Port Stephens News Of The Area 28 MAY 2026

By Jacie WHITFIELD

Maths star Eddie Woo inspires Irrawang High students

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He was also named Australia's Local Hero in 2018 for his contribution to education.

The visit brought together students and teachers from Irrawang High School, partner primary schools, and educators from across the Hunter region, creating opportunities for collaboration, professional learning and the sharing of innovative teaching practices.

Teacher Growth Team trainer Ben McCartney said the day exceeded expectations.

"Eddie has a remarkable ability to connect with

students and help them see mathematics differently," Mr McCartney said.

"The enthusiasm in the room was incredible.

“Students were actively participating, asking questions and challenging themselves to think more deeply about mathematical ideas."

Throughout the workshops, Mr Woo encouraged students to approach problems through curiosity, pattern recognition and creative thinking, while teachers explored practical classroom strategies aimed at building confidence and improving learning outcomes.

His visit also highlighted the work of the Department of Education's Mathematics Growth Team, which supports teachers across the state through mentoring, coaching and evidencebased professional learning programs.

For many students, the opportunity to learn directly from one of Australia's bestknown educators was a memorable experience.

School leaders said the event reinforced Irrawang High School's commitment to excellence in mathematics education and strengthened links between local schools, ensuring students across the region continue to benefit from innovative and engaging learning opportunities.

Port Stephens Council

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Residents raise parking and safety concerns around Catherine McAuley College

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on local roads, with vehicles regularly lining both sides of nearby streets.

One nearby resident described the situation as “out of control”.

Locals say conditions become particularly difficult during peak traffic periods, when school buses travel through the

area while parents collect students.

Concerns have been raised about pedestrian safety beyond the bus stop and the proximity of the Kindy Patch Medowie preschool on Sylvan Avenue.

Residents have also reported damage to lawns and verges caused by

vehicles parking on soft ground during wet weather.

Residents are also worried about the future impact of a new preschool planned beside the College precinct, fearing further traffic and parking pressure on surrounding streets.

Jacqueline Wilkinson, Director of Schools for Catholic Schools

Maitland-Newcastle, said, “We appreciate the community’s concerns regarding traffic, parking and pedestrian safety in the surrounds of the Catherine McAuley Catholic education precinct.”

Ms Wilkinson said the school and Diocese had worked with government agencies and Port

Stephens Council to ensure infrastructure met planning and safety standards, while investing in “footpaths, crossings, traffic lights and road improvements”.

She added that the College continues to reinforce “road safety, respectful parking and neighbourhood courtesy expectations” with

students and families.

The school encourages residents experiencing parking issues to report concerns directly to the College.

As the precinct continues to expand alongside Medowie’s growing population, residents are encouraging parents to remind young drivers to remain mindful of surrounding residential streets when parking near the College.

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

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Police charge 900-plus in DV operation

NSW POLICE have charged over 900 people following a four-day statewide operation targeting offenders with a history of domestic violence.

Operation Amarok XIII ran from Wednesday 13 to Saturday 16 May.

The operation is described as an “intelligence-led, offender-focused operation that aims to ensure the safety and wellbeing of domestic and family violence victims and the broader NSW community”.

The Domestic and Family Violence Command-led operation also involved officers from each regions’ Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Team (DVHROT), along with specialist officers from State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad, Youth Command, State Crime Command’s Child Protection Register, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, and the Police Transport Command.

Across the four days, 993 people were arrested and charged, with 299 arrest warrants executed.

Police laid 2,063 charges and conducted 1,847 bail compliance checks and 14,318 apprehended domestic violence order (ADVO) compliance checks with a total of 391 breaches identified.

Officers conducted 142 firearms prohibition order (FPO) searches, with 94 firearms and 48 weapons seized.

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said that Operation Amarok sent a clear message to the “cowards committing

domestic violence offences”.

“Police target the people who pose the greatest risk: repeat offenders, wanted offenders and those with outstanding warrants,” Minister Catley said.

“Domestic and family violence is a stain on our society.

“These offenders rely on fear and control, and Amarok is about turning that pressure back onto them.

“If you use violence, intimidation or coercive control, police will come for you.”

Domestic and Family Violence Corporate Spokesperson, Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan, said officers were committed to identifying offenders, protecting victims and disrupting violent behaviour before it escalated.

Council launches new recycling program

By Nico LOMBARDO

PORT Stephens Council has launched a new initiative to support the recycling of reusable resources and the delivery of services to the community.

Fifty baskets have been placed in hightraffic areas across Port Stephens, including at Raymond Terrace, Medowie, Karuah, Lemon Tree Passage, Salt Ash, Corlette, Soldiers Point, Salamander Bay, Fingal Bay, Nelson Bay, and Anna Bay.

“This operation is about holding perpetrators to account,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan said.

“Too many people in our community are living in fear inside their own homes, and Operation Amarok is designed to intervene, support victims and ensure offenders are put before the court.

“Our focus is on removing violent offenders from homes and enforcing protection orders.

“This operation reinforces our ongoing commitment to tackling domestic and family violence year-round.

“Amarok may be a targeted operation, but our dedication to protecting victims and pursuing offenders occurs every day and never stops.”

and cartons eligible for recycling. Many public bins have also suffered frequent damage due to people attempting to retrieve the containers inside them.

Council hopes the new baskets will ensure more recyclable material reaches its proper destination, and that those that can benefit from the Return and Earn program have easier access to cans and bottles.

“The baskets provide a real opportunity to recycle containers that might become litter or be discarded as general waste into valuable money to support local people,” a spokesperson for Port Stephens Council said.

“Individuals and families looking for relief from the rising cost of living can now safely and cleanly collect refunds to help with everyday expenses.”

NELSON BAY CANCER PATIENT TRANSPORT GROUP

The community is encouraged to dispose of their recyclable drink containers in these baskets whenever possible, so that groups, charities and individuals can collect them and turn them in for 10 cents as part of the ‘Return and Earn’ campaign.

The program is part of Council’s Waste Management Strategy 2021–2031 and its effectiveness will be assessed by a postinstallation audit to determine if it should be expanded permanently.

Is a volunteer group providing the following services to our local community

The program was launched after it was found that 72 percent of public waste bins contained significant amounts of bottles, cans

Most containers showing the 10c refund mark on the labelled are eligible to be placed in the new baskets.

Further information on what’s recyclable can be accessed at https://returnandearn.org. au/what-you-can-return or by downloading the Return and Earn app and scanning the barcode.

Volunteer drivers who transport patients to the Newcastle Metropolitan area for cancer treatment and related Doctors’ appointments.

It is an ancillary service for when cancer patients cannot access any other reliable form of personal transport for treatments and appointments.

NELSON BAY CANCER PATIENT TRANSPORT GROUP

Our services are subject to available resources.

NELSON BAY CANCER PATIENT TRANSPORT GROUP

• Volunteer drivers who transport patients to the Newcastle Metropolitan area for cancer treatment and related Donctor’s appointments.

This service is provided free of charge to patients and continues due to the generosity of our volunteer drivers, financial grants and donations received from the local community.

• Our services are subject to available resources. This service is provided free of charge to patients and continues to the generosity of our

Is a volunteer group providing the following services to our local community

• It is an ancillary service for when cancer patients cannot access any other reliable form of personal transport for treatments and appointments.

Volunteer drivers who transport patients to the Newcastle Metropolitan area for cancer treatment and related Doctors’ appointments.

It is an ancillary

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Crash fears realised at infamous intersection

By John WATTS

A SERIOUS accident on Friday 15 May has brought safety issues at the Bucketts Way/ Pacific Highway intersection into sharp focus once more.

In April, News Of The Area reported on the strong concerns held by former Roads and Traffic Authority senior engineer Gordon Chirgwin about the dangerous state of the intersection.

“I believe that the intersections of the Pacific Highway with Bucketts Way at Twelve Mile Hill and Medowie Road are of high priority,” said Mr Chirgwin at the time.

“Both intersections present a high risk of serious high-speed accidents.

“From a few hundred metres north of Bucketts Way to south of Medowie Road there are… entrances to a caravan park; the Bucketts Way intersection; the entrance and exit to a southbound rest area; the entrance, bypass and exit for a southbound heavy vehicle inspection facility; entrances and exits for a northbound rest area, with a facility to enter for southbound traffic; and the Medowie Road intersection.

“With this number of conflicts, and given the traffic volumes, the potential for a serious crash is high.

“Also, there are usually traffic queues in Medowie Road and Bucketts Way, especially in holiday periods, and any impatience by drivers is highly likely to precipitate an accident.

“In my professional view, the risk of an accident is unacceptable.”

The accident on 15 May resulted in serious injury to two people.

“About 3.30pm on Friday 15 May 2026, emergency services were called to the intersection of Pacific Highway and the Bucketts Way, Twelve Mile Creek, following reports of a crash,” a Police spokesperson told NOTA.

“Upon arrival, police were told four vehicles, including a Toyota SUV and a Ford van, had crashed.

“NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the driver of the Toyota - an 82-year-old woman - and the driver of the Ford - a 30-year-old woman - for serious injuries before they were both taken to John Hunter Hospital.

“The driver of the other two vehicles - a 42-year-old woman and a 23-year-old manwere uninjured.

“Inquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.”

Gloucester local Megan Benson is concerned that the proliferation of gravel quarries near the Bucketts Way intersections

and a proposed pumped hydro project at Stratford will make a bad situation even worse, and considers that both MidCoast and Port Stephens councils should make further representations to the NSW Government about the state of the intersection.

“The intersection has passed its use by date and I believe that both councils should inform the Department of Planning that an equitable resolution and action plan for the Bucketts Way intersection to the Highway must be agreed to before there are any further development approvals,” Ms Benson said.

“Everybody but the Department of Planning and developers seem to appreciate how dangerous this intersection is.”

Nod for Airport CEO in Hunter awards

NEWCASTLE Airport CEO Linc Horton has been named Industry Leader of the Year at the Prosperity Advisers Newcastle Hospitality and Tourism Awards, held on 18 May.

Mr Horton was recognised for supporting and championing the growth of the Hunter region’s visitor economy.

The annual awards celebrate the people, businesses and operators helping to shape the region’s tourism, hospitality and events industries.

“This award is not so much about me or the airport as it is about the incredible tourism and hospitality operators we have across our region,” Mr Horton said.

“The Hunter is home to world class events, accommodation providers, hospitality venues, authentic tourism experiences and passionate people who continue to raise the bar for visitors coming to our region.

“As Newcastle Airport continues to focus on improving connectivity for the region, I appreciate my role as CEO is to be a strong voice supporting regional tourism efforts and helping create new opportunities for local operators, businesses and communities.”

Newcastle Airport is currently working alongside regional tourism organisations and the Hunter Joint Organisation, to secure NSW Government funding for a coordinated Hunter

Region Branding, Sales and Marketing Toolkit.

This independent, data driven, regional sales and marketing platform, would include itineraries and sector research and sales strategies, to better support long-term inbound tourism growth across the Hunter.

“Newcastle Airport is a platform for regional opportunity and my role is to ensure the rest of the state, country and world sees this,” Mr Horton said.

“Whether it’s tourism, business, major events or international connectivity, our role is to help support industries across the Hunter and make it easier for people to experience our region.”

