Geelong Indy - 25th September 2026

September 25, 2026

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Grand final day in Geelong Newtown & Chilwell wing attack Vanessa Augustini and this year’s Woolley Medallist Kiahna Fallon from St Joseph’s are pictured with St Mary’s captain Brayden Ham and South Barwon skipper Matt Caldow ahead of the Geelong Football Netball League grand finals at Kardinia Park precinct.  See page 25 for all the matches and starting times and pages 30 and 31 for our previews for the two big games.

Library’s fresh start By Matt Hewson After years of community advocacy and multiple threats of closure, the new Chilwell Library is now officially open. The library, having undergone a $2.5 million redevelopment, opened on Monday morning with a formal event attended by Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj and state member for Geelong Christine Couzens. Geelong Regional Library Corporation (GRLC) chief executive David Semmens, deputy chair Cr Elise Wilkinson and advocates from the Chilwell Library Group were also present, while Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Ash Skinner began proceedings with a smoking ceremony. The redevelopment, which began in July last year, has expanded the library from 218

square metres to 345 square metres, with a further 75 metres of outdoor decking and terraced seating connecting the facility to the surrounding Sladen Park. Mayor Kontelj said the library’s transformation into a modern, light-filled community hub was a direct result of the council’s collaboration with the Chilwell Library Group. “One of the big features is integrating the library into the park,” he said. “It’s glass-fronted into the parkland, with a patio and sliding doors, so you’ve got the sense of being outside while you’re inside. “There’s also a meeting room with concertina doors that can be configured into a couple of different sizes so community groups can hire that space for their meetings or professional development activities.

“And there’s also what I would describe as a sun nook, with lounge chairs in a very sunny spot where even in the middle of winter it’ll be a really warm, cozy place to settle in, read a book or meet up with friends.” Chilwell Library has faced closure twice in the last decade; first in 2017 when the council announced it would close Chilwell and two other libraries due to low usage and then again in 2023 when the council and GRLC clashed over funding. In both cases, only advocacy from community organisations such as Chilwell Library Group and widespread public support kept the facility open, eventually leading to the redevelopment. Ms Couzens thanked and congratulated the local Chilwell Library users who

“fought to keep this valuable asset for people of all ages in the community”. “Libraries are vital to communities for education, enjoyment and social engagement,” she said. “The redeveloped Chilwell Library is now a modern public asset that everyone can enjoy.” Mayor Kontelj also acknowledged the importance of libraries to the community. “The wider community was there in force today (for the opening)...a whole cross-section of the community that couldn’t wait for the library to reopen,” he said. “The City has been a massive supporter of libraries, to the extent that we have spent over $100 million on libraries in the last four years.”

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Refunds for parking fines Community members who have been overcharged for parking will receive refunds from Surf Coast Shire Council. Council will launch its refund scheme next month after discovering a historical administrative error that overcharged 11 types of parking infringements. Chief executive Robyn Seymour said that council records for the affected infringements go back to 2003 and she apologised to affected motorists for the inconvenience. “We’re taking accountability for the situation and putting a process in place to rectify it,” she said.

“As soon as we were made aware of this potential issue, we investigated thoroughly and could not find evidence in our records that the necessary council resolution had ever been made.” Impacted infringements included stopping contrary to a ‘no parking’ sign, on a bicycle parking area and on a motorbike parking area, along with failing to pay a parking fee and obey sign/meter/ticket/ ticket vending machine instructions. Parking was the most impacted infringement across many categories, including a long or wide vehicle exceeding a minimum number of bays, and failing to comply with

angle or 90-degree parking requirements. Parking not completely within a parking bay, contrary to parking area requirements, and for longer than indicated were also among the impacted infringements. The scheme will refund the overcharged portions of the fines, which will be between $30 and $60 depending on the year that the infringements were issued. The Road Safety Act 1986 enables councils to set the penalty up to a maximum of 0.5 penalty units for 11 green sign parking offences. A specific council resolution is required to set the parking penalty units, while a de-

fault rate of 0.2 penalty units applies without the resolution. Council recently confirmed that the 0.5 penalty unit rate was applied to the 11 infringement types over time due to the historical error without evidence of a specific council resolution. The refund scheme will launch on 1 October and remain open for 12 months before closing next year on 30 September. Surf Coast Shire is one of several councils across the state impacted by the issue, and people can visit surfcoast.vic.gov.au/ parkingrefundscheme for more information.

Ukrainian community members taking part in the 2026 Pako Festa. (Ivan Kemp) 534286_74

Pako Festa funding boost

Meli caseworker Ari-elle Dart. (Ivan Kemp) 580178 08

Local recognised for commitment and care A local caseworker has been recognised for her outstanding dedication to foster carers with a state award. Meli senior caseworker Ari-elle Dart was named joint winner of the 2026 Commitment to Carers Award at the Foster Care Association of Victoria (FCAV) annual general meeting last week. For the past eight years, Ms Dart has worked in the out-of-home care sector, advocating for children, young people and carers to support life-changing outcomes for the children who need it most. With a wealth of professional expertise as

well as lived experience, Ms Dart is known for her determination, empathy and unwavering belief in the potential of every young person. “I advocate strongly, I don’t give up, and I don’t step back from challenges because I know what is at stake,” she said. Meli’s manager of care services Jo Dumesny said Ms Dart’s recognition reflected the commitment she brought to every aspect of her work. “Ari-elle has an extraordinary ability to build trust with children, young people and carers, particularly during some of the most challenging periods of their lives,” she said.

“Her advocacy, compassion and determination help create the stability and support that families need to thrive. “What sets Ari-elle apart is her unwavering commitment to seeing the person behind the circumstances. She listens, empowers and works alongside young people and carers to create opportunities, strengthen connections and achieve positive outcomes that can last a lifetime.” Meli senior therapeutic case manager Brooke Coxon and local foster carers Emily and Peter Hough also received nominations for awards at the FCAV event.

Medical issue derails council’s new place naming policy By Matt Hewson Geelong council’s decision on its new place naming policy has been delayed yet again after the deputy mayor experienced a medical episode mid-debate at Tuesday night’s meeting. The proposed policy would prioritise the representation of First Nations people, women and migrants in official place names around the municipality for a period of at least two years. For reasons left unexplained, the decision on the policy, which received significant public support when it was exhibit-

ed to the public in March and April, was deferred at last month’s meeting. Councillor Elise Wilkinson, who has been a vocal proponent of the policy, said place naming was “powerful; those that get named, get remembered”. “The policy…(prioritises) the names of places that address the current underrepresented First Nations peoples… women and gender diverse people and culturally diverse populations until a more balanced and inclusive representation is achieved,” she said. Deputy Mayor Eddy Kontelj has been just as vocal in his opposition to the pol-

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icy, which he and Cr Andrew Katos have claimed would exclude Anglo-Saxon men and veterans. However, as Cr Kontelj began to propose an alternate, “equal weight” system, he underwent a worrying episode, which halted the meeting. He was helped from the chamber before going to St John of God for assessment and care. Mayor Stretch Kontelj has since confirmed the deputy mayor has returned home and is “recovering well”, but the place naming policy debate was adjourned yet again.

Geelong council has announced a funding boost for the much-loved Pako Festa. The CIty of Greater Geelong has upped its support of the festival from the budgeted $100,000 by another $20,000 Presented each year by Cultura, the event transforms Pakington Street into a riot of colour and movement celebrating the rich diversity that makes up the fabric of Geelong. From its humble beginnings in the early 80s, Pako Festa has become Victoria’s premier multicultural festival with more than 101,000 attending in February this year. Cultura chief executive Jess Harper said Pako Festa “reminds us of what is possible when cultures come together with respect and pride”. “Pako Festa began with a simple idea: that culture should be shared, celebrated and seen, not kept behind the doors of our homes and community halls,” she said. “Nearly 45 years on, that idea feels more important than ever…It is a celebration of cultural heritage and shared history of building Geelong into a diverse, welcoming and vibrant city. “As new communities arrive and new generations grow up here, Pako Festa continues to give people a place to share their culture, rise above what divides us and celebrate what brings us together.” Councillor Andrew Katos reiterated the importance of the festival to the Geelong community. “We increased our support to $120,000 because Pako Festa is a true celebration of cultural diversity in our community,” he said. “It has far-reaching benefits for the region like strengthening community connections, encouraging participation and increasing understanding of other cultures. “We’re a longtime supporter of Pako Festa because it showcases the best of Greater Geelong and fosters inclusion and a strong sense of belonging.”

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Data guidelines welcomed G21 and the City of Greater Geelong have welcomed the state government’s new artificial intelligence data centre rules. The rules include data centres being banned from residential areas, kept 150 metres away from homes, requirements to supply their own electricity, use nondrinking water only and investment in community benefits. City of Greater Geelong chief executive Ali Wastie said the Geelong community felt they weren’t being listened to by the government as it sought to fast-track data centres. “We needed to find a pathway through

the contentious debate about the location of data centres and today’s announcement by the state government provides common sense guardrails that will help provide a clearer way forward,” she said. “Communities have been rightly asking a simple question: data centres will generate enormous value for big tech companies, but what’s in it for us? “The old rules were not fit or purpose and failed to protect the liveability of communities and there was nothing to force data centre developers to deliver lasting benefits to the communities hosting them.” While G21 also supported the rules, it

said there is still a need for stronger protections for strategic employment land, earlier consultation, and clear community benefits shaped with local councils and communities. “Data centres are critical digital infrastructure, and regional Victoria can play an important role in supporting this growing sector, but it must be done carefully,” G21 chair Jason Schram said. “The focus on renewable energy, recycled or non-drinking water, traffic management and local benefits is welcome. But community benefit needs to mean something tangible, locally supported and

of real value and councils must have a say in what that looks like.” Independent candidate for an Upper House seat in Western Victoria, Aleta Moriarty said Victorians “deserve better than the half-baked plan by the Labor premier”. “The Australian Energy Market Operator, AEMO, reports that the number of data centre projects in development in Australia has already surged to 225,” she said. “Let’s not forget that under Victoria’s gold-plated welcome for data centres, there are another ten data centres under construction and eight more in the planning assessment phase.”

Kieran Blood and Simon Toohey will operate a monthly market on the Geelong waterfront from January next year. (Supplied)

Waterfront market announced

Geelong Cats’ Claudia Gunjaca, Geelong United’s Meadow Chappell, Geelong Cricket Club’s Meika King and Geelong Cougars’ Kiahna Fallon at GMHBA Stadium for Serenity in the Stadium. (Pam Hutchinson Photography)

Stadium event for mental health month A community wellbeing event for World Mental Health Month is coming back to GMHBA Stadium for its third year. Serenity in the Stadium brings the community together on Sunday 11 October on the stadium turf for a morning of yoga, movement, mindfulness and connection, while raising funds and awareness for Read the Play and Active Geelong. Geelong Cats AFLW defender Claudia Gunjaca, Geelong United Basketball emerging young gun Meadow Chappell, Geelong Cricket Club fast bowler Meika King and Geelong Cougars defender and

midcourter Kiahna Fallon went to GMHBA Stadium to help promote the event. Now in its third year Read the Play general manager Michelle Gerdtz said having athletes from across Geelong’s sporting community involved reflected the strong links between sport, movement and wellbeing that sit at the heart of the event. “Sport has such a powerful role to play in bringing people together, and that’s exactly what Serenity in the Stadium is about,” she said. “Having some of Geelong’s local female sporting stars involved shows just how

connected our local elite clubs are to this event, and to the message that looking after your wellbeing matters.” Serenity in the Stadium began in 2024 with more than 250 participants, growing to more than 400 in 2025. The 2026 event is aiming for its biggest turnout yet, with a target of 800 participants, including a stronger focus on workplace teams, sporting clubs and the broader Geelong community. Serenity in the Stadium is on Sunday 11 October from 9am. See serenityinthestadium.com.au for more information.

Drones take to the sky to tackle region’s mosquito problem Drones are being used by the City of Greater Geelong to tackle this spring’s mosquito activity. Geelong is the first council in Victoria to use drones for mosquito control, replacing helicopters used in past treatments. The City said drones allowed faster response times and reduced costs to ratepayers. On-ground treatments will continue to target mosquito larvae before they emerge as adults and fly into populated areas. Aerial drone treatments may also be used outside Ramsar wetlands if larvae detections require it. Ground treatments continue in Corio, Connewarre, the Geelong Botanic Gardens, Lara, Point Lonsdale, St Leonards and Wallington. Rainfall, tides and above-average temperatures have created ideal breeding conditions, with mosquito numbers remaining high through winter and expected to stay elevated due to the strong

El Niño phase predicted by the Bureau of Meteorology. “We’re taking an integrated approach to mosquito management – there isn’t a single solution to tackling mosquitoes,” Environment and Circular Economy portfolio chair councillor Elise Wilkinson said. “Our drone and ground treatments are targeted, safe and designed to protect community wellbeing while respecting the environmental significance of our Ramsar wetlands. “Mosquito numbers have been noticeably high across the Bellarine, and it’s been challenging for families and businesses. “The mosquito management program is helping to reduce breeding, but we can all do our part to reduce mosquitoes at our properties. “Gardens, bushes and still water are habitat for mosquitoes. Make sure to regularly empty water from pots and bird baths

and similar things around the house and mow your lawn. If everyone does this, it will make a real difference.” In April 2025, Geelong received a seven-year permit from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. It allows targeted treatments in Ramsar-listed wetlands – internationally recognised and environmentally sensitive areas where only approved methods can be used. The City uses Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) and s-Methoprene, solid-form larvicides approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). They are dispersed directly into water. The City said it does not spray or use broad-based pesticides in its aerial program.

The team behind the hugely successful Geelong City Market will bring their new vision to the city’s waterfront next year. Barwon Events, run by Simon Toohey and Kieran Blood, will launch the Geelong Waterfront Market at Steampacket Gardens on Sunday 10 January, 2027. Operating monthly, the new market will feature the wares of creatives and makers from around the region, supported by live music, workshops, demonstrations and cultural experiences. The City of Greater Geelong announced this week Barwon Events had received a three-year licence to run the event. Barwon Events Director Simon Toohey said the new market was an opportunity to create something fresh, exciting and unmistakably Geelong. “Geelong is a city we love deeply, and we feel an enormous responsibility to create something that reflects its people, its creativity and the exciting direction in which it is growing,” Mr Toohey said. “For us, this is about harnessing everything that is already exciting about Geelong and using it to build something truly great.” Mayor Stretch Kontelj said the new monthly market would add another reason for people to spend more time on the waterfront. “Barwon Events has done an incredible job with the Geelong City Market, and it’s going to be amazing to see this vision come to life at Steampacket Gardens in December,” he said. Makers, artists, designers, creators, food and drink businesses, musicians, performers and community groups interested in becoming part of the Geelong Waterfront Market can visit issimomarkets.com/bookings/364912 to submit an application.

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Council says ‘no’ By Matt Hewson Retirement village rates advocates continued to press their case at the Geelong council meeting this week. Representatives from Abervale, Armstrong Green, Barwarre Gardens and Geelong Grove retirement villages presented questions to the councillor group during public question time, while Cr Trent Sullivan tabled a petition from Bellarine Retirement Village. Since April, residents and advocates have been urging the council to implement a differential rating system for retirement village properties, which would see them reduced by up to 33 per cent. Fairer Differential Rates campaigners argue that retirement village residents already pay for infrastructure maintenance through annual fees charged by their village and use public infrastructure far less than most other residents.

They also argue more affordable retirement village living could encourage more older people to downsize from larger homes, potentially freeing up housing stock for younger people and families. Advocates have cited the precedent set by other Victorian councils, including Brimbank City, Frankston City, Knox City and Mornington Peninsula, who have introduced a differential rating system. However, the council declined to implement such a system in their 2026/27 budget and showed no sign of changing its position. Geelong Grove Retirement Village’s Ann Daniel said she wondered “who is actually listening to our pleas”. “When the boundary into a retirement village is crossed, the council’s operational footprint disappears,” she said. “Residents pay for and maintain internal infrastructure…this must result in a significant reduction in the (council’s)

asset management burden. We are asking this council to give serious consideration.” Armstrong Green resident Jo Woodburn was less diplomatic in her approach. “Be aware that I am the chair of a group of eight retirement villagers…we’ve been meeting monthly about differential rates for 12 months and we’re not going to stop until we get some answers,” she said. Geelong’s executive director for corporate services Troy Edwards said “any reduction of up to 33 (per cent) would ultimately need to be funded by other ratepayers”. “This includes other pensioners in Geelong, older residents living independently, and households experiencing their own cost of living pressures. “So, for this reason, at this point in time, the City does not consider a retirement village differential rate to be a fairer or more equitable outcome for the broader Geelong community.”

Geelong running festival a massive success

Barwon Heads mum Sarah James won the inaugural Geelong Running Festival women’s marathon. (NORTHSOUTH)

in 2:51:57. “To win a marathon in my hometown means so much,” James said. “Being a local to Geelong, I had a lot of

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The inaugural 2026 Geelong Running Festival attracted more than 6000 athletes who competed in six events across a warm weekend on 18 and 19 September. The two-day festival began with the Kids and All Abilities Run with triple Olympian Nathan Deakes starting the first race of the day. Deakes also presented medals to every finisher, almost 20 years after breaking the 50km walk world record on the Geelong waterfront. On Sunday, the picturesque course had athletes taking in some of Geelong’s most iconic sites, including the waterfront, Johnstone Park, and the opportunity to run around the boundary within GMHBA Stadium. “This weekend has been many years in the making and I’m incredibly proud that we’ve been able to showcase Geelong in this way and to welcome over 6000 participants to our city and this event,” race director Lee Troop said.” “For me this event is about more than running, it’s about building community and giving back. I’m proud that we have been able to raise $167,809 for more than 300 charities, with $75,000 going to our 13 charity partners.” Inaugural Zeekr Marathon champion Colm Fitzgerald crossed the line in 2:22:09, with fellow winner and Barwon Heads local Sarah James claiming the women’s title

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friends and family out on the course, and it really means a lot to have an event like this in our city. I wanted to give it my all, and I’m so glad I came away with the win.”

Eastern Gardens flying-foxes will be chilling out this summer thanks to a new sprinkler system. (Supplied)

Flying-foxes stay cool Geelong’s flying-foxes can stay cool this summer thanks to a new council project. The City of Greater Geelong has installed a purpose-built sprinkler system at Eastern Park to support the health and survival of the threatened Grey-headed Flying-fox camp throughout what is expected to be a scorching Victorian summer. Advocated for by Friends of Bats and Bushcare and Bats of Geelong, the new heat stress mitigation system was developed through extensive research and funded by a $120,000 contribution from the City and $100,000 from the Victorian government. The system will activate when temperatures at the nationally significant flying-fox camp exceed 40 degrees to avoid potentially dangerous heat stress for the flying-foxes. Bats of Geelong founder and secretary Leila Merritt runs a local wildlife shelter caring for flying-foxes. ”The sprinkler system is so important for the health and wellbeing of our flying-fox camp, especially through the hot summer months,” she said. “Seeing it finally completed is incredibly rewarding and a really proud moment for Geelong.” Councillor Trent Sullivan said the project was an important step in protecting the threatened species. “The sprinkler system gives Geelong’s flying-foxes the best chance of surviving extreme heat days,” he said. “It’s been a great example of what we can achieve when the community, government and wildlife experts work together. “I’d like to thank Friends of Bats and Bushcare and Bats of Geelong for their advocacy and dedication in helping bring this project to life.” Residents will have the opportunity to tour the site as part of Nature Week. Contact Wildlife Victoria on 03 8400 7300 if you find a sick or injured flying-fox.

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Cabins support local tourism Seven new cabins are now open for bookings at Barwon Heads Caravan Park to further support regional tourism. Four two-bedroom cabins and three one-bedroom deluxe cabins, including one accessible option, were unveiled at the caravan park on 17 September. Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant said the latest round of the Regional Tourism Investment Fund supported the new cabins, and the project is expected to attract more than 4500 extra visitors. “Barwon Heads is a much-loved destination, and these new cabins will give visitors even more reason to stay, explore and enjoy the region,” she said. “This is a great investment in the local visitor economy, providing more accommodation options for tourists while supporting local businesses, jobs and the

broader community.” The cabins were built offsite and transported to Barwon Heads, with two existing one-bedroom cabins also expected to be upgraded next year as part of a broader project. Barwon Coast Committee of Management chair Peter Farrell said the project helped deliver lasting benefits for regional jobs, businesses and communities. “The revenue the cabins generate will be reinvested into caring for our coast,” he said. “These new cabins provide an exciting investment in sustainable and accessible tourism, allowing more people to experience this special part of our coast.” First Peoples influence is embedded throughout the project, including consultation with the Wadawurrung Tradi-

Wadawurrung Elder Aunty Mary Shuttleworth, left, Barwon Coast Committee of Management’s Peter Farrell, and Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant opened new cabins at Barwon Heads Caravan Park. (Supplied)

tional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and artist Billy-Jay O’Toole. Mr O’Toole’s artwork is featured on

the cabins’ glass sliding doors, and Wadawurrung artwork can be seen throughout the precinct.

