Geelong Indy - 17th April 2026

‘Ferocious’ fire

By Jena Carr, with AAP

Crew members at a Corio oil refinery are luckytobealiveafterflamesandexplosions eruptedatthefacilitylateWednesdaynight.

Close to 50 firefighters, 10 fire trucks, and a boat attended the Viva Energy Geelong oil refineryshortlyafter11pmon15Aprilaftera firebrokeoutatoneoftheunitsresponsible forfuelproduction.

“(Itwas)quiteferocious.Thefirewentfrom asmallfirethroughseveralexplosionstobe quite a large, intense fire,” FRV assistant chieffireofficerMichaelMcGuinnesssaid.

Australian Workers Union (AWU) branch secretaryRonnieHaydensaidthatalthough the fire was big, it could have been a lot worse.

It is a very good day because we should have been talking about fatalities, but now we’re just talking about getting the plant back online - Ronnie Hayden

“It is a very good day because we should have been talking about fatalities, but now we’re just talking about getting the plant backonline,”hesaid.

“We had about 50 workers on site at the time, and there were some who said that they had seen the explosion and fires and wereabout500metresaway.

“The most important aspect of it was that the workers who were there were trained to deal with this, and it was because of their workthatitdidn’tescalate.

“Nobody was injured...and nobody died. That’s not just good luck; that’s because our members were highly trained in dealing withasituationlikethis.”

AWU Victorian Branch president Ross Kenna said the union had heard different stories about what may have caused the fire,butthatinvestigationsintotheincident wouldbeconducted.

“Every time there’s an incident, we want to make sure that it’s not just their physical safety we look after, we’re also very keenly

aware of their mental health as well,” he said. “We’ll make sure that the safety systemsareinplacetokeepthesurrounding community safe, and they should be proud of their local workers in Geelong who saved theplace.

“We want to make sure that the people of Geelong know that we’ll look after them... and that we will work with the company to try to get back to full production as soon as possible.”

Production has been halted at the units affected by the fires, including those

responsible for producing petrol, speciality regionalproducts,andaviationgasoline.

Viva Energy Australia’s chief executive Scott Wyatt said there would be no immediate impact on fuel supplies as its imports would be sufficient to cover any shortfallscausedbythehaltinproduction.

“We’ll only start increasing production again once we’re confident we can do that safely,” he said. “To the extent we have shortfallsinproduction,justcoverthatwith our import program, which is quite full for thenext…coupleofmonths.”

We will remember

Anzac Day marches and services will take place across Geelong, the Surf Coast, the Bellarine and Golden Plains.

AnzacDay,Saturday25April

Anglesea

Dawn service: 6.15am, War Memorial, CameronPark,Anglesea

March: 9.45am, Memorial Hall, McMillan Street,Anglesea

Commemorative service: 10am, Anglesea RSLSub-Branch,30MurrayStreet,Anglesea

BarwonHeads

March and commemorative service: 8:45am, Barwon Heads Community Hall, 77HitchcockAvenue,BarwonHeads

Drysdale

March: 10.40am, corner Eversley and PrincessStreets,Drysdale

Commemorative service: 11am, Drysdale Cenotaph,HighStreet,Drysdale

Refreshments: Barbecue for a gold coin donation at Drysdale RSL Sub-Branch, 13PrincessStreet,Drysdale

Geelong Pre-dawnservice: 4.15am, Geelong Peace Memorial,JohnstonePark,Geelong Dawnservice: 6am,EasternBeachReserve, Geelong Dawnservice: 6.15am,BoerWarMemorial, corner Latrobe Terrace and Kilgour Street, Geelong

Wreath laying service: 9am, Geelong RSL Sub-Branch, 50 Barwon Heads Road, Belmont

March and commemorative service: 10.30am, Geelong Peace Memorial, JohnstonePark

Inverleigh

Commemorative service: 9am, War Memorial, corner Hamilton Highway and RailwayStreet,Inverleigh Commemorativeservice: 2pm, Inverleigh Football Netball Club, Railway Street, Inverleigh

Lara March: 6am,McClellandAvenue,Lara

Dawnservice:6.10am,LaraRSLSub-Branch, McClellandAvenue,Lara

Barbecue and two-up: noon, Lara RSL Sub-Branch,McClellandAvenue,Lara

Leopold

Commemorative service: 8am, Leopold

War Memorial, corner Melaluka Road, StringersLane

Norlane

Dawn service: 6am, St Thomas Aquinas Church,51PlumeStreet,Norlane

March: 9.20am, corner Melbourne and SparksRoads,Norlane

Commemorative service: 10am, Norlane

RSL Sub-Branch, 29-31 Rose Avenue, Norlane

OceanGrove

Dawn service: 6am, Ocean Grove Park cenotaph,TheAvenue,OceanGrove

Gunfire breakfast: 7am (provided by Rotaryafterthedawnservice),OceanGrove Parkcenotaph,OceanGrove

March and commemorative service: 9.45am,OceanGroveParkcenotaph,Ocean Grove

PointLonsdale

March: 8.40am, Kirk Road shops, Point Lonsdale

Commemorative service: 9am, Point Lonsdale Cenotaph, Glaneuse Road, Point Lonsdale

Portarlington

Dawn service: 6.30am, the cenotaph, NewcombeStreet

March & commemorative service: 10:45am, Portarlington and St Leonards

RSL Sub-Branch, 8 Harding Street, Portarlington,marchtothecenotaph

Queenscliff

Dawnservice: 5.45am,OceanViewcarpark, southendofHesseStreet

March: 10.30am, Queenscliff Post Office, 47 HesseStreet,Queenscliff

Commemorative service: 11am, Fort Queenscliff

StLeonards

Commemorativeservice: 9am,StLeonards

Memorial Hall, 1342 Murradoc Road, St Leonards

Torquay

Dawnservice: 5.55am,AnzacParade,Point Danger.Gunfirebreakfastafterservice.

Reunion: 8.30am, Bells Beach Brewing, 2/22BainesCrescent,Torquay

Winchelsea

Commemorative service: 10.30am, Memorial Grandstand, 70 Hopkins Street, Winchelsea

Event offers respite for carers

By Matt Hewson

Unpaid carers in the wider Geelong region will have the opportunity to find support, form networks with other carers and engage in fun and relaxing activities at a special event in Armstrong Creek next week.

On Friday 24 April, Care Victoria will bring its Roving Respite program to Geelong, holding a free, one-day event for carers at the Armstrong Creek Community Hub.

Running from 9.30am to 4.45pm, the event will include practical education sessions on caring for a child with disability, navigating financial issues such as accessing carer payments and allowances and finding ways to care for yourself.

Local community organisations and municipal services will gather for a service expo, while creative workshops and quiet spaces will give carers the chance to unwind and recharge.

The event also includes a complimentary lunch and afternoon tea.

Carers Victoria regional carer navigatorEwaO’Briensaidseeingthe positive outcomes from events like RovingRespitewasoneofthereasons she loved her job.

“Many times when carers are leaving these events they say, oh, I didn’t know that I needed that,” she said. “Carers are often overworked, still working while in the caring role, so they are on shift 24 hours a day. They’re often not able to take time for themselves…so we try to create a nice, peaceful and informative space for them.”

Visit carersvictoria.org.au/ rovingrespite or call 1800 514 845 to register or for more information.

Tale of discovery and courage based on author’s childhood

By Matt Hewson

Before raising a family and building a career over 30 years in Geelong, debutante author Jenny Porter spent her childhood in a close-knit rural community in South West Victoria.

As a young person growing up in Hamilton, a town of 10,000 people in the Southern Grampians that acts as a central hub to the surrounding agricultural district, Jenny always felt as though she belonged.

“I’m the eldest of six and my parents were very much about community and community service; they were involved in school boards, church, sport, the whole lot,” she said.

“We were firmly embedded in the community; there was that very strong sense of belonging and that was fabulous.

“In that era you were part of this type of community, you had that identity, and we kind of didn’t have a choice. And for us, that actually worked particularly well.

“But the flip side of being in a smaller communityisthateveryoneknowsyouand everyone knows your business. Everyone also has an expectation of who you are and what you will be.”

And while Jenny and her siblings flourished in that environment, she was keenly aware of those who did not.

“I watched a number of people very close to me have to battle through, I suppose, with their identity of being gay,” she said.

“BeinggayinCatholicschoolstoCatholic

families was very difficult and very challenging for those people. Thankfully, their family groups wrapped around them…but it wasn’t an easy acceptance.”

Jenny’s first novel The Space Between was released a month ago on the usual platforms and launched last week in her

childhood home of Hamilton, to which she has recently repatriated.

It focuses on ‘good Catholic daughter’ Alex O’Brien, who has grown up in rural Queensland and is now on the brink of moving to Brisbane for study.

Alex feels the weight of her parents’

expectations, all the while chafing at the Sunday dresses that never quite seem to sit right and feeling disconnected from the life that seems to stretch out before her.

Originally a speech pathologist, as Jenny’s professional life developed she moved more and more into disability and mental health. Her work reinforced her firmbeliefinthepowerofcommunication, self-actualisation and language.

“I’m from that era where we had to learn the difference between a latte, a cappuccino, a double shot macchiato… what is the difference between that and learning whether someone chooses she/ her or they/them pronouns,” she said.

“It’s much more important to dignify someone’s choice of how they wish the world to know who they are than it is to know they have a flat white with soy.

“Yet on one hand we say ‘yes, we can easily learn this language’ and on the other we roll our eyes and say ‘that’s just a passing phase’.

“It’s not a passing phase. It’s terribly important to the individual who uses it.”

Described as a “gentle, affirming coming-of-age story”, The Space Between has been enthusiastically received by readers in Australia and beyond.

“The editor who worked with me said to meintheveryearlystages‘Jenny,Iidentify as queer and this book is so important to me, I needed this in school’,” she said.

“It’s been so well received that I’ve been overwhelmed with the positivity that I’ve received from everyone. It’s just amazing.”

End is near for aqueduct

By Matt Hewson

Barwon Water is poised to demolish a significant piece of Geelong’s industrial heritage.

Heritage Victoria has granted the water management body a permit to remove the Barwon ovoid sewer aqueduct, a 756m-long structure constructed in the early 1900s thatspanstheBarwonRiverinBreakwater.

The permit allows the removal of the aqueduct’s 14 towers and spans while “retaining and activating other elements”, according to a statement from Barwon Water.

“We acknowledge Heritage Victoria’s

decision and note they have conducted a detailed and carefully considered evaluationprocess,”thestatementread.

“Barwon Water will need to closely examinetheconditionsthatareattachedto the permit and consider the influence they mayhaveontheoverallproject.

“We remain committed to recognising the significance of the site, while being able to safely re-open the river corridor and PorronggitjKarrongforpublicuse.”

According to the permit, Barwon Water will retain “selective elements, including stairways and landings” and followaHeritageInterpretationStrategythat proposes site-based interpretation, off-site

and on-line exhibits and commemorative events.

InMarch2025BarwonWater’smanaging director Shaun Cumming said despite having “explored all avenues, with a range of experts”, there was “no safe way to complete conservation works” or “prevent theeventualfailingofthestructure”.

However, Geelong and Region branch of the National Trust’s Jennifer Bantow said shewas“stillhopeful”BarwonWaterwould notimplementthepermit.

“I think there’s still room for negotiation; they’ve applied for it and they have it, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be followed through,”shesaid.

Bringing Japan to Geelong for free festival

By Jena Carr

A dynamic mix of traditional culture and modern excitement will bring the heart of Japan together with the Geelong community during a free festival.

Japanese Association of Geelong will host cultural activities, including martial artsdemonstrations,alongsideworkshops, exhibits, and markets, during the Geelong Japanese Festival.

President Tomomi Ishii said the festival will be a vibrant celebration where traditional Japanese beauty meets modern energy.

“It is a privilege to strengthen the bond between Japan and Australia right here in theheartofGeelong,”shesaid.

“What makes this festival unique is the focus on ‘hands-on’ experiences...and I believe deeply in the power of culture to connect people.

“While the planning requires immense effort, seeing the community discover the charm of Japan, both its ancient traditions and its modern creativity, is my greatest passion.”

People will be able to participate in Kimono fitting, Calligraphy, and Origami workshops, as well as explore unique

Japanese products and food.

Ms Ishii said that bringing the festival to life in Geelong has been an incredibly meaningful journey.

“From traditional stalls to modern handmade crafts, we have prepared a massive program,” she said.

“Cultural diversity is the heartbeat of a strong community...and these shared experiences are vital for building mutual respectandsocial harmonyin ourregion.”

The Geelong Japanese Festival will be held at the Geelong Showgrounds on Saturday 18 April from 10am to 4pm and is free to attend.

“We have a choice at this moment, between keeping the real thing or using the interpretation plan…and we’ve still got the opportunitytochoosethebetteroption.

“There are several reports, the first in 1997andthesecondin2017,fromengineers giving solutions to the maintenance of the structure to keep it safe, and these haven’t beenimplemented.”

Ms Bantow said Barwon Water’s was responsible for the aqueduct simply through “bureaucratic inheritance”, with the minister for planning recommending in 1996 that the structure’s management behandedovertoadifferentauthoritywith expertiseinheritage.

Walking

among the pages

Book lovers across the Bellarine and Surf Coast regions can explore and connect with different communities throughasharedpassionforreading.

TheBellarineandSurfCoastGlobal BookCrawlwillrunfrom20to26April and aims to strengthen community bonds while highlighting the vital role bookstores play in supporting authors,readersandpublishers.

Local coordinator and owner of Torquay Books Lynne Main said ten regional bookshops across the Surf Coast and Bellarine, including her own, will participate in this year’s bookcrawl.

“Bookstores are just beautiful spaces to browse, spend your time and get lost in your thoughts, and we see it happen here all the time,” she said. “They’re all a little bit different, and they’ve got their little niches, and the people who own them curate themtosuittheircommunity.

“Maybe people who live in some of thosetownscancomeandhavealook at our shop and go for a drive down thecoastandseesomeoneelse’sshop.

“I’m looking forward to meeting people who don’t normally come to our shop, like visitors to the region who want to go to all the little towns around the coast and discover the bookshops.”

Peoplecanpickupastamppassport andcollectstampsfromthebookstores they visit, with participants receiving a free audiobook from Libro.fm after collecting stamps from six out of 10 shops.

Greater Geelong Retirement Village & Resort Expo

Sunday 19th & Monday 20th April 2026

Belmont Bowls Club, 16-36 Reynolds Rd, Belmont 10am-3pm Sun, 10am-1pm Mon | Free Admission

Wonderful opportunity to ask questions and gather information

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

Reserve works done

Two major upgrade projects are now complete at Torquay’s Spring Creek Reserve, which held the first match of the new football season.

TorquayFootballClubTigers’men’steam played Queenscliff at the reserve during the first home game of the season on 11 April, following the completed female-friendly change room and McCartney Oval projects.

Surf Coast Shire councillor Liz Pattison said the McCartney Oval renewal addressed long-standing issues with surface quality, drainage and wear from high levels of use.

“The reconstructed oval looks incredible and will significantly improve the durability and performance of the playing surface for years to come,” she said.

“McCartney Oval hosts more than 30 hours of weekly use during the football and cricket seasons, as well as being a popular

place for the community to exercise.”

The $2.4 million oval project involved a complete rebuild of the playing surface and centre turf cricket wicket, improved drainage and irrigation, and new fencing, pavement, perimeter kerbing and goal posts.

The reserve’s home and away change rooms have also been upgraded with modern, inclusive and accessible facilities to support all football and cricket participants.

Federal Member for Corangamite Libby Coker said the female-friendly change rooms featured improvements to the shower and bathroom facilities, installation of a new hot water system and a canteen upgrade.

“The new change rooms will help boost women’s participation in footy and cricket, which is so important for the future of local sport,” she said.

“We’ve worked alongside the Surf Coast Shire, with support from Australian Football League (AFL) Victoria, to make sure these facilities keep up with the needs of Torquay’s growing community.”

The change room project received a $700,000 grant through the federal government’s Investing in Our Community Program, along with $82,000 from council and $75,000 through AFL’s Football Facilities Fund.

Cr Pattison said both projects represented a significant investment in improving facilities for local footballers and cricketers, as well as the general community.

“Together, these two projects have improved Spring Creek Reserve significantly and brought it up to standard with any of the best football and cricket facilities in the Geelong region,” she said.

Planting food for healthy communities

By Jena Carr

Organisations across Greater Geelong and the Bellarine are continuing to provide more access to healthy food, while keeping people active and connected to their community.

Two Bellarine and four Greater Geelong projects were successful during the second round of VicHealth’s $6.5 million Growing Healthy Communities grants program.

Food education organisation Farm My School received $150,000 to expand its established veggie box program through the Sustainable Food Network – Building Resilient Local Food Systems project.

Chiefexecutiveandco-founderJames McLennan said the project would bring local producers and growers together to educate the Greater Geelong and Bellarine community on sustainable food options.

“We have amazing producers on the Bellarine, and we’ve got a really beautiful opportunity to bring them together... to create a resilient food system,” he said.

