The decision by Clarence Valley Councillors to support the officer’s recommendation to seek expressions of interest to dispose of the South Grafton Pool and Boyd Nattress Complex by way of sale with a report to come back to Council on the response to the expression of interest at the Ordinary Meeting of Council at the Maclean Council Chambers on March 20 has been described by many locals as extremely sad and disappointing the complex includes a 25m indoor pool with six lanes its future was the topic of several community conversations amidst speculation circulated via social media regarding its viability and ongoing maintenance costs it has also been revealed that notice has been received by Council’s Contract Manager to conclude the contract for the management and operation of the premises on April 11 this year During the Ordinary Meeting of Council last week councillors considered four options for the facility which included disposal by sale or Expression of Interest long term lease rezoning and sale of land for commercial purposes Describing the officer’s recommendation as one he had been “mulling over for some time” Deputy Mayor Greg Clancy identified the hydrotherapy pool in particular as being “the area of contention” the local community would be without a hydrotherapy pool “I was hoping that we (Council) might be able to come to some conclusion about maintaining the hydrotherapy pool but the reality is the cost of bringing the facility up to scratch and the ongoing maintenance and management costs are just far too great adding it was always part of the plan to close the facility once the new Clarence Regional Aquatic Centre was opened The Deputy Mayor went on to explain that in supporting the officer’s recommendation Council are “seeing if there is anyone out there interested in buying the property” to continue its operations in its current format with the hydrotherapy pool adding it will ultimately come back to Council “I think at this stage this is the only thing we can do,” he concluded before revealing he was reluctantly supporting the motion “I would like to have seen a better outcome “Hopefully there may be other things happening in the area that will accommodate people who require a hydrotherapy pool.” Deputy Mayor Clancy went on to say from his understanding the temperature of the indoor pools at the Clarence Regional Aquatic Centre will accommodate some people at the lower end of the spectrum of requiring heat but unfortunately not those who require the full hydrotherapy temperature who was seated in the public gallery during the Ordinary Meeting of Council last week told the Clarence Valley Independent he viewed the decision as a massive failure of Council and lamented the lack of effort demonstrated by the local government body in keeping the facility better maintained allowing it to continue to operate and provide what he describes as a valuable community service who attends the South Grafton Pool and Boyd Nattress Complex five days per week sometimes twice a day to use the 25m pool and gymnasium said the hydrotherapy pool is quite popular particularly with the elderly and Clarence Valley residents with mobility issues Following the recent decision announced by Council Mr Edwards said those who rely on the hydrotherapy pool now have nowhere to go “There isn’t a hydrotherapy pool at the Clarence Regional Aquatic Centre particularly older citizens and people with limited options,” he explained “This is a slap in the face to the local community As she acknowledged the great work exemplified by the management team at the South Grafton Pool and Boyd Nattress Complex throughout the past 40 years Cr Allison Whaites said Council had received a request from the South Grafton RSL Sub-Branch to have the wrought iron gates with the words ‘War Memorial Baths’ at the entrance to the facility relocated to Lane Boulevard Park where the cenotaph is located and where memorial services are held in South Grafton The officer’s recommendation also supported their relocation in consultation with the South Grafton RSL-Sub-Branch This article appeared in Clarence Valley Independent, 26 March 2025 Sign up for updates from Australian Rural & Regional News Manage your subscription We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info For all the news from the Clarence Valley Independent, go to https://clarencevalleynews.com.au/ The NSW Government is funding this $240 million project which involves building an additional 525 metre bridge 70 metres downstream from the existing road and rail bridge The project also includes upgrading parts of the road network in Grafton and South Grafton to connect the new bridge to the existing road network The new bridge will consist of two lanes but has been designed to be increased to four lanes when traffic levels require it The new Grafton bridge opened to traffic on Thursday 12 December Find out more about the new traffic arrangements. (PDF, 1.16 MB) Read our frequently asked questions. (PDF, 302.01 KB) Thousands of people turned out to walk across the bridge on Sunday 8 December The project reached a major milestone in August with the placement of the final bridge segment With the last of the 176 pre-cast segments in place there is now a 525-metre continuous span from the southern bank to the northern bank of the Clarence River See how the bridge will look once complete and check out other digital information about the project The new $240 million Grafton bridge recently open to traffic, with a number of new traffic changes in place (PDF, 1.16 MB) Key building activities planned between January and March 2020 include: To safely carry out these activities traffic management including stop/slow traffic control road shoulder closures and reduced speed limits may be required View the new video about the work to minimise the impact on flooding Some documents on this page may not comply with accessibility requirements (WCAG) If you are having trouble accessing information in these documents, please contact us Work to improve the roundabout at the intersection of Dobie and Villiers streets from Monday 16 September 2019 Design and construction of additional crossing of the Clarence River at Grafton Rail history celebrated at Grafton Bridge site Installation of final segment for span three (March 2019) Panoramic view of the concrete pour for pier 6 (February 2019) For further information about this project Email: grafton.regional.office@transport.nsw.gov.au Transport for NSW recognise and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and care of Country We pay respect to traditional custodians and Elders past and present Clarence Valley’s leading community and independent newspaper – connecting news to our community A critical incident investigation remains ongoing following a shooting which took place in the Clarence Valley last week officers attached to the Coffs/Clarence Police District attended a scene in the vicinity of JJ Lawrence Field and McKittrick Park after responding to reports of a concern for welfare police located and attempted to engage with a man for a period of time before he allegedly approached them and threatened two officers with a knife resulting in the police discharging their firearms Officers immediately rendered first aid until NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived The man was airlifted to the Gold Coast University Hospital in a serious but stable condition The attending officers did not sustain any injuries during the incident A crime scene was established and remained in place for several hours throughout the day while a forensic team conducted further investigations including taking aerial footage using a drone to attain additional evidence While addressing the media following the incident Assistant Commissioner David Waddell Northern Region Commander revealed the man was local and aged in his early 30s A critical incident team from Richmond Police District is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident The investigation is also subject to an independent review No further updates were available to the Clarence Valley Independent at the time of publication This is probably not the page you’re looking for A critical incident investigation is underway tonight, after a man was shot by police in a park in South Grafton this morning. Police allege he threatened two officers with a knife – and they had to use their guns to protect themselves. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Link copiedShareShare articleThis blog is no longer being updated - for the latest updates on Cyclone Alfred read our live blog here Tropical Cyclone Alfred is looking more likely to make landfall in Brisbane's northern suburbs with the worst impacts to be felt to the south of the system It was upgraded to a category 2 overnight and is likely to maintain that intensity as it approaches the coast Submit a comment or question Log in to commentLive updatesLatestOldestPinned3 Mar 8:05pmMon 3 Mar 2025 at 8:05pmStay up to date with the latest emergency warningsBBy Bridget Walker ABC Emergency will broadcast regular warnings on ABC Radio. You can find more information, including a map of all the warnings, by clicking here. You can also find these stations on the ABC Listen App ReactReactCopy linkKey Event4 Mar 1:51pmTue 4 Mar 2025 at 1:51pmThe latest for nowTBy Thomas Morgan That's where we'll have to leave this live blog for tonight I'll be keeping a close eye on the latest warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology through the night tonight and our team on Wednesday morning will be up bright and early to bring you up to date with the latest here's a quick look at the most recent warning from the BoM: Thanks for your time this evening — see you tomorrow ReactReactCopy link4 Mar, 1:44pmTue 4 Mar 2025 at 1:44pmMore on the Green Day concert cancellationGBy Georgie Hewson Earlier, we brought you the news that Green Day's Gold Coast concert is the latest event to be cancelled because of TC Alfred. You can read more about that and how to get a refund here. 1:14pmTue 4 Mar 2025 at 1:14pmBOM says Cyclone Alfred is moving west to southeast Queensland coastCBy Caitlin Rawling Jen: "When will the next BOM update be made?" The BOM says Tropical Cyclone Alfred is moving west towards the southeast Queensland coast It says it is forecast to maintain as a category 2 cyclone as it approaches the southeast Queensland coast on Thursday Cyclone Alfred is expected to cross the coast late Thursday or early Friday morning most likely between the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast It has said the warning zone for the cyclone is: Double Island Point in Queensland to Grafton in New South Wales Byron Bay and Ballina but does not including Grafton The watch zone is: Sandy Cape to Double Island Point in Queensland ReactReactCopy link4 Mar 12:57pmTue 4 Mar 2025 at 12:57pmAnnouncing plans for schools in the areaCBy Caitlin Rawling Brad: "Any chance they will announce their plans for schools in the area soon so families actually have time to organise themselves there hasn't been an update on whether schools will be closed or open because of Cyclone Alfred We will let you know as soon as there is information about whether schools will be open or not Make sure to also check in with the school your child/children go to in order to find out more information ReactReactCopy link4 Mar, 12:36pmTue 4 Mar 2025 at 12:36pmHow to prepare for Cyclone AlfredCBy Caitlin Rawling First timer: "Do we need to board up windows?"  Many people will be asking what are the best ways to prepare for a cyclone. This article linked below has lots of great tips and tricks in order to prepare for Cyclone Alfred, including where to get sandbags. 12:12pmTue 4 Mar 2025 at 12:12pmSuburbs of most concernGBy Georgie Hewson an update this evening from the Brisbane City council outlined the suburbs of most concern Morningside and Rocklea could see anything form mild to complete inundation Peak storm sruges are expected to occur from tomorrow Check the mapping on the council's website.  ReactReactCopy link4 Mar, 11:51amTue 4 Mar 2025 at 11:51amRough sleepers and holiday makers unsure where to goGBy Georgie Hewson Holiday-makers and people sleeping rough across south-east Queensland have been advised to leave the path of Tropical Cyclone Alfred before it makes landfall. Jamie was warned to leave his tent home in a park in Brisbane's north by police because of the cyclone, but said he wasn't sure where to go next. "I think we're going to have to hide somewhere," he said. "I mean, my tent's not going to cut the mustard, really." ReactReactCopy link4 Mar 11:23amTue 4 Mar 2025 at 11:23amEmpty shelves in BrisbaneJBy Julius Dennis Reports from around the likely impacted regions are showing a severe lack of toilet paper 11:00amTue 4 Mar 2025 at 11:00amMoreton Bay mayor says people are taking and selling sandbags on social mediaGBy Georgie Hewson The hottest commodity in Brisbane today was sandbags More than 100,000 have been handed out in the Brisbane City Council area Mayor Peter Flannery says 110,000 were handed out but is urging residents to only take what they need "We're seeing people take a lot more sandbags and actually selling them on Facebook now to vulnerable people so take what you need and look after each other as well." the gale force winds set to hit the region are a larger threat ReactReactCopy linkKey Event4 Mar 10:41amTue 4 Mar 2025 at 10:41amCyclone warning zone expandedJBy Julius Dennis The BOM has expanded the cyclone warning zone to include areas south of the New South Wales border to Grafton The warning zone now stretches from Double Island Point in Queensland to Grafton A cyclone watch zone is also active for Sandy Cape to Double Island Point in Queensland 10:11amTue 4 Mar 2025 at 10:11amPolice to doorknock houses on the Sunshine CoastCBy Claudia Williams “Those suburbs and locations include Golden Beach Minyama and Bli Bli,” Sunshine Coast District Superintendent Craig Hawkins says “In preparation we have in excess of 200 recruits and local police attending the Sunshine Coast over the next 24 hours where they will be doorknocking against council mapping that recognises some of the homes that might be at risk.” Superintendent Hawkins says Sunshine Coast residents should be bracing for large waves along the foreshore and coastal erosion “We’re expecting anywhere between 100 to 200 millimetres of rain “Strong winds of up to 90kph are to commence once the cyclone starts having an effect on the coastline “We are expecting abnormally high tides between 2 to 2.3 metres." 9:47amTue 4 Mar 2025 at 9:47amMake sure your furry friends are safeJBy Julius Dennis Emma Lagoon from RSPCA Queensland says people shouldn't forget their furry friends when making an emergency plan She says you should add food and medication and whatever else your pet might need for 72 hours "Also ensure that your animal has identification and check that their microchip details are up to date," Ms Lagoon says 9:25amTue 4 Mar 2025 at 9:25amThere's a lack of rooms for the homelessJBy Julius Dennis Karyn Walsh from Micah Projects says they are offering homeless people in and around Brisbane accommodation "where they can find it" but now with the wind and what's going to happen with the tents we are all planning on hopefully tomorrow around midday being able to offer a safe place in Kurilpa Hall in West End." Queensland Premier David Crisafulli says critical response teams and community organisations are helping "We are going to do what we can to offer that immediate assistance to those people who accept those offers and that offer will be made and will be made multiple times as well." Ms Walsh says the issue is there aren't enough rooms available "We have government funding for that [accommodation] but the vacancy rate is really the issue that will have people come sleep in the hall," she says 9:07amTue 4 Mar 2025 at 9:07amSeqwater prepares for impact of cycloneGBy Georgie Hewson Seqwater CEO Emma Thomas says the agency is most concerned about making sure all resovoirs are full and can continue to be treated Seqwater has 25 dams across south-east Queensland The south-east's three gated dams Wivenhoe Somerset and Northpine dams are all above 80 per cent full Ms Thomas says they have been maintained at a level below full in the weeks leading up to this event 8:58amTue 4 Mar 2025 at 8:58amIN PICTURES: Huge storm swells at the SpitMBy Melanie Vujkovic ReactReactCopy link4 Mar, 8:45amTue 4 Mar 2025 at 8:45amSatellite images show Tropical Cyclone Alfred bearing down on QLD coastGBy Georgie Hewson Weather satellites have captured the formation and movements of Tropical Cyclone Alfred as it approaches Queensland's south eastern coastline. The geostationary weather satellite Himawari-9 is centred on Japan but it also captures Australia and its surrounding oceans making it a valuable service for monitoring weather patterns. 