Picture suppliedShoal Bay Public School has created a new wellbeing room known as the Zen Den - a space where students can reset and recharge 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 Zen Den is a transformed storage shed which has now become a calm and welcoming haven for students seeking a quiet space to utilise during the school day the space offers a range of relaxing and purposeful activities Shoal Bay Public School principal Heath Lawless said the room will serve as a place to safely regulate students emotions through brain breaks to optimise learning "We have included movement resources that allow our students to bounce and climb to help release built-up tension and stimulates the release of endorphins," he said "The new facility is another step in Shoal Bay Public School's ongoing commitment to nurturing the wellbeing of every student." Shoal Bay Public School's new wellbeing room was proudly opened last week in a special ceremony attended by state MP Kate Washington Shoal Bay Public School P&C president Cheryl Kernot and relieving director of education for Port Stephens Toni Lyle The creation of the Zen Den was made possible through generous support of the school's P&C and funding through the NSW Government's community building partnership grant Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy. Picture by Laura RumbelKeen golfers braved the wet weather on May 1 as they teed off for the Veteran Women Golfers' tournament 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 areaContinueHeld at Nelson Bay Golf Club a crowd of 140 women took part in the two-day golf tournament including 124 visiting players from Sydney and country clubs across NSW The Veteran Women Golfers' Association (VWGA) first started in 1950 and current president Virginnia Hewitt said a group of women from Manly decided to start the association to create a golf competition for older women The association now has more than 10,000 members across NSW and holds four country tournaments and nine tournaments in Sydney each year View +4 PhotosGolfers braved the wet weather to play in the Veteran Women Golfers' tournament at Nelson Bay Golf Club Pictures by Laura RumbelWith women ranging from their fifties to their eighties Veteran's delegate and Nelson Bay woman Pam Townsend said it is always a great event to mingle with other female golfers "I've attended many tournaments over the years and they're always a lot of fun," she said This year will mark 75 years since the start of the VWGA and Ms Hewitt said they always like to see younger women get involved with the not-for-profit organisation "We really need them to get involved to keep the association going for years to come," she said It was Roseville Golf Club's Andrea Austin who took out first place in the A Grade division with North Ryde Golf Club's Linda Cordner placing first in B Grade Virginia Murphy from Long Reef Golf Club came first in C Grade Nelson Bay Golf Club's Meg Flack scored the Longest Drive in the B Grade competition Fellow Nelson Bay Golf Club member Tina Jeggo's tee shot came the closest to the hole in A Grade with 800 centimetres Overall winners of the Diamond Jubilee Trophy went to Oatlands Golf Club's Michele Watts and Hannah Thorley For more information, visit: https://vwgansw.org.au/ Laura Rumbel is a journalist who has always called Maitland home. She has been with the Maitland Mercury since 2022, and is passionate about all areas of local news. Error: no decision tree source folder detected AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) The new look Gropers kick-off their women’s campaign this Saturday at Bill Strong Oval in Nelson Bay in what is shaping as an exciting season for the proud club. Nelson Bay host the Hamilton Hawks in the opening round of the women’s competition at 4.30pm and will field a revamped line up under the guidance of new coach Michael Squires. Just like their male counterparts, the women have bolstered their ranks with forward power and speed out wide, and aim to be a force to be reckoned with. The Gropers’ men’s team has a first round bye but have secured a home trial against the Quirindi Lions with the fixture to precede the women’s clash at 2.30pm. It should prove an action packed day at the Groperdome with both teams recruiting well in the off season. Nelson Bay men’s team has a new first grade coach in legendary prop forward Zion Takarua, who takes over the reins from premiership-winning mentor Michael Wiringi. Still smarting from their shock loss to Cooks Hill Brown Snakes in last year’s Hunter Suburban men’s preliminary final, the 2023 Presidents Cup champions are on a mission to regain the title. The Gropers boast an imposing squad of 43 players including a blend of youth transitioning from the club’s junior ranks to seniors, and strengthened by the return of several classy local products and seasoned stalwarts. Nelson Bay’s premiership-winning Under 18s are now training with the senior men’s squad on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the Groperdome. With the cream of the Hunter region’s rising juniors on their books, this augurs well for the Nelson Bay club. Zion Takarua’s men will be out for revenge when they travel to Cooks Hill for their second round fixture and first official match of the 2025 season on Saturday 26 April, after the Easter break. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 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 areaContinueSunday dawned clear Autumn's chill lingered a while in the shadows but was quickly banished by the sun And the sky did not fall the morning after the night before At least not for most ordinary Australians The scale of the Coalition loss was historic and largely unforeseen - except by one poll last week When YouGov modelling predicted Labor would be returned with a substantially improved majority and the Coalition would suffer its worst result since 1946 most polls had predicted Labor would hold its small majority Turns out it was almost on the money - "almost" because it underestimated the extent of the Labor win But this one poll wasn't the only vindication to be had As analysts crunched the numbers on Sunday morning Labor under Albanese had outperformed Chifley all of them historic ALP wins in their day The Marrickville mumbler had found his voice and Anthony Albanese's second election victory will rank among the greats. Picture Getty ImagesYouGov predicted Labor would win 84 seats, which seemed fanciful last week. By midday yesterday, it was being projected to win 88 and was within shooting distance of a final outcome somewhere in the 90s. If Canada's election result was breathtaking the landslide sets up huge challenges on both sides of the dispatch box With Peter Dutton's loss in Dickson the opposition has the monumental task of rebuilding itself It must choose a new leader from a badly diminished field Andrew Hastie and Dan Tehan are touted as the top contenders but none of them presents a particularly inspiring choice And the Liberal Party must somehow re-emerge as the senior partner in the Coalition even if the numbers suggest that status is now unjustified and that the LNP acronym ought to be changed to NLP "Will we see a Littleproud for PM campaign in 2028?" a landslide win brings with it enormous expectations cost of living and energy hasn't gone anywhere Albanese in this next term will be expected to be bolder in his reform agenda - certainly less timid and incremental than he was in his first term But he'll also have to be wary of creeping hubris - and risk taking - within Labor ranks Which gets us back to election night and the grace shown in both victory and defeat Finally, we got to see that softer side of Peter Dutton in his concession speech He took full responsibility for the Coalition's defeat saying his mum would have been proud of him who had taken the seat he'd held for so long Dutton said her late son would be immensely proud of her ticked off a supporter who had nasty words for Peter Dutton we treat each other with respect irrespective of our differences Grace on both sides is something that should make us proud of our democracy HAVE YOUR SAY: Did the extent of the Labor win take you by surprise? What do you expect from the PM in his second term? Who is best suited to lead the coalition out of the political wilderness? Email us: echidna@theechidna.com.au SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too - Just days before the Vatican convenes to elect a new pope, US President Donald Trump has stirred controversy by seemingly sharing a doctored image of himself dressed in papal regalia The digitally altered image was posted without explanation on Trump's social media platform at 10.29pm on Friday night (12.30pm Saturday Australian time) It quickly triggered criticism - and amusement - online - Labor is set to have an easier path to implementing its second-term agenda, picking up several Senate seats at the federal election. Fresh from its increased majority in the lower house, Labor looks likely to pick up three more seats at the coalition's expense - The Nationals have again outperformed the Liberals battening down the hatches in their seats as their coalition partner experienced an electoral storm The junior coalition party has retained almost all of its seats and took large chunks out of Labor's margin in the Northern Territory seat of Solomon and Victorian seat of Bendigo THEY SAID IT: "Grace is not part of consciousness; it is the amount of light in our souls YOU SAID IT: The other clear winner in the election was democracy itself the Australian version of which has no time for extremism or populism "This column hit the nail on the head," writes Louise "We do enjoy a democratic process in Australia no mention of the horrific domestic violence and a significant increase in funding to get on top of this shameful stain on our community we must remain vigilant that the rise of Trumpism does not make its way into our enviable way of life." and within that context he was perfectly accurate When Trump trumpets himself in the same fashion he is not restricting his context and his main believer is himself While there will be some Australians who see his style his message and his apparent success as something worth adopting or following I believe the majority of Australians are sufficiently unimpressed to support his political style but the vast majority of us accept that other people have opinions too." "Many people can be so easily persuaded by simplistic slogans towards easy solutions Being disrespectful of others is never the answer to a cohesive society Joan writes: "I think we are in great danger of the Trumps of this world we are too complacent with our democratic rights too many Australians are only concerned with their own backyard and their hip pocket They only get upset when either of those are directly affected by a political manoeuvre." "Trump's actions have made many people across the world realise how lucky they are not living in America and to appreciate our own countries "If we allow inequality and greed to thrive here as they do over there We need to explain the long-term benefits of this to the community as a whole If we properly support people who are struggling instead of locking them up build interesting communities from our diversity Crazy to squash people down until they become desperate and act irrationally to deal with their pain." Jeanette writes: "Australia can remain immune to Trump's style of politics as long as we remain vigilant and become far more perceptive than we are at present Trumpism is multifarious and that's the biggest danger - not recognising it for what it really is." Australian Community MediaFour decades in the media Formerly editor of the South Coast Register and Milton Ulladulla Times 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 Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOSA dog's simple sniff at a music festival could lead to a multimillion-dollar payout in a massive class action lawsuit targeting police strip searches 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 of people were strip searched at music festivals as officers allegedly given inadequate training and supervision routinely conducted the inspections over a six-year period An "extraordinary" and unlawful strip search by police at a popular music festival and the conduct of authorities defending it is leading the class action in NSW A woman underwent a humiliating and unlawful search that found nothing (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)Raya Meredith alleged she was subjected to assault battery and false imprisonment by police at