All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueNick has taken over ownership of Forster-based Fox Garage Doors A bit of a departure from his previous occupations Nick is nonetheless looking forward to the challenge had been on a 10-month caravanning odyssey making their way across mainland Australia peppered with a three week side-trip to South Africa The 49-year-old has had an extensive and varied working career from flying helicopters in remote Papua New Guinea to working as a ski instructor on the Victorian snow fields I wanted a different challenge," Nick said of his decision to settle into the new business Nick moved to Colorado where he was introduced to his initial first love Nick Cleaver has swapped a career snow skiing and as a helicopter pilot to running Forster-based Fox Garage Doors Picture by Jeanene DuncanHe returned home to Australia and at just 15 years of age qualified for the Australian skiing team and the following year competed in the moguls at the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympic games in France where he finished 11th The result made him Australia's most successful moguls competitor at that time Two years later Nick returned to Olympic competition representing Australia at the Lillehammer winter games In the final of the 1991-92 World Cup season he was placed fifth while at the 1993 World Championships in Australia he was placed third after the elimination round Throughout his competitive freestyle skiing career Nick recorded 12 top-10 World Cup performances in both moguls I'd had it in the back of my mind at the time that I would rather be flying than skiing Nick returned home and began terrain park design coaching and gained his helicopter licence It was while he was doing a stint of heliskiing in the Canadian province of British Columbia Nick made the decision to gain his helicopter licence "I'd had it in the back of my mind at the time that I would rather be flying than skiing," he said Nick spent many years flying in New Guinea Picture suppliedAfter flying tourists around the Great Barrier Reef and the coastline along Victoria's Great Ocean Road Nick spent the next seven years as a utility pilot along the New Guinea oil pipelines as a FIFO and in the gas and oil industry in South Australia Unable to completely step aside from skiing Nick settled into 'working from home' after the couple purchased Clarendon Forest Retreat at Possum Brush a secluded nature reserve in the Talawahl Nature Reserve For the next eight years the couple welcome guests staying in one of the six mud brick architect designed guest houses set on the five acre property much of the time for Nick was spent mowing the extensive grounds surrounding the cottages With a big emphasis on customer service - gleaned from eight years at Clarendon - Nick and Domonique are looking forward to continuing the tradition of looking after clients with the very best of assistance and service Jeanene has more than 40 years experience as a regional and rural journalist starting at The Land Newspaper. She also worked for Stock Journal Newspaper (SA), McPherson, Fairfax newspapers and Rural Press, and contributed to various magazines. Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy. Jeremy Miller (centre) with wife Frith and children Lily Picture by Jeanene DuncanForster's favourite watering hole May 3 as team-members from Independent for Lyne group celebrated an historic result - a massive 15.84 per cent swing in their favour All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAddressing the 'party faithful' candidate Jeremy Miller said Independent for Lyne had started 'something' and there was no going back groups have learnt the power of their voice; we have found our voice and our community has found its voice Mr Miller received just under 16,000 first preference votes by Monday afternoon View +6 PhotosPictures by Jeanene DuncanDespite a resounding win for Nationals' candidate who secured more than 37,400 votes (May 5) the grassroots group believed they had changed the Lyne electorate landscape from a safe National seat to a marginal seat While the Nationals had retained it grip on Lyne there was a 6.31 per cent swing against the party May 4 Ms Penfold said it would be a great honour and privilege to represent the people of the Lyne electorate I will do my very best as your representative in the federal parliament Digby Wilson secured more than 19,750 votes locally Labor had a 1.79 per cent swing against the party Trumpet of Patriots secured 2350 votes (2.34 per cent increase) Independent Jeremy Miller 15.84 per cent up Family First (1.46pc +) Citizens Party (.39pc +) Libertarian (3.75pc+) and Legalise Cannabis (5.32pc+) We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy It’s been the focal point of the beach at Forster for over fifty years and now the new multi-million-dollar two storey Forster Surf Life Saving Club will be officially opened tomorrow – Saturday March 1 Federal funding of $3.59 million was gained through the former Nationals Government under the Building Better Regions Fund to deliver the project obtained by the former Member for Myall Lakes – the late Stephen Bromhead – allowed for all three stages of the project to be finished said the community are the big winners with the creation of a building that will house key amenities and spaces a café where members and visitors can relax and socialise plus a training area for ongoing education and skill development of surf lifesavers,” Dr Gillespie said There are upgraded amenities for convenience with efficiently designed spaces for storage facilities Enhanced surveillance capabilities have been included implementing state-of-the-art technology and design features to bolster safety and monitoring efforts along the coastline Gillespie said he was pleased former Nationals Governments at federal and state level have delivered this state-of-the-art facility that will assure a strong future for surf lifesaving and water safety for many years to come Privacy Policy choosing a coastal town to call “the one” takes time and bought her first home in Dee Why in 2008 and bought a mid-century home 600 metres from Burgess Beach “I was worried about leaving Sydney for a small town where I only knew a handful of people but it didn’t take long to find our community,” Moody says Browse Domain’s property and lifestyle magazines “Through the Forster Runners group at Beach Bums Cafe we met incredible people who are now some of our closest friends.” Moody juggles freelance marketing and co-hosting the Women’s Running Collective podcast from the town’s new library studio with afternoon surfing or playing on the beach with her two kids The couple are continuing to transform their beloved home, Little Blue Casa. “It’s rare to find a small town with so much opportunity,” Moody says. “But somehow, Forster manages it.” The best homes for sale in Sydney this weekend Point Piper trophy home with private beach access for sale Fancy living within an 18-hole championship golf course? Darren Rice of Elders Real Estate Forster says the town is more affordable than other NSW coastal hubs and attracts many families. Recent infrastructure upgrades have improved accessibility, cutting the travel time from Sydney to three hours. “The changes we’re seeing are still in their early stages, which means Forster remains a hotbed for future growth,” Rice says. “It’s no longer just a holiday spot – it’s an investment with boundless potential.” 