Geelong Indy - 10th April 2026

Suns debut in local derby

History was made at Banyul-Warri Fields on Easter Saturday as the Surf Coast Suns made their Bellarine Football Netball League senior debuts.

And it was a local derby with the fledgling club taking on regional powerhouse Torquay in front of a massive crowd.

Torquay won both footy games by a combined total of 283 points and the Tigers also emerged victorious in all netball grades.

Perhaps symbolic of the day on the ground and the courts is this picture of Torquay’s William Montebello on top of Surf Coast’s Tommy Stephen in the senior footy match.

However, it wasn’t really about results with the Suns building a club for the future and speedbumps were always expected.

The next Torquay derby is the return clash at McCartney Oval where the Tigers will host the Suns in round 12 on Saturday June 20.

For our full coverage of the Easter footy and netball see pages 24 to 27.

Saleyards saga ends

By Matt Hewson

Geelong council has sold the former saleyard site in North Geelong, nearly nine years after resolving to do so.

The City of Greater Geelong announced the sale late last week, calling it a “major milestone for the City’s north” that would bring “the long-term vision for the site closer to reality”.

The buyer of the site has been widely reported as property development company Leaf Corporation after an open expressions of interest process. The Australian Financial Review reported the site sold for “between $10 million and $13 million, according to industry sources“

The Independent asked council how

much the land sold for, but it declined to answer.

In addition to the acquisition of the 4.3-hectaresaleyardssiteonWeddellRoad, Leaf Corporation has recently acquired two adjacent holdings on Thompson Road that can now be consolidated with the saleyards to allow a massive 9-hectare development site.

Mayor Stretch Kontelj was enthusiastic about the sale, calling it a win for everyone involved.

“This is such a great outcome that the City has been working on for some time,“ he said.

“The sale unlocks this land for redevelopment, and it ticks many boxes, promoting housing affordability, new jobs

and employment, new infrastructure, and of course, greater financial sustainability for council.”

The council resolved to sell the saleyards whenthesiteclosedin2017andadoptedits Saleyards Precinct Structure Plan in 2020, rezoningthesitetoallowforhigher-density housing.

Thefinalstepwasclosingthecouncil-run truck facility on the site, which was announced in May last year and paved the way for authorising the sale of the former saleyards in August.

The Saleyards Precinct Structure Plan also expresses a preference that affordable and social housing be available as part of the new development.

However,councillorsEmmaSinclairand

Elise Wilkinson voiced concerns when the site’s sale was authorised that there was no concrete mechanism to ensure that would be the case.

The sale represents a continuity of the council’s avowed policy of selling public assets to reduce the City’s debt.

“By selling assets which are surplus to requirements, we reduce debt and take the pressure off ratepayers, especially around asset renewal, while ensuring land and assets are used in the most productive way possible,” he said.

“The plan for the future includes many protectionstoensurehigh-quality,liveable neighbourhoods with a variety of housing types supported by great design and open spaces for the community to enjoy.”

Three up for sports awards

Two Greater Geelong people and a local sports club are finalists at the Victorian Sports Awards at the MCG on 13 May.

Surf Coast Football (Soccer) Club is a finalist in the Community Sporting Club of the Year category.

The club has more than doubled in size over the past three years thanks to a focus on youth and female engagement and flexible registration payment plans.

Through the Club Changer Women and Girls Action Plan, female participation increased by 90 percent since 2023, 461 MiniRoos players were supported while pathwayswereprovidedbycompetinginan

Advanced Junior Girls league and Geelong competitions for all levels and state-level men’s leagues.

A partnership with coaching education program Coerver ensured consistent development standards which enabled and encouraged coaches to lead 69 teams in 2025.

A community engagement focus and new clubrooms created a welcoming culture for 883 registered players, supporters and opposition, making it the sixth largest club in Victoria and the fourth largest for female membership.

Maintenance coordinator and head skipper for the Making Waves programs in Gee-

long, Huw Provis is a finalist in the Volunteer of the Year category.

Mr Provis was responsible for overseeing up to six sail programs each week featuring 750 sailors, including safety checks and on-waterexperiencesforyoungpeoplewith disability, those facing disadvantage and atrisk youth.

He volunteered with the Wright of Passage boat-building program, working directly with young participants to develop practical trade skills.

Richard Lawysz, received an OAM for his service to athletics in January this year, is a finalist in the Official of the Year category.

Mr Lawysz’s accolades include 20 years as Geelong Athletics president where he is a life member.

He was appointed as technical delegate for three New Zealand World Athletics (WA) bronzelevelmeets,fieldrefereefortheOceania Cup in Tonga and was technical delegate for the World Athletics Continental Gold meet.

He delivered virtual officials’ seminars and mentored candidates for refereeing assessment. As a WA Gold level referee, he presented educational seminars to assist local and national officials and is a member of Australian Athletics Operations.

Protection announced for iconic Corio Bowls skate park

Original members of Corio Skateboard Club have welcomed the City of Greater Geelong’s decision to protect Corio Bowls skate park’s future.

Council voted to update an existing outdated heritage overlay at the iconic Bell Park venue at Fountain of Friendship Park and applied for a new heritage overlay at nine other recommended places.

Corio Bowls was constructed in 1980 following a campaign by the Corio Skateboard Club made up of school children and their parents.

Original member Alistair Miller said the concept was started by a “bunch of teenagers”.

“At the time it was the best public skate park in Australia and soon got quite a reputation with skateboarders from all around the country travelling to Geelong to skate on what became known as the Corio Bowls,” he said.

“The legend of the Corio Bowls soon spread further than the shores of Australia with touring international professionals making their way to the area to skate the legendary bowls.

“This continues today with touring Australian and international professionals making their way to Geelong to get a photo or video clip on the bowls, 46 years after they were built.”

The City will seek authorisation from the Minister of Planning to conduct further engagement with community, property owners and key stakeholders.

“Personally, I have many fond memories of spending time at the Corio skate

Government funding offers food relief for Greater Geelong

By Jena Carr

Families doing it tough in Geelong will have more access to food relief thanks to state government funding.

The Regional Food Security Alliance received $1.1 million to support regional foodshares, including Geelong Foodshare, through the $2.7 million food relief package.

Member for Lara Ella George said that families shouldn’t have to choose between putting petrol in the car or putting food on the table.

“ByfundingGeelongFoodshare,wecan help make sure that no family goes without essential food and grocery items,” Ms George said. “Funding food relief organisations, like Geelong Foodshare, is how thestategovernmentcanprovidepractical support that really makes a difference.

“Geelong Foodshare does an incredible job supporting families and over 70 organ-

isations across the Geelong region by providing free and nutritious food to support residents.”

Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant said the funding would help foodshares to keep providing their services within the community.

“This support will help local organisations across the Bellarine and Geelong region continue supporting families to access the food they need and when they need it most,” she said.

Premier Jacinta Allan said food relief organisations were doing great work across the state and that she was proud support them.

“It won’t solve every problem but it’s immediate help we can provide right now to people who need it most,” she said.

“No family should ever have to worry about where their next meal is coming from, and this funding is going straight to the frontline.”

bowls and riding my skateboard with friends,” deputy mayor Eddie Kontelj said. “By recognising the

and sizes.”

Unnamed river reserve set for First Nations identity

The informally known Moorabool River Reservecouldsoonreceiveanewnameto honour and respect Traditional Owners.

Golden Plains Shire Council has worked with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (WTOAC) to identify a suitable name for the officially unnamed Batesford reserve.

Mayor Owen Sharkey said he would love to get the community’s feedback on the proposed name, Perridak Ngubiyt (Peh-ree-duck Nooh-bit), which means freshwater home of the platypus in Wadawurrung language.

“Language is important in transmitting knowledge, ideas, stories and shared meanings within and across cultures and generations,” he said.

“Council has worked with WTOAC’s language team to identify a name that will appropriately reflect cultural heritage and show deep respect.

“The return of Traditional Owner

language to Country is recognised as an important act of reconciliation, strengthening, connecting and educating our communities.”

The naming proposal was initiated based on priority actions identified in a number of council’s strategic documents, including the Council Plan 2025-2029, Reflect - Reconciliation Action Plan, Environment Strategy 2019-2027, and Community Vision 2040. It also followed community feedback as part of the Moorabool River Reserve Master Plan, with council following guidelines set by Geographic Names Victoria for establishing Traditional Owner names.

Community members can provide feedback on the proposed name at goldenplains.vic.gov.au/consultations by 28 April, with hard copies of the feedback form also available at Council’s Customer Hubs.

Greater Geelong digs deep

By Jena Carr

Geelongwasthefourth-highestfundraising townduringthisyear’sGoodFridayAppeal (GFA), with community members doing their part to help kids in need.

People across Geelong helped raise $172,722.50 during this year’s fundraiser for the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH), contributingtotheoverallfinalappealtally of $25,268,485.

Barwon Heads achieved $88,787.24 for the appeal, with The Tin Shed Good Friday Fundraiser helping raise $82,000 through food vans, raffles, face painting, balloon art and auctions.

“We were absolutely stoked when we achievedthattotal,”committeememberDi Matheson said. “The day went really well, and we couldn’t believe how many people were there, as we had about a thousand come through.

“Wecouldn’tbeassuccessfulaswewere

without the strength of the community that gets behind it, as they really do make it what it is, and it (the event) seems to be growing every year.”

Torquay Lions Club raised over half of Torquay’s overall fundraising total ($86,243.07), with the club achieving $47,013 through sausage sizzles and donations.

“The Torquay Lions Club and friends set the highest single amount for the region...and I thank all who supported the 2026 appeal so generously,” Torquay GFA volunteer area manager Peter McMahon said. “The 2026 record was achieved by wonderful individuals raising funds for the GFA, and had local businesses and organisations lifting their donations.

“Thoseinapositiontogiverealisedthat every dollar makes a difference, creating a rippleeffectofchangethatcanmakeareal impact on the lives of sick kids.”

Little River achieved $75,560.92 for the appeal, followed by Ocean Grove with $73,734.62, Drysdale with $46,238.45, and Portarlington with $38,140.33. Point Lonsdale/Queenscliff also raised $32,577.37, followed by Bannockburn with $18,723.83, Lara with $11,276.72, Winchelsea with $7,793.35, and Fyansford with $4,724.50.

Running towards cancer equipment help

By Jena Carr

Runners across the region will come together to help raise money for cancer equipment during the Geelong Half Marathon.

Participants will run along the Barwon River during the half-marathon (21.1km) and 5km races on Sunday 12 April, with entryfeesdirectlysupportingtheAndrew Love Cancer Centre.

Course director Ken Walker said the course was simple and flat for runners, and offered viewing options for spectators.

“It’s an achievable thing that you can do and one of the best fun things for me after the race is to chat with a few people and see how it went for them,” he said. “You can talk and learn tips from other runners, so it’s just a really great feeling, and for that first three hours after the race, it’s probably the best you’re going to feel for two or three days.”

Mr Walker said this year’s event aimed to raise close to $20,000 for necessary cancer equipment for the region.

“One of the things that gives me joy each year is when we get to hand over money to the Andrew Love Cancer Centre,” he said.

“It allows people down there at the cancer centre to sort of just get that extra little bit of equipment that makes things run more smoothly...and it’s a charity that’s close to my heart.”

Runners will start and finish near the

the halfmarathon starting at 7.30am, followed by the 5km run at 8am.

Visit gccc.au/geelong-half-marathon for more Geelong Half Marathon information.

Barwon Health and Barwon South West Health Services will receive a share of $3 million from the appeal to ensure every childreceivesthebestpossiblehealthcare. GFA has raised more than $517 million in support of the RCH and regional health services since 1931 to make a difference for sick children and their families.

Nature plan up for discussion

A10-yearroadmaptoprotectGreater Geelong’s natural environment through to 2030 is open for public feedback.

City of Greater Geelong’s Draft Plan for Nature was developed with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, conservation groups, agency partners, environmental organisations, local experts and communitymembers.

More than 90 per cent of the region’s ecological vegetation classes are rare, vulnerable or endangered and at least 24 federally listed threatened species and ecological communities rely on habitat on City-managedland.

The Draft Plan outlines five key goalsthatallcontain10-yearstrategic objectives: Wadawurrung Country and values; protections; connections and restoration; community and partnerships; and climate change andsupportingnature.

The City will hold community drop-insessionsonThursday16April from 9.30am to 11.30am and 3pm to 5pmatWurrkiNyalonMercerStreet. Community consultation is open until Thursday 30 April with the final plan expected to return to council for adoptioninJune.

Greater Geelong Retirement Village & Resort Expo

Wonderful opportunity to ask questions and gather information

On display will be resort style developments as well as established villages from many different organisations. All offering a wide range of services & facilities, sizes, prices and locations, all under one roof with free admission. Don’t miss this life changing event!

Pride film fest program out

By Matt Hewson

Regional Victoria’s biggest LGBTQIA+ film festival is ready to launch for its ninth year.

This year’s Geelong Pride Film Festival, running from 30 April to 10 May, is poised to be bigger and better than ever, with screenings and events across Geelong and the Bellarine.

Geelong Arts Centre will host the festival’s opening night, which will feature a concert from queer classical music ensemble Homophonic and talks by festival director Loise Lever and chair Stephen Ryan.

Ms Lever said this year’s event had

been curated to both challenge and uplift audiences.

“There are films in there that hopefully engage people and get them to think critically about our community, about politics, all those sorts of things,” she said.

“We want to get people thinking about what makes a queer film actually queer. Is it still a queer film if it’s directed by someone who’s queer but doesn’t have queer content, for example?

“We’ve also really tried to emphasis positivity and joy and community…and really celebrate all the fantastic things we have to offer.”

Highlights from the festival’s 2026

program include the Australian premiere of US lesbian film Drip Like Coffee, Kristen Stewart’sdirectorialdebutTheChronology of Water and romantic thriller Plainclothes

starring Russell Tovey and Tom Blyth.

Perennial favourite Rainbow Shorts will also return, hosted by Dolly Diamond and featuring Australian documentary Tasty and Australian drama Big Johnny.

MsLever,whohassteppedintotheroleof director for the first time this year, said the festivalhadbeenanimportantcommunity event in Geelong since its inception.

“Ithinkit’sreallyimportanttoremember that community is always there, and that community can bring people together in

History roars to life with vintage display

By Jena Carr

Geelong families can have a look back at the history of vehicles during a special display on Sunday.

Bellarine Historic Vehicle Club will host a vehicle display with eight to 10 cars at Geelong Waterfront’s Customs Lawn.

Vice president Graeme Lemin said families and community members were invited to attend the event to explore vintage, veteran and classic vehicles from different eras.

“Peoplecanhavealookatwhatcarsused

Meeting, video, discussion and cuppa from ‘Freedom’ book by

Biologist JEREMY GRIFFITH

Belmont Library 163 High St

Saturday 18th April 11am-12.30pm All Welcome

tobelike,andthecarsgenerallyrangefrom the 1920s up to the 80s or 90s,” he said.

“A lot of parents find it interesting to show their kids these cars because they’re so different from today’s vehicles in a lot of ways.

“I love their style and comparative simplicity when you look at today’s cars, along with the sounds they make, the way they look, and the way they drive on the road.

“I hope our club and its members’ cars get a little bit of interest from the general public, along with an awareness that these

cars are still around and that you can drive them on the road.”

Mr Lemin said the event was also a great chance to ask questions about the vehicles on display, with opportunities also available for people wanting to take photos.

The Bellarine Historic Vehicle Club Vehicle Display is free for the community toattendandwillrunfrom10amto2pmon 12 April.

The club is also on the lookout for new members, and people can visit bellarinehistoricvehicleclub.com for more

difficult times,” she said.

“There’s still a lot of joy out there and it’s fantastic that we’ve got so many queer filmmakers making these films.

“It’s a really strong lineup with some really beautiful films, particularly all the shorts programs. We’ve got 40 short films from Australia and all around the world.

“(Those films) are a real testament to the fact that there are so many queer filmmakers out there making beautiful worksofart…andIhopethatwouldinspire would-be filmmakers out there in regional Geelong to pick up the camera and give it a go.”

Visit gpff.org.au for more information.

Stinky farm mystery solved

Environmental Protection Authority

Victoria officers have discovered the source of Geelong’s latest odiferous issue.

The EPA released a statement late last week stating that officers had identified a farm to the west of Geelong as the source of a persistent odour over the city, which had given risetonumerouscomplaints.

The statement said it was “understood that organic products such as chicken manure were applied to the farm” earlier in the week and thattheEPAwasinvestigatingtoseeif furtheractionwasrequired.

EPA South West regional manager Martha-Rose Loughnane thanked community members for their timely reporting, which had helped officers trackdownthesourceofthesmells.

“The public are our eyes, ears and nose,” she said. “If you smell something you shouldn’t, get in touch withusviaour24/7hotlineorthrough ouronlineportal.”

In February Geelong and the Surf Coast fell afoul of a similar stink, which, according to the EPA, was also causedbychickenmanure.

The February incident involved “multiple farms”, according to the EPA, which said at the time it would “workwithotheragencies...toincrease awareness in the sector” about the usageandstorageoffertilisers.

The EPA said such odours would cause no long-term effects. Go to www.epa.vic.gov.au or call 1300 372 842toreportpollutioninyourarea.

A path towards safer cycling along the Surf Coast

The Surf Coast community can help shape safer and long-term walking and cycling options along an Anglesea road.

Surf Coast Shire Council has invited the community to provide feedback on two options to make Camp Road safer and easier to walk, ride and move around the area.

Councillor Mike Bodsworth said the two options included protected bike lanes on the western (school) side or a wider shared path on the western (school) side from the town centre to Agnes Lane.

“Camp Road is an important route for local families, particularly students travelling to and from school and the Anglesea Bike Path,” he said.

“We want to make sure it is safe, accessible and comfortable for everyone, whether you’re walking, riding or using a

mobility aid.

“Safer walking and cycling connections support healthier lifestyles, reduce traffic congestion and help create more

connected communities.”

Cr Bodsworth said Camp Road was a key local connection between the shopping precinct, Anglesea Primary School and Anglesea Bike Park.

“It’sreallyimportantforkidstobeableto get around independently,” he said.

