Port Stephens News Of The Area 23 JULY 2026

By Andrea FERRARI

Rain fails to deter NAIDOC parade turn-out

By Nico LOMBARDO

EVEN after the official end of NAIDOC Week

2026, the Nelson Bay community gathered in uncertain weather to celebrate 50 years of Deadly.

The Nelson Bay NAIDOC marching parade, which had been delayed until 16 July, was once again threatened by rain, necessitating the

postponement of many of the activities that were planned.

Yet, despite the risk of getting wet and fears that the march might not get the biggest turnout, community members young and old gathered in the Nelson Bay Bowling Club Carpark to begin their parade through the streets of the town.

The decision to postpone the event had been a difficult one, but the turnout on 16 July proved that it was the right call to make.

“We don’t need to wait for NAIDOC to come together as one,” said Andrew Smith, CEO of the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council.

Participants in the march were gifted with Worimi Conservation Lands hoodies, visibly bringing them together while also helping against the cold weather.

“When you march today, with your beautiful blue jackets on, you just feel like one community,” said Mr Smith.

Children had an important role to play in the celebrations, carrying the banner and being involved first-hand in cultural activities and the Welcome to Country.

Aunty Sheryl Hendry said that the participation of the new generations is what events “are all about,” and

that community involvement in Nelson Bay has come a long way.

“Going back 20 years ago, we never had anything like that here, you had to go into Newcastle, and the march [was] rain, hail or shine. The participation is great today,” Aunty Sheryl said.

The rides and arts and crafts events that were planned to follow the march have been postponed until September, but their absence did not take away from the spirit of the day.

“Personally, I reckon you don’t need the rides and all that sort of stuff, it’s about people being together,” Aunty Sheryl said

or contact us on 4988 0255.

ADDRESS DA NO. PROPOSAL

8A Abundance Rd 16-2026-403-1 Secondary dwelling (extension to approved detached shed) 10 Turnberry Lane 16-2026-380-1 Awning 28 Brocklesby Rd 16-2026-377-1 Detached dual occupancy

16A Fairlands Rd 16-2024-630-3 S4.55(1) Modification to dual occupancy, pool and shed – amend shed design

56A Kula Rd

APPLICANT:

INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL

ASSESSING

Boost for battle against brain cancer

By Nico LOMBARDO

FUNDS raised in the latest edition of the Port Stephens Car Show will make all the difference in the fight against brain cancer.

While brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children and adults under 40 in Australia, funding in the field remains shockingly lacking.

According to Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Experimental Therapeutics Stream Leader at the Mark Hughes Foundation (MHF) Centre for Brain Cancer Research, every dollar is crucial to fight back against the disease.

“Brain cancer is a rare cancer, so [funding] hasn’t been prominent to the level of other cancers,” Professor Tooney said.

“There are efforts across the country from all the researchers, foundations and supporters to try and lobby the government to get more funding.”

The MHF was funded in 2014 with the goal of contributing vital research, raising awareness and, ultimately, finding a cure.

The Port Stephens Car Show was proud to support the MHF through fundraising events, including the Tennis Ball Run raffle and beanie sales. Professor Tooney, who volunteered on the day selling the iconic MHF beanies alongside his team, was floored by the community support received.

Even just a couple hundred dollars, he explained, could help buy lab consumables to keep an

Port Stephens drug bust

By Eve NESMITH

A 59-year-old woman has been charged following an investigation into an alleged $3 million drug manufacturing and supply syndicate operating in the Port Stephens area.

Michele Annette Wilder remains in custody after being refused bail on Saturday,18 July and will appear in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday, September 9.

On 25 June, detectives executed search warrants at Salamander Bay and Boat Harbour, where they seized 64 kilograms of prohibited drugs with an estimated street value of $2.66 million.

Investigators also located chemical containers and liquids that police allege were being used in a clandestine drug laboratory.

Two men were arrested and charged following those raids and remain before the courts.

Following further inquiries, detectives arrested Wilder at East Maitland about 10am on Friday, 17 July.

With assistance from the Raptor Squad, detectives then executed a search warrant at a home in Aberglassyn.

During the search, police allegedly seized 42 grams of methylamphetamine and $1,750 in cash.

The woman was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with taking part in the manufacture of a prohibited drug greater than a large commercial quantity.

She was also charged with supplying a prohibited drug greater than an indictable quantity and less than a commercial quantity.

In addition, police charged her with knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Police will allege in court that the woman played a role in sourcing the glassware and chemicals used in the alleged clandestine laboratory.

The investigation came under the jurisdiction of Strike Force Korpisalo, which was established by the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad Cannabis Chemical Diversion Team in March 2026.

The strike force is investigating the alleged illegal supply and misuse of chemicals and laboratory equipment used to manufacture prohibited drugs.

The woman's arrest follows months of inquiries by detectives working on the investigation.

Police allege the syndicate was operating in the Port Stephens region and involved the manufacture and supply of illicit drugs.

Investigations under Strike Force Korpisalo continue.

experiment running for a month, and the event itself raised close to $30,000.

“That amount of money would allow one of our young researchers to run a project testing new drugs for brain cancer,” he said.

"The support from the Port Stephens Car Show is absolutely incredible. Every dollar that somebody donates is another step closer to us finding better treatments, better outcomes, and hopefully one day a cure for brain cancer.”

Professor Tooney also said that the Car Show has been an amazing opportunity for him to give back to the community, thank them for their support and share the exciting research that is being undertaken.

Elusive native caught on feral cat camera

By Jacie WHITFIELD

A BRUSH-tailed phascogale has been captured on motionsensing cameras in Myall Lakes National Park 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 motion-sensing cameras were deployed to monitor feral cats, we were excited to capture a brushtailed phascogale on camera.

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

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

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

“Phascogales are elusive, tree-dwelling animals that

dark eyes, the phascogale are perfectly adapted for their nocturnal, tree-dwelling lifestyle. Photo: Supplied.

are mostly active at night, making them difficult to detect.

"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 brush-tailed 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.

