future generations.
FROM Page 1
Lynn Eade, Bec organised a public accessibility event on Tuesday outside Coles, Port Macquarie.
“This is not about complaining or trying to institute massive changes,” Bec said.
“The aim is to highlight some of the difficulties that our community face and try to workshop some simple fixes.
“Retrofitting is expensive, time consuming and not always possible.
“So, if we can put things in place at the planning stage of future infrastructure, it saves a lot of effort down the track.”
Disabled community members Tannia Smith, David Smith, Blake Edge and Noel Hiffernan OAM, and carer Margaret Brockway, discussed their experiences of mobility challenges with Mayor Adam Roberts.
This included navigating parking, footpaths and public toilets.
Both Mr Roberts and Mr Dwyer were empathetic and receptive to the feedback
Part of the event included the politicians using white canes while blindfolded, and manual and electric wheelchairs.
Mr Dwyer strongly encouraged the community to have their say on Council’s current “Draft Community Inclusion Plan 2026-29: Make a Bigger Circle”.
Ditch the office! Bond over brushes and laughs.
3/1a
By Sue STEPHENSON
A BROWN snake stretched across the pathway on Oxley Beach, another sliding across the dunes of the North Shore and a red-bellied black snake heading towards Lighthouse Beach at the entrance to the camel rides; all signs that we’re heading into snake mating season.
Stuart Johnson of Reptile Solutions told News Of The Area that male snakes are now on the move looking for a mate while the females are busy feeding as they get ready to incubate.
“This week’s been the busiest so far,” he said.
“Usually by around September things get more active as temperatures increase.”
Most of his call-outs have been to relocate brown snakes, red-bellies and pythons.
“I’ve just been out to Huntingdon for a large healthy male red-bellied black snake, around 1.5m to 1.6m.
“I’ve seen quite a few in good condition. They’ve had more to feed on than normal.”
Stuart confirmed that two dogs and two red bellies recently died after getting into separate fights in Wauchope.
However, he said snakes tend to stay clear of humans.
Last week, Mimi Dickens shared photos of a red-bellied black snake making its way through the long grass near the camel rides entrance to Lighthouse Beach.
Stuart said red bellies tend to prefer drier areas with brown snakes more commonly found close to the dunes.
He said he has never heard of Death Adders in the dunes of local beaches, contrary to some comments on social media, while Tiger Snakes are more likely to be found in the tablelands and high altitude areas like Gingers Creek and Elands.
There are around 13 species of snake in the Hastings area and many are misidentified.
These include the juvenile eastern brown, the Stephens’ banded snake and the roughscaled snake.
All three are highly venomous.
If you need to identify a
snake, go to the Australian Snake Identification, Education and Advocacy (ASIEA) website or social pages.
If you need to relocate one, firstly avoid it, then call a qualified snake catcher.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council warns that the warmer weather will bring an increase in sightings.
A spokesperson said, “We recommend people remain vigilant around our parks, gardens, reserves and open spaces, and other popular recreational areas where children and dogs are present.
“For more information, visit the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment website.”
By Sue STEPHENSON
THE daily parade of people doing an about-face on the popular Charlie Uptin Walkway south-east of Port Macquarie’s Town Beach is set to continue a little while longer.
The path below Flagstaff Hill has been blocked since May, after severe weather and erosion undercut part of the embankment.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council says it knows “it has been missed”.
Director of Community, Planning and Environment Melissa Watkins said Council has now completed geotechnical investigations on the major storm-damaged section between Town Beach and Oxley Beach.
“There is no timeline yet on the commencement or completion of works, however we will update the community on this much-loved part of the Coastal Walk when there is a more definitive timeline.
“In the meantime, we ask pedestrians to continue to use the detour via Pacific Drive.”
However, as regulars of Salty Crew cafe on Town Beach can attest, dozens of people are missing the sign saying the pathway is closed and are making it halfway to the Flagstaff Hill Lookout before having to turn back.
They can be seen retracing their steps with looks of confusion and frustration.
The detour takes them around the back of the Marine Rescue Base, up the hill to Pacific Drive, then down to Oxley Beach.
The 9km Coastal Walk is one of Port Macquarie’s most popular attractions and with warm weather and school holidays coming up, it is likely to get even busier.
By Pauline CAIN
Zoo achieved outstanding recognition at the 2025 Mid North Coast Regional Business Awards on Friday night, taking out four major categories and receiving a standing ovation.
The awards, which celebrate business excellence between Coffs Harbour and Forster, were held at Sails Port Macquarie.
Billabong Zoo was named Business of the Year and also won in the Excellence in Large Business and Outstanding Visitor Experience categories.
Koala Keeper Kelsie Redman was named the “Outstanding Employee” of the year.
Co-owner Mark Stone said Kelsie had become one of the most recognisable and beloved faces of Billabong Zoo.
“[She is] known for her deep expertise in koala husbandry, her role in the zoo’s worldrenowned Koala Breeding Centre and her ability to inspire and educate visitors of all ages.
“Kelsie embodies everything Billabong Zoo stands for: dedication, compassion and the drive to make a difference.
“She is an inspiration to her colleagues and a role model for future conservationists.”
The Stone family said they were “extremely surprised” by the scale of their success and credited all their “tireless and hardworking staff”.
Mr Stone also expressed his gratitude for being part of such an “outstanding community of tourism operators” and highlighted the importance of “locals supporting locals”.
The zoo earned its place in the regional finals after its success in the Wauchope and Hinterland Business Awards.
It will now represent the Mid North Coast at the State Business Awards.
“Winning at the regional level is a
tremendous honour.
“We look forward to showcasing the Mid North Coast at the State Awards and continuing to shine a spotlight on the importance of conservation, education, and tourism in our community.”
Other Greater Port Macquarie winners included:
- Outstanding Business Leader – 21+ Employees: Sunette Opperman, MBC Recruitment
- Outstanding Community Organisation: Garden Village Port Macquarie
- Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion: Dr Kristy, Port Medical Aesthetics Clinic
- Employer of Choice – 21+ Employees: Linked Community Services
- Excellence in Innovation: Port Medical Aesthetics Clinic
- Excellence in Micro Business: Brows By Willow
- Outstanding New Business: Get Fresh Nails
- Outstanding Business Leader – 20 & Under: Viahn Vu, Pho Home & Get Fresh Nails
- Excellence in Small Business: Magnified Accounting
- Excellence in Sustainability: PC Pitstop.
By Rikki WALLER
LOSING a child is a parent’s worst nightmare, but Regional Cinemas Australia CEO Kieren Dell has turned that pain into a passion.
He’s helping raise muchneeded funds for Lifeline through the annual “Reach for Help” event.
After raising an impressive $16,000 in 2024 for Lifeline North Coast and Lifeline Mid Coast, “Reach for Help” is now in its fifth year, with five regional cinemas set to participate.
Between 25 September and 1 October, $1 from every ticket sold at Majestic Cinemas Port Macquarie, Riverside Movies Kempsey, Nambucca Cinema Centre, Sawtell Cinema, and Belgrave Cinema Armidale will be donated to support Lifeline services within their local communities.
“We pride ourselves on ‘sticking up our hand’ to support a variety of causes
in all our local areas via our cinemas, and we have done so for many years," said Mr Dell.
“After being touched personally by the grief of a suicide, I knew we could do more, especially when we are all feeling the stresses and strains of the last few years.
“'Reach for Help' week is an annual event held in honour of my daughter Maddy and every other family that has lost loved ones - in the hope we can help to prevent it happening in future.”
This year’s event will run during the first week of the September school holidays, with Regional Cinemas hoping the timing will boost attendance and help raise substantial funds for the charity and its vital cause.
“Our business is a place of entertainment; it can also be a place of education and we can use our voice to inform our local communities of the support services that are
available to them.
“The school holidays always bring out extra moviegoers and the fact it is also the fifth anniversary of losing our Maddy, it’s fitting that we can commemorate her life, raise funds, and educate others to Reach for Help all at the same time”.
Funds raised during “Reach for Help Week 2025” will support Lifeline in delivering “Support After Suicide” groups in Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour.
