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The Toormina Oval Upgrade project will see the construction of a new carpark, foot bridge, football field and connecting concrete footpaths.
The multi-field complex is home to one of the biggest football clubs on the North Coast in Sawtell FC, and a cricket venue across the warmer months.
City of Coffs Harbour Mayor Nikki Williams said the upgrade of the community hub would add to an already popular area.
“Sited adjacent to a BMX track, skate park and the Toormina Gardens shopping complex, Toormina Oval is very much a community hub,” she said.
“This upgrade is an important further step to build on the public facilities and amenities in an area that is popular with youth and young families.”
Toormina Oval already boasts a full-sized synthetic wicket cricket ground and two football fields.
The precinct includes four changerooms, accessible public toilets and a canteen.
City Infrastructure Acting Director Daniel Noble said the new additions to the facility would add to those already made in 2022.
“The new carpark will be built near the existing Southern Field while the additional football ground will be sited next to the velodrome,” he said.
“The new field will serve as both a training ground and for Saturday comp games.
“A new access path from the existing fields to the third field will be built including a bridge crossing of a channel drain.
“This will be another significant leap forward for the facility after new accessible female change rooms, storage spaces and accessible pathways were opened in 2022.”
Lighting at the existing main fields has also recently been upgraded to LED.
The Toormina Oval project is expected to be completed by September 2025, weather permitting.
The sports grounds will remain open and operational during the contract period.
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THE QBE Sydney Swans Academy has again selected a large number of AFL North Coast players to be part of its Academy squads in 2025.
A total of 39 juniors from the region will now benefit from the Academy’s professional, age-appropriate development program.
Among the 39 players is an all-time high 10 players who’ve been chosen to be part of the Swans Academy’s top-end programs.
This is a tremendous achievement for the young footballers and a pat on the back for the local football community and the amount of young talent that is being produced in the area.
See below for the list of the successful trialists from the AFL North Coast region.
Under 11 – Eli Fernie (Sawtell/Toormina)
Under 12 – Alby Lindsay (Sawtell/Toormina), Matthew Welsh (Coffs Breakers)
Under 13 – Oscar Churton (Lower Clarence Suns), Noah Bates (Port Macquarie), Henry Fryer (Port Macquarie), Jack Morris (Port Macquarie)
Under 14 – Sonny Dusting (Northern Beaches), Jackson Sierakowski (Northern Beaches), Clancy Tune (Sawtell/Toormina), Xavier Mat (Port Macquarie)
Under 15 – Jude Couzens (Sawtell/Toormina), Zane Guthrie (Coffs Breakers), Percy Lucas (Nambucca Valley), Ty Parsons (Coffs Breakers), Jack Wilson (Port Macquarie)
Under 16 – Jack Donaldson (Northern Beaches), Thomas Epis (Northern Beaches), Duke Marshall-Orr (Coffs Breakers/Northern Beaches), Edward Redfern (Port Macquarie)
Under 17 – Isaac Luke (Port Macquarie)
Under 18 – Wilson Baade (Nambucca Valley)
Under 19 – Tom Ryan (Port Macquarie)
Under 13 – Lexi Findlay (Northern Beaches), Mireille Marshall (SWR Dockers)
Under 14 – Reese Legend (Nambucca Valley), Natalie Nawauwi (Coffs Breakers), Harpa Skinner (Sawtell/Toormina), Josephine Tait (Nambucca Valley), Zoe Tarlinton (Coffs Breakers)
Under 15 – Tayla Clarke (Sawtell/Toormina), Chloe Murphy (Sawtell/Toormina), Tazmyn White (Nambucca Heads), Gia Hudson (Port Macquarie), Ruby Luke (Port Macquarie), Grace Morris (Port Macquarie)
Under 16 – Annalise Crawley (Coffs Breakers), Poppi Flanders (Nambucca Valley)
Under 18 – Amaia Wain (Bellingen / Sawtell/Toormina)
The Toormi Tropics were presented with the Highgrove Bathroom Cup for the highest scoring team as well as the third overall trivia prize.
The event attracted a record breaking 280-plus guests and 36 teams to the Sawtell RSL venue.
“As the night’s proceeds are for our youth programs, we had students we support selling the raffle tickets,” Rotary Club of Sawtell’s Youth Director Alan Freedman told News Of The Area.
The young helpers from Toormina High School included Skye who is going on a three-month short-term exchange to Germany in November; Indy, who is going on a year’s exchange to Belgium in January; Jacinta, who is going to a Rymarine program on Marine Biology next month; and Whitby who has just completed a weekend camp at Rotary’s Youth Program of Enrichment.
Coffs Harbour Senior College student Mia was also helping. She is going to the National Youth Science Forum in Brisbane in January.
Meantime, the club has just donated $500 to Boambee Public School to assist with the Year 6 trip to Canberra.
“[Next up], we are about to deliver over $500 worth of books to the five public schools in our area”, Mr Freedman said.
“We are most thankful to the parents of these students who also attended the trivia night along with everyone else who supported us, once again making the youth programs possible.”
The Port Macquarie Magpies begin their premiership defence in Grafton, when they travel to take on the Grafton Tigers in Round 1.
After ten years away from senior footy, the Macleay Valley Eagles make their return to the competition when they host the Sawtell/Toormina Saints in Kempsey.
Last season’s runners-up the Coffs Harbour Breakers have the opening round bye.
Round 2 will feature the ANZAC Round on Saturday, 26 April.
The Coffs Harbour Breakers and Sawtell/Toormina Saints meet in their first local derby of the season at Richardson Park, while the Port Macquarie Magpies unfurl their premiership flag in their first home game of the season against the Macleay Valley Eagles.