“We want to speak with producers and growers to get their input, knowledge, experience, and expertise, along with what they want to see in the future around keeping their produce local.

“It also provides opportunities for the

A roundabout towards safety

Works are now complete on a new roundabout and safety barriers in Connewarre, helping boost safety and reduce congestion for drivers across the Bellarine.

The new roundabout will make it easier for drivers to safely enter and exit the Barwon Heads Road, Blackrock Road and Staceys Road intersection.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne said the upgrades would help keep traffic moving and reduce the risk of crashes as traffic volumes on the road continue to increase.

“This new roundabout will make it easier for locals and visitors to get where they need to go safely,” she said.

“We know this is a fast-growing area, which is why we’ve delivered this upgrade to improve safety and keep people moving.”

More than 10,000 vehicles use the road each day during peak summer periods, including 1000 heavy vehicles, with the upgrade featuring improved sightlines at the intersection.

Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant said Barwon Heads Road was a key route that connected Geelong to the Bellarine Peninsula.

“This is a great outcome for the Bellarine community, making this busy intersection safer and easier to navigate every day,” she said.

Upgrades included new turning lanes into Barwon Heads Airport, relocated bus stops, line marking, signage, street lighting, and a reduced speed limit of 80km/h. On-road bike lanes have also been installed along Barwon Heads Road, along with new pedestrian paths, refuges and parking near bus stops.

Crews will return in upcoming weeks to complete minor works, including landscaping.

New lights for Eagles

A Geelong football netball club has received a boost this month with the announcement of major funding for a critical lighting upgrade.

Last week member for Geelong Christine Couzens announced East Geelong Football & Netball Club would receive $250,000 for a sports lights upgrade at Richmond Oval.

Thefundingwillfacilitatethereplacement of the facility’s outdated and non-compliant lighting with new LED floodlights, poles and electrical works to provide 150-lux competition lighting and 100-lux training lighting.

One of 78 projects approved through the latest round of the state government’s Local Sports Infrastructure Fund, the lighting upgrade comes in response to East Geelong’s flourishing program, which has experienced remarkable growth in the participation of women, girls and juniors in recent years.

general population to partake in workshops or different learning activities where they can engage with their local food system and growers.”

Bellarine Community Health secured $50,000 to help attract and retain girls and women in sports through its Active Girls Bellarine project, while Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative secured $150,000 for its Merreedyegg Tucker Program.

Norlane Community Initiatives’ Grow. Cook. Eat. Move program, Growing Together Geelong’s Kitchen Garden Network program, and Norlane Community House’s food garden project also received grants through the program.

The club has forecast the new lighting will give rise to a 22 per cent increase in participation by enabling night matches, expanded junior and female training sessions and multiuse community sport events.

Ms Couzens said she was proud that the Allan Labor government was making sport and recreation more accessible, welcoming and inclusive for all Victorians

“Congratulations to East Geelong Football & Netball Club,” she said.

“This boost will go a long way to support the growing number of people keen to get involved in local sport and recreation.”

Last year East Geelong also received $650,000 from the City of Greater Geelong and $250,000 from the Victorian government to build a new second netball court, effectively doubling the club’s capacity to train its 10 netball teams and host competitive matches.

Creche services slashed

By Matt Hewson

Despite significant opposition from community members, the City of Greater Geelong has decided to close the four creche services within Swim, Sport & Leisure.

The creche services, which provide many parents and families the opportunity to exercise or go to medical and other appointments when caring for young children would otherwise prevent them doing so, will cease at Leisurelink, Bellarine Aquatic & Sports Centre, Norlane ARC and Splashdown on 1 May.

The City’s executive director of city life

Anthony Basford said the decision had been a difficult one.

“We know this will be disappointing for some members of our community, and this decision has not been made lightly,” he said.

“Over the past 15 years, regulatory changes in the children’s services sector have made it increasingly complex to run creche services in aquatic and leisure centres.

“Creche services must now comply with stricter regulations, and standards aligned to early childhood education and care services…These are important for safety, but mean staffing levels must be maintained

Milestone for Coast Guard

By Jena Carr

Members of the Coast Guard Queenscliff will trade the open waters for artistic walls this weekend for a special 50th anniversary celebration.

Art and maritime heritage will come together during a free Maritime Art Exhibition, featuring more than 100 pieces of art on display at the Queenscliff Uniting Church.

Flotilla commander Chris Smith said Coast Guard volunteers would be available during the exhibition to answer community questions.

“It’s really about community engagement for us and providing an opportunity to be a part of something a little bit different to what we’re normally involved in,” he

said.

“We’ll be able to share a little bit about what we do and give people, who might not necessarily know who we are, the opportunity to hear about us and see what we do.”

Mr Smith said it was “mind-blowing” to have the Coast Guard celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and encouraged people to come along to the exhibition.

“We’re looking forward to a great year, and we’ll still be here to help the community as we enjoy doing that...and we’ve got such a broad, fascinating and diverse community.”

Coast Guard Queenscliff’s 50th Anniversary Maritime Art Exhibition will run from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 18 April and Sunday 19 April, with entry free and gold coin donations welcomed.

regardless of how many children attend.

“At the same time, demand has been low. Sector changes such as increased childcare subsidies and free three- and four-year-old kindergarten have made other care options more affordable and accessible for families…(which) have reduced the need for creche services.”

Mr Basford said it was no longer viable to continue the creche services, despite exploring options to do so.

Geelong council received a petition with more than 500 signatures at its March meeting, which was presented by community member Marie Neurath.

Ms Neurath, a mother of two young children, described her experience of burnout, anxiety and isolation before the creche service stepped in.

“The creche didn’t just look after my children, they looked after me, with warm smiles, reassurance and practical advice when I needed it most,” she said.

“I’d walk in feeling overwhelmed and walk out feeling capable and strong again.

The City has offered affected families three months free access to pool, gym and exercise session, as well as children’s swimming lessons. It will also offer all affected staff ongoing employment opportunities.

Support comes full circle

Geelong’s Ebony Storrar is helping give back to Cottage by the Sea following the experiences she received as a kid. She speaks to Jena Carr about how the Queenscliff children’s charity helped her and why she decided to return as a camp leader to help other kids in need.

What began as a chance for Ebony Storrar to step outside her comfort zone is now helping to develop and support her future.

The 24-year-old from Geelong first attended a camp held by Queenscliff children’scharityCottagebytheSea(CBTS) when she was nine years old, creating an experience she will never forget.

“CBTS reaches out to various schools within certain socioeconomic statuses, and my school was one of their target schools at the time,” she said.

“Our primary school was chosen for the Take a Break program, which sees school kids coming to camp for a week to do activities that would otherwise cost families a fortune if it wasn’t for CBTS.

“So, that was one week when I was in grade three or four, and then I was so incredibly lucky that my grade six cohort was later chosen to participate in the REEF (Recreation, Education, Environment, Friendship) and Mentor program.

“It involves kids from grade six up until year 12, and the goal is to help transition kids, particularly between year six and year seven, between primary school and high school.

The interactions I had with my mentors were core memories to me, and it’s an absolute honour to be even a small part of a core memory in another child’s development and progression

- Ebony Storrar

“That is a program that helps bridge the gap between the disadvantaged and those who may be more privileged, as it allows everyone to thrive.”

With opportunities to participate in a range of activities throughout the charity’s programs, Ebony said it was a “true privilege” to be involved during her childhood.

“It was game changing, and one thing that I always say is that it gave me something to brag about,” she said.

“I could go to school, and when the teacher asked us what we did on the school holidays, I would actually have something to write about.

“A lot of my peers would be going on holiday and doing elaborate things with their family members, and I wouldn’t have been doing really anything during the holidays if it weren’t for CBTS.

“For example, I got to see snow for the first time through CBTS as they took us to the snow, and that was amazing. But then, on a smaller scale, I also got to go surfing for the first time.

“People stereotype Australians to be in the surf all the time, but that isn’t the reality for a lot of kids in Australia, even for kids who live near the beach.

“CBTS gave me a home away from home, along with a place where I could push myself out of my comfort zone in a very supported way...and I felt so welcomed when I was there.”

A pivotal learning moment that stuck with Ebony occurred during her time at one of the camps when a cohort of her peers was misbehaving.

“The leaders advised us that there was going to be a consequence if we did

something wrong or misbehaved, whether that meant we missed out on a dessert or on doing an activity,” she said.

“The next morning, we were trying our best to behave to make up for the day before,butthecampleaderjumpedupand said it was time for our consequences.

“We were all so devastated and sad because we thought we had done our best to make up for the day before and had behaved so well.

“But, to our surprise, he then turned aroundandgaveusdessertandmentioned how the word consequence doesn’t always mean something bad.

“It was interesting because, especially as a kid, the word ‘consequence’ was always bad, as you look at the consequences of your actions, and it’s usually said in a very negative tone.

“But that was when we first realised that you can do good in the world and receive positive consequences.”

Ebony transitioned from participant to leader at age 20, with her experience and passion for helping others leading her to become a camp leader with CBTS, which is something she continues to do.

“I can reflect on how powerful my interactions were with so many leaders when I was a kid, and I wanted to make them proud when I grew up,” she said.

“They (camp leaders) were invested in our lives, and we felt supported by them,

and I’d look at them and see that they were having fun in what was their job.

“As a camp leader, you get to see kids transition right through high school and develop into young adults who, potentially without CBTS, could have been on a completely different trajectory in life.

“The interactions I had with my mentors were core memories to me, and it’s an absolute honour to be even a small part of a core memory in another child’s development and progression.”

Ebony was able to build many skills across physical and educational areas while surrounded by an environment that allowed her to grow.

It was also through the charity that she discovered an interest in healthcare and medical intervention, which she has chosen to carry with her into her professional life as a registered nurse.

“I did my first-aid course with CBTS, and I just loved it, as...it gave me the real-life experience in the field,” she said.

“The effect of CBTS isn’t within the walls of their physical building, but it’s also out in the community.

“It’s like the butterfly effect, as you can’t underestimate what one small experience can do.

“That is not to say that without CBTS I wouldn’t have watched something like Grey’s Anatomy and become a doctor, but for me, CBTS provided me with that passion for the medical field.

“If you were to speak to my mum or dad, they were incredibly grateful for CBTS and whattheyprovidedme...becausetheywere able to see me experience stuff that they potentially couldn’t have given me the experience of.”

CBTSreliesondonationsandfundraising events to support more children in experiencing fun and life-changing opportunities through its programs.

Visit CBTS’ website to donate or for more information on upcoming events, including a Wine and Cheese Evening on 8 May and a Charity House Community Day on 23 May.

Kellaway back in the habit

Local theatre company Footlight Productions is bringing a little gospel groove to the stage this May with a feel-good musical worth singing about.

Based on the much-loved 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg, Footlight’s latest production Sister Act hits Geelong Arts Centre for the first time, running from Friday 1 to Saturday 9 May.

Featuring a cast of 32 local actors, Sister Act tells the story of disco diva Deloris Van Cartier, who is put in protective custody afterwitnessingamurder.MuchtoDeloris’ chagrin, police put her in the one place no one will suspect - a convent.

Stage veteran Jennie Kellaway plays the strict and straitlaced Mother Superior, the foil to Sarahlouise Younger’s fast-talking, sassy Deloris.

Kellaway,whosefatherandmothermetat an after show theatre party, has performed in both straight and musical theatre since she was a child, including two stints as the Reverend Mother in Nunsense.

She said her years as a teacher had also set her up well for taking on a role made famous by the iconic Maggie Smith in the original movie.

“Being a former school principal, I can do the ‘don’t mess with me’ look,” Kellaway said.

“But you can’t try to be Maggie Smith, justasyoucan’ttrytobeWhoopiGoldberg. You’ve got to make it your own.

“When I’m finding a character I find the voice first, and then the walk…Mother Superiorisveryupright,she’smuchplaying it by the book.

“But I found her quite early on, and it was easy because I had this wonderful character that Sarahlouise was developing in Deloris who does all these dreadful things - she wants to smoke in the churchsoitwasreallyquiteeasywiththatcontrast in the two characters.”

Kellaway said the actors had “formed a very strong bond as a cast”.

“We had an amazing rehearsal and there was a moment…a scene where Deloris stands up for her sisters, and the girls, we were all very emotional,” she said.

“It’s a very unique show in that it does bring the cast very much together in that way. It’s been a delightful experience.”

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

Young star set to shine at All Saints’ church

TheWelshmalechoirtraditionismusically distinctive, but its cultural importance is even more significant.

The Australian Welsh Male Choir, led by musical director Tom Buchanan OAM, will bring their powerful brand of choral music toAllSaints’AnglicanChurchinNewtown at 2pm this Sunday for their first formal performance of 2026.

The 35-strong ensemble will perform a range of popular and sacred songs, with a particular focus on works sung in the Welsh language.

“The Welsh people have an interesting history having had their language disallowed from use in public office for

MY GEELONG

a period of approximately 400 years,” Buchanan said.

“ButinWalesthelanguagewaspermitted to be used in churches and so the hymns have a much broader cultural significance because they carried the language for those 400 years.

“That’sthereasonyouhearWelshpeople singinghymntunesattherugbyandinthe pubs, where it might seem a little odd until you realise the history of it.”

FromtraditionalWelshhymnstojazzand contemporary Welsh pieces, the program will cover a diverse range of works.

Geelong’s own 11-year-old classical guitar phenom Oscar Wang will also

perform during the program’s two intermissions. The year five student recently won first place in guitar at the national final of the 2025 Oz School Instrument Championships.

Buchanansaidhewaslookingforwardto hearing Oscar perform.

“That is the joy of these programs, getting out into different communities and meeting young musicians with such incredible talent,” he said.

“It really is a joy for me and all of the members of the choir to get to meet the next generation of musicians.” Visithumanitix.comforticketsandmore information.

Sandi McNeilly is a library coordinator at Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads Libraries. She speaks with Jena Carr about what she loves most about living and working in the region.

What is your connection to Ocean Grove?

My partner and I chose to have a sea change and move here when our children were young, so I have lived in the area for over 20 years.

What do you like about where you live? I love the coastal living and community in Ocean Grove while alsohavingeasyaccess to Melbourne.

What, if anything, would you change about where you live?

Theareahaschangedalotin20years,with crowds continuing to increase over the summermonths.Butwhowouldn’twantto live and visit here?

Where is your favourite place to spend time?

I love to spend time at the beach, with some of my favourite activities including swimming and walking the dog.

What is something people may not know about you?

I ride my bike to work when I can, as sustainable travel is really important to me. I often see familiar faces along the way and feel so lucky to have such a beautiful commute to work.

What do you like most about your role as library coordinator at Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads Libraries?

IloveworkinginacommunitywhereIlive, andsomanyincrediblepeoplewhousethe

(Ivan Kemp) 544780_05

library. Providing a safe community space is extremely rewarding and fulfilling, so it’s a joy to come to work and serve this community.

Are there any exciting events or activities happening at the libraries in the coming weeks?

We always have wonderful and free events

running at Ocean Grove Library...and I love that our community uses our library as a place to catch up and connect.

On Wednesday 22 April, we have an author talk by Melbourne writer Anne Vines about her novel titled Flight. The book is about an American war general whooperatedfromanofficeinMelbourne’s Collins Street during World War II.

On28April,we’rehostingafreeworkshop called‘FindingFactsOnline’,wherepeople canlearnhowtoassessonlineinformation sourcesandtheirclaims.Theworkshopwill be our second session in a series of three workshops, and this has been created as a series of educational resources for people tounderstandhowtostaysafeonlinewhile learning to navigate misinformation and disinformation.

People can visit the events page on Geelong Regional Library Corporation’s (GRLC) website for tickets to the upcoming events and for more activities happening across the region’s libraries.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Our region is so lucky to have so many libraries with excellent programs and events.

I have been extremely fortunate to work forGRLCatvariousbranchesandlocations across the network for many years. For those in the community who haven’t visitedalibraryforalongtime,Iencourage you to pop in and have a chat with us and see what you are missing out on.

Best of the best celebrated

The Gordon TAFE celebrated its most talented and inspiring students, apprentices and trainees at the 2026 Gordon Excellence Awards earlier this month.

Held at Geelong Arts Centre, the annual awards ceremony highlighted the best of The Gordon’s 12,000 students from 2025 across 19 award categories.

Will Tasic took out The Gordon’s Student of the Year award, having completed his certificate III in barbering and displaying technical skill, tenacity and determination to transform his passion into a career.

“This course has helped me build real confidence through hands-on skills, while also teaching me focus and time management,” he said.

“I’ve grown a lot personally and professionally, and made friendships that will last a lifetime.”

Commercial cookery student Simone

Brown, who now works in one of Melbourne’s leading restaurant kitchens, was named Apprentice of the Year.

“I enjoy working in a fast-paced environment where every service brings new challenges and opportunities to learn,” she said.

“The kitchen combines teamwork and creativity in a way that constantly pushes me to improve.”

Chair of Kardinia Park Stadium Trust

Bernadette Uzelac AM received The Gordon’s 2026 Alumni Excellence award and Jakaylah-Rose Storrar won the Koori Excellence award.

