MidCoast Council Meet Local Legend Star Updates Leigh Vaughan Pet Sox Forster Fortnightly Your local independent community newspaper distributed fortnightly to FREE Hallidays Point, Black Head, Tallwoods Village, Tuncurry, Forster Pacific Palms, Charlotte Bay, Smiths Lake, Coomba Park, Bungwahl and Seal Rocks. Wednesday 7th July 2021 Owned and Loved by Locals Circulation 6000 N0.24 Covid rules for our region The town of Forster Tuncurry were instructed to follow strict Covid safety Championships were both postponed at the and surrounding regions were measures. Overnight our population started last minute. The Great Lakes Museum and The looking forward to the school wearing masks everywhere in public and it Lions Club Mini Putt Putt also closed for the holidays for family time out is now the odd person not wearing one that school holidays. and good tourist numbers for stands out. Locals are definitely trying to do the “We made an executive decision to show our local businesses. Many right thing to prevent another Covid scare that responsibility and close our park for these tourists had started to arrive occurred in Forster during the last Christmas school holidays,” said Margaret Kentwell, early as news of the highly school holidays. Back then, a visitor stayed Publicity Media Officer of the Forster Tuncurry contagious Delta variant for three days in the area before being tested Lions Club. threatened to stop holiday positive when they returned home. Locals travel. By Saturday 26th the queued for testing and luckily none were found The Fred Williams Aquatic Festival has been scene changed dramatically to be positive. postponed until the 4th and 5th of September and Rhonda Wojcikewycz, organizer of this when Greater Sydney went Many local events that normally attract visitors into lock down and all of NSW event, wants to thank Mid Coast Council and were affected straight away. Tourist numbers the RMS (Roads and Maritime Services) for were down at the first Forster parkrun of the their help in procuring this new date. Left: Darrin Cornell, owner of holidays with half the usual holiday numbers Beach Bums cafe in Forster, turning up for this popular free event. The Many local businesses have been affected and quickly switched to takeaways Rotary Book Fair and the NSW Country Tennis only for covid safety. Continued on page 2. Southern Right Whale in Wallis Lake A southern right whale in Wallis Lake, Wildlife Services, said the whale at Forster-Tuncurry on the NSW Mid appeared to be pregnant. North Coast, could have been getting "She was sort of milling around just ready to give birth, according to those on the other side of the bridge," she monitoring its wellbeing. said. "We're not quite sure whether Matt Coombe is the skipper of a she was a bit spooked by the bridge whale-watching boat and saw the and she was not feeling up to going mammal come into the lake early on back under the bridge or whether Tuesday 29th June and head under she was kind of milling around ready the bridge that links the twin towns. to give birth." He said the lucky people on the boat In contrast to humpback whales, with him were astounded. which typically give birth in "Just blown away, they could not Queensland waters, southern believe it," he said."It was just right whales normally give birth in incredible to see something that waters off Tasmania, Victoria and big in our lake, as the whale was southern NSW. However, they are probably 15 metres and maybe 50 or also sometimes seen as far north as 60 tonne." Moreton Bay in Queensland. Continued on page 2. Susan Crocetti, a marine wildlife team leader with NSW National Parks and Right: Shane Chalker Photography. FORSTER FORTNIGHTLY 7th july 2021 FORSTER FORTNIGHTLY 7th july 2021 Community News Page 2 Community News Page 3 Forster Fortnightly Covid rules for our region Covid rules, testing, vaccinations & QR signing updates • Shopping centres will also be asked to display Next deadline is 5pm Wednesday 14th July, to be published on Public health order for NSW Covid 19 Testing Sites for the QR codes at entry points where practicable Wednesday 21st of July. To protect the Manning - Great Lakes people of NSW • Gyms We welcome your stories, photos and letters. from the evolving Forster • Offices, including call centres COVID-19 outbreak, • Forster Private Hospital with Douglass Hanly • Manufacturing and warehousing All submissions: www.forsterfortnightly.com.au current stay-at- Moir are operating a drive thru covid testing Please send photos and files separately. When sending photos from a phone please send home orders have • Universities and TAFE clinic in South Street. in ‘actual’ or ‘largest’ size possible. Photos 1MB (1000KB) or more preferred. been extended • Schools including teachers and visitors (such 8am - 4pm (Monday - Friday) across all of Greater as parents and contractors) but excluding Our commitment is to provide a newspaper that is factual, informative, and full of local Sydney including 8am - 2pm (Saturday) students. stories and community news to share. We are here to promote and support our amazing local the Blue Mountains, volunteers, community groups, sporting groups, schools, events and businesses. Central Coast and • Forster Laverty Pathology If you are aged between 50 to 59 years Businesses such as hospitality and hairdressers Wollongong until 11.59pm Friday, 9th July. and have already had your first dose of the that were already using the NSW Government Editor: Mary Yule Phone: 0413 410 492 Keir on 0439 060 700. 