Coffs Harbour Breakers and Port Macquarie Magpies face off in their grand final rematch during Round 4 in Port Macquarie.
Indigenous Round will be held over Round 5 and 6 in May.
The Coffs Harbour Breakers and Sawtell/Toormina Saints meet in their second local derby of the season during Round 9 at Richardson Park in June.
The Breakers and Saints meet for a third time during Round 14 at Fitzroy Oval in July.
Sawtell/Toormina Saints women begin their premiership defence at home against the Port Macquarie Magpies in the opening round.
Coffs Harbour Breakers reserves begin their premiership defence during Round 2 against the Sawtell/Toormina Saints.
Sawtell/Toormina Saints Under 18s start their tilt for a third straight premiership when they take on the Port Macquarie Magpies at home in the opening round.
The finals series gets underway on Saturday, 16 August, with the grand finals to be played on Saturday 23 August.
MCDONALD’S will build a fast-food restaurant and drive-thru on Toormina Road having won its DA approval at The Land and Environment Court on Thursday 16 February 2023.
Amendments have been agreed to lessen the impact of the business in operation.
A City of Coffs Harbour spokesperson told News Of The Area, “After consideration of the expert evidence for both McDonald’s and the City and submissions from the community, the Land and Environment Court determined to approve the development application subject to a detailed number of operational conditions.
“These include: a reduction in trading hours (noting the original application was for 24-hour trading 7-days a week); deletion of outdoor seating; increased landscaping; changes to the car park design to reduce potential acoustic impacts; and amendments to the Plan of Management to provide detailed procedures for noise handling, security and safety as well as procedures for litter patrol.”
The DA had been contested since being made to City of Coffs Harbour in June 2020 when the Munroe Group, franchisee of McDonald’s on the Mid North Coast, lodged a DA to build the restaurant with a drive-thru in the Toormina Road corner of the Toormina Gardens Shopping Centre car park.
The DA was rejected the first time by Council with councillors Knight, Rhoades, Townley and Swan voting against the development, while councillors Adendorf and Cecato voted to approve the development.
With amendments made, a second DA was submitted and subsequently denied by councillors.
In October 2022, after McDonald’s took its objections to the Land and Environment Court, and with a change.org petition by locals seeking to stop the DA reaching around 2,500 signatures, the Land and Environment Commissioner and Council’s legal representatives met on site and heard locals speaking on their objections to having a stand-alone McDonalds in Toormina.
Some members of the community are calling out the councillors who denied the DAs which led to McDonald’s taking the issue to the Land and Environment Court, and not negotiating with McDonalds out of court and thus avoiding the legal fees that will now be paid for by the local ratepayers.
City of Coffs Harbour Councillor Rodger Pryce told NOTA, “While acknowledging the efforts of the community were successful in amending aspects of the DA, it’s a pity that the amendments were not negotiated between the council of the day in 2021 and the applicant, being McDonald’s.
“If that had been so then the community may have been spared the high level of costs incurred by having the matter heard at the Land and Environment Court.”
Councillor Sally Townley said the Toormina community had raised valid concerns in their opposition to the development.
“Toormina community leaders put a huge effort into researching and documenting deficiencies in the application,” Cr Townley told News Of The Area.
“Their concerns about opening hours and traffic flow were found to be valid and their work resulted in the applicant modifying the proposal through the Court process.
“I’m sure those objectors would be disappointed by the outcome.
“However, they should be very proud of their achievements.
“Their participation in the process was so impressive and although they were unable to prevent this development their efforts have certainly reduced its impact on the community.”
A McDonald’s spokesperson told NOTA, “McDonald’s is pleased with the decision to grant development consent for the Toormina restaurant.
“Every McDonald’s restaurant is committed to supporting the community it operates in through job creation, economic investment and ongoing training and development opportunities.
“The Toormina restaurant will inject over $5 million into the local economy and create 100 jobs during construction, as well as a further 120 jobs once operational.
“We look forward to serving the local community once the restaurant opens.”
THE Toormina Commonwealth Bank branch in Toormina Gardens Shopping Centre is closing its doors for good, with its last day of trading being Friday, 25 November.
Norm Swift, Regional General Manager, Commonwealth Bank told News Of The Area, “After a recent review, we made the difficult decision to permanently close our Toormina branch, which has had a 42 percent drop in transactions over the five years before the Coronavirus pandemic.”
The nearest branch for Toormina customers is at Park Beach Plaza Coffs Harbour, around ten kilometres drive via the Pacific Highway or Hogbin Drive.
“We understand this change may affect the way some of our customers bank, and the team at Toormina branch are available until Friday, 25 November 2022 to help customers find the solutions that best suit their needs,” Mr Swift said.
Sawtell resident Greg Costello, now aged 70, was the publican at the Sawtell Hotel for 36 years.
Mr Costello told NOTA the closure of the branch was “rude and wrong”.
“The banks don’t care about older people who aren’t good with using computers.
“There’s a lot of people of all ages who don’t want to do online banking or can’t do it and they need help and without a car how are they going to get over the Park Plaza, it’s not an easy bus journey.”
An alternative over-the-counter service in Toormina is offered at Australia Post’s Bank@Post service which includes personal and business banking transactions, withdrawals and deposits including passbooks, during normal business hours.
“We recognise some senior customers prefer to do their banking face-to-face and it’s one of the reasons we’re proud to maintain the largest branch network in the country,” said Mr Swift.
Mr Swift noted customers can access their accounts 24 hours a day through NetBank or the CommBank app.
“We’re also available for general banking enquiries, through our locally based contact centres on 13 22 21, every day between 8am and 8pm,” Mr Swift said.
