Attendees are asked to assemble from 5.00am on Friday The march will assemble at the Woolgoolga Post Office from 10.30am An ANZAC-themed dance performance will be performed there by Corindi Public School pupils at 10:45am the march will proceed to Diggers for the Main Service from about 11.15am “Shelter and seating will be limited and mainly for the elderly so participants are advised to wear a hat and sunscreen and bring a small bottle of water and an umbrella or raincoat,” said Woolgoolga RSL sub-Branch Honorary Secretary Christopher Chayko the Dawn Service commences at 5:30am at the memorial on Vernon Street A march through the streets of Coffs Harbour follows at 9:00am “If you have medals that belong to a member of your family wear them with pride on the right side of your jacket or blouse; you can march on the day with the veterans,” said C.ex Group President David Doyle OAM “The march will include veterans from the Korean War Timor Confrontation and Solomon Island Police Action.” Groups holding Anzac Day services across the Coffs Coast are invited to forward the details to media@newsofthearea.com.au and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" A recent spike in crime in the small coastal community of Woolgoolga has reignited calls for the town’s police station to be manned 24-7 It’s led to some members of the community taking matters into their own hands patrolling the streets at night for any signs of suspicious behaviour Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man missing from the Far North Coast was last seen in Woolgoolga about the second week in March 2025 but was only reported missing to officers attached to Coffs/Clarence Police District earlier today (Monday 31 March 2025) Inquiries have now commenced into his whereabouts Police and family hold concerns for David's welfare as he lives with a number of medical conditions David is described as being of Caucasian appearance 170cm tall Anyone with information into his whereabouts is urged to call Coffs Harbour Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au Information is treated in strict confidence The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages “Woolgoolga will once again host its annual massive car display featuring the best hot rods classic and muscle and vintage cars and maybe even a few custom bikes,” Darren “Brom” Bromell from the event’s organiser Chrome Bumper told News Of The Area Chrome Bumper is a social media hub providing stories and events to the car-mad community for free the hot rod display offers free entry for both cars and the general public with trophies on offer and the Woolgoolga community is home to Chrome Bumper and so we wanted to put on a free day for all to check out the best on offer.” Brom is calling out to any car owners wishing to display their pre-1980 vehicle Go to chromebumper.com.au to fill out the registration form or call him on 0434 046 532 to discuss Kids are catered to on the day with the C.ex Woolgoolga club providing entertainment and face painting who are providing the trophies for the event and who provide ongoing support who keep our on-line presence afloat while we’re on the road.” C.ex Woolgoolga club donates its car park and auditorium for the day soft sand and incredible surf are just a few things you’ll enjoy at any one of Australia’s iconic beaches – but it’s the hidden gems that are truly worth exploring the top beach destinations for 2025 have been revealed – with two from northern New South Wales among the best Mr Hogan announced that a Coalition government will commit $1.5 million towards the next stage of the Woolgoolga Beach Reserve Masterplan modern public spaces that reflect the natural beauty of our coastline,” the MP said Mr Hogan said the upgrades will include a wide main path “There will be new infrastructure like showers all surrounded by native vegetation and big shade trees,” he said “The twin flume thrill slide will be a major draw card for the pool designed to give teenagers and families a fun Mr Hogan announced $1.53 million to deliver new female change rooms and storage facilities at Northern Storm Football Club in Korora “This is about making sure our female athletes have access to the same quality facilities as male teammates,” Mr Hogan said “There’s no better way to celebrate our local beach being officially declared the best beach in Australia than by spending the day at Art By The Sea,” artist Karen Thio told News Of The Area brings together a diverse showcase of handcrafts and products from talented local artists “It’s the perfect place to find unique treasures Throughout the day there are free demonstrations by artists Colin South will present water colour painting Margaret Drever will demonstrate acrylic painting Harriet Bystrom’s speciality is gel printing botanicals Donna Ellwood will show water colour painting and Karen Thio will demonstrate etching and printing “Little artists will love the card making and rock painting activities and there’s even a face painting station to add a splash of colour to their day.” There is also the chance to win a gourmet picnic hamper Art By The Beach takes place at Woolgoolga Beach Reserve “overlooking Australia’s Number One beach” The top spot nationwide went to the Bay of Fires in Tasmania Woolgoolga resident and State MP Gurmesh Singh took to social media alongside Coffs Harbour Mayor Nikki Williams to celebrate we’ve always known our region has an abundance of world class beaches,” Mr Singh said it’s clear the Coffs Coast has some of the best coastal views in the country “But now Woopi’s charm is no longer a secret We’re not surprised Woopi Beach and its surrounding vibrant beachside village stood out among the rest “It’s great for the tourism industry and local businesses to see Woolgoolga getting the recognition it deserves.” Tourism Australia’s beach ambassador has a criterion of 130 individual points upon which to judge the nation’s best beaches Mr Famer researches the location online before contacting various stakeholders in the region He then travels to the locations and spends between one day and a week in the area Working through his multitude of boxes to tick he operates a vast and exhaustive process getting third-party endorsements and a feel for the nuances and peculiarities of the location go to the local government and interview visitors to get a broad cross-section so that it truly speaks to the nature of that particular spot,” Mr Farmer said Mr Singh invited people to share their favourite photo of Woolgoolga Main Beach on his Facebook post NOTA has selected several to be shared alongside this story The top 10 Best Australian Beaches for 2025: The extreme weather event during March also saw volunteers of the Emergency Service involved in supporting those affected in the recent floods by