the Splendour in the Grass music festival in July 2018 after a drug detection dog sniffed in her direction She was stopped and directed to a makeshift inspection area of open cubicles with tarpaulin screens near the entrance A male police officer allegedly walked in to the area where Ms Meredith was being searched as a female officer interrogated and inspected her which was allegedly conducted with inadequate privacy and was threatened with ejection from the festival barrister Kylie Nomchong SC told the Supreme Court on Monday which did not comply with legislated safeguards "This is an extraordinary story … but it is not an isolated one," Ms Nomchong said NSW is accused of deploying large numbers of officers to festivals to do strip searches en masse (Samantha Lock/AAP PHOTOS)The state allegedly deployed large numbers of officers to music festivals with the intention of routinely doing strip searches en masse between 2016 and 2022 The directions given were "woefully inadequate" and senior echelons of the force failed to ensure officers were properly trained and supervised expose her genitals and remove a tampon during the search - "akin to things that would happen during a sexual assault," Ms Nomchong told the court The state's conduct in defending the claim had also increased the harm to the lead plaintiff and aggravated damages would be sought the state persisted with hurtful allegations and unjustifiable The state conceded in March she was unlawfully strip-searched but has not accepted fault in relation to more than 3000 others part of the class-action NSW Police acknowledged failures highlighted in a watchdog's audit of strip searches in 2023 (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)The state's barrister Julian Sexton SC told the court there may be limitations on damages and the amount that could be paid A sum of $50,000 sought for exemplary damages could exceed $150 million if applied across the class action participants for what are alleged to be systemic failures rather than individual instances NSW Police blamed a change in priorities during COVID-19 public health orders and restrictions when acknowledging failures highlighted in a watchdog's audit of strip searches in 2023 They included a finding more than half of the officers who carried out strip searches in preceding years had not completed specialist training initially scheduled to be heard over four weeks has been adjourned until May 13 with further written submissions due in the coming days National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Picture by Marina NeilAn aborted police pursuit and a stolen vehicle were part of a three-day police operation across the Hunter 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 areaContinueAbout 10.40pm on Saturday Port Stephens-Hunter police were patrolling Charles Street when they tried to stop an SUV for a random drug test police followed the car along Seaham Road before stopping because of safety concerns Traffic and Highway Patrol officers saw the vehicle on Hinton Road before it was later found abandoned on Phoenix Park Road Police arrested a 28-year-old man nearby and seized what was alleged to be methylamphetamine and a knife Officers also found the car was reported stolen from Adamstown on Thursday The man was arrested as part of Operation Soteria with help from Northern Region Port Stephens-Hunter and Hunter Valley police as well as Traffic and Highway Patrol He was taken to Maitland Police Station where he was charged with not stopping for a police pursuit He was refused bail at Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday and will appear at Maitland Local Court on Monday Eleven people were arrested during the operation and 18 people and nine vehicles were searched More than 140 roadside breath tests were conducted with nine returning positive results for drugs Police arrested a 26-year-old man on Millfield Street south of Kurri Kurri on Friday May 2 on alleged domestic violence charges He was wanted on an outstanding warrant and a breach of apprehended violence order (AVO) The man was taken to Cessnock Police Station where he was charged with contravening an AVO prohibited drug and hinder or resist police officers in the execution of duty He was refused bail to appear at Cessnock Local Court on Friday where he was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday Journalist at the Newcastle Herald. Email me at jessica.belzycki@austcommunitymedia.com.au accused of attacking another man with a hammer at Shoal Bay on Anzac Day 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 areaContinueOfficers and paramedics were called to Shoal Bay Road at about 2.30pm Friday where they found a 23-year-old man having suffered serious injuries in an alleged assault with another man armed with a hammer He was assessed by paramedics at the scene before being rushed to John Hunter Hospital where his condition was said to still be serious on Saturday He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and charged with a string of offences He was refused bail and is expected to appear in Paramatta Local Court on Sunday Photo: Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOSDisbelief and elation have rippled through a sea of red as Labor supporters welcomed their prime minister after an emphatic election win 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 areaContinueAn uproarious ovation shook Sydney's inner-west when Anthony Albanese took to the stage for his victory speech on Saturday night "This is a time of profound opportunity for our nation," he said "We have everything we need to seize this opportunity and make it our own." Winners are grinners: the Labor election night reception has turned into a party (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)Tears burst from the party faithful when barely two hours into the east coast vote count The result made Mr Albanese one of the first prime ministers in recent history to win back-to-back elections Most supporters could not believe their eyes with shouts of "this is crazy" and "this is wild" spreading through the crowd at the Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL who has been part of Mr Albanese's Labor branch for two decades the victory pave the way open the doors for a new era Hurlstone Park RSL Club is a sea of happy red shirt-wearing Labor supporters (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)A particularly pointed sense of schadenfreude was reserved for Opposition Leader Peter Dutton who became the third federal party leader in Australian history to lose his seat Jeers coursed through the room as Mr Dutton appeared on screen to give his concession speech And when some supporters tried to boo his name during Mr Albanese's victory speech Mr Dutton's Labor replacement Ali France was an inspiration to 53-year-old nurse Sabrina Sharp "This is the best day of my life," she told AAP Oscar Thompson could not contain his joy as results came in (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)With pollsters tipping in Labor's favour many supporters went into the evening with a cautious sense of optimism the mood and the seats shifted slowly and then all at once "This is the most overstimulated I've felt my entire life," the 17-year-old told AAP The prime minister watched the results roll in from Kirribilli House with his partner Jodie Haydon and son Nathan Photo: HANDOUT/INCATPowered by more than 250 tonnes of batteries and with the ability to carry 2100 passengers Hull 096 has been hailed as one of Australia's greatest exports 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 130m-long vessel officially launched in Hobart by shipbuilder Incat on Friday is the world's largest battery-electric ship It was commissioned by South American ferry operator Buquebus and will take people "I've been in the marine business for nearly 70 years This is the biggest moment in that 70-year history," Incat chairman and founder Bob Clifford said which will sail under the name China Zorrilla - a Uruguayan actress - was "one of the most significant export achievements in Australian history" it will feature the largest retail shopping space on any ferry It carries a 40-megawatt energy storage system and will charge via ports on each side of the River Pate The ferry will operate in South America and carry the name of Uruguayan actress China Zorrilla (Ethan James/AAP PHOTOS)Mr Clifford said it could charge as quickly as 40 minutes depending on the availability of electricity This technology is good for 50-100 miles," he said Construction of Hull 096 was made possible by a $60 million low-interest commercial loan provided through the Tasmanian Development Board The vessel will have the biggest retail space of any ferry and enough room for 225 vehicles (Ethan James/AAP PHOTOS)It will undergo further fit outs and is expected to be put through sea trials in Hobart's River Derwent by the end of 2025 Premier Jeremy Rockliff said Tasmania had long been a leader in maritime innovation "Incat's latest achievement is a testament to our state's world-class shipbuilding capabilities and proud seafaring heritage," he said Mr Clifton said Incat had expansion plans and companies the China Zorrilla will have sea trials at the end of 2025 (HANDOUT/INCAT)There were 10 larger ships "in the works" "Within five years I would seriously hope to be building four ships a year I think that's only the beginning," he said we are leading the world with this type of lightweight ship."  Photo: AP PHOTOPrime Minister Mark Carney says he will be in Washington DC next week for what he expects will be "difficult but constructive" talks with US President Donald Trump who he has accused of trying to break Canada 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 areaContinueCarney fresh from a victorious election campaign focused on standing up to Trump said the two neighbours need to create new security and defence ties The questions now are how our nations will co-operate in the future and where we in Canada will move on," he told a press conference Trump has imposed tariffs on some Canadian goods Carney regularly termed the US actions as a betrayal and says Canada must reduce its reliance on the United States which takes 75 per cent of all Canadian exports Carney said the focus of Tuesday's "comprehensive set of meetings" with Trump and senior officials would be on immediate trade pressures "I go there with the expectation of difficult but constructive discussions That's the spirit of the conversations that the president and I had," said Carney who spoke to Trump on Tuesday and on March 28 "I'm not pretending those discussions will be easy .. The meeting will be the first between the two men since Carney entered Canadian politics in January Carney did not respond directly when asked whether the US tariffs would have to be lifted for formal negotiations to start said his experience in crisis management meant he was the best person to tackle Trump who had trailed badly in the polls as recently as January Asked whether Trump had spoken on Tuesday about Canada becoming the 51st state Although the Liberals fell a few seats short of a majority in the elected House of Commons Carney said he had a strong mandate and ruled out any kind of formal alliance with the smaller progressive New Democrats Carney said he would unveil his cabinet in the week starting May 12 and reveal the government's plans on May 27 in what is known as the speech from the throne Photo: Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOSPeter Dutton has been booted out of parliament in a bloodbath for the coalition becoming the first opposition leader to lose his seat in a federal election 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 it became clear the party was heading for a humbling defeat on Saturday night the mood in Liberal HQ turned from shock and disbelief to devastation A large share of the 200-odd attendees in the room watched in stunned silence as results rolled in on the big screens "It's not pretty," one Liberal staffer said Arriving to a warm welcome at the W Hotel in Brisbane Mr Dutton was magnanimous in conceding defeat and accepted full responsibility "Our liberal family is hurting across the country tonight," he said The atmosphere was muted as supporters watched the results at the Liberals' function (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)Labor's Ali France was projected to win Mr Dutton's former electorate of Dickson on a 6.1 per cent margin following a 9.1 per cent swing a leg amputee who lost her son to leukaemia in 2024 was successful in her third attempt to unseat Mr Dutton "Her son Henry