Suicide Prevention and Postvention Manager for Lifeline MidCoast, Kelly Saidey, said that suicide is the leading cause of death among Australians aged between 15 and 44.
She has a message for anyone who might be struggling.
“Connect with Lifeline Mid Coast for support groups in our local community or call 13 11 14 anytime.
“Reach out early for support, so you are not facing
your darkest moments alone.”
The Regional Cinemas have a great selection of movies out for the school holidays for kids and families including Australian hit Kangaroo, Bad Guys 2 and Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie.
There will also be screenings of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, A
Big Bold Beautiful Journey and One Battle After Another, for the grown-ups.
The community is encouraged to head to the cinema these school holidays, to not just beat the boredom but to also help raise much needed funds to support the wonderful work Lifeline does within the local community.
*If you or someone
you know needs support, the following services are available 24/7. Lifeline – 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14 lifeline.org.au. MensLine 1300 789 978 mensline.org.au
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467 suicidecallbackservice.org.au Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800 kidshelp.com.au.
By Rachael THORPE
EMMA Richardson, 35, met her 39-year-old husband Blake in 2010 when they worked together.
Eight years ago they welcomed their much-loved daughter, Sophie.
In July last year, the family received heartbreaking news.
Blake was admitted to hospital in extreme pain with tests showing an 11cm tumour on his kidney.
After surgery to remove both the tumour and kidney, pathology showed that Blake had a rare aggressive cancer known as chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, with 20 percent differentiation.
Unfortunately, this does not respond well to treatment.
Surgery was followed by targeted immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiation.
The side effects for Blake were brutal and ultimately not effective.
Despite the terrible toll inflicted by the treatments, Blake is determined to provide for his family and continues to work full-time as a service manager
for JLG Industries, who have been extremely supportive.
Knowing time was short, Emma told News Of The Area that she “wanted the three of us to make family memories", but that required money.
“I knew that Blake would never ask for anything, but I felt like if I did a major run where people could sponsor me he’d be more OK with that.”
Close friend and local running legend Rob Lloyd helped come up with a 100km route for a trail run, and stashed drop bags of snacks and drinks along the way.
The pair started in Timbertown at 8pm Friday and ended in Laurieton on Saturday afternoon.
Their run through Bago and Kew was steep, with the elevation climbing to 1500m in the first 15kms.
An hour later, storms hit.
“It was hard, but I kept thinking of Blake and everything he has had to push through, and that kept me going.
“His courage has been a gift.”
Supporters ran sections and cheered, while Blake and Sophie followed them from checkpoint to checkpoint before meeting Emma at the end of the run with flowers and her favourite snacks of Pepsi Max and Turkish Delight.
60’s Chart Toppers feat. The Fab 2
By Sis HIGGINS
THE Wauchope Community Garden will be buzzing with activity this Labour Day, Monday 6 October, as locals are invited to come along for a family-friendly Open Day and Working Bee.
From 9am to 3pm at the corner of Tallowood Avenue and Mahogany Street, behind the Neighbourhood Centre, visitors can celebrate the opening of the new garden, funded by a NSW Government grant.
The day promises plenty to see and do, with stalls, food
The 60’s Chart Toppers Show brings to the stage the Era of the British Invasion.
Enjoy your favourite hits from artists like Cliff & the Shadows, Hermans Hermits, Rolling Stones, The Who, Freddy & the Dreamers and many more!
Sunday 5th Oct 3:30pm - 6:30pm
and drink, live music, children’s activities, bush walks, and guided garden tours on offer.
For those keen to roll up their sleeves, there will be opportunities to join the Working Bee.
“If you prefer to get your hands dirty helping your community you can join in the working bee and do some light gardening or handyman work,”
said Greg Franks, President, Hastings Residents Association Inc.
Guests are also welcome to simply relax, soak up the
Thinking about organising your Xmas party, birthday party or your next social event??? THE RHYTHMBO AT IS THE PERFECT
atmosphere, and have a chat with the gardeners who are helping to make the project thrive.
Organisers say the garden is a space for everyone; a place to learn about sustainable growing, enjoy fresh produce, and build connections with neighbours.
The event is being hosted by the Hastings Residents Association Inc. More information is available by contacting Greg through the association’s Facebook page, emailing hra@mail.com, or calling 0434 991 156.
to organise a viewing and discuss your requirements.
The staff and crew at the Rhythmboat will make your function memorable!
TAYLOR: A Tribute to the Eras of Taylor Swift Thursday 9 October, 7pm
LET OUR RIVER SPEAK
Presented by Innes Artists in association with Port Macquarie Panthers Photographic Club On view until 9 November
MEET
Sunday 5, 12, 19, 26 October & 2, 9 November Free event, drop in between 11am - 1pm.
PRETENDERS Neil Diamond, Madonna, Tina Turner and Roy Orbison Friday 10 October, 8pm
TAKE A SEAT
An exhibition by artists Brad Collins and Chris Proctor On view until 9 November
SPROUTS HOLIDAY FUN
Thursday 2 & 9 October, 10am & 3pm
By Pauline CAIN
FOUR months after the devastating May floods on the Mid North Coast there is still a
of
Susie George, Executive Director Regional Delivery with the NSW Reconstruction Authority, has been on the ground in Nambucca Heads, Kempsey and Taree this week.
”The focus now is on getting out to people through
a series of community events to make sure we don’t leave anyone behind,” she said.
“We have been catching up with local councils and providing support with emergency works where we can.
“More than 14,500 residents have recently visited our recovery centres on the Mid North Coast and in the Hunter.
“Thirty-seven tonnes of waste has been cleared.
”Councils are working hard (in the flood recovery effort) and the Reconstruction Authority have been supporting them with communication, transport and infrastructure.”
The recovery process is continuing to support individuals with rental assistance, home repair grants and a housing package which is facilitating accommodation options for farmers to remain on their
properties.
“We are listening to feedback and are keen to help people who may still need help to complete grant applications,” Ms George said.
“Some of these grants are still available until November.
“Recovery is a long and frustrating journey and some are only now coming forward for support.
“We want to make sure that each individual gets the support they require - so please make contact if you need extra help with grants or with mental health support.”
By Rikki WALLER
THE Port Macquarie Uniting
Church will hold its Annual Spring Fair on Saturday, 4 October.
The fair will run from 8am to 12pm and the entire community is invited to attend.
This year’s fair is especially significant, as it marks the 30th anniversary of worship at the church’s Sherwood Road site.
“Spring or Autumn Fairs have been held regularly most years and are an opportunity to share with our local community,” Mayo Brumby from the organising committee said.
A wide variety of stalls will be set up inside the Port
Macquarie Uniting Church building, featuring craft items, jewellery and quality goods, toys, jams and pickles, cakes and biscuits, and Christmasthemed products.
A spring flower competition will also be held, where attendees can admire the floral displays and vote for their favourite bloom with a gold coin donation.
The ever-popular guessing competitions will return, inviting participants to guess the number of lollies in a jar or the weight of a pumpkin.
Renowned for their quality, the Devonshire Teas will once again be on offer, serving some of the finest scones in Port Macquarie.
A barbeque will also be
available, providing a selection of tasty options for hungry visitors.
Outside the church, visitors will find a dedicated plant stall and a hardware stall, while clothing items will be on display nearby.
Inside the Sherwood Gallery, a wide selection of books will be available for browsing and purchase.
A highlight of the event will be a fashion parade, featuring models showcasing outfits from the church’s Sherwood Boutique.
The Annual Spring Fair offers a warm and welcoming environment for the broader community to come together and share in a strong sense of community spirit.
By Dave ‘Scoop’ LAZARUS
LAST year we were on a four-day cruise and a stopover took us to Tangalooma Resort, Moreton Island.
The weather was not favourable to lie on the sand or go snorkelling, so we went to the tavern and experienced a unique group of entertainers who were absolutely sensational.
The group is called Geed Up and presents an experience called “The Worst Show Ever”.
After playing a one-off gig onboard Port AdVenture Cruises in May, Geed Up returns to Port Macquarie next week for a series of shows.
They will play dinner shows onboard the cruise boat on Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 October, and present free 45-minute pop-up shows from 5pm both days under the new stage at the river end of Clarence Street.