167-year-old tree shortlisted for state’s best By Matt Hewson One of Geelong’s oldest trees has been shortlisted for the Victorian Tree of the Year. A 167-year-old ginkgo tree located at Geelong Botanic Gardens, grown from seed in the 1850s and believed to be the largest cultivated tree of its species in Victoria and possibly Australia, is one of the nine finalists for the annual public contest. Located in the shaded area leading to the Temperate Garden, the female Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo biloba) is an outstanding specimen of the native Chinese species that coexisted with dinosaurs in Jurassic times. Run by the National Trust Victoria, the competition celebrates remarkable trees around the state, highlighting the importance of trees and the need for strong policies protecting them. The shortlisted trees, hailing from regional areas including Apollo Bay, Maldon and Warburton as well as metropolitan suburbs Carlton North, South Yarra and Prahran, are all recognised through the state’s Significant Tree Register. Long-serving Friends of Geelong Botanic Gardens volunteer Liz Bennetto said she believed Geelong’s gingko tree was the best of its kind in the country. “I reckon it’s fantastic,” she said. “It’s very special, firstly because of its age, but also because of the aerial roots on it that make it look as if the bark is sort of dripping down the tree. “Lots of people choose to get married or hold memorial services under the Ginkgo,

Comedy sensation Liz Hicklin, 95, will present a live show during Surf Coast Shire’s Positive Ageing Month. (Supplied)

Getting positive about ageing

Terry Feldman, Lynne Clarke, Barrie Satchell and Liz Bennetto beside the 167-year-old ginkgo tree at Geelong Botanic Gardens. (Ivan Kemp) 580634 06

because it is just a magic place. You feel as if you’re in a sort of a chapel or something when you’re underneath it.”

Visit www.nationaltrust.org.au/treeoftheyear to view the finalists and vote for the Victorian Tree of the Year.

Women and children hospital is well on track for completion Barwon Women’s and Children’s Hospital is taking shape and is on track to be completed in the next two years. The structure and facade of the new specialist building and eight-storey tower are complete, and work will begin on the facility’s internal fit-out, including services, wall framing, ceilings and finishes. Member for Geelong Christine Couzens said the new hospital was scheduled to be completed by 2028 and will deliver expanded maternity, paediatric, neonatal, and women’s health care. “We are making sure that women and

children are getting the healthcare they need and deserve,” she said. The facility will provide more maternity inpatient beds, paediatric multi-day and same-day inpatient beds, special care nursery cots, birthing suites, operating theatres, and expanded paediatric and maternity specialist clinic facilities. Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant said it was great to see progress on the $500 million project, which will support more people in modern and purpose-built facilities. “The new and expanded hospital is

about giving local women, babies and children more specialist care, in better facilities, without having to travel long distances,” she said. Minister for Health Ingrid Stitt said the project would support close to 1500 jobs during construction. “Families across the Barwon region deserve the very best care close to home, and that is exactly what this project will deliver,” she said. The Myers Street maternity entrance has reopened, providing expectant mums with a direct drop-off space at the facility.

Surf Coast Shire’s older residents can join many events next month to support positive ageing. Surf Coast Shire Council will partner with community organisations to present more than 35 events during Positive Ageing Month (October). Deputy mayor Tony Phelps said there would be something for everyone, including come-and-try days and exercise sessions. “We certainly celebrate Positive Ageing Month with purpose and passion in Surf Coast Shire,” he said. “The month truly showcases the breadth of interests and activities that our wonderful community organisations offer. “This is shaping up as our biggest year yet, with the calendar packed with opportunities for people to get involved, maybe ignite new interests, gain new skills or make new connections.” Mr Phelps said it was shaping up to be the “biggest year yet” for Positive Ageing Month and encouraged everyone to get involved. “The month truly showcases the breadth of interests and activities that our wonderful community organisations offer,” he said. “We recognise the work of council’s Positive Ageing Advisory Committee in helping bring the busy and diverse program of activities together.” Events will include a live show with 95-year-old comedy sensation Liz Hicklin, Surf Coast Big Band jazz performance, concert of classic hits from the 1960s and ‘70s, and an International Probus 50th anniversary celebration. Council received state government support from the Seniors Festival Country Concert Series for a Stiletto Groove concert in Winchelsea, along with additional funding for the Seniors Festival Aged Care Tour. Visit surfcoast.vic.gov.au/PositiveAgeingMonth for more information and to access the Positive Ageing Month calendar.

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ENTERTAINMENT WITH MATT HEWSON

Joe’s journey of self-identity Growing up as a first generation Australian had a profound effect on Joe Novella growing up in suburban Melbourne. The son of two Southern Italian migrants, Novella grew up surrounded by Calabrian culture. “Big families, big houses, big weddings and a strong food culture of growing your own produce – your own tomatoes, your own olives – preserving it and eating it,” he said. “There were cultural celebrations every week; someone was getting married, or there was a baptism or communion or it was a holiday. “But we were also surrounded by footy, Holden cars, meat pies, a whole different culture. So for us, as it was for a lot of first generation kids, it was ‘are we Italian, or are we Australian?’ “There was this search for an identity.

And for a lot of kids, they would pick a side and say ‘I’m Italian’. But for me, it wasn’t that easy.” While Novella loved his Calabrian background he, like his parents, had a deep love for Australia. Having gone to university, completed a computer science degree and got himself a job at Hewlett-Packard, he still hadn’t found himself. He decided to visit his parents’ home villages in Calabria, but the experience left him with more questions than answers. So Novella decided, to the horror of his parents, to quit his job and travel around Australia in an old XE Falcon with his cousin. His search for identity forms the basis of his new show, Half ‘n’ Half: Growing up an Italian in Australia, a night of storytelling joined by local musician Matthew Tripodi.

“I’ve written books, I’ve made films, done podcasts, been on radio…at my core, I’m a storyteller,” Novella said. “This show combines my storytelling with music and visual elements like videos and slides, so it’s not standup comedy and it’s not theatre. “There’s a lot of discourse and discussion about what it means to be Australian and the value of immigration and the value of diversity and inclusion. And my show is about the positivity around all those things.” Joe Novella is at Geelong Town Hall on Friday 2 October. Visit joe-novella.com for tickets and more information. Storyteller Joe Novella (left) presents his new show Half ‘n’ Half alongside Geelong musician Matthew Tripodi in Geelong West this October. (Supplied)

Good vibes as improv sessions attract talented local musos A welcoming monthly jazz jam session is starting to gather momentum in Geelong. After just a handful of performances at the Door Gallery Cafe in Fyansford, the Jazz & Co Improv Sessions have begun to attract emerging talent and established musicians from around the region. Held on the second Saturday of every month, the Improv Sessions operate under a single, simple concept: turn up with your instrument (or voice), join in and improvise. Organiser Summer Cameron said the jam was “completely free and open for anyone and everyone to come and play”. “It’s just a space for people to come

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meet once a month and create some fully improvised music together, with jazz being at the core of it,” she said. “We don’t play with any chord charts, we don’t play any cover songs, we’re just looking for those moments of on-the-spot synergy. “When you are totally connected with someone as a musician it feels magnetic. That’s what we’re going for.” While improvisation is at the heart of jazz, there is more often than not a common framework for players to base their performance of each tune on. The lack of even those guardrails can be

intimidating to many, especially if the rest of the band are complete strangers. “The trickiest part is getting people to feel comfortable with each other,” Cameron said. “But improvisation doesn’t work if you’re in your own head. So I think when people get up there they learn pretty quick that they just have to surrender to the moment, that you’re all in it together. “But we’ve had people just stumble in, get up and have a go…and they leave just full of joy, which is the whole point. It’s supposed to be fun.” The next Jazz & Co Improv Session is on Saturday 10 October from 2pm to 5pm.

New improv jam sesh Jazz & Co is making noise. (Supplied)

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the making of the bookshop…now it really feels like home.” Mr Davis thanked the “incredibly generous and supportive” people of Queenscliff for “coming out on a chilly Thursday night to stand there and pass books” along the street. “We were so touched…we’ve always felt like the bookshop was owned by the community, and now it feels even more like that,” he said. “Their support and love is now in the bones of the new shop and we can really feel that.”

Fresh page for beloved bookshop By Matt Hewson Queenscliff rallied to help one its most-loved businesses move down the street in a show of true community spirit. More than 200 people gathered on Queenscliff’s Hesse Street last Thursday evening to help The Bookshop at Queenscliff owners Matt Davis and Jayne Tuttle shift their entire inventory of books 130 metres from number 84 to their new premises at number 58. The mass turnout came in response to a call from the owners, which they put out barely 24 hours earlier. Mr Davis said the public response was as incredible as it was unexpected. “This kind of thing has happened a few times with bookshops around the world, but most recently Hill of Content did it in Melbourne earlier this year,” he said. “We saw them do that and we thought it was a lovely community event, and we knew we were going to move, so we earmarked that one. “But we weren’t quite sure when we could do it and how it would work logistically…but then Wednesday night it became clear that we could do it the following night. “So we put the call out quite late on Wednesday, thinking we might get 30 or 40 people at such short notice. But over 200 people turned up, it was amazing…beautiful community spirit, good vibes.”

 See page 9 for all the pictures from the event.

Booking it down the street. (Pictures: Ivan Kemp) 579488 20

Mr Davis said the Queenscliff community had been hugely supportive since he and Ms Tuttle took over the business seven years ago. “We started in October 2019, then five months later the global pandemic hit and we had to close our doors,” he said. “We loved the bookshop, but we didn’t really know how loved it was in the community. But in those first two lockdowns the local community decided that when it was all over they wanted to make sure the bookshop was still here.

6 GEELONG INDEPENDENT Friday, 25 September, 2026

“So they bought a lot of books online and I would drive around with my mask on delivering books to peoples’ doorsteps. They really kept the light on, and we really felt that love and support. “We got to know them and they got to know us, and by the time things opened up again we’ survived it. It was a very difficult time for everyone, but in some ways it was

The Bookshop at Queenscliff owners Matt Davis and Jayne Tuttle before the passing of the books begins. 579488 02

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NEWS

gets Festival unity to shine NBAC inspirational namesake

By Jena Carr Hamlyn Heights will host a celebration of Vietnamese culture and encourage connection during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Vietnamese People of Geelong event will feature live performances, fun games and activities for the community during the festival on Saturday 26 September. While it may be spring here, it is autumn in Vietnam and group member Ly Doan said the event reflected a time of “slowing down and of family coming together”. “For the children who come through, we give out free lanterns, and they can also make their own lanterns,” she said. “Back in the day when people were farmers, they would have a harvest, and then they would slow down and come together. “We invite everyone in the Geelong community, not just Vietnamese people, to come and join us to slow down and experience multiculturalism.” Ms Doan said she looked forward to seeing people coming to the event to learn more about the Vietnamese culture. “We’ve got a really great team of volunteers behind us who are dedicated and working very hard behind the scenes to make it happen,” she said. “People coming together for the event is a huge sign of respect for each other, as well as a sign of unity and multiculturalism in regional Victoria. “It’s good to see the Vietnamese community come together, but I also really

By Matt Hewson

Izzy, Nhu Y, Lim, Vannie and Tau are looking forward to the festival. (Ivan Kemp)

enjoy seeing people from other ethnic groups and the broader Geelong community come to our event.” The Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival is a free event held at Vines Road Com-

munity Centre from 4pm to 8pm on 26 September. Visit events.humanitix. com/2026-mid-autumn-festival/tickets for tickets.

With members of the McGill family in attendance, Geelong council voted unanimously to approve Linda McGill Aquatic Centre as the official name of the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre (NBAC) at its Tuesday night meeting. A Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Olympian, Linda McGill MBE became the first Australian to swim the English Channel in 1965, setting a new women’s record for the feat in 1967. In 1968 she also completed a groundbreaking 40-kilometre swim from Portarlington to Frankston – inside a towed shark cage – in under 13 hours, beating seven male competitors who started alongside her. An inductee to the Australian and international marathon swimming halls of fame, she is also the youngest Australian recipient of the MBE at age 22. She was one of three women put before the community as a potential namesake of the NBAC, receiving the most support from the 544 voters. Councillor Rowan Story said he regretted he didn’t have more time to detail McGill’s “remarkable open water and distance and marathon swimming achievements”. “As one of the first women globally to undertake such endurance feats, she helped to redefine perceptions of female athletes and open water swimming,” he said.

missing ad:

YOUR DONATION HELPS KEEP THEIR HOMES CLEAN.

PROTECTED BY PEOPLE LIKE YOU. 12899254-EB37-26

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Thumbs up from Chloe Laity.

Luke Doherty running around GMHBA Stadium.

The run begins.

Run bonanza The inaugural Geelong Running Festival on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September was a raging success with about 6000 participants. NORTHSOUTH photography took these pictures.

Home town support.

Scramble at the start.

Winner of the men’s half-marathon Liam Adams.

Travis Beckley in the half-marathon.

8 GEELONG INDEPENDENT Friday, 25 September, 2026

And they’re off.

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NEWS

Owners, Matt Davis and Jayne Tuttle before the start of passing the books (Ivan Kemp) 579488 03

Passing the book (Ivan Kemp) 579488 12

Passing the book (Ivan Kemp) 579488 18 Into the new bookshop (Ivan Kemp) 579488 32

Passing the book (Ivan Kemp) 579488 17

Passing the book (Ivan Kemp) 579488 10

Passing the book (Ivan Kemp) 579488 31

Passing the book (Ivan Kemp) 579488 25

Passing the book (Ivan Kemp) 579488 24

Many hands make light work The Bookshop at Queenscliff’s current proprietors Matt Davis and Jayne Tuttle were astounded when 200 locals braved the chilly coastal air last Thursday night to help them move their stock of books to the business’s new premises. Geelong Independent photographer Ivan Kemp was there to capture the sense of community that evening.

Passing the book (Ivan Kemp) 579488 06

The volunteers in front of the old book shop (Ivan Kemp) 579488 04

Passing the book (Ivan Kemp) 579488 07

Friday, 25 September, 2026 GEELONG INDEPENDENT 9

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A grand slam plan

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Published by Geelong Independent Pty Ltd ACN 006 653 336. Publisher/Managing Director, Paul Thomas. All material is copyright to Geelong Independent Pty Ltd. Responsibility for election comment is accepted by Paul Thomas. All significant errors will be corrected as quickly as possible. Distribution numbers, areas and coverage are estimates only. For our terms and conditions please visit geelongindy.com.au

NEWS

By Cr Stretch Kontelj If you ask young local tennis players what they need to reach their full potential, most will answer simply: opportunity. Right now, aspiring players from Geelong and western Victoria have to travel long distances to access the facilities, coaching and competitive pathways only available in Melbourne. For many families, this places the opportunities just out of reach. That’s why the City of Greater Geelong, Tennis Victoria and Tennis Australia are rallying behind the proposed Geelong Regional Tennis Centre in the Armstrong Creek growth area. The vision is ambitious but achievable: a world-class regional tennis hub featuring 12 International Tennis Federation-approved courts capable of hosting major events, eight community courts and eight multipurpose courts supporting pickleball, Hot Shots and POP Tennis programs. Add training and recovery facilities, and you’ve got a development that could become a genuine gamechanger for sport in our region. But this isn’t just about attracting elite players and major tournaments. This project would serve all levels of tennis, from young children picking up a racquet for the first time through to elite athletes chasing professional careers. It would create new pathways for local talent while helping more people get active

City of Greater Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj. (Supplied)

and connected through sport. Professional tennis player Amy Stevens knows firsthand the challenges regional athletes face. Growing up in Ocean Grove and on the Surf Coast, she spent countless hours travelling to Melbourne to train and compete. Her experience highlights exactly why this project matters. A regional facility would mean the next generation of talented young players could spend less time travelling and more time developing their game. It would help ensure opportunity is not determined by postcode. And when it comes to attracting major events, the proposal can also make a serious impact. The proposed location for the facility, in the rapidly expanding Armstrong Creek growth area, offers strong connections

to Melbourne, Avalon Airport, southwest Victoria and the Surf Coast. Leading into the Australian Open, Geelong could become an ideal destination for training camps, junior tournaments and even professional events. That’s a vision worth getting behind, and the support already sits firmly on our side of the net. Tennis Australia, Tennis Victoria, Tennis Geelong, local clubs, players and the broader tennis community have all backed the proposal. More than 100 community members attended an information session in May, demonstrating strong local support for the project. Council has also shown we’re ready to play our part. We’ve served up $13 million toward the broader multi-sport precinct. Tennis Victoria and Tennis Australia have committed a further $1 million in funding and in-kind support. As we approach the state election, we’re continuing to make the case because we know this project could deliver lasting benefits not only for Geelong, but for communities right across western Victoria. We’re calling for all candidates for the seat of South Barwon to return serve, by committing another $8.5 million to bring this exciting vision to life. The ball is now firmly in their court. Geelong has done the groundwork. We’ve developed the vision, built the partnerships and demonstrated strong community support. Now it’s time for the government to smash a winner and help us turn this grand slam opportunity into reality.

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FROM THE ARCHIVES The Geelong Independent looks back through the pages of our archives

16 years ago

11 years ago

6 years ago

1 year ago

24 September, 2010

25 September, 2015

25 September, 2020

26 September, 2025

One Geelong West mechanic is facing $30,000 losses because cars can’t reach his garage on Pakington Street. Bicycles not cars will take precedence during cycling’s biggest international road event next week set to gridlock several inner city streets.

Angry residents aim to topple plans to erect a telecommunications tower in an historic Geelong cemetery, telling the provider: not near our backyard. The Geelong Cemeteries Trust has signed an agreement with Telstra to lease a section of the Western Cemetery to install a 37.5m pole at the rear of the graveyard. The City of Greater Geelong is considering a planning application.

Crime has jumped by 7.8 per cent in Geelong and 11.9 per cent on the Surf Coast in 12 months, according to the latest Crime Statistics Agency data. The percentage increases take into account population growth, with total offences increasing 10.2 per cent in Geelong and 14.7 per cent on the Surf Coast.

It’s a huge weekend in Greater Geelong if you’re a footy and netball fan. AFL Barwon’s Geelong Football Netball League grand finals are being held today (Friday September 26) at Kardinia Park and, of course, Geelong Cats are in another AFL grand final tomorrow (September 27).

10 GEELONG INDEPENDENT Friday, 25 September, 2026

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COMMUNITY

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

Geelong Coin Collectors

the swimming enclosure. 30-minutes free laughter yoga done standing or seated.  0418 521 265

Interactive workshops, Virginia Todd Hall, 9 Clarence Street, Geelong West, Friday 2 October, 9am-4pm. To support people aged 55-plus with workshops on currency collecting with a focus on the contributions of Indigenous people to Australia’s currency.