“This is an opportunity for the community to have a say and help shape a project that will benefit Anglesea for years to come.”

The two safer walking and cycling optionsweredevelopedtopresentdifferent ways to improve the path along Camp Road, with each option having different benefits, costs, and impacts.

People can review the proposed options and provide feedback by 27 April at surfcoast.vic.gov.au/CampRoadCyclePath to help inform the next stage of planning.

AED for Newcomb

The Lions Club of Leopold has made a new investment in the wellbeing of its community, funding a life-saving device in Newcomb.

The new 24/7 publicly accessible automated external defibrillator (AED) has been installed at 44 Watsons Rd, Newcomb on the front wall between NQR Newcomb and The Ebony Forest.

Used to attempt to shock a cardiac arrest patient’s heart back into normal function, AEDs significantly increase a patient’s chance of survival.

Morrie Pieper from the Lions Club of Leopold said he was proud his organisation had been able to fund the new AED.

“Giving to the community in this way is what Lions Club is all about,” Morrie said.

“If this new AED never needs to be used, that’s great, but you never know when you’re going to need one.

“I know people who are still alive thanks to an AED and sadly also people who have died, but maybe an AED could have helped save them.

“It may well be me that this AED saves one day. None of us know what tomorrow’s going to bring.”

AV acting Barwon South West operational community engagement liaison coordinator Sara Hadden said the latest Ambulance Victoria data showed public AEDs gave cardiac arrest patients a 63 per cent survival rate when used before paramedics arrived.

“This is compared to just seven per cent when there was no bystander CPR or AED use,” Ms Hadden said.

“Thank you to the Lions Club of Leopold for their generous community dona-

tion. This new AED means that life-saving care is available around the clock for residents and visitors in Newcomb who may experience a cardiac arrest.

“Anyone can use an AED; you don’t need training. If someone is in cardiac ar-

Science fun during holidays

By Jena Carr

Find out what can, and cannot, be flushed down the toilet with the return of the Museum of Modern (f)Art these school holidays.

Barwon Water will host a family-friendly activity zone in Geelong, featuring interactive and immersive art experiences that highlighttheimportanceofhealthysewers.

Head of communications and engagement Sue Noonan said the exhibit was a great opportunity for kids to learn how to use the toilet properly while keeping the environment healthy.

“The purpose of the museum is to connect children with the excitement of science and technology through hands-on play, experimenting, creativity, and fun,” she said.

“We’ve got a giant fatberg, which is a large-scale 3D art piece to show what hap-

pens when you put the wrong thing down the sink and sewer.

“There’s also a fun toilet game where children flush coloured scarves, and each scarf represents whether it’s the correct thing to flush, which is the three P’s; poo, pee or paper.

“We’re also planning to transition to an All About Water exhibition, which will be the story of water, its importance, and how we can save it while exploring alternative sources.”

The Museum of Modern (f)Art has been open during school holidays and group appointments since November 2024, with the museum reopening on Sunday 12 April from 1pm to 3.30pm.

The museum will also be open from 10am to 12.30pm on Tuesday 14 April, and Thursday 16 April, at the base of the Barwon Water head office, accessible through the Aitchison Place entrance.

Input needed on new sport complex

Residents of Inverleigh and surrounding areas have the chance to get involved in the future of the community’s new sports centre.

Golden Plains Shire Council is currently undertaking community consultationonthedevelopmentoftheInverleigh Sporting Complex Master Plan, which will be constructed at the Inverleigh Recreation Reserve.

The master plan will draw on the input ofkeystakeholdersandthebroadercommunity to provide a clear guide to development, decision-making and resource allocation concerning the new complex.

Golden Plains Shire mayor Owen Sharkey urged user groups and the broader community to help guide the development of the master plan.

“As Inverleigh and surrounding towns continue to expand, it’s vital that our community facilities evolve with them,” he said.

“The master plan will give council a clear roadmap for future development of the sporting complex, guiding investment and decision-making for many years to come.

“The master plan will help us prioritise upgrades and investment so the Inverleigh Sporting Complex can continue to grow alongside the township, ensuring it remains a high-quality, accessible space for everyone.”

rest and an AED is available, simply open it and follow the instructions. You could save a life.”

“Every minute matters in a cardiac arrestandbystanderinterventionmakesthe biggest impact on the chance of survival.”

Feedback on the development of the master plan is open online at goldenplains.vic.gov.au/consultations until 5pm on Wednesday 29 April.

Between Wyndham Vale and Waurn Ponds

Saturday 11 April to Friday 24 April

Geelong jobs up for grabs

More than 100 jobs are available at Geelong’s new convention and entertainment centre.

Recruitment for positions at the $450 million Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre, which opens in July, are underway Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos announced on 7 April.

Opportunities exist for AV technicians, logisticsoperators,eventsetupattendants, and customer service professionals and there are more than 50 hospitality positions, including chefs, stewards, and food and beverage attendants.

Nyaal Banyul will have more than 40

permanent roles and 200 casual positions once it opens to the public.

“We’reinvestinginthefutureofGeelong by creating new job opportunities and attracting major events to the region,” Mr Dimopoulos said.

“With more than 100 roles available, we’re ensuring Geelong locals will be at the heart of delivering world-class events and experiences at Nyaal Banyul.”

Successful applicants will begin by supporting test events and operational trials prior to the official opening with more than 50 events locked in.

Nyaal Banyul features 3700 square metres of flexible event space, a 1000-seat

theatre and cutting-edge AV technology.

“One of our main objectives as a new major venue has always been to create significant job opportunities for the Geelong community,” Nyaal Banyul general manager Rick Aylett said.

“Beyond jobs, Nyaal Banyul opens the doortogenuinecareerpathwaysforpeople passionate about events, hospitality or AV production. I can’t wait to welcome more than 100 new team members.”

Nyaal Banyul is being delivered as a partnership by Development Victoria and the Plenary Conventions consortium and will be operated by the Victorian Convention and Event Trust.

Arts Centre Melbourne’s Academy program comes to Geelong for the first time these school holidays. (Supplied)

Free holiday performance workshops

These school holidays budding local performers will have the opportunity to learn from the nation’s best right here in Geelong.

Arts Centre Melbourne’s free school holiday program Academy will host two free workshop events at Geelong Arts Centrethisweekforhigh-abilitystudentsin years 4 to 12 who are enrolled at Victorian governmentschools.

On Monday 13 April, Green Room Award-winning choreographer Freya List will guide participants through a two-hour musical theatre dance workshop, exploring what an identity as an artist and creative looks like and reflecting on Geelong Arts

Centre and its role in celebrating artist identities.

On Tuesday 14 April, members of world-renowned theatre company Impro Melbourne will guide students through the basics of improvisational theatre via games and exercises focused on spontaneity, collaborationandcreativity.

Arts Centre Melbourne creative producer Joshua Cowie said the team was thrilled to bring the Academy program to Geelong for thefirsttime.

“At Arts Centre Melbourne, we believe that access to high-quality arts experiences should extend beyond the CBD and into communities where creativity is already

thriving,” he said. “Bringing Academy to Geelong for the first time is an exciting step in recognising and nurturing the exceptionaltalentofyoungregionalartists.

“Theseworkshopsofferstudentsachance not only to develop their skills alongside industry professionals, but to explore and celebrate their own creative identities in a supportiveandinspiringenvironment.”

Mr Cowie said there were plans to run further workshops in Geelong during the JulyandSeptemberschoolholidays.

Visit artscentremelbourne.com.au/ festival-and-series/academy to register for free or find out more information about the Academyprogram.

Mobile phones banned for students across the state

Students across Geelong and the Bellarine will not be able to access mobile phones in the classroom, except for medical reasons, under new legislation.

Mobile phones will be banned in every school across the state from January next year, which will also cover wearable devices, like smart watches and wireless earbuds.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll said the state first banned mobile phones in public classrooms in 2020, with the ban extended to non-government schools under the new legislation.

“The evidence shows it worked and now we’re going further, so every Victorian student, in every Victorian school, can put their phone away and focus on learning,” he said.

Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant said rolling out a statewide policy would provide consistency and certainty for parents,studentsandschoolcommunities.

“We’restrengtheningschooldevicerules to support students across the Bellarine to stay engaged in their learning,” she said.

Sacred Heart College Geelong principal AnnaNegrosaidthelegislationwouldhelp provide a “healthier digital culture” in the

TheprojectisfundedthroughtheGeelong City Deal, a $676 million investment from the Australian government, Victorian government and City of Greater Geelong.

“With more than 100 jobs now up for grabs, it’s exciting to see the momentum building ahead of Nyaal Banyul’s opening,” Member for Geelong Christine Couzens said.

“Projects like Nyaal Banyul deliver lasting benefits to our region by creating jobs, boosting tourism, and strengthening the local economy,” Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant said.

Available positions can be viewed at nyaalbanyul.com.au/work-with-us

Inverleigh tree program Stage 2 set to begin

Stage 2 of Golden Plains Shire Council’s tree works will begin later thismonth.

Progress of the Inverleigh Tree Succession Plan includes completion ofallStage1treeandstumpremovals and the successful establishment of Stage1and2plantings.

Species planted so far include eucalyptus cinerea, eucalyptus camaldulensis, quercus lobata and angophora floribunda that were identified as preferred through the communityconsultationprocess.

Stage 2 will involve removing 24 ageing cypress trees and 31 stumps and is expected to be completed by theendofMay2026.

“The Inverleigh Tree Succession Plan provides a clear and considered approach for reinstating trees throughout the township,” mayor Owen Sharkey said. “It also sets out how council will continue to manage both significant mature trees and the new plantings across the four key locationsinInverleigh.”

Traffic delays are expected throughout Stage 2 and will be managedbytrafficcontrol.

A community mulch pick-up point will be at the western approach to Inverleigh, within the camping area. Residents can collect mulch for personaluse.

“The cypress avenues have been an iconic part of Inverleigh’s eastern and western entrances for generations,” Cr Sharkey said. “As these trees reach the end of their natural life, replacing them with more suitable species is an important step in ensuring our gateways remain welcoming and visuallystrikingforyearstocome.”

WhenStage2iscomplete,removals, reinstatement works (relevelling and reseeding) will begin in August and September.

school environment.

“We need responsible student use of technology...as we have seen firsthand the harm associated with misuse of personal devices at our school,” she said.

Personalaudiodeviceswillnotbeableto beusedduringschoolhours,andwearable devices must have notifications, cellular connection, and recording functions switched off under the legislation.

Mobile phones will also need to be switched off and stored away from the first to the final bell, with exceptions for students who require devices to monitor health conditions.

Stage 3 planting of approximately 60 angophora floribunda trees is scheduledforMarchandApril2027.

As a Youth Justice worker, you’ll have a secure job working with young people in custody. The role includes paid training and you’ll be part of a supportive team.

Works start on old gateway

Geelong’s Hitchcock Memorial Gateway will undergo a transformation with restoration works underway on the century-old structure.

The works, at the northern entrance to Johnstone Park on Railway Terrace, will follow the Heritage Victoria permit conditions and include rebuilding the footings, repairing cracks and broken sections, low-pressure washing, paint removal and repainting the structure in its original light-yellow Interwar period colour.

Built in 1925, to honour former mayor Howard Hitchcock CMG OBE, who served from 1917 to 1922.

Designed by a then 19-year-old Gordon School of Architecture student Eric ‘Keith’ Mackay OBE after he won a competition, the gateway is a classical design derived from English Renaissance architecture and inspired by Roman and Greek architecture.

The project took two years to build and was supported by public fundraising.

Serving as the ornamental entrance to the Peace Memorial, the gateway is a prominent landmark on the City’s Arts and Cultural Precinct Trail. The restoration is expected to take six months to complete.

“The Hitchcock Memorial Gateway in Johnstone Park is part of Geelong’s identity and story. Repairing and restoring it is about respecting our past while making sure the structure stays safely intact for the future,” City of Greater Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj said.

“Howard Hitchcock helped shape the city we know today and it’s fitting that we protect the memorial built in his honour.”

“I’m proud my father won the competition to design the gates at just 19 years old but, really, these gates are a memorial to former mayor Howard Hitchcock and his legacy of service to Geelong,” Mr Mackay’s son Dr David Mackay said.

“It’s remarkable that they’ve stood for a century, and I’m happy that council is restoring them to their original state.”

Fire restrictions are set to ease as winter approaches

Geelong and Bellarine residents should remain fire aware, despite the Fire Danger Period officially ending on Monday.

Fire restrictions will lift across the City of Greater Geelong, Borough of Queenscliffe, Surf Coast Shire Council, and Golden Plains Shire Council municipalities from 1am on 13 April.

CFA West Region deputy chief officer Steve Alcock said improving conditions

allowed for restrictions to ease, but that dry autumn conditions and strong winds were still capable of producing fast-moving grassfires.

“Cooler temperatures and some rainfall in parts of these districts have helped reduce the overall risk,” he said.

“While this allows landowners to clean up their properties and those in agriculture to carry out essential works, it’s important

that people don’t become complacent.

“There is still dry vegetation across the landscape, and fires can spread quickly if they’re not properly managed.

“Conditions can change quickly on hot, dry and windy days, so it’s important to monitor the forecast and plan accordingly.”

Torquay Fire Brigade captain Murray Middleton said a residential fire hydrant

FREE TRAVEL on public transport

was generally located within a nature strip and identified by a white marker post.

“Access to the hydrant plugs is critical to our response times and how effective we can be in an emergency,” he said.

“We’d really love our communities to recognise when they have a hydrant in front of their house and to help us maintain them.”

TRAFFIC CHANGES

AFL Round 6 Geelong v Western Bulldogs

›Friday 17 April

›Road closure – Moorabool Street from 6.20pm to 7.35pm and from 9.35pm to 10.20pm.

from Delhi6 is part of Geelong’s small business community.

WORKSHOPS, MENTORING AND NETWORKING TO HELP GEELONG BUSINESSES THRIVE

Geelong’s small business community has a host of free workshops and events designed to help businesses grow and thrive. Kicking off on Monday 20 April, the How to Start (and Keep) Your Small Business workshop provides practical tips for new and emerging business owners.

Later in April, the 90 Day Planning session on Wednesday 29 April helps businesses set clear goals and strategies for success, followed by Business Support Drop-Ins at Boronggook Drysdale Library on Thursday 30 April, offering one-on-one guidance.

In May, people in business can attend the Workplaces Best Practices Breakfast on Wednesday 6 May, explore mentoring opportunities at Geelong Mentor Mornings on Thursday 21 May, or enhance their online presence with the hands-on LinkedIn for Business workshop on Monday 25 May.

All events are free to attend, with places limited. For full details and bookings, visit geelong.link/GeelongBusinessEvents

Upcoming Shows

Hansel & Gretel

Tuesday 14 April - Thursday 16 April

10.30am & 1.30pm daily

Looking for a magical school holiday adventure? Join Hansel and Gretel as they explore the woods, discover a house made of sweets and uncover a mysterious surprise. Book tickets: geelong.link/HanselAndGretel

Australian Barbra Streisand Show

Saturday 18 April | 8.00pm

From Funny Girl to A Star Is Born, relive the greatest hits of Barbra Streisand.

Rachael Grace is joined by pianist and musical director John Thorn, with supplementary vocals by Kara Ciezki, delivering a night of multi-genre excellence. Book tickets: geelong.link/AustralianBarbraStreisand

Additional changed traffic conditions will be in place for the game.

Event info: geelong.link/AFL-R6

NEWS

2026–27 Positive Ageing Grants

Grants of up to $1,000 are available to host a community activity or event that celebrates and empowers positive ageing.

Eligible activities should help people aged 55+ connect, learn, stay informed, and support their wellbeing.

Applications open Saturday 11 April and close at 5.00pm on Monday 25 May.

Visit geelong.link/Grants to view the eligibility criteria and application details.

Book now to attend an online or in person information session at 4.00pm on Monday 20 April at geelong.link/PAGInfo

HAVE YOUR SAY

We invite you to provide feedback to our new Draft Plan for Nature, a 10 year plan to help us protect and enhance habitats for our wild species.

Our goal is to prepare a plan to set the future direction for programs to protect, restore and manage nature in Greater Geelong.

Have your say on our Draft Plan for Nature at geelong.link/PlanForNature by 5.00pm on Thursday 30 April.

Q: How many children were seen by the Maternal and Child Health service in 2024-25?

Our Maternal and Child Health (MCH) service provides free information, advice and support to families caring for babies and young children until they start school.

A: See base of page

The City’s Delivered Meals service provides up to 1,000 nutritious, affordable meals each week to older people and people with disabilities in their own homes, with drivers also offering a friendly wellbeing check on every visit.

Find out more: geelong.link/DeliveredMeals

NOTICE OF MEETING

The next meeting of the Planning Committee will be held at the Council Conference and Reception Centre, City Hall, Little Malop Street, Geelong at 6.00pm on Thursday 16 April.

Item to be discussed is:

Planning Permit Application No. PP–1102–2024 – 351–379 Bawtree Road, Leopold. Five (5) Lot Subdivision and Associated Vegetation Removal.

Be part of Tastes of Greater Geelong 2026!

We’re inviting local venues, producers and hospitality businesses to get involved.

Register your interest to be part of a monthlong celebration of food, drink and local culinary experiences across Greater Geelong.

Submit your Expression of Interest by 5.00pm on Sunday 26 April at geelong.link/ Tastes2026EOI

Geelong Small Business Festival

Ready to inspire, connect and grow local business? The festival is an event for the business community to come together and access training, presentations and networking opportunities.

Register your interest and join the 2026 Geelong Small Business Festival at gsbf.com.au Expressions of interest close at 11.59pm on Sunday 12 April.

Sparked up for skills test

Geelong’s Arnold Shanahan will travel to Shanghai later this year to compete at the 48th WorldSkills Competition. He spoke to Matt Hewson about his road to the international competition.

In September this year, recently qualified local electrician Arnold Shanahan will travel to Shanghai alongside 38 other young Australians to represent their country on the world stage.

The 39 Skillaroos will compete against the world’s best at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 - an event often referred to as the Skill Olympics - facing 1400 competitors from more than 70 countries in 64 skill competitions.

