Geelong Indy - 22nd May 2026

Thriving in education

By Jena Carr

The state’s deputy premier has made his way to schools across Greater Geelong and the Bellarine to celebrate the region’s role ineducation.

Ben Carroll, who is also Minister for Education, kicked off his tour of the region with a visit to the Geelong Sailing School on20May.

Mr Carroll told the Independent that it was great to be in Geelong, and that it is a “communitythatisthrivingandcontinues toinvestineducation”.

“We’re really keen to get kids out doing camps, in the outdoors, and participating

insport,sotheyareawayfromdevicesand socialmedia,”hesaid.

“(Kids can) get out on the water to learn important skills like trusting one another, teamwork, resilience, coordination, and concentration.

“Wehavealsojustsignedanin-principle agreement to make sure our Geelong teachers, who are some of the best in the nation, will also be the best paid in the nation.

“Everyone in our education system’s salary will essentially go up by a third, so that is around a 28 to 32 per cent pay rise fornotonlyourteachers,butoureducation supportstaff.”

Victorian Sailing School operates as a second campus for Newcomb Secondary College, and acting principal Joshua Grabowski said it was a privilege to have a facility “right on the waterfront”.

“That opportunity to experience sailing is something not a lot of young people in Geelongwouldbedoing,soit’sfantasticto be able to provide that chance,” he said.

“It’s (the sailing school) a really important space for all our school community members...and it was a massive privilege and honour to have Mr Carroll visit the sailing school.”

MrCarrollalsovisitedNorthernBayP-12 College’s Hendy P-8 campus on 20 May

to turn the first sod on the construction of a new learning centre, which is expected to be open to students from June next year.

The new facility will replace the school’s main building, which was severely damaged by a fire in 2024, requiring students to learn in modular classrooms following the incident.

Mr Carroll made two more school visits on 21 May, including Oberon High School in Armstrong Creek, to hear about the school’s Be Bold Be Heard Program, and Surfside Primary School in Ocean Grove, to celebrate the more than $11 million state budget investment.

Exhibit shows Zoe’s legacy

By Jena Carr

An upcoming exhibition will honour the lifeandcreativityofaGeelongwomanwho livedwithSpinalMuscularAtrophy(SMA).

Rachinger Gallery at Eastern Hub Geelong will host a collection of artworks and poems created by former St Albans Park resident Zoe Zanos, who died five yearsagofromSMAatage40.

Mother Elly Smits has organised the exhibition alongside Zoe’s best friend since kindergarten, Fiona Steitz, and said the exhibition helped her understand her daughter“moredeeply”.

“Themainthingistodrivehomehopeto thosewhocan’talwaysexpressthemselves through kindness and acceptance,” she said.

“It’s really been a trip down memory lane, as I didn’t fully know the full extent of the drawings, poems, and writings that shehaddone.

“Ifoundpictureswithpoemswhilegoing throughherthings,andlovedhowwellshe could put her feelings down, even though theywerehardtruthssometimes.

“She had some problems and disappointments, but I didn’t know how deep it went, and I feel like I know her betterandthatI’vereconnectedwithher.”

SMA is a genetic condition that affects thecentralandperipheralnervoussystems and voluntary muscle movement, causing muscles to become weaker and smaller overtime.

Ms Smits said Zoe lived with SMA throughout her life and was not expected tosurvivepastherteenageyears.

“We found out she had a disability a year

later(afterherbirth)becauseshewouldtry to crawl and fall on her face because her armscouldn’ttakeherweight,”shesaid.

“She never got up and walked, so we knewshe’deventuallygointoawheelchair,

which happened when she was 18 months old.

“Her disability made her weaker as life went on, so...she couldn’t carry weight through her joints and her bones weren’t growingtothefullheight.”

Despite her disability, Ms Smits said that Zoe was “very positive” and achieved many things in her life, including going to university and celebrating a milestone birthday.

“Going to university in Warrnambool wasthebesttimeofherlife,andsheended up coming through with good results,” she said.

“She studied psychology there, and then she went up to RMIT in Melbourne and majored in art therapy...which was something that she wasn’t sure that she’d beabletodo.

“We had a great 40th for her...and two weeks later, she had a mini stroke, which disabled her further, and she couldn’t controlherchairorspeech.

“She went into the hospital to see what they could do, but there wasn’t a lot they could do, so...we took her home, and she passed away that week surrounded by family.”

The exhibition will run throughout next month from 3 June, with the gallery accessibletoallabilities.

Help is available through Lifeline by calling 13 11 14, visiting lifeline.org.au or texting0477131114.

Volunteers honoured on orange Wednesday

Community members across the Barwon region wore orange on Wednesday to recognisetheworkofvolunteers.

Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) recognised the contributions of its volunteers during Wear Orange Wednesday(WOWDay)on20May.

Geelong Unit volunteer Mark Heaysman said WOW Day was a chance for the community to thank volunteers for all the worktheydo.

“WOW was a great opportunity to recognise the volunteers who quietly step upfortheircommunitieseverysingleday,”

he said. “I think people often don’t realise the breadth of what VICSES volunteers can do until they see us working alongside other emergency services during major events.”

WOW Day was held during the middle of National Volunteer Week (18 to 24 May) to celebrate current volunteers and invite others to dedicate some of their time to volunteering.

VICSES operations chief officer Alistair Drayton said it was important to recognise volunteers who dedicate their time, skills andenergytokeepingcommunitiessafe.

“WOW Day gave us a chance to pause and say a heartfelt thank you for their commitment, courage, dedication, and servicetothecommunity,”hesaid.

“Our volunteers are highly trained, nationally accredited and deeply committed to helping others, often during the most difficult moments in people’s lives.

“Behind every orange uniform is someone who has chosen to serve their community, often balancing volunteering alongside work, family and other commitments.”

Detours and road closures to come

Motoristsshouldexpectroadclosures and detours as works recommence at a Torquay intersection to improve roadsafety.

Installation of traffic lights at the Bristol Road and Surf Coast Highway intersectionwillresumefromMonday 25 May, with the project aimed at allowing people to safely cross the intersectionwithsignalisedcrossings.

Surf Coast Shire Council placemaking and environment general manager Chris Pike said the project would begin with a closure of BristolRoadattheSurfCoastHighway intersectionforclosetothreeweeks.

“We are now looking forward to seeing the project completed by the endoftheyear,”hesaid.

“Weknowthisprojecthasn’tgoneto planandhastakenalotlongerthanwe all anticipated, so thanks for bearing withuswhilewefinishthejob.

“We are asking delivery drivers to use Boston Road during this period, where temporary changes have been madetoaccommodatelargervehicles.

“We understand these works will impact local traffic and businesses, and we have planned detours and temporary changes to keep people movingsafely.”

Traffic impacts during the project will include the temporary closure of four bus stops, road detours along Boston Road and Payne Street, and a laneclosurealongSurfCoastHighway south-bound.

Works will continue through to later this year, with motorists advised to follow all traffic management directions and to allow extra time to reachtheirdestination.

Visit surfcoast.vic.gov.au/ BristolRoadTrafficLights for more information and to follow along with theproject.

Library design recognised

Geelong’s newest library has received critical acclaim at a national awards ceremony.

Last week Biyal-a Armstrong Creek Library received a commendation in the public library category at the Australian Library and Information Association’s 2026 Design Awards, which showcase the best in contemporary library design around the nation.

The $21.8m facility, jointly funded by the City of Greater Geelong ($20.364m) and the Victorian government ($1.5m), opened in August 2024 and is operated by the Geelong Regional Library Corporation (GRLC).

The distinctive building was designed

by Buchan Architects in close consultation with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners to create a ‘living water’ narrative and has a 5-Star Green Star Buildings rating from the Green Building Council of Australia, recognising its sustainable design, lowcarbon materials, and energy efficiency.

GRLC acting chief executive David Semmens said the building was a “sight to behold”

“This design commendation from Australian Library and Information Association is a wonderful recognition of the vision and investment of the City of GreaterGeelongindeliveringthisincredible community facility, in partnership with

Geelong Regional Libraries,” he said.

“From advocating for an inclusive, community-focusedlibraryservicethrough to activating the space with programs, services and community connection, this has been a strong collaboration to create a welcoming hub for the Armstrong Creek community.

“We’re incredibly proud of our Biyal-a team, whose passion and dedication bring the library to life every day.

“Congratulations and thank you to the City of Greater Geelong and everyone involved with this milestone for Biyal-a Armstrong Creek Library.”

The national public library award went

Help wanted to restore native grassland

An ecologically significant site along the BarwonRiverTrailwillundergoarestoration of native vegetation with the help of volunteers.

Belmont’s Seaview Grassland Nature Reserveisoneoftheregion’slastremaining examples of endangered plains grassland, with less than 5 per cent remaining.

The City of Greater Geelong will partner withGeelongFieldNaturalistClub(GFNC) for a community planting day, which will include planting native grasses and wildflowers, and a walk-and-talk with a local ecologist.

Theprojectwillfocusonrestoringnative

Gordon floristry

vegetation, managing invasive weeds and strengthening community connection to nature.

“Plants that were once widespread acrosstheVictorianvolcanicplainsarejust hanging on,” GFNC member Rod Lowther said.

“The revegetation of this patch with small indigenous plants and wildflower species is a valuable way of improving the biodiversity.

“Small lizards and butterflies are common on the rocky escarpment but without weed management of the area and improvementinthehealthofthegrassland,

their ongoing survival is not guaranteed.

“Ihopemembersofthepubliccancome along to the community planting day to help out and also to learn more about this special environmental area.”

The reserve contains rare limestone grassland, remnant native grasses and wildflowers, and habitat for local wildlife. It features visible limestone outcrops and marine fossils, evidence of the area’s ancient seabed origins.

The planting day is from 1.30pm to 3.30pm on Thursday 4 June at Seaview Grassland Nature Reserve, East View Parade, Belmont.

students to go incognito at art show with a twist

Students from The Gordon TAFE will take part in Australia’s biggest inclusive art sale.

As part of their studies this year, floristry students will take part in the Incognito Art Show, a not-for-profit art sale supporting Australian artists and funding programs for artists living with disability held in Sydney, Brisbane and Townsville in July and August.

The art sale is unique, with every artwork sold for $100 without the name of the artist being revealed until after a work is purchased.

Floristry student Emma Wheatland, who has already taken part in the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show since beginning her studies, said such experiences had a big impact.

Ms Wheatland said participating in industry events such as Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, and now Incognito Art Show has had the biggest impact.

“(The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show) really stretched my current skills,” she said.

to Liverpool City Library, while Caloundra Library also received a commendation.

Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj said the City was thrilled to see the library receive the commendation.

“This result confirms what we already know; that the library is an incredible asset for the rapidly growing Armstrong Creek community,” he said.

“With its extensive collection, children’s story time area, flexible community and creative spaces, outdoor terraces and a media studio and maker space, it’s so much more than a traditional library, and I encourage everyone to go and check it out.”

Raise a cup for research

By Jena Carr

People across Greater Geelong are rallying their family, friends and workmates for Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea to support those impacted by cancer.

Geelong Baptist College held a morning tea for its staff on 21 May to help raise money for Cancer Council Victoria.

School administration officer Sarah Barlow said that while fundraising was an important part of the day, it also helped raise awareness about cancer among staff and students.

“We normally do staff morning teas once a month, but this month we decided to focus on fundraising for Cancer Council,” she said.

“We’ve had several staff impacted by cancer, so the morning tea was a way of acknowledging the impacts while also raising money for research and support.

“While it’s fun to have nice food and drinks, we still wanted to provide a bit of time and space for people to acknowledge anyone in their lives that they have lost to cancer.

“We also got our students involved by having a casual dress day on the same day...and encouraged them to wear yellow and bring in a gold coin donation.”

While 21 May marked Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea’s official date, people are encouraged to host an event and help fundraise for Cancer Council Victoria anytime across this month and next month.

“Every morning tea helps fund lifesaving cancer research, prevention programs, and support services,” Cancer Council Victoria head of fundraising and communications Lyrian FlemingParsley said.

Visit Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea’s website to donate, register or find out more about the initiative.

“It’s given me a glimpse into a whole range of career pathways in this industry I hadn’t considered.”

Students will develop drawing skills to communicate their ideas, creating worksinclassusingpaint,ink,charcoal, oil pastels and pencils.

Ms Wheatland said people skills “underrated but essential” in floristry.

“I feel this is a defining trait for a lot of the florists that I look up to and see succeed,” she said. “Creativity matters, but so does being able to communicate your ideas to clients and co-workers.”

Locals treated to world event

Morethan4000spectatorsflockedtoOcean Grove Bowling Club (OGBC) for the 24th World Bowls Indoor Championship held from11to16May.

A world-class field of 62 competitors representing 33 nations competed at the indoor Dome with the venue transforming from a premium gala and corporate hospitality setting during the opening ceremony to international competition modewithin12hours.

“To transform a venue of this scale from gala mode to world-class competition mode within such a short timeframe was remarkable,” OGBC chief executive Nathan

O’Neillsaid.

“It showcased the adaptability, professionalism, and commitment of our team, who embraced every challenge and delivered an experience our community canbeincrediblyproudof.”

Prior to the Australia versus Rest of the World showcase match, 22 clubs from the Geelong Bowls Region participated in a Pro-Amevent.

OGBCgeneralmanagerpartnershipsand programsMattFlappersaidthePro-Amwas an opportunity for local bowlers to become directly involved in the international event experience.

“It was fantastic to see so many Geelong Bowls Region clubs represented out on the greensaspartofthePro-Amevent,”hesaid.

“To have local bowlers interacting with some of the world’s best players created a really special atmosphere and gave our regional bowlscommunitytheopportunity tofeelpartofsomethingtrulysignificant.

“It highlighted the connection between grassroots bowls and the international stage, and it was great seeing so many local bowlersenjoyingtheexperience.”

Mr O’Neill said the event showed OGBC couldholdfutureworldevents.

“Wefirmlybelievethischampionshipwill

Step into a world of greenery at book launch

Geelong author Dr Fiona Gray gave children the opportunity to celebrate her new book with a storytime event in Hightonthisweek.

Dr Gray’s Gretel Petal and the Blooming City is set in a grey city that becomes transformedbygreenery.

Written by regenerative architect and biophilic design specialist Dr Gray, the illustrated picture story book follows Gretel, a lonely young girl whose life and community begin to change when she bringshomeacuriouslittleplant.

As greenery spills from her window and winds through the city, the story blossoms into a tale of friendship, belonging and the quietpowerofcaringfornature.

I wanted children to feel the magic of nature close to home, not as something distant or complicated

- Fiona Gray

The launch invited kids and families to delveintoaworldthroughalivereadingby DrGray,andwasfollowedbyfungardening activities designed to help young readers connect the magic of the story with the livingworldaroundthem.

“Gretel Petal and the Blooming City beganwithasimpleidea,thatachild’scare for one small plant can open up a whole worldofconnection,”DrGraysaid.

“I wanted children to feel the magic of nature close to home, not as something distant or complicated, but as something they can notice, nurture and delight in everyday.

The event was at Valley Road Nursery, Highton,onThursday21May.

and the Blooming City in Highton this week. (Supplied)

Hubs a safe and welcoming space for region’s youth

Geelong council’s free youth hubs are providing young people with safe and welcoming environments after school and through school holidays.

The Nest Youth Hub in central Geelong and The fOrT in Corio are open to people aged 12 to 25 after school, with a drop-in at the Armstrong Creek East Community Hub every Wednesday afternoon.

School holiday programs are offered acrossallthreehubs,includingexcursions, with a mobile youth hub also popping up throughout the region.

Senior youth engagement and connections officer Khyl Cornwill said the

hubs’ drop-in programs offered a range of fun activities.

“They’re all free activities and could be anything from adventure park excursions, all the way to doing food and cooking programs, pool and table tennis and day-to-day activities like board and video games,” he said.

Year 11 student Jupiter said the hubs’ youth workers were there to help.

“They’reveryfriendly…mostofthemare quite younger compared to normal, so it’s helpful to have, rather than like a teacher, someone to talk to,” he said.

Youth engagement and connections

create greater opportunities in the future to attract national and international bowls events to Ocean Grove and the Bellarine Peninsula,”hesaid.

“This event has delivered economic benefits for our region, while also showcasing Ocean Grove to a global audiencethroughbroadcastexposure.”