Geed Up member Khan joins us for this week’s edition of Port Mac Goss.
Khan, I saw you guys perform and I was speechless. Firstly, give us some background on the group.
There are seven of us and we are like a "fruit salad". We have nationalities from New
Zealand, Philippines, Japan and Australia. Our show is very visual with comedy, acrobatics and of course singing with songs that everyone knows but with our own take on it.
Tell us the story of how the group was formed?
We did a show at Tangalooma back in 2017 and we got such a good response that the management at the tavern booked us every time a cruise ship visited the island. This year we have 54 ships visiting Tangalooma and we are booked for all of them. We also have a residency at Brisbane Eat Street which is a huge dockside development with food, retail and entertainment. We perform on the centre stage every Friday and Saturday night and have been there for 10 years. The entertainment area holds about 2000 people and while the tourist only sees us once, we have a huge local following who come to Eat Street precinct for some good food and entertainment on a regular basis and are "disappointed" every time they see our show.
Why is your show known as The Worst Show Ever?
By Kate SHELTON
THE fishing is heating up in the Hastings River.
Bream are active, with good results coming from the breakwalls and Settlement Point using mullet strips and brined prawns. Flathead numbers are consistent, with anglers having success using lures and whitebait.
For whiting, focus on Limeburners, Blackmans Point, and the back channel
where surface lures are working well.
Luderick are being caught on the breakwalls with sea cabbage and weed flies.
Last weekend saw some great size mulloway caught on live bait in the lower reaches.
With mud crab season officially here, it's the perfect time to dust off the traps.
Off the rocks, a few smaller tailor have appeared around Point Plomer.
If you're fishing the
When we started at Eat Street, we didn't even have a name. So, one night in the dressing room we came up with the idea of The Worst Show Ever. Along with what we do on stage, it definitely is a point of difference by openly promoting that everyone will leave disappointed.
You recently did a pop-up performance on Cavill Avenue in Surfers Paradise. What do you love about these impromptu shows?
We just love performing and those impromptu performances keep us fit and healthy. As you know there are a lot of acrobatic moves and high energy in our performance.
You also have a mission to raise money and awareness for mental health charity Beyond Blue, tell us how that motivates you?
Our mission statement at every show is to put a smile on everyone's face and make them feel happy. Mental health is a real challenge in today's world and members of our troupe all have a story of someone they know who has been affected. So, we are very passionate about putting a smile on everyone's face. During our performance we mention our commitment to Beyond Blue, and we are proud to share with you that we have already raised over $15,000 from people who have watched and enjoyed our performance and supported us with donations.
evening bite, reasonable bream and school mulloway can be found at Big Hill and Point Plomer. Offshore, the rewards have been substantial.
Snapper numbers are healthy, and they're responding to both bait and soft plastics, especially on the reefs off Point Plomer. Targeting kingfish on the wider reefs with live bait and knife jigs could also be a promising adventure.
In the Camden Haven, anglers are finding success on the beaches.
Whiting numbers are steadily increasing on the shallower sandbars during a rising tide, with prawns and white-bait being the preferred baits.
Bream have also been caught at Grants Beach.
For night-time anglers, school mulloway remain a viable target, with the beaches south of Lake Cathie offering the best chances.
Last week saw locals net in Lake Cathie and bag some good kilos of school prawns.
A few days after the full moon is a good time to try for prawns, so mark the dates in your calendars for October.
Further north in the Macleay River, bream numbers remain excellent, with the best reports coming from those fishing with bait during the day.
The river is also producing good catches of mud crabs further upstream.
Offshore, anglers have reported decent numbers of kingfish around the local FADs and Fish Rock.
By Sis HIGGINS
PORT Macquarie-Hastings businesses turned out in force for Digital Deep Dive, the region’s premier digital innovation event on Tuesday 23 September.
The day-long program delivered information and professional guidance, with 15 local business leaders delivering talks, demonstrations, and workshops, founded and hosted by Ollie Brooke of Cloud Concepts Web Development and officially opened by Mayor Adam Roberts.
Cr Roberts commented on the clear benefits of upskilling in digital literacy and how its adoption by the local business community represented a significant competitive advantage for the region.
He was excited to see how this event proceeds with the full support from the Council.
Founder and host Ollie Brooke said, “We’re delivering real, practical digital tools and insights to the Mid North Coast; the kind that drive growth, resilience, and leadership in a digital-first world.
“The goal [is] to help business owners and operators develop a better understanding of the how and the what of digital technology in 2025 and beyond.
“Bringing together some of the region's leading players in those spaces, as well as business leaders who are practitioners at various levels of engagement, the aim is to showcase what is possible, how others are doing things, and to foster
a shared community-based learning model.”
Topics ranged from digital marketing and cybersecurity to AI adoption and systems optimisation.
Presenters included local business leaders, lawyers, IT specialists, marketers, and entrepreneurs from across the Mid North Coast.
The event emphasised connection as much as knowledge.
Attendees commented that the learning was invaluable, the sessions were highly informative, and the knowledge sharing was fantastic, all of which enables local businesses to grow.
*The author was part of the Branding and Marketing Panel at Digital Deep Dive.
By Rachael THORPE
THE inaugural Spring Artists and Makers Fair was held at Roto House on Saturday, 20 September.
Despite being overcast initially, the fine weather encouraged many locals and their four-legged friends to stroll around the wide variety of stalls whilst listening to music performed by two local buskers.
Venue manager Jess Davidson was extremely pleased with the turnout of fourteen stalls.
“This is the first in a series
of seasonal events that we have planned,” she told NOTA.
“There will be Christmas markets which will have a strong focus on environmentally friendly and ethical gift giving.
“We are also working on a twilight market to be held over the summer season.”
Items offered for sale are required to have been handmade locally in the Mid North Coast region from ethically sourced materials.
Some of the items available for sale included mosaics, macrame, raw honey, jewellery, paintings,
clothing, and fairy homes, while the coffee van and undercover café were particularly busy.
Stallholder Jodi Beard said she simply loves local markets.
“They are a fantastic way to connect with the wider community and talk to them about our products,” she said.
Many visitors took the opportunity to tour the inside of the historic Roto House, with others planning to stay on for the afternoon events of Tea and Tarot followed by a concert under the elms.
By Sis HIGGINS
OCTOBER marks Small Business Month in NSW, and Port Macquarie’s Micro Business Forum (MBF) is celebrating with a new leadership team and two free community events.
MBF elected a refreshed committee of local business leaders on 17 September, to drive its mission of supporting micro and small business owners across the Hastings.
The 2025 committee is President Alison Carroll, Vice President Veronica Lind,
Secretary Lyn Richardson, Treasurer Judith Jackson,
Membership Secretary Glenda Hamilton, and committee members Barbara Smith and Edgard Lopez.
MBF President Alison Carroll said, “Small business is the heartbeat of our community.
“As we celebrate Small Business Month, MBF is proud to provide platforms where local businesses can connect, showcase their talents, and thrive.”
MBF’s next two events include Coffee Connect from 10am on
Thursday 9 October at Little Shack, Port Macquarie, followed by the main celebration, the MBF Small Business Mini Expo, from 5:30pm on Wednesday 15 October at Charles Sturt University’s Innovation Hub.
The expo welcomes the public and features MBF members and the wider business community showcasing their products and services..
For more than 22 years, MBF has supported micro and small business owners by offering networking, mentoring, and collaboration opportunities.
THE weekend of 26-28 September is set to be an extremely busy one for the Wauchope Bonny Hills Surf Life Saving Club (WBHSLSC).
Friday 26 September is Nippers Registration Day, with the club taking registrations at 4pm in the WBHSLSC training room (as soon as you walk through the main doors).
“Thinking about Nippers?
"Need a hand registering?
"We’d love to meet you and help out,” the club said in a statement.
Saturday 27 September marks the start of the 2025/2026 lifesaving patrol season for the club.
Rainbow Beach will be
patrolled every weekend and on Public Holidays by volunteer lifesavers right through until April 2026.