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

Ballroom dance Leopold Hall, 805-809 Bellarine Highway, Saturday 26 September, 7.30-10.30pm, $10 includes supper. Music: Puff. Bring a small plate to share.  0400 500 402

Combined Probus Belmont Central The Combined Probus Club of Belmont Central meets 10.30am on the second Wednesday of each month at Waurn Ponds Hotel. Visitors welcome.  Publicity officer, 0417 555 547

Mainly Music

Hot Shots

Music and fun for preschoolers during term time at the Welcome Centre, St Mark’s, Vicarage Road, Leopold, Thursdays 9.15-11am. $5 per family per week.  Text: 0461 582 618 for bookings

Western Heights Uniting Tennis Club coaching for ages 5 to 12. Equipment provided. Three sessions from 4-5.30pm at WHUTC and at Bell Post Hill tennis courts.  Evie, 0409 433 772, evieryan296@gmail.com

Lions Club of Geelong Geelong Patchwork & Quilter’s Guild Meets third Saturday of each month 10.30am-3.30pm, Newcomb Hall, Wilsons Road. Visitors welcome. $6 includes time to sit and sew, morning tea and guest speaker.  info@geelongpatch.org.au

Dragons Abreast Geelong Dragon boating for breast cancer survivors, Saturdays 12.30pm, Geelong Canoe Club, Marnock Road, Highton. Free come and try.  Traci, 0417 301 226, Facebook Dragons Abreast Geelong - Juggernauts

Meets 1st & 3rd Monday of each month. Contact below for venues and times.  geelong.vic@lions.org.au, 0408 599 962

Discover the area’s past. Open Sundays, 10.30am-12.30pm. Courthouse Museum, 11 High Street, Drysdale.  bellarinehistory.org

Chess clubs

Arts National-Geelong

Ocean Grove, Tuesdays at 1.30pm at 101 The Terrace, Ocean Grove; Portarlington, Mondays at 9.30am, Parks Hall, 87 Newcombe Street, Portarlington; and St Leonards, Thursdays at 9.30am, unit 2 1375-1377 Murradoc Road (on Blanche Street), St Leonards.  Ralph, 0431 458 100 (Ocean Grove), Rob, 5259 2290 (Portarlington), Lyn, 5292 2162 (St Leonards)

One hour arts lectures and presentation, Newcomb Hall, Wednesdays monthly, 10.15am.  Sharron, 0439 328 199, geelong@adfas.org.au

Lara Lions Club Meets second and fourth Monday of the month for club meeting and dinner.  Michael, 0430 022 446, membershiplaralions@gmail.com

Rostrum Builds confident public speakers, each Monday evening.  Andrew, 0408 369 446, Jan, 0407 296 958

Dancer’s Club Geelong Ballroom dance weekly, Leopold Hall 7.30-10.30pm. Admission $8 includes supper. Old time, New Vogue and Latin. CDs by Kevin and Tre.  Russ, 5250 1937

Life Activities Club [Geelong Inc] Arvo tea dance every Thursday, Belmont Pavilion, 2-4pm, $5 entry.  Val, 5251 3529

Geelong Scout Heritage Centre Scouting memorabilia, open third Sunday of the month, 56 Russell Street, Newtown, 10am-3pm, entry by donation. Groups by appointment.  0419 591 432, geelong.heritage@scoutsvictoria.com.au

Belmont Combined Probus

PlayLinks

Barwon Valley Belmont Probus

Music and art playgroup where babies, toddlers and preschoolers learn together with their parent/carer. Wednesdays St Thomas Aquinas Primary School, Norlane. Free if living in 3214 postcode, bookings essential.  info@bluebirdfoundationinc.org.au

First Thursday of month, 10.30am, Waurn Ponds Hotel.  Membership officer, 0407 333 263, bobstafford@ozemail.com.au

Grovedale East Ladies Probus Fourth Monday of each month, 9.30am, Belmont RSL.  Sally Nelson, 0402 450 610

Waurn Ponds Combined Probus Fourth Wednesday of the month, 10am. Maximum 100 members.  probussouthpacific.org/microsites/waurn

Geelong Harmony Chorus Women’s four-part harmony singing. All ages encouraged. Rehearsals Mondays 6.45pm at Herne Hill.  contact@geelongharmony.com.au, 0406 666 737

Geelong Welsh Ladies Choir Small ladies choir who require no knowledge of the Welsh language. Meet Wednesdays 7pm at St Luke’s, Highton to help each other sing in Welsh and English.  0413 406 433, welshladieschoir.com.au

Grovedale Marshall Probus

First Monday of the month, 10am, Belmont Bowls Club, 36 Reynolds Road, Belmont. New members and visitors welcome.  Sue, 0409 945 011, probusclubofbelmont@outlook.com

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

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.  grow.org.au, 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, 041 549 521

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, 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, 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

Drysdale Day VIEW

Church

Fourth Friday of each month at Portarlington Golf Club for lunch.  Margaret, 0431 636 090

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

Lectures Join Adfas Geelong Inc. for illustrated lectures by art historian Matthew Martin, formerly curator of the National Gallery of Victoria.

Second Thursday of the month,10am, The Grovedale Hub, 45 Heyers Road, Grovedale.  Anne, 0425 356 973

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

Hamlyn Heights Combined Probus

Leopold VIEW

Esoteric coffee meetups

Second Tuesday of each month, Leopold Sportsmans Club, 10.30am.  leopold.viewclub@gmail com

For mature 18+ interested in the supernatural/occult paranormal experiences tarot cards, Anton La Vey, NDE, for fortnightly/coffee and chat catch-ups in northern Geelong/Geelong area. Bookings limited.  Text name/details, 0400 542 522

Meets second Thursday of the month, 10am, 200 McCurdy Road, Fyansford.  Noel, 0425 706 339

Sports Badminton: Corio Leisuretime Centre, Mondays 12.30-2.30pm. Beginners welcome. Netball: YMCA Riversdale Road, Monday & Wednesday mornings, Thursday nights. Walking-netball also played. Umpire training available.  Maureen, 0429 397 015

Live music Country Heartbeat Allstars every Friday 7-10pm, White Eagle House Polish Club, Fellmongers Road Breakwater. Walkups welcome. Proceeds to Sunny Days Rescue & Rehab.  Dawn, 0417 148 493

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.  geelongeveningview@gmail.com

Bellarine Historical Society

Laughter Club Geelong

Entry by donation. Open to the public.

Saturdays, 9am, Eastern Beach in front of

Geelong Central Probus Third Friday of the month, 9.45am, Grovedale Hotel.  geelcentprob@gmail.com

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

Friday, 25 September, 2026 GEELONG INDEPENDENT 11

NEWS

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Quinton Gleeson with his sons Monty and Rupert.

Lily Stainsby, Millie Lecchini and Ruby Rose.

Graham and Jane Smailes.

Grand final day Amy Hedley with her children Dulcie, Tallulah and baby Marlow and Luci Hall.

With temperatures in the mid-20s, Independent photographer Ivan Kemp took some time to take these pics at Grinter Reserve at the Bellarine Football Netball League grand finals on Saturday 19 September.

April Joseph was hoping for Queenscliff wins. Stacey Geelhoed with her son Charlie and sister Emily.

Fleur Stephen, Laura Ritchie, Sarah Flaherty and Remy Bennett were on the Grubbers train.

Ocean Grove footballers Noah Cunningham and Levi Norman and former Grubber and now Richmond defender Kye Annand (middle).

Georgia Smith, who played the D Grade premiership for Torquay, and Jess Eland.

12 GEELONG INDEPENDENT Friday, 25 September, 2026

Gavin Harrington with his children Penelope and Paddy.

Taylan Keating, Daisy Sheather and Asher Green.

Remy Olsen, Emily Dixon, Pippa Bullen and Kiara Berry were barracking for Ammos.

The Guide FATHER BROWN ABC TV, Saturday, 8.30pm

PICK OF THE WEEK

MY KITCHEN RULES Seven, Monday, 7.30pm

The penultimate episode of season 12 takes place in the cut-thread world of Kembleford’s sewing circle, which is recovering from a recent leadership stoush between Violet Goodfellow (Naomi Radcliffe) and ambitious up-andcomer Catherine Glover (Carlyss Peer, Dalgleish). The group is working on a tapestry depicting the history of the parish, soon to be unveiled at St Mary’s. But when Miss Glover is found murdered, Sergeant Goodfellow (John Burton, pictured) finds himself on a case where both his wife and his best friend (Gavin and Stacey ’s Robert Wilfort) are suspects. He turns to Father Brown (Mark Williams) for help as his investigation comes apart at the seams.

From food-loving farmers to bold bogan besties and a seriously chic creative couple, this 16th season of MKR has it all. Showcasing the country’s funny, friendly and feisty home cooks, this year’s competition focuses on real people and the dishes they love to serve. It begins in the Gold Coast hinterland, where wholesome motherdaughter team Krysten and Lucy (both pictured) are ready to impress with their instant restaurant, Puggles – named for the baby platypuses that live in their nearby creek. While their beef tartare entrée and paella main aim to set the bar high, the proof will be in the pudding when self-taught baker Lucy serves her signature mango-coconut croissant puff sweet rice dessert.

PELLEGRINI’S: A MELBOURNE LEGACY SBS Food, Sunday, 8.30pm

It’s the coffee capital of the world today, but prior to 1954, it was practically impossible to find a shot of espresso in Melbourne. Anyone having a coffee was likely drinking percolated or instant – a hard fact to swallow for most Melburnians today. All that changed when Italian brothers Leo and Vildo Pellegrini opened a small café on Bourke Street, installed the first espresso machine in the heart of Melbourne and began a revolution. Crafted as a love letter to the city and the community that has grown around the now-iconic venue, this film explores the pioneering cultural influence of Pellegrini’s and the enduring legacy of its late owner, Sisto Malaspina (pictured right with business partner Nino Pangrazzio in 2015), who made every visitor feel like a guest in his home.

Friday, September 25 ABC TV (2)

SBS (3)

SEVEN (6, 7)

NINE (8, 9)

TEN (5, 10)

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.00 Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job. (R) 10.30 Take 5 With Zan Rowe. (PGa, R) 10.55 Austin. (PG, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Portrait Artist Of The Year. (PG, R) 1.45 The Cage. (Ml, R) 2.30 Poh’s Kitchen. (R) 3.00 Grand Designs Transformations. (PG, R) 3.55 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGv) 4.40 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6am Morning Programs. 7.30 France 24 English News. 8.00 DD India News Hour. 9.15 For The Love Of Dogs. (PGa, R) 10.15 Vintage Voltage. (R) 11.10 Canal Boat Diaries. 12.00 WorldWatch. 1.55 DNA Family Secrets. (PG, R) 3.00 Nula. 3.40 The Cook Up. (R) 4.10 Britain’s Most Luxurious Train Journeys. (PG, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 MOVIE: Destination Love. (2021, PGa) Anna Hutchison. 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Football. AFL Women’s. Round 7. Carlton v Richmond. From Ikon Park, Melbourne.

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: You, Me, And That Mountain Retreat. (2023, PGa, R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG, R) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG, R) 5.00 [MELB] Tipping Point Australia. (PG, R) 5.30 WIN News.

6.00 Ent. Tonight. (R) 6.30 Bold. (PG, R) 7.00 Deal Or No Deal. (PG, R) 7.30 Everyday Gourmet. (R) 8.00 Lingo. (R) 9.00 The Finish Line. (R) 10.00 Farm To Fork. (R) 10.30 Ent. Tonight. (R) 11.00 Building The Dream. (R) 12.00 Everyday Gourmet. 12.30 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG, R) 1.00 News. 2.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R) 2.30 The Finish Line. (R) 3.30 Lingo. (R) 4.30 Bold. (PG) 5.00 News.

6.25 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) 7.00 ABC News. 7.30 Gardening Australia. Advice for the home gardener. 8.20 Death Valley. (PGa) Janie investigates the murder of a best man. 9.05 Portrait Artist Of The Year. (PG, R) Nine artists create celebrity portraits. 9.55 Spicks And Specks. (PGl, R) Hosted by comedian Adam Hills. 10.25 ABC Late News. 10.40 Would I Lie To You? (PG) 11.15 Murdoch Mysteries. (Mav, R) 12.00 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv) 5.00 Rage. (PG)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 6.30 SBS World News. 7.35 The Good Ship Murder. (Mv) A colleague of Jack and Kate is murdered. 8.30 WWII With Tom Hanks. (Maw) The fighting in the Pacific intensifies. 10.10 SBS World News Late. 10.40 Spy/Master. (MA15+a) 11.40 Darkness: Those Who Kill. (Mav, R) 1.30 Mountain Vets. (PG, R) 3.50 Bamay: Central Deserts. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Football. AFL Women’s. Round 7. Melbourne v North Melbourne. From Ikon Park, Melbourne. 9.15 Unfiltered. (PG, R) Hamish McLachlan sits down with Geelong Cats premiership player Tom Stewart. 9.45 MOVIE: A Few Good Men. (1992, Ml, R) Two lawyers defend two murder suspects. Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore. 12.30 GetOn Extra. (R) A look at the weekend’s best racing. 1.00 The Front Bar. (Ml, R) 3.00 The Agenda Setters. (R) 4.00 To Be Advised. 5.00 NBC Today.

6.00 9News. 7.00 Rugby League. NRL Finals. First preliminary final. 9.50 NRL Finals Footy Post-Match. Post-match coverage of the first preliminary final, with analysis and news of the NRL finals series. 10.45 MOVIE: Lethal Weapon 3. (1992, Mlv, R) Two cops pursue a crooked former policeman. Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci. 1.00 Drive Review. (R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 4.30 Global Shop. (R) 5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 5.30 Postcards. (PG, R)

6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (R) Hosted by Grant Denyer. 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG, R) Hosted by Rebecca Gibney. 7.30 Australia Vs Brazil Pre-Game. Pre-game coverage of the Australia v Brazil match. 8.10 Soccer. International Friendly Series. Australia v Brazil. Game 1. From Queensland Country Bank Stadium. 10.30 10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather. 11.30 Have You Been Paying Attention? (Malns, R) 12.30 Two And A Half Men. (Ms, R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

SBS2 (31)

7TWO (62, 72)

9GEM (81, 92)

10 COMEDY (52, 11)

6am Children’s Programs. 11.40 Iron Man And His Awesome Friends. 12.55pm Talking Tom Heroes. 1.20 PJ Masks. 1.50 Kangaroo Beach. 2.25 Numberblocks. 2.45 Gardening Australia Junior. 3.00 Play School. 3.25 Wiggle. 4.00 Andy’s Global Adventures. 4.30 SuperKitties. 5.15 Octonauts. 5.50 PJ Masks. 6.05 Spidey And His Amazing Friends. 7.05 Gardening Australia Junior. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 8.00 Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! 9.40 BattleBots. 10.20 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Icons Unearthed: Batman. 11.55 DW The Day. 12.25pm Jimmy Carr’s I Literally Just Told You. 2.15 Forged In Fire. 3.10 Stories From The Cities. 3.45 WorldWatch. 5.40 Inside The Huddle. 6.10 Over The Black Dot. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 Celebrity Jeopardy. 8.30 Original Gangsters. 9.25 The Naked World. 10.20 Sex Actually. 11.15 The Americans. 12.10am The Old Man. 1.10 Age Of Rage: Australian Punk Revolution. 2.50 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera News Hour.

6am Morning Programs. Noon House Of Wellness. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 The Great Australian Doorstep. 2.30 Weekender. 3.00 Malaysia Kitchen. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Better Homes. 5.00 Escape To The Country. 6.00 Bargain Hunt. 7.00 Better Homes. 8.30 Escape To The Country. 11.30 Bargain Hunt. 12.30am Escape To The Country. 1.30 The Great Australian Doorstep. 2.00 Harry’s Practice. 2.30 Medical Emergency. 3.00 Better Homes. 5.00 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon Shakespeare And Hathaway. 1.00 Poirot. 3.00 Antiques Roadshow. 3.30 MOVIE: Lease Of Life. (1954) 5.30 Yorkshire Auction House. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 Find My Country House Aust. 8.30 MOVIE: The Birdcage. (1996, M) 10.50 Forensics: Catching The Killer. 11.50 Australia’s Top Ten Of Everything. 1am Creflo. 1.30 MOVIE: The Hand Of Night. (1968, M) 3.20 My Favorite Martian. 3.50 Iconic Australia. 5.00 Seaway.

6am Shopping. 6.30 Ridiculousness. 7.30 MasterChef Aust. 8.30 Ent. Tonight. 9.00 GCBC. 9.30 Farm To Fork. 10.00 Bold. 10.30 Deal Or No Deal. 11.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. 11.30 Lingo. 12.30pm Becker. 1.00 Friends. 3.00 Frasier. 4.00 Everyday Gourmet. 4.30 Becker. 5.00 Frasier. 6.00 Friends. 8.00 Two And A Half Men. (Ms, R) 9.30 Becker. (PG, R) 10.00 Frasier. 11.00 Ridiculousness. 11.30 Ent. Tonight. Midnight Shopping. 2.30 Bold. 3.30 Shopping. 5.30 Joseph Prince.

NITV (34)

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

7MATE (64, 73)

9GO! (82, 93)

10 DRAMA (53, 12)

6am Morning Programs. 8.10 Thalu. 8.40 The Magic Canoe. 9.10 Spartakus. 9.40 Fresh Fairytales. 10.00 Undiscovered Vistas. 11.00 Going Places. Noon Connection To Country. 1.00 Yana Djamaga Ganji. 2.00 Kriol Kitchen. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Ocean Warriors. 5.30 Nula. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Undiscovered Vistas. 7.30 MOVIE: My Girl. (1991, PG) 9.30 MOVIE: Eddie The Eagle. (2016, PG) 11.20 Nula. 11.50 Going Places. 12.50am Yagan. 2.00 On The Road. 3.00 On The Road. 5.00 Bamay.

6am The Movie Show. 6.30 Vai. (2019, PG) 8.10 Born To Dance. (2015, PGa) 10.00 Suffragette. (2015, Malv) Noon I Accidentally Wrote A Book. (2024, PGa, Hungarian) 1.50 The Return Of The Soldier. (1982, PGalsv) 3.45 Casablanca. (1942, PGav) 5.40 84 Charing Cross Road. (1987, PG) 7.30 Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. (1974, Mav) 9.35 The Departed. (2006, MA15+lsv) 12.25am Shanghai. (2010, MA15+dv) 2.25 Baghdad Messi. (2023, Mlv, Arabic) 3.55 Escape From Alcatraz. (1979, Mav)

6am Morning Programs. 7.30 Creek To Coast. 8.00 A Football Life. 9.00 NFL Tailgate. 10.00 NFL. Green Bay Packers v Atlanta Falcons. 1.30pm Pawn Stars. 2.30 Kick Ons. 3.00 Timbersports. 3.30 Engineering Disasters. 4.30 American Resto. 5.00 Storage Wars. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.30 Motorbike Cops. 8.30 MOVIE: Billy Madison. (1995, M) 10.30 MOVIE: King Of Thieves. (2018, M) 12.45am Storage Wars. 1.30 Motorbike Cops. 2.30 Sound FX: Best Of. 3.00 NFL. NFL. Replay.

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 My Way. 11.45 Rugby Heaven. 12.45pm MOVIE: Journey To The Centre Of The Earth. (2008, PG) 2.40 Baywatch. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Baywatch. 7.30 MOVIE: Hot Shots! (1991, M) 9.15 MOVIE: We’re The Millers. (2013, MA15+) 11.30 Top 20 Funniest. 12.25am Babies Behind Bars. 1.15 Love Island UK: All Stars. 2.15 Legacies. 3.05 World’s Greatest Natural Wonders. 4.00 Barbie: Dreamhouse Adventures. 4.30 Hop. 4.50 Late Programs.

6am Shopping. 8.00 Days Of Our Lives. 8.45 The Young And The Restless. 9.30 Living Room. 10.30 Building The Dream. 11.30 The Bold And The Beautiful. Noon Days Of Our Lives. 12.45 The Young And The Restless. 1.30 JAG. 3.30 Bull. 4.30 JAG. (PGlv, R) 6.30 Bull. (PGa, R) 7.30 NCIS. (Mv, R) 10.20 Bull. (PGa, R) 11.15 JAG. (PGlv, R) 1.15am Home Shopping.

CONSUMER ADVICE (P) Pre-school (C) Children (PG) Parental Guidance Recommended (M) Mature Audiences (MA15+) Mature Audiences Only (AV15+) Extreme Adult Violence (R) Repeat (a) Adult themes (d) Drug references (h) Horror (s) Sex references (l) Language (m) Medical procedures (n) Nudity (v) Violence.

VIC

Friday, 25 September, 2026 GEELONG INDEPENDENT 13

Saturday, September 26 ABC TV (2)

SBS (3)

SEVEN (6, 7)

NINE (8, 9)

TEN (5, 10)

6.00 Rage Charts. (PG) 7.00 Wknd Brekky. 9.00 Rage. (PG) 10.30 Rage Vault Guest Programmer. (PG) 12.00 News. 12.30 Grantchester. (Final, Mv, R) 1.15 Father Brown. (PGa, R) 2.05 Death Valley. (PGa, R) 2.50 Griff’s Great Australian Rail Trip. (PG, R) 3.40 Take 5. (PGl, R) 4.05 The Tony Blair Story. (PGa, R) 5.00 Aust Story. (R) 5.30 Landline. (R)

6.00 DW English News. 6.30 Al Jazeera. 7.00 BBC News At Six. 7.30 France 24 English News. 8.00 DD India News Hour. 9.20 For The Love Of Dogs. (PGa, R) 9.50 Car & Country Quest. 11.00 BBC News At Ten. 11.30 France 24. 12.00 WorldWatch. 1.00 Motor Racing. Hi-Tec Oils Super Series. 5.05 Going Places. (R) 5.35 War Trains. (PG)

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 9.00 AFL Grand Final Brunch. 10.30 AFL Grand Final Countdown. 12.00 AFL Grand Final Pre-Game. 2.00 Football. AFL. Grand Final. From the MCG. 5.00 AFL Grand Final Post-Match Presentation.