Scotland’s Iain McLean claimed the Men’s Singles title while Guernsey’s Alison Merrien won the Women’s Singles. Australia’s Corey Wedlock and Kelsey Cottrell gave the home supporters plenty to cheer about, capturing the Mixed Pairs crowninfrontofastronglocalcrowd.

Joining forces to highlight water use sustainability

The region’s water management company and a leading environmental organisation will join forces to help make Geelong more water-wise.

Barwon Water and Geelong Sustainability have committed to a newagreementunderwhichthetwo organisations will work together on sustainability initiatives that help save water, cut water bills and promote climate-resilient actions.

Geelong Sustainability will incorporate Barwon Water’s sustainable water programs into its liveability initiatives, promote water-wise actions in its Electric Homes and Community Power Hub programs and showcase sustainable water-based measures at its annual Sustainable House Day.

Geelong Sustainability co-chief executive Karina Donkers welcomed the agreement.

“This partnership will allow us to provide the community with a more holistic approach to home sustainability, through a combination of energy and water efficiency programs,” she said.

“We are excited to incorporate water efficiency into the work we are already doing around energy efficiency and electrification.

“Water security in a changing climate is an important issue that we need to be considering as a community, by actively supporting our residents to make tangible changes in their behaviour and homes.”

Barwon Water Managing Director Shaun Cumming said the agreement aimed to leverage each other’s strengths to deliver positive outcomes.

officer Emily Hibble said all programs at the council’s youth hubs were completely free.

“We also provide free food at all of our programs because we find that when young people come straight after school or maybe work, they’re super hungry,” she said.

“We prepare home-cooked meals…we also have snacks like fruit and muesli bars at all of our programs.”

Visit geelongcity.vic.gov.au/services/ family-and-community-services/ young-people for more information on the City of Greater Geelong’s youth hubs.

“The new agreement boosts our existing relationship and builds a collaboration based on shared values, community impact and helping those in need,” he said.

“Geelong Sustainability’s community connections will support our sustainable water programs, helping to inform residents and community groups and to foster meaningful change.

“Together we will highlight the critical importance of water conservation, the impacts of a changing climate on water resources and the role we can all play in making every drop count.”

Mila leads the way in care

By Jena Carr

Mila Reese has had to grow up faster than most kids her age as she helps care for her mum, who lives with breast cancer.

Mila is an 8-year-old girl from Geelong who began caring for her mum, Roxanne Watts,threeyearsagofollowingthecancer diagnosis.

Ms Watts said her dad (Mila’s grandfather) was diagnosed with liver cancer a week or two before her diagnosis and died three months later, which made Mila anxious about her mum’s health.

These young people who should be enjoying the privileges of being young, but are instead forced to shoulder overwhelming ... pressures

- Madeleine Buchner

“Ifoundalumpattheendof2022andgot rushed through the system pretty quickly and found out that it was breast cancer stage three,” she said.

“Itwastoughseeingherstrugglewithmy diagnosis...and she was just so little at the time, so it was something that had never really crossed our minds before.

“We had to have some tough conversations around what that meant for me, but she took it amazingly.

“I’m doing pretty well now, but I will be in treatment for quite a few years to come, andIdon’tthinkI’lleverbethesameagain.

“Mila’s a good little helper...and we’ve had a lot of support. Mila’s also got a lot of friends, and we have had a lot of help from other parents with pickups and drop-offs.”

Lana’s new track adds edge

A young Geelong musician has released her newest track this month.

Lana Karlay has released her seventh singleFortheWeakthismonth,bringinga touchofrocktoherotherwisepop-centred body of work.

WhileherprevioussingleNeverRealwas a bright pop number that bought into the sentimentalisation of new relationships, For the Weak takes off the rose-coloured glasses to call a spade a spade.

“For the Weak is basically about a situationship that burns out almost as fast as it starts, like a full-on week of love-bombing and mixed signals,” she said.

“It kind of reflects how fast and intense relationships can feel now, but also how quickly they fall apart. The song moves through each day of the week, showing that shift from excitement to confusion, to

finally seeing it for what it actually is.

“It’s really just calling the whole thing out, no romanticising, just honesty.”

Lana,whoisstillinherfinalyearofhigh school, wrote the song in collaboration with Aussie brother duo Mason & Julez in Los Angeles in January, her fourth in a series of trips to work with American producers and songwriters.

“After the nostalgic, kinda dreamy vibe of Never Real, For the Weak flips the script completely,” she said.

“The lyrics are way more direct, a bit savage, and honestly just more unapologetic. Sonically, it hits harder too, leaning into a pop-rock sound that feels more intense, more driving, and way more in-your-face.

“Overall, it’s a much more confident energy. Less ‘I miss you’ and more ‘yeah… no thanks’.”

morning at 9am, and I make sure she does it because she always forgets.

“SometimesIdothedishesandputthem away. I also help with the vacuum cleaner and stuff like that.”

There are close to 391,300 young people under the age of 25 in Australia, like Mila, who help care for their families, according tonewdatafromLittleDreamersAustralia.

The young carer organisation has allowed Mila to focus on being a kid again through a range of activities and services.

“When I think about my mum having cancer, it’s good to get away and have fun at Little Dreamers,” Mila said.

“I get to go on free holidays, and it’s so fun...and once we got waffles for breakfast and we got to go to the Beauty and the Beast play.”

Little Dreamers Australia’s latest Annual Young Carer Survey found that 67 per cent of the young carers have found that their grades were affected by their responsibilities.

Founder and chief executive Madeleine Buchner said many young carers had to balance school, work and personal developmentalongsideprovidingessential care.

Mila said she helped her mum around the house by doing chores and getting herself ready for school.

“Mum has to deal with so much hard stuff, but it gets easier, easier, easier, and easier until it’s all gone,” she said.

“She has to take her medication every

“These young people who should be enjoying the privileges of being young, but are instead forced to shoulder overwhelming social, educational, and financial pressures,” she said.

“Our support programs ease real pressure, helping young carers stay engagedinschool,rebuildconfidence,and protect their mental health, allowing them to feel like themselves again.”

Goods delivered with care

Grovedale Delivery Centre covers hundreds of kilometres in deliveries each day. Jena Carr was given a special behindthe-scenes tour of the facility and spoke with team members who oversee the day-to-day operations.

Behind every online order and letter, there is a team of hard-working people helping keep communities connected.

Grovedale Delivery Centre (DC) processes and delivers thousands of parcels and letters each week across the Geelong CBD and everything south of it, includingLeopold.

DC manager Brock Storer said the process of delivering mail begins with items being machine-sorted off-site before beingsortedintoindividualroundsandby streetnumber.

“The morning starts with a truck coming into the dock area where they will unload allthemailfortheday,”hesaid.

“Wehavestaffthatcomein,andtheysort it all out into rounds, so...when the posties come in the morning, they can grab their mailandparcels.

“Then the posties spend a few hours in the morning putting in the actual delivery order from house to house. Once they’ve done all that, they’ll start bundling their mail.

“Essentially, once they bundle their mail, they’ll load it up into their trolleys and weigh it to see how much mail they’re taking out, and then they’ll load it into theirvehicles.

“The posties will conduct a safety check

on their bikes and vehicles, which may include checking the tread, tyre pressure, brakes,andmirrors,beforeheadingoutfor theday.

“On their way back, they’ll stop at the postofficeoroneofthe24/7lockerstodrop offanythingthatcouldn’tbedelivered.”

Grovedale DC delivered close to 684,000 parcels last year, with 212,000 small parcels delivered during November and December.

“Our team here at Grovedale has fully embraced the growth in parcels,” Brock said. “We are well on our way to exceeding last year’s volume with 362,000 articles delivered this year, and peak volumes are stilltocomeattheendoftheyear.

“Wesortabout4000smallparcels,20,000 letters, and 4000 large letters a day, with the volume of letters going down while the parcelvolumeisgoingup.

“We’ve had about a 10 per cent decline in letters over the last 12 months, while parcels have increased at around 10 per cent, and it’s forever changing, so we just continuetoadjust.

“Adaymightlooklikethreehoursindoors and five hours outdoors, depending on the day.

“It is very volume dependent, and we don’t know what we’re getting each day, but it is somewhat predictable as we know

Monday is our heavier day and Tuesday is ourlighterday.”

A typical image of a postal worker is someone riding a bike while making deliveries, or even getting chased by dogs, something that Brock said staff still occasionallydealwith.

“We do still deal with dogs from time to time, but staff are quite aware of that now andknownottoenterayardthathasadog, so it’s important that they are safe first and foremost,”hesaid.

“A lot of people don’t see the indoor aspect of the centre, which includes three to four hours indoors each morning sorting the mail, as they probably only see the postie on a bike out in the sun or rain.”

Six contracted and 53 corporate staff work out of the Grovedale facility, helping deliver thousands of parcels and letters eachweek.

Barbara Vallance works as a reliever, but she also fills in for the operations manager and team leaders, giving her extensive knowledgeofthefacility.

“I’ve worked for Australia Post for 26 years, so a lot of the young guys weren’t even born when I started here, which is quitefunny,”shesaid.

“Time goes really fast, and the job’s interesting. It can be challenging at times,

but I really like the dynamic nature of the job.

“I love the variety of work that we do as we do a lot of different things over a day, and we get to see a lot of different parts of Geelong, and sometimes we deliver down inTorquay.”

Ben Rasmussen has a delivery role at the facility and helps guide other posties in theirdailyrounds.

“My day normally involves organising parcels and setting up rounds of mail and parcels,”hesaid.

“I will then do a little bit of computer workbeforeIheadoutontheroadforanice bikeride,followedbyapicniclunch.

“It’s (working at AusPost) a great learningexperienceandareallygoodwork environment,andyougettogooutsideand seeallsortsofreallycoolpeople.”

GrovedaleDChasbeenabletodeliverall of its products within a two-hour delivery window with greater than 97 per cent accuracysofarthisyear.

Thefacilityusesamixofelectricdelivery vehicles,electricbikes,electricmotorbikes, andtraditionalpetrolmotorbikestodeliver lettersandparcelsacrosstheregion.

Australia Post’s 2026 eCommerce report found that people across the country spent a record $82.6 billion online last year, which is an increase of 13.9 per cent from

Film disturbs and delights

By Matt Hewson

Whathappenswhenajokegetsoutofhand?

And how do you let go of something you know is false when you feel like it’s all you have?

These are two of the central questions posed by James Litchfield in his first ever feature-length film Alphabet Lane, which premiered last month at the Melbourne InternationalFilmFestival.

The film centres on Anna (Tilda Cobham-Hervey) and Jack (Nick Denton), a couplewhorelocatetoaremotepartofNew SouthWalesinanill-fatedtreechange.

Working opposite shifts and struggling to connect with both each other and the scattered rural community they live in, the pair start a playful joke about imaginary friends.

But what initially began as a game of make-believe to stave off isolation soon takes on a life of its own, a fiction that threatenstoovertaketheirreality.

Litchfield, a Geelong Grammar alumnus who grew up on the very farm in Cooma where the film was shot, said the film had elicited a wide range of reactions since its release.

“Some people have found it really, really

funny,somepeoplehavefounditdisturbing and others have described it as tender and sweet,” he said. “That’s something we kind ofsetouttodo,tomakeitalive…Inthesame way a person, say, can appear differently to different people, we wanted it to have that kindofquality.

“There was no specific reaction that we were hoping for so much as that it would be astimulustothoughtandtoconversation.”

Litchfield’s love of David Lynch’s films is evident in the tension and eeriness that permeates Alphabet Lane, but the process through which the film was developed was influenced by equally subversive

Corangamite Catchment Management Authority’s Reimagining the Anglesea River project officer Ryan Bath is working to identify key values, issues and priorities for the project. (Supplied)

Group tasked with Anglesea River’s future

A working group of community representatives, agencies and project partners have been tasked with managing thefutureoftheAngleseaRiverandestuary.

Formedthroughacommunityexpression of interest process, the group brings a diversemixoflocalknowledge,community perspectivesandtechnicalexpertise.

Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CMA) officially commenced the Reimagining the Anglesea River and Estuary (RARE) Project working group and project officer Ryan Bath said it was an importantstepinprogressingtheproject.

“The establishment of this working group

is a key milestone in ensuring the future of the Anglesea River and estuary is shaped collaboratively with the community,” he said.

“We were pleased to see strong interest through the community EOI process and to bring together a group of people who are passionate about the long-term health of thisimportantwaterway.”

During the inaugural meeting, members shared their connections to the river, reviewed the draft Terms of Reference and governance arrangements, and discussed the roles of partner agencies, reporting processesandcommunications.

Initialdiscussionshighlightedthecentral importance of environmental values, alongside key challenges including altered flow regimes, sedimentation, climate change, water quality and community perceptionsofriverhealth.

The group also outlined a program that will include workshops, site visits, citizen science opportunities and economic assessments.

“The insights and contributions of the working group will play an important role in shaping future directions and ensuring outcomes reflect the values of the Anglesea community,”MrBathsaid.

filmmakerRobertAltman.

“(Altman) had that level of commitment to performance…he saw his job as trying to inspire his actors and work with them as genuinecollaborators,”hesaid.

“Tilly and Nicholas are both really wonderful collaborators, both very creative people. They’re just funny, charming people…tapping into that aspect of their personalitieswasreallyrewarding.”

Alphabet Lane is at the Pivotonian Cinema on Thursday 28 May for a special Q&A screening with James Litchfield. Visit pivotcinema.com.au for tickets and more information.

The Golden Plains Career Expo is backfor2026,providingcommunity members of all ages with the opportunity to connect with local businesses, industry leaders and educationproviders.

With representatives from emergency services, the Australian Defence Force, local government andawiderangeofbusinesssectors, the expo will also feature guest speakers, pathway information and job-seekerskilldevelopmentadvice.

Golden Plains mayor Owen Sharkey described the expo as a vibrant, valuable event for young people and anyone looking to shape theirfuturecareerdirection.

“The Golden Plains Careers Expo is a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages to explore new pathways, connect with industry leaders and discover what’s possible for the future,”CrSharkeysaid.

“Whether you’re a student, job-seeker or looking to make a career change, this event brings valuable information and inspirationrighttoourcommunity.

“We’re proud to host an event that bringstogethereducationproviders, local businesses, emergency services, the Australian Defence Force and so many other sectors. It’s a chance for residents to learn directlyfromthepeopleshapingour region’sworkforce.

“I encourage people to drop in, have a chat with the exhibitors and see what opportunities are out there. You never know what might sparkyourinterest.”

The Golden Plains Career Expo is at Bannockburn YMCA on Thursday 4June.

Visit goldenplains.vic.gov.au/ events to register. For further information, contact the council’s youth development team at youth@ gplains.vic.gov.auorcall52207111.

Do the push-up challenge to help headspace on mental health journey

Headspace centres in the region are encouraginglocalstopushforbettermental health.

Nowinits10thyear,participantswilltake on 3307 push-ups across 24 days in June, to remember and honour the 3307 lives lost to suicideinAustraliain2024.

Geelong, Corio, Armstrong Creek and Ocean Grove headspace want as many to

jointhePush-UpChallenge.

“The Push-Up Challenge is a great opportunity for Australians to talk about their mental health, learn how to best support each other and recognise when they might need to put their own hand up for help,” headspace Geelong’s Bronagh Ritchiesaid.

“Geelong locals have had so much fun

pushing up and learning about mental healthwithusforthepastfewyears,andwe can’twaittodoitallagainin2026.

“More people than ever before are reaching out to headspace for help and support,andthemoneyraisedthroughThe Push-UpChallengewillhelpuscontinueto support the mental health and wellbeing of youngpeopleintheGeelongregion.”

If completing 3307 push-ups feels out of reach, participants can set their own goal, which can be done as sit-ups, squats or tailored exercises, with progress tracked throughadedicatedapp.

The Push-Up Challenge is from 3 to 26 June. Go to thepushupchallenge.com.au to registerforthefreeeventasanindividualor team.

Praise to volunteers

By Cr Stretch Kontelj OAM

Thisweek,wearetakingthetimetocelebrate the thousands of community members who dedicate their time to making Greater Geelongabetterplace.

National Volunteer Week is on now from 18 to 24 May, marking Australia’s largest annualcelebrationofvolunteering.

It recognises the contribution of millions ofvolunteersacrossthecountryandinvites everyone to discover how giving their time andtalentscancreateconnection,purpose, andstrongercommunities.