Arnold will compete as a representative of both Australia and The Gordon TAFE, where he recently completed his studies towards his electrical apprenticeship, in the mechatronics event.

There, he and Swinburne University of Technology representative João Marcos Boulomytis Correa will work together as a team against the world’s best emerging young talents in the field in a four-day event where they will demonstrate their skills in assembling, programming, commissioning and maintaining automated production systems.

Arnold said he was looking forward to representing Australia.

“It’s a pretty awesome opportunity, to be honest,” he said.

“It’s only going to happen once, and it’s really cool to be able to go along and learn heaps of stuff and have all these opportunities.

“I’m pretty excited, but obviously pretty nervous with the level of competition that we need to be at. There’s a lot of work (involved) to get to that level.”

Arnold’s interest in mechatronics was kindledbyhisexperiencesinroboticsclass at Christian College, but it was following in his father Micahel’s footsteps that gave rise the opportunity to participate in WorldSkills.

“My dad was an electrician, and I wasn’t

The amount of problem-solving you need is pretty incredible, and you never understand all of it ... there’s always something to learn - Arnold Shanahan

sure what I wanted to do after school so I thought, what better way to go than just start off with a trade and see if I like it,” he said.

“It’s a good qualification you can always fall back on if you don’t end up enjoying it, but I quite like it.”

Itwaswhiletakingtradeschoolclassesat

The Gordon that Arnold’s class was visited by the TAFE’s electrical portfolio manager Andy Heath.

“Hewalked into ourclassandsaid,‘Who wants to go to this competition? We’re looking for someone’,” he said.

“Luckily I was the first person to put my hand up.”

Before he knew it, Arnold was heading to the WorldSkills Australia National Mechatronics Championships in July 2025 to compete in partnership with João, who he had never met before.

They won the gold medal and qualified for this year’s international competition in what Arnold described as an “awesome experience”.

“Ienjoyedmeetingsomanypeopleatthe top of their trade, and it was great to see how I compared skills-wise with others my age,” he said.

Arnold is now qualified, but continues to workwithDandoElectrical,whoemployed him as an apprentice.

He said he was grateful for the support from his employer and credited his work with continuing to fuel his passion for all things electrical.

“It’s a Norlane-based company and we do a lot of travel to do industrial stuff,” he said.

“We’ve done a lot of work on chicken farms up in Murchison, Seymour, automating those farms, putting in new systems and whatnot.

“The amount of problem-solving you need is pretty incredible, and you never understand all of it; there’s so much emerging technology that there’s always something to learn.”

Thoseskillshavebeenvitaltohissuccess so far with mechatronics competitions.

“You need problem-solving skills, you’ve got to be quick-thinking, you’ve got to understand how to use electrical stuff, pneumatic control, a bit of mechanical stuff as well,” he said.

“There’s a lot of reading drawings and diagrams, and making sure everything’s accurate because you’re heavily judged on accuracy to the plans.

“There’s a speed component as well, but

that’s at the very end, and not many people even get that far. Even in international comps there will only be one of two teams that complete the whole thing.

“You’re judged on the neatness of your work, how well you’ve run all your cables and your mag tubing, how accurately you’ve done it to what’s specified in the drawings…you’re judged on each of those steps, and if you fail one they stop judging you.”

Last year’s international competition included 36 mechatronics teams from around the world. Arnold said he and João would be facing stiff competition.

“Reachingthepodiumisgoingtobevery, verytrickyforanAustralianteam,because quite a few countries - China, Japan - are sponsored to train 24/7,” he said.

“They get paid to train 50 hours a week, but we have to do it in our own time. It makesittrickyforus,butwe’llgothereand do our best.”

In the meantime, Arnold will focus on training up his skills while also taking a break to keep up canoeing, in which he also competes at a state level.

“Itrytokeepitfairlyevenbetweensports and brain (work), because I reckon it helps me think if I’m active and fit,” he said.

“It resets my brain, helps me not get too boggeddowninwhatI’mdoing.Itrefreshes me.”

Next year Arnold hopes to begin an electrical engineering degree, but he said his interest in automation isn’t going anywhere.

“I just love all things electrical and automation,” he said.

“I reckon it’s fascinating how much is out there, and the ability to create stuff; it’s production line, making, all that sort of thing. Designing and producing things that make everyday items, basically.”

Forward planning pays off

Meticulous preparation ahead of this summer’s fire season saved a Meredith couple’s property when a grassfire ignited on 9 January at Shelford-Mount Mercer Road.

The fire destroyed more than 2200 hectares surrounding the home, but Jeff and Marg Cooper had planned in advance, earning praise from the CFA.

“About 18 months ago I decided to upgrade the watering system around the garden, particularly around the back of the house to the north and northwest to try and defend us if we did get a fire,” 80-year-old farmer Jeff said.

“There was a huge build up of dry grass this year right around the river.

“We’ve had three recent fires, and you do start to lose confidence a bit, and they’ve all come from the same direction from the northwest wind, and for some unknown reason, the wind always changes into the southwest and that’s what brings the fire back to us.”

Jeff installed 35 new sprinklers in a horseshoe pattern around the garden and upgraded the pumps that come out of his dam.

“I used to have one dam pump servicing the whole property, but now I have three,” he said.

“We put a horseshoe of sprinklers on the northwest side, right around to the south outside the garden that gave us a bit of a green belt.

“I also set up sprinklers and hoses with high pressure nozzles along my verandas on each side of the house and on the back of the machinery shed.

“That morning, I created what I call a stooge, which works as a stand to firmly hold a hose on a particular angle without it

needing to be held. This allowed water to be sprayed all day.

“To supply power to our water pump when the electricity dropped out, I had a generator and diesel pump connected to the system as a backup. The fire burnt to the green belt and stopped. It was in the right spot thankfully, and it saved us.”

CFA commander Mark Collins visited the property and gave them a gold star for the work they had done while Meredith Fire Brigade captain Josh Medley said it stemmed as the perfect fallback base.

“The fire pretty much burned up to where the sprinklers finished and the place was in good nick, they did a great job,” Mr Collins said.

“Knowing Jeff and Marg well, and how they prepare, we knew that their property

would be a great base for us to safely tackle that edge of the fire,” Mr Medley said.

During spring, Jeff anticipated a fire this season so he made sure that excess grass was away from the house through regular mowing.

“We really want to stay in the country, and we’re getting to the age where we ask ourselves, should we be here? But we like living here,” Jeff said.

“So if you can, you make it safe for yourself so it takes the pressure off. When you get to this age, it’s not a good thought having to rebuild your house.

“My family has been here for 98 years, and I’ve been on this property for 80 and I’m currently remodelling the old house I grew up in.”

As the fire went through the area, Jeff said

the local CFA trucks were out in force and crews did a great job alongside the South Australian firefighters.

“The fire just comes in and burns what it can and passes, and the local brigade were here to put out spot fires,” he said.

“They saved many houses down the road. We had helicopters here pulling water out of the dam, and filling fire trucks. We had a nice little supply of water for the job, which is critical.

“The best water is the water you use before the fire season – if you have enough to keep your grass green. It is all about prevention.

“We lost a lot of fences, but they’re pretty easy to put back up. There is a lot to clean up.

“We didn’t lose a building. We’ve got our house, a studio, a big machinery shed and a workshop right on the complex here and nothing burned. We are very lucky.”

Find out more about how you can prepare your property for fire at cfa.vic.gov.au/ prepare

Enjoy old-fashioned rock

By Matt Hewson

Four-piece rock outfit The Kind Regards hit Geelong next weekend for their first gig in Pivot City.

Hailing from Melbourne’s east side, they willjoinSurfCoasthardrockband74Kings and Melbourne trio King’s Vengeance at the Barwon Club on Saturday 18 April. But for lead singer, guitarist and harmonica player Tristram Larkins, it’s not the first time he’s performed at Geelong’s iconic original music venue.

“The first band I played in when I was 16 was called Patterson’s Curse; in the 90s we played the Tote, the Evelyn, the Great Britain Hotel, the Espy, all the big indie rock venues around Melbourne,” he said.

“I remember playing the Barwon Club

Hotel, it would have been ‘92 or ‘93. We came down from Melbourne to play, and we were sandwiched betweentwoGeelong

bands, Bored and Amber Fear.

“We were fairly unwelcome. It wasn’t until our lead guitarist called the crowd a couple of names, and then all of a sudden the crowd was like, oh yeah, we don’t mind these guys.”

Formedfouryearsago,TheKindRegards have gone through some personnel changes before settling on a long-term lineup - original members Larkins and guitarist Ben Price are now joined by bassist Sergio Villaseñor and drummer Andrew MacDermid.

“Weallcomefromsuchdifferentmusical spaces, but we share a lot of similarities,” Larkins said.

“We’re all 50, or approaching 50, and experienced that surge of Seattle grunge and all those sorts of things in the 80s and

90s. But then we all also grew up on things like Metallica and also the 70s rock sound.

“So I guess what we’re trying to do is create songs that are a combination of all that; upbeat, fun rock songs that get people moving…good, old-fashioned rock with all those influences like Soundgarden and Jane’s Addiction.”

Larkins said he was looking forward to returning to Geelong.

“We’re very excited about coming along to the Barwon Club gig,” he said.

“Hopefully there’s going to be a few people around to listen to the songs and give us some good feedback, and we can really bring the best show we can to them and get our rock on.”

Visit barwonclub.com.au/gig-guide for tickets and more information.

Indian dancing offers a dazzling celebration of freedom

Experience a spectacle of spirituality and sensuality as a ground-breaking and award-winning production comes to Geelong.

Acclaimed classical and contemporary Indian dance company Karma Dance will bring visually stunning work Temple of Desire to Geelong Arts Centre (GAC) on Saturday 18 April.

Bringing together 15 dancers of colour from Geelong and Melbourne, the work employs the classical Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam to explore the relationship between the divine and the sensual.

The production rediscovers a pre-colonial world, focusing on the

historical acceptance of same-sex relationshipsandtheexperiencesofpeople from multiple marginalised backgrounds.

The result is a work that seeks to challenge, provoke and uplift.

Karma Dance artistic director Govind Pillai said Temple of Desire was more than just a dance theatre show.

“It’s an urgent response to the need for art that celebrates marginalised voices, merging traditional elegance with modern defiance,” she said.

“Temple of Desire is unprecedented because it amplifies oppressed voices and artforms in ways never seen before.”

Premieringaspartofthe2024Melbourne FringeFestival,whereitwontheDirector’s

Choice award, the production has enjoyed sell-outseasonsinMelbourneandToronto.

GAC chief executive and creative director Rhys Holden said he was thrilled to welcome Karma Dance to Geelong, as Temple of Desire was a “daring and deeply resonant” work.

“Supportingartistswhopushboundaries and celebrate diverse voices is at the heart of our REWIRE program,” he said.

“This production brings local and national talent together on our stage, offering Geelong audiences an unforgettable night of artistry, courage and cultural expression.”

Visit geelongartscentre.org.au for tickets and more information.

Help spread the love

One of Geelong’s most loved community fundraising campaigns has launched for its thirdyear.

Geelong-based clothing brand Ceres Life and Barwon Health Foundation have announced the 2026 Love Tee collection, which launched on World Health Day (Tuesday7April).

All proceeds from the collection will be donated to Barwon Health Foundation to support cancer services at the Andrew Love Cancer Centre (ALCC) and across the BarwonSouthWestregion.

Having sold out in 2024 and 2025 and raising $50,000 last year, this year’s fundraiser aims to raise $60,000 for the ALCC.

Ceres Life general manager Stephanie Nolan said she was “incredibly proud” of seeing the community support the fundraiseryearafteryear.

“Ceres Life is so proud to be raising the bar once again for this important cause, growing our partnership with Barwon Health Foundation into something truly special,”shesaid.

“This year we are determined to reach our most ambitious fundraising goal yet, so that we can continue to make a difference in the lives of those in our region receiving treatment and care at Andrew Love Cancer Centre and other local cancer careservices.

“That impact is what this collection is all about.”

Barwon Health Foundation executive directorZoeWaterssaidthefoundationwas “humbled by the continued commitment

of Ceres Life and the courage of the 2026 ambassadorcohort”.

“Each year this campaign grows in meaningandinimpact,”shesaid.

“The stories our ambassadors share remind us why we do this work and

why it matters so deeply to the Geelong community. Every Love Tee purchased is an act of generosity that directly supports cancercare.”

Visit cereslife.com/shop/love-tee to supportthecause.

Surf Coast gets ECO certification

Surf Coast Shire is being recognised for its sustainable tourism and environmental management with an ECO Destination Certification.

The milestone will establish the region as the second destination across the state, following East Gippsland’s certification in April 2023, and the 15th in the country to receive the certification.

Surf Coast Shire Mayor Libby Stapleton said the region’s environment was a “huge drawcard” for the “2.6 million visitors to the Surf Coast” each year.

“One of our priorities is to foster slow and regenerative tourism that is respectful of the local environment, values local communities and maximises local yield and revenue,” she said.

“We’re absolutely rapt for the Surf Coast Shire to receive ECO Destination Certification, as it strengthens our status as a place where visitors can soak up nature-focused experiences.

“We want tourism to deliver consistent economic and social benefits year-round, so what better way to help achieve this than to welcome visitors who love the outdoors and care about the environment.”

The Guide

PICK OF THE WEEK

CAPER CREW ABC Family, Sunday, 7.45pm

A seriously good time awaits in this high-energy kids’ adventure comedy that puts a childhood spin on the classic heist caper. It’s set in sleepy Woodspring, a town best known for the theft of a gold meteorite called “The Nug” from its planetarium 27 years ago by the notorious Kangaroo Gang. The action follows siblings Amelia and Kai Delaney (Isabella Zhang and Luka Sero) after their mysterious treasure-hunting grandmother Queenie (Tina Bursill) returns. With the mayor (Annie Maynard) posting a $100,000 reward for information about

Friday, April 10

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.00 Compass. (PG, R) 10.30 Stuff

MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT Nine, Monday, 7.30pm

A NEW ANZAC SBS, Friday, 8.30pm

There’s been mere days for viewers to recover from this year’s unforgettable final vows – and a moment that will go down in MarriedatFirstSighthistory – but for the participants, this reunion is already one month down the track. Of course, one episode isn’t enough to contain all the drama; after last night’s explosive dinner party, the conflict is still simmering and the scores remain unsettled. A communal couch session and gentle guidance from experts Alessandra Rampolla, John Aiken and the late Mel Schilling (pictured) ought to calm everything down, right? Wrong. Accusations fly as the cast watches videos of their time on the show and delves deeper into their actions throughout their relationships.

The British Stole. (PG, R) 11.00 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 12.00 News. 12.55

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG,R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Gardening Australia.

8.30 Patience. (M) Abusinessman isshot ina full boardroom.

9.20 Tonight At The Museum. (PGs,R) Hosted byAlex Lee.

9.50 The Weekly With Charlie Pickering. (PGls,R)

10.20 ABC Late News.

10.35 Shaun Micallef’s Eve Of Destruction. (PG,R)

11.15 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGa,R) 12.05 Love Me. (MA15+s, R) 12.45

Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv) 5.00 Rage. (PG)

NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs. 7.50 Bushwhacked! 8.15 Motown Magic. 8.40 The Magic Canoe. 9.10 Spartakus. 10.00 Waterworld Africa. 11.00 Going Places. Noon Walkabout To Hollywood. 1.00 Harold. 2.00 Island Echoes. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 Nula. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Waterworld Africa. 7.30 MOVIE: Howl’s Moving Castle. (2004, PG) 9.45 MOVIE: Nacho Libre. (2006, PG)

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

treasure h Quee returns mayor (Ann posting a f informa

The Nug, Queenie – who may or may not have ties to the initial burglary – is assembling a new crew, and her grandchildren are her first recruits.

The Nug – who m not initial b assem new an gr a fi

Criminally good: Tina Bursill as treasure-hunting grandma Queenie.

The Piano. (PG, R) 1.45 Can You Keep A Secret? (Ms, R) 2.15 The Assembly. (PG, R) 2.55 Fake Or Fortune? (PG, R) 3.55 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGa, R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 9.15 Matched. (PG, R) 10.05 Kew Gardens: Season By Season. (R) 10.55 DNA Journey. (PG) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 The Great House Revival. (R) 3.00 Nula. 3.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.10 Secret World Of Snacks. (PGal, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Going Places With Ernie Dingo. (PG) 8.30 A New ANZAC. (Premiere) 9.30 Orient Express: A Golden Era Of Travel. (PGa,R) 10.25 SBS World News Late. 10.55 The King. (Premiere, MA15+av) 11.50 Babylon Berlin. (MA15+asv, R) 1.45 Nordland 99. (Mal, R) 2.45 Mastermind Australia. (R) 3.50 Mountain Vets. (PG, R) 4.55 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

In following the redevelopment of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra (pictured), this fascinating four-part series examines the unique purpose of the national monument and its enduring impact on society. First conceived in 1916 as a tribute to the ANZACs buried on the other side of the world, the combined memorial, museum and archive is the only institution of its kind in the world. In a bid to not only honour the first ANZACs but also recognise the brave servicemen and women who have followed in their footsteps, an immense expansion project has been underway in recent years. Cameras document the construction and curation of a new gallery, with commentary from those leading the process.

SEVEN (6, 7)

Nine, Tuesday, 8.40pm

It’s little wonder this slice-of-life docuseries is so popular, offering straighttalking TopGearstar Jeremy Clarkson’s hilarious insights into the trials and tribulations of British farming – and the red tape that awaits at every corner. In this fourth season, with his right-hand man Kaleb touring his one-man show and wife Lisa away developing a new product line, Clarkson (pictured) is largely left to his own devices. After the welcome arrival of a new farmhand, he embarks on another ambitious project. Since his farm restaurant plans have been stymied by the council, he’s going to buy a pub and serve his farm-to-fork fare there instead. But surprise, surprise: the road to becoming a publican is paved with quicksand and littered with bureaucratic obstacles.