Acting chief executive Lisa Barton said the awards celebrated far more than academic success.

“Success doesn’t happen by accident,” she said.

“It starts with a vision - a goal you commit to, a supported environment, an

inclusive learning experience.

“(With these awards) we celebrate students who have faced challenges, overcome setbacks and kept going. Their success is not just about talent.

“At the heart of every student is the hope that effort, learning and perseverance will open doors.”

Ms Barton said The Gordon “worked hard to cultivate a learning environment where every student feels welcomed, supported and empowered”.

“These students, apprentices and trainees represent the best of The Gordon, a diverse, talented and determined group of learners who set out to achieve something more,” she said.

“To be named a finalist from such a large and diverse student cohort is an outstanding achievement, and one that reflects perseverance, skill and commitment.

“The evening also acknowledged the important role of teachers, mentors, families and employers in supporting student success.”

Inclusive program to roll out across the region’s schools

SchoolsinGeelongandaroundtheregion arenowsupportedbyaprogramdesigned to create welcome and inclusive learning environments for all students, including those with disability and diverse learners.

Deputy premier and minister for education Ben Carroll announced late last week that 24 mainstream schools across the Greater Geelong region would be supported by Inclusion Outreach Coaches (IOCs).

In 2021 the Department of Education

announced several initiatives including the IOC initiative, to support school workforces to build their capabilities in inclusive practices. These initiatives were part of a statewide Disability Inclusion Reform to support schools to ensure that all students feel welcomed and thrive. IOCs are specialists who work within schools to help teachers and staff develop the capability to support students’ learning and wellbeing through high-quality inclusive practices.

Part of the Victorian government’s $1.8 billion disability inclusion reforms, the IOC initiative began in 2021 and is now inthefinalstagesoftheprogram’srollout, with 665 mainstream schools in the state now part of the program.

MrCarrollsaidthereformswere“transforming our public education system”

“We’re giving parents and carers the choice of enrolling their child in a worldclass public school that’s right for them, whether that’s an inclusive local school or

a specialist school,” he said.

Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant said the Labor government was “investing to make sure staff and students are supported in inclusive learning environments” , with five Bellarine schools among the 24 joining the IOC program in the Greater Geelong area.

“I’m proud to see Bellarine schools leading the way in creating inclusive, welcoming environments where every student can thrive,” she said.

A day out with Thomas

Independent photographer Ivan Kemp went to Queenscliff train station on Saturday 11 April for the Bellarine Railway’s Day Out with Thomas.

Good for gardens, better for Geelong

Community members can now get A-grade compost made from Geelong’s recycled green bin waste at more outlets across Geelong,theBellarineandtheSurfCoast.

BetterforGeelongcompost,firstlaunched as a 25-litre bagged product in October last year, is now available at Fagg’s Mitre 10 SouthGeelongandWallingtonstores.

Made from garden waste collected in green bins across Greater Geelong, the City’s compost is a growing part of its circulareconomyprogram.

Eachyear,about35,000tonnesofmaterial is processed at the City’s Anakie organics facility, turning the green waste into

City support for positive ageing

Applications are now open for local community groups and organisations seeking financial support for activities and events centred on people aged 55 and over.

The City of Greater Geelong’s Positive Ageing Grants program offers grants of up to $1000 to support community-led activities such as workshops, dances and concerts, sporting activities, art and craft, digital learning and cultural experiences.

Aged Care Advisory Committee chair councillor Rowan Story said now is the time to think about applying.

“Grants are a terrific way we can support the delivery of important programs,” hey said. “I encourage community groups and organisations to take advantage of the information session to learn more about the funding opportunity.”

The grants program aims to promote increased physical activity and socialisation, promote mental health and wellbeing, celebrate achievements and provideopportunitiesforintergenerational activities.

Organisations eligible for the grants include incorporated not-for-profit groups, unincorporated groups with an auspice, registered charitable organisations and school or learning institutions.

Supported activities must be available to anyone aged 55 or over for free or at low cost.

Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj said the Positive Ageing Grants would help ensure people were respected, supported, and encouraged to participate in community life no matter their age.

“Growing older shouldn’t mean giving up on hobbies, activities and experiences that make us happy,” he said.

“Through our Positive Ageing Grants, we’re supporting local groups and organisations who make sure people aged 55andovercontinuetofeelincludedinour community.”

Visit geelong.link/PAGInfo to register for the Positive Ageing Grants information session or geelongaustralia.com.au for more information on the grants program.

high-quality compost instead of dumping it inlandfill.

The recycling of the green waste also cuts emissions and supports local jobs, promotingastronglocalrecyclingindustry.

Environment and Circular Economy portfolio chair Councillor Elise Wilkinson said the bagged compost launch was an excitingstepforward.

“This is a great moment for our community. Every time someone uses their green bin correctly, they’re helping create a product that goes straight back into local gardens, parks and sporting grounds,” said CrWilkinson.

“Seeing our homegrown compost on the shelves at Mitre 10 shows how powerful a circular economy can be. It shows how the humble home green bin can create real products,realjobsandrealenvironmental benefits right here in Greater Geelong.

“It also highlights how our region is leading the way in sustainability and innovation.”

Bulk compost can also be purchased from Lara Garden Supplies, Southpoint Garden Supplies in Torquay, and Wallington WRG.

Visit geelong.link/bettercompost for more information.

Darwin to Geelong on The Ghan

TheGhanisoneofAustralia’sgreattravel iconsandisonmanybucketlists. Make it happen with Geelong Travel as you travel through the red centre from Darwin to Adelaide and then onto InverleighandhoponacoachtoGeelong.

This five day/four night journey also includesonenight’saccommodationata four-star Darwin hotel, accommodation aboard The Ghan, a Charles Darwin sunset dinner cruise as well as food and beverages onboard. There are complimentary transfers from your Darin hotel to The Ghan departure point and a side trip from Adelaide to Monarto SafariPark,hometomorethan50species of exotic and native animals, followed by lunchandadmissionintothepark. Off-train experiences at Nitmiluk

(Katherine Gorge), Alice Springs and CooberPedyalsoawait.

This trip has been carefully curated to provide a premium rail experience combining luxury accommodation, immersive off-train excursions and uniqueinclusionspriortodeparture. FordecadesTheGhanhasbeenknown as one of the world’s great train journeys from the tropical north, through the red centreandintoSouthAustralia.

The journey’s conclusion in Geelong also makes this departure particularly distinctivefortravellersinVictoria.

Thetripisfor29October,2027socontact Stuart Coffield and the team at Geelong Travel at 52443666 or geelongtravel.com. au/contact-us and start preparing to tick thisitemoffyourbucketlist.

Gas terminal a step closer

By Jena Carr

A proposed gas import terminal project for Geelong has received the green light from thefederalgovernmenttoprogressforward, despiteconcernsbyenvironmentalgroups.

VivaEnergy’sproposedLiquefiedNatural Gas (LNG) terminal project for Corio Bay received formal approval under the Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation(EPBC)Actearlythismonth.

Geelong Sustainability has since raised concerns about the project’s potential impacts on the region, including energy pricespikesanddamagetothebay.

“Theprospectofindustrial-scaledredging in Corio Bay so that Viva Energy can bring

massive fossil fuel tankers to Geelong Pier is beyond distressing,” co-chief executive KarinaDonkerssaid.

“The approval greenlights dredging nearly half a million cubic metres of Corio Baynearinternationally-significantRamsar wetlandstobringmassiveLNGtankersinto Geelong’sport.

“With a second gas terminal also being proposed by multinational company Vopak, potential is building for serious cumulative impacts on Corio and Port Phillip Bays affecting nature, aquaculture andrecreationalfishinganddiving.”

Environment Victoria senior climate and energy advisor Dr Kat Lucas-Healey said she was also worried about the potential

environmentaldamage.

“When gas is unaffordable, and we’re still shackled to gas; people go cold, and businessesgobust,”shesaid.

“Efficient electric appliances powered by renewable energy backed by storage are by far the cheapest way to keep our homes and businessesrunning.

“These import terminals will lead to unacceptable additional climate pollution, from production to shipping, regasification and end use, and they make a mockery of Victoria’sclimatetargets.”

A Viva Energy spokesperson said the federal government’s approval recognised that the proposed LNG terminal project could proceed, subject to conditions, with

Boost for women in sport from VicHealth

Women and girls in sport across the Bellarine will benefit from a $50,000 VicHealth grant.

Bellarine Community Health (BCH) received the grant as part of the Growing Healthy Communities Grant program aimed at gender equality women and girls’ participationinsportandphysicalactivity.

The grant will support the development oftheActiveGirlsBellarineprojectandwill help create a resource toolkit and online training modules to help coaches, teachers and community leaders attract and retain girls and women in sport and movement.

Through Active Girls Bellarine, BCH’s Healthy Communities Team will provide trainingtocommunitychampionstomake more local places feel safe for girls and women to enjoy being active.

“We are excited to have been successful in the Growing Healthy Communities Grant,”HealthyCommunitiesTeamacting manager Pen Lynch said.

“WelookforwardtodeliveringtheActive Girls Bellarine project across the Bellarine region.

“As a member of Respect 2040, equality is at the core of our work. We understand the value of working at the grassroots level to support gender equality throughout the Bellarine community.”

The focus on girls and women comes at a time when there are many reasons physicalactivityratesarelowerforfemales than males. Women and girls report time constraints, cost, low confidence, fear of judgment, limited access to welcoming options and gender-based sociocultural expectations as things that make it harder for them to be active (VicHealth, 2019).

BCH’s own research in 2024 found that girls on the Bellarine need more supportive, inclusive and flexible options

to be more active.

The outcomes of the Growing Healthy Communities grant will enhance gender equality across the Bellarine community.

This project supports BCH’s broader commitment to diversity and inclusion through enabling a safe and equal community for all to enjoy.

acceptableenvironmentaleffects.

“We are continuing to work with relevant authorities towards delivering this valuable project,” they said. “The approval follows the state government’s positive assessment of an Environmental Effects Statement (EES) for this vital energy infrastructure project in May last year. The planned gas terminal at Geelong Refinery Pier is Victoria’s best and most advanced project, capable of delivering a reliable supply to replace the rapidly declining natural gas. Comprehensive studies by independent experts have shown that the gas terminal’s operations will not adversely impact the Corio Bay marine environment or the Ramsarwetlands.”

Prisoners help grow for good

Inmates at Marngoneet Correctional Centre are helping put fresh food on the table for people doing it tough acrosstheGreaterGeelongregion.

Participants of the Lara medium-security men’s prison’s horticulture program will continue to grow and donate more than 30 vegetable boxes each week in partnershipwithGeelongFoodshare.

Geelong Foodshare chief executive AndrewSchaublesaidthepartnership had been running for more than 13 years, with over 15,000 kilograms of vegetablesdonatedthisyear.

“This partnership provides food for families in need while giving people in custody a sense of purpose and contribution,”hesaid.

Marngoneet Correctional Centre general manager Aoife Johnston said program participants learnt practical skills including plant propagation, pruningandharvesting.

“It’s incredibly positive to see this program benefit both people in custody and local families in need of fresh,healthyfood,”shesaid.

Member for Lara Ella George said the partnership showed off the community spirit of Greater Geelong withpeoplehelpingeachother.

“Geelong Foodshare do fantastic work supporting families in the region, and this partnership is delivering for both people in custody and the Geelong community,” she said.

The Guide

BLUE MURDER MOTEL

ABC TV, Saturday, 7.30pm

When a summer storm slams into Mowai Bay in this charming murder mystery’s penultimate chapter, the Blue Motel finds itself at capacity with stranded tourists and out-oftowners. The roads are closed, the power is out and Vinny (Michala Banas) and Cole’s (Brett Tucker, pictured) conference room has become a makeshift community shelter. So, when the local radio DJ starts broadcasting “dead air”, it’s almost certain the killer is right under their noses. However, Jamie (Jayden Daniels) is beginning to doubt the retired cop couple’s credentials and a surprise visitor from their past (TheFlyingDoctors’ Christopher Stollery) puts Vinny on edge. It sets the scene for a thrilling conclusion next week.

GLENN AND MICK’S CELEBRITY INTERVENTION

Seven, Monday, 7.30pm

Lured to a TV studio by comedian Glenn Robbins and shepherded through a doorway reminiscent of ThisisYourLife’s gilded entry, the stars featured in this riotous new format won’t know what hit them. An archive of video clips, photos and stories awaits, along with some old friends, but Robbins and his co-conspirator Mick Molloy won’t be heaping praise upon their guests – rather, they confront them with brutal home truths in a lightly mocking fashion. Carrie Bickmore is the first celebrity in the hot seat, with input from Kate Langbroek (pictured second from left with Molloy, Bickmore and Robbins), Pete Helliar and Tommy Little, as well as her mum Jennie and son Ollie.

Friday, April 17

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

The British Stole. (Final, PG, R) 11.00 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 12.00 News. 1.00 The Piano. (R) 1.45 Can You Keep A Secret? (Ml, R) 2.15 The Assembly. (PG, R) 3.00 Grand Designs Transformations. (PG, R) 3.55 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGv, R) 4.45 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PGa, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 9.00 Cook Up Bitesize. (R) 9.10 Matched. (PG, R) 10.05 Kew Gardens: Season By Season. (R) 11.00 DNA Journey. (PGa, R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Forever Held In Country. (R) 3.00 Nula. 3.30 The Cook Up. (R) 4.00 The Mayfair Hotel Megabuild. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG,R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Gardening Australia.

8.30 Patience. (Mv) Afather isshot infront ofhis daughter.

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

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

10.20 ABC Late News.

10.35 Shaun Micallef’s Eve Of Destruction. (Ml,R) 11.15 Murdoch Mysteries. (Mav,R) 12.05 Love Me. (Ml, R) 12.50 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv) 5.00 Rage. (PG)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Going Places With Ernie Dingo. (PG) 8.30 A New ANZAC. Construction ofthe new Southern Entrance isunderway. 9.30 Orient Express: A Golden Era Of Travel. (PGav,R) 10.25 SBS World News Late. 10.55 The King. (MA15+d) 11.50 Babylon Berlin. (MA15+asv, R) 2.00 Nordland 99. (Mal, R) 2.55 Mastermind Australia. (R) 3.55 Mountain Vets. (PG, R) 4.30 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 11.15 The Makery. 11.30 Wiggle. 11.45 Andy’s Aquatic Adventures. 1.30pm PJ Masks. 1.50 Kangaroo Beach. 2.30 Daniel Tiger’s. 2.45 The Makery. 3.00 Play School: Let The Games Begin. 4.15 Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures. 4.40 Ariel. 5.20 Stan & Gran. 6.05 Spidey And His Amazing Friends. 7.05 Gardening Australia Junior. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 8.00 Scooby-Doo And Guess Who? 8.30 My Adventures With Superman. 8.50 BattleBots. 9.40 Gladiators UK. 10.40 Late Programs.

The National. 9.30 BBC News At Six. 10.00 France 24 English News. 10.30 The Movie Show. 12.15pm DW The Day. 12.45 Calipari: Razor’s Edge. 2.25 Bamay. 3.00 Where Are You Really From?

WorldWatch. 5.40 Inside The Huddle.

Over The Black Dot. 6.40 Jeopardy!

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 8.15 Motown Magic. 8.40 The Magic Canoe. 9.10 Spartakus. 10.00 Waterworld Africa. 11.00 Going Places. Noon MOVIE: Coextinction. (2021, PG) 2.00 Island Echoes. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 Nula. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 The Big Dry. 7.30 MOVIE: The Boy And The Heron. (2023, PG) 9.50 MOVIE: Jumpin’ Jack Flash. (1986) 11.40 Nula. 12.10am Prison Songs. 1.00 Going Places. 2.00 On The Road. 3.00 Barunga Festival. 4.00 On The Road. 5.00 Bamay. NITV (34)

PICK OF THE WEEK

F WE

for success:

MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA

10, Sunday, 7pm

As this culinary sensation comes of age with its 18th season, its success has become something of a self-fulfilling prophecy. No longer reliant on world-famous

chefs to appear as guest judges, the hottest kitchen on TV could now fuel an entire season using only its superstar graduates.

MY RENO RULES

Seven, Tuesday, 7.30pm

A new generation steps into the kitchen chasing gastronomic glory in Sunday’s premiere – including 19-year-old student Luke, who can’t remember a time before MasterChef. Judges Andy Allen, Jean-Christophe Novelli, Poh Ling Yeow and Sofia Levin put the top 40 contenders through their paces, with just 10 coveted white aprons on offer for the best dishes of the day.

From a fresh coat of paint to modernising fixtures, you don’t need to tweak much to achieve an eye-catching home renovation. The producers of this property makeover series opt for a similar high-impact, low-effort approach, putting an updated spin on TheBlock’s enduring reality renovation format while incorporating unique elements to hopefully improve the overall result. Hosted by Dr Chris Brown (pictured), it follows four teams as they compete to renovate, furnish and landscape two 1960s-era suburban houses. In a twist, billionaire sponsor Adrian Portelli sets rules and challenges that can change at any moment, with the finished products given away to two lucky families in the season finale rather than going under the hammer.