In our region, volunteers contribute significant time and energy into ensuring the success of programs through community organisations, sports clubs and socialclubs.

Without their efforts, Geelong would be a farlessvibrant,inclusiveandliveableplace.

To acknowledge this important week, the City hosted a ceremony on Tuesday to celebrate the invaluable work of its many volunteers.

The City of Greater Geelong is fortunate to have a dedicated group of close to 300 volunteerswhohelpusrunvariousservices forourcommunity.

You don’t have to look far to see our volunteersinaction.

Whether it’s at the National Wool Museum, Bellarine Arts Centre, Grovedale Neighbourhood House, our visitor informationcentres,attheGeelongBotanic

Gardens, reading to children in our early childhood centres, with Study Geelong or L2P – our volunteers are everywhere, quietly rolling up their sleeves and making thingshappen.

Our programs help build community connection by teaching young people to drive and welcoming tourists and students totheregion.

They also support children’s learning and development, educate visitors about the history of our gardens, and help people engage with cultural activities across Geelong.

These volunteers generously give their time and dedication, inspiring others to volunteer by showing passion and care for supportingthecommunity.

For that, I am incredibly proud of each person who contributes to the City’s volunteerprograms.

This building of connectivity is vital, particularly at a time when many residents inGeelonghaveidentifiedasfeelinglonely.

Because the benefits to volunteering are so wide-ranging – both for the community and for your own well-being – this year’s theme,‘Youryeartovolunteer’,couldbethe perfect motivator you need to pick up the torch.

Whatever your reason to volunteer, the City of Greater Geelong has a variety of optionstosuityourinterests.

Ifyou’refascinatedbyourregion’shistory, perhaps a volunteer role at the National Wool Museum would pique your interest. Here, you can learn a new side of the city’s rich agricultural past and help bring our storiestolife.

If you’re a passionate advocate for the arts and are eager to work within the community, then the Bellarine Arts Centre istheplaceforyou.

Orifyoufindthatyou’remorecomfortable in the car than backstage, the L2P program offers rewarding opportunities to mentor a youngdriver.

L2Pprovidesaccesstosupervisingdrivers for young learner drivers who face barriers, such as having no access to a vehicle or a supervising driver, in order to obtain their probationarydriver’slicence.

There are endless opportunities to connect, contribute and support your communitythroughvolunteering.

If you want to make this ‘your year to volunteer’ at the City of Greater Geelong, visitgeelong.link/volunteering

Onecommonthreadthatrunsthroughout all of our volunteer programs is how they bringtogetherpeoplefromallcornersofthe community.

Tale of love, family and place

A brand new theatre work featuring creatives from Geelong and Northern IrelandissettopremiereatPortarlington’s National Celtic Folk Festival (NCFF).

Written by Melbourne playwright Fleur Murphy and directed by Belfast’s c21 Theatre Company’s Stephen Kelly, Never Always Ever Was blends contemporary theatre with live music to tell the story of two lovers from opposite ends of the Earth and the family they create.

Set against the backdrop of changing coastlines and a future threatened by climate change, the work is a two-hander featuring Northern Irish actor Richard Clements and Geelong’s own Amanda LaBonté that spans oceans and multiple generations.

The work has undergone two development phases, one in Portarlington last year and another early this year in Portaferry, Northern Ireland.

LaBonté said the play would deeply resonate with local audiences.

“It’s one of those pieces that speaks to you immediately,” she said.

“Fleur’s writing is beautiful, it’s poetic, it’s really accessible. It just rolls off your tongue…because it’s colloquial and has the rhythms of the Australian vernacular.

“It touches on family, love and our disappearing coastlines, but with this gorgeous underlying sense of hope.

“I’ve seen other climate plays where you get really smashed by the subject matter and feel like there’s no hope at the end of the tunnel. Whereas Fleur has been able to…talk about the impact of climate change through the lens of this family and love story, so it’s real and human and accessible.”

LaBonté has worked on shows of every

A night at the opera with acclaimed soprano

One of Australia’s most exciting, versatile and virtuosic sopranos returns to Geelong this June after a sell-out performance in 2025.

Multi-award-winning vocalist GiuseppinaGrech,whoregularlyappearsas a principal artist with Opera Australia, will performhershowSongsFromGrandOpera StagestoLondon’sWestEndatGeelongArts CentreonWednesday3June.

The show features well-known pieces from famous operas and musicals, including iconic tunes from The Phantom oftheOpera,TheSoundofMusic,Verdi’sLa TraviataandBizet’sCarmen.

Grech said she hoped the show would inspire a love of opera among audience members who had not experienced the art form.

“I think there’s a stigma that opera is not fun and cool, that people just stand there with horns on their heads and you have to be very fat and obese to sing opera,” she laughed.“Butit’snotthat.Youcanbeyoung and glamorous, wear all the beautiful ball gowns and connect with an audience, portrayastory,belightheartedaboutit.

“And that’s what our show is; it’s fun and engaging.Itdefinitelyisn’tseriousatall.”

The show will also feature three other

celebrated performers Michaela Hodgson (mezzo soprano), Murray Mayday (tenor) and Glenn Amer (baritone and piano), who have collectively performed all over the globe with everyone from Martin Sheen to RitaHunter.

“It’s for anyone that loves music, and especially for the young kids that are obsessed with musical theatre and maybe see themselves being on that big stage someday,”Grechsaid.

“I want the music to really hit their souls. That’sthepointofwhywedothis.”

Visit geelongartscentre.org.au for tickets andmoreinformation.

scale, from massive productions like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to minimalist local productions.

She said working with her counterpart Clements had been effortless from the start.

“We spent two weeks working together in Northern Ireland, and it’s just so lovely whenyourealisefromthestartthatthere’s no ego attached,” LaBonté said.

“He’s open and ready to play with the script and see where it takes us and he felt like an old friend very quickly.

“So there was a beautiful mutual trust andweworkedreallywelltogether.It’llbe lovely to have him over here and continue that.”

NeverAlwaysEverWasisattheNCFFon 6 and 7 June. Visit nationalcelticfestival. com for more information.

COUNCIL MEETING

CITYNEWS

BRING YOUR BIG IDEA TO GEELONG’S WATERFRONT!

Geelong’s iconic waterfront is set for a fresh wave of food, tourism and entertainment experiences, and we’re calling for local businesses and entrepreneurs to help revitalise the popular foreshore. Expressions of interest are open for a range of new and existing experiences along the waterfront, including mobile food vendors, tourism attractions and water-based activities.

Learn more about the opportunity at geelong.link/WaterfrontLicencesEOI

19 JUNE – 19 JULY

Discover the best of Greater Geelong in food, drink and hospitality Find out more: geelong.link/Tastes26

Upcoming Shows

Morning Saturday 30 May 8.00pm Theatre Works is proud to present Tom Holloway’s award-winning Red Sky Morning.

presented as a matinee performance. Book now: geelong.link/ShoelaceChaser

Held at Council Conference and Reception Centre, City Hall, 57 Little Malop Street, Geelong.

Tuesday 26 May 2026 at 6.00pm (doors open 5.45pm).

Reports for consideration include:

›Community Engagement Policy

›Proposed Sale of Land - 11A McHarry Court, Corio

›Proposed carriageway easement at 43-45 Fenwick Street, Portarlington

For agenda and to live stream the meeting visit geelong.link/CouncilMeetings

Questions and submissions must be provided in writing by 12.00pm on Monday 25 May via the link above.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Griffin Gully Jetty

To improve accessibility and better align with Disability Discrimination Act standards for walkways, we’re planning to widen the decking from 1.5 metres to 1.8 metres, along with other enhancements.

We’d also love to hear your ideas on features that could make the jetty more enjoyable and user-friendly for the community.

Visit: geelong.link/GriffinHYS

Has the Aged Care Reform affected your family?

Aged Care reforms were introduced on 1 November 2025 by the federal government.

If you have any questions about the service you’re receiving, consider joining a FREE webinar presented by Council On The Ageing (COTA).

Register now: geelong.link/AgedCareReform

Approximately how many volunteers currently support City of Greater Geelong programs?

a) Around 100

b) Around 200

c) Over 300

d) Over 600

A: See base of page

DID YOU KNOW?

You can book in signs across 21 locations around Geelong to promote your community events! Head to geelong.link/CommunitySigns to book your community promotion sign.

The National Celtic Festival Friday 5 – Monday 8 June

The National Celtic Festival returns to Portarlington from 5–8 June 2026, bringing four days of live music, culture and entertainment to the Bellarine. Proudly supported by the City of Greater Geelong. Book now: geelong.link/NationalCelticFestival

To

Sudoku

ACROSS

1 Office of the Pope (6)

4 Understood by a select few (8)

9 Fault (7)

11 Reindeer (7)

12 Quality of being experienced (11)

13 Determined (3)

14 BLT, e.g. (8)

16 Become liable to (5)

19 US city (5)

20 Tissue death (8)

22 ‘Born’ (3)

24 One who studies the development of words (11)

26 Tsar’s wife (7)

27 Flyer (7)

29 Faith (8)

30 Biological molecular catalyst (6) DOWN

1 Boll (3) 2 Baltic region (9)

3 Made well (5) 5 Football (6)

6 Defeating soundly (9)

7 Picture puzzle (5) 8 Fake (money) (11) 10 Jerk (6)

12 British parliament (11)

15 Bleaching (9)

17 A physical science (9)

18 Buddhist temple (6)

21 Electrical generator (6)

23 Cyber message (5)

25 Commonly used edible bulb (5)

28 Cereal (3)

3

16

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

nice,

Which Russian playwright wrote TheCherryOrchard, Three Sisters and UncleVanya?

2 Greenware is the term for pottery that has not yet undergone what process?

3 What was the name of the moon in BearintheBigBlueHouse?

4 Fleetwood Mac’s three principal songwriters were Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham and which other member? 5 The headquarters of the UN are located in which city?

7 Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs were originally bred to hunt what animal?

8 Which conflict is widely recognised to have ended with the Good Friday Agreement of 1998?

9 Name the three countries whose national flags feature a dragon.

10 Caleb McLaughlin (pictured) plays Lucas Sinclair in which scifi TV show?

The Guide

Missing link: Tosh (Alison O’Donnell) and Calder (Ashley Jensen) take on a personal case.

PICK OF THE WEEK

SHETLAND

ABC TV, Friday, 8.30pm

It’s freezing cold, claustrophobically small and the whole place knows your business, but even reluctant returnee Ruth Calder (Ashley Jensen) can’t deny that Shetland is home.

Officially a resident of the Scottish isles when this ninth season begins, Calder is thrown into an uncomfortable situation by a double missing person’s case that blurs the line between private and professional lives. Annie (Sarah MacGillivray), the woman who has vanished with her young son, is a friend of Tosh (Alison O’Donnell), and had arranged to speak to her about something important the night before she disappeared. At least a handful of suspects emerge as Calder and Tosh aim to put personal prejudices aside and find a potential killer.

Friday, May 22

ABC TV (2)

SBS (3)

SEVEN (6, 7)

SHUT YOUR BIG FAT MOUTH JOHN SAFRAN!

SBS, Sunday, 7.30pm

Armed with his trademark wit and fearless curiosity, author and satirist John Safran (pictured) sets out to test the limits of what Australians find acceptable in this boundary-pushing documentary. It’s an issue that genuinely concerns the provocateur: how an inclusive society balances keeping people safe and protecting the right to free speech. Never one to stay inside the lines, Safran tracks down a diverse range of Australians accused of going too far and causing offence with their actions. It’s the debate that Safran has been preparing for his entire career.

RAN! osity ut able ssue an and e the lines, ns accused of ons. It’s the ntire career

TENNIS: FRENCH OPEN

9Gem, Monday, 7pm

LEONARD AND HUNGRY PAUL

ABC Entertains, Tuesday, 8.30pm

Just months after winning the Australian Open and completing his first career grand slam, Spanish ace Carlos Alcaraz has been ruled out of Roland-Garros due to a wrist injury. The absence of the two-time defending champion leaves the year’s second major wide open for Italian rival Jannik Sinner (pictured) to hold the Musketeers’ Trophy for the first time. However, it also provides a rare opportunity for the eight Aussies in the men’s draw – headlined by world no.8 Alex de Minaur –to make an impact. In the women’s draw, newly minted Aussie Daria Kasatkina (a 2022 semi-finalist) leads the charge as the first seeded Australian woman at the French Open since Ash Barty in 2021.

Centred on two quiet friends in their 30s who enjoy board games and unremarkable but comfortable lives in suburban Dublin, this uplifting comedy based on Rónán Hession’s 2019 novel is a sweet escape from TV’s usual frantic fare. Narrated by Julia Roberts, the story thrusts its titular introverts out into the world: part-time postal worker Hungry Paul (Laurie Kynaston) attempts to build his social skills, while Leonard (Alex Lawther, pictured) seeks emotional connection after the death of his beloved mother. New colleague Shelley (DerryGirls’ Jamie-Lee O’Donnell) is the breath of fresh air Leonard’s sheltered life needs. This week, he musters up the courage to ask her to lunch.

NINE (8, 9) 6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.00 Compass. (PG, R) 10.30 Stuff The British Stole. (PG, R) 11.00 Restoration Aust. (PG, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 The Assembly. (PGa, R) 1.45 Bad Company. (PGn, R) 2.10 Guy Mont Spelling Bee. (PG, R) 2.55 Restoration Aust. (PG, R) 3.50 Murdoch Mysteries. (PG, R) 4.40 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG,R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Gardening Australia. Sophie Thomson meets ahorticulturalist.

8.30 Shetland. (Return,Mlv) Calder and Tosh investigate when awoman goes missing with her nine-year-old son.

9.30 Gruen. (PG,R) Presented byWil Anderson.

10.05 Urzila. (Mals,R) Urzila has anodd house guest.

10.30 ABC Late News.

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

11.35 Love Me. (Mdl,R)

1.10 Rage New Music. (MA15+dhlnsv)

5.00 Rage. (PG)

6am Children’s Programs. 10.25 BeddyByes. 11.15 The Makery. 11.30 Wiggle. 11.45 Andy’s Global Adventures. 2.10pm Peter Rabbit. 2.30 Daniel Tiger’s. 2.45 The Makery. 3.00 Play School. 4.05 Andy’s Prehistoric Adv. 4.40 Ariel. 5.30 Talking Tom Heroes. 6.05 Spidey And His Amazing Friends. 6.25 Paddington. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.05 Gardening Australia Junior. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 8.00 Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! 8.55 BattleBots. 9.40 MythBusters “There’s Your Problem!”. 10.05 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 9.00 DD India News Hour. 9.55 Legacy List. (R) 11.10 Making It. (PG, R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Scotland’s Extreme Medics. (Mal, R) 3.00 Nula. 3.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Jeopardy! 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Giro d’Italia. Stage 12. Highlights. 6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 MOVIE: Hidden Family Secrets. (2021,Mav,R) Alex Paxton-Beesley. 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. Hosted byLarry Emdur.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News. 7.35 Paul Merton: Driving Amazing Trains. (Premiere) 8.30 China With Ben Fogle. (Premiere) BenFogle explores the Great Wall ofChina. 9.50 Rock Legends: Primal Scream. (PGa)

10.15 SBS World News Late. 10.45 The King. (Mas) 11.40 Babylon Berlin. (MA15+v, R) 1.35 Syndrome E. (Malv, R) 3.35 Great Coastal Railway Journeys. (R) 4.10 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31)

TRT

News. 6.50 DW English News. 7.20 FBC News. 8.10 NHK Newsline. 8.40 CBC The National. 9.30 BBC News At Six. 10.00 France 24 English News. 10.30 The Movie Show. 12.15pm DW The Day. 12.45 Land Of The Giants: Titans Of Tech. 1.35 The Kingdom. 3.00 Bamay. 3.40 WorldWatch. 5.40 Inside The Huddle. 6.10 Over The Black Dot. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Giro d’Italia. 1.35am NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 AFL: Friday Night Countdown. Alead-up tothe Friday night AFL match. 7.30 Football. AFL. Round11. Richmond vEssendon. From the MCG. 10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion and interviews. 11.15 GetOn Extra. Alook atthe weekend’s best racing. 11.45 To Be Advised. 1.30 Quacks. (MA15+d) William needs agrim operation.

2.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 5.00 NBC Today.