Jacie WHITFIELD 0411 556 079 jacie@newsofthearea.com.au

Althea GUINSBERG 0420 209 441 althea@newsofthearea.com.au

Chris KARAS 0400 819 153 chris@newsofthearea.com.au

Nico LOMBARDO 0416 041 029 nico@newsofthearea.com.au

Ruby van de WIJGAAT 0476 240 824 ruby@newsofthearea.com.au

Eve NESMITH 0494 613 397 editor@newsofthearea.com.au

EDITOR

NEWS: media@newsofthearea.com.au

ADVERTISING: ads@newsofthearea.com.au

FLIPBOOK ONLINE: www.newsofthearea.com.au

SOCIAL: facebook.com/myallNOTA

POST: PO Box 1000, Raymond Terrace NSW 2324

Region’s beauty in the frame during local competition

By Nico LOMBARDO

ENTRIES are open for the Port Stephens in Print 2026 competition, which will give local photographers the opportunity to showcase their take on the unique beauty of the region.

Organised by Lion Studios, Port Stephens in Print (which has now reached its third edition) is open to anyone, regardless of age, skill level and equipment.

Its aim is to immortalise the stories, landscapes and people that make Port Stephens a special place.

“From the beginning, the idea was simple,” said Kim, from Lion Studiosd.

“Take the beautiful images being shared online and give them a chance to be seen in print.”

Aspiring entrants have until 28 July to submit their pictures, and as long as they’re taken within the Port Stephens local government area, anything goes.

There’s room for landscapes, wildlife, street photography, even pictures of community events or abstract pieces.

Photographers under 18 are particularly encouraged to participate as part of an effort to cultivate and celebrate the region’s talents.

"Port Stephens in Print is about celebrating our region through local eyes while creating an exhibition that inspires both photographers and the wider community," said Kim, from

Lion Studios.

Entries to the competition will be judged by a panel of three experts, including established Australian photographer Peter Masters, previous competition winner Colin Sheringam, and Lianne Manley.

Winners in each of the categories will receive the chance to have their work exhibited for 12 months, as well as professional representation and consultation to promote their career.

However, Port Stephens in Print is about much more than winning.

Every single accepted entry will also be printed and showcased in an exhibition held at Soldiers Point Bowling Club, starting on Friday 31 July and continuing across the weekend, where the community will be invited to vote for their favourite image and meet the local artists behind the shots.

"Photography has an incredible way of connecting people," Kim said.

Positive changes to end-of life care options at home

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.

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.

New editor for News Of The Area newspaper group

FROM Page 1

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.

“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.

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

“And C is credibility - speak 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 self-contained 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 grandsons - Clinton 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.”

Human whale at Fingal Bay

By Althea GUINSBERG

THE whale migration is happening right on our doorstep, and the Port Stephens community marked the occasion in a memorable way last Sunday,19 July, by coming together to form one large human whale on Fingal Bay Beach.

The event has been running since 2010 and is organised by Sean Andrews, from Moonshadow–TQC Cruises, and Frank Future, from Imagine Cruises.

“The introduction of whale watching here was pioneered by us in NSW, and the human whale is our way of saying thank you to the

whales for keeping us all in business during winter,” Mr Future said.

“It all started at Shoal Bay, and as it grew each year with more community involvement and local businesses getting involved in the formation,” Mr Andrews added.

“It moved to Fingal Bay and it has now become an annual community and family event.”

Around 40,000 whales pass the Port Stephens coastline between May and November as part of their yearly migration. said.

Whale watching helps bring tourists to the region during the cooler winter months, and Port Stephens is well known as a place to

see whales in their natural habitat.

The event also raises awareness of the challenges whales face.

“Whaling is still happening, and some countries are removing krill from the Southern ocean, a vital food source for whales and many other marine species.,” Mr Future told News Of The Area.

“Events like this help highlight those threats.

“We are hoping to have 1,200 people this year. Last year we had 1164, and many locals enjoyed seeing the final footage of the whale formation captured by drone,” Mr Andrews said.

Mambo-Wanda Wetlands Conservation Group want long-term guarantees

FROM Page 1

Mambo-Wanda Wetlands Conservation Group is concerned about the lack of long-term guarantees for the future of the area.

During the Council meeting on 25 August 2026, PSC will discuss an updated footprint for the site at 155 Salamander Bay; if endorsed, development applications will proceed.

PSC also intends to keep pursuing Expressions of Interest for a premier medical facility at 10 Central Avenue; the extent of development at the location, situated over 120 metres away from the wetlands, is not yet known.

In a previous meeting, the Mambo-Wanda Wetlands Conservation Group unsuccessfully requested PSC to stop these developments until matters about land classification and a revised Town Centre Place Plan had been properly discussed.

“It’s alright for Council to now say ‘We won’t allow anyone to build in the buffer zone,’” said Kathy Brown, Secretary of the Mambo-Wanda Wetlands Conservation Group.

“But unless they change the zoning of it to [add] some environmental protection over it, in five or 10 years’ time the same thing is going to happen.”

The Conservation Group objected to leaving sensitive environmental matters

“to the free market”, and stated that PSC lacks a clear vision on the future for the Salamander Bay Town Centre, not even providing clarity on where it is meant to be located.

A PSC spokesperson stated that future developments would be conducted in accordance with environmental principles while balancing the housing, services and infrastructure needed for the community.

“Proceeds from future development will help

fund local infrastructure improvements that directly affect the daily lives of local residents and visitors, such as road and intersection upgrades and new

pathways,” they said.

“Funds will also support enhancements to the Mambo Wetlands, particularly ecological studies, and an update to

the Mambo Wetlands Plan of Management.” PSC also stated that the revised footprint, which increases environmental conservation by 66.4 per

cent, demonstrates their willingness to listen to the community.

Dead newborn humpback to be tested for 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

Vintage celebration supports students in need

By Sis HIGGINS

MYALL River VIEW Club

celebrated its 29th birthday in vintage style on 10 July, raising more than $1,300 to support disadvantaged students through The Smith Family's Learning for Life program.