Mr Snuffleupagus doppelganger found in Australian waters

By Jacie WHITFIELD

A QUARTER-CENTURY mystery that began with a chance dive in Papua New Guinea has culminated in a remarkable scientific discovery for Port Stephens marine scientist Dr David Harasti, who has officially identified and named a species previously unknown to science.

q Bearing an uncanny resemblance to Sesame’s Street’s Mr Snuffleupagus is the officially-identified Solenostomus snuffleupagus, better known as ‘Snuffy’ or the ‘Hairy Ghost Pipefish’.

Woody Spark.

The discovery has been formally recognised in the Journal of Fish Biology, with the unusual creature now bearing the name “Solenostomus snuffleupagus”, better known as “Snuffy” or the “Hairy Ghost Pipefish”.

For Dr Harasti, the journey began 25 years ago when he encountered a strange, shaggy-looking fish unlike anything he had ever seen.

“Ever since I first saw this fish, I was absolutely captivated by it,” Dr Harasti said.

“I’ve been on a mission since that first sighting to find it again and describe it as a new species.”

Armed only with photographs taken on an old film camera, he spent years searching scientific references for a match.

None existed.

Then the mysterious fish disappeared.

For decades it remained little more than a diver’s legend and the one that got away, occasionally reported across the Coral Sea yet never studied closely enough to prove it was a distinct species.

The breakthrough finally came in 2020 after a sighting near Cairns prompted Dr Harasti and fellow researcher Graham Short to launch a targeted search of the Great Barrier Reef.

After days combing dense underwater macroalgae, they located a male and female pair, providing the evidence needed to formally describe the species.

Yet it was the fish’s appearance that would ultimately inspire its memorable name.

Covered in long hair-like filaments and sporting a long snout and fuzzy profile, the fish bore an uncanny resemblance to one of Dr Harasti’s childhood television favourites - Mr Snuffleupagus from Sesame Street.

“When I was a kid, Sesame Street was my favourite show to watch and Mr Snuffleupagus was one of my favourite characters, along with Cookie Monster,” he said.

“As soon as I looked at my photos of the Hairy Ghost Pipefish, it totally reminded me of Snuffy and that's why I always knew it was the right name to call it.”

The researchers approached Sesame Street in 2025 seeking permission to use the beloved character’s name, with the request ultimately receiving approval.

For Dr Harasti, the discovery is a reminder that the ocean still holds countless secrets waiting to be uncovered.

“I always say that the ocean is a huge treasure chest with so many new discoveries to be found,” he said.

“Even in Port Stephens we are still discovering new species, be it a new species of sea slug or a marine worm. “There’s still so much for us to find and discover.

“Who knows, there might be another Sesame Street-looking character just waiting out in the deep to be found.”

For a scientist who spent 25 years chasing a mystery fish, it is proof that curiosity, patience and persistence can still reveal wonders hidden beneath the waves.

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Council confirms hazardous tree will be removed

By Jacie WHITFIELD

A RAYMOND Terrace resident whose property was damaged by a falling gum tree branch earlier this month says she has been left frustrated by what she describes as a lack of communication from Port Stephens Council, despite confirmation the tree has now been approved for removal.

The large gum tree initially dropped branches in December 2025, squashing an underground electrical box and prompting resident Dianne Holden to report the issue to Council.

At the time, Council confirmed the tree had previously undergone minor pruning and had been assessed by an independent arborist, who deemed it safe to remain.

On 4 May, another large limb fell from a gum tree near the Mount Hall Road bus stop, damaging a nearby property.

Mrs Holden said the incident could have been far worse had someone been waiting at the bus stop at the time.

The elderly resident, who is currently undergoing medical testing ahead of heart surgery and is also caring for her husband

who has Alzheimer’s disease, said she has repeatedly sought updates from Council and local councillors without success.

“I have not had contact or updates from Council or councillors,” she said.

“Neither have my neighbours who lost the top off their letterbox.

“As an elderly ratepayer, I feel that for over 20 years I have been fobbed off as a silly old lady.

“What do I have to do to get your (Council’s) attention?”

Mrs Holden recently lodged a public tree removal request with Council, receiving a reference number.

Council advised that a visual assessment would be undertaken and that tree removal decisions can require independent arborist reports and permit approvals.

“Following the recent fallen branch on 4 May, Council arranged a reinspection,” the Council spokesperson said.

“This inspection examined physical changes to the tree since the previous assessment in addition to the recently fallen branch.

“Based on the findings, the Council has determined to remove the tree.”

Council said the removal would occur in line with its work program and contractor availability.

insurer has begun managing the damage claim and arranged for the property to be secured.

Mrs Holden said she welcomed

Botanic Gardens celebrates 40th anniversary

By Nico LOMBARDO

THE Hunter Region Botanic Gardens celebrated four decades as the region’s “horticultural heaven” on Sunday, 24 May.

The 40-year milestone was celebrated on Botanic Gardens Day, commemorated annually in late May to highlight the importance of plants and ongoing conservation efforts.

To commemorate the occasion, the volunteer-run Gardens in Heatherbrae opened its doors to visitors for free, hosting free educational talks, walks, and even tours of the usually closed herbarium, accompanied by food and entertainment.

Bonsai-making, apiculture, birds, succulents, weeds and rainforests were among the topics visitors could learn about on the day.

Opened in 1986, the continued success of the facility has only been possible thanks to the tireless efforts of volunteers and generous support from the community.

Kevin Stokes, founding member and longest serving volunteer at the Gardens, recounted during the event how the project came to be, covering its inception, protection

of the Tomago sand beds, and the many challenges the facility has faced.

“It hasn’t always been an easy journey,” recounted Mr Stokes.

Throughout the years, the Gardens has faced sand miners, vicious storms, fires, road construction, and even the scepticism of some community members.

Today however, the future looks bright.

During the event, Patron and Emeritus Professor Tim Roberts announced the establishment of a “Future Fund” for the Gardens.

“Our goal is to raise around $10 million, and with that to be able to build a bigger, more commercially useful food area, and also have enough money to pay three full time employees,” Professor Roberts said.

“That would let us go forward in raising more money to develop particular aspects of these wonderful gardens.”

Forty years on from inception, the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens is now at the forefront of conservation and research.

In 2025, the Gardens received a $150,000 grant from the NSW Environmental Trust to study the 700 types of fungi growing in the

herbarium, a project that will build a DNA-verified fungal reference library available all across Australia.

“It’s a very rare thing for a botanic garden to get such an Environmental Trust grant,” said Professor Roberts.

“This outstanding achievement recognises us as a serious centre for conservation science, education and

regional environmental leadership.”

The Hunter's only Botanic Gardens feature more than 30 hectares of tranquil landscaped gardens displaying the beauty and diversity of Australian native flora.

There are more than 3,000 living specimens in a natural bush setting with eight kilometres of easy tracks and trails. Theme gardens include natives (grevillea, acacia, hakeas, ferns) and exotics (orchids, bromeliads and an amazing succulent and cacti garden).

Run by volunteers, the gardens also protects 100 hectares of land in the Tomago sand beds catchment area, including two wetland habitats.

WHAT'S VIBIN' June at the Golfie

THERE’S plenty happening in the clubhouse, on the course and at the Pro Shop this June at the Golfie.

A huge thank you to everyone who supported the recent Ladies Vests initiative, which proudly raised $780.

This will be donated to HMRI for Breast and Ovarian Cancer and Leukemia research - an incredible effort for a very worthy cause.

Out on the course, the club's new bunker project in the 1st green surrounds is now in the final stages of construction, with shaping and finishing works completed.

The project has

introduced a modern capillary concrete bunker system designed to improve drainage performance, playability and long-term bunker consistency for members and visitors alike.

We’re also looking forward to a big, long weekend, with live music from Millie Mills on Sunday 7 June from 4pm - the perfect way to relax and enjoy the atmosphere at the club.

As always, social golf is available every day from 2:30pm.

There have been some changes to driving range times, so be sure to check in with the Pro Shop for the

latest updates.

Don’t miss the upcoming Callaway Fitting Day, along with the King’s Birthday two-person Mixed/Medley Ambrose on Monday 8 June.

We are now also offering a Free Ladies Clinic on Friday mornings at 10am.

For bookings and more information, give the Pro Shop a call on 4997 0740. To stay up to date with everything happening at the Golfie, head to our website, hawksnestgolfclub.com. au, and keep an eye on our socials for events, golf days, entertainment, and club news.

VISIT CAMDEN HAVEN

Shines every weekend

EVERY year when the June long weekend rolls around, we see visitors heading to the Camden Haven for everything it has to offer.

But why save it for one weekend?

Camden Haven is one of those places that doesn’t need a special event or holiday to shine.

It’s the kind of place where you can slow down, grab a coffee by the water, take a walk along the river, explore the town, and support local businesses.

Whether it’s crisp winter mornings watching the sun rise over the river, exploring the local markets, long summer days out on the water or taking in the beauty around North Brother, Camden Haven always has something special waiting to be discovered.

A huge part of keeping

the region thriving is the work done by the Camden Haven Chamber of Commerce.

These volunteers help support the visitor economy, community events and local connections - showcasing everything that makes the area special.

The chamber’s vision is simple: building pride in the community while encouraging people to discover its hidden treasures.

If you are looking for one of those iconic Camden Haven experiences, it is hard to go past Dunbogan Boatshed and Marina.

Sitting right on the Camden Haven River, this local gem offers coffee, light meals, fish feeding, boat hire, bait and tackle, and one of the best outlooks around.

You can sit on the deck,

to Camden Haven this June Long Weekend Discover

the boats drift by, feed the fish and even spot dolphins if you are lucky. It is one of those places visitors remember and locals

May 25th - 31st

Natural Medicine Week is a week long celebration of online events and education aimed to raise awareness of the important role natural medicine practitioners play in the health and wellbeing of Australians.

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a blue-chip setting.

• Fire damage to downstairs “Fairy House” - Ideal project for renovators or builders.

• Walk to beaches, marina, cafes and Nelson Bay CBD.

• Auction Date to Be Confirmed. Offers Considered Prior.

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NELSON BAY 11 Tareebin Road 3 2 2 FOR SALE $750,000

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Rare opportunity with endless potential

35 Thurlow Avenue, Nelson Bay

4 Bed, 3 Bath,

2 Car Spaces Contact Agent

SET IN one of Nelson Bay’s most tightly held and prestigious streets, this unique property presents an increasingly rare opportunity just moments from Dutchmans Beach.

Positioned in exclusive Thurlow Avenue, the home enjoys filtered water views and a superb setting surrounded by high-value homes.

Originally designed with warmth, creativity and character in mind, the residence has unfortunately sustained significant fire damage, primarily to the downstairs “fairy house”, with smoke damage in the upstairs hallway.

Despite this, the charm, individuality and flexibility of the home remain evident throughout.

Featuring soaring timberlined ceilings, an octagonalstyle living area with its own mezzanine loft bedroom, multiple balconies, timber floors, and a separate study

or potential fourth bedroom, the home offers a personality rarely found in modern construction.

The versatile floorplan also allows the property to function as either one substantial residence or potentially three separate one-bedroom style apartments.