7TWO (62, 72)

6am Morning Programs. Noon House Of Wellness. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 The Great Australian Doorstep. 2.30 Weekender. 3.00 Imagine Holidays Iconic Rail Journeys. 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 Fresh TV. 1.30 Room For Improvement. 2.00 Harry’s Practice. 2.30 Animal Rescue. 3.00 Better Homes. 5.00 The Great Australian Doorstep. 5.30 Late Programs.

TEN (5, 10)

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: Listen Out For Love. (2022, G, R) Stephanie Bennett, Mark Ghanime. 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.00[MELB] TippingPoint Australia.(PG,R) 5.30 WIN News. 6.00 Ent. Tonight. (R) 6.30 Bold. (PG, R)

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round12. Canterbury Bulldogs vMelbourne Storm.

9.55 NRL Friday Night Footy Post-Match. Post-match coverage ofthe NRL game. 10.45 MOVIE: Rambo: First Blood Part II. (1985,Mlv,R) Sylvester Stallone.

12.40 Tipping Point. (PG,R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

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

9GEM (81, 92)

6.00 10 News+. 6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (R) 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG,R) 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. (R) Hosted byNeale Whitaker and Andrew Winter.

8.40 Have You Been Paying Attention? (Malns,R) Celebrity panellists compete tosee who can remember the most about events ofthe week. 9.40 10’s Late News. Coverage ofnews, sport and weather. 10.40 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (Final,PG) 11.40 10 News+. (R)

6am Morning Programs. 8.00 TV Shop. 10.30 Pointless. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon Antiques Downunder. 1.00 The Brokenwood Mysteries. 3.00 Antiques Roadshow. 3.30 MOVIE: The Last Days Of Dolwyn. (1949) 5.30 Yorkshire Auction House. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 Airport Security: USA. 8.30 MOVIE: The Accountant. (2016, MA15+) 11.00 MOVIE: All The Money In The World. (2017, MA15+) 1.35am 2.05 MOVIE: The Last Days Of Dolwyn. (1949) 4.00 Danger Man. 5.00 Yorkshire Auction House.

7MATE (64, 73)

ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Morning Programs. 10.30 Bewitched. 11.30 Rugby Heaven. 12.30pm MOVIE: Wrath Of The Titans. (2012, M) 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 MOVIE: 10 Things I Hate About You. (1999, PG) 9.35 MOVIE: Sex And The City 2. (2010, MA15+) 12.35am Love Island UK: All Stars. 1.30 The Real Housewives Of Durban. 2.35 Australian Ninja Warrior. 4.30 I Love VIP Pets. 4.50 LEGO Friends: Girls On A Mission. 5.10 Bubble’s Hotel. 5.30 Beyblade Burst QuadStrike. 6am Morning Programs. 11.30 American Resto. Noon Storage Wars. 12.30 American Pickers. 1.30 Pawn Stars. 2.30 Kick Ons. 3.00 Timbersports. 3.30 Mountain Men. 4.30 American Resto. 5.00 Storage Wars. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.30 Surveillance Oz. 8.30 MOVIE: Ladies In Black. (2018, PG) 10.45 MOVIE: Dracula Untold. (2014, M) 12.45am American Pickers. 2.00 Pawn Stars. 3.00 Swamp People: Serpent Invasion. 4.00 Surveillance Oz. 5.00 Ax Men.

10 COMEDY (52, 11)

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 8.15 Motown Magic. 8.40 The Magic Canoe. 9.10 Spartakus. 10.00 Precious Leader Woman. 11.00 Going Places. Noon Undermined: Tales From The Kimberley. 2.00 Strait To The Plate. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 Nula. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Saving Yellowstone. 7.30 MOVIE: Annie. (2014) 9.50 MOVIE: Bad Behaviour. (2023, MA15+) 11.30 Nula. Midnight Stompem Ground 2022: Blekbala Mujik. 1.00 Unsettled. 2.00 On The Road. 4.00 On The Road. 5.00 Bamay. NITV (34)

6am Open The Wall. (2014, PGal, German) 7.00 Discovering Film. 7.55 The Man 10.00 Girl America. (2024, Malsv, Czech) 12.05pm Monster. (2023, Ma) 2.25 Mr. Holmes. (2015, PGa) 4.20 The 39 Steps. (1935, PGav) 6.00 The Secret Garden. (2020, PGa) 7.50 And So It Goes. (2014, Ms) 9.30 Harold And Maude. (1971, Ma) 11.15 Up In The Air. (2009, Mlns) 1.15am Transcendence. (2014, Mav) 3.25 Four’s A Crowd. (2022, Malsv, Spanish) 5.15 Mr. Holmes. (2015, PGa)

10 DRAMA (53, 12)

Saturday, May 23

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6.00 Rage Charts. (PG) 7.00 Weekend Breakfast. 9.00 Rage. (PG) 10.30 Rage Vault Guest Programmer. (PG) 12.00 Football. VFL. Round9. Werribee v Collingwood. 3.00 To Be Advised. 4.15 Shaun Micallef’s Going For Broke. (PG,R)

5.00 Australian Story. (R) 5.30 Landline. (R)

6.00 Kath & Kim. (PGals,R) Kimgoes into labour.

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

7.00 ABC News. Takes alook atthe top stories ofthe day, including coverage ofdeveloping stories and events.

7.30 Death In Paradise. (PG) After adistillery owner ispoisoned during atasting ofhis rum, it’s soon revealed all guests drank from the same bottle.

8.30 Silent Witness. (M) When amysterious contagion starts

Dr Nikki Alexander must race against time tocontain adeadly illness.

10.15 Bergerac. (Mal,R) Bergerac’s pursuit ofMonica has unexpected and dangerous consequences.

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

ABC FAMILY (22)

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

PBS News. 2.00 Going Places. (PGal, R) 3.00 Stories From The Cities. (PG) 3.30

Hand. (PGa, R) 4.30 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Giro d’Italia. Stage 13. Highlights. 5.30 The Battle Of Crete. (R)

6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Jewels Of The Mediterranean: Cyprus. (PGaw) Takes atour ofCyprus.

8.20 Magical Train Journeys In Switzerland: With The VoralpenExpress From St Gallen To Lucerne. (R) Follows the Voralpen-Express

9.20 Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar: Fame. (Mal,R) Takes alook atElizabeth Taylor. 10.15 The Wonders Of Europe: The Tower Of London. (PGav,R) 11.15 Snowpiercer. (MA15+v,R) 1.55 Matched. (PG, R) 2.45 Off The Beaten Track With Kate Humble. (PG, R) 3.55 Great Coastal Railway Journeys. (R) 4.30 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 3.55pm Odd Squad. 4.20 Dino Dex. 4.45 Gardening Australia Junior. 5.10 Octonauts And The Great Barrier Reef. 6.05 PJ Masks. 6.25 Emerald. 7.05 Let’s Go Bananas! 7.30 Kids Baking C’ship. (Return) 8.10 Kids BBQ Championship. 8.55 Caper Crew. 9.40 Fresh Off The Boat. 10.00 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs. 12.10pm Karla Grant Presents. 1.00 Nula. 1.30 Dig Deeper. 2.30 Over The Black Dot. 3.00 Ornette: Made In America. 4.30 This Is Indian Country. 5.00 Treaty Road. 6.00 Our Law. 6.40 The Other Side. 7.30 Alone Australia. 8.40 MOVIE: The Abyss. (1989) 11.05 Mowanjum 2024. 12.55am Yothu Yindi Tribute Concert. 2.20 Late Programs.

SIGNUP

Sunday, May 24

6am Morning

Programs. 12.15pm The Feed. 12.50 Black Comedy In America. 2.40 Wine Lovers’ Guide. 3.55 WorldWatch. 6.00 Mastermind Aust. 7.00 The Mega-Brands That Built The World. 7.50 Abandoned Americana. 8.45 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Giro d’Italia. 1.35am NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

6am Morning Programs. 12.40pm The First Day Of My Life. (2023, Mal, Italian) 2.55 The 4.55 The Ideal Palace. (2018, PGan, French) 6.55 The Shooting. (1966, PGalv) 8.30 No Country For Old Men. (2007, MA15+v) 10.45 Private Desert. (2021, MA15+s, Portuguese) 12.55am Late Programs.

SEVEN (6, 7)

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Horse Racing. Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation Raceday, Sandown Saturday and Doomben Cup 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. Hosted byJohanna Griggs. 8.00 Ooops! I Bought A Pub. (PG) Shane Jacobson buys arundown country pub sight unseen and attempts tobring itback tolife.

8.30 MOVIE: Armageddon. (1998,Mv,R) Aveteran oil driller and his team must save humanity after anasteroid isdiscovered ona collision course with Earth. Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Liv Tyler. 11.35 To Be Advised. 12.35 Motor Racing. Supercars Championship. Round5. Tasmania Super440. Day1. Highlights. 1.35 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. Noon Auction Squad. 1.00 Australia’s Big Backyards. 2.00 Animal Rescue. 2.30 Better Homes. 4.30 Harry’s Practice. 5.00 The Yorkshire Vet. 6.00 Dog Patrol. 6.30 Bondi Vet. 7.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 8.30 Lewis. 10.30 Escape To The Country. 11.30 Australia’s Amazing Homes. 12.30am Late Programs.

7MATE (64, 73)

6am Morning Programs. 1pm Blokesworld. 1.30 Garage 41. 2.00 Rides Down Under: Aussie Truckers. 3.00 Motor Racing. Night Thunder. USA Boxing Day. Replay. 4.00 Duck Dynasty. 5.00 Counting Cars. 6.00 Pawn Stars. 7.00 Storage Wars. 7.30 MOVIE: Taken 2. (2012, M) 9.30 MOVIE: Predator. (1987, M) 11.45 Late Programs.

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

6am Morning Programs. 10.30 World This Week. (R) 11.00 Compass. (PG, R) 11.30 Praise. 12.00 News. 12.30 Landline. 1.30 Gardening Aust. (R) 2.30 The Assembly. (PGa, R) 3.15 Joanna Lumley’s Spice Trail Adventure. (PG, R) 4.00 Restoration Aust. (PG, R) 5.00 Back Roads. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. 6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Hot Roads: World’s Most Dangerous Roads. (PG) 12.00 PBS News Compass Points. 12.30 PBS Washington Week. 12.55 The Point. (R) 1.00 Motorcycle Racing. ProMX Championship. Round4. 4.00 Going Places. (R) 4.30 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Giro d’Italia. Stage 14. Highlights. 5.30 The Battle Of Crete.

6.30 Compass: Who Will Be The Next Dalai Lama? (PG)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 The Assembly: Jessica Mauboy. Autistic students interview Jessica Mauboy.

8.15 Bad Company. (M) Staff are trapped when new smart locks malfunction.

8.45 Bergerac. (Mlv) Bergerac’s career ison the line asthe case gets personal.

9.30 Death In Paradise. (PG,R) Adistillery owner ispoisoned.

10.30 Silent Witness. (M,R)

12.15 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

3.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 4.00 Dream Gardens. (PG, R) 4.30 Poh’s Kitchen. (R) 5.00 Insiders. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Children’s Programs. 3.25pm Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge. 3.45 We’re Going On A Bear Hunt. 4.30 Little J And Big Cuz. 5.10 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 5.30 Super Monsters. 6.05 PJ Masks. 6.25 Emerald. 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.

6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Shut Your Big Fat Mouth John Safran! (Ma) Presented byJohn Safran. 8.45 Cannes Uncut. (Maln,R) Abehind-the-scenes look atCannes,

10.15 Osher Günsberg: A World Of Pain. (Mads,R) 11.25 The Rise And Fall Of Boris Becker. (Mals,R) 1.15 Matched. (PG, R) 3.00 The Sculpture. (PGav, R) 4.25 Bamay. (R) 4.55 Destination Flavour Scandinavia Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 PBS News Horizons.

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Sunday Footy Feast. 2.30 AFL Pre-Game Show. Pre-game coverage ofthe match. 3.00 Football. AFL. Round11. Western Bulldogs vMelbourne.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 The1% Club. (PGls) Hosted byJim Jefferies. 8.00 7NEWS Spotlight. 9.00 The Real Adolescence: Our Killer Kids. (MA15+av)

10.30 24 Hours In Police Custody: Smuggled. (Mad,R) Detectives

11.40 Autopsy USA: Andy (Ma,R)

12.40 Motor Racing. Supercars Championship. Round5. Tasmania Super440. Day2. Highlights. 2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R)

4.00 NBC Today.

5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

NINE (8, 9)

6am Morning Programs. 10.00 Today Extra: Saturday. (PG) 12.00 Aust. 12.30 Destination WA. (R) 1.00 Explore TV Viking. (PG, R) 1.30 Let’s Eat With George. 2.00 Ready Vet Go: The Vet Paramedics. (PGm, R) 2.30 The Hundred With Andy Lee. (PGl, R) 3.30 Tasman Trails. 4.30 Garden Gurus. 5.00 News. 5.30 Getaway. (PG)

6.00 9News Saturday. 7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 MOVIE: Star Wars: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi. (1983,PGv,R) After rescuing Han Solo from the clutches ofJabba the Hutt, Luke tries tosteer Darth Vader away from the dark side. Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher. 10.10 MOVIE: Stargate. (1994,PGv,R) Aman discovers agateway toanother world. Kurt Russell, James Spader. 12.20 Law & Order: Organized Crime. (MA15+av,R) Afundraiser ends inan assassination attempt.

1.10 Tasman Trails. (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.

11.40 MOVIE: Money Talks. (1932, PG)

1.10pm MOVIE: Nurse On Wheels. (1963) 3.00 MOVIE: Laughter In Paradise. (1951)

5.00 MOVIE: Ice Cold In Alex. (1958, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: King Richard. (2021, M) 10.20

MOVIE: Six Degrees Of Separation. (1993, M) 12.35am MOVIE: Zoltan, Hound Of Dracula. (1978, M) 2.20 Late Programs.

9GO! (82, 93)

6am Morning Programs.

12.25pm Soccer. English Premier League. Arsenal vBurnley. 2.25 Snackmasters. 3.40 MOVIE: Waiting For The Light. (1990, PG) 5.40 MOVIE: Uptown Girls. (2003, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb. (2014, PG) 9.30 MOVIE: My Super Ex-Girlfriend. (2006, M) 11.30 Top 20 Funniest. 12.25am Late Programs.

TEN (5, 10)

6am Morning Programs. 10.00 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly Australia. (PGa, R) 11.00 Dog House. (PGa, R) 12.00

6.00 Hello SA. (PG, R) 6.30 ACA. (R) 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 AFL Sunday Footy

7.00 To Be Advised. 11.00 Building The Dream. Architectural designer Charlie design budget-friendly homes that suit their lifestyles.

12.00 Ambulance Australia. (Ma,R) Follows NSW Ambulance onthe longest night ofthe year, the end ofdaylight saving, asthey deal with adiabetic coma, arescue from aburning car, achild inanaphylaxis and anexplosion inChinatown. 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power. Religious program.

6.00 9News Sunday.

7.00 60 Minutes. Current affairs program.

8.00 The Michael Jackson Story: Fame. (Premiere,Mas) Follows Michael Jackson’s rise tofame.

10.00 9News Late.

10.30 The First48: The Price Of Kindness/The Woman At The Door. (Mav,R)

11.25 American Ripper: Black Heart, White City. (Mav)

12.15 Oz Off Road TV. (PGl,R)

1.05 Let’s Eat With George. (R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)

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

6.30 10 News+. Hosted byDenham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 7.00 MasterChef Australia. (PG) Amateur cooks take tothe kitchen. 8.15 Race Across The World. (Ml) After the tranquillity ofthe islands ofKoh Phi Phi, the teams face agiant leap into the unknown.

9.30 Taskmaster Australia. (Ms,R) Contestants Anisa Nandaula, Brett Blake, Celia Pacquola, Joel Creasey and Rove McManus attempt the most elegant shoey. 10.30 NCIS: Origins. (Mv,R) Gibbs faces areckoning. 11.30 10 News+. (R) Hosted byDenham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 12.00 Home Shopping. (R)

6am Morning Programs. 12.15pm Motorcycle Racing. World Superbike C’ship. Czech Round. 1.15 Faithless. 2.15 Jeopardy! 4.20 WorldWatch. 5.45 The Frontier. 6.40 Abandoned Engineering. 8.30 The UnXplained. (Return) 9.20 Travel Man. 9.50 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Giro d’Italia. 1.35am NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera.