working in evacuation and recovery roles Several members of the team have been called to Queensland to provide further experienced support the annual Red Cross Calling Appeal was well-supported and the branch’s activities continued to respond to the needs of the vulnerable “Street stalls were held in the town centre as a donation opportunity and members enjoyed the chance to spread the word of our outreach programs with the lovable Trauma Teddies on display,” said Woolgoolga Red Cross branch spokesperson Robyn Rooth The monthly Friendship Afternoon Tea was held and despite heavy rain a big crowd turned up to enjoy musical entertainment from the “GB and the JJs” group as well as an interesting talk from vet and marine animal expert Duane March and a presentation from students of Woolgoolga High School A favourite March event is the annual Red Cross Day at Beachouse Café in Woolgoolga Café owner Mikayla donates $1 for every cup sold on the day “The Branch would like to thank all those who have helped throughout March “The long list of supporters includes Woolgoolga Lions Club C.ex Woolgoolga and the local NRMA office.” the branch was awarded the NSW Seniors Achievement Award which recognises outstanding service to their community Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh made the official presentation to members President Kerry Chaffey summed up the busy month “My sincere gratitude goes out to the wonderful community in which we live and volunteer the usual work of our members continues.” the April Friendship Afternoon Tea has been postponed due to Anzac Day and will be held instead on Friday 2 May at 2pm in the Seniors Centre Enquiries can be made to Kerry on 0475 774 663 Anyone interested in helping or joining up can call Judy on 0408 354 422 This year’s competition is being held at Arrawarra Headland and Middle Mullawarra and this one is for the Mid North Coast area,” club treasurer Michael Addison said and we get people coming from all over the state and even from interstate so the chance to compete on that wave is a big drawcard.” Woolgoolga and District Longboard Club was established in 1989 and has continued to prosper through the participation and enthusiasm of its local volunteer members Anyone interested in entering this year’s Woolgoolga Longboard Classic can contact the club at woolgoolgalongboardclub@gmail.com or club secretary Deb Winter on 0411 343 152 Woolgoolga Cricket Club Rebels won the second-grade premiership triumphing by 12 runs against Diggers Cricket Club in their grand final at Richardson Park The Rebels were all out for 101 in the 35th over after Diggers won the toss and elected to bowl Lachlan Richardson had an awesome spell for Diggers taking 5-6 from 7.3 overs and Will Townsend took 3-15 from five overs Jayden Perrett top scored for the Rebels with 30 The Rebels bowlers stepped up when it mattered the most defending their total to claim the title after bowling out Diggers for 89 Diggers Cricket Club won the third-grade premiership with a five wicket win against the Nana Glen Lizards Diggers capped off a great season in which they only lost once with a premiership win Nana Glen scored 8/132 from 40 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat Vincent Shrimpton top scored for the Lizards with 53 Brendan Cunningham took 3-29 from eight overs for Diggers and William Swan took 2-9 from eight overs Diggers won the title finishing at 5/133 in the 37th over and Michael Nealand was next best with 34 retired not out Matthew Benfield and Nathan Bye both took 2-19 from eight overs for Nana Glen Woolgoolga Cricket Club Rebels claimed the fourth-grade premiership with a 43-run win against Coffs Colts Cricket Club in their grand final in Woolgoolga The Rebels posted a total of 9/148 from 35 overs after the Colts had won the toss and elected to bowl Colts captain Michael Young took 2-25 from seven overs and Mollie Young took 2-28 from five overs the Colts were bowled out for 105 in the 24th over Thomas Bird had a superb spell taking 4-18 from five overs and Charley Perrett took 2-12 from 4.5 overs Jeremy Griffith and Jill Lihou both top scored for the Colts with 29 It has also been unheated since the heat pump rusted out in 2021 Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan was instrumental in getting a grant of $3,857,727 in October that year and the pool was closed early in 2022 in preparation for its refurbishment But within months the refurbishment was cancelled “I am extremely disappointed that the previous Council decided to hand back a $3.9 million grant for a major upgrade to Woolgoolga pool,” Mr Hogan told the News Of The Area Mr Hogan secured this funding through the Building Better Regions Fund “This program has now been scrapped by the Albanese Labor Government and we are seeing less money flow into regional communities as a result.” While Coffs Council now owns the pool it is not claiming responsibility for fixing the heat pump “The City takes responsibility for controlling maintaining and depreciating only those assets which it owns,” a Council spokesperson told the News Of The Area Woolgoolga Swimming Club member Emily Struik says it’s possible the pump was installed by a former lessee “But I would assume that when Council took over management of the pool all assets associated with it became the responsibility of the Council,” she said Members feel it is unfair to pay the same lane hire of $12 per hour as the heated Coffs Harbour War Memorial Pool “Coffs Harbour Pool has permanent starting blocks and heating “The entry fee of $4.20 for swimming members is more than double the price of $2 that we were paying prior to the pool closing in 2022 “Add the hiring fee of $12 per hour per lan [and] it comes to a cost to the club of $120 each night.” According to the Council spokesperson: “The Draft 2024/25 Fees and Charges were resolved to be placed on public exhibition for comment by Council at its meeting on 11 April which gave the community the opportunity to make their feedback known for Council’s consideration before final adoption of those fees.” the pool’s opening times were significantly reduced They remain limited this season and are weekdays 6am – 1pm This means there is no opportunity for Learn to Swim programs and no after school swimming or evening swim squads The game was played over three 20 minute sessions with the home side coming very close to getting the better of last year’s premiers Solid defence and good completions from both sides were a feature of the first two-thirds of the game with ball handling errors not creeping in until fatigue started to be apparent in the later stages The Roosters were able to find space in the Woopi defence close to the line 10 minutes into the game A delighted Wulaaren Walker scored a try during her first game with the Roosters