This is not simply a renovation project — it is an

opportunity for someone with imagination and vision to restore, reinvent or rebuild in a blue-chip coastal setting.

• Prestigious Thurlow Avenue location near Dutchmans Beach

• Character-filled home with unique architectural design

• Flexible floorplan with potential for separate accommodation

• Filtered water views from parts of the home

• Multiple living zones, balconies and loft accommodation

• Walk to beach, marina, CBD, cafes and restaurants

• Ideal project for builders, renovators or visionary buyers

• Possible duplex site subject to council approval Properties in this location are rarely offered with this

level of potential. Whether restored to its former charm or transformed into something entirely new, this is a remarkable opportunity in one of Nelson Bay’s most desirable positions.

Auction: Date to Be Confirmed - Offers Considered Prior. Call Nelson Bay Real Estate 0249 812 655.

From the Mayor's desk

By Leah ANDERSON Port Stephens Council

Investor forum and future of Raymond Terrace

RAYMOND Terrace is changing fast.

Our town is experiencing a major surge in development, backed by the multibillion-dollar M1 Pacific Motorway extension and the expansion of Newcastle Airport nearby.

While these changes bring great opportunities, they also add to existing pressures, making it harder for local families to find a rental or buy a home.

In the face of these changes, our job is to plan for our community, with our community.

To ensure we deliver the needed improvements, upgrades, and houses, we have been developing our new Raymond Terrace Place Plan in parallel with this growth.

Thank you to everyone who shared their ideas at our recent workshops and pop-up stalls.

Your message was clear: you want a cleaner, safer, and more welcoming town centre.

Now, we must balance all these needs at once.

Raymond Terrace is expected to grow by over 5,400 people by 2041, and we have set a target to deliver more than 2,500 new homes to support them.

Our town has plenty of room to grow, and we can meet this demand through new townhouses, affordable rental options, and projects that create local jobs.

The Place Plan will provide us with a community-led roadmap to ensure Raymond Terrace becomes a safe, vibrant, and connected riverside centre.

To help navigate these challenges, we are collaborating with real estate experts Commercial Collective to host an online Investor Forum on Tuesday 2 June 2026.

We’re inviting developers, housing providers, and industry stakeholders to get the latest market data and a direct look at the future of Raymond Terrace.

By attracting the right kind of investment, we can turn the community’s vision into reality, bringing in the diverse housing, new businesses, and revitalised spaces our town needs to thrive.

This forum is an important first step toward sharing our long-term community vision with builders and investors.

We want to show the wider market why Raymond Terrace is the perfect place to invest, look closely at our housing supply, and hear directly from the market about what it takes to invest here.

We’ve made a start on a roadmap for our town, and we’re determined to use the growth around us to help build it.

This is about ensuring Raymond Terrace doesn’t just watch from the sidelines, but actively takes the lead in building a better future for everyone who lives here.

OPINION & LETTERS

Dorin's Drawings

By Paul DORIN

Verse

of the week

By Lynne MILES

Stargazing: Animals in space

Stargazing

By Dave RENEKE

LONG before humans walked on the Moon and planted their footprints in lunar dust, others made the journey first - silently, bravely, and often without return.

Animals were the earliest pioneers of spaceflight, sent ahead to answer a simple but vital question: could life survive beyond Earth?

The story begins in 1947, not with a dog or a monkey, but with something far smallerthe humble fruit fly. American scientists, using a captured German V-2 rocket after World War II, launched these insects to an altitude of 109 kilometres, widely considered the edge of space.

Their mission was straightforward: test the effects of cosmic radiation on living tissue.

When the capsule parachuted

back to Earth and was recovered in New Mexico, the flies were found alive and unharmed.

It was a crucial success.

It proved that living organisms could survive a trip into spaceand return.

From there, the stakes grew higher.

In 1948 and 1949, the United States began sending primates aloft.

The first, a rhesus macaque named Albert I, never made it to space; he died from suffocation before the rocket left the ground.

A year later, Albert II reached 134 kilometres, officially entering space.

But triumph turned to tragedy when his parachute failed during re-entry, killing him on impact.

Over time, 32 monkeys and apes were sent into space, including rhesus macaques, squirrel monkeys, and chimpanzees.

These missions helped scientists understand the effects of acceleration, weightlessness, and stress on living bodies.

One of the most famous survivors was Ham, a chimpanzee launched by NASA on 31 January 1961.

On the Couch

By JASMINDA

DEAR Jasminda,

I am aware that during meetings, staff members appearing via Zoom are more insightful and intellectually engaged. I don't understand the disparity. When they appear in person, they seem very different. Should I move all meetings to Zoom?

Kevin P.

Hi Kevin,

I remember the good old days of staff meetings.

The whole purpose of the Monday morning meeting was to act as a two-hour transition between a weekend full of cheese platters and sparkling wine and languid hours in the outdoor spa, to the cold hard slap of 30 people in ill-fitting polyester, non-ergonomic chairs, hands fused to keyboards, and seven monitoring reports due by 5pm.

Back then, everyone knew where they stood in a staff meeting, and a CEO knew how to manage them.

Staff members included the socially-awkward IT guy who told inappropriate jokes, the bored 20-something who was nursing a hangover, the woman who carried the same piece of paper around for five years - with no one really knowing how she came to be in the office - the chain-smoking supervisor agitated by flickering fluores-

Unlike many before him, Ham returned safely to Earth.

His flight showed that tasks could be performed in space - a key step toward human missions.

He lived out his life in relative comfort, dying in 1983.

While the Americans focused on primates, the Soviet Union turned to dogs.

In 1957, the world met Laika, a stray mongrel picked up from the streets of Moscow.

Chosen for her calm temperament, she became the first animal to orbit Earth aboard Sputnik 2.

It was a one-way journey.

Official reports claimed she survived for days.

The truth, revealed years later, was harsher. Laika died just five hours into the flight due to overheating.

Despite her fate, her mission proved that a living creature could survive launch and orbit - a major milestone.

By the time humans reached the Moon in 1969, stepping onto its surface before a global audience, the role of animals in space had already reshaped science and engineering.

Their sacrifices had helped answer the unknowns that once made space seem unreachable.

After the Moon landing, the urgency to send animals into

cent lights, and so on.

It was a given as to who was going to offer purposeful responses and who was going to vague out and draw plans for a new outdoor table on the back of their agenda sheet.

Hence, the meeting could take place in a constructive, yet predictable manner.

Now, with meetings largely online, nothing is as it seems.

Most of the types listed above will have Chat GPT or its equivalent open, and they will be able to multiskill, planning a trip to conquer the Camino de Santiago while throwing in the occasional insight that makes them appear ready for a promotion.

You'll know though, Kevin, it isn't that hard to work out.

If, for example, middle-management Roger has gone from saying things like “Get Mary to do it or I'm going on stress leave”, to “The current process is causing delays because approvals are duplicated across two teams. I think we should centralise sign-off to one manager. There is a significant degree of operational and psychological pressure associated with this matter,” then it is clear your staff members have transitioned to using AI for anything requiring a modicum of analysis.

There is only one way around this.

You either need to accept that the average workforce is soon going to resemble a crew of post-lobotomy Randle McMurphys (i.e. the guy from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) or insist on in-person, device-free meetings, so workplaces recognise genuine strengths and diverse talents and reward real thoughts not fast fingers.

space declined, but they were not entirely retired. In 1973, a more unusual experiment took place aboard the Skylab space station.

Two garden spiders, Anita and Arabella, were sent into orbit to study how microgravity would affect their ability to spin webs - an idea from a Massachusetts high school student, Judith Miles.

Remarkably, both spiders adapted.

They spun webs in space, though finer and slightly different from those on Earth.

The experiment provided insights into how organisms adjust their movements in weightlessness.

From fruit flies to spiders, monkeys to dogs, these early travellers played a critical role in humanity's journey into space.

Their missions were often risky, sometimes tragic, but always meaningful.

Before astronauts could look back at Earth from orbit or walk on another world, animals had already taken that first uncertain step into the unknown - and, in doing so, helped make the impossible possible.

See Dave’s website: www. davidreneke.com.

Stinker’s History: Crayfish Hole

Stinker's Stories

By John 'Stinker' CLARKE

ON the northern aspect of Fingal Island, facing Broughton Island, is a small cove known by fishermen and islanders as Crayfish Hole.

It was on the rocky shoreline of this natural harbour that a wharf and boathouse existed in 1918.

Here the government department kept two boats: a

whaler of 20 feet and a double ender for light work.

These boats were lowered by winch into the calm water, which could be four to five metres below the level of the wharf according to the tide.

Exposure to the elements meant continuous maintenance was required.

Unfortunately, such work was not carried out, requiring the boathouse and wharf to be rebuilt.

A crane was added to facilitate the unloading of heavy stores.

A decision not to proceed with repairs to the rotting crane was taken in 1973 and the wharf, boathouse and crane were subsequently demolished.

So ended a significant period in the history of the Outerlight.

q Crayfish hole before 1973 when the boat shed and wharf were destroyed.

Heavy line will do the trick

By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE

IN MY my early days on the Tweed, fishing the breakwalls and beaches, I had one rod and reel and only ever changed the line on the reel when the drum became visible through the last remaining coils.

The same line was used for everything – tailor, whiting, bream, luderick and flathead.

Occasionally, a mangrove jack would smash me around but, generally speaking, line size was never an issue.

I don’t even know what breaking strain I used.

All I know is that it was strong enough and that there was never any shortage of fish in the home.

Fishing line was just fishing line.

Leaving the Tweed, off I went out west to Gilgandra for a couple of years, where the locals took me fishing in the Macquarie River around the town of Warren.

Have you ever seen a “cod dropper”?

It’s a strip of tractor tube slipped over a sturdy overhanging branch attached to a couple of metres of 300kg venetian-blind cord, tied to a 12/0 shark hook baited with a big crayfish, deceased parrot or rabbit – even a boiled egg.

When the cod swallowed the bait, its only chance of escape would be to pull the tree out of the ground and drag it down the river.

There is very little discussion about line size when setting droppers in the bush.

This all made good sense to me.

“Why use a light line to catch fish if they are happy to bite on whipper-snipper cord?”

I know that there are exceptions, but my basic technique is to pull the fish out of the water without any pussy-footing around.

I’m a ‘frying-pan

fisherman’, so when I’ve caught sufficient, I simply stop fishing and jump overboard for a swim.

“Why target jewfish on a 10kg line when they will bite just as keenly on a 25kg line?”

The advantages of using a heavy line are that you get the fish out of the water quicker and there is less chance of your line breaking or your knots giving up.

I’m not into playing with fish and, as you have no doubt gathered, I don’t consider myself a

sports fisherman.

I remember catching a 29kg jewfish a while back on a 6kg line while chasing whiting on the beach.

After 25 minutes, I’d had enough. Another 10 minutes and both the fish and I had come to a standstill – no one was going anywhere.

“This is crazy,” I remember thinking.

Finally, I beached the jewie and immediately went home.

q In my mulloway days I used a 25kg line to great effect.

It messed up a pleasant evening’s fishing, in a strange sort of a way.

Kingfish don’t muck around. They are street fighters with very bad habits.

Their method of parting company is simple – just dive into the shallow reef and the jagged rocks will do the rest.