More than 80 members, visitors and guests attended the vintage-themed luncheon at the RSL LifeCare Grange Club House.

Guests travelled from other VIEW Clubs and local organisations, embracing the theme by dressing in vintage clothing while enjoying displays of photographs and memorabilia from years gone by.

Hunter and Mid North Coast National Councillor Robin Bosch officially opened the event and highlighted the impact VIEW volunteers continue to make across Australia.

"There are currently more than 13,000 VIEW members across Australia in nearly 280 clubs," Ms Bosch said.

"Last year, VIEW Clubs raised more than $1.6 million Australia-wide, including more than $100,000 raised by 16 VIEW Clubs in our local area to support 104 Learning for Life students through programs run by The Smith Family."

Guest speaker Lara Waters, principal of a small rural school southwest of Toowoomba, shared stories of resilience, hardship and hope.

Reflecting on a life that included living in 46 homes across four states and two countries, she described life as "magical and an adventure" and encouraged people to recognise the positive difference they could make through their choices.

Ms Waters also spoke about how her school's 22 students used craft skills to raise more than $300, which they donated to the Toowoomba VIEW Club to help educate disadvantaged Australian children.

Funds raised from the luncheon will support the 10 Learning for Life students sponsored by Myall River VIEW Club, who range in age from six to 18 and live in communities across Australia.

The volunteer organisation continues to support The Smith Family through fundraising, advocacy and community service, helping improve educational opportunities for young Australians.

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. 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.

Marlins outclass Magpies in AFL Hunter Central Coast Senior Mens Cup

By Chris KARAS

NELSON Bay Marlins firstgrade men's AFL team has confirmed its finals credentials with another dominant victory in the Hunter Central Coast Black Diamond Senior Men's Cup.

The rejuvenated Marlins remain entrenched in the top four after slamming Wyong Lakes Magpies 107-53 last Saturday at the Central Coast Regional Sporting Complex.

Skilful forwards Billy Barton, Mitchell Hall and Wayd Blackburne all booted three goals in Nelson Bay’s comprehensive 54-point triumph.

In a slick wet-weather performance, the Marlins posted a total of 14 goals with Tom Warren (2), Sean

McGrath, Mackenzie Nelson and Harry Gordon also snaring six-pointers.

Best-on-ground for the talented Nelson Bay lineup were Hall, Gordon, Louis Dews, Nikolas Ellis-Brody, Jayden Baldwin-Rymer and Lachlan Blyth.

The Marlins held a slim 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter but trailed 28-26 at the half-time break after the Magpies booted three goals to two in the second period.

Nelson Bay regained their ascendency with four goals in the third term to lead 56-47 before finishing strongly with a seven-goal burst in the final quarter to secure their sixth win of the season.

Wyong Lakes were best served by Nathan Doyle, Kai McIntosh-Walsh, Lachlan

Smoking rates fall as Tackling Tobacco changes take effect

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 remained committed to delivering culturally safe, community-led programs that supported healthier futures.

$1 million boost backs NSW innovators

STARTUPS and small businesses across New South Wales have secured more than $1 million in funding to help turn innovative ideas into commercial success under the second round of the 2025-26 MVP Ventures Program.

The NSW Government announced funding for 22 businesses developing solutions in housing, clean energy, advanced manufacturing and health, with the aim of creating jobs, attracting investment and boosting productivity across the state.

The program helps businesses move beyond the prototype stage, bridging the gap between research and commercialisation so new products and technologies

can reach the market faster.

Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology

Anoulack Chanthivong said the projects demonstrated the strength of innovation across NSW.

“From housing and clean energy to advanced manufacturing and health technologies, NSW innovators are developing practical solutions to some of our biggest challenges,” Mr Chanthivong said.

Mr Chanthivong said around half the funding would support womenowned businesses, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-owned businesses and founders in regional NSW.

Among the successful recipients is 14modular, which is developing modular housing designed

to deliver quality homes faster and at a lower cost.

Aquacultr Group received funding to commercialise ultrasonic technology aimed at improving fish welfare and productivity in aquaculture, while EClass Outboards is developing an electric conversion kit for petrolpowered jet skis to reduce marine emissions.

Medical technology company DermR Health will use its grant to advance a less invasive skin cancer diagnostic test towards commercial readiness.

Applications for the third round of the MVP Ventures Program are currently being assessed, with successful recipients expected to be announced later this year.

Golf, Giving and New Gear

HAWKS Nest Golf Club is gearing up for a busy August, with a charity golf day and a series of professional club fitting events set to attract members and visitors alike.

The club's Colour for Cause Charity Golf Day will bring golfers together for a day of fundraising and community spirit.

Participants are encouraged to wear the colours of a charity close to

their heart, while members can also Host a Hole, decorating it and running games or challenges to raise funds for their chosen cause.

This year's featured charity is the Blue Tree Project, which promotes mental health awareness and encourages conversations around wellbeing.

An auction will also be held in the clubhouse following play, with proceeds

supporting the day's fundraising efforts.

Golfers looking to upgrade their equipment can also take advantage of three upcoming fitting days, offering the chance to trial the latest clubs with professional guidance.

Fitting days include Titleist on 7 August, TaylorMade on 14 August and Callaway on 17 August.

For more information about upcoming events or to book a fitting session, contact the Hawks Nest Golf Club Pro Shop on 4997 0740 or visit the club's website.

Step

Separate

Private Nature Retreat Vibes

sea breezes and provide the ideal space for entertaining or simply unwinding in peaceful surrounds.

Additional features include:

• Renovated throughout to a high standard

ENJOY relaxed, coastal living in this beautifully renovated apartment overlooking the fairway at Horizons Golf Resort.

Finished to a high standard and ready for you to move straight in, this stylish residence combines comfort, convenience and a stunning golf course outlook.

Featuring two generous bedrooms and two modern bathrooms, the apartment offers a spacious open-plan design with all living areas flowing seamlessly towards the picturesque fairway views.