NINE (8, 9)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 MOVIE: Morning Show Mysteries: Murder On The Menu. (2018,PGav,R) 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. 6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: Love In Zion National: A National Park Romance. (2023, PGa, R) Cindy Busby, David Gridley. 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG, R) 5.30 WIN News.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 AFL: Friday Night Countdown. Alead-up tothe Friday night AFL match. 7.30 Football. AFL. Round5. Collingwood vFremantle. From Adelaide Oval. 10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion and interviews. 11.15 GetOn Extra. Alook atthe weekend’s best racing. 11.45 Australian Idol. (PGal,R) Thetop six take tothe stage. 1.30 Damnation. (MA15+asv,R) 2.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 5.00 NBC Today.

7TWO (62, 72)

6.00 9News. 7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 Airport Security: USA. (Md) Abig operation soon gets results.

8.30 MOVIE: The Shawshank Redemption. (1994,MA15+lv,R) Aunique friendship develops between abanker convicted ofmurder and one ofhis fellow prisoners. Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, James Whitmore.

11.20 First On Scene. (Mav,R)

11.50 Tipping Point. (PG,R)

12.40 Pointless. (PG,R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00

Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 4.30 Global Shop. (R) 5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 5.30 Postcards. (PG, R)

9GEM (81, 92)

TEN (5, 10)

6.00 10 News+.

6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (PG,R) 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG,R) Hosted byRebecca Gibney. 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. (R) Hosted byNeale Whitaker and Andrew Winter. 8.40 Building The Dream. (Return) Architectural designer Charlie Luxton proves dream homes can beaffordable. 9.40 10’s Late News. Coverage ofnews, sport and weather. 10.40 10 News+. (R) 11.10 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 12.00 Home Shopping. (R)

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 10.25 Children’s Programs. 11.45 Andy’s Aquatic Adventures. 1.30pm PJ Masks. 1.50 Kangaroo Beach. 2.30 Daniel Tiger’s. 2.45 The Makery. 3.00 Play School. 3.40 Thomas And Friends. 4.15 Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures. 4.40 Ariel. 5.20 Stan & Gran. 6.05 PJ Masks. 7.05 Gardening Australia Junior. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 8.00 Scooby-Doo And Guess Who? 8.30 My Adventures With Superman. 8.55 BattleBots. 9.40 Gladiators UK. 10.40 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Morning Programs. 7.30 Theatre Dome. 8.00 Lego Dreamzzz. 8.30 Nanny. 9.30 Addams Family. 10.30 One Tank Holiday. 11.00 Rugby Heaven. Noon vGreat Britain. 6.00 Bewitched. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 MOVIE: The Meg. (2018, M) 9.45 MOVIE: Deep Blue Sea. (1999, M) Midnight Seinfeld. 12.30 Psychic Kids. 1.25 Love Island UK. 2.55 The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City. 4.00 Barbie: A Touch Of Magic. 4.30 Barney’s

Nula. 11.55 MOVIE: 6 Festivals. (2022, MA15+) 1.40am Stompem Ground: King Of Hearts. 2.00 On The Road. 5.00 Bamay.

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon Avengers. 1.10 MOVIE: The Man Upstairs. (1958, PG) 3.00 MOVIE: Henry VIII And His Six Wives. (1972, PG) 5.30 Yorkshire Auction House. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Broncos vNorth Qld Cowboys. 9.55 NRL Friday Night Footy PostMatch. 10.45 MOVIE: Navy SEALs. (1990, M) 1am 1.30 MOVIE: Henry VIII And His Six Wives. (1972, PG) 4.00 Antiques Roadshow. 4.30 My Favorite Martian. 5.00 Yorkshire Auction House.

10 COMEDY (52, 11)

Morning Programs. 8.10 NHK Newsline. 8.40 CBC The National. 9.30 BBC News At Six. 10.00 France 24 English News. 10.30 The Movie Show. 12.15pm DW The Day. 12.45 Calipari: Razor’s Edge. 2.30 Bamay. 3.05 Where Are You Really From? 3.40 WorldWatch. 5.40 Inside The Huddle. 6.10 Over The Black Dot. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 MOVIE: Point Break. (1991, M) 10.45 Adam Hills: The Last Leg. 11.35 Homeland. 12.35am United Gangs Of America. 2.20 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera. 6am Morning Programs. 9.00 Medical Emergency. 9.30 NBC Today. Noon House Of Wellness. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 Our Town. 2.30 Weekender. 3.00 Business Builders. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Better Homes. 5.00 Escape To The Country. 6.00 Bargain Hunt. 7.00 Better Homes. 8.00 Escape To The Country. 11.00 The Yorkshire Vet. Midnight Bargain Hunt. 1.00 Surf Patrol. 1.30 Last Chance Learners. 2.00 Harry’s Practice. 2.30 Medical Emergency. 3.00 Better Homes. 5.00 Our Town. 6am

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

6am Forever Enthralled. (2008, PG, Mandarin) 8.40 What We Did On Our Holiday. (2014, PGa) 10.30 Hard Eight. (1996, Mlsv) 12.20pm Mars Attacks! (1996, Masv) 2.20 The Ipcress File. (1965, PGv) 4.20 Roxane. (2019, PGals, French) 6.00 Weekend At Bernie’s. (1989, PGadlsv) 7.50 Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery. (1997, Ms) 9.30 The Fifth Element. (1997, PGnsv) 11.50 The Voyeurs. (2021, MA15+lnsv) 1.55am Risky Business. (1983, Malns) 3.45 The Year Of Living Dangerously. (1982, Mav)

7MATE (64, 73)

6am Morning Programs. 9.00 Duck Dynasty. 10.30 Swamp People: Serpent Invasion. 11.30 American Resto. Noon Storage Wars. 12.30

Aust Athletics C’ships. 9.00 MOVIE: Knives Out. (2019, M) 11.45 MOVIE: Waterworld. (1995, M) 2.30am Mountain Men. 3.30 American Pickers. 4.30 American Resto. 5.00 Swamp People.

9GO! (82, 93)

10 DRAMA (53, 12)

Saturday, April 11

ABC TV (2) SBS (3) SEVEN (6, 7)

6.00 Rage Charts. (PG) 7.00 Weekend Breakfast. 9.00 Rage. (PG) 10.30 Rage Vault Guest Programmer. (PG) 12.00

ABC News At Noon. 12.30 Blue Murder

Motel. (Ml, R) 1.15 Patience. (M, R) 2.05

The ABC Of. (PG, R) 2.35 Shaun Tan’s Tales From Outer Suburbia. (R) 4.10 The Matter Of Facts. (Final, PG, R) 5.00 Australian Story. (R) 5.30 Landline. (R)

6.00 Kath & Kim. (PGals,R) Kelgets onKath’s nerves.

6.25 Hard Quiz. (PG,R) Presented byTom Gleeson.

7.00 ABC News. Alook atthe top stories ofthe day.

7.30 Blue Murder Motel. (PGl) Alocal councillor isstabbed inhis home.

8.15 Top End Bub. (Md) Neddiscovers Lauren’s secret. Taya isgiven the choice tomeet her biological father. Daffy rediscovers her love ofmusic with Dana.

8.45 Death In Paradise. (Ma,R) Asthe team investigates amurder, they discover afamily with skeletons inthe closet.

9.45 Frauds. (Ml,R) Anunforeseen disaster derails the gang’s plans. 10.30 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) Continuous music programming.

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Morning Programs. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Tour of Flanders. Men’s race. Highlights. 2.30 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Tour of Flanders. Women’s race. Highlights. 3.00 Stories From The Cities. (PG) 3.30 Figure Skating. ISU World Championships Prague. Pt 1. 5.30 Shadow Man.

6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Edward Vs George: The Windsors At War. Aswar looms King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visit America.

8.25 Magical Train Journeys In Switzerland: On The GoldenPass Belle Époque From Montreux To The Bernese Oberland. (PGn,R) Atrip onthe GoldenPass Belle Époque. 9.25 Jersey And Guernsey. (R) Caterer Mim Sarre gets anew pizza truck. 10.20 Finding Your Roots. (PGa,R) 11.20 Snowpiercer. (MA15+v,R) 1.55 Matched. (PG, R) 2.45 Mastermind Australia. (R) 3.50 Mountain Vets. (PG, R) 4.55 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 3pm Play School. 3.30 Zog. 3.55 Odd Squad. 4.20 Dino Dex. 4.35 Little J And Big Cuz. 5.10 Tiddler. 5.35 Super Monsters. 5.55 Octonauts. 6.25 Paddington. 7.05 Let’s Go Bananas! 7.30 Kids Baking C’ship. 8.10 Harry Potter: Wizards Of Baking. 8.50 Chopped Jnr. 9.55 Fresh Off The Boat. 10.20 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs. 1.35pm Nula. 2.05 Waterworld Africa. 2.55 Over The Black Dot. 3.25 Emily: I Am Kam. 4.30 This Is Indian Country. 5.00 Rebel With A Cause: Oodgeroo Noonuccal. 6.00 Homesteads. 6.40 The Other Side. 7.30 Alone Australia. 8.30 MOVIE: Child’s Play. (1972, MA15+) 10.20 Stompem Ground 2022: Midnight Oil. 12.05am Late Programs.

6am Morning

Programs. 12.15pm Hostage Rescue. 2.00 Race For The Planet. 2.50 Forged In Fire. 3.45 WorldWatch. 5.45 Mastermind Aust. 6.45 The Food That Built The World. 7.35 Abandoned Americana. 8.30 Icons Unearthed: Transformers. 10.20 History’s Greatest Heists With Pierce Brosnan. Midnight Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

6am Morning Programs. 12.45pm The Year Of Living Dangerously. (1982, Mav) 2.50 What We Did On Our Holiday. (2014, PGa) 4.40 The Orator. (2011, PGa, Samoan) 6.40 Buckley’s Chance. (2021, PGlv) 8.30 John Wick: Chapter 2. (2017) 10.50 Mamacruz. (2023, MA15+ns, Spanish) 12.20am Late Programs.

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Horse Racing. The

Club Race Day and WATC Derby Day. 5.00 Seven News At5. 5.30 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG,R)

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Athletics. Australian Athletics Championships. 9.00 MOVIE: The Huntsman: Winter’s War. (2016,Mhv,R) Ahuntsman encounters his former believed-to-be-dead lover while searching for amissing magic mirror. Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Jessica Chastain.

11.30 MOVIE: Morbius. (2022,Malv,R) Abiochemist istransformed into avampire. Jared Leto. 1.35 Motor Racing. Supercars Championship. Round3. Taupo Super400. Day1. Highlights. 2.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Tales Of Aluna. (R) 4.30 It’s Academic. (R) 5.00 House Of Wellness. (PG,R)

7TWO (62, 72)

6am Morning Programs. 2pm Better Homes. 4.00 The Yorkshire Vet. 5.00 Horse Racing. The Race Day and WATC Derby Day. 5.30 Harry’s Practice. 6.00 Luxury Escapes: World’s Best Holidays. 6.30 Dog Patrol. 7.00 Better Homes. 8.00 Lewis. 10.00 Escape To The Country. 11.00 Late Programs.

7MATE (64, 73)

6am Morning Programs. 2pm Motor Racing. Night Thunder. USA Speedweek. Final. Replay. 3.00 Motor Racing. Night Thunder. Silver Cup. H’lights. 4.00 Frozen Gold. 5.00 Counting Cars. 6.00 Pawn Stars. 7.00 Storage Wars. 7.30 MOVIE: Men In Black. (1997, M) 9.30 MOVIE: Ghostbusters II. (1989, PG) 11.45 Late Programs.

We Local News

NINE (8, 9)

TEN (5, 10)

6am Morning Programs. 10.00 Today Extra: Saturday. (PG) 12.00 Open For Inspection. 12.30 Find My Country House Aust. (PG, R) 1.00 Explore TV Viking. (R) 1.30 My Way. (R) 2.00 Destination WA. (R) 2.30 Taronga: Who’s Who In The Zoo. (PGm, R) 3.30 Epic Builds. 4.30 Garden Gurus. 5.00 News. 5.30 Getaway. (PG) 6am Morning Programs. 10.00 Roads Less Travelled. (R)

6.00 9News Saturday. 7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Space Invaders. (PG) Theteam helps acouple suffering trauma.

8.30 MOVIE: Legally Blonde. (2001,PGls,R) Aditzy blonde enrols ina prestigious law school towoo her ex-boyfriend. Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson, Selma Blair.

10.30 MOVIE: Monster-In-Law. (2005,Ms,R) Jennifer Lopez.

12.20 Epic Builds. (R)

1.10 Open For Inspection. (R)

1.35 Explore TV Viking. (R)

2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PGa)

2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 Global Shop. (R) 5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 5.30 Helping Hands. (PG, R)

9GEM (81, 92)

6am Morning Programs. 1pm MOVIE: The Captive Heart. (1946, PG) 3.00 MOVIE: Cairo Road. (1950, PG) 5.00 MOVIE: Agatha Christie’s Murder On The Orient Express. (1974, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: U.S. Marshals. (1998, M) 10.10 TBA. 12.30am MOVIE: Arabian Adventure. (1979) 2.30 MOVIE: The Captive Heart. (1946, PG) 4.30 Late Programs.

9GO! (82, 93)

6am Morning Programs. Noon Tennis. Billie Jean King Cup. 7.00 Seinfeld. 7.30 MOVIE: Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore. (2022, M) 10.20 MOVIE: Everything Everywhere All At Once. (2022, MA15+) 1.05am Prodigal Son. 2.50 MOVIE: Monolith. (2022, M) 4.40 Surfest: 40 Years. 5.10 Hop. 5.30 Late Programs.

6.30 The Dog House. (PGa,R) Afamily considers acockapoo pup. 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. Anna and Terence have lived intheir home inBlackburn South for eight years but have two almost teens who need their own space. 9.30 Gogglebox Australia. (R) Adiverse range ofpeople open their living rooms toreveal their reactions topopular and topical TV shows, with the help ofspecial, locked-off cameras which capture every unpredictable moment. 10.30 Ambulance Australia. (Ma,R) Awoman falls off abalcony while retrieving acat. 11.30 Elsbeth. (PGalv,R) Elsbeth battles awealthy biohacker. 12.30 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power.

Sunday, April 12

ABC TV (2)

SBS (3)

(6, 7)

9) 6.00 Rage. (PG) 7.00 Wknd Brekky. 9.00 Insiders. 10.00 Offsiders. 10.30 World This Week. (R) 11.00 Compass. (PG, R) 11.30 Praise. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Landline. 1.30 Gardening Aust. (R) 2.30 The Piano. (PG, R) 3.30 Inside The Sydney Opera House. (Final, R) 4.30 Creative Types. (R) 5.00 Back Roads. (R) 5.30 Fake Or Fortune?

6.30 Compass: Surviving Gaza, Seeking Truth. (PGv)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 The Piano. Presented byGuy Sebastian and Andrea Lam.

8.20 Can You Keep A Secret? (Ml) Debbie invites the blackmailer for lunch.

8.50 Frauds. (Ml) Bert and Sam struggle tokeep their secrets hidden.

9.35 Blue Murder Motel. (PGl,R) Alocal councillor isstabbed inhis home.

10.25 Top End Bub. (Md,R) 10.50 MOVIE: Windrider. (1986,Mdls,R)

12.20 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 Insiders. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Children’s Programs. 4.45pm Gardening Australia Junior. 5.10 Guess How Much I Love You. 5.35 Super Monsters. 6.05 Knee High Spies. 6.25 Paddington. 7.05 Let’s Go Bananas! 7.30 The Inbestigators. 7.45 Caper Crew. (Premiere) 8.10 Secrets At Red Rocks. (Premiere) 8.35 Animal Park. 10.00 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Georgia From Above. (PG, R) 12.00 PBS News Compass Points. 12.30 PBS Washington Week. 12.55 The Point: Road To Referendum History Bites. (R) 1.00 Speedweek. 3.00 Figure Skating. ISU World Championships Prague. Pt 2. 5.00 Going Places. (PG, R) 5.30 Shadow Man.

6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 The Rise And Fall Of The Maya. (Premiere) Ateam ofarchaeologists discover aMayan monument. 9.20 Emperor: Rise And Fall Of A Dynasty. (Masv,R) Looks atLivia Drusilla. 10.15 Hunting Egypt’s Lost Treasures: Legend Of The Pyramid Kings. (R) 11.05 Elvis’ Women. (Mas,R) 2.30 Matched. (PG, R) 3.15 Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.20 Bamay. (R) 4.55 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 PBS News Horizons.

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Athletics. Australian Athletics Championships. 2.00 Sunday Footy Feast. 2.30 AFL Pre-Game Show. 3.00 Football. AFL. Round5. GWS Giants vRichmond. 6.00 Hello SA. (PG, R) 6.30 ACA. (R) 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 AFL Sunday Footy Show. (PG) 12.00 Wide World Of Sports. (PG) 1.00 Drive TV: Drive Car Of The Year. (Return) 1.30 Reel Destinations. 2.00 Oz Off Road TV. (PGl) 3.00 For The Love Of Pets. (PGm, R) 4.00 Space Invaders. (PG,

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Football. AFL. Round5. Port Adelaide vSt Kilda. 10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion and interviews. 11.00 24 Hours In Police Custody: The Norfolk Narco Cartel. (Madl,R) Looks inside amajor police operation. 12.10 Motor Racing. Supercars Championship. Round3. Taupo Super400. Day2. Highlights.

1.10 Travel Oz. (PG,R) Hosted byGreg Grainger.

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R)

4.00 NBC Today.

5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 9News Sunday.

7.00 Married At First Sight. (PGl) Theparticipants return

8.50 60 Minutes. Current affairs program, investigating, analysing and uncovering the issues affecting all Australians.

9.50 Power. (MA15+dlnsv) Aformer drug kingpin opens anightclub.

11.05 9News Late.

11.35 A Killer Makes A Call: Terry. (Mav,R)

12.30 Oz Off Road TV. (PGl,R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)

The Garden Gurus. (R)

Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

6.30 10 News+. Hosted byDenham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 7.00 Australian Survivor: Redemption. (PGl) Tribemates try towin Immunity. 8.10 The Greatest: Reality TV Moments. Agroup ofcelebrities looks back atsome ofthe greatest reality TV moments. 9.10 Matlock. (PGa) Matty juggles abig court case and her50th wedding anniversary while representing aJacobson Moore colleague. 10.10 NCIS: Origins. (Mv,R) Theevidence room isbroken into. 12.00 10 News+. (R) Hosted byDenham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 12.30 Home Shopping. (R)

6am Morning Programs. 12.20pm How Islam Built The Modern World. 1.15 Jeopardy! 3.20 WorldWatch. 4.20 PBS News Compass Points. 4.50 Myths: The Greatest Mysteries Of Humanity. 5.50 The Architecture The Railways Built. 6.45 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Paris-Roubaix. Men’s race. 12.55am Late Programs.