8:33amTue 4 Mar 2025 at 8:33amDon't forget your trampolines!MBy Melanie Vujkovic Brisbane trampoline company Vuly has issued a warning to customers saying it's important to take immediate action to secure your trampolines It says not to rely on the supplied anchor clips as they are not designed to withstand cyclone-strength winds 8:15amTue 4 Mar 2025 at 8:15am20,000 homes at risk of flooding in BrisbaneJBy Julius Dennis Brisbane City Council is warning 20,000 homes could be impacted by TC Alfred Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says "residents at risk from significant storm surge and flooding are urged to consider relocating" According to new council modelling areas most at risk include Nudgee Beach "Properties could experience anything from mild inundation in their yards to significant flooding in their homes," Mr Schrinner says The storm surge is expected to peak from Thursday The council's mapping can be found here Residents can search their address to find out how they might be impacted 8:04amTue 4 Mar 2025 at 8:04amCommunities north of Brisbane urged to store waterJBy Julius Dennis Sunshine Coast and Noosa are being told to store at least 10 litres of water per person Rhett Duncan from Unity Water says power outages could pause water supply in the region "Our water and wastewater networks rely on power to pump and push water through the system," Mr Duncan says Unity Water is suggesting people store three days of water per person Why Trump wants to reopen an infamous US prison — and whether it's possibleTopic:Explainer It’s hoped caring for horses could be just what young offenders need to build a sense of purpose and responsibility, to turn their lives around. Equine therapy was introduced at the Acmena Youth Justice Centre in South Grafton a year ago…and is now being labelled a success. Watch 32sLarge hailstones fall onto a lawn near Grafton, NSW. CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced The virtual pied piper of South Grafton Junior Rugby League - Dave Hanna - celebrates three decades as a junior coach this year The 30-year journey started with the Minto Cobras in 1994 followed by Liverpool All Saints Under 13s before two years with the Macquarie Fields Hawks then a back to the All Saints for a longer stretch before five years with Western Suburbs Magpies around the Under 17s as well as a junior development coach He was involved with the Magpies Harold Matthews Cup side in 2016 as trainer and coach before moving to the South Grafton Rebels in 2017 second from right) is pictured with Junior Kangaroos and former NRL head coach Neil Henry after helping out at a recent RISE Academy program South Grafton JRL President Kylie Randall has first-hand experience of Hanna’s talents as he coached her daughter Bree-Anna for three years “His relationships with the kids is phenomenal He’s built that respect and trust with both the boys and the girls So much so that the Under 15 boys had 27 registrations this year which meant officials had to play a few in the older age group and a couple dropped back “We had too many for one team and not quite enough to enter two teams But that’s a sign of how many kids want to be coached by Dave.” He has also helped with the Under 14s and the girls age groups “He’s been volunteering for 30 years so that’s an awful lot of his time and effort “Rugby League just wouldn’t exist without people like Dave.” Todd knows Tamworth will rally for Magic Round The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Highlights | Round Nine - Roosters v Bulldogs The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Highlights | Round Nine - Panthers v Raiders the festival celebrates its 90th anniversary What began as a small act of civic pride among locals is now regarded as the country’s longest-running and most beautiful floral festival capturing the romance of regional living and celebrating a unique tree like no other Experience the most beautiful floral festival in Grafton The first of Grafton’s iconic jacaranda trees were planted in the 1880s as part of a town beautification project They’ve since become a much-celebrated tourist attraction with many of the 1700 heavily scented jacarandas reaching well over 100 years old the festival is celebrating with a dynamic lineup of performances Food is front and centre, so expect a showcase of the best Clarence Valley produce, as well as the CHS Training Blossom Wine & Dine Long Lunch, which takes place outdoors under the purple canopy. There’s also the country-style Whiddon Jacaranda Afternoon Tea as well as a variety of food trucks located in and around festival hubs Traditionally, the Clarence River marks the boundary between the Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr people. Along with the Yaegl people, the three Traditional Custodians of the Clarence Valley will come together for a day of shared culture, performance, music and dance as part of the River Dreaming program The Women of Song music event also features First Nations Choral Group performances Stay overnight and you’ll get a chance to see the jacaranda trees illuminated in See Park some of the city’s best jacaranda canopies are lit up at night juxtaposing the vibrant purple against the night sky and reflecting on the park’s water features the festival kicks off with the Children’s Party There’s also a free community breakfast held in Market Square One of the best ways to experience the festival is on a bus tour which will take you to all the hotspots around town and South Grafton hop-off bus service around the hubs and events Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Jacaranda trees as they are illuminated at night While the jacarandas take all the attention, Grafton is also home to one of Australia’s most important regional art prizes: the Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award (JADA). Shown at the Grafton Regional Gallery the competition attracts some of Australia’s premier artists and entries are exhibited during the festival a historic building fitted out with memorabilia from life in the Clarence Valley Discover more about Grafton through its art It’s also worth stopping by Grafton’s iconic “bendy” bridge built with a bend on either approach for vehicles to accommodate the rail line Part of the heritage walking trail and best experienced on foot the purple flowers reflect brilliantly on the Clarence River below when the winds are still then dot the river in flecks of mauve when a breeze appears retro motels or private rural properties dotted around the area Shaney Hudson is an award-winning freelance writer based in Sydney she now loves jumping in the car to explore Australia with her young family Most of all she loves to go where the wild things are and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" we saw them once in Grafton when we were driving round Australia in the 70’s having lived in Perth for 14 years during the eighties and nineties I was always thrilled to see the avenues of Jacarandas in the older suburbs Relax in style at Byron Bay’s abundant array of accommodations where beach bungalows and boutique hideaways capture the laid-back luxury of this co.. Australian Traveller Media acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Country on which we live and work Feedback from the public is invited by Clarence Valley Council on a development application for a $10.89 million 112 lot staged subdivision