Step outside to the covered north-facing verandah, perfectly positioned to capture cooling

• Open-plan living and dining areas with golf course views

• Covered north-facing verandah

• Dedicated car space

• Easy walk to the clubhouse

• Short drive to local shopping centres and the Nelson Bay CBD

• Close to beaches, bowling clubs and boating facilities

Surrounded by nature, you’ll love watching kangaroos grazing and relaxing right outside your apartment, creating a unique lifestyle that feels more like a private nature retreat than a resort complex.

Move straight in and start

everything this sought-after location has to offer.

From the Mayor's desk

By Leah ANDERSON Port Stephens Council

A greener future for Port Stephens

RECYCLING paper, bottles and cans in the yellow bin is already a routine for many of us. Now, the next step for our community is to improve what we do with our food waste, which is a major issue for our environment.

When leftovers and kitchen scraps get thrown into the red bin, they end up buried deep underground at the tip. They can’t break down naturally and we miss an opportunity to turn them into something useful.

From July 2027, Port Stephens Council is upgrading our waste services to FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics) in partnership with the City of Newcastle. This means your food scraps will go straight into your green bin alongside your garden waste.

Because your green bin will now hold food scraps, we will increase how often it is picked up. Your bin will change to a weekly collection so food scraps aren’t stored in our bins for long.

This change is happening because of the NSW Government requirement for all councils to halve food waste in landfill by 2030. But it is also just the next exciting upgrade in how we recycle. It means we have the potential to save 950,000 tonnes of organic waste each year across the state. That is the same weight as over 24,000 humpback whales migrating along our coast!

The environmental benefits of keeping food waste out of the tip are huge. Instead of letting food waste sit in landfill, your old scraps will be recycled into nutrient-rich compost.

Our air will be cleaner and the soil will be used in a variety of helpful ways, such as in our local parks and to help farmers grow fresh new crops.

While the green bin will be collected every week, the future collection schedule for your general waste bin is still being decided.

It is important to get this collection schedule right. That’s why we need your input.

We want to hear from you –whether you live in a house, unit or any other dwelling. Your feedback will guide our Councillors when they make the decision on bin collection schedules at the September Council Meeting.

I encourage you to learn more and take our quick Waste Services Survey on the Have Your Say website before 4 August 2026. Together, we can turn our everyday waste into a reusable resource for Port Stephens.

OPINION & LETTERS

Dorin's Drawings

By Paul DORIN

Verse of the week

By Lynne MILES

How do you hide an oil tanker?

By John BLACKBOURN

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 oil-carrying 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.

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 Being walked down the aisle. What a strange tradition.

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

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

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

Carpe diem, Jasminda.

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?

Country Music Fundraising Weekend

DEAR News Of The Area, THE Coopernook and Lansdowne Forest History (CALF) Group, in conjunction with the Mid North Coast Country Music Association, will present their annual Country Music Fundraising Weekend at Forest Headquarters in Coopernook State Forest (Forest Road Coopernook) on 8 and 9 August.

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

A $2 gold coin entry donation would be appreciated and walk -up 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 Road; and Bangalow Road in Coopernook. All will be signposted.

By donation there will be morning tea (cakes, biscuits, slices, sandwiches), BBQ lunches (steak, bacon, sausages, eggs), coffee,tea, and cold drinks.

No alcohol will be sold.

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

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

All monies raised 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, Harrington.

An open letter to our Mayor, Leah Anderson

DEAR News Of The Area,

I'M following up on the train of logic penned by Paul Davies in last week’s Opinion pages (NOTA, 17/7/26).

His concerns related to the perceived tax grab in federal capital gains tax legislation. That's an increased cost on all Australians.

Turning to the State government, it's likely the Premier will also require increased rates and charges at some point as cash cows like stamp duty on real estate come under increasing pressure.

Big-ticket items like housing require confidence in our future and that is clearly under pressure.

Locally, we just paid our annual Port Stephens rates charge of some $2500 and I thought of Leah Anderson's pharaonic plans for a CBD in Medowie and a 500-seat performing arts centre in the Bay.

All this on the back of lowinterest rates that risk rising significantly in the years ahead.

Lord Mayor, now is not the time for grandiose projects with other people's money. History won't thank you for the additional financial stress starting to manifest itself in our community.

Regards, Les Robinson, Nelson Bay.

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 is - where can I catch a fish around Broughton Island?

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

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”

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 north-easterly 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 caughtin 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

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 most-easterly point of the headland where there is an increase in white water activity. Snapper, mulloway and kingfish can all be caught on this

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.

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.

Broughton Island

Historical Cruise with John 'Stinker' Clarke

OUTLETS

Where you can pick up your paper

If your business stocks the paper and you are not listed here, please email us. media@newsofthearea.com.au