Saturday is also the date of the wet assessment for the current cohort of Bronze Medallion, Transition to Bronze Medallion and Surf Rescue Certificate candidates.
WBHSLSC Director of Education Peter Daniels said there was “no off season” for these candidates, who have been working hard since July.
“They were all deemed competent in their dry assessment completed earlier in the month and once deemed fully competent, these new awardees will
tournament.
Natalie told News Of The Area she started playing Oztag about 10 years ago.
“We had just moved to the area, and I was looking to get fit and make new friends,” she said.
“I find it more fun to exercise as a team rather than on my own in the gym, so Oztag was perfect for that.
“Playing at this level alongside such outstanding players and sharing such a big win is a real highlight for me.”
be able to contribute to the much needed lifesaving patrol activities of the club,” the club said in a statement.
The club will then host the Rainbow Gold Ocean Swim on Sunday, 28 September.
“[The swim] is expected to attract all levels of swimmer, from confident kids and firsttimers to salty veterans who live for the feel of a clean line through blue water,” the club said.
“There are a number of swim distances ranging from a 400m splash, a one kilometre hit-out, or a satisfying two kilometre loop that lets you truly settle into your stroke.”
Online entries close at
Natalie and several of her teammates pushed through injury to compete at the Origin series.
“I’m extremely proud of how we all came together as a team,” she said.
3pm on 27 September for all three swims but on-the-day entries will close 30 minutes
prior to the start of each individual swim - 400m7.30am (start time 8am); 1km - 8am
THE Kendall Blues and the Lake Cathie Raiders will face off in the Hastings District Rugby League decider on Saturday, 27 September.
“Particularly as the Queensland side was extremely strong, which forced us to rapidly adapt our playing technique to match their skill level.”
The match will be played at Lake Cathie’s home ground “The Sandpit”.
Gates open at 11:30am, with kick off time still to be announced at the time of writing.
A spokesperson for
Lake Cathie said the match promises to be “one of the biggest days” in the club’s history.
The Blues progressed to the final after a 36-22 victory over the Comboyne Tigers in the preliminary final on Saturday, while Lake Cathie enjoyed a comprehensive 48-18 victory over the Long Flat Dragons.
The teams were neck
and neck during the regular season, with the Raiders pipping the Blues to the minor premiership by one point.
The Raiders edged the sides’ Round 2 matchup, winning 24-16, before securing a big 34-10 win in Round 13.
The Blues know how to win however, taking out back-to-back premierships in 2023/24.
By Rachael THORPE
TWO of the top combat sports champions in Australia call
Port Macquarie home, and have their sights set on world championship glory. Full-time disability
support worker Matt Bruce, 33, trains mixed martial arts (MMA) four to six hours per day, six days a week.
Benjamin, Ned (one shot) McKelvey and skip George Campbell
By Marie WINTER
MONDAY 22nd September
2025 there were 5 rinks of social bowlers on the green at Wauchope Country Club enjoying the perfect weather for lawn bowls. On 2 rinks the margin was 1 and 7 was the highest margin on the other 3 rinks , all very competitive games.
PORT MACQUARIE and Camden Haven clubs are well represented as the Football Mid North Coast senior season draws to a close.
Grand Finals will be held on Saturday, 27 September at Findlay (men’s) and Dixie (women’s) parks in Port Macquarie.
Lake Cathie plays Camden Haven Redbacks
The lucky winning marble was rink 6 players were Ray
in the women’s B-grade Grand Final, with kick-off at 12:30pm at Dixie Park.
Following that match, second place finishers Lake Cathie take on the currently undefeated Macleay Valley Rangers (MVR) in the women’s A-grade competition.
Kick-off is set for 2:30pm at Dixie Park.
The runners up on rink 5, a pairs game with a margin of one were Pam Dures and Jenny Caller.
The lucky losers marble was rink 3 players were Maria Middleton, Carol Higgins and
At Findlay Park at 11am, the Camden Haven Redbacks do battle with Iona FC in the men’s B-grade.
The Port Saints then take on South West Rocks in the men’s A-grade competition from 1pm.
In the men’s premier competitions, minor premiers Iona FC take on the second place MVR in reserve
In October he will travel to Brisbane to compete in the kickboxing category of the ISKA Amateur World Championships.
Bruce is currently the ISKA #1 Australian Light Heavyweight Muay Thai Champion and the ISKA #1 Australian Middleweight Kickboxing Champion; his goal is to be the best in the world.
“I originally started training to lose weight and get fit,” he told NOTA.
“But my coach could see how much I loved it and encouraged me to fight.
“When I’m competing it’s like an escape from reality where I feel like a completely different human being.
“It also gives me the opportunity to travel the world and represent my country.”
Joining Matt in Brisbane will be Year 11 student Arshak Martirosian, who combines eight hours of training each
skip Col Marr
Rink 5 had the pick for the jackpot but didn’t pick the number 13 and therefore jackpot will be carried over to next week.
The raffle prizes were picked Rod, Maggie x 2, Ray, Jenny, and Carol
week alongside his studies at St Joseph’s Regional College.
Turning 18 this week, Arshak is already showing remarkable ability, coming second in the Australian Championships and hoping to take gold in the Muay Thai section in Brisbane.
“School is my focus now, but once that finishes I want to take this as far as possible,” he said.
“I’m still young and I hope to branch out into a lot of other sports too.”
Arshak said the first time he tried Muay Thai he “got beaten up”, before falling in love with the sport.
“When I get stressed, fighting calms me down and gives me clarity,” he said.
More than 1500 men and women from 40 countries will attend the event at the Sleeman Sports Complex in Brisbane next month and participate in a variety of mat and cage fighting across multiple disciplines.
By Colin EVERINGHAM
TUESDAY 16/09/2025
Players
19
grade at Findlay Park at 3pm.
In the day’s main event, table toppers Port Saints then face MVR in the first grade final from 5pm.
Saints President Daniel Gardner encouraged the community to head down to Dixie or Findlay park to witness the best in Mid North Coast football action.
By Jeff WALSH
ROB Barwick sailed his Impulse ‘Drift’ like there were a fleet of pirates on his stern, leading the way from start to finish and take the win in what was slated to be Port Macquarie Sailing Club's first Handicap race of the season, but was eventually recorded as Race 2 of the Spring Series.
A nice 10-12 knot easterly was a welcome sight for sailors as they rigged up while Paul Robertson set the course with A and B marks suggesting a nice reach between Settlement Point and Limeburners, and a single downwind mark C near the canals west of the clubhouse. With the season in its infancy, the handicapper
was not sure about setting individual start times, so it was decided to use a classbased start with Impulse and Laser competitors starting first, followed by Tasers, then MGs and finally Catamarans with a 3 minute interval between each class.
Rob in ‘Drift’, and Steve Couch in his laser ‘Lazybuoy’ were first off the line. ‘Drift’
edged in front and simply extended the lead over the 4 laps of the race.
Visiting from Queens Lake Sailing Club, Derek Ayriss and Bob Dewar in ‘Rumpus’, and Stuart Symons sailing solo in ‘Elmo’ set off at the Tasar start, with Elmo finally getting past Lazybuoy in the last half lap of the race.
Simon Gandy and Sid
By Colin EVRINGHAM
FAG RESULTS for 19 Sep 25
Number of Players: 19 playing on the Front 9 holes.
Winner: Bob Lineham Nett 33 was on 13, now on 6
2nd: Neil Clancy Nett 35
3rd: Col Everingham Nett
4th:
Ayriss in their MG ‘Vamos’ learnt a lesson about doublechecking the rigging when they attempted to raise the kite and found an unplanned tangle that let Steve Bohlsen sailing one-up in ‘Interceptor’ get the upper hand. After eventually sorting out the spinnaker halyard, the MGs ran a close race passing both Tasars and catching ‘Lazybuoy’ in the last half of the 4th lap.
Frank O'Rourke on his Arrow ‘Turbo’, had a lonely race with only one catamaran present for the day.
While not competing in the race, it was good to see Lucy Bohlsen was on the water gaining some experience sailing solo in her Flying11 ‘Popcorn’.