6.00 Getaway. (PG, R) 6.30 The Garden Gurus. (R) 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 Today Extra: Saturday. (PG) 12.00 Destination WA. (R) 12.30 Drive Review. 1.00 Find My Country House Australia. (R) 1.35 The Block. (PGl, R) 4.30 The Garden Gurus. 5.00 9News First At Five. 5.30 Getaway. (PG)

6am Morning Programs. 9.30 Frugal Foodie. (R) 10.00 Freshly Picked. (R) 10.30 What’s Up Down Under. (PG) 11.30 Love It Or List It: Brilliant Builds. (PG, R) 12.30 Sydney Harbour Cops. (PGad, R) 1.30 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG, R) 2.00 Deal Or No Deal: Celebrity Jackpot. (PGdls, R) 3.00 The Finish Line. (R) 4.00 Lingo. (R) 5.00 News.

6.00 Kath & Kim. (PGals, R) Kim swears off men and takes up golf. 6.25 Hard Quiz. (PGa, R) Hosted by Tom Gleeson. 7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day. 7.30 Beyond Paradise Christmas Special. (PGad) Whilst home alone, Bob encounters his late wife’s ghost, Linda, who has a haunting demand. 8.30 Father Brown. (PGv) Father Brown must untangle the mysteries that lie within the sewing circle when a seamstress is stabbed to death. 9.15 Midsomer Murders. (Mv, R) The discovery of a saint’s bones at an archaeological dig causes a stir in the village. 10.45 Falling. (Final, Ml, R) Anna and David both try to find a fresh start. 11.35 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Jewels Of The Mediterranean: Capri. (PGa) 8.20 Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive. (Mav, R) Looks at the comeback journey of 79-year-old artist Gloria Gaynor as she works on a passion gospel project. 10.15 Shaun Micallef’s Origin Odyssey: Tony Armstrong In Ireland. (Final, PGa, R) 11.15 DNA Family Secrets. (PG, R) 12.25 Vikings: The Lost Kingdom. (R) 2.05 Mountain Vets. (Ma, R) 4.15 Bamay: Tasmania Northwest Pt 3. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 The 1% Club. (PGls, R) Jim Jefferies hosts a game show where contestants must answer increasingly obscure questions. 8.00 MOVIE: The Martian. (2015, Mal, R) Believed to be dead by his crew, an astronaut is stranded on Mars and has to rely on his ingenuity to survive. Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels. 11.00 Dennis Cometti: Centimetre Perfect. (PGalv, R) Looks at the life of Dennis Cometti. 1.15 The Midwich Cuckoos. (MA15+av) The children’s hold on Midwich strengthens. 2.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 It’s Academic. (R) Hosted by Simon Reeve. 5.00 House Of Wellness. (PG, R)

6.00 9News Saturday. 7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 MOVIE: Zookeeper. (2011, PGls, R) A group of zoo animals decides to break their code of silence in order to help their keeper find love. Kevin James, Rosario Dawson, Leslie Bibb. 9.30 Basketball. NBL. Round 2. Perth Wildcats v New Zealand Breakers. From RAC Arena, Perth. 11.30 Wild Cards. (Mav, R) Max and Ellis look for a killer at a dog show. 12.20 Destination Celebrity. (PG) 1.30 Next Stop. (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)

6.30 Gogglebox Australia. (R) Opinionated viewers discuss TV shows. 7.30 Selling Houses Australia. (PG) Empty-nesters Jackie and Terry want to sell their outdated, oversized family home on the Mornington Peninsula. 8.30 Love It Or List It Australia. (R) Neale Whitaker and Andrew Winter help a couple struggling with a dysfunctional, two-level property. 9.40 Love It Or List It: Brilliant Builds. (PG) Kirstie and Phil look back on their best builds that put family front and centre. 10.40 Watson. (Mm, R) Watson is sued for wrongful life by a patient. 11.40 FBI. (Mav, R) Maggie’s sister goes missing. 12.30 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power.

ABC FAMILY (22)

SBS2 (31)

7TWO (62, 72)

9GEM (81, 92)

10 COMEDY (52, 11)

6am Children’s Programs. 3pm Play School. 3.30 The Most Magnificent Thing. 4.15 Stan & Gran. 5.20 Peter Rabbit. 5.45 Iron Man And His Awesome Friends. 6.25 Zog. 7.05 Do Not Watch This Show. 7.30 Teenage Boss: Next Level. 7.55 MOVIE: Spy Kids 2: The Island Of Lost Dreams. (2002, PG) 9.35 The Lady Grace Mysteries. (Final) 10.00 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 1.05pm Great Australian Concerts: The Living End. 2.10 Stories From The Cities. 2.40 If You Are The One. 3.45 WorldWatch. 5.45 Mastermind Aust. 6.45 Engineering By Catastrophe. (Final) 7.40 History’s Greatest Machines. 8.30 Battle Of The Brands. 9.25 Couples Therapy. (Final) 10.05 MOVIE: Amy. (2015, MA15+) 12.25am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. Noon Horse Racing. Golden Rose Day and Mornington Grand Final Weekend. 5.00 Harry’s Practice. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bondi Vet. 7.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 8.30 Escape To The Chateau. 9.30 Escape To The Country. 10.30 World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys. 11.30 Auction Squad. 12.30am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.40 Edgar Wallace Mysteries. 1pm MOVIE: Mister Ten Per Cent. (1967) 2.50 MOVIE: Murphy’s War. (1971, PG) 5.00 MOVIE: The 7th Dawn. (1964, PG) 7.30 Rugby League. NRL Women’s Premiership Finals. First prelim. 9.30 MOVIE: Be Cool. (2005, M) 11.55 Memory Lane. 1.15am MOVIE: Fear Is The Key. (1972, M) 3.25 Late Programs.

6am Shopping. 7.30 Deal Or No Deal. 8.30 Bold. 11.00 Everyday Gourmet With Justine Schofield. 11.30 Becker. Noon Frasier. 1.00 Becker. (PG, R) 1.30 Frasier. (PGa, R) 2.30 Friends. (PG, R) 7.30 Two And A Half Men. (PGs, R) 11.00 Becker. (PG, R) 11.30 Frasier. 12.30am Home Shopping.

NITV (34)

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

7MATE (64, 73)

9GO! (82, 93)

10 DRAMA (53, 12)

6am Morning Programs. 1.50pm Undiscovered Vistas. 2.40 Over The Black Dot. 3.10 Stompem Ground 2022: Footprince. 3.30 Sunny And The Dark Horse. 5.00 Murder In Big Horn. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 The Other Side. 7.30 Alone Australia Reunion. 8.40 MOVIE: Fright Night 2. (2013, MA15+) 10.30 MOVIE: Luther: Never Too Much. (2024, PG) 12.20am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 12.45pm Escape From Alcatraz. (1979, Mav) 2.45 Roxane. (2019, PGals, French) 4.20 Mary Shelley. (2017, PGals) 6.35 Hating Alison Ashley. (2005, PGalv) 8.30 Insomnia. (2002) 10.40 Pretty Young Thing. (2022, MA15+as, Danish) 12.30am Tigerland. (2000, MA15+s) 2.25 Shanghai. (2010, MA15+dv) 4.25 The Movie Show. 5.00 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 1pm Blokesworld. 1.30 Dipper’s Rigs. 2.00 Rides Down Under: Workshop Wars. 3.00 Motor Racing. Night Thunder. Silver Cup. Replay. 4.00 Frozen Gold. 5.00 Counting Cars. 5.30 Pawn Stars. 6.00 AFL Grand Final Post-Match Show. 7.00 Pawn Stars. 7.30 MOVIE: Robin Hood. (2010, M) 10.25 MOVIE: Miami Vice. (2006, MA15+) 1.05am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 NBL: Overtime. 12.30pm Soccer. English Premier League. Tottenham v Aston Villa. 2.30 Ronaldo. 4.30 The Dog House UK. 5.30 MOVIE: 17 Again. (2009, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: John Tucker Must Die. (2006, PG) 9.20 MOVIE: Magic Mike. (2012, MA15+) 11.40 Top 20 Funniest. 12.35am The Purge. 3.05 The Dog House UK. 4.00 Late Programs.

6am Shopping. 9.00 Reel Action. 9.30 Building The Dream. 12.30pm The Living Room. 2.30 JAG. 4.30 Reel Action. 5.00 Bondi Rescue. (PG, R) 5.30 JAG. (PGlv, R) 7.30 NCIS. (M, R) 10.20 JAG. (PGa, R) 12.15am Home Shopping.

We

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Sunday, September 27 ABC TV (2)

SBS (3)

SEVEN (6, 7)

NINE (8, 9)

TEN (5, 10)

6am Morning Programs. 9.00 Insiders. 10.00 Offsiders. 10.30 World This Week. (R) 11.00 Compass. (PG, R) 11.30 Praise. 12.00 News. 12.30 Landline. 1.30 Gardening Aust. (R) 2.20 Portrait Artist Of The Year. (PG, R) 3.10 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (R) 4.30 Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job. (R) 5.00 Take 5. (PGa, R) 5.30 Back Roads. (R)

6.00 DW English News. 6.30 Al Jazeera. 7.00 PBS News Horizons. 7.30 France 24 English News. 8.00 DD India News Hour. 9.00 For The Love Of Dogs. (PGa, R) 10.00 Flying Hands. (PG) 11.00 The Isle Of Rum. (PGa, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 1.00 Motor Racing. Hi-Tec Oils Super Series. 5.05 Going Places. (R) 5.35 War Trains. (PG)

6.00 Better Homes. (R) 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 House Of Wellness. (PG, R) 1.00 Football. AFL Women’s. Collingwood v GWS Giants. 3.00 Football. AFL Women’s. Sydney v Brisbane. From Henson Park, Sydney. 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R)

6.00 Hello SA. (PG, R) 6.30 A Current Affair. (R) 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 AFL Sunday Footy Show. (PG) 12.00 Wide World Of Sports. (PG) 1.00 GolfBarons. (R) 1.30 Taronga: Who’s Who In The Zoo. (PG, R) 2.30 Postcards. (PG) 3.00 Rugby League. NRL Finals. Second preliminary final.

6am Morning Programs. 9.30 GCBC. (R) 10.00 Buy To Build. (R) 10.30 Well Traveller. (PG, R) 11.00 Intrepid Adventures. (R) 11.30 Building The Dream. (R) 12.30 Farm To Fork. (R) 1.00 Deal Or No Deal. (PG, R) 1.30 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG, R) 2.00 Gogglebox Aust. (R) 3.00 The Finish Line. (R) 4.00 Lingo. (R) 5.00 News.

6.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 7.00 ABC News. 7.30 Portrait Artist Of The Year. Six artists paint portraits of Marcia Hines. 8.20 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. Kevin McCloud explores outstanding homes where materials and craftsmanship shine. 9.05 The Cage. (M) Matty and Leanne have a chaotic night. 9.55 Father Brown. (PGv, R) A seamstress is stabbed to death. 10.40 MOVIE: Death In Brunswick. (1991, Msv, R) Sam Neill. 12.30 Rage. (MA15+dhlnsv) 2.30 Midsomer Murders. (Mv, R) 4.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 5.00 Insiders. (R)

6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Roman Empire By Train With Alice Roberts. (PGavw) Alice Roberts’ train takes her to Herculaneum. 8.25 Ancient Superstructures: Acropolis Of Athens. (PG) Looks at the creation of the Acropolis. 9.25 Troy Story. (PG, R) Looks at the true story of the Trojan War. 11.10 Whoopee Blues. (Mdlns) 1.30 Mountain Vets. (Ma, R) 3.40 The Mighty Mississippi With Nick Knowles. (Maw, R) 4.30 Bamay: Tasmania Northwest Pt 4. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 PBS News Horizons.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 The Voice. (Final, PG) The contestants perform in the grand finale. 9.05 7NEWS Spotlight. Focuses on major breaking news events and long-form investigations of national significance. 10.05 Murder In The Goldfields. (Madv, R) Caroline Overington investigates three murders. 12.05 Curfew. (Final, MA15+av) 1.05 Harry’s Practice. (R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 3.00 NFL. Week 3. Jacksonville Jaguars v New England Patriots. 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 9News Sunday. 7.00 Rugby Union. International Test Series. Australia v South Africa. From Optus Stadium, Perth. 9.45 Test Rugby: Australia v South Africa Post-Match. Post-match analysis and interviews. 10.15 9News Late. 10.45 The First 48: The Beautiful Life. (Mah) 11.45 Murder In The 21st: Beneath The Surface. (MA15+v) 12.40 Tycoons Down Under: Legacy. (PG, R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 4.30 Destination WA. (PG, R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

6.30 10 News+. Comprehensive coverage of the day’s top stories, investigative reports and stories that haven’t been heard. 7.00 Gogglebox Australia. TV fanatics open up their living rooms to reveal their reactions to popular and topical TV shows. 8.00 Watson. (Ma) Watson and the fellows race to save the life of a woman who needs a kidney donation. 9.00 FBI. (Madv) A drug kingpin from Eva’s past resurfaces when three people die due to drug exposure. 12.00 10 News+. (R) Comprehensive coverage of the day’s top stories, investigative reports and stories that haven’t been heard. 12.30 Home Shopping. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

SBS2 (31)

7TWO (62, 72)

9GEM (81, 92)

10 COMEDY (52, 11)

6am Children’s Programs. 11.40 Mini Kids. 12.55pm Talking Tom Heroes. 1.20 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 1.50 Kangaroo Beach. 2.30 The Makery. 2.45 Fizzy And Suds. 3.00 Play School. 3.25 The Gruffalo’s Child. 4.15 Stan & Gran. 5.45 Iron Man And His Awesome Friends. 6.25 Zog. 7.05 Do Not Watch This Show. 7.30 MOVIE: Paddington 2. (2017, PG) 9.10 Animal Park. 10.35 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.05 History’s Greatest Mysteries. 11.55 MOVIE: Deathtrap. (1982, M) 2.05pm MOVIE: The Fifth Element. (1997, PG) 4.25 WorldWatch. 5.50 Bermuda Triangle: Into Cursed Waters. 6.40 Abandoned Engineering. 8.30 The Dropout. 10.25 The UnXplained. 12.05am Secrets Of Penthouse. 1.50 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera News Hour.

6am Morning Programs. 11.45 Escape To The Country. 12.45pm Malaysia Kitchen. 1.15 Harry’s Practice. 1.45 Medical Emergency. 2.15 Better Homes. 3.15 The Yorkshire Vet. 4.10 My Greek Odyssey. 5.10 World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys. 6.10 Escape To The Country. 7.10 Vicar Of Dibley. 8.30 Vera. 10.30 Genius: Picasso. 11.30 Vicar Of Dibley. 12.50am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 12.30pm NRLW Wrap. 1.00 Rugby League. NRL Women’s Premiership Finals. Second prelim. 3.00 MOVIE: The Colditz Story. (1955) 5.00 Agatha Christie’s Marple. 7.00 Keeping Up Appearances. 7.30 Clarkson’s Farm. 8.35 Fawlty Towers. 9.55 Blackadder II. 11.15 Cold Case. 12.15am Australia’s Top Ten Of Everything. 1.15 Creflo. 1.45 Late Programs.

6am Shopping. 7.30 Deal Or No Deal. 9.30 Lingo. 11.30 Becker. Noon Frasier. 1.00 Becker. (PG, R) 1.30 Frasier. (PGa, R) 2.30 Friends. (PG, R) 7.30 Two And A Half Men. (Ms, R) 10.30 Becker. (PG, R) 11.00 Frasier. (PGa, R) Midnight Home Shopping.

NITV (34)

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

7MATE (64, 73)

9GO! (82, 93)

10 DRAMA (53, 12)

6am Morning Programs. 3.10pm Johnny Warren’s Football Mission. 4.10 MOVIE: Luther: Never Too Much. (2024, PG) 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Undiscovered Vistas. 7.30 Extraordinary Animals. 8.30 MOVIE: The Australian Dream. (2019, MA15+) 10.30 Malcolm X: Justice By Any Means. 11.30 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 12.50pm Empty Nets. (2023, Mavw, Persian) 2.50 84 Charing Cross Road. (1987, PG) 4.40 Madison. (2020, PGal, German) 6.20 The Giants. (2023, PGalv) 8.30 The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. (2004) 10.45 Saturday Night Fever. (1977, MA15+al) 12.55am Io Capitano. (2023, MA15+av, French) 3.10 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. Noon The Fishing Show By AFN. 1.00 Fishing Addiction. 2.00 Red’s Fishing Adventures. 2.30 Al McGlashan’s Fish’n With Mates. 3.00 Air Crash Inv. 4.00 Frozen Gold. 5.00 Counting Cars. 6.00 Border Security: Int. 7.00 Border Security. 8.30 MOVIE: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. (2018, M) 11.05 MOVIE: Evolution. (2001, PG) 1.15am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 2pm Surfing Aust. 2.30 LEGO Masters Aust Vs World. 4.00 The Toys That Built The World. 5.00 Cards And Collectables Australia. 5.30 Seinfeld. 6.00 Basketball. NBL. Sydney Kings v Illawarra Hawks. 8.00 MOVIE: Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. (2012, PG) 10.00 MOVIE: Wonder Woman 1984. (2020, M) 1am Late Programs.

6am Shopping. 7.30 Leading The Way. 8.00 All 4 Adventure. 9.00 Roads Less Travelled. 9.30 Navigating The World. 10.30 Building The Dream. 12.30pm What’s Up Down Under. 1.30 Buy To Build. 2.00 JAG. 4.00 Pooches At Play. 4.30 Bondi Rescue. 5.00 I Fish. 5.30 JAG. 7.30 NCIS. 10.20 Fire Country. 11.20 JAG. 1.15am Shopping.

14 GEELONG INDEPENDENT Friday, 25 September, 2026

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Friday, 25 September, 2026 GEELONG INDEPENDENT 15

BRISBANE LIONS - AFL GR

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16 GEELONG INDEPENDENT Friday, 25 September, 2026

Levy Relief Offer

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GRAND FINALISTS 2026 Enjoy up to five years of support as you settle into life at Armstrong Green Savings from $35,736* over five years 1800 777 898 | armstronggreen.com.au | 722–742 Barwon Heads Rd, Armstrong Creek *Offer available on selected new villas for contracts completed by 18 December 2026. Terms, conditions and eligibility criteria apply. Charges revert after applicable period.

Friday, 25 September, 2026 GEELONG INDEPENDENT 17

FREMANTLE DOCKERS - AFL

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18 GEELONG INDEPENDENT Friday, 25 September, 2026

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Monday, September 28 ABC TV (2)

SBS (3)

SEVEN (6, 7)

NINE (8, 9)

TEN (5, 10)

6am Morning Programs. 10.45 Father Brown. (PG, R) 11.30 Stuff The British Stole. (PG, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Landline. (R) 2.00 Back Roads. (R) 2.30 Home Delivery. (PG, R) 3.00 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGa, R) 3.45 Grand Designs Transformations. (PG, R) 4.40 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6am Morning Programs. 9.25 For The Love Of Dogs. (PGa, R) 10.25 Vintage Voltage. (R) 11.15 Canal Boat Diaries. 12.10 WorldWatch. 2.00 DNA Family Secrets. (PG, R) 3.10 Going Places. (PGa, R) 3.40 The Cook Up. (R) 4.10 Britain’s Most Luxurious Train Journeys. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 Beat The Chasers UK. (R) 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. (R) 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: A Love To Remember. (2021, PGa, R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG, R) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.00 [MELB] Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.30 WIN News.

6am Morning Programs. 7.30 Everyday Gourmet. (R) 8.00 Lingo. (R) 9.00 The Finish Line. (R) 10.00 Farm To Fork. (R) 10.30 Ent. Tonight. (R) 11.00 Gogglebox Aust. (ls, R) 12.00 Everyday Gourmet. 12.30 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG, R) 1.00 News. 2.00 Deal Or No Deal. (PG, R) 2.30 The Finish Line. (R) 3.30 Lingo. (R) 4.30 Bold. (PG) 5.00 News.