2 Baths3 ParkingView listing Elevated directly opposite Burgess Beach, this two-storey home captures sweeping ocean views, best enjoyed from the expansive front balcony spanning the home’s length. Out back, a private patio overlooks the in-ground pool and fully fenced yard, completing its idyllic setting. The information on this website is intended to be of a general nature only and doesn't consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. where we are privileged to live and operate said urgent federal and state government intervention was needed before more communities were left without access to basic medical care She proposes wiping HECS debts for GPs who train outside major cities and removing payroll tax for rural clinics "The doctor shortage in regional Australia isn't just an inconvenience and living in towns where there are no specialists at all "We've got doctors in their 70s wanting to retire but can't because no one is coming to replace them - it would mean the town has no access to a GP." Regional health care has been grappling with chronic workforce shortages resulting in reduced access to vital healthcare services longer wait times and leading to increased pressure on hospital staff "Rather than investing further into Medicare Urgent Care Clinics which cost taxpayers five times more than a standard GP visit we need a regional-first model that supports existing clinics and builds medical capacity in small communities," Dr Forster said "We need governments at both the federal and state level to shift priorities and work together on practical Dr Forster said greater investment in GPs will benefit the community Dr Tanya Forster is working to bring doctors to regional areas Picture supplied"Wiping a doctor's HECS debt would be far cheaper than flying in locums or building million-dollar urgent care clinics," she said "We also need to be giving doctors access to a reduced interest rate for those who relocate to support GPs showing a genuine commitment to working in the regions." Dr Forster also suggested more university placements and fully regional training pathways to grow the next generation of rural GPs "We need to increase regional student places and training centres such as the University of Sydney School of Rural Health in Dubbo allow medical students to complete their entire medical degree regionally," she said "We know that increased exposure to regional life and regional practice supports more doctors to make the choice to remain in a regional area during their career." The doctor shortage in regional Australia isn't just an inconvenience Data from the Regional Australian Institute shows 40 per cent of Australians living in cities would consider a move to the regions however access to healthcare is the top concern holding them back we need healthcare systems that work outside the capital cities," she said "Regional Australians make up 30 per cent of the population yet the government spends $848 less per person on their healthcare annually compared to city dwellers "Other financial incentives such as increased Practice Incentive Payments (PIPs) and Service Incentive Payments (SIPs) would reward doctors who work outside metropolitan locations and to help regional practices remain viable." Dr Forster is also proposing a regional-first model that supports existing clinics and builds medical capacity in small communities "We need a model where larger clinics in the regions can support nearby smaller towns which is likely to create a more efficient and sustainable model particularly when these practices can reduce overheads by hubbing infrastructure back to the larger practice," she said "The Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone will cover 20,000 square kilometers of land from Dubbo to Dunedoo and is projected to see a workforce of 5000 construction workers at its peak but who is going to provide their healthcare?" Hi! I'm Ciara and I've been working as a journalist for a number of years now, covering everything ranging from council, human interest stories, community news and sport. Got a story? Email me at ciara.bastow@austcommunitymedia.com.au Error: no decision tree source folder detected All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe documents a draft Delivery Program 2025-29 and Operational Plan and budget for 2025-26 will both be on public exhibition until June 6 MidCoast Council general manager Adrian Panuccio said councillors had identified three priority areas for special focus during their term - roads "We have closely reviewed our budget and cut expenses where possible to inject a further $6.7 million into roads for the next financial year," Mr Panuccio said Council has plans to inject $6.7 million into roads for the next financial year Picture suppliedAs a result of the additional allocation the total funding for roads for 2025-26 is $68.47 million Mr Panuccio acknowledged that while it would not be enough to fix everything in the 3600 kilometres road network it would allow staff to reduce the rate of deterioration and improve road safety Any additional funding for the road network during 2025-26 would rely on government grants The draft Operational Plan 2025-26 details major projects that will be undertaken and shows how council is funding its 31 different service areas "While we would love to deliver all the projects and services desired by the community the reality is we have a relatively small ratepayer base spread across a large area," Mr Panuccio said The 2025-26 budget expenditure is estimated at $320 million While we would love to deliver all the projects and services desired by the community the reality is we have a relatively small ratepayer base spread across a large area This consists of $102 million from rates and $86 million from annual water grants and other funding streams are large contributors to council's overall budget The budget was based on applying the 3.80 per cent rate peg set by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) to general property rates Other increases include 3.80 per cent in waste management resulting in an annual charge of $116 applied to all properties within the collection area and $53 per year for those properties outside the collection area with an annual access charge for a standard residential meter rising to $378 with an annual connection fee of $1146 for connected properties The draft Delivery Program 2025-29 and Operational Plan 2025-26, including the annual budget and fees and charges, can be viewed at www.haveyoursay.midcoast.nsw.gov.au by Friday All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueHistorically a decision of this nature was made by councillors The unusual circumstances arose after original tender submissions exceeded the allocated budget Councillors at the March ordinary meeting rejected the quotes Council staff renegotiated with the original tender to revise the price Stephen Glendenning reported to councillors The construction of a wetland at Dunns Creek will improve water quality in Wallis Lake and create a recreational space within the wetland Picture by Jeanene DuncanWhile negotiations have not been finalised the timeframe for grant funding necessitates the start of the work as soon as possible The project will be jointly funded by the state government and council The weland will be constructed on The Lakes Way "The upstream catchment has experienced increased development and there is no water quality treatment within the catchment," Mr Glendenning said "The existing urban development is impacting on the quality of the stormwater run-off discharging into The Lakes Estate Pond and ultimately Wallis Lake I am supportive of the project but it is beyond the normal delegation of the general manager "Increased nutrients and sediments are problematic for natural waterways and can degrade ecosystem function and aesthetic appeal." The wetland area has been designed to treat overflow from the constructed Lakes Estate Pond and remove dissolved nutrients through biological uptake before discharging into Wallis Lake The wetland will restore some of the natural wetland functions that would have historically occurred on the floodplain prior to development and minimise impacts on native vegetation and habitat the wetland will be planted with a variety of suitable indigenous native wetland species known to effectively remove nutrients while at the same time function will also function as an area for passive community recreation and design deputy mayor Jeremy Miller voted against the proposal "I am supportive of the project but it is beyond the normal delegation of the general manager," Cr Miller said "I understand we are between a rock and a hard place and deferring that is not an option but I am concerned about the process and precedent," he said "We have a tender process for a reason; it's all about accountability and transparency and a process and we can't delegate to one person," Cr Graham said "This process needs to be followed regardless of whether we have a time frame or not," he said Claire Pontin said she agreed with the sentiment expressed by the opposing councillors "But I have asked staff to do this only when it is extremely necessary and this is the case," she said the evaluation will take place and acted on before it comes back to council." Cr Peter Howard echoed fellow councillor concerns but given the extraordinary circumstances and the fact that the director