Margaret River SHS claims a record 16th straight victory at the Sunsmart WA School Surfing Titles
The 2021 SunSmart WA School Surfing Titles concluded with a bang, as students from 24 different regional and metropolitan high schools converged on Trigg Beach for the finale to Surfing WA's biggest participation based event of the year.
From the 1930s novel, “Psalmist of the Dawn” – garfish netting at Old Settlement Beach
Chris Murray. Mary Marlowe’s novel, Psalmist of the Dawn (published in 1934 but probably written in 1931) is set on Lord Howe and populated with real places, activities and people – that latter only slightly disguised behind pseudonyms ... Garfishing was an important part of the Islanders’ semi-subsistence lifestyle before World War II. Large quantities of gars were caught not only for local consumption but also for sale to passing vessels.
Phantom Bonnie wins for Free
Phantom Bonnie was ahead of the pack at Casino Greyhound Racing Club.
“Doin’ it for Holly” round a big success
Angie Day. Grafton Hockey Association recently hosted a highly successful “Doin’ it for Holly” Round on Saturday August 14. The day is named in honour of Holly Butcher, a local Graftonian and hockey player who sadly passed away in 2018 at the age of 27 after a battle with Ewings Sarcoma. In her final days, Holly wrote a very moving letter titled “A bit of life advice from Hol” ... One of Holly’s final requests in her letter was to encourage people to become blood donors, so one of the big focuses of the “Doin’ it for Holly” day was the “100 lives Challenge”.
Massive crowds flock to Bullride
Around 5000 people packed into Weipa’s new showgrounds facility for the 2021 Weipa Bullride on Friday and Saturday night. Numbers soared in the arena, too, with massive entries across most of the events.
Native sportfish season re-opens in September
NSW Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall has announced that anglers around the state could get back to reeling in some of our finest native sportfish when the Australian Bass and Estuary Perch season opens on Wednesday, 1 September 2021.
Cross country fever in Tennant Creek
Pam Dillon. Students from Tennant Creek Primary and High School took to the beautiful surroundings of Lake Mary Ann for their cross country races. The run took them along the water’s edge, up steep hills and along dusty paths.
Cycling event cancelled
Gabrielle Duykers. The tour of the Great South Coast bike race has been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, originally set to begin travelling through the Limestone Coast and Victoria later this month ... Naracoorte Lucindale Council CEO Trevor Smart said the cancellation was unfortunate news for the town. “The danger of it being called off this year is that we may not see the race again – once it goes into recess, that’s two years in a row now so the event promoter may not continue that race.”
Lockyer Valley Regional Council endorses Equine Precinct Business Case
A state-of-the-art Equine Precinct in the heart of the Lockyer Valley is now one step closer, after Council today moved to endorse the Business Case for the project.
Kendenup Dogpro Plus Arena Winner
West Australian Working Sheep Dogs Association, Media Release, 17 August 2021
Frank Sutherland and Pendalup Sue, 148 points, took out the Kendenup Dogpro Plus Arena...
Cibilic’s fairy-tale rise to culminate in world title challenge
Morgan Cibilic grew up surfing at Angourie before moving to Merewether in Newcastle. In 2019, he seemingly came from nowhere to qualify for the World Surf League’s 2020 Men’s Championship Tour. Covid put the brakes on the 2020 season, however, the 2021 season’s world title qualifying competitions were completed in Mexico last week, where Cibilic finished equal ninth, and he had amassed 25,270 points and a fifth-place rating and a shot at the world title.
Covid spared rod in region
Claire Rankin. Fishing for essential reasons such as food and exercise was permitted during the covid lockdown ... Although fishing was allowed, not a tight line or a bent rod was to be seen on the north or south wall at Evans Head or along the main beach. A lone surfer was spotted, along with dog walkers, bicycle riders and toddler tamers.
Oodnadatta’s annual bronco branding event a resounding success
National Recovery and Resilience Agency Recovery Support Officer in Far North South Australia, Matt Humphrey, was recently lucky enough to enjoy the great sportsmanship and good old outback hospitality at the 36th Oodnadatta Bronco Branding and Campdraft.
Two nights of bucking at Bullride
Weipa's new-look showgrounds facility will come to life on Friday night for the opening of the Weipa Bullride and committee chairman Russell Scikluna can’t wait ... The 2021 edition will be largely different to previous rodeos staged in Weipa. Instead of a cabaret on Friday night, there will be action from the chutes to complement the live band. The program will then expand on Saturday with even more events, followed by a second live band.
Macknade’s Marbelli Green
On Sunday 27 June, Macknade Bowls Club honoured the Marbelli Family by naming its green the Marbelli Green. We had a full green of players and, prior to afternoon tea, local dignitaries and members of the Marbelli family arrived at the club; the purpose of their arrival being unknown to most people present.
Olympic Games ‘surreal but awesome’
Geoff Helisma. When it comes to succeeding at sport, desire is a powerful motivator – and it often makes itself apparent during a human’s formative years. Grafton-born Olympian Ryan Maskelyne – one of only two swimmers who represented Papua New Guinea at the Olympic Games – first made his Olympics dream public at the 2009 Yamba Convent Beach to Main Beach Ocean Swim. “He told us he intended swimming for PNG at the Olympics,” his uncle, Eddy Durkan, says. “He was 11 and is now 22.”
Bronze for our Patty
Patty Mills for Prime Minister – that was the call on Saturday night as the star basketballer drained 42 points to lead the Boomers to their first ever Olympic medal. The Torres Strait Island product was amazing in all the big moments as he led Australia to a 107-93 win against Slovenia to pick up a much-deserved bronze medal. Bronze felt like “rose gold” to Mills.
Stop punishing us: border
Eliza Berlage. SA/ Vic Border Districts’ club presidents have implored the State Government to “stop punishing” their community with restrictions ... The restrictions are "disappointing", "mentally draining" and "detrimental" to the morale of clubs and the broader community. "The bubble is absolutely ridiculous. You may as well put the Berlin Wall up at the border."
High-stakes schedule for 2022 Margaret River Pro
The World Surf League's 2022 schedule has positioned the Margaret River Pro as a mid-season decider, determining the finals fate of the world's top professional surfers. The Margaret River Pro, to be held from April 24 to May 4, is one of only two Australian events on the prestigious 2022 Championship Tour schedule, announced today.
This week’s fishing location – Lover’s Point (Yamba Point)
Lover's Point is a rocky headland in Yamba that juts out into the ocean. It is located 1.5km south of the breakwall. Access is via Ocean Street, and also Pippa Beach. Waves can be big when accessing from the southern side. It is a 600m walk out to the point.
Band of brothers
Seven sets of brothers make the Richmond Range rugby team a force to reckon with. Saturday’s 30-nil win over Iluka Cossacks means the team is set to play Byron Bay in the President’s Cup major quarter final.
Weipa Olympian still the fittest woman on planet
Weipa product Tia-Clair Toomey has won a fifth CrossFit Games to etch her name into the record books. Toomey, who still has family living in Weipa, was an Olympic representative at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games in weightlifting and won a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. But it is her performances in CrossFit – a huge competition in the United States and Europe – that have put her on the global map.
