Geelong Indy - 28th November 2025

Our ‘We are Geelong’ 20 page wrap shows the best on offer in our great city of Geelong. Open up and take a look!

We are Geelong We are

We are Geelong and we love it

We all know Geelong is a fantastic place to live and visit.

But what makes Greater Geelong truly great?

Victoria’s second-largest city has long stood as a place with a personality all its own - proud, industrious, and deeply connected to its coastal landscape. Over the past decade, it has transformed from a quiet port city into one of Australia’s most vibrant regional hubs. What makes Geelong great isn’t just one thing; it’s the blend of history, creativity, nature, and community that gives the city its unmistakable charm.

Geelong’s waterfront is the city’s crown jewel - an expansive, beautifully redeveloped foreshore that offers something for everyone.

The painted wooden bollards that celebrate local history have become a symbol of Geelong while Eastern Beach, with its art-deco promenade, swimming enclosure, and grassy lawns, is the perfect place for families to relax on a sunny day. Walkways, restaurants, public art, and open spaces make the waterfront a constant hub of life and activity.

Few regional cities in Australia can match a coastline that feels so accessible, walkable, and well-loved.

Geelongisbigenoughtooffereverything

you need, but small enough that people still greet each other at the shops. Its communityspiritisevidentinitscountless markets (especially the new Geelong City Market), festivals, sports clubs, and volunteer groups.

Major events such as Pako Festa, Festival of Sails, Geelong Revival Motoring Festival, Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, Vic Open, Ironman 70.3 and Christmas in Geelong bring people together and celebrate the city’s multicultural roots and creative energy.

You can’t talk about Geelong without mentioning the Geelong Cats.

The city’s connection to its beloved ’Catters’ AFL team runs deep - through generations, neighbourhoods, pubs, and workplaces. On game day, Kardinia Park becomes the beating heart of the region, and the city’s sense of unity is undeniable. Indeed, watching a game at GMHBA Stadium has to be experienced at least once.

But beyond the footy, Geelong is a hub for water sports, cycling, running, and community athletics thanks to its coastal trails, sporting precincts, and recreation facilities.

Geelong’s location is one of its greatest strengths.

It serves as the perfect gateway to some of Victoria’s most famous destinations: the Great Ocean Road, beginning just beyond Torquay; the Surf Coast, home to Bells Beach and pristine stretches of sand; and the Bellarine Peninsula, with wineries,farmgates,andcharmingseaside villages

Whether you want world-class surf, a coastal hike, or a leisurely wine tour, it’s all within a short drive.

A city reinventing itself

Once known primarily for industry and manufacturing, Geelong has undergone a remarkable transformation. Investments in health, education, and innovation have reshaped the local economy.

Institutions such as Deakin University, GMHBAStadiumprecinctandGeelongArts Centre highlight the city’s commitment to growth, culture, and sophistication.

Add to this the rising food and cafe scene, especially around Pakington Street in Geelong West, the CBD, and the waterfront, and you have a city that feels fresher and more dynamic every year.

Natural beauty at every turn

Beyond the coastline, Geelong offers serene rivers and lakes, lush botanical

gardens, expansive parklands and the unique volcanic landscapes of the You Yangs just outside the city

It’s a place where nature is woven into daily life and outdoor living is second nature.

As population and investment continue to grow, Geelong is one of the nation’s fastest growing cities, emerging as a model for regional revitalisation. Modern, connected and full of opportunity, yet still proudofitsroots.Itsblendofurbanenergy and coastal ease offers a lifestyle that’s become the envy of many.

It’s rare to find a place that offers big-city advantages, small-town warmth, and beach-side living all at once. Geelong does it effortlessly.

It’s a city with soul. Shaped by its history, defined by its people, and elevated by its natural beauty. And that’s what makes Geelong truly great.

Chemist working hard to care for the community’s health

For more than 125 years, Community Care Chemist has been trusted by the people of Geelong.

Exclusive to the region we call home, this local pharmacy network has built a reputation for welcoming care and reliable servicesacrossgenerations.

From our newest, tiniest citizens to our oldest and most respected, they look after everymemberofthefamily.

Inaneraoffacelesspharmacychains,the pharmacists at Community Care Chemist takethetimetogettoknowtheircustomers.

Believing that good health goes beyond prescriptions, they maintain a holistic approach to manage overall wellbeing through personal advice, education and onsitehealthchecks.

AsGeelong’sonlynot-for-profitpharmacy, they offer an ethos of philanthropy with a history of generosity. Through regular partnerships and sponsorships with local charities and organisations, Community Care Chemist continues to raise funds and generate positive health outcomes across GeelongandtheBellarine.

Now, it’s Lara’s turn for greater health followingtheopeningofabrandnewstore.

Residents were invited to an official launch day and celebration, with Lara MP Ella George in attendance to cut the ceremonialribbon.

“Our community here in Lara is growing so to have a new pharmacy in the heart of Lara is just going to be amazing,” Ms Georgesaid.

“The community here is incredible and I know everyone is going to make Community Care Chemist feel really welcome. It’s such a great place to be and

we’rethrilledtohaveyouhere.”

Community Care Chemist chief executive Ben Flynn shared that while this is the first foray into Lara, it’s a significant achievement that fulfils part of the pharmacy’slong-termvisionforthearea.

“We’ve always been local and we will always be local, so we’re thrilled to bring ourservicestoLara,”hesaid.

“This new store progresses our mission to deliver greater health for all the people of Greater Geelong. We look forward to partnering with local organisations and

investing in programs to support this communityasitgrows.”

New customers will benefit from the care and expertise of dedicated staff including the newly appointed pharmacist in charge andstoremanagerBaoNguyen.

“It’s really exciting! The feedback from the local community has been incredibly positive, and we’re proud to be open seven days a week, which means better access to healthcareforLararesidents,”hesaid.

“It’s a great opportunity to truly benefit thelocalarea.”

Along with prescription services and pharmacy products, customers can access a range of onsite health services including flu and travel vaccinations, medication packing, free medication delivery, private pharmacistconsultationsandmore. New customers are also encouraged to sign up for the popular Healthy Rewards MembershipProgram.

You can visit the new Community Care Chemist at Shop 7&8, 3-5 Forest Road, Lara.

Couples love Becky Kate

Looking for a celebrant who’ll keep the energy fun, the nerves low and the laughs rolling?MeetcelebrantBeckyKate.

Becky is a celebrant who makes getting married feel effortless, meaningful and genuinelyfun.

Whether you’re signing papers at the kitchen bench, sneaking away for a secret elopement or celebrating in style with 200 of your favourite humans, she’s all about creatingaceremonythatfeelsunmistakably you.

Big and bold? Short and sweet? Romantic with a cheeky twist? Becky crafts unique, light-hearted ceremonies that are both personalised and full of heartfelt moments. Her glowing five-star Google reviews speak forthemselves-couplesabsolutelyloveher.

With a background in hospitality, hotels and events, Becky’s approach is all heart. She blends professionalism with warmth, humour and genuine care, becoming the organiser, storyteller and calming presence thatyoudidn’tknowyouneeded. When she’s not marrying lovers, you will find her soaking up the sunshine, baking, curled up by an open fire, or indulging in cheese, wine and chocolate with her favourite people because she believes every great moment deserves a littleindulgence.

Ready to start planning the ceremony you’ve been dreaming of? Contact Becky today.Geelongbased,buthappytotravel.

celebrantbeckykate.com.au

Travel from Geelong to the Apple Isle in style on a tourism icon

If you’ve been dreaming of a road-trip adventure through Tasmania’s wild landscapes, now is the perfect time to makeithappen,especiallywhenoneofthe world’stopholidaydestinationsisvirtually onyourdoorstep.

Recently named Travel + Leisure’s Best Place to Visit in 2025, Tasmania has never been more accessible for locals thanks to SpiritofTasmania’sseamlessgatewayright hereinGeelong.

Since23October2022,SpiritofTasmania has operated from its purpose-built terminal at Spirit of Tasmania Quay. The precinct features modern facilities, a scenic waterfront boardwalk, undercover parking, a cafe, a children’s play area and a pet exercise zone. With space for up to 600 cars in the marshalling area, the processissmooth,efficientandremarkably convenient for travellers across Geelong, theSurfCoastandtheBellarine.

Bringyourownvehicleonboard–whether it’sacar,4WD,campervanorcaravan–and enjoy the freedom of exploring Tasmania without airport queues, hire-car shortages orextrainsurancecosts.

With no luggage limits, you can pack everything you need: camping gear, mountainbikes,surfboardsorfishinggear.

And you’ll have plenty of room to bring backTasmania’sworld-renownedproduce, whiskyandcool-climatewines.

Once on board, relax and enjoy the journey. The ship features three bars, including Bar 7 offering Tasmanian wines, gins, craft beers and live music; the Terrace Lounge with open seating and TVs; and the Top Deck Lounge with deck chairs,syntheticgrassandsweepingviews

Dining is easy too, with the Tasmanian Market Kitchen serving marketplace-style meals and The Pantry stocking snacks, sandwichesandlocaltreats.

Families are well catered for with two cinemas showing the latest releases, a games arcade, a kids’ play area and a quiet reading room. Travellers can choose from deluxe or private cabins, or save

with recliner seating offering panoramic views. Pet owners can bring their pets, with kennels available for four-legged companions.

In 2026, Spirit of Tasmania will welcome two new vessels – Spirit IV and Spirit

V – offering more cabins, more space, expanded vehicle capacity and higher lanesidealforcaravansandlargeroff-road setups. These next-generation ships will

elevate the travel experience even further forGeelongandVictorianholidaymakers. So why wait? One of the world’s most celebrated destinations is a simple drive downthehighway.Yourholidaybeginsthe moment you board in Geelong – and with SpiritofTasmaniamakingTasmaniacloser and easier than ever, there’s no better time to explore our island neighbour. Book now andsetsailtotheadventureofalifetime.

Geelong: The Gateway to Tasmania Gateway to

unlimited

The first choice for GP care is Belmont Family Medical

Choose Belmont Family Medical and Bulkbilling Clinic (BFMC) as your first choice for medical care, with a newly expanded team ready to support you.

Principal general practitioner Dr Mathew Hargreaves and the clinic’s existing team of doctors, including Tristan Crowe, Loke Ho, Gaya Ekanayake, Mun Yoong and Lew Morris, are excited to welcome four new doctors to the team.

Permanent part-time doctors Tim Blake and Caroline Taylor-Walker, along with temporary doctors Vijay Ng and Monique Couch, will now offer their special care to patients through the clinic.

Following the bulk billing changes in November, BFMC are now pleased to provide a fully bulk billing alternative to Geelong and surrounding families.

Patients with current eligible medicare carecardswillnotpayanythingforquality medical care, and with a neighbouring pharmacy, pathology and imaging; BFMC is your first call for all your medical needs.

The fully accredited practice offers a comprehensive range of medical services, including preventive health management, childhood vaccinations, and prescription management.

Theclinicoffersservicesforemergencies, injuries, minor surgical procedures, skin checks, suturing, vaccines, pap smears, flu vaccines, ECG, plasters and ear lavage.

The staff can also assist with patient concerns in relation to family health, acute care, chronic disease, skin cancer, laceration, and mental health.

BFMC is a strictly walk-in clinic and does not make appointments, so patients need to present to the clinic for an on-the-day appointment.

Patients will then be triaged by staff and added to the line of patients waiting, and, whilst it is impossible to predict wait times, the increased number of doctors in the clinic will help reduce wait times.

BFMC also offers a service where people can leave the clinic and receive a text message when it is almost their turn to

BFMC is open every day (excluding Christmas Day and Easter Sunday) and offers long hours of 7am to 6pm from Mondays to Fridays and 7.30am to 1.30pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

New patients are welcome to experience

Start your journey towards better care today by visiting the clinic in person, online at belmontbulkbillingclinic.com. au or by calling 03 5241 3000 for more information.

We are Geelong We are

Sherridon Homes is building a bright future for Geelong

AsVictoria’sNo1Builder,SherridonHomes is proud to have deep roots in Geelong and the surrounding region, an area where growth and community spirit continue to thrive.

Our commitment to the region has never been stronger, and today, our Sherridon Homes Geelong operation stands as one of themostsignificantpillarsofourbusiness.

With a fully resourced team of 26 local staff, our Geelong Sherridon Homes office brings together a wealth of industry experience all under one roof. Every team member lives locally, understands the unique characteristics of the region, and takes pride in building quality homes for ourclientsatanaffordableprice.

This local expertise allows us to deliver a more personal, seamless, and responsive building experience, because for us, it’s not just about building homes, it’s about contributing to the community we’re part of.

Under the leadership of general manager Troy Shaw, our Geelong presence has grown into a powerhouse of regional capability. Troy, a born-and-bred local, is a registered building practitioner with more than 20 years’ experience delivering homesthroughoutGeelong,SurfCoastand Western Victoria. His deep understanding of the local market and hands-on approach ensureseveryhomeisbuiltwiththequality, craftsmanship, and care that Sherridon Homesisknownfor.

We’reseeingaconsistentincreaseinnew home sales across the Geelong and Surf Coast over the past six months, a positive indicator that confidence is returning to thenew-housemarket.Ourclientsareonce

again planning, dreaming, and making long-term decisions, and we’re incredibly proud to be the builder they trust to turn thoseplansintoreality.

To support this growing demand and to strengthen our long-term commitment to the Geelong region, construction will soon begin on our new purpose-built office located along Melbourne Road in Rippleside.

This space is designed to bring our team, ourcustomers,andourcommunitypartners even closer together. With construction starting early in the new year, we cannot

waitforthisprojecttocometolife.Thenew Geelong office will act as a central hub for innovation, collaboration, and customer support.

Thisexcitingperiodofgrowthalsocomes at a significant moment for our wider business. As we evolve to meet the future needs of Victorian homebuyers, we are proud to introduce Mirrastone, formerly knownasAHBGroup.

Mirrastone unifies eight specialised businesses, each bringing its own resources,expertise,andstrengthstogether under one strong parent company. This

alignment allows us to deliver even greater value,consistency,andconfidencetoevery customer,ensuringamorestreamlinedand elevatedexperiencefromstarttofinish. WithastronglocalfoundationinGeelong and the launch of Mirrastone shaping our next chapter, we’re building more than homes - we’re building a stronger future for Victorian families, one community at a time.

Amanda is the go-to woman for tractors, farm machinery

When you think of Geelong, you might picture the waterfront, bustling streets, andlocalcafes.

But just over in Fyansford, among tractors, mowers, and farm machinery, one local businesswoman is turning headsandmakingabigimpact.

Amanda Davies, better known as The Tractor Lady, is the powerhouse behind Geelong Rural, trusted go-to for farmers, tradespeople, and locals throughout the region.

Just over nine years ago, Amanda and her husband Bryan took a leap and purchased Geelong Rural. While Bryan, aqualifieddieselmechanic,jumpedright into the daily running of the workshop with all the servicing and repairs, it was a verydifferentstoryforAmanda.

With a corporate career behind her and zero tractor knowledge or experience, Amanda decided to grab the bull by the horns and become the salesperson for Geelong Rural and sell tractors and farm machinery. Amanda studied the specifications of every Kioti tractor, researched attachments and implements and of course got behind the wheel and learnttodrivethem.

In a very male dominated industry, it can be hard to break through the stigma that women don’t own tractor dealerships and don’t sell tractors, but Amanda has cut through the BS and really showed people that success is built on hard work, dedicationandsacrifice.

Sheer determination and passion have earned Amanda the title of The Tractor Lady.

Her natural warmth, big personality,

bright pink lipstick and honest down-to-earth style quickly earned her the nickname, setting her apart in the tractorsalesindustry.Ifyou’veeverfound yourself stuck behind a bus in Geelong or glanced up at a local billboard, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve seen The TractorLadysmilingatyou.

ThankstoAmanda’sleadership,Geelong Rural has become the region’s trusted destination for reliable farm machinery. From Kioti tractors and skid steers to Bad Boy mowers, Bobcat forklifts, and STIHL equipment, their carefully curated range delivers the performance and reliability farmerscounton.

Geelong Rural has earned recognition for its award-winning sales and standout customerservice.ButforAmanda,success goes far beyond the numbers. Every customer who walks through the door is

welcomed as part of the Geelong Rural family. She listens, asks questions, and takes the time to ensure they get exactly what they need. Under her leadership, the business has become a place where genuine relationships carry just as much weightasthemachinesthemselves.

Balancing a business, three young children,andanactiveroleinthefarming community is no easy feat. But Amanda handles it all with a mix of humour, determination, and a clear sense of purpose. She’s surrounded herself with a team that shares her values - people who trulycareabouttheircustomersandtheir community. Because of her approach, Geelong Rural feels warm, welcoming, along with a combination of expertise, care, and community spirit that has madeGeelongRuralatrusteddestination acrosstheregion.

Amanda’s story resonates with the people of Geelong because she’s not just a business owner. She’s a local who understands farming, the challenges tradespeople face, and the hopes of familieswhocallthisregionhome. Every decision she makes at Geelong Rural reflects that connection from supporting farmers with reliable machinery to creating a welcoming space whereeveryonefeelsvalued.

Amanda is paving the way for the next generation of women in agriculture by inspiring them to be the best versions of themselves, to be strong and believe in yourself.

Her leadership isn’t about following a formula. It’s about carving her own path, guided by integrity, care, and a genuine commitment to the people around her. Through Amanda, Geelong Rural has become more than a place to buy equipment - it’s a hub of community, trust,andsharedpurpose.

Celebrating Amanda Davies and Geelong Rural is celebrating the spirit of Geelongitself.

Resourceful, welcoming, and committed to community, she demonstrates that local business is about more than products - it is about people and relationships. The Tractor Lady is proof that determination, heart, and a genuine connection to the community can make a difference every day. Amanda and her team are helping shape the region, one tractor, one conversation, and onecustomeratatime.

ThatiswhatWeAreGeelongisallabout andAmandaDaviesembodiesitfully.

Belmont has a new medical practice

Amara Medical Geelong is a brand new generalpracticeintheheartofBelmont.

It is perfectly positioned on High Street, neighbouring sports rehabilitation and strengthconditioningcentres.

WewantedtocreatemorethanjustaGP clinic; a space for individuals and families to not only experience excellent health care but to take charge of their health management in a professional and caring environment – looking after every stage of life.

Our well-known general practitioners are Dr Monique Couch, Dr Ella Aston,

Dr Deb Harley, Dr Katharine Dally, Dr Keerthy Sen Chavali, Dr Karl Symonds, Dr Vijay Ng and Dr Liza Thopill joining us in 2026.

Theyofferawiderangeofservicessuchas family medicine, vaccinations, paediatric medicine, menopause support, ADHD treatments in adults, women’s health, contraceptive advice including IUD insertions, chronic disease management, mental health management, preventative healthappointmentsandpalliativecare.

At Amara Medical we have onsite pathology and allied health services,

such as podiatry, dietetics, psychologyandvasectomies.

Amara Medical has a fully equipped procedure room so our doctors can treat lacerations,emergencies,skin excisions, women’s health procedures, iron infusions, spirometryandchildhoodvaccinations.

Our patients are also invited to attend our bi-monthly health information evenings,onawiderangeofhealthtopics. For more information see amaramedical. com.au

Amara Medical Geelong, at Shop1A/110-112 High Street, Belmont, is your new home for your medical care. Call our friendly staff on 5240 8212 to make an appointment or book via amaramedical.com.au today.

No job is too big or too small

Hello everyone,

My name is Lloyd Kennedy and I am the director of LC Carpentry & Maintenance Services.

I have been running my business since January 2020. At first I started out doing little handyman jobs for extra pocket money while working a full-time job, until May 2021 when I decided to quit my job and start a partnershipwithmybestfriendand becoming a full-time carpenter/ handyman.

Since then, I took over the business and bought my partner out and now have three apprentices working for me and still doing what I love for the last 15 years.

From building brand-new decks and pergolas to little handyman jobs, no job is too big or too small. We do it all and have proudly been servicing the community for the last five years.

If you need any handyman jobs done around your place, please feel free to contact me on 0402 632 039 or lccarpentry21@ outlook.com

LC Carpentry & Maintenance Services director Lloyd Kennedy.

Where

Since opening its doors in 2021, Cro Care has become a proud reflection of Geelong’s Croatian community - a home built on faith, culture, and compassion.

CroCarecontinuestheCroatiantradition ofcaringforourelderswithdignity,respect, and love.

Guided by Catholic values, our residents aresupportednotonlythroughprofessional clinicalcare,butalsothroughspiritualand cultural connection.

RegularMass,pastoralvisits,andcultural celebrations are part of everyday life,

fostering a sense of peace and belonging. While proudly rooted in Croatian heritage,CroCarewelcomesresidentsfrom allbackgroundswhovaluecommunityand care. With freshly prepared meals, engaging lifestyle programs, and 24/7 nursing support, Cro Care offers a safe, family-oriented environment where residents feel truly at home. At Cro Care, we honour the past, care for thepresent,andembracethefuture-where culture and compassion meet.

A new era at the waterfront thanks to hotel development

On 23 January 2026, Geelong’s waterfront will welcome its most significant new landmark in decades: the long-anticipated CrownePlazaGeelong.

A premium hotel with contemporary design, the $120 million development representsastrongcommitmenttothecity’s evolution as a premier tourism, events, and lifestyledestination.

Hotel general manager John Dickson is a leader with more than 20 years’ experience managingmajorhotelsacrossAustraliaand NewZealand.Alreadyapassionatemember of the Geelong community, John is proud to have the opportunity to lead this landmark project.

“It’s an honour to be tasked with building a talented team of locals that can provide guests with the premium experience that Crowne Plaza is famous for around the world,” John says. “This is a marquee investmentinGeelong,andIwanttoensure we get it right – bringing in the best people to provide the best service to locals and visitors.”

His enthusiasm reflects a sentiment shared across the city: Crowne Plaza Geelong isn’t just another hotel; it is a statement. A long-awaited moment. A new chapterintheregion’sstory.

Situated at the waterfront, Crowne Plaza Geelong will offer 200 guest rooms and suites, with half boasting uninterrupted water views and the remainder framing the vibrant city skyline. Several accessible rooms ensure the hotel is welcoming for all travellers.

Designed for both business and leisure, thehotelincludes:

•Flexible meeting and event spaces, all

overlookingthebay

•Aground-levelcafe,idealforcasualdining andafreshgrab-and-gooffering

•A Level 1 trattoria and bar with Italian dininginspiredbythecoastalcharmof •Italy and the flavours of Geelong and the Bellarine

•A Level 10 Skybar – a first-of-its-kind attractioninGeelongandregionalVictoria

•Agymandindoorheatedswimmingpool

Take in Geelong’s most breathtaking bay views from Skybar, the only venue at this height in Geelong located directly on the waterfront. This modern, stylish space blends premium service with a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, making it perfect foranyoccasion.Sipcraftedcocktails,enjoy local wines, beers, and spirits, or share

elevated plates showcasing the region’s finestproduce.

The ground-floor cafe and Level 1 restaurant and bar will complement the energy of the waterfront, providing new spaces for locals to gather, dine, and experience the best of what Geelong has to offer.

With expansive floor to ceiling windows capturing stunning bay views, creating an unforgettable backdrop for every occasion. From corporate meetings and conferences to elegant dinners, milestone celebrations, and waterfront weddings, each space is designed to elevate events and leave a lastingimpression.

Crowne Plaza Geelong is fully funded by leading infrastructure developer Plenary

Group and is being operated by IHG Hotels & Resorts under the Crowne Plaza brand. It forms part of more than $250 million being invested by Plenary in Geelong’s waterfront precinct, including associated retail, commercial,andmixed-usespaces.

With direct connection to Crowne Plaza Geelong, Plenary is also delivering the transformative Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre, opening 1 July 2026. This is one of the most significant civic investments in regional Australia and is set to elevate Geelong’s reputation as a world-class conference and event destination.

Plenary chief executive Paul Crowe says the investment reflects Geelong’s emerging prominence.

“Plenary’s investment backs the future of Geelong as the beating heart of some of the greatest tourism attractions in Australia, including world-class wine, produce, tourism attractions and major eventscomingoutofGeelong,theBellarine Peninsula, the Surf Coast, and the Great OceanRoad,”hesays.

With the hotel opening on 23 January 2026, anticipation is already building. Locals, businesses, tourism operators, and visitors alike are watching closely as the projectnearscompletion.

To celebrate the launch, bookings are now open, accompanied by an opening offer: be the first to experience Crowne PlazaGeelongwitharelaxingstayincluding buffet breakfast for two and a $50 food and beverage credit. The offer is available for bookings made before 23 April 2026 for stays up until 30 December 2026, subject to availability.

We are Geelong We are

Recycle North Geelong helps make decluttering easier

In a city that’s always growing and changing, it’s often the behind-the-scenes local businesses that quietly keep Geelong runningsmoothly.

Recycle North Geelong is one of those businesses – an everyday essential that’s helping residents clear clutter, dispose responsibly and keep our neighbourhoods lookingtheirbest.

Conveniently located in Furner Avenue, North Geelong and open Monday to Saturdayfrom7.30amto5pm,theteamhas builtareputationforbeingmorethanjusta drop-offpoint.

Locals know it as a place where friendly staff lend a hand, unloading trailers, answering questions and making the entireexperiencethatlittlebiteasier.

Whether you’re doing a weekend clean-out, renovating, downsizing or managing a business, the goal is simple: make waste disposal stress-free and accessible.

WhatsetsRecycleNorthGeelongapartis itscommitmenttodoingtherightthingfor thecommunityandtheenvironment.

While many assume a transfer station is just for expensive tip runs, this local business has worked hard to provide clarity,transparencyandgenuinevalue.

A wide range of common household items can be dropped off quickly and affordably,andmanymaterials–including cardboard, scrap metal, car batteries, selected e-waste, printer cartridges, paint (up to 100 litres) and whitegoods – are acceptedfreeofcharge.

The station also offers responsible disposal for tricky materials such as polystyreneandproblemwaste,takingthe

guessworkoutofwhatgoeswhere.

With clear signage, helpful directions and a focus on recycling, the team is actively reducing landfill and encouraging residents to make environmentally sound choiceswithoutthehassle.

But perhaps the biggest impact is the human one. In an era where customer service often feels rushed or impersonal, North Geelong Transfer Station stands out

foritscommunity-firstapproach.

Staff are on hand to guide you, greet you with a smile and help unload – something many locals say has become one of the standoutreasonstheykeepreturning.

AsGeelongcontinuestogrow,businesses such as Recycle North Geelong play an important role in supporting the way we live – cleaner homes, cleaner streets and a cleanerfuture.

If you haven’t visited before, or you’ve been unsure about what you can bring or how it all works, this is your sign to drop in and experience a smoother, more supportiveapproachtowastedisposal.

Recycle North Geelong: making responsible disposal easier, friendlier and closerthanyouthink.

More information recycle.net.au

We are Geelong We are

Empowering people with disabilities via home ownership

When Empowered Liveability first began, itsfounderssharedaboldvision–tomake home ownership a reality for people with disabilities.