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. 9.20 Media Watch. (PG) Presented by Linton Besser. 9.35 Planet America. A look at American politics. 10.05 Foreign Correspondent. (R) 10.40 ABC Late News. 10.55 The Business. (R) 11.10 Murdoch Mysteries. (Mav, R) 11.55 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 12.45 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 2.40 Gardening Australia. (R) 3.40 Love Your Garden. (PG, R) 4.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (PGl, R) 6.30 SBS World News. 7.35 Bill Bailey’s Vietnam Adventure. (PG, R) 8.30 24 Hours In Emergency: Without Warning. (M) A 71-year-old suffers a suspected stroke. 9.25 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. (Mals, R) Hosted by Jimmy Carr. 10.20 SBS World News Late. 10.50 Black Sands. (Mals) 1.30 Mountain Vets. (Ma, R) 3.45 The Mighty Mississippi With Nick Knowles. (PGaw, R) 4.35 Bamay: Murrumbidgee River – Wiradjuri Country Pt 1. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGa) 7.30 My Kitchen Rules. (Return, PG) The competition kicks off in Queensland. 9.15 The Rookie. (Mav) Juarez’s temporary missing persons assignment leads her into a dangerous situation. 10.15 The Agenda Setters. (R) An expert panel tackles the biggest AFL topics. 11.15 The Agenda Setters: Rugby League. An expert panel tackles the biggest rugby league topics. 12.15 Transplant. (MA15+a, R) 1.15 Harry’s Practice. (R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 9News. 7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 The Block. (PGl) The winner is announced for the rumpus and laundry. 9.00 100% Footy. (Final, Mal) Features the latest rugby league news, with exclusive insights from an expert panel. 10.00 9News Late. 10.30 Outback Opal Hunters. (PGl) 11.30 I Survived A Crime. (MA15+lv) 12.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 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.

6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (PG) Hosted by Grant Denyer. 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG) Hosted by Rebecca Gibney. 7.30 Shaun Micallef’s Parents’ Evening. (Premiere) Comedy quiz show in which three well-known Australians team up with their lesser-known parent or child. 8.40 Have You Been Paying Attention? (Malns) Celebrity panellists compete to see who can remember the most about events of the week. 9.40 10’s Late News. Comprehensive coverage of local, national and international news, as well as the latest sport and weather. 10.40 MTV Video Music Awards 2026. (R) A celebration of the year’s best music. 12.30 Home Shopping. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

SBS2 (31)

7TWO (62, 72)

9GEM (81, 92)

10 COMEDY (52, 11)

6am Children’s Programs. 2.45pm Gardening Australia Junior. 3.00 Play School. 3.25 Wiggle. 4.05 Andy’s Global Adventures. 4.30 SuperKitties. 5.25 Octonauts. 5.50 Super Monsters. 6.05 Spidey And His Amazing Friends. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.40 Secrets Of The Zoo. 9.25 Hard Quiz Kids. 9.55 Merlin. 10.40 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. Noon France 24 English News. 12.30 Hudson & Rex. 2.20 Leguizamo Does America. 3.15 Over The Black Dot. 3.45 WorldWatch. 5.45 Alone Belgium. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Scrabble. 9.20 Shaun Micallef’s Origin Odyssey. 10.20 The Americans. 12.05am Sex Tape Finland. 3.30 NHK World English News. 5.00 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 My Greek Odyssey. 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. 10.10 Escape To The Country. 11.10 Bargain Hunt. 12.10am Doc Martin. 1.10 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon Australia’s Top Ten Of Everything. 1.00 Fawlty Towers. 2.20 Blackadder II. 3.40 MOVIE: Carry On Spying. (1964) 5.30 Poirot. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 Death In Paradise. 8.40 The Brokenwood Mysteries. 10.40 Rizzoli & Isles. 11.40 Poirot. 12.40am Antiques Roadshow. 1.10 Creflo. 1.40 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 Ridiculousness. 12.30pm Becker. 1.00 Friends. 3.00 Frasier. 4.00 Everyday Gourmet. 4.30 Becker. 5.00 Frasier. 6.00 Friends. 8.00 Two And A Half Men. 8.30 MTV Video Music Awards 2026. 10.30 Two And A Half Men. 11.30 Frasier. 12.30am Ridiculousness. 1.00 Ent. Tonight. 1.30 Shopping. 2.30 Bold. 3.30 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

7MATE (64, 73)

9GO! (82, 93)

10 DRAMA (53, 12)

6am Morning Programs. 1.40pm Stompem Ground 2022: Karajarri Dancers. 2.00 Kriol Kitchen. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Ocean Warriors. 5.30 The 77 Percent. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Colombia’s Wild Coast. 7.30 Who Do You Think You Are? 8.30 Living Black. 9.10 Red, White And Black: More Than A Game. 9.45 MOVIE: Flatliners. (1990, MA15+) 11.50 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 12.35pm The Tunnel (Part 1) (2001, Malv) 2.20 Hating Alison Ashley. (2005, PGalv) 4.15 Arthur’s Hallowed Ground. (1984, PGl) 5.40 The Man Who Brought Down The White House. (2017, PGal) 7.35 Putuparri And The Rainmakers. (2015, Ml) 9.30 A Woman In Berlin. (2008, MA15+av, Russian, Georgian, German) 11.55 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. Noon Border Security. 1.30 Rides Down Under: Workshop Wars. 2.30 Motor Racing. Night Thunder. Silver Cup. Replay. 3.30 Counting Cars. 4.30 American Resto. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.30 The Agenda Setters. 8.30 Aussie Gold Hunters. (Return) 9.30 Gem Hunters Down Under. 10.30 Outback Opal Hunters. 11.30 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 World’s Greatest Natural Wonders. 12.30pm LEGO Masters Bricktacular. 3.30 Baywatch. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 NBL: Overtime. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Dumb And Dumber. (1994, PG) 10.50 NBL: Overtime. 11.55 Seinfeld. 12.55am Love Island UK: All Stars. 1.50 Legacies. 2.40 Late Programs.

6am Shopping. 8.00 Days Of Our Lives. 8.45 The Young And The Restless. 9.30 Living Room. 10.30 Building The Dream. 11.30 Bold. Noon Days Of Our Lives. 12.45 The Young And The Restless. 1.30 JAG. 3.30 Bull. 4.30 JAG. 6.30 Bull. 7.30 NCIS. (M, R) 10.20 Bull. (PGa, R) 11.15 JAG. 1.15am Shopping.

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Tuesday, September 29 ABC TV (2)

SBS (3)

SEVEN (6, 7)

NINE (8, 9)

TEN (5, 10)

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.00 Aust Story. (R) 10.30 Planet America. (R) 11.05 The Tony Blair Story. (Ml, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Beyond Paradise Christmas Special. (PGad, R) 2.00 Back Roads. (R) 3.00 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGv, R) 3.45 Grand Designs Transformations. (PG, R) 4.40 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6am Morning Programs. 10.10 Prince’s Master Crafters Next Generation. (R) 11.05 Canal Boat Diaries. 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 DNA Family Secrets. (PG, R) 3.10 Going Places. (R) 3.40 The Cook Up. (R) 4.10 Britain’s Most Luxurious Train Journeys. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 Bridge Of Lies: Celebrity Specials. (R) 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. (R) 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 The Block. (PGl, R) 1.30 Getaway. (PG, R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG, R) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.00 [MELB] Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.30 WIN News.

6am Morning Programs. 8.00 Lingo. (R) 9.00 The Finish Line. (R) 10.00 Farm To Fork. (R) 10.30 Ent. Tonight. (R) 11.00 Shaun Micallef’s Parents’ Evening. (R) 12.00 Everyday Gourmet. 12.30 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG, R) 1.00 News. 2.00 Deal Or No Deal. (PG, R) 2.30 The Finish Line. (R) 3.30 Lingo. (R) 4.30 Bold. (PG) 5.00 News.

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) 7.00 ABC News. 7.30 7.30. 8.00 Foreign Correspondent. 8.30 The Tony Blair Story: Iraq. (PG) 9.25 I Was Actually There: Fairlie Arrow Abduction Hoax. (Mns, R) 10.00 Take 5 With Zan Rowe. (PGa, R) 10.25 ABC Late News. 10.40 The Business. (R) 11.00 Four Corners. (R) 11.45 Media Watch. (PG, R) 12.00 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGv, R) 12.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 1.35 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 2.40 Gardening Australia. (R) 3.40 Love Your Garden. (R) 4.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Stonehenge: The Final Mystery Revealed. 8.30 Insight. Kumi Taguchi looks at the idea of red flags. 9.30 Dateline: Myanmar – The War We Carry. 10.00 SBS World News Late. 10.30 The Point. (R) 11.30 Mussolini: Son Of The Century. (MA15+lv) 12.30 Atlantic Crossing. (MA15+a, R) 2.40 The Doll Factory. (Malsv, R) 4.35 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. 7.30 My Kitchen Rules. (PGal) Best mates Angus and Simon host Adelaide’s “Last Orders” instant restaurant. 9.00 Off The Grid With Colin And Manu. (Return, Mal) Colin Fassnidge and Manu Feildel are back on the road in Aotearoa. 10.00 Ed Sheeran V Adele. (Md, R) A look at Ed Sheeran and Adele. 11.00 Happy’s Place. (PGa) 12.00 The Path. (MA15+adlv) Ashley’s family is evicted. 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 9News. 7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 The Block. (PGl) 8.40 Travel Guides. (PGl, R) The guides head to Newcastle, NSW. 9.50 The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. (MA15+alvv) 10.50 9News Late. 11.20 Next Stop. 11.50 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 12.40 Pointless. (PG, R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 The Garden Gurus. (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.

6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (PG) Hosted by Grant Denyer. 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG) Hosted by Rebecca Gibney. 7.30 Sydney Harbour Cops. (PGa) Follows the NSW Police Marine Area Command as they police Sydney Harbour and the local waterways. 8.30 The Cheap Seats. (Mal) Presenters Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald take a look at the week that was. 9.30 10’s Late News. Comprehensive coverage of local, national and international news, as well as the latest sport and weather. 10.30 Two And A Half Men. (Ms, R) Charlie sleeps with Kandi’s mum. 12.00 Home Shopping. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

SBS2 (31)

7TWO (62, 72)

9GEM (81, 92)

10 COMEDY (52, 11)

6am Children’s Programs. 2.30pm Monster Makes. 2.45 Gardening Australia Junior. 3.00 Play School. 4.05 Andy’s Global Adventures. 4.30 SuperKitties. 5.25 Octonauts. 5.50 Super Monsters. 6.05 Spidey And His Amazing Friends. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.45 Secrets Of The Zoo. 9.30 Kids Baking C’ship. 10.10 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.55 DW The Day. 12.25pm Hudson & Rex. 2.15 Leguizamo Does America. 3.10 Inside The Huddle. 3.45 WorldWatch. 5.45 Alone Belgium. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Steven Spielberg: The New Hollywood Prodigy. 9.35 MOVIE: Empire Of The Sun. (1987, PG) 12.20am MOVIE: Flags Of Our Fathers. (2006, MA15+) 2.45 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. Noon TBA. 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 Inspector Morse. 11.05 Escape To The Country. 12.05am Bargain Hunt. 1.00 Surf Patrol. 1.30 Our Town. 2.00 Harry’s Practice. 2.30 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon Australia’s Top Ten Of Everything. 1.00 MOVIE: The Cracksman. (1963) 3.20 MOVIE: The Lady With A Lamp. (1951) 5.30 Poirot. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 New Tricks. 8.40 Grantchester. 9.50 Wong & Winchester. (Premiere) 10.50 Rizzoli & Isles. 11.50 Poirot. 1am Creflo. 1.30 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 9.30 Farm To Fork. 10.00 Bold. 10.30 Deal Or No Deal. 11.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. 11.30 Ridiculousness. 12.30pm Becker. 1.00 Friends. 3.00 Frasier. 4.00 Everyday Gourmet. 4.30 Becker. 5.00 Frasier. 6.00 Friends. 8.00 Two And A Half Men. 9.30 Becker. 10.00 Frasier. 11.00 Ridiculousness. 11.30 Ent. Tonight. Midnight Shopping. 2.30 Bold. 3.30 Shopping.

NITV (34)

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

7MATE (64, 73)

9GO! (82, 93)

10 DRAMA (53, 12)

6am Morning Programs. 1.40pm Stompem Ground 2022: Karajarri Dancers. 2.00 Kriol Kitchen. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Ocean Warriors. 5.30 Indian Country Today News. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Colombia’s Wild Coast. 7.30 The Point. 8.00 The First Inventors. 8.50 MOVIE: Lean On Me. (1989, M) 10.50 Take Heart: Songlines. Midnight Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 12.45pm The Bodyguard From Beijing. (1994, Mav) 2.25 Madison. (2020, PGal, German) 4.00 Dancing At Lughnasa. (1998, PGa) 5.45 Where Angels Fear To Tread. (1991, PGa) 7.50 Here I Am. (2011, Madlns) 9.30 Black Box. (2021, Malnsv, French, English) 11.45 Calvary. (2014, MA15+lsv) 1.40am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 12.30pm Tougher In Alaska. 1.30 Gem Hunters Down Under. 2.30 Aussie Gold Hunters. 3.30 Air Crash Inv. 4.30 American Resto. 5.00 Storage Wars. 5.30 American Pickers: Best Of. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.30 Outback Truckers. 8.30 Marlin Kings: Chasing Giants. 9.30 Outback Truckers. 10.30 Heavy Tow Truckers Down Under. 11.30 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 World’s Greatest Natural Wonders. 12.30pm MOVIE: To England, With Love. (2023) 2.20 NBL: Overtime. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Baywatch. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Rush Hour 3. (2007, M) 10.20 Seinfeld. 11.20 Jane The Virgin. 12.10am Love Island UK: All Stars. 1.10 Legacies. 2.00 Late Programs.

6am Shopping. 8.00 Days Of Our Lives. 8.45 The Young And The Restless. 9.30 Living Room. 10.30 Building The Dream. 11.30 Bold. Noon Days Of Our Lives. 12.45 The Young And The Restless. 1.30 JAG. 3.30 Bull. 4.30 JAG. 6.30 Bull. 7.30 NCIS. (M, R) 10.20 Bull. (PGad, R) 11.15 JAG. 1.15am Shopping.

Friday, 25 September, 2026 GEELONG INDEPENDENT 19

Wednesday, September 30 ABC TV (2)

SBS (3)

SEVEN (6, 7)

NINE (8, 9)

TEN (5, 10)

6am Morning Programs. 10.45 Foreign Correspondent. (R) 11.20 Back Roads. (PG, R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Press Club. 1.35 Media Watch. (PG, R) 2.00 Back Roads. (R) 2.30 Home Delivery. (PG, R) 3.00 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGv, R) 3.45 Grand Designs Transformations. (R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (PG, R)

6am Morning Programs. 9.10 For The Love Of Dogs. (PGa, R) 10.10 Prince’s Master Crafters Next Generation. (PG, R) 11.05 Canal Boat Diaries. 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Dateline. (R) 2.30 Insight. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Britain’s Most Luxurious Train Journeys. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 Bridge Of Lies: Celebrity Specials. (R) 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. (R) 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 The Block. (PGl, R) 1.00 Taronga: Who’s Who In The Zoo. (PG, R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG, R) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.30 WIN News.

6am Morning Programs. 7.30 Everyday Gourmet. (R) 8.00 Lingo. (R) 9.00 The Finish Line. (R) 10.00 Farm To Fork. (R) 10.30 Ent. Tonight. (R) 11.00 Sydney Harbour Cops. (PGa, R) 12.00 Everyday Gourmet. 12.30 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG, R) 1.00 News. 2.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R) 2.30 The Finish Line. (R) 3.30 Lingo. (R) 4.30 Bold. (PG) 5.00 News.

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) 7.00 ABC News. 7.30 7.30. 8.00 Hard Quiz. (PGa) 8.30 Class Clowns. (Premiere, PGs) Australian comedians compete for the Class Clowns Cup. 9.00 Crime Night! (Return, PG) 9.30 Small Prophets. (PGl, R) A man deals with his girlfriend’s disappearance. 10.05 Planet America. (R) 10.35 ABC Late News. 10.50 The Business. (R) 11.55 Murdoch Mysteries. (Mv, R) 12.40 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 1.30 Rage. (MA15+dhlnsv) 2.40 Gardening Australia. (R) 3.40 Love Your Garden. (R) 4.30 Antiques Roadshow. (PG, R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) Presented by Marc Fennell. 6.30 SBS World News. 7.35 Elvis, The Colonel And The Mob. (Premiere) Charts the relationship between Elvis and his manager. 9.30 Apollo Has Fallen. When another betrayal leaves Zara framed and wanted for murder, she knows that she must stop Voltov. 10.25 SBS World News Late. 10.55 The Old Man. (Mlv) 11.50 Liaison. (Mlv, R) 2.50 A Cold War Of Spies: Invisible Front. (PG, R) 4.40 Bamay: Murrumbidgee River – Wiradjuri And Ngarigo Country. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. 7.30 The 1% Club UK. (PGs) 8.30 A Taste For Murder. (Premiere, Malv) A family reunion in Italy is shattered. 9.30 House Of Wellness. (PG) A team of industry experts, media personalities and wellness advocates shares insights and experiences to highlight living well. 10.30 The Agenda Setters. (R) An expert panel tackles the biggest AFL topics. 11.30 Stumble. (PGal) 12.00 The Fear Index. (MA15+asv) 1.00 Riviera. (MA15+adlsv, R) 2.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 9News. 7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 The Block. (PGl) The teams are busy planning for the buyers jury challenge along with tackling their two spaces. 8.40 Chefs Ahoy. (Premiere) 9.40 To Be Advised. 10.40 9News Late. 11.10 Sight Unseen. (Return, Mv) An unknown bride is found dead on a beach. 12.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.00 Destination WA. (Final) 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.

6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (PG, R) Hosted by Grant Denyer. 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG, R) Hosted by Rebecca Gibney. 7.30 Gogglebox Australia. (R) Opinionated viewers discuss TV shows. 8.30 Boston Blue. (Mav) When a homicide leads to a cross-city case, Danny and Lena reunite with Danny’s former NYPD partner. 9.30 10’s Late News. Comprehensive coverage of local, national and international news, as well as the latest sport and weather. 10.30 The Cheap Seats. (Mal, R) Presented by Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald. 11.30 Two And A Half Men. (PGas, R) Mia’s dance troupe is in town. 12.00 Home Shopping. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

SBS2 (31)

7TWO (62, 72)

9GEM (81, 92)

10 COMEDY (52, 11)

6am Children’s Programs. 2.30pm Monster Makes. 2.45 Gardening Australia Junior. 3.00 Play School. 4.05 Andy’s Global Adventures. 4.30 SuperKitties. 5.25 Octonauts. 5.50 Super Monsters. 6.05 Spidey And His Amazing Friends. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.40 Secrets Of The Zoo. 9.25 The Piano. 10.15 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. Noon DW The Day. 12.30 Hudson & Rex. 2.15 Leguizamo Does America. 3.10 12 Dishes In 12 Hours. 3.50 WorldWatch. 5.50 Alone Belgium. (Final) 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Precious Metal: A Love Story. (Final) 9.25 Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable. 10.20 Ramy. 11.30 The Americans. 12.25am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. Noon TBA. 1.30 Jabba’s Movies School Holiday Special. 2.00 Weekender. 2.30 Escape To The Country. 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 Foyle’s War. 10.55 Escape To The Country. 11.55 Bargain Hunt. 1am Surf Patrol. 1.30 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon Australia’s Top Ten Of Everything. 1.00 MOVIE: Scott Of The Antarctic. (1948) 3.20 MOVIE: Kind Hearts And Coronets. (1949, PG) 5.30 The Travelling Auctioneers. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 As Time Goes By. 8.40 Midsomer Murders. 10.40 Rizzoli & Isles. 11.40 Australia’s Top Ten Of Everything. 12.40am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 9.30 Farm To Fork. 10.00 Bold. 10.30 Deal Or No Deal. 11.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. 11.30 Ridiculousness. 12.30pm Becker. 1.00 Friends. 3.00 Frasier. 4.00 Everyday Gourmet. 4.30 Becker. 5.00 Frasier. 6.00 Friends. 8.00 Two And A Half Men. 9.30 Becker. 10.00 Frasier. 11.00 Ridiculousness. 11.30 Ent. Tonight. Midnight Shopping. 2.30 Bold. 3.30 Shopping.

NITV (34)

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

7MATE (64, 73)

9GO! (82, 93)

10 DRAMA (53, 12)

6am Morning Programs. 1.40pm Turn Up Respect. 2.00 Kriol Kitchen. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Ocean Warriors. 5.30 News. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Great Parks Of Africa. 7.30 Friday Night Thunder. 8.30 Pro Bull Riding Australia. 9.30 Over The Black Dot. 10.00 Inside The Huddle. 10.30 NiNaadamaadiz: Red Power Rising. Midnight Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.45 Vampire Seeking Consenting Person. (2023, Malv, French) 1.25pm Arthur’s Hallowed Ground. (1984, PGl) 2.50 Putuparri And The Rainmakers. (2015, PGal) 4.45 The Majestic. (2001, PGal) 7.35 The Hudsucker Proxy. (1994, Ma) 9.35 Afire. (2023, Mals, German) 11.30 Re-Animator. (1985, MA15+hnv) 1.10am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 12.30pm Tougher In Alaska. 1.30 Heavy Tow Truckers Down Under. 2.30 Outback Truckers. 3.30 Air Crash Inv. 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. 12.30am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 Surfing Aust. Noon Parental Guidance. 2.30 Baywatch. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Baywatch. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Man Of Steel. (2013, M) 11.15 Seinfeld. 12.15am Love Island UK: All Stars. 1.15 Legacies. 2.05 Baywatch. 2.55 Parental Guidance. 4.00 Barbie: Dreamhouse Adventures. 4.30 Late Programs.