Mr Costello said there would be a large number of local people feeling abandoned by the banking system, noting for example that some banking business requires filling out complex forms.
“Doing this online can be really stressful for people who don’t know their way around a computer or apps.
“Attaching a photo of their driver’s license is too complicated for some people, they want a face-to-face service in a physical bank,” he said.
The only bricks-and-mortar bank remaining in Toormina Gardens Shopping Village is BCU Bank which is temporarily closed due to storm damage from the October 2021 hail storm.
Kristine Gillon, who lives near Toormina Gardens Shopping Centre, parked her car on Wirrabilla Drive on Monday 15 January 2024, to go shopping in Woolworths.
“At the time I didn’t realise the unfortunate position of my parking spot,” she said.
“It was a classic roadside parking spot on a residential road.
“It was just in front of a road drain,” she said.
While she was shopping, a storm with very heavy rain hit the area.
Along with many others, she waited for it to abate before heading to her car.
“Imagine my shock on exiting the doors to see not only the roadway (Wirrabilla Drive) submerged, but the water came up to my knees,” Kristine said.
“And then I saw my car, and at least two others, with rainwater almost to the top of the wheels.
“As a result, of course, the floor well was filled with water and my car had to be towed away and was later written off.”
Kristine then contacted the City of Coffs Harbour, hoping for improvements so that could avoid others experiencing a similar fate.
“My plea to the council was that if it is not possible to fix the problem through drainage etc then for them to sign the street permanently to make people aware that parking there in heavy rain should be avoided in order to prevent others from suffering the same ordeal as me.
“I submitted the request in the hope I can save others from dealing with the emotional, and financial stress and inconvenience that I have endured as a result of flooding in Wirrabilla Drive,” she told News Of The Area.
And it looks like Kristine’s wish will be granted, with CoCH informing her that “installation of ‘Road Subject to Flooding’ and depth indicators” have been added to the City’s works schedule.
“A detailed hydraulic assessment of the draining system also needs to be undertaken.”
A CoCH spokesperson confirmed with News Of The Area, “City of Coffs Harbour will install cautionary signage in the area that it may be subject to flooding.”
A McDonalds at Toormina has been given the green light, almost three years after the developement application was originally lodged with the Coffs Harbour Council.
The Land and Environment Court, handing down their decision this week.
Dogs jumped hurdles, traversed tunnels, and clambered over A-frames, dog walks, seesaws and through weave poles.
“The Friday afternoon was so wet, even the paperwork going back to the office was a bit soggy, but the volunteers and the judges were out there, so we got it done to put the competitors through,” said Will Sinclair-Huggins, Trial Manager.
Luckily the weather cleared over the weekend.
Will’s role involved contracting judges, booking the grounds, deciding on the event format and liaising with governing body Dogs NSW.
He also ran his dog Alfie in the competition.
“Alfie was a rescue dog at six months of age, and he hadn’t had a normal life before we got him, as he wasn’t a confident dog,” said Will.
“People said to me if you can get him to jump up on things and go over strange surfaces, it will build confidence, so we did that and I could see he was really enjoying it and when we did the agility class, he just lit up.”
Alfie has also helped Will out in his private life, particularly on his wedding day two years ago in Kingscliff.
“Alfie was my best man because a dog is a man’s best friend.
“His plus one for the wedding was his dog walker,” said Will.
“My wife Mel and I had eloped, so it was just the four of us with Alfie, the photographer and the plus one who were the witnesses.”
At the Autumn Trials, Alfie got his first qualification in the Open event.
“Despite not being as tall as the other dogs he competed against, he was quick enough to come fourth, which is pretty amazing.
“We came first in Jumping Dog Excellent (JDX), and we are gearing ourselves to run at the national event.”
A RECORD breaking attendance at Rotary Club of Sawtell’s famous trivia fundraiser saw the highest ever amount raised for the annual event.
“We had a very successful Trivia Night last night, Friday 1 September, at the Sawtell RSL Club,” Rotary Club of Sawtell’s Youth Director Alan Freedman told News Of The Area.
“The room was filled to capacity with 35 full tables.”
For the fourth time in a row, Toormina Public School won the trivia, with the team presented with the Highgrove Bathrooms Cup.
Many teams were dressed in their chosen theme, adding colour to the evening and giving a festival feeling to the fundraiser.
“It was a great night with plenty of atmosphere, fun and laughter.
“Profit wise it was the most successful since we started six years ago,” said Alan.
Trivia Masters Jordan Oppy and his assistant Giordan Pakes did a great job as they famously do around the Coffs Coast’s trivia hotspots.
Monies raised go towards the Rotary Club of Sawtell Schools Program to buy books for local schools for their Early Readers Literacy Program.
“We have just recently allocated the money for the books from the 2022 event, which have all been delivered.
“The next batch will be in July next year,” said Alan.
“We will be helping out many of the schools throughout the year and at their end of year assemblies.”
On Tuesday 5 September Alan, along with fellow club member Ray Baldwin, attended Coffs Harbour Christian Community School’s Public Speaking and Poetry competition as judges.
How would you best describe a dining experience at theToormina Hotel?
“The best dining experience isn’t just about the food.
“It is important, but so is the ambience and the service.
“As soon as you walk through the door at the Hotel, you’re greeted by friendly staff that are knowledgeable about the beverage and food menus, the ambience is warm and inviting and the food entices the senses,” said Sally Price, Senior Venue Manager, Toormina Hotel.
Who is behind the menu? What inspires the style of food on offer?
“The man behind our lovely menu is Jacob Barnaby, our head chef.
“I can describe it as an elevated gastro pub menu, with emphasis on in-house smoked meats and a tex-mex vibe.