Whatstartedasanambitiousdreamhas now become a movement changing lives acrossAustralia.

In the early days, the path was anything but easy. Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) was still an emerging concept, and few understood how it worked. The team behind Empowered Liveability spent countless hours knocking on the doors of lenders, only to hear the same answer: “It’s too risky,toonew.”

But instead of giving up, they refined theirmodels,developednewpartnerships, and built evidence to show that SDA housing is not just about accessibility –it is about independence, security and long-termstability.

Through perseverance, innovation, and a deep understanding of the NDIS, the Empowered Liveability team is gradually turningscepticismintosupport.

The company is working tirelessly to educate financial institutions about the economic and social value of SDA home ownership, demonstrating that people with disabilities are not just tenants – they are capable, determined individuals who deserve the same opportunities to build equityandstabilityasanyoneelse.

Today, the results speak for themselves. Empowered Liveability’s home ownership arm, Empowered Housing, has guided multiple participants through the life-changing process of building and owningtheirownSDAhomes–something

thatseemedimpossiblelessthanadecade ago.

Take Dyson, for example. After a spinal cordinjuryonthefootballfield,hereturned home to his family home, only to have to resideinthegarage.Reliantoninformation from local generic builders, and uncertain of his housing future, Dyson connected with Nicole Doherty, CEO of Empowered Liveability, and was introduced to the EmpoweredHousingteam.

He is now the proud owner of his own purpose-built SDA home. Every

room reflects his independence – wide hallways,adaptivetechnology,andspaces designed specifically for his lifestyle such as a gaming room and outdoor barbecue kitchen. His story is a shining example of whathappenswhenpolicymeetspurpose.

Soon, Thai will join him in this growing group of Empowered homeowners. His build is currently underway, marking anothermilestoneforEmpoweredHousing and a powerful symbol of progress for the entireSDAcommunity.

While the journey has been marked by

trial, error, and relentless perseverance, Empowered Liveability, through Empowered Housing’s success has redefinedwhatispossible.

The company has proven that, with the right expertise and determination, people with disabilities can not only access qualityhousing,theycanownit.

Empowered Housing continues to lead withinnovationandheart,pavingtheway forafuturewheredisabilityisnotabarrier to independence, but a foundation for empowerment.

Lives can be transformed with All-On-X dental implants

For many people living with failing teeth, chronic dental pain or dentures that never quite feel secure, day-to-day life can becomeaquietstruggle.

Eating feels limited. Smiling becomes something to hide. Confidence slowly fades.

AtNorlaneDentalAesthetics&Implants, these are the stories patients share every week-stories that ultimately end in the same breathtaking transformation thanks toAll-On-XDentalImplants.

All-On-X full-arch implant restoration is more than a dental procedure; it is the chance to reclaim the function, comfort and confidence people once believed was lost forever. Patients who once avoided chewy foods, suffered digestive issues, or hesitated in social situations find themselves able to eat freely, laugh openly andre-engagewithlife.

Theimprovementsextendfarbeyondthe smile: restored chewing function supports betternutrition,healthierdigestion,clearer speechandanundeniableliftinemotional wellbeing.

Leading the Norlane Dental team who perform these transformations is principal dentist Dr Rashi Gupta, one of Victoria’s leading dental implant surgeons. With morethan24yearsofexperience,DrGupta is widely recognised for her meticulous skill, her compassion, and her unwavering dedicationtoexcellence.Shehascompleted some of the most advanced implant training programs in the world-including theMISEsparzaProgram,theGIDEMaster Clinician Programme in Los Angeles, advancedzygomaticandpterygoidimplant training across Brazil, Portugal and the

USA, and the prestigious ACDP Oral ImplantsPost-GraduateDiploma.

Norlane Dental’s commitment to mastery has made them one of the most sought-after teams for complex full-arch cases-particularly for patients who have been told elsewhere that implants aren’t possible.

In addition to her clinical expertise, Dr Gupta is known for her ability to turn obstacles into opportunities, a quality highlighted when she was named a Global WomenLeaderin2022byPassionVistaand featured in Bite Magazine. Her dedication topatientcarehasalsoseenNorlaneDental Aesthetics & Implants awarded the 2025 Customer Service Award at the Geelong Business Excellence Awards. The clinic was also a finalist for Employer of Choice, Corporate Social Responsibility, Medium to Large Business, and one of only seven finalistsforBusinessoftheYear-reflectinga team culture built on excellence, empathy andgenuinecommunityimpact.

WhattrulysetsAll-On-XapartatNorlane Dental is the life-changing consistency of patient outcomes. People who arrive anxious,embarrassedorinpainleavewith renewed confidence, newfound health and asmiletheycan’tstopsharing.

And almost every patient says the same thing afterwards: “I wish I had done this sooner.”

If you’re considering dental implants, or simply want to understand your options, bookyourfreedentalimplantsconsultation todayatnorlanedental.com.au

Because a healthier, happier, more confident life starts with taking that first step.

We are Geelong We are

Jellis Craig supports property owners and businesses

Whetheryouarebuying,sellingorrenting, a longtime Geelong resident or new to our remarkablecityandregion,theJellisCraig Geelongteamworkstirelesslytomeetyour real estate needs and ensures a first-class outcomeforyourproperty.

Our directors Marcus Falconer, Renee Reynolds and Jeff Begg are three of Geelong’s most respected, trusted and successful real estate professionals, with a proventrackrecordofeliteperformance.

Their collective experience spans decadesacrossresidentialandcommercial sales, property management, property valuation and large-scale portfolio advisory.

Marcus brings more than 28 years of leadership across the Geelong region; Renee has more than 25 years of specialist propertymanagementexpertise;andJeffis recognised for his strategic, detail-driven approach to complex negotiations. Together, they lead a team known for professionalism,integrityandresults.

Jellis Craig Geelong leverages a wealth of property experience, expertise in property valuation and assessment, has a vast network of prequalified buyers and prospective vendors, and has the most experienced and largest property managementofficewithintheregion.

This extensive reach is strengthened by the broader Jellis Craig network, which includes more than 40 offices across Victoria and a buyer database in the millions. For clients, this means exposure tounmatchedmarketingchannels,deeper competition among buyers, and stronger, data-backed insights that support smarter decisionmaking.

Our property management division is oneofthemostrespectedintheregionand was made even stronger by the integration of Release Property Management Geelong into the Jellis Craig network. This merger expandednotonlytheteam’ssize,butalso its systems, processes and depth of local marketunderstanding.

established homes, high-end rentals and multi-property portfolios, clients receive a level of service that is comprehensive and strategicallyalignedtotheirgoals.

Our property managers take a proactive and preventative approach, ensuring every investment is meticulously cared for, retained to a high standard, and positioned to achieve long-term growth. With specialists dedicated to new builds,

Our focus on client servicehasestablishedJellis Craig Geelong’s unrivalled reputationforworkingacross the full range of property types and each client qualifies as our most-valued customer while delivering a superior service. Whether it’s a heritage home in Geelong West, a contemporary family residence in Highton, an investment townhouse in Armstrong Creek, or a coastal property across the Surf Coast, our team applies the samelevelofprecision,market intelligenceandpersonalisedguidance. We believe informed clients make stronger property decisions. That is why our team provides clear communication, transparent advice, accurate on-the-ground market updates and an honestassessmentofeveryopportunity. Our sales and leasing strategies are tailored individually - backed by strong negotiation capability, intelligent marketing and a commitment to securing premiumresultsinanymarketcondition. Contact our office today to discuss your property requirements. We promise to be alongside you every step of the way, ensuring confidence at each stage of your real estate journey and delivering outcomes that stand above industry standards.

We are Geelong We are

Grovedale’s bouldering-only gym is perfect for climbing

Industry Boulders is the plastic paradise you’vebeenlookingfor.

We are a bouldering-only gym, which means you don’t need ropes or a harness, justcomeinandclimb.

Located in Grovedale we are home to more than 200 square metres of climbing walls with an ever-changing selection of climbsonthemandarangeofdifficulties.

Boulderingisadisciplineofrockclimbing that is rope free where climbers will climb up to 4.3-metres high over a bed of purposely designed foam mats. Climbers use their hands and feet to navigate routes that require strength, balance, and problem-solvingskills.

Wehaveroughly70climbsuponthewall thatvaryinstyleanddifficulty.Cateringfor everyone from first timers to experienced climbers over a range of walls that include technical slab to powerful cave and overhang.

Regardless of if you are a climber who needs a pick me up or a tired supporting friend watching, we also have a small cafe where we can make all kinds of caffeinated drinks courtesy of locally roasted beans from Geelong Coffee roasters. As well as pizza ovens where we can make you one of ourdeliciouspizzas.

We also have training boards upstairs for members use only which includes a MoonBoard and a Spray Wall. If you are looking for more training equipment, we also have a small gym that contains everything you need to further your climbingprogression.

No prior climbing experience is required togiveboulderingago.Ifit’syourfirsttime climbingatIndustryBouldersyoucanmake

the most of our free climbing shoe hire on your first visit. Children 15 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Thereisnoagelimitatourfacility.

However, our climbs can be height

dependant which are more so achievable by participants 10 years and older. Climbs may be difficult for younger participants dependingontheirabilities.

To learn more about what we do here at

Industry Boulders check out our Instagram andourwebsiteformoreinformation. Whether you’re a climbing veteran, wide-eyed newbie, or fitness fanatic, you’ll findyourhomehere.

Discover Geelong’s best

Bellarine Removals

We’re a family-owned business with a genuine passion for helping people move intothenextchapteroftheirlives.

We have owned Bellarine Removals for over 14 years and purchased Ocean Grove Removalstwoyearsago.

Whetherit’sahomerelocation,abusiness move, or short or long term removal and or removal and storage whilst you redecorate, we bring experience, care, and the right toolstomakeithappensmoothly.

Our team is known for being reliable, professional,andeasytoworkwithshowing up on time, handling your belongings with careandgettingthejobdoneright.

ProudlyservingGeelongandsurrounding areas, we focus on making your move as simpleandstress-freeaspossible,nomatter thesizeordistance.

Salon Eve

Stepping into Salon Eve feels like entering a calm,creativeretreat.

With lush greenery, local artwork, and a welcoming atmosphere, this local favourite has built its reputation on connection and confidence.

Thetalentedteamofstylistsareknownfor their down-to-earth nature and expertise in lived-in blondes, creative colour, and precision haircuts that effortlessly suit each client’s lifestyle. Every appointment is a personalised experience where listening comesfirstandconfidencefollows.

At Salon Eve, hair isn’t just styled, it’s thoughtfully crafted to look and feel salon-perfecteveryday.

Fine Finish Floors

It all started in 1992 with Peter Walker, who believed that his neighbours in Geelong deserved flooring made with fine quality andaprofessionalfinish.

He followed his vision and established Fine Finish Floors. With his honest workmanship and reasonable prices, it didn’ttakelongforthebusinesstotakeoff.

What makes us stand out is our unmatched range of sanding and polishing services. We also rise above other flooring companies with our additional services, including installation, staining, concrete polishingandmore.

From homeowners to business owners, we’ve worked with all types of clients. With our experience, we can work with any flooringtype,nomatterhowolditmaybe.

HJV Creative Images

Capture life’s real moments with HJV Creative Images.

From heartfelt weddings to lively events, from family adventures to glowing maternity and sweet newborn sessions, yourstorydeservestobephotographedwith

care,creativityandgenuineconnection.

We specialise in relaxed, natural imagery that feels authentic, never forced. Whether you’recelebratinglove,welcomingababyor gathering the whole family, we make every sessionfun,easyandmemorable.

Book your session today and let’s create photosyou’lltreasureforyears.

Geelong Legal

Since opening its doors in 2018, Geelong Legal has become a trusted local law firm, recognised for support of the Geelong community.

Led by principal lawyer Andrew Alexander, the firm assists individuals, families,businessesandorganisationswith a wide range of legal matters, including family law, wills and probate, commercial lawandlitigation.

Geelong Legal is known for its commitment to understanding each client’s circumstances and providing clear, informed guidance at each step of the legal process,ensuringclientsfeelsupportedand welladvised.

Withastrongunderstandingoftheregion and a genuine commitment to local people, the firm has earned its place in Geelong’s landscapeandremainsdedicatedtoserving thecommunityformanyyearstocome.

Minya Winery

Minya Winery is the oldest family winery operatingintheGeelongregion.

Many things have changed within the industry over the past 52 years, but some things have remained the same. Quality andvalue.

The Dans family have been farming in Connewarreformorethan100yearsandare proud of working with and helping nature. Expanding the wetlands and continuing revegetationhasincreasedourbirdcountto 158differentspecies.Fortunately,notalleat grapes.

We have a variety of red and white wines foryoutochoosefrom.

Appointment only, phone 0408-312 865. Black Friday and Christmas specials available.

Ocean Air Yoga

Ifyouwantafunanduniquewaytosupport your body and mind, come and ‘hang out’ withusatOceanAirYoga.

Experience the tranquility of Australia’s most beautiful Aerial Yoga studio, located inBreakwater,Geelong.

We offer a diverse range of kids and adult classesforallabilities.

Classes include: Intro to aerial, restore, floating sound bath, slow flow & flow yoga, aerial dance, kids playshops and term classesplusmore.

Email:hello@oceanairyoga.com.au

Where everyone comes together

SouthGeelongFarmersMarketisGeelong’s longest-runningauthenticfarmers’market.

It is a place where farmers, families, and neighbours come together to celebrate seasonal,locallygrownfood.

Each visit offers the chance to meet the people who grow and make your produce and to enjoy the changing rhythms of the seasons.

With more than 50 stalls, you’ll find everything from sourdough bread, free-range eggs, fresh fish, small-scale meat producers, goats’ cheese and milk, olive oil, honey, fruit, vegetables, and other pantry staples. There are also homemade meals, pasta, tofu, artisan treats, and even

goodiesforyourdog.

WeoperateonthefirstandthirdSundays of each month at South Geelong Primary School, on the corner of Kilgour and Yarra Streets.

Enjoy freshly brewed coffee, delicious ready-to-eat food, live local musicians, a petting zoo, and kids’ craft activities. Bring your family, your dog (on a short lead), and yourneighbours-everyone’swelcome.

South Geelong Farmers Market is an experienceforallsenses-aplacetoconnect witheachother,theland,andthefoodsthat sustainus.

Support Local. Share Joy. Taste Connection.

ArmstrongGreenbyBoltonClarke Where Retirement Livng Becomes Retirement Loving

Nestledatthegateway toVictoria’sSurfCoast, ArmstrongGreenbyBolton Clarkeredefinesretirementliving withavibrant,connectedcommunity andbeautifullydesignedvillas. Thispremiumdevelopmentismorethan justaplacetolive—it’salifestyledestination wherecoastalcharmmeetscommunity spirit,andeverydayisanopportunityto thrive.Whetheryou’reenjoyingamorning coffeeinyourprivatecourtyard,joining friendsforagameofbowls,orexploringthe nearbybeachesandwineries,Armstrong Greenoffersalifestylethatcelebrates independence,wellbeing,andjoy.

THEVILLAGE

Designedforlivingwell

ArmstrongGreenisacontemporary retirementvillagelocatedat722–742 BarwonHeadsRoad,ArmstrongCreek.The villagefeaturesspacious,single-levelvillas withtwoorthreebedrooms,open-plan living,andprivateoutdoorpatios—perfect forentertainingorrelaxing.

Residentsenjoyaccessto:

• Abeautifullyappointedclubhouse

• Heatedindoorswimmingpoolandspa

• Competition-sizedbowlinggreen

• Onsitegym,hairsalon,&pamperroom

• Libraryandvegetablegarden

Securityand24-hour emergencycallsystem

Securityandaccessibilityareprioritised withsecuregarages,widehallways,and thoughtfuldesignfeaturesthatsupport ageinginplace.Withnoupfrontdeposit,no salesorlegalcosts,andademocratically electedCommitteeofManagement, ArmstrongGreenoffersarefreshing approachtoretirementliving.

THEVILLAS

Stylish,comfortable,connected

EachvillaatArmstrongGreenisahaven ofcomfortandpracticality.Designedwith retireesinmind,thehomesfeature:

• Spaciouslayoutswithbedrooms andbathroomsatoppositeends

• Modernkitchenswithqualityfinishes

• Ductedheatingandcooling

• Privatecourtyardsandsecuregarages

• Seamlessindoor-outdoorflow

Whetheryou’rehostingthegrandkidsfor asleepoverorenjoyingaquietafternoon withabook,thesevillasoffertheperfect blendofindependenceandconnection. Residentsbenefitfromalow-maintenance, lock-up-and-leavelifestyle,supportedby BoltonClarke’strustedreputationand professionalonsiteteam.

WhyArmstrongCreek isagreatareatoretire

ArmstrongCreekisoneofVictoria’s fastest-growingcommunities,offering retireestheperfectmixofcoastalbeauty andurbanconvenience.Locatedjust14 minutesfromGeelongandTorquay,the villageiscloseto:

• WarralilyShoppingCentre (supermarkets,cafés,medicalcentres)

• Stunningbeachesandwalkingtrails

• Renownedwineriesandgolfcourses

• Publictransportandmajorhospitals

RegulareventsatArmstrongGreen, includingcomplimentaryluncheswith liveentertainmentandguestspeakers, fosteralivelysocialcalendarandstrong communitybonds.Fromfashionshows tofinancialseminars,there’salways somethinghappening.

Stepintoathoughtfullydesignedvillathatblendscomfort,style,and functionality.Theheartofthehome—astunningkitchenwithabutler’s pantry—flowsseamlesslyintoopen-planlivinganddiningspaces,extending toanundercoveralfrescoandwelcomingfrontveranda.

AsaresidentofArmstrongGreen,you’llhaveexclusiveaccesstoaluxurious, resort-styleclubhouseandavibrantcommunitylifestyledesignedfor relaxation,connection,andwellbeing.

PLEASE

Move to protect heritage

By Matt Hewson

Geelong councillors hope the introduction of new guidelines around heritage buildings to the municipal planning scheme will safeguard the region’sarchitecturalhistory.

Council adopted the Greater Geelong Heritage Design Guidelines 2025 this week, with the City to request the planning minister to authorise the preparation and exhibition of an amendment to incorporate them into theplanningscheme.

The new guidelines are intended to help property owners, developers, designers,consultantsandCityheritage place managers to interpret the City’s heritage overlay laws to preserve buildings of historical significance whilefacilitatingdevelopment.

Councillor Andrew Katos, chair of theCity’splanningcommittee,saidthe updatedguidelineswerewelloverdue.

“The last time we had a refresh of (heritage guidelines) was 1997…that’s 28 years, so it was important to take anotherlookatthem,”hesaid.

Long-time heritage advocate Jennifer Bantow spoke during the council meeting, expressing both her congratulations to the City on its “comprehensive and thorough” document and her concerns around potentialgapsintheguidelines.

“Not long ago we lost two important heritage places in central Geelong -

both in Malop St - to facadism,” she said. “In 2016, Dalgety & Co at 1 Malop St was demolished except for parts of two walls. The following year, in 2017, only two external walls were partially left when the Carlton Hotel at 13 to 19 Malop Street was demolished…such a fabulous, complete Art Deco building, insideandout.”

The City’s executive director of placemaking Tennille Bradley said the new guidelines explicitly discouraged facadism.

“The guidelines clearly state that retention of only the front facadein other words, facadism - provides limited appreciation of the building’s significance,”shesaid.

“The focus is on retaining significant fabric and the building’s three-dimensional form, rather than a facade-onlyapproach.”

Councillor Anthony Aitken said in the cases Ms Bantow mentioned, the minister for planning had given approvalforthebuildings’demolition.

“In central Geelong, unfortunately, the council isn’t the relevant planning authority for (CBD developments) over 5000 square metres…the minister for planningis,”hesaid.

“But guidelines such as these we’re adoptingtonightaretryingtogivesome influence to the Geelong Authority and the planning minister about what the Geelong community wants in terms of itsCBD.”

The festive season arrives

The waterfront was packed with about 20,000 people to witness the lighting of Geelong’s floating Christmas tree and Carols by the Bay on Saturday 22 November

It kickstarted this year’s Christmas in Geelong program, injecting a projected additional $25 million into the local economy.

Carols host Denis Walter OAM and performers including the Oz Boyz, Angie Hilton, Team Dream and Santa put on a spectacular show.

ReRoute your daily routine.

In its 12th year, the floating Christmas tree was officially illuminated by Flick the Switch competition winner Charlotte Rockafeller, 6, of Manifold Heights.

The interactive floating Christmas tree will play six-minute shows every 15 minutes from 8.30pm to midnight each night until 7 January. To personalise the production from your phone, such as changing the colours, visit geelongchristmastree.com.au

 See pages 26 and 27 for more pictures from Carols by the Bay.

From humble beginnings on a Waurn Ponds paddock to becoming one of Australia’s largest and most impactful universities, Deakin University has spent 50 years shaping Geelong’s future.

But they haven’t done it alone. Along the way, philanthropy – quiet, steady and deeply community-focused –has played a defining role in helping students thrive and supporting the region’s health and economic growth.

That community support is making a real difference for students like Edward Pascoe, recipient of the 2025 Community Bank at Deakin University Rural Doctor Scholarship.

Now in his third year of the Doctor of Medicine program at Deakin’s Waurn Ponds campus, Edward said the scholarship has been life-changing.

“I don't know if I can overstate the effect of this scholarship,” Edward said.

“My plans for the future now seem possible, and easier to think about without the shadow of financial stress bearing down on me.”

“This scholarship will allow me to focus on my studies and to find balance in my life, without the added stress of the enormous financial burden that studying a full-time medical degree imparts.”

Edward grew up in Brisbane and worked as a physiotherapist before pursuing his long-held dream of becoming a doctor.

He vividly remembers the moment he saw medicine in action during a hospital placement, watching a medical team respond to a patient in crisis; an experience that solidified his ambition.

In 2022, he received his acceptance into Deakin Medical School, which was, he says “a day I’ll never forget”. His partner moved with him to Victoria, and the scholarship now allows him to stay connected with both his family in Queensland and his support network in Melbourne.

Stories like Edward’s reflect the broader impact of community generosity at Deakin. This year alone, the University awarded 93 donor-funded scholarships worth more than $1.36 million, with half supporting students from regional and remote areas and more than 85 per cent assisting those facing financial or social disadvantage.

But Deakin says there is still more to do. The University has launched its first major fundraising and connection campaign, Together, aimed at strengthening local partnerships and supporting the next generation of students, researchers and industry leaders. “It’s about connecting people to build community and support ideas that make a real difference,” Vice-Chancellor Professor Iain Martin said.

“We’re asking people who care about this region to join us in building the next 50 years.

Get involved today, and let’s make the wonderful possible.

scholarship had inspired him to want to give back to the regional and rural communities that had supported him in his training.

“I know that one day in the future, as a trained and qualified doctor, I will give back to the Deakin community in a similarly generous way to these donors,” he said.

“I hope that I can do the donors proud and serve the rural community I am currently placed in, and all of the communities in which I will work and live throughout my life.”

The community is invited to help shape the next 50 years of giving through Together

Find out more at together.deakin.edu.au

Pakington paths upgrade

AnewfootpathnetworkonPakingtonStreet in Geelong West will begin after Pako Festa isheldlatenextFebruary.

Built more than 30 years ago with bricks andpavers,sectionsofthefootpathswillbe replaced with an asphalt surface, featuring brick-edged segments measuring three metresbythreemetres.

The upgrade is part of the City of Greater Geelong’s annual asset renewal program and responds directly to continued communityrequestsforminorrepairs.

Temporary footpath closures and road detours will be required. Council said affected stakeholders have been notified

and there will be further consultation with localtradersbeforeworkscommence.

The project, estimated at about $500,000, will be funded through the City’s Capital Renewal Program and delivered in three stages: Isabella Street to Britannia Street (including the brick section within Isabella Street); Waratah Street to Lawton Avenue; andHopeStreettoAutumnStreet.

“The Geelong West Business Association welcomestheinvestmenttowardpedestrian safety in the area,” Geelong West Business Association president and owner of Mr Brown’s Menswear on Pakington Street Cameron Brown said. “Pako has always

been a favourite of the community for its walkability so ensuring footpath trip and sliphazardsareaddressediscritical.”

TheCitysaidsegmenteddesignallowsfor easier repairs caused by tree roots or utility works, while maintaining a consistent look. Asphalt also cures quickly, enabling sections to reopen within hours and minimising disruption to businesses and pedestrians.

“We’ve listened to the concerns of local traders and residents, and this renewal is a practical step forward,” City Services, CapitalWorksandParks&Gardensportfolio chaircouncillorTrentSullivansaid.

Mary-Anne Rosevelt is looking forward to bringing Reggae Fest back to Geelong.

Good vibes for Saturday’s Reggae Fest

By Jena Carr

Embrace the Jamaican spirit with reggae-inspired food, music and good vibes during a free event in Geelong this weekend.

Reggae Fest will bring together local and international reggae artists during the family-friendly festival at Johnstone Park from noon on Saturday 29 November.

Reggae Fest Foundation secretary Mary-Anne Rosevelt said this year’s event lineup “is amazing” and that she looked forwardtopeopleenjoyingthefreefestival.

“We’ve worked really hard to make it a

free entry event as we know that families are finding it difficult during these hard economic times,” she said. “That way, people can enjoy the reggae beats and festivities that we’re putting on and not have to worry about their back pockets.”

Ms Rosevelt said her husband Damian Roseveltwasthe“drivingforce”behindthe event and that she was proud to see him showcasing his Jamaican culture.

“People that meet him absolutely adore him, and when you’re around him, you just feel like you’ve got that Jamaican vibe right there with you,” she said. “His mind is unbelievable, and he’s such a visionary

with the biggest heart, so making the event free has made him feel so proud of representing his country of Jamaica.”

New Zealand’s Bradamon Band will headlinetheevent,withAfricandrumming band Asanti Beats and Crown Heights, including lead singer Marvin Priest, also performing on the day.

TheeventwillalsofeaturemusicbyNicky Bomba and the Bustamento Band, Black Sistaz and Waka Viti Band, Paulo Almeida and Solnation Band, and up-and-coming R&B Melbourne star J Verse.

Visit reggaefestau.com/tickets for tickets to the event.

“Thenewdesignstrikesabalancebetween functionandaesthetics,whilealsoreducing long-termmaintenancedisruptions.”

On-site signage will be installed prior to construction to inform the community abouttheproject’sscopeandtimeline.

A similar project has recently been completed at Highton Shopping Village on BelleVueAve.

The project is being delivered under the City’s Asset Service Level Preservation framework, which focuses on extending asset life, reducing maintenance costs, and preserving functionality without compromisingaesthetics.

City of Greater Geelong has announced the operator that will deliver kindergarten services at two sitesinArmstrongCreek.

Beginning in January 2026, not-for-profit organisation KU Children’s Services will provide 99 kindergarten places at the Bloinks Community Hub and 66 spots at BiyalaPrimarySchoolKindergarten.