at South Grafton that is on exhibition until November 13 The DA on behalf of Ken W Robson Holdings Pty Ltd proposes 85 low density residential lots a 1.770-hectare public park and a 1836 square metre drainage reserve at 40 Fairway Drive The 19.85-hectare site is currently zoned part R1 General Residential and part R5 Large Lot Residential with four new internal roads proposed and an extension to Fairway Drive connecting to Rushforth Road at a new intersection The Statement of Environmental Effects lodged with the DA states the subdivision will be developed in five stages then another 27 residential lots plus park and drainage reserve followed by 5 residential and 12 large lots The subdivision is proposed to contain 9 lots of 450 square metres sqm or less to meet the 10 per-cent affordable housing requirements and 67 lots from 600 sqm to 2089 sqm in the R1 zone with the remaining Large Residential lots all a minimum of 2000 sqm The DA for the subdivision and all associated reports are on public exhibition on council’s website until 4pm on Monday Community members making submissions about the DA are reminded they are not confidential and considered public documents To make a submission visit https://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/Building-and-planning/Advertised-DAs/SUB20230024-40-Fairway-Drive-South-Grafton and click on the make a submission button The CV Independent will report on council’s decision about whether the subdivision is approved when it comes before a future council meeting Customer service:02 6643 0200 Media enquiries:0427 894 745 Gumbaynggirr and Yaegl people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live and work We honour the First Nations peoples culture and connection to land The South Grafton Indoor Pool & Boyd Nattrass Complex is now closed We thank the community for their support over the years We welcome you to the new Clarence Regional Aquatic Centre.For more information:https://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/Sports-and-recreation/Aquatic-centres/Clarence-Regional-Aquatic-Centre also known as the South Grafton indoor pool and Boyd Nattrass Complex offers a variety of activities including lap and recreational swimming Weekend hours change in winter Public holidays: 10am-6pmSouth Grafton Indoor Pool & Boyd Nattrass Complex is closed on Christmas Day The park's location opposite South Grafton High School which is used as an Evacuation Centre during natural disasters including the 2019 bushfires and 2022 floods PICTURED: South Grafton High School's EcoVitalise program has provided an important opportunity for students to build a sense of pride and ownership in looking after the native bush tucker garden Some of the native species in the bush tucker garden include: The garden is set under a canopy of existing paperbark gum trees Woolgoolga and South Grafton’s women’s tackle teams couldn’t be split after a 16-all draw late yesterday afternoon Woopi was the first to strike in what was a fiery clash Footage of a person moving with a distinct walk captured near the scene of a suspicious fire at South Grafton last month that destroyed a home has been released and police are appealing for anyone to come forward who knows the man Fire and Rescue NSW along with NSW Rural Fire Service units and police responded to the fire at a home on Bligh Street the brigades found the home was fully engulfed by fire A crime scene was established by Coffs Clarence Police District officers and as part of investigations into the incident police have obtained CCTV footage of a man seen in the area at the time of the fire The man in the footage is wearing dark clothing and moving with a distinct walk or anyone who might have CCTV or dashcam footage from the area near Bligh Street around the time of the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 The CCTV Footage is available on the Coffs Clarence Police District Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CoffsClarencePD The streetscape of South Grafton could provide welcome economic and employment possibilities if a development application for a $25 million “Lifestyle Centre” featuring shops takeaway stores and a childcare centre is approved by Clarence Valley Council The application by Stephen Connelly of Planners North for the site at 21 Through Street “Grafton Lifestyle Centre is located at what is considered the entry gateway to Grafton” and indicate it could potentially include homemaker and electronics style stores in the 11 retail premises “The centre seeks and draws reference from Grafton’s Architectural history to create its own identity through the landscape materiality and Architectural Composition.” The developer engaged real estate development and investment group CADRE to assist with the design of the site The Statement of Environmental Effects SEE lodged with the DA states “CADRE has gone to significant lengths to produce a built form that is low in height for commercial buildings and echoes the key elements from the historical architecture of Grafton as well as fulsomely implementing strong landscape architecture principles.” The SEE states the proposed development will contain 11 retail premises with a range of floor areas from 875 to 1800 square metres a 1534 sqm childcare facility with a 900sqm outdoor space and two takeaway food and drink premises totalling 603 sqm the proposal includes two 100kw solar systems and centralised electric heat pumps to provide energy efficient The design incorporates recycled and reused materials for a lower carbon footprint and 12 car parking spaces equipped with electric vehicle charging stations public art is a prominent feature of the proposed development located southwest of the heritage listed Grafton Railway Station with plans for an 80m2 artwork in the central spine of the centre The developer has proposed the selection of an artist to paint the artwork to be conducted via a competition managed by Grafton Regional Gallery Between three and five artists are proposed to be commissioned to produce preliminary designs each artist will be paid a concept fee of $1500 and the selected artist will be commissioned to produce the 80m2 artwork The DA is currently on public exhibition until Monday Submissions from the public are welcome but be aware that submissions are not confidential and are considered public documents Details about the DA and a link to make a submission can be found at https://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/Building-and-planning/Advertised-DAs/DA20240005-21-Through-Street-South-Grafton Nambucca Roosters continue to set the benchmark this season remaining undefeated with a 22-20 win at home against the South Grafton Rebels The win was their seventh in a row to start the season and sees them sit five points clear at the top of the ladder The Grafton Ghosts had a 20-10 win at home against the Macksville Sea Eagles which saw them move one point outside the top four Macksville Sea Eagles host the Roosters this Sunday afternoon The Sea Eagles reserves smashed the Grafton Ghosts 62-6 to maintain their undefeated start to the season Coffs Harbour Comets also continued their unbeaten start to the season Nambucca Roosters reserves won at home 28-10 against the South Grafton Rebels Coffs Harbour Comets Under 18s had a 20-8 win against the Sawtell Panthers South Grafton Rebels moved into second spot on the ladder with a 26-16 win against the Nambucca Roosters Grafton Ghosts and Macksville Sea Eagles shared the points in an 18-18 draw Macksville Sea Eagles Women’s Tackle team consolidated second spot on the ladder after a 10-8 win against the Grafton Ghosts and South Grafton Rebels had a 14-10 win against the Nambucca Roosters The Nambucca Roosters’ Group 2 season has come to an end – the South Grafton Rebels proving far too strong in yesterday’s preliminary final For information directly relating to bushfires please call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737 or visit the NSW Rural Fire Service Website here. [external link] We responded to over 150,000 incidents in 2023-24 The incidents displayed below are note-worthy