Anna Bay Tavern

Anna Bay Bakery

BYO Cellars Anna Bay

Ingenia Holiday Park

Middle Rock Retirement Village

Anna Bay Village

Seawinds Village

Nelson Bay Bowling Club

Nelson Bay Golf Club

Woolworths Nelson Bay

Nelson Bay Newsagent

Nelson Bay Real Estate

Seabreeze Hotel

Port Stephens Visitor Info Centre

Tackleword Port Stephens

Essence Cafe

Dolphin Watch Cafe

West Diggers

Harbourside Haven

Bernie Thompson Village

Shoal Bay Pharmacy

IGA Shoal Bay

John Patterson

Bill King Aged Care

Friendly Grocer Fingal Bay

Fingal Bay Cafe

Regis Aged Care

Corlette Store

Uniting Care

Homestead Village

Sandy Shores

Big4 Soldiers Point

Soldiers Point Bowling Club

Foodworks Salamander Bay

Wanda Beach Pharmacy

Mobil Salamander Bay

Caltex Salamander Bay

Coles Salamander Bay

Natural Tucker

Woolworths Salamander Bay

Horizons Golf Club

Sunrise Lifestyle Resort

Seaham General Store

Opal Aged Care

Red Eye Café Raymond Terrace

Angeez Takeaway Raymond

Terrace

Pet Parlour Raymond Terrace

Terrace Central Plaza Post Office

Newsagent Terrace Central Plaza

Woolworths Terrace Central Plaza

MarketPlace Woolworths

Raymond Terrace Shell

Raymond Terrace Library

Lakeside Newsagent

R&R Property

Foodworks Lakeside

Lakeside Leisure Centre

Muree Golf Club

Saxby's Bakery Salt Ash

Tanilba Bay Nursing Home

Tanilba Bay Retirement Units

Coles Tanilba Bay

Endevour Servo Tanilba Bay

Tanilba Newsagent

Post Office Tanilba Bay

Blue Marine Services

Chemist Lemon Tree

Club Lemon Tree

Tilligerry RSL

Tilligerry Real Estate

Coles Medowie

7-Eleven Medowie

Medowie Newsagent

Medowie Pharmacy

Woolworths Medowie

Medowie Social

Medowie Football Club

BP Servo Medowie

Pacific Dunes Golf Club

Metro Servo (Airport Side)

Metro Servo (Lavis Lane)

Guided play boosts confidence at Medowie Christian School

By Ruby van de WIJGAART

MEDOWIE Christian School is taking a fresh, whole-school approach to student wellbeing that begins not in the classroom but in the playground.

During break times, staff have introduced a structured Supported Play Model that uses guided soccer games to help the youngest students build confidence, emotional regulation and positive peer relationships.

Rather than relying on unstructured play, teachers facilitate the games directly, modelling behaviour, encouraging teamwork and stepping in constructively when challenges arise.

Head of Primary, Mrs Tiia Wright Baker,

said the initiative was proving valuable both socially and emotionally.

The approach reflects a growing shift toward preventative, everyday responses to anxiety in primary schools, embedding wellbeing strategies into ordinary moments before issues escalate.

The model is adapted across age groups so students develop skills gradually.

Kindergarten children begin in a gentle, low-pressure environment where they learn through watching and simple participation.

Year One students focus on enjoyment while practising conflict-resolution and learning how to manage frustration.

By Year Two, students are taking on leadership roles, supporting younger peers

and reinforcing inclusion on the field.

“It is wonderful to have the opportunity for our staff to work closely with these young students to help them develop their love of soccer as well as positive peer relationships,” Mrs Baker said.

Teams are reshuffled each break to broaden social connections, and staff say the games consistently attract strong participation from younger students and girls, helping establish inclusive habits early.

Teachers have already noticed shifts in behaviour, with students increasingly demonstrating empathy, positivity and self-regulation.

Many now pause play independently to check on peers, reset games fairly or encourage others to join in.

q Guided play at Medowie Christian School. Photos: Supplied by the school (MCS).

Major milestone for Knights’ star hooker Olivia Higgins

By Chris KARAS

RAYMOND Terrace golden girl Olivia Higgins has secured her immediate future after inking a oneyear extension with the Newcastle Knights NRL Women's rugby league team.

In a huge boost for the club, the skillful State of Origin and Jillaroos hooker will remain with the Knights until the end of the 2027 season.

The deal was finalised in the lead up to Higgins’ 50th NRLW appearance last Sunday against St George-Illawarra at McDonald Jones Stadium.

She celebrated the major milestone with yet another strong performance for the Knights, who have opened their 2026 campaign on an impressive note.

Newcastle Head Coach Ben Jeffries said Higgins’ leadership and professionalism continued to inspire her teammates and the broader community.

“Olivia has played an integral part in our success at the Knights - her desire to compete and improve every week is a testament to her determination and professionalism,” said Jeffries.

“She has been a dream to coach since day one.

“The best compliment I can give Olivia is the trust she has built with her teammates, coaches and the entire club.

“Having grown up in a rugby league

family, Olivia has natural footy instincts that most others don’t possess. When you combine that with her unique ability to mentor and nurture others, her impact has been significant.”

A deceptive dummy half with clever ball skills, Higgins is a three-time NRLW premiership winner.

She was part of the Roosters’ champion 2021 team before playing a key role in securing back-to-back NRLW premierships for the Knights in 2022 and 2023.

Earlier this year, the 33 year old helped the NSW Sky Blues achieve a 3-0 clean sweep against Queensland in the Women’s State of Origin series.

SUDOKU

TIDE CHART - 7 DAYS

SPORTS Hawks skittle Scorpions 36-20 to stay alive in Denton Cup series

By Chris KARAS

NORTHERN Hawks’ firstgrade rugby league team is still in the race for a finals appearance in the 2026 Newcastle Rugby League Denton Engineering Cup series.

Steve Simpson’s embattled Hawks returned to the winners list with a dominant 36-20 triumph over the Macquarie Scorpions last Saturday at Lyall Peacock Field.

With two rounds to be completed in the regular season, Northern are in eighth spot on 12 competition points with a log jam of clubs vying for finals berths.

Maitland Pickers wrapped up the minor premiership with a hard-fought 10-4 victory over second ranked South Newcastle Lions in their top-of-the-table clash at Townson Oval last weekend.

The all-conquering Pickers lead the competition on 26 points after 14 roundseight clear of the Lions on 18 points.

Third-placed Kurri Kurri Bulldogs (16 points) and fourth-placed Central Newcastle Butcher Boys (14 points) are joined by fifthranked Lakes United Seagulls on 13 points in the top five.

Snapping at their heels are the Western Suburbs Rosellas, The Entrance Tigers and Hawks - all on 12 points with a fighting chance of qualifying.

Spearheaded by dynamic backs Fletcher Myers and Timanu Alexander, the Hawks crossed for seven tries in their 16-point victory over the Scorpions.

Both nabbed try doubles to cap outstanding performances for a revitalised Northern outfit.

Hard-working secondrower Ethan Campbell, centre Kiah Cooper and fiveeighth Ngangarra Barker also registered four-pointers in the Hawks’ crucial win.

Northern fullback Shaq Saunders landed four conversions and turned in a dashing display in the number one jumper.