KU Children’s Services, established as the Kindergarten Union of NSW in 1895, was independently assessed against the National Quality Standards as among the highest qualityprovidersin2024.

The two kindergarten services, located adjacent to each other, will provide important early education infrastructure to the growing region, with a baby and preschooler demographic more than 10 percent of Armstrong Creek and Mount Duneed’spopulation,nearlytwicethe region’saverage.

KU chief executive Christine Legg said her organisation was “thrilled to bring KU’s high-quality early childhood education to Armstrong Creek”.

Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj said “The Bloinks Community Hub, being delivered three years earlier than planned, is the first modular constructed building to be delivered onCity-ownedland,”hesaid.

“We’re proud to co-contribute funding towards these conveniently located facilities that will improve accessibilitytofamilyservicesforthis rapidlygrowingcommunity.”

Record winter calls for AV

The Barwon South West region experienced record-breaking numbers of emergency calls over a winter of surging seasonal illnesses.

Ambulance Victoria (AV) crews in the region responded to 74144 Code 1 cases between July and September, a 3.47 per cent increase from last winter and a 1.2 per cent increase from the previous quarter.

Acting executive director of regional operations Michael Georgiou said the three month period was AV’s busiest first quarter on record and the second busiest quarter ever, with more than 101,000 Code 1 emergencies.

“Winter consistently brings the highest

emergency call volumes, and this year was no exception,” he said.

“The entire health system was extremely busy with seasonal illness. We are incredibly proud of our highly skilled paramedics and first responders for the exceptional care they provide their communities, all day, every day.

“Despite this record demand, we continue to lead the way in pre-hospital patient care, including the best cardiac arrest survival rates in Australia and third best anywhere in the world.”

Local response times showed some improvements from last year, with paramedics attending 75.8 per cent of

Code 1 patients in Drysdale-Clifton Springs within 15 minutes.

That figure is up from 68.8 per cent a year ago, the biggest improvement in the state for major population centres.

Barwon South West Regional Director Stuart Reid said the support of the community could also help save lives, encouraging those who needed help but were not in a life-threatening situation to consider the most appropriate care for their situation.

“Our paramedics are focused on reaching the sickest patients first, but every day, about one in five calls to Triple Zero (000) do not need an emergency

Party brings festive cheer to Ocean Grove

By Jena Carr

A vibrant street party is returning to Ocean Grovenextweekforadayoffestiveactivities, music and food.

Ocean Grove Business Association will host its popular Christmas in the Grove event along The Terrace from 5pm on Wednesday 3 December.

Event organiser and newXpress owner Cathy Staehr said the free annual event would have something for everyone.

“We’vegotallsortsofdifferentcommunity groups coming along to do little bits and pieces during the event,” she said.

“People can expect lots of kids’ activities, some yummy food and maybe a glass of wine, with free face painting and Santa visiting as well, so people will be able to get photos with Santa.

“We also have about five different buskers coming along, which is going to be brilliant aswe’llhavelotsofmusicandlocationswith a chilled atmosphere, so I’m really looking forward to that.”

Ms Staehr said the event was a great chance for traders to connect with the community during a fun night.

“You bump into people you haven’t seen all year, and you’re chatting with your

neighbours, so it’s really lovely for the community as well as the traders,” she said.

“Events like this are really important in helping remind our locals just how magnificent our little street is...and it’s about showing the region who we are and getting people to come down.”

The Terrace, between Presidents Avenue and Hodgson Street, will be closed to traffic from 3.30pm to 8.30pm for the event.

City of Greater Geelong Council has advised motorists to park in designated areas, and that residents should prepare for increased traffic and noise in the area’s vicinity of the event.

ambulance response,” Mr Reid said.

“Getting the right care fast can make all the difference and means more paramedics are on the road for people who need our urgent lifesaving care the most.

“There are many options people can accesswhentheyneedtimelymedicalcare and health advice, at any time of the night or day – but not an emergency ambulance or calling Triple Zero – including the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department, urgent care clinics, Nurse-on-Call, GPs and pharmacists.”

In a life-threatening emergency always call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

Major events a hit

Geelong’smajoreventsareshowinga big return on investment, according to a new council report.

The council tabled its annual Geelong Major Events annual report for 2024-25 at its meeting this week, which showed that every ratepayer dollar spent resulted in $60 returning to the local economy.

The City of Greater Geelong spent $1,536,518 in support of 12 events, including the Avalon Airshow, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, the Festival of Sails, Geelong Revival and the National Celtic Festival.

According to the report, the total economic impact on the region was $93,503,742.29, a return on investment of nearly 61 to one, despite 11 of the events being free to attend. The events also created the equivalent of 747 full-time jobs.

Ofthe499,000peoplewhoattended the events, more than 327,000 travelled to Geelong from outside the region, while 173,600 were local.

Councillor Trent Sullivan said while the economic figures were important, Geelong’s major events were more than just “standalone economic drivers”.

“(These events) add to the vibrancy of the region that we live in; we are a major events destination,” he said.

“We have a wide range of events… and events that take place around the calendar. Whether it’s the depths of winter or in the heat of summer, there’s always something to do in our region.

“It attracts people to the region, to stay here for the weekend, visit friends and family, to move down. It’s great exposure for our region on the national and international stage.”

Support for emergency services as they keep the community safe

Bellarine emergency services will receive more equipment and modern facilities to help keep their community safe.

CountryFireAuthority(CFA),LifeSaving Victoria, and other organisations across the region received grants through the state government’s Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP).

Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant said she congratulated all the Bellarine volunteer groups for their work within the community.

“The VESEP is an important annual programprovidingessentialsupporttoour local volunteers,” she said.

The grants included $71,000 for Wallington CFA, $69,334 for Ocean Grove CFA, and $44,000 for Coast Watch Radio and Marine Rescue Squad Incorporated to purchase vehicles that would support their operations.

Surf Life Saving Clubs across the region also received funding for surf rescue equipment, including Ocean Grove ($42,411), Barwon Heads 13th Beach ($26,376) and Point Lonsdale’s ($21,325) clubs.

VESEP is an annual grant program

“It ensures that their equipment and facilities are kept up to date, enabling them to continue their tireless work keeping our region safe.”

that helps the state’s emergency services volunteer groups purchase essential equipment or make facility improvements so that they can strengthen and support their vital work.

This year’s round delivered more than $30 million in grants across the state, with groups receiving grants of up to $250,000. Funding for the program will be doubled over the next four years, with an additional $62 million invested to support volunteers through the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund.

Visit emv.vic.gov.au/vesep for more information and a full list of this year’s VESEP grants.

Laneway project awarded

The transformation of one of Geelong’s laneways has been recognised for its excellenceandinnovation.

The Geelong Laneways: Malop Arcade project was named joint winner of the National Architecture Award for Small Project Architecture for the extension of Dennys Place between Malop and Little MalopStreets.

The project, a partnership between the state government and City of Greater

Geelong, turned the interior of a private commercialspaceintoapublicwalkthrough featuring garden beds, climbing plants, public artworks, seating and an accessible walkway.

Theextension,whichprovidespedestrian connection between popular city locations, is part of the wider Revitalising Central Geelong Partnership between the Victorian government, the City and Wadawurrung TraditionalOwnersCorporation.

The success of the project has spurred on the Market Square Breakthrough project, a similartransformationthatwillconnectthe Market Street laneway from Little Ryrie to RyrieStreetandisnearingcompletion.

Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj said these projects were part of the ongoing revitalisationofcentralGeelong.

“The Geelong Laneways: Malop Arcade projecthasbeenahugesuccess,andwecan seethatwiththenumberofpeoplewhopass

through the area every day, linking areas thatwerepreviouslydivided,”hesaid.

Deputy chair of the CBD Revitalisation portfolio councillor Ron Nelson said the award was “a direct result of a partnership between the City and the Victorian government.”

“We are very excited for the Market Street Breakthrough project to be completed, and to see our city’s connectivity and revitalisationcontinuedfurther,”hesaid.

Retiring Cat Darby recognised as a top community leader

In a fitting farewell to the AFLW, Geelong’s Kate Darby was awarded the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award at the 2025 W Awards on Monday night.

The award recognises the AFLW player who best embodies the values of the late Jim Stynes – Melbourne champion and former Demons president.

Darby announced her retirement from the game at the conclusion of Geelong’s season after being an inaugural AFLW player in 2017, playing two games for Carlton and then 41 for the Cats. She was recognised for her outstanding leadership and deep commitment to the Geelong community.

Darby dedicated countless hours to various organisations and community programs – from local schools and hospitals to grassroot football clubs –and championed community initiatives, includingCatsWishes,BioCATS,Prideand Inclusion and Healthy Heroes.

BecomingaCoachYourWayAmbassador

last year, Darby advocated for women and girls’ participation in football, which led hertobeingawardedthe2025AFLCoaches Association Women’s Coaching Pathway

Scholarship.

Darby is involved with local clubs Surf Coast Suns, Torquay Tigers, Bell Park Dragons (All-Abilities), Armstrong Creek

Sharks and Geelong Falcons.

Awayfromplaying,Darbymakesregular hospital visits with Barwon Health and is an ambassador for the Peace of Mind Foundation – a children’s brain cancer charity – as well as being a mentor for Ocean Mind’s surf-based mental health programs.

“We have long had the benefit of seeing up close how amazing, authentic and impactful Kate’s work in the community is, and we’re so proud of her to be receiving the recognition as the 2025 recipient of the AFLW Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award,”GeelongCatschiefexecutiveSteve Hocking said. “It is a fitting reward for Kate asshefinishesherAFLWcareertohaveher community work highlighted with such a prestigious award. Throughout her time at the club, Kate has been an inspiration and example to her teammates, and we knowthatpartofherlegacyatGeelongwill be the lasting impact she has made in the community.”

Lino honoured for leadership

Geelong’s Lino Bisinella is the latest recipient of the Frank Costa Leadership Award for his extraordinary leadership, vision and lifelong commitment to the community.

The 81-year-old founded Bisinella Developments and has helped shape the region’s landscape for more than 60 years after moving to Victoria from Italy in1959.

Mr Bisinella has been a passionate community advocate, including opposingtheWastetoEnergyIncinerator in Lara, restoring heritage sites and fundraising for Samaritan House and AnamCaraHouse.

“Profits come and go, big deals fade, and flash cars aren’t what business leadersarerememberedfor,”hesaid.

“Thiscountryhasbeengoodtous,and oursuccesshasgivenustheopportunity, and the duty, to make life better for

others,sothat,tome,issuccess.

“Businesssuccesscomeswithadegree of social obligation, so treat your team, partners, and customers like family, with trust and respect, and success will follow.”

MrBisinellawasthisyear’sFrankCosta Leadership Award, which celebrates people who demonstrate integrity, purposeandadeepcommitmenttotheir communities.

Committee for Geelong presents the award through its Future Geelong Leadership Award program, and chief executiveMichaelJohnstonsaidGeelong was a “better place” because of Mr Bisinella.

“Linoistheembodimentofcommunity leadership as someone who has led by example, created opportunity, and given back to his community consistently for decades,”hesaid.

Challenging poverty

By Jena Carr

People across Geelong and the Bellarine are being asked to help close the period povertygapandrestoredignityforwomen thisChristmasseason.

Share the Dignity is looking to donate 150,000 bags filled with essential items, including period products, to women and girls fleeing domestic violence or experiencing homelessness during the It’sintheBagcampaign.

Charity partner Geelong Foodshare’s Felicia Bell said Share the Dignity was a “really wonderful initiative” and that everyone deserved fair access to the productstheyneeded.

“Menstrual products are a necessity for all women, but they can also be an expensive item for a family that could be strugglingfinancially,”shesaid.

“There shouldn’t be any boundaries for accessing those products, so for womentobeabletoaccessthemthrough the Share the Dignity program is just fantastic.

“It’s all about equity and working towards that for all women of Geelong, Australia, and the world...and taking part inthisinitiativeissogreattobeapartof.”

Share the Dignity founder Rochelle Courtenay said the community could help support people in need by donating money on the period poverty charity’s website or by dropping off a bag at their localBunningsWarehouse.

“Until the system changes, we’ll keep showing up, because we can’t change their circumstances, but we can change theirChristmas,”shesaid.

“It’s devastating to know that for every

bag donated, there’s another woman we can’t reach...and we can never meet demand, but this year we’re trying really hardtotryandclosethatgap.”

It’sintheBagencouragedpeopleacross

the country to fill a new or unused bag with unopened essential items, including a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, roll-on or solid deodorant, soaporbodywashandperiodproducts.

Local awards

Geelong council will recognise the contributions of local people with disabilities at an awards ceremony nextmonth.

The Geelong Awards for People with Disability, a free community event hosted by the City, will be held at Geelong Library and Heritage Centre on Wednesday 3 December to coincide with International Day of PeoplewithDisability.

Awards will be presented in four categories-Achievement,Leadership and Advocacy, Volunteering and Inclusive Business - at the event, which has been co-designed with six community members with lived experienceofdisability.

Councillor Anthony Aitken, chair oftheDisabilityAccessandInclusion portfolio, said the awards helped build a stronger, more connected community.

“Our free event will celebrate Geelong Awards for People with Disability nominees who are doing outstanding work in advocacy, leadership, empowering others, volunteering, at work or in the community,”hesaid.

“These awards help to promote ‘an inclusive, diverse, healthy and socially connected community’, which is a community-led aspiration outlined in our Disability Access and InclusionPlan2024-28.”

Visit geelongaustralia.com.au/ idpwdtobookfreetickets.

Quitting can be hard, but you’ve got so many reasons.

For hugs that smell sweet, not smoky.

keeping up on the field, not gasping for air.

being there for the kids, and their kids.

getting control of your life back.

Riding for cancer

By Jena Carr

Cyclists hit the road along Geelong and OceanGrovethisweektoraisemoneyfor cancer research.

Morethan120ridersandtheirsupport crews covered over 336km during the Tour de Cure’s fifth annual Victorian Discovery Tour to support the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute.

Participant Rebecca Brown said she “loved being a part” of the three-day ride that helped create a positive impact on the lives of people living with cancer.

“Every dollar received through the tour is absolutely important in cancer research as curing cancer changes lives,” she said.

“I’ve loved the camaraderie that’s come out of the ride, as everyone has been very supportive and willing to help each other out.

“The Tour de Cure hosts training rides throughout the year and helps inform you how to ride your bike properly and safely along the course.”

Two $10,000 grants were also awarded during the tour to Torquay’s Peace of Mind Foundation and St John of God Foundation Geelong to fund cuttingedge surgical technology for breast cancer treatment.

Tour de Cure’s grants committee chair Paul Mirabelle said every dollar raised during the tour supported “vital cancer research” and prevention programs.

“We work closely with leading researchers, medical institutions, and community organisations to fund breakthroughs that improve outcomes

Rebecca Brown participated in this year’s Tour de Cure to support cancer research. (Supplied)

for those impacted by cancer,” he said.

“Thanks to the generosity of our donors and partners, we are not just funding research; we are giving hope,

Market on show

The heart of Bannockburn will become a bustling market next week, with food, drink and music all part of the fun.

Golden Plains Shire Council will hold its annual Twilight Market from 4pm to 8pm on Thursday 4 December at the Bannockburn Heart, with more than 100 stallholders turning out for the event to hawk their wares.

In addition to the fine arts and crafts, local produce and clothing on display at the market stalls, the event will include ready to eat food options,afullbarwithcraftbeerand local wine, live music from Kieran Tobin and Marcus Hayden and free children’s activities including a jumping castle and animal farm.

Golden Plains mayor Owen Sharkey said the market was an “opportunity to create social connection and engagement” that contributed to “building vibrant resilient communities”.

“The Twilight Market is a vibrant community event aimed at strengthening the local economy by providing opportunities for local growersandmakerswhileproviding customers with access to a diverse range of high-quality products and nutritional produce in a safe, fun and social environment,” he said.

changing lives, and making a real difference in the fight to discover cures for all cancer types.”

The tour started in Torquay on 24

“When you buy from local shops, you’re investing in the vibrancy of the community and the Twilight Market is the perfect place to support the local economy.”

Visit goldenplains.vic.gov.au/ twilight-market for details.

Vet cares for all creatures

Dr Alicia Kennedy is the founder of social enterprise Cherished Pets, which provides vet care and social support to vulnerable people and their pets. In January she heads to Europe and North America to conduct a Churchill Fellowship research tour. She spoke to Matt Hewson about how and why she does what she does.

Ten years ago Alicia Kennedy put her dream into action.

Having trained and built a career as a veterinarian, by 2015 Alicia had spent eight years as the founding director of the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) of Australia.

While still acting in that position, she decided to launch a unique concept, one shefeltcertainwouldbenefit,andresonate with, the community.

In April 2015, with the assistance of a Geelong Community Foundation grant, Alicia launched a service combining veterinary care and social support she called Cherished Pets in Ocean Grove.

It was the realisation of a dream that began as a childhood love of animals and developed over years of vet practice into a vision for her community.

“I grew up in Adelaide and I decided whenIwasfiveyearsoldthatIwantedtobe a vet; it was almost an obsession,” she said.

“I was an average student so it was an against the odds mission for me to get into vet school.

“I had two people that believed in me; my dad and one of my teachers. Dad used to sing me the Frank Sinatra rubber plant song, High Hopes, he really backed me.”

“I worked very hard…(and he) would drive me across town to tutors so I could increase my scores in physics and maths, because I was dreadful.”

With her father’s unwavering support, Alicia’s hard work paid off. She was accepted into veterinary science at Perth’s Murdoch University.

After graduating in 1986, she began her career as a vet. As she gained experience, she began to see a gap that lay between the care of animals and the care of humans.

“I met my husband at uni and he ended up working with Alcoa, so we moved around a bit…Portland, Geelong, we lived in China,” Alicia said.

“I remember working as a very young vet graduate in mixed practice. We had a golden retriever at the time, and on my day off I would take her to the local nursing home and I started to become fascinated with this human-animal bond space.

“It’s interesting, I spent a lot of time as a little girl with my nanna, and after my grandad died I could see how lonely she was.

“She had this really fat and feisty fox terrier called Jenny, who nobody else in the world liked, but my nanna just loved this dog. And I really do think that was one of those very early experiences that made me see how important a dog could be to a lonely old lady.”

That seed continued to grow in Alicia’s mind. She found herself drawn to the end-of-life space of vet care.

“People are no more vulnerable than when their pet is dying,” she said.

“Our pets are so embedded in our world, our families, our health and well-being thatwhenourpetsaredying…we’reaunit.”

And so, armed with a simple question“What do we need to do as a community to better support pets of our elderly neighbours?” - Alicia organised a community conversation at Bellarine Training and Community Hub.

“The (Ocean Grove) Voice ran a little piece…about this local vet who wanted to start doing something; I wasn’t quite sure what it was but I knew that I wanted to support pets for the elderly and I knew I’d need volunteers,” she said.

“And 25 people came and that actually seeded the first committee that then led to the establishment of Cherished Pets Foundation.

“Cherished Pets Foundation was seeded with a question and community, and community is always at the heart of everything that we do.”

At first, Alicia was able to balance her burgeoning enterprise with her volunteer role as JGI director.

She had been inspired to get in contact with the pioneering primatologist and conservationist Jane Goodall after reading one of her books while living in China.

Alicia managed to organise a meeting with Jane in 2003, where she asked why her institute had not been established in Australia.

“And she said to me ‘because no one’s set it up’, so I said, ’well, I’ll help’,” Alicia said.

“In 2006…we coordinated Jane’s first visit to Australia, and that seeded the establishmentoftheJaneGoodallInstitute AustralianChapter,whichwasmylifeuntil Iretiredasadirectorfromthatorganisation in 2017.”

By that stage, Alicia had spent the better part of three years working for both Cherished Pets and JGI and the situation was becoming untenable.

“I spoke to Jane and said, I need permission to step out of JGI and focus on Cherished Pets…she totally got our work and what my mission is,” she said.

“She shaped me as a founder and a leader trying to make a difference for pets and people, especially those who are experiencing vulnerability.

“She’s been a friend and a mentor, so when she died (in October this year) it came as a great shock because we honestly thought she’d live until she was 100.”

Since 2017, Cherished Pets has grown far beyond simply supporting elderly people and their pets.

The organisation now has a full team of specialists, both veterinarians and social workers, who now also support people experiencing domestic violence, homelessness or mental health crises and their pets.

“What we know for sure is that the human-animalbondisapowerfuldriverof human health and well-being, and people

will choose their pet’s health and safety over their own,” Alicia said.

“So what that means is a woman and her children will choose to stay in an unsafe household rather than be separated from their pets.

“People will choose to remain homeless rather than be separated from their pets and people will refuse to go into a hospital for the care that they need. So our crisis care service addresses that.”

In addition to grants from Geelong Community Foundation and state government, Cherished Pets has received unflagging support from a number of local businesses and organisations, including AnthonyCostaFoundation,KingsFunerals and Urban Paws Doggy Daycare.

When the organisation had full funding from the state government in 2022-23 it received referrals from 18 organisations across the community, including mental health, domestic violence and housing bodies as well as Barwon Health.

“This is a circular model of care because bysupportingpeopleyou’realsoprotecting animals,” Alicia said. “I often say when people struggle, animals suffer. And that’s notfromalackoflove,it’salackofcapacity.

“So our service addresses that to build capacity in people and keep their pets healthy and together with them.”

As a result of this work, Alicia was approached by three different people who all suggested she apply for a Churchill Fellowship.

“Every year 100 Australians receive one, and the intention is to explore initiatives that are new and emerging, to go overseas and explore what’s happening and bring those insights back to Australia to inform and better Australian society,” she said.

“I’ve been selected for a Churchill Fellowship to explore organisations that are operating at the intersection of social and veterinary services.”

In January Alicia, or more often referred to as Dr Lissy, will depart to visit England, Scotland, the Netherlands, Canada and the USA over an eight-week schedule of visiting organisations, meeting experts and presenting her own work.

Her first stop was meant to be a visit to Jane Goodall, but after her unexpected death, Alicia decided to instead prepare a tribute book for Jane’s family.

“I was born in the ’60s, Jane Goodall was my childhood hero; I wanted to be Dr Jane when I grew up,” she said.

“I have her voice in my head saying we must never give up, and her voice has become louder since she died.

“One of the things she always used to say was,we’vejustgottorollupoursleevesand do the hard work that needs to be done to create a kinder planet for animals, people and the environment.

“And when I feel a bit anxious or stressed ortenseIsaytwothings:‘haveacupoftea’, because everything feels better after a cup of tea; and ’roll up your sleeves’.”

Cherished Pets is launching a funding appeal in early December. Visit cherishedpetcare.com.au to donate or for more information.

Prompting dialogue

By Matt Hewson

A group of Belmont artists are ready to share the whimsy and soul of the work at a specialexhibitionthisDecember.

Art group BelmontAWAY will hold its second exhibition Artists at Play from 1 to 23 December at Eastern Hub’s Rachinger Gallery.

From painting to printmaking and sculpture to weaving and embroidery, the exhibition explores nature, playfulness andthefantastic.

Formed eight years ago by an eclectic group of artists, musicians and writers wanting to push the boundaries of their creative process, BelmontAWAY continues to foster inspiration between different kindsofcreators.

“We were first inspired by a book by Julia Cameron called the Artist’s Way, which explores creativity, unblocking and challenging oneself,” member Gabrielle Bridgessaid.

“We worked through that book over a year, reading a chapter (at a time) and doingexercisesanddiscussingit.

“At the end of the year, we found that we reallyenjoyedworkingtogetherasagroup. So we continued meeting monthly and we’dtaketurnstosettasksforthegroupfor thenextmonth.

“We come from a variety of different arts, so what we find is that this crossfertilisation, as one person talks about something they might do, sparks somethingforanotherpersonworkingina differentdiscipline.”

Featuring nine different artists, the exhibitionseeksto“engagetheaudiencein adialogueaboutjoy,beautyandwonder”.

“Most of us get a lot of inspiration from nature, and then there’s the sense of play,” Ms Bridges said. “We’re having fun with materialsaswellaswiththeendresult.”

Work on lights restarts next year

Works to install traffic lights at a Torquay intersection will restart early nextyear,followingsignificantservice delays.

Surf Coast Shire Council paused the project, which aimed to install lights at the Surf Coast Highway and Bristol Road intersection, earlier this year, after underground services were discoveredandrequiredrelocation.

Placemaking and Environment general manager Chris Pike said he understood how important the intersection was for residents, visitors andbusinesses.

“We apologise for the unexpected delays and thank the community for their patience as we work to deliver a safe, more efficient intersection,” he said. “While these delays have been frustratingforeveryone,thediscovery of unexpected underground services meantwehadtopauseconstruction.

“We’re pleased NBN has now confirmed their works will be completed by the end of November, meaning we can now plan the remainingworks.”

Works will not be able to occur over the peak Christmas and summer periodduetohightrafficvolumesand willbegininFebruarynextyear.

Council’s contractor will be able to installanewleft-turnlaneintoBristol Road, along with traffic lights and public lighting at the intersection, oncetheNBNworkiscompleted. Construction works will take close totwomonths.

DUNNO at Gallery

Geelong Gallery has received a pop of colour to inspire the community to confront what they ‘DUNNO’ ahead of a new exhibition opening next year.

A five-panel artwork piece by contemporary artist Jon Campbell that collectively displayed the work DUNNO is now wrapped around the gallery’s rear facade overlooking Johnstone Park.

Geelong Gallery Director and chief executive Humphrey Clegg said he was excited to see the artwork launched ahead of Mr Campbell’s solo exhibition yEAH/ dUNNO in March next year.

“Geelong Gallery is excited to be pre-

senting the work of Jon Campbell, who is one of Australia’s most highly regarded artists,” he said.

“We are delighted that Campbell’s work will challenge our visitors’ experience of the Gallery, with a bold intervention on the heritage facade.

“We are looking forward to visitors embracing the sentiment of the work before their arrival, and we love that Jon has empowered them to say DUNNO.”

Mr Campbell said his art had mainly been text-based for the last 20 years and that he loved to explore the use of words and phrases as imagery.

“It’s an ongoing exploration of the visual potential of words through the use of vernacular language and popular culture,” he said.

“The viewer becomes part of the work as they unravel the word or phrase, which in this case is around the building’s architecture.

“Snippets of a conversation, argument and dialogue are transformed using the conventions of formal abstraction and graphic design to both confuse the original function of the words and phrases.”

Winchelsea Pool reopens Saturday

Winchelsea Pool will open on Saturday, with group swimming lessons and school carnivals already booked in for the upcoming summer season.

The new pool will open for its first full season on 29 November following an $8.9 million redevelopment that will enable future use of the facility.

Surf Coast Shire councillor Joel Grist said he was looking forward to seeing Winchelsea community members enjoying the “sparkling new pool”.

“We recognise how much they love this great community asset, and have made some adjustments in response to feedback from our survey during winter,” he said.

“These include opening for consistent hours across school terms and holidays, introducing dedicated lap swimming lanes and trialling cold weather closures.