has stated we would have normally adopted this anyway." Paul De Szell confirmed the urgent need to rush the process through was primary due to the costs involved and the opportunity to save significant costs Philip Beazley supported the recommendation "There's been so much flooding over the past few years; the road repairs there have been great the roundabout has been great this whole area has been green wasteland and it will be used in a very positive way when the project is completed." Thomas O'Keefe welcomed the project after witnessing several wetlands being filled in in recent times The process of evaluation is based on a risk basis which includes performance risk and takes into account the experience of those tendering plus there is a whole raft of factors that come into play "The there is a recommendation based on that score by the evaluation committee who will come back with a recommendation based on those scores." Picture by Marina NeilI AM beyond tired of the ongoing violence towards women Australian Femicide Map reports 24 Australian women have been killed this year between January 13 and April 25 and why are our politicians virtually silent on this Our basic right to exist freely in public is being ripped away Most recently it has been on the Fernleigh Track a place that should offer peace and freedom All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueHow have we allowed this to become normal Where our presence in public spaces is treated like a risk we are taking and live without being blamed for the violence committed against us We are done being told to be careful or stay quiet and alert This is not about individual men's feelings this is about a culture that protects perpetrators and burdens women with the cost of survival until it's none you do not get to tell us how to feel we have the right to be loud and we absolutely have the right to be safe OVER Easter I travelled to a small town on the northwest slopes and plains called Bingara A huge number of people were free camping in the district on the Gwydir Come Saturday I noticed the local IGA had people lined up almost out the doors trying to buy their Easter supplies The reason for the queue was internet wasn't working in the town I'm told the Telstra repeater station was either down for maintenance or just down Double Bay or Merewether without internet every week How does the 12th richest country in the world ignore this all-too-common bush problem Telstra says if you're not happy use another provider During this visit a local developed a medical issue But they do have a multi-purpose centre (small hospital) well equipped to deal with medical problems Easy - just teleconference a big city hospital for guidance ten hours had passed before access could be established The staff at MPS are amazing like all medical professionals I believe it's a Hunter area health facility and problem stump up the funds for a better internet link to the centre more expensive than the non-existing service Politicians should hang their heads in shame I find that I still have so many questions that remain unanswered Why has no maternity wear company designed clothing for the elderly males whose chest has slipped to waist level Whose idea was it to make so many grocery items difficult to open and double sealed unscrewed the cone-shaped top but no sauce came out I then discovered that as well as the screw on top there was a cap under it; a cap with a pull-out tab the size of an atom Why do government departments continually issue new complicated forms for the elderly to fill in internet connection and a degree in computer science How did Noah get over a million species of animals onto his boat was the ark a convertible to enable headroom for the giraffes Perhaps others of the elderly brigade could add questions of their own I WAS interested in Colin Rowlatt's letter ("Sydney can't keep getting cash at our expense" It is a major engineering project (not yet completed) A couple of friends and I rode the Metro when it terminated at Chatswood in about 2019 The Metro will ultimately be extended to Bankstown I learned that the Metro cars are made by the French multinational engineering firm Alstom and built in Andhra Pradesh where they are loaded onto lorries to be delivered to the service centre at Tallawong Of course Sydney isn't the only place where state government money is being spent One has only to look at the Newcastle Inner-City Bypass which is nearing completion for $450 million and the extension of the M1 Motorway from Blackhill to Raymond Terrace for $2.1 billion We here in the Hunter are not being left behind THE attitude of both major political parties towards gambling advertising is appalling Despite the damning figures revealed in Garry Linnell's column ("Hey Albo the fact that they have refused to take any action in my opinion borders on corruption Handouts from gambling companies are staggering Surely the time for drastic action has arrived and it should be immediately on the agenda of our newly elected parliament the NRL is finally doing something about high tackles Many are tackles just using the shoulder with no arms and coaches and so-called greats are complaining Ask the older players now going through all their concussions and consequences what they think Congratulations Chelsea Thomson on your opinion piece ("Young people: it's a privilege to vote I found your contribution to be refreshing and inspiring Keep contributing opinion pieces with your thoughts as many will welcome your opinion and ideas Matt Ophir ("Offshore wind is no paradise" opines that offshore wind farms are a blight on the horizon The ones I've seen are rather gracefully hypnotic They are certainly a better view than open cut coal mines He frets that an exclusion zone will prevent fishers from catching any fish that grow around them There are also exclusion zones at Chernobyl and Fukushima Offshore wind farms will be an asset for our region perhaps they could be combined with tidal power All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueTo be held at Adelaide's SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre from June 9-14 the trials is the most prestigious domestic swimming event on the national calendar and will serve as the selection platform for the World Aquatics Championships to be held in Singapore in July The 16-year-old Great Lakes College Senior Campus student qualified for the Adelaide event following his performance at the recent National Age and Multi-Class Championships held at the Chandler Aquatic Centre Ryan Brown is this week's Manning River Times / Iguana Store Sportstar of the Week. PIcture by Rick KernickRyan swam in the 16 years boys 50 metre breaststroke, going into the meet ranked 54th in Australia for the event The swim saw him take 0.82 seconds off his personal best time in the process securing his qualification for the world championship trials Ryan's fellow Taree Torpedoes club members Amaya Cross and Trenton Jones also competed at the National Age and Multi-Class Championships in Brisbane turning in outstanding performances of their own The Torpedoes is the third club Ryan has represented having previously been a part of the Forster Aquatic Simming Club for about three years before recently switching to the Torpedoes specifically to train under coach Kim Smith He has been swimming competitively since the age of 10 having started with the Windsor Swimming Club in Sydney before moving with his family to the Mid-Coast region where he joined the Forster Aquatic club While securing a place on the national junior team remains his primary focus for the moment the possibility of Olympic representation and the chance of competing against the best in the world remains Ryan's dream Citing Australian swimming legends Kyle Chalmers Ryan is focused on improving his times and continuing his progression through the sport contact me on rick.kernick@austcommunitymedia.com.au or on 0448 179 544 If you have a story you'd like to share women and children had packed Lone Pine Memorial Park Tuncurry for the traditional Anzac Day dawn service All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAs dawn began to break the sombre silence was broken by the chatter of excited lorikeets and a low murmur from the large crowd who had come to pay their respects Conducted by Forster Tuncurry RSL Sub-branch half hour service was a solemn occasion with prayers Cec Miller reminded the large