and a successful conversion from Xanthi Hand took them to a 6-0 lead The visitors retaliated with a series of tackle breaking runs and had the home side under pressure against their line But despite getting themselves into great field position they were unable to score before the first 20 minutes of play came to an end momentum shifted back to the Roosters as they held the Seahorses in their half for an extended period until a line break from Woopi took them 75 metres and across the line Both teams slogged it out to break the tie until Woopi’s Kia Archibald produced a try eight minutes into the last stanza that was not converted Despite both teams getting close to the line a number of times they were not able to increase their points on the board and at full-time the visitors took the win 10-6 The standard of play from both teams was a telling indicator that the Group 2 Women’s Tackle competition for 2025 is going to be a thriller the south end of Ocean Street will come alive with colour The Woolgoolga and Northern Beaches Chamber of Commerce with the assistance of local event management company Another Tasty Event “Curryfest is more than a celebration of Woolgoolga’s unique cultural diversity it is a fundraiser for various local volunteer groups who help on the day,” Curryfest Committee chair Pam Fayle told News Of The Area “And it generates an enormous economic spin-off for the whole Coffs Coast by bringing thousands of visitors to the area “Visitors… stay on average more than three days spending money at local shops and businesses “We also spend over 80 percent of the cost of putting on the event Ëvent manager Carl Mower said this year will feature demonstrations from “fabulous Coffs Coast chefs” in the cooking zone There will be a number of new bhangra dance groups (traditional folk dancers) from Sydney and Brisbane and locals will be involved in an extensive main stage dance competition “We have a number of younger dance groups performing this year and we can always rely on colourful costumes adding to the overall atmosphere on the day,” Mr Mower said Dhol drummers will be on the main stage but also popping up in the street throughout the day An Indian Bazaar of clothes and traditional goods will be back “There are new and different curry stalls to try this year as well.” Curryfest organisers suggest spending the whole day in Woolgoolga see the two picturesque temples and stay on after the festival closes to have dinner in one of the town’s cafés “Many would know that events are expensive to run and a lot of festivals have had to close down recently due to rising costs and lack of funding support but Curryfest is determined to ensure family friendliness by keeping free entry for school-aged and younger children.” While storms and floods can happen at any time there is a greater chance of them occurring in NSW between September and April “The storm season in northern NSW can be intense with heavy rains and flash flooding causing damage to homes and property,” Corindi-Woolgoolga SES Unit Commander Dona Powell told News Of The Area training is a year-round activity but members often find the community is not so well prepared Their advice begins with urging people to be aware of the storm risks in their area you can make a plan of action,” Ms Powell said “Work through your plan with your family and help everyone know what to do.” This might include how to manage your animals knowing where you will go and preparing an emergency kit The SES recommends packing essential medications and/or scripts and valuables – all in a waterproof container or bags Getting your home and property ready also lessens the risk of damage and injury – Trim overhanging trees and branches – Ensure gutters and downpipes are clean – Clean away dead vegetation and debris – Secure outdoor items that can be blown around in strong winds Being aware of what is happening is vital to the safety of a community The Australian Warning System through the Hazards Near Me app releases warnings marked as Advice Watch and Act or Emergency Warning for storms and floods “[There] is also up-to-date news from the Bureau of Meteorology and your local radio station Ms Powell said the connection with neighbours cannot be overstated remove fallen trees and branches from buildings or property and rescue people trapped or injured by storm activity the SES and other agencies keep you informed so you can be prepared “The Corindi-Woolgoolga Unit offers odd hours cool vehicles and vessels and professional training in a friendly environment “If you are interested in volunteering with the unit we meet each Tuesday night at 7pm at 31 Coral Street – Corindi-Woolgoolga SES: 0428 297 769 – City of Coffs Harbour Disaster Dashboard (nsw.gov.au) – NSW State Emergency Service (ses.nsw.gov.au) – Bureau of Meteorology (bom.gov.au) – Hazard Watch or Hazards Near Me apps The theme presented gallery members with the opportunity to shine a light on their inner artistic passions and to demonstrate their abilities to the wider Woolgoolga and Coffs Coast community “Beautiful works have been produced that really jump out at you the minute you walk in the door,” said WAG spokesperson Karen Thio People attending the opening night on Friday 14 March The People’s Choice Award was split between Sue Trefz’s painting “Eucumbene” and Linsey George’s artwork WAG exhibition openings are held every four to six weeks and are free to attend They provide a fun and welcoming evening out that includes a glass of wine and tasty nibbles “Members and non-members are very welcome to attend these events to catch up with and make friends,” Karen said The Woolgoolga Gallery is open for free public viewing every day between 10am – 4pm The club had five athletes compete at the Australian Surf Life Saving Nipper and Youth Championships on the Gold Coast Lily Mei and Bayley finished as semi-finalists in the Swimming event Zara finished in the quarter finals of the board event Olivia finished eighth in the sprint final and Khloe finished as a semi-finalist in the Swimming and Board event A number of the club’s nippers achieved top results at the NSW Surf Life Saving Championships at Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club NSW Surf Life Saving Championships results Under 9s: Oliver Pacheco – 6th Flags Kalarni Brown – 6th 2@500m run relay Bobby McGuiggan – 13th 2@500m run relay Brooklynn Graham – 21st Iron Person final Scarlett Hazeldene – Sprint relay final Woolgoolga Surf Life Saving Club finished fifth out of the 33 clubs that competed over the Australia Day Long Weekend Director of Junior Administration Sue Macnamara “Our team of 63 competitors from the U8 age group right up to Masters in the 60+ age group… brought home a total of fourteen gold medals seventeen silver medals and nineteen bronze and a multitude