7TWO (62, 72) SBS VICELAND (31)

9GEM (81, 92)

6am Morning Programs. 1pm Luxury Escapes: World’s Best Holidays. 1.30 Business Builders. 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 Better Homes. 3.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 4.30 Australia’s Big Backyards. 5.30 The Aussie Property Flippers. 6.30 Escape To The Country. 7.30 The Coroner. 8.30 Vera. 10.30 Miss Scarlet And The Duke. 11.30 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 1pm Midsomer Murders. 3.00 Rugby League. NRL. Tigers vKnights. 6.00 Getaway. 6.30 Motorway Cops. 7.30 Planet Earth III. 8.40 Paramedics. 9.40 Emergency. 10.40 Major Crimes. 11.40 Midsomer Murders. 1.40am MOVIE: Trent’s Last Case. (1952) 3.35 Edgar Wallace Mysteries. 4.55 Late Programs.

7MATE (64, 73) SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 12.30pm Inside The Huddle. 1.00 Motor Racing. Dakar Rally. Weekly H’lights. 2.00 Black Magic. 3.00 Lionel. 4.30 Stompem Ground 2022: Midnight Oil. 6.15 The Drover’s Boy. 6.40 Wild, Smart And Deadly. 7.30 Free The People.

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 Step Outside. Noon Sunday Footy Feast. 2.00 Fishing

3.00 Pawn Stars. 4.00 Mt Hutt

Counting Cars. 6.00 Border Security:

7.00 Border Security. 8.30 MOVIE:

(2023, M) 11.30 MOVIE: Monster

(2020, M) 1.35am Counting Cars. 2.00 Blokesworld. 2.30 Late Programs. 9GO! (82, 93) 6am Morning Programs. 1.05pm Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery. (1997, Ms) 2.45 Weekend At Bernie’s. (1989, PGadlsv) 4.30 The Fifth Element. (1997, PGnsv) 6.50 A Hazard Of Hearts. (1987, PGav) 8.30 Tea With Mussolini. (1999) 10.45 Dead Again. (1991, Malsv) 12.45am John Wick: Chapter 2. (2017) 3.00 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 The Summit. 1.30pm Australian Ninja Warrior. 3.30 The Toys That Built The World. 5.30 MOVIE: The Lego Movie. (2014, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: Gone In 60 Seconds. (2000, M) 9.55 MOVIE: Three Kings. (1999, MA15+) 12.15am Gotham. 1.10 Arrow. 2.50 The Summit. 4.50 Lego Dreamzzz. 5.10 Hop. 5.30 Late Programs.

Monday, April 13

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Top End Bub. (Md, R) 11.30 Back Roads. (R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Landline. (R)

2.00 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R)

2.30 Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.00 Grand Designs Transformations. (R) 3.55 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGv, R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (PG, R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG,R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30.

8.00 Australian Story. Australians tell personal stories.

8.30 Four Corners. Investigative journalism program.

9.15 Media Watch. (PG) Presented byLinton Besser. 9.35 Planet America. Alook atAmerican politics.

10.05 Foreign Correspondent. (R)

10.40 ABC Late News.

10.55 The Business. (R)

11.10 The Weekly With Charlie Pickering. (PGls,R)

11.40 Murdoch Mysteries. (Ma, R) 12.30 Long Lost Family. (R) 1.20 Rage. (MA15+dhlnsv) 3.55 Gardening Australia. (R) 4.55 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Morning Programs. 10.25 Kew Gardens: Season By Season. (R) 11.15

DNA Journey. (PG) 12.10 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News

Compass Points. 1.30 Al Jazeera News

Hour. 2.00 Pistachio Wars. (PGal) 3.40

The Cook Up. (R) 4.10 Secret World Of Snacks. (PGas, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Inside The Tower Of London. (PG) TheTower hosts aVE Day evening.

8.30 8 Out Of10 Cats Does Countdown. (M) Game show, featuring Jon Richardson, Roisin Conaty, Joe Lycett and Danny Dyer tackling awords and numbers quiz.

9.25 Never Mind The Buzzcocks. (M) Hosted byGreg Davies. 10.05 SBS World News Late. 10.35 Herrhausen: The Banker And The Bomb. (Mdlv) 11.40 Gomorrah. (MA15+av,R)

2.25 Mastermind Australia. (PG, R) 3.25 Mountain Vets. (PG, R) 4.00 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 2.45pm The Makery. 3.00 Play School: Let The Games Begin. 4.15 Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures. 4.40 Ariel. 5.20 Stan & Gran. 6.05 Spidey And His Amazing Friends. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.45 Gladiators UK. 9.45 Kids BBQ Championship. 10.25 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

6am Morning

Programs. 2.30pm Inside The Huddle. 3.00 Over The Black Dot. 3.30 Stories From The Cities. 4.00 WorldWatch. 4.55 PBS News Compass Points. 5.25 WorldWatch. 5.55 Curse Of Oak Island. 6.45 Jeopardy! 7.40 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Holy Marvels. 9.20 Greatest Escapes. 10.10 The Hospital: In The Deep End. 11.20 Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 12.10pm Vacation Plantation. 1.30 Sunset To Sunrise. 2.00 Island Echoes. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 The 77 Percent. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Waterworld Africa. 7.30 Who Do You Think You Are? 8.30 Karla Grant Presents. 9.30 MOVIE: Soul Food. (1997) 11.35 Her Name Is Nanny Nellie. 1am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 2.05pm The Most Beautiful Day In The World. (2019, PGa, Italian) 4.00 Buckley’s Chance. (2021, PGlv) 5.50 Thunderbirds Are GO. (1966, PG) 7.30 The Way Of The Dragon. (1972, Mv, Cantonese) 9.20 The Big Boss. (1971, Mv, Cantonese) 11.15 Syriana. (2005, MA15+alv) 1.35am Late Programs.

SIGNUP

Tuesday, April 14

ABC TV (2)

SBS (3)

6am Morning Programs. 11.50 Like A Version. (PG, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Death In Paradise. (Ma, R) 2.00 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) 2.30 Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.00 Grand Designs Transformations. (PG, R) 3.55 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGa, R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 11.05 DNA Journey. (PGl) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Philae The Last Temples Of Ancient Egypt. (R) 3.00 Trail Towns. (R) 3.25 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Secret World Of Snacks. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

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

7.30 7.30.

7.55 Foreign Correspondent. 8.40 Judgment: Cases That Changed Australia: Love. (Premiere,PG) Looks ata case which began aHigh Court battle. 9.30 Creative Types With Virginia Trioli: David Hallberg. (Final,R) 10.00 Compass. (PGv, R) 10.30 ABC Late News. 10.45 The Business. (R) 11.00 Four Corners. (R) 11.50 Media Watch. (PG, R) 12.05 Murdoch Mysteries. (Ma, R) 12.55 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 1.45 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6.00 Mastermind Australia.

6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Great Continental Railway Journeys: Zurich/Rotkreuz To Brienz. (PG,R) 8.30 Insight. Kumi Taguchi looks atnames. 9.30 Dateline: Grow Chocolate, Not Cocaine. Alook atwhat plans the US has for Colombia. 10.00 SBS World News Late. 10.30 Rock Legends. (PGa) 11.00 Exit. (MA15+adlsv) 11.55 Elvira. (PGa, R) 3.05 Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.10 Mountain Vets. (PG, R) 4.45 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 4.15pm Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures. 4.40 Ariel. 5.20 Stan & Gran. 6.05 Spidey And His Amazing Friends. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.45 The Slow Mo Guys’ Big Adventures. 9.10 MythBusters “There’s Your Problem!”. 9.35 BattleBots. 10.20 Late Programs.

(34)

6am Morning Programs. 1pm The Shooter Of War. 2.00 Island Echoes. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 Indian Country Today News. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Waterworld Africa. 7.30 Ocean Warriors. 8.30 MOVIE: Blood Diamond. (2006, MA15+) 10.55 MOVIE: Fantome Island. (2011, PG) 12.25am Late Programs.

SEVEN (6, 7)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 Seven News With Alex Cullen. 1.10 Blankety Blank. (PGas,R) 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away.

7.30 Australian Idol. (PGal) Hosted byRicki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie.

9.15 9-1-1. (M) The118 iscalled into assist when amedical examiner becomes entangled ina dangerous situation during anautopsy.

10.15 The Agenda Setters. (R) Anexpert panel tackles the biggest AFL topics.

11.15 The Agenda Setters: Rugby League. Anexpert panel tackles the biggest rugby league topics.

12.15 Conviction. (MA15+av,R)

1.15 Travel Oz. (PG,R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

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

7TWO (62, 72)

6am Morning

Programs. 12.15pm DW The Day. 12.45 Homicide. 2.35 Forged In Fire. 3.20 Kars & Stars. 3.50 WorldWatch. 5.50 Curse Of Oak Island. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 James May: Our Man In... Japan. 9.30 Into The Void: Life, Death And Heavy Metal. (Final) 10.25 Chasing Speed. 11.20 Brassic. 1.10am Late Programs.

NINE (8, 9)

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 Married At First Sight. (PGl, R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG) 4.00 9News

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Married At First Sight. (Mls) couch session with the experts and (Ml) Ateam offooty experts tackles the AFL’s big issues and controversies.

10.30 9News Late.

11.00 100% Footy. (Mal) Features the latest rugby league news.

12.00 Outback Opal Hunters. (PGl)

1.00 Hello SA. (PG)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

2.30 Global Shop. (R)

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)

4.30 A Current Affair. (R)

5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

9GEM (81, 92)

6am Morning Programs. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 ICU. 2.00 Weekender. 2.30 Auction Squad. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Medical Emergency. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Doc Martin. 8.30 A Touch Of Frost. 10.50 Ambulance: Code Red. 11.50 Doc Martin. 12.50am Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon The Baron. 1.00 Midsomer Murders. 3.00 Antiques Roadshow. 3.30 MOVIE: The Divided Heart. (1954, PG) 5.30 Secret Life Of The Auction House. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 Death In Paradise. 8.40 A Remarkable Place To Die. 10.40 Borderline. 11.40 Chicago Med. 12.40am Late Programs.

7MATE (64, 73)

6am Morning Programs. 2.30pm Motor Racing. Supercars C’ship. Taupo Super400. H’lights. 3.30 Motor Racing. Supercars C’ship. Taupo Super400. H’lights. 4.30 American Resto. 5.00 Storage Wars. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.30 The Agenda Setters. 8.30 Aussie Gold Hunters. 9.30 Adventure Gold Diggers. 10.30 Late Programs.

9GO! (82, 93)

6am Morning Programs. 11.40 Jeopardy! Australia. 12.40pm Australian Ninja Warrior. 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Den Of Thieves. (2018, MA15+) 11.20 Seinfeld. 12.20am The 100. 1.15 Love Island UK. 2.10 The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City. 3.00 Late Programs.

TEN (5, 10)

6.00 10 News+. Hosted byDenham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (PG) Hosted byGrant Denyer. 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG) Hosted byRebecca Gibney. 7.30 Australian Survivor: Redemption. compete for immunity. 8.30 Gogglebox Australia. (R) TVfanatics open uptheir living rooms toreveal their reactions topopular and topical TV shows.

10’s Late News. Comprehensive coverage oflocal, national and international news, aswell asthe latest sport and weather. 10.30 10 News+. (R) 11.00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 12.00 Home Shopping. (R)

SEVEN (6, 7)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 Seven News With Alex Cullen. 1.10 Blankety Blank. (PGas,R) 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGav)

7.30 Australian Idol. (Final,PGal) Thewinner isannounced. 9.15 House Of Wellness. (PG) Ateam ofindustry experts, media personalities and wellness advocates shares insights and experiences tohighlight living well.

10.15 The Agenda Setters. (R) Anexpert panel tackles the biggest AFL topics.

12.15 MOVIE: Fatal Frenemies. (2021,Mav,R) Laurie Fortier. 2.30 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 Creek To Coast. 2.30 House Of Wellness. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Medical Emergency. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Call The Midwife. 8.45 Judge John Deed. 11.15 Escape To The Country. 12.15am Late Programs.

7MATE (64, 73) SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

6am Morning Programs. 12.30pm Pawn Stars. 1.30 Aussie Gold Hunters. 2.30 Adventure Gold Diggers. 3.30 Mountain Men. 4.30 American Resto. 5.00 Storage Wars. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.30 The Agenda Setters. 8.30 Cape Carnage: Killer Catch. 9.30 Outback Truckers. 10.30 Railroad Australia. 11.30 Late Programs.

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 Travel Guides. (PGs,R) Thetravel guides head toHong Kong. 8.40 Clarkson’s Farm: Solo-ing. (Return,Ml) With Kaleb and Lisa both away, Jeremy isleft torun the farm onhis own. (Ml) Footy experts tackle the AFL’s big issues.

10.40 9News Late.

11.10 The Hunting Wives. (MA15+dlsv) 12.10 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.05 Destination WA. 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Our State On A Plate. (PG) 3.00 Home Shopping. 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

9GEM (81, 92)

6am Morning Programs. Noon The Baron. 1.15 MOVIE: No Time For Tears. (1957, PG) 3.00 Antiques Roadshow. 3.30 MOVIE: Saraband For Dead Lovers. (1948) 5.30 Secret Life Of The Auction House. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 New Tricks. 8.40 Agatha Christie’s Marple. 10.40 Good Karma Hospital. 11.40 Manifest. 12.40am Late Programs.

9GO! (82, 93) 6am Morning Programs. 1.45pm A Hazard Of Hearts. (1987, PGav) 3.25 Tea With Mussolini. (1999) 5.35 The Last Wave. (1977, PGaln) 7.30 Fist Of Fury. (1972, Mv, Cantonese) 9.30 Game Of Death. (1978, Mv, Cantonese, English) 11.25 The Immortal. (2019, MA15+adv, Italian, Latvian, Russian, Neapolitan) 1.35am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 Jeopardy! Australia. 12.30pm Australian Ninja Warrior. 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: My Super Ex-Girlfriend. (2006, M) 10.30 Seinfeld. 11.30 The 100. 12.25am Love Island UK. 1.20 The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City. 2.20 Late Programs.

Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: A Priceless Love. (2022, PGa, R) Erin Agostino, Luke Humphrey. 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.30 WIN News. 6am Morning Programs. 7.30 GCBC. (R) 8.00 Lingo. (R)

6.00 10 News+. Hosted byDenham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (PG) Hosted byGrant Denyer. 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG) Hosted byRebecca Gibney. 7.30 Australian Survivor: Redemption. deliver their pitch tothe jury. 9.15 NCIS. (Mav) McGee and Torres try torecover astolen truck Parker’s mother isrevealed. 10.15 10’s Late News. Coverage ofnews, sport and weather. 11.15

Wednesday, April 15

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6am Morning Programs. 10.15 Kew

Gardens: Season By Season. (R)

SEVEN (6, 7)

NINE (8, 9) 6am Morning Programs. 10.45 Foreign Correspondent. (R) 11.30 Back Roads. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Press Club.

1.35 Media Watch. (PG, R) 2.00 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) 2.30 Brush With Fame. (R) 3.00 Grand Designs Transformations. (R) 3.55 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGv, R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG,R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30.

8.00 Tonight At The Museum. (PGs) Hosted byAlex Lee.

8.30 The Weekly With Charlie Pickering. (PGls) Asatirical news program.

9.00 Can You Keep A Secret? (Ml,R) Debbie invites the blackmailer for lunch.

9.30 QI. (PGa) Hosted bySandi Toksvig. 10.00 Planet America. (R)

10.35 ABC Late News.

10.50 The Business. (R)

11.05 You Can’t Ask That. (MA15+l,R) 11.35 Murdoch Mysteries. (Ma, R) 12.25 Long Lost Family. (R) 1.15 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.55 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Children’s Programs. 2.45pm The Makery. 3.00 Play School: Let The Games Begin. 4.15 Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures. 4.40 Ariel. 5.20 Stan & Gran. 6.05 Spidey And His Amazing Friends. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 9.55 Pokémon: Diamond And Pearl. 10.15 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

11.05 DNA Journey. (Mls) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00

PBS News. 2.00 Dateline. (R) 2.30

Insight. (R) 3.30 The Cook Up. (R) 4.00

The Mayfair Hotel Megabuild. (PGal, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. Presented byMarc Fennell. 6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Chernobyl: Days That Shocked The World. Survivors recall the1986 Chernobyl disaster.

9.25 The Audacity. (Premiere) Awould-be tech titan and his happiness for themselves. 10.35 SBS World News Late.

11.05 Rise Of The Raven. (MA15+sv) Erzsébet gives birth toHunyadi’s son. 12.10 Darkness: Those Who Kill. (Malsv) (Mlv,R)

3.30 Mastermind Australia. (PG,R) 4.30 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31)

6am Morning

Programs. 12.15pm DW The Day. 12.45 Uncovering Incels. 1.00 Question Team. 2.50 The Bee Whisperer. 3.50 WorldWatch. 5.50 Curse Of Oak Island. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Clint Eastwood: The Last Legend. 9.30 MOVIE: Heartbreak Ridge. (1986, M) Midnight Brassic. 12.50 Count Abdulla. 1.45 Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 2pm Island Echoes. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 News. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Waterworld Africa. 7.35 Ice Vikings. 8.30 Pro Bull Riding: USA. 9.30 Over The Black Dot. 10.00 Inside The Huddle. 10.30 MOVIE: One Day In The Life Of Piugattuk. (2019) 12.30am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 1.25pm Brother’s Keeper. (2021, Malv, Kurdish, Turkish) 3.00 Discovering Film. 3.50 Thunderbirds Are GO. (1966, PG) 5.35 Funny Face. (1957) 7.30 Phantom Thread. (2017, Mal) 10.00 Empire. (2023, Mav, Danish) 11.45 The Vourdalak. (2023, MA15+h, French) 1.20am Late Programs.