crowd the Anzac legend was born on the cliffs of Gallipoli more than 100 years ago "This legend passed down to us by those men and women those strangers from another time is called the Anzac Spirit." The dawn service will be followed by the march along Manning Street to Lone Pine Memorial Park later this morning Photo: Amenah McDonald/AAP PHOTOSThree people are lucky to be alive after being pulled from the wreckage of a helicopter that crashed into the water near a coastal holiday hotspot All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe helicopter's engined apparently failed before plunging into the surf off Fellows Road at Point Lonsdale Ocean Grove Surf Lifesaving Club captain Amenah McDonald said the three people were found conscious and breathing helped bring them to shore at the seaside town which is 28km south of the regional city of Geelong A woman in her 40s and a man in his 50s were taken by air ambulance to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with serious injuries was taken to Geelong University Hospital via road ambulance described the wreckage as twisted and upside down She assisted in the rescue of one of the three injured people "They are so lucky they survived," Ms McDonald told AAP "To also have that many services down there At least 11 emergency service vehicles were called to the scene Ms McDonald said the helicopter crashed close to shore believing it could have been attempting to land on the beach An Australian Transport Safety Bureau spokesperson said the crash involved a Robinson R44 helicopter interview witnesses and retrieve and review data to understand how the crash unfolded A final report will be released at the end of the investigation The group 3 season has kicked off in Port Macquarie – the Port City Breakers defeating Wauchope 22-20 in a close under 18s men’s battle. Meanwhile it was the Forster-Tuncurry Hawks up against the Port Macquarie Sharks in the women’s league tag. Picture by Jeanene DuncanLocal residents will have the opportunity to learn more about the candidates vying for the seat of Lyne at a Meet the Candidates forum in Forster on Easter Monday All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThis free public event will be held from 2.30-5pm at 4 St Albans Place For members of the public who are still undecided or would like to learn more about the candidates this will be an ideal opportunity to ask questions hear their platforms and make an informed decision for the upcoming federal election Visit www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-the-candidates-of-lyne-public-event-tickets-1317117286259 to book Photo: James Ross/AAP PHOTOSErin Patterson's "extremely aggressive" text messages with in-laws left her estranged husband wanting to bring in a mediator in the months leading up to a deadly mushroom meal All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueSimon Patterson took the witness stand for a second day on Friday after spending all of Thursday giving evidence to a Supreme Court jury in his former wife's triple murder trial She has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder over the deaths of Simon's mother and father who all attended a lunch at her regional Victorian home on July 29 Simon Patterson said his wife's calls for child support saw their relationship deteriorate (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)Patterson has also pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Simon's uncle Ian Wilkinson the only surviving guest from the poisonous beef Wellington lunch wore a sage green jumper at the back of Latrobe Valley Law Courts in Morwell on Friday and put on her glasses to read text messages between her and Simon shown to the jury of 15 their relationship had been friendly since separating in 2015 but began to break down in November 2022 after she asked him to start paying child support He was paying $38 per month to Patterson and had been advised not to make additional payments for their two children about six months before the death cap mushroom lunch Patterson was sending "inflammatory messages" to Don and Gail Patterson in their family Signal chat as the child support issue continued He said he decided to involve a mediator to sort it out Erin Patterson was sending "inflammatory messages" to in-laws (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)"I was keen to resolve it because Erin and my parents' communication about it so I thought a mediator would probably help us communicate." Defence barrister Colin Mandy SC challenged that and said she could have been "upset" or hurt over the situation After describing his father "really struggling" in hospital about 12 hours after the fatal meal Simon was asked again about his communications with his wife while they had treatment "It intrigued me that she never actually asked (about their conditions)," he said Mr Mandy showed the jury text messages from November 2022 when Patterson was upset about not being invited to Gail's 70th birthday Colin Mandy showed the jury text messages between Erin and Simon Patterson (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)"Seems like my invite tomorrow is a bit of an afterthought so I might pass thanks," Patterson texted Simon "What I reckon is that everybody forgot to invite me to this .. I feel very hurt about that and your response is to say I'm being ridiculous," another text from Patterson read Simon replied: "Well you can believe whatever you feel like but frankly you're as far off the mark as you possibly could be on this they've been talking about this and losing sleep over it for weeks" Patterson decided to go with her kids to the 70th birthday but after the event she texted Simon and apologised for "shouting" at him I'd like to not do that again," she texted him Simon Patterson's cross-examination continues on Monday (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)He told the jury "mum and dad were really stressed about it" and Don had believed she had already been invited to the lunch Simon will return to the witness stand on Monday as cross-examination continues Justice Christopher Beale issued them a warning about speaking to people about the case or engaging in any content over the weekend He advised the jurors to come back to the court refreshed on Monday "Switch off from this case on the weekends Forster’s Milica Ivic is preparing to face one of the world’s most challenging waves – receiving a coveted invitation to Hawaii next month. Competing at the Pipeline Bodyboarding Championships for the very first time. HomeTributes & FuneralsFuneral NoticesCAMILLERI Joseph Paul Anthony1935 - 2025 • Aged 89 years By Eliza Wregg first published at 23 January 2025 - 8:32 am It’s been a month since a mystery Forster player scored $100,000 in a Lucky Lotteries draw prompting lottery officials to urge locals to check their tickets as soon as possible The mystery ticketholder held the 1st Prize winning entry in Lucky Lotteries Super Jackpot draw 10906 They can look forward to a total prize of $100,000 If the winner had been part of The Lott Members Club and registered their ticket to a player card or online account they would have already been alerted to their good fortune officials from The Lott are eagerly waiting for the ticketholder to check their ticket and come forward The winning entry was purchased at Tulls Newsagency Tulls Newsagency manager Vanessa shared her outlet’s unclaimed $100,000 prize continued to be the talk of the town our customers have been coming in very excited and asking ‘Have you found the winner yet?’,” she said “Every time we check a Lucky Lotteries Super Jackpot ticket the anticipation builds as we wait to see if it is the golden one “We’re crossing our fingers that our winner has just been preoccupied with Christmas and New Year tasks and will check their ticket soon we’re eager for the winning ticket holder to come forward so they can start enjoying their prize.” The Lott spokesperson Eliza Wregg said she hoped Forster’s mystery winner checked their ticket and came forward soon to start the exciting prize claim process “It has now been exactly one month since the mystery ticketholder won a $100,000 prize in Lucky Lotteries and we have been eagerly waiting to unite this winner with their prize,” she said “It’s possible that this winner has been caught up in the holiday rush and forgotten to check their tickets “We’re encouraging anyone who purchased a Lucky Lotteries