SEVEN (6, 7)

NINE (8, 9) 6am Morning Programs. 10.30 Stuff

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 MOVIE: Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder In The Mind. (2019,PGav,R) 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Football. AFL. Round6. Geelong vWestern Bulldogs. 10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion and interviews. 11.00 GetOn Extra. Alook atthe weekend’s best racing.

11.30 Border Security: International. (PGadl,R) Atrucker’s day goes sideways.

12.00 MOVIE: Patsy And Loretta. (2019,Masv,R) Charts the friendship between two music stars. Megan Hilty. 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 5.00 NBC Today.

7TWO (62, 72)

8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 MOVIE: Casualties Of War. (1989, MA15+) 10.40 Sex Before The Internet. 11.35 Homeland. 12.50am United Gangs Of America. 1.45 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera. 6am Morning Programs. 9.00 Medical Emergency. 9.30 NBC Today. Noon House Of Wellness. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 Our Town. 2.30 Weekender. 3.00 Business Builders. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Better Homes. 5.00 Escape To The Country. 6.00 Bargain Hunt. 7.00 Better Homes. 8.00 Escape To The Country. 11.00 The Yorkshire Vet. Midnight Bargain Hunt. 1.00 Surf Patrol. 1.30 Last Chance Learners. 2.00 Harry’s Practice. 2.30 Medical Emergency. 3.00 Better Homes. 5.00 Our Town.

6am The Movie Show. 6.35 The Lady And The Highwayman. (1989, PGasv) 8.20 Becoming Jane. (2007, PGav) 10.30 Phantom Thread. (2017, Mal) 12.55pm Empire. (2023, Mav, Danish) 2.40 Discovering Film. 3.35 A King In New York. (1957, PGa) 5.30 Somewhere In Time. (1980) 7.30 The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society. (2018) 9.55 Enigma. (2001, Mals) 12.10am An Angel At My Table. (1990, Malns) 3.05 John Wick. (2014, MA15+) 4.55 The Movie Show. 5.30 Discovering Film.

7MATE (64, 73)

Storage Wars. 12.30 American Pickers. 1.30

Oz. 8.30 MOVIE: Ticket To Paradise. (2022, M) 10.45 MOVIE: Scent Of A Woman. (1992, M)

2.05am Surveillance Oz. 3.00 Pawn Stars. 4.00 Golf. LIV Golf League Mexico City.

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: Love Upstream. (2021, PGa, R) Kimberly-Sue Murray, Steve Lund. 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG)

TEN (5, 10)

5.00[MELB] TippingPoint Australia.(PG,R) 5.30 WIN News. 6.00 Ent. Tonight. (R) 6.30 Bold. (PG, R) 7.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R) 7.30 GCBC. (R) 8.00

6.00 9News. 7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 Airport Security: USA. (Mad) AnX-ray shows some unusual objects.

8.30 MOVIE: The Intern. (2015,Mal,R) A70-year-old retired widower ishired asa senior intern for anonline fashion startup. Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway, Rene Russo. 10.55 MOVIE: Going In Style. (2017,Ml,R) Michael Caine. 12.40 Tipping Point. (PG,R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 4.30 Global Shop. (R) 5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 5.30 Postcards. (PG, R)

9GEM (81, 92)

9GO! (82, 93)

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 Rugby Heaven. 12.30pm Australian Ninja Warrior. 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 MOVIE: Meg 2: The Trench. (2023, M) 9.40 MOVIE: Rambo: Last Blood. (2019, MA15+) 11.30 Seinfeld. 12.30am Love Island UK. 1.50 MOVIE: It Only Takes A Night. (2023, MA15+) 3.30 Cards And Collectables Australia. 4.00 Barbie: Dreamhouse Adventures. 4.30 Barney’s World. 4.50 Lego Dreamzzz. 5.10 Hop. 5.30 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Mountain Men. Noon

6.00 10 News+. 6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (R) 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG,R) Hosted byRebecca Gibney. 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. (R) Hosted byNeale Whitaker and Andrew Winter. 8.40 Building The Dream. (Return) Architectural designer Charlie Luxton proves dream homes can beaffordable. 9.40 10’s Late News. Coverage ofnews, sport and weather. 10.40 10 News+. (R)

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 12.00 Home Shopping. (R)

Shopping. 6am Morning Programs. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon Avengers. 1.10 MOVIE: Don’t Bother To Knock. (1961, PG) 3.00 Antiques Roadshow. 3.30 MOVIE: Strange Invaders. (1983, PG) 5.30 Secret Life Of The Auction House. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Dolphins vPenrith Panthers. 9.55 NRL Friday Night Footy Post-Match. 10.45 MOVIE: Dog. (2022, M) 12.45am Explore. 1.00 1.30 MOVIE: Strange Invaders. (1983, PG) 3.30 Seaway. 4.30 My Favorite Martian. 5.00 Late Programs. 10 DRAMA (53, 12)

10 COMEDY (52, 11)

Saturday, April 18

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

SEVEN (6, 7)

NINE (8, 9) 6.00 Rage Charts. (PG) 7.00 Weekend Breakfast. 9.00 Rage. (PG) 10.30 Rage Vault Guest Programmer. (PG) 12.00 Football. VFL. Round4. Coburg v St Kilda. 3.00 Shaun Tan’s Tales From Outer Suburbia. (R) 4.10 Judgment: Cases That Changed Australia. (PG, R) 5.00 Australian Story. (R) 5.30 Landline. (R)

6.00 Kath & Kim. (PGals,R)

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

7.00 ABC News. Alook atthe top stories ofthe day.

7.30 Blue Murder Motel. (PGl) Vinny and Cole investigate the death ofa radio DJ.

8.15 Top End Bub. (PGd) Nedand Lauren have never felt more distant and Taya struggles with life without him. Trevor gets amakeover. Daffy unveils her song.

8.40 Death In Paradise. (Ma,R) Theteam attempts toinvestigate the mysterious death ofa British tourist. 9.40 Frauds. (Ml,R) Bert and Sam struggle tokeep their secrets hidden.

10.30 Rage Vault Guest Programmer. (MA15+dhlnsv)

5.00 Rage. (PG)

6am Morning Programs. 10.55 Oman From Above. (R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Sailing. Sail Grand Prix Rio. Round4. Highlights. 3.00 Stories From The Cities. (PG) 3.30 Figure Skating. ISU Synchronised Championships. 5.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 5.35 Surviving WW2. (Premiere, PGaw)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Jewels Of The Mediterranean: Gibraltar –Escape To The Sun.

8.20 Magical Train Journeys In Switzerland: With The Glacier Express From Zermatt To St Moritz. (R) Alook at TheGlacierExpress

9.20 Jersey And Guernsey. (R) Asailing ship isvisiting the Port ofSt Helier.

10.15 Finding Your Roots. (PG,R)

11.15 Snowpiercer. (MA15+v,R)

1.50 Matched. (PG, R)

2.40 Mastermind Australia. (R)

3.45 Undermining Nazis: Paris’ Secret Tunnels. (PGav, R)

4.45 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 3.30pm Zog And The Flying Doctors. 4.20 Dino Dex. 4.45 Gardening Australia Junior. 5.10 Room On The Broom. 5.40 Super Monsters. 6.05 Knee High Spies. 6.25 Paddington. 7.05 Let’s Go Bananas! 7.30 Kids Baking C’ship. 8.10 Harry Potter: Wizards Of Baking. 8.50 Caper Crew. 9.40 Fresh Off The Boat. 10.00 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22)

NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs. 2.30pm Over The Black Dot. 3.00 Soh Presents: Generations And Dynasties. 4.30 This Is Indian Country. 5.00 Rebel With A Cause: Tiga Bayles. 6.00 Homesteads. 6.40 The Other Side. 7.30 Alone Australia. 8.30 MOVIE: Cujo. (1983, M) 10.15 MOVIE: Listen Up: The Many Lives Of Quincy Jones. (1990, PG) 12.05am Late Programs.

6am Morning

Programs. 12.15pm Hostage Rescue. 2.05 Forged In Fire. 3.45 WorldWatch. 5.45 Mastermind Aust. 6.45 The Food That Built The World. 7.35 Abandoned Americana. 8.30 Icons Unearthed: Transformers. 10.20 History’s Greatest Heists With Pierce Brosnan. Midnight WWE Legends. 1.40 Race For The Planet. 2.20 Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

6am Morning Programs. 12.20pm Enigma. (2001, Mals) 2.30 The Lady And The Highwayman. (1989, PGasv) 4.10 Dean Spanley. (2008, PG) 6.00 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. (1968, PG) 8.35 John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. (2019) 11.05 Nymphomaniac: Vol 1. (2013, MA15+alnsw) 1.10am Late Programs.

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Horse Racing. AllAged Stakes Day, Mornington Cup and BYD Quokka Day. 5.00 Seven News At5. 5.30 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG,R)

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. Johanna Griggs meets Yoko Nakazawa.

8.00 MOVIE: The Greatest Showman. (2017,PGa,R) After meeting awealthy playwright, entrepreneur PT Barnum sets out tocreate awax museum and circus. Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams.

10.00 MOVIE: M3GAN. (2022,Malv,R) Alifelike prototype doll turns deadly. Allison Williams, Violet McGraw. 12.00 Motor Racing. Supercars Championship. Round4. ITM Christchurch Super440. Day1. Highlights. 1.00 Devils. (MA15+av)

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

7TWO (62, 72)

6am Morning

Programs. 1.30pm Better Homes. 3.30 Medical Emergency. 4.00 The Yorkshire Vet. 5.00 Horse Racing. All Aged Stakes Day, Mornington Cup and BYD Quokka Day. 6.00 Luxury Escapes: World’s Best Holidays. 6.30 Bondi Vet. 7.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 8.30 Lewis. 10.30 Escape To The Country. 11.30 Late Programs.

7MATE (64, 73)

6am Morning

Programs. 1pm Blokesworld. 1.30 My Road To Adventure. 2.00 Rides Down Under: Aussie Truckers. 3.00 Motor Racing. Night Thunder. WA Late Model Title. 4.00 Frozen Gold. 5.00 Counting Cars. 6.00 Pawn Stars. 7.00 Storage Wars. 7.30 MOVIE: Men In Black II. (2002, PG) 9.15 MOVIE: xXx. (2002, M) 11.45 Late Programs.

6.00 Getaway. (PG, R) 6.30 ACA. (R) 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 Today Extra: Saturday. (PG) 12.00 Open For Inspection. 12.30 1.00 Explore TV Viking. (R) 1.30 My Way. (R) 2.00 Destination WA. (R) 2.30 Taronga: Who’s Who In The Zoo. (PGam, R) 3.30 Epic Builds. 4.30 Garden Gurus. 5.00 News. 5.30 Getaway. (PG)

6.00 9News Saturday. 7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Space Invaders. (PGl) Belinda’s

8.30 MOVIE: Legally Blonde2: Red, White And Blonde. (2003,PGl,R) Awoman juggles her demanding career asa lawyer and the preparations for her wedding. Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson, Jennifer Coolidge.

10.30 MOVIE: Magic Mike’s Last Dance. (2023,Mls,R) Channing Tatum.

12.30 Epic Builds. (R) 1.30 Open For Inspection. (R) 2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PGa) 2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 Global Shop. (R) 5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 5.30 Helping Hands. (PG, R)

9GEM (81, 92)

6am Morning Programs.

12.45pm MOVIE: Nicholas Nickleby. (1947) 3.00 MOVIE: Trent’s Last Case. (1952) 5.00 MOVIE: Dunkirk. (1958, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: Tombstone. (1993, M) 10.00 MOVIE: Cross Of Iron. (1977, MA15+) 12.40am MOVIE: Accident. (1967, M) 2.50 MOVIE: Nicholas Nickleby. (1947) 5.00 Late Programs.

9GO! (82, 93)

6am Morning Programs. 11.40 My Way. 11.55 Seinfeld. 12.25pm Soccer. English Premier League. Arsenal vBournemouth. 2.25 Australian Ninja Warrior. 4.25 MOVIE: Superman II. (1980, PG) 7.00 MOVIE: Superman Returns. (2006, PG) 10.00 MOVIE: Birds Of Prey. (2020, MA15+) 12.10am Prodigal Son. 1.50 Late Programs.

TEN (5, 10)

6am Morning Programs. 10.30 Silvia’s Italian Masterclass. (R)

6.30 The Dog House. (PGa,R) Sisters want toextend their family. 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. (PGa) Acouple must decide whether tostay intheir2.5 bedroom, brick1960s home inKarrinyup, WA. 9.30 Gogglebox Australia. (R) Adiverse range ofpeople open their living rooms toreveal their reactions topopular and topical TV shows, with the help ofspecial, locked-off cameras which capture every unpredictable moment. 10.30 Matlock. (PGa,R) Matty juggles acourt case and her50th wedding anniversary. 11.30 Elsbeth. (Mv,R) Acelebrity wigmaker ismurdered. 12.30 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power.

Sunday, April 19

ABC TV (2)

6.00 Rage. (PG) 7.00 Wknd Brekky. 9.00 Insiders. 10.00 Offsiders. 10.30 World This Week. (R) 11.00 Compass. (PGv, R) 11.30 Praise. 12.00 News. 12.30 Landline. 1.30 Gardening Aust. (R) 2.30 The Piano. (R) 3.20 Judgment: Cases That Changed Australia. (PG, R) 4.10 Grand Designs. (Ml, R) 5.00 Back Roads. (R) 5.30 Fake Or Fortune? (Final)

6.30 Compass. (PGv)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 The Piano. (Final,PG)

8.25 Can You Keep A Secret? (Final,Ml) Debbie weighs upconfessing.

8.55 Frauds. (Final,Mal) Theday ofthe heist arrives.

9.40 Blue Murder Motel. (PGl,R) Vinny and Cole investigate the death ofa radio DJ.

10.30 Top End Bub. (PGd,R)

10.55 MOVIE: Two Hands. (1999,MA15+lv,R)

12.25 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 4.00 Dream Gardens. (PG, R) 4.30 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.00 Insiders. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

SBS (3)

6am Morning Programs. 1.00 Motorcycle Racing. ProMX Championship. Round2. 4.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Paris-Roubaix. Men’s Race. Highlights. 4.30 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Paris-Roubaix. Women’s Race. Highlights. 5.00 Going Places. (R) 5.35 Surviving WW2. (PGavw)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 The Rise And Fall Of The Maya. (M) Explores the last moments ofthe Mayan civilisation. 9.20 Emperor: Rise And Fall Of A Dynasty. (MA15+v,R) Looks atLivia, who starts having regrets. 10.15 Lost Treasures Of Egypt: Cleopatra, Egypt’s Last Pharaoh. (PGav,R) 11.05 Putin And The West. (Mav,R) 2.30 Matched. (PG, R) 3.20 Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.25 Bamay. (R) 4.55 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 PBS News Horizons.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 3pm Play School. 3.30 MOVIE: Tummy Tom 2: A New Friend For Tummy Tom. (2024) 4.30 Little J And Big Cuz. 5.10 Paddington. 6.05 Knee High Spies. 6.25 Paddington. 7.05 Let’s Go Bananas! 7.30 The Inbestigators. 7.45 Caper Crew. 8.05 Secrets At Red Rocks. 8.30 Animal Park. 10.00 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 3.35pm WorldWatch. 4.35 PBS News Compass Points. 5.05 Myths: The Greatest Mysteries Of Humanity. 6.05 MOVIE: Ange & The Boss: Puskas In Australia. (2024, PG) 7.35 Abandoned Engineering. 8.30 DesiAussie Family Tale of Electric Korma. 8.45 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Amstel Gold Women’s Race. 10.45 Late Programs.

(6, 7)

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Sunday Footy Feast. 2.30 AFL Pre-Game Show. Pre-game coverage ofthe match. 3.00 Football. AFL. Round6. Melbourne vBrisbane Lions.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 The1% Club. (Return,PGals) 8.00 7NEWS Spotlight. (Return) 9.00 Abused By Mum: The Ruby Franke Scandal. (Mav,R) Charts the rise and fall ofRuby Franke. 10.30 24 Hours In Police Custody. (Mal,R) 11.30 Autopsy USA. (Ma,R) 12.30 Motor Racing. Supercars C’ship. Round4. ITM Christchurch Super 440. Day2. H’lights. From Ruapuna Raceway, Christchurch, New Zealand. 1.30 Harry’s Practice. (R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 4 .00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

7TWO (62, 72)

6.00 Hello SA. (PG, R) 6.30 ACA. (R) 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 AFL Sunday Footy Show. (PG) 12.00 Wide World Of Sports. (PG) 1.00 Drive TV: Drive Car Of The Year. (PG) 1.30 Reel Destinations. 2.00 Oz Off Road TV. (PGl) 3.00 For The Love Of

6.00 9News Sunday.