My strategy is equally as simple – don’t let them do it.

And there is

only one way to do that. Use heavy line and pull and pull harder and don’t stop.

Forty-kilo lines will give you the advantage in this no-holdsbarred rumble.

Tailor aren’t choosy, they lose no sleep over what size line you use – anything from cotton to tow rope, it doesn’t matter.

In his day, local lobster professional Ken Barry towed a Smith’s jig on 300kg cable and he caught heaps of quality tailor.

I’m not suggesting that you use rope: 12kg should do the trick, considering that you are always a chance to hook something meaner.

Debate rages on the most suitable line size to catch snapper.

One of the best catches of snapper I have seen was caught on a 15kg line – yep, over 30lb on the old scale.

The heavy line does tend to deter the small fish, which is a good thing.

My choice of snapper line is up to 10kg and it hasn’t let me down yet.

There is a band of snapper fishermen who prefer to fish very light, 3kg to 5kg, reckoning that they get more takers. This may well be the case, but they also have more losses.

It’s a process of balance and

there are questions that must be asked before you choose the most suitable breaking strain.

Are the fish clean fighters? Are they put off by heavy line? What type of country are we fishing?

My advice is to use the heaviest line that is readily acceptable to the fish that is being targeted.

Drummer fishermen vary in choice of breaking strain; anywhere between 7kg and 20kg. It was a case of hooking the fish, then grinding away on the reel until the rough country was cleared.

Use the heaviest line possible. If it works, keep doing it.

For ease of casting and feel, I settle for 12kg and a long, relatively stiff pole.

Bream are more particular. Heavy line in still water in the hunt for bream is not a good idea.

Six-kilo is my choice around the breakwalls but around the oyster racks, the rules change – anything less than 10kg is asking for trouble.

One of my best catches of big bream was off the rocks in a lumpy sea east of the Outer Lighthouse at Fingal.

I used a 12kg line, a large pea sinker and a 4/0 Octopus design Gamakatsu hook baited with half a WA pilchard or really big royal red prawn.

I was targeting snapper but the thumping bream wouldn’t leave me alone.

OUTLETS

Where you can pick up your paper

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media@newsofthearea.com.au

Anna Bay Tavern

Anna Bay Bakery

BYO Cellars Anna Bay

Ingenia Holiday Park

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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

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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

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MarketPlace Woolworths

Raymond Terrace Shell

Raymond Terrace Library

Lakeside Newsagent

R&R Property

Foodworks Lakeside

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Muree Golf Club

Saxby's Bakery Salt Ash

Tanilba Bay Nursing Home

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Coles Tanilba Bay

Endevour Servo Tanilba Bay

Tanilba Newsagent

Post Office Tanilba Bay

Blue Marine Services

Chemist Lemon Tree

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Tilligerry RSL

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Magpies ‘swoop’ into top spot

THE results of the 12th national bird count are in, with the Australian Magpie taking out top spot.

The Aussie Bird Count was held last October and saw a record breaking five million birds counted over one week.

Organiser, Birdlife Australia, said 64,000 citizen scientists took part in the event.

Half of all surveys included a sighting of the iconic black-and-white magpie.

The Rainbow Lorikeet claimed second position on the list of most commonly spotted species, ahead of the native Noisy Miner, the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, and the Magpie-lark.

As in previous years, the Rainbow Lorikeet was the most abundant bird.

“Because rainbow lorikeets are more social, hanging out in flocks.. we see more of them,” said BirdLife Australia’s National Public Affairs advisor Sean Dooley.

“But the magpie is the bird we encounter most often.

“Every second person who did the Count last year added a magpie to their list.”

The 10 most commonly seen birds are: 1. Australian Magpie; 2. Rainbow Lorikeet; 3. Noisy Miner; 4. Sulphur-crested Cockatoo; 5. Magpie-lark; 6. Galah; 7. Red Wattlebird; 8. Crested Pigeon; 9. Welcome Swallow; and 10. Common Myna.

Sightings were recorded across the mainland and in the territories of Christmas Island and Cocos Island, and sub-Antarctic Heard Island.

Around 70 percent, however, were

conducted in built-up areas, providing a snapshot of the birds sharing increasingly urbanised environments.

Some birds outside the Top 10 were shown to be climbing the ranks.

The Australian White Ibis went from 23rd place in 2021, to 14th in 2025, while in NSW and Queensland the Australian Brush-turkey moved up the ladder.

“Birds respond to the changes we make to our environment,” Mr Dooley said.

“Everybody knows the bin-chicken, especially in Sydney and Brisbane where they’re doing well in the city.

“[They] have found ways to take advantage of urban growth.

“Sadly, the flipside is… smaller bush birds

PBL winners Term 2 Week 5

HERE are the winners of Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) awards for Term 2 Week 5.

Irrawang Public School: Declan has been nominated for his respectful behaviour on a recent excursion to Tocal. Several adults commented on his beautiful manners. He also gave a gift to the bus driver as a thank you for driving everyone.

Raymond Terrace Public School: Congratulations to Parker on his positive contribution to the community. We recently received a phone call from a staff member at the Raymond Terrace Roosters football canteen, who spoke highly of the support he provides each weekend. Parker was described as an outstanding helper who is always polite, respectful, and willing to assist others. His kindness and community spirit make him a wonderful role model both at school and within the wider community.

Grahamstown Public School: Congratulations to Marshall who is nominated for his positive representation of our school within the wider community at the Come and

Try Day at Maitland Regional Athletics Centre. He participated with enthusiasm, showed respect to the staff running the event and was kind and inclusive towards other students. Marshall was engaged throughout the day and demonstrated responsibility by listening carefully and following instructions. He represented our school with pride and is a great example of our PBL values in the community

Irrawang High School: Congratulations to School Captain Emalynne for proudly representing Irrawang High School at both Anzac Day services. A special mention for her contribution to the Raymond Terrace service, where she assisted in writing and delivering a heartfelt Commemorative Address. We are incredibly proud of the respect, leadership and maturity she demonstrated while honouring our veterans and serving the community.

Hunter River High School: Leilani is nominated for outstanding sportsmanship at Regionals Netball and proudly representing the Culture Team, promoting inclusivity and school spirit.

q Magpies are Australia’s mostseen bird according to the latest national count.

get pushed into decline as their habitats are destroyed.

“Adding native plants to your garden can offer a lifeline to those other Australian native birds that we’re more worried about.”

“BirdLife Australia turns 125 this year, and it all started when a passionate community of people observed the birds around them and shared their sightings with others.

“That’s still the backbone of everything we do.”

The full results can be found on aussiebirdcount.org.au/.

The 2026 Aussie Bird Count will take place in Bird Week from 19–25 October. For more information, visit aussiebirdcount. org.au.

Salt Ash Public School: Angus has been nominated for being a thoughtful and kind member of our school community. After winning the major prize in the Easter raffle, he generously gave it to one of our expectant families. His selfless gesture reflects kindness, compassion, and a strong commitment to the values of our school community.

Medowie Public School: Byron is a very responsible student. During the weekend he noticed some children who lit a fire in a bin at the bike jumps. Byron quickly called 000 when he noticed the flames getting bigger and also told the police.

Seaham Public School: Amber is nominated for her sportsmanship at a recent PSSA soccer gala day. Amber was observed showing empathy and compassion towards players in the other team. When an injury occurred, Amber was the first one to support and offer her assistance.

Karuah Public School: Luca is nominated for being such a kind and caring student who always looks after others. He goes out of his way in the classroom and the playground to help anyone. Luca always tries his personal best and is working so hard to improve.

PUZZLES

Fond farewell

By Doug CONNOR, Group Editor

AFTER just shy of six years manning the News Of The Area news desk, I have made the difficult decision to leave my role as Group Editor.

Before I officially depart next Friday (29 May), I wanted to take the opportunity to offer my sincere

thanks to everyone who has contributed to NOTA newspapers during that time: writers, readers, sub-editors, designers, letter writers, columnists, cartoonists, deliverers, admin staff, advertising representatives and more.

It has truly been an honour to be involved as the newspaper group grew to cover new areas across the Hunter and Mid North Coast.

From two newspapers in 2020, NOTA now prints eight regional newspapers each week, bringing vital public interest journalism - for free in print and online - to communities from Port Stephens to the Coffs Coast.

Over the years I have had the pleasure of meeting and engaging with people and groups up and down the coast; thanks to all who read the paper, contribute letters or story submissions, or simply ring to discuss the news of the day.

A big thanks also to the NOTA

owners, Mick and Rochelle Wright, for giving me the opportunity and trusting me with the editorial direction of their newspapers.

NOTA is a truly independent local news source - free from political or commercial influence - and should be celebrated as such.

Rest assured, the newspaper group is being left in very capable hands, and I look forward to seeing where Mick, Rochelle and the rest of the team take the business in years to come.

PUBLISHER'S NOTE

DOUG Connor, you have done a tremendous job as Editor for our NOTA newspapers over the last six years. You have made a difference in many people's lives by bringing communities their news, information and happenings.

On behalf of NOTA, thank you and best wishes from myself (personally), and indeed all of the NOTA readers and team. Michael Wright Publisher

Gropers too strong for Heelers

By Chris KARAS

THE Nelson Bay Gropers sent out a youthful first grade side when they hosted the Muswellbrook Heelers last weekend in the Hunter Suburban Men's Presidents Cup A Grade series.

Dashing fullback Liam Pietrasek and gun centre Harry Andersen put in standout performances in the Gropers’ emphatic 56-14 victory over the Heelers at Bill Strong Oval.

Fresh out of the junior ranks, the talented 18-yearold colts have proved a revelation this season in the top grade with sharp displays for the second ranked Nelson Bay side.

Both demonstrated their power and pace with the classy Andersen notching a hat-trick of tries in a dominant triumph and quicksilver custodian Pietrasek finishing with a personal points tally of 26 from two tries and eight goals.

Along with industrious

flanker Hayden Wilson, the trio created havoc as the Gropers ran in eight tries to post a resounding win.

The mobile and smaller Gropers forwards laid a platform with busy games to help consolidate their top two ranking in the early rounds of the 2026 premiership.

With half back Kade Redmond calling the shots, the Gropers quickly found their groove and opened the scoring with a superb try.

A well rehearsed backline move saw Pietrasek loop around fly half Will Clark to send Andersen on a downhill run. Cutting back inside, winger Ryan Marshall scored under the posts.

Hungry flankers Wilson and captain Sam Rocher were vigorously contesting the Heelers ruck and maul and a turnover led to Pietrasek running onto a Clark short pass to cross out wide for the first of his try double.

With locks John Lundie and Ronan O'Connell using plenty of grunt the Groper scrum allowed Clark to place a clever kick through for Andersen to scoop up the ball and score before centre Scott

Trestan broke through and linked with Pietrasek who outpaced the opposition to score out wide for a 28-0 lead.

Nelson Bay coach Michael Squires injected prop Zion Takarua - celebrating his 100th match - to a stirring roar from the crowd and with number eight Mitch Workman and hooker Ross Buchan winning the lineouts the Gropers added another Andersen try for a 35-7 lead at the break.

Workman was rewarded for his tireless efforts with a try under the posts after a barnstorming run.