Super Jackpot ticket from Tulls Newsagency to check their ticket today “The mystery winner could soon be enjoying their prize — but first Previous Lucky Lotteries winners have shared they found their winning tickets in the car glove box and if you discover you are holding the winning ticket contact The Lott on 131 868 as soon as possible to begin the claim process.” People can check their tickets by visiting a friendly local outlet 147 Lucky Lotteries 1st Prize and Jackpot winning entries across Australia won more than $53.4 million Lucky Lotteries Super Jackpot and Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot are raffle-style games which means there is a set number of tickets in each draw As each ticket number is unique there is no sharing of prizes Each game has two draws – one that determines the winning numbers and one that determines the jackpot number If the jackpot number matches one of the winning numbers If the jackpot number does not match one of the winning numbers the Jackpot Prize will climb for the next draw Tickets can be purchased at any licenced lottery outlet online from thelott.com or via The Lott mobile app The official home of Australia’s lotteries, The Lott operates and markets Australia’s leading lottery games customers know and love creating everyday winners Last financial year, Australia’s official lotteries contributed more than $1.8 billion via state lottery taxes and donations to help community initiatives, such as hospitals, health research, disaster relief and education. Picture by Jeanene DuncanThe eastern end of the Forster breakwall has been closed due to dangerous high swells All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueHowever MidCoast Council has issued a warning to avoid both sides of the breakwall and follow any signage or instructions All beaches across the Mid-Coast region remain closed as Tropical Cyclone Alfred continues to hover off the East Coast south of Brisbane More closures could follow including roads with authorities expecting high seas Stay informed by monitoring warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology for the latest weather forecasts and monitor warnings from NSW SES Volunteers from Marine Rescue Forster Tuncurry assisted a solo sailor after he suffered a head injury on board his yacht this morning Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Rodney Page said the sailor was eight nautical miles (15kms) northeast of Forster Boat Harbour when he called for assistance around 7 am “The man’s yacht suffered mechanical issues and a torn sail before he sustained a head injury after slipping on board “A volunteer crew was assembled and deployed to assist on board Marine Rescue NSW vessel Forster 30 “The Forster 30 crew assessed the man’s condition before a crew member was transferred on board the disabled vessel to monitor the injured sailor and secure a tow line to the yacht “All Marine Rescue NSW volunteers are proficient in first aid “The injured sailor and his vessel were taken to Forster Boat Harbour where the man was to be assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics,” Inspector Page said One of the largest real-time multi-agency search and rescue exercises (SAREX) to ever be held on the NSW coast has been labelled a success by Marine Rescue NSW A volunteer crew from Marine Rescue Newcastle navigated darkness and a fast-flowing run-out tide overnight to rescue a stranded sailor four nautical miles (7.4 km) south of Nobbys Head Forgot your password? All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThousands lined Manning Street cheering and clapping the country's service men and women to thank them for their contribution and sacrifice View +16 PhotosPictures by Jeanene DuncanMarchers who included representatives from all conflicts were joined by two veterans from World War II The parade was led by members of the 28 ACU (Australian Army Cadet unit) HomeTributes & FuneralsView PhotoFuneral NoticesJOBSON Passed away suddenly on the 31st March 2025 Grandson to Lyn(dec) & Peter Presland and Alwyn Jobson Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Bowen's Graveside Funeral Service to be held at the Tuncurry Lawn Cemetery Tuncurry on Wednesday 23rd April 2025 commencing at 1.00pm All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe awards ceremony celebrated the best country music artists of the year with more than 30,000 votes cast across ten categories in a bid to crown fan favourites whose career grew roots when he moved to Mount Isa for a refrigeration job and decided to buy a $50 guitar off Marketplace After teaching himself to play in his spare time but it wasn't until 2021 - when a cover of Tyler Childers' Oneida took off - that he realised music could be more than just a pastime The passionate rodeo rider used his rodeo winnings to book studio time at Simon Johnson's Hillbilly Hut and recorded his debut album musician second" had a major breakthrough moment when he won the Toyota Star Maker competition at the Tamworth Country Music Festival which launched him onto the national stage as one of Australia's most exciting new country voices When American country superstar Cody Johnson mentioned in an interview that he wanted to win a rodeo buckle in Australia the Winton rodeo star sent him an open invitation the two were riding side by side in team roping and steer wrestling at a Townsville rodeo Johnson returned the favour by inviting Forster to perform in front of 25,000 fans at Rod Laver Arena during the sell-out Luke Combs tour Taking out one of the prestigious gongs in the Countrytown Awards Forster has now truly cemented his growing influence in the Australian country music scene James Johnston was among the night's biggest winners taking home two awards for Male Artist of the Year and the prestigious Ratu Signature Entertainer of the Year The Wolfe Brothers also claimed two trophies winning Group or Duo of the Year and Australian Tour of the Year Other winners included Kaylee Bell (Female of the Year) Lane Pittman (Song of the Year - Amen for the Weekend) and Lainey Wilson (International Artist of the Year) CMC Rocks was crowned Festival of the Year "We're proud to be celebrating the finest in new Australian talent as well as being able to honour important figures like John Williamson," Countrytown Content Director Megan Hopkins said "Countrytown readers have turned out in their thousands and have not disappointed with their selections this year Australian country music has never been more popular and the Countrytown Awards are a fan-first celebration of our culture of our artists and industry." Marine Rescue units on the Mid North Coast have had a busy year responding to more than 300 rescue missions since January Today volunteers in Forster were put through their paces in a special training exercise own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment University of Birmingham provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation UK View all partners E.M. Forster’s final novel and masterpiece, A Passage to India who arrives in the city of Chandrapore with Mrs Moore On an excursion to the infamous Marabar caves with the Indian doctor Aziz and the English schoolteacher Cyril Fielding the women hear an echo that sets in motion the events that unfold across the rest of the book The echo causes an existential crisis for Moore believes she has been assaulted in one of the caves by Aziz A court case ensues that sends both the British and Indian public into a frenzy Quested realises that Aziz is innocent and that her experience in the caves was possibly the result of hysteria or a hallucination The novel refuses to answer the question of what At the heart of the book is a vacant centre a black hole around which everything turns It is this uncertainty which has allowed readers to arrive at so many different interpretations of the novel across the decades over 100 years after its first publication This article is part of Rethinking the Classics The stories in this series offer insightful new ways to think about and interpret classic books and artworks In a letter to a friend Forster said that he didn’t know himself what happened in the caves; that he performed a “particular trick” by willing his “writing mind” to “remain a blur “but 'voluntary surrender to infection’ better expresses my state.” A voluntary surrender to infection? That phrase has troubled and confused many readers. As the eminent literary