So, while the race provided the handicapper
By Leonie MULVIHILL
MONDAY 22/9/25
Stableford, 40 players. Division 1: Winner, Chris Mackay 24 points
Runner Up, Jan McNerney 21 points
Division 2: Winner, Robyn Cobban 24 points, c/b Runner Up, Gladys Harvey 24 points
Division 3: Winner, Donna Heffron, 26 points Runner Up, Bea Hall, 24 points
Division 4: Winner, Anne Rowsell, 28 points Runner Up, Margaret Gleave, 19 points NTP: Chris Mackay, 15th hole, Gaylene Fielding, 18th hole
Birdies: Bea Hall and Chris Mackay, 15th hole
Lucky numbers: Robyn Cobban and Gladys Harvey
an opportunity to review competitors strengths and weaknesses for the next handicap race, an executive decision was made to apply yardsticks to the results and count this race as the Spring Series Race 2 in place of an earlier race that had been cancelled.
‘Turbo’ recorded the points in the catamaran division, while in the monohulls, ‘Drift’ took both line honours and yardstick wins. Yardsticks swapped ‘Lazybuoy’ to 2nd place, followed by ‘Interceptor’, ‘Vamos’, ‘Elmo’, and ‘Rumpus’. Next event in the club's calendar is Sprint Series Races 1-5 on Sunday starting at 10.30am. The usual format is 2 races, a lunch break, then 3 races. Stuart Symons is rostered on duty.
News Of The Area would love to hear your OPINION and VIEWS on issues and topics affecting our area.
Keep Letters to the Editor under 250 words for its best chance of publication.
Please be aware that there is no guarantee or of publication from your submission to us.
Publication will be determined by the editor around av ailable space, relevance and appropriateness.
media@newsofthearea.com.au
Email Jasminda: media@newsofthearea.com.au
DEAR Jasminda,
On my rostered day off last week I went for a day trip to the beach.
After getting a bit too much sun, I rolled over and noticed Amy, who is a junior work colleague, swimming in the ocean with her kids.
She was on a work from home day (approved by me).
She gave me a half-wave and left the beach soon after.
I'm now wondering if this is a regular event.
I often let her work from home so she can manage her childcare commitments, though my understanding was they were in daycare during school hours.
She also meets all her KPIs. How do I manage this?
Pete D.
Dear Pete,
Those of us in a certain age bracket find the whole work-from-home concept a bit hard to comprehend.
Before work-from-home possibilities, work meant getting ready in the dark, making lunches, dropping toddlers off to long day care and/or negotiating with relatives to drop off the school-aged ones, de-latching them from your legs (the kids, not the relatives) wiping their tears from your polyester work jacket (ditto), driving to work in peak-hour traffic (one eye on the road, the other on your watch, since the tantrum meant you were running late), managing to arrive on time after running a red light (ignoring the eye-
By Rikki WALLER
“In my suburb [in
there was a puzzle library that I used to frequent a lot,” she told News Of The Area.
“I had in mind that once I was settled here in Port that I would start my own.” Memories of challenging her brain on rainy days and wanting to help create a circular community for puzzlers have seen Rosalind’s dream brought to life in the form of Port Macquarie’s very first Puzzle Library.
“For me and I’m sure
many others, puzzles are a single use item; once I have done it, I want to swap it for one I haven’t done, so a little library makes a lot of sense and can save money.”
Sourcing the right materials and perfect place for her puzzle library was paramount to bringing this community connector to life, so Rosalind made good use of the people and resources
around her.
“I had my eye out for a suitable container to use for the library [and was] looking at Marketplace and buy, swap and sell sites.
“I [then] noticed someone up the street had put a Ute toolbox with legs already attached to it on the kerb with a ‘free’ sign on it.
“After work, the box was still there, so my husband and I walked it home and put it out the front of our place.
“We fixed up a few holes to make sure it was waterproof, and got out some sharpies to decorate the box
Despite claiming not to be artistic, and having the decorations wash away in the rain, Rosalind’s community puzzle box still has a clear “Puzzle Library” label on it telling the community that it is open to enjoy.
“I popped a couple of puzzles that I had into the box and picked up a couple more from an op shop.
“I also put up a message on the Port Macquarie Hastings Facebook page.
“By the first weekend it was just about empty, so I went back to the op shop for
roll from child-free Lucas from HR), then going to the tearoom for a caffeine pickme-up to find half a teaspoon left in the Nescafe Blend 43 tin.
That was before work had even started.
Invariably, two hours in, there'd be a call from the childcare centre because the Panadol had worn off and Aurelia was complaining of a headache and runny nose (that she'd obviously picked up from one of the other 20 kids whose parents didn't have work-from-home benefits) so she had to be collected (but not before you filled out a form for HR-Lucas so he could dock your pay).
Now, there is far more work-life balance with previously unheard of leave entitlements such as mental health leave (traditionally resolved or made far worse at the annual staff Christmas party), maternity leave (which would have saved a few marriages in the 90s) and even pet bereavement leave.
With that work-life balance comes a shift as people navigate expectations including the confusing optics of seeing a work colleague at the beach in the middle of the day.
Pete, if this is a one-off, and if, as you say, your colleague is meeting her KPIs and is a productive staff member, I'd suggest you ignore the beach frolic.
Maybe Amy started her workday at 4am so she could take an extended lunch break.
Or maybe she looked up from splashing around with her kids and saw Project Manager Pete dressed in nothing but a pair of watermelon-coloured Speedos, and wondered, 'What's Pervy Pete doing down here when he should be at work? Doesn't he live inland on a hobby farm?'
Carpe diem, Jasminda.
a couple more puzzles and I also had some people off the Facebook page donate puzzles.”
Starting with just seven jigsaw puzzles of mostly 1000 pieces, the box is now proudly full.
There are kids puzzles containing 100 pieces or less, along with bigger 500, 1000 and more piece masterpieces.
Rosalind’s Puzzle Library is now ready and waiting for all puzzlers
alike to visit at 23 Ashdown Drive, Port Macquarie.
There are few rules associated with its use.
1) If you take a puzzle, you must leave one behind in its place, or bring it back when you’re done.
2) If you find that a piece is missing, let the next person know by writing it down on the box.
3) All good condition donations are welcome.
All in the name of happy puzzling!
Vanderveer Paul Herman 10/2/1934 - 15/9/2025
Loving Husband of Marion Beloved father of Stefanie and Celeste and father-in-law to Bob
Devoted Poppy of Rachel, Manon, Cooper, Imogen and Rory Forever in our hearts. Privately cremated.
CONNELL Graham
14.10.1946 - 22.09.2025
Loving Husband to Anne Father to Nigel and Richard Grandad to Aaron and Bailey
Graham’s funeral will be held Wednesday 1st October at 11am
At Hastings District Funerals Chapel 118 Gordon Street, Port Macquarie
Are you troubled by someone’s drinking?