Thursday, April 16

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 Seven News With Alex Cullen. 1.10 Blankety Blank. (PGas,R) 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGav) 7.30 The1% Club UK. (PGl,R) Hosted byLee Mack. 8.30 The Front Bar. (Ml) Hosts Sam Pang, Mick Molloy and Andy Maher take alighter look atall things AFL. (M) Hamish McLachlan sits down with key football stars and personalities toreveal their stories.

10.00 The Agenda Setters. (R) Anexpert panel tackles the biggest AFL topics.

11.00 No Holds Barred: GWS Giants. (Ml) TheGiants face arch-rivals the Sydney Swans.

12.00 Kochie’s Business Builders. (R) 12.30 The Act. (MA15+ans,R)

2.30 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 The Aussie Property Flippers. 2.00 Weekender. 2.30 House Calls To The Rescue. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Medical Emergency. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Heartbeat. 8.45 McDonald And Dodds. 10.45 Air Crash Inv. 11.45 Late Programs.

7MATE (64, 73)

6am Morning Programs. 12.30pm Pawn Stars. 1.30 Outback Truckers. 3.30 Mountain Men. 4.30 American Resto. 5.00 Storage Wars. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.30 The Agenda Setters. 8.30 The Force: BTL. 9.30 Caught On Dashcam. 10.30 World’s Wildest Police Videos. 11.30 Code Red. 12.30am Late Programs.

TEN (5, 10)

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: Love On The Reef. (2023, G, R) Ansley Gordon, Marc Herrmann. 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.30 WIN News. 6.00 Ent. Tonight. (R) 6.30 Bold. (PG, R) 7.00 Deal Or No Deal. (PG,

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Events That Changed Australia: Black Saturday. (Ma) Looks

8.40 To Be Advised.

9.40 The Killer Interview With Piers Morgan. (Mav,R) Piers Morgan chats with Robert Spahalski.

10.40 9News Late.

11.10 Miniseries: The Night Caller. (Premiere,Malv)

12.05 Tipping Point. (PG,R) (R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

9GEM (81, 92)

6am Morning Programs.

11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon The Baron. 1.05 Agatha Christie’s Marple. 3.05 Antiques Roadshow. 3.35 MOVIE: We Joined The Navy. (1962) 5.30 Secret Life Of The Auction House. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 Keeping Up Appearances. 8.40 Midsomer Murders. 10.40 The Spencer Sisters. 11.40 Rizzoli & Isles. 12.40am Late Programs.

9GO! (82, 93)

6am Morning Programs. 11.40 Jeopardy! Australia. 12.40pm Australian Ninja Warrior. 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: We’re The Millers. (2013, MA15+) 10.45 Seinfeld. 11.45 The 100. 12.35am Love Island UK. 1.35 The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City. 2.30 Late Programs.

MorefreedomLessfussAtArmstrong Gr G eenenjoyalockupandleave

More freedom. Less fuss. At Armstrong Green, enjoy a lock-up-and-leave lifestyle for retirees who still say yes to travel, laughter, friendship, and fun within a welcoming community that keeps life easy and connected.

SEVEN (6, 7)

(8, 9) 6am Morning Programs. 11.30 Can You Keep A Secret? (Ml, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Frauds. (Ml, R) 2.00 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) 2.30 Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.00 Grand Designs Transformations. (R) 3.55 Sister Boniface Mysteries. (PGa, R) 4.45 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 9.15 Matched. (PG, R) 10.10 Kew Gardens: Season By Season. (R) 11.00 DNA Journey. (Ml) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Elder In Residence Oration 2024. (PG, R) 3.25 The Cook Up. (R) 3.55 The Mayfair Hotel Megabuild. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG,R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30.

8.00 Back Roads: Outback Kids’ Choir, NSW. Jeremy Fernandez journeys tooutback Wilcannia. 8.30 Grand Designs. (Return,Ml) Acouple build asleek

9.20 The Piano. (R) Presented byGuy Sebastian and Andrea Lam.

10.10 ABC Late News.

10.25 The Business. (R)

10.40 Sister Boniface Mysteries. (Ma, R) 11.30 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 12.15 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Treasures With Bettany Hughes: Turkey –Emerging From The Earth. (PG) 8.30 Our Medicine. (PGa,R) Alisha gives birth with Waminda midwives. 9.40 Riot Women. (MA15+) Kitty ison the verge ofa nervous breakdown. 10.50 SBS World News Late. 11.20 Under The Bridge. (Premiere, Mdlv) 12.10 Bonn. (Mav, R) 2.05 Beyond Signs. (MA15+a, R) 3.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.05 Mountain Vets. (PG, R) 4.40 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 2.45pm The Makery. 3.00 Play School: Let The Games Begin. 4.15 Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures. 4.40 Ariel. 5.20 Stan & Gran. 6.05 Spidey And His Amazing Friends. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.45 Ultimate Vets. 9.05 Animal Park. 10.35 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs. 1pm Over The Black Dot. 1.30 Inside The Huddle. 2.00 Island Echoes. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 Te Ao With Moana. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Waterworld Africa. 7.30 Going Places. 8.30 Bones Of Crows. 9.25 MOVIE: Django Unchained. (2012, MA15+) 12.15am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 12.10pm DW The Day. 12.40 Alone. 1.55 UFOs: Investigating The Unknown. 2.45 Insight. 3.50 WorldWatch. 5.50 Curse Of Oak Island. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 United Gangs Of America. 10.20 The UnXplained. 11.10 Brassic. 12.45am Dark Side Of The 2000s. 2.35 Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 Seven News With Alex Cullen. 1.10 Catch Phrase. (PG, R) 2.00 Bridge Of Lies: Celebrity Specials. 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Football. AFL. Round6. Carlton vCollingwood. 10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion and interviews taking alook back atall the action from the match. 11.00 Kick Ons. Apreview ofthe upcoming AFL matches.

11.30 HMP: Behind Bars: HMP Whitemoor. (MA15+a,R) Takes alook atlife inside HMP Whitemoor. 1.00 Travel Oz. (PG,R) Hosted byGreg Grainger.

2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. News and current affairs.

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 Air Crash Inv. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Better Homes. 5.00 Escape To The Country. 6.00 Bargain Hunt. 7.00 Home And Away. 7.30 Father Brown. 8.30 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries. 10.30 Murdoch Mysteries. 11.30 Late Programs.

7MATE (64, 73)

6.00 10 News+. Hosted byDenham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (PG) Hosted byGrant Denyer. 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG) Hosted byRebecca Gibney. 7.30 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. 9.00 Elsbeth. (Mv) Elsbeth must comb through atangled mess acelebrity wigmaker ismurdered. 10.00 10’s Late News. Coverage ofnews, sport and weather. 11.00 10 News+. (R) Hosted byDenham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 11.30 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) Hosted byStephen Colbert. 12.30 Home Shopping. (R)

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6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 Space Invaders. (PG, R) 1.00 Getaway. (PG, R) 1.30 Explore TV Viking. (R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.30 WIN News.

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 RBT. (Ml) Alook atpolice random breath-test patrols. 8.30 Emergency. (Mm,R) Doctor Scott Taylor fears atradie has life-altering neck damage after aladder fall.

9.30 A+E Crash Scene Emergency. (Mmv,R) A20-yearold iscritically injured.

10.30 The Equalizer. (MA15+v) 11.20 9News Late.

11.50 Tipping Point. (PG,R) 12.40 Pointless. (PG, R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 Home Shopping. 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

9GEM (81, 92)

6am Morning Programs. 3pm Antiques Roadshow. 3.30 MOVIE: Up Jumped A Swagman. (1965) 5.30 Secret Life Of The Auction House. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 Rugby League. NRL. North Qld Cowboys vManly Sea Eagles. 9.55 NRL Thursday Night Footy Post-Match. 10.40 Forensics: The Real CSI. 11.55 Late Programs.

TEN (5, 10)

6am Morning Programs. 7.30 GCBC.

6.00 10 News+.

6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (R) Hosted byGrant Denyer. 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG) Hosted byRebecca Gibney. 7.30 Gogglebox Australia. Opinionated viewers discuss TV shows. 8.30 The Claudia Winkleman Show. (Premiere) Claudia Winkleman chats with Hollywood stars, the best ofBritish and her studio audience. 9.30 10’s Late News. Comprehensive coverage oflocal, national and international news, aswell asthe latest sport and weather. 10.30 10 News+. (R) 11.00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 12.00 Home Shopping. (R)

6am Morning Programs. 2.30pm The Force: BTL. 3.30 Mountain Men. 4.30 American Resto. 5.00 Storage Wars. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.30 Highway Patrol. 8.00 Motorway Patrol. 8.30 Britain’s Got Talent. 9.45 Unbelievable Moments Caught On Camera. 10.45 MOVIE: Happy Gilmore. (1996, PG) 12.45am Late Programs.

9GO! (82, 93) 6am Morning Programs. 12.20pm Game Of Death. (1978, Mv, Cantonese, English) 2.10 Brief Encounter. (1945, PGa) 3.50 Broken Hill. (2009, PG) 5.50 The Lady And The Highwayman. (1989, PGasv) 7.30 Becoming Jane. (2007, PGav) 9.45 Marie Antoinette. (2006) Midnight Book Of Love. (2022, Mls) 2.00 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 My Way. 11.45 Jeopardy! Australia. 12.45pm Australian Ninja Warrior. 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Gran Torino. (2008, M) 11.00 Seinfeld. Midnight Rugby Heaven. 1.00 Love Island UK. 2.00 The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City. 2.50 Late Programs.

Naming imbalance

By Stretch Kontelj OAM

Rock legend Chrissy Amphlett loved to wander the gum tree and paling-fence lined streets around Belmont where she grew up and went to school.

From the family’s weatherboard bungalow, the late great lead singer of The Divinyls could have walked to what is now known as Amphlett Way in South Geelong.

Australia’s First Lady of Rock remains one of Geelong’s proudest exports and it is onlyfittingthathernameadornsoneofour streets.

But Amphlett Way remains a rarity in our City. There are not enough places or monuments that honour the leading women who helped put us on the map.

It is time to change that and display their names with pride.

In 2025, the City, which is responsible for giving names to public places that recognise and reflect our culture, heritage, landscapeandidentity,conductedanaudit of named places within the municipality.

The audit found a disproportionately high number of places named after men, and a large number of neutral spaces. Assets named after First Nations people and women only made up a small minority of our named places.

As a result of that audit, the City has put together a draft Place Naming Policy.

This important document seeks to increase the visibility of women, First Nations people and underrepresented cultural groups through priority ranking

when it comes to future commemorative naming of our buildings, roads, parks and assets.

To be clear, this policy is not designed to rename our existing spaces.

The region’s growth means we will have more places to name in the future, so this is our opportunity to create a process that embeds in the systems and structures that determine how we remember individuals who have significantly contributed to our region.

It is also worth noting this is not a

permanent policy. We intend to adopt this policy for as long as it takes to correct this imbalance, and review once we have a better share of named spaces.

The feedback from the community so far hasbeenoverwhelminglypositive,andI’m excited that through this process we will get to shine a light on our trailblazers and champion their stories.

The City has been a leader in this space over the last three years, with seven out of eight new road names recognising women following community consultation.

Brennan Street in Thomson recognises Geelong’sownBettyBrennan,whoenlisted withtheRoyalAustralianAirForce in1944. She attained the rank of Aircraftwoman and was discharged in 1946.

Duve Street, Marshall, celebrates sisters Margaret, Betty and Patricia Duve who served during WWII in the Australian Women’s Army Service.

Over in Charlemont, Devine Street pays tribute to Kathleen Devine who served as a nurse on a military hospital ship between 1917 and 1919. The Barwon Heads woman worked as an Infant Welfare Nurse until her death in 1947.

Also in Charlemont, Gilliland Street honours Winifred Gilliland who trained as a nurse in Geelong and served during World War 1. She was awarded the Royal Red Cross medal.

The names of places matter to our community and reflect our region’s values asaclever,creativeandcaringcommunity.

I encourage everyone to share their thoughts on the Draft Place Naming Policy before 15 April by visiting yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au/ place-naming-policy

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. Due to the ever increasing entries coming in each week for our Community Calendar page, we have enough to fill almost three pages. This means your entry will not appear each week. We will do our best to rotate them fairly. If you have an existing entry that no longer operates, please let us know so we can remove it. Your patience and understanding is welcome for this FREE service. The calendar in its entirety with every entry is posted every Saturday at 9am at geelongindy.com.au

Free forum

Tips for safer living and security at home and in your neighbourhood with Bellarine Community Health occupational therapist and Neighbourhood Watch. Hosted by Staying in Portarlington Inc, Portarlington Senior Citizens Clubrooms, Monday 20 April, 2-4pm. 0409 790 050

Peace meditation

Meditation, discussion and cuppa, Belmont Library, 163 High Street, Saturday 11 April, 11am-12.30pm. Secular, all welcome.

Fix The World

Video, discussion and cuppa on Book

Freedom by Australian biologist Jeremy Griffith. Belmont Library, 163 High Street, Saturday 18 April, 11am-12.30pm.

Geelong Fibre Artists

Tides of Change exhibition, House Gallery, Queenscliff Neighbourhood House, 3 Tobin Avenue, Queenscliff, Monday-Thursday 9.30am-3pm, Friday 9.30am-1pm, Saturday & Sunday & public holidays 11am-4pm, until 12 April.

Maggie, 0448 700 890

Ballroom dance

Leopold Hall, 805-809 Bellarine Highway, Saturday 11 April, 7.30-10.30pm. Admission $10 includes supper. Music: Puff. 0400 500 402

Geelong Vietnam Veterans

Coffee and chat, 31 Mt Pleasant Road, Belmont, Monday, Wednesday & Friday 10am-3pm. Fortnightly lunch at various locations. Meetings second Monday of each month.

Gary, 0400 862 727

Arts National-Geelong

One hour arts lectures and presentation, Newcomb Hall, Wednesdays monthly, 10.15am. Next meeting 15 April. Sharron, 0439 328 199 or geelong@adfas.org.au

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

Drysdale Day VIEW

Fourth Friday of each month at Portarlington Golf Club for lunch.

Margaret, 0431 636 090

Leopold VIEW

Second Tuesday of each month, Leopold Sportsmans’ Club, 10.30am. leopold.viewclub@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, 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, 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

Geelong Day VIEW

First Monday monthly from 11am at Shell Club, 76 Purnell Road, Corio. geelongdayview@gmail.com

Ocean Grove Senior Citizens 101 The Terrace, Ocean Grove

Weekly

Tuesday: 1pm snooker, chess, indoor bowls Wednesday: bingo 1.15pm, ukulele class

1.30pm, Chord Club jam session 4pm

Thursday: social afternoon, cards 500 1pm Friday: art classes 9am, social art group 1pm.

Fortnightly

1st & 3rd Monday: CWA, 2pm. Paschal, 0426 889 456

Wednesday: Book club, 10.30am. Paul, 0425 110 792 5255 2996 or groveseniors101@gmail.com

Leopold Book Club

Meets second Tuesday of the month at 6.30pm in Leopold. Very friendly group, new members welcome. Shirley, 0488 055 969

Church

Aberdeen Street Baptist Church, each Sunday 10am to worship, sing and enjoy traditional hymns followed by morning tea. All welcome.

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

9-15 Clarence Street, Geelong West, and 12.30pm third Monday of the month (excluding December) at Belmont Pavillion, 162 Barrabool Road, Belmont. Julie, 0438 270 549

Cards

Table tennis

All seniors welcome for a social game. Vines Road Community Centre, Hamlyn Heights, Wednesdays 12.30-2.30pm. Allen, 0433 883 116

fortnightly/coffee and chat catch-ups in northern Geelong/Geelong area. Bookings limited.

Text name/details, 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

Newcomb Probus

Third Wednesday of each month, 10am, East Geelong Uniting Church, corner Boundary & Ormond Roads. Gary, 0407 320 735

Music for preschoolers

Mainly Music is a music and movement program for babies to preschoolers at St Albans-St Andrews Uniting Church, 276 Wilsons Road, Whittington, Tuesdays 10am during school terms. Rhonda, 0437 241 345

Leopold Library

Free school holiday programs. All ages, all interests. 4201 0675 or grlc.vic.gov.au

Rostrum meets Geelong Rostrum Public Speaking Club Inc meets each Monday. Andrew, 0408 369 446 or Jan, 0407 296 958

Highton Seniors

Carpet bowls, bingo, cards, taichi, line dancing, mahjong. Community Centre, 84 Barrabool Road, Highton. Elma, 0411 065 524

Australian Multicultural Support Services

Social Support Groups for communities from different multicultural backgrounds for seniors over 65. Meals, activities and fun. White Eagle House, Breakwater. 10am-2.30pm Fridays. 9689 9170, amcservices.org.au or info@amcservices.org.au

Geelong Historical Society Inc. Guest speaker first Wednesday of each month, 7.30pm, Virginia Todd Hall, 9 Clarence Street, Geelong West. Harry, 0473 807 944 or geelonghistoricalsociety.org.au

Stamps

Geelong Philatelic Society Inc meets 7pm first Saturday of the month (excluding January) at Virginia Todd Community Hall,

Wanted: card sharp partners to play the game of Bolivia on Thursday evenings. For venue email Ingrid. griddlepop@hotmail.com

Scrabble club

Christ Church hall, corner Moorabool & McKillop Streets, 1pm Saturdays. Beginners to experts welcome. Pauline, 0429 829 773 or John, 0434 142 282

Games

Scrabble, chess, board games or cards. Tuesdays 2-5pm, All Saints’ Parish Hall, Newtown. Afternoon tea provided. Dinah, 0418 547 753

Book club

Leopold CAE book club meets second Tuesday of each month 6.30pm. Shirley, 0488 055 969

Sing Australia Geelong Choir Wednesdays 7.30-9.30pm at Senior Citizens Centre, 52 Thomson Street, Belmont. No auditions needed. Mary, 0419 278 456

Mindfulness & meditation U3A 9.30am and 12.30pm Wednesdays, Cobbin Farm, Grove Road, Grovedale. Jean, 5264 7484

Lions Club of Geelong Breakfast Inc Inviting anyone interested in having fun and serving others to meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 8am, Eastern Hub (behind East Geelong Cemetery), followed by breakfast. Dinner event third Thursday of each month in Geelong. ajd53m@yahoo.com

Scribes Writers Group

South Barwon Community Centre, Mondays 9.30am-noon. Welcoming new members to refine their skills. geelongscribeswriters@gmail.com or 5243 8388

Ballroom dancing

Belmont Park Pavilion, Thursdays 2-4pm. Val, 5251 3529

Kids’ church Group lessons for children aged 3-6, 7-10 and 10+, St Paul’s Anglican Church Hall, 171a Latrobe Terrace, Geelong, first Sunday of the month during school term, 10.30-11.30am. Suzie, 0402 963 855 or Althea, 0403 005 449

Geelong Dragon Boat Club

Paddle at Barwon River. Training Wednesdays 5pm, Saturdays 9am. Free one-month trial. revolutionise.com.au/geelongdragons

Mainly Music for Preschoolers

Sessions of music and movement for preschoolers, St Barnabas and St Paul’s Church, 105 Wilsons Road, Newcomb. Every Thursday during term time 10-11.30am.