29 Breckenridge St, Forster AstraZeneca vaccine, and did not experience QR code system will also need to ensure staff People who have been in this Greater Sydney Ph - 6554 7129 abnormal side effects, ATAGI recommends you and visitors such as maintenance workers and Email: [email protected] Puzzles & Cartoons: Supplied by Auspac region on or after June 21st must follow the Above: Larry Schubert, President of the Pacific Palms Recreation Club with Manager Diane Ellis. still receive your second AstraZeneca dose. This delivery drivers check-in, when they resume Media, an Australian company with stay-at-home orders for a period of 14 days Business Hours: 9:30 - 5pm (Mon - Fri) Taree will provide you with greater coverage against services after the lockdown period. Australian cartoons. Continued from page 1. We hope these rules will knock it [Covid] on the after they left Greater Sydney. severe illness from COVID-19. Graphic & Web support: Golden Age Media, head and that more vaccines get out so that • Manning Base Hospital Hospitality businesses will now need to extend Forster Fortnightly: Proud to be a family have had to make drastic changes to see them everyone is comfortable.” Please continue to check the NSW Government the use of the Service NSW COVID-Safe check- a locally-owned business. Contact Greg through this tough time. Ph - 6592 9111 Golden on 1300 766 713. locally-owned newspaper business. “We would like people to know that we are COVID-19 rules for regional website as more information will be made in to all customers including takeaway orders. “Trade has fallen off a cliff,” said Diane Ellis, open and that we take the Dine and Discover • Taree Health Hub Respiratory Clinic available: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19. Printed: Spotpress in Marrickville NSW, on Thank you: To Vanda Gooley and Roberta Manager of the Pacific Palms Recreational Club. NSW including Manning and Businesses that fail to comply with the new vouchers so come along and eat here!” said health order requirements may be subject sustainably sourced paper. Contact Murray Pearce for their expertise behind the scenes. “It is down by 50% from our regular times, not Diane. Great Lakes 15 Butterworth Lane, Taree even accounting for the school holidays.” to fines and in case of flagrant breaches, This is probably a sentiment felt by many of our At time of publication these rules apply until Ph - 6552 5533 Covid check-in mandate temporary closure orders. We acknowledge the Worimi People, the traditional custodians of the land, When asked about staff morale Diane said, “We local businesses. Firday the 9th of July. waterways and sky of the Worimi Nation where this newspaper is published. With are getting used to the mask wearing and have expanded “There is no excuse not to check-in everywhere always followed every safety measurement The Dine and Discover vouchers have been • Visitors to households will be limited to 5 great respect we acknowledge their Elders, past, present and future. extended until the end of August. Use of the Service NSW QR code will be you can - local businesses and customers all from the last time. We’ve had to cut half of our guests – including children; mandatory at all workplaces and retail have a part to play to keep the community Mary Yule staff’s shifts but at least everyone is getting 1-2 businesses from Monday 12th July. safe,” Mr Bromhead said. shifts per week. It hits everyone’s hip pocket. • Masks will be compulsory in all indoor non- residential settings, including workplaces, Stephen Bromhead, Member for Myall Lakes “In the same way customers routinely check public transport and at organised outdoor said expanding the mandate would give NSW into cafes, restaurants and bars, we need them Our newspaper stands are events; Health contact tracers real-time access to QR to adopt the same approach when visiting a Southern Right Whale • Drinking while standing at indoor venues will code data from a greater number of venues supermarket, retail store and workplace. including supermarkets, retail stores, gyms and groaning with the weight of not be allowed; “Inspectors have been asked to monitor the offices.