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

9GEM (81, 92)

6am Morning Programs. Noon Escape To The Country. 1.00 Better Homes. 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 The Surgery Ship. 3.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 4.30 My Greek Odyssey. 5.30 Australia’s Amazing Homes. 6.30 Escape To The Country. 7.30 The Coroner. 8.30 Vera. 10.30 Maternal. 11.30 The Coroner. 12.30am Harry’s Practice. 1.00 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 1pm Midsomer Murders. 3.00 Rugby League. NRL. North Qld Cowboys vSouth Sydney Rabbitohs. 6.00 Police Rescue Australia. 7.00 Tennis. French Open. Midnight Major Crimes. 1.00 See No Evil. 2.00 London Kills. 3.00 MOVIE: The Baby And The Battleship. (1956) 5.00 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. Noon The Fishing Show By AFN. 1.00 Fishing Addiction. 2.00 Charter Boat Wars 2: Port Phillip Bay. 2.30 Al McGlashan’s Fish’n With Mates. 3.00 Pawn Stars. 4.00 Duck Dynasty. 5.00

(82, 93) 6am Morning Programs. 12.50pm

6am Morning Programs. 11.35 Seinfeld. 12.35pm Soccer. English Premier League. Bournemouth vManchester City. 2.35 The Summit. 5.30 MOVIE: Getting Even With Dad. (1994, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: Speed 2: Cruise Control. (1997, M) 10.00 MOVIE: Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey. (1991, PG) 11.55 Gotham. 12.50am Arrow. 2.30 Late Programs.

Monday, May 25

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News

Mornings. 10.00 Silent Witness. (M, R)

11.40 You Can’t Ask That. (Ml, R) 12.00

ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Landline. (R)

2.00 Parliament Question Time. 2.55 Restoration Australia. (R) 3.55 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGa)

4.40 Long Lost Family. (PG,R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG,R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30. Presented bySarah Ferguson.

8.00 Australian Story. Australians tell personal stories.

8.30 Four Corners. Investigative journalism program.

9.20 Media Watch. (PG) Presented byLinton Besser.

9.35 Planet America. Alook atAmerican politics.

10.05 Todd Sampson’s Why? Doomsday Preppers. (Ml,R)

10.40 ABC Late News.

10.55 The Business. (R)

11.10 Murdoch Mysteries. (Ma,R)

12.00 Long Lost Family. (PG,R)

12.50 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 Poh’s Kitchen. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Children’s Programs. 4.05pm Andy’s Prehistoric Adv. 4.40 Ariel. 5.30 Talking Tom Heroes. 6.05 Spidey And His Amazing Friends. 6.25 Paddington. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.45 Expedition With Steve Backshall. 9.35 Chopped Jnr. 10.15 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs. 1.05pm Warrior Spirit. 2.00 Strait To The Plate. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 The 77 Percent. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Saving Yellowstone. 7.30 Who Do You Think You Are? 8.30 Living Black. 9.00 Ram Raid Mums. 9.55 MOVIE: Copycat. (1995, MA15+) 12.05am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News Compass Points. 1.30 Al Jazeera News Hour. 2.00 Scotland’s Extreme Medics. (Ma, R) 3.00 Going Places. (R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Jeopardy! 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Giro d’Italia. Stage 15. Highlights.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Robson Green’s Weekend

Escapes: Mark Benton. (PG)

8.40 Ancient Greece By Train: Corinth To The Cyclades. (R) Professor Alice Roberts visits anarchaeological dig.

9.35 Never Mind The Buzzcocks. (M) Hosted byGreg Davies. 10.25 SBS World News Late.

10.55 Sambre: Anatomy Of A Crime. (Mav)

12.05 Gomorrah. (MA15+v, R) 3.00 Great Coastal Railway Journeys. (R) 4.10 My Unique B&B. (R) 4.45 Destination Flavour: Japan Bitesize. (R) 4.55 Destination Flavour Scandinavia Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31)

6am Morning

Programs. 12.45pm The Feed. 1.30 Adam Hills: The Last Leg. 2.20 Inside The Huddle. 2.50 Over The Black Dot. 3.20 Stories From The Cities. 3.50 WorldWatch. 5.50 Curse Of Oak Island. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Holy Marvels. 9.20 Soccer’s American Dream. 10.15 Shut Your Big Fat Mouth John Safran! 11.30 Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

6am Morning Programs. 2pm The Ideal Palace. (2018, PGan, French) 4.00 The Shooting. (1966, PGalv) 5.35 The Monk And The Gun. (2023, PGa, Dzongkha, English) 7.35 We Don’t Need A Map. (2017, Mal) 9.15 The Darkside. (2013, PGadl) 11.00 Blackfellas. (1993, MA15+l) 12.45am Late Programs.

SEVEN (6, 7)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 Time Is Money. 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. (R) 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGal) Harper avoids ahard truth.

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

8.40 9-1-1. (M) Maddie learns tonavigate her working relationships now that she has become asupervisor.

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

10.40 The Agenda Setters: Rugby League.

11.40 Happy’s Place. (PGal)

12.10 New Amsterdam. (MA15+a,R)

1.10 The Outdoor Room With Jamie Durie. (R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

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

7TWO (62, 72)

NINE (8, 9)

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: My Birthday Romance. (2020, PGa, R) Ali Cobrin, Jesse Hutch. 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.30 WIN News.

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 The Michael Jackson Story: Fightback/Resurrection. (Final,Mas) Michael Jackson channels his anger into his music. (Ml) Ateam offooty experts tackles the AFL’s big issues and controversies.

10.30 Players. (Ml) Alook atall the AFL news.

11.30 9News Late.

12.00 100% Footy. (Mal)

1.00 Hello SA. (PG)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

2.30 Global Shop. (R)

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)

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

9GEM (81, 92)

6am Morning Programs. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 My Greek Odyssey. 2.00 Weekender. 2.30 Auction Squad. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Doc Martin. 8.30 A Touch Of Frost. 10.50 Air Crash Inv. 11.50 Doc Martin. 12.50am Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon London Kills. 1.00 Midsomer Murders. 3.00 MOVIE: The Man Who Finally Died. (1963, PG) 5.00 Yorkshire Auction House. 6.00 Antiques Roadshow. 7.00 Tennis. French Open. Midnight Major Crimes. 1.00 Chicago Med. 2.00 London Kills. 3.00 Late Programs.

7MATE (64, 73)

6am Morning Programs. 2.30pm Motor Racing. Supercars C’ship. Tasmania Super 440. Day 1 and 2. H’lights. 4.30 American Resto. 5.00 Storage Wars. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.30 The Agenda Setters. 8.30 Aussie Gold Hunters. 9.30 Adventure Gold Diggers. 10.30 Aussie Salvage Squad. 11.30 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. (PG) Amateur cooks take tothe kitchen. 8.40 Have You Been Paying Attention? (Malns) Celebrity panellists compete tosee who can remember the most about events ofthe week. 9.40 10’s Late News. Comprehensive coverage oflocal, national and international news, aswell asthe latest sport and weather. 10.40 The Big Bang Theory. (PGs,R) Penny hosts aHalloween party. 11.30 10 News+. (R) 12.00 Home Shopping. (R)

9GO! (82, 93)

6am Morning Programs.

11.30 Jeopardy! UK. 12.30pm Talking Honey. 12.45 MOVIE: Fiancé Killer. (2018, M) 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.40 MOVIE: Under Siege 2. (1995, MA15+) 10.45 Seinfeld. 11.55 The 100. 12.45am Love Island UK: All Stars. 1.45 The Real Housewives Of Durban. 2.50 Late Programs.

Tuesday, May 26

ABC TV (2)

SBS (3)

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.00 Aust Story. (R) 10.30 Planet America. (R) 11.00 Shaun Micallef’s Going For Broke. (PG, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Death In Paradise. (PGv, R) 2.00 Parliament. 3.00 Restoration Aust. (PG, R) 3.55 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGa) 4.40 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 10.00 Legacy List. (R) 11.15 Making It. (PG, R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Scotland’s Extreme Medics. (Ma, R) 3.00 Going Places. (PG, R) 3.30 The Cook Up. (PG, R) 4.00 Who Do You Think You Are? (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.

8.00 Shaun Micallef’s Going For Broke. (PG)

8.50 Murder In The Skies: Who Downed MH17? (PGa) 9.35 Compass: Who Will Be The Next Dalai Lama? (PG,R)

10.05 If You’re Listening. (R) 10.30 ABC Late News. 10.45 The Business. (R) 11.00 Four Corners. (R) 11.50 Media Watch. (PG, R) 12.05 Murdoch Mysteries. (Ma, R) 12.55 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 1.45 Rage. (MA15+dhlnsv) 4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 Poh’s Kitchen. (R)

5.30 7.30. (R)

6am Children’s Programs. 4.40pm Ariel. 5.30 Talking Tom Heroes. 6.05 Spidey And His Amazing Friends. 6.25 Paddington. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.40 Savage Builds. 9.25 MythBusters “There’s Your Problem!”. 9.50 BattleBots. 10.35 Late Programs.

6.00 Mastermind Australia.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Who Do You Think You Are? Essie Davis. (PG) 8.30 Insight. Hosted byKumi Taguchi. 9.30 Dateline: The World’s Most Remote Rescue? Follows ahelicopter rescue team inPapua New Guinea. 10.00 SBS World News Late. 10.30 Living Black. (R) 11.05 The Negotiator. (Ma) 12.00 World On Fire. (Malv, R) 3.15 Finding Your Roots. (PGa, R) 4.15 My Unique B&B. (R) 4.50 Destination Flavour: Japan Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SEVEN (6, 7)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 Time Is Money. 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. (R) 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 blames herself. 7.30 My Reno Rules. (PG) Hosted byDr Chris Brown. 9.15 Doc. (Ma) While navigating the fallout from Katie’s secret, Amy treats acritically-ill patient with adark one ofher own.

10.15 House Of Wellness. (PG) Insights and experiences that highlight living well.

11.15 The Agenda Setters. (R) 12.15 New Amsterdam. (MA15+a,R) 1.15 Harry’s Practice. (R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: Love, Bubbles & Crystal Cove. (2021, PGa, R) Stephanie Bennett, Pricilla Mudaliar. 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.30 WIN News. 6am Morning Programs. 7.30 GCBC.

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 The Hundred With Andy Lee. (PGl) Comedy panel show. 8.30 Clarkson’s Farm: Splurging. (Mal) Jeremy Clarkson visits ashis pub plans progress. (Ml) Footy experts tackle the AFL’s big issues. 10.40 9News Late. 11.10 The Inheritance. (Malv) 12.00 NRLW Wrap: Women’s State Of Origin Special. (PG) 1.00 Destination WA. 1.30 Home Shopping. 2.30 Building Ideas. (PG, 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.

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. (PG) Amateur cooks take tothe kitchen. 8.40 The Cheap Seats. (Mal) Presenters Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald take alook atthe week that was. 9.40 10’s Late News. Coverage ofnews, sport and weather. 10.10 Football Tonight. Takes alook atthe world ofsoccer. 10.40 The Big Bang Theory. (Mad,R) 11.30 10 News+. (R) 12.00 Home Shopping. (R)

6am Morning

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

Programs. 12.15pm DW The Day. 12.45 Homicide. 2.35 The Grudge. 3.05 Brady Vs Belichick: The Verdict. 4.05 WorldWatch. 6.05 Curse Of Oak Island. 6.55 Jeopardy! 7.50 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.45 The UnXplained. 9.35 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Giro d’Italia. 1.35am NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera.

9GEM (81, 92)

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 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Call The Midwife. 8.35 Inspector Morse. 10.55 Escape To The Country. 11.55 Showtrial. 12.55am Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon London Kills. 1.00 Chicago Med. 2.00 Good Karma Hospital. 3.00 MOVIE: Folly To Be Wise. (1952) 5.00 Yorkshire Auction House. 6.00 Antiques Roadshow. 7.00 Tennis. French Open. Midnight Rizzoli & Isles. 1.00 Chicago Med. 2.00 London Kills. 3.00 Late Programs.

1.45 Late Programs. 7MATE (64, 73) SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 1.05pm Ram Raid Mums. 2.00 Strait To The Plate. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem

9GO! (82, 93) 6am Morning Programs. 12.30pm Master Cheng: A Spice For Life. (2019, PGaln) 2.40 Discovering Film. 3.25 The Snows Of Kilimanjaro. (1952, PGav) 5.40 Alick &

ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Morning Programs. 11.30 Jeopardy! UK. 12.30pm MOVIE: Drink, Slay, Love. (2017, M) 2.20 Nanny. 3.20 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: The Hangover 2. (2011, MA15+) 10.35 Seinfeld. 11.35 The 100. 12.25am Love Island UK: All Stars. 1.20 The Real Housewives Of Durban. 2.20 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 Outback Truckers. 10.30 Train Rescue Down Under. 11.30 Deadliest Roads. 12.30am Late Programs.

(2017,

Wednesday, May 27

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6am Morning Programs. 9.00 DD India News Hour. 9.55 Legacy List. (R) 11.10

SEVEN (6, 7)

NINE (8, 9) 6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.00 Four Corners. (R) 11.00 Restoration Aust. (PG, R) 12.00 News. 12.30

National Press Club Address. 1.35 Media Watch. (PG, R) 2.00 Parliament Question Time. 2.55 Restoration Australia. (PG, R) 3.55 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGv) 4.40 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG,R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30.

8.00 Gruen. (PG) Presented byWil Anderson.

8.35 Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee. Presented byGuy Montgomery.

9.25 Urzila. (Mals) Urzila’s camping hatred sparks woe.

9.50 Bad Company. (M,R)

10.20 Planet America. (R)

10.55 ABC Late News.

11.10 The Business. (R)

11.25 You Can’t Ask That. (Mal,R)

11.55 Murdoch Mysteries. (Mv, R)

12.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 1.35 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 Poh’s Kitchen. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Children’s Programs. 4.05pm Andy’s Prehistoric Adv. 4.40 Ariel. 5.30 Talking Tom Heroes. 6.05 Spidey And His Amazing Friends. 6.25 Paddington. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons 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.

1.20pm Elder In Residence Oration 2025. 2.00 Strait To The Plate. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 News. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 My Name Is Gulpilil. 8.30 Pro Bull Riding: USA. 9.30 Over The Black Dot. 10.00 Inside The Huddle.

10.30 MOVIE: One Thousand Ropes. (2017, M) 12.15am Late Programs.

Making It. (PG, 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 The Point. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Jeopardy! 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Giro d’Italia. Stage 16. Highlights.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Alexander Armstrong In India. (Final, PGan) Alexander Armstrong visits Mumbai.

8.25 The Trial Of Michael Jackson: The Reckoning. (M) Thecourtroom drama reaches averdict, which has adevastating effect onMichael Jackson.

9.25 The Audacity. (MA15+l) Duncan isready todisrupt with P.I.N.A.T.A.

10.20 SBS World News Late.

10.50 Rise Of The Raven. (Mv)

11.55 Golden Boy. (Mlns,R) 1.40 3.20

Finding Your Roots. (PG, R) 4.20 My Unique B&B. (R) 4.55 Destination Flavour Scandinavia Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31)

6am Morning

Programs. 10.30 Songrites. 11.40 Front Up. 12.15pm DW The Day. 12.45 The Greatest Show On Earth. 2.40 The Bee Whisperer. 3.40 WorldWatch. 5.35 The Artist’s View. 6.00 Salt Joy. 6.35 Jeopardy! 7.30 Travel Man. 8.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Giro d’Italia. 1.35am NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

6am Morning Programs. 2pm Madison. (2020, PGal, German) 3.35 Discovering Film. 4.25 The Darkside. (2013, PGadl) 6.10 Another Country. (2015, PGaw) 7.35 Ten Canoes. (2006, Mnv, Ganalbingu, English, Gunwinggu) 9.10 Spear. (2015, Malw) 10.40 The Black Hole. (2024, MA15+alv, Estonian) 12.50am Late Programs.

Thursday, May 28

ABC TV (2)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 Time Is Money. 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. (R) 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGa) Lacey misjudges Tane.

7.30 SAS: AUS v ENG. (Malv) Recruits tackle anextraction task.

8.30 The Front Bar. (Ml) Hosts Sam Pang, Mick Molloy and Andy Maher take alighter look atall things AFL. (M) Hamish McLachlan sits down with key football stars and personalities toreveal their stories.