of point scoring and Top 10 placings,” she said Woolgoolga has competed in the Junior March Past and has come away with an amazing third place “Such an amazing effort from our wonderful little club “I think the reason WSLSC is becoming more and more successful every year can be attributed to a supportive club environment “Our kids are encouraged to value their team and feel like they are an integral part of that team the club also focuses on keeping cadet aged kids engaged in surf lifesaving competing together and providing pathways for long term involvement with all aspects of surf lifesaving “The juniors are mentored by a bunch of wonderful volunteers older competitors and club members which showcases the lifespan of involvement and competition “Woolgoolga provides an excellent coaching program for our juniors and they love having fun while learning valuable competition and surf lifesaving skills “This in turn creates amazing surf lifesavers High school students from Woolgoolga will put their best foot forward at the Gold Coast this weekend The group has spent the last four months training for the event “Sundown on Summer – Stroll and Sip” will have a party atmosphere while including a treasure hunt quiz it kicks off at 4pm and winds down around 10pm “Woolgoolga’s beachy location is the best place for a summer’s end social,” Woolgoolga and Northern Beaches Chamber of Commerce Events Manager Marney Jefferies told News Of The Area “We’ve created a treasure hunt quiz which involves going to three bar/ food venues around town where they have to find the answers to specific questions “They may have to ask the [bartender] a question or get some information that is specific to that venue.” The three venues are La Hacienda 101 Mexican Cantina Sam’s Place at Woopi Backpackers and Sunset Social a summer pop-up run by Woolgoolga Brewing Company “Each is owned by a Woopi Chamber member,” Marney said When people complete their quiz questionnaire they are automatically entered into a draw so bright and beachy attire and fun creations for a party vibe “I’m fantasising about someone turning up with a pink flamingo inflatable device around their waist While “Sundown on Summer” closes off this season it kicks off an active calendar of monthly events for the Woopi Chamber “The Chamber runs one of the only dedicated visitor information centres in the LGA “We support local artists and their work is on sale in the visitor centre along with other Woopi tourist items.” Eight rostered volunteers staff the centre at 35 Beach Street with this year’s event to take place on 27 September In December there is the popular Christmas Carols community gathering at Woolgoolga Beach Reserve “The 2024 carols turnout was huge,” said Marney who reckons there were around 2000 people attending a date is still to be confirmed for the Chamber’s Corporate Golf Day at Safety Beach Woolgoolga and Northern Beaches Chamber of Commerce is all about connecting people meeting new businesspeople in the community and enjoying each other’s company within the town’s social events “Our members are the mouthpieces for each other’s businesses sharing contacts and making recommendations.” Members of the gallery and the public have worked diligently throughout the year developing their life drawing skills with a life model organised each month by the Woolgoolga Gallery The Figurative Art class has been well attended throughout the year Each month the Gallery has engaged a human model to sit and strike various poses Poses are initially short five-minute duration and progress to 30-minutes which enable the artist to develop their drawing skills on the structure of the human body The “Figurative” exhibition will be on until 8 December The Woolgoolga Gallery is open for public viewing every day Entry is free and most exhibitions show the work of local artists Clubs from outside the Hunter to Illawarra belt will converge on the South Coast for three days of competition from this Friday bringing the best regional NSW athletes together to test their skills The NSW Country Championships is second only to the NSW Surf Life Saving Championships in size 200 officials and around 4,000 spectators expected across the three days of competition Woolgoolga will hit the beach at Warilla this weekend with a similar size squad to the one that fell narrowly short of breaking into the top five last year but with another year of training and development under their belts there’s belief around the club that they could continue to climb the point score ladder and we’re aiming for something like that for sure (a top five finish),” said Junior Activities Coordinator Karley Pepper “The focus for us this year really has been building teams and trying to put as many teams as possible in the competition events so we’ve been doing a lot of work around the team events at training.” with training sessions a key part of the Christmas holidays for the club and keeping the kids active and engaged I know that some kids get to a point where they want something to do so having those training sessions offered them that,” Karley said we had a week over Christmas where we didn’t really train at all but we’ve been back strong since then and the kids that have been going have been coming in big numbers “The first weekend of January we had a teams’ carnival at our club which was also our first Nippers back and it was great for reestablishing those skills and practicing the important parts of team activities.” There’s also plenty of excitement building around an event Woolgoolga will take part in for the first time in many years – a youth March Past team has been working hard at one of the most iconic and storied events in the movement “We’re really excited to have pulled together a March Past team for the first year in what has really been a long “It’s all just kind of just started recently so it will be interesting to see how they go the competition will be held at either Arrawarra Headland or Mullawarra Beach (end of Beach Road) Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out in the waves the club welcomes everyone with a 9ft or longer surfboard to attend we’re passionate about creating an inclusive and supportive community that celebrates longboarding in all its forms,” said the club’s Debbie Winter and anyone interested in longboarding to get involved united by a love for surfing and the ocean “If you’ve never tried longboarding before or are looking to hone your skills welcoming atmosphere where beginners and experienced surfers alike can thrive.” Follow the club’s Facebook page for updates Volunteers from Marine Rescue Woolgoolga have assisted three people stranded at Anemone Bay North Solitary Island after their 5.3 metre vessel succumbed to a flat battery this morning Volunteer radio operators at Marine Rescue