“Regular pub classics are on offer, but so are things you wouldn’t normally find in other pubs and venues.
What does the chef recommend and what do they like to eat at home?
“Jacob would recommend the chef’s signature pork belly, served with homemade pickled red cabbage, bacon jam, smooth and creamy sweet potato puree and rich pork belly jus.
“At home, he prefers simple, home cooked meals that are both satisfying and healthy,” Sally said.
Can you tell us a bit of the history of the restaurant and what inspired the owners to create such a venue?
“The Toormina Hotel wasn’t always known as a family destination however when W. Short Group took over six years ago, their vision was to build the hotel into a pleasant, family friendly place where locals keep coming back.
“Since then it has become a fixture in the community,” said Sally.
NO more sports change room ablutions for women in the vicinity of urinals is one positive outcome of the new female-friendly, accessible change room facilities at Toormina Oval.
For the use of both men and women, the new change rooms, storage spaces and accessible pathways at Toormina Oval were officially opened on Friday 19 August by Coffs Harbour City Council Mayor Cr Paul Amos and Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh MP.
Smartly designed with their purpose in mind, the change rooms have cubicle showers with locks, there’s a multitude of plug sockets, the water taps are high enough above the sink for people to get their water-bottles under to fill up, the toilets are tucked around the side of the space so they are not the first thing you see as you walk in, there’s spacious surfaces around the mirrors and a whiteboard for planning ‘match strategy’.
All things both men, women and children will appreciate, and far from what was previously available for the sports community using Toormina Oval.
“Council was delighted to provide facilities that encourage more people to take up and enjoy sport,” said Cr Amos.
“The recent Commonwealth Games was a great example of how women’s and people with disabilities’ participation in sport is on an equal footing with men and it’s up to us to ensure we do what we can to give everyone access to sport opportunities.
“Local grassroots sporting grounds are where the medal-winners of the future start their journey,” he said.
Sawtell Football Club, North Coast Football’s largest soccer club with around 550 members, will be the main beneficiaries of the new facilities, with cricket and Little Athletics participants also regular users of the ground.
Club President Simon Portus said, “We have seen a significant growth in female player numbers at Sawtell FC from 32 percent of total players in 2021 to 36 percent of players in 2022.
“Across the North Coast Football region female players make up on average 28 percent of total registrations.
“This growth is due to a number of factors and the female change rooms are definitely a part of that.
“Most of our club’s growth in female players has been in senior football (17 – 30yr olds) and these are the players that use the change rooms the most.
“In 2022 we have had 31 senior women players register as compared to fourteen in 2021.”
Council contributed $408,000 to the project while the NSW Government provided $215,823 through the Stronger Country Communities Fund.
The project complemented a range of security improvements previously undertaken at the Toormina Sports Complex precinct to help reduce crime and antisocial behaviour.
Council has also installed new public toilets on the site at a cost of $303,000 – another key upgrade for the overall precinct masterplan.
Mr Singh told NOTA, “This is really important for the longevity of sports in Toormina – this oval is now a really good sports precinct with the velodrome on one side and the BMX Track on another side.
“The facilities this new building provides helps keep women in sport and makes competitions more viable.
“Sport plays a massive role in making the Coffs Coast a great place to live and it’s extremely important to provide the very best facilities for all participants,” said Mr Singh.
Kimberly Grech, Treasurer of Sawtell FC told NOTA, “This is the first year of First Division women’s soccer for our club, we haven’t had enough women to make a team before, and to be able to give them this change room is wonderful.
“It will help us to grow our women’s side of the club and encourage more girls to come into soccer,” she said.
The Club has been able to make use of the new facilities since last April, while the bollards, accessible paths and drainage were finished in June after weather delays.
A proposal for a new McDonalds restaurant in Toormina is now before the Land and Environment Court.
The on-site hearing follows TWO knock-backs from Coffs City Council.
A TOORMINA High School student has been selected to dance with Bangarra Dance Theatre, a prestigious Indigenous dance company.
Leandra Avuri-Williams was accepted into a small group chosen from across NSW to dance with Bangarra in the Schools Spectacular at Sydney’s Olympic Park.
The sixteen-year-old is over the moon as it’s been her dream to perform with the Sydney-based dance company, which has been running for 32 years.
Leandra’s mother is from Gumbaynggirr country and her father is Wiradjuri.
She has remained close to her culture since she was a young girl and started traditional dance early, along with studying ballet.
Leandra saw the Aboriginal dance groups while singing at a previous Schools Spectacular; realising the power of the moment, she dreamt of being involved.
Having tried for several years for an opportunity to dance with the prestigious company, Leandra never gave up.
She was selected in the last school term after catching the eye of Bangarra choreographers while taking part in workshops in Grafton.
Leandra will now travel back and forth from Sydney for a few months later this year for rehearsals.
She will juggle the responsibilities of elite dance training and her schoolwork, and said her school had been very supportive.
“As long as I am on top of my school work, I can still dance,” said Leandra, who is also passionate about art, singing and language.
Having gained her Certificate Three in Gumbaynggirr language, Leandra is now able to educate others about her culture, mentoring students at her school.
With the young dancer on a path to performing success, she is not forgetting her roots, or those who have supported her on the way.
“My mum Sandra told me no matter what I go through, she’s always proud of the accomplishments I’ve made.
“She’s my number one supporter and I love her for that,” Leandra said.
Eddie Woo is known for making maths ‘fun’ – and today, he inspired Toormina High school students to think the same.
Dozens of students attended sessions, with teachers also given tips and tricks to include in their teaching practices.