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

11.00 Australia: Now And Then. (Mal,R) 12.00 New Amsterdam. (MA15+a,R) 1.00 Harry’s Practice. (R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

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

7TWO (62, 72)

6am Morning

Programs. Noon My Reno Rules. 2.00 Weekender. 2.30 House Calls To The Rescue. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Heartbeat. 8.45 McDonald And Dodds. 10.45 Air Crash Inv: Accident Files. 11.45 Bargain Hunt. 12.45am 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 Surviving The Moment Of Impact. 12.30am Late Programs.

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 The Hundred With Andy Lee. (PGl, R) 1.00 Getaway. (PG, R) 1.30 Destination WA. (R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG, R) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.30 WIN News.

6.00 9News. 7.00 Rugby League. NRLState ofOrigin. Game1. New South Wales vQueensland.

10.00 State Of Origin Post-Match. Apost-match wrap-up ofGame1 ofthe State ofOrigin match between New South Wales and Queensland.

11.00 NRL Origin Stories. (PGl,R) Looks atthe history ofthe NRL Origin series.

12.10 Tipping Point. (PG,R) Hosted byBen Shephard.

1.05 Explore TV Viking. (PG,R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

2.30 Global Shop. (R)

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) (R)

5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

9GEM (81, 92)

6am Morning Programs.

11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon London Kills. 1.00 MOVIE: Brighton Rock. (1948, PG) 3.00 MOVIE: The Dancing Years. (1950) 5.00 Yorkshire Auction House. 6.00 Antiques Roadshow. 7.00 Tennis. French Open. Midnight The Spencer Sisters. 1.00 Sight Unseen. 2.00 London Kills. 3.00 Danger Man. 4.00 Late Programs.

9GO! (82, 93)

6am Morning Programs.

11.30 Jeopardy! UK. 12.30pm MOVIE: The Better Man. (2025, M) 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Sully. (2016, M) 10.30 Seinfeld. 11.30 The 100. 12.20am Love Island UK: All Stars. 1.20 The Real Housewives Of Durban. 2.30 3.00 Late Programs.

SBS (3)

SEVEN (6, 7)

(8, 9) 6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.00 Gruen. (PG, R) 10.35 Guy Mont Spelling Bee. (R) 11.25 Urzila. (Mals, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Bergerac. (Mlv, R) 2.00 Parliament Question Time. 3.00 Restoration Australia. (PG, R) 3.55 Frankie Drake Mysteries. (PG) 4.40 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 10.00 Legacy List. (PGa, R) 11.15 Making It. (PG, R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Who Do You Think You Are? (PG, R) 3.05 Living Black. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Jeopardy! 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Giro d’Italia. Stage 17. Highlights.

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG,R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30.

8.00 Restoration Australia. ATasmanian couple

9.00 The Assembly: Jessica Mauboy. (R) Autistic students interview Jessica Mauboy.

9.45 Shaun Micallef’s Going For Broke. (PG,R) Shaun Micallef looks atthe gambling industry.

10.30 ABC Late News.

10.45 The Business. (R) 11.05 Frankie Drake Mysteries. (Mv,R) 11.50 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 12.35 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 Poh’s Kitchen. (R)

5.30 7.30. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Children’s Programs. 4.05pm Andy’s Prehistoric Adv. 4.40 Ariel. 5.30 Talking Tom Heroes. 6.05 Spidey And His Amazing Friends. 6.25 Paddington. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.40 Ultimate Vets. 9.05 Animal Park. 10.35 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 1pm Over The Black Dot. 1.30 Inside The Huddle. 2.00 Kriol Kitchen. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Rick Stein’s Australia. (PG) 8.40 Titanic: Our Secret History. (PGa,R) Explores the epic tale ofthe Titanic 9.35 A Gentleman In Moscow. (Ma) TheCount receives some devastating news. 10.30 SBS World News Late. 11.00 Under The Bridge. (MA15+l) 11.55 De Gaulle. (Ma, R) 2.50 Finding Your Roots. (PG, R) 3.50 My Unique B&B. (R) 4.25 Bamay. (R) 4.55 Destination Flavour Scandinavia Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31)

6am Morning

Programs. 11.00 The Swiping Game. 11.20 The Movie Show. 11.55 DW The Day. 12.25pm Alone. 3.00 WorldWatch. 5.00 The 6.45 Jeopardy!

7.40 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.35 Travel Man. 9.05 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Giro d’Italia. 1.35am NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 Beat The Chasers UK. (R) 2.00 Bridge Of Lies: Celebrity Specials. (R) 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Football. AFL. Round12. St Kilda vHawthorn. 10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion and interviews. 11.00 Kick Ons. Apreview ofthe upcoming AFL matches.

Under Attack. (Malv) Aman slashes aLondon bobby. 12.30 Brave New World. (Premiere,MA15+asv) Members ofa utopian society question the rules. 1.30 Harry’s Practice. (R) Information about pet care.

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

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

7TWO (62, 72)

6am Morning Programs. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 Air Crash Inv: Accident Files. 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 Grace. 10.30 Murdoch Mysteries. 11.30 Father Brown. 12.30am Late Programs.

7MATE (64, 73)

TEN (5, 10)

6am Morning Programs. 7.30 GCBC. (R) 8.00 Lingo.

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. (PG) Amateur cooks take tothe kitchen. 8.40 Elsbeth. dies ina suspicious cleaning accident, Elsbeth focuses ona tradwife, the 9.40 10’s Late News. Comprehensive coverage oflocal, national and international news, aswell asthe latest sport and weather. 10.40 The Cheap Seats. (Mal,R) Presented byMelanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald. 11.40 10 News+. (R) 12.00 Home Shopping. (R)

(5, 10)

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: Scented With Love. (2022, PGa, R) Rebecca Olson, Marshall Williams. 2.00 Pointless. (PG, R) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.30 WIN News. 6am Morning Programs. 7.30 GCBC. (R) 8.00 Lingo. (R) 9.00 The Finish Line. (R) 10.00 Ent. Tonight. (R) 10.20 MasterChef Aust. (PG, R) 11.30 Everyday Gourmet. (R) 12.00 GCBC. 12.30 Family Feud. (PG, R) 1.00 News. 2.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG, R)

6.00 9News. 7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 Rugby League. NRLWomen’s State Of Origin. Queensland vNew South Wales. Game3. 9.35 NRL Women’s State Of Origin Post-Match. Post-match wrap-up. 10.00 9News Late.

10.30 Chicago Med. (MA15+amv)

11.30 First On Scene. (Mah,R)

12.00 Tipping Point. (PG,R)

1.00 Fish Forever. (R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

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

9GEM (81, 92)

6am Morning Programs. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon London Kills. 1.00 MOVIE: Sands Of The Desert. (1960) 3.00 MOVIE: Happy Go Lovely. (1951) 5.00 Yorkshire Auction House. 6.00 Antiques Roadshow. 7.00 Tennis. French Open. Midnight Rizzoli & Isles. 1.00 London Kills. 2.00 MOVIE: Happy Go Lovely. (1951) 4.00 Late Programs.

6.00 10 News+. Hosted byDenham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (R) Hosted byGrant Denyer. 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG) Hosted byRebecca Gibney. 7.30 Taskmaster Australia. (PGal) Hosted byTom Gleeson. 8.40 NCIS. mission, Knight isordered tohunt down Bishop after she’s designated awanted cyber-terrorist. 9.40 10’s Late News. Comprehensive coverage oflocal, national and international news, aswell asthe latest sport and weather. 10.40 The Big Bang Theory. (PGls,R) 11.30 10 News+. (R) 12.00 Home Shopping. (R)

6am Morning Programs. 12.30pm Pawn Stars. 1.30 Highway Patrol. 2.30 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 Special. 8.30 Britain’s Got Talent. 10.30 MOVIE: Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans. (2009, MA15+) 12.20am Late Programs.

9GO! (82, 93) 6am Morning Programs. 12.05pm Samson And Delilah. (2009, Madlv) 2.00 The Most Beautiful Day In The World. (2019, PGa, Italian) 4.00 The Crow’s Egg. (2014, PGa, Tamil) 5.40 Kindred. 7.30 The Thicket. (2024, Malsv) 9.30 The Sweeney. (2012, MA15+lv) 11.35 Arsenal. (2017) 1.25am Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 12.35pm MOVIE: My Super Ex-Girlfriend. (2006, M) 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Bad Moms 2. (2017, MA15+) 10.30 Seinfeld. 11.30 Rugby Heaven. 12.30am Late Programs.

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

Quilt-in

Geelong Patchwork & Quilter’s Guild

quilt-in, Geelong West Town Hall, Saturday 23 May, 10am-4pm, entry is $15. Sit and sew, guest speaker Tania Tanti, pop-up stores. wheatsheaf_quilting@hotmail.com

Ballroom dance

Leopold Hall, 805-809 Bellarine Highway, Saturday 23 May, 7.30-10.30pm. Admission $10 includes supper. Music: Kevin.

0400 500 402

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.

Sports

Badminton: Corio Leisuretime Centre, Mondays 12.30-2.30pm. Beginners welcome.

Netball: YMCA Riversdale Road, Monday & Wednesday mornings, Thursday nights. Walking-netball also played. Umpire training available.

Maureen, 0429 397 015

Live music

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

Bellarine Historical Society

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

Arts National-Geelong

One hour arts lectures and presentation, Newcomb Hall, Wednesdays monthly, 10.15am. Sharron, 0439 328199, or geelong@adfas.org.au

GROW Australia

Community organisation offering practical steps and peer support to help recover and maintain mental health through free face to face and online groups. Mondays 7pm, 195 Ormond Road, East Geelong; Fridays 12.45pm, Vines Road Community Centre, Hamlyn Heights. grow.org.au, or 1800 558 268

Grovedale Seniors

Indoor bowls Monday 1-3pm; gentle exercise Tuesday 9-9.45am; cards (Euchre) Tuesday 1-3pm; bingo Thursday 1-3pm. Grovedale Community Hub, 45 Heyers Road. Julie, 0419 549 521

Table tennis

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

Geelong Vietnam veterans Eeon Macauley and David Sikorski.

Geelong Vietnam Veterans Coffee and chat, 31 Mt Pleasant Road, Belmont, Monday, Wednesday & Friday 10am-3pm. Fortnightly lunch at various locations. Meetings second Monday of each month. Gary, 0400 862 727

Drysdale Day VIEW

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

Leopold VIEW

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

Writers’ group

The Hub writers’ group meets at Arts Hub, Clifford Parade, Barwon Heads, first Sunday of the month, 2-4pm. New members welcome. dorothy.johnston@hugonet.com.au

Geelong Evening VIEW

Third Monday of the month, 6pm, Waurn Ponds Hotel. Von, 0414 930 259, or geelongeveningview@gmail.com

Laughter Club Geelong Saturdays, 9am, Eastern Beach in front of the swimming enclosure. 30-minutes free laughter yoga done standing or seated. 0418 521 265

Lions Club International

Enjoy meeting great people and help out your community at the same time. Clubs all over greater Geelong - see which one is right for you. Les, 0428 466 446

Grovedale Marshall Probus

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

Chess Group

Chess lessons at Geelong West. Suitable for beginners who have a reasonably firm understanding of the game rules. Kids and adults welcome. Isaac, isaacsmith5603@gmail.com or 0406 199 457

Geelong Day VIEW

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

Ocean Grove Senior Citizens

101 The Terrace, Ocean Grove

Weekly Tuesday: 1pm snooker, chess, indoor bowls

Wednesday: bingo 1.15pm, ukulele class 1.30pm, Chord Club jam session 4pm

Thursday: social afternoon, cards 500 1pm

Friday: art classes 9am, social art group 1pm.

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

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

Highton Seniors

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

Australian Multicultural Support Services

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

Fortnightly

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

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

Leopold Book Club

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

Church

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

Hamlyn Heights Combined Probus Meets second Thursday of the month, 10am, 200 McCurdy Road, Fyansford. Noel, 0425 706 339

Esoteric coffee meetups

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

Text name/details, 0400 542 522

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

Geelong Central Probus

Third Friday of the month, 9.45am, Grovedale Hotel. geelcentprob@gmail.com

Newcomb Probus

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

Music for preschoolers

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

Rhonda, 0437 241 345

Leopold Library

Tuesdays 2pm: Digital drop in for basic tech needs.

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

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

Stamps

Geelong Philatelic Society Inc meets 7pm first Saturday of the month (excluding January) at Virginia Todd Community Hall, 9-15 Clarence Street, Geelong West, and 12.30pm third Monday of the month (excluding December) at Belmont Pavillion, 162 Barrabool Road, Belmont. Julie, 0438 270 549

Scrabble club

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

Games

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

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

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

Geelong Scout Heritage Centre

A trove of Scouting memorabilia. Open third Sunday of the month (not September or January), 56 Russell Street, Newtown, 10am-3pm, entry by donation. Groups by appointment. 0419 591 432, or geelong.heritage@ scoutsvictoria.com.au

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

Out and about

Independent photographer Ivan Kemp was at Myers Reserve in Bell Post Hill with the home side the Panthers taking on Winchelsea in footy and netball. He took these pictures of fans and players out and about on Saturday 16 May.

Suzuki’s EV debut imminent

By Alistair Kennedy, Marque Motoring

It’s been a long time coming, but Suzuki has finally produced its first fully-electric vehicle.

Called e Vitara, it’s a compact crossover SUV that won’t be in dealerships until late-June or early-July but with preorders beingtaken.

The e Vitara shares the same platform and many features but styling differences with the Toyota Urban Cruiser. Both are built in India at Suzuki’s Gujarat factory on its Heartect-e lightweight dedicated electricchassis.

At this stage it’s unlikely that Toyota will beimportingtheUrbanCruiser.

Suzuki is unique in Australia in that a separateindependentcompanydistributes its vehicles in Queensland and part of Northern NSW with the factory-backed Suzuki Australia looking after all other areas. Generally, there are only minor differences including model grades, specificationsorstylingtrims.

InbothmarketseVitarawillbeavailable in either two- or four-wheel drive with two specificationlevels:2WDMotionandAWD Ultra. In Queensland a 2WD Ultra is also offered.

The long-running Suzuki Vitara remains on sale in either petrol or hybrid powertrains but differs significantly from its EV sibling which is marginally longer but with a significantly longer wheelbase that provides additional interior space as wellasabolder,morepremiumstylingand newtechfeatures.

Styling

The design of the e Vitara is a major departure from the fairly bland looks of previous Vitara models. It’s much bolder and more adventurous with a smooth but sculpted exterior sitting above, and surrounded by prominent black plastic claddingtoinfersomeoff-roadcredentials.

Atthe front the tallerect bonnetsitsover LED headlights and large LED daytime running lights. The usual narrow ‘grille’ thatidentifiesmostEVs,withalargeSuzuki badgeinthecentre.

The rear doors have the annoying ‘hidden’ handles mounted high on the C pillars and designed to suggest a coupe appearance.

The rear mirrors have a similar design to thoseatthefrontwithafull-widthlightbar linkingthem.

Both variants come with 18-inch alloy wheels.

Ultragetsapanoramicnonopeningglass roofwitharetractablesunshade.

There are four colour options. Arctic White is standard. Bluish Black Pearl and LandBreezeGreenarean$890optionwith two-tone also available with a Black Pearl roofontheUltrafor$1340.

Interior

The biggest design feature comes inside the e Vitara. The brown seats and trim will not be to everyone’s taste but at least it’s differentandwelovedit.

Thefloatingcentreconsoleispianoblack that’s hard to view in bright sunlight and too easy to smudge. A big plus, at least in our eyes, are physical climate control switchesinthecentreofthedash.

There are twin large cupholders in the centre console although grippers would have helped for smaller containers. The door bins are large and wide. There’s also a large space below the centre console for keepingitemsawayfrompryingeyes.

Ultragetsasmartphonewirelesscharger atthebaseofthedashboard.

Some clever design allows rear seat and boot space to be adjusted with the seats able to slide back and forwards. When the seats are all the way back for maximum

legroom luggage space is just 238 litres. At the other extreme, legroom is quite cramped but luggage space is increased to 310 litres. With the rear seatbacks folded there’s562litres.

There is a useful storage compartment beneaththebootfloorbutnosparewheel.

Powertrain

TheeVitarapowertraincombinesalithium iron-phosphate (LFP) battery system, electric drive axles and an integrated heat pumpbatterymanagementsystem.