6am Shopping. 8.00 Days Of Our Lives. 8.45 The Young And The Restless. 9.30 Living Room. 10.30 Building The Dream. 11.30 Bold. Noon Days Of Our Lives. 12.45 The Young And The Restless. 1.30 JAG. 3.30 Bull. 4.30 JAG. 6.30 Bull. 7.30 NCIS. (Mv, R) 10.20 Bull. (PGav, R) 11.15 JAG. 1.15am Shopping.

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Thursday, October 1 ABC TV (2)

SBS (3)

SEVEN (6, 7)

NINE (8, 9)

TEN (5, 10)

6am Morning Programs. 10.25 Class Clowns. (PGs, R) 10.55 Crime Night! (PG, R) 11.30 Small Prophets. (PGl, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 TBA. 1.45 Back Roads. (PG, R) 2.15 Home Delivery. (PG, R) 3.00 Frankie Drake. (PG, R) 3.45 Grand Designs Transformations. (R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6am Morning Programs. 10.10 Prince’s Master Crafters Next Generation. (R) 11.05 Canal Boat Diaries. 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 1968: A Year Of War, Turmoil And Beyond. (Mav, R) 3.10 The Cook Up. (R) 3.40 1967: Summer Of Love. (PGads, R) 4.35 Plating Locally. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 Time Is Money. (R) 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. (R) 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 The Block. (PGl, R) 1.00 Chefs Ahoy. (R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG, R) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.00 [MELB] Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.30 WIN News.

6am Morning Programs. 8.00 Lingo. (R) 9.00 The Finish Line. (R) 10.00 Farm To Fork. (R) 10.30 Ent. Tonight. (R) 11.00 Building The Dream. (R) 12.00 Everyday Gourmet. 12.30 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG, R) 1.00 News. 2.00 Deal Or No Deal. (PG, R) 2.30 The Finish Line. (R) 3.30 Lingo. (R) 4.30 Bold. (PG) 5.00 News.

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) 7.00 ABC News. 7.30 7.30. 8.00 Back Roads: Gulf Country, Northern Territory. 8.30 Take 5 With Zan Rowe: Genesis Owusu. (Ml) 9.00 Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job. 9.30 The Cage. (Ml, R) 10.15 ABC Late News. 10.30 The Business. (R) 10.50 Death Valley. (PGa, R) 11.35 Frankie Drake Mysteries. (Mv, R) 12.20 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 1.10 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 2.40 Gardening Australia. (R) 3.40 Love Your Garden. (PG, R) 4.30 Antiques Roadshow. 5.30 7.30. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 6.30 SBS World News. 7.35 Hollywood Crime Story. (Mdsv) 8.30 9/11: One Day In America: It’s All Gone, Kid. (Final, Ma, R) Two Marines and a paramedic search for survivors. 9.25 Indiana Jones: In Pursuit Of An Icon. (Mav, R) Charts the enduring legacy of Indiana Jones. 10.25 SBS World News Late. 10.55 Reyka. (MA15+av) 11.55 Snow. (PGas, R) 2.40 A Cold War Of Spies: Through Enemy’s Eyes. (PG, R) 4.30 Bamay: Arrernte Country. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PG) 8.30 Glenn And Mick’s Celebrity Intervention. (Mls, R) Glenn Robbins and Mick Molloy surprise Carrie Bickmore with some home truths. 9.40 Unbelievable Moments Caught On Camera. (Return, PGa) Footage of headline-grabbing moments captured on camera by members of the public. 10.40 Unfiltered. (M) Hosted by Hamish McLachlan. 11.10 Gatecrashers. (Return) 12.05 Attila The Hun. (Premiere, Mav) 2.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 9News. 7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 The Block. (PGl) The teams are rattled by a conspiracy theory. 8.45 Fatty: A Life Unscripted. (Mal) Looks at Paul Vautin’s unpredictable path from “no-name ginger” to Aussie sport and TV icon. 10.55 9News Late. 11.25 Next Stop. (R) 11.55 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 12.45 Pointless. (PG, 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.

6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (R) Hosted by Grant Denyer. 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG) Hosted by Rebecca Gibney. 7.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) Leanne and Keith want a caravan-friendly companion. Ivy and Nina hope a timid chihuahua will choose them. Damian seeks a buddy. 8.30 NCIS: Sydney. (Mav) The team probes a deliberate blast that killed a bomb squad with ties close to home. 9.30 10’s Late News. Comprehensive coverage of local, national and international news, as well as the latest sport and weather. 10.30 Two And A Half Men. (Ms, R) 12.00 Home Shopping. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

SBS2 (31)

7TWO (62, 72)

9GEM (81, 92)

10 COMEDY (52, 11)

6am Children’s Programs. 7.30 Children’s Programs. 4.30pm SuperKitties. 5.25 Octonauts. 5.50 Super Monsters. 6.05 Spidey And His Amazing Friends. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.40 Secrets Of The Zoo. 9.25 Teenage Boss: Next Level. 9.55 72 Cutest Animals. 10.20 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Icons Unearthed: Harry Potter. 11.55 DW The Day. 12.25pm Hudson & Rex. 2.10 Bamay. 2.30 Insight. 3.40 WorldWatch. 5.40 The War On Disco. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Secrets Declassified. 9.20 Alone. 11.10 The Americans. 12.10am The Patient. 2.05 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera News Hour.

6am Morning Programs. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 The Outdoor Room. 2.30 The Aussie Property Flippers. 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 Father Brown. 8.30 Shetland. 11.00 Genius: Einstein. (Final) Midnight Bargain Hunt. 1.00 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. Noon As Time Goes By. 1.00 Midsomer Murders. 3.00 Antiques Roadshow. 3.30 MOVIE: Mr Denning Drives North. (1951, PG) 5.30 The Travelling Auctioneers. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 Shakespeare And Hathaway. 8.30 The Chelsea Detective. 10.30 Rizzoli & Isles. 11.30 Australia’s Top Ten Of Everything. 12.30am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. 11.30 The Inspired Unemployed: The List. 12.30pm Becker. 1.00 Friends. 3.00 Frasier. 4.00 Everyday Gourmet. 4.30 Becker. 5.00 Frasier. 6.00 Friends. 8.00 Two And A Half Men. 9.30 Becker. 10.00 Cheap Seats. 11.00 Frasier. Midnight Ridiculousness. 12.30 Ent. Tonight. 1.00 Shopping. 2.30 Bold. 3.30 Shopping. 5.30 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

7MATE (64, 73)

9GO! (82, 93)

10 DRAMA (53, 12)

6am Morning Programs. Noon Pro Bull Riding Australia. 1.00 Over The Black Dot. 1.30 Inside The Huddle. 2.00 Kriol Kitchen. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Ocean Warriors. 5.30 Te Ao With Moana. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Great Parks Of Africa. 7.30 Going Places. 8.30 Rabbit Fall. 9.00 MOVIE: The Moogai. (2020, M) 10.30 Ablaze. Midnight Going Places. 1.00 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.50 Black Box. (2021, Malnsv, French, English) 2.05pm Paris Can Wait. (2016, PG) 3.45 Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind. (1984, PGh) 5.55 A Hazard Of Hearts. (1987, PGav) 7.35 The Queen. (2006, Ml) 9.30 Girl You Know It’s True. (2023) 11.50 I Love You Too. (2010, Mls) 1.50am The Conformist. (1970, MA15+a, Italian, French) 3.50 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 12.30pm Tougher In Alaska. 1.30 Highway Patrol. 2.30 The Force: BTL. 3.00 Talking W. 3.30 Air Crash Inv. 4.30 American Resto. 5.00 Storage Wars. 5.30 American Pickers: Best Of. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.00 Football. AFL Women’s. Carlton v Hawthorn. 9.15 MOVIE: Baby Driver. (2017, MA15+) 11.35 American Pickers: Best Of. 12.35am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 World’s Greatest Islands. 12.30pm Cards And Collectables Australia. 1.00 Snackmasters. 2.30 Baywatch. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Baywatch. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.40 TBA. 10.45 Seinfeld. 11.55 Jane The Virgin. 12.45am Love Island UK: All Stars. 1.45 Legacies. 2.35 Baywatch. 3.25 Late Programs.

6am Shopping. 8.00 Days Of Our Lives. 8.45 The Young And The Restless. 9.30 Living Room. 10.30 Building The Dream. 11.30 Bold. Noon Days Of Our Lives. 12.45 The Young And The Restless. 1.30 JAG. 3.30 Bull. 4.30 JAG. 6.30 Bull. 7.30 NCIS. (Mv, R) 8.30 Law & Order: SVU. (MA15+v, R) 10.20 Bull. 11.15 JAG. 1.15am Shopping.

20 GEELONG INDEPENDENT Friday, 25 September, 2026

PUZZLES

easy

7 5 1

8 9

18

7 8 5

9

11 23

2

E

2

8

8 8

25 3

10

3

21

16

12

10

26

11

1

6

3

16

25

T

3

21

26

10

26

12

26 8

E

2 13

1

T

E

E

17

20

24

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

10

24 11

25 12

26 13

9 8 5 4 1 2 6 3 7 2 7 1 3 8 6 9 4 5 3 6 4 5 7 9 2 8 1 8 1 6 9 2 7 4 5 3 5 3 7 6 4 8 1 2 9 4 9 2 1 5 3 7 6 8 6 2 8 7 3 1 5 9 4 1 5 3 2 9 4 8 7 6 7 4 9 8 6 5 3 1 2

9 3 7 6 1 8 2 5 4 8 1 5 3 4 2 9 7 6 6 2 4 9 7 5 1 3 8 3 4 2 8 5 7 6 1 9 5 8 6 1 2 9 3 4 7 1 7 9 4 3 6 5 8 2 4 6 1 7 9 3 8 2 5 7 5 8 2 6 1 4 9 3 2 9 3 5 8 4 7 6 1

T E

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'.

D

Today’s Aim: 15 words: Good 22 words: Very good 30 words: Excellent

U

R

N Y

T

I

I N

No. 415 Insert the missing letters to make 10 words – five reading across the grid and five reading down. NOTE: more than one solution may be possible

C O M B S A P A R T R E C U R A R E N A T A S T Y

R

14

15

7

8

18

19

N

20

21

23

22

24

25

26 27

28

29

30

31

No. 308

A L I B I

5 LETTERS ACHED ADULT ALIBI ALIKE AMUSE ANNUL AORTA ARCED ARISE AZURE BANAL BLARE BUTTE CAMEO CORAL EASED ETHIC FETES GREEK HALTS IDEAS INANE

4 LETTERS ATOM BOGS BURP DOES EBBS EDDY HILT LAUD LOGO SEEK SICS SNOB SOIL TEST

QUICK QUIZ

16

17

digit, ding, dining, dint, dirt, during, gird, girt, grid, grin, grind, grit, INTRUDING, inuring, riding, rigid, rind, ring, ruin, ruing, ruining, tiding, tiring, trig, tuning, turgid, turning, unit, uniting, untiring

7 6 8 9 3 5 4 1 2 9 4 1 6 2 8 3 5 7 2 3 5 1 4 7 6 9 8 4 8 9 5 7 1 2 3 6 1 2 6 3 8 9 5 7 4 5 7 3 2 6 4 1 8 9 6 9 2 7 5 3 8 4 1 8 5 7 4 1 2 9 6 3 3 1 4 8 9 6 7 2 5

C S

13

5

23

S R

R

11

4

9

R

10

3

22

M P

T E

16

2

25

11

T

26 21

21

23

11

16

2

8

C

6

13

3 LETTERS ALE ANY ASH ASK ATE DUO ERR LAB LAP LET NOW OAF OFF ORE PRO REV ROW SAT SEA TEA TEE TNT WEB YET

1

21

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

5

12

10 11

25

2

5

26

E E

22

10

G

hard

4

11

WORDFIT

25

11

7

3

2

10

14

2

E

16

9

17

26

E

1

13 9

24

16

11

5

17

1

T

21

T

17

8

13

26

3

10

No. 340

9-LETTER WORD medium

T

13

7

9 9 6 7

easy

5x5

25

6

4

3

3

9 16

23

5

3

8

2

11

17

Y A U B G X Z L M I N W O

5 4

9 16 17 18 19 22 23 24 27

S J D C Q F K R P V H T E

6

4 1

19

13

hard

2

E T

17 4

7

25

26

6 1 8 9 3 4 2 1 8 4 8 9 5 1 3

26

12

19

4

14

26

E E

20

2

26

12

4

7 5 2

8 2 2

3

3

19

3 6 9

21

3

1

15

18

2

4 5 7 8

DECODER

2

2 3 4

4 7 6

17

5

Attacking, as a magpie (8) Width of a circle (8) Head servant of a household (6) Partner (9) Speaker’s platform (4) Harmony (6) Land mass surrounded by water (6) Supervisors (7) Flower (9) Pigeonholed (7) Wide view (8) Keep (8) A poetic unit of three lines (6) Mature zucchini (6) Accommodations (6) Plummet (4)

1 2 3

4 6 medium

9 3

26 28 29 30 31

16

5 3 9 3 6 7 1 5 1 9 7 9 5 3

5 2 9

12 13 14 15 20 21 25

15

4 5 9

10 11

2

9

1

2 3

6

Credenza (9) German automobile manufacturer (4) Eggs (3) Formal statement about another’s character (11) Bearing (8) Reply (6) Desideratum (4) Preserved with sugar syrup (7) Gala (7) Just (4) Glossy type of glass applied to surfaces for protection (6) Poisonous (8) Reciprocal (11) Tune (3) Borough (4) Visible features of an area (9)

1 6

1

DOWN

14

5 4

ACROSS

No. 308

KORAN LUNGE NOTES OPTIC OZONE PACED PASTA PICKY PRAYS PREEN RANTS ROBOT SCARE SEEPS SHEAR SORRY SPATE SPAWN SPELL SPEWS STRAY SWELL TEETH

TITLE TOTED TOWER TRASH TWIRL

EMINENT GREATER INNARDS SERPENT

6 LETTERS ALLEYS PETTED REARED TATTLE

8 LETTERS LEVERAGE LONELIER PALATIAL PARENTAL

7 LETTERS ACCRUED EASTERN

25-09-26

1

Mission Beach is a coastal town in which Australian state?

2

The hongi is a traditional greeting in which country?

3

How many hectares are in one square kilometre?

4

True or false: The Rolling Stones were formed before The Beatles?

5

Which Netflix show set in Europe stars Lily Collins (pictured)?

6

Who released the classic rock-and-roll song Johnny B. Goode in 1958?

7

Which of these toy lines is not made by Hasbro: G.I. Joe, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or Transformers?

8

The liqueur triple sec is flavoured by the peel of what type of fruit?

9

What second language did Queen Elizabeth II speak fluently?

10 Where in the human body is the sternum located? ANSWERS: 1. Queensland 2. New Zealand 3. 100 4. False 5. Emily in Paris 6. Chuck Berry 7. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 8. Orange 9. French 10. Chest

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.

QUICK CROSSWORD

R A N T S S P E W S P A S T A O Z O N E C A M E O E T H I C A L I B I T E E T H B U T T E O R E K O R A N L E T A L E T E S T F E T E S R E A R E D O A F I N N A R D S S P A W N A T O M H I L T P A R E N T A L B U R P D U O A C C R U E D S E R P E N T L A U D L E V E R A G E T E E E D D Y L O G O E A S E D E A S T E R N A N Y T A T T L E S E E P S S I C S R OW L A B A L I K E N OW A R I S E O P T I C B L A R E S T R A Y G R E E K B A N A L S O R R Y S P E L L H A L T S

No. 308

S I D E B O A R D A U D I I U S A F N S W O V A T E S T I M O N I A L M L O S R S A O P R E S E N C E R E J O I N T R I M N D I C A N D I E D N E E D G R L T A N P P P A G E A N T F A I R M B D H N E T E N A M E L V E N O M O U S R L F L T R E R A I R C O R R E L A T I V E E O D L O L M V L A N D S C A P E T OW N

SUDOKU

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Friday, 25 September, 2026 GEELONG INDEPENDENT 23

MOTOR

New Prado built for the bush By Chris Riley, Marque Motoring Toyota says the new Prado delivers comprehensive improvements in driveability, off-road capability, safety, technology and functionality – all wrapped in a bold, stylish redesign that will appeal to urban families and off-road adventurers alike. We’ve spent a lot of time in the previous Prado, clocking up thousands of kilometres in Outback Western Australia. With four adults and their luggage, it was a bit of a squeeze at times and I would have loved to remove the two intrusive, fold-down third row seats to free up space. The focus for designers this time around, according to Mr Toyoda himself, was ‘practicality, durability and dependability’. Correct us if we are wrong, but that has always been the focus. What’s changed?

Styling Ten years ago, prices for the Prado started from $56,090; the Kakadu from $85,900. Fast forward and Prado now comes in five grades, kicking off with the bare bones GX from $73,200. GXL is priced from $79,690 (five-seat) or $80,690 (seven-seat), VX from $88,100 (seven-seat), Altitude $90,340 (five-seat) and top of the range Kakadu from $100,690 (seven-seat), excluding on-road costs. The three-figure sum for the Kakadu is quite frankly outrageous, putting it well beyond the reach of most families. The rest don’t aspire to own a Toyota. They want a Land Rover or one of the German brands, which leaves us wondering who will buy the new Prado. All grades of the Prado are powered by the same diesel-electric hybrid and all come with an automatic. There are eight exterior colours. Premium paint adds $675 while a two-tone paint job is $1675. Entry-level GX comes with five seats, fabric upholstery, dual-zone climate control, manually adjustment for seats, smart entry and start, LED headlights, all-speed adaptive cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors, 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, panoramic view monitor and 10-speaker audio. GXL adds a third row of seats and synthetic leather, heated and cooled front seats with power-adjust driver seat, leather-accented steering wheel and shift lever, rear aircon controls, auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated and power-fold side mirrors and a powered tailgate. VX steps up to 20-inch alloys, a black vertical grille with the Toyota bullhorn logo, body-coloured bumpers and wheel arches. There’s also LED headlights with auto high beam, leather-accented upholstery, driver lumbar and seat memory, four-way power adjustable front passenger seat, power-adjustable steering wheel, refrigerated centre console box, a larger 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, multi-terrain monitor and 14-speaker JBL premium audio. Kakadu adds 20-inch wheels, heated and ventilated rear seats, manually-adjustable driver seat cushion length, illuminated side steps, and a limited slip diff. It also scores head-up display, a digital rear view mirror, heated steering wheel and tilt and slide panoramic sunroof. Our test vehicle this time was top of the range, seven-seat Kakadu.

Infotainment Multimedia across the lineup comes in the form of a 12.3-inch multimedia system with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, built-in satellite navigation with cloud function, AM/FM/DAB+ radio,

All variants of the Prado are powered by the same hybrid 2.8-litre turbo-diesel drivetrain, together with full-time 4WD and an eight-speed automatic transmission. (Supplied)

Toyota Connected Services and a 10- or 14-speaker audio system. There are six USB-C charging ports, one 12V accessory port and a 220V charging port, plus a wireless charging pad.

Safety With nine airbags Prado has been awarded a full five stars for crash safety. Driver-assist features are designed to work on- and off-road, with an improved camera and radar system that is able to scan the road with greater accuracy and over greater distances. Systems include the autonomous emergency braking pre-collision safety (PCS) system, rear parking support brake, lane trace assist and lane departure warning, road sign assist, blind spot monitor with safe exit assist, emergency driving stop system and a driver monitor camera. A full-size spare is sequestered under the rear.

Engines/transmissions All variants are powered by the same hybrid 2.8-litre turbo-diesel drivetrain, together with full-time four-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s the same diesel as used in Hilux and develops 150kW of power from 3000-3400 rpm and 500Nm of torque from 1600-2800 rpm (same outputs as before). But the new Prado is heavier than the old Prado and the power to weight ratio is worse, which means it won’t be as quick.