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WHEN Sawtell Catholic Care’s ‘The Link’ community gardens were named as the best in Australia at the Australian Institute of Horticulture’s (AIH) Awards Ceremony
the local residents and Coffs Harbour community missed out on the experience of being there in person
the presentation is coming to Toormina with a re-run on site at The Link on Thursday 23 February and everyone in the community is welcome to attend
The AIH has kindly offered to re-present the National Green Space Regional Award at The Link
along with an official opening of its Potting Shed community garden
Sawtell Catholic Care CEO Michael Darragh told News Of The Area
“The Australian Institute of Horticulture’s President Alan Burnell
Vice President Andrew Prowse and Coffs Harbour local and AIH Treasurer Kris Pierce reached out to us with the idea of re-presenting the award at The Link gardens so our community would also have the chance to celebrate our win
“The AIH team also thought it would be a great opportunity to present awards to Garden Expressions’ Senior Landscape Designer Claudia Nevell and Great Gardens Landscaping to recognise their joint efforts in helping us realise our ultimate vision for the five-acre site
“Their visit also coincides with the official opening of our community gardens and potting shed
and it will be exciting to watch these garden beds grow and thrive throughout the seasons and I look forward to seeing the variety of seasonal produce that our community grows in them.”
The Link’s Community Garden features 20 large
raised garden beds and a purpose-built potting shed to provide Sawtell Catholic Care residents
school children and members of the community with a safe and accessible space for intergenerational gardening activities
“Recognising the enormous value horticulture can play in our lives
The Link’s community gardens and potting shed have been designed to create a thriving and sustainable natural environment where you can reconnect with nature and grow your own fresh produce,” said Shaun
“Hopefully we have planted a seed that will be nurtured in partnership with our community so we can grow together and create a shared understanding and appreciation of our connections to the land
our environment and our connections to each other.”
Everyone is welcome to attend the awards presentation and opening at The Link Pavilion on Thursday 23 February
Just down the street is the Barcoo Court Community Garden opened by Their Excellencies
The Governor General David and Linda Hurley
developed by local tenants with Richie from GeoLink and community support from the Royal Botanical Gardens of Sydney and Mission Australia
Open to the public every Wednesday 10-1pm for garden workshops
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HIGH school students enter the annual Lions Youth of the Year Quest by completing a written application and attending a formal interview.
Students then compete in a public speaking competition with impromptu speeches of two minutes then five minute prepared speeches.
The Toormina High School 2021 School Captain, Ellena Cheers-Flavell won the speaking competition and was also named the overall winner at the dinner on February 16 and will now represent Bonville/Sawtell Lions Club at the regional final in Nambucca Heads next month.
Cooper Bake-Smith, also a 2021 Toormina High School Captain, was recently awarded an Australian Defence Force Future Innovators Award.
This award recognises rising young, talented, innovative students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics who will contend with the challenges of a fast evolving, technological world.
Cooper achieved a Band 6 in Mathematics Advanced and E4 in Mathematics Extension 1 in 2020.
E4 is the equivalent of a band 6 in an extension subject.
Cooper is continuing his learning and is currently completing Mathematics Extension 2.
Cooper and Ellena are admirable representatives of Toormina High School and inspiring role models for junior students.
THE Sawtell/Toormina Saints Youth Girls have been a dominant force in 2021.
The Saints continued their unbeaten season with a 61-point win against the Port Macquarie Magpies at Richardson Park, during the latest round of the AFL North Coast junior season.
The win was their eighth straight in a winning run which has seen them win by an average margin of over 55 points.
Saints part-time coach Dave Rava explained to News Of The Area the reasons behind the dominance of their competition.
“We have players in the Sydney Swans Academy, and we are strong across the board,” he said.
“We have 24 to 26 players so we have huge depth.
“The first-year players have picked it up quickly and they have a lot of natural ability.
“And playing as a unit and team rather than individuals is our strength.”
Coach Rava described the different backgrounds of the strong Saints team.
“We have a few girls that used to play basketball and they’ve transferred those skills over,” he said.
“We have 10 first year players and also a lot of girls that started in our junior system in the under 11’s and have progressed through.
“And we have a lot of girls from different schools across the area who just get along so well.”
Rava said his side truly enjoyed their football.
“They are great to coach and they have a lot of fun and they don’t take it too seriously,” he said.
“And the feedback I get is they are having fun as we’re not playing for sheep stations.”
Lilli Moody captains the super side and certainly leads by example.
“I like to get everyone involved and make sure everyone gets involved in the game,” she said.
“I have a loud presence on the field and I am very vocal, and I’m there if anyone wants to talk about the match.”
Communication was the key to her team’s success according to Moody.
“I think we have really good team camaraderie, and the players who have been playing a lot longer help with our skills,” she said.
“Social media is really big for us because we all stay connected as some girls come from all across the region.”
Like many of her teammates, the midfielder came from a basketball background, where she represented Australia as a junior.
She found there were noticeable differences between playing for the Saints and her time on the court.
“The big difference is tackling as it’s more physical and you need a lot more fitness,” she said.
ABC NewsSearch for escaped convict put Toormina in lock-downShare Search for escaped convict put Toormina in lock-downTopic:Prisons
Search for escapee Marcus Buchanan put Toormina south of Coffs Harbour into lockdown. (Supplied)
Link copiedShareShare articlePart of the southern Coffs Harbour suburb of Toormina went into lock down yesterday because of reports of an escaped convict in the area.
It wasn't a siege and we never thought there were any hostages
The operation just after 2:00pm also affected a nearby school shortly before children were due to go home.
Heavily armed police surrounded a house in Lowrey Street, where an exclusion zone prevented some residents getting to and from their homes
Coffs Clarence Crime manager Darren Jameson said police were responding to reports escapee Marcus Buchanan was in the area.