The 2WD Motion variant comes with a 49kWh battery that drives a 106kW/193Nm motor mounted on the front axle. Ultra increases the battery to 61kWh and adds a rear-mounted motor for total output of 135kWand307Nm.

The charging port is on the front passenger side of the vehicle. Charging time for both variants are an impressive 11kWwithACand70kWwithDC.

WLTPdrivingrangeislistedat344kmand 395km respectively The Queensland-only 2WDUltrahasaclaimed426kmrange. VehicletoLoad(VTL)isavailableinboth variants.

Safety

Standard safety in all e Vitara models includes seven airbags, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist and departure prevention, forward collision warning, dual sensor brake support, multicollision braking, high beamassist,frontandrearparkingsensors andblindspotmonitoring.

RATINGS Looks: 8/10

Performance: 7/10

Safety: 7/10

Thirst: 7/10

Practicality: 7/10

Comfort: 7/10

Tech: 7/10

Value: 6/10

Ultra AWD adds front LED foglamps, adaptive high beam, hill descent control andatrailmodeswitch.

The absence of a front centre airbag and a driver monitoring system contribute to the e Vitara only gaining a four-star ANCAP rating. While the extra airbag is disappointing, not being incessantly naggedbyacamerapointingatthedriver’s face may well be a positive selling point for manydrivers–includingus.

Infotainment

Standard in both variants are 10.1-inch central touchscreen and 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster in front of the driver. There’s a 360-degree view camera as well asfrontandrearUSB-AandUSB-Cports.

The infotainment screen falls well short of the sharp high-res screens that we’re usedtofromChinesevehicles.

Motion has four-speaker audio with Ultrasteppinguptoapremium10-speaker HarmanInfinitysystem.

Driving

ThecompactsizeoftheeVitaraandtheEV agilitymakesitanexcellenturbanvehicle.

The Ultra AWD that we tested came with a 10-way adjustable driver’s seat which allowed it to settle into a comfortable drivingposition. Visibilityisgoodwithalargewindscreen, side and rear windows together with relativelythinA-pillars.

The gear selector is a rotary and push-down set-up with a park button above it. There are also physical buttons to adjust brake regeneration, hill descent,

parkingbrakeandautohold.

Zero to 100km/h acceleration is listed at 7.4 seconds from the AWD Ultra and 9.6 secondsintheFWDMotion.

The ride is relatively soft, aimed at comfortratherthansportiness.

Despite the cladding, a decent 180mm groundclearanceandtheeAxle.eVitarais only suited for modest off-road conditions. Those looking for serious bush bashing will be aware that a Jimny EV is under development and will be hoping that it comeshere.

Summing up

The compact EV SUV range is growing rapidly with most models coming from China and with very competitive pricing. This is Suzuki’s biggest challenge because the e Vitara driveaway prices run from $48,990 for the 2WD Motion through to $58,990fortheAWDUltra.

These prices drop by $2000 with limited timecashbackoffers.

Even with these discounts e Vitara sits at the top end of the compact SUV EV category and it will struggle to compete against Chinese rivals such as the BYD Atto, Jaecoo J5 and GWM Ora which are morethan$10,000cheaper.

The fact that Suzuki is a respected and trusted Japanese brand will no doubt attract buyers, provided they aren’t deterredbyitbeingmanufacturedinIndia. It’s a capable and comfortable vehicle mostly aimed at urban conditions and with a fair balance between physical and touchscreen controls that will satisfy both tech-savvyandconventionaldrivers.

Around the grounds

Scores, goalkickers and best players from Geelong, Geelong & District, and Bellarine Football League matches played on Saturday 16 May.

GEELONG

Newtown & Chilwell 2.5(17), 6.7(43), 10.8(68),11.8(74)

BellPark3.2(20),3.6(24),4.9(33),6.14(50)

Goals: Newtown & Chilwell - L. Nash 3, N. Jephson 2, L. Morey 2, A. Harkness, J. Modola, J. Colville, B. Hocking. Bell Park - J. Lamb 2, J. Sarcevic 2, A. Osborne, T. Pearson.

Best: Newtown & Chilwell - A. Dunn, N. Harris, L. Nash, L. Morey, B. Sutterby, J. Modola. Bell Park - T. Pearson, F. Lucas, I. Wareham,M.Jones,D.Melksham,H.Lucas.

Grovedale 4.4(28), 8.6(54), 11.11(77), 15.12(102)

Leopold4.3(27),6.5(41),9.9(63),14.12(96)

Goals: Grovedale - T. Gillett 3, B. Kreuger 3, J. McCarthy 3, R. Abbott 2, W. Ford, C. Whyte, F. Kirsopp-Cole, J. Martyn. Leopold - B. Clark 2, M. Williams 2, D. Henderson 2, W. Sheahan, H. Morphet 2, D. Brislane, J. Dahlhaus,T.Porter,B.Ritchie.

Best: Grovedale - C. Whyte, J. McCarthy, R. Abbott, B. Spicer, L. Ellis, C. Leach. Leopold - M. Burgess, W. Sheahan, D. Pitcher, M. Thompson,C.Alexander,A.Enever.

South Barwon 5.1(31), 10.5(65), 13.10(82), 23.12(150)

St Albans 5.4(34), 7.8(50), 7.13(55), 11.18(84)

Goals: South Barwon - Z. Stephens 4, L. Noble 4, J. Broughton 3, M. Caldow 3, J. Driver 2, T. White, K. O’Neil, L. Page, L. Weidemann, D. Madigan, E. Borys, M. Mawson.StAlbans-T.Higgins3,T.Gunther 2, B. Coutts 2, B. McDonald, H. Cockerell, M.McKenzie,L.Gray.

Best: SouthBarwon-B.Kellett,D.Madigan, L. Weidemann, E. Borys, Z. Stevens, L. Noble. St Albans - B. Wolfenden, M. McKenzie,T.Higgins,H.Elliot,F.Keck.

St Joseph’s 5.2(32), 10.5(65), 17.9(111), 23.12(150)

Geelong West Giants 1.4(10), 2.6(18), 4.8(32),8.11(59)

Goals: St Joseph’s - J. Jovanovic 7, G. Posterino 4, M. Chafer 2, P. De Grandi 2, G. Gallagher, R. Aquillina, J. Hose, M. White, J. Adams, R. Connolly, J. Gow, F. Posterino. Geelong West Giants - N. Allen 3, L. Horniblow 2, O. Leavold, T. Handley, M. Scoullar.

Best: StJoseph’s-J.O’Dwyer,J.Jovanovic,J. Hose, G. Posterino, E. McCoy, R. Aquilina. Geelong West Giants - T. Nyak, A. Codd, T. Drennan,M.Kelly,L.Handley,N.Allen.

St Mary’s 8.3(51), 15.8(98), 22.15(147), 32.24(216)

NorthShore0.1(1),1.2(8),2.4(16),2.4(16)

Goals: St Mary’s - J. Willson 5, L. Peck 5, P. Dowling 4, H. Segrave 4, O. Flynn 3, C. Sprague 3, E. Wales 2, N. Biggs 2, L. Bartolo. NorthShore-B.Cooper,B.Clifford.

Best: St Mary’s - H. Benson, B. Ham, E. MacDonald, J. Willson, M. Butcher, H. McMahon. North Shore - D. Gudasic, M. Kavenagh, H. Purcell, D. Bennett, J. Sammut-Miljevic,M.Gudasic.

BELLARINE

Anglesea 9.4(58), 16.6(102), 23.10(148), 31.16(202)

SurfCoast1.0(6),5.0(30),6.1(37),8.3(51)

Goals: Anglesea - A. Gras 10, J. Jaska 4, J. Walters 3, J. Baker 2, M. Virgona 2, J. Hogan 2, W. Batson 2, L. Smith, C. Hutchinson, A. Braaksma, R. Baker, J. Anderson, J. King. Surf Coast - A. Black 2, S. Hughes 2, M. Wright2,T.Flanigan,H.Gravener.

Best: Anglesea-A.Gras,S.Leeds,J.Keras,I. Hardman, J. Jaska, M. Virgona. Surf CoastJ.Pierce,D.Flanigan,D.Coleman,E.Weeks, E.Waldron,T.Barker.

Newcomb 7.4(46), 11.6(72), 13.15(93), 15.16(106) Drysdale0.2(2),4.6(30),7.6(48),14.8(92)

Goals: Newcomb - J. Saltalamacchia 4, D. Johnstone 4, J. Duke 3, C. Harvey, R. Hollins, J. Watson. Drysdale - J. Hunt 7, J. Robbins2,J.Breust2,C.Tainton,J.Watson.

Best: Newcomb - P. McGinley, J. Taylor, J. Saltalamacchia, D. Johnstone, L. Wagener, F. Anscombe. Drysdale - J. Hunt, J. Breust, J. Hawkins, B. Sykes, C. Tainton, D. Foley.

Geelong Amateur 4.2(26), 9.4(58), 16.5(101),19.10(124)

Torquay 3.4(22), 6.5(41), 6.8(44), 10.10(70)

Goals: Geelong Amateur - S. Lloyd 6, M. Day 3, H. Kershaw 2, R. Ferguson 2, A. Browne 2, J. Hickey, J. Sheahan, D. Weigl. Torquay-B.Dyer3,N.Turner2,T.Smith2, T. Boak, A. Hanley.

Best: Geelong Amateur - M. Day, H. Kershaw, A. Browne, S. Lloyd, A. Hanegraaf, R. Ferguson. Torquay - W. Doyle, W. Montebello, B. Dyer, S. Meagher, S. Ham, B. Henderson.

BarwonHeads2.5(17),6.7(43),15.10(100), 17.12(114)

Modewarre 1.0(6), 7.2(44), 12.4(76), 15.11(101)

Goals: Barwon Heads - M. Jensen 3, A. Ford 2, D. Bond 2, J. Henderson, K. Smith 2, X. Whitcher, O. Poon, H. Hyland, D. Graham, C. Ward, J. Syddall. Modewarre - T. Hornsey 4, C. Joseph 3, M. Farrelly 2, F. Royal, S. Hutley, M. Mckim, O. Butler, D. Hemphill, T. Scott.

Best: Barwon Heads - A. Ford, S. Christensen, D. Bond, C. Hurst, K. Polley, J. Henderson. Modewarre - O. Cooke, O. Butler, M. Farrelly, C. Farrell, T. Hornsey, M. Fenton.

Queenscliff 1.4(10), 4.9(33), 8.11(59), 19.15(129)

OceanGrove1.3(9),1.3(9),3.7(25),5.7(37)

Goals: Queenscliff - J. Monahan 4, I. Grant 4, J. Wright 2, J. Rush 2, T. Monahan, N. Rippon, L. Kidd, S. Bowtell, J. McHenry, S. Kalbfell, J. Cincotta. Ocean Grove - H. Cashin 2, L. Waldron, T. Ruck, J. Thomson. Best: Queenscliff - N. Rippon, J. Wright, C. Durran, K. Keenan, H. Gower, L. Kidd. Ocean Grove - F. Rolfs, L. Jarrad, H. Walsh, A. Woods, K. Reilly.

GEELONG&DISTRICT

East Geelong 5.4(34), 7.4(46), 11.11(77), 13.15(93)

Anakie2.0(12),6.3(39),6.3(39,9.3(57)

Goals: East Geelong - Z. Smith 3, A. Steele 3, C. Ezard 3, M. McCombe 2, B. Crombie, L. Zimmer. Anakie - J. Francese-Fulton 4, M. Gavin 3, J. Mawson, J. Alessi. Best: East Geelong - J. McIntyre, G. Munari,B.Mulvahil,C.Ezard,J.Beardsell, J. Payne. Anakie - J. Francese-Fulton, N. McDonald, J. Mawson, L. Scerri, R. Law, J. Moylan.

Thomson 4.3(27), 7.3(45), 10.8(68), 16.12(108)

Corio2.4(16),5.8(38),7.12(56),11.17(83)

Goals: Thomson - J. Camm 9, P. Davis 3, N. Hanneysee 2, J. Hanneysee, J. Blair. Corio - H. Carr 6, C. Gibson 3, D. Waldron, B. Cervenka.

Best: Thomson - J. Camm, S. Jacka, J. Blair, C. Eden, C. Judd, J. Hanneysee. Corio - H. Carr, T. Mcmahon, B. Ash, M. Jelenic, J. Hall, H. Burns.

Belmont Lions 3.1(19), 6.6(42), 6.7(43), 12.10(82) Bannockburn 3.4(22), 5.6(36), 6.10(46), 8.11(59)

Goals: BelmontLions-J.Butler2,S.Hogan, C. Anderson, B. McPherson, J. Grohmann, J. Wood, B. Mahoney, L. Slorach, S. Gunther, J. Evans, B. Evans. Bannockburn - F. Wilson 2, A. Mahoney, T. Battaglia, J. Gorman, W. Mack, S. Giles, R. Maibaum. Best: Belmont Lions - L. Slorach, J. Butler, S.Gunther,S.Hogan,M.Murdoch,B.Eddy. Bannockburn - R. Ginn, A. Beardsell, T. Bath, L. Bowdern, R. Maibaum.

Bell Post Hill 6.3(39), 11.4(70), 14.7(91), 21.9(135)

Winchelsea 2.1(13), 2.3(15), 7.6(48), 14.8(92)

Goals: Bell Post Hill - D. Handley 4, N. Costello 3, D. Witney 3, A. Casey 3, E. Coffey, R. Dixon, L. Wilson, B. Carter, Z. Jones, T. Barton, T. Bryans, D. Godwin. Winchelsea - C. Primmer 4, I. Parish 2, J. Gould 2, L. Carver, R. Mahncke, S. Adams, J. Sampi, C. Parish, R. Williams.

Best: Bell Post Hill - D. Handley, T. Barton, C. Chircop, J. Yates, Z. Jones, D. Witney. Winchelsea - F. Parish, C. Parish, I. Parish, L. Gemmill, S. Adams, L. Carver.

Inverleigh 1.5(11), 6.8(44), 9.8(62), 14.13(97) Geelong West Giants 2.3(15), 4.6(30), 6.7(43),8.10(58)

Goals: Inverleigh-M.Dickson7,F.O’Keefe 2, A. Donohue 2, D. Muir, N. Sneskov, B. Warren. Geelong West Giants - N. Butters 3, S. Goddard 2, J. Carey, D. Kollegger, S. Keane.

Best: Inverleigh - M. Dickson, H. Bauer, F. O’Keefe, J. Fiolet, B. Collins, W. Stoney. Geelong West Giants - J. Collins, R. Seresi-Unsworth, B. Mitchell, N. Condon, J. Jans, A. Buckwell.

Werribee Centrals 4.5(29), 8.8(56), 11.11(77),12.14(86) North Geelong 3.1(19), 7.5(47), 8.6(54), 11.9(75)

Goals: Werribee Centrals - J. MacDonald

3, I. Cohen 3, K. Kur 2, K. Adorno, B. Linehan-Cunningham, T. Camilleri, D. Chesterman. North Geelong - L. Parker 2, O. Riccardi 2, R. Desnoy 2, C. Smith, B. Miller, C. Pasque, D. Fazio, T. Davis.

Best: Werribee Centrals - A. Stone, J. Sutton, L. Robinson, J. Stephenson, K. Kur, C. Saliba. North Geelong - B. Riccardi, C. Mcdonald, C. Farrell, L. Schwennesen, R. Desnoy, D. Fazio.

Around the courts

Scores and best players from Geelong, Geelong & District, and Bellarine Netball League A Grade matchesplayedonSaturday16May.

BELLARINE

OceanGrove45defQueenscliff41

Best: Ocean Grove - Julia Mitchell, Georgia Ryan, Gemma Bell. Queenscliff - Anne Church, Amelia Baker, Alex Booker.

Geelong Amateur 55 def Torquay 42

Best: Geelong Amateur - Ariana Luamanu, Evie Hughes, Sophie Ritchie-Crichton. Torquay - Eliza Oxley,ElyseBoyer,GeorgiaDuncan. Modewarre 45 def Barwon Heads 42

Best: Modewarre - Sophie Brumby, Bonnie Everett, Hayley Toull. Barwon Heads - Krystal Baker, Jordan Maher, Kate Purtill. Newcomb40defDrysdale38 SurfCoast61defAnglesea36

GEELONG

Leopold57defGrovedale37

Best: Leopold - Natalie Heagney, Beyonce Palavi, Charlotte Murray. St Joseph’s 66 def Geelong West Giants34

Best: St Joseph’s - Ella Closter, Kiahna Fallon, Tegan Philip. Geelong West Giants - Alahria Smith, Isabella Clancy, Kealey Moore.