Al-Anon could be for you. We are a fellowship of families and friends of people with an alcohol problem. The Port Macquarie meeting is now located at Salvation Army 110 Lord Street Port Macquarie. Thursdays 5-6.30 PM. Website: al-anon.org.au 1300 252 666
& Chip business Port Macquarie / Hastings region Great opportunity loyal following, huge growth potential POA 0434 557 456
Free
POWDER coated bunk beds double bottom single top with ladder no mattress. 0429
6x4 box trailer, VGC new tyres, bearings lights. Rego to March ‘26 N19489. $500. Ph 0417 663 219
8 small Vintage toy cars, Dismy, Lesney matchbox, some in original boxes. $80 the lot 6585 7393 F250725
BBQ / firepit / spit manual spit, pig or lamb very heavy steel, home made project (deceased) wood burning, needs assembly, weather proof lid, tray measure 1100L 760W, 300D, 1200H on wheels needs 3-4 people to lift. $300. 6582 5885. e260925
BEATRIX Potter figurines. Mr & Mrs Puddleduck & Foxy
Whiskered Gentleman $85 each 0401 226 410 f150825
FRIDGE/FREEZER
FARM Animal Husbandry Tools inc Calf puller chains, ID Tagger Pliers Castration & injection Tools. $95 the lot. Ph 6585 7393
TOY, Coco Gorilla with tags, collectors item $100 6584 4954
3.65m Island inflatable tender with 15hp Parson (only 8–9hrs use). Near new, fully kitted (oars PFDs, pump, anchor 20L tank, etc), wooden floor, rego & warranty Runs great. AMM446N
$2,900 ono 0490 778 691
CHAISE warm taupe suede 5’.5”(165cm) x 3’.5”(103cm), brand new pick up only $99 Ph 0401 326 685 F290825
CHEST Freezer
Kelvinator, white, 150L discontinued model, GC $100. 0400 779 531
GOLF balls, brand new, boxed $4 each unboxed $3 each 0401 031 833
GOLF buggy, chrome with pneumatic tyres & ball-bearing wheels $70. 0448 820 843
GOLF clubs, Titleist left handed. 4 iron to wedge $80 0448 820 843
VASES, Royal Albert 1692 bone china 13cm H $50 for pair. Photos available. 02 6585 1564
COLLETTE Dinnigan Tortoiseshell Sunglasses New. Unwanted Gift. $80 Pick up Crescent Head 0425 322 890
AXES x2 both excellent cond. with leather blade covers. $50 each 0401 226 410 For Sale
mixer electric, works well. $325 0438 370 123
CORELLE baking dish, large, pink flowers decorated, $40 6584 4954
MILENCO Power
900L Digital Caravan / Boat TV Antenna. New RRP $214, sell $100 pick up Crescent Head 0425 322 890 F190925
MOBILITY walker Lightweight & foldable Indoor use. Exc con RRP: $600. Sell for $80. Ph 0458 659 427
DOLL, pedigree first walker, $100 6584 4954 F220825
PAW Patrol couch bed, good condition $30. 02 6585 1564.
0418 214 394 f190925 1999 Holden Jackaroo SE, Silver, 182,500kms one owner, good cond full service record, 3 months rego. $7,000 ono. DO93QY. Ph Tony 0407 431 902e260925 Motors
DONEGAL Parian China Claddagh Design 1 mug, 2 vases. $10 each. 0447 445 319
WANDERER Reclining Mesh Lounger. Max weight 140kg. New Unwanted Gifts. BCF RRP$159.95. 2 available $100 each, must sell as a pair. Pick up South Kempsey. 0425 322 890
2009 Princeton 653 xc upgrade (16” wheels & dust proofing, easy- tow independent suspension; full annex as pictured, Queen bed with storage under, fully equipped kitchen inc oven & microwave, full ensuite separate shower and toilet; portable solar panel All metal frame; tare 2158, ATM 2640, full service history last being 04/25. 4 new tyres, spare bits. $35,000
SOLID built king dbl bed with mattress barely used from spare room deceased estate. $100 0429 911 952 F220825
Haier, 2 door, white VGC $80. 0437 502 157F160525 2019 New Age Mantra Ray 19ER Caravan
SATURDAY
HEALTHY,
SEVEN, 7pm
New host Chrissie Swan (pictured) could not be more excited to be bringing this lifestyle staple back to viewers after almost three decades off-air, gushing: “When I got the call, it took me all of five seconds to say yes!” An avid fan of the series that launched the TV careers of Iain Hewitson, Tonia Todman and Ross Greenwood in the ’90s, Swan is leading a fresh team of presenters who will share their expertise in style, food, home, money, health and travel. It’s a happy homecoming for this beloved format.
FRIDAY,
6.00 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) Hosted by Adam Hills.
6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 Gardening Australia.
8.30 Professor T. (Ma) Professor T helps the police find out who left a woman badly burned and in a coma.
9.15 Hard Quiz. (PGs, R) Presented by Tom Gleeson.
9.50 Mother And Son. (PGdl, R) Maggie falls for an activities director on a holiday.
10.35 The Assembly. (PG, R)
11.20 Silent Witness. (Mal, R)
12.20 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv)
5.00 Rage. (PG)
ABC TV, 9.10pm
When this greed-driven family melodrama premiered six weeks ago, we mentioned that making a chart to keep track of the extended Wright clan would be wise. At the time, it was tonguein-cheek advice, but as events have unfolded, it’s become almost necessary. Now it’s time to get your notebooks out for tonight’s finale, as the challenge of patriarch Jack’s (Trevor Eve) will reaches the courts and everyone’s darkest secrets are dragged into the open. Nikki Amuka-Bird (pictured) delivers a powerhouse performance as Sally, Jack’s third wife and widow, who’s fighting on multiple fronts at once.
Exactly what it says on the tin, this Canadian series is set in a seemingly idyllic town that has more than its fair share of mysteries to solve. Yes, it’s familiar territory, but you get a sense that this version is slightly self-aware. Detective Karl Alberg (played by Rossif Sutherland, son of late acting great Donald) moved to Gibsons, British Columbia, for a quiet life, but that’s further away than ever. Season two saddles the sleuth with an increased caseload, and new complications in his relationship with Cassandra (Kristin Kreuk, above, with Sutherland) as she runs for local council.
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.35 Amazing Railway Adventures With Nick Knowles. (PGal, R)
8.25 Living Black. (R)
9.25 Lost Treasures Of Egypt. (PG)
10.25 SBS World News Late.
10.55 Catch Me A Killer. (Malv)
11.50 Pray For Blood. (MA15+av, R)
1.30 The U.S. And The Holocaust. (Mav, R)
3.45 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. (R)
4.45 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (PGa, R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. Hosted by Johanna Griggs.
8.30 MOVIE: Jerry Maguire. (1996, Mls, R) A sports agent has a moral epiphany which costs him his job and his fiancée. He resolves to rebuild his career with the one athlete who stayed loyal to him and a colleague who believed in him. Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr, Renée Zellweger.
11.30 GetOn Extra.
12.00 The Front Bar. (Ml, R)
2.00 The Agenda Setters. (R)
3.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R)
5.00 NBC Today.
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 Rugby League. NRL. First preliminary final. Melbourne Storm v Cronulla Sharks.
9.45 NRL Finals Post-Match. A post-match NRL wrap-up of the first preliminary final, with expert analysis and player interviews. 10.45 Craig Bellamy: Inside The Storm. (Ml) Profiles NRL coach Craig Bellamy.
12.40 Tipping Point. (PG, R)
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)
4.30 Global Shop. (R)
5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
Postcards. (PG)
Australia Junior. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Good Game Spawn Point. 7.55 Teen Titans Go! 8.05 Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! 8.25 BTN Newsbreak. 8.30 MythBusters “There’s Your Problem!”. 8.55 Robot Wars. 9.55 Merlin. 10.40 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Children’s Programs. 9.00 Nanny. 9.30 Addams Family. 10.00 Bewitched. 10.30 Jeannie. 11.00 The West Wing. Noon My Way. 12.15 MOVIE: Infamously In Love. (2022, PG) 2.00 Golden Girls. 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 Jeannie.
Football. AFL Women’s. Round 7. Western Bulldogs v Collingwood. 9.15 MOVIE: 2012. (2009, M) 12.25am Late Programs.
10 News+. 7.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R) 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. (R) A Greek couple look for a fresh start. 8.40 The Brighter Side. Jordy
6.00 Australian Story: Only Fifteen – Sarah Kopp. (R)
6.30 Back Roads: Tambo, Queensland. (PG, R) Guest presenter Tom Forrest heads to Tambo.
7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day.
7.30 Beyond Paradise. (PG, R) Humphrey investigates an inexplicable crime.
8.30 Beyond Paradise Christmas Special. (PG) A burglar breaks into four homes.
9.30 Mystery Road: Origin. (Ml, R) Jay’s hopes of a new beginning are shattered. 10.30 I, Jack Wright. (Mal, R) 11.15 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
6am Children’s Programs. 10.10 Tiddler. 10.35 Children’s Programs. 6.20pm Bluey. 6.30 Paddington. 6.45 Steve And Aneeshwar Go Wild. 6.50 Andy And The Band. 7.05 Do Not Watch This Show. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Teenage Boss: Next Level. (Final) 8.00 Kids BBQ Championship. 8.40 Chopped Junior. 9.20 Fresh Off The Boat. 10.05 Abbott Elementary. 10.25 Late Programs.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Orient Express: A Golden Era Of Travel. (Premiere, PGa)
8.25 75 Years At Longleat. (Premiere) Looks at Longleat house and safari park.