critic Frank Kermode once exclaimed it’s an “odd expression!” But returning to the book now these words resonate powerfully – especially because A Passage to India was written in post-pandemic times Forster started writing the novel after his first visit to India in 1912, when the country – along with much of Asia – was in the grip of the third plague pandemic. On the day he arrived in the new capital Delhi, questions were asked in the UK parliament about the plague in India As professor of literature Elizabeth Outka has observed this event of mass death is everywhere in the literature of the period overshadowed by the more obvious violence of the first world war In the opening chapter of A Passage to India, Forster references influenza a word that stems from the Latin influentia (“to flow into”) These etymological roots reflect the medieval belief that intangible fluid flowing from the stars was the cause of disease the narrator describes all human life as determined by “the overarching sky” in which “the stars hang like lamps from the immense vault” – “the sky settles everything” Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here The social pressures exerted by colonialism are described as “viral” with Aziz “breathing the prevalent miasma” and Fielding’s “nerves breaking under the contagion” Fielding visits the feverish Aziz in his sickbed as she prepares to give evidence at court: The touch of her hands on her face started prickly heat and she seemed to swallow and expectorate the same insipid clot of air that had weighed on her lungs all the night That which is “in the air” becomes highly significant It is as if the surrounding plain or the passing birds have taken upon themselves to exclaim ‘extraordinary’ There is something distinctly pathogenic about this – an airborne infection and some vile naked thing struck her face and settled on her mouth like a pad” bodies in the returning train “all resembled corpses and the train itself seemed dead though it moved – a coffin” Words previously spoken with affection “seemed no longer hers but the air’s” and she “surrendered to the vision” of an indifferent universe The “ou-boum” sound heard in the caves has often been interpreted as a distant echo of the trenches as we reflect on and reckon with the huge toll of the COVID pandemic the “horror” unleashed by the caves resonates with a different trauma – reflecting a world changed irrevocably by disease As part of the Rethinking the Classics series we’re asking our experts to recommend a book or artwork that tackles similar themes to the canonical work in question but isn’t (yet) considered a classic itself If you liked A Passage to India, try Untouchable by Mulk Raj Anand (1935) which is also set in India and centrally concerned with themes of dirt and contagion Inspired by the “day in the life” form of modernist city novels such as Ulysses by James Joyce (1922) and Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (1925) an 18-year-old sweeper and toilet cleaner who inwardly revolts against his low position as an “untouchable” in the Indian caste system Forster wrote a preface to this novel in which he observed: “Bakha is a real individual – lovable Wade Forster’s rapid rise to fame shows no signs of slowing down captivating audiences both at home and abroad Following a jam packed sold-out show at the Longyard Hotel at the 2025 Tamworth Country Music Festival a Golden Guitar nomination for New Talent of the Year Wade Forster is once again ready to hit the road for a run of regional dates across eastern Australia Travelling through Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland in for 12 regional dates in April and May, as well as a a one off show in Fremantle, Western Australia in March, the tickets for Wade Forster On Tour are on sale now via Forster’s website. Bringing his signature cowboy grit, raw storytelling, and high-energy live show, Wade has cemented himself as one of Australia’s most exciting new country artists right now. Not only has Wade built a loyal following in Australia, but his success and exponential fanbase growth in the United States speaks volumes about his universal appeal. His debut album The Beginning has racked up over 30 million streams and at the beginning of 2025 the ‘Aussie Cowboy’ co-headlined a tour with Texan band The Lowdown Drifters. Selling out legendary venues like Cain’s Ballroom in Oklahoma and Gruene Hall in Texas, an extremely rare feat for an independent Australian country act. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Countrytown (@countrytown_au) Join our community with our FREE weekly newsletter continuing to break barriers and establish himself as one of the most exciting country artists of his generation Fri 11 Apr - Man From Snowy River Festival Tickets - https://www.wadeforster.com/ View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wade Forster (@wadeforstermusic) Please log in or subscribe to access all of Books+Publishing's premium content Purchase a subscription to access Books+Publishing‘s premium content We now offer a pay-by-the-month subscription Click here to see our range of subscription options Subscribe By clicking LOGIN, you are accepting terms and conditions and allowing cookies to identify your browser and keep you logged in. (See the privacy policy.) please click the button below to activate your service Check IP access Category: Local news first published at 24 December 2024 - 9:10 am A Forster resident or visitor is poised to receive a joyous $100,000 boost just in time for Christmas The Lott spokesperson Eliza Wregg said she hoped the region’s latest 1st Prize winner checked their ticket and came forward to start the prize claim process “Our mystery winner is likely oblivious to the fact they’ve scored a life-enhancing win just in time for Christmas and the New Year!” she said “Just imagine how exhilarating it would be to discover you won $100,000 ahead of Christmas Day contact The Lott on 131 868 as soon as possible to begin the exciting prize claim process.” Tulls Newsagency managers Vanessa and Stuart shared they were over the moon to hear they’d sold a 1st Prize winning entry this festive season “It’s so exciting to hear we’ve sold a winning ticket so close to Christmas!” Vanessa said “We’re urging all our customers to check their tickets today because you may just receive an early Christmas surprise “The last time we sold a winning entry was November 2022 when we sold a winning Powerball ticket worth $50 million “We hope our mystery winner comes forward soon and has a very Merry Christmas.” The official home of Australia’s lotteries, The Lott operates and markets Australia’s leading lottery games customers know and love creating everyday winners Last financial year, Australia’s official lotteries contributed more than $1.8 billion via state lottery taxes and donations to help community initiatives, such as hospitals, health research, disaster relief and education. Rodney is the lead of Hull Marine Laboratory, and is responsible for teaching at level 5 (second year) for B Sc Marine Biology students. He leads the Coastal Seas and Oceanography modules and he also supervises several final-year project students. His teaching is very closely aligned with his scientific research on coastal seas. Projects that are running at present include: The Great Yorkshire Kelp Project – using SCUBA diving, underwater video and satellite remote sensing to calculate the extent of the underwater kelp forest along the east coast. REWRITE – with many partners in the EU, we are looking at the possibilities to restore coastal ecosystems, in particular tidal flats and seagrass meadows (rewrite.eu) The effects of offshore windfarms on the marine environment have been a large part of Rodney’s research at Hull. Present projects include eSWEETS with UK partners, looking at the effects of the new, floating windfarms on patterns of water movement and phytoplankton production. Cruises in the North Sea are planned in 2025-2026. Humber Gateway post-construction assessments with industry partner RWE, scientific surveys have been done on the closest windfarm to the Humber, looking at seabirds, fish populations and commercial shellfish. Have you heard about the recent problems on the North-East coast of England, with crabs and lobsters dying and washed up on beaches? The universities of Hull, Durham, Newcastle and York are working hard to try and solve this