“The pool will not open when the forecast temperature is below 21 degrees, and this will enable staff hours to be reallocated to extended opening on hotter days, weekends and public holidays.”

The pool’s season will be open from noon to 6pm daily until 9 March, with a cold weather threshold for opening, which helps enable longer hours in the water on hotter days.

Redevelopment of the pool featured new leisure and 25-metre pools with heated water, a pavilion, a splash park, shelters, landscaping, a barbecue, a water fountain and a plant room.

The pool officially reopened in late February for a short period until the end of March this year, after it was decommissioned in 2023.

Council’s debt ratio falls

By Matt Hewson

Geelong councillors reported on the state oftheCity’sfinanceswithanairofcautious optimismatthisweek’smeeting.

The council tabled the City of Greater Geelong’s financial report for July to September, which showed an operating surplus of $785,000, $1.4 million improved uponaforecastdeficitof$579,000.

That result was mostly driven by materials and services savings to the tune of $3.1 million, which was tempered by supplementaryratesbringing$627,000less inincomethanexpectedandadepreciation

of property and infrastructure assets of $820,000.

Thecouncil’scashpositionwasalso$14.4 millionintheblack,largelyduetodelaysin capitalworksthisyear.

However, the report also included a forecast of the rest of the financial year, which suggested an operating deficit of $5.9 million by next June rather than the budgeted$509,000surplus.

In addition to a rates shortfall and depreciation, the City is expecting to miss out on $2.1 million from the closure of the NorthGeelongTransferStation.

Councillor Andrew Katos, chair of the

City’s finance portfolio, said there was “a bit of work to be done” to rein in finances throughtherestoftheyear.

“But as far as financial indicators go, the capital projects delivery was at 85.32 per cent, the working capital at $1.9 (million favourable to the budget), which is good,” hesaid.

“Pleasingly, the indebtedness ratio… is continuing to fall, we’re down to 46 per cent; this time last year we were just over 60 (per cent)...which is headed in the right direction,asweneedto,inthefuture,have thecapacitytoborrow.

“So making some tougher decisions last

Talented young filmmakers recognised

This year’s North Bellarine Film Festival’s winnershavebeenannounced.

Jeanie Kane and Emma Tripp took top honours at the Emerging Filmmaker AwardsinPortarlingtonrecently.

Jeanie won the Emerging Filmmaker award for her film Big Johnny while Emma was awarded Emerging Documentary awardforStripped:ThePowerofLingerie.

Judges said the winners were chosen from a competitive field of finalists who demonstrated excellence, talent and commitmenttotheircraft.

Jeanie’s film also received the People’s Choiceaward,selectedbytheaudience.

Jeanie, along with the Big Johnny’s producer Sarah Pierce, are graduates of Swinburne University’s Film and Television program. Big Johnny tells the story of a lonely warehouse worker who, after an unexpected encounter with Melbourne’s vibrant drag scene, finds the courage to embrace his true self when

was overseas and represented by Kasey.

traditional male expectations threaten to holdhimback.

Emma, and Stripped: The Power of Lingerie’s producer Kasey Woolley,

Colourin Colourin andwin! andwin!

are students at Swinburne’s Film and Television program. Stripped explores the world of lingerie, highlighting its practicality and power as a tool for self-expression, exploring femininity, identity,andcomfort.

NBFFdirectorBillLussiersaidthefestival was committed to fostering emerging filmmaking talent and last year increased the number of awards from two to three to provide more recognition, support and pathways for talented new filmmakers to havetheirworkrecognised.

“The festival committee is continually impressed by the submissions it receives from young filmmakers and the quality of theirstorytellingandwork,”hesaid.

“These filmmakers are the future of Australian television and film and their workshouldbecelebrated.Wecongratulate Jeanie and Emma on their achievements and look forward to seeing where their careerstakethem.”

yeariscertainlystartingtobearfruitasfar asthecouncil’sdebtgoes.”

Councillor Anthony Aitken warned such toughdecisionscouldonlybearfruitforso long.

“Our overall financial position is relatively healthy, but it’s not sustainable,” he said. “We’ve got more cash in the bank because we’ve spent less capital…It is not sustainable to continue to underspend in your capital area. You can do it for a few years,butitwillstarttoimpactonthelevel of maintenance…(and) the community’s expectations about what council’s delivering.”

Street library set for a makeover

Arundownstreetlibrarystructurewill soon be able to capture imaginations across the Anglesea community thankstoarenewalproject.

TheLittleHandsandSkilledHands project will combine designs by pre-schoolchildrenwiththecabinetry skills of Men’s Shed members under AngleseaCommunityHouse’slead.

Anglesea Community House communitydevelopmentcoordinator Ange Collins said the finished library cabinet will offer free books for all ageswithinthecommunity.

“The kids are designing it, and the Men’s Shed members are bringing it to life,” she said. “A theme appeared to be unicorns, and now we have two waist-high cut-out unicorns which will be painted by the children and go on the sides of the cabinet, and the children’s handprints will be all acrossthetopofthecabinet.”

Anglesea Community House received a $840 community grant from Surf Coast Shire Council for the project, and was one of 34 grants received during council’s latest communitygrantspresentation.

Deputy mayor Tony Phelps said council encouraged and supported community organisations that were taking the lead on projects and initiativesacrosstheregion.

“Our community grants presentation celebration is always such a positive event, shining a light on so much great and diverse work goingoninourcommunity,”hesaid.

Prizes: 1st $100 • 2nd $50 • 3rd $25 Prizes: Winners chosen across 3 age categories: Early learners (4–7), Growing artists (8–11), Skilled creators (12–16)

Scan the QR code to download Scan code to download the page. Color in and enter for the page. Color in and enter for your chance to win. your chance to win.

Instructions for how to submit are included on the colouring page.

Deck the halls with Christmas trees

By Jena Carr

Ocean Grove Scout Group will bring festive cheer to Ocean Grove Park with hundreds of Christmas trees available over two big days.

The1stand2ndOceanGroveScoutGroup willsellChristmastreesduringtheirannual fundraiser to help support Joey, Cub, and Scout youth members in participating in eventsandactivitiesthroughouttheyear.

ChairmanKenHarpersaidtheChristmas tree sale was the group’s major fundraiser for the year and that it was a fun time for all ofitsmembers.

“ThethingIlovethemostisseeingpeople turning up and happy to pick what they wantfortheirChristmastree,”hesaid.

“We have up to 600 trees to sell...and it’s not like selling raffle tickets or doing a sausagesizzle,asyouhavearealinteraction withthepeoplewhilethey’rethere.

“The community is a very big part of scouting...and they’re generally happy because they’re actually here to collect something that’s going to be a joyous occasion.

“The community loves seeing a scout carrying a Christmas tree to their car when they’ve selected one, and there’s no better feelingforuswhenpeopleareturningup.”

The sale will be held on Sunday 30 November and Saturday 6 December, with people encouraged to come along on either daytoselectatreeandtakeithome.

Ocean Grove Scout Group will also offer a pick-up service after Christmas to recycle the tree, with people able to leave their tree out for collection on Sunday 11 January, for asmallfee.

Visit oceangrovescouts.com/christmastree-order-page for more information or to orderatreeonline.

Push on heritage overlay

By Jena Carr

A heritage overlay could be removed from properties in Winchelsea after Surf Coast Shire Council decided to advocate for an amendment.

Councillors unanimously agreed during council’s 25 November meeting to request authorisation from the Minister for Planning to prepare an amendment to remove heritage overlay from a parcel of land.

CouncillorTonyPhelpssaidAmendment C150surf proposed a mapping correction to remove Heritage Overlay (HO150) from

23 properties as it no longer served a purpose.

“This amendment relates to the heritage property known as Balgownie, which originally was located on a large parcel of land previously addressed as 65-67 Main Street in Winchelsea,” he said.

“The land stretched from Main Street next to the highway all the way down to the Barwon River, but has since been subdivided with the heritage building retainedonadiscretelotat65MainStreet.

“The land was subdivided into 23 residential lots, now known as the River View Estate...with the amendment

proposingamappingcorrectiontoremove theheritageoverlayfromthoseproperties.

“The heritage overlay continues to apply totheheritagedwelling;however,itserves no purpose for the 23 other lots other than to trigger a planning permit to construct a dwelling.”

The amendment would affect properties along Main Street, Warner Street, Lawerence Court and Smith Street, following council receiving concerns from affected landowners regarding the overlay.

Cr Paul Barker said the amendment would help improve the overall efficiency

of council’s planning scheme.

“Anytime you’ve got overly restrictive planning hurdles to jump through, that creates an extra cost and imposition to developments,” he said.

“This goes a little way to removing the planning issues surrounding the area, and...I look forward to more of these planning restriction removals coming to council.”

Council will place the amendment on public exhibition for a month following authorisationbytheMinisterforPlanning, withareportonthecommunity’sfeedback presented at a future council meeting.

Council announces CMCA will manage Seagull Paddock

Geelong council’s search for a tourism operator for a large public area site in the city’s north has ended successfully.

The City of Greater Geelong has announced the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA) has been selected through an expression of interest process to manage Norlane’s Seagull Paddock.

Once lease negotiations are complete the CMCA will provide low-cost camping at the site for self-contained RVs and caravans.

The site itself is close to Spirit of Tasmania Quay and also has easy access to Melbourne Road.

As the CMCA manages a small network of similar sites across five states and territories, Geelong council hopes the camping ground will prove attractive to the organisation’s 70,000 road-tripping members.

“Thisisanexcitingdevelopmentnotjust for Geelong city, but the wider regional population as many utilising the Spirit of Tasmania ferry service will now be able to stay longer in the region injecting much appreciated tourism dollars,” Mr Barwick said.

“This park is a part of the plan to extend our network further around Australia.”

Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj said the selection of CMCA as site manager provided a major tourism opportunity for the region.

“The CMCA is Australia’s largest RV club, and I welcome their interest in the site as a way for our City to tap into a new market of local tourism,“ Mayor Kontelj said.

“I’m very pleased that great strides are being taken towards this idea becoming a reality, and I look forward to progress continuing.”

Geelong reaches 1 billion container recycling milestone

Families, schools and community groups across the Geelong region have helped Western Victoria reach a major sustainability milestone: over 1 billion eligible drink containers returned through Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic) since the scheme’s launch in November 2023.

In Geelong alone, residents have returned more than 132,087,103 million eligible drink containers through a network of 24 refund points, resulting in over $13,208,710.30 going back into the pockets of local residents, charities, and community groups.

That’s roughly 487 containers for every person in Geelong and thousands donated tohelplocalcharitiesfundeverythingfrom new footy jumpers and school excursions to equipment.

This achievement marks a significant step forward in Victoria’s journey toward a circular economy and highlights the community’s commitment to sustainability, litter reduction, and everyday positive recycling behaviours.

Households, schools, businesses and community groups throughout the West Zone have enthusiastically embraced the scheme - turning recycling into a daily habit and a powerful force for positive change.

Their collective efforts have diverted more than 30,000 tonnes of material from landfill and returned $100 million in refunds to local residents and fundraising initiatives.

CDS Vic West Zone network operator TOMRA Cleanaway is proud to partner with local organisations across Geelong

to deliver their refund point network. One example is the CDS Vic Breakwater Depot, operated by Scouts Victoria, which aims to provide fun, engaging and educational programsforyoungpeopleacrossthestate, led by passionate volunteers of all ages.

Part of this education includes teaching Scout members and local communities about the circular economy and recycling.

“Thisonebillionmilestoneisatestament to the power of collective action,” TOMRA

VICTORIA’S CONTAINER DEPOSIT SCHEME

HELP KEEP DRINK CONTAINERS OUT OF LANDFILL

There are 24 CDS Vic refund points in Geelong where you can return your eligible drink bottles, cans and cartons for a 10c refund!

Cleanaway chief executive James Dorney said.“Everybottle,canandcartonreturned in communities like Geelong helps keep local streets and waterways clean, reduces landfill, and provides a steady stream of funding for local charities and partners.”

The success of CDS Vic West Zone is drivenbythepeoplewhoshowupeveryday - collecting their containers, supporting their local refund point, and championing the circular economy.

• 1 billion-plus containers collected in the West Zone since November 2023

• Equivalent to more than 30,000 tonnes of material diverted from landfill

• $100 million-plus refunded to residents and community groups

• More than 1000 local organisations across Victoria’s west supported through donations

• Geelong: 132,087,103 containers returned and $13,208,710.30 in refunds to local residents and groups

TOMRA Cleanaway remains committed to working alongside communities to deliver a safe, accessible and convenient refund point network, and to continue raising awareness to ensure even greater recycling success in the years ahead. Help keep popular spots like the Eastern Beach Reserve cleaner for everyone. Here’s to the next billion - powered by you.

To find your nearest refund point near Geelong, visit tomracleanaway.com. au/victoria/location-finder/#_map-ofrefund-points

Bells ring for The Pogues

Kickoffthesillyseasonwithabitofwhiskey inyourjarataChristmasshowdedicatedto iconicLondonIrishbandThePogues.

Melbourne-based outfit Streams of Whiskey bring their Christmas Special show to the Barwon Club on Saturday 6 December, kicking off a run of gigs that concludes at Sydney’s Factory Theatre later inthemonth.

The nine-piece band, which formed in 2010 as a Celtic band performing a mix of traditional and contemporary Irish songs, has evolved over the years to focus

more heavily on the music of The Pogues, according to Dublin-born frontman StephenMilligan.

“It was just three of us, initially, that decided it would be good fun to play a few Pogues songs and some traditional numbers,”Milligansaid.

“It started off as a bit of fun doing small shows and whatever, and it just grew from there. We became more Pogues-focused anditgotabitofafollowing.”

The band includes players from a wide range of musical backgrounds, bringing

a stylistic breadth fitting for a group celebratingThePogues.

Milligan, drummer Johnny Gibson, guitarist Scott Bakker, mandolin player Greg Stainsby, bassist Andy Papadopoulos and vocalist Mel Carroll have all performed in punk and heavier rock bands, among otherthings.

Bringing a more traditional element, banjo player Sheldon King, fiddle player Carmen O’Brien, accordionist Rowan Blackmore and piper Paddy Connor have longhistoriesamongthefolkscene.

“It’s very eclectic in terms of the punters that you draw in,” Milligan said. “You will haveyourpunksandwhateverinthecrowd, but then you’ll have older Irish expats that want a bit of a sing-song. And they might be sooldthattheycan’tevenstandup.

“Withseveralofushavingthatpunkband history and lineage, we bring that energy to it, but with those musicians from the more traditional side of things it’s a really good mix.”

Visit barwonclub.com.au/gig-guide for ticketsandmoreinformation.

Shake your tail feather with The Blues Brothers Revue

John Landis’ 1980 musical comedy The Blues Brothers is a much-loved film, full of car chases, clever humour and fantastic bluesandR&Bnumbers.

But for Blues Roulette’s Ben Wicks, who brings The Blues Brother Revue to Geelong this weekend, the film changed the course ofmusicalhistory.

“By the late 70s a lot of labels had essentially evolved out of big band R&B stuff, and the focus of pop music had really changed in a very short period of time,” he said.

“WhentheydecidedtomakethefilmDan Ackroyd just got on the phone and called SteveCropperandDonald‘Duck’Dunnand said, hey, do you want to come and do this thing?’

“And these absolute titans of R&B and blues music had nothing in the calendar; they had months available to go and work

on this silly film. That speaks volumes to where blues and R&B was at, in a pop culturesense.

“The Blues Brothers was really important to revitalising blues and R&B. The whole thing probably would have dried up and died,haditnotbeenforTheBluesBrothers.”

Blues Roulette’s 11-piece big band features Paul Slattery and Vincent Bradley intherolesofJakeandElwoodBlues.

Wickssaidhewas“reallyblessed”tohave somany“incrediblemusicians”intheshow.

“For me, it’s about breathing life and vibe into this music, and the band being excited bythemusicmeansit’sinescapablethatthe roomisthenexcited,”hesaid.

“We’re just trying to bring a party, bring thecircusthatistheBluesBrothers.”

The Blues Brothers Revue is at Piano Bar on Sunday 30 November. Visit trybooking. comfortickets.

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Ellie is an Olympic change maker

Christian College Geelong’s Ellie Morgan was one of just 25 students nationwide selected to attend the Olympic Change-MakerSummitinCanberra.

Young leaders from across Australia converged on the nation’s capital this week to influence the future of the Olympic Movement on the road to the Brisbane 2032 OlympicGames.

Ellie was selected from nearly 1000 nominations to be part of this year’s program.

Hosted by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), the summit featured workshops, leadership development sessions, and the opportunity to problem-solve alongside Olympians Noemie Fox, Emma Jeffcoat, Brodie Summers,ConorNicholasandNathanKatz.

Ellie and the other Change-Makers explored how sport can be a powerful tool for leadership, personal growth, inclusion, wellbeing,andsocialimpact.

“It is such a huge honour, all the people herearesoamazing,”Elliesaid.

“So many like-minded people. Just the opportunities, getting to meet Olympians and getting to hear from them and their stories, like the stories about how they’ve had to deal from setbacks and injuries, so it really helps you grow as a person, and I’m just very grateful for the experience.”

Change-Maker culminated in a presentation at Parliament House where students pitched their ideas to influential members of the Australian Government andOlympicMovement.

The Guide

PICK OF THE WEEK

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL Seven, Friday, 7pm

As packed as your social calendar might be, it’s wise to accept this invite to the BetterHomesandGardensannual gathering. The laidback lifestyle experts get together at Calmsley Hill City Farm for their Christmas special, during which they share food, jokes and their favourite highlights of 2025. Among the delicious treats on offer are a grilled ham served with a peach salad from Colin Fassnidge and a seasonal dessert board prepared by Clarissa Feildel. Meanwhile, Dr Harry Cooper showcases the property’s working dogs and interior designer Juliet Love shares ways you can do festive entertaining in style and on a budget.

From the Kimberley to Cape York, the Torres Strait and Tasmania, there’s not much of this country that modern-day explorers Jase Andrews and Simon Anderson (pictured) haven’t seen – and documented for a swag of fellow 4x4 enthusiasts in their popular outdoor series. The pair’s latest offroad expedition sees the adventurers joined by newcomer Mitch in one of the country’s most remote frontiers: Arnhem Land, an area of vast, unspoilt wilderness in northeast corner of the Northern Territory. The trio battle rough tracks, crocfilled rivers and wild coastlines as they share the raw beauty, epic campsites and phenomenal fishing spots to be found when visiting this sacred space.

Friday, November 28

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

SPICKS AND SPECKS

ABC TV, Sunday, 7.30pm

With a fan base as devoted as any rock band, this beloved music trivia show is still entertaining audiences and celebrating Aussie artists 20 years after it first burst onto the scene. Tonight, host Adam Hills and team captains Alan Brough and Myf Warhurst welcome another OG back to the panel: Angie Hart (pictured), the lead singer of ’90s pop band Frente! who appeared on the show’s pilot episode in 2005. In fact, Hart was a pioneer of the show’s infamous “Substitute” round, singing from the Torana 1600 service manual. She’s on the mic again this time, hoping teammates Brough and Zoë Coombs Marr can decode lyrics from a table tennis strategy guide before rivals Warhurst, Robert Baxter and Noah Szto buzz in.

THE ROOKIE

Seven, Monday, 8.30pm

One of this police procedural’s most elusive villains returns for Monday’s compelling season seven finale. Affable sociopath Oscar Hutchinson (Matthew Glave) has been on the run since escaping from prison at the end of season six, but seasoned cop John Nolan (Nathan Fillion, pictured) is hot on the fugitive’s tail. Nolan heads to Las Vegas with fellow detective Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) in a determined bid to catch Hutchinson while the crook recovers some stolen diamonds buried in the desert, but the criminal always seems to be one step ahead. Elsewhere, Lopez (Alyssa Diaz) looks into a mysterious bank robbery, while couple Chen (Melissa O’Neil) and Bradford (Eric Winter) adjust to her new work schedule.

SEVEN (6, 7)

NINE (8, 9) 6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mornings. 10.00 Portrait Artist Of The Year. (PG, R) 11.05 The Forsytes. (PG, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 The Newsreader. (Mal, R) 2.00 Grand Designs Australia. (PG, R) 3.00 QI. (PG, R) 3.30 Forever Summer With Nigella. (R) 3.55 Grand Designs Revisited. (PG, R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) 7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Gardening Australia. Celebrates Jane Edmanson’s 38 years on the ABC.

8.30 Maigret. (Mav) Maigret grapples with his failure and tries to understand the man whom he failed to protect.

9.25 Hard Quiz. (R) Hosted by Tom Gleeson.

9.55 Crime Night! (PG, R) Hosted by Julia Zemiro.

10.25 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R)

10.55 ABC Late News.

11.15 Silent Witness. (Ma, R)

12.15 Rage New Music. (MA15+dhlnsv)

5.00 Rage. (PG)

6am Morning Programs. 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Royal Autopsy. (Man, R) 2.55 The Point: Road To Referendum History Bites. (R) 3.00 Nula. 3.30 Living Black: 50 Years Of SBS Indigenous. (R) 3.35 Such Was Life. (R) 3.45 The Cook Up. (R) 4.15 London: 2,000 Years Of History. (PG, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 MOVIE: Sitting In Limbo. (2020, Mal, R) Patrick Robinson. 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. 3.00 The Chase. (R) Hosted by Bradley Walsh. 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. Hosted by Larry Emdur.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 6.30 SBS World News. 7.35 Discovering Film: Robert Redford. 8.30 MOVIE: Thelma And Louise: Born To Live. (2025, M, R) Geena Davis. 9.30 Discovering Film: Maggie Smith. (PG, R) 10.25 SBS World News Late. 10.55 Sisi. (MA15+a, R) 11.55 Tokyo Vice. (MA15+asv, R) 2.15 Stutter School: Untold Australia. (PGa, R) 3.15 The Story Of Cheese. (R) 4.15 Home Of The Year: Scotland. (R) 4.50 Destination Flavour: Japan Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

Morning

7.55 France 24 Feature. 8.10 NHK Newsline. 8.40 CBC The National. 9.30 BBC News At Six. 10.00 Mastermind Aust. Noon DW The Day. 12.30 Forbidden History. 1.20 Deep Fake Neighbour Wars. 2.15 The Bee Whisperer. 3.05 Bamay. 3.40 WorldWatch. 5.40 If You Are The One. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Virgin Island. (Premiere) 10.20 Adam Hills: The Last Leg. 11.15 What It Feels Like For A Girl. 1.15am Letterkenny. 3.15 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 8.15 Motown Magic. 8.40 The Magic Canoe. 9.10 Spartakus. 10.00 Waterworld Africa. 11.00 Going Places. Noon Her Name Is Nanny Nellie. 1.30 The Foundation. 2.00 Kriol Kitchen. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 Nula. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Africa’s Underwater Wonders. 7.30 MOVIE: The Goonies. (1985, PG) 9.30 Deadly Funny National Grand Final. 10.55 Nula. 11.25 Light From The Shadows.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. Hosted by Johanna Griggs. 8.30 MOVIE: Love Actually. (2003, Mlns, R) Explores a series of interlocking vignettes about love and romance in Britain in the weeks before Christmas. Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson. 11.15 MOVIE: Firestarter. (2022, MA15+av, R) A girl gains the power to set things on fire. Zac Efron. 1.15 In Plain Sight. (Madv) 2.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 5.00 NBC Today.

7TWO (62, 72)

Morning Programs. 9.00 Animal Rescue. 9.30 NBC Today. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 DVine Living. 1.30 The Zoo. 2.00 House Of Wellness. 3.00 The Great Australian Doorstep. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 8.30 Escape To The Country. 11.30 Bargain Hunt. 12.30am Escape To The Country. 1.30 The Great Australian Doorstep. 2.00 Harry’s Practice. 2.30 Animal Rescue. 3.00 Better Homes. 5.30 The Great Australian Doorstep.

7MATE (64, 73)

TEN (5, 10)

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: Christmas In The Highlands. (2019, G, R) Brooke Burfitt, Dan Jeannotte. 2.00 Pointless. (PG, R) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.00[MELB] TippingPoint Australia.(PG,R) 5.30 WIN News. 6am Morning Programs. 7.30 Farm To Fork. (R) 8.00 Bold. (PG, R) 8.30 Deal Or No Deal. (R) 9.00 Lingo.

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Find My Beach House Australia. (Return) Hosted by Shelley Craft. 8.30 MOVIE: Aquaman. (2018, Mav, R) A half-human, half-Atlantean goes on a quest to retrieve the legendary Trident of Atlan and protect the water world. Jason Momoa, Amber Heard. 11.15 Law & Order: Organized Crime. (MA15+av, R) 12.05 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.00 Drive TV: Launch Pad. (R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 4.30 Global Shop. (R) 5.00 Home Shopping. 5.30 Postcards. (PG, R)

9GEM (81, 92)

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 GolfBarons. Noon Golf. PGA Tour of Australasia. Aust PGA C’ship. 5.00 Find My Country House NZ. 5.30 Yorkshire Auction House. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 Antiques Downunder. (Return) 8.30 MOVIE:

Seaway. 4.30 Antiques Roadshow. 5.00 Yorkshire Auction House.

9GO! (82, 93)

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 10.55 Bananas In Pyjamas. 11.10 Mister Maker Around The World. 11.40 Fizzy And Suds. 12.45pm Vida The Vet. 2.15 Thomas. 2.50 Gardening Australia Junior. 3.05 Play School. 3.40 Fizzy And Suds. 4.10 Andy’s Safari Adventures. 4.25 Super Monsters. 5.30 Peter Rabbit. 6.05 PJ Masks. 6.25 Paddington. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.05 Gardening Australia Junior. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 8.00 Scooby-Doo And Guess Who? 8.30 Hard Quiz Kids. 9.00 Robot Wars. 10.00 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Morning Programs. 11.00 The West Wing. Noon Pretty Little Liars. 2.00 Golden Girls. 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 Jeannie. 6.00 Golden Girls. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 MOVIE: Sherlock Holmes. (2009, M) 10.05 MOVIE: Sherlock Holmes 2: A Game Of Shadows. (2011, M) 12.45am The Vampire Diaries. 2.35 Supernatural. 3.30 Surfing Aust. 4.00 Barbie: Dreamhouse Adventures. 4.30 LEGO Jurassic World: Legend Of Isla Nublar. 4.50

6am The Movie Show. 6.15 Whina. (2022, PGa, Maori, English) 8.20 Golden Years. (2016, PGals) 10.15 Cat Call. (2023, Ma, Hungarian) Noon Suffragette. (2015, Malv) 2.00 The Magic Of Belle Isle. (2012, PGals) 4.00 The Monk And The Gun. (2023, PGa, Dzongkha, English) 6.05 Paperback Hero. (1999, PGalsv) 7.50 And So It Goes. (2014, Ms) 9.30 Sense And Sensibility. (1995) 12.10am The Duke. (2020, Mls) 1.55 Dead Again. (1991, Malsv) 3.55 The Tender Bar. (2021, Mals)

10.30 MOVIE: 2 Guns. (2013, MA15+) 12.45am MOVIE: Death Wish. (1974, MA15+) 3.00 NFL. NFL. Week 12. Arizona Cardinals v Jacksonville Jaguars. Replay.