Wooli took a call for assistance from a skipper who could not restart his boat 12 kilometres from the mainland Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Rodney Page said a volunteer crew was assembled and rescue vessel Woolgoolga 30 deployed for the 24 kilometre mission to Anemone Bay “WO 30 hit the water just after 10am and reached the disabled vessel within 30 minutes,” he said “Our crew checked on the welfare of the three persons on board before providing them with a jump starter pack,” Inspector Page said “The north easterly swell made it challenging to manoeuvre beside the disabled vessel but our crew did a wonderful job “Thankfully the skipper of the disabled vessel was able to restart the engine and WO 30 escorted them safely back to Arrawarra Beach “We remind all boaters to check their battery and engine before heading out and despite this skipper having done all his checks before departure sometimes things fail at sea and this was the case today “Marine Rescue NSW volunteers are ready to respond at any time of the day or night and we ask all boaters to ensure they Log On with Marine Rescue NSW either by the free Marine Rescue app or VHF channel 16 Logging On saves vital time in the event of an emergency,” Inspector Page One of the largest real-time multi-agency search and rescue exercises (SAREX) to ever be held on the NSW coast has been labelled a success by Marine Rescue NSW A volunteer crew from Marine Rescue Newcastle navigated darkness and a fast-flowing run-out tide overnight to rescue a stranded sailor four nautical miles (7.4 km) south of Nobbys Head Forgot your password? Problem solver and star Canasta player Hannele Perho, resident at The Pines in Woolgoolga, knew she had to find a solution to holding multiple cards in her hands while playing Canasta. More than a decade ago, Hannele had seen a version of the wooden card holder at the Corindi Beach Canasta group, so she knew what she wanted. Initially Hannele went to the local Mitre 10 store to buy some wood to try to make them herself. She discovered that Mitre 10 donated wood to the Woolgoolga Men’s Shed, which she approached in mid-2024 to see if they could produce a wooden card holder for a minimum thirteen playing cards. These came into play at the beginning of this year. “We were delighted with the quality,” Ms Perho told News Of The Area. “The men who made them obviously took pride in their work as they produced first class items for us. “Every time we use the wooden card holders, we think of the Men’s Shed and want to recognise them for the great work they do. “So often today, people take pride in their work and never hear how the end user treasures their efforts. “Bouquets to the Men’s Shed from the Pines Canasta group.” Inaugurated in July 2024 to coincide with the opening of the new air-conditioned Pines Clubhouse, the Canasta group has burgeoned, welcoming residents and guests on Thursdays from 10 am – 12 noon. “Playing Canasta certainly ticks all the boxes that the Mayo Clinic recommends for our ageing brains,” Ms Perho said. “It can keep your brain in shape and improve your brain function and memory. Plus, you can network with your fellow players and connect with others over morning tea. “Playing Canasta is a no brainer, pardon the pun, and it’s fun.” The game of Canasta was devised in Uruguay in 1939 and was intended to be as engaging as Bridge. It is the card game that featured in the James Bond film Goldfinger, and in the classic series I Love Lucy. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); After years of waiting, Woolgoolga’s Whale Trail has now been officially opened. The $1.4 million dollar project provides panoramic views of the ocean, offering the perfect vantage point to view whales and dolphins in their natural habitat. The C.ex Coffs Sports Touring and Classic Car Club will be holding its annual general meeting (AGM) at C.ex Woolgoolga on Sunday, 25 August. Just before the meeting at 9.45am, there will be a public display of members’ cars in the carpark at the rear of the club. Members will present a diverse collection of rare and beautiful vehicles, all primped and polished for the public to admire. Some in the dazzling and diverse collection have been tucked away in members’ garages and sheds. The club guarantees there will be cars not seen for a while, if at all, and all will be more than 30 years old. Cars featured will range from exotic sporty types to the more conservative. Outgoing Club President Ian Ward said it was a chance for members to show off their pride and joy to the public. “The Annual General Meeting is of course only open to club members, but the display will be a public event,” he said. “We love our cars. We love owning them, we love driving them and we love showing them off.” Club members will be busy from about 10am with the meeting to be followed by lunch, but the cars will be on display in the rear carpark from about 9.30am. Coffs Coast motor enthusiasts are encouraged to come and have a look and, if you have a car that’s a bit out of the ordinary, you can always join the C.ex Coffs Sports Touring and Classic Car Club, Most of the club’s general meetings are held from 7pm on the first Monday of every month at the C.ex Coffs Club in Vernon Street. Unless there’s a public holiday, when the meeting will be held on the Tuesday. Taking place on Friday 7 March, the fundraising event supports The Smith Family Learning for Life Program. There will be market stalls with local sellers and nonprofit organisations, raffles and entertainment. “This is our second collaboration, and we look forward to a great event,” Woolgoolga Evening View Club spokesperson Elfie Garbers told News Of The Area. “Our guest speakers are two women who are trail-blazing in previously male-dominated positions,” she said. Roxanne Evans-Hickman, a graduate of Bishop Druitt College, the University of New England and the University of NSW, is currently a Project Engineer for Ferrovial Construction, overseeing the design and construction of the Coffs Harbour Bypass Project. Angela Martin, General Manager of Lifeline North Coast, oversees a senior leadership team working to deliver crucial suicide prevention and postvention services as well as overseeing the Gamble Aware Program for Mid and Northern NSW. The primary competition prize is a painting called “Celebrating Our Differences” by Gumbaynggirr artist Lilly Clegg from Yarrawarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Corindi Beach. VIEW Clubs of Australia are the largest sponsors of the Learning for Life Students program through The Smith Family, currently helping 1785 students. “We have several VIEW Clubs in our area – reach out if this is something you may be interested in,” Ms Garbers said. She can be contacted at woolgoolgaeveningviewclub@gmail.com. Woolgoolga