With forwards Ofahiki Ogden, hooker Taks Kuru, Connor Cromarty, Isaac Chapman, skipper Luke Higgins and the powerful Campbell laying the

foundations the Hawks created scoring chances out wide through halves Barker and playmaker Noah Ryan.

The club’s strong interchange featuring Iobe

Taukeisalili, Cody Hancock, Zach Jones, Lochie Williams and Jarred Williams also made an impact as the Hawks outclassed their Macquarie rivals.

Northern coach Simpson will be looking for a huge effort in the team’s do-or-die battle with South Newcastle on Saturday August 1 at Lakeside Sporting Complex.

State netball runners-up honours for under-12s

By Chris KARAS

A CHARMING picturesque country town in the Hunter region has put itself on the netball sporting map.

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 CanterburyBankstown, 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 under-12s 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 pressure packed 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 Medowie - promising 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 (148), Young (16-4), Grafton (20-9), Casino (16-9), Wollondilly (21-6), Blayney (21-8), Armidale (10-7), Port Stephens (13-3), Forbes (1210), Gunnedah (18-6), Parkes (9-6), Sapphire Coast (15-6), Cowra (22-5), BrunswickByron (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.

Port Stephens Veteran Golfers Association

By Gary WATT

RESULTS from a Stableford competition played at Shortland Waters GC on Monday 13th July with 29 players.

Nett Winner : Jim Gill, 30pts on countback. Nett Runner Up : Jim Asvestas, 30pts. Bonus Point Winner : Warren Deuis, 34pts. Bonus Point Runner Up :

Bronwyn Smith, 30pts.

Nearest the Pin, 2nd Hole :

Division 1 : Frank vanDruten.

Division 2 : No Winner.

Nearest the Pin, 14thHole :

Division 1 : No Winner.

Division 2 : No Winner.

Drive & Chip, 4th Hole : Division 1 : Frank vanDruten.

Division 2 : Noel Sewell.

Drive & Chip, 17th Hole, :

Division 1 : Gary Watt.

Division 2 : Jim Gill.

Ball Winners : Frank

vanDruten 29pts, Robbie Kerehoma 28pts, Matthew Smith 28pts, Barry Leo 28pts, Graham Woolley 28pts, Chris Wood 27pts, Jenny Hale 27pts, Dennis Christie 26pts, Les Moran 26pts, Brian Riddell 25pts, and Ralph Brown 25pts.

Women's win in Joey's Round for infant loss awareness

By Chris KARAS

PORT Stephens Power senior women's AFL team had plenty of motivation when they laced up their boots for action at Medowie’s Ferodale Oval last weekend.

Tim Drough’s rejuvenated charges marked Joey’s Round - in honour of Joseph Potter and all babies born sleeping - by raising awareness and support for Bears of Hope Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support.

The Power women had reason to smile after chalking up back-to-back victories over Terrigal Avoca Panthers in the Hunter Central Coast Black Diamond Senior Women's Plate competition.

In a strong wet weather performance, the talented Port Stephens combination dominated from the outset to record an impressive 2511 win.

Star midfielders Jenny Rojas, Maz Masiero and Molly Goudie led the way for the well-drilled Power team with support from Emma Chester, Jayde Everill and Abigail Carlos.

Port Stephens booted three early goals to lead 18-1 at the first break and were restricted to two behinds as they went to the halftime interval with a 20-1 advantage.

goal for the entire match.

Hampered by the slippery conditions, the Power could only post five behinds in the final two quarters but defended stoutly to only concede one

There was no joy for the Port Stephens men's team, which was humbled 91-28 by the second-placed Singleton Roosters in the Senior Men's Plate series.

It was another courageous

effort by the injury-riddled Power side, which refused to budge against the moreexperienced Singleton outfit.

Scott Nunn (2), Alex Brady and Seth Fowler booted goals for the Port Stephens side, which continues to turn in

brave displays against the competition’s big guns.

None tried harder for the young Power outfit than Jay Jeffery, Jamie Bowens, Alec Steinicke, Adam Fiene, Ben Frith and Ethan Wood.

q Port Stephens Power men's AFL team was courageous in defeat against Singleton Roosters during last Saturday’s Joeys Round at Ferodale Oval in Medowie.

Nelson Bay Gropers storm to 29-22 triumph over Muswellbrook

FROM Page 24

Scott Tristan, who turned in polished performances in both attack and defence.

With a glut of possession from Nelson Bay infringements, the Heelers jumped to an early 10-0 lead with a trademark forwards drive that led to a converted try by number eight Curtis Farrell plus a penalty goal by five eighth Cameron Young.

Riley Byfield replaced injured Irish prop Ciran Murphy and centres Ikinofo and Tristan led the way in a mini Gropers revival with several strong runs and punishing defence.

Muswellbrook capitalised on field position and raced to a 17-0 lead with a try to fullback Logan Copland after another rolling maul.

Classy Nelson Bay halves Jake Langsford and Kade Redmond defied the damp blustery conditions to spin the ball wide to wingers Brayden McMasters and Tom Akbal, who made several long range runs downfield.

With aerial dynamos Sam Rocher, Mitch Workman, Taraq Hall and O’Connell dominating the lineouts with support from back-rower Hayden Wilson, the Gropers began to make inroads.

A yellow card at the 20

Muree Golf Results

By Lee RANKIN

minute mark threatened to slow Nelson Bay's momentum, however, it lifted the team with centre Tristan delivering the tackle of the match to see the ball spill free.

Ever-alert winger Tom Akbal toed the ball through to regather and score under the posts with fullback Liam Pietrasek adding the extras to trail 17-7 at the break.

Nelson Bay coach Rhys Cutbush rallied his team and rolled out fresh legs with hooker Ross Buchan and flanker Zac Summer field taking the field to provide added starch to the forward pack.

Pietrasek drilled low, driving kicks into Heelers territory and bridged the gap to seven points.

Nigel Rice 34

Kenneth Austin 34 Pro Pin Simon Smith 2BBB Dek Collins/ Jason Hartcher 82 Wednesday 15th July. Medley Stableford.