incidents that have been published as media releases or tweets Details about incidents may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice North Parramatta | The fire at Dunlop Street, North Parramatta has been contained but is expected to smoulder through the morning. Because there may be smoke in the area, residents and businesses in the vicinity are advised to keep doors, windows, and vents closed. View on X [external link] Fire and Rescue NSW acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders A development application DA 2023/0711 for a $6.65 million 95 lot manufactured home estate at South Grafton is currently being assessed by Clarence Valley Council and submissions from the public are invited The DA lodged by John Codling is for the demolition of existing buildings at 252 to 298 Rushforth Road and construction of a 95 dwelling manufactured home estate recreation areas and community title subdivision The Statement of Environmental Effects SEE lodged with the DA states the 95 home manufactured housing estate will take up 8.57 hectares of the 11.54-hectare property with proposed residential sites varying from 282 square metres to 450 square metres The Manufactured Home estate will be located on the southern and eastern portions of the property with the northern and western areas remaining unimpacted by construction centrally located at the entrance to the development will act as an indoor and outdoor meeting place for residents of the estate and their visitors,” the SEE states “The proposed dwelling sites and community facilities will be set in a landscaped environment supported by recreational facilities.” The proposed estate will include about 20 RV/Caravan parking spaces within a 1312 square metre area near the centre of the estate plus 25 visitor parking spaces spread throughout the estate including two disabled parking spaces The Flora and Fauna Assessment FFA lodged with the DA states the property contains habitat for Eastern Grey Kangaroos but the property is not identified as containing potential or core Koala habitat as defined under the State Environmental Planning Policy The FAA recommends a Vegetation Management/Landscape plan an Environmental Facility plan and a Construction Site Management Plan be implemented on the site to provide improved environmental management and construction outcomes on the site The DA is on public exhibition until 4pm on January 29 Submissions from the public are not confidential and considered public documents To lodge a submission click on the make a submission button on council’s website https://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/Building-and-planning/Advertised-DAs/DA20230711-252-298-Rushforth-Road-South-Grafton We have had another busy week at South Grafton Public school Last week Year 5 were involved in the ‘Check-in Assessments’ They are an optional online reading and numeracy assessment that have been offered to all Department of Education schools We readily took up this opportunity as they supplement our existing school practices to identify how students are performing in literacy and numeracy and to help our teachers tailor their teaching more specifically to student needs As a school we are looking forward to exploring the results and learning opportunities this data delivers Our Year 3 students will participate in a similar online Check-in Assessment early next term We are taking enrolments now for kindergarten 2021 Please complete your enrolment forms and lodge with either office to help us with our planning for 2021 Its very important we have a very good idea of our numbers as our staffing is decided each year on school numbers which have to be processed by November We are currently following up next year Kindergarten enrolments with our parents and community.Mrs Knight Mrs Ensbey and Mrs Vickers are visiting preschools our office staff are ringing our parents and we have sent home a lovely booklet for our preschoolers showing our wonderful staff helping in many different areas around our school Thank you to Mrs Knight and her team for all their assistance supporting these initiatives our PPP team are preparing a Kindergarten Orientation Video anda series of PPP activities which will be posted on our Facebook page We are also preparing a PPP participation home pack for our preschoolers If you have already returned your child’s enrolment form please contact the Infants office after Thursday August 27 to arrange collection or return your enrolment form asap so you may collect this pack for your child white board marker and a personalised laminated name sheet and all required resources to participate in the online PPP activity Good luck to our boys and girls hockey teams who are playing Grafton PS and Westlawn PS at the Grafton hockey fields Our Thanks to Mr Kelly and Miss Emily Ryan for coaching our teams This week we will be holding a modified performing arts concert in our Primary hall verse speaking and band are unable to participate due to current guidelines However we are still able to involve our multiple dance groups and skipping team who are looking forward to performing We will endeavour to incorporate our normal Performing Arts Concert in Term 4 if guidelines allow A big thank you to all our staff and students who have spent many hours preparing for this concert Our book fair for students has started and will continue until Thursday 3rd September Students will be able to browse and write a Wish List when visiting the library in their class library time Due to COVID-19 restrictions purchasing is a little different this year Information is available at https://sites.google.com/a/education.nsw.gov.au/librarywithmrsheyman/book-fair-2020  Our ‘Book Character Parade’is on Tuesday 1st September We will be holding a parade on each campus to abide by NSW DEC guidelines We are looking forward to seeing the amazing costumes and which characters our students will come dressed as this year Police are appealing for information after a home at South Grafton was destroyed by fire last Wednesday night Emergency services were called to a home on Bligh Street Rural Fire Service brigades from Southampton and Grafton and Fire and Rescue NSW brigades from Grafton and South Grafton attended the blaze Upon arrival by these brigades the building was full engulfed by fire and defensive external strategies were used as it was dangerous to enter the home without possible structure collapse The fire was eventually brought under control and extinguished It is understood the occupants were away at the time of the fire A crime scene was established by officers from the Coffs Clarence Police District and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the blaze Police are urging anyone who may have any information or who may have witnessed the incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 You can find or book a council-managed park, facility or sport and recreation field on our booking website Looking for accessible public amenities? Check the National Public Toilet Map.  mature shade trees and park facilities make this park a popular place for picnics and family gatherings The pirate themed playground equipment caters for young and young at heart This reserve is a culturally significant location to the Yaegl community One of the quarry sites for the original Yamba Rockwall The quarry works were abandoned and have now formed two magnificent swimming areas within this reserve Remnants can be seen of the old rail lines Small green space in the centre of Maclean The Maclean Community Markets are held at this location on the second Saturday of the month A lovely riverside park located at Iluka Bay Has a swimming mesh protected area and lovely playground An inviting riverfront park with facilities that caters for many visitors Neighbourhood park with formal gardens and shrub bed displays Fisher Park is home to various sporting codes These surround an area of Cultural Significance A major park for Yamba overlooking the Pacific Ocean which is a popular picnic spot and destination for beach goers This is a waterfront park with splendid views