Seahorses won the Group 2 title for the first time last year and captain Michael Curnow is hoping to lead them to back-to-back titles. Road to Regional Finals | Nambucca Roosters - Group 2 NSW Cup Highlights | Eels v Dragons - Round 26 NSW Cup Highlights | Panthers v Rabbitohs - Round 26 Road to Regional Finals | Darlington Point Coleambally Roosters - Group 20 Road to Regional Finals | Bilambil Jets - Northern Rivers Regional RL 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 Holly Sanders and Havana Wright both won national titles in their age divisions at the annual competition held at Sydney Town Hall. Holly Sanders won the Open Advanced Ladies section, as well as being awarded the prestigious Shirley Bullock Memorial Trophy for being judged as the Overall Ladies Champion. Havana Wright won the 6 Years Championship, which was an outstanding achievement in her first year of EP Physie. Last year, Gabi Dowler won the Open Seniors Girls division and backed up again this year with a strong performance claiming fourth place. Woolgoolga Physical Culture Club teacher Gail Airlie congratulated her members on such a successful showing in Sydney. “Our club had twelve members selected to compete at ‘Grand’ with ten gaining places in recognition of their outstanding performances,” she said. “Congratulations to Montana Wright, Lara Carriage, Havana Wright, Ava Rea, Lola Hargrove, Addisyn Smith, Pippa Tucker, Acacia Tucker, Mackenzie Hayes, Gabi Dowler, Holly Sanders and Courtney Wright. “We look forward to meeting past, present and future members when classes resume at Sandy Beach School next February.” The town’s four senior cricket teams will take to different fields around Woopi for a day filled with exciting matches and a meaningful cause; raising funds to provide breast care nurses to regional communities across Australia. Lindsay Mamone, the club’s Junior Coordinator and Senior Coach, shared the club’s enthusiasm for the event: “This is such a great opportunity for us as a club to enjoy our game of cricket with an impactful purpose” Spectators are encouraged to wear pink and show their support at any of the four games taking place at Woolgoolga’s sporting grounds. Donations can be made on the day and through the club’s fundraising page. Recently the Woolgoolga Cricket Club came together for a cause close to home. It rallied the community to raise funds for a local family who had experienced a tragic loss. “As a close-knit, supportive community, we know Woolgoolga is sure to be a sea of pink on the day.” Woolgoolga Cricket Club will play teams from Coffs Colts and Sawtell from 1pm. With the support of the community, it hopes to raise $500 for the McGrath Foundation to provide those experiencing breast cancer with a free Breast Care Nurse, no matter where they live. Members, including the brigade’s founding captain Noel Bultitude OAM, were joined by surrounding brigades and other emergency services last Saturday to celebrate the anniversary. RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers, Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib and Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh, recorded special messages to share. The brigade is renaming its Medium Tanker (Cat 7) the “Noel Bultitude” as homage to his work and dedication. At age 90, Mr Bultitude is still an active member. “Noel is a key member of the brigade and is always working at the station, he is an inspiration to our members,” Woolgoolga Unit Captain Scott Hodgkinson said. “Dedicating the truck is a wonderful way to pay homage to his hard work and commitment.” Superintendent Sandra Huer, District Manager Coffs Coast Team, said it was a privilege to celebrate with the brigade. “They should be congratulated for their commitment in keeping their community safe.” In 1949, a young Mr Bultitude was fighting fires with a number of local farmers. This led to the formation of the Woolgoolga Bush Fire Brigade. Over the coming decades, Mr Bultitude moved through the ranks to become captain of the brigade for fourteen years. In the early days, the tools of the trade were leather beaters and a horse drawn skid with a water tank. Back then the older horses were smart, Mr Bultitude recalls. “If he smelt smoke, he would bolt to the back paddock knowing that he would have some hard work ahead of him. Flash forward to 2024 and the brigade is equipped with large and medium fire tankers and its response is “a little quicker than in days gone by”. As well as attending emergencies, members take part in many local community and school events, and workshops. At 45, he has come out of a twelve-month hiatus from commissions to create a new series of works, made available to all as high quality prints in a multitude of options. The subjects are birds and his style is bright and bold with a nod to his former fame as “the Psychedelic artist”. The originals are being exhibited at Woolgoolga’s Ground Earth Café throughout summer. Skotty is still surprised at his latest artistic direction. “I didn’t choose the bird life, the bird life chose me,” he said. Until a few years ago, he had never painted so much as a single feather. When a friend and close career mentor suggested he would love to own one of the artist’s curious works, but couldn’t see himself hanging an “out there” creation, it prompted Skotty to jokingly paint a “perfectly normal” Australian Magpie. A single social media post of the painting kicked off a keen following, and interest in Skotty’s bird works soared. Selling out his first paintings before the body of work made it to his planned exhibition, he began a second series which did make it to exhibition but also sold out within weeks. Skotty has had to factor the surprise success of his hyper-coloured bird paintings into his working musical life. He runs the music course at Coffs Harbour TAFE in addition to continuing with painting for pleasure, purpose and purchase. “Hyper-Kolour Native” will be launched at Ground Earth on Saturday, 16 November. A group of older clients at the Woolgoolga gym bigger contributions for some: The aged care reforms This popular hobby could keep you looking younger for longer I'm an 80-year-old bodybuilder and I'm excited by strong older women When builder Jamie was struggling he broke an unwritten 'code' ShareGet SBS News daily and direct to your InboxSign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.Your email address *Morning (Mon–Fri) Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy Sydney without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Sydney It’s a big call made by Brad Farmer AM Tourism Australia’s official beach ambassador who annually assesses 130 key factors – from aesthetics and safety to history facilities and weather – to decide the nation's best (and second-best) beaches RECOMMENDED: Here's