9.20 Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy: Liguria. (PGas, R)
10.10 Great Australian Walks. (R)
11.05 Homicide: Life On The Street. (Mav, R)
2.25 Secret Nazi Bases. (PG, R)
4.05 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. (R)
4.35 Bamay. (R) 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
SBS MOVIES (32)
6am Morning
Programs. 7.15 A Hard Day’s Night. (1964, PG) 8.50 Sunflower. (1970, PG, Italian) 10.50 White Tiger. (2012, M, Russian) 12.50pm Nostalgia. (2022, M, Italian) 2.55 Clockwatchers. (1997, PG) 4.40 Whina. (2022, PG, Maori) 6.40 Bring It On. (2000, PG) 8.30 Moonstruck. (1987, PG) 10.25 The Book Of Delights. (2020, MA15+, Portuguese) 12.20am Late Programs.
6.00 Pilgrimage: The Road Through The Alps. (Return, PG)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 The Assembly. (PG)
8.15 Mystery Road: Origin. (Mal) Jay’s brother Sputty is implicated in a murder.
9.10 I, Jack Wright. (Final, Mal) Charges are laid for the murder of Jack Wright.
10.00 Mother And Son. (PGdl, R)
10.25 MOVIE: Embrace. (2016, Mn, R)
11.55 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (M, R)
12.25 Rage. (MA15+dhlnsv)
3.00 Ask The Doctor. (PG, R)
3.30 The Art Of... (PG)
4.00 Gardening Australia. (R)
5.00 Insiders. (R)
6am Children’s Programs. 6pm Octonauts: Above And Beyond. 6.10 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.20 Bluey. 6.30 The Adventures Of Paddington. 6.45 Steve And Aneeshwar Go Wild. 6.50 Andy And The Band. 7.05 Do Not Watch This Show. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 MOVIE: The Boy In The Dress.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Naachtun: The Forgotten Mayan City.
8.35 The Lost Empire Of Palmyra.
10.20 Bombing Brighton: The Plot To Kill Thatcher. (Malv, R) 11.45 Yellow House Afghanistan. (MA15+aw)
1.35 Women Who Rock. (Ml, R)
2.35 Curious Traveller. (R)
4.10 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. (R)
4.40 Bamay. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 Destination Flavour. (R) 5.50 Soccer. FIFA Under 20 World Cup. Group Stage. Match 7. Italy v Australia.
5.20 PBS Washington Week. 5.50 Alone Sweden. 6.40 Abandoned Engineering. 8.30 Sue Perkins’ Big American Road Trip. 9.25 Uncanny. (Premiere) 10.35 Late Programs.
SBS MOVIES (32)
6am The Movie Show. 6.35 Whina. (2022, PG, Maori) 8.35 Bring It On. (2000, PG) 10.25 True Grit. (2010, M) 12.30pm The Code Of Silence. (2022, M, Italian) 2.45 A Hard Day’s Night. (1964, PG) 4.25 Moonstruck. (1987, PG) 6.20 Becoming Jane. (2007, PG) 8.30 Shakespeare In Love. (1998, M) 10.50 Best Sellers. (2021, M) 12.45am Nostalgia. (2022, M, Italian) 2.55 Late Programs.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Healthy, Wealthy & Wise. (Premiere, PG) Presented by Chrissie Swan. 8.00 MOVIE: Die Hard. (1988, Mlv, R) A New York police officer takes on terrorists who have taken over his wife’s Los Angeles office building. Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedelia, Alan Rickman. 10.45 MOVIE: Contraband. (2012, Mdlv, R)
A former smuggler returns to a life of crime. Mark Wahlberg, Ben Foster. 1.00 Riviera. (MA15+adlsv, R) Irina reveals a family secret to Negrescu.
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 It’s Academic. (R) 5.00 House Of Wellness. (PGal, R)
6am Home Shopping. 8.30 Better Homes And Gardens.
6.00 NBN News.
7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 Rugby League. NRL Women’s Premiership. First semi-final. Sydney Roosters v Cronulla Sharks. 9.45 MOVIE: Swordfish. (2001, MA15+lsv, R) 11.45 Next Stop. (PGaw, R)
12.15 My Way. (R) 12.30 Rugby Union. Women’s Rugby World Cup. Final. 3.15 Innovation Nation. (R) 3.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 Global Shop. (R) 5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 5.30 Helping Hands. (PG, R)
6.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) Narrated by Dr Chris Brown. 7.30 Selling Houses Australia. Michelle and Garry wanted to invest in a property. 8.30 Ambulance Australia. (Ma, R) A call comes in for a woman who has fallen off her balcony while trying to retrieve her friend’s cat. 9.30 Gogglebox Australia. (R) TV fanatics open up their living rooms to reveal their reactions to popular and topical TV shows. 10.30 The Gilded Age. (Mav, R) 11.40 FBI: Most Wanted. (MA15+v, R) 12.30 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power.
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6.00 Seven News. 7.00 The Voice. (PGl) 8.40 7NEWS Spotlight. 9.40 7NEWS: The Balibo Five – 50 Years On. Looks back at the killing of five journalists. 10.10 24 Hours In Police Custody: Body In The Grass. (Malv, R)
11.40 Crime Investigation Australia: Most Infamous. (MA15+av, R) 12.55 Miniseries: The Victim. (Mav, R) 2.30 Home Shopping. (R) 3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 NBN News. 7.00 The Block. (PGl)
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(Madlsv, R)
Our State On A Plate.
TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa)
The Garden Gurus. (R)
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6am Children’s Programs. 6pm Octonauts: Above And Beyond. 6.10 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.20 Bluey. 6.30 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Ben And Holly. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Piripenguins. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Operation Ouch! 8.30 BTN Newsbreak. 8.35 Gladiators. (Premiere) 9.35 The Crystal Maze. 10.20 Merlin. 11.10 Late Programs.
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes. (PG)
8.35 Portillo In The Pyrenees. (PGa, R)
9.30 Into South America With Nick Knowles. (PGa, R)
10.20 SBS World News Late.
10.50 Classified. (Final, MA15+v)
11.40 Enemy Of The People. (Mlv, R)
3.00 Curious Traveller. (R)
3.30 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. (R)
4.35 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGa) 7.30 My Kitchen Rules. (PGl) Hosted by Colin Fassnidge and Manu Feildel. 9.05 The Rookie. (Mav) Harper remains suspicious of Liam Glasser as a wildfire erupts, causing chaos in the city. 10.05 Alert: Missing Persons Unit. (Return, M) 11.05 S.W.A.T. (Mav) 12.05 Hooten & The Lady. (Mav)
Travel Oz. (R)
Home Shopping. (R)
NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
7TWO
6.00 NBN News.
A Current Affair.
The Block. (PGl)
100% Footy. (M) Features the latest rugby league news.
6am A Hard
Day’s Night. Continued. (1964, PG) 6.25 The Movie Show. 7.00 Becoming Jane. (2007, PG) 9.10 Whina. (2022, PG, Maori) 11.10 Best Sellers. (2021, M) 1.05pm An Almost Perfect Town. (2016, M, Italian) 2.55 The Movie Show. 3.25 The World’s Fastest Indian. (2005, PG) 5.45 Widows’ Peak. (1994, PG) 7.40 The Tracker. (2002,
4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)
6am Children’s Programs. 5.45pm Kangaroo Beach. 6.00 Octonauts: Above And Beyond. 6.10 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.20 Bluey. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom. 7.00 Supertato. 7.20 Bluey. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Operation
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (PG, R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Great British Railway Journeys.
8.30 Insight.
9.30 Dateline.
10.00 SBS World News Late.
10.30 The Point. (R)
11.30 Spies Of Terror. (Premiere, Mals)
1.40 Billy Connolly: Great American Trail. (Mas, R)
2.30 Curious Traveller. (R)
3.30 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. (R)
4.35 Bamay. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGa) Eden walks down the aisle.
My Kitchen Rules. (PGal) Hosted by Colin Fassnidge and Manu Feildel. 9.00 Murder In A Small Town. (Return, Mav) 10.00
NBC Today.