7.00 The Floor. (Return,PGl)

8.15 60 Minutes. Current affairs program. 9.15 Australian Crime Stories: The Investigators: Prescription For Murder. (Mav) Looks atthe case ofDr Brian Crickitt. 10.20 9News Late.

10.50 The First48: Shooting Blind/ Brothers In Arms. (Mav,R)

11.45 A Killer Makes A Call. (Ma,R) 12.35 Oz Off Road TV. (PGl, R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 4.30 The Garden Gurus. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

9GEM (81, 92)

6am Morning Programs. 1pm Luxury Escapes: World’s Best Holidays. 1.30 Business Builders. 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 Better Homes. 3.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 4.30 Australia’s Big Backyards. 5.30 The Aussie Property Flippers. 6.30 Escape To The Country. 7.30 The Coroner. 8.30 Vera. 10.30 Miss Scarlet And The Duke. 11.30 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 1pm Midsomer Murders. 3.00 Rugby League. NRL. Eels vCanterbury Bulldogs. 6.00 Getaway. 6.30 Motorway Cops. 7.30 Planet Earth III. 8.40 Paramedics. 9.40 Emergency. 10.40 Major Crimes. 11.40 Midsomer Murders. 1.40am MOVIE: They Who Dare. (1954) 3.55 The Baron. 5.00 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 2pm Charter Boat Wars 2: Port Phillip Bay. (Premiere) 2.30 Red’s Fishing Adventures. 3.00 Pawn Stars. 4.00 Mt Hutt Rescue. 5.00 Counting Cars. 6.00 Border Security: Int. 7.00 Border Security. 8.30 MOVIE: Die Hard. (1988, M) 11.15 MOVIE: The Black Phone. (2021, MA15+) 1.30am Late Programs. 9GO! (82, 93) 6am Morning Programs. 12.50pm Too Cool To Kill. (2022, Mav, Mandarin) 2.50 Somewhere In Time. (1980, PGalv) 4.55 Master Cheng: A Spice For Life. (2019, PGaln) 7.00 Sabotage. (1936, PGav) 8.30 The Lady In The Van. (2015, Mal) 10.25 Master Gardener. (2022,

6am Morning Programs. Noon Soccer. English Premier League. Chelsea vManchester City. 2.00 The Summit. 3.30 The Toys That Built The World. 5.30 MOVIE: The Lego Batman Movie. (2017, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: Godzilla. (2014, M) 10.00 MOVIE: Enter Sanctum. (2025, M) Midnight Gotham. 12.50 Arrow. 2.30 Late Programs.

6.30 10 News+. Hosted byDenham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 7.00 MasterChef Australia. (Return) Abatch ofnew contestants enter the kitchen. 8.30 Race Across The World. (Return,Ml) Ina frenetic race across the world, travellers can choose any route they like, but 9.30 Matlock. tackles anAI afterlife software dispute. Olympia faces work and home challenges. Matty receives amysterious call from Joey. 10.30 NCIS: Origins. (Ma,R) 11.30 10 News+. (R) 12.00 Home Shopping. (R)

Monday, April 20

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

SEVEN (6, 7)

NINE (8, 9) 6am Morning Programs. 12.00 News. 1.00 Landline. (R) 1.55 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) 2.00 Tonight At The Museum. (PGs, R) 2.30 Back Roads. (R) 2.55 Grand Designs Transformations. (R) 3.55 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGv, R) 4.40 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PGa, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG,R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30.

8.00 Australian Story: Lost Pt 2 – Celine Cremer.

8.30 Four Corners. Investigative journalism program.

9.15 Media Watch. (PG) Presented byLinton Besser.

9.35 Planet America. Alook atAmerican politics.

10.05 Foreign Correspondent. (R)

10.55 ABC Late News. 11.10 The Business. (R) 11.25 The Weekly With Charlie Pickering. (PGls, R) 11.55 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGv, R) 12.45 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PGa, R) 1.30 Rage. (MA15+dhlnsv) 4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Morning Programs. 12.05 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News Compass Points. 1.30 Al Jazeera News Hour. 2.00 Finding Your Roots. (PGa, R) 3.00 Going Places. (PG, R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.40 The Cook Up. (R) 4.10 Tutankhamun: Secrets Of The Toxic Tomb. (PG, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Australia’s Greek Cafes & Milk Bars. Tells the story ofAustralia’s Greek migrants.

8.30 8 Out Of10 Cats Does Countdown. (M) Game show, featuring Jon Richardson, Big Zuu, Danny Dyer and Helen Bauer tackling awords and numbers quiz.

9.30 Never Mind The Buzzcocks. (M) Hosted byGreg Davies. 10.20 SBS World News Late. 10.50 Herrhausen: The Banker And The Bomb. (Malv) 11.55 Gomorrah. (MA15+av,R)

3.05 Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.05 Mountain Vets. (PGa, R) 4.40 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 10.35 Children’s Programs. 3.40pm Thomas And Friends. 4.15 Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures. 4.40 Ariel. 5.20 Stan & Gran. 6.05 Spidey And His Amazing Friends. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.45 Gladiators UK. 9.45 Kids BBQ Championship. 10.25 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs. 12.05pm Night Parrot Stories. 2.00 Island Echoes. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 The 77 Percent. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 The Big Dry. 7.30 Who Do You Think You Are? 8.30 Living Black. (Return) 9.00 MOVIE: The Skin Of Others. (2020, PG) 10.40 MOVIE: Redacted. (2007, MA15+) 12.15am Late Programs.

SIGNUP

Tuesday, April 21

ABC TV (2)

6am Morning

Programs. 2.25pm Inside The Huddle. 2.55 Over The Black Dot. 3.25 Stories From The Cities. 3.55 WorldWatch. 4.50 PBS News Compass Points. 5.20 WorldWatch. 5.50 Curse Of Oak Island. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Holy Marvels. 9.20 Greatest Escapes. 10.10 The Hospital: In The Deep End. 11.20 Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

6am Morning Programs. 11.50 Godland. (2022, Manv, Danish, Icelandic) 2.25pm Dean Spanley. (2008, PG) 4.15 Limelight. (1952, PGas) 6.40 8.30 Tigerland. (2000, MA15+s) 10.25 The Fox. (2022, MA15+a, German, French) 12.40am Late Programs.

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 Seven News With Alex Cullen. 1.10 Blankety Blank. (PGas,R) 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. 6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 The Floor. (PGl, R) 1.15 Getaway. (PG, R) 1.45 Innovation Nation. (R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG)

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. Alfgives advice toan old friend.

7.30 Glenn And Mick’s Celebrity Intervention. (Premiere,Mals) Hosted byGlenn Robbins and Mick Molloy.

8.40 9-1-1. (Masv) Maddie and Buck are blindsided bysome unexpected news which turns their world upside down.

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

10.40 The Agenda Setters: Rugby League.

11.40 St. Denis Medical. (PGal)

12.10 Secrets Of Prince Andrew. (PGa,R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

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

7TWO (62, 72)

6am Morning Programs. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 ICU. 2.00 Weekender. 2.30 Auction Squad. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Medical Emergency. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Doc Martin. 8.30 A Touch Of Frost. 10.50 Ambulance: Code Red. 11.50 Doc Martin. 12.50am Late Programs.

7MATE (64, 73)

6am Morning Programs. 2.30pm Motor Racing. Supercars C’ship. ITM Christchurch Super 440. 3.30 Motor Racing. Supercars C’ship. ITM Christchurch Super 440. 4.30 American Resto. 5.00 Storage Wars. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.30 The Agenda Setters. 8.30 Aussie Gold Hunters. 9.30 Adventure Gold Diggers. 10.30 Late Programs.

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 The Floor. (PGl) Hosted byRodger Corser. (Ml) Ateam offooty experts tackles the AFL’s big issues and controversies.

9.45 Players. (Ml) Three ofthe AFL’s biggest stars talk about all

10.45 9News Late.

11.15 100% Footy. (Mal) Features the latest rugby league news.

12.15 Tipping Point. (PG,R)

1.05 Hello SA. (PG)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

2.30 Global Shop. (R)

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)

4.30 A Current Affair. (R)

5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

9GEM (81, 92)

6am Morning Programs.

11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon Planet Earth III. 1.00 Midsomer Murders. 3.00 Antiques Roadshow. 3.30 MOVIE: Carry On Cleo. (1964, PG) 5.30 Secret Life Of The Auction House. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 Death In Paradise. 8.40 A Remarkable Place To Die. 10.40 Borderline. 11.40 Chicago Med. 12.40am Late Programs.

9GO! (82, 93)

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 Noon MOVIE: Superman II. (1980, PG) 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Sherlock Holmes. (2009, M) 11.05 Seinfeld. 12.05am Love Island UK: All Stars. (Premiere) 1.25 The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City. 3.05 Late Programs.

TEN (5, 10)

6.00 10 News+. Hosted byDenham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (PG) Hosted byGrant Denyer. 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG) Hosted byRebecca Gibney. 7.30 MasterChef Australia. (PGl) Abatch ofnew contestants enter the

SBS (3)

6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Judgment: Cases That Changed Australia. (PG, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Death In Paradise. (Ma, R) 2.00 ANZAC 2.55 Grand Designs Transformations. (PG, R) 3.55 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGv, R) 4.40 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PGa, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 10.50 Scottish Vets Down Under. (R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 12.55 PBS News. 1.55 What Does Australia Really Think About… (Mal, R) 3.00 Trail Towns. (PG, R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.10 Tutankhamun: Secrets Of The Toxic Tomb. (PG, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG,R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30.

7.55 Foreign Correspondent.

8.40 Judgment: Cases That Changed Australia: Mabo. (PG) Looks atthe Terra nullius High Court case. 9.30 You Can’t Ask That: Facial Difference. (Ml,R) Aninsight into people’s lives.

10.00 Compass. (PGv,R)

10.30 ABC Late News. 10.45 The Business. (R) 11.00 Four Corners. (R)

11.50 Media Watch. (PG, R) 12.05 Murdoch Mysteries. (Mv, R) 12.55 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 1.45 Rage. (MA15+dhlnsv) 4.05

Gardening Australia. (R) 5.05 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Great Continental Railway Journeys: Zweisimmen To Lausanne/Nantes To Lorient. (R) 8.30 Insight. Kumi Taguchi explores what life’s like for triplets.

9.30 Dateline: North Korean Matchmakers. Looks atNorth Korean defectors now living inthe South.

10.00 SBS World News Late.

10.30 Living Black. (R) 11.05 Exit. (MA15+ansv) 12.00 Clean Sweep. (MA15+s, R) 2.50 Mastermind Australia. (R) 3.55 Mountain Vets. (PG, R) 4.30 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 10.35 Children’s Programs. 6.05pm Spidey And His Amazing Friends. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.45 The Slow Mo Guys’ Big Adventures. 9.05 MythBusters “There’s Your Problem!”. 9.30 BattleBots. 10.20 Late Programs.

6am Morning

Programs. 12.15pm DW The Day. 12.45 Homicide. 2.35 The Grudge. 3.00 Forged In Fire. 3.50 WorldWatch. 5.50 Curse Of Oak Island. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 9.20 Heston Blumenthal: Life With Bipolar. 10.30 Chasing Speed. 11.25 Brassic. 12.15am Time To Buy: A Musical. 1.00 Late Programs.

(6, 7)

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

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Home And Away. (PGav) Mackenzie blows upat David. 7.30 My Reno Rules. (Premiere,PG) Hosted byDr Chris Brown.

9.15 House Of Wellness. (PG) Ateam ofindustry experts, media personalities and wellness advocates shares insights and experiences tohighlight living well.

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

11.15 Ambulance: Code Red. (Ma,R) 12.15 Secrets Of Prince Andrew. (PGas,R)

2.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

7TWO (62, 72)

6am Morning Programs. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 Creek To Coast. 2.30 House Of Wellness. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Medical Emergency. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Call The Midwife. 8.45 Inspector Morse. 11.05 Escape To The Country. 12.05am Late Programs.

R) 1.15

9.00

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Travel Guides. (PG,R) Ordinary Australians become travel critics.

8.40 Clarkson’s Farm: Pubbing. (MA15+al) Jeremy Clarkson has found apromising pub and the ageing Lamborghini has competition. (Ml) Footy experts tackle the AFL’s big issues.

10.50 9News Late.

11.20 The Grand Tour. (Ml)

1.10 Destination WA. (R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

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

9GEM (81, 92)

6am Morning Programs. Noon Death In Paradise. 1.00 MOVIE: Lucky Jim. (1957) 3.00 Antiques Roadshow. 3.30 MOVIE: On The Fiddle. (1961) 5.30 Secret Life Of The Auction House. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 New Tricks. 8.40 Agatha Christie’s Marple. 10.40 Good Karma Hospital. 11.40 Rizzoli & Isles. 12.40am Late Programs.

6.00 10 News+. Hosted byDenham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (PG) Hosted byGrant Denyer. 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG) Hosted byRebecca Gibney. 7.30 MasterChef Australia. (PGl) Abatch ofnew contestants enter the kitchen.

8.40 The Cheap Seats. (Return,Mal) Presenters Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald take alook atthe week that was. 9.40 10’s Late News. Coverage ofnews, sport and weather. 10.40 10 News+. (R) 11.10 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

Home Shopping. (R)

6am Morning Programs. 12.25pm MOVIE: The Skin Of Others. (2020, PG) 2.00 Island Echoes. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 Indian Country Today News. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 The Big Dry. 7.30 Ocean Warriors. 8.30 MOVIE: The Long Kiss Goodnight. (1996, MA15+) 10.35 After Sherman. Midnight Late Programs. NITV (34)

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

ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Morning Programs. 11.30 Jeopardy! Australia. 12.30pm Australian Ninja Warrior. 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Arrival. (2016, M) 10.55 Seinfeld. 11.55 The 100. 12.45am Love Island UK: All Stars. 1.55 The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City. 2.45 My Way. 3.00 Late Programs.

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

9GO! (82, 93) 6am Morning Programs. 2.15pm Discovering Film. 3.10 The Chaperone. (2018, PGals) 5.05 Sabotage. (1936, PGav) 6.35 The Return Of The Soldier. (1982, PGalsv) 8.30 A Woman In Berlin. (2008, Russian, Georgian, German) 11.00 Rosenthal. (2025, Ma, Yiddish, German, Hebrew) 12.50am Late Programs.

Wednesday, April 22

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

SEVEN (6, 7)

NINE (8, 9) 6am Morning Programs. 10.45 Foreign Correspondent. (R) 11.30 Back Roads. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Press Club. 1.35 Media Watch. (PG, R) 1.50 ANZAC 2.55 Grand Designs Transformations. (PG, R) 3.55 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGa, R) 4.40 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PGa, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG,R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30.

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

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

9.00 Can You Keep A Secret? (Final,Ml,R) Debbie weighs upconfessing.

9.30 QI. (Ml) Hosted bySandi Toksvig. 10.00 Planet America. (R) 10.30 ABC Late News.

10.45 The Business. (R) 11.35 Murdoch Mysteries. (M, R) 12.25 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 1.15 Rage. (MA15+dhlnsv) 4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Morning Programs. 10.50 Scottish Vets Down Under. (R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Dateline. (R) 2.30 Insight. (R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.10 Sri Lanka With Alexander Armstrong. (PGalv, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. Presented byMarc Fennell.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Chernobyl: Inside The Meltdown: Inferno. (Premiere) Takes alook atthe Chernobyl disaster.

9.25 The Audacity. (M) Awould-be tech titan and his therapist happiness for themselves.

10.25 SBS World News Late.

10.55 Rise Of The Raven. (MA15+av) Aconspiracy seems tobe coming tofruition.

11.55 Darkness: Those Who Kill. (Ma) (MA15+v,R)

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

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 10.35 Children’s Programs. 3.40pm Thomas And Friends. 4.15 Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures. 4.40 Ariel. 5.20 Stan & Gran. 6.05 Spidey And His Amazing Friends. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 9.05 Adv Time. 9.50 Pokémon: Diamond And Pearl. 10.15 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs.

Noon MOVIE: Born To Dance. (2015, PG) 2.00 On Country Kitchen. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters.

5.25 News. 5.55 Bamay. 6.45 Inside The Pack. 7.35 Ice Vikings. 8.30 Pro Bull Riding: USA. 9.30 Over The Black Dot. 10.00 Inside The Huddle. 10.30 MOVIE: What We See. (2023, M) Midnight Late Programs.

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

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGa) Mackenzie and Lacey clash.

7.30 My Reno Rules. (PG) After the Neale Whitaker, Julia Green and Simon Cohen tour both houses.

9.15 The Front Bar. (Ml) Hosts Sam Pang, Mick Molloy and Andy Maher take alighter look atall things AFL.

10.15 To Be Advised.

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

12.25 No Holds Barred: GWS Giants. (Ml)

1.45 Kochie’s Business Builders. (R)

2.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 NBC Today.