across the Clarence River The Clarence Valley community has told us that public art is important to you as part of our Cultural Plan in 2018 The art at the Grafton Bridges Precinct was of particular note Council is working to protect and encourage public art while considering the significant built heritage and safety of the artists and community The Building Bridges Project is funded through the NSW State Government Stronger Country Community Fund The project scope is to facilitate public artworks involve community groups and organisations and activate the entry into Grafton and continue down the new entrance to Grafton via Pound Street to the Grafton Library The Building Bridges project celebrates the Clarence River It will help promote the community cultural precinct that is currently developing through the efforts of young artists and the wider Clarence community Engagement with the local community in the development and design of public artworks promotes a strong ownership of and pride in public spaces Site specific artworks create distinctive locations and help to build local identity and neighborhood character Working together to encourage public art and the development of this space whilst protecting the heritage and community safety is core to this project Artworks celebrating the endangered coastal emu will be projected onto the Sunshine Sugar building in South Grafton from 22 October 2022 to 6 November 2022 Yaegl and Bundjalung artists help celebrate the public art in the Grafton Bridge precinct as part of the Building Bridges project Please pay attention to the road and drive safely To view this projection from the shared path on the southern bank of the new Grafton bridge on the Summerland Way Access by parking at the western end of Through Street Deborah Taylor is a Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung artist from South Grafton Deborah is heavily influenced by her Aboriginal heritage Deborah’s work is in the Grafton Regional Gallery collection and she is a member of the Boomalli Artist Co-operative Gareth Charlton is a proud Yaegl artist that lives in Maclean Gareth also supports the efforts to save the endangered coastal emus and produced these artworks to educate people about the plight of the emu Her culture has a big influence on what and how she paints Maisie Monaghan is a young Bundjalung girl from Grafton she has been awarded the Youth Prize in the Clarence Valley Indigenous Art Award 2021 and has created two artworks for this project Aneika Kapeen is a Yaegl woman from Maclean Aneika founded the Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation in Maclean and is proudly celebrating the coastal Emu with an inaugural festival to be held in Woolweyah on 29 November Clarence Valley artist Al Stark has painting an artwork in the Grafton library carpark wall as part of the Building Bridges Project The ideas for this work originally came form a walk through coastline country with Yaegl and Bundjalung man We listened to dreamtime stories of origin as well as deep knowledge of plants I’d always been intrigued by bush turkeys thinking of them as a kind of odd solitary bird describing its meaning and importance I was taken to another place Having lived in this area my entire life and considering it my home traditional custodian and Yaegl man was transformative and really important to me I usually go to the beach everyday regardless of weather When I see the turkeys (wagun) scratching around doing interesting things I think about the significance of deep time and imagine the eons of rolling waves forming the coast and the wagun scratching around its shoreline (burugar)… I also think of its people walking through country laughing It was with these thoughts that I have tried to express a dream of wagun and Burugar It is my hope and aim that this work is able to offer a sense of beauty even if it’s just for a fleeting moment in peoples daily lives Al stark 2022Stark was chosen as the preferred artist for this mural due to his site-specific work in NSW and Victoria specifically his recent work at Pentridge community space in Melbourne Stark has been central figure in the progression of the Melbourne street art movement since its inception in the late 90s His more recent public works form lyrical narratives in massive colour and symbolism which seek to engage our environmental concerns and our responsibilities to them Currently maintaining an itinerant exhibition and commission-based practice Stark has an extensive list of collectors and clients including Hotel Hotel Next time you are in Grafton make sure you check it out The Grafton Regional Gallery is pleased to have invited Nationally recognised artists Blak Douglas and Jason Wing to create a mural on the Greaves Street underpass of the new Grafton Bridge The Grafton Regional Gallery along with Clarence Valley Council and Transport for NSW are working to protect and encourage public art while considering the significant built heritage of the area and safety of the community This incredible property in South Grafton was built by Australia’s 11th prime minister Sir Earle Page A converted hospital built by former Australian prime minister Sir Earle Page in the rural town of South Grafton is set to sell after 115 years of ownership Located on the Clarence River, the circa 1904 six-bedroom property named Clarence House was originally built by Dr Page as part of his medical precinct There is plenty of interest in the property Sir Earle Page was prime minister for 19 days in 1939 The hospital was used by Dr Page and his wife Ethel to provide rare facilities that weren’t available to patients in rural areas The first cancer operation outside of Sydney was performed there as well before it was converted into a maternity hospital and then a residential unit of four flats in the 1940s Dr Page also had a distinguished political career and was the leader of the Country Party (now known as the National Party) from 1921 to 1939 while also serving as deputy prime minister to both Stanley Bruce and Joseph Lyons An incredible location on the river in South Grafton He became the 11th Prime Minister of Australia in 1939 after the death of Joseph Lyons and served for 19 days in a caretaker role which is still configured as four units and has a price guide of $425,000 to $450,000 is still in the Page family and is owned by three descendants of Sir Earle Page Listing agent Tyler Marsh of Dougherty Property-Grafton said it was the most significant property he had sold “Historically I haven’t come across anything quite as unique as this place,” he said “Earle Page is one of the most significant characters Grafton has ever produced given he was prime minister for a short period of time.” There has been plenty of interest in the property with many Sydney buyers seeing its potential as an investment or wanting to turn it 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By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. Investigators have released CCTV footage after a suspicious fire tore through a property in South Grafton last month The property was destroyed – and several pets unaccounted for Prince Street has seen the following changes: The popular gnome hunt at the Grafton Regional Gallery is now extended along Prince Street A fun treasure hunt for all to find each of the gnomes along the street The gnomes are painted by local artists and connected to culturally and historically significant stories Each Gnome has a unique story inspired by local historical figures and connected to buildings and trees from Grafton Download the pdf map here. Aunty Robyne Bancroft and the crossing guards Jack O'Randah and Harry and Sister Daley Guardian of the time capsule and Capt Tom Dellow Henry Kendall and Doris and Gladys O'Grady guardians of south grafton and Uncle Derek Skinner See all of the photos Over the duration of the project we have had projections on heritage buildings the Superorganism sound and light installation in Market Square as well as the bud lighting on the trees along Prince Street and the changing colours of the lit-up Fig tree on the corner of Prince and Victoria Streets In one section of Prince Street the footpaths are wider and there are planter boxes adding more greenery to the street This also provided more space for art by local artists Now we have high-quality art works attached to the planter boxes transforming Prince Street into an outdoor gallery Transport for NSW contributed additional funding and raised two of the pedestrian crossings on Prince Street improving the accessibility of the crossings and slowing down the traffic Nose-in parking in a section of Prince Street to improve the pedestrian experience of Prince Street This change is in line with Austroads guidelines and also to keep exhaust fumes away from the footpath encourage slower traffic and a more polite way of driving and letting people out of parking spaces Reproductions of the Grafton Regional Gallery’s collection have been printed as posters and stuck to walls around Prince Street You need to keep your eyes peeled so you don’t miss them as you walk down the street Young authors from the Long Way Home writing competition have recorded their creative stories for you to listen to as you walk around Grafton Listen now Listen now Download our Trail Map to Rediscover Grafton!