6.00 10 News+.

7.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R) Hosted by Grant Denyer. 7.30 Big Brother Australia. (Malns) Hosted by Mel Tracina. 8.30 Ambulance UK. (Ma, R) In the first of two strike days, North West Ambulance Service loses over a third of its workforce. 9.40 The Graham Norton Show. (Ml, R) Celebrity guests include Cillian Murphy. 10.50 10’s Late News. 11.20 10 News+. (R) 12.20 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 1.30 Home Shopping. (R)

10 COMEDY (52, 11)

DRAMA (53, 12)

Saturday, November 29

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

SEVEN (6, 7)

NINE (8, 9) 6.00 Rage Charts. (PG) 7.00 Weekend Breakfast. 9.00 Rage. (PG) 12.00

ABC News At Noon. 12.30 Return To Paradise. (PG, R) 1.25 Maigret. (Mav, R) 2.20 All Creatures Great And Small. (PG, R) 3.10 Queensland Symphony Orchestra. 4.45 Mamirnikuwi. (PG, R) 4.55 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) 5.30 Landline. (R)

6.00 Australian Story: Peter Garrett. (R) Presented by Leigh Sales.

6.30 Stateline. (R) An analysis of politics and local issues.

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

7.30 Return To Paradise. (PG) After a CEO is poisoned during a spiritual ceremony at a corporate retreat, the killer’s method defies explanation.

8.30 Vera. (Mav, R) A hit-and-run and a stabbing death, in a remote Northumberland valley, have Vera and her team investigating the connection between the two people involved.

10.00 The Forsytes. (PG, R) James attempts to sabotage Joylon.

10.55 Bergerac. (Mal, R) Bergerac goes rogue with a new lead. 11.40 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) Music video clips.

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Children’s Programs. 4pm Knee High Spies. 4.20 Millie Magnificent. 4.45 Gardening Australia Junior. 5.10 Octonauts And The Mariana Trench Adventure. 6.30 Paddington. 6.50 Andy And The Band. 7.30 Hard Quiz Kids. 8.00 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament Of Houses. 8.40 Chopped Jnr. 9.25 Fresh Off The Boat. 10.05 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs.

Noon MOVIE: Free Willy. (1993, PG) 1.55 Africa’s Underwater Wonders. 2.45 Nula. 3.20 Supreme Team. 4.30 Faboriginal. 5.00 Pacific Island Food Revolution. 6.00 Amplify. 6.40 The Other Side. 7.30 Alone Australia. 8.30 MOVIE: Constantine. (2005, MA15+) 10.35 MOVIE: Graffiti Bridge. (1990, PG) 12.05am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 9.00 The Point: Road To Referendum History

Bites. (R) 9.10 Matched. (PG, R) 10.00

Puppy Secrets: The First Six Months. (R) 11.00 Shepherdess. (PG, R) 12.00

BBC News At Ten. 12.30 Soccer. Australian Championship. Semi-final 1. 3.30 Soccer. Australian Championship. Semi-final 2.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 A Royal Guide To Christmas. Looks at the Christmas period for the royals.

8.25 Christmas In The Cotswolds. (R) Takes a look at the popular holiday destination, The Cotswolds, during the festive season.

9.20 Christmas At Longleat. (R) Takes a look inside Longleat, one of Britain’s grandest estates, during the Christmas season.

10.20 Reckless. (Malv, R)

11.15 Homicide: Life On The Street. (Ma, R)

2.35 The Story Of Chocolate. (PGa, R) 3.35 Being Beethoven. (PGa, R) 4.40 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31)

6am Morning

Programs. Noon Tiny Beautiful Things. 1.05 Curse Of Oak Island. 3.40 WorldWatch. 5.40 Mastermind Aust. 6.40 History’s Greatest Of All-Time With Peyton Manning. 7.30 Impossible Engineering. 8.30 Cult Massacre: One Day In Jonestown. (Premiere) 10.20 Snowpiercer. 12.05am While The Men Are Away. 2.15 Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

6am Morning Programs. 12.35pm Dead Again. (1991, Malsv) 2.40 Golden Years. (2016, PGals) 4.30 Whina. (2022, PGa, Maori, English) 6.35 Music & Lyrics. (2007, PG) 8.30 Saturday Night Fever. (1977, MA15+al) 10.45 The Handmaiden. (2016, MA15+alnsv, Korean, Japanese) 1.25am And So It Goes. (2014, Ms) 3.05 Sense And Sensibility. (1995)

6am Morning Programs. 10.00 Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Jabba’s Movies. (PGv, R) 12.30 Border Security. (PG, R) 1.00 Motor Racing. Supercars C’ship. Round 13. Adelaide Grand Final. Day 1. Qualifying and support races. 3.00 Motor Racing. Supercars C’ship. Round 13. Adelaide Grand Final. Day 1. Pre-race and race 33.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Football. AFL Women’s. Grand Final.

10.00 MOVIE: Battleship. (2012, Mv, R)

The crew of a US Navy warship finds themselves involved in a pitched battle against apparently hostile alien invaders, who have come to Earth in response to a message transmitted by NASA to their planet. Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgård, Rihanna.

12.40 Motor Racing. Supercars Championship. Round 13. Adelaide Grand Final. Day 1. Highlights.

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 It’s Academic. (R) Students compete against other schools to win cash and prizes. Hosted by Simon Reeve.

5.00 House Of Wellness. (PG, R) Experts share advice on living well.

7TWO (62, 72)

6am Morning

Programs. Noon Horse Racing.

Caulfield Spring Finale, Festival Stakes Day, Tattersall’s Classic Raceday And Winterbottom Stakes Day. 6.00 Dog Patrol. 6.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 8.30 Escape To The Country. 11.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 1.30am The Great Australian Doorstep. 2.00 Animal Rescue. 2.30 Late Programs.

7MATE (64, 73)

6am Morning

Programs. 1pm Blokesworld. 1.30 Cool Cars & Bikes. 2.00 Rides Down Under: Workshop Wars. 3.00 Motor Racing. National Drag Racing C’ship. Top Fuel C’ship. 4.00 Desert Collectors. 5.00 Counting Cars. 6.00 Pawn Stars. 7.00 MOVIE: Sister Act. (1992, PG) 9.10 MOVIE: Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit. (1993) 11.30 Late Programs.

Sunday, November 30

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6.00 Rage. (PG) 7.00 Wknd Brekky. 9.00 Insiders. 10.00 Offsiders. (Final) 10.30 World This Week. (R) 11.00 Compass. (PGa, R) 11.30 Praise. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Landline. (Final) 1.30 Gardening Aust. (R) 2.30 Nigella’s Christmas Bites. (R) 3.20 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 4.10 Extraordinary Escapes. (PG, R) 5.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.00 Grand Designs Australia. (PG, R) 7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Spicks And Specks. (PG) Hosted by comedian Adam Hills.

8.00 Portrait Artist Of The Year. (PG) Heat five features an array of unique talent.

8.50 The Forsytes. (PG) Jolyon recommits to his family.

9.45 Return To Paradise. (PGa, R) A CEO is poisoned at a corporate retreat.

10.45 When The War Is Over. (PGa, R) 11.15 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 11.40 Nigella’s Christmas Bites. (R)

12.30 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.00 Dream Gardens. (R) 3.30 The Art Of. (Ml, R) 4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 Insiders. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Ireland’s Secrets From Above. (PGa, R) 12.00 APAC Weekly. 12.30 PBS Washington Week. 12.55 The Point: Road To Referendum History Bites. (R) 1.00 Speedweek. 3.00 When The World Watched. (Premiere) 4.00 My Rembetika Blues. (R) 5.35 Blood Money: Inside The Nazi Economy. (PGaw, R)

6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Pearl Harbor: Battle In The Pacific. A re-creation of the attack on Pearl Harbor. 8.30 Troy Story. Explores the latest archaeology and science about whether or not the Trojan War really happened.

10.15 Bronze Age Apocalypse: Pt 1. (R) 11.55 Peter O’Toole: Along Sky Roads To Aqaba. (MA15+l, R) 1.35 Franklin. (MA15+l, R) 3.15 Tutankhamun. (PG, R) 4.20 Home Of The Year: Scotland. (Ml, R) 4.55 Destination Flavour: Japan Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 APAC Weekly.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 3.30pm PJ Masks Power Heroes. 4.00 Knee High Spies. 4.20 Millie Magnificent. 5.10 Kangaroo Beach Summer Special. 5.30 Peter Rabbit. 6.05 PJ Masks. 6.50 Andy And The Band. 7.05 Piripenguins. 7.35 The Mysterious Benedict Society. (Final) 8.10 Crongton. 8.35 Fresh Off The Boat. 9.20 Abbott Elementary. 10.00 Late Programs.

6am Morning

Programs. Noon Trip Hazard: My Great British Adventure. 1.50 WWE Rivals. 2.45 Jeopardy! 4.50 WorldWatch. 5.50 History’s Greatest Heists With Pierce Brosnan. 6.40 Abandoned Engineering. 8.30 Inside The Cult Of The Jesus Army. 10.50 Liaison. 11.50 Myths: The Greatest Mysteries Of Humanity. 12.50am Late Programs.

6.00 Getaway. (PG, R) 6.30 A Current Affair. (R) 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 Today Extra: Saturday. (PG) 12.00 Golf. PGA Tour of Australasia. Australian PGA Championship. Third round. 5.00 9News First At Five. 5.30 Getaway. (PG) The team walks around Mexico City.

6.00 9News Saturday. 7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 MOVIE: Barbie. (2023, PGlv, R) After suffering an existential crisis, stereotypical Barbie must leave the matriarchal society of Barbieland for the first time. Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling.

9.50 MOVIE: Hairspray. (2007, PGls, R) A teenager’s obsession with a TV dance show pays off after she lands a spot on the program. Nikki Blonsky, Zac Efron.

12.00 MOVIE: Suburbicon. (2017, MA15+alv, R) Matt Damon. 2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PG)

2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 Global Shop. (R)

5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

5.30 Helping Hands. (PG, R)

9GEM (81, 92)

6am Morning Programs.

Noon MOVIE: A Hill In Korea. (1956, PG) 1.30 MOVIE: Birdman Of Alcatraz. (1962, PG) 4.30 M*A*S*H. 6.00 MOVIE: The Lone Gun. (1954, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: Gone In 60 Seconds. (2000, M) 9.50 MOVIE: Gran Torino. (2008, M) 12.15am MOVIE: A Cure For Wellness. (2016, MA15+) 3.05 Late Programs.

9GO! (82, 93)

6am Morning Programs. 1.40pm Soccer. English Premier League. Newcastle United v Manchester City. Replay. 3.40 Surfing Aust. 4.40 Young Sheldon. 5.10 MOVIE: Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. (2005, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers. (2002, M) 11.10 The Winter King. 12.20am Love Island Games. 2.20 Late Programs.

TEN (5, 10)

6am Morning Programs. 10.00 Mission Melanoma: On The Road Together. 11.00 Airport 24/7. (PGa, R) 12.00 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly Australia. (PGa, R) 1.00 Silvia’s Italian

6.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) Narrated by Mark Coles Smith. 7.30 Selling Houses Australia. A couple want to travel in a converted bus.

8.40 Location, Location, Location Australia. (R) Follows property experts Mitch Edwards and Mark McKie as they search for the perfect home for two sets of buyers. 9.50 Harry And Meghan: The Rise And Fall. (PGa) Looks at Harry and Meghan’s life. 10.50 FBI: Most Wanted. (Mv, R) The team hunts down a team of killers. 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power.

(6, 7)

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 House Of Wellness. (PG, R) 1.00 Motor Racing. Supercars C’ship. Round 13. Adelaide 500. Day 2. Qualifying and support races. 3.00 Motor Racing. Supercars C’ship. Round 13. Adelaide 500. Day 2. Pre-race and race 34.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 7NEWS Spotlight. Presented by Michael Usher. 8.00 Ultimate Crash Test. (Premiere, PGal) Looks at what happens in a multi-vehicle pileup, with an experiment aimed to gain new insights on car safety. 10.00 MOVIE: Green Book. (2018, Ml, R) A pianist hires a tough-talking chauffeur. Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali. 12.40 Motor Racing. Supercars Championship. Round 13. Adelaide 500. Day 2. Highlights. 2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R)

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

7TWO (62, 72)

6am Morning Programs. 1pm The Surgery Ship. 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 Animal Rescue. 3.00 Hornby: A Model Empire. 4.00 Escape To The Country. 7.00 Greatest Escapes To The Country. 7.45 Mrs Brown’s Boys. 8.30 Vera. 10.30 Murdoch Mysteries. 12.30am Harry’s Practice. 1.00 Better Homes. 2.00 Vera. 4.00 Late Programs.

7MATE (64, 73) SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 2.35pm The Drover’s Boy. 2.50 MOVIE: Loudmouth. (2022, PG) 5.00 MOVIE: Graffiti Bridge. (1990, PG) 6.40 Africa’s Underwater Wonders. 7.30 The American Buffalo. 8.30 Johnny Cash: Redemption Of An Idol. 10.10 MOVIE: One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. (1975, M) 12.30am Late Programs. NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs. 11.15 And So It Goes. (2014, Ms) 12.55pm The Duke. (2020, Mls) 2.40 Dean Spanley. (2008, PG) 4.35 Finding You. (2020, PGal) 6.50 The Man Who Knew Too Little. (1997, PGlsv) 8.30 Solace. (2015, MA15+asv) 10.25 On The Basis Of Sex. (2018, Ml) 12.40am Saturday Night Fever. (1977, MA15+al) 2.50 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 Storage Wars. Noon Cricket. WBBL. Heat v Strikers. 3.30 Cricket. WBBL. Sixers v Thunder. 7.00 Border Security. 8.30 MOVIE: Venom. (2018, M) 10.35 MOVIE: Flatliners. (2017, M) 12.55am Blokesworld. 1.30 Counting Cars. 2.30 Border Security: Int. 3.30 Border Security. 5.00 Late Programs.

6.00 Hello SA. (PG, R) 6.30 A Current Affair. (R) 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 Cross Court. 10.30 Next Stop. (R) 11.00 Explore TV. (R) 11.30 Drive TV: Launch Pad. 12.00 Golf. PGA Tour of Australasia. Australian PGA C’ship. Final round. 5.00 9News First At Five. 5.30 Postcards Summer. (Return, PG) 6am Morning Programs. 9.30 Key Ingredient. (Return) 10.00 Farm To Fork. (R) 10.30 10 Minute Kitchen. (R) 11.00 Charming China. (R) 11.30 Pooches At Play. (R) 12.00 The Dog Academy. (PGa) 1.00 4x4 Adventures. (PGl, R) 2.00 Food Trail: South Africa. (R) 2.30 House Hunters Aust. (R) 3.00 Wheel Of Fortune. (R) 4.00 Lingo. (R) 5.00 News.

6.00 9News Sunday. 7.00 60 Minutes. Current affairs program.

8.00 Live Aid: When Rock ‘n’ Roll Took On The World. (Ml) The second half of Live Aid in the US is a success.

10.00 Essex Millionaire Murders. (Mdv) Detectives close in on Luke D’Wit.

11.00 Mobsters: Nicky Scarfo. (Madv) 11.50 World’s Most Dangerous Prisoners: Osuna. (MA15+av, R)

12.40 Australia’s Top Ten Of Everything. (PG, R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa)

4.30 The Garden Gurus. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

9GEM (81, 92)

6am Morning Programs. 12.50pm MOVIE: War Drums. (1957, PG) 2.20 MOVIE: Sitting Bull. (1954, PG) 4.30 MOVIE: Support Your Local Gunfighter. (1971, PG) 6.30 M*A*S*H. 8.30 TBA. 11.00 Major Crimes. Midnight MOVIE: Bad Boys. (1983, MA15+) 2.05 MOVIE: Chase A Crooked Shadow. (1958, PG) 3.55 Late Programs.

9GO! (82, 93)

6am Morning Programs. 12.30pm Basketball. WNBL. Bendigo Spirit v Adelaide. 2.30 Soccer. English Premier League. Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur. Replay. 4.30 Young Sheldon. 4.55 MOVIE: Superman II. (1980, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: Batman Begins. (2005, M) 10.15 MOVIE: Catwoman. (2004, M) 12.20am Gotham. 1.15 Arrow. 2.10 Late Programs.

6.00 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 7.00 Big Brother Australia. (PGalns) Hosted by Mel Tracina. 8.10 Ghosts Australia. (PGalv) Kate and Sean meet their wealthy neighbours, and a dispute quickly escalates. 8.40 FBI. (Mv, R) Jubal’s long-time confidential informant brings intel of an impending large-scale terror attack to the team.

10.40 10 News+. (R) Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 11.30 NCIS. (Mad, R) The team mourns the loss of Ducky. 12.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings.

Monday, December 1

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mornings. 10.00 Take 5 With Zan Rowe. (PG, R) 10.30 Vera. (Mav, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Landline. (Final, R) 2.00 Death In Paradise. (Mv, R) 3.00 QI. (PG, R) 3.30 Forever Summer With Nigella. (R) 3.55 Grand Designs New Zealand. (R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30. Presented by Sarah Ferguson.

8.00 Australian Story: On The Brink – Bon Scott. (R) A look at the life of Bon Scott.

8.40 MOVIE: Songs Inside. (2024, Ml) Incarcerated women enter a songwriting program. Nancy Bates. 10.05 I Was Actually There: Woomera Detention Centre Breakout. (PG, R) 10.40 ABC Late News.

10.55 The Business. (R)

11.10 Creative Types With Virginia Trioli. (PGv, R)

11.35 Grand Designs New Zealand. (Ml, R) 12.30 Long Lost Family. (R) 1.15 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.25 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

6am Morning Programs. 11.05 The Isle Of Rum. (PGaw) 12.10 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News Weekend. 1.30 Al Jazeera News Hour. 2.00 Imagined Touch. (PGl, R) 2.35 Larapinta: End To End. (PG) 3.40 The Cook Up. (PG, R) 4.10 We Hear You. (PG, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Bill Bailey’s Vietnam Adventure. (PG) Bill Bailey heads to the nation’s capital Hanoi.

8.30 Never Mind The Buzzcocks Christmas. (Mls, R) Presented by Greg Davies.

9.25 Jimmy Carr’s I Literally Just Told You. (M) Comedic game show.

10.20 SBS World News Late.

10.50 The Man Who Died. (Mav)

11.40 A Criminal Affair. (Mals, R) 1.20

Bowled Over: Untold Australia. (Mal, R) 2.25 Looking For Rembrandt. (PGa, R)

3.30 Boswell And Johnson’s Scottish Road Trip. (PGal, R) 4.25 Growing A Greener World. (R) 4.55 Destination Flavour: Japan Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 1.10pm Octonauts. 2.45 TBA. 3.00 Play School. 3.40 Fizzy And Suds. 4.10 Andy’s Safari Adventures. 4.25 Super Monsters. 5.30 Peter Rabbit. 6.05 PJ Masks. 6.25 Paddington. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Operation Ouch! 8.35 Gladiators UK. 9.35 The Crystal Maze. 10.20 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22)

NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs. 1.40pm Shepherdess. 2.00 On Country Kitchen. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 The 77 Percent. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Africa’s Underwater Wonders. 7.30 Who Do You Think You Are? 8.30 Karla Grant Presents. 9.00 Prison Songs. 9.55 MOVIE: Krush Groove. (1985, M) 11.35 Late Programs.

6am Morning

Programs. Noon France 24 English News. 12.30 Rex In Rome. 3.00 History’s Crazy Rich Ancients. 3.25 Bamay. 3.50 WorldWatch. 5.45 Mysteries From Above. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 DNA Journey. 9.40 MOVIE: Monty Python’s Life Of Brian. (1979, M) 11.25 Question Team. 12.15am Django. 1.15 Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

6am Morning Programs. 12.20pm 5 To 7. (2014, Mals) 2.10 Music & Lyrics. (2007, PG) 4.05 The Final Countdown. (1980, PGalv) 6.00 Manganinnie. (1980, PGa) 7.40 The Legend Of The Christmas Witch. (2018, PGalv, Italian) 9.30 The Tower. (2012, Mal, French, Korean) 11.50 Infinite Storm. (2022, Maln) 1.40am Late Programs.

SEVEN (6, 7)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 MOVIE: Sweet Navidad. (2021, PGa, R) Camila Banus. 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. Hosted by Larry Emdur.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Border Patrol. (PG) A cigarettesmuggling ring is stopped.

7.30 Queen: In Their Own Words. (Mal, R) The story of rock band Queen. 8.30 The Rookie. (Final, Mav) Nolan and Harper work together to catch Oscar. Lopez investigates a bank robbery.

9.30 Alert: Missing Persons Unit. (Mav) The team investigates when a brewery foreman is kidnapped after arguing with his CEO over safety violations.

11.30 Autopsy USA: Desi Arnaz. (Ma, R) 12.30 Girlfriends’ Guide To Divorce. (MA15+s)

1.30 Harry’s Practice. (R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

7TWO (62, 72)

6am Morning

Programs. 1pm Hornby: A Model Empire. 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 Hunt. 7.30 Doc Martin. 8.30 Endeavour. 10.30 Air Crash Inv: Accident Files. 11.30 Doc Martin. 12.30am Bargain Hunt. 1.30 Late Programs.

7MATE (64, 73)

6am Morning Programs. 2.30pm Motor Racing. Supercars C’ship. Adelaide Grand Final. H’lights. 3.30 Motor Racing. Supercars C’ship. Adelaide 500. H’lights. 4.30 American Resto. 5.00 Storage Wars. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.30 Outback Opal Hunters. 9.30 Aussie Salvage Squad. 10.30 Mighty Ships. 11.30 Late Programs.

Tuesday, December 2

ABC TV (2)

SBS (3)

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.00 The Art Of... (PG, R) 10.30 Call The Midwife. (PGa, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 The Forsytes. (PG, R) 2.00 Death In Paradise. (Ma, R) 3.00 QI. (PG, R) 3.30 Forever Summer With Nigella. (R) 3.55 Grand Designs New Zealand. (R) 4.40 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 10.15 Leave No Trace. 11.10 Who Do You Think You Are? US. (PGa, R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 12.55 PBS News. 1.55 Changing Channels. 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Stutter School: Untold Australia. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

Hard

12.35 Grand Designs New Zealand. (R) 1.25 Long Lost Family. (R) 2.15 Rage. (MA15+dhlnsv) 3.40 Parkinson In Australia. (PGa, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Great British Railway Journeys: Swanage To Portchester. (PGa, R) 8.30 Who Do You Think You Are? Vicky McClure. Actor Vicky McClure explores her roots.

9.35 Australia: An Unofficial History. (Mals, R) Continues to look at Australia’s history.

10.40 SBS World News Late. 11.10 Families Like Ours. (Malv) 12.10 Carmen Curlers. (Malsv, R) 2.30 Looking For Rembrandt. (Ms, R) 3.35 Boswell And Johnson’s Scottish Road Trip. (PG, R) 4.25 Growing A Greener World. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SEVEN (6, 7)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 MOVIE: A Christmas Mission. (2020, PGl, R) Mary Antonini. 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. Hosted by Larry Emdur.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Border Patrol. (PG)

7.30 Highway Patrol. (PGa, R) Officers spot some dodgy activity. 8.30 Murder In A Small Town. (Mav) After political deception is uncovered, everyone becomes a suspect when Mayor Holman is attacked.

9.30 Homicide: With Ron Iddles: Terry Floyd. (PGa, R) A look at the case of Terry Floyd.

10.30 MOVIE: The Social Network. (2010, Ml, R) Jesse Eisenberg. 1.00 Travel Oz. (PG, R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

7TWO (62, 72) SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 2.45pm TBA. 3.00 Children’s Programs. 4.10 Andy’s Safari Adventures. 4.25 Super Monsters. 5.30 Peter Rabbit. 6.05 PJ Masks. 6.25 Paddington. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Operation Ouch! 8.35 Animals Up Close With Bertie Gregory. 9.15 Super Shark Highway. 10.10 Late Programs.

NINE (8, 9)

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra Summer. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: A Royal Proposal: A Royal In Paradise II. (2024, G) Rhiannon Fish, Mitchell Bourke. 2.00 Pointless. (PG, R) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.30 WIN News.

6.00 9News. 7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Travel Guides. (PGl, R) The guides head to Newcastle, NSW.

8.40 MOVIE: The Castle. (1997, Ml, R) The happy existence of a man and his family is disrupted when they are told they must leave their home. Michael Caton, Sophie Lee, Anne Tenney.

10.35 The Equalizer. (Mav) McCall, Dante and Miles are held hostage.

11.25 Transplant. (MA15+m, R)

12.10 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

1.05 Hello SA. (PG)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

2.30 Global Shop. (R)

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa)

4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

9GEM (81, 92)

6am Morning Programs. Noon New Tricks. 1.00 Building Icons. 2.00 World’s Greatest Natural Icons. 3.00 Antiques Roadshow. 3.30 MOVIE: Happy Go Lovely. (1951) 5.30 Yorkshire Auction House. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 Death In Paradise. 8.40 Shakespeare And Hathaway. 10.40 Major Crimes. 11.40 New Tricks. 12.50am Late Programs.

9GO! (82, 93)

6am Morning Programs. Noon Pretty Little Liars. 2.00 Golden Girls. 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 Jeannie. 6.00 Golden Girls. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 Love Island Australia. 9.45 MOVIE: The Edge Of Seventeen. (2016, M) 11.50 Seinfeld. 12.50am The Vampire Diaries. 2.40 Supernatural. 3.30 Late Programs.

TEN (5, 10)

6.00 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 7.00 Deal Or No Deal. Hosted by Grant Denyer. 7.30 Big Brother Australia. (Malns) Hosted by Mel Tracina. 8.40 Sam Pang Tonight. (Final, Mals) A weekly tonight show hosted by Sam Pang, featuring a monologue roasting the news of the week. 9.40 Just For Laughs Australia. (MA15+ls) Stand-up comedy performances from Joanne McNally, Nazeem Hussain and Tom Cashman. 10.40 10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather. 11.05 10 News+. (R) 12.05 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings.

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra Summer. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: Forever Christmas. (2018, PGa, R) Chelsea Hobbs, Christopher Russell. 2.00 Pointless. (PG, R) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.30 WIN News. 6am Morning Programs. 8.00 Bold. (PG, R) 8.30

6.00 9News. 7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Taronga: Who’s Who In The Zoo: Baby Boom. (PG) Red panda cubs are trained for breeding.

8.30 Jamie Durie’s Future House. (PG) Jamie’s futuristic vision finally comes to life and the Fox family’s modular home build is off to a flying start.