Wendy, 0461 582 618

Combined Probus Club of Highton Meets third Thursday of each month, South Barwon Football & Netball clubrooms, McDonald Reserve, Reynolds Road, Belmont, 10am.

Sandra, 0427 348 260

Family day at the Cattery

Geelong Cats held a family day outside GMHBA Stadium on Wednesday 8 April ahead of their trip to South Australia for Gather Round and Independent photographer Ivan Kemp was there.

PUZZLES

To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.

ACROSS

1 Seek something (6)

4 From Egypt (8)

9 Sit on a perch (5)

10 Small figurine (9)

11 Finished (5)

12 Inherited from one’s family (9)

13 Sequence of songs (8)

15 Strata (6)

16 Entry (6)

18 Region above the eyebrows (8)

23 Or else (9)

24 Actors’ parts (5)

26 Chatty (9)

27 Hang over (5)

28 Broken down (8)

29 Power (6)

1 Distribute (food) (5,2)

2 Shirk (5)

3 Stronghold (7)

5 Deflect (6)

6 Former kingdom in northern Germany (7)

7 Meddle (9)

8 Heckles (7)

10 Fraudulent schemes (5)

14 Excessive drinker (9)

16 Not a biological offspring (7)

17 Family name (7)

19 Corpulent (5)

20 Made of clay (7)

21 Demolish (7)

22 Beachgoer’s two-piece (6)

25 Vital glandular organ (5)

3

5

Today’s Aim:

17 words: Good 26 words: Very good 35 words: Excellent

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural nouns ending in “s”. E E R O M C T G I

trio

1 What is the chemical symbol for palladium?

2 Who wrote the 1961 novel Catch-22?

3 What sort of weapon did the historical fusilier soldier carry?

4 Which liquor has the nickname ‘the green fairy’?

5 From which country did the term ‘smorgasbord’ originate?

6 What word represents the letter Y in the NATO phonetic alphabet?

7 What symbol does the comic book hero Captain America wear on his chest and shield?

8 Daniel Craig (pictured) is married to which other wellknown British actor?

9 A tip-off occurs at the start of a game of what sport?

10 In the nursery rhyme PollyPut the Kettle On, who is told to take the kettle off again?

Huge news in big SUV dept

By Chris Riley, Marque Motoring

It’s not so long ago that the first Hyundai toppedthe$70,000mark.

The 2015 Genesis was good, but would buyers be prepared to pay that much for a Koreancar,everyonewondered?

FastforwardandwenowhaveGWM’sfirst vehicle to pass this milestone – its flagship Tank500UltraPHEVseven-seatoff-roader.

And once again we find ourselves pondering whether buyers will stump up this sort of money to buy a Chinese vehicle thistime.

In its defence, the large SUV is a substantial offering with plenty to offer those in the market for a large, luxurious wagonwithsomerealoff-roadcapability.

Styling

Tank 500 shares its body on frame underpinnings with GWM’s Cannon Alpha utility.

There are two powertrains and three grades from which to choose, all of them hybridsofonesortofanother.

The range kicks off with the Ultra HEV, a conventional petrol-electric hybrid priced from$73,990.It’sfollowedbytheVantaHEV from $75,990 and finally the plug-in Ultra PHEV, the subject of our review priced from $77,990–allpricesaredriveaway.

HEV versions are self-charging hybrids and come with seven seats, while the PHEV is a five-seater that can be plugged in and charged, and operate in fully electric mode tofurtherreducefuelconsumption.

Both of the hybrid setups are based on a 2.0-litreturbochargedpetrolengine.

Also of note, the Tank 500 is a real 4WD, withtorqueondemandall-wheeldrive,dual range transmission and plenty of ground clearancefortacklingtheroughstuff

So, while it might sound expensive, it stacksupprettywellagainstthecompetition which includes the likes of Toyota’s Prado, theFordEverestandPajeroSportetc.

The styling is big, boofy and conservative with chunky tyres and lashings of chrome trim in evidence plus an aggressively styled radiator grille that would not look out of placeonthefrontofaRampickup.

TheTankisobviouslytargetedattheolder cashed-up age group who like their shiny toysandarepreparedtopayforthem.

Ditto the cabin fitout which has a plush, heavily-upholstered look with wood trim and an inset instrument panel, rather than themorecommonminimalistapproach.

Theoldfolkswillloveit.

They won’t love the heavy tailgate with its sparewheelhoweverwhichrequiresquitea bitofefforttooperateattimes.

Not sure what the tailgate icon on the key fob is either because that sucker ain’t going anywhere, especially if you’re parked on a hill.

ThePHEVisexceptionallywell-equipped, with three-zone climate air, Nappa leather-accented trim, power-adjust front seats that are heated, cooled and provide massage, plus a second row with its own climate controls and power folding function, a power-adjust heated steering wheel, plus three digital displays including head-updisplayandapanoramicsunroof.

Highlights include the GWM app which provides remote access, a classy dashboard timepiece that spins to the correct time when the car opens, kid-pleasing side steps that pop-out automatically on approach and touchscreen controls for the little ones to fiddle with that are incorporated in the rear,fold-downcentrearmrest.

It lets passengers control the radio, climate settings, ambient lighting, and seat comfortfeatures.

Watchoutparents.

Other features include LED lights, hands-free auto parking, auto high beam, traffic sign recognition, auto lights and

wipers, front and rear parking sensors and anauto-dimmingrear-viewmirror.

Tank 500 is covered by a seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty, seven years roadsideassistanceandsevenyearscapped price servicing, plus eight years on the high voltagebatterypack.

Infotainment

Infotainment consists of a 14.6-inch centre touchscreen, with Bluetooth, built-in navigation,AM/FMandDAB+digitalradio, wired and unwired Apple CarPlay and AndroidAutoplus12-speakerInfinityaudio withactivenoisecancellation.

Head-up display is also fitted and comes intoviewoccasionallyifyouhappentowear polarised sunglasses. Why can’t they spend thetimetofixthisissue?

There’s USB A and C ports front and back, as well as 12-volt outlets front and back, but no 12-volt outlet in the rear for powering a carfridge.

Wireless phone charging is also provided and another USB port near the rear vision mirrortopoweradashcam.

Safety

Tank 500 scores a full five stars for safety in crashtests.

A sophisticated safety lineup includes seven airbags, with a centre airbag that provides added protection to front seat occupants in side impact crashes, plus a 360-degree camera with overhead transparentmode.

Autonomous emergency braking (Car-to-Car,VulnerableRoadUser,Junction & Crossing, Backover 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.

Engines/transmissions

Providing the motivation is a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, together with a 120kW electric motor and 37kWh battery that delivers a combined 300kW of power and 750Nm of torque, the latter from a low 1750rpm.

The nine-speed transmission with paddle shifters is reported to be China’s first longitudinal nine-speed hydraulic automatictransmission.

Driving

Justshyof5.1metresinlengthandweighing close to three tonnes (2820kg), the Tank 500 isnoshrinkingviolet.

But it gets moving surprisingly quickly for a big feller, especially the PHEV with a 0-100km/htimeof6.9seconds.

Overseas there’s also a version with two electric motors and a larger 59kWh battery

that produces 635kW and a staggering 1195Nm of torque.Bringitonbaby!

RATINGS

Looks: 7

Performance: 7.5

Safety: 8

Thirst: 7

Practicality: 7.5

Comfort: 7.5

Tech: 8

Value: 8

Overall: 7.6

A 150kW electric motor is integrated into the 9HAT transmission and sits between the engine and gearbox, which is described asaP2layout.A37.1kWhbatteryisplacedat therearofthechassis.

As well as the ability to operate in high and low range, driving modes include: Eco, Normal, Sports, Snow, Sand, Rock, Mud, Auto, Expert. Not sure what the last one is about.

There are also three levels of adjustment for the steering plus adjustable regenerative braking.

With a 70-litre tank, it takes standard unleaded and offers combined fuel consumption of 2.1L/100km if you keep the batterycharged(andthisoneisnotiddlerso somecommitmentisrequired).

The just-drive-it brigade can expect 8.4L/100km or more. Energy consumption meanwhile is a heavy 27.2kWh/100km, so it’s going to eat through the charge fairly quickly.

A fully charged battery will deliver a pure electricrangeofupto120km(NEDC).

The PHEV can be charged from 30-80 per cent charge with a 50kW DC fast charger in 24 minutes, while 15-100 per cent with an AC charger takes some six hours and 30 minutes.

Remember that’s not a full charge, but if youinstallaWallboxathomeyoucanexpect ittobereadytogoagaininthemorning.

The PHEV also offers Vehicle-to-Load capability which means it can be used to powerACaccessories.

Brakedtowingcapacityacrosstherangeis 3000kgandasyoucanseeitpacksafull-size spare on the swing tailgate (which will be a buggertogetoffintheeventofaflat).

Cargo capacity is 1400 litres with the rear seats folded or 640 litres with them in use, with an artificially high luggage floor to accommodatethebatteries.

OntheroadtheTankisquickoffthemark, but can be difficult to off the line cleanly, with even a dab touch of the accelerator deliveringajerkyresponse.

Ridequalityisnotbadbutcouldbebetter, and we are not aware whether this vehicle has been put through GWM’s Australian tuningprogram.

If it has, it’s nowhere as good as the H6 PHEVthatwedroverecently.

The weight of the vehicle helps offset jar andreboundandonwell-formedroads.

Push too hard however and this same weight will lead to oversteer in corners, whichcausesthebacktostepout.

In terms of off-road ability, the figures suggestitcouldbeacontender.

There’s under-body protection, dual range four-wheel drive, ground clearance of 224mm and a wading depth of 800mm, which all bode well, along with locking front,centreandreardifferentials.

Retaining mechanical linkages allows power to be sent directly to a single wheel if needed, ensuring traction even in the roughestconditions.

Approach angle is 30 degrees, departure angle is 24 degrees and breakover 22 degrees.

Tank Turn Assist allows the vehicle to performatight,pivotingturnbylockingthe rear wheels while the front wheels steer in theoppositedirection.

This enables the vehicle to manoeuvre easily in narrow spaces, enhancing its off-roadcapabilities.

But the proof is in the pudding, so let’s see Great Wall tackle Beer O’Clock Hill as it did with the smaller Tank 300 – then it will have something to crow about.

You can select between EV, HEV and Intelligent hybrid modes. EV prioritises the battery, HEV sees it operate as a conventional hybrid and Intelligent is described as the ideal option for long-distancecommutes.

Experimentation showed it favoured thepetrolengine.

HEVprovedtobethepreferredmode.

Sitting at 100km/h on flat motorway for more than 30km saw the vehicle use hardly anyfuelorbattery.

We clocked up 750km in our week behind the wheel of the Tank 500, with an average 8.8L/100km fuel consumption and 6.0kWh/100km of energy consumption, but nocompositefigure.

After 515km and with 15 per cent battery and a range of 155km remaining, we opted to recharge the battery using an AC charger whichtookfourhoursand40minutes.

The first time we plugged it in the vehicle failedtostartcharginganditwasnecessary to remove and reinsert the plug a couple of times before it got going, confirming it was indeedcharging.Goodthingwechecked. Once it had finished charging it was reluctant to go into Drive and it was necessary to turn the car off and one a coupleoftimes.

A tab on the scrollable info screen reveals the car had 845km of EV range and 2314km of fuel range, but these figures actually represent the distance travelled by the car in entirety. Moreover, you have to dive into the centre touchscreen to keep tabs on the remainingcombinedrange.

Other idiosyncrasies include the indicators which often fail to cancel, poor AM radio reception and it took us some time to work out how to activate blind spot warnings, which turns out to be associated withsomethingcalledSmartDodge.

And we never did discover how to reduce the distance to the car in front with the adaptivecruisecontrolengaged.

Finally, if you plan to go bush, you might want to consider the availability of parts and service in the Top End where Toyota remainskingandRangersarerarelyseento thisday.

Summing up

The Tank 500 PHEV is surprisingly likeable, offering a heady mix of luxury and off-road abilityinahi-techpackage.

It’s good buying now but we’d opt to watch and act, to wait and see where GWM takes this model which probably won’t take long given the rapid evolution of Chinese vehicles.

Onceuponatimeittookcarmakersyears to test and evaluate new models, but these days it seems to have contracted to mere months.

Buyersthemselvesappeartohavebecome partofthetestphase.Don’tyouthink?

Harry’s a bowls star

By Justin Flynn

Emerging bowls star Harry Coleman became the youngest winner of the Victorian Open at just 15, defeating some highly ranked opponents along the way.

Coleman, from Inverleigh, defeated former Victorian state representative and current Queensland member Mark Armstrong in the final at Traralgon.

Coleman began playing bowls for Inverleigh in Division 11 before crossing to City of Geelong’s Premier Pennant side. Seeking a better standard of bowls, he now plays for Deer Park in the Metro Pennant Premier Division.

“I don’t think it has completely sunk in yet, it’s like a dream come true,” Coleman told Bowls Victoria’s Melanie Allen.

“Eachyearmygoalistogoonestepbetter for these major events and to go all the way was, and is, just so unbelievable.

“Tobetheyoungestpersontodoitmakes it even more special, extremely privileged. To win at this age has only been possible due to the support of my family.”

Coleman defeated Maffra’s Brett Hodgins and Moama’s Matt Robertson 21-4 in both round 1 matches and went straightthroughtotheroundof128players where he was too good for East Maitland’s

Martin Gray, 21-14.

It was the same scoreline in the round of 64 with Coleman getting past Traralgon’s Ian Hilsley 21-14.

Traralgon’s Shane Chapman was no match for Coleman in the round of 32 with the youngster recording a 21-3 win and in the round of 16 it was a 21-18 win against former Victorian representative Leigh McIlvenny (Lorne).

The quarter-final match against Melton youngster Oscar Jones went the way of Coleman, 21-16.

Club Tweed’s Kobe Barton, who won the tournament in 2025, was Coleman’s semi-final opponent and after trailing 2-6,

he prevailed 21-14 to set up a final match against Armstrong, which he won 21-16 after opening up a 12-3 lead after nine ends.

“Overthepastyear,Ihavebeenincredibly fortunatetobeinvolvedinsomegreatsides and surrounded by some of the game’s most experienced players,” Coleman said.

“It’s really helped with my game awareness and staying calm during big moments. Although calm, it was great to have Dean (Riva) behind the rink for support. He provided the reassurance to play the shot and I backed myself.”

Ocean Grove star Tyson Cromie made the round of 32, going down 21-17 to semi-finalist and reigning champion Barton.

Colemanthenturnedhisattentiontothe Victorian Under 18 State Championship at Sunburyfrom7to9Aprilwhere,bythetime the Independent had gone to print, he had reached the final after an epic semi-final match against Micah Oswin, from Victoria Bowling Club in Ballarat.

After getting out to a 10-2 lead, Oswin hit back and after 24 ends, it was 19-17, but Coleman picked up two shots on the last two ends to book a spot in the final against Wunghnu’s Jacob Cartwright on 12 April.

Talented Tennis Geelong boys win AJP title

LOCAL TENNIS

Donna Schoenmaekers

The revised season of Associations Junior Pennant (AJP) has concluded with several changes made from previous years.

AJP is a competition between mostly metropolitan associations, including Tennis Geelong.

It has traditionally been run over winter, but was revamped this year to run across 10 weeks starting in October and finishing in March with a break over Christmas.

There were a couple of changes to team order with the singles order of play based on ratings at the time of the match rather than set at the start of the season, and the top doubles rated player having to play the firstdoubles,ratherthanthesinglesrating.

The changes seemed to have caused some confusion with some teams at the start of the season, but seemed to sort itself out as the competition progressed.

Thefinalchangewasacaponthenumber of teams that could enter, which resulted in Tennis Geelong entering nine sides, but only seven being accepted – four boys and three girls across various age groups.

ThreeoftheteamswereinOpen(15-plus) with Boys B and C, and Girls B, all having some good results.

The best performers this year were the Boys 12C, finishing second by one point behind North Eastern Junior Tennis Association (NEJTA). Tennis Geelong scored a tight win by just seven games in theirfirstmeeting,tiedonrubbersandsets, and NEJTA reversed the result, winning by two sets and six games, tied on rubbers.

The final went in a similar manner with the teams winning a doubles rubber, Will Ryan and Jake Pearson successful for Tennis Geelong, and two singles rubbers each. Ryan and Samson McGrane had strong wins while Pearson fought hard before eventually going down in a tough straight sets.

George Montgomery, despite going down in his match, took his singles to a match tie-break, with the extra set giving Tennis Geelong the set advantage and the win three rubbers, six sets and 60 games to NEJTA’s three rubbers, four sets and 39 games, to win the section.

GirlsBfinishedthirdfromfiveteamsand won three of the six matches they played, including a win against finalist Western Region.

BoysOpenCfinishedsixthintheirgroup of seven and had a couple of wins but struggled to fill the team for half of their matches.