Tough centre Marcel Ikinofo and halfback Tom Akbal entered the game with immediate effect with Ikinofo’s darting runs through traffic and Akbal’s slick service a feature.

Hooker Liam Keating, Riley Byfield, Ollie Edwards and Shane Jarvis took the field before Clark placed a deft kick for a flying Anderson to nab his third try.

Flying winger Brayden McMaster made several bursts before Clark sliced through to score a trademark try to a standing ovation from

Wests sink Hawks in Denton Cup

q The Northern Hawks showed plenty of character in a 36-22 loss to the Wests Rosellas in Denton Cup action at Tomaree Sports Ground last weekend.

By Chris KARAS

THE NORTHERN Hawks are licking their wounds after a disappointing 36-22 loss to Western Suburbs Rosellas in the Newcastle Rugby League Denton Engineering Cup.

Back on home turf at the Tomaree Sports Ground last weekend, the Hawks produced a spirited second half revival but paid the price for an error-riddled first stanza that ultimately proved their undoing.

A revved up Wests team produced three early tries by

Sterling inducted into Hall of Fame

By Chris KARAS

CORLETTE sporting identity

Peter Sterling has been inducted into the NSW Rugby League Hall of Fame.

The legendary Parramatta half back and Northern Hawks rugby league ambassador was honoured along with Taree native and former Kangaroos skipper Boyd Cordner at the annual True Blues dinner at The Star Event Centre in Pyrmont.

He is regarded as one of the smartest footballers of the modern era and joins a select band after earlier being inducted into the NRL Hall of

Fame back in 2008.

After a distinguished media career with Channel Nine, the decorated play maker is enjoying life these days in scenic Port Stephens.

Sterling, 65, was raised in Raymond Terrace and Wagga Wagga and commenced his playing career at the age of 14 with the Wagga Kangaroo Panthers in 1974.

He moved to Sydney after landing a scholarship at Patrician Brothers Fairfield before enjoying an illustrious 15-year career with the Parramatta Eels.

The maestro number seven was part of an all-star

Eels backline that featured fellow greats in five eighth Brett Kenny, centres Mick Cronin and Steve Ella and winger Eric Grothe, securing premierships in 1981, ‘82, ‘83 and ’86.

A tremendous ball player and shrewd tactician in his heyday, Sterling played 228 matches for Parramatta.

Possessing an immaculate kicking game, he made 13 Origin appearances for NSW and had the distinction of playing in the first 3-0 series win for the Blues in 1986.

The dual Dally M medallist also captained the Blues on one occasion, for the historic

the Gropers “Old Boys” on the Presidential Deck.

Gropers legend and 244game player Adam Edwards later presented a proud Zakarua with his 100th game jacket and gave a speech on Zion’s rugby journeytransitioning from Newcastle to Nelson Bay.

This was followed by a rousing haka rendition led by Zion's son Raumanuka Takarua, his family and club legends Edwards and Michael Wiringi.

The celebrations went well into the night.

In the curtain-raiser fixtures the Nelson Bay Under

second rowers Ashton Frost and Will Mehan and dashing fullback Stephen Widders to jump to a 14-0 lead, before the Hawks hit back when centre Kiah Cooper read the play to score an intercept try after 24 minutes.

The Rosellas stretched their lead to 24-6 with a second four pointer by Widders and winger Dyllan Parlane but Northern finished the first half on a positive note when winger Honeti Tuha regathered a grubber kick by five eighth Fletcher Myers to pick up and score on the siren.

Wests struck first after the interval with lock Lachlan

exhibition State of Origin match in Los Angeles in 1987, won by NSW.

Sterling chalked up 22 Tests for Australia between 1982 and 1988 and won the inaugural Clive Churchill Medal for best player on ground in Parramatta’s fourth Grand Final victory in 1986.

The champion half also played 36 games for Hull FC in the English Super League.

NSW Rugby League (NSWRL) Chief Executive David Trodden told News Of The Area that the annual True Blues dinner is a signature event on the code’s calendar.

“It brings together different generations of players who have donned

11s - coached by club legends Edwards and Matthew Affleck - were full of spirit and running in a 57-10 loss to Hamilton Hawks.

The Gropers’ talented Under 16s trounced the Hawks 56-5 to please co-coach Casey Dunning with tries by flanker Harrison Stone (2), centre Wade Rolston (2), prop Cooper Shoemark, Will Enright, flyhalf Matthew Green, Patrick Buehler, half back Oska Sutter and lock Ashton Elliott.

Fullback Jack Costello (2) and fly half Matthew Green booted conversions.

O’Brien crossing for the Rosellas’ sixth try to set up a 30-8 lead.

The Hawks found their mojo and staged a gritty comeback with three unanswered tries.

Tuha nabbed his second from a clever Myers pass before the talented pivot scored himself after an intercept.

Cooper set up Northern’s fifth try when he broke the line and kicked infield for replacement hooker Iobe Taukeisalili to finish and bring the Hawks back into the game at 30-22.

But with momentum

the mighty sky blue jersey for their state and both Peter and Boyd thoroughly deserve their place alongside our other champions,” he said.

for the young Gropers.

Raumanuka proudly wore Nan on his wristband to honour his grandmother who had flown out from New Zealand to watch both her son Zion and grandson play who didn't disappoint with a five pointer.

Nelson Bay will don their Blue Groper Indigenous jerseys for this Saturday’s Indigenous Round against Cooks Hill Brown Snakes at Bill Strong Oval from 3pm.

Merewether Carlton Greens defeated Nelson Bay 58-10

firmly in their favour the Hawks gave it back.

A six-again, a late tackle on the Wests kicker and being taken into touch handed the Rosellas the field position they needed, and they were clinical enough to convert the opportunity with a try by centre Tyrone Nean to seal the win.

Northern Hawks club president Andrew Chapman told News Of The Area that the team showed “genuine character in patches”.

“The boys showed plenty of grit in the second half but a lapse in discipline proved costly in the end,” he reflected.

represented

Mayor endorses pickleball club growth

By Chris KARAS

PORT Stephens Pickleball Club is fast-developing into one of the most progressive sporting organisations in the region.

From five players in a side room at Nelson Bay PCYC back in 2019 to its current list of 200-plus members, the club has unearthed a host of pickleball exponents across a wide age bracket.

At a recent Friday Skills and Drills set up at the Tomaree netball courts at Salamander Bay, the club welcomed Port Stephens Mayor Leah Anderson.

More than 50 club members were on hand to demonstrate their pickleball skills across the six social play and four coached courts.

Mayor Anderson told News Of The Area that she was “more than impressed” with the set up, the talented participants on show and the coaching available to prospective players.

“This is what community sport looks like when a community comes together,” the Mayor said.

Success at seniors tournament

Port Stephens Pickleball Club players tasted success at the recent Barrington Coast Seniors 60 yrs-plus tournament at Hallidays Point, collecting an impressive 25 medals and 19 podium finishes.

Club stalwart John Grace from One Mile won multiple gold medals, teaming with Lorraine Barr (Cundletown) to claim the 70yrs+ Mixed Doubles with DUPR 3.5 over and 70+ Mens Skinny Singles as well as bronze with Fingal Bay’s Tony Mayers in the 65yrs+ Mens Doubles 3.53.99.

Corlette’s Manny Mifsud clinched gold in the Men's 75yrs+ Skinny Singles and Mixed Doubles with Jennifer Taylor of Tallwoods Village and picked up a bronze medal in the 70yrs+ Mens Doubles with Dennis Nash for 3.0 above.

Mark Skidmore (Lemon Tree Passage) teamed with Valentine’s David Tweed to win gold in the 65yrs+ Mens Doubles 3.5-3.99 and silver in the 60yrs+ Mixed Doubles

with Merewether’s Vicki Drewe.

Fingal Bay’s Stephen Laming and Corlette’s Steve Wilson captured gold in the 65yrs+ Mens Doubles (3.49 under) while Cherrie

McDougall (60yrs+) and Christine Johnson (70yrs+) brought home gold medals in the Women’s Skinny Singles.

Pam Wilson and Ballina’s Don Condon snared silver in the 80yrs+ Mixed Doubles.

Bronze medal recipients included Johnson and Cheryl Sanderson in the 70yrs+ Womens Doubles (2.99 under), Fingal Bay’s Joanne Laming in the 60yrs+ Womens Skinny Singles, and Sanderson and Anna Bay’s Paul Hopper finishing third in the 70yrs+Mixed Doubles (2.99 under).

Other Port Stephens club players to compete were Colin Black, Mary Cunnington, Lou Davis, Stuart Johnson, Richard Lake, Mary Monin, Val Mulhearn, Janet Paton, Jacinta Vetch, Clive Vester and Bruce White.

All-boys netball team to make history

Tanilba Bay Veterans Golf

By Ian WILLIAMS

RESULTS OF PLAY FOR 19th

May 2026. The weather was a little cool and damp but reasonable for golf, a lovely late autumn day. We played a 2 Person Stableford Aggregate game over the front 9 holes, with the men off the white tees and ladies off the red tees. A roll up of 22 players today, with a visitor from Harrington Waters joining us for the day, thankyou Ray. Past players and visitors from other clubs

are very welcome to join us, we always look forward to Tuesday's.

Winner of the BYO Cellars raffle: Kevin Hart

RESULTS OF PLAY: Winners:

Steve and David Enderby.. nett 40 pts

First Runners up: Jamie Carr and Barry Disch.. nett 34 pts

Second runners up: Lenny Hardes and Kevin Hart..nett 32 pts

Ball Winners: Jim Carberry and Greg

Garvin..nett 27 pts

Laurie Northey and Keith Chapple..nett 26 pts

Gary Payseno and Mark Moore..nett 25 pts

Andrew Corbett and Ray Brown (vis) .nett 23 pts

Kim Mller and Ian Williams..nett 21 pts

Sandra Gaskin and Col Marsden..nett 19 pts

Grant and Vince Schubert nett 17 pts

Ray Stubbs and Steve

Robards..nett 16 pts

NTP 4th hole:

A grade Andrew.Corbett

B grade Bob.Skinner

C grade Charlie Skinner

By Chris KARAS

PORT Stephens Netball Association’s first ever allmale representative team will compete at this year’s Netball NSW Senior State Titles.

The Under 17 rookies will compete in the six team Male State Challenge on Monday, 8 June at Penrith.

The history-making Port Stephens boys team comprises students from Irrawang High School, Hunter River High School and other schools in the region, coming from basketball, rugby league and soccer backgrounds.

Port Stephens Netball representative Convenor Nadina Marsh told News Of

D & C 7th hole: A grade

Lenny.Hardes

B Grade Mark.Moore

C grade Kevin Hart

LONGEST DRIVE: 2nd Hole

A grade: Ray Brown

B grade: Grant.Schubert

C grade: Jim.Carberry

Next week, 26th May, 2

Person Stableford Multiplyer, on the back 9, men off the whites and women off the reds.

The May monthly committee meeting has been postponed until the 2nd June following the game and presentation

Port Stephens Veteran Golfers Association

By Gary WATT

RESULTS from a Stableford competition played at Pacific Dunes on Monday 18th May 2026 with 38 players.

Nett Winner : Les Moran, 40pts.