Sunrise Early News.
Sunrise.
6.00
6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 The People Vs Robodebt. (Mal)
8.30 Secrets Of Flying Scotsman.
9.30 Code Of Silence. (Mls)
10.25 SBS World News Late.
10.55 COBRA. (MA15+av)
11.45 Freezing Embrace. (MA15+av, R)
1.30 Billy Connolly: Great American Trail. (Man, R)
2.25 Curious Traveller. (PG, R)
3.30 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. (R)
4.30 Bamay. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6am Children’s Programs. 6pm Octonauts: Above And Beyond. 6.10 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.20 Bluey. 6.30 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Ben And Holly. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Piripenguins. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Operation Ouch! 8.30 BTN Newsbreak. 8.35 Fresh Off The Boat. 9.15 Wallace And Gromit: A Close Shave. 9.50 Merlin. 10.35 Late Programs.
THURSDAY,
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away. (PGav)
7.30 RFDS. (Return, Ma)
8.30 Off The Grid With Colin And Manu. (PG) Hosted by Colin Fassnidge and Manu Feildel.
9.30 House Of Wellness. (PG)
10.30 Chicago Fire. (Ma)
11.30 Lopez Vs. Lopez. (Return, PG)
12.00 Imposters. (Madlsv, R)
1.00 Travel Oz. (R)
1.30 Harry’s Practice. (R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 NBN News. 7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 The Block. (PGl) 8.45 Clarkson’s Farm. (Ml)
10.05 The Grand Tour. (Ml)
11.30 9News Late.
12.00 Damian Lewis: Spy Wars. (Mv, R)
12.50 Hello SA. (PG)
1.20 Talking Honey. (R)
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
2.30 Global Shop. (R)
TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa)
A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.
The Food That Built The World. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 The Patient. 9.30 MOVIE: Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride. (2005, PG) 11.00 Late Programs.
SBS MOVIES (32)
6am Morning Programs. 8.20 Dancing At Lughnasa. (1998, PG) 10.00 Open The Wall. (2014, German) 11.40 An Angel At My Table. (1990, M) 2.30pm Widows’ Peak. (1994, PG) 4.25 The Band’s Visit. (2007, PG, Arabic) 6.00 The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir. (2018, PG) 7.50 Blow Dry. (2001, M) 9.30 Someday We’ll Tell Each Other Everything. (2023, MA15+, German) Midnight Late Programs.
Restoration Australia. (PG, R) 2.55 Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.25 Grand Designs. (PG, R) 4.10 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
Family. (PG, R)
Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
6am Children’s Programs. 6.20pm Bluey. 6.30 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.50 Ben And Holly. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Piripenguins. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Operation Ouch! 8.30 BTN Newsbreak. 8.35 The Secret Life Of The Zoo. 9.20 Teenage Boss: Next Level. 9.45 The Mysterious Benedict Society. 10.35
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (PG, R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 9/11: One Day In America. (Final, Ma)
8.30 Heston Blumenthal: Life With Bipolar. (Ma)
9.40 Snowpiercer. (Mv)
10.30 SBS World News Late.
11.00 Davos 1917. (Premiere)
11.55 Blue Lights. (Malv, R)
2.10 Billy Connolly: Great American Trail. (Ma, R)
3.00 Curious Traveller. (R)
4.00 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. (R)
5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
(31) VICELAND (31)
6am WorldWatch. 10.00 The Movie Show. Noon WorldWatch. 12.30 Addicted Australia. 1.35 Making Waves: Extraordinary Women. 2.10 History’s Greatest Of All-Time With Peyton Manning. 3.00 Insight. 4.00 News. 4.05 WorldWatch. 6.05 Over The Black Dot.
6.35 Jeopardy! 7.30 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 The Curse Of Oak Island. 10.10 The UnXplained. 11.00 Homicide. 11.50 Late Programs.
SBS MOVIES (32)
6am Morning The Extraordinary Journey Of The Grandpas. (2019, PG, Spanish) 12.30pm The The Movie Show. 2.55 The Grass Harp. 10.25 The Lives Of Others. (2006, MA15+, German) 1am
6am Shopping. 6.30 Escape To The Country. 7.30 Harry’s Practice. 8.00 Million Dollar Minute. 9.00 Animal Rescue. 9.30 NBC Today. Noon My Kitchen Rules. 1.30 Room For Improvement. 2.00 Weekender. 2.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 3.30 Harry’s Practice.
7MATE (64)
Morning Programs. 10.00 Talking W. 10.30 American Resto.
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away. (PGav)
8.30 Jim Jefferies And Friends. (Premiere, MA15+ls) Jim Jefferies reminds Australians of their duty to uphold a certain nationwide practical joke.
9.30 The Amazing Race. (Return, PG) Hosted by Phil Keoghan.
11.00 Gatecrashers. (Premiere)
12.00 Life. (Malsv, R) 1.00 Travel Oz. (PG, R) 1.30 Harry’s Practice. (R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today.
5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 NBN News. 7.00 A Current
7MATE (64)
(34)
Chantelle
Panthers Port Macquarie
The Westport Club
Frankies Cafe
Four Espresso
El Motel Inn
Glasshouse Port Macquarie
Redcross Blood Donation Centre
Collins Booksellers Port Macquarie
Ahdeniz Grill House
Florence Jones
Port AdVenture Cruises
The Hearing Shop
Your Discount Chemist Horton St
Lilys Cafe
Port Pacific Resort
Majestic Cinema
Port Macquarie Hotel Bottle Shop
Port Macquarie Surfing Museum
The Witchy Nook
Colonial Meats
Rock Salt Marina
Seasalt Cafe & Restaurant
Woolworths, Settlement City
Big Boz Cafe
Ken Little’s Fruit & Veg
Foodworks Munster Street
Seniors Centre
Shelly Beach Store
Flynns Beach Pharmacy
Roam Cafe
Flynns Beach Post Office
Home at Roto House
Mercure Centro
Belle Property
Band Wagon Cafe
For Everything Surf & Skate
Ridges Hotel
Ritchies IGA Port Central
Port Macquarie Library
Bels Bakery
Ritchies IGA Gordon Street
Plunketts Terry White Chemmart
Ned Kelly’s Bait & Tackle
Douglas Hanly Moir
Ryan James Podiatry
PCYC Port Macquarie
Port City Bowling Club
Hill Street Store
Spar Clifton
Twenty24
Mid North Coast Dental Centre
John Oxley Motors
Patrick Auto Group
Belly Bombers
Aldi Port Macquarie
Billabong Zoo
Group Therapy Cafe
Ritchies IGA Sovereign Hills
Douglas Hanly Moir
Coastal Realty & Strata
By Rachael THORPE
A CREW of Port Macquarie and Camden Haven representatives took the field for the NSW Over 37s Ladies in the Oztag State of Origin series played in Coffs Harbour from 19-20 September.
Held annually, the State of Origin sees Queensland teams throw down against New South Wales across a variety of age and gender divisions.
While Mandy McKinnon, Natalie West and Raquel Lievore had competed in State of Origin previously, it was a debut for Rachael Ackroyd, Shanene Matthews and Jade Ackroyd. McKinnon filled the role of captain for the NSW Over 37s ladies for the second year running.
Under her leadership the team won three of their four games, being named State of Origin Champions for 2025.
Lake Cathie local Natalie West was named Players’ Player, as well as MVP for the
CONTINUED Page 10
Wauchope Newsagency
Infinity Fuels Wauchope
Bennett Steel
Wauchope IGA
Mid North Coast EaTs
Anatolian Breeze
Charlie’s Takeaway
Port Landscape and Nursery
U3A Port Macquarie
Ruins Way Cafe
Port Macquarie Golf Club
Tacking Point Tavern
Lighthouse Beach Your Discount Chemist
Coles Lighthouse Beach
Emerald Downs Golf Course
Lighthouse Beach Post Office
Telegraph Point Service Station
Telegraph Point Sports & Recreation Club
Ricardoes Tomatoes
Riverview Tavern