Props Nathan McLeay and Riley Byfield threw everything at the Heelers line but against the run of play Muswellbrook pounced on a dropped ball and rumbled towards the Bay's line, with Farrell nabbing a second try in the corner for a 22-10 lead.

Coach Cutbush responded by injecting prop Jake Affleck and flanker Ollie Edwards, who lifted the tempoenabling the dynamic Ikinofo to burst over for a try out wide.

A revved up Summerfield produced his best match for the Gropers since relocating from Hobart and was in everything as the game took a turn.

Defusing a downfield kick, Pietrasek showed his speed

John P Sullivan 37

and step to evade the cover defence before kicking deep into Muswellbrook territory.

Neat kick chasing by centre Tristan and winger McMasters saw fullback Copland bundled into touch to give the Gropers excellent field position.

Winning the lineout, a strong forwards drive saw inspirational captain Rocher peel off the back of the rolling maul to score under the posts with Pietrasek’s conversion levelling the scores at 22-all.

Edwards, Ikinofo and hooker Buchan combined to drive the ball towards the Heelers line before lock Shane Jarvis tucked the ball under his arm and charged over the line to put the Gropers ahead for the first time in the match.

In difficult conditions, rookie Pietrasek converted from the sideline as the Gropers held on to post a crucial victory.

Muswellbrook hosted a rousing post match presentation with both captains Harry Hobden and Sam Rocher paying tribute to Ladies Day and the sacrifices that their partners and families make. After six weeks on the road, the Gropers return to Bill Strong Oval this Saturday for a showdown with Scone Brumbies from 3.30pm.

The match will also celebrate the current players’ Partners Day and mark veteran hooker and journeyman Ross Buchan’s 150th appearance for the Gropers.

Apoio - Plan Management & Support

Coordination

Area: Port Macquarie based, service Australia wide Ph: 1300 136 999

Email: admin@hunterpodiatry.com.au

Services: Podiatry

Hunter Podiatry Services

Address: 2/3 George Road, Salamander Bay Ph: 1800 693 338

Email: admin@hunterpodiatry.com.au

Services: Podiatry

Wanted to Buy

BED, chrome, 3/4 size 6’ 6” long, good cond $100. Ph 02 4966 2434

For Sale

For Sale

COMMODE chair w/ pan. $25. Pick up Tea Gardens. Ph 0417 404 530

CURTAIN and rod in original packaging. $70 Oslo pencil pleated curtain 270 - 340 x 250cm, colour stone Ph 0417 044 660

CURTAIN rods and tracks plus all fittings. 5 straight rods for windows 118-164cm plus bay window track and rod for 219cm and 5 other tracks. All in good cond $60. Ph 0410 275 495 F110626

Pets for Sale

BUDGIES - 4 budgies in bird cage. $50. 0418 272

ELECTRIC chair, does eveything. 2 seater lounge. Ph 0402 207 519 F080126

BOOTS, leather, ladies made in Canada. EUC $60 4982 8787 F070825

BOOTS, ladies, new size 8 $20 0493 777 707 F150126

DINING table $30. Ph 0429 945 604

DINING table, stainless steel legs. $100. 0493 777 707

. $5. Used working condition Ph 4982 9225

HEDGE trimmer Ryobi, 18v 60cm w/ sweeper. $80. Ph 0408 945 040 F190326

HOMER Simpson Framed Picture, New $100. 0493 777 707F070825

IRON for clothing, brand new, GC. 0493 777 707

KIDS’ clothing, various sizes, great cond, some new. N’born to size 8. $20 Ph 0432 050 619

NAHWAL tusk, make an offer Ph 0493 777 707 F290126

NEW Levi Jeans, size 8, with tags, $30 Ph 0493 777 707

OUTDOOR coffee table new in box. Top black durostone 93 x 93cm Freedom range. 45cm H $55 4981 2713

OUTDOOR setting New, make an offer ph 0493 777 707

For Sale

SIDE Steps x 2, suit 91 Nissan Patrol, with brackets. $80. 0435 580 192 F190226

SINGER hand sewing machines x 2, antique Make an offer. 4982 3495

SNOW chains. Never used. Suit 13-inch wheels. $80. Peter 0419 932 992

SOFA bed vgc double $50 Ph 4982 2335

TIMBER double bed base with 4 drawers underneath. GC. Pick up Medowie. Ph 0466 013 853

WINDSURFING sail in new condition, 9m2 Used 3 times. $90. Peter 0419 932 992 F091025

large tailormade golf wet weather outfit. $50. 4997 0611

WINDSURFING

2 x cane chest of drawers (L) 70cm H x 36cm D x 36cm W, $15. (S) 66cm H x 35cm D x 26cm W $10. 3 drawers each 4982 8787F161025

345 015 SOLD

DOONA, new with valance, new with cushions $100 Ph 0493 777 707

DVDs x 250, exc cond great variety. $100 the lot. 0439 440 112 F050326

Price walkers x 3. $20 each. Ph 0432 050 619 BIKE safety helmets for kids x 3. $20 each Ph 0432 050 619

FOOT Joy Golf Shoes Mens black size 10 worn once as new. $100 Ph 0408 683 670 SOLD

FRIDGE, 4 door with water dispenser, ice maker, spill proof, ex cond, make an offer Ph 0493 777 707 F041225

LADIES ankle boots tan, size 6, BNIB $10. Ph 4982 8628 F110626

Classifieds 4981 8882

LADIES clothes, new size 16-20, 3 bags, make an offer 0493 777 707

LADIES clothes - pants dresses, blousees. Sizes 12-14 new and near new. Make an offer. Ph 0419 409 913

LAMPS large, new worth $600 selling for $100. Ph 0493 777 707

LEATHER coat, mens Made in AU. $95. 0428 287 239

LIFEJACKETS PFD Level 50. Adults $50 Juniors $40. Good used cond. Located in HN. 0493 078 190 F180925