Time Out's guide to Sydney's very best beaches Woolgoolga (also known as Woopi) is a gorgeous long stretch of sand – with the nearby park and extensive stretches of shade making it the perfect place to set up camp on a summer day The southern corner of Woopi’s wide and sweeping beach is patrolled seasonally waterways and headlands provide endless opportunities for snorkelling When explaining why this particular NSW spot scored so high this year Farmer explained "Whether you’re a freewheeling beach bum there’s an abundance of options here." Woopi was just beaten in top spot by the breathtaking Bay of Fires in Tasmania which was named Australia’s best beach for 2025 Third place was awarded to Emily Bay Lagoon a remote piece of paradise on Norfolk Island in the South Pacific Ocean Farmer’s list spreads the love all around Australia with Queensland’s North Kirra Beach ranking fourth Western Australia’s Little Lagoon ranking fifth South Australia’s Fishery Bay ranking sixth and Victoria’s Cowes Beach ranking tenth The other NSW beach to score a spot on the top ten was Caves Beach: a stunning stretch of sand flanked by a network of magnificent caves just under two hour’s drive from Sydney Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! twitterinstagrampinterestAbout us Contact us Having built an unassailable ten-point lead the 2023 Grand Final Champions were awarded the Premiership trophy by Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh with three rounds still remaining in the competition The match began with an unexpected interruption as a troop of kangaroos briefly took centre stage adding a quintessentially Australian touch before the real action kicked off Woolgoolga quickly set about proving why they are this season’s undisputed Premiers Despite having the trophy in their grasp before kickoff determined to cap their campaign with an unbeaten record James Gorrie put Woolgoolga ahead with a scintillating solo effort slicing through the Coffs defence before unleashing a thunderous strike that left the goalkeeper rooted to the spot doubled the advantage on the half-hour mark After being initially denied by a spectacular save from Gum Mayak Casey soared above the defenders to head home the rebound further underlining his reputation as the Wolves’ most prolific striker The regular season concludes on Saturday 17 August as all eyes turn to the playoffs for a berth in the Grand Final Woolgoolga will face off against second-placed Northern Storm in round one of the playoffs on Saturday 24 August with the winner securing a direct route to the Grand Final The loser of this showdown will have another shot at glory squaring off against the winner of the elimination final on Saturday 31 August The playoff race remains fiercely contested with several teams still vying for the third and fourth spot ensuring the drama will continue until the very last day of the season The Grand Final kicks off on Saturday 7 September at C.ex Coffs International Stadium at 7pm provided a rich and historical narrative of the meaning of Diwali which is one of the most significant festivals celebrated by the Sikh community “The atmosphere on opening night was truly serene and exciting at the same time,” gallery spokesperson Karen Thio told News Of The Area “The music provided by Rasayana Sacred Sound was different to any music we have had before at gallery openings and is what made this opening so unique “The music really transported you to a Diwali festival.” People attending the opening night voted on the People’s Choice award a watercolour portrait of a Sikh gentleman “The Sikh people provide natural inspiration for a painter,” Sue said and their flowing clothes are wonderful to paint.” The Diwali exhibition will be open to the public until 3 November members of the gallery and members of the public were invited to enjoy several events in the lead-up to this exhibition One was an “En Plein Air” painting session held at the temple in Woolgoolga where the artists gained inspiration for their work The exhibitions are supported by City of Coffs Harbour Council Volunteers from Marine Rescue Coffs Harbour Woolgoolga and Wooli have resumed a search for a missing man off Moonee Beach Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Rodney Page said volunteer crews have been deployed on Coffs Harbour 30 Woolgoolga 30 and Wooli 30 under the direction of NSW Police Marine Area Command “Coffs Harbour 30 and Woolgoolga 30 are back on water after assisting Marine Area Command with a search yesterday “A rescue vessel from Marine Rescue Wooli has also been tasked to assist with the search today “The three Marine Rescue NSW vessels commenced today’s search shortly before 8am WO 30 and WI 30 are currently conducting a parallel line search from Bare Buff to Korffs Islet “Conditions in the area are currently favourable,” Inspector Page said Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities Volunteers from Marine Rescue Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga are assisting in a search for a missing male on the NSW Mid North Coast Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Rodney Page said Marine Rescue NSW volunteers and vessels were tasked by NSW Police Marine Area Command earlier today “Marine Rescue NSW vessels Coffs Harbour 30 and Woolgoolga 30 were deployed to assist NSW Water Police with the search “The Marine Rescue NSW crews are conducting a parallel search from Moonee Beach to Korffs Islet “Conditions were challenging with 15 to 20 knot winds and a 1.5 to 2 metre swell “Volunteers on board Woolgoolga 30 will search along the coastline on their return to the Marine Rescue Woolgoolga base later today,” said Inspector Page Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Volunteers from Marine Rescue Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga spent three hours searching for a missing male on the NSW Mid North Coast this afternoon Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Rodney Page said Marine Rescue NSW volunteers and vessels were tasked by NSW Police Marine Area Command earlier this afternoon (Saturday 7 December) “Marine Rescue NSW vessels Coffs Harbour 30 and Woolgoolga 30 were deployed to assist NSW Water Police with the offshore search “The Marine Rescue NSW crews conducted a parallel line search from Bare Bluff just south of Sandy Beach to Macauleys Headland,” he said “Conditions were challenging with a 15 to 20 knot northeasterly wind and a 1.5 to 2 metre swell “The Marine Rescue NSW crews were stood down for the day just after 6:15pm “Volunteers on board Woolgoolga 30 and Coffs Harbour 30 will resume the search tomorrow morning (Sunday 8 December) with the two Marine Rescue NSW vessels to rendezvous with NSW Water Police off Bare Bluff at 8am,” Inspector Page said Woolgoolga has kept its