mystery. Photo: Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOSEmergency services staff have been commended for doing a "remarkable job" when flooded with thousands of triple-zero calls during a mass stabbing attack at a busy shopping centre All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueJoel Cauchi was experiencing psychotic symptoms when he armed himself with a 30cm knife and rampaged through Bondi Junction Westfield on April 13 were injured before the 40-year-old was shot dead by police A "hot zone" declaration required paramedics to withdraw 52 minutes after an attacker was killed (Steven Saphore/AAP PHOTOS)NSW Ambulance responded to up to 4000 calls for assistance on the day of the fatal stabbing Senior paramedic Brett Armitage said he had listened to some of the "quite horrific" calls and thanked the call centres for doing a "remarkable job" as the first point of contact Suspicions that there was a second assailant at the "chaotic" scene led to Mr Armitage The declaration prevented the entry of paramedic crews from outside and required paramedics inside to withdraw required paramedics inside to withdraw from the centre and barred other crews from entering police knew they were dealing with a single assailant but had not informed NSW Ambulance Mr Armitage was quizzed on Wednesday on a statement from a senior police officer at the scene who said he had been asked by a senior paramedic if the scene was still a "hot zone" Christopher Wilkinson said he was frustrated that people might be dying while he waited outside (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)The police officer responded it was "still an active crime scene" and was asked to explain why paramedics were still inside "If any of my paramedics get hurt or stabbed it's on your head," the paramedic allegedly said Mr Armitage "categorically" denied making the comment but stood by his decision to withdraw the paramedics from the centre The scene was never downgraded from a "hot zone" which Mr Armitage admitted should have occurred after 5pm when he knew there was not a second attacker Critical care paramedic Christopher Wilkinson said "confusion" at the scene meant paramedics were prevented from entering the shopping centre before the "hot zone" declaration "I stood there with my boots on the ground quite frustrated that people may well be dying upstairs and no one is doing anything medically for them," the four-decade veteran paramedic said All injured people had been treated and removed from the building by 4.30pm and the declaration had no impact on the clinical outcomes of victims asked bystanders to call an ambulance after she was stabbed Police arrived within six minutes and commenced CPR with paramedics arriving another 12 minutes later noting she had died "There is an expectation that if you ring an ambulance Christopher Wilkinson said he was proud to be a paramedic at Bondi (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)The effectiveness of inter-agency communication during mass casualty events is a key topic being canvassed at the inquest who has been trained in dealing with mass-casualty events said lives were lost when emergency services did not communicate effectively He emphasised the "need to change the way we do things" but commended paramedics who responded to the tragedy it made me very proud to be a paramedic," Mr Wilkinson said who stabbed his first seven victims within 30 seconds had been diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teen and had been successfully treated until 2019 when he stopped his medication the long awaited and much anticipated Forster Surf Life Saving clubhouse has been officially opened All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueHundreds of guests surf club members and supporters crowded in front of the impressive structure on Saturday The first surf life saving patrol on Forster Main Beach was held on Australia Day in 1925 patrols stopped during the mid-30s-mid-40s The magnificent new club structure is the sixth to be built at Main Beach with the purpose of housing life saving equipment - the first three were small wooden huts built on stilts in the middle of the beach in the 1920s was built in 1953 on the sand dune forming the eastern side of Pilot Hill it too collapsed in 1967 just as stage one of the first brick clubhouse was declared open the clubhouse was demolished in 2022 to make way for the new building 15,000 people signed a petition for a new Forster Surf Club which was presented to the MidCoast Council The new club was opened to the public before the start of last year's Weekend of Surf carnival in October the club has since that time hosted a number of community and sporting events Forster club president John Quinn thanked the local community for getting the whole project underway 15,000 people signed a petition for a new Forster Surf Club which was presented to the MidCoast Council," Mr Quinn said "This was subsequently followed up with notifications to our state and federal government representatives which resulted in fantastic support from the late State Member for Myall Lakes View +17 PhotosPictures by Jeanene Duncan and Anne Evans"The whole project has come at an investment of over $8.5M in creating a state-of-the-art beach safety facility for which we thank the three levels of government and the financial support by the local community and our visitors." who he described as the backbone of the architecture "It is a fantastic community facility through which our company is proud to have won a national design award." Mr Webber finished his speech with a $2500 donation to the club to assist with continuing the interior completion of the building MidCoast Council general manager Adrian Panuccio reminded the gathering the new building was the cornerstone of council's Forster Foreshore Master Plan of Management "Having a master plan is the way to engage all levels of government," Mr Panuccio said "Continuation of this master plan involves the demolition of the adjacent Beach Bums café building and further development of beach front." Steve Pearce described the building as 'bloody amazing' "It is not just a surf club but a communal hub and an emergency evacuation centre." Germany’s Anna-Lena Forster earned three impressive victories at the Para Alpine Skiing World Cup in Feldberg Making her return to competition after a brief break due to a concussion she excited the home crowd in the southern German city which hosted a Para Alpine Skiing World Cup stage for the first time Athletes competed in three slalom races on a steep slope at the three-day World Cup in the German ski resort while battling conditions that started with aggressive snow but softened as rain and warmer temperatures In the final event on 23 January, the four-time Paralympic champion Forster finished just three seconds ahead of Spain’s Audrey Pascual Seco who pushed hard to challenge the German’s dominance “I was very nervous today! It’s a great experience to race in Germany, in front of my family and fan club – it’s really, really cool, but I was nervous,” Forster said Forster made her Paralympic debut at Sochi 2014 and won two gold medals at PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022 But she said that competing in front of a home crowd was a different experience “I’m really happy. It’s cool that it has worked out like this now. The tension and pressure were different than usual, which was also a good preparation for the Paralympics next year,” she said Pascual Seco said the events in Feldberg will help her prepare for the FIS Para Alpine World Ski Championships in Maribor so my goal here was simply to cross the finish line and put together a good race but the second was much better,” she said after her second slalom Ebba Aarsjoe of Sweden completed back-to-back wins in the women’s standing category. Anna-Maria Rieder also embraced the opportunity to compete on home soil my first home race with family and friends here,” Rieder said France’s Arthur Bauchet completed a hat-trick in the men’s standing category and shared podiums with teammate Oscar Burnham Jeroen Kampschreur skied to three wins in the men’s sitting category, beating his rival and five-time Paralympic champion Jesper Pedersen of Norway Kampschreur said these wins would give him a “good for the mindset” ahead of the World Championships “It’s a different slope than the World Championships so it’s not going to have a direct effect on it but I’m