(PDF, 6MB) We’d like to hear about your experience interacting with the art the lighting and the new footpath space on Prince Street Click here to provide your feedback The project was fully funded by a grant from the New South Wales government, as part of the successful Streets as Shared Spaces program The trial was an important stepping-stone to implementing the Grafton Precinct Plan local businesses and the community to work together and test out new ideas and ensure long term permanent changes in Grafton will deliver the best outcomes for everyone Last week in our primary library we hosted the Rural North DEL (Director of Educational Leadership) summit based around the theme of whole school performance capabilities This meeting was a NSW DoE statewide high-level initiative which included several dignitaries On Wednesday morning our Stage 3 Dance Troupe Boys’ Dance and Concert Choir performed for our special guests as part of a mini–Performing Arts Concert This was an excellent opportunity to showcase our very talented students and staff to a wider audience Well done all our performers and our staff who were involved It was also an exciting opportunity to showcase our beautiful library and wonderful school Our special guests were all very impressed with our school setting and the high quality of our student performances Our Kindergarten students recently celebrated 100 days of learning They participated in a variety of fun activities Congratulations to all of our wonderful kindergarten students and their teachers on this excellent milestone in their school life Congratulations to our girl’s football (soccer) team who defeated Boambee PS 5-0 in the 4th round of the NSW PSSA Knockout competition last week The girls played with great sportsmanship and team spirit Last Monday members of our Choir recorded the National Anthem version 2 for Mr Vickery QC Our thanks to Mr Tapp for organising this great initiative for our school Our girls and boy’s basketball teams played against Korora PS and Nambucca PS in the 4th round of the NSW PSSA Knockout competition last week at Coffs Harbour Both teams played extremely well but unfortunately were defeated by stronger teams on the day Congratulations to Mrs Sarah Bathgate and Mrs Melissa McGrath who have been chosen to participate in a NSW DEC curriculum review at state level for literacy and numeracy Sarah and Melissa have extensive expertise in these 2 key areas and we know they are both looking forward to joining these key focus groups and contributing to the content evaluation of the new syllabuses We are now taking enrolments for kindergarten 2022 If you have a child ready to start school or know of another family with a child who will be in kindergarten next year You can pick up an enrolment form from either of our offices or complete an online enrolment through this link below: https://enrol.education.nsw.gov.au/#/?schoolCode=2061 The South Grafton Rebels have taken out this year’s Group 2 Premiership but South Grafton upped the anti – claiming a 36 to 8 win The blacksmith trade has long been a dying art form and now one of the north coast’s last remaining is calling it a day For South Grafton’s Eion McSwan the hammer has come down on the job he’s held his whole life Several local contractors collaborated with Council's Open Spaces & Facilities team to deliver the projects MGR Electrical, Alan Kneale Electrical and Musco Lighting but Grafton Textiles are enjoying a consistent pattern of popularity the family owned store has been a prominent destination for craft enthusiasts throughout the region As the COVID-19 pandemic unravels life as we know it customers are continuing to thread their way to the South Grafton shop Owner Stephen Ward said sales are “definitely up” compared to this time last year and the business is continuing to shine as brightly as the beautiful fabrics it sells “Once traveling got the OK again following the easing of lockdown restrictions I was amazed how many visitors we’ve had,” he said FaceTime consultations and over-the-phone sales were major contributors to the store’s performance during the early stages of the pandemic Mr Ward said shoppers have been repeatedly visiting to stock up on supplies including regular shoppers Kay Kohn and Sharron Davison often call in to purchase new cottons and elastic “There is definitely an increase in the number of people who come in wanting materials for face masks,” he said “Face masks are becoming more widely encouraged,” Mr Ward said “They’re starting to become mandatory with a lot of businesses and suddenly we’re seeing more people making their own masks.” The rise in people making their own masks is resulting in the number of regularly stocked items at Grafton Textiles “Elastic has become nearly impossible to get,” Mr Ward said adding the store has run out of the highly sought-after product on a few occasions in recent months He said t-shirt yarn has been a common substitute and a more comfortable alternative for some customers Black fabric has also been difficult to source as many businesses are asking employees to wear black masks and a lot of Mr Ward’s customers who have been sewing masks for family and friends in the workforce have been hurrying in and purchasing the colour While black fabric was not on her shopping list when she visited Grafton Textiles on August 19 avid sewing enthusiast Sharron Davison said she always enjoys browsing the unique range of materials and patterns when she is in store “I always love seeing which ones are available,” Ms Davison said “Choosing a pattern is half the fun and I’ve recently started learning to make face masks at home too redbacks and individual choices such as butterflies skulls and flames have also been well favoured Red Rock local and regular Grafton Textiles customer Kay Kohn has only just started making face masks and although she can’t remember how many she has cut out at home she is certain she has enough to keep her going for “a couple of weeks.” Ms Kohn is making face masks for her family and delivered some during a recent visit to Grafton skulls or flames on the cotton squares she placed on the counter during her previous visit she complimented the wide variety of patterns available at Grafton Textiles and said she would be returning soon for more craft supplies A South Grafton hotel was today transformed for the filming of a new Amazon Prime TV series Several parts of the Clarence Valley have been used as set locations for “The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart.” Tennis enthusiasts in South Grafton can look forward to an enhanced playing experience at the Braylesford Park with the NSW Nationals in the state government providing $53,790 to help resurface the courts with synthetic grass Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis said the funding is the result of a successful application by the South Grafton High School P & C