Boys Open B finished sixth from six, but managed to win two rubbers in most matches. They had several tight losses in the singles rubbers with many going to match tie-breaks, suggesting the team

Jan Juc local falls just short in pro

Local hope Xavier Huxtable almost toppled Brazilian great Ítalo Ferreira, catching a wave with 20 seconds remaining but his score left him 0.10 shortattheRipCurlPro.

The Jan Juc surfer took it right up to Ferreira, who he famously eliminated in 2025, but will not be able to bring it homeforthelocalsin2026.

World champion Molly Picklum stemmed the flow of Australian exits at Bells Beach, including title-holder Jack Robinson, who was sensationally eliminatedinroundtwo.

Robinson joined the local carnage, with the West Australian surfer called for interference which ended his hopes of winning his heat against BrazilianSamuelPupo.

Picklum had to wait until late Wednesday to get into the water in her all-Australian second round heat againstveteranSallyFitzgibbons.

But the reigning No 1 delivered a statement performance, posting the best total score of the day in both the women’sandmen’sfieldsatWinkipop witha16.50.

“Itfeelsgood,butyouknowwhatthe ocean’slike,“Picklumsaid.

“I really went out and just going, I hope I get two turns, and I’m happy when the scores got read out, and I was here in sevens and eights, and I waslike,’Hey,thisissick’.“

Fitzgibbons could only answer with a 7.34 and joined two-time Bells winnerTylerWrightinmakinganexit.

Onthecomebackafterhipandback injuries, Wright was edged by in-form Brazilian Luana Silva, who had taken down returning eight-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore in the openinground.

Brazilian surfers continued their dominance in the men’s field with seven advancing to round of 16, including Pupo with his victory over Robinson. Pupo led the heat, scoring 13.07toRobinson’s10.50,butwithjust over nine minutes left on the clock, the Aussie world No 5 paddled onto a waveunderhisopponent’spriority.

played better than their ladder position indicated.

Boys 14C struggled early in the season but improved towards the end with two close losses while Girls 14B managed a couple of wins and finished fifth of six.

The Girls 12B team will use their season as a learning experience in their grade of four teams where the top two teams proved much stronger than the balance of the section, but with most competing for the first time, will be better prepared.

While Robinson pulled out as Pupo opted to take the wave, the judges ruledthattheOlympicsilvermedallist hadinterferedwithhisrival. It took them almost four minutes to hand down the decision, with the penaltyseeingRobinsonlosethescore forthewavehepaddledonto,andalso hissecond-highestscore. That left Robinson an insurmountable target to win the heat,losing13.77to5.67.

Robinson became the second big-name casualty in the men’s field with 2023 champion Ethan Ewing also bowing out in the second round, losingtocompatriotGeorgePittar. Pittar is the only local men’s hope through to the third round, taking on another Brazilian in Miguel Pupo, the brotherofSamuel. - AAP

Tigers win first local derby

Surf Coast hosted Torquay for its Bellarine Netball League A Grade debut at Banyul-Warri Fields on Easter Saturday and Independent photographer Ivan Kemp was there to see the Tigers win the first Torquay derby.

History unfolds in Torquay

Independent photographer Ivan Kemp went to Surf Coast Suns’ inaugural senior appearance in the Bellarine Football League on Easter Saturday and although Torquay spoiled the party with a 148-point win, a huge crowd flocked to BanyulWarri Fields to see history in the making.

Comp heavyweights begin season in style

By Justin Flynn

Last year’s Bellarine Netball League A Grade grand finalists have jumped into the new season with big wins in the opening round, which began on Good Friday.

Ocean Grove, which defeated Geelong Amateur by one goal in a grand final thriller in 2025, both had new-look sides, but won comfortably against Anglesea and Modewarre respectively.

Although the results were not surprising, with the Roos and Warriors finishing last season in the bottom two spots, Grove and Ammos did enough to suggest they will both be there again in September.

The Grubbers got out to a 10-goal lead at the first break and went on to win 62 to 26.

EmmaJonespickedupfromwheresheleft off last season with a starring performance at goal defence while Georgia Ryan was busy in midcourt and new recruit Bridgette

Vos played well in attack for Grove.

Ammospoweredtoa69to26victorywith star midcourter Georgia Duncan starting the season well while Geelong Cougars goaler Eliza Oxley slotted in nicely. Modda was best served by goaler Bonnie Everett and defender Abby Larkin.

Torquay was way too good for new side Surf Coast, but there was a lot to like about the Suns’ first-up performance.

The Tigers won by 42, but apart from some first-term nerves, Surf Coast showed that it can play some good netball.

Co-captain Elisa Hall shot 19 goals for the Suns against her old side while for Torquay, Evie Hughes began her journey at Torquay with a stellar game at wing defence after crossing from Myrtleford and Ariana Luamanu rotated between attack and a wing and was among the best while Bridget Aughton was almost impassable in defence.

Barwon Heads started the season off with a thrilling win against Portarlington by three goals.

Port led by six at half-time, but the Seagulls drew level at the final change and finished strongly with Chelsea Baker wasting no time in recapturing last year’s stunning form in midcourt and Jordan Maher was a perfect ally at centre and wing attack.

Tylah McCleish did her bit in attack for the Demons and Madeline Casey was lively at wing attack.

Queenscliff survived a late Drysdale challenge to win by two goals.

Captain Phoebe Knox shot 22 goals from 26 attempts for the Coutas, who have recruited well and are expected to challenge for the title this season.

The Hawks showed plenty, though, with Phoebe Wilson dangerous at centre and Mia Fallon great at goal defence.

Bellarine and Geelong Netball Leagues

BELLARINE NETBALL LEAGUE

A Grade, round 1

Good Friday, 3 April

Ocean Grove 62 def Anglesea 26

Goals: Ocean Grove - Zanna Pushton 33, Kaia Giles 15, Bridgette Vos 14. Anglesea - Alexandra Reid 11, Jordan Chisholm 9, Eliza Abbott 6.

Best: Ocean Grove - Emma Jones, Georgia Ryan, Bridgette Vos. Angleseanot supplied.

Geelong Amateur 69 def Modewarre 26

Goals: Geelong Amateur - Eliza Oxley 46, Bec Winch 14, Isabella Baker 9. Modewarre - Bonnie Everett 22, Sarah Mulqueen 4.

Best: Geelong Amateur - Georgia Duncan, Eliza Oxley, Bec Winch. Modewarre - Bonnie Everett, Abby Larkin, Sarah Mulqueen.

Easter Saturday, 4 April

Torquay 68 def Surf Coast 26

Goals: Torquay - Daisy O’Kane 33, Kate Schippers 23, Ariana Luamanu 13. Surf Coast - Elisa Hall 19, Katrina Kasparian 6, Steph Hicks 1.

Best: Torquay - Evie Hughes, Ariana Luamanu, Bridget Aughton. Surf Coastnot supplied.

Barwon Heads 42 def Portarlington 39

Goals: Barwon Heads - Alex Antonio 20, Martine Rodger 13, Krystal Baker 9. Portarlington - Tully Bethune 19, Tylah McCleish 19.

Best: Barwon Heads - Chelsea Baker, Jordan Maher, Racquel Scott. Portarlington - Tylah McCleish, Madeline Casey, Georgia Howell.

Queenscliff 36 def Drysdale 34

Goals: Queenscliff - Phoebe Knox 21, Sienna Bruhn 13, Cleo Lofts 2. Drysdale - Alyce Delaney 22, Sienna Butcher 9, Isla Cuddy 3.

Best: Queenscliff - Amelia Bakker, Anne Church, Georgia Berry. Drysdale - Phoebe Wilson, Mia Fallon, Alyce Delaney.

Round 2

Saturday 11 April, 1.45pm Anglesea vs Newcomb at Ellimatta Reserve, Anglesea

Drysdale vs Geelong Amateur at Drysdale Recreation Reserve

Modewarre vs Ocean Grove at Mt Moriac Reserve

Portarlington vs Surf Coast at Portarlington Recreation Reserve

Torquay vs Queenscliff at McCartney Oval, Torquay

Barwon Heads bye

GEELONG NETBALL LEAGUE

A Grade, round 11

Easter Saturday, 4 April

St Joseph’s 52 def Leopold 43

Goals: St Joseph’s - Ella Closter 38, Tegan Philip 13, Maya Pearce 1. Leopold - Hollie Phillips 22, Natalie Heagney 20, Beyonce Palavi 1.

Best: St Joseph’s - Elli Leydin, Georgette Paatsch, Ella Closter. Leopold - Natalie Heagney, Maddie Mickovski, Achel Yout.

Round 1

Saturday 11 April

South Barwon vs Grovedale at McDonald Reserve, Belmont, 1.45pm

St Albans vs St Joseph’s at St Albans Reserve, Thomson, 1.45pm

Colac vs St Mary’s at Central Reserve, Colac, 2.50pm

Sunday 12 April

Geelong West Giants vs Leopold at West Oval, Geelong West, 1.45pm Bell Park bye

Newtown & Chilwell bye

Tigers spoil Suns party

By Justin Flynn

TherewasnoEastermiracleatBanyul-Warri Fields as Torquay spoiled the party of Surf Coast Suns’ first-ever Bellarine Football Leagueseniorfixture.

Thousands flocked to the inaugural Torquay derby, but left realising the Tigers are still a dominant force and that the fledgling Suns’ journey had just begun and willtaketime.

Tynan Smith helped himself to 11 goals as Torquay ran rampant on Easter Saturday andcruisedtoa148-pointwin.

The Suns were scoreless during the first and third terms, but managed to boot two last-quarter goals with Tommy Stephen having the honour of being the club’s first goalkickerinseniorfooty.

WithAaronBlackplayingVFLforGeelong on the weekend, the Suns were led by a home-growntalentinRileyCotterondebut. Theyoungsterwassuperbonawingandisa productoftheclub’sjuniorprogram.

“His workrate’s amazing, when he gets the footy, you wouldn’t think he hadn’t played senior footy,” coach Trent Rogers toldkrockfootball.liveafterthegame.

“He backs himself in. He’s one of the very fewofustodaythatprobablydidn’tgetstuck inside his own head - continued to believe in himself and it’s something for him to be reallyproudof.”

Despite the magnitude of the loss Rogers said the club will learn from the performance.

“We’ll learn and we’ll progress,” he told krockfootball.live.

“It’s their first full proper hitout together. I firmly believe we’ll progress more than anyone, or I certainly hope we do, as the yeargoesonsothere’salotofexcitingthings tocomeoutofthisteamthat’sforsure.”

Rogers said his players’ minds would “naturally go to the negative” but told them that was okay “because that shows that you care”.

“They are a team that does care quite a lot,” he said. “They’ve come together very quickly in terms of forming bonds and friendships.”

TheseasonbeganonGoodFridaywithlast season’s grand finalists having comfortable winsagainstteamsthatfinishedoutsidethe topfive.

Reigning premiers Anglesea got a head start on Ocean Grove with a five goal to one first quarter and ran out 42-point victors with gun forward Ayden Gras booting six majors.

The Grubbers matched their opponents afterthefirstbreak,scoringeightgoalsto10 with Northcote Park recruit Lorne Waldron bootingthreegoalsandbeingnamedbest.

Runners-up from 2025 Geelong Amateur

Bellarine and Geelong Football Leagues

BELLARINE FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Good Friday, 3 April

Anglesea 5.4(34), 7.7(49), 13.9(87), 15.11(101)

Ocean Grove 1.1(7), 5.3(33), 7.4(46), 9.5(59)

Goals: Anglesea - Ayden Gras 6, Will Batson 2, Jack Walters 2, Jack Baker, Ryan Bell, Camdyn Hutchinson, Alex Braaksma, Jordan Keras. Ocean Grove - Lorne Waldron 3, Rhys Devlin 2, Jet Kneebone, James Paterson, Kirby Reilly, Lachlan Morrow.

Best: Anglesea - Ryan Bell, Brodie Cambridge, Ayden Gras, Jordan Keras, Harrison Ling, Camdyn Hutchinson. Ocean Grove - Lorne Waldron, Kirby Reilly, Josh Lange, Luke Jarrad, Joe McDonald, Rhys Devlin.

Geelong Amateur 3.4(22), 9.8(62), 14.10(94), 20.12(132)

Modewarre 2.1(13), 3.3(21), 8.4(52), 11.6(72)

Goals: Geelong Amateur - Charley Green 5, Sam Lloyd 5, Mitch Day 4, Archer Hanegraaf 2, Jai Sheahan, Jesse Tardio, Hugh Goddard, Jacob Sharp. ModewarreRoarke Smith 4, Connor Joseph 2, Damon Hemphill, Jordan Motton, Tom Hornsey, Magnus Howells, Tom Scott.

Best: Geelong Amateur - Charley Green, Jesse Tardio, Andrew Browne, Xavier Muhor, Sam Lloyd, Lachlan Reilly. Modewarre - Oscar Cooke, Damon Hemphill, Roarke Smith, Morgan Fenton, Magnus Howells.

EASTER SATURDAY, 4 APRIL

Torquay 4.9(33), 12.11(83), 21.15(141), 25.16(166)

Surf Coast 0.0(0), 0.2(2), 0.2(2), 2.6(18)

Goals: Torquay - Tynan Smith 11, William Montebello 3, Jesse Dawson 3, Banjo Dyer, Angus Hanley, Ned Turner, Max Hurley, Billy Henderson, Sheldon Ham, Matt Boag, Tom Diamond. Surf Coast -

defeated Modewarre by 60 points with Charley Green kicking five goals and Sam Lloyd and Mitch Day four each. Former Western Bulldog Roarke Smith kicked four fortheWarriors.

Barwon Heads kicked away late to defeat Portarlingtonby38points.

The Demons came hard in the third term and got to within seven points at the break, but a six goal to two final stanza got the Seagulls home with a win in front of a big homecrowd.

Tommy Stephen, Harry Gravener. Best: Torquay - Tynan Smith, Michael Croxford, Spencer Meagher, Reef Page, Ben McNamara, Matt Boag. Surf Coast - Riley Cotter, Edward Weeks, Tommy Stephen, Hunter Gottschling, Luke Cartelli, Darby Coleman.

Barwon Heads 3.5(23), 8.10(58), 10.14(74), 16.25(121)

Portarlington 1.5(11), 4.8(32), 9.11(65), 11.17(83)

Goals: Barwon Heads - Jack Henderson 4, Darby Graham 3, Doug Bond 3, Mitch Jensen 2, James Syddall 2, James Callaway, Kye Smith. Portarlington - Teia Miles 3, Dylan O’Brien, Riley Hayden, Nick Lane, Sam Scott, Braydon Poole, Kalan Dart, Hayden Eddy, Mitchell Turnbull. Best: Barwon Heads - James Syddall, Noah Young, Daniel Shaw, Sam Christensen, Doug Bond, Jack Henderson. Portarlington - Jacob Ball, Mitchell Turnbull, Sam Scott, Teia Miles, Nathan McHugh, Riley Hayden.

Queenscliff 3.3(21), 5.5(35), 10.12(72), 16.15(111)

Drysdale 2.1(13), 3.6(24), 4.8(32), 6.12(48)

Goals: Queenscliff - Jordan Monahan 7, Kai Keenan 2, Jake Hedley 2, Max Scott, Patrick Bradley, Lachie Kidd, Billy Jones, Tyler Monahan. Drysdale - Angus Dewar, Joel Watson, Declan Foley, Jake Hargreaves, Lauchlan Dalgleish, Lachlan Nelis.

Best: Queenscliff - Jordan Monahan, Kai Keenan, Sam Kalbfell, Joe Cincotta, Marshall Rippon, Trent Thompson. Drysdale - Jackson Paatsch, Angus Dewar, Lachlan Nelis, Andrew Crosbie, Ricky Reid, Ben Fennell.

GEELONG FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Easter Saturday, 4 April

St Joseph’s 21.14(140)

JackHendersonkickedfourfortheHeads, who are a new-look side this season with severaldeparturesandinclusions.

AndwhiletheDemonshaveplentyofnew inclusions, it was again the familiar tale of Teia Miles (three goals) who was most dangerous.

Queenscliff is tipped to make big inroads this season and a first-up win against Drysdaleseemstoindicatethat.

The Coutas won by 63 points with Jordan Monahan slotting through seven goals

Leopold 7.7(49)

Goals: St Joseph’s - Jack Jovanovic 7, Mitch Chafer 3, Paddy De Grandi 3, Gus Morrison 2, Harrison Smith, Jai Adams, Malachi White, Max McLachlan, Oliver Hanneysee, Alex Hickey. Leopold - Solomon Harvey 2, Billy Clarke, Billy Ritchie, Tait Lunnon-Johnson, Tate Porter, Darcy Brislane.

Best: St Joseph’s - Jack Jovanovic, Joel O’Dwyer, Alex Hickey, Paddy De Grandi, Malachi White, Liam Kershaw. Leopold - Darcy Brislane, Mitchell Burgess, Daniel Pitcher, Marcus Thompson, Kyle Bumpstead, James Peters.

BFL

Round 2

Saturday 11 April, 2.10pm

Anglesea vs Newcomb at Ellimatta Reserve, Anglesea Drysdale vs Geelong Amateur at Drysdale Recreation Reserve

Modewarre vs Ocean Grove at Mt Moriac Reserve

Portarlington vs Surf Coast at Portarlington Recreation Reserve Torquay vs Queenscliff at McCartney Oval, Torquay Barwon Heads bye

GFL

Round 1

Saturday 11 April

South Barwon vs Grovedale at McDonald Reserve, Belmont, 1.10pm St Albans vs North Shore at St Albans Reserve, Thomson, 2.10pm Colac vs St Mary’s at Central Reserve, Colac, 2.10pm

Sunday 12 April

Geelong West Giants vs Leopold at West Oval, Geelong West, 2.10pm Bell Park bye Newtown & Chilwell bye St Joseph’s bye

just a fortnight after winning the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association A1 Grade MenziesMedal.

The Geelong Football League opened with a standalone round 11 fixture at Lorne onEasterSaturday.

StJoseph’sandLeopoldwillnowhavethe weekoffinround11on20Junewithround1 gettingunderwaythisweekend.

Joeys enjoyed a 91-point win with Jack Jovanovic kicking seven goals while Mitch Chafer and Paddy De Grandi each booted