Detective Inspector Jameson said Buchanan escaped from the Glenn Innes Correctional Centre in October.
"We're treating him as armed and extremely dangerous," he said.
"As a result we're asking the community if they do sight Marcus Buchanan that they don't approach but theycontact Triple Zero immediately."
Detective Inspector Jameson said Buchanan was not re-captured yesterday and he is probably still in the region.
"It's possible he's in the area between Macksville, Nambucca Heads or down to Kempsey, right up to the Grafton area," he said.
"So we're actively seeking him and will continue our investigations in trying to locate him. "
Detective Inspector Jameson said a tip-off from the public led to the Toormina lock-down.
" It was part of ongoing policing operations in relation to the escapee Marcus Buchanan," he said.
"We were acting on information we'd received, we went to a premises in Lowrey Street at Toormina.
"Given the nature of our inquiries and treating his as being possibly armed and extremely dangerous the area had to be locked down while the policing operation took place.
"It wasn't a siege and we never thought there were any hostages."
Police operation in Toormina NSW, December 1, 2015 (Tom Lowrey, ABC News)
TOORMINA High School students and teachers were inspired to make use of more mathematics in their lives after an interactive
in-person presentation in the school hall with master mathematician Eddie Woo
He has captured the imagination of kids around the world
showing them another way to engage with mathematics
Eddie’s WooTube channel has an engaged following of 1.34 million subscribers and more than 95 million views worldwide
leader of Mathematics Growth for the NSW Department of Education
visited Toormina High School on Wednesday 8 June and presented this exciting opportunity for the students and local mathematics teachers to participate in a lesson about understanding mathematics
Eddie has one of his trainers based at Toormina High School and working within the network of schools in the area
Eddie is a classroom teacher at Cherrybrook Technology High School
the Education Ambassador for the University of Sydney
He is best known for his online mathematics lessons published on YouTube (https://misterwootube.com/)
Eddie was awarded the Australia’s Local Hero Award
In his Rethinking Mathematical Success masterclass Eddie worked through a set of six core skills that all play a part in working out mathematical problems and demonstrated patterns and reasoning that are widely applicable in maths and life in general
The students and teachers were given puzzles and practical examples of fresh ways to approach mathematics
Fired up after having a selfie taken with his new maths hero
Year 11 student Albert Squires told News Of The Area
“This was the first time I’ve seen Eddie and I learnt a lot – it was a pretty good experience.”
while he’s glad the students enjoyed the masterclass
it’s inspiring the teachers he sees as his long term gain from these personal appearances
“I can speak to thousands of kids but if their everyday experience doesn’t change
if what they get from their regular classroom teacher doesn’t incorporate these ideas
then it doesn’t make a lasting difference,” Eddie told NOTA
“The thing that’s most important to me is the teachers in the room being able to see some of how this works with their own students and then be able to incorporate that in their classrooms
“That’s how we change our society’s attitude and perspective on mathematics
by changing the way students experience mathematics every day.”
The Mathematics Growth Team Trainer roles across NSW are all about providing support to teachers through professional learning
both taking regular mathematics classes and leading professional learning with the team of mathematics staff
“I’ve never met a teacher who didn’t want to improve how they could teach
to engage students more – they all do – but they need access to expertise
so that is what my initiative is all about…and I’m really pleased we can partner with Toormina High School and other high schools to share this.”
Educational research has shown schools that focus on giving young people a voice enables them to succeed
thrive and contribute positively throughout their lives
led by school captains Madeline Hatfield and Jack Hone and vice-captains Poppy Browne and Zac Creenaune
has enabled students to participate in decision making processes at Toormina High School which have real impacts on their learning and school environment
These young leaders are a visible presence in the broader school life at Toormina High School
fostering enthusiasm and positive attitude and assisting peers and younger students to achieve their goals and maintain the positive learning environment
MOST people understand that physical challenges can be character building
and physical education teachers at Toormina High School have been using the Kokoda Challenge to build resilience in students since 2015
The Challenge has become increasingly popular and
and the Toormina High School teams will cover 48 kilometres
The Toormina teams have already raised more than $3000 for the Kokoda Youth Foundation to help other teenagers
while they are out and about in the community
attract the interest of locals who ask questions about the Challenge
“It’s been fantastic in building camaraderie amongst students and teachers”
She said that the experience improves students’ fitness and wellbeing
teams bond together and help each other through the difficult times
She also said that the walk gave students personal insight into the hardships faced by soldiers in the Second World War while studying it in history
Ms Marangon-Elliott said the majority of this year’s students are from years 10 to 12
“My group of Year 11 boys has really wanted to participate in the challenge before focusing on their HSC next year,” she said
One of the students chipped in: “It’s a great opportunity to get out and about with my mates and have a good time.”
those being tears of laughter and relief at the end
I just feel like it’s a brilliant opportunity to not only push my own limits but also to support an important foundation”
Because the cost of participating is quite substantial
the teams are seeking community support to help alleviate some of their costs
especially for food and accommodation during the event
allowing them to participate with appropriate equipment and gain valuable experiences that will stay with them for a lifetime
All donations can be made at https://portal.schoolbytes.education/other-payment/711
TOURING musicians Juzzie Smith and Karen Lee Andrews will be performing at Coramba Hall and Toormina Community Centre on their 2022 NSW Tour
brilliant concerts in the Toormina and Coramba Community Halls
Festival of Small Halls absolutely covets our opportunity to return to these wonderful communities year after year,” Eleanor Rigden
Woodfordia’s Festival of Small Halls
“The community groups behind each hall are dedicated
kind and truly outstanding community organisers who put on simply brilliant shows
“They have now rolled out the red carpet for six international touring acts and eight exceptional home-grown acts through Festival of Small Halls
and we can’t wait to introduce Karen Lee Andrews and Juzzie Smith
“We also partner with the Coffs Harbour City Council on these shows
who are vital enablers of access to arts and culture across the region.”