PAINTING of vase & flowers, framed, 4ft x 2.5ft. $100. 0493 777 707

PIANOLA and stool in GC, over 50 player rolls $1,800

PIRATE ship - water activity for children. $80 Ph 0432 050 619

PNEUMATIC tyres x 6 on 10” diameter rims off tandem boat trailer $90. 0419 932 992

PRINTER Cartridges x2 suitable for Brother printers $20.00 for both. 0418 603 286F240425

TOILET seat aid to increase seat height for disabled or eldery. $40 Ph 0427 122 098 F030726

TYRE and rim for wheelbarrow, 10” Pneumatic. $40. 0419 932 992

VHS movies, 100s

QUINTREX Eclipse 3.15m traveller, 4m galvanised trailer, reg S42731, 10” spare wheel water snake 12v motor 2 lifejackets, plus more $2,400. 0407 095 748

2006 Supreme Territory 18ft offroad pop-top w/ full annex,

Ph 0405

0432 050 619 F240925

, suitable for caravan w/extension as new, VGC. $100ono Ph 0402 081 752

RIPSTIK, near new $45 Peter 0419 932 992

COCA-COLA

Memorabilia Collection $95. 0409 863 898

COFFEE table, hand crafted, mahogany $100. 0493 777 707

GLASS turbo oven $20; RUSSELL Hobbs Electric steamer $20 LARGE outdoor table $20. 0432 671 259

MENS top quality leather jacket with detachable liner. Purchased in Turkey, as new, suits 40” chest, dark brown. $99 0419 932 992 F260226

MICROWAVE, Omega chrome & black, GC $100. 0493 777 707

ads@newsofthearea.com.au newsofthearea.com.au

SAND anchor, galv unused. $50. Peter 0419 932 992

590 WALKER - 4 wheel Aspire with tray table Perfect condition. Near new. Ph 0408 431 488 $100

WALT Disney, black & white, 8mm movie ‘The Grocery Boy’ in original box $80. 0416 089 747 F180925

$21,000

WETSUIT, waterproof welded seams, O’Neil 3/2mm, L/S, new cond $80. 0421 286 861

WIGGLES chest of drawers. $60. Ph 0432 050 619

WINDSURFING carbon boom. Chinook. $80 Peter 0419 932 992

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.

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)

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.

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-

Secrets Of The Superagers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 6.00 Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games: Opening Ceremony Continued. 7.00 Sunrise. 9.30 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News

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. (R)

4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)

4.30 Global Shop. (R)

5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

5.30 Postcards. (PG, R)

6.00 10 News+. 6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (R) Hosted by Grant Denyer.

7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG, R) Hosted by Rebecca Gibney. 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. (R) A couple own a home in Brighton. 8.40 Have You Been Paying Attention? (Malns, R) Celebrity panellists compete to see who can remember the most about events of the week. 9.40 10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather. 10.40 The Big Bang Theory. (PG, R) 11.30 10 News+. (R) 12.00 Home Shopping. (R)

6.00

SATURDAY, July 25

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)

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.

SUNDAY, July 26

6.00

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)

VICELAND (31) VICELAND (31) 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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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)

6.30 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.

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.

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.

MOVIES (32) SBS MOVIES (32)

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.

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.

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.

6.30 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock

(64)

MONDAY, July 27

de France. H’lights. 12.00 Cycling. Tour de France. H’lights. 1.10 WorldWatch. 3.00 Going Places. (R) 3.30 The Cook Up. (R) 4.00 Michael Mosley Secrets Of The Superagers. (PG,

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.

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.

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.

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.

9News.

A Current Affair.

Travel Guides. (PGl)

100% Footy. (Mal)

SBS MOVIES (32)

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

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.

(31) VICELAND (31)

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 The Expanse. Midnight While The Men Are Away. 1.10 Dark Side Of The Ring.

SBS MOVIES (32)

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, PG) 2.45 The Terror. (1963) 4.15 All At Sea. (2010, PG) 5.50 I Know Where I’m Going! (1945) 7.30 Resistance. (2020, M) 9.45 A Samurai In Time. (2023, PG, Japanese) 12.15am Darkland. (2017, MA15+, Danish) 2.20 Late Programs.

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.

(64) 7MATE (64)

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.

ABC FAMILY (22)

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,

(2)

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 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)

To Be Advised.

9News Late.

Freddy And The Eighth. (Ml)

Tipping Point. (PG, R) 12.40 Pointless. (PG, R)

3.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 4.00 Poh’s Kitchen On The Road. (R) 4.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

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 Late Programs.

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)

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)

4.55 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6am Morning Programs. 10.00 The Car Club. 10.30 American Resto. 11.00 Storage Wars. 11.30 American Pickers. 12.30pm Pawn Stars. 1.30 Outback Truckers. 3.30 Tougher

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.

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 Room For Improvement. 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 Better Homes. 1.00 Secrets Of Beautiful Gardens. 2.00 Weekender. 2.30 Hornby: A Model Empire.

(32)

6am The Movie Show. 6.30 Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind. (1984, PG) 8.40 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.

6am Morning Programs. 3.30pm

Crucial victory

q Nelson Bay rugby flanker Zac Summerfield charges into the Muswellbrook defence with hooker Ross Buchan and half back Jake Langsford in support during the Gropers’ 29-22 victory at Highbrook Park last weekend.

LUNCH SPECIAL:

Tapas - Italian Style

Available Wednesday to Friday 3 for $33 pp

Choose any three house-made regional specialities from our Italian Favourites Menu and enjoy a delicious midday escape. Perfect for sharing, tasting, and discovering new favourites. • All guests at the table must participate in

Chris KARAS

and move

three points of competition leaders Scone Brumbies (33) and second-placed Singleton Red Bulls (32).

O’Connell was ably supported by strong running centres Marcel Ikinofo and By

CONTINUED Page 17

Wednesday - Friday between 12-1.30pm Saturday & Sunday between 12-4pm

Join us for 90 minutes of top-ups whilst noshing on a grazing board.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

& Sunday 3pm-5pm