9.35 Beyond The Build. (PG) A couple try to convert a 1980s red brick house.

10.35 Wild Cards. (Ma) 11.30 La Brea. (Mav, R) 12.15 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.05 Cross Court. (R) 1.30 Home Shopping. 2.30 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 3.00 Home Shopping. 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today

9GEM (81, 92)

ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Morning Programs. Noon Pretty Little Liars. 2.00 Golden Girls. 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 Jeannie. 6.00 Golden Girls. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 Love Island Australia. 9.45 MOVIE: Four Holidays. (2008, M) 11.30 Seinfeld.

(PG)

Shopping. (R)

Mornings. 6am Morning Programs. Noon DW The Day. 12.30 Homicide. 2.10 Dreaming Whilst Black. 2.40 Stutter School: Untold Australia. 3.50 WorldWatch. 5.50 Mysteries From Above. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Tribe With Bruce Parry. 9.40 Go Back To Where You Came From UK. 10.45 Hoarders. 11.30 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 Creek To Coast. 2.30 Air Crash Inv: Accident Files. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Call The Midwife. 8.45 Judge John Deed. 10.45 Autopsy USA. 11.45 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 11.30 Find My Country House NZ. Noon New Tricks. 1.00 Shakespeare And Hathaway. 3.00 Antiques Roadshow. 3.30 MOVIE: Maytime In Mayfair. (1949) 5.30 Yorkshire Auction House. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 New Tricks. 8.40 TBA. 10.40 Major Crimes. 11.40 New Tricks. 1am Creflo. 1.30 Late Programs.

Wednesday, December 3

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6am Morning Programs. 11.25 Nigella’s Christmas Kitchen. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Press Club. (R) 1.35 You Can’t Ask That. (Ml, R) 2.00 Death In Paradise. (Mv, R) 3.00 QI. (PG, R) 3.30 Forever Summer With Nigella. (PG, R) 3.55 Grand Designs NZ. (R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30.

8.00 Hard Quiz. (PG) Hosted by Tom Gleeson.

8.30 Crime Night! (PG) Hosted by Julia Zemiro. 9.00 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) Hosted by comedian Adam Hills.

9.30 Utopia. (PG, R) A freeway project is delayed.

10.25 If You’re Listening. (R)

10.50 ABC Late News.

11.05 The Business. (R)

11.20 You Can’t Ask That. (PG, R)

12.25 Grand Designs New Zealand. (R) 1.10 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 1.55 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.30 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Morning Programs. 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00

PBS News. 2.00 MOVIE: When Love Is In Your Eyes. (2024, PGa, R) 2.50 I Am Not A Number. (PGa, R) 3.10

Rehabilitating. (PGa) 3.30 The Cook Up. (R) 4.00 Focus On Ability Film Festival 2025. 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) Presented by Marc Fennell.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Michael Palin In North Korea. (R) Michael Palin explores North Korea.

8.30 Reckless. (Final, MA15+l) June races against time to save her brother Charlie from gangland captors.

9.35 Scotland’s Poshest Train: Alan Cumming. (PG, R) Alan Cumming gets a taste of another luxurious journey that only happens twice every year.

10.30 SBS World News Late. 11.00 Crime. (MA15+av, R) 1.55 Looking For Rembrandt. (PGa, R) 3.00 Boswell And Johnson’s Scottish Road Trip. (PGal, R) 3.55 Home Of The Year: Scotland. (PG, R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 1.10pm Octonauts. 2.45 TBA. 3.00 Play School. 3.40 Fizzy And Suds. 4.10 Andy’s Safari Adventures. 4.25 Super Monsters. 5.30 Peter Rabbit. 6.05 PJ Masks. 6.25 Paddington. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 TBA. 9.50 Pokémon: Diamond And Pearl. 10.15 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

6am Morning

Programs. Noon DW The Day. 12.30 What Does Australia Really Think About… 1.35 If You Are The One. 3.45 WorldWatch. 5.45 Mysteries From Above. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Adam Hills: The Last Leg. 9.25 MOVIE: The Running Man. (1987, MA15+) 11.20 MOVIE: In Bruges. (2008, MA15+) 1.20am Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 1.30pm Talking Language. 2.00 On Country Kitchen. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 News. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Africa’s Underwater Wonders. 7.30 Ocean Warriors: Mission Ready. 8.30 Reckless. (Final) 9.40 MOVIE: Samson And Delilah. (2009, M) 11.25 Speak No Maori. 12.15am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 12.05pm Bliss. (2021, Malv) 2.00 Another Mother’s Son. (2017, PGalsv) 3.55 The Legend Of The Christmas Witch. (2018, PGalv, Italian) 5.45 Marie’s Story. (2014) 7.35 Begin Again. (2013, Mls) 9.30 Silent Night. (2023) 11.15 Hundreds Of Beavers. (2022, Mas) 1.20am Late Programs.

SEVEN (6, 7)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 MOVIE: A Furry Little Christmas. (2021, PGa, R) 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. 3.00 Beat The Chasers UK. (R) 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. Hosted by Larry Emdur.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Border Patrol. (PG) Officers get confused by a traveller.

7.30 The 1% Club UK. (PG, R) Hosted by Lee Mack.

8.30 MOVIE: 1917. (2019, MA15+av, R) During World War I, two British soldiers are assigned the critical task of delivering a life-saving message. George MacKay, DeanCharles Chapman, Colin Firth.

11.00 Chicago Fire. (Ma) Severide creates a ropes course for Girls on Fire.

12.00 MOVIE: Secrets On Campus. (2022, Mav, R) Jalina Brown. 2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

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

7TWO (62, 72)

6am Morning

Programs. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 The Zoo. 2.30 House Of Wellness. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Heartbeat. 8.45 Inspector George Gently. 10.45 Autopsy USA. 11.45 Bargain Hunt. 12.45am Late Programs.

7MATE (64, 73)

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 American Pickers. 12.30pm Pawn Stars. 1.30 Outback Truckers. 3.30 Cricket. WBBL. Stars v Sixers. 7.00 Cricket. WBBL. Thunder v Heat. 10.30 Caught On Dashcam Holiday Specials. 11.30 Live PD Presents: PD Cam. (Premiere) Midnight American Resto. 12.30 Storage Wars. 1.00 American Pickers. 2.00 Late Programs.

Thursday, December 4

ABC TV (2)

NINE (8, 9)

TEN (5, 10)

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra Summer. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 Taronga: Who’s Who In The Zoo. (PG, R) 1.00 Getaway. (PG, R) 1.30 My Way. 2.00 Pointless. (PG, R) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.30 WIN News. 6am Morning Programs. 8.00 Bold. (PG, R) 8.30 Deal Or No Deal.

6.00 9News. 7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 RBT. (Mdl, R) Follows the activities of police units.

8.30 Paramedics. (Mm, R) Flight paramedic Steve heads to the country after a tractor topples over and crushes a farmer.

9.30 Parole. (MA15+alv) The parole board must decide whether or not to move murderer Martin to an open prison.

10.50 Resident Alien. (Mav)

11.40 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

12.35 Pointless. (PG, R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

9GEM (81, 92)

6am Morning Programs.

Noon New Tricks. 2.00 Wild Moments. 3.00 Antiques Roadshow. 3.30 MOVIE: The Ship That Died Of Shame. (1955, PG) 5.30 Yorkshire Auction House. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 M*A*S*H. 8.00 2027 Rugby World Cup Draw. 9.00 Midsomer Murders. 11.00 Major Crimes. Midnight New Tricks. 1.00 Late Programs.

9GO! (82, 93)

6am Morning Programs.

Noon Pretty Little Liars. 2.00 Golden Girls. 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 Jeannie. 6.00 Golden Girls. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 Love Island Australia. 9.45 MOVIE: Magic Mike’s Last Dance. (2023, M) Midnight Seinfeld. 1.00 The Vampire Diaries. 2.40 Supernatural. 3.30 Late Programs.

SBS (3)

NINE (8, 9) 6am Morning Programs. 10.30 The Piano UK. (PG, R) 11.15 Tech Smart Agriculture. (R) 11.30 Crime Night! (PG, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Silent Witness. (Ma, R) 2.00 Death In Paradise. (Mv, R) 3.00 QI. (PG, R) 3.30 Forever Summer With Nigella. (R) 3.55 Grand Designs NZ. (R) 4.40 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 2.00 Chef Antonio’s Recipes For Revolution. (Ml, R) 3.00 Sugar Bird Lady. 3.05 Deus Ex Machina. 3.10 Hindsight. (PGls) 3.15 Standard Drink. 3.20 Return To Lullumb. 3.25 Imposter. (PGa) 3.30 La Echolalia. 3.35 Theatricality. 3.45 The Cook Up. (R) 4.15 Everywhere. 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30.

8.00 Grand Designs Australia: Interlaken Lodge. (PG) A couple’s build gets out of hand.

9.00 Long Lost Family. (PG) Hosted by Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell.

9.45 Portrait Artist Of The Year. (PG, R)

10.35 ABC Late News.

10.50 The Business. (R) 11.10 The Art Of. (PG, R) 11.40 Grand Designs New Zealand. (R) 12.25 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 1.10 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.20 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Children’s Programs. 2.45pm TBA. 3.00 Play School. 3.40 Fizzy And Suds. 4.10 Andy’s Safari Adventures. 4.25 Super Monsters. 5.30 Peter Rabbit. 6.05 PJ Masks. 6.25 Paddington. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Operation Ouch! 8.35 Secrets Of The Zoo. 9.20 Secret Life Of The Kangaroo. 10.05 Late Programs.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Eva Longoria: Searching For Spain: Marbella. (PGalw) Eva Longoria shows off her new home city of Marbella.

8.25 Britain’s Railway Empire In Colour: Battle Lines. (PGav) Looks at how the rail compartment fascinated Victorians.

9.20 Vigil. (Malv) Eliza warns Amy to regain control of her investigation.

10.25 SBS World News Late.

10.55 Vienna Blood. (MA15+a, R) 12.50 House Of Promises. (Mans, R)

3.30 Home Of The Year: Scotland. (R) 4.35 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31)

6am Morning Programs. Noon DW The Day. 12.30 MOVIE: Simple Minds: Everything Is Possible. (2022, M) 2.10 Bamay. 2.40 Insight. 3.45 WorldWatch. 5.45 Mysteries From Above. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 History’s Greatest Mysteries. 10.10 The UnXplained. (Return) 11.00 Homicide. 12.40am Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 1.40pm Always Blak Always Cracked. 2.00 On Country Kitchen. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 Te Ao With Moana. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 The Big Dry. 7.30 Going Places. 8.30 Reservation Dogs. 9.30 MOVIE: Enter The Dragon. (1973, MA15+) 11.20 The House-Opening. 12.05am Late Programs. NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs. 12.05pm Hundreds Of Beavers. (2022, Mas) 2.05 Delfin. (2019, Spanish) 3.45 The Orator. (2011, PGa, Samoan) 5.50 Paris Can Wait. (2016, PG) 7.30 Last Cab To Darwin. (2015, Mal) 9.50 Everybody’s Fine. (2009) 11.45 Best Sellers. (2021, Mals) 1.40am Silent Night. (2023) 3.20 Begin Again. (2013, Mls) 5.15 Late Programs.

6.00 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 7.00 Deal Or No Deal. Hosted by Grant Denyer. 7.30 Big Brother Australia. (Malns) Hosted by Mel Tracina. 8.30 FBI: Most Wanted. (Mv) While helping Ethan seek treatment at a hospital, Hana puts out an SOS to the Fugitive Task Force when she is among those taken hostage by an enraged veteran. 10.30 10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather. 10.55 10 News+. (R) Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 11.55 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings.

SEVEN (6, 7) TEN (5, 10)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 MOVIE: Dirty Little Deeds. (2021, Mav, R) 2.00 The Ashes: PreGame Show. 3.00 Cricket. The Ashes. Second Test. Australia v England. Day 1. Afternoon session. 5.00 The Ashes: Tea Break. 5.40 Cricket. The Ashes. Second Test. Australia v England. Day 1. Evening session.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Cricket. The Ashes. Second Test. Australia v England. Day 1. Evening session.

7.40 The Ashes: Dinner Break. Takes a look at the day’s play so far in the Test match between Australia and England.

8.00 Cricket. The Ashes. Second Test. Australia v England. Day 1. Late evening session.

10.30 Seven’s Cricket: The Spin. (Return) An expert panel examines the latest in cricket.

11.15 The Amazing Race. (PG)

12.45 Life. (Malsv, R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

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

7TWO (62, 72)

6am Morning Programs. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 Our Town. 3.00 The Zoo. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Father Brown. 8.30 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries. 11.40 Late Programs.

7MATE (64, 73)

6am Morning Programs. 2.30pm The Force: BTL. 3.30 Swamp People: Serpent Invasion. 4.30 American Resto. 5.00 American Pickers. 6.00 Cricket. The Ashes. Second Test. Aust v England. Evening session. 7.00 Pawn Stars. 7.30 American Pickers. 8.30 MOVIE: S.W.A.T. (2003, M) 11.00 MOVIE: After Earth. (2013, M) 1.05am Late Programs.

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra Summer. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 Golf. PGA Tour of Australasia. Australian Open. First round. 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.00[MELB] TippingPoint Australia.(PG,R) 5.30 WIN News. 6am Morning Programs. 8.00 Bold. (PG, R) 8.30

6.00 9News. 7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Holidays In The Sun. (Premiere, PG) 8.30 Topknotz. (M) Lifestyle series focusing on marine leisure, featuring Felicity Palmateer and Rob Palmer.

9.30 To Be Advised.

10.40 Chicago Med. (MA15+am)

11.30 Next Stop.

12.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

1.00 Drive TV: Launch Pad. (R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

9GEM (81, 92)

6am Morning Programs. 2pm Find My Country House NZ. 2.30 GolfBarons. 3.00 Golf. PGA Tour of Australasia. Aust Open. 5.00 Antiques Roadshow. 5.30 Yorkshire Auction House. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 Clarkson’s Farm. 8.30 MOVIE: Love Of An Icon: The Legend Of Crocodile Dundee. (2025, PG) 10.20 Major Crimes. 11.20 Late Programs.

9GO! (82, 93)

6am Morning Programs. Noon Pretty Little Liars. 2.00 Golden Girls. 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 Jeannie. 6.00 Golden Girls. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Survivor 49. 9.00 Love Island Australia. 10.15 TikTok Awards Australia. 11.15 Seinfeld. 12.15am The Vampire Diaries. 2.05 Supernatural. 3.00 Surfing Aust. 3.30 Late Programs.

6.00 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 7.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R) Hosted by Grant Denyer. 7.30 Big Brother Australia. (Malns) Hosted by Mel Tracina.

8.30 The Graham Norton Show. (Ml) Graham Norton is joined by Julia Roberts, Colin Farrell, Gloria Estefan and Robbie Williams. 9.40 Law & Order: SVU. (Mv, R) A runaway bride calls the SVU for help. 10.40 10’s Late News.

10 News+. (R)

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

Home Shopping. (R)

CBS Mornings.

Discover the Red Centre

From still dawns to starlit dinners, discover why the low season is the perfect time to explore the heart of Australia.

The first thing most people notice in the Red Centre is the space. The horizon stretches endlessly, the silence hums, and the land feels ancient and grounding. In the middle of this vastness sits Alice Springs, a small desert town with a vibrant community, framed by the redand-violet folds of the stunning MacDonnell Ranges.

While many travellers visit Central Australia during the winter months, the low season offers visitors time and space to soak in the iconic Red Centre landscapes and tourism experiences, minus the crowds.

Begin a Red Centre adventure at the Araluen Cultural Precinct, where powerful desert artworks and deep cultural stories unfurl in a quiet, cool gallery space. Nearby, art centres and galleries await, including the Iltja Ntjarra (Many Hands) Art Centre, Tjanpi Desert Weavers and Bindi Enterprises, places to discover vibrant watercolours, joyful grass sculptures and extraordinary art.

When hunger calls, follow the locals to long-time favourite Page 27 cafe for lunch and end the day at Hanuman, Jimmy Shu’s beloved multi-award-winning restaurant, where richly spiced curries taste even better after a day of discovery.

In Alice Springs, autumn brings colour and culture. From 26–29 March 2026, fabALICE transforms the CBD with dazzling celebrations of drag, comedy, cabaret and community. Inspired by the spirit of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, this vibrant festival brings colour, camp and creativity to Alice Springs, honouring inclusivity, diversity and the unique cultural magic of Central Australia.

Then from 10–19 April 2026, Parrtjima festival lights up the MacDonnell Ranges and Alice Springs Desert Park with large-scale art installations, language workshops, bush food experiences and nightly performances including Electric Fields and Emma Donovan. It is a moving, free 10-night celebration of Aboriginal culture and Country and a must-do for visitors of all ages.

Low season is also when the desert truly rewards the early riser. Mornings are cool and calm, perfect for exploring Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park. Walk among red rock walls, where a visitor hears nothing but their own footsteps, and watch ghost gums glow in the first light. Ellery Creek Big Hole offers a deep, cool waterhole in a quiet gorge, while nearby Angkerle Atwatye/Standley Chasm ignites in fiery red at midday.

As the day warms, travellers take to the open road. The Red Centre Way is perfect for daytime driving, with long stretches of winding

roads and surprises at every bend from wildflowers after rain, wedge-tailed eagles circling overhead, a quiet unexpected waterhole. Caravan parks in Alice Springs, Kings Canyon, and Yulara offer shady trees, clean facilities and a friendly, unhurried community atmosphere.

A must-do for any traveller visiting the Red Centre is Kings Canyon. Hike the iconic rim walk at sunrise for the most breathtaking views as the desert wakes. Low season mornings feel especially peaceful: fewer voices, expansive views, and the rare feeling of being small amongst the vast landscapes. To take in the full grandeur of Kings Canyon, a scenic flight is a must-do for any traveller and offers a whole new perspective of the canyon’s domes and towering cliffs. Evenings bring people together for the iconic ‘Under a Desert Moon’ dining experience, giving guests an intimate, multicourse gourmet dinner served under a starfilled sky.

And then of course, there’s Uluru, the beating heart of the outback. Sunrise is spectacular here, especially in the low season when fewer people gather at the viewing platforms. Mornings are ideal for guided walks, segway tours, or immersing yourself in the rich A?angu culture with a dot painting workshop. As the sun climbs, travellers take to the road, visit art galleries, or take the opportunity to rest, saving the golden hours for some of the region’s most unforgettable experiences like camel rides across ochre dunes, scenic flights over Kata Tju?a , or exploring the iconic Field of Light installation by renowned artist Bruce Munro. As darkness deepens, experience the mesmerising Wintjiri Wiru drone show, animating ancient stories in light and movement across the desert sky.

Low season in the Red Centre is about finding the rhythm of this place: slow mornings, warm daytime drives, surprising stops, glowing sunsets and nights full of stars.

Out here, the first thing noticed is the space and the thing that never leaves is the sense of wonder it stirs.

To start planning a Red Centre getaway and experience the Best Kept Season, head to www. northernterritory.com/best-kept-season.

1

Spirit of Queensland Explorer & Rainforest Rail Adventure

7 Nights

Feb & Mar 2026

In-seat

and dine service and entertainment Hotel Stays

1 night four-star hotel stay in Brisbane at The Point Brisbane Hotel

5 night five-star hotel stay in Cairns at the Crystalbrook Bailey

TROPICAL TRACKS

All hotel stays include breakfast

Escorted Tours

Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Rainforest

Cableway tour including^: Kuranda Village, Rainforestation Nature Park, Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience, Tropical Fruit Orchard, Dreamtime Walk, Koala and Wildlife Park, and Amphibious Army Duck tour of the rainforest

‘Reef Magic’ Great Barrier Reef cruise, including: Airconditioned catamaran transfers, 4 hours of reef time, marine life touch tank, underwater observatory, and fish feeding presentations

All Flights & Taxes

with all meals and sightseeing

Tour of Murray River Bridge and historic Roundhouse

Guided nature walk of Salt Bush Flat

Taste Riverland food and wine

wine tasting at Lambert Estate, visit to Barossa Valley Chocolate Company, photo stop at Menglers Hill Lookout, vineyard tour & wine tasting at Jacob’s Creek visitor centre, stop at Beerenberg Farm, and free time in Hahndorf to explore the historic German settlement

Fully Escorted Kangaroo Island Tours

Dragon-Fly flat-bottomed boat wildlife tour

Hotel Stays

3 nights four-star hotel stay in Adelaide with breakfast

1 night four-star hotel stay in Kangaroo Island with breakfast, lunch and dinner

Fully Escorted Barossa Valley Tours

Full day Barossa Valley tour with lunch and wine

tastings including: Saltram wine estate, lunch and

2 day Kangaroo Island tour including: Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery, Clifford’s Honey Farm, In-Flight Birds of Prey Display at Raptor Domain, Seal Bay Conservation Park guided beach walk, lunch at Emu Bay Lavender Farm, Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, and Flinders Chase National Park

All Flights, Taxes & Transfers

HOLIDAY CODE: CRU2498

MEDITERRANEAN'S ICONIC SHORES

Barcelona to Istanbul or vice versa

29 DAYS | 8 COUNTRIES

23 GUIDED TOURS

SET SAIL: MAR-NOV 2026; FEB-MAY, JUL, SEP 2027; MAR-APR, JUL-AUG 2028

From $24,195pp in Veranda Stateroom

From $30,195pp in Penthouse Veranda

& GREECE

Athens to Rome or vice versa

15 DAYS | 4 COUNTRIES

11 GUIDED TOURS

SET SAIL: MAR-NOV 2026; MAR-OCT 2027; MAR-AUG 2028

From $12,695pp in Veranda Stateroom

From $15,695pp in Penthouse Veranda

ANCIENT ADRIATIC TREASURES

Istanbul to Venice or vice versa

15 DAYS | 5 COUNTRIES

12 GUIDED TOURS

SET SAIL: MAR-APR, JUN, AUG, OCT-NOV 2026; JAN-MAY, JUL, SEP-OCT 2027; MAR-APR, AUG 2028

From $12,595pp in Deluxe Veranda

From $14,395pp in Penthouse Veranda

FROM THE ARCHIVES

The Geelong Independent looks back through the pages of our archives

16 years ago

27 November, 2009

A Geelong councillor has been convicted, ordered to pay $18,000 and kicked off council for failing to declare a conflict of interest.

David Saunderson was charged in May with failing to leave council chambers during a vote on developer Lascorp’s plans to expand Ocean Grove Market Place.

11 years ago 28 November, 2014

Local seats should remain in the same hands after tomorrow’s state election, bookies tipped yesterday.

TheclosestmarginwasinSouthBarwon, with betting agencies Sportingbet and Centrebetoffering$1.65forLiberalAndrew Katos retaining the seat against $2.10 for Labor’s Andy Richards.

7 years ago

30 November, 2018

AirAsiaXistargetingMelbourne’snortheast to lure customers to Avalon Airport ahead of Geelong’s first international flights, the airline has revealed.

The marketing drive aims to win back customers lost in the low-cost carrier’s relocation of Kuala Lumpur flights from Tullamarine to Avalon.

1 year ago 29 November, 2024

Geelong police’s new approach to preventing both young people and adults fromreoffendinghassofarbeenpromising. In July, Victoria Police rolled out its first Crime Reduction Teams (CRTs) in Geelong and Melbourne.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

WANT YOUR EVENT LISTED? Community Calendar is made available free of charge to not-for-profit organisations to keep the public informed of special events and activities. Send item details to Geelong Independent Community Calendar, 1/47 Pakington Street, Geelong West, 3218, or email to editorial@geelongindependent.com.au. Deadline for copy and announcements is 5pm Tuesday.

Christmas market

Christ Church Geelong market to raise funds for Christ Church Meals Program and church projects. Crafts, gifts, baked goods, plants, preserves, cakes, and decorations. Cnr Moorabool & McKillop Sts, Saturday 6 December, 9.30am-1pm.

 office@christchurchgeelong.org

Austrian Club Geelong

Afternoon Christmas dance, celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season, food, drink, music and dance and visits from St Nicholas and Krampus, 240 Plantation Road, Corio, Sunday December 7, noon-5pm, music Ben Constanzo. Bookings by 30 November.

 Karl, 0412 205 714

Ballroom dance

Leopold Hall, 805-809 Bellarine Highway, Saturday 29 November, 7.30-10.30pm, $10 includes supper, music Puff.

 0400 500 402

Geelong Scottish Dance Highland dance classes for all ages Wednesday from 4pm and Saturday from 10am at Western Heights Uniting Church Hall, St Herne Hill.

 Christine, 0468 311 788, or facebook.com/GeelongScottishDance

Bingo

Tuesdays 1-3pm, great grocery prizes plus $50 jackpot books $2.50. Belmont Seniors Centre, 52 Thomson Street, Belmont.

 Frank, 5241 1776

First steps in music

Babies, toddlers and preschoolers welcome with parent/carer. Thursdays Northern Bay College, Tallis, and Fridays at Northern Bay College, Peacock. Free if living in 3214 postcode, bookings essential.

 info@bluebirdfoundationinc.org.au

Dragons Abreast Geelong Dragon boating for breast cancer survivors, Saturdays 12.30pm, Geelong Canoe Club, Marnock Road, Highton. Free come and try.

 Traci, 0417 301 226, or Facebook Dragons Abreast Geelong - Juggernauts

PlayLinks

Music and art playgroup where babies, toddlers and preschoolers learn together with their parent/carer. Wednesdays St Thomas Aquinas Primary School, Norlane. Free if living in 3214 postcode, bookings essential.

 info@bluebirdfoundationinc.org.au

Grovedale East Ladies Probus Fourth Monday of each month, 9.30am, Belmont RSL.

 Sally Nelson, 0402 450 610

Waurn Ponds Combined Probus Fourth Wednesday of the month, 10am. Maximum 100 members.

 probussouthpacific.org/microsites/waurn

Lions Club of Geelong Meets 1st & 3rd Monday of each month. Contact below for venues and times.

 geelong.vic@lions.org.au or 0408 599 962

Geelong Harmony Chorus Women’s four-part harmony singing. All ages encouraged. Rehearsals Mondays 6.45pm at Herne Hill.

 contact@geelongharmony.com.au, or 0406 666 737

Geelong Scout Heritage Centre

Meets third Sunday of the month, 56 Russell Street, Newtown, 10am-3pm.

 0419 591 432, or geelong.heritage@scoutsvictoria.com.au

Book sale

Uniting Grovedale book sale. All books $1, children’s books 50 cents. 272 Torquay Road, corner Reserve & Torquay Roads, Friday 5 & Saturday 6 December, 10am-2pm.

Geelong Welsh Ladies Choir

Small ladies choir who require no knowledge of the Welsh language. Meet Wednesdays 7pm at St Luke’s, Highton to help each other sing in Welsh and English.  0413 406 433, or welshladieschoir.com.au

Chess clubs

Ocean Grove, Tuesdays at 1.30pm at 101 The Terrace, Ocean Grove; Portarlington, Mondays at 9.30am, Parks Hall, 87 Newcombe Street, Portarlington; and St Leonards, Thursdays at 9.30am, unit 2 1375-1377 Murradoc Road (on Blanche Street), St Leonards.