“I’m really looking forward to playing in the Coffs Coast area
“I’ve been lucky to have played at the Bellingen Global and Winter festival and the Dorrigo Bluegrass Festival
“I’ll be bringing my one-man-band that has grown a few notches in quality and skill
“If you have had the chance to see my show then expect a whole lot more
“If you haven’t seen my show then you’re in for a musical adventure like no other
“This Small Hall tour is going to be really special.”
Karen Lee Andrews’ career to date has largely revolved around classic soul and rhythm and blues sounds
gospel and Karen’s Polynesian background continues to inform what she does
but the blues has come to feel more like home
“I’m so excited to share this beautiful experience and my music with the wonderful New South Wales Small Halls tour audiences,” enthuses Karen Lee Andrews
The Coramba Community Hall was built in 1914 and has been holding functions for over 100 years
It was recently refurbished both inside and out and has full disability access and amenities
Festival of Small Halls returns to Coramba on Thursday
10 February 2022 and Toormina Community Centre on Saturday 5 March
Northern NSW is cleaning up after a 'supercell' hail storm hit parts of the region
turning entire suburbs into carpets of white
The towns of Toormina and Sawtell were hit hardest
with locals posting frightening pictures and videos to social media of the powerful deluge yesterday afternoon
On Thursday morning NSW SES Coffs Harbour said it was responding to more than 850 requests for assistance in the Sawtell
Toormina and Boambee areas due to damage from the supercell
'SES Crews are out in the field this morning tarping Roofs
and providing assistance to affected members of the public,' a spokesperson said
Crew from the NSW Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW had also been called in to assist
said it was the largest number of calls for assistance it had ever received
'We've had significant damage to the shopping centres and nursing homes
we need to urge all residents and tourists to stay out of those areas,' he said
The storm hit the area about 2.30pm on Wednesday afternoon
causing the roof in sections of Toormina Gardens Shopping Centre to collapse
More than 400 shoppers had to be evacuated from the centre
who filmed the ferocity of the storm from inside his house
told Daily Mail Australia he'd 'never seen anything like it'
who took video of hail stones smashing into the carpark outside of the Toormina Lifeline store where she works
but then it went absolutely ballistic for about 3-5 minutes,' Ms Langley said
'One lady out the front had the side mirrors of her car completely smashed off.'
Daniel Grasso had gone up to the town's headland to film the approaching storm
'I noticed it was starting to funnel downward towards the ground right at my position,' he said
it went from clear vision to not being able to see 20 metres in front of me
'I've never experienced large hail like that
It was so intense and my car started to be swept along by the wind along the ground so when that happened
'I really don't want to be here right now!' as large hail stones drop around him
Four schools in the region are closed and residents reported shredded vegetation strewn across roads and streets in the area
Meteorologist Hugh McDowell from the Bureau of Meteorology explained how the phenomenon occurred
'Three different wind directions met and causing what we called a triple point,' he explained
'You get a lot of uplift as they all met and converge in one spot
We had that in the Coffs Harbour area and that created a supercell thunderstorm
Mr McDowell said winds of 87 km/h were recorded at Coffs Harbour Airport yesterday
While more storms are expected in the area
Further severe thunderstorms are possible through to Saturday across the north coast
On Tuesday a hail storm at Yalboroo, north of Mackay in north Queensland, produced 16cm-wide balls of hail that set a new Australian record.
'The previous record was 14cm observed in south-east Queensland last year,' the BoM said on Wednesday.
'The atmosphere was extremely unstable, which allowed hail to continue growing before gravity forced it to the ground.'
The previous record hail fell during severe thunderstorms in southeast Queensland on October 31 last year.
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GAMUMBI Early Learning Centre in Toormina is about to receive $50,000 in funding from the State Government’s Community Building Partnership program
The funding will be put towards improving staff amenities including bathroom and shower facilities
“(This) will allow us to have increased capacity for family and parenting workshops
“Gamumbi opened in 1985 and we are delighted to be able to continually improve our facilities with the help of grants like this.”
The name Gamumbi means children in Gumbaynggirr
and the education program embraces traditional teaching and traditions
With a current enrolment of 49 children per day the centre is at capacity and has a long waiting list
The recent supercell storm caused damage to one room and to the skylights and work is underway to repair this damage as soon as possible
Work on the bathroom renovations is expected to commence in March and will need to be carefully managed around the daily routines in place for the children
Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh said
“I’m very pleased to announce the staff bathroom will be refurbished including additional storage
as well as replacement of a broken entry door with an access door
“I congratulate the entire Gamumbi team on their successful funding application
I know their project will make a big difference at the centre.”
“This grassroots funding will directly help to bring about positive outcomes in our local community.”