premiership defense alive in Group 2… after smashing Sawtell 44-12 in yesterday’s preliminary final The Seahorses will now take on minor premiers Nambucca Heads in this weekend’s decider The red and yellow flags have been raised at beaches across the state to mark the official start of the patrol season … But it was a less than ideal day to kick things off with volunteers forced to brave the elements The performance takes place at the Glasshouse Theatre in Port Macquarie on Saturday were encouraged to audition in April by WPAS and Naidu Theatre Company Artistic Director Jade Naidu They were selected to join a curated and talented chorus of young performers from around the Mid North Coast “It is a huge testament to the professional training and tuition provided to young performing artists in Coffs Harbour who continue to keep reaching new heights in the performing arts world,” Ms Naidu told News Of The Area Based on Henry Murger’s novel “Scenes de la vie de Bohème” the opera follows a love story between a poet named Rodolfo and Mimi as they are forced to face the challenges of Mimi’s declining health and the realities of living in Paris’ Latin Quarter during the 1830s Our favourite spots to gawk at on a Yamba to Coffs Harbour day trip are mapped out just below The newly restored pub is housed within a heritage-style estate Not that you’ll need further convincing once you immerse yourself in Maclean’s charms. First up: the coffee. On the Bite along River Street is a local’s secret, pouring liquid gold alongside excellent cafe classics from Monday to Friday. There’s also the other local hot spot, Botero Roastery Cafe which crafts its own beans and stocks them throughout Yamba’s best cafes Sanctus Brewery in Townsend is an excellent lunch stop Organised holidaymakers take note. If you can swing a trip to Maclean around Easter, you’ll catch the annual Maclean Highland Gathering a celebration of the town’s Scottish heritage that encourages kilt-wearing games and all the bagpipe-decorated festivities Or make a pitstop for a quick lunch at the Ulmarra Hotel Hop back on your Yamba to Coffs Harbour adventure and scoot past Tyndale before following the signs to Grafton and taking a detour for Ulmarra The picturesque river port village is steeped in history plus it’s a dreamy spot for a (non or low alcohol) cold one The Ulmarra Hotel is your best pub pit-stop, hydrating locals since the late 1800s. While the facade looks like any other historic pub, the back garden hides a riverside oasis that welcomes dogs. Ulmarra Food Co. is another great spot for a feed plus it doubles as a produce market so you can take its goodies home with you Nibble on a butter croissant with your espresso at Ulmarra Food Co Don’t miss an awesome selfie opportunity in front of At the Wood Shop, a custom furniture shop with one helluva cinematic facade to resemble something out of a 1960s Spaghetti Western. There are also Ulmarra Books and Collectables to help you find your next second-hand beach read It doesn’t get any more retro than Minnie Water on your Yamba to Coffs Harbour day escape You’ll need to steer away from the main route (but don’t miss the cute antique store in Tucabia as you’re leaving Ulmarra) for about thirty minutes One of the oldest fishing towns in the state Minnie Water offers a lengthy beach and calm surroundings there’s a surf lifesaving crew keeping watch over swimmers in the north but if you prefer your swims a little more relaxed just down from the Tree Of Knowledge lookout on the headland Minnie Water is a sleepy corner of the world but you can stock up on quality day trip supplies at the Minnie Water General Store on Sandon Road If you happen to be passing by on a night when they’re flinging pizzas (it happens sporadically) don’t miss out – locals can’t get enough of them Corindi Beach is a hidden gem and an ideal snorkelling spot Snorkellers will love dropping into Corindi Beach on a Yamba to Coffs Harbour day trip It has a huge reserve filled with walking trails and picnic areas so settle in and enjoy a late afternoon filled with nature’s prettiest handiwork If you’re done with swimming and surfing for the day, head to the Yarrawarra Aboriginal Culture Centre a gallery and museum celebrating the Gumbaynggirr people and there’s a cafe specialising in bush tucker to explore Refuel with a hearty meal at Seaview Tavern Woolgoolga, better known as Woopi to locals, crosses into Coffs Coast country (you’re that close to your final destination now) and boasts one of the most lovable village lifestyles around it’s crawling with crafty creatives while still clinging to its laidback roots If you’re going to visit Woolgoolga on a Yamba to Coffs Harbour day trip in September, align it to Curryfest – a celebration of local Punjabi heritage featuring over 100 stalls serving up curries (what else?) alongside other multicultural dishes entertainment and traditional dance performances Kangaroos grazing on Emerald Beach at sunrise A stone’s throw from Woopi (see? You’re a local already) is where you’ll find Emerald Beach, a great area for fishing, surfing and swimming as it’s one of the best beaches in Coffs Harbour It’s also made for kids thanks to easy surf conditions and a playground to help tire out little legs North of Fiddamans Creek is a dog-friendly beach area (if your pup stays on a lead), and plenty of eateries to help you score your next bite. Try EB General (the fabulously rebranded local general store) for great coffee and Rattle Restaurant and Bar home to oceanfront Mediterranean-inspired dining Feast on excellent Mediterranean fare at Rattle Restaurant and Bar Emerald Beach to Coffs Harbour: 17 minutes Yaamanga Around Here installation lets you explore the identity and history of the Coffs Coast And if you’re in need of a last-minute bed for the night, check out our guide to the best Coffs Harbour accommodation for every style of traveller We wouldn’t be surprised if this quality bunch of options inspired you to linger even longer Originally written by Melissa Mason with updates by Kristie Lau-Adams Melissa Mason is a freelance journalist who loves road tripping and car snacks she now writes travel and lifestyle content for a wealth of Australian titles like SMH as well as copywriting for international brands If she could be anywhere right now it would be lounging on a hammock at a tropical resort with a great romantic fantasy book From spectacular sites with million-dollar water views to places to pull up your motorhome the best Yamba camping and Yamba caravan park picks always.. The arrival of its first boutique hotel has helped usher in a new era of cool for Yamba But the appeal of this quintessential coastal town remains ti.. Australian Traveller Media acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Country on which we live and work