 Ralph, 0431 458 100 (Ocean Grove), Rob, 5259 2290 (Portarlington), Lyn, 5292 2162 (St Leonards)

Dancer’s Club Geelong

Ballroom dance weekly, Leopold Hall

7.30-10.30pm. Admission $8 includes supper. Old time, New Vogue and Latin. CDs by Puff, Damian and Anne and Kevin.

 Russ, 5250 1937

Life Activities Club [Geelong Inc]

Arvo tea dance every Thursday, Belmont Pavilion, 2-4pm, $5 entry.

 Val, 5251 3529

Belmont Combined Probus

First Monday of the month, 9.30am, Geelong RSL Function Room, 50 Barwon Heads Road. New members and visitors welcome

 Sue, 0409 945 011, or probusclubofbelmont@outlook.com

Barwon Valley Belmont Probus

First Thursday of the month, 10am, Waurn Ponds Hotel.

 Membership officer, 0407 333 263, or bobstafford@ozemail.com.au

Lectures

Join Adfas Geelong Inc. for illustrated lectures by art historian Matthew Martin, formerly curator of the National Gallery of Victoria.

Arts National Geelong

Welcomes guests and members to monthly lecture series. Details of lecture topics, lecturers and venues at:

 artsnational.au

Drysdale Day VIEW

Fourth Friday of each month at Portarlington Golf Club for lunch.

 Margaret, 0431 636 090

Sports

Badminton: Corio Leisuretime Centre, Mondays 12.30-2.30pm. Beginners welcome.

Netball: YMCA Riversdale Road, Monday & Wednesday mornings, Thursday nights. Walking-netball also played. Umpire training available.

 Maureen, 0429 397 015

Live music

Country Heartbeat Allstars every Friday 7-10pm, White Eagle House Polish Club, Fellmongers Road Breakwater. Walkups welcome. Proceeds to Sunny Days Rescue & Rehab.

 Dawn, 0417 148 493

Bellarine Historical Society Inc. Open to the public. Discover the area’s past. 1st & 3rd Sundays, 10.30am-12.30pm, Courthouse Museum, 11 High Street, Drysdale.

 Ann, 0407 234 541

GROW Australia

Community organisation offering practical steps and peer support to help recover and maintain mental health through free face to face and online groups. Mondays 7pm, 195 Ormond Road, East Geelong, Fridays 12.45pm, Vines Road Community Centre, Hamlyn Heights, Zoom group 7pm Tuesdays.

 grow.org.au, or 1800 558 268

Grovedale Seniors

Indoor bowls Monday 1-3pm; gentle exercise Tuesday 9-9.45am; cards (Euchre) Tuesday 1-3pm; bingo Thursday 1-3pm. Grovedale Community Hub, 45 Heyers Road.

 Julie, 0419 549 521

Table tennis

All seniors welcome for a social game. Vines Road Community Centre, Hamlyn Heights, Wednesdays 12.30-2.30pm.

 Allen, 0433 883 116

Leopold VIEW

Second Tuesday of each month at Leopold Sportsmans’ Club at 10.30am.

 leopold.viewclub@gmail com

Geelong Day VIEW

First Monday monthly from 11am at Shell Club, 76 Purnell Road, Corio.

 geelongdayview@gmail.com

Writers’ group

The Hub writers’ group meets at Arts Hub, Clifford Parade, Barwon Heads, first Sunday of the month, 2-4pm. New members

welcome.

 dorothy.johnston@hugonet.com.au

Geelong Evening VIEW

Third Monday of the month, 6pm at Waurn Ponds Hotel.

 Von, 0414 930 259, or geelongeveningview@gmail.com

Laughter Club Geelong Saturdays, 9am, Eastern Beach in front of the swimming enclosure. 30-minutes free laughter yoga done standing or seated.

 0418 521 265

Lions Club International

Enjoy meeting great people and help out your community at the same time. Clubs all over greater Geelong - see which one is right for you.

 Les, 0428 466 446

Grovedale Marshall Probus

Second Thursday of the month,10am at The Grovedale Hub, 45 Heyers Road, Grovedale.

 Anne, 0425 356 973

Chess Group chess lessons at Geelong West. Suitable for beginners who have a reasonably firm understanding of the game rules. Kids and adults welcome.

 Isaac, isaacsmith5603@gmail.com or 0406-199 457

Community kitchen

Do you enjoy cooking or want to learn cooking and budgeting skills with a small group of like-minded people in your community? Are you interested in volunteering to facilitate a Community Kitchen?

 healthycommunities@barwonhealth.org.au

Croquet

Drysdale Bowling & Croquet Club, Clifton Springs Road, Tuesdays from 10am for training, bring a friend.

 0428 740 591

Ocean Grove Senior Citizens 101 The Terrace, Ocean Grove

Weekly

Tuesday: snooker 1pm, chess, indoor bowls 1.15pm. Wednesday: bingo 1.15pm, ukulele class 2pm, guitar jam session 4pm. Thursday: snooker 1pm, cards 500, social afternoons 1.15pm. Friday: art classes 9am. Fortnightly

CWA 1st & 3rd Monday 2.30pm  Kareen, 0419 246 346, or Janis, 5255 4585

Monthly

Inhouse Movies 3rd Wednesday 1.30pm.  Dianne 5255 1372

Hamlyn Heights Combined Probus Meets second Thursday of the month, 10am, 200 McCurdy Road, Fyansford.  Noel, 0425 706 339

Esoteric coffee meetups

For mature 18+ interested in the supernatural/occult paranormal experiences tarot cards, Anton La Vey, NDE, for fortnightly/coffee and chat catch-ups in northern Geelong/Geelong area. Bookings limited.

 Text name and details to 0400 542 522

Combined Probus Belmont Central The Combined Probus Club of Belmont Central meets at 10.30am on the second Wednesday of each month at Waurn Ponds Hotel. Visitors welcome.

 Publicity officer, 0417 555 547

Geelong Central Probus Third Friday of the month, 9.45am, Geelong RSL.

 geelcentprob@gmail.com

Huge crowd for carols

A huge crowd turned out for Carols by the Bay in Geelong on Saturday night, including the lighting of the floating Christmas tree in Corio Bay. Independent photographer Ivan Kemp was at the waterfront to capture some of the festivities.

column or box.

1 Australian tree which bears yellow flowers (6)

4 Not representative of a type or group (8)

9 Notions (5)

10 Doom (9)

11 Zest (5)

12 Offering (9)

13 Dodge (8)

15 Resident doctor (6)

16 Oppose (6)

18 Omission represented by three periods (8)

23 Opinion (9)

24 Writing material (5)

26 Result of a taipan attack; cocktail (9)

27 Sugary (5)

28 Observation (8)

29 Against (6)

1 Complains (coll) (7) 2 Layers (5) 3 Classes (7) 5 Ditch (6) 6 Modern Iranian language 7 Skinny wind instruments (9)

8 Source of light (7) 10 Deputised group (5) 14 Dilapidation (9) 16 Amends (7)

17 Wise (7)

19 Liquid measure (5)

20 Way that has no outlet (7)

21 Impish persons (7)

22 Hanger-on (6)

25 Newspapers (5)

1 Riyadh is the capital of which country?

2 Which British journalist was part of a series of conversations known as the Nixon Interviews?

3 Which letter of N’SYNC’s name was represented by Justin Timberlake?

4 The Battle of Iwo Jima took place during which war? 5 Mount St. Helens is in which US state? 6 What is John Legend’s (pictured) original surname?

7 Who played Nyles in the 2020 movie PalmSprings? 8 The Liberation of Paris occurred in which year? 9 Roberto Benigni starred as Guido Orefice in which film? 10 In which country would you find the Malagasy people?

FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO VICTORIAN CLASS A CEMETERY TRUSTS

The Minister for Health invites applications for part-time positions on the following Victorian Class A cemetery trusts:

•Ballarat General Cemeteries Trust

•Geelong Cemeteries Trust

•Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust

•Remembrance Parks Central Victoria

•Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust

This is an exciting opportunity for suitably experienced individuals to be appointed as members of these public boards. Class A cemetery trusts are responsible for overseeing the proper management of their cemeteries under the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2003

Class A cemetery trusts require members with a range of skills and expertise in areas including corporate governance, strategic planning and thinking, financial management and analysis, community engagement, stakeholder management, communication and risk management. Lived experience and knowledge of public sector accountability frameworks may also be advantageous. We continue to seek representation on cemetery trusts from individuals with diverse backgrounds to reflect the communities they serve.

The terms of appointment are expected to be from 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2029. For further information or to apply, visit the Join a Public Board website at <www.boards.vic.gov.au>.

Applications will close at 11:59 pm on 21 December 2025.

Please direct enquiries to Clare Perconte on 1800 034 280 or email <cemeteries@health.vic.gov.au>

To receive this advertisement in another format, phone 1800 034 280, using the National Relay Service 13 36 77 if required, or email <cemeteries@health.vic.gov.au>

The Victorian Government is committed to ensuring that government boards and committees reflect the rich diversity of the Victorian community. We encourage applications from people of all ages, Aboriginal people, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and from lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, gender diverse, intersex and queer people, and people living in rural and regional Victoria. Adjustments to the recruitment process provided upon request.

Tasman is good - it had to be

By Chris Riley, Marque Motoring

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that the Kia Tasman is Kia’s first ute.

And it has a big task ahead of it as Kia attempts to acquire a chunk of the lucrative light commercial market.

Now the number four brand in the Australian market, the South Korean car maker has come a long way in the past decade.

But it can’t take the fight up to market leader Toyota without a ute as part of its arsenal – and what a ute it is.

Together with partner Hyundai, the pair are now number two in sales, with Toyota in its sights.

Styling

The Tasman dual cab ute is priced from $46,490 driveaway for the 4×2 S.

There are five grades: S, SX, SX+, X-Line, andX-Pro,withallbuttheentrySfour-wheel drive.

Single Cab Chassis is offered in either S 4×2 ($38,010), S 4×4 ($45,010), or SX 4×4 ($49,520),whiletheDualCabChassiscomes as either S 4×4 ($48,240) or SX 4×4 ($52,740).

On road costs must be added to the cab chassis prices, but the following dual cab figures are driveaway – no more to pay.

TheDualCabPick-Upspansallfivegrades, from S 4×2 ($46,490) to S 4×4 ($53,890), SX 4×4 ($58,490), SX+ 4×4 ($66,490), X-Line 4×4 ($70,990), and X-Pro 4×4 ($77,990).

In this report we’re looking at the dual cab version and our test vehicle was the top-of-the-line X-Pro priced from $77,990 driveaway.

The Kia design team has deliberately shunned the familiar form language that has dominated the pickup genre for decades.

It says this fresh approach strips away the unnecessary to begin with a basic, honest form that highlights the vehicle’s sense of solid power through simple yet functional elements, without relying on the oversized styling that has come to dominate the pickup segment.

Note the X-Line and X-Pro are fitted with a differently styled grille and front bumper. Standard equipment includes 17-inch steel wheels, cloth trim and dual zone climate air, adaptive cruise control, auto high beam, dusk-sensing lights, auto wipers for SX+ and above, auto-dimming rear view mirror on SX+ and above, LED head and daytime running lights, smart key with push-button start, front and rear parking sensors,andintegratedtrailerbrakecontrol.

By the time you get to X-Pro there’s alloys with all-terrain rubber, artificial leather trim, tinted windows, heated and cooled seats, heated steering wheel, power adjust front seats, ambient mood lighting, tilt and slide sunroof, auto-dip on reverse mirrors, front, side and reverse parking sensors as well as a tray liner – to name some features.

Tasmanincludesthebrand’s10must-have sustainability items such as a crash pad made from bio-plastics, seats crafted with recycled PET fabric and bio-PU synthetic leather, a paint composition that includes BTX-free and bio-paint, and an interior carpet is made from recycled PET material. Tasman is covered by Kia’s seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty, with three-, five- and seven-year prepaid service plans available.

Infotainment

Kia’s latest integrated infotainment display, comprises a 12.3-inch driver screen, 5.0-inch climate control and 12.3-inch multimedia displays.

There’s also voice control, multi-connect Bluetooth, AM/FM and DAB+ digital radio, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Sounds of Nature background noise,

six-speaker generic audio and Kia Connect with intelligent remote-control functions as well as innovative in-car services and Over-The-Air (OTA) updates.

SXaddsbuilt-insatellitenavigation,while X-Lineaddsdoublewirelessphonecharging and X-Pro adds eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound.

Weirdly SX+ only gets single wireless charging. Stepping up to the X-Line reverts to a double charger.

There are two USB-C ports in the front as well as a 12-volt outlet and another two USB-C ports on the side of the front seats for use in the back, along with a 240-volt outlet.

The position of the front passenger seat can also be adjusted from the back.

Safety

Tasmangetsafive-starratingforsafetyfrom the ANCAP organisation, but this rating specifically excludes the X-Line and X-Pro versions of the ute which remain unrated.

Seven airbags are standard, including a centre airbag which provides added protection to front seat occupants in side impact crashes.

There’s also a 360-degree reversing, together with Autonomous emergency braking (Car-to-Car, Vulnerable Road User, Junction & Crossing and Head-On), as well as a lane-support system with lane keep assist(LKA),lanedeparturewarning(LDW) and emergency lane keeping (ELK), and an advancedspeedassistancesystem(SAS)are standard across the lineup.

Notably absent on the top-of-the-line X-Pro is head-up display.

Two top tether and two ISOFix child restraint anchor points are provided in the rear.

A full-size alloy spare is provided.

Engines/transmissions

The 2.2-litre engine produces 154kW of power at 3800 rpm and 440Nm of torque from 1750-2750 rpm.

It’spairedwithaconventionaleight-speed automatic transmission, including paddle shifters.

Driving

Basedonanall-newladderchassisplatform, Tasman has a kerb weight of 2237kg and

RATINGS

Looks: 8/10

Performance: 7.5/10

Safety: 7.5/10

Thirst: 8/10

Practicality: 7.5/10

Comfort: 7/10

Tech: 7.5/10

Value: 7.5/10

Overall: 7.6/10

is 5410mm long, 1930mm wide, with a 3270mm wheelbase and in the case of X-Pro stands 1920mm high.

The off-road focused X-Pro has been specifically engineered for off-road performance, with 252mm of ground clearance and an 800mm water fording ability.

It’s equipped with 17-inch gloss-black alloys with all-terrain tyres and offers enhanced off-road performance thanks to a 28mm higher ride height.

There are also no pesky side steps to get hung up on, but of course that makes entry and exit more difficult for the 99 per cent of the time it will spend on the road.

Suspension is double-wishbone at the frontwitharigidaxleandleafspringsunder the back, incorporating vertically mounted shock absorbers to ensure more effective damping and greater control, even at the extremes of suspension travel.

The suspension units are enhanced by Kia’s frequency selective Sensitive Damper Control (SDC) and Hydraulic Rebound Stop technology.

The brakes are ventilated discs front and back.

A gross vehicle mass of 3250kg across all variants,contributestoagrosscombination mass (GCM) rating of 6200kg.

All Tasmans can carry a payload in excess of one tonne, with even the better equipped X-Pro 4×4 capable of carrying 1013kg. All grades are rated to tow 3500kg braked load.

Dual cab variants are also available with a reduced payload option specifically at meeting the criteria for novated leases, which often require a payload of under 1000kg.

Helping to make towing heavier loads as safe as possible is an Integrated Trailer Brake Controller (ITBC) which integrates with Towing Mode (TBC), enabling the driver to set up specific loads and optimise all other towing related functions including Trailer Sway Control.

Dual Cab pick-up set a new benchmark for tub size, at 1512mm in length, 1572mm wide and 540mm deep, with the ability to accommodate an Australian-sized pallet.

Given its size we expected more legroom in the back, but it’s not much more than adequate.

X-Line and X-Pro feature under-seat storage with a slide and recline function for the second-row seating.

Another segment first is a folding console table on X-Line and X-Pro.

Rear bumper corner steps provide easy access to the tub which has two lights plus a 240-volt power outlet.

However, the plastic corner steps appear prone to damage because of their position and one had already received a scrape.

The dash with its sweeping infotainment panel is a feature of most models in the Kia lineup, but the surrounding honeycomb trim is a departure.

Separatecontrolsareprovidedforvolume and air, with other touch sensitive shortcut buttons located below the air vents. However, there’s no shortcut for the radio which we found difficult to access.

PoweredbyKia’sprovenR2.2turbo-diesel, Tasman is built for durability and longevity.

The dash from 0-100km/h takes 10.4 seconds and, with an 80-litre tank, fuel consumption is a claimed 8.1L/100km. That gives it a theoretical range of 988km.

The advanced 4×4 system includes a low-range transfer case, rear differential lock, and an intelligent traction control system – the requisite for serious off-road adventure.

A Ground View Monitor (GVM) provides drivers with a further level of confidence while traversing challenging off-road terrain.

Drive is to the rear wheels in 2H, or to all four wheels as required in 4A.

Lock in 4H and Drive is split evenly between the front and rear wheels.

Moving to 4L requires stopping and putting transmission it engages, which takes only a few seconds.

Drive modes include Eco, Sport, Normal, Tow and MyDrive, plus Snow, Mud, Sand, Rock all-terrain selections.

There’s also an off-road section in the infotainment system.

It’s a lot of information to digest, so we’ve tried to keep it to the essentials.

With zero preconceptions, we found Tasman engaging and comfortable to drive, with predictable handling.

Even Mrs Riley enjoyed driving this one and she’s no pushover.

We took the time to take the X-Pro for a spin down our favourite fire trail, which includes some low range sections. No worries. Tasman is just as enjoyable and capable to drive off-road as it is on. It feels relaxed and confident, and ride quality is impressive – even over rough terrain.

This is a real ute, not a pretend one, with the necessary credentials to take up the fight to the three established utes that are now a regular inclusion in the list of the top 10 selling vehicles in Australia.

We clocked up 534km at a rate of 8.9L/100km. A 60km run down the freeway returned 6.5L while the trip computer showed a long-term average of 11.2L after 3700km.

Not bad. Not bad at all.

Summing up

Kia Tasman is good and it had to be, as Kia’s first offering in this segment of the market. It’s easier to lose customers than it is to win them back again and Tasman has all the hallmarks of a winner.

Having said that, buyers, especially ute buyers, tend to be followers of fashion – and that means they want the same Hilux or Ranger as their mates.

Tasman’sstylingwillbepolarisingandwe note both the brand and name are stamped onthetailgate,justsothere’snomistakingit for anything else.

At the end of the day there’s no point doingthesameoldthingaseveryoneelse,is there? But who’ll be the first to break ranks?

Action around the grounds

GEELONG CRICKET ASSOCIATION

DIVISION 1

Round 6, day 1, Saturday 22 November

Lara 113 (A. Hughes 32, V. Malhotra 25, J. Stokes 7/42) vs St Peters 1/96 (O. Trewin 56no)

St Joseph’s 6/285 (A. Casey 87, J. Appleford 81, J. Casey 58, S. Coutts 2/44, N. Berry 2/61) vs Grovedale Newtown & Chilwell 215 (P. McKenna 64, T. Windus 58, S. Taylor 30, L. Molyneux 4/53, D. Moroney 3/49, J. Jenkins 3/53) vs East Belmont 2/99 (S. McNamara 43, J. Lidgett 32no)

South Barwon 117 (C. Mulgrew 77no, D. Kerr 3/33, T. Mathieson 3/33, A. Cranny 2/9, A. McCann 2/9) vs North Geelong 1/72 (P. Visser 43no)

DIVISION 2

Bell Park 241 (N. Deep Pottabathini 56, J. Spiller 49, B. Kelly 28, J. Grozdanovski 6/60, D. Dementiev 2/47) vs Bell Post Hill Torquay 122 (F. Carter 35, R. Plumridge 5/26, H. Butterworth 3/15) vs Leopold 3/107 (R. O’Donnell 52, H. Butterworth 26no, D. O’Brien 3/20)

Highton 9/314 declared (H. Gillard 102, L. Campbell 90, B. Taylor 5/68, E. Guida 3/49) vs Geelong City 1/7

Geelong West 256 (D. Periyapatna Satishkumar 58, J. Muraca 48, K. Spence 39, D. Naralasetti 29, N. Harvey 5/54, M. Juffermans-Goodluck 3/46) vs Alexander Thomson 2/16 (C. George-Eldridge 2/2)

DIVISION 3

Lethbridge 241 (T. Saunders 78, K. Lawton 59, S. Giles 51no, J. Spalding 3/46, G. Dew 2/26, J. McDonald 2/42, X. Dew 2/62) vs Thomson Bannockburn 238 (B. Roberts 62, T. Hay

31, J. Hickleton 30, D. Haturusingha 5/60, E. Rogers 2/59) vs Waurn Ponds Deakin

Marshall 218 (P. Lang 55, S. Blythe 45, L. Cameron 32, W. Skene 29, C. O’Hanlon 3/38, F. Royal 2/21, B. Ross 2/38) vs Modewarre

Murgheboluc 204 (L. Brown 54, O. Dunipace 42, S. Hutley 39, C. Daffy 28, S. Calder 4/41, M. Humm 2/13, T. Laurie 2/46) vs Corio

DIVISION 4

Newcomb & District 5/167 (T. O’Neill 48, H. Nield 26) def Manifold Heights 166 (Nathan Pratt 40, Nick Pratt 39, N. Keevil 5/25, H. Nield 3/23)

Meredith 9/205 (T. Dittloff 74, A. Hart 35, L.

Wright 2/18, R. Chandran 2/46) def Little River 203 (T. Archer 79, J. Walker 35, H. Cox 28, N. Fairchild 25, C. Milne 4/36, M. Ringin 2/43)

Guild St Mary’s 7/281 (D. Singh 82, D. Thomas 73, K. Khan Pathan 41, J. Bottomley 31no, R. Kennedy 4/57) def Teesdale 71 (M. Vicary 5/9, S. Gupta 3/23, G. Randhawa 2/19)

BELLARINE PENINSULA CRICKET ASSOCIATION

Round 6, day 2, Saturday 22 November A1 Grade

Barwon Heads 9/291 def Jan Juc (N. Hyden 79no, D. Hewitt 4/25, S. Kamea 2/19)

Queenscliff 175 def Anglesea 97 (J. Lengyel

25, P. Mileto 4/31, J. Monahan 4/31, T. Kidd 2/15)

Armstrong Creek 3/172 (B. Norgrove 62no, A. Trevean 58) def Drysdale 171 Barrabool 5/202 (K. Pickering 80, M. Kelson 78no) def Inverleigh 200

A2 GRADE

Portarlington 4/235 declared (J. De Bono 94, B. Toole 35no) def Newcomb 107 & 9/130 (J. Price 39, T. Hapugodage 33, S. Anderton 32no, N. Symes 2/9, T. Wirth 2/27, P. McGrath 2/28)

Ocean Grove 8/264 def Winchelsea 108 (T. Bandara 28, C. Snookes 2/5, A. Mann 2/18, B. Singh Brar 2/26, Z. Jones 2/30) Wallington 226 def Collendina 127 (A. Peters 27, C. Walter 25, D. Wise-Graham 6/32, H. Farnsworth 2/11) St Leonards 7/299 declared def Surf Coast 157 (V. Rathore 38, B. Larkings 28, J. Burns 5/33, O. Cutajar 2/31)

PREMIER CRICKET

1sts

Richmond 4/206 (J. D’Rozario 67no, D. Scholz 53, J. Hinds 30) def Geelong 8/203 (A. Armstrong 66, J. Larkin 43, J. Sawrey 3/35) 2nds

Richmond 2/119 (K. Heigl 35no, A. Bhatia 30no) def Geelong 117 (S. Ramireddy 33, J. Ash 6/20) 3rds

Geelong 3/221 (T. Bain 93, J. Klein 49, T. Courtney 33no) def Richmond 8/179 (C. Dobson 52no) 4ths

Richmond 9/207 (J. Sajeba 58, A. Bauer 37, C. McCormick 31, P. Patel 3/34, J. Antonenko 3/40) def Geelong 9/206 (O. Agg 40, B. Craig 38, M. Freijah 35, J. Sajeba 3/39)

Radhika shines with a five-wicket haul for North Geelong

Theindividualhighlightfromlastweekend’s round of matches was a five-wicket haul by North Geelong’s Radhika Goyal. Promising young all-rounder Goyal took 5/14 while Queenscliff/St Leonards’ G Grade player Danielle Jennings took 4/15. South Barwon’s Amy Seddon was the round’s top scorer with 67 not out from 66 deliveries. The youngster has 291 runs already this season across all formats.