would be incredibly proud of her tonight and she'll do a good job as a local member for Dixon," Mr Dutton said but unfortunately for the wrong reasons," supporter Sharyn Merrin said (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)Liberal supporter Sharyn Merrin said Mr Dutton's loss was devastating She said she had been drawn to the party because of his efforts to stamp out domestic violence "I don't know who they've got to replace Peter I just can't get over him not going to be there," she said A large share of attendees watched in stunned silence as the results unfolded (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)With half the vote counted the coalition had suffered a 2.4 per cent two-party preferred swing and Labor was projected to be returned to government in an expanded majority It was a mistake for Mr Dutton to say he would be happy to host a nuclear reactor in his electorate the coalition lost the battle on health and cost of living policy "and Peter Dutton trailed away as the campaign rolled on" The mood at the Liberal election night function in Brisbane was downcast as the results came in (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)The coalition was behind in more than a dozen seats it held and was not on track to win any seats from the government A lone bright spot for the Liberals was opposition immigration spokesman Dan Tehan who looked to have seen off a challenge from independent Alex Dyson in his regional Victorian seat of Wannon The Liberals were set for a wipeout in Tasmania with the loss of Bass and Braddon and faced defeat in their last seat in metropolitan Adelaide with Sturt MP James Stevens suffering an 8.1 per cent swing against him Picture suppliedAfter a delayed start to the season Nelson Bay Gropers started their 2025 journey with a narrow 18-15 loss to the Cooks Hill Brown Snakes at Empire Park last Saturday 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 Bay led 15-12 at the break but Cooks Hill claimed the points with two second-half penalties as both teams put in huge defensive efforts to keep their try lines intact The Gropers had a full roster for the clash and with the two forward packs going hard in the middle it was no place for the fainthearted The Bay's backline showed glimpses of class in the first half but they are still working on their combinations but they will develop into a slick outfit in the coming weeks The Gropers started strongly with tries to Cade Redmond and Brayden McMaster and a conversion and penalty goal to Ryan Marshall saw them go to the break leading 15-12 Nelson Bay had a had a sin-binned with player a yellow card in the final minutes of the first half Lion-hearted defence by both teams saw a try-less second half with Cooks Hill kicking two penalty goals to take the competition points 18-15 Lewis Afflect received the 3 players points Nelson Bay go on the attack against Cooks Hill in Hunter Suburban Rugby on Saturday Picture suppliedTwo players who also impressed were captain Hamish Bartlett and classy five-eighth Sam Ingham The Nelson Bay women's game was also a tight affair with Cooks Hill winning 10-5 Nelson Bay coach Michael Squires was pleased with the team's defence on the day as they continue to build This Saturday the Gropers will have their first home game of the season with plenty of rugby action with the under 18s kicking off at 1.15pm against Southern Beaches The local derby will be a feature at 3.00 with Nelson Bay hosting Medowie Marauders and the women's game at 4.30pm against Merewether-Carlton 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 areaContinueTake a bow You won't be serenaded in the streets or immortalised in an oil painting take a moment to reflect on what you have achieved and helped preserve That stubby pencil and the hand grasping it not only cast a vote It was also a show of support for something we too often deride for its shortcomings and scorn for its sluggishness no visionary leadership to be remembered for the audacity of its promises or the eloquence of its arguments a procession of cautious policies so stage-managed and predictable it made the Eurovision song contest look spontaneous But at a time when democracy is being tested by dark and dangerous forces it's worth congratulating ourselves for what we didn't do We did not wander down Donald Trump's path of suspicion We were not seduced by a cult of personality that places loyalty above honesty We declined to descend into the same conspiracy-filled abyss that has swallowed America's political soul But just as Canada did at the polling booth earlier this week we remained sceptical of those seeding chaos and encouraging contempt for democracy because they believe the right to govern lies with those with the loudest voices and the biggest bank accounts about the vanilla brand of politics displayed during these past five weeks But there's no shame in preferring blandness over the coarse and accusatory language passing for debate in the US So let's take some pride in our own restraint and our steadfast refusal to be swept up in Trump's riptide of cynicism and tribalism because we're far from immune to his poison We saw it last week during the Anzac Day commemorations with cowardly heckling on both sides of the country during welcome to country ceremonies Moments that should have been about remembrance and unity were hijacked instead by the kind of ugliness that Trumpism has nurtured and normalised These were not isolated incidents but a symptom of something deeper Trump's signal flare has been seen by ultra-right fanatics and those who believe they have been left behind as a call to arms The same neo-Nazi group that disrupted Anzac Day events - the National Socialist Network - is launching a recruiting drive in a bid to form a political party to contest the next election and legitimise its extremist white supremacy beliefs In a land where compulsory voting has long served as a democratic adhesive This is a moment when those who would undermine the country are emboldened by Trump's blueprint: you don't need tanks and tyranny to destabilise a democracy You can simply loosen its hinges with tweets and tantrums Australia's grudging acceptance of mediocrity means we are far from perfect Money still sloshes through our political system like a broken drain - supposedly regulated but flowing wherever it likes usually into the pockets of those already wielding influence The gap between rich and poor is soaring while faith in our institutions and those who govern us dwindles concede defeat gracefully because they know we scoff at those who claim our ballot boxes are rigged or that our democracy is a sham Recent polls have shown most Australians don't trust Trump or the cult he has spawned The Coalition was forced into a hasty backflip after prematurely embracing several of the president's initiatives - casting stones at those who want to work from home and threatening tens of thousands of public sector jobs And Clive Palmer's bottomless pit of campaign money and incessant advertising has proven This weekend we'll hear victory and concession speeches calls for unity and promises of a better tomorrow But behind that noise will be the indisputable fact that Australia still believes in the simple act of choosing its leaders and trusting the result HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you believe Australia can remain immune to Donald Trump's divisive style of politics? Are Australians too complacent when it comes to politics, or is our complacency a reflection of our politicians' lack of ideas and courage? Do you think Trump's actions will ultimately strengthen or weaken democracy around the world? Email us: echidna@theechidna.com.au - The final YouGov poll ahead of Saturday's federal election offers some startling predictions, given most other polls suggest a hung parliament or a narrow Labor majority. It forecasts a Labor majority, with 84 seats in the House of Representatives, and the worst Coalition loss since 1946 - A Labor MP battling to retain Bennelong, one of the most marginal seats in the country, has apologised after his father made a string of homophobic comments at a polling booth - Technological abuse is on the rise in Australia, with domestic violence perpetrators using mobile phones, smart watches and AirTags to track victims THEY SAID IT: "Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve." - George Bernard Shaw YOU SAID IT: The script has been flipped. Once portrayed as reformist and risky, Labor is now cast as reliable while the Coalition is painted as reckless. That's a radical shift where I've managed to avoid what I suspect has been an acrimonious campaign and not had a single text message from the Rusty Trombone of Hate-riots," writes Tony as the incumbent government has had some stumbles along the way but any rational analysis lays the blame for many of these at the foot of a certain party in the Senate that has consistently made perfect the enemy of good I would happily vote for the party with the collective balls to tell Donald Trump to stick his head back in the orifice whence comes his bronzer however neither major party seems to want to go there this almost lifelong (with the exception of a couple of Hawke terms) Coalition voter decided that the party that could countenance Abbott deserves another term in opposition to give the incumbents a chance to finally get some runs on the board after dealing with the economic challenges of the last three years." Ian writes: "I can't help remembering that the Liberal Party chose Scott Morrison over Peter Dutton to stop Dutton from becoming leader and prime minister "Only one thing dominated the polls over the last year: 'It's the economy Cost of living made people prefer one person," writes Dan "Dutton's team is stupider than we thought And to bring nuclear into the mix confuses the voters Sue writes: "Neither party is radical as neither party is looking at extreme change - although it is a bit difficult to tell what Dutton is actually looking at from one day to the next as most Australians would like to see a government that can solve at least some of the social problems that are in place and much of this is dependent on some redistribution of wealth The conservatives won't support this at all and Labor is unlikely to do a great deal in this direction It really is time for a change and Labor and many of the independents are more likely to work towards this than the self-interested Nationals and One Nation conglomeration - although perhaps Pauline is having second thoughts about that connection." "What has been missing from this campaign by the media is the lack of comparison between the respective strengths of the current ministers and their likely counterparts in the opposition," writes Wayne "In our democracy the PM doesn't have the and should never have the executive power of a president as in the US." Ross writes: "Which is the more radical party The one which secures a parliamentary majority enabling it legislate and implement actual policies We need these to maintain and improve our nation poll-driven strategies designed to secure and hold government The rise of independents demonstrates this." "The thing that I find most annoying about the opposition's campaign is that fact that they believe that voter's memories do not go back further than their last shopping trip and that we are completely ignorant of international developments," writes Helen "Most of us have some idea of what is going on overseas and how we are inextricably tied to the world's financial and political situation and thus the effect they are having on our economy Prime Minister Albanese may not have much charisma and his government may not have been great at advertising their successes but it seems that they have managed to deliver on many of their promises The Liberals have so far not been able to deliver an acceptable leader with the past three Liberal prime ministers being at best disappointing and at worst embarrassing and dangerous Peter Dutton would only carry on this tradition if the Liberals take power." Stuart writes: "Dutton's big failure in my mind was not condemning the Paris Accord and Net Zero to the dustbin and cancelling subsidies on renewables His second mistake was putting the focus on nuclear power Although this has credibility issues it appears to tackle the cost of living as they were the only party that put the finger on renewables as a myth I wonder how much the blackouts in Spain will play in our election." stable in turbulent times raises the image of a sailboat making way having set a sound course," writes Mick "Albo mightn't be Captain Courageous