Nett Runner Up : Brian Marshall, 38pts.

Bonus Point Winner : Alan Stark, 40pts.

Bonus Point Runner Up

Michael Tagg, 37pts on countback.

Nearest the Pin, 9th Hole

Division 1:Shayne Mullarvey.

Division 2: Barry Crean. Nearest the Pin, 14th Hole :

Division 1: Brian Riddell.

Division 2 : Darryl Beecham

Drive & Chip, 8th Hole

Division 1: Alan Stark(birdie)

Division 2: John Howlett. Drive & Chip, 17th Hole,

Division 1: Gary Watt (birdie)

Division 2 : John Howlett. Ball Winners :

Brian Riddell 37pts, Bob Nelson 36pts, Ron Dodd 35pts, Gary Watt 35pts, Bruce Brideoake 35pts, Tot Hulls 35pts, Dennis Christie 34pts, David Hurley 33pts, Shayne Mullarvey 33pts, Graham Woolley 32pts, Darryl Beecham (V) 32pts,

Ian Dean 31pts, Barry Crean 31pts, and Peter Toth 31pts.

RESULTS from a Stableford competition played at Tanilba Bay GC on Monday 4th May 2026 with 42 players.

Nett Winner : Peter Martyn, 43pts.

Nett Runner Up : John Clayton, 39pts.

Bonus Point Winner : Greg Sessions, 40pts.

The Area the Association was “proud to launch its very first all-boys team”.

“The squad was assembled only days before the recent Newcastle representative carnival where the boys represented the association with distinction,” said Nadina.

“It was an exciting moment for our association with the team posting a win and a draw at their very first tournament together.”

Under the guidance of experienced co-coaches Felicity Pacevski and Ashley Caldwell, the boys have risen to the challenge.

The squad continue to improve with each outing as they brush up on the

finer points of netball and their individual skills in preparation for the State championships.

“It is an incredible achievement and opportunity for these young athletes as they continue to break new ground for boys netball in our region,” Nadina added.

Port Stephens’ historymaking Boys team features talented midcourters Talon McLennan, Baylee Jenkins and Adie Marou, shooter Phoenix Stone-Krznaric, shooter/defence Liam Knight, shooter/midcourt Caleb Pacevski, defenders Broc Agnew and Xavier Charlie and defence/midcourt Darryn Vaggs.

Muree Golf Results

By Lee RANKIN

SATURDAY 16th May. Par.

A Grade

1. Steve Jones 2

2. Luke Tranter 1

3. George Vlatko 1 B Grade 1. Eric Horvat 2 2. David Johnson 2 3. Bruce Hamilton 2 C Grade 1. Ray Stewart 4 2. Rodney Bultitude 2 3. Neil Devine1 Pro Pin Steven Shearer

Bonus Point Runner Up : Steve Robards, 39pts.

Nearest the Pin, 4th Hole

Division 1: Ron McKay.

Division 2: Steve Robards.

Nearest the Pin, 11th Hole :

Division 1: John Clayton.

Division 2: Noel Sewell.

Drive & Chip, 7th Hole :Division 1: Bronwyn Smith (birdie)

Division 2: Wayne Smith.

Drive & Chip, 18th Hole, : Division 1: Jim Prater.

Division 2 : Steve Robards.

2BBB Anthony Styles/ Mitchell Trappel Styles 9 Wednesday 20th May. Medley Stableford. A Grade 1. George Vlatko 38 2. Peter Flanagan 36 3. Anthony Styles 36\ B Grade 1. James Spencer 41 2. William J Jones 36

3. Bernard Roberts 33 Pro Pin Eric Horvat

2BBB Ross Picot/ David Rowe 59

Ball Winners : Ian Dean 38pts, Brian Riddell 38pts, Gary Watt 38pts, John Hogan 38pts, Jim Prater 38pts, Brian Marshall 37pts, Brian Neale 37pts, Bronwyn Smith 37pts, Bruce Arndell 37pts, Peter Toth 36pts, Jim Gill 35pts, Ralph Brown 35pts and Ron McKay 35pts. Lucky Draw Prize Winner : John McDonald.

NDIS Providers List

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My Choice Psychology & Allied Health

Area: Raymond Terrace

Ph: 0415 256 186

Email: mychoicecommunity@gmail.com

Services: Psychology and Allied Health

Support By Sam Area: Port Stephens, Myall Coast & Newcastle Ph: 0411 476 994

Email: sblackett2000@gmail.com

Services: Home care

Wanted to Buy

War Medals

Top prices paid by local collector. Call Jim 0400 060 215

Work Available

NERONG pensioner has casual work for experienced assistant for mobile ph and computer tasks. Ph 0419 932 992

TWO seater lounge OZ Design, fabric, VGC 0429 990 351 F260326

Classifieds 4981 8882 ads@ newsofthearea. com.au

For Sale

BEARING buddies, x 2, brand new, 50mm stainless steel, marine grade, suit single axle trailer. $20 ono. 0414 013 244

BEER brewing kit complete plus 250 bottles. $99. 6559 6656 SOLD

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

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

, pine, coffe table or storage $100 4982 8787

BOX trailer, 6x4, near new. 11months rego TT28ML, includes spare wheel and jockey wheel $1000 or best offer. Ph 0403 037 792

BUFFET and hutch $100. Ph 0429 945 604.

CAMPING Thetford porta-potti, brand new. $50. Ph 02 4997 2040 SOLD CAMPING shower Companion Aquaheat lithium, brand new $250 Ph 02 4997 2040 SOLD

2.9 reflections paddle or fish, brand new, extras. $260. Ph 4997 2345 e040626 Free

WINDSURFING board

F2 AXXIS plus boom & bag. 85 liters, No dings 0419 932 992

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

MUGS, 15x brand new Ph 0493 777 707

RUG good condition Ph 0493 777 707 F040925

SINGLE bed with some single bed linen included. Medowie Ph 0423 688 327

newsofthearea.com.au

Pets for sale

For Sale

For Sale

GARAGE roller door white Steeline, 3150W x 3000H, great cond Pick up only. $1000 Ph 0407 246 674

COUCH, bone leather, 3 seater, extendable ends as new. $600 ono. Ph 0448 521 466 e280526

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

DINING table $30. Ph 0429 945 604

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

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

DOUBLE bed, Cloud luxury therapeutic remote control for head & foot height and head & foot massage plus underbed lights memory foam mattress exc almost new cond. $2,500 ono. 0407 723 890.

DOUBLE bed frame with headboard. $50 0466 880 639

GLASS bottles with lids, suitable for pickles preserves etc., Ph 0458 693 754 F140526

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

GOLF cart 2022, Ford lithiam batteries, exc cond. $8000 ono. Ph 0448 521 466 e040626

GREY padded blanket box $50 ph 4982 0063

HEATER . $5. Used working condition Ph 4982 9225.

HEDGE trimmer, Ozito electric 50cm $50. Ph 0408 945 040. SOLD

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

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

LOUNGES , 2 x 2 seater Aussie made leather burgandy, good cond Pick up only. $100 for the pair. Ph 4984 3710 or 0407 461 454.

LP records, large mixed collection. Ph 0428 567 653 for info e160726

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

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

MIRROR, gold timber frame, 70 x 100cm $30. 0438 228 016. SOLD

MOBILITY SCOOTER Shoprider, GC, New Batteries, Front Basket & Rear Bag Can Deliver. $1,450 0418 430 643 Re270826

NAHWAL tusk, make an offer Ph 0493 777 707 Plants for sale

CANNA lillies, burgandy and green leaf w/peach flowers. $5ea 0477 827 291

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 8787

Jukebox $50 Ph 0429 945 604SOLD

CHAIN tensioner for freight or logging trucks Offers. RT. 4987 1680

CHINA cabinet display unit, 3 glass shelves and storage at bottom. $50 Ph 0403 632 701

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

DVD Set ofThe Danielle Steel Collection - 19 movies, exc cond. $10 Hawks Nest. Ph 0414 848 307 F200326 SOLD

ELECTRIC Yamaha piano, portable, w/ stand DGX200, exc cond. $200. 4981 2251

INDOOR or outdoor table, with tempered frosted glass & black trim, 150 x 89cm. $60 0466 880 639

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

KITCHEN table modern style, white extendable, as new cond 6 free chairs. $550 ono Ph 0448 521 466

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

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

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 F070825

OUTDOOR setting New, make an offer ph 0493 777 707

OUTDOOR setting 8 piece, glass top cushioned seats, good condition. $80. Pick up only. Ph 0409 877 099

ANTIQUE Skillion over the hooks pendulum weighing scale for cattle $90. Ph 6585 7393

ARMCHAIRS - 2 Parker leather armchairs in good cond. $100 for the pair. T/ Gardens. Ph 0412 740 459

COCA-COLA Memorabilia Collection $95. 0409 863 898

Classifieds 4981 8882

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

COKE bottles & cans x 14, some bottles full 2000 Olympic can, 1989 Ghost Busters can, 1987 America Cup bottle & more. $40. 0447 076 485 F121125

Best offer. Ph (02) 4981 7523

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

FUTON $30. Ph 0429 945 604

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

PAINTING of vase & flowers, framed, 4ft x 2.5ft. $100. 0493 777 707 F070825

of boots, brand new, Cabelllo Bronte black, size 9. Paid $219 selling for $100. Ph 0416 089 747 SOLD

PNEUMATIC tyres x 6 on 10” diameter rims off tandem boat trailer $90. 0419 932 992 F260226

RIPSTIK, near new $45 Peter 0419 932 992

RUGS, 2 x grey/white GC,

Classifieds 4981 8882 ads@newsofthearea. com.au

SAND anchor, galv unused. $50. Peter 0419 932 992 F190226

SEWING machine cabinet $50. Ph 0404 877 447

SHOES New Balance 880, fresh foam, brand new, size 9US Mens $90. Ph 0421 286 861

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

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

SINGLE bed x 2, metal frame, mattresses & linen included, hardly used exc. cond. $100 for both Ph 0425 289 167 F210526

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

SOFA bed vgc double $50 Ph 4982 2335

STEPPING stones w/ mosaic pattern 20cm x 20cm. $27ea. Ph 0417 292 785 Re040626

STUDENT desk, GC $40. (02) 4024 3104SOLD

Classifieds 4981 8882

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

unit , new, $100

TYRE and rim for wheelbarrow, 10” Pneumatic. $40. 0419 932 992 F260226

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

WETSUIT, waterproof welded seams, O’Neil 3/2mm, L/S, new cond $100. 0421 286 861

WINCH for boat trailer, brand new 300kg, 3.1 gears w/webbing & hook $50. Ph 0427 811 746.