5.00 Sunrise Early News.

5.30 Sunrise.

6am Morning

Programs. 12.10pm DW The Day. 12.40 Question Team. 2.30 Curious Australia. 3.05 The Bee Whisperer. 4.05 WorldWatch. 6.05 Curse Of Oak Island. 6.55 Jeopardy! 7.50 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.45 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Fleche-Wallonne Men’s Race. 12.45am Cycling. UCI World Tour. Fleche-Wallonne Women’s Race. 2.15 Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

6am Morning Programs. 12.40pm Speed Kills. (2018, Mlv) 2.35 4.25 Hotel Salvation. (2016, PGad, Hindi) 6.20 The Giants. (2023, PGalv) 8.30 The Boy 10.20 Sasquatch Sunset. (2024, Mans) 11.55 A Woman In Berlin. (2008, Russian, Georgian, German) 2.25am Late Programs.

Thursday, April 23

ABC TV (2)

TEN (5, 10)

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: Love Amongst The Stars. (2022, PGa, R) Sara Canning, Patch May. 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.30 WIN News.

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Events That Changed Australia: The Birth Of The Bogan. (Ml)

8.30 Outback Murder Highway: The Sensible Creek Killings. (Premiere,Masv) Looks atSensible Creek.

9.30 The Killer Interview With Piers Morgan. (MA15+av,R) Piers Morgan interviews Levi King.

10.30 9News Late.

11.00 Miniseries: The Night Caller. (Malv)

11.50 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

12.40 Pointless. (PG, R)

1.30 Home Shopping.

4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)

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

6.00 10 News+. Hosted byDenham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (PG) Hosted byGrant Denyer. 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG) Hosted byRebecca Gibney.

7.30 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Seea massive line-up ofcomedy superstars past, present and future who come together tocelebrate40 years ofthe festival. 9.00 Elsbeth.

out who murdered apuzzles editor. 10.00 10’s Late News. Coverage ofnews, sport and weather. 11.00 To Be Advised. 12.00 10 News+. (R) 12.30 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 1.30 Home Shopping. (R)

7TWO (62, 72)

6am Morning

Programs. Noon TBA. 2.00 Weekender. 2.30 House Calls To The Rescue. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Medical Rookies. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Heartbeat. 8.45 McDonald And Dodds. 10.45 Air Crash Inv. 11.45 Bargain Hunt. 12.45am Our Town. 1.30 Late Programs.

7MATE (64, 73)

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

9GEM (81, 92)

6am Morning Programs.

Noon New Tricks. 1.00 Agatha Christie’s Marple. 3.00 Antiques Roadshow. 3.30 MOVIE: Raising The Wind. (1961) 5.30 Secret Life Of The Auction House. (Final) 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 Keeping Up Appearances. 8.40 Midsomer Murders. 10.40 The Spencer Sisters. 11.40 Rizzoli & Isles. 12.40am Late Programs.

9GO! (82, 93)

6am Morning Programs.

11.30 Jeopardy! Australia. 12.30pm 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Magic Mike. (2012, MA15+) 10.45 Seinfeld. 11.45 The 100. 12.35am Love Island UK: All Stars. 1.35 Late Programs.

SBS (3)

SEVEN (6, 7) TEN (5, 10) NINE (8, 9) 6am Morning Programs. 11.00 QI. (Ml, R) 11.30 Can You Keep A Secret? (Final, Ml, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Frauds. (Final, Mal, R) 1.45 (PG, R) 2.55 Grand Designs Aust. (PG, R) 3.55 Sister Boniface Mysteries. (PGa, R) 4.45 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PGa, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG,R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30.

8.00 Back Roads: Mission Beach, Qld. Lisa Millar explores Mission Beach.

8.30 Grand Designs. (PG) Acouple are smitten with a150-year-old barn. 9.15 The Piano. (Final,PG,R) headline atCity Recital Hall. 10.15 ABC Late News.

10.30 The Business. (R)

10.45 Sister Boniface Mysteries. (PG,R)

11.30 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 12.20 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Children’s Programs. 10.35 Children’s Programs. 3.40pm Thomas And Friends. 4.15 Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures. 4.40 Ariel. 5.20 Stan & Gran. 6.05 Spidey And His Amazing Friends. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.45 Ultimate Vets. 9.10 Animal Park. 10.40 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.55 Pro Bull Riding: USA. 12.55pm Over The Black Dot. 1.25 Inside The Huddle. 2.00 On Country Kitchen. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 Te Ao With Moana. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Seasons Of The Wild. 7.30 Going Places. 8.30 True Colours. 9.25 MOVIE: Seven. (1995, MA15+) 11.40 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 The Point: Road To Referendum History Bites. (R) 2.05 Rhoda Roberts AO: A Lasting Legacy. (PG, R) 3.30 Living Black. (R) 4.00 Destination Flavour. (R) 4.10 Sri Lanka With Alexander Armstrong. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 William And Kate: A Royal Wedding. 8.30 Secrets Of Flying Scotsman. (R) Looks at TheFlyingScotsman 9.30 Riot Women. (Malsv) Thetalent contest arrives. 10.35 SBS World News Late. 11.05 Under The Bridge. (Ml) 12.00 Bonn. (Msv, R) 1.55 Beyond Signs. (MA15+a, R)

2.50 Mastermind Australia. (PG, R) 3.55 The Zelensky Story. (Ml, R) 4.50 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (PG, R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31)

6am Morning Programs. 12.10pm DW The Day. 12.40 Alone. 1.55 UFOs: Investigating The Unknown. 2.45 Insight. 3.50 WorldWatch. 5.50 Curse Of Oak Island. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 American Godfathers: The Five Families. (Premiere) 10.10 The UnXplained. 11.00 Theatres Of War. 12.35am Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

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

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Football. AFL. Round7. Western Bulldogs vSydney. 10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion and interviews taking alook back atall the action from the match.

11.00 Kick Ons. Apreview ofthe upcoming AFL matches.

11.30 HMP: Behind Bars: HMP Full Sutton. (MA15+a,R) Takes alook atHMP Full Sutton.

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

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

5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

7TWO (62, 72)

6am Morning Programs. Noon TBA. 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 Air Crash Inv. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Better Homes. 5.00 Escape To The Country. 6.00 Bargain Hunt. 7.00 Home And Away. 7.30 Father Brown. 8.30 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries. 10.30 Murdoch Mysteries. 11.30 Father Brown. 12.30am Bargain Hunt. 1.30 Late Programs.

7MATE (64, 73)

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 Space Invaders. (PGl, R) 1.00 Taronga: Who’s Who In The Zoo. (PGam, R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.30 WIN News. 6am Morning Programs. 7.30 GCBC. (R) 8.00 Lingo. (R) 9.00 The Finish Line. (R) 10.00 Ent. Tonight. (R) 10.30 Dog

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 RBT. (PGal,R) Follows the activities ofpolice units.

8.30 Emergency. (Mlm,R) Doctors fear acyclist with glass sticking out ofhis neck could bleed out.

9.30 A+E Crash Scene Emergency. (Mam,R) Awoman has tobe cut out ofher car.

10.30 Chicago Med. (MA15+aa)

11.20 9News Late. 11.50 Tipping Point. (PG,R) 12.40 Pointless. (PG, R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 Home Shopping. 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

9GEM (81, 92)

6am Morning Programs. 3pm Antiques Roadshow. 3.30 MOVIE: Mr Denning Drives North. (1951, PG) 5.30 The Edinburgh Auction House. (Premiere) 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Tigers vCanberra Raiders. 9.55 NRL Thursday Night Footy Post-Match. 10.40 Forensics: Murder Scene. 11.50 Late Programs.

6.00 10 News+.

6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (R)

7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG,R)

7.30 Gogglebox Australia. (Final) Opinionated viewers discuss TV shows.

8.30 The Claudia Winkleman Show. Claudia Winkleman chats with Hollywood stars, the best ofBritish and her studio audience. 9.30 10’s Late News. Coverage ofnews, sport and weather.

10.30 MasterChef Australia. (R) 12.00 10 News+. (R) 12.30 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 1.30 Home Shopping. (R)

6am Morning Programs. 2.30pm The Force: BTL. 3.30 Mountain Men. 4.30 American Resto. 5.00 Storage Wars. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.30 Highway Patrol. 8.00 Motorway Patrol. 8.30 Britain’s Got Talent. 9.45 Unbelievable Moments Caught On Camera. 10.45 MOVIE: The Blues Brothers. (1980) 1.30am Late Programs.

9GO! (82, 93) 6am Morning Programs. 12.40pm Rosenthal. (2025, Ma, Yiddish, German, Hebrew) 2.30 Mr. Holmes. (2015, PGa) 4.25 The Return Of The Soldier. (1982, PGalsv) 6.20 The Battle Of The River Plate. (1956, PGa) 8.30 Flags Of Our Fathers. (2006, MA15+av) 11.00 Shanghai. (2010, MA15+dv) 12.55am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 11.40 Motor Racing. FIA World Endurance C’ship. 6 Hours Of Imola. H’lights. 12.50pm LEGO Masters. 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Wedding Crashers. (2005, M) 10.55 Seinfeld. 11.55 Rugby Heaven. 12.55am Love Island UK: All Stars. 2.00 Late Programs.

PUZZLES

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

ACROSS

1 Melodious (7)

5 Sketch (7)

9 Agile (9)

10 Spanish for 'coast' (5)

11 Greek god of music, poetry, etc. (6)

12 Person who deserts a party to join another one (8)

14 Electronic novels (1-5)

15 Teaching period (4)

19 Slender support (4)

20 Dog with a curly coat (6)

24 Stressed (8)

25 Japanese robe (6)

27 'Well done!' (5)

28 Childish (9) 29 Ritual (7)

30 Unity (7)

or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural nouns ending in “s”.

Today’s Aim:

9 words: Good 14 words: Very good 19 words: Excellent

1 Zany (6) 2 Church caretaker (6) 3 Scientific workrooms  (coll) (4,4) 4 Be ominously close (4)

Discourse (10) 6 Go up; climb (6)

7 Put back (8)

8 Interim period (8)

13 Intricateness (10)

16 A major city in Türkiye (8)

17 Trader (8)

18 League (8)

21 Situated within the building (6)

22 Beginner (6)

23 Roy or Ginger (6)

26 Curly hairdo (4)

3 LETTERS APT

1 Along with Edmund Hillary, who was the first person to climb Mount Everest?

2 Where is the world's largest desert located?

3 True or false: hippos are unable to swim?

4 Who wrote the screenplay for Rocky?

5 What is the bestselling girl group of all time?

6 Name the spacecraft that carried the first astronauts to the moon.

7 Which is smaller: a virus particle or a bacterial cell?

8 What character does John Travolta (pictured) play in the 1977 film SaturdayNight Fever?

9 In what year was Earth Day first celebrated?

10 What name is singer and actor Stefani Germanotta better known by?

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

WANT YOUR EVENT LISTED? Community Calendar is made available free of charge to not-for-profit organisations to keep the public informed of special events and activities. Send item details to Geelong Independent Community Calendar, 1/47 Pakington Street, Geelong West, 3218, or email to editorial@geelongindependent.com.au. Deadline for copy and announcements is 5pm Tuesday. Due to the ever increasing entries coming in each week for our Community Calendar page, we have enough to fill almost three pages. This means your entry will not appear each week. We will do our best to rotate them fairly. If you have an existing entry that no longer operates, please let us know so we can remove it. Your patience and understanding is welcome for this FREE service. The calendar in its entirety with every entry is posted every Saturday at 9am at geelongindy.com.au

Free forum

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

Fix The World

Video, discussion and cuppa on Book Freedom by Australian biologist Jeremy Griffith. Belmont Library, 163 High Street, Saturday 18 April, 11am-12.30pm.

Ballroom dance

Leopold Hall, 805-809 Bellarine Highway, Saturday 18 April, 7.30-10.30pm. Admission $10 includes supper. Music: Charles. 0400 500 402

Zonta Club of Geelong Meets monthly for dinner first Wednesday of the month between February and December at 6.30pm for a 6.45pm start. RSVP essential. zontageelong.org.au or zontaclubgeelong@yahoo.com.au

Geelong ballroom dancing

Saturdays 7.30-10.15pm, corner Bayview Parade and Carey Street, Hamlyn Heights. Entry: $10. BYO drinks and a plate. 5278 9740 or geelongballroomdc.com.au

Corio Bay Lions Club

Meets first and third Thursday of each month at 6.30pm. geelongcoriobay.vic@lions.org.au

Alcoholics (and other addicts) For Christ 12 Steps Group

Meets Thursdays 7.30pm at Belmont-Highton Baptist Church, 43 Mt Pleasant Road, Belmont. 0420 910 763

Children’s play group

For babies, toddlers, and preschoolers with parent/carer. Free play, story time, and music. Wednesdays 10-11.30am in school term, St John’s Highton, 269 Roslyn Road, Highton. office@stjohnshighton.org.au or 0433 191 890

Belmont Seniors

Players wanted to play 500 each Monday 12.30pm. Belmont Senior Centre, 52 Thomson Street, Belmont. 5241 1776

Ocean Grove Library

Wednesday 22 April, 5.30-6.30pm: author talk with Anne Vines

Tuesday 28 April, 2-3pm: fact checking online

Mondays 10.30-11.30am: preschool story time

Tuesdays 4-5pm: youth collective (ages 12-18)

Wednesdays 9.30-10am: toddler time Thursdays 11.30-11.50am: baby time Thursdays 3.45-4.45pm: after-school program

Thursdays 3-4pm: tech help - drop in session for basic tech needs

Community kitchen

Do you enjoy cooking or want to learn cooking and budgeting skills with a small group of like-minded people in your community? Are you interested in volunteering to facilitate a Community Kitchen?

healthycommunities@barwonhealth.org. au

Geelong Prostate Support Group Meets last Friday of the month (except December), 10am-noon, Belmont Park Pavilion, 162 Barrabool Road, Belmont. Bill, 0414 524 155 or info@geelongpsg.net

Welcome mat

Belmont Uniting Church every Friday from 10am-1pm. Games, lunch and friendship. Fay, 0409 361 414

OMNI

Older Men New Ideas men’s friendly informal chat group, South Barwon Community Centre, 33 Mt Pleasant Road, Belmont, 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, 10.30am. Allan, 0409 665 608

Bike riding

Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from Belmont. Rides to suit all levels of fitness; e-bikes welcome. Rob, 0412 308 166

Lara Community Market

Run by Rotary Club of Lara District every second Sunday of the month at Lara RSL, 9am-1pm.

Geelong Amateur Radio Club

Storrer Street Clubhouse, Geelong, Wednesdays 1.30-4pm, Fridays 6.30pm. Robert. 0438 409 979 or vk3atl.org

Choir

St Paul’s Choir rehearses Wednesdays from 7.45-8.45pm and 9.30am Sunday for 10.30am service. Choral scholarships available. Occasional choir for those unable to make commitment to main choir. Tom Healey, 0451 960 768 or healeytf@gmail.com

Bellydance classes

Beginner level, new term commencing. New students welcome. Tuesdays 1.30pm, Life Activities Club, Belmont Park Pavillion, Belmont. Glenys, 0400 214 897

Geelong’s Soroptimist International Service club for women and girls, every second Tuesday of the month from 6pm at Belmont RSL. 0455 835 691 or geelong@siswp.com

Geelong Sports & Game Fishing

Meets first and third Monday of the month at Belmont Park Pavilion, 7.30pm. John, 0409 234 307

Geelong Anglers Club

Meets fourth Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm, 9 Yuille Street, Geelong West. Monthly fishing competitions. Brian, 0417 190 092 or Ian, 0470 114 787

PlayLinks

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

Grovedale East Ladies Probus Fourth Monday of each month, 9.30am, Belmont RSL.

Sally Nelson, 0402 450 610

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

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

Drysdale CWA

Every second Tuesday at 1pm and crafts every fourth Tuesday at 11.30am of each month at Drysdale RSL Club. Jenny, 0452 258 333

Scottish dancing

GOG Scottish Country Dance classes 7.30pm Tuesdays at Leopold Hill Hall, $5. No partner needed. Vicki, 0412 762 983 or Barbara, 0419 511 781

Geelong Showgrounds Museum

Open to the public on the first Sunday of each month 10am-2pm (October excepted). Adults $10, students 13-18 $5, under 13 free.

5221 1707.

Geelong Scottish Dance Highland dance classes for all ages Wednesday from 4pm and Saturday from 10am at Western Heights Uniting Church Hall, St Herne Hill. Christine, 0468 311 788 or facebook.com/GeelongScottishDance

Bingo

Tuesdays 1-3pm, great grocery prizes plus $50 jackpot books $2.50. Belmont Seniors Centre, 52 Thomson Street, Belmont. Frank, 5241 1776

First steps in music

Babies, toddlers and preschoolers welcome with parent/carer. Thursdays Northern Bay College, Tallis, and Fridays at Northern Bay College, Peacock. Free if living in 3214 postcode, bookings essential. info@bluebirdfoundationinc.org.au

Mainly Music

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. SMS, 0461 582 618 for bookings

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, or Facebook Dragons Abreast Geelong - Juggernauts

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

Geelong Welsh Ladies Choir

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

Chess clubs

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

Geelong Scout Heritage Centre Meets third Sunday of the month, 56 Russell Street, Newtown, 10am-3pm. 0419 591 432 or geelong.heritage@scoutsvictoria.com.au

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

Belmont Combined Probus

First Monday of the month, 9.30am, Geelong RSL Function Room, 50 Barwon Heads Road. New members and visitors welcome Sue, 0409 945 011 or probusclubofbelmont@outlook.com

Barwon Valley Belmont Probus First Thursday of month, 10am, Waurn Ponds Hotel. Membership officer, 0407 333 263 or bobstafford@ozemail.com.au

Lectures

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

Out and about in autumn

It’s getting noticeably cooler as autumn reaches its halfway mark, but that didn’t deter anyone, including Independent photographer Ivan Kemp, from getting out and about at Geelong’s waterfront on Wednesday 15 April.