Driving Prado sits on the same GA-F platform as its larger sibling the Land Cruiser 300 Series. It’s 30 per cent stronger than before and it also means the ‘all-new’ Prado is larger, inside and out. The figures show it’s 16.5cm longer and 9.5cm wider, with a 6.0cm longer wheelbase plus wider front and rear tracks (distance between wheels). Access to the third-row seats is via the single, passenger side second row seat that folds and tumbles to make way. When not required the third-row seats fold flat, but not into the floor because there’s not enough room down there with the hybrid battery and spare sitting under the rear. With all seats upright there’s 182 litres of luggage capacity, with the third row stowed 906 litres and with both second and third row seats not in use 1829 litres. The previous model offered 120, 620 and 1833 litres respectively. We’re surprised by the second figure. Maybe the way they measure it has

24 GEELONG INDEPENDENT Friday, 25 September, 2026

changed, because despite the figures it feels like there’s less space with the third row folded – much less usable space anyway. Only the seat backs fold leaving an awkward space between the end of the seat base and the tailgate that Toyota has filled with a cheap felt-topped detachable storage box. If we were handing over $100,000, we’d expect something better, something that reinforces the Kakadu’s status as a luxury model – not this piece of crap. There’s also the problem of what to do with the privacy screen with the third row in use – there’s nowhere to put it. We previously tested the five-seat version of the vehicle which also has an elevated luggage floor. However, the problematic third row in the seven-seater is a deal breaker, as far as we’re concerned. Moving on to the rest of the cabin, the dash has been flattened, with an upright, squared off design, and clearly defined separation between driver and infotainment screens. The flat Beetle-esque design has presumably been adopted to create more cabin space. Aircon gets its own space tucked under the centre screen. Physical air-con and media volume controls are available, with buttons for transfer, drive modes and off-road settings grouped around the transmission lever. Electric power steering promises easier handling off-road, with improved manoeuvrability at low speed – plus it permits lane trace assistance to be introduced. Maximum approach and departure angles are 32 degrees and 17 degrees respectively, with a break-over angle of 25 degrees. Ground clearance is 221mm (210mm for the GX and GXL), compared with the 220mm of the previous model and it has a wading depth of 700mm. The 48-volt V-Active mild hybrid system that made its debut last year in Hilux, with a lithium-ion battery and electric motor to capture energy normally lost through braking. It contributes a mere 8.4kW and 65Nm to the equation and is unlikely to be responsible for saving much fuel. With auto engine stop-start and an eight-speed replacing the six-speed transmission, however, the wider spread of gear ratios will extract better performance from the drivetrain and contribute to better fuel economy. A higher final drive ratio delivers a more relaxed driving experience at cruising speeds.

The end result is that claimed fuel consumption is down from 7.9 to 7.6L/100km. Be that as it may, we were getting 9.2L/100km after more than 750km of mixed driving. A significant difference. Of note, that’s exactly the same result as the 9.2L we got from the non-hybrid Kakadu we drove back in 2022. Also down is maximum fuel capacity, which was 150 litres before if you elected to put the spare wheel on the tailgate. The new one sees the spare located underneath and a capacity of 110 litres across the board. This translates to about 520km less in range and is a big negative when it comes to getting off the beaten track. You’ll need to top it up occasionally with AdBlue too, with the addition of a 17-litre tank to reduce harmful engine emissions. On this point, our test vehicle started to continually flash warnings that it needed to be topped up – get this – in 2500km. Nothing like getting in early. WTF? The move to the larger 300 Series platform sees Prado’s tow rating increase from 3000kg to a more respectable industry-standard 3500kg. Kakadu has a full-time 4WD system, with low-range gearing and a rear Torsen limited slip diff (not all grades get this). During normal straight line driving power is split 40:60 front-to-back. Only VX and Kakadu are equipped with the variable suspension system. There are five drive modes, together with multi-terrain select and a multi-terrain monitor which provides a comprehensive view of the vehicle’s underfloor and surrounds when off-road. Other driver assistance systems for on and off-road environments include vehicle stability control with active traction control, downhill assist control and crawl control. Trailer sway control and a pre-installed wiring harness help facilitate the increased 3500kg braked tow capacity. Sure the ‘all-new’ Prado looks and drives better than the old one, and it would want to, given the price. With a lower centre of gravity and slightly lower ride height, the ride is noticeably less jiggly and there is less body roll in corners. But in typical diesel fashion you still need to wind the thing up. The cabin does not have the premium feel of the previous generation Kakadu nor do the front seats feel as spacious as before. In fact, describing the experience to a punter we realised it feels very like the Hilux from behind the wheel. On a final note, once again you can’t see the head-up display with polarised sunglasses and for those with multi-focal glasses, the digital rear vision mirror is a waste of space. To bring the image into focus you need to look towards the roof to access the lower section of the lenses.

Summing up The designers really need to go back and rethink the third row, because as it is the seats take up an enormous amount of room when folded. Toyota has filled the gap between the base and the tailgate with a silly, tacky plastic box which does not offer much utility, all in the name of a flat floor – or should we say elevated flat floor. That is to say for a large four-wheel drive the Prado does not offer much luggage space – how can that be seen as practical Mr Toyoda. The driver’s seat feels tight too, more like the Hilux than a luxury off-roader. If you’re not interested in going off-road the Kluger makes more sense. It’s much more comfortable and suited to city driving.

SPORT

Grove wins four from four The local netball season concludes this Friday 25 September with the Geelong Netball League grand finals at Kardinia Park. The Bellarine Netball League deciders were played last weekend. Ocean Grove had four premiers from as many teams in the grand finals while Geelong Amateur and Torquay won three each with Queenscliff and Drysdale one apiece. BELLARINE NETBALL LEAGUE Grand finals Grinter Reserve, Newcomb, Saturday 19 September A Grade: Ocean Grove 51 def Geelong Amateur 50. Best: Amy Kennedy (Ocean Grove) B Grade: Queenscliff 40 def Torquay 37. Best: Queenscliff - Matilda Kidd, Hayley Holmes, Cleo Lofts. C Grade: Ocean Grove 42 def Portarlington 40, in extra time. Best: Sarah Perrott (Portarlington) D Grade: Torquay 24 def Barwon Heads 15 E Grade: Geelong Amateur 23 def Torquay 21. Best: Geelong Amateur - Eden Holdsworth, Rebekah Edwards, Claudia Sargeant. 19 & Under: Drysdale 25 def Portarlington 23. Best: Drysdale - Mia Gallop, Annalena Hillier, Leah McPherson. 17 & Under Division 1: Torquay 23 def Portarlington 19. Best: Torquay - Harper Edwards, Coco Hayes, Sienna Mcginness. 17 & Under Division 2: Geelong Amateur 16 def Drysdale 15. Best: Geelong Amateur - Zoe Till, Isla Rookes, Maive McMaster. 15 & Under Division 1: Geelong Amateur 27 def Torquay 22 15 & Under Division 2: Torquay 39 def Surf Coast 23. Best: Torquay - Elsie Eccles, Ali Mackay, Iluka Patterson.

Emma Jones knocks the ball away from Kaitlyn Sheringham. (Pictures: Ivan Kemp) 579056

Above: Bec Winch grabs a pass under pressure from Julia Mitchell in the last few moments of the Bellarine Netball League grand final. Right: Bec Winch takes the ball in front of Amanda O’Malley.

13 & Under Division 1: Ocean Grove 30 def Drysdale 19 13 & Under Division 2: Ocean Grove 18 def Geelong Amateur 12. Best: Ocean Grove Lily Robinson, Eden Stanley, Koko Piec. Geelong Amateur - Isabel Learey, Michaela Desai, Ava Harper. GEELONG NETBALL LEAGUE Preliminary finals West Oval, Geelong West, Saturday 19 September

A Grade: St Joseph’s 43 def South Barwon 40. Best: St Joseph’s - Fionnuala McKeagney-Stubbs, Elli Leydin, Kiahna Fallon. South Barwon - Ainsley Corrigan, Eloise Maddox, Georgia Corbett. B Grade: South Barwon 46 def St Mary’s 34. Best: South Barwon - Ashleigh Berman, Tyler Lewis, Caitlin Hoiles. St Mary’s Grace Blood, Kayla Biggs, Harriet Braley. C Grade: St Mary’s 29 def South Barwon 23 D Grade: South Barwon 18 def St Joseph’s 9 E Grade: South Barwon 21 def Newtown &

Chilwell 19 19 & Under: Lara 31 def Bell Park 18 17 & Under Division 1: Geelong West Giants 22 def Bell Park 18. Best: Geelong West Giants - Mylee Gocentas, Evie McKenzie, Estelle Stephens. 17 & Under Division 2: Bell Park 23 def St Joseph’s 10 15 & Under Division 1: South Barwon 20 def Newtown & Chilwell 15 15 & Under Division 2: South Barwon 24 def Bell Park 13 13 & Under Division 1: St Mary’s 25 def Colac 24 13 & Under Division 2: St Mary’s 23 def St Joseph’s 16. Best: St Joseph’s - Zoe Paine, Lucy Broadhead, Sophie Murphy. Grand finals Kardinia Park, Friday 25 September A Grade: Newtown & Chilwell vs St Joseph’s, 3.15pm B Grade: Newtown & Chilwell vs South Barwon, 1.05pm C Grade: Newtown & Chilwell vs St Mary’s, 11.45am D Grade: Newtown & Chilwell vs South Barwon, 10.30am E Grade: Bell Park vs South Barwon, 2.05pm 19 & Under: South Barwon vs Lara, 11.45am 17 & Under Division 1: South Barwon vs Geelong West Giants, 10.30am 17 & Under Division 2: South Barwon vs Bell Park, 1.05pm 15 & Under Division 1: Bell Park vs South Barwon, 9.15am 15 & Under Division 2: Newtown & Chilwell vs South Barwon, 9.15am 13 & Under Division 1: South Barwon vs St Mary’s, 8am 13 & Under Division 2: South Barwon vs St Mary’s, 8am

Footy season reaches crescendo Queenscliff is the toast of the town after its seniors and reserves won Bellarine Football League premierships. And the local footy season culminates with a St Mary’s vs South Barwon grand final this Friday. GEELONG FOOTBALL LEAGUE Preliminary finals West Oval, Geelong West, Saturday 19 September Seniors South Barwon 2.1(13), 3.6(24), 6.7(43), 9.12(66) Bell Park 1.3(9), 2.4(16), 4.7(31), 6.7(43) Goals: South Barwon - T. Burke 2, L. Page 2, M. Caldow 2, L. Noble, L. Elzinga, M. Mawson. Bell Park - J. Sarcevic 3, T. Pidgeon, M. Mahady, K. George. Best: South Barwon - B. Kellett, L. Page, M. Caldow, D. Madigan, J. Driver, T. Burke. Bell Park - J. Sarcevic, O. Bridgewater, K. George, D. Melksham, F. Marris, E. Pearce. Reserves St Mary’s 2.5(17), 4.9(33), 9.15(69), 10.19(79) Newtown & Chilwell 0.0(0), 0.1(1), 1.2(8), 3.6(24) Goals: St Mary’s - T. Keast 3, S. Hosking 2, L. Hosking 2, C. Hosking, T. Myers, X. Tatterson. Newtown & Chilwell - A. Lovell, H. Codd. Best: St Mary’s - J. Robertson, H. Ryan, M. Butcher, T. Myers, N. Biggs, H. Tana.

Left: Queenscliff’s Jake Hedley takes a strong mark under pressure from Ben McNamara. Centre: Joseph Cincotta and Spencer Meagher compete in a ruck contest. Right: Izaac Grant is knocked to ground after marking and receiving a late Ben McNamara bump which resulted in a 50-metre penalty. (Pictures: Ivan Kemp) 579057

Newtown & Chilwell - T. Kiddle, W. Hall, C. Fowler, B. Colville, H. Codd, O. Maddalena. Under 18 Division 1 Ocean Grove 2.1(13), 2.6(18), 2.8(20), 3.10(28) St Mary’s 0.2(2), 1.5(11), 2.11(23), 2.14(26) Goals: Ocean Grove - B. Hansford 2, J. Lehmann. St Mary’s - K. Horrobin, K. Charman. Best: Ocean Grove - Z. Casamento, B. Hansford, J. Punchard, J. Davidson, L. Joyce. St Mary’s - T. Crowe, M. Sleep, F. Bent, H. Buckby, M. Pummeroy, C. Kors. Grand finals GMHBA Stadium, Friday 25 September Seniors: St Mary’s vs South Barwon, 2.15pm Reserves: South Barwon vs St Mary’s, 11.30am Under 18 Division 1: Newtown & Chilwell vs Ocean Grove, 9am

BELLARINE FOOTBALL LEAGUE Grand finals Grinter Reserve, Newcomb, Saturday 19 September Seniors Queenscliff 3.3(21), 6.7(43), 10.10(70), 14.14(98) Torquay 1.2(8), 1.4(10), 4.6(30), 6.11(47) Goals: Queenscliff - Jake Hedley 3, Che Durran 2, Max Waight 2, Izaac Grant 2, Max Annandale, Kai Keenan, Nick Rippon, Jaydo Wright, Joseph Cincotta. Torquay Tynan Smith 4, Hugh Trigg, Max Hurley. Best: Queenscliff - Caleb Whitley, Joseph Cincotta, Lachie Kidd, Trent Thompson, Billy Jones, Sam Kalbfell. Torquay Matthew Boag, Michael Croxford, Tynan Smith, Weylin Doyle, Tom Diamond, James Darke. Reserves Queenscliff 9.10(64)

1.3(9),

2.4(16),

4.8(32),

Modewarre 1.1(7), 1.2(8), 3.4(22), 5.7(37) Goals: Queenscliff - Tyler Monahan 3, Jonty Rush 2, Max Scott 2, Jacob Bakker 2. Modewarre - Seb Hutley, Eamon Roberts, Charlie Larsen, Troy Anderson, Josh Hutley. Best: Queenscliff - Tyler Monahan, Harry Travers, Zac Henderson, Matt Golightly, Patrick Tucci, Oscar Courtney. Modewarre - Troy Anderson, Seb Hutley, Mitchell Ringin, Luke Arcuri, Jesse Johnstone, Lachlan Bath. Under 18 Division 2 Leopold 1.4(10), 2.7(19), 3.7(25), 5.10(40) Torquay 0.1(1), 0.3(3), 2.7(19), 3.8(26) Goals: Leopold - Miles Harvey, Max Chambers, Koby Olsen, Tyler Cormack, Noah Staehr. Torquay - William Ansell, Liam Shepherd, Noah Robertson. Best: Leopold - Xavier McLean, Max Chambers, Cooper McKane, Noah Staehr, Cooper Reed, Austin Williams. Torquay not supplied.

Friday, 25 September, 2026 GEELONG INDEPENDENT 25

SPORT

Burgess, Fallon GFNL’s best By Justin Flynn Leopold captain Mitch Burgess and St Joseph’s star Kiahna Fallon have won the Mathieson and Woolley Medals for best and fairest in the Geelong Football Netball League. Burgess played 15 games for the Polders this season and won his first Don Mathieson Medal with 23 votes, one ahead of dual runners-up Ned Harris (Newtown & Chilwell) and Doyle Madigan (South Barwon). Harris shared last year’s medal with Bell Park midfielder Jett Bermingham while Madigan was the 2024 winner. Burgess polled 16 votes in a stunning six-game block between rounds 12 to 17. South Barwon’s Zach Stevens was the Rising Star winner despite playing only six games. But when you consider his 10 games for Geelong’s VFL side and three for the Falcons, it was clear the star onballer was a logical choice. St Albans sharpshooter Tom Higgins was the coaches player of the year after booting 71 goals this season. Fallon has had a stellar season as wing defence and goal defence and will be one of the key playmakers for St Joseph’s in the grand final on Friday. Fallon won the Woolley Medal by polling two votes in the final round against Bell Park to go to 21 votes and edge one vote past St Mary’s defender Eliza Brown while the very person who the medal is named after - Julia Woolley - was third on 19 votes. St Joseph’s wing attack Indi Madden was

Leopold’s Mitch Burgess won the Mathieson Medal and Newtown & Chilwell’s Kiahna Fallon won the Julia Woolley Medal. (Pictures: Ivan Kemp)

the Rising Star. Newtown & Chilwell midcourter Vanessa Augustini was the coaches player of the year. The reserves footy Allthorpe Medal was won by Newtown & Chilwell’s Alex Souflas (20 votes) from South Barwon’s Harry Cunningham (16). Newtown & Chilwell gun Eliza Hannagan won the B Grade netball award with 22 votes from South Barwon’s Amali Hill (18), who was also equal winner of the 19 & Under medal last week. Jemma Kelly (St Mary’s) took home the

C Grade award with 29 votes while it was a tie for runner-up between Kirsty Fagan (Leopold) and Alyssa Dreaneen (Newtown & Chilwell) on 25. St Joseph’s midcourter Sophie King won her second consecutive D Grade medal with 25 votes, three ahead of dual runnersup Emily Keown (South Barwon) and Sarah Campbell (Bell Park). In E Grade it was Bell Park defender Tess Hansford (23 votes) who emerged victorious with Esther Wharton (St Mary’s) and Samantha Chapman (South Barwon) tied for second place on 21.

TEAMS OF THE YEAR Football Backs: Stephen Benstead (Bell Park), Hamish Bourke (St Mary’s), Mitch Diamond (Newtown & Chilwell) Half-backs: Isaac Wareham (Bell Park), Braden Hocking (Newtown & Chilwell), Mitch Burgess (Leopold) Centres: Brayden Ham (St Mary’s), Ned Harris (captain, Newtown & Chilwell), Will Sheahan (Leopold) Half-forwards: Jack Sarcevic (Bell Park), Paddy De Grandi (Newtown & Chilwell), Jacob Sammut-Miljevic (North Shore) Forwards: Jack Jovanovic (St Joseph’s), Tom Higgins (St Albans), Jack Willson (St Mary’s) Followers: Ben Kellett (South Barwon), Todd White (South Barwon), James Gow (St Joseph’s) Interchange: Doyle Madigan (South Barwon), Zach Zdybel (Colac), Jett Bermingham (Bell Park), Liam Kershaw (St Joseph’s) Coaches: Luke Rayner, Ben Boseley (St Mary’s) Netball Defenders: Charli Hoey (co-captain, Bell Park), Charity Nasalio (Newtown & Chilwell), Ruby Pekin-Schlicht (Newtown & Chilwell) Midcourters: Elli Leydin (co-captain, St Joseph’s), Kiahna Fallon (St Joseph’s), Charlotte Morey (Bell Park) Goalers: Tegan Philip (St Joseph’s), Holly Adams-Alcock (Newtown & Chilwell), Ella Closter (St Joseph’s) Coach: Kathryn Vickers (St Mary’s)

Runaway win for Highton in Section 1 By Donna Schoenmaekers Saturday Senior Pennant finals proved that the players were more persistent than the rain which threatened to ruin grand final day, with all matches getting to a result despite multiple delays. Highton were the victors in 1 Men with a runaway win. It was one set apiece against Bannockburn but Highton took the next four to claim the win. Things were also straightforward for Ocean Grove in 2 Men’s against Hamlyn Park. The Park led the head to head 2-1, but minor premiers Ocean Grove, saved their best for last taking a clean sweep to not drop a set across both finals. Newcomb had the form advantage over Western Heights Uniting in 3 Mixed, winning the two matches through the season and it continued with the doubles being the difference. The minor premiers posted a 4-2 win. It was second vs fourth in 4 Open when Leopold/Moolap hosted Ocean Grove White in one of the most closely contested sections. Grove had the wood over the hybrid team and started the day with Ross Gibson posting a 6-3, 6-1 win in the singles. That was where it ended for White, as Leopold/Moolap hit their straps winning the next three rubbers to take the win. Clifton Springs had the best day of all clubs with three wins from three outings. Greg Luke had a day out in 2 Open, not dropping a game in the first singles then teaming with Jarrod Cairncross in the doubles with the same score. The Grove’s Caide King did his best to counter in the second singles and first doubles, but with scores of 6-4, 6-0 and 6-1, 6-4 the Springs held the game difference for the win. It was a tighter affair in 3 Open where Hamlyn Park pushed the minor premiers. Nicholas Brunton started the Springs on

SS1M Premiers Highton: Brian Spong, Joe Horvat, Luke McNabb, Michael Parry.