WINDSURFING carbon boom. Chinook. $80 Peter 0419 932 992 F091025

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

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

WOOD turning lathe w/ chisels, variable sppeds $8,000. 0451 668 036

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

2022 New Gen 20’ 6ft, semi-offroad, 12mths rego TP05RH. $68,000 Ph 0404 476 837.

Subaru Forester one owner, regularly serviced, great cond Reg CK15RS. Contact Rob 0428 468 049

LOUNGE, 3-4 seater grey suede, very good condition. $100. Ph. 0408 675 452 SOLD UNICORN, 77cm x 84 cm, Pink, GC,

Suites x

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

BEST ON THE BOX

SATURDAY

SILENT WITNESS

ABC TV, 8.30pm

Crime doesn’t take a day off – not even for the nuptials of lovebirds Jack Hodgson and Nikki Alexander (David Caves and Emilia Fox, both pictured) in this two-part season 28 finale. However, the loved-up professionals are as dedicated to the job as they are each other. So as they investigate a mass shooting at a London restaurant, they also discuss their wedding plans, dress choices and Jack’s search for a best man. It’s a delicate dichotomy that demonstrates how the couple’s relationship serves as a vital sanctuary from the horrors they see at work every day.

FRIDAY, May 29

SUNDAY SHARK!

NBN, 7pm

With this daring entry, reality TV has officially jumped the shark. Four-time Olympic gold medallist Ariarne Titmus (pictured), Gold Logie winners Scott Cam and Lynne McGranger, NRL legend Sam Thaiday, actor Matt Nable and influencer Tammy Hembrow are about to come faceto-face with one of the ocean’s greatest predators. With the aim of demystifying these oftenmisunderstood creatures, the celebrities will be guided by former Australian navy diver and shark attack survivor Paul de Gelder, alongside researcher and photographer Annie Guttridge. Together, they will attempt a series of escalating challenges, working towards their goal: swimming outside a cage with tiger sharks.

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.00 Compass. (R) 10.30 Stuff The British Stole. (PG, R) 11.00 Restoration Australia. (R) 12.00 News. 1.00 The Assembly. (R) 1.45 Bad Company. (M, R) 2.10 Guy Mont Spelling Bee. (PG, R) 3.00 Restoration Australia. (R) 3.55 Murdoch Mysteries. (PG, R) 4.40 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6.00 WorldWatch. 7.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Giro d’Italia. H’lights. 8.00 WorldWatch. 10.00 Legacy List. (PGa, R) 11.10 Making It. (PG, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Land Wars. (R) 3.00 Nula. 3.30 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Jeopardy! 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Giro d’Italia. H’lights. 6.00

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Gardening Australia. Advice for the home gardener.

8.30 Shetland. (Mv) The search is on for Ian, as Calder and Tosh dig into Annie and Bergen’s relationship.

9.30 Gruen. (PG, R) Presented by Wil Anderson.

10.05 Urzila. (Mals, R)

10.35 ABC Late News.

10.50 Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee. (PG, R)

11.40 Love Me. (Mls, R)

1.15 Rage New Music. (MA15+dhlnsv)

5.00 Rage. (PG)

BattleBots. 9.40 MythBusters “There’s Your Problem!”. 10.30 Merlin. 11.15 Late Programs.

6.00 Mastermind Australia.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Paul Merton: Driving Amazing Trains.

8.30 China With Ben Fogle.

9.50 Rock Legends. (PGs, R)

10.15 SBS World News Late.

10.45 The King. (MA15+av)

11.40 Babylon Berlin. (Mav, R)

1.40 Syndrome E. (MA15+s, R)

3.35 Finding Your Roots. (PG, R)

4.35 Bamay. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

TUESDAY SHAUN MICALLEF’S GOING FOR BROKE

Shaun Micallef (pictured) has uncovered several sobering truths behind the glitzy facade of the gambling industry in this insightful docuseries, but Tuesday’s conclusion ups the ante. Visiting a Wollongong family, the comedian finds out if the odds are already stacked against the next generation of Australians, for whom sports matches seem to go hand in hand with advertising and betting. He also spends a baffling afternoon with poker machine influencer Luca Kante and his fans, before heading to Parliament House in Canberra for a chat with independent senator and former Wallabies captain David Pocock about the Murphy Report and gambling For support, call Gambler’s Help (1800 858 858).

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. Hosted by Johanna Griggs.

8.00 MOVIE: The Da Vinci Code. (2006, Mav, R) An academic uncovers a conspiracy while helping investigate a murder inside the Louvre. Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen.

11.00 My Reno Rules. (PG, R) Hosted by Dr Chris Brown.

12.35 Quacks. (MA15+dns) John falls in love with a woman from the apothecary.

1.20 Harry’s Practice. (R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R)

5.00 NBC Today.

6.00 NBN News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 13. Cronulla Sharks v Manly Sea Eagles.

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

10.45 MOVIE: Rambo III. (1988, Mlv, R) Rambo sets out to rescue his former commander. Sylvester Stallone.

12.40 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)

4.30 Global Shop. (R)

5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

5.30 Postcards. (PG, R)

ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Morning Programs. 2.30pm Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams

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 must bring their house up to date. 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.

6.00

SATURDAY, May 30

6.00 Kath & Kim. (PGals, R) Kath’s first husband moves back in.

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

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

7.30 Death In Paradise. (Mv) A star football player is found dead.

8.30 Silent Witness. (Final, MA15+av) When six people are slaughtered by a gunman, Nikki and Jack must find the shooter.

10.15 Bergerac. (Mlv, R) Bergerac’s career is on the line as the case gets personal.

11.00 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) Continuous music programming.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Jewels Of The Mediterranean. (PGaw)

8.25 Magical Train Journeys In Switzerland. (Mn, R)

9.25 Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar. (Mal, R)

10.20 The Wonders Of Europe. (Mv, R)

11.20 Snowpiercer. (Mv, R)

2.05 Matched. (PG, R)

3.50 My Unique B&B. (PG, R)

4.25 Bamay. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News. 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00

Seven News.

7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. 8.00 Ooops! I Bought A Pub. (PG) Shane Jacobson buys a rundown country pub sight unseen and attempts to bring it back to life.

8.30 MOVIE: Gladiator. (2000, Mav, R) A successful Roman general seeks revenge after he is betrayed and his family is murdered by the emperor’s heir. Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen. 11.40 SAS: AUS v ENG. (Malv, R)

12.40 Devils. (MA15+av)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 It’s Academic. (R) 5.00 House Of Wellness. (PG, R)

6.00 NBN News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 MOVIE: Dune. (2021, Mav, R) A young nobleman and his family accept stewardship over a dangerous planet. Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson.

10.30 MOVIE: Species. (1995, MA15+hlsv, R) Scientists chase a half-alien girl. Natasha Henstridge, Ben Kingsley.

12.30 Law & Order: Organized Crime. (MA15+av, R)

1.30 Soccer. UEFA Champions League. Final. Paris Saint-Germain v Arsenal.

5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

5.30 Helping Hands. (PG, R)

6.30 The Dog House. (R) A biker looks for a new sidekick.

7.30 Selling Houses Australia. (Return, PGl) The team helps a family of six that is bursting at the seams in a two-bedroom house.

9.30 Ambulance Australia. (Mad, R) NSW Ambulance crews race to a call for a slashed throat, perform life-saving CPR on teens, treat a suspected

SUNDAY, May 31

6.30 Compass. (PG)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 The Assembly: Ian Thorpe. (Final, PGa)

8.15 Bad Company. (Final, Ml) Opening Night of Le Paysan... arrives.

8.40 Bergerac. (Final, Mlv) Bergerac must negotiate for his life and solve the murder.

9.40 Death In Paradise. (Mv, R) A star football player is found dead.

10.40 Silent Witness. (Final, MA15+av, R)

12.25 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

3.00 Gardening Australia. (R)

4.00 Movin’ To The Country. (R)

4.30 Poh’s Kitchen. (R)

5.00 Insiders. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 The Hunt For The Last Nazis. (Malv)

9.00 Mysteries Of Stonehenge. (Mav, R)

10.50 Pan Am: Rise And Fall Of An Aviation Icon. (PG, R)

11.50 The Fastest Bicycle. (Ml) 1.40 Matched. (R)

3.25 U-96, The True Story Of Das Boot. (PGaln, R)

4.25 Bamay. (R)

4.55 Destination Flavour: Japan Bitesize. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 PBS News Horizons.

6am Morning Programs. 7.10 Hail, Caesar! (2016, PG) 9.10 The Snow Foxes. (2023, PG) 10.40 Haywire. (2011, M) 12.20pm Blackout Love. (2021, M, Italian) 2.10 The Crow’s Egg. (2014, PG, Tamil) 3.50 Discovering Film. 4.40 The Red Turtle. (2016, PG, No dialogue) 6.15 Trinity Is Still My Name. (1971, PG) 8.30 O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000, M) 10.30 Lonesome. (2022, MA15+) 12.20am Late Programs. 6am The Snow Foxes. (2023, PG) 7.10 The Red Turtle. (2016, PG, No dialogue) 8.45 Trinity Is Still My Name. (1971, PG) 11.00 The Tracker. (2002, M) 12.50pm With Or Without You. (2021, M, Italian) 2.55 The Unknown Country. (2022, PG) 4.30 Hail, Caesar! (2016, PG) 6.30 Notorious. (1946, PG) 8.30 100 Yards. (2023, M, Mandarin) 10.30 Austin Powers: International

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 The 1% Club. (PGls, R) 8.10 7NEWS Spotlight. 9.10 How To Poison Your Husband. (Ma, R) Details the shocking crimes of Heather Mook. 10.45 24 Hours In Police Custody. (Mav, R)

12.00 A Friend Of The Family. (MA15+a, R)

1.00 Harry’s Practice. (R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R)

4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 NBN News.

7.00 Shark! (Premiere, PGal)

8.40 60 Minutes. Current affairs program, investigating, analysing and uncovering the issues affecting all Australians.

9.40 9News Late.

10.10 The First 48: What About Me/Last Round. (Mal, R)

11.10 American Ripper. (Mav)

12.00 Oz Off Road TV. (PG, R)

1.00 Let’s Eat With George. (R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)

4.30 The Garden Gurus. (R) 5.00 Today Early News.

Today.

MONDAY, June 1

6.00 Mastermind Australia.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes. (PG)

8.40 Ancient Greece By Train. (PG, R)

9.35 Never Mind The Buzzcocks. (M) 10.20 SBS World News Late. 10.50 Sambre: Anatomy Of A Crime. (Mav) 12.05 Gomorrah. (MA15+s, R)

2.45 My Unique B&B. (R)

4.30 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6am Children’s Programs. 3pm Play School. 4.05 Andy’s Prehistoric Adv. 4.40 Ariel. 5.30 Talking Tom Heroes. 6.05 Spidey And His Amazing Friends. 6.45 Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.40 Expedition With Steve Backshall. 9.35 Chopped Junior. 10.15 Kids Baking Championship. 11.00 Late Programs.

6am The Movie

Show. 7.10 Notorious. (1946, PG) 9.10 Discovering Film. 10.00 O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000, M) Noon 100 Yards. (2023, M, Mandarin) 2.05 The Red Turtle. (2016, PG, No dialogue) 3.35 Trinity Is Still My Name. (1971, PG) 5.50 Emu Runner. (2018, PG) 7.40 Hope Springs. (2012, M) 9.30 Cats. (2019, PG) 11.35 Let Them All Talk. (2020, M) 1.40am Late Programs.

TUESDAY, June 2

5.00 Poh’s Kitchen. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Who Do You Think You Are? (PG) 8.30 Insight. 9.30 Dateline. 10.00 SBS World News Late.