GEELONG WOMEN’S CRICKET

Round 6, Sunday 23 November

A Grade

East Belmont 5/126 (B. Farey 51, L. Tubb 43no, H. Rooke 2/20, C. Mittermair 2/25) def Bell Park 5/95 (H. Rooke 48no)

St Joseph’s 4/141 (C. Kirk 42, A. Huby 37no, T. Smith 20, E. Hauenstein 3/22) def South Barwon 7/128 (A. Seddon 67no, K. De Alwis 30)

Geelong City 4/130 (I. Storrar 41, M. Eldridge 33) def Barwon Heads 8/52 (M. Eldridge 3/5, B. Summers 2/6) North Geelong 5/120 (I. Hanna-Phillips 24, R. Zdybel 22, S. Meyer 2/13) def Lethbridge 3/114 (M. Waddington 55no, C. Smith 32, I. De Graaff 2/21)

B Grade North Geelong 4/80 (I. Dunne 2/16) def Marshall 58 (R. Goyal 5/14) Lara 6/126 (H. Coyle 30no, B. Milverton 25, I. Dowie 2/21) def Portarlington 3/105 (G. McMahon 35no) Anglesea 3/88 (H. Donoghue 30no, R. McCue 28) def Barrabool 4/87 (M. McKenna 21no, K. Hutchinson 2/15) Highton 6/63 def Queenscliff 47 (D. Sharpe 2/1, J. Harper 2/10, J. Newton 2/13)

C Grade Drysdale 3/75 (A. Eddy 23no, S. Fisher 2/9)

Radhika Goyal at a Melbourne Renegades clinic in Geelong in 2023. (Ivan Kemp) 342837_03

def Teesdale 74 (R. Wood 23, S. Fisher 22, A. Eddy 2/7) East Belmont 2/146 (K. Williams 52ret, L. Chester 41, M. Marcola 27no) def Waurn Ponds Deakin 5/88 (D. Cashin 53no, L. Jeffery 2/16) Bannockburn 3/74 (A. Richardson 31no) def Torquay 7/72 (C. O’Loughlin 24, R. Galbraith 2/6, J. Jacobs 2/7)

Wallington 2/104 (M. Hogan 43no, P. Davies 28no) def St Leonards 4/103 (J. Phillips 30no, S. Roberts 25, J. Holding 21, L. Dafter 2/9)

D Grade

Newtown & Chilwell 3/88 (R. Wright 31no, S. Watson 2/21) def St Joseph’s 4/86 (C. Wuite 30ret)

Thomson 108 (A. Kennedy 30, H. Brady 3/22, A. Handley 2/17) def Bell Post Hill 6/83 (B. O’Connor 20)

Geelong West 6/85 (H. Rawson 20, T. Woods 2/18, L. Smith 2/22) def Armstrong Creek 5/84 (E. Lang 23, L. Thistlewaite 3/10)

Grovedale 3/94 (A. Tolan 30ret, E. Moon 25, A. Sewell 2/3) def Modewarre 6/93 (B. Hubbert 31ret, O. Tolan 2/18, S. Nurnaitis 2/18)

E Grade

Little River 2/76 (S. Anderson 21ret) def St Peters 5/74 (H. Pula 21no) Murgheboluc 0/72 (E. King 31ret) def Barwon Heads 8/69 (L. Williams 3/15, K. Lewis 2/10)

North Geelong 1/105 (J. Clark 30ret, H. Windt 30ret) def Newcomb & District 8/98 (R. Moreland 26no, J. Clark 2/8, S. Murphy 2/10, J. Hastings 2/14)

Lethbridge 4/70 (T. Reid 27no, M. Harvey 2/16) vs Alexander Thomson 6/69

F Grade

Corio 1/99 (M. Wiles 33ret, M. Hili 30ret) def South Barwon 6/98 (M. Wiles 3/21, M. Orr 2/17)

Jan Juc 3/129 (B. Withers 33ret, C. Boxer 32no, S. Huxtable 23no) def Manifold Heights 6/103 (S. Williamson 23no, P. Pratt 22no, S. Huxtable 2/22, G. Mackay 2/24) Bell Park 3/170 (A. Aldridge 30ret, J. Hutchison 30ret, B. Brown 29, E. Ruseler 23no) def Thomson 4/93 (W. Wyatt 32ret) Wallington 5/98 (M. Kelsall 23no) def Bannockburn 3/97

G Grade

Queenscliff/St Leonards 0/77 (J. Robertson 33ret) def Meredith 75 (D. Jennings 4/15)

Armstrong Creek 3/109 (C. Maclean 27no, C. Lamont 21) def Little River 6/74 (C. Lamont 2/13, J. Henriques 2/13)

Lara 3/128 (A. Johanson 30ret, K. Allan

28no) def Bell Park 5/111 (K. Pearce 30ret, C. Lymer 22no, B. Carson 2/20) Geelong City 3/77 (K. Lambert 33no, M. Eggleton 2/13) def East Belmont 3/84 (J. Learey 24no) - City’s target reduced due to delay

Girls A Grade

North Geelong 4/65 (R. Goyal 13no) def South Barwon 45 (M. Tabor 3/10) Geelong City drew with St Joseph’s - no play

Girls B Grade

Drysdale 2/149 (A. Eddy 30ret, J. Phelan 21ret, P. Carroll 15ret) def Highton 3/89 (R. Foran 2/9) North Geelong 6/145 (R. Zydbel 53no, E. Caruana 28, M. Caruana 22no, E. Edmond 4/13) def Grovedale 5/94 (M. McDonald 18) St Joseph’s 4/111 (C. O’Loughlin 19ret, S. Bellur 16, E. Logan 2/13) def St Peters 6/70 (T. Sorgiovanni 22ret, L. Barnett 15, O. Cruden 2-5) Barwon Heads def Queenscliff by forfeit

Girls C Grade

Geelong City Blue 2/88 (A. Lewis 2-5) def Barrabool 5/72 (E. Vander Bruggen 2/8, O. Grimmer 2/9)

Bannockburn 1/119 (J. Cross 35no) def

Geelong City White 7/64 (Z. Boyd 2/8) South Barwon/Highton def North Geelong by forfeit

Victorian Premier Cricket 1sts: Geelong 8/213 (M. Rogers 85, B. Leishman 40) def Melbourne 180 (A. Taylor 3/41)

2nds: Geelong 116 (S. Ramireddy 33) def by Richmond 2/119

3rds: Geelong 116 (A. Hendriks 34) def by Melbourne 5/120

Stokes’ seven wicket haul

By Justin Flynn

St Peters is on the cusp of first-innings points after a magnificent spell of seam bowling from James Stokes.

Stokes took 7/42 from 19 overs to have Lara all out for 113 after being 1/58 on the first day of Geelong Cricket Association Division 1 round 6 on Saturday.

Lara had few answers for the paceman’s unnerving accuracyand lost9/55asStokes cut a swathe through the batting order.

Andrew Hughes (35) and Vishesh Malhotra(25)gottheCatsofftoareasonable start, with Stokes sending down 19 overs in a row before being rested with the score at 8/97.

St Peters is sitting comfortably at 1/96 in reply with Oliver Trewin unbeaten on 56.

St Joseph’s reached 6/285 at stumps against Grovedale.

Andrew Casey (87) and Josh Appleford (81) shared a 162-run opening stand and Jonathan Casey made 58.

Grovedale’s attack toiled hard without much reward with quick Sam Coutts and leg-spinner Nathan Berry each claiming two wickets.

North Geelong is poised for victory, needingafurther46runswithninewickets intact.

The Swans were 5/17 at one stage with pacemen Dale Kerr (3/33) and Angus Cranny (2/9) making early inroads while left-armers Tom Mathieson (3/33) and

Alistair McCann (2/12) were productive with seam and spin respectively.

Displaying grit and concentration, Clay Mulgrew delivered his best knock as a Swan, carrying his bat for an unbeaten 77 from 178 deliveries since crossing from Armstrong Creek in the off-season.

In reply, the Magpies will resume at 1/72 withPhilVisserlookingominouson43and Ned Cooper on 21.

East Belmont claimed day one honours against Newtown & Chilwell, although the result is far from decided.

Pat McKenna top scored for the Two Blues with 64 and Tyson Windus made 58. Newtown & Chilwell was all out for 215 in the 54th over, which gave East Belmont a decent chunk of time to make inroads into the run chase.

Spinner Lachlan Molyneux bowled superbly, taking 4/53 from 20.4 overs and new-ball pair Dylan Moroney and Jack Jenkins each took three wickets.

In reply, the in-form Shane McNamara wasn’t just playing for stumps with 43 from 53 balls and James Lidgett is still there on 32 with East Belmont well placed at 2/99.

Barwon Heads’ new-ball pair Darcy Hewitt and Sema Kamea ripped through Jan Juc’s top order and spearheaded a big win in round 6 of Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association’s A1 Grade.

Chasing 292 for victory, Jan Juc lost its first three wickets without a run on the board. Hewitt (4/25) struck with the first

and third balls of the innings and Kamea (2/19) also got a wicket in his opening set of six.

At 5/12 with the game pretty much out of reach, Nick Hyden and Josh Penton decided to make the Heads earn their win

and put a price on their wickets.

Penton made 14, but from 116 balls, and Hyden was there at the end on 79 from 213. The Sharks batted their 75 overs to show some pride and ended at 8/134 with No 10 Kai Powers unbeaten on 19 from 42 balls. Aftergoingthroughthefirstthreerounds winless, Queenscliff is now in the top four after a good win against Anglesea.

Chasing 176, Anglesea didn’t get close, being all out for 97 with Patrick Mileto (4/31 from 18.3 overs), Jordan Monahan (4/41 from 29) and Tom Kidd (2/15 from 10) the only bowlers needed for the Coutas.

Armstrong Creek turned a tricky run chase into a relatively easy win against Drysdale. Resuming at 1/14 in pursuit of 172, nightwatchman Lachie Mulgrew only made4,buttooktheshineofftheballinhis 74-delivery stay at the crease.

It allowed Adam Trevean (58), Ben Norgrove (62 not out) and Ben Robertson (22 not out) to score runs at the other end andtheTitansgottherewithsevenwickets in hand.

Barrabool timed its run chase of 201 to perfection, getting there with five wickets and a few overs to spare against Inverleigh.

Kane Pickering (80) hit top form and Michael Kelson (78 not out) played a fine leader’s knock for the Bulls and while no Inverleigh bowler took more than one wicket, they all toiled hard, especially left-arm seamer Daniel Midolo (1/60 from 24.3 overs).

New Cat Hunter Holmes wants to prove he is his own man

GeelongdrafteeHunterHolmesisrelishing being reunited with new assistant coach Nathan Buckley as he sets out to prove he’s his own man in his debut AFL season.

The 18-year-old brother of Cats star Max Holmes has already drawn strong comparisons with his sibling, who he has joined in blue-and-white hoops after being selected with pick 33 at the national draft. The pair share a strong athletic pedigree and the explosive speed of their motherCommonwealth Games 400m relay gold medallist Lee Naylor.

TheyoungerHolmeshopesblendingthat pace with his impressive endurance can help him have an impact at the top level.

My whole family was there ... They’ve all been hoping for this outcome the whole year, so there were a couple of tears and a lot of smiles - Hunter Holmes

“(Max) is a good person to be compared to, so I’ll take it, but I’m looking forward to making my own name out there as well,” Holmes said.

Thepairspenttimeopposedtoeachother in midfield and stoppage drills as a largely inexperienced Geelong group trained at Deakin University on Wednesday.

Max Holmes was one of several established players who took part in the early pre-season session, alongside boom recruit James Worpel, who secured a trade from Hawthorn.

Oliver Dempsey, Lawson Humphries and Shaun Mannagh - all members of the teamthrashedbytheBrisbaneLionsinlast season’s grand final - were also in action.

“It was a bit of fun being on him. I think he gets into me a little bit, but it’s good,” Holmes said of taking on his 23-year-old brother.

“I was lucky enough to know a couple of theyoungboysthatareclosewithMaxand I’ve done some training with them in the past.

“It makes that transition a little bit easier.”

Holmes was Geelong’s second selection at the draft after Mt Barker product Harley Barker (pick 24), and said it was a dream come true to officially link up with Max in Cats colours.

“I had a bit of an idea and I was really hoping for it, but with the way the draft goes, you never know what’s going to happen,” he said.

“I just had my fingers crossed and I was very happy with the outcome.

“My whole family was there (watching the draft) and it was pretty emotional.

“They’veallbeenhopingforthisoutcome the whole year, so there were a couple of tears and a lot of smiles.”

Former Collingwood captain and coach Buckley is a key addition to long-time Geelong senior coach Chris Scott’s staff this year and ran drills at Wednesday’s session.

The 53-year-old coached Holmes, as well as one of his own sons, in the Prahran juniors while he was in charge of the Magpies.

“I don’t know how much coaching 12-year-olds need, but he was unreal,” Holmes said.

“A real gentle coach, but he was unreal.

“It was pretty cool to have that full-circle moment and I’m back with him.

“He’s obviously got a lot of experience and he’s a great coach.”

Holmes is also eager to link up with GeelongsuperstarBaileySmith,whomade headlines on and off the field in his first season with the club after moving across from the Western Bulldogs.

“I’m keen to meet Bailey Smith and get around him,” Holmes said.

“He’s a good character, so it will be fun. But he’s a great player as well, so that will be pretty cool.”

Pirates rebound with a win

By Justin Flynn

After a thrilling one-shot loss to Belmont in round 4, Portarlington rebounded strongly against north Bellarine neighbour St Leonards in a match that didn’t really reflect the final scoreline.

The Pirates prevailed 85 to 67 and picked up 14 points in the round 5 Geelong Bowls Region Division 1 clash on Saturday 22 November, but St Leonards managed to win two rinks and it was close until late in the game.

TonyDemaria’srinkofPhillipSchmindt, Malcolm Weales and Michael Dennis won 35 to 10, which ultimately proved the difference, but there were some pivotal moments on the other three rinks.

Henry Dahler picked up a two-shot win for St Leonards and Andy Hills’ rink prevailed by 15 to have the match evenly poised for the majority of its duration.

David Dunlop skipped his rink of lead Ian Wiffen, second Ray Malcomson and third Brian Lockyer to a vital 22 to 12 win againstTonyLongtohelpseePorthomeby 18 shots.

“It was a good game overall,” Dunlop said. “We were very pleased to pick up 14 points. We were confident we’d give a good account of ourselves.

“It’s always a good match between one of our close neighbours. It’s always played in really good spirits.”

While Dunlop praised his rink’s performance, he also singled out St Leonards lead Michael Maddox, for what he described as an “outstanding” and “amazing“ performance.

“I’d have given him best on green if I had to pick one,” he said.

“He was an exceptional leader, but to Ian Wiffen’s credit, he competed really well withhim,eventhoughMichaelmighthave held the shot most times.

“Itwasthemostconsistentdrawbowling fromaleadthatI’veseenforalongtime.He could have bowled for the state today as far

Dunlop

as I was concerned.”

Dunlop felt his rink always had the edge despite the closeness of the game.

“Ian (Wiffen) always had bowls in the head, so he was a good contributor for us,” he said. “And our second Ray (Malcomson) did his job very well. My third (Lockyer) put in some really good bowls and I had a pretty good day myself.

“It was pretty close for most of the game and then we sort of got away towards the lastfewendstoopenupabitofagap.Itwas a pretty high-standard game.”

Port takes on Highton, Leopold, Geelong and Ocean Grove before the Christmas break in what is shaping as a close competition with Geelong the only winless side.

“We could easily be sitting second on the ladder,” Dunlop said. “We’re happy where we’re sitting. It’s a terrific competition. You

want evenness in the competition, you don’t want it one-sided.”

Portarlington and Ocean Grove still have a match in hand in Division 1 after their round 2 fixture was abandoned due to a medical incident on one of the rinks. The game will recommence from where it left off at a date to be set by Geelong Bowls Region.

GEELONG BOWLS REGION

Round 5, Saturday 21 November

Premier Pennant

Highton 106 (16) def Queenscliff 60 (2):

David Priddle 16 def by Benjamin Russell 20, Adam Lee 33 def Steve Sullivan 9, Scott McLachlan 29 def Mitchell Hocking 17, Dan Priddle 28 def Ray Butler 14.

Drysdale 77 (16) def Lara 65 (2): M. Godbolt 22 def Michael Kelly 18, John Monahan 17 def Brendan Umbers 13,

Ashley Rees 19 def Ian Polwarth Jnr 13, Luke Lawrence 19 def by Ben Cotter 21. Torquay 81 (16) def Eastern Park 64 (2): James Banks 24 def Cal Inderberg 13, Luke Aiello 9 def by Nick Bell 23, Daryl Kitchin 19 def Adam Martin 15, Nelson Ball 29 def Scott McDonald 13.

Ocean Grove vs Bell Post Hill to be played Friday 5 December

DIVISION 1

Ocean Grove 95 (13) def Leopold 69 (5): Rod Brehaut 19 def by Brandon Anderson 21, Hugh O’Reilly 44 def David Alderuccio 5, Owen Clark 22 tied with Charlie Sproal 21, Michael West 11 def by Michael Willis 22.

Highton 91 (18) def Geelong 52 (0): Owen Landry 20 def Bryan Wilson 15, Ron Imanse 20 def Graham Harrison 14, Nick Oakes 30 def Troy Thompson 5, Mark Cavanagh 21 def Arthur Crooke 18. Portarlington 85 (14) def St Leonards 67 (4): David Dunlop 22 def Tony Long 12, Barry Hirth 15 def by Henry Dahler 17, Gerard Reed 13 def by Andy Hills 28, Tony Demaria 35 def Antonia Doyle 10. City of Geelong 81 (14) def Belmont 78 (4): Jayden Wombell 32 def Robert Agg 11, David Vogele 10 def by John Harris 29, John Shell 15 def by Robin Hayes 23, Sandra Tillson 24 def Steve Davies 15.

Ocean Grove power their way through to the grand final

LOCAL TENNIS

Donna Schoenmaekers

Tuesday Women’s Sections 1 and 3 were at the preliminary final stage and both matches produced upsets.

Kristie Walters and Marg Leigh set Surfcoast Bellbrae off on the right track with a 6-1 win while Mel Keating and Judi Broad backed up their win last week to put Ocean Grove on the board.

Susan Bissett and Kate Lockhart pushed ahead from two-all to win the third for the Grove while Keating and Alison Lugg put themaheadwinning6-4.Bellbrae’sWalters and Colleen Battye blew out to a 4-0 lead, before taking their set 6-2 keeping Bellbrae in the match, but Lockhart and Broad also pushed out to a 4-0 before getting up 6-3. Ocean Grove going into its first Section 1 final in many years.

Section 3 was won well by Highton, which,accordingtoAnglesea,was“justtoo good and too crafty today”.

Highton’s Pauline Edmunds, Liz Worpel, AnnaGoli,LeanneBaxterprovedtoogood, winning 5-1. Anglesea would be licking its woundswiththreesetslost7-6,7-5and6-4, and had its chances. Highton advanced to face Clifton Springs in the final.

Highton’s Section 4 team did not fare so well either against Drysdale. Lisa Leahy and Melanie Wise won the first set 6-1, but Drysdale reeled off the next three, then the final set, spearheaded by Helen Glavocih, winningherthreeforthemorning,andthe team taking a total of four for the win.

Teesdale hosted Surfcoast Bellbrae in Section 4’s first final in one of the closest matches for the day. The teams traded sets through the day, with two of the sets going to 7-5, but minor premier Teesdale was too consistent, getting up by four games. Surfcoast featured in three finals, with just the one success in Section 2. Torquay hostedAireysInletforthesecondweekina rowanddrewonsetsandgames.Theteams wentsetforsetinthefirstfourmatchesand were level with two sets to play. Winsome Batchelor and Joanne Forde put Torquay in front, winning the fifth, then Josephine Longclinchedherthirdsetforthemorning with Melissa Coulsell to put Surfcoast Torquay into next week’s grand final.

InthefirstfinalMoolaptravelledtoPoint Lonsdale to take on the minor premiers, but did not have much joy on the court,

with the home team winning the first four sets giving it an unassailable lead, before completing the match 5-1.

In Section 6 Moolap also didn’t have a great day against Wandana Heights Green. The two teams have had three close matches through the season, all decided on games, but this week, Wandana blew the match away, winning the first four sets. Moolap rallied in the final two sets, but Wandana progressed and will travel to Barwon Heads next week, after the Heads dominated Newcomb 6-0.

The team of Dallas Cronwright, Katie Hedley, Margie Sanders, Lydia Cover and Maura Sweet, with one loss for the season to Moolap, will take on Wandana Heights Green.

St Mary’s hosted Leopold Green in Section7,andwithtwowinstooneinhome

andaway,itwaslikelytobeclose.Theteams went set for set with St Mary’s holding a four-game lead going into the last two sets. Christie Moores and Teresa Mifsud put St Mary’s ahead 6-4, but Pauline Collier and CarolMillstookanemphatic6-0wininthe last to put the result beyond doubt. In the second-semi, minor premier Grovedaleaccountedforanillnessaffected Point Lonsdale, winning the first four sets to take the win.

In Section 5, it was a good day’s tennis between Grovedale Black and Wandana Heights. The first four sets were split with Grovedale holding a slim lead. Catherine Thompson and Jacqui Blampled put Wandana a set up with a tie-break win, but Kerrie Grinter and Vicki Castven put Grovedale over the line, winning 6-3 and a place in next week’s final.

Port beats local rivals

Neighbours and friendly rivals Portarlington and St Leonards faced off in Saturday Division 1 bowls at Portarlington Bowls Club on Saturday 22 November with the home side coming up trumps. Independent photographer Ivan Kemp was there.

Dinos and Wallabies victorious

Newcomb & District enjoyed a five-wicket win against Manifold Heights in Geelong Cricket Association Division 4 and Wallington defeated Collendina in Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association A2 Grade on Saturday and Independent photographer Ivan Kemp was at Grinter Reserve and Ocean Grove Memorial Oval to take these pics.

Dinos create ladder buffer

By Justin Flynn

Newcomb & District’s five-wicket win against Manifold Heights on Saturday gave it a handy buffer in second place on the Geelong Cricket Association Division 4 ladder.

The Dinos were spearheaded by English quick Nathan Keevil, who bagged five wickets, and are now a game ahead of Meredith, nine points clear of Little River and two games clear of Manifold Heights, whichslidtofifth.

“Games like that, they’re essentially a 12-point game,” Newcomb & District captainJasonRobertsonsaid.

“Andforustohavethatwinyesterdayjust gives that a little bit of a buffer in case we do drop one in the coming weeks, because we’vegotaprettytoughdraw.

“We’ve got Little River coming up next week, who are thereabouts as well, and thenStAlbans(Breakwater),whoareno slouches.”

Bowling first, the Dinos’ pace attack was relentless although Nick (39) and Nathan Pratt (40) took the Sharks from 5/67 to 6/144 with a 77-run partnership. Manifold Heights was eventually dismissedfor166inthe45thover.

Keevil (5/25), Robertson (1/29 from nine overs), Black Ritchie (1/29 from nine) and Huey Nield (3/23 from eight) proveddifficulttogetaway.

“Last week (against top side Guild St Mary’s) we were pretty disappointing, we bowled the wrong lines and then yesterday from literally ball one we wereon,”Robertsonsaid.

“Ourlineswereright,ourplanswereright. He(Keevil)isamixtureofouronesandtwos at the minute, (with) three injuries, he’s got hischance,whichwasgreat.

“Hebowlsaheavyball-hehurriesyouup a little bit, and when he’s on like yesterday, he’sveryhardtoface.”

With Cam Egan restricted in bowling duties due to injury, Matt West out with a hamstring and opening bat Anthony

Quarrell cutting his hand open at work, the Dinosarenotatfullstrength.

Egan is able to bat, though, and got the team off to a flyer in response with 18 from 12 balls. The Dinos got the runs five wickets downandwith13overstospare.

Tyler O’Neill top scored with 48, Nield made 26 while Ritchie (17 not out) and Aaron Morgan (20 not out) took the score from5/128to5/167andthewin.

“He (Egan) made 80 the first game he

Above: Tyler O’Neill drives through cover during his innings of 48 for Newcomb & District. 518047_12 Left: Daniel Harrison sways out of the way of this short delivery. (Pictures:

stepped up, so he’ll be locked in there (as opener) for a little bit until those boys comeback,”Robertsonsaid.

“Tyler batted really well, and he’s experienced the middle order there because it is quite young with Hughie, Blake,allthosetypesofboys.

“Aaron’s ultra aggressive and he doesn’t mind me saying this, but every time he faces a ball, I tell the boys, ‘every fielder hereisinplay’.

“But, he showed some maturity and took the singles when they gave it to him because we didn’t really need to be doing anything rash. He and Blake handled the situationprettywell,Ithought.”

Robertson said this Saturday’s clash againstLittleRiverwasimportant.

“They got done yesterday by a couple of runssothey’llbereadytogo,”hesaid.

“They’resortofinthemid-tablenowafter dropping yesterday so I reckon they’d be prettykeentogetthewin.”

Wise-Graham stars in big win for Wallabies

By Justin Flynn

With the season slowly slipping away, the equation was simple for Wallington going into its round 6 Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association A2 grade clash against Collendina.

The Wallabies simply had to win or risk being left behind even at this relatively early stage of the season.

After a big round 1 win, Wallington’s form started to decline with a string of inconsistent performances before improving with rain-ruined, but strong showings, against Ocean Grove and Newcomb.

And Wallabies rebounded with a 97-run win against the Cobras on Saturday, resurrecting their finals hopes in the process.

Coach Matthew Sampson-Barnes said it took a while for the club’s new players to settle in and a bad hamstring injury to start opener Henry McIntosh and the unavailability of gun bat Sven Burluraux didn’t help.

“It hadn’t quite clicked in the first part of the season,” he said.

“We lost a couple of key players through injury, so it was nice to get back on track. We’ve been winning a few T20s as well so that’s been helpful.

“Henry tore his hamstring pretty bad round two and Sven is in Perth and he missesafairbitoftheseasonthroughwork.

“We got two overseas players who are

like 18, which I think their age makes a big difference so they’re still figuring it out. Not just cricket, but being away from home at 18-years-old is pretty tough.”

Wallington posted 226 all out on day one against the Cobras with Richard Faust (60), Billy Gravett (51) and Dane Wise-Graham (31) getting runs although it took a 34-run last-wicket stand between Mitchell Sleeman (25 not out) and Colin Smith (17) to eventually get there.

In reply, Collendina went from 2/67 to 129 all out with Wise-Graham capping off yet another fine all-round performance with 6/32 from 21 overs.

“We haven’t really needed to bowl him as much this year with having so many options,” Sampson-Barnes said.

“But him and Mitch (Sleeman) bowling together, I think we had 55 overs done at break. So they sort of worked together, but he (Wise-Graham) did really well.”

Sampson-Barnes has battled a rare and serious bacterial infection for several years requiring 43 surgeries and more than 100 days in hospital.

Things look to be getting better for the star left-hand batter and he is back playing mainly for his onfield leadership, although in a reduced capacity.

“It was more to get on the ground as captain,” he said.

“I’m probably 90 percent healed. I’m going to try and go back to work in a few weeks - just try and do a few days before Christmas because I’m on the tools and I

haven’t been able to work properly.

“But I’ve been training the last couple of weeks. It’s getting better every time I bat, but I can’t actually swing my bat properly yet.

“I’ll probably bat at 10 or 11 until Christmas. And then I reckon see where we’re at and try and give it a stab after Christmas.”

PORTARLINGTON resumed at 3/175 with a 68-run lead against Newcomb and JoelDeBononeeding13runsforacentury. He would depart for 94 with the Demons declaring on 4/235 in pursuit of outright points.Itlookedlikeitwouldhappenatone stage when the Bulls were 9/98 although JarrodPrice(39from11deliveries)haddug in. Sean Anderton counterpunched with 32 not out from 30 and No 11 Jack Scanlon survived and so did Newcomb, getting to 9/130 at stumps.

OCEAN Grove thrashed Winchelsea after making 8/264 last week and bowling out the Blues for 107. All six bowlers used took at least one wicket and not more than two with leg-spinner Alex Mann the pick with 2/18 from 10 overs. The Grubbers are ontopoftheladderwhileWinchstillsitsin second place.

SEAMER James Burns again rose to the occasionforStLeonardswithahaulof5/33 from 16 overs against Surf Coast. Needing 300 for victory, Surf Coast was all out for 157 with Vic Rathore (38) top scoring and young Saints seam bowler Oscar Cutajar grabbing 2/21.

MEREDITH leapfrogged Little River into thirdspotontheladderwithatensetwo-run win. Skipper Tyler Dittloff made 74 with the Rams posting 9/205 batting first. Luke Wright picked up 2/18 from nine tidy overs for the Redbacks. In reply, Little River was alloutfor203withtwoballsofitsallotted45 overs remaining with Trent Archer making 79andChesneyMilnechippinginwith4/36 after being introduced into the attack late. However, the Redbacks were forced to bat one short with Joel Thompson injuring his anklewhilefieldingandwenttohospital. GUILD St Mary’s stayed on top of the ladderwithahugewinagainstTeesdale.The Saints posted a hefty 7/281 with Davinder Singh making 82 and David Thomas 79 while Kasim Khan Pathan scored 41 and Ricky Kennedy grabbed four wickets for Teesdale. Teesdale’s innings never got going, all out for 71, as Mitchell Vicary took the stunning figures of 5/9 and Shivam Guptasnared3/23.