Newtown & Chilwell 67 def Bell Park40

Best: Newtown & Chilwell - Julia Woolley, Olivia Powell, Natalie Tommasini.BellPark-LouiseShaw, Madison O’Keefe, Zoey Shaw. SouthBarwon92defStAlbans26

Best: South Barwon - Michelle Svetnik, Eloise Maddox, Georgia Corbett. St Albans - Georgia Stoate, Isabel Henriksen, Amy Cook.

GEELONG&DISTRICT

Thomson52defCorio42

Best: Thomson - Alexandra Muraca, Ebony Harris, Cheyenne Philpott. Corio - Erin Dillon, Mckensie Wade, Khloe White.

EastGeelong60defAnakie30

Best: East Geelong - Bella Pearse, MollyNeeson,JenelleBaker.Anakie - Veronica Borsi, Tamara Auld, Mia Edwards.

Inverleigh 73 def Geelong West Giants10

Best: Inverleigh - Briana Walters, Jemma Schaftenaar, Riley Baker. Geelong West Giants - Sam Tucker, Taleea Drever, Sienna Kestles. Bell Post Hill 44 tied with Winchelsea44

Best: Bell Post Hill - Milla Holt, Pip Hodge, Kaytlyn Stone. WinchelseaConnieLake,MaddisonMcKiernan, Liv Barber.

Bannockburn 57 def Belmont Lions42

Best: Bannockburn - Jade Merry, Lila Morris, Sharon Ford. Belmont Lions - Sophie Allison, Rachael Kirtley, Yianna Ross.

Werribee Centrals 67 def North Geelong22

Best: Werribee Centrals - Ashlee Brunato, Julia Nash, Mia Bruce. North Geelong - Keira Marsh, Cody Dixon, Alexandra Smilovic.

Eagle Josh living the AFL dream

By Justin Flynn

From one eagle’s nest to another, Josh Lindsay is living his dream of being a professional footballer.

Lindsay, who was named this week’s AFL Rising Star, played junior footy with Newtown&ChilwellEaglesandwasdrafted at No 19 last year by West Coast.

In keeping with the birds of prey theme, Lindsay was drafted from the Geelong Falcons where he was rewarded with Under 18 All Australian selection.

The 19-year-old from Leopold went to Geelong Grammar and played with pinpoint accuracy in his ninth AFL match against GWS on Sunday, producing 17 kicks and two handballs at 95 per cent efficiency.

Lindsay said he is loving living in Perth and there were some similarities between Geelong as well as some differences.

“It’s definitely a lot warmer here, that’s for sure,” he told the Independent before flying out from Perth to Melbourne this week.

“But to be honest, there are a lot of similarities. Obviously, it’s not as big as Melbourne and there’s a lot of beaches down here, so I feel like it’s quite similar to

Geelong at the same time as well.

“You don’t have as many family and friends outside of football, but I love it.”

Lindsay said he had no issue with being drafted by any of the non-Victorian clubs and that his goal was always to play AFL.

“If it did happen, whether it was in Sydney, whether it was in Adelaide or over in Perth, I was always preparing to move

away,” he said. “I wouldn’t say it’s been too hard. I’ve loved it over here and I’ve always wanted to play AFL. So yeah, I was super stoked to get drafted to West Coast.”

Lindsay said his goals before the season were relatively simple.

“I obviously wanted to debut and I wanted to debut early as well and I was fortunate enough to play round one,” he said. “That was a huge honour. Then I just wanted to get better each game and soak in as much as I can in my first year and play consistent games and probably about halfway through the season, if I reflect on it, I’ve been quite happy with the start of the season.”

Of course, there’s always room for improvement and the left-footer said he was always working on ways to get better.

“There’s a lot of stuff at the moment that I’m working with the coaches,” he said.

“Learning all the different structures and defensive systems. So that’s something I’m continuing on working on and I feel like the more games I play, the better I’m going to be at that.”

Lindsay starred in the Eagles’ 17-point win against the Giants on Sunday and said the team was starting to believe it has what

Green machine wins to secure double chance

LOCAL TENNIS

Donna Schoenmaekers

Play was looking dubious for Round 14 of TuesdayWomen’sthisweekwithmanyteams wanting to make the most of the last round of the season, but not all matches being completed.

Third-placedGeelongLawnGreenagainst ladder leaders Moriac in Section 1.

Lawn were one point behind second placedSurfcoastBellbraeGreenatthestartof the round and their match with counterparts Bellbrae White would determine who would get a second chance next week.

Bellbrae White, enjoying their second season in the section, faced Bellbrae Green who, with a few new faces, are looking to put themselves back into grand final contention.

This week the scoreline belied the tennis with many games going to deuce and White pushing hard in every set. Green, however, showed that the new lineup is up for the task, taking a 5-1 win.

Marg Leigh and Jayne Steel kicked off the match with a 6-3 win, while Miyo Fallshaw and Di Williams consolidated, winning 6-1. Leigh teamed with Jacqui Duxson to outlast Olivia Cottrill and Amrita Smith 7-5 while Marie Kullenberg and Kerryn Viner put White on the board with a 6-3 win.

Green then rounded out the match with SteelandFallshaw,andDuxsonandWilliams,

winning6-4andtomaintainsecondspotand the second chance with their matchup with Moriac in the semi-final next week.

Grovedale ended the season on a high, defeating Surfcoast Torquay Black 5-1.

Josephine Long and Winsome Batchelor blasted out of the blocks for Torquay, winning the first set 6-0, but then Grovedale tookchargedroppingonly15gamesfromthe remainingfivesets.Thewinpushedtheteam into sixth ahead of Bellbrae White.

Geelong Lawn Pink were going to finish the season in fifth regardless of the result against reigning premier Ocean Grove, but that didn’t stop them finishing the season on a high.

Ocean Grove, at home, started well with Kate Lockhart and Judi Broad winning the

Willis claims title in home surf

Jan Juc’s Willis Droomer delivered an outstanding performance right on his doorstep to claim the Under 21 Victorian State Title at Jan Juc.

Some of the state’s best young surfers went head-to-head on Sunday 17 May and in the Under 21 men’s final, Droomer claimed the Victorian title after a composed and consistent performance saw him post a winning two-wave total of 12.33 points. Droomer held off a strong challenge from Lucas Hickson, who finished runner-up with 11.77 points in one of the closest finals of the event.

Remy Filer finished in third place while JarvisBarrowroundedoutthefinalinfourth.

“I’m pretty happy,” Droomer said. “It’s nice to have a comp at home at Jan Juc. It was good fun and really good camaraderie with the boys. The waves were a bit slow at

times, but super fun when they came.”

The Under 21 women’s final delivered another impressive display, with Rose Holland taking the Victorian title after combining sharp rail work and strong wave selection to finish with a 11.84 point heat total.

Stevie O’Day secured second place ahead of Sara Hickson in third and Sophie Wilkinson in fourth.

The Junior Teams division was claimed by Torquay Boardriders Club after a strong all-round team performance with Peninsula Boardriders Club finishing second and Phillip Island Boardriders Club placing third.

Peninsula Boardriders Club took top honours in the Women’s Teams division, edging out Phillip Island Boardriders Club in an exciting final.

it takes to perform more consistently.

“I definitely think it’s sooner rather than later,” he said. “We’ve got such a great young group at the moment and it’s led by Jamie Maddocks, the development coach.

“So I’d say it’s not going to be very long at all. All the boys are so driven and we just want the best out of ourselves. I think we’re getting better each week and the wins will continue to come.”

Lindsay said there were several experienced players at West Coast who have helped his development.

“Jack Graham, he welcomed me straight away as soon as I got to the club and lived with him,” he said.

“And then the likes of Liam Baker and Liam Duggan, obviously they play down half-back and I’m quite close with them and they give me great guidance and support.

“And then a lot of coaches as well like Mitch Duncan, the backline coach, I’ve worked a lot with him this year and then as I mentioned before, Jamie Maddocks has been really good for me.”

Lindsay will line-up for West Coast on Saturday afternoon against Collingwood at the MCG in front of a packed house for Scott Pendlebury’s record breaking game.

first 6-4 and Alison Lugg with Diane Pay the second 6-1.

Lawn turned it around with Georgie ParkerandIdaDurrantakingthethirdset6-4 while on the second court Lynda Nixon and Megan Williams came through 7-5, levelling thematchonsets,butstillfourgamesbehind.

Lawn continued their good form into the final two sets winning 6-4 and 6-1 for a 4-2 win.

Next week will see Ocean Grove take on Geelong Lawn Green at home in the elimination final. Grove will be hoping their dominant form over Green will continue, having had 6-0 and 5-1 wins this season.

Green will be hoping they can follow compatriots Pink and inflict the Grove’s second loss in a row and end their finals run.

Cougars looking to arrest form slump

With one win from their past five matches, Geelong Cougars need a big performance this Sunday against Western Warriors in round 10 of Victorian Netball League.

The Cougars sit in sixth spot on the Championship ladder and are one of four teams on fours wins.

The Warriors have also lost four from their past five and the game at Melton’s Cobblebank Indoor Stadium on Sunday 25 May at 3pm is crucial.

Geelong’s losses have been far from poor, though.

The Cougars went down to secondplaced Casey Demons by seven goals last round, by two against third-placed Northeast Blaze in round 8 and by seven to Bendigo Strikers in round 7.

A key matchup will be between Warriors’ Olivia Ellis and Cougars’ Alahria Smith in the midcourt while Newcomb Power sharpshooter Carly Sanders has been in good form under the net for the Cougars.

Geelong also takes on Western Warriors in the Under 23s at 1.40pm with the Cougars unbeaten and on top of the ladder.

With seven wins and two draws, the Cougars will expect a tough match with the Warriors coming off a win and a strong performance by shooter Ella Closter, who scored 44 goals at 89 percent accuracy.

She will be looking for another big match against Cougars’ defenders Mia Aitken, Georgia Howell and Keeley Smith.

Panthers and Blues deadlocked

Independent photographer Ivan Kemp was at Myers Reserve on Saturday 16 May to see home side Bell Post Hill snatch a thrilling tie against Winchelsea.

Tigers hang on in thriller

Grovedale withstood a last-term comeback against Leopold to snatch a six-point win at Leopold Memorial Park on Saturday 16 May and Independent photographer Ivan Kemp was there to capture some of the action.

Points shared in an epic thriller

By Justin Flynn

Bell Post Hill’s resurrection continues with its young squad fighting back in the final term to snatch a tie against Winchelsea with both sides sitting inside the Geelong & District Netball League top five.

Winch led by six goals in the final term, but the Panthers lifted and managed to salvage something from a gripping match at Myers Reserve on Saturday 16 May.

It was another step forward for Daniel Black’s squad with Bell Post Hill aiming to end its long finals drought.

“Four years ago at the Hill we lost by 60 goals against Winch,” Black said.

“We’ve put a lot of work in. I keep telling them if they stay in the game for longer, like never quit. The girls are starting to believe in themselves.

“It’sabitofashameyoudon’tgetthewin with the opportunity but again you get two points so that’s something. It’s more about having moments to prove ourselves a little bit.”

Black took over at Myers Reserve four years ago and the long-term plan is starting to come to fruition. The Panthers won six games last year and already have four wins and a draw this season.

“Everyone is buying in,” Black said.

“We’ve had two or three really handy little additions with some experience, Milla Holt, who’s only a kid still, but she’s played a lot of netball and has some experience.

“We have Pip Hodge, who’s an experienced midcourter and they’ve just complimented (the side) and they’re just beautiful girls. Culturally they’re the right people. ”

An example of embracing Black’s culture is Sharni Van Doren, who came from Lara. Van Doren didn’t want to abandon the Cats and was prepared to stay, but the club wasn’t able to field an A Grade side in the Geelong Netball League this year.

“She’s just an amazing cultural fit,” Black said. “Because she knew the state of play at Lara and didn’t want to walk out and that just spoke of her character.”

New Winchelsea coach Maddison McKiernancrossedtotheGDNLfromSouth Barwonandsaidshewasstillgettingusedto the league.

“Thehardestpartisprobablynotknowing the teams and the players,” she said.

“Sowhenwecomeuptothem,it’skindof ashock,butIguessthesilverliningisthere’s no pre-ideas.

“I think the biggest thing that Mags (cocoach Maggie Lind) said is, ‘winning isn’t

actually something you can just know how to do. You’ve got to learn how to win’

“We did have that lead for most of the game and we struggled to hold on to it.

So that’s why we spoke to them after the game.

“We just came off our structures, we got

tired and weren’t getting up for rebounds.”

TheBlues’onlyblemishthisseasonwasa loss in round 5 to Inverleigh and have done enough to suggest they will be thereabouts again this season.

Lind, who played six games with Collingwood’s Super Netball side in 2022, was coaxed to Winch by McKiernan with both involved with VNL club City West Falcons.

“It’s great having her experience,” McKiernan said.

“I’vebeenintheFalconsprogramthelast four, five years now, and she’s been great.

“It was good to get her down to play (at Winchelsea) and help with the girls, especially me being quite young. She’s got that experience on me, which helps as well.”

McKiernan said there were positives to comeoutofSaturday’sdeadlockagainstBell Post Hill.

“We’ve had girls away and we’ve had injuries,” McKiernan said. “We didn’t have Grace Pullen (knee) on the weekend so it was a completely different side.

“I think we started quite well and the one thing we’ve been getting the girls to work on is that communication on court as well, which can really help put the other teams under pressure.

“With the different lineup, our communication, there are still lots of good takeouts from the game. It’s just those little one percenters that we need to fix.”

Signs of life at Burdoo Reserve as Grovedale hangs on

By Justin Flynn

Grovedalewas26pointsuphalfwaythrough the last quarter against Leopold and it seemed a second win for the season was almost a formality.

But when William Sheahan kicked truly at the 26-minute mark, suddenly there was only a six-point buffer and Grovedale coach Jacob Spolding just had to trust that his players would hold on.

“As a coaching group we had some discussions on the bench about what we can do to try and halt the momentum that Leopold had,” Spolding said.

“And by the time we have those discussions, to be honest you leave a lot of it down to your playing group and your leaders and they were able to make some changes out there.”

Despite a frantic few minutes, the Tigers did hold on to record a 15.12(102) to 14.12(96)wintomakeittwofromfivegames so far.

“They put a spare behind the ball and released one of our defenders as a spare defender and he was able to take some intercept marks so we obviously do a little bit of that situational training throughout the week and preseason,” Spolding said.

“Andthenitgetstoapointwherein-game they then have the ability to implement

it and they were able to do that yesterday which was terrific.”

Leopold fell just short of giving Marcus Thompson a fitting 200th-game gift.

Affectionately known as ‘Pup’ , Spolding said Thompson is a true Leopold legend.

“What he’s been able to do, one-club player, 200 games, three-time premiership player, I have huge respect for the way he goes about his footy,” he said.

“I had a great chat to him before the game, but also after the game and that’s a

credit to him as a person to play 200 games at one club. In this day and age, it isn’t an easyfeatwiththewaythatfooty’splayedand the injuries and the movement with players from league to league and things like that.

“It was a great day obviously for Pup and their footy club and absolute respect to the way he goes about it. He’s a great player and a really good person.”

Mdfielder Cooper Whyte, whose VFL team Werribee had a bye, starred and was a massive reason behind the win.

“I was really pleased with his game yesterday,” Spolding said.

“He was able to win a lot of ball on the inside, he was able to get the ball on the outside, hit the scoreboard as well.”

Grovedale was potent in attack with Tom Gillett, Joe McCarthy and Bradley Kreuger each booting three goals.

“We think that’s our point of difference,” Spolding said.

“Ryan Abbott also kicked a couple, which was great. The three big boys all kickedthreeeach,Kruger,McCarthy,Gillett, and then for Ryan to kick two, so that gets you 11.

“And then the smalls are able to kick a couple of goals, and the midfielders might be able to get one or two, then that’s what we’re after.”

What pleased Spolding most about the win was that his side opened up a good lead to hang onto.

“We were challenged at different points,” he said.

“We were able to stem the tide and kick some goals and generate some momentum ourway,knowingthatatsomestageLeopold will have their turn.

“To be able to hang on and hopefully build some confidence off the back of that was really pleasing for our group and as a coach I was really proud of our effort.”