but the boat despite adverse conditions will make port and progress to the next one Captain Peter 'Wrong Way' Peachfuzz of Rocky and Bullwinkle fame (and yes he was Peter in the series and things will be rocky for him in Bullwinkle) sails the SS Coalition into confused oblivion he eventually stranded the SS Andalusia on Wall Street and was given the address 17 1/2 Wall Street whereupon in an effort to get rid of him his board of directors arranged for him to get a government job counting penguin eggs because 'we couldn't find any place further away' Jennifer writes: "Decisiveness is great after thinking through all the issues and reaching a logical conclusion based on the facts it can be reckless as the wrong decisions are made and the wrong actions taken Dutton quickly categorises and stereotypes hard decisions as is often needed by the operational policeman who must consider a wider range of often nuanced issues including the impact on all involved and the likely consequences Then a well-developed strategic plan results in co-ordinated success so great in a battle but not in managing a party or governing a country." looking at what has been achieved under the present leadership," writes Elaine but I would rather that than 'heavy-handed' promises that many disagree with but are not listened to Democratic government is supposed to be 'for the people by the people' not divisiveness and hair-brained behaviour makes Albanese appear steady and sensible Albanese's slowness to act effectively on major issues confronting our society is not necessarily a virtue If I were subject to homelessness or under cost-of-living stress as many Australians are I would wish the government to treat these situations with urgency rather than just tinkering around the edges with band-aid solutions Being slightly better than the LNP in proposed policy on these issues is a low bar to clear and is not good enough." "I'm not sure that I agree with your view of the 'slow and steady' for Albo," writes Brian the public had a very clear understanding of Labor's woeful performance re: failed Voice referendum the collapse of the house building industry the decimation of green space through solar and wind release of illegal immigrants with criminal records into society Dutton's problem is that he's just too pleasant The list of Labor failings has been huge and yet we've only heard 'things will be worse under Labor' Could you imagine the Coalition with a leader with the scathing The election would be over by now and Labor would be scrambling for a new leader." Robin writes: "It's hard to argue that either major party is radical when their policy differences are squabbles at the margins The most radical thing in Australian politics is the rise of independents and teals that are able to speak truth to power ask uncomfortable questions and present cogent arguments for change But one thing that is certain is that the distraction of Trump and his monumental graft operation is a wonderful distraction for Australian politics helping our leaders avoid confronting the long-term problems created by short-term strategy." "In what's looking to be the likely event Labor winning on Saturday there'll be two assured outcomes," writes Henry "One will be the expectation of Albanese staying in step with his campaign and getting straight to work on all he's offering The other will be the likes of Jane Hume and James Paterson backpedalling their divisive and mangled campaign while throwing Dear Leader Dutton under that campaign bus they jammed on a bike lane divider." including a Walkley for best feature writing He writes a weekly column for ACM and the Echidna Garry Linnell is one of Australia’s most experienced journalists Photo: EPA PHOTOEight and a half months after a superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily in a deadly accident 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 Bayesian superyacht a 473-ton vessel that was marketed as "unsinkable," sank near the small port of Porticello last August The 56-metre yacht went down during a storm sparking ongoing speculation about the circumstances of the disaster Among the victims were British software billionaire Mike Lynch two couples who were friends of the family and the ship's cook reportedly valued in the tens of millions of dollars was one of the largest sailing yachts in the world Prosecutors hope the salvage will shed light on what caused the yacht to sink The Bayesian's New Zealand captain and two other crew members are under investigation for allegedly ignoring storm warnings and abandoning passengers in the panic investigators are also exploring whether the Italian manufacturer bears some responsibility for the vessel's failure The yacht was built 17 years ago by the renowned Perini Navi shipyard which has since been acquired by the publicly listed Sea Group The vessel is some 50 metres below the surface and the complicated process of retrieving it involves some 70 specialists and a floating crane The boat is to be brought to the surface by mid-June 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 Titled “Islands of Port Stephens”, the exhibition will showcase the geology, fauna, flora and history of the outer islands as well as identifying the 20 islands inside Port Stephens. Supporting this exhibition will be talks by retired geologist Neil Fraser, who will explain the formation and evolution of the area. Neil’s presentations will be held at 2pm Tuesday 25 March and 8 April, and early booking is advised. Children can attend the exhibition to read the story of Clarabelle the floating cow or to learn about the lives of seahorses. On display will be a spectacularly enlarged 3D model of a nudibranch (a beautifully coloured sea slug) produced by local sculptor Matt Johnstone. For further information, call Doug Cross on 0432 058 000. There was some cleaning up on the cards for all in the aftermath of voting, removing placards from school fences and polling booths. Mr Repacholi would be doing his bit on the way to the pub to have a drink with some mates, he said. Ms Swanson hoped to make it out to Tocal Field Days, while Ms Claydon was heading to a party being held by a former Labour MP, Sharon Grierson, where she was expecting to be surrounded by other party members all keen to revel in the results. Labor's victors unite after taking home the prize in seats throughout the HunterSome of the standout victories included Ms Swanson winning in Port Stephens, and Mr Conroy winning votes from residents of the northern Central Coast in areas such as Budgewoi. "This won't come out in the results, but huge amounts of people under the age of 50 were only taking Labor, or Labor and Greens how-to-vote cards," Mr Conroy said. "There was a very clear demographic split." In the Hunter, there was a swing to Labor at every polling booth, Mr Repacholi said. "Some were littler, some here bigger, but in every booth we had a swing to us, which was good," he said. "We've worked hard over the past three years." They were also united in their criticism of the political tactics of other parties, specifically the involvement of Exclusive Brethren volunteers from outside the region. "The Liberal headquarters tactics of busing in volunteers and using intimidation massively backfired," Mr Conroy said. "It made it very uncomfortable for voters, and we need to keep calling it out. Those actions were undemocratic, and secondly, what did that particular religious sect get promised in return for busing in people from as far away as Tamworth?" Ms Claydon said the group did not come to Newcastle, demonstrating they had no on-ground campaign capacity in the region. What Ms Swanson saw in her seat, with people in blue shirts trying to block her from engaging with voters at certain booths was mirrored in many other seats, she said. "In my seat, there were a lot of them and they were very aggressive and loud, in many instances, and the signage, they had horrible signs up about me," Ms Swanson said. They got very personal, Mr Repacholi said, but it backfired. "You can use all of the dirty tactics you can think of, but people know their own minds, and they don't like dirty tactics, and they will not be intimidated," Ms Swanson said. We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy by 3 December 2024 Direct from a sell-out season at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival don’t miss Jimeoin’s hilarious new show Pandemonium A night spent with this comedy legend is not only funny but full of handy tips Jimeoin will teach you how to make your bed with very little effort how to prank your partner and get away with it and how to talk dirty in a nice way… you’ll come out the other side having laughed yourself stupid and maybe with a life hack or two Have you ever wondered what goes on inside Jimeoin’s head By the end of this show you’ll know that it’s absolute Pandemonium NOTE: Please note that events listed on this site are subject to change by the artist Every effort is made to ensure that the event information listed on this site is accurate should you be concerned please contact the specified venue for verification We encourage you to contact the venue before making plans Privacy Policy Our simplified product lineup offers bespoke and affordable advertising options designed to capture the attention of our hyper-local audience We create original and engaging media to tell your story sell your tickets and get people through the doors If it’s on in Newcastle, it’s on Newcastle Live – the Hunter’s source of entertainment and lifestyle news and information. We’re devoted to all the great things happening in the region. We’ll keep you up to date with what’s on in Newcastle and across the Hunter region. This outstanding crop of local juniors are the first ever boys team from Nelson Bay to win the championship trophy and crown themselves the best team in the Hunter region for their age group. Coached by Fingal Bay rugby league identity Patrick Hay, the all conquering Neptunes produced a lion-hearted performance to defeat rivals Newcastle City in the Grand Final 2-1 after a thrilling drop off in extra time. A jubilant Hay told News Of The Area that the team’s watertight defence and cohesion were the cornerstone of the historic trophy win. “It was an incredible achievement by the boys who showed steely determination throughout the two day tournament,” quipped Patrick. “The entire squad have loads of potential and enjoy playing together and to be the first Nelson Bay boys side to lift the trophy is a massive feat,” revealed the winning coach. “They’ve been working so hard for the past couple of months to prepare themselves for the championships and now couldn’t be happier after realising their dream,” he said. The young Neptunes were one of twenty two boys teams that competed in the Under 12s division – the most of any age group – and rose to the occasion with skilful and spirited performances. A proud Hay paid tribute to all his squad but singled out the efforts of assistant coach Zak Mullins. “From the very moment this team was selected we knew we had something special. What this bunch of boys have accomplished will forever go down in history,” Hay stated. “All of this could not happen with the incredible guidance and knowledge from Zak – he is a champion.” In the Grand Final, talented prospect Jed Hay scored a perfectly executed try to give the Neptunes an early 1-0 lead before Newcastle hit back to level the match. With scores locked 1-all at full time, the game went down to a three on three player drop off. During the final phase Max Spencer and the elusive Hay positioned themselves down one side of the field which drew the Newcastle defenders across. Quick thinking Jed took off from a buddy play with the ever alert Spencer and beat his man to pass the ball to young gun Jayden Hotene in open space. Jayden, a State junior sprinter, dashed over to score and seal a memorable victory. An ecstatic team manager Caroline Boyd and assistant coach Mullins described the championship win as an “incredible achievement with the boys playing as a whole team for both days of the tournament”. Nelson Bay Neptunes’ history making Under 12 Boys championship winning squad featured Taj Sloane, Calvin McKay, Max Spencer, Jayden Hotene, Angus Boyd, Marley Sargeant, Joshua Murphy, Carter Harrison, Jed Hay, Yadin Stone, Jaxon Daniels, Oscar Green, Harley Clark and Isaac Locke. 