10.30 Living Black. (R) 11.05 The Negotiator. (MA15+av) 11.55 Divided We Stand. (Mal, R)

2.40 My Unique B&B. (R)

4.25 Bamay. (R)

4.55 Destination Flavour: Japan Bitesize. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News.

6.00 Seven News.

Glenn And Mick’s Celebrity Intervention. (Madls)

The Agenda Setters. 11.40 Happy’s Place. (PGadl) 12.10 New Amsterdam. (MA15+a, R) 1.10 The Outdoor Room With Jamie Durie. (R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News.

Sunrise.

(PGal)

Tipping Point. (PG, R)

Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGa) 7.30 My Reno Rules. (Ma) Hosted by Dr Chris Brown. 9.15 House Of Wellness. (PG) A team of industry experts, media personalities and wellness advocates shares insights and experiences to highlight living well.

The Agenda Setters.

Ambulance: Code Red. (Mamv, R)

New Amsterdam. (MA15+a, R)

Harry’s Practice. (R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

(R)

6am Children’s Programs. 2.30pm Daniel Tiger’s. 2.45 The Makery. 3.00 Play School. 4.05 Andy’s Prehistoric Adv. 4.40 Ariel. 5.30 Talking Tom Heroes. 5.55 PJ Masks. 6.45 Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.40 Savage Builds. 9.25 MythBusters “There’s Your Problem!”. 9.50 BattleBots. 10.35 Merlin. 11.20 Late Programs.

5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

With William Shatner. 10.20 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Giro d’Italia Women. Stage 4. 12.50am The Swiping Game. 1.10 Curious Australia. 1.45 Under The Banner Of Heaven. 3.00 NHK World English

6am The Movie Show. 6.30 Emu Runner. (2018, PG) 8.15 Cats. (2019, PG) 10.15 Confessions Of Felix Krull. (2021, M, German) 12.25pm Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery. (1997, M) 2.00 Viceroy’s House. (2017, PG) 4.00 Notorious. (1946, PG) 6.00 RabbitProof Fence. (2002, PG) 7.40 My Uncle Jens. (2025, M, Norwegian) 9.30 Victoria & Abdul. (2017) 11.35 Late Programs.

Golf sensation Lachlan Pearson wins gold at Macau Masters Challenge

FROM Page 24

After finishing runner up at last year’s event, the Tomaree High School student pledged that he would return in 2026 and secure the gold medal he coveted.

Lachlan defeated promising New Zealand golfer and runner up Max Walsh for the top prize.

field of 14 international golfers from across the disability spectrum.

The Challenge League division caters for golfers with handicaps ranging from 11 to 25, with Pearson the youngest competitor in a strong

He was the youngest of four golfers on the Australian All Abilities squad and now has a world gold medal to add to his burgeoning trophy cabinet.

An ecstatic Lachlan told News Of The Area that winning the Macau Masters title was “a dream come true”.

“Having finished runner up last year my goal was to represent Australia again and bring back the gold

and I achieved that,” he revealed.

There is no rest for the world champ since arriving back in Port Stephens last Sunday.

He continues his golfing journey at the Special Olympics Golf Nationals at Palm Meadows on 15 June and the Golf Australia All Abilities tournament in Coffs Harbour during July before representing Team NSW at the Special Olympics National Games in Melbourne from 19 to 23 October.

WEDNESDAY, June 3

6.00 WorldWatch. 7.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Giro d’Italia Women. H’lights. 8.00 WorldWatch. 10.05 Archipelago New York. 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Dateline. (R) 2.30 Insight. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Jeopardy! 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Giro d’Italia Women. H’lights.

6.00 Mastermind Australia.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Wonders Of Volcanoes With Dara Ó Briain. (PGa, R)

9.20 The Audacity. (MA15+a) 10.30 SBS World News Late. 11.00 Rise Of The Raven. (MA15+av)

12.30 Golden Boy. (Mal, R)

1.25 Classified. (Mlv, R)

3.05 My Unique B&B. (R)

4.15 Bamay. (R)

4.50 Destination Flavour: Japan Bitesize. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News.

5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6am Children’s Programs. 1.50pm Kangaroo Beach. 2.45 The Makery. 3.00 Play School. 4.05 Andy’s Prehistoric Adv. 4.40 Ariel. 5.30 Talking Tom Heroes. 5.55 PJ Masks. 6.45 Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.40 Steven Universe. 9.50 Pokémon: Diamond And Pearl. 10.30 Adventure Time. 10.55 Late Programs.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Home And Away. (PGa)

7.30 SAS: AUS v ENG. (M)

8.30 The Front Bar. (Ml) Takes a lighter look at all things AFL.

9.30 Unfiltered. (PG) Hamish McLachlan sits down with key football stars and personalities to reveal their stories.

10.00 The Agenda Setters.

11.00 Australia: Now And Then. (Ma, R)

12.00 New Amsterdam. (MA15+a, R)

1.00 Harry’s Practice. (R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 NBC Today.

5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 NBN News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Events That Changed Australia. (Mav) 8.30 NRL Origin Story. 9.35 9News Late.

To Be Advised.

Freddy And The Eighth. (Ml) 12.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.00 Destination WA. 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30

6am Morning Programs. 7.30 Harry’s Practice. 8.00 Million Dollar Minute. 9.00 Animal Rescue. 9.30 NBC Today. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 Australia’s Big Backyards. 2.00 Weekender. 2.30 Hornby: A Model Empire. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain

SBS MOVIES (32)

6am My Uncle

Jens. (2025, M, Norwegian) 7.50 Victoria & Abdul. (2017) 10.00 King Of My Castle. (2024, M, French) Noon Oskars Kleid. (2022, M, German) 2.00 Hotel Salvation. (2016, PG, Hindi) 3.55 Cats. (2019, PG) 6.00 Storm Boy. (1976, PG) 7.35 Dirty Dancing. (1987, M) 9.30 Shakespeare In Love. (1998, M) 11.45 Crash. (1996, MA15+) 1.35am November. (2017, MA15+, Estonian) 3.45 Late Programs.

THURSDAY, June 4

Bergerac. (Final, Mlv, R) 2.00 Parliament Question Time. 3.00 Restoration Australia. (R) 4.00 Frankie Drake Mysteries. (PG) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Children’s Programs. 1.50pm Kangaroo Beach. 2.30 Daniel Tiger’s. 2.45 The Makery. 3.00 Play School. 4.05 Andy’s Prehistoric Adv. 4.40 Ariel. 5.30 Talking Tom Heroes. 5.55 PJ Masks. 6.45 Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.40 Ultimate Vets. 9.05 Animal Park. 10.35 Merlin. 11.20 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.05 San Diego: America’s Wildest City. (PGa) 11.05 Queen Victoria’s Royal Mob. (Final, Mlv, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.05 The Lost City Of Ramses. (PGa, R) 3.00 Living Black. (R) 3.30 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Jeopardy! 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Giro d’Italia Women. H’lights.

6.00 Mastermind Australia.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Rick Stein’s Australia. (Final, PG)

8.40 Saving Yellowstone. (Return, PG)

9.35 A Gentleman In Moscow. (Mals)

10.30 SBS World News Late.

11.00 Under The Bridge. (Madl)

12.10 De Gaulle. (Mv, R)

3.05 My Unique B&B. (R)

4.15 Bamay. (R)

4.55 Destination Flavour: Japan Bitesize. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

(31) VICELAND (31)

3.55pm WorldWatch. 5.50

6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 History’s Greatest Mysteries. 10.10 The UnXplained With William Shatner. 11.00 Travel Man. 11.30 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Giro d’Italia Women. Stage 6. 2am Under The Banner Of Heaven. 3.10 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera.

SBS MOVIES (32)

6am Hotel

Salvation. (2016, PG, Hindi) 7.20 Viceroy’s House. (2017, PG) 9.20 Storm Boy. (1976, PG) 10.55 Dirty Dancing. (1987, M) 12.50pm In A Land That No Longer Exists. (2022, M, German) 2.45 Victoria & Abdul. (2017) 4.50 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. (1968, PG) 7.30 An Unfinished Life. (2005, M) 9.30 Red Joan. (2018, M) 11.25 Beneath Hill 60. (2010, M) 1.40am Crash. (1996, MA15+) 3.30 Late Programs.

7MATE (64)

6am Morning Programs. 10.00 Australia ReDiscovered. 10.30 American Resto. 11.00 Storage Wars.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Home And Away. (PGa) Tane lays down the law.

7.30 Highway Patrol Special. (PGadl, R) A look at badly behaved drivers.

8.30 Britain’s Got Talent. Hosted by Ant and Dec.

10.30 Police Code Zero: Officer Under Attack. (M) 11.30 To Be Advised.

12.30 Brave New World. (MA15+asv)

1.30 Harry’s Practice. (R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 NBC Today.

5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

7MATE (64)

6am Morning Programs. 3.30pm Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Hunter Killer. (2018, MA15+) 10.50 Seinfeld. 11.50 The 100. 12.40am Love Island UK: All Stars. 1.40 The Real Housewives Of Durban. 3.00 Jeopardy! UK. 4.00 Barbie: Dreamhouse Adventures. 4.30 I Love VIP Pets. 4.50 LEGO Friends: Girls On A Mission. 5.10 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 3.30pm Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Hot Pursuit. (2015, M) 10.20 Seinfeld. 11.20 Rugby Heaven. 12.20am Love Island UK: All Stars. 1.20 The Real Housewives Of Durban. (Final) 2.20 9Honey Hacks. 2.35

q Salamander Bay golfer Lachlan Pearson proudly displays his world championship gold medal from the Macau Masters Golf Challenge League.

World title for golf sensation

By Chris KARAS

SALAMANDER Bay golfing prodigy Lachlan Pearson is on top of the world.

The talented 17-yearold schoolboy has become the Port Stephens region’s latest world champion after bringing home an international gold medal from the 11th annual Macau Golf Masters championships.

Rising star Lachlan, a 12.9 marker at Nelson Bay Golf Club, realised a dream when he produced masterclass performances

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 this menu.

• A la carte menu also available.

HAPPY HOUR

Friday - Sunday | 3pm - 5pm NOW AVAILABLE during Happy Hour Tapas - Italian Style. 3 for $33 pp

$8 Schooners

$8 Wine

$8 House Spirits Selected Cocktails $10-$15

Lunch Wednesday - Sunday 12pm - 2:30pm

Dinner Wednesday - Sunday From 5pm

last week to win the 18hole Challenge League individual stroke play event at the world’s biggest golf tournament for people with intellectual disabilities. In only his second overseas tournament, a dedicated Pearson carded gross scores of 86 in his two rounds at the prestigious Macau Golf and Country Club course to capture the trophy by an incredible 16 strokes.

It is a huge feat by the accomplished teenager who despite the humidity, rain and wet conditions underfoot, stayed focused to outclass his rivals.

CONTINUED Page 22

WEDNESDAY NIGHT is Pasta Night

Join us every Wednesday for a midweek indulgence: $55 pp

Two Entree-sized pasta dishes each Perfectly matched Italian white & red wine

Each week, we showcase a new regional Italian pasta specially, thoughtfully paired with fabulous wines to complement every bite.

Make your Wednesdays something to look forward to!

• All guests at the table must participate in this menu.

• A la carte menu also available.

*Sunday &