TOORMINA High School is leading the way to make meaningful opportunities for student participation and leadership as these are both central to student wellbeing
achieving academic outcomes and school excellence
Head Teacher Wellbeing Laura McRae said that educational research has shown schools that focus on giving young people a voice enables them to succeed
The Student Leadership Team led by school captains Ellena Cheers-Flavell
Cooper Bake-Smith and vice-captains Amy Newcombe and Adam Rollans has enabled students to participate in decision making processes at Toormina High School which have real impacts on their learning and school environment
The team will be in charge of two portfolios focusing on student wellbeing and school community
Students will be making decisions about how some of the school finances will be used to address student and school needs
Our leaders are a visible presence in the broader school life at Toormina High School
fostering enthusiasm and positive attitude and assisting peers and younger students to achieve their goals and maintain our positive learning environment
ANGUS Anderson has taken his place amongst some of the best juniors in Australia
The former Sawtell/Toormina Saints player has made the Allies squad as he vies for selection for next month’s NAB AFL Under 19 National Championships in Queensland
The Allies representative team comprises the best junior players from NSW
as they take on representative teams from Vic Metro
South Australia and Western Australia at the national championships
Anderson and his Allies squad will attend a training camp this weekend where they will vie for selection for the 2021 NAB AFL Under 19’s Championships which begin on 8 July
Anderson’s inclusion in the Allies squad comes as a result of a number of standout performances for the Sydney Swans Academy Under 19 team in the NAB League
where he captained the team and was awarded best on ground in his side’s win against the Gippsland Power
Anderson joined the Swans Academy after trialling for the Southport Sharks VFL team which saw him included on the supplementary list
The 18-year-old had an outstanding AFL North Coast season playing for the Sawtell/Toormina Saints in 2020
as he was awarded the under 17’s best and fairest as well as runner-up in the seniors best and fairest
AFL North Coast Community Football Manager Paul Taylor said the young midfielder was an example for other North Coast juniors of what they could achieve if they put in the hard work
“Not only has Angus demonstrated his commitment to pursuing representative opportunities
he continues to show his commitment to local footy
turning out for the Sawtell Toormina Saints Senior team at every possible opportunity,” he said
“Last year’s winner of the AFL North Coast Under 17 Best and Fairest and runner-up in the Senior medal is not only forging his own path towards the elite game
he’s also showing the current crop of North Coast Force players that there’s a pathway to the top from local footy if they’re prepared to work hard enough.”
The hard work has certainly paid off for the Sawtellian with his inclusion in the Allies squad
the result of which has involved having to undertake a fair amount of travel in recent years
In 2019 he temporarily relocated to Melbourne following his selection in the Eastern Ranges Under 16 NAB League team
last year he made two trips per week to the Gold Coast from his home in Sawtell for the five weeks of the Southport trial
and this year he has made numerous mid week trips to Sydney to attend Swans Academy training and has played NAB League matches for the Swans in Melbourne and Sydney
BLOOMS the Chemist Toormina has a Christmas Hampers tradition and come hail and a heavy storm that washed out their business
the fundraiser went ahead to reach a total of $2,211.20 to be donated to ‘Make A Wish Foundation’
Corey Glover from Blooms Toormina told News Of The Area
“Blooms the Chemist Toormina has been closed since the devastating storm on 20 October
“Cramming into the Sawtell store we have been able to continue servicing our community with deliveries
“Christmas at Toormina is always such a wonderful time of year
“We always have a fabulous gift range available that continues to get better and better
“We have been told how much it will be missed this Christmas and it saddens us not to be able to provide our customers with this service
“We have however been able to rescue our famous Christmas Hampers and make them available at Sawtell
“Every year at Toormina we have our ’12 days of Christmas’ promotion where twelve customers win a hamper valued at over $500
“This year we ran it with gold coin donations to enter
“Our beloved Naomi has been busy out the front of Blooms the Chemist Sawtell displaying the impressive hampers and continuing to create that festive vibe that she does so well at Toormina
“Here are some of the winners: Anne Latham
“In other big news for the community we are excited to share that we will be reopening at a temporary location on Wednesday the 29 December 8:30am at 6/3 Minorca Place (Old BCU Building opposite Toormina Medical Centre)
“Whilst works are under way to restore and rebuild our beloved Toormina home we are still a little while off yet
Rhona Woodhead and all the team look forward to seeing you at our temporary home and then ultimately returning and re-opening our doors with a fresh store and welcoming you all back to our new home.”
ANGUS Anderson has played his debut season in one of the country’s best Australian Rules leagues
The former Sawtell/Toormina Saints player spent this year playing for the Sturt Double Blues in the reserves competition of the South Australian National Football League (SANFL)
The 19-year-old had a great debut season in South Australia
and was one of the top ball winners in the league at fifth in the competition for disposals averaging 20.2 per game
He also led the league in clearances and ranking points
and was second in tackles and ranked third for inside 50s
Anderson and his Double Blues team are preparing to play their grand final against the Glenelg Tigers this weekend
He played a big role in helping his side to a grand final berth
and 8 tackles in Sturt’s preliminary final win against Woodville-West Torrens
The midfielder last played in the AFL North Coast competition in 2021
and was runner up in the best and fairest in 2020
Anderson had a decorated junior representative career
where he played for and captained the Allies
he was also a member of the Sydney Swans Academy
where he played for both the Sydney Swans NAB League and VFL teams prior to arriving in Sturt
The AFL prospect also played in a practice match for the Sydney Swans in 2022
FOLLOWING the recent refurbishment of ALDI Coffs Harbour
ALDI Toormina is now closed to the public until the middle of November to undergo its major store upgrade
14 November once the comprehensive upgrade of the store is completed
improved navigation and modern styling to mirror some of the newer ALDI stores across the state
ALDI is assuring its customers that the recent local store upgrades won’t lead to increased product prices
“That is our fundamental point of difference and one we will never give away,” an ALDI Australia spokesperson stated
New store features include redesigned shelving
as well as extended energy efficient chillers
There will also be improved point-of-sale displays and store signage
“We’re excited to be undertaking these upgrades and welcome the community to visit our new store from Saturday
14 November and share their feedback about the store experience,” an ALDI spokesperson said
shoppers can visit ALDI Coffs Harbour for their grocery needs
ALDI Toormina’s normal operating hours will remain the same upon its reopening
it still hasn’t opened any stores in Townsville