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 areaContinue"Due to a software issue, under certain driving conditions the Integrated Electronic Brake (IEB) system may affect the hydraulic pressure within the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)," the company says in its recall notice for the Ioniq 5 N it could reduce braking performance and lead to longer stopping distances "A reduction in braking performance could increase the risk of an accident causing serious injury or death to vehicle occupants and other road users." Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now Hyundai Ioniq 5 N recalledA total of 307 vehicles are affected, all built in 2023The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) list is attached hereThe original recall notice is attached hereIf you own an affected vehicle you should contact an authorised Hyundai dealership and schedule an appointment to upgrade the software Hyundai says the revised software can be applied to the IEB and the vehicle control unit (VCU) via an over-the-air update you can contact the Hyundai Customer Care Team on 1800 186 306 MORE: Everything Hyundai Ioniq 5 Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au The fledgling sporting club caters for females who are interested in rugby league and is striving to field two league tag sides plus a women’s tackle team for the upcoming season With a growing female participation in all sports that have been the domain of males for many years a local group has formed a steering committee to fill a gap in the Nelson Bay area The ‘Bandits’ have been accepted into the Newcastle & Hunter Rugby League women’s competitions with a host of talented local players already making an impact in the league tag ranks Club spokesperson Leanne Blackwell told News Of The Area that the club was very keen to field a women’s tackle side in 2025 “Young women of all abilities from 16 years for tag or 17 years for tackle can come and join us with training provided by experienced coaches,” Leanne exclaimed “If you follow the NRL or local league and always thought about playing here is the chance to get involved,” she said “Whether it is the non-contact tag or women’s tackle the club offers a welcoming supportive environment specifically for females challenge stereotypes and inspire athletes to pursue their sporting dreams,” Leanne added The Nelson Bay Rugby League Bandits Club will hold its Annual General Meeting to elect all officials this Sunday evening 16 February at the Shoal Bay Country Club at 7.30pm Prospective players interested in joining the Bandits can contact Blaine O’Flaherty 0419 511 879 or check “nelsonbaybandits” on Instagram and Facebook for further information and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" The new reforms change planning controls within 800 metres around 171 town centres and stations to allow dual-occupancies townhouses and residential flat buildings across metropolitan Sydney these include the Nelson Bay and Raymond Terrace town centres The changes will remove the restriction on developing terraces townhouses and low-rise residential flat buildings on R1 and R2 zoned land while also removing the restriction on delivering medium rise residential flat buildings on R3 and R4 zoned land in these areas Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the policy fills a gap in new housing supply “Allowing low and mid-rise housing in more locations will help increase the number of homes in our state improve affordability for renters and buyers and give people a choice on the type of home they want to live in,” Mr Scully said “There has been increasing demand for well-located “These reforms build on the reforms introduced on 1 July 2024 which allowed dual occupancies and semi-detached homes to be built on nearly all low-rise residentially zoned land in NSW.” The peak body for local government in NSW has responded to the policy warning the “one-size-fits-all” approach fails to address community infrastructure needs and is a missed opportunity to provide urgently needed affordable housing particularly for essential workers in key locations The President of Local Government NSW (LGNSW) Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM has indicated that while each council would have views on specific sites continued collaboration and transparent partnership with the State Government was needed if the policy was going to succeed “We’re glad to see the changes outlined by the Minister will still allow councils to assess important development conditions including parking but it’s important to note that will be set against new ‘non-refusal’ standards that are being imposed on us by the State,” said Mayor Miller “When I met with the Planning Minister earlier this week I made it very clear to him that together we can achieve much better outcomes if the State Government continues to work with councils when it comes to delivering housing solutions “The State Government insists that allowing these housing types will boost housing supply around transport and town centres maintain the character of an area and build better communities “But that will only happen if the increase in density is matched with proper and significant infrastructure support from the State Government – we’re talking about schools even the basics of road infrastructure and sewerage and water supply.” Mayor Miller appreciated that the Government had responded to councils’ concerns about applying the policy to land that was prone to bushfires and floods and had listened to feedback for areas where greater density would lead to unacceptable traffic and congestion impacts However Mayor Miller expressed disappointment that there was no inclusion of affordable housing mandates in the policy “The absence of any contribution for in-perpetuity affordable housing is a significant missed opportunity to address this dire need particularly for workers who carry out essential jobs in our communities,” said Mayor Miller “These key elements of much needed infrastructure and affordable housing mandates need to be in place from the very start so developers can factor that into the cost of land,” she said The policy will come into effect on 28 February 2025 For more information visit https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/low-and-mid-rise-housing-policy It coincides with the 30th anniversary of the signing of a Sister Wetlands Agreement between the councils of Kushiro in Japan celebrates the combined councils agreement to protect our fragile wetland environments a volunteer committee of Port Stephens Council is responsible for the planning of this anniversary project and the Artisan Collective has been working with them to organise the exhibition Alison Ellis is an artist living in Sydney who completed her Bachelor of Natural History Illustration with honours in 2018 at Newcastle University All aspects of the natural world interest the artist but in her honours year she concentrated on the epic international journeys of Australia’s migratory shorebird species especially the birds that visit the Hunter region over the austral summer the Latham’s snipe only breeds from Kushiro and some regions of Japan and flies to Australian shores feeding and resting until it is time to return to Japan “The Latham’s snipe is one of the most difficult shorebirds to see preferring to hide in thick vegetation near water,” Alison said “Habitat loss is the biggest but not the only threat to this species’ survival “The pen and ink backgrounds are to highlight habitats of the different species and that their loss is existential for the birds.” Greg Salter has participated in numerous exhibitions and completed many commissions spanning painting His work has been included in exhibitions at the Maitland City Art Gallery and the Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery as well as various commercial galleries he has won the Hunter Botanic Gardens Outdoor Sculpture Prize in 2011 and 2013 the 2011 Newcastle Region Show Sculpture Prize and the 2013 Nelson Bay Sculpture Festival Acquisitive Prize “One of my earliest memories of the Nelson Bay area is when I was in Cubs at the age of nine or ten,” Greg said “Our troupe were camping not far from the beach and before it got dark we all went down to the shoreline as we were told the soldier crabs would come out soon “I couldn’t take a step without stepping on one so I just stood and watched as they swarmed around me and headed to the water “After being asked to be part of this exhibition as the exoskeleton lends so well to using the reclaimed steel letting the pieces of steel that I find decide how each one will come together.” Maria Hine has been making sculptures for many years “Living in Port Stephens with its surrounding beaches I started to collect driftwood and became fascinated by the way it is modified by weather “I have become personally attached to these works especially finding the perfect piece for my subject in carving those special birds from wetlands that are threatened by coastal developments and climate change.” The Shorebirds exhibition is being displayed in the Artisan Collective throughout November daily between 9am and 5pm When he was unable to be located or contacted he was reported missing to officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District who commenced inquiries into his whereabouts Police hold concerns for Jessy’s welfare due to his young age He is described as being of Caucasian appearance Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages. Hundreds of rock’n roll enthusiasts from far and wide will gather at Wests Diggers in Nelson Bay from Friday 18 October to Sunday 20 October for this fun and free event. “We will have three full days of dancing on three dance floors in the club auditorium where you can swivel your hips to the old time classics,” an excited Nelson Bay Rock & Roll club president Keith Barnard told News Of The Area. “As well as your customary rock ‘n roll dances there’ll be line dancing, cha cha and swing for patrons to enjoy.” Mr James Band will perform on the Friday and Jake Rattle & Roll on the Saturday, with doors open from 6pm and the show from 7pm. Matchbox are featured on the Sunday afternoon show, which kicks off at 1pm. “Rock and roll dancing is a great way to stay young and vital – as you use both brain and body,” Mr Barnard said. Nelson Bay Rock & Roll Club was formed in 2000 by original members Keith and Diana Barnard, Michael and Anne McKenna and Cliff Morgan and Sue Hughes. He soon amassed an impressive customer base across the Tomaree Peninsula. Once it became full-time, Ian’s practice evolved into an optometry franchise known as Eyecare Plus, which occupied not only the current location on Stockton Street in Nelson Bay, but also locations at Tea Gardens and Tanilba Bay. From his early days, Ian was heavily involved with the local Chamber of Commerce and the Nelson Bay Rotary Club, of which he is still a member today. Mel Berrigan, currently the Practice Manager at the Nelson Bay business and a 38-year dispensing veteran, paid tribute to Ian’s career during a function celebrating his retirement at the Shoal Bay Country Club. “I’ve worked with Briggo for 18 and a half years, and this is the end of an era. “Many people have benefitted from his expertise over the years and he will be missed, but we wish him all the best in his retirement”. In 2023, Ian sold the business to George and Matilda. He said, “Now my intention is to spend my retirement working on my golf handicap and travelling with my wife Debbie”. Picture suppliedPort Stephens is gearing up for its iconic New Year's Eve fireworks display at Nelson Bay 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 family friendly festivities will kick off at 12pm on December 31 with live music and entertainment at D'Albora Marina The much-anticipated fireworks show will light up the night sky at 9pm Mayor Leah Anderson said the event is the perfect opportunity for the community to celebrate the year gone by and embrace the New Year "We're thrilled once again to host this iconic New Year's Eve celebration makes it a truly unforgettable experience." Daniel O'Meara from McGrath Port Stephens said they are proud to continue their support of the beloved community event "It's a fantastic opportunity for locals and visitors alike to come together and enjoy a memorable evening," he said Everyone is encouraged to pack a picnic blanket pick up some local takeaway and soak up the festive atmosphere along the foreshore For event details and more information, visit: pscouncil.info/mcgrath-new-years-eve Legatee Barbara Williams AO said, “Fundraising is a major concern as the cost of support is continually increasing. “However, Legacy has been very fortunate to have secured the support of several major sponsors for this upcoming Golf Day”. First National will be this year’s Gold