Cute, compact, capable

By Alistair Kennedy, Marque Motoring

As the name suggests, the Toyota Yaris Cross is a crossover version of the popular Yaris small hatchback bulked up to provide access to the booming compact SUV market segment.

Launched here in late-2020 Yaris Cross is available in four grades: GX, GXL, Urban and GR Sport.

The first three models each come with the choice of two- or four-wheel drive. GR Sport is 2WD only.

Originally available with the choice of petrolorhybridpowertrains,effectivefrom the 2024 upgrade, all Yaris Cross variants are now exclusively hybrid.

Prices range from $31,790 for the 2WD GX through to $39,920 for our test car, the Urban AWD.

Hybrid competitors include the MG ZS, KiaKona,HondaHR-V,Tiggo4andthenew SuzukiFronxStandardintheGXare16-inch alloy wheels and 8-inch touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It does come with halogen headlights GXL adds LED headlights, blind-spot monitor and a panoramic view monitor.

The top-spec Urban comes with 18-inch alloys, head-up display, heated front seats and a powered tailgate.

The trendy GR Sport gets a unique 18-inch wheel design as well as sports suspension and GR-branded interior. The Sporttagisabitmisleadingbecausethere’s no difference in performance from the other models.

Styling

Yaris Cross shares similar styling as the Yaris hatch. While they have the same 2560 wheelbase the Cross is around 20mm longer, 70mm wider and 95mm taller. than the hatchback. It also has 35mm greater ground clearance.

The face of the Yaris Cross features a split grille with a lower diffuser, flanked by deep-set LED daytime running lights and slimline headlight clusters.

The rear has a squared-off design with broad horizontal lines connecting integrated taillights.

Yaris Cross comes with the choice of seven single colours including Frosted White, Stunning Silver, Ink, Atomic Rush, Latte, Mineral Blue and Massive Grey 7.

The top-spec Urban models also get the option of four two-tones that combine Frosted White, Atomic Rush, Latte or Massive Grey with a black roof.

Interior

While the platform of the Yaris Cross is only slightly longer and wider than that of the Yaris hatch, it features a longer, wider and taller body to increase interior space.

Although larger than the Yaris hatch it’s still a small vehicle. Front space is fine but the three rear seats are quite cramped and certainly not recommended for three adult passengers.

The air-conditioning controls sit below the screen and make it quite difficult to adjust the outlet directions.

The Urban and GR Sport variants come with nanoe X air ionisation technology whichhelpstoinhibitunwantedpollutants and viruses from the cabin.

The large gear selector in the centre console leaves little space for storage and pushes the two drink holders backwards and makes them awkward to reach.

The centre arm rest effectively replaces a storage tub.

Boot space in the 2WD Yaris Cross is 390 litres but drops to 314 litres in the AWD due to the addition of the rear electric motor.

Powertrain

The hybrid system for front-wheel drive

versions of the Yaris Cross Sport combines a 67 kW/120 Nm, 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and two motor generators on the front axle putting out a combined 85 kW.

The AWD models versions add a third electric motor to drive the rear wheels and provide extra traction.

All variants get a continuously variable transmission with a mechanical first gear for strong take-off. A 10-speed sequential shift function that can be operated by the shift lever, or paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

Safety

All Yaris Cross models come with the latest version of Toyota Safety Sense technology that includes a pre-collision safety system with day/night pedestrian and day cyclist detection, emergency steering assist, lane trace assist and lane departure alert with steering assist, intersection turn assist, automatic high beam, road sign recognition and adaptive cruise control. Standard equipment also includes eight airbags including two between the front seat, reversing camera, parking sensors, seatbelt warning and Isofix child seat anchors.

Urban also gets a blind spot monitor and rear cross traffic alert.

Infotainment

RATINGS

Looks: 8/10

Performance: 7/10

Safety: 8/10

Thirst : 9/10

Practicality: 7/10

Comfort: 7/10

Tech: 7/10

Value: 8/10

The 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen is pretty basic and so uses a number of physical buttons and knobs on the edges to access the most used functions.

That will be a positive for many potential buyers.

There’s a neat Multi Information Display in front of the driver with two raised round displays on the sides of the 8.0-inch screen.

The system has AM/FM/DAB+ radio, full Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with enhanced voice activation.

Audio is through a pretty basic six speaker system. There’s a single USB-A in the centre console of the GX and GXL with a USB-C added in the Urban and GR Sport models.

SatellitenavigationwiththeSUNAtraffic channel is standard on variants above GX.

Driving

Although its under 4.2 metres in length, clever packaging makes it feel like a larger vehicle. While Yaris Cross is relatively easy to access for front occupants, small rear doors will challenge adult passengers.

It’s an ideal city car that’s easy to drive, manoeuvrable and easy to park.

When stretched the three-cylinder engine gives out an annoying harsh tone

Urban is the only variant to get a head-up display.

There have been adjustments to the tuning of the suspension which provide extra firmness that was quite noticeable when we encountered bumps during the rural component of our drive route.

Claimed fuel consumption from the 2WDYarisCrossHybridislistedat3.8litres per 100km. We averaged a still impressive 4.6 L/100km during our week in the Urban AWD.

Summing up

Toyota Yaris and predecessors such as the Starlet and Echo have long been popular choices for first-time buyers – and their parents looking for an affordable and safe car. Although it is more expensive, the Yaris Cross meets the same criteria while adding the SUV styling that’s so much in vogue.

It’s neat, compact and attractive with excellentsafetyfeaturesandsevenvariants from which to choose. The standard hybrid powertrain provides outstanding fuel economy.

Standard warranty is five years with unlimited distance with the powertrain increased to seven years if it is serviced on time. Service intervals are 12 months or 15,000km.

Around the grounds

GEELONG&DISTRICTFOOTBALL

LEAGUE

Round1,Saturday11April

Werribee Centrals 6.4(40), 8.8(56), 11.13(79),12.13(85)

Winchelsea0.1(1),3.4(22),5.7(37),9.12(66)

Goals: Werribee Centrals - K. Gomes

Pattiyage 2, C. Saliba 2, L. Robinson 2, J. MacDonald, K. Kur, B. Houlihan, B. Linehan-Cunningham, A. Stone, C. Linehan-Cunningham. Winchelsea - I. Parish2,J.Gould2,B.Mumberson2,J.Huff, J. Sampi, J. Freeman.

Best: Werribee Centrals - C. Linehan-Cunningham, A. Stone, T. Camilleri, B. Linehan-Cunningham, J. Sutton, D. Chesterman. Winchelsea - F. Parish, N. Harvey, D. Hewson, J. Terrill, J. Gould, C. Nankervis.

Belmont Lions 4.2(26), 7.4(46), 10.7(67), 12.11(83)

Anakie0.6(6),3.7(25),4.9(33),5.10(40)

Goals: BelmontLions-notsupplied.Anakie - W. Davey 2, J. Mawson, O. Barter, M. McLaughlin.

Best: Belmont Lions - L. Slorach, B. McPherson, N. Houtsma, C. Farchione, S. Gunther. Anakie - B. Gerrard, P. Ridout, N. McDonald, J. Mawson, W. Davey, J. Davey.

East Geelong 4.2(26), 10.7(67), 16.12(108), 21.17(143)

Corio3.2(20),3.4(22),5.5(35),6.6(42)

Goals: East Geelong - Z. Smith 12, J. Beardsell 4, A. Steele 2, M. McCombe 2, W. Hough. Corio - H. Carr 3, D. Waldron 2, C. Shoebridge.

Best: East Geelong - Z. Smith, J. Beardsell, M. Kasparian, H. Monahan, G. Munari, J. McIntyre. Corio - J. Bennett, M. Jelenic, T. McMahon, D. Waldron, B. Cervenka, C. Shoebridge.

Inverleigh 3.6(24), 5.6(36), 8.11(53), 11.14(80)

Thomson0.2(2),2.8(20),3.9(27),5.13(43)

Goals: Inverleigh - M. Dickson 7, N. Sneskov 2, N. Mayes, D. Peel. Thomson - D. Smith, A. Anticev,C.Judd,JoshCamm,JordanCamm.

Best: Inverleigh - M. Dickson, B. McIntosh, J. Viney, F. O’Keefe, A. Donohue, D. Maher. Thomson - C. Judd, C. Eden, D. Smith, A. Anticev, Jordan Camm.

North Geelong 3.3(21), 3.4(22), 10.8(68), 12.10(82) Bannockburn 0.3(3), 5.8(38), 6.11(47), 8.16(64)

Goals: North Geelong - B. Riccardi 3, B. Miller 2, O. Riccardi, C. Pasque, C. Smith, J. Cambridge, J. Jewell, R. Desnoy, L. Parker. Bannockburn - B. Harding 2, R. Maibaum 2, B. Kelly, J. Gorman, H. Hawker, W. Mack.

Best: North Geelong - J. George, B. Riccardi, B. Miller, T. Schwennesen, B. O’Brien, D. Fazio. Bannockburn - R. Ginn, J. Gorman, W. Mack.

Bell Post Hill 2.4(16), 5.8(38), 12.12(84), 15.16(106)

Geelong West Giants 1.0(6), 1.0(6), 2.1(13), 2.3(15)

Goals: BellPostHill-L.Wilson5,N.Costello 3,J.Saunders,E.Coffey,B.Hickey,B.Carter, D. Witney, H. McIntyre, J. Flaccavento. Geelong West Giants - S. Goddard, A. Buckwell.

Best: Bell Post Hill - L. Wilson, E. Coffey, T. Martin, D. Handley, B. Hickey, N. Costello. GeelongWestGiants-D.Craven,M.Leamer, B. Mitchell, R. Croft, J. Logan, J. Greaves. GEELONGFOOTBALLLEAGUE

Round1,Saturday11April

South Barwon 2.3(15), 4.3(27), 7.3(45), 14.7(91)

Grovedale1.1(7),4.1(25),6.4(40),7.5(47)

Goals: South Barwon - Z. Stevens 5, M. Caldow 3, J. Broughton 2, A. Boseley 2, O. Pollock, S. James. Grovedale - B. Kreuger 2,

L. Ellis 2, E. Edwards, C. Whyte, W. Ford. Best: South Barwon - Z. Stevens, B. Kellett, T. Bartlett, L. Weidemann, T. White, D. Madigan. Grovedale - W. Ford, B. Ferguson, L. Ellis, N. Kreuger, J. Kelly, J. Tute.

St Albans 4.3(27), 9.10(64), 17.16(118), 24.19(163) NorthShore1.1(7),1.2(8),3.4(22),6.5(41)

Goals: StAlbans-T.Higgins6,T.Gunther4, T.Roberts3,F.Keck2,L.Gray2,H.Cockerell 2, B. McDonald, J. Grigsby, W. Lane. North Shore - J. Sammut-Miljevic 4, W. Milsome 2. Best: St Albans - B. Brogden, T. Higgins, H. Elliot,E. Mantas,T. Roberts. NorthShore-J. Sammut-Miljevic,M.Spohn,B.Tregenza,B. Phillips, D. Bennett, X. McGowan.

St Mary’s 0.6(6), 4.8(32), 9.11(65), 14.18(102)

Colac2.0(12),3.2(20),4.3(27),5.3(33)

Goals: St Mary’s - S. Bourke 3, X. Ivisic 3, O. Flynn 2, L. Peck 2, J. Blood, H. Benson, F. Hughes, J. Sanders. Colac - C. Murray, D. Lang, J. Fish, B. Hall, L. Gorwell.

Best: St Mary’s - H. Benson, C. Sprague, J. Blood,H.Bourke,B.Ham,S.Bourke.ColacJ. Skinner, L. Gorwell, K. Spokes, T. Rieniets, B. McCarthy.

Sunday12April

Leopold 3.9(27), 5.14(44), 8.16(64), 11.20(86)

Geelong West Giants 2.1(13), 4.3(27), 5.3(33),9.5(59)

Goals: Leopold - T. Lunnon-Johnson 3, C. Gardiner 2, W. Sheahan 2, S. Harvey, J. Peters, N. Ash, D. Henderson. Geelong West Giants - B. Harvey 2, T. Lewis 2, M. Kelly, N. Allen, L. Horniblow, L. Wittman, J. Kaltenbach. Best:Leopold-W.Sheahan,M.Thompson,R. Stone,D.Pitcher,D.Brislane,K.Bumpstead. GeelongWestGiants-B.Harvey,T.Nyak,O. Leavold, N. Allen, T. Lewis, L. Horniblow.

BELLARINEFOOTBALLLEAGUE

Round2,Saturday11April

Anglesea2.2(14),9.2(56),11.4(70),12.4(76) Newcomb1.1(20),3.2(20),6.7(43),11.8(74)

Goals: Anglesea - J. Keras 3, J. Walters 2, J. Jaska 2, M. Virgona 2, H. Ling, R. Bell, N. McGregor-Dawson.Newcomb-J.Duke3,D. Johnstone2,J.Duncan,J.Saltalamacchia,L. Wagener, H. Fraser, C. Morrissy, R. Hollins. Best: Anglesea - A. Braaksma, J. Keras, J. Walters, J. Fulton, I. Hardman, J. Jaska. Newcomb - F. Anscombe, L. Wagener, J. Saltalamacchia,L.Justin,A.Pepper,J.Duke.

Geelong Amateur 3.1(19), 6.2(38), 8.5(53), 15.12(102)

Drysdale3.3(21),6.5(41),9.7(61),11.10(76)

Goals: Geelong Amateur - H. Kershaw 2, M.

Day2,R.Ferguson2,S.Lloyd2,R.Mattner,J. Thornton, C. Green, A. Brown, H. Goddard, H. Gribble, L. Reilly. Best: Geelong Amateur - H. Orr, L. Reilly, R. Ferguson, M. Day, T. Gribble, R. Mattner. Drysdale - L. Dalgleish, D. Foley, L. Nelis, C. Tainton, J. Watson, B. Sykes.

Modewarre 3.8(26), 6.8(44), 12.11(83), 17.12(114)

OceanGrove0.0(0),5.1(31),5.3(33),5.8(38)

Goals: Modewarre - T. Hornsey 7, C. Joseph 3, M. Mckim 2, O. Cooke, S. Morter, D. Hemphill, O. Hocking, T. Scott. Ocean Grove - L. Waldron 3, L. Morrow, J. Walker.

Best: Modewarre - O. Cooke, M. Uhlhorn, T. Hornsey, Z. May, M. Fenton, C. Joseph. Ocean Grove - L. Jarrad, L. Waldron, J. Kneebone,L.Morrow,J.McDonald,F.Rolfs.

Surf Coast 2.1(13), 5.6(36), 7.8(50), 15.12(102)

Portarlington 2.3(15), 6.4(40), 10.7(67), 13.7(85)

Goals: SurfCoast-T.Stephen4,L.Cartelli4, A.Black2,H.Gravener,J.Pierce,D.Flanigan, K. Nielsen, E. Weeks. Portarlington - B. Williamson 3, T. Panuccio 2, S. McDonald 2, M. Turnbull 2, H. Eddy, J. Baldi, R. Hayden, S. Greenhough.

Best: Surf Coast - T. Flanigan, D. Flanigan, T. Stephen, T. Lee, L. Cartelli, H. Gravener. Portarlington - R. Hayden, N. Lane, M. Ruiter, J. Baldi, M. Howard, N. McHugh.

Queenscliff 4.5(29), 6.9(45), 8.13(61), 11.18(84)

Torquay0.1(1),6.4(40),6.7(43),10.9(69)

Goals: Queenscliff-J.Monahan4,N.Rippon 2, S. Bowtell, J. Wright, I. Grant, P. Bradley, J. Lindrea. Torquay - B. Dyer 4, T. Boak 2, N. Mifsud, M. Boag, T. Smith, W. Montebello.

Best: Queenscliff - S. Bowtell, J. Cincotta, L. Kidd, C. Durran, T. Thompson, C. Whitley. Torquay - B. McNamara, M. Boag, T. Boak, B. Dyer, N. Mifsud, T. Emmerson.

Around the courts

Scoreboards from Bellarine, Geelong, and Geelong & District Netball League

A Grade games played on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 April.

BELLARINE

Round2,Saturday11April

Anglesea 29 def Newcomb 0result overturned from 29-50 due to unregistered player

Best: Anglesea - Tae McGillivray, Lulu Higgins, Joselyn Bennetts. Newcombnot supplied.