SS1X Premiers Wandana Heights: Tamika Hodge, Paul Dean, Anne Schulz, Peter Rodgers, Natalie Killeen, Thomas Darley.

the right course winning the singles while Nicholas Lunn and Ben Morgan kept the Park in touch 7-5, 7-6. Patrick Walpole won for Hamlyn Park, but with Brunton and Grant Elmes winning, the Springs finished five games ahead. Wandana Heights Blue hosted Clifton Springs in 4 Mixed, having not lost a match. The Springs took the first two sets before Wandana won the doubles, but the visitors scored a 5-1 win. Things were close between Wandana and Waurn Ponds Red in 5 Open but went the way of the Ponds after the first two sets

26 GEELONG INDEPENDENT Friday, 25 September, 2026

with Jimmy Worrall coming back to win in a super while Kaiden Marino and Oscar Bellears won. Tom Kemp took the reverse singles, and Worrall and Marino made it a clean sweep for the premiership. Wandana’s third final for the day was in 1 Mixed against minor premiers Surfcoast Bellbrae Blue, but despite the ladder positions, Wandana had won both match ups. The teams split the first four sets with Surfcoast one game ahead. Natalie Killeen and Thomas Darley won for Wandana, leaving the final set to decide the match. This went down to the wire with Kim Lawless and Scott McCardel winning for Surfcoast in a tie-breaker, leaving the match a draw, and going to a seventh set which Killeen and Peter Rodgers powered through to a 6-1 win for Wandana. Anglesea and Lara were tough competitors all season in 2 Mixed, and the final was no exception. Andrea Webb and Steve Scanlon kicked off for Anglesea with a 6-1 win while Lara’s Briane Doolan and Rob Dando kept Lara in touch, getting up 7-5. Lara took the women’s doubles while Anglesea won the men’s 6-4 leaving them with a two-game advantage. The reverse mixed were tied at 6-2 each way, giving Anglesea the premiership. Moolap travelled to Grovedale for 1 Open with Michael Best finishing the season undefeated in the first singles for Grovedale while Connor Chivell and Chris Forsyth levelled the match for Moolap. Best and Curtis Fitgerald won the first set of the second doubles while Lachy Edgar took the first in the singles for Moolap 6-1. Then midway through the second sets the rain came, forcing a change of court to finish the match. Best and Fitzgerald took the second set 6-2 and watched on the finish of the singles, but Edgar managed to take his second set, giving Moolap the win by one game.

Drysdale’s Mary Cockett and Jack and Chelsea Williams from Queenscliff with the Interstate Shield. (supplied)

Local trio excels at interstate shield Three Bellarine Peninsula croquet players played their part in a memorable Victorian victory at the 2026 Interstate Shield. Drysdale Croquet Club’s Mary Cockett, together with Queenscliff’s Chelsea Williams and Jack Williams were selected to represent Victoria at the Golf Croquet Interstate Shield at Victorian Croquet Centre, Cairnlea, from 9 to 13 September. Each state team comprised five women and five men, with players required to progress through a rigorous nine-month selection process to earn their place. Across the tournament there were 15 tests, 600 games and an extraordinary 6476 hoops played. Victoria produced a superb performance, winning all five of its tests to take the Interstate Shield. For Cockett and the Williams, representing Victoria on home soil provided an opportunity to compete at the highest level of golf croquet while also putting the Geelong region’s croquet prowess firmly on the national stage. Just how close the competition was became apparent in the final standings with Queensland scoring the last hoop of the tournament. That single hoop proved significant, separating fourth and sixth places.

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Georgia Duncan throws a high pass. Mel Holmes congratulates Zanna Punshon on a great game. 579056

Zanna Punshon takes possession under the basket.

Isabella Baker at full stretch.

Courtney Coutts passes out of defence.

Keisha Guilmartin knocks the ball away from Zanna Punshon.

Amanda O’Malley grabs a timely rebound as Ammos closed the gap in the last quarter. Bridgette Vos scored 14 goals for the Grubbers.

Georgia Ryan passes to Zanna Punshon.

Geelong Amateur coach Kaitlyn Sheringham looks for a passing option.

Grove defies the odds again In a remarkable game of netball, Ocean Grove defied the odds yet again to defeat Geelong Amateur in the A Grade grand final by one goal at Grinter Reserve on Saturday 19 September and Independent photographer Ivan Kemp caught some of the action. Bec Winch scores one of her 24 goals.

Amy Kennedy was judged best on court.

Friday, 25 September, 2026 GEELONG INDEPENDENT 27

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Ned Turner kicks on the run. Nathan Mifsud chips a pass.

Billy Henderson looks downfield as he finds space.

Tynan Smith kicks before being tackled.

Max Annandale takes a strong mark. 579057

James Darke looks for a handball option.

Lachie Kidd finds a heap of space.

Jake Hedley kicks one of his three goals.

Max Waight clears for the Coutas.

Queenscliff flag glory Queenscliff was celebrating on Saturday 19 September when the seniors and reserves footy sides and the B Grade netball team won premierships. Independent photographer Ivan Kemp was at Newcomb’s Grinter Reserve to capture these pictures of the seniors footy win against Torquay.

Joseph Cincotta looks down field.

Jaydo Wright eludes a tackle from Lucas Anderson.

28 GEELONG INDEPENDENT Friday, 25 September, 2026

Ben McNamara looks to clear the ball from deep in defence.

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2026 premiers Queenscliff. (pictures Ivan Kemp) 579057

It’s Couta time By Justin Flynn

Pocket rocket Amy Kennedy was judged best on court for Ocean Grove. (Ivan Kemp) 579056 10

The buzzer sounds and Gemma Bell can scarcely believe what has just happened. (Ivan Kemp)

Ocean Grove 2026 premiers. (Justin Flynn)

Co-captains Georgia Ryan and Zanna Punshon and coach Mel Holmes get ready to celebrate. (Justin Flynn)

Four-peat Grubbers stun in grand final By Justin Flynn The Grubbers have done it again. For the second year in a row they have snatched a remarkable premiership against an unbeaten Geelong Amateur by one goal in a thriller at Grinter Reserve. Ocean Grove has now won four A Grade flags in a row, all against Ammos. When asked how she felt after the game, coach Mel Holmes summed it up in one word - “relief”. “This year has been one of those years,” she said. “It hasn’t come easy for us, and we’ve had to work. I think for me what I’m most proud of is the way we have built the culture of the group. “That doesn’t just happen by accident. We’re not necessarily always going to be the best team. They (Geelong Amateur) are on paper, but we did it for each other, and I think that really shows.” It was a pulsating game from the opening pass. Ammos started strongly and their manic pressure was causing the Grubbers all sorts of problems in getting the ball out of their defensive zone. Ammos scored the first five goals of the game and looked every bit the undefeated minor premiers they were. But Grove was able to steady and with pocket rocket Amy Kennedy zipping around the court at wing attack, was able to get back into the game after a nervous start. With nine minutes gone and the score at 2-7, Ocean Grove flipped the contest around and piled on eight unanswered goals to lead

by three. Zanna Punshon and Bridgette Vos couldn’t miss and the Grubbers led 13-10 at the break. Grove ran out the second quarter strongly and despite being rank underdogs, took an eight-goal lead into half-time. The question was when Ammos would hit back, not if. That would come later. The opening two scores of the third term went the way of Grove and suddenly the margin was 10. But in 26-degree warmth, Ammos hit back to trail by six with 15 minutes of netball remaining for the season. Ocean Grove was tiring and fading fast, but kept a four- to five-goal buffer. The margin remained at five with two and a half minutes on the clock, and it was then that Ammos made their move. Sensing it was all or nothing now, they ran all over an exhausted Grove and bagged the next four goals. Isabella Baker, who was one of the catalysts of Ammos’ comeback after going to goal attack, had the chance to tie the scores. She missed and Amanda O’Malley pounced to regain possession. A series of nervous passes in the defensive half milked enough time off the clock and the buzzer sounded to signal a fourpeat. “I honestly can’t believe we just did it again,” co-captain Zanna Punshon said. “Ecstatic. We know that they (Geelong Amateur) are so tough every year, but I think it just shows how much belief we’ve got in our group that we know how strong they are and it comes to grand final day and we just

put all those feelings aside.” Punshon’s co-skipper Georgia Ryan told the Voice during the week that her group embraced this time of year and she echoed it post-game. “I think I said that to you the other day, we love this time of year,” the star centre said. “We love getting around each other. We really play for each other, and at the end of the day, I think that’s what showed in our performance.” Amy Kennedy was judged best on court and the bubbly wing attack was almost in disbelief after the presentations. “I’m so excited for the girls,” she said. “It got down to the wire didn’t it? I just wanted that buzzer to go. “I only came into the side halfway through the season, and we just kept building and building, and then I thought, ‘oh, we’ve got a really good shot at this’. “Obviously we played every final, which worked in our favour, I think. We just kept building each game, better and better and figuring out what we needed to work on. “We really put it together at the perfect time.” Of course there is always one bad-luck story associated with a grand final. Perri Jones had played every game this season for Ocean Grove, but injured her calf in the preliminary final, ruling her out for the decider. You would not have known the bitter sweet emotions she might have been feeling, with the midcourter beaming after the match and knowing she was just as part of the win as anyone.

Queenscliff recovered from a second semi-final drubbing at the hands of Torquay to reverse the result when it mattered most. Other than when Torquay booted the opening goal of the game, the Coutas never really looked threatened on their way to a 51-point win in the grand final at Grinter Reserve on Saturday 19 September. Queenscliff made it a double celebration with its reserves side claiming the premiership courtesy of a 27-point triumph against Modewarre. In front of a massive crowd, veteran Jake Hedley booted three goals in his third senior outing for the season and is now a four-time premiership player. Captain Caleb Whiteley won the Josh Finch Medal for best on ground and was simply magnificent in defence, collecting 26 touches and taking timely intercept marks. Coach Heath Jamieson told K rock Football after the game that someone had mentioned it was a David (Queenscliff) vs Goliath (Torquay) battle. “Not for one second did I think we were David,” he said. “We were Goliath all week.” Jamieson also told the K rock Football broadcast that the support of the entire town hadn’t gone unnoticed. “The support today was just enormous and the boys love it, they thrive off it,” he said. “We had the whole town behind us. We had reserves and seniors on the biggest stage. The B Grade netball have come from an elimination final to win the flag. Absolute huge effort.” There was never any doubt that Jake Hedley could play. He had played in three flags in a row for Queenscliff in 2011, 2012 and 2013, but the veteran stepped up come finals time. After booting two goals in the ones in the opening round, Hedley kicked 63 majors in the reserves before coming back into the senior side for the preliminary final to snag three against Geelong Amateur. In the grand final, Hedley kicked another three to be the Coutas’ top goal scorer and is now a four-time premiership player. Izaac Grant returned from a groin strain that threatened to keep him out of the game and booted two goals as did Che Durran and Max Waight. For Torquay, Tynan Smith kicked four majors and couldn’t have done much more to get his side back into the contest while Matt Boag was superb in the midfield as usual. It was Queenscliff’s first senior premiership since 2013 and the celebrations in the Borough went long into the night and carried on for the next few days.

Caleb Whitley receives the best on ground medal from Modewarre champion Josh Finch, whom the medal is named after.

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Dominant Eagles soaring By Justin Flynn Some things are as predictable as clockwork. Newtown & Chilwell playing in the Geelong Netball League A Grade grand final is one them. For a team that has won nine of the past 11 premierships, you would think that it would be business as usual, but key playmaker Vanessa Augustini never tires of this time of year, but also never takes it for granted. “Certainly it’s a privilege,” she said. “This league is such a strong league, so we recognise how much of a privilege it is to be in here each year. “But it speaks of the commitment of our players and the effort that goes in throughout the years in the off-season and then into the season.” While it may seem that all the Eagles need to do is turn up in round 1 and eventually they will make it to the grand final, Augustini said that reality painted a different picture. “It doesn’t happen overnight,” she said. “It’s been a building game and we’ve been the team to beat for several years now. We are the team everyone loves to hate. I don’t know if that’s the case, but it sometimes feels like that. “We’re the team to beat. It certainly feels like that leading into the grand final, too. So we know what a privilege it is.” For those waiting for the Eagles to fall off the cliff, a quick look through the team list and the B Grade side reveals that doesn’t look like happening any time soon. With star goaler Holly Adams-Alcock and midcounter Olivia Powell in the A Grade side and the likes of Eliza Dunell, Harriett Shaw, Eliza Hannagan, among others, Newtown & Chilwell may be around for much longer. “We are fortunate that they’ve had that incremental introduction and they just continue to build,” Augustini said. “Olivia’s become one of our core midcourters and someone we rely on in wing defence. Holly, I just can’t speak highly enough of. She is just such an amazing young player, and to see how she’s developed.

Newtown & Chilwell wing attack Vanessa Augustini and St Joseph’s wing defence Kiahna Fallon ahead of the Geelong Netball League grand final at Kardinia Park. (Ivan Kemp) 579520 03

“Each season comes and they (the younger players) are just taking more of a position on the court. So it’s really, really positive to see.” The Eagles’ opponent on grand final day, St Joseph’s, are no strangers to finals

netball. “They have gotten one over us throughout the season, and then in the prelim (semi) final, we had one over them,” Augustini said. “(It will be) really interesting to see

what can happen on the day. We are really looking forward to it. “I was thinking, ‘excited’ is the word every year. But I’m really excited for another grand final, and it’s always exciting when it’s against Joeys because it’s anyone’s game.”

Joeys up for a massive challenge against perennial champs By Justin Flynn St Joseph’s playmaker Kiahna Fallon knows her side is the underdog against Newtown & Chilwell, but they are no strangers to grand finals. Although Joeys have been beaten by the Eagles in the past two Geelong Netball League grand finals, Fallon said the experience of playing on the biggest day and knowing what to expect would calm the nerves. Fallon, speaking the day before she won the Julia Woolley Medal on Tuesday, said her side could take a lot from its round 14 win against the Eagles. “We are the underdog in this situation and I think we’ll run with that,” she said. “There’s absolutely nothing for us to lose on Friday and I think that’s a really exciting thing for us. “We did a lot of things right (in round 14), and even then we didn’t have our full team, but we just connected really well on the court. “Defence to attack and then attack to defence, we all played our role as a unit, as a team. It built throughout the game as well. I think we got better as the game went on. “So I think we just have to draw on those

Fionnuala McKeagney-Stubbs’ season at goal keeper has been top shelf.

connections again. Like we did on that day, we really stuck to those connections that we have made throughout the season with each other.” Fallon has been switching roles from goal defence to wing defence this season, which means she is likely to play on Julia Woolley, the very person who this week’s medal win is named after. She could also match-up on Newtown & Chilwell wing attack Vanessa Augustini. Both teams are laden with talent with former Australia Diamonds player Tegan Philip at goal attack for Joeys. “(We’ve got) some new people in our

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team, like Tegan and Finn (Fionnuala McKeagney-Stubbs), and Indi (Madden),” Fallon said. “Tegan has been fantastic. Her quality of netball, and then her as a human off the court, she’s been fantastic to include into our team. “She’s there to have a bit of a joke and a laugh with us, but knows when to pull our heads in and work hard and maybe tell us that we need to work a little bit harder. That professionalism has been a really great inclusion for us.” St Joseph’s has had to play each week of the finals series but there are some advantages associated with that. The players will be able to draw from the experience of playing in temperatures in the mid-20s that will be similar to game day and with Lara entering recess this season, the fixture was very stop-start for all sides and the continuity in playing may not be a bad thing. “We did have a massive break in the middle of the season where I think we had three games off in a row,” Fallon said. “So we were quite lucky in the end that we did have a really strong and consistent finish this season. And I think that’s only put us in a better position to be able to run out the game on Friday and take another win.”

Tegan Philip has been a massive positive influence on St Joseph’s this season. (Pictures: Ivan Kemp)

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Big blokes to decide GF By Justin Flynn St Mary’s co-captain Brayden Ham believes the Geelong Football League grand final against South Barwon could be decided by both sides’ key position players. While it is usually a common, and predictable, theme to say that games will be won and lost in the midfield, Ham’s different approach when asked what both sides strengths were was refreshing. “I think both sides have got obviously strong key position players,” he said at Monday’s captains’ media conference at Kardinia Park. “It’s going to be a good battle in the ruck with (Ben) Kellett and Fletch (Fletcher Hughes) on our side and then their key forwards with Matty (Caldow) over there and who knows what they do with (Fraser) Fort, but I assume he probably goes back. “I wouldn’t back my judgement over theirs, but it’s what they’ve been doing. And then we’ve got our keys as well with the two Bourke brothers (Hamish and Sam) on either ends of the oval, who have dominated all year again, so I think it’s the key positions. “Whoever gets the ascendancy in that will go a long way in winning the game, I reckon.” St Mary’s and South Barwon will also fight it out for the reserves flag and Ham remembers the feeling of running onto GMHBA Stadium last year after the twos had caused a huge upset against Newtown & Chilwell. “It will be cool for sure,” he said. “I know last year watching our reserves side get the win before we went out there, it certainly gave us a bit more of a kick to make it two (wins).

Above: St Mary’s co-captain Brayden Ham and South Barwon skipper Matt Caldow at GMHBA Stadium. (Ivan Kemp) 579520 12 Left: Hamish Bourke has had a fine season in defence for St Mary’s.

“We didn’t really want to be going into the celebrations after we’ve got 22 guys that are stoked and the other 22 just want to go home. “Them coming off the ground, if they’re excited, it probably gets everyone up when they’re cheering us out than if they have just had a loss.” Last year St Mary’s came from 4th to win the premiership, a stark contrast to this season when they finished minor premiers and lost just two games during the home

and away rounds. “We had played four or five elimination finals leading up to the granny last year and now to sort of play two games in the month leading up, it’s obviously a different scale,” Ham said. “But we’re just as excited. The hunger’s still there, so I’m keen to get into training this week and then give it the best shot on Friday.” Ham said despite an improvement in ladder position this year, it was difficult to judge whether Mary’s are better this time around. “It’s interesting because we haven’t

changed much,” he said. “We’ve got maybe one or two new players from the same side as last year. I think it’s just confidence in the group to go through that back end of the year and win those five big games and then to have that momentum going at the start of this year. “I think we just felt like we could do that every week. It’s probably just the belief of the group really. “We’ve gotten stronger and some guys have got more games under their belt to give them that experience to become better players. So I guess it’s just that, just a combination of everything really.”

South Barwon hits back after missing 2025 finals series By Justin Flynn After missing the finals last year with 12 wins and a whopping percentage of 195.59, South Barwon skipper Matt Caldow is not taking Friday’s grand final for granted. This season the Swans have only won two more games than they did in 2025 and with a vastly inferior, although still impressive, percentage of 163.52. Perhaps that is indicative of a very even top seven and the improvement of Grovedale. “We were really disappointed last year, but it was a good reminder of how strong the league is and how many wins it takes to play finals footy,” Caldow said. “So that was probably a bit more urgency earlier in the year than we’d had in previous years and I suppose using that as motivation to get back into finals and see how we go against the best sides.” The Swans’ opponents in the grand final, St Mary’s, have won all three encounters this season, by 12 and 17 points in the home and away season and by 20 in the second semifinal. It’s not a huge gap South Barwon needs to close, so how does it happen? “I think it’s just consistency in our method and style of play and sticking to roles,” Caldow said. “Probably not so much the flashy stuff that comes. It’s probably more just sticking to the task and everyone buying into the game plan and how we want to go about it.” South Barwon kept St Mary’s to two goals

Ruckman Ben Kellett punches the ball clear during the round 8 game against Newtown & Chilwell and looms as a key player for South Barwon.

South Barwon captain Matt Caldow is looking forward to playing at GMHBA Stadium. (Ivan Kemp)

after half-time in the second semi, but by then most of the damage had been done, trailing by 29 points at the long break in a relatively low-scoring game. Caldow knows that to win the flag, his side will need to replicate that second half effort for longer periods this time around. “It’s keeping a task for 120 minutes, not a 30-minute lapse where the majority of the

scores are kicked, so it’s a combination of things,” he said. “It’s playing our role, it’s pressure around the footy, one percenters, just a varied thing, all sticking to task.” With the first three weeks of finals played at West Oval, the Geelong West ground can, at times, lend itself to low-scoring and somewhat scrappy footy.

Caldow is very much in favour of the grand final being played at Geelong’s showcase stadium, GMHBA Stadium. With 56 goals this season, Caldow might even appreciate the more sheltered conditions than at the windswept West Oval. “I think it’s one of the biggest drawcards of playing GFL,” he said of the venue. “I know when I was in the Bellarine (Football League) it was a massive drawcard to coming in (to the GFL) and having the opportunity to play at GMHBA in front of a big crowd (and) hopefully good weather. “It’s an awesome experience and it’s just an extra little bit of motivation to get there. “It’s probably slow blokes like me that might struggle, but I’m sure there’s some key forwards that will love it.”

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