Sponsor, Blooms Chemist are Silver and The Blackmore Family Foundation will be Bronze. In addition, there are prizes for nearest the pin and longest drive and Port Stephens Toyota are sponsoring the Hole in One, with the ultimate prize of a brand new vehicle. “There will also be a raffle with over 20 prizes and an auction with terrific prizes.” Legacy is a unique Australian organisation, dedicated to caring for the families of deceased or seriously injured veterans. Affectionately known as “Australia’s largest family”, Legacy was founded in 1923 by World War 1 veterans who took up a ‘legacy of care’ for the welfare of their deceased mates’ families. The charity currently looks after over 48,000 partners and children of veterans, including from the recent conflicts in the Middle East. Enquiries about the Charity Golf Day can be directed to Stephanie Dale at legacygolfday@gmail.com on 0418 460 658. Travelling to the famous surf haven each summer, and lifting championship silverware, has become second nature for the Gropers on the women’s Sevens circuit. The Nelson Bay club’s imposing record was preserved when they captured their fourth successive Crescent Head Sevens championship title at the Ian Walton Fields. Dynamic centre Jessica Gentle spearheaded the trophy success with outstanding performances throughout the tournament, including in the 12-5 victory over Coffs Harbour Snappers in the Shield Grand Final. In an ideal tune up for the 2025 Hunter Suburban Rugby Women’s series, the Gropers women extended their title winning streak to four with skilful and spirited efforts in the modified Sevens format. The club topped their Pool by winning all four preliminary games against Magandaquins (17-10), Coffs Harbour Marlinettes (29-10), Port Macquarie Pirates (33-0) and Tamworth Pacific Nomads (12-10). Nelson Bay outclassed Hunter rivals Hamilton Hawks 28-10 in a semi-final to set up a showdown with the undefeated Snappers in the trophy decider. Gropers’ women’s co-ordinator Leigh Byfield told News Of The Area that capturing a fourth Crescent Head Sevens crown was “a huge fillip for the club in the lead up to this year’s Hunter Women’s Rugby competition.” “The girls clicked from the outset and turned in consistent performances to win one of the most prestigious rugby Sevens tournaments held in the NSW Country,” Leigh said. Gun centre Tash Harris (2) and Sophie Simpson bagged tries in the opening round victory over Magandaquins – a club that originated in North America as a pathway for Filipina Sevens rugby. Harris (2), Bak O’Donohue, Teagan Barr and Emjay Walters crossed for tries in the emphatic win over the Marlinettes before the versatile Gentle (2), Walters (2) and Harris posted five pointers in the resounding triumph over the Pirates. Tamworth provided strong opposition in a tough final round Pool fixture, during which Gropers fullback Ebony Oakley was sent off with a yellow card. Reduced to six players, the Nelson Bay outfit showed their champion qualities with Gentle displaying a sharp turn of speed to score two tries and cap an outstanding game. A Harris conversion proved the difference in a hard fought contest. Nelson Bay had too many big guns for Hamilton in their semi-final clash, with the mercurial Gentle scoring all 28 points with four tries and four conversions in a comprehensive victory. In a gripping Grand Final the Snappers put their best foot forward and were the first to cross for a try, causing a bit of anxiety on the sideline with the Gropers supporters. Nelson Bay hit back with a penalty try to Harris after the elusive back was illegally tackled when leading the chase from a chip-kick over the Snappers defence. Both sides produced super defensive efforts with Gentle sealing victory for the Gropers after bursting through tackles and darting over for a title-winning try in the second period. the political spam text message is now a feature of modern elections and can reach even the most disengaged 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 areaContinueIn the 2025 election campaign gifs and graphics thanks to data messaging A Trumpet of Patriots text from billionaire Clive Palmer's newest political venture has been received widely and is especially boggling A stock image of a woman yelling at a phone Picture Shutterstock"Solve housing fast trains 20 min CBD cheaper land In other texts the party promises to double fees for international students but make education free for others But all parties - and many independents - are using the political advertising technique Former Married at First Sight (MAFS) contestant Tim Smith who is running as an independent in the seat of Melbourne had a go at the Greens using a cartoon video in his text message to voters "Watch [Greens leader] Adam Bandt DJ while Melbourne burns," it read Some of the political text messages received by Australians during the 2025 election campaign or encouraging people to visit their websites or fill out surveys Political parties are exempt from both the Spam Act, which prevents most companies from sending unsolicited digital marketing, and the Privacy Act which largely prevents personal information being used for direct marketing without an opt out option "Political parties are exempt from the Spam Act and the Privacy Act and are able to send unsolicited text messages without an opt out option," a spokesperson for the Australian Electoral Commission said "The AEC has no insight into how political parties obtain mobile phone numbers except to confirm that this data is not provided by the AEC." Voters wanting political text messages banned or regulated might want to closely consider who they vote for on May 3 because any move to alter the status quo would have to be made by .. "Any changes to these laws would be a matter for the parliament to consider," the AEC spokesperson said Saffron is a journalist, editor and author with more than 20 years experience covering news. Get in touch: saffron.howden@austcommunitymedia.com.au Fresh from their record-breaking trophy double at the recent Peter Wilson Memorial Cup championships at Tomaree Sports Complex the Neptunes are basking in glory with a number one ranking in the Girls Under 18 Nelson Bay were crowned the ‘Champion Club’ in another first after lining up in three Grand Finals Pat Hay’s Under 12 whiz kids created history by becoming the first Nelson Bay boys team to win the Cup while the Under 18 girls made it back-to-back titles Australian Under 18 Youth squad member Ali Mitchell spearheaded the Neptunes to a 9-7 Grand Final victory over Orange – capping a superb tournament with a Player of the Final performance The mercurial middle confirmed her status as one of the nation’s best young prospects by also earning the Neptunes’ Players Player award the winning Nelson Bay outfit was coached by Ali’s elder sister Maddi – a talented player in her own right – and assisted by mum Nicole a former Australian Emu and Port Stephens touch football legend The Neptunes overcame injuries and a sluggish start to win six and draw one of their eight matches during the two day event Eight members of the current Nelson Bay squad featured in the championship-winning 2024 combination – middles Mitchell Piper Ross and wingers Alex Battese and Scarlett O’Connor They were joined by talented links Amelia Nicholas “We started the competition on a slow note but grew in confidence with each win,” an elated Nicole told News Of The Area “The girls were disappointed after a first round 4-3 loss to Maitland but showed tons of spirit and skill to force their way into the Grand Final and retain the trophy,” she added Nelson Bay qualified for the title decider after posting a 3-all draw with Mudgee and wins over Wallsend (5-2) Orange (6-3) and Maitland in a semi final drop-off after both sides were locked 3-all at full time The Neptunes exacted revenge over Maitland in a tense semi final before showing their champion qualities in the Cup Final with a strong display against a top-notch Orange line up Nelson Bay’s talented Under 14 Girls outfit turned in top displays to reach the Grand Final against invitational side Orange the girls were gallant in an 8-5 loss but remain the Hunter region’s top-ranked team in this age group The Peter Wilson Memorial Cup Championships is regarded as the largest premier regional junior touch football tournament and attracted over 180 teams and 2500 representative boys and girls players in the Under 10 When I posted photos from our recent weekend in Port Stephens, my Instagram DMs lit up with the usual questions: "Is this Thailand?" "Bali?" "Are you overseas right now?" Nope, just pure NSW coastline magic, minus the jetlag It turns out Port Stephens — recently crowned as Wotif's 2025 Aussie Town of the Year — has everything I loved about my pre-kid Southeast Asian holidays with all the convenience parents of three young children desperately need Here's why you should consider swapping your passport for car keys and staying local instead of going overseas for your next family getaway Watch: Not sure what to pack for your next trip you know that feeling of stepping onto pure white sand and staring into crystal-clear water That "I can't believe this is real" moment justifies the nine-hour flight and makes the perfect Instagram backdrop Shoal Bay in Port Stephens delivers exactly that — without passport control or jetlag I had an instant flashback to Kata Beach in Phuket — the same powdery sand the same gentle water that's perfect for kids and the bonus of being able to park right on the coast The girls were obsessed with spotting fish in the clear water — not something we get often in Sydney.  Equally beautiful but in a completely different way: Birubi Beach While Thailand has its limestone karsts and Bali has its volcanic black sand beaches Port Stephens counters with these dramatic dunes that feel otherworldly We skipped the quad biking and sand dune surfing… because… kids but I'd 100 per cent do it if they were older The girls were happy enough climbing over them and rolling down the hill they were most excited about spotting "Kangaroo Beach" lifeguards with their equipment I recommend booking through the Wotif app so you can meticulously study room configurations before your trip we needed at least two separate sleeping areas It ticked all my boxes: ground-floor access (essential with a pram and tired little legs) blackout blinds (absolute non-negotiable for naps and early risers) It also had a kitchenette for storing the mountain of snacks that travel with us and my morning peppermint tea where we often found ourselves a good 30-minute taxi ride from most attractions Hotel Nelson's location next to the marina and main street meant we could actually walk to shops and restaurants — so simple but so helpful when travelling with children Remember when travelling was about experiences rather than surviving until nap time Port Stephens delivered that perfect balance of kid-friendly activities that adults actually enjoy too The Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary in Anna Bay was a standout Forget your typical overseas wildlife encounter where you're handed a sedated animal for a photo the girls were delighted by the 225-metre skywalk through the koala enclosure giving us treetop views of koalas in their natural habitat Major bonus points because it was also pram-friendly The Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary in Anna Bay I'd demand to be taken there immediately. Image: Supplied there are giant koala sculptures the kids can climb over and generally be loud and excited about without being constantly shushed Pre-purchasing tickets through the Wotif app meant we skipped the queue completely On Sunday we went to Toboggan Hill Park, a bushland adventure park featuring a 1km toboggan run The toboggans come with brakes so you can control your own speed — which led to a perfect demonstration of the difference between mum-brain and dad-brain My speed setting: "precious cargo on board." My husband's speed setting: "YOLO" as he hurtled down the hill with our daughter in the way that only someone who didn't carry said child in their body for nine whole months could possibly do which gave us four rides per child plus two adult passes This was more than enough for our energy levels though they offer a family pack with 16 tickets if you're planning a full day The giant maze was fun for the whole family marshalling us along and proudly yelling "dead end!" whenever we hit a wall If there's one thing I miss about pre-kid travel without constantly wiping up spills or negotiating "just three more bites" before the iPad comes out But Port Stephens' dining scene is the miracle I didn't know existed — genuinely great food that's also genuinely child-friendly At Atmos the Greek restaurant within Shoal Bay Country Club we showed up for the family-friendly 5pm sitting surrounded by other families with prams and highchairs Unlike those awkward experiences in "family-friendly" resorts where you're still getting side-eye from honeymooners The share-style menu meant no boring kids' options — the girls happily munched on pita BBQ chicken and olives while Drew and I had wood-fired octopus and cauliflower salad The real standout was our final lunch at Murray's Beer Garden at B Farm this was The Farm at Byron Bay meets Grounds of Alexandria vibes ran around and burnt off all their remaining energy The kimchi fritters were so good that I'm already planning our return trip for their Cantonese feast menu a massive amount of space for the kids to run wild Every meal in Port Stephens cost substantially less than city alternatives We paid around $75 for lunch for our family of five Pro tip: Make sure you book ahead at restaurants I found it super relaxing doing the admin ahead of time and so I could (appear to) go with the flow on the trip I Googled the menu and knew what was having for most meals before we even left Sydney Here's where Port Stephens truly trumps any overseas destination for families with young kids: practicality No flight meant no disruption to our all-important nap schedule The two- and four-year olds both sleep during the day so we just went back to the hotel and tag teamed childcare We packed what felt like a week's worth of activities into 48 hours without ever feeling rushed or spending half the day in transit All three girls were so exhausted that they fell asleep within minutes of leaving B Farm.  