sure my mind will be in a good rhythm,” he said In the women’s vision impaired category, Austria’s Veronika Aigner and her sister and guide Elisabeth Aigner also collected three wins. While Elina Stary and guide Vanessa Josefa Arnold took the lead after the first run on the opening day the Aiger sisters triumphed by just three-tenths of a second before winning two more events Johannes Aigner and his guide Nico Haberl won the first event in the men’s vision impaired category, with Italy’s Giacomo Bertagnolli and guide Andrea Ravelli winning on Day 2 and Day 3 In two weeks, the world’s best Para alpine skiers will gather for the FIS Para Alpine World Ski Championships in Maribor, Slovenia. The World Championships, which will take place from 4-11 February. All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe moving service will be followed by a breakfast at the Club Forster 242ate Bistro between 7-10am for both veterans and the general public While the cost of the breakfast for members of the public will be $20 all current and former defence force personnel wearing medals can purchase a subsidised breakfast for $10 Every year numbers of people paying tribute to Aussie heroes on Anzac Day at both the dawn and main service contributed to grow Picture by Jeanene DuncanBreakfast tickets will be available at the 242ate Bistro cash register on the ground floor at Club Forster The Anzac Day march will assembly in Parkes Street Tuncurry at 10.15am and proceed along the eastern side of Manning Street to the Lone Pine Memorial Park Tuncurry for the commemorative service from at 11am Temporary Road closures will be in place from approximately 10-10.45 am at Little and Parkes streets the Forster Tuncurry bridge at the intersection of Manning Street Barriers and marshals will be manning these points so please respect those Rural Fire Brigade "Anyone wishing to lay a wreath or tribute at either service please contact the sub-branch secretary." Following the main service Club Forster bistros will be open for lunch while Two-Up will begin from 2pm in the club auditorium on level two The secretary can be contacted on 6591 6519 Acquiring exciting talent, setting up well for future drafts. Essendon National Recruiting Manager Rob Forster-Knight is impressed with how the club leveraged the two days of the Telstra AFL National Draft, capitalising on a deep talent pool this year whilst also trading to secure a slew of selections in the 2025 draft. Forster-Knight recaps all of Essendon's movements, including the night two pick trade and each of the Dons' five new draftees. Hear from National Recruiting Manager Rob Forster-Knight following the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft. "We’ve now got two first-rounders next year and two second-rounders, so it’s a great position to be in really. It’s a pretty strong draft again next year as well, so we’re looking forward to that and getting some real strong outcomes. "It gives us plenty of opportunities to improve our hand next year as well or potentially look at bringing in players through trade and free agency next year, so we’ve got some options." "He’s a pretty exciting player. He’s a dynamic small forward, great goal sense and he covers the ground really well. "He has a great attitude towards his footy and I’m sure he’ll come in, work hard and see where it takes him." Check out the highlights of Essendon's pick 13, Isaac Kako. "He’s a key forward who can pinch hit in the ruck, very mobile for his size and great skills for a 199cm player. "Very impressive with his foot skills and ability to bring others into the game with his handballing, so he’s got a lot of talent and we look forward to seeing him develop in our system." Watch as new Don Kayle Gerreyn receives a call from senior stars Andy McGrath and Ben Mckay after being selected with pick no.37 in the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft. "Hopefully (he’ll have features similar to Mason Redman). "He does move similar to Mason and have a similar playing brand, he’s a leader there at Glenelg so he’ll come in and make a difference on and off the field." Watch as new Don Angus Clarke receives a call from senior stars Andy McGrath and Ben Mckay after being selected with pick no.39 in the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft. "He’s another dynamic small forward who can actually pinch up in the midfield as well. "He had a really good season, particularly in the back half (after) he was injured early on, but after that he played really impressive football for the Rebels and allowed the team to get into the grand final off the back of some of his performances. "Hopefully he can learn off Zach Merrett, same hometown (Cobden) and he’ll be one that our supporters like seeing." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Essendon Football Club (@essendonfc) he was a Captain at the Northern Knights and he’s a very poised player "He can play in different roles because he uses the ball really well very prolific ball winner but he played half back for Vic Metro and adapted really well to that position as well – he’s quite versatile Time to Be a Bomber, Zak.We have selected Zak Johnson with pick 70. pic.twitter.com/WSpryxqyUn "We’re really pleased with the outcome over the last couple of nights. It’s a great credit to the (recruiting) team for the work they’ve put in and we’re looking forward to seeing those five boys play a lot of football for the Essendon Football Club." Read the key individual stats from Thursday night’s close win. North Melbourne pip Dons by 10 points at Windy Hill. Versatile talents, future picks come Essendon’s way on night two. Harry Jones, Jordan Ridley and Jade Gresham will all miss against Sydney. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the Custodians on whose Country we are based. We acknowledge their ongoing connection to Country and pay respect to their Elders, past and present. We extend that acknowledgement and respect to all First Nations peoples throughout Australia. All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAt this stage it is unknown how many vehicles are involved Livetraffic is urging drivers exercise caution and reduce speed Forster’s ageing population will now have more options for accommodation with the official opening of the Pacific Cape lodge The 88-bed development has been 10-years in the making and aims to provide better care for those I understand and agree that my personal information will be collected, stored and used, in accordance with the PGA of Australia's privacy policy Birdies on his final two holes saw Corey Lamb claim the Forster-Tuncurry Pro-Am in partnership with Ray White today almost two years to the day since his last adidas PGA Pro-Am Series victory Hailing from two hours down the Pacific Highway at Branxton Lamb shot a bogey-free 6-under-par 66 on the Tuncurry course to beat Andrew Evans (NSW) by a shot and claim the fourth pro-am title of his career Equal 17th in the PNG Open to start the new Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season Lamb has been an infrequent starter in the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series this year but came into today’s event off the back of a share of fourth at Hawks Nest on Saturday Lamb birdied the eighth and 11th and was still sitting at 2-under-par when he began the remainder of the front nine picking up shots on the first and third before catching Evans at the 5-under mark with a birdie thanka to a lengthy putt on the 491m par-4 fifth The outright victory was sealed by a three thanks to a fine approach on the 376m sixth hole Lamb said: “I’ve been doing a lot of work off the course just mentally and trying to get my body right so I can move forward It’s good to see all the work I’ve been putting on my golf game in my scores “Golf this year is about keeping my Tour card here in Australia for next year and then maybe get on a tour overseas.” The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series heads to the Ocean Shores CUB Pro-Am on Wednesday and McGrath Estate Agents Ballina Pro-Am on Thursday For the latest news and scores on Australian golf Subscribe © 2025 PGA of Australia | Powered by Advertise with us Three volunteers from Cape Hawke Surf Life Saving Club have been recognised nationally – for their quick thinking during a rescue mission near Forster last year They hope the honour will encourage more people to consider volunteering for the organisation.