Geelong Amateur 52 def Drysdale 24

Best: Geelong Amateur - Courtney Coutts, Jessica Standfield, Bec Winch. Drysdale - Chloe Hobbs, Mia Fallon, Phoebe Wilson.

Ocean Grove 38 def Modewarre 30

Best: Ocean - Gemma Bell, Bridgette Vos, Shae Rowbottom. ModewarreHayley Toull, Hannah Richards, Abby Larkin.

Portarlington 39 def Surf Coast 23

Best: Portarlington - Georgia Howell, Mikayla Mevissen, Tully Bethune. Surf Coast - not supplied.

Torquay 55 def Queenscliff 41 Best: Torquay - Ariana Luamanu, Kiralee Collings, Kate Schippers. Queenscliff - Caitie Kennedy, Rebecca O’Neill, Phoebe Knox.

GEELONG

Round1,Saturday11April

South Barwon 59 def Grovedale 26

Best: South Barwon - Lara Taylor, Michelle Svetnik, Eloise Maddox. Grovedale - Bonnie Coburn, Charlotte Baggio, Esther Kidmas.

St Joseph’s 56 def St Albans 24

Best: St Joseph’s: Kiahna Fallon, Larni Howard, Maya Pearce. St AlbansIsabel Henriksen, Ruby Wilson, Ebony Frank.

Colac 48 tied with St Mary’s 48 Best: Colac - Jessie Lang, Mary Place, Monika Hammond. St Mary’s - Ava Pierce, Ellie Kennedy, Eliza Brown.

Sunday12April

Leopold 50 def Geelong West Giants 44

Best: Leopold - Hollie Phillips, Maddie Mickovski, Breanna Heagney. Geelong West Giants - Estelle Stephens, Lily Mckimmie, Lexie Annand.

GEELONG&DISTRICT

Round1,Saturday11April

Belmont Lions 48 def Anakie 24

Best:BelmontLions-YiannaRoss,Ella Wasik, Molly Gribble. Anakie - Zariah Webb, Kyra Ballantyne, Mia Edwards. Winchelsea 32 def Werribee Centrals 21

Best: Winchelsea - Grace Pullen, Meg Royal,MaddisonMcKiernan.Werribee Centrals - Alual Garang, Julia Nash, Natasha Dimkovski. Bell Post Hill 54 def Geelong West Giants 31

Best: Bell Post Hill - Jorja Caruso, Aimee Hooper, Brigitte Ardossi. Geelong West Giants - Sienna Kestles, Abbey Chapman, Kaitlyn Eedy. Bannockburn 70 def North Geelong 21

Best:Bannockburn-RebeccaTrenerry, Sharon Ford, Jade Merry. North Geelong - Keira Marsh, Alexandra Smilovic, Marney McRandall. Thomson 43 def Inverleigh 42

Best: Thomson - Bree Caldwell, Amelia Jarvis, Cheyenne Philpott. Inverleigh - Nicola McLennan, Teagan Madden, Taylah Nelson. East Geelong 39 def Corio 38

Best: East Geelong - Nicola McLennan, Teagan Madden, Taylah Nelson. Corio - Stephanie Cockerell, Erin Dillon, Mckensie Wade.

Mr Versatile to play 300th

WhentheballisbouncedtostartGeelong’s round6matchagainstWesternBulldogsat

GMHBA Stadium on Friday 17 April, Mark Blicavs will become only the 111th player in VFL/AFL history to reach 300 games.

Blicavs was selected by Geelong with pick 54 in the 2012 rookie draft and is widelyregardedasoneofthemostversatile players to play the game.

Blicavs becomes just the eighth Geelong player to reach the milestone, joining Sam Newman, Ian Nankervis, Corey Enright, Jimmy Bartel, Joel Selwood, Tom Hawkins and Mitch Duncan. He also becomes the 77th player to reach 300 games as a one club player.

Blicavs is a two-time Carji Greeves Medallist winning Geelong’s best and fairest in 2015 and 2018 and he was awarded Cats life membership in 2022 the same year he became a premiership player and earned his first All Australian selection.

Blicavs has played in 29 finals matches,

the equal ninth most in history with only three players – Joel Selwood, Harry Taylor andShaunBurgoyne–tohaveplayedmore in their first 300 games.

Mark Blicavs

• 299 games

• 81 goals

• Pick 54 in the 2012 Rookie Draft from Sunbury

• Debuted round 1 2013 vs Hawthorn

• 111th player to reach 300 games,

• Grand finals 2020, 2022 (premiers), 2025

• All Australian 2022

• Carji Greeves Medallist 2015, 2018

• Geelong life member 2022

• First person to play 300 games in the number 46

• 29 finals, the equal ninth most in VFL/ AFL history.

• Has missed just 18 games on his way to 300, 2023 (19) is also the only season he has played fewer than 20 games in a season.

Blue prevails in Wandana Heights derby

LOCAL TENNIS

Donna Schoenmaekers

TennisGeelong’sTuesdayWomen’sPennant has five rounds to play before finals and all Section5teamshavealottoplayfor.

ItwasaWandanaHeightsderbywithBlue and Green playing each other with Blue sitting in sixth spot and trying to keep in touchwiththefourwhileGreenweretrying toelevatethemselvesfromthebottomofthe ladder.

Blue looked to dominate early and the teampulledawaytoa3-0lead,winning6-2, 6-4,6-4beforeGreenhittheirgroovetowin theremainingthreesets.

But with results of 6-2, 6-4, 6-4, Blue managed to hold the lead by two games, givingthemenoughpointsforthewin.

It was a beautiful day for Grovedale to travel to Western Heights for what would be a great day of tennis. After the first two sets there was just one separating the teams, and still just the one game after the next two sets with the balance of the match dependent on what happened in the remainingtwosets.

Western Heights put themselves in the boxseatwithWendyBellandKarenBartlett posting a 6-1 win, while the remaining set battled to a tie-break, with Grovedale’s Therese Wilson and Kerrie Grinter eventuallytakingitout7-6.

But with the game advantage to the Heights, they kept their slim finals hopes alive in seventh and Grovedale maintained theirpositiontwopointsoutsidethefour.

The conditions were superb at Clifton SpringswheretheirBlueteamhostedOcean GroveandYellowhostedSurfcoastBellbrae.

Blue were holding top spot and were hoping for a better win than Surfcoast, in second, to help extend their lead against OceanGroveinfourth.

The Grove proved tough opposition in the first set with Mellissa Fisher and Vanessa Armstrongeventuallygettingup7-5,butthe Springs countered in the second with Fiona MacaulayandSarahWinshipwinning6-3.

Sets three and four went the way of the home team, giving them some breathing space, so when the final two sets were split, Blueretainedtheirplaceontopoftheladder witha4-2win.

Despite the loss, with two points for their two set wins, the Grove pushed ahead of SpringsYellowintothird.

Surfcoast enjoyed the day out while the Springs Yellow team didn’t help their cause, losingladderpositionwithaloss.

Despitebeingatoughmatchtopredicton

paper, Bellbrae took an early stranglehold onthematch.

Yellow struggled to find answers to Bellbrae’s form with many games going to deuce.

Bellbrae’s team of Leanne Heath, Linda Cherubin, Marika Climpson and Grainne O’Gallagherwerewinners6-0.

Traditional look for Jan Jac cricket ground

A cricket ground in Jan Juc will soon have a more traditional look through the installation of a white picket fence around the perimeter.

Works to replace the ageing perimeter fencing with white pickets made from aluminium began at Bob Pettitt Reserve oval on 13 April to give the oval a traditional cricket ground feel.

Surf Coast Shire councillor Liz Pattison said the white pickets would last longer and require less maintenance than the existing wire fencing, which is damaged and due for renewal.

“The white pickets will look great and be less costly to maintain than the old wire fence,” she said.

“We’re happy to have worked with Jan Juc Cricket Club to select anewfencefortheirhomeground.”

The new fence will feature a graffiti-resistant PVC coating, helping create the look of white wooden pickets with improved durability.

The project will also feature an extra access point behind the northern football goals and a relocated access point directly behind the southern goals, assistingwithballretrievalsduring football seasons.

The fence will be installed in small sections and take up to three weeks to complete, with the oval open to the community and available for football training and matches during the project.

The win puts them two points closer to Clifton Springs Blue and plenty of opportunity still to capture the minor premiership.

There is still plenty of time for teams to make their moves as they close in on finals with only nine points separating third from sixth with Western Heights and Wandana Greenstillcapableofmakingfinalsifthings gotheirway.

The project is funded through Surf Coast Shire Council’s 2025-26 asset renewal budget, following requestsforthenewlookbyreserve tenants, Jan Juc Cricket Club. Jan Juc Cricket Club was founded in 1981 and fields four senior mens, one senior womens, one junior girls and seven junior boys teams. The Sharks are a vibrant part of the Surf Coast community.

Consistency will take time

By Justin Flynn

A new look Ocean Grove enters its round 3 clash against Drysdale unbeaten and will take some time to gel according to coach Mel Holmes.

ThereigningpremiersthrashedAnglesea in the season opener by 36 goals and then had to work overtime to get the points against a gutsy Modewarre on Saturday 11 April.

The Grubbers have won the past three A Grade premierships, but have lost captain Emily Moroney (knee), defender Georgia Berry (Queenscliff), goaler Arlee Bennett (South Barwon) and versatile Courtney Leith (Bannockburn) from last season’s grand final side while Ashton O’Brien has dropped down to B Grade.

Coming into the team is former Bendigo Strikers VNL goaler Bridgette Vos (Bell Park), midcourter Perri Jones (Barwon Heads), Shae Rowbottom (Thomson), Kaia Giles (Barwon Heads) and Julia Mitchell (Thomson).

Holmes said it will take a while for the team to get used to new combinations, although Vos and Zanna Punshon (nee Woods) have played together at VNL level and will form a formidable duo in attack.

“Thisearlyintheseasonwe’rejusttrying to gel and work out our systems,” Holmes said.

“We’recertainlynotgoingbacktobasics, but we’re kind of having to blood new people and it takes a while.

“We’re building - the foundations are thereandthepeoplearethere.Ithinkwe’ll build as the season goes on.”

Ocean Grove was without Punshon and defender Amanda O’Malley (family holiday) for the Modewarre game and the Warriors looked capable of causing an upset.

Modda finished winless last season and wasbeltedbyGeelongAmateurinround1, butledathalf-timeandscoreswerelevelat the last change.

Grove pulled away in the final stanza to win by eight.

“We just didn’t get out of second gear until the last quarter,” Holmes said.

“It’s pleasing (to win), (but) I just was

asking for it a bit sooner. I’m not taking anything away from Modda. They have certainly got some great players and I said that to the coach (Erin Littlewood) afterwards.”

Holmes said she is feeling no pressure to take Ocean Grove’s premiership streak to four.Infactshesaiditwasthemostrelaxed she’d felt in a long time.

“The group we’ve got at the moment on and off the court is really building a strong culture,” she said. “As much as it would be nice (after) winning three flags, you want to keep it going, but it’s now around

Grubbers stay unbeaten

Ocean Grove made it two wins from two starts with a victory against Modewarre and Independent photographer Ivan Kemp was at Mt Moriac Reserve on Saturday 11 April to take these pictures.

building and growing.

“It’s different. Yes, you want to still win, but it’s not the same team. Other teams aren’t the same. You can’t expect just to go, ‘oh yeah, we’ve done it before, we’ll do it again’, but it doesn’t mean we don’t want it. It just looks different.”

GEELONG Amateur is showing no signs of a drop-off with two convincing wins to start the season, including a 28-goal drubbing of Drysdale on Saturday. St Joseph’s B Grade 2025 best and fairest Courtney Coutts dominated at wing defence while youngster Chloe Hobbs impressed in defence and attack for the Hawks.

TORQUAY looks capable of going an extra step this season after two good wins. Ariana Luamanu has settled in well after crossing from Anglesea and was best at wing attack for the Tigers in a 14-goal win against Queenscliff. Caitie Kennedy did all she could in midcourt for the Coutas.

A CARLY Sanders masterclass gave Newcomb a 50 to 29 win against Anglesea, however the result was overturned after it was revealed the Power had breached AFL Barwon Netball Competition Rule 2.1, which requires all players to be registered onNetballConnectandPlayHQdatabases. Sandersshot43goalsfrom44attempts,but the joy was short-lived as the Power’s score was readjusted to zero and Anglesea took the points.

GEORGIA Howell was best on court for Portarlington in a 16-goal win against Surf Coast. Howell played 19 & Under and B GradeforGeelongAmateurlastseasonand was superb at goal keeper for her new club.

Modda gets first win of 2026

Modewarre hosted Ocean Grove at Mt Moriac Reserve in round 2 of Bellarine Football League on Saturday 11 April and Independent photographer Ivan Kemp saw Modda win by 76 points.

Fairytales come true after all

By Justin Flynn

Sport can take you to some of the darkest places, but also some of the most uplifting and although the swing can happen rapidly, few would have predicted the magnitude of what occurred between April 4 and 11, 2026.

Gobacktojustbefore5pmonApril4and the fledgling Surf Coast Suns had just been belted in their first ever Bellarine Football League senior match by 148 points.

In front of an estimated Easter Saturday 5000-strong crowd at the Suns’ home ground, Banyul-Warri Fields, Torquay systematically destroyed the afternoon as a contest. Many left convinced the start-up side, which only managed two late consolation goals, would not win a game this season.

Fast forward to about 4.15pm on April 11 and the unthinkable was unfolding. Surf Coast had booted seven goals to three-quarter time and was 17 points down against Portarlington, a club that had gone 68 games without a win from 2018 to 2024, but had rebuilded into a very decent outfit.

The Suns’ players could have been forgiven for thinking that was good enough. They’d already kicked five more goals than the previous week and had regained some respect from the footy community.

But the fairytale wasn’t about to end there.

Surf Coast slammed on eight last-quarter goals to win, yes win, by 17 points. They say a week is a long time in footy. This week seemed to take four times that long.

Despite the opening round drubbing, Suns’ coach Trent Rogers never stopped believing. In himself, the club, and most importantly his players.

“I reminded them in the team meeting at half-time, and I just said, ‘the next time we come back into this room, is it our day?’,” coach Trent Rogers said.

“Is it a day that we have a moment that we can have together forever and no one can ever take it away from us?

“My biggest satisfaction from a coaching point of view is I’ve put it to the boys over the whole summer and even this week that I believed in them and they need to believe in each other and the process and so on. We were still going into every game no matter the opponent and with the mindset of winning.”

So what magic formula did Rogers dip into his players’ water bottles at training to help instigate one of country footy’s most staggering turnarounds?

No doubt the Suns had a bout of stagefright in round one. Usually crowds of 5000 are only reserved for grand finals so that was foreign to them. A slick, hardened and experienced Torquay side certainly had a lot to do with it. Limited preparation in which Surf Coast only played half a practice match against Rokewood, which was decimated by players committing to cricket grand finals. The second, and final, preseason game was against Birregurra where the Suns booted nine goals in the opening term that was just 20 minutes with no time on.

“So like essentially everything over preseason was probably a little bit too, you know, rainbows and lollipops,” Rogers said.

“When we selected practice matches, we had no idea where we’d be at. The only flaw we really had in our practice matches was that we weren’t challenged enough.

“Torquay have played together for years. A lot of them played juniors and stuff together. Our boys have known each other for six months at best.

“And then if you look at the occasion, a lot of our boys hadn’t played a lot of senior footy let alone play in front of 5000 people.

“Whereas if you look at Torquay, they have played finals every year for five years, playing in front of 2000 to 5000 people. They

do it three times a year.

“Essentially, the last time Torquay played together before round one, they probably played in front of 3000 people in a prelim final.”

Once Torquay started piling on goal after goal, it became messy.

“We probably weren’t prepared for how good they are, to be honest,” Rogers said.

“Obviously we knew how good they were, but we probably didn’t expect them to start the way they did and play four consistent quarters of footy like that.

“So for us, it’s like our preseason in terms of structures and stuff, that definitely went out the window last week, just under pressure.”

It didn’t take long for Rogers to start planning for round 2 despite the shellacking. He had to. Somehow he had to get his players to realise that round 1 was over and it was onto next week. But how do you do that after a 148-point loss? Rogers knew the players’ minds would “naturally go to the negative” , but he told them that was okay

“because that shows that you care”

“Thursday night the last thing I said to the boys before we got off the track was ‘between now and Saturday I want you to think of how good you’re going to feel if we go to Portarlington and we actually win,” he said.

And win they did, although among the excitement afterwards, a wave of confusion swept through the changerooms, albeit humorously.

“Everyone got into the rooms and scrambled around, everyone’s looking around be-

cause we don’t know the song,” Rogers said.

“How are we going to go about this because it’s not the traditional Gold Coast song. The juniors have had that Gold Coast song for years and you can sort of copy most of the words from an AFL song.

“The new song is completely new words to the tune of Brisbane Lions. We didn’t have the luxury of winning at home where we can read (the lyrics) it off the wall. There was just a whole lot of mumbling to be honest.”