TWO full hours of blissful silence - something no international flight has ever delivered What struck me most about Port Stephens wasn't just that it was beautiful It was that it managed to be genuinely child-inclusive without being mind-numbing for parents a holiday destination is for kids OR for adults The other version is where you spend your trip self-consciously apologising for the fact that your children are wreaking havoc on someone else's carefully curated grown-up holiday Port Stephens has somehow nailed the perfect middle ground Perhaps because it's a real town where people actually live everything feels designed for repeat customers rather than one-off visitors Do I still dream of taking my girls to Thailand someday and the reality of travelling with three young children Port Stephens delivered everything I loved about those overseas beach holidays — stunning coastlines and new experiences — without any of the drawbacks Little Beach Boathouse We kicked off our trip with dinner here and it was the perfect welcome to Port Stephens The restaurant literally hangs over the water creating that magical dining-above-the-ocean experience you'd usually pay a fortune for in Bali There's a play area right next door with stunning views of the bay so the kids can burn off energy before sitting down try the 'Below Deck' bar underneath the main restaurant Crest @ Birubi Beach After our early morning beach adventure offering shelter from the beach winds while still delivering epic views of Birubi Beach The nourish bowl was much-needed after a morning of chasing kids around sand dunes so pack snacks if your kids are early risers like mine The Little Nel I NEVER double dip on holidays we went for lunch and immediately booked in for breakfast the next day My dish of the trip was their twice-cooked gochujang honey pork salad — the perfect balance of crispy pork The kids' meals were really reasonably priced Parent hack: If you're staying at the Hotel Nelson send one adult ahead to order while the other wakes up the napping toddler — then you don't waste precious post-nap happiness waiting for food Gianni's Scoop and Roll @ Shoal Bay After dinner at Atmos we couldn't resist stopping here for dessert Their ice creams with mix-ins were delicious and eating them on the pier while watching local kids fishing created one of those core memory moments — a nine-year-old boy caught and released an enormous stingray leaving my city girls absolutely transfixed Murray's Beer Garden at B Farm I've already raved about this place but it deserves another mention and a visit as you leave the Port Stephens area The setting alone (surrounded by orchards and vines) makes you feel like you've discovered a secret locals' spot and the kids loved eating the woodfired pizza and watching as it was made in the outdoor oven.  Nelson Bay Lighthouse Walking Track I'm new to running so the 5K return run from Port Stephens Marina to the Nelson Bay lighthouse was perfect and very photogenic And I got to say hello to approximately 78 dogs along the way Everyone in Port Stephens has at least two dogs which was an unexpected bonus for my animal-loving kids I didn't have time for this one with the kids in tow Two separate sets of locals raved about the walk for its panoramic views of Port Stephens It's apparently manageable with older kids Nelson Bay Shopping While my husband enjoyed a massage Nelson Bay surprised me by being a holiday town with actual useful stores — including a giant Woolworths and chemist which came in handy when Lily's inevitable holiday cold appeared I also did some fun shopping for me at Lu&Co and Macala Collections Something about the warm weather and holiday vibes had me wanting to break free from my usual uniform of camel colorful pieces that perfectly captured that beachy I wore my purchases immediately for dinner that night and again the next day So while everyone else is rushing to book their overseas flights I'm already planning our return trip to Australia's best-kept (not so) secret Sometimes the perfect escape is closer than you think What's your favourite family-friendly destination in Australia TAKE SURVEY ➤ Photo: Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOSWorld leaders have sent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese congratulation messages after Labor's landslide victory secured a second term in government 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 areaContinueAmong the well-wishers was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy "I wish you continued success in serving the people of Australia and delivering meaningful achievements," Mr Zelenskiy said in a post on X "Ukraine sincerely values Australia's unwavering support and its principled stance on ending Russia's war and securing a dignified and lasting peace." Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto expressed his "heartfelt congratulations" "His renewed mandate reflects the trust and confidence of the Australian people in his vision for the country's future," Mr Subianto said on X European Union President Ursula von der Leyen sent Mr Albanese good wishes "Europeans and Australians are not just friends – we're mates," she wrote on X "Let us seize this moment of stability to deepen our cooperation." Europe and Australia are seeking closer ties following US President Donald Trump's decision to shift away from free trade and level tariffs on traditional allies Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said he was glad his friend retained the top job Trump's embrace is confirmed as the kiss of death," he said on X "And it only takes a hundred days to overturn the polls The more (Italian PM Giorgia) Meloni is with Trump the more the (far right) are at risk in Italy too."  Mr Albanese also received greetings from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio "The United States looks forward to deepening its relationship with Australia to advance our common interests and promote freedom and stability in the Indo-Pacific and globally," Mr Rubio said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also weighed in on the election victory "The UK and Australia are as close as ever," he said on X Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Mr Albanese's "resounding victory" "This emphatic mandate indicates the enduring faith of the Australian people in your leadership," he said He looked forward to working together to further deepen the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership French President Emmanuel Macron posted a picture of the pair on social media in his congratulatory message to Mr Albanese Australia and France have so much to achieve together — especially in the Indo-Pacific," Mr Macron said Seventeen home-spun Port Stephens products will line-up in the boys and girls divisions for the two-day tournament to be staged at the Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex from 26-27 April. The selections are an indication of the depth and high skill levels bubbling away in the Nelson Bay Neptunes’ talent pool. Spearheading the girls’ ranks is outstanding middle Ali Mitchell, Mikayla Ireland and Millie Barnes in the 18yrs Girls along with Lexi Manning in the 16yrs Girls. Emerging Nelson Bay juniors Cruiz Manning, Bonnie Sproule, Maebel Colley, Mia Gambrill, Abi Olatunde and Maddie Baxter will line up in the Hornets’ 14yrs Girls squad with Harlow Colley in the 12yrs Girls outfit. Young guns Jed Hay, Jayden Hotene, Oscar Green and Yadin Stone are colts to watch in the Hornets 12yrs Boys squad along with Kruze Thompson (14yrs Boys) and Tobi Olatunde (16yrs Boys). Promising Nelson Bay juniors Amelia Nicholas (18yrs Girls); Hamish Baxter, Finn Jones, Will Doherty and Ezekiel Hay (16yrs Boys); Bowie Manning (16yrs Girls); Mia McDonald, Kylan Rankin and Delainey Coco-Borg (14yrs Girls) were recognised for their performances by being named in the Hunter Hornets train-on squads. She is supported by Vice President Judy Chapman, Secretary and Markets Manager Jeanette Murray, Assistant Secretary Shirley Harvey, Treasurer Denise Diemar and Assistant Treasurer and Marketing Brigita Falconer. The Torchbearers group was formed over 70 years ago to support Port Stephens Legacy through fundraising. The organisation’s main income currently comes from the Legacy Markets held on the first, third and fifth Sunday of the month at Neil Carroll Park Reserve at Fly Point; the Christmas Stocking at Soldiers Point Bowling Club; and monthly raffles at Nelson Bay Bowling Club. These funds go towards helping the families of those who have suffered through acts of war, past and present. One such event was held recently with Port Stephens Legatees manning the table for a stocking raffle at Soldiers Point Bowling Club. Coordinator Legatee was Peter Polack with many sponsors donating prizes for the stocking, which was purpose-built by Salamander Men’s Shed. An excellent fundraising result was achieved. In recent years, Torchbearers numbers have dropped and the group is always looking for new members to join. If you are interested in helping out, contact President Chris Riley on 0455 041 916. HomeTributes & FuneralsView PhotoFuneral NoticesBARBOUR, JOHN MERVYN2025 Beloved husband of Heather. Much loved father of Kathie and Rob, Susan and Mark, Dave and Carolyn. Doting grandfather 7 times over. Former Warrant Officer, Vietnam Vet, long serving Apple engineer and BAE employee. Those who knew and loved John are warmly invited to attend his Service at St John's Anglican Church, William St Raymond Terrace on TUESDAY 29th April, 2025 at 11am. Meet the Nelson Bay Gropers Under 13s rugby squad that transformed into a competitive unit with some major scalps throughout the 2024 campaign. Under the coaching of former Eastwood rugby identity James Kelman and Duncan Lawson, the Gropers developed into a real force to be reckoned with and posted victories against every team in the competition. Team mainstays were the talented Kelman brothers – 13-year-old lock Axel Kelman and 12-year-old dual NSW Primary Schools representative prop Mason Kelman along with skilful forward Ollie Hoffman and sharp utility Kade Lawson. A highlight for the young Gropers was lowering the colours of the mighty Merewether Greens side who were previously undefeated for two successive seasons – posting a spirited 26-17 victory over the premiers at Tomaree Sports Complex in the lead into the finals. It was the Green’s only loss of the season and they went on to capture this year’s Under 13s title with a 32-10 Grand Final triumph over the Merewether Whites. Eleven of the Gropers’ line up were converts from the Nelson Bay Marlins Junior Rugby League nursery. The Marlins finished runners up to the undefeated Valentine Devils in the Hunter Junior League Under 12 Division One competition after a 24-10 Grand Final loss and finished the 2022 season undefeated in the ungraded Under 