under the ClubGrants program which reinvests proceeds from poker machine taxes back into local community facilities “The courts are heavily used and currently in poor condition and I’m told Clarence Valley Council will match the funding so this upgrade will provide a great boost to the sport and encourage more people to get involved in tennis,” Mr Gulaptis said Synthetic grass is simple and cheap to maintain and can be played on much sooner after wet weather meaning more opportunities for people to train The upgrade will also help encourage more students at South Grafton High School to get out on the courts and practise their tennis skills Nationals Minister for Hospitality and Racing said $12.5 million is allocated to the program each year to fund projects to build or upgrade community facilities giving special consideration to vulnerable communities and areas enduring disasters like floods “These grants were designed to support organisations that have a strong connection to their local community enabling them to grow and continue to provide these valuable services,” Mr Anderson said the NSW Government has funded more than 560 community projects worth more than $85 million under the Infrastructure Grants program.” Applications for the next round of funding open from October 10, 2022. To find out more or apply, please visit clubgrants.com.au Privacy Policy South Grafton Public School highly values student leadership and the school are looking forward to working with and supporting their Captains and Prefects on their leadership journey for 2023 Those leaders have just been announced and are pictured (above) last week: Vice Captains: Emmie Lolic and Scott Warwick The Woolgoolga Seahorses proved too strong for South Grafton in a hard-fought Group 2 match The Rebels’ skipper has blamed poor defense after the home team came out on top 28 to 10 The Grafton Regional Livestock Selling Centre at 267 Armidale Rd high quality auction selling centre for the benefit of producers in the Clarence Valley and beyond. Revenue raised through the saleyard is reinvested to improve infrastructure and maintain health and safety animal welfare and environmental protection compliance For updates on sale dates and times, check our Grafton Saleyard Facebook page.  has snared a gateway Northern Rivers site with plans for a $70 million large format retail project about 80 kilometres north of Coffs Harbour is setting the group back $6.33 million including GST With 11 retail tenancies – between 875-1800 sqm – including two fast food stores (totaling 603 sqm) About half this area has already been pre-committed to businesses including Carls Jnr and Total Tools A 1534 sqm childcare centre is also planned A local artist will also be appointed to create a c80 sqm mural around a c900 sqm arcade connecting the structures – where it is hoped food trucks will set up The project – opposite Grafton train station – will contain 351 car parks and 12 electric vehicle charging stations too Dougherty Property’s Derek Morgan was the agent The application comes 13 months since we reported Chemist Warehouse executives outlaid $4.1m for 45-49 Prince St it is speculated with plans to occupy longer-term on the southern approach of the new Grafton Bridge the Through St block is surrounded by industrial and bulky goods retail; Anytime Fitness Subway and Toyota are amongst the neighbours (story continues below) A Supercheap Auto occupied property on 2174 sqm next door (19 Through Rd) traded in late 2022 or $4.2m – a 5.5pc yield “Cadre saw an opportunity to add other national brands to the mix and has already secured approximately 50pc of the space with pre-committed national tenants,” Nick Tyas “The group is in advanced conversations with a variety of businesses spanning lifestyle products childcare and food and beverage including food trucks,” he added “We have been working with senior members at council who have been instrumental in the design rationale assisting us in pushing the traditional ways of thinking about user experience landscaping and impact driven initiatives,” according to the executive Cadre has appointed Melbourne architect firm Bruce Henderson to pen the project to create “something beyond a big box retail building you might find in areas like Coffs Harbour we knew we had to work with a team we know and trust who could see our vision through,” Nick said “This team will bring international design with local flora and fauna to soften the design and complement the local heritage and urban context,” he added “The result is an out of the box large format retail design which suns bright colours dominant signage and bare concreate walls in favour of steel members which give the nod to the old Grafton Bridge public art and dense local planting and vertical gardens,” according to the executive Recycled materials will be used in construction The development will also add Jacaranda trees Upon completion it is expected to be worth c$70m Cadre’s development pipeline – the majority completed through the family’s Tycorp Construction – includes projects in Victoria and Tasmania Subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of this page A former property analyst and print journalist Marc is the publisher of realestatesource.com.au Forgot your password? You will receive mail with link to set new password Back to login South Grafton Public School would like to congratulations our fantastic staff and students on an excellent Term 3 We collectively have embraced the many challenges we have been faced with and have successfully implemented many initiatives to support our students We would like to acknowledge the fabulous support of our school community who have also followed the NSW DEC guidelines throughout the term We should all be very proud of the achievements of our wonderful school and we look forward to a fantastic Term 4 Congratulations to all our staff and students on a superb infants’ athletics sports day Our staff all commented on the excellent attitude of our students who displayed fantastic sportsmanship throughout the carnival Congratulations to our overall winners Red Roos and our age champions: Congratulations to our school debating team who defeated Grafton in the third round of the Premier’s Debating Challenge The topic of the debate was “That we should fire professional athletes who are bad role models” Our team was the negative side The team is now zone champions and will now participate in the fourth round early next term Earlier this term we held our Premier’s Multicultural Public Speaking finals Our winners and runners-up from Stage 2 and Stage 3 speeches were recorded and forwarded to the NSW DEC Arts Unit for adjudication Last week we received a video from the official adjudicator who delivered constructive feedback on our four student’s speeches the adjudicator announced Zoe Rayward has been chosen to participate in the regional final of the Premier’s Multicultural Public Speaking competition Congratulations to all our students who attended the end of term rewards day activities and our students who will also be receiving a AAA certificate Students who have achieved their AAA have displayed excellence in Attitude and Attendance and have always tried their very best throughout this term Congratulations to our two netball teams who participated in a gala day held on Tuesday at Grafton netball courts The two teams played against Grafton PS and Westlawn PS excellent teamwork and effort was outstanding by all girls and they represented our school with pride Congratulations to our students and our families who completed the ‘GOT IT’ program This is an excellent achievement and we would like to thank the ‘GOT IT’ team for providing this program for our school and families Last week our primary campus held a modified athletics carnival to support our primary students It was a fantastic success and congratulations to all our students who participated and displayed excellent sportsmanship Students who were successful received their normal place ribbons and individual champions trophies We wish everyone a safe holiday and look forward to a busy Term 4