11s series. They were also the top placed team in the Under 10 ungraded Hunter Junior League competition in 2021. Gropers’ coach James Kelman told News Of The Area that the squad had made a smooth transition to the rugby ranks this season and had “improved with each match”. “The group are a delight to coach and were quick to grasp the fundamentals of the rugby code and turn in some dominant performances,” revealed James. Most of the squad took up rugby league at the age of nine after moving across from the soccer ranks. Nelson Bay won twelve and drew one of their sixteen fixtures to finish second on the ladder before bowing out in the preliminary final after a 24-17 loss to Merewether White. Lawson, Hoffman and Axel Kelman starred for the Hunter Wildfires Under 13s that were crowned NSW Rugby State Sevens champions with the gifted Axel also helping the Under 13 Wildfires fifteen per side team claim the NSW Country title. Another honour for Kade, Axel and Mason was their selection in the Newcastle Knights Under 13s rugby league Development squad. Playing up an age group, the dynamic Mason held his own in a tough division and grabbed a slice of history when he became the first Port Stephens pupil to represent NSW Primary Schools in both rugby league and rugby union in the same season. Other squad members to impress were Stefan Grant, Costa Lazarou, Leon Calder, Darcy Lestone, Billy Kearney, Jack Costello. Baelin Scully, Harlem Stone, Jaylan Nettle, Isaac Seehusen, Kobi Sargeant, Max Leismann, Clancy Buckley, Sean Pietraszek, Croyde Gregory and Xavier Davis. When the popular comedian learned of the financial demands for local families to send their talented offspring to junior golf tournaments throughout NSW he jumped into action. Irish Albert has organised a fundraising Dinner and Comedy Night on Saturday 5 April at Nelson Bay Golf Club to help the region’s talented junior golfers realise their sporting dream. Patrons can enjoy a night of Irish humour, songs and quirky impersonations and all for a great cause. Entertaining is still in the blood of the accomplished Irishman who came to the picturesque and aquamarine waters of Shoal Bay to retire. “When I discovered that the families of these promising junior golfers couldn’t afford to keep sending their children to state and national championships, and other major tournaments, I decided to show my support,” the world-class entertainer told News Of The Area. ‘’Many of these gifted young golfers couldn’t afford even a basic set of clubs.” Irish Albert has performed at the London Palladium, on luxury cruise liners and in front of royalty and premiers. He has appeared on national television and his music is played on the ABC. The Dinner and Comedy show is full of Irish blarney with songs and patently quirky impersonations of Billy Connolly, TV’s Mrs Brown, King Charles and Donald Trump. For further details, contact Nelson Bay Golf Club reception 4981 1132. Photo: James Gourley/AAP PHOTOSFrom school playgrounds to an Antarctic research station Aussies are preparing to sink their teeth into a national treasure 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 humble democracy sausage will be back on the menu at more than 1700 polling booths on Saturday helping voters pump an estimated $4 million into community groups Former opposition leader Bill Shorten became a divisive figure in the democracy sausage world An unrepentant Bill Shorten says he had to eat the sausage sideways because of the crusty roll (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)During the 2016 election outrage erupted when he turned his sausage roll on its side "It was a crusty roll," he told AAP this week so I made a relatively pragmatic decision to eat it from the side that caused a scandal around the country." Antarctic researcher Andy Warton and fellow expeditioners are planning one of Saturday's first democracy sausage sizzles on Casey Station the crew of 29 will indulge in a post-voting brunch away from the outdoor sub-zero temperatures "Voting from Antarctica is a reminder that our voice matters even if we're at the end of the earth," the station leader told AAP "The sausage sizzle is about raising morale because it brings us together for something different and reminds us there's a bigger picture out there." Having a democracy sausage helps break down those barriers one stall organiser says (Aap Image/AAP PHOTOS)In Bass Strait councillor Rowan Cooke will fire up the barbecue for King Island's first democracy sausage sizzle He's hoping the sausage sizzle brings the community together after primary employer King Island Dairy cut the number of workers on the island "People don't particularly like talking about politics because it does bring up strong emotions," the councillor said "But having a democracy sausage helps break down those barriers and allows people to loosen up around these topics The appetite for sausage sandwiches makes thousands of dollars for schools and community groups (James Gourley/AAP PHOTOS)"All those donations will go to the club to help with the maintenance of their facilities but I also just want to bring awareness that it is also a place where people can socialise and hang out." About 7000 polling booths will open on Saturday with about a quarter linked to a sausage sizzle or bake sale on the official Democracy Sausage website The website began in 2013 after a group of West Australians realised there was no place to look up where polling place food stalls were located it helps direct thousands of voters to snags The website's operators estimate stalls raised between $1200 and $1600 on average at the last federal election an estimated $4.1 million was raised after costs the traditional snack can trip up hungry voters Mr Shorten has stared down the backlash he received and says he still eats sausages the same way Labor ministers Mark Butler and Katy Gallagher like tomato sauce on their snags I'm going to eat the sausage the way I did in 2016 just to commemorate," the former prime ministerial candidate said Early voters are also not expected to dampen the mood Despite more than 5.5 million people voting before Saturday organisers expect there won't be a downturn in sales HomeTributes & FuneralsView PhotoFuneral NoticesSMITH  A loving father and father-in-law to Bernadette and Kieran  and a loving great grandfather to Darcy and Ethan A dear brother to Neville and Marcia (both dec'd) Brian will be sadly missed by all who knew him invited to attend his Funeral Service to be held in Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time A man has died after being pulled from the water at an unpatrolled beach in Shoal Bay Another man remains in a critical condition after being rescued from the surf at 2.45pm on Monday afternoon A popular lookout offers views of Zenith Beach were swimming at Zenith Beach when friends on the shore noticed they were in distress the friends entered the water and pulled the two men back to the sand Good Samaritan beachgoers and local police officers performed CPR on the men before the ambulance arrived but one man could not be revived and died at the scene The second man remains in a critical condition with NSW Ambulance confirming he was not transported to hospital in an ambulance Zenith Beach is located within Tomaree National Park a short five-minute walk from the closest road National Parks NSW advises beachgoers to “take care” if they choose to swim at the unpatrolled beach Get alerts on significant breaking news as it happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert National Parks NSW advises beachgoers to \\u201Ctake care\\u201D if they choose to swim at the unpatrolled beach Get alerts on significant breaking news as it happens With ever-changing sand dunes and a big breakfast culture local artist Anna Webster says ‘the bay’ is filled with creative energy FoodPort Stephens is two and a half hours north of Sydney on country traditionally owned by the Worimi It’s a huge area but tourists usually just think of Nelson Bay But when locals refer to “the bay” we mean Anna Bay to Soldiers Point An aerial view of Tomaree national park, where a 27km coastal walk has opened. Photograph: Kate BennettOne Mile Beach is ocean-facing with a beautiful curve of sand that you might get all to yourself in the off-season It’s bushland on one end and rocks and sand dunes on the other Everyone’s pretty excited about the new 27km coastal walk in Tomaree national park You can pick and choose sections or do it as a two-day hike I did it with my bird-watching sister as a two-hour walk from Fingal Bay south towards Samurai beach (clothing optional!) We went through a rainforest canopy to low coastal scrub and on to rocky outcrops submerged in the sea You can see birds riding the updrafts and the bright blue water really pops against the red rocks We did a quad bike tour with them when my kids were younger The Shoal Bay Country Club – the only spot Anna Webster’s kids would go Photograph: Muse Photography/Shoal Bay Country ClubThere’s not much happening at night We drove home from Newcastle recently and at 7.30 or 8pm it’s such a nice place to be during the day My kids are 21 and 18 years old and Shoal Bay Country Club is the only spot they’d go It has DJs and live music but they go to catch up with friends They’d go to Newcastle for nightlife (a 45-minute drive) The country club has a divine Greek restaurant called Atmos and a beautiful view towards Tomaree mountain Read moreThe Marina market on Nelson Bay foreshore is really nice too Nelson Bay was the original town but a lot of the core services moved to Salamander Bay – supermarkets like Woolworths and Aldi – so now Nelson Bay is where the tourists go to wander around drink coffee and spend money in nice boutique shops with just one or two cafes and restaurants; it has more of a seaside feel Anna Bay is on the ocean and has Stockton beach Soldiers Point is a strip of land that’s kind of inland Anna Webster is a local artist and a member of the Artisan Collective Pictures supplied by X-Stream and John Smith.Fishermen have posted spectacular pictures of a five-metre great white shark they encountered during an annual game fishing competition off the coast of Port Stephens 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 images show the apex predator with a burley bag in its mouth followed by the experienced anglers expertly rescuing their equipment from its teeth It was one of three "nice little encounters" the men on X-stream had with a great white shark over the course of the Newcastle and Port Stephens Game Fishing Club's Billfish Shootout on Saturday Skipper John Smith is a commercial fisherman who has spent his life on the water with more than 40 decades of deep sea fishing experience but he's never had multiple white pointers surfacing close enough to "pat them on the head" "I've been game fishing since I was 12 years old and I haven't seen a great deal of whites," Mr Smith said The X-stream team were targeting legal species of sharks for the game fishing tournament a white pointer in excess of 1500 pounds" - or more than four metres long - surfaced near the boat they don't have any fear factor," Mr Smith said "We teased them up with the burley bag and got some unbelievable footage." The team was getting close to running out of its allocated fishing zone so Mr Smith moved about 15 kilometres away we were hounded by another one that was even bigger," he said "We fed that one a little and got that one to finally leave the boat "They're protected species so we're not allowed to fish for them we just try to get rid of them we best we can." they had another encounter with a "little" great white "We didn't catch a fish to win the tournament we definitely had an exciting day considering our boat is only 18.6 metres long," Mr Smith said "We had it chewing on the back corner at one stage." Newcastle and Port Stephens Game Fishing Club president Troy Rayford praised the fishermen who remained cool and calm during each encounter with the sharks which were estimated to be between four and five metres "They're seasoned fishermen and they've seen a lot of sharks but it still blew their mind seeing one of them up close "It's not something that happens every day turn up when the food is there or the water is right The encounters happened at the southern end of the proposed Hunter Offshore Wind zone Mr Rayford, who is a vocal critic of the proposal, said the area was unique in its marine biodiversity. The Billfish Shootout is one of the nation's largest game fishing tournaments